❝ Hurt❞
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ALL THE SEVEN MEN SAT AROUND THE LARGE TABLE. I was able to know their names through the introduction they gave me. And unlike Jungkook's brother and father—they weren't perverts, but gentlemen.

They all talked like old friends, it was not the same fake laughs and smiles they had on their faces like his family—they enjoyed each other's company—I rested my elbow on the table, my chin on my palm as I watched the friends.

This time was different—there was no awkwardness and nervoursness—they were like best friends, I liked it this way, when there was nothing for me to worry about—"Your name is really pretty." I looked over at Park Jimin, he grinned at me.

Jungkook glanced over at me, "Are you jealous, Jeon?" Jimin wiggled his brows at Jungkook, "Why should I be?" He scoffed, rolling his eyes as he leaned back on the table. "Oh come on, now tell us your love story." Kim SeokJin said.

"Love story?" I tilted my head in confusion, "Yeah. How did you two meet and fall in love?" I looked over at Jung Hoseok, he grinned widely—there is no love story to begin with—I thought, this tells that they don't know about the contract.

"We don't have any love story." Jungkook said, but his tone was different, I couldn't differentiate the mixture of sadness, anger and joy, as if he's hiding his emotions. "Huh?" Kim Taehyung mocked, spinning his wine between his fingers.

"Then what? Did you two meet through love angels?" Kim Namjoon joked, grinning. "That joke was worthless." Min Yoongi replied sloppily, leaning back on the chair. Love angels? I wish I had them.

"No. We met through an interview." Jungkook shrugged. "Interview?" Jimin tilted his head to a side, his hair falling in front of his eyes, his brows knitted in confusion, "How come?" He asked, tugging at his lips.

"This is a contract marriage."

I glanced over at Jungkook awkwardly, the fact that he spoke the truth so easily without even changing the topic was astonishing. I gulped when the men froze, "What?" SeokJin asked, confusion in his voice. "You heard it right, contract marriage." Jungkook empathized.

Somehow—my heart shattered. Why? Don't ask, I don't even know how I feel about things anymore, everything is a maze for me, I want to leave, I don't want things to turn anymore bad—but that's impossible—someone whispered at the back of my head, it's always there, judging all my thoughts and always disagreeing with me.

Even I—myself, couldn't come to love me. I can't love myself enough to think that I'm worth anyone's time. "What do you mean? Contract marriage? You don't love each other?" Slowly, the questions started to rise, it was meant to be, thier confusion.

"No." I replied, looking up at them. Their eyes fell on me, different expressions on their faces. "We don't love each other." My voice, surprisingly, didn't crack.

I felt my heart clench in my chest, but it wouldn't affect me. I won't fall for him. Ever. No matter how weak and pathetic I may be, but I'll never let myself fall in love with someone like him. He's cruel, I hate it.

"I think that's enough talking for today, don't you?" I hastily to Jungkook, his eyes already glaring at me, I nodded. "Yes. I should leave." I said, smiling at the men.

I stood up, bowing lightly before I turned, walking upstairs.

I walked to the room, opening the door, I walked in, closing it behind me. I leaned against the door, I had been short of breath, I knitted my brows, my heart was hurting, I looked down, feeling a drop of water fall on my feet. Tears.

I was crying. For someone who didn't care. —wait. Did anyone ever care?—I thought, chuckling to myself. No one, whom I've shed tears for, cared for me, except my dying father, who's leaving me.

I slid down, sitting on the floor, I sniffed, wiping my cheeks. "Why do I need to cry for someone like him?" I bit my lips, closing my eyes tightly. Pain, it hurts, doesn't it?

I laid my head back on the door, tears still running down my pink cheeks. "I don't want to be hurt." I whispered, wiping my eyes. "I don't want to live here." I walked to the bed, sitting down as I took the heels off, laying on the bed.

"Dad." I muttered, my eyes closing,

"I miss you so much."

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"What is this about?" SeokJin asked Jungkook, who fixed his suit. "The truth." He said, shrugging his shoulders. "Truth? You have hurt her." Jimin replied, knitting his brows when he recalled her sad eyes.

"Why are you so worried about her? She knows she can't fall for me." Jungkook scoffed, rolling his eyes. "But you do, don't you?" Namjoon said, making Jungkook glare at him.

"Because she looks like her." He slammed his hands on the table. "Don't mention her." He gritted his teeth, "It's the past Jungkook, you must forget!" Taehyung cried, running a hand through his brown hair.

"I have forgotten her." Jungkook said, closing his eyes as he tried to calm himself. "You haven't. Why did you marry her?" Yoongi asked, making the man grit his teeth,

"I'll let her go after six months."

The men shook their heads in disappointment. "I didn't expect this from you." Hoseok said. "We'll leave." Namjoon got up, "Think about your decisions again."

Jungkook sat still as the men left, Jimin walked to him, "Be fine." He muttered, leaving.

Jungkook stared at the table in front of him, clenching his jaw. He stood up, walking upstairs.

He saw the woman lying on the bed when he opened the door, he walked to her. Her eyes were closed, her chest rising and heaving as she slept. The lights from the lamps illuminated her face, she was beautiful.

He sat by the bed, his fingers tracing her jaw, to her cheeks. Her tear were moist against his fingers, he tilted his head, smirking.

"What a pathetic girl you are." Me muttered, "I won't let you take her place. Never." He muttered, getting up from the bed.

He glanced back at her,

"You're just another girl."