"Proceedings can start," the commanding voice of the judge rang through the silent courtroom.

Namjoon, with his usual confidence, stepped forward, "Greetings, my lord. Today, the defense would like to proceed first."

You, on the other hand, sat quietly at your desk, trying to shake off the nervous energy gnawing at you.

It was a tough day to be in court. First, your best friend and colleague, Jackson, wasn't there by your side—his absence creating a strange void. And second, after everything that had happened, you weren't in the best headspace for hearing.

Your hands instinctively gripped the edge of the desk in front of you, trying to keep your focus on the case, but your mind kept wandering. You couldn't afford distractions now, not when so much was at stake.

'Come on, Y/N, get it together,' you silently told yourself. But with each passing minute, it felt harder to shake off the weight pressing down on your shoulders.

Namjoon's commanding presence in the courtroom didn't help either, his words clear and concise as he laid out the defense strategy. There was no denying his skill, and right now, it only made you feel more on edge.

"From the very first day, sir, I maintained that this case was open and shut. Today, I would like to prove that statement," Namjoon's confident voice echoed in the room, as he approached the judge, handing over a stack of papers.

Ja-Kyung, sitting at the back, smirked knowingly while Mr. Byun, the plaintiff's representative, visibly tensed. You could feel the shift in the atmosphere as Namjoon continued with his case.

"These are the medical records of Byun Baekho when he was alive..." Namjoon's tone was sharp, each word designed to land with impact.

You raised your eyebrows, surprised. 

Medical history?

Namjoon gave you a quick glance, his expression full of intent, as he continued, "It clearly depicts that Byun Baekho had been a long-time patient of PTSD and was undergoing treatment from Dr. Choi without the knowledge of his family." He placed emphasis on the last part, letting it hang in the air.

You sat there in shock, as the courtroom murmured softly at this revelation. 

How did Namjoon manage to uncover that detail? 

A flurry of thoughts ran through your mind as you tried to stay composed. This wasn't the information you were expecting, and it could very well change the entire course of the case.

Namjoon's eyes briefly flicked toward you again, this time with a sense of triumph, as if silently challenging you to respond.

The judge looked through the papers, his expression unreadable, but you could tell the revelation was significant. It was up to you to regain control of this situation, but your mind raced, trying to find a way to counter this unexpected piece of evidence.

Focus, Y/N, you told yourself. You've handled it worse.

Taking a deep breath, you glanced back at Namjoon—his confidence was palpable, but you weren't going to let this throw you off.

"This means he was suffering from anxiety... or we could say the stress of earning money," Namjoon stated, his voice steady, attempting to guide the court's focus in a particular direction.

Before you could counter, the judge intervened, "Please clarify your point, Mr. Kim."

Namjoon nodded confidently, "It's clear that Byun Baekho was desperate to earn money, which caused immense stress, potentially leading to his suicide—"

"OBJECTION, MY LORD!" You stood up abruptly, the frustration boiling over.

Namjoon let out a small chuckle as if he had anticipated your outburst, but before you could push further, the judge calmly raised his hand.

"Sustained," he said, dismissing your objection.

You sat back down, your hands gripping the edge of the table, feeling a pang of defeat as Namjoon continued his performance in front of the courtroom.

"Mr. Kim, don't base your argument on assumptions," the judge warned him, and Namjoon, without missing a beat, shook his head side to side with a knowing grin.

"Oh no, my lord, I'm not making any assumptions. I have a witness today," he announced with flair, leaving the courtroom in a hush.

You stiffened, eyes narrowing. A witness? What witness? 

You hadn't heard anything about this. Only Namjoon knew what he was playing today, and it had you on edge. Every word, every action seemed premeditated.

"I object, my lord," you stated firmly, your voice steady with determination. "This is irrelevant and a clear attempt to sidetrack the case at hand."

"Your honor, Mr. Kim has failed to mention the presence of a witness in today's action plan. The presence of a witness requires prior approval and the court master's signature," you added, pushing back.

The judge shot you with a stern look. "Miss Min, I believe I know the rules well enough. Mr. Kim, you may proceed with your witness testimony today."

A flicker of frustration crossed your face, but you maintained your composure, fully aware Namjoon had the upper hand—for now.

"And Miss Min next time kindly address the court with etiquettes otherwise I'll have to report you for contempt of court"

You felt a jolt of frustration as the judge's words settled in, pressing against the growing tension. Contempt of court? That was a warning you couldn't afford to ignore.

Taking a deep breath, you straightened your posture, mentally preparing for whatever curveball Namjoon had up his sleeve.

Namjoon smirked, knowing he had the upper hand, and gestured toward the entrance, signaling for his witness to step forward. You could feel your heartbeat quicken, the anticipation gnawing on your nerves.

"Your honor, I would like to present Dr. Choi Seung Jae, the psychiatrist who treated Byun Baekho for PTSD in the years leading up to his death," Namjoon said confidently.

The doors of the courtroom creaked open, and in walked an elderly man, carrying a sense of professionalism and authority. So, this is it, you thought, watching as the doctor took the stand, unaware of the storm about to be unleashed.

