#jimin miss u 2

[aricastmblr]

3 años de este post de jimin weverse y comento a army

[jinstronaut]

happy 29th birthday, park jimin (박지민) !

[awrkive]

NEIGHBOR BLUNDER, pt. 2 — JJK (m.)

in hindsight, you should have seen it coming. had always known your luck �� or lack of it, thereof – and the universe's meticulous plan of your downfall made it easy for you to get tangled up in a series of unfortunate events, which presents itself as the neighbor that lives across from you, jeon jungkook.

PAIRING jungkook x (fem) reader

GENRE r18+ (fluff, angst, smut) MINORS DO NOT INTERACT!

CHAPTER WORD COUNT 22.5k

CHAPTER WARNINGS/MISC neighbor!jk, bsf!jimin, accountant!oc software engineer!jk, jk and jimin are chaebols lol, minjoon boyfriends <<<<3, mature language, lots of screaming into your pillow moments FLUFFY FLUFF FLUFFFFFFFFFFFFF, lovely hot nerdy jk ): (i think i speak for all women when i say that nerdy jungkook is the best jungkook say I IF U AGREE),[explicit sexual content: masturbation (f)], has the budding romance finally hit the second towers? read more to find out

NOTES hey everyone thank you so much for the overwhelming support on this silly little fic. i hope you guys enjoy this update and let me know your thoughts in the replies/reblog section and in my inbox, wherever you prefer hehe <3

NB!JK VISUALS | TAGLIST OPEN

READ ON WATTPAD | AO3

PART ONE | TWO | THREE

You usually finish prepping for the office at around 7:40 am, just enough time left to walk to the station and catch your bus at exactly 8 am.

As of now, it's 7 but the clock's longer hand has moved past the 40-minute mark, and you are still in your living room, supposedly all done and ready to go – except that you're stuck on the floor looking at your laptop perched on your coffee table, staring at it blankly, the HR email looking right back at you; almost daunting.

Subject: Invitation to Ceremony: Announcement of Interim CTO Dear Blue Nexus Inc. employee, We hope this email finds you well. We would like to inform you that a ceremony has been scheduled on July 29, 2028, 10:00 am at the AVR Hall 5, 12th floor. The purpose of this event is to announce the appointment of our interim Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Mr. Jeon Jungkook. As you may be aware, our previous CTO, Mr. Shin Juman, is currently on medical leave recovering from a stroke. While he is recuperating and undergoing treatment, it has become necessary for us to appoint an interim CTO for an indefinite period of time to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of our operations. Your presence at this meeting is highly valued as we introduce the new leadership to the team and outline our strategic direction moving forward. Light refreshments will be served. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to seeing you at the ceremony. Best regards, HR Department

You've been reading it over and over again you're sure you can recite it with ease if prompted. It's in the hopes that the name Jeon Jungkook will suddenly disappear somewhere in the email – that maybe you missed some detail, and it doesn't actually mention his name at all. You read the email repeatedly wishing that it is just a glitch in the system and what you found out about yesterday are all just a part of your extreme delusion. Maybe it's one of those nights with Jimin at his apartment where you would indulge in a little bit of guilty pressure – pots, to be exact – and just let it take you to a whole new world.

But you and Jimin didn't go home together last night, and you definitely did not smoke pot. He went straight to the airport and you straight home with nothing but mixed feelings inside, and you were more than thankful that Jimin was in a bout of panic himself about not getting there on time that he didn't notice you squirming in his passenger seat.

There is a vague memory in your head with him telling you he was going to come with Namjoon, but you can't be for sure. Everything that transpired that night is all reduced down to the very moment in the comfort room when you realized the glaring information about Jungkook being three eggs in your basket: first, he's Jimin's cousin. Second, he's an executive in your company – a CTO, to be exact – and while you aren't exactly working under his department and they are all the way up ten floors above you, he's still technically your boss according to the hierarchy. The son of the CEO of the very company you are working at. Not only is he the CTO, but third he's also your neighbor. Someone you've met weeks ago whom you may have developed a growing relationship with that will now possibly be bleak in a matter of hours or days depending on if you are going to tell him or if he finds out.

That is the thing that you're currently debating with yourself about as you let your eyes glide over the unsuspecting email from HR for the nth time.

7:50 am – the clock on your screen reads.

You think about the dock pay that you're gonna get if you come to work late. At this point, you can run to the station and still catch your bus, but you have to decide in a minute for that to be possible.

Groaning, you feel defeated as you shut your laptop close and stand up from the floorboards, your eyes going over to the door across from you which earns yourself a wince.

I'm gonna get a dock pay and it will all be Jungkook's fault. That jerk.

Okay – obviously, he's far from a jerk and he has nothing to do with any of this. You just like blaming anybody.

You sigh, grabbing your bag, finally making up your mind to just go and see for yourself what today has to offer you. A little optimism, if you will. But if you manage to bump into Jungkook at that company you aren't sure if you're not going to do something embarrassing because one thing about you, you do not know how to face certain challenges in life like a matured individual – you always have to be a little overboard and overdramatic with it.

You were heading towards the door when you suddenly remember your ID.

Your ID. Funny.

As you pick it up off the coffee table, you think about how you don't really wear it on the way to work and on your way home. You don't like the feeling of the lanyard wrapping around the skin of your nape, so you've always just worn it when you're in the office where it is mandatory. Otherwise, you make sure to take it off.

Suddenly, you think about a scenario where you're the kind of employee to wear their ID all the time, and those nights where you'd go to Midday straight from work to have dinner with Jungkook would've turned out differently because then if you were to have worn your ID during one of those meetings, he would've figured out that you're working at the same company. And maybe... the conversation about his relation to Jimin would've came up.

And maybe, you won't feel so... complicated about the whole thing.

How – in the two weeks that you've spent with him – do you know too much yet so little about him? How did you ever not ask each other where you work and how did this all come to you like a landslide and now you have no way out?

God's sake, you know about his dog, and you've exchanged numbers... and yet...

Although, granted, maybe you should've asked for each other's socials? Does he have Instagram? Twitter? Maybe if you had exchanged those sooner, you would've gotten to know him more and made the connections you only recently found out.

You want so badly to reach out to Jimin to talk to him about all of this. But he hasn't really contacted you since he sent off Namjoon to the airport. Maybe he really did leave with him, and it isn't just your imagination when he said something about going there last night when you sneaked out of the party.

But deep inside... you do not really want to talk to him about any of this, at all.

It is, to simply put, awkward.

You feel ashamed for gushing about your neighbor that is apparently the same person as his cousin. Feel embarrassed about how you ogled over him to Jimin when in fact, they're related. You don't know about other people, but you know the unspoken rule about not dating your friends' relatives? Not like you're dating Jungkook, but you have a crush on him for fuck's sake. The strings do not even stop at their blood relation because it extends to your workplace as well.

You know Jimin well enough to feel confident about not getting judged by him if you were to tell him about it, and if he actually does, he will directly say it to your face as far as you're concerned. But...

It's just all too awkward to tell anyone about. You're in too deep in the sea of embarrassment and shame you cannot think of ways to get out of it.

Your head is starting to hurt, and you know it's the sign to stop thinking. So, you shut up all the voices in your head and walk towards the door ready to go out, telling yourself that whatever happened, you're going to handle everything cooly like the grown woman you are.

Stepping outside the threshold of your apartment, you're just about to turn around to lock the door on your way out when suddenly, the door across yours opens and there welcomes you the man starring in your list of problems for the day: Jeon Jungkook, your neighbor Unit 446.

"Oh, hi. Good morning—"

You turn on your heel so quickly and open the door to your apartment so fast it's almost at the speed of light, entering your apartment once again and slamming the door closed, pressing your back on it as your eyes widen; heart beating at a staccato of thug, thug, thug as you take a moment to hold your breath.

What the fuck.

How in the hell is this the first time you see each other getting ready to work? It couldn't have happened in the first week you knew him or hell, the first day?! Why must you have bumped into him like that the moment you finally knew about who he is? Everything is getting way too ridiculous. It's like the universe is telling you once again that you'll always be her middle child: unfavorable by all ends.

"Shit." You hiss, biting your lip quite harshly as you think about how you must've looked like a goddamn fool turning on him like that for no reason. Jungkook must've been weirded the hell out – and rightfully so.

You face-palm. Damn, you were just telling yourself you're gonna handle everything like a grown, matured woman.

You unconsciously walk on your tippy toes on the way to the small window on the side of the door that lets you oversee outside your door, peeking from there like a creep as you watch Jungkook, still on his porch – with his grey coat over his arm – looking down on his phone and doing something with it.

That something is apparently sending you a text.

Jungkook (Unit 446) [7:52am]: why did u seem like u just saw a ghost?

The message read when you open your phone at the bell of notification. You haven't even read all of it yet when another one comes in.

Jungkook (Unit 446) [7:52am]: am I that appalling in the mornings? Haha 🥴

On any occasion, you would've laughed and go along with the joke, but you do not know what to say to him.

You stand there doing nothing, just staring at his two consecutive messages, poorly left on read. You purse your lips as you peek from the small window again, getting a glimpse of Jungkook standing still on his porch, eyes glued to his phone. He waits for awhile, and then you see him shaking his head with a hint of... smile on his face?

And then your phone dings once again.

Jungkook (Unit 446) [7:53am]: good morning by the way. Get safely to work

You stare at it so hard that the next second you look at the window, he isn't there anymore.

Letting out a heavy breath, you knock your head on the door, thinking about how you missed your 8 am bus and you have to wait for 30 minutes for another one to come and most especially, how you're going to get a dock pay for being late.

It's almost as if Jungkook is running for higher office the way his face is plastered all over the LED screens inside the building, showing the announcement of his ceremony. It's taunting almost, the way it was the first thing you see when you swiped your ID for entry.

Although, you do find it funny that it's the same man you just saw in front of you when you stepped outside of your place earlier this morning.

"Sol," you call your co-worker and also your friend, sliding your swivel chair closer to her desk. "Do we really have to go to the ceremony?" You ask, seeing that everybody in the office is already setting aside the stuff on their desks to head out to the 12th floor where the announcement ceremony will be held.

Sol fixes the post-it note on her computer first before turning to you, "Of course we do."

You pout at that.

"Is Ms. Jung really gonna be mad if we don't attend?"

"You know how she has this obsession of making our department look good, so I'm assuming yes." She answers, and you slump in your seat knowing damn well she's right to think that. Sol sees your seemingly grumpy disposition and asks, "Why? You don't wanna go?"

If only she knew.

You shake your head to her question.

"I just think it's gonna be boring," you shrug, the lie rolling on your tongue seamlessly.

"Eh, at least it's less work for today. Those things run for two hours and there's free lunch so that's that."

Events like these are supposed to be advantageous for you because again, Sol is right and those things do run for about two hours meaning less workload. Also, free lunch. Who doesn't like free stuff? But then again, Jungkook is going to be there and with your luck, you're starting to think that you're going to see more of him from now on. That is just how the world works against you.

"You're right." You say, frowning becoming more and more apparent, you're sure.

Sol chuckles at you and stands up herself, fixing her dress as you follow her out of the office.

Before you could completely go out though, you stop her on her tracks.

"Hey, do you think you have a face mask I can borrow?" You say, looking hopefully at her. Sol raises her brows, obviously confused at your strange request. Clearing your throat, you pretend to cough a little in your fisted hand. "I'm feeling a little under the weather today, but I drank my meds this morning. Forgot the mask." You reason with her, adding more lies to the conversation.

"Oh, I see. Okay, I think I have it." Sol perks up at the realization and you both enter your office once again, with your co-worker digging through her desk's drawer for the mask you were asking her for.

She hands it to you as soon as she finds it and you're quick to wear it around your mouth, silently rejoicing in your head at the brilliant last-minute plan you came up with in your head in order to avoid anything with Jungkook later. Not that you expect him to do something if he, indeed, sees you – you doubt he even will, given that the hall is huge, and you are planning to sit all the way back – but the mask is just a precautionary measure so there are less chances of him recognizing you or anything crazy like that.

Together, Sol and you ride the elevator down to the 12th floor and unsurprisingly, a lot of the company's employees are already there, finding their seats, chitchats heard across the hall.

"Sol, __!" Joonhwi, one of your co-junior accountants and also a friend, calls out to you both, separating himself from the other accountants and heading to your direction. "You're sick?" He asks as soon as he sees your face covered with the mask.

"A little." You reply.

Joonhwi nods his head and then say, "I thought you girls were planning to ditch the ceremony."

"I'll do anything to not see your face but then again we work together so I have no choice." Sol snarkily remarks.

"Sol, can you please refrain from professing your love to me with all these people around?" Joonhwi retorts back, smarmy and teasing, ever the expert on how to get on Sol's nerves.

"__, can you get this khia away from me?"

You laugh at both of their exchange, shaking your head at their silly antics. You don't know if Sol is just... emotionally constipated, but damn, she sure is clueless as hell about Joonhwi's feelings. It seems like everybody from the accounting department knows except for her.

Shaking your head, you go straight to the seats available with Joonhwi and Sol sitting on opposite sides of you.

"Anyway, I heard they're appointing Mr. Jeon's son." Joonhwi suddenly say.

Now that makes you squirm.

"Really?" You utter, just to give them a reaction.

Sol looks at you weird. "I thought everybody knew that?"

"Well, there are lots of Jeons in Korea..." you tell her, earning a laugh from Joonhwi which makes Sol frown.

"A man is not allowed to laugh in my vicinity, Joonhwi, shut up," she says rolling her eyes. Her tone shifts when she speaks to you though, suddenly sounding more gossip-y as she shows you a picture on her phone. "Look at the material, though,"

You look at the photo of a man who very much has the same and exact coloring of the one and only Jeon Jungkook you know and you have to swallow the lump in your throat.

"I mean, I've always thought Mr. Jeon was a DILF but his son is – damn." She adds, zooming in on Jungkook's professional head shot.

You and Joonhwi both give her the stinky eye.

"Have some class." you tell her, earning a laugh from both of them.

"For the record, you agreed to that before." Sol points out, referring to that dinner you three had at a barbecue house awhile ago. For the record, though, you were both drunk and Joonhwi had to haul Sol's ass back to her place and call Jimin to get you to yours.

"I refuse to acknowledge anything I've ever said when I was drunk."

"Okay but is anybody getting the urge to get transferred to the IT department expeditiously?" Sol jokes, obviously swooning over Jungkook.

Joonhwi snorts. "The CTO doesn't even go there."

"Killjoy much?" Sol frowns at him. "He'd visit, though. Imagine the eye candy."

You eye her in a teasing manner, "You have enough candy on your plate, Sol." And then you subtly look over Joonhwi.

Joonhwi himself doesn't seem to expect the insinuation, but nonetheless you know that he got the message of you implying he's good-looking and if Sol is looking for that, he's just there. That is why he suddenly loses his smirk and rests his back on the seat, crossing his arms as he retires himself from the conversation, obviously dodging your teasing.

Psh. Emotionally constipated co-worker number two.

"What the hell does that mean?" Sol asks, but she can't get an answer as the ceremony begins.

"Good morning, everyone. Today marks a significant moment as we gather to appoint our interim Chief Technology Officer," The host starts the introduction, "We are here to acknowledge the pivotal role of the CTO in our company's journey to ensure continuity in our innovation efforts. It is with great pleasure that I introduce Mr. Jeon Jungkook, our interim CTO, who has been selected to step into the position."

And there is him, in his grey suit that you've seen him in earlier. He's wearing his glasses as well, the one that has the thinner frame. You notice he switches between two kinds; he wears the thick-framed one off work and the thin-framed one during work, like right now. 

Jungkook smiles at the applause that reverberates all over the hall. There are LED screens that hang on both sides of the room and you can see his face clearly there. Sol gushes over how good he looks.

"Jesus, wow..." Sol whispers to herself, and you're sure she did not mean for you to hear that, so you try not to acknowledge it because deep inside, you agree with her. That's exactly your reaction when you saw him for the first time in the stairs of your apartment complex – and he didn't even clean up in his suit that time.

Jungkook stands on the podium with an easy-going smile on his face, his aura screaming confidence. He looks so sure of himself, like he's born to actually do this.

"Thank you, Mr. Park. Good day to all. I am deeply honored and humbled to accept the role of Chief Technology Officer at Blue Nexus Incorporation. As we navigate this interim period, my commitment is to uphold..."

You watch as he starts his speech, noting how well he speaks. You aren't a stranger to how people have different personalities when they are in and off work, but it's almost disorienting to see Jungkook going all professional, his voice soft but edgy at the same time, just enough for you and everyone to recognize a bit of authority in there.

He looks over the crowd, and for a brief second, you feel as if his eyes glossed over you far longer than he had other parts in the room.

But that thought dies down as quickly when he immediately goes back to speaking, and you're sure you just imagined it.

You're in the middle of your night routine when your phone suddenly dings.

Jungkook (Unit 446) [10:44pm]: just remembered we never really got around to that boxing machine, did we

Right. Today is Friday and you are supposed to go that boxing machine to determine if he's gonna supply your daily boba or if you're coming over to his place so he can cook you both a meal.

But that deal was made days ago when you still were clueless about his identity, and admittedly, you'd say that right now, you're doing anything to avoid him.

Scrolling through your message thread and seeing Jungkook's texts since that morning being left on read makes you feel bad. You know it isn't fair. It isn't nice to just suddenly go leave people dry like that, especially Jungkook who has been so strangely non-confronting about your sudden weird behavior.

It takes you a few minutes to give him a reply due to you erasing and retyping your message repeatedly.

You [10:47pm]: sorry ive been busy the whole day with work ):

Was what you lamely came up with. You couldn't have done better than that, to be honest with yourself.

Jungkook (Unit 446) [10:47pm]: I see Jungkook (Unit 446) [10:48pm]: so raincheck tonight?

You [10:48]: sorryyyy for cancellig im just feeling a little under the weather

Jungkook (Unit 446) [10:49pm]: ohhhh ok ok sorry for texting late

You [10:50pm]: asbdbsfjshf its fine!!!!!!!!

Maybe you didn't think it through, but you find yourself typing the next message and hitting send way too quickly.

You [10:51pm]: maybe tomorrow?

You're thinking about taking it back, but Jungkook has already replied.

Jungkook (Unit 446) [10:51pm]: ok. I'll see you tomorrow 😊

Pursing your lips, you wonder what he's doing tonight.

Is he working? Maybe some take-home paperworks? What do CTOs even do? He must be really busy... though you think it has to be otherwise since he had the time to text you.

You stand up from the chair of your vanity table, patting your hair one last time and jumping to your bed, ready to overthink some more then sleep when an idea suddenly pops up into your head the moment your eyes lay on your phone.

Making yourself comfortable on your mattress, you pick up the phone from your night stand and unlock it, your fingers making quick work of opening the Instagram app and typing jeonjungkook on the search bar.

The results show you a few accounts that resemble the username you looked up, but as you check each one, none of them seems to belong to the man you're looking for. So, you try a few varieties: jungkook, jungkookjeon, jeon... JK?... but then you're sure you've milked out the last of your brain juice trying to come up with a possible username for him but to no avail.

Jimin must be following him, you think to yourself. Since Jimin is a snob on his verified and public account and isn't following anybody there, you go straight to his private account to try and find a Jungkook in his following but again – you guessed it, failed search.

"Does he not have an IG?" you ask yourself, feeling quite exhilarated.

You think about Twitter, but remembering Jungkook's face makes you share your head in disagreement with yourself. There is no way he has Twitter. That guy looks terminally offline and doesn't have the face of someone who likes tweeting in his leisure time.

You'd say it was curiosity rather than desperation when you decided to install Facebook and hoped to see some of him there. You did have little hopes though, as you started typing his name, thinking there was no way you'd see him on the app because, who even uses Facebook nowadays except moms and dads and grandparents?

But then as you jokingly type his name and enter it on the search bar, a few tagged pictures of him show up.

The first one is posted by a Jeon Junghyun, his brother, and the picture is from 2017. Said picture is of Jungkook at the airport sitting on his luggage, and the caption reads as: good luck in college brother.

You stare at the picture, noting how young he looked in it and suddenly feel disoriented when you see his arms with no ink around them. They're so bare, and he definitely looked more lean, not like the muscly guy you know him as now. He was starting college here, so he must've been only 19 in the photo... meaning he got his tattoos in the States while he was in college or maybe even later than that?

You click on Jungkook's page, the one that his brother tagged in the photo, but all you see is the default Facebook profile picture and a locked account.

Feeling disappointed at that, you go back to his brother's page and check it out, throwing all your shame away as you look through his photos.

He must've limited his audience since the public posts are all outdated, but there are a few pictures in which Jungkook is in them, as well as other recurring people who seem to be their parents.

There's a recent family picture of them in the Eiffel Tower – uploaded in 2022 – all four of them.

As you see Mr. Jeon, the CEO of your company, with his family, it's hard not to feel... whiplashed, for the lack of better term. From the looks of it, they seem to be... close? For the record, Jimin does not have any casual pictures of him with his parents, and as far as you know, they never went out on trips together – just galas and all that socialite events. You know they are only mere pictures, not solid enough to assume what Jungkook's relationship is with his family, but you're starting to think maybe it's a good one.

That'll honestly be surprising, given that every wealthy family you know has dysfunctional relationships. Nevertheless, it will be quite... adorable if what you think is true.

"Oh my god," you say, disbelieving, as you recognize Jimin in one of Junghyun's public photos while scrolling through more.

It's an event of some sort, and how can you not spot Jimin when he looks conspicuous in his orange hair? You remember this being in your sophomore year in college, and how much Jimin actually hates that hair and wants to burn down every picture that reminds him of it.

You snort as you zoom in on Jimin, taking a screenshot of the photo, mindlessly going to your messaging app; ready to send him the photo to poke lighthearted fun, but then you realize—

"Oh, I can't do that."

Jimin will ask you where you got the photo from, and you'll have to tell him that you were cyber stalking his cousin. Then, he'll ask why you were stalking his cousin, and he will find out the very thing you don't want him to find out.

That makes you frown, quick to delete the message you were just about to send and put your phone back to your nightstand.

Well, that ruins fun.

You wish you can tell Jimin or anyone for the matter, but you currently don't feel comfortable about doing that.

Sighing, you look up at your ceiling, then forcefully close your eyes to avoid more thoughts coming into your head.

You start counting sheep until you fall asleep.

There had been a lot of times where you felt like shit about yourself. They happen way too many times that at this point, you'd lost count. It wired you to think that there must be something wrong when a day goes all too well.

But there is no beating the feeling of self-antagonism when you ditch somebody – even if it's for a valid reason.

Sure, you've ditched Jimin a couple of times, and he always makes sure to rub it on your face as much as he can until you pout at him and explain to him that there are just some days you do not feel like going out. Jimin, as your best friend, understands that about you, of course.

A lot of times, though, it's the dates you tend to ditch the most. Three dates – you recall – is the number of times you'd skipped out of, just because you had a panic attack thirty minutes before the meeting that one time and two times for the plain, simple fact that you had a realization that you did not really like the guy you were planning to see.

Shin Taemu, the guy from the IT department asked you out last month for a second date and you texted him a last-minute, half-assed lame excuse about having gotten period cramps. Up to this day, you're still wary about using the IT department's copy room because his texts, since then, have been left unanswered. You saw him awhile ago at the cafeteria, though, and he seemed to be treating you non-differently even after you ghosted him suddenly. 

Recently, you're doing the same thing again to Jungkook.

It isn't dating, of course – just the whole ditching thing.

You feel terrible for canceling on him again on Saturday when you just told him Friday night that you would go to that boxing machine. He had texted you a simple "we still on?" with a smiley emoji that gave you the creeps (because that smiley emoji does not ever mean the person is smiling behind it – knowing Jungkook though, it's probably not the case, and you're just overthinking it). You've left that text to rot until Sunday morning, and only picked it up later during the night, telling him you were "sorry I just saw this now! I was swamped with work stuff" even though you've never brought paperworks at home in your whole career and you were just binging The X-Files, bashing those two idiotic emotionally constipated FBI agents when you are quite one, yourself.

Sometimes, you fear you're no better than a man. Jimin will willingly knock your head on a door to get you to your senses and tell you all the things about why you should never compare yourself to them – but there are times like these when your shortcomings – specifically your lack of proficiency in communication – mirror that of a man's, and you hate every single second of it.

Until then, you dreaded for Monday to come.

But it's ultimately inevitable 

And when you wake up from your sleep, it's Monday, and you have to go to work whether you like it or not.

And oh, to add, Jungkook hasn't replied to your message. Which – okay – ouch. But you're not supposed to be hurt by it; if anything, you kind of deserve it after ditching him so many times. He isn't an idiot, and you're sure he knows you lied... you're just thankful that he's not saying anything if he does know, indeed.

You have thought things over in the shower this morning, though.

If Jungkook is three eggs in your basket, why will it matter? So, what's the big deal if he is Jimin's cousin and that he works at the same company and lives in the same apartment complex?

You finally admit that those things matter to you initially because... you have a crush on him. If you didn't, you'll give fuck-all if he's related to your best friend. You won't care at all if he's your boss because you don't have to worry about fantasizing about him.

But the thing is, you do have some sort of romantic feelings for him, and that is why those things moved you in a way that makes you feel and act a little weird around him.

And now there's this feeling of guilt that has overtaken your entire system. Because if you just see Jungkook platonically, these things won't happen. And you hate it, because he's genuinely a good friend. Someone who may want a friend in you too, but you are ruining it all because you have trivial feelings for him.

Absolutely ridiculous.

But now that those realizations have become clear in your head, you've made up your mind by thinking that those eggs don't matter.

It doesn't matter that he's Jimin's cousin, doesn't matter that he's an executive. You are his friend, and it's was okay to have friends that are your other friend's relative and friends who are your boss.

Of course, it's still awkward to think about him catching you in your home clothes but on a more serious note, your crush will never see the light of the day and even if it does, there's no way Jungkook will accept it because guys like him never settle with people like you. And you don't even mean that in a self-deprecating way, not at all! You are just fully aware of the practical world you live in and know that the vast disparity of your economic status will never work, especially with the kind of family he was born into.

With that said, you are ready for things to be back the way they were. No more pussyfooting in the office in fear that you'll bump into him, no more canceling on his innocent invitations to dinner, no more pining over him secretly and putting malice over everything that he does because you're going to be a renewed person now.

You're ready to take on the big shoes and be matured enough to address his questions if ever he has one.

So, you enter the elevator of Blue Nexus Inc. with a sort of spirit that you're sure will be hard to take down, creating pictures in your head that depict a smooth-sailing conversation with Jungkook where you're ideally going to be cool in it and not at all panic-y.

It's alright. Nothing is going to change—

Your thoughts are disrupted when somebody enters the elevator and the people in it suddenly start bowing their heads, a series of greetings reverberating in the confined space.

Fuck.

"Good morning, Mr. Jeon."

"Greetings, Mr. Jeon."

"Mr. Jeon."

Your eyes widen when you see Jungkook walking in with his black suit and sleek black hair, his eyeglasses sitting on his nose.

Okay, so nevermind the illusion that you're going to be cool now – you're absolutely panicking in your position!

Thank fucking god you're at the back with two persons in front of you, hoping they are enough to at least cover your frame as Jungkook stands in front after greeting back the employees inside.

Oh my god. Fuck me.

You tilt your head to the side with a wince on your face, sneakily raising your arm over your head to take your hairclip off so your hair fans your face. It is a poor attempt at covering yourself lest Jungkook suddenly turns around and recognizes you as a result.

But in that moment, you must look stupid as hell that the guy beside you looks at you weird.

You stand upright, giving him a tight-lipped smile. He just snubs you.

That makes you roll your eyes.

You go back to staring at Jungkook's back agonizing the thought that you really aren't ready at all to confront him. You thought about it all morning, but the moment he got here, all those ideations of you being cool around him from thereon are suddenly thrown out the building.

A few seconds after, somebody drops off at the 13th floor, and it starts to make you feel nervous.

What if more people start going out and then you'll be left alone with Jungkook? You intended to go to the 16th floor where your office is... Jungkook is – wait, where is his floor? You actually have no idea. But you are certain it's floors above you. Oh god! How can you possibly move past him without him recognizing you? Shit. You didn't think about that.

Now, you're starting to lose your bottle, your head not able to form ideas to get through him. The elevator is small! And people are starting to head out...

You look at the position indicator of the elevator, telling you that you're going way up to the 15th floor. A few seconds after and it dings, the elevator door opening. The guy in front of you heads way out, and you can see Jungkook still on his spot.

You find yourself not being able to move, completely stoned in your position.

You sure as hell aren't going out unless he does first! That's your solution. If he's located at the topmost floor, you're going to wait until then. You're just going to ride the elevator down again.

But what you don't see coming is Jungkook suddenly moving to head outside the elevator.

Looking at the indicator once again, you confirm if he really is going to the 15th floor.

The door already closed by the time Jungkook is finally out, which eases your nerves. You're way too relieved to forget thinking about why he's in the 15th floor.

You stop at the 16th with a smile on your face, feeling like you just got away with murder. You've never done it – get away with murder – but that's exactly how you feel.

On your way to the office, your phone vibrates from the pocket of your trousers.

Jungkook (Unit 446) [8:56am]: Correct me if I'm wrong but I think I just saw you at the elevator today

You thought of ways to dodge his bullet, thought about denying his claim and telling him that he must've seen somebody else because you work all the way across town and him seeing you would've been impossible.

But you know the attempts will be futile.

If anything, though, you take it as a sign to finally make things right.

Avoiding Jungkook will never be efficient. In order to be successful in that regard, you'll have to hand in your resignation or move out of your apartment completely and you can't do that.

Besides, for what it's worth, you kind of miss hanging out with him and if you were to continue hiding from him, you will have to say goodbye to having him around at all.

The moment you got off work today, you think of plans to talk to him and maybe, just maybe, invite him for dinner – to, hopefully, make up for all the times you've bailed on him.

With a tail tucked between your legs, you stand apprehensively in front of the door of his unit, still unsure about your plans but doing it nonetheless. There's no going back now.

You ring the doorbell, taking your hand back quickly as if you just got electrocuted by it.

Please don't answer. Please don't be home. Please don't answer—

And there he goes, in his plain white shirt and grey sweats, hair wet from his previous shower – you assume. He's still drying his hair with a towel when he opens the door, but his ministrations stop the moment he lays his eyes on you.

You just give him an awkward smile that probably look more like a grimace.

"Hi."

The surprise is evident on Jungkook's face. Regardless, he is quick to get over it and gives you a big grin instead. An expression you did not expect to get.

"__, hey," Jungkook greets, placing the towel around his neck and letting go of his doorknob. "What brings you here?"

You balance your weight on your other side and purse your lips in a thin line.

"Do you, uh, wanna grab dinner?" You ask right away, not wanting to beat around the bush.

Jungkook's smile somehow grows wider at your question, and you don't know what to feel. If he's petty, he'll reject your invitation but with the look on his face right now, he doesn't seem to have the intention to do so. At least you hope so. It will be so embarrassing for you to have come all the way to his place instead of just asking him through text.

He was about to answer when somebody suddenly approaches the door.

"Jeon Jungkook?" The guy asks, and you immediately shot your eyes to look at him. With his printed shirt that reads a famous food delivery brand and his hands carrying bags of what you assumed take-out food, you figure what he's here for. "Here's your order, sir."

Embarrassed, you scoot to the side to give way to the food delivery guy and let him extend the bags towards Jungkook who grabs his wallet from the pocket of his sweats to pay for the food, thanking the man in the process.

He already has plans for tonight, you realize. Your invitation to dinner is futile because he already bought take-out.

The food delivery guy gave you a look before he took off in which you returned a timid smile for. And then, you turn around to look at Jungkook again.

"Nevermind, don't answer my question." You say, referring to your invitation prior to the arrival of his food delivery. "Uhm, bye. Good night."

You were just turning your heels to go the other way around when Jungkook suddenly speaks.

"Wait, don't go yet," Jungkook steps to the side and inserts his wallet back into his pants. He raises the bags of take-out and arches his brow towards your way, "Do you like Thai?"

"I do." You reply, not really understanding where he's getting at first.

Jungkook smiles. "Good. Do you wanna come inside?"

When you realize what he just said, you shake your head, "Oh, no, no. We could grab dinner outside tomorrow if you're free."

"This is enough for two?"

He's inviting you to his place. Is he insane?

You shake your head once again. "No, Jungkook, I really don't want to impose on—"

Jungkook cut you off with a hearty laugh.

"__, you won't be imposing. Come on, I bet you haven't had dinner yet either." When you don't answer, he insists again, "I think I have Thai tea around here somewhere."

You narrow your eyes at him.

"You think I'll go inside just 'cause you have Thai tea?" you say, raising your brow at him, challenging Jungkook to say something to that. He shrugs with a smile of amusement. Then you break your demeanor and sigh. "You're actually right. I can probably be bribed with daily boba supply."

Jungkook laughs at your absurd claim.

"No matter what's on the line?"

"Yeah," Then you decide to joke a little, "If you're the one on the line."

His laughter only becomes louder, and you shake your head at him because you genuinely wonder why he laughs so much at your nonsensical jokes. You would consider yourself funny but not that funny.

But this is good. Joking is good. This dynamic is surely better than you avoiding him.

"You're so..." Jungkook stops to look at you and you stare back at him. That moment stretches into a minute until you feel the hair on your nape stand.

It's the night air, and not at all the almost intimate way he looked into your eyes.

That's what you'll tell yourself tonight.

"I'm so what?" You decide to break the silence, seemingly snapping Jungkook out of the trance he's put himself in awhile ago.

He shakes his head. "Nothing."

"Okay, now you're just making me curious."

"It's nothing."

"Okay, I'm gonna let it pass this time..." you say, eliciting a low chuckle from him.

He must realize that you've both been standing on his porch for a while now.

"Come," he says, gesturing inside his place.

Your steps are a bit hesitant as you follow him inside. But nonetheless, you both get in, Jungkook offering you a pair of home slipper that are almost twice as big as your feet as he locks the door.

When you let your eyes wander, you're more than surprised to see the state of the interior.

Jungkook's place is surprisingly... clean.

Sure, it must be because there aren't any decorations or much furniture yet, but from your experiences with men, the one thing they have in common is that they are messy. It's almost impossible to not see clothes strewn all over their places or food wrappings on any surface at a corner, but Jungkook's is spotless.

Except maybe for the few boxes that stand beside the door of the room all the way across the room which you assume is his bedroom, but other than that, there's no indicator that a man is residing inside. Admittedly, it's even cleaner than your own.

"Sorry, it's a little messy. I haven't unpacked all of my stuff. Got busy."

He seems to notice you eyeing the aforementioned boxes, and hearing his words, you shake your head.

"Oh, no, trust me. This is the cleanest place I've ever seen." You say truthfully.

"Thanks." Jungkook responds with a smile.

His apartment, like yours, has an open layout so from where you are in the living room, you can see him putting the bags on the kitchen counter, unloading them and starting to transfer some of them into his own plates.

You approach his direction to find yourself useful.

"Is it okay if we eat at the coffee table? My table set hasn't arrived yet..." he rubbs the back of his head, a sheepish smile painting his face.

"It's fine."

His coffee table is wide enough for all the food to fit, anyway. That's what you thought when you bring all the food to the living room, sitting on the floorboards opposite of him.

Before you start dinner, Jungkook asks if you want to watch something on the TV.

"It's like a jumbotron." Is your throw-away comment when he turns on his huge ass TV. It's genuinely so big you aren't even exaggerating. You are not that good with estimation but the screen is probably the same height as you...

"What?" Jungkook chuckles, looking at you all confused.

"Nothing. Just that your TV is so big."

"Yeah? I wanted to buy this one for so long and I got really lucky to get it on sale here. I have the Criterion channel so I've been wanting to watch stuff with an OLED screen—" he cuts himself off and looks at you with a hint of embarrassment. "Sorry."

You look away before you can go on a spiral about how cute he looked with a proud smile on his face while he was going off about how he got his jumbotron on sale. He was geeking out about a freaking TV. But you guess it makes sense for a tech guy like him.

"Uh, what do you want to watch?" He asks, going through his streaming services.

The big TV and the streaming services just click so much in the context of him. You, in contrast, cannot relate. After forgetting to unsubscribe to Netflix a few months ago, it automatically stole the thirteen thousand won from your account, and since then, you're more than traumatized to pay for any streaming services until today. Pirating is bad but so is capitalism.

"Anything is fine."

"Okay."

You really couldn't have cared less about what he's going to click on, but National Geographic pops up on his big screen and you think he must be joking but he starts tuning in with genuine interest.

Oh. Wow.

He's just a big nerd trapped in a hot human body, huh?

How cute. And how unbelievably hot to discover this about him.

After a few minutes into the documentary, it turns out that whales are interesting to a certain degree. Sure, Jungkook's huge ass screen made it a little funny because the pictures are too big, but they did pique your interest a little, especially when Jungkook would add in a little of his own knowledge about them. When you asked him about the weird little stick thing on their mouth, he told you that they were tusks and only male narwhals had them, and that they used it as some sort of sensory tool. He admitted he hyperfixated on whales for a while when he saw them first on Discovery Channel as a kid.

You didn't even have to pretend to be engrossed, you were just in genuine awe of his interests and how enthusiastic he was about sharing them.

Food is starting to run out, making you realize that it's been awhile since you've eaten Thai food and you should probably eat them once again tomorrow.

You're just about to ask Jungkook which restaurant he got it from when he beats you to speaking first.

"You're still in your work clothes."

You stop.

"Yeah..."

And then you're reminded of why you're here in the first place.

It isn't for the whales or for Thai food, that's for sure.

You haven't changed out of your work clothes, indeed, since you planned going out for dinner in hopes of talking to Jungkook while ago. The night is going so well so far that you actually forgot about that. But then since he already cocked the gun, might as well just pull the trigger and get it over with.

You look at him, an uneasy feeling settling in your nerves.

"So... about your text earlier."

There is a hint of a smile on Jungkook's lips when he nods his head.

"Yeah?"

"It wasn't me." You say, trying to look for a reaction, trying to see if he'll insist or anything.

But Jungkook just nods his head again.

"I see."

He does not seem to see, though, and you know right then and there that your cover is finally and officially blown.

"Okay, I lied. That was me." You take back your words, jutting your bottom lip out when you add, "Turns out we work at the same company. And that you're apparently my boss."

"And you're my cousin's girlfriend."

You gasp audibly.

So he knows you were at that party! How? And what? He thought you were Jimin's girlfriend for real? Wait, does he not know it was all Jimin's ruse?

"How did you know that?"

"They mentioned Jimin's girlfriend was in the bathroom when I arrived. I asked Jimin about it and he told me her name was __."

You would face-palm yourself if Jungkook wasn't present.

Ugh. Of course, Jimin doesn't know.

"Well, okay, just so you know, I was a paid actress." You tell Jungkook, which earns you a laugh from him. Then you cover your mouth, realizing you shouldn't have said that. "Oh—uhm, do you know...?" You trail off, looking at him expectantly and hoping he knows what you meant.

You swear you remember Jimin telling you that Jungkook knows about him being gay, but now you are second-guessing yourself and you will be in trouble if you did slip up.

Thankfully, Jungkook nods, seemingly understanding where you're getting at.

"Don't worry, I know." You heave a sigh of relief at his verbal confirmation. Jungkook takes the tom yum goong and started peeling the shrimp from the bowl, continuing to say, "And Jimin brings a fake date to every family gathering, so I knew right away he was lying about dating somebody," Jungkook chuckles, and as if an afterthought, he adds, "I wish I could've seen you act. You two left so early."

Well... you did play a role in that, you think. But you can't tell him you purposefully didn't go back to the table that night because you saw him.

"Oh, Jimin had to send Joon off at the airport." You say, which is actually true. For a change.

He nods. "His boyfriend, yeah... did he go to Italy with him?"

You wonder how he knows about the Italy thing. Jimin, probably. They're close after all—

"Namjoon's a close friend as well." Jungkook adds, as if having read your thoughts.

"Ah," you nod, not surprised at all about their apparent link.

Wealthy people do have a tiny world.

"Jimin hasn't actually contacted me yet since that night."

It has been a few days, and you're starting to think he's dead or something. Your calls go straight to voicemail and your messages do not send. You've sent him a few on social media as well but it seems like he hasn't been online at all.

"I'm worried about him. Has Namjoon said anything?" You look at Jungkook, hoping he'll say yes.

But he shakes his head instead.

"I wouldn't be worried, though. I think they're together."

"In Italy?"

"Yeah."

You won't be surprised if that's the case. Jimin is the king of spontaneity and if he did fly off to another country abruptly with his boyfriend, you won't question it.

You do miss him though and you're gonna make sure to make him feel bad for not telling you anything soon.

"You're right." You sigh.

Jungkook has been peeling shrimp for awhile now, setting them aside in a small bowl. You think he's gonna eat it himself, but you're surprised when he slides off the bowl to your direction.

"There. I noticed you weren't eating the tom yum. You don't like it?" Jungkook asks, smiling at you.

You can't help it; blood rushes to your cheeks at the realization that he just peeled shrimps for you.

Is this normal for him? Like, does he just go around and do things like these for friends?

You will scream in your bathroom later when you get home.

"Oh, no, uh... I'm actually allergic to shrimp." You give him a tight-lipped smile.

You feel bad at the way Jungkook's expression drops as soon as you said that.

"Shit, sorry, I didn't know," He takes the small bowl quickly and looks at you apologetically.

"No, it's fine! I didn't tell you either."

"I'm really sorry. I should've asked first."

"Jungkook," you chuckle. "It's fine. Thank you, anyway."

"I could've done serious damage to you, huh?"

"Yeah, you'd have to tell Jimin you killed me because you fed me shrimp."

"Don't say that," Jungkook laughs. "How long are you friends now, by the way?"

You nip on your chopsticks, answering him.

"We've been friends since college... so almost ten years."

"That's really nice."

And then you remember to ask, "Did you tell him?"

"What?"

"That you know me?"

"No. Not yet, at least. Didn't have the chance." Jungkook proceeds to eat the shrimp himself and you have to keep yourself from letting out a breath of relief at his answer. "Did you tell him?"

"No. Uh— I know this is weird. But... can you not tell him?" You ask. Jungkook looks at you for a bit, studying your face. You clear your throat when seconds passed and he still hasn't said anything. "It's just that I want to tell him on my own time." You decide to add.

"Okay." He says after a while, smiling.

Thank god he doesn't ask any more questions.

"Thanks."

And now there's another elephant in the room that you still need to address.

A bit hesitant, you open with, "Did you uhm..." You think about how to word it, but then you think, fuck it. "Did you know by that time at the party that I work at Blue Nexus?"

Jungkook shakes his head.

"No, I saw you at the company and only put two and two together."

Your brows furrow. "When?"

"Uh... earlier this morning."

"Oh. Yeah..."

You don't know exactly why, but you feel a tinge of disappointment that he meant earlier. You really thought he recognized you at the ceremony.

But then you shake the feeling off and jokingly narrow your eyes at him. "Why didn't you tell me about the party, then?"

"Why, did you see me there?"

