Escape - Part 8

Summary: Everyone has a number over their heads that says how useful they are to society from 0-100. You have a number ‘4’. You leave the city for some peace but you meet your cocky neighbor who seems to get on your nerves.

Genre: Fluff

Pairing: Jungkook x Reader

Y/L/N refers to your last name/family name

A/N: Please read part 6.5 before reading this or else the first half of this chapter won’t make sense aha.

Previously…

Even though he could feel the impending chaos that was about to descend on him, he only had one thought as he slowly sunk down to his knees.

Who the hell is Lina?

******

You had always found it odd how your parents held that 4 above your head against you, you always caught the look of pure disappointment whenever they talked to you or about you.  You always knew your parents harboured some sort of unreasonable hate towards you and you never understood why.

Death.

You had been made aware many times before that the 4 floating above your head represented death. You always assumed that they meant it signified the death of your parents’ dreams. You never imagined that it represented an actual death.

Your parents sat in the doctor’s room and you came in sight on the ultrasound. Your parents were overjoyed, ecstatic even.

“Hold on, I think that I’m hearing two heartbeats here,” The doctor said.

Your parents watch the screen carefully, not fully understanding the situation at hand.

“There are 2 heartbeats! Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Y/L/N! You’re having twins!”

They could see the both of you clearly now, two globs on the screen, two globs that they would soon be able to hold in their arms.

Your parents had decided not to tell anyone that they were having twins. Having twins in a family with high numbers was extremely rare. There had always been rumours of the capabilities of twins being able to share their brainpower and that prospect alone had excited your parents so much. That along with the high-potential stipend would have made your family essentially unstoppable.

Two weeks before the due date, your parents were just about to make their way back to the city after visiting your maternal grandparents who live in the remote part of the country. Your mother knew something didn’t feel right the moment she woke up. She couldn’t shake off the feeling that it was going to be a terrible day. She boiled it down to morning sickness and tried to push through the day with a smile since it was going to be a while till she gets to see her parents again.

Your mother sat on the couch in the house and looked around the place that she had made so many memories in. Looking at the pictures on the wall filled her with a great sense of nostalgia. She stood up to take a closer look at a picture but as she took her first step forward, she felt water leaking down the side of her legs. She stood frozen in the living room.

No, no, no. It can’t be.

She screams, screams for your father and he comes rushing to her side. Her father and mother follow soon after and they try their best to calm down the two grown adults in their living room sitting in a puddle of water.

The nearest hospital was much too far away but that didn’t matter. All the women in this area were experienced midwives because of that very reason. Yet, that fact didn’t seem to calm your mother down. She was a ball of nerves, screaming for a doctor instead. She knew it was going to be a terrible day, she just did.

A few months ago

“Mrs. and Mr. Y/L/N, we don’t want you to panic but the umbilical cord at the moment is still wrapped around both of your babies’ neck.”

Your parents look at the doctor with pure fear, unsure of what to say.

The doctor, detecting the uneasiness that was starting to fill the room quickly tries to calm them down.

“Most cases resolve themselves and if that fails to happen, an emergency C-section almost always guarantees their survival,” She quickly adds.

Your parents let out a sigh of relief, there was no way they’d let anything get between the birth of their twins.

“Mum, you don’t understand,” Your mother cried out. “The umbilical cord—“

Your mother is unable to finish her sentence, choosing to take deep breaths instead as the pain intensifies and the contractions become more and more frequent.

Your father tries his best to explain the situation but even he knows as he states his last sentence and looked at the numerous women now gathered in the living room, he knew this had a low possibility of ending well.

Each and every one had the same look on their face, it was the same one he was wearing.

Minutes? Hours?

Your mother isn’t sure how long it’s been since she found herself sat in this inflatable pool filled with water. All she knows was the pain was immense and she wasn’t sure herself if she’d be able to push through this whole ordeal. Having given birth to both your brother and sister previously by c-section, this was all just too much for her.

Noise.

