rkivestation

[rkivestation]

One of the most difficult things about growth is losing the person you've always been—stepping out of the layers you've always lived in. It's like walking away from your own skin, your own heart, and your own mind. What's scarier is that you can't pinpoint what's going on around you and inside you. You just know that something is constantly shifting, but you can't figure out if it's going to be favourable for you or not. You start seeing the world through eyes you're not used to yet. Some things get brighter, while others only seem to get darker and darker by the second. What scared me the most was that growth calls for a huge change in every aspect of your existence. You don't know yourself yet, but you start knowing the world. You start realising what's good for you and what's not—and that's not a novelty. It's something you realise everyday, but growth brings with it the courage to walk away from everything that doesn't deserve you. And that's hardest part of the process: turning back the story and starting from day one.

simran.

[rkivestation]

Can I ever be loved unconditionally?

[rkivestation]

Unknown // Suzanne Scanlon

[rkivestation]

— Ann Packer, The Dive From Clausen's Pier

[rkivestation]

[rkivestation]

“To Be Yours” | PJM ♥‹

»pairing: CEO!Jimin x secretary!Viv (oc)

»synopsis: what happens when a love burns so fast and dangerous between secretary Viv and CEO Jimin that everything else around them blurs into nothingness?

»drabble teaser: blurred lines

»note: this is not the story itself lol,it's a teaser of a drabble I was writing for my friend and this is a really long story that I didn't get the time to continue writing properly,my former book's masterpost was getting some attention so I am here again to post a drabble that you might enjoy and if it gets recognition I'll consider writing the book and *whispers* it has two main male and female leads, can you guess who?

»warning: porn without plot (it has a slight plot but since it's a teaser I cut it out),sexy b0ob play(will make your panties soaked sksks) ,doggy,spanking, counting,gagging,hair pulling,choking,so much tension,possessive!Jimin, kinky!Jimin, jealous!jimin, oc is shy but horny, looooots of foreplay,the deed will be done in the drabble,eating out,spanking,Jimin himself,lmk if I forgot something.

You sucked in a breath when Jimin leaned impossibly closer leaving a little to no gap between your bodies. "Mr. P-Park this isn't funny" you internally cursed yourself for stuttering as you watch the handsome male infront of you lazily smirking,eyes glowing with mischief under the dim light. "What is ever funny between us baby?"

Shit.

The nickname has your core clenching already, memories of that certain night when he used the nickname while doing things to you,with you,which is far from being professional.

"Was it funny when your mouth was full of me baby?" A whimper threatened to escape your parted mouth as you felt his hand on your bare stomach inch towards the hem of your crop top. "Was it funny?" his teeth grinding against each other in slight annoyance has you shaking your head instantly.

"M-Mr P-Park I thought—"

You dared to meet his blazing eyes before gulping,"—the night was a m-mistake"

Jimin inhaled deeply upon hearing your stuttering words and leaned over impossibly close whereas his hands slipped underneath your clothes effortlessly unclasping your strapless bra.

And you felt your core gush embarrassingly.

"Mistake huh? I was knuckles deep inside you and it was a mistake?" He smiled mockingly, eyeing the smooth skin of your ear.

The bra was undid and he sensually pulled it down to his liking,he loved your choice of wearing a strapless bra,makes his work easier,"So it was a mistake when we both were sober but you hungrily sucked the last inch of me?"

You moaned as he sucked on your earlobe abruptly,"Tell me you did all of that by mistake? Tell me I don't make your knees buckle and your mind hazy." He aggressively licked at your earlobe as he grabbed one of your boob, massaging it.

A pathetic moan left your mouth as tears filled up to the brim of your eyes,you inhaled sharply.

"Tell me pretty—" he cooed "Tell me that you don't want to be my pretty little slut and I'll stop now."

You gulped thickly, shutting your eyes,"Jimin.."

The smirk on Jimin's lips was permanent upon hearing you moan his name in a desperate plea,"Yes princess,I'm here for you"

"Jimin please.." the last bit of your control left you when Jimin's face dropped to your chest, gawking at the hardened nipples that were beautifully visible to his eyes,only his.

"This crop top looks so fucking good on you my love but why did you have to wear it and go out with him? I could guess the color of your bra from metres away." the sharpness edging his voice had you clasping your thighs together, equally terrified and turned on.

You had your back pressed against the wall, standing still with eyes shut,unable to watch the man worship your pebbles.

"Don't—" Jimin tilted his mouth and licked a filthy sensual strip over your clothed nipples,his eyes shimmering in mirth,"—do that ever again"

Momentarily he looked up at you,eyes meeting with your shut once,"Eyes open and down here Viv"

The authority in his voice made you instantly look down and find the most filthiest sight that made you physically twitch, making Jimin hum in satisfaction as he pushed up your flimsy white crop top with ease making you gasp,the perky globes stood proudly as Jimin licked his lips watching them in a trance,"Understood?"

It took you some moment to register what he was talking about but you immediately nodded,all of your resolve crumbling.

"That's my good—" he flicked a nipple, twirling it afterwards,a crazed lopsided grin adoring his face,"—girl"

His breath brushed against your hardened bud making you squirm internally as he closed his lips on the left nipple making you suck a deep breath.

He's going to be the absolute death of you.

His hot mouth latching at your nipple brutally had you wondering how good it'll feel when he eats you out.

Is he going to lap at my pussy slowly?

Or will he be rough and delve deeper into my puckering whole?

This is torture. You're going crazy. Every suck and lick is making arousal pool at your flimsy short and you internally curse yourself for not caring to wear a panty.

You moan as Jimin takes the whole boob in his mouth and sucks, twirling his tongue graciously,his hands lifts up to grab at your chin pulling it down when you tried looking away. His eyes met yours and the lustful gaze has you rolling your eyes, groaning.

Your eyes zero in towards his mouthful of boob and the filthy image is forever stuck in your mind.

Jimin smirks letting go with a pop and continuing his ministrations with the other. He makes sure to pamper it the exact same making your eyes roll to the back and legs embarrassing clamping together to add some friction. Your clit is aching for attention.

Jimin ever so sly ; notices your movements and parts your legs with his knee while still sucking on your boob like never before. Instinctively one of your hand grabs at his hair and he groans into your boob at the feeling,the vibration of his mouth making your eyes roll and gasp breathlessly.

His knee moves to your center and as soon as it connects with your core he lets go of your boob leaving the damn globe hit with a sudden gush of cold air.

He grasps your arms tightly and looks down there,befuddled,"You're not wearing fucking panties?"

You gulp,"I-"

His nostril flares as he closes the remaining distance joining his hips with yours,his hardened length deliciously gliding with your core and you found yourself moving along but the hands on your hips made you gasp and shudder,"Did I say you could move?"

You shake your head while he continues press his length and the lack of a panty makes it easier for you to feel the friction,"Fuck Jimin.."

"Let you shop with him in a crop fucking top" his eyes were fiery red as he has your chin in his grasp whilst gliding his length,the squelching sound for your damn pussy embarrassing you somewhere in the rational part of your mind.

"White and flimsy top with a barely there bra?" He scoffs watching your eye roll back, clearly enjoying it.

"No fucking panties too" he snarled.

"I-I'm sorr—" you gasped when harshly grabbed your abused boob adorned with purplish love marks,"You still had the audacity to fight with me? Talking about your rights? While you clearly know who you belong to?"

He inhales sharply aligning himself better as he grinds his hips,"You do realize what you've done to me since this past week right? You do realize that you don't get to go back to how it was Viv? You cannot act like the damsel in distress baby,you're so fucking mine now and there's no going back from it"

You whimper,your rationality leaving you completely, stepping in the sickest and filthiest territory with Park Jimin was both your demise and a thrill you chased for years. He treated you just right. Rough and good at the same time. His tone was maddening but his touches meant a different story. He wanted you to know how safe you can be with him in your own paradise.

You take in a shaky breath, daring to meet his gaze,"I'm sorry Mr.Park"

Jimin felt himself twitch at the apology. He wants nothing but to connect his lips with your plush once and take all the breath out of you untill he becomes the oxygen that you'll need every fucking second.

But you have to earn it. You made him mad. You're such a bad little princess who loves wearing slutty cute outfits to rile him up. You need to pay for it. He can feel the wetness that's gushing from your hole and he can't wait to thrust the last cum out of you. But he'll wait and edge you so fucking good.

He smirks as you watch him swallowing,half naked under him when he's fully clothed. He smirks watching your yummy state. Proudly gazing at his artwork on your chest.

Jimin steps back making you confused as he leads you towards his dressing table. You turn around to face the mirror and gasp looking at your current state. Chest exposed,red and purple bruise adorning you like a jewellery. Your still hardened and swollen red nipples staring at you through the reflection. A dark blush adorns your face as you try to look away only for Jimin to hold your chin up towards the mirror from behind as he gently kisses your dainty shoulder.

"Like my artwork?" He grins.

He grabs both of your boobs from behind and you gasp,"Watch closely"

The warning sends another gush of wetness leak from your poor hole,Jimin harshly rolls the two globes, raveling at the sight as they bounce in his hands,his teeth grazes at your lobe making your knees buckle,"Wanna fuck them baby"

Your breath hitches at the mention and a loud gasp leaves you when he picks you up walking towards his bed and throwing you there,boobs bouncing at the impact making his eyes shimmer in lust,he takes a moment to ravel your half bare beauty, thinking how good you'll look with absolutely no piece of clothes. The thought itself makes his cock twitch.

Fuck. You look delicious. All ready for him to devour every fucking inch of you.

Jimin slowly gets on the bed and holds your knees that were clasped together.With a swift motion he spreads them apart and the delicious stretch made your core gush out more slick yet again.

Thank God the short is black. You're so soaked. You can smell your own arousal. It's equal amount of embarrassing and sexy to see Park fucking Jimin has such an effect on you.

Jimin's eyes are hooded with unfiltered lust as they zero in on towards your booty short,so tight, practically begging to be ripped.

He leans in and presses two fingers right over your aching cunt and hisses feeling the dampness,"Just sucking on those beautiful buddies got you soaked that bad?" He grins meeting your eyes as you moan when he presses the two fingers and sensually glides them up and down watching your reaction,"What'll you do when I fuck them?"

"Jimin please.."

"Please what baby? You think you can pathetically beg and soak my cock already? You committed a crime today sweetheart and those who commits a crime—" Jimin removes his fingers making you whine as he leans over to press a chaste kiss on your earlobe,"—shall be punished"

You swore if this keeps going on you'll most definitely rip your own shorts if he refused to do it.

But alas.

All of your frustrations melts the second Jimin stars to unbutton his button up. You inhaled sharply watching his smooth skin coming into view bit by bit. Noticing your hawk like gaze he grins cheekily taking his sweet time with his belt,"Bet you want to open it up for me like Thursday night baby—" he unbuckles and smoothly shimmies his pants off,"—but another day"

You gulp. Another day?

He takes his shirt and gestures you with his chin,"On your knees,ass up,face down"

You inhale sharply,"H-huh?"

"I won't repeat myself"

You gulp complying immediately,new to all of this craziness but cannot deny how thrilling it feels inside.

Surprisingly you feel his gentle voice near your ear as he lands a quick kiss on your cheeks,"I won't hurt you"

And with that reassurance which very much calmer your heart,you didn't even realize your hands were being tied by the said shirt untill you felt him tightening the knot,"Is it good?"

The softness in his voice made you laugh internally,he was being cautious while punishing you?

You nod smiling as Jimin hums with a charming smile before retracting back to his original position.

You gulp, realization suddenly dawning upon you as you can only see your tied hands before you and the headboard. It feels like you're blindfolded to a degree without actually being blindfolded and you hate that your core clenches at that too.

Were you this much into foreplay?

Jimin's deeps voice echos in your ear,"If you be a good girl I'll end it in ten counts over the clothes and other ten counts will be underneath the cloth,five on each cheek" He continues as if telling you the rule of a Roblox game or something when on reality he's eyeing the beautiful fat meat before him wanting to just squeeze it already,"And if you don't comply then I'm going to double it,means twenty counts,total forty"

You couldn't even grasp your head around the rule yet and a sharp yelp left you as soon as Jimin slapped your right ass cheek,"Fuck-"

You immediately notice your mistake,"O-One?Is that how I'm supposed to do it"

Jimin smirks but keeps a dominating tone,"You're late Viv,you just want the pain to double don't you?"

"I-i-"

"Twenty it is"

You gasp as another slap lands on the same cheek,"Two.."

"T-Three.."

"Fourr..fuck.." you slur,eyes rolling back.

"F-five.." Jimin watches it jiggle mirthfully and goes on five more times before moving on the next.

.."S-seventeen..nggh"

Jimin watches as your arch your back,hips pushing back for more.

Halting his movements he scoffs bringing you out of your head space,you try to turn around a little but wince when you feel him fisting your ponytail and pulling it back,"Princess,we can't enjoy a punishment now do we? Seventeen fucking ass slaps got you moaning with pleasure?—" he whispers lethally making you whimper,"—a brat like you doesn't deserve this treatment"

" ’m s-sorry" you manage as he let's go of your hair.

In all honesty,Jimin just can't wait anymore to shed that damn short of yours,he wants to watch the bare ass jiggle and he just doesn't want any damn fabric to separate your Godly body from him.

With one swift motion he pulls down the shorts,"We're going to give you twenty three raw slaps for you to realize your grave mistake dear secretary"

Calling you his secretary in such a position sounds so scandalous and core clenching.

He pulls down the full thing watching your slick coating the fabric graciously,you look back and feel your cheeks turning red.

"You leak so abundantly for me baby" he chuckles darkly as you shut your eyes pathetically feeling more slick leak,your pussy bare and hit with the cold air.

Jimin chuckles again and crawls towards you while fisting your shorts,"Open up"

You look at him quizzically,"W-what?"

"Open that damn mouth"

You complied unsurely only for your eyes to widen as he shoves the piece of clothing as a gag,"Don't you fucking dare spit it out baby"

God,Jimin is a freak.And you're fucking wreathing for this freak.

Jimin relocates himself in his claimed position and marvels at the sight,"Fuck so round baby"

Greedily he dips his fingers on your soaked pussy as you gasp in the makeshift gag,"Fuck so fucking soaked,got my fingers dripping"

He brings his fingers towards his mouth, staring at the glistening slick, sucking on them noisily,"Bet the remaining twenty three slaps are gonna make you drip so bad you'll already coat my sheets"

Fuck. You can't hold it in. You're going to cum just from his sweet talking.

Mumbling something that sounds close to ‘Please’ you pathetically move your hips.

Jimin grins,"Sure, remember you still gotta count with that filthy cloth in your mouth"

You nod frantically just wanting him to end your suffering.

"T-Twenshy..nggh"

Jimin gives both cheeks a harsh squeeze,"Good girl, we are halfway there"

You moan loudly,muffled by the forsaken short.

"..weshy eig..htgg"

You were a moaning and sweaty mess,slick dripping down your thighs without a pause,you feel so sticky,you can hear Jimin's liberating breaths, he's torturing himself with this punishment along with you,"Fuck baby,so red for me,so good for me"

"F-Forshy.."

Your legs wanted to give out. Every fibre of your being wanted Jimin's cock inside you already. The mental image makes you shudder even when you feel like passing out from all these foreplay.

Jimin can't take his eyes off of his artwork,his fingerprints were nicely visible on your bare ass,he obsessively watched your cum drip down your thighs. He could cum just by looking at you drip all day. Fuck. He is so sick. Sick all for you.

Lust clouds his mind badly and without realizing he leans down to sensually lick at your thighs,a shiver electrifies your body when you feel his wet tongue going up towards your inner thigh. He groans at the sweet taste and without stopping he grabs both of your ass cheeks, spreading them,tongue directly gliding down your bare throbbing pussy.

You gasp at the sudden intrusion in your throbbing cunt. Jimin was slurping your juices like it's his last meal. He dipped his tongue deeper into your aching hole,his groans sending vibrations. You shut your eyes, biting your lips, feeling your boss' tongue wreck you.

The slurping and sucking noise was loud and filthy making you arch your back. Jimin's tongue started sucking at your clit while he inserted two fingers at once and scissored you,"Fuck pussy so juicy baby,all for me?"

His fingers fastened it's ministrations,"All for me right?"

You moan unable to talk.

Jimin let's go of you all at once with a scoff,"Can't you talk? Or am I sharing this pussy with him huh?"

The gag in your mouth doesn't let you talk and he knows it but of course the menace in him wants to punish you.

You try to shake your head but too gone. Eyelids half open as you whine in the gag at the lose of his touch.

"Fuck it" Jimin cursed and flipped you by your waist abruptly. The sight he was rewarded with made his breath hitch.

You looked mesmerizing with you tears of pleasure rolling down your cheeks,gag in mouth,crop top bunched up and bruised chest exposed,your smooth long legs were sexy,you were a sight all for him to devour,to fuck,to love.

He took in a deep breath and leaned towards you, taking the gag off of you and connecting his plump lips with your luscious ones in an urgent kiss.

One thing you came to conclusion with is Park Jimin is not your average soft lover. He does everything with fervour. The type that will take your breath away and at the same time will be the only air you breath.

Jimin's kiss was something you've never experienced. He took both of your lip and started sucking on them while pressing himself harder on your core, enough to make you squirm. His hands roamed around all of the places of his deepest darkest desires.

"Fuck baby,you drive me so fucking crazy—" he said between the kiss, sucking on your lower lip harshly, tucking at it and pulling it before letting go,"—i can't stop thinking about you Viv"

»so should I continue this? 👀 Thank you for your support, please grab your holy water afterwards and don't forget to preach lmao.

[rkivestation]

“To Be Yours” | PJM ♥‹

»pairing: CEO!Jimin x secretary!Viv (oc)

»synopsis: what happens when a love burns so fast and dangerous between secretary Viv and CEO Jimin that everything else around them blurs into nothingness?

»drabble teaser: blurred lines

»note: this is not the story itself lol,it's a teaser of a drabble I was writing for my friend and this is a really long story that I didn't get the time to continue writing properly,my former book's masterpost was getting some attention so I am here again to post a drabble that you might enjoy and if it gets recognition I'll consider writing the book and *whispers* it has two main male and female leads, can you guess who?

»warning: porn without plot (it has a slight plot but since it's a teaser I cut it out),sexy b0ob play(will make your panties soaked sksks) ,doggy,spanking, counting,gagging,hair pulling,choking,so much tension,possessive!Jimin, kinky!Jimin, jealous!jimin, oc is shy but horny, looooots of foreplay,the deed will be done in the drabble,eating out,spanking,Jimin himself,lmk if I forgot something.

You sucked in a breath when Jimin leaned impossibly closer leaving a little to no gap between your bodies. "Mr. P-Park this isn't funny" you internally cursed yourself for stuttering as you watch the handsome male infront of you lazily smirking,eyes glowing with mischief under the dim light. "What is ever funny between us baby?"

Shit.

The nickname has your core clenching already, memories of that certain night when he used the nickname while doing things to you,with you,which is far from being professional.

"Was it funny when your mouth was full of me baby?" A whimper threatened to escape your parted mouth as you felt his hand on your bare stomach inch towards the hem of your crop top. "Was it funny?" his teeth grinding against each other in slight annoyance has you shaking your head instantly.

"M-Mr P-Park I thought—"

You dared to meet his blazing eyes before gulping,"—the night was a m-mistake"

Jimin inhaled deeply upon hearing your stuttering words and leaned over impossibly close whereas his hands slipped underneath your clothes effortlessly unclasping your strapless bra.

And you felt your core gush embarrassingly.

"Mistake huh? I was knuckles deep inside you and it was a mistake?" He smiled mockingly, eyeing the smooth skin of your ear.

The bra was undid and he sensually pulled it down to his liking,he loved your choice of wearing a strapless bra,makes his work easier,"So it was a mistake when we both were sober but you hungrily sucked the last inch of me?"

You moaned as he sucked on your earlobe abruptly,"Tell me you did all of that by mistake? Tell me I don't make your knees buckle and your mind hazy." He aggressively licked at your earlobe as he grabbed one of your boob, massaging it.

A pathetic moan left your mouth as tears filled up to the brim of your eyes,you inhaled sharply.

"Tell me pretty—" he cooed "Tell me that you don't want to be my pretty little slut and I'll stop now."

You gulped thickly, shutting your eyes,"Jimin.."

The smirk on Jimin's lips was permanent upon hearing you moan his name in a desperate plea,"Yes princess,I'm here for you"

"Jimin please.." the last bit of your control left you when Jimin's face dropped to your chest, gawking at the hardened nipples that were beautifully visible to his eyes,only his.

"This crop top looks so fucking good on you my love but why did you have to wear it and go out with him? I could guess the color of your bra from metres away." the sharpness edging his voice had you clasping your thighs together, equally terrified and turned on.

You had your back pressed against the wall, standing still with eyes shut,unable to watch the man worship your pebbles.

"Don't—" Jimin tilted his mouth and licked a filthy sensual strip over your clothed nipples,his eyes shimmering in mirth,"—do that ever again"

Momentarily he looked up at you,eyes meeting with your shut once,"Eyes open and down here Viv"

The authority in his voice made you instantly look down and find the most filthiest sight that made you physically twitch, making Jimin hum in satisfaction as he pushed up your flimsy white crop top with ease making you gasp,the perky globes stood proudly as Jimin licked his lips watching them in a trance,"Understood?"

It took you some moment to register what he was talking about but you immediately nodded,all of your resolve crumbling.

"That's my good—" he flicked a nipple, twirling it afterwards,a crazed lopsided grin adoring his face,"—girl"

His breath brushed against your hardened bud making you squirm internally as he closed his lips on the left nipple making you suck a deep breath.

He's going to be the absolute death of you.

His hot mouth latching at your nipple brutally had you wondering how good it'll feel when he eats you out.

Is he going to lap at my pussy slowly?

Or will he be rough and delve deeper into my puckering whole?

This is torture. You're going crazy. Every suck and lick is making arousal pool at your flimsy short and you internally curse yourself for not caring to wear a panty.

You moan as Jimin takes the whole boob in his mouth and sucks, twirling his tongue graciously,his hands lifts up to grab at your chin pulling it down when you tried looking away. His eyes met yours and the lustful gaze has you rolling your eyes, groaning.

Your eyes zero in towards his mouthful of boob and the filthy image is forever stuck in your mind.

Jimin smirks letting go with a pop and continuing his ministrations with the other. He makes sure to pamper it the exact same making your eyes roll to the back and legs embarrassing clamping together to add some friction. Your clit is aching for attention.

Jimin ever so sly ; notices your movements and parts your legs with his knee while still sucking on your boob like never before. Instinctively one of your hand grabs at his hair and he groans into your boob at the feeling,the vibration of his mouth making your eyes roll and gasp breathlessly.

His knee moves to your center and as soon as it connects with your core he lets go of your boob leaving the damn globe hit with a sudden gush of cold air.

He grasps your arms tightly and looks down there,befuddled,"You're not wearing fucking panties?"

You gulp,"I-"

His nostril flares as he closes the remaining distance joining his hips with yours,his hardened length deliciously gliding with your core and you found yourself moving along but the hands on your hips made you gasp and shudder,"Did I say you could move?"

You shake your head while he continues press his length and the lack of a panty makes it easier for you to feel the friction,"Fuck Jimin.."

"Let you shop with him in a crop fucking top" his eyes were fiery red as he has your chin in his grasp whilst gliding his length,the squelching sound for your damn pussy embarrassing you somewhere in the rational part of your mind.

"White and flimsy top with a barely there bra?" He scoffs watching your eye roll back, clearly enjoying it.

"No fucking panties too" he snarled.

"I-I'm sorr—" you gasped when harshly grabbed your abused boob adorned with purplish love marks,"You still had the audacity to fight with me? Talking about your rights? While you clearly know who you belong to?"

He inhales sharply aligning himself better as he grinds his hips,"You do realize what you've done to me since this past week right? You do realize that you don't get to go back to how it was Viv? You cannot act like the damsel in distress baby,you're so fucking mine now and there's no going back from it"

You whimper,your rationality leaving you completely, stepping in the sickest and filthiest territory with Park Jimin was both your demise and a thrill you chased for years. He treated you just right. Rough and good at the same time. His tone was maddening but his touches meant a different story. He wanted you to know how safe you can be with him in your own paradise.

You take in a shaky breath, daring to meet his gaze,"I'm sorry Mr.Park"

Jimin felt himself twitch at the apology. He wants nothing but to connect his lips with your plush once and take all the breath out of you untill he becomes the oxygen that you'll need every fucking second.

But you have to earn it. You made him mad. You're such a bad little princess who loves wearing slutty cute outfits to rile him up. You need to pay for it. He can feel the wetness that's gushing from your hole and he can't wait to thrust the last cum out of you. But he'll wait and edge you so fucking good.

He smirks as you watch him swallowing,half naked under him when he's fully clothed. He smirks watching your yummy state. Proudly gazing at his artwork on your chest.

Jimin steps back making you confused as he leads you towards his dressing table. You turn around to face the mirror and gasp looking at your current state. Chest exposed,red and purple bruise adorning you like a jewellery. Your still hardened and swollen red nipples staring at you through the reflection. A dark blush adorns your face as you try to look away only for Jimin to hold your chin up towards the mirror from behind as he gently kisses your dainty shoulder.

"Like my artwork?" He grins.

He grabs both of your boobs from behind and you gasp,"Watch closely"

The warning sends another gush of wetness leak from your poor hole,Jimin harshly rolls the two globes, raveling at the sight as they bounce in his hands,his teeth grazes at your lobe making your knees buckle,"Wanna fuck them baby"

Your breath hitches at the mention and a loud gasp leaves you when he picks you up walking towards his bed and throwing you there,boobs bouncing at the impact making his eyes shimmer in lust,he takes a moment to ravel your half bare beauty, thinking how good you'll look with absolutely no piece of clothes. The thought itself makes his cock twitch.

Fuck. You look delicious. All ready for him to devour every fucking inch of you.

Jimin slowly gets on the bed and holds your knees that were clasped together.With a swift motion he spreads them apart and the delicious stretch made your core gush out more slick yet again.

Thank God the short is black. You're so soaked. You can smell your own arousal. It's equal amount of embarrassing and sexy to see Park fucking Jimin has such an effect on you.

Jimin's eyes are hooded with unfiltered lust as they zero in on towards your booty short,so tight, practically begging to be ripped.

He leans in and presses two fingers right over your aching cunt and hisses feeling the dampness,"Just sucking on those beautiful buddies got you soaked that bad?" He grins meeting your eyes as you moan when he presses the two fingers and sensually glides them up and down watching your reaction,"What'll you do when I fuck them?"

"Jimin please.."

"Please what baby? You think you can pathetically beg and soak my cock already? You committed a crime today sweetheart and those who commits a crime—" Jimin removes his fingers making you whine as he leans over to press a chaste kiss on your earlobe,"—shall be punished"

You swore if this keeps going on you'll most definitely rip your own shorts if he refused to do it.

But alas.

All of your frustrations melts the second Jimin stars to unbutton his button up. You inhaled sharply watching his smooth skin coming into view bit by bit. Noticing your hawk like gaze he grins cheekily taking his sweet time with his belt,"Bet you want to open it up for me like Thursday night baby—" he unbuckles and smoothly shimmies his pants off,"—but another day"

You gulp. Another day?

He takes his shirt and gestures you with his chin,"On your knees,ass up,face down"

You inhale sharply,"H-huh?"

"I won't repeat myself"

You gulp complying immediately,new to all of this craziness but cannot deny how thrilling it feels inside.

Surprisingly you feel his gentle voice near your ear as he lands a quick kiss on your cheeks,"I won't hurt you"

And with that reassurance which very much calmer your heart,you didn't even realize your hands were being tied by the said shirt untill you felt him tightening the knot,"Is it good?"

The softness in his voice made you laugh internally,he was being cautious while punishing you?

You nod smiling as Jimin hums with a charming smile before retracting back to his original position.

You gulp, realization suddenly dawning upon you as you can only see your tied hands before you and the headboard. It feels like you're blindfolded to a degree without actually being blindfolded and you hate that your core clenches at that too.

Were you this much into foreplay?

Jimin's deeps voice echos in your ear,"If you be a good girl I'll end it in ten counts over the clothes and other ten counts will be underneath the cloth,five on each cheek" He continues as if telling you the rule of a Roblox game or something when on reality he's eyeing the beautiful fat meat before him wanting to just squeeze it already,"And if you don't comply then I'm going to double it,means twenty counts,total forty"

You couldn't even grasp your head around the rule yet and a sharp yelp left you as soon as Jimin slapped your right ass cheek,"Fuck-"

You immediately notice your mistake,"O-One?Is that how I'm supposed to do it"

Jimin smirks but keeps a dominating tone,"You're late Viv,you just want the pain to double don't you?"

"I-i-"

"Twenty it is"

You gasp as another slap lands on the same cheek,"Two.."

"T-Three.."

"Fourr..fuck.." you slur,eyes rolling back.

"F-five.." Jimin watches it jiggle mirthfully and goes on five more times before moving on the next.

.."S-seventeen..nggh"

Jimin watches as your arch your back,hips pushing back for more.

Halting his movements he scoffs bringing you out of your head space,you try to turn around a little but wince when you feel him fisting your ponytail and pulling it back,"Princess,we can't enjoy a punishment now do we? Seventeen fucking ass slaps got you moaning with pleasure?—" he whispers lethally making you whimper,"—a brat like you doesn't deserve this treatment"

" ’m s-sorry" you manage as he let's go of your hair.

In all honesty,Jimin just can't wait anymore to shed that damn short of yours,he wants to watch the bare ass jiggle and he just doesn't want any damn fabric to separate your Godly body from him.

With one swift motion he pulls down the shorts,"We're going to give you twenty three raw slaps for you to realize your grave mistake dear secretary"

Calling you his secretary in such a position sounds so scandalous and core clenching.

He pulls down the full thing watching your slick coating the fabric graciously,you look back and feel your cheeks turning red.

"You leak so abundantly for me baby" he chuckles darkly as you shut your eyes pathetically feeling more slick leak,your pussy bare and hit with the cold air.

Jimin chuckles again and crawls towards you while fisting your shorts,"Open up"

You look at him quizzically,"W-what?"

"Open that damn mouth"

You complied unsurely only for your eyes to widen as he shoves the piece of clothing as a gag,"Don't you fucking dare spit it out baby"

God,Jimin is a freak.And you're fucking wreathing for this freak.

Jimin relocates himself in his claimed position and marvels at the sight,"Fuck so round baby"

Greedily he dips his fingers on your soaked pussy as you gasp in the makeshift gag,"Fuck so fucking soaked,got my fingers dripping"

He brings his fingers towards his mouth, staring at the glistening slick, sucking on them noisily,"Bet the remaining twenty three slaps are gonna make you drip so bad you'll already coat my sheets"

Fuck. You can't hold it in. You're going to cum just from his sweet talking.

Mumbling something that sounds close to ‘Please’ you pathetically move your hips.

Jimin grins,"Sure, remember you still gotta count with that filthy cloth in your mouth"

You nod frantically just wanting him to end your suffering.

"T-Twenshy..nggh"

Jimin gives both cheeks a harsh squeeze,"Good girl, we are halfway there"

You moan loudly,muffled by the forsaken short.

"..weshy eig..htgg"

You were a moaning and sweaty mess,slick dripping down your thighs without a pause,you feel so sticky,you can hear Jimin's liberating breaths, he's torturing himself with this punishment along with you,"Fuck baby,so red for me,so good for me"

"F-Forshy.."

Your legs wanted to give out. Every fibre of your being wanted Jimin's cock inside you already. The mental image makes you shudder even when you feel like passing out from all these foreplay.

Jimin can't take his eyes off of his artwork,his fingerprints were nicely visible on your bare ass,he obsessively watched your cum drip down your thighs. He could cum just by looking at you drip all day. Fuck. He is so sick. Sick all for you.

Lust clouds his mind badly and without realizing he leans down to sensually lick at your thighs,a shiver electrifies your body when you feel his wet tongue going up towards your inner thigh. He groans at the sweet taste and without stopping he grabs both of your ass cheeks, spreading them,tongue directly gliding down your bare throbbing pussy.

You gasp at the sudden intrusion in your throbbing cunt. Jimin was slurping your juices like it's his last meal. He dipped his tongue deeper into your aching hole,his groans sending vibrations. You shut your eyes, biting your lips, feeling your boss' tongue wreck you.

The slurping and sucking noise was loud and filthy making you arch your back. Jimin's tongue started sucking at your clit while he inserted two fingers at once and scissored you,"Fuck pussy so juicy baby,all for me?"

His fingers fastened it's ministrations,"All for me right?"

You moan unable to talk.

Jimin let's go of you all at once with a scoff,"Can't you talk? Or am I sharing this pussy with him huh?"

