THE MISSING TRUTH

"Oh, God-fuck!" Jungkook moaned, spilling his release for the second time that night.

His hips jerked with the aftershocks, breath coming in sharp gasps, heart pounding hard against his ribcage. Sex was unlike anything he'd ever experienced-raw, overwhelming, and addictive. He couldn't believe he'd gone so long without it, denying himself this kind of pleasure. It was ecstasy-a bliss that burned through his veins and tasted like heaven on his tongue.

He was hooked. On the way her body wrapped around him so perfectly. On the taste of Aera lingering on his lips. On the feel of her warm mouth sliding over his cock with devotion. It wasn't just physical-it was consuming. And he didn't want it to end.

He was ruined. Completely, hopelessly ruined.

His cock gave a final twitch as it slipped from Aera's mouth, sensitive to the point of pain, spilling the last drops of cum onto her tongue.

She didn't flinch. Just wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and swallowed-eyes locked on his, dark and glinting with satisfaction. She looked proud of it. Proud of how she'd made him fall apart.

Jungkook's chest rose hard with every breath, heart thundering like he'd just run a race. His cock still throbbed faintly, but his attention was on her now-how fucked-out and beautiful she looked, her lips slick, her gaze bold.

His voice came out low and rough. "Get over here."

Aera climbed up his body slowly, skin brushing skin, until she was straddling his stomach, face to face with him. Jungkook reached up, fingers tracing the curve of her cheek, and pulled her into a kiss. Slow, deep, still drunk on her.

When they parted, his voice was low, teasing.

"Where the hell did you learn to suck cock like that? Thought you said it was your first time... same as me?"

Aera let out a breathy giggle, eyes glinting with mischief.

"I watched way too many videos when I was horny. Learned from the best." She grinned. "Worked pretty damn well on you, didn't it?"

He laughed, pinching her side until she squealed and squirmed.

"Porn and a vibrator, huh? Who are you even?" he teased. "You're definitely not the shy, dreamy girl I sat next to in chemistry class. This version of you is naughty as fuck."

She raised an eyebrow, lips curving. "Says the boy who used to blush if someone even said the word 'sex.' Look at you now-built like a god, packing a massive dick, and fucking like one too."

Jungkook groaned. "Jesus. You really don't have a filter anymore."

She smirked. "Only around you."

"Yeah?" His gaze darkened, a slow grin spreading across his lips.

"Yeah," she said.

"Then talk dirty to me while you ride my face," he whispered, voice thick with heat. "I know you're still wet from sucking my cock."

Aera gasped, caught between embarrassment and arousal. Her cheeks flushed instantly-she hadn't expected him to be so blunt, so filthy. But God, it turned her on. He was right. Listening to him moan, the way his body reacted in her mouth-it had soaked her through.

The idea of sitting on his face lit something hot and reckless in her.

Before she could even speak, Jungkook's hands slid down to her hips, guiding her up his body, silent and sure.

She didn't hesitate.

She crawled forward, breath shaky, thighs trembling with anticipation until she hovered just above his mouth, heart soaring, his eyes locked on hers like she was the only thing he wanted in the world.

Jeon Jungkook-the man carved straight from the pages of sin and romance. He was dangerous in the way he touched, tender in the way he ruined.

He'd already pulled two orgasms from her; first with the slow tease of his fingers, then with the hard, claiming thrust of his cock. He'd taken her virginity and offered his in return, like a vow sealed in sweat and gasps.

And still, it wasn't enough.

He wanted more-needed more-until her body responded to only him, until it ached in his absence, until it remembered the shape of his desire.

His breath ghosted over her sex, warm against the slick heat of her core, a whisper before the storm.

He slid his hands behind her thighs, lifting, spreading, owning her. She was open for him-wet and wanting, folds glistening under the low light. Her pussy, flushed and swollen, pulsed with need, begging for his mouth.

He looked up once.

Then leaned in and feasted like a man starved.

"Hnghh," Aera's moan cracked in her throat as Jungkook licked a slow, wet stripe up her pussy.

"Do that again, sir, please," she gasped, hips bucking forward as she pressed down onto his mouth, nearly smothering him. But Jungkook didn't care. If anything, he pulled her closer, deeper into his hunger.

