Warning - explicit language, smut, jealousy, break up, from lovers to enemies, trust issues
Banner by: @jktny0
A/n: This is my first story ever, Iâve done little povs on TikTok and they have went viral before. Iâve never done things that are so intimate. Iâve read such incredible stories from amazing authors and I canât wait where this story goes. Iâm also in love with my banner thank you so much to axel she is the best. Enjoy the storyđ«¶
B gets out a four-year relationship because of her cheater ex and her friends are there by her side.
Chapter 2 - One night stand (wc: 5.2k)
Bâs friends take her out to enjoy her fresh freedom by going out to a club. There, she ends up meeting someone interesting...
Chapter 3 - Encounters (wc:3.6k)
Bâs friends decided to surprise with âglow upâ and ends up getting a new hair do. B ends up having very interesting encounters and it leaves her bewildered.
Chapter 4 - Guide and gamble (wc: 3.3k)
After the gym B and Jk are faced with regret on how things ended. Bâs friend decides to act like a guide and wants to help her be sure about her feelings. Jk decides to gamble with fate and makes bet.
I personally just canât get away from it, the chapters be good af like the new one made me tear up. And omg the author, SHE TEA ASFFFF, I see her post on insta and omg she looks like a freaking goddess, one of the best looking authors out there. She was prob the reason I got into reading smut, that and silk sheets and this other story. She also got me inspired to finish one of my new chapters. But on a serious note go check that shit out
If you want to write you need to read. Read everything you can get your hands on. Not just fiction from your genre. Read other genres, read articles, read the paper, read things you disagree with, read the same plot over and over because itâs that good, read pamphlets, read academic literature, read childrenâs books, read smutty erotica, read sweet coming of age, read jokes on social media, read posts made by friends and strangers, read texts, read folklore, read experimental texts, read lyrics, read plaques at the park, read info texts in museums, read books no one else has read, read reviews for the most popular books, read, read, read.
Read anything and everything you can get your hands on and let it all sink in until the written word becomes a language so ingrained in yourself that nothing is foreign to you.
I just got into your work and completed the 3rd chapter,until i read again and all i see is chatgpt.
This is funny idk if I should be upset or happy because that means my work is somewhat good that you think is chat gptđ
Iâm usually iffy about my own work but hearing from someone else that they think itâs chat gpt is funny. The only thing I would say I use is google to help me find the best words I can use for my stories that are more specific and intimate. People post as well prompts that will help other writers I also use this. This gave me motivation to write more chapters. Itâs even more funny because you asked anonymous.
Iâm sorry but not sorry if you think that way hope you have a nice eveningâșïž
Warning - explicit language, smut, jealousy, from friends to lovers???
Itâs been cold recently in Korea, the fall weather has been brutal but a nice feeling on your skin.
You went to go visit your family for about a week leaving Jennie alone in the apartment.
You asked her if she wanted to come since sheâs been there a couple of times but she said assured you that she would be okay and to enjoy you vacation alone.
Youâve been enjoying your last couple of days of freedom before going back to your studies for your finals and everything else thatâs gonna be going on. Your mom has packed your whole bag with food like she was feeding a family for Christmas. Youâre leaving with more food than with the clothes you came home with.
âYou better take care of your self, gain some weight while youâre at itâ she says, scolding you for being too skinny while pointing at you.
You just smile and laugh it off
âEomma Iâll be fine and I like how I loook but seriously I have to get going I have a big quiz this Wednesdayâ while rolling your bags out the door and putting your bag in the car and she hugs and kisses your head.
âBe careful, call if anything happensâ
You nod
You get in your car and sigh, âgreat two hour drive here we come.â
The apartment welcomes you with the smell of vanilla candle being lit and warm orange lights around the apartment. It seems like Jennie decorated for fall break. Jennie walked out her room as you took off your shoes.
âYour back!âshe hugs you and grabs the stuff from your arms. âHow is your mom?â
âShe is fine, the usual I guess her and my dad planted more stuff, well more like made my dad plant it for her,â you said giggling at the last part.
âWhat about you Kim Jennie tell me.â
She sighs softly as she twirls her hair as if she was ready to drop the lie you guys spoke on the phone about earlier
âAlright letâs sit so I can tell you the loreâ you giggled from the sight of her getting so excited and impatient to drop the lore to you.
âSo I started getting bored being in this apartment without you so I decided to go out with my friends to the club and I met this guy and he was sweet and really good looking we both started getting really touchy and things led to another and he ended up coming over and I donât know when we were kissing it was fine he was a good kisser and finger stuff but it felt weird doing other stuff we just broke out laughing at us having sex he was also awkward, we both realize that weâre better as friends then a one night stand and he was sweet about it and not rude you know, I left him stay over like we even slept on the same bed and the next day he took me out for breakfast.â As she ended she finally made eye contact with you and saw the face you made.
There was no way your friend, KIM JENNIE,
the one who would be so picky about the guys she would have sex with, that if they gave her one ick she would kick them out decided to be a friend with a stranger.
âJennie why would you be friends with a stranger you didnât even know this man what if he was a serial killer and killed you in our home I wasnât here to save you.â You said scolding her before she stopped you
âStop it looked like I could break him with my tae kwon do in 10 seconds he seemed a little thin.â She replied while your rolled your eyes in annoyance.
âCome on B he is really nice trust me Iâve been meeting up for coffee every morning I found out that his job and mine are only 5 minutes away from each other.â
âFine, whatâs his name?â You asked
âJimin, â Jennie replied.
âHis name sounds cute,â you say before she starts talking. âSee maybe I can set you up with him. He is pretty good looking just not for meâ she says and you roll your eyes. Whatâs up with her always trying to set up her friends.
Warning - explicit language, smut, jealousy, from friends to lovers???
Itâs been cold recently in Korea, the fall weather has been brutal but a nice feeling on your skin.
You went to go visit your family for about a week leaving Jennie alone in the apartment.
You asked her if she wanted to come since sheâs been there a couple of times but she said assured you that she would be okay and to enjoy you vacation alone.
Youâve been enjoying your last couple of days of freedom before going back to your studies for your finals and everything else thatâs gonna be going on. Your mom has packed your whole bag with food like she was feeding a family for Christmas. Youâre leaving with more food than with the clothes you came home with.
âYou better take care of your self, gain some weight while youâre at itâ she says, scolding you for being too skinny while pointing at you.
You just smile and laugh it off
âEomma Iâll be fine and I like how I loook but seriously I have to get going I have a big quiz this Wednesdayâ while rolling your bags out the door and putting your bag in the car and she hugs and kisses your head.
âBe careful, call if anything happensâ
You nod
You get in your car and sigh, âgreat two hour drive here we come.â
The apartment welcomes you with the smell of vanilla candle being lit and warm orange lights around the apartment. It seems like Jennie decorated for fall break. Jennie walked out her room as you took off your shoes.
âYour back!âshe hugs you and grabs the stuff from your arms. âHow is your mom?â
âShe is fine, the usual I guess her and my dad planted more stuff, well more like made my dad plant it for her,â you said giggling at the last part.
âWhat about you Kim Jennie tell me.â
She sighs softly as she twirls her hair as if she was ready to drop the lie you guys spoke on the phone about earlier
âAlright letâs sit so I can tell you the loreâ you giggled from the sight of her getting so excited and impatient to drop the lore to you.
âSo I started getting bored being in this apartment without you so I decided to go out with my friends to the club and I met this guy and he was sweet and really good looking we both started getting really touchy and things led to another and he ended up coming over and I donât know when we were kissing it was fine he was a good kisser and finger stuff but it felt weird doing other stuff we just broke out laughing at us having sex he was also awkward, we both realize that weâre better as friends then a one night stand and he was sweet about it and not rude you know, I left him stay over like we even slept on the same bed and the next day he took me out for breakfast.â As she ended she finally made eye contact with you and saw the face you made.
There was no way your friend, KIM JENNIE,
the one who would be so picky about the guys she would have sex with, that if they gave her one ick she would kick them out decided to be a friend with a stranger.
âJennie why would you be friends with a stranger you didnât even know this man what if he was a serial killer and killed you in our home I wasnât here to save you.â You said scolding her before she stopped you
âStop it looked like I could break him with my tae kwon do in 10 seconds he seemed a little thin.â She replied while your rolled your eyes in annoyance.
âCome on B he is really nice trust me Iâve been meeting up for coffee every morning I found out that his job and mine are only 5 minutes away from each other.â
âFine, whatâs his name?â You asked
âJimin, â Jennie replied.
âHis name sounds cute,â you say before she starts talking. âSee maybe I can set you up with him. He is pretty good looking just not for meâ she says and you roll your eyes. Whatâs up with her always trying to set up her friends.
No Room For Secrets - Chapter 24: Sixty Candles, Minimum
Series Masterlist | Main Masterlist
â Pairing: Jungkook x Reader(female)
â Trope/AUs: roommates to friends/FWB/lovers, roommate!au, fwb!au, arranged marriage!au, New Girl!AU
â Rating: Explicit 18+ (minors dni)
â Word Count: 11,724
â Summary: You begin to trust Jungkook again. You go snowboarding. Yoongi makes a life changing decision.
â Warnings(by chapter): snowboarding incompetence, accidental body tackling, almost dying via tree well, repeated falling into each other, idiots in love, suspicious Jimin, secret proposal planning, excessive candle usage, Yoongi being disgustingly romantic, emotional speeches, Jin experiencing several realizations at once, fireworks, found family chaos, screaming crying throwing up, New Yearâs kiss
â A/N: hi my loves :( ⥠thank you for being so patient with me while i worked on this chapter. i know it took me a long time, and i just want to be honest and say that my mental health has been at an all-time low, so writing has been really difficult for me lately. there were so many moments where this chapter felt impossible to finish, but i kept coming back to it when i could, and being able to finally share it with you feels really, really special. your patience, kindness, and constant love for this story mean more to me than i could ever explain. seriously. thank you for staying with me through all of it. i love you all so much. also⊠jimin and yoongi in this chapter? iâm SICK over them. they are so precious and so in love and writing their proposal genuinely made me emotional. anyway, i really hope you guys love this chapter. thank you for reading, thank you for caring, and thank you for making this little corner of the internet feel so safe and full of love. âĄ
â Playlist: WA-R-R by Colde // Daylight by Taylor Swift // Off My Face by JB // I donât think Iâm okay by Bazzi
Somewhere in the strange, quiet limbo between Christmas Day and New Yearâs Eve, you find yourself making decisions that a younger version of you would absolutely interrogate.
Not bad decisions, exactly.
Just⊠unexpected ones.
Like sitting cross-legged on the living room floor of a snowy cabin in the mountains, wearing Taehyungâs extra-fluffy socks and Jungkookâs hoodieâagainâwhile Jimin insists that the correct way to build a thousand-piece puzzle is by âestablishing the color tone of the edges first.â
Which, apparently, means staring at the box for ten minutes and refusing to touch any pieces.
Across the coffee table, Jin is nursing what might be the worst hangover ever in recorded human history, sipping water like itâs the fountain of youth.
âYou all laughed,â he mutters hoarsely, glaring into his mug. âWhen I said the mulled wine was stronger than it tasted.â
âYou bought it,â Hobi reminds him cheerfully from the couch, where heâs halfway wrapped in three blankets and humming along to a playlist only he can hear.
âThatâs not the point.â
The day after Christmas arrives slowly in the cabin.
Nobody wakes up early. Nobody tries to be productive. The air inside the house feels heavy with warmth and leftover laughter, the fireplace still crackling from the night before, and every surface covered in some evidence of the previous eveningâs chaosâwrapping paper, empty glasses, the infamous Sharpie-drawn Christmas tree still taped crookedly to the wall.
Yoongi is asleep again.
Not just casually asleepâfully unconscious on the couch, curled beneath the ridiculous Jin-selfie blanket Taehyung had claimed earlier but apparently abandoned sometime during the evening.
Youâre pretty sure this is his second nap of the day.
âShould we check if heâs alive?â you murmur.
Taehyung glances over from where heâs lying flat on the floor, arms spread like a dramatic movie murder victim.
âHeâs fine,â he says. âThatâs his winter hibernation setting.â
On the couch, Yoongi doesnât move. Not even a little.
You glance over again, just in time to notice Jimin quietly stealing the last of the tangerines from the fruit bowl beside him.
âDid you just take my snack?â Hobi asks.
âNo.â
âYou literally have it in your hand.â
Jimin looks down at the tangerine.
Then back up.
ââŠThis is my snack.â
Itâs domestic in the most chaotic, unstructured way possible.
People drift from room to room throughout the day. Taehyung starts three different puzzles and finishes none of them. Jin eventually recovers enough to declare that everyone is dehydrated and begins aggressively distributing glasses of water like a man on a medical mission.
At one point someone suggests a movie, but nobody actually watches it.
Instead, you all sit around the living room in various states of lazinessâblankets everywhere, socks mismatched, the soft glow of winter sunlight bleeding through the windows while snow drifts quietly outside.
And through all of itâŠ
Something small begins to settle in place. Not loudly, nor dramatically. Just⊠quietly.
You notice it in the way Jungkook refills your mug with coffee without asking when yours runs low.
In the way your shoulder brushes his when you pass each other in the kitchen, and neither of you flinches away.
In the way he tosses you one of the extra hoodies from his bag when you complain about being cold.
You donât talk about what happened or what was said in the cellar.
You havenât really had the chance to yet.
The memory of it lingers somewhere between youâwarm and complicated and still unresolvedâbut the silence around it isnât sharp and painful anymore.
It finally doesnât sting.
It just waits, patiently.
That night, everyone migrates to the hot tub in the next room, steam curling into the cold mountain air because Tae opened the window, while snow piles quietly on the clear plastic roof.
Hobi brings drinks. Taehyung insists on music. Jimin somehow ends up halfway in Yoongiâs lap again, wrapped in a towel and complaining about the temperature like he wasnât the one who demanded Taehyung open the window in the first place.
You sit along the edge of the sunken tub, feet in the water, laughing when Jungkook splashes Taehyung after he makes some outrageous comment about âromantic winter tension.â
For a momentâjust a momentâyou glance at Jungkook across the bubbling water.
Heâs smiling. Not the teasing, chaotic grin he gives Tae. Not the polite, easy one he gives Jin.
The softer one.
The one that feels familiar in a way your chest still hasnât quite figured out how to handle.
He catches you looking.
And instead of looking away, he just tilts his head slightly, like heâs checking in.
You smile back before you can stop yourself.
Later, long after everyone drifts back inside and the house settles into quiet again, you lie in bed staring at the ceiling while snow taps gently against the window.
Youâre not spiraling. Not really. Youâre just⊠thinking. Yeah.
About the cellar. About what happened. About the way Jungkook held you afterward like he didnât want to move.
Your chest tightens slightly. You donât know exactly what you and him are to each other now. Friends? Just exes?
But for the first time in a long timeâŠ
Youâre not afraid to find out.
Youâre dreaming about something peaceful.
Something warm. Something that definitely does not involve loud noises or physical activity.
Which is why the sound of a door slamming open somewhere down the hall feels like a fucking personal attack.
âWAKE UP, LOSERS!â
Your eyes fly open.
For a moment you just lie there, staring at the wooden ceiling of the cabin like your brain needs a minute to remember where you are.
Thenâ
âITâS A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR ATHLETICISM!â
Thatâs Kim fucking Taehyung. Of course it fucking is.
From somewhere across the hallway, Yoongiâs voice croaks like a haunted ghost.
âIf you donât shut the fuck up right now I will die of sleep deprivation and come back to fucking haunt you.â
You groan and drag the comforter over your head. But the peace lasts approximately three seconds.
Jin is standing in the kitchen downstairs holding a ski helmet like it holds the power to curse his bloodline.
âI donât remember agreeing to this,â he says.
âYou did,â Taehyung replies, stuffing snacks into a backpack. âYou nodded.â
âThat was during a conversation about pancakes.â
âSame thing.â
Hobi appears beside you with a mug of coffee and presses it into your hands like a life-saving medical intervention.
âYou look like you died,â he says kindly.
âThank you.â
âYouâre welcome.â
Across the room, Jimin is leaning against the counter scrolling through his phone with a deeply suspicious expression.
âWhy does the mountain website say the wind chill is negative twelve?â
Taehyung freezes. ââŠFake news.â
âThat is not fake news,â Jimin whines. âTae! Be so for real right now. Will I die of hypothermia?â
Taehyung takes a second to pretend to think before saying, âNot if you actually wear socks this time.â
Yoongi shuffles into the kitchen looking like he fought the sandman and lost.
His hair is sticking up in every direction. His sweatshirt half-zipped. Eyes barely open. He stares at the group gathered around the kitchen.
Then at Taehyung.
Then back at the group.
ââŠWhy are you all dressed like ski instructors?â
âSnowboarding,â Taehyung says brightly.
Yoongi blinks slowly. âOkay.â
Then he turns around. And starts walking back toward the stairs.
âNope!â Jimin grabs the back of his hoodie and yanks him back.
âYouâre coming.â
âI am not.â
âYou are.â
âIâm thirty-three.â
âYouâre being dramatic.â
Yoongi looks at you, âHelp.â
You raise your coffee, âIâm staying neutral.â
âSouleater,â he mutters.
An adorable laugh cuts through the room. And it makes you glance up automatically.
Jungkook is leaning against the doorway to his room, pulling on a pair of snow gloves.
Heâs already dressed for the mountainâblack snow pants, dark jacket, hair slightly messy like he didnât bother fixing it after showering.
When he notices you looking, he grins.
âMorning.â
Your stomach does something stupid but you lift your mug and reply, âMorning.â
He gestures toward the front door, âYou ready?â
âEmotionally? No.â
âPhysically?â
âAlso no.â
He laughs that adorable soft laugh again, âWeâll start you on the easy slopes.â
âBold of you to assume I wonât die immediately.â
âConfidence is key,â he grins.
âConfidence is overrated.â
Taehyung claps again, âEVERYONE. SHOES. NOW!â
Groans ripple through the room. But slowlyâvery slowlyâeveryone starts moving toward the door.
Boots get pulled on, jackets zipped, scarves wrapped. Jin sighs dramatically like heâs being forced into battle. Jimin steals another snack. Yoongi leans against the wall like a man accepting his fate. You finish the rest of your coffee and set the mug in the sink.
When you turn around, Jungkook is standing beside you.
Close. Not too close. Just enough that your shoulders almost touch.
âYou good?â he asks quietly, so only you hear.
You nod, âYeah.â
A comfortable beat passes between you in a way thatâs familiar.Â
Then Taehyung yells from the front door:
âIF WE DONâT LEAVE RIGHT NOW IâM DRIVING WITHOUT ALL OF YOU.â
âYOU DONâT EVEN HAVE THE KEYS,â Jin yells back.
Taehyung pauses. ââŠWho said I need the keys?â
Jungkook snorts. You bump his arm lightly as you walk past him toward the door.
âCâmon,â you say. âLetâs go freeze to death.â
He falls into step beside you. And for some reason, the idea doesnât seem quite so terrible anymore.
The drive to the mountain is loud.
Not chaotic exactlyâjust the kind of comfortable noise that happens when four people are crammed into a car together and nobody has slept enough.
Yoongi drives with one hand on the wheel, the other loosely draped over the center console while Jimin scrolls through music beside him like a self-appointed DJ.
âYou cannot put on sad winter music before a physical activity,â Jungkook says from the backseat.
âItâs atmospheric,â Jimin argues.
âItâs depressing.â
âItâs reflective.â
âItâs. Depressing.â
You snort from beside him, pulling your beanie lower over your ears as the road curves toward the mountain.
âYou two have been arguing about the same playlist for ten minutes,â you point out.
âBecause he has terrible taste,â Jungkook says immediately.
Jimin gasps dramatically.
âYouâre the one who listens to gym remixes at two in the morning.â
âThose are motivational.â
âThose are terrifying.â
In the driverâs seat, Yoongi sighs the sigh of a man who has accepted that this is his life now.
âBoth of you shut up,â he says mildly. âWeâre here.â
Sure enough, the parking lot opens up in front of youâsnow packed tight beneath rows of cars, the slopes rising high above the base lodge where clusters of people move like colorful dots against the white.
Yoongi pulls into a narrow space between two SUVs and kills the engine.
For a moment nobody moves.
Then Jimin claps his hands once.
âOkay. Letâs do this.â
âLetâs not,â Yoongi mutters.
Everyone starts piling out of the car. Jimin hops out first, boots crunching against the packed snow as he stretches dramatically beside the door.
Yoongi follows, tugging his jacket straight while muttering something under his breath about âfrozen toes.â
You climb out next, stepping carefully onto the icy pavement and shutting the door behind you while the cold air hits your face like a slap.
âJesus,â you mutter. âItâs freezing.â
âWelcome to the mountains,â Jimin says cheerfully.
Youâre halfway turning around when it happens.
Jungkook pushes the car door open on the other sideâ
Then immediately pauses.
ââŠThereâs no space,â he says.
You glance back.
Heâs still in the car, the space between Yoongiâs car door and the SUV parked beside it, barely wide enough for the door to open.
âJust climb over and out Y/Nâs side,â Jimin suggests unhelpfully.
Jungkook sighs and squeezes out carefully, using the frame of the car for balance.
One step.
Twoâ
Then his boot hits a slick patch of ice.
ââshit.â
The word barely leaves his mouth before his foot slides out from under him.
Everything happens fast. You see him tipping forward. You barely have time to react before his momentum carries him straight into youâ
And suddenly youâre both going down.
Your back hits the snow with a soft oof as Jungkook lands on top of you, arms braced on either side of your head to keep from crushing you completely.
For a second the world just⊠stops.
Cold air. Bright sunlight reflecting off the snow. His breath warm against your face.
Your legs have fallen open around him where heâs pressing you into the ground, his hips flush against yours as he catches himself.
You blink up at him.
He blinks down at you.
ââŠHi,â he says breathlessly.
You stare into his warm boba eyes, ââŠHi.â
Thereâs a moment of stunned silence. Then his eyes flick down. To your mouth.
Your heart skips. You see the exact moment he realizes how close you areâhow his body is practically pinning you to the ground.
His gaze lingers there for just a second too long.
Your breathing becomes uneven.
And thenâ
âAhem.â Yoongi clears his throat. Loudly.
Jungkook snaps out of it like someone hit a reset button.
âOhâshitâsorryââ
He scrambles off you immediately, grabbing your hands to pull you upright while brushing snow from your jacket.
âYou okay?â he asks quickly.
You nod, trying very hard not to think about the way his body had been pressed against yours a second ago.
âYeah,â you say. âYou?â
âDignity destroyed, but otherwise fine.â
Behind him, Jimin turns slowly toward Yoongi with an expression of pure betrayal.
âYou interrupted that,â he says accusingly.
Yoongi blinks at him as if he did absolutely nothing wrong. âThey were lying in the parking lot.â
âThey were having a moment.â
âThey were having hypothermia.â
Jimin elbows him in the ribs. Hard. âYouâre unbelievable,â he mutters.
Yoongi just groans and rubs his side with a smile.
Across the lot, Jinâs truck pulls into a spot and Hobi and Taehyung spill out of the doors like excited children.
âDid we miss something?â Hobi calls.
Jimin gestures dramatically toward you and Jungkook.
âYes,â he says. âApparently.â
You groan and shove him lightly, âShut the fuck up.â
But when you glance sideways at Jungkook, heâs already looking at you again. Cheeks pink, but not from embarrassment or awkwardness.
Heâs just looking you⊠thoughtfully. Like heâs still thinking about the moment before Yoongi cleared his throat.
Taehyung slings his snowboard over his shoulder and grins.
âAlright, snow gremlins,â he announces. âLift lines await.â
Jungkook adjusts his gloves and gestures toward the slopes.
âHave you done this before?â he asks you.
You glance up at the mountain towering above the lodge.
Then back at him.
ââŠAbsolutely not.â
He laughs. âCâmon,â he says. âIâll take you up first.â
And when you follow him toward the lifts, the cold doesnât feel so sharp against your skin anymore.
By the time everyone gets their gear sorted, the mountain is alive with motion.
Snow crunches under boots. Boards clack against the racks. People shuffle through the lift line in slow zigzags, bundled in bright jackets and fogged goggles while the chairlifts glide overhead in an endless mechanical rhythm.
Taehyung is vibrating with excitement.
âIâm doing the black diamond first,â he announces confidently.
âYouâre not even warmed up yet,â Jin says.
âThatâs for rookies.â
âYour hamstring stretches are for rookies,â Jin replies flatly.
Up ahead, Jimin finishes tightening the straps on his board and straightens with a satisfied nod.
âOkay. Everyone ready?â
Yoongi stretches his back with groan like heâs about to clock in for a shift at a job he did not apply for.
âNo but, anything for you my dear.â
âGreat,â Jimin beams. âLetâs go!â
The lift line inches forward.
Taehyung ends up first through the gate, already talking loudly about the perfect snow conditions while Yoongi trudges along beside him like a very bored chaperone.
Jimin hops onto the moving chair between them with the grace of someone whoâs done this a thousand times.
âYou guys better not fall,â he calls back over his shoulder.
Yoongi mutters something that sounds suspiciously like I hope I do.
The chair swings forward, carrying the three of them slowly up the mountain.
Behind them, you shuffle forward next. The lift operator gives a quick nod.
âNext!â
You and Jungkook step forward together automatically. Thereâs a familiar rhythm to itâboards lined up, timing the approach, turning just as the chair glides in behind you.
The seat bumps the backs of your legs. Then youâre both lifted smoothly into the air.
For the first few seconds neither of you says anything. Just the sound of the lift cable humming overhead and the faint crunch of snow below as the ground begins to drift farther away.
Your board sways slightly beneath your boots.
The mountain opens up around youâwhite slopes, pine trees dusted with frost, the sky pale and bright above the peaks. Somewhere up ahead you can hear Taehyung already yelling about something.
You exhale slowly, âThis feels like a trap.â
Jungkook snorts, âWhat? How?â
âYou trapped me on a suspended moving chair with a snowboard attached to my feet.â
âThatâs just⊠how you snowboard.â
âWell, it feels suspicious.â
He laughs quietly, leaning back against the seat as the lift climbs higher. The sound is warm in the cold air. For a moment you just watch the mountains pass below you.
Then he nudges your boot lightly with his.
âSo,â he says casually.
You glance over, âSo?â
âHow was spa night?â
You groan immediately. âOh my god.â
âThat bad?â
âThey both fucking interrogated me.â
He grins, âSounds about right.â
You tuck your chin into the collar of your jacket, laughing softly.
âIt started as skincare,â you admit. âThen somehow it turned into a fully emotional and detailed breakdown.â
âClassic.â
ââŠClassic.â
A beat passes. Then you sigh.
ââŠThey know.â
Jungkook tilts his head. âThey know what?â
You give him a look. He stares at you for half a second. Then realization hits.
âOh.â
You nod. âAll three of them.â
He lets out a small laugh and rubs the back of his neck, cheeks turning pink beneath the cold.
âYeah,â he says. âI figured Jimin and Tae clocked it when they rescued us.â
You snort. âThey absolutely did. And I thought we were in the clear.â
The lift creaks softly as it climbs higher.
Your eyes wander ahead where Taehyungâs chair is swinging a few lengths in front of you. Yoongi sits in the middle looking like a hostage while Jimin gestures wildly with both hands while talking.
You smile. âThey were so happy,â you say quietly.
Jungkook looks back at you, âAbout what?â
You shrug slightly.
âAbout us. Happy for me.â A small pause.
âFor trying to figure this out.â
His expression changes as he gazes at you. It softens. And you think you see hope flicker across his face so quickly, you almost miss it.
âFor us,â he repeats quietly.
Your stomach flips, but you pretend to focus on the view below you.
The silence between you isnât uncomfortable. Now itâs just extremely full. Like there are a hundred things waiting to be said but neither of you is quite sure where to start or what to say right now in this moment.
You gaze at him again.
Heâs already looking at you. Those big, dark eyes steady and thoughtful.
For a second it feels exactly like the parking lot againâlike the world narrowed down to only the small space between you.
His gaze drops briefly again, to your lips.
Your breath catches and your eyes do the same.
He opens his mouth like heâs about to say something.
And thenâ
The lift jolts slightly as it reaches the top station.
âAlright folks!â the operator calls. âBoards up!â
You blink and reality suddenly rushes back in.
âShit,â you say quickly, breathlessly, lifting your board as the chair approaches the platform.
Jungkook pushes himself forward, steadying you instinctively as the chair slides behind you. You both glide off the ramp, wobbling slightly before finding your balance in the packed snow.
Jungkook adjusts his gloves and glances at you. âYou ready to shred?â He wiggles his eyebrows.
You stare down the mountain. The slopes suddenly more intimidating than the conversation that is yet to be had with your ex.
Itâs colder up here than the parking lot.
Wind skims across the ridge, carrying the sound of distant laughter and the sharp scrape of boards carving into packed snow. Below you, the slope stretches wide and bright, the valley spilling out in white layers between dark clusters of pine trees.
You stare at it.
Then you stare at your board.
Then you stare at it again.
âAbsolutely not,â you say quietly.
Beside you, Jungkook laughs.
âYouâre gonna be fine.â
âPeople die doing this.â
âPeople die doing everything.â
âThatâs not comforting.â
Ahead of you, Taehyung is already bouncing in place like heâs been waiting his entire life for this exact moment.
âREADY?â he shouts.
âNO,â Jin yells back.
Taehyung ignores him and immediately launches himself down the slope like an overexcited golden retriever.
âJesus Christ,â Jin mutters.
Jimin follows next, pushing off with easy confidence.
âCâmon!â he calls. âItâs fun!â
Behind him, Yoongi adjusts his gloves slowly. Everyone watches him expectantly.
âYou donât have to go,â Hobi offers gently.
Yoongi looks down the slope. Then back at the rest of you.
ââŠOkay.â
And without another word, he pushes off. For about half a second he looks exactly like you expectedâslightly stiff, a little cautiousâ
Then suddenly he shifts his weight and carves sharply across the slope with smooth, effortless control. Snow sprays behind him in a clean arc. He glides down the mountain like someone who has done this a thousand times.
Everyone at the top just⊠stares.
âWHAT?!â Hobi shouts.
Jin blinks, ââŠSince when.â
Yoongi doesnât even turn back around. âI never said I was bad at it,â he calls casually over his shoulder. Another sharp turn sends snow spraying again. âI just didnât want to come!â
Jimin laughs so hard he almost loses balance. âOh my God, youâre so hot!â
Jungkook shakes his head, grinning. âThatâs such a Yoongi move.â Then he looks back at you. âAlright,â he says. âYour turn.â
You stare at him. âHell no⊠I hate you.â
âYouâll survive.â
âDebatable.â
He steps closer and adjusts the angle of your board with his boot.
âJust point downhill,â he says. âBend your knees a little and shift your weight in the direction you want to go.â
âThat sounds like instructions for death.â
âYouâre so dramatic.â
âYouâre too optimistic.â
He smiles, âJust follow me.â And then he pushes off the slope.
You stand there for half a second longer before sighing deeply. Then you push forward.
Immediately your board starts sliding faster than your brain would like.
Okay. Okay. This is fine.
Your arms stretch out instinctively for balance as the slope pulls you forward. Snow hisses under your board. Your heart pounds hard in your chest.
Somewhere ahead of you Jungkook glances back, slowing slightly to stay just within reach.
âYouâre doing good!â he calls.
You are not doing good. But you are technically still upright. Which feels like progress.
The mountain stretches open beneath you, wind brushing your cheeks while the cold air sharpens every intake of breath.
For a moment you actually start to relax. Your board glides smoothly over the snow. The rhythm becomes almost hypnotic. The quiet. The steady motion.
Your thoughts start drifting. Back to the lift. Back to the way Jungkook looked at you.
For us.
Your stomach flips again. You replay the moment automatically. The softness in his voice. The hope in his eyes.
God. You donât know what youâre doing.
You still love him.
That truth sits heavy in your chest like it never actually left. You think about the cellar. About the way he held you afterward. About the way his eyes dropped to your mouth in the parking lot, then again on the ski lift.
Your heart beats a little faster. What are you supposed to say to him? Do you just⊠talk about it? Do you pretend everything is normal?
Do youâ
Something flashes in the corner of your vision.
A tree.
Much closer than you expected. Your brain takes a second to process it. Thatâs weird. Why is that tree moving so fastâ
Oh. Oh, no. Youâre moving. Very fast. Directly toward it.
âY/N!â
Jungkookâs voice cuts across the slope.
You barely register the panic in it before something hits you from the side. Really fucking hard.
Your board catches and suddenly youâre falling againâ
Snow explodes around you as Jungkook tackles you sideways into the powder. You land with a soft whump, cold snow puffing into the air around you.
And for the second time today⊠Jungkook is on top of you.
His gloved hands brace in the snow on either side of your shoulders, his body hovering just above yours while he catches his breath.
âWhat the fuck was that? You good?â he asks quickly.
You blink up at him.
Snowflakes cling to his dark hair and the edge of his goggles that heâs pushed up on his forehead, his cheeks still flushed from the cold.
ââŠWe have got to stop meeting like this,â he says breathlessly. The word slips out before he can stop it. ââŠbabe.â
Your brain short-circuits in the most fundamentally down bad way ever.
Wait. What?
But before you can process that, he exhales and glances back up the slope.
âYou almost rode straight into that tree.â
You follow his gaze. The pine tree stands just a few feet away, its lower branches heavy with packed snow.
ââŠOh,â you say faintly.
Jungkook shakes his head. âThat wouldâve been so fucking horrible.â
You frown. âWhy?â
He blinks at you.
ââŠTree well.â
You stare at his beautiful flushed face. âA what.â
He shifts slightly, still hovering over you.
âItâs a tree well,â he repeats. âWhen snow builds up around the base of a tree it creates a pocket under the branches.â
He gestures toward the pine beside you.
âTheyâre basically like traps. If you fall into one you can get buried in the loose snow.â
Your eyes widen. âBuried?â
âYeah.â
âAlive?â
ââŠUsually.â
You stare at him some more because itâs so hard not to in this proximity. âJungkook.â
âWhat?â
âWhy is that a thing.â
He gives you a look. âItâs snow.â
âThat is not an explanation.â
He pauses.
ââŠThe instructor explained it before we got in line for the lift.â
You squint. âI was too busy adjusting my gloves to comprehend so much info.â
âYou were so absolutely not.â
âI so was! I was mentally preparing for my inevitable death.â
âNo. You were staring at me the whole time he was talking.â
âWhatever. Same thing.â
He laughs with so much endearment in his eyes, your heart kicks up speed. The sound is warm and easy, his breath fogging slightly in the cold air.
For a long second neither of you moves. Snow drifts quietly around you. His weight presses lightly against you again. And suddenly youâre very aware of the way your legs are still tangled with his.
Again.
Your pulse jumps into your throat and your breathing becomes heavy.
He notices too. His eyes flick down your body. Then slowly slide back up to your eyes, before dropping to your tempting lips.
A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.
ââŠWe really have to stop doing this,â he says quietly.
You swallow. ââŠYeah, probably.â
Snow drifts quietly around you. For a second neither of you moves.
Jungkookâs weight presses lightly against you, one knee still between yours where he tackled you into the powder. His hands are planted in the snow beside your shoulders, keeping most of his weight off you, but you can still feel the warmth of him through layers of jackets and winter gear.
Your pulse is hammering.
His eyes havenât moved from your mouth. And then slowly, carefully, he shifts forward a fraction, subtly testing the distance between you.
He pauses there, hovering just close enough that you can feel the warmth of his breath against your lips.
Giving you time. Giving you space to stop him.
Your heart is beating so loud youâre certain he can hear it.
But you donât move away. Instead your eyelids flutter closed.
And the moment he sees that, something in his expression softens and a small smile graces his face. Like seeing your eyes close was all the permission he needed.
Jungkook leans down. And connects your lips.
Itâs so gentle at first. Cold air, warm lips.
Itâs softer than most of what happened in the cellar, slower, like heâs making sure this time. As if heâs giving you every chance in the world to change your mind about this. About him.
You donât. Your gloved hand slides up into the collar of his jacket, fingers curling instinctively against the back of his neck as you pull him closer and kiss him back.
He inhales sharp through his nose. Then he deepens the kiss more, one hand lifting from the snow to settle at your waist, steadying you against the slope. For a moment the world disappears. No mountain. No people. No snowboards.
Just the quiet sound of wind through the trees and the steady, familiar, warmth of him against you. And the very familiar feeling of kissing Jungkook.
Above you, further up the slopeâ
Jin and Hobi skid to a stop. Both of them freeze.
ââŠOh,â Hobi whispers.
Jinâs eyes widen slightly behind his goggles as he watches the two of you tangled together in the snow.
Neither of them says anything. Hobi slowly turns to Jin. And Jin slowly turns to Hobi.
They share a silent, stunned look. Then Jin clears his throat quietly and grabs Hobiâs sleeve.
âDonât say anything,â he mutters.
Hobi nods immediately. âNot a word.â
And the two of them carefully push off down the slope again like they saw absolutely nothing.
Back in the snow behind the privacy of a few trees, Jungkook finally pulls away from your lips.
Not far, just enough that your foreheads almost touch. His cheeks are a cute shade of pink from the coldâand maybe something else.
ââŠOkay,â he murmurs softly.
You blink up at him, âOkay what?â
A small smile spreads across his face.
âI think weâre definitely going to keep meeting like this.â
You laugh breathlessly. âApparently. But Iâm not totally against it.â
He squeezes your waist once before pushing himself upright and offering you his hand.
âCâmon, letâs catch up with the boys,â he says.
You take his hand. And together you slide down the rest of the mountain. By the time you and Jungkook reach the bottom of the slope, your legs are burning and your dignity is⊠questionable at best.
Snow sprays around your board as you skid to an ungraceful stop near the lift line.
You wobble for a second. Then immediately sit down in the snow.
âThat counts as success,â you announce.
Jungkook glides to a stop beside you, brushing snow off his gloves. âLook at that! You didnât die.â
âI almost did.â
âNah, I wouldâve dug you out.â
âNot if you didnât see me.â
He laughs quietly, unclipping one foot from his board while you try to remember how knees work.
A few seconds later Taehyung rockets down the slope and stops beside you in a dramatic spray of snow.
âDID YOU SEE THAT TURN?â he shouts.
âNo,â you say. âI was fighting for my fucking life, Tae.â
âWell, your loss because I made art in the snow.â
Jimin finished before everyone but rode the lift halfway up again to prove a point. He arrives next, carving cleanly to a stop and immediately pulling off one glove.
âOkay but actuallyâhow are you still alive?â he asks you.
You gesture vaguely up the mountain. âYour best friend tackled me again.â
Jiminâs eyebrows shoot up. âAgain?â
Jungkook clears his throat quickly, âYou were about to ride into a tree well.â
Jimin freezes. âYou almost what.â
âYeah, thatâs what I said! A tree well,â Jungkook repeats.
Taehyung gasps dramatically, âWait, like the snow trap thingy?â
âYES,â you say, pointing accusingly at Jungkook. âThe snow trap thing.â
âWhich the instructor explained beforehand,â Jungkook adds.
âYouâre always assuming I listened.â
âNo, I know for a fact you werenât listening to him because you were too busy ogling me.â
Jimin shakes his head slowly, âImagine that. I leave you alone for five minutes and you almost get buried alive.â
âI resent the phrasing.â
Before the conversation can spiral further, another figure glides down the slope. With effortless form.
Yoongi carves through the snow like heâs part of the mountain itselfâsmooth turns, clean edges, barely any wasted movement.
He stops beside your group without so much as wobbling. Everyone stares.
Taehyung squints. ââŠExcuse me.â
Jimin blinks. âYouâve done this before.â
Yoongi shrugs. âI never said I hadnât.â
âYou said you hated snowboarding,â Hobi calls as he and Jin slowly approach from behind.
Yoongi adjusts his gloves. âAnd I do.â
Jin gestures down the slope. âOkay butâYou look like youâre professionally sponsored.â
Yoongi shrugs again, âHyung, I never said I was bad at it.â
Jimin points at him, âNo, but you totally implied it!â
âI only said I didnât want to do it.â He nods once. âDifferent thing.â
The group collectively groans.
âThat is the most Yoongi sentence Iâve ever heard,â Hobi laughs.
Behind them, Jin carefully unclips from his board and stands up straight. Then he glances at Hobi. Hobi glances at him.
They exchange a very loaded look. Jin raises one eyebrow. Hobi widens his eyes slightly. Neither of them says anything.
Across from them, Jungkook crouches slightly to brush snow from the back of your jacket.
âNext run will be easier, I promise,â he says.
âI swear, if you say that every timeââ
âAnd every time, I promise, youâll survive.â
âThat is still, not comforting in the slightest.â
Jimin watches the two of you for a moment, suddenly suspicious.
âWhy do you two look weirdly calm,â he says slowly.
You blink. âBecause. We almost. Died.â
âYeah but like⊠romantically.â
You choke on your own breath. âWhat does that mean.â
Jimin narrows his eyes, âI donât know yet, you tell me.â
Yoongi places a hand on his boyfriendâs shoulder. âLet it go.â
Taehyung points toward the lift line, completely ignoring Jin. âUp we go!â
As everyone starts shuffling toward the chairs again, Jin leans closer to Hobi.
Very quietly he mutters, ââŠWe saw that, right.â
Hobi nods slowly, âOh we absolutely saw all of that.â
Jin exhales. ââŠItâs so interesting.â
Hobi grins, âOh this is going to be so much fun!â
And ahead of them, completely unaware, you and Jungkook walk side by side toward the lift again.
The cabin is loud again by the time everyone stumbles back inside. Boots thud against the wooden floor. Jackets get tossed over chairs. SomeoneâTaehyungâtracks half the mountain into the entryway with him.
âShoes off!â Jin shouts immediately.
âTheyâre boots,â Taehyung argues.
âTheyâre wet.â
âTheyâre fashion.â
âTheyâre illegal,â Jin snaps, shoving a towel at him.
You peel off your gloves and drop them on the counter, your fingers still tingling from the cold. Snowboarding, it turns out, is a lot like surviving a natural disaster.
Your muscles ache in places you didnât know had muscles. But the house is warm, the fireplace is going again, and the smell of something butteryâprobably from Jin stress-cooking this morningâfills the air.
Behind you Jungkook shuts the door, shaking snow out of his hair.
Your brain helpfully supplies the memory of his lips on yours. Which is⊠very unhelpful right now. Because every time you look at him your brain immediately goes that happened. You kissed him. Again.
Which, to be fair, is accurate. But still.