The gag in your mouth doesn't let you talk and he knows it but of course the menace in him wants to punish you.

You try to shake your head but too gone. Eyelids half open as you whine in the gag at the lose of his touch.

"Fuck it" Jimin cursed and flipped you by your waist abruptly. The sight he was rewarded with made his breath hitch.

You looked mesmerizing with you tears of pleasure rolling down your cheeks,gag in mouth,crop top bunched up and bruised chest exposed,your smooth long legs were sexy,you were a sight all for him to devour,to fuck,to love.

He took in a deep breath and leaned towards you, taking the gag off of you and connecting his plump lips with your luscious ones in an urgent kiss.

One thing you came to conclusion with is Park Jimin is not your average soft lover. He does everything with fervour. The type that will take your breath away and at the same time will be the only air you breath.

Jimin's kiss was something you've never experienced. He took both of your lip and started sucking on them while pressing himself harder on your core, enough to make you squirm. His hands roamed around all of the places of his deepest darkest desires.

"Fuck baby,you drive me so fucking crazy—" he said between the kiss, sucking on your lower lip harshly, tucking at it and pulling it before letting go,"—i can't stop thinking about you Viv"

»so should I continue this? 👀 Thank you for your support, please grab your holy water afterwards and don't forget to preach lmao.

[rkivestation]

“To Be Yours” | PJM ♥‹

»pairing: CEO!Jimin x secretary!Viv (oc)

»synopsis: what happens when a love burns so fast and dangerous between secretary Viv and CEO Jimin that everything else around them blurs into nothingness?

»drabble teaser: blurred lines

»note: this is not the story itself lol,it's a teaser of a drabble I was writing for my friend and this is a really long story that I didn't get the time to continue writing properly,my former book's masterpost was getting some attention so I am here again to post a drabble that you might enjoy and if it gets recognition I'll consider writing the book and *whispers* it has two main male and female leads, can you guess who?

»warning: porn without plot (it has a slight plot but since it's a teaser I cut it out),sexy b0ob play(will make your panties soaked sksks) ,doggy,spanking, counting,gagging,hair pulling,choking,so much tension,possessive!Jimin, kinky!Jimin, jealous!jimin, oc is shy but horny, looooots of foreplay,the deed will be done in the drabble,eating out,spanking,Jimin himself,lmk if I forgot something.

You sucked in a breath when Jimin leaned impossibly closer leaving a little to no gap between your bodies. "Mr. P-Park this isn't funny" you internally cursed yourself for stuttering as you watch the handsome male infront of you lazily smirking,eyes glowing with mischief under the dim light. "What is ever funny between us baby?"

Shit.

The nickname has your core clenching already, memories of that certain night when he used the nickname while doing things to you,with you,which is far from being professional.

"Was it funny when your mouth was full of me baby?" A whimper threatened to escape your parted mouth as you felt his hand on your bare stomach inch towards the hem of your crop top. "Was it funny?" his teeth grinding against each other in slight annoyance has you shaking your head instantly.

"M-Mr P-Park I thought—"

You dared to meet his blazing eyes before gulping,"—the night was a m-mistake"

Jimin inhaled deeply upon hearing your stuttering words and leaned over impossibly close whereas his hands slipped underneath your clothes effortlessly unclasping your strapless bra.

And you felt your core gush embarrassingly.

"Mistake huh? I was knuckles deep inside you and it was a mistake?" He smiled mockingly, eyeing the smooth skin of your ear.

The bra was undid and he sensually pulled it down to his liking,he loved your choice of wearing a strapless bra,makes his work easier,"So it was a mistake when we both were sober but you hungrily sucked the last inch of me?"

You moaned as he sucked on your earlobe abruptly,"Tell me you did all of that by mistake? Tell me I don't make your knees buckle and your mind hazy." He aggressively licked at your earlobe as he grabbed one of your boob, massaging it.

A pathetic moan left your mouth as tears filled up to the brim of your eyes,you inhaled sharply.

"Tell me pretty—" he cooed "Tell me that you don't want to be my pretty little slut and I'll stop now."

You gulped thickly, shutting your eyes,"Jimin.."

The smirk on Jimin's lips was permanent upon hearing you moan his name in a desperate plea,"Yes princess,I'm here for you"

"Jimin please.." the last bit of your control left you when Jimin's face dropped to your chest, gawking at the hardened nipples that were beautifully visible to his eyes,only his.

"This crop top looks so fucking good on you my love but why did you have to wear it and go out with him? I could guess the color of your bra from metres away." the sharpness edging his voice had you clasping your thighs together, equally terrified and turned on.

You had your back pressed against the wall, standing still with eyes shut,unable to watch the man worship your pebbles.

"Don't—" Jimin tilted his mouth and licked a filthy sensual strip over your clothed nipples,his eyes shimmering in mirth,"—do that ever again"

Momentarily he looked up at you,eyes meeting with your shut once,"Eyes open and down here Viv"

The authority in his voice made you instantly look down and find the most filthiest sight that made you physically twitch, making Jimin hum in satisfaction as he pushed up your flimsy white crop top with ease making you gasp,the perky globes stood proudly as Jimin licked his lips watching them in a trance,"Understood?"

It took you some moment to register what he was talking about but you immediately nodded,all of your resolve crumbling.

"That's my good—" he flicked a nipple, twirling it afterwards,a crazed lopsided grin adoring his face,"—girl"

His breath brushed against your hardened bud making you squirm internally as he closed his lips on the left nipple making you suck a deep breath.

He's going to be the absolute death of you.

His hot mouth latching at your nipple brutally had you wondering how good it'll feel when he eats you out.

Is he going to lap at my pussy slowly?

Or will he be rough and delve deeper into my puckering whole?

This is torture. You're going crazy. Every suck and lick is making arousal pool at your flimsy short and you internally curse yourself for not caring to wear a panty.

You moan as Jimin takes the whole boob in his mouth and sucks, twirling his tongue graciously,his hands lifts up to grab at your chin pulling it down when you tried looking away. His eyes met yours and the lustful gaze has you rolling your eyes, groaning.

Your eyes zero in towards his mouthful of boob and the filthy image is forever stuck in your mind.

Jimin smirks letting go with a pop and continuing his ministrations with the other. He makes sure to pamper it the exact same making your eyes roll to the back and legs embarrassing clamping together to add some friction. Your clit is aching for attention.

Jimin ever so sly ; notices your movements and parts your legs with his knee while still sucking on your boob like never before. Instinctively one of your hand grabs at his hair and he groans into your boob at the feeling,the vibration of his mouth making your eyes roll and gasp breathlessly.

His knee moves to your center and as soon as it connects with your core he lets go of your boob leaving the damn globe hit with a sudden gush of cold air.

He grasps your arms tightly and looks down there,befuddled,"You're not wearing fucking panties?"

You gulp,"I-"

His nostril flares as he closes the remaining distance joining his hips with yours,his hardened length deliciously gliding with your core and you found yourself moving along but the hands on your hips made you gasp and shudder,"Did I say you could move?"

You shake your head while he continues press his length and the lack of a panty makes it easier for you to feel the friction,"Fuck Jimin.."

"Let you shop with him in a crop fucking top" his eyes were fiery red as he has your chin in his grasp whilst gliding his length,the squelching sound for your damn pussy embarrassing you somewhere in the rational part of your mind.

"White and flimsy top with a barely there bra?" He scoffs watching your eye roll back, clearly enjoying it.

"No fucking panties too" he snarled.

"I-I'm sorr—" you gasped when harshly grabbed your abused boob adorned with purplish love marks,"You still had the audacity to fight with me? Talking about your rights? While you clearly know who you belong to?"

He inhales sharply aligning himself better as he grinds his hips,"You do realize what you've done to me since this past week right? You do realize that you don't get to go back to how it was Viv? You cannot act like the damsel in distress baby,you're so fucking mine now and there's no going back from it"

You whimper,your rationality leaving you completely, stepping in the sickest and filthiest territory with Park Jimin was both your demise and a thrill you chased for years. He treated you just right. Rough and good at the same time. His tone was maddening but his touches meant a different story. He wanted you to know how safe you can be with him in your own paradise.

You take in a shaky breath, daring to meet his gaze,"I'm sorry Mr.Park"

Jimin felt himself twitch at the apology. He wants nothing but to connect his lips with your plush once and take all the breath out of you untill he becomes the oxygen that you'll need every fucking second.

But you have to earn it. You made him mad. You're such a bad little princess who loves wearing slutty cute outfits to rile him up. You need to pay for it. He can feel the wetness that's gushing from your hole and he can't wait to thrust the last cum out of you. But he'll wait and edge you so fucking good.

He smirks as you watch him swallowing,half naked under him when he's fully clothed. He smirks watching your yummy state. Proudly gazing at his artwork on your chest.

Jimin steps back making you confused as he leads you towards his dressing table. You turn around to face the mirror and gasp looking at your current state. Chest exposed,red and purple bruise adorning you like a jewellery. Your still hardened and swollen red nipples staring at you through the reflection. A dark blush adorns your face as you try to look away only for Jimin to hold your chin up towards the mirror from behind as he gently kisses your dainty shoulder.

"Like my artwork?" He grins.

He grabs both of your boobs from behind and you gasp,"Watch closely"

The warning sends another gush of wetness leak from your poor hole,Jimin harshly rolls the two globes, raveling at the sight as they bounce in his hands,his teeth grazes at your lobe making your knees buckle,"Wanna fuck them baby"

Your breath hitches at the mention and a loud gasp leaves you when he picks you up walking towards his bed and throwing you there,boobs bouncing at the impact making his eyes shimmer in lust,he takes a moment to ravel your half bare beauty, thinking how good you'll look with absolutely no piece of clothes. The thought itself makes his cock twitch.

Fuck. You look delicious. All ready for him to devour every fucking inch of you.

Jimin slowly gets on the bed and holds your knees that were clasped together.With a swift motion he spreads them apart and the delicious stretch made your core gush out more slick yet again.

Thank God the short is black. You're so soaked. You can smell your own arousal. It's equal amount of embarrassing and sexy to see Park fucking Jimin has such an effect on you.

Jimin's eyes are hooded with unfiltered lust as they zero in on towards your booty short,so tight, practically begging to be ripped.

He leans in and presses two fingers right over your aching cunt and hisses feeling the dampness,"Just sucking on those beautiful buddies got you soaked that bad?" He grins meeting your eyes as you moan when he presses the two fingers and sensually glides them up and down watching your reaction,"What'll you do when I fuck them?"

"Jimin please.."

"Please what baby? You think you can pathetically beg and soak my cock already? You committed a crime today sweetheart and those who commits a crime—" Jimin removes his fingers making you whine as he leans over to press a chaste kiss on your earlobe,"—shall be punished"

You swore if this keeps going on you'll most definitely rip your own shorts if he refused to do it.

But alas.

All of your frustrations melts the second Jimin stars to unbutton his button up. You inhaled sharply watching his smooth skin coming into view bit by bit. Noticing your hawk like gaze he grins cheekily taking his sweet time with his belt,"Bet you want to open it up for me like Thursday night baby—" he unbuckles and smoothly shimmies his pants off,"—but another day"

You gulp. Another day?

He takes his shirt and gestures you with his chin,"On your knees,ass up,face down"

You inhale sharply,"H-huh?"

"I won't repeat myself"

You gulp complying immediately,new to all of this craziness but cannot deny how thrilling it feels inside.

Surprisingly you feel his gentle voice near your ear as he lands a quick kiss on your cheeks,"I won't hurt you"

And with that reassurance which very much calmer your heart,you didn't even realize your hands were being tied by the said shirt untill you felt him tightening the knot,"Is it good?"

The softness in his voice made you laugh internally,he was being cautious while punishing you?

You nod smiling as Jimin hums with a charming smile before retracting back to his original position.

You gulp, realization suddenly dawning upon you as you can only see your tied hands before you and the headboard. It feels like you're blindfolded to a degree without actually being blindfolded and you hate that your core clenches at that too.

Were you this much into foreplay?

Jimin's deeps voice echos in your ear,"If you be a good girl I'll end it in ten counts over the clothes and other ten counts will be underneath the cloth,five on each cheek" He continues as if telling you the rule of a Roblox game or something when on reality he's eyeing the beautiful fat meat before him wanting to just squeeze it already,"And if you don't comply then I'm going to double it,means twenty counts,total forty"

You couldn't even grasp your head around the rule yet and a sharp yelp left you as soon as Jimin slapped your right ass cheek,"Fuck-"

You immediately notice your mistake,"O-One?Is that how I'm supposed to do it"

Jimin smirks but keeps a dominating tone,"You're late Viv,you just want the pain to double don't you?"

"I-i-"

"Twenty it is"

You gasp as another slap lands on the same cheek,"Two.."

"T-Three.."

"Fourr..fuck.." you slur,eyes rolling back.

"F-five.." Jimin watches it jiggle mirthfully and goes on five more times before moving on the next.

.."S-seventeen..nggh"

Jimin watches as your arch your back,hips pushing back for more.

Halting his movements he scoffs bringing you out of your head space,you try to turn around a little but wince when you feel him fisting your ponytail and pulling it back,"Princess,we can't enjoy a punishment now do we? Seventeen fucking ass slaps got you moaning with pleasure?—" he whispers lethally making you whimper,"—a brat like you doesn't deserve this treatment"

" ’m s-sorry" you manage as he let's go of your hair.

In all honesty,Jimin just can't wait anymore to shed that damn short of yours,he wants to watch the bare ass jiggle and he just doesn't want any damn fabric to separate your Godly body from him.

With one swift motion he pulls down the shorts,"We're going to give you twenty three raw slaps for you to realize your grave mistake dear secretary"

Calling you his secretary in such a position sounds so scandalous and core clenching.

He pulls down the full thing watching your slick coating the fabric graciously,you look back and feel your cheeks turning red.

"You leak so abundantly for me baby" he chuckles darkly as you shut your eyes pathetically feeling more slick leak,your pussy bare and hit with the cold air.

Jimin chuckles again and crawls towards you while fisting your shorts,"Open up"

You look at him quizzically,"W-what?"

"Open that damn mouth"

You complied unsurely only for your eyes to widen as he shoves the piece of clothing as a gag,"Don't you fucking dare spit it out baby"

God,Jimin is a freak.And you're fucking wreathing for this freak.

Jimin relocates himself in his claimed position and marvels at the sight,"Fuck so round baby"

Greedily he dips his fingers on your soaked pussy as you gasp in the makeshift gag,"Fuck so fucking soaked,got my fingers dripping"

He brings his fingers towards his mouth, staring at the glistening slick, sucking on them noisily,"Bet the remaining twenty three slaps are gonna make you drip so bad you'll already coat my sheets"

Fuck. You can't hold it in. You're going to cum just from his sweet talking.

Mumbling something that sounds close to ‘Please’ you pathetically move your hips.

Jimin grins,"Sure, remember you still gotta count with that filthy cloth in your mouth"

You nod frantically just wanting him to end your suffering.

"T-Twenshy..nggh"

Jimin gives both cheeks a harsh squeeze,"Good girl, we are halfway there"

You moan loudly,muffled by the forsaken short.

"..weshy eig..htgg"

You were a moaning and sweaty mess,slick dripping down your thighs without a pause,you feel so sticky,you can hear Jimin's liberating breaths, he's torturing himself with this punishment along with you,"Fuck baby,so red for me,so good for me"

"F-Forshy.."

Your legs wanted to give out. Every fibre of your being wanted Jimin's cock inside you already. The mental image makes you shudder even when you feel like passing out from all these foreplay.

Jimin can't take his eyes off of his artwork,his fingerprints were nicely visible on your bare ass,he obsessively watched your cum drip down your thighs. He could cum just by looking at you drip all day. Fuck. He is so sick. Sick all for you.

Lust clouds his mind badly and without realizing he leans down to sensually lick at your thighs,a shiver electrifies your body when you feel his wet tongue going up towards your inner thigh. He groans at the sweet taste and without stopping he grabs both of your ass cheeks, spreading them,tongue directly gliding down your bare throbbing pussy.

You gasp at the sudden intrusion in your throbbing cunt. Jimin was slurping your juices like it's his last meal. He dipped his tongue deeper into your aching hole,his groans sending vibrations. You shut your eyes, biting your lips, feeling your boss' tongue wreck you.

The slurping and sucking noise was loud and filthy making you arch your back. Jimin's tongue started sucking at your clit while he inserted two fingers at once and scissored you,"Fuck pussy so juicy baby,all for me?"

His fingers fastened it's ministrations,"All for me right?"

You moan unable to talk.

Jimin let's go of you all at once with a scoff,"Can't you talk? Or am I sharing this pussy with him huh?"

The gag in your mouth doesn't let you talk and he knows it but of course the menace in him wants to punish you.

You try to shake your head but too gone. Eyelids half open as you whine in the gag at the lose of his touch.

"Fuck it" Jimin cursed and flipped you by your waist abruptly. The sight he was rewarded with made his breath hitch.

You looked mesmerizing with you tears of pleasure rolling down your cheeks,gag in mouth,crop top bunched up and bruised chest exposed,your smooth long legs were sexy,you were a sight all for him to devour,to fuck,to love.

He took in a deep breath and leaned towards you, taking the gag off of you and connecting his plump lips with your luscious ones in an urgent kiss.

One thing you came to conclusion with is Park Jimin is not your average soft lover. He does everything with fervour. The type that will take your breath away and at the same time will be the only air you breath.

Jimin's kiss was something you've never experienced. He took both of your lip and started sucking on them while pressing himself harder on your core, enough to make you squirm. His hands roamed around all of the places of his deepest darkest desires.

"Fuck baby,you drive me so fucking crazy—" he said between the kiss, sucking on your lower lip harshly, tucking at it and pulling it before letting go,"—i can't stop thinking about you Viv"

»so should I continue this? 👀 Thank you for your support, please grab your holy water afterwards and don't forget to preach lmao.

[rkivestation]

Okay I'm so down for this

Summary - Dr. Seokjin was the town’s most admired man—renowned, handsome, and endlessly kind. But at home, he belonged to a wife who couldn't bear to share him with the world. Yn was possessive, her love fierce and unrelenting. If she caught him looking at another woman for even a second too long, she’d make sure he remembered who he belonged to.

The hospital staff pitied him. They whispered about how unfair it was, how he was trapped in a marriage with a woman who didn’t deserve him. They thought Seokjin was helpless, a man too kind to leave his cruel, obsessive wife.

But none of them knew what truly went on behind closed doors.

None of them knew that Seokjin wasn’t as innocent as they thought.

------

Are you ready for Yandere Seokjin?!!

[rkivestation]

I SENSE SO MANY MYSTERIES AND DRAMA!

A Royal Romance - Teaser 2

Author Note: So, the second teaser is here and I promise I will post the fic soon and it's going to be a LONG one. comment if you want to be added to the tag list. Let me know of all of your thoughts, feelings and even suggestions. Please note that this is just a small part of the fic, if it looks like it's a normal meet cute romance, it is not, it's a twisted royal romance.

Genre: Romance, Angst, Love Triangle, lots and lots of romance

Warnings: Mentions of smoking and drinking

Link to my masterlist if you want to check out my other stuff : here

In no time they’re pulling closer to the property and Jungkook has definitely been selling them short because theirs is a massive modern home with gardens all around, it’s gorgeous even in this evening light.

“Is there lipstick on my teeth?” ___ asks as Jungkook comes around to open the door for her, she flashes her a toothy smile but he just nods as he smiles. ___ can’t help but think back on the day Jungkook meet her parents, an event that happened over a month ago but still very clearly on her mind.

Unlike her family, his are waiting right by the door and warmly greet them as they walk closer, hand in hand. She’s a bit glad to see Nari and Jin, at least some familiar faces. There are hugs and more hugs even before they go in and all this warmness is unfamiliar to her.

“So glad to finally meet you your royal highness” Mrs Kim finally greets her properly as they find their way into the living room. “Please, call me ___” ___ asks and Mrs Kim chuckles as she looks at Jungkook.

“Jungkook called us to make sure we understood the greeting protocol, he was so insistent on it” She shares and ___ glares at Jungkook who immediately walks closer to them.

“I messed up the royal protocol the way we met your family, I didn’t want to make the same mistake again” he explains. “That’s because the royal family is just a bunch of jackasses who take pleasure in teasing people on messing up the royal protocol” ___ jokes and the room erupts into laughter.

“Now, ___ lets make our way to the dining room before my husband starts talking to you about politics on an empty stomach” Mrs Kim jokes as she leads the entire family and ___ definitely hears Jungkook tell his father to abstain from anything political.

The large wooden table is beautifully set, but unlike the extravagant, meticulously arranged state dinners she’s used to, this feels… lived-in. A few mismatched serving dishes, a folded napkin slightly out of place—it’s warm, inviting, and utterly unfamiliar to her.

“I hope you’re hungry,” Mrs. Kim says as she starts passing around dishes. “I wanted to make something fancy, but Jungkook told me that you enjoy homemade Korean food more” she shares and ___ turns to look at Jungkook with a sweet smile, he truly is so observant.

“Eat up, dear,” Mrs. Kim tells ___, nudging a plate of japchae toward her. “I have a feeling you’re also someone who forgets to eat when things get busy.” She says as she pointedly looks at Jungkook, there is clearly some back story there.

Jungkook smiles as he takes a small sip of his soup. “She is.” ___ blinks, surprised he even knows that about her. She clears her throat, focusing on serving herself. “You’re not wrong,” she admits. “My assistant practically schedules my meals into my day.”

Nari leans forward, intrigued. “That sounds exhausting. Do you ever just… sneak away?”

Jungkook laughs. “Oh, she does. Her security team nearly lost their minds the last time she snuck out between royal duties to get a snack”

___ shakes her head, feeling an odd mix of amusement and something else she can’t quite name. “It’s not that dramatic.” “You were nearly tackled outside a convenience store” Jungkook shares with a raised eyebrow.

Mrs. Kim smiles warmly. “Well, when you’re here, you don’t have to disappear at all. You can just be.”

___ looks up, caught off guard by the kindness in those words. It’s a simple thing to offer, but it’s rare—so rare that she doesn’t quite know what to do with it. She exhales softly, then nods. “That… means a lot. Thank you.”

The conversation moves along, the moment slipping away from one topic to another. Jungkook effortlessly redirects the attention, nudging the conversation toward a light hearted debate about his teenage years. Jin insists he was a handful, while Jungkook adamantly denies any wrongdoing.

Laughter spills through the room, warmth pressing in from all sides. The food is rich, the company richer, and for once, she’s not a princess, not a figurehead, not a symbol.

She’s just… ___, sitting at a dinner table, surrounded by people who don’t expect anything from her other than to simply be.

___ lets out a deep sigh as she takes a seat on the bed. It’s been a long night of lots of food and one too many desserts. Jungkook does the same as her as he takes a seat on a chair across her. Jungkook was so wrapped up with her meeting his family that he didn’t have the time to dwell on the fact that they have to stay in the same room and sleep on the same bed. He only realised that when she fell back on the bed with exhaustion.

“Do you think they liked me?” ___ asks as she focuses on the ceiling. “My father was showing you his collection of vintage books, he only does that with people he likes” Jungkook comments as he leans back in the chair, it’s been a particularly tough week at work, he still has some work to get done.

“And your mother?” “She asked you to be just you, that’s a good sign?” Jungkook isn’t enterly sure himself, his mother is always warm and welcoming to new people, plus none of his girlfriends have met her before so he isn’t sure what a good sign is.

“That was her being polite, god this dress is suffocating me” ___ complaints as she stands up and starts rummaging through her duffle bag.

“So, about the sleeping situation,” Jungkook interrupts as she’s taking out multiple pouches of god knows what, all he notices is how they all match.

“I can take the floor, it’s better for my back anyway” Jungkook offers and ___ scoffs as she takes her pouch of skincare to the bathroom. “That is ridiculous, we can just share the bed, it’s massive”

“Are you sure?” “Yes, now help me with this zipper because all designers make dresses with these impossible zips and I’m going to twist my arm one of these days” Jungkook stands awkwardly by the bed, unsure of how to proceed. The tension from earlier still lingers, but now it's mixed with the absurdity of the situation. He watches as ___ struggles with the zipper, twisting her body in weird angles to get a grip.

“Here,” Jungkook says, clearing his throat, and steps closer. He gently pulls the zipper down, careful not to catch her skin. ___ watches him through the mirror as she holds the dress tight. The playfulness from the dinner now long gone and the awkwardness back.

“I’ll just take a quick shower then you can, um” “Yes of course, take your time” Jungkook breaks away, taking a few steps back and closing the door behind him.

Jungkook doesn’t look up immediately, pretending to focus on the screen in front of him, though his mind is clearly elsewhere. The sound of the bathroom door creaking open catches his attention, and he glances over just as ___ walks back in. The scent of her skincare products and the lingering fragrance of her shower fill the air, and he swears for a moment, he forgets how to breathe.

She moves to the bed with quiet steps, slipping under the covers without saying a word. Her back is to him, the soft rustle of the sheets the only sound between them.

He’s fascinated with all the skincare products that she left, products that read weird. He forces himself to take a quick shower, brush his teeth and steal some of her moisturizer, hoping she won’t mind.

The room’s dark now, all the blinds drawn as Jungkook finally slips into bed. Work can wait for tomorrow. He gingerly slips into the bed, trying his best to not the duvet too much, not wanting to disturb an already asleep ___.

For a few moments, he simply lies there, staring at the ceiling in the dim light that filters in from outside. His mind races, though he knows he should be focusing on sleep. He can’t help but think of how unusual this whole situation is—sharing a bed with someone who isn’t just a colleague or a friend, but someone he’s been thrust into this strange dynamic with. A royal. And now, in this quiet, intimate space, he’s more aware of her than ever.

He shifts slightly, trying to find a comfortable position without disturbing her. The bed is far too big for just one person, but the closeness is still jarring. He can feel the weight of her presence even with the distance between them.

He wonders if she’s asleep, truly asleep, or if she’s just pretending to be, maybe just as self-conscious as he is. He’s facing her back and somewhere during staring at her navy-blue pyjamas, sleep catches up with him.

Light is softly filtering into the room as the cotton curtains move with the motion of wind. ___ flutters her eyes open and she’s surprised by Jungkook’s face a mere inches away from hers. Her breath catches in her throat as she blinks, her still-sleepy mind struggling to process the sight before her. Jungkook, completely at ease in sleep, his dark lashes resting against his cheek, his breathing slow and steady. She hadn’t expected them to drift this close overnight.

Their arms faintly touched each other yet it felt awfully intimate. ___’s focused on the moles oh his face, this may be the first time she’s noticed them.

Carefully, she slips out the bed, hoping he sleeps a little bit longer because just can’t take the suffocating awkwardness that comes in when it’s just two of them. The sound of shower doesn’t wake Jungkook up, neither the time ___ curses out loud when he almost drops her concealer, but the sound of the door shutting behind her does wake him up.

“Oh my god these are beautiful, how did you pick up this skill?” Jungkook hears his mothers voice as he walks down the stairs. “I used to work as a barista in college, my mother wanted us to work in service jobs because she thinks it’s an essential skill” ___ answers and Jungkook leans against the kitchen counter as he watches ___ show her how to make beautiful latte art.

“Plus back then, we were just a normal family living in New York and I was Sarah and not ___” she turns away to place the cup of coffee on the table, it’s then when she notices Jungkook looking at her very intently, a very toned, no shirt wearing Jungkook with all his tattoos showing.

Her breath catches for a split second before she quickly looks away, focusing on anything—anything—other than the fact that Jungkook is standing there like that.

Mrs. Kim, completely unfazed, takes a sip of her coffee and hums in delight. “Well, Sarah,” she teases lightly, “you have a real talent. If you ever get tired of being royal, you can open a café”

“I’ve always wanted to open a café, and have an entire wall dedicated to the cups I collect” ___ turns away to clean the machine, but also because she can’t look at Jungkook right now.

“And have a pottery studio in there too, or a library? A place people come to not just for coffee” ___ shares as she rinses the milk pitcher and Jungkook goes around the kitchen looking for some fruit. He stops right by ___ as he peels himself a banana.

“Where are those cups, I didn’t see them at your place?” Jungkook asks with curiosity and ___ looks up, focusing on looking at him and just his face, and not his very intricate sleeve of tattoo.

“They’re still in storage” ___ answers and Jungkook nods with a mouthful of fruit. “Is that my shirt?” Jungkook mumbles quietly and Mrs Kim watches the two of them from the breakfast nook.

“Yes, I forgot to pack a top and I checked to see that there was still a shirt for your suit later” ___ had a mini panic attack when the realisation struck her this morning, she should never pack in a rush.

Jungkook chews thoughtfully, his gaze flickering to the oversized shirt that’s tucked into her jeans. First the jacket and now the shirt, his clothes look better on her.

“I usually go for a run in the mornings, but if you—” he gestures vaguely, “—want me to stick around, I can.” She chuckles, stirring her coffee lazily. “I think I’ll survive without you for an hour.”

“Are you sure?” He tilts his head, smirking. “What if your latte art fails without my moral support?” “Then I’ll suffer in silence.”

Jungkook chuckles, taking a few steps away, “Alright, your highness, don’t miss me too much.” “I won’t,” she deadpans, taking another sip.

But as she watches him stretch, his toned arms flexing, tattoos shifting with every movement, she suddenly wonders if she should’ve told him to stay. Not because she needs him around—definitely not—but because the house feels just a little too big, a little too unfamiliar, without him in it.

The decorators as busy setting up the lawn for the party, a tasteful decoration of flowers and lights, everything has silver themes, it’s a silver anniversary celebration after all. ___ and Nari follow around Mr Kim as he points out a few things that need changing, how the tables should be set up, how the floral arrangements should have more white roses, and how the lighting needs to be slightly dimmer to create a warmer ambiance.

“I swear he’s more stressed about this party than mom,” Nari whispers to ___, and she stifles a laugh. Mr. Kim is meticulously adjusting a centrepiece himself now, unsatisfied with the way the flowers are arranged.

“It has to be perfect,” he mutters, stepping back to observe the table setting. “Twenty-five years isn’t a small thing.” As she trails behind, watching Mr. Kim continue his inspection, she feels a familiar presence beside her.

“Having fun listening to my father bitch and moan about table setting” Jungkook whispers painfully close to her ear as he hands her a glass of something, also one to Nari.

“Is this going to make me throw up?” ___ asks with genuine concern and Jungkook chuckles remembering the events from a few days ago. “It’s coconut water” Jungkook answers as his father walks away to discuss some things with the people setting up the lights, he might just go up the ladder and do things his way.

“He had a whole presentation made for my 12th birthday, it was so intense, there were several briefings” Jungkook shares and ___ is starting to understand this very loving family, they do actually care.

“For your wedding, make sure he never gets the number of your wedding planner, mine was in tears and snots by the ceremony because of him” Nari comments casually and the two of them tense up immediately.

Jungkook awkwardly, and ___ nearly chokes on her drink. “Oh, I—uh—” ___ starts, glancing at Jungkook, who looks equally blindsided.

Nari blinks at their reactions before realization dawns on her face. “Oh. Right. You two aren’t—” She waves a hand. “Forget I said anything.”

There’s a brief, tense silence. Then Jungkook, ever the professional deflector, clears his throat. “Well, now I have to know. What did he do to your wedding planner?” “How do you not know that, you slept with that wedding planner?” Nari speaks with an accusatory tone and Jungkook is regretting this deflection.

“Let’s get you girls inside, the heat is making the pregnant lady say stupid things” Jungkook glares at Nari who’s clearly showing now as he somehow dodges this.

“So, I met my husband in college, we were college sweethearts and god was it wonderful to be young, broke and in college” Mrs speaks into the mic as she addresses the entire party.

Jungkook’s mother smiles fondly, looking toward her husband as she continues, “We had nothing but cheap takeout, late-night library dates, and dreams bigger than our wallets.”

The crowd chuckles, and Mrs Kim continues talking, “She was the smart one. I was just the guy who carried her books” Mr Kim chimes in and the crowd erupts into laughter.

Onstage, Mrs Kim’s voice softens. “We got married 25 years ago, and everyone tend to focus on the wedding, but we have always focused on our marriage and god has it been a ride. We got years of partnership, love, support and plenty of arguments about the right way to wash dishes”

“But through every argument, every challenge, and every change life threw at us, there was never a moment I doubted us. Because we built something real. Something strong.” She stops talking for a second as she places a hand on her husband’s shoulder.

“Something worth fighting for” The room quiets for a beat, the weight of their words settling in.

___ shifts slightly, suddenly hyperaware of Jungkook’s presence beside her. She sneaks a glance at him, but his gaze is locked on his parents, his expression unreadable.

