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Mutual Help | 61

↳ 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬; in order for you to pretend to be his girlfriend, he helps you with your sexual desires ⏤ he calls it mutual help

⇢ 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: jungkook x reader

⇢ 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: fake dating au, fluff, angst, smut, slow burn

⇢ 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: explicit language, explicit content

⇢ 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 16.3k+

⇠ 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯. | 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐱 | 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 ⇢

Going back to reality leaves a bittersweet taste on your tongue and a strange pressure in your chest. So much has happened in Hawaii in the span of just a few days, leaving your existence feeling overwhelming. The rational part of you tries to convince you that, in the end, it’s exactly how it’s meant to be.

After all, this is what you wanted in the first place.

It was your decision.

But rationally, the discomfort from recent events lingers, slowly swallowing you whole. And no matter how hard you try to pretend you can go back to how things were two years ago, too much has happened – there’s no way back.

Dwelling on the past never helped anyone. It only tortures you.

It’s strange – your thoughts spiral as you desperately try to pinpoint exactly what you’re feeling. It’s confusing, painful, and frustrating.

None of the things you’ve done or experienced with Jungkook do you regret. You know very well that, at the time, it was exactly what you wanted – and you acted on instinct. You lived in the present.

Yes, you may have had moments where you told yourself you’d fucked up, that you’d acted purely on your needs and wants. But looking back now, you don’t actually regret it. Maybe you convinced yourself you did – but you don’t anymore.

It was your doing. Yours and Jungkook’s. Two adults who consented to all of it.

Sure, maybe it wasn’t the smartest idea to let it go that far. Maybe you should’ve never crossed the line from being best friends whose closest contact was a tight hug.

But God. You’re insufferable.

Just thinking about all the tension, excitement, and joy makes your toes curl, and you feel defeated knowing you won’t experience it again. Stupid–yes, you’re aware. You’re so fucking stupid.

But if you want to bring your friendship back, you have to set a boundary. No physical contact beyond a hug. No kisses. No intimate touches. No sex.

Just you and Jungkook, writing a new chapter. You know you probably won’t be able to return to the friendship you had years ago – but it’s time to work on it, to get as close as possible. That’s your wish.

Things are awkward for now. But there’s still a fragile, hopeless kind of hope that you’ll be able to work it out somehow.

Small steps, you tell yourself.

Standing at the airport, waiting in line to board the plane, feels like leaving something behind. In a way, you are. Once you’re back in Korea, something unknown and uncertain is waiting for you – especially when it comes to your relationship with Jungkook and how it will continue.

Even your interactions with him have been reduced to a minimum. You’ve only talked about basic things – whether you packed everything before leaving the beach house, the cab’s arrival, the flight departure, or whether you were hungry while waiting to board.

Here and there, he shows you his screen – a few funny videos he’s scrolled past on TikTok. You don’t blame him. He’s trying. But is this how it’s going to be?

Even on the way to Hawaii, with your hands always finding each other, there was nothing hollow between you. Now, it’s different.

And even though you understand the reasons why, it’s still hard to come to terms with.

“Want something?”

“–Hm?” Interrupted by your never-ending thoughts, Jungkook’s voice cuts through them.

He and the flight attendant both look at you, waiting for an answer. The flight attendant – perfectly neat – stands in the aisle, pushing a cart with meals. Jungkook holds his card in hand, ready to pay for the coffee about to be handed to him.

“Um–no, I’m good. Thanks.” You give her a small smile. Jungkook pays, and you turn to stare out the window, met with the same stretch of white clouds you’ve been watching for at least an hour.

Jungkook’s been staring at his phone, too polite to put on headphones and completely zone you out. There’s just nothing you could possibly say to him without feeling the strange atmosphere between you. You’ve tried to make conversation, but it always feels off – ending too quickly, which is probably for the best. At least then it’s not unbearably awkward.

It feels like you’ve run out of topics altogether.

You’ve tried – who’s picking you up from the airport. Whether Taehyung and Jimin reached out. If he’s ready to get back to work.

Just the basics, deliberately skipping anything about the actual vacation. You know it’s waiting for you as soon as you land.

He sips his coffee, not questioning your choice to decline anything. You close your eyes, desperate to clear your thoughts and focus on getting some rest. It takes a while, but eventually you drift into a light nap – still aware of your surroundings, even of Jungkook briefly speaking to a flight attendant who’s gathering trash as he tosses the paper cup away.

You’re not sure how much time passes by, keeping your eyes closed until a soft hand gently shakes you out of your daze.

“We’re here.” Jungkook announces, briefly met with your eyes opening as he unbuckles his seatbelt.

Here comes the reality.

“So–let me get this straight… you two went to Hawaii alone, got into a fight because of another woman and man, then ended up having sex?”

If you could curl up in a ball and hide yourself from Maya’s brown eyes, you would do that instantly. You haven’t even told her all the details and her summary actually fits. First of all, you weren’t planning on telling anyone what went down. But she has a great detective way of asking. One look at your face and she knew you two ended up hooking up again.

“Well–technically yes.”

You told her the part around Nara and Gabriel, reasoning why you’ve done it and up to your satisfaction, she understands why you’ve done it.

You’re currently at hers and Namjoon’s place, luckily Namjoon’s hanging out with friends.

“And what was the reason for ending it?”

You look at her in bewilderment as if it wasn’t obvious.

“Wait–you don’t have any cameras here, right?”

Maya snorts, but there’s nothing wrong with being delusional. You don’t need Namjoon checking any potential footage randomly and hearing the unbelievable story of yours. Not to mention he’s one of Jungkook’s good friends – not that it means anything – but it’s not on your wishlist for anyone else to know.

“No, not yet. We’re planning to buy one because after the wedding I would like to raise a puppy, so we probably will need cameras around here.”

“Puppy?” you snort, “I'm pretty sure you two have other priorities once the honeymoon starts.”

Maya laughs, looking suddenly sheepishly. “You don’t have to worry about any cameras. So kiss and tell.”

“I probably won’t kiss anyone any time soon–for my sake.”

Maya laughs again, finding humorous your sarcastic coping. Well, at least you’re trying to joke about certain things.

“Why would you end it?”

“Maya, come on–” you tsk, shaking your head.

“What? You know my thoughts on this. You’re both single and hot people. You just fit–in all kinds of ways.”

You grab a pillow and throw it at her. Her laugh resounds through the entire living room as she totally forgets the bag that’s been delivered to her. She’s sitting on the couch, a box long forgotten as she seems to eat up every word that’s coming out of your mouth.

“We kept going in circles, Maya. No matter how many times we ended it, somehow we always just ended up–”

“Having the best sex of your lives?”

“Maya, I swear–”

“Sorry, I know it looks like I’m taking it lightly but I just don’t understand what you’re so scared of. If it feels right, who cares?”

“Because it’s not right.” you argue.

She looks shocked, “Oh…”

“It’s not right, in all forms and ways possible. We–I had a pregnancy scare.”

“Holy shit.”

“Yeah,” you sigh, “It made me realize that if the test–if I ended up pregnant, our whole lives would change and that scared me. None of us want that and it was the last drop. We were careless. It keeps ruining our friendship.”

“Friendship?” Maya cocks her brow. Curls tighten in a wide ponytail as her coconut oil fills your senses. “Honey, it’s a relationship by now, no friendship.”

“There’s no relationship.”

“I–” she stops for a second, collecting her thoughts before she opens her mouth again. “Understand what you mean and we don’t have to define the term. I just mean–yeah friends sometimes fuck but you said it yourself. You and Jungkook kept going in circles. You’re both attracted to each other, hell, I don’t think I know anyone personally that would have that much attraction to one another. You can’t get enough of each other. Why just let it be and see where it gets you? If you guys wanna fuck, so be it.”

“I just told you. I don’t need to be reckless, end up knocked up by my friend–that would just complicate everything, not to mention I don’t want kids now. I don’t want it with someone I sleep with.”

“What are you scared of? Hm?” she asks softly. “Are you scared of love?”

You almost choke on your spit, “I don’t love him!”

She cocks her brow, “You sure?”

“I mean I do–not in that way though.”

“Because you don’t let yourself.”

“I don’t need to,” you argue. “A relationship could get messy and I don’t want to lose him. I don’t need to try it just for fun, what happened in Hawaii opened my eyes.”

“I understand,” she says, “Have you guys talked since you arrived? Taehyung was your drive, right?”

“Yeah he was,” you nod, “He obviously asked how the vacation was and all sorts of questions. You know Taehyung. And as for us talking–no. I mean we do have a group chat and we both chatted there, but we don’t really interact directly there.”

“Awh, I’m sorry. You’re sad.”

You try to fix your face from whatever expression there was. “No, I’m okay. I don’t expect everything to be just back to how it was. I think we both need some space before we can see each other.”

“Hey–aren’t you supposed to meet next week? I heard Namjoon about them hanging out at that new place around the corner from where Jungkook lives. I’m pretty sure Joon mentioned you will be there too.”

“I mean–I agreed to come, I just–”

“No, no, no. You won’t decline and you have to go, Y/N!” she almost whines. “The more you keep your distance, the more it will affect you. If you want things to go back to normal, you have to get through this uncomfortable and awkward phase.”

“I know, I know. I’m aware.. I’m just scared of what the dynamic will be.”

“I understand. But I might be there as well. We can just hang out. There’s too many men anyway.” She rolls her eyes as if men bothered you.

You chuckle, “You’re about to get married.”

“Yeah, can’t believe it’s happening. But men are men, come on.” she jokes, both of you laughing together.

“Good thing there aren’t any cameras here, huh?” you joke, another crack of loud laughter easing the topic.

“Well, well, well–if this isn't a full-time beach bum. Finally came to do some work?”

The familiar voice sends shivers down your spine as you can feel the eyes burning your back. Turning around, you’re met with one and only person who would have the guts to call you that so openly and shamelessly. You would’ve laughed at the nickname, but you won’t give him that satisfaction.

