Reciprocated

The next morning, the very first thing I did when I woke up was release a sigh of relief, knowing that today's a weekend and that I still had some time to formulate and organize my disordered thoughts.

I spruced up myself while I contentedly sang in my usual off-key tune in the process, then wore my oversized ivory cardigan on top of my pajamas before heading downstairs.

Sauntering down each step of the carpet staircase, my mother's back figure and a male presence in front of her gradually came into my eyesight.

Twirling around as she identified me coming down, my mom gleefully informed me, "Oh Hana, Jungkook came to visit!"

But rather than looking into my gaze, her eyes peculiarly landed on my cheek area.

Gasping in a frenzied manner, she questioned in an immensely loud volume, "Oh my goodness, what happened to your face?!"

Oh shit.

I totally forgot about that.

I hastily took a glimpse at the nearest mirror, and there it was, a few red marks evidently visible here and there on the side of my face.

My chest immediately inundating with a sense of fright and consternation, I glanced back at them with uncertainty in what to do or even tell them.

Both of them were clearly in shock, but there was palpable rage apparent in Jungkook's expression. 

And at this point, my tears were unstoppable.

Now with irrepressible, lukewarm streams trickling down my face, I confessed truthfully to my mother, "T-Taehyung hit me mom... H-He slapped me so hard..."

"Come here." she said as she walked towards me and embraced me tightly, prioritizing her daughter's feelings above anything like a caring mother she is.

Jungkook, on the other hand, stiffly backed away and opened the front door, uttering "I'll give you guys some space." before exiting our house.

He probably felt awkward and didn't know what to do, and I wasn't going to force him to stay and watch me ball my eyes out over my boyfriend.

I continued to wail uncontrollably and stain my mother's t-shirt with tears of relief, finally liberating myself from the cage of unspoken torment I've been held hostage in.

After a long period of my mom constantly stroking the back of my head and reassuring me that everything was going to alright, I was ultimately able to calm down a bit.

Noticing my quietude, she let go, cupped my wet face, and wiped away my tears with the surface of her thumbs.

"You have nothing to be scared of okay sweetheart? You're safe with me right now. We'll do something about Taehyung-"

The boisterous sound of a Marimba ringtone interrupted my mother, making both of us stiffen up in place.

Removing my vibrating iPhone from the right pocket of my sweatpants, I uplifted it to my eye-level and checked who the caller is.

"Taehyung is calling..."

The mere letters of his name sent terrorizing chills down my spine and caused goosebumps to form on my skin, my limbs increasing the intensity of their quivering more than yesterday.

"I-I'll be right back..." I told my mom and exited out the front door, arriving at a conclusion that I should confront my fears rather than shrinking from it like a cowardly tortoise.

Shutting the door until a click was heard, I inhaled a deep and determined breath and pressed the luminescent, green button on my phone screen.

Deliberately placing it on my ear, I answered in a shaky tone, "H-Hello?"

"Hana! You won't believe what happened to me right now!" Taehyung breathlessly spoke into his mic, seeming to be running from something at the moment.

"One of the guys from school just came up to me and punched me! I don't know what his name is, but I swear I've seen him around in your class! I'm gonna report that bastard to the police and..." his voice slowly turned into an inconsequential, inaudible murmur in the background, because my whole attention was stolen by the staggering sight in front of me.

I spotted Jungkook by the concrete stairway anterior to my residence, heavily panting and appearing to be catching his breath with a discernible cut on his cheekbone.

"Hello? Hana?" I was snapped back to my call by Taehyung's irritated voice on the other side, but I promptly responded with a "I'll call you back." and hung up on my boyfriend.

As I collectedly wended my way in Jungkook's direction, he quickly acknowledged my presence and met me in the front of the stairs.

Awkwardly scratching the back of his head and averting his eyes from mine, Jungkook muttered hesitantly,"H-Hana..."

"It was you wasn't it." I clarified confidently with my arms intertwined, referring to the guy who assaulted and battered Taehyung.

Forming a straight line with his lips with his stare still glued to the cement ground, he let out a sigh of regret and sincerity for his answer.

"How'd that happen?" I continued on with my interrogation, pointing at the minor injury on his face.

"T-Taehyung fought back and I fell on the ground..." Jungkook admitted embarrassedly, of course unable to defeat a man who obtained a black belt in judo in his sophomore year.