“The marriage has given us a lifetime of joy and happiness, our two wonderful sons, who are so impossibly in love with their partners and god did they learn the right things from their father” The crowd chuckles warmly at Mrs Kim’s words, and Jungkook’s expression softens, his eyes flickering briefly toward ___.

“This morning, I really noticed my sons, my eldest, who has a kid on the way won’t even let her wife pick up a spoon, his eyes are fixed on her pregnant wife, and that is exactly how my husband was with me” she shares and Jin is red with a blush and Nari reaches over to peck his cheeks.

“And my youngest, he went on a run this morning and picked flowers for her on his way back, completely butchered my flower bushes but they’re in love, I can’t be mad” The room falls into a warm, affectionate silence as Mrs. Kim’s words sink in. Jungkook’s face goes a shade darker, and he awkwardly scratches the back of his neck, clearly trying to hide the embarrassment.

“You know, I really didn’t mean to mess up the bushes,” he mumbles, his voice sheepish. "They looked perfect in the moment..."

A ripple of laughter runs through the crowd, and ___ can’t help but smile. ___ looks over at him, his disarming charm now tempered by the soft blush on his cheeks. It’s a side of him she hadn’t quite seen before—vulnerable, a little unsure, but still endearing.

Mrs. Kim beams at him. “And that’s exactly how you know it’s real love. When you do something ridiculous but it still counts because it’s for the person you care about. That is what my husband has been with me for the last wonderful 25 years”

“So, to our wonderful years and to many more to come, cheers!”

The party simmers down as the night goes on, the music switching from classic jazz to romantic ballads. Jin and Nari left a long time ago, something about nausea and the parents are off talking to some guests so once again, it’s ___ and Jungkook by themselves.

“I saw you getting cornered by my aunt, I hope there weren’t any invasive questions” Jungkook speaks up as he takes a sip of his wine, ___ chuckles as she takes a long sip herself.

“Lots, but she still wasn’t impressed, she thinks you can do better” ___ isn’t entirely joking as she leans back in her chair, feeling his arm around her chair. “There is no universe where there is a possibility of me doing better than you, if it was not for your father intervening, I would have fumbled you, horribly”

It’s when Jungkook says things like this when her heart truly aches, the reality of the situation hits her right in the face, no matter how in love they act, at the end of the day, it’s an act.

“I really should get going, Namjoon will drive me back to the city” Jungkook’s smile falters at her words, and he straightens up slightly, his arm still lingering on the back of her chair. The playful tone he had moments ago fades into something more uncertain, more cautious. "You don’t have to leave yet, I can drive you in the morning”

“I am a member of the royal advisory board that is planning the funeral service for Eugene, Yuri and the late king and queen, it’s been five years already” Jungkook’s expression shifts as he processes her words, his brow furrowing.

“Let me walk you out at least, say good bye to my parents, shield you from any other invasive questions from my aunt” Jungkook offers as he stands up, he also offers his hand while ___ takes gladly.

Namjoon is waiting right by the car, all ready for her to leave. “You did amazing by the way, better than I did with your parents” Jungkook says in an attempt to cheer her up, but he also means it, very deeply.

“Thank you, I had a full-blown panic attack about this in my apartment before you picked me up” ___ shares and Jungkook laughs, the kind where the smile reaches his eyes. “The remnants of which were seen in my car, you definitely need to cut back on your candy intake”

___ laughs as she crosses her arms, leaning against the car, “Why should I listen to you?” “Well, I am your pretend boyfriend after all, I’m just looking out for you. Your health, your candy intake, and all that” his tone is joking but this is all too heavy to him.

___ raises an eyebrow, not missing the subtle shift in his tone. She knows exactly what he's trying to do—keep things casual, keep the distance. "Your pretend boyfriend, huh? Then why does it feel like you're starting to sound a little too invested?"

Jungkook gives a tight smile, trying to shake off any thought that strays too far from the boundaries of their arrangement. "Nope, no confusion here. Just doing my job."

___ laughs, more for herself than for him. "Right. Your job." She pulls herself off the car, the air between them thick with the kind of unsaid things that neither of them dares to voice. "Well, you should get back to that job then, since I’m good to go now."

Jungkook nods, his expression neutral, even though something about the way she says it makes the conversation feel more real than it should. "Yeah. Of course."

The moment hangs there, the weight of their unspoken understanding heavy in the air. This is just an arrangement. Nothing more. Neither of them can afford to forget that.

Tag List - @soblavk @livingkoalaface @solastica @futuristicenemychaos @yooforeaa @11thenightwemet11 @rkivestation

[rkivestation]

super rich kids || act I, scene I

previous | masterlist | next

→ pairing: none in this scene

→ cws: none

→ wc: 1706

→ notes: hayyyyyy ☺️☺️☺️ imy guys i was randomly hit with an overwhelming urge to write today feeling blessed lols i hope this is good. also tried capitalizing my works with sentence case so let me know if it eats?? anyways ily enjoy

Cutlery and glasses clinked around you, and people chatted loudly and happily, yet the only thing that jarred you from your abstracted silence was the feeling of a hand and cool, metal rings on your shoulder.

You turned around, curious as to who had snuck up behind you, and were greeted by the kind face of your economics professor. She was an older woman, dressed from head to toe in linen and cashmere and dripping with designer luxuries. She gave you a proud smile, which was all too telling of her past — her face was dappled with sun spots, and the deflated remnants of filler was visible in her cheeks.

Her aged hand was still on your shoulder, and gave it a tight squeeze of fondness. “Congratulations, [name]!” she said, referencing the blue folder on your lap and thick cardstock paper of achievement inside of it. “You’ve worked hard all semester, and if anybody deserves recognition, it’s you. Keep up the good work, alright?” she said, giving two light pats to the back of your shoulder as she finished speaking.

You gave her a grateful smile, and nodded agreeably. “I won’t disappoint you, professor. Thank you.” with that, she smiled at you again, and bid you goodbye as her attention was grabbed by somebody else. But just as soon as she had left, she was replaced, not by one older woman, but by three guys your age.

One of them, who replaced the professor’s spot and stood imposingly between your own chair and the adjacent one, was broad-shouldered and had soft blonde hair. His friend, the second guy, had slipped into the chair next to yours. His hair was a bright, electric blue, and there was something about his eyes that made you feel slightly uneasy. Something unnerving. And the third one, who had occupied the seat next to the blue haired one, looked younger, slightly lost. His wide brown eyes didn’t seem to match the edge of his deep black mullet and face piercings. The blonde one let out a low whistle, and shook his head in disapproval.

“I guess that’s what happens when you spend too much time in the sun…what a shame.” he tsked, staring in the direction of your now-laughing professor as she walked away with her colleague.

“I’m sorry?” you ask, furrowing your eyebrows at the unprovoked comment.

He looks back down at you, and you meet his eyes for the first time. He looks like somebody you would want to trust. Want to. He shakes his head again, but this time more rapidly. “Oh! God, i’m not talking about you, dear. Not at all. Don’t worry.” he explained, “I was talking about that woman that just walked away. I mean,” he scoffed, “You can take the woman out of the sun, but..”

His backtracking incited a quiet snicker from the black haired guy, but the blue haired one just rolled his eyes. “Namjoon, that’s rude. Why do you have to say things like that?” he complained, shaking his head at his friend. The blonde one, presumably Namjoon, gave the blue haired guy a look that screamed ‘seriously?’, and seemed to move on.

“So you’re smart?” the black haired boy chirped, looking eagerly in your direction as he stuck his head past his friend. Before you could answer, Namjoon spoke up again. “of course she is, Jungkook. Everybody here is smart. You don’t get invited to dean’s luncheons if you’re not.”

The blue haired boy scoffs again. “Clearly not everybody.” he quipped, rolling his eyes. “You weren’t even invited to this thing, you snuck in here to steal the food and hit on girls. Don’t even try to deny it.” the black haired guy, clearly upset at being given away, retracted back into his seat, looking like a kicked puppy. Namjoon gave a short laugh. He put his hand on the back of your chair, and leaned down closer to you, so that he was speaking just above your ear. “Just think. This is what I deal with, all day, every day. Isn’t that a shame, darling?”

Darling? How weird! You’ve known these people for maybe five minutes? You responded with a half-smile and a nod, praying that they would get the message and leave you the hell alone. The luncheon would be coming to a close soon, and it felt like you had a to-do list a mile long. All you wanted to do was get out of here and move on with your day.

Standing back up, he smiled cheekily at you. He was definitely trying something. You shifted in your seat, stretching your arms slightly, hoping to make obvious your disinterest and be set free from the bizarre conversation you found yourself a part of. Namjoon didn’t miss it. “So…” he started, but paused, as he waited expectantly for you to introduce yourself.

“[Name].”

“[Name]. So, [name], are you busy tonight? You have any plans?”

You shook your head. “not really, but—”

“—Oh, good! You’ll come to our party, then. Right? You’ll come out and have a good time?”

You furrowed your eyebrows, looking at namjoon and the blue haired boy. The black haired boy was still there, but he was too engaged in eating a bowl of soup out of an intricate ceramic bowl to participate in the conversation. “I don’t think so, i’ve got homewo—”

“—Don’t be difficult, [n/n]. If you’re at this luncheon thing, and if you’re not Jungkook, then your grades are good enough for you to miss one night of academics. Come on, we’re friends! Don’t make us sad.” the blue haired boy coaxed, his uncanny gaze boring into your own baffled one.

You shook your head again. “Seriously, I shouldn’t. I have other things to do tonight. Really.” namjoon scoffed, and leaned back down to look at you. “[Name]. You’re telling me, that you’re going to reject a night out with your friends, and deny good drinks, and good music, and good memories, so you can stay in your stuffy little dorm, fold clothes, and read about molecules? During the prime of your life?” he said sardonically, barely holding back his smirk as he spoke.

Something inside of you changed, just for a minute, but it was strong enough to make you cave. Inhaling deeply, you gave in. “fine. I’ll think about it.” you said, feeling slightly gutless at how easily he got you to give in. How did that even happen? Namjoon didn’t seem to care, though, and neither did the blue haired one. They both beamed happily at you. “See? That’s all we wanted.” the blue haired one said, as if it were the easiest thing on earth.

“Well, Taehyung, we should probably get out of [name]’s hair. I’d tell Jungkook too, but I don’t think he even knows we’re here anymore. But we wouldn’t want our new friend to get sick of us already, would we?” he asked his friend. Namjoon, Taehyung, and Jungkook. The calm one, the sassy one, and the one that gorged himself on bread rolls for ten minutes.

“Can’t wait to see you later, darling.” Namjoon said happily, wrapping his arm around you for a brief moment before departing from his spot. “see you soon, [n/n]!” Taehyung beamed as he got up. Jungkook, the last to notice his friends leaving, put down his napkin and gave you a smile — well, the best one he could give with his mouth full of bread — and ran to join his friends. And then, they were gone.

What the hell?

“I Don’t know, Lyd,” you said into the phone, “I just don’t really want to go. I’m a busy person.” Lydia sighed again, for what seemed like the hundredth time in fifteen minutes. “[Name], I don’t know how I’m the only one who sees how great this is. I mean,” she pauses; you hear her shifting around in her seat, “some handsome guys come and ask you to party with them, they call you darling, come on! What is there not to like?!” she exclaims.

You sigh. “it was just weird. Like-” you hesitate, unsure of how to explain your thoughts, “yeah, they asked, but like, they did it in a way that would have made it weird if I had kept saying no. You know?”

“I get what you’re saying, [n/n], but I think you’re reading too deep into it. The main point here is that you were personally invited by some handsome guys to a party tonight. Do you know the things that other girls would do for this? Do you know the things I would do for this? You’re a lucky girl, [name].”

Maybe she’s right. “I guess it’s not the worst idea.” you admit. “See! That’s the spirit. 20 years from now, you’ll be so glad you went out and enjoyed your youth.” Lydia said. You could hear her get up and start walking around. “It’s gonna be great. You can wear that new top you got, we’re gonna look amazing, and we’re gonna have an amazing time. And you’ve got me all excited, so don’t even think about backing out now!” she exclaimed.

You chuckled at her excitement. “Alright, fine. But you can’t leave me this time, you got that? Or else I’ll have your head.” you warned, shuddering at the several times Lydia had left you hanging for over an hour after she had gotten drunk and wandered off. “ma’am, yes ma’am!” she said, before giving a jubilant cheer and hanging up the phone.

Well, it’s set now. Your plans of room chores and food delivery were foiled. You tried to be excited, (but, how sad could you really be about missing out on laundry?) But something deep within you nagged at your gut, a part of you that you had only met a handful of times, and somehow it was always in the most precarious moments.

Things could only go so bad…right?

[rkivestation]

THIS IS SO UNIQUE OMG,THE PLOT ALREADY GOT ME FEELING INVESTED

A Royal Romance - Teaser 1

Author Note: So, as promised, I am putting out the first teaser for this fic, read it, like it, and comment if you want to be added to the tag list. Let me know of all of your thoughts, feelings and even suggestions. Please note that this is just a small part of the fic, if it looks like it's a normal meet cute romance, it is not, it's a twisted royal romance.

Genre: Romance, Angst, Love Triangle, lots and lots of romance

Warnings: Mentions of smoking and drinking

Link to my masterlist if you want to check out my other stuff : here

“Congratulations!!!” Mingyu hollers as he sees Jungkook right before going on stage. The two friends hug each other, first time tonight when Jungkook greets someone comfortably. They met ages ago, in high school and even tho Mingyu is a high-profile model, they’ve stayed close.

“I’m so nervous I may throw up” Jungkook mutters to his friend as he adjusts his suit, it’s right at that moment that there’s a loud commotion, and all the sudden, the press if focused elsewhere.

The two men silently try and focus in on the cause of it all, their eyes stay fixed as a woman with a glamorous golden dress and her shiny hair come into focus. She isn’t just any other woman, she’s princess ___, and that just makes Jungkook more nauseous.

“She’s beautiful isn’t she” Mingyu mutters as the men continue to shamelessly stare as the princess walks closer to the event.

“Breathtaking” Jungkook can feel a few cameras on himself too, but he can’t help but look away. Everything about her grabs his attention, her smile, the flowy hair, the dress.

“Okay, she’s coming closer, I’ll go and smile for the cameras and see you inside” Mingyu leaves with one final tap on his friends back while Jungkook stays turned around, waiting for the princess to come closer. He contemplates if he should walk closer to greet here, and Han is tapping is shoulder before he decides.

“The royal protocol is you bow first, and the formal greeting is your royal highness and ma’am after that, go on, walk to her” Han instructs and Jungkook follows, suddenly right in front of her. He bows like instructed and so does she, ___ looks at her expectantly, and suddenly Jungkook’s forgotten how to speak.

“Congratulations Mr Jeon, now I haven’t played video games ever, but people in my office love playing yours after hours” ___ takes the lead and Jungkook can’t help but smile widely.

“Thank you, your royal highness, hopefully, the people in your office like this one as well” he says as they walk to the stage, at a very glacial stage.

“Oh don’t start with the your royal highness, call me ___, please” ___ says with a small smile, picking up her dress ever so slightly to walk better, the heels are definitely taxing.

“I’m not going to do that, my assistant may actually shoot me if I don’t follow the royal protocol, he’s briefed me on it a hundred times since your RSVP’d” Jungkook jokes and ___ can’t help be a bit charmed by his toothy smile.

“Oh, I don’t want to be the reason you get shot, on a very important day for you after all” the two of them have totally stopped by the stage for this conversation, disregarding all the cameras.

“He’s quite strict, right now, he’s probably accounting all the extra time we’ve taken up to talk and adjust the timeline for the rest of the event” Jungkook jokes, despite how nervous he is, he doesn’t want the princess thinking he’s not funny.

“Oh well, not to make his job too hard, I’ll go on stage and be pretty before you get into more trouble” ___ says as she takes a step back, but still not moving. He eyes go from his big bright eyes, to his many ear piercings, to his folded over shirt collar. Her instincts tell her to just reach and straighten it, but she smiles and indicates to it, suddenly all aware of the cameras.

Jungkook shyly nods as he fixes her collar, looking back at her. “Thank you for this, and coming here” “Thank you for inviting me, and come find me inside” she says as she walks away.

Han had been feeling breathless all day, he’s been working towards this for this last three months, and that was just the event. He thought he would almost faint the moment Jungkook misspoke during the presentation, but to his relief, his boss just laughed and continued on. As Jungkook gets off the stage, done with the formalities of it all, the dinner is served and he feels like he can finally breath again.

“Where am I seated for the dinner?” Jungkook asks as he unbuttons his suit jacket, if it were up to him, he would have removed it all together.

“With your family,” Han says as he leads Jungkook to the assigned table, they stop every now and then as people congratulate him.

“I’ll go and see my parents, but if you could find me a table on the princesses table, she asked me to come find her” Jungkook speaks with a small smile, when up on stage, he could see her very clearly in her golden dress, she listened very intently for someone who doesn’t play video games.

“I’ll see, Mingyu has been keeping her company so I’ll move him or ask her safety officer to move to the next table” the thought of Mingyu chatting her up suddenly has Jungkook a bit bothered, but before he can think more of it, his mother engulfs him in a warm hug.

“Have you taken your medicine?” Jungkook asks his father as the first course is being served. Han texted him that moving anyone is not possible right now, he’ll have to come and find her once dinner is over.

“I did, you need to stop worrying about me, and celebrate your success today” his father says with a gentle tap to his hand. Jungkook worries, constantly worries after the minor stroke his father had a few months ago.

His brother is busy talking to his wife, so are his parents and the sudden quite at the table forces Jungkook to look around. He sees a room full of the most important people to his and his country as they continue to chat away, the room is full of voices and constant sound of cutlery.

He sees his senior team as they discuss something, he sees a table full of influencers as they continue to be on their phone, the table full of his investors among the many tables around him. But he’s looking for one specific one that he just can’t spot yet.

“Who are you looking for?” Nari, his sister-in-law asks as the dessert is served. On a normal day, Jungkook would absolutely be attacking this dessert, but he just doesn’t have the appetite today.

“Princess ___” Jungkook answers honestly, he’s known Nari for years now, she’s not someone he can lie too. Nari giggles as she turns around in her seat, trying to spot the princess and she immediately does.

“She is quite dazzling, very royal. She doesn’t attend events like these, how did you even manage to invite her?” Nari asks as she takes a bite of tiramisu. Jungkook smiles as he thinking back to a letter that Han explained over a month ago.

“Her office was the one that reached out actually, she sent a royal letter to congratulate us on our success and new adventure. Han was completely puzzled about what to do, I mean what does one even do when a royal princess tells you that your business has been making tremendous waves in the market. So, to reciprocate, we sent her an invite to the event, knowing full well she won’t say yes, but to our surprise she did” Jungkook explains taking a bite himself too, and he would have regretted if he didn’t taste this tiramisu.

“Wow, that’s all you sent, an invite-“ “With flowers” Jungkook had picked out the hydrangeas himself, they were in season.

“I’m speaking at a college tomorrow, it’s a panel about a complicated topic that basically means how important it is for women to be in higher education” ___ shares with her new friend Kim Mingyu. Tonight she’s seated with Mingyu on one side and Namjoon on the other, there are other business people on the table that she hasn’t bother to talk to much. They had disappeared after dinner to socialize themselves.

“Wow, you’re getting your masters right?” Mingyu asks as he takes a sip of his champagne, now that the dinner is done, there’s a more causal feel in the banquet room, with free-flowing drinks and talk.

“Yes, that reminds me that I have to meet one of my professors about some study material he’s assigned” ___ shares as she nurses her second gin and tonic of the night. Her new friend chuckles before he drowns his drink entirely.

“I never went to college, I was scouted during high school. It happened at a game room that Jungkook and I were leaving. Jungkook was scouted too, but he had his eyes set on Seoul University” Mingyu shares and flashes of Jungkook in his double-breasted jacket and crinkling eyes as he smiles come back to her.

“That’s where I’m speaking tomorrow, Mr Jeon’s alma matter” “Mr Jeon?” a voice booms from behind them, its Jungkook with two drinks in his hand.

“Namjoon scoot over, let Mr Jeon sit” ___ nudges her security officer who has a very straight face that scares Jungkook, he just smiles shyly as he takes the seat next to the princess.

“No Mr Jeon, just Jungkook your royal highness” “Well, that can only happen when it’s ___ instead of your royal highness Mr Jeon” Mingyu watches this banter and in a blink of a second, it’s almost like he’s invisible, not that he’s complaining. He’s observed his best friend look at the princess with stars in his eyes all evening, still Mingyu isn’t sure it’s being he’s enchanted by her or because she’s a princess.

“Actually no, it has to be your royal highness or ma’am for him, there’s way too much press here for him to address you casually” Namjoon interjects and ___ has truly never gotten over Namjoon being the straight man.

“You see ma’am, you come with rules that I just can’t look past, now I’m afraid he’s going to shoot me” Jungkook jokes taking a double take to the very muscular man to his other side, a man who can definitely take him down.

“But I am younger than you, ma’am makes me feel middle aged” ___ complains as she reaches over for one of the glasses of champagne Jungkook brought over. She’s breaking the two-drink rule tonight.

“Ma’am is for respect, your royal highness you are third in line to the royal throne” Namjoon interjects again and ___ wants to reach over and punch him, but she knows it’s only going to hurt her.

“Can we step away for a moment, for a smoke maybe” ___ asks Jungkook and he’s immediately pushing his chair back to stand up while Namjoon mutters a no.

Tag List - @soblavk @livingkoalaface @solastica

[rkivestation]

“Some of you say, “Joy is greater than sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is the greater.”

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.”

― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

[rkivestation]

A Grief Observed, C.S. Lewis

[rkivestation]

THIS IS AN UNDERRATED MASTERPIECE WHICH BROUGHT ME TO TEARS CAUSE I RESONATE W OC SO BAD OH GOD,WRITER IS A MASTERMIND W THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WRITING

⮞ Chapter One: Homecoming Pairing: Jungkook x Reader Other Tags: Hockey Player!Jungkook, Figure Skater!Reader, Hockey Player!Taehyung, Hockey Player!Jimin, Hockey Player!Namjoon, Hockey Player!Hoseok, Figure Skater!Jin, Coach!Yoongi Genre: Hockey!AU, Figure Skating!AU, Olympic!AU, Strangers to Friends to Lovers, Self-Discovery, Fluff, Angst, Eventual Smut, Slow Burn Word Count: 19.1k+ Summary: Y/N Y/L/N has always been destined for greatness as a competitive figure skater, her dreams of the Olympics sparkling like the ice beneath her blades. But when a devastating injury sidelines her, those dreams seem to melt away. Just when she feels lost, she unexpectedly meets Jeon Jungkook, a talented NHL hockey player. Warnings: Reader is injured and still using crutches, meet-cute reference to an unhealthy relationship with mom, absent father, parental issues, pining, low self-esteem, reader has anxiety, reader is very stressed out, honestly my girl is just exhausted, very pushy neighbors (but we love them for it), Taehyung is adopted, this is really just an introduction to everyone so not many warnings here... A/N: Happy New Year! Let's kick things off with a new massive series. This one will touch on very heavy topics such as toxic parents, mental health issues, and non-consensual touching. Please proceed with caution. New Chapters every month!

masterlist || next

I never used to think about what came next. Why would I? It felt pointless, like trying to guess the ending of a book while you were still tangled in the messy, middle chapters. Life just kept happening—fast, breathless, one page after another. And sometimes, if you were lucky, you got close to something that felt like a dream. So close you could almost taste it. But right when you reached for it? That’s when life reminded you—books close, lights go out, and suddenly, you’re right back where you started.

Normal? I wouldn’t know normal if it walked up and smacked me in the face. Normal was for people who wore stiff blazers and drank bad office coffee. My mornings started in the dark—lacing up my skates, the air so cold it bit at my skin. Stretch until it hurt. Practice until the moves weren’t moves anymore, just instinct. The rink smelled like sweat and frost and that sharp, unmistakable scent of wanting something too much. It clung to me.

That was my life. Until it wasn’t.

I don’t even remember learning how to skate. I just always had. The ice was the one place that made sense, the only place where my body and my brain felt like they belonged to the same person. My mom, Emily, saw it first. That spark in me. And once she saw it, she never let go. She didn’t just support me—she pushed. Hard. Like a storm rolling in, relentless and all-consuming. Maybe to her, that’s what love looked like.

People whispered about her. Said she was chasing her own lost dreams through me. Maybe she was. But I never resented her for it. Her ambition was like a fire—sometimes too hot, sometimes too much. But it kept me warm. Even when it burned.

She’d been a skater once, too. Until life happened. Until she got pregnant with me, married my dad, Jim, and let go of whatever dreams she had left. Some people move on. She never did. She carried that regret around like a weight, year after year, until all she had left was me. And the ice. I was her second chance.

She met Jim when she was still young and restless, and he was passing through town for police training. They fell in love, or at least, something close enough to it. Then I came along. A courthouse wedding, a move, a slow unraveling. Eventually, Emily and I left for Colorado—chasing the ice, chasing the dream. Jim stayed in Olympia, sinking into his routine until it swallowed him whole. I became the thing in between, stretched between my dad’s steady, distant world and my mom’s all-or-nothing drive.

Michigan wasn’t home anymore. Hadn’t been for years. But here I was.

The intercom crackled to life, yanking me out of my head.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain. We’re beginning our descent into Detroit, where it’s currently five-eighteen p.m. and a frigid fifteen degrees Fahrenheit. Please secure your belongings.”

Fifteen degrees. Typical Michigan.

I stared out the window, my knee aching, a bitter little reminder. I was supposed to meet Dr. Jeon on Monday. People swore he was the best. But I already knew it didn’t matter. The moment my skate caught that rough patch of ice, when my body twisted and my world turned upside down—I knew.

It was over.

I could still see it, clear as a photograph: the rink bathed in pale afternoon light, Swan Lake drifting through the air. I wasn’t even competing, just skating for the sake of skating. My mom and my coach sat in the stands, talking about my next routine. I picked up speed, heading into a fan spiral—when it happened. My blade caught. My leg gave out. I went down hard.

The plane’s landing gear hit the tarmac with a screech, shaking the memory loose. My heart pounded. I gripped the armrest, swallowing against the lump in my throat.

Passengers stood, jostling for overhead bags, but I stayed put. No point in rushing. My crutches were cold in my hands, awkward, unfamiliar. A few months ago, I could glide across the ice like I belonged there. And now? Now I could barely walk through an airport without feeling like I might tip over.

At baggage claim, I stared at the conveyor belt, watching suitcases circle like they had all the time in the world. My hands were full. My leg was useless.

"You need a hand?"

The voice came out of nowhere. I flinched, turning too fast, and there he was—tall, brown-eyed, and looking at me like he could see straight through all my carefully constructed defenses. Before I could respond, someone bumped into me, and my crutch slipped from my grip, clattering against the floor.

I wobbled, reaching out for something—anything—to steady myself. But he was faster. His hands caught my arms, firm but gentle, like he’d done this before. Like he knew exactly how to keep someone from falling.

For a second, the world around us—the airport, the noise, the blur of people—just stopped.

"You okay?" His voice was warm, steady, like it belonged to someone who never panicked.

I nodded quickly, my face heating. "Yeah. Fine." A lie, probably. But what else was I supposed to say? No, actually, I’m currently living my worst nightmare, thanks for asking?

He let go slowly, like he was making sure I wouldn’t tip over again, and bent down to grab my crutch. When he handed it back, his eyes lingered—not with pity, but something else. Something softer.

"Thanks," I muttered, gripping the crutch tighter than necessary.

He smiled—easy, unbothered. "No problem." But there was something behind it, like maybe he had more to say.

The airport rushed back to life around us. People zigzagging past, voices bouncing off the high ceilings, the endless hum of somewhere-to-be energy. But for just a moment, it still felt like we were in a separate, quieter place.

He glanced at the mess of luggage by my feet. "Need help with your bags?"

My pride answered before logic could. "I’ve got it."

Which was a bold thing to say, considering I clearly did not have it. My knee throbbed, like it was rolling its metaphorical eyes at me.

But he didn’t argue. Just shrugged, like it was all the same to him. "Alright. But it’s no trouble if you change your mind."

I shifted my weight, felt the sharp twinge, and sighed. "Okay, yeah. I could use some help."

The words tasted weird in my mouth. He didn’t seem to notice. He just grabbed my suitcase like it weighed nothing, balancing my smaller bag on top.

"Someone picking you up?" he asked as we made our way toward the sliding glass doors, where the cold Michigan air lurked like a villain in a horror movie.

"Nope. Just grabbing a cab," I said, weaving through the crowd. But I was aware of him next to me, solid and steady, like an anchor I hadn’t realized I needed.

"I’ve got my car in the overnight lot," he said, so casually it almost sounded like a throwaway offer. "I could give you a ride."

I hesitated. Too fast. "No, it’s okay," I said, maybe a little too quick, a little too sharp.

Something flickered across his face—disappointment? Or was I just imagining it?

We stepped outside, and the cold hit. Hard. I sucked in a sharp breath, my fingers instantly regretting every life choice that led to me not bringing gloves.

He noticed. His mouth twitched into a knowing smile. "Forgot what Michigan feels like in January?"

"Yeah," I muttered, hugging my coat closer. "Something like that."

I should be used to it. I grew up on ice, for God’s sake. But this cold felt different. It wasn’t just outside—it was creeping in, settling deep, gnawing at something raw.

"So, where were you before this?" he asked, breath curling into the air like smoke.

"Nevada. Before that, Colorado. We moved around a lot." I didn’t even know why I was telling him this. I didn’t even know him.

"We?" He raised an eyebrow, like he already knew the answer but wanted me to say it anyway.

"Me and my mom," I said, my voice quieter now. "She’s not really the ‘stay in one place’ type."

He nodded, like that made perfect sense. "A modern-day nomad. Sounds... exhausting."

I let out a small laugh, more reflex than anything. "Yeah. It can be."

And maybe it was just the exhaustion, or the cold, or the fact that he felt easy to talk to, but this whole conversation was starting to feel less strange. Less like a fleeting airport moment and more like something solid.

"You staying here for a while?" he asked, his dark eyes locking with mine, the cold suddenly not as noticeable.

"For the foreseeable future," I said, surprising myself with how easily it came out.

"Good to know." His voice softened, like it was some kind of inside joke I didn’t know we were sharing yet. And that crooked smile? Yeah. Dangerous.

My pulse did something stupid.

What was I even doing? Standing here, flirting with a stranger in the dead of winter? This wasn’t real life—this was the kind of thing that only happened in bad rom-coms and half-formed daydreams. But with him, it felt real. Too real.

"Maybe I’ll see you around," he said, running a hand through his hair, which—of course—fell back into place in that perfectly messy, I-don’t-care-but-I-do way.

"Yeah, maybe," I said, even though I wasn’t sure I believed it.

"You live nearby?"

I should already be in a cab. I should be out of this cold, heading toward whatever was left of my life. But instead, I was still standing here, asking questions I had no business asking.

"Detroit," he said, his breath hanging in the air like something unfinished.

"Me too," I blurted out. "Just moved there, actually."

"Downtown?" He asked it like my answer mattered more than it should.

"Royal Oak," I said. "The old houses there... they’re beautiful."

"They are," he agreed, and there was something in the way he said it, like he was noticing things about me I didn’t even realize I was showing. His gaze flicked from my eyes to my lips, and for a second, the space between us felt smaller, thinner, like something was about to snap.

Then the wind did it for us, slicing between us like a blade.

"Welcome to Michigan," he said, laughing, his voice warm against the cold.

And then, before I could react, before I could process anything, he reached down and took my bare hands in his.

His hands were warm. Too warm. Like touching them had flipped some hidden switch inside me.

I felt it. Everywhere.

For a second, I swore the ground shifted.

"We should get you a cab," he said, glancing down at my frozen fingers, his expression softer now. "You’re not exactly dressed for this weather."

"Yeah, I probably should’ve planned better," I admitted with a laugh, but I was barely paying attention to the cold anymore. Just the heat from his hands, the way they made everything else feel less cold.

He waved down a cab like he’d done it a hundred times before, easy and effortless. I stood there, watching as he loaded my bags into the trunk, every movement feeling like a countdown. And then, when he pulled open the door for me, I just... stood there.

At the edge of the moment. Caught between stepping forward and holding still. Between leaving and staying.

“Thanks for the help,” I said, looking up at him, my heart knocking against my ribs.

“Jungkook,” he said, soft, like he was handing me something delicate. His smile was still there, tugging at the corner of his mouth like he wasn’t ready to let it go just yet. “I’m Jungkook.”

“Y/N,” I replied, my own name slipping out so easily, like it had been waiting to be said here, in this exact moment, in this freezing air between us.

He repeated it—slowly, like he was trying it on. Like it was something worth holding in his mouth for a second longer. “Y/N,” he said again, quieter this time. And then he leaned in, just a little, like he was about to tell me a secret.