You shut your mouth. Right. You're supposed to pretend you didn't seen him that time.

"No." You lie.

"So I thought it didn't matter... though I was pretty surprised when I saw you today."

"Ugh, I thought I hid myself pretty well." You lament dramatically, embarrassed that you really thought covering your face with your hair would do you any good.

"Nah," Jungkook shakes his head while laughing at your misery, "I thought, "who is this five-foot woman hiding in the back","

"Wow." You gasp, not believing his audacity. But you're also thankful that he makes talking to him so easy. The way your conversations goes from funny to serious is so seamless, all because Jungkook knows exactly how to turn the wheels around.

"Kidding. I actually recognized you by your blouse..." he gestures at your baby blue polo sleeves, making you furrow your brows, not quite sure how he meant. But then, he continues, "Did the ink ever come off?"

Oh. Right! He had seen you wear the blouse before and even heard you tell him the story about how the jammed printer caused a blot of ink to stain your cuff.

You're surprised he even remembers that. It seems so long ago.

Raising your arm to examine the cuff area of your blouse, you look at it with small amusement.

"Yeah, it did, actually."

"How did you do it?"

You deadpan, "You're not asking me how I do my laundry, Jungkook."

"Hey, I love doing laundry," You raise your brow, not believing him, but Jungkook insists. "No, I really do."

"Okay." You nod, chuckling because he really seems way too eager to prove to you that he loves doing laundry.

What you've found out about him so far is so... mesmerizing, to say the least. With how he looks like – you meant, the tattoos and the body – you would most likely assume he likes guy stuff. You know, big macho man stuff like that. But turns out, he's just a guy who likes big TVs and NatGeo and... laundry.

He's such a fascinating person.

"I'm also not your boss." Jungkook suddenly says, making you look up at him.

"Well, you're CTO, you technically are." You point out.

"Technically, yes. But I don't oversee the accounting department, so you're not really working for me, which means I'm not your boss."

The mental gymnastics make you frown but you get his point.

"Okay, that's true. But still... your father is Mr. Jeon."

"Would you believe me if I denied that?" He jokes, the tilt in his voice telling you he is.

"You kind of look the same, so I probably wouldn't believe you."

"Really? A lot of people say I look more like my mother..."

You've seen the pictures. It's more of a split, really. But you can't tell him that obviously.

Silence sits in his living room for a while, the NatGeo narrator serving as background noise at this point.

You drop your chopsticks down and sigh. Jungkook looks at you with furrowed brows, worried about your sudden seriousness.

"So, you're not like weirded out about this whole thing?" You ask him straight to the point.

Joking is good, as you said. And this night is going better than you thought. But it feels like you are just glossing over the facts, and you need to address it with him lest it becomes a problem in the future. You don't know how exactly they are going to be; you just have a feeling in your heart that they are going to.

"The what?" Jungkook says, looking genuinely confused, as if he doesn't know what your deal is.

"The I'm-your-cousin's-best-friend? And the fact that you're an executive at the company I work at and we live in the same building?" You lay out, sounding exasperated now that you're taking it all out.

Jungkook stares at you for a bit.

"Why would that weird me out?"

He isn't being dense, you can see that. He's just plain confused.

You sigh once again. Seems like you've been doing a lot of that these past few days.

"Because it's just... too many eggs in the basket."

Jungkook chuckles, wiping his hands with a tissue. "Isn't it good you have many eggs in the basket?"

You glare at him, and it makes him raise his hands as a peace offering.

"It's bad because..."

"... because?" Jungkook, now with his hands clean, props an elbow on the coffee table, looking right into your eyes as he leans closer to your direction.

You look away.

"Because it means I can't hang out with you anymore."

When you look at him again, the smile is wiped off his face, suddenly exchanged with a frown.

"Why?"

"Because again, it's too many eggs in the basket and—" Running out with metaphors, you say the first thing that was off the top of your head, "That makes you my uncle."

Jungkook's jaw drops a bit.

"Your thought process really amazes me."

You grimace, already expecting that. "Thanks, I get that a lot."

"No, it's really... interesting."

He doesn't look judgmental at all, just full of genuine awe, but you're eager to come to your own defense and so you say, "You don't get it? It's like—" You fling your hands around, trying to explain what you just said. "You don't have a close relationship with your uncle, right? 'Cause it's awkward. When you're with them it's like being with your boss, which means you can't be friends with them 'cause, again, it's awkward."

Jungkook still looks like he doesn't know what the hell you're talking about, but he nods his head, nonetheless.

"Okay... but I have a very close relationship with the CEO..."

You pout. "That's not what I meant."

And when he chuckles at that, you know he's fucking with you and understand exactly what you were trying to say; fooling around as if you aren't having an internal crisis.

Jungkook must've seen how you're genuinely not finding anything funny and stops.

"Is that why you've been avoiding me the past few days?" He raises his brow, but his voice is gentle as he speaks.

You didn't think he'd confront you about that, but you decide to look away when you try to lie as an answer.

"No...?"

Jungkook only chuckle at your indignation.

"Okay, okay, let's divide and conquer, yeah?" He smiles at you. Warm and soft. "First, you're Jimin's best friend, what's the issue? It just means you must be a good person to hang around with because you're friends with the person I'm close to. Second, I'm not your boss, will you please stop saying that? And third, we're neighbors... so what? We just happened to rent in the same building. No big deal."

Your frown just gets deeper at what he said because... he's right. So right.

You overreacted the whole time you tried to hide from him.

With nothing else to add, you weakly ask, "Okay but... can you fire me?"

In your head, it's a relevant question. You don't know how the chain of command worked at the company. He's an executive which probably means he has firing rights, right? What if he finds you too rude towards him over the past few days that he wants to take your job away from you? Can he fire you because of personal vendetta?

"Asking the important question?" Jungkook teases.

"Damn straight, I am. I mean, I did complain to you about my job before, and it turns out you're one of the executives at the company."

"I can see the wheels in your head turning but sorry to say I'm not actually an official executive. I'm just an interim CTO. And no, I don't have the right to fire you," Jungkook chuckles, seemingly amused at your thoughts. "And you can complain to me about your job all you want."

You send him a suspicious look.

"No, thank you."

"Seriously?" He asks incredulously. "Interim CTO or Jimin's cousin or not, I'm still Jeon Jungkook. Just your plain ol' neighbor."

"You say that but what if I arrive to my desk tomorrow with my things packed because you told Ms. Jung all the things I told you about her?" You squint your eyes at him.

"God, you're unbelievable." Jungkook says in between his laughter.

"Okay, but I wanna ask you something." You say. Jungkook hums. "I'm curious... why here?"

It isn't like your apartment complex is abominable or anything of the sort. When you were still on the look-out of apartments five years ago, here was the only decent one that did not cause you a 3-month pay. It's why you chose it in the first place. The unit is big enough for yourself and it's located at the center of the city, which means that it's near establishments that are relevant to your daily living. The bus station is also just a few minutes walk, and it only takes you an hour commute to get to your company building. It was the best out of all your choices back then.

However, for a guy like Jungkook, you wonder why he isn't at the big shot complexes like in Cheongdam or Hannam. You don't doubt he can afford those.

But Jungkook surprises you with his answer.

"It's cheaper."

You can't help but raise your brow.

"What?" And then as if realizing your look, Jungkook chuckles. "Oh, I see... you think I'm, like, rich?"

You shrug.

Jungkook answer with a simple, "My parents are loaded. And anyway, it's near the company. I also really like it here so far. Hannam felt like prison when I stayed there in my first week. Guards were way too strict."

Nodding, you recall Jimin's stories about that gated community when he himself stayed there for merely three months. It makes sense for it to almost seem like prison, though, given that most people who live there are high profile.

"I commute on my way to work. What about you?"

"I bought a parking spot nearby; it's surprisingly cheap compared to America."

You wouldn't know because you've never had a car in your life. First of all, you refuse to apply for a driving license because you're sure you'll kill yourself on the road. Besides, cars are expensive. You'll stick to your buses and trains all your life even though commuting sucks ass sometimes.

But you nod at Jungkook's words.

Soon, you both engage in more conversation about yourselves until you notice the time.

"It's getting late, I should go. I have work tomorrow." You tell him with a pout, genuinely disappointed about having to go.

Jungkook looks over at the clock hanging on his wall and then turns to you, "We have work tomorrow, you mean."

You blush at that for no reason.

"Well..."

"Okay, I'll walk you to your place."

"What?" You laugh. "That's ridiculous."

"What's ridiculous about it? You're so short, the crickets might attack you." Jungkook says with a serious face.

That makes you frown instantly.

"Ugh, you've got to stop saying that. I'm starting to dislike you."

"Hmm."

Jungkook indeed followed you on your way out, though, but not without you insisting that he didn't need to walk you to your door because it was literally just across his, but Jungkook was persistent and you had no choice but to walk the five steps it took to get in front of your apartment from his own.

He's still laughing when your face is still contorted into an unpleasant expression.

"Okay, good night." You say. You point to his chest absent-mindedly, but you quickly take it back when you feel how hard it is. "A-and stop calling me short, I'm not. The __ karma is real, I have Jimin to prove that."

"Fine, I'll stop." Jungkook smiles, watching as you enter your threshold.

"Good."

You stand on your door, leaning over the frame and not closing it just yet.

Jungkook gives you a heart-warming smile before he says, "See you tomorrow."

And he speaks the words so gently that you feel your cheeks heating once again.

"S-see you as well."

"You look banging in that polo shirt." Jimin says, obviously chatting you up because the moment you accepted his call earlier this morning, you did not hesitate to tell him off about going MIA on you so suddenly.

"It's literally just a plain white polo."

"Okay, and you still look good in it, so..." He shrugs, but you can see the look on his face, sheepish and apologetic.

You scoff.

"You can't compliment me out of sulking. I'm mad at you."

There's a pout that forms on his lips quickly; a tactic so predictable you almost roll your eyes.

"I know... but I told you! Joon and I spent the last week—"

"Fucking each other to Sunday and back, blah blah blah. Still, you could've told me you went to Italy, you slut."

Jimin lets out a loud laugh at your blunt words.

"Slut shaming in the big year of 2028? I thought you were better than that." He shakes his head, pretending to be pointed and curt with the bitchy look on his face. But you know he's just teasing to get you out of your own bitchy mode as well.

It works every time.

You don't fight the way your eyes roll on their own accord as a response this time. Jimin compromises, "Okay, I'm sorry! For not telling. It's just that I've turned off my phone for the past week because I'm sure dad and his secretary are going to blow up my phone— they are, by the way, so cut me some slack."

Forgiveness comes easy when you take into consideration what he's been through for the past few weeks. The spontaneous trip to Italy and him flying along with his boyfriend may come off as immature, but you know deep inside he's just wanting to get away from the reality of his life: which is pretty much toxic family with incredibly high expectations and boring ass management school.

You are certain they are giving him shit, and you don't need to add more to that.

It's 7:20 and you're currently prepping for work. Privacy is almost moot in your friendship with Jimin, so you're quite literally dressing up in front of him on call, sweeping your hair to the side as you pull up your trousers.

"Okay... are you having fun there?" You ask instead.

Jimin smiles a knowing grin. "Babe, I just told you me and my boyfriend are having sex 24/7 in here, I'm having the most fun in my life."

You button your trousers and groan at his words.

"I wish I was also in Italy."

"I mean, you could."

You give him a look.

"And what? Third wheel you and Joon? No thanks."

Jimin just shrugs, the angle of his camera going shaky for a bit as he moves to lay on what you assume is his bed.

"I don't know, girl, maybe you'll find a nice Italian man here."

That earns him a snort from you while you duck to wear your sandals.

"I've long forgotten that fantasy since I was 19."

"You're not a stranger to relapsing..." Jimin clocks and that makes you shoot up straight so he can see the look of incredulity on your face as an immediate reaction to what he just said.

"Rude!"

Jimin just snorts. "Okay but for real, how are things going over there for you?"

You sigh. "Same old, same old. Pretty and single and working a very boring job."

Your best friend can't help but mirror the wince on your face.

"You could change the last two but never the first one, babe. So, you see, you're still miles ahead." He says as a matter of fact, sounding like he's giving out some sort of motivational speech.

"Lucky me," you noted with a straight face. You start rummaging your bag to see if you got everything you need. Then, there's something at the tip of your tongue. Something you've been wanting to open up to him. So, you start by clearing your throat – subtly, you hope.

"But you know, life's pretty... eventful the past few days."

Jimin quirks his eyebrow at that, obviously catching onto what could possibly be a new news.

You bite your lower lip, nibbling on it slightly as you contemplate whether to tell him about what you've been up to.

For some weird reason, you still haven't told him about Jungkook, and it seems like Jungkook has made good on his promise not to tell your best friend because if he did break it, Jimin would be inquiring you all about it now.

You figure now is sort of the perfect time to... maybe tell him.

"Uh, well... not eventful, per se, just a little..." you trailed off, finding a bit of uncertainty in your voice. You see Jimin's face morphing into more of a confused look rather than intrigued as the second passes. Pursing your lips into a thin line, you finish your previous sentence with, "Just a little different, I guess."

"Don't edge me, I swear to god." Jimin threatens playfully, making you chuckle.

"It's not something groundbreaking, okay? It's just the, uh, do you still remember Mr—"

The yawn that Jimin lets out stops you from completing your words, and you remember him mentioning a while ago that it's currently midnight from where he is.

"Ugh," Jimin groans, "Sorry, I slept so late yesterday. Anyway, go on, what were you saying?"

The uncertainty you felt a while ago increases, and you decide that maybe, now is so not the perfect time to bring up Jungkook, his cousin.

So, you shake your head, smiling at him, packing the words of your confession in a box that that you place at the back of your head, ready for unpacking when the time calls for it – which you don't exactly know when.

"Nah, go to sleep. This conversation can wait."

"You're gonna kill me with curiosity."

Rolling your eyes, you make a gesture of shoving him.

"I have to catch up with my bus soon, anyway." You say, dodging his insistence.

"Just tell me pretty please, I won't be able to sleep!" He dramatically says.

You roll your eyes again at the theatrics.

"It's really nothing big."

Well, it is. Sort of. Or maybe it's not, and you're just doing that thing again where you put too much thought over something inconsequential.

You swear you were ready to tell him about Jungkook, having even hyped yourself in the bathroom a few days ago and practicing what you're going to tell Jimin. But as of this moment, right now, it suddenly feels... unimportant. Not in a negative way. Just in a... does-it-really-matter way.

Jimin will find out eventually. But not now when you're not totally ready.

"I know what this is," Jimin suddenly says. At his suspicious tone, your heart starts to pick up the rate of its beat. You can see the way Jimin squints his eyes at you, and you wish he doesn't see the way you're slightly frozen. "You got back with your ex, Hansung."

You hope he sees the disgust on your face the moment he let out the words.

"Oh my god, hell no!" Is your instant response. Just hearing that name again made the hairs on your nape rise. "Jimin, what the fuck."

Jimin rolls his eyes. "You look so nervous, that's how you look like when you're about to tell me you've done something stupid."

Okay, fair. The assumption is coming from a valid basis. It makes you frown at him.

"You're such a bitch." Jimin laughs at the way you deflate. You let out a sign. "It's just... Taemu. From the IT dep."

"That guy?!" He exclaims and quickly covers his mouth. "The cute guy you refused to date a second time... you're finally dating him again?"

"What do you mean, finally?" You narrow your eyes at him, surprise at the positive comment about Taemu. "Jesus, I thought you were with me when I said I found him boring."

"What can I say? He can be cute and boring." He points out, as if he did not talk behind the Taemu's back when you ranted about the guy to him.

"You're fake as hell." You laugh, unbelieving.

Jimin joins your laughter, finding his sudden switch up funny as well.

"But you're, for real, dating him again? It means he still likes you?" He asks, obviously intrigued at this newfound information.

Unfortunately, it's a bit of a lie. You feel bad, but it is a great scapegoat to dodge the bullet of the conversation about Jungkook.

"I don't know... we're talking."

Which, for once, is true. Taemu and you did not exactly end on a good note (courtesy to you, boo), but you work in the same company, after all. There are times in the company's cafeteria where you bump into him, and it would have felt weird if you just snub him and act like you did not have an acquaintanceship before he asked you out to a date. Taemu's ultimately still your friend, and there are no hard feelings on his part, you can confidently say. He's... nice, you guess. Somehow of an afterthought. You're starting to think you completely misjudged him on your first date.

You take a quick trip to the fridge to grab a glass of cold water since Jimin is on loudspeaker anyway.

"That reminds me," Jimin suddenly quips. You hum to acknowledge him. "My cousin now works at your company, right? You still remember Jungkook? Have you met him yet?"

You couldn't help it; the water splattered all over the place when you heard Jungkook's name from his mouth.

Jimin quickly asks you a series of "are you okays" and you respond with a "yes" that's interrupted with a cough every time; a weak nod with a raised hand, telling him not to worry.

"Water just got in the wrong track." You reason, coughing and slapping your chest to regain your breathing. When you see wet spots on your shirt, you let out a whiny groan.

"You're so jumpy today. You're sure you're fine?" Jimin checks once again, and you have to bite your tongue to not show the way you froze a little at his observation.

You nod at him, showing him an expression that hopefully conveys he's the one being weird and definitely not you.

"Yeah, it's fine." You look down on your shirt. You're debating whether to stick with it and just let it dry in the bus later or completely change out of it. "But uh, your cousin! I did see him. We had a ceremony a week ago."

You would've said that with a smile, but Jimin knows you too well that he'll surely know it's fake. So, you spoke with an almost straight face. What Jimin says next surprises you a bit, though.

"I hope you meet each other," Jimin's excitement is visible on his face. "It'd be kinda fun; my closest cousin and my best friend... imagine that? I think you'll like each other." He seems to be so geeked about the idea that even when you're internally having a crisis, you can't help but find it cute. But then his smile gets wiped off his lips just as quickly as it showed. "It'd be awkward, though. He's, kinda like, your boss, right?"

You suddenly remember Jungkook's words about him not being your boss. It makes your lips curl, but you have to shake off the thought.

You give him a hesitant look.

"Well, not really, but he's an executive. So... it would be awkward. I guess."

Jimin nods, agreeing with you.

"It's crazy though, I never thought he'd be working at uncle's company so soon..." He trails off and he looks deep in thought, like his words were just supposed to be inner thoughts and you're not supposed to hear them. But he shakes his head after a while, moving on to another subject that makes you quietly sigh in relief. "Anyway, I'm sure I'm keeping you up. I'll sleep and you better tell me all about Kang Taemu when I wake up, okay?"

You chuckle, shaking your head at the threatening tone of his voice.

"I will. When will you come home, anyway?"

He groans, obviously not wanting to discuss home for the reasons you know exactly what. He confirms your assumption by telling so.

"Honestly, I don't know. I'm trying to avoid responsibilities as much as I can. God, I wish you were also here. There's a bar Joon and I discovered that sells these insane bottomless mimosas."

Before you could reply, Jimin goes off the frame suddenly, but the lower part of his face makes you see the way his lips curling up into a smile and saying, "Hey, hon."

There's a greeting from another person on the other end of the line – one that you are certainly familiar with.

Jimin moves his camera and as expected, you see Namjoon waving at you.

"Hey, __,"

You mirror the smile on his face. "Hi, Joon."

"Let's not keep her up. She has to go to work," Jimin tells Namjoon. "Anyway, bye. Kick some ass at work."

Laughing, you tell them, "I'll be off. Good night to you both."

When the call ends, you look down to your shirt once again, seeing that the little wet spots still haven't dried yet. Sighing, you decide to change out of it because it looked untidy.

Too bad you didn't check the time when you were doing it though, because as soon as you were done buttoning the new shirt you've worn, the clock hits 7:55 am. You bus arrives at exactly 8 am.

"Shit." You hiss, scrambling out of the apartment hoping that you can somehow run your way fast to the station and hop on it on time.

But you're no The Flash or Usain Bolt. To piss you off more, the strap of your bag got caught up with the handle of your door.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" You whisper, hastily untangling the strap off the door which won't let up.

"__?" As soon as you hear the familiar voice, you stop with what you were doing and turn to Jungkook, conjuring up a what you can only hope a pleasant enough smile.

"Hey!" You say, chirpy in that weird way. You hope he didn't catch you cursing the door.

But with the way he was looking at your hand on your door, you knew he did.

Sigh. He just really has to catch you in your most vulnerable moments, huh?

"Good morning," Jungkook greets with a smile, ignoring the case at hand. As usual, he looks put together with his sleek suit and styled hair and eyeglasses.

"Morning," You say, slowly taking off the strap around the handle, gentle and slower this time.

Fucking door handle, you thought bitterly.

As you do that, you catch a glimpse of your wristwatch. Shoot.

You look back at Jungkook apologetically, moving away from your porch. "Nice seeing you. I have to catch my bus."

"When is it coming?"

"At exactly... two minutes from now. Bye! Gotta run!" You were about ready to literally run but Jungkook calls out your name.

"Wait!"

You stop coming down the flight of stairs to ask him, "What?"

"I can drive us together there."

"Oh," You slap your hands on your trousers. "That's so nice of you. Thank you—" And then suddenly, his words register, and you take back your quick agreement. You hate that you're so slow sometimes, but it's innate at this point. "I mean, no! That's a nice offer, but no, thank you."

"You won't catch your bus at this point," Jungkook says as a matter of fact, even taking a quick glance at his own watch. He begins to walk down the stairs to walk with you. "It only takes thirty minutes to drive by car to the company." When it takes you long to answer, Jungkook insists, already predicting the "no" that you're going to hit him with. "Come on, do you want to be late?"

"No."

Jungkook smiles at you. "Okay, so...?"

You purse your lips into a thin line, blowing your bangs and giving him a sheepish look.

"Okay, fine. But I owe you."

The smile on his face only grows wider. "More than fine by me."

He leads you both to the parking building nearby where his car was, only taking about a few minutes to walk towards.

When Jungkook points at his car, you follow his behind him shortly, stopping on the one side of the door. You're just about to open it when you feel Jungkook looming behind you, his hand extended forward to open the same door. You stretch your neck to look at him in question, making sure to keep a decent distance between you both.

"Uh...?" You utter.

And then it hits you.

He's trying to open the door for you.

You take a step back after the realization, feeling shy about the prospect of such a chivalrous act from him.

"This is the driver's seat."

"Oh!" You exclaimed. Eyes widening, you walk backwards to give him more space. "Yeah! Fuck... sorry," You apologize, cheeks starting to heat in embarrassment.

You round about the car and enter the passenger seat quickly, seeing Jungkook already set in his own place. You look to the side, almost pressing yourself to the window just so he won't see the way you wince.

So fucking embarrassing. This is exactly what you write about in your diary during high school days.

"Your seatbelt," Jungkook says, and you look at him with widened eyes. Right. You were way too deep in embarrassment that you forgot about it. You fiddle with the seatbelt a few seconds before he speaks once again, "Let me."

And you couldn't have stopped him from leaning closer to you to grab the seatbelt and wear it around your waist, carefully and gently, making you hitch your breath at the sudden proximity.

Of course you've noticed it way before, but this is the first time you were close enough to deduce that he smells like green apple and fresh laundry. A little different from the musky scent that you were used to smelling on men that you've been with before.

"There." He smiles at you before sitting back on his chair, wearing his own seatbelt.

You are way too stunned to acknowledge what he did that for the first few minutes, you're just quiet, mind flying to some place. You only snap out of it when Jungkook speaks again.

"Slept late last night?"

You shake your head at his question. "No... just facetime with Jimin this morning. You were right to tell me not to worry, he's with Joon."

Jungkook nods at your words, turning the ignition of the car. He starts to reverse, and you feel yourself growing embarrassingly hot when he does the thing of putting his arm around the back of your seat while the other spins the wheel, stretching his neck to look back.

You decide to look away for your own sake.

"Uh, anyway, I'm really sorry."

"Hm?" Jungkook hums, eyes on the road as he starts driving.

If you think about it, you were just at his place a few nights ago eating dinner with him, and now, you somehow find yourself in his car as he drives you both to work. His constant kindness is not lost on you... but Jungkook's casualty makes it seem like this is just his plain nature.

You quirk your head to the side.

"Are you free later for lunch?"

"I can arrange my sched. Why?"

"Do you want to go together?" You ask. You'd say the offer is a form of compensation for his help today, but getting lunch together for the pure sake of it doesn't sound bad, either. Both works, so you're only a bit hopeful as you try to look for his reaction.

Jungkook has a hint of surprise on his face when he takes a quick look at you before turning his attention back on the road.

"Really?" There's a little lilt to his voice, as if he's not surer if you're being serious.

You shrug to appear casual. "If you're not too busy, that is."

He shakes his head, smiling. "Where are we going?"

"You're gonna find out later." You tell him. Jungkook cocks his head to the side, intrigued.

"Okay... where should I meet you, then? At your office?"

"Oh, god, no." Is your quick response. Jungkook immediately looks at you in offense, but it's more like amusement when he stares longer. At that, you wave your hand so he doesn't get the wrong idea. "No, no, I mean— it's just rude if an executive, like, comes to our office."

"You're still not hung up on the boss thing?" You roll your eyes at his teasing tone which earns a hearty chuckle from Jungkook. He shakes his head playfully at you. "I doubt anyone would care."

You jut your bottom lip out because he's probably right. But still, your co-workers would ask, and you're not trying to dig yourself a hole by making yourself news of the day because the newly appointed interim CTO just walked into your office for what? Lunch? The HR would have a field day.

"Maybe we can meet at the parking lot?" You offer, thinking it's the sensible place.

Jungkook smiles. "Alright."

You had to stay behind Joonhwi and Sol as lunch came, making an excuse about going out with a friend as opposed to not coming with them. In your head, you think you were doing Joonhwi a favor.

After that, you were welcomed with text from Jungkook when you turned on your phone. It said he was already at the basement where he parked earlier, so it wasn't exactly hard to spot him right away the moment you got there.

The drive to your destination was quick enough to only amount to around fifteen minutes. As soon as Jungkook managed to park his car somewhere, you lead him to where the place you'd chosen for lunch.

When he finally registered where you were, his amusement does not go unnoticed.

"I've always wanted to go here," He tells you, looking around the stores in-line by the street.

You look back at him in surprise.

"You haven't been here?" Jungkook nods and you want to ask him if he's kidding around, but then you realize he's no ordinary person like most of the people you know in your life, recalling that Jimin's first time in a marketplace like this was only when you introduced him to it during sophomore year. "But you eat street food, right?" You ask him, even though you know he does. You did spend nights on that food truck around your building.

"Of course I do," Jungkook chuckles, rubbing a hand at the back of his head, seemingly shy. "I just never tried it here."

You give him a wide grin. "You're gonna enjoy it here. Follow me, I have a favorite store here that sells really good hotteok."

You spent the better part of the morning thinking about the place where you can bring him, opting out of going to cafes and restaurant because it was just getting kind of old. Aside from the fact that you stopped going to the food truck across your apartment building, it's also been a while since you enjoyed some street food yourself. You're also delighted to know that this is apparently Jungkook's first time going here.

The area is usually livelier in the later hours of the night, but there are still a lot of people by lunch time. Students, civilians, tourists... a usual day in Seoul, you can say.

When you reach the hotteok stall, you ask for your usual right away, almost asking the same thing for Jungkook but remember that he might actually want something else.

"Do you want other flavors instead?" You look back at him while he stands behind you with his hands in his pockets. He's forgone the coat – it's somewhere in his car seat – which left him with his usual polo shirt, sleeves folded up to his forearms. He kind of looks broody with his stance and you know... the exposed tattoos – but he looks adorable when he gives you that familiar easy-going smile at your question.

"I'll have whatever you're having."

You're hungry for a while now so you don't wait a long time to take a bite of the hotteok when it's finally served. It's hot, and Jungkook laughs as you learn it the hard way, sputtering as you move the food away from you.

"Fuck!" You curse, blowing air and fanning your mouth which doesn't really do anything.

"Slow down," Jungkook says in between his chuckles. You feel his arm resting on your back as some sort of support. "I'll get you some water."

It only takes him a few seconds to stop by a nearby stall to get you some bottled water, and you thank him after drinking it quickly.

"Sorry 'bout that," You apologize, smiling sheepishly.

"There's a—" Jungkook gestures at his mouth. You arch your brow at him, a bit confused. He tries again. "Something in your—" He interrupts himself, shaking his head, and takes out a handkerchief from the depths of his slacks.

Your immediate reaction is to take a few steps back when he goes to wipe at your mouth. Jungkook stops, pausing his movement. You give him an awkward thumbs up which prompts him to continue.

"Done."

You choose to gloss over that occurrence, taking another bite of hotteok after that.

"You know I always wondered why I don't see you going out of your apartment every morning." You start a conversation while you walk together mindlessly.

"You wonder... why?" Jungkook looks at you for a brief moment. With a teasing grin, he says, "You wanna see me every day?"

You gasp.

"Gross, Jungkook." You say, absolutely scandalized at what he said.

He just laughs, shaking his head, amused at your reaction. It makes you roll your eyes.

"I just figured you don't commute so you don't need to leave early." You tell him.

You notice he seems to be extra playful today.

"Oh, yeah, that's right."

"Lucky you. I'm so sick of commuting."

"You don't like driving?"

You shake your head, "I don't know how to drive, and I don't have any intention to."

"I think I've heard that from Joon before." Jungkook chuckles.

"Oh yeah, he told me one time he'll most probably kill himself if he drives. Which– same."

Jungkook bites on his hotteok, chews on it for a while before saying, "That's what I thought when I started to drive a motorcycle."

You almost snap your head to look at him.

"You drive a motorcycle?" You ask, just to be sure you heard him right.

Jungkook nods. "Hm."

"Oh, wow... that must be..." You trail off, looking blankly ahead of you.

Well, now you can't get it out of your head. Jungkook riding a motorcycle with his tattoos out. Jungkook riding a motorcycle with a leather jacket.

Ugh. You told yourself you were gonna forget about the stupid crush! This is so counterproductive. There's nothing special about a man who drives a motorcycle! Not at all.

"Must be...?" Jungkook curiously asks you.

"Nerve-wracking." You say, which you think is a fair answer. He doesn't have to know that you're thinking about a totally different thing.

He nods. "It was for the first time. Mom always gives me an earful whenever I use it." He shakes his head while laughing.

You can't help but ask.

"You're close with your mom?" It only registers to you that the question must be way too privy, but Jungkook doesn't seem to think so as he answers casually right away.

"Yeah. She was really glad when I came home."

You smile. You once thought he's close with his family... turns out you aren't exactly wrong.

"That's sweet."

He just gives you a soft smile. "You?"

"Oh, me? She, uh, died awhile ago. So."

The smile on Jungkook's face falters.

"That... sucks."

"Thanks." And then it makes you laugh. "You know most people say sorry. You're the first one to say it sucks."

"I..." Jungkook seems to track back on what he said. "I mean, I'm sorry, of course. But it must suck, right? I just... love my mom a lot. Can't imagine losing her."

You nod, completely understanding where he's coming from.

All your life, people have always felt sorry for you for losing your mom, your only parent. Of course, you're thankful for the sympathy, but sometimes... you just need someone to be real with it. Someone to say it sucks – because losing a parent is hard. Losing a mother suck.

"You're not so bad, Jungkook." you comment after a while, and as you take a quick look at Jungkook, you see him in another light. The same light you see a person in when you figure you want to befriend them and be in their life.

"What do you mean by that?" Jungkook asks with an arched brow.

You shake your head, smile not going away.

"Nothing!"

Jungkook annoyed you some more about it and you had to laugh at his curiosity because it was funny the way he insisted about something really inconsequential. Even when you went to another stall to buy some drinks, he still tried to bring up the same thing, but you're more stubborn than him so of course his efforts did not bear any fruit.

After a while, you sit on some bench while you eat tornado fries.

"I don't like this." You say, looking at your stick and frowning. Turning to Jungkook, you extend your tornado fries to him. "Try this one."

He takes a bite from your own stick. Surprisingly, he seems to like it.

"You wanna exchange?" He offers his cheesy tornado fries in exchange with your sour barbecue-flavored one. You nod, taking it from him. Jungkook chuckles at you. "I told you to get that one."

"I was feeling experimental." You tell him simply.

When you were in front of the stall, you told him how you didn't like sour barbecue at all but still wanted to give it a try. Obviously, that did not go well. Good thing Jungkook bought the cheesy flavor, though.

From your peripheral vision, you see a group of what seems to be a group of teenage girls sitting on the bench across from you. Judging from the very familiar uniform, they're in high school. They've been there for a while now and you notice they've been stealing glances at your direction.

You glance at Jungkook and snort.

"Looks like someone here has some admirers from Seoul High School." You tease Jungkook. He does not seem to notice the girls at all, looking at you with confusion first before turning his head to look across.

In a second, Jungkook turns uncomfortable in his seat.

"That's Seoul High School?"

You laugh at the obvious way he ignores them looking at him. Still, you nod your head at his question, "Yup. Went there."

You subtly look at the girls' direction again, catching them do the same and you can just see Jungkook's ears getting red by the second, visibly embarrassed at the unwanted attention.

"That's just across my high school." He casually says, trying so hard not to mind the girls.

"No way!" You gasp. "Yongsan International?"

He nods.

"The cheerleading teams on both schools used to have, like, this big beef before, you know that?" You tell him, ready to lay out the huge gossip that happened in your batch. And then you remember, "Oh. You've probably graduated when I entered senior year in high school."

Jungkook gives you a look. "Rude. I'm not that old."

The sass comes unexpectedly which makes you laugh out loud you almost choke on the fries.

You were just about to tease him some more when somebody approaches you both.

"U-uhm..."

When you both look at the girl, she's one from the group who was shamelessly looking towards your direction, which is obviously aimed at a specific someone by your side, Jungkook.

"Hi!" You greet cheerfully.

The girl blushes and then turns to Jungkook.

"O-oppa..." She utters, hesitant when she pulls something out of her skirt pocket. It's a small, crocheted sunflower.

You coo at the sight, looking at Jungkook in amusement. The man beside you just grow more uncomfortable in his seat. He looks so constipated, god bless him.

"My friend told me to give this to the eonni beside you."

Your smile is quickly wiped off your face the moment her words sink in, confusion slowly coming to paint your expression. You look at the girl but before you can say anything, she's already walking away as soon as Jungkook takes the crocheted flower from her. You watch as she and her friends ran, their figures slowly disappearing from your line of sight.

"Looks like you got admirers from Seoul High School." Jungkook quips beside you. "For the eonni beside me." He teases, extending the cute little flower to you.

Hesitantly, you take the flower from his hands.

"You know, it suits you." Jungkook says when you don't say anything, still stunned from the literal turn of events.

You look up, baffled. "Huh?"

"A sunflower. It suits you... you're like it." He smiles, soft and gentle. There's a look of fondness in his eyes that you couldn't have mistaken for anything else. "I'm glad they gave that to you."

You open your mouth to speak, but there's nothing at the tip of your tongue.

Shying away from his gaze, you mumble a low, "Thank you."

You don't think you hear his next word right.

"Cute."

You have a hobby of collecting hobbies instead of focusing on one thing to be good at, jumping from one activity to another, even if it means abandoning your previous thing. Hobbies for most people means time lent to be better with it every day, but in your defense, you don't necessarily think you have to be good at something.

You've tried drawing. You've tried dancing. You've tried the guitar and you've tried the ukelele and you've tried crocheting and you've tried to study astrology. You've built three huge boxes of storage containing the needed materials for each of them, but they end up collecting dust.

Why can't a hobby just stay as a hobby, anyway? Why can't you just feel goofy one day to suddenly start drawing and give up the next day the moment you realize shading is hard? Why can't you just buy dress patterns and only sew the skirt part because tops are complicated to sew? Why can't you just learn four guitar chords because it's enough to play at least five songs using them?

None of it matters, you think. People will pressure you to push and push until you can possibly capitalize on something you're good at, but it just isn't the case for you.

You'll collect all the hobbies in the world until your head is full of random things and you just burst with it.

And true to your words, you find yourself wandering about in the baking aisle of your local grocery store at the late evening hours.

Yep. It's 2028 and your hobby pick for the year is baking.

So, what if you're a disaster in the kitchen? Cooking and baking are two different worlds! At least that's what Google tried to tell you a while ago when you were cleaning your bathroom earlier this morning, suddenly craving for some matcha cookies after you were done.

It sounded about right in your head that you decided to pick up ingredients for it, deciding it will be your dinner. At the back of your head, you think you should've just gone to the hundred cafes surrounding your apartment complex like, you know, any regular person would if they're craving something. But you figured that if you know how to bake, you could get matcha cookies anytime you want.

What can you say? You like to live life on edge. (You'll probably burn yourself in the oven later, but that will just be another lesson that life is soon to give you. You're just taking it in advance.)

But living on edge doesn't mean getting your card declined when you turn it to the cashier to supposedly pay for your grocery.

"I'm so sorry, uhm, can I have a few seconds, please?" You tell the cashier, giving her an awkward smile as you grab your wallet from your tote bag again, taking your card from her. You take another one of your debit cards this time and offer it to her, subtly looking around in hopes that no one is watching.

"Oh, we don't accept debit cards issued by this bank, ma'am." She says, and you're just about ready to dig yourself a hole from this complete, utter embarrassment.

"Okay..." you trail off nervously, glancing at the computer to look at your total. "I'll just pay in cash."

You do not, in fact, have enough cash.

You can tell the cashier is getting impatient from the way she shifts her weight from one side to another, and you keep yourself from making eye contact with her, fumbling with your wallet.

Three hundred and sixty-five days in a year and your card chose to decline on this very particular day. Why don't they accept your debit card? And why don't you have enough cash with you? Are you really this broke?

This is going to be a disaster. You can't afford to go to prison for this. Can you even go to prison for not paying grocery? Okay, maybe jail time for like 12 hours? But you have work tomorrow!

"Excuse me, miss,"

Somebody says but you refused to look at whoever it was, still counting the bills in your wallet that do not even accumulate to half the amount of your total.

"You can charge her bill here."

At that, your head quickly snap to the owner of the voice only to reveal himself as no other than Jeon Jungkook.

You swear you almost sigh in relief at the sight of him and have the sudden urge to hug him big time.

Jungkook looks at you and gives you a smile.

"Hi."

"Jungkook," you breathe. "Thank god you're here."

The cashier looks at you both weirdly but nonetheless swipes the card Jungkook gave her., instructing him to type his code on the key pad. There's nobody in line for the cashier you went to other than you both because it is too late an hour to be getting groceries, so Jungkook is able to butt in seamlessly and get his cart checked out as well.

"You're very much welcome." He says warmly.

Jungkook's dressed just as casually as you; a combination of simple white t-shirt and shorts and a pair of sliders. His grocery contains a lot different than yours, showing all sorts of food ingredients. You wait for his stuff to get bagged until you both head out of the store.

His car was just parked nearby, so you follow him towards its direction to apologize.

"I'm so, so sorry for earlier. I'll pay you later when we get home, of course." You say, just now registering how embarrassing it is for him to catch you in that situation. You're no stranger to getting your card declined... but really, now?

You decide to add awkwardly, "Or... do you have Kakao Pay?"

Jungkook chuckles while he opens his trunk, picking up his bags of groceries to place them in there. He shakes his head, keeping his hand outstretched to upwards to hold the hood of his car.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it."

You're about to speak in protest when he gestures at the bag in your hands, as if asking you to place it in the trunk as well. You shake your head repeatedly.

"No, it's okay, I'm just gonna take a cab home." You say, pointing to your back where the street is, politely refusing his obvious offer to drive you home.

He's done too much in the span of ten minutes you've seen each other tonight. He's paid for your groceries for heaven's sake, and he still has the intention to drive you again to your destination? Not adding the fact that he also just drove you to work yesterday to keep you from being late. It's like he's just doing you heaps of favors and so far, you've done nothing in return.

"__, please, I'm offering." Jungkook insists. As usual. "I really don't mind."

Shoulders deflating, you let out a sigh.

"It's just that..." You start, nibbling on your bottom lip.

"What?"

"You've just been doing me a lot of favors lately." You say, looking away from his gaze.

Jungkook calls your name gently. You train your gaze at him. He steps closer to you and gives your shoulder a soft tap. "Hey, I'm not counting."

The words in itself aren't all that special, but the way he said it and the way he looked at you while he did may have just did a little damage to your heart because why did it seem so genuine?

Still, you shy away.

"It's just really embarrassing." You say, out of argument now.

Jungkook lets out a sound of amusement and takes the bag from your hands. He didn't even give you the chance to protest before he managed to put it successfully in the trunk of his car, together with his own groceries.

"Why don't you pay me back by helping me make dinner tonight?" Jungkook muses.

You give him a weird look.

"You really want me in a kitchen? Have you not listened to my horror stories this whole time, Jungkook?"

He laughs as he leads you both inside his car. You follow quietly behind but this time, you don't mistake the passenger seat from the driver's seat and instantly wear your seatbelt as soon as you're sat.

"I dunno, I'm just offering. I thought it'll be fun." He shrugs, turning on the ignition of the car and starting to drive back to the apartment building.

"Okay, I can at least chop some onions and garlic..." You trail off. And then you remember as an afterthought, "Oh, I'm actually baking tonight as well."

Jungkook takes a quick surprise glance at you. "You never told me you know how."

You snort. "I don't know how, trust me. I'm just starting right now."

"Is that why you went out grocery shopping tonight?" He arches a brow.

"Yep. Totally a spontaneous thing. I wanted, like, this very specific matcha cookie..."

Jungkook laughs. "Should I help you with the baking as well? I might learn from you."

"Really? You want to help?" You ask him delightfully.

He nods, making your grin wider.

"Sounds fun."

You both agreed to cook and bake at his place, partly because you personally are not ready for him to see your own flat. When you get inside his unit, Jungkook cutely bragged about his table set that just arrived earlier this morning according to him.

Personally, you've barely cooked at your own place let alone somebody else's. The one time you were in someone else's kitchen was Jimin's but even then, it was just to microwave some pizza and other take-out food.

It should feel weird to be prepping ingredients with someone, to move around the kitchen with the goal to make yourself a homecooked meal – especially with somebody like Jungkook – but truthfully, it felt almost... natural. Probably because you're conversing casually while you're doing things so there isn't any awkward silence.

You're making tangsuyuk, according to him, and he's obviously taking the lead – expertly prepping the meat while you go chop some spices needed for the dish.

"Is this okay?" You ask, showing him your work. You hope he likes it because you're kind of under a weird pressure to be in here, helping him. Also, you're not sure if you minced the garlic right.

But Jungkook just gives you a hearty smile.

"Good girl."

And goes back to what he's doing as if he just said nothing.

Which—okay, he seemed to have unconsciously said it that now you're gaslighting yourself whether you heard him right or not. Did he really say what you think he just said? What the fucking fuck.

Thankfully, Jungkook's too busy to notice that you become a bit frozen in your position for a good ten seconds. If he truly didn't mean to say that, he needs to get those words out of his vocabulary before he sends you in a sudden cardiac arrest. It'd be the most mysterious death of humanity.

"Do you need the carrots?" You ask, raising the vegetable in your hand.