You busy yourself pulling a mug out of the cabinet before you can spiral any further.
Across the room Taehyung stretches dramatically like he just completed a marathon.
âOkay,â he announces. âWe need more wine.â
Jimin perks up immediately, âYes.â
âWe deserve it.â
âTae, you almost killed me,â you tell him.
âYou almost killed⊠yourself,â Jungkook corrects.
âThat feels like a technicality.â
Jimin claps his hands together, âPerfect. Tae, come with me.â
Taehyung points at himself. âMe?â
âYou drive like a maniac.â
âYou love it.â
âThatâs not the point.â
Jimin grabs his coat again. âWeâre going to the little market down the road. They had those red bottles I liked yesterday.â
Taehyung already has his boots halfway back on. âRoad trip!â
âPlease buy snacks,â Hobi calls from the couch.
âGood snacks,â Jungkook adds.
âExpensive snacks,â Yoongi mutters from the armchair.
Jimin pauses in the doorway and turns around. ââŠIâm not buying expensive snacks.â
âYou are. I gave Tae my card.â
Jimin looks at Taehyung and then back to Yoongi. âOkay! Sounds good! Thanks babe!â
The door slams behind Taehyung and Jimin, their voices fading as they trudge through the snow toward the car.
For a moment the cabin is quiet.
Not completely silentâthereâs still the crackle of the fireplace and the faint hum of the heaterâbut quiet enough that everyone kind of⊠pauses. Like the house itself just exhaled.
You lean against the kitchen counter with your mug, watching the headlights outside disappear down the road. Your muscles are still sore from the mountain, your hair still slightly damp from melted snow, and your brain is doing that annoying thing again where every five seconds it replays the moment Jungkook kissed you in the snow like itâs trying to decide what to do with it.
Which sucks, because Jungkook is currently standing three feet away, leaning against the back of a chair. Looking like he knows for a fact youâre thinking about it too.
You quickly take another sip of your drink. Focus. Be normal.
Across the room Jin stretches his arms over his head with a tired groan.
âI am never snowboarding again,â he declares.
Hobi laughs from the couch. âYou said that after the first run.â
âI meant it this time.â
âYou say that every time.â
Jungkook snorts quietly. But before the conversation can drift any furtherâ
Yoongi clears his throat. Not in a loud way, just enough to get everyoneâs attention.
âHey,â he says.
Everyone looks up.
Yoongi is still sitting in the armchair near the fireplace, but heâs leaning forward slightly now, elbows resting on his knees.
He glances toward the front door. Then back at the group.
ââŠCan I talk to you guys for a second?â
Something in his tone makes the room shift.
Jin lowers his arms. Hobi sits up straighter. You feel your stomach flutter slightly because you already know whatâs coming, and even though youâve known for weeks thereâs still something weirdly exciting about watching it unfold again.
Jungkook pushes off the chair and moves toward the living room. âLiving room meeting?â he asks.
Yoongi nods once, âYeah.â
Hobi blinks. âShould we be scared?â
Jin immediately points at Yoongi. âIf this is about splitting grocery bills for the trip againââ
âItâs not,â Yoongi says quickly.
That somehow makes Jin look more nervous.
Everyone drifts into the living room.
You take the arm of the couch beside Hobi. Jungkook drops into the chair across from Yoongi, leaning back casually like he isnât also trying very hard not to look at you too long.
Jin remains standing for a moment before slowly sitting down. ââŠAlright,â he says. âWhatâs happening.â
Yoongi rubs the back of his neck. And now that everyoneâs looking at him, you can see it.
The nerves.
Itâs subtleâYoongiâs version of nervous is basically just shifting his weight and looking vaguely annoyed at his own feelingsâbut itâs there. Excited nervous. Like the kind that lives in your chest and refuses to settle. He glances toward the door again. Then exhales.
âSo,â he says.
Jin immediately points at him. âThat is not a reassuring opening.â
Yoongi ignores him. âI paid Taehyung.â
The room blinks.
ââŠYou what?â Hobi says.
Yoongi gestures vaguely toward the road outside.
âTo make Jimin think the wine idea was his.â
Jinâs eyebrows shoot up. âYou staged a wine run.â
âYes.â
âSo you could kick Jimin out of the house.â
âYes.â
Hobi squints. ââŠWhy.â
Yoongi leans back in his chair. And for a second he just looks at them. Like heâs deciding how to say it.
âYoongi,â Jin says slowly tilting his head. âWhat is so important that Jimin couldnât be here.â
Yoongi exhales. Then says it like heâs ripping off a bandage.
âIâm proposing.â
Silence.
Real silence this time.
Jin and Hobi stare at him. Not blinking. Not moving. Just staring.
Your brain starts counting the seconds because the pause stretches long enough that it almost becomes uncomfortable.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Fourâ
Jin gasps. LOUDLY. Like someone just stabbed him with romance.
âOh my god.â
Hobi immediately dissolves into laughter.
âOH MY GOD.â
Jin grabs Yoongiâs arm.
âYOUâRE PROPOSING?â
Yoongi nods once, a little sheepish now. But thereâs also this unmistakable excitement creeping into his voice.
âNew Yearâs Eve,â he says. âOn the bridge near that frozen waterfall.â
Hobi claps both hands over his mouth. âThatâs so cinematic.â
Jin looks like he might actually cry. âYouâre getting married.â
âIâm asking him to marry me.â
âSame thing.â
Hobi leans forward. âDoes Jimin know?â
Yoongi glares at him. ââŠWhy would he know.â
âFair.â
Jin looks between all of you suddenly. Then points dramatically.
âWAIT.â
His eyes narrow. âYou two knew.â
You freeze mid-sip.
Jungkook raises both hands, âIn my defenseââ
âYou were all keeping this from me?â Jin demands.
Yoongi shrugs, âYou were the last two.â
Hobi clutches his chest dramatically. âI feel so excluded. I hate this feeling, omg.â
âYou were going to ruin the surprise,â Yoongi says flatly.
âThat is slander.â
âNo dude, itâs fact.â
Jin shakes his head slowly. Then suddenly leans forward again.
âAlright.â
Everyone looks at him.
âIf weâre doing thisâŠâ
He points at Yoongi.
ââŠweâre doing it right.â
Yoongi sighs. With relief? You canât tell.
And you canât help smiling, because the room suddenly feels electric with it againâthat buzzing warmth of excitement and love and ridiculous planning energy that always seems to happen when this group decides something important together.
And somewhere beside you, Jungkook quietly laughs that adorable laugh.
The plan begins immediately.
Not because Yoongi tells everyone to start planning right this secondâhe actually tries to act very calm about the whole thing, like heâs simply mentioning a casual future event and not a life-altering romantic gesture that now involves five other people and an alarming amount of logisticsâbut because the second Jin says âweâre doing this rightâ, the entire purpose of the trip quietly shifts into this-must-be-perfect mode.
Which is how, twenty minutes later, you find yourself standing in the kitchen with Jungkook and Hobi, whispering over a notebook like youâre planning a small heist.
âYou need candles,â Hobi says.
âLots of candles,â you add.
âNot just lots,â Hobi insists. âA shit ton.â
Jungkook looks up from the list heâs scribbling on. âHow many is a shit ton?â
Hobi considers this deeply, rubbing his chin. ââŠAt least fifty.â
Jungkook writes it down, âFifty candles.â
âMinimum,â Hobi corrects.
Across the room Yoongi is leaning against the counter pretending not to listen while Jin interrogates him like a detective.
âWhat are you planning on wearing?â
Yoongi blinks. ââŠClothes.â
âNot helpful,â Jin says sharply. âThis is a proposal. You cannot show up looking like you just woke up from a three-hour nap.â
âI probably will.â
âYou absolutely will fucking not, Min Yoongi.â
Meanwhile your brain is on fire, racing ahead.
The bridge. The frozen waterfall. Candles lining the rails. Fireworks overhead.
God.
You glance across the room at Yoongi.
He looks⊠nervous, but not in a panicked way. Just that restless energy again, like the excitement is humming under his skin and he doesnât quite know what to do with it or how to show it properly yet.
And something about it makes your chest squeeze tight in excitement.
Because Jimin has no idea. None. And the second he does heâs going to cry like a fucking baby. Whichâhonestlyâfeels so on par with his personality and how much he loves his boyfriend.
The next few days blur together in a strange, conspiratorial rhythm.
Not because youâre hiding anything poorly, but because Jimin is, unfortunately, very observant.
Which means every time someone whispers too loudly or disappears into another room he immediately turns suspicious.
âWhy are you guys whispering,â he asks one afternoon.
âNo reason,â Jungkook says instantly.
âBro, you sound sus as fuck.â
âParanoid much?â
âCorrect.â
Jimin narrows his eyes, ââŠYouâre all acting so fucking weird, lately. Gives me a headache.â
Across the room Yoongi coughs into his sleeve and studies his phone like itâs suddenly become the most interesting piece of technology in the world.
You quickly change the subject. âJimin, do you want some hot chocolate?â
âOMG. Yes, please.â
Crisis temporarily averted.
Another day passes.
Taehyung becomes the unofficial aesthetic director of the whole operation.
Which is how you end up outside, a five minute drive away from the cabin, in the freezing fucking cold with him one evening while he studies the bridge like heâs an art critic.
âWe need symmetry,â he says, holding his chin in deep thought.
âFor candles,â you deadpan.
âFor romance.â
You stare at the snow-covered railing. âHow many candles is too many candles?â
âThere is no such thing as too many candles.â
Behind you Jungkook is unloading boxes from the car. âYoongi hyung said fifty.â
Taehyung turns slowly, swatting the air. âFifty is amateur.â
âSixty?â
âThatâs better.â
You laugh. âTae, this is getting ridiculous. Just stick to the plan.â
âItâs getting cinematic,â Taehyung corrects. âI want only perfection for Jimin hyung.â
Inside the cabin the planning continues.
Jin takes over food and drinks like itâs a Michelin-starred event. Hobi coordinates the fireworks timing with someone in town who apparently already owes him a favor.
And Jungkookâ
Jungkook quietly assembles what he calls the Jimin Emergency Kit.
You find him at the dining table one afternoon packing things into a small backpack.
âWhatâs that?â you ask.
He holds up a tiny tin, âLip balm.â
You blink. âFor the⊠operation?â
âFor the photos after the⊠operation,â he says seriously.
You laugh at his sincerity. He keeps packing.
âSnacks.â
âImportant.â
âHand warmers.â
âAlso important.â
You lean against the chair watching him work. âYou know him really well,â you say softly.
Jungkook shrugs. âLike the back of my hand.â
Thereâs a beat of quiet. Then he glances up at you. ââŠYou do too.â
Your stomach flips a little. Because itâs true. You know exactly how Jimin will react.
The yelling. The crying. The way heâll pretend to be mad for thirty seconds before collapsing into Yoongiâs arms.
Your chest warms at the thought.
And then, because your brain has absolutely no respect for emotional boundaries, it immediately slides sideways into another thought entirely.
What would it feel like to have someone look at you the way Yoongi looks at Jimin?
You look at Jungkook.
And heâs already looking at you.
You take in a tiny gasp. And for a second it feels like the air between you becomes full of a thousand words againâquiet but charged and bursting at the seams with things neither of you has actually said yet.
Then a loud voice from upstairsâ
âWHO MOVED ALL THE FREAKING CANDLES?â
The two of you freeze in place.
That was Jiminâs voice.
You and Jungkook exchange a quick look of shear panic.
âOh shit,â you whisper.
Jungkook grabs the backpack and zips it faster than the speed of sound. You grab the tea-light candle box that is sitting on the table by the backpack.
And together you sprint for the hallway and into Jungkookâs room like criminals fleeing the scene.
By the time New Yearâs Eve arrives, the entire house is buzzing with barely contained excitement. Except for one person.
Jimin, who is blissfully unaware.
And as you stand in the kitchen that evening watching Yoongi pace near the fireplaceârunning his hands through his hair, muttering pieces of his speech under his breath like a man rehearsing for the most important moment of his lifeâyou realize something.
Youâre excited too. For them.
For the love thatâs about to explode on that bridge. For the fireworks. For the way this group somehow keeps finding reasons to celebrate each other.
And maybe, just maybeâ
For the possibility that some things really can start again.
The sky outside is already deepening into that particular shade of winter blue that exists just before night fully settles over the mountains. Snow glows faintly under the fading light, the lake stretching wide and silent beyond the trees like a sheet of dark glass. Every few minutes you catch someone glancing at the clock, then quickly pretending they werenât.
Yoongi hasnât been in the room for twenty minutes. Which is intentional. Which is necessary.
But also means heâs currently standing alone at the frozen waterfall bridge with approximately sixty candles, a ring in his pocket, and the kind of nerves that donât normally exist anywhere in Min Yoongiâs body.
And unfortunately for him, tonight they do. Because while the rest of you move around the cabin pretending everything is normalâpulling on coats, adjusting scarves, Jin insisting everyone wear something âpresentable for photosââYoongi is standing at the end of a snow-covered bridge staring at a sea of flickering candlelight and trying very hard not to spiral.
Okay. He exhales slowly into the cold air. Okay. This is fine. Itâs gonna be fine.
Heâs said these words a thousand times in his head. Practiced them in the mirror, in the shower, muttered them under his breath while pacing the kitchen floor at three in the morning like a man rehearsing a speech heâs not allowed to mess up.
But none of those rehearsals included the way his heart is currently beating against his ribs like itâs trying to escape. Or the way his hands keep flexing nervously at his sides. Or the way the frozen waterfall behind him glows in the moonlight like something out of a painting.
Donât screw this up, he tells himself. Which is a ridiculous thought because the truth is so simple.
He loves Jimin. Heâs always loved Jimin.
And if he forgets every word of the speech heâs been carefully crafting for weeks, that fact alone will probably carry the rest.
But still. His fingers brush the ring box in his coat pocket. Okay. He exhales again. You can do this.
Back at the cabin, Taehyung is currently convincing Jimin to change his outfit.
âAbsolutely not,â Jimin says for the third time, arms crossed.
âAbsolutely yes,â Taehyung replies, shoving a sweater toward him.
âYouâre all acting so fucking weird today and I swear, if youâre planning on shoving Taeâs birthday cake in my faceââ
âYou look good in that sweater.â
Jimin hesitates. You watch the internal debate happen in real time.
ââŠFine.â
Victory!
Ten minutes later everyone is piling into Jinâs truck, breath fogging in the cold as the engine rumbles to life.
The drive to the end of the lake is barely five minutes, but somehow the truck still ends up completely full.
Which is how you find yourself sitting sideways on Jungkookâs lap in the backseat while Hobi wedges himself beside the door and Taehyung leans forward between the front seats narrating absolutely nothing of importance.
Jungkookâs hands rest lightly at your waist to keep you steady as the truck bumps along the snowy road.
You pretend not to notice. Your brain is currently juggling too many things already.
The proposal, the candles, the fireworks.
The way Jungkook kissed you in the snow earlier this week. Your heart is already racing.
Across the seat Jimin suddenly frowns. ââŠWait a sec.â
For half a second the truck fills with silence. Then Jin answers smoothly from the driverâs seat.
âHeâs already there.â
Jimin tilts his head. âWhat, why?â
âFor the fireworks, silly,â Jin says.
âAnd what about them?â
âHeâs making sure theyâre set up right.â
Jimin considers this, then shrugs. âYeah heâs pretty good at stuff like that.â
You release a quiet breath you didnât realize you were holding. Beside you Jungkookâs thumb brushes absently against your side.
Your stomach flips. Focus. Focus. Youâre almost fucking there.
The truck stops at the edge of the lake.
The air outside is colder here, sharper somehow, the wind sweeping across the frozen water as everyone climbs out and pulls coats tighter around themselves.
The trail down to the waterfall is narrow but familiar, a winding path through snow-covered pines that opens eventually to the bridge overlooking the falls.
Taehyung walks beside Jimin the entire time, strategically and carefully.
Everyone else hangs back just enough that Jimin ends up leading the group down the path without realizing it.
The trees grow thicker as you descend, branches heavy with snow, the sound of rushing water beneath the ice growing louder with each step.
Thenâ
Thereâs light. Soft and warm and flickering through the trees.
Jimin slows curiously, ââŠWhat is that? A bonfire?â
No one answers him. The trail curves once more, the forest opening suddenlyâ
And the giant frozen waterfall appears. Massive sheets of ice cascading down the cliff face like glass, glowing pale blue under the moonlight while the bridge in front of it burns with warm golden candlelight.
Dozens of flames flicker against the snow. Their reflections dancing across the ice.
Jimin stops walking in awe. ââŠThatâs a shit ton of candles.â
Behind him, Jin and Hobi both burst out laughing.
Jungkook steps forward. âHyung,â he says gently.
Jimin turns his head. Jungkook nods toward the bridge.
âLook closer.â
Jimin squints. And everyone watches.
He takes a few more steps down the trail.
Closer.
Closer.
And then he sees him.
Standing in the center of the bridge.
Black Valentino suit. Perfectly tailored.
Jimin knows it immediately because heâs the one who picked it out months ago before the gala disaster that ended too many relationships.
And yet, here he is. Waiting. Jiminâs breath leaves his chest in a soft laugh of disbelief.
âWhat the fuck are you doing, Min Yoongi.â
Yoongiâs smile is the warmest thing youâve ever seen. Itâs soft and sincere and completely in love.
âHey, baby.â
Jiminâs heart visibly melts.
Yoongi glances over him slowly. âYou look nice.â
Jimin blinks. ââŠThanks.â
âWas the drive over okay?â
Jimin stares at him, still confused. Still trying to catch up with whatâs actually happening.
ââŠYeah,â he says slowly. âIt was fine.â
âGood.â
Yoongi takes a deep breath. His shoulders rise slightly as he exhales.
âI have a few things I want to say to you.â
Jiminâs eyes immediately start filling with tears.
Behind him the group falls completely silent. And somewhere in the middle of the quiet you realize something.
Your fingers are intertwined with Jungkookâs. You donât even remember reaching for him. But his hand is warm in yours. And neither of you lets go.
The snow muffles the world around the bridge. The candles flicker softly in the wind, their reflections dancing across the frozen waterfall behind Yoongi like scattered stars.
Jimin stands at the beginning of the bridge, breathing very obviously uneven.
You can practically see the emotions colliding behind his eyesâshock, confusion, realization, loveâuntil suddenly one of them wins.
He whips around. His gaze locks onto Jungkook.
âYOU KNEW.â
Jungkook freezes.
Jimin points at him accusingly, voice cracking somewhere between disbelief and outrage.
âYou knew about this and you didnât tell me?!â
Jungkook lifts his hands defensively, âHyungââ
âYou traitor!â Jimin shouts, half laughing and half crying at the same time. âYouâve been looking me in the eye for days!â
Taehyung immediately doubles over laughing. Hobi covers his mouth, shoulders shaking.
Jin mutters under his breath, âHere we go.â
Jungkook takes a cautious step forward. âTechnically, I was legally sworn to secrecy.â
âYou live with me!â
âThatâs exactly why I couldnât tell you!!â
Jimin glares at him like heâs deciding whether or not to tackle him into the snow right this second.
âYouâre unbelievable, Jeon.â
Jungkook grins sheepishly. âLove you too.â
For a second it looks like Jimin might actually march over and shove him. But instead, he huffs a breath sharply and turns back toward the bridge.
Toward Yoongi. And just like that the anger dissolves, because the second Jimin looks at him again, the tears come back. Harder this time.
Yoongi is still standing exactly where he wasâhands tucked loosely into his coat pockets, that soft, nervous smile lingering on his face like he canât quite believe this moment is actually happening.
For a second neither of them says anything. Theyâre just looking at each other across the candlelit bridge.
Then Yoongi clears his throat softly.
âAre you done yelling at Jungkook?â
Jimin sniffles, âNot permanently.â
Yoongi nods. âI had a feeling.â
A quiet laugh ripples through the group.
Then Yoongi exhales. And something shifts in him. You see it immediatelyâthe moment he steadies himself, the nerves settling into something deeper. Something more confident.
His gaze returns to Jimin, all soft and absolutely unshakable.
âYou saved me in high school,â he begins quietly.
Jimin blinks.
Yoongiâs voice is calm now, but thereâs something raw and honest underneath it.
âNot in some dramatic movie way,â he continues. âBut in all the small ways that actually matter. Because you took the time to see me.â
His eyes drop briefly to the wooden planks of the bridge before lifting again. âI was⊠kind of a mess back then.â
Taehyung snorts quietly behind you.
Yoongi glances over Jiminâs shoulder. âI said kind of.â
More laughter, softer this time. Then he looks back at Jimin.
âYou were the first person who ever looked at me like I was worth something.â
Jiminâs hand rises to his mouth. Yoongi continues, voice steady but thickening around the edges.
âYou made me feel like I could actually be more than the angry kid who skipped class and slept through half his life.â A breath leaves him slowly. âAnd when we broke up⊠when I let you goâŠâ
His jaw tightens slightly. âThatâs the part I regret the most.â
The bridge is completely silent now. Even the wind feels quieter. Yoongi rubs the back of his neck, almost sheepish again.
âI spent years pretending I was fine with it.â A small laugh escapes him. âI wasnât.â
Jiminâs tears spill freely down his cheeks now.
âAnd then somehow,â Yoongi continues, âafter everything⊠after all that time⊠I got lucky enough to find you again.â
His smile softens. âAnd that first month we were together againâŠâ He shakes his head slightly. âI was happier than Iâd been in all the years we were apart.â
Your chest tightens. Beside you Jungkookâs fingers squeeze yours unconsciously.
Yoongi exhales slowly. âAnd then the gala happened.â
Jiminâs expression falters slightly.
âThat whole mess.â He lets out a quiet breath. âBeing separated from you after that⊠not being able to see you⊠talk to you⊠hear your voiceâŠâ
He laughs softly, but thereâs no humor in it. âIt was exactly what it felt like. A nightmare.â
Jimin wipes his face with the sleeve of his coat. Yoongiâs voice grows softer.
âThe day after that gala⊠I was supposed to ask you to marry me.â
The words hang in the air. Jiminâs eyes widen.
Yoongi shrugs slightly. âI even got your familyâs blessing that night.â
Hobi gasps quietly behind you. Jin covers his mouth.
Yoongi glances up at the sky for a moment before looking back at Jimin again.
âBut maybe it was supposed to happen this way.â His voice grows steadier now. âMaybe we needed that time apart.â He takes a small step forward on the bridge.
âBecause every single day we werenât talking⊠every night I went to bed without hearing your voiceâŠâ His hand presses lightly against his chest. âIt only made one thing clearer.â His eyes shine in the candlelight.
âI missed you more than I missed music.â
Jimin breaks completely at that and a sob escapes him.
Yoongi continues, voice barely above a whisper now. âI missed your laugh. Your hands. The way you look at me when you think Iâm not paying attention.â His smile turns soft again.
âAnd your smile.â
He shakes his head slowly.
âGod, Jimin⊠Your smile is the light of my life.â
The candles flicker in the cold wind. The frozen waterfall glows behind Yoongi like a wall of blue glass, and for a momentâjust a momentâyou think the entire world has gone still to listen to him.
His eyes never leave Jimin.
And standing there watching them, something settles in your ribs with a quiet certainty. Because the way theyâre looking at each other right nowâWow.
You think, a little dazed, these two people might actually be love personified.
Yoongi exhales softly, the breath fogging in the cold air. His voice gentles even more.
âI never want to wake up again,â he says, âif itâs not your smile I get to see when I open my eyes.â
Jiminâs shoulders are fucking shaking as another tear slips down his cheek.
Yoongi takes a step forward. Then another. Until the two of them are finally standing only an armâs length apart.
Slowly, Yoongi reaches out and takes Jiminâs hands. Their fingers lace together automatically, like theyâve been doing it their entire lives.
âI want to spend the rest of forever with you,â Yoongi continues quietly.
Jimin nods immediately, tears streaming now. âYes,â he whispers hoarsely.
Yoongi huffs out a soft laugh. âWait,â he says gently. âIâm not done.â
Jimin sniffles but nods again.
Yoongi squeezes his hands. âI want to adopt cats with you.â
A choked laugh escapes Jimin. Then Yoongi adds, very seriously, âBut we can talk about that later, because I know youâre allergic to cats.â
Jimin lets out a watery laugh that sounds like it might turn into another sob at any second.
Behind you, Taehyung whispers, âWorth it.â
Yoongi smiles at Tae for a split second before looking back at Jimin.
âAnd kids,â he adds softly. âIf thatâs something you want.â
Jiminâs eyes widen slightly.
Yoongi shrugs a little, sheepish. âI wouldnât be against it.â He squeezes Jiminâs hands again. âBecause I plan on spending the rest of my life doing everything in my power to make you happy, baby.â
Your throat tightens and you just might cry.
Yoongi exhales one more time. Then says, with a small crooked smile,
âI want to spend the rest of my mediocre life with you.â
Jimin is already nodding, frantically now. âYes,â he sniffles. âYes, yesââ
Yoongi laughs softly and finally reaches into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. He pulls out a small black ring box.
The group behind you collectively inhales. Jiminâs hands fly to his mouth.
Yoongi drops to one knee. The motion is smooth but unhurried, like heâs been imagining this exact moment for weeks.
The candles flicker around them. The waterfall roars softly beneath the ice.
Yoongi looks up at the love of his life.
âPark Jimin,â he says. His voice is warm and steady. âBabyâŠâ
Jimin is still nodding his head, overwhelmed tears still spilling down his cheeks.
Yoongi smiles.
âWill you spend the rest of your life making this grumpy old man happy⊠and marry me?â
Jimin doesnât even pause. Heâs still nodding when the word bursts out of him.
âYES!â
The sound echoes across the frozen lake.
Jimin lunges forward and tackles Yoongi in a hug as he stands, nearly knocking them both off balance. Yoongi laughs, wrapping his arms around him tightly as Jimin clings to him like he might never let go.
Behind you the group explodes with cheers and shouting.
Hobi literally jumps up and down. Taehyung hollers loud enough to scare a flock of birds from the trees. Jin claps a hand over his mouth like he might cry.
But on the bridge, the two of them barely notice their friendâs happiness.
Jimin pulls back just long enough to grab Yoongiâs face in both hands.
Then he kisses him. Hard. Deep. Repeatedly. Like heâs been waiting years for this exact moment.
Yoongi laughs into the kiss but doesnât pull away, his hands sliding around Jiminâs waist as Jimin kisses him againâ
and againâ
and again.
Eventually Jimin lets him breathe long enough for Yoongi to slip the ring onto his finger.
All the little diamonds sparkle in the candlelight. Jimin stares at it like it might not be real.
âOh my god, Yoongi, I love you so much.â
âAnd I love you more.â Then Yoongi turns slightly, reaches downâ
and stomps a hidden button on the wooden bridge.
For half a heartbeat nothing happens.
ThenâBOOM! BOOM!Â
Fireworks explode directly above the frozen waterfall.
Brilliant bursts of gold and red light the sky, reflections scattering across the ice and snow while the entire mountain valley erupts in color.
And everyone watches the newly engaged couple standing in the middle of the bridge, wrapped in each otherâs arms while fireworks rain light across the winter sky.
Another burst of gold erupts above the frozen waterfall, the sound echoing across the lake as laughter and cheering ripple through the group.
In the chaos of itâTaehyung shouting something unintelligible, Hobi still clapping like he might never stop, Jin loudly insisting someone needs to record the next oneâyou barely notice when Jungkookâs hand slips into yours again.
It feels natural now, his hand is warm and soft despite the cold biting at your cheeks. You glance up just as another firework blooms overhead, and the shifting colors paint his face in pretty flashes of red and blue and gold.
He isnât watching the sky though. Heâs watching you. Heâs always watching you.
For a moment neither of you says anything. The world feels strangely quiet despite the explosions overhead, the two of you standing just a step away from the rest of the group while the newly engaged couple laughs breathlessly at the center of the bridge.
Jungkookâs eyes drop briefly to your lips, then back to your eyes, that familiar question lingering there again. This time thereâs no hesitation in your chest, only warmth, and the kind of certainty that sneaks up on you quietly when youâre not looking for it.
When the next firework cracks across the sky and the countdown from someoneâs phone hits midnight, Jungkook leans down and you meet him halfway.
Your New Yearâs kiss is softer than the one in the snow earlier, slower, like the two of you are savoring it.
His hand tightens gently around yours before sliding to your waist, pulling you closer while the sky above explodes into another wave of color.
Somewhere behind you someone shouts âHAPPY NEW YEAR!â and the group erupts into laughter again, but for a few seconds itâs just you and Jungkook and the warmth of his mouth against yours while fireworks shimmer across the frozen waterfallâlike the universe itself decided to celebrate the moment with you, too.
LOVEEEE THIS SERIES ITS AMAZING JIMING AND YOONGI ARE SOOO CUTEEE MAKES ME SO HAPPY EVERYTIME I READ A NEW CHAPTER I CANT WAIT FOR CHAPTER 25 ONE OF THE BEST AUTHORS IK
pairing: student! fem reader x student! jeon jungkook
summary: when you finally get your crushâs number, you expect the start of an epic love storyâ not a random guy making fun of you because he thinks the guy youâve been obsessed with for the last six months gave you a fake number. Jeon Jungkook, the one who replies, finds it entertaining and helps you chase the guy⊠at least until he finds out that the person heâs been helping date another guy is you, the girl heâs been obsessed with for the last two years.
genre/warning: this is a smau fic!! with narration included in every chapter but itâs mostly messages/tweets. very unfunny jokes. this is mostly crack/fluff.
authorâs note: ik smau is not supposed to have anything written but i did warned you that there was going to be some narration included!!!! and ik its first chapter but i couldnât help myself đđ u can still not read it if u want, u wonât be missing much (u will) (u better fucking read it u nasty ass hoes).
words count: +3k words.
chapter index | previous â next.
â chapter one: the fundraiser event
The fundraiser was loud. Music bleeding from cheap speakers, voices stacking on top of each other, the smell of sugar and alcohol and whatever food truck convinced the committee it was âfor the cause.â
The quad looked nothing like it did during the week. There were fairy lights strung between trees, half-crooked banners with the charity name printed too small, and clusters of people moving from booth to booth like it was a festival and not a last-minute attempt to feel morally superior before midterms. There was a ring toss game that nobody understood, a table selling overpriced baked goods, and at least three separate places serving drinks with handwritten signs that said donation-based like that made it legal.
You were wearing the volunteer badge they gave you at the entrance, already peeling at the edges, and holding a clipboard you stopped looking at a five minutes after they gave it to you.
You were studying visual artsâ cinematography, technicallyâ but you were used to tell people âartâ because it was easier and sounded cooler. Your friends were all somewhere in the same creative hell: Hobi in fashion design, Jin in film, Jimin in fine arts. You all shared studios, deadlines, and the collective understanding that none of you knew what you were doing but were doing it anyway. You also shared classes with other departments sometimesâ music, sound design, performanceâ because the university loved a âcross-disciplinary experience.â
Thatâs how Chan happened.
Chan, who sat two rows ahead in your shared class, always on time, always with his notebook already open like he planned to be alive that day. Music production, composition, something annoyingly impressive. He took perfect notes, like actually perfect. Color-coded without trying too hard, handwriting that looked like a font youâd pay for. He laughed quietly but fully, like he meant it, and when professors made bad jokes he would still smiled because he was polite like that. He held doors. He said thank you to the barista and meant it. He once helped you pick up your pencils when they fell out of your bag and apologized like he dropped them. He was just nice in general. You liked that.
It had been months and you two had barely talked, just a few group projects, a couple of exchanged smiles, one conversation about an assignment that you replayed in your head for a week straight⊠but he was been living rent free in your brain ever since.
Chan, the perfect man.
And Chan, who wasnât there.
The problem wasnât that he didnât say heâd come. The problem was that he said he would, and now itâs been over an five hours since the event started and you hadnât see him anywhere.
The fundraiser had shifted into its late-night version of itself. Careless, less perfect. The part where the initial excitement has worn off and people stopped pretending they were there purely out of goodwill. Now they were just for the drinks.
The games were still running, but half-heartedly now. The ring toss booth was unattended, prizes picked clean except for a sad plush bear leaning sideways against a pole. Music hummed from the speakers, lower and more bass-heavy than earlier, the kind of playlist that assumed everyoneâs already a little drunk. Fairy lights glowed softer as the sky turned properly dark, the quad illuminated in patches rather than fully lit.
And you were still there. Still wearing the volunteer badge. Still pretending you were doing something important while scanning every moving head like a surveillance camera.
Nothing.
By the time your friends started arriving, it was already late enough that the air felt cooler and the event felt looser.
Hobi appeared beside you with a drink already in hand, like he manifested it out of thin air, scanning the place slowly. âWow,â he said, looking at your grimace. âTragic times?.â
You crossed your arms and didnât even look at him. âGo away.â
âAw,â Hobi pouted. âWhat happened, babygirl? Talk to me.â
âGet lost.â
âYour boyfriend didnât come, did he?.â He sighed, like he was disappointed too. âCome one, letâs get you something to drink.â
âI finish in an hour.â
âAnd?â He squinted at your badge. âAre you done pretending to be in charge or can I start acting out?.â
âIâm literally hosting.â
âHosting what,â Jimin said, arriving just in time to be annoying. âA poor embarrassing moment?â
You exhaled through your nose. âIâve been raising money. Doing charityâ
âFor who,â Jimin said, looking around. âIâve been drinking in that booth looking at you for ten minutes and you were just on your phone the whole time.â
Hobi snorted. âHave you actually collected money or is this for show?â he took your paperclip to see the people who had donated. âOh, okay. Impressive.â
Jin joined last, clapping once like he was calling a meeting. âOkay. Iâm here. Where is that guy?.â
You rolled your eyes, âheâs not here yet.â
They all turn to you slowly.
Jin tilted his head. âOh, you poor thing.â
Jiminâs smile spread like heâs been waiting for this moment. âBabe, heâs definitely not coming.â
Hobi squinted. âThatâs sad.â
âHeâs coming,â you said immediately. âI trust my man. He must be on his way.â
âItâs almost midnight,â Jimin raised an eyebrow. âIs he traveling from another continent.â
âHe probably got busy.â
âWith what,â Jin asked. âOkay, I gotta be honest. Iâve never seen this man. Are we sure heâs real?. Iâm actually worried.â
âHe has to be fictional,â Jimin nodded in agreement.
You glared at them. âHe looks fictional. Heâs too perfect.â
âI know almost everyone on campus,â the older shrugged. âIâm sure heâs fictional.â
âHeâs not,â you snapped. âYouâll met him and see. We literally talked yesterday.â
âWow, Iâm shocked. You talked?â
âWell⊠I asked out loud how was coming and he said he wasâ So, yeah. You can say we talked.â You pressed your lips together and nodded. âSame, same.â
You ignored them, eyes scanning the crowd again and again.
Jimin followed your gaze. âYouâve been looking at the entrance like a pedophile waiting for the school to finish.â
âIâm not⊠Iâm trying to get more people to donate.â You lied unconvincingly.
âYeah, right.â
âShut up, I know heâs coming. He said it.â
âAnd I said Iâd go to the gym,â Jin put a hand on your shoulder. âWe all lie.â
You pushed off. âThatâs different.â
âHow,â he asked. âExplain.â
You opened your mouth, then closed it. âBecause thatâs my future husband. Heâs⊠nice.â
Jimin gasped dramatically. âWhat? NOT NICE. Thatâs a dream.â
âYouâre pissing me off,â you warned.
âHeâs perfect because heâs nice?â Hobi asked incredulously.
âHe takes perfect notesââ You started adding.
âYouâre already pregnant.â
ââHeâs polite,â you continued. âHe opens doors.â
Jimin shook his head. âAmazing.â
âI saw him help someone carry equipment once, like without being asked.â
Hoseok pressed a hand to his chest. âThatâs so husband material.â
âWe should give him a nobel prize already. Thatâs a perfect man.â
âIt is,â you said, staring at him ugly. âYouâre just jealous.â
âOf what,â he laughed. âYour imaginary situationship with a fictional man.â
They pushed you to the nearest booth where they sell drinks, hovering near one of the drink tables that they had put in the garden, not so far away from the counter. Jimin handed you a cup without asking.
âDrink,â he ordered. âYouâre unbearable sober.â
You took it. âJust one.â
âThatâs what addicts say,â Jin muttered.
âYeah, you all would know.â
The four of you started arguing.
Discussing getting louder over the table before settling into talking shit, about classes, about professors, about some guy Jin hated for no reason. You kept glancing around time to time, pretending not to care, pretending you were not building an entire life in your head where Chan showed up charmingly and was the one to asked you for your number before asking you on a date.
âStop looking at the entrance. Youâre not only embarrassing yourself, now is getting sad.â Jimin called you out.
You glared at him. âHeâs coming.â
Hobi looked at you. âBased on what evidence.â
âOur soul-connection.â
Jin squinted at you. âDid you take your medication today?.â
âI know the love of my life wouldnât miss this,â you insisted. âHe knows Iâm hosting.â
âHe doesnât know you like that,â the younger made a disgusting face.
âYet,â you said confidently.
They groaned.
By the time you finished your drink, the event had slowed to a crawl. Volunteers were packing things up. The music was louder now, like it was compensating. Probably the DJ were going to do a small party there for people who wanted to drink and dance now that it was midnight and it was weekend.
You straightened suddenly. âIâm getting another drink.â
Jimin pointed at you. âYes, get drunk and letâs hit a house party.â
Hobi nodded. âGet me another vodka lemonade, pretty please.â
âI still want to hit that target shooting boot before they close everything.â You pointed at them, already walking away.
âWell, hurry up then.â
You weaved through the remaining crowd at the open drinking booth, the ground uneven beneath your feet, until you reached the counter drink table. You asked for a shot that you took immediately to get it going and two vodka lemonade so you could go back to the table your friends were.
You were waiting for the drinks when someone bumped into your shoulder.
âSorry, Iâ Oh, hey.â
You looked up and blinked. âYoongi?â
He grinned, already halfway into a hug. âNo way. Youâre the one running this?â He asked, pointing at your badge still holding on for dear life.
âRunning is generous. I volunteered.â
He chuckled. Yoongi was always easily to talked to. He was studying music production, always dressed like he might disappear into his room to take a nap at any moment.
You two worked together once, months ago, when he needed someone to design a set for a video project and you happened to be available. Since then, youâve crossed paths enough to count as acquaintances. Coffee once, a couple of shared complaints about deadlines, nothing serious.
âThis is actually sick,â he said, gesturing around. âWay bigger than I thought.â
âYeah, people really liked this things,â you nodded, grabbing your drinks. âAnd also this improvised after party. Anyway, Howâve you been?â
âBusy. Tired. You know, same as always.â He glanced at your drink. âCelebratory?â
âCoping.â
He nodded. âValid. How long have you been here?â
âSince morning,â you took a sip. âThey got me asking for money for eight hours straight.â
âYou did well?.â
âEnough for broken students,â you shrugged.
Yoongi smiled. âI gotta be honest, never considered you someone to volunteered for this type of things.â
âYeah, me neither.â You did it for courage to asked for a guyâs number. Wow, maybe you were evil. âGuess guilty has been catching me up lately. I wasnât the nicest in high school.â
âI believe that,â he chuckled. âBy the way, are you still in that general knowledge in Art course? I heard the guys who was doing the class got arrested?â
You two chat for a few minutes, easy and familiar. Catching up with some gossips about some class you shared and other things you had in common. He told you about a project he was drowning in. You complained about a new class you had to take for extra credit. It was comfortable, no pressure, no spiralling thoughts.
At one point, Yoongi checked his phone and groaned like an old man.
âMy friend are looking for me,â he said. âI gotta go before they start something stupid.â
âWell, good luck with that.â You smiled at him.
He shook his head before giving you a hug. âSee you around.â
You watched him disappear back into the crowd, feeling oddly lighter and more tipsy than before. It was always nice chatting with someone normal.
You decided to go back to your friends but before you could start your way to them a hand landed on your shoulder. Not rough, not startling, just enough pressure to made you turn.
âHey,â a voice said, close enough that you heard it clearly despite the music. âGreat event.â
You froze for half a second before you turned around, already knowing.
It was Chan.
Up close, he looked unreal in the most irritating way. His hair was slightly messed up like he had been running his hands through it all night, sleeves pushed up to his elbows, posture relaxed like he didnât just derail your entire brain chemistry by existing within armâs reach.
âOh,â you said. âThanks.â
It came out softer than you meant to. A fake sweet voice that wasnât yours at all. You cleared your throat trying to compose yourself.
âI mean it,â he said quickly, like he was worried youâll brush it off. âItâs actually really nice. Everyoneâs in a good mood. It doesnât feel⊠forced.â
You laughed. âYou shouldâve seen it earlier. People were feral.â
âI believe that,â he said. âI missed most of it, though. Sorry about that.â
âItâs fine,â you said immediately, then realized how fast you answered and added, âI meanâ people come and go. Itâs a whole thing. The important thing here are the children.â
He nodded, hands tucked into his pockets, eyes flicking around before settling back on you. âStill. Youâve been here all night?â
âSince this morning,â you said. âI donât remember my life before this event.â
He smiled at that, small and genuine. âYou donât look tired.â
âThatâs because Iâve passed the point of exhaustion,â you said. âIâm running on vibes and now alcohol.â
Chan laughed, a real one, head tilting back slightly. âThat explains a lot, actually.â
âLike what.â
âLike why you seem weirdly calm about everything.â
âWell itâs not like I did much work, to be honest.â You shrugged. âAnd I usually panic internally. I just donât advertise.â
âRespect,â he said. âI panic externally.â
You grinned. âIâve noticed.â
You two stand there for a moment, the music shifting to something louder, people brushing past you two. He stepped a little closer so he didnât have to raise his voice, and the space between you two felt suddenly intentional.
âSo,â he said, âhowâs your semester been?â
You made a face, âhorrible.â
He laughed again. âYeah, same. That class we share is actually trying to kill me.â
âMs. Kim is always criticizing everything.â You rolled your eyes..
âYes,â he agreed immediately. âWhy is he like that?.â
âI donât know,â you said. âI leave every session feeling personally attacked.â
âAt least your projects look good,â he said. âYours always feel⊠finished.â
You blinked, it was a compliment. Chan was complimenting your work. âYou think?â
âYeah,â he said, like itâs obvious. âYou have a good eye. Everything you do feels very intentional.â
Your chest did something stupid.