And suddenly, everything else—the cold, the noise, the rush of people around us—blurred out. It was just him, standing too close, that crooked grin making me wonder if maybe—just maybe—this wasn’t the end of whatever this was.

“Yeah, Jungkook?” I asked, my breath hitching, anticipation curling in my stomach.

“My friends and I... we go to this bar on Grand most Tuesdays. Bronx?” He said it like a casual suggestion, but it wasn’t casual. It was a bridge. A next step. “Maybe I’ll see you there sometime?”

A thrill shot through me—quick and unexpected. He wanted to see me again.

“Yeah,” I stammered, trying to sound normal, trying to sound like my pulse wasn’t suddenly in my throat. “I could swing by. Once I’m settled in.”

“Great.” His whole face lit up, and it was like watching a door crack open, just enough to glimpse something softer behind it. "I’ll see you around then, Y/N."

And just like that, he stepped back, shut the door behind me, and the moment ended.

The cab pulled away, and I turned, craning for one last look. He was still standing there, hands stuffed into his coat pockets, watching me go. When he caught my gaze, he waved, easy and casual, like this whole thing hadn’t just knocked the wind out of me. I lifted my hand in return, but my chest was still tight, my heart still racing.

I slumped back against the seat, pressing my forehead to the cold window, hoping the chill would slow my thoughts down. Because now that I was alone, the doubts started creeping in. The what-ifs.

Would I actually show up at Bronx? Or would I do what I always did—let the moment fade, tell myself it wasn’t real, convince myself it was just a weird, fleeting connection that didn’t actually mean anything?

But then I thought about him. About that lopsided smile. The way he said my name like it was something worth remembering. And for the first time in a long time, I let myself wonder...

What if?

It was a little past seven when the cab finally rolled to a stop in front of my new apartment building. The sky had darkened into that deep, bruised purple, the kind that makes the world feel just a little heavier. The cold hit me full force as I climbed out, my crutches clattering against the pavement.

I was so tired. That kind of exhaustion that settles into your bones, heavy and unshakable.

The doorman noticed immediately—a grizzled guy with kind eyes and the weary patience of someone who had seen a lot of people start over. He moved toward me with the kind of practiced ease that made it clear he had done this before. Watched people show up with too many bags and too many hopes. Watched them leave, sometimes with less of both.

Without a word, he took my luggage, leading me toward the elevator like it was second nature.

Apartment 311 smelled like fresh paint and nothing else. The kind of emptiness that didn’t just sit in the air—it echoed. My footsteps bounced off the bare walls, and for a second, it felt like I was in a storage unit, not a home. No couch. No bed. Just a hollow space waiting to be filled with something real.

I let out a long breath. The cold inside the apartment was different from the cold outside—sharper, lonelier. Like even the air hadn’t settled in yet.

I pulled out my phone and ordered a pizza. Pepperoni and mushrooms, with a side of breadsticks. It felt like a stupidly normal thing to do, like maybe if I just ordered dinner, it would trick my brain into thinking everything was fine. That this wasn’t weird. That I wasn’t standing in the middle of an empty apartment with nothing but a suitcase and a sinking feeling in my stomach.

By the time I hung up, the ache in my chest had settled in for the night. This was real. No backing out now.

I called Emily.

Her voice was a mix of relief and tension, like she wanted to be happy I’d made it but also wanted to remind me that I had things to do. That I had to get back to training. That I couldn’t just pause. But I was pausing. I was standing in an apartment with no furniture, staring at the ceiling like it might have answers. And I just... couldn’t deal with it right now.

After a few strained minutes, I made an excuse and hung up. The silence rushed back in, filling the space like water, drowning out everything else.

I wandered through the empty rooms, my fingers grazing the white walls. The place felt sterile, like a waiting room for a life I hadn’t started living yet. Outside, the city buzzed—car horns, laughter, people moving through their lives like they knew exactly where they were going. I pressed my forehead to the window, watching them pass. Families. Students. Dog walkers. Everyone seemed to belong to something. To someone.

And me? I felt like a glitch in the system. Like I’d been dropped into the wrong life by accident.

Jungkook’s face flashed in my mind. The way he’d said my name, like it meant something. Like maybe I wasn’t as lost as I felt. I let myself picture it—walking into Bronx on a Tuesday night, catching sight of that crooked grin. It was just a thought, a little flicker of something warm. But I wasn’t ready to let it go just yet.

The apartment was still too empty, but at least tomorrow there’d be furniture. A couch. Shelves. A coffee table, maybe. The kind of things that made a place feel real.

But the real gem of the apartment wasn’t the kitchen or the big windows. It was the alcove by the entrance—a tiny nook with a built-in window seat, framed by bookshelves. A little space that felt hidden from the rest of the world. I could already imagine curling up there on winter nights, listening to the snow tap against the glass. And for the first time since I got here, I could almost picture it—this place turning into something more than just four walls and an address.

A knock at the door snapped me out of it.

I hobbled over, stomach growling. Pizza. Finally.

But when I pulled open the door, it wasn’t the delivery guy.

It was a girl. Petite, but somehow larger than life, dressed in a black knit sweater dress and a sequined mini that shimmered in the dim hallway light. Her hair was buzzed short, dark and soft-looking, and she had cheekbones sharp enough to cut glass. But it was her eyes that stopped me—deep brown, warm, familiar.

They reminded me of him.

“Hey!” she chirped, like we were old friends. “I’m Mina. I live in 312. The pizza guy accidentally brought your order to us, so I figured I’d bring it over and say hi.”

I blinked at her. Processing.

“Thanks,” I said finally, shifting on my crutches. “Would you mind setting it in the kitchen? I’m a little... restricted.”

“Of course!” Mina breezed past me like she’d lived here her whole life, her boots clicking against the hardwood. She set the pizza down and turned back, eyes bright with curiosity. “So... what happened?” She gestured at the crutches.

“Sports injury,” I said, keeping it vague. It wasn’t a lie, exactly. Just not the whole truth.

Mina nodded like that was good enough. “Well, I hope you’re healing okay. Must be rough, moving in while dealing with all that.”

“Yeah,” I said, relieved when she didn’t press. “Thanks again for bringing the pizza.”

“No problem! Consider it a ‘Welcome to the Building’ gift.” She grinned, then suddenly froze, her eyes going wide.

“Wait... you don’t have any furniture, do you?”

I sighed. “I’ll figure something out. It’s just one night.”

Mina looked personally offended by this information. Then, before I could stop her, she scooped up the pizza box and waltzed right back out the door.

I just stood there. Staring. Processing.

Did she really just take my dinner?

With a groan, I grabbed my bag and pulled out fleece pants, a tank top, and my track jacket. Changed. Gathered up my toothbrush, phone, and keys. Then, still half-stunned, I hobbled down the hall to apartment 312.

I knocked, my heart pounding for no good reason.

The door creaked open, but it wasn’t Mina standing there.

It was a tall blonde woman—striking in that effortless kind of way, like she had never tripped over a curb in her life. She had long, golden hair that fell like silk, sharp dark eyebrows, and deep brown eyes that were almost black. Where Mina crackled with chaotic energy, this woman felt like still water. Collected. Unshakable. The kind of person who didn’t need to prove anything to anyone.

“Hey, come on in,” she said, her voice low and a little raspy. “Mina said you’d be staying with us tonight.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, stepping inside, feeling weirdly self-conscious. “I don’t want to impose—”

“Nonsense,” she said, waving a hand like my words were actual garbage. “Once Mina decides something, there’s no point arguing. You might as well accept your fate.”

Before I could respond, Mina barreled into the room, now in yoga pants and a t-shirt that looked like it had been washed a thousand times.

“I knew you’d come!” she declared, triumphant.

“Well, you didn’t give me much of a choice,” I said, trying for casual, even though my chest still felt tight. “You did steal my dinner.”

“See? It worked!” Mina grinned, entirely unrepentant. “Trust me, this is way better than eating alone in an empty apartment. You’re smart for coming over.” She paused, eyes widening like she had just remembered something vital. “Oh my God, I didn’t even ask your name. I get so carried away sometimes.”

“Y/N,” I said. “Y/L/N.”

“Welcome, Y/N,” the blonde said, leading me toward the kitchen. “I’m Leera, but you can call me Lucy if you want. And don’t worry—you’ll get used to Mina’s... enthusiasm.”

The apartment was warm and lived-in, a contrast to my own echoing space. I caught sight of the pizza box Mina had stolen—but there were three more stacked on the counter, the air thick with the smell of melted cheese and garlic.

“What’s with all the pizza?” I asked, glancing between them.

“We ordered some too,” Mina said, flipping open a box like a game show host revealing a grand prize. “They just happened to show up at the same time. Fate, obviously.”

Lucy pulled my bottle of Diet Coke out of the fridge and held it up. “Want some ice?” she asked, like she already knew the answer.

“Yeah,” I said. And just like that, I felt some of the tension in my shoulders ease.

It didn’t take long to figure out that Mina and Lucy were more than just roommates. Mina was an event planner—weddings, galas, parties—which made so much sense. Her whole vibe was confetti and last-minute ideas and carrying three coffees at once. Her family was originally from Wisconsin, though her great-grandparents had immigrated from Korea. Lucy, on the other hand, was her exact opposite. She worked in classic car restoration, which honestly stunned me. She had the kind of delicate, elegant energy that made me assume she spent her time doing something refined, like designing couture dresses or sipping espresso in a minimalist art studio. But no, she rebuilt engines. She smelled like vanilla and motor oil.

“Most people don’t believe me when I tell them,” she said, smirking as she popped open a can of sparkling water. “But I love it. It’s in my blood.”

Mina and Lucy weren’t just best friends—they were family, their lives so tightly woven together it was hard to tell where one story ended and the other began. Mina was engaged to Lucy’s brother, and Lucy was dating one of Mina’s. It was the kind of connection that felt inevitable, like the universe had put them in the same orbit on purpose. Every time Mina mentioned her fiancé, Taehyung, or Lucy talked about her boyfriend, Jimin, their expressions softened, like even thinking about them made the world a little warmer.

And somehow, I was here too. Sitting at their kitchen island, laughing, eating stolen pizza like I belonged.

By the time I glanced at the clock, it was past eleven.

Somehow, what was supposed to be a couple of awkward hours had turned into something else entirely—something easy. Something that felt suspiciously like belonging.

“Get used to late nights,” Lucy teased, nudging me with her elbow. “Being our friend means you have to be a night owl.”

Friends?

I wasn’t sure the last time I’d used it to describe myself. Maybe never.

Growing up, there wasn’t space for friends. Emily and my coaches made sure of that. My life had been structured and scheduled within an inch of its existence—early mornings, late nights, a constant push toward something bigger, something better. And at some point, I had started pulling away from people before they had the chance to do it first.

But Mina and Lucy? They weren’t waiting for me to prove anything. They weren’t measuring my worth by what I’d achieved.

They just saw me.

And that was almost scarier than being alone.

“So, Y/N,” Mina said, shattering the comfortable silence. “What’s the plan for tomorrow?”

“Big day,” I admitted, exhaustion creeping in. “My furniture’s arriving, plus all my stuff from Nevada. I need to grab groceries. Thought about picking out paint colors, but that might be too ambitious.”

Mina’s face lit up like I’d just invited her to an amusement park. “Need help? I’m free tomorrow. And I’m ridiculously efficient. We’ll knock it all out in no time.” She gestured toward my crutches with a cheeky grin. “Especially since you’re a little limited.”

I hesitated. I wasn’t used to accepting help. But Mina had this way of making it seem like it would be more work to say no.

“That would be great,” I admitted. “Thanks.”

Lucy shot me a knowing look from where she stood by the sink. “Just don’t let her bulldoze you. Once she gets going, she’s unstoppable. Your place will look like a West Elm catalog before you even blink.”

Mina gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. “I’m just trying to help her create a cozy space. Is that so wrong?”

“I’m just giving her fair warning,” Lucy said, eyes glinting. “You’re in for the full Mina experience.”

I yawned before I could stop myself. Mina noticed immediately.

“Go freshen up,” she said, waving me toward the bathroom. “I’ll set up the couch for you.”

I shuffled off, grateful for the moment alone. As I brushed my teeth and splashed cool water on my face, I felt the weight of the night settle in. When I returned, the couch had been transformed into a nest of blankets and pillows—so much cozier than the cold, empty apartment I’d left behind.

“Thanks, guys,” I said, sinking into my makeshift bed. “This is way better than crashing on a pile of sweatshirts.”

Lucy grinned as she wiped her hands on a dishtowel. “I’ll swing by around four tomorrow, just in time to rescue you from Mina’s overzealous decorating spree.”

“I’ll need it,” I said, throwing Mina a smirk.

Mina gasped, deeply offended. “You’ll love every second of it. Actually, I’ll call the guys and see if they can help with the heavy lifting this weekend. They’ve got a game in Anaheim on Friday, but they should be free after that.”

“Game?” I asked, frowning.

Mina blinked. “Oh. Yeah. Jimin, Taehyung, and my other brother—they play for the Michigan Red Wings.”

The name rang a bell, but faintly. Like a half-remembered dream.

“Should I know what that means?”

Lucy smirked. “NHL, Y/N. They’re professional hockey players.”

“Oh,” I said. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but that wasn’t it. Hockey wasn’t really on my radar. The only time I even thought about it was when Emily complained about hockey players hogging ice time.

“We’ll have to take you to a game,” Mina said, already vibrating with excitement. “They’re mid-season, and the team’s so good right now.”

“Mina, you say that every year,” Lucy said, rolling her eyes.

Mina grinned. “Because every year, it’s true! Even if they weren’t good, it’s still fun. The speed, the energy…” She trailed off, lost in her own little hockey world.

I laughed, but something about all of this—this easy, effortless warmth—felt almost too good to be real. Like I’d borrowed someone else’s life for the night.

“Mina,” I said, nudging her. “You do realize two of those players are your brothers, right?”

She made a face. “Obviously, Y/N. I’m not checking them out. But let’s be real—they’re objectively attractive. And if you happen to take an interest, there’s plenty of other man candy on the team.”

Lucy chuckled. “She’s not wrong. Her brothers are hot. Not that I’m looking—Taehyung is more than enough—but Jungkook? Yeah, he’s got the looks.”

Jungkook.

The name hit me like a bucket of ice water.

Could it be my Jungkook? 

My brain raced back to the airport. The luggage, the easy smile, the way he had helped me like it was nothing. That Jungkook had just been… a random act of kindness. A nice stranger.

…Right?

I felt ridiculous for even thinking it. For even considering the possibility.

My Jungkook?

We’d spoken for maybe fifteen minutes, and I was already putting a claim on him. Maybe I was going crazy.

“He hasn’t dated anyone since he and Sky broke up last year,” Leera said casually, like she was commenting on the weather. “Kind of a waste. A guy like that shouldn’t stay single for long.”

Mina nodded, but there was something a little sharper in the set of her jaw. “Jungkook’s not the type to jump from girl to girl. He’s waiting for the right one, and when he finds her, he’ll know.”

Leera smirked. “Well, that’s not stopping half of Detroit. Pretty sure every girl in the city knows he’s single.”

Mina groaned, flopping back against the couch cushions. “Don’t even get me started on the rink rats. If I have to witness one more girl trying to sneak into the locker room, I might actually lose my mind.”

I laughed, sinking deeper into my pile of pillows. “Noted. I’ll make sure to stay on your good side.”

Mina pointed at me, all faux-seriousness. “Good call.” Then, with a sigh, she added, “I just hate it. Those girls don’t care about hockey—they don’t even like hockey. They just want the bragging rights.”

I nodded, watching the way her protectiveness settled over her like armor. She wasn’t just defending Jungkook. She was looking out for all of them. Her brothers, her family.

“Well,” I said, meaning it, “they’re lucky to have you watching their backs.”

Mina’s lips quirked up like she wanted to argue, but instead, she just said, “Goodnight, Y/N.” She was already halfway down the hall when she called over her shoulder, “Yell if you need anything.”

Leera lingered, watching me for a beat longer. “You good?”

“Yeah,” I said, exhaling, feeling the weight of the day settle over me in the best way. “Thanks again. I didn’t realize how much I needed this.”

“Don’t mention it.” Leera’s voice was soft, knowing. “I’m up early for work, so sorry if I wake you.”

I waved her off. “I’m used to early mornings.” Too many years of predawn practices had made sure of that.

Leera just nodded, still smiling, before disappearing down the hall.

I sank deeper into the blankets, warmth curling around me like a secret. My body felt heavy, like it had finally gotten permission to stop holding itself together. My eyes fluttered shut, and I didn’t even hear Leera’s door close.

That night, I dreamt of chocolate-brown eyes and tousled black hair.

I woke up the same way I had for the past eight weeks—with my knee throbbing like it had a personal vendetta against me.

I didn’t even have to open my eyes to know today was going to suck. The dull ache had settled in overnight, but now, thanks to yesterday’s cramped plane ride, it had sharpened into something meaner. I pulled my leg toward my chest, stretching carefully, trying to loosen the stiffness. Moving boxes and setting up furniture? Yeah, that was going to be so much fun. Looked like the painkillers would have to make an appearance.

After a few more stretches, the ache dulled to something that felt less like a knife and more like a bruise, and I finally cracked my eyes open. The room was still wrapped in that early-morning darkness, the kind that sits heavy over Michigan in the winter, refusing to budge. I reached for my phone. 5:48 A.M. The apartment was silent except for the soft hum of the radiator trying—and failing—to make the place feel less like an icebox.

I wasn’t going back to sleep, but I also didn’t feel like getting up yet. So I stayed where I was, curled up on Mina’s obnoxiously comfortable couch, staring at the ceiling.

Yesterday came back in pieces. Mina and Leera. The unexpected invitation. And, of course, Jungkook.

Just thinking about him sent an embarrassing little jolt through me, which was so stupid. It wasn’t like I’d never seen an attractive guy before. But Jungkook wasn’t just attractive. He was the kind of good-looking that made you blink twice. The kind that made your brain short-circuit for a second while you tried to process if someone could actually look like that.

Okay. Fine. So he was hot. That didn’t mean anything. I’d talked to him for maybe fifteen minutes. That wasn’t life-changing. That wasn’t even significant.

Except… my body had noticed him in a way it never really noticed anyone. Heart pounding. Skin tingling. That stupid, unsteady feeling like I’d just stepped onto a rink without my skates tied properly. That was significant.

I sighed, scrubbing a hand over my face. It didn’t matter. Even if, by some ridiculous stretch of the imagination, Jungkook was interested, what would I even do about it? Relationships, dating, flirting—those were all foreign languages to me. My parents had been a masterclass in what not to do. My dad stayed, but only in the financial sense. And Emily? Her version of love came with conditions. Perform well, and you got a rare “good job.” Fail, and… well.

I didn’t know how to do affection. It had always felt awkward, like a sweater that didn’t quite fit. Hugs? Hand-holding? Kissing? Yeah, no. Just thinking about it made my pulse do something weird.

I needed to stop. My life wasn’t some tragic sob story. So my childhood had more training schedules than sleepovers—big deal. I had what I needed. Time to move on.

With a groan, I pushed myself upright, my knee protesting the movement. Enough self-pity. Caffeine. I needed caffeine.

The apartment was still dark and silent as I shuffled into the kitchen. I hesitated before opening any cabinets—rummaging through someone else’s stuff before sunrise felt like a weird level of intrusive—so I settled for finishing off the last of my soda from last night. The cold fizz helped a little, at least enough to push through the haze of sleep deprivation.

The microwave clock blinked 6:04 A.M. Mina didn’t seem like the early riser type. No point in waiting around. I could head back to my place, shower, stretch like the doctor said to, and get my life somewhat together.

By 8:30, I felt almost human again. The stretches had helped, the painkillers had kicked in, and I’d even managed to scribble out a to-do list. Groceries. Figuring out where my limited furniture should go. Maybe pretending I had any idea how to decorate an apartment.

Mina knocked just as I was finishing up, looking far too awake for this hour and shoving a cup of coffee into my hands like a peace offering. “Morning! Ready for some fun?”

I took the coffee, eyeing her suspiciously. “You’re a morning person, aren’t you?”

She grinned. “I’m an all-the-time person. You’ll get used to it. So, what’s the plan?”

“The furniture’s supposed to be here at nine.” I handed her my list. “After that, I figured we could set things up, then go grab the essentials.”

Mina scanned the list and nodded. “Super Target it is. We’ll knock this out fast.”

While we waited, she plopped onto the floor with a notebook and started sketching out a floor plan—like, a legitimate floor plan—complete with little boxes for furniture and arrows for “optimal flow.” She rattled on about color schemes and accent pieces like we were designing a magazine spread.

I just nodded along, knowing I was going to have to veto at least half of it. The eight matching throw pillows? Absolutely not.

When the movers showed up, Mina shifted into full drill-sergeant mode, directing the poor guys with a terrifying level of efficiency. The second they left, another truck pulled up with my boxes from Nevada.

For once, something in my life was actually going smoothly.

Mina eyed my stack of boxes like she was waiting for the rest of them to show up.

“That’s it?” she asked, incredulous.

“Yep. I travel light.”

She frowned, like the concept physically pained her. “Y/N, half of these are labeled Books. How do you not have more stuff?”

I shrugged. “Less stuff, less hassle.”

Mina let out the kind of sigh that people reserved for lost causes. “Minimalist doesn’t even begin to cover it. Taehyung’s old dorm room had more personality than this place.”

I smirked. “I can see the wheels turning in your head. But let’s focus on getting toilet paper first before we start worrying about ‘spicing up’ my apartment.”

“Fine,” she huffed, crossing her arms. “But we will revisit this. I’m not letting you live in a place that looks like a bachelor pad.”

“You’ve known me for fifteen hours,” I pointed out.

“And just imagine what it’ll be like in a couple of weeks,” she grinned wickedly. “I won’t hold back then.”

“This is you holding back?” I teased. “You’re kind of terrifying.”

“In the best way,” she said, completely unfazed. “Now, ready to hit the store?”

“Let’s go,” I said, grabbing my list. “But I don’t have my car yet—it’s still at the dealership.”

“Good thing I’m your chauffeur for the day!” she declared, already heading for the door with the kind of enthusiasm that made me feel like I was being drafted into something. I sighed, but I couldn’t help smiling as I followed her. Life with Mina, I was quickly learning, was never going to be boring.

“No worries,” she added, whipping out her phone with the speed of someone who always had a plan. “I’ll call Jimin and see if we can borrow his truck.”

A quick call later, we were off—Mina behind the wheel of her bright yellow Porsche, driving like she had a personal vendetta against speed limits. The engine roared as she weaved in and out of traffic with terrifying precision. I gripped the door handle, silently promising to live a better life if we made it out of this drive alive.

By the time we pulled up to Jimin’s place—miraculously in one piece—I had officially retired from being a passenger in Mina’s car. We swapped vehicles, and before I knew it, we were barrelling down the road in Jimin’s truck, off to tackle what would soon become the longest shopping trip of my life.

Two hours later, I had come to two conclusions:

One—I would never, under any circumstances, voluntarily shop with Mina again.

Two—I actually liked her. A lot.

She was everything I wasn’t—loud where I was quiet, confident where I hesitated, effortlessly stylish while I stuck to jeans and sneakers. And yet, somehow, she just clicked with me. Maybe it was her relentless energy, or maybe it was because she bulldozed past the walls I hadn’t even realized I’d built.

As we wheeled our overloaded carts to the truck, I glanced at my phone. Just past noon, and I was already exhausted.

“I’m telling you, Y/N,” Mina said, tossing bags into the truck bed like she was throwing confetti, “those shirts were a necessity. When you find one that looks that good, you have to buy it in every color.”

I smirked, shaking my head. Somewhere between arguing over which brand of dish soap smelled less like a hospital and Mina sneakily adding things to the cart, I had realized something horrifying.

Mina could talk me into just about anything.

And there it was—three identical Converse button-ups in different colors. Cute? Yes. Necessary? Not even a little.

“I’m not sure how you did it,” I said, giving her a sideways look, “but somehow, you got me to buy three of the same shirt. You’re dangerous.”

Mina grinned, completely unapologetic. “You’ll thank me later when you’re rocking those shirts.”

I sighed, shaking my head in mock defeat. “Fine. The shirts are cute. But can we find food now? The gimp needs to recharge.”

Mina laughed, slamming the tailgate shut. “How do you feel about Korean? There’s a great place on the way back.”

“Perfect,” I said, already dreaming about a meal that didn’t involve protein bars or sad, airport vending machine snacks.

On the drive back, Mina launched into a full-on campaign about how we needed to recruit Jimin to help paint my apartment. She was convinced the walls needed a fresh coat before anything else could happen.

I argued. She countered. I pouted.

She finally caved. Victory.

For now.

Once we got back, we hauled everything inside, dumping the grocery bags onto the kitchen counter in a completely unorganized mess. We shoved the cold stuff into the fridge in a way that would probably horrify any reasonable adult, then collapsed onto the couch with greasy containers of food.

As I hobbled over with my takeout, my crutches snagged on the coffee table, making me stumble.

Not once.

Not twice.

Three times.

Each time, Mina gave me a look that was somewhere between amused and mildly concerned.

“You okay there, Y/N?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I sighed dramatically. “I am so ready to be done with these crutches.”

Navigating life on two feet was hard enough. With crutches? It was like trying to cross a balance beam in roller skates. The countdown to my next doctor’s appointment was on.

After lunch, Mina got lost in a wedding magazine she’d picked up from the mail, which left me with a rare moment of peace. I stretched out on the couch, my mind finally allowed to wander.

And, of course, it wandered right back to him.

Jungkook.

I didn’t know much about him—barely more than his first name—and yet here I was, thinking about him like a teenager with a crush. Which was ridiculous. But also undeniable.

He was absurdly good-looking. The kind of guy you noticed in a room. And for some reason, I couldn’t shake him.

Bronx. Tuesday nights. Five days from now.

Could I actually work up the nerve to go?

Part of me wanted to. Just to see him again. To feel that weird, electric thing that had sparked between us at the airport.

But another part of me—the part that had spent years keeping people at a safe distance—was already coming up with excuses.

Maybe he was just being nice.

Maybe Bronx was just a casual recommendation, not an invitation.

But then why mention Tuesday?

The uncertainty gnawed at me.

I sighed, half-wishing life was as simple as those old country songs—Do you like me? Check yes or no.

But it wasn’t that easy, was it?

Before I could spiral any further into my overthinking, Mina’s phone went off—a series of high-pitched squeals that could only mean one thing: bridal emergency.

She groaned, already getting to her feet, phone pressed to her ear before she was even fully upright. “Promise me you won’t touch anything while I’m gone,” she said, pointing at me like I was the kind of person who might start unpacking just to be difficult. “Lucy and I will help you sort everything later.”

I held up my hands in surrender. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Satisfied, she turned on her heel and disappeared out the door, already deep in crisis management mode.

For once, I didn’t fight it. I wasn’t about to wrestle with the mountain of bags and boxes on my own. Instead, I let myself sink deeper into the couch, the cushions swallowing me whole. I popped in my earbuds and let my iPod shuffle through songs, the familiar hum of music settling over me like a blanket.

And before I knew it, I was out.

I managed to avoid Mina for two whole days, using jet lag and my aching knee as perfect excuses to dodge any heavy lifting. But, of course, Saturday morning came, and so did she—armed with coffee, muffins, and an all-important battle plan. Today, she declared, was Divine Design Day, and reinforcements were on their way. Jimin and Taehyung were due to arrive at 10:00 AM sharp to help paint and set up the loft. I groaned inwardly at the thought of another long day of projects, but I couldn’t help but feel a little curious about the guys Mina and Lucy had been raving about.

Apparently, Mina had tried to recruit her brother Jungkook too, but he was busy spending the day with the team doctor after taking a nasty hit during last night’s game. I’d heard Mina and Lucy screaming from across the hall—wild cheers when the game went well, furious shouts when the refs blew a call. They’d invited me to watch, but I’d opted for a quiet evening with a book instead. After hearing their passionate recap, though, I made a mental note to join them next time. It sounded like it was quite the spectacle.

“Let’s move it, Y/N,” Mina clapped her hands, already pushing me toward the door. “We need to hit Home Depot for paint before the guys crawl out of bed.”

I dragged myself along, grumbling as I grabbed my coat, purse, and crutches. “Isn’t Lucy coming with us?”

“She threatened to spike my coffee if I woke her before nine,” Mina laughed. “She’ll catch up when we get back.”

“Just don’t go overboard, okay? I don’t need my apartment looking like it belongs on the cover of Better Homes & Gardens.”

“You’re no fun,” Mina pouted, but then a mischievous grin spread across her face. “Okay, fine, how about this: you get veto power, but I promise you won’t need it.”

“Deal,” I sighed, knowing full well this was as good as it was going to get.

We took Lucy’s BMW since it had more trunk space than Mina’s Porsche—which, considering how much Mina shopped, made me wonder why she even owned a sports car in the first place. As I buckled in, I was reminded that I still hadn’t picked up my own car from the dealership.

“You know, I really should get my car sometime,” I muttered as I adjusted my seatbelt.

“Not a chance,” Mina scoffed. “You’re not driving anywhere with those crutches.”

“Well, I’m hoping to be rid of them after my appointment on Monday. I’ve got a new doctor, Dr. Jeon.”

Mina’s eyes lit up. “Dr. Jeon? That’s my dad! I can’t believe I didn’t mention my last name was Jeon.”

“Small world,” I muttered, still processing. “So, your dad’s my new doctor?”

“Yep! And trust me, you’re in the best hands. He’s patched up half the hockey players in Michigan.”

Home Depot was its usual chaos, but Mina, ever the drill sergeant of design, had the entire trip organized to perfection. Armed with measurements, color swatches, and detailed diagrams, she had us in and out in under an hour. The fact that she could pull that off while also looking like she belonged in a magazine made me half-wonder if she secretly had superpowers.

For the first time that morning, I felt a spark of excitement—seeing my empty, bare-walled loft finally coming to life didn’t seem so bad after all.

When we pulled up to the building, Jimin’s truck and a rugged-looking Jeep were already parked out front.

“Right on time,” Mina said, grabbing her phone. “I’ll call the guys and have them unload everything. And don’t even think about protesting, Y/N.”

“I wasn’t going to,” I said, raising my hands in mock surrender.

“No, but I know you hate asking for help,” Mina added sweetly, though there was no arguing with her tone. “Too bad. You’re not lifting a finger today.”

“Mina, your dad’s my doctor, not you,” I teased, but she just stuck her tongue out at me while dialing.

“We’re outside—come unload,” she barked into the phone, then slipped it back into her purse with a satisfied grin.

Within minutes, Lucy appeared with two guys in tow. One of them was immediately tackled by Mina, who launched herself at him like a human cannonball. He caught her with ease, laughing as if he’d done it a thousand times before.

The other guy—who I assumed was Taehyung—had his arm casually draped around Lucy’s shoulders and looked like he could bench-press a truck. He was huge, his broad chest stretching the fabric of his jacket, but there was this boyish grin that somehow made him less intimidating. His dark hair was cut close, and his deep brown eyes twinkled with a playful, mischievous glint.

Lucy led him over to me, and Taehyung sized me up with a cheeky smirk. “So, you’re the fresh meat, huh?”

“That’s me,” I replied with a laugh. “Straight off the butcher block.”

“I like this one,” he said to Lucy, ruffling her hair. “She’s got sass. Can we keep her?”

“You’re such an idiot,” Lucy shot back, shoving him playfully.

Taehyung glanced at my crutches. “What’s with the wingmen?”

“Huh?”

“The crutches,” he clarified, grinning. “Your wingmen.”

“Oh, right. Sports injury.”

“A player, huh?” His grin widened, teasing me.

“Not exactly,” I said, laughing.

“I dunno, Lou,” he said to Lucy, “I don’t think she’ll keep up with us.”

“Keep it up, Tae,” Lucy teased, nudging him, “or I might dump you for her.”

“Eh, Jimin can do the heavy lifting. I’ll just carry the cripple,” Taehyung said with a wicked grin, and before I could protest, he scooped me up like I was weightless. A startled yelp escaped me as my crutches clattered to the sidewalk. And just like that, I was cradled in his arms like a rag doll.

“Taehyung!” Mina shouted, pulling herself away from Jimin to storm over. “She’s injured! You can’t just throw her around like that.”

“She’s tiny, almost as small as you,” Taehyung laughed, totally unbothered. “Besides, if she’s sticking around, she’s gotta get used to a little manhandling.”

“She won’t be sticking around if you scare her off by treating her like a sack of potatoes,” Mina snapped, hands on her hips.

Taehyung just grinned and looked down at me. “You don’t mind, do you, Y/N?”

