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It took a lot of courage for Jungkook to push his head away, I could sense it.

But when he did, he didn't have any regrets on his face. Instead, a little curve of his lips indicating his shyness and his awkward stare said everything that he couldn't.

"I-I...God this is very awkward." He mumbled as he jerked his body up, wiping the prominent stains of tears on his cheeks which had already dried up.

"This is not awkward," I replied, feeling my face heating up, "this was something that you wanted to do. Do you feel better now?"

"I'm sorry." He said, lowering his head.

"There is nothing to be sorry about, Jungkook. I am very happy that you decided to cry in front of me. It didn't make you any weak, as you can see."

"This wasn't my plan b-but I just got really heavy and my chest, i-it was suddenly tightened and I was overwhelmed. I didn't want you to see me like that... I do not want you to see me as someone fragile."

"Who said that you're fragile?" I looked at him deeply, "when we clean our old racks and messed up wardrobes and throw away the useless things, it offers us more space and we feel happy. Isn't that the same way as crying? When you let your negative emotions out, you feel lighter and happier, don't you?"

"I haven't felt like this in so long," he said, rubbing his neck, "it really seems like my body and mind are at ease. B-But I swear, I don't cry like this ever-"

"You don't, and it shows. You are alone and suffocating because you don't give voice to your emotions." I cut him in between.

"Because that's what I was taught. If I show my emotions so easily then the world would think I'm weak..."

His words rung in my ears and I was left without an answer.

"They said it will make you stronger...but I didn't need to be stronger. I needed to be safe, I needed to be happy and be loved. Like the little kids I used to see in movies, happy with their families. But no, I was always treated like someone who didn't exist for some time. They loved me, but not like how I wanted them to. It never really felt like love."

I gulped, some words wanting to roll down my tongue but I didn't know if they were enough to heal the deep wounds Jungkook just teared up by himself.

"Wh-When you cried the day we first met, when Yena left you in the room and I was there... you weren't crying for just one reason, right?"

He looked up at me, astonished. I felt my mind whirling at his stare and something in me shifted.

I shouldn't have asked this.

"How did you know?"

My ears perked up at his deep voice and when I looked at him, he was confusedly staring at me.

"I just... I just figured because-"

"It was my birthday." He said, taking a sharp breathe, "it was my birthday on that day. My parents even called me at midnight and I was a fool to hope that they wanted to wish me. They forgot it, just like every year. Instead I had to attend the wedding because of their demand."

"It was your birthday?!" I asked, a little too loud.

"Yes, it was all huddled up inside me, l-like the game of jenga. That girl just poked one block and I couldn't hold it anymore... it tumbled down. I tried to do my best to keep it in but it was extremely hard."

He then slid a little closer to me, looking at me in the eye.

"But the same day, I met you. You gave me hope on that day. You encouraged me and saved me, when you weren't well on your own."

Wait... How did he know?

"H-How did you know that I was..."

"If you could see my tears then I could see yours too. They were barely noticeable but I don't have these big round eyes for nothing." He pointed at his eyes, smiling heartily.

Now I think the butterflies in my tummy are too excited.

Feeling the burst of energy suddenly emerging through my veins, I could no more contain the giggle that slipped through my teeth, echoing in the whole room. Jungkook gazed at me with fond eyes and I could see the shine in them, glittering foremost.

"And you know why I chose to cry in front of you?" He asked, profoundly ecstatic.

"Why?"

"Because I kind of feel...safe around you. You don't understand what I feel and I can't explain it. Y-You remind me of someone." He said, his smile slowly fading.

"O-Oh, I do?" The heat on my face was too prominent that I could almost see it in my reflection in Jungkook's eyes.

"I feel connected to you, Hana. I feel like I-I have..."

I gulped, too scared for his next statement. My heartbeat was loud enough to reach and ring in my eardrums repeatedly. But that ring was a little dull when another ring started to echo in the room, belonging to Jungkook's phone.

I quickly looked away, exhaling a long breathe when Jungkook got up to pick his phone from the bed and rushed out of the room in a hurry. At this point, I didn't know if it was safe for me to stay here anymore because I was losing my mind.

The time that Jungkook spent outside on the call gave me enough break to inspect the room. I looked at the only window in the room which was covered by thick black curtains. The room was light, two walls being cream coloured and two being dark blue. The gaming setup in another corner made me widen my eyes in surprise.

Jungkook is a gamer too? This looks very expensive...

I looked at the walls which were plain, lacking any belonging that I expected to be there. No picture frames, no posters, nothing. It was all plain. It showed Jungkook's personality to an extent nevertheless.

I got up to get a closer look at the gaming chair and the set of computers in a detailed manner. But I frowned when I saw a thick layer of dust casting over the surface, indicating too well that this hadn't been used for so long.

And then my eyes fell on something which looked like pieces of glasses. I seemed cranky for being too observative but the way it was all collected on a newspaper made it suspicious. There were some flowers near the pieces, almost dried and dead.

"It was your mom's."

Jungkook's voice startled me and I flinched, stumbling over my own steps as I turned around.

"My mom?" My eyes widened with horror, "y-you didn't tell her, did you?"

"She was worried." His gaze softened and I felt bad all of a sudden.

"So you did."

"No, I didn't," he said, pushing his phone back in his pocket, "I told her I didn't know about your whereabouts. But I don't get what made her call me out of all the people."