âThanks,â you said, suddenly aware of your soft tone. âYour stuffâs really good too.â
Chan shrugged, a little bashful now. âI just mess around until I get it right.â
âThatâs not true,â you shook your head. âYouâre annoying about it. Youâre always prepared for everything.â
He laughed. âOkay, maybe a little.â
You two fell into an easy rhythm, talking about classes, about deadlines, about how the building was always freezing no matter the season. He listened when you talked, the way you liked to be listenedâ nodding, reacting, asking follow-up questions like he actually cared what you were saying.
It felt like the first real conversation you were having with him. Your heart was beating so fast and your palms were sweating but in a good way.
You decided to order another two drinks after finishing yours and Hoseokâs very fast. He glanced at that. âCelebrating?â
âRecovering,â you said. âYou want one?â
âI probably shouldnât,â he said, then paused. âActuallyâ yeah. Just one.â
You gestured toward the bartender and he took his order. Same as yours, vodka lemonade.
He got closer, shoulder brushing shoulder. You grab his drink and handed him the cup with the excuse that the bartender left it too far for him. Your fingers touching briefly, electricity shooting straight up your arm like your body was being dramatic on purpose.
âThis is dangerous,â Chan said after a sip. âIâm a lightweight.â
âGood,â You replied. âSo am I.â
He smiled at you in a way that felt⊠different. Slower. Like he was thinking. You felt like you knew all his smiles by watching him for so long, and that one felt very intentional.
âThis really suits you,â he said suddenly.
You frowned. âWhat does.â
âAll of this,â he said, gesturing vaguely. âOrganizing, hosting, you look like the kind of girl who helps.â
You laughed. Because it felt like a good compliment. But it just wasnât true, at all. You cared, of course, but you didnât like doing the job at all, a lot less since that day.
But he didnât need to know that.
âI like to. But Iâm not in charge of this at all, I just barely participatedâ
âI donât know,â he said. âYou seem like you know what youâre doing.â
You looked at him for a second too long. âThereâs a lot you donât know about me then.â
His eyebrows lift slightly, interest clearly piqued. His voice was now deeper. âYeah?â
âYeah.â
âMaybe Iâll learn.â
The words settled between you two, heavy in the best way.
Your heart started beating so loud you were convinced he could hear it. You were already feeling dizzy, overwhelmed and slightly drunk.
Now or never, you thought.
âHey,â you said, pulling your phone out before you could overthink it. âCan I get your number?â
He didnât hesitate. Not even a second. You liked that, made you want to kiss him.
âYeah,â he said, already leaning in. âOf course.â
You typed fast, thumbs clumsy, music too loud, the night spinning slightly. He watched you type your phone fast, close enough that you could feel the warmth of him, nodded when you said his name again as a joke to save his number.
âThere,â you said, trying to sound normal.
He smiled. âYou better text me.â
Before you could respond, a group of his friends appear, calling his name, already halfway into chaos, maybe even drunk.
âWeâre starting the game!â one of them said.
Chan looked back at you, apologetic but smiling. âIâll catch you later?â
âYeah,â you said. âGo.â
He hesitated for half a second longer, then let himself be pulled away, glancing back once before disappearing into the crowd.
You stood there, staring at the spot he was standing in like you were just imagining what had happened. Your heart beating fast, your palms sweating. You wanted to jump out of happiness and proudly. You turned around, founding your friends who were watching you already. All of them. Hobiâs mouth was open. Jin was shaking his head like he didnât believe your crush was actually a real person. Jimin looked proud and disgusted at the same time.
You lifted your hands and showed them your middle fingers. They cheered.
gay means happyđ
ik this is too soon but this smau shit is so fun!!!
I love how needy this jk is itâs a whole different side then what I usually read and the way it seems like itâs going to be a love triangle trope omgggg this is sooo good alr I canât wait!!!
No Room For Secrets - Chapter 23: Still With You (m)
Series Masterlist | Main Masterlist
â Pairing: Jungkook x Reader(female)
â Trope/AUs: roommates to friends/FWB/lovers, roommate!au, fwb!au, arranged marriage!au, New Girl!AU
â Genre: comedy, smut, fluff, slow burn, angst
â Rating: Explicit 18+ (minors dni)
â Word Count:Â 15,386
â Summary: Trapped together, Jungkook and you confront the past, reconnect, are rescued, and end Christmas quietly choosing to take it slow.
â Warnings(by chapter): explicit sexual content, detailed smut, emotional vulnerability, reconciliation sex, unresolved relationship tension, references to past breakup, discussions of guilt and regret, alcohol consumption, jealousy, confinement/being trapped, strong language, friends-with-benefits to lovers to exes-to-lovers dynamics, feelings-heavy angst followed by intimacy :D
â A/N: hi yes hello i fear i am deeply, irreversibly in love with these characters. This chapter grabbed me by the throat and refused to let go, and honestly? getting them trapped together felt like a public service. wine cellar, forced proximity, feelings finally explodingâi regret nothing. thank you for letting me be unwell about Jungkookâs ability to love for several thousand words. AND because this story refuses to let me rest, up next we have Yoongiâall nervous but still devastating, and of course hopelessly in loveâproposing to Jimin, the actual love of his life. expect all the softness, âšchaosâš, maybe some tears, definitely lots of feelings. As always, thank you for being here and for screaming with me in the comments. i love you all almost as much as these idiots love each other. đâš
â Playlist: âKillshot (Slowed+Reverb)â by Magdalena Bay, âNorman f*****g Rockwellâ by Lana Del Rey, âuhgoodâ by RM, âFoldedâ by Kehlani (had this on repeat while writing the smutđ), âMy whole worldâ by CAR, THE GARDEN
Jungkook plants both palms against the stone door and gives it another heroic shove, teeth clenched like heâs got something to prove.
The door doesnât move. The lever doesnât twitch. The ancient slab of medieval architecture doesnât even pretend to care.
He exhales slowly. Defeatedly.
Okay. New plan. Fantastic.
âWell,â he says, turning back around with that oh-so-casual tone that makes you want to strangle him just a little, ânow seems like the perfect time to⊠explore further, I guess.â
You stare. ââŠwhat.â
He gestures vaguely behind you, toward the deeper end of the cellar. The creepy end. The we-donât-go-there end.
âI mean, weâre already down here,â he says, like thatâs supposed to be comforting. âMight as well see what else is hiding before we panic.â
Before you panic, he doesnât sayâbut you hear it anyway, loud and smug in its silence.
âIâm not panicking,â you lie, instantly. Convincingly. Except for how your voice cracks halfway through. âIâm justâokay, no, I am panicking, but itâs a very controlled panic.â
He nods solemnly. âNaturally, of course. Very dignified.â
You drag a hand through your hair, which is now freezing because why wouldnât your fingers be turning to ice in this unheated stone coffin. âWeâre underground. Itâs cold. My phone is upstairs. Your phone isââ
âânot in my pocket,â he says, patting himself down like he hasnât already done it three times. âConfirmed. Iâm useless.â
âPerfect,â you mutter. âSo weâre trapped in a stone wine crypt with no reception, no exits, no way to call for help, and Yoongi could sleep through a literal meteor strike and Jin and the others wonât be back until whenever they finish reenacting Mamma Mia in townââ
Youâre pacing now. Loudly. Every step you take echoes like itâs trying to announce your anxiety to the ghosts of Joseon dynastyâs past.
ââand itâs freezing,â you continue, voice climbing to a shrieking octave⊠and the emotional ladder. âAnd this hoodie is the bare minimum of survival, and I cannot believe the irony of being stuck in a murder basement with my infuriatingly hot ex, who I absolutely do not still have feelings for, by the way, in case the universe was wonderingââ
You stop. Mid-pace. Mid-step. Because Jungkookâwho was watching you intenselyâjust froze. And you just realized you said that out loud.
ââŠwait,â he says, slow and low.
You blink. âWhat.â
He takes a step closerânot invading, but close. Closer than he needs to be. His mouth tilts, just slightly, in that familiar⊠dare-devil way it used to when you were together.
âDid you just say,â he begins, voice calm but eyes sparkling with the thrill of impending chaos, âthat youâre ironically having the hots for your ex while youâre cold?â
Your soul straight-up evacuates your body. How, the hell, are you getting out of this one? Oh, thatâs right! Youâre not.
âIâwhatânoââ you sputter, tripping over the alphabet. âThatâs notâI was speaking hypothetically.â
âUh-huh.â He nods, solemn as a priest, smug as sin. âVery specific kind of hypothetical, donât you think? Almost like a confession.â
You fold your arms, mostly to survive this conversation with some dignity. Unfortunately, all it does is yank his hoodie tighter around you, wrapping you in his warmth like a traitor. You can practically hear the hoodie taking his side.
âDonât flatter yourself,â you mutter.
He hums, pleased. Dangerous. Having the time of his life at your expense.
âOh, I wouldnât dare,â he says, and you both know itâs a lie. âIâm just⊠surprised. Thatâs all.â
You narrow your eyes. âSurprised by which part exactly?â
âThe part where you said it out loud,â he says, voice all soft menace and devastating charm. Thenâsmug, gentle, absolutely lethalâ
âEspecially considering how hard youâve been pretending not to notice me since I got here.â
Your heart does an aggressive backflip. Your dignity throws itself into a nearby barrel of vintage cabernet and drowns dramatically.
âI have noticed you,â you snap, defensive and doomed. âIâm not fucking blind.â
âOh,â he says, airy and satisfied. âThatâs good.â
That single phrase ignites a fire within you like a damn match to spilled gasoline.
You glare at him, fully aware itâs doing nothing to mask the rising flush on your face or the unfortunate heat curling low in your stomach. Your pulse is now performing percussion solos and honestly it should calm down before you make worse choices.
âThis isnât funny,â you bite out. âIâm cold, Iâm trapped, and Iââ
ââhave the hots for your ex?â he supplies, helpful as ever.
âJUNGKOOK.â
He laughsâactually laughsâand the sound rings through the cellar like it owns the place. Warm in that way you miss. Familiar in all the ways you know arenât appropriate right now. Unfair.
âSorry,â he says, hands up in mock surrender. âToo far?â
âYes, too far. The actual fuck?â You glare at him over your fingers.
He grins. âJust⊠the âwarmsâ then?â
You groan like itâs physically painful and drag your palms down your face. âThis is exactly what I meant. This shit! You! This is why Iâm spiraling like a greased-up idiot on a fucking tilt-a-whirl.â
âWhat. Because Iâm annoying?â
For a half second, you imagine strangling him.
âYES BECAUSE YOUâREââ You catch yourself. Suck in a breath through your teeth. Let it out slow like mommy taught you. ââŠBecause this is more complicated than I thought it would be.â
When he realizes what you mean, his smile faltersâjust a little. Enough to register. Enough to hurt.
âYeah,â he says quietly. âI know.â
But the humor doesnât leave entirely. It just⊠steps back. Gives space to something quieter. Heavier. The silence between you stretches, and suddenly the cold feels more unbearableâlike itâs been waiting for its cue. It slips under your hoodie, curls around your spine, sinks its teeth into your legs. You shiver, a full-body tremor you didnât authorize.
And of course, he notices. Instantly.
His eyes flick to you, roaming your body, then sharpen with instinct. That version of him you still know too wellâthe one that sees everything and says nothing until it actually counts.
Without a word, Jungkook steps in your personal space and shrugs out of the sweater heâd been wearing under the hoodieâlayered like a Boy Scout with abandonment issuesâand, this time, he doesnât offer it. He just drapes it around your shoulders, smooth and casual, like heâs wrapping you in a decision you didnât agree to but are somehow stuck with anyway.
âYouâre freezing,â he says simply.
âIâm fine,â you shoot back automatically, because thatâs your default setting apparently: lie first, deal later.
He raises an eyebrow. âYouâre fuckinâ shaking, Y/N.â
And sure, a couple full-body shivers betrayed you. Whatever. The issue was that he understood them. He shouldnât haveâunless he knew your body language a little too well.
And you hate that he knows your body this well. Hate it more that heâs right.
And you especially hate that when he guides you toward the ancient little seating areaâlike this is all very normal and not an emotional hostage situationâyou actually go. Like some traitorous human-shaped sheep. You sit.
He hovers in front of you for a second. Then he takes the other cushion on the couch. Not touching you. Not even brushing. But closeâclose enough that his warmth reaches you, a steady, subtle kind of presence. It feels intentional. It feels like⊠permission?
But the cold doesnât care about feelings. It takes what it wantsânumb fingers, chattering teeth, a slow ache that crawls into your bones whether you acknowledge it or not.
You hug yourself tighter under both layers of his clothes and mutter, âOkay. Worst-case scenario, weâre stuck down here for⊠hours.â
âWorst-case,â he echoes.
âAnd best-case?â
âSomeone notices weâre gone,â he says. âYoongi might not. But Jimin will. Heâs got separation anxiety.â
You let out a weak snort. âTrue.â
The silence that follows isnât awkward. Itâs just⊠thick. Like the air down hereâs had a too many years to ferment in emotional tension and is finally airing it out.
Your gaze drifts to the old bar setup. The wine bottles. The soft amber lighting. The ridiculously intimate vibe of the whole thing.
âThis feels illegal,â you murmur.
âYeah,â Jungkook says. âOr like we were dared to do this.â
You glance over at him.
Heâs watching youânot like heâs waiting to pounce, not like heâs reading a scriptâbut with that quiet intensity thatâs been simmering since you got here. Like heâs checking your temperature without a thermometer. Like heâs reading your tells. Like heâs still not sure what youâll let him have.
Then, with a softer voice, he says, âI meant what I said earlier.â
Your breath ceases as you watch him.
âI wonât touch you,â he continues, voice low and raspy, ââŠunless you want me to.â
Your throat suddenly feels tighter. Like your bodyâs decided now is the time to stop cooperating entirely.
âThatâs not exactly helpful,â you admit, voice low.
A slow smile pulls at his mouthâannoyingly knowing. âYeah. I figured youâd say something along those lines.â
You let out a breathless laugh, somewhere between fond and deranged, because this entire situation is rapidly unraveling into some kind of emotionally loaded farce. âOf course you did.â
Another shiver rattles through youâfull-body, traitorous, impossible for either of you to ignore.
Jungkook notices and exhales, glancing at the floor, then back at your shivering state.
ââŠOkay,â he says, with the reluctant finality of someone about to suggest something very stupid and slightly dangerous. âThis is getting a bit impractical, Y/N.â
It takes an exhausting amount of effort to ignore what your name sounds like on his tongue in this proximityâwhat it does to your insides.
You swallow. âWhat are you suggesting.â
He gestures between you. âShared body heat.â
Your brain almost explodes and you just stare at him. Because surely youâre hallucinating. Surely he didnât just say that like itâs a perfectly logical, non-hormonal suggestion.
âIâm serious,â he says quickly, hands up in peace. âNo funny business. This place is basically a fridge.â
You hesitate. Every rational instinct screams danger in flashing red lights. Every other instinct says: warm arms. exâs sweater. smells good. give in.
And the worst part?
You want to. God knows it. Your body knows it. Shit⊠even your hormones know it.
Your emotional walls are still upâfortified, barbed, probably cursedâbut sexually? Theyâre crumbling like a sad little sandcastle in a monsoon.
You nod once, stiffly. âOkay. But if you so much as breathe on me wrongââ
âI will simply⊠pass away,â he says solemnly.
You scoot closer to him. Shoulder to shoulder. Not touching a whole lot. Not really sharing any body heatâat least not enough to keep you from shivering, becauseâ
you shiver.
Again. Stupidly. Involuntarily. And he moves without thinking, his arm sliding around your back. Heâs warm and solid and cozy in that domestic way that hurts more than it helps keep you warm.
You go still under his limb.
âSo,â he murmurs, far too close now. âStill hypothetically having the hots for me?â
You close your eyes, slowly. With intent. To reign in the beast.
âShut up,â you whisper, eyes still closed.
He grins against your temple.
And somewhere above you, the cabin creaksâunaware, uncaring, that the universe has locked two emotionally stunted idiots underground with nothing to do but feel things. Against your will. In the cold. In close proximity.
The worst possible way.
For a moment, the silence feels almost bearable. Heavy, yesâbut warmer now. Close. Tangled in something that tastes suspiciously like nostalgia and unfinished business.
But thenâyou feel this⊠Shift.
A vibration of mischief just under his skin.
You turn your head to him, eyes snapping open. âDonât.â
He blinks, all fake innocence. âDonât what?â
âWhatever youâre about to do.â
âIâm not doing anything.â
You narrow your eyes. âJeon.â
He hums thoughtfully. âItâs just⊠interesting. That youâre shivering, even though youâre wearing two whole layers of me. Makes a guy feel underappreciated.â
âOh my godââ
âI mean, I always knew I was hot,â he continues, voice full of mock reflection. âBut this is kind of a rude awakening. My body heat, rejected in real time.â
You groan and drop your head back against the couch. âWhy are you like this.â
âTragically born this way.â He shrugs. âBut listen. This is basic thermodynamics. You need stimulation to regulate core temperature.â
âJungkookââ
âAnd since you wonât let me ravish youââ
You bolt upright with a look.
He grins, all shark-like. Totally pleased with himself.
âYouâre literally the worst,â you mutter, already regretting the last ten minutes of your life.
âIâm saving you from hypothermia,â he says, all injured pride. âYouâre welcome.â
You shove off the couch with a growl, swaddled in two layers of his clothing like a pissed-off nesting doll, and stalk toward the bar.
Behind you: âWaitâwhat are you doing?â
You donât answer. You grab the first bottle of red you see, pop the cork with more force than finesse, and take a long, burning gulp straight from the bottle like the classy, unraveling human you are.
âY/Nâhold on, okay, Iâm sorry,â Jungkook says, rising halfway off the couch, clearly alarmed. âI was just teasingâIâm just trying to help.â
You lower the bottle. Wipe your mouth with the back of your hand. Deadpan.
âHelp with what.â
He pauses. Guilty. Like he knows saying it out loud is either going to get him kissed or murdered.
ââŠkeeping you warm.â
You stare at him.
He stares back, hesitant now, like even he didnât expect to get this far with the teasing.
The wine burns pleasantly down your throat as your brain conducts a full emergency board meetingâeach thought louder, more chaotic, all yelling over each other.
Donât encourage him. Heâs a menace.
But also⊠heâs warm. And close. And offering.
And youâre cold. So cold. For science. For survival.
You lower the bottle. Exhale through your nose. Regret this later.
ââŠFine.â
He straightens slightly. âFine?â
âYes. Fine,â you snap, before you can take it back. âJungkook. Whatever you want to do⊠to help keep me warm⊠do it.â
His eyes widen a fraction. âDo it?â
You level him with a glare. âDo it.â
Thereâs a beat of silence. Charged. Unmistakably heavy.
And thenâwithout another wordâJungkook slowly starts walking toward you.
Oh no.
No, no, no.
You take a step back, instinctually. âWhat are youâwaitââ
But heâs already in front of you, steady and tall, hands warm and sure as he plucks the bottle of wine from your fingers just long enough to get a better grip on you.
âJungkookâJungkookââ
And then youâre off the ground.
Just like that.
He picks you up and wraps your legs around his waist like itâs the most obvious, natural thing in the worldâlike you donât weigh anything at allâand turns back toward the couch, wine bottle now dangling lazily from your fingers again like this is normal.
âPut me down,â you say weakly. His face is so close to yours.
âNope,â he replies, already lowering backwards onto the couch.
And then youâre in his lap. Justâin his lap. Straddling his thighs, body curled between his arms before you can process what dimension youâve fallen into.
You blink. âI meant help, not haul.â
âThis is help,â he says calmly, one arm looping around your waist, the other adjusting the blanket that wasnât even part of this equation three minutes ago but is now suddenly draped across both of you. âStop complaining. You agreed to let me do this. Itâs practical.â
You look at him, stunned. âYouâreâYouâre cuddling me l-like a man who owns the building.â
âIâm cuddling you like a man whoâs tired of watching you freeze while pretending youâre fucking fine.â
You open your mouth to argueâand then close it again. Because unfortunately, your whole body has just melted against him like a popsicle in July. Heat radiates from him in pleasant steady waves, his chest solid beneath your cheek, his heartbeat frustratingly calm.
ââŠYouâre actually so annoying,â you mutter, face buried in his hoodie.
âI know,â he says softly, pressing his cheek to the top of your head. âBut youâre warming up now.â
And you are.
Damn it. You are.
You lie there in silence for a moment, refusing to acknowledge how nice it feels.
Or how natural.
Or how stupidly warm you are now that youâre basically tucked into him like a living space heater.
Then something clicks in your half-frozen, half-flustered brain.
ââŠWait,â you mumble, squinting down at the blanket draped over both of you. âWhere did this even come from?â
âThe back of the couch,â he says casually, fingertips tracing lazy circles against your spine like itâs no big deal.
You freeze. âIt was here this whole time?â
âGuess so.â
âAnd you didnât say anything?â
âI was distracted,â he says, all innocent.
You pull back slightly to glare up at him. âYou were distracted?â
He raises a brow. âYou were the one ogling your ex like a walking thirst trap. Donât blame me for giving you space to emotionally implode.â
You go rigid. âI was not ogling.â
He gives you a look.
You gesture with your wine bottle like itâs a weapon. âOkay. Fine. I glanced.â
âGlanced,â he repeats, nodding like heâs filing it away in a permanent archive. âSeveral times. Lingeringly.â
You groan and drop your face into his chest again. âPlease shut up.â
He laughsâquiet and smugâand tightens his arm around your waist just a little.
âGladly,â he says. âAs long as you stay right here.â
And against all odds, you do. You really, really do.
You donât know how long you stay like that. Pressed against him. Breathing slower. Heart finally starting to make a home in your chest instead of trying to break out of it.
The wine warms your stomach. His arms warm everything else.
Then, softlyâso softly you almost miss itâhe says:
âI shouldâve told you everything. From the start.â
Your breath catches.
He doesnât look at you when he says it. Just keeps his gaze somewhere over your shoulder, jaw tight like the words are scraping their way out.
âI didnât mean to hurt you,â he goes on. âBut I did anyway. I know that. And itâs not because I didnât care about youâin fact, I cared too much. I just⊠didnât want to watch you walk away from what we had if I told you the truth about the arrangement that was promised to me years ago.â
You stay silent.
Not because you donât have a response. But because there are too many.
He swallows. âAnd when you did walk away after you found out⊠I thought maybe it was for the best. That you deserved someone better. Someone with less baggage. Less family pressure. Fewer secrets.â
Your fingers tighten slightly around the wine bottle.
âBut every day since then,â he says, quieter now, âIâve wanted to call you. To show up. To fix⊠everything I could. But I didnât know if I even had the right to do that anymore.â
You finally glance up at him.
Heâs not trying to look strong now. Not composed. Just present. Open. Still.
âBut I still feel it,â he says, finally meeting your eyes. âThe guilt. All of it. Every time I see you. Every time I think about what I didnât say. What I had all the time in the world to say.â
Your chest aches. In that deep, slow way that means truth. But then, just as quickly, something sharp cuts through that softness.
You exhale. Sit back. The weight of his words still heavy, but now laced with frustration.
âReally?â you say, eyes narrowing. âWeâre doing this now?â
He blinks. âWhat?â
âThis whole⊠guilt confession. Again.â You gesture vaguely between you, biting down the sudden sting in your chest. âLike we havenât already had this conversation. Like you didnât already say all of this before.â
Jungkookâs brows knit. âBecause you wouldnât listen. Iâve triedâtwiceâsince this trip started. Iâve tried to talk to you, and every single time you brush me off or say youâre not ready.â
âMaybe Iâm not ready, Jungkook!â you snap. The words come out louder than you mean them to, but you donât take them back. âI thought you said you werenât going to corner me.â
âIâm not cornering you,â he says, jaw tightening. âWeâre stuck down here. And we donât know for how long. Whatâs wrong with talking about it now?â
You rub a hand across your face, suddenly exhausted. âI just⊠I canât talk about this right now, okay?â
He pauses.
Then:
âIs it because of Kai?â
Your head whips toward him so fast it almost hurts. âKai?â
âYeah. Is he your new boyfriend or something?â Jungkook doesnât mean for it to come out like thatâitâs too bitter, too sharpâbut it does. âI didnât think youâd move on that fast, but I guess I was wrââ
âHeâs not my boyfriend, Jungkook.â
The words cut clean through the room. Cold and final.
Jungkook goes quiet.
âHeâs a friend,â you say, calmer now. âI met him at a coffee place in the city. He owns the shop. Heâs not my boyfriend.â
âOh.â His shoulders drop. âI just⊠overheard you and Jimin talking about him. So, I assumed.â
You cross your arms, still bristling. âYeah, well. Youâre real good at assuming.â
He winces but doesnât argue.
Thereâs a beat.
Then he says, a bit hesitant:
âItâs funny, âcause I also made a friend at a coffee place⊠named Kai. And heâs the owner, too.â
You pause. Blink at him. âWait. Is it calledââ
âThe Velvet Bean.â You both say it at the same time.
You stare at each other. And for the first time in the last fifteen minutes⊠you laugh for real. Just once, quietly in disbelief.
Because of course this trip is like a Hallmark movie. Of course the same coffee shop owner has befriended both of you like a romcom side character with main character energy.
You shake your head. âThatâs so stupid.â
He smiles, soft and sheepish. âYeah, a little bit.â
You glance at him, then at the wine in your hand. A smirk tugs at your mouth before you can stop it.
âI canât believe you got jealous of Kai.â
He groans immediately. âOh my god. No. Thatâs notââ
âIâm telling him when I get back.â
âPlease donât.â
âOh, I absolutely am,â you say, warming to it now. âIâm gonna walk in, and heâs going to be like, âHey, how was France?â and Iâm gonna be like, âGood, my ex thought you and I were dating and lost his mind in a wine dungeon.ââ
âI didnât lose my mind,â he mutters, cheeks now visibly flushing. âI justâoverheard some stuff, and it sounded likeâŠâ
âLike I had a boyfriend?â you offer helpfully, raising an eyebrow. âTwo months after a nine-month relationship? Two months after my first relationship since Jiwon? Two monthsâJungkookâsince walking away from the one person I was starting to love more than anyone in my life?â
Jungkook freezes at your words. His dark eyes searching yours for any semblance of a lie.
His breath stuttersâyou feel it under your palm, where it rests against his chest. His hands still on your waist, but his grip loosens like heâs afraid to hold on too tightly now. Like your words cracked something wide open.
âY/NâŠâ he starts, voice low and rough, but whatever he was going to say slips away.
You throw your head back and take another long gulp of wineâtoo long, too casualâand suddenly you feel the warmth of the alcohol pooling in your limbs, the flush rising in your cheeks, the haze softening your edges. Youâre not drunk. Not even close.
But you are⊠loose. And maybe a little braver than you should be.
Still sitting on his lap, your eyes meet his. âDonât look at me like that.â
âLike what?â he murmurs, still reeling.
âLike I just said something wild and unhinged.â You raise the bottle, grinning faintly. âYouâre the one who started all this vulnerability.â
He huffs a breathâsomewhere between a laugh and disbelief. âYouâre definitely getting tipsy.â
âNo,â you say, entirely unconvincingly, âIâm just being emotionally transparent and physically warm for once.â
âYouâre also talking with your hands,â he teases gently, nodding toward the bottle youâre now gesturing with dangerously close to his face. âClassic sign of tipsy Y/N. That and fake confidence.â
You snort. âExcuse you, this is real confidence. Itâs just⊠wine-enabled.â
Jungkook leans in slightly, the corner of his mouth tugging into something softer, more familiar. âSo what else does wine-enabled Y/N want to tell me?â
You pause.
Your eyes search his.
And even with the fuzziness in your brain, the warmth in your blood, you feelâthe inevitable tension of the atmosphere. Followed by an ache rising again in your chest.
ââŠI think,â you say slowly, more to the space between you than to him, âI was already so deeply in love with you when everything fell apart, that losing you broke a part of me I canât ever fix.â
His warm expression falls apart. Just crumbles into nothing but guilt and maybe a hint of yearning.
âY/N,â he whispers.
And just this once, you donât stop him when his hand lifts to cradle the side of your faceâthumb brushing lightly over your cheek, sympathetic, like he knows the exact feeling youâre talking about.
He cradles your face like itâs breakable. Like youâre breakable and he knows it from experience.
And maybe you are. Because everything inside you feels like itâs coming apart at the seamsâslowly, gently, like a thread pulled from the hem of something irreparable.
âIâm sorry,â Jungkook says. Barely audible. âFor all of it. For the things I didnât tell you. The relationship I didnât fight for. The way I hurt you by keeping it all secret.â
Your breathing gets heavier. Youâre not quite crying, but your chest is tight and your throat feels full. And the wine is a hum in your blood thatâs making it harder to stay guarded.
You lean into his soft touch, enough that he notices but doesnât comment on it.
âI didnât want to fall for you, you know,â you whisper. âI was terrified. You were supposed to be a fuck buddy. Something light, something safe.â
He lets out a broken laugh. âI was never safe.â
âNo,â you agree. âYou werenât. You made me feel⊠everything. Like I was waking up after being numb for years.â You let out a sigh, âAnd it was wonderful.â
His thumb traces your cheekbone. His eyes havenât left yours for a second.
âAnd then I had to pretend I was fine,â you go on, voice trembling against your will. âI had to walk away like it didnât kill me. Like I hadnât beenâfuck, JungkookâI was all in.â
He exhales shakily. âYou wereâI know you were. I felt it. Every fucking second we were together it was like nothing I ever felt with someone before.â
Silence swells. Heavy. Sharp-edged. Charged.
Your eyes drop to his mouth.
And thenâslowly, like youâre both giving each other time to back outâyou lean in.
Your nose brushes his. His tattooed hand gently moves to the back of your neck.
Youâre so close now you can feel his breath against your lipsâwarm and uneven. Like heâs scared to believe this is real. Scared to mess this up.
And then, finallyâfinallyâyou kiss him.
Itâs not rushed. Itâs not desperate. Itâs just full. Full of everything youâve held back for weeks.
Full of pain and regret and the ghost of love that never really died.
His lips move against yours with a soft reverence, with care, with the kind of intensity that says I remember every part of you and I never stopped missing a single one.
His hand tangles in the hair at your neck. Yours fists in the fabric on his chest.
And for one suspended, fragile moment, there is nothing but this.
Just you and him.
And maybe the echo of something creaking open againâsomething raw and bright and real, and maybe still worth saving.
You kiss him like you mean it. Like you still mean it. Like youâve been holding this in for all of time and itâs finally, finally been given air and water and sunlight.
And he kisses you back just as fiercelyâhis hand sliding deeper into your hair, his other arm tightening around your waist, pulling you into him like heâs terrified youâll run away again.
Youâre not sure who deepens it first.
Maybe itâs himâthe way his fingers curl possessively into your hip.
Maybe itâs youâthe way your chilled hand slides up under the layers of his sweater, palm skimming his hot skin.
He groans into your mouth. Just barely.
But you hear it and feel it. And then suddenly itâs moreâmouths open, breathless, teeth grazing, lips crashing like they forgot how to do anything else but need. Your body shifts forward in his lap, straddling him closer now, wine bottle abandoned somewhere beside you on the couch.
His hoodie drowns you, his sweater is bunched around your elbows, and youâre half-covered in a blanket that no longer seems to matterânot when his hands are on you again.
You tilt your head, letting him in, kissing him impossibly deeper. He pulls you flush to him on instinct, like breathing. And just when you drag your hand up the back of his neck and into his hairâjust when your hips grind with slow, lethal intentâ
He breaks away. Breathing hard, lips red, pupils blown.
âY/Nââ
You kiss him again.
His resolve stumbles. He laughs softly against your mouth, dazed. âYouâre killinâ me.â
âYou like it,â you whisper, lips brushing his as you speak.
He exhales, half-laugh, half-prayer. âYeah. Thatâs the problem.â
You kiss down the side of his jaw now, greedy, confident in a way you havenât felt in monthsâdrunk on wine, on heat, on him.
His hand flexes on your waist again, more firm this time around. âWaitââ
You kiss him again.
He melts for a secondâthen pulls back just enough, forehead resting against yours.
âY/NâŠâ kiss
âWeâre notââ kiss âdoing whatââ another kiss, hungrier now âY/N, youâve been drinking.â
You smile against his mouth. âNot that much.â
âYouâve had enough.â
You blink at him, pout forming instantly. âAre you rejecting me?â
He groans, tipping his head back against the couch like heâs trying to summon divine strength.
âGod, no. No! Iâm just⊠trying not to make another mistake.â
You soften. âThis wouldnât be a mistake.â
He looks at you then, like youâre every single answer he didnât think he was allowed to have.
âI know,â he says quietly. âWhich is why I want to wait until you know it too.â
And somehow⊠thatâs hotter than anything he couldâve done with his hands.
But, you know what you want.
You grin, slow and wicked, emboldened by his restraintâthe way heâs looking at you like heâs already lost the fight.
âYou sure?â you whisper, voice low and syrup-smooth as you brush your nose along the line of his jaw. âBecause you sound like someone who wants me.â
His fingers curl at your waist. âY/NâŠâ
âI mean, itâs fine,â you murmur, lips grazing his throat now. âIf you donât want me. Just say so.â
He takes a long, calming breath.
And then you rock your hipsâslow, hard, and provocativeâjust once. Just enough.
Jungkook grips you, tight.
âYouâre playing with fire,â he says, voice a low growl and fraying at the edges.
âI know,â you say sweetly. âBut Iâm just⊠so cold.â
He lets out a shaky breath, eyes fluttering closed for a second because heâs begging the universe for the strength he absolutely doesnât have, to resist you.
And when you lean in and kiss him againâsoft at first, then hot, open-mouthed, teeth catching his lipâhe finally breaks. Succumbing, entirely.
âOkay,â he breathes, voice dark and strained. âOkayâFuck it.â
He surges forward again, kissing you hardâno more restraint, no more hesitation.
Just pure want.
Months of it. Pinned between his hands and the low groan in his throat as he pulls you in like he canât get close enough.
You gasp into him as he shifts, hands gripping your hips now, guiding your rocking movements, mouth dragging heat down your neck in a way that makes you arch.
âYou already know you drive me fucking insane,â he mutters into your skin.
You tangle your fingers in his hair. âI do.â
His laugh is breathless. âYouâre evil.â
You pull back just far enough to meet his eyesâflushed, pupils blown, lips red and swollen.
âTouch me, Kook.â
That short request does something to him. You feel it in the way he kisses you againâso deeply, so consuming, like heâs finally claiming something he thought he lost.
And when his hand slips under the hoodie he gave youâunder your sweaterâpalms warm against your bare skin, you gasp into his mouth.
The wine bottle clinks against the floor, forgotten.
He twists. Your back hits the couch cushions and Jungkook is on youâone hand buried in your hair angling your head how he used to, the other hand finds your ass, pulling you hard up against him until your bodies lock together like puzzle pieces that never really stopped fitting.
Your chest heaves. His hoodie is slipping off your shoulder now, exposing skin, and his mouth followsâhot, open, trailing down your neck like a man possessed. You whimper when he bites down, just enough to leave a red mark, and his laugh is ragged against your collarbone.
âI donât think you remember what youâre asking for,â he breathes, lips dragging, licking, sucking, down your throat, kissing the edge of your jaw, your pulse.
You pant. âI do! I know exactly what Iâm asking for.â
His dark eyes lift to yours.
Something in them flickersâhunger, sure, but affection, too. That same devotion you saw before. Only now itâs tactile.
âI want to make you feel good,â he says, voice low and breathy. âCan I?â
You nod instantly, breathlessly. But thatâs not enough for him.
âUse your words,â he says, kissing along the curve of your shoulder.
You gasp. âYes. Godâyes, Jungkook, please.â
Thatâs all it takes for him to slip down your body in one smooth motion, dragging the blanket with him as he kneels between your legsâpressing kisses to the skin of your stomach, then lower. Your sweater lifts higher. His hands curl under the waistband of your sweats and you hold your breath when he looks up at you againâhis eyes blown wide, lustful, wild.
The cold air of the cellar touches your skin for a split second and then itâs replaced by the heat of his hands and mouth.
He glides his warm hands up the sides of your legs, trailing kisses slowly on your inner thighs as he inches closer to your wet entrance.
Your head drops back as a moan rips from your throat, hand flying to tangle in his hair as he licks slowly up your slit onceâdeep, possessive.
âFuck,â you gasp, body already trembling.
He hums against you like he missed your taste. Eyes rolling back before closingâpleased, and the vibration makes you jolt.
Then he finally gets to work.
His tongue movements are focused. Methodical. Tongue circling precisely the rim of your hole, then flattening, flicking against the exact bundle of nerves that makes your hips jumpâand he knows, god, he still knows how you like it. Every little sound you make, every twitch, every breathy curseâheâs chasing it. Drinking it down.
Your legs tighten around his shoulders and he groans into you like he loves the way youâre coming apart.
He eats you like heâs starving. Like this is revenge. Like this is worship. Tongue lapping quick then pressing deep, lips sucking hard, fingers curling into your thighs to hold you still. You moanâloudlyâand you donât care anymore. The whole damn mountain could hear and you still wouldnât stop.
âJungkookââ you moan. âFuckâlike that.â
Youâre absolutely gone. Youâve melted into the couch. Reduced to nothing but feeling. His mouth, his name, the pressure building and building like a tidal wave ready to rock your world.
He slides a slow finger inside of you, watching your face, then curling it just right, and your whole body jerks.
âRight there?â he murmurs, voice husky, teasing.
âYes, right there, right fucking thereââ
He adds a second finger now, mouth never leaving your clit, pace relentless now. Your hips roll urgently against his face, chasing it, riding the edge, and he lets you, hand gripping your thigh as he holds you right where he wants you.
His fingers pump and curl inside you, one, two, three, fourâ
And your orgasm crashes over you fast and brutalâwhite-hot, full-body and you cry out, hand flying to your mouth just in time to muffle it.
He doesnât stop until your legs are trembling, until youâre gasping his name and dragging your fingers from his hair to his collar to anywhere you can touch, because you need his lips.
Finally, he pulls backâlips swollen, chin wet, eyes absolutely wrecked but starving.
He climbs up over you again, slow and smug and gorgeous, brushing the hair from your face as you stare up at him, dazed.
Your hands grab his face gently to pull him down for a kiss. His lips meet yours and thereâs a soft, familiar clumsiness to itâyour noses bump, you both adjust without speaking, like youâve done this a hundred times in this exact way. (Cause you probably have.) He tastes like your juicesâsweet and salty. His mouth is warm, wet, and he sighs into you like a boy in love.
Youâre still catching your breath, mind floating somewhere between ruined and reborn, when he starts to get upâready to retreat, to give you space. Because he did his job and warmed you up.
But you stop him.
Your fingers curl into his collar, your eyes locked with his, and you pull him back downânot for a kiss this time, but to switch.
He blinks when you push him gently back against the cushions.
âWaitââ
âShh,â you murmur, already sliding down his body, the hoodie he gave you bunching around your elbows. âMy turn.â
âY/NâŠâ
You settle between his thighs and he exhales, hard, already tense under your touch. His sweats are low on his hipsânot really concealing his excited tent. When you tug them down just enough, his cock shoots freeâhard, thick, flushed with need. Your mouth waters. And his head falls back against the couch with a curse.
You look up at him. âYou okay?â
He laughs, strained. âNo.â
You smile. Then lean in to devour.
Your tongue is on him before he can stop youâslow, intentionally teasing, a barely there lickâand it makes him twitch, one hand flying to your shoulder like heâs either going to push you back or pull you closer.
Then you take him all in your mouth at once.
âFuck,â he hisses. âY/Nâwait. Iââ
You hum around him.
His hips jerk upward.
âIâm serious,â he groans, barely holding himself together. âIâm not gonna last if you do thisââ
You lift your head, lips releasing his tip enough for him to see your smirk. âThatâs kind of the point.â
âJesus fucking Christ.â
You take him in againâslurping, wet, deeper this timeâand his head thuds back against the cushions with a ragged noise that sounds like your name. His hand fists in the blanket beside him. Your head bobbing at a faster pace now, than before. Heâs so close already because these months have been rather lonely, but thenâ
He pulls you off by your hair.
You blink, stunned. âWhatâ?â
Heâs panting now, eyes dark and wild, voice barely above a whisper.
âI want to be inside you.â
It punches the air from your lungs. And you make a rather quick and reckless decision.
You crawl up his body to settle your naked lower half on his very naked cock, mouth brushing his, heart thudding, both of you teetering on the edge of something probably irreversible.
And thenâ
âI donât have a condom,â he blurts, voice rough.
And you freezeânot because of the words, but because of what they mean. Because heâs not just telling you heâs not prepared. Heâs asking you something without asking. Silently.
You meet his gaze, soft and unwavering.
âWe never needed them before,â you say in almost a whisper. That alone is your answer.
His breathing mellows, relieved. His hands tighten at your waist. Youâre still wearing both his layersâcompletely undone beneath themâbut you swear heâs never looked at you like this. Like you just said everything without saying much at all. Then, after a beat, you add:
âUnless you think we need one?â
Your eyes search his face for every micro-expression that he could be lying. Because youâre not really asking about protection. Neither of you were.
Youâre asking what heâs been doing. Who heâs been with.
If youâre the only one.
And thank fuck, he doesnât hesitate.
âNo,â he says, voice low, clear. âI havenât been with anyone since I was with you.â
And there it is. Honesty, laid bare. Heavy and real and devastating in a way that makes you want to stay here in this moment forever.
Your fingers lift to his faceâtracing his jaw, the scar on his cheek, the beauty mark below his mouthâand you kiss him softly once, just once, before whispering:
âMe neither.â
And when you grind your very wet core against his very hard cock, teasing yourself and him, he groans like itâs killing him. Cause it is.
âY/NâŠâ
âLet me do it,â you whisper, forehead against his. âPlease.â
He doesnât answer with words. He just pulls you closer to his chest, one hand firm at your lower back.
You can feel how much he wants this. How much he wants you. How tightly heâs holding himself back.
Your fingers slide behind you, guiding his length closer to your slit until youâre hovering right above itâthe tip of his cock is kissing your slick entrance.
You stop and hover right there. Only doing this for the sake of driving him insane.
âFuck,â he groans, voice already breathy. âThatâs not fair.â
You smile against his jaw, feeling brave and reckless and warm all at once. âYou said you wanted to be inside me. But you didnât say how soon.â
His head tips back against the couch again, eyes shut because heâs fighting for his fucking life. âI am barely holding myself back here.â
Still you donât move. You let him feel it. The tension. The anticipation. The way your body fits with his like muscle memory.
