title: monday
series: seven days: masterlist | prologue
pairing: fuckboy!jungkook x reader(f)
genre/rating: m (18+) ; angst , fluff ; roommates to lovers au
summary: after a long ass day at work, all you wanna do is sleep. but jungkook has made dinner reservations, and this whole bet is off to a rocky start.
warnings: a whole lot of sass (jk and reader), hand holding??, yes that is a warning, jk wears a tank, tension, embarrassment, snide comments, kookie is too fine and it HURTS!!, leather, dance king jk, reader bby is stressed as hell TT, roommates to idiots, anxiety, overthinking, kissing (????), general cuteness bc this jk is a loser and i love him :(((, reader is a queen, i wanna fight this jungkook but what's new lol
notes: 7days is back on the menu, chatttttt!!! if you've been waiting since forever i wanna see hands up in the audience hahaha
notes 2: just a little extra warning here but he’s unbelievably confident in this one yet a big softie and it HURTS😩
drop date: april 28th, 2025, 9:13pm est
word count: 11k🗯️🗯️
taglist: sign up here (i check every entry so read the rules!)
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Monday is gnawing on your final straw.
Meetings, reports, decisions—everything has warning signs attached and you’re quite close to heeding them and finding the nearest exit. Literally, figuratively, and expeditiously.
Fuck.
That means you might have to job hunt soon. For two jobs to compensate for how much you’re making now.
Why, oh why, did you choose the condo you did? And why did you pick a condo in the first place? Apartments would have been just fine for your needs and you could’ve been saving more for a fallout like this.
Well. You know the answer to that first question.
And it’s an answer you don’t regret.
Thinking back to that day, you still remember the way the lobby looked. How plants lined glass walls, how people occupied various mid-century chairs like they were paid background extras in a film.
More specifically, you remember seeing a vaguely familiar boy barrel through the revolving doors, dark locks whizzing about and paper clutched tight in his tatted hand.
Ignoring you entirely, he cut the line just as you were about to inquire about a tour—everyone including the concierge pinning him with disgust.
“Back of the line, Mr. Jeon.”
“She can wait, just—”
Your memory spun with that even more familiar last name, but you still couldn’t quite place where you knew this asshole from.
“—and I have it here. Also, why are you calling me th—”
“The rent is already way past due. We’re listing your unit.”
“Anj.”
“Mr. Jeon.”
“You know I have the money.” He sounded so rushed. So desperate. “I just forgot cus my roommate left—”
“You forgot for three weeks—”
“I was helping them move that whole time!”
Sighing, you checked your phone and determined you were gonna give it two more minutes until you trekked to another building.
But you had heard a mountain of good things about the place, and that particular day was the only free one you had to check it out.
So you waited. Because anything would beat staying in a cramped apartment with someone that clipped their toenails on a weeping living room table.
“Look. I have two months’ rent right here, plus extra.” Hair still frazzled, so-called Mr. Jeon hastily slapped his paper down before sliding it forward. “And I can even live by myself if I need to.”
“Doesn’t matter if you have the money or not,” Anj explained, voice as snipped as her fresh bangs. “The unit’s already listed in the system.”
“Since when?”
A merciless click echoed from her keyboard, and you knew exactly what was coming before she hammered home,
“Now.”
“Anjali…”
You tried so hard to hide your face.
If anything, you scored a jackpot in people watching that day. Observing the interaction, you wondered what the hell this man did to the concierge to get this pathetic but hilariously hostile treatment.
“Sorry, Mr. Jeon. You can apply for it again,” she offered with a flit of her hand, “If none of these nice, patient people in line take it.”
Just like that, it was the final, abrupt end of the battle. The defeated dropped his head back in loss before reclaiming his paper with a sad flourish.
And to this day, you don’t know what compelled you to speak up when you did. But you will always remember the reactions to your curiosity,
“What does it look like?”
Both him and Anjali whipped their heads so fast you froze. While the concierge appeared shocked, there was something in that boy’s eyes that strangely matched how you felt.
Did you look familiar to him, too?
A ping from your computer kicks you back to the present, and your rapid blinks make you realize you’ve been spacing out at your desk for minutes now.
But you notice that the alert’s for the end of your shift, and you quickly wrap everything up before heading home.
Straight back to the very condo you secured to save Mr. Jeon Jungkook’s ass.
Sleep.
That’s all you need right now.
Beautiful, wonderful, ever-evasive sleep.
But the only thing you get when you unlock the door is a flurry of activity, wave of music, and skittering of paws.
“There you are!” Your roommate yells as your legs are knocked by his furry companion. “Hurry and get ready!”
When you shout back a droning rejection, Jungkook splashes the hallway with the most disrespectful tank and jeans you’ve ever seen him wear.
Fuck, he’s flipping on a leather jacket over his shoulders, too? Your purse immediately slips from yours.
Nope. He needs to stay where he is. There’s no reason for him to keep walking closer but he’s doing it anyway goddamn it you don’t have the brain capacity for this!
“Didn’t you read my texts?”
“No,” you readily admit, moving to reach your room before Jungkook can block your path.
Too late.
Damn, his cologne is fantastic.
It almost distracts you from the way he casually leans on your door. And the way his voice drops a whole octave when he reveals,
“I’m taking you to dinner, remember?”
The butterfly on your heart is shooed away. “Where?”
“Not telling.”
“Seriousl—”
“But we gotta leave soon.”
Your bed is so close. And yet so, so far.
But damn, whatever Jungkook’s wearing proves way too enticing. You almost fold on its grip alone. Is this a new scent? Is he trying something different?
Nope, focus. You want—need—sleep.
With a sliver of hope, you reach for an out, “Does it have to be tonight? I just wanna be in bed.”
“I’m not opposed to that.”
“Jeon.”
Wait. Is that the first time Jungkook’s said something like that to you? Sure, you’ve both been suggestive with each other before, but that? That felt…
“I’m kidding!” He laughs, though his eyes are revealing truer angles. To your relief, though, the saucy reaction is short lived, giving way to a regular yet pitied tone,
“The next open slot is in two months.”
What the hell? Where the fuck are you going? “You mean I got five minutes to prep for some fancy place I can’t know the name of?”
“Uhh, no.” When Jungkook backtracks down the hall, his steps are as fast as his corrections, “You have two. And you don’t have to dress nice!”
“But you—!”
The speed demon is back in his room before you can hound him.
Muttering to no one, you agree with his last statement, “Good, cus I will not.”
Well. You know two things.
One: there’s no way this man is lasting ten days at this rate, much less seven.
And two: there’s absolutely no way you’re dressing up for whatever this is. Too much chaos went down at work for you to care about a fake dinner date with Jungkook.
You’re going for the food the food the food. Nutrients, sustenance, anything that satisfies the tiger that you are not paying a pet deposit for.
This better be worth the exhaustion.
Pushing your door open, you immediately take big strides towards your awaiting closet, already knowing exactly what you’re gonna wear.
Reservations two months out? As if.
How nice can this place really be?
Fucking opulent, apparently.
This is where Jungkook meant when he said there was a place he wanted to try? The most expensive, lavish, influencer-riddled establishment in the city?
When you recognize the damn near estate you’re pulling up to, you regret not caring about appearances and start sweating in your joggers.
This whole bet is a prank!
Because your roommate most definitely saw you for a whole minute before you both rushed out of the condo. How could you not remember? He eyed you as soon as you re-entered the hall to join him, and the back of your neck still has leftover chills from his steady staring.
That whole time he saw what you were wearing and he didn’t say shit? “Kook, what the fuck?”
“What?”
“This is the place you wanted to try?”
As Jungkook rolls up to the valet line, you get an annoying display of long fingers on his steering wheel.
So you look out the dark window instead.
“Nah, I just wanted to take you here. There’s a dessert place I wanna try after,” he explains with a smirk, little pieces of your sanity littering his passenger seat. “Don’t worry, I’m paying.”
Though you’re thankful he’s footing the bill—because you did not budget for shelling out a whole check tonight—you still sputter while taking in all the beautiful, pressed outfits walking inside. “It’s—I would’ve—Fuck, why didn’t you tell me I’m underdressed?”
They may not even let you in with what you’re wearing.