Min Yoongi stands there, with fully ironed button-ups and hair slightly longer than you remember them to be. He looks neat, wearing one of his fancy colognes you faintly can smell in the air.

To be completely honest, you kind of like seeing a fresh face that reminds you of your work-life, even though there’s a subtle annoyance, of course. You would never admit it out loud and minus the annoyance, you’re glad to see another man’s face that you interact on a daily basis with. Not that you want to. Since you work together, you’re forced to interact – even though you barely do if it’s not some snarky remarks to annoy the other or something work related.

“Just say you’ve missed me, don’t be shy.” The coffee machine behind you makes a noise while it starts pouring coffee, as Yoongi’s lips curl into disgust.

The sight makes your lips twitch in amusement.

“The only thing I’m missing is the air without your presence.”

“Ouch–” you feign hurt, a palm over your heart. “It’s okay. I know deep down you’ve missed me.”

“Yeah, sure,” he rolls his eyes.

“You came here to talk to me. That proves my point.”

“It proves nothing. I came here to make myself a coffee.” he points out and although you feel your cheeks pinch from the burn, you regain your posture and eye-him up and down.

“God, I almost forgot how annoying you are.”

“My pleasure.” he smiles sarcastically.

“I’m sure it is. Feels like tormenting me is the only pleasure you’re getting.” You make sure he sees the tight, forced smile as he scoffs, briefly looking away.

He wets his bottom lip. “Really?” he asks, a hint of challenge in his voice. “How many times did you have sex with that best friend of yours?”

For a brief moment, you feel heat rise to your cheeks and the back of your neck under his direct words. One thing about Yoongi is that he loves getting under your skin.

You take a second too long to reply, which only feeds into his assumption–and for once, it’s not entirely wrong. Still, you don’t want to give him the satisfaction of being right.

So you lie, straight through your teeth.

“None.”

“Mhm,” he hums behind you, clearly not believing you for even a second.

The coffee is done, the machine letting out a soft beep. Taking the cup into your hands, you fall back on the one thing that always masks the truth.

“Don’t worry. Maybe in another universe, you and I would have a chance.”

Watching Yoongi’s expression shift into pure, unmistakable disgust makes you laugh hard enough to nearly spill your coffee.

“Yeah, let’s hope that universe never makes it.”

Snorting, you take a short sip of your coffee, hoping it might wake you from your dazed state. The truth is, you didn’t sleep well. You woke up in the middle of the night so many times you lost count. Every time you closed your eyes, it was like you were back in Hawaii – on the plane, or anywhere Jungkook was. He invaded every inch of your dreams.

You once read that dreams are unprocessed events. This feels like proof of that.

You’ve done everything to make yourself presentable; not a single person could guess how your night really was. Yoongi moves to the machine, making himself a coffee.

Opening your mouth to steer the conversation somewhere else, you’re interrupted by someone calling your name. One of your co-workers greets you and quickly slips into a friendly, if slightly nosy, conversation about your vacation. She asks all the usual questions.

You welcome it, though. It seems you need more interactions with other people – anything to keep your mind from drifting back to the one person who keeps invading it.

When you glance behind you, to where Yoongi had been standing, there’s nothing – only the faint smell of his strong americano lingering in the air.

The rest of the week passes in circles. You go to work, come home, and keep yourself busy with small things – organizing cupboards, doing chores, anything to stay occupied.

The group chat mostly consists of Jimin and Taehyung texting each other. Jungkook says he’s had a lot of work since getting back and is still catching up. He replies here and there, usually when they mention him, but otherwise, the chat feels… off.

It’s true – you and Jungkook haven’t spoken directly. And you find yourself wondering if you should just send him a quick text.

That’s what friends do, right?

Even Taehyung calls both of you out for being unavailable, but you fall back on the same excuse Jungkook uses. You’re busy, catching up with everything.

It’s not really an excuse – you are busy. The difference is, you’re making sure you stay that way.

After Taehyung’s comment, you do try to react more to the things they send, hoping he won’t question it further or corner you the moment he gets you alone.

The day of your hangout is here, and you make sure you look as good as you possibly can. You spend a little too long in front of the mirror, adjusting things no one else would notice, just to feel a bit more in control. There’s an odd feeling blooming in your chest, a quiet anxiety building as you prepare to face Jungkook again. It sits there, persistent, like something you can’t quite name but can’t ignore either.

Once you get there, you feel like a high schooler about to take an oral exam in front of the class. A strange comparison, but you swear – the same tight knots twist in the pit of your stomach. Your hands feel slightly restless, unsure of where to settle, and every passing second stretches just a little too long. You catch yourself overthinking the smallest things–what you’ll say first, how he’ll greet you, whether it’ll feel normal at all.

Much to your disappointment, when you arrive, there’s no sign of Jungkook. At first, you tell yourself it might be for the better if he shows up later. Maybe then you’ll feel a little more in control. But it turns out today isn’t that kind of day.

After twenty minutes of talking about everything and nothing, you drift closer to Jimin. “Where’s Jungkook?”

For a moment, Jimin seems taken aback by your question, but he quickly shakes it off. “He’s not coming,” he says. “I thought you knew.”

“Yeah–yeah. I thought he was coming.” You try to play it off.

But even Jimin seems to notice something’s off. Out of everyone, you’d be the one to know. If the thought lingers in his mind, he doesn’t push it – just gives you a small, easy smile.

“He said he’s got one more big project to finish.”

And maybe that’s true. You know how Jungkook is when it comes to work – how easily he loses himself in it, how little time he leaves for anything else.

But still…

You can’t shake the feeling that you might be part of the reason he didn’t come.

When the waitress comes over to take your order, you sheepishly lean toward Jimin and ask if he’d be able to take you home. You feel a little too relieved when he has no problem with it, already offering to come back with you tomorrow so you can pick up your car.

You order soju, desperate to have fun–to forget the missing presence of your friend.

At some point, the others mention how it’s a shame Jungkook couldn’t make it. You just smile, a little too quickly, a little too tightly, hoping no one lingers on it long enough to connect the dots.

It’s just another reminder of how much everything has changed.

By the time it’s been two weeks since you last saw Jungkook, you start getting the feeling he’s avoiding you. Surely, he can’t be that busy to miss every single hangout.

On Tuesday, you all gather at Jimin’s place for a quick dinner consisting of junk food and a movie that always takes at least an hour to choose. Everyone in the group prefers different genres, which makes it harder to come to a decision.

On Thursday, you invite them over to your place instead.

Jungkook’s excuse for missing it comes in the form of a short message.

“I’m sorry, I can’t. Have an early shoot in the morning. You guys have fun x”

You’re not going to lie – you thought that if you were the one inviting everyone, he’d make sure not to miss it. To say the disappointment settling in your chest was painful would be an understatement.

You try to reason with yourself. He is busy. He wouldn’t lie about that. Even the guys say so. Even Maya knows about it – she mentioned it once while the two of you were on the phone, something about Namjoon needing help picking up a new piece of furniture. Jungkook was usually the first person people called when something heavy needed moving.

Even then, he had to turn him down.

It’s Friday. You should’ve gone straight home, taken the warm bath your body desperately needs to help your muscles relax. But when Jimin’s message pops up in the group chat, asking if any of you are up for fried chicken and beer, you find yourself debating whether you should go or not.

Much to your surprise, Taehyung can’t make it this time either – and, of course, neither can Jungkook.

When Jimin opens the door, blond hair messy and dressed in an oversized shirt, he welcomes you inside. The smell of fried chicken instantly hits you and your mouth waters.

“Finally,” he says dramatically, stepping aside to let you in. “I was starting to think you’d ditch me too.”

You snort quietly, slipping off your shoes as he closes the door behind you. “Tell me something about it.” you mumble under your breath.

You’ve been to Jimin’s apartment more times than you can count. Even if Jungkook’s place is where you usually hang out, you’re no stranger to Jimin’s apartment either.

Jimin’s place doesn’t have that stereotypical bachelor mess you’d expect from a guy living alone. Instead, the place smells faintly of clean laundry and whatever softener he uses, mixed with the lingering scent of fried food. The only exception is the gaming room down the hallway, permanently dim with LED lights and blackout curtains.

The apartment feels comfortable as always, warm lighting filling the space while a game is paused on Jimin’s large television screen.

Jimin walks toward the kitchen island and grabs a can of beer from the fridge before tossing it your way. “Catch.”

You give him a frowned look, thankful your instincts still kick in even at seven in the evening. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“And have Jungkook banging on my door?”

Jimin says it playfully, clearly teasing you. You roll your eyes, cracking the beer open.

“He’d have to be available first,” you mumble under your breath.

Jimin ignores your comment, though a slight grin still pulls at his lips. Cracking open his own beer, he takes a couple long chugs from the can.

The evening settles easily after that. You sit cross-legged on his couch, stealing fries from the takeout bag while Jimin talks about work, complaining about exhausting schedules and people seemingly incapable of doing the simplest tasks properly.

Eventually, the topic shifts to your own job.

“I swear he enjoys stressing me out,”

“Who? Yoongi?” he asks, already grinning and expression bright in recognition. “I kinda miss that guy.”

You stare at him in disbelief. “You miss being insulted every ten minutes?”

“There’s something oddly refreshing about him,” Jimin argues with a shrug. “At least he’s honest.”

“He’s insufferable.”

“Which is exactly why it’s a shame you hate him,” Jimin teases. “He’d make a nice addition to the group.”

The thought alone makes you laugh, memories of Jungkook and Yoongi childishly arguing with each other during the camping trip instantly resurfacing. The memories of those moments still feel fresh, almost as if they happened just last week. Thinking about them brings a wave of nostalgia mixed with something heavier you can’t quite name.

There’s never been a trip without some kind of drama, but this time it feels different. It’s only a reminder of how much your deal with Jungkook changed things.

Back then, the biggest issues were Taehyung and Jimin flirting a little too much and ending up with angry women ready to throw their drinks at them. Compared to now, those problems almost seem laughable.

