six: lie

"Find me when I was pure
I can't be free from this lie
Give me back my smile."

//

SHIRA
so bitches this is how things will be

HOBI
did you just cuss...?

JIMMY JAMMY
someone alert elisa

ELISA
just because i don't swear doesn't mean i have a problem with you guys

JIN
she's so mature 🙄🙄🙄

JUNGKOOK
she is

TALULAH
unlike your bitch ass. aren't you the oldest?

JIN
WOAH TALULAH SIT DOWN

SHIRA
anyway. i expect you all to be civil and punctual for the countdown to the wedding. there'll be a dance rehearsal and dinner party etc. i'll be sending the wedding schedule.

ZELDA
sounds great. can't wait :)

SHIRA
especially you Hoseok and Talulah, i want no twerking!

HOBI
how dare you accuse us of something so...

TALULAH
yeah we'll control ourselves for you shira

TALULAH
but please tell me you'll be having an after party because we NEED one

TAETAE
oh thou lover pls stop embarrassing thy

TALULAH
you're sat right next to me i will fight you

ZELDA
oh look it's sex positions god taehyung

TAETAE
i will fight you

JIMMMY JAMMY
you'll what now?

TAETAE
i'll fight jimmy jammy i'm fine

JIMMY JAMMY
alright blueberry

TAETAE
YOU LIKE MY BLUE HAIR

JUNGKOOK
we all do tae

ELIANNA
so what's the schedule?

TAETAE
ew elianna no

ELIANNA
ew elianna what?

JIN
why so serious

ELIANNA
i am the admin of this group i will kick you both out

SHIRA
there's going to be a dance rehearsal

ELIANNA
a what now?

SHIRA
i just said-

HOBI
HELL YEAH

Elianna groans in frustration as she puts her phone away. it slips into her pocket before she focuses on the street ahead. her and Jimin are walking together, completing errands on a weekday morning. they dodge people, converse with each other as they try to keep up with the group chat.

"Hoseok and you never made fusses for your weddings like a fucking dance rehearsal." Elianna snaps, biting her lip as she thinks about the thought of having to dance for a wedding. a learnt dance? with people? "since when is Shira into all of that?" she questions, distaste apparent on her face.

"so now i have to actually see him-" the reason behind her distaste and anger becomes evident. Elianna just wants to go to a wedding, see her friend walk down the aisle and that's it. she doesn't want to do the schedule, as much as she likes spending time with her friends, she'll have to see Jungkook.

so she rants to Jimin as they walk side by side in similar jackets. Jimin has his leather, satchel bag around his body and Elianna has her essentials in her pockets. the weather is cold. one is dressed in double denim whilst the other is dressed in warm clothes as they appreciate the sunshine peaking through the clouds in the morning.

"i think it's her fiancé who wants all the grand plans." Jimin suggests. he hasn't met Hussain just yet but knows Shira isn't the kind of person who enjoys such ideas like dancing practices or dinner parties. from what Elianna has told him, he's not great. he needs to interpret more. he thinks about Hoseok's wedding for a moment, the boy danced with no practice at his wedding. he did wonderfully as everyone clapped when he moved to the loud music.

Jimin then remembers his first dance with Zelda at his wedding. it was a gentle moment that Taehyung had photographed perfectly. white dress, black suit and soft, euphoric smiles with teary eyes. blueberry did well.

"well he can go fuck him-"

Jimin hushes her quickly as his physical affection shows when he wraps his arm around Elianna's shoulder. he pulls her in as they turn the corner. "anyway so... you're worried about Jungkook?" he asks curiously and wanting to help. "i think he's worried too."

Jungkook has expressed his worry about seeing Elianna at the wedding too. both past lovers feel worried about seeing each other again. they know there's no way of avoiding it and now with specific, additional activities and organised events, they're annoyed. obviously there's a part of them that still really want to see each other.

Jimin lets go of Elianna as he window shops. "you might have to interact and actually stand next to each other, that's ever so scary!"

Elianna rolls her eyes. "now you sound like Jin. stop with the sarcasm."

"i'm just saying..." Jimin crosses his arms over his chest. "i think you're both overthinking too much." he points out with a nose sniffle.

Elianna stays silent for a moment. the fierce female doesn't know what to say because she knows Jimin is right. everyone overthinks. but her heart is heavy with one thought. "does he really ask about me?"

"oh dear El, you're hard to forget you know?"