Jungkook nods and you start to peel it. He watches by your side when you begin slicing the carrot.

"Cut them into Julienne slices."

"Huh?" You look back at him. "Not the cooking jargon, Kook." You deadpan, the nickname seamlessly coming out of your mouth.

He apologizes and tells you exactly what he meant. You furrow your brows in concentration to achieve what he wants, but Jungkook just laughs beside you.

"Okay, let me just—"

He's behind you a second after that, towering over your form and circling his arms around you. Your breath hitches as Jungkook places his hand on top of yours – the one that holds the knife – and begins to guide you through slicing the carrot.

You can feel his breathing from the proximity of your position, and even though there's still distance between the both of you, it's only hairsbreadth away and frankly, the ridges of the front of his body are so prominent against your back.

Jungkook does not seem to face the same internal panic as you though, because as soon as he deems that you are staring to get it, he steps back and let you do the thing on your own.

He leans back on the countertop, crossing his arms while looking at you.

"You're not so bad at this like you claimed." He comments.

You feel your cheeks heating up, so you focus your full attention on the carrot, your hands seemingly having developed a mind of their own throughout the time. Well, at least it's doing the right job. You can only hope you don't slice through your fingers... imagine cutting them right into this very moment.

"This is a trauma response from watching too much Gordon Ramsay."

Jungkook chuckles at your joke, shaking his head.

"We're just gonna wait for another thirty minutes for the meat and the mushroom. Should we start baking? What do we do first?" He says, washing his hands first before walking towards your direction.

You take your phone out from your pocket, looking at him a bit apologetically as you say "sorry" for pulling up Google. For the record, you haven't memorized shit and this is your first time baking.

Jungkook shakes his head, telling you there's no need for apologies because he "can't bake for shit" himself. That makes you feel relieved. You thought he's just good at a lot of things.

You don't encounter any trouble while mixing the dry ingredients, but when it comes to the wet ones, you think you've done something wrong. Jungkook tells you to try it. When you dip your finger into the mixture and taste it, you automatically scrunch your face.

"What, why?" Jungkook asks curiously.

"I don't think this is quite right..." You say, looking down at the mixture sadly.

"Mayve we can add more vanilla...?" He takes the bottle with him, ready to pour some into the bowl.

You pout. "But it says one teaspoon and we already put one teaspoon."

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know... give up?"

Jungkook chuckles as he says your name.

You sigh. "Okay, maybe we'll try some that."

You do as you say, and as you taste it again, you're delighted to notice the elevated flavor. Mindlessly dipping your finger again into the bowl, you offer it to Jungkook to try.

The very act just sinks into your head when he leans down to suck it off your finger.

It happened quick, not at all sensual and slow like the movies make it out to be, but you feel your heart rate picking up at the feel after-effect of Jungkook's hot tongue touching your skin. But as you look at him, his eyebrows are furrowed, assessing the taste, not at all in a trance by what just happened.

"Oh, definitely better." He comments, as if he didn't just... suck your finger?

... Which you offered.

That he took willingly.

You turn away from him and pretend to busy yourself with the electric mixer, fumbling with the paddle.

"Are you cooking the tangsuyuk yet?" You ask, changing the subject. Jungkook is completely unaware of the current chaos in your head, walking towards the refrigerator to take out the pork he marinated earlier and the bowl of mushrooms.

"Just tell me if you need help." He tells you, touching the small of your back as he passes by you to get to the stove.

You feel your cheeks heating at the touch, moving aside to let him start frying the meat with the batter he's busied himself with awhile ago.

"Shit!" You say, surprised at the sudden whir of the machine. Jungkook quickly looks at you. You laugh and give him a thumbs up. "I'm fine here!"

You both work together on your own thing, and when you let the dough to rest, Jungkook, at the same time, finishes frying the meat of the tangsuyuk. You don't want to feel useless while you don't have anything to work on, so you peer over what Jungkook is doing and ask him if you there's anything he needs.

"Do you want to make the sauce?" Jungkook asks you. You scrunch your nose and hesitantly nod. He seems to notice your uncertainty and chuckles. "I'll teach you."

"Okay, but don't blame me if it tastes like shit later, okay?" You warn but he just shrugs and laugh, telling you that he'll talk you through the process and there's no need to be nervous. You can just experiment with it a little, he says.

You've watched a lot of Hell's Kitchen episodes that you have this silly, unrealistic expectation on what goes on in kitchens, but thankfully, Jungkook isn't like Gordon Ramsay at all and is so unbelievably gentle in teaching you even when you almost spilled soy sauce on the countertop and put too much vinegar than needed. He shrugs your worries off by fixing the thing, thankful that when he offers you the ladle to taste the sauce from it, it's more than decent.

While Jungkook prepares the tangsuyuk for your dinner, you take the time to form your cookie dough into small circles, leaving it in the oven to bake while you follow Jungkook into the living room and start eating the food that you cooked – or he cooked.

Jungkook teases you that you lied about not being good at cooking, but you have to remind him you didn't do shit and only the bare minimum. He looks like he's not convinced.

By the time that you're finished with your dinner, the oven's timer went off. Jungkook insists that he wash the dishes even though you feel like you should be the one doing it, but he tells you to check your cookies in the oven and so you did.

You're not expecting anything, but it will feel really good if it tastes at least okay.

Crossed fingers, your mind says as you take out the sheet pan.

First impression: it looks okay to the eye. Like real cookies.

But soon, your parade is rained on when you try to bite into the cookie.

It looks like real cookie, all right, but apparently doesn't taste like one.

Your face contorts into a frown as soon as you bite down into it a second time.

Okay, that's it. Put them in the tupperware as soon as possible, you thought. So, you do just that, placing all of the pieces into the plastic box and securing them away.

From where you were, you can hear Jungkook shutting the water off on the sink, his footsteps coming near you. Once he gets close, he peers down at what you're doing. Intrigued, he asks for one.

"No." you shake your head. The cookies are to be gatekept not because it's too good but because it should not be consumed at all. Jesus. You just ate Jungkook's tangsuyuk and it tasted exactly like the ones you've eaten from restaurants; it'd be such an embarrassing contrast to your own work.

"Don't be stingy," Jungkook playfully says, already making a move to reach for the cookies in your hands.

You hide the tupperware behind your back and stop him with your other free hand.

"Don't come closer. These cookies are not for consumption. Go away."

But he just arches a brow, walking a few steps forward.

"Jungkook!" You whine. "They don't taste good, and I'm embarrassed by them."

"Just one bite," Jungkook chuckles at you, not understanding your mortification. "Come on, __."

But you're stubborn and you won't let him have any of it even if he tries hard.

Jungkook is just as determined though, as he threatens to get closer and closer to you.

You squeaked out his name when he takes a hold of the tupperware but thankfully, you're quick on your reflex and able to take it back.

The whole thing prompts you to burst into laughter as you run around the island of his kitchen, giggling at the silliness of it all.

Your efforts to get away from him eventually go to waste as he managed to get ahold of your waist with his one arm, the other not missing the beat to steal the cookies from you.

He's firm over his hold, lifting you up while laughing against your head as you try to wriggle away.

"Let me have one bite, __," He says, and with his one arm, sits you on the countertop, not letting you go just yet even when you're fully sat.

You try to snatch the plastic from him but he's much quicker this time. When he opens it, you have no choice but to cover your face in embarrassment.

"I told you it's bad." You say, pouting at him, noting the expression on his face as he chews on the cookies that tells you it definitely does not taste good.

"You're a first timer." Jungkook just says, putting down the tupperware.

"Don't try to make me feel better." You frown even more.

"I'm not! I'm just pointing out that this is the first time you tried so of course it's not gonna be perfect right away?" He offers, some sort of comfort, maybe?

But your shoulders deflate because he's right.

Still.

Jungkook must have noticed your mood and tries to cheer you up one more time.

"Come on, you still made a really good tangsuyuk."

That makes you chuckle, unconsciously kicking his knee slightly making him let out an ingenuine, "Ow!"

You don't notice one of the straps of your spaghetti top falling off until Jungkook fixes it for you in the middle of your shared laughter.

"Thanks." You smile at him, mindlessly touching the strap, keeping it in place.

Jungkook hums as he helps you jump out of the kitchen counter.

The night ended with him walking you to your unit again, a rather silly thing he keeps on insisting to do. It's hard to put a name on it, but there's a certain feeling in your chest when you went out of Jungkook's apartment.

A feeling that lingers its way through when you receive a text from him after you come out of the shower that night.

Jungkook (Unit 446) [11:05pm]: good night chef

You fight off the smile that forces its way into your lips as you type out a reply.

You [11:06pm]: good night :)))))

Jungkook (Unit 446) [11:06pm]: i thought u already slept

You [11:07pm]: at 11oclock??? what do u think am i a grandma

Jungkook (Unit 446) [11:08pm]: fair Jungkook (Unit 446) [11:08pm]: but i had fun earlier. we should do it again sometime

You lie on your back, can't help yourself from letting a small giggle.

You [11:09pm]: jungkook-a You [11:09pm]: just tell me u wanna be with me??

You meant that as a joke, obviously. Just like how he joked about you one time over lunch about wanting to see him every day when you brought up the topic of not seeing him come out of his apartment. You did not mean anything by it other than friendly banter.

Jungkook (Unit 446) [11:10pm]: 🤔 Jungkook (Unit 446) [11:08pm]: that can be arranged. you can be my personal sous chef and I'll build us a restaurant

You [11:11pm]: sweet

Jungkook (Unit 446) [11:11pm]: you havent seen all, baby

Your lips part.

Okay...

Your relationship is absolutely platonic at best. But you can't help but think that he gets a little flirty at times... like the few moments in his kitchen earlier. Is it bad that you're thinking way too much about that specific memory of him licking your finger without thought? Of his strong arm effortlessly carrying you against his rigid body and putting you on the countertop, almost manhandling you? Is it bad you can't get the memory of him fixing your top out of your head?

His use of nickname ticks a little light at the back of your head, and you decide to poke the nest a little.

You [11:12pm]: really? what r u wearing right now

Just a little jokey-joke between friends and nothing more.

You don't even expect a reply to that, but your phone dings a second after, and when you open your message thread again, your jaw parts wider this time.

It's a picture of Jungkook lying his bed, his face cut off from the frame. But you know it's him from the arm that peeks out, his tattoos a familiar sight by now. The photo is taken at a low angle, just enough for you to see the sleeveless shirt he's sporting and the strings of his grey shorts.

You [11:14pm]: i meant that as a joke

Jungkook (Unit 446) [11:14pm]: 🥴

You do not know what he meant by that. You look for a picture to reply with, and the HAHA reaction is expected the moment you pressed send.

You [11:15pm]: stripper patrick says good night

Laughing silently at the meme you sent him which was Patrick from Spongebob wearing a pair of black fishnet tights and boots, you wait as three dots appear on Jungkook's line.

Jungkook (Unit 446) [11:15pm]: you're a minx

You chuckle, reacting to his message with an emoji and turn off your phone, almost throwing it on your nightstand and scrambling to bury your face in your pillow to let out a sound of a weird sob, but you're smiling your face off and your cheeks feel way too hot.

The truth of the matter is that you ended the conversation because you're afraid of where it's going.

Turning around, you lay on your back and stare at your ceiling, calming the beat of your heart and forcing your eyes to shut close.

But the picture Jungkook sent you keeps on popping up in your head, almost like those ads from shady websites on the internet, and when you think about it, it triggers a slur of memories that play like a picture in your head: his lips wrapped around your finger... his strong arm... his subtle touch on the small of your back...

"Ugh," you groan, slapping your hands over your face.

You furrow your brows to appear serious, thinking that it'll make you think of something serious as well, wrapping a blanket over your body and sighing when the technique doesn't work.

Okay, think of dogs... and puppies...but that's apparently a wrong move because now you're thinking of Jungkook with his dog.

You're obviously awful at this.

You turn on your bed once again, muffling a sound in your pillow.

But then as minutes passed, your restlessness continues to prevail and you're about to cry with the unknown frustration that sits at the back of your head.

Laying in silence for a while, your hand finds itself roaming over your body, your thumb catching your nipple through your thin top. You pinch the nub, experimental, until it turns into a pebbled rock in your touch.

You bite your bottom lip as your other hand trails down over your panties, running it around the waistband, down until you reach down, down, down to your core.

Your lips part when you feel its heat, two of your fingers starting to stroke where your nether lips were. You sigh at the sensation, squeezing at your boob and turning your head to the side, thinking about how good it feels.

Slowly, you reach down under your parties to part your lips, moaning at the wetness that welcomes you below.

You start to stroke gently with your middle finger, drawing figure eights over your core and making sure to put friction on your clit. The ministration produces more wetness in your cunt, and you spread it over for easier access inside as you start to poke into your hole.

"Oh my god," you mewled, breathing heavily against your pillow, pumping a finger into you. It's a little tight, and you remember you haven't touched yourself like this for over a few weeks now.

But god, how could you forget the feeling of it? The feeling of something going in and out of your cunt, gliding so smoothly because of the abundance of wetness all over.

"Fuck." you sigh out, lips parted, eyes closed to feel more of the sensation.

Your other hand reaches under your top to fondle with your boob, helping you stimulate yourself into that familiar feeling of great ecstasy that comes with your pussy getting touched.

It's starting to feel hot, and you can feel the beads of sweat starting to form on the side of your head even though the AC and your fan are both on. There's a zap that starts from your spine that comes with a sort of electricity coming from within, transferring that tick into your belly which prompts you to pump into your hole faster.

The sheets are a mess at this point, with your feet kicking into them as your movement picks up pace.

"Oh god," you cry out silently, muffling your sob in the comfort of your fluffy pillow.

You chase the feeling of completion, closing your eyes once more, trying to figure out how to get there.

And there's one familiar man that pops inside your head.

Jeon Jungkook.

"Oh shit," you hiss, pinching your nipple and going in and out faster.

Jungkook with his lips around your finger. Jungkook pressing his body against your back. Jungkook carrying you against his body. Jungkook's electric touch as he fixes the strap that's fallen over your naked shoulder.

You let out a pathetic moan, trying to shake away the thoughts of him.

You aren't supposed to. It feels wrong. So wrong.

Suddenly, you feel frustrated over still not reaching your climax up to this point.

You let out a heavy breath, pulling out your fingers from your pussy and from under your panties.

You don't get off. You never do – with your fingers, anyway, that is. And that's why you have a trusted toy buried deep at the back of the drawer of your nightstand, kept away for occasional uses. You'd say you need it right now, but you're too flushed and tired to take it out.

And there's also a melancholic feeling in your heart upon realizing that you just thought of Jungkook while touching yourself.

"Shit, shit, shit." You hiss, the cusses mostly dedicated to yourself.

You shake your head as you sit on the edge of your bed, your hair a bird's nest and clothes strewn over your body as per your reflection on the full-body mirror across your bed.

Sighing, you let your head down and massage your temples.

"God, what's wrong with me,"

You feel guilty... because you aren't supposed to think of a friend when you're trying to get off. You told yourself you'd stop finding Jungkook hot or cute or what-the-fuck-ever so that stupid crush can go away finally. But it feels like all your efforts – or lack, thereof – always seem to fall short.

This isn't good. You need to think straight.

A sudden loud ping catches your attention, almost startling you because it's in the middle of the night, after all. When you snap your head to the side, you see your phone with the light out.

You instantly feel a little nervous. What if it's Jungkook? There's an irrational fear in your head that he knows what you just did, but you shake the thought away, scolding yourself for getting way over your head.

Nibbling on your bottom lip, you feel scared to open your phone but then, did you really have a choice?

Slowly trudging to the direction of your phone, you pick it up from the table and turn it on.

August 18: Your cycle forecast Ovulation in 2 days. Your sex drive may just be hitting its peak🌡️ Tap for tips to make most out of it👉

"Oh fuck me." You curse, throwing your phone on the bed, feeling pissed all of the sudden.

Fucking period tracker app... and ovulation.

PART THREE | ...

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[mrs-monaghan]

I’ve seen a lot of talk about how JK loves Jimin in the show, many have pointed out all the things he says and does for Jimin. But what does Jimin do for JK? How did we see him love Jk in the show because I’m struggling to see it and hate that.

You mean apart from claiming him?

Coz anon, letting the world know a person is yours kinda goes to show Jimin loves the hell out of JK... hard enough to announce to everyone, but okay. If u want us to look at a few instances then we shall...

I gotta say though, not seeing how Jimin loves JK is wild. But, let's proceed.

I personally still can't get over Jimin waxing himself for JK. Its giving, amazing boyfriend who knows what his man likes 😏

I'm sorry but that is so gay

Alright anon. To really start us off, is the reason why AYS exists in the first place.

We saw JK missing Jimin here and Jimin missing JK here. So Jimin doing this did not surprise me at all. I mean, we all remember he's it done before in 2019, so he's a grand gestures type of boyfriend. Wbk 😍🥺 I mean, man did say he would travel to the moon for JK. Literally.

So yeah, that's Jimin for ya. The guy who you can't seem to see just how much he loves JK 🤦🏽‍♀️ Moving on... so they decided to play RPS

Jimin wins and what does he do?

That's right. The rule of the game is to pick what you want first and eat that. But no, Mimi knows his baby loves to eat so even though he won, he finds out first what JK wants.

They play again, Jimin wins and once again,

He offers JK first.

Makes you wonder what the point of this game is atp 😂😂 but Jimin will always put his man first and that's on fax. Cue editors pointing it out for you anon;

Still you missed it... smh.

Next.

When he allowed a probably tired JK to rest on his shoulder.

How cute was that? It reminded me of this:

Jimin doesn't love JK you say? Let's continue ☺

JK is special. We've known this for years. Jimin has always given JK that special treatment and has never even tried to hide it.

This post would feel incomplete if we didn't talk about their none existent hyung/dongsaeng dynamic.

Not me going into bedroom territory and cackling at the fact that JK probably loves to rile up top Jimin. 🤭🤭

Ahem. Moving on swiftly 😌 to this other sweet moment.

i.e Jimin giving up his seat for JK.

And you who is reading this saying that aint a big deal... umm, I beg to differ??? They were filming something that was gonna be viewed by millions so of course one wants to look their best. And JK knew this which is why he asked Jimin about his best side in the first place. So yeah, this was a very sweet thing Jimin did for JK.

Jimin is a really nice person. You know? Like, Jikook aside, this dude is the real deal.

Anygays,

Jimin supporting JK's music. Standing next to you especially 😂 but I also loved when he sang hate you. That was awesome. And don't forget SEVEN too.

Last but definitely not least (due to maximum image space) Right in the beginning anon, the show opens with Jimin being super worried about JK's voice.

Jimin is not even subtle with how he treats and loves and dotes on JK.

I'm struggling to see it and I hate that.

Anon I can't believe you. Struggling? With Jimin of all people? Just for that I'll be coming back with a part 2. Hope these moments ring some bells for ya

[chimcess]

Bittersweet || myg (1)

Pairing: Yoongi x Reader Other Tags: Grad Student!Yoongi, Undergrad!Reader, Grad Student!Hoseok, Uncle!Namjoon, Doctor!Namjoon, Grad Student!Jimin, Fuckboy!Jungkook, GradStudent!Jungkook, Boss!Seokjin, Yoongi POV Genre: College!AU, Strangers to Lovers, Enemies to Lovers, kinda Student/Teacher but not really, Older!Yoongi, Fluff, Angst, Eventual Smut Word Count: 19.9k+ Summary: When a cynical graduate student meets an overly enthusiastic undergraduate, the air crackles with tension—though not all of it is good. Warnings: Mean!Yoongi, he's extremely rude, like extremely so, prank gone wrong, bitter grad student to the max, strong language, Jimin is a snitch, possible wrong science information (i'm sorry i'm not perfect), sexual tension, reader faints at the sight of blood, unfunny pranks, Yoongi is jaded, he's a softie once you get to know him, hospital visit, non-descriptive male masterbation, reader has a stutter when nervous, Yoongi just being in denial for almost 20k words, kissing at work, almost caught, Jealous!Yoongi, i'm sorry but this JK is kind of a slime ball, Reader knows what she's doing, they're adorable, lots of bickering, let me know if I missed anything... A/N: Another old draft I found buried in my Google Docs! I didn't need to change too much, and it's very loosely edited, so please forgive any grammar or spelling mistakes. This was rather long (and I don't know why I never posted it), so it had to be split into two parts because of Tumblr's new rules. Thanks for reading!

Next

Subject: Undergrad Mentoring From: Seokjin Kim, seokjinkim(at)fhcrc(.)org   Sent: Friday, January 14, 2024, 6:18 AM   To: Yoongi Min, ygmin(at)u(.)washington(.)edu  

Yoongi,  

I’m forwarding an email from a brilliant undergraduate. Have you thought about mentoring a student? I really think you should.  

— Jin  

---

From: ynyln(at)u(.)washington(.)edu   Sent: Friday, January 14, 2024, 2:08 AM   To: Seokjin Kim, seokjinkim(at)fhcrc(.)org   Subject: Undergraduate Research  

Dear Professor Kim,  

My name is Y/N Y/L/N, and I’m a junior in the School of Arts and Sciences, majoring in microbiology. I’m incredibly interested in undergraduate research, particularly in your fascinating work on Helicobacter pylori and its connection to stomach cancer.  

Although I don’t have prior research experience, I’m hardworking and responsible, and I would appreciate the chance to join your team. Please let me know if you have space available in your lab.  

Attached are my CV and transcript.  

Thank you!  

Y/N Y/L/N  

---

Dr. Seokjin Kim Member, Division of Basic Sciences   Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center   1100 Fairview Avenue North   Seattle, WA 98109-1024  

I stared at Jin's email, the words bouncing around in my head. No previous research experience? Oh great! Just fucking great!

As the clock hit noon, I trudged into the break room, where the fluorescent lights buzzed like a swarm of angry bees. It was my little escape, my sanctuary from the suffocating hallways of academia. Hoseok, the only graduate student I considered a friend, was already inhaling his lunch.

I plopped my Tupperware into the microwave, the day’s weight pressing down on me like a thick fog. “Jin wants me to take on an undergrad,” I grumbled, feeling the words stick in my throat.

“Seriously?” Hoseok asked, mouth half-full. He didn’t even bother to swallow before adding, “Have them do the dishes.”

“Oh man, this is going to suck,” I muttered, stirring my mac and cheese with the enthusiasm of a person headed to their execution. “I have to train her, and she has zero lab experience. I don’t have time for this crap.”

The microwave beeped, its harsh sound grating against my nerves. I pulled out my steaming food, the steam rising ominously. “I tried to get out of it, but Jin insisted it’s ‘all part of the training.’” I mimicked his voice, nasal and overdramatic. Hoseok chuckled, nearly choking on his food.

I dug into my lunch, my mind racing. “She’s probably some pre-med trying to pad her CV. Calling our research ‘fascinating’ like she even knows what we do here—just another cookie-cutter student firing off a hundred emails.” 

“Maybe she’s cute?” Hoseok waggled his eyebrows.

I rolled my eyes, ignoring him. My single status was a constant source of irritation for him. He meant well, but his attempts at matchmaking were like trying to fix a flat tire with a spoon.

“I already did my required TA-ing last year, and it nearly gave me an ulcer. I thought I was done with whiny undergrads! This really sucks!” The words burst out, hot and angry. The idea of babysitting a clueless student gnawed at me like a persistent itch.

I focused on my research, hoping it would be my ticket out of this academic purgatory. Mentoring an undergrad was the last thing I needed—a distraction threatening to derail my meticulously planned escape.

After lunch, I headed to the incubator to check on my cultures, the familiar hum a small comfort amidst the chaos. Then I settled at my desk, drafting a reluctant email to the undergrad, my words dripping with begrudging obligation.

From: Yoongi Min, ygmin(at)u(.)washington(.)edu   Sent: Friday, January 14, 2024, 1:05 PM   To: ynyln(at)u(.)washington(.)edu  

Come to the lab on Monday between 8 AM and 7 PM. Bring your schedule.  

Yoongi Min PhD Candidate   Kim Lab   Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center   1100 Fairview Avenue North   Seattle, WA 98109-1024  

This was going to suck.

“Hi, I’m looking for Yoongi Min?” A stranger’s voice cut through the quiet of the lab, and I felt my focus waver. I was knee-deep in DNA sequencing data, desperately searching for a start codon when the interruption struck like nails on a chalkboard.

“That’s him over there,” Jimin, my lab mate, replied. I didn’t need to look up; I knew he was pointing at me.

“CTT ATC GTG ACT…” I murmured; eyes glued to the screen. The code demanded my attention.

A shadow crept closer, invading my peripheral vision. I ignored it, hyper-fixated on the screen.

“Hi, I’m Y/N,” the shadow solidified into the undergrad I’d been dreading. I continued to stare at the screen, unwilling to break my concentration.

“Did you bring your schedule?” My voice was clipped, an attempt to maintain my rhythm.

CGC CTC CGT ATG… There it was! I highlighted the start codon, feeling a small sense of victory amidst the irritation. Finally, I turned to face her. She held a crumpled piece of paper in trembling hands.

The crackling noise of the paper grated on my nerves, and I snatched it from her. A quick scan revealed she had a limited availability. Tuesdays and Thursdays it was.

“Do you want one or two credits?” I asked, filling out her form with practiced efficiency.

“Oh… um… t-two,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Oh great, a stammerer. I disliked her already. My frustration bubbled beneath the surface.

“That’s ten hours a week,” I said, scribbling on the form. “Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, maybe some Wednesday mornings.” I thrust the completed form back at her and turned back to my computer.

“See you tomorrow,” I dismissed her with a wave, eager to end the interaction. Her stammering was already wearing on my patience.

When I returned from lunch, she was perched at my bench. A laugh escaped me at the sight of her attire.

“What the hell is that?” I pointed at her lab coat, which was covered in hand-drawn bacteria.

She jumped, eyes wide. “My la-la-lab coat?” she stuttered.

Oh great, she’s a fucking idiot.

I took a deep breath, scanning her outfit for safety violations. At least she wore closed shoes and jeans, but her long hair hung loose.

“You should tie your hair up. You’ll be working near the flame.”

She pulled a hairband from her wrist and started tying her hair back. As I walked past, I noticed the back of her lab coat had “Bacteria Rule” scrawled in huge letters.

Bacteria Rule? Is she serious? I wanted to stab my eyes out with the pen in my hand. Who wastes time drawing on a lab coat? Nobody in their right mind, that’s for sure.

Something was off about her—I was certain of it. Concerned about her competence, I decided she couldn’t be trusted with any real work. Instead, I assigned her mundane chores, the kind even a high schooler could handle. It might not have been what Jin envisioned, but it was the only way.

God, I’m already dreading this. Can it be Friday already?

Hoseok and I lounged in the break room, our feet propped up on the coffee table, Tupperwares in our laps. The lack of a proper dining table didn’t bother us; it still beat eating at our desks.

“How’s it going with the undergrad?” Hoseok asked, mouth full.

“I’m pretty sure there’s something wrong with her,” I said, dead serious.

Hoseok laughed, even though I wasn’t joking.

“All she does is nod at what I say,” I elaborated. “Like one of those bobblehead dolls.” I stretched my neck and bobbed my head for effect. “Except she has bangs flopping all over her face when she nods frantically at everything I say.”

Hoseok snorted but kept eating.

“And she stutters! Well, when she speaks, that is. She doesn’t speak much. I kind of like that about her.”

Hoseok chuckled. “Sounds like you’re in love, bro.”

“Fuck you, Hoseok,” I shot back, uninterested. I already knew where this was heading.

“Is she cute?” Hoseok asked, glancing at me with a smirk.

“She’s a baby.”

“Is she a cute baby?”

“Hoseok, she’s… she’s a zygote.”

“Well, maybe with this zygote, you’ll learn how to be human again.” He turned his attention back to his food.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Come on. You’re not exactly social, bro. All you do is lab stuff and occasionally hang out with me and Serena.”

“What are you talking about? I am social.” My tone came out whiny, betraying my disbelief.

“Oh, really?” Hoseok raised an eyebrow, gesturing to my Tupperware. “So social that you prefer to eat alone in the lab over joining us in the break room?”

“Do you even hear yourself? You’re such a dork. I eat in here because the lab is a mess, not because I’m antisocial.” I shrugged, trying to hide the embarrassment creeping into my cheeks.

“Whatever you say, Yoongi,” he laughed, clearly unconvinced.  

I shook my head. I didn’t want to think about this right now. Instead, I grabbed my backpack, bracing myself for the next round of research duties.

After a few weeks of working together, I had to admit—albeit grudgingly—that the undergrad was following instructions better than I’d expected. If I could just ignore her ridiculous lab coat and the way those bangs flopped annoyingly over her forehead, she wouldn’t be half bad. The real annoyance, though, was her constant presence invading my space. But honestly, it could be worse; at least she wasn’t stammering nonstop. Most of the time, she barely spoke, and mercifully, she didn’t ask a ton of questions.

As I walked back from lunch with Hoseok, I was surprised to realize I didn’t dread the thought of the undergrad being in the lab when I arrived. Maybe having her shadow me wouldn’t be the end of the world after all.

Of course, the moment that thought crossed my mind, I jinxed myself. Stepping into the lab, I found her cleaning my bench, and a wave of irritation crashed over me. 

“What the heck are you doing?” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended.

She flinched, turning slowly to face me, her gloved hands still gripping an ethanol squeeze bottle. “I-I just thought I’d clean up a bit,” she stammered.

“Did you touch my samples?” I shot back, a surge of panic coursing through me.

“Which samples?” 

“Those!” I pointed at the upside-down tubes that had been perfectly positioned when I left, now carelessly shoved to the side. 

“I-I just mov—”

“Did you touch my RNA samples?” Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air—an annoyingly stupid fish. “Do you know how labile RNA is?”

“L-la-labile?” 

“Yes! Unstable—easily degradable. The main point here: you don’t touch my RNA samples!” 

“I-I used gloves… I’m sorry,” she mumbled, tears shimmering in her eyes. 

If she started crying, I was really going to lose it. 

I took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of my nose to calm the storm brewing inside me. Slipping on my own gloves, I gently set my samples back in their rightful place, praying I hadn’t lost a week’s worth of work. 

I could hear her sniffling next to me, and I groaned out loud. “Why don’t you and your la-la-lab coat coat go find something useful to do?” 

I listened as she shuffled away, clearly eager to escape my sight. I should have known better than to think this arrangement would work out.

From: Seokjin Kim, seokjinkim(at)fhcrc(.)org   Sent: Monday, February 14, 2024, 6:27 AM To: Yoongi Min, ygmin(at)u(.)washington(.)edu

Yoongi,  

Part of the undergrad training involves more than just doing chores. Cleaning dishes, stacking pipette tips, and capping tubes do not count as experiments.  

I expect your undergrad to have enough experimental data to give a presentation at the end of the semester.  

Jin  

What the hell? Did she tell him I’m only having her do chores? 

Shit, shit, shit, shit. 

Jin was right, though. All she’d done these past few weeks were chores. Aside from that little incident with my RNA samples, she hadn’t completely messed up yet. Maybe I should cut her some slack and give her a real project. She might learn something—or at the very least, realize how frustrating science could be and decide to give up on it sooner rather than later. 

Oh God, how was she going to give a presentation if she couldn’t even say one coherent sentence without stuttering? 

This would be an embarrassment, not just for her but for me too. If she messed up, she’d make me look bad. 

Decision made. I needed to lighten up a bit and actually try to teach her something.

On Thursday, the undergrad was busy with her chores when I approached her, project sheet in hand. 

She looked at it, her eyebrows raised. “What is this?” 

“Your project for the next few weeks.” 

Her face lit up with excitement. 

“You didn’t have to go crying to Jin. I was going to give you a project anyway.” 

Her smile faltered into a frown. “W-What are you talking about?” She gazed up at me, bewildered, but I waved her off, unwilling to explain further. 

“Enough chattering. Those tubes aren’t going to wash themselves.” 

Gotcha, undergrad. Your puppy dog eyes don’t work on me.

It was the first week of real work for the undergrad, and I felt a knot of anxiety twisting in my stomach. My palms were clammy, and my heart raced uncomfortably. 

Am I excited about this? Nah… I’m probably just hungry.

“Do you know what PCR is?” 

She nodded eagerly, pulling out her notepad, ready to take notes. 

I explained how I wanted her to amplify two toxin genes from a set of H. pylori samples that had just arrived that morning from the hospital. Naturally, I only gave her a small subset of the total samples. It was a manageable number—enough for her to play around with, but not so many that I’d be ready to murder her if she messed up.

As usual, the undergrad took notes on everything I said, jotting down even where I pointed out the locations of various equipment. For all I knew, she was sketching a detailed map of the lab in that notepad of hers.

The undergrad sat at the bench, PCR tubes lined up in front of her, the protocol to her left, pipettes to her right, and a rack of reagents looming in the back. I watched her as she stared at everything, nervously picking at the edges of her gloves. 

She was going to drive me insane. 

“Do you know how to use the pipettes?” 

She looked up at me, shaking her head timidly. 

“Why didn’t you say so?” My voice came out louder than intended, and she flinched. 

We were never going to get anywhere like this. 

I took a deep breath and tried again, grabbing one of the micropipettes. “You set the volume here.” I pointed to the rings. “Clockwise to increase, counterclockwise to decrease.” 

I demonstrated, twisting the rings as I explained the display window and where to discard the disposable tips when she was done. 

After a few trials, the undergrad carefully pipetted into the PCR tubes, preparing the reaction with surprising precision. 

She was focused, making sure not to contaminate anything. It was clear she was paying close attention to every detail. 

Skilled hands, I noted, feeling a flicker of satisfaction. 

Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as I thought.

I led the undergrad into the darkroom, where shadows clung to the walls like forgotten secrets, ready to ensnare us. The air was thick with a sharp, chemical tang, buzzing with anticipation as we approached the agarose gel. The PCR products shimmered faintly under the dim light, a hidden treasure waiting to be revealed. Surprisingly, a flicker of excitement sparked within me, a rare departure from my usual brooding.

“The ethidium bromide binds to the DNA,” I explained, my voice echoing softly in the sterile silence. “When we expose it to UV light, it fluoresces an orange color. You’ll see the PCR products light up on the gel.”

She walked beside me, clutching the gel like a sacred relic, her wide eyes absorbing every word. I could almost see the gears turning in her mind, likely wishing she had her notepad to document my brilliance, as if capturing my words would somehow validate her existence.

As we stepped into the darkroom, she hesitated, like a deer caught in headlights, before gingerly placing the gel inside the UV box. She moved carefully, avoiding the pitfalls of air bubbles that could ruin everything. Either she’d done this before, or she had the sense to read up on it. 

Good. I liked a prepared undergrad.

Once she’d set the gel, I instructed her to turn off the lights. The room plunged into darkness, and I leaned in, my heart racing a little faster. Peering into the UV box, I couldn’t help but grin. “Well, look at that. All your reactions worked.”

“Really?” Her voice trembled from the back, laced with a quiver of hope.

“Yeah,” I called back, though the shadows played tricks on me. “Come closer so you can see.”

I waited, but she lingered in the gloom, frozen as if afraid to approach the light. “Come here, I don’t bite,” I coaxed, trying to keep my tone lighthearted.

Finally, she moved, her profile illuminated under the eerie purple glow. Her eyes widened, and a smile broke across her face like dawn piercing through a dark night. I snorted softly, amused by how easily undergrads were impressed.

After she soaked in the spectacle, I showed her how to take a photo of her gel, and we returned to the lab. She began dutifully filling in her lab notebook, and a glimmer of pride swelled within me. That was until I checked her progress later. The notebook was pristine—a meticulous record of her every move since day one. Hope flickered in my chest, only to sputter out when I turned to the last page. There it was, taped prominently: a picture of the gel with “All worked!” scrawled underneath, accompanied by a crude smiley face.

A fucking smiley face.

This undergrad, I thought, definitely had a screw loose.

“Is that what you’re wearing?” 

“What’s wrong with it?” I glanced down at my sweater, a worn piece of fabric riddled with holes—just like my soul. It was what I had been wearing all day, and it sufficed. 

“It has holes in it.”

“And?” I shot back, genuinely baffled. It was just clothing—a shield against the chill of the world.

“Are you making a fashion statement? You do know grunge was over twenty years ago? I know you live in Seattle and all, but I’m not digging the Kurt Cobain look… at all.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I muttered, irritation bubbling beneath my skin. “I’m starting to regret bringing you to this.”

“Relax, it’s just beers with Hobi and Serena,” she said, rolling her eyes like I was some petulant child.

I raked a hand through my hair, but it sprang back defiantly, so I slapped on a beanie to cover the chaos.

“You know, Yoongi, it wouldn’t hurt to wash your hair once in a while. How are you going to meet any cute girls?”

Here we go again.

“Yoonji, would you get off my case? I don’t want to meet anybody.” 

Yoonji dropped in at least once a month, a whirlwind of concern and relentless nagging. She never believed me when I claimed to be fine over the phone. 

It was endearing, in a way, but mostly a burden I didn’t need. My family was my anchor, yet their relentless need to take care of me felt like shackles.

“Okay, okay... let’s go then.” 

“It’s just beers, for crying out loud.” 

“I’m telling you to relax.” 

In the car, I felt her eyes boring into me. “It’s just... I worry about you.” She brushed her hand along my arm, and I sighed.

“I’m fine,” I insisted, but I could see the disbelief flickering across her face. “Really. I’m just tired of school. I want to start real life already. I’ll be twenty-six this summer, and I’m still stuck in this academic limbo.”

“Hell, I’m twenty-seven!” Hoseok said when we arrived at the bar, lifting his pint in a mock salute. “And look at all the fuck I give!” He downed it with a flourish.

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I shot back.

“Hey,” Serena interjected, her tone warning.

“It’s okay…” Hoseok waved dismissively. “He’s just got a bad case of graduate bitterness.”

Graduate bitterness... yes, that was exactly it. A malaise that settled in my bones like a persistent chill. I glanced around, my throat tightening as if the weight of my uncertainty was squeezing the life out of me.

I led the undergrad through the winding corridors of the building, our footsteps echoing like whispers in the shadows. She walked beside me in near silence, her gaze occasionally darting down to her notepad, scribbling furiously as if the ink might escape her. If only she spent as much time observing her surroundings as she did with her frantic notes, she wouldn’t need them to find her way back to the sequencing facility.

There was something peculiar about her. She avoided meeting my eyes, her demeanor skirting the edges of unease, a deep-seated shyness that pricked at my irritation. And Hoseok thinks I’m the antisocial one!

As we turned a corner, I pondered the unspoken rules of social behavior in the lab when we suddenly bumped into Jungkook Wand, another graduate student known for his knack for lurking around.

“Min,” he greeted, his gaze fixated on my undergrad, likely eyeing her in that ridiculous lab coat that looked like it had seen better days. Why she insisted on wearing that tattered garment was beyond me.

“We missed you at happy hour,” he added, his eyes still glued to her, ignoring me completely.

Every Friday, the department hosted a gathering that, while lame, at least offered beer. Last week, Yoonji was visiting, and I wouldn’t have dreamed of dragging her into that debacle.

“Yeah, my cousin was in town,” I managed, trying to shake off the feeling of being an afterthought.

Jungkook’s smile widened as he turned his attention to her. I should probably introduce them, but for the life of me, her name eluded me. Panic set in like a cold sweat.

“Hi,” Jungkook said, flashing a grin that felt a bit too eager.

Shit. What was her name again?

The girl glanced up at me, and a flash of annoyance crossed her features, as if she could read my mind. “I’m Y/N,” she said, her voice laced with indignation as she extended her hand. The scowl she shot me could peel paint off the walls.

Y/N. The name landed in my mind like a lead weight. How had I forgotten it?

Before I could muster an excuse, Jungkook was launching into conversation, his gaze lingering on her with a familiarity that irked me. I didn’t like Jungkook, nor the way he looked at my undergrad, so I steered her away from him, back toward the safety of the lab.

Now, what was her name again? Damn it.

The following week, I was knee-deep in sequence alignments at my cluttered desk when the fire alarm shrieked, slicing through the stillness like a knife. I turned to find my undergrad, her wide eyes betraying sheer panic. 

She thought it was real. In that moment, a mischievous idea sparked in my mind. 

“Run, Becca! Run!” I shouted, leaping from my chair.

“What?” 

The color drained from her face, and I couldn't help but laugh as confusion and fear played out across her features— priceless. I doubled over, laughter bubbling out like soda from a shaken can. 

The alarm blared on, drowning out her startled gasp as she clutched a rack of tubes, trembling. “It’s just a fire drill! Relax!” I finally managed to gasp.

She set the tubes down, took a deep breath, and shot me a glare, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “That was not funny,” she huffed, her voice laced with indignation. “And my name is Y/N!”

With that, she stormed off, leaving me with echoes of my laughter still ringing in my ears. 

Oh, being social was unexpectedly entertaining!

The fire alarms continued to test my patience, ringing again and again. Each time, I chuckled at the memory of her startled expression. Now, standing outside for what felt like the fifth time, I glanced sideways at Y/N, who was shifting her weight from foot to foot, hands shoved into her pockets. 

“Want to grab some coffee?” I asked, feeling an odd urge to make amends.

She blinked at me, surprise flickering across her face as if she couldn’t believe I was actually talking to her.

The cafeteria at the library was our destination, and we walked in silence, the clouds parting for a moment to let in the faintest hint of sunshine. 

As we stood in line, I noticed her tense shoulders. Suddenly, she muttered a string of curses under her breath. Before I could react, her arm was around mine, grinning at me like a Cheshire cat.

“What the hell are you doing?” I asked, bewildered.

She maintained her smile but released me, stepping in front. “Say something funny,” she ordered, her voice low and urgent.

“What?”

Then she erupted in laughter, leaving me standing there in utter confusion.

She pressed a hand against my chest, and I wasn’t sure whether to be amused or alarmed. Was this how lab partners acted in her world?

But just as quickly as the laughter came, it faded, and she stepped back, looking sheepish, as if the moment had been a strange dream.

I moved up in line to get my coffee. “Do you want anything?”

“No, thanks,” she replied, shaking her head. I decided to drop the subject entirely.

As we started heading back, she caught up to me, her expression suddenly earnest. “I’m sorry,” she blurted. “There’s this guy, Jonah. He won’t take a hint. I thought if he saw me with someone…”

I tuned out her words, her rhythm a blur as I realized just how bizarre everything was.

Could undergrads get any weirder?

Sitting alone on a bench Wednesday afternoon, I savored the solitude when Jungkook appeared, looming over me like a vulture. 

“Min,” he said, his tone dripping with false familiarity.

I glared at him, not in the mood for whatever nonsense he was about to spill. 

“Where’s that cute little thing you were with?” 

“Who?”

“You know, the one in the colorful lab coat.”

Colorful? I snorted, recalling the eyesore she wore.

“She’s not here,” I replied curtly.

“Got her number?”

“Why would I have her number? And why do you want it?”

He raised his eyebrows, a smirk spreading across his face. “You know… you and her…”

I cut him off, anger flaring in my chest. “Me and her what?”

“Is she up for grabs?”