His palms gripped her ass, guiding her movements as his tongue worked her over-long, dragging licks that made her legs shake. Her skin rippled with goosebumps as broken praises fell from her lips like prayer.

"Oh my god, you're making me feel so good."

She looked down and met his eyes-dark, gleaming, utterly devout. The sight of him like that, lips wet and mouth open for her, made something inside her snap. Her fingers tangled in his hair, and she rode his face shamelessly, gasping as he flicked her clit and then sucked it into his mouth.

He kissed her like she was sacred, then brought a hand up, spreading her open so he could taste her properly. Slow kitten licks turned into deep, eager thrusts of his tongue, fucking her with his mouth like he needed to make her come apart.

Aera's head dropped back with a choked cry. Her core pulsed, hips jerking as the heat swelled, thick and unbearable.

"Jungkook-fuck-please," she whimpered, riding every stroke of his tongue. "Make me cum on your face. Please."

And he did. With his tongue buried deep inside her and his lips brushing over her swollen clit, it didn't take long before she unraveled. Her body tensed, then trembled as she came for the third time that night, pulsing around his mouth with a breathless cry.

Jungkook didn't stop until he had licked her clean, drinking her in like she was his favorite wine.

"Oh, Jungkook..." she sighed, completely spent.

He gently guided her off his face, hands firm at her waist, and she collapsed against him with a dazed smile. They kissed again-soft and hungry, tasting each other, moaning into one another's mouths as the heat between them simmered rather than faded.

Aera reached down between their bodies and wrapped her fingers around him. His cock lay half-hard against his stomach, warm and heavy, and it sprang to life the moment she touched him. Slowly, she began to stroke him, feeling him grow hard again under her palm, thick and eager, ready for more.

"Hmph." A low, guttural sound tore from Jungkook's throat, his brows knitting tight as pleasure pulsed through him. "Wait."

He caught Aera's wrist gently and shifted, maneuvering her with care. Her back met the mattress for only a second before he rolled her onto her side, pulling her close until her spine curved into his chest.

His hand splayed across her stomach, grounding her. Then he dipped his face into the warm hollow of her neck, breathing her in like something he'd missed for too long.

"Wanna take you from behind," he murmured, words rough with want. His nose brushed her hair as he inhaled. "You smell like me. I love it."

Aera gave a quiet laugh, the kind that danced just beneath the surface. "Anything else, Mr. Jeon?" she teased, glancing back at him.

He smiled against her skin, lips grazing the slope of her shoulder.

His hand slid down, fingers curling around the hard length of himself. He guided it to her entrance, the cool air clashing with the heat between them. A shiver ran through her-and him too-as he pushed forward.

The burning ache they felt was beautiful.

"You belong with me."

"Hmmm, right," Aera breathed, her voice catching as he pressed into her, slow and deep. His body was a furnace against hers, every inch of skin-to-skin contact sparking a fresh wave of heat. His fingers entwined tightly with hers, anchoring her, possessing her.

"And you're mine," she whispered, her lips barely brushing his.

"Forever," he said, tone soft, "and always."

He began to move, each thrust purposeful, their bodies colliding in a rhythm that filled the room with the sounds of skin meeting skin and the steady creak of the bed beneath them. The world blurred, narrowed to the pulse of him inside her, to the way he held her like nothing else existed.

Later that night, Jungkook slipped into the boy he used to be: bright eyes crinkled in laughter, wide smiles that showed every tooth. He doted on Aera in that quiet, familiar way that made her chest ache with something soft and full.

It felt like the old days again. Just two best friends, talking, teasing, and playing-all of it with a touch of romance.

"How is it? You like it?" Jungkook asked, trying-and failing-to hide his grin as he watched Aera.

They were curled up on the bed, freshly showered and changed. Jungkook wore nothing but his boxer briefs, his skin still warm from the water. Aera had slipped into his oversized shirt, the sleeves hanging past her hands like she meant to steal more than just his clothes.

She took a bite, chewed, then gave a small nod. "Mmm. S'good."

That was all he got, but the look in her eyes said more than enough.

"You've definitely improved," Aera said, grinning as she leaned closer and opened her mouth expectantly. "Didn't think you could do more than boil ramen back then."