That’s all she hears. Incoherent shouting and demands but she clutches on to your father’s hand and does as she is told.

Cries.

She hears the sound of a baby crying and in her delirious state she manages a smile.

Silence.

The quiet that she had been wishing for finally comes but it’s not the kind that she wants.

Pity.

“I’m so sorry.”

Like a broken record, that’s all she heard ring around the room. The same sentence over and over again.

You had slipped out first, the cord was still wrapped around your neck but you were alive, breathing, crying. Along with you, an excess of the umbilical cord slipped out before your sister. The room watched quietly as they hoped for any sign of life when the midwife held your sister but they all knew too well when they saw the trail that slipped out after you. They knew that your sister had been strangled in the womb.

Your mother, she refuses to accept the situation and she sits there mute and frozen. The women have to urge her to get up and get cleaned because you were still in need of medical attention.

It was going to be a terrible day and she knew it.

You were fine, the doctor at the regional hospital had said. So after a few days of rest your parents make their way back to the city with you in your mother’s hand and a small casket in your father’s hand.

Your brother and sister could feel the change in both of your parents but they chalked it up to the tiring experience of childbirth instead. They knew though that something was different. It was almost as if the life had been drained out of them both. It was you. Your birth had changed them forever.

Your sister was laid to rest in the plot of land that had been reserved as your family’s burial ground. Lina was the name carved into the headstone. Your mother traced the letters with her fingers and it pained her that she’d never be able to say that name out loud, ever.

Empty.

That’s all your parents felt like. They felt like they were going through the motions, accepting congratulatory gifts and entertaining guests. They wore masks to hide the grief but those masks soon became part of them.

Four.

They couldn’t believe the sight they were seeing. Impossible, they thought. You can’t be a 4.

“Twins, are special you see.” The doctor states. “Being in such close proximity with another developing human being causes a glitch of some sort.” She continues.

“So, how do we fix it?”

“Well… you can’t…. not without her sister.”

The doctor lets out a sigh, already sensing the disappointment.

“Twins often balance each other’s numbers out after birth but—“

“—but her twin isn’t here so there’s nothing we can do.” Your father completes her sentence for her. “So, that would’ve meant her twin was the one with the higher number right? Since they balance each other out?”

The doctor looks at your parents quizzically. “Well, I wouldn’t know for sure… You must know that the number above her head isn’t real. Like I said, twins are special… their brainpower often exceeds the number that is shown above their head.”

It didn’t matter. It wouldn’t have mattered if you were the smartest person on earth because as long as there wasn’t a 90 above your head, that meant that the high-potential stipend was out the window. The only saving grace of the horrible situation that was your birth was no longer an option and it left your parents more devastated than ever.

It was like a monster that consumed both your parents. Your father drowned himself in work and your mother gave everything she had to ensure that she was at the top of the socialite ladder. Together, they brought Y/L/N Logistics to the forefront. With your mother’s connections and your father’s hard work, it didn’t take long before your last name was known as a household name. Everyone on the outside looking in had thought that your family was perfect.

Genius.

You were smart and your parents knew it. You developed skills faster than both your siblings had when they were your age despite the 4 floating above your head but your parents, they couldn’t shake that feeling of pain whenever they look at you. Death, death, death. It was all that they could see. Just the mental image of their daughter being strangled in the womb was what they saw when they looked at you. Lina, she would’ve been a 98, they were sure of it but instead they got you, a 4 and a handful of shattered dreams.

Cold.

With every passing day, your father grew colder towards your siblings. He set up rules for everything, the house, the company even the family. He thought that with rules, he’d always be in control. That a situation like the death of his child would never arise if he had control over everything. So, your father set up the diadem code for your family, ensuring every member followed it. In some way, being a Y/L/N became somewhat mechanic, which your father didn’t mind because it left little room for error. He never wanted to feel that weak and broken ever again.

Confusion.

At aged 7, you knew something was weird with the way your family treated you. Your parents barely talked to you and your siblings they looked at you with disgust. You didn’t understand why. You did all they ever asked so… why? Why didn’t they love you?

