[!] trigger warning [!]
sexual coercion, abusive relationship

for those who don’t know what is ‘sexual coercion’, an explanation will be shown in the next chapter.

[italicized in narration – past event]

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Jisoo had always yearned for a love story that ended with a "happily ever after." If she could live a fairy tale life, she would. While she didn't fall in love with Jimin at first sight, she developed a crush on him that quickly blossomed.

She fell deeply in love with Jimin. He possessed qualities that she admired – coolness, gentleness, kindness, a great sense of humor, and a knack for connecting with children. Thoughts of him made her heart flutter. She believed he was her ideal man, and it was even better that he had a close friendship with her brother. With Jimin's bond with her protective brother, she knew she wouldn't have to exert much effort to gain his approval of their relationship in the future.

Valentine's Day stands out in her memory as the day she mustered the courage to ask Jimin out on a date. To her delight, he accepted. It was on that special day that she confessed her feelings for him. Jimin appeared surprised, leaving her nervously pounding heart audible in her chest.

Trying to ease the tension, she assured him that he was under no obligation to reciprocate if he didn't share the same feelings. Her words stumbled and her voice cracked with nervousness. However, to her surprise, Jimin pulled her into a kiss that caught her off guard. They shared a slow, tender kiss, and she eagerly kissed him back.

It was her first kiss, and it felt sweet and gentle. Her heart fluttered, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Jimin's soft voice made her feel as if she were living in a fairy tale. As they slowly pulled away, their faces just an inch apart, Jimin whispered, "I like you too."

They decided to keep their relationship a secret, and she was fine with that. Jisoo and her boyfriend agreed to wait until they were ready to announce it to the world. Jimin's sweet gestures and words had her enthralled, like a baby falling for their mother's soothing lullaby.

Their relationship progressed into the first year, and Jisoo was filled with excitement as she planned a special celebration. She researched the best gifts for men on Google, watched handmade gift tutorials on YouTube, and explored visuals of candlelight dinners on Pinterest. However, her efforts were in vain when Jimin asked her to cancel their date. He had some matters to settle in his hometown, he explained.

It would be a lie to say that she wasn't saddened by the cancellation. She wished she could maintain a cool attitude and shrug off the sadness, but instead, she forced herself to reassure her boyfriend that it was okay. Every day, she expressed her love for him, but on that day, her call was abruptly ended after a quick goodbye. It caught her off guard.

But it was okay, she told herself. He must have been busy, she reasoned. He simply didn't have a moment to say "I love you" like he always did, she thought.

They still saw each other every day at work, but their interactions seemed to be dwindling. Their conversations revolved solely around business, with no traces of their romantic or even friendly connection.

One day, Jisoo's excitement peaked when Jimin mentioned wanting to take her out on their anniversary. It might have been late, but she didn't mind. To her, every day felt like their anniversary.

"I prepared a lot for you!" she exclaimed as they sat on a bench, admiring the glittering river in the evening. "But I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I started with something simple."

Jimin let out an awkward chuckle, accepting the gift box from his girlfriend and rubbing the back of his neck.

"Aren't you going to open it?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Jimin seemed taken aback. Hesitantly, he replied, "Sure, I'm... opening it." He unwrapped the gift and pulled out a red knitted shawl from the box, with "JM-JS" sloppily embroidered in the corner. He threw his head back, laughing, and said, "Aww, this is cute!"

Jisoo's heart blossomed upon hearing his laughter. Giggling, she asked, "Really?"

He nodded, humming deeply, his lips forming a smile. "Hmm, baby, I've also prepared something special for our anniversary. But it's not something physical like yours," he paused, smiling awkwardly as he massaged his neck. "Let's have... sex!"

Jisoo's bright smile gradually faded. "Sorry?"

Jimin chuckled before saying, "You love me, don't you? I know you won't say 'no' to that."

"But... I'm not ready," she responded.

"Oh?"

A long silence followed. Jisoo's mind became a jumble of thoughts. She started to fear that she might lose Jimin and struggled to find a way out of this predicament. She muttered, "I..."

"If you don't want to, it's alright," Jimin said, smiling. "I can find someone else to do it with me."

"Wait!" she cried out. Jimin raised an eyebrow, and there was a brief moment of silence. "Let's... let's do it."

Upon hearing her response, her boyfriend curved a slow smile, and they proceeded.

Their first time together was slow and gentle. Soon, they engaged in intimate activities repeatedly, and Jimin's true colors began to surface. He scared and hurt Jisoo during their encounters, brushing it off as normal. So, she thought it was normal too.

Jisoo started wearing long-sleeved shirts even on hot days to cover up the bruises. Some people, including her brother, teased her for resembling Hoseok's behavior. All she could do was laugh it off.

During their breaks, when their boss was asleep in his office, Jisoo and Jimin would find themselves alone. Jimin would approach her, his hand caressing her thighs. His face mere inches away, his eyes filled with lust.