Jungkook chuckled under his breath, shaking his head as he held out another bite of steak for her.

They were supposed to have a perfect candlelight dinner-fancy, flawless, Instagram-worthy. But somewhere between the burnt sauce and laughter in the kitchen, they ended up here: barefoot, cozy, sharing food straight from the pan. And honestly? They liked it better this way.

"As if you were any better," he shot back. "I still remember Auntie banning you from the kitchen. You managed to break a rice cooker and spill soy sauce on the ceiling. At least I didn't cause actual damage."

Aera laughed, mouth full, eyes sparkling. "Details."

"I think your mom liked me more than you," Jungkook said with a smirk. "Between you and your dad, she always told me I was her favorite."

Aera snorted. "Jeon Jungkook, every mother's favorite boy. Your ego needs its own zip code."

"Admit it. You were always jealous."

"In your dreams." She flicked his arm. "Areum Auntie spoiled me. She always said she wished she'd had a daughter-" She paused, the memory softening her voice. For a moment, she wondered if she'd said too much-if bringing up his mom would dim the playful mood. But when she glanced over, Jungkook was smiling, like he was remembering something fond.

"She did spoil you more than me," he said, clicking his tongue. "Always saving you extra dumplings. Just because you helped her water the damn flowers."

Aera laughed, tension slipping from her shoulders. "I liked the flowers. She got me into them, actually. Probably the reason I became a landscape architect."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

She took the fork from his hands and fed him a bite, smiling when he chewed without protest.

"What about you?" Aera asked, leaning in a little. "How'd you end up in the whole nine-to-five corporate scene? You used to be the free spirit, remember? Always talking about going with the flow. I still remember how inspired you got whenever Yoonah Auntie came over."

Jungkook tilted his head, brows drawing together. "Yoonah Auntie?" He swallowed. "Who?"

Aera stared at him. "Are you serious? Yoonah Auntie, Jungkook. Your mom's friend from work. She used to come over during holidays and bring those flat dumplings-you know, the ones she'd get from Daegu? You loved those."

He froze, the pieces clicking into place.

Yoonah Auntie. Daegu. His mom's old friend from work.

A hazy memory stirred-soft hands on his head, a warm laugh, the smell of dumplings in the air. He couldn't have been more than eight.

"Oh... Yoonah Auntie," he said quietly. "She used to tell me to take care of my mom. I remember now.

"She always supported me, no matter what phase I was in," Jungkook continued with a soft laugh. "Honestly, I must've sounded ridiculous. I changed my mind every time she asked what I wanted to be. But if you're wondering why I chose architecture... that was all because of Seokjin. He really shaped the way I saw things."

Aera nodded slowly, a soft smile playing on her lips. It meant a lot to know Jungkook had someone like Seokjin by his side when things were the hardest for him.

"I'm glad you did. We wouldn't have ended up together if it weren't for Mr. Kim," she said, her voice soft and full of genuine warmth.

Jungkook caught the hint of sadness in her tone and the way her eyes shimmered in the warm light of his bedroom. He pushed the plate aside, set it on the bedside table, and leaned in to cradle her face in his hands.

"Hey." He gave a small smile. "No need to get all emotional. We're exactly where we're supposed to be. We're together, and that's not changing anytime soon." His thumbs brushed over her cheeks gently.

Aera hummed, a low sound from deep in her throat, and pulled him close. They lay back on the bed, wrapped around each other. Jungkook peeled the shirt off her and slid closer, burying his face between her breasts with a soft sigh.

"Mm, perfect," he whispered against her skin, lips brushing the curve of her neckline. "I could stay right here forever."

She smiled, sliding her fingers along the back of his neck, her voice a bare whisper. "Same."

The room fell into hush as the lights dimmed, their bodies pressed close, breaths syncing like tides.

Sleep came easy for her.

But Jungkook lay still, eyes open, drawn to the quiet pull of a thought-like a door swinging open in the dark, urging him to step through and search for the missing truth.

Tonight, the warmth of Aera beneath him was both a comfort and a weight. She had settled something in him and in doing so, unearthed something else.

Yoonah.

How had he forgotten her?