Love.

You never understood what it truly was but you saw it. You saw it when Jimin talked about his family. The way his eyes lit up and the way he wanted nothing more than to be with them, to be the best for them.

To be loved, it was all you ever wanted. You thought it was love that you felt with Hoseok, in fact you were sure it was but then there he was telling you that you weren’t good enough. As he listed the reasons as to why he was breaking up with you, all you heard was; you’re not worthy… not worthy enough to be loved.

Then you met Jungkook and at this point you’ve completely given up on love but you can’t deny the happiness he brings you. It wasn’t love you told yourself because after all those years of damage you couldn’t see yourself being loved. But there was this look in Jungkook’s eyes whenever he looked at you and you always thought it looked damn near close to love but whatever it was, you were satisfied with it. It didn’t have to be love as per se, that didn’t matter to you anymore because you had found a home. You had found a home in a person and his name was Jungkook.

Now

A shrill ringing noise makes you shift uncomfortably in your bed. Jungkook groans and begs you to make it stop. You blindly feel around for your phone that you had placed on your side table.

“Hello?” You say groggily.

“Y/N, what is the point of having a phone if you never pick up? This is the 5th time I’m calling you!” Your brother shouts.

“Sorry,” You mumble while stretching.

“Look, just get down to HQ asap. It’s an urgent family matter ok?”

Before you could reply, you hear the line click and you let out a sigh.

What a way to start the morning.

You try to get out of bed but Jungkook pulls you in closer, refusing to let go of you.

“Where are you going?” He mumbles into your hair.

“Kook, let go,” You say as you swipe at his hands that are tightly wrapped around the middle. “I have to go to the city… It’s a family emergency.”

He quickly releases you and sits up.

“What happened?” He questions. “Do you want me to drive you to the city?”

He pushes the covers aside already trying to get up before you even give your answer.

You let out a light laugh and pull him down into bed.

“No, Jungkook. It’s fine.” You say as you brush his cheek with your thumb. “Plus, you had a ton to drink last night so I think you should sleep off your hangover.”

He looks away slightly embarrassed and then gives you a light smile.

“You’ll text me right? Once you get in the city? Let me know if it’s serious and if you need me or—“

You kiss him just to get him to shut up. You find it slightly annoying how he gets so worried all the time and yet you find it endearing too.

“Okay babe, I will. Now go back to sleep,” You say as you pull away.

You nervously step out of the elevator to head to your brother’s office. You couldn’t quit pin it but everything about the company seemed odd since you stepped through the front doors of the office building. Everyone seemed jittery, almost on edge and it made you nervous too.

You glance at the secretary table to find Jimin missing. Odd, you thought. You turn the doorknob to your brother’s office and let yourself in.

“Christ, took you long enough,” Your brother exhales.

You bow calmly at your family that were already gathered in his office.

“So…” You say nervously. “What’s the urgent family matter that we’re dealing with?”

Your brother brings you up to speed. The plans, diadem and finally Jimin’s betrayal.

“Jimin?” You question. “Park Jimin?”

“Yeah, sneaky little bastard. After all we’ve done for him.”

He wouldn’t. The Park Jimin you knew would never sell out your family like that unless he was put under some type of unfavourable circumstance. The Park Jimin you knew admired your family more than anything in this world.

Your brother sighs noticing the pure shock on your face.

“Y/N, you sure know how to pick your friends, don’t you?” Your brother sighs. “A betrayer for your best friend and a family rival as your boyfriend,” He continues with a light scoff.

“I-I, He wouldn’t—“

“Except he would! We caught him red handed, Y/N and he almost got away with it all!” Your brother almost shouts out in anger. “and it was you wasn’t it? Who told him about diadem?”

“I didn’t!” You defended. “Also, even if I did how was I supposed to know you were using it to password protect your plans?”

The room falls silent at the realization of the fact that they had kept you completely excluded from the happenings of the company.