âTell me,â you whisper. âTell me what you want again.â
His head shoots up, dark eyes snapping openâfull of intent and completely serious.
âI want you,â he says immediately, like the words have been waiting behind his teeth, like itâs almost insulting that you ever doubted it. Thereâs no pause, no second-guessingâjust the truth, dropped between you with the weight of feelings that are inevitable. âIâve always wanted all of you.â
Your heart starts pounding. Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dumâas if itâs trying to climb its way out of your chest and into his hands. You can feel it everywhere: in your throat, behind your ears, pulsing under your skin⊠between your legs.
He watches you closely, as if he can hear it too. As if heâs counting the seconds it takes for you to react.
His words were a confession. The kind thatâs been living between you ever since the breakup, unspoken but obvious, hiding in every look that lingered too long and every almost-touch that felt like a mistake you both kept making anyway.
Your heart keeps racing, refusing to calm down, because it knows the truth:
Youâve always wanted all of him, too.
âOkay,â your voice is like honey to his ears. âYou have all of me.â
Your hand is still holding his length, feeling how hard he is, his tip poking teasingly at your folds. He twitches in your palm as you align him with your entrance, your body already slick, already open.
 You lower yourself onto him slowâachingly slowâeyes locked with his the whole way down.
Jungkookâs hooded eyes bore into yours as his mouth falls open, brows drawing tight in pleasure.
He exhales like heâs in pain, âAhhhâŠâ
Your head falls back as you slide down inch by inch, savoring the stretch, the way his cock fills you completely, deliciously. When heâs fully inside, you sit still on his hips, your thighs shaking slightly from the intensity.
You feel everything.
The weight of his hands as they slide up your sides. The heat of his breath. The way his chest rises against your palms as you plant them there for balance. His eyes are still on yoursâlidded, lustful, like he canât believe the way you look when youâre breaking open on top of him.
âYou always did fit me so fucking perfectly,â he murmurs, barely audible.
Your voice comes out involuntarily breathy, âJungkook, I neeââ
He doesnât let you finish. His hand slips to the back of your neck, pulling you in and crashing your lips to his.
The surprise only lasts a split secondâjust long enough for your breath to catchâbefore youâre kissing him back just as hard, just as hungry.
This whole situation almost feels surreal. Youâre in a freezing cold cellar, half-naked, cock-warming your ex, as you make out with him like your life depends on it. And yet, you wouldnât want to be in anyone elseâs arms.
Your mouths move in sync, lips sliding on lips, breaths dancing. Tongues grazing hungrilyâcause itâs been too long since youâve connected this way. And youâve missed his lips already.
Heâs deep inside you and youâve missed that tooâthough youâve been missing his dumb brain most of all.
You start to move on him, slow, smooth rolls of your hips that grind your clit against his pelvis perfectly with every pass. He groans against your mouth and breaks the kiss, forehead leaning on yours, noses brushing, breaths mingling, hands gripping your ass, fingers digging into your skin.
Every motion is drawn out, intimate. Like youâre savoring him. Like heâs savoring you.
Itâs not fucking anymore.
Itâs something worse.
Something better.
As youâre slowly bouncing on him, he lets his hands exploreâfrom your ass, up under your layers to your soft waist, then up to your chest. His thumbs brush just under your breasts, his palms lifting and squeezing them, admiring the way they feel with every slow grind you give.Â
Youâre flushed pink, panting, riding him like you need to feel every inch, as deep as possibleâevery drag, every subtle throb.
âLook at you,â he whispers, his forehead still pressing to yours. âGod, I forgot how pretty you are when you ride me.â
You peck his lips briefly, sliding your hands up his biceps, feeling the flex of muscle under his sweater as he holds back his urge to take control, letting you control the pace. His lips chase yoursâsoft this time, almost tender. He kisses you, tasting something he thought heâd lost forever. His tongue traces yours, slow and seeking, matching the rhythm of your hips.
You moan into his mouth when he thrusts up just slightly, hitting that deeper spot within you, and you feel him smirk against your lips.
âDead center again, huh?â
You nod, turning to rest your temple against his forehead, breathing uneven. âDonât. Move.â
âI wonât.â
You thrust and grind harder instead. Your thighs burn from the continuous pace, but you donât care. Your hands stay on his chest, fingertips dragging across his covered muscles, feeling his heart pounding beneath them.
You sit back a little, riding him with more purpose now, watching his eyes trail down your body as if he doesnât know where to look firstâyour bouncing chest, your rolling hips, the point where youâre joined.
âYou always looked so fucking beautiful like this,â he murmurs. âIn control. Falling apart.â
You clench around him then, hard, and he groans, hips bucking up involuntarily.
You smile. âDonât move, remember?â
âJesus, Y/NâŠâ
His hands grip your hips again, tight, pulling you down with each movement as your rhythm builds just slightlyâstill slow, still intentional, but more urgent now. His eyes flicker shut. His jaw tenses. You can tell heâs so close to coming.
And so are you.
Your fingers find your clit and you rub soft circles, matching the rhythm of your hips. The pressure of another orgasm builds againâslow and sweet this time. Deep, like an ache sparking from your center outward.
Your thighs start to tremble. Your breathing wavers.
âIâmâIâm goââ you gasp.
âCome for me,â he whispers, voice strained. âPlease, baby. Let me feel you squeeze me.â
And just like that, your body gives in.
Your walls convulse around him, exploding, hips grinding down harder as your orgasm rolls through you like a tide.
He leans forward, arms wrapping around you as he thrusts up once, twice, and buries himself deep inside youâcoming with a strangled moan against your shoulder, holding you tight as he paints your insides, pulse pounding in his cock as you milk every last drop.
The moment stretches.
You stay wrapped around him, your body softening, your forehead resting against his. He strokes your back slowly, chest still heaving.
Neither of you moves to pull away. Neither of you wants to.
âNow what?â you whisper.
Jungkook doesnât answer. He just holds you closer.
And for once, you donât expect him to answerâdonât need him to say it. Because you already know this just got a little more complicated.
You donât know how long you stay that way.
But his arms havenât moved.
One is around your back, hand splayed warm and wide between your shoulder blades. The other rests lower, fingers gripping your hip like he doesnât quite believe youâre still here.
Youâre the first to move. A soft shift of your hips, the ache blooming in your thighs reminding you just how long you rode him like that. You tilt your head and let your cheek rest against his temple, feeling the tickle of his eyelashes, the way he smells like sex and sweat and whatever cologne he always wore just to make you weak.
Your chest still rises unevenly, sweat cooling fast in the chilly air, but your skin hums with warmth anyway. With him. His heat. His cock still softening inside you. His hands still acting like youâre his, now and forever.
You snort quietly.
âWell,â you murmur, voice dry, lips brushing his jaw, âthat was unexpectedly⊠affectionate.â
Jungkook hums without lifting his head. âYouâre welcome.â
âI didnât say thank you.â
âYouâre still sitting on my dick. Thatâs thanks enough.â
You laughâquiet, low, surprised at how easy this is. Or maybe youâre just delirious. Everything feels too soft right now. Too warm. Too close.
âI missed you,â he whispers, voice so quiet you almost miss it.
Your throat tightens. You blink once, slowly.
He pulls back enough to look at youâjust barely. Just enough to see your face. His hairâs a mess. His lips are red. His eyes are still clouded with emotion.
âI didnât think Iâd get to touch you like that again,â he admits, like itâs a confession he didnât mean to say aloud. âNot after everything.â
You exhale shakily. Your fingers drag through the hair at the nape of his neckâgently. Absentmindedly. You used to do that all the time.
âI didnât either,â you whisper back.
He swallows.
You both fall silent againâbut itâs not uncomfortable. Just⊠full.
The silence is different now. Warmer. Deeper. Threaded with something tentative and new. Like whatever just happened didnât fix everythingâbut it cracked something wide open.
And neither of you wants to slam that door shut again.
You shift in his lap, gently, and he helps you lift your hips slowly and slide off him. His hands twitchâlike maybe he was going to stop you. But he doesnât.
Thereâs a brief stretch of slick warmth between your thighs, gravity tugging at the mess he left inside you, and before it can drip down your legâ
âyou reach between your legs, catch it with two fingers, and casually push it back in.
Jungkook watches in total silence.
You lift the same fingers to your lips, licking them clean.
A beat.
Another.
Then: âJesus fucking Christ.â
You glance over to where the obscenities came from. Heâs still sitting there on the couch, with his semi-hard dick out, staring at you with a look thatâs somewhere between ruined and feral. His jaw clenched. Eyes dark. Cock twitching back to life and he knows you see it.
You lift an eyebrow.
âWhat?â you say innocently. âWaste not, want not.â
Jungkook exhales slowly, like heâs praying for strength.
âDonât do that in front of me if you donât want a round two.â
You grin. âWho said I donât?â
He groans and covers his face with both hands, collapsing back onto the couch like heâs been physically assaulted. âI would literally die.â
You turn and stretch, back arching, bare-assed and unbothered now in the cold. âI mean,â you say, tossing a smirk over your shoulder, âthere are worse ways to go.â
And yeahâyouâre laughing. Really laughing. Not that sharp, armor-plated kind you used to wield like a shield in arguments. This is the real one. That quiet, caught-off-guard giggle that slips out when your guardâs nowhere in sight.
And under it⊠thereâs something else. Something warm and dangerous and unfamiliar.
Forgiveness?
Maybe.
But noâdidnât you just promise yourself you werenât gonna go there?
You tug your panties back on with the grace of someone who knows theyâre being watched, slow and unbothered, and the thought flickers through you like heat: this feels good. Too good. The kind of good that hums in your blood and dares you to want more. And maybe it shouldnât feel this addictive.
Jungkookâs still watching you, eyes tracking your every move because he doesnât know if he wants to kiss you or drag you back down and fuck you again until someone stops him.
You toss him a lookâhalf-pleased, half-wary.
âStop looking at me like that,â you say.
âLike what?â he asks, already smiling.
âLike youâre serious about round two!â
He shrugs, shamelessly. âMaybe I am serious.â
Rolling your eyes, you settle beside him again. You curl into his side, your legs tucked close, one of his arms comes to wrap around you tight while the other reaches for the blanket.
He drapes it over both of you without another word.
You lean your head on his shoulder. Your fingertips tracing patterns on his chest, slow and thoughtless.
ââŠYou okay?â he asks, after a beat.
You nod. âYeah.â
âYouâre not⊠freaking out?â
You lift your head to look at him. âAre you?â
He hesitates. âNo. Just⊠trying not to assume anything.â
You stare at him for a long moment.
Thereâs so much you could say. So much you want to say. But everything still feels like itâs balancing on a ledge, and if you push too hard too fast, it might tumble.
So instead, you just touch his jawâlightly. Just a brush of fingers. Then you kiss the corner of his mouth, soft and lingering.
âI donât regret it,â you say, quiet but firm.
His eyes flutter shut for a second. Relief flickers across his features so visibly you feel it like a second heartbeat.
âNeither do I,â he breathes.
Another beat passes. Youâre still close. Still tucked into each other like youâve done this a hundred timesâand in some ways, you have.
Then, you murmur, âI still donât know what this means.â
He nods. âWe donât have to know yet.â
âBut we canât pretend it didnât happen.â
âNo,â he agrees, hand stroking your arm now. âWe wonât. I wonât.â
You sigh, nestling your face into the crook of his neck.
ââŠI think I just need to be in this moment right now,â you whisper. âWith you. Not planning. Not spiraling. Just⊠here.â
He nods. Kisses your temple. Holds you a little tighter.
âOkay,â he says. âThen Iâm here.â
And you stay like thatâwarmed by him, grounded in this strange little bubble of wine, silence, and vulnerability. Still tangled in a complicated history. Still messy and bruised and unsure.
But held. Together.
Your body is finally starting to relaxâyour muscles softening into his, your breathing syncing up. The chilled air of the cellar doesnât bite quite as hard now, not with his warmth pressed into your side and the blanket wrapped around you both like a secret.
Youâre on the verge of sleep. Barely hovering above it, your eyelids heavy and Jungkookâs heartbeat lulling you deeper. You think maybe if you could just stay here a little longerâ
THUNK.
Your ears twitch.
Then, faint but unmistakableâ
One.
Two.
Three.
Four car doors slamming shut.
You blink. Frozen. Listening hard.
ââŠDid you hear that?â you whisper, voice thick with drowsy disbelief.
Jungkook lifts his head slightly, squinting upward toward the low ceiling. âI think that wasââ
You sit up so fast the blanket tumbles to the floor.
Jungkookâs reflexes kick in a half-second behind yours as you both scramble into motion. You grab your sweatpants from where theyâd been discarded mid-chaos and wriggle them on with frantic, clumsy urgency. Jungkookâs pulling his hoodie down over his head and adjusting the waistband of his sweats like a man on the run.
Youâre both a blur of limbs and adrenaline and very unsexy panic.
âDo I look like I just got railed?â you hiss, tugging the sweater into place and checking your reflection in the faint shimmer of a dusty wine bottle.
He snorts, breathless. âYou look like you just took a three-hour nap in a meat locker.â
ââŠBetter.â
He runs a hand through his hairâmessy, but passableâand then does a double take. âBabe, your hairââ
âDonât call me babe right now!â you whisper-scream, flattening your hands over your head. âOh my god, theyâre gonna know.â
âThey wonât know if we stop yelling and justââ he yanks the blanket off the floor and tosses it over the couch like a crime scene cover-up. âOkay, okayâjust act normal.â
You both freeze, now fully dressed, breath held.
Another burst of faint laughter filters down from above. Closer now.
âJin!â you yell suddenly, hands cupped around your mouth. âJin, weâre down here!â
Jungkook pounds on the door like a man possessed. âJimin! Tae! Hobi! Guys, weâre stuck!â
You both start yelling over each other, voices echoing off the stone walls, desperation overriding any last hope of keeping this quiet.
âHELLO?â
âWEâRE IN THE CELLAR!â
âTHE DOOR IS STUCK!â
âI SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU GUYS WENT TO THREE SEPARATE BAKERIES AGAINââ
Footsteps thud overheadâmultiple pairsâfollowed by frantic voices and giggles and then the unmistakable creak of the wine cellar lever being tugged.
The door groans as it scrapes against the floor.
ThenâCLUNK.
Light! Air!
Jiminâs face appears at the top of the stairs, eyes wide.
ââŠwhat the fuck?â
You nearly sob. âJimin, oh my god, thank you.â
Jungkookâs already halfway up the stairs before Jimin even starts moving. âIt jammed. We tried the lever. It was stuck.â
Tae appears behind him, blinking. âHow long were you down there?â
âSince this morning,â you groan, dragging yourself up after Jungkook. âYou guys were singing ABBA and shopping while we were freezing to death and fighting for our lives.â
âAnd making out?â Jimin adds dryly, arms crossed.
You freeze.
Jungkook trips on the second-to-last step.
ââŠWhat?â
Jiminâs eyes narrow. Tae blinks between you. Hobi steps into view from the hall, looks at the scene, and immediately snorts.
âDude,â he says to Jungkook, âyour hoodieâs inside out.â
You nearly die on the spot.
Jungkook glances down at his hoodie. Freezes.
It is inside out.
Immediately, his eyes dart to yoursâthen to the three pairs of very smug, very suspicious faces gathered at the top of the stairs.
âIâokay, no,â he says, lifting both hands like heâs diffusing a bomb. âAbsolutely not. Nothing happened.â
Jimin raises an eyebrow. âUh-huh.â
âItâs literally a fridge down there, hyung,â Jungkook goes on, gesturing behind him. âI gave her my hoodie and my sweater because she was in a T-shirt and fucking shivering.â
You nod quickly, stepping up beside him. âYeah. I was freezing. Hypothermic, practically. It was survival.â
Taehyung smirks. âSurvival with the door locked and the blanket crumpled andââ
ââSurvival,â you repeat louder, nodding earnestly. âNo further questions!â
Jin squints, unconvinced. âAnd you couldnât, I donât know, call out for help?â
Jimin tilts his head, arms folded. âYeah. Why didnât you just yell for Yoongi?â
You donât hesitate. âWe did.â
Jimin stares.
You stare back.
âHe could sleep through the apocalypse,â you add quickly. âWe screamed his name like ten times.â
Jimin exhales through his nose, half-smiling. ââŠThatâs fair.â
Thereâs a beat of tense silence in this half-circle of allies at the top of the cellar stairs.
Then, with the smoothest pivot youâve ever seen in your life, Taehyung claps his hands once. âAnyway!â he announces brightly, like none of this just happened. âIâm suddenly feeling deeply compelled to do a full skincare reset after being in the dry-ass air of that truck for two hours.â
âOh my god,â Jimin gasps, eyes going wide like this is the most urgent idea heâs ever heard. âMe too. Y/N, come upstairs. Letâs hydrate. Letâs exfoliate. Letâs get our glow back.â
You blink. âIâwhat?â
âYou need this,â Taehyung says seriously, already taking your arm. âYour pores are crying.â
âAnd so is your soul, probably,â Jimin adds cheerfully, already dragging you in the other direction. âCâmon, self-care time. Youâve been underground like a little Victorian chimney ghost. Weâre fixing it.â
Behind you, Jungkook snorts.
You donât dare look at him.
As Jimin and Taehyung herd you down the hall like two pastel-colored sheepdogs, you glance back just in time to see Jin eyeing Jungkook like heâs doing some deeply aggressive math.
Then Taehyung squeezes your shoulder. âGive us one sec,â he says, and gestures to Jimin, who instantly veers off toward the living room.
You and Taehyung linger by the stairs, watching as Jimin tiptoes over to the sectional where Yoongi is still asleepâcurled up like a black-clad cat under three blankets, oblivious to the world.
Jimin crouches down, tucks a hand gently against Yoongiâs cheek, and kisses his forehead. He whispers something you canât hear, fingers brushing through his hair for a beat longer than necessary.
You smile before you can stop yourself.
Then Jimin straightens, slips back into his chaos goblin energy, and marches back over. âOkay!â he chirps. âUpstairs, mouthbreather. We have questions.â
âI knew this was a trap,â you mutter, but you donât fight them.
Because honestly? You kind of want to talk about it, too.
Taehyung hooks his arm through yours. âBabe, we havenât even started interrogating you.â
âAnd I have so many questions,â Jimin whispers dramatically, eyes gleaming as he leads the charge up the stairs.
Behind you, you swear you hear Jungkook laugh again.
And just like that, youâre being swept away to Jiminâs roomâfor a skincare routine that may or may not involve several very nosy best friends, a bottle of wine, and a full breakdown of what actually happened in that cellar basement.
ââŠWow,â Jimin says, blinking at you with big round eyes, cucumber-print headband holding back his bangs and a glossy pink sheet mask glued to his face. âSo all that really happened?â
You nod, one hand resting in your lap, the other absently smoothing your clay mask like youâre being interviewed on national TV. âLiterally all of it.â
âNo breaks?â he asks, still stunned. âNo water? No âwait, should we talk about this?â intermissions?â
Taehyung lets out a loud sniffle and dramatically pats at his face with a tissueâonly to remember itâs covered in a green bubbling foam mask. âOh god,â he cries, staring at his hand. âWhy did I do that.â
You burst out laughing. âItâs on your chin now.â
âIâm so glad you guys talked,â he says anyway, sniffling harder like heâs powering through for the sake of the bit. âItâs just so hard to hate on my homeboy. I tried. God, I triedâŠâ
You exchange a look with Jiminâwho nods solemnly and leans in like heâs about to say something deeply profound.
âI mean, the emotional constipation between the two of you was so bad,â he murmurs. âI thought we were going to have to stage an intervention with a crowbar.â
âIt was like⊠painful,â Tae agrees. âRomantic! But painful.â
You lean your head back against the wall, clay mask cracking slightly at the corners of your mouth. âI didnât think it was going to happen like that.â
âWell,â Jimin says, flicking imaginary lint off your pajama sleeve, âthe universe trapped you two in a freezing wine dungeon for a reason.â
Taehyung points. âThatâs fate, bitch.â
You exhale a quiet laugh, warm and a little dazed. âI still donât know what we are now.â
âWell,â Jimin says, like itâs obvious, âyouâre freshly re-traumatized soulmates with a raging sexual tension problem and a renewed sense of emotional honesty. Duh.â
You snort.
âWhich means,â Taehyung adds, popping the cap off a tiny jar of serum like a scientist at work, âyou need to hydrate. Inside and out. Forgiveness sex is dehydrating. Thatâs just facts.â
âI told you I wasnât dehydratedââ
âYou said you werenât drunk,â Jimin interrupts, âand then you fell into the couch and said âwarm me like a cinnamon bun, Daddy.ââ
Your whole body short-circuits.
âI said what?â
They dissolve into wheezing laughter as you launch a face wipe at both of them.
âOh my god,â you groan, dragging a hand through your hair. âI need to go back to the basement and never come out.â
âNo, babe,â Jimin says seriously, reaching for a fluffy towel. âYou need to rinse, moisturize, and then go talk to him.â
âWhat, again?â
âYeah,â Tae says, suddenly sincere. âY/N. That wasnât just closure. That was something opening again.â
You stare at themâbest friends in ridiculous spa gear, covered in skincare products and truths you werenât ready to admit until right now.
Your chest tightens.
âIâm scared,â you admit, quietly.
Jiminâs voice softens. âI know. But youâre not alone.â
âAnd you look amazing,â Tae adds. âSo if this turns into a make-up make-out again, youâre camera-ready.â
You blink. âAre you guys shipping us?â
They shrugâcompletely unashamed.
âI mean,â Jimin says, âheâs your idiot. And youâre his. Thatâs romance, babe.â
You shake your head and smile.
And then the door bangs open.
All three of you jolt, startledâand there stands Min Yoongi, rumpled from sleep, hoodie half-zipped, hair sticking up like he fought the pillow and lost.
He blinks. Freezes.
His eyes scan the scene: Jimin in his cucumber printed headband with sparkles on his pink face mask, Taehyung pointing a jade roller at him like a sword because he was startled, you wrapped in a fluffy robe with the aura of someone mid-existential crisis but still glowing.
A beat of silence.
ââŠSo this is where everyone went,â Yoongi says, voice flat. âGreat. Awesome.â
Jimin beams. âHi, Yoon.â
Yoongi points at the glittery mess on his boyfriendâs face. âIs that my mask?â
Jimin nods proudly. âIt has niacinamide.â
Yoongi turns to you and Taehyung, deadpan. âI see I was not invited to the girl dinner.â
Tae gasps. âYou were asleep.â
âI was resting my eyes.â
You snort as Yoongi finally trudges in, peering into the chaos like a man betrayed. âI leave you people alone for five minutesââ
âItâs been two hours,â Jimin says helpfully, scooting over and patting the bed. âCome here. Iâll do your T-zone.â
Yoongi groans like he regrets waking up at all, but walks over anyway.
Exceptâyou clock it immediatelyâhis groan is mostly for show. The nap has clearly rebooted him. His movements are a little lighter, his eyes more alert, and thereâs the faintest twitch of a smirk pulling at his mouth.
âOh no,â Taehyung says, clocking it too. âHeâs got energy again. The old man rebooted.â
âIâm thirty-three,â Yoongi mutters, dropping onto the bed with a dramatic exhale. âAlmost.â
âAncient,â Tae chirps, rolling his eyes as he reapplies his own mask like this is a competition. âYou were snoring like a war veteran.â
Yoongi ignores him and turns to you, propping one knee up lazily. âSo. Whatâd I miss?â
Yoongi stares at you, then at them. âThat all happened⊠when?â
âIn the wine crypt!â Jimin says brightly, like heâs announcing a venue for a wedding. âWhile you were upstairs, drooling on the throw pillows.â
âI donât drool.â
âYou do,â Jimin says sweetly, spreading clay between his brows. âAnd you talk in your sleep. Itâs cute.â
âIâwait, back up.â Yoongi looks at you again. âYou and Jungkookâ?â
You lift your hands helplessly, but youâre smiling, face warm. âIt just⊠happened.â
Tae leans in. âThere was so much tension, hyung. You could feel it through the stone walls. Like the Phantom of the Opera but horny.â
Yoongi opens his mouth, closes it, then side-eyes his boyfriendâwhoâs now humming while carefully painting his nose. âYouâre just gonna tell me everything, huh?â
Jimin kisses his cheek without breaking rhythm. âOf course. Youâre my favorite audience.â
And Yoongi just blinks at you again, almost fully clay-masked, as if silently confirming: Did I really sleep through all that?
You nod.
He exhales slowly. âDamn. I really need to stop napping.â
Yoongi leans back against the headboard, legs crossed, letting Jimin finish slathering the last bit of clay onto his chin. âOkay. Walk me through it. All of it.â
You glance at the other two.
Taehyung just nods, encouraging. âStart where it hurts.â
You exhale slowly. âI mean⊠it was mostly a lot of talking. At first.â
âAnd then a lot of not-talking,â Jimin quips.
You shoot him a look, but your expression softens almost immediately.
âI was just⊠really mad at him,â you say, voice quieting. âFor how everything turned out. For what he didnât say. And I think I tried so hard not to feel anything, that it just⊠kept piling up until we exploded in a literal medieval dungeon.â
Yoongi raises an eyebrow. âRomantic.â
You smile faintly. âWe fought. We yelled. I said things I didnât even know were still in me. And he⊠listened.â
You twist your hands in your lap, absentminded.
âHe apologized,â you go on. âNot just once. Not just likeââSorry, I hurt you.â But for everything. For the silence. For the way he didnât fight for me. For the way he made me think I was someone he could just let go of.â
The room stills a bit. Even Jiminâs hands pause.
Taehyung is watching you with something soft in his eyes. âHowâd that feel?â
You let out a shaky breath.
âLike Iâd been holding my breath since the night I officially broke up with him.â
Thereâs a long pause after that.
Yoongi shifts slightly, gaze lowering. âIâm glad he said it,â he murmurs. âNot just for you. But for him, too.â
You glance at him, surprised.
âJimin would always say heâs been⊠quieter since the breakup,â Yoongi continues. âNot sad, exactly. Just⊠less Jungkook. Less spark. Like heâs been punishing himself.â
Tae hums. âMakes sense. He was never really himself unless he was with her.â
The honesty makes your chest ache.
You nod slowly. âI wasnât myself, either. I think I hated him more for that than for anything else. That he got to be my person, and then I had to unlearn that.â
No one says anything for a moment.
Taehyung slides closer and rests his chin on your shoulder. âBut you didnât.â
You look over at him.
âYou didnât unlearn it,â he says softly. âYou just⊠buried it. For safety.â
And thatâs what does it. That crack deep inside your chest finally gives way, and suddenly youâre wiping away tears with the sleeve of Jiminâs soft pajama top.
âGod, I hate when youâre right,â you whisper, voice thick.
âIâm always right,â Tae says, smug and tearful.
âI know,â you sniff. âItâs the worst.â
Jimin immediately scoots in and wraps an arm around you too. âWeâre proud of you, by the way.â
âFor crying?â you sniff.
âNo. For choosing yourself. Even when it hurt. Even when it scared the shit out of you. You gave him the chance to fix it after you already chose to stand on your own. That matters.â
Yoongi shifts closer now tooâless of a hugger, but still offering his presence.
âI know Iâm usually the âburn everything downâ kind of guy,â he says. âBut⊠if itâs him, and if itâs real⊠then Iâm glad it happened in a wine crypt.â
You laugh wetly.
And for a moment, itâs quiet again.
Three boys who love you more than anything, surrounding you with face masks and sleepy eyes and zero judgment. You donât know how you got lucky enough to end up in a room like this, but you know youâll remember it forever.
And thenâThe door creaks open.
Everyone turns.
And Jungkook blinks into the room.
He freezes when he sees the scene: you sitting on the floor in an oversized pink headband, clay mask half-dried on your face, flanked on both sides by Tae and Jiminâwho both look over at him with matching unimpressed expressions.
Yoongi is sitting criss-cross on the bed like a bored sensei in a spa robe.
No one says anything.
Until Jimin lifts a hand and points his brush like a weapon.
âI love you, butâGET OUT!â
Jungkook immediately starts closing the door. âSorry, sorryâI thought this was, like, a no boys allowed except me kind of situationââ
âOUT,â they all yell at the same time.
The door slams.
You stare at it, lips twitching.
Then Jimin snorts. Taehyung wheezes.
And Yoongi mutters under his breath, âI miss when he was still scared of me.â
Laughter erupts around you, sudden and sharp and full-belliedâand god, it feels good.
Itâs been a heavy day. But maybe itâs turning into the best kind.
STILL CHRISTMAS DAY â DINNER TIME
Itâs warm in the cabin now.
Golden.
The sharp chill of the afternoon is long gone, replaced by the heady steam of simmering pots and clinking glasses, the flicker of candlelight, and the familiar hum of six people who love each other far too much to say it plainly.
The table is fullâstuffed to the edges with food and laughter and stories half-finished because someone keeps interrupting with more laughter. Jin and Hobi have somehow pulled together an entire Korean Christmas dinner from the local grocery store, and it smells like home. Jungkook had helped cook, but he doesnât brag about itâhe just keeps refilling everyoneâs side dishes, quietly proud, his cheeks a little pink.
Everyoneâs wearing a ridiculous Christmas sweater, courtesy of Taehyung, who had passed them out before dinner with a solemn âthis is required.â Yours is oversized and green and features a dancing reindeer with sequins for eyes. Jiminâs has bells. Hobiâs lights up. Jinâs is a cool blue with too many fabric pom-poms. Yoongiâs has a red nose heâs already tried to rip off twice.
The sweaters make no sense. The table settings donât match. The candles are all different heights, and someone (probably Jin) put a Santa hat on the corner of a painting in the living room.
And somehow⊠itâs perfect.
Youâre tucked between Jimin and Jungkook at the long wooden table. Your arm keeps brushing Jungkookâsânot on purpose, but not not on purpose eitherâand every time it happens, your pulse does a little skip like itâs remembering how to hope.
You havenât talked to him yet. Not really. Not about what comes next.
But somethingâs shifted now.
Thereâs no tension. No brittle, frayed edge. No pretending you arenât aware of each otherâs presence.
Now⊠thereâs just warmth.
You glance over at him once, while heâs laughing at something Taehyung said, and he catches you. Doesnât even flinch. Just gives you that soft, secret smileâthe one he used to give you across crowded rooms when you both knew what was waiting at the end of the night.
You smile back.
And for the first time in months, it doesnât ache.
It just feels⊠good.
This was not the Christmas you expected.
But somehow, against every odd, itâs becoming one of the best ones youâve ever had.
Youâre surrounded by your favorite people. Youâre full. Youâre warm. The wine is good. The world is still complicated, but hereâat this tableâitâs simple.
Youâre safe. Youâre held.
âAlright, everyone!â Jin claps his hands and stands with a flourish. âTo the living room! Gift time!â
Groans rise from around the table, but only the lazy kindâtoo full, too content, too cozy to move quickly. Slowly, people start gathering their things and padding over to the living room, where a makeshift setup has already been⊠crafted.
Thereâs no Christmas tree this year.
What there is⊠is a large piece of paper taped to the wall with clear packaging tape. Drawn in black sharpie is a painfully lopsided tree, outlined in careful strokes with a glittery star slapped to the top. It is⊠hideous.
Also?
Iconic.
Beneath itâon the wooden floor, scattered in a haphazard huge pileâare about 36 small gifts. Some were wrapped before the trip, in cute festive wrapping paper. Others were wrapped in whatever scraps of paper and tissue could be found around the house, some in old shopping bags, one in a sock.
âShoutout to me and Kook for making the tree,â Taehyung says, flopping onto the floor dramatically. âArt is suffering.â
âItâs giving depression and resilience,â Jimin nods, pulling Yoongi down onto the couch with him.
âI think itâs cute,â you say.
âThank you,â Jungkook says, proud.
Yoongi raises a hand. âIâd like the record to show I was asleep during its creation and therefore canât be blamed for the visual assault.â
âShut up, old man,â Taehyung says sweetly. âYouâve been in a good mood since your second nap.â
âI have,â Yoongi agrees, settling in with Jimin practically draped over his chest. âWhy does no one let me nap more often?â
Jimin beams and kisses his cheek. âBecause we like when you're grumpy.â
Everyone settles in slowlyâlegs tangled, sweaters itchy, hearts full.
Youâre curled up beside Hobi on the floor, with Jungkook sitting cross-legged nearby. You feel him glance at you once or twice, but not in a way that demands attention. Just⊠like heâs checking. Like heâs there.
You lean gently against Hobiâs shoulder, and he squeezes your knee.
Itâs peaceful. Chaotic. Unfiltered.
Home.
Jin clears his throat dramatically and lifts a small scrap of paper from his pocket.
âThis year,â he announces, âwe introduced a sensible, reasonable, and very adult rule: a strict budget of 29,500 wonâapproximately twenty U.S. dollarsâper person.â
He pauses for effect, eyes twinkling.
âSo, you all had six people to shop for. Which means, if my math is correctâand it always isâno one here spent more than $120 total. Right?â
A round of nods. Some more convincing than others.
âThen let the gift exchange,â he says, striking a dramatic pose, âbegin.â
The gifts are handed out one by one. The floor is scattered with tissue paper and ribbon. Everyoneâs grinning.
Youâre half-watching Jimin carefully tear open the wrapping from your gift to him when he gasps. âNO YOU DIDNâT.â
Two identical banana-shaped candles roll out into his lap.
âY/N!â
You blink innocently. âYou showed that candle to me and Tae and Jungkook, remember?â
âThatâs because I was manifesting it!â Jimin clutches both candles to his chest like twin newborns. âAnd it worked twice. Iâm powerful.â
Yoongi leans in. âYouâre gonna light both?â
Jimin looks horrified. âNo. Iâm going to put one in the bathroom and one on my grave.â
Then itâs Taehyungâs turn. He pulls apart the wrapping paper on his gift from Jinâand immediately lets out a squeal so high-pitched that Jungkook winces next to you.
Itâs a blanket.
But not just any blanket.
Itâs a full-size fleece throw with a collage of Jinâs selfies printed across it. Some of them filtered. Some of them oddly cropped. All of them iconic.
Across the front, in cursive black font, are the words:
âWorldâs Best Hyungâ
Taehyung launches himself across the room and tackles Jin in a tight hug.
âIâM GONNA SLEEP WITH YOUR FACE FOREVER,â he wails.
âYou already dream of me,â Jin replies smugly. âNow itâs just externalized.â
The roomâs still laughing when Hobi begins unwrapping Jinâs gift to him.
He pulls out a sleek white envelope.
Opens it. Reads.
And thenâgoes completely still. His cheeks go red.
âHyung,â he says, voice almost scandalized. âThe budget was twenty dollars. Why did you get meââ He holds up the envelope. ââtwo Tokyo Disney tickets?!â
The room goes silent for a beat.
Then:
âJINââ
âYOU MADE THE BUDGETââ
âARE YOU KIDDING MEââ
âYOU GAVE TAE A BLANKET WITH YOUR FACE ON ITââ
âI GOT JIMIN A CANDLE.â
âI hand-knit Yoongiâs leg warmers!â
âDid you bribe the Mouse?!â
Jin holds up both hands. âOkay, listen. There was a Black Friday sale. I got them at 40% off. It was still barely within budget if you roundââ
âNO ONE is rounding forty percent into âtwenty dollars!ââ Hobi wails, face still red.
Yoongi, from the couch: âI didnât even get a gift from him yet. Iâm scared.â
Jin claps a hand to his chest. âI am a generous man. Is that a crime?â
âYes!â comes the chorus.
StillâHobi keeps the envelope clutched to his chest the rest of the night. And no one really stays mad.
Because the paper tree is crooked, and the sweaters are itchy, and the room is echoing with that kind of happiness that doesnât need to be spoken to be understood.
You donât even realize youâve saved Jungkookâs gift for last.
Maybe itâs instinct.
Maybe itâs muscle memoryâputting him off until your heartâs ready.
The box is small. Square. Wrapped neatly in matte black paper with a single burgundy ribbon tied at the center, like a bowtie. His name isnât on it, but you know itâs from him.
You glance up onceâjust brieflyâand heâs already watching you.
That same quiet smile youâve seen a hundred times before. The kind that doesnât demand anything. The kind that waits.
You lift the lid.
Inside is a thin envelope, and beneath it, a black velvet box.
You open the envelope first.
Itâs a gift card.
The familiar green logo on the front belongs to the art supply store youâve been frequenting in Seoul for yearsâthe one you once dragged Jungkook to when you ran out of raw umber and walked out an hour later with six tubes of acrylic and no regrets.
You blink, smile tugging at your lips.
Youâd mentionedâonce, offhandâthat you wanted to start painting again. That the space above your desk in your old room of the apartment felt empty.
He remembered.
You set the envelope down carefully.
Thenâfingers trembling just slightlyâyou open the velvet box.
Inside are a pair of diamond earrings.
Delicate. Simple. Round-cut studs set in platinum, so sparkly and bright they catch the light instantly.
Theyâre real. You know theyâre real.
Theyâre small, but they sparkle like hell. Too clean to be costume. Too classic to be trendy. Too Tiffanyâs not to be Tiffanyâs.
You donât say anything. You donât need to. No teasing about the budget. No wide-eyed gasp. No dramatic âJUNGKOOK!â
Just⊠stillness.
You look up.
And heâs still watching youâshoulders a little tight now, like heâs worried you might throw them at his head.
But you donât.
You reach up and brush your hair back, giving him the tiniest nod.
A silent thank you. A silent I know.
And then you slip them in your ears.
Theyâre light. Cool against your skin. You barely feel themâexcept for the way they pull at something deep in your chest.
No one else notices the moment. Or, at least, they pretend not to.
You donât even notice the smile Jungkook lets slip as he looks down at his handsâlike he just exhaled something heâs been holding in for months.
You look away before you can think too much about it.
But you leave the earrings in.
And that says enough.
Youâre still fiddling with the little velvet box, sliding it closed and tucking it back into your lap, when you remember.
âOhâwait.â You straighten. âYour turn.â
Jungkook looks up. âMy turn?â
You nod, reaching under the table where you stashed his gift earlierâflat, rectangular, and carefully wrapped in matte green paper with a silky black bow. The wrappingâs a little wrinkled from travel, and you notice as you pass it to him that one corner has already torn slightly.
âI didnât have a ton of time,â you admit, brushing imaginary dust from the paper. âBut I wanted it to be⊠something.â
Jungkook tilts his head, intrigued now. âSomething?â
You shrug. âYouâll see.â
Everyone else is still distracted, knee-deep in their own gift chaosâTaeâs already wearing his Jin blanket like a royal cape, and Yoongi is trying to pry Hobi away from lecturing Jin about the rules of gift budgeting.
But you? Youâre only looking at Jungkook.
And when he tugs at the ribbon and peels the paper back, the whole world seems to quiet for a second.
He stares down at it.
A hardcover photo albumâsleek, black linen cover. No title, no embellishments.
Just his name printed neatly on the front in silver lettering.
He opens the first page.
And stills.
You donât say anything.
You just watch him take it in.
Each page is laid out in soft, matte photo paperâprinted, not stuck. Almost like a photobook. No messy glue or slotted sleeves. A mixture of Polaroids, digital photos, phone camera screenshots⊠things he took. Things you took. Things others caught when you werenât looking.
Moments.
Him, mid-laugh with Tae in the apartment living room.
You and him, blurry in the mirror at a beach motel somewhere near Busan.
A quiet shot of him sitting on the apartment building rooftop at sunset, dark hair in his eyes, a flower stem dangling from his fingers. One of your favorites. One he didnât know youâd kept.
Small captions in your handwriting are here and there.
âYou didnât know I was watching.â
âI forgot about this night.â
âThe world through your eyes.â
And on the last page: a single Polaroid, tucked into a stitched corner.
Itâs of him. From last summer. Shirtless. Messy-haired. In a parking lot, squinting into the sun, one hand holding a water bottle, the other reaching for the camera like he was going to cover the lens. Youâd taken it at the last second before he could stop you.
Thereâs no caption.
Just the date. Sometime in August.
And a tiny, tiny heart.
Jungkook is completely still. His fingers donât flip the page again. He just stares.
You bite your lip. âI know itâs not perfect. And maybe kind of weird, considering⊠everything. But I remembered how you said once that it freaked you out that your camera roll never makes it past your phone. So I thought maybe you should have something real.â
He doesnât respond right away. Not with words.
His head is still bowed, eyes fixed on the album like itâs something heâs scared to break. Like it means more than he can say.
And when he finally looks up at you, thereâs something unspoken in his expression.
Something soft. Something vulnerable.
âI love it,â he says.
You smile, small and nervous. âYeah?â
He nods. Then gently, carefully, closes the album.
âI donât think anyoneâs ever made me something like this before.â
You feel your heart do a slow, guilty somersault in your chest.
âIt was a little over the budget,â you say quietly. âBut I didnât care.â
He doesnât say anything to that.
Just lifts a hand and rubs at his jaw, looking suddenly like heâs trying very hard not to kiss you get too emotional in front of everyone.
You donât push him. You just sit there beside him.
And a moment later, he scoots closer. Enough that his thigh brushes yours under the coffee table. Itâs subtle. Almost like heâs not even thinking about it.
But he is. He totally is.
You can feel it in the way he glances toward you, then flicks his eyes toward the rest of the group. The others are preoccupiedâarguing over cocoa toppings, teasing Jin again about the Tokyo Disney tickets.
So Jungkook leans in, just a little.
And when no oneâs watching, when the moment is perfectly invisible to everyone but youâ
He presses a soft kiss to your cheek. Itâs quick. Gentle. Barely a real kiss.
You inhale sharp. He pulls back like nothing happened. Like it wasnât a spark behind your ribs.
He doesnât say anythingâjust sits beside you, still close, still warm, looking forward like heâs not waiting for a reaction.
But your heart reacts.
It skips, stutters, then thuds like itâs trying to chase him down and ask what the hell that was.
Because youâre suddenly hyperaware of everything else. The wood grain of the table beneath your fingertips. The scent of cinnamon from a candle burning on the counter. The steady heat of Jungkook beside youâhis thigh pressed flush against yours now, not pulling away.
You take a slow breath. Try to steady the flutter in your chest.
And without turning your head, without a single glanceâŠ
You bump your knee against his under the table.
His mouth pulls into a smileâsmall, secret, and entirely unfair.
And this time, you let your own smile bloom too. Thereâs still so much left unsaid between you. So much that has to be talked through, untangled, held up to the light.
But in this momentâwarm, full, surrounded by laughter and lights and the scent of Jinâs perfectly crisp pan-fried dishâ
It doesnât feel so complicated.