“He’s avoiding me, isn’t he?”

Jimin looks taken aback by the silent question. After the laugh dies down, he looks as if he’s understanding what, or rather whom, you’re hinting at. Jimin isn’t stupid. He has to see that Jungkook has missed too many opportunities to hang out.

“Kook?” Jimin laughs, reaching for the cold fries that will probably taste like gum any minute now.

Nodding, you finish the beer. “I mean, he’s clearly not interested in hanging out.”

The moment the words leave your mouth, you notice the way Jimin’s eyes drift away. He clears his throat, suddenly far too focused on taking another long chug of his beer.

You’ve known him for years. You know his body language. And this – this is Jimin trying very hard not to accidentally say something he shouldn’t.

“Spill it.”

Jimin tries to look as if he has no idea what you’re talking about.

“Jimin,” you repeat through clenched teeth.

He looks almost apologetic then, scratching the back of his slightly messy blond hair.

“We hung out with Jungkook two days ago.”

You nearly choke on your own spit.

This whole time, you genuinely thought he was avoiding everyone. A part of you held onto the hope that maybe he truly was just busy with work, that he simply didn’t have the time.

“You what?” You try to keep the offense at bay, but after the one beer that’s already enough to affect you, you fail miserably.

“Listen, it wasn’t intentional. You were working, and Taehyung and I were already at his place when Jungkook called him about something and ended up stopping by. I swear, we’d never intentionally not include you.”

Trying to process the revelation, you know there’s nothing to be mad about. Hurt, maybe–but that has nothing to do with Jimin or Taehyung. All this time, you’d been sitting here thinking Jungkook had only been keeping in contact with everyone through messages.

You know it was random. Jungkook happened to come over, and it naturally turned into the three of them hanging out. There’s nothing wrong with that. You don’t need updates about everyone’s whereabouts every second of the day.

You were never the type to get upset when the guys spent time together without you. It’s normal. You’re all adults with different schedules, jobs, and responsibilities.

But still, something about it stings.

Jungkook had no problem randomly showing up at Taehyung’s place. Somehow, he found the time for that. Yet the last time you saw him was after you landed back from Hawaii, and since then, your only contact has been a handful of short messages that barely count as conversations.

For a brief second, you think about reaching out. Just calling him and getting rid of this awful uncertainty sitting in your chest.

But clearly, he’s not interested.

And no matter how much you try to stay reasonable about it, emotions get the best of you. Because the truth is – whether you want to admit it or not – you’re hurt. And maybe a little angry too.

“I’m not mad, Jimin,” you assure him, noticing the guilty look practically written all over his face. “So, he’s only avoiding me, huh?”

“No–I don’t know, I don’t think he is.”

“Come on, Jimin.” You let out a dry, unbelieving laugh that makes it obvious you don’t buy a single word of it.

“Well–what exactly happened in Hawaii?”

You look slightly taken aback by the sudden question. It doesn’t sound invasive, though – more curious than anything else. Like Jimin is simply trying to piece the puzzle together on his own. Clearly, even he can sense the shift in your dynamic with Jungkook.

Your mouth opens, then closes again.

“Because before you guys went, everything felt normal.”

You know that. And you’re not ready to spill everything.

It’s not that you desperately want to hide it or keep it some shameful secret, but a part of you believes it’s simply too private. Too personal to be laid out and picked apart by multiple people. It’s not only your story to tell either – Jungkook is part of it too.

Talking about it out loud somehow makes everything feel far too real. Almost invasive.

If Maya hadn’t caught onto it herself, you probably wouldn’t have been nearly as honest with her either.

The person you actually need to talk to is Jungkook.

You genuinely thought the two of you ended things on a good note. You talked about it. Set boundaries. Tried to be mature about the entire situation.

But somehow, it’s only worse now.

And when you really think about it, the only thing truly happening is the lack of contact with Jungkook. That’s what’s making everything feel so unbearably wrong.

“He asked about you. You know?”

Your head snaps toward him instantly, heart briefly picking up at the revelation. For one stupid second, hope flickers inside you at the thought that maybe Jungkook still cares.

But then the irritation comes just as quickly, settling across your face in a frown. Are you supposed to feel touched by that?

“He’s got my number, just FYI.”

Jimin sighs, leaning back against the couch. “I don’t know what happened with you guys, though knowing you, I can imagine–”

You shoot him a nasty look.

“–but I know Jungkook never acts without a reason,” he finishes anyway. “I just don’t see some huge problem here. He does care.”

“Well, if he wants to ask about me,” you mutter bitterly, “he could do that by asking me. Not you guys.”

“Yeah, he should. I didn’t know you guys weren’t in touch at all. I guess we both were kind of surprised with Tae when he asked about you, but it wasn’t anything worth to be suspicious about. But now that you’re asking…”

You look away, unable to stop yourself from drifting into your thoughts. Jimin reaches out and gently squeezes your shoulder in comfort.

“He really does have a lot of work,” he says quietly. “His schedule’s completely packed. He hung out with us for less than an hour, if that helps at all.”

It doesn't exactly make you feel better. You would’ve been happier hearing that they actually got proper time together. But hearing Jimin confirm that Jungkook wasn’t lying about work does ease your mind a little.

Not that you truly believed he would purposely lie to you. Still, it felt strange. Jungkook always made time somehow – even if it was just for less than an hour, like he did with them.

“Just talk to him, yeah? He really seemed sorry about ditching us lately.”

You nod quietly, exhaustion slowly settling into your body alongside the alcohol buzzing lightly in your system. Jimin notices it immediately and doesn’t even bother asking whether you’re planning to drive home.

“Take the bed,” he says casually while collecting the empty cans from the coffee table. “You’re the only woman in the group. We have standards.”

You snort tiredly. “Your standards are fried chicken and cheap beer.”

“Exactly,” he replies proudly. “Premium treatment.”

The small exchange earns a genuine laugh out of you, easing some of the heaviness sitting in your chest. Still, later that night, once you’re alone in Jimin’s bedroom after taking a shower, the thoughts return all over again.

His room smells faintly like clean laundry and the cologne he always wears. Dressed in one of Jimin’s oversized shirts and a pair of soft cotton shorts to sleep in, you sit against the headboard for a while, absentmindedly staring at your phone resting beside you on the bed.

Maybe you really do have to talk to Jungkook alone.

Even if he’s genuinely busy. Even if he truly feels bad about missing out lately. Something still feels off. Because before all of this, he would’ve texted you daily without fail – and you would’ve done the same.

It’s not like you can place all the blame on him either. You haven’t exactly been reaching out much yourself.

But back then, Jungkook would practically blow up your phone if you disappeared for too long, always wanting to know if you were okay, if you got home safely, if you ate properly.

And maybe it’s selfish to miss that. Maybe it’s unfair to expect him to still act that way just because he always used to. Why should he be the only one making the effort?

Either way, there’s something hanging in the air.

Which is why you find yourself on the way to Jungkook’s place the next day. You went home only to change clothes and make yourself look presentable, as if your worries haven’t revolved around him this entire time.

You opted for high-waisted black pants and a casual white shirt, a mini bag hanging from one shoulder while the other hand carries a paper bag with flavored milk waiting inside for him. It’s a thoughtful gesture, perhaps even a more thought-out attempt to mend things between you.

Jungkook’s building has always been more secure, but recently they updated the system. Now, you need a code to get inside unless someone lets you in from upstairs. Jungkook mentioned it briefly during one of the dinners in Hawaii, complaining about how annoying it was whenever he forgot the code after late schedules.

Thankfully, before you can even think about calling him, someone exits the building. One of Jungkook’s neighbors – a man in his forties whose name you’ve never learned despite seeing him around countless times – holds the door open for you on his way out. A gym bag hangs from his shoulder, clearly on his way to work out.

The two of you exchange quick greetings before you step inside the familiar building, already knowing the way by heart.

On the way upstairs, standing inside the elevator, nervousness slowly starts creeping into your chest and you don’t even fully understand why.

You just hope he’s still home.

Jungkook sent a picture into the group chat this morning – his computer screen filled with editing software and dozens of photos scattered across it. So you hope he’s still dedicating his time to that, because this entire thing would feel like a complete failure if he wasn’t home.

The image of yourself sitting outside his apartment door like some abandoned puppy immediately makes you cringe. Especially at the thought of him coming home late and finding you there.

Stepping out of the elevator, you’re met with the familiar clean scent lingering through the hallway, one you’ve grown used to after coming here so many times.

Stopping in front of Jungkook’s door, you embarrassingly find yourself trying to listen for any kind of noise behind it, something that would confirm he’s actually home. But all you’re met with is silence.

Before anyone can catch you awkwardly peeping by his door, you quickly press the bell, hearing its faint sound through the thick, secure walls.

For a while, which is surely just a few seconds but feels like hours, you hear nothing. For a while – surely only a few seconds, though it feels much longer – you hear nothing. Knowing how well Jungkook’s heavy door isolates sound, you bite the inside of your cheek and wait patiently.

Then the door lets out a soft beep before unlocking, and you’re completely unprepared when it swings open and reveals him.

He’s dressed in all black – an oversized t-shirt paired with shorts, unsurprising considering Jungkook always runs warm. His hair is freshly cut too, shorter than you remember.

But none of that is what truly catches your attention.

Your focus settles on his dark eyes that slightly widen the moment they land on you standing in front of his door. His lips part just a little as he grips the handle, simply staring at you for a second too long.

Well, that’s not exactly the reaction you were hoping for.

So you end up being the first one to speak.

“Hi.”

His gaze slowly drifts over your appearance as if he’s still trying to process the fact that you’re actually standing there.

“Hi,” he finally says back.

“Sorry for showing up unannounced. I wasn’t sure if you were still home.”

For a brief moment, he looks confused by how you’d know that, but realization quickly settles across his face. The picture in the group chat. Of course you saw it.

He knew you read the message.

He just clearly wasn’t expecting you to show up at his door.