I couldn’t believe he’d come to my lab just to ask about her.

“Jungkook, she’s an undergrad.”

He laughed, completely oblivious. “Dude, have you looked at her? She’s fine.”

“Yeah, and she’s crazy.”

“Even better!” His expression made my stomach churn.

“I don’t have her number, and if I did, I wouldn’t give it to you.”

With that, I shoved my earbuds in, blocking him out as he stormed off, his words echoing in my mind.

Fucking creep.

Even though it was Friday—one of those days Y/N usually avoided—the lab felt off-kilter, like an old, rickety house holding its breath. She hovered at my desk while I pulled up the sequencing results on my laptop. Last night, I’d sent her a simple email, expecting a casual response. But her reply had come back faster than a ghost in the night. She wanted to see the data today.

As we sat there, the silence between us thickened, almost palpable. Her face was a mask of concentration, but her expressions kept faltering, crumpling like old paper. Not that I cared too much; she had to learn that research was 90% disappointment wrapped in frustration.

“Why didn’t it work?” she asked, her voice tinged with sadness, as if she were mourning a lost hope.

“Maybe you made a mistake?” I suggested, trying to sound casual.

“I was very careful,” she shot back, defensive, her eyes narrowing like a predator ready to pounce.

How typical. Pre-med students always thought they were immune to failure, that the universe owed them success on a silver platter.

“It happens,” I shrugged, trying to dismiss the tension.

“I don’t understand,” she said, her brows knitting together.

“There's a reason it’s called research. If you only had to do it once, it would be called a search.”

“So, what do I do now?”

“You start over.”

“From the beginning?” Her voice trembled, disbelief flickering in her eyes.

“Yeah.”

A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she gazed at her notebook, defeated. Her eyes flitted to the calendar on the wall, and her pencil scratched furiously on the pad. “Can I come tomorrow? I want to have cells growing by Monday.”

Her eagerness surprised me. I added “overachiever” to the growing list of quirks that made Y/N so peculiar.

“Tomorrow’s Saturday,” I teased, raising an eyebrow.

“I know that.”

“Don’t you have a frat party to attend?” I quipped, but her glare silenced me, a reprimand that cut through the lab's sterile air. “Fine, come tomorrow,” I relented, knowing I’d be here anyway. Weekends in the lab were the best; no distractions, just the hum of machinery and the click of keys.

“Awesomesauce!” she chirped, her smile lighting up the dim room. I rolled my eyes, annoyed yet impressed by her determination. Maybe, just maybe, she had what it took for grad school after all.

Saturdays were sacred—my little slice of peace amid the storm of classes and lab reports. After a killer morning workout, I made my way back to the lab, my damp hair fluttering in the cool breeze. Just as I settled into my zone, my phone buzzed with a message that snapped me back to reality. 

“Mr. Graduate Student, I’m at the front of the building. Y/N.”

I chuckled, shaking my head at her cheesy attempt at humor. By the time I reached the entrance, I found her wrestling with her hair, tying it up into a high ponytail that looked like it could give anyone a headache just by looking at it. But when she caught sight of me, her face lit up with a grin that could brighten the cloudiest day.

“Very funny,” I replied dryly as I held the door open for her. “It’s Yoongi, remember?”

As we stepped inside, the silence stretched between us, thick and awkward. I considered tossing out a quip about her hairstyle or her lab coat, but then a mischievous prank began to brew in my mind—dark and delightful, like a noxious weed spreading through my thoughts.

“Start your experiment from scratch,” I said, forcing a serious tone. “Could be that my reagents were contaminated.”

Her eyes widened, and I could barely suppress a smirk. It was a complete lie, of course; the old autoclave in the corner was already wheezing like an ancient beast. But picturing her panic was too tempting. 

Settling at my bench, I could barely contain my excitement. But instead of the expected rush of alarm, there was a loud crash—glass shattering like a million tiny dreams—and then silence. 

What the hell was that?

I found her on the floor, surrounded by shards of glass that sparkled like lost hopes. The autoclave hissed and wheezed, steam curling around us like a ghost. I rushed to her side, trying to stem the leak with my hands. 

“What happened?” I asked, crouching beside her. She looked like a wilted flower, her head buried in her knees, eyes squeezed shut.

“Are you okay?” I tried again, dread pooling in my stomach as I saw her trembling hands. Her breath came in quick bursts, and my heart raced. 

She mumbled something I couldn’t catch, her palm pressed hard against her leg. “Let me see,” I urged, only to be hit with a wave of horror: a deep gash across her palm, crimson pooling onto the cold tiles.

Oh, no...

Panic surged as I scooped her up, her fragile body slumping against mine. “You’re okay,” I whispered, the words feeling hollow. “It’s okay.” 

I hurried her to the sink, the cool water a sharp contrast to the rising heat in the lab. She buried her face in my chest, her panic palpable against my shirt. 

“Is there still blood?” she murmured, voice barely above a whisper.

“Mostly gone. But we need to get to the ER,” I insisted, urgency tightening my tone.

She groaned, eyes still shut tight, her composure slipping away. 

“Please, open your eyes,” I pleaded, gently lifting her chin. I rubbed my thumb along her cheek, trying to anchor her to reality.

“Can you walk?” 

She nodded weakly, but when she tried to stand, her legs buckled. I swept her back up, panic clawing at my throat. 

What have I done? The air felt thick with dread, and I knew I had to get her out of there. 

I carried her to my car, the world outside fading into a blur, as if the universe was holding its breath. Carefully, I placed her in the passenger seat, her eyes still shut like she was blocking out the horrors around us. I fastened her seatbelt, feeling the weight of the moment. "Please say something," I urged, glancing at her, desperate for any sign of life.

"I hate blood," she mumbled, voice fragile.

Relief washed over me—she was talking. It struck me as strange that a pre-med student would detest blood. "Are you still dizzy?" 

She nodded, and my heart sank at her admission. The crease in her forehead deepened, and I wanted nothing more than to smooth it away.

"We’ll be at the hospital in ten minutes," I promised, focusing on the road ahead.

"Would you distract me, so I don’t think about the blood?" 

"I don’t know how," I admitted sheepishly.

"Say something funny." 

"Funny? Okay. It’s pretty funny that you want to go to med school and you faint at the sight of blood." 

"Who says I'm pre-med?" she shot back, and I blinked in surprise.

"You're not?" 

"No, and that really wasn’t funny. Talking about blood isn’t going to help me forget about it." 

Frustration clawed at me as I struggled for something to say. 

"What do you want me to say?" 

"Don’t you know any jokes?" There was an edge of frustration in her voice.

"No." 

"Everyone knows at least one joke, Yoongi." The way she said my name sent a jolt through me, tightening my stomach with something close to admiration.

Before I knew it, I blurted out the lamest joke I could remember from college. "Two hydrogen atoms walk into a bar," I began, watching her lips twitch upward. "One says, ‘I think I've lost an electron.’ The other asks, ‘Are you sure?’ The first replies, ‘Yes. I'm positive.’"

I cringed at how cheesy it was, but when her smile finally broke through, it felt like winning the lottery.

"That was lame," she said, but the glimmer of her smile gave me hope.

At a red light, I risked a glance at her. Her eyes were still closed, but the pale green tint to her skin had faded, replaced by a healthy glow. My heart swelled with relief.

The driver behind me honked impatiently, snapping me back to reality.

"Does it hurt?" I asked, noticing her fingers curling around her injured wrist. 

She nodded, a pout forming on her lips that made my heart ache. I nearly missed a stop sign, cursing under my breath.

"God, I’m such a jerk," I muttered, guilt gnawing at me. I had messed up, all in the name of a stupid joke. I racked my brain for something else to say but came up empty.

"I don’t know any more jokes, but I was good at geeky pickup lines back in college," I offered, desperate to lift her spirits. Her smile returned, lighting up the car.

"This better be good," she warned teasingly.

"If I were an enzyme, I’d be DNA helicase, so I could unzip your genes." 

"Oh my God," she snorted, and I laughed, relieved to see her react. "Did you use that on anybody?" 

"Maybe," I hinted, my chest tightening with excitement.

"Did it work?" 

"No," I admitted, but I was laughing now, and she was grinning, even with her eyes still closed. I was determined to keep her smiling. 

"Oh! Do you like The Police?" 

"The police?" She frowned, confusion crossing her features.

"Yeah…" 

"As in the profession?" 

"No, you dork. The band. Sting's band?" 

"Oh, yeah. I guess." She shrugged.

And against my better judgment, I cleared my throat and began singing. "Every bond you break… Every electron you take…"

Finally, her eyes fluttered open, surprise and delight dancing across her face. I couldn’t help but wiggle my eyebrows, and her smile broadened, banishing the shadows of panic. "Oh, can’t you see, you’re covalently bonded to me…" I sang, pouring my energy into the ridiculousness of it. Nothing felt more beautiful than the light in her eyes. 

How had I never noticed how amazing her smile was before?

We pulled into the University’s Medical Center in under ten minutes, just like I expected. I parked quickly and rushed around to help her out, but she stumbled out on her own, nearly losing her balance. I caught her just before she could face plant onto the pavement—or worse, land hard on her injured hand.

I could feel irritation bubbling up inside me. Did she really think I wouldn’t help? Sure, I was an idiot sometimes, but I still had a decent sense of gentlemanly instincts. 

“Can you walk?” I asked, keeping my hand around her elbow as we approached the entrance.

“I think so,” she replied softly, but I kept my grip steady, guiding her into the emergency room. 

Inside, a flicker of relief hit me—the place was nearly empty, and we should get seen fairly quickly. “Hello,” I said to the front desk lady, who was glued to her computer screen. She glanced up, her expression completely bored, and didn’t reply. Instant dislike. 

“She cut her hand, and it looks deep,” I said, gesturing toward Y/N beside me.

“Name?” The front desk lady’s question hung in the air like a sword about to drop, and suddenly, I froze.

Goddammit…

She didn’t mean my name. My stomach twisted as I desperately searched my memory. I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten her name again.

It starts with a B, doesn’t it? I racked my brain, stalling as the front desk lady’s eyebrows shot up impatiently.

“Y/N Y/L/N,” came the shaky voice next to me, cutting through my fog of embarrassment.

God, I was such an idiot! I wanted to punch myself for being so careless.

I looked at her—Y/N—and even though she shook her head, a grin crept onto the corner of her mouth. Maybe, just maybe, I was forgiven. Y/N, Y/N, Y/N… I repeated silently, determined that this time I would remember.

I was convinced that the “doctor” tending to Y/N wasn’t a real doctor—not yet, anyway. He claimed the cut wasn’t deep and that it hadn’t damaged any tendons or nerves. He even said it was clean enough to glue shut, which apparently was a thing now. But my gut twisted with doubt; something about him set off alarms in my head.

Y/N had her eyes squeezed shut, clutching my hand like it was a lifeline while this wannabe physician—Doogie Howser, I mentally dubbed him—cleaned her wound. She perched on the examination table, her injured hand resting on a tray beside her, as I stood behind her, anxiety tightening my chest. In the chaos of her injury and my desperate attempts to care for her, her ponytail had loosened, hanging low at the nape of her neck. A sudden curiosity gripped me: What would her hair look like, cascading down like a waterfall?

“Y/N,” I whispered, leaning closer, needing to say her name again, to engrain it into my memory. “Breathe through your mouth. It’ll help.”

I lingered near her neck, unable to pull away, drawn by something I couldn’t quite name. I tried to find the words to describe her scent—something fresh, like the morning air spilling through an open window—but words failed me. I’d caught a hint of it earlier when I held her close at the sink, but now, in the confined space of the ER, it enveloped me, bringing back echoes of happier times.

Y/N smelled good—no, different. Refreshing, like the world waking up after a long sleep. And I was trapped in this moment, lost in the intoxicating blend of her presence and the sterile smell of antiseptic.

Every time she flinched, my instinct was to lash out at Doogie. I wanted to punch him for every wince that slipped from her lips, but I knew that wouldn’t help; it might just make things worse. I fought against the urge to ask the nurse for someone else to help her, terrified to leave her side. So I stayed, fingers entwined with hers, trying to offer some measure of comfort in the storm of uncertainty.

When Doogie finished and began to bandage her hand, I felt a wave of relief wash over me as she released her grip. I stepped back, taking a breath that felt heavy in my chest. Tension still coiled inside me; I hated that she’d gotten hurt, but a part of me marveled at her resilience. Despite her aversion to blood, she had held herself together with a strength I hadn’t given her credit for. There was more to Y/N than I realized, and that realization struck me hard.

“Listen, I’m really sorry,” I said once we were back in the car, the weight of guilt pressing down on me.

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault I’m such a klutz.” She offered a radiant smile that twisted my insides with guilt all over again.

“So, what happened?” I asked tentatively, hoping against hope that this wasn’t really my fault.

“I was carrying a rack of test tubes when that thing started shooting vapor out. I freaked out. I thought it was going to explode! So I dropped the tubes and cut my hand trying to pick them up,” she admitted, embarrassment creeping into her voice as she stared down at her hands.

I should have known...

“Shit…” I thumped my head against the steering wheel, frustration bubbling up inside me.

“Hey, stop.” Her hand reached up to my shoulder, a gentle gesture that only deepened my self-loathing. “You couldn’t possibly have known that thing was going to start leaking, right?” I peeked at her, guilt etched on my face. She scrutinized me, her brow furrowing as realization dawned. “You did know, didn’t you?” Her hand dropped from my shoulder, and I felt the accusation hanging between us like a thick fog.

“Y/N, I’m so sorry,” I said earnestly, trying to convey the depth of my regret, how much I hated myself for her injury.

“You’re unbelievably cruel!” she shot back, eyebrows knitting together as she glared at me.

She was right, but I felt compelled to explain. “There wasn’t any risk of you getting hurt. The door just leaks a little vapor. I was going to close it after you got scared. It was a stupid joke, Y/N. You weren’t supposed to get hurt.”

“Well, excuse me for ruining your prank,” she snapped, rolling her eyes and turning away from me.

Sarcasm. Just lovely.

“I am truly sorry. Can you forgive me?” I asked, keeping my gaze on her even though she pointedly avoided me.

“Whatever, Yoongi.” She shrugged, irritation radiating from her as she stared out the window.

I wanted to tell her she was acting like a child, but I held my tongue, knowing that teasing her wouldn’t help my case. Instead, I focused on driving, ruminating on how to make this right again.

How the hell do I fix this?

“Stay here. I’ll be right back,” I said to Y/N, trying to sound calm even though a knot twisted in my stomach as I parked in front of the research building.

“This is really not necessary, Yoongi. I’m fine,” she replied, brushing off my concern.

“Y/N, can you please, just for once, not contradict me?” I shot back, frustration bubbling under the surface.

“I never contradict you!” she protested, eyes wide in disbelief.

I fixed her with a glare until the tension between us shifted, and a small smile broke through her pout as I climbed out of the car. Maybe I was getting through to her, even just a little.

I dashed into the lab to grab her bag, but was abruptly halted when I spotted Jimin hunched over her bench. An urge to warn Y/N about the mess brewing in the autoclave room hit me hard. 

“Jimin?” I called, feeling an unusual tension in the air as he turned to me, eyes wide like I’d just spoken an alien dialect. We rarely exchanged more than necessary pleasantries. “There’s a big mess in the autoclave room. I’ll be right back to clean it up.”

“And you’re telling me this why?” he shot back, still looking as confused as a cat in a dog park.

“There’s a bunch of glass… I don’t know. My undergrad—she dropped the tubes. I—” The words tumbled out in a jumbled mess, and Jimin continued to stare at me like I’d just pulled a rabbit out of a hat. “Never mind,” I muttered, eager to escape the awkwardness.

“How’s that for a change? First, you have her doing your chores, and now you’re cleaning up after her,” he called after me.

I spun around to glare at him, irritation sparking. Sure, he was right, but I had bigger problems than petty lab gossip. I left him behind, shaking off the encounter.

When I climbed back into the car, Y/N was waiting for me, eyebrow raised, holding a CD case. My stomach dropped as I recognized it—my mom’s treasured Carpenters album.

“Really, Yoongi?” she asked, her smile widening. “The Carpenters? Okay, cool.” She casually tucked the CD case back into the glove box.

She was teasing me—smiling at me. That had to be a good sign, right? Maybe she had forgiven me after all.

I couldn’t help but let my gaze linger on her face, how her smile lit up the whole car. It was stunning; how had I never noticed it before? A pang of regret hit me for all the moments I had let slip by.

“Are you okay?” Y/N’s voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just—uh, how’s your living situation?” I mumbled as I started the car and drove off, reminding myself to keep it together. She’s just an undergrad, I thought, shaking off the flutter in my stomach.

As I parked in front of her building, my chest tightened again. I was still angry—mostly at myself—for letting her get hurt. I wouldn’t feel at ease until she was safely tucked inside her apartment.

“Are you still dizzy?” I asked, unable to hide the concern in my voice.

“I think I’m all right now,” she replied, a small grin dancing on her lips.

Would it be weird if I walked her to her door? Did guys still do that? It had been ages since I’d been on a date. What was the protocol these days?

What the hell am I thinking? This isn’t a date.

But she didn’t look a hundred percent. Maybe carrying her bag would help. I climbed out of the car, and she shot me a bewildered look as I opened her door.

“I’ll feel better once I know you’re safe inside,” I insisted, my voice firm.

“I’m fine. You don’t hav—”

“Please, humor me,” I interrupted.

Y/N hesitated, then took my hand as she stumbled out of the car. I grabbed her backpack, and we walked inside together, a strange sense of connection warming the air between us.

At her door, she paused, her hand hovering over the doorknob. When she turned to look at me, her brown eyes sparkled with something I couldn’t quite pin down.

“I’ll see you Tuesday then,” I said, handing her the bag.

“Yes. Tuesday.” Her gaze flickered up through her long lashes, and I was momentarily mesmerized. “Not Monday.” A playful grin crept across her face, and I felt my breath catch at the sight of her eyes crinkling with delight. “You know why not Monday?”

I was still entranced by her smile and completely missed the point she was trying to make. “Because rainy days and Mondays always get me down,” she said, and heat rushed to my cheeks.

Great… she’s making fun of me.

I took a deep breath and snorted, forcing myself to look away from her lips. “You’re such a dork, Y/N. How long have you been waiting to say that?”

“Too long.” Her giggle sent my heart racing, a rhythm I couldn't ignore.

“Good night, Y/N,” I replied, managing a smile despite my racing heart.

As I walked back to my car, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the window and was horrified to find myself grinning like a fool. I frowned and climbed inside, but before I could drive away, I pulled my mom’s CD from the glove box, popped it in, and began to hum along.

Why do birds suddenly appear… every time… you are near?

I slammed on the brakes and hit the eject button.

Holy shit, what the hell is wrong with me?

Thankfully, when I returned to the lab, Jimin was gone. I started cleaning up the autoclave room, picking up shards of glass and mopping away the blood from the floor. As I worked, I spotted Y/N’s lab coat next to the sink, and my heart sank. It didn’t look festive anymore; it resembled a tattered Halloween costume.

Shit… She loved that ridiculous thing, and now it was ruined.

Before I knew it, I found myself washing the lab coat. I tried everything, even bleach. When I was done, the blood stains had vanished, but so had the whimsical bacteria drawings she’d painstakingly decorated it with.

Fuck my life...

When Hoseok called, I told him the chances of me making it to Serena’s party were slim. “I’m stuck in the lab and still have a long way to go,” I said, leaving out the details of my time spent doodling on a lab coat that now looked like a toddler’s art project. I also didn’t mention that I was starting Y/N’s experiment along with my own.

After inspecting the now-ruined lab coat, I realized I couldn’t give it back to her. Tossing it felt wrong, though—I’d just spent hours on the damn thing. So, I wrapped it in a plastic bag and tucked it under my desk, trying to forget it existed.

I left the lab after two in the morning, exhausted but restless. My mind buzzed with thoughts, not about experiments this time, but about Y/N—how she had gotten hurt because of me, and yet she hadn’t unleashed her fury. Somehow, she felt bigger than this. Bigger than me.

God, I’ve been such an asshole.

Images of her haunted me throughout the night. The way she smiled at my lame jokes, how she laughed at my terrible rendition of “Every Breath You Take.” I couldn’t remember the last time I’d sung to someone, not since my mom had forced me to sing The Carpenters with her. I turned over in bed, a smile creeping onto my face at the memory.

I didn’t have to be a jerk to Y/N anymore. I didn’t want to be. It wasn’t her fault grad school was a pain. If anything, having her around made it bearable. Maybe I could lighten up a bit… or maybe we could both learn something from this. No, I wanted to be nicer to her. I wanted to see her smile.

I want to make her smile?

First The Carpenters, now this?

When did I turn into such a marshmallow?

Monday night in the dingy gym felt like a scene straight out of a bad movie. The fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting a harsh, sterile glow that did nothing to uplift the atmosphere. Hoseok and I were at the bench press, trading off sets like two battered soldiers in a war that would never be chronicled. I stood behind him, bracing for the weight, but my gaze was pulled away, caught in the orbit of something infinitely more captivating.

There she was—Y/N—effortlessly gliding on the treadmill like she was born to run. Her ponytail swung rhythmically with each stride, a pendulum marking the time as she jogged. My breath hitched, a tightening in my chest as I let my eyes wander down her back, tracing the delicate curve of her spine. And then—oh God—those shorts. Tiny and black, they hugged her body in a way that made my heart race uncontrollably.

The fabric didn’t just cling; it cradled her curves, indenting just enough in the middle to draw the eye downwards. I could almost feel the heat radiating off her skin, my mind spiraling into places I really didn’t want it to go.

“Dude! Hold the bar, would ya?” Hoseok’s voice jolted me from my daze. I blinked hard, shaking off the spell as I refocused on the weights pressing down on him.

“Right, sorry,” I mumbled, fumbling with the bar as I lifted it off him.

Hoseok wiped the sweat from his brow, the glistening drops catching the unforgiving light. I tried desperately to keep my thoughts in check, to suppress the smirk that threatened to creep onto my face, but my eyes betrayed me, fixating once more on Y/N’s ass as it bounced with every determined step on the treadmill.

“What is it?” Hoseok shot me a sideways glance, amusement dancing in his eyes. He knew. Damn him. “You look like a kid in a candy store.”

“Nothing,” I shot back, the word cracking like ice beneath my weight. I raked a hand through my hair, feeling more like a deer caught in headlights than a man. “That’s... um... that’s my undergrad.”

“Your undergrad?” He nearly shouted, and I winced at the volume.

“Shut up!” I hissed, heat creeping up my neck.

“She’s your undergrad?” He lowered his voice, his tone conspiratorial, as if we were discussing some top-secret mission.

“Yes,” I said, willing myself to tear my gaze from Y/N and muster some semblance of composure. “I don’t know why she’s here. This is the first time I’ve seen her in this gym.”

“Are you kidding?” Hoseok replied, incredulous. “She’s here all the time! You’ve just never noticed because you’re practically blind.”

My eyes darted back to her. She was still running, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing behind me. Could Hoseok really be right? Had I been so wrapped up in my own world that I hadn’t seen her before?

But then again, I didn’t recognize anyone else in this place. I came here every day—every damn day—and not one face looked familiar. Blind. I was completely blind.

And yet, here I was, rooted to the spot, entranced by the hypnotic sway of her hips, the way her legs flexed with each determined stride. It was as if she had cast a spell over me, one I didn’t want to break. But I had to; I was standing there like a moron, the weight of Hoseok’s gaze a smirk stretched across his face as he shifted to take his place on the bench.

“Yoongi!” he called, pulling me from my daydream. “It’s your turn.”

I shook my head as if waking up from a fog and stepped to the bench, but my mind remained tangled in thoughts of what I’d just seen. Y/N’s form, bouncing like it was teasing me, was too much. Too distracting. My body was responding in ways I hadn’t felt in years, and it took every ounce of willpower to focus on lifting weights instead of ogling her.

Then, as if she sensed my eyes on her, Y/N turned her head slightly, her gaze locking with mine. For a brief moment, the world melted away—the gym, the weight, the noise—all faded into the background as our eyes met. She faltered on the treadmill, her grip tightening on the bars like a lifeline before she recovered just in time.

What was I doing? I didn’t realize I was moving until I stood beside her, the tension thick enough to slice through the air.

“Hi,” I managed, the word slipping out like a confession.

“Hi?” Her smile lit up the stale space between us, brightening everything. “Who are you and what did you do to my bitter grad student?”

“What?” I stammered, disbelief knotting my stomach. “You’ve seen me here before?”

*Her eyes rolled in a way that was both exasperating and endearing. “Yes.”

“Well, I’m saying hi now. So, hi.”

“Hi…” she giggled, and I felt a low groan bubble up from my chest. What was happening? I hated how she made me feel, how she toppled everything I thought I had under control.

“How’s your hand?” I asked, grasping for something to anchor myself in this whirlwind of emotions.

“It’s fine,” she said, lifting her bandaged hand like it was a trophy. But I was lost, mesmerized by the way her lips moved, the way she tucked her hair behind her ear, and how the sweat glistened on her skin.

I needed to leave before my body betrayed me further. “Um, I should go,” I interrupted, offering a shaky goodbye as I fled, a whirlwind of confusion and unwanted desire crashing over me.

What the hell was happening to me?

I ran home, my legs pumping, heart racing, trying to outrun the chaotic thoughts swirling in my mind. It had been four years since Estelle, and the memory felt as distant as a long-forgotten dream. But Y/N was everywhere now, invading my thoughts—her freckles, her laugh, those bangs that had once annoyed me but now framed her face like a masterpiece.

I stormed through my apartment, shedding my sweat-soaked clothes, bewildered by this tempest of feelings. I couldn’t fathom why it had taken me so long to notice her, why she had pierced through the fog of my indifference and settled in my mind like an unwelcome guest.

In the shower, the warm water cascaded over me, soothing yet insufficient to wash away the turmoil. She was a kid, for Christ’s sake! Nineteen? Twenty? Too young, too innocent for someone like me. I banged my head against the tiled wall, cursing my own weakness.

And yet, even as I stood there, I could feel her presence lingering, like a ghost clinging to the edges of my consciousness—a haunting I couldn’t shake. Was I becoming one of those men who pursued young girls, crossing lines drawn in the sand, sliding down that slippery slope of desire? The universe had a wicked sense of humor.

God, I hoped I wouldn’t see her again at the gym. The very thought sent a chill down my spine—a mix of longing and guilt. But there I was, fantasizing about her hands instead of my own.

When did I become such a creep?

I’m in a foul mood. Not a glimmer of sunshine inside me, just the dense fog of irritability that seems to thicken the air around me. Maybe it’s the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders, or maybe it’s just Tuesday. Either way, I know I’ll probably regret having lunch with Hoseok today, but deep down, I’m still holding onto the hope that, by some miracle, he didn’t notice my bizarre behavior at the gym last night.

As I step into the lunchroom, Hoseok’s voice slices through the stillness. “What the heck happened to you yesterday?”

Well, so much for miracles.

“Nothing. Why?” I try to sound casual as I toss my food into the microwave, but my heart races in protest.

“Nothing? You nearly killed me, bolted off to talk to Y/N, and then stormed out. That seems normal to you?” He raises an eyebrow, a mischievous grin stretching across his face.

I shrug, feigning indifference, but my stomach twists.

“We were supposed to have drinks with Serena and her friend with the—” he gestures dramatically, “the big personality.”

“Listen, you and Serena need to stop setting me up with her friends.”

“Why? Did you take a vow of celibacy or something?”

“I’m just not in the mood for this today, Hoseok.” I plop down in a chair, my food forgotten.

“Is it because of Y/N?” he asks, cheeks bulging with half-chewed food.

“No,” I reply, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. “And her name is Y/N, by the way.”

“OH. MY. GOSH. It is! You’re totally crushing on her!” Hoseok leaps from his chair, fork aimed at me like a weapon. His eyes widen as if he’s just uncovered a major conspiracy.

“What? NO!”

“Dude, you remembered her name!” He plops back down beside me, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Hoseok, what does that—”

“Oh man. This is too good... like, really, really good.” His grin is the kind that makes me want to punch him—or maybe just smack some sense into him.

“Hoseok, please. Just for one day…” I rub my forehead, trying to ease the confusion tightening my temples. The last thing I need is Hoseok’s theories swirling around my mind like a chaotic storm.

“Okay, okay…” He continues to chew, stealing glances at me every few seconds. “So, when’s Yoonji coming?” he asks, smirking, and I shoot him a glare that could curdle milk.

So what if I remembered her name? It hardly means anything. I’ve been working with her for weeks now. I’m not some clueless idiot; I can remember a name. I don’t care what Hoseok or Yoonji think. This is nothing. This doesn’t mean anything.

Except it does. Because Y/N, not “the girl” or “the undergrad,” is going to be in the lab when I return. And I’m not just aware of it—I’m looking forward to it. I want to see her smile, to hear her laugh.

I want to hear her giggle? Jesus, I need to get a grip on myself.

My bad mood evaporates the moment I spot Y/N at my bench, scribbling away in her notepad. Her hair cascades over her shoulder, wild and free. It should bother me—should send alarm bells ringing—but it doesn’t. It looks soft and inviting, and suddenly, all I want is to run my fingers through it.

Okay… I’ve really lost it now.

And just like that, my bad mood crashes back in.

“I can’t find my lab coat,” she says, tying her hair up with an intensity that almost makes me envious.

I feel a spark of irritation at the safety rules that dictate her hair must be tied back. I find myself imagining the kinds of experiments that would allow her to leave it down, just so I could watch it flow freely.

“Do you know where it could be?” she asks, glancing up at me.

I’ve completely lost track of her words, staring at her blankly.

“My lab coat?” she repeats, tilting her head.

Right… the lab coat.

“Let me get you a new one. That one was all covered in blood.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll wash it.”

“We have lab coats here, Y/N—new ones. I’ll get you one,” I say, moving past her, determination pushing me forward.

She stops me, grabbing my elbow. “Please, can I have my old one back?” Her eyes are wide and earnest, as if I hold the key to some sacred treasure.

A flush of embarrassment rises in me, and instead of confessing, I lie. “I threw it away.”

“What? Why?” Her gaze pierces through my flimsy excuse.

“It was covered in blood!” I bark, frustration bubbling over.

“I could have washed it!” she snaps, defiance igniting her eyes.

“I’m getting you a new one.”

“I don’t want a new one. Is this some cruel joke? Because if it is, I’d really, really like my lab coat back. It means a lot to me.” The shift in her expression from anger to sadness tugs at something deep within me. Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, like I’ve just crushed her puppy.

Realization washes over me like a cold wave: I’m making her cry. With a deep sigh, I relent. “Okay, I didn’t get rid of it.”

“Oh thank God,” she breathes, closing her eyes in relief.

“But… I tried to wash it, and the bloodstains wouldn’t come out. I thought it would be a good idea to use bleach. And it was. I mean, it got rid of the bloodstains, but it also erased your drawings.”

“Oh no…” Her eyes fly open, panic etching her features.

“I’m sorry. Can I please get you a new one?” I plead, hoping to smooth over this disaster before it spirals further.

“I would really prefer to have my old one back,” she insists, crossing her arms defiantly, her gaze unwavering.

Jesus! Why does she have to be so difficult?

“You’re not going to let this go, are you?” I groan. She’s staring at me like she’s just won the lottery, and I can’t bring myself to back down. “Fine…” I reach under my desk for the bag containing her lab coat and hand it over, feeling like I’m offering her a corpse.

I should have burned the damn thing.

Her gasp as she pulls the coat from the bag makes my stomach drop.

“Oh my gosh!” She turns it around, inspecting the shapes I drew in a moment of misguided creativity. When she spots my pathetic attempt at rewriting “Bacteria Rule” on the back, she giggles, and I swear my heart stumbles.

How do I keep up with her?

One minute, she’s annoyed; the next, she’s crying; now, she’s laughing. It’s like watching a storm change directions on a whim.

“You… did you do this?” She glances up at me, her eyelashes still damp, and my chest tightens painfully.

“Yeah, it looks even more ridiculous now. Didn’t think that was possible. Would you please let me get you a new one?”

“Oh no. I’m wearing this one,” she chirps, slipping her arms into the sleeves like she’s donning a crown.

“Please say you’re kidding.”

“What? It’s perfect!” she beams, buttoning the coat closed, that radiant smile piercing through my irritation.

Even as she parades around in that god-awful coat, all I can think about is pulling her close and kissing her senseless. It’s ridiculous and utterly baffling, but I can’t shake it.

I really must have lost it now.

The morning air felt heavy, thick with a strange malaise that weighed on me like a thick blanket. "So, what's on the agenda for today, Boss?" Y/N chirped, her pen clicking in a cheerful rhythm as she flipped open her notebook, the sound almost irritatingly upbeat.

"Don’t call me Boss," I grumbled, trying to shake off the oppressive darkness that seemed to cling to me like damp fog.

"Okay, Grumpy. What are we doing today?" Her smile was a bright spark against the backdrop of my brooding mood.

I could tell she was trying to be funny, deliberately poking at my irritation. With an exasperated huff, I shoved the list of activities at her. "Try not to mess up this time, Becca."

She took the list with a theatrical pout, and I stifled a real smile beneath my carefully crafted mask of indifference—a skill I'd perfected over the years. 

Her brow furrowed as she scanned the list. "I thought I was starting from scratch."

"You are," I replied, trying to keep my tone as casual as possible.

"But you did all these steps already." She pointed to the initial tasks, her voice laced with disbelief.

"I was bored Saturday," I said, as if boredom were an acceptable excuse for taking the initiative.

Her eyes darted between the list and mine, a spark of awe lighting up her face. "You started my experiment for me?"

The way she looked at me made my skin crawl—a mixture of discomfort and something warmer I didn’t want to acknowledge. I clamped down on my tongue, suppressing the urge to explain myself. 

"You better get cracking, Y/L/N. There's a seminar at four I want to attend."

Her gaze lingered on me a moment longer before she shook it off, returning to her notebook. A sense of relief washed over me. 

We worked in silence, but I could feel her stealing glances at me like a kid peeking into a haunted house. I knew—I just knew—I had crossed some invisible line. What I felt was tangled, a confusion I was desperate to untangle.

"What’s the seminar about?" she asked, her voice light with curiosity as we carried bottles of growth media to the incubators.

"I don’t know," I said, holding the door for her as we entered the incubator room.

"Then why are you going?" She squatted to stow the bottles inside, her dark hair falling around her face like a curtain.

"Free food." I shrugged, trying to sound indifferent.

"Seriously?" She looked up at me, disbelief written all over her features.

"Y/N… if you go to grad school, you’ll learn to appreciate the majesty of free food."

When she stood up, she released my hand with a huff, her pride surfacing. "When I go to grad school, I’ll enjoy the seminars, even without the free food."

"Right…" I turned away, shaking my head.

"So, can I come?" she asked shyly, her voice nearly drowned out by the hum of the incubators.

"You want to come to the seminar?" I shot her a skeptical glance.

"Hells to the yeah!" 

I suppressed a snort, the surprise of her enthusiasm bubbling up inside me. "Why?"

"I might learn something."

"Okay, you can come, but the la-la-lab coat stays." 

The thought of her actually being excited about attending a seminar with me sent a strange thrill through my chest, one that both excited and unnerved me.

As we made our way to the seminar, Y/N rattled on about her dreams for grad school, her voice bubbling over with energy. I struggled to interject, her words flowing like a vibrant stream, full of life.

When we reached the seminar room, she shook her head at my heaping plate of food. I settled into my seat, grateful for the chance to hide from the annoyed glances of the people behind us. Y/N plopped down beside me, her nervous energy radiating from her.

"That one with the sweater vest is Prof. Waylon," I said, nodding toward him. "He has a serious case of narcolepsy. Snores through the entire talk but wakes up right on cue to ask the hardest questions."

She giggled, and the sound pierced through the fog that had settled around me.

"And over there, with the red bow tie, is Dr. Amun-Kebi. Brilliant but completely bonkers—he discovered Quorum Sensing, yet can’t make eye contact because he’s too busy staring at the ceiling."

She snorted, laughter bubbling up as she covered her mouth, her joy infectious.

"Then there’s Jin," I continued, "who dresses like he’s going to a board meeting every day. Knows more adjectives than a thesaurus, but his favorite is definitely 'fascinating.'"

I mimicked Jin’s exaggerated tone, and Y/N laughed again, drawing some disapproving throat-clearing from the folks behind us.

"Main point is, Y/N," I said, "science makes you lose your mind. You’ve been warned."

"Oh, I think I can handle it," she replied, winking at me, and my heart twisted painfully in my chest.

As the speaker began, I couldn't help but chuckle when I noticed her furiously scribbling notes as if her life depended on it.

Once the seminar ended, we returned to the lab. Y/N still had work to catch up on after being away for an hour. I’d finished my tasks long ago, but I lingered, a shadow in the corner, unwilling to leave her alone in this sterile, fluorescent-lit space.

She closed her notebook with a satisfying smack and turned to me, her eyes bright. "This is so exciting! I can’t wait to see if it works this time."

"Yeah, you’ll get over it," I said, trying to keep my tone light.

"Have you always been such a grump? Or was there a time when you actually liked what you do?"

Her question hit me like a punch to the gut, catching me off guard. I could feel her gaze piercing through my defenses.

"I like what I do."

"Do you love it?"

Her question hung in the air like a dark cloud, and I found myself lost in a maze of memories, the joy of discovery overshadowed by the weight of expectations. Had there ever been a time when I shared her enthusiasm?

"I don’t really remember," I mumbled, avoiding the truth. "It’s getting late, Y/N. How are you getting home?"

"I’m walking."

"I’m walking too. Let’s go."

Did I used to love what I did? The memory felt elusive, slipping through my fingers like water.

As we walked, Y/N asked, "Why did you decide to go to grad school?"

"Why does anyone?" I shot back, a cryptic smirk teasing my lips.

"To make a difference? To revolutionize the field?"

"Very cute, Y/N."

"It’s not cute. It’s true."

"Is that why you want to go to grad school?"

"Yes. I’ve always wanted to help people. Since medical school is out of the question for me—"

"You’ll get over the smell of blood, Y/N."

"It’s not just that. I get too attached. I’d rather contribute silently from the lab." She smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Plus, where would medicine be without science? They’d still be pouring hot oil into wounds!"

I chuckled, a genuine laugh bubbling up like warmth breaking through winter’s chill. "You’re funny." The words slipped out before I could think better of it, and before I could process my thoughts, my fingers brushed against her arm, lingering over the fabric of her hoodie.

She halted, her cheeks tinged pink, her bottom lip caught between her teeth.

I froze, my hand dropping to my side, panic racing through me. That had to be inappropriate.

"I’ve been called worse," she joked, her smile radiating a warmth that sent shivers down my spine.

We walked on in silence until we reached her building.

"Do you live on campus too?" she asked, fishing for her keys from her bag.

"No. I live in Portage Bay."

"Oh… we passed that already."

"I know."

Suspicion flared in her gaze as she pieced things together, and I felt the weight of my own guilt creeping up on me. She would realize I was that gross old grad student trying to woo the sweet, naive undergrad—the very person I had mocked in others. The thought made my stomach churn.

"I know what you’re doing," she accused, crossing her arms defensively.

Here it comes…

"You feel guilty because I got hurt," she said, her voice steady. "You feel responsible. But you don’t have to do this."

Is that really what she thought?

"You think I’m walking you home out of guilt?" My voice was harsher than I intended, anger bubbling up inside me.

"I know you are."

"You don’t know anything," I spat, turning away, desperate to escape the rising tide of emotions threatening to drown me.

"Yoongi, wait!" she called after me, dread washing over me.

Keep walking… don’t look back.

I couldn’t believe she thought I was being nice out of guilt. I had done nothing but act like a jerk for too long, and now I was about to lose the only flicker of light stupid, lonely world.

God, she had no clue.

Wednesday morning felt heavy with an unsettling quiet when Y/N arrived at the lab a little earlier than usual. I was already there, lurking like a shadow in the corner, unable to shake off the ghosts of a sleepless night. I busied myself with the equipment, clinging to the hope that keeping my distance would somehow quell the anger simmering beneath my skin.

It was confusing, really. I was furious with her—not just because of the injury that haunted my thoughts like a ghost, but because she had twisted my kindness into something it wasn’t. Sure, I felt like a hollow shell, the guilt gnawing at my insides like a rat in a rotting wall, but that didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy walking her home. Yesterday’s seminar had been a strange kind of fun—the first I’d experienced in what felt like ages.

As I returned to the lab, pretending to check something in my desk drawer, I caught her gaze from across the bench. The way her eyes followed me stirred something deep inside, a mix of frustration and longing I couldn’t quite place. I tried to slip away, but as I turned to leave, her fingers brushed against my elbow.

“Hey, I’m sorry about yesterday,” she said, her voice soft and sincere, those puppy-dog eyes piercing through my defenses. Warmth rushed through me, a strange blend of emotions swirling inside. “It was really nice of you to walk with me. Thank you.”

With a timid smile, she released my arm, leaving me reeling, torn between the urge to pull her back and the need to retreat. Just then, I caught sight of Jimin, his piercing blue eyes wide with suspicion from the shadows of the lab. What the hell?

“You’re welcome,” I muttered dryly to Y/N, my voice almost a growl, before storming away, seeking refuge from the chaos in my head.

In the media preparation room, I paced like a caged animal, cracking my knuckles repeatedly to chase away the madness. This was absurd. I was losing it over a girl—an undergrad—who seemed blissfully unaware of the tempest she stirred within me. Deep breaths. Focus. But I knew this strange obsession wasn’t going anywhere.

When I returned to the lab, I found Jungkook leaning casually against my bench, chatting with Y/N. She wore that timid smile again, twisting something inside me. My hands curled into fists, rage and jealousy flaring up like a wildfire.

“I’ll see you Friday,” Jungkook said, flashing a grin as he sauntered past me. Did he just ask her out? The urge to grab him by the ponytail and shove him to the floor was overwhelming. “What did he want?” I spat, unable to contain the fury boiling within.

“Nothing,” she replied innocently, her attention flitting back to her notebook as if she hadn’t just tossed gasoline on my fire.

“Y/N,” I hissed, slicing through the air with my words, demanding her attention. “What did he want?”

“Nothing important,” she clarified, but her eyes locked onto mine, searching. My resolve wavered. What the hell was wrong with me? The desire to pummel Jungkook quickly transformed into an intense longing to press my lips against that bottom lip she kept biting. The confusion swirled around us, thick and suffocating, and I felt trapped.

Just then, Jimin reentered the lab, breaking the spell that had ensnared us. I stepped back, the tension snapping like a brittle twig, and Y/N sighed, disappointment heavy in the air.

“Are you done?” I asked, my voice cold, each word laced with the weight of my internal turmoil. “I need to use the bench.”

Hurt flickered in her eyes before she masked it, and guilt settled in my stomach like a stone. I tried to focus on my work, but her presence lingered, a distraction gnawing at my concentration until she finally left for the day. This is ridiculous! Why did she affect me so much? I couldn’t keep living like this.