Not with him sitting beside you like this. Not when everything else seems to fall away. Not when you can still feel his kiss on your cheek, like the promise of something real.
And somewhere, beneath the layers of noise and clatter and peppermint-sugar haze, something fragile and quiet begins to settle.
Something new. Something familiar.
You donât know where itâs going.
But for now, you sit beside himâheart steady, hand still in your lap, warmth at your sideâand let it be enough.
GUYS THIS WAS SO TEA OMG THE SMUT THE AND THE ANGST, OMG THE KISS HE GAVE HER AFTER THE GIFT I DIED SWEAR! And the word count be +10k EVERY TIME SHE POST, I mean always tryna be like her swear. omg Iâm jst inlove with this seriesđŁđŁđ„șđ„ș
Guys Iâm stressing out I didnât sign up for presale (Iâm dumb ik) guys Iâm so scared I asked all friends and they donât Stan btsâŠ. And bts is coming on my birthday so I felt like meant to be yk, so I have to wait till general sale and Ik imma have my hopes up I just pray to god he has something for me Iâve been saving and waiting, pray for me guys.
Genre: Mafia!au , Slowburn, Angst, Hurt, smut, TW (it is a mafia!AU, after all)Â
Pairing: Mafia!Jungkook x reader
Synopsis: In a world governed by clans and blood debts, nothing ever burns by accident; fading embers are nurtured carefully, mistaken for mercy and the gentle promise of warmth through the night. But fire answers to no one, and it has never spared whatâor whoâwas foolish enough to keep it close.Â
Wordcount: 4.2k
MasterlistÂ
Flight wasnât freedom. It was the illusion of it. She shouldâve known by now.
Still, there was nothing quite like the feeling of wind beneath her wings as she sliced through the skyâclean, bright, fast.
The kind of flight that didnât feel like escapeâjust movement, effortless and clean. The air beneath her was warm, a living thing, holding her up. The wind curled around her black feathers like breath. Around her, others flew in rhythmâher flock, her formation, the only home sheâd ever known. Their silhouettes stretched long across the sky.
She didnât need to think. She didnât need to lead.
She just followed.
The sun was low and full above her, burning gold, haloing the treetops below. It drew her gaze, slow and certain. She looked up.
Just for a second.
The heat on her beak, the weightless hush of altitude. She tilted into it.
And when she looked backâ
They were gone. Her flock had vanished.
Or maybe she had.
The sky had swallowed them whole and left her behind.
No wings. No rhythm. No motion but hers.
She faltered. Her chest seized. The drumming of her heart pounding in her ears.
She spun once. Then again. A turn without direction, wings stuttering at the joints. The air felt thinner now. Meaner. Her body lost its hold in it. A storm brewing.
Something clutched at her chest.
She tried to call out.
No sound came.
Below, the forest opened like a woundâthick with smoke, black and rising. The air turned sour, metallic. Flames licked the edges of her vision. She flapped harder, faster, but there was no lift anymore. The sky let her go.
Feathers burning away in the heat. Her body pitched downward, fast and crooked, flapping hard, harder, harderâHer back blistered. Light seared her eyes. Her lungs filled with ash.
She was burning.
Falling.
She thrashedâwild, weightless, blindâbut her wings didnât catch.
And something grabbed her.
Not the air.
Arms.
Arms around her ribs. Tight. Only they werenât pulling her out of the flames. They were pulling her down. Heat at her back, breath on her neck.
Dragging her.
She twisted, choked, thrashed, a scream stuck in her throat. Her body locked against someone elseâs.
Down.
Downâ
â
She woke with a start.
Her heart beat fast. Her spine ached, her clothes were damp, and something was pressed against her.
Warm.
Heavy.
Breathing.
Y/N didnât move at first. Just blinked up at the dense canopy overhead, trying to piece together her body from the wreckage of the nightmare she wasnât sure she had woken from. Her shoulder was pinned. Her thigh was numb. Andâ
An arm was around her waist.
Jesus, what theâ
His leg was hooked loosely over hers. His chest pressed into her back. Not necessarily tight or purposeful. Just⊠there. Like it had ended up that way sometime in the night. Out of instinct.
She twisted out of his hold and shoved his arm off her. âSeriously?â
He blinked at her, eyes half-lidded, voice still rough with sleep. âWhatâwhatâs happening?â
âDonât play dumb, » she snapped. « You were all over me.â
âI was asleep,â he mumbled, rubbing his face with one hand. âItâs not like I meant toâJesus.â
âMaybe keep watch instead of sprawling like a damn octopus, next time.â She was already up on her feet, dusting herself off.
He sat up slowly, stretching his shoulders with a grimace. âSure. Next time Iâll make sure to chain myself to a tree.â
âDo that.â
They didnât speak after that. Just started gathering what little they had before walking off again.
She didnât look at him, but she could feel the slight shift. The fact that something had happened, even if it was just proximity, heat, the terrible closeness of necessity.
At one point, she caught him glancing at her. Not a full stare. Just a flick of his eyes across her face, then back to the ground.
She didnât say anything.
Embarrassed or annoyed. They were both too aware of each otherâs bodies now.
Too aware, period.
It made the silence heavier than usual.
But when they set off walking again, they didnât stray far from each other. Not too close. Not too far.
Just enough to hear each other breathe.
â
After over two days of walking in the wild, one could say that Y/N and Jungkook had settled into somewhat of a comfortable rhythm. A routine, if you will.
He moved too harshly. Was too loud when he got frustrated.
She complained constantly. Refused help until she nearly passed out.
They both cursed way too much.
But they didnât fight. Not exactly. Not like before.
Theyâd passed through something else. Something quieter. Oddly casual.
They stumbled upon a creek mid-afternoonâthin and fast, slicing through the underbrush like a promise. Y/N dropped to her knees the second they reached it, cupping water into her palms, eyes fluttering shut as the cold hit her skin.
She drank too fast. Choked. Coughed once, then muttered a curse and kept going.
When she looked up, Jungkook was watching her.
âWhat?â she snapped, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
âYouâve got blood on your cheek.â
She frownedâbut he was already kneeling beside her.
His fingers lifted.
Calloused. Warm. Careful.
She flinched just as it brushed her skin.
âThatâs notââ she slapped his hand away, too sharp, too fast. âThatâs not blood. Itâs just dirt.â
A beat.
He said nothing.
She turned away, wiping her cheek hard. The heat on her face was not from the sun.
âWe should follow the stream,â she muttered, already standing. âItâs bound to lead somewhere.â
He didnât argue. Just watched her for a second longer than he should have.
Then followed.
They walked in silence, the water running alongside them like a chaperone. Over time, the jungle began to open upâless claustrophobic, more green. More alive. Light filtered through in hazy beams.
â
They reached it with no warning, the trees parting like a curtain to reveal something near-mythical.
A pool of water, fed by a bubbling spring, the color of melted glass. It shimmered beneath the filtered sunlight, ringed with moss and slick stones. Ferns curled at the edges. The air here felt clean. Cooler.
Untouched.
Jungkook stepped forward first. Like he couldnât help it.
She watched him drop his pack, then his jacket, thenâhis shirt.
âDonât even think about it,â she warned, tone dry.
He glanced back, already tugging at his boots. âIt could be our last bath in weeks.â
âCould also be your last bath ever,â she muttered, arms crossed tight over her chest. âYou never know. Could be a snake lurking under there.â
He didnât answer. Just waded into the pool like a ghost returning to water, his back flexing, skin streaked with grime and old blood. He sank in up to his chest, exhaled like heâd touched heaven, and dunked his head once, water sliding down his shoulders in sheets.
Y/N stayed where she was, arms crossed.
He caught her eye from the center of the pool. Smirked.
âYou okay there?â he asked, water glinting on his lashes.
âIâm fine.â
âSure? Looked like you were staring.â
âYou know I could grab your gun and make a run for it right now,â she said, stepping back. âBe free. Just me and the monkeys.â
Jungkook didnât even turn. âNo bullets left.â
âWhat?â
âLast one was used killing the beast that nearly tore your throat out yesterday,â he said over his shoulder. âYouâre welcome, by the way.â
Y/N rolled her eyes, but her gaze flicked back to the pool. The surface shimmered like glass. The thought of clean waterâactual clean waterâon her skin was almost too much. Every inch of her felt like it had been dipped in rot. Her hair was stiff with dried sweat and mud. Her shirt clung like wet paper. There was dried blood on her thigh from a scratch she didnât remember getting.
And the water was right there.
Soâ
She slowly walked to the far edge of the pool, where a large stone jutted out like a step. She didnât say anything. Just peeled off her filthy clothes and stepped into the water in her underwear, teeth gritted against the shock of the cold.
She hated to admit it butâ
It was glorious.
The dirt melted off her skin. Her muscles uncoiled. She dipped under once, twice, hair slicking back as she emerged gasping. She hadnât felt this good in days.
On the other side of the pool, Jungkook turned.
She didnât see it at first.
Didnât notice the way he went still, water dripping from his jaw, his arms slack at his sides.
But then she looked up. And caught him watching.
His eyes were darker than she remembered. Not blank, not broodingâjust focused. Like he was trying to memorize something. Or maybe forget it.
She raised an eyebrow. âYou good there?â
He blinked. Looked away. âYeah.â
âSure?â she said, swimming lazily toward a patch of sunlight. âBecause it looked like you were staring.â
âI wasnât.â
âUh-huh.â
He scrubbed a hand over his face and dove under again, vanishing beneath the surface.
Y/N lay back, letting herself float, arms outstretched, eyes half-shut against the burn of sun filtering through the leaves. It was peaceful. Briefly.
Jungkook kept his distance, chest-deep in the water on the opposite side of the pool. The water clung to his skin, cooling the worst of the heat, but not enough to dull the throb behind his eyes. Or the weight of the silence.
After a while, he said, âThink weâre fucked?â
She didnât move. âThatâs a broad question.â
âI mean about the rescue.â
She opened her eyes, squinting. âIf you have to ask, then probably.â
âCool,â he muttered. âThatâs encouraging.â
She cracked one eye open. âWhat, did you have dinner plans?â
« Wouldnât you like to know? » he smirked. Though she didnât pay attention to him.
He raised an eyebrow. âYou realize what this means, right?â
She narrowed her eyes.
âIf weâre the last two alive,â he went on, voice drier now, âwe may have to repopulate the Earth.â
She stared at him like heâd lost his mind. âOh my God, shut up, will you?â
âItâs the rules.â
âYouâre unwell.â
âIâm just being practical.â
âYouâre being delusional.â
âYou say that now,â he said, voice low, âbut give it a few months. No civilization. No alcohol. No vibrators.â
She threw water at him.
He laughed, shaking it off. âIâm just sayingââ
ââI will drown you,â she said, cutting him off, deadpan. âDonât test me.â
âEdenâs a lonely place.â
She looked away, back toward the trees. âYouâre no Adam.â
He smiled, but it was quieter now. âNo?â
âAnd Iâm no Eve.â
« Is that so? »
The water rippled between them.
âAdam didnât put Eve in a cage,â she said.
Jungkook went still.
âAnd Eve didnât put a knife to Adamâs throat.â
He didnât speak.
She turned back to him, eyes dark, unreadable. âThey were the first people. Not the last.â
He stared at her, pulse thick in his neck. âWhatâs the difference?â
âThey didnât know better,â she said. âWe do.â
The air changed. Just like that. The joke was gone. The space between them taut and raw again.
âAnd for the record,â she added, âif this is Edenâit fucking sucks.â
Jungkook gave a short breath of a laugh. âCome on. Itâs not that bad,â he scratched at his jaw, shrugged. âNo snakes in sight.â
« Yet. »
He laughed, but something in it was edged now. A hesitation. A little too hard.
She saw it happenâhis gaze flick down, then back up. His breath stall for a moment too long. The joke, too close to something true. The quiet tug beneath it.
âWhat,â she said flatly.
âNothing.â
â
He hadnât meant to stare.
But then again, he hadnât meant to be stranded in a goddamn jungle with her, either.
Still, there she wasâ at the edge of the pool, hair slicked back, shoulders glinting wet under the dappled light.
He tried to tear his eyes away butâ
She was scrubbing at her back with her hand, brow pinched in frustration, jaw set like she was about to curse the sky itself.
His eyes followed the motionâher fingers reaching, missing, trying again. A patch of skin, high between her shoulder blades, was smeared with blood and grime. A long, shallow scratch, caked with filth.
It disappeared under the band of her bra.
She cursed under her breath and twisted, trying again to reach it. Her back arched slightly. Water trickled down the ridge of her spine.
Jungkook swallowed hard.
He didnât think.
He just moved.
Walked through the shallows without a word, the water shifting around his thighs, until he was right behind her. Close enough to see the goosebumps forming along her arms. Close enough to see her body tense the second she felt him there.
âWhat are yââ she started, voice low, wary.
âThereâs dirt in the wound,â he said, nonchanlantly. âYouâll get infected.â
She didnât say anything. Didnât move.
He reached for her backâhesitated a breathâand then, with slow, deliberate fingers, unhooked the clasp of her bra.
She stiffened like a bowstring. But still, she didnât stop him.
The band slipped loose, and he saw the full scratch nowâred and angry across her skin, curling beneath the curve of her shoulder blade.
He dipped his hand in the water, letting it run warm and steady between his fingers.
Then, just as gently, he ran it down her back. Over the dirt. Over the blood.
Her breath hitched.
He could feel the tension vibrating off her skin like staticâfight or flight hovering between them like a question. His fingers werenât soft, not really. Scarred knuckles, calloused pads. But the way he touched her now, like she might break if he pressed too hardâhe didnât know where it came from.
She shivered.
He stayed quiet. So did she. Like something was about to be said. Or done. But neither of them moved.
Just heat curling low in his gut and the sharp, dangerous knowledge that she was letting him do this.
Letting him touch her.
And fuckâif that didnât make everything worse.
His hands didnât belong there. But they stayed. Fingertips grazing the back of her ribs. Her back arched slightly and Jungkookâs fingers slowed.
She smelled like heatâsomething that had been haunting him since the locker room. Since that goddamn attic. Since the first night her voice curled around his name like smoke and nearly undid him.
The left strap loosened, falling off her shoulder in a slow, wet slide. Her skin thereâright beneath the edgeâwas paler than the rest of her, untouched by sun. His thumb dragged over it, just once.
She was still facing the trees, silent, water beading down the long line of her spine, disappearing into the waistband of her panties. Her bra hung slack unhooked but untouched, as if daring him to take it further.
And for a secondâa single, maddening secondâhis mind offered him the clearest picture heâd ever seen:
He could.
He really could.
Press her forward. Just a little. Hands at her hips, mouth to the back of her neck, her breath catching not in protest, but in relief. He could taste the sweat on her shoulder, the salt on her skin. He could drag her underwear down her thighs and see how far that defiance of hers really wentâif itâd hold when she was shuddering under him, lips parting, chest rising.
His jaw clenched.
Fuck.
The thought hit hot and fast.
He hadnât meant to want her. Not like this. Not at all.
But the heat was in everything now. In the sticky air, in the slow drip of water off her elbows, in the way she still hadnât looked back at him, as if she knewâknew what was starting to creep under his skin, thick and heavy and wild.
He took a breath, long and shaky.
If he wantedâGod, if he wantedâhe could ruin them both. Right here. Right now.
Against the rocks, with the water lapping around their waists and the jungle watching like a hungry god. Her hands scrabbling at the slick stone, her mouth opening in a choked moan that would echo through the trees.
He could grab her thighs and spread her wide.
And the worst part? She might let him.
And that scared the shit out of him.
His breath hitched, nostrils flaring.
This was wrong. Twisted.
But fuckâshe was beautiful. Wild and wet and trembling beneath his touch, even if sheâd never admit it.
He looked down at her back, her curves slick with water. His gaze dropped lowerâwhere her thighs met, where the fabric was nearly translucent now, painted over skin he wasnât supposed to imagine, wasnât supposed to crave.
His hands were shaking.
He wouldnât admit it.
Not to her. Not to anyone. Not even to himself on most days.
But heâd thought about it before.
Sometimes at night, when the house was quiet and the attic windows rattled in the wind, and she was two doors down, asleep in a room heâd been assigned to guard.
His hand would drift. Not intentionally. Not at first. It was habit. Relief. Something primal to bleed the tension out of his body after hours of keeping it locked behind his teeth. Heâd lie back, fist curling around himself, slow and steady.
It was a normal thing for any young man, really. Healthy.
Onlyâthe fantasy behind his closed lids was never faceless.
Not anymore.
Not since sheâdâ
Itâd start innocently enoughâa memory of her laugh, mean and dry. A defiant glance sheâd thrown over her shoulder. The flush in her cheeks when she was furious at him. The mouth she never shut, the eyes that never softened.
Then it would spiral.
Heâd picture her lips, wrapped around him, cheeks hollowing out.
Or her voice, ragged and wrecked, whispering his name between whimpers as he thrusted mercilessly.
Heâd come like that. Fast. Violent. Jaw clenched and head thrown back, her name smothered against the inside of his teeth like a fucking curse.
And when it was over, when the haze cleared and the sweat cooled, heâd lie thereâashamed. Heâd slide right back into denial.
And now?
Now she was mere inches away, wet and bare, her scent in the air, her body gleaming like some forbidden offering, and all he could think was:
Donât move. Donât touch. Donât ruin this.
He stepped back slightly, chest heaving.
He wasnât a good man.
But God help him, he was trying not to be a worse one.
His fingers dropped from her spine.
Enough.
He couldnât afford this. Couldnât afford her.
She wasnât his to want.
And even if she wereâŠ
She was dangerous.
She was fire.
She was everything heâd been warned againstâand now, all he could think about was getting burned.
He turned away, moving like someone forcing themselves to leave a room on fire.
One step. Two.
His pulse was so loud it felt external. A separate thing.
But thenâ
A shift behind him. Barely a sound.
The whisper of water. Her breath catching.
He stopped, turned back, thinking sheâd be turned away, already climbing out of the water, already slipping back into the sharp-tongued, armored version of herself heâd come to expect.
But she wasnât.
She was facing him now.
Chest-deep in the water. Hair clinging to her neck in dark ribbons. Her skin glinted in the slanting lightâclean now, unmarred for once. Human again. Her bra was gone.
But it wasnât her body that stopped him.
It was her face.
She lookedâ
Confused.
Not frightened. Not angry. Not even flustered.
Just wide-eyed, like sheâd woken into something she didnât recognize.
Like she hadnât expected him to stop or pull back.
Like she didnât know what to do with the space heâd left between them.
And Jungkookâhe didnât move, but he felt himself split somewhere inside.
Because he knew that look.
Heâd seen it before. Not on her, but on other women. After the worst was over. After the room had gone quiet and someone hadnât stopped.
Her lips were slightly parted. Her eyesâglassy, almost. He felt it land in his gut like a stone.
That look.
That soft, stunned, puzzled pause.
As though this momentânot being taken, not being forced or manhandled and bruisedâwas unfamiliar to her.
And that was the thought that nearly undid him.
Because suddenly he couldnât stop seeing it.
The ghosts.
The other men.
The ones who had seen her bare and vulnerable and didnât look away. The ones who hadnât stepped back. Who had taken stillness for consent. Who had taken everything.
And just like that, he hated himself for even being here.
For seeing her like this.
For watching.
For letting his mind drift to her lips. The curve of her spine. Her breath.
He wantedâinstinctivelyâto shield her. From everything, even himself. From his eyes. From whatever she saw when she looked at him.
She would punch him in the throat if she knew. Sheâd laugh in his face and tell him she wasnât some trembling virgin in a field of daisies.
Iâm no damsel in distress, you absolute fucking moron, sheâd probably snap, before storming off, walls up high so he wouldnât see what was hiding on the other side.
But she didnât say that.
She didnât say anything.
Just stood there. Watching him.
Quiet, unflinching and, for once, unguarded.
He turned from her.
Not out of shame, exactly. Not even guilt.
Justâdistance. A reflex. The oldest muscle memory in him. Step away from the thing you want too much.
He stared down at the water, his breath coming in uneven pulls, and thought: That shouldâve been the end of it.
Then he heard her move.
Not loud. Not fast. Just water shifting.
And thenâcarefully, almost curiouslyâa delicate hand reached up and touched his chin.
Just her fingertips. Light and steady.
And turned his face back to hers.
Made him look.
Because she was already bare. Not just her bodyâher self. Her expression open, unreadable. Her brow slightly furrowed.
She was studying him.
Like he was strange. Like he was something she didnât expect to find in this world.
Her gaze moved slowly, methodicallyâfrom his eyes to his mouth to the bruise near his temple. Down to the black tattoo on his collarbone: the three tiger stripes of the Kim clan. A legacy carved in ink. Her eyes lingered there.
Then lower.
The scars on his chest. His shoulder. One near his ribsâugly, pale, raised.
She reached for his hand.
And he let her.
No resistance. No question. Just instinct.
And she guided it backâsoftly, without breaking eye contactâto her ribs. Right where it had been before heâd made the choice to step away.
His palm landed over her skin.
She didnât flinch.
Neither did he.
The touch was feather-light. Barely there. But it was hers, not his.
She placed it there.
And in that, everything changed.
Because for the first time, there was nothing to resist.
Nothing to survive.
Only a question.
He didnât move. He couldnât.
Her eyes flicked down once, to where his hand rested at her ribs, then back to his face. She didnât speak. She didnât flinch. She just held him there with her gaze, steady and unreadable, as though trying to decide whether thisâhis hesitation, his restraintâwas a kind of violence or a kind of grace.
He couldnât breathe. Not properly. Something caught just beneath his sternum and wouldnât release.
It would be so easy.
To close the space. To press his mouth to hers. To find out how sheâd taste when she wasnât fighting him, when she wasnât trying to be clever or right or impossible.
But it wasnât about ease. Not now.
His fingers curved slightly against her waist. He felt her skin twitch under the contact, not pulling away, not drawing closer either. It was the kind of stillness that held decision inside it.
Here, in the middle of nowhere, with no clan watching, no brothers, no duty, no blood-soaked code hanging between themâ
There was only this.
Her skin. His hand. Water and and heat and space.
And the knowledge that if he leaned in right now, sheâd let him.
And the worse knowledge: if he didnât, he might never get this again.
He looked down at her lips.
And she didnât look away. Just blinked as though she didnât know what to do with a man who didnât reach for her like she was already his to grab.
And for one suspended second, they werenât enemies, werenât clan heirs, werenât anything but two people stranded outside of any law, outside of war, outside of time. There was no Namjoon. No orders. No plan. Just the sound of their breath, and the possibility that, for once, want might not have to mean ruin.
He felt himself leaning in in spite of himself.
The tension snappedânot with a moan, or a gasp, or a pleaâbut with the low, unmistakable thrum of rotor blades cutting through the sky above.
Guys Fr Fr this is so good wtfff and she posts everyday oh she will get tired of me liking her stuff everyday omg inlove with this and their is a book 2 omg yup im in heaven and the way she is writing this omg yup im done for. Literally canât wait for moreâŠ.
âHey maâam,â The bartender shakes you trying to wake you up as your slumped on the bar counter. âItâs almost closing time.â
You just hummed in agreement and put your head up rubbing your eyes and taking a sip of your drink.
âWould you like me to call someone maâam for you?â You nod and put your head back down the counter. You were full on drunk. It was 11 pm and you still hadnât left.
He grabs your phone and calls your emergency contact.
âHello, where are you Iâve been looking for you?â Seo-ah, your best friend says her tone sounded anxious and worried. She was trying her hardest not to raise her voice. You had a habit of ending the calls if people raised their voice at you.
âHey maâam , im at bartender at (the barâs name) and your friend is drunk right now and half asleep, I just called her emergency contact,â Seo-ah sighs in relief. âWeâre going to be closing soon.â He says and she immediately replies.
âIâll be right there thank you.â She says nicely and can be heard grabbing her keys before the call was ended.
He puts down your phone and looks at you before going back to cleaning.
âpoor lady,â he looks at you, your head resting mumbling random words. He just puts a towel over his shoulder before going back to the kitchen to clean.
10 minutes passed by, an anxious lady walks and can been seen asking a worker something and the worker points at you.
She sighs and bows thanking her and the waiter just nodded at her before walking away.
âOmg what have you doneâ she moves a piece of hair that was covering your face.
She sees your mascara smudge, your under eyes puffy as if you were crying, and your cheeks flushed.
Youâre now squinting at the person in front of you trying to recognize who it was. Your eyes widen and your frown forms into a smile when your realized it was your best friend.
âSeo-ah!â You immediately hugged her and and she hugs back, smiling at your clinginess before pulling away.
âHow did you know I was here?â You say squinting and pointing a finger at her in a questioning voice.
âCome letâs head out and head home?â She ignored your question and trying to get you to stand up and walk to the car. You immediately pull your arm and walk forward but stumbling keeping your balance.
âNo, I wanna stay here and party.â You start dancing even though there was no music playing in the background. Seo-ah breaks out in laughter at the sight in front of her. You were swaying your hips side to side, putting your hands up in the air and singing a song to your self.
She walks towards you with your purse in her hands, âcome on we can dance at home.â She says pulling you towards the entrance. You whine but as soon as she shoots you a look you finally agreed .
She thanks the bartender and he smiles before telling her something.
âHope this young lady feels better, she was making my evening interesting by telling me her story about the young man.â He smiles and looks at you, your head was down like you were a little kid who got scolded by their mother.
She nods thinking you were crying about your ex.
She puts you in her car and finally drives away. A minute into driving you went to asleep sleep and was even snoring.
She couldnât believe it, you were at a bar drinking. You donât really drink maybe 1 or 2 glasses and thatâs the most you ever do, you especially donât smoke. She was the opposite of you, she smoked and drinks but you never held that against her. You met her in your last year of high school and you guys just hit it off ever since. When you found out you guys both made it to the college of your dream youâve been extra close.
Whenever you guys both went out she asked but never pressured you to do anything you didnât want too. She was the only friend you trusted with your life. The friend who was by your side when you found out everything and held you in her arms till you fell asleep from exhaustion.
You broke up with your boyfriend of 2 years. He was your first boyfriend, your first time, the boy you thought you had a future with. You caught him cheating with his coworker at his job. Even thinking about that day makes you want to throw up.
He was in between her legs caressing her sides,he was touching her face, putting her hair behind her ear, and giving her kisses everywhere. She was giggling at the sight of him, she looked at him like she was deeply inlove, and thinking she was the only person he loved in his eyes.
You had your suspicions, him coming late for work, not saying I love you as often or forgetting to say it, spending less time with you on weekends saying he was âbusy with workâ but he was just with her. One thing that made you finally realize that he was cheating when you found a red thong in his jacket pocket while doing his and your laundry. Also the smell of strong perfume that you never wore.
You cried and cried to her and she just listened. You would apologize for still talking about but she nodded her head and said, âyou would do the same thing if it was with me. Itâs been one week itâs not gonna take that long to get over someone.â You smiled and hugged her and she gave a soft smile to you.
You guys arrived at your placed, she turned and saw you still sleeping with your mouth open. She took you out of the car and put your arm around her shoulder you were half awake going up to the apartment.
You guys got to your apartment and she set you down on your bed. She took off your makeup. It was too late to go back to her house so she stayed over.
She put a trash can on the side of your bed incase you wanted to throw up. Youâve been doing this for a week already, the womb was still fresh like it happened yesterday. She never minded, was just by your side. Luckily tomorrow was Saturday and you guys were planning to go out but she didnât know if you were still up for it.
You kept talking in you sleep. Making her tilt her head in confusion
âHeâs so handsome.â You huffed and went back to snoring.
Seo-ah didnât know if it was about your ex. Did you meet someone today? Who was it? What is it someone she knew?
You were at a bar alone. Mixing your drink with your straw before you felt a presence beside you, not paying much attention, too deep in your thoughts.
You felt someone looking at you and felt the urge to turn. A handsome man was staring at you, he looked incredibly handsome, his features were just perfect, his hair, his plump lips, his tattoos poking through his long sleeve shirt. It made you stunned unable to speak.
âYuna?â He questioned while sending you a polite smile and finally you came back to reality. You felt your cheeks started heating up as he sweet smile made you flustered, you just nodded your head no.
âOh sorry, I thought you were her, sorry again.â He smiled at you before walking away. You looked at him walking away and him going on his phone calling someone.
He was handsome you thought to your self.
You turn back to your drink and to your useless thoughts.
You felt someone sit beside you again. It was him.
He came back?
âI canceled my date with her, you looked really pretty. Are you here with anyone?â He asked while smiling. His voice was soothing and just the way he said it you would think he does this for a living.
âNoâ you said before looking down, too scared to make eye contact with him again. He smiles at your shyness.
Some time passed by, you guys were playing pool together while talking together.
âSo you just broke up with your boyfriend?â You nodded before hitting one of the balls. âYup, he cheated on me with his coworker.â Your throat tightened as you said those words. He noticed you tensed up.
He made a shot in and you clapped.
âWow youâre really good!â He smiled before say anything.
You shot a pool ball but it didnât make it in. You scratched you head in embarrassment as your ears started getting red and he just giggled. He put his cue stick down and goes your way.
You suddenly feel nervous and he goes behind you and grabs your hand to position the cue stick and whisper in your ear.
âYou have to go like thisâ you pushed it forward and the pool ball went in.
You immediately get up and start jumping, he smiles and put his hand up for a high five and you do it back. You realized you were embarrassing yourself and stopped and said sorry.
âDonât be sorry.â He smiles at you and you look away. You guys head to the bar before you notice he has a tattoo. He has a full arm of tattoos but there is one specific tattoo that caught your eye.
A butterfly.
It wasnât where his other tattoos were. It was behind his neck. It wasnât too much, not colorful just black.
âWhat made you get a butterfly tattoo?â You asked and he smiled. âThey symbolize freedom and beauty, I also love how each butterfly can look different with the patterns on their wings.â You nodded, the way he was talking about him made you think he is really genuine about them.
He noticed a flower tattoo on the side of your arm, just below your wrist.
A hibiscus flower.
A baby pink mixed with a darker shade of pink.
âWhat made you get that,â he replied.
You smiled. It was your first tattoo. Itâs what made you want more. It was just perfect.
âThere isnât an exact reason, I really love them. They come in different colors and can mean endless things. My favorite is the pink I would dedicate to myself.â You looked up and see him smiling at you, seemed like he was actually interested in your story.
âWell I like it, it suits youâ he said softly while touching it like he doesnât have a whole sleeve of tattoos.
Maybe this healing process wasnât going to be so bad after all..
Your ex hated your tattoo said it wasnât proper or mature but that was the first time you drew the line with him, he never said a thing about it again.
The conversation was going well. He had excused himself to the bathroom.
10 mins has passed by and he still wasnât back.
Youâre not trying to be weird but something in your stomach is telling you to go and check.
You see he is with a girl, smiling the same way he did with. He had her phone and was typing something on it, his number.
Her smile immediately drops
Of course I should have known you thought to yourself. He was too good looking to not be a heartthrob.
You turn around and head for the door. Maybe this was your sign to stop that conversation and leave. You go to another bar and thatâs why you ended up like this. A part was because of him and your ex. But you knew it as well it was too good to be true about him.
You wake up and see someone beside you. The lady thing you remember was about the dude at the bar. You gasped and held your hand over your mouth in shock.
Did I really do something with him?
You slowly pulls the cover down and see it was just Seo-ah. You sighed in relief and held your hand over your heart before nudging her.
âYour awake,â she immediately gets up and checks your head and cheeks. âyou feel okay?â
You smiled, âIâm fine donât worry just a slight headacheâ
âWhat happened last night?â
âYou got drunk and I had to get youâ she laughed while you groaned in annoyance.
âYou need to chill, Iâm not trying to be rude but you were talking to yourself yesterday,â she continued. âDid you meet someone yesterday?â
Your eyes widen
âHow did you know?â
âYou said, âHeâs so handsomeâ in your sleepâ
You cover your face as you feel yourself getting red, âYour lying.â
âSo who was it?â She asked while checking her phone.
âI donât even know, all I know is that he was super good looking.â She nodded her head and you lay back down
âWe were talking and then I saw him flirt with another girl.â
She gasped then turns to you fully interested in your story
âReally?â And you nodded. âSo I left, well thank god I wonât see him againâ
âDid you even get his name?â Itâs silent your trying to remember if you did.
âI donât think so.â She smiled before talking, âwell most likely you will never see him again.â You nodded and you guys laughed. Even thinking more about make you uneasy,
A/n: guys Iâm scared this is another little series I wanna write. This is dedicated to nevertheless, omg my number one show. I rewatch it 3 times a year so good. I donât get the hate, it shows what could be someoneâs actual life. If you guys donât like that story, you guys arenât gonna like this oneđđđ. But hope you guys liked it so far if you reached all the way here. Hope you guys have a wonderful week mwah see you soon.
A/n: hope you guys had a great Christmas and happy new year hopefully 2026 brings you guys luck and happiness wish nothing but the best for you guys. Iâm sorry for posting this so late Iâve been busy and Iâve been thinking how to add more descriptive wording into this. Hope you guys like this chapterđ«¶
You locked eyes with him.
Jeon Jungkook.
Your one-night stand.
The man you left behind because you were to emotional.
The man that made you feel so loved, even if it was for one night.
It felt like everyone around you was invisible when your gaze met his.
He was wearing a mask. Which threw you off for a second, but it wasn't a big deal. Masks were common here. The only thing that wasn't common was the way his eyes felt on you. His eyes felt sharp, almost suffocating.
He knew it was you.
You knew it was him.
Neither of you had the courage to look away.
You knew your reason but didn't know his.
Jungkook still had the weights in his hands, it was like he forgot he had them in his hands. He should be angry at you for not leaving but all of that disappeared the second his eyes met yours.
You looked.. different
Her hair, he thought to himself
It still looked beautiful maybe even a little bit better.
The silence between you guys felt long almost painful. Neither of you guys dared to move. It almost felt like you guys were scared to look away, not believing this moment was real or one of you guys were gonna walk away.
Then someone stepped between you guys.
A girl approached him.
Jungkook's jaw tightened. He didn't wanna look away from you but he couldn't just ignore.
"Hey" she said brightly, "Your Jungkook right?"
Namjoon and taehyung attention wasn't on the conversation it was now on him and the girl.
He cleared his throat, nodding politely. "Yeah."
"Oh my god," she laughed. "You're even more good looking in person, I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out maybe after this?"
She was a pretty girl. She was a brunette, tall, confident.
Here you were, standing looking at them.
Reality snapped back in.
I look like a creep
You felt your chest tightened. You needed to leave maybe that was someone important to him.
You left the gym and the cold air hit you instantly. It was cold but refreshing, you realized you were sweating from just eye contact.
You checked your phone for directions.
Oh.
The cafe was right next door.
"Sorry" jungkook said. His tone wasn't rude but more firm. "I'm not interested in dating right now."
It wasn't a complete lie.
The girl scoffed, clearly not believing his word. "Right."
She walked away, muttering under her breath.
"Bro," Taehyung said. "Why did you have to fumble her"
"Yeah, she was pretty" Namjoon added
Jungkook eyes widen, "did you not hear she was mumbling under her breath I just said I wasn't interested."
He tone was deep, irritated.
"That's not the point" Namjoon sighed, rubbing his temples. "You aren't even dating anyone why did you sa-"
He stopped like it clicked in his head.
"Oh my god," Namjoon chuckled. "Is it because of the girl in the club."
Jungkook didn't reply.
Taehyung and Namjoon shared a look before sighing in unison. They were in disbelief with their friend.
Meanwhile Jungkook didn't care. He turned around but you were gone.
Panic flicked through his chest.
He scanned the gym realizing you weren't there. He did see your gym bag on you, maybe you were leaving?
He checked outside. His friends called him but he ignored. Cold rushed though his skin, he didn't care. His eyes searched, through streets, people's faces.
Nothing.
"Fuck" he muttered. Running his hand through his sweaty hair.
Girls walking by stared at him. He had his muscles out, sweaty, tattoos, who wouldn't look but none caught his attentions.
His attention was on you.
He went back inside.
"Why did you run off like that" Namjoon asked, rasing his voice slightly before Taehyung bumped his arm.
Jungkook walked past them, walking back to where he was and lifting the weights he was holding.
"You good" Taehyung asked carefully.
"I'm fine" Jungkook said coldly "let's finish"
Namjoon and Taehyung shared a look, they knew he wasn't but didn't want to make matters worse.
The cafe felt unreal.
As soon as you entered the room the scent Pumpkin spice hit your nostrils hard. You didn't mind though it was comforting. You placed Jennie and yours order. When you got your drink you sat by the window, holding the warm mocha in your hands.
You sat there for a moment.
New hair.
No boyfriend.
One boy on your mind that wasn't your ex.
You laughed at the thought to yourself. A year ago you wouldn't believe it.
You only stayed for a minute. You stepped outside, th cold hitting you face harder this time.
You turned the corner.
You missed him again.
Jungkook was leaving the gym with his friends just seconds later. Fate let you guys go this time.
When you stepped into the apartment the smell of burnt food welcomed you in.
"What going on" you asked, taking off your shoes.
"Oh! B, your back" Jennie said while taking a burnt toast out of the toaster the then throwing it to the trash. "I was trying to make you breakfast."
"You didn't have to," you smiled. "I could've cooked when I came back"
"I wanted you to come back to a warm cooked meal"
You set the coffee on the table. "I brought you something."
"You didn't!"
You smiled while nodding. "I know you've been wanting to try it"
She hugged you giving you a smell of her perfume. She kissed your cheek, you laughed, that was her way of saying thank you.
You took a bite of the food. You froze.
"Jennie this is delicious"
Jennie eyes widen,"seriously?"
You made her try it and she stared in shock before laughing.
You guys both ate together. The warmth and comfort crept back in your chest.
You and Jennie were both done and decided to do dishes together. You washed while she dried.
"How was the gym" she asked casually.
You froze for a moment. "It was fine but then I ended up seeing him."
"Minho?"
"No," you told her while passing her a plate. "My one- night stand"
She gasped almost dropping the plate.
She stared at you like she mis heard you.
"You're lying," she said softly.
"Nope," you replied drying your hands.
"You actually saw him?" She stepped closer.
You just nodded and she shook her head in disbelief.
And? Did anything happened?" She asked.
"We started at each other for what felt like forever," you sighed even thinking back made you head hurt. "But a girl went up to him and I felt awkward so I left."
Silence filled the room.
"B," she said slowly and softly. "Please tell me your kidding"Â
"thought she was his girlfriend," you rushed out. "And I felt awkward just standing there"Â
"I'm going to kill you"Â
"What?"
She picked up a towel from the counter and threw it at you. Luckily you dogged it but she then started chasing you around the apartment.Â
"you left," she yelled. "again?"
You laughed, you started slowing down being out of breath. She caught you and pushed you on the couch.Â
She was pinning you down, "Now tell me the real reason you left, Blossom"
you groaned, "I didn't wanna make a fool of myself. What if I was the only one who'd been thinking about that night?"
She flicked your foreheadÂ
"Ow! What was that for?"Â
"For assuming without confirming"Â
She sits you up and holds your hand.
"What if she wasn't his girlfriend and just asking a question?" Jennie continued. "What is he was staring because he felt the same way?"Â
You went still.
Her words hit you deep. She was right you let your thoughts get in your head.Â
You put you hands in your face. "I'm so stupid"
Her face immediately softened at the look of you. She was rubbing your shoulders. Â
"No, you're scared. There's a difference."Â
The rest of the day disappeared while you locked yourself in your room working on a project for work. Luckily you had snacks in your room to not waste time eating. By the time you closed your computer the sun was already setting.Â
You turned in your chair and nearly screamed. You hold your chest, scared to see Jennie in your bed half sleeping.Â
"What are you doing here, I didn't notice you coming in" you laughed.Â
Jennie opens her eyes still not up all the way and frowns.Â
"Wow you were too focused on your work to notice me how rude," she mumbled. " Plus your bed is more comfier than mine"Â
You jumped on the bed, on the spot next to her, fully waking her up.Â
"Hey, I was comfortable" she protested and you just giggled.Â
It was quite for a while. She just kept her hand on her head looking at you. She was examining your face, and noticed how quickly your amusement went away.Â
"You wanna talk about last night?" She suggested it in a soft tone.
You felt your throat tightened.
"I'm fine." You tell her quickly, too quickly.Â
"B, It might be better to get it off your chest." She says gently.Â
You went silent for a minute before nodding your head.Â
"When I saw Minho," you paused, you played with your finger, " my knees literally gave out, For a second, I forgot everything he did to me. I felt my world stop for a second."Â
Your voice cracked, "Then I remembered he's not mine anymore and just seeing a girl next to him hurt me. That was supposed to be me. And I hate myself for thinking that"Â
Tears slipped out.Â
Jennie didn't interrupt you. She watched as you spoke in awe. She was hurt, she couldn't let that pain go away. She could only guide you hoping you feel better.Â
Jennie pulled you into a hug without a word.Â
"He was a boy you loved for over 4 years," she said softly. "You can't just erase those memories. You shouldn't beat yourself up for that"
You sniffle and she just smiles at you. "You don't have to go through this alone. You have me, you have the girls, you have people in your life who love you."Â
"I love you" you whispered.
She kissed the top of your head. "I know."
Meanwhile Jungkook wasnât doing much better.
Itâs been two weeks since his encounter with you.
Heâs canceled twice on his friends already in the past 2 weeks. Usually if it was another member like his friend Suga they wouldnât matter much because he was known for that. But if Jungkook cancelled it was major, happened once in a blue moon.
âSomethingâs wrong with Jkâ Jin said from the couch. âHeâs been distant, not active much in the group chatâ
âSomething at the gym messed him upâ Taehyung replied. âI know it.â
âIâll head home early to go and check up on him.â Taehyung added grabbing his jacket.
âIâm comingâ Jimin added getting up instantly.
After a brief argument of cars, whoâs going, and financial problems. They were finally on their way.
Jungkook frowned when he opened the door.
âItâs like 9â he muttered âwhat are you guys hereâ
âWell I live here and youâre bad at lying.â Taehyung said walking in with soju
âAnd worse at answering textsâ Jimin followed.
Jungkook sighed while letting them in.
They sat in silence for a moment as Taehyung was pouring soju. They each downed a shot still not saying anything. Taehyung broke the silence.
âTalk Jungkookâ Taehyung said eyeing Jungkook.
âWhat are you talking aboutâ Jungkook looks down and Taehyung and Jimin gave each others look.