And for a split second, you feel oddly satisfied by how caught off guard he looks. Because this way, he can’t really avoid you anymore.

Unless he decides to close the door in your face.

“Are you still working? Can I come in?”

He clears his throat before opening the door wider. “Yeah, come in.”

You brush past him, instantly greeted by the familiar comfort of his home mixed with the scent of freshly made coffee. But even stronger than that is his cologne. Despite not smelling it for the past two weeks or so, it immediately brings a strange sense of comfort and familiarity.

Slipping the bag off your shoulder, you place it onto the small seat by the shoe rack. Still holding the paper bag in your hand, you realize you never let go of it.

“Oh, I brought you something.”

Turning around, you find Jungkook quietly watching you, his attention fully on you without saying a word. His eyes drop to the paper bag as you hand it over.

He pulls out the bottle of flavored milk, instantly recognizing his favorite flavor before placing it back inside.

“Thanks,” he says softly. “Will come in handy.”

You bite your lower lip, and Jungkook’s eyes instantly drop to the movement. He stays awfully silent, and you can’t tell whether he’s still shocked by your sudden appearance or simply not too pleased about it.

“I’m sorry if I barged in here unannounced. If it’s not a good time, I could–”

“No, it’s fine. Come in.”

He motions with his head, and you quietly follow him deeper into the apartment.

His place is clean as always, and aside from the two cups of coffee sitting on the coffee table, nothing seems out of the ordinary. Soft music drifts from one of the rooms – the one that used to be your room while you moved in temporarily. But as you step closer, you notice another presence.

It takes you a second to recognize the familiar face you haven’t seen since the camping trip. That trip really seems determined to keep haunting you lately, as if the universe desperately wants you to remember every single part of it.

Ester stands there with her hair dyed a soft reddish color, holding Jungkook’s prized possession – his camera.

“Oh, hi, Y/N! It’s so nice to see you again!” she greets cheerfully, genuinely looking happy to see you.

Jungkook stands close enough beside you for you to feel his presence, but you purposely avoid looking at him, not wanting him to see the complete shock written across your face. Ester is probably the last person you expected to see here. Honestly, the thought of finding anyone in his apartment never even crossed your mind.

Suddenly, showing up here unannounced feels incredibly stupid.

“Hey, Ester. Nice to see you too.” You force a small smile. “Are you guys working on something?”

The moment the question leaves your mouth, you mentally curse at yourself. It sounds oddly pointed, almost as if you’re trying too hard to casually confirm what exactly she’s doing here.

“I reached out to Jungkook. I got this job and thought I could use some help from a real professional here.” “Professional, huh?”

It’s the first time Jungkook grins since opening the door for you. The smile is faint, touched with quiet amusement, and Ester laughs before confidently nodding at her own statement.

You watch the interaction unfold and suddenly feel strangely out of place standing there. Especially when Ester looks effortlessly pretty in her short summer dress, completely comfortable in Jungkook’s apartment while you stand there feeling like an unexpected interruption.

“Well, if I knew you had someone over, I wouldn’t have come,” you say, already stepping slightly back. “I’ll let you guys work.”

Ester immediately shakes her head, dismissing the idea with an easy smile. Glancing down at the watch around her wrist, she looks back at you kindly.

“I was actually about to head home anyway,” she says. “We already went over everything I needed.”

She thanks Jungkook for helping her, and he smiles softly in return.

“Keep in touch,” he tells her while walking her toward the hallway. “You have my number in case you need help with anything, but I’m sure you’ll do great.”

You almost want to let out a bitter laugh at the mention of his number.

Because if you hadn’t shown up here today, he probably wouldn’t have reached out at all. And honestly, who knows how much longer the two of you would’ve kept tiptoeing around each other like this.

Actually, no.

To tiptoe around each other, there would first need to be some contact between you at all.

She bids both of you goodbye, and Jungkook walks her to the door. From where you stand, you only catch the faint sound of their goodbyes, mixed with quiet wishes of good luck and gratitude for his help.

The door clicks shut behind them.

Slowly, you make your way toward the living room, eyes landing on the untouched cup of coffee still sitting on the table. It looks like Ester barely even took a sip from it, and the realization makes you close your eyes briefly in annoyance at yourself.

“She wasn’t supposed to leave this early, was she?”

Jungkook notices the untouched coffee too, faint steam still rising from the cups as he answers.

“No.”

“Oh, fuck. I’m such an idiot.” You groan, throwing your head back in embarrassment.

“You’re not,” he says calmly. “Ester’s just too polite to say no to anything.”

You almost ask whether Ester was really here only for work, but the thought dies quickly in your head. Because it wouldn’t sound like harmless curiosity from a friend teasing him about having a woman over.

It would sound more like an ex still hung up on him and seconds away from causing a jealous scene.

So instead, you simply sigh. “Yeah… she’s a nice girl.”

Jungkook doesn’t comment on that. He stays quiet, only asking if you want something to drink.

Not even a drink feels capable of washing away your embarrassment right now, so you shake your head.

Silence settles between you after that.

And slowly, you start getting the feeling that Jungkook is purposely choosing not to say anything first, almost as if he’s waiting for you to explain why you suddenly showed up here.

Somehow, that irritates you a little. Because he’s not even questioning your presence.

He just watches you quietly, eyes lingering on you as if he’s studying you. Or maybe he simply doesn’t care enough to ask.

You hate that you can’t tell what he’s thinking anymore.

“Heard you and the guys hung out,” is all you say. It’s not meant to sound accusing, and your voice stays soft. “I know it wasn’t exactly planned.”

“Yeah, that’s true,” he confirms quietly.

Silence stretches between you again afterward. Your eyes drift around the apartment until they land on the framed family pictures standing on the shelf. In one of them, you’re there too alongside Taehyung and Jimin.

The picture was taken years ago.

You look so young in it. Every time you see that photo, you remember how Taehyung and Jimin used to joke that you were like their little sister. They always took special care of you, all of them did in their own ways.

“Are you avoiding me, Kook?”

The question leaves your mouth before you can overthink it any further. Straight to the point.

Jungkook stares at you quietly. He doesn’t look surprised by the question. His eyes briefly drift away as he opens his mouth, clearly about to say something, but just like with Jimin – you know him too well.

“Oh my god,” you breathe out, realization instantly crashing into you. “You actually are.”

It comes out sounding more accusing than you intended.

But Jungkook doesn’t deny it either. He only sighs softly before closing his eyes for a moment, as if exhausted by this entire situation already.

“Why?”

You wish you didn’t sound this weak, but at least you’re being honest with him.

“I wasn’t lying,” Jungkook says quietly. “I really was busy.”

“You know I’m not stupid,” you tell him. “I know when something’s going on. And I know I wasn’t exactly reaching out either, but I just… I wanna know why.”

Jungkook pinches the bridge of his nose before quietly telling you; “I was giving you some space.”

“Space?” you repeat, disbelief immediately settling into your voice. “That’s what you thought I needed?”

He only stares at you.

“I’ve missed you.”

The confession leaves your mouth before pride can stop it.

Jungkook’s features soften almost instantly, and he lets out a quiet sigh.

“Maybe I was the one who needed space.”

The words hit you so unexpectedly it almost feels like being slapped across the face. You stare at him, unable to believe he actually said that out loud.

“Why?” Your voice cracks around the question.

Jungkook takes a small step closer then, finally holding your gaze properly. The eye contact feels almost too intense after weeks of distance. He gently shakes his head, already regretting the wording.

“That came out wrong,” he says softly. “The trip was overwhelming for both of us, and I thought maybe we just needed some time to relax.”

“Relax?” you nearly whine, frustration and hurt mixing together embarrassingly fast. “You suddenly cut me off, Jungkook. You’ve never done that before.”

The second the words leave your mouth, you realize how childish you probably sound.

But at the same time, something inside your chest painfully cracks at the realization that this is actually happening.

“I really did have a lot of work to catch up on,” he says. “I’ve taken too much onto my shoulders lately.”

“Kook, that’s an excuse and you know it.”

Your voice softens despite the frustration bubbling underneath it.

“No matter how busy you’ve always been, you still texted me at least. And I know I can’t expect you to always be the one reaching out first–that’s on me too, because I should’ve reached out sooner.”

You shake your head lightly, trying to gather your thoughts.

“It’s not like it’s been months or anything. But… I just know–”

Before you can even finish the sentence, your eyes betray you. Tears suddenly well up, and all it takes is one look into Jungkook’s dark eyes quietly watching you for everything to feel far too overwhelming.

Both of you know what this is really about.

It doesn’t matter that it’s only been around two weeks of barely any direct contact. The two of you have never been like this before.

“God,” you mutter under your breath with a shaky sniffle, trying not to cry.

The second Jungkook notices it, he steps closer.

“You said I wouldn’t lose you.”

“You’re not losing me,” he assures softly. His fingers carefully tuck a strand of hair behind your ear, and the simple touch almost hurts with how much you missed it.

“Then why does it feel like I am?”

Jungkook doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he pulls you into his arms, wrapping them tightly around you. Instantly, you bury your face into his t-shirt, relaxing into his warmth like your body remembers him before your mind can even process it.

You really don’t want to let go.

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs honestly, pressing a soft kiss to the top of your head. Resting his cheek against your hair, he gently sways the two of you side to side in a comforting motion. “I never wanted you to feel like this. I thought I was doing us a favor.”

“Well, you weren’t,” you mumble against his chest, earning a quiet chuckle from him.

“Yeah,” he sighs softly. “That’s on me.”

“Kook.”

“Hm?”

“Promise me you won’t do that again.”

You pull away just enough to look at him properly. He looks unfairly perfect. Smooth skin freshly shaved, dark eyes softened by concern, and even the tiny scar beneath his left cheek somehow brings you comfort through its familiarity.

You’ve seen that scar from much closer distances than any best friend ever should have.

“I promise.”

And for now, it feels like a soft balm over your scattered chest.