Still processing the fact that I was four feet off the ground in the arms of a complete stranger, I blinked, and to my surprise, I nodded. “Uh, sure, Taehyung,” I muttered, feeling oddly at ease despite the absurdity of the situation. His energy, his laugh, the warmth in his eyes—it was impossible to feel uncomfortable around him.

“See? Y/N’s my homegirl now,” Taehyung said with a triumphant grin, like he’d just won an award for best human being.

“Oh, you know it, G,” Lucy chimed in, laughing like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Chim, come meet my new best friend!” Taehyung called over his shoulder, still holding me like it was the most natural thing in the world—like this wasn’t a situation where I probably should have been, I don’t know, walking?

Jimin, who had been watching the whole circus unfold with a quiet, amused smile, finally made his way over. He extended his hand, his voice as soft and melodic as the warm look in his eyes. “Pleasure to meet you, Y/N,” he said, each word carrying a kind of gentleness that made it impossible not to like him instantly.

Still awkwardly perched on Taehyung’s back, I reached out to shake his hand, the usual wave of discomfort that came with meeting new people creeping up. But something about Jimin’s calm presence, those kind eyes of his, made it easier than I expected. “Don’t worry,” he added with a knowing grin, “you’ll get used to this bunch of lunatics.”

I let out a small laugh, the tension in my shoulders easing just a little. “I’m starting to think you’re right.”

“Alright, enough with the pleasantries!” Mina’s voice cut through, sharp and loud, as always. She clapped her hands with military precision. “We didn’t drag you guys here for social hour. Time to work!”

“Yes, ma’am,” Jimin said, snapping a playful salute before heading over to the trunk to start unloading supplies.

I wriggled a bit on Taehyung’s back, trying to find a way down. “Okay, Taehyung, time to put me down.”

“Nope,” he replied, patting my leg like it was a done deal. “I told you, I’m carrying you in.”

“I can walk, you know,” I protested, feeling the need to remind him that I still had two fully-functioning legs, even if they weren’t exactly in peak condition. “And Jimin could probably use your help.”

“Jimin’s got it covered,” Taehyung said nonchalantly, grabbing a bag of paint supplies with one hand while still managing to hold me securely on his back with the other. “Lucy, grab her crutches—aka Goose and Maverick.”

“Goose and Maverick?” I raised an eyebrow, thoroughly confused.

“Your wingmen,” Taehyung explained with utmost seriousness, like I was supposed to get this. “You can’t fly without them.”

“You’re ridiculous, Taehyung.”

“I know,” he replied with a wide, disarming grin. “That’s what makes me so lovable.”

And with that, he hauled us both inside, with Jimin, Mina, and Lucy following behind, their arms loaded with paint cans and brushes.

By the time we made it up to my apartment, I’d stopped trying to escape Taehyung’s “manhandling.” It was clear this “Divine Design Day” was more like a crazy, fun-filled bootcamp than your typical painting party. But weirdly, I didn’t mind. Between the laughter, the constant banter, and the easy camaraderie, I realized something—I was smiling more than I had in a long time. The tension I’d carried around for months, maybe even years, seemed to melt away with every joke and every shared moment of laughter.

As the day went on, I noticed something else: this wasn’t just about painting or setting up furniture. This was their way of pulling me into their world, a world that felt warm and open in a way I hadn’t experienced in years. By lunchtime, I had Taehyung laughing so hard he nearly dropped his paint roller, and I felt myself slipping back into sarcasm, something I hadn’t felt comfortable doing in a while.

Lucy, Taehyung, and Jimin worked seamlessly together, taping off the walls and laying down tarps while Mina orchestrated the whole operation like a general overseeing her troops. At first, I tried to stay out of their way, but before long, I found myself pulled into the action—sitting in the middle of the room, surrounded by paint splatters, as they worked around me. It felt oddly comforting, this strange, unexpected bond forming around me.

By late afternoon, the loft had transformed. We’d painted two rooms and were almost done with a third. The place was beginning to feel like an actual home, a place I could settle into. The thought of unpacking didn’t feel as overwhelming anymore, so I decided to start with something familiar: my books.

Jimin carried the three boxes over like they weighed nothing, flashing me a smile before heading back to help Taehyung with the last of the painting. I opened the first box, and immediately, nostalgia hit me like a wave. Books had always been my safe haven. The feel of the pages, the scent of old paper—it was like stepping back into a world where everything made sense. As I started stacking them by genre and alphabetically, a sense of calm washed over me.

“Hey, Y/N!” Mina’s voice called out from the living room, interrupting my quiet moment. “Do you want us to start unpacking these other boxes? The paint’s dry enough now.”

“Yeah, sure,” I called back, not thinking much of it. “There shouldn’t be much in them.”

Mina’s voice got closer as she poked around. “One’s labeled ‘Miscellaneous,’ and the other doesn’t have anything written on it.”

“Huh, that’s weird,” I said, frowning slightly. “I thought I labeled everything.”

“Well, want me to open the mystery box?” Mina asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Go for it,” I said, feeling a small tug of curiosity myself. What could it be?

I heard the familiar sound of tape being ripped open, followed by Mina’s high-pitched squeal that could probably be heard by the neighbors. It echoed through the loft, loud enough to make me jump.

“Geez, Mina,” I muttered, stacking another book on the shelf. “Are you trying to summon every dog in the city?”

“Y/N!” Mina’s voice was filled with barely-contained excitement. When she popped her head around the half-wall, her eyes were wide with mischief, the kind of look that usually meant trouble.

“What is it, Mina?” I asked, wary.

She strutted over, something in her hands, her face lit with that mischievous gleam. And then, she held it up.

It was the plaque. That plaque. The one my mom had made after the 2020 Olympics, with “Olympic Silver Medalist” gleaming beneath my name. My stomach dropped, like someone had yanked the floor out from under me.

Shit.

Everything inside me screamed to grab it, shove it back in the box, pretend I’d never seen it. But I was frozen, staring at that plaque like it had just upended everything I was trying to build here. There it was, in all its shiny, unapologetic glory—my past, casually standing right in the middle of my future like it belonged. Like it had every right to.

“Care to explain why you never mentioned this?” Mina teased, her grin stretching wide like she had just found the golden ticket.

I groaned and rubbed a hand over my face. Of course, of course this would come up now. I wasn’t ready for this conversation—not now, not ever. “Where did you even find that?”

“In the unmarked box,” she said, like that was all the explanation needed.

Of course. The unmarked box. Thanks, Emily, I thought, bitterly. Of all the things my mother could’ve sent, this had to make the trip.

Mina was looking at me like she was a detective who’d just cracked the case. Her eyes were practically burning holes through me, waiting for me to spill the beans. I sighed, knowing I couldn’t avoid it. “Was there anything else in there?” I asked, stalling, even though I already knew exactly what else was hiding in that box.

“Oh, plenty,” she replied, clearly loving this. “Or should I say... Y/N Y/L/N, Olympic Silver Medalist and National Champion Figure Skater? Care to explain why this little tidbit never came up in conversation?”

Her words hung there between us, playful but pointed, and I sighed again. Mina wasn’t mad, not at all. She was just amused—like she’d just uncovered some secret Easter egg in a movie she wasn’t expecting.

“Okay, yeah,” I muttered, feeling the flush creep up my neck. “You got me. I was going to tell you eventually, I just... didn’t want it to be a thing, you know?” I looked down at my hands, fidgeting with the spine of a book. “It’s not like I’m ashamed of it. I just... liked that you didn’t know. It was easier that way. I could just be Y/N, without all the... assumptions or whatever.”

Mina’s face softened, and she lowered the plaque with a quiet chuckle. “I get it, Y/N. Honestly, I do. And for what it’s worth, it doesn’t change anything. Lucy and I? We’re still the same girls who’ve been feeding you pizza and hauling in your groceries.” She gave my arm a gentle squeeze. “And trust me, Jimin and Taehyung? They’re probably the last people on earth who care about figure skating. No crazed fans here.”

Relief flooded through me, but a little bit of that lingering embarrassment stayed in the back of my mind. “Thanks,” I said, my voice quiet. “I’m sorry for not saying something earlier. It just... it felt good to be normal for a while.”

Mina grinned, nudging me with her shoulder. “Normal’s overrated. And you didn’t lie—you just... omitted a few sparkly details.”

I laughed, feeling the tension start to melt. We made our way back to the box. Inside, it wasn’t just the plaque—there were old photos, magazines, medals, and even some of my old costumes, glittering with sequins. It was like a time capsule from a life I thought I’d left behind, packed up meticulously and sent across the country by Emily, my ever-persistent mother.

Pinned to one of the costumes was a note in her unmistakable handwriting: Just in case.

“Subtle, Emily,” I muttered, tossing the costume back into the box.

“Who’s Emily?” Mina asked, plopping down beside me on the floor.

“My mom,” I replied, letting out a long sigh.

Mina nodded, picking up one of the magazines with my face plastered on the cover. She turned it over in her hands like she was still trying to process it. “So... I’m guessing you didn’t pack all this yourself?”

“Nope,” I said, shaking my head. “I left all my skating stuff back in Vegas. But Emily—she has her own ideas about what’s best. She thought I might need a little ‘reminder’ of my accomplishments.”

“Or a lot of reminders,” Mina said, holding up another sparkly costume, her eyebrows raised in mock surprise.

I snatched the costume from her, laughing despite myself. “Well, I didn’t exactly want all of this here. I’m not sure if I’ll ever skate again, so I didn’t feel like living in sequins and medals every day, you know?”

Mina’s grin faded a little, and she placed her hand on my knee, her touch gentle. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry, Y/N.”

“It’s fine,” I said, trying to push away the heaviness creeping into my chest. “I’m dealing with it. I just... didn’t think I’d need all this while I’m... figuring things out.”

We sat there in a quiet, heavy silence, surrounded by the ghosts of my past life that refused to stay buried. I glanced down at the shimmering fabric in my lap, running my fingers over the beads, feeling too familiar, too close to everything I was trying to leave behind.

“And that’s exactly why she sent it all,” I added, offering a bitter smile. “In Emily’s world, this injury is just me being dramatic. I should be back on the ice by now, training for my next competition.”

“That’s insane,” Mina scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “Doesn’t she know what’s going on with your knee?”

“Emily only hears what she wants to hear,” I half-laughed, half-sighed. “But don’t worry. She can’t push me into anything anymore. I’m in control now.”

“Well, whatever you need, we’re here for you, Y/N,” Mina said softly, her words warm and solid. “Whatever you need, whenever you need it.”

I smiled, a warmth spreading through my chest that chased away some of the darkness. “Thanks, Mina. I know I’m not great at all this emotional stuff, but... I’m really glad I met you. It’s been a long time since I had real friends.”

Mina beamed, knocking her knee against mine. “Best friends, Y/N. Not just regular friends.”

I nudged her back, laughing, my heart feeling a little lighter. “Yeah, best friends.”

We sat there, sprawled out on the floor, amidst the remnants of my past life—photos, costumes, memories of who I used to be. And for the first time in a long time, the silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable. It was easy. And, for once, I didn’t mind the mess.

"Hey, lazy bums!" Lucy’s voice rang out from the bedroom where she’d been helping Jimin and Taehyung tape off the last wall for painting. "Are you two just gonna lounge around while we do all the work?"

"Yep, that was the plan," Mina said, not missing a beat.

"Sounds good to me," I chimed in, grinning.

Lucy appeared in the doorway, her grin already in place as she plopped down next to us on the floor like she had nowhere better to be. "Well, if you’re gonna be lazy, I might as well join you."

Mina shot me a sly look and turned to Lucy. "So, Lucy," she drawled, dragging out the words, "did you know that Y/N here is a big-time figure skater?"

Lucy’s eyebrows shot up for a second before she shrugged like it was no big deal. "No shit? I knew your name sounded familiar," she said, totally unfazed. "That’s pretty cool."

Mina gave me a look that clearly said See? No big deal, and I tried not to laugh at how casually Lucy took it.

"You know, Y/N," Lucy said, leaning back on her elbows, "you kinda kick ass out there."

I couldn’t help but laugh. "Thanks, Lucy."

"Seriously," Mina added, rolling over onto her stomach and propping herself up on her elbows. "The things you can do with your legs... If I were that flexible, Jimin wouldn’t let me out of the bedroom for days!"

I giggled and shook my head. "Please, Mina, you’re giving me way too much credit."

Lucy grinned, mimicking Mina’s pose. "She’s got a point, Y/N. All that flexibility? Total game-changer in the bedroom. Think of the positions you could get into."

"Wow, thanks for the confidence boost, Lucy," I joked, feeling my face heat up. "Glad to know I’ve got you all worked up."

"Not me, you dork," Lucy said, with an exaggerated eye roll. "Guys. You know, the ones who actually matter in this scenario."

"Well, I wouldn’t really know," I said, trying to keep my tone light, though my chest was tightening a little. "But hey, good to know I’ve got options. Stripper? Kama Sutra demonstrator? Naked contortionist?"

Mina suddenly sat up, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. "Wait a second," she said, her voice suddenly full of disbelief. "Wouldn’t know? Y/N, are you... a virgin?" she asked, as if I had just confessed to being a secret agent.

Heat surged to my cheeks, and before I could even think about how to respond, I shot up like I had just been caught doing something illegal. "Okay, I think that’s enough prying into my personal life for one day," I called over my shoulder, trying—and failing—to sound casual. Embarrassment crawled up my neck like wildfire. "Let’s save the deep dives for when we’re knee-deep in a tub of Ben & Jerry’s at some inevitable sleepover. Pillow fights optional."

"Oh no, Y/N," Mina’s voice rang out behind me, dripping with playful menace. "We’re your best friends now—there’s no such thing as ‘enough prying.’" She paused dramatically, and I could practically hear her smirking. "But fine, keep your little secrets for now. Just know that Lucy and I are official Y/N Y/L/N spelunkers. No secret is too deep, no skeleton too buried. We’ll dig it all up eventually."

I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head as I rifled through the fridge, pretending to look for something—anything—that would change the subject. The truth was, with Mina and Lucy around, there was no way in hell my past was going to stay hidden for long. They were relentless, the kind of friends who didn’t just scratch the surface. They dug. They prodded. They excavated until they hit bedrock. And maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.

Monday morning, I woke up before dawn, as usual. But instead of jumping out of bed and rushing straight for the coffee maker, I stayed under the soft feather pillows that Mina had insisted would help me sleep better. I wasn’t sure they had, but for the first time in a while, it felt easier to just stay there, letting the weight of the day press down on me slowly, like a shadow growing across the room.

Today was the day my path would be decided. I might have been being melodramatic, but it was hard not to be when the appointment felt like the turning point. The moment I’d have to choose which way to go. I’d been stalled at this fork for too long. It was time to pick a direction, any direction.

A lot of that decision would depend on the new doctor. Dr. Banerjee back in Vegas hadn’t been hopeful. He practically told me not to get my hopes up. Would Dr. Jeon say the same? Emily had made it clear she thought I was just milking the injury, playing the drama queen. And sometimes, I wondered if she was right. Was I just dragging this out? My knee still throbbed when I pushed it too hard, but maybe I was just being weak. Maybe I needed to toughen up, ignore the pain, and push through.

Enough lying in bed. The answer would come soon enough.

I climbed out of bed and started my usual morning stretches, paying close attention to how my knee felt. The lack of soreness gave me a little spark of hope. My flexibility was still there, too—thankfully, I hadn’t lost that during the months of inactivity. That was what had made me stand out on the ice, those long, graceful spiral sequences. If I could still do them, maybe I could skate again. And if I could skate again, I’d need to get back to my Pilates routine, pronto. The longer I waited, the harder it would be to regain the strength and flexibility I’d need.

But for now, all I could do was stretch and hope. The future could wait a little longer.

The truth was, I missed the rush that exercise always gave me. The kind of energy that made my limbs feel electric, the burn that felt almost like a reward. Sitting around, doing nothing, had turned out to be more suffocating than I’d imagined. The first week after surgery had been kind of a relief—like a forced break from the rigid schedule that had ruled my life for so long. I had sprawled out on the couch, devoured three Jane Austen novels in a row, only stopping for food, bathroom breaks, and the occasional nap. It was pure bliss.

But then... the days started to blur. By mid-December, boredom had sunk its teeth in, and I could feel it gnawing at me. Emily, of course, decided I needed a “push.” So, she dragged me back to the rink to “knock some sense into me,” as she put it. The rehab exercises Dr. Banerjee prescribed weren’t enough for her. She complained that it was all taking too long, and after one mortifying demonstration where she shoved me out onto the ice and I immediately fell flat on my ass, she finally stopped insisting I skate.

That didn’t mean she backed off, though. Oh no. She still had me show up every day to “consult” with Yoongi, my coach, about what came next. But it only made me feel trapped. Like a prisoner pacing in the perimeter of a shrinking cell. That was when I started thinking about leaving. With Emily always there, it was like I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t hear myself over the sound of her voice barking orders and issuing demands. If my career was over, I needed space to figure out what came next, and staying in Vegas wasn’t going to give me that.

Dr. Banerjee had mentioned a few specialists in Michigan who had experience with my kind of injury. As soon as he said it, I latched onto the idea of moving back. The doctors would satisfy Emily’s need for reassurance, and the distance would give me the space to breathe, to be. She didn’t like it at first—said it was a waste of time, of resources—but when she saw I wasn’t backing down, she caved. Not without conditions, of course.

She found the apartment, bought the car, booked the doctor’s appointments, arranged the flights. The only thing I cared about was leaving as soon as possible. So, I did. I boarded a plane, said goodbye to the warmth of Nevada, and didn’t look back.

And here I was now. Sitting at the edge of a decision. Despite the tight knot of anxiety in my stomach, I had to admit, moving back was starting to feel like the right choice. There was something about Michigan that felt more like home than anywhere I’d been in years. It wasn’t just the cold air or the city’s winding streets; it was something deeper, something about being away from the noise of expectations, the pressure to constantly prove myself. Here, I could just be Y/N, and for the first time in a long while, that didn’t feel like a hollow title.

I went through the motions of getting ready—showering, drying my hair, pulling on a pair of jeans and a sweater. I wasn’t sure if the routine was helping calm my nerves or just delaying the inevitable. I ate a lemon poppy seed muffin, wiped the crumbs off the counter, and tried to ignore the tension creeping up my shoulders. My mind kept drifting back to the appointment. What would Dr. Jeon say? Was I still Y/N Y/L/N, competitive skater? Or was I about to become someone else entirely?

A knock on the door startled me out of my thoughts. Mina’s voice floated in, cheerful as ever. “Morning!” she called out as she let herself in. I’d given her a spare key yesterday—mostly because she insisted, and I hadn’t come up with a good reason not to.

“Good morning,” I said, my voice lighter than I felt, as she waltzed into the kitchen, all bright-eyed and grinning.

“Happy Lose-the-Crutches Day!” she proclaimed with a teasing lilt in her voice.

“You’re weird,” I said, shaking my head.

“Oh, come on, Y/N. You can’t tell me you’re not excited to ditch your flyboys.” She shot a glance at the crutches leaning against the wall. “Maybe with fewer appendages to trip over, you’ll stop bumping into things so much.”

“Doubt it,” I replied, holding back a smile. “I’ve always been a klutz. Kind of ironic, don’t you think? Champion figure skater who trips over air.”

“Not ironic,” Mina said, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge. “You were born to be on the ice. That’s all.”

I raised an eyebrow at her, a little skeptical. “You really think so?”

“Definitely,” she said, her tone sincere, her eyes steady. It made me pause. “I’ve seen you skate, Y/N. It’s like watching something otherworldly.”

I’d heard words like that before—usually from articles or fans—but hearing it from Mina, with that quiet belief in her eyes, felt different. It felt like maybe I could believe it too, if I let myself.

I cleared my throat, avoiding her gaze. “Thanks, Mina.”

She grinned, brightening up. “Come on, babe. Let’s get going. Grab Goose and Maverick and let’s jet.”

I rolled my eyes at the ridiculous names she’d given my crutches but grabbed them anyway. The sooner this was over, the sooner I’d know what came next. Mina and I headed out, slipping into her car as she cranked the heat.

“Thanks for chauffeuring me,” I said, trying to make light of the anxiety gnawing at me.

“How many times do I have to tell you?” she laughed. “I’m happy to do it. Besides, it gives me an excuse to pop in and see Dad. Makes me look like the ‘good child.’”

“I have a feeling you don’t need much help keeping that title.”

“True,” she said, her voice filled with fondness. “But I like stopping by the hospital now and then. It’s funny how different we all are—my brothers and me—but we’ve always been close. Taehyung’s a tank on the ice, and Jungkook’s fast as hell, but they’ve always looked out for me. And growing up with them... well, let’s just say I’ve had a lot of practice handling troublemakers.”

"How did they end up playing on the same team, anyway? Doesn’t that kind of thing usually not happen?" I asked, trying to distract myself from the knot tightening in my chest.

“It doesn’t,” she admitted. “Taehyung wasn’t a big name in the draft picks. Being a hometown boy helped, but once the Red Wings saw him play, they knew they had a hidden gem. Then Jungkook came up the next year. Having Taehyung already on the team definitely helped his chances. Plus, it’s good PR—two hometown brothers in the NHL.”

“Guess I’ll have to learn a little more about hockey,” I said, offering a half-smile.

“Y/N, trust me. You’re in Michigan now. It’s practically a requirement.” She winked at me as we pulled into the hospital parking lot. The knot of anxiety tightened in my chest again, but it didn’t feel the same. The difference now was, for the first time, I felt like I had a little more control over where I went from here—even if I had no idea what the next steps would look like.

The uncertainty was still there, but it didn’t feel like a shadow I had to run from. For now, it was just another stretch of ice I’d have to navigate. And if I stumbled a bit along the way, well, I could live with that.

“That’s pretty cool,” I said, and Mina’s face lit up, her voice picking up speed as she launched into more stories about her brothers and their love for hockey.

“Yeah, they’re living the dream. Mom and Dad were all in on their decision to go pro. A lot of the hockey parents we knew were pulling their kids out, saying they should focus on school or get 'real' jobs. But my parents never did that. They always cared more about us finding something we loved, not just something practical.”

As she kept talking, sharing memories of their childhood, I could practically feel the warmth of the Jeon family’s bond. It was one of those things you could almost touch, the kind of closeness that felt familiar and distant all at once. Taehyung, I learned, was adopted. His birth mother had been Mina's aunt—Yuri's sister—who’d passed away when he was a baby. The Jeons had taken him in, raised him as their own, and made him the oldest son.

There was something comforting in the way Mina talked about them. It was like hearing about a life I’d never had but always kind of wished I could. A life where family wasn’t just a word, but a real, tangible thing.

We pulled into the parking lot of St. Joseph’s, and I felt the weight of it settle over me. Signing in at the front desk felt like signing away the last of my denial. And when the nurse called my name five minutes later, the nerves hit, deep and clawing at my chest.

In the exam room, everything smelled like antiseptic, cold and sterile, the kind of chill that seeps into your bones from the linoleum floors. The nurse did her usual routine—height, weight, blood pressure—and then left us alone. Mina sat in a chair next to the exam table, and I perched on the edge, my hands folded together so tightly that my knuckles were almost white.

It was ridiculous how fast my pulse was racing. I’d been through so much worse before—competitions where the world was watching, where one slip-up could cost everything. But this... this was different. This was my future, maybe even who I was, dangling on a thread. Figure skating didn’t give you time to waste. I always thought I had more. Now it felt like the curtain was coming down, and I was stuck in the dark.

My foot started tapping a nervous rhythm against the cabinet. I bit my lip hard enough that it almost hurt. Mina leaned over and gently placed a hand on my foot, stilling it.

“You okay?” she asked softly.

I nodded, but it felt like a lie.

Before I could say anything, the door swung open, and in walked a man I assumed was Dr. Jeon. If this was Mina’s dad, then he was definitely proof that some people aged like fine wine. He had salt-and-pepper hair slicked back in a way that looked effortless but somehow stylish. His brown eyes were warm but sharp, taking in the room with a kind of calm authority that made me wonder if Michigan doctors all looked like movie stars instead of regular people.

“Y/N Y/L/N?” he asked, his voice shifting from professional to something warmer as his gaze landed on Mina. “Oh hey der, Mina! Didn’t see ya there!”

I almost snorted. Did he seriously just say ‘hey der’? I felt like I’d stepped into a Michigan stereotype, except, instead of flannel-wearing folks talking about fishing, everyone here looked like they belonged on the cover of a magazine.

Mina jumped up to give him a hug, and the bond between them was clear. The way his arm slid around her shoulders, the way she grinned so wide her eyes sparkled as she introduced me.

“Y/N’s my new neighbor! Thought I’d bring her by to say hi,” she said, practically bouncing.

“Well, that’s just great! Hope she hasn’t been driving you too nuts already,” Dr. Jeon said, the playful gleam in his eyes making me smile, even though my nerves were still jittering.

“No, Mina’s been great, Dr. Jeon,” I said, but my voice came out a little tighter than I wanted.

“Please, call me Suho,” he said with a grin. “Any friend of Mina’s is a friend of mine. And if you’re hanging out with her, I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

“Oh! That reminds me,” Mina interrupted, her eyes suddenly wide with mischief. “Are you and Mom going to the game on Friday?”

“You betcha! Wouldn’t miss it.”

Mina turned to me, practically glowing. “Y/N, do you want to come to the Red Wings game with us? Lucy and I are going, and we always meet up with the guys afterward. It’s a blast! Please say you’ll go?”

“Mina, you’re pulling out the puppy lip,” I warned, though I felt my resolve weakening.

“I know! It works every time. Come on, please?”

I sighed, feeling the last of my resistance crumble. “Fine. I’ll go.”

“Yesss!” she cheered, her excitement contagious. “This is going to be so awesome. Oh, and can I pick out your outfit?”

“Alright, Mina,” Suho interrupted with a chuckle. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I need to actually, you know, consult with my patient here.”

“Oops, right,” Mina said, sheepishly. “I’ll be in the waiting room. See you Friday, Dad!” She kissed his cheek before bouncing out of the room, leaving behind a silence that felt almost too loud.

“She’s always been like that?” I asked, half-amused, half in disbelief.

Suho chuckled, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. “Yah, she’s always been a bit of a firecracker. But she means well. Now, let’s take a look at that knee, shall we?”

The fluttering in my stomach kicked up again as he flipped open a manila folder. “Your doctor in Nevada sent over your records,” he said, drawing out the ‘a’ in Nevada in a way that made me bite back a smile. He caught my look and grinned. “What’s the matter? My Michigan accent getting to ya?”

I let out a breathy laugh, the tension starting to ease. “Sorry, I’m still readjusting. It’s been a while since I’ve lived here.”

He leaned in like he was about to share a secret. “Oh, don’tcha worry. We’ll have ya speakin’ like a northerner again in no time, ya betcha.”

The exaggerated drawl pulled a groan out of me, but it was hard to stay tense with him grinning like that. The atmosphere in the room felt lighter, easier to breathe in. Maybe it wasn’t just the change of scenery that would help me adjust. Maybe it was moments like this.

“Alright, let’s get down to business,” he said, flipping open my medical records with a practiced flick of his wrist. His voice shifted, more serious now. “Looks like you tore your ACL pretty badly back in November and had surgery not long after. I see you also had a concussion from the fall?”

I nodded, the words tight in my throat as the memory of that day washed over me. The fall. It was one of those moments that replays on a loop in your head, like a nightmare you can’t escape. Every time I closed my eyes, there it was again.

“The good news is,” Suho continued, “it looks like the concussion’s healed up nicely. And your knee—well, it’s a long road, but you’re making progress. Any soreness left?”

“Yeah,” I said, my voice tighter than I wanted. “It still aches if I’m on my feet for too long. I’ve been doing the rehab exercises, but it’s slow. Really slow.”

Suho nodded and gently moved my leg, testing the range of motion. “That’s to be expected. Recovery from something like this doesn’t happen overnight. It’ll still be sore. It might even throb as you rebuild strength, but you’re healing. You’re making progress. I think we can start transitioning you off the crutches. Take it slow, though—walk short distances without them at first, see how it feels.”

His words hit me like a lifeline I didn’t even know I needed. “So... does that mean I can skate again? Not right now, but... eventually?”

Suho met my eyes. His face was serious again. “If you stick with the rehab, listen to your body, and don’t rush it, then yes, I think it’s possible. But it’s going to take time. Patience is going to be key.” He paused, his gaze anchoring me. “We can start you on the treadmill by the end of the week. Slow, steady walking, just to get your knee used to the movement again. Maybe—just maybe—if everything goes well, we can start with some light skating. No jumps, no spins—just laps.”

Relief hit me like a wave, a warmth that spread through me like the first hint of daylight after a long night. It wasn’t a promise, but it was something. And right now, that was enough.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice fragile, barely holding it together.

Suho smiled, kind but firm. “One step at a time, Y/N. You’re not in this alone.”

I sat there, absorbing the weight of his words. This wasn’t the end. It was a new beginning, a different kind of fight. But it was mine.

He flipped through my records, his voice settling back into its practical tone. “Keep up with the therapy. Let’s schedule a follow-up in early April to see how you’re doing. Any questions?”

One question burned in my chest, the one I’d been too scared to ask for months. My heart pounded in my ears, and I swallowed hard, trying to push past the lump in my throat. What if he said what Dr. Banerjee had said? That the damage was too severe? That I’d never skate again? That I’d never compete again?

“Yes, Y/N?” Suho’s voice was calm, patient, his eyes urging me to ask.

I took a shaky breath, forcing myself to speak. “Will I be able to compete again?”

For a split second, he didn’t answer, and in that pause, the whole world seemed to hold its breath with me. Then he exhaled slowly, his voice careful. “That’s a good question. It’s possible. A lot of athletes come back from ACL tears, some even making a full recovery. But a lot depends on how well the next few months go. You’ve got to retrain your knee without overdoing it.”

He leaned forward slightly, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. “The next month is crucial. You’re going to start feeling like your knee’s back to normal, but that’s when you’re most at risk for re-injury. It’ll be tempting to jump right back into your routine, but you’ve got to stick to the plan. If you can do that, we’ll reassess in April.”

I nodded, my mind spinning with all the things he was telling me. There was so much to process, and the fear—God, the fear—still lingered like a shadow, gnawing at the edges of my hope. But then Suho’s next words broke through that darkness.

“Y/N, I don’t want you to lose hope. I know it’s frustrating, but mental determination is going to play a huge role in your recovery. If you stay patient and committed, there’s every reason to believe you’ll get back to where you were.”

A tiny spark of hope flared in my chest. “Really?” I asked, barely daring to believe it.

Suho smiled, a warmth in his eyes that made me believe him just a little more. “I can’t guarantee anything, but if you stay the course, there’s a good chance you’ll be back on that ice—maybe even as an Olympian again.”

The weight I’d been carrying for months felt a little lighter. A little. I felt like maybe—just maybe—there was something to hope for. “Thanks, Dr. Je—uh, Suho,” I corrected myself, sheepish at the grin he shot me.

“No need to thank me,” he said with a chuckle. “This one’s all on you. Just don’t push yourself too hard. There’ll be plenty of time for that later, once you’re healed.”

I gave him a mock salute. “Yes, sir.”

We wrapped things up, and as I grabbed my crutches to leave, Suho gave me one last smile. “See you Friday night... at the game.”

“Oh, right! See you then.”

The cold January air hit me as I stepped outside, sharp and biting, but I didn’t mind. Not today. Hope had a way of making everything feel a little warmer, even when the world was still so cold.

After the appointment, Mina insisted on lunch, and we made our way to our favorite café. The kind of place where the staff knows your name, and the menu’s practically burned into your brain. Then, she drove me straight to the dealership where Emily had promised my new car would be waiting.

As we pulled up, my stomach did that familiar drop when I saw it: a shiny Mercedes Benz SUV, gleaming under the dealership lights like it was posing for a magazine cover. It screamed luxury—so Emily. So her. I mean, of course it was a Mercedes. Nothing less for someone like her. But to me, it was just... a reminder of how little she really understood me.

I shouldn’t have been surprised, but there it was—the familiar weight of disappointment settling in my chest like a stone.

I reluctantly climbed into the car, too shiny and new, the leather too pristine beneath me. As I pulled out of the lot, my phone buzzed—Emily, of course. She’d been waiting for me to finish the appointment so she could call and get her feedback. Normally, I’d answer right away, quick to please. But not today. I hit decline, sending her straight to voicemail. If she got upset later, I could always claim I was driving, still getting used to the new car.

We arrived back at the apartment just as Lucy was pulling in, practically radiating her usual excitement. As soon as she saw us, she bounded over, brimming with that energy that made me laugh even when I wasn’t in the mood. The two girls—always together, always bouncing off each other—decided it was the perfect time to test out my "sea legs" with a walk around the block.