“Relax, roomie,” Jungkook pips, which stresses you the hell out. “I’m not dressed up either but they know me. We’re good.”
Lies. He is a liar and the heat behind your eyes will set his pants ablaze. “They know you.”
“Uh huh.”
When it’s your car’s turn, crisp uniforms rush around as you brace for utter shame. Not even the new car smell that still lingers in Jungkook’s car can keep you calm.
Thank everything holy that you fixed yourself above neck. That one split second decision saves you a sliver of embarrassment.
But you’re still in fucking sweatpants and sneakers. And a humongous hoodie.
God.
There’s no way this isn’t a set up.
No matter what, you’re holding yourself in high regard tonight. And that starts with greeting the valet with a bright smile as he opens your door, “Thank you so much.”
“You’re very welcome, Ms. Jeon.”
Miss what.
Your manufactured grin has some defects as you nod, gripping your bag as you exit the vehicle. When you turn, you see your current annoyance chatting it up with the other valet, wind pushing your sweater into your increasingly sweaty back.
Huh. They do look chummy.
Was Jungkook actually being serious?
“Have a good night, Mr. Jeon!”
“Thanks, Dio! Take good care of her, yeah?”
“As always.”
Between witnessing the valet talking to your roommate as if they were friends, and having said roommate’s last name thrust upon your person, you can only stare.
This is so weird.
But you click back into focus as Jungkook moves to join you, channeling all the energy you usually harness for professional outings and executive dinners.
Because even though you don a calm expression, you waste no time clutching his offered arm extra tight. Contempt buries itself in your low comment, “You’ve got some nerve, Kook.”
“Thanks!”
“Not a compliment.”
“Ouch.”
As you stroll through the grand entrance, you flare with conflicting feelings when he softly pulls you close. Subtle hints of luxury wisp into your nose, which compete with the warm feeling of his body feeling so solid against yours.
Heavens above.
Unbothered, he whispers back, “You’ll thank me after we eat.”
“I look like shit.”
“You’re perfect tonight, Ms. Jeon.”
Nope. No, no, no, you will not acknowledge the fluttering in your stomach. Absolutely not.
“Don’t call me that,” you seethe, smiling at the waiter before you’re led to your table.
And despite the stares you’re drawing, there’s something else that’s distracting you even more. Something that has your brain swiftly forgetting everything you’ve been fussing about.
Jungkook has lowered your arms so that he could lead.
By holding your hand.
His fingers feel so large around yours, his palm a strange but soothing mix of smooth and comfortable heat. Immediately, you feel a little more relaxed, which is strange considering you should be the exact opposite right now.
And as he guides you to sit in a chair that’s been pulled out for you, all you can do is follow in silence.
Because your fingers had fit so…
“Looks like they let anyone in here these days.”
Both your ears perk up before your fingers curl hard and fast.
Did you really just hear that? Did they really have to say something when you’re in a shit mood? Because they’re the next table over and therefore within launching distance so now you have to do something about it—
“Well, yeah,” Jungkook pounces before you do, snagging your look of confusion and signaling for you to follow along. When he rests leather forearms on tablecloth, he pins the couple with a cheeky smile. “That’d be pretty shitty if they didn’t let you two in, right?”
Okay. Staring at long, tatted fingers flexing before tightening into a fist, you have to admit: anyone defending your pride is hot as fuck.
And Jungkook being the one to do it?
All thoughts you’re thinking have no place at the table.
The man laughs as he gets up. “Sure,” he scoffs. “Enjoy the meal, kids. Filet’s the house favorite.”
“You sure?”
All eyes snap to your roommate.
Scratching the bottom of his jaw, Jungkook looks into the air, scrunching his brows ever so slightly in mock-thought. “Pretty sure it’s the tomahawk, but. Maybe it changed since last week—Eddie!”
Your eyes follow his stare behind you to see a staff member waving before heading over.
When he gets closer, you realize your roommate called over not a waiter… But a manager? On a first name basis?
Well, shit.
Your tongue pokes your cheek in high amusement. This couple next to you is lucky they just paid their bill or else they’d have to endure a whole meal of Jungkook sass. The man’s partner already looks like they’re gonna raise hell when they get in the car.
“Hello, Mr. Jeon! Always good to see you.”
Inwardly—and maybe also outwardly—you’re holding in your grin as they vacate before your super petty date can even get the clarification out,
“Same! House favorite is the filet now?”
“Ah, no. It’s still the tomahawk, but the ribeye’s also very popular.”
Jungkook calls out to the retreating couple instead of the guy in front of him, cupped hand bracing his cheekiness, “Thanks, Eddie! Good to know!”
When he shifts back in his seat, he watches Eddie check behind him before raising a brow. “Did they give you any trouble?”
“Nah.” Jungkook smiles at you before settling into his chair. “We got it.”
You can only blink, conflicting feelings warring in your stomach and making it spin. If you wanted to smile, it’s certainly coming out strained because that guy’s rude comment did catch you off guard.
To be fair, you are dressed up the most casual out of all the people here. But maybe your confidence is also weakened from the whole day, causing anything else to get a punch in. On top of the fact that you would never come here on your own unless you struck gold.
But that does beg another question.
Why does Jungkook look so at home this easily? His outfit is casual, too—leather jacket floating in a sea of suits and ties, for goodness sake. How does he do it? Has he actually been here that often?
Maybe it’s the way he carries an aura you have to fight to conjure on your best days.
“Will the lady be having the usual tonight, Mr. Jeon?”
Ah. Scratch that.
It’s because you’re the hundredth woman he’s taken here. And somehow all of you have been provided the same meal.
Just like that, the haze around your brain vaporizes, leaving you glaring at wide eyes.
So much for protecting your pride!
“Ah, umm,” Jungkook stutters, ears alight with embarrassment. “Not this time—I mean, no.”
Mm. At least you’re relishing the way he’s tripping over himself.
“Apologies,” Eddie rescinds, looking just as alarmed. Good. “Here’s our menu for tonight, and we have a few specials that you can view on the first page.”
“Thank you,” you answer for your roommate, and you feel avenged when he visibly knows he fucked up. Feeling cheeky, you fire off, “What is the usual for us Ms. Jeon’s, if I may ask?”
Both men freeze and seek each other before you get your stiff answer, “Ah, umm. Yes, our wedge salad, plain with house-made dressing on the side.”
“Great.”
As soon as you open your menu with finality, you can sense the tension radiating from your audience, inwardly proud of speaking out.
Because this whole bet, or prank, or whatever it is? It is not gonna go the way Jungkook thinks it will.
Even though a wedge salad with some accoutrements does sound pretty good. But who are you to back down now.
When Eddie moves away—or scurries, rather—you shoot lasers of disappointment over your dimly lit menu.
Which Jungkook very intentionally ignores.
But he’s not getting away that easily. If he’s gonna rope you into this mess, you’re gonna fight back.
“Charming start,” you mutter.
“Sorry.”
Looking up in earnest, you notice something odd about your fake date.
He looks… Genuinely upset. Borderline disturbed.
Well. It’s his fault in the end.
But is that really the expression of someone pranking their roommate? If it is, he could even pursue acting if his social media accounts don’t pop off.
Focus. Actually read the words on the menu instead of staring. What are you hungry for? Everything here looks and sounds amazing so it’s gonna be hard to choose…
Your eyes slide over your hardy pamphlet one more time.
And as Jungkook keeps watching the candle flick between you, something else stirs in your chest.
Acting or not, he’s quiet as fuck. Which is making you more uncomfortable than anything else because he just lit up confronting that couple for you.
A resigned sigh escapes your lips. “It’s okay.”
He lifts his gaze.
“But at this rate, you’re definitely losing this whole thing.”
His laugh doesn’t have his whole heart inside. “I just… I’m sorry. That wasn’t… Wasn’t cool.”
“We’re good,” you assure, your softer side clutching the reins for a moment. “I can play wifey if you’re paying, yeah?”
At this, Jungkook seems to lighten up a tad, though you catch a hint of what you’ll later realize is shyness. “Yeah,” he confirms with a slow drawl. “Get whatever you want, Ms. Jeon.”
“How considerate.”