âJungkook were being serious, youâve been acting weird.â
Jungkook stared at his fingers before answering, â I met this girl at the club.â
Jimin eyes widen, âYou what? At a club?â
âShe left after we hooked up,â Jungkook continued. âAnd I havenât been able to stop thinking about that night.â
Taehyung nodded since he knew about that but he knows theirs more. âSo what? Did you see her?â
Jungkook nodded, âYeah, at the gym.â Jungkook admitted. âShe left before I could talk to her.â
The room fell silent.
âSheâs been in my head ever since that night but when I saw her again I donât know it like did something to me.â
Taehyung steps closer to him. âThatâs rough Iâm sorry Jk.â
Jimin smirked, âsounds like fate.â
Jungkook scoffed. âOr bad timing.â
After they talked they just laughed and hungout with him keeping him busy. Jungkook was glad his friends came over.
Jimin was sleeping on the couch holding a bottle, Taehyung was in his room in a deep sleep. Jungkook was the only one awake.
You could hear the clock ticking. Heâs just staring at the ceiling.
He had met people, dated, had flings, but at the end of the day he always moved on.
You were different.
You stayed on his mind, gym, work, even in the shower.
He hated it. He hated it because he was scared.
He didnât wanna be that guy that only remembered having sex with you. You were real. Warm. Soft spoken. Even if you barely just found out his name.
He clenched his jaw, even thinking about it made him upset.
He made a promise to him self. If I ever see her again I wonât let her leave.
Even if that meant he gets hurt.
The living room was louder than usual in jungkooks apartment. Everyone came over, Taehyung invited them to hang out.
Jin was watching the tv laughing obnoxiously, Jimin was playing uno with Jhope and Namjoon. Yoongi was on his phone laughing at memes while showing Jimin, Taehyung was sitting watching them get frustrated at the game.
Jungkook was the only person in his own world. He was sitting near the window looking at the city doing its own thing.
Taehyung noticed him.
âYou gonna sit there all night,â Taehyung said glancing at him, talking casually. âOr are you gonna tell them?â
âTell us what?â Jin finally taking his eyes off at the tv already being suspicious why heâs been quiet.
Jungkook sighed giving the city one more look before tuning. He was rubbing his neck. He didnât know how to start.
âItâs because of a girl,â Jimin snorted.
âI knew it,â Namjoon said.
âCan you not.â He says to Jimin and Jimin just looks down at his cards laughing not taking his word seriously.
Namjoon leaned forward, âJungkook just tell us, weâve all noticed you being weird.â
Jungkook didnât say anything at that moment
âI met someone,â he said quietly.
Yoongi finally looked up from his phone, âMetâŠhow?â
âAt a club,â Jungkook admitted. âWe talked. A lot. We thenâŠhooked up. Then she just leftâ
Everyone froze.
All that could be heard was the tv and the cars out in the street.
Jin raised his eyebrow,âand you like this now?â
Jungkook nodded, âI saw her at the gym.â
Jhope tilted his head, âand you didnât talk to her.â
âI couldnât,â jungkook sighed. âI turned for a minute and then she was gone.â
Yoongi crossed his arms,âAnd youâre now thinking of her.â
âIt not even thinking. I canât get her out of my headâ Jungkook said, jaw tightening and sit back on the couch.
The room fell silent. Itâs been a while since Jungkook been in a relationship. They all know when he falls inlove he falls hard.
Jimin broke the silence, âHow is that possible? You donât even know her well enough.â
âI know just something about herâ Jungkook said.
Yoongi hummed, âsounds like Mr. Jeon has unfinished business.â
Taehyung suddenly smirks.
âI donât know, I donât think they will see each other again.â He says taking a sip of his beer.
Everyoneâs attention was on him even Jungkookâs.
âWhat? Think about it, itâs a big city. It was a one time thing.An accidental run-in. The universe was just being nice.â
Jimin sighs knowing how this is gonna end and tries putting an end to it. âHyung stopâ
âWhat itâs true.â Jungkook looks at him sharp. âI bet youâ
Everyone turns their head to Jungkook.
âJungkook you sureâ Namjoon asks because last time they made a bet it caused an argument.
âFine, you donât meet her again. On accident, on purpose, at allâ
âFine,â jungkook says bluntly.
Taehyung smirks is still on his face, âYou got yourself a bet Jeonâ
Jungkook takes a sip of his drink, âJust so you know your wrongâ
Everyone is shocked at Jungkookâs reaction.
âThat confident jeon?â Taehyung smiles
âWell meet again, I know itâ he says and he pushes his hair back.
Everyone breaks out laughing.
âYou sound real confident for a girl you just metâ Jhope says while laughing.
Jungkook shrugged, âI donât know when or how,â
Thereâs a pause
âBut I know Iâll see her againâ
Jin nods his head in amused, âthis just got way more interestingâ
Jhope nodded, âyeah, what does the winner get.
Taehyung smirks again, âyou take us all out to eat if I win-â
Jungkook cuts him off, âand if I win you donât get to say âI told you soââ
Taehyung grinned, âvery wellâ
Jimin lays his back on the couch, âI wonder whose side fate will be onâ
Jungkook didnât say anything.
He didnât need to.
He knows deep down heâs sure you guys will see each other. One way or another.
You were curled up in your bed, in you own thoughts.
You were left in the apartment by your self. Jennie told you where she was going but you didnât pay attention.
The city looked so loud but peaceful.
You mind drifted back to the gym.
His eyes on you.
The way he was just sitting holding the weights.
He looked so hot though you thought to yourself.
But another part of you is saying something else.
Why do I still keep thinking about him..
Heâs a dude you had sex with one time. You barely know his name. One conversation doesnât mean you actually know him. You guys were both drinking.
I wonder if heâs also thinking about me
You put your hands on your face.
âThis is stupidâ you muttered.
You then feel your phone vibrate. It was a message.
Jennie sent a phone of her, you heart it, she then responded with âMiss you, donât spiralâ
You laughed
âToo lateâ you texted her back. She sends a heart and you sent one back. You put your phone down and go back to facing the white ceiling.
Your gaze drifted to the window. You zoned out thinking what if he was living his life, with his friends getting drunk not thinking about you, getting with another girl.
You realized what you were thinking.
âI need to leave like nowâ you tell yourself.
You donât know where but somewhere other than this apartment.
You grabbed you keys and shut the door.
You walked down taking in everything. Youâve missed taking these walks.
You look around the city and the lights, shops youâve never been, but you come across one and you remembered.
âThe gymâ you scoffed at yourself looking at it.
Youâve got to be kidding me you thought to you self.
This is whats making your head going insane.
Your about to walk away but you donât you donât leave but donât stay. You walk toward.
You suddenly feel the urge to not give up. Your mind goes back to what Jennie said.
âWhat if heâs feeling the same way?â
Maybe your story with him isnât over just yet.
Somewhere across the city jungkook was telling his friends that he is going to see you again. But you didnât know.
But somehow you felt hopeful now. You believed the same thing as him.
âHey maâam,â The bartender shakes you trying to wake you up as your slumped on the bar counter. âItâs almost closing time.â
You just hummed in agreement and put your head up rubbing your eyes and taking a sip of your drink.
âWould you like me to call someone maâam for you?â You nod and put your head back down the counter. You were full on drunk. It was 11 pm and you still hadnât left.
He grabs your phone and calls your emergency contact.
âHello, where are you Iâve been looking for you?â Seo-ah, your best friend says her tone sounded anxious and worried. She was trying her hardest not to raise her voice. You had a habit of ending the calls if people raised their voice at you.
âHey maâam , im at bartender at (the barâs name) and your friend is drunk right now and half asleep, I just called her emergency contact,â Seo-ah sighs in relief. âWeâre going to be closing soon.â He says and she immediately replies.
âIâll be right there thank you.â She says nicely and can be heard grabbing her keys before the call was ended.
He puts down your phone and looks at you before going back to cleaning.
âpoor lady,â he looks at you, your head resting mumbling random words. He just puts a towel over his shoulder before going back to the kitchen to clean.
10 minutes passed by, an anxious lady walks and can been seen asking a worker something and the worker points at you.
She sighs and bows thanking her and the waiter just nodded at her before walking away.
âOmg what have you doneâ she moves a piece of hair that was covering your face.
She sees your mascara smudge, your under eyes puffy as if you were crying, and your cheeks flushed.
Youâre now squinting at the person in front of you trying to recognize who it was. Your eyes widen and your frown forms into a smile when your realized it was your best friend.
âSeo-ah!â You immediately hugged her and and she hugs back, smiling at your clinginess before pulling away.
âHow did you know I was here?â You say squinting and pointing a finger at her in a questioning voice.
âCome letâs head out and head home?â She ignored your question and trying to get you to stand up and walk to the car. You immediately pull your arm and walk forward but stumbling keeping your balance.
âNo, I wanna stay here and party.â You start dancing even though there was no music playing in the background. Seo-ah breaks out in laughter at the sight in front of her. You were swaying your hips side to side, putting your hands up in the air and singing a song to your self.
She walks towards you with your purse in her hands, âcome on we can dance at home.â She says pulling you towards the entrance. You whine but as soon as she shoots you a look you finally agreed .
She thanks the bartender and he smiles before telling her something.
âHope this young lady feels better, she was making my evening interesting by telling me her story about the young man.â He smiles and looks at you, your head was down like you were a little kid who got scolded by their mother.
She nods thinking you were crying about your ex.
She puts you in her car and finally drives away. A minute into driving you went to asleep sleep and was even snoring.
She couldnât believe it, you were at a bar drinking. You donât really drink maybe 1 or 2 glasses and thatâs the most you ever do, you especially donât smoke. She was the opposite of you, she smoked and drinks but you never held that against her. You met her in your last year of high school and you guys just hit it off ever since. When you found out you guys both made it to the college of your dream youâve been extra close.
Whenever you guys both went out she asked but never pressured you to do anything you didnât want too. She was the only friend you trusted with your life. The friend who was by your side when you found out everything and held you in her arms till you fell asleep from exhaustion.
You broke up with your boyfriend of 2 years. He was your first boyfriend, your first time, the boy you thought you had a future with. You caught him cheating with his coworker at his job. Even thinking about that day makes you want to throw up.
He was in between her legs caressing her sides,he was touching her face, putting her hair behind her ear, and giving her kisses everywhere. She was giggling at the sight of him, she looked at him like she was deeply inlove, and thinking she was the only person he loved in his eyes.
You had your suspicions, him coming late for work, not saying I love you as often or forgetting to say it, spending less time with you on weekends saying he was âbusy with workâ but he was just with her. One thing that made you finally realize that he was cheating when you found a red thong in his jacket pocket while doing his and your laundry. Also the smell of strong perfume that you never wore.
You cried and cried to her and she just listened. You would apologize for still talking about but she nodded her head and said, âyou would do the same thing if it was with me. Itâs been one week itâs not gonna take that long to get over someone.â You smiled and hugged her and she gave a soft smile to you.
You guys arrived at your placed, she turned and saw you still sleeping with your mouth open. She took you out of the car and put your arm around her shoulder you were half awake going up to the apartment.
You guys got to your apartment and she set you down on your bed. She took off your makeup. It was too late to go back to her house so she stayed over.
She put a trash can on the side of your bed incase you wanted to throw up. Youâve been doing this for a week already, the womb was still fresh like it happened yesterday. She never minded, was just by your side. Luckily tomorrow was Saturday and you guys were planning to go out but she didnât know if you were still up for it.
You kept talking in you sleep. Making her tilt her head in confusion
âHeâs so handsome.â You huffed and went back to snoring.
Seo-ah didnât know if it was about your ex. Did you meet someone today? Who was it? What is it someone she knew?
You were at a bar alone. Mixing your drink with your straw before you felt a presence beside you, not paying much attention, too deep in your thoughts.
You felt someone looking at you and felt the urge to turn. A handsome man was staring at you, he looked incredibly handsome, his features were just perfect, his hair, his plump lips, his tattoos poking through his long sleeve shirt. It made you stunned unable to speak.
âYuna?â He questioned while sending you a polite smile and finally you came back to reality. You felt your cheeks started heating up as he sweet smile made you flustered, you just nodded your head no.
âOh sorry, I thought you were her, sorry again.â He smiled at you before walking away. You looked at him walking away and him going on his phone calling someone.
He was handsome you thought to your self.
You turn back to your drink and to your useless thoughts.
You felt someone sit beside you again. It was him.
He came back?
âI canceled my date with her, you looked really pretty. Are you here with anyone?â He asked while smiling. His voice was soothing and just the way he said it you would think he does this for a living.
âNoâ you said before looking down, too scared to make eye contact with him again. He smiles at your shyness.
Some time passed by, you guys were playing pool together while talking together.
âSo you just broke up with your boyfriend?â You nodded before hitting one of the balls. âYup, he cheated on me with his coworker.â Your throat tightened as you said those words. He noticed you tensed up.
He made a shot in and you clapped.
âWow youâre really good!â He smiled before say anything.
You shot a pool ball but it didnât make it in. You scratched you head in embarrassment as your ears started getting red and he just giggled. He put his cue stick down and goes your way.
You suddenly feel nervous and he goes behind you and grabs your hand to position the cue stick and whisper in your ear.
âYou have to go like thisâ you pushed it forward and the pool ball went in.
You immediately get up and start jumping, he smiles and put his hand up for a high five and you do it back. You realized you were embarrassing yourself and stopped and said sorry.
âDonât be sorry.â He smiles at you and you look away. You guys head to the bar before you notice he has a tattoo. He has a full arm of tattoos but there is one specific tattoo that caught your eye.
A butterfly.
It wasnât where his other tattoos were. It was behind his neck. It wasnât too much, not colorful just black.
âWhat made you get a butterfly tattoo?â You asked and he smiled. âThey symbolize freedom and beauty, I also love how each butterfly can look different with the patterns on their wings.â You nodded, the way he was talking about him made you think he is really genuine about them.
He noticed a flower tattoo on the side of your arm, just below your wrist.
A hibiscus flower.
A baby pink mixed with a darker shade of pink.
âWhat made you get that,â he replied.
You smiled. It was your first tattoo. Itâs what made you want more. It was just perfect.
âThere isnât an exact reason, I really love them. They come in different colors and can mean endless things. My favorite is the pink I would dedicate to myself.â You looked up and see him smiling at you, seemed like he was actually interested in your story.
âWell I like it, it suits youâ he said softly while touching it like he doesnât have a whole sleeve of tattoos.
Maybe this healing process wasnât going to be so bad after all..
Your ex hated your tattoo said it wasnât proper or mature but that was the first time you drew the line with him, he never said a thing about it again.
The conversation was going well so far, made you take your mind off everything thatâs been happening. He had excused himself to the bathroom.
10 mins has passed by and he still wasnât back.
Youâre not trying to be weird or protective but something in your gut is telling you to go and check.
You see he is with a girl, smiling the same way he did with. He had her phone and was typing something on it, his number.
Your smile immediately drops.
Of course I should have known you thought to yourself. He was too good looking to not be a heartthrob.
You turn around and head for the door. Maybe this was your sign to stop that conversation and leave. You go to another bar and thatâs why you ended up like this. A part was because of him and your ex. But you knew from the start of your conversation with him it as well it was too good to be true.
You wake up and see someone beside you. The last thing you remember was about the dude at the bar. You gasped and held your hand over your mouth in shock.
Did I really do something with him?
You slowly pulls the cover down and see it was just Seo-ah. You sighed in relief and held your hand over your heart before nudging her.
âYour awake,â she immediately gets up and checks your head and cheeks as if your were deeply sick. âyou feel okay?â
You chuckled at the sight of her before nodding, âIâm fine, donât worry just a slight headacheâ
âWhat happened last night?â
âYou got drunk and I had to get youâ she laughed while you groaned in annoyance.
âYou need to chill, Iâm not trying to be rude but you were talking to yourself yesterday,â she continued. âDid you meet someone yesterday?â
Your eyes widen
âHow did you know?â
âYou said, âHeâs so handsomeâ in your sleep and I know it wasnât your ex because he ainât even good lookingâ
You completely ignore her comment, you cover your face as you feel yourself getting red, âYour lying.â
âSo who was it?â She asked while checking her phone.
âI donât even know, all I know is that he was super good looking.â She nodded her head and you lay back down
âWe were talking and then I saw him flirt with another girl.â
She gasped then turns to you fully interested in your story
âReally?â And you nodded. âSo I left, well thank god I wonât see him againâ
âDid you even get his name?â Itâs silent your trying to remember if you did.
âI donât think so.â She smiled before talking, âwell most likely you will never see him again.â You nodded and you guys laughed. Even thinking more about makes you feel uneasy,
A/n: guys Iâm scared this is another little series I wanna write. This is dedicated to nevertheless, omg my number one show. I rewatch it 3 times a year so good. I donât get the hate, it shows what could be someoneâs actual life. If you guys donât like that story, you guys arenât gonna like this oneđđđ. But hope you guys liked it so far if you reached all the way here. Hope you guys have a wonderful week mwah see you soon.
SUMMARY: After discovering her brother's secret life as the leader of an underground racing crew, Y/N is pulled into a world of speed, danger, and rivalry. That's where she meets Jeon Jungkook - the fearless leader of the opposing crew, the one her brother can't stand, and the last person she should ever get close to. But Jungkook is impossible to ignore. And Y/N is impossible for him to forget. Because in a world where every choice could end in flames...falling for each other might be the most dangerous race of all.
PAIRING: racer!jk x model!reader
WARNINGS: brother's enemy, somewhat forbidden love, smut, angst, fluff, obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, masturbation, unprotected sex, sexting, bodily fluids, rough sex, multiple positions, public sex, degradation kink, dirty talk, sexual tension, sexual teasing, smoking, violence, illegal activities, mentions of blood, control
SHAIâS NOTE: soâŠthis is kinda my first series here on tumblr. i got inspired to write this after relistening to ohmami by chase atlantic (i love ca to death) and also afterrewatching culpa mia hehe. iâm hella scared to see how this turns out cus tumblr is filled with incredible writers and iâm a newbie. please be nice to me đ„čđ
The engines didnât just roar â they snarled. Metal beasts throat-deep in gasoline and ego, lined up beneath floodlights that buzzed like angry insects. The ground trembled as RPMs climbed, the vibrations crawling up Y/nâs legs like static. Colors bled into the air â red, blue, yellow, black â each gang marking the smoke with their own flag. The crowd pulsed forward, bodies tight, lungs full of exhaust and anticipation.
Marquiseâs hand wrapped around Y/nâs hand again and tugged her through the bodies pressing inward toward the start line. âDonât blink,â she shouted over the noise. âYouâll miss it.â
Yeah. Right now blinking felt illegal. Y/nâs gaze locked onto a familiar shade slicing through the haze.
Orange. Sleek. Deadly. Her brotherâs obsession. His âbabyâ.
Yoongiâs Koenigsegg Jesko looked alive â predatory â the body glinting beneath the floodlights like a blade dipped in neon. One hand loose on the wheel, fingers draped like he owned gravity, the other elbow hanging lazily out the window. Jimin leaned in through the open space, talking fast, giving some pep-talk like this wasnât a bad idea waiting to happen.
Just behind him, swallowed by shadows â the matte black phantom.
She didnât know the brand of the car, didnât need to. The car radiated something sharp. Cold. Calculated. Like it didnât just want to win â it wanted to erase the idea of losing from the universe.
Jungkook lounged inside like a sin in human skin. Same posture. Same deadly calm. Only difference â a cigarette burning between his fingers, the smoke curling upward, kissing his jaw before vanishing into night. He took one last drag, lips ghosting around the filter â then flicked it out the window with a snap of his fingers.
The crowd lost their shit. Screams. Whistles. Especially the girls.
Y/n cocked her brows. Not impressed or surprised.
He didnât even look at Yoongi when he spoke â eyes roaming the dashboard like he was bored.
âHey,â Jungkook murmured, voice lazy, amused. âDonât sweat it. You know I always win.â
Yoongiâs jaw worked. âSuck my dick, Jeon.â
âTHREE!â
Across the hood of his car, Jungkook flashed him a boy-next-door smile that felt anything but harmless. âMm. I should tell that to your sister.â
The air dropped ten degrees.
Yoongiâs knuckles whitened around the wheel. âWatch your mouth, asshole.â
âTWO!â
âRelax,â Jungkook chuckled, tongue pressing briefly to the inside of his cheek. âJust distracting you.â
Her heart hammered. Her throat felt tight. The asphalt looked like it was vibrating. A voice â amplified, sharp â cut across the crowd.
âONE!â
Gunshot echoed. Engines screamed. Tires twitched. The night held its breath.
Jungkook rolled his shoulders once â predator testing muscle â then swiftly wrapped his fist around the stick, veins flaring like fault lines up his arm.
Yoongi exhaled slowly. Calm. Cold. Razor-focused â but Y/n knew that stillness. It meant he was seconds from burning everything.
Jungkookâs car launched first â not drove, not moved â launched. Like it had fangs and finally tasted blood. Yoongi followed a breath later, the Jesko snarling, eating track like it was starving.
The wind snapped the banners back. People screamed themselves hoarse. Smoke rolled across the lot like storm clouds.
Marquise laughed â giddy, feral. âThatâs what we live for.â
Y/n couldnât answer. Her pulse was racing right alongside them â metal bullets slicing the night, tail lights streaking like comets, swallowing distance, swallowing air, swallowing everything. Tradition wasnât fireworks and champagne.
It was this:
Two kings trying to bury each other aliveâŠwithout ever laying a hand. And somewhere inside the roar and smoke and madnessâŠY/n realized she wasnât just watching a race.
She was watching a war.
The cars vanished down the stretch like gunshots finally freed from the chamber. Y/n barely registered her own breathing.
The music and lights still rigged along the containers flickered alive. The crowd surged forward as if pulled by the cars themselves.
âGOâGOâGO!â Marquise screamed, both hands gripping Y/nâs arm, nails biting straight through fabric and skin. âAHAHA!â
The Jesko howled, orange slicing through the dark like a blade dipped in fire. Yoongi drove like he always didâsmooth, controlled, surgical. No wasted movement. No panic. His hands were steady on the wheel, eyes forward, jaw locked.
Inside the car, everything narrowed. Engine. Road. Timing.
Yoongi breathed through his nose, slow and measured, even as Jungkookâs matte black car crept into his peripheral vision like a shadow that refused to shake.
That fuckerâs fast.
Jungkook, meanwhile, was grinning. His pulse was loud in his ears, adrenaline sharp and sweet like blood on his tongue. He loved this partâthe stretch where fear tried to crawl up his spine and he crushed it under his heel.
He checked his mirror. Orange. Right there.
Good.
âCâmon,â Jungkook muttered to himself, knuckles tightening. âShow me.â
The cars tore through the first turnâclean. Secondâtight. Tires screamed, rubber kissing asphalt like a threat.
âYOONGIâS STILL ON HIM!â Jimin shouted from somewhere behind Y/n, his voice cracking with excitement. âHOLY SHITâLOOK AT THAT LINE!â
Hoseok whooped, jumping like a madman. âThatâs my hyung! THATâS MY HYUNG!â
Jungkook blasted past the barricades, the world narrowing to asphalt and headlightsâand then, for half a second, he saw her.
Not screaming. Not jumping. Just watching.
Y/n.
Her face cut clean through the chaos, eyes wide but steady, lips parted like sheâd forgotten how to breathe. The lights caught her profile and for the briefest, stupidest moment, Jungkookâs foot easedâjust a fractionâas something unfamiliar tugged at his chest.
The model, his mind supplied uselessly.
Yoongiâs sister.
A dangerous distraction.
âFuckââ
He snapped back instantly, jaw locking as the sixth turn loomed ahead, brutal and unforgiving. Jungkookâs hands tightened around the wheel, veins straining as instinct took over. No room for faces. No room for thoughts.
Only the turn.
Only survival.
Marquise leaned close, mouth right by Y/nâs ear, screaming over the chaos. âTHE SIXTH TURNâWATCH THE SIXTH TURN!â
Y/nâs heart slammed into her ribs. Her eyes now concentrated on the colours of the cars that looked like lines.
Based on Marquise, the track bent sharply aheadânarrow, uneven, barely lit. The infamous sixth turn. No guardrails. Oil stains. Loose gravel. A mistake there didnât mean losing.
It meant wreckage.
Inside the Jesko, Yoongiâs jaw flexed.
Here we go.
He downshifted, engine growling low and dangerous. His eyes flicked to the sideâJungkook was right there, parallel, so close Yoongi could see the tension in his shoulders through the tinted window.
For a split second, their gazes met. Electric. Hostile. Familiar. Neither smiled.
If I cut too early, I spin. Too late, he takes it.
In Jungkookâs car, everything sharpened. Sixth turn. His favorite.
He rolled his neck once, then slammed the accelerator harder than anyone sane would. The car surged forward, nose dipping just enough to unsettle the balance.
âDo it,â he growled, eyes wild. âDo it.â
Yoongi swerved. Jungkook swerved harder.
The crowd screamed as both cars hit the turn nearly side by sideâtires shrieking, sparks kissing asphalt. Gravel sprayed like shrapnel. Yoongiâs car fishtailed just a breath too wide.
âYOONGIâ!â Y/n gasped, fingers flying to her mouth.
Inside the Jesko, Yoongi grunted, muscles straining as he fought the wheel. Come onâcome onâ His rear tires slipped, traction stuttering.
Jungkook saw it. Opportunity bloomed like fire in his chest. He cut in, precise, ruthless, slipping past Yoongiâs front bumper by inches. His car straightened beautifully, obedient, perfect.
Yoongi slammed his palm against the wheel. âFuck!â
He recoveredâfastâbut the damage was done. Jungkook was ahead now, black disappearing into the dark like a closing door.
The final stretch came in a blurâlights streaking, engines screaming themselves raw.
âCOME ONâCOME ONâ!â Hoseok shouted.
âGO, GO, GO!â Jimin yelled, voice hoarse.
Y/n couldnât look away. Couldnât breathe.
The finish line flashed. Black crossed first. The crowd erupted.
Fireworks cracked overhead. Smoke swallowed the track. People screamed Jungkookâs name like a prayer and a curse all at once.
Jungkook hit the brakes hard, laughter tearing out of his chest as he rolled to a stop. He leaned his head back against the seat, chest heaving, adrenaline flooding every vein.
He won. Again.
Yoongi pulled in moments later, engine ticking angrily as it cooled. He stayed in the car, staring forward, jaw tight enough to crack teeth.
Jungkook stayed grounded beside his car. He patted the matte black metal twice, firm and affectionate, like rewarding a loyal beast that had carried him through war. Thenâwithout hesitationâhe leaned down and pressed a brief kiss to the hood.
The crowd went feral.
Jungkook straightened, grin sharp and unrepentant, before turning to his crew. Taehyung reached him first, pulling him into a rough dap that turned into a shoulder slam. Namjoon followed, clapping a heavy hand against Jungkookâs back, pride written plain across his face. The rest of Black Reign closed inâhands slapping, voices overlapping, laughter loud and victorious.
The cheers doubled.
Jungkookâs eyes scanned the chaosâthen landed on Y/n.
For a second, everything else faded. He smirked. Cocky. Slow. Dangerous. Like he knew damn well heâd just won more than a race.
And Y/n felt it thenâdeep in her gut, twisting and unavoidable.
This wasnât over. Not even close.
Yoongi shoved the door open harder than necessary. The cheers still rang in the air, but for him it all landed dull and flat. Jimin and Hoseok were instantly there â one on each side like instinct.
âYo, what was that?â Jimin said, half-teasing, half-worried as he kneaded at Yoongiâs shoulder.
But Yoongi wasnât listening. His jaw was wired tight. His eyes had already locked onto the crowd where Black Reign was celebrating â a dark, moving sun and everyone else just⊠orbiting.
And nothing â absolutely nothing â stopped him from walking straight toward it. Didnât stop Marquise either. She caught Y/nâs wrist and dragged her along after the boys like they were front-row guests to a disaster.
Jungkook had already wound down from the adrenaline rush, that lazy satisfaction sitting on him like a second skin. Then Jungkookâs head tipped back, throat exposed to the night as he breathed it all in â the noise, the smoke, the ownership.
That was the exact second he noticed Yoongi marching forward.
The smirk slid back onto his mouth like heâd never taken it off.
âTold you, Min,â he called out, voice smooth, carrying just enough to be heard over the crowd. âI always win.â He didnât shout it. Didnât need to. Confidence did the work for him.
Yoongi blew a slow breath out his nose, jaw ticking. Y/n watched his fingers flex open and closed at his side, like he was trying to squeeze the frustration out through his hands. Then he tilted his chin up.
âWhat do you want?â
No theatrics. No arguing. Just surrender to the rules.
Jungkookâs grin deepened like heâd been waiting for those words. He sauntered a few steps forward â not rushed, not threatening. Just that predator-calm he wore like cologne.
His gaze drifted lazily past Yoongi â toward the shadow just behind him.
Y/n.
Their eyes locked â and Jungkookâs chest pulled tight for a beat he did not allow to show on his face. He let himself look. Just for a second longer than polite.
And Yoongi noticed.
His head snapped back toward his sister, then forward again â already scowling.
âFuck noâyouâre not taking my sister.â
The crowd reacted â a few gasps, a few laughs, someone whistled. Marquise pressed her lips together to keep from smiling.
Jungkookâs brows flicked up and he held his peck, feigning offense.
âOuch, Min. How low of you to think I see your sister as a trophy.â He clicked his tongue, then chuckled. âGive me some credit.â
Yoongi didnât buy it. Suspicion settled into his expression like a bruise. But Jungkook⊠didnât look away from Y/n.
Not yet.
âGive me her number,â he said simply.
Not loud. Not sheepish. Just⊠fact.
Everything stalled. Yoongi. Jimin. Hoseok. Even Y/n â who suddenly wasnât sure if she still remembered how lungs worked. Marquise? She was having the time of her life.
Jungkook slipped his phone from his pocket and held it out â angled not at Yoongi.
At her.
Y/n blinked. Once. Twice. Her lips parted, then pressed, then parted again. Jungkookâs gaze didnât waver. He didnât rush her. Didnât coax.
He just waited.
Yoongi leaned in toward her, muttering out the corner of his mouth, âI swear if you fuckingââ
âHey.âJungkook cut in â still calm. Yoongi slowly dragged his eyes back to him.
âI won,â Jungkook said. âSo I win your sisterâs number.â Silence stretched. The air tasted electric.
Yoongi scrubbed his hand through his hair, pacing half a step away like the world had personally offended him. He didnât say yes. He didnât have to.
Y/n swallowed and stepped forward. Two steps. Close enough now that Jungkookâs shadow slipped over her shoulders. His eyes followed her movements like gravity.
Her fingers brushed his phone. Warm. Solid. Too real. She typed. Saved. Handed it back.
When she finally looked up through her lashes, Jungkook was already watching her â close enough she could see the glint in his piercing and the curl of a smirk that shouldnât have looked as good as it did.
He dipped his head slightly, voice dropping low â just for her.
âThanks, baby.â His teeth flashed.
And Y/n felt that word settle somewhere dangerous.
đïž. Ęâ âč . ĘË .
The clink of cutlery filled the space between them, polite and dull. Their father leaned back in his chair, loosening his tie, exhaustion written neatly into the lines of his face.
âSo,â he said, warm and unsuspecting, âhow was you guysâ Sunday night? I know I wasnât home butâŠwhen duty calls.â
Y/n didnât answer right away. She dabbed her lips with a napkin, eyes drifting up like she was scrolling through memories.
âIt was⊠fast-paced,â she said slowly. âVery loud. Lots of⊠testosterone.â
Yoongi froze. Under the table, his foot shot out and tapped hers â quick, sharp. She didnât even flinch.
Their dad chuckled. âSounds like you two actually spent time together.â
Yoongi swallowed and nodded, latching onto the lifeline. âYeah. I took Y/n for a ride last night since she couldnât sleep.â He lifted his glass casually. âThought itâd help.â
Kick. Harder this time.
Y/n sucked in a breath like sheâd just been reminded of something tragic. âYeah⊠a ride,â she echoed, nodding. âCrazy fast cars. Real bonding experience.â
She glanced at Yoongi, sweet as poison.
âYoongi even ended up racing someone on the road next to us,â she added, shrugging lightly. âToo bad he lost.â
Yoongiâs fork clattered against his plate.
âWhat?â their dad laughed. âRacing? Come on.â
Y/n smiled innocently. âOh, nothing serious. Just some boys. Engines revving. People nearby. Very⊠community-driven.â
Yoongi leaned closer, teeth clenched. âY/n,â he warned under his breath, foot pressing firmly into hers now.
She leaned back in her chair, unbothered. âWhat? Iâm agreeing with you.â
Their father nodded, completely sold. âWell, Iâm glad youâre looking out for each other,â he said warmly. âNice to know you kids still do sibling things.â
Y/n beamed. âAlways.â
Yoongi stared at his plate like it had personally betrayed him.
Under the table, she finally felt his foot retreat â surrender.
Victory tasted better than dessert.
Y/n escaped the dinner table the second the plates were cleared, mumbling something about being tired before Yoongi could invent another reason to glue her to his side. She didnât wait for permission. She never did.
Her room greeted her like a familiar exhale â dim lighting, clothes half-draped over her chair, the faint trace of her perfume hanging in the air. She kicked off her fluffy slippers with lazy precision and collapsed onto her bed face-first, groaning into the pillow.
Her phone buzzed.
She stretched one arm out without moving the rest of her body, fingers patting around until she caught the device and flipped it over.
Nope.
Not Jin.
Unknown number.
Her brows furrowed⊠until memory slid back into place. The pier. The smoke. The dark eyes that didnât blink. The stupidly attractive growl when he called her that pet name.
She opened the message.
Unknown: sleeping already, model?
Y/n stared at the screen, a slow smirk tugging at her lips despite herself.
Of course.
She rolled onto her tummy, propped up on her elbows, thumbs already moving.
Y/n: jungkook?
The reply came fast â way too fast.
Unknown: u already knew my name before i introduced myself
She could hear the smirk in that text. She hated that she liked it.
Y/n: youâre the talk of the town there
Y/n: it was inevitable
A beat. Then:
Unknown: good to know youve been talking about me behind my back
Another message followed before she could respond.
Unknown: i thought about u too
Unknown: almost messed up that sixth turn when i drove past ya
Her stomach dipped.
Unknown: almost
Unknown: but i didnt
Cocky. Infuriatingly so.
Y/n: congrats. want a medal or something?
His answer came like a wink.
Unknown: already got one
Unknown: ur number
Her chest tightened â annoyance, amusement, and something warm she refused to name all tangled up. Her fingers saved the contact before she could overthink it.
Jungkook.
Three dots appeared again â then disappeared. Came back. Vanished.
Heâs doing it on purpose.
Her phone buzzed one more time.
Jungkook: so
Jungkook: u always this fun to chase
Jungkook: or do i get special treatment?
Y/n scoffed â quietly. To herself. Because no way in hell was he getting that satisfaction.
Y/n: who said youâre chasing?
Jungkook: trust me
Jungkook: i am now
Her heart betrayed her â one sharp skip. She typed slower this time.
Y/n: donât get ahead of yourself
Jungkook: too late
Jungkook: i was ahead the moment the trigger was pulled
She rolled her eyes at her screen, biting back the smile that insisted on forming. That was when her bedroom door swung open.
ââwhat the fuck! You tryna snitch me to Dad or what?â Yoongi hissed as he shut the door behind him.
Y/n stoned.
Her phone flew from her hand on pure instinct, landing somewhere in the blankets like it had caught fire. She sat up straight, face blank â too blank.
Yoongi narrowed his eyes. âYou think your littleâŠsarcasm stunt back there..was funny?â
She blinked. âWhat? I didnât say anything!â
They stared at each other.
Her phone buzzed again beneath the covers. Both their eyes flicked downward. Silence.
Yoongiâs jaw clenched. âY/n.â
She smiled sweetly.
âYes, oppa?â
Another buzz. And somewhere under the blankets, Jungkook was still texting.
Yoongi folded his lips inward and planted his hands on his hips, inhaling a breath so heavy it visibly sank his chest.
âY/n,â he said, slower now, like he was forcing each word to behave. âI am serious.â
He drew a sharp line through the air with his fingers. âYou are not to follow me back there. Ever.â
Y/n scoffed, pushing herself upright. âDudeâit was on your fucking table while I was doing your goddamn laundry. What? You expect me to put a blind eye to a note from some fuck-ass gang called Black Reign?â She waved her hand wildly. âWhat a fuck ass excuse for a name that is.â
Her phone vibrated.
Yoongiâs eyes flicked to it for half a second before snapping back to her. âLower your voice,â he hissed. âUnless you want Dad hearing this shit.â
Another vibration.
âOh, so I should scream it instead?â Y/n shot back. âYoongiâs in an illegal raââ
Yoongi lunged.
He dropped onto the bed behind her in one swift motion, slapped his palm over her mouth, and yanked her back into his chest. Her muffled protests fogged against his hand, hot breath tickling his skin.
Y/n started pounding her fist into his thigh.
âOkayâokay,â he muttered, teeth clenched. âIf you shut up, Iâll let go.â
She rolled her eyes so dramatically it was a miracle she didnât black out, then stilled. Yoongi slowly removed his hand.
They sat there for a second â her back facing his, both breathing harder than they wanted to admit.
âY/n,â he said again, quieter this time. âIâm saying this once. Donât go back there.â
She didnât look at him.
âIf youâre out thereââ he gestured vaguely toward the window, the dark city beyond it, ââand something happens to you⊠I wonât be able to forgive myself.â
That did it. Y/n turned.
His voice had cracked. Just slightly. Barely noticeable â unless you knew him. Unless you were his sister.
She softened instantly, scooting closer until they were fully facing each other. She took his hand, squeezing it once.
âYoongiâŠâ she murmured. âYou canât keep blaming yourself for Mom.â
His gaze dropped to their joined hands.
âI lost her in that accident,â he said, voice rough. âI canât lose you too.â
Her chest tightened.
Without thinking, she lunged forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, burying her face into the crook of his neck. Yoongi froze for a fraction of a second â heâd never been big on physical affection â but then his arms came up, one hand settling against her back, grounding and warm.
âIâll be fine, oppa,â she whispered. âI promise.â
Another vibration.
Yoongi pulled back slightly, eyes narrowing with mild suspicion. âAre you texting someone?â he asked, tone curious rather than accusatory. âYour phoneâs been⊠going crazy since I walked in.â
Y/n stiffened.
They separated just enough for her to dig under the duvet, fishing out her phone. The screen lit up immediately.
Jungkook: dont ignore me, baby.
Jungkook: before i start calling
Her eyes widened â not in panic, but in oh fuck.
She locked the screen with lightning speed and looked up, plastering on the most innocent smile she could manage.
âOhâuh,â she said lightly. âJust Jin. Asking what bag I want from Milan.â
Yoongi squinted. âAt eleven at night?â
âHeâs rich and bored,â Y/n shrugged. âUnlike you, criminal.â
Yoongi snorted despite himself, shaking his head. âYouâre such a pain in my ass.â
She grinned. âYou love me.â
âSure.â
Her phone buzzed again.
Yoongi didnât miss it this time.
Y/n smiled wider â sweeter â already planning her escape.
And somewhere across the city, Jeon Jungkook was definitely not done.
đïž. Ęâ âč . ĘË .
Jungkook lay sprawled across his mattress like he owned the night. Shirt discarded somewhere on the floor. One arm tucked behind his head. Phone balanced loosely in the other.
His room was dim â only the glow of a streetlamp bleeding through the blinds, striping his chest in slanted gold. He stared at his screen, lower lip caught between his teeth as he waited for her reply.
Nothing.
He huffed out a laugh.
âPlaying hard to get, huh?â he murmured to no one.
He closed his eyes and â annoyingly â she was there immediately.
That little smirk she wore when she thought sheâd outsmarted him. The way neon lights washed over her at the pier, painting her skin in pinks and electric blues. How her voice rasped just slightly when she spits foul remarks at him.
How she looked like she didnât belong anywhere near their worldâŠand yet fit into it too perfectly.
Heâd seen her modeling photos before â glossy campaigns, magazine covers, billboard smiles â but yesterday she didnât look like a picture.
She looked real.
Too real.
And sheâd called him out without fear. Without flinching. Like she wasnât staring the leader of Black Reign in the face.
His tongue pressed against his cheek as he exhaled.
âTrouble,â he muttered â but his grin said he liked it.
He unlocked his phone. Opened the chat. Still nothing. Most people wouldâve waited.
Jungkook didnât.
His thumb hovered only a second before he tapped her number and pressed call â like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The line rang onceâŠtwiceâŠHe smirked lazily at the ceiling.
âCome on, baby,â he whispered, voice low and teasing even though she couldnât hear it yet. âDonât make me chase you too hard.â
The third ring echoed into the quiet room.
He was already picturing the sound of her voice.
âHello?â
Jungkookâs brows knit together.
That voice.
Too familiar. Too sharp. A sound that crawled into his skull and stayed there, like a splinter heâd never bothered removing.
A slow, crooked smile tugged at his mouth.
ââŠMin,â he said, dragging the name out. âDonât tell me Iâve been texting you this whole time.â He smiled, tone as if he was sleepy. The smile widened at the sharp inhale on the other end.
âWhy the fuck are you calling my sister?â Yoongi snapped. âAnd what do you mean youâve been texting me?â
Possessive. Protective. The tone of a man already halfway to violence.
Jungkook rolled onto his side, propping his head up with one arm, phone pressed lazily to his ear.
âI won her number,â he said, like it was the most natural thing in the world, with an obvious shrug that shifted against his sheets. âFigured Iâd use my prize.â
The silence that followed was thickâloaded like a gun pulled back just enough to make a point.
âSheâs not a fucking trophy.â
Jungkookâs grin didnât falter. If anything, it sharpened.
âBut thatâs exactly how you treated it last night,â he replied coolly. âAnd donât get it twistedâI never called her one. You did, when you agreed to give it to me.â
A beat.
âThis is about our race,â Yoongi said, voice dropping, controlled in a way that made it more dangerous. âYou and me. Donât drag her into your bullshit.â
Jungkookâs gaze drifted to the dark window, neon reflections ghosting faintly across the glass. Her face flashed behind his eyesâhow sheâd stood there, unimpressed, glowing under borrowed light like she didnât belong to either side.
âFunny thing is,â Jungkook murmured, âshe dragged herself into it. Walked right in.â
Another pause. This one heavier. Then, quieter but firmerâ
âPut her on.â
A scoff crackled through the line.