The next time you see each other is at one of the bars you’ve visited a couple of times with your friends. It’s the usual spot the guys choose alongside Maya. Tonight, though, it’s different. It’s the night of both Namjoon’s and Maya’s bachelor and bachelorette parties.

It’s refreshing that they decided to meet with everyone first before it’s time for the ladies and gentlemen to go their separate ways. One of Namjoon’s only requests was no strippers or anything too crazy like a typical bachelor party. The guys agreed, but since Taehyung is attending, you have a feeling something crazy is bound to happen anyway. He’d never let a night like this stay completely tame.

When the no-strippers rule first came up, Taehyung looked genuinely disappointed. His argument was simple: it’s not every day one of your friends gets married. Even so, no one is willing to tell you what they actually have planned for Namjoon.

Since Namjoon isn’t interested in any of the stereotypical bachelor party traditions, Maya decided, out of respect for not only her soon–to–be husband but also their marriage, that she doesn’t want any strippers either.

As the wedding draws closer, it’s sweet to see the two of them so in love, practically glued to each other even now as everyone gathers in the large reserved booth. Maya has invited some of her cousins and friends from back home, making the group even bigger than usual.

“Oh, come on. Not even a hint?” you whine, tonight’s plans becoming the main topic of conversation around the table.

Jungkook sits across the table, a small amused smile resting on his lips as he watches your latest attempt to squeeze any information out of them. Not even he gives away the secret.

It’s not like you’re the one who keeps bringing it up. They’re the ones talking about it, so why won’t they just say what they have planned? You’d happily tell them what you had planned, but Maya insisted on keeping it a secret just for the fun of it.

Poor Namjoon remains completely clueless. Since the guys planned everything, he’s probably the most innocent person sitting at the table.

“Where’s the fun in that?” Taehyung muses, not bothering to hide the smirk behind his whiskey glass before taking a slow sip.

All of the guys are dressed to the nines, turning heads the moment they walked into the bar. It doesn’t go unnoticed by Maya’s cousins either, whose attention perks up every time Jimin, Taehyung, or Jungkook say anything. You’d think you would’ve gotten used to it by now, and most of the time you simply ignore it, but it’s always the same whenever the group goes out.

To their credit, Maya’s cousins respectfully keep their attention away from Seokjin. The wedding band resting on his ring finger is more than enough to make it clear he’s off-limits.

“You men are evil,” Maya comments with a huff, nuzzling into Namjoon’s chest. He presses a soft kiss to the top of her head, hiding his smile in her hair.

Taehyung checks the watch around his wrist, the time for everyone to go their separate ways quickly approaching. “Don’t worry, we’ll bring your soon–to–be husband back in one piece.”

“Those words sound awfully strange coming out of your mouth,” you tease. He scoffs at you, though the faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips gives him away.

“You’re just jealous. I know you’d kill to be on our team tonight.”

Truthfully, you don’t mind it at all. Maya’s cousins seem genuinely nice, even if they mostly keep to themselves, chatting among each other as family tends to do. They have, however, spent a good portion of the evening shamelessly admiring your friends as if they’d been presented on silver platters.

You can’t really blame them. Seeing women sneak glances at your friends has become a normal part of going out together.

“Keep talking and the only thing I’m gonna kill is you.” You purse your lips at Taehyung, whose eyes instantly light up with excitement. He lives for this kind of back-and-forth, and you know he’s enjoying this side of you just as much as you enjoy giving it to him.

From the corner of your eye, you notice Aisha and Ada – Maya’s cousins – exchange a quick glance, clearly not expecting this kind of dynamic between the two of you.

Oh, they have no idea.

“Come get me.”

Namjoon lets out a laugh at the two of you, quickly followed by everyone else around the table. You huff dramatically, crossing your arms over your chest before leaning back in your seat with exaggerated annoyance.

“We’re going to have the time of our lives,” Maya says with a smug smile, holding up a finger decorated with the white bridal sash draped across her shoulder that proudly reads Bride. You all surprised her with it the moment she and Namjoon walked into the bar hand in hand, looking as in love as ever. “You boys are going to wish you were there with us.”

Suddenly, Maya reaches for a paper bag you somehow hadn't noticed before. You did see Aisha carrying it earlier, but you never really gave it a second thought. Now, watching Maya pull it onto the table with a mischievous smile, you have a feeling you probably should have.

“Since all of my girls here are single, I don’t want to ruin your fun just because I’m about to get married,” Maya says with a grin. “I’m going to be a happily married woman soon, but I hope we’ll still have nights like this–just us girls, celebrating for no reason at all.”

You already don’t like where this is going. Especially after hearing the word single.

Maya reaches into the paper bag and pulls out a silver tiara. Across the front, in glittering letters, is one simple word: Single.

You almost let out a whine.

Then you watch in disbelief as she pulls out another. And another. One for each of you.

Her cousins happily accept theirs, immediately placing them on their heads before flashing them toward the guys with playful smiles, almost as if expecting them to take the hint. They giggle amongst themselves, whispering something to each other.

Meanwhile, you simply stare at Maya's outstretched hand holding your tiara, your smile becoming increasingly crooked.

She notices the look of pure disgust on your face, nudging the tiara closer.

You sigh dramatically before reluctantly taking it from her, earning a triumphant smile as she settles back into Namjoon's embrace. His arm instinctively wraps around her waist.

Taehyung lets out a quiet cackle the second he sees the tiara in your hands. You eye the thing as if it might bite you.

Jimin, on the other hand, looks more skeptical. You catch him subtly glancing toward Jungkook before quickly looking away again.

You don't think much of it. The guys have still been walking on eggshells around the two of you ever since Hawaii.

The truth is, you simply hate being labeled single like it's an open invitation for every man in the room to come try his luck. Going out already means dealing with enough unwanted attention, and you don't mean that in an arrogant way. Drunk men can be relentless.

One of the unexpected perks of always hanging out with the guys is that most people assume you're dating one of them–or they're simply too intimidated to approach. The guys have always been protective of you. They know exactly how some men can be.

And with them around, you've never once questioned whether you were safe.

“Come on, put it on.” Maya nudges you, something mischievous dancing behind her eyes.

Letting out a long, defeated sigh, you place the tiara on top of your head.

The moment you do, you catch Jungkook's gaze across the table. He isn't looking at you. His eyes are fixed on the silver tiara resting on your head.

He knows exactly what you're thinking. He knows you. He knows you've never been a fan of strangers approaching you with only one intention in mind – to get their hands on you.

“Are you playing matchmaker tonight, Maya?” Taehyung muses, clearly finding the whole thing amusing. Out of everyone at the table, he’s probably the last person to look for anything long-term, which is exactly why he finds it so funny.

“Maybe,” Maya says with a mischievous smile. “You never know. The love of your life could be sitting in a bar somewhere right now. Who knows? Maybe the next wedding we’ll be planning is one of yours.”

Taehyung lets out an exaggerated sound of disgust. “Don't put that curse on me.” He clutches his chest dramatically.

You, Jungkook, and Jimin burst into laughter. Mostly because, out of everyone at the table, Taehyung is probably the only person you can genuinely picture still breaking hearts well into his eighties.

Soon enough, it's time to say your goodbyes. Everyone finishes their drinks, and the last sip leaves a familiar burn at the back of your throat as the alcohol settles warmly in your stomach.

You're not planning on getting wasted, though. If anything, you have a feeling you'll end up being the responsible one of the group. Maya has made it very clear she intends to make the most of this night as an unmarried woman, and judging by the excited looks on her cousins' faces, they don't seem interested in holding themselves back either.

You don't want them to.

That's the whole point of tonight–to party, drink. You'll definitely join in, just... carefully.

You know yourself a little too well. Sometimes, once you start drinking, it's surprisingly hard to stop. And that usually ends with you throwing up everything you've consumed in the past twenty-four hours – sometimes it even feels like you're bringing back Christmas dinner for good measure.

As Maya and Namjoon share a long goodbye kiss, you swear they're seconds away from forgetting the rest of you are even there. For the first time, you catch a glimpse of something almost hungry in the way Namjoon looks at her. He's always adored Maya, but he's usually much more restrained about showing it in public.

Your eyes widen in disbelief, and you quickly look away, feeling oddly like you're intruding on a private moment.

When your gaze lands elsewhere, you find Jungkook already watching you. A knowing smirk tugs at the corner of his lips, clearly amused by the horrified expression on your face.

Especially considering you and Jungkook used to be far worse whenever you were alone and out of your friends' sight. And the two of you weren't even the ones getting married.

So why do your cheeks suddenly warm beneath Jungkook's gaze?

Jungkook traded his usual oversized clothes for tailored black trousers and a black satin shirt, the top buttons left carelessly undone. The glossy fabric catches the dim lights of the bar, making him look effortlessly expensive.

Before you can say anything, he steps closer. His eyes immediately find the silver tiara perched on your head, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Without a word, he reaches up and straightens it where it sits slightly crooked, his fingertips careful not to disturb your hair.

As his hand falls away, his eyes naturally drift down to your lips, painted with a soft brown lipstick that somehow complements the silky blush pink dress hugging your figure. The satin fabric catches the light with every small movement, the delicate straps leaving your shoulders bare while the fitted silhouette flows effortlessly down your body.

“Be safe, okay?” he hums.

“You know I’m used to having my personal security team around,” you joke.

Jungkook huffs out a quiet laugh. “Well, I’m one call away.”

“I’m not gonna call you, Kook. You guys have a good time, okay?” you smile, ready to walk away for your own sake.

Before you can, Jungkook instinctively reaches for your hand. His fingers slip between yours for just a second, giving them a reassuring squeeze.

“If anything happens,” he says, his voice leaving no room for argument, “you call me. You hear me?”

He's serious, searching your eyes for genuine agreement before the two of you go your separate ways.

You give him a small nod.

It isn't enough.

His brows knit together ever so slightly, waiting.

“I will,” you assure him with a soft sigh. “Now go have fun. You're off-duty tonight.”