Elianna feels emotional. Jungkook is also hard to forget, just look at her... she thinks about him every single day. his dark locks, his physical figure, his softness and how he truly had a crush on her. she isn't as tough as she thought. she talks about hating on him and never wanting to see him but her heart sends different signals. her tough mind and soft heart are forever at war.

she decides to change the subject to what her and Jimin are actually doing- flower shopping for Shira. "why can't we get flowers from your florist?" she questions, bewildered.

"we haven't actually ordered any proper flowers."

"proper flowers?"

"ones we can sell anyway."

Jimin stands outside a competing florist. however, there are no signs of jealousy or competition on his face. he smiles, observing it with a tilt of his head. his hair strands fall in front of his eyes. "we need a lovely bouquet that shows her that we're happy for her."

"and are we happy for her?" Elianna knows she is but there's a part of that will always question. her friendship with Shira has always been strong and now someone will be coming between it. marriage can change a lot and she didn't realise until now how protective she had been... to let go of her.

"of course we are." Jimin looks at Elianna and shakes her shoulders playfully. "fuck yeah we are! our Shira is getting married." he sounds almost drunk as he wanders in to the florist.

"that's cute."

so the friends buy a florist to show Shira that they're happy to celebrate the incoming days until her marriage. it's a glorious collection of flowers that they hope Shira will like. Jimin contemplated the price, muttering something about how he's going to inform Zelda and make theirs cheaper. Elianna paid and dragged him outside.

so Elianna held the bouquet, large in her small arms as she made sure to watch where she's walking. Jimin guides her and they converse.

Elianna takes out her phone to see an email from work. her new job, after achieving her degree has been the one she has stuck with. she likes the fact that she gets to make birthday cards for a living. a graphic design degree enabled her to be an illustrator. she doesn't do art as a hobby but as a career and she feels grateful.

as she reads the email on her phone, Jimin, who also has the same degree leads her inside a bustling cafe. Elianna follows, carefully holding the bouquet as they enter.

little does usually observant Elianna know that Jimin has lead her into Two Euphoric Hearts. the place is busy, she won't notice a thing, he thinks. she's too occupied with her phone to notice that the small boy has in fact, seated them at a round table at her ex boyfriend's beautiful cafe.

Jimin bites the inside of his mouth nervously. he watches Elianna set the bouquet down gently before concentrating on her phone. she's going to realise, he feels.

the anxious friend intertwines his fingers on the table in front of them. he looks around the familiar place that has become like a home to him, he spots a few figures and now he definitely wants to squirm in shame.

apron tied Jin freezes as soon as his gaze lands on the two of them. he usually keeps an eye on the front door and is pretty good at his job. he's surprised to see Elianna sitting thoughtlessly with no idea. he glares at Jimin, wondering what he's up to.

Jimin then notices bright, blue haired Taehyung watching him and Elianna from the garden area. the taller boy has his face pressed against the glass windows, biting his nail as he stays outside. he looks petrified.

Jimin feels even more anxious knowing his friends are here. he almost face palms himself when he notices some of the girls. their friendship group is so large, everyone is always here. do they have nothing else to do? he sighs when he spots Elisa bouncing her daughter on her hip with a confused glance. Talulah also stops sweeping the floor and her eyes widen in shock. what are you doing, she mouths angrily.

Taehyung pulls Talulah back.

Jimin gulps harshly and notices Elianna put her phone away. she's going to notice any second now, thank god the manager isn't present today... he starts to overthink as he bounces his leg. it's obvious from his physical reactions that there is something quite wrong, that he's really nervous.

"what's up with you?" Elianna furrows her brows. she gives him a weird look before taking the menu into her hands. "what do you want to drink then?" she questions, forgetting the fact that they haven't ate lunch before her ring decorated fingers trace over the black font. hot chocolate, caramel...

"Elianna i-" Jimin starts, leg still bouncing as he watches Elianna take off her jacket and get comfortable. she still hasn't realised? "shit. i feel really bad." he says in a low mutter.

"what's wrong?"

"i urm... holy crap." Jimin runs his hand through his blonde locks, leaning back in his chair as his jacket suddenly suffocates his chest. his anxiety is overwhelming and it reminds him of the day he got into a motorbike accident and woke up in the hospital the next day. that was worse. "i'm sorry. i don't know why i brought you here." he admits, breathing coming out disorderly.