“Anything for my date.”
Your brows pinch for a moment, and you quickly remind yourself of what just happened with the manager. “Rip. I’m definitely getting more than a salad.”
“I know,” Jungkook replies, palming his menu with a smirk on his lips. “Between the two of us we’re gonna blow my whole stack.”
“We’re getting apps?”
“And sides.”
“Wine?”
“Fuck yeah.”
“Hell yeah, bro.” Your mouth betrays you when it stretches sideways. But you can’t help it because this is where you’re comfortable. You’re not in an expensive restaurant on a date, you’re just having dinner with your roommate.
Your very attractive, super sauve, completely senseless roommate.
Pulling at your hoodie, you let your amusement loose as your shoulders finally relax, “Good thing I wore this then, huh?”
When Jungkook knowingly smiles with lips pressed, you feel like the only one in the room.
And maybe like you got the whole prank thing all wrong.
Damn.
Everything you’ve eaten so far has you transcended into a higher plane.
Truthfully, you can’t even recall a better meal than this, and the way Jungkook looks while he digs into his ribeye is how you feel inside. Satiated, content, and upset at how good the food tastes.
But it’s not just the meal that warms your belly. The small bits of talking and joking you’ve been having with him have helped you forget the multiple vibrations you feel in your purse. And the wine has certainly helped relax some tightly-wound muscles.
“Om mah guh,” you groan, this swallow as good as the last. “Can I live here instead?”
Your roommate laughs with a mouthful of food. “Mmhmm.”
“Good.” You reach for a sip of your drink, noticing that you’re both making good headway on all the plates. Taking a much needed break, you slump back in your increasingly comfortable chair before gazing at chandeliers. “Cus I think I just ate my month’s rent.”
“You aren’t even paying!”
“Oh, yeah.” You beam at shining bulbs. “Sucks for you.”
Jungkook’s laugh could be recognized miles away, you muse.
But good god.
Haughty establishment be damned. Even if one of these light fixtures crash onto a table, you’re still gonna be rubbing your grateful stomach and sporting a drool line.
Another quick puff of amusement shoots across the table, but you don’t get a response because a lighter voice floats above you instead,
“Hey, baby.”
Huh?
Brows furrowed, you leer down your nose before straightening, wondering who the heck is oh shit this woman is gorgeous. And tall.
Which makes Jungkook’s offhanded greeting so comical. “Sup!”
The girl seems unfazed, manicured nails caressing his shoulder. “You were supposed to call me tonight.”
Ouch. Did he double-book your date on a booty call with a goddess?
A mere wallflower, you silently pull out your phone as Jungkook reluctantly looks upward—and you know in your heart it’s because the bite on his fork was meticulously made. “Oh. Did I say that?”
“You said so last week.”
Yikes.
“I say a lot of things.”
Double yikes.
Your lips smush into a line of pity when you see a pair of eyes roll. Emotions seem to blend together in your ribcage now, but you really should care less. This isn’t a real date.
Regardless of how you feel, this lady could grace the cover of a magazine if she hasn’t already. Why hasn’t Jungkook abandoned your table to follow her out the door?
“Whatever, I guess. Have fun with your…” Sudden judgment makes you blink. “Friend.”
Triple yikes.
Good riddance! Forget anything you were thinking in her defense. She doesn’t deserve him with that sour attitude, and you’re completely saying this as his roommate. And friend. Duh.
You’re about to unleash some choice words before Jungkook simply smiles. “She’s my date,” he proclaims while looking right at… you? “And I will.”
Well.
That gesture was a little shocking.
But it could be staged. Is this girl just acting? Just another part of this bet?
Nah. There’s no way he would go through this elaborate of a prank just to mess with you. Right?
Right?
Jungkook finally takes that huge bite of his concoction as the woman hums and struts off, and you can’t help but blink at him. Once. Twice. Two more for good measure.
When he notices your bewilderment, a word is blocked by chewed protein, “What?”
“She was hot.”
“And?”
Something akin to pure disbelief shoots out of your nose. “You’re gonna pass that one up?”
As expected, you have to wait a second as he finally swallows. But you’re willing to do that because if he talks with a full mouth one more time you’re gonna—
“Why wouldn’t I? I’m with you.”
Gonna… You’re gonna…
What were you complaining about again?
Jungkook has to be kidding. He has to. For goodness sake, you’re a bloated mess in sweats and there are tons of tens walking around.
You’ve picked up on the stares. More than one person has given your roommate glimpses and double-takes. You’ve just ignored them because you were famished, tired, and knowing you won’t be doing this little stunt forever.
But after seeing how adamant Jungkook has been, you at least admire his commitment. The efforts shown tonight have been quite endearing.
Maybe you can start treating this like an actual date, too.
Leaning forward, you rest casual elbows on the table, shielding your chin with clasped palms. “If you’re serious… what do you usually talk about on these things.”
You ask this to show that you’ll try. An olive branch extending above herbs and coagulating butter meant to assure him.
So why does Jungkook look thrown off to hell? “On dates? Uhh…”
Great. You concede to paying more attention just to fall for his styled hair. And of course it looks even better when he rakes through his locks! Does he really have to do that? Damn it, damn it, damn it.
“They usually do most of the talking.”
“Bullshit.”
“It’s true!”
If that’s true, you kinda feel bad. Aren’t dates supposed to be how you get to know one another? Both people should be talking and finding similarities to build connections. Or at least to keep things interesting.
“Well,” you scoff, “What do you wanna talk about?”
“Oh. Hmm.”
Silence remains your only response for a heavy set of seconds. And you relax your hands with each passing tick, your heart kinda sinking alongside their descent.
Jungkook almost looks… unsure. Lost.
This wasn’t your goal in the slightest. And now you feel a little bad for asking, even if it was just a genuine question.
A slight furrow in your brows stems from the tiny pang in your chest. Something inside of you wants to reach over and grab that nervous hand tapping his silverware, but you can’t move. It doesn’t feel like the time.
You don’t wanna do this to yourself again, either.
But after some clinks and chatter around your table, your date pulls out a topic,
“There’s a new d—”
Loud buzzing makes both of you jump, eyes slinging to the phone lighting up on your side of the table.
Shit, you forgot to put it back in your bag.
Swiping it quick, you stare at the screen before wincing, because you finally got somewhere with substance.
But these calls won’t stop. They’re not gonna stop until you answer them.
“Hold that thought, okay?” You ask with sorry eyes. “I need to take this.”
“Yeah, it’s fine,” Jungkook responds quick. But his face gives a lot more away than he intends. “I’ll, uhh. Be here.”
You nod in return, not quite telling him what you want to say.
But wading through stares with your phone against your ear shifts your mood entirely.
And maybe one day, you’ll admit to your roommate that you wanted nothing more than to keep talking to him instead.
That was a mistake.
You really shouldn’t have taken that call.
Using a warm towel to fix what you can of your face, you stare at determined eyes before steeling resolve. Get back out there and back to Jungkook. This whole thing took you way too long.
God, that was a huge mistake.
Shuffling back into your chair, you notice that a lot of the plates have been bussed and your napkin replaced with a new one.
“Fuck,” you whisper. “How long was I gone?”
“Who was that?”
His sudden question makes you pause on the way down, but you sit anyway. He doesn’t need to know. “Oh, it’s…” Waving your hand, you shoo any doubts he has in those starry eyes. “Whatever. I’m back now. What were we taking about?”
“Who called you.”
“No one, Kook.”
“Are you sure cus you—”
“Stop,” you cut him off, looking away before he can pin you down with one confused stare. “I just.. It’s no one, okay?”
Jungkook hesitates, but he answers, “If you say so.”
Your stare is long.
Because he looks ready to fight.
Or ready to just leave and find someone else to continue the date with, you don’t know for sure. Do you have a bias on which one it’d rather be? Yeah. But you’re so thrown off by that stupid ass call.
Sighing, you fiddle with the posh tablecloth before clearing your throat. “So.. What were you gonna tell me?”
More hesitation from across the table. But you expect it, so it hurts less. “There’s a new dance I wanna learn.”
Oh?
Immediately, your shoulders relax a tad. You didn’t think he’d talk about one of his hobbies. Truthfully, you assumed Jungkook would mention something about his car or gloat about only working when he wants to.