“I’m tired,” You breathe out. “I’m tired of always being accused of trying to bring down this company, or for not putting our family first. Can’t you see that all I’ve tried to do all these years was stay out of your way?” You ask with clenched fists.

Your family stares back at you, unsure of what to say.

“Yet you always bring trouble,” Your father whispers sadly.

You internally wince at the comment and let out a soft sigh.

“Can we just please… please do what we have to so I can leave?” You manage to say in response.

This was your first board meeting and all you knew was you never wanted to be at another one again. The room was filled with old men and women who seemed to have so much to say about the situation at hand. From time to time, you would nod your head so it seemed like you were interested but in all honesty their words were going in one ear and coming out the other. Your mind was preoccupied with the thought of Park Jimin’s betrayal. Although you had no interest in the company, it still hurt that Jimin would do something of that sort to your family. It seemed highly uncharacteristic of him.

*Bzzt*

Your phone buzzes in your pocket and you take a quick glance around the room to make sure no one was watching you before you quickly glance down at your phone.

You have (1) new Email

Messages from Jungkook (5)

You disregard the first notification and quickly swipe to read Jungkook’s messages

[10:00] Jungkook: drive safely!

[11:00] Jungkook: btw what did you feed Buster last night? he just took a massive dump in the garden…

[11:30] Jungkook: are you in the city already?

[11:45] Jungkook: babe, what’s happening? Is it serious?

[12:00] Jungkook: I’m eating the peanut butter cups rn.

You type away furiously at your screen the moment you read the last sentence.

[12:00] You: don’t you dare eat them. I swear I’ll punch you.

Jungkook scoffs out aloud when he reads your reply. He stuffs another peanut butter cup in his mouth.

“Can you believe this woman right here?” Jungkook says showing his screen to Buster while pointing at it.

[12:00] Jungkook: sure, just ignore my 4 other messages.

[12:00] Jungkook: not like I’ve been worrying about you for the past few hours now y’know.

[12:00] Jungkook: is this what our relationship has come to? how can peanut butters cup mean more than me?

You can’t help the small smile that crosses your face as you read his replies.

[12:01] You: can you calm down

[12:01] You: I just saw your messages.

[12:01] You: It’s a long story but nothing too serious.

[12:01] You: tell you when I get home. I’m in a board meeting rn.

[12:01] You: how do you even sit through these without sleeping? save me pls.

[12:01] You: brb brother giving me the stink eye for not paying attention. all your fault, thanks douchebag.

[12:01] You: p.s I better come home to a new packet of peanut butter cups or else I’m going to beat your ***.

Jungkook lets out a light laugh after reading your string of messages. He smirks to himself as he types out his reply.

[12:02] Jungkook: wow, kinky ;)

[12:02] Jungkook: just might not buy that new packet then.

You stare in disbelief at his reply and your thumbs were already hovering above your screen to type a reply but your brother lightly kicks your leg so you begrudgingly put your phone away.

The day passes by in a blur for you. It was meeting after meeting and by the end of it you were completely drained. God knows how many papers you’ve signed today or how many elders you had to greet today but as you sat at the dinner table at some fancy restaurant surrounded by people you barely knew, all you know was your feet was aching and you wanted to go home.

[17:47] You: my dad’s making me stay for dinner so I’m gonna be home pretty late I think :(

[17:48] Jungkook: lame. I’ll be at my place then…

[17:48] Jungkook: call me when you’re about to leave the city aite?

[17:48] You: mmm ya ok I will if I remember to

When your father finally allows you to leave, it’s almost 10 pm and you groan at the thought of having to drive home this late at night. You get in your car and lock the doors before you fish your phone out of your pocket to call Jungkook.

You have (1) new Email

You furrow your eyebrows as you read the notification. It was the email account that was linked to your family company and you rarely got mail with that account. You clicked on the notification and realized it was a mail sent from within the company.

Urgent, please look at this ASAP.

Perhaps, it was an email informing you about the whole situation at the company, you thought.