The one person who had lingered in the background all this time. Who stayed in touch with his mother even after she left Daegu.

It felt absurd now. Reckless.

Yoonah might've known things no one else did about Areum-maybe even the answers he hadn't realized he was still aching for.

Was it foolish to chase after them now? Selfish?

Maybe.

He looked over at Aera. She was asleep, her breathing slow and steady, untouched by the storm quietly building in his chest. Leaving her would hurt. But staying... pretending he didn't feel this pull... That might hurt more.

She'd understand. She always did.

He'd leave her a note. Not enough, but something.

Jungkook eased himself from Aera's embrace, careful not to wake her. She shifted, murmuring something lost to sleep. He tucked the quilt around her shoulders and let his hand linger on her cheek just for a moment before he turned away and got dressed.

He didn't know where Yoonah was now. But Haru might. If Yoonah had been close to Areum, and Haru had been Areum's shadow for years, then surely-surely-she knew something. That hope was all he had.

Before he knew it, Jungkook was on the first train to Daegu.

He sat by the window, the landscape slipping past in muted streaks of green and gold. The further the train moved, the tighter the knot in his stomach pulled. He didn't know what waited for him at the end of this line-only that something did. And that was enough to scare him.

What would he do if he really found Yoonah?

Would he ask her why she vanished? Why she wasn't there when his mother died? Why the visits stopped one day without explanation? Did she know who his father was? Did she know who he was?

The questions clung to him, sharp and relentless, as the world passed by outside the train window in a blur of motion and light. He sat still, hands clasped tightly in his lap, jaw tense.

He hadn't said a word when he stepped through the doors of Daegu Golden Years Home, but Haru could feel the weight on him, quiet but unmistakable.

Her eyes followed him as he walked in, slower than usual, gaze unfocused.

Her brow creased.

"You're not really here," she said softly. "Is everything okay?"

He didn't answer right away. Then, like a dam breaking, the words came. Hesitant at first, then faster-raw, tangled, uncertain.

She listened without interrupting. When he finished, there was a long pause. Then she reached over and rested her hand gently on his.

"You don't have to have all the answers right now," she said. Her voice was soft, steady. "Let the truth come. Let it settle. What's done is done-we can't change it. But we can decide what we do next. That's still ours."

Jungkook nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the floor. Haru's words had a way of reaching a part of him-the part that still wanted to believe he could handle this.

She was right.

Letting anger or fear take over wouldn't change anything. Whatever truth waited ahead, he would face it-steady, calm, in control. No more flaring tempers. No more avoidance. Just the truth, however it came.

Haru sat back, her tone gentle as she shared what she knew.

"Her full name is Jin Yoonah," she said. "She worked with your mom before she got pregnant with you. They were close. Yoonah used to visit a lot."

She paused for a moment, thoughtful.

"I don't know where she is now," Haru said, jotting something down. "But this is the last address I have. She lived there before she got married and moved out."

She folded the slip of paper and passed it to Jungkook.

He took it in silence, his fingers closing around the edges like they might slip away.

"I hope you get your answers," she said.

"Yeah. Me too."

By late afternoon, he found himself standing in front of a house on the outskirts of Daegu-quiet, residential, the kind of place where people knew each other's routines and dogs barked at passing scooters.

It didn't look like much. A single-story home, a little worn around the edges, with a short concrete driveway and a rust-streaked gate that looked like it hadn't seen oil in years. Ivy curled around one corner of the wall. A potted plant near the steps had withered under the sun.

He double-checked the number on the gate against the one written in careful hangul on the note. Still matched.

He blew out a breath and pressed the bell.

A shuffle stirred behind the door. Then came the barking. Low, cautious. Not aggressive, just wary. Someone hushed the dog with a quiet "shhh, girl, it's okay," and the door creaked open.

The woman who stepped out looked like someone's mother. Someone's aunt. She had kind eyes, but they didn't soften as she looked at him-only studied him, towel still in hand, the edge of her apron wrinkled from a day in the kitchen.

"Yes?" she asked.

His mouth felt dry. He hadn't really rehearsed this part.

"Yoonah Auntie...?"

Her expression shifted, the warmth dimming. She tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing in quiet confusion.

"How do you know my sister?"