“Guys, it’s January. In Michigan. And you want to go for a walk?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, already knowing the answer.

“Come on, Y/N, you’re a figure skater! Don’t tell me you can’t handle the cold,” Mina teased, already bundling up in an impressive number of layers.

“I’ll manage,” I said, surprised at their enthusiasm. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I could handle it, but they seemed so excited, I couldn’t bring myself to say no.

“It’s twenty-two degrees. Practically a heat wave!” Lucy laughed, wrapping a scarf around her neck like she was about to conquer Everest.

We set off, no real destination in mind. It felt surprisingly good to walk without crutches, to breathe in the sharp winter air, to move like I had control again. Like I wasn’t just waiting for my body to catch up with me.

Less than a block in, my phone rang again—Emily. I sighed and quickly muted it before either of them could notice.

“Who is it?” Mina asked, glancing over at me with a curious look in her eye.

“My mom,” I shrugged. “I’ll talk to her later.”

“You were living with her until last week, right?” Lucy asked, her voice full of that inquisitive, "I-want-to-know-all-about-you" tone that she never quite managed to hide.

“Yeah,” I said, glancing up at the sky, trying to gather my thoughts. “My parents split when I was a kid. Dad’s in Washington now, and Emily and I—well, we bounced around for a while.”

“That sounds exciting!” Mina said with wide eyes, like I’d been living some kind of glamorous life. “You must’ve traveled to so many cool places with skating.”

“Sort of,” I said, smiling a little. “I’ve traveled a lot, but mostly it’s arenas and hotel rooms. They all kind of blend together after a while.”

“Really? You don’t get to sightsee?” Lucy asked, surprised.

I shook my head, feeling a little embarrassed. “Not really.”

“That kinda sucks,” Lucy said bluntly, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yeah, a little. I mean, I’m lucky to have had the opportunities, but it’s not all glitter and lights. Mostly it’s just ice rinks and gym time.”

“Not much of a social scene, huh?” Mina asked, clearly intrigued now.

“Nope,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Just a lot of catty, ultra-competitive girls and their stage moms.”

“Ever seen anyone pull a Tanya?” Lucy asked, her voice suddenly teasing, the mischievous glint in her eyes impossible to miss.

“Harding? Nah, usually the sabotage is a little more subtle than a baton to the knee.” I giggled, feeling a little lighter. The past few months had been so heavy, and for a second, it felt like the weight was finally lifting.

“That’s not how you got hurt, is it?” Mina’s voice softened, the concern slipping into her tone as her eyes searched mine.

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I just... fell during practice. Stupid. My skate caught on a rough patch of ice, and down I went. Concussion and a torn ACL.”

“Ouch,” Lucy winced, looking at me like I’d just told her about some medieval torture device.

“Yeah, it wasn’t great,” I said, feeling the sting of it even now, even though it was months ago.

“There wasn’t much news about it, though,” Lucy added, brow furrowing in thought. “I didn’t even know you were off the ice.”

“Oh, come on, Lucy!” Mina teased, rolling her eyes. “Y/N’s a big celeb. It was bound to be news eventually.”

“No, it’s okay,” I reassured them, wanting to avoid feeling like I was in the spotlight. “My mom’s my manager, and she kept it quiet. She was hoping I’d bounce back quickly and didn’t want the press all over it. I’m sure once I don’t show up at Nationals, something will leak.”

“Is it weird?” Lucy asked, her curiosity obvious. “Having your mom as your manager?”

“I never really thought about it,” I said, shrugging. “It’s always been that way. When we moved away after the divorce, she was already handling all my schedules and practices. It just sort of... evolved from there.”

“Do you miss her?” Mina’s voice softened, no teasing, just a gentle curiosity.

I sighed, the question catching me off guard. “Honestly? It’s been nice having some space. She couldn’t stop talking about my knee, about how I needed to get back on the ice. It’s like she doesn’t know what to do with herself if I’m not skating.”

“That would get old fast,” Mina agreed with a sympathetic smile.

“Yeah, it really did,” I said, appreciating the distance from it all. For the first time in a long while, I could breathe without worrying if I was letting someone down.

The conversation shifted after that, and soon we were all laughing again as Mina told us about her latest wedding-planning disaster—because, of course, there’s always something.

Before I knew it, we were back at our building, heading up in the elevator.

“So, it’s Monday night,” Lucy said, her grin widening like she was about to make a really good point. “None of us have to work tomorrow, and the guys are busy. You know what that means?”

I shook my head, clueless, watching as she and Mina exchanged a look.

“Girls’ night!” Mina squealed, her excitement practically vibrating in the air.

“Girls’ night?” I echoed, frowning slightly, still trying to wrap my head around what that actually meant.

“Oh, you have no idea what you’ve been missing,” Lucy teased, flinging an arm around my shoulders like we’d been friends for years instead of days. “It’s sacred. We eat junk food, drink cocktails, and watch chick flicks until we pass out from a sugar coma.”

“And this is… fun?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be intrigued or terrified.

“Uh, yeah!” Lucy said, like I’d just asked if the sky was blue.

“I’m not really much of a drinker,” I admitted, feeling a little awkward all of a sudden.

“Lightweight or just don’t like it?” Lucy asked, her curiosity sharpening like she was about to dissect me.

“Neither, really. I just… never really had the chance. Training and alcohol don’t mix, and I was always in bed by nine.” I could feel the heat creeping up my neck, my embarrassment showing through the words.

Mina’s eyes went wide, like I’d just confessed to living under a rock. “Wait, you’ve never had a drink?”

“Not really,” I mumbled, suddenly feeling like I didn’t belong in this conversation at all.

“No moral objections or anything?” Mina asked, her voice teasing but still full of genuine curiosity.

“No, I just… never got around to it,” I said, trying to brush it off but already feeling the weight of my own weirdness.

Mina grinned, practically glowing with excitement. “Well, no bedtime tonight! You in?”

I hesitated. The idea of drinking for the first time made me nervous. But the way their enthusiasm was lighting up the room—well, it was kind of infectious. “Yeah, okay,” I said, even though I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

“Great! We’ll be right over with the provisions!” Mina practically dragged Lucy into their apartment, leaving their door wide open as they disappeared inside, their voices floating back out into the hallway.

"Mina, let’s get the movies! What’s the vibe?" Lucy’s voice called from inside, pulling me into their whirlwind without even asking.

I leaned against the doorframe, watching them with a grin. Lucy was already ransacking their kitchen, piling snacks and bottles into a laundry basket like she was gearing up for some epic battle. “What kind of movies do you like?” she asked, still rummaging around, not even looking up.

“I’m not picky,” I said, laughing at how absurdly fast she was moving.

“Perfect! Chick flicks it is!” she declared, holding up a bag of chips like she’d just discovered treasure.

“Wait, are we really watching all of those?” I asked as Mina emerged from the bedroom with a stack of DVDs taller than her head. It looked like enough to keep us glued to the screen for a week.

“No, but it’s good to have options,” Mina said with a wink, tossing the cases into the basket like she had it all figured out.

“Alright, give us a sec to change into some sweats, and we’ll be over,” Lucy said, already heading to her bedroom with her spoils.

“Sweats, Mina?” I teased, raising an eyebrow. “Do you even own any?”

“It’s girls’ night, Y/N. Concessions must be made,” she replied, pretending to be scandalized.

Back in my apartment, I changed into fleece pants and my old Team USA hoodie, pulling on a pair of fuzzy slipper socks. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for whatever this was, but I was definitely curious. The second I stepped into the living room, I was hit with the full blast of their “party zone” transformation. Mina was fiddling with the DVD player, while Lucy was already setting up the counter with snacks and drinks, making a delightful symphony of chaos in the kitchen.

A wicked grin spread across my face. Emily would flip if she saw this junk food carnival. Tonight was about firsts—first girls’ night, first chick flick binge, first cocktail, first indulgence in all the things I’d never let myself have. I was ready to enjoy it all.

“So, what’d you start us off with?” I asked, as Lucy tossed a bag of Doritos to Mina, who caught it in mid-air with a triumphant grin.

“Well, we’ve got to save our tearjerkers for later,” Mina said with a mischievous smile. “I thought we’d kick things off with How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Gotta get the laughs and the man candy going early, you know?”

“Mmm… McConaughey…” Lucy sighed dreamily, stretching out like a cat. “That man makes me miss Southern boys.”

“Hey, you could’ve snagged yourself a Texan. You and Jimin both went to Texas Tech,” Mina giggled, throwing a pillow at Lucy.

“Taehyung more than makes up for the lack of an accent,” Lucy shot back with a smirk.

“Uh, speaking of accents…” I chimed in, still trying to shake the sound of Dr. Jeon’s voice from earlier.

“Oh my God, Y/N!” Mina burst out laughing, catching on immediately. “I should’ve warned you about my dad. Isn’t his accent hilarious? I’m used to it, but even now, sometimes it catches me off guard.”

“That man is like sex on a stick at the State Fair,” Lucy added, already heading back to the kitchen for more drinks.

“Lucy!” I exclaimed, feeling my face heat up like a furnace.

“Just admit it, Y/N—Dr. Jeon is drool-worthy,” Lucy teased, her grin so mischievous it was practically glowing.

“Yeah, he’s good-looking,” I stammered, trying to maintain some semblance of composure. “But isn’t he, like, practically your future father-in-law?”

“Exactly,” Lucy said, holding up her drink like she’d just won a gold medal. “Gives me a glimpse into my future, and it’s looking damn good twenty-five years down the road.”

I blinked, trying to process the absurdity of the conversation. “I’m sure Mina doesn’t appreciate you associating her father with… well, that.”

“Stop being such a nun, Y/N. I know my dad’s a DILF,” Mina said, so casually I almost choked.

“A what?” I asked, horrified but somehow intrigued.

Mina and Lucy exchanged a knowing glance. “Oh, sweet summer child,” Lucy sighed dramatically. “DILF stands for ‘Dad I’d like to—’”

I choked on my chip before she could finish, coughing like I’d just swallowed a firecracker. My face was even hotter now.

“Didn’t need that visual, thanks,” I muttered, half-laughing, half-wincing.

Mina patted me on the back, giggling like she couldn’t contain herself. “Oh, Y/N, you’re just too much fun to corrupt.”

“You underestimate the power of the Dark Side,” Lucy added, her voice dropping into a low, Darth Vader impression, complete with heavy breathing.

“Mina, there is no place for Star Wars geekery at Girls’ Night,” Mina interjected with a mock-serious tone, like she was the gatekeeper of some sacred tradition.

“Mina, there’s always a place for Star Wars geekery,” Lucy shot back, turning to me for backup, her eyes wide with earnestness. “Right, Y/N?”

“Uh, sure?” I replied, suddenly feeling very much like I was in a conversation I hadn’t quite signed up for.

“You’ve seen it, right? Star Wars?” Lucy asked, her disbelief written all over her face.

“Actually… no,” I winced, bracing for the fallout.

Lucy gasped like I’d just told her I’d never seen the sun rise. “OH. MY. GOD!” she screamed, the force of her voice almost knocking me over. She dropped her drink onto the counter with a clang. “Are you kidding me? Mina, go get my special editions! We need to fix this now!”

“No way!” Mina shot back, hands on her hips like some kind of movie-critic superhero. “Girls’ Night equals chick flicks, not galactic battles.”

“Hey, The Empire Strikes Back is very romantic,” Lucy protested, her voice full of conviction.

“Yeah, until someone gets their hand sliced off with a lightsaber,” I countered, feeling a little bolder now.

“Whatever, you uncultured heathen,” Lucy rolled her eyes, throwing her hands up dramatically. “Soon, Y/N. I’ll fix this, I swear.”

Lucy handed each of us a glass as she emerged from the kitchen, and Mina reached for the remote. “We ready?” Mina asked, settling in next to me, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

“Yup, everything’s prepped,” Lucy said, raising her glass like she was about to make a grand speech. “Alright, ladies, a toast—to the first of many Girls’ Nights with our new BFF, Y/N.”

“And to getting Y/N tipsy enough to spill all her secrets,” Mina added, making me laugh mid-sip.

“Cheers!” we clinked glasses, and I took a cautious sip of what I thought was water but tasted like pure fire. The burn hit me so fast, I practically choked.

“That’s disgusting! How do you guys drink this stuff?” I gasped, pushing the glass away as my throat burned like it had just met lava.

“It’s an acquired taste,” Lucy said with a grin, clearly enjoying my suffering. “Next round, I promise something fruity.”

Mina snapped her fingers at Lucy. “Make the woman a Kami!”

“So demanding,” Lucy sighed, but a few moments later, she handed me a frothy, pink drink. “Try this. You’ll like it.”

I took a cautious sip, surprised to find it actually tasted good. The burn was still there, but it was wrapped in this sweet, tangy burst of raspberry. I took another sip, feeling warmth spread through me like I’d just been wrapped in a blanket of comfort.

“Good, right?” Lucy prompted, watching me carefully, her grin not quite hiding her excitement.

“Really good,” I nodded, a little more confidently this time, taking a bigger drink.

“Just pace yourself,” Mina warned, raising an eyebrow. “There’s more alcohol in those than it tastes.”

Hours flew by in a blur of movies, laughter, and progressively more ridiculous makeovers. By the time we finished Clueless, I was sprawled across the couch, my head resting in Lucy’s lap with Mina snuggled up against my legs. The room felt warm and familiar, and—surprisingly—comfortable. Like I belonged.

“The night’s still young! What’s next?” Lucy stretched, her voice muffled by the pillow she was hugging to her chest.

“Leo!” Mina shouted, her eyes practically sparkling. “The night isn’t over until we’ve seen Leo!”

Lucy popped in Titanic and grabbed another drink from the kitchen, moving just a little slower now, like the alcohol was finally starting to catch up. “Anyone else?”

“I shouldn’t—” I started.

“Nonsense!” Mina interrupted, poking me in the side with a wicked grin. “You’re still way too coherent for a proper Girls’ Night.”

Rolling my eyes, I accepted the glass she handed me. “Fine. But if I pass out, I’m blaming you.”

By the time Jack was sketching Rose, I’d stopped keeping track of the drinks, and the night had dissolved into fits of laughter and way-too-drunk confessions. At one point, Lucy and Mina reenacted the “I’m flying” scene, nearly knocking over the wine bottle in the process.

But as the movie stretched into the early hours, I found myself comfortable—maybe too comfortable, considering how much I’d indulged. As the credits rolled, Mina turned to me, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Okay, real talk, Y/N. Never?” Lucy asked, her voice serious but with that mischievous gleam in her eyes that I knew meant she was circling back to the topic she was clearly obsessed with.

“Nope,” I said, crossing my arms like some sort of rebellious fortress. I wasn’t budging.

“That’s just... so wrong,” Lucy groaned, her eyes practically rolling out of her head. “Your lady business must be staging a rebellion.”

“There are plenty of people who make it to twenty-four without sex,” I said, rolling my eyes like I was offering them the most obvious truth in the universe.

“Yeah, but you’re hot!” Mina chimed in, her hands waving around like she was making a dramatic point. “Guys should be lining up for you!”

“I’d jump you,” Mina added with a grin, her finger lazily plucking at the fuzz on my pants like it was the most normal thing in the world.

“Thanks, Mina,” I laughed, genuinely amused. “That’s true friendship right there.”

“You’re welcome,” she replied, her expression pure contentment, like she’d just solved world peace.

“I don’t know what to tell you guys,” I admitted, my thoughts briefly flickering to Jungkook. “I just never really had the opportunity.”

“There’s gotta be at least one hot male figure skater you could’ve, you know, jumped in the weight room,” Lucy teased, her tone teasing but somehow still playful.

“Lucy, some people actually use the gym for exercise,” I shot back, feeling like I was dodging a slow-motion car crash.

“Oh, believe me, Y/N, I use it for recreational purposes,” Lucy quipped, her grin devilish. “My idea of ‘recreation’ just doesn’t match yours.”

“Perv,” I muttered, laughing, trying to shield myself from her shenanigans.

"Proud to be one!" Lucy declared, her laughter echoing through the room like a contagious wave.

“We need to find you a guy,” Mina said suddenly, tapping her chin like she was a mastermind concocting a plan for world domination. “Lucy, who do we know?”

“No way!” I held up my hands defensively. “You are not setting me up with anyone.”

“But, Y/N!” Mina protested, as if this was a criminal injustice.

“I can find my own guy if I want to,” I insisted, my thoughts unwillingly drifting to Jungkook. I bit my lip, and it was like they could read me like a book.

“Oh, look at that face!” Mina practically lunged at me. “You met someone, didn’t you?”

“No!” I shot back a little too quickly, feeling the heat of embarrassment climb up my neck.

“You can’t fool us, honey,” Mina said, her voice full of mock disbelief. “That face has ‘crush’ written all over it!” She leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Who’s the guy? Is he hot? Is he here? Did you kiss him? Why didn’t you say something earlier?” Her questions were coming at me like a machine gun, and I was about to implode.

“There’s nothing to tell!” I mumbled, sinking deeper into the couch, wishing I could just disappear.

“Y/N!” Mina cried dramatically. “We’ve been with Chim and Tae for years! We need to live vicariously through your romantic escapades!”

“What romantic escapades?” I shot back, trying—and failing—to sound cool and detached.

Lucy raised an eyebrow, her look knowing and challenging. “You’re hiding something boy-related. Spill.”

“Fine!” I groaned, throwing my hands up in defeat. “I met a guy at the airport. We talked for a few minutes while he helped me with my bags. That’s it. Can we move on now?”

“No, we cannot move on!” Lucy said, her eyes practically popping out of her head. “Was he cute?”

“Yeah, I guess,” I shrugged, trying to sound indifferent, but the truth was, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

“You guess?” Mina echoed, her brow almost disappearing into her hairline.

“I wouldn’t really call him ‘cute,’” I muttered, my face burning as I tried to downplay it.

“Well, what would you call him then?” Mina’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Hot? Sexy? Drop-dead gorgeous? Fuckhawt?”

“Uh… all of the above?” I finally admitted, which sent them into a squealing frenzy that could’ve shattered glass.

“Did you kiss him? Did you give him your number? When are you seeing him again?” they fired off at me, like they were in some kind of interrogation scene in a rom-com.

“No, I didn’t kiss him, and I didn’t give him my number,” I confessed, biting my lip as I fought to suppress the butterflies. “But, yeah, he suggested we meet up again. That’s all.”

Mina looked at me, her expression downright disappointed. “Why didn’t you give him your number?”

“I don’t know, Mina!” I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “I have no clue what I’m doing when it comes to guys. He didn’t ask for my number, and I wasn’t about to throw it at him if he was just being polite.”

“I’m sure he wasn’t just being polite, Y/N,” Lucy said, her tone dripping with conviction, like she knew something I didn’t.

“Whatever,” I sighed, trying to steer the ship away from that topic. “He was gorgeous and sweet, and yes, he gave me butterflies, but I’ll probably never see him again, so can we please talk about something else?”

Mina leaned back with a dreamy sigh, her eyes practically glowing with unspoken wisdom. “Don’t worry, Y/N. Your butterflies are still out there. You just have to catch them.”

© chimcess, 2025. Do not copy or repost without permission.

Taglist: @smartkookiee @knightofmidnight @mar-lo-pap @jjeonjjk7 @somewhatjungkook @lovingkoalaface @jimineepaboya @iswearimover5feetall @blissingtaehyung @futuristicenemychaos @kooloveys @jenniebyrubies @8thmuse @beattiestreet @tatzzz-25

[rkivestation]

jump then fall (into you) | part 2

banner by the talented @jimilter​ 💖

pairing ↠ jungkook x reader

genre ↠ cruise AU, fake dating AU, best friends to lovers AU | fluff, angst, smut

word count ↠ 52k (pt 2. 14k)

18+ | warnings ↠ swearing, drinking, sexual content: foreplay, oral m. and f., protected sex etc.

summary ↠ bringing Jungkook along as your date to your ex’s lavish cruise wedding seemed like a perfect idea at first — all of your family and close friends together, nothing can go wrong… then Jungkook’s ex shows up and all of a sudden you’re in a years long relationship with him. You don’t mind though, really, how hard can sharing a cabin and pretending to be deeply in love with your best friend really be?

note. i hope you're enjoying! ☺️ don't forget to interact please + here's a few songs that inspired me and this story (more at the end too!): photograph — ed sheeran i think i fell in love today — kelsea bellerini where are you now — lost frequencies & calum scott 3:15 (breathe) — russ words — alesso & zara larsson jump then fall — taylor swift

part 2

🍉 note. while I have your attention, I would like to divert it to those in palestine as israel commits war crimes against them. Innocent men, women and children are being tortured, degraded, displaced and murdered endlessly — it is a genocide and we are all complicit if we do nothing.

as a minimum, please donate to legitimate organisations + boycott the big 3 — starbucks, disney and mcdonald’s — as well as others. feel free to message me for more information and/or donation links, thank you <3 🇵🇸

You know what he wants you to say, but as you feel his fingers around yo, all you can think of is how wrong they feel — they’re not as long as the ones you’re most familiar with, not as calloused on the palms  or soft from the back. Every moment with Jungkook from the past few weeks buzzes through your mind and it all starts to make sense – you’ve always known Jungkook makes you happy but you never thought about why…

Looking up at Lawrence, you nod slowly. “Yes,” you say, softening the words in the hopes it softens the blow.

It’s a quiet confession, not only because you’re pretending to date Jungkook, but because now you’re no longer sure if your heart is open to anyone else besides him.

Lawrence smiles, releasing a small breath he’d been holding. “I had to ask,” he chuckles.

You’re sure his cheeks are turning pink but with the dim lighting, you can’t be sure. 

Lips pursing, you nod.

There’s another moment of hesitation from him, then he kisses your cheek once before stepping back. 

“I’m glad I asked though, I’d probably regret it forever if I didn’t,” he adds, eyes gleaming as they look over your face. 

You manage to smile despite feeling bad and a little awkward now — it’s not every day someone confesses to your face like this. “It’s okay, I get it.” 

Just while your mind races to find an excuse to leave now, Lawrence’s gaze shifts to behind your shoulder and his eyes suddenly widen, face going somewhat pale. You turn around, eyes following his line of sight and when you see who’s standing there, you’re sure your expression mirrors Lawrence’s. 

Jungkook and Alias stand more than a few feet away by the staircase towards the upper decks, but it’s not hard to see their expressions from here. 

Alias purses his lips and looks at Jungkook before he shifts his weight awkwardly. But it’s Jungkook you’re focused on. His expression is blank and he just stares at Lawrence and you.

How long has he been standing there? Why isn’t he doing anything? And why do you only now realise how close you and Lawrence are still standing while holding hands too? 

You let go, stepping back abruptly too but you know it doesn’t make a difference. 

Jungkook's lips curl into a curt yet polite smile before he turns and disappears around the corner. 

What the hell is happening? 

Jungkook and you aren’t even dating for real for this to be a problem so why on earth does it feel like you’ve actually done something so wrong?

The guilty feeling in your chest grows as you stand still, still looking upon where he was.

“I’m so sorry,” Lawrence apologises immediately. “I can go talk to him, it was all my fault.”

“No it’s fine,” you shake your head, managing a smile. “I should talk to him, don’t worry.” 

He nods and you walk away before he can say anything else.

“Walk with me?” you say as you approach Alias. 

He nods, falling into stride beside you. “What was that about?” he asks, nodding back in the direction of Lawrence.

“Um, he told me he likes me, or at least did,” you wince. 

“Ah, that explains it.”

You shoot him a look. “That explains what?”

Alias hesitates. “Well, he looked like he was about to kiss you.”

Oh gosh. “But he wasn’t!” you exclaim in a hushed whisper. “I wouldn’t do that!” 

“I know!” Alias exclaims too, “But it still didn’t look good. I’m assuming that’s why Jungkook just left.”

“You think he’s upset by it?”

“Well what else could it be?”

Sighing, you slow down. 

Alias looks at you confused. “What’s wrong?”

“What am I doing?” you ask rhetorically, thinking out loud.

Raising his brows, Alias points down the corridor. “Finding your boyfriend to explain what’s happening?” he says almost sarcastically. 

“But that’s just it, he’s not actually my boyfriend so why did he walk off? And why do I feel bad about it?” You feel like you sound a bit helpless but at this moment you don’t actually care, at least not with Alias. 

It’s confusing — first you find yourself having all these weird moments with Jungkook, then Lawrence tells you he likes you only for you to realise that maybe you actually do like Jungkook, and now Jungkook walking off like this…

Could he actually be upset by this?

Alias’s expression softens and he places his hands on your shoulders, squeezing gently. “I think you know why.”

You frown, lips pouting. “What are you trying to say?”

He chuckles, pulling you in for a hug. “I’m not saying anything. You’re figuring this out on your own.” He pulls back and takes your arm in his as he walks slowly down the corridor again. “Now, what are you going to say to Jungkook?”

His question is met with silence, but he doesn’t push any further as you take the time to think. 

You’re well aware of what Alias is trying to say to you but there’s a part of you that doesn’t want to acknowledge it — more like you don’t know how to acknowledge it. 

Maybe you do like him? Or maybe you’re just confused? It could definitely just be lust, or even just loneliness as it has been a long time since you’ve last been with anyone. Or maybe all the pretending has gotten to your head? — that’s definitely a plausible reason for the way you’re feeling. 

Although, it really doesn’t feel like it. There’s a reason pretending to date Jungkook comes so easily to you. Being with him is natural to you because you’ve always felt like you belong together; now you realise you’ve been feeling that romantically not just platonically. Having been so close to him for so many years has created a safety blanket around you, one that you can’t imagine living without and most definitely can’t ever replace. Even the thought of coming on this trip without him felt so wrong. There must be a reason why it doesn’t feel surprising to you that at some point, your feelings crossed the line from friends to something more.

“I don’t know,” you groan quietly. “This is so weird, what does someone say in this situation?”

Alias actually takes a moment to consider this. “Actually,” he starts, pulling on your arm to stop walking. “You need to be sure of how you feel before you say anything.”

He’s right.

“Take some time,” Alias says. “Maybe just address what happened with Lawrence for now?”

You nod. “Okay, I’ll just tell him what happened.”

“Yeah, do that,” Alias nods too. He looks down the corridor but makes no move to walk any further with you. 

Your cabin is only a few doors away so you hug him goodbye, and after he wishes you good luck, you make your way towards it.

Clearing your mind, you focus on the simple goal for now. Just let Jungkook know that there’s nothing between Lawrence and you — what he saw isn’t what it looked like. 

Tapping into your room, you feel your heart race a little faster as your nerves rise. Jungkook isn’t anywhere in the cabin but you can hear water running in the bathroom. 

Taking a deep breath, you mentally scold yourself to get it together. Some of your clothes from earlier in the day are still scattered on the bed so you decide to at least clear these away while you wait. 

It isn’t long until you hear the lock clicking and Jungkook walks out of the bathroom. 

You look up to see him patting his face dry with a towel. He’s already dressed for bed and you note that he’s wearing a top this time. 

When he sees you, his face shows no surprise or even much emotion at all. He simply nods and averts his gaze almost immediately. “Hey,” he says, tossing the towel into the laundry basket. 

“Hey,” you respond quietly while keeping your eyes on him. 

He walks over to the bed and starts picking up some of his own mess. If the situation were any different, you wouldn’t really think anything was wrong by the way Jungkook is acting. But you know Jungkook. 

For starters, he never folds his clothes neatly before putting them away. He usually just roughly puts them together and hides them away somewhere, yet here he is, laying out a shirt and folding the sleeves with much focus.

“Um, Jungkook…?”

He looks up immediately. “Yeah?” There’s no irritation or anger or anything else in his expression. Just the usual concern you’re used to seeing on his face whenever you call him. 

“Are you okay?” you ask, feeling stupid as soon as you ask it. 

“Yeah, of course,” he answers, shrugging as he resumes folding his clothes. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” 

“Good.”

Turning away to put your clothes in the drawer, you frown to yourself. You know he knows why you’re asking — him walking off like that wasn’t normal and now him acting like nothing’s happened…

“So,” he says, clearing his throat. “You and Lawrence…”

There it is. You turn to face him again. He’s still looking down as he folds his clothes but you don’t need to see his face to know he’s not looking forward to the answer. 

“You like each other?” His voice is steady but you can hear the quiet reservations that come with it. 

“No,” you answer immediately. 

He pauses for a second and you expect him to say something, but he doesn’t. He only nods and carries on putting his clothes away. 

You tell him everything. “We bumped into each other during the game because I was kind of confused about where to go after me and you split up. We just started talking and it came up that I used to have a crush on him way back in high school, and as we spoke…” you watch Jungkook carefully, still unable to see his face as he stays looking down, “… he just ended up telling me how he used to have a crush on me when we were growing up and it apparently never really went away.” 

It’s now that Jungkook finally looks up. He has a small smile on his face — not a smirk, not anything to show you it’s anything other than a genuine smile despite it not being his usual smile that meets his eyes.

“So Lawrence likes you then.” He says it more surely, as though he’s just reaffirming a fact rather than asking a question. 

You hesitate. “Well, yes, he does but he knows I don’t like him.”

As his smile fades a little, Jungkook raises a brow. “Are you sure?”

“Positive,” you say, feeling something heavy begin to weigh down your chest. 

Jungkook considers this. His gaze is steady as he looks at you from across the room, looking for any clue that might suggest otherwise to him. 

The longer he stares, the more you feel the weight on your chest. You don’t like this — you don’t like that Jungkook could even think for a minute that you like anyone else. Since high school, you haven’t had any real feelings for anyone and as Lawrence made you realise, it’s all because of Jungkook.

“Jungkook?” your voice comes out coarse and quiet. 

He looks away, jaw shifting as he now chooses to roughly fold his clothes together. Then — 

“I think we should stop the whole dating thing, it was my fault so I’ll tell whoever I need to tomorrow.” He says it clearly and decisively. “I don’t wanna hold you back, you should give Lawrence a chance.”

With a scoff, your brows knit together and you frown at him. “I just told you, I don’t like him.” 

“He was your high school crush for years, you’ve always wanted this.”

He says it so nonchalantly now and it makes you angry because you know just moments ago he was upset because of this. Sure, he didn’t say anything, but Jungkook is your best friend and you know him more than anyone else. 

“Well not anymore!” you blurt. “Why don’t you believe me?”

Jungkook looks at you and immediately you can recognise the small signs of him feeling hurt but he does well to disguise it as best as he can. “I saw how you looked at him that night, Y/N. It was pretty clear how smitten you were, anyone could see it.”

Immediately, you’re confused. “What are you talking about?” 

“Cartagena,” he responds, almost despondent. “You came out of the venue together and it was clear from your face that you were over the moon to have him there.”

Now you remember… and devastatingly enough, you realise Jungkook isn’t wrong. You remember how you felt when you initially bumped into him — it was a childish kind of excitement when seeing your crush but that’s all it was. Seeing him just brought back memories and that small part of you came out because it had been so long but since then you know there’s been nothing. 

Jungkook, however, wouldn’t know that. You realise that you must’ve looked how he’s describing and gosh, you can’t even imagine how you’d feel if the roles were reversed. 

Before you can ever try to find the words to explain how you feel, a knock sounds at the door. 

Jungkook is the one who answers it since you’re still too caught up in your thoughts. 

You even remember how you’d stupidly been flirting with him right in front of Jungkook, you pretty much called him ‘tall, handsome and mysterious’ when you were supposed to be “dating” Jungkook– 

“Lawrence.”

You turn immediately at the sound of Jungkook’s voice. Sure enough, Lawrence is standing there in the doorway looking exactly as he was when you left him. 

“Uh, hey,” he says, nodding awkwardly as he glances between Jungkook and you. 

You just stare at him blankly. This really doesn’t help you right now. 

“Hey,” Jungkook says with a smile, resorting to his usual politeness. “What’s up?”

Lawrence hesitates, still glancing between you both. “Sorry, I was thinking about whether or not I should come but I figured the sooner the better… uh…” he looks down, clearly feeling bad. “I just had to apologise, I told Y/N about how I felt and that was inappropriate and stupid of me when she’s with y—“

“We’re not together.”

Lawrence looks up and at the same time, your eyes snap to Jungkook. 

If you thought him saying that was harsh, the blank way in which he says it hurts even more. 

“We never were,” Jungkook says. “Y/N just agreed to help me out by pretending to be my girlfriend because my ex is on this trip.” 

Lawrence’s face changes from confusion to surprise to realisation within a few seconds. But you’re not looking at him. 

Your focus is solely on Jungkook. You can’t clearly describe what emotions you’re feeling. There’s a bit of everything — it hurts, that’s for sure, but you’re also angry at him for so rashly telling Lawrence and you can’t help but feel betrayed. 

Pretending to date Jungkook has been nothing but easy for you and these past few days have taught you it’s because there’s probably a huge part of you that wants this. For Jungkook to just end it so suddenly makes you feel like he doesn’t want you the same way you want him. 

