23

NO ONE POV

Jasmine groaned softly, her throat raw as her body stirred back to consciousness.

The first thing she registered was pain. Not the dull kind that fades — this was sharp, lingering, cruel. Her muscles ached. Her head pounded. Her core throbbed with unbearable soreness.

As she blinked open swollen eyes, she saw the cracked ceiling above her. The faint, familiar water stains. The spiderweb in the corner that never went away.
She was back in her room.

But nothing about it felt like hers anymore.

She sat up slowly, and instantly regretted it.
A deep, cutting pain tore through her lower body. A broken sob slipped out before she could stop it.

Her body was ruined.
Her soul felt shredded.

She drew her knees up to her chest and clutched them tightly, rocking back and forth. Her breathing came in short, panicked gasps. Then came the tears — hot and silent at first, then sharp sobs that clawed their way out of her.

This had been the worst.

The worst of all the times.
Because this time it felt like... something was stolen that she couldn't even name.

"Why..." she whispered into her arms, voice breaking. "Why do they keep doing this to me?"

She couldn't shake the image — the way he looked at her.
Jungkook.

Cold eyes. Empty voice. No remorse.
And yet, in that single breath after it was all over, when he whispered "I'm sorry" — it had twisted something in her.

She didn't know if she hated him more for what he did... or for pretending to regret it.

A creak at the door snapped her out of her thoughts.

Her body stiffened in a flash. She curled into herself instinctively, her breath catching.

"Hey..." came a quiet voice.

She recognized it immediately.

YangYang.

He was the only one who ever treated her like a person in this hell.

"It's me," he said gently, stepping inside with careful movements. "I brought you some food."

She didn't respond. Didn't move.

"Cupcake... please. I know you're awake."

Still nothing.

He crouched beside her bed and reached out, trying to take her hand.

The second his fingers brushed her skin, she recoiled violently.

"Don't touch me," she whispered, voice sharp and shaking.

He froze, hand mid-air. "Jasmine... it's just me."

She didn't look up. Her face stayed buried in her arms.

"Please," he tried again, his voice breaking. "Just look at me."

"I said—don't touch me!"

YangYang flinched. His chest tightened as guilt churned inside him.

"I'm sorry," she added quickly, her voice barely audible.

"Don't apologize. None of this is your fault."

But she kept rocking, her fingers digging into her arms.

"I am disgusting..." she choked out. "I'm filthy. I hate myself."

"Don't say that." He moved closer. "Please—"

"No!" she snapped. "I don't want to feel like this anymore. I don't want to feel anything anymore!"