Birds chirping and lawnmowers are the sounds that slowly pull me to consciousness from my peaceful sleep. Despite the slight soreness between my legs, my body feels free yet full of emotion. The butterflies are fluttering in my stomach as the sun shines through the window into my face, warming my insides. I lie on my stomach, the blanket covering lightly up to above my lower back, and I stretch out my arms that are tucked under the pillow.

Opening my eyes slowly, I blink a few times to get rid of the sleep completely and to get used to the bright light. Fluttering my eyelashes open, I'm greeted with the sparkling eyes of a smiling bunny lying on his side, his smile growing larger as our eyes meet.

"Good morning, beautiful." he sings, the most beautiful raspy morning voice ringing in my ears as he scoots a little closer.

"Good morning, handsome." I greet back, also smiling down at him as I move from my stomach to my side as well, ignoring that I'm still naked.

"Did you sleep well?" he asks, placing the lightest of kisses on the tip of my nose and I giggle at the tickling.

"I did. You?"

"Me too. Come let's take a shower," he suggests, taking my hand in his and when I start to look at him suspiciously he lays his head back on the pillow, laughing. "Just shower. I promise I won't do anything else."

We both get up from the bed laughing, Jungkook not having an ounce of shame as he stands bare in front of me and takes my hand in his, leading us into the bathroom. This reminds me of the first time we showered together and I was shy and nervous, but he reassured me that I had nothing to be ashamed of next to him.

I step into the shower after Jungkook grants me priority and follows right after me under the warm water. My heart is beating like crazy as I stand completely exposed before his eyes and a blush settles on my cheeks as I imagine Jungkook's eyes wandering down my body as I walked into the shower before him. We were intimate a few hours ago, but under those circumstances, it feels different when you're naked.

You're turned on and you don't care what you look like, but this right now is different. It's still intimate, but it's not sexual anymore. I feel too exposed and despite the many times, Jungkook has asked if it's okay if we shower together, I can't help but feel shy and turn my eyes anywhere but on him. I turn away from him a bit, trying to hide my curves and this he seems to have noticed because he grabs me lightly by the chin and makes me look him in the eye.

"Don't hide from me. You're gorgeous," he reassures me and I watch his Adam's apple bounces up and down as his eyes slowly travel down my body. "You're breathtaking."

"You really think that?"

"Of course I think that, otherwise I wouldn't have volunteered at the bar and we wouldn't be here right now," he explains and I furrow my eyebrows, looking at him questioningly. "I sang that song for you because you seemed so confident. But at the same time, you were so shy and that was so pure, I can't even describe it."

I bite my lower lip, unable to maintain eye contact as I look down at my feet, but that's a bad idea because his soft member comes into my view so I look back up at him, suppressing a smile. He smiles big at me, his wet hair now clinging to his forehead.

"What? It's true. You gave me a hard time when you were performing." he winks, his eyes darting to my lips as he licks his own. "You dangerous woman."

Jungkook checks the water to make sure it's the perfect temperature and when he's sure it's not too hot and not too cold, he takes my hand and opens the glass door to the walk-in shower before we both get under the water. We let the water run over our bodies and all the tiredness from the previous day flow down the drain as I wet my hair to wash it.

"Let me wash your hair," he says happily and reaches for the shampoo bottle, squeezing a generous amount into his palm. He rubs the shampoo between his hands and then lifts them up, his delicate fingers spreading it over my scalp. I close my eyes at the sensation because just like last night when he massaged my scalp before bed, the nerves all over my body fill with satisfaction.

"You're like a cat that falls right to sleep when you pet it." he laughs and his pleasant voice makes me open my eyes again and I am greeted with his eyes already looking down at me.

"It feels good, I can't help it makes me sleepy," I say lazily, my lips forming into a one-sided smile as Jungkook continues to shampoo my hair. After he's done, he takes a step to the side so I can stand completely under the water and rinse my hair.

"My turn." he grins boyishly after I'm done and pushes his shampoo bottle into my hand. I shake my head laughing at his childish behavior but I can't help but think he's the cutest as he looks down at me expectantly with his bunny teeth.

I squeal as he grabs me by the thighs and lifts me up so I can have better access to his head. I'm not a munchkin, my eyes are level with his chin, but it still makes my job easier because I'm now right at eye level with his forehead. I look down into his eyes and they are already looking up into mine, following my every move as I wash his hair. I blush, but it reassures me that he's not doing this sexually, but just being playful with me and giving us something to laugh about.