Gently enveloping his uninjured cheek with my palm, I queried curiously, "Why'd you do such a thing?"

It look him a long moment of contemplation, but he finally divulged his true motives.

"Look, I'm not blind Hana. I can see that you're scared of him. I can see that you're being taken advantage of by him. I can see that you're being mistreated by someone who's supposed to be doing the complete opposite." Jungkook stated with an anguished expression, as if every single one of my pain was reflecting upon him as well.

"I just couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't bear to watch you cry over a guy who doesn't fucking deserve such an incredible girl like you." he said and fondled my hair adoringly, causing my entire face to flare up in an instant.

My heart throbbed vehemently out of genuine affection with no hint of dread whatsoever, something I hadn't felt in a while.

And that was when I realized, he's the one for me.

How could I have been so blind?

Jungkook always brightened my days, regardless of how shitty it could've been.

Jungkook always supported me, regardless of whatever impulsive decision I've made.

Jungkook always cared, regardless of how much of a crappy friend I may have been.

Not Taehyung.

With his soothing hand sadly descending away from my cheek, Jungkook lowered his face yet again.

"I know he's your boyfriend and I know you love him and all but-"

"I don't." I declared adamantly, my interest in Taehyung resembling a barren desert inside of me.

"What do you mean?" he asked as he glanced up, obviously astonished.

And in the split second that Jungkook raised his face, I took one step forward, softly cupped his cheeks, and collided my lips onto his.

Tremendous fireworks exploded in my chest, my heart performed triumphant backflips, and it felt as if I was floating in air with outspread wings on my back.

Disconnecting the electrifying kiss from his unbelievably soft lips, I stared into his widened eyes with a face probably as red as a cherry tomato.

"That's what I mean."

Hearing those four words, Jungkook dropped his forehead onto my shoulder as if all his muscles had gone numb.

"You don't know how long I waited for this moment, Hana." he sighed merrily.

Despite the booming, deafening pulsation that echoed throughout my body which was making it extremely difficult to think straight, I was able to let him know of what I wanted to say the most.

"I love you, Jungkook."

Clenching his chest area with his left hand, he snuggled his head into my cardigan even more and mumbled weakly, "Stop... I-I don't think my heart can handle this..."

Chuckling at the dramatic baby, I lovingly wrapped my arms around Jungkook's shoulders and shared an embrace bursting with euphoria.

But I was too busy celebrating our reciprocated feelings for one another that I almost lost track of my trail of thought.

"Oh, hold on. I need to do one last thing." I pushed Jungkook lightly, then unlocked my iPhone in my hand and called up the number of a certain someone.

After a couple of consistent ringing, he responded with a restless "Hello?"

"Hey uhm, Taehyung? Remember the guy that beat you up?" I asked just to refresh his memory a bit, taking a glimpse into Jungkook's lost and befuddled eyes before carrying on.

"He's my 'new boyfriend' you were talking about yesterday."

"WHAT?!?!?!" Taehyung shouted at the top of his lungs out of infuriation and almost destroyed my sense of hearing, synchronously as Jungkook's cheeks turned bright, scarlet red.

Smirking with my game face still on, I staunchly threatened him, "Yeah so report him to the police, and I'll report you for physical and emotional abuse. Understand?"

Taehyung didn't utter a single peep in return, but I heard him gulp nervously at the sudden blackmail I presented him with.

"Im taking that as a yes. Alright, it was nice knowing you Taehyung." I said as I formed a grin of pure satisfaction, but as I was about to end the call, a despairing cry was perceived from the phone.

"Wait! W-What do you mean 'it was nice knowing you'? What are you s-saying?" he stuttered anxiously, being horrible at taking hints.

With my pupils circulating in annoyance, I said the long-awaited words that the former Hana would've never had the guts to say.

"I'm leaving your ass. That's what im saying."

Then, I hung up.

Taking a step closer towards me with his fists bashfully shoved into his pockets, Jungkook questioned with elation and hopefulness sparkling in his pupils, "Now that he's outta the picture, does that mean I have a chance?"

Swiftly sliding my arms into the slight openings in between his elbows and upper body, I attacked him with an enamored hug and squeezed him to death.

"I'm already yours."

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