"what? what are you on about? "

"this is Jungkook's place-"

Elianna blinks, once, twice and all her friends watch her. she only looks at Jimin like a ticking time bomb. "of course it is." she explodes, snapping in disappointment. Jimin feels shame from the way she looks at him. "ya'll need to stop this bullshit."

she surprises all of her friends and addresses them too. she slips on her jacket again and stands up, uncomfortable and distressed by the place itself.

she's never been here before. she's never been in Jungkook's dream.

Elianna's facial expression says it all as she looks disappointed. her eyes are glaring and her chest is moving up and down as she pushes her chair under the table. she starts to move to leave until he appears.

Jungkook.

Elianna sees Jungkook appear from a door leading to the back of the cafe. he stills in his footsteps, apron tied around his waist as his hair neatly sweeps away from his forehead. he looks professional, mature and beautiful. even as a waiter yet manager of the store, he seems to fit into the role perfectly.

there's just silence.

Elianna leaves in a matter of seconds. she runs out immediately, overwhelmed with ongoing emotions and she doesn't take a single glance back.

Jin is the first to break the silence. he face palms himself and groans. "don't you think i wanted to force her in here too?" he says to Jimin.

Jimin has no explanation for what he's done. he leans back in his chair, jacket still clinging to him as he sighs. "i know. i don't know why-"

"we can't just do that Jimin. it's not right." Elisa mentions.

"i just thought maybe it would..."

surprisingly, Jungkook speaks up next. he takes off his apron and glances at every one of his friends. "as much as i want her to come here, you have to let her make her own decisions." he says maturely and calmly. it leaves everyone thinking about their own reactions and how Jungkook is growing.

then Jungkook leaves his place, swinging the door open. he starts to look for Elianna everywhere, she can't have gone far...

the male finds his true love in an alley way. he gulps harshly and scratches the top of his head, hair falling from his previous neat hairstyle. he walks in and makes sure to keep his distance.

"hey." he murmurs, voice low as he feels his heart beat racing. i can't believe you just ran after her Kookie, i'm proud of you. the truth is, he doesn't know what to say or do. the last time they were alone, lust accompanied them but this time, the dull and grey melancholia is suffocating them immensely.

Jungkook gulps harshly as he stands a few steps away from Elianna. she simply stills in her position, obviously surprised by him as she tries to light her cigarette. she struggles, flicking the lighter repeatedly as her hair escapes her bun in nervousness.

"you shouldn't be here." Elianna mutters as she looks down. she doesn't dare to meet Jungkook's brown gaze, afraid to see the various emotions swirling in the orbs she once called home. she focuses on the brief flame that flickers, on and off, on and off...

her heart is going crazy.

Jungkook feels his jaw twitch in irritation as he looks at Elianna. all he can think about is the fact that she, the heartbreaker yet the one he left, forgave her friend who started it all. does he not deserve forgiveness? is there that much of a difference between him and Yoongi? is she torturing me?

he wants to ask, how are you? how is your family? do they remember me? what did you think of my cafe? did you notice how i put your favourite books on the shelves? how i named it after two hearts that are meant to be together? do you think of me? miss me even?

"why shouldn't i be?"

Elianna has always been harsh and blunt but Jungkook has always loved that about her. it's a trait that drew him towards her, since the day they met. you're here to fuck right, he was speechless. "i don't want to talk to you." she states, groaning in annoyance when her lighter decides to not work for her.

"i've gathered that." Jungkook says. the tone of his voice is calm but internally, he's a raging tempest. he gets angry too, it's uncommon but present for him. "even after all these years, you still can't stand my voice." he points out, eyes focused on just her as always. he remembers a time where their voices collided, soft yet harsh tones of promises and affection that soon went away.

Jungkook misses belonging to Elianna. she was his badass.

"no i can't stand it okay?" Elianna's eyes snap towards his and a similar surge of electricity runs through their bodies. brown meets brown, both filled with fiery irritation. every time they share eye contact, it's intimate and daring. "i can't stand anything about you!" she keeps her lips pursued.

Jungkook isn't surprised that she's purposely hurting him by bickering and being harshly blunt. they're both brewing an argument that was incoming. even in an alley way, strangers walk past as they bore their eyes into each other with swirls of feelings.

"i couldn't believe it, but it's true isn't it?"

Elianna furrows her brows. "is what true?" she asks, pulling her legs together as she covers her body with her jacket. "what are you on about?"