You wonder if it’s naive to think he wants you back, but you do. Alex has told you countless times, heck all the Cirillo siblings have made a remark or something about Jungkook and you at least once every time you’ve met. Even Lawrence has seen it apparently. Though, none of this necessarily means it’s true. 

With the silence in the room, Jungkook looks at you. He holds little emotion in his face but the way his lips are pursed tightly tells you he’s holding back something. 

“Uh,” Lawrence glances between you both, “I’m gonna go. Sorry again for everything,” he adds in a mutter. He closes the door as he leaves and you’re left alone with Jungkook. 

“Why would you do that?” you ask as soon as the door clicks. 

“Because he likes you. I’m not gonna stand in the way of that.”

Your expression falters. Fuck, it’s been a long time since you last wanted to cry but you’ll be damned if you let him see you. Steeling yourself, your jaw clenches.

Despite your best efforts, of course, Jungkook still notices. His own steely expression softens and he almost says something but then stops. For a second, you think he might apologise and even tell you something you want to hear. But he doesn’t. 

“What am I supposed to do?” Jungkook asks softly.

There’s a hundred other things he could do but he chose this — even after you’ve told him how you feel about Lawrence. 

“Fine,” you flare. “Tell everyone.” Without another glance at him, you walk past him to the bathroom and slam the door shut. 

It’s only after a quick shower and some much needed TLC, that you come out of the bathroom. 

Truthfully, you didn’t expect Jungkook to still be in the cabin, but it doesn’t make the feeling in your chest go away when you see he’s not there. 

There’s so many questions going round and round in your head that it hurts. You trudge across the room, slipping into the bed and finding solace with the comfort of your silk sheets that still smell of Jungkook. 

Everything Alex said to you at the start of this trip keeps replaying in your mind — you want it to be true, and sure most of the time it feels true too. But with the way this past hour has gone, you can’t help but doubt it. 

If Jungkook really liked you, he wouldn’t have told Lawrence the truth, would he? It doesn’t make sense, why would he? He should’ve wanted to have kept it up the same way you do. Pretending to date Jungkook is as close as you’re getting to the real thing and that’s something that you’re sure that you want. 

Now though, you don’t even have that. 

It’s not exactly something you can blame Jungkook for. There was no reason for him to keep it up, especially if you haven’t told him why you want to. 

Maybe you should tell him now though?

No. That’s too scary. Sure, you want him to know, but the idea of him not feeling the same way is way worse than anything else. Plus, what if he starts to feel uncomfortable around you, you wouldn’t be able to live with yourself if he felt that way. 

Releasing a heavy sigh, you sink further into the bed and close your eyes. 

You shouldn’t say or do anything else until things go back to normal. That’s the best thing to do. 

With your mind made up, you try to fall asleep but it proves to be more difficult than normal. With every minute that passes, you wonder where Jungkook is and what he’s doing. It’s only been 15 minutes but you’re already deciding whether or not you should message him. 

It’s always been like this with Jungkook — your arguments never usually last longer than a day and most times you settle them straight away. 

This feels different. 

The sound of the door clicking open simultaneously relaxes you and raises your heart rate. 

As Jungkook makes his way across the room, your heart decides to do all kinds of acrobatics. Inwardly, you curse at yourself for not realising your feelings sooner. 

You can hear the sound of his shirt being pulled off as he changes into his pyjamas. A moment later, he’s carefully moving the covers back on his side of the bed as he gets in slowly so as not to wake you. 

Moments pass in silence and you wonder if he’s fallen asleep, but then…

“Y/N?” His voice is barely above a whisper and just like that, your heart jumps again. 

Instead of responding, you turn around to lie on your back. As you lower your hands to your side, you accidentally brush his hand. Reflexively, you move your hand to rest on your stomach instead. 

Noticing this, Jungkook turns to look at you. You’re sure he can’t see you very well in the dark but with the white of the ship’s exterior safety lights coming in from the gaps in the shutters, it’s still easy to see fairly well. 

For a brief moment, he doesn’t say anything and you don’t turn to look at him. Then, he looks back up at the ceiling too. 

“I’m sorry,” he says, sounding deflated.

It hurts you to know he’s feeling bad about something that isn’t even his fault. If it wasn’t for the way you’re feeling, you wouldn’t care about him telling Lawrence and you wouldn’t have argued with him for him to be apologising now.

“It’s okay,” you respond quietly, finding it too hard to find the words to say anything else.

“No, it’s not,” Jungkook sighs. “I shouldn’t have done that without asking you, especially since I made you do it in the first place. This whole thing was stupid, I shouldn’t have let it happen.”

“You didn’t make me do anything,” you mumble as his last words play over in your head – this whole thing was stupid. “It was Alex.” Does he really think it was stupid? It never felt stupid to you, it just felt right. 

“Yeah, but it’s because of me it happened and I could've stopped it.”

“I didn’t mind…” 

You feel lame saying it because the real reason you didn’t mind is because it was the closest you’d get to dating Jungkook, but you say it because you don’t want him to feel bad about any of it.

“I know,” he says softly in understanding. “I think it’s just best to tell everyone it wasn’t real.”

You haven’t experienced anything like this before – there’s a heavy feeling in your chest trying to fight its way out. It’s causing the lump in your throat and you can’t tell if you want to cry or just tell him the truth right here, right now. 

But you don’t. “Okay,” is all you say.

He must hear something in your voice – he’s attuned to every frequency of yours and the emotion that comes with it, just as you are with him. You know how sad you sounded just then and undoubtedly he’s picked up on it.

He looks at you, trying to analyse your features in the dark. Then, his hand moves and you feel his palm closing around yours, pulling your hand between your bodies to rest on the bed with your fingers intertwined. “Again, I’m sorry.”

You’re looking at him too now. Have his hands always felt this warm? Have they always fit into your own so perfectly? 

“I know, it’s okay,” you answer, still fighting that feeling in your chest.

His brows knit together. “You promise?”

“I promise.”

Gently, he squeezes your hand and his features relax.

That feeling in your throat pushes harder and you realise you want to tell him. Maybe it’s because it’s dark right now it seems easier to let the truth out, almost as though it’ll stay a secret in the dark. 

“Also,” he says, voice suddenly softer, “for what it’s worth, I think Lawrence is an amazing guy.”

All other thoughts come to a halt in your mind and you swallow hard. “Why are you saying that?” 

Jungkook looks back up at the ceiling and when he talks, it’s a little quieter than before. “Just, I know how you used to feel about him and if he feels this way about you now, well, it could be good for you,” he adds with a shrug. 

You’re unable to mask the frustration in your voice.  “I already told you,” you say, “I’m not  interested in him.”

Jungkook looks at you again with his brows furrowed in concern. “I know…” he hesitates with a sigh, “I just…” 

“Forget it,” you mutter, pulling your hand free from his. “I’m going to sleep.” 

Jungkook says nothing as you roll over with your back to him, and you say nothing else either. 

The feeling in your chest has subsided but it’s been replaced with another feeling, more like an ache which you’re determined to sleep away. 

It feels almost impossible as your thoughts stream endlessly through your mind, each and every one about Jungkook and the words that you’ve left unsaid. But somehow, at some point, the thoughts slip away as the weariness of the day takes over and you finally fall asleep. 

It’s hot. 

Jungkook pushes you hard against the wall, his thigh parting your legs as he grabs your waist tight. His breaths are heavy as his nose skims your neck, teasing you before he settles in the sweet spot behind your ear. 

You’re just about managing to hold yourself up though if it weren’t for his grip on you, you’re sure your knees would give way. 

There’s barely any material separating you from his thigh and you’re desperate for some friction down there. With your arms around his neck, you rock yourself against him to find some much needed relief. 

You’re moaning and Jungkook chuckles, a sweet deep sound that makes you want more, and he gives it to you as his hand slips between your legs.

Gosh it’s hot.

It is hot. 

That’s the first thing that your barely conscious mind picks up on. 

It’s the middle of summer–you don’t know why you can feel the weight of the blanket on you. You dimly remember getting under it when you got into bed but normally you always stick a leg out or something before going to sleep. 

You try to move your leg now to push it past the covers and out into the cool air, but it doesn’t budge. 

Something is in the way. 

Still half asleep, you try again as you think it’s just the covers tucked under your leg — only now you realise that’s not the cover, it’s another leg and it’s not yours…

You didn’t realise something was missing when you were falling asleep a few hours ago. Why would you? You were completely preoccupied with other things to have remembered it. 

It’s now that you come to your senses and realise what’s happened — you forgot the pillow. 

You forgot the pillow as a physical boundary between Jungkook and you, and now the exact thing you wanted to avoid is happening. 

Jungkook’s warmth surrounds you from everywhere. His breath is gentle and quiet by your neck, his chest close to your back and his legs are somehow tangled with yours. His arm is draped over your frame, hand resting comfortably by your stomach. 

What’s most obvious to you though, is your ass tucked comfortably against him, no doubt right against his crotch. 

Fuck. This is simultaneously a dream and a nightmare. It feels so good to be this close but you know it’s so wrong, especially after the actual dream you just had which given your situation now, explains why you’re still feeling so needy down south. 

You try to shift slightly again but it doesn’t work — Jungkook sighs softly in his sleep, leg moving to rest on top of yours. 

Great. Now you’re actually stuck like this. 

Eyes closing, you try to think of what to do but as you run it through your mind, you come to the conclusion to stay exactly as you are. 

How bad can it be? With the sun shining through the cracks in the blind, you can tell it’s probably 10 am so all you have to do is pretend to fall asleep again, Jungkook will wake up very soon, he’ll realise and then he’ll just move away. Then it’ll be as though nothing ever happened. 

Besides, it really does feel so good to have him holding you like this. Sure, Jungkook hugs you a lot and in general is pretty affectionate with you but this. Having him softly breathing down your neck as he sleeps comfortably with you in his arms — it’s a feeling that satisfies something you never knew you needed. 

The only problem is it’s more than a little difficult to fall asleep when you can feel the hard outline of his little friend down there. Fuck, life is really testing you right now and it really doesn’t help that your pyjama bottoms are silk so you can feel a lot more of him than expected. 

Groaning internally, you try to scoot away once more but it doesn’t work. Not only that, you actually didn’t just groan internally but out loud. You almost clap your hand over your mouth when you feel Jungkook shift behind you once before going still again. 

Except this time, you can’t feel his warm breath on you for a second… then it comes back, but this time it’s different. You’ve spent enough of your lifetime with Jungkook to know that he breathes heavily when he sleeps and right now, he’s no longer asleep. 

You’re not quite sure what comes over you, maybe it’s the heat getting to your head, or maybe you’re emboldened by the fact that Jungkook is awake and he hasn’t moved away from you… ever so slightly, you push your hips back against Jungkook’s crotch. 

A sharp intake of breath from behind you confirms exactly what you wanted to know. 

You do it again and this time, Jungkook reciprocates in kind. You can feel him even better now and the hard outline of his dick pushing against you makes you let out the softest whine, barely audible but with Jungkook so close to you, there’s no doubt he heard you. 

Fuck. You feel almost dizzy and you’re certain that you’re not thinking clearly right now – this is Jungkook, your best friend… you try to remind yourself of that as you wait for him to do something more, but the only thing that repeats in your head is this is Jungkook. Jungkook, the man you love and adore so much and right now you can only think enough to know that whatever is happening right now, you want it. 

With bated breath, you wait for what feels like an eternity but is probably only a few seconds, then Jungkook’s hand slides from across your stomach to hold your hip.

“Y/N?” 

His sleepy voice so close sends a swirl of excitement through you. 

“Yes?” you answer in a breathy murmur.

“I…,” he whispers, barely audible. His hand slides up your side, stopping below your breast. 

You can tell he’s hesitating to move further so without hesitation, you roll your hips against him which elicits small moans of pleasure from both of you and in response, Jungkook’s hand begins to move again and you’re anticipating the feeling of his strong hands grabbing on to you where you want them so bad–

Knock knock knock knock knock. “Sleepy heads, what time do you call this?!”

– Only to be interrupted by the one and only Alias. 

Immediately, Jungkook withdraws and moves faster than you can even process. He’s out of bed and throwing on the closest hoodie just as you turn around, still catching on from whatever the hell just happened. Despite the dark lighting in the room, you can tell he’s flustered from the look on his face but goddamn he looks so cute with his messed hair and you could not be more annoyed about being interrupted right now. 

He pauses, turning towards you and just as your eyes meet, there’s the loud knocking again followed by Alias yelling whatever it is he’s saying. 

You’re more focused on how Jungkook is looking at you to comprehend anything else. In this split second, he looks like he has a thousand things to say but not a single thing comes out of his mouth except…

“I’m sorry.” He says it so fast that in the seconds it takes you to realise what he just said, he’s already at the door letting Alias in. 

“You’re not even dressed,” Alias says the second the door opens and he sees Jungkook. “And you’re not even up,” he says as he sees you. Shaking his head, he walks over to the blinds, completely unaware of the tension that is still heavy in the room between Jungkook and you. 

You glance at Jungkook again to see him looking at the floor but it’s as though he can sense your eyes on him because he looks up and your eyes meet for the second time. You’re sure your expression must mirror his – flustered, somewhat guilty, but mostly just confused. 

You know why you’re confused – in the last few days you’ve come to the realisation that your feelings for your best friend are more than just platonic and this happening makes you wonder what the hell Jungkook is thinking… is he feeling the same way as you? God, you can only hope… Or is he repulsed by what he’s just done and is completely regretting it now?

“Honestly, Y/N, I’m actually surprised that I’m up before you,” Alias continues as he rolls up the blinds. “You’re usually the responsible one. And Jungkook, you know we were supposed to meet at nine, it’s almost 11 now and we’ll be arriving tomorrow morning and we were supposed to meet with Alex this morning to go through the plans for the weekend, did you forget—?“ Alias pauses mid sentence, turning to look at you with a frown. 

For a second, you think he’s caught on to everything, but thankfully, it’s not that. 

“Why do I sound like my parents?” He shudders, looking at Jungkook too. “I must be getting old.”

Both Jungkook and you laugh, albeit awkwardly. This, however, doesn’t go unnoticed by Alias. His frown changes to something more curious as he looks between you. 

You expect him to say something about it but he doesn’t. 

“Well, Jungkook, he’s still waiting to speak with you, he’s already briefed the other guys.”

“Right,” Jungkook nods, now avoiding your gaze as he grabs his clothes. “I’ll just get ready, I won’t be long.”

“Cool,” Alias says, taking a seat in the armchair by the window. “I’ll wait for you then.”

As soon as Jungkook has disappeared into the bathroom, Alias turns to you. “Did you tell him?” he asks immediately.

Still slightly befuddled, you frown. “Huh?”

“Last night, you said you weren’t gonna say anything about how you feel but why are you both acting so different?”

“Oh.” All of last night comes back to you in an instant. Lawrence confessing, your conversation with Alias and everything else that happened with Jungkook after. “No, I didn’t,” you pause, brows knitting even further together before you look at Alias. “But I think he might know anyway.”

Alias’s brows shoot upwards. “What makes you think that?”

Because he was just feeling me up in bed and if you hadn’t walked in it seemed like it would have gone further. Well, you absolutely can’t say that. 

“I don’t know.” 

Frowning, Alias moves to sit at the end of the bed. “Are you okay?” He reaches forward and puts a hand on your knee.

“Yeah,” you nood, smiling as you take his hand to reassure him. You’re sure you must look like a bit of a mess, not only have you just gotten up but your mind and pulse is racing from what just happened with Jungkook – whatever it was. “Could you just give us a minute though?” 

“Sure,” Alias answers, getting up right away. “Just text me if you need anything,” he says. “I’ll be waiting on the deck for you guys.” He stops by the door, turning around. “But Alex is still waiting for Jungkook too.”

“We won’t be long,” you reassure him with a smile.

He nods once more before leaving the room. 

You’re left with only the noise of your thoughts and the shower running in the bathroom. You can feel your pulse racing as you push the covers back and get out of bed. It still feels so hot in here so you find the AC controller and blast the cool air to help calm yourself down as you try to process what just happened.

What did just happen? Were you and Jungkook really about to do something? Just thinking of it sends butterflies swirling down south but they’re quickly sent off track when you ask yourself what on earth it means?

You know why you were okay with it all happening… if you didn’t have feelings for him, you would never have let it happen, but you do, so you didn’t stop it. Is it the same for Jungkook? The idea of Jungkook liking you is far from foreign – Alex has always been trying to tell you but you just never believed it… this, however, has you in two minds. 

Or, there’s also the other more plausible reason. Jungkook woke up and realised his hard dick was enjoying the fact that there was another warm female body in such close vicinity to him so naturally, he made his move and you didn’t object so he went along with it. You’ve had your own small share of experiences with friends who you ended up doing more with without any feelings involved and so has Jungkook, maybe he just thought that’s what this was…  God, even just the thought of that hurts. 

The bathroom door clicks open and your head snaps up.

Jungkook walks out still scruffing his hair dry with a towel. He’s dressed casually for the day but he still looks as good as ever to you. He pauses after a few steps when he sees Alias has gone and slowly, he lowers the towel and looks at you. 

You feel small because you’re so unsure of where you stand with him right now. Pressing your palms with your fingers, you try to relax and think clearly but it’s hard when your heart is pounding in your chest and wants nothing more than for him to confess he has the same feelings as you do.

Still, as you look at Jungkook, it seems like he feels small too. His fingers are squeezing the towel as he switches it between his hands and he hesitates, starting to say something before he stops. 

You so badly want to say something, anything, but you have no idea what. How do you start? Can we talk about what just happened? Did you like it? Do you like me? Because I like you, a lot. Gosh, if only it was that damn easy. 

“Um,” Jungkook starts but looks away from you. “I’m sorry about what happened…” He loosely points to the bed.

Startled, you just stand there for a moment. He’s sorry?… “You’re sorry?” you repeat.

“Yeah, I, uh, I don’t know what I was thinking.” 

“So, you weren’t thinking about what you were doing…?” you echo, starting to feel like a stupid parrot. He regrets it, of course he does.

Jungkook blinks, somewhat confused but you don’t blame him. You’re asking for clarification for selfish reasons – you need to know if he thinks what just happened was a mistake because it was far from a mistake for you. 

“No…” Jungkook hesitates, his face rounding as he looks at you. You’re sure he can tell you’re upset by what he’s saying. “Were you?” he asks.

“No.” It’s not a lie – you really weren’t thinking about what was happening, just that you enjoyed it. 

As soon as you say it, you’re sure you see Jungkook deflate. Did he want me to say yes? No, that doesn’t make sense, he said no first. 

“Right, yeah.” He clears his throat as he fiddles with the towel again. “I’m sorry it happened, I wouldn’t ever want to make you feel uncomfortable.” He says it with such sincerity that your chest tightens.

“I didn’t feel uncomfortable.” The words come out before you can even stop them but you want him to know that, you’d hate for him to feel bad about something like this when it’s far from his fault that you let it happen just because you like him and wanted it to be something more.

Jungkook’s expression is the same as before, eyes rounding and there’s that barely-there pout to his lips as he asks, “You didn’t?” 

“No, I didn’t.” Shit, what are you saying, Y/N? You can hear the blood rushing through your ears and you start to feel sick. “But… it wasn’t supposed to happen?” You mean for it to come out as a question but you have no clue if it did.

“I, no,” Jungkook clears his throat again and he nods. “It was just a mistake then, it won’t happen again.” Now he looks away from you completely as he goes and puts the towel into the laundry basket.

Suddenly, you feel yourself on the verge of breaking. How can he be so composed right now when you feel like you simultaneously want to shout at him to tell him how much he means to you, and cry endlessly because–does he really not feel anything for you?

“Alias is waiting for you upstairs,” you say, walking past him to go into the bathroom. “I’ll meet you later.”

You leave no time for him to respond but just before you close the door, you catch a glimpse of his confused doe eyes and just like that, your heart sinks again.

“Could it really be?” your dad pretends to rub his eyes, blinking a few times as his face morphs into a grin. “Our daughter is here to grace us with her presence, I don’t believe it.”

Your mom laughs, gently patting your hand as you sit down between them. 

“Ha-ha, very funny dad,” you deadpan, throwing him a grumpy look.

“I’m only kidding, honey. I’m just glad you’ve decided to join us for lunch.”

“Of course,” you shrug. “I’ll even make your plates, what do you want?”

Your dad throws your mom a look. “Our princess is spoiling us today.”

Rolling your eyes playfully, you head over to the buffet table to prepare two plates for your parents with everything you know they like. Just as you turn back to return to your table, you catch Jungkook watching you from across the balcony.

He’s on a table with Alex, Sophia and a few others. Meeting your gaze, he gives a small smile before looking away. Gosh you never knew a smile could hurt so much. 

Ignoring the pang in your chest, you return to your parents and slump into the seat.

“Where’s yours?” your dad asks, already reaching for a sandwich. 

“I’m not that hungry,” you mumble, taking a strawberry and biting into it. 

Not so slyly, your parents exchange glances. They choose to say nothing for the moment, making small talk as they enjoy their lunch. 

Once your dad is on his second cup of coffee, your mum takes your hand and squeezes gently. Looking up, you take comfort in the smile you see on her face. You know that both your parents are aware that there’s something on your mind – it’s why you’ve chosen to sit silently in their company while they have their own light hearted conversation. You also know that their advice is usually unparalleled to anyone else’s and right now, you could really do with some of their wise words.

“Is there anything you want to eat, honey?” your mom asks.

“The fruit is fine,” you answer quietly.

In response, your dad piles all the fruit into the plate in front of you while your mother gently continues probing.

“You’ve lost your appetite then… that usually happens for a reason, hm?”

You don’t say anything and she continues. 

“Would it have anything to do with Jungkook?”

The rounded eyes you give your mom must give it away immediately as she lets out a small sigh.

“How could you tell?” you ask. 

“He came down ten minutes before you,” your dad answers, “he normally always waits for you. Not to mention the funny look you gave each other just a little while ago.”

Sighing, you slump further into your seat. “We got into an argument last night,” you admit, feeling like a five year old again. 

It seems so stupid to say out loud, especially because you don’t think you can bring yourself to reveal the real reason the argument feels as bad as it does – the reason being your feelings for him – but you don’t really care about feeling like a kid when it’s your parents. They’re the only people you can be this vulnerable with and at times like this, you want their comfort and company the most. You would love to tell them the whole story but there’s no way you’re telling them what just happened this morning so you go with everything else.

“It wouldn’t be the first,” your mom says, still holding your hand as she takes it into her lap.

“No, but this felt different…”

Your mom hums, gently playing with the bracelet on your wrist. Neither she nor your dad say anything, waiting for you to continue on your own.

Closing your eyes, you let out part of the truth. “Lawrence told me he likes me.”

Your mom’s fingers pause briefly before she continues twisting the charms between her fingers. Looking up, you catch your parents exchanging glances, most definitely surprised but they’re subtle about it. 

“He told me last night and I made it clear it wouldn’t work… but I think it looked different to Jungkook and he just kept telling me I should give Lawrence a chance even though I told him I don’t want to.”

“That’s what you argued about?” your dad asks. 

“Mhm.” 

“Lawrence telling you that…” your dad pauses momentarily before continuing, “how did it make you feel?” 

“It was weird,” you admit. “I used to have a big crush on him.” 

“Oh, we know,” your mom says with a smile. 

Despite it being in the past, it still feels so embarrassing — you were such a wide eyed 16 year old with a fat school crush that even your parents noticed. 

“But I don’t now,” you mumble, cheeks warming as you keep your head lowered. “I told him that and I guess I felt kinda bad too. It’s been a while since we left school.”

Your father hums in agreement. “That’s a long time to like someone,” he says, head cocking as he looks at you knowingly. 

“I know.” 

Squeezing your hand, your mom takes over. “And what about Jungkook?”

“Well, when I told him, he was insisting I should give it a try.”

“That doesn’t seem like such a bad thing to suggest,” your dad shrugs. “I’d say the same thing, after all, you said it yourself that you liked him before and Lawrence is a good guy.”

“Yeah but I don’t now,” you reiterate. “I thought Jungkook would know that.”

“You’ve been single since you left college, Y/N, there’s absolutely no reason for him to think your heart is elsewhere…” he pauses, patting your leg, “unless you tell him.”

“Huh?” You look at your dad but he’s already looked away, a smirk on his face as he takes a sip of his coffee. 

“I, what would I…?” you sputter, looking at your mom and seeing the smile on her face, you fall quiet. 

So much for trying to keep this a secret — if your parents know then you wonder if anyone else knows. Although, of course no one else knows you as much as your parents and here they are telling you to tell Jungkook how you really feel but it’s still so nerve wracking to you. 

There’s so many times you can think of that would make you think he likes you as much as you like him, but then there‘s also that voice of reason in your head that tells you you’re reading into it too much. Jungkook doesn’t like you romantically as much as you wish he would. 

Chin lifting, you get up. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” you say, “but thanks for the chat,” you smile, giving a quick kiss on the cheek to both of them. 

“Darling, you’ll regret it if you don’t,” your dad says as you’re walking off. 

“No idea what you mean,” you call out with an airy wave of your hand. 

Walking across the length of the deck, you steal a glance in the direction of Jungkook only to see he’s no longer there. Looking around, you can’t see him anywhere. Resigned, you find an empty table that’s out of sight from everyone you know and slump into the chair to be alone with your thoughts. 

No one knows you better than your parents, not even Jungkook and if they’re telling you to tell him then you can’t argue that there’s a big part of you that agrees and even wants to tell him.  How would it feel to have Jungkook as yours? Sure, you have him more than anyone else right now — you share everything together, the good stuff, the bad stuff, and all the days in between… 

It’s something you’ll forever be grateful for because if you can’t have all of Jungkook then you’ll take the little things whenever you can. Still though, you know it’s not the same when all you are to him is a best friend; his response to what happened this morning completely confirmed that to you. In some ways, it hurts more than anything else knowing that as his best friend, you’ll be there when he eventually does find someone to call his own and fuck, even just the thought of that hurts like a bitch. 

Who knows if you’d even still be friends when that happens? It’s only natural that he and whoever he chooses would become closer than ever and you’ll just be that childhood friend considered to be like a sister…

“You’re moping.”

Turning around, you see Alex standing with his hands on his hips. 

“And you’re interrupting,” you grumble, slumping back into the seat.

“Nope, come on, I’m not having this,” he says, coming right behind you and holding your head to look up at him. “The wedding is in three days and you are not going to spend it like this.”

“I’ll be fine for the wedding, I promise.”

Narrowing his eyes, Alex lets go and sits down next to you. “What about tomorrow?”

Tomorrow night is Thalia’s hen night and Alex’s stag night. The cruise will arrive at Porto Cheli around dawn tomorrow and most guests will be escorted to various villas rented out by the Cirillo’s. Meanwhile, you and a few close others, including Jungkook, will be arriving at the Cirillo family home. A grand estate which given its enormous size, will accommodate the tradition of keeping the bride and groom parties separate until the wedding on Saturday afternoon.

Thalia has never been much of a party-goer so she’s choosing to keep things simple with a fine dining evening although you’re sure Sophia has planned for strippers and booze to appear at some point during the night. 

“I’ll be fine,” you repeat, plastering on a smile.

“I know you can fake it for everyone else but I actually want you to have a good time, Y/N,” he says, putting his arm around you.

Your smile turns into a genuine one. “I will, of course I will, it’s your wedding weekend and I’m so happy for you.”

Alex grins. “Thanks, I know you are.” He lets go and turns his chair to face you. “But I also know that you’re not talking to Jungkook right now, which means both of you will be moping until you make up.”

Of course he knows, you think. Well, he doesn’t know about this morning and you don’t know if you can bring yourself to tell him, it feels rather embarrassing for you. “Alias told you?”

“He told Sophia, she told Thalia and Thalia told me,” Alex shrugs.

It’s not like you expected it to stay a secret between your friends. Whenever Jungkook and you aren’t talking, it’s usually pretty obvious to everyone around you, especially your friends. 

“Wanna talk about it?” Alex offers.

“Not really.” Talking to your parents was enough and you already know what Alex is going to say. “You probably think I should just be completely honest about how I feel, right?”

Alex shrugs again. “Yeah, although he should’ve been upfront about it first.”

Surprised, you look up at him and he continues.

“I know I've been telling you for ages that he’s whipped for you, but this kind of proves it, don’t you think?” Alex glances at you, eyes creasing in the corners as he hides a smug smirk. “There’s only one reason he reacted to Lawrence the way he did.”

It makes sense, but it also doesn’t – Jungkook purely could’ve been pushing you to be with Lawrence as a friend who just wants to see you happy. You’d hate to think it’s for the former reason, only to realise you’ve terribly misinterpreted the situation and end up stupidly admitting your feelings to Jungkook when he cares for you only as a friend. “It doesn’t really,” you say, trying harder to convince yourself than Alex. “I mean, he probably just didn’t want me to waste the opportunity.”

“Ha!” Alex scoffs. “Waste the opportunity.” He gives you a look. “Come on, Y/N, why are you fighting every reason that you have to try?”

“It’s not a reason,” you counter. “We’ve gotten into one argument and I don’t think me saying I have feelings for him will change anything–”

“So you do.”

“What?” 

You look back at Alex and see his eyes wide and he’s not even hiding his smile anymore. 

“You do like him,” he repeats.

“I, what…?” Suddenly, you realise you just said it out loud. Opening your mouth, you’re about to try to cover it up somehow but it’s too late.

“I knew it,” Alex laughs, seeming way too ecstatic considering how shit you feel. “This is gold, Y/N, this is it, I’ve always known Jungkook liked you but you liking him too, it’s perfect!”

“Shh,” you hush him suddenly, grabbing his hands as you look around in a panic. “Alex shut up, someone’s gonna hear you.”

“The whole world should know, Y/N,” he laughs happily again. Looking at you, he cups your face in his hands. “I’ve been waiting for this for so long, you need to tell him, Y/N, please!”

The thought of telling Jungkook is terrifying to you, even more so now that Alex is saying it out loud and someone could possibly hear. 

With your expression split between worry and confusion, Alex’s smile fades a little but not completely. “Y/N, this is good, what’s wrong?”

For the first time, you let yourself say the truth out loud. “What if he doesn’t feel the same way?”

Alex sighs, his smile softening. “There’s only one way you’ll find out.

Now it’s you who scoffs, pulling away from him. “Yeah, right.”

“I am right,” he insists.

Sighing, you look at him. It’s so hard to hear Alex tell you that Jungkook likes you when youc an only think otherwise after this morning… “Something happened,” you start, watching Alex carefully.

For a second he still smiles but when he sees the worry lining your face, his expression mirrors yours as his smile fades. “Okay… you wanna talk about it?”

You quickly glance around to make sure no one can hear. “You promise you won’t tell anyone,” you say, “not even Alias or Sophia or Tha–” you cut yourself off. Asking Alex not to tell his soon to be wife is like asking him to cut off his hand, you already know that since he couldn’t even keep Sophia’s birthday present to her secret. “Fine, only Thalia.”

“Appreciate it,” Alex nods.

“Mhm, well…” You tell him briefly what happened this morning, sparing him the details but telling him every word of what was spoken after and he listens carefully, not interrupting you once. 

You chose to tell Alex because he’s the one who has always been so sure of Jungkook’s feelings for you, not Alias, nor Sophia, or even Thalia. Sure, the others have hinted at it but only Alex has ever paid attention to everything between Jungkook and you so if anyone knows the whole story and can give you the best advice, it’s him. So, it feels a little alarming to you when once you’re done, he still doesn’t say anything for a moment.

Then, he purses his lips, grimacing before he finally speaks. “Honestly, that’s a bit confusing. If there ever was a way to confess, this was the perfect window to do it.”

For what feels like the umpteenth time today, your heart sinks. “That’s what I thought.”

“But,” Alex says very surely, taking your hand, “it doesn’t change every single other thing he’s ever done to show he likes you, and let’s be real, he’s probably just worried that you won’t feel the same.”

It’s what you want to hear but it’s still so hard to accept it because what if it’s not true and you make a fool of yourself in front of Jungkook.

“I wish that were true,” you mumble. “But I don’t think I can keep holding onto hope when it hurts like this.”

Alex squeezes your hand. “Y/N, we know Jungkook, he doesn’t exactly play with anyone’s feelings and I absolutely don’t think he would start something physical with you unless he was feeling it emotionally too.”

“I know, but what if it’s just because he was horny.” You’re still mumbling, cheeks going warm as you say it. 

“Look, I think there’s a lot of guys who would sleep with their best friends if they had the chance,” Alex says, “but Jungkook isn’t one of them, he never has been.”