Dear Y/N,

Please listen to this.

Thank You.

Everything about the mail looked so fishy but you were curious because the sender had addressed you personally.

You click on the audio file attached and after a few seconds it starts playing.

You hear the sound of static for a few seconds and then you hear a voice, one that you’ve grown to be quite fond of.

D, Dome, St. Peters.

I, Island, Ko Lipe.

A, Animal, Tiger.

D, Disappointment, (Your Birth Month).

E, Elope, Costa Rica.

M, Moral code, Loyalty.

Jungkook? Why is he reciting this—

Your thoughts were interrupted when you hear an unfamiliar voice coming out of your phone’s speaker.

Ah, our little Jungkookie is in love isn’t he?

Your eyebrows are furrowed in confusion and you bring your phone up closer to your ear to hear better.

I’m just pretending to like her just so I can get information out of her.

Silence.

You sit there in your car, in pure shock, unsure of what to do or say. You expect tears to fall down the sides of your cheek any minute now but they never come. You calmly put your phone back in your pocket and start the engine. You took deep breaths, calming your beating heart before you begin your journey back home.

The whole car ride was you reliving the 3 months that you had spent wrapped up in Jungkook’s arm. You second guessed every gesture, every word and every moment spent with him. So blind. To think for 3 months, he was buttering you up all for your family code that you had willingly given away and you hadn’t had an inkling at all. You could hear your brother warning you of your naivety ring in your head again and again. But, it felt so real… Jungkook, he made you feel so appreciated but maybe you only felt that way because you had received so little love throughout your life. Maybe for the first time someone had paid you some sort of attention without regarding your number so you thought he honestly cared for you. So stupid, so naïve, so easy.

You park your car right in front of your house and switch off the engine. You look to the house across the street and it’s all dark. Thank God. Was it normal to feel this numb? This was all a joke right? You just knew things were too good to be true. Whenever things were looking too good, you would always proceed with caution because you knew it was all going to come crashing down soon. This was the first time you let your guard down in a long time and what a mistake that was. He was too good to be true.

Panic.

Your mind is in a frenzy and you hurriedly rush out of your car when you see the large house starting to light up but it’s too late.

“Y/N? God, do you know how worried I was?” He says as he crosses the street to reach you.

You’re fishing out your keys and trying to get into your house as quickly as possible. Why won’t the stupid key just fit?

“Y/N? Why didn’t you pick up?” You feel his hand on your shoulder and you try your best to focus all your attention on the doorknob. “Why are you ignoring me?” He asks angrily.

Jungkook spins you around furiously and he sees your face full of fear and tears threatening to make an appearance. The tone is his voice immediately changes and he regrets being so caught up in his emotions. He realizes he didn’t even stop to consider the fact that maybe you had a really rough day in the city despite what you had told him through the texts.

“Babe, w-what’s wrong? I didn’t mean to—“ He says worriedly as brings his hands up to your face.  You step away from him, pushing his hands away and Jungkook stands there frozen, confused and shocked.

He takes a step towards you and reaches out to you. “What happened in the city? Did your family hurt you with their words again? Don’t push me away love, I want to—“

“Don’t come any closer,” You warn as you shakily take another step back.

“Okay, babe. Calm down.” Jungkook says as he holds his hands up in surrender. “Tell me what’s wrong because I’m really confused here.”

“Don’t… call me that,” You say as you peer down to the floor, trying to hide the tears that were on the verge of spilling out of your eyes.

“Y/N, I- what do you mean?”

“Let’s just do this tomorrow.” You sigh. “I’m just too tired for this right now,” You say as you walk past him and try to open your door again. The key slides right in and you let out a small groan. Why didn’t it work just now?

“O-okay…” Jungkook says in a confused tone and moves to follow behind you.

You open the door slightly and you look back to see Jungkook standing right behind you.

You let out an annoyed sigh and pull the door shut again. You take a deep breath and look Jungkook in the eye.

