As he sped away, the wind whipping against his face, Jungkook's emotions took control. He drove recklessly, fueled by rage, and made a beeline for Iliana's house. Once he arrived, he pounded on the door with a fury that mirrored his inner turmoil, desperate for an outlet for his feelings.
"Who is it at this hour? It's 11 PM!" Iliana exclaimed, her voice laced with annoyance. The guards called out, "Ma'am, it's Jungkook."
"Jungkook? What on earth is he doing here?" Iliana quickly put on her undercap and wrapped her scarf around her head. Dressed in a purple frock with a divider, she hurried to the door and opened it.
"Jungkook?" she asked, surprised to see him standing there. He didn't respond; instead, he brushed past her and plopped down on the couch, cradling his head in frustration.
"What happened? Why are you here at this hour?" she pressed, concerned creeping into her voice.
"Make me a coffee with less milk, like you always do for yourself," he replied, his tone flat and distant.
Iliana let out a sigh, recognizing the weight of his mood. She turned and headed to the kitchen to prepare the coffee. As she moved, she thought to herself, By the look on his face, it's clear he must have had a fight with his parents. Her hand still throbbed slightly from that earlier coffee incident, but she pushed the pain aside, focused on helping Jungkook through whatever turmoil he was facing.
"Here's your coffee," Iliana said, handing the steaming cup to Jungkook.
"Thanks, green chameleon," he replied, letting his head fall back against the couch, the weight of his thoughts evident on his face. "I'm really sorry for barging in at this hour. I'm just feeling so frustrated. I didn't know where else to go, so I thought I'd come here and annoy you until I felt better. My father... he just doesn't understand. This is my youth, my time to enjoy life! If I can't have fun now, then what's the point of all this?"
Iliana looked at him, her eyes narrowing slightly, a hint of sarcasm creeping into her voice. "You know, Jungkook, your father might actually be onto something here," she said, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, wasting your youth on those haram activities? Genius plan! Who wouldn't want to trade genuine happiness for a temporary thrill that leaves you feeling like a deflated balloon?"
She took a deep breath, her hands rising in prayer, and recited a dua with a dramatic flair. "May you find the wisdom to choose wisely, or at least the ability to find a decent hobby that doesn't involve questionable life choices," she added with a smirk, blowing a soft breath toward him as if casting a spell. "Honestly, I just want you to discover joy in the right places—like, I don't know, maybe reading a book or learning how to cook something that doesn't come from a drive-thru. That's what will actually uplift you, not whatever fleeting excitement you think you're chasing."
(Allahumma innee a'uzubika min alhammi wal huzni wal ajzi wal kasli wal bukhli wal jubni wa dala'id dayni wa galabatir rijaal. Translation: O Allah, I take refuge in you from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men.)
Iliana leaned back, crossing her arms with a confident grin. "But hey, if you want to keep living the 'wildlife' and see where that leads you, I'm just here for entertainment."
Jungkook felt his heartbeat quicken, but a strange comfort washed over him as Iliana recited the dua. "This is nonsense," he muttered, trying to keep his composure while letting out a deep sigh.
Iliana turned to him, her expression serious. "You know I'm just looking out for you, right? I can't let you waste your youth on things that won't bring you happiness."
"I get it, but it's my life," Jungkook replied, frustration creeping into his voice. "I just want to enjoy it without being judged. Is that too much to ask?"
Iliana shook her head gently, a smirk playing on her lips. "You can enjoy life without going down the wrong path. Just think about it. Or do you want to be the poster child for bad decisions?"
As she moved to her room, Jungkook felt a mix of irritation and gratitude. "You can spend the night on the couch," she called back, "but I'll need to call Asma over. I can't spend the night in the same house with a na mehram. You know, just in case you decide to go rogue."
"Yeah, sure. Whatever you need," he said, rolling his eyes dramatically. "I promise I won't start a revolution or anything."
Iliana yawned and quickly dialed Asma. "Assalamualaikum, can you come over? Sorry to call you at this hour… Jungkook's here, and I don't want to be alone with him. He's eating my mind."
Asma laughed softly on the other end. "What's sir doing there?"
"Just trying to convince me that life is all about fun and games," Iliana replied with a sarcastic eye roll. "Just hurry, please. I need backup."
Within minutes, Asma arrived, her presence lightening the mood. "What's going on?" she asked, glancing at Jungkook, who had already drifted off on the couch, snoring softly.
"Just trying to keep him in check," Iliana said, her voice low. "He's been having a rough time. Or maybe he's just really good at napping."
Asma looked at Jungkook, a hint of concern in her eyes. "He looks exhausted"
Iliana nodded . "Yeah, maybe. But he needs the right kind of friends, not just anyone who'll let him sleep through life."
Asma's thoughts swirled, a storm of emotions brewing within her. "So he is My Ed," she whispered, the realization hitting her with the force of a tidal wave. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, but a nagging doubt lingered. "I still want to confirm it," she murmured, her voice barely audible. But how? The question hung heavy in the air, a challenge she needed to overcome. The answer, like a flickering candle in the darkness, seemed just out of reach.