wrapping up from another interview, jiah's now in search of a nice, quiet café where she can study for a while and also have a much needed cup of espresso. her phone chimes in her purse, making her sigh with the thought that it must be yoongi or namjoon asking about the interview, or it could be seokjin to ask when she would be back to get jihun.

however it's none of them, rather the name that pops up makes her question why she didn't block him when he texted the first time. but now that they're starting to warm up, it wouldn't hurt to talk a bit. and for a fact, jungkook sure has the ability to divert her mind no matter how stressed she is. now thinking about it, jiah realises that half the encounters with jungkook ended up with her entirely forgetting about the initial problems going on in her life, while jungkook would casually be grinning at her.

jungkook daddy
yo wyd
hru?

jungkook daddy
i can see that ur seeing my msgs...

jiah scoffs mentally at the man, just knowing how cocky he gets sometimes. most of the time to be honest. she shakes her head nonetheless, having nothing better to do now that she's done with the interview for the day. so she decides for the first time to give some attention to jungkook since she has already called him a friend. but first of all, she'd like to change his name.

jiah
what?

jungkook
damn i didn't think u'd give in
but thanks baby ;)

jiah
is that all that you had to say?

jungkook
no, obv not!
i have so much to say when it comes
to you 😩❤️✨

jiah
oh please just get to the point 🙄
or if u don't i have smth to ask

jungkook
ofc princess ask away

jiah
okay so not to get ur hopes too high or
anything but uhm i was thinking if

jiah
fuck this is so hard

jiah
godddd jeon jungkook listen to me

jungkook
gosh ur making me nervous
what is it?
do u need some help? are u okay?
do u want me to come to u?

jiah
look

jiah
i don't like u

jungkook
ouch 💔

jiah
do u maybe wanna hangout?

jungkook
really?
that's what u wanted to ask?

jiah
...

jiah
do u want to..?

jiah
u can say no... :(

jungkook
i have to be absolutely stupid to
say no to u
ofc i wanna see u baby

jungkook
i always wanna see u
i'm so happy rn u have no idea!
😭✊

jiah
u sound like a teen lmao

jungkook
ignoring that

jungkook
where do u wanna go? or like meet up?

jiah
anywhere is fine
i actually just wrapped up with some work
and i'm free now

jiah
i was bored honestly and i felt like a
company would be nice...?

jungkook
ofc i'm glad u thought of me

jiah
i technically did not
u texted me just when i was heading out

jungkook
just for my heart to be happy
let's pretend that u were thinking of me

jiah
ur heart is stupid

jungkook
stupid in love with u
because ur so fucking beautiful
so gorgeous ✨

jiah
anyway
i'll see u at the bus stop where we met
that day

jungkook
no wya rn?
i'll pick u up

jiah
i don't think that'd be very convenient
because i'm super far away

jungkook
lmao may i ask why ur "super far away"?

jiah
no
i don't wanna tell u

jungkook
and why is that?

jiah
because i don't want u to know duh
ur gonna make fun of me and i can't deal
with that

jungkook
i don't think i'd do that
i might tease u sometimes but that's just
because ur reactions are fun

jungkook
i never intend on hurting ur feelings or
anything jiah
i'm sorry if i ever came off like that
but i swear it's not the case

jiah
i know it's just-

jiah
okay listen let's meet up i'll tell u okay?

jungkook
yeah. tell me where u are
i'll come get u.

jungkook
and no it won't be any inconvenience

jiah
u should listen to me jerk

jungkook
as if
i might really be into u but i do what i want

jiah
fine mr free bird 🙄
ur the one who'll have to drive forty minutes
come if u really want to

jungkook
send me ur location missy

jiah
<you shared your location>
for the first time jungkook i feel like
i wanna see u

jungkook
i'm honoured

jiah
and smack u in the face

jungkook
just u wait for me to get u 😤

jiah
yeah get ur ass over here big guy

jungkook
u know my hands are tied and u take
advantage of that!

jiah
stop saying saying weird things
ur hands aren't tied
unless i tie them for u bitch 🌚

jungkook
tf-
you-
did not just-
say that-
💀💀💀

jiah
i did 😎
ur not the only smart one here

jungkook
so ur trying to flirt with me ?

jiah
nope
does it look like i'm flirting with u?

jungkook
well u did make a sex reference
bondage on top of that

jiah
lmao
it just happened 😭😭😭

jungkook
sigh 😪
cute people making slutty comments
will always be smth

jiah
i'm cute and u a slut, jungkookie?😭

jungkook
sure 🙏
i'm scared u might take advantage of me

jiah
oh i might 🌚

jungkook
i'm not coming
take a bus or smth 💀

jiah
don't u dare back off now!
i just fucking left a bus bc u said u were
coming to get me!