Thursday afternoon arrived, and I maneuvered around Y/N like a ghost. I didn’t want to be a jerk, but the thought of her and Jungkook had me seething. It felt like every nerve in my body was on fire, irritation coiling tighter with every passing second. I tried to stick to succinct answers and instructions, but the tension thickened around us like fog.

As we received her sequencing results, I could no longer pretend she didn’t exist. She pulled a chair next to me at my desk, her presence suffocatingly close. My fingers twitched on the mouse, nerves sparking as I avoided glancing her way. She tapped her pen rhythmically; each tap a countdown to my sanity.

“Please, stop that,” I groaned, frustration spilling over.

She halted instantly, a sigh escaping her lips, and my heart sank. I hated feeling this way—trapped between annoyance and an attraction that sent shivers down my spine. How was that even possible?

Finally, the software loaded, and I opened her file. Y/N gasped, and I held my breath as she leaned closer, the tension between us palpable.

“Sample 1. Ran well. Sample 2. Ran well… ran well, ran well, ran well…” All fifty samples had run flawlessly. Impressive. I couldn’t recall a time when every single sequencing reaction had succeeded; there was always a failure or two. Y/N was undeniably skilled.

As I turned to her, a smile crept onto my lips despite myself. Her eyes sparkled with joy, and before I could process it, she squeaked, throwing her arms around my neck. Her warmth enveloped me, her hair brushing against my face, and the world narrowed to just her, the scent of her shampoo intoxicating. My body responded in ways I couldn’t understand.

I shot up from my chair, breaking the spell. “Sorry,” she mumbled, her cheeks a deep crimson, laughter spilling from her lips. “I’m just so happy! They all worked!”

My heart raced, shock coursing through me as I struggled to regain composure. The pull I felt toward her was almost unbearable, thrumming like an electric wire, demanding release.

“Good job,” I managed, forcing my voice to remain steady. But as she smiled at me, her joy tearing through my carefully constructed barriers, I knew I was in deep trouble. I wanted to hold her again, to kiss her until the world faded away. God, I needed help.

As I turned to her, a smile crept onto my lips despite myself. Her eyes sparkled with joy, and before I could process it, she squeaked, throwing her arms around my neck, her warmth enveloping me, her hair brushing against my face. The world narrowed to just her, the scent of her shampoo intoxicating, my body responding in ways I couldn’t understand. 

God, I needed help.

You know those days when nothing seems to go right? When you drag yourself out of bed, and it feels like the universe is playing tricks on you, pushing you back with every step forward? Yeah, today is one of those days. A downright miserable Friday, and I can’t help but feel that the promise of the weekend is just a hollow consolation.

This morning was a disaster. I tossed and turned all night, haunted by thoughts of Y/N. Her smile flickered in my mind like a candle caught in the wind—warm and inviting one moment, then snuffed out the next. The irony is, while I’m relieved I won’t have to face her today, the gnawing uncertainty of whether she’s out with Jungkook weighs heavily in my stomach. Anger simmers beneath my skin, bubbling over in waves I can’t seem to control.

As I step into the lunchroom, the emptiness greets me, broken only by the taunting hum of the microwave. I slam my fist against its cold metal side, frustrated when it refuses to cooperate. It beeps at me, a cruel mockery in the sterile silence. I slam the door shut again, and my temper flares.

“What did the microwave do to you?” A familiar voice cuts through my frustration. It’s Hoseok, ever the jester, his amusement practically radiating off him.

“It’s broken,” I mutter, fingers still mashing buttons like a madman.

“Step away from the microwave,” he orders, a playful yet firm tone in his voice. In two quick moves, he’s heating up my food. “What’s up your ass?”

“Nothing,” I groan, flopping down in a chair with a defeated sigh. “Just one of those days.”

“Why?” 

“It’s just one of those days…” I can’t muster the energy to say more.

“Like, ‘Everything’s messed up and everyone sucks’?” He turns his baseball cap backward, bobbing his head as if ready to launch into a nu-metal anthem.

“Great, Hoseok. Quote Limp Bizkit. That’s really going to help.” I cut him off before he can get into full swing.

“Dude, you’re in a mood. What happened?” His eyes reflect genuine concern as he rummages through the fridge.

“Nothing,” I insist, rising to retrieve my Tupperware.

“Bullshit. I’ve known you for four years. This isn’t just a failed PCR kind of mood.” He crosses his arms, blocking my path.

Part of me wants to spill my guts, but the words feel lodged in my throat. Still, they tumble out. “If I tell you, can you at least try to be mature about it?”

“Mature is my middle name,” he grins, but I can’t help but scowl.

“Fine. It’s Y/N.”

“I knew it! I fucking knew it!” 

I bury my face in my hands, feeling the weight of his excitement pressing down on me. “What happened?” he whispers, leaning in, all ears.

“She’s... I don’t know.”

“Come on, man. I’m serious.”

“Yeah, she’s out with Jungkook.”

“Jungkook?” Hoseok’s voice rises as if he’s just spotted a raccoon in the hall.

“Jesus, Hoseok!” I hiss. “Keep it down!”

“Sorry.” His whisper is tinged with amusement. “Jungkook fucking Jeon?”

“Yes.” I take a deep breath, frustration bubbling over. “And she’s my undergrad.”

“Puh-lease. Who cares?” 

“I’m at least five years older than her,” I retort.

“The younger, the better.” He waggles his eyebrows, clearly enjoying this way too much.

“Disgusting.”

“Stop brooding, dude. Jeon’s got nothing on you. Go get your girl. She’s fine, and she was always checking you out at the gym—like I told you a thousand times.”

Y/N checking me out? No way. Hoseok’s just being delusional. I shake my head, dismissing his words. This fixation has to end. She’s just my undergrad. That’s all she’ll ever be—at least that’s what I keep telling myself.

Happy Hour. The name is ironic, a pathetic excuse for mingling—if you can even call it that. It never lasts an hour, and “happy” is a stretch, but hey, there’s free beer, so here I am. Alone in the corner, I down red cups like they might wash away the grime of the day. By the time Hoseok and Serena finally stroll in, I’ve polished off four.

“You’re here before us. That’s weird,” Serena quips as they approach.

“Thanks for the observation, Captain Obvious.” 

“What’s his problem?” Serena glares at Hoseok, arms crossed.

“He’s in a mood,” Hoseok replies, handing me another red cup that I chug.

“Why?” Her tone is whiny, as if I owe her an explanation.

“Lady problems,” Hoseok shoots back before I can stop him.

“Yoongi has lady problems?” Serena sounds incredulous, as if she’s just discovered a new planet.

“I’m standing right here!” My voice is louder than I intended, laced with irritation.

“So you like a girl, Yoongi. Not the end of the world. I mean, this self-imposed celibacy was bound to end someday. I just wish I knew who she is.” She twists the conversation back to herself, as always.

“It’s not just a girl. It’s his undergrad,” Hoseok interjects, unable to contain his enthusiasm.

“You old perv!” Serena playfully smacks my chest, and I can feel the heat rise in my cheeks.

“I’m going to get fired,” I murmur, tipping my cup back for the last drops of liquid courage.

“No, you won’t, drama queen.” She dismisses me with a wave, annoyance radiating off her.

“It happens all the time! PIs hit on post-docs, post-docs on grad students, grads on undergrads. What world do you live in?”

“It’s like a jungle,” Hoseok chuckles.

“Shut up, Hoseok,” Serena snaps. “Good news is, now that there’s this girl, you can stop with the emo bitterness. It’s getting old.”

“Fuck you, Serena.”

“Hey, hey now,” Hoseok says, grabbing my arm. “Let’s go get another round.”

When we return, my anger toward Serena simmers just beneath the surface, but I’m too tipsy to think straight. “For your information, Serena, this girl has a name. Her name is Becca. No, wait... it’s Y/N! Dammit!” My palm meets my forehead in a facepalm of pure embarrassment.

“Wow. She must be something special, Yoongi. You don’t even know her name.”

“Baby, stop. He’s drunk, and he’s having a shitty day.”

“Why?” 

“Y/N is out with Jungkook,” Hoseok explains.

“Jeon?” Serena’s expression shifts to one of shock, and they dive into speculation, completely oblivious to my presence.

I shut them out, groaning into my cup as I gulp it down. It’s true. I know it. Jungkook is with Y/N tonight, probably taking her to dinner and drinks, sharing laughs while I’m stuck here. My mind spirals into a dark abyss—what if he kisses her? What if she invites him in? God, I’m sick just thinking about it.

Of all the undergrads in this department, Jungkook Jeon had to go after mine. I hope Y/N gets drunk and spills her drink all over him.

Worst. Hangover. Ever.

Well, maybe not the worst, but it’s definitely up there. My head pounds like a jackhammer, and my stomach feels like a chaotic whirlpool of regret as I stumble into the shower. The hot water cascades over me, a fleeting relief, but all I can think about is how tempting sleep sounds right now. But I have things to do in the lab. Don’t I always?

The apartment is a total disaster zone—a messy tribute to last night’s antics. Red cups are scattered across the coffee table like the remnants of a forgotten battle, and chip crumbs litter the floor like confetti from a party that had long overstayed its welcome. Hoseok and Serena wouldn’t leave me alone last night, terrified I’d do something reckless, so we ended up bringing Happy Hour back to my place. I was just the third wheel, watching them get lost in their own world of laughter and flirting. By the time I woke up on the couch, blanketed by a pile of crumpled chips, they were long gone.

I shuffle into the library, desperate for my usual caffeine fix on the way to the lab, but my stomach is rebelling. Still, I know I’ll need that coffee to survive the day.

Inside, the library feels like a claustrophobic hive of undergrads buzzing around like over-caffeinated bees. It’s overwhelming.

What a nightmare!

I hurry to the coffee line, pouring sugar into my mug like it’s a lifeline. Just as I catch my breath, I spot her—Y/N—sitting at a table surrounded by a fortress of books. Her hair falls like a curtain, hiding her face from view. I can’t help myself; I’m drawn to her, like a moth to a flame.

“Hello, Y/N,” I say, sliding into the chair across from her.

She looks up, surprise flickering across her features, and for a moment, my heart races. 

“Oh, so I’m back to being Y/N?” There’s no hint of humor in her voice, only seriousness, and it feels like a punch to the gut.

What’s going on? Where’s the smile that usually lights up her face?

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light as I settle in.

“What are you doing here?” she replies, her gaze cool and collected.

“Y/N, please go easy on me today. I’m not feeling great,” I admit, running a hand down my face, feeling every ache from the night before.

“Oh... what’s wrong?” Her stoic facade starts to crumble, replaced by genuine concern, and it warms me a bit.

“Too much beer,” I confess, and the word makes my stomach churn at the memory of my poor choices.

“I see... does that explain this?” She pulls out her phone and turns it toward me.

Grumpy: Becca, you’ve just revealed yourself to have absolutely no taste.

“Who the hell is Grumpy, and why does he call you Becca?” I blurt out, anger bubbling up before I can stop it.

Her eyes widen in disbelief. “You’re the only Grumpy I know.”

“Are you saying I sent you that text?” 

“Yes,” she says, sighing as her eyes drift away like leaves in the wind.

I pull my phone from my pocket, my heart sinking as I check my sent texts.

Well, great…

“I’m sorry,” I mumble, rubbing my eyes, wishing I could take back last night’s mistakes.

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean either. No taste in what? Music? Food? Men?” 

“Men?” I let out a dry laugh. “Jungkook is not a man. He’s a tool.”

“So this is about Jungkook?” she says, gesturing to her phone.

“Yes.” My brain feels sluggish, like I’m moving through molasses.

“Why do you care?” 

“I’m uncomfortable with you dating my classmate,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest, trying to appear nonchalant.

“He’s not your classmate, and we’re not dating.”

“We both started our PhDs at the same time in the same program. That makes him my classmate… Wait… you’re not dating?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but no. We went out for coffee, talked, he asked me out again, and I kindly declined. I’m focused on my studies right now, Yoongi, and I really don’t have room for anything more.”

“Oh…” Relief floods through me, even as my hangover rages on. I might even be smiling.

“Yes, oh indeed. Which brings me back to why you’re sitting here distracting me from my study session.”

“What are you studying?” I ask softly, a smile creeping onto my face, hoping to steer the conversation away from Jungkook.

“I have an organic chemistry exam on Monday.”

“Oh, I see…” I hesitate, but the temptation of spending time with her outweighs my growing pile of work in the lab. “Well, it might just be your lucky day, Y/L/N, because I happen to be an expert in all things organic chemistry.”

“You are?” Her lips curl into a small grin, and I feel a surge of relief wash over me. She’s back.

“I am…” I smile at her. “So, do you want some help?”

“I could use some help.”

Help… yeah… that’s what I’m here for… help.

For the next two hours, I guide Y/N through her organic reaction problem sets, all while ignoring my cooling coffee. She’s a quick study, soaking up the information, and I’m confident she’ll ace her test on Monday.

I keep my hands clasped between my knees—except when I need to draw reactions for her—wanting to hide how my fingers twitch every time she brushes her hair behind her ear.

Y/N is focused on her notebook, but the third time I yawn, she looks up at me.

“Are you okay?” 

“Yeah, just tired. Didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Tell me about it… On average, I get about four hours a night.”

“Four hours? If I don’t get at least six, I get grumpy.”

“Grumpier than this?” she says, waving a hand at me, a smile teasing at her lips.

“This,” I gesture to my chest, “this is the five-hours-of-sleep me.” I stretch, feeling my muscles pull, and I notice her eyes trace down my torso before I quickly pull my shirt down.

Was Y/N checking me out?

“Anyway…” I scramble for a distraction. “It’s healthy to sleep eight hours. I’m all about being healthy.”

“That’s ‘cause you’re an old man.”

“Hey… I’m only twenty-five!”

She laughs, and before I can ask how old she is, her gaze shifts behind me, and I can sense her tension.

“Shit…” she whispers.

“What?”

“Remember that guy I told you about, Jonah Rodgers, the stalker?” Her voice drops to a near whisper, laced with panic.

I wrack my brain, trying to recall. Y/N had a stalker? She looks at me, and it’s clear she knows I’m lost.

“Just play along, please,” she whispers, scooting her chair closer to me. Her hand brushes my knee, and I’m startled by the tentative touch.

A vague memory flickers in my mind—her acting strange around me one day, but it’s obscured by the haze of regret and longing.

Y/N’s gaze is intense, making it hard to focus on anything else. She smiles shyly, then looks down before peeking at me through her thick lashes.

God, what is she doing to me?

I know she’s faking it, pretending for someone else—but I can’t help how my body reacts, how hyper-aware I am of her presence. My hand moves to her cheek, my thumb tracing her soft skin. She blushes, biting her lip, and it sends a jolt through me, a deep ache to pull her closer—bring her lips to mine.

Her hand slides from my knee, brushing my thigh, and I can feel a warmth stirring inside me.

This isn’t real… it can’t be.

She’s still staring at me, and I’m lost in her gaze, wondering what she’s thinking, if she feels it too.

But then, all too soon, her attention darts behind me again.

“He’s gone,” she breathes, relief washing over her. Her hand rubs my thigh one last time before she withdraws. “Thank you.”

I know I should let go, but I can’t. My hand remains on her face, my thumb tracing her cheek while my fingers tangle in the nape of her neck. Her expression shifts, confusion knitting her brow. She reaches for my hand, her fingers enveloping my wrist—her thumb brushing the top of my hand, once, twice—and then she smiles.

But she’s not looking at me seductively anymore. She’s looking at me like she doesn’t understand why I haven’t let go. And honestly? Neither do I.

I drop my hand from her face and stand abruptly.

“I better get to the lab,” I say, running a hand through my disheveled hair. “Good luck on your test.” Her eyes linger on me, confusion clouding her expression as I turn to leave.

I guess the show is over…

I spent the rest of the weekend in the lab, mostly because I had nothing better to do. It felt easier to throw myself into my work than to face the nagging thoughts of Y/N swirling around in my head. Pining after her felt wrong—she was just a kid, my intern, and whatever was brewing inside me needed to stop. I had to keep my distance.

When Y/N walked in on Tuesday, she looked a bit worn out. I wanted to ask her about the test, but I bit my tongue, forcing myself to act indifferent.

As the day wound down, she asked for my help, and I followed her into the dark room. She needed to cut different bands from an agarose gel to purify the DNA. Even though she knew how to use the UV light box, I guided her through the excising process.

Once inside the dimly lit room, Y/N flipped on the UV box and switched off the lights. I stood behind her, watching as her shaky hand hovered nervously over the gel, clutching the blade. 

"I think it’s safe to say that not going to medical school was the right choice for you," I teased, trying to keep the mood light despite the tension. "With those shaky hands, I wouldn't want you holding a scalpel near me."

"I had too much coffee today," she shot back, her tone sharp but playful.

"Right," I snorted, a grin breaking free.

"Shut up. You're making me nervous." I could almost hear her smile through her words.

"Here," I said, inching closer. I covered her hand with mine, steadying her fingers over the blade. "Relax," I suggested, hoping it would ease both our nerves.

Her proximity felt electric, as if the air around us vibrated with tension. The scent of her hair—fresh and unplaceable—danced under my nose, making my heart race. Y/N's hand trembled beneath mine as she turned to glance up at me. In the faint blue glow of the UV light, her features looked even more striking. 

"This is making it worse," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

I felt her warm breath against my neck, and everything inside me screamed that we were too close. I should step back. I needed to step back. But God, I wanted to kiss her. Nothing else mattered in that moment.

Her bewildered expression shifted as her eyes drifted from my gaze to my lips. My heart thundered in my chest as I watched her tongue trace the edge of her bottom lip before she began to nibble on it nervously.

Then, without thinking, I closed the distance and pressed my lips against hers.

I inhaled deeply through my nose, intoxicated by her sweet scent as my mouth enveloped her bottom lip. Y/N whimpered softly against me, turning her body to face mine. My hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her closer.

What was I doing?

I felt lost, unsure of how to proceed or how to stop. Reluctantly, I released her neck and gripped the bench for support, struggling against the rising tide of desire. All I wanted was to wrap my arms around her and pull her onto the counter, to lose myself in her warmth.

No, stop! This is wrong!

I broke the kiss, panting heavily. "Y/N…" I gasped. "Shit, I'm so sorry." I stepped back, needing space. She was breathing hard too. "I-I didn’t mean to do that. I shouldn’t have… Shit." My hands raked through my hair, searching for words that eluded me.

Then, with a single determined step, Y/N closed the distance. She grabbed my t-shirt and pulled me down to her level. Her lips collided with mine once more, and I felt her inhale sharply.

I was too tall, or she was too short; either way, I hunched over her as her legs wrapped around my hips, lifting her onto the countertop beside the UV box.

Her hands tangled in my hair, tugging in a way that made me groan into her mouth, while my own hands hovered uncertainly over her body, torn between desire and restraint.

Loud, insistent knocking on the door shattered the moment.

Y/N gasped, and her legs slipped from my sides. 

"I need to look at a gel, Yoongi. What’s taking so long?" Jimin's voice rang out.

Jimin… shit…

I groaned against Y/N's shoulder, gripping her thighs to steady myself. Her fingers remained tangled in my hair, and I felt dangerously close to losing it.

"We're cutting a gel, Jimin," I called out, taking a reluctant step away from Y/N. "Give me a fucking break," I muttered under my breath.

I heard Jimin huff through the door, and Y/N’s voice came low and tense. "What do we do?"

I didn't know about her, but I needed to get out of there. I was uncomfortable and desperately needed to regain control. I moved to the UV box, which was still glowing. Y/N jumped down from the bench as I grabbed the blade, cutting around the bands on the gel. I found it ironic that my hands were now shaking, yet I managed to do a decent job.

Once finished, I shut off the UV light and flicked the room lights back on. Y/N jumped a little, and though I was sure she was staring at me, I couldn’t meet her gaze—I wouldn’t.

I ran a hand through my hair and took a deep breath. "Take each piece of gel and put it in a single epi tube," I instructed, forcing myself to focus on anything but her. "You can follow the rest of the protocol at the bench."

"Yoongi," she whispered, urgency lacing her voice.

"I’ll be back in a bit," I said, my hand on the doorknob. I didn’t risk a glance at her, fearing that a single look would draw me back in. I opened the door and stormed out, nearly colliding with Jimin, who stood there with his arms crossed.

What the hell just happened?

A few moments later, I was outside the building. Rain hammered down, but I didn’t care. I wished I smoked, drank, or had any vice to help me calm down. I tried deep breaths to steady myself, but the rain only added to the chaos swirling inside me. I made it to the tree line behind the parking lot, leaning against a trunk with one hand while the other pressed against my chest, where my heart threatened to pound its way out. I was panting, sweating, and completely unraveling.

What the hell had I been thinking?

Well, clearly, I hadn’t been thinking at all.

God, I could still taste her on my lips.

I swallowed hard.

Y/N had the sweetest lips I’d ever kissed.

I was doomed.

This could ruin everything. I couldn’t let myself be distracted by Y/N like this. I had lost all control, and I didn’t know what would have happened if Jimin hadn’t knocked. Or worse, what if Y/N had opened the door without knocking? Thank God the light was off, and the “IN USE” sign was outside.

No one could know about this, especially not Jimin—he was Jin’s puppy! If Jin ever found out…

God, this was all so messed up!

I had to make it clear to Y/N—this had to stay between us. We had to pretend it never happened.

It would never happen again.

I could never have my lips on hers again—just the thought of it made my chest ache.

I had known kissing her would be good. She had the most beautiful lips I’d ever seen. They didn’t disappoint. Her kiss exceeded any expectation I had dared to dream. How could I endure not kissing her again, knowing how sweet she tasted?

If I thought it was torture to be around her before, now it was going to be hell.

And she had kissed me back. She had. It wasn’t just me. She wanted this too. Didn’t she know it was wrong? I needed to talk to her, to explain that this couldn’t happen again. We had to keep things professional, to work together without awkwardness. We had to manage that. I needed to manage that.

I wouldn’t look at her lips, or her smile, if that’s what it took. Maybe I could lie and say we needed to wear mouth masks for the rest of the project…

With a groan, I stepped away from the tree. I fisted my hair, realizing I was getting drenched, and walked back into the building. I shook my head to rid myself of some of the water, but I was still soaked when I climbed the stairs.

When I entered the lab, Y/N pretended not to see me, but I knew better. Her posture shifted, her back straightened, and the foot she had been tapping on the floor stilled.

I noticed Jimin was in the lab, standing at his bench across from Y/N, staring at her. It became clear to me that Y/N was putting on a show for him.

I sighed, feeling a little relief wash over me.

Y/N wouldn’t tell anyone—at least that much was clear.

But I still needed to talk to her. What happened was wrong and completely inappropriate. I couldn’t let her get the wrong idea.

I buried myself in my computer for a while, pretending to work by aimlessly scrolling and clicking, but my attention was entirely on Y/N. She seemed to move through the purification protocol without a hitch. What was going through her head?

Y/N strolled into the lab on Thursday, her smile cutting through the sterile, fluorescent gloom like a ray of sunlight. I gave her a nod—polite, detached—but that didn’t stop my heart from racing at the flicker of warmth in her gaze. As I turned back to my work, she let out a sigh that lingered in the air, heavy with unspoken thoughts. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught her glancing at Jimin's empty bench, and the reminder of his absence hung like a storm cloud between us. 

"Okay," she began, hands planted defiantly on her hips. "Should we talk about this?"

I forced myself to meet her gaze, focusing on those deep, captivating eyes while battling the temptation to let my gaze wander to her lips, which seemed to whisper promises that drove me mad with longing. 

"There’s nothing to talk about, Y/N."

"Well, are you going to go back to being mean to me?" 

"I was never mean to you."

Her eyebrows shot up in disbelief, and heat crept into my cheeks as I remembered all the stunts I’d pulled—the pranks that had hurt her, the lab coat I’d ruined...

"I won't be mean to you again," I muttered, letting out a heavy sigh and looking at the floor.

"Yoongi..." Her voice was soft, almost melodic, and it tugged at my heart. 

When I met her gaze again, it was a mistake—her lip caught between her teeth was a distraction I didn’t need. My hands clenched into fists, seeking refuge in my pockets as her eyes searched mine, wary but hopeful, like a deer caught in the headlights.

"It won't be awkward, all right? I promise."

That smile of hers struck me like a bolt of lightning, forcing a groan deep within my chest. I could see the words dancing on her lips, ready to spill out, but they vanished like smoke when Jimin walked back into the lab. Taking advantage of the reprieve, I buried myself in my work, fighting to act normal.

But normalcy felt like a distant memory whenever Y/N was near. She moved through the lab with quiet grace, while I stood like a rock in a river of uncertainty, drowning in my thoughts.

As the day wore on and shadows lengthened, I noticed her gathering her things. Instinct kicked in—I pretended to be engrossed in my computer, watching her shuffle and fidget until she finally took a step toward me.

"Hey, Yoongi?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes?" I turned to face her, masking the turmoil inside.

"Um, I was wondering... I know I’m just an undergrad here, and there’s really no room for me to... I-I mean, I know it’s really not my place to ask, but..." Her words faltered, and the crimson blush creeping up her cheeks sent my heart racing.

"Y/N, would you get on with it? I don’t have all day." My frustration boiled over, the energy it took to be normal around her fraying my patience.

Her frown was instant, a storm brewing in those beautiful eyes. 

Shit, that was uncalled for...

"Never mind…" she sighed, disappointment echoing in the air.

"Wait." I took a breath, willing myself to soften. "I’m sorry. Please, Y/N, tell me."

She sighed again, a deep, resigned breath. "I know there’s that recruitment party this Saturday. It’s for prospective students to meet the current students in the department. And I know, I’m just the undergrad, but I think it would be great if I could meet them. You know? Hopefully, in a year, I’ll be going through recruitment myself." Her fingers twisted anxiously in front of her, a sight that both amused and strained my patience.

"Is there a question you wanted to ask?" I barked, the irritation bubbling to the surface.

"Yes…" she snapped back, indignation rising. "My question is: do you mind if I’m there?" She crossed her arms, defiance written all over her.

Why would I care if she came? I hadn’t even planned on attending that stupid party. But suddenly, the thought twisted in my gut, a knot tightening as a realization hit me.

I shot up from my chair, startling her. "Who told you about the party?"

Her eyes dropped, a sigh escaping her lips, and just like that, the truth hit me like a freight train. I fucking knew it.

"You’re going with Jungkook, aren’t you?" I took a step closer, looming over her.

"No, I’m not going with Jungkook." Her voice was steady, but her gaze flickered to meet mine. "But I’m going."

"Well, I guess I’ll see you there, then."

"Okay," she said with a nonchalant shrug, but the smile that graced her lips made my stomach twist. She turned to leave, and I felt something unravel within me—my hands instinctively reached out, fingers curling into frustrated fists. I didn’t know if I wanted to strangle her or pull her into a desperate embrace. All I knew was that I was left staring helplessly as she walked away.

I didn’t need her to say it; I knew Jungkook was behind this. She might not be going with him, but the thought of him lurking at that party made my blood boil. For the first time in a long while, I felt the gnawing sensation of jealousy eat away at my insides.

Fucking Jungkook Jeon.

I couldn’t believe I was even considering this.

Why did it matter if Y/N went to the recruitment party? It shouldn’t. Yet here I was, battling an angry tide rising in my chest, all because of that idiot Jungkook. If she were going with someone more acceptable—someone who didn’t make my skin crawl—I’d be okay with it. I should be okay with it. The rational part of my brain knew that, but the irritation overshadowed everything else.

What did she even see in Jungkook? The guy barely scraped by on his Qual after taking it twice and hadn’t published a single paper. He was working with fruit flies for crying out loud! And his personality? A brick wall. I couldn’t trust him. I didn’t like him. I couldn’t stand him.

I had to go to this party.

At lunch, against my better judgment, I decided to bring it up with Hoseok. 

"Hey, where’s the recruitment party this year?" I asked, trying to sound casual as I stabbed my fork into the mac and cheese.

"You’re going to the recruitment party?" Hoseok dropped his fork, suspicion etched across his face like a roadmap to his thoughts.

"Yes," I groaned, already regretting bringing it up. Of course, he’d make a fuss.

"To our department’s recruitment party?" He pressed a finger to his chest as if I’d committed a heinous crime.

"Why is that so hard to believe?" I shrugged, pushing the macaroni around in my bowl.

"Let me think… maybe because I’ve organized every single one since I got here, and you’ve never attended."

"Will you just answer my question?" I snapped, frustration boiling over.

"It’s at the South Campus Center, bro." Even though he finally answered, his gaze lingered, scrutinizing me like I was a specimen under his microscope.

"Great, thanks." I tried to keep my tone light, rolling my eyes at his obvious scrutiny.

"I can’t believe you’re going." A knowing smile danced at the corners of his lips, and I loathed it.

I pretended not to care, shrugging off the comment as he took a seat next to me. 

"If only I had known all it would take was an undergrad to get through you."

"This has nothing to do with Y/N," I spat, defensiveness creeping in, my irritation sharpening with each word. Her name was Y/N, not ‘the undergrad.’

"Right, so it’s just a coincidence… this is just the year you happen to decide to attend this thing."

"Yes."

"Is she going?" His eyebrow arched, mischief glinting in his eyes.

I groaned and turned away, pretending to be absorbed in my food.

"Dude, I can see it. How she’s affected you. It’s kind of obvious. You can talk to me, you know? It might help."

The breath I took was deep and shaky, every nerve ending igniting with frustration. But before I could stop myself, the words came pouring out. "She drives me crazy, Hoseok. I can’t stand it. I lose all control when I’m around her. I kissed her… I kissed her, and she said she doesn’t want to jeopardize her work in the lab. And it makes sense for her to think that. But the worst part is now I can’t stop seeing her everywhere. She’s in the lab, at the gym, at the freaking library where I get my coffee—she’s everywhere! I need to go back to not seeing her, because I can’t handle this." I stared down at my lunch, the food suddenly unappetizing, a lifeless pile of carbs.

"So you don’t want to see her?" Hoseok asked, surprisingly calm, like he was dissecting a specimen on his lab bench.

"Exactly."

"You don’t want to kiss her again?" He pushed, an amused grin creeping across his face.

"I don’t know what I want!" I barked, irritation flaring.

"Sounds to me like you want to go to the party, see her, and kiss her again. The question is, how are you going to deal with Jungkook?"

My shoulders tightened at the mention of his name, a cold shiver running down my spine. "I don’t care about him."

"I don’t know, man. It’s weird. The vibes are strange. You’re talking about her with a lot of… emotion."

"Emotion?" I snapped, but deep down, I felt the truth behind his words. I was at the mercy of my own feelings, a trembling wreck in the face of Y/N’s smile. I hated it. I wanted to turn it off. I couldn’t afford to feel anything.

"Fine," I muttered, sinking back into my chair, wishing to be swallowed by it.

"You’re going to have to confront those feelings eventually, Yoongi."

I grunted in response, refusing to admit he was right. I didn’t want to think about Y/N, and I definitely didn’t want to deal with Jungkook. All I wanted was to escape this mess, but deep down, I knew I was already trapped.

© chimcess, 2024. Do not copy or repost without permission.

[drvirgus]

Just a secret

Stuco! Haerin X Basketball player! Reader

Warnings: Smut if u squint ur eyes; kinda Hanni x reader (?); curse words; angst; internal homophobia;

a/n: After a looooong time heres pt 3 and final part of this. Hopefully u like it

pt1 pt2

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"Get up"

Startled, my eyes flew open as I felt something light being thrown at me. Still a bit drowsy and with half-open eyes, I looked over at the woman who was sitting down at her vanity, seemingly starting to do her makeup. Confused, it took me a moment to gather myself. My jeans were the object that had been thrown at me...

My eyes widened as I looked around the room. The walls were white, the windows large and slightly open. The white, almost transparent curtains in front of the window gently swayed with the breeze coming into the room. A few photos were hanging all over the walls, as well as a painting. A rather expensive-looking painting...

My eyes landed on the woman who calmly continued applying her makeup, paying me no attention. My eyebrows lifted, and I visibly hesitated. The sheet slipped from my chest as I groaned and sat up. I was naked under the sheet, and several marks were visible on my chest, stomach, and legs.

"Go home now. I have things to do," said the woman doing her makeup, as she concentrated on gluing on her fake lashes. Her mouth was slightly open, which seemed to help her focus. I licked my lips once and wordlessly stood up from her oversized bed. A queen-size bed, maybe even king-size...

"Uh... where's my bra?" I asked as I buttoned my jeans, standing shirtless beside her bed. My eyes were fixed on the woman doing her makeup, who paused briefly and glanced at me through the mirror. Our eyes met, which made her grin slightly. She bit her lip and turned her chair to face me.

As she had done so many times before, her eyes roamed over my entire body as she took a deep breath through her nose. "You know what? Get undressed again. I’ll cancel," the smaller woman said, crossing one leg over the other. Her eyes were fixed on me. My eyebrows raised at her words.

"No. We said this would be the last time, Hanni," I said more seriously, which only made Hanni laugh again. Her laughter was almost mocking as she shook her head in amusement. "You said that, not me... Besides, who showed up here at 2 a.m.?" Hanni asked, clearly entertained.

I rolled my eyes. "You texted me. What was I supposed to do? After all, you still have the audio of Haerin and me," I replied, annoyed, as I started tossing the blanket back and forth, looking for my bra or shirt. Hanni laughed again and wagged her finger in a disapproving gesture.

"Lies," Hanni said, which made me stop immediately. My eyes widened as I looked at the much smaller woman. Her grin was unmistakable. "You know I deleted the audio. You were there when I did it after our first time," Hanni said, grinning as she stood up from her chair and approached me.

Each step she took made me flinch and tremble. My spit caught in my throat. Shakily, I searched with my eyes for any escape route, which only made Hanni grin even more. "You came here willingly, which I like. After all, men are really boring," Hanni said, rolling her eyes in frustration.

"Besides, you like it," Hanni added confidently, as her hand now rested on my hip. Despite her being much smaller than me... she had me under her control.

"Be good and get undressed."

And that’s exactly what I did.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I yawned tiredly and immediately covered my mouth with my hand. A hand landed hard on my back, which made me hiss in pain and caused me to hunch over. "Fuck," I exclaimed loudly as I angrily looked at the person who had just slapped me on the back. Yeji burst into laughter, while Jimin rolled her eyes, though the small smirk on her face was hard to miss.

Annoyed, I slammed my locker shut. "Why the hell are you wearing a turtleneck?" Jimin asked as I turned to face them. My eyes went to Yeji first, then to Jimin. But before I could even respond, Yeji yanked down my collar, revealing my marked neck.

Both of them gasped. "Oh my god. Did you get beaten up, or are those hickeys?" Yeji asked, her eyes wide. Sighing, I slapped the older girl's hand away from my collar. "What? Now I sleep with someone, and you don't like it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, which made them both visibly hesitate.

I could see how they briefly exchanged glances before grinning. Yeji linked her arm through my left one, and Jimin through my right. They clearly didn’t want me to escape. "Who? Was it Chaewon?" Jimin asked, sounding rather excited. I hesitated visibly and looked at Yeji, then at Jimin.

Against my will, my eyes wandered over to my ex-girlfriend, who, as usual, was hanging out by her locker with her friends. Hyein looked quite disgusted at one of the guys walking past her, which made Danielle laugh a little. Her laughter was loud and echoed down the hall. Minji, as always, was just glued to her phone. Hanni was examining her nails. But Haerin was looking at me.

I swallowed hard as my eyebrow began to twitch slightly. I knew that look... The look filled with anger and jealousy...

But she no longer had the right to feel that way.

"Not Chaewon," I replied, which only made my two friends even more curious. Almost in unison, they tugged at my arms, trying to coax more information out of me. I just grinned, which made Yeji huff in frustration, while Jimin simply rolled her eyes. Finally, they let go of my arms.

My eyes briefly drifted back to Haerin, who was still staring at me. Even though Danielle was talking to her, her gaze never left mine. My breath hitched a little, and I felt both nervous and flushed at the same time. I broke eye contact and cleared my throat. "I... I need to go to the bathroom," I mumbled quietly, and without waiting for a response or reaction from the two of them, I walked down the hallway.

Once in the bathroom, I washed my face. "Did you sleep with her?"

Startled, I flinched and immediately looked up, my eyes wide as I saw the person glaring at me with a tense jaw. A few water droplets fell from my chin onto the floor. I quickly grabbed some tissues to dry my face. "That's none of your business," I replied, throwing the now-wet tissues into the trash.

Haerin’s face turned into a scowl. Her jaw tightened even more, and even her hand clenched into a fist. Her forehead furrowed as she stepped closer to me, but I backed away. That didn't stop her from coming even closer. I swallowed. "Haerin," I began, but Haerin just hissed.

Her hand grabbed my collar and yanked me roughly toward her. My eyes widened slightly as I looked down at the smaller woman. I swallowed nervously. "Are you serious?!" she asked, her voice louder as she glared at me with fury in her eyes. The vein on her forehead pulsed. "I have no right?" she asked. Well... she more like shouted.

"I love you, damn it! And you’re letting Hanni fuck you?! I love you, and you break up with me?! I love you, and you don’t even look at me?! I feel like shit without you. Without you... I don’t want anything. I don’t want anything but you!" she screamed directly into my face.

Her words were as sweet as honey, but her tone made it impossible for my brain to register them. My mind went into overdrive, thinking I had to defend myself.

Angrily, I grabbed her collar and pulled her closer too, clenching my teeth. "You treated me like shit! I wasn’t important enough for you to acknowledge me, to be seen with me in public. I wasn’t even asking you to come out!" I shouted, though my voice cracked a little. I wasn’t really used to yelling. "But... you were even scared to talk to me in public," I added, my voice now quieter. My grip on her collar loosened as well.

I completely let go of her collar, but Haerin didn’t seem to let go. Her eyes were burning with unshed tears. "I love you. Isn’t that enough?" Haerin asked, much quieter and gentler now. Her eyes looked straight into mine, her lips slightly parted. "Please, Yn," Haerin whispered softly as her lips met mine.

"Take me back, please."

She kissed along my jaw while one of her hands slid down my side.

"I love you."

Her teeth grazed my skin.

"So much."

My breathing became ragged.

"Yn. Please. Don’t leave me."

Her hand naturally slipped under my turtleneck, which made me flinch slightly. My lips parted. "Haerin," I whispered softly, my voice trembling. "What the hell is going on here?" a voice suddenly echoed in the bathroom. Startled, Haerin and I turned to see Jimin standing there, her mouth open and eyes wide.

"You’re hooking up with Haerin?!" she asked suddenly, starting to laugh. "Yeji owes me fifty," Jimin said, clearly pleased. My eyes fell on Haerin, who seemed to be frozen in shock, her eyes wide and her face pale.

I knew exactly what that meant...

But it still disappointed me.

"No. Haerin... I didn’t sleep with Haerin," I said, which made Jimin furrow her brow. She gestured toward Haerin and me with her hand, confused. "And what exactly is this, then?" she asked, her face filled with bewilderment.

I stepped away from Haerin and forced a rather awkward smile. "She does this sometimes... She knows I like her and... she just enjoys messing with me," I replied, and almost immediately Jimin gasped. Haerin’s head snapped toward me. Her eyes filled with gratitude, but I simply avoided her gaze.

That all-too-familiar burning sensation returned to my eyes. I fought hard to suppress the anger, the disappointment, and the tears. My hands shoved into my pockets as I walked past them both. "I love you."

My eyes widened as I heard my ex-girlfriend’s voice. I froze, unsure if I should let myself fall for it again. Did I even have the strength to resist her?

"Yn. I love you," Haerin said, and I could hear her take a deep breath. Her eyes were now on Jimin. "You heard right. I, Kang Haerin, am a lesbian and in love with Yn," the student council president said confidently, though I could hear the slight tremble in her voice. I knew her, after all...

I turned my entire body toward Haerin, speechless. "What- What are you doing, Haerin?" I asked, visibly shocked that she was coming out now. Even though it was only in front of Jimin, she had said it out loud...

Haerin swallowed as she looked at me, a smile on her face. The uncertainty was still written all over her face. "I... I want you back, Yn," she said, taking another deep breath. "I don’t want to hide you anymore. I don’t want to hide myself anymore," she confessed. Her hands clutched the hem of her school skirt as if it was the only thing holding her steady.

"I’m a lesbian," Haerin repeated, turning to Jimin.

My mouth hung open as I stared at Haerin. She said it... Finally... She said it.

"And now what? Do you want applause?" Jimin asked casually, pretending to yawn. "You’re still Haerin. Just much cooler now, but yeah," Jimin replied nonchalantly, shrugging. "I’m a lesbian too," Jimin added offhandedly. She glanced briefly at me and winked before leaving the bathroom.

Haerin’s mouth and eyes were wide open. She clearly hadn’t expected such a casual reaction. The uncertainty on her face disappeared all at once when she looked into my eyes. Still overwhelmed by the situation, I stepped closer to my ex-girlfriend. My hands found hers. "Are you... do you mean that?" I asked, my voice filled with distrust and uncertainty.

"Yes. I love you. I don’t want to hide you anymore. You’re not just a secret... You’re my girlfriend," Haerin said with a smile as she held her hand out to me properly now. "Let me... let me show you to everyone," Haerin said. My eyes briefly flicked to her hand before I looked back into her eyes.

I had to tell her... Answer her question...

"I slept with Hanni... not just once."

Haerin sharply inhaled through her nose. "I know."

My eyes widened once more. "And... you still want to..."

"Yes."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I placed my hand on hers. "Are you... sure you want to come out?" I asked once more as she tried to pull me toward the bathroom door. Nervous and uncertain, I looked at the smaller woman. Haerin smiled gently. "Yes. I’m sure."

I took a deep breath as the door opened and Haerin pulled me into the school hallway. Her hand in mine. Her grip gentle, yet firm. A smile on her face.

It seemed as though Haerin had no more worries...

As though she was at peace with herself...

As though... she wasn’t afraid anymore...

I was no longer a secret...

I’m Haerin’s girlfriend!

