|| In The Arms Of Fate ||

Seo-rin’s POV

The morning light streamed through the windows, casting a soft glow across Seo-rin's room. She had barely slept, her thoughts churning all night, restless and conflicted. As the hours ticked by, she found herself deep in thought, replaying every interaction with Jungkook, every word, every gesture—each one cutting deeper than the last.

But today, something had changed.

An idea sparked in her mind, sudden and clear, and Seo-rin jumped up from her seat. She needed help—someone she trusted, someone who could understand her.

Without a second thought, she rushed down the hallway to find Jackson. He was standing in the kitchen, sipping on a cup of coffee, his gaze lifting as he saw her approach.

Seo-rin didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “Jackson,” she began, her voice trembling slightly but full of purpose. “I need your help.”

Jackson raised an eyebrow, setting his cup down on the counter. “What’s going on, Seo-rin?”

She took a deep breath, steadying herself, and then poured her heart out. “I’ve been thinking about Jungkook and everything I’ve learned. I know he’s lost, I know he’s hurt, but I can’t stand by and watch him drown in that darkness anymore. I’m going to help him. I’m going to make him see that there’s still a chance for him, for us. But I need your help.”

Jackson studied her for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “Alright. I’m counting on you, Seo-rin. But can I ask you something?”

Seo-rin paused, the weight of his words pulling at her chest. “What is it?”

Jackson’s expression softened, but his gaze was sharp. “Do you love Jungkook that much?”

The question hit Seo-rin like a slap. She blinked, her throat tightening as she searched for an answer, but nothing came. She hadn’t thought about it that way. Love? Was it love, or was it something else? Was it just pity? Compassion?

Jackson’s voice cut through her confusion. “Seo-rin, he’s shown you his worst side. He’s hurt you, ignored you, treated you like you’re nothing, but you still want to fix him. This can’t just be pity. If it were pity, you wouldn’t still care. So, what is it? What is it that keeps you hanging on?”

Seo-rin felt her chest tighten as his words echoed in her mind. Could it really be love? She didn’t know. But one thing was certain—she couldn’t leave him like this, couldn’t let him stay trapped in his self-destructive cycle. She had to try, no matter what.

“I don’t know what I feel, Jackson,” she admitted softly, her voice trembling. “But I know one thing. I’m giving this marriage a chance. I’m giving Jungkook his third chance, and if I can be the one to pull him out of the darkness, I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Jackson nodded solemnly, a slight frown tugging at his lips. “I can’t tell you what to do, but I’ll help you however I can. Just... be careful, Seo-rin. Jungkook’s not the same person you think he is.”

Seo-rin looked down, her heart heavy with both uncertainty and determination. If I can’t bring him back, no one else can.

---

After their conversation, Seo-rin retreated to her room. She sat by the window, the city’s skyline stretching before her, but her mind was a whirlwind. I need to stay close to him, she thought. But how?

The thought gnawed at her, tearing through every plan she could imagine. She needed to be near him, to make sure she could monitor his every move, but she couldn’t simply ask to stay in his room. That would only make him angrier.

She paced back and forth, mind racing, rejecting one idea after another. Some of them were too extreme, others too reckless. But then, like a lightbulb flicking on, an idea struck her.

Jungkook’s room.

She stopped mid-step, staring at the floor in thought. There are only four rooms in this mansion. One is mine. One is his. The others... well, I can’t go there.

But what if... what if she could make it impossible for anyone to enter this room?

Seo-rin’s eyes widened as the plan unfolded in her mind. She would need to make it look like there was a problem—something that couldn’t be ignored. Something that would force Jungkook to take action, and in doing so, she could manipulate the situation to her advantage.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft knock on the door. She opened it to find Jackson standing there, holding a stack of books she had asked him to bring earlier.

“I’ve got your books,” he said casually, but his eyes narrowed as he saw the expression on her face. “You’ve got something, don’t you?”

Seo-rin stepped aside, inviting him in. As soon as he entered, she started speaking in a low, excited voice. “I’ve got it. I know how to make it work.”

Jackson raised an eyebrow but didn’t interrupt. She continued. “I’ll create a situation where no one can come into his room. I’ll make him think there’s something wrong—something he can’t ignore. And then... then I’ll make him see that I need to stay in his room.”

Jackson raised a finger to his lips, thinking. “Alright, so what’s the plan?”

Seo-rin explained it all, and Jackson listened carefully, his expression shifting from curiosity to amusement as she laid out the details.

“You’re going to do what?” he asked, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“I need to get into his room, Jackson. And I know exactly how to do it.”

He leaned back, folding his arms, thinking it over. “Alright, I’ll help you. You’ll need a good distraction. Something that’s gonna scare him enough to make him run to your room in a panic.”

Seo-rin’s eyes gleamed with determination. “I’ll take care of that. You just get the cockroaches. I’m going to make sure he sees it with his own eyes. And when he does, I’ll be ready to ask him to let me sleep in his room for the night. I’ll delay the pest control, and I’ll make sure he can’t say no.”

Jackson shook his head with a chuckle. “You really are something, Seo-rin. But I’m counting on you. You’ve got this. Just be careful.”

Seo-rin nodded, her mind already racing through the plan. This could work. It has to work. I will bring him back to the light.