jungkook
don't be mad mommy i'm on my way

jiah
eww don't call me that 😭

jiah
call me daddy! 😎

jungkook
lmao okay daddy
😭👍

jiah
yesss! now be quick don't keep me waiting

jungkook
patience big girl

jiah
it's 'daddy' for u princess

jungkook
princess?
wtf- are u trying to copy me or what?

jiah
noooo just play alonggggg

jungkook
did u eat smth weird baby?
are u okay?

jiah
no but i'm hungry 😭

jungkook
okay got it 👍

jungkook
bye
i need to stop texting to get to u

jiah
yeah see u princess jungkookie
daddy's waiting

jungkook
eat smth ffs 💀

•••

jungkook chuckles to himself, shaking his head at how wild this girl can be. from fighting with him, to calling him names and refusing to even see him, she's now on the phone getting all playful. the progress is definitely worth it. all the effort and time jungkook put after jiah, and the insults he had to bear with just to get close to her, now seem like paying off slowly.

as he passes the stores, accelerating his motorcycle towards his destination, he can't help but think about how much he's already fallen in love with park jiah. she has tremendous power over him whether or not she acknowledged it. but jungkook knows very well that he wouldn't hesitate rushing to her on one call no matter what time it was. now that she has replied to his texts today, he would never risk having his phone on silent and miss her messages or calls if he's lucky enough.

he envies those guys, jimin and taehyung, who have already gotten close to jiah. jimin especially, since he has seen her with him a few times, however it was a few months back and nothing looked too awkward. at least from jiah's side back then. but that day when he saw her with jimin on a date, it definitely gave him a weird feeling.

he was jealous of jimin obviously and wanted to be in his place. but he wouldn't drop his cockiness for that, when he knows that his personality is one of the few things that make him stand out for jiah. the way she'd talk to him, so freely and no filter on her tongue, was something he enjoyed and wished to see more of it. he doesn't know jimin that well, but from what he has seen, he can safely assume that jiah isn't so chill and free with jmin like she's with him.

even if it took time, jungkook now has a hope, but more than that he's happy that he could at least be jiah's friend. and something inside him says that he wouldn't be too upset even if she didn't get in a relationship with him. he'd rather enjoy their friendship, their little fights and playfulness and jokes, than losing it all to his feelings. his heart can dance all it wants inside his chest, but he wouldn't give in to its demands if jiah didn't want it.

jungkook stops at the signal, almost there now and takes a deep breath, thinking about where he can take jiah to make their day special. not anything romantic since he wants her to be comfortable and just have fun, but not too wild either, like a club or anything. she has jihun and drinking in a club wouldn't be a good option. the light turns green and he speeds up, taking a last turn until he stops in front of a park, frowning as he pulls out his phone.

jungkook
wya

jiah
wya?

jungkook
in front of this park idk

jiah
what park-
where did u go bro?

jungkook
idk bro 💀
u sent me the location

jiah
damn ur phone must be broke
i sent u the correct location

jiah
oh no

jungkook
what? u okay?

jiah
yeah but idk how long i'd be okay...

jungkook
what does that mean?
where are you jiah?
stop it if this is a joke

jiah
why would i joke rn??
it's idk a guy and he's coming this way
they don't look so good

jiah
shit should i punch him?

jungkook
no wait!
get away from him and tell me wya
don't do anything stupid ffs

jiah
jungkook listen

jungkook
yeah? ae u okay?
did he go?

jiah
look behind u

jungkook instinctively does that, glancing over his shoulder only to be startled by jiah jumping next to him with a grin. she bursts out laughing while jungkook stares at her with wide eyes. he gets off his motorcycle, taking off the helmet and frowns at him, "what the fuck was that? are you okay?"

"yep!" jiah poses in front of him, grinning proudly on seeing him worried. "i got you!"

"you think?" he scoffs, stepping closer with a firm gaze and pulls her to stand between him and the motorcycle, "you think that was funny? i was worried for you- fuck, i thought someone was gonna hurt you!"

"i was just-"

"no," he scolds, "you shouldn't be doing that, jiah. you shouldn't be pulling that kind of prank on anyone, really. that sucks, okay? we're not even that close but i felt my breath stuck in my throat. i can't even imagine how your other friends would feel."

jiah looks down, nodding her head slowly, "sorry..."

jungkook heaves out a deep sigh, massaging his temples before leaning down and cups her face, "i'm sorry. i shouldn't talk to you like that." he mutters, nibbling on his lower lip, "but of course, you should be sorry too. and please don't do this again, okay?"

jiah hums at his staring at jungkook's face as he smiles softly at her, making her wonder if jimin or taehyung would ever be worried for her like this. probably not. she doesn't need a man to be worried for her, but that doesn't mean it didn't feel good. she lowers her head on her own, on realising what she was thinking, cursing under her breath and mentally scolding herself for even feeling like that.

jungkook is a man too, just like all the previous ones.