Thinking about it, you realise he’s right. Jungkook wouldn’t. There’s been way more chances in the past for him to have done things with you and you’re pretty sure there’s even been times where you drunkenly made a few moves on him but he never did anything himself.

“Still, I don’t know.”

“Oh, come on, Y/N,” Alex says encouragingly, “how long have I been telling you he likes you? I haven’t been saying it for no reason.”

“But you have no concrete proof either.”

“Just take a chance, be brave and then you’ll see I was right,” Alex says, raising a brow.

Glancing at him, you chuckle. “This is coming from the guy who had to get drunk to say I love you to the love of his life for the first time.”

Alex smiles and leans back in his seat as he gestures around him. “It worked didn’t it? Look at me now.”

Well, he got you there. Plus, you can’t deny the big part of you that believes it. Jungkook and your friendship does feel more than friends sometimes and you know it’s not all in your head. This morning seemed to confirm that too.

Narrowing your eyes at Alex, you turn away to face the horizon. “Don’t say anything to anyone, but I’ll think about it.”

“Yes,” Alex laughs, hugging you. “I’ll keep my mouth shut,” he says, sounding so excited. “You won’t regret this.”

Laughing, you pull him into your side. “You could start now, half the deck can hear you.”

“Sorry,” he grins, squeezing you. 

Maybe he’s right, maybe you won’t regret it. 

Jungkook comes to a stop at the end of the balcony to watch the sun set behind the sea. It’s been a long day with Alex asking his groomsmen to assist him in all things wedding related and then Alias needed help sorting out the entertainment for tomorrow.

Jungkook hasn’t seen you since lunch. He went back to the cabin while you had lunch with your parents since he didn’t want to make it awkward for you when you eventually came up to finish packing and since then he hasn’t seen you as you’ve been with the girls all day. 

Truthfully, after this morning, he doesn’t think he can bear to see you just yet. He feels like a coward. Not only has he probably ruined his friendship with you, but he also can’t help but feel like he’s hurt you. You looked so timid as you stood across the cabin from him and a part of him felt like you wanted him to say something other than what he said. If only he was 100% sure it’s what you wanted, Jungkoook would shout it for the whole world to hear, but what if it’s not and he really does ruin everything between you. Besides, you called it a mistake. That’s all Jungkook can remind himself of as it takes everything in him not to tell you he wishes that there was something more between you.

“Why the long face, Kookie?”

The voice comes from behind him but Jungkook doesn’t have to be looking to know who it is. 

Valentina appears beside him and leans on the balcony too. She doesn’t even look at him but just watches the horizon ahead as Jungkook was. “Trouble in paradise, huh?”

Jungkook frowns. Of course that’s the first thing she would think of. “Not really,” he mutters. 

As much as he wishes it was paradise between you and him, it wasn’t, none of it was real

and what he finds worse is that he couldn’t even keep up a fake relationship with you – he completely blew it.

“So what then? They didn’t have your favourite bagel for breakfast this morning?” She laughs lightly. 

However, Jungkook internally scowls. It’s annoying that she actually knows him rather well despite the finer details of their ‘relationship’. “No offence, Val, but I really just wanna be alone right now.” 

There’s harsher things he could’ve said, particularly naming her as the least desirable companion right now, but even without that, Valentina seems to get the message from his tone alone. 

The humour in her expression disappears leaving only a small poignant smile. 

Not expecting such a quick retreat from her, Jungkook immediately regrets his harsh tone but at the same time, he really is not in the mood for Valentina and her usual antics today. 

She doesn’t move an inch though. With a small sigh she turns and faces the horizon just as Jungkook was. 

Jungkook does the same; although he’d rather be left alone, he’s definitely not about to make it known again, especially since he now feels a bit bad.

“It’s always been her, hasn’t it?”

For a moment, Jungkook is completely thrown. Multiple thoughts run through his head – What? Valentina knows? How long has she known? Was it from when he was with her? Was he really always in love with you even while he was seeing other people? That must make him a complete dick, right? Has he always made it so painfully obvious that he’s in love with you?

His hesitation seems to give Valentina the answer she was looking for.

She glances at him and smiles before looking away again. “I’m not surprised really, I knew it from when I first met you, I guess it’s my fault for putting us both through everything we went through, it was damned from the start.”

“That’s not your fault,” Jungkook says, the guilt festering.

Valentina just shrugs. “It’s over now, no reason to care.” She says it meaninglessly but Jungkook can only hope she means it.

“So why the long face then?” she repeats, looking at him. “She’s yours, go be with her.”

“It’s not that simple.” 

Valentina laughs, bumping her shoulder into him. “Yeah, you’re right. Pretending to date someone you’re secretly in love with is never simple.”

For the second time, Jungkook looks at her stunned. “How did you…?”

She shrugs, still sporting an amused smile. “I know you think I’m stupid, Jungkook, just a head in the clouds rich bitch like everyone else does, but I’ve gotten this far, haven’t I?”

“That’s not true,” Jungkook corrects her immediately. Sure, Valentina has her unbearable moments and more often than not, she plays dumb and innocent, but Jungkook knows that she’s more than that. “I wouldn’t have dated you if I thought that.”

“Don’t worry, Kookie, you don’t have to try to make me feel better, I really couldn’t care less about it. Now, back to the main issue here, you need to grow a pair and tell Y/N how you feel about her,” she says bluntly.

She’s not wrong, Jungkook thinks. “It’s just not that simple,” he sighs, turning away from her. It feels odd to be having this conversation with Valentina and despite her honesty just now, he doesn’t really feel like opening up to her.

“What’s complicated about it? You like her and she likes you.”

“We don’t know that.”

“You honestly think she doesn’t like you?” she asks, sounding surprised.

Hesitating, Jungkook eventually shrugs. “Sometimes I think so…” It’s true, sometimes Jungkook really feels so sure that you feel the same way, but then something always happens that changes things. He thinks of Lawrence – you liked him for so long and although Jungkook doesn’t know the extent of it, you always had this schoolgirl crush on him, even whilst you were with Alex. “But I don’t think she does.”

Valentina looks at Jungkook like he’s stupid and he’s vaguely reminded of why they never worked out. “Well, you can keep thinking that but it’s kind of obvious she does.”

Saying nothing, Jungkook looks out at the horizon again, leaning his forearms into the balcony. The sun is almost fully set marking the last day of the cruise. They’ll soon be arriving at Porto Cheli and it’ll be even harder to spend time with you once the bride and groom parties are separated. He wants to talk to you and to make things okay between you again, but he knows that he’s upset you and although it’s confusing him, he wants to give you space. 

Valentina sighs, nudging him. “Just talk to her, you don’t want to regret it later on,” she says, straightening up as her usual flamboyance returns. “You know if it doesn’t work out, I’ll always be here for you Kookie pie,” she almost coos, making Jungkook laugh and cringe at the same time. As ditzy as she may act sometimes, Valentina is more smart than Jungkook ever gave her credit for.

She grins, winking at him before she waltzes off like the conversation never happened.

The cabin is dark when you finally return to your room. It’s well past midnight and you expect Jungkook to be here but as your eyes quickly adjust, you can see the room is empty. As you walk in further, you see his suitcase standing packed and ready in the corner of the room. 

Deflating, you trudge over to your own open suitcase on one side of the room. You’re only half packed and you’d hoped Jungkook would still have his to do too so you’d have a chance to maybe talk to him, but it seems he’s already done it while you were busy with the girls. You wonder if he avoided you on purpose.

Pushing this thought quickly out of your head, you press shuffle on your ‘summer ‘23’ playlist in an attempt to cheer yourself up while you finish packing. It doesn’t really work but you at least keep your mind free from running rampant, instead singing along to some of your favourite tunes with no regards for your cabin neighbours, one of whom is Valentina and you’re more than certain she’s not in her cabin because you last saw her walking out of the premium lounge with a tall, handsome stranger whose face you couldn’t see and they went into an elevator going to the cabins on the other side of the ship, barely waiting to let the door close before locking lips.

Must be nice, you think sourly before shaking your head. Not cute, Y/N, you scold yourself. Although you don’t blame yourself for having negative thoughts since you are on the short end of an unrequited love story with your best friend, you’d still rather not be bitter.

Almost three hours later, you’ve packed everything, showered and are already dressed ready for the arrival at Porto Cheli soon. You’ve chosen a simple outfit, a sky blue linen co-ord with jewellery to match. Slipping into the comfiest sandals you own, you move your suitcase next to the door and grab your phone before heading out of the room. It’s almost 5am so there’s around an hour left until the ship docks at the port, marking the end of the cruise and the start of the busy wedding weekend. Most of you took a nap during the day, so deciding you wouldn’t sleep tonight, they all agreed to meet one last time on the cruise.

Despite everything that’s happened with Jungkook and the dampener it’s put on your mood, you’re still excited to celebrate Alex’s wedding. Not only is he dear to you, but you’re celebrating his marriage with so many of the people you love the most, making this whole trip special. It would be perfect if you could end it by fixing what’s happened with Jungkook but you feel like you’ve already made yourself so vulnerable to him and nothing came out of it.

It’s quiet and dark in the hallways as you make your way out to the pool on the top deck. It reminds you of the nights you were sneaking out with Jungkook to meet the other guys for whatever stupid stuff you were getting up to. It makes you miss him now and you subconsciously walk a little faster in anticipation of seeing him now as you all gather for the last time.

You can hear your friends before you see them and you smile at the sound of Alias’ laughter as you climb the steps to the deck. You’re certain any patrolling staff would have heard and they’re either being nice enough to let you all off, or Alias tipped them enough to keep quiet. 

There’s a bunch of familiar faces hanging around all together, all friends of either Alex, Thalia, Sophia or Alias. You smile at a few as you make your way over to Sophia, Thalia and a few others. 

The girls greet you warmly as you approach and Sophia hands you a drink as soon as you arrive. You take it and immediately take a sip. You weren’t planning on having anything to drink but one won’t hurt. There’s an excited buzz in the air, the same you felt on the first day of cruise but this feels special. The sun is rising on the horizon and you’re here with almost all of your best friends. Almost all of your best friends. Jungkook still isn’t here but you try not to focus on it and just have a good time with your friends. 

It works, so much so that you’re mid laughter when a familiar face joins the deck and makes their way over to you, but you don’t quite realise until he pats your shoulder as the conversation progresses. 

Turning around, your smile falters but doesn’t disappear. “Oh, hey.”

“Hey.” Lawrence looks nervous, an emotion you’re not used to seeing on him.

You also weren’t actually expecting to see him but you’re glad he’s here. Throughout everything, he’s still a friend and you’d hate to lose that relationship with him.

“How are you?” You ask, smile widening. You haven’t seen him since that night and you’d hate to think he’s been avoiding you when it’s the last thing you’d want.

“Good, thanks,” he nods. He seems to suddenly relax at your warm response. He glances at the group behind you and you turn too. No one is paying either of you any attention but Lawrence still asks for privacy. “Do you think we could talk?” he asks tentatively. “I’ll make it quick, I promise.”

“Of course,” you nod, following him as he turns right away and walks to the furthest side of the deck where it’s quietest. 

You stop when he does, taking a seat on the bench beside him. It’s easy to see he’s nervous as he glances around quickly before looking down at the drink in his hand. You want to say something to make him feel better but you don’t want to interrupt whatever it is he wants to say.

“How have you, uh, how have you been?” He looks up, holding eye contact for barely a second before looking away again.

“Good,” you answer. It’s not the truth but he doesn’t need to know that.

He nods and takes a sip of his drink. You do the same and you’ve just swallowed when he speaks again.

“I‘m sorry for pulling you away from your friends, I just wanted to talk to you tonight before all the wedding stuff starts and I didn’t know if I’d get a chance.”

“That’s okay, I don’t mind.” You lean in a little so he looks at you and smile. “You’re my friend too though,” you say, feeling the need to remind him.

His smile mirrors yours and he nods. “I kinda messed it up though…”

You know this is of course what he wanted to talk to you about and although you don’t think it needs to change anything between you, you know yourself how easily feelings can change a friendship. Not only that, but he deserves an explanation from you too since you did have feelings for him for a good chunk of your teen years and later, plus your conversation ended before it was supposed to that night when Alias and Jungkook appeared.

“Not really,” you shrug. “I think it’s just how we deal with it now, no?” 

“Yeah, if you’re okay with that,” he agrees. “I’d like to.”

“Of course I am. And I’m sorry too by the way.” 

Lawrence looks confused and you don’t wait for him to say anything before continuing.

“I think it must have been confusing for you to be on the receiving end of my feelings for you while we were in college and maybe I even subconsciously made it seem like it after too.”

“Ah,” Lawrence purses his lips. ��Well I didn’t really know.”

“I know, you said that before but I still feel like I need to say it. There may have been a few times I was coming off as more than friendly and that was wrong of me.”

Lawrence’s silence serves as an answer.

“So yeah, I’m sorry too. I hope we can go back to how things were,” you say hesitantly.

“It might be hard,” Lawrence responds honestly. 

“I know…” your voice feels small. You know all too well how feelings can change a friendship. “But we’ll try?” You look at him and smile hopefully.

He nods. “Of course.” 

You’re content with that. Of course you don’t know the extent of his feelings for you so you hope it won’t be hard for him to move on – after all, the two of you mostly ever met up at family functions and dinners of the same sort. It’s rare for Lawrence to have joined any of the outings with your friends. It was never his fault since his parents have always pushed for him to do more for their company, especially since he was an only child. It’s something that’s always made you more grateful for your own parents and their completely laid back and caring approach to your career, even all throughout school. The only thing they ever pushed for was your grades but they kept up that same effort in all areas of your life, even your extracurriculars. Sure, sometimes when you were growing up you felt the pressure but you always felt supported by them no matter what the final result was.

Lawrence has experienced the opposite of you to say it simply, and you’re sure that given time, he’ll find the right person for him as he prioritises himself.

“Thanks for talking to me though,” you say, “I’m glad you did.”

“Me too,” Lawrence says, taking another sip. “At least now I don’t have to avoid you all weekend long.”

You laugh, agreeing with him and soon enough, the conversation continues although it doesn’t last longer than ten minutes with Lawrence excusing himself.

You stay seated at the bench as he leaves. You didn’t realise you were concerned about your relationship with Lawrence but the relief and content you’re feeling now tells you as much. You’re glad you’ve cleared everything up with him, now if only you could get yourself to do the same with Jungkook.

Glancing around, you realise that he still hasn’t appeared. He definitely would have known about it so you wonder why he hasn’t turned up. Finishing your drink, you get up and head over to where Alias is sitting with his friends Kelce and Dillon.

“Hey, Y/N,” they all say in unison when you come and sit beside them at the pool. They’re definitely a little tipsy and you don’t need to see the cans beside them to know that. Their goofy smiles say it all.

“Hey guys,” you chuckle, patting Kelce’s shoulder. “Um, have you guys seen Jungkook anywhere?” 

Alias immediately frowns but it’s Dillon who answers. “We were with him a while ago at the lounge.” He looks at the other guys. “When was that? A couple of hours ago?”

Kelce looks at his phone. “Yeah, it was around one.”

You went past the lounge at the same time, that’s when you saw Valentina leaving with that guy… for a split second, your mind goes there – could it have been him? – No. Absolutely no. The idea is absurd. You feel stupid for even thinking that.

“You haven’t seen him since then, Y/N?” Alias asks.

“No.” You ignore the seed of concern that settles in your stomach. You’re certain he’s not with Valentina, but where is he? 

“We were gonna leave the lounge together but he stayed for another drink,” Alias tells you, seeming to share the same concern as you. “He seemed like he wanted to be alone so we left him.”

“Oh.” It’s not like Jungkook to drink alone – if he does, he’s usually upset about something. “Well, thanks for telling me,” you mutter, getting up and leaving the group.

Alias, however, gets up with you. “Hey,” he says, taking your arm. “You want me to find him?” He looks you over and you’re sure the concern in his expression isn’t solely for Jungkook.

“Um…” you hesitate. You don’t want to seem like a clingy best friend, especially not after what happened between you, but if Jungkook is drinking alone then he’s not feeling okay and you would normally be there for him. This time you feel like you can’t be, but Alias can. However, you don’t want to ask Alias to spend his night away from his friends and family.

Looking at him, you smile. “No, it’s okay. I’m sure he’s around somewhere.”

Alias doesn’t seem convinced. “But then he would be here.”

He’s right. “Or maybe he was tired and went back to the cabin?”

“You just said you haven’t seen him since we did.”

Chewing on the inside of your lip, you shake your head. “I haven’t.”

Sighing, Alias pulls out his phone. “I’ll try calling him but if he doesn’t get back to me in ten minutes we’ll go look for him.”

“Okay,” you nod. “Let me know if he replies,” you say, thanking him too before going back to some of the girls. 

You’re not listening much to their conversation although you try to get involved to take your mind off of Jungkook. 

It isn’t until you receive a text from Alias with a screenshot that your nerves are put to rest. 

[3:01] Me: hey man where r u?

[3:13] JK: hey sorry bro, I knocked out on the balcony.

[3:13] Me: oh okay, it’s all good just wanted to know where u were. Join us now? We’re at the top pool deck. 

[3.15] JK: I’m just gonna check all my luggage is packed first. Will join later.

[3:15] Me: cool see u. 

So he’s fine, he just fell asleep. You still want to see him but you know that’s not going to happen unless you go down to the cabin room and you don’t want to seem clingy so you don’t. Instead, you turn your attention back to the conversation the girls are having and feel the excitement for the weekend to come.

Jungkook doesn’t get drunk often and he had no plans of doing so the last night of the cruise either, and he most definitely did not expect to get drunk with your father of all people…

“You coming Jungkook?”

Looking up from his drink, Jungkook shook his head. “Nah, I’m just gonna hang here for a bit,” he said with a smile so as not to raise suspicions from the already watchful eye of Alias. 

Still, Alias frowned. “You sure?” 

“Yeah, I still got a headache.”

“Alright, well text me if you need anything,” Alias said as he, Kelce and Dillon got up. 

“Get well soon,” Kelce said as they took their leave.

“Join us later, yeah?” Dillon added.  

“Yeah,” Jungkook nodded. “I’ll catch you guys later.”

He watched as they walked out, trying to find the same excitement in him for the wedding as they’re feeling but his head was full of other thoughts. 

Sighing, he looked down at this drink again. It’s true that he had a headache. He even chose not to have anything alcoholic, opting for a mocktail from the extensive drinks menu available at the lounge. He’s not sure where it came from but he thought it’s most likely just because he couldn’t stop his brain from thinking and the lack of sleep didn’t help either. 

Truthfully, he knew he was just moping. He knew what he had to do and he knew it before his conversation with Valentina. Although, the fact that she said it too just made Jungkook more aware of the truth. 

The line between friendship and something more had always been blurry for Jungkook and the past few days only made him more sure of it — he’s in love with you and he always has been for as long as he can remember. 

Every time the thought crossed Jungkook’s mind, it triggered the questions that come with it. How do I tell her? Does she feel the same way? She’ll hate me. What if she hates me? I shouldn’t do that to her? What’s worse, is that now  it had come to the point that being with you was almost painful – not knowing if he could have more with you when all he had to do was confront his feelings, swallow his pride and be honest with you. Even if you didn’t feel the same, it was the point at which he realised he would rather you hate him for admitting his feelings and ruining your friendship, than stay quiet and never know if he can have what he’s always wanted with you.

That said, it still felt so hard to do – he had a lot to lose.

Head lowered, Jungkook tried to figure out the best way to do this when he heard a familiar laugh somewhere behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Valentina walking with a tall, handsome man beside her. Jungkook had seen him around a few times but he wasn’t sure if he was a part of the wedding party. Whoever he was, he sure knew how to make Valentina laugh; she was laughing as he put his arm around her and she raised her hand to hold his fingers loosely when she looked towards the bar. Making eye contact with Jungkook, she stopped and tilted her head.

Jungkook just smiled awkwardly and turned back around. He didn’t want to seem like he was staring even though that was what he was doing but for no bad reason – he liked to see Valentina happy. Despite her shortcomings, deep down she always had good intentions for the most part and making her happy was something Jungkook couldn’t do. However, he would’ve been lying if he said seeing her like that didn’t hurt – not because he was jealous of her, but because everyone around him seemed to be having such good luck in their love lives (whether there’s feelings attached or not) and here he was, unable to find the words to tell his best friend he loves her. It sucked.

“And what are you doing here, may I ask?”

Hearing Valentina’s voice so close to him all of a sudden startled Jungkook. He looked up, eyes wide. She stood with one hand on the bar and the other on her hip. 

“Uh, just getting a drink.”

Valentina rolled her eyes. “I spoke to you less than 12 hours ago, Jungkook, do you not remember anything?”

“I do,” he replied, glancing across at her date who seemed super unbothered as he waited for her a short distance away.

“Then why are you here?”

“I just needed to think some things over.”

“Like what?”

“Just things,” Jungkook said, feeling somewhat intimidated by how serious she was right now.

“You know you’re just wasting time,” she said matter-of-factly.

“She’s with everyone else right now, I don’t want to ruin her evening,” Jungkook says defensively.

“I really don’t think anything you say or do could ruin her evening.”

“We don’t know that.”

“Well, yeah but you’re not doing anything about it so how is that any better?”

She wasn’t wrong but Jungkook was convinced he needed to give you time. “I’m just not ready yet,” he sighed.

Valentina sighed too. “Fine,” she shrugged and turned back towards her date. “But you don’t need to think, Jungkook, you just need to do what needs to be done,” she added with a wave of her hand.

He knew she was right but why did it feel so hard?! 

Getting the attention of the bartender, he ordered a much needed drink, downing it all almost as soon as it came before ordering a second. At least he wasn’t a light weight. He knew this wouldn’t help his headache but it wasn’t like he was helping himself at all by sitting here and thinking endlessly. Endless thoughts of what could go right and wrong trailed through his mind, leaving him conflicted as he accepted that he wouldn’t disturb your night with this.

Halfway through his drink, someone came and took a seat at the stool beside him despite there  being space elsewhere. Looking across, he was more than surprised to see the last person he would’ve expected to see here.

Lawrence only acknowledged Jungkook with a nod before ordering his own drink. 

A multitude of emotions went through Jungkook at this particular moment starting with wanting to punch Lawrence in his perfect face, to feeling sorry for himself for being forced into this situation, then feeling sorry for Lawrence because he knew that he got the short end of the stick – at least Jungkook still has a strong friendship with you —  and oddly, gratefulness because Jungkook knows what he needs to do now and without Lawrence, he wouldn’t have been forced into it and who knows how long he would’ve gone without telling you the truth (though he had yet to do it). 

Saying nothing himself, Jungkook took another sip of his drink.

Lawrence, however, started a conversation. “You not joining the others?”

“Nah,” Jungkook answered quietly. He gave no reason but he didn’t need to. 

Lawrence nodded in understanding but said nothing else. His drink arrived and he stayed seated, sipping quietly beside Jungkook. 

Jungkook really didn’t care for conversation. He came to the bar for some peace and quiet so initiating a conversation is the last thing he wanted to do.

With all that said, Jungkook’s curiosity got the better of him. 

“What about you?” He asked without even turning his head. “You’re not gonna head up there?” 

Lawrence shook his head. “I’ll head up a bit later”

Jungkook nodded, wondering if Lawrence would see you while he was there. He could ask him but that would open the doors to another conversation which he didn’t really want to have.  

Lawrence didn’t owe him any apology since you’re not really his girlfriend. He did seem to cross a line considering he didn’t know that at the time, but there was no reason for him to say it now. 

Just when Jungkook took another sip of his drink, Lawrence put his glass down and looked toward Jungkook, sincerely. 

“Hey, man, I’m really sorry for what I did.”

Although he harboured some slight resentment towards Lawrence for what happened, it immediately seemed to melt away in that moment. Their friendship extended well beyond the past few days and Jungkook has never been the type to hold a grudge, especially not when the other person is genuine. 

“It’s cool,” he responded. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I did.”

Jungkook only had to glance at Lawrence to see he looked guilty and felt bad about it. “I was selfish and I wanted to tell Y/N how I felt. I guess there was a part of me that wished she wasn’t with you and that was completely fucked up.” 

“She’s not with me though.” 

It came out slightly harsher than intended, carrying the weight of Jungkook’s own feelings. Lawrence went quiet and Jungkook continued, resigned.

“Honestly I’d say you’ve got a pretty good shot with her, I’d go for it if I were you.”

“Why don’t you?” Lawnrence asked simply, without any curiosity or even peaked interest. His voice held more of a genuine want to help. 

“What?”

“Why don’t you just go for it?”

Jungkook shook his head. “We’re just friends.”

“I don’t think it’s that simple.”

“No offence Lawrence, but how would you know?”… Now that did come out slightly harsher than intended. “The last time you even saw us was probably at Sophia’s graduation and even then you were gonna way before the night ended.”

Completely understanding, Lawrence backed up. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine.” Jungkook cooled off. “I’m sorry too.  That came out wrong.”

“It’s alright.” Lawrence sat back in his chair, swirled his drink before taking three long sips to empty the glass. 

“It doesn’t change anything though,” he said, getting up from his stool. “There’s a point at which you can pass friendship and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with treading beyond that line.” He put a hand on Jungkook’s shoulder. “Just do it carefully.”

Jungkook stared at Lawrence but Lawrence didn’t linger. 

“Anyway, like I said, I’m sorry for everything.”

Jungkook watched as he walked away, the words swimming in his befuddled mind.

Lawrence was right. There was a line and Jungkook knew he was straddling that fine line and perhaps now it was too late to step back. Instead, he should be brave and put everything out on that line. It was easy enough to think with liquid courage flowing through him, that and the fact that you weren’t here right now. But maybe he should have taken advantage of the fact that he was feeling more confident now, he should find you, he found himself thinking. He should tell you he’s in love with you and then whatever happens next will happen. He can’t control that and right now there’s already a strain on the relationship that can only be fixed by the truth. 

He should do it, he thought. The thought built up more and more, ushering Jungkook as he pushed himself off the bar stool—

“Where you going, son? I just got here.”

A firm band on Jungkook’s shoulder pushed him back down, contrasting the loving tone with which he was spoken to. 

Your dad took the seat which was previously occupied by Lawrence and Jungkook could only stare for a moment as he called the bartender and ordered two drinks. If it was anyone else, Jungkook would’ve apologised and excused himself to carry out his plan of finding you, but with your dad it was simply not the case. 

“You like a gin and tonic right?” He asked, after ordering. 

Jungkook wasn’t particularly fond of it but he nodded. “Yeah, thanks. “

“How come you’re not with the others?”

Jungkook shrugged, hoping that your dad wouldn’t be able to tell he’d already had a couple to drink. “I just wasn’t feeling it.”

“And Y/N?”

Despite being the only thing on his mind for a while, the mention of you still threw him. “Huh?”

“Is she with the others?” Your dad asked coolly, reaching for some peanuts from the bowl in front of them.

“Yeah, I think so,” Jungkook answered as nonchalantly as he could. 

The bartender arrived with their drinks and your dad took his and sipped slowly in silence. 

Jungkoon was not uncomfortable around your dad, not in the slightest. In fact, he seemed to have grown rather close to him over the years and appreciated the almost father-son bond they shared. Having spent much time with your family, there wasn’t much he had yet to experience when it came to your dad, but this was something different. He’d never been sat at a bar, just the two of them making small talk over drinks. 

Jungkook knew your dad well enough to know that that wasn’t the purpose of this. Your dad is just breaking the ice to another conversation… but what? Surely it had to be about you and that was the only reason Jungkook found his palms unusually sweaty.

After what must’ve been at least twenty more minutes of small talk about the weather and football, Jungkook had emptied his second glass. 

Your dad laughed. “I forgot you can take your liquor, huh?” 

Before Jungkook could even respond, another drink had been ordered for him and Jungkook willed himself to drink this one slower, wary that he was already more than a few drinks in now though he was grateful that your dad was good at keeping up 

“So, what’s the real reason you’re not with the others?” Your dad asked, his own drink replaced with another as well. 

Jungkook shrugged and answered honestly. “Just not in the mood to socialise. I think I’d be a bit of a Debby downer so I’d rather sit this one out.”

“That’s selfless of you.”

“Not really, kind of selfish actually.”

Your dad nodded. “A bit of both then.”

Much to Jungkook’s surprise, your dad emptied his glass faster than Jungkook had and didn’t hesitate to order another. 

“Anything else for you?” he asked Jungkook. 

“Uh, sure.” Jungkook wasn’t sure why he said yes but he did, ordering a whiskey instead.

Your dad pulled his phone out and sighed, muttering an apology about a work issue and Jungkook nodded, not minding in the slightest. But the issue must have been resolved quickly because he put the phone away only moments later. 

“It almost feels wrong to be drinking with you,” your dad said. 

“Why?” Jungkook asked, taking the smallest sip from his glass. “Because I’m younger than you?”

“Partly. I’ve known you since you were so young, it’s hard to believe how much you’ve grown up.” Your dad smiled. “Y/N too.”

Jungkook smiled. “It has been a long time.” He thought back to the first day he first met your dad and you. He was a shy kid, hiding behind his mom and at the time, you were pretty shy at the time too. It was your mom who encouraged you to ask Jungkook if he wanted to read a book with you. He looked at his own mom for reassurance before shyly agreeing and following you to the reading corner in your playroom.  By the end of the night your affinity for him had grown and that was the simple start to your long friendship with more ups and downs than Jungkook could count.

“But at the same time it feels like nothing.”

Your dad raised his glass. “Exactly,” he said, with an agreeing nod of his head. “A lifetime and nothing, both at once. I sometimes wish I could go back.”

“To when we were young?”

“Further back if I could,” he smiled. “Maybe a few years before Y/N was born. Just before I got married.”

“Why then? Jungkook asked, curious. He’d known your dad for so many years and they’d had plenty of conversations about serious stuff and more light hearted stuff, but this was different. He’d not spoken much about his relationship witn your mother, especially not when partially intoxicated. And while Jungkook had seen plenty of the love they shared, he’d not heard much about it except from you.

“When I first met Y/N’s mother—gosh,” he sighed contentedly as though reliving the moment. “She was like no one else I’d ever met. She still is,” he added with a gentle chuckle. “There’s no one else I’d rather spend my days with. I’d give everything I have to be with her. Every minute of every hour, always.”

The smile on your dads face grew, as did Jungkook’s. 

“We were young when we got married, you know?”

Jungkook nodded. “I know. 24 right?”

He nodded, the corners of his lips turning up further into a proud smile. “I didn’t want to waste another day without the promise of having her by my side. My friends said I was mad, too young.”

Jungkook shakes his head, knowing how it felt to not want to be apart from someone he loved so dearly. “I don’t think you were mad at all. You were in love.” 

Your dad turned, now masking the smile that was on his face as he looked at Jungkook with a mischievous glint in his eye that Jungkook hadn’t seen before. “You know it when you feel it. There’s no mistaking it.”

Jungkook knew that now. He felt it more than ever with you now. But more pressingly, Jungkook realised – your dad knew. 

If it weren’t for the drinks he’d had, Jungkook might have felt embarrassed.

In quiet admittance, Jungkook sighed. “I know.”

Your dad smiled. “You shouldn’t let this time get away from you, Jungkook. You’re young with a life to live. Do it with love and without regrets. 

Jungkook nodded, feeling a tumultuous swirl of emotions inside. “I will,” he said, feeling more certain now than he had before, but he knew his head wasn’t in the right place to do this. First he ought to sober up… 

There was a gentle pat on his back from your dad. “Good.” He flagged the bartender down for what felt like too many times to Jungkook. “But first another drink with me.”

“Sure.” Jungkook felt his words slur slightly. Then the cogs in his brain which were turning a little slower raised a question in his mind. his eyes narrowed and he turned to your dad. “Wait, is this a test?”

Your dad laughed. “I’ve always liked you Jungkook.”

“Me too.” Jungkook smiled though he still looked wary. 

“Good.” Your dad returned the smile with even more fondness. “And no, it’s not a test. Let’s drink.”

So Jungkook stayed.

note. how are you finding it? :) let me know xoxoxo link for part 3 here

more song recs: lose control — meduza & becky hill & goodboys tenerife sea — ed sheeran i'm a mess — ed sheeran so good (stripped) — halsey crazy what love can do — david guetta & becky hill & ella henderson

[rkivestation]

Открыл чертово приложение. Я скучал по тебе и моим друзьям. Я скучаю по БТС. В такие моменты мне очень хочется, чтобы вы все были со мной, и мне хотелось бы обняться. Иногда мне хочется пережить эти моменты заново. я скучаю по БТС. мне бы хотелось вернуться назад. Мне бы хотелось, чтобы без вас всех было не так одиноко. как вы, ребята? вы все, кажется, пошли вперед. почему я имел значение тогда, если теперь меня забыли? ребята, я когда-нибудь найду вас снова?