This is a welcoming twist. And one you can somewhat follow since you know about his steadily growing account and dance skill. “Which one? Show me.”
“Yeah?” Sparkling, your roommate takes out his phone, swiping away notifications—a lot of notifications—before thumbing through. “Hold on, lemme find one.”
You look around, seeing that some people here are elders and anticipating their disgust when Jungkook inevitably plays the video out loud.
“Here.”
Doing exactly what you thought, he shows a dance to a popular song that you’ve heard before. Is this why you’re hearing it everywhere? Whatever it is, it looks more complicated than the ones he’s posted before.
But knowing he picks stuff up quick, you figure he’ll have it down by tomorrow. So the only logical step is to tease him and test his memory, “Bet you can’t learn it by the time we finish.”
“Our date?”
“Our food.”
Jungkook gawks. “But we’re almost done!”
“So? You can do it.”
“What do I get?”
“I’ll pay for dessert.”
“Done. Have fun paying, I’m getting everything.”
When he watches the video, you press a hand over his phone just as he tries to block the swipe. And you fight hard to not react to his fingers covering yours. “No cheating.”
“What!”
Sliding your hand away, your voice gets more stern to hide your heartbeats. “Gotta make it hard somehow.”
His cheeky eyebrow tick snatches your breath before he goads, “I’m listening...”
He’s listening? What did you… Oh. He’s a problem. Blowing off his innuendo, you roll your eyes. “Whatever, you get what I mean.”
More notifs slide onto his phone, and you hum while Jungkook swipes them away in groups. “Fine. But you’re gonna record me and watch me win.”
“Done.”
During the rest of the meal—which prolongs from both of you still ordering—you can tell he’s committed, his body subtly doing the moves as he mouths the lyrics. “You’re trying the dance, huh.”
“Shh.”
The night goes on, and the restaurant fills closer and closer to the brim. It’s after the ninety minute mark that you notice just how many people know your roommate. At least, people in a place like this.
Girls keep coming to visit. But not all of them are hostile or rude—most of them are actually really sweet. Some people invite him to places, others remind him to be somewhere. One very handsome guy even asks if he’s going to some pre-release party tomorrow.
“That’s tomorrow?”
“Yeah, dude. Open the group chat once in awhile.”
After Jungkook laughs and jokes along with the guy a little more, he watches him say bye to you before leaving with his own date.
You’re left amazed, eyeing him signing the bill you know is massive. “Damn.. how many people do you know in this town?”
“Uhhh…” He scratches his neck. “Don’t be surprised if this keeps happening.”
“Super.”
And he dons that same uneasy look in his eyes.
You come to the conclusion that you don’t enjoy it.
When another group of people approach the table, Jungkook subtly changes up the way he converses. Instead of just talking to them, he fully introduces you and even mentions what you do for a living.
And this little change causes a beat inside your chest.
As you’re about to answer one of their questions, your phone buzzes again. And it’s yet another thing that you have to pick up.
Fucking hell, why is all of this happening tonight?
So caught up in inner turmoil, you don’t realize how everyone’s looking at you as you hastily stand. And when you quickly apologize and excuse yourself, you hate how you catch Jungkook’s eyes right before leaving.
This time? He looks downright upset.
Shit, you can’t handle all of this right now. You know you’re definitely gonna be talked about as soon as you’re out of earshot but it’s too late to recover.
So you rush away yet again.
That call doesn’t take long, but it’s still just as terrible to go through. Now you’re really just ready to cut the night short.
“Who keeps calling you? You okay?”
“No one you know,” you sigh, a bit shocked that Jungkook even asked that second question. “But don’t worry about it. Let’s go home.”
“Home? Not dessert?”
You eye him again.
Damn it. He looks like a puppy that is determined to be adopted, and you know you can’t shake that image from your mind the rest of the night.
Because yes. You do want to go home. You want to go home, shower, and dive into bed because no, you are not okay.
But after double checking your maps, you make a decision. For your self-proclaimed date and for yourself.
“There’s a parking garage nearby,” you surrender as you stand. “Go park at the top.”
The night sky looks a lot different from this height. Which doesn’t say too much because of all the city lights, but at least you have less obstruction to that vast dark ocean.
As prominent stars shine above, you lose any previous thoughts, palms curled and resting against the warm top of Jungkook’s car.
If only you could swim across those mingling blues. Weightless. No stressors or toxins entering your life, only flowing out and dissipating amongst planets and moons. A stellar massage; an out of this world escape.
“Why are we up here?”
Your sigh is slow on the release. “To see if you earned dessert or not.”
When you look his way, Jungkook’s eyes twinkle brighter than stars, which is all you needed to validate your impromptu decision to come.
Another olive branch.
But your roommate slowly rounding his car makes your thoughts slip off the damn track. The rooftop lights contour his features just right, and when he leans right next to your arm, your ability to steer back in your lane vanishes.
“Didn’t think you were this invested,” he hums.
To which you slowly cut back, “I kinda just wanna see you lose.”
Jungkook’s teeth bite a corner of amused lips in response, and it’s the most tempting he’s looked the entire night. Fuck you need to look away he cannot do that ever again.
“Record me then.”
Why the fuck did his voice get so low!
Turning back, you slide your hands off the car—certainly not because they’re shaking. “Gimme your phone.”
The proximity has been getting to you. But Jungkook’s sudden hesitation breaks whatever spell he just casted.
Makes sense. He was very quick to swipe away any notifications that you may have seen. Privacy or whatever he’s afraid of, you’re gonna stay wary of what could be in that thing.
But to your utter shock, Jungkook has his whole screen in view while he swipes into quick settings to turn on Do Not Disturb. And he hands it over while his words come out small,
“All yours.”
Static flits in the air as you slowly take it, watching him observe your expression and realizing he’s giving up a lot with this one gesture.
And you don’t know what possesses you to do this, but you pocket his phone in your hoodie pouch before taking your own device out to silence, as well.
Although worried, you sacrifice this tiny moment of time to give him the same courtesy. It’s only gonna take him two tries maximum, right? You won’t miss anything in those sixty seconds. This is just an equivalent exchange.
“And yours,” you murmur, handing him your phone to keep, too.
It shouldn’t mean much. Honestly, it shouldn’t mean anything.
But the way Jungkook looks at you? I feels like no one else exists anymore. Your universe has shrunken to two, and the way one of you is inching forward it feels like you’re about to be k—
“You shouldn’t have done that,” is all the warning you get before Jungkook speeds off.
Speeds off? What the actual fuck!
“Are you fucking serious!” you call out as you chase him across empty parking spaces, watching his hair bounce with his swooping laughs as he’s… raising your phone above his head? “Jungkook, I swear to god—”
His laughter continues as he keeps running, and you quickly run out of breath but you push forward because what the fuck is he doing with your phone? Is he checking every notification you didn’t swipe away or checking your call history or—
A whoosh of breath flies out as you run right into his laughs, and you’re grabbing at his jacket and yelling until you notice that he’s…
Recording?
Jungkook was just filming himself running away?
“Ah, you’re faster than I thought,” he grins to your camera. “Thought you’d be a turtle.”
“Kook!”
“Come here, turtle,” he says before wrapping a quick arm around you. Asking right to the camera, he continues, “Where’d you learn to be so fast?”
You outright frown at the lens. “I am not a turtle.”
Jungkook bursts into laughter again. “Ah, what are you then,” he asks again, watching himself on your screen while you perpetually pout. “A sloth? A snail?”
“Annoyed.”
“That’s not an animal!”
“Give me my phone!” You spring into action, leaping for your device as he stretches away while laughing even harder. Your body fully smushes into his in your pursuit, and while your arms are sailing through the air your heart is leaping into the clouds.
It’s always been obvious your roommate is rock solid but holy fuck.
Don’t give up now. You’re grabbing his leather sleeves and he’s chortling all throughout your struggle. But you think you can get it if you just—
“Wait, wait!” Jungkook stumbles from your full weight jumping forward, and he attempts to stay upright but suddenly you’re rushing towards the ground in a full fall oh shit! “Fuck—!”