You try to lighten the mood with the joke, but it doesn't quite land. Jungkook still doesn't look entirely convinced. It's not that he thinks you need a babysitter. He simply can't seem to shake the instinct to look out for you.

“Hey, lovebirds,” Taehyung calls out, not bothering to hide the grin on his face. “Not to interrupt whatever friendly thing you've got going on here, but even Maya and Joon managed to pull themselves away from each other. We're heading out.” He jerks his head toward the exit. “Go find yourself your future husband.”

“Tae, I swear–” you warn, fixing him with a glare.

Taehyung cackles, immediately throwing both hands up in surrender. He knows exactly how to get under your skin, and he never misses the opportunity.

Jungkook lets out a quiet laugh before Taehyung and Jimin begin pulling him away toward the exit. Still walking backward, he points at you one last time.

“Remember,” he calls, “one call away?”

You laugh, shaking your head. “Okay, security–” Looking past him, you raise your voice toward Jimin and Taehyung. “Would you take this man outside? He's getting obsessive.”

The three of them burst into laughter. Jungkook only shakes his head, allowing himself to be dragged farther away.

Just before he disappears through the door, you quietly mouth, “One call away.”

He can't hear you.

But he reads it on your lips.

The slight furrow between his brows finally eases, and a satisfied smile appears on his face. He gives you a small salute before disappearing from view.

You can't help but laugh to yourself until the guys are completely out of sight.

“Not a word.”

Turning around, you find Maya standing there with her arms crossed and a knowing smile stretched across her face. You immediately point a warning finger at her, trying to hide the grin threatening to take over your own lips.

Maya lifts both hands in surrender.

“Fine,” she says innocently. “Let's get this night started, girls.”

Excited squeals erupt around you as everyone grabs their bags, following Maya toward the exit.

Maya stays true to her words and doesn't spoil anything about where you're headed. As eager as you are, you know the more you ask, the more she'd enjoy watching you squirm in anticipation. From the looks of it, the girls seem to be just the same. Maya actually has a lot in common with the boys, almost making it feel as if she's filling their place in their absence.

The difference now is that you're actually the one squirming the least for answers, watching the smug smile on Maya's face as she sits comfortably in the rented limousine she'd somehow managed to book. She's always been a party girl, and you have a feeling tonight is going to be anything but a quiet tea party. The girls keep throwing guesses her way, but Maya remains resistant to all their whining, laughing the entire time as she clearly enjoys the push and pull.

As you watch the streets drift by through the tinted window, you catch your reflection and the soft brown lipstick painted across your lips. Jungkook invades your mind, and the memory of his dark eyes dropping to them brings you back to the moment that happened not that long ago. His insistence on making sure you'd be safe and call him if anything happened makes your heart warm, just like it always has whenever he shows you that kind of attention and care. But tonight, it also skips with excitement. Even though you're excited for what's about to come and ready to enjoy the night, your secret wish is that he were here.

"...Any guesses?"

The sound of your name pulls your attention away from the busy streets outside. Looking up, you find everyone staring at you, Maya tilting her head as if wondering what has you so quiet.

Maya's a friend, and you've been very honest with her. You've probably told her more than you ever did the boys, which makes sense because she's not as involved in the little inner circle the four of you have. Plus, her perspective as another woman has become some sort of peace of mind. Even though she can sometimes be a little too honest – perhaps even invasive when it comes to voicing her blunt opinions, which you've grown used to dodging or arguing against – she's kind, bold, and wild. Hence the reason she doesn't understand your fear of screwing up the biggest and most important friendship you have.

You're not going to lie, sometimes you listen to her like she's the tiny devil sitting on your shoulder, encouraging you to stop overthinking and simply enjoy the moment. Maybe her influence played a small part in you getting carried away.

"Nah, you wouldn't tell us either way," you laugh, making Maya's smile widen as she shrugs. "We'll find out soon enough."

"Now that's the vibe!" Maya laughs. "Don't get me wrong, watching you all beg for answers has been pretty entertaining."

"So, Maya..." Ada begins, making the rest of the girls sit up a little straighter in their seats. The soft pink ambient lights glow around the limousine while the panoramic roof reveals a sky already sprinkled with stars. "Who's the hot guy?"

“More like... which one?” Zara giggles. Her deep brown skin glows beneath the pink ambient lights, and the mischievous sparkle in her eyes makes it obvious she's just as invested in interrogating Maya as everyone else. “You're gonna have to be more specific.”

They're all eager, almost as if they made a silent deal to interrogate Maya the moment the right opportunity came. They all smile, some gently nudging each other while wiggling their eyebrows. You can't help but feel a little out of place, watching the girls naturally gang up on Maya as if they'd planned this interrogation long before getting into the limousine.

“Jungkook was his name, wasn't it?” Ada says, tapping a finger against her chin as her cousin, Aisha, gently nudges her foot with the tip of her heel.

“Don't act like you don't remember his name.”

A round of laughter erupts throughout the limousine as Ada shamelessly shrugs, almost as if to say “worth a shot”. A quiet laugh escapes you too, though the mention of Jungkook's name makes your crossed leg begin to bounce.

The limousine stops at a red light, almost as if giving Maya the perfect moment to answer while everyone eagerly waits for whatever reaction she'll give.

“And what about the Taehyung guy?” Imani asks, absentmindedly twirling one of her neat braids over her shoulder before deciding to give it a shot.

Maya laughs, her eyes briefly finding yours, just as amused by the effect your friends have on everyone. Even Jimin's name gets thrown into the mix, and you're a little taken aback by how quickly they've remembered all of their names. You still struggle to remember theirs. Then again, you're not interested in them that way, so maybe it makes sense.

“Shh–” Ada hushes the others, her eyes sparkling as she wiggles her brows. “Is he single?”

“Are all of them?” Zara practically pleads, rubbing her palms together, making you mentally snort. They have a good sense of humor, but beneath all the jokes, it's obvious they genuinely want to know.

“There's no way they all are.” Naomi scoffs, clearly refusing to believe it.

“Okay, let's do this one by one. Let's start with Jungkook.” Ada raises a hand, her long, perfectly curled lashes fluttering as she bats them at Maya.

Maya leans back with a sigh, though the smile never leaves her lips. “I think that's a question for Y/N.”

The moment the words leave Maya's mouth, silence settles over the limousine. Only her playlist quietly fills the background as the car begins moving again. Every pair of eyes lands on you, making you uncross your legs as you sit up straighter. You shoot her a quick look, silently wondering why the hell she'd put you on the spot.

You can practically see their minds racing as they jump to the conclusion that you and Jungkook are something more. Realization slowly spreads across their faces before they're suddenly looking anywhere but at you, almost embarrassed that they've spent the past few minutes openly thirsting over him without even considering the possibility that the two of you might be together.

It's ridiculous. That's what it is. The thought alone.

You can almost see them replaying every interaction from the bar, searching for anything that might've hinted at something between you and Jungkook. Maybe a stolen kiss while they weren't paying attention.

Little do they know, a quick kiss would've been the least of what had happened between you two.

Snorting softly, unable to hide the fact that you see right through them, you shrug.

“He's single.” The words leave your mouth, simple and truthful all at once.

“Y/N's his best friend, so she'd know. Actually, she's good friends with all of them.”

They stare at you as if you've suddenly grown a second head. Maya's words clearly don't register with them at first. They simply can't wrap their heads around how you're friends with them. Just... friends.

They try to hide it, but you catch the subtle sigh of relief that passes between them before a few giggles follow. At least now they know they haven't been openly thirsting over your boyfriend.

“Jimin's taken,” you explain. “And Taehyung... well, unless you're looking to get your heart broken, I wouldn't bother. Relationships aren't really his thing. He's more of a hook-up and call it a day kind of guy.”

“We're here!” Maya claps enthusiastically as the driver pulls into the parking lot. Loud bass echoes through the night, colorful lights illuminating the amusement park ahead.

“An amusement park?” you ask, your voice instantly brightening. “You should've told us before we had drinks.”

“It's just the start, baby.” Maya smirks, ushering all of you out as soon as the limousine comes to a stop near the entrance. The vehicle is too long to pull in any farther. The driver lets you know he'll stay nearby until you're ready to leave.

“We're not staying here?” you ask, assuming she'd just call the driver once it was time to head to the next stop.

“I told you, it's just the start,” Maya reminds you with an amused smile. “This is only a stop. We'll go on a few rides, then we're changing locations.”

“Now I understand why you didn't let us plan the party.” You shake your head with a smile as Maya hooks her arm through yours, happily leading everyone toward the amusement park. You do make one thing clear – you refuse to go on anything that turns you upside down and will happily guard everyone's bags instead.

You spend the next hour hopping from one ride to another, the employees kind enough to let you skip the line for almost every attraction. Even the people waiting don't seem to mind once they notice Maya's oversized BRIDE sash and all of your SINGLE tiaras.

You feel like a clown wearing yours at times. You almost forget it's sitting on your head until you catch a group of young men smirking and bowing dramatically in your direction from across the walkway. You roll your eyes while the girls burst into laughter, clearly loving every second of it.

Now you're left carrying everyone's bags, your hands growing heavier by the minute as you wonder if the girls packed actual bricks. While they're riding something far too extreme for your liking, you fish your phone out to kill some time. Ada volunteered to grab the two of you something to drink and is currently waiting at a nearby stand, chatting with one of the guys in line behind her.

As your screen lights up, the name Kook appears.

Embarrassingly, you unlock it a little too quickly.

Kook: Safe?

Instead of replying right away, you record a short video of the girls sitting at the top of the ride, waiting to be dropped. A second later, they plunge downward, their screams audible even over the pounding music.

You send it.

“video.mp4 I am.”

Locking your phone, you keep it in your hand while watching people laugh, scream, and stumble away from the ride with wobbly legs.

Barely a minute later, it vibrates again.

Kook: good choice on your part

Your fingers move before you can think.

“please, you would've been up there with them”

Kook: of course i would 😜

“what are you guys up to?”

