His POV
I wasn't really thinking much when I brought her here. For me, were normal.... noise, people, distraction. Nothing new. I just thought.... maybe she needed this. A break from whatever was going on in her head. That was it. No other intention. As we walked in, the usual attention followed. People noticing, whispering.... It didn't matter. It never did.
But what caught my attention was her. The way she slowed down slightly. The way she looked around, taking everything in. And then.... without even realising it.... she moved a little closer to me. I noticed.
"Stay close," I said. Not because I had to....
just because it felt right to say it.
She nodded.
Didn't argue.
Didn't question.
That was different. Most people around me always had something to say... trying to impress, trying too hard, trying to be seen. But she... age was just there.
Quiet.
Real .
Even the way she reacted to the things felt different.
When our arms brushed she didn't pull away immediately... but she didn't lean either. Just stayed. Like she wasn't overthinking that moment the way she overthoughts everything else. The way her eyes kept moving, observing everything. The way she stayed slightly guarded... but not fake.
And for some reason, it made me certain about one thing... I didn't bring her here for anything wrong. I wasn't trying to get anything from her. I just.... didn't want her to sit alone like that. That's it.
She's my bench patner.
I've seen her trying harder than most people, only to end up thinking she's not enough. That kind of thing.... it gets annoying to watch. Not her. The situation. And maybe that's why I asked her to come. But standing here now, with her beside me, I realised something else too.
It wasn't just pity. There was something about her that didn't match the rest of this place. She didn't belong to this place. She didn't belong to this noise. And yet... she didn't look out of place either. That was strange. I don't usually think this much about people.
But with her, I did.
"Jungkook," I stopped.
Of course. I didn't need to turn to know who it was. The moment I did, I already know it this wasn't going to stay simple anymore. My eyes shifted to Stella for a second.
She had no idea. And that was the exactly problem. I shouldn't have brought her here. The thought hit me the moment I saw her standing there looking between us, confused, unaware. And that.... bother me more than it should have.
She didn't know anything . Not really. Whatever she had heard about me, whatever she might have assumed.... it wasn't enough to prepare her for this. And now she was standing in the middle of it, because of me. I glanced at her for a second.
She looked.... out of placed. Not weak. Not uncomfortable exactly. Just... unfamiliar with this side of things. Like she had stepped into something she didn't belong to. And I didn't like it.
"You didn't tell her?"
I looked back at the girl in front of us, my show tightening slightly.
"Not now," I said.
Calm. Controlled. But it wasn't a suggestion. She smiled anyway, like she didn't care.
"Oh, come on.... she deserves to know."
No. Not like this. My attention shifted back to Stella instantly as other girls stepped closer to her. I could already tell where this was going, and I didn't like it. Stella stayed still, but I could see it.... just like tension in her posture.
The way her focus sharpened. She wasn't as unaware as people thought. She didn't react immediately. That was something I had notice about her before too. She observe first. Feels later.
And right now.... she was about to feel everything at once.
"You really don't know who you came here with... do you?" The words landed.
I saw it happen.
That small shift in her expression.
Confusion.... Turning into something else. Questions. To many of them. I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair for a brief second before letting it drop. This wasn't how it supposed to go.
I didn't bring her here to drag into this. I just wanted her to stop thinking for a while. To forget everything for few hours. But instead... she was about you think even more. I look at her again, properly this time.
And she looked back. Not nervous. Not scare. Just.... searching. For answers. From me. That's when I realized.... whatever happened next... I wouldn't be able to keep things simple anymore.
I held her gaze for a second. She didn't look away immediately. Just stood there, eyes fixed on mine like she was searching for something..... an answer, maybe. And then.... she stepped back.
It was small. But it change everything. Before I could say anything, she turned and started walking out. For a second, I didn't move. Then it clicked. She doesn't know this place. These people.
"Stella..." I went after her. She was already moving through the crowd. Not looking back, Not stopping. I kept my eyes on her, closing the distance quickly.
"Stella, wait." Nothing.
So I reached out and grabbed her wrist. She stopped. For a second, I thought she would just turn around.... She pulled her hand out of my grip. Sharp. Immediate.
"Leave me." Her voice was low, but steady enough to make me pause.
"I don't want to stay here. Not with you."
I frowned, not understanding.
"What are you talking about?"
She looked at me then..... really looked this time. And there was something in her eyes that wasn't there before. Distance.
"You're not a good person."
The words didn't sit right. Not because they hurt. Because the didn't make sense.
"I thought the rumors weren't true,"she continued, her voice slightly unsteady now.
"I thought people were just saying things. But now... I think I was wrong."
I stared at her. Rumors? "What rumors?" She didn't answer immediately. Just held my gaze like she was deciding if I even deserved to know. And that.... that look... I didn't like it.
"Whatever you think you saw," I said, quieter now,
"You are missunderstanding it."
She shook her head.
"No. I saw enough." My jaw tightened.
"You saw nothing."
A small breath left her, almost like she was tired already. "Exactly," she said sofly.
"That's the problem I don't know anything about you."
That was the first thing she said that actually landed.
And I didn't have anything to say back.
"I'm leaving." She turned again. This time... I didn't stop her. I just stood there, watching her walk away.
And for the first time that night... I wasn't thinking about what she saw. I was thinking about what she believed. And I still have no idea what it was.