You fully expect pain shooting through your hands, or your hips, or your elbow, brain rushing through ideas on how to fall properly—
But all you feel is the plush yet solid force of Jungkook’s front, held together in a leather layer as you both shoot out groans on impact. And all you can get out is a tiny,
“Ow.”
“You okay?”
A lot of things are competing for your realization. Like the way Jungkook is between your body and concrete, and the way he’s the one looking at you in concern.
Not to mention the hand fully pressing you against his front.
Oh no no no, you’re getting flushed just thinking about how he feels. Or how he saved you from any injury. You can already imagine how it’s gonna sound in the video playback when you squeak, but you’re so embarrassed that you just want it over with. “Why’d you do that?”
“Me? You’re the one that jumped me!”
“You could’ve just given me my phone.”
“That’s too easy.”
Shit, you need to get up. His eyes are shimmering and he looks way too happy for a guy that just broke your entire fall. When you try to push off, you’re quickly held a little bit tighter.
And your brain skids to a halt as you look at his cocked brow.
“Say sorry first.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he quips. “Say sorry and I let you go.”
Ah. If only it was always that easy.
Pursing your lips, you glare. “I’m sorry for giving you my—Kook!”
He laughs at your miserable attempt to escape his tickling, correcting you in sing-song as you squirm. “You gotta mean it, babe.”
Immediately, you stop. “Don’t call me that.”
“Why not?”
You don’t really have an answer. But giving guys a general look of annoyance is usually enough to convince them. So you pull out your last hope.
“Okay, okay,” he concedes, reluctantly peeling his fingers off your side and letting you stand. “I won’t say it for now.”
Once you get off of him, you feel a little strange. The same feeling from your handholding earlier comes back in full force, but you do your best to shove it away.
You don’t need that right now. This is just an experiment, so not even lying on top of your roommate can get to you.
While dusting yourself, you miss the chance to give Jungkook a hand. So you’re silent as he shows you your phone—the video stopped and your screen black. “That okay?”
“Mmhmm…”
“Sorry,” he apologizes, though you don’t know what for. “We can record now.”
You huff as he unlocks your device with your face, and you debate pouncing again before he reassures,
“Just pulling up the song. Damn, your screens are organized!”
You don’t acknowledge his compliment but watch him pull up the right app. And you let him play the song on loop in his pocket before relaxing.
“Okay, you can start. I’ll tell you when to stop.”
“K.”
Through his screen, you watch Jungkook slowly jog into frame until he’s a good distance away. Already knows exactly how far to be, you muse, wondering just how often he really does these videos.
And he preps because he knows the challenge part is coming, so you steady your hand and watch in amazement as he really does know all the moves.
But you’re feeling a little cheeky. And a little in the mood for revenge.
So you wait until he’s fully done with the dance to tell him you weren’t recording, which makes him groan,
“Really!”
“Looks like you gotta do it all again,” you shrug with mock-pity.
So he plays the song from your phone again while you wait, and once again, Jungkook is a skilled… dancer…
A message banner from a name you vaguely recognize slides onto his screen, which throws you off because you literally saw him put it on DND.
Wait. If Jungkook still gets her messages in this mode, then…
You realize what that could mean, and it kinda throws you off because you feel like you intruded on something you didn’t mean to.
Damn.
“How’d that one look!”
Shit! You were so thrown you didn’t even watch him! “Uhh.. Do it again,” you tell him, trying hard to hide the hitch in your voice. “You can do better.”
“Well, damn!” This guy’s smile really isn’t fair, even from far away. “At least you’re honest.”
Yeah. Right.
When Jungkook does it again, no notifications show up and you watch him diligently this time.
It’s perfect. Exactly how you thought it’d be.
“That one was the best one,” he chirps, jogging over to take his phone and have you both watch it again. Looking at you with a lopsided curve, he boasts, “I win.”
“Fine, fine,” you admit with a fake grin. “Maybe I’m the one that wanted dessert this whole time.”
He laughs. “Do it with me.”
Do what? The dance? Absolutely not. “Me? Hell no.”
“Why not!”
“I would look like a fool! No.”
A hand juts out to pull you just as you try to scurry away. “Nah, come on! I’ll show you, come here.”
Ugh. You hate how he’s truly just vibing, taking you along for the ride.
But in a last show of grace, you allow yourself to give in. Focusing on anything else besides those phone calls—and that notification—could be good anyway.
So you stand next to your awaiting date, nodding for him to get on with it and teach.
Grinning, Jungkook shows you simple moves and you somewhat get them. Something with your feet here, another move with your arms there. It’s a bit shaky at first and you have to keep watching him dance, but you have to admit you’re doing better than expected.
But there’s a move with your hips that you can’t quite get, and you feel stiff as hell. Honestly, you’re not even mad at your dance partner for laughing because you know you look silly. “Give me a break,” you shout with a laugh, to which he chuckles harder. “You know this one is hard.”
So, in very Jungkook fashion, your roommate comes over to steady his hands on your hips. “Here,” he says in a whisper, “I got you.”
And you scoff out a laugh. “Oh. I see.”
In full teacher mode, he asks in shock, “Wait, you got it already?”
“No, like”—you shake your head—“I see why you did this.”
Jungkook pauses before chuckling, smug whispers flowing into your ear, “Is it working?”
Huh. Just like his boldness from before, you’re liking this side of him. The one that’s just going for it, whatever the challenge may be.
Turning slightly, you catch his features in your peripheral. “What if it wasn’t?”
Slowly, Jungkook’s grip gets a little tighter as he leans in, one of his hands sliding up just enough for his thumb to slip under your hoodie. When he asks again, his tone lowers an octave, one you haven’t ever heard this close, “This better?”
The text, the text, the text.
You breathe hard, swallowing before stepping far out of his embrace and sputtering, “I think I got it! No practice needed.”
He switches demeanor immediately. “Oh? So we can record now?”
“What.”
Jungkook half runs to the nearest concrete railing to prop his phone, grappling your wrist before you can scurry out of frame. “Just try it! Play the song on your phone.”
God. You were only gonna learn the dance, not be recorded! This is way too much embarrassment for the night.
As the video records, you’re so adamantly against it that you stand in full grump mode, your dance partner only stopping when he sees you not doing it.
You kinda enjoy his pout. “Hey!”
“I can’t!”
Again with those eyes. No wonder this man gets whatever the fuck he wants whenever someone comes over. “Just once.”
Your arms cross you like a shield. “If it’s horrible, you’re deleting it.”
“Fine.”
You give him another look, but he’s not budging. At all.
So you slump in defeat and prep for the worst.
The video records again, and you move through the steps, knowing your memory helps you even though your muscles can’t quite do everything accurately. Honestly, you’re a bit proud you can get through the dance wait why are you dancing solo!
Freezing, you turn to Jungkook watching you with a dropped jaw. “What now?”
Excited eyes crease as he points to your feet. “You did the moves!”
“Wasn’t I supposed to?”
“Yeah, but”—his amusement peppers the night with color—“I didn’t expect that.”
“You told me to!”
He laughs again before running excitedly to his phone, and you are so confused. But you feel a little accomplished that you surprised him, and he then tells you to record him one more time. “I can’t lose to you.”
And when you watch him finish the dance, you lock eyes with him over his phone.
That was the best he’s ever danced for a video and you both know it.
When he proudly holds his device on the way back to the car, you quietly smile as he decrees, “I’m posting this tomorrow.”
“Why not now?”
“Wanna edit first.”
You give the sky one more look. “Oh. I thought time mattered or something.”
“Huh? I don’t care about the time. I just post whenever.”
“Sounds right.”
At least the time you’ve been spending on the parking garage is nice. Looks like the change in location has been a nice distraction from—
Great. Another fucking call.
Both of you glance down at your phone, and you quickly bring it up to your ear to hide the caller ID, wincing at his forlorn look before you motion your exit.
“Do you really have to—”
When the caller starts to talk, you make one stride before your elbow is softly grabbed.
And when you give Jungkook a desperate shake of your head, he pinches his brows before letting you go.
God, your roommate looks so lost in his car.
The breeze stings as you walk back, and your heart tugs a little when Jungkook starts driving over as soon as he sees you’re done.