Kook: nothing good tbh, went to an escape room Kook: tae kept cheating, joon almost solved all the clues

“sounds like them”

Kook: who now

“actually both of them lol”

Kook: imagine.jpg

Opening it, you immediately spot Taehyung in the background, pouting dramatically with what looks like clue papers stuck to his forehead. Namjoon scratches his head in concentration while Jimin sits on a nearby chair looking completely baffled.

Then your eyes drift back to Jungkook.

He's grinning at the camera, the tip of his tongue caught between his teeth as he throws up a shaka with one hand.

You can't help but smile.

“suddenly i'm happy with our party”

Kook: rude Kook: how was the ride? joon mentioned he rented a limousine for y'all

“unpleasantly interrogating”

For a moment, you wonder whether you should tell him the truth. You probably will eventually anyway. Somehow, though, you want to keep the conversation going a little longer.

Kook: how so

“the girls had their eyes set on all of you”

Kook: wow really

“don't act surprised jeon”

Kook: 😜

“Come on, here.” A voice nearby catches your attention, making you glance toward the ride. You see the rest of the girls making their way down the steps. Maya has an arm wrapped around Zara's frame, who looks like she's about to be sick.

Locking your phone and slipping it back into your purse, you hurry over to them as Zara breathes heavily. You open your mouth to ask if she's okay, but before a single word comes out, Zara suddenly turns away and throws up onto the grass.

You grimace as the faint smell reaches your nose.

Maya doesn't look much better as she gently pats Zara's back, clearly regretting being the one who insisted on this particular ride. Thankfully, Zara only throws up the drinks she'd had earlier.

The other girls immediately gather around her, asking if she's okay. Just then, Ada returns with the drinks, stopping in her tracks at the sight in front of her. After a brief hesitation, she quietly hands you yours.

“Thanks,” you mumble, not entirely sure you're up for lemonade anymore. Still, you take a few careful sips, hoping the citrus scent will overpower the smell lingering in the air.

“Are you okay?” Maya asks gently, pulling a packet of tissues from her purse and handing it to Zara.

“Hell yeah.” Zara grins after wiping her mouth. “What's our next stop?”

Without waiting for an answer, she steals the lemonade straight from Ada's hands to rinse her mouth.

You stifle a laugh as Ada's face immediately falls into a pout. Offering her your untouched lemonade instead, you watch her happily accept it.

“That's what I'm talking about!” Maya cheers, throwing one hand into the air before pulling out her phone to call the driver and let him know you're ready to head to the next stop.

As you're all seated again, you somehow find yourself in the middle of a conversation about relationships. Ada talks about the toxic relationship she got out of and how she's been single for about a year now. She sounds almost unhappy about it, and as you quietly listen to the conversation, they all seem dissatisfied with being single.

You have no idea where the obsession with women having to be in a relationship comes from. It's as if their whole world revolves around whether they're single or not. You know there's a lot of influence from society and probably social media too.

Zara gulps down an entire bottle of water before asking the driver for a piece of gum. She confides in all of you that she was cheated on, something that really messed her up. It happened recently and, because of it, she doesn't want a relationship right now, though she's not completely opposed to one if it happens naturally.

The rest of the girls are single too, once again confessing how happy they are for Maya and her upcoming marriage, hoping they'll reach that stage of their lives someday.

It's somehow what all of you dream of – to find that one person you get to spend the rest of your life with.

Even you.

And that's saying something, considering Taehyung likes to call you the number one hater of men.

“What about you, Y/N? Are you single?” Imani asks, probably noticing you haven't really participated in the conversation. Then again, neither has Maya, but everyone already knows where she stands.

“Mmm... yeah.”

Maya sips her champagne, raising a brow when you shoot her a glare before shaking it off and offering the girls a smile.

“I was in a relationship,” you shrug, “it wasn't meant to be.”

“What's up with your friend group? Everyone's single.” Aisha laughs, not mockingly, but almost in disbelief. “Y'all are hot, and from what I can tell, you seem like an amazing woman.”

Not entirely sure what earned you such a big compliment, you smile at Aisha in gratitude, letting out a quiet laugh as the others nod in agreement.

“Aish, it's not like there's no interest in Y/N,” Maya snorts, carefully setting her champagne glass down just as the limousine rolls over a speed bump. “She just has a very particular taste in men.”

She wiggles her brows at you.

You snort at that, finding it a little amusing. Maybe Maya's had one glass of champagne too many because the girls suddenly look even more curious.

“Okay, now I'm even more curious.” Imani props her elbow on her knee and rests her chin in her palm, looking completely invested in finding out your type.

“Tall, tattooed, hot, willing to do anything for her, fucking amazing in bed–”

“Maya, let her talk!” Aisha laughs.

Shooting Maya another glare, knowing exactly who she just described, you simply shrug before offering the girls a sweet smile.

“Maya pretty much summed it up.”

“I mean... who doesn't love tall, tattooed, hot men? I sure as fuck do,” Ada comments, earning a chorus of nods and agreement from the others.

The conversation quickly shifts as everyone starts sharing their ideal type of man. Unlocking your phone, you check the time, wondering how much longer the drive will be.

From the corner of your eye, you catch Maya watching you, hiding a laugh behind her hand.

You simply shake your head and laugh to yourself before looking away.

You should've seen it coming.

“Hope you didn't think we wouldn't properly party,” Maya says, leaning over your shoulder from behind as you stare at the club in front of you. The party already seems to be in full swing, all of you arriving at the perfect time.

The girls squeal excitedly, ready to add a little more alcohol to their systems as you all head inside. The club isn't nearly as packed as you expected. Maya tells you they limit the number of people they let in, which is why it never feels overly crowded.

Even so, as you make your way down the stairs, you still have to squeeze through plenty of bodies to reach the main bar. People stare and whistle at your group – some cheering for the bride to be, others eyeing her single friends, yourself included.

You scoff when you catch one guy openly checking out Aisha's ass. Turning around to shoot him a nasty look, you realize his eyes immediately drift to yours just as shamelessly.

If this is what the rest of the night is going to look like, you're ripping this tiara off right in front of them.

And maybe you need that alcohol too.

Fortunately, once you've finished your drinks in record time, you make your way to the dance floor. People naturally form a circle around Maya, encouraging her to dance in the middle while they cheer her on. You join in, genuinely happy for her and soaking in the moment.

The night is amazing. Your feet already hurt, but you can't stop dancing.

At some point, Maya tugs you into the circle, doing the same with her friends as you dance away the rest of the song. By the time the next one starts playing, you're all laughing, slightly out of breath. As the circle slowly breaks apart, you're about to look for somewhere to sit down.

The moment you look up, it takes you a second to spot Namjoon. Maya lets out a loud squeal of surprise before throwing herself into her soon–to–be husband's arms.

“What are you doing here?” you hear her ask, though Namjoon's answer is muffled as your eyes drift toward the familiar group standing behind him.

They stop on one particular pair.

Amusement flickers across Jungkook's face as he crosses his arms over his chest.

You laugh, making your way toward him while, somewhere behind you, the girls erupt into another round of giggles and excited squeals at the guys' sudden appearance. Their chatter instantly picks back up.

Meanwhile, you're still trying to catch your breath, the back of your neck sticky with sweat. Jungkook, on the other hand, looks neat–not a single hair out of place. Of course he does. He's not the one who's been dancing the night away. While one of you managed to throw up and the rest of you danced yourselves half to death, they spent the evening playing an escape room. You can only hope you don't smell like sweat.

“You've got to be kidding me,” you say in utter disbelief as Jungkook's smile slowly spreads.

“See? The tiara's still holding up,” he says with amusement, lightly flicking the tiara perched on your head.

“Don't tempt me.”

He laughs at that.

“How long have you guys been here?” you ask, catching the knowing smirk tugging at his lips.

“You mean, did we see you girls dancing?” he teases. “Yeah... long enough to catch most of it.”

“Oh, don't act so smug.” You nudge him lightly in the chest, but before you can pull away, he catches your wrist, his thumb absentmindedly brushing over your pulse.

“Any nice suitors?”

“If you don't count one guy staring at my ass the second we walked in here, then no.”

The sarcasm dripping from your voice makes Jungkook laugh.

You shoot him a glare, silently asking what exactly he finds so funny.

“Well, you do have a nice ass.”

Smiling up at him as if he'd just said the most romantic thing in the world, you muse, “You think so?”

He snorts in amusement, finally noticing the obvious glow in your eyes and the slight stumble in your stance that's not entirely caused by the heels you're wearing.

He knows that much.

“How much have you had to drink?”

You shrug, putting a little distance between the two of you.

“Apparently not enough.”

You've only had three drinks, but the third one was strong. Thanks to none other than Maya, who'd leaned across the bar to whisper something into the bartender's ear.

“You guys wanna grab a drink?”

Another presence appears beside you.

Not one, but two.

Aisha and Ada stop beside you, their eyes beaming at Jungkook as they practically look right through you.

“Oh, no.” Jungkook smiles politely. “I wouldn't want to intrude on your girls' night. We'll probably head to another club to celebrate.”

You find yourself a little annoyed by that. Just like the girls, who sigh in disappointment, clearly not ready to lose the chance to spend more time with him.

“Well...” You glance over your shoulder toward the dance floor. “Maya's already dancing with Namjoon. You might as well stay for a while.”

It comes out more like a suggestion than an invitation. One Jungkook would be rude to decline. Then again, knowing him, he'd somehow find the most respectful way to do it anyway. They'd be head over heels for him in no time.

Jungkook looks around, searching for the rest of the guys. He finds them not far away, already chatting with the rest of the girls from your group.

“Yeah,” he says. “I think I could stay for a while.”

They don't even try to hide their excitement as they quickly usher him toward the bar.

Looking behind you, you find the couple dancing slowly despite the fast, rhythmic music, simply holding onto each other.

You smile.

There's nothing else to do but follow everyone toward the bar and finally have that drink you so desperately claimed you needed.