"Don't slip." I laugh as I run my fingers through his curls, spreading the foam.

"When did I drop you?" he laughs back, a little offended as he grabs me tighter.

"Never." I smile sincerely and spread a bit of foam on his nose before placing a small peck on his lips. I tap his shoulders, showing that he can put me down now, and he positions himself under the water after carefully placing me down.

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After we finished our shower with laughter and a water fight, we pack our clothes and other stuff back into the small bag we brought with us. We have to leave soon, unfortunately, because we want to be home before it's dark, since Jungkook doesn't like driving at night and I have to go to bed early anyway, with work calling again tomorrow morning.

We haven't had breakfast yet, so the restaurant downstairs at the lodge is our first destination before checking out. We fill our plates before finding an empty seat and sitting down. Eating in silence, Jungkook rolls up his sleeves to keep them out of the way and my eyes fall back on his sleeve tattoo. The conversation from yesterday flashes in my mind and I remember the tattoo of the tiger flower and its meaning.

After we were intimate and Jungkook had already fallen asleep, I was still awake for a bit thinking about everything he said. Then I realized that last week when I went to Hoseok's gym to talk to him, it was a very special day. It was the first of September, his birthday and I realized why he was so extra pissed that day. I felt bad after the realization because I know now that he was just hurt and that's why he said those mean words.

I was broken that day and so sad, but I want to forget all that now and move forward. We both deserve to be happy after such painful days and we can't do that if we keep letting things from the past haunt us. We need to let go and be understanding and caring for each other. From now on, there won't be a day when we will allow his father to ruin our mood.

Jungkook looks up from his plate, his cheeks filled to the brim with food again, his nose sitting sweetly between his hamster cheeks, and I smile at the sight. We finish our breakfast after Jungkook has tossed the last of the raspberries into his mouth and I pull him out of the restaurant as his eyes still fall on the donuts at the counter. He outweighs my strength and still manages to run back, but luckily he gets the donuts to go so we have something to munch on during the drive if we get hungry.

This man can really eat half the world. But I don't mind.

We get into the car after waving goodbye to the lambs and taking a last walk around the area. It is now almost afternoon and I hope we can arrive before it is dark. We are driving through the meadows and forests for the last time, our home the next destination. When Jungkook said last night that I am his home, my heart started to flutter and I had so many butterflies in my stomach that I thought I was bursting with joy. I think it's the ultimate level you can reach in a relationship.

We stop a few times along the way for Jungkook to pee, because apparently he drank too much —5 glasses to be exact —of orange juice. I scold him because he will surely get a stomachache from the orange juice, but he simply laughs and wiggles in his seat.

It's getting dark now since it's already evening, but we still haven't reached our destination. It's only a good half hour away, though, and I'm looking forward to finally being able to throw myself on my bed and sleep uninterrupted until tomorrow morning. The weekend has been absolutely wonderful, just the peace and quiet we both needed we could find in the countryside, but nonetheless there is no place more calming than home.

The radio plays a quiet song in the background as Jungkook and I are holding hands, a habit we have acquired since the beginning of our relationship. My eyes slowly begin to close without me intending it, but the slight rocking of the car, the quiet music, and Jungkook's thumb stroking my knuckles have made me sleepy. Just as I'm about to fall into a brief slumber, my eyes tear open at the sound of screeching tires and the jerking of the car.

"Asshole. Watch where you're going!" Jungkook curses, an annoyed look in his eyes as he brings the car back to its normal lane.

"What happened?" I ask sleepily, scratching my eyes.

"Some people need to learn how to drive," he says, a puff of air blowing out his nose. He turns to me and when he sees my sleepy form, he takes my hand and places a kiss on my palm. "Sorry, did I wake you?"

"No, that's all right. We'll be home soon anyway." I cheer up as I look at the familiar area through the windscreen. We're still on the highway, but it won't be long before we're in town. We drive excitedly for a few minutes until there is an uneasy feeling floating in the air.

I feel Jungkook suddenly tense up, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly and his eyes roaming in the rearview mirror repeatedly. The inside of the car gets a little brighter and I too start looking in the side mirror, spotting another car driving dangerously close to our rear. It's not normal to approach someone on the highway at that speed and I start to panic.

"Jungkook, what's happening right now?" I ask worriedly. I look over at him and see him still looking in the rearview mirror.