"Dr. Choi, could you please enlighten the court on the mental state of Mr. Byun Baekho during his treatment?" Namjoon asked, his voice calm, calculated.

Dr. Choi adjusted his glasses before speaking, "Mr. Byun suffered from severe anxiety and chronic stress, largely due to financial pressures. He often mentioned the burden of being the primary breadwinner for his family."

You clenched your jaw. Namjoon was building a case for suicide.

"Would you say his condition was severe enough to affect his decision-making or lead him to contemplate... extreme measures?" Namjoon continued, fully aware of the direction this line of questioning was headed.

"Yes," Dr. Choi replied firmly. "In my professional opinion, it is entirely possible that the stress became unbearable for Mr. Byun."

 You knew you had to counter this, but the judge's warning echoed in your head. One wrong move, and you risked being held in contempt.

You quickly scribbled notes, mind racing. This testimony could tilt the scales in Namjoon's favor if you didn't find a way to dismantle it.

Namjoon glanced your way, that confident smirk still playing on his lips. He had taken control of the narrative—but you weren't going down without a fight.

"Any cross-examination, Miss Min?" the judge's voice rang out, bringing your attention back to the present moment.

You rose from your seat, forcing your expression to remain composed despite the irritation brewing inside you.

"No, sir," you muttered in a weak voice, overwhelmed by the situation.

Namjoon noticed your tense and stressed expression, and guilt tugged at his chest.

'I'm sorry, ... but I'm stuck too,' he thought to himself, watching you from across the courtroom.

"After listening to all the witnesses and evidence presented, Mr. Kim has successfully demonstrated that the deceased Byun Baekho was suffering from PTSD. However, the law believes in fair judgment, so the other side will also have the chance to present their case. Until then, this court is adjourned."

With those words, the judge rose, dismissing the court.

You felt numb, unable to process the events that had just unfolded. Your mind was racing, yet you were stuck in place, overwhelmed by everything that had happened. The weight of it all pressed down on you, and for a moment, it felt suffocating.

This was the first time in your career that you had faced such a serious issue, and it shook you to the core. Your personal life, tangled with the stress of this case, felt like it was closing in on you from all sides. You were normally composed and strong, but today, everything was attacking at once, leaving you defenseless.

you quickly stood up, gathered your things in a rush, and hurried out of the courtroom. The walls felt like they were closing in, and the air suddenly seemed too thin. You needed space, a moment to breathe, away from the weight of everything crashing down around you.

~ Evening ~

Sitting by the calm Han River, you finally felt a small sense of relief wash over you, as though the gentle breeze and soft ripples in the water were carrying away some of your turmoil. You had turned off your phone, deliberately cutting yourself off from the world, craving a few hours of solitude, away from the constant pressures of life.

"Being a lawyer will be hard, but hard doesn't mean impossible," your father's words echoed in your mind. You remembered the day you told him you didn't want to study business, how adamantly you had expressed your desire to follow your dream of becoming a lawyer.

"Father is right," you reminded yourself. "This case is just another test... one I have to pass."

But then, like a whisper you couldn't ignore, another thought surfaced.

"What about your personal life? What about the chaos that's pulling you apart?"

You sighed deeply, pulling your knees closer to your chest as you stared out at the river. The answer wasn't clear. How could you juggle the intense demands of your professional life with the emotional mess you were tangled in?

"Let's not think about that now..." you muttered softly to yourself. For now, you just wanted peace. Even if it was temporary.

You were immersed in the tranquility of the Han River, letting the serenity momentarily wash away the weight of your thoughts. The calmness around you felt like a brief escape from everything.

But suddenly, you gasped, caught off guard as you were gently lifted from the ground. Before you could react, you were placed onto something sturdy—someone's lap. Two strong arms wrapped around you, enveloping you like a warm, protective shield.

There was no fear, no panic. You recognized that scent immediately—the scent that had become familiar, despite the emotional chaos surrounding it.

"Namjoon?" you whispered softly, almost in disbelief.

"Shh... just relax... I'm not ready to face a lawyer, Y/N..." Namjoon's voice had a soothing quality that somehow lightened the heavy atmosphere around you.

"I'm tired," you admitted, feeling utterly drained.

In that moment, you were too weary to argue or resist. You decided to go with the flow, yearning for a moment of peace to escape the turmoil of the day. You were willing to do anything to forget how horrible everything had been.

"You know, if I weren't so tired... I would have kicked you where the sun doesn't shine," you muttered tiredly, your eyelids growing heavier from the lack of sleep over the past two days.

"I know, ... but for now, just relax. Forget all your stress... I'm here," he whispered softly in your ear, tightening his warm embrace around you.

"Hmm," you murmured in response, sinking into the comfort of his presence, finally allowing yourself to let go, if only for a little while.

with that you both sat there calmly ...forgetting all your problems

Just you and Namjoon

'SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO LOVE THAT PERSON BUT YOUR'RE TOO STUCK TO EVEN REALISE THAT....'

_____________________________________

TBC

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