Just get through this last part of the night. One more stop and then you can both end this pitiful charade of a date.
You’re about to reach for your door when Jungkook pops out of his side. “I got it.”
Oh. That’s nice of him. “You don’t have to—”
“Am I keeping you from something?”
Stilling, you watch as he stops at your side, car exhaust hitting your nose as his car runs. “No, no, it’s…”
Jungkook watches you peter off, his face falling hard enough to make you regretful. When he looks at the ground, your chest caves. “We can just go home.”
“What? No. You won the bet, I don’t need pity.” You know it’s sour but you’re stressed and losing this one good thing will make it a thousand times worse. “Sorry.”
“We don’t have to go.”
“Dude, it’s fine.”
“I don’t want it anymore.”
Well. Shit.
Way to be the first person in the universe to ruin a good time with Jeon Jungkook. A good night, no less. What’s the prize? Feeling like absolute garbage.
This guy took you to the nicest place in town, defended you against stuck-up assholes, and even broke your fall on concrete. What the fuck have you been doing the whole night? Those olive branches don’t mean shit if you’re gonna take them away, too.
Sighing, you muster the courage to put on a brave front. Offering one last, genuine invitation, you compromise, “Then let’s do the dance one more time.”
“It’s okay.”
Fuck, that hurts like hell, but don’t give up. Stop being a total asshole.
Gathering even more courage, you reach out to lift his beautiful chin. “Look at me.” When he does in silence, you finally apologize, “I’m sorry, okay? I should’ve told you these calls might happen but I didn’t even.. I didn’t even think about it.”
“They’re making you miserable,” he accurately summarizes. “And you won’t tell me who's doing this to you.”
Soul breaking, you stare at the ground. “I’ll tell you if I really need to, Kook, but.. Not right now.”
“Why?”
Many, many reasons. But you’ll spare him the time and misery when you swipe at nothing on his jacket. “Because I can handle them on my own for now.”
There’s a beat of silence followed by another. But it’s not as awkward as they had been throughout the night. This one feels much lighter, like your apology lifted the brick of stress pushing down on you until now.
Is that because Jungkook’s now offering to help you carry it? “I’m here, you know,” he starts, his turn to hold your chin. “Even if we aren’t dating, I got you. Okay?”
Smiling the tiniest you can manage, you wait until his hand is back at his side. “Are you gonna tell me that’s what roommates are for?”
When Jungkook starts to grin, you let yours spread a little wider. “Something like that.”
Okay. You can do this.
He’s just your roommate and this is just a date. You’ve been letting life beat your ass the whole time you could’ve been leaning into this whole thing, and that sucks.
But even though you can’t change the past, you can change what happens now.
So you let yourself laugh when he does, and you give him one more chance to embarrass you. “Are we doing this dance again or going back home so I can finally sleep in peace?”
“In peace?” His dropped jaw makes you giggle. “Nah, we’re definitely recording again.”
This time, you both stand a little closer so you can fully be in frame. And it takes a few tries—one solely because Jungkook purposely moves to cover you, making you shove his laughing ass out of the way—but eventually you do get a decent take.
After watching it over in the car a few minutes later, you’re so impressed that you even want him to send you the video.
“Oh, yeah, I’m sending all of them.”
“What, why?”
His eyes shine way too bright as he starts descending through the parking levels. “So that they live in our message thread forever.”
“You sneaky bi—wait, this is my song!” Your hand is already jutting out to turn up the volume before Jungkook can react, already forgetting what you were yelling about to break into an upbeat rendition of an old classic.
“Wait, I wanted to—”
“Too bad! This is my shit.”
When you start to sing, Jungkook can only watch before grinning at his windshield, joining in until you’re both belting everything out, “We’re in heaven…”
Letting your window down, you scream lyrics out into the empty garage, barely hearing Jungkook cackling at your side.
For a moment, you feel free. Music up, breeze through the windows, and the prettiest singing voice by your side hitting every note in the book.
If only you could both do this forever.
After a much livelier car ride than the first, you’re both walking to your door, sharing a look and knowing exactly what the tiny laughs are about.
Who goes back to the same home after a first date?
As he opens the door for you, a thanks slips from your lips before your shoes slide off your feet. And while the door closes with a click, your mind goes over the whole night like a sped-up tape.
Prank or not, bet or not, it ended up being fun. You hope the same for your roommate, though you’re truly expecting him to confess and say he’s done pretending. So he can get on with his life and seeing other people like that girl.
Your ribcage jostles.
“Thanks for dinner,” you murmur as he finishes taking off his boots. “That was the best I’ve ever had.”
When Jungkook straightens, he gives you a lopsided smile. “Good,” he responds before flicking his bangs out the way. “But no taking calls next time.”
Wait. After all your bullshit today, there’s still a next time? “Uh, I don’t know when I’d be able to—”
“Trust me. This one you’ll like.”
Rip the bandaid off. Just do it before things go where they shouldn’t. He’s already starting to say what’s in store for tomorrow but you can’t even entertain it because of what you saw. “I don’t think this will work.”
Caught mid-sentence, Jungkook snaps his mouth shut before tilting his head. “Huh? You didn’t have a good time?”
Damn it. Why is he still only asking about your experience? Didn’t he have to sit through all your absences? This is already getting too hard to break off and that’s not a good sign. “No, I did. I meant the whole, umm. Ten days thing.”
“Because you’re already convinced?”
“Because we live together, dummy,” you remind him, walking into the hall before he blocks your path. Pulling excuses out of your ass, you continue, “At least I get to have time away from other people I date. Not keep seeing them in their underwear.”
“You like it.”
You tsk.
“It’ll be fine!”
Arms folded, you pin him with a glare. “You bring girls over like four times a week.”
“Why would I right now? I’m with you.”
Something about that makes your heart pulse a little faster. But you can’t. You can’t do this when you know something you shouldn’t. Or maybe something you should, since it’s pretty damn important? “And no one else?”
“No one else,” Jungkook immediately answers. Which is weird considering what you accidentally saw earlier. If he’s flat out lying, you really can’t do anything else with him anytime soon.
“Are you sure, because…” You sigh before looking down at his pocketed phone.
Say it. Say exactly what’s on your mind because this isn’t some drama where communication is somehow last on the list of priorities. Real people talk it out, so talk it out. “Look. I kinda, umm. Saw someone text you when I was recording.”
You watch his expression change a tiny, tiny bit. But it’s enough to warrant your decision, “If you’re already seeing someone, I don’t wanna—”
“Who?”
You blink. “Uhhh.. Kyla? Kira?”
Your roommate suddenly starts to grin lopsided. “Kala? She’s my friend from like, second grade. We still game together.”
“Oh.” Well. That was a lot easier to talk about than you expected. “I just thought… Yeah.”
The way he softens while looking at you makes you feel both dizzy and a little shy. You would pay a significant amount to know what he’s thinking right now, despite the troubles hitting you all through the night.
“So cute.”
Ah. Never mind. “It’s not cute,” you huff. “Just being reasonable.”
“Yeah. Cute.”
But he breaks contact to take out his phone and messes with it for a bit. When he clicks it to lock, he holds it up in a slight wiggle. “There.”
Your head tilts before he explains,
“Yours come through now, too.”
Breath caught, your whole body seems to buzz. The air around your hoodie starts shifting and heating, and your question leaves in a shocked whisper, “You’re taking this seriously.. aren’t you.”
Jungkook’s eyes never leave yours. “Yeah.”
Why the hell is he trying so hard? For you of all people?
Last time you checked, the two of you are friends but it’s never been more than that. What’s gotten into him in the last month or so? Did something happen that you missed completely?
Because if this isn’t some big joke... is this energy around you what you think it is? This chemistry molding into something scary and exciting all at once? It’s terrifying you because, if this is something he wants for real, you may take things further than they’ve ever gone.
But the spark dissipates when Jungkook looks away. Eyes a little lowered, he asks,
“It’s just ten days, right?”
Ah. Of course. He’s just competitive, that’s all.
Smiling tight while you lift your nose, you hum. “Seven.”
“Too easy.” Jungkook then stops to look at the ground. “It’d be easier if you didn’t keep walking off, though.”
