Cahpter 23: Emptiness hardens the heart...

Jin was locked his office door and walked to the elevator. He could hear laughter. Was he imagining it or was somebody following him? He did not want to find out, when he stopped in front of the elevator he pushed the down button a few times. He forgot how spooky this place got when everyone had left.

The doors opened slowly and he entered, he turned around quickly and pressed the button for the ground floor. The doors closed and he let out a soft sigh, the memory of him and Minyu was still fresh in his thoughts.

He couldn't help himself returning to the past with the wounds still so fresh. He recalled her face when she threw the engagement ring on the table. He was still shocked at her gesture. Why? He couldn't muster a reason why she did it.

The ride on the elevator felt like forever. He did not even register when the doors opened, he only realised when they were about to close before him. He threw out his hand to stop the doors and climbed out.

The ground floor was dark. Jin looked around confused. Tae said that they were still around so why was everything so dark? He shook his head and walked out the front door. He sprinted towards his driver who stood patiently, leaning against his car.

"Are you alright, sir?" He asked and opened the back door.

"I am fine," Jin replied. "Take me home."

"Gladly, sir."

The driver closed the door and climbed into the driver's seat. He started the car and drove. Jin's company loomed in the background. He let out a sigh and stared down at his hands. The company he built from the ground up was going to crumble.

He felt powerless. He felt his heart crumble and a tear running down his left cheek. Minyu had always been there for him. She had whispered sweet words of encouragement when his movies stopped winning awards.

"We are almost home, sir," The driver said and looked back. "Sir, are you sure everything is alright?"

Jin nodded. He didn't trust himself to speak. He looked up, yes... Almost home or not home. There was a saying. "Home is where the heart is." If his heart was not at home, then where was it?

The silver gates drew closer. They did not need to stop. The gates opened as they approached. The drive up to the mansion was over before he could blink. His driver opened the door for him. "Welcome home, sir."

Jin gazed up towards his mansion. It was shrouded in complete darkness. No welcoming light, no one to greet him at the entrance and asked how his day had been. Just complete darkness with silence.

"Thank you, Hue. I will see you in the morning," Jin said and started to climb the stairs.

"Sir, where is lady Minyu?" Hue asked and closed the car door.

Jin froze. He had not informed his staff that Minyu had left him. She would not be returning to their house and... "She will not be here this evening."

A lie. Why did the lie fall so easily from his lips? He would have to tell them the truth sooner or later. He did not stay to hear Hue's reply and walked up to his front door. He pushed it open slowly and whispered. "I am home."

No one to great him. He switched on the light. The welcoming hall still showcased events of what happened yesterday evening. He did not get everything and an angry sigh escaped his lips. He would call the cleaning agency tomorrow so that they could come and clean up this mess.

He walked to his study. It was two doors down. He loosened the black tie around his neck while opening the door. His hand reached out to feel for the light, he narrowed his eyes at the brightness. The posters that used to hang, proudly displayed, on the walls were torn and hung limply.

He ignored these and walked straight to his desk. He flopped onto the chair and opened the right drawer. A small smirk played on his lips when his fingers laced around the bottle of whiskey.

He stared down at it. It was a bottle he was saving for when one of the movies won an award again. There would be no awards this year for him. He uncorked the bottle and took a swig. If Namjoon was here, he would have told him to man up and not drown his sorrows.

The thing was he wanted to drown not only his sorrows but the demons that were clawing at him in the back of his mind. He kept drinking with every swig he took, he was reminded of Minyu and the damaged that she had caused.

.....

Yuna waited for Jungkook to finish locking the restaurant. Namjoon, to her annoyance, stayed and waited with them. Nimue had already left, he had mumbled about some appointment.

"Do you and Jungkook live together?" Namjoon asked out of the blue.

"I do not see why you need to know," Yuna sniped back.

"I am just making conversation," Namjoon replied with a shrug of his shoulders.

Yuna rolled her eyes. She was not going to let him bait her. Jungkook appeared and locked the front door. "All done. Let us get out of here."

Namjoon's phone started ringing. He searched his pants pocket, finally finding it he answered. "Hello?"

Jungkook and Yuna were already at the end of the walkway when they turned back. "Who would be calling him at this hour?"

"I do not know," Jungkook replied. "Let's wait here until he is finished."

...

"Joonie! Why did she-hic- leave me?"

Namjoon let out a small sigh. "Are you drinking?"

"May-hic-be," Jin slurred over the phone.

"Where are you? I will come and get you," Namjoon said quickly and looked around for Yuna and Jungkook. He saw that they had paused at the end of the walkway. He didn't want Yuna to overhear who he was talking to.

"I-hic-am ho-hic-me," Jin slurred. "She-hic-left-me-Nam-hic-joon!"

"I understand that she had left you," Namjoon said sternly, "but do not go and get drunk on your own! I am on my way."

Namjoon ended the call abruptly. He had to give it to Jin to drunk call him so late. He was worried about his best friend. He jogged towards Yuna and Jungkook. "I am sorry. My friend is having a hard time and I need to go to his aid."

"Do not worry about it man," Jungkook replied, "see you tomorrow bright and early."

"I hope your friend is okay," Yuna chimed in.

Namjoon looked at them gratefully. "I hope so too."

He waved at them and ran to his car. Minyu had broken Jin. He would make her pay for what she did and that would make his plan even sweeter. He spun away from the parking, he took a glance in the rearview mirror. Yuna would be his saving grace.

...

"Who do you think this friend is?" Yuna asked Jungkook as they walked to his car.

Jungkook shrugged and opened the passenger door. "I have no idea. Let us get you home."

Yuna climbed into the car. Jungkook closed the door and walked around to the driver's seat. He climbed in and started the car. He reffed a few times before speeding away. He glanced over at Yuna, she was staring out the window. He was curious to know what she was thinking.

"A penny for your thoughts."

Yuna turned her head towards him. "I have a sinking feeling."

Jungkook cocked his head to the right and changed gears. "I hate your sinking feelings."

That he did. If Yuna got feelings of forbode, he tended to listen and if she got a sinking feeling... something was wrong with the universe. The only thing that would give her a spine chilling feeling; their parents. He shook that thought from his mind.

"I know you do," she said softly. "Maybe I am just tired, Kookie. We had a long day."

Jungkook did not reply and floored the gas pedal. They drove in silence, each with their own thoughts. The apartment building where Yuna lived came into view. Jungkook parked across the road. He was not planning to stay.

"You do not have to come up with me," Yuna said as she got out of the car.

"I think I have to. You know... The feeling you got," Jungkook said and slammed the driver's door.

Jungkook was always so protective. Yuna walked around the car with her hand over her hip. "Are you going to take my hand, so that I can cross the road?"

He knew she was kidding but it was not going to stop him from teasing back. "If you insist."

He grabbed her hand which was on her hip and half dragged her across the empty road. She tried to resist but he only let her go when they were in front of her apartment door. "See you are safe!"

Before Yuna could reply, the front door opened and a stern voice said. "Why are you so late?"