I’m not just a secret!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[whyse7vn]

FWB -

[ot7 x reader]

NAMJOON -

namjoon: u like sunflowers?

y/n: you need to stop giving me flowers after we fuck

namjoon: why?

y/n: people don’t do that?

namjoon: i do?

y/n: and i have way too many flowers in my house rn

we like fuck a lot….

namjoon: but i like getting you flowers

y/n: i know

namjoon: do you not like flowers?

y/n: i do

namjoon: so i should get these sunflowers rn is what ur telling me

y/n: you do not need to get me anything

we fuck cuz i think ur hot and ur convenient

NOT because you get me flowers

namjoon: oh

y/n: oh?

namjoon: ok

y/n: don’t tell me i hurt your feelings

namjoon: you didn’t hurt my feelings

y/n: are you lying to me?

namjoon: a little bit

y/n: namjoon….

namjoon: i’m sorry….

y/n: this is not very no strings attached of you

namjoon: baby :(

y/n: YOU made that rule might i add

namjoon: i take it back

y/n: you can’t take it back

namjoon: i just did

y/n: ur just horny

namjoon: am not

i just like you

a lot actually

i like you a lot

can’t help but buy you flowers

y/n: joon

namjoon: yes baby

y/n: /&/&&&;&;&;

you make me sick

i REFUSE to blush and giggle rn

you do this all the time

u nasty little freak

act like you’re deeply in love with me or something

and then just ghost me for 100 years

and come back when u wanna fuck again

namjoon: not true at all

i ignored you for 2 days

ONE time

y/n: so you ignored me on purpose???

namjoon: you know i would never

was super busy i promise baby :(

y/n: i can feel ur horniness through the screen

namjoon: can you feel all the love i have for you as well??

y/n: see you ARE horny

namjoon: out of love and appreciation

y/n: whatever

namjoon: i’m standing in the middle of this florist looking like and idiot

come on baby

sunflowers yes or no?

y/n: no namjoon

and anways jin is at mine rn

so ur gonna have to wait until he leaves

and that’s IF he leaves

namjoon: that’s ok jin’s a very busy man these days ofc he’ll leave

i can wait

y/n: jin is not a busy man at all

you and i both know that 💀

he’s literally been crying in gc about how bored he’s been at home

namjoon: he has?

y/n: yeah literally yesterday

and the day before that

namjoon: maybe i didn’t see that

y/n: you need to read the gc more silly!

namjoon: ur right baby i do

y/n: ofc i’m right

namjoon: of course :)

y/n: …..

are u fr……

this is not fair

why is he leaving?????????????

namjoon

…

this was supposed be our catch up time☹️

what did you say to him????

and WHY is he listening to you

namjoon: didn’t say anything

told you he’s a busy man baby

y/n: shut the fuck up

namjoon: not nice :(

y/n: idc actually!

namjoon: you do

y/n: bring me tulips you slut

JIMIN -

jimin: you need to buy more bread

y/n: ???

jimin: you have no bread

buy some more

y/n: are you in my house rn????

jimin: come home the kids miss you

y/n: motherfucker

jimin: i’m more of a you fucker!

y/n: shut up

jimin: shut me up

y/n: leave my house

jimin: are you on ur way home?

y/n: how did you even get in??

that is highkey very scary jimin!

jimin: do you not want me or something

y/n: hey i never said that did i?

jimin: well ur acting like you don’t want me :/

guess i’ll just leave then

sighs looks out window….

y/n: aw what a shame guess i’ll have to eat this bread i just picked up by myself….

jimin: hey i like bread….

y/n: no way me too…

jimin: you can make toast with bread…

y/n: that’s true and i make really good toast….

jimin: you do….

y/n: so like do you want to have toast with me….

jimin: wow look at you practically on ur knees BEGGING for me 🙄

y/n: whatever

you’ll be the one on ur knees soon anyways

jimin: is that a threat???

y/n: it’s a promise mr park!

jimin: just say you want my hand in marriage at this point

y/n: lol!!!!!!

jimin: i know you do

deep down

y/n: keep telling urself that!

jimin: she wants you jimin 😍

y/n: fucking freak

jimin: she REALLY wants you

TAEHYUNG -

y/n: you told yoongi we were dating?

taehyung: can’t hear you rn babe

i’m literally drilling holes in the wall

it’s real noisy

y/n: we fuck each other that is it tae i told you this….

taehyung: 🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀 you want me 🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀you need me 🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀 🌀🌀you are my girlfriend 🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀

y/n: stop it

taehyung: you are in love with me

y/n: i am not

taehyung: sorry can’t hear you i’m drilling baby

i told you this already

y/n: drilling does effect your reading ability

taehyung: oh my god the wall dust has gotten into my eyes i can’t see omg someone help me ohhhshuszu

y/n: ur not funny

taehyung: can i come over later 🥺

y/n: can you stop telling people we are an actual couple

taehyung: i love you

y/n: i’m going to drop you

taehyung: in bed?

y/n: should of rejected ur stupid offer when you asked

fwb my ass

taehyung: we have that type of love that it gets just gets so overwhelming in the best way

don’t you agree?

y/n: shut the fuck up

taehyung: you know i like it when you take control

y/n: i’m gonna stop speaking to you taehyung

taehyung: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭baby plz😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

i can’t even breathe without you 🥺

y/n: i mean it tae

taehyung: ok but let me sing for u rq

y/n: no

taehyung: you should let me love youuu

let me be the one tooooo

give you everything you want and neeeeddd

y/n: shut the fuck up

taehyung: i forgot the lyrics hold on

y/n: i am not holding on

taehyung: wait that’s so jack and rose core

i’ll never let go jack 🥺

and then she lets go of him

or does he let go??

idk i forgot

y/n: wish you were jack

taehyung: you into white men???

i’ll be a white man for you

y/n: absolutely not

taehyung: i’ll make you mayo sandwich

think that’s a white person delicacy

y/n: ur getting blocked now

taehyung: ok but we still fucking later???????

y/n: …..

taehyung: ???

y/n: ur so fucking annoying

taehyung: >3<

y/n: 5

don’t be late

taehyung: 🫡

JUNGKOOK -

jungkook: the weather is so nice rn

y/n: do you want to fuck?

jungkook: please 😭

y/n: just say that next time idiot

jungkook: i’m sorry

just wanted to be a gentleman

don’t want to act like just using you for sex or something

y/n: you literally are???

jungkook: not true!!!!!!

y/n: 🤨

jungkook: i’m very upset that you think that

ur worth more to me than just sex ☹️

y/n: since when??

jungkook: since our first date i think

y/n: our first date????

you mean the time you took me to buy a plan b??

jungkook: no the time we had ice cream…

y/n: AFTER you took me to buy a plan b

jungkook: ☹️

y/n: don’t frown at me kookie

jungkook: don’t u like me?

y/n: ofc i like you

i’m fucking you am i not?

jungkook: yeah but

y/n: but?

jungkook: ☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️

y/n: don’t you understand the concept of friends with benefits?

jungkook: i do ☹️

y/n: so why are you frowning at me?

jungkook: i just thought the benefits would be you falling deeply in love with me and holding my hand sometimes idk….

y/n: kook

jungkook: i’m sorry

y/n: 😐

jungkook: but like…

have you???

fallen in love with me i mean

i mean it’s cool if you haven’t

well not cool

but like cool for you

not really cool for me

but i’ll like cope lol

y/n: sighs

jungkook: changing the subject sorry i’ll cry

but anyways i know i said i wanted to be a gentleman and not act like i just use you for sex or whatever

but i do really need you rn lol

i can come over now right?

cuz i’m on my way lol no joke

i hope that’s ok with you

cuz it’s ok with me

ofc it’s ok with me why did i say that

sorry

but if it’s not ok with you that’s fine

well not fine for me lol

cuz i’m like painfully hard rn

that’s kinda gross

sorry i don’t know why i said that

but it’s ok i can always like

um

fuck some else

?

if ur busy or just not in the mood

i get it

don’t worry

y/n: omg you fuck other people?

wow i’m impressed!!!

you go superstar jk!

jungkook: I DON’T I DON’T OH MY GOD I DO NOT

idk why i said that lol

sorry for shouting

um yeah

i don’t

y/n: oh

jungkook: do you??

not that it matters or anything just wondering

y/n: well

jungkook: actually i don’t want to know lol

sorry for cutting you off btw

i didn’t mean it

well i did but like not in a i don’t care what you have to say type of way but in a if you say what i think ur gonna say i’ll throw up and cry and jump off a building

lol

that was a joke lol

LMAOOOO

ha

i won’t do those things actually haha 😭

i am a tough guy

i can handle if you were seeing other people

i can still come over btw right???

y/n: you talk a lot of shit

jungkook: sorry

i’m sorry

i get that

y/n: i like you jungkook

jungkook: yOU DO???

*you do?

sorry caps

oh wow

thanks ha

lol

i like you too

a lot

y/n: i want you

jungkook: OH

ok OK YEAH

that��s cool lol

in what context tho haha

like you want me as in you want me to be ur bf?

you want me to fuck?

you want me to die????

you want me

and this means it’s ok to come over right?

y/n

hello??

you have an incoming call from kook ♡

YOONGI -

yoongi: you free? :3

y/n: i am

yoongi: :3

y/n: idk what that means

yoongi: yes you do

y/n: i don’t

yoongi: stop lying

y/n: never lied in my life

yoongi: ur lying rn

y/n: don’t think so

yoongi: shut up

y/n: that’s mean

yoongi: i’m coming over

y/n: for?

yoongi: y/n

y/n: yoongi

yoongi: stop it

y/n: stop what

yoongi: i’m not saying it

y/n: saying what

yoongi: …

y/n: what u coming over for yoongi :3

yoongi: no

y/n: no?

yoongi: changed my mind

not coming over

y/n: ok

yoongi: ok?

y/n: ok yoongi

yoongi: so u fucking other people now

y/n: woah?????

where did that come from

yoongi: ur fine with me not coming over..

you must be fucking someone else

y/n: jealous much

yoongi: SO YOU ARE?????????????

y/n: don’t shout at me

yoongi: i didn’t shout

y/n: you definitely did!

yoongi: i don’t even care fuck who you want

y/n: ok

yoongi: ok??????????

y/n: yoongi

yoongi: no

y/n: are you mad at me rn?

yoongi: no lol

y/n: wtf did i do to you what the hell

yoongi: who is it

y/n: ????

yoongi: give me a letter

y/n: a letter?

n??

yoongi: NAMJOON???????

yeah just go ahead and block me now

fucking namjoon

ur telling me namjoon better than me

LMAOOOO

y/n: tf are you talking about

yoongi: you and namjoon

y/n: me and namjoon??

yoongi: oh

so ur not..

y/n: i’m not following

yoongi: me or namjoon?

y/n: what

yoongi: you following me or namjoon

y/n: on insta??

twitter???

tf are you taking about

work with me here yoongi

yoongi: i’m drunk

y/n: that makes sense

yoongi: i lied

y/n: i don’t believe you

yoongi: i’m outside

y/n: my house???????

yoongi: no the fucking world trade centre

y/n: the what

yoongi: open ur fucking door

i need to kiss you

SEOKJIN -

jin: IF YOU TOUCH JUNGKOOK ONE MORE TIME IM GONNA THROW UP EVERYWHERE AND RUIN THIS PARTY FOR EVERYONE

y/n: i think he’s so cute tho :c

jin: CUTE?????

he thinks 4x4 is 7 and i heard he never showers

but you see me i know that 4x4 is 24 and i shower regularly

y/n: 4x4 is 16 you idiot

jin: go away

y/n: you look like a loser in the corner by yourself

where ur hoes at seokjin?

jin: my one and only hoe throwing herself all over one of my best friends rn

y/n: no way?

jin: yes way :/

y/n: does she look good doing it tho?

jin: so good actually

i might faint

y/n: why don’t you go talk to her

jin: like i said she’s trying to fuck my best friend rn

y/n: ur no fun

jin: ur a cheater

y/n: i’m single actually

cheating is not a possible thing for me to do rn

jin: ur supposed to be my fwb not jungkooks

y/n: we are not exclusive jin u know this

and anyways sharing is caring!

jin: convinced you’ve lost your mind

y/n: ur wasting my time rn

kookies getting upset i’m not paying attention to him

jin: kookie????

don’t play i’ll throw up rn

watch me

sticking my fingers down my throat as we speak

y/n: no ur not

i can see you yk?

jin: so NOW you’re paying attention to me

y/n: i always have been

how else would i know you’ve been standing in that corner for and hour like the little creep you are

jin: ok it hasn’t been an hour

y/n: ur right

+30 minutes

jin: yeah whatever

you wanna leave rn??

y/n: only if i can bring kookie with

jin: no

y/n: but look at him

jin: he’s pretty ugly

y/n: 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

jin: i am not sharing you with anybody

y/n: that’s not ur decision actually

jin: it should be 😒

y/n: you asking me out rn mr kim 🤨?

jin: no

well

unless…..

y/n: me you kookie

one night i promise

jin: 😐

y/n: listen

jin: listening

y/n: one way or another i’m fucking jungkook tn

ur lucky i’m inviting you

jin: SIGHSSS

you ARE a cheater

i’ll let you fuck jk if you go on a date with me

y/n: can you not read??

was gonna fuck him anyways

jin: ok but I’LL join if you go on a date with me

y/n: you were joining regardless

jin: not true!

y/n: very true!

jin: ….

if you knew that why were you begging me?

y/n: had to make you feel special somehow

jin: you say that like i’m not?

y/n: you are

jin: i know

y/n: i’m glad

jin: ur so hot

y/n: thank u kookie just told me that 💓

jin: he doesn’t say it like i say it tho

y/n: you sure?

jin: very

y/n: interesting

jin: are you guys coming to the car or what?

y/n: so eager

jin: you blame me?

got to show jk how a real man fucks

then i got to take my girl on the best date of her life

y/n: your girl?

jin: problem?

y/n: *friend

jin: no!

y/n: ???

you can’t just say no

jin: watch me do it again

no!

y/n: i am NOT ur girl

jin: u right

wife 🥰

y/n: no!

jin: don’t use my shit on me

y/n: watch me do it again

no!

jin: ok whatever

ur opinion on the matter isn’t valid anyways

y/n: ???i think it is

jin: no!

y/n: kill yourself

jin: not really into the whole suicide thing

can you come kill me??

i would prefer you take me out via strangulation

y/n: you me sick

jin: come to the car now i’m boredddd

y/n: i don’t see you moving to the car

jin: i’ll move when you move

y/n: whatever

jin: so excited wifey😋🥰

HOSEOK -

hobi: hey (my dick game insane)

y/n: sometimes i think if i knock on your head i would hear an infinite echo

hobi: hey (my dick game insane)

y/n: or maybe ur skull would just completely collapse idk

hobi: hey (my dick game insane)

y/n: yeah you said that

i bought you a tshirt by the way

was feeling generous

feel blessed bitch

hobi: hey (my dick game insane)

y/n: ok

can you like shut the fuck up

hobi: hey (my dick game insane)

y/n: hey (ok)

hobi: so… (it’s HUGEEEE btw)

y/n: so… (ok)

hobi: hey (no joke basically a third leg)

y/n: ok stop

hobi: no (can we fuck)

y/n: out shopping with family rn ur gonna have to wait

hobi: i can’t (they can join lol)

y/n: ur gross

hobi: ur kinda a shit friends with benefits (want u so bad dick might drop off)

like where are the benefits at rn?? (pls come take care of me)

y/n: i have a life hobi

cant fuck you all the time you know

hobi: boo (please)

y/n: do you not have anyone else that can help u rn?

hobi: are you stupid????? (i think ur stupid)

y/n: don’t call me stupid :(

hobi: sorry pretty (suck my dick pls pls pls pls)

y/n: i am out hoseok

hobi: don’t same my name like that (i’ll cum)

y/n: i did not say ur name like anything

i typed it

hobi: but in that moment and time i imagined the way you say my name (it’s hot)

y/n: stop imagining things then u whore

hobi: i’ll shoot myself (COME OVER)

y/n: stop typing like that

hobi: come over then i’ll stop (rizz)

y/n: shut up

hobi: ..- .-. / ... --- / .--. .-. . - - -.-- / .. / -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. / . .- - / -.-- --- ..- / --- ..- - / .-. -. / .-.. --- .-.. (morse code rizz)

y/n: why tf do you know morse code

hobi: you never know when you need it i be in a lot of different situations pretty girl (strong brave educated man rizz)

y/n: whatever u freak

hobi: 01110000 01101100 01100101 01100001 01110011 01100101 00100000 01100110 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01101101 01100101 00100000 01100010 01100101 01100110 01101111 01110010 01100101 00100000 01101001 00100000 01100101 01111000 01110000 01101100 01101111 01100100 01100101 00100000 01101001 00100000 01101100 01101111 01110110 01100101 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 (binary rizz)

y/n: what the actual fuck

hobi: i’m horny (i’m horny)

y/n: couldn’t tell actually

hobi: lol me gustas mucho no es broma sé mi novia (ultimate spanish rizz)

y/n: girlfriend???

hobi: YOU SPEAK SPANISH?//£:£:&,£:

y/n: you like me??????????????

hobi: BYE LMAO

—

tags: @piw6n @92jinnies @birdie-vhs @kooksmilitarywife @hob3loveofmylife @jujubiism @bloopkook @ratchetpizza1 @myntalks @arloo00 @watamotee33 @y2kcy3brz @taiwan0618 @indigobsessed @freyadanvers @gguksbeloved @raetf @bbsantc @winuvs @medicinemybish @bxnnyhime @leleluvsbts @baetukki @zyaaaszn @thelilbutifulthings @yojaschill @k4ngelz @jmnscutie

surprise guys ;p

[thedeathdeelers]

happy juke jeudi today i bring lyrics of a song that i currently have on repeat that give me strong juke soulmate au vibes:

we’ve never met but she’s all i see at night/never met but she’s always on my mind

is she someone that i see every day/is she somewhere a thousand miles away

who is my heart waiting for

song: who by jimin

i see two scenarios:

scenario 1: the boys manage to finish their ‘unfinished business’, but there’s a twist: they don’t get to live out their lives with julie, to continue living this new life they’ve carved out for themselves, no

instead they get sucked back to 1995, resuming their lives as if nothing had happened at all- and to make it even worse…they don’t have any memories of their times as ghosts…any memory of julie

but as they unknowingly readjust to life in 1995, and luke is back to writing music on his own…he keeps feeling strange…feeling like something or someone is missing and no matter what he does the feeling doesn’t go away- it even takes over his dreams, like he’s about to unlock the mystery behind the feeling but it slips away the second he’s close enough

and so he writes a song…..

and things happen. maybe. who knows lmao is it an angsty ending is it a happy one WHO KNOWs

scenario 2: the boys have yet to die and turn into ghosts and meet julie (ie pre-hot dogs era) but luke keeps feeling like there’s someone out there he’s supposed to meet but no matter what new person he meets it’s just not…the right one

he writes the song but it gets stuffed to the back of his journal never to see the light of day cause luke is not a mushy romantic person thank u very much

UNTIL

He meets julie- and somehow…he just knows. it’s immediate, it’s instinctive- it’s her. she’s the someone, she’s the who

he eventually shows her the song and they sing it together as a duet :)

THE END

[bonbonchocolates]

Twins

Yandere Taehyung x Reader

Summary: Something is off with your husband today......

Warnings: twins tae, yandere tae, obsessive behaviour, smut (not descriptive), dumb Y/N

A/N: Again originally from my Wattpad account. I hope you like it and if you do please make sure to leave a like.

Masterlist

____________________________________________

Your Pov:

"Byy Tae"

"Come back soon"

I bid my husband.

"Will do, Jagi"

He said before getting into his car and driving off.

I went back inside our house and decided to do the house chores.

Yes, I am a housewife.

Though I had dreams to do something great in life but I decided to be a housewife after marriage. There's two reasons for that. First, my husband earned more than enough for two people. So there won't be any financial problems even if I have kids in the future. Second, I'm too lazy to go and work outside.

_________________________________________

After 2 hours:

I  finally completed all the cleaning and cooking. Now I just wanted to relax.

I went and sat on the couch and was about to switch on the tv to watch the latest episode of your favourite kdrama. Actually it was yesterday's episode that I missed due to my lovely husband. When suddenly I heard the sound of my phone ringing.

I hurriedly got my phone that was kept in the table right beside the couch you were sitting on. I looked at the caller id and my face immediately lighted up. I quickly picked up the call.

You:"Mochi"

I shouted on the phone.

Jimin:Y/N

           How are you?

You: I'm good and how are you?

         How is work?

Jimin: I am fine and work is great too.

           How is your married life?

He teased.

This way we talked for about an hour. Unbelievable, right? But we are talking to each other after a month. Actually Jimin is my first best friend. We have been friends since we were in diapers. He is currently in the US for his job. Truth to be said I am happy for him but I miss him a lot. I hope we can meet soon.

While talking to him I didn't realise the time it was afternoon and I still didn't had my lunch. I then quickly ate my lunch and cleaned the dishes.

The same morning I got a call from my mother. She said she misses me very much. So I decided to visit her today. So for the same reason I got ready and left for my parents' house.

____________________________________________

9:00 PM:

I hurriedly reached my home because it was too late. I know that Taehyung must be home by now. I didn't even cook dinner for him. He must be waiting for me.

But when I reached home I found that the main door was locked from outside as I left it. That means he is still not back home now.

Strange.

Maybe he has extra work to do.

I opened my purse, took out the key and opened the door. I got inside the house.

Once I changed my dress, I began cooking.

____________________________________________

1 hour later:

I was finally done with the dinner but Taehyung was still not back from work. I was getting worried for him.

He is always back at eight but today he is two hours late. I quickly dialled Taehyung's number but it told that it is unreachable. I called him a few more times and got the same reply.

I just hoped that wherever he is, he is ok.

I then decided to call Jin Oppa to know that if Tae is still at his workplace. I was about to call him when I heard the sound of the doorbell.

I rushed to the door and opened it. It was Tae. I finally sighed in relief. He came inside without a single word.

"Where were you Tae? Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

"Ohh... sorry for that, darling. Actually I had extra work to do today. I promise to come home early next time."

Darling, he never calls me that.

"Let me change my clothes."

He said before going towards the store room.

Wait, story room. Why is he going there to change his clothes?

"Tae our room is upstairs."

"Ohh right."

He then took a u turn and went up the stairs.

Why is he behaving so strangely now? He was ok before going to work. Maybe work pressure.

I followed him upstairs and reached our room and found him in his white shirt with his half coat discarded on the floor.

I picked it up, folded it and kept it.

I was just admiring him when I noticed a red stain on his white shirt.

"Wait.. Tae, what is that?"

"What?"

He looked confusedly.

"This"

I pointed towards the red stain on his stirt. As soon as he understood what I was talking about, his face turned pale.

"Ah..ohh t-this it-its nothing. It's ju-st ketchup. Y-ye-yeah ketchup. "

He shuttered.

"Ok come down, I'm serving dinner."

I left from there and came downstairs. There was only one thing going on in my mind.

Why is Tae behaving so weirdly?

____________________________________________

It was around midnight when I  woke up as I felt some weird sensations. I opened my eyes and found that we both were naked. Tae was kissing and biting my neck hungrily while thrusting inside me.

"Tae..ahh"

You moaned.

"Not Tae, darling. It's V"

I didn't pay any attention to him. I felt myself getting close to my high.

"Say V, darling, say it"

"V"

I moaned as I reached my high. He didn't stoped and still went on.Today he felt more muscular than before. I don't know how.

"Now I finally have you, darling. I don't even have to worry about my twin brother."

He said with increasing his pace.

"Tae, what are you saying?"

I was confused now.

"Yes darling, I am not Tae but I'm his twin brother V and now you are finally mine. Forever"

_________________________________________

Borahae 💜

[sunsuns-babie]

If I Get My Way {K.SUNOO x F!READER}

2 HOT 4 U

Y/n Marsh: Sophomore @/Decelis Uni, Music Education Major (Studying to be Composer or Producer later), Anti-Romantic, Doesn’t want to date again because of her ex, Taylor Swift fan, Kind of jaded more so towards people that aren’t her inner circle, friends with Lee Heeseung and Jang Wonyoung

Anton Lee: Sophomore @/Decelis Uni, Graphic Design Major (chose it for fun), Rich as fuck, Spoils his friends with his riches after bullying them (lovingly) for being poor, Just here for the vibes, Acts like he hates everyone in their circle but wouldn’t actually trade them for anyone else… even if they’re annoying, Wannabe cowboy

Ning Yizhuo: Junior @/Decelis Uni, Game Design Major (Studying to be a video game developer), Delulu, Fangirl for the Uni’s top male figure skater Park Sunghoon, Publicly declares her love for him, Fights the voices in her head that tell her to be crazy (and loses), Realistically she’s more tame she’s just a mega Sunghoon fangirl online

Jennifer Huh aka Yunjin: Junior @/Decelis Uni, Music Major (Studying to help her with her aspirations of being an artist), Beefing with Beomgyu 25/8 over Y/n, Likes Girls (Generation), Hates Men (secretly likes only the ones in her friend group), BIG Taylor Swift fan, Had a crush on Y/n at one point in time

Stephen Yoon aka Keeho: Junior @/Decelis Uni, Computer Engineering Major (who knew he was smart), Horniest motherfucker to ever exist, Acts like a manwhore but actually doesn’t sleep around, His hand is his best friend, Flirty when he wants to be, Smokes Weed

Karina Yu aka Jimin: Senior @/Decelis Uni, Music Education Major (Studying more towards being a choreographer rather than producer like Y/n), MOTHER in both ways, Hottest Girl on campus, Has fanboys and a fan club, Takes care of the group, Y/n’s roommate, Cooks for everyone, Tutors local kids and people on campus for money

Hwang Yeji: Senior @/Decelis Uni, Dance Major (Studying so she can teach others how to dance and maybe open up her own school), Dating Shin Ryujin, Sort of friends but not that close to Sunoo’s group of friends because of her girlfriend, The most mentally sane next to Karina, Works at a cat cafe

Choi Beomgyu: Junior @/HYBE Uni, Music Education Major (Studying to help him produce his own music and become an artist), He’s very much gay and into men but is Y/n’s biggest simp, Everyone thinks he might be bi with how much he loves Y/n, He himself doesn’t even know if he’s joking anymore about being in love with her or if he actually is…, A crackhead metaphorically he’s actually scared of drugs

Choi Yeonjun: Senior @/HYBE Uni, Fashion Design Major (has a passion for fashion), Acts like a manwhore and is one, sleeps around on his campus, doesn’t want an actual relationship just wants a good fuck, Smokes weed with Keeho, Always knows about parties happening at both HYBE & Decelis

Choi Soobin: Senior @/HYBE Uni, Early Childhood Education Major (he’s a softie cutie pie who loves kids), Y/n’s ex boyfriend, doesn’t like social media but has accounts for Y/n, #1 Hater of Y/n’s Ex after him, Clingy towards Y/n, Awkward & Nerdy but oh so cute, Has a secret girlfriend that only Yeonjun & Y/n know about, Is a tutor for elementary school kids

masterlist | profiles (2)

IN WHICH: Kim Seonwoo aka Sunoo is a Sophomore at Decelis University and has a crush on the pretty Music Education Major Y/n Marsh. Seems like a match made in heaven since he’s also a Music Education Major and has had a crush on her since Freshman year when he met her at orientation… well sort of. He’s a little delusional about her but that’s okay, right? When finally given the opportunity to get to know her and potentially date her some weird things start happening that Sunoo doesn’t quite understand… which leads to the postponement of his grand plan to confess his feelings for Y/n. At the end of the day does he get the girl or does he miss out and think of what could’ve been?

ALSO IN WHICH: Sunoo and Y/n’s friends also have their own storylines and side quest relationships happening simultaneously with theirs.

A/N: There’s probably spelling errors somewhere in this post but I tried to catch & fix most of them.

[beautifulpersonpeach]

As a very bored person who just watched tons of BTS official content and vlives I think I can say as a fact that Jimin likes to grab Jungkook's face, neck, chest and Jungkook likes Jimin's waist&carry him or just hovering around him like the world cutest weirdo and stare. I love what they have

*

Ask 2: The level of joy and happiness on Jimin's face when he saw JK in his docu live from afar. The giggles, the smiles, the way he lit up. How can anyone even dare to speak on them is beyond me. Also

The tiddy grab..almost like an instinct. I'm so jealous lmao

*

Ask 3: bpp have you seen jimin’s hair???? I’m not a fan of that color on anyone but why does he make it look good?!!! Is it because he’s truly a natural blonde????? And why does blondemin scare me so much what is he cooking he hasnt had blonde hair in so long 😭

*

Ask 4:

BPP!

I'm sure your inbox is flooded with similar messages but jikook jikooked on livestream😭

I missed them so much😭

Why are they so cute😭

*

Ask 5: bpp.......................... i understand u now................. i really do................................................................ i want to talk about jimin but all thats coming out is feral bog creature howling noises.............................................

***

Hi Anon(s)!

How are we feeling? :)

Cause I know how I'm feeling... I have questions!

Several, in fact.

Such as, what is Jimin feeling for when he grabs Jungkook's tiddies?

Firmness?

Heft?

Lumps? (Please remember to test and scan regularly)

Is he feeling for a pulse?

Trying to... idk.. squeeze out milk?

Because there's other places he can more conviniently get that from Jungkook.

So, why the tits?

Is Jimin just a boob guy?

This would make sense given they'd have to balance out each other's energy and we all know Jungkook loves Jimin's "well-trained ass".

But then again, Jimin is fond of JK's ass too. In fact not just his ass, he can't seem to not be all over him sometimes?

Anyway, QTNA.

In the meantime let's enjoy jikook's wholesome relationship.

*

How adorable.

[awrkive]

re: anon who just asked u if u received my ask i was talking about the ask thats about tlp! it was about asking for confirmation about tlp timeline??? like if im correct jk and mingyu were bff in undergrad, then thye had a falling off during third year then after grad they never saw each other up until nayeons engagement party right??? and then for the tlp surgeons gang oc and jk knew each other first in first year, then doyeon, then tae in second year, then nayeon during internship?? this is so incoherent but tl;dr i just would like to know the tlp timeline starting from mingyu and jk relationship!!

OHHH OMG i went thru my inbox just now and i didnt really receive it ): it may be tumblr just doing its thing. i see from other blogs here that some asks get lost sometimes sorry about that!! ANYWAY.

below is the official TLP TIMELINE from undergrad to postgrad days. putting it under the cut jic some people are still waiting for the finale to read the entirety

TLP TIMELINE

UNDERGRAD:

1st year-3rd year college: jungkook and mingyu bff era (studied premed together) see their history here

around 3rd year: jungkook dated his first girlfriend park jiyeon. but later on she cheated on him with mingyu. mingyu and jk's friendship was broken off after that

4th year: jk started to date a lot lol a trauma response from his previous experience. wouldnt say he was a fuckboy tho just that he started to get out there more!!! he had and still is having a hard time dating seriously because of what happened with jiyeon.

after graduation, mingyu and him lost contact (intention on both sides most esp jk)

POST GRAD (MED SCHOOL)

1st term, 1st year med school: jk met oc at the law library with his law student friend jimin (see drabble)

2nd term, 1st year med school: jk met doyeon. doyeon develops a crush on jk. the three (oc jk doyeon) formed a study group. oc and eunwoo went out more.

around 2nd sem-ish of first year: oc starts developing feelings for eunwoo (mentioned in part 1 main story how). she then started seeing eunwoo time to time BUT she was pretty much single the entirety of her freshman year in med school

1st sem, 2nd year: taehyung joins the study group. oc and eunwoo became official

3rd year, med school: eunwoo and oc had a falling out. there was an almost confession and kiss that happened between jk and oc (mentioned in pt2) so OC does know that jk liked her BEFORE. but oc and eunwoo dated e/o again.

4th year, med school: jungkook and min sora dated. eunwoo proposed to oc. jk and sora broke up after a year of dating (all of this are mentioned pt2).

RESIDENCY

internship year (1st year residency): oc and eunwoo broke up. nayeon was a co intern and the 5 became friends!

2nd year residency: oc single era. had a hard time moving on from eunwoo for two years ):

3rd year residency: oc has just been dating casually/going to blind dates. so is jk.

4th year residency: PRESENT TIME. this is where the main story starts. oc dates mingyu then yadda yadda.

A LITTLE BIT OF CONFIRMATION

was jungkook really inlove with her for the whole timeline?

i went into detail about this in part 3 but what i will say is that. he had a HUGE crush on oc for the entirety of freshman year but he was really indenial about his feelings. the reason why is bcs he was a bit scared of loving somebody again. and it wasnt too long since park jiyeon around that time so that was definitely a huge factor. he only admitted to himself that he was inlove with oc during second year, when oc and eunwoo had already become official. he tried to move on a lot of times bcs eunwoo and oc just seemed really perfect for each other. this is basically what he does for the entirety of 8 years tbh: try to move on from oc. then dipping back. try to move on again. then dip back. he couldnt make a move for the entirety of 4 years. miss maam was in a pretty much solid relationship. then its another 2 years of oc moving on from eunwoo. the remaining 2 years is just a lot of back n forth of fears and doubts and uncertainties. he admits to being a coward but i think ultimately he respects their friendship a lot and would never want to jeopardize it, hence why it took him so long to confess (and it didnt even come out right lol)

[mrs-monaghan]

https://www.tumblr.com/mrs-monaghan/726485076049821696/see?source=share

Thank you for calming some of my fears about this. This is stressing me out so much 😖

Do you have anything Jikook to share? It doesn't have to be about this, I just need some comfort right now.

This is really not something to bother you leave alone stress you? Antis annoy me yeah, but I never let them get to me. Ever. I refuse to let ANYONE affect my BTS experience. Leave alone my Jikook experience. I know what I know, have seen what I've seen, and it will take Jikook themselves to make me stop believing they're a couple. Not some rats on the Internet waiting to shit on Jikook any chance they get.

🙅🏽‍♀️

Of course there will always be Jikook moments to talk about. I'll throw some random shit at you. How's that? 😆😆

Random shit No.1 -> I made a post here about JK's type and Jimin's lips keep popping up on every sm recently so they've been on my mind. Which is y I remembered a tiny thing from Bon Voyage season 1 ep 1. Keeping in mind Jin and Jimin are the 2 members with full lips (and RM some but not as much as Jinmin) it would make perfect sense that they are the 2 JK would zoom in on when interviewing them

Thanks editors for the caption. 😜

Random shit No.2 -> Remember this post I made about Jikook living together, remember how I said it was weird Jimin was the only one who didn't have anywhere to live? Well recently this Karmy was talking about how hard it was for Jimin to leave his dorm life since he loves being around BTS sm

Then this Kjikooker chimmed in on how JK bought Jimin an apartment to make him feel better 🥺🥺🥺

So guess the theory is that JK is the one who bought Nine-one for them seeing as they were both living there. I mean if anyone should know its fans who live there, right?

When u really think about it, it all comes together because JK moving into Brunnen... a house owned by the company with furniture from the old dorm...proving just how temporary that place is...which again makes sense coz of the house he's building in Itaewon.....

While we are on topic, there is a moment missing on my living together post but we all know it very well.

If you pay close attention to Jimin you will notice him subtly lifting his eyebrow. Its so subtle that idek how people noticed. JK looks at Jimin while members are laughing at him and Jimin does that. 🤭 So yeah, that coupled up with the fact that they were all making fan of JK and his mattresses but Jimin who under normal circumstances would be part of the discussion was quiet as a church mouse. That was incredibly sus.

Random shit number 3-> is a tiny BV analysis coz we know how much i love those. Okay so JK climbs up a steep hill without cameras at the crack of dawn to get his baby some snow. We know all about that. So tkkrs the morons that they are, tried to claim this moment for themselves because JK showed the snow to V first and offered him to touch if he wanted to. But, aside from JK waiting for Jimin to come out, apart from him jumping up eagerly to show Jimin the snow, apart from him watching Jimin's face to see his reaction when he handed him said snow, and apart from editors saying point blank that JK got a gift for Jimin, we also have this;

Season 4 episode 3. Members play RPS and losers have to climb the hill and bring back snow.

Someone i dont remember who, says that the snow will melt

But JK who's a professional of bringing snow from mountains by now, chims in

He already knows its not gonna melt since he did it before. Now he says that and then looks at Jimin and keeps looking at him

Doesn't once break eye contact. This here makes it perfectly clear that he got the snow for Jimin and no one else. JK stares at his boyfriend for so long that Jimin has to look away/looks down 😂😂

And JK still looking at him 🤭🤭 This dude just makes me so happy to watch Jikookery stg 🤣🤣 what does he want from Jimin?

Random shit No.4 -> while we are talking about BV there is something that happens i had to take note of. Yoonmin are the ones who lost and had to go up the hill to get the snow. When the rest got back to the cabin, Jhope was making people this magic toast with his secret recipe. This shit was so funny y'all should be able to remember it. He was so proud of it 🤣🤣 Anyway, when Yoonmin got back, Jhope asked Jimin if he wanted his special toast.

But here comes the kicker. Jhope uses JK to convince Jimin to have the toast.

This, ladies and gentlemen are the reflexes i was talking about. It's not just Jikook keeping the secret that they are dating. It's the members too. And sometimes they will slip. Our president being the main culprit. 🤭🤭🤭 what does it matter that JK liked the toast? Suga and Jin had the toast too. Why is JK the member he uses to appeal to Jimin?

Random shit No.5 -> Is just this edit I like of Jimin having JK on a leash 😏😏

Random shit No.6 -> Is this photo of JK looking at Jimin.

That man is gone. His mind was elsewhere right then. Jeon Jungkook is a man in fucking love y'all. 😭😭😭😭

What's that? Different angle you say? Sure fam, I got you.

Random shit No.7 -> BH saying fuck you to the haters.

Random shit number 8 -> Jikook in Tokyo. The gift that keeps on giving. Here is a fan recounting

Here is that one time members were asked:

One more time from Jikook 🤗🤗

He he hee... and we have heard them call eo that many, many times.

Random shit No.9 -> NBD just sassy bfs in the soop

This is mostly for those who think Jimin is the only one who exudes this type of energy. 💅🏽💅🏽

Random shit No.10 -> This post wouldn't be complete without us going to the bedroom. 😏 Anygays, here is how Jikook look like when they're shouting in each other's briefcases

That is all... hope u feel better now... have a good one ✌🏽😘

[whyse7vn]

RIZZLESS -

[ot7 x reader]

HOSEOK -

hobi: on a scale of one to pregnant how much do you love me

y/n: abortion

hobi: ok then

y/n: u were in my dream last night

hobi: was my fit hard?

y/n: you was cheating

hobi: real

y/n: ???

hobi: ??

anyways let’s fuck i’m so fr rn

y/n: kiss me through the phone

hobi: ft me 😍

y/n: ew no

you really think i’m gonna have esex with u rn???

hobi: ok the term esex is a REAL turn off

also why not

u not fucking with my rizz?

y/n: what rizz?

hobi: i would fight a lion for you

y/n: is that it?

hobi: is that it????

why are you acting like the lion line didn’t get you going back in the day

y/n: back in the day?? are we 65?

hobi: ur acting 65

y/n: sorry i don’t want to have phone sex

leave me alone

hobi: do you not love me

y/n: not rn no

hobi: look into my eyes baby

y/n: stop harassing me

hobi: is my game really that bad?

y/n: i’m afraid so

hobi: don’t be afraid

hoseokies got u

y/n: hoseokie?? i have never called you that in my life

hobi: ok well maybe you should start

y/n: i won’t

hobi: mannnnn :(

i’ll even call you something cute in return

what about hunnybun 💞

y/n: i’m gonna kill myself and it’s gonna be ur fault

hobi: WAIT!!!!

let me fuck first

y/n: ur insufferable

hobi: i love a woman with a big vocabulary

like yesss tell me i’m gargantuan while we fucking

y/n: ur so fucking gross

how am i with you

hobi: we are in deep deep love

y/n: i’m in a deep deep depression

hobi: that mean u freaky right?

y/n: can you leave me alone now

hobi: i love and miss you

y/n: i can tell

hobi: can you not just say you love and miss me back like wow ur so difficult why do i put up with this

y/n: we are in deep deep love!!!

hobi: u a super freak 😍⁉️

y/n: zero fucking rizz

JUNGKOOK -

jungkook: are you an apple?

y/n: no?

jungkook: because apple pie

y/n: ?

jungkook: 👍🏻

y/n: i’m lost

jungkook: so am i

y/n: are you trying to flirt with me?

jungkook: i’m sorry

pls don’t hit me

y/n: your making it real hard not to rn

jungkook: do you have the time?

y/n: no

jungkook: 4:30 pm 😉

y/n: that makes zero sense

jungkook: i have more

please baby

y/n: no

jungkook: you must be a waterfall

y/n: i am not

jungkook: wet

y/n: ew

jungkook: don’t slip

y/n: leave me alone

jungkook: do you like it

y/n: what do you think

jungkook: a little

y/n: no

jungkook: oh

y/n: yeah

jungkook: i’m so sorry

y/n: i know

jungkook: 🥹

y/n: if i could i would punch you rn

jungkook: out of love and appreciation?

y/n: i haven’t decided yet

jungkook: i get that

y/n: do you?

jungkook: 😞……

y/n: you make my brain hurt so bad

but i have to kiss you on the mouth passionately

jungkook: kiss

y/n: ur so annoying

UGH

real himbo u are

jungkook: haribo?

y/n: what?

jungkook: no

y/n: what?????

jungkook: are you butter?

y/n: ?

jungkook: smooth like 😍

y/n: are you drunk?

jungkook: no

y/n: are you sure?

jungkook: are you sure yes

y/n: what the actual fuck are you saying to me rn

jungkook: i’m trying to appear more intelligent

y/n: it is not working!

jungkook: have you liked my pickup lines so far

y/n: i wonder what it is like in your brain

truly

jungkook: me 2

y/n: what did you actually want from me kookie

jungkook: do you think i’m good at pickup lines?

y/n: lol!