âYou think Iâll let that happen?â Yoongi said. âSheâs busy.â
Jungkookâs brow arched. âThen why the hell do you have her phone?â
A tired sigh. âSheâs in the bathroom.â
Jungkookâs smile returned, slow and dangerous, voice dropping into something almost playful.
âOh,â he drawled. âAll the more reason.â
âStay,â Yoongi warned, every word measured, âthe fuck away from her.â
Before Jungkook could respondâ
âYoongi?â Ynâs voice floated faintly in the background, distorted by distance and echo. âWho are you talking to?â
Yoongi stiffened.
âNobody,â he barked, too quick. âJust some asshole blowing up my phoneââ
The line went dead.
Jungkook stared at the screen that returned to her contact page, the fan still whirring above him, the echo of her voice curling somewhere in his chest. Then he laughed. Low. Soft. Like a man whoâd just found something worth chasing.
For a long second, he didnât move.
Then his jaw clenched.
âFuck,â he muttered, dragging a hand down his face, irritation crawling up his spine like static. The fan above him suddenly felt too loud, the room too quiet in the wrong places. He hated unfinished thingsâunfinished races, unfinished conversations.
Unfinished her.
He sat up, muscles tightening as he rolled to the edge of the bed, phone gripped hard in his palm like it had personally betrayed him.
Min Yoongi.
Always fucking interfering.
Jungkook scoffed, breath sharp through his nose. âAlways gotta play the hero, huh?â
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, thumbs flying over the screen with more force than necessary.
Jungkook: ur brother hangs up on people mid sentence
Jungkook: rude as hell
Jungkook: tell him next time, let me talk to u
He paused, then added another.
Jungkook: or better yet
Jungkook: answer before he gets to ur phone
He dropped the device onto the mattress, running his tongue over his lip piercing, annoyance simmering hot in his chestânot at her.
Never her.
At Yoongi.
At the fact that she was right there and heâd been blocked from her like some kind of warning sign.
Jungkook leaned back, eyes closing briefly, her voice replaying in his head like a hook he couldnât shake.
âNext time,â he murmured to no one.
đïž. Ęâ âč . ĘË .
Looking at the clock on the nightstand, it was 2 a.m. Everyone should have been asleep, tucked into their eight hours of rest, dreams locked behind closed eyelids. Y/n should have been sleeping, the soft rise and fall of her chest hidden under her blanket.
At least, thatâs what Jungkook hoped not.
He couldnât shake the frustration from earlierâYoongi, the perfect little annoying brother, ruining what should have been his smooth, flawless moment with Y/n. If he could, heâd yank that smug little brat by the collar and shake him until the problem solved itself. Or at least until he stopped breathing fire at him.
But Yoongi was out of reach. Y/n⊠wasnât.
DialingâŠ
RingingâŠ
RingingâŠ
âHello?â
Finally.
It was her voice. Clear, sleepy, but soft. The tone that had made his chest tighten hours ago now sent a delicious jolt through him. Not some gremlin on the other end trying to sabotage him. Not Yoongi.
âTook you long enough,â he said, grinning so wide he could almost feel it across the line.
There was a pause, the tiniest inhale of her voice brushing against his ears. âW-who? Itâs 2 a.mâŠâ she murmured, the tiredness dripping from her words in a way that made him feel⊠alive.
âNo shit,â he replied, chuckling low. âIsnât it the perfect time for a call? Youâre in bed, not hiding in the bathroom. Your phoneâs within reach. No brother to yell at me for daring to ask you out.â He let his smirk slide audibly into the line, making her shift slightly in her sheets.
ââŠDid youâdid you call me just to ask me that? To hang out?â The words slipped out, almost accidentally. Her tone was a mixture of exasperation and amusement, a dangerous combination that made him grin.
âYou donât sound mad,â he teased, letting the teasing edge crawl into his voice. âMore like⊠intrigued.â
Yn rolled her eyes, burying the phone slightly in her pillow. ââŠUnbelievable,â she muttered, the tiredness still clinging to her like a cozy blanket, but something about his voice made her pulse stir.
Jungkook chuckled low, the sound vibrating through her phone and echoing straight into her chest. He loved thatâthe way his voice could get under her skin, make her shiver without touching her. He had never wanted someone this badly, and it was absurd.
âRomantic, isnât it?â he whispered, teasing.
Ynâs brain betrayed her, fumbling for a comeback. ââŠYouâre⊠incorrigible,â she finally shot out, the words half-complaint, half-admiration.
He let out that laugh againâslow, low, dangerous in the best way. Her pulse thudded harder. Why was she talking to her brotherâs enemy at two in the fucking morning? Especially when his voice alone made her stomach twist and her thoughts messy.
âYou didnât say no,â he said, suddenly shifting into business mode. âSo Iâll take it as youâre down to meet me tomorrow⊠at Gwanaksan Road. Letâs say⊠6 p.m.â
Yn blinked. He said it so casually, so confidently, as if he already knew she wouldnât say no. And for a second, she wondered⊠did she even want to?
âAlright,â she whispered, the word lighter than she expected, like it had a little charge behind it.
âGood,â he said, voice low, teasing. âDonât be late, model.â
âHa! Iâm never late, cocky pants,â she shot back, smirk practically audible over the phone. Her tired brain finally caught up with her sass, and she smiled into her pillow.
âPerfect. Cause I canât wait to see you.â
The line went silent for a heartbeat, and she almost faltered. Did she even want to say it back? Could she? She bit her lip, her pulse buzzing in her ears.
ââŠIâm hanging up. Donât call me at 2 a.m. again,â she said finally, settling for sass over vulnerability.
âBet,â he replied, his tone dripping with challenge. âJust wait⊠until the tables turn and youâre the one calling me at 2 a.m.â
Then, just before he hung up, his voice softened, almost intimate: âSweet dreams, baby.â
Yn sat up a little straighter, staring at her ceiling, the phone still warm in her hand. Her chest tightened. Her lips parted. She wasnât sure whether she wanted to scream, laugh, or curl back under the covers and pretend none of it mattered.
What the fuck am I doing? she thought, heart thumping wildly. Iâm going on a date with my brotherâs enemy.
đïž. Ęâ âč . ĘË .
ââand a pink lip should be just right.â
Y/n leaned closer to the mirror as Jinâs voice echoed from her phone, applying the Dior gloss with careful precision. The wand glided smoothly across her lips, leaving behind a soft sheen that caught the light just enough to look intentional without screaming trying too hard. She tilted her chin, lips pursed once, then twice.
âThere,â she said, pulling back and turning toward the phone propped against her shelf. âHow do I look?â
The camera captured her in full now. Her silhouette was carved by a charcoal-grey jersey dress that clung to her like it knew her body by heartâsoft, forgiving, but daring where it mattered. The neckline slipped lazily off one shoulder, exposing a sliver of collarbone that felt almost accidental. The long sleeves draped down her arms, gathering at her wrists like they were tired of behaving, while the subtle ruching along her hips drew the eye downward to a hemline that flirted dangerously high.
It was the kind of outfit that whispered instead of shouted. The kind that said I didnât try when, in truth, every detail had been chosen with intent.
On her feet, comfort met characterâearth-toned suede ballet flats paired with crisp white crew socks pulled unapologetically high. Her hair was braided loosely, strands falling free around her face like theyâd escaped on purpose.
Jin blinked at the screen. Then nodded slowly.
âBomb,â he said. âExactly the look for a date where you pretend you donât care but still look offensively hot.â
Y/n scoffed, though the corner of her mouth twitched.
âItâs not a date.â
âMhm.â Jin leaned closer to his camera, squinting. âSure. And Iâm your stylist.â
She reached for her clutch, fingers curling around the leather. âYouâre impossible.â
Jin grinned. âIâm honest. Big difference.â Then he laughedâloud, dramatic, windshield-wiper-esque. âGod, this Jungkook guy is gonna get his engines revved.â
âShut up,â Y/n snapped immediately, cheeks warming as she pointed at the screen. His ironic joke about revving Jungkookâs engine played a part in her now heating face. She didnât tell Jin about Jungkook in detail. Just, âIâm going out with a guy namedâŠJungkook.â No questions following that.
âRelax, relax,â Jin waved. âYouâre the one who begged me for help.â
âI did not beg.â
âYou sent three voice notes.â
âI was stressed.â Her voice went higher.
Jin hummed. âSure you were.â
She sighed, exhaustion tugging at her shoulders now that the adrenaline had faded. âOkay, whatever. I need to go.â
She turned toward her shelf, grabbing her clutch, then spun back when Jin cleared his throat dramatically.
âHey,â he said. âDonât forget. I depart in the morning. Morning.â
Y/n groaned, dragging a hand down her face. âYes, windshield wiper. I know.â
Jin smiled fondly. âBe safe. And text me.â
She rolled her eyes but nodded. âGoodbye.â The call ended.
Silence settled around her room, thick and anticipatory, like the pause before a storm. Y/n exhaled slowly.
Great, she thought. Now Iâm actually doing this.
She descended the staircase with her flats hooked around two fingers, socks already slipped on, steps light but her heart anything but. The living room lights were dim, shadows stretching lazily across the walls.
Two men sat there. One looked up mildly interested. The other looked like heâd just been personally offended by the universe.
âWhere are you going, angel?â her father asked first, voice warm, curious rather than strict.
Before she could answerâ
âYeah,â Yoongi chimed in, dragging the pet name through sarcasm. âWhere are you going, angel?â
Y/n ignored him completely.
She smiled brightly, that innocent, gummy grin she knew drove her brother insane. âOut.â
Her dad blinked. âOut?â
âI have a date.â The word landed like a dropped plate.
Yoongiâs head snapped up so fast it nearly disconnected from his spine. His eyes widened, neck craning forward as if sheâd just announced she was going skydiving without a parachute.
âA what?â he croaked.
âOh,â their father said, eyebrows lifting slightly. âYou didnât mention this⊠date.â
Y/n shrugged, casual to the point of cruelty. âLast-minute thing. I donât think I can back out.â She awkwardly laughed.
Yoongi stared at her like sheâd grown a second head.
âNo, no,â their father chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. âGo. Enjoy yourself. Maybe bring this⊠boy over for dinner sometime.â
âOh yeah,â Yoongi added instantly, fake cheer dripping from his voice. âBring him. Iâd love to meet him.â
Y/n shot him a look so sharp it couldâve cut glass.
She leaned down, kissed her fatherâs cheek. âIâll be back later.â Then, without sparing Yoongi another glance, she slipped on her flats, Eric following from behind as her chauffuer, and walked out the door before Yoongi could squeeze in another sarcastic remark.
The night air kissed her skin as she stepped outside. Somewhere out there, her brotherâs enemy was waiting. And for reasons she didnât want to examine too closely, her heart was already picking up speed.
đïž. Ęâ âč . ĘË .
Gwanaksan Road breathed differently at night.
It stretched along the mountain like a slow exhale, asphalt curling and unfurling in long, serpentine bends, as if the road itself were aliveâwatchful, patient. Below, the ocean lay unseen but ever-present, its salt-heavy breath rising with the wind, brushing against YNâs bare calves like a whispered warning. The streetlights were spaced far apart, glowing amber and tired, flickering like they were debating whether to stay awake for whatever was about to happen.
YN stood near the guardrail, clutch purse tucked under her arm, phone resting loosely in her hand. She hadnât checked it in a while. She refused to. Checking felt desperateâand she was not desperate.
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, suede flats scuffing lightly against the pavement. The mountain wind tugged at the loose strands of her braid, fingers threading through her hair without permission. It was colder than she expected, the kind of cold that crept up your spine and made you hyperaware of your own body.
Why did I even agree to this?
The thought slid in uninvited, smug and irritating. Last night replayed itself in fragmentsâJungkookâs voice, lazy and sharp all at once; the way his presence felt like a challenge rather than an invitation. He wasnât charming in the safe way. He was charming like a lit match hovering too close to gasoline.
Her phone vibrated. She stiffened. A text.
Jungkook: u always this punctual or just nervous for me?
YN scoffed, lips curling as she typed back.
YN: iâve been here five minutes. relax, racer boy.
Three dots appeared instantly. Then disappeared. Then appeared again.
Jungkook: cute
Jungkook: look up
Her breath caughtâtraitorous, immediate.
The sound came before the sight. A low growl sliced through the quiet, deep and mechanical, echoing off the mountain walls like a challenge thrown into the dark. Headlights curved into view from the bend ahead, cutting through the night in a clean, predatory sweep. The car emerged slowly, deliberately, as if it knew it was being watched.
Black. Sleek. Dangerous.
It rolled to a stop a few feet from her, engine still running, vibrating through the soles of her feet. The driverâs window slid down with a smooth whirr.
Jungkook leaned out slightly, one arm resting casually against the door, rings catching the streetlight. He wore blackâof course he didâleather jacket, dark tee, hair slightly tousled like heâd run his hands through it one too many times. His eyes flicked over her in one slow, unashamed sweep.
Not rushed. Not subtle. His gaze lingered.
âWow,â he said finally, voice low, amused, like heâd just won something he hadnât expected to. âYou look like trouble dressed as a good idea.â
YN rolled her eyes, but heat bloomed under her skin anyway. âYouâre late.â
He glanced at the dashboard theatrically. âThirty-two seconds late. You wound me.â
She stepped closer despite herself, resting a hand on the open window frame, leaning just enough to invade his space. âI almost left.â
âLiar,â he said. âYou were excited.â A smirk.
Y/n somehow couldnât make up a comeback yet again. She ended up mocking a laugh that died down faster than a second.
The wind picked up again, colder now, tugging at her dress like it was trying to pull her back. Jungkook noticed. He reached behind him, grabbed a hoodie from the passenger seat, and tossed it toward her without a word. It hit her chest.
Okay, rude.
She blinked. âWhatâs this?â
âGwanaksan gets clingy at night,â he replied. âDidnât think youâd wanna freeze before the fun part.â
She hesitatedâthen slipped it on. It smelled like him. Cotten, definitely two sizes too big, something clean underneath, and danger she absolutely didnât need.
Jungkookâs eyes darkened just a fraction. âGet in,â he said, nodding toward the passenger seat. âIâll show you why this road ruins people for normal dates.â
YN stared at the car, then back at him.
âAnd if I donât like it?â
His grin widened, engine purring louder beneath his palm.
âThen Iâll take you home,â he said easily. âBut you wonât.â
The mountain loomed behind them, the road stretching ahead like a dare. YN opened the door.
I canât believe Iâm doing this.
The passenger door shut with a solid thud, sealing YN inside the carâand with Jungkook.
The interior was dim, lit only by the soft glow of the dashboard and the city lights bleeding in through the windshield. Leather hugged her from all sides, the seat warm, almost intimate, like it had been waiting for her specifically. The air inside smelled sharper than the hoodieâengine heat, leather, a trace of mint, and something undeniably him.
Jungkook glanced over as he pulled back onto the road, fingers curling around the steering wheel like it belonged to him in more ways than one.
âSeatbelt,â he said, casualâbut not careless.
YN let out an exaggerated sigh. âRelax. Iâm not five.â
âDidnât say you were.â His eyes finally cut to her, brief but sharp. âJust â seatbelt.â
Click.
The sound was stupidly loud.
They rolled forward, the road curling ahead like a black ribbon leading straight into nowhere. Trees crowded the sides, stretching over them like a ceiling trying to eavesdrop, and the city lights began shrinking behind them â like someone dimming the world.
YN rested her elbow against the door, chin in her palm, eyes following the sweep of the headlights as they traced each curve. The silence between them wasnât awkwardâit was taut, stretched thin like a wire pulled too tight.
âSo,â she said finally, breaking it, âis this the part where you try to scare me?â
Jungkookâs lips twitched. âDepends. You scared easily?â
She scoffed. âPlease. I grew up with Yoongi.â
That earned her a low chuckle. âFair point.â
The road narrowed. The incline grew steeper. Jungkookâs foot pressed down just a little more, the engine responding instantly, eagerly, like a living thing recognizing its master. The acceleration wasnât recklessâit was confident, precise. Every shift was clean, every turn taken like heâd memorized the mountainâs pulse.
YN cleared her throat. âSo⊠arenât you gonnaâ I donât knowâŠâ She gestured lazily. âGo crazy with your speed or something? Thought that was your whole brand.â
A slow grin crept over his face â dangerous and unfair.
âYou want me to?â
Her mouth opened. Nothing came out. Jungkook saw that. Of course he fucking did. And that was all he needed.
The engine roared, alive and hungry, and the car shot forward. YNâs back slammed into the leather like gravity had teeth. The wind punched through the cracked window, clawing at her braid, the guardrail speeding past like silver lightning.
âHoly shitâ!â she hissed, grabbing the door â not screaming, just trying not to look like she was screaming.
But Jungkook? Completely calm. One hand on the wheel. Jaw set. Eyes forward. Like the road belonged to him. Like the mountain fucking bowed.
The car hugged a curve so tight it felt indecent. The city dropped away on her side â a glittering galaxy drowned under darkness. Her chest tightened, not with fear â but with something electric, crawling under her skin, riding her veins.
He slowed. Just a little. Just enough to say Iâve got you without actually saying it.
âTell me if you want me to stop,â he muttered â not teasing this time. Just honest.
She swallowed. âN-no, no Iâm cool.â
That grin came back â lazy and cocky and way too confident.
âGood.â
They kept climbing. The wind howled like the night was gossiping. The mountain wrapped around them, the road twisting like it wanted to test them. The engine purred, satisfied. Her heartbeat matched the RPMs, and it pissed her off that it felt⊠good. Alive.
âYouâŠdo this often?â she asked, voice steadier now.
Jungkook nodded slightly. âYeah. When my headâs loud.â
âDangerous therapy choice.â
âStaying stillâs worse.â
The higher they went, the smaller the city looked, until Seoul wasnât a place anymore â just a spill of stars beneath them.
âAlmost there,â he said quietly.
The car rolled to a stop at the top like it had finally run out of secrets.
The engine cut. Silence rushed in â thick, buzzing, almost rude after all that noise. The wind up here was colder, sharper, like it had opinions. Seoul stretched below them, all glitter and glow, the city looking soft and harmless from this far up, like it couldnât bite.
Jungkook was out first. He circled the car and, to YNâs surprise, opened her door with a little flourish, palm braced against the roof like some vintage movie lead. She blinked at him, unimpressed on purpose.
âWoah,â she deadpanned, sliding out slowly. âLook at you. Mr. Gentleman. From throwing a fucking hoodie at me like a projectile to opening doors now?â Her voice roughened at the end, scratchy with cold and attitude.
Jungkook laughed â full and unguarded â the sound bouncing off the trees. âCharacter development,â he shrugged. âIâm growing.â
âYeah? Rapid growth spurt.â
She stepped past him without waiting, ballet flats crunching lightly on gravel. The wind tugged at her dress, lifting the hem just enough to remind her she was very much aware of her own body right now.
He didnât stare. That annoyed her more than if he had.
âThis okay?â he asked, nodding toward the front of the car.
She eyed the hood skeptically. âIf I fall off and die, Iâm haunting you.â
âDeal.â He helped her up anyway, hands warm and firm on her waist for half a second longer than necessary. She caught it. He didnât apologize. She sat, legs dangling, arms crossed, posture screaming donât get comfortable.
Jungkook leaned in briefly. âDonât move.â
âWhyââ
He was already walking away. âBe right back,â he tossed over his shoulder.
She watched him disappear behind the car, jaw tightening. The audacity. The confidence. The way he acted like sheâd still be there when he returned. She stayed anyway. The hood was still warm beneath her palms. The wind threaded through her braid, teasing loose strands into her face. Below them, Seoul shimmered like a promise it didnât intend to keep.
Jungkook returned a minute later, trunk creaking shut behind him. He came back carrying a bottle of red wine, a small bag of grapes, some strawberries, and a folded cloth like heâd planned this shit days ago instead of twelve hours.
She raised a brow. âYou just⊠carry a picnic in your trunk?â
âPrepared,â he said simply.
âFor what?â
âWhatever.â
She scoffed. âThatâs not an answer.â
He popped the wine open with practiced ease â no corkscrew struggle, no dramatics â then set everything down between them like it was the most natural thing in the world.
âDo you always assume thingsâll go your way?â she asked, eyes carefully studying his hands that were generously decorated with veins and some tattoos on one hand.
He poured. âNot always.â
âBut tonight.â He handed her the glass. Didnât push it when she didnât take it immediately. âTonight, I hoped.â
She took it. A sip. âYou know I still donât trust you.â
âGood.â
She blinked. âThat was the wrong response.â
âNo,â he said, sitting beside her now, close enough that their shoulders almost brushed. âTrust too fast and you stop asking questions.â
She studied him sideways. âAnd youâre okay with me interrogating you?â
âIâm used to it.â
âAbout what?â
He shrugged, plucking a grape and popping it into his mouth. âMy choices. My speed. My mouth.â
âYour mouth especially,â she muttered.
He grinned. âYou keep noticing it.â
Of course I did. Your goddamn lip piercingâs hot as fuck.
She rolled her eyes hard. âDonât flatter yourself.â The wine burned warm going down. Her fingers curled tighter around the stem.
âSo what,â she said. âYou do this often? Bring girls up mountainsâŠfeed them fruit like itâs some ancient ritual?â
He leaned back on his hands. âNo.â
âJust me?â
âYes.â
She snorted. âLiar.â
He turned his head, meeting her gaze dead-on. âAsk anyone. Theyâll tell you I donât do gentle.â That sat between them â heavy, honest, uncomfortable.
She broke it first. âThen why now?â The wind answered before he did.
âBecause,â he said slowly, âyou didnât look scared when I drove.â
Her jaw tightened. âDoesnât mean I wasnât.â
âBut you didnât tell me to stop.â
She looked away, city lights reflecting in her eyes like static. âDonât read into it.â
âI wonât,â he said easily. âYou do enough of that for both of us.â
She huffed a laugh despite herself. âYouâre annoying.â
âYouâre still here.â
She took another sip of wine, lips pressing thin. âYeah,â she admitted quietly. âFor now.â
And Jungkook didnât push. He just sat beside her, the night stretched open around them, the mountain holding its breath like it knew something dangerous was blooming.
The bottle clinked against the tray when Y/N set it down, grapes rolling lazily like tiny, unwilling soldiers. Jungkook hadnât touched his wine in minutes. Not because he wasnât thirsty â he was just too busy watching her.
The way she drank: deliberate, unbothered, like she didnât give a single fuck if he was staring. Her jaw moved with that slow, meticulous precision that made his chest tighten. Neon lights from the city below painted her skin in shifting golds and blues, turning her into something that felt unreal, like a damn painting come alive.
She caught him.
âDo I have wine on my face, or are you just a freak?â
He smirked, the corner of his lip twitching. âRelax. If you did, Iâd wipe it off.â
âUh-huhâŠwith what, your giant, obnoxious ego?â she shot back, tone dripping sarcasm.
âCould borrow yours. Seems sharp enough,â he said, tilting his head.
She rolled her eyes, picking up another grape. âAlright, since weâre apparently doing twenty questionsâwhy racing?â
He leaned back, stretching like a predator casually surveying his prey. âWhy breathing?â
âDonât get all poetic on me. You donât strike me as the type.â
âThatâs because you donât know me.â
She popped the grape into her mouth and chewed, sharp eyes narrowing. âDonât plan to.â
âYet here you are,â he said, voice low, almost a tease. âSitting on my hood, drinking my wine like you own the damn place.â
âTemporary lapse in judgment,â she murmured, and for a second, he saw it â the tiniest flash of mischief behind her eyes.
âMm,â he hummed, amused. âHappens when people meet me.â
âGod, youâre unbearable,â she muttered, shaking her head.
âAnd fast,â he countered smoothly.
âThat too,â she admitted, just a little grudgingly.
He tilted his head, eyes scanning her like she was a puzzle he wasnât in any rush to solve. âRacingâs simple. Road doesnât lie. YouâŠfuck up, it hits you immediately. No excuses. No filters. NoâŠfake bullshit.â
âSounds like a damn therapist would have a field day with that,â she quipped, smirk twitching at the corner of her lips.
He laughed â soft, dangerous, amused. âProbably. But honestly? Road keeps it real. You? You look real enough.â
Her fingers tightened on her glass as she took a sip, then glanced sideways. âMarquise told me you and Yoongi used to run neck and neck.â
âStill do,â he corrected casually, eyes flicking to her, then back to the city below.
âAnd that youâŠdated her,â she added, voice measured.
Ah. That word again.
He chuckled, slow, teasing. âYou always sip before asking the loaded questions, or is that just with me?â
âHabit,â she shrugged.
âGood one.â He leaned back, stretching one leg casually over the hood. âYeah. We dated. If you can even call it that.â
âAnd?â
âNothing.â His eyes flicked back to her lips as she sipped again, and damn, it was like the world shrunk to just her. âShe wasâŠfun. Dangerous. Loud. Fireworks in human form.â
âExplains why it didnât last,â she said, deadpan.
âExplains why it did,â he countered smoothly, and she couldnât decide if he was joking or just that damn confident.
She hummed. âMarquise said you mostly fucked.â
He laughed, openly this time, the sound warm but cocky. âStraight to the point. Respect. Yeah, we fucked. But love? Feelings? Nah. Not part of the package.â
âAm I getting the same treatment?â she asked, voice teasing, one brow raised like a challenge.
He grinned, eyes flashing mischievously, a bunny-like smirk tugging at his lips. âYou? Nah. YouâreâŠdifferent.â
Her eyebrows shot up in mock shock. âOh? Thatâs what you tell all the women you meet on hood tops at midnight?â
âOnly the ones who can keep up with my wine pouring skills,â he replied, taking a slow sip from his glass, eyes still glued to her.
She leaned back on her hands, feigning nonchalance. âYou seemâŠproud of it. Fucking with no feelings, just messing around.â
He leaned slightly closer, not invading her space, just enough to make her heart skip. âI donât regret shit that felt good at the time.â
Her chest betrayed her â heartbeat spiking like a damn drumline.
âAnd you?â he added casually, voice low, teasing. âGonna interrogate me about every woman Iâve touched or just the ones that annoy your brother?â
She scoffed. âDonât flatter yourself. I just like knowing what kind of mess Iâm sitting next to.â
âMessy ones are fun.â
âFor you, maybe,â she muttered.
He grinned, a predatorâs sort of grin. âYet here you are.â
She shook her head, muttering, âIâm not messy.â
Silence stretched, thick and buzzing, like electricity hanging between them. He poured her more wine without asking, the sound of liquid meeting glass punctuating the quiet.
Then, smoothly, he shifted gears. âSo,â he said, voice low, casual, teasing, âwhy modeling?â
Her hand froze mid-grape. Barely noticeable. But he saw it. Always does.
âMy mom was a model,â she said, curtly, lifting her glass.
He tilted his head, voice soft but sharp, teasing again. âWas?â
Her glare could cut steel. âHey. Iâm not sharing my tragic backstory with some asshole racer I met yesterday.â
He threw his hands up, laughing, playful, loud. âOkay, okay, truce! Truce, I swear.â
She studied him, suspicious, one eyebrow cocked.
He leaned back just slightly, almost surrendering. âFine. Different question. Less tragic. Less personal. MoreâŠfun.â
She let out a slow, exaggerated sigh. âWhat?â
âDo you like modeling?â
Her fingers froze on the grape again, her eyes narrowing. The world around them â the city lights, the faint ocean breeze, the wine, the grapes â all blurred as the question hung there. And Jungkook didnât rush her.
He just watched, like whatever she said next was the most interesting fucking thing heâd ever heard.
âHmmâŠwhy modelingâŠâ Y/N murmured, almost to herself, swirling the last of her wine in the glass like it was some goddamn crystal ball.
Jungkook stayed quiet, eyes drifting from her glass to the sharp curve of her jaw, then to the soft line of her neck. Gorgeous. Every careless tilt of her head made him want to map her like some treasure.
âItâsâŠeffortless,â she said finally, shrugging like she wasnât trying to impress anyone. âBut Iâm not just saying that because I donât want to do actual work. I genuinely love fashion.â
A slight, knowing smile tugged at Jungkookâs lips. He didnât interrupt; he just listened. Every word, every small movement, every subtle exhale she let slip made his chest tighten in a way he didnât even try to hide. She wasnât soft or delicateâhell noâbut raw, real, and somehow mesmerizing.
âBut it can be hell,â she continued, voice low but laced with irritation. âThatâs what people donât see. They just look at the hot body, the pretty face, the pretty dresses, and thinkâŠwow. Easy money, hot lifestyle.â
Jungkook tilted his head, a low chuckle escaping him. âYou are prettyâŠâ he said, almost as an observation, not a compliment.
âSeeâthatâs the problem,â she snapped her head toward him, eyebrows arched like twin daggers. âYâall donât see the depth of it. You just see the surface.â She stuffed another grape into her mouth mid-rant, chewing with casual precision, and Jungkookâs eyes didnât miss a fucking beat. He tracked the subtle movement of her throat, then jerked his gaze back up to her face when she spoke again, trying not to seem like a total creep.
âWe models have insane schedules. One minute Iâm stuck in a dressing room in fucking Madrid, the next Iâm on a flight to Paris for a show. All this glamour bullshit? People donât see the chaos behind it.â
She sighed, leaning back slightly, letting her hair fall over one shoulder like a lazy curtain. âBut thank god Iâm on a break now.â
âThatâsâŠgood,â Jungkook said casually, shrugging, but his eyes were fixed on her like he was memorizing her. âMeans youâd have time toâŠvisit me at the pierâŠorâI dunnoâswing by when we have a party.â
Y/N choked slightly on her wine, eyebrows shooting up. âSee me? Hahâno way. My brother would lose his shit if he saw me there alone.â She muttered it under her breath, still chewing, still defensive.
âYou wonât be alone,â Jungkook said, leaning just slightly forward, voice low, teasing. âYouâll be with me.â
Her eyes narrowed, brows bouncing up.
âOrâMarquise,â he cut in, rolling his eyes as he raised his glass, taking a slow sip like it was no big deal.
She snorted, lips twitching in amusement. âSo basically Iâm your plus-one for whatever dangerous bullshit youâre planning?â
âFuck yeah,â he said without hesitation. âYou in, or are you too scared?â
âScared? Me? You must be high on your own speed or something.â She leaned back, tilting her head, smirking. âIâm justâŠentertaining your delusions of charm.â
âDelusions?â he raised a brow, mock offended. âBaby, thatâs your word for reality bending around me.â
She rolled her eyes, shoving a grape into her mouth like it was a peace offering to herself. âYeah, sure, whatever keeps your ego in check, race king.â
He leaned back, wine glass dangling from one hand, gaze never leaving hers. âRace king,â he mused, repeating it like it sounded delicious on her tongue. âI could get used to you teasing me like that.â
âDonât you fucking dare,â she warned lightly, though the faintest tremor in her voice betrayed her.
âWhy? Afraid Iâll actually pay attention?â His smirk was cocky, teasing, but there was fire behind those golden-brown eyes, burning just for her.
She rolled her eyes, but couldnât stop the tiny shiver that ran down her spine. Goddamn it, he was infuriating. And somehow, she wanted more.
Jungkookâs eyes didnât leave her for a second. The way she held the glass, the subtle curl of her lips as she chewed grapes, the careless way she tossed her hair over one shoulderâit was like she was a painting moving in real time, and he was the only one allowed to look.
âYou know,â he started, voice low and deliberate, âI canât stop looking at you.â
Y/N snorted, almost choking on her grape. âOh really? Shocking. I thought I was just some random girl on your hood, nothing special.â
âRandom? Fuck no,â he countered, leaning back slightly, smirk teasing but his gaze sharp. âYouâfuck, youâreâŠdifferent. Donât get me wrong, Iâve seen pretty girls, models, all that shit. But youâŠâ His eyes raked over her like he could memorize every angle in seconds. âYouâreâŠfuck, I donât even know. Something about the way you carry yourself. Sharp, raw, unapologetic. Makes me wannaâŠwatch you. Talk to you. Fuck, I donât even care what you think about me, I justâwant to be around it.â
Y/N blinked, her smug shield wobbling ever so slightly. She opened her mouth, but no words came out, so she just took another sip of wine, cheeks heating.
âLook at you,â he continued, voice softer now but still teasing. âTrying to act all untouchable, cool. But youâre not. Not really. I see it. Youâre fire, and I donât think I can orâwant toâlook away.â
She swallowed, flustered but masking it with a scoff. âWow. ThatâsâŠfucking bold. Youâre either insane or too full of yourself.â
âMaybe both,â he said, shrugging, that damn smirk curling on his lips again. âBut itâs true. You got me fucked up, model.â
Her pulse kicked, her fingers tightening unconsciously around the stem of the wine glass. She was aware of how he was staringâlike he could read every thought she didnât want anyone to seeâand it was equal parts annoying and thrilling.
âMm,â he hummed, almost approvingly, letting the silence linger, letting the tension thicken between them like static in the air. âYeah. Iâm definitelyâŠinterested. Not saying Iâm good at words, but there it is. You got my attention, and fuck me, I donât want it back.â
Y/N rolled her eyes, trying to sound unaffected, though her chest betrayed her, fluttering like a caged bird. âOkay, Kook. I hear you. Donât get too cocky just âcause you noticed me.â
He leaned back, still studying her, eyes glinting with amusement. âCocky? Me? Never. JustâŠhonest. And seriouslyâŠfuck, youâre something else.â
Her brain scrambled. She could feel her pulse in her throat, her cheeks on fire. She had zero intention of looking like she was affected. So she shoved the topic elsewhereâsort of. âSoâŠyou gonna teach me how to drive, or what?â she asked, voice pitched like it was nothing.
âYou donât know how to drive?â he laughed, sharp and amused, the kind that makes your bones vibrate.
Y/N pushed his shoulder with the tip of her fingers, mock irritation masking the flutter in her chest. âNo, I meant likeâŠracing driving. You know, the fun, illegal, adrenaline-fueled shit.â
Jungkookâs gaze swept her up and down, chin raised, that sexy, calculated look that made her want to bite her lip. âBet,â he said, grin wide and teasing.
Without warning, he leapt off the hood and offered his hand. She eyed him suspiciously, then allowed herself to be hauled down like a reluctant accomplice. His grip was firm, just enough to make her fingers tingle where they brushed against his.
He packed the wine, grapes, and fancy snacks back into the trunk with the precision of someone who did everything fast but right. She couldnât stop sneaking glances at him, the moonlight catching the edges of his jaw, the way his muscles flexed as he movedâlike a goddamn action figure come to life.
Finally, he slid into the passenger seat with a grin that dared her to roll her eyes. Y/N smirked back, hands on the wheel, the car purring beneath her like it knew it was part of this chaotic, charged energy.
âReady to fuckinâ fly?â she asked, voice full of teasing fire.
âBorn ready,â he said, voice low, smirk still there, leaning back casually but somehow impossible to ignore. âDonât fuck this up, model.â
âHa,â she muttered, turning the key and feeling the engine roar beneath her. âMe? Fuck up? You wish, cocky pants.â
And just like that, the neon city sprawled beneath them, the curving Gwanaksan Road ahead, and the night stretched wide like a promise of chaos and thrill.
The engine roared like it was alive, its growl vibrating through her bones as Y/Nâs hands gripped the wheel tight enough to leave crescent-shaped impressions in her palms. The neon lights from the city below streaked past like molten paint, splashing blues, pinks, and golds across her dashboard. The wind screamed past the windows, tugging at her hair and the hem of her dress, and somewhere in the back of her mind, a part of her loved it.
Jungkook leaned just a fraction closer, his shoulder brushing hers as she hit the next bend. His presence was like a jolt of electricity in her chestâevery inhale felt sharper, every exhale hotter. Adrenaline coursed through her veins like champagne fizzing up too fast, and she couldnât tell if it was the speed or himâor maybe the perfect, messy combination of both.
âFaster,â he said, voice low, teasing, but laced with something dangerous. âYouâre holding back.â
Her pulse spiked, a rush that made her stomach flip in beautiful chaos. âAnd you want me to die or something?â she yelled over the roar, laughing despite herself.
âNot die,â he shot back with a cocky grin. âFeel alive. Feel like youâre flying. Likeâlike this is just ours.â
Her laughter twisted into a sharp, breathless gasp as she pushed the gas a little more, the car sliding just enough in the corner to make her heart jackhammer. The tires screamed, hugging the asphalt like it was made for them alone. Every twist and swerve sent butterflies shooting up her spine, fluttering wildly, tumbling over themselves. Every glance she stole at himâhis cheekbones, the dangerous curve of his smirk, the intensity in his dark eyesâmade the butterflies multiply, like they were doing laps in her chest.
âYouâre insane,â she yelled, grinning so wide she felt dizzy.
âYeah? I like it when my passengers are insane too,â he shot back, leaning a little closer, letting his arm brush hers again. His warmth seeped through her skin, hot and grounding against the chaos.
The city fell away behind them as the mountain road twisted tighter, hugging the cliffs with drops that vanished into blackness. The ocean reflected the moonlight far below, a silver slash against the ink-black night. Y/Nâs breath came in quick, messy pants, mixing with the engineâs roar and the windâs wild howl. Jungkookâs hand brushed hers on the joystick to correct a swerve, fingers lingering, the touch electric and teasing, and she nearly forgot how to breathe entirely.
And then, it happened.
She laughed at somethingâmaybe his teasing, maybe the rush itselfâand for the first time tonight, he caught it: her gummy smile. Wide, unguarded, impossibly bright, teeth catching the neon in little shards of light. Her eyes crinkled just a little at the corners, not rehearsed, not practiced. Just pure, chaotic Y/N.
Jungkook felt like someone had dropped a live wire straight into his chest. His lungs tightened, stupidly, painfully, in the best way. Heat pooled low in his belly, blooming like fireflowers. His heart wasnât just racing from the speedâit was hammering for her. Every nerve ending tingled, alive with something reckless and intoxicating.
He wanted to grin back. Wanted to lean over and touch her just to see it again. Wanted to memorize it, like it was a goddamn tattoo etched in his mind. His mind went fuzzy at the edges, all the things he usually felt sharp and in controlâhis arrogance, his cocky confidenceâsomehow melted into a puddle of giddy, lover-boy chaos.
âFuck,â he whispered under his breath, loud enough only for himself. âSheâs unreal.â
The butterflies werenât just in her chestâthey mirrored in his own, tumbling, fluttering, colliding with the heat of desire that thumped through his veins. He caught himself staring too long, aware and unapologetic. If this car had been a cage, he wouldnât have wanted outânot with her there, that smile lighting up his world like fireworks caught in slow motion.
âYouâre crazy,â she gasped again, but there was awe behind it now. Pure, giddy awe.
âNot crazy,â he said, voice low, raspier. âDangerous. Fast. Like this moment. Like you.â
She choked on her laugh, heart thumping so hard she felt it in her throat. The road curled ahead, a ribbon of asphalt lit by neon streaks, and she leaned into it, following the curve with perfect synchronicity, feeling every vibration through her hands, through her spine, through her chest.
Jungkookâs eyes never left hers, watching the way she grinned, gummy and unguarded, like she was untouchable, untamed, like the world was theirs for the taking. And maybe, in that stretch of night, it was.
âLook at you,â he breathed, not a question. âDriving like youâve done this a thousand times.â
âFuck you,â she said, laughing breathless, âlike youâre any better.â
He leaned a fraction closer again, the scent of him sharp in her noseâcigarette smoke, leather, something wild and untamedâand she felt the butterflies dive, crash, and spiral in her stomach like they were holding a rave.
The road dropped them back toward the city, the skyline a river of lights ahead, and for a moment, Y/N felt like she could scream just to hear the thrill echo in the mountains, just to let the chaos of speed and heat and Jungkookâs proximity consume her.
She grinned, gummy and unguarded, and he caught it fully, like a thief stealing something priceless. âYouâre incredible,â he murmured, more to himself than her, voice low, breathless, dangerous.
âYeah, yeah,â she panted, slapping his shoulder playfully. âYou really trying to make me fall for you at two hundred kilometers an hour?â
He only laughed, the sound rolling over her like thunder, and leaned back just enough to give her a taste of freedom and danger all at once.
And somewhere deep in the wind and engineâs roar, Y/N knew sheâd never forget thisâher heart pinned between the asphalt and him, wild and reckless, alive.
The engine was quieter now, the roar softened to a steady purr as Y/N navigated the final stretch back to her neighborhood. The city lights reflected off the windshield in fractured lines, painting her face in warm, golden streaks. Jungkook didnât take his eyes off her. Not just because she was drivingâhe could watch her do anythingâbut because she looked effortless, like a goddess casting spells without meaning to. Every line of her jaw, every movement of her fingers on the wheel, was mesmerizing.
âYou drive too well,â he finally said, voice low, teasing, but with a hint of awe.
She shot him a look over her shoulder, lips twitching. âOh? And here I thought I was just barely surviving your insane speed.â
âBarely surviving?â he scoffed, leaning back in the seat, âBaby, you were untouchable back there. You didnât even flinch.â
She smirked, finally letting a little smugness slip. âWell, Iâm not exactly a rookie, unlike someone I know who seems to think the gas pedal is optional.â
They hit the main drop off to her mansion. Y/N eased the car around the curve, wheels crunching over the gravel with precision. The lights from the estate bloomed in the distance, illuminating a sprawling façade of stone and glass, fountains throwing liquid light into the night. Jungkookâs jaw practically dropped.
âDamn,â he breathed, almost to himself. âYoongi⊠living like this with a bomb-ass woman as a sister. Fuck.â
Y/N caught him staring, eyebrows raised. âYou okay over there? Space cadet much?â
He shook his head, grin returning. âYeah⊠yeah, just⊠wow. This place. Holy shit.â
She laughed, that rich, teasing sound that made him want to lean across the hood and pull her closer. âWelcome to my humble abode,â she said, rolling her eyes.
They both stepped out of the car, the night breeze ruffling her braid, tugging at his leather jacket. Jungkookâs eyes lingered on her, tracing the confident set of her shoulders, the sway in her hips as she moved. He could feel the lingering warmth of her from the car, and it made his chest tighten in a delicious, infuriating way.
âSo⊠safe drive home?â he asked, voice playful, stepping just a little closer as she crossed the gravel toward him.
âYeah,â she said, hands on her hips, sass fully activated. âSafe and spectacular. But donât think Iâm giving you a trophy for this, asshole.â
âIâm not looking for a trophy,â he countered, eyes glinting. âIâm just⊠impressed. Thatâs all.â He tilted his head, studying her like he wanted to memorize her. âYouâre⊠a lot of things.â
âOh really?â she shot back, mockingly curious. âDo tell, Jungkook. Enlighten me with your deep thoughts.â
He smirked, letting the teasing tone drip from every word. âDangerous. Brilliant. Stubborn as fuck. Gorgeous as hell. Andâfuckâfunny. Youâre really, really fun to watch.â
She laughed, rolling her eyes but there was heat behind it, that mix of amusement and awareness that he was hitting too close to something she didnât want to admit.