“You can drop the act now Jungkook.” You say with a heavy sigh. “You’ve got what you wanted and made a fool out of me so leave, please.”

“Y/N, I don’t understand… I’m trying here, I am but you really just need to explain to m—“

You let out a bitter laugh and scoff at him. Why did I even think of wasting my tears on this douchebag? You could feel the anger bubbling up inside you. Angry, you were just so angry with him right now but most of all you were mad with yourself for letting your guard down. For believing those sweet lies that he spewed.

“Maybe I should just let yourself explain the whole situation,” You say as you look through your phone and click on the audio file. You turn up the volume on your phone and look at him pointedly.

Ah, our little Jungkookie is in love isn’t he?

Junghyun’s voice?

I’m just pretending to like her just so I can get information out of her.

No. No. No. No. What kind of sick joke was this?

Jungkook looks up at you and his face is full of disbelief. He steps closer to you and grabs your hand.

“No, Y/N, No. I never said that I swear!” He says with a quivering voice as he finally understands why you’re acting the way you have been. “That’s been altered Y/N, really. I never said that!” He shouts.

“Jungkook, please.” You beg as you try to pull your hand away from his hold but he doesn’t let up.

“Y/N, please no. You have to believe me. I would never do that. How can you even believe that I would say that, I would nev—“

“Believe you? Jungkook how stupid do you think I am?”

“I know how it looks but Y/N I swe—“

“You might have fooled me all this time but Jungkook, I’m not some idiot who—“

“Y/N, no. Everything that has happened between us is real. What I feel for you is true!” He says as he tightens his grips on your arms. “I would never pretend to like you. You know I’m not like that!”

“I don’t, Jungkook. I obviously don’t know who you are.”

“Don’t say that, please. You have to believe me. I wouldn’t, I’m not—“

“Like the other guys?” You offered. “Not like Hoseok?” You question. You harshly pull your arms out of his grip. “You’re right, you aren’t.”

You look at him sternly and you see the gloss that covers his eyes. Surely, he can see how hard you’re trying to hold your tears back.

“Hoseok, he hurt me. Real bad…” You sob. “But you, Jungkook… You broke me.”

You turn to move towards your front door but Jungkook holds you tight and you can hear him sob into your back. His tears wet the back of your shirt and you feel tears stream down your face too.

“Y/N, I really didn’t say that. Why would I even say something like that?” He manages to ask between sobs. “You know how just like you, I want nothing to do with my family’s company.”

You wriggle out of his grasp to look at him.

“So are you saying that isn’t your voice?”

“It is bu—“

“Save it, Jungkook. You’re dead to me,” You say lowly.

“Y/N, y-you don’t mean that,” He says as he tries to hold on to you and you push him away roughly.

Jungkook stumbles backwards and lands on his bottom. He scrambles to get to his feet but you move faster and quickly rush into your house and slam the door in his face.

He spends the next hour pounding on your door, begging you to let him in. He wasn’t sure what else he could say to make you believe that he hadn’t said those words. He felt his heart shrink at the words you had said to him just before you shut the door. For the past 3 months, you were the source of his happiness and he wasn’t going to go down without a fight. He would fight till the end to have you in his arms again. He wasn’t going to let you run, he wasn’t going to let you go on another day thinking that you meant nothing to him.

He stops pounding on your door to call his brother and father but neither of them seem to be picking up. In this moment, he felt truly broken. There was nothing he could say or do that would make you believe him. Jungkook knew it was pretty dramatic to claim this but he honestly felt like you were the light of his world. You reminded him so much of his mum and he couldn’t stand losing someone like that again.

After an hour of begging, he walks back over to his cabin in defeat. It felt so cold to be alone like this. He tossed and turned in his bed but he simply couldn’t fall asleep. The tears fell non-stop as he replayed the situation over and over again in his head. He would set all of this right again if it was the last thing he did. He wasn’t about to let his family ruin the one thing that brought him joy.

Author : Jjkfire

(~♡♡)~ credits to owner

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