Give up on him

After everything that transpired, Jungkook began to withdraw from me. Each time I visited him, he would turn his face away, refusing to meet my gaze or utter a word.

It was not that he looked angry or upset anymore; it was as if an impenetrable fog had settled over his expression, leaving his eyes devoid of emotion. It felt like he had conceded defeat, surrendering to a hopelessness that rendered him indifferent to his own circumstances.

In my attempts to care for him, I prepared various meals, hoping to entice him to eat. I poured my heart and energy into each dish, but it seemed each effort was for naught. More often than I could bear, I emptied the untouched bowls into the trash, heart heavy with the realization that my gestures were in vain.

Once again, I was perched on a chair beside his bed, clutching a bowl and a spoon in the other. "Just one bite? Please?" I implored, my voice soft yet laced with desperation.

But Jungkook directed his gaze elsewhere, his indifference cutting more profound than any words could.

"You are the most stubborn little kid I've ever met. So selfish! Don't you see how it tears me apart to watch you like this?"

He responded swiftly, "I didn't ask for any of this. You should have just let me be. I didn't want to be a burden."

"You don't understand, do you? No matter what I do or say, you remain impossibly distant," I said, frustration seeping into my tone as I let out a deep sigh. But I wasn't ready to give up on him just yet. I stood up, leaning closer and placing my hand gently under the back of his neck, urging him to open his mouth as I inserted the spoon between his lips.

Our eyes locked, a silent battle of wills playing out between us. He glared defiantly before stubbornly pressing his lips together, refusing to yield.

"Please," I urged, smiling softly even as the tears threatened to spill over.

For a fleeting moment, Jungkook closed his eyes, fatigue etched into his features. Finally, with a resigned sigh, he parted his lips.

At that moment, joy surged through me like a tidal wave.

***

With a newfound determination, I wasted no time shoveling another spoonful of food into his mouth. To my surprise, Jungkook complied, slowly swallowing despite his evident struggle. I could hardly contain my elation as I gazed lovingly into his eyes, feeling an unspoken connection that seemed to bridge the gap his silence had created. It was a strange sensation-being allowed to nurture him like this felt foreign yet comforting. Though letting someone feed him had never been a part of his life, somehow, it felt different to me.

"Thank you," I beamed, my heart swelling with tenderness. I brushed my fingers gently through his hair, feeling its softness beneath my touch.

Jungkook remained silent, his eyes locked onto yours as he began to analyze the weariness etched onto your features. He wondered silently why someone as caring as you would choose to be there despite the burden he placed on you. The emotions swirling in his chest were unfamiliar territory, each a new experience that only your presence seemed to bring forth.

Minutes passed in a serenity punctuated only by the sounds of soft breaths. You allowed yourself to touch him more, tracing the contours of his face and brushing your fingers against his cheek. He accepted your gentle caress, betraying a conflict within him. Though you were the one who brought him here, every instinct urged him to resent you. Yet, as he felt the weight of your concern and the warmth of your touch, he found it impossible to harbor any resentment. Not when he saw the pain in your eyes or realized how deeply your heart ached because of him.

As your fingers grazed his cheek, Jungkook instinctively closed his eyes, overwhelmed by a wave of sensations he had long tried to bury. Some he recognized well-feelings of powerlessness and despair that haunted him in the solitude of his mind. Yet, entwined within those feelings was something novel, something he had never allowed himself to explore until now.

Your touch ignited a warmth in the pit of his stomach, a strange sensation that made his heart race and tears prick at the corners of his eyes. Conflicted, he longed to cry, yet his emotions were too complex to articulate. But your fingers brought memories flooding back-memories of times filled with entrapment and distaste, painful reminders of a past he wished to escape. These emotions clawed at him, relentless and consuming, yet they were laced with a comfort he had never known.

***

As I closed the door behind me, a wave of weariness washed over me, and I turned to find my mother approaching. My father stood nearby, concern etched into his features as he searched for the right words.

"We can see how much you care for him," my mother started her tone a mixture of empathy and worry. "But we also see how hard this is for you."

A knot tightened in my stomach at the gravity of their words. The exchanged glances between them made the air thick with an unspoken worry, filling me with a sense of unease.

"We think it would be best for you to distance yourself from Jungkook," my mother continued, her voice steady yet gentle.

"No...," I whispered, the denial escaping before I could think.

"We understand his situation. We know it's not his fault that his mind is so troubled-fate dealt him a cruel hand. But you must remember, Y/N, he is still a criminal. He has taken lives-his own family, the prison director-all while causing harm to others. He is dangerous."

Their words struck me like a blow, sharp and painful. "These people will take care of him. He belongs in a place designed for those like him," my father insisted, his hand resting softly on my shoulder, a mix of support and constraint.

"You can't save him," he added slowly. "You have to think about yourself."

"Please, stop," you whispered, the plea rasping in your throat as you instinctively covered your ears. Your mother's words felt like daggers piercing through you-their weight was heavy and suffocating. Those like him... You despised those words, the way they ripped apart the fragile hope you clung to. Deep down, you knew she was right. But how could you abandon him when he desperately needed you?

Your father's voice broke through your turmoil, steady and firm, resting a reassuring hand on your shoulder. "We can't let you destroy your life like this. You are young, Y/N. You are a brilliant student, full of potential. You have so much of your future ahead, and we can't stand by and watch you throw it all away because of this boy." His eyes held a mixture of sorrow and concern, and his voice faltered as he continued, "We spoke with the doctors. They examined him thoroughly. He has no chance, Y/N. I'm truly sorry, but his condition is beyond hope. He will be lost forever." There was a painful pause as he collected himself. "After years of abuse and being drugged, his mind will never function normally again. He was just a child, only four, when it all began. Abandoned in an orphanage, he became an easy target for those who exploit the vulnerable."

"Please," he continued, his grip tightening your shoulder as if trying to ground you. "Starting tomorrow, you need to stop coming here."

"But what about Jungkook? What will happen to him?" Your voice trembled with dread as your gaze fell to your father's hand resting possessively on your shoulder.

"They will place him in a specially designed room," he explained gently, "where he won't be able to hurt himself."

You nodded numbly, feeling an empty ache in your chest. Words escaped you, the weight of their reality suffocating. After they left, the silence hung like a shroud around you.

With trembling hands, you took a deep breath and returned to Jungkook. You wrapped your arms around him, pulling him into an embrace that surprised him. Tears streamed down your face as you buried your head against his chest, the warmth of his body a fragile comfort.

"Y/N? What's wrong?" His voice was laced with confusion, his worry evident as he felt your sorrow radiating off you.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for dragging you here. I could help. I thought I was doing the right thing. I was so naive." Your voice broke on the last word, the weight of guilt pressing down on you.

Jungkook was at a loss for words, unable to comprehend the depth of your despair. You buried your face deeper into his neck, your arms tightening around him as if you could absorb his pain, share it, and lessen the burden.

His eyes searched your face, a mix of understanding and concern surfacing in his gaze. You replayed your parents' harsh words, realizing what lay ahead for him. Just like before, they'd examine him, then leave him abandoned in a corner-isolated and forgotten, stripped of care.

A surge of determination flooded through you. You couldn't let that happen. You wouldn't abandon him like everyone else had.

You knew what you had to do. You had to take him away from this place, to run away together.

Jungkook's eyes widened in shock as you began to pull at the straitjacket binding him. A flicker of hope ignited in his gaze as you loosened the restraints keeping him captive.

When he realized he was free, he looked up at you, his eyes softening under the tears mirroring your own.