Fear once again gripped her mind. She tried to fight it, but the fear of losing Jimin loomed large. Unable to reject him and incapable of considering a better choice, she reluctantly pulled him into a half-hearted kiss. He smirked and ran his hand under her shirt, consuming her lips with his insatiable desire.

The next day, Jisoo forgot to apply concealer to her forehead. Wheein was the first to notice the bruise and called her out. "Hey!" she exclaimed, grasping Jisoo's chin to inspect her forehead. Astonished, she gasped, "How did you get this?"

Jisoo's heart raced as she quickly grabbed her phone and pretended to check her face with the camera, desperately trying to compose herself. She cursed inwardly, feeling trapped and cornered. Reluctantly, she resorted to lying, "I hit my head on the door at home."

Wheein let out a flustered laugh, a mixture of disbelief and concern. She flashed a sheepish grin before shaking her head with a lopsided smile. Taking hold of Jisoo's arm, she said, "You clumsy thing. Come on, let me get some cream and ice for you."

Jisoo's yelp caught Wheein off guard, causing her to furrow her eyebrows in worry. She firmly pulled Jisoo's arm and pushed up her long sleeve, revealing a series of bruises and red slashes. As she pulled the sleeve further, more marks became visible.

Wheein's dark eyes turned fiery with determination. "Who did this?" she asked, her voice stern. Silence hung in the air, but Wheein refused to back down. "Your brother?"

"No!" Jisoo protested.

"Then who?" Wheein pressed.

"No one," Jisoo muttered. "I told you, I hit my head on the door."

"You hit your arms on the door too?" Wheein exclaimed. "Do I look stupid?"

Jisoo's breath trembled, tears streaming down her cheeks. She desperately clung to the hope of preserving her relationship with Jimin, not wanting to lose him so suddenly. In her mind, she convinced herself that his love made up for the fear he instilled in her.

Wheein took a deep breath, trying to contain her emotions. "I'm not angry at you for hiding this from me, Jisoo. But I need to know who did this to you."

Jisoo shook her head, fear and uncertainty consuming her.

"What the hell?" Wheein muttered, her face contorted with frustration. After staring at her friend for a while, she finally said, "Fine! I'm going to tell your brother."

"No, Wheein, wait!" Jisoo pleaded, pulling at Wheein's wrist. "Please. I... I'll tell you when I'm ready."

"When? How long will it take? Until that jerk gives you a concussion?" Wheein's voice was filled with exasperation and concern.

Jisoo shot her friend a look, her eyes pleading for understanding. "He would never do that!" she yelled, the words echoing through the silent surroundings. Coldness and fear settled deep within her, as she massaged her sore upper arm, deliberately avoiding her friend's sharp gaze.

Shaking her head in disbelief, Wheein muttered, "You're coming with me to the police station." She reached out to grab Jisoo's wrist.

Jisoo pulled her hand back and asked, her voice filled with confusion, "What for?"

"To report abuse. What else?" Wheein replied, her determination unwavering.

"I'm not being abused! I... I consent to these marks," Jisoo protested, her voice faltering.

Wheein's face twisted with disbelief. "Bullshit!"

As the commotion from Seokjin and Jungkook grew louder in the distance, Jisoo quickly pushed down her sleeves and walked past Wheein as if she were a mere shadow, desperately hoping to avoid any further confrontation.

**********

Her shift concluded early that day. Instead of returning home, she ventured to a more distant location from the boutique to indulge in a smoke. It had to be somewhere secluded, where silence prevailed and an air of mustiness lingered. Leaning against the solid concrete wall, she exhaled a plume of smoke through her lips.

Wheein used to relish the taste, but recently, it had become monotonous to her palate. The idea of switching to a vape had started to take hold in her mind. It was an expensive choice, one of the reasons she had been working harder lately. She could have quit smoking altogether, but the allure and addictive nature of the taste tempted her.

Examining the ashes left behind as the cigarette neared its end, she paused for a moment. The ashes held no interest for her, except for the way they contracted after burning. Just as she was about to raise the cigarette to her lips once again, a familiar voice interrupted her.

Turning her head toward the source of the voice, she spotted Jimin and an unfamiliar woman with shoulder-length hair strolling past the alley, giggling and engaged in conversation. She discarded the cigarette butt onto the ground, crushing it under her boot. With stealth, she approached the end of the alley and peered around the corner.

The couple's phone rang, causing Jimin to reach into his jeans pocket to retrieve it. They halted their walk. Placing a finger on his lips, he signaled for silence to the woman by his side, and he slid a button on his phone screen to answer the call.

"Hey!" he greeted cheerfully. "Yes, I've eaten! ... Don't worry, babe. ... Oh, I'm at home. Just finished showering. ... Uhm, I don't think I can video call with you tonight. I'm busy cleaning the house." The woman beside him giggled silently. "Sure, I'll see you tomorrow, Jisoo!"

Taken aback, Wheein gasped in silence. Her assumptions about Jimin's behavior were proving to be true. Determined, she quietly followed him.

**********

Her assumptions were confirmed.