He got you there. You really don’t have any excuses other than your much lower level of effort. “I… Yeah. Life is really… I’m sorry.”
You don’t want to tell him just yet. Especially since the night had quite the lovely ending. “But honestly, I really thought you were just doing all this to mess with me.”
“Well, I’m not.” Shucking his jacket off shoulders that haunt you, your roommate steps aside to let you finally pass.
And reminds you about the motherfucking tank underneath fuck—
“Besides.”
You blink at the hand on your arm.
“I can mess with you any day.”
Oh? Bold once again. Attractive once again. But you aren’t gonna let him have just anything he wants. At least, not without seeing how far he’s willing to go. “Not if I don’t let you.”
“You think so?”
“I do.” You lift your chin. “You don’t scare me.”
Stepping in front of you, he gets so close there’s no space between your front and his protruding pecs. “Even like this?”
You try not to show your swallow. “Uh huh.”
When he leans in, you do your best not to react when he rasps out, “And this?”
Another gulp. “D… Duh.”
But you’re pretty sure he hears that one because he gravitates to your neck. So close that you can feel his breath on your throat, cologne wrapping you up in wild thoughts and even wilder decisions. “But not this, right?”
Say no, say yes, say no no no. “...No.”
Then. Just when you thought he couldn’t get any cheekier. His lips brush right against your neck as he asks his last question,
“Here then.”
Your flinch and dip out of his way is so quick that you don’t even realize you moved, and his laughs paint the hallway with mirth at your expense.
A hand slaps over the very spot he touched. “Kook!”
“What?”
That felt way too good but came out of nowhere. Feelings are creeping into places they really shouldn’t, and you’re so caught off-guard that your lips flap but don’t do much else. “You… you can’t just…I—”
“Relax,” he giggles. “I wasn’t gonna do anything else.”
Snapping back to reality, you bring yourself to express what’s really on your mind. “Just saying,” you huff, walking off. “You should still ask..”
“Wait, wait!”
You turn, not anticipating the next thing out of his mouth.
“You’re right,” he breathes out as he skids. “I’m sorry.”
Relieved he didn’t take what you asked for as joke, you allow yourself to relax again.
But of course, with Jeon Jungkook, there’s always more. “Can I do one more thing?”
“What.”
“Lemme do what I always do after dates.”
Deadpanning, you drone, “We’re not having se—”
“It’s not that.” Pinning him with disbelief, you watch him smile. “Not this time, anyway.”
Another roll of your eyes.
“Just trust me.”
“Fine.”
He takes your hand and leads you to your bedroom door, and you try your hardest not to bunch your shoulders.
But something interesting happens that makes you more curious than anything else.
Jungkook stops when you get to your entrance, and he turns to just stare at your face. So calm, and so quiet.
You don’t quite know what you look like right now, but the way he smirks before going in for a kiss gives you.. an.. idea..
He kisses your cheek?
When he pulls away, his eyes sparkle as you question so bluntly he laughs, “That’s it?”
“Told you,” he reiterates through a sly grin. “Why?”
“I mean..”
He chuckles before leaning in slow. “I mean if you insist—”
Immediately stopping his playful ways, you panic, “Wait, I mean—I just—”
“Dinner and a kiss is all it takes to win, huh?”
“No, that’s not..” God, he is not funny right now! “One more wouldn’t hurt. I wasn’t ready.”
By the way Jungkook freezes, you’d think he had turned to stone. But on second glance, he’s just watching for any hesitation or lie in your words, so when he finds none he leans back in.
The second kiss is just as light and innocent as the first.
But this time, he doesn’t move as you swivel your face to watch, mouths so close and noses softly bumping.
And the universe shrinks once again. Your belly twists with trembling butterflies and Jungkook’s cologne has clung to him so nicely and your calls have you wound tight and you really just need a distraction so maybe it wouldn’t hurt to just—
“Go to sleep, roomie,” he whispers with a deadly smirk, moving away before you can even respond. “You gotta get up early.”
Oh. Why did your heart just scream? “Right… I do.”
“Good night.”
“Good night…”
Before you can snap out of it, Jungkook is already walking away.
After everything you did tonight, he still stayed. Still had fun. And even did more than he needed to for you despite being left alone at every turn.
…And quite honestly? “Kook?”
He turns.
Fuck this fake dating game, fuck the bullshit you’ve been dealt tonight. “Was that really how you wanted to kiss me?”
Jungkook pauses in the hall, jacket dangling from his fist. “Fuck no.”
You swallow as your breath turns shallow. Thinking too hard about all the shit you’re gonna go through soon, you let loose just this once.
“Then show me.”
Leather abandoned on wooden floorboards, your friend, your roommate, your enormous new problem returns with a purpose, gripping your head in his hands and—
Fuck, he’s a great kisser. Your lips connect and it’s lights out, flashing through your veins and speeding down your limbs. Rushed and impatient, his hands slide all over your arms, running up back to your neck to hold it tight.
“You taste so fucking nice.”
Your reply is devoured, his grip strong but not crushing, tongue sliding along your plush like it’s nothing.
Yes, yes, yes. This is exactly what you needed all along. Nothing occupies your mind other than thoughts so dirty Jungkook would never let you live them down.
Suddenly, you’re delightfully shoved against your door, groan spewing into his lips as you grapple for his bare arms. If he’s chuckling, you can’t bring yourself to care. All you can think about is how fucking good this feels.
And how fucking wrong it is.
Maybe that’s what adds to the thrill. The knowledge that roommates should never jump into this, no matter how electric things can get.
But fuck it.
Maddeningly, though, Jungkook keeps his hands just within boundaries, which surprises you and yet irks the monster in you all the same. When he shifts his lips, the kiss deepens, and your eyes shut even tighter as something taut and muscular shoves between your legs.
Fuck, this feels good. Too good. Borderline forbidden and stepping across way too many lines but you can’t fucking stop.
“Careful, babe,” you hear him coo. “Keep going and we’re fucking all week.”
What? What did he just say what are you doing to make him…
Holy fuck, were you humping his leg?
“Oh, shit,” you gasp, breaking away and holding him at arm’s length. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t even—” Air immediately washes over your heated cheeks and into your desperate lungs, and you have to fight to catch your beating breaths. “Something just happened, I—”
And looking down does you no favors because there is a very, very obvious bulge in your roommate’s pants oh god what did you do?
Your wrists are held by calm hands as Jungkook peels you off his shoulders. When he leans forward, your body’s caged in by his sheer size alone.
“Thanks for the dessert, roomie,” he simply whispers to your lips, swiping a finger across your nose before backing up to go to his room. “See you tomorrow.”
And just like that, you’re left alone in the hallway, mind swirling and swirling.
Well. When you invited him to make a move, you expected to be charmed because it’s him.
But out of all the goddamn outcomes, you didn’t expect anything like that.
A hand slides up to grab the spot above your beating, pulsing, racing heart.
These seven days are gonna age you an eternity.
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tbc. :)
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🦋 ahhh how do we feel !! | wanna be tagged? 🦋
A/N: we're in heaven... OHHHH HO HO we are in it now!!! good god the amount of things in store for these two... honestly it's gonna be a good ass fun ass tiring ass ride hahaha. hope everyone is ready!
A/N 2: second part is in the works and uhh, remember what i said before? the spice levels are basically gonna jump from 0 to 100? yeah that's gonna happen again lmfaooo these two are quickly jumping up my favorites list asapppp🦋
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⇥ masterlist
Trigger Warning: Eye strain with the red and black.
Go watch Adolescence of Utena in theaters on June 21 and 22! I won't be able to make it so I'll make art for this glorious event instead! Please go watch our favorite Rose Bride and Prince!
My Favorite BL from each country VERSUS the BL I think actually best reflects that country's style in 2025
Japanese BL
My top pick for JBL (live action yaoi):
Seven Days
Honestly? I did dither over whether to hand this title over to I Cannot Reach You, but I had to go with my heart and the earlier offering. I like that this show is not only the best that Japan can do, but also the best they once did, too. Seven Days is the greatest heritage BL anywhere on earth. Fight me, I dare you.