TAEHYUNG -

taehyung: BRO JIMIN KEEPS SAYING I HAVE NO RIZZ LIKE HOW DOES HE THINK I PULLED YOU IS HE STUPID???????

y/n: you just called me bro?

taehyung:

my fault my amazing sunshine queen nugget honey muffin pie baked at 180 degrees for 25 minutes made with love sprinkles happiness and joy

y/n: jimin is right

taehyung: my rizz was just so out of this world good it made you think it was bad

y/n: if being delusional was a olympic sport you would have like 15 hundred gold medals by now

taehyung: that’s impossible actually

y/n: tHaTs iMpOsSiBlE aCtuALlY 🤓☝🏽

taehyung: u think ur funny

y/n: hilarious actually

taehyung: i would stab myself for you

y/n: boring

jimin would definitely die for me

taehyung: ok?? who said i wasn’t dying like god you can never let me finish

y/n: ok but jimin would of opened with i would die for you

taehyung: jimin clearly isn’t a vivid story teller like i am

i would of broken down the whole getting stabbed and dying for you storyline if you’d fucking let me

y/n: i like a man that gets straight to the point

taehyung: i love you

y/n: jimin would of kissed me

taehyung: i’m trying to flirt with u right now and ur being difficult

y/n: jimin would of done this better sighs

taehyung: i could outrizz jimin any day

y/n: outrizz? that sounds like something a 12 year old would say

taehyung: maybe i am 12

y/n: ew?

don’t say that

taehyung: do you think we would fall in love if we met when we were 12?

y/n: probably those were ur normal days

idk what happened to you after that

u really let urself go

taehyung: i ate an ant for the first time when i was 12

y/n: nvm

for the first time????

and the last i hope

taehyung: i be getting hungry sometimes

y/n: imagine how insane your fans would think you are if they saw even a day’s worth of the shit you say to me

taehyung: insanely sexy like you see me right lol 😩

y/n: fuck you

taehyung: go ahead then

fuck me

ain’t nobody holding you back

yehaw

y/n: yehaw?

taehyung: sorry the cowboy in me likes to come out sometimes

did he make you blush

y/n: seek help i’m not joking

JIMIN -

jimin: whenever i get a message from you i moan a little bit

i hope it’s the same for you

do you moan for me babe

i bet you do

u freak

yeah

i like that

y/n: wow

jimin: why are you cheating on me

y/n: ?????

where is this coming from

and how did you go from moaning at my notifications to accusing me of cheating?

jimin: so many questions not enough answers

answer me pretty

y/n: are you trying to fuck me or fight me right now

like what is going on?

jimin: you held namjoons hand yesterday

y/n: he literally fell on the floor

i helped him up

jimin: ok so?

he’s a grown man

he can get up by himself

y/n: he twisted his ankle

so no he couldn’t get up by himself

jimin: ok but a real man would of walked it off

y/n: idk what to tell u then

namjoon must have a pussy? idk

jimin: ur into that tho

u freak

y/n: what?????

jimin: i’m like real drunk rn

y/n: jimin what the hell its 11:30 in the morning???

jimin: ok?? the henny was calling me

y/n: this is real concerning baby

jimin: baby huh?

y/n: where are you rn

jimin: filming

y/n: ur filming this fucked up? be fr

jimin: ok but did you believe me for a second

y/n: not one

jimin: aw man :(

rate my back flip

y/n: what

jimin: i just did it can you rate it pls

y/n: 4/10?

jimin: wtf

you clearly don’t know anything about the art of flipping 💀

y/n: k

jimin: my backflip was majestic

y/n: i can bet you like 20k rn that you did not flip at all

jimin: looks like i’m 20k up

y/n: don’t lie to me

jimin: i’m a good liar

y/n: definitely not!

jimin: do you want to make out

y/n: no

jimin: ur loss

y/n: i’ll cope

jimin: you won’t I’m telling you baby

y/n: i’m coping

jimin: ur not i can see it in your eyes

y/n: you can’t even see me rn

jimin: i see you in my heart

y/n: thanks

jimin: yw

i’m gonna throw up now

y/n: ew

drink some water please

jimin: let me spit game rq

y/n: ok?

jimin: eye🤤

y/n: LMAOSOS WHAT???

jimin: do i have game?

y/n: absolutely not but i love the effort!

jimin: i want you so bad

be mindful 🤭

y/n: mindful?

jimin: minecraft

mini

mother

maybe

mauwjc

movement

mw

meow

mmmmm

motel

mountain

y/n: this is real sad

it’s not even 12 yet

alcoholism kills

jimin: mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

y/n: you’ll get it i believe in you

NAMJOON -

namjoon: sent you money baby

y/n: ew why

namjoom: felt like it

y/n: gonna use it for evil

namjoon: what?

y/n: evil tasks

namjoon: ok be safe love 👍🏻❤️

y/n: love ur silly emojis sighs

namjoon: rizz

y/n: rizz?

namjoon: rizz

y/n: LMAO WHAT

namjoon: rizz

i just rizzed rn

y/n: EW THAT SOUNDS SO GROSS

tf you mean you just rizzed

namjoon: i have rizz

y/n: who taught you that what the hell

namjoon: i learnt it myself this time

i have rizz

am i saying this right

i think i am

rizz

you’ve been rizzed

anyways love you bye ❤️

rizz

y/n: HELPSJDJDJXJ

DON’T GO JOONIE

come back

namjoon: i am back

y/n: i would LOVE to see more of this so called “rizz” you have

namjoon: oh ok

❤️

rizz

y/n: LAMSKOSOSODODODJDJDN

is it necessary to say rizz every time?

namjoon: i think so

idk if i’m doing this right

i hope i am

it feels right

y/n: ur hearts in the right place and that’s all that matters tbh

namjoon: i’m glad

also i booked dinner for us later

major rizz 😆

y/n: UR SO SILLY

ohmygod i love you i do

namjoon: you like my rizz?

y/n: love it

namjoon: thanks cuz idk what i’m actually talking about

y/n: i can tell

namjoon: rizz is like game right?

i have game i’m a good flirt it means that right?

y/n: basically

namjoon: so is it tue?

do i have major unspoken rizz?

y/n: ew never say that again

it was cute until it wasn’t

namjoon: aw wtf :/

was i doing good?

y/n: great actually

major unspoken rizz was ur downfall

namjoon: mannnnn

i’ll never say that again

as long as i live

y/n: i’m glad

namjoon: was it a major ick? a red flag perhaps???

y/n: stop talking

SEOKJIN -

jin: ur so quiet downstairs

y/n: you want me to start beatboxing or something??

jin: would you 🥺

y/n: bye

jin: can you please come lay with me im bored

y/n: in a bit

jin: boo

y/n: i’m studying

jin: for what?

y/n: what do you want

jin: you 😋

y/n: wait

jin: woof

y/n: ??

jin: sorry you since you wanna talk to me like a dog i thought i’ll act like one

y/n: you are not trying to argue with me rn…

jin: and if i am 😚?

y/n: or worst is this ur fucked up way of flirting with me…..

jin: wow you know me so well ^^

you know i love u most when ur a little bit mad at me >.<

i’m a empath

y/n: that is not what that means

jin: ok so what

y/n: it means ur stupid

jin: you want me so bad

y/n: idk who told you that

jin: the voices

y/n: woah?

jin: do i scare you?

people say i’m a freak…

they laugh

they giggle

but ur different

you see…

me

y/n: tf are you going on about??

laugh and giggle basically the same thing ur dumb as hell x2

ur pissing me off bye

jin: BABE COME BACK

let me seduce you

y/n: lmk when the seduction starts cuz i’m not feeling what ever tf this is

jin: ok it started the moment i said woof but i get it ur a picky lady

u have standards

i respect that

hold my hand

look at me

i love you

i NEED you

y/n: fuck off kim seokjin

jin: ok tough crowd tonight lmao

ok my egos not hurt at all

in fact it’s gotten a little larger

y/n: whatever

jin: lol

y/n: ??

jin: i think being with you has made me lose my natural charm

i swear i can flirt

y/n: who told u that

that’s crazy

jin: i CAN flirt

y/n: sure

jin: like i’m really god at it

y/n: yeah!

jin: ur being sarcastic

y/n: am i?

jin: i’ll punch you

y/n: that’s not how you flirt now silly!!!!

jin: you are becoming my downfall in life

next ur gonna take my extremely good looks away from me

y/n: you got me!

jin: bitch

y/n: i don’t think i’ll come upstairs actually

jin: was my charm not good enough?

y/n: take a guess

YOONGI -

yoongi: ur eyes shine

y/n: ok

yoongi: ur hair is shiny

y/n: thanks

yoongi: ur teeth shine

y/n: ok?

yoongi: i can’t do this omg

y/n: tf was that

yoongi: i think my rizz is better when it’s unspoken

y/n: i agree cuz ur telling me THAT was rizz???

wow u suck lol

yoongi: sorry wtf

i would like to see you do better

y/n: i’ll impregnate you rn lol 😋

yoongi: yeah you can’t flirt for shit

y/n: wtf that was one of my best lines

yoongi: that almost made me do a line of coke

y/n: h-hi i k-kinda like you okay >\\\<

yoongi: ok stop

y/n: let me cook bae

yoongi: absolutely not

y/n:

shhhhhh

come here kitten

yoongi: i’m gonna throw up

y/n: you should be like that one mark lee video rn

“ur making me blush”

if i was you and you were me and you as me said that to me as you ik i (as you) would be blushing like CRAZY

yoongi: sucks ur not me and i’m not you then

y/n: it does

how i would kill for someone to say that to me…

sighsssssss

yoongi: absolutely not

ur out of ur mind

y/n: yoongiiiiiiiii

ur no fun

pleaseeeeeeeee :3

look i did ur silly face

pls oh pls oh pleaseeeeeee

:3

:3

:3

yoongi: i’m gonna block you

y/n: just one come here kitten and i’ll never ever message you again

yoongi: ur out of ur mind

y/n: for you 😍

yoongi: no

y/n: :c

yoongi: stop

y/n: :c

:c

:c

yoongi: i’m not doing it

y/n: ㅠㅠ

that’s me crying rn

as we speak

yoongi: bye

y/n: you will say it

yoongi: why do you have so many pictures of this man

y/n: why are you jealous??

dw you know ur my one and only bbg

wow my rizz out of this world

you can no longer send messages to this contact!

—

tags: @piw6n @jvmisvu @birdie-vhs @kooksmilitarywife @hob3loveofmylife @jujubiism @bloopkook @ratchetpizzal @myntalks @arloo00 @watamotee33 @y2kcy3brz @taiwan0618 @indigobsessed @freyadanvers @gguksbeloved @raetf @bbsantc @winuvs @medicinemybish @bxnnyhime @leleluvsbts @baetukki @zyaaaszn @thelilbutifulthings @yojaschill @k4ngelz

[yoonieper]

Pecattiphilia— Part 7 | PJM

Pecattiphilia is the sexual arousal from performing an act one believes is a sin.

✽ Pairing: Jimin x Reader

✽ Genre: Angel Au, angst, fluff, smut, this is a slow burn (kinda?)! 

✽ Rated: U for Unexpected

✽ Series Warnings: This series will include discussion of religious aspects such as the afterlife and concepts of heaven and hell (There are no direct ties to any specific religion besides the mention of angels and demons— all aspects of religion was created by me for this series), this series includes a lot of violence (sometimes graphic depictions) and gore (nothing extreme, Jimin and the boys fight monsters sometimes), and mentions of sin (particularly revolving around sexual topics)

✽ Chapter Specific Warnings: just a whole lotta angst, angst, more angst, with some fluff on the side~ things do get a little smutty, arguments :O, lots of feelings and emotions good and bad, Jimin… Jimin??

✽ Word Count: 18k

✽ Summary: Jimin is sent to watch over you and as the years go by he gets more and more curious and sometimes just wishes he could get to know you. But he knows that’s forbidden, it's sin. However, a freak accident somehow causes Jimin and your eyes to meet for the first time with purpose. He knows it shouldn’t happen but he doesn’t want to break away. He wants you to look at him, wants you to touch him, wants you to be with him. The problem is none of this should have happened in the first place… what’s happening to him?

✽ Now Playing…: STRINGS by MAX (feat. Bazzi & JVKE)— visit the masterlist for the full playlist!

✽ Author’s Note: This is officially the end of the first installment of this series— the intro has now been concluded after over 2 years 😭! I’ll be taking a little break from here because act 2 officially starts with part 8 and I want to have a couple of chapters completed so I can stay ahead of schedule and not keep you guys waiting like with act 1~ The storyboard for the series has already been completed for the most part and act 2 is definitely a LONG act so lots of fun is still ahead of us! It won’t be till 2024 for the next parts, but this next installment shouldn’t call for as long of a wait in between chapters because they should be more consistently on the shorter side so I should be able to get a lot done a lot more quicker, but once again I’ll make an announcement once I have things figured out~ I also hope that in between I’ll be able to go through some of the early parts and re-edit them because it’s been a solid minute since I first started this series and idk if those parts are holding up as well as they should 😭 I’ll let you guys know about any changes~ Last two things, 1) Spotify playlist is officially on the masterlist and 2) New graphics for this series might be on the way with Act 2 🫢... Anyway, enjoy :D!

No reposting, modifying. Translating is not allowed unless given explicit permission. Thank you so much :D

previous chapter « main masterlist ✩ series masterlist » 2024!

He was so fucking close. 

The pillow Jimin had clutched in his arms felt like the only lifeline he had to stop himself from throwing it all away, his hard work, his purity, his promise. His whole body shook uncontrollably, a feeling he was inexplicably unaccustomed to. Jimin was always in control, every fiber of his being moved and acted in the way he intended it to without fail. That’s how it always was and always how it should be— him in control. 

This was new. It was not the same type of new that gave him a fresh breath of life, a new perspective of the world, that fleeting craving of wanting to understand. It was a new that made him so easily miss the old. This was bad, he didn’t like it. 

It was too human, too unpredictable. 

Even though he was off of you he couldn’t get it out of his head— the softness of your body in his grasp, that lingering warmth of your hands across his skin, your bodies pressed against each other in a heat of emotions. It just kept playing over and over again even as you laid right next to him and his body just couldn’t stop shaking. 

He wanted to stop himself, he wanted to think he tried, but his hips kept steadily rocking into his firm grasp of the pillow, craving that it was your warmth he was meeting instead. 

If only… If only.

He felt depraved and if his teammates could see him now, he just knew they would have the most to say. He probably looked pathetic and this sight would have made him laugh with disgust in the past.

Yet here he was…

It hurt so fucking much— his pained whines and moans filled the growing silence in your room despite how much he tried to stop them.

He had been so close, if you kept going any longer… too close, he was too close to—

“Jimin?” At the sound of your voice he finally found the strength to look over at you. An immediate flood of guilt hit him at once, but deep down this strange sense of pride did too.

He had failed, but that also meant you were wrong and he was glad to prove you so.

“Are— are you happy now?” He said into the pillow, needing to pull it as close as possible because your robe had slipped off of one of your shoulders giving him a glimpse of the lingerie set you were wearing underneath.

Oh he was truly pathetic. Just a sliver of skin was enough to make him feel like this?!

It hurt so much… For the first time in his life he was willing to do anything to take away the pain— even if that meant doing it himself. Somehow he keeps growing more shameless as this whole situation gets worse. But he must not fall into temptation. It was sin and he was better than that. He had to be. 

His wrist hurt so much at this point, his whole body ached. Sin, he’s done so much sin but this was good, he needed it to hurt. 

“I told you, you’re mine.” Jimin couldn’t help but smirk to himself. 

It felt so fucking good for you to finally see him— the real him according to you. The dream world was the same as the normal plane to him, but for some reason humans didn’t see it the same way. 

But being here now you had no reason to run off with someone else. You were his.

He’d hoped this would warrant a better reaction, a celebration even, but he didn’t even need to ask to know that wasn’t the case.

“I… I have to be dreaming…” You seemed dazed almost as you tried to look around at your surroundings, looking for any hint you still might be asleep. You had to be, Jimin didn’t exist, he—

“Are you seriously still doing that?” Jimin groaned into the pillow before turning to face you, because he was tired of this ignorant act. 

What more would it take?

“I’m asleep right now— just feeling guilty about the date later— that’s all this is…” But the more you looked the more deep down you knew things were different this time. 

“Look at me.” His tone was demanding, immediately commanding you for his attention. You couldn’t help but obey his order and turned so you were staring directly into his light brown eyes.

So enchanting, haunting, he was beautiful.

He seemed different, looked different, he was glowing almost. 

Jimin steadily moved the pillow to the side and moved so he was sitting right in front of you. It was almost intimidating, his presence carrying this weight that was just bordered overwhelming.

“Is that what you want, hm?” He definitely was upset. 

“You want this to be a dream so bad so you can go on your date— just leave me and you can run off with you boyfriend, since apparently we’re done, is that right?” He let out a dark laugh.

“But you can’t be real…” Your voice started to waver the more you looked at him. You gripped the sheets underneath you tightly.

“I think I really lost my mind.” You tried to compose yourself but the cracks were just getting bigger.

“And you really believe that?” Jimin laughed again but it was different this time, sadder, like he truly was hurt. He sat up so he was hovering over you, only inches from your face. 

“It has to be because I looked!” Your emotions were starting to boil over. 

“I looked everywhere! Why are you just now showing up, right before I’m trying my best to move on?!” Tears had started streaming down your cheeks.

“If Jimin really was real, the one I met in my dreams, why would he show up now? Had he not heard me plead every single night that by some miracle he’d show up, why would he suddenly manifest into my room now and make things complicated?” Pain, it hurt so much to even look at him. 

Jimin felt the guilt immediately wash over him. Sometimes it was easy to forget who he was dealing with. You were human— a simple creature that could somehow have him on his knees with the snap of your fingers. 

Of course you would have trouble understanding.

His gaze changed at your outburst, there was this sympathy behind his warm eyes, an understanding that this wasn’t as black and white as he was trying to make it out to be. 

Jimin looked into your eyes as he lifted his hand to steadily wipe away the tears that just wouldn’t stop flowing.

They really wouldn’t.

His hand was warm and sent sparks all throughout your body. How? How were you feeling this?

It was easier to say maybe you really lost your mind and you were seeing things but you could feel him. The touch you’d longed for since your first date under the tree, and it was everything you wanted and more. 

Unless you’d really crossed the line or died trying to get ready for your date, you just knew this was real, Jimin was really here with you somehow.

He chuckled at that. “No, you’re not dead yet. I’m here, I’m sorry I’m late.” And there was that smile, that same one that greeted you when you first wandered through the field in your dreams.

This was Jimin, your Jimin, the same one you’ve met almost every night for the last three months. He was here…

How?

How the fuck was he here?

Instinctively you backed up so you were pressed right against your headboard, pulling your robe closer to hug at your body for comfort. The air around you both shifted almost immediately.

“Who… who are you?” Your voice wavered for an entirely different reason.

You watched as his expression fall, his warm eyes growing dimmer by the second. You could tell you hurt his feelings.

“It’s— it’s me Jimin.” He still tried to keep the smile but he could just sense your uneasiness.

“Jimin?” You still couldn’t believe it.

“Yeah me, Jimin.”

“Jimin who?” It was a strange question he didn’t get at first.

“Just Jimin… your Jimin, the same one you’ve always known.” He tried again. 

You just looked at him for a little while and even though Jimin was always in your head, he couldn’t make sense of the thoughts racing around in your mind. He knew he didn’t like them.

You moved even further away, his words seemingly bringing no comfort.

“How?— I just don’t understand.” You were beyond confused and just looking at him made you feel like you lost your mind.

Jimin tried to stay calm knowing this was a lot to process for you. 

“Well, that would be a little hard to explain—“

“Why are you here?” You asked before he could even finish. You were up and off the bed pacing around your room before he could process the question. 

This wasn’t at all what he pictured if a time ever came he revealed himself to you. He tried to stop himself from getting angry that you were reacting like this. 

“For you! To hopefully stop you from leaving me!” Is that not obvious?

“What are you?!” This almost felt like an interrogation in how you were grilling him, yet he wasn’t sure if you were even listening to anything he had to say. 

“Your angel, I told you this! Your guardian, I watch over—“ 

He wasn’t able to finish before suddenly you loudly sighed as you took a seat at the edge of the bed, facing away from him. 

Jimin just stared at you as your hands came up over your face. He could hear your soft whimpers and he didn’t need to be close to see you were shaking. This wave of hurt washed over him all over again for an entirely different reason.

“Did you… did you not want me here?” There was this defeated, dejected tone to his voice making the question that much more weightier. 

You quickly turned around and he could see the tears in your eyes, you looked absolutely destroyed. 

“I don’t know!” You exclaimed, but it sounded more like a sob than anything. The confession immediately felt like he was shot everywhere in his body— something he’s experienced and the pain couldn’t even compare to what he felt like now. 

“This is too much— angel— you’re here! And I have a date I’m supposed to go to an hour and a half from now!” You cried. It was obvious you were overwhelmed, Jimin knew that but this pain didn’t let that fact process and he was taking your words at face value. 

Jimin scooted further away from you so he was sitting at the opposite edge of the bed. 

“Well I’m sorry I interrupted… I’ll leave if you want me too.” His voice had turned flat, devoid of all emotion, but his hands were shaking.

At this point he fully expected you to beg him to get out. He would have listened, at that point what left was there to stay for? He certainly didn’t expect you to suddenly get up, walk around the bed so you were standing right in front of him.  

Jimin hesitantly looked up and the heart he didn’t have just shattered into pieces seeing how wet your face was. He hurt you, didn’t he?

“I’m confused— I can’t even process the angel thing, but I just can’t get past the question of why are you here?!” It came out mean and even though he knew what you meant by it, it still didn’t hurt any less.

Jimin just looked down. He didn’t want to see you right now.

“I told you.”

“But I just— why now?! Why didn’t you come sooner?! Days ago when Jin-Sang asked me, weeks before it happened? Why didn’t you come to me during our first meeting?!” This was horribly timed, too much was happening, you were confused and you were taking it all out on him. 

Jimin finally found the strength to look up again.

“I couldn’t.” 

“WHY?!” You didn’t mean to yell but you just couldn’t understand.

Suddenly Jimin stood up right in front of you. You were a little taken aback, seeing him stand for some reason made this whole situation that much more real having him right in front of you like this. He was taller than you, not by much, but enough you had to look up at him. It was a little intimidating considering the situation.

“I’m not supposed to be here— I tried meeting you the way I knew how, but I couldn’t lose you to the fact you didn’t think I was real!” He could only muster just sounding slightly annoyed.

“So what I’m hearing is that it took Jin-Sang asking me out to get you to come but not me wanting you here was enough...” You knew that’s not what he was saying but it’s how you felt.

Jimin just looked absolutely defeated.

This wasn’t at all how this was supposed to go.

“Y/n you have no idea what I’m risking being here! I wish I could have been here sooner! For you to think I don’t care— do you know how much I need to care to be here! I don’t care about any other human but you! Jin-Sang has nothing to do with this.” He didn’t yell but you could tell he was upset. 

You could see it in his eyes— the light brown color growing darker by the second.

It was different when this was all in your head but now that he was actually standing here the weight of the term angel became frightening. You had no idea what he could do to you?

Who was he really?

Jimin looked down again, your thoughts were overwhelming and he honestly just wanted to leave. He was scaring you after all.

“I’ll leave if you want me to.” Jimin was trying so hard to keep it together. This was the normal plane, a breakdown certainly wouldn’t mean well here.

“Jimin I— I’m just confused, scared, too much is happening.” You didn’t like seeing him upset but the way your heart was rapidly beating in your chest made the only thing in control was your brain trying to survive, and not your heart.

“I’m sorry— I ruined your day for you. You were excited about your date and I came at a bad time. You can still make it on time if you hurry— Jin-Sang is almost done getting ready and heading out soon.” He tried to force a smile but he probably looked like he was seconds away from bursting into tears— he couldn’t but it sure looked like it.

Jimin hastily tried to push past you toward your bedroom door, but you grabbed his wrist before he could get too far.

You watched as he looked down at your hand before slowly trailing up your body to meet your eyes.

“Just give me time, ok?” Your words said one thing but your hand was shaking.

You were absolutely terrified of him. 

That hurt worse than any of your words did.

“Good luck with your date— I’ll be around.” Jimin pulled his arm from your grasp and headed for the door.

“Jimin—“ You called out once his hand grabbed hold of the handle. 

He stood there for a second, seemingly lost in thought before turning to you. 

“I can’t believe you’d think that I’d ever—“ You were scared of him for a reason. Being shocked is one thing, something he could understand considering the nature of your reality, but you were literally shaking around him. He obviously didn’t do something right leading up to this for you to even think of that possibility.

“I’m sorry… I guess I really was bad at this, huh?” It was a pained laugh, Jimin just wanted to disappear.

Before you could even respond you watched as he pulled open the door and walked out of your room. You tried to case after him, but the door closed right in your face. 

Hurried you pulled open the door but you were just met with your empty apartment. Jimin was nowhere in sight.

In actuality he wasn’t far, he was right in front of you. He had finally turned back around to see your panic at the fact he was gone. When you went to look further into your apartment you simply phased right through him when you went to see if you somehow missed him.

Jimin didn’t follow you, he just collapsed right there.

The storm clouds were back and he was soaked in a matter of seconds. He didn’t have words anymore, it hurt too much to try and think about it.

For once he wanted to close his eyes and know peace.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

The first thing you did afterward was text Jin-Sang that you couldn’t make it to your date later. You said something vague about something coming up suddenly and you wouldn’t be able to be there. He responded back by first asking if you were ok, you told him you were, and then gave you this cute sad face before sending his last text.

Jin-Sang [3:22pm]: ah well :(

Jin-Sang [3:23pm]: maybe next time!

You felt bad but going on a date was the last thing on your mind considering what you thought was your very make-believe boyfriend turned out to be a very real person who suddenly magically appeared in your room only hours before you were about to go on a date with someone else. 

A date was out of the question.

It was crazy and sounded like something out of a weird romance book you probably would have never picked up. 

You honestly were wondering if you made up the whole encounter in your head considering its absurdity, but when you went back to your room your date clothes were crumpled up on the floor right where Jimin laid.

This whole thing didn’t make any sense, how, how, how was he here?

You honestly couldn’t wrap your head around it and the more you thought about all the moments you shared with each other in your dreams you started looking at everything with a new perspective. 

At the moment all you could think about was the terrifying implications but as you laid back down on your bed, it was somewhat equally as fascinating.

Angels exist? And for some reason one of them liked you?

You!

Why you?!

You of all people?

You weren’t anything special— you weren’t the most beautiful person in the world, you certainly weren’t the smartest, for an angel of all people to like you…? YOU?!

It sounded like the start of some stand up routine, one you wouldn’t find very funny. 

And Jimin?

An angel?!

The stuff he managed to do in your dreams, you remembered the wings, those wings, the stories he’d tell, and the fact he was in your head all the time.

Part of you probably would have been wondering if any of that were things that transferred to reality, but you explicitly remembered Jimin was in your head just like in your dreams. This was wild, terrifying, and you wanted to know more.

Then there was the whole thing about your relationship.

He lied to you. Well, he technically didn’t lie, but he wasn’t being truthful about who he was. He made you believe this entire time he wasn’t real and swooped in right at the last minute to reveal he was.

What even were you now?

It was too much, this entire day was just a roller coaster of emotions. You couldn’t text or call Mina and rant to her about how crazy things went today, she would just think you’re crazy.

All you pretty much did all day was pace around your apartment— you probably did look like you’re crazy, talking out loud to yourself trying to make sense of everything or what you should do going forward. 

You also felt bad for what you said to him.

Now having a moment to think, your reaction was a bit much and he had every right to be mad at you. Too much was happening and you definitely regretted some of what you said— some of it you still thought was justified.

It was complicated, you thought this whole situation was a mess. You felt like you had been run through the washing machine five times in a row and then the world just had to give you that extra spin cycle because apparently that wasn’t enough. At some point you finally just had to sit down.

It was only 9:30 but you were out in a matter of ten minutes. No dreams, maybe Jimin had left from protecting you tonight, but instead it was just nightmares— nightmares about him oddly enough.

Some were worse than others— In one you were married, he wasn’t an angel, it was just you, Y/n and Jimin married with a house together— no kids yet you don’t think. It was a dream almost for the most part, you both doing domestic things like cooking and laundry. It all took a turn when you had asked Jimin to help you find some of your old textbooks— you had wanted to review before the semester started and Jimin had been kind enough to help you. When you went into your storage room you had both rummaged through a few unpacked moving boxes but your search was interrupted when you turned around and you were face to face with a monster.

It was strange, scary, it was fuzzy now but immediately the figure put their hand– it was cold and slimy, you did remember that– they put it over your mouth when you tried to scream out to Jimin.

But the figure spun you around so you could see it wasn’t the only one, before you could even process the whole thing, the one that was after Jimin took a knife to his chest and then it slowly dragged his lifeless body into this strange darkness.

Absolutely terrifying and you woke up in a cold sweat each and every time but that didn’t compare to the other ones that plagued your mind overnight.

Jimin was the scary monster dragging you down.

You didn’t know where this came from but you did all at the same time.

You were scared of him— not of Jimin specifically— or maybe you were, you weren’t sure. You couldn’t forget his eyes right before he left. That was your Jimin the same one you saw every night, it’s more so the fact you didn’t understand exactly what he was and his presence. 

You could never forget how it felt when he was close to you. It was weighty, commanding, yet warm and light at the same time. You didn’t want to look away.

There was so much you didn’t understand you couldn’t help but be scared. You felt bad though because deep down for some reason you knew there wasn’t any reason to be, it was a more of a natural human reaction for something you didn’t understand.

You still didn’t think it was right though.

You had gone to bed early but because of the constant nightmares you were stuck tossing and turning all night. You were exhausted even though on the clock it said you slept 12 hours, waking up five or six times in between made all of that useless. 

You were tempted to try and sleep more but you didn’t want any more nightmares and despite your exhaustion you just knew you couldn’t sleep with all the thoughts swimming around in your head. You had to face this issue head on or you’d never be able to sort through everything and figure out what you actually wanted.

Somehow you found the energy to get up and go shower, finally giving you the opportunity to change out of your lingerie and robe into some actual comfy clothes. The shower helped slightly in waking you up and just gave you a chance to temporarily wash all your worries and stress away that you needed to before trying to do this again. 

It was refreshing and after a little breakfast you felt rejuvenated enough to finally make the move you knew you needed to.

You looked around your apartment wondering how you were supposed to do this. Part of you was even worried that yesterday was all another one of your nightmares, but deep down you knew.

“Jimin?” You called out, hesitantly. You instantly felt a little crazy.

Was this how you were supposed to do this? Could he hear you? Was he even around after what happened yesterday? Did yesterday actually even happen?!

“Jimin.” You tried again a little more calmly but you still felt so unsure of yourself. You were standing in the living room but you decided to take a seat on the couch.

“Look, Jimin I don’t know if you’re listening— if yesterday actually happened or not, maybe you’re gone after how I treated you… but… I needed some time to process things and if you wanted to talk about things…” You groaned, was this actually working?

“I’m sorry… I really want to see and speak to you again. Can we start over?” You said out into the void. 

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” You jumped at the sudden sound of another voice. You turned your head to the right and low and behold there was Jimin once again, the same Jimin you saw yesterday.

He was sitting at the other end of your couch and had one of the cushions in his lap. He held the same dejected expression that honestly seemed worse than the last time you saw each other.

It was like how you saw him in your dreams before this whole fiasco started— gone was that Jimin who would happily embrace you with open arms, who’s smile would light up the entire universe if possible, instead he seemed desolate, despondent, dispirited as he held his head low, not looking at you, but the pillow in his lap.

You tried your best to calm your beating heart because he literally manifested out of nowhere.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to scare you again.” You vaguely picked on his use of again. An overwhelming amount of guilt came over you just hearing how sad he seemed. This was all your fault.

“I just— you can do that? Disappear and reappear?” You tried to laugh as you turned to him. You wanted to lighten the mood, things were so tense now.

But the silence continued and you figured he wasn’t going to respond to that. Just sitting next to him though it slowly started to dawn on you that yesterday did in fact happen, Jimin was real, and you were talking with an angel… literally!

The nerves were back all over again but you tried not to let them show.

“Jimin I—… I’m really sorry about yesterday.” You finally had to say something.

“Things just happened so fast, it was so sudden and I really… I was really overwhelmed.” You laid it out and you were honest. You were still overwhelmed but with a little bit of sleep and time you felt like you were in a better space to process the situation.

He was still silent. You hated this.

In a bold effort in order to get him to talk to you, you quickly scooted over to his side so you were sitting right beside him. Your thigh was right against his, and the minute you got close you were blessed with that enchanting presence you felt yesterday. It was strange, but you liked it, it made you feel all tingly inside.

Being this close also gave you a chance to really see him. His beautiful dirty blonde hair was a little curly and longer than it was in your dreams, it was pretty in the way it came down and framed his round face. It looked so soft just like he seemed, his features so delicate like a statue that seemed too lifelike to be made of marble. How someone this beautiful could exist didn’t seem possible and surely he could never be human.

Maybe you should have known sooner.

“Y/n you don’t need to pretend… I’m in your head, remember?” Jimin quietly said, taking you out of your thoughts.

You knew what he was talking about and at first you wanted to deny it but you knew you couldn’t lie to him.

“Then talk to me, explain why I shouldn’t be scared?” You pleaded. You wanted some type of explanation at what was going on.

“Who are you?” You asked once again. You needed some type of answers.

Jimin was silent again for a while and at first you worried this meant he wouldn’t talk to you. Maybe he was done after what happened yesterday.

“I never lied to you… I told you who I was when we first met. You just didn’t believe me.” You weren’t prepared for the cute pout he spoke with as he played with his fingers in his lap.

Oh.

“It was kinda hard to believe you when you were telling me in my dreams. Even then I thought that was just like— you know, I’m so sweet, I’m such an angel type thing. Not literally!” You exclaimed. How were you supposed to know he was being serious?

“I guess you’re right— I’m not used to humans and I wrongly thought you got the picture.” He briefly looked over at you and even though you were sitting down, the glance you had at his eyes made a shiver run up your spine. The light brown color was back and something about them just made you want to never look away.

It was enough that you nearly glossed over what he said.

“Jimin, I’m sure you know I have a lot of questions…” 

Jimin steadily nodded his head. You probably didn’t even need to ask, he was in your head already to know what you were thinking. Yet he still left the floor open to you to ask first.

“How much can I ask?” You asked curiously. There had to be some limitations right?

“You’re right, I can’t really tell you about what I do…” He mentioned. 

“What can you tell me then?” 

Jimin thought about it for a second.

“Basically what I said to you yesterday— I’m in charge of watching over you, protecting you from the sin in the world up until you meet your end.” It was the most bare bones answer and certainly over summarized, but it got the job done.

“And that time you left, was that to protect me?” That was certainly not the question he expected you to ask next.

“Well— yes and no. It wasn’t you specifically— protecting you is my main duty but not the only one. Sometimes the bad guys are far away and my team and I need to take care of it.” Again another bare bones answer but it got the point across.

You steadily nodded and Jimin didn’t need to read your mind to know you were already starting to get overwhelmed.

“That’s as much as I can say, but I hope that helped.” He wanted to comfort you, to tell you things would be alright but any wrong move and he feared it would be enough to get you to panic again.

“It did— thank you.” You wanted to ask more, he knew you did, but there was one thought that was louder than the others.

“Am I the only person you’ve watched?” You asked.

Jimin shook his head. “Far from it actually, hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions would be an understatement.” He’s been around for so long, even with a perfect memory, the details like specific numbers can get fuzzy.

“Is this then your first time here on earth or— you know…” 

Jimin once again shook his head.

“Then— then I can’t be the only person who’s been in your life like I have, right.” Your voice started to waver. “There must be hundreds, thousands, millions then that you’ve gotten close to.” You rushed out before he could answer.

The urge to pull you close was almost suffocating.

“I… you’re the first.” Jimin finally turned to you and your eyes…

“Angels don’t really feel much most of the time. Besides being their protector, I felt nothing more than what my duty required. You’re different…” He made sure to add that last part. You needed to know.

“I— I don’t understand. Why me?!” You questioned but your eyes were watery wondering what possibly made you special.

Jimin looked off into the distance trying to think of an answer.

“I honestly have no idea— I don’t understand it either.” That was not the best response, he knew it as soon as it left his mouth. He was being honest though, he had no idea what was truly causing this to happen.

It certainly wasn’t normal, he shouldn’t feel anything, it shouldn’t even be possible for him to be capable of feeling anything. 

Some days Jimin honestly wondered if all it might just be is surface level attraction— you weren’t the first human he’s at the very least been attracted to, far from it actually. But never once had he ever wanted to pursue anything more than looking— if you enjoy looking at something, what is the harm in indulging that far?

Nothing and anything further than that was sin anyway. He had no desire… no desire for the most part until John and his relationship was Ana, but even that was a fraction of what he experienced with you.

And somehow it got so much worse in the recent months, right before he met you, right before he collapsed in your living room, it just got to the point where his feelings were suffocating. He wanted to meet you, actually meet you and get to know you.

It was far beyond the simple attraction, his insides felt strange anytime he’d even look in your direction. And then all the extra emotions, new ones, ones that felt over saturated. No, this was something entirely new.

Jimin was certainly attracted to you but it was more than that. It had to be.

Maybe the smart thing to do would have been to quickly follow that up with the last thing said, but instead the silence lasted for a little too long where it made it seem like that was all he had to say.

Jimin felt your heart start to break. “Oh ok— well umm— I’m sorry for— for— for—“ You were shaking beside him and he knew he had to do something.

This might have been a little too forward considering he was literally trying to convince you not to be scared of him, but he wanted to do anything to take the feelings away. He wrapped his arm around your shoulders and pulled you close.

“That’s not what I meant at all. I wish you could read my mind too because I suck at this talking thing.” He tried to laugh as his thumb gently stroked your arm. He really did feel bad, he shouldn’t make you feel like this.

“Angels aren’t really made for this— that’s why at first I tried to get close to you without crossing that line as much as I could. I didn’t want to hurt you because I’m not human and I don’t feel what you do. It’s why I said it meant so much to me when you said you were willing to try despite my incompetence. I get that it was in the context of a dream for you, but it was very real to me.” The reality dawned on him. Maybe you only said yes because it was a dream, but real life implications weren’t ones you were willing to put up with.

Maybe this was all his fault. Maybe the real reason he strictly met you in your dreams was because the terms and conditions he came with, he knew you would never agree to them in anything other than a dream.

It was pathetic.

A realization also hit you as he spoke. Jimin truly had once never lied to you or even really withheld any information. This was all things you’ve heard before, albeit without the proper context, but he had told you this before.

“I still don’t get it… why me?” You asked again because it just wasn’t making sense.

“I don’t have that answer but I do know that I’m glad it is. I’ve had a lot of opportunities to turn back but every time I meet you I never want to leave your side. I choose you and I will keep choosing you as long as you let me. A lot of this doesn’t make sense to me but for once I want to stop thinking and just embrace what is happening. You’ve allowed me to experience so much and I want to keep making new ones with you if you’ll allow me to.” It was a selfish ask, for him to want to put you through the pain that he knew he would enviably cause you.

It was a lot and you were overwhelmed again. There was one part of you that just wanted to leap into his arms that despite what happened yesterday you truly were exalted to find out he was actually real. All that hoping and wishing and now he’s sitting beside you on your couch. Then there was the other half that wanted to run away from society as a whole and become a hobbit somewhere in the woods because everything was too much to take at this point.

“Are you still scared of me?” Jimin asked timidly.

Again the urge to reassure him but you knew he was in your head to know you were lying.

“Not as much but it’s still a lot.” You laid it out. It was simply because this was all still so new and there was so much you didn’t understand about him. You were sure with time things might change.

“I can give you time. It’s a lot, I understand.” Jimin pulled you a little closer to reassure you, everything was fine and that he’d wait if he needed to.

“Thank you.” You weakly smiled.

Despite your words, part of you hoped he would stay and let you rest in his arms like this, it was nice. But just as you were really getting comfortable you felt Jimin suddenly shift. You looked up at him and you were shocked to see him looking off into the distance with a concerned look on his face. His eyes suddenly turned from a warm, light brown, into that blue that reminded you of the ocean.

“Uh— Y/n I’m sorry to cut this short but duty calls and I have work to do.” Jimin said hastily as he started moving you off of him.

You watched confusingly as he quickly got off the couch and reached in his pocket, pulling out this gold cylinder. You only saw it briefly but you were immediately captivated by the designs in the metal, they seemed so intricate, like someone spent an eternity crafting the piece into perfection. You wanted to take the time to study it more but he was moving so fast, it was hard to see anything exactly. 

You had questions, a lot of questions actually and you knew Jimin knew.

“I’m sorry I can’t answer them, but when you’re ready to talk again I’ll be around.” He turned and you just felt this warmth wash over you as you stared into his light blue eyes. He was beautiful and the more you looked the more you knew you had nothing to be afraid of.

“Just call me like you did this time and I’ll be there.” He smiled at you. All your worries for a moment felt like they flew away for a second, it was just you and Jimin and his dazzling smile.

You were starstruck. 

And if things couldn’t get anymore magical you watched as a pair of wings manifested right in front of your eyes, slowly unfolding and becoming more visible. It felt time itself slowed as you watched, the feathers themselves seemed to illuminate and sparkle in the sunlight. They probably spanned nearly the entire size of your living room, you were briefly able to turn behind them, just shy of touching the wall behind you. Just like in your dream they didn’t connect to his back, instead slowly becoming more visible. It was glorious and an overwhelming urge to tear up just hit you like a brick to the face. 

This was Jimin— the Jimin you’ve known since he first appeared in your dreams except he was really here with you. The sight was nothing like what you saw in your dreams anytime he’d somehow convince you to fly with him. This was him, really him.

You wanted to cry and tell him not to leave but you held it in. 

In one of the most confusing sights ever with one last smile toward you, you watched as he turned toward one of your windows before looking like he was ready to run straight into the wall. He probably only took two steps before it’s like he was sucked into a black hole, getting smaller to the point you couldn’t see him anymore. 

He was gone and you were alone again. 

You finally let the tears just fall from your eyes and they did almost uncontrollably, you were bawling in a matter of seconds.

What just happened?

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

You were laid out on your bed when you got the text from Mina.

Mina [8:02pm]: Hey friend~ Just wanted to know how your date went with Jin-Sang last night 👀?

And suddenly you were back in reality. 

You hadn’t done much all day as all your mind could focus on was Jimin, Jimin, and more Jimin. You had even decided to call out of work tomorrow knowing you probably wouldn’t be able to get anything done feeling this. 

So much has happened it was easy to forget the outside world existed. You almost forgot what prompted everything in the first place, that you were supposed to go out with Jin-Sang yesterday and how Jimin had suddenly manifested into your room as a result.

You grabbed your phone and stared at your keyboard for a while wondering what to type. Do you tell her about Jimin? Certainly not everything but at least the fact that the mystery guy you were seeing showed up.

Mystery guy? 

He certainly wasn’t a mystery anymore, at least, not in the same way.

What were you now anyway?

Beforehand you were confident when you thought of Jimin as your boyfriend that lived in your head, but now could you even say that anymore?

Jimin turning out to be real really shook the foundations of your relationship, if anything were to continue you would at least need to start over slightly in order to build a new one all over again.

And this isn’t as simple as just that, but Jimin wasn’t human. He was an angel and you found that incredibly intimidating. There was so much you didn’t know or understand. He didn’t tell you much but you already knew dating wouldn’t be exactly an easy task and the issues you would face wouldn’t be like any other couple.

There was so much to consider that as much as you liked Jimin, you did, you really did, agreeing to just pick things up where you left off felt like a decision that was not as easy as you wanted it to be.

And Jimin heard your struggle. At first he was chilling in his spot on the building across from your apartment but as your thoughts started to focus more so on the nature of your relationship, he flew back over to your room and sat at the end of your bed.

You decided to text Mina.

You [8:10pm]: Won’t be at work tomorrow

You [8:10pm]: We can talk about it when I get back on Tuesday :)

Mina [8:11pm]:You okay??

You [8:12pm]: I’m fine, just a lot happened ㅠㅠ

Mina [8:13pm]: I can call if you need me to 

You [8:13pm]: I’m fine!

You [8:14pm]: Just need some time!

Mina [8:14pm]: You sure?

You [8:15pm]: Yeah, thank you though :3

Mina [8:16pm]: See you on Tuesday then, I’ll be waiting for the tea 👀~

You [8:17pm]: See you :)!

Mina [8:18pm]: Goodnight!

You [8:19pm]: Night!!

Jimin didn’t even need to see your phone to know what your texts were and he was curious what you were going to tell her. Part of him wanted to follow his promise and give you the space and time you needed to process it all and only be there when you wanted him. 

But it was that strange feeling that had him appearing in your room in the first place when he thought about you seeing Jin-Sang again that made him want to make sure you knew who you belonged to before seeing him again. 

Maybe if he was more confident in the fact you would choose him he wouldn’t care too much, but he wasn’t sure and so weren’t you. 