"That's because I don't have any friends to hang around with. You're the only close friend I have till now and maybe that's why she thought I was with you." I frowned.

"Point."

I kept staring at the ground, too scared to say anything. I waited for Jungkook to break the ice but he didn't react either. We stood in pure silence, facing each other but not looking into each other's eyes.

"I'm practicing a cover song." He suddenly stated, his voice lower than usual.

"That sounds great." I replied, flashing a smile at him.

"Mhm. It's called 'Lost Stars'. Listen to it when you get your phone back." He told and I couldn't help but feel happy for him.

Atleast he hasn't lost his passion for singing...

"Sure, I'll make sure I get my phone back as soon as possible. I'm sure it will be perfect, just like you."

I bit my tongue, suddenly overwhelmed. Glancing over at Jungkook who gave me a warm smile, I felt a tug at my heartstrings. He pushed his hands in the pockets of his bright red hoodie, staring at me.

"I'm nothing close to perfect. But I'm trying my best. Thank you so much for being here, I loved every moment we spent together."

Feeling my feet glued to the carpet in the room, I couldn't move or say anything as Jungkook took a slow step in my way. My breathe got caught in my throat when he was so near that I could feel his low breathe fanning over my entire face.

And when he suddenly dropped his head on my shoulder and embraced me in his arms, my mouth went dry. I couldn't react as I was too much in shock at his sudden action but I didn't feel unpleasant either. It was an innocent hug, filled with weak emotions and happiness and sincerity.

"Thank you for helping me, thank you for lending me a shoulder and thank you for being there." His words were a soft whisper against my ear which sent shockwaves down my spine.

I could feel his heartbeat thumping in his chest and travelling to mine. It felt like we were exchanging heartbeats.

I slowly laced my arms around his body too. It felt like I was eager to do this for so long. I craved this hug even before I knew we would become close to this extent. I hesitantly kept my palms away from his back, too shy to even get a tighter grip.

"Don't say this," I replied, closing my eyes and inhaling the sensitive smell of his lavender cologne, "I should be glad that my favourite singer chose me. I felt very elated to see you smiling like that again and I won't mind if you want me to be with you again. I'm always here."

His grip tightened on my body as if he refused to let go. I felt a little suffocated and I could sense my flustered red face because of all the heat transferring to my cheeks. I slowly patted his back, his tall figure making him bend a little to reach my shoulders.

In this one hug, I felt all of my sorrows melting like ice from my brain and flowing out of my mind. This was like a whole new level, a fresh feeling of ecstasy. I closed my eyes to endure all of it as I felt my cheeks beginning to hurt because of smiling for too long.

He shifted his weight from one leg to another, causing me to cradle in the same way as him as we both let out small squeaks and giggles. I couldn't care about anything as all I felt was Jungkook, his warmth and his laughter.

And it was too pleasant to let go.

"This is the first time I've hugged a girl." He muttered against the shell of my ear and I smiled wider.

"And this is the first time I've hugged a boy too." I said, feeling my lashes soaking with tears.

But this time, with tears of happiness.

After a while, he detached himself from me, suddenly too shy to even match my gaze. I was wondering how on earth did I even get to hug a boy, especially someone with whom I could never imagine getting close to.

"Y-You don't feel weird because I suddenly did this, right?" Jungkook asked, taking a step back.

"No... I feel good. Thank you." I replied.

He smiled until his eyes disappeared and I knew that this bond with Jungkook was something special for me. Something precious and pure. It was at this moment that I realised, I didn't feel depressed all the time I was with him. I could see that he was happy too, despite letting out his emotions in my shadow.

"I must leave now." I said, rubbing my fingers together.

"Should I drop you?"

"Uh, no. it's not that far."

I don't even have any money for taxi fare.

"I can come with you. I won't show up to your apartment, just the road. Is that okay?"

I hesitated because I had already made him suffer too much because of my stay here and I didn't really liked to trouble people with my own problems.

"Are you sure you aren't sick anymore?"

"I told you the fever went away in the morning. I'm completely well." He stretched his arms to physically show his well being, jumping up and down.

"No... I will go on my own." I pouted.

"You're really stubborn."

"Y-You are too!"

I stared at him while trying to suppress my smile but it easily slipped out when I noticed Jungkook making a weird face with his front teeth peeking out and his cheeks scrunched up.

"Stop that! I'm serious!" I laughed, trying to run away from his room by forcefully taking a round around him and towards the exit.

But he was quick.

Jungkook grabbed my wrist in a sudden forcible sense that I let out a scream as if I saw a ghost. He laughed at me as I tried to free myself from his strong grip but it was of no use, of course.

"I won't let you get away so easily."

The boyish smirk was prominent on his face, and especially the low huffs escaping his lips made my heart go into a beating mess. I whined, pulled, attacked, did everything to get away but to no avail.

"Who is the stubborn one now?" I asked, defeated.

"If making sure you're safe is called stubborn then I don't mind being called by that name."

The atmosphere went silent once again as I felt Jungkook's grip loosening from my wrist and slightly slipping lower to catch my little hand. I held my breathe at his response.

"Let's go, then."

I could never win like this...

A/N

Update after decades. I'm so sorry to keep you all waiting. Please accept this fluffy chapter as an apology from my side! >-<

Thank you to all the new readers who are showering their unending love in my inbox, i love to read all the messages of encouragement and support from you all. Y'all are the best 😭

Until next time, take care <3