"listen to my voice now Elianna," Jungkook can't help but spit as he steps closer. his demeanour appears as intimidating. "how could you forgive Yoongi so easily? why don't i deserve your forgiveness? a second chance?" his voice almost breaks at the end but he's glad it doesn't because he's spent so long being weak around Elianna. this time, he wants to be strong so she knows of his suffocating feelings and heartbreak... how he built a stupid cafe so she could visit, in hopes that she'd forgive him and they could start all over again someday.

"you can't forgive me can you?"

why?

Elianna is startled. she doesn't know what to say as she notices Jungkook's shaky hands and red eyes. her own eyes widen and for now, all that exists is the space between them. "i thought you loved me and you never said it... but you can forgive that fucker."

i did love you, Elianna's heart says.

Elianna has hardly witnessed Jungkook curse but now as he does so, she sees pure envy in his eyes. she tries to think about why she forgave Yoongi and not him, an answer doesn't come but all she knows is that she's not ready to say i forgive you to Jungkook. she hates seeing him so broken yet it mirrors what she's been going through... ever since he walked out of the door, after hurting her for days.

"do you hate me that fucking much?"

Elianna's mouth falls open, shutting again in surprise.

a memory floats around in Elianna's mind as she clutches her lighter.

excluding their impulsive wedding moment, there was another time she saw Jungkook properly.

he was in central town, near the florist and his new cafe. Jungkook was fighting Yoongi physically, both of them spitting words at each other. it was harsh, unnecessary and hurtful. Elianna was on her way home when she had to squint from afar, confused at the loud commotion such late night, until she realised she knew them both. she also knew exactly what the two were harshly fighting about.

Elianna almost fell as she sprinted over.

"this is your fault." Jungkook held a harsh grip on Yoongi's collar. he pulled him back and forth and spat from his mouth, teeth grinding angrily.

"you're the one who pulled the trigger Kook." Yoongi leaned his head back as a cocky smile fell onto his lips. his black hair also fell into his eyes. "it was all up to you." he pressed his finger against Jungkook's chest as another way to mock him recklessly.

"that's bullshit." Jungkook pushed him backwards, making the older stumble as he punched him again. he couldn't handle the truth so he let his knuckles do the responding. "don't act like this was a test or something."

"i gave you the success of revenge." the way Yoongi said it was pure ecstacy. he was the devil with a perfect art in seduction. Elianna knew because so was she.

"shut up!" Jungkook hit him again.

"no, you shut up boy." Yoongi clenched his jaw and pushed him back. this time he was about to fight back, he's had enough. "you could've stayed and told her the truth so why didn't you?" he questioned, eyes glaring.

"i don't know... fuck." Jungkook took a moment to reflect as he wiped his bloody knuckles on his cheek. why didn't he, why did he give in? "this is all on you!" he lunged forward, hands scrambling to grab his hyung.

"hit me but it won't mend your heart."

Elianna had reached them just as they were about to start fighting again. she pushed each of her strong hands into their front bodies, screaming. "stop it! both of you!" she gasped, pushing them away from each other. her eyes were wide and her heart was banging against her rib cage. she hated that she was a part of this and the fact that she had to tear them apart from destroying each other physically was exhausting. "fucking stop it."

Elianna removed her hands from the boys. both with good and bad sides. two sides. "stay away from each other, do you hear me?" she asserted, watching them glare at each other with deathly stares. in the dark, in the moonlight, their obscure orbs appeared black.

Yoongi scoffed and spat blood onto the grey pavement. he started to walk away first, tearing his gaze away from Jungkook and not bothering to look at Elianna. "go on. go in opposite directions and fucking stop arguing."

as Elianna watched a tired Yoongi disappear out of their sight, she noticed a bloody Jungkook waiting for her. he was waiting so they could walk together and even then, Elianna thought he looked ever so handsome. cargo pants, bold jacket and trainers. he seemed so distressed and lonely.

Elianna wiped away her tears at the same time Jungkook wiped away the blood from his knuckles. for a moment, she wanted to punch him but she walked away. she left the boy standing with his arms on either side of him. she couldn't bare to see his reaction as her voice broke, "go home Jungkook."

//

longest chapter so far !!

i just want to stress that through shira's arranged marriage, i'm highlighting the fact that she is choosing it as an option. she has other options too, but she is choosing this one. her choice and free will is very important because i want to show that arranged marriages aren't always negative and not wanted.

anyway ugh i love writing about these characters, who's your favourite? and who's your favourite couple?

the yoonkook angst is >

so will julianna get that happy ending ☕️ stay tuned

sending you all the love at this rough time <3