Best current rep of JBL:
Miseinen: Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu aka Our Youth
Lots to pick from here, Japan has been doing great work over the last few years. Although, as one expects from them, it has been about 50/50 soft BLs versus harsh ones, with lots of spice and some challenging concepts thrown in to keep us on our toes. While I prefer my BL gentle, I think that these days Japan is actually strongest in the BL sphere when they go sharp and edgy. They seem to handle difficult concepts with the most honesty and consideration, so.... Our Youth wins.
Thai BL
My top pick for ThBL:
Until We Meet Again
UWMA will always be my favorite Thai BL. I can't imagine it ever getting unseated. But it's incredibly atypical for ThBL because the story is so very strong. And story is generally not Thailand's strong suit.
Best current rep of ThBL:
Your Sky
Yes we are getting more prestige and chaos BLs like Pit Babe these days, but those are still less common than the classic uni-set fluff. Thailand's strength remains vested in its consummate chemistry and gentleness with its characters. It's not that soft BLs are the best Thai BLs, it's that soft is Thailand's most successful BL bailiwick. I was very tempted by both Wandee Goodday and ThamePo for this category, since one major trend in Thai BL lately is that it's moving into the workplace, but GMMTV's filming quality is too high to accurately represent for Thailand.
I felt the need to go a little pulp with this pick, since pulp is still what Thailand primarily produces. Thus Your Sky is a clear winner as it reps for both the now (green flags, yay!) and the enormous back catalogue of Thai BL.
Korean BL
My top pick for KBL:
Semantic Error
Korea occupies more 10/10 spots in my heart than anyone else, but this was still an easy pick. Out my many KBL favorites (Color Rush, Light On Me, Our Dating Sim, Semantic Error, To My Star) there is only one 10/10 that I have called, frequently, Korea's pitch perfect BL. The pinnacle of smoothly executed pristine romance, I'm handing Semantic Error the crown with confidence.
Best current rep of KBL:
Love For Love's Sake
Another easy pull, Love For Love's Sake showcases the way Korea is pushing to explore interesting (slightly darker) concepts while staying true to their signature style and aesthetic. This was the only KBL in 2024 to get a high mark from me. So as more recent KBLs go, this is it.
2024 was not a great year for them, IMHO. But it would have been hard to beat the bumper crop that was 2023.
Taiwanese BL
My top pick for TaBL:
We Best Love
Always and forever. Like Thailand, Taiwan has only managed a 10/10 rank once, for this series. Despite the fact that, if pressed, I would call Taiwanese BL my favorite. WBL is just everything I love about Taiwan's messy, slightly unhinged, high drama, high domesticity, high chemistry, style of BL. Someday, we all hope, they will be able to repeat this magic. (Which I, frankly, can't say about Thailand and UWMA.)
Best current rep of TaBL:
See Your Love
I might call Kiseki: Dear to Me closer to Taiwan's typical style these days, but that aired too long ago now. So I am going to pick SYL partly on the basis of its recency. But also this is an ABSOLUTELY darling show. The cheekiness, the chemistry, the charm, the fashion, the classy way it handles content other countries simply can't or won't tackle (like queerness, mental health, or in this case, disability), the slightly bonkers plot (kidnapping, really?), and the utter squee that is gay domesticity in spades? Quintessential Taiwanese BL.
Vietnamese BL
My top pick for VBL:
You Are Ma Boy
I dithered for between this and My Lascivious Boss, both from 2021 which I think can now be considered the heyday of VBL. I like them both about the same, but the seme in this one is less red flag so I went with YAMB.
It's pretty classic VBL in that is is very messy with its story and characters, great on chemistry and domesticity, and while often fun there will always be elements that make us wince, whether it's a trigger or not. VBL is, in a word, clumsy but there is a raw chaotic good to it that I enjoy. I miss that a lot.
Best current rep for VBL:
Mr Cinderella
This was a real challenge since I have DNF'd most VBL over the last few years. The most recent one I actually enjoyed was 2022's Mr Cinderella. Higher production values and experienced BL actors plus two charismatic leads with good kissing and comfortable body language made this Vietnam’s objectively best BL to date. Frankly, it should occupy both slots.
Pinoy BL
My top pick for PBL:
My Day
My Day is my favorite PBL. Although Gameboys and Like In The Movies are rated just as high, My Day is the only VBL I ever rewatch. It's just so much FUN. All are from 2020, which it I guess means that was the heyday for PBL. Sigh. I miss it, too.
Best current rep for PBL:
Tie The Not
As many BLs as I have DNF'd from Vietnam I have dropped twice as many from the Philippines over the last few years. Tie The Not is a 2023 offering that came as close as anything over the last 5 years to winning back my heart. It missed the mark a bit, earning only a 7/10 but there was a small part of me that hoped it represented a resurgence. It did not. Still, it is the best we have had from them in a long time.
Chinese BL
My top pick for CBL:
Addicted
This remains one of my favorite BLs, and one of the best made and most truly heart wrenching out of China. It is great... if you ignore the ending. And that too is a very CBL thing. There is something about the cold atmosphere and rural setting plus the honest uncensored living conditions that really get to me (and probably got to the CCP as much as the boys kissing.)
Best current rep for CBL:
Meet You At The Blossom
This is hard because I don't know exactly where we are, but we are displaced out of time at the moment it feels like 2015 in CBLandia, not 2025. Either time period there is no way this can last. Appreciate Revenged Love while we got it because... yeah, it is representative of CBL - but CB as it might have been in 2020, and probubly won't be in the future. That's if it is allowed to finish it's run.
Look, we have had so little real CBL for so long, smattered with some censored bromance and sneaky only-international stuff, it's been a mad unpredictable ten years. As often happens when art is interfered with by waring factions of censorship and commerce.
All of this to say, I chose Meet You At The Blossom not because it's representative of modern CBL (there is no true modern CBL since it was never allowed to evolve), but because it's such a strange fabulous flaming creature. Like an IRL phoenix, we must appreciate it for this moment in time, before it combusts once again.
That said the best thing we have seen out of China in a very long time is actually Secrets Happened on the Litchi Island, which everyone should go watch immediately. And I do mean everyone.
But it isn't really BL, it's something more like an art installation meets fever dream with BL trappings that some of us are lucky enough to catch on YouTube. You should catch it.
Others worth mentioning
Stay Still
2023 BL from Hong Kong
What to say about this offering? It’s different, a mix of early CBL, Taiwanese shorts, and Pinoy visuals. It felt like the story was 2 independent shorts that had been lengthened and then smooshed together, and I wish they'd been approached as separate and tighter entities.
Nevertheless, this was a complex little piece, interesting in a sweaty grungy way, with a certain aura of queer authenticity that made it simultaneously tense, unpredictable, and refreshing. I’m not sure I would necessarily call it BL, but any county’s early foray into the genre usually starts out this way, so perhaps nascent BL? Worth watching, especially if you enjoy stuff from the Philippines and Taiwan.
Began Beginning
Burmese BL from 2024
Childhood best friends must come to terms with their own identities and true feelings for each other when a new boy comes to town, putting them into conflict with their families and ultimately, each other. For the first half of this show there’s a lot of sitting across from each other and talking about life choices over yummy food and then going to tourist spots (mildly boring and not particularly important to the plot). It changed tone about 2/3 in to be way more of a coming out family drama about forced marriages and homophobia. And then at the very end it changed again, becoming a full on soap opera with kidnapping, crazy characterization shifts, and rescue missions.
All in all? It was a wild raw creature to consume. No kisses since this is Myanmar, but a very romantic end, so I think maybe actually worth your time? I'm certainly glad I watched it.
Pure Vanilla
Singapore's 2023 microfilm
This is a short sweet offering from Singapore. It's a bit awkward acting but the tats are real and the feel is genuinely soft and queer. At the time it aired I said that I wished Singapore would give us a full proper BL.
Well, I got my wish as Sparkle in You Eye is airing right now - but I'm very much NOT sure about it. I prefer the Summerdaze style of BL from Singapore, not that they have enough BL to have a signature style yet.
Still it's nice to have them serving up... something.
Anygay, that's if for now.
This post dated June 2025, not responsible for BLs unfinished as of the time of this post. Favorites, both old and new, can always be unseated.