"hey, it's okay. at least you're fine," his voice pulls her out of her trance, subconsciously looking up at his face instantly but regrets it when she finds him staring at her with such a tender gaze, his soft touch against her cheek makes it harder for her to keep herself locked away.

she clears her throat lightly, pulling her head back and jungkook seems to pick it up quickly, for he too, moves away and shakes his head. "anyway," he says, holding out his helmet for her and gets on his bike, "c'mon, sit."

"what about you?" jiah asks, holding the helmet and without even waiting for a response, she puts it on his head. jungkook hisses softly, balancing himself along with the bike with his feet firm on the ground.

he takes off the helmet and strokes jiah's hair out of her face, before carefully putting it on her, "you should wear it. although i'm good with bikes, but still."

"but then you-"

"it's fine, jiah. i don't need it that much."

"oh really? is your head made of steel?"

jungkook scrunches his face at her sarcastic comment, but decides to ignore it. he tugs on her hand, gesturing her to just get on with him, so he can drive already. jiah clicks her tongue, sitting behind him and holds the sleeve of his hoodie on his upper arm, "look, if anything happens and you die, it'll be because you suck at riding a bike, okay?" she says.

"okay daddy," jungkook smirks over his shoulder, "now c'mon, i want you to hold me tight, alright?"

"okay babyboy," jiah grins, holding his waist and jungkook chuckles, accelerating the vehicle suddenly, making jiah gasp and jerk forward against his back. "jeon!" she hits his shoulders, glaring at his incomplete side profile that's visible to her from her place.

"what? is daddy scared?"

"shut up and just dri- or wait," she stops abruptly, a mischievous grin slowly creeping up her lips. she gets off quickly and pulls jungkook's arm, getting a frown in return. although he doesn't really question anything until he realises that she's sitting in the front, her hands on the handle already.

"hey!" jungkook freaks out, taking the keys away within a blink, making jiah glare at him. "what do you think you're doing? this is not a game, jiah."

"i can do it! i know how to ride a bike. i mean, i learnt it when i was in high school." she says with a confident smile. "get on. i'll take us back."

"no. you'll just sit quietly at the back and i'm the one who's gonna do the driving, okay?" he lets out firmly, "shift back."

"why? i promise i can ride."

"i bet you nail it, princess. but please, not my poor bike."

"c'mon, jungkook, you're no fun!" she pouts, trying her best to get him to listen to her, however nothing works on him. jungkook leans forward, his large hands circling her waist gently and jiah looks down, about to move away.

"i'll let you ride my bike later. but you've to listen to me for now," he says in a tender voice. it's weird how he's calm and authoritative, and sounds like he means it, but not possesive like jimin and taehyung. this side of manly is new to jiah, making her gulp softly as she finds herself nodding gradually and gets off the bike quietly. jungkook smiles at her, kissing her forehead and hand rubbing her side in a praising manner before he sits on his place. jiah sits behind him, clearing her throat and holds his waist like earlier.

"you can drive," she lets him know.

jungkook starts the engine, accelerating in the direction he came from, smiling to himself at how adorable jiah is. or maybe it's just to his eyes, that she always looks and behaves like a carefree young girl, so far away from the responsible, working, single mother she has to be in life. no matter how tough she acts, jungkook can see the void inside her, maybe it was what she lost of herself on becoming a mother at a young age?

jungkook wondered till now if she really was always this feisty and independent since forever or if it was life who moulded her like that. although now, knowing her a little more every time, especially when she tries to scare him and the way it boosts her ego on winning over him, jungkook can see it clearly how she longs for a friend, rather than a romantic partner.

not entirely, but jungkook has started to see that jiah doesn't really need a lover, but a friend to share her thoughts with and joke around with. because looking for a partner must be exhausting for her, with that devotion and commitment especially when there's a chance that her love interest might not be so interested in her son.

whatever it is, jungkook knows one thing for sure that if jiah wants a friend to hold her, he'd give everything within him to be that friend for her. and of course he already likes jihun, might even turn best friends with the little guy?

"where do you wann go?" he asks, glancing over his shoulder for a brief second.

"uhm i don't know, wherever you like. i'm just really hungry, so any place with food will do."

"alright, you do like sushi, right?"

"yeah, and i like soju with it."

"okay, big girl." he sniggers, getting a light slap on his arm, but he knows it's not serious because even jiah's chuckling.

_________

a/n- do you like this story so far? which character is your favourite and why? i'd like to know 😚😚

pls vote and comment a lot, i'll try to update soon. take care ❤️✨