Ch 67 | Long Fight

                                    

                                          
Y/N's POV:
Your stomach turns over from all the camera flashes going off, even though they're through the glass doors and windows. The sound of the metal handcuffs clanking and binding Jum's wrists together doesn't make you feel relieved, it makes you ache. And looking into his eyes was the worst mistake you could've made. He's so angry and hurt he can't speak, he's just staring at you in bewilderment. 
"You have the right to remain silent," Dal says, tightening his grip on Jum. He has one hand on his shoulder and the other holding his wrists. "Anything you say can and will be held against you."
Jum is totally silent as he's read his rights, and you look over at Sook and Yoona. They seem just as shocked as you by this, their hands loosely covering over their mouths in disbelief. 
"Sook," Jum says shakily, looking towards his roommate with pleading eyes. "Please, call my brother. I didn't do anything. You know I'd never hurt anyone, especially not Jia or [Y/N]." 
"I, uh- I..." Sook stutters, anxiously flickering his eyes between you and Jum. This has probably got to be a terrible situation for him, having to choose between his roommate and boss. 
"I won't hold anything against you, Sook," you say to him. "So if you need to be there for him it's okay." 
Sook is young and inexperienced, so this is probably a lot for him to process. There's tears in his eyes as he searches yours, trying to figure out if you're serious. And you are. Jum may be guilty, you have no idea what sort of evidence Ji-Ho was able to find, but he still has a right to good counsel. 
Innocent until proven guilty. 
"Okay," he chokes out before clearing his throat, looking at Jum. "I'll call him and meet you at the station." 
"Thank you," he exhales in relief. 
Dal ushers Jum towards the front door but you stop them, grabbing the officer's massive bicep. "Take him through the back," you say, making his brows raise. "We don't need to make any more of a scene." 
"Are you trying to protect him?" Ji-Ho asks you. He doesn't sound angry, he seems curious. "You don't even know what evidence we have against him." 
"We don't need to make a spectacle out of him until we know he's guilty," you frown, avoiding Jum's eyes. You know he's staring straight at you. 
Some may think you're being naive or a pushover, but this is for you more than it is Jum. Being accused of something you didn't do is a massive trigger for you. It's hard to make a rational decision when you know so little. Plus, he's in handcuffs. If he's guilty, he can't hurt you. There's no need for a public walk out. 
When Jimin disappeared, everyone around you assumed the worst of you. The theories were insane, and as much as you tried to ignore what others had to say, their words still made you cry yourself to sleep at night sometimes. They said that you were a whore. Some said you couldn't satisfy your man so he left. Or that you probably slept with a married man which is why you wouldn't name the father. Maybe you tried baby trapping someone. And you had so much money as a young, single mother, some thought you could be blackmailing whoever the father was. 
They labeled you a bad mother. They said Jia would grow up to be just like you. A whore and a con artist. That was the worst part. You were worried your reputation would one day affect your innocent daughter. 
This situation is obviously different, but it's still a sore spot for you. It's a wound that hasn't healed yet. A trigger is a trigger, irrational or not, and right now this is what you want to do. Not for Jum, but for yourself. 
"Take him through the back door," you say with a little more confidence in your voice. "I'm not asking." 
Ji-Ho blinks at you a few times before sighing, nodding towards Dal to listen to you. "Thank you," Jum says, but you're not interested in listening to him. He's being arrested for a reason.