They lingered, the night quiet except for the distant hum of city life. He reached up, fingers brushing her jawline, thumb grazing her chin in the softest, most deliberate way. Y/N froze, blinked, and for a heartbeat, the air between them crackled. Then he let it slide off slowly, that touch lingering in her skin even after he pulled back.
âSee you, baby,â he whispered, low and magnetic, the words melting into the night.
Y/Nâs gummy smile faltered just slightly, a slow curve disappearing as she turned and walked up the steps toward the mansion. Jungkook leaned against the car, arms crossed, watching her go, letting her disappear inside before he finally walked back to the driverâs side, still grinning like a man whoâd just stolen a secret.
đïž. Ęâ âč . ĘË .
The mansion swallowed her whole.
No humming AC. No clinking glasses from the kitchen. No whispered footsteps from staff. Just silence â thick, heavy, pressing against her skull while Jungkookâs laugh still echoed somewhere in the back of her mind.
Great. Just what she fucking needed.
More noise inside her head.
Jungkookâs voice. His laugh. The way the streetlights kissed his jaw. The fucking hoodie still clinging to her skin like a bad decision she wasnât ready to regret.
Getting closer to her brotherâs rival â no, worse, a racer tangled in illegal shit and underground violence â was the opposite of what she needed. She didnât need drama. She didnât need adrenaline. She definitely didnât need him.
And yet.
He hadnât scared her. Hadnât cornered her. Hadnât made her feel small. If anything⊠sheâd felt safe. Annoyingly so.
She climbed the stairs, dragging the mess of her thoughts behind her. Halfway down the hallway, she paused â eyes flicking to the door a few steps away.
Yoongiâs room. Closed. Dark. Silent.
Good.
He was probably asleep. She didnât have the energy for him tonight. She didnât even have the energy for herself.
Her hand wrapped the handle to her bedroom door. Turn. Pushâ
She flicked on the lights. And stopped breathing.
âYOâ what the fuck?!â
Yoongi sat on her bed like a goddamn gargoyle, arms crossed so tight his knuckles were white. His chest rose slow and deep â the kind of breathing people did right before they snapped. His eyes were knives.
He didnât even blink.
âWhat are you doing in my room?â Y/N demanded, stepping back like distance might dull the burn of his glare. His reply shot out instantly.
âWhat are you doing in Jungkookâs car. Wearing Jungkookâs hoodie. With Jungkook.â He said his name like it tasted like poison.
Her stomach dropped. She looked down.
Right. The hoodie.
Still on. Wrapped around her like a fucking billboard.
Fuck.
âHow did you even know?â she tried, voice sharp, defensive, exhausted.
âHeard a car,â he said flatly. âCame to your room. Balcony has a clear fucking view.â He jerked his chin toward it. âSaw you step out of his car. In his hoodie. Saw him touch your fucking face.â
Her stomach twisted.
âUghâoh my god, Yoong, youâre overreacting.â
He scoffed. He stood. Quickly.
âYou think this is an overreaction?â he asked, voice low and dangerous. He took a step closer. âYou know exactly who he is. You know the shit heâs in. And you go out with him? Alone?â
âIt wasnâtââ she started. âHe didnât do anything,â she snapped back. âWe drove. We talkedâthatâs it. Calm your fucking balls.â
Yoongi laughed â humourless. Sharp. âCalm down? You went out with Black Reignâs fucking leader and you want me calm?â
She felt heat crawl up her neck. âHe didnât do anything.â
âThatâs the problem,â Yoongi shot back. âHe will.â
Silence crackled. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears â not fear. Frustration. Shame. Something twisted in her ribcage.
âHeâs not someâŠrabid dog, Yoongi.â
âNo,â he muttered, eyes burning. âHeâs worse. Heâs smart.â
She scoffed. âWow. Okay. Since when did you become his character analyst?â
His jaw flexed. âSince he decided to drag you into his shit.â
âHe didnât drag me anywhere,â she snapped, finally raising her voice. âI went. On my own. And nothing happened to me.â
âThatâs not the point.â
âYes, it is.â
âNo,â he shot back, taking a step toward her. âThe point is you went out with him. Alone. After everything I told youâafter everything Marquise told you!â
She scoffed. âI didnât sign a fucking contract with you.â
His eyes flashed. âYouâre my sister.â
âAnd Iâm not five.â
Silence stretched â taut and ugly.
Yoongi ran a hand through his hair, pacing once before stopping in front of her. âYou think this is just someâŠcocky asshole with a fast car? That world eats people alive.â
She crossed her arms. âYouâre acting like I ran off to join a gang.â Her brows flew up as she tried to let Yoongi get the irony. âShouldnât be an issue if youâre in one too. Bonus, youâre even the leader!â Sarcasm hit.
âYouâre standing in his clothes.â
That landed harder than she expected.
She swallowed. âIt was cold.â
âThatâs your excuse?â
âItâs the truth.â
His voice softened â barely. âI donât want you anywhere near him.â
Her chest tightened.
âYou donât get to decide that,â she said quietly.
âI get to worry,â he snapped. âI get to lose my fucking mind thinking about you getting hurt.â
Something cracked behind her ribs.
âYou canât protect me from everything,â she said. âAnd you canât project your shit onto him.â
He froze. âWhat the hell does that mean?â
She hesitated â then sighed. âIt means youâre scared. And youâre taking it out on me.â
His shoulders sagged just a little.
âI lost mom,â he said hoarsely. âIâm not losing you.â
The room went still. Y/Nâs anger dimmed, guilt creeping in like fog.
âIâm fine,â she said softer. âNothing happened.â
He looked away for a second â like even seeing it hurt. Then back at her.
âIâm notâŠmad at you,â he said, quieter â though his voice still trembled with anger. âY-youâre rightâIâm scared.â
That disarmed her more than yelling ever couldâve.
She swallowed. âDonât be,â she tried â but it came out small.
âI have to be,â he said. âYou donât see what I see. What he does. WhatâŠthat world is.â
She said nothing. Because she could still feel Jungkookâs hand ghosting her skin. His laugh. His stupid fucking wine. His stupid fucking gentleness he pretended wasnât real. And she hated that a part of her wanted to defend him.
Yoongi scrubbed a hand over his face, exhaling hard. âI donât want you anywhere near him again. Iâm serious, Y/N.â
She opened her mouth. Closed it.
Her chest felt tight â rebellion curling under her ribs â but guilt was louder. Exhaustion heavier.
She nodded once. Not agreement. Just⊠acknowledgment. But Yoongi didnât know that.
Yoongi studied her one last time â searching her face for something he didnât find â then brushed past her toward the door.
He paused at the threshold.
âAnd take that fucking hoodie off,â he muttered.
Then he left. Leaving her alone with silence. And Jungkookâs warmth wrapped around her shoulders.
And feelings she did NOT sign up for.
previous âŻâŻâŻâŻ next
hiya luves!! i just wanted to briefly thank all of you whoâs been showing your support towards my first ever work on tumblr. its so flipping intimidating to post here but i feel so loved and motivated to create more when you guys spread the love đ so thankchuu so so much and i hope you enjoyed this chapter! lowkey, i feel like yoongiâs getting a little annoying, thatâs on me đ„č. luv ya gais mwahhh đđ
She did amazing on this. I love how she says this was her first story but looks like sheâs written over 5 books. I love how depth she has in her stories. Canât wait for the rest of the series.
synopsis: need a shoulder to cry on or someone to get you off late at night? fear not, because boyfriend hotline is a brand new app that will match you with someone who is more than happy to fulfill any of your boyfriend-related needs.
genre: jjk x reader (fem), smau mini-series, smut, fluff, crack
tags/warnings: phone sex, he calls her a brat and princess, mentions of getting slapped, big dildo, mutual masturbation, voyeurism, orgasms, minor angst towards the end, they have deep talks!
wc: 7.0k (woohoo!)
a/n: heyyyy guys... *tentatively peeks head through door* im sorry it's taken me a literal month to update this, it's a written chapter and i had a lot of big life stuff going on so i've just been so busy fjasdjfjf IM SORRY! but shout out to @gukcnt and @lluciboo for being the number 1 fans like i love u guys sm. and despite how long it took, i actually had SOO much fun writing this teehee. so i hope u guys love it too! as always thank u sm for being here, enjoy!!!
series masterlist | main masterlist
Shuffling in bed, you position your phone so that when Jungkook picks up, he can see your face and chest clearly, maybe only getting a glimpse of the cream-colored headboard behind you.
You check your reflection in your phone camera, touch up your face with some lipgloss from your bedside table, and take a deep breath before hitting âstart one-time video call.âÂ
Heart pounding. Palms sweating. Hands tremblingâto the point that you almost press the wrong button. But you donât, and the phone starts to ring.Â
Good thing you already have your âprettyâ pajamas on, you think, which just consists of white Brandy Melville booty shorts and a pink skin-tight spaghetti-strap tank top. No bra.Â
Fuck. Your nipples poke through a little. You hide, bringing your covers above your chest and tucking them into your armpits as you wait for Jungkook to pick up.Â
Does your hair look okay? Do your dark circles show? You clear your throat, shaking your head and trying to calm yourself. Heâs just Jungkook. The guy youâve sexted a few times and may or may not have developed a small crush on and gotten slightly (very) emotionally attached to.Â
Yup. Just Jungkook. Any moment now, heâd appear on the screen.Â
After five rings, he finally does.
Your breath catches. Holy shit.
Your heart thrashes in your chest, doing somersaults and all kinds of acrobatics when you finally get a good look at him.Â
His hair looks fluffier than in his picture, and his features appear softer as well. Heâs sitting on what is presumably his couch, wearing a devilishly tight black Nike compression shirt. When he shifts slightly, you can see his grey sweatpants and a sliver of his signature Calvin Klein underwear.Â
Unsurprisingly, he is gorgeous.Â
What is surprising is how freaking cute he is when he smiles.
âHey there, pretty lady.â
Oh screw that. His voice is the most pornographic thing youâve ever heardâsoft, low, and manly in a way that doesnât intimidate but still feels gravelly.
Maybe youâre just losing your mind, but you can almost feel his breath tumbling from your speakers. He also sounds annoyingly smugâso much so that you want to scoff out loud.
âHi,â you reply, fighting the awkward tinge in your voice. âSo this thing really works, huh?â
You wonder if you sound as nervous as you are.Â
âWell, we are here, arenât we?â He brushes his hair back with his hand, which you notice is inked with intricate tattoos. âSo princess, do I look as good as I do in my picture?â
He really doesâeven better, in factâand that makes you go a little bit insane, but you sure as well arenât going to show it.
âNo comment.âÂ
He chuckles, huffing out a half-laugh through his nose. âCrumbs. Thatâs all you give me, princess, crumbs.â
You roll your eyes. âAgain, Iâm not the service provider, you are. I donât have to âgiveâ you anything.â
âFiesty as always,â he says good-naturedly. âLucky for you, Iâm into that. You look really good, by the way. Profile picture doesnât do you justiceâyouâre way cuter.â
You try not to be swayed by his kind words. Heâs just doing this because heâs getting paid to, you remind yourself.
âEver the sweet-talker, huh?â You force a neutralâmaybe somewhat stern expression on your face. âSo tell me, what is it that you needed to say so badly but couldnât say over text?â
He takes a deep breath, repositioning the camera slightly.Â
âAlright,â he sighs. âI guess weâll get right into it then.â
âSure. Letâs hear it.â
Curiosity peeks through your voice despite your efforts to sound bored.
âI wanted to tell you about Yumi.â Your lungs stop working for a moment. He continues. âSheâs probably my most regular clientâand sheâs been with me the longest.â
Yumiâthe girl whose comment sent you spiralling for a good few hoursâis his oldest and most frequent client. Not shocking, but still painful.Â
Really, you have no reason to be hurt. This is what you signed up for: a service provider. A boyfriend for thirty minutes. Something temporary and transactional. Of course heâd have other clients.Â
But something about seeing another girl claim to have âsuch a special connectionâ with him gave you a reality check. You were getting too possessive and emotionally invested over a man that wouldnât have spared you a second glance if you werenât putting money into his pockets.
 Yes, itâs true that you are underfucked. Yes, youâve been particularly lonely recently.
Your last relationship ended with you chucking another girlâs underwear towards your ex and storming out of his apartment in tears, certain that your sexual desires were far too obscene and thatâs what drove him away from you.
Your last date ended with you finishing an entire bottle of wine by yourself at some overpriced Italian restaurant, stumbling home with a broken heel.Â
Still, that doesnât mean you can just start falling for some guy whoâs being paid to text you. Unfortunately, Jungkook is making it really hard to not do just that.
âBut I want you to know that sheâs really nothing special to me. I think she likes me a lot because, well, she kind of knows me in real life and we have similar social circles. Itâs kind of an unspoken secret between us: the fact that sheâs horny enough to use this app and the fact that Iâm broke enough to have this kind of job.â
âI see.â
So they know each other in real life. And they probably lock eyes whenever they attend the same parties and gatherings, laughing silently to each other as their sexts from the night before resurface their minds. Totally cool.
âBut aside from that, sheâs really just another client. A little clingy, yes, but still a client. Iâve never seen her as anything else.â
âReally? Seems like the perfect plot for some trashy smutty Tumblr fanfiction.â Each word feels like biting into a brick. âYou sext someone on some dating app and then find them in your friend group the next day and then hook up in a club bathroom afterwards.â
âItâs not like that, I swearââ he cuts himself off to let out an exasperated breath, ââIâve only seen her in real life like, twice. And Iâve never hooked up with any clients.â
Your heart stutters.
âAll she does during our sessions is rant about her life and I tell her toâI donât fucking knowâforget about it and focus on talking to me instead. She likes that, I guess. But honestly, I donât really care. Itâs the same fucking routine every time. But with youââ he stops for a moment to laugh, ââyouâre always surprising me. You donât make things easy. And I like that a lot.â
Although heâs just a moving image behind your screen, you can see the vulnerability in his face and the desperation in his voice. Heâs probably infringing on some employee contract, telling you private details about his sessions with another client.
âWhy are you even telling me this?â
He gives a half-hearted snicker, leaning back onto his couch with a sigh. The callâs static whirrs as he thinks of a response.Â
âI donât know,â he says. You can tell itâs an honest answer. âBut I couldnât stand the thought of you thinking that youâre just another client to me.â
âIf Iâm not just another client,â you start, voice almost giving up on you, âWhat am I?â
He doesnât say anything for a few seconds.
âI⊠donât know,â he finally replies. Youâre not sure if thatâs the answer you wanted, but his sincerity shakes you nonetheless. âI donât know what you are to me, but I know that youâre⊠special. And I wanted you to know that too.â
You shift slightly in your bed, searching for a suitable response.Â
You donât want to give in and tell him how much you look forward to talking to him. You donât want to admit how much of an effect he has on you. But here he is, pouring his heart out, and what can you even give in return?
âDo you believe me?â he asks.
 What kind of game does he think heâs playing? And why does it feel like heâs winning?
You stare at him through your phone screen and consider your next move as he looks at you anxiously, his composed facade flickering away with every second that you leave him hanging. A part of you wants to let it go and move on, while the darker, more evil part of you wants to make him beg for forgiveness, even though he hasnât technically done anything wrong.
The latter part prevails.Â
So, you choose to be annoyingâto piss him offâand make him feel as bad as you did when you saw Yumiâs review and his reply. Make him consider dropping the whole Boyfriend Hotline thing altogether to pursue you as his one and only client instead.Â
Selfish? Yes. Sorry? No.
âI guess I believe you,â you start. âBut I hope you donât start thinking that youâre necessarily anything special to me, though.â
âI beg your pardon?âÂ
âHavenât I told you? Iâve been talking to other guys, too. I only use you when I want a quick fix. I mean, isnât that what Boyfriend Hotline is for?â
A moment of stunned silence passes.Â
Then, he laughs, boyish and low with his head thrown back and Adamâs apple bobbing.Â
âYouâre really trying to piss me off, arenât you?âÂ
âNot particularly trying,â you lie, biting your lip. âAm I, though?â
âI expect nothing less from a brat.â Anger looks good on him, you think. âAre you really that jealous?â
âJealous? More like offended,â you scoff. âYou say all this shit about wanting me so bad only to do the same thing to ten other girls, probably. Iâm not a fan of liars.â
You intend to be mean. You want to make him panic. But youâre amusedâa little giddy at his previous confessionâand it shows in the playful lilt of your voice, which he no doubt notices.Â
His eyes darken.Â
âI promise, no other girl has turned me on the way you have.âÂ
âOh yeah?â You smile slowly. Sinister. Bold. âThen prove it.â
Youâve folded. Heâs won. You know it and so does he.
âAnd how would you like me to do that?â
Fuck playing hard to get. Fuck making him feel bad or guilty or whatever. Heâs right thereâeyes glued to you, desperate for your attentionâand you want him. Badly.
âShow me.â Your mouth goes dry. âShow me what I do to you.â
His face hardens, staring at you intently through the screen.
âOnly if you do exactly as I say, dumb brat,â he finally says, practically grunting. âYou want me to jerk off to you? Then give me a show, princess.â
This is really happening. You muster all of the courage you have and ignore the somersaults in your stomach.
âDeal.â
He smirks. You squirm.
âWait,â he commands sharply, standing up and bringing his phone with him.Â
âWhere are you taking me?â
You catch blurred glimpses of his house as he walks by. Eventually, he sets you down on a counter and faces you towards tile walls.
âBathroom,â he mumbles into the microphone, voice tickling your ears. âIâll be back.â
He disappears for a moment, and you hear the sound of doors opening and closing along with his urgent footsteps.Â
Without you realizing it, your covers rolled down mid call, revealing your hardened nipples and the curve of your chest through the thin fabric of your tank top. Lifting your covers, you sneak a hand into your panties, marveling at the slick gushiness that returns.Â
Alright, so when the fuck did that happen? You really need to get fucked soon. You canât be getting this turned on by a man behind a screen.
You hear a door open, and then close. Jungkook enters the frame.
Except this time, heâs shirtless, only wearing his low-hanging grey sweatpants, which have been pulled down even more, somehow, providing a clearer view of his happy trail and white Calvin Klein boxers.Â
But even more surprising is his fucking body. Not only does he have a full fucking sleeve of tattoos, going all the way from his knuckles to his collarbones, but he has a full on six-pack, with broad shoulders and biceps that look like they can crush you with a single curl.Â
âLike what you see?â He seems amused by your ogling.
From the tiny corner at the top of your phone, you realize that all heâs seeing is your wide eyes as you hold the phone close to your face and gawk at him.Â
âShut up.â You move the camera to show a more respectable angle of your face.Â
He grins, clearly enjoying your flustered state.
âNever gonna say a nice thing to me?â
âNever.âÂ
âSo cute,â he murmurs under his breath, as if it isnât meant for you to hear. âAnyways, I have a surprise for you.â
That catches your attention. âA surprise?â
âMhm.â
You wait. He doesnât say shit about the âsurprise.âÂ
âWhat is it?â you finally ask.Â
He snorts, beefy arms caging the frame as he leans down. âWell, youâre going to have to earn it, brat. Whereâs my show?â
Fuck. Right.Â
Youâre the one who has to turn him on right now. Why the hell did you say that earlier?
âI canât believe you always make me do stuff first,â you grumble, sitting up and pulling down your covers. âWorst service provider ever.â
He takes the jab easily. âAlright, alright,â he concedes. âHow about I help you get started?â
You nod. âYes please.â
A slow, amused chuckle. So he finds this cute.Â
âWhy donât you start by showing me what youâre wearing tonight, princess?â
God, Jungkookâs voice should be illegal. If he ever switches his profession to an audiobook reader, you think that he can make even your required readings sound interesting.
Gulping, you lay down flat, swinging your covers to the side, and slowly dragging the camera down.Â
From his perspective, heâd be seeing your body from a bird's eye view. Your shorts have rolled up slightly, showing off more of your thighs, and your tank topâs equally a mess, straps down, nipples poking through, belly button playing peek-a-boo.
The reaction is immediate.
His lips part, breath spilling out in a desperate huff, and his eyes go matte, pupils dilating as he leans toward the phone camera with two hands on the sink counter as if steadying himself somehow.
âLike what you see?â you mirror his earlier line.
He acts composed. âMhm, I really do,â he mumbles, voice rumbling close to the camera.Â
The sudden coldness from the absence of your covers gives you goosebumps.
âWant to⊠see more?â
âYeah.â
Heart hammering against your chest, you lift up your tank top, letting the cotton pool at your collarbones. Your boobs are exposed, nipples already embarrassingly hard.Â
âFuck,â he whispers. âYouâre gorgeous.â
âWanna touch yourself?â
Over text, you didnât have too many reservations about saying dirty thingsâit was why you downloaded the app in the first place. But now, when your voice carries your thoughts into the open, it feels more real. Obscene. Lewd. Scandalous. And you love it.
âHell yeah I do,â he says immediately. âBut you know what would really turn me on?â
âHm?â you hum, breathless already.
âIf you touched yourself too.â His voice is quiet. âCan you do that for me, baby?â
Fucking hell.Â
You hum an affirmative response.
Suddenly, all of the tension and banter from before is gone. Both of you are silent, anticipating the otherâs every move. You can barely speak.
A deep breath.Â
Okay, you can do this. You set your phone down, propping it against a pillow at the edge of the bed so that it can stand up without you physically holding it.Â
He watches as your tank top falls back down, covering your body again.
A show. You have to give him a show, you think. There must be dozens of girls who heâd seen naked before over video call. For goodness sake, he makes girls masturbate for a living.
You want to stand out. Â
From the drawer at the bottom of your bedside table, you take out a dildo. His breath hitches, eyes trained on you like a hawk.Â
You gulp, your saliva feeling like cotton.
You get on your knees, sit on your heels, and check the tiny corner at the top of your screen to see what you look like to him.
The purple, bumpy dildo is front and center. Youâre right behind it, hair a mess, cheeks flushed, and chest heaving. Your bed, large with fluffy white covers, serves as a backdrop.
âThat motherfucker is huge,â he finally comments. âAre you sure you can take it, princess?â
âHow big are you?âÂ
He snickers. âBigger than that.â
âThen yes. I can.â
His eyes twitch and stomach clenches. You marvel at the reaction.Â
A bulge starts to form at his sweatpantsâor maybe itâs been there for a while and youâve only just now noticed. A small area is splotted dark from his precum. Holy shit. Are you even breathing?Â
âFuck,â he finally leans back, starting to gently palm his cock through his sweatpants. âTake off that fucking top. Wanna see your tits.â
Wordlessly, you comply, pulling it off and inviting the cold that bites your skin.Â
He physically chokes out a breath seeing you topless, properly, for the first time.Â
You take the liberty to roll down your shorts, as well, ignoring the wet spot at the crotch area.Â
The grip on his cock gets tighter.
You see his chest rising and falling faster. The arm thatâs still holding onto the sink counter flexes involuntarily. Itâs like his whole body spasms with every move you make.Â
âTouch yourself.â
The permission is more needed than youâd like to admit.Â
âHow?â
âStart with those pretty tits of yours,â he says immediately. âSlow circles. Pinch them a little if you want. Tease yourself.â
You nod in response, warmth tingling between your thighs. Electricity at the pit of your stomach.
When you touch your nipples, your head feels light. You canât help but let out a soft, desperate sigh. Your eyes close, eyebrows scrunching up as pleasure wraps around you.Â
âShow me that pussy.â He tugs down his sweatpants and boxers in one go, his dick springing to life and slapping against his stomach. âBeen dying to see it.â
You think youâve seen big dicks before. But, heâs⊠not just big; heâs girthy, with veins so thick they could probably carve entire canals in your walls. So pretty. So pink. Deliciously leaking with precum.Â
You comply, sitting back and spreading your legs, baring your womanhood to the camera.Â
âLook at you, talking shit when youâre already this wet.â He stares at you, eyes clouded with desire. âFucking brat. Youâre dripping all over the place for me.â
You donât reply, instead responding by starting to rub gentle circles on your clit. Your head falls back, a hiss slipping from your mouth. Your other hand comes up to tweak at your nipples, which elicits another whimper.
He spits on his handâeyes never leaving you for a momentâand he starts pumping his length slowly.Â
âPretty girl,â he coos.Â
On the screen, you see him hunched over, one hand on his shaft, and the other pressed on the counter by his phone. His tattooed arm flexes with every pump, abs twitching with every choked breath as he loses himself in the sight of you.
Fuck. You need more. So, you slide two fingers inside. Your pussy welcomes the stretch, but itâs not enough. Not enough when you curl them against your gummy walls. Not enough when you drag them in and out, letting your juices drip down and drench your bedsheets.
But still, Jungkook is watching you touch yourself. And it does something to you. It really does.
âSo fucking pretty,â he pants. âGod I wish I was there. I want to touch you so bad.â
You imagine how itâd feelâhis hands on your body, his nose on your clit, tongue sliding through your folds.
âYeah?â you reply, feeling breathless yourself, your ecstasy growing with every time you jam your fingers into your throbbing cunt. âWhat would you do if you were here?â
âIâd fucking ruin you.â He grits his teeth. âIâd suck the life out of those perfect little tits of yours and use my fingers to make you cry for me.â
With three fingers inside now, you curl them against your throbbing walls, arching your back when the pleasure it brings has you quivering. He continues.
âYouâd beg me to make you cum. But before you can, Iâll stop, and then Iâll slap you in the fucking face when you complain about it.â
You think of Jungkook slapping youâstinging and leaving a markâthen cupping your face with those huge, warm hands, gently wiping away your tears and calling you a princess. Telling you that you did so good after mercilessly denying you an orgasm.
âAnd youâll like it.â
You hate that heâs right.
âThen Iâll make you cry and slobber all over my dick,â he grunts, picking up the pace.
Holy shit. You can feel your pulse in every fiber of your being, thumb rolling at your clit as you fuck yourself silly with your fingers.
âAnd after that Iâll fuck you all night until you canât even remember your own name.â
Holy fucking shit. Your back arches, your skin crawlsâyouâre already embarrassingly close.
Heâs fucking his fist, wet sounds echoing through his bathroom to your speakers. His eyes screw shut for a short moment before he glares at you.
âDonât you dare think about finishing right now,â he snaps. âYouâll come when I tell you to.â
You all but whimper in response, forcing yourself to slow down. Body twitching all over, you will yourself to stop, pulling your soaked fingers out of your sopping cunt, panting hard.
He spits in his hand one last time, using it to give himself a few more pumps before coming to a halt as well.
A breathless chuckle. His face is flushed, a thin sheen of sweat all over. âI think you earned your surprise, princess.â
Still catching your breath, you watch curiously as he grabs something from behind the camera.
Itâs a marker. A permanent black marker. Mustâve been what he went to get earlier in the call.
A cocky smirk dances on his face as he unscrews the cap. Nothing prepares you for what he does next.
He drags the tip of the marker across his pelvis, ink flooding his smooth, pale skin, slowly weaving through his happy trail.
It spells out⊠your name.Â
Messy. Crooked. But yours. Heâs written your name on his body.Â
âYou think I do this for every client?â Â
Oh fuck this shit. His voice is rough and needy, maybe a little bit angry, but itâs everything thatâs ever been in your wet dreams. You might actually lose it.
Your thighs squeeze involuntarilyâwhich he notices right awayâand your pussy clenches, desperate to be filled up with something.Â
âJungkook,â you exhale, âYouâre⊠insane.â
âYou drive me insane, princess.â He chucks the marker away, returning his hold on his shaft. âNow sit on that shit for me and imagine youâre riding my cock.â
How this man has managed to make you so horny through a fucking phone screen needs to be studied.Â
The purple dildo seemed intimidating moments before, but now youâre not even sure if itâll be enough. You lift up your hips and position the head to your entrance, sighing as you sink down on it slowly.
Youâre so fucking wet that you manage to take all of it in practically one go.
Eyes closed, you imagine that the bumps on the dildo are Jungkookâs veins. The mattress you steady yourself on is his sturdy chest. The ticklish bedsheet that meets your pelvis is his.
âShit,â he grunts under his breath, âYouâd take me so fucking well, princess. Fuckââ he grips his length harder, ââwish that were me. So fucking bad.â
âMe too,â you mewl. âI want your cock, Jungkook.â
âYeah?â Sticky sounds from your speaker. Heâs getting impatient, too. âWhat do you want to do with my cock?â
âI want it inside me.â You start moving up and down, letting the dildo ease your walls from that beautifully stretched-out sensation, only to sink back down a moment later and nearly break yourself in half. âWanna ride you all night.â
He groans, pupils blown out. âSo fucking hot. God, I want you so bad.â
As you repeatedly ram yourself into the dildo, you force yourself to open your eyes and watch the screen.
Low angle. Clenched abs. Huge fucking dick all covered with his spit. Your name on his pelvis in that messy black ink, like a declaration that heâs yours.
Yours. That gets your heart racing.Â
His eyes are trained on you: the way your tits bounce with every rise and fall, the way the sheets are soaked underneath you, and the way your face contorts with every high-pitched whimper.Â
âJungkook,â you whine softly, âIâm really close.âÂ
You rub frantic circles on your spasming bundle of nerves as you bounce up and down, moans and whimpers spilling out of you as you chase your high. A coil of tension tightens at the pit of your stomach. You donât think you can hold it in much longer.
âShit, me too,â he whispers, out of breath. His eyebrows are furrowed and heâs heavingâchest quivering like heâs struggling to hold it together. âLet go for me, princess.â
And you do.
White. Hot. Blinding. Loud. Even you are impressed by your pipes.
Your orgasm comes faster than expected, as if his permission was the final ingredient you needed to let go. You want to hate how well your body responds to him, but you donât.Â
Soon, he too spills out right toward the camera, and you see white ropes dribble down his skin as he lets out several harsh grunts. The ink on his pelvis gets partially splattered with some of his semenâdroplets decorating your name.
When you finally slow down and come to a stop, it takes all of your energy to lift yourself off the dildo. Itâs a while before you figure out how to breathe normally again.
Your eyes meet.Â
Well. He definitely looks like he just had sex, and God, sex looks good on himâhair all tossed up and skin glowing. Youâre a clammy mess as well, with sweat all over, your hair sticking to your face, and juices drenching your bedsheets.
Conclusion: heâs a wreck, and so are you.Â
He laughs first, delicate. You follow shortly.
âSoâŠâ you trail off, âI take it that you like the show?â
âSomething like that,â he chuckles, grabbing some tissues to clean up. âThis enough for a raving review?â
He holds the camera over his cock, letting you see the mess you made.Â
Itâs⊠everywhere. Dripping down his length to his balls, splattered all over his sink and floor, droplets scattered along his pelvis. You gulp.
He starts wiping himself, muttering when he almost uses up the entire roll of toilet paper, âYou goddamn witch.â
You giggle, satisfied, also taking the liberty to clean yourself up with a nearby towel, slipping your Brandy Melville shorts back on.Â
A comfortable silence.
Thereâs a spare hoodie on the floor, which you quickly tug on for warmth. The purple dildo is tossed into your bathroom sink, which you tell yourself youâll clean later.Â
When you return to the phone, you find that Jungkook has taken you to what seems to be his bedroom.Â
Heâs lying down, snuggled in the covers all cutely as if moments before he wasnât watching you fuck yourself stupid.
âHi.â
Oh, so this motherfucker can be cute, too?
You roll your eyes and put your phone on the bedside table. âSo this call really never ends?âÂ
âNope. I mean, itâs not supposed to, but Iâve never really tested it, either.â
âHas no one else ever used it?â you ask, settling into your bed.
âOh yeah, one time.â He rolls onto his back and starts chuckling to himself. âThis poor old lady thought she was on an app that would connect her with her old boyfriends. I had a hard time explaining things over text so I asked her to say her safeword so I could explain over call instead.â
âNo way,â you laugh, âDid she take it well?â
âShe was sweet about it, yeah,â he confirms, laughing himself. âShe started telling me about all her past boyfriends and everything, actually. Fun day.â
You reply with some quirky comment about how older people never really get embarrassed about anything. He agrees, sharing stories of older clients being completely unashamed of their desires and younger clients always being a little hesitant at first.Â
Somehow, the conversation shifts to discussing sweet old ladies youâve encountered in your lifetimeâlike the woman who helped him tie a tie for his first job interview, or your favorite teacher in primary school. That leads to you discussing your kindergarten teacher job hunt and your cafe side hustle.Â
This is how an hour goes by, just talking. Really talking.
He shares his useless college days where he studied computer science. You tell him about how education majors actually have hard classes. He laughs at your jokes and you canât help but find him incredibly charming as he rolls around in bed with that fluffy hair and dangerous smile.Â
His bedding is all white like yours, and his room is similarly minimalistic, with light-colored curtains and little to no decor. For a moment, you imagine that his image on the screen can melt into reality.
You imagine him lying next to you, telling funny stories and smelling of some manly scent. Your head would lay on his chest, his arm wrapped around you. Youâd laugh into his neck and heâd chuckle into the top of your head, pulling you closer. Holding you tight.
Even though you know itâs a fantasy, you canât help but entertain it.
âSo howâs the bar thing going?â you ask, since you realized that youâve been yapping about your career prospects for a while now.
âPretty good,â he responds. âWeâre set to open in a month, I think? The place is coming together real nice, now that itâs been constructed and all the contracts and boring stuff has been taken care of.â
âThatâs so cool,â you say, and you mean it. âWhy a bar?â
He shrugs. âFriends wanted to do it and I was like, why the hell not. I hated my tech job anyway. So I quit and picked up this Boyfriend Hotline thing to do in the meantime since itâs pretty flexible and makes good money.â
âIs that the only reason? Or were you also just enjoying the female attention?â You mean to sound teasing and curious, but it comes out a bit more accusatory than youâd like. He doesnât seem to mind.
âOh come on,â he chuckles, rolling his eyes. âI just happen to be good at it. Not my fault.â
âSure, whatever,â you grumble, unimpressed.Â
He pauses for a second, shakes his head, and asks, âWhat about you?âÂ
âHm?â
âGetting on Boyfriend Hotline,â he supplies. âWe havenât talked about it too much, but youâre here after a breakup right?â he asks tentatively. âYou donât have to tell me about it if you donât want to. But Iâm just letting you know that I have two ears and theyâre great at their job.â
âYou can just say that youâre a good listener, you know,â you snicker.
âI like to be poetic.â His tone is lighthearted, but thereâs an underlying curiosityâlike he actually cares about your answer.Â
You decide to tell him.
âHonestly?â you sigh. âMy ex and I always had trouble in the⊠intimacy department. I always thought I was more freaked out than himâlike, Iâd ask him to call me a slut and heâd go paleâbut I found him kind of cute for that so I just let myself be vanilla for him,â you explained. âBut then he went and cheated on me, as you know, and it was with some pretty frilly pink petite mousey bitch whoââ
He snorts. You glare.Â
âIâm sorryâitâs just the way that you described herââ
âWhatâs so funny about that?â you pout.
âNothing,â he says, swallowing back a laugh. He exhales, calming down. âNothing,â he repeats, softer this time. âSounds like a bitch.â
You chuckle, amused at how he immediately takes your side.
âSheâs⊠alright,â you finally say. âItâs just thatââ you stop yourself, sighing in frustration, ââsheâs like the mirror version of myself, but better.â
âWhat do you mean?â he tilts his head.
âWell, to start, sheâs also studying education,â you say. âSheâs my age, has a similar sense of style, and⊠sheâs really cute. She wears dresses and always has her hair done in some effortless updo. She speaks really softly and covers her mouth when she laughs. She doesnât curse and always has a first-aid kit in her bag. Sheâs just that type of girl, you know?â
In the silence that follows, you think about Mina.
Everyone teased that you guys could practically be sisters with how you were both so soft and sweet. But you knew that you were always just a little bit more rough around the edges. A little more rowdy. You laughed louder. Cussed more.Â
Finally, Jungkook says something.
âBut how does that make her better?â
You freeze for a moment, unsure of your answer. âWell⊠I guess people always said we were similar, but it was kind of an unspoken agreement that between the two of us, she was way more suited for teaching kindergarten. Theyâd say she was born for the job, since she was so naturally sweet and gentle and all.â You laugh dryly. âIt just sucks that I wasnât only competing with her for job positions, but also for my boyfriend, too.â
Because frankly, always being compared to her never made you insecure until your last boyfriend, Jackson Wang.Â
Heâd only shower you with love when you were⊠more like her. When you were quiet and submissive and just a cute little thing. He didnât like it when you talked back. He didnât like it when you wanted to be called obscene things and actually had an opinion in the bedroom.
So maybe it was no surprise when you walked into his apartment to find condom wrappers and underwear that definitely wasnât yours on the floor, looking up to find him tangled with her in his bedsheets.Â
It was so cliche, you almost laughedâand you kind of wished that you didâinstead of losing your shit and throwing things at them before storming off. That only made it more cliche. Didnât make it hurt less.
âOkay, listen.â He props himself up on his elbows, clearing his throat like heâs about to give a life-changing speech. âI, for one, really like your laugh. I like girls who cuss. I like it when you tell me what you like and when you challenge me.â
His gaze is insistent. You try not to falter under it.
âIt honestly seems like heâs just some freak who only likes girls when theyâre submissive.â You chuckle a little bit at that. He continues passionately. âHe didnât leave you because she was âbetterâ or whateverâthatâs bogus. He left you because heâs an asshole who canât handle a real, independent woman.âÂ
At this point, itâs getting harder to control your face. Youâre biting your lip, trying to hold back tears. Heâs saying all the right thingsâand youâd be annoyed at how good he is at this if it wasnât tugging at your heartstrings.Â
He pauses, eyes flickering to the side with slight hesitance.Â
âBut⊠I can,â he declares. âAnd as someone who literally talks to women for a living, Iâll go ahead and say that if all of them were lined up against a wall and I could only choose one to hang out with⊠Iâd choose you.â
The bold statement lingers. You try not to break. Just who is he? How can he make you feel this way after having known you for only a little while?
âThanks,â you finally reply, voice quiet.
He gives a small smile, eyes unwavering and kind.Â
âYouâre welcome.â
Something has changed. Youâre not sure what it is exactly, but you feel it and so does he. Thereâs tension in the air, tight with a tacit agreement that taking this any further would be really crossing the line.
You hear a buzz from his phone. His face comes closer to the screen as he checks the notification.
âHey, uh, I think I might have to go now,â he says, a little bit awkward.
âOkay.â You nod, humming lightly. âYour friend?â
He shakes his head. Exhales nervously. âNo itâs⊠itâs actually another client.â
âOh.â Your stomach drops.Â
He looks away. âThe safeword thing takes a few hours to work, so I should probably take on a few clients while I can before Iâm jobless for the next week,â he jokes, but it doesnât elicit any laughter.
Right. Heâs still being paid to be here. Even if youâre his favorite clientâthe best among dozensâyouâre still a client. Just someone on his phone who heâs being paid to talk to.Â
Heâs setting that boundary before you start getting any weird ideas.
âOkay,â you reply softly, straining a smile. âThis was fun.â
âI should be back in a week,â he says slowly. âWill you request me later?â
There it is. The question. He really does just need you for the money.
âMaybe.â
He chuckles. âSo ambiguous.â
You try to laugh, but itâs painful. He notices.
âDo you want me to stay?â he asks. âI donât have to accept every clientâsââ
âNo,â you cut him off more harshly than you want to. âGo ahead. Iâve already taken up enough of your time, and I donât want you to be broke.â
You intend to be playful; instead it sounds mean.Â
âAlright.â He nods slowly, still not entirely convinced. Your heart pinches. âAre you sure? I canââ
âIâm sure.â
You give an encouraging smile, acting like your whole body didnât go cold under your coversâlike this entire session was purely transactional. Acting like now that youâve gotten your needs fulfilled, youâre entirely happy to let him go.Â
âOkay,â he finally relents, eyes watching you carefully. âIâll go.â
You start waving at the camera, giving a soft smile.
âBye Jungkook,â you say.Â
He scooches closer, hand coming up to the phone.
âAlright,â his low voice rumbles. âGoodnight, princess.â
The term of endearment hangs in the air long after he ends the call and your phone screen goes black. You stare at your face in the reflection, unmoving as you gather yourself.
You need to delete the app.
This canât be good for youâthe butterflies, the laughter, and the inevitable heartache that follows.Â
You donât think you can go through this again. With every session, youâll just keep growing more attached, and youâll keep getting hurt. Itâll be a vicious cycle thatâll get harder and harder to escape if you let it go for much longer.
With newfound clarity, you sit up straight and grab your phone, fingers trembling as you enter the app for what you hope will be the last time. You should do it while you have the courage.
But before you can press âdelete account,â your deranged mind entertains an evil thought.
If he can go play around with other clients, whatâs stopping you from requesting sessions with another service provider?
Maybe itâll give you clarity. Itâll act as a benchmark for your interactions with him. Youâll know whatâs normal and whatâs not. Youâll learn if everyone is as charming as he is, or if heâs really treating you differently.Â
You rationalize why itâd be good for you, but deep down in your heart, a part of you hopes that heâll find out about you being with another service provider and heâll feel exactly what youâre feeling right now: jealousy.
Youâre not even sure if thatâs even possible. But the thought strikes you nonetheless, cementing itself in your mind as the underlying objective behind your next move.
Maybe in a few days, when youâre horny and curious enough, youâll try it out. Jungkook will be unavailable anyways, right?
You arenât doing anything wrong, you convince yourself. This is totally fine.
You remove him so that heâs no longer your primary service provider. Click onto the tab where you can look at others. Swallow your guilt with your saliva. Â
A few minutes go by as you scroll through profiles. A few catch your eye, a few donât. You read each personâs blurb, look at their faces, and read their reviews.Â
Then finally, you select one.
a/n: *evil laughter* did you guys enjoy!?! let me know pleaseeee i wanna know all your thoughts so bad hehehehe. i went back and forth on this chapter a LOT! i rewrote it like 3 times JFKDSJFLS there was a version with no smut where they just talk actually, but then it got boring because i couldn't describe shit since they are just ON THE PHONE? but im very happy with how the smutty version turned out so! yeah. anyways i dont want to spoil things too much but you can expect smau + written chapters from now on since we are well into the plot now hehe. that also means that updates will be unfortunately slower, but im going to work very hard so that they are worth the wait! thank u sm for being here lovelies!
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