As soon as Wheein arrived, the unknown woman released her grip on Jimin's arm, and the couple froze in front of his rented apartment. Across from them stood Jisoo, clad in pajamas, clutching a bento box.

An oppressive silence hung in the air, growing increasingly uncomfortable. Jisoo's trembling breaths soon escalated into audible sobs, their echoes reverberating through the corridor. Her eyes reddened, filling with tears.

"Jisoo. Wh-when did you arrive? I was just—" Jimin began to explain, but Jisoo abruptly interrupted him.

"Stop!" Jisoo cried, taking a step back and raising a hand.

Wheein remained rooted behind the wall, her heart shattering as she witnessed the scene unfolding before her.

"What part of me isn't enough?" Jisoo asked through quivering breaths. However, Jimin remained silent, his gaze fixed on the expansive courtyard.

The woman by Jimin's side appeared unfazed and retreated from the area.

Wheein swiftly walked to the elevator and acted as if she had just stepped out of it. As the woman entered the elevator, she turned to get a good look at her.

She was curvaceous, dressed in a sleeveless crop top and leggings, her high heels clicking against the elevator floor. She sported short, wavy, blonde hair, with one side tucked behind her ears. There was an undeniable sexiness about her, but the aura of arrogance she emitted was an instant turn-off.

Wheein felt the urge to unleash her anger, but she held back and continued staring until the woman noticed her gaze.

"What are you looking at?" the woman retorted, her tone laced with rudeness.

Smirking, Wheein responded defiantly, "Disgusting."

"Excuse me?" the woman snapped, her face contorted in anger. The elevator doors slowly closed, cutting off any further exchange.

Returning to witness the scene unfolding in the corridor, Wheein saw that Jisoo's face was now red and drenched in tears. The contents of the bento box were strewn across the ground, and it was evident that Jimin's jeans and sneakers were stained with spicy fried chicken sauce. Sobbing, Jisoo uttered, "I gave you everything. I gave you my all, even when I couldn't. What more do you want?"

However, Jimin remained silent.

It was unbearable for Wheein to witness Jisoo's heart breaking into pieces. She felt an overwhelming urge to bash Jimin's head against the wall. She didn't need her emotions to guide her actions, but she felt compelled to be present. To resist the brewing resentment, she left before it could consume her mind and waited on the ground floor of the apartment building.

After more than twenty minutes of waiting, she heard footsteps approaching. Pushing herself away from the wall, she saw Jisoo walking past. Wheein called out, "Kim Jisoo."

Jisoo turned her head, her red and swollen eyes widening at the sight of her best friend standing there. "What... W-what are you doing here?" she asked.

Initially unsure of what to do or say, Wheein decided to act upon the idea that had been running through her mind. She left Jisoo's question unanswered, took her friend's wrist, and led her away from the scene. "You can't go home like this. You can't let your brother see you," she said. Locking eyes with Jisoo, she whispered, "Unless you want him to kill Jimin."

After a moment of contemplation, Jisoo followed Wheein to her own house.

**********

Wheein escorted her best friend back to her house, armed with five bottles of soju. As they entered, her mother greeted them with warmth, but concern quickly spread across her face upon seeing Jisoo's condition. Sensing the unspoken worry, Wheein kindly informed her mother that Jisoo was dealing with some issues and motioned to keep it confidential. Understanding the gesture, her mother simply smiled at Jisoo.

Guiding Jisoo to her room, Wheein held small glasses in her hands. While she poured soju into a glass, Jisoo, with a congested nose, murmured, "No, thanks. I'll drink straight from the bottle."

Baffled, Wheein could only watch as Jisoo unscrewed a bottle and chugged down the soju. Some of the liquid escaped her mouth, trickling down her neck and staining her loose white shirt. She let out a satisfied exhale, followed by a hiss. Gradually, Jisoo's cheeks took on a pink tint.

"Isn't it bitter for you?" Wheein asked out of nowhere.

In a curt tone, Jisoo replied, "No."

With hesitation, Wheein reached for another bottle, uncapped it, and poured a small amount into a cup. "Alright then," she muttered before downing the alcohol.

They continued drinking in silence. After a while, Jisoo had consumed two bottles, while Wheein had barely finished half of her first. As Jisoo grew intoxicated, her eyes drooped, fixating wearily on the floor. And then, the tears came pouring out.

The sight of Jisoo's pain was too much for Wheein to bear. She couldn't bring herself to look directly at her friend.

Amidst her sobs, Jisoo choked out, "What am I lacking?" She hunched over, her forehead almost touching the ground, her fist clutching at her shirt. "I gave him everything. What is missing from my love, Jung Wheein?" she cried out.

Wheein was never the most skilled at comforting others, but she hoped her next actions were right. She gently held Jisoo's shoulders, drawing her closer, allowing her to sob on her shoulder.

She wasn't sure if patting Jisoo's back would provide any solace, but she instinctively placed her palm on Jisoo's head, softly caressing it.

"It hurts," Jisoo wept, pounding her own chest. "It hurts so much."