The fact that you might not even be together anymore made that feeling, this incipient need to remind you what you were even though the situation has significantly changed. He wanted you, he didn’t want you to leave him— to pick some human over him.

You deserved better and for some reason he thought he could give you that.

You can’t love her like she wants.

I want to though and I will prove it.

You will hurt her.

I won’t.

You will hurt you. You will hurt us.

She matters more.

This will only end in tragedy.

But Jimin didn’t want to listen anymore. His other half has caused him more turmoil than anything. Listening made him hurt you and if he was going to make you choose him, the more rational side was not needed when nothing he was doing anymore was rational.

He knew that but he couldn’t find it in himself to care as much anymore. All he wanted right now was to win you back and he’d do anything it takes to make that happen.

Anything, he’d do anything for you.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

You really didn’t know why at first you decided to take Monday off, this weekend had just been so much you acted without thinking. Maybe work would have given you the chance to think about something else other than what transpired but it was already too late to take it back. 

It was Monday and you had a whole day ahead of you to try and figure this out. Then again, one day also didn’t seem like enough.

You were back on your couch again trying to rewatch Reply 1988 to take your mind off things, but you couldn’t focus. All your mind could seem to do was think about Jimin. What were you going to do?

You thought about his beauty, his glorious wings, the golden cylinder, the way Jimin just seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. You thought about all the dates you had in your head, the good times you shared. You also thought about how much you would plead every night when you’d wake up that somehow, somewhere Jimin existed and you would meet someday.

You still doubted at times that this weekend actually happened, it felt unreal, and you were trying to come to terms with the fact despite its outrageousness, somehow this was all real. It was too much.

Your wish came true and as guilty as you felt you still didn’t know exactly how you felt about it. Jimin showing up out of nowhere sounded good in your head, but the implications didn’t exactly register. You never thought it would need to. 

You never thought that would mean the Jimin you’ve been meeting in your dreams was an angel. 

An angel.

An angel?!

It made your head spin just thinking about it. 

At some point you just knew you had to get out the house because you were just going to keep spiraling if you let yourself stay here and wallow in your own thoughts.

You didn’t really have a destination in mind, you just found yourself getting ready. Maybe you’d just take a walk, maybe some retail therapy, maybe a nice meal was what you needed?

You had no idea and ultimately you just decided to feel it out when you got there.

You were wearing shorts and a simple t-shirt, today was too hot for anything more than that and to be honest you had no interest in trying to dress up a little more. All you wanted was to get out of the confines of your apartment to hopefully give you a moment to breathe and take your mind off things.

You looked around making sure you had everything.

Keys, wallet, water, etc, etc— you put everything in your little backpack. You had no idea what this day might bring so you decided to pack light. After another check around your place making sure you grabbed everything you might want to bring, you put your phone in your pocket and headed for the door.

You pulled it open already trying to somewhat plan a direction you were trying to head to but you didn’t make it far. Instead you stood there in the door frame completely frozen in place, staring out in front of you with wide eyes.

“Hello!” An enthusiastic voice said to you.

You nearly fell over and screamed but of course he was quicker and held you up so you wouldn’t just crumble into pieces.

“Woah, you ok?” Jimin asked, genuinely concerned seeing he had to hold your waist to keep you from collapsing.

Your heart was beating so fast you swore you were moments away from a heart attack. You felt stuck as you stared up at his honey brown eyes peering into yours.

The dots finally connected and you realized this was Jimin who was waiting in front of your door and who had to hold you up.

“I didn’t mean to scare you, I thought it’d be a cute surprise… I’m sorry.” Jimin tried to laugh but he really did feel bad, he didn’t know he’d scare you that bad.

Realizing also you were moments away from hitting the floor, you reached your hands out to wrap around his neck so he could pull you up. Jimin got the picture but in the moment you didn’t realize it would have you close— or as close as you’ve been since you found out Jimin was real.

You just stared into each other’s eyes as he helped you back up to your feet and even then the moment didn’t end as Jimin didn’t immediately take your hands off your waist. The moment reminded you of how things were when you were still in your head, before things got complicated.

And despite everything there was this part of you that wished he’d just kiss you again. You missed him and you wanted him to fix this mess he’d caused in your head.

But suddenly he let go and backed a noticeable distance away from you. You wanted him back before he even let go.

“Uh— I’m sorry— I really didn’t mean to scare you.” Jimin stammered out.

This reminded you of your second date, the first one he picked you up and flew you to that paradise in the clouds, how you were so sure he was going to kiss you, but for some reason you never understood why he backed away.

“Um—“ You quickly had to shake yourself awake. “I just didn’t expect you, or anyone behind my door.” You finally laughed, it was a little funny after all.

At this Jimin smiled. 

Now that you recollected yourself you finally were able to process that Jimin was in front of you. He looked a little different than the last time you saw each other. Gone were his white, silky clothes. Instead he almost looked no different to anyone else— well, that was a lie, he was still better than everyone else.

He was wearing black pants, and this sandy colored sweater that had holes all over it, with this small cross bag he had over his shoulder, and black sandals. His hair that was practically the same color as his sweater was styled nicely and had these cute curls that just made him look adorable. You also barely registered he had a black bucket hat in hand you wondered if he was going to put on later.

You brain didn’t even really process the sweater and the fact he wasn’t wearing anything underneath until you realized you could see more of his tattoos. 

You knew he had some across his arms but you haven’t really seen him without a shirt to know he had more underneath, a plethora it seemed. You couldn’t help but wonder if there were more you had yet to discover…

Hot… of course he just had to show up looking so hot. He always did but something about him looking so casual yet so perfect made you want to climb him like a tree.

Oh you need to calm yourself.

Suddenly you saw Jimin look down and then his hands came up to cover his chest. There was this weird smile on his face. 

“Your mind…” He cheesed, but he was blushing and of course you forgot who you were dealing with— the man who can read your thoughts.

“I can change if it’s too distracting, I just wanted to look nice for you but—“ Jimin mumbled looking down and he was realizing how see through his sweater was. Maybe if he hadn’t sinned so much the markings across his body wouldn’t be so dark and would blend like they should into his skin, but they haven’t been that way since he got back from his last mission.

“No it’s nice, you look nice.” You were simple and some eye candy is just what you needed after the weekend.

Jimin knew this and again that devious, mischievous smile was back and you couldn’t help but laugh knowing you probably fell right into his trap.

“If you don’t mind me asking though, what are you so dressed so nicely for?” You asked doing another once over because gosh than man was beautiful.

Jimin giggled at that. “For you of course, you were going out so I thought I’d come with you.”

Like a date?

“If you want to look at it that way, then yes, it’s a date.” Another trap you fell into by bringing it up first.

Immediately you looked down at your more than plain outfit you had planned not really to be perceived in. White t-shirt and jean shorts… If you went out with Jimin like this… oh this wouldn’t do.

Considering how complicated things were between you two maybe you shouldn’t have cared as much or even you could have told him that you needed space and walked right past him, but you wanted to look good for him.

“Can— can you give me like 15 minutes to get changed then.” You looked up at him and pleaded.

Before he could answer you slammed the door in his face and ran to your closet. After seeing his sweater you had the perfect dress in mind. It was a no sleeve, tight, black dress that sat just above the knee, it was covered in holes just like his sweater, maybe even more so, but it had this slip that was underneath that went down to your thigh.

It gave you a chance to show off your own tattoos, though there weren’t many you still thought it was nice to compliment his own. 

They were small, colorful flower tattoos across your arms that you got after you broke up with your ex. You had a bit of a crisis and the tattoo shop seemed to be your place for comfort. The staff there were nice and let you rant your troubles away while they worked and even gave you some insightful advice. You even went back a couple of extra times to get more piercings in your ears just to have an excuse to see them again.

They knew what you were doing and the girl who’d done your tattoos finally gave you her number and you both kept in contact and still to this day whenever they have staff outings where they all get food, sometimes they still invite you.

You checked in the mirror and after smoothing out your dress and grabbing a light sweater just in case— you quickly went over to the bathroom to do your makeup up a little more, not too much cause you didn’t have time but just enough you looked nicer than normal. 

You put your hair up as well into a high ponytail to show off the small flower you had behind your ear and switched out your jewelry to be a little more fancy and match more with your outfit. Last touch was switching your tennis shoes for these cute, black sandals you felt confident you could walk in if necessary. Your bag still worked with your outfit so after grabbing your sweater again you rushed back to the door and pulled it open.

You weren’t expecting him to be standing right in front of the door again, like he knew you were coming. You were this close to screaming and falling over again, but a slight jump back was all that managed to happen.

You were shocked, so shocked you didn’t realize the weird look on Jimin’s face as he stared at you. His eyes went up your form before trailing back down. Oh now you’ve seen that look before and you couldn’t help but laugh.

“I can change if it’s too distracting, just wanted to look nice for you~” You laughed, throwing his words from earlier back at him. 

Maybe you wouldn’t be laughing if you knew what he was thinking. You looked good, too good and he was far too… unstable to process this correctly. If things were different his swirling thoughts of “wow she looks good, just wait till we get home later” would be acceptable, even more so considering how good you looked right now. There was no later, there could never be a later, and he was struggling so badly to contain himself.

“I was going to say earlier that you looked beautiful beforehand and you didn’t need to change if you didn’t want to, but…” That same cute smile was back.

You were about to say something to one up him but suddenly his hands were on your waist again and he was close. 

Jimin wanted to say something about the fact he was going to make sure today you’d end up choosing him, or the fact you were his, or something along those lines but that didn’t feel or sound right at all. He wanted you to be his but he didn’t want to force it if that’s not what you wanted.

But seeing you like this, he knew he had to try his hardest because he wanted more than anything for this to be the norm, for you to look at him and choose him just like he had you.

Just the thought of you dressing like this to go and impress Jin-Sang made him want to set the world a blaze in a burning, hot, fiery inferno, ruin this world beyond comprehension because nothing at that point would matter. This scalding desire to please you in any way possible consumed him with a vengeful need. He couldn’t live in that reality, no one should, so he had to make sure you chose him doing whatever it takes. Hopefully with this date that would accomplish that with ease.

Hopefully.

“I just— you’re amazing and I want to give you a good day today.” He smiled down at you and you swore you nearly turned to a puddle right then and there.

You grew meek as he gently guided you over to the elevator. You both didn’t say a word to each other as you rode down, but you couldn’t help your excitement for what the day might bring. 

As you both walked outside you finally had to ask the question. “Sooo what did you have planned?” 

Suddenly Jimin stopped in his tracks and you nearly bumped into him. 

“I’m honestly not sure, your thoughts were so jumbled it was hard to figure out what you might be interested in. I was thinking we see where today takes us, have fun while we can, come back later.” Jimin laid it out and that just made you more curious what might happen later.

“I did have one thing planned though.” Jimin said and turned around so he was facing you.

You stared at him wondering what he meant when suddenly he reached his hand out.

“I wanted to make your wish come true.” He smiled at you.

You were about to ask what wish but it hit you just before it could leave your lips. Under the tree, your wish about walking down the street holding hands, being able to introduce him as your boyfriend.

You felt your face heat up at the thought, and despite being a little dazed at the thought, your hand still made its way into his and he quickly pulled you along to begin your journey.

Oh what might this day bring?

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

When you both made it to busier streets part of you feared you would get tons of stares because you were the crazy person holding hands with an imaginary person beside you. People did look and there was this fear deep down that was the reason, but then you started to hear their whispers.

“He’s so freaking handsome.” These two teenage girls wearing school uniforms said a little too loudly as they passed you.

“Do you think he’s an idol?”

“No, I don't recognize him.”

“An actor?”

“I don’t think so.”

“He’s so pretty…” One of them sighed.

“Is that his girlfriend?” Some guy said to his friend.

“They’re holding hands, what do you think?”

“I honestly don’t know who I’m more jealous of…” Another guy said before his friends started laughing at him as he stared at you both.

“They make such a pleasing couple.” This older lady smiled at you two as she walked with her husband and you nearly started crying right there on the spot.

One of your concerns this weekend was that you really had lost your mind and your “encounters” with Jimin were all in your head. But they could see him too, they could see this beautiful person right next to you.

You gripped his hand tight because it really was a bit unreal that Jimin was here with you. You would be more than jealous if you were one of the people passing by.

With that reassurance you had no idea what today might bring you. When you got ready earlier you had no idea this outing was going to be a date, but you couldn’t be more glad that it was as Jimin held your hand tightly as you walked through the streets of Seoul. 

You turned into enjoying the stares, their whispers, you felt proud.

You both didn’t do much at first, instead focusing on spending time with each other out here in the real world. The real world, it was a strange thing to say. Your dreams had oftentimes felt very real, too real at times and now it all made sense… kinda. 

You did a bit of sightseeing, stopping occasionally to take pictures— another shocking discovery, he showed up in them— he was really here. While Jimin pointed out the different landmarks you were more busy observing him.

You paid more attention to the way he ran his fingers through his sandy blonde hair, a habit you noticed beforehand but you couldn’t help but be entrapped in the way the perfectly styled strands grew more disorganized as the day went on. You noticed the cute way he laughed at your jokes or silly faces, it was very boyish and suited him well. You noticed tiny freckles you only could see when he pulled you close by mistake, you knew it was a mistake in the way he’d immediately panic whenever your faces somehow grew only inches away. You noticed the way his eyes would smile back at you whenever he’d laugh or smile too hard, which seemed to happen quite often, he was a very smiley person just like in your dreams. 

There were oftentimes moments when you’d completely forget about the weekend or the fact Jimin was an angel, literally, not figuratively though, you would forever consider him an angel after he carried you on his back up a hill when you complained your feet were hurting slightly. 

Sometimes you completely tricked yourself into thinking Jimin was your boyfriend, he was human, and this was just another amazing date that you both were sharing. It was easy to forget at times and you couldn’t help but wonder occasionally if he was doing that on purpose or was this just the way he was?

You both did nothing and everything at the same time, mainly a lot of walking around but Jimin and you did stop once for a late lunch. It was a small family owned restaurant that you pulled Jimin to because he just had to try. You knew the staff there as well as you frequented here whenever you didn’t feel like cooking.

As soon as you walked in the mom who worked here immediately turned to you both with a shocked expression on her face. 

You both took a seat at one of the tables and steadily the whole family started to make their way through the restaurant, not at all subtly eyeing you both. 

You couldn’t help but giggle along with Jimin as you pointed it out. They had also been someone you confided in after your breakup and the mom especially had been trying to set you up with some of the customers who’d pass through in hopes of rekindling your want for a relationship but you affirmed that you were done. 

This was certainly a major shock for you to come here with someone other than Mina, and a guy at that, you know you’d hear about it the next time you came alone. 

The daughter who helped run this place came over to ask what you both wanted— you both decided bibimbap— but afterward she just had to ask that burning question.

“Y/n! Who—“ She eyed Jimin and turned back to you. This was even less subtle than you were expecting. 

You laughed but hurriedly shooed her away because you thought about it for a second and technically right now you both weren’t labeled yet and that would just create this whole awkward situation you didn’t want to be in. 

The meal was nice though, it always was. 

You had ordered quickly but when they brought your food you had a sudden moment of realization wondering if angels eat or not. 

“No we don’t— at least not for the same reasons, but I can still enjoy it.” He smiled at you before picking up his chopsticks. You watched quizzically because you were still curious how it worked. You were shocked… reassured… disappointed? You weren’t sure how you felt as you saw him eat like anyone else, but his face as he took his first bite made you smile.

You got a double thumbs up!

You weren’t sure exactly when you both had left, you had gotten ready and immediately went for the door to really check the time, then Jimin kept you busy, but you both were still out as the sun started to go down. It hadn’t quite yet set, but the summer sun had finally started to cool and the beginning of the pretty colors started to fill the sky. 

It truly had been hours, you knew it had, but it hardly felt like it with him by your side. You honestly never wanted this day to end. 

Your last stop was a bench that overlooked the Han River. Jimin had suddenly pulled you over to sit down and immediately you felt how achey you were from all the walking you were doing today. You wondered if Jimin knew or—

“I did, you seemed like you needed a break— plus the view was great. Perfect to have a talk at.” He suddenly mentioned with a slight smile. At first you had no idea what he was talking about– what talk? But as he took off his sunglasses (you had nearly growled when he put them on– he looked so good) and ran his hands through his hair you started to come back down to reality. 

You had wanted to talk anyway, Jimin had done a great job of distracting you but now it was time to face the massive elephant in the room. 

“I hope today was nice for you.” Jimin said as he stared out to the river. 

“It was– who knew you were so great at dates.” You chuckled as you kicked your feet underneath you. Part of you didn’t want to talk about this, the other half finally wanted to get some answers, both from Jimin and yourself. 

Jimin laughed along and that made you happy.

“I know you have questions and–” He took a deep breath “I thought a lot about it and… I hope you know I prioritize you and your happiness. I really want to be with you but I hate the thought that I scare you in any way. I’ll try and answer as much as I can about myself personally, but I can’t tell you about… you know.” 

You got the picture and you couldn’t agree more. One of the reasons you were having such a nice time was in the fact that Jimin made it easy for you to forget about the fact he is an angel, but alone you still worried how you might feel about him.

Everything needs to be on the table.

Silence passed for a little while as you thought about what you wanted to ask him. 

“How long have we known each other?” Out of all the questions running through your head for some reason that was the one that stood out.

“By technicality I’ve been here since you were watching your clock turn to 2:37am on your 20th birthday– you were crying because adulthood terrified you and how you would do anything just to turn back time.” Jimin smiled at that but you knew he saw your face.

For some reason that gave you chills. You remembered that day, the birthday blues had just slapped you in the face and you had cried while you waited to officially turn twenty. It just dawned on you that now you were truly an adult and those years of your childhood were gone. It was strange and maybe you had too much to drink (courtesy of your roommate at the time) so maybe you were a bit dramatic— 

It was easy to say that now but you were away from your family, off at college in your second year and suddenly it just hit you that you were getting older and there was nothing you could do to turn back time. Then you thought about your dad…

It was also still funny, you had been crying in your bed cuddling a wine bottle as you waited for 2:37– you probably could only hear incoherent mumbling and sobs if you walked in the door. You were lucky your roommate passed out after giving you the wine or you might have given her enough content to haunt you for a lifetime.

Of all days that wouldn’t have been the first one you picked.

“I didn’t think it was funny— imagine my trauma when the first thing I see of the human I’m meant to look after is crying holding a wine bottle thinking about some seriously depressing shit at the start of their birthday.” He cheesed and you lightly pushed him.

“Has it really been that long though since you’ve known me?” You asked seriously. “I mean that’s been 5 years ago at this point.” 

Jimin just nodded.

The next question then. “When did you know?” A very vague question but one instance you were glad he was in your head so you didn’t need to elaborate.

“I don’t know… It just kinda hit me I guess.” 

Part of you thought that that was all you were going to get but this time he had more to say.

“Maybe— I think it could have been before we even met.” He suddenly said and you finally had to turn to him wondering what he met.

“I remember seeing your picture for the first time and—“ He smiled. “You were really pretty, my whole team thought you were, but I never could have predicted the feelings you would give me when I got here.”

Jimin liked to think that if things were different, if you all would meet they’d really like you. He knew they would.

You were busy trying to process that information because what did he just say?!

“I don’t think there was ever a date it started or a moment. As I watched over you I started to realize how much I enjoyed being around you— even though you couldn’t see me just watching you be a person— you made me feel all fluttery inside— I never felt that before. Your laugh, your smile, such meaningless actions but they always made me feel like I could fly around the universe fifteen times.” And he wasn’t exaggerating, your little actions have him enough energy to do the most outrageous tasks. 

Your face was flushed but Jimin continued.

“You don’t understand how long I wanted you to look at me. I was always by your side but your eyes would stare right through me and I just had to watch—“ Jimin felt himself get all tense at the memory.

“I don’t know when it started and I tried to deny it for a while because I was scared— like I told you before I’m not made for this. My human interaction is supposed to be limited until after my human dies— I’m really not supposed to be here. I’ve broken a lot of rules to be with you like this and even now… I’m still scared because the emotions I feel are not natural but I want to keep seeing you— being here with you. I got a taste and now I never want to leave.” Jimin tried his best to control his emotions knowing how strange things can get if he loses it, but he just wanted to cry into your arms if he could.

“I also don’t want to be scared of me— I never ever— you’re my priority— keeping you safe is my job but you mean more to me than you probably could comprehend.” He shakily laughed but for that to have been a thought that ran through your head…

“I’m sorry…” You couldn’t even look at him.

“No it was my fault though— I shouldn’t have reacted like that. You’re human, you're not used to things like this so I understand how it might have been too much.” Jimin apologized.

“Being with me is a huge ask… we couldn’t exactly live a normal life and I’ll struggle sometimes, but I hope to also create days like this more often than not. I want to make you as happy as you make me.” When presented like this Jimin for a second doubted if this was the right thing to do.

The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt you in any way and on this path that outcome seemed inevitable. But he wanted you— you were his, he’d figure this out.

“Can you answer this for me then?” You suddenly said.

Jimin sat up straight ready to answer anything you wanted to know, anything to convince you to be with him.

“Why’d you start visiting me in my dreams?” It was a question that made his blood run cold because he knew he would have to tell you about that.

“The simple initial answer was I believed it to be a way to meet you without breaking too many rules— but I know what you’re going to ask if I finish there.” Jimin knew exactly what you were thinking without being in your head.

Why? He never really answered it, at least in the way he knew you wanted.

“To answer that I’m going to need to confess something.”

You looked at him wide eyed wondering what he was about to say.

“Under the tree, that day, that wasn’t the first time we met.” For a second it didn’t even register what he said. “And then on Saturday that wasn’t the first time I met you here on this plane.” Then it just got worse.

What was he talking about?

“The reason all of this started. I probably never would have disobeyed my orders if you hadn’t looked back at me first.” Jimin looked over at you as the words started to settle into your brain.

“Wait… so you’re telling me we met before like this? Here?!” It sounded outrageous as you said it out loud. You surely would have remembered meeting him before, how could you forget meeting an angel?

“You don’t remember. I made you not remember.” Jimin turned back toward the view.

“Why— why would you do that?” You questioned, baffled that he would do that to you. 

“Was it just like what happened with some of our dates?” You hastily followed up with.

It only happened during the first few ones. Jimin was so hellbent in making you like him anytime things would go left he would start things over— he didn’t see the harm in it at first especially because you wouldn’t remember at the end of the day. It took a little time for him to understand what he was essentially doing— forcing you to like him almost.

It went from the simple, preventing you from remembering the traumatizing sight of his punishment to maybe there was a joke you didn’t laugh at and he didn’t want you to think he wasn’t funny so he’d start over. It was an abuse of power, he knew that now. 

“Slightly, but the reasoning was different. I was trying to correct a mistake, but I don’t want to lie to you if we’re going to do this.” Jimin turned back to you.

Your eyes were watery as you stared at him, you didn’t know why but the thought of this whole weekend not being your first encounter— you wanted to know, no, needed to know what happened.

Suddenly you felt a hand on your cheek making you turn toward Jimin.

You stared into his warm eyes as he peered into your own, his eyes were sad yet sympathetic. You felt his thumb gently rub across your cheeks and it was only then did you realize you were crying and he was wiping away your tears. 

“You don’t remember me?” Jimin asked so softly.

“You had just come out of the shower to watch Vincenzo and then you heard a bang. It was me. We spent a whole week together just you and me while I recovered— I was really sick and you helped me through it. I liked you beforehand but when you looked at me when I opened my eyes I just knew I never wanted you to look away. It was exhilarating, a rush, a warmth that I had never known. I didn’t ever want to leave but I had to— we were about to play monopoly, remember? I got told off for the situation because I didn’t report it in the way that I should, I left out some important details. I tried to have things go back to normal but I couldn’t after what happened— I got a taste of what we could have and that was enough. It was why I started seeing you in your dreams, hoping that would be enough but… I guess I’m too greedy.” Jimin never once broke eye contact as he looked into your eyes, the tears never stopped because you were starting to remember.

You remembered the crash, you remembered the shower, you remembered Jimin suddenly appearing in your living room, you remembered being terrified even then but you hid it away because of how sick he was, you remember that week you spent together, you remembered that game of monopoly you were about to play but suddenly you were sick and you thought you were delusional for starting a game by yourself. It came back to you all in a rush as he spoke.

How could you forget this?

“What about now? Do you remember me now?” Jimin asked softly once again, his hand on your cheek so gentle as always.

“Jimin…” You nearly sobbed.

Your eyes scanned over the angel in front of you and it was almost hard to recognize him. This couldn’t be the same angel who was stammering just to ask for a kiss on your cheek, it wasn’t just that either, he just seemed different— thinking about it now he was different than how you met under the tree.

So shy, timid almost— and now…

“You think?” Jimin suddenly questioned, in your head like always. He looked down before back at you.

“Jimin it’s just— wow— it’s really you.” You couldn’t get out your thoughts, you were too focused on trying not to just completely break down here in public.

You honestly couldn’t figure out how to react. Were you angry at him for taking your memories, no, no you couldn’t find it in yourself to feel that knowing he was just operating under orders. Were you upset he kept it from you this long? No, that wasn’t it. Were you happy to see him, to remember the time you shared? Some of the pieces that you couldn’t make sense of started to become clearer. 

You were happy to see him, you were happy he decided to keep visiting you, and you were even happier seeing him in front of you like this now. 

“You really think I’m differe—“ Before Jimin could ask again, suddenly you pulled him into your arms because you just had to hug him at this point.

You knew you surprised him but you heard his cute little giggle before he wrapped his arms around you. You wrapped your arms tighter because you just didn’t want to let him go, you never did, not again not ever.

You knew Jimin must have heard that in the way his grip grew tighter as well.

You buried yourself further into his warmth, enjoying the way he still smelled like the beautiful flowers in the meadow you both used to meet at. You felt safe, protected, and in some weird way loved. 

Jimin went through so much just for the chance to see you again and you couldn’t be more grateful.

“You were worth it and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” He didn’t have one but you got the point. Jimin knew what you were about to think and he didn’t want you to go there. You were worth it and you would always be.

Jimin held onto you tightly but he could feel you shaking slightly.

“Don’t cry…” He pulled you even closer and lifted one of his hands to gently stroke your hair to help calm you down.

“I’m not crying— the— the sun’s just in my eyes…” You sniffled out, but you knew you couldn’t lie to him. 

“It’s ok, cry. It’s good to cry.” Jimin smiled.

And this just made you want to cry harder. You tried to pull yourself together but it took some time because there were just too many emotions swirling around in your head. And then with Jimin softly rubbing your back— oh you were at a breaking point.

The only thing that really helped you start to dry your eyes was the promise you made to yourself to cry about it properly when you got back home. 

At home felt right.

When Jimin noticed your sniffling growing quieter he finally pulled back to look at you. Your watery eyes stared up at him and he cursed quietly to himself.

“I want to kiss you.” He smiled out with pink cheeks as he continued to help dry your cheeks.

You couldn’t help but laugh at that.

“When I look like a mess?” You chuckled as you started to wipe your eyes. Your eyes were now red and even though you didn’t put much makeup on, you could bet it was ruined by now. You certainly looked better before you sat down then now.

Jimin nodded. “I’ve wanted to for days, you have no idea.” His eyes flickered down and you felt your heart skip a beat.

Part of you thought he was just making a joke to get you to smile again, but realizing he was being serious…

Oh.

“Can I kiss you?” He asked again.

You felt your face flush. “We’re in public…”

“And?”

“And? There’s people right behind us—“ You briefly looked over to the sidewalk.

“Annnddd?” He pouted.

Oh he was too cute.

“How about this— one on the cheek right now and then when we make it back home we can do a little more.” Jimin wanted to think you were just referring to a proper kiss, but he was in your mind to know you kept it open ended for a reason.

This is just going to—

Stop. Not now. Just stop.

Jimin smiled before leaning down and fulfilling your request— it was just a quick peck on the cheek but it made you both just want more. His soft lips against your cheek made you tempted to pull him over so he could really kiss you.

This was nice, really really nice. 

Jimin and you both got up and started making your way back to your apartment. Instead of walking the whole way back, you both decided on the easier method of taking the subway.

You cuddled up next to him and as you passed the stops and people boarded and left you could hear more whispers and they all made you smile. 

Hand in hand you walked back to your place which luckily wasn’t too far from the stop, just a few blocks and you were finally back where this whole journey started. 

“Soooo—“ Before you could even finish, suddenly your back was against the door as Jimin pulled you close and kissed you. 

You were shocked for only a second but as his hands came up to gently cup your cheeks you practically melted in his hands. His lips always gave you that electric feeling, it was more than butterflies, it was like a tornado of kittens was all snuggling you in the softest, cutest, fluffiest hug.

It felt like this was exactly where you were meant to be, you knew it, this was right.

You wrapped your arms around his neck and started running your hands through his hair, so soft and just perfect like he is. 

The kiss picked up in intensity, you were trying to be conscious of the fact you still were in public technically but you wanted him and it just got worse the longer you kept going. 

You were almost making out at the way he let your tongue tease and explore before Jimin was back in control and you were just at his mercy. You felt him press you harder into the door as his hand went down and gently stroked at your sides, lightly playing with the netted fabric of your dress.

You wanted him to take you right here against the door, rip off your dress, and have his way with you— the bed felt too far, you were so hot you could feel the wetness growing in your panties and you wanted more than anything for him to come and fix the mess he made.

You quickly pulled away and trailed kisses from his cheek up to his ear. 

“Jimin…” You nearly moaned when you felt his grip on your waist tighten.

Suddenly you felt him dive for your neck, lightly sucking right where you wanted him to.

“You’re— you’re mine, right?” He hurriedly asked.

You pulled him up so you could look him in the eyes. “I always was.” You made sure to say it clearly so he understood. You were and always will be. 

You noticed his eyebrows furrow before he whimpered and buried himself in your shoulder, holding you tight.

“You’re making it impossible for me to leave.” He whined. He didn’t want to leave but he had to at this point.

It took a second for that to register, too busy wondering how you both were going to somehow make it to the bedroom. 

“Leave?” You finally questioned.

“Yeah— uh, yeah— I have work stuff I need to do.” You could feel it. He was shaking.

He wanted to fuck you so bad and he was doing everything in his power to control himself.

“Oh…” You seemed disappointed. You were, it felt like your night together had just begun. You wanted more time.

“I’m sorry…”  He sighed, his voice barely over a whisper.

“It’s alright— we did spend most of the day together. I’m not surprised you have things. I imagine being an angel is a lot of work.” You tried to smile but you didn’t want to say goodbye.

“When will you come back?” You asked as you wrapped your arms around him to pull him into a hug.

“I’ll try and be back tomorrow. It takes a lot of energy to come down here and back though. I can’t promise I’ll be here everyday but I’ll come as often as I can.” You pulled him out of your shoulder to give him a quick peck on his cheek. 

Jimin had to stop himself from taking it all back and getting you inside as soon as possible. He had to control himself.

“I have work tomorrow but we can hang out when I get back.” You mentioned and he nodded in your grasp.

And with that he finally pulled away, all the way this time. You were about to turn around to punch in the code for your door, but Jimin reached past you and easily opened the door. 

At first you were concerned your lock was broken but when you turned to Jimin you noticed his smile.

Ahhh, what having an angel in your life could do~

“Goodnight!” You smiled at him and he waved as you closed the door behind you. 

Jimin looked at and sighed now that he was alone. He really wanted to come with you but that was great in the fact he was able to have some control over himself and not completely fall into temptation (despite how much he wanted to).

It was a step in the right direction in his path to salvation, a life with you where his promise is kept intact. No sin, he will get past this.

But he really did miss you.

He wasn’t lying when he said work stuff but it wasn’t like it was urgent. Jimin had been monitoring still and luckily the sins seemed to be quiet today, not much activity besides this morning before he met you.

It was a good day, and finally, he truly felt like you were his.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

Jimin surprised you and met you in the morning before work. It wasn’t planned but after all the walking yesterday it was enough to knock you out to the point you didn’t hear your alarm go off five times in a row. 

Jimin was there and he decided to help you up. Him being the angel that he is, Jimin stopped your alarm and gently shook you awake. He was so gentle and it was like the sun itself had shrunk itself to be human sized and this warm glow of sunshine woke you up.

It was just perfect.

He also helped you get ready, fixing your lunch for you and getting your work bag together while you showered and got dressed. In the end, by the time you were heading out the door, it was about the time you normally would leave thanks to Jimin’s help. 

He even decided to ride with you in your car on the way to work because you complained about needing to leave him. In the end you got an extra twenty minutes together while you sat in your car singing along to the songs on your playlist. 

It was a level of domesticity you hadn’t known since you left your ex and even then he didn’t compare in any way to Jimin. At the time you thought your break up was the worst thing in the world but maybe that hurt then was what you needed to endure in order to be by Jimin’s side. 

When you arrived you hurried out but not after giving him a quick kiss on the cheek with the promise of seeing each other later. 

You just expected to head in but coincidently, or maybe not so, you saw Mina waiting outside the building. 

“Hey?” You called out to her, wondering why she was just standing here.

She turned to you and let out a sigh of relief before running over and hugging you. “Ok you’re alright, I can breathe now.” 

It took you a minute to figure out what she was talking about until you remembered what you texted her yesterday.

“I told you I was ok~” You chuckled but hugged her back tightly. 

“You never know, I may watch too much true crime but I just had to make sure.” She mumbled into your shirt. Ahhh, you love this woman so much. What would you do without her?

“So~ What happened this weekend—“ She hurried out as she hastily pulled away. You were about to tell her it was a little hard to explain when you heard quick footsteps approaching.

“Oh good, you’re ok….” You heard a sigh and finally turned to find him.

It was Jin-Sang.

He looked like he just ran a marathon.

“What do you mean?” You questioned.

“Your texts— just wanted to make sure you were ok.” He smiled bashfully.

“You both thought something was up?” You signaled between Jin-Sang and Mina.

“You never know these days— I’ve seen way too much true crime to just—“ Woah. It’s almost like you’ve had this talk before.

“But glad to see you’re ok.” Jin-Sang felt reassured. He’d honestly been very worried about you.

“Y/n was actually just about to explain what happened.” Mina said, looking back at you.

Jin-Sang noticed you hesitated. “That is, only if you’re comfortable.” He added, not wanting to pressure you into a confession.

“It was a pretty crazy weekend but you, especially Jin-Sang, deserve to know.” You looked over at him. He was still thinking there was a next time after all…

They both looked at you intrigued at what you were about to say.

“Part of the reason I hesitated when you asked me out last week, Jin-Sang, was that I wasn’t exactly single.” You paused for a second when you noticed his face change.

“But it was a relationship I thought wouldn’t go anywhere— we had our fun but we couldn’t be together in the way that I wanted. It wasn’t going anywhere and we knew that, it’s why I didn’t say no either. We even talked about it when I got home and we broke up and everything believing that to be the end of our journey and this was our sign to move on.” You were watching Jin-Sang intently even though you were talking to both him and Mina. 

“That day I had been getting ready for our date, I had been on the phone with Mina and had my outfit picked and everything— I was honestly really excited but just a few hours before we were supposed to meet, I got a knock at the door—”

“It was him wasn’t it…” Jin-Sang finished with a sad smile.

You nodded.

You felt bad, you truly did.

“He said the date made him realize how much he wanted our relationship to work so he’s visiting me now, but he plans on moving closer so we can be together. It was the only issue with our relationship and we spent the weekend and Monday just talking to see if this was the best path to go on and…” You smiled at the thought. Some of it was certainly lies but it was close enough to the truth you felt satisfied.

You saw Mina’s mouth drop at your story and Jin-Sang just had this sad yet sweet expression on his face.

“Ahhh I should have known.” He sighed but never once stopped smiling. “You’re so amazing I’m not surprised someone already beat me to it…” 

Oh.

He was really trying to pull at your heartstrings. You felt bad, really really really bad.

You were about to say something when suddenly you thought you heard someone call out your name. You turned wondering where that came from.

“Y/n!” You heard it again a little more clearly this time and now you could see where it was coming from. There he was, the angel that had been your entire weekend.

It was Jimin and he was jogging over to where you all were standing, holding something in his hand. 

He’d somehow changed from the time you left him in the car. 

He’d switched to an entire black ensemble, it was simple yet so effective. A black short sleeve shirt tucked into black pants with a fancy belt wrapped around his waist. He’d thrown on a black beanie and had these sexy black sunglasses on and the closer he got you could see the pretty silver jewelry he added— a necklace, bracelets of both arms, rings, and his fancy cross earrings decorating his ears. 

The tattoos on his arms were on full display. And this close with his arms exposed you could make out what they were slightly. You were only able to make out one to clear enough detail— it read ‘WRATH’ in dark, inky black letters...?

Interesting.

It was like you were watching him run in slow motion over to you, maybe you lost it, but it was like something out of a drama at how gorgeous he looked. 

You were tempted to start barking right here because aro? Alpha?

You were surprised you didn’t start drooling and you were too entranced to realize he was holding your water bottle.

As he came closer you started to notice the stares of your coworkers and whisper more good things because look at him. How could they not?

“Jimin?” You finally questioned. 

He smiled at you when he stopped by your side. “Hey beautiful.” He pulled you close and gently kissed your forehead.

Oh.

“You forgot your water in the car and came to bring it to you.” You finally noticed it in his hands and you were about to look in your bag confused, because you were so sure you put it in there, but maybe not if he had it.

You took it from his hands and put it in your bag.

“Must have missed this somehow… Thank you~” You smiled at him.

“Ahem…” It was Mina and that was when you realized they were still standing behind you. 

You turned back around and their faces, especially Mina’s, were oddly amusing. You felt proud. 

“Guys this is Jimin, my…?” In a second you realized you never discussed the specifics of the labels or your relationship.

Jimin seemed to pick up on this.

“I’m her boyfriend, nice to meet you both.” Jimin flashed you one of those enchanting smiles before turning back to Mina and Jin-Sang. 

Oh— yep, yep oh boy.

You tried to pull yourself together.

“Uh— this is Mina.” You motioned toward your friend. 

Jimin smiled before bowing. “Y/n talked about you a lot, it’s nice to finally meet you.”

She shyly laughed before bowing back. 

You turned to Jin-Sang and you realized this was a bit awkward considering the talk you just were having. “And this is Jin-Sang.”

There was a second where they made eye contact. Jimin was slightly shorter than Jin-Sang was, only a few centimeters at most, but it was enough where he had to slightly look up at him. 

You had no idea what you were watching and for a second you were worried someone, someone would say something that would cause this whole big thing. You were reassured when Jimin gave him a smile and bowed too, it was slightly less than what he did with Mina, not by much, but you noticed.

“Nice to meet you.” 

Jin-Sang bowed back. “Likewise.”

Crisis averted it seems.

Jimin looked back at you before taking off his beanie, revealing his sandy blonde hair once again and started running his hand through it. You could have moaned, oh what was this man doing to you? 

At the workplace at that!

Just wait till you get home later…

“Alright, I’ll see you at home.” He smiled at you before putting his beanie back on. 

“See you then~” You cheesed before he started walking away. For a second you wondered how he planned on getting back, but you remembered this was an angel you were dealing with.

You turned back to the two who were standing behind you. 

“I’m sorry guys—“

“No need to apologize. You seem happy and that’s all I care about. Wish the best for you two.” He tried to smile but you could see the sadness in his eyes.

Jin-Sang said a speedy goodbye before heading into the building. 

You still felt bad, maybe even worse though but you were happy he understood. You feared telling him all morning, but he really seemed sweet. 

With Jin-Sang gone, that left you and Mina.

“Y/n you’re gonna have to tell me everything and I mean everything.” She said quietly as she guided you both inside. 

“Like what?”

“Everything, like does he drive a motorcycle?” 

“Huh?”

“He looked like he would— my gosh, he is so hot, how could you never tell me about him?! And was it me or was he literally glowing?!— Where did you find him? On the set of some drama or something? I need the details!”

The lunch was amazing by the way, as expected of your angel.

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[laughing-with-god]

I’m just curious and apologies if you’ve answered this before and I missed it! I’m just wondering how you think QQ Jungkook would react to finding out you had been seeing other victors behind his back (romantically or in a friendship ‘help me out’ kind of sense). Especially in regards to Jimin and Yoongi since they hate each other

hmm u guys are so messy and I love it.

tbh there's a lot of different factors at play here. for one, is y/n a district two victor or at least living in two? or is she from another district and living/mentoring there?

If Y/n was living in district two, JK would have so much more control over her. I think the second he catches wind that any of the other victors are interested in her, he'd go to the president and demand that you no longer visit the capitol. he'd probably lie and say you're unfit to train tributes or entertain sponsors. but really he just knows that the only way the others can see you is if you're at the capitol, so he'll make it so you never return lol. what can the other victors do? show up at District Two and bang at your door? that's not possible. he'd be a little shit about it too, making comments about how "happy" you are or how you changed your hair and it's such a shame you can't be here this year (or ever lol).

If you are from/living in another district, things get more complex. I see him being more possessive of the short time you guys have together doing activities in the capitol. he would most likely already be drafting up some way to get you to come live at 2, but until then he's aware that other victors probably are too. he may be brutish, but he's not stupid. so for him, i think he'd use his connections as a favorite to knock the others down, as it's most likely the president who gets final say in where you go.

For Yoongi, I think he'd just try to find his capitol dealer and posion his drugs. this is only if Yoongi becomes such a problem though, as he's not too worried about him. everyone knows that yoongi is a mess and not at all a favorite of the people or capitol, jk looks at him the same way you'd look at a toddler having a tantrum. if you were to show a fondness for yoongi, he'd say alot of manipulative shit like "how do you know he won't beat you in a drunken rage?" "he'd probably pawn your ring off for drugs."

Jin and Hoseok are easy to handle in JK's eyes. Both of them so obviously have their weaknesses; their siblings. JK would probably just make some comments to them like, "How's your sister doing? still reaping age right? hmm, I have lunch with the game makers later today and it'd be a shame if you'd have to mentor your own sibling."

Taehyung kind of intimidates JK, mainly bc no one knows what goes through his mind. but ultimately he's confident that he can beat taehyung in a fight if he ever had to, and as much as tae likes to act strong and silent, jk knows he still is scared of careers. I can see JK making comments around tae about how much he misses the games or how watching his tributes gives him nostalgia. this would freak tae out.

Namjoon and Jimin are the only ones that I think would put up a fair fight.

Namjoon and Jungkook are both favorites of the capitol, but for different reasons. Jk is a poster boy for the games, meanwhile Namjoon represents the future of the games. JK can try to cash in favors, but Namjoon is more respected and probably has even more people on his beck and call. Nanjoon I think is more reluctant to use them, but he will if he's forced to. I also just don't see namjoon raising to any of JK's bait. honest to god, even I don't know who would win here. namjoon is very smart, jk is very determined.

Jimin vs JK. JK would have a brilliant plan tbh. He'd get a capitol woman to hire Jimin for his "services" and record them together. he'd show you the video and be like, "Jimin is just a bimbo who doesn't love you when he can have a rich capitol girl." and tbh it might work, if Jimin didn't see shit like this coming. Jimin has dirt on everyone, and I'd like to think he'd gather some of JK too. So tbh here, it's all about timing.