*Nari's POV*

"You are wasting away your life."

I was too absorbed in the book as I pulled it closer, lying back down on the bed. There was a perfect picture playing in my head as I consumed the words in front of me: impatient to dive into the pages of the very book, but alas some things were sadly just simple dreams.

"How I wish, I had someone like Cardan," I sighed dreamily, a giggle escaping my lips and just like that my mood shattered as the book was stolen away.

My mother glared at me and I watched in horror as she threw away my pride and joy. Tears brimmed my eyes, but I wasn't going to let her get to me as I smiled at her warm and bright, one thing she had failed to give me.

"Yes?" I asked while getting up from my bed as I had no courage to stare back at the scornful gaze that held nothing but disappointment. It was even more overwhelming to see my mom in the formal attire of a fitted long dress, heels, and hair that was always slicked back, adding to her confident demeanor.

"What do you think you are doing Nari?" my mother asked curtly.

If only I had paid more attention to the time then she would have not caught me in my sleepwear, but it was far too late to dwell on these things.

"Getting ready for my interview, " I replied, making my way to the closet and peaking at her with another one of my fake warm smiles. "It is at 3 pm so I was taking some time to calm down my nerves"

"Lies!" my mom exclaimed as I flinched in place. There was nothing worse than her anger that showed no mercy. It sounds silly to me now, but she used to be better towards me. I still miss her warm hugs and the way she would listen to me. Everything has turned into a horrible nightmare ever since I decided to not work in the family business. My parents thought my dream to be a writer was merely a phase that I would grow out of yet here I was fighting to work where I wanted. A part of me knew already how this interview would go, but I couldn't back down. Not now.

"I do have it late so I'm not lying," I managed to say, taking out of my clothes as I felt her fierce glare. "I have until the end of this month so I'd like my space."

"There is no such thing as space in this household and you know that so don't spew such nonsense, " my mother huffed in annoyance. "Let's see what happens. I told you that you didn't stand a chance against the real world. You are no writer, Nari, it's time that you accept it."

Those words cut through me like a knife and a part of me wished to be stronger yet no matter how much I told myself otherwise, the sinking feeling never left.

********

*phone rings*

"Yes?" I asked, hopeful as my heart raced with anticipation. The interview had gone well and it seemed like they were enthusiastic to get back to me so it seemed like I finally had a voice somewhere, but it was taken away from me as soon as it was given. It was the same three words that I never wanted to hear again:

"I'm sorry."

I wasn't listening anymore. It was always the same excuse that I had heard a million times that it had started to sound like a joke. Was this really all that I was worth? All because of the damn connections my parents had, I had to suffer. Nothing made me happier than reading and writing yet it seemed like my parents were set on my demise which only came to them too easily.

The only thing driving me forward right now was the anger coursing through my blood. Maybe it was wicked to have thoughts as mine, however, all I hoped for at that very moment was ill upon them. Tired of me being rational and loving, I wanted revenge. I would make sure they heard my voice until they were sick of me.

*********

Tears streamed down my eyes as I drove myself to the only place I could think of. It was a small local bar with the best bartender I knew: a kind soul who spoke to me as a friend though he didn't have to.

I never thought my parents would hate me this much over my occupation. It hurt more because they taught me what it meant to feel love only to snatch it away from me when I needed it the most. I wasn't sure if a wound like that would ever heal as my inner child mourned that affection every day and I, the evil one, suppressing its desire to want love.

The truth is that I have been avoiding alcohol as much as possible. I didn't want to be addicted to something and prove my parents right. My urge to win was stronger than the demons that lead me to sit in my usual seat.

"The usual?" The bartender asked, knowing very well why I was there. Unfortunately for me, he knew all the stories I kept to myself as the drunk version of me had no filter. I spoke around as if he was my best friend and well funnily enough we were friends now.

"You know me," I smiled, trying to keep my voice stable since the last thing I wanted was to cry dramatically in a bar no less.

"Any more stories to tell?" he asked with a mischievous smile.

"Yoongi, " I whined, red coating my cheeks as I held the glass tight in my hands. "I won't bother you today. I'll stay right here."

"You aren't a bother Ria," Yoongi smiled at me warmly. He was the reason I hadn't lost complete faith in humanity.

The glass in my hands mocked me, testing my patience but at this point of the day, the liquid grew inviting as I brought it to my lips, chugging it down in one go. It burned my throat going down as I closed my eyes shut. The flavour was terrible yet I didn't care anymore as I went for another glass. There were many things I wanted in my life and I was starting to think that maybe that's why I'll never get anything at all. People would think I was being dramatic but the truth was Yoongi was too busy to be my real friend. He had a life of his own. My brother saw me as competition and nothing more while my parents saw me as a vessel. Friends never stayed around me and I envied those with friends for life. How come I didn't have one? It felt like a sick joke.

Soon my heart grew numb as I sat there absent-minded. Suddenly, the lights dimmed down as I turned my head around, noticing the bright light on stage as they were saying something incoherent. Tonight was one of the weekly open mics and just my luck, I could barely see clearly.

