Chapter 24

                                    

                                          
Ara examined the photo on Hoseok's phone, featuring 7-8 people. Confusion marked her face as she questioned, "Who are they?"
"Look at the photo again," Hoseok suggested and asked her to zoom on a specific spot. 
As she zoomed in, her eyes fall Taehyung in the photo, and she confused and gazed at Hoseok, still silent. Suddenly, her attention shifted to a person in a white T-shirt.
"Namjoon Oppa," she muttered.
Without uttering a word, Ara looked back at Hoseok. He then asked, "Did you recognize someone?"
She remained silent, observing him and trying to understand what he was trying to do. With a smile, Hoseok commented, "You haven't changed a bit."
Frustrated, Ara demanded, "What do you mean? Just come to the point and tell me why did you call me?"
Hoseok explained, "To remind you of something about yourself. Have you really forgotten what happened in the past?"
He continued, alleging Taehyung as the person. With whom she was living with and about to marry had made her life a living hell, responsible for her parents' death. Enraged, Ara slammed her hand on the table, exclaiming, "Just stop your nonsense," grabbed her bag, and stormed out of the cafe. Before leaving, Hoseok added, "This man is just using you and will end up destroying you." Ara clenched her eyes shut, entered her car, and slammed the door with a resounding thud.
Ara's mind raced with questions all the way back home. "Why was Taehyung there in the photo with Namjoon Oppa?" she kept asking herself. Hoseok's words lingered, creating a storm of doubt and confusion in her thoughts. As she looked out of the car window, the passing scenery became a blur of uncertainties.
Finally reaching home, she went inside and headed straight to her bedroom. Closing the door behind her, she paced around the room, wrestling with the revelations Hoseok had dropped on her. The familiar surroundings felt suddenly alien, and the weight of unanswered questions pressed heavily on her. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she took a deep breath, attempting to make sense of the conflicting emotions swirling within her.
In the dimly lit room, Ara turned off all the lights, enveloping herself in darkness. The closed curtains shut out the outside world as she lay down, closing her eyes to escape the tormenting thoughts. Her phone vibrated, indicating Taehyung's call, but she chose to ignore it, tossing the device aside and burying her face in a pillow.
On the other side, Taehyung, sitting on a couch and drying his hair with a towel, noticed the darkness in Ara's room through his laptop. Puzzled, he questioned the ambiance as he prepared to check on her. Jungkook informed him about an upcoming meeting, prompting Taehyung to close his laptop and head towards the bed, where he lay down, wondering about Ara. 
As the hands of time continued their relentless march, the dark night transformed into a bright day. Jennie entered the room and drew open the curtains, allowing the morning light to cascade onto Ara's face. Reacting to the intrusion, Ara shifted to the other side of the bed, shielding herself from the brightness. Jennie's voice called her out, coaxing her to wake up. Ara sat on the bed, greeting her with a soft, "Good morning, Unnie," and received a warm response from Jennie.
Ara rubbed her face with her hands, gazing out of the window for a moment. She then stood up, headed to the washroom, and went through her morning routine. Afterward, she descended to the kitchen for a breakfast of toasted bread, scrambled eggs, veggies, and a cup of coffee. Despite the meal, a fake smile adorned her face as her mind grappled with internal struggles.
Returning to her room, Ara retrieved a few files from her wardrobe and made her way to the living room, settling down to immerse herself in her office work. Jennie, emerging from her room, inquired about the medicines from the hospital. Ara shook her head, prompting Jennie to grab her bag and step out to fetch the necessary medication.