"I don't know."

Suddenly there is a loud roaring of the engine from the car behind and we watch as it picks up speed, now driving next to us at the same speed. The windows of the car are blacked out and because it is now pitch black outside as well, the inside and therefore the people in the car are unrecognizable. It is an expensive car, the silver rims shine in the light of the lanterns and it is tall almost like an off-road vehicle.

A second black car appears behind us out of nowhere and also drives dangerously close to us, brushing against our rear. I have a feeling we're going to get cornered by these two cars on the highway, but I have no idea who they are or what they want from us. The rear car gives a flashing horn and my heart starts racing faster than it already does and I hold onto the door, not knowing what to do to make these cars go away.

I look over at Jungkook and see his eyes darting between the car behind us and the car next to us, thinking about how he can distance them without putting us in danger. His jaw is clenched and when he presses on the gas pedal, my body sinks into the seat and I hold tighter to what comes to my grasp first. Adrenaline, fear, and uncertainty courses through my veins, and I panic even more as I realize how fast we're going.

"Who is that?" I ask, fear lingering in my voice as tears form in my eyes. Jungkook's apologetic eyes meet mine and he gives me a half-hearted smile to reassure me but to be honest, it worries me even more and the matter seems serious.

"It's going to be okay, baby. I'm here."

A third car appears, overtaking us as the other two try to catch up, cutting into the lane in front of us, forcing us to slow down. The bright red light of the brake lights shines in our faces as Jungkook slows down until the other two cars catch up, one from the left side and one directly behind us. My breath catches and sobs leave my mouth as I realize they are trying to push us into the breakdown lane and bring us to a stop.

I don't know if they're some thugs, but it's definitely clear that they have a problem with us. Maybe they don't know us and just want to jump us and maybe we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time but one thing is clear and that is that I have never been so scared in my life as I am right now.

I grip Jungkook's hand tightly as our car slowly comes to a stop, the guardrail to our right, and the cars spread out on the remaining sides so that we have no escape. The door of the car to our left opens and a man dressed in a suit gets out and more follow him until they are standing in front of our car. I can't count how many there are, but it's clear that we can't fight them all. One of them makes a motion with his hand, asking Jungkook to get out of the car. Or commanding, I can't tell.

"Please don't go, let's call the police." I sob as I turn to Jungkook and he immediately grabs my face between his hands.

"Shhh. I've got this under control, okay? I'll be right back." he says between kisses but I can't kiss back because I'm crying.

"Jungkook." I plead, grabbing him by the arm as he turns to open the door.

"It's going to be okay. I want you to stay in the car, beautiful." he looks deep into my eyes after placing a lingering kiss on my forehead to calm me down. "Can you do that for me?"

I have no choice but to nod and after Jungkook has his confirmation, he kisses me again on the lips and unbuckles his seatbelt. He opens the door and I watch as he walks with confident steps toward the men. It's admirable that he's not even a little bit scared. Or he's just good at covering it up and taking everything as casually as possible.

A man steps out of the crowd, but he stands with his back to the headlights, so I can't see his face. He's a little taller than Jungkook but not as broad as he is. I watch Jungkook's jaw clench even more as he scowls at his counterpart and the two of them start talking something I can't understand. The words come over muffled and I curse at the car for muffling too well. I listen intently, desperate to make out any words but it is in vain.

They talk normally, though, if Jungkook's anger can be considered normal. I can clearly see that he is the most agitated of all as he waves his hands through the air, angrily saying something. The other men just stand there and listen, and it reassures me a little that they don't attack him or anything. I don't know what I would do if it came to a fight, because it's clear that I wouldn't be able to protect him.

Jungkook is getting furious by the minute as his counterpart tries to tell him something and Jungkook points his finger in my direction and then punches the hood of the car. I flinch as he hits it a few more times and the men around him gather closer, leaving me more awake. I sit up straight, trying to be aware of what is going on. Another man grabs Jungkook's shoulder but he's quick enough to shake it away and tell him not to touch him. I could still lip read that through his mouth, panic running all over my body.

My heart is beating like crazy and I want nothing more than to just get out of here and lie in my bed. The next thing I notice is Jungkook's eyebrow twitching and him reaching for his counterpart's collar. My hand jumps to the door handle and the cool air nips at my face as I step outside, my feet unconsciously moving me in my boyfriend's direction.