Squinting my eyes, I noticed the jet black hair and as my eyes finally adjust, I notice warm brown doe eyes. For a few seconds, I held my breath as he shined the cutest bunny-looking smile as he introduced himself. A curse escaped my lips as I missed it once more through the cheers of the crowd. At that moment, I thought it was just another bad day of mine as I lost hope of getting to watch the man with pretty eyes. I grabbed another glass, drowning it away as I wondered who he was. He seemed famous from the way the crowd was cheering for him, could it be a special appearance? It was none of my business but somehow his voice dragged me out as the sweetest melody filled my ears as the bar grew silent.

It was weird how I found myself, looking once more as I searched for the comfort within in his voice. As the rain poured away in the distance, the storm raged through the dark yet tonight he lit up the darkness of the night. His voice was pure and he shaped the room with his lyrics as I found myself pushing through the crowd to get a better look, a giggle escaping my lips as I could finally see the tall handsome man on stage. There was no doubt the stars were made for him as he shone ever so brightly. His words made me sway over myself, stumbling into the center as I let go, swaying to his beat and I was oblivious to the others who decided to dance and those who judged me silently. After all, this was the first time I felt free in so long, I didn't care anymore about how much I would regret this when the sun shone once more.

I was convinced the alcohol had made me delirious because what were the chances that a doe-eyed man was staring at me? It was a dream in my head, all that I had created and I didn't mind his attention as I looked back at him, smiling ever so brightly.  As the song started to pull to an end, my heart started to sink at that moment as I needed more. The salvation of his voice was saving me and I didn't want to return to reality, but alas all good things come to an end as I turn around, my eyes met with the doe-eyed stranger and was it possible he was getting closer to me? Another silly thought I dismissed, smiling to myself but I had stopped in place looking at him as he made his way closer I should have known how real it was at that moment, but I was distracted by the way the lights existed in his eyes and the crinkle of it when he smiled once more.

"Still with you."

My heart stopped as realization dawned upon me and I tripped, trying to move away but was caught as his hands lay on my back and I wondered if he could hear the way my heart raced embarrassingly. I was a hot mess, to say the least, and no way I looked pretty after no one knows how many drinks yet he was smiling at me, whispering against my lips.

"I am Jungkook, and you?"

I had a hard time saying anything, mesmerized by his eyes and the way his lips were far too close to mine, rendering me speechless. He was a man right out of the books I read, books my mother had always told me I was a fool for reading yet here he was proving me right for probably the first time in my life. I should speak, I kept telling myself but his eyes were a menace capturing your very existence as they held the universe between them. It was hard to breathe as I was caught in his beautiful trance of a world he held in his doe eyes.

"Nari," I whispered, forcing myself to get a grip on myself as I straightened up my posture, a blush creeping up on my face from hot the air between us. "You sing beautifully."

"And you are beautiful," He said almost immediately which didn't help my racing heart. I wasn't even sure if it was mine at this point with how it responded to his attention.

"You flatter me," I replied, looking over once more as he was smiling again which was hard to ignore. "How about a drink? I think a performance like yours calls for a celebration."

If I were sober at that moment, my actions would have horrified me, but in that drunken haze of the prettiest man in front of me: I carried myself with boldness as I directed him to the bar hand in hand.

"Two drinks please," I called out with a smile on my face, his warm breath fanning my behind as I was too aware of each of his moments.

"Do you come here often?" Jungkook asked, his voice soothing to my ears as I couldn't help but giggle, turning around as I handed him his drink.

"Enough to know that you are new," I replied, drinking once more.

He laughed, another melodic sound and it made me wonder if anything about this man was flawed. I was entranced, staring into his eyes that crinkled and It sounded free, young- the very thing I wanted for myself. I envied his beautiful laughs just as much as I was drawn to it.

"I think our paths just never crossed," He takes a few steps closer, placing his glass on the counter as I found myself holding my breath. "I come here quite often."

He grabbed the drink out of my hand, catching me off guard as he takes a sip from it instead. All I could do at that moment was stare baffled at the sight of his soft lips touching where I had just taken a sip and I knew for a fact, my cheeks were burning as I look away, grabbing another to finish off.

"A shame then that we never met before," I said, gathering the courage to meet his eyes.

"You are right," He replied with a smile on his face and I wondered if he knew the effect he had over me as I couldn't think straight no matter how much I tried. His fingers were in my hair as I found myself stuck in place, unable to move as I enjoyed his gentle touch."How about we meet more often then? maybe you could give me your number."

"That I don't remember," I frowned unable to pinpoint anything.

"No worries, I'll give you mine," He said as he helped me type in his number and I kept wondering if this was real or not. Could I be hallucinating this perfect man? 

"Let me walk you out," He stated, holding my hand as he guided me threw the crowd, whispers sounding in my ear as I giggled in response. 

He called the cab, helping me inside I looked at him in confusion as he said words I couldn't hear anymore and it made me upset that I wasn't able to hear the words he spoke. His worried doe- eyes are the last thing I see before I pass out on the seats.

*****************************************

So what do you all think so far? I restarted some things bc I have decided to challenge myself and write in dual pov. Something I did with my previous book, but this time I want to make things chapter by chapter.

I am really excited to write this book and to everyone who knows me from The Pied Piper, Welcome back, and let's have more fun together.

I'll do my best with the updates so stay tuned for more and leave me your thoughts as those are the only reason I am able to write.Thank you for joining me on a new journey!

see you all real soon. Bye!!!

Take care,

Sera