For the next thirty minutes, you find yourself listening to the girls chatting with the boys. And no matter how hard Jungkook tries to pull you into the conversation, all that leaves your mouth are hums and short answers.

One minute you're approached by a guy who, at first glance, looks like he has his life together. That illusion disappears the second the smell of weed hits your nose and his drunken gaze spends more time staring at your cleavage than your eyes – which isn't even that impressive to begin with. Your dress is short, sure, but still perfectly decent.

As soon as he leaves, yet another guy you've turned down after asking you to dance, you rip the tiara off your head in annoyance.

Maya's too busy with Namjoon anyway, practically glued to him.

“Wow, what a coincidence, right?” she says after coming over for another glass of water. “Almost like it was meant to be.”

“None of them up to your unbelievable standards?” Jungkook leans toward you the one second the girls' attention isn't completely on him.

“If you think my standards are some junkie who can barely look me in the eyes instead of my tits, then you really think low of me.”

Jungkook snorts.

“Wow. Someone's snappy.”

“I'm not snappy!” you exclaim, leaning back in your seat as you stomp your foot beneath the table, making him raise a brow.

“What about your standards, hm? Do you see any girl you like?”

He simply stares at you with an amused grin, pursing his lips to one side.

“You mean any of Maya's friends?”

You shrug, mimicking the face he just made.

“For example.”

“Like them trying to get my attention?”

You chuckle.

“Of course you noticed.”

He smiles.

“Is that why you've been so snappy?”

You clench your jaw, shooting him a dirty look.

“I'm not snappy!” you hiss, nudging his leg beneath the table. Him sitting next to you is dangerous. So is the fact you have no idea which drink you're about to reach for next.

“Go have fun, Jungkook.”

“I am having fun.” He shrugs.

“Take one of them dancing. Trust me, they'd want nothing more than that. They couldn't stop gushing about you on the way to the amusement park and all the way here.”

“And what about you?” he asks, a teasing glint in his dark eyes as the arm resting along the back of the booth finds your hair. He absentmindedly twirls one of the strands around his finger.

Just like he still has you wrapped around his.

“Were you gushing about me?”

“Oh, please.” You scoff, placing your palm against his chest to nudge him once again. “Should I?”

He smiles.

“You could.”

“Go have fun, Jeon. I'm fine. I could just use some food.” You rub your stomach, feeling it filled with alcohol instead of anything solid. They do have crackers, chips – just something to snack on. But what you really crave is something greasy. Something filling. Something that could soak up at least a little of the alcohol.

“There's a kebab place around the corner,” he says. “Saw it on our way here.”

For a brief second, you eye him from the corner of your eye, suddenly interested in this kebab place.

Instead of giving in to the suggestion, you sigh.

“Go dance, Kook.”

“Well, I don't want to.” He leans back in the booth, looking annoyingly comfortable as you narrow your eyes at him.

He stares right back.

“I thought we made it pretty clear that you pushing me into things doesn't usually end well.”

Shit.

Well, you deserved that.

It's almost like Hawaii all over again. You don't take his words personally because they aren't meant to hurt, nor are they said that way. It's a gentle reminder delivered in the gentlest tone possible, even though there's a little sass behind it, just like Jungkook always manages.

“For your information,” you cross your arms, “it was a suggestion. Not a push.”

“Mhm, sure.” He hums, hiding his smile behind the rim of his beer.

A burst of laughter erupts somewhere at the table, both of you too caught up in your conversation to know what caused it.

“Wanna dance?”

She takes her chance, and thank God he doesn't think you had anything to do with this.

The two of you look at her, even though the question was clearly directed at Jungkook.

He glances back at you, and now you're the one hiding a smirk, shrugging.

You know he's too polite to decline.

“You're a great dancer, Kook. Show Aisha your moves,” you tease, catching the way he runs his tongue over his bottom lip before holding your gaze for a few seconds.

He chuckles, shaking his head before turning to the hopeful Aisha.

Bless her confidence, though.

“Sure,” he says.

You stand, giving them enough room to do the same. As Jungkook gets to his feet, he brushes past you, a little closer than necessary, and you catch the familiar scent of his cologne.

He waits for Aisha to slide out of the booth before the two of them disappear onto the dance floor.

Thank God you don't have to watch that.

Looking back toward the table, you find Taehyung already watching you, his lips pursed as he slowly gives you a thumbs-down.

Rolling your eyes, you silently tell him to fuck off.

“Y/N, my friend! Let's dance!” Taehyung calls out far louder than necessary, making sure everyone at the table hears him.

You catch Maya's friends watching in disappointment, and, strangely enough, you do feel a little bad for them.

“I don't want to dance.”

“Yes, you do,” he says, already on his feet as he grabs your wrist and pulls you out of the booth.

You start whining all the way to the dance floor.

One of Pitbull's songs starts blasting through the speakers, one you've danced and screamed the lyrics to together more times than you can count.

Before long, you're laughing, slowly getting into it despite complaining that your feet hurt.

“I'm hungry!” you whine, still wrapping your arms around Taehyung's neck as his hands settle on your hips.

He rolls his hips perfectly, the dance close but still respectful.

You're not sure Maya's friends see it that way, judging by the looks they exchange.

But who cares?

People already think you fucked Jungkook – which isn't exactly false. Only the tense is different.

What's one more misunderstanding?

You and Taehyung dance through the rest of the song, laughing and singing until it fades into the next track.

Just as the two of you decide you need a break, Jungkook walks past with Aisha close behind him, looking even more smitten than she did back at the table.

“Having fun?” he asks, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.

“She's hungry,” Taehyung chimes in, brushing past your shoulder and leaving you alone with Jungkook.

Aisha pauses for a second, but Taehyung says something to her that makes her smile before she follows him back toward the table.

“Come on,” Jungkook says. “Let's go eat.”

You let out a small laugh.

“What?”

“You're hungry.”

“I know. I can deal with it. Go have fun.”

“Y/N.” Jungkook frowns.

“Jungkook,” you reply in the exact same tone.

“I can take care of myself,” you remind him, chiming in.

He glances to either side before lifting both hands in a small shrug.

“I never said you couldn't,” he points out. “Now don't be difficult. Let's go.”

With that, he turns on his heel, leaving you standing there in disbelief for a few seconds before you hurry after him, just in time to hear him asking if anyone else wants food or feels like joining you.

The girls have already disappeared back onto the dance floor. Only Zara and Ada stay behind, deciding they'll just order something from the club instead. The guys aren't hungry, Jungkook informing you they'd grabbed something to eat before heading to the escape room.

The moment you step outside, the fresh night air hits your face, making you instinctively take a deep breath. You ask him how the escape room went, learning they all ended up in the same group and already agreed they'd have to come back someday and split into two teams instead, especially since the place offered a competitive mode. It wouldn't be Jungkook if he didn't enjoy a little competition.

In return, you tell him about the amusement park, briefly mentioning Zara throwing up after one of the rides and how the employees let all of you skip most of the lines thanks to Maya's BRIDE sash. Before long, you've already reached the kebab place tucked just around the corner. You order your food and barely wait a minute before taking your first bite.

It's always the first bite that's the best, a satisfied moan slipping from your lips. Deciding to eat outside, the two of you step back onto the sidewalk, both of you knowing eating a kebab can get messy. Jungkook doesn't mind the fresh air after spending most of the evening indoors. While you happily eat, leaning against the brick wall of the building, he slowly paces up and down the sidewalk, watching the street that's still alive despite the late hour.

Once you've had enough bites to satisfy your hunger, your eyes naturally drift toward him. He looks like he stepped straight out of a magazine. One look at you and anyone could tell you've been celebrating something – your hair is a little messy, your makeup no longer as fresh, your face hot from dancing. Jungkook, meanwhile, somehow still looks effortlessly put together.

“You have a nice ass too,” you comment, wiping the corner of your mouth. Jungkook comes to an abrupt stop, his eyes meeting yours before a laugh finally escapes him.

“Where is this coming from?”

You shrug before handing him the rest of your kebab. There's nothing left but meat anyway. It always ends up at the bottom, and you've always preferred the vegetables and all the dressing. Jungkook knows exactly what that means, taking a generous bite without hesitation. Even though he decided not to order one himself, you know this man could probably eat enough for an entire village.

“Just giving back a compliment.”

He watches you as he swallows, a chuckle escaping him. “Is that all it is?”

A cool breeze briefly ruffles his hair, the black satin shirt shifting with it and exposing just a little more of his chest. One hand still holds the kebab, veins standing out across the back of it.

“God.”

The word slips out before you can stop it, immediately pulling you out of your own thoughts as you're met with a pair of thoroughly amused eyes.

“I forgot you get horny when you're drunk.”

You gape at him in offense, frowning. “I'm not drunk,” you point out. “And I'm not horny.”

“Okay,” he hums. “It's just one of your stages.”

“Shut up,” you scold, trying to hide your laugh as he laughs too. See? You can joke about it. It's still a thin line, maybe a little too soon for jokes like that, but somehow it feels normal. Maybe because only the two of you know exactly why he said it.

Jungkook finishes the last bite of your kebab in no time before tilting his head toward the way you came. “Ready to head back?”

You nod, falling into step beside him as the conversation naturally picks back up. And you're happy because you finally get to talk to him. Just the two of you, talking about everything and nothing at all. Maybe, just maybe, you're a little disappointed by how short the walk back is.

a/n: happy birthday to that one reader, you know who you are! thank you for your continued support and love throughout this story ♡

a special thank you to every reader who has purchased early access or simply supported me through ko-fi. your support genuinely means more than you know. thanks to you, I'm still able to make room in my life for writing and continue doing something I love in my free time. every purchase and donation helps me keep that time for MH instead of having to take on a side job and I'm incredibly grateful for that.

Thank you for allowing me to keep creating and, most importantly, thank you for being here and reading.

If you’ve enjoyed this chapter, please consider buying me a coffee☕️: https://ko-fi.com/personasintro ♡

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