"Jungkook?" I ask, surprised that my voice hasn't broken or come out too quietly. His hands release the man's collar and he looks over his counterpart's shoulder. His eyebrows are drawn together and when he sees me, he sighs deeply.

"Get in the car, Elaine," he orders. The fact that he called me by name shows how serious he is, but I don't want to leave him alone.

"But—"

"I said get in the car!" he growls, and I flinch at that. Tears form in my eyes and I tremble all over.

"I'm scared." I squeak and his eyes soften as he hears those words. His furrowed eyebrows come into their normal, soft shape and I can see him getting calmer.

"Don't be scared, baby. Just get in the car and wait for me, okay?" he asks softly, a reassuring look in his eyes and a smile present. I nod my head in response. "I'll be right with you."

The man standing across from Jungkook, the one who's had his back turned to me the whole time, slowly turns to face me, bright blue eyes immediately finding mine. I gasp in surprise and disappointment, I don't know how to act, plain speechless about it. I shake my head and when I look at Jungkook before getting into the car there is a knowing expression on his features.

Back in the silence of the car, I watch Jungkook talk to the men a little more calmly this time, but I can still see the rage in his features. I know he's trying to stay calm because I'm present, and I'm also sure he would have lashed out at them long ago if I weren't there, completely ignoring the fact that he's outnumbered.

He talks to them for a few more minutes before sending them away with his hand and I watch as they all get back into their cars and drive away. Jungkook takes a few deep breaths, trying to get his emotions under control, before looking in my direction with sad eyes. He slowly moves towards the car, getting in and we both say nothing at first.

We both stare into the distance, processing the events, and I flinch when Jungkook hits the steering wheel with full force. A groan leaves his lips and I remain silent the whole time, giving him time to come down again while I bite my lower lip. He slowly rests his head against the steering wheel and I feel bad about it because I want to comfort him but can't. Who were these men, well I recognized one, but what did they want from us?

"I'm sorry for yelling at you." he sighs as he lifts his head from the steering wheel, his gaze dropping to his lap.

"It's okay."

"No, it's not." he protests. "I need to control my anger."

"What did they want?"

"My father just won't leave us alone." he huffs, his gaze now fixed on nothing out the window. "He wants to talk to me."

So much for us not letting his father ruin our mood. How does this man, from whatever damn distance, manage to destroy our beautiful time and interrupt it like this? Just when I thought everything was taking a turn for the better and that we were slowly rebuilding everything, he has to show up. I hope Jungkook doesn't fall into that hole again after what just happened. I don't know if I would be able to get him out of there without falling into it myself.

"That was Alex, wasn't it?" I ask, scoffing a bit because I still can't believe I'm encountering him here and under these circumstances.

"Yeah." he hisses, wrapping his hands around the steering wheel and gripping it so tightly that his knuckles turn white. "He was the one who set my workshop on fire. I knew there was something fishy about him, but I wouldn't have guessed he worked for my father."

"He never really seemed suspicious to me, how could we have known?" I shake my head and one person comes right to my mind. "Nora will be devastated when she finds out his true colors."

"Please don't tell her it has anything to do with me," he says, his eyes sad as he looks over at me. "I don't want to be the one to ruin her relationship."

"It's not your fault, Jungkook," I reassure him as I cup his face with my hand. It makes me angry that his father is to blame for everything, and it makes me even sadder that Jungkook is trying to take all the blame.

"All I wanted was a weekend of peace and quiet," he complains. After a few seconds of silence, he turns to me and I panic as he gives me a scolding look. "Why did you even get out of the car? I asked you to stay in here. How am I supposed to protect you if you don't listen to me?"

"I got scared, okay?" I protest. "If you think I'm just going to stand by and watch you get into a fight with those men, you're wrong."

"So you are going to protect me?" he laughs, and when I nod confidently, his eyebrows shoot up in curiosity. "And how are you going to do that, honey?"

"I don't know. Throw a rock at their heads or run into them with your car."

Jungkook throws his head back against the headrest of his seat and I see his Adam's apple bounce up and down as he laughs hysterically. His laughter fills the whole car and I can't suppress a smile myself, even though I was completely serious. What else could I do as a woman? After a few seconds, he comes back down from his laughter and wipes the tear from his eye, turning his gaze back to me.

"You're crazy, woman," he says between his giggles.

"Yeah." I smile back. "Crazy in love."

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A/N: I hope you are still enjoying this book💗