After Jungkook's conversation with So-yeon, he emerged from the studio with a lightness in his step that surprised even himself.

Jimin and V's eyes were glued to him as he arrived, eager to see his reaction. They exchanged a confused glance, wondering what might have happened.

So-yeon's maturity and understanding had caught him off guard, revealing a side of her he didn't know.

Jungkook remained composed and silent throughout the rest of the practice, not showing much emotion. Then the session came to a close, and everyone began to leave.

"Jimin hyung! Wait for me."

Jungkook called out to Jimin as he was gathering his things.

Meanwhile, as V was leaving, Jimin caught him in his path. V, feeling a bit trapped, as Jimin pulled him aside.

"Where are you going?"

"He called you, not me." V said, slipping away.

"Hey, Jimin Hyung."

Jimin turned to see him coming towards him.

"Yeah, Kookie? What's up?"

Jimin is striving to maintain a light tone despite the flutter of nerves in his stomach. As they engaged in casual chit-chat, they both made their way to the outside parking area.

"I just wanted to say thanks."

"Thanks? For what?"

His brow furrowed in slight shock, and he flinched, trying to act as if he didn't know. Jungkook sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Don't act now. You know what I am talking about."

Jungkook moved closer, embracing Jimin suddenly. "Thanks," he murmured.

Jimin looked shocked for a moment, but relief washed over him as they hugged, his earlier nervousness dissipating.

"I thought you might be angry with me," he admitted, patting his back.

"Yeah, I was at first." He says as they parted. "But after talking with So-Yeon, I feel better."

Jimin smiled from ear to ear, thrilled that his plan had worked.

"I'm glad things worked out between you two."

Meanwhile, Jungkook's smile morphed into a slight, skeptical smirk, his shoulders faltering. His expression softened as he shook his head and ran a hand through his hair.

"Actually, we didn't get back together." A pause. "We talked it out and decided to just be friends."

Jimin couldn't quite wrap his head around the sudden shift. He began to stare at him in astonishment. His jaw dropped to the floor as he struggled to comprehend what he had just heard, his right eye twitching in disbelief. blinking and-blinking.

Just yesterday, he had been upset about the breakup, crying over her and missing her, and now look at him like nothing matters. It didn't make sense.

As Jungkook tapped his shoulder, he snapped out of his thoughts.

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

"And Hyung, one more thing." He turned to leave, pausing briefly before adding, "There's no need to help me next time. Ok, bye."

As Jungkook got into his car and drove away, Jimin watched, still trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions he had just witnessed.

..........

Someone behind the wheel seemed detached from the vibrant scene. His expression was as cold as the winter wind, his face etched with tension and frustration.

He parked his car near the mansion, then texted someone, unexpectedly smiling, before getting out.

As he walked through the main gate, his senses weren't tuned to his surroundings.

Suddenly, something-a force, perhaps a person-impacted his shoulder with enough force to stagger him slightly.

His instincts kicked in, his reflexive apology escaping his lips before he could fully comprehend what had happened.

Before he could even recognize the person who had bumped into him, they were already rushing away, their footsteps fading into the distance.

Even though he tried to make amends, she didn't look back; her attention was solely on the path ahead.

"Ji-Hun! What are you doing here?"

As he watched the figure run away, a voice interrupted the chaos, drawing his attention. Startled, he turned around.

"Come with me."

...........

"You got suspended!?"

Your eyes popped out and fell to the ground, and your mouth parted when she told you why she wasn't going to the office when you asked.

Ji-Ah's gaze fell to the floor, her shoulders slumping as she attempted to conceal her emotions. A heavy sigh escaped her lips, accompanied by a subtle shake of her head.

"Forget about me? you tell me about the theif-I mean, who's not the thief-"

She shook her head with irritation. "Whatever it is."

You closed your eyes and put your palm in front of her.

"No, tell me about the suspension first. How long is it?"

"One week."

"What? How does this happen? Is your boss being a jerk to you?"

"No," Ji-A hurriedly interjected, her eyes flickering away briefly before she continued, "I haven't been performing well lately, and I missed work yesterday too. So-"

Ji-Ah hesitated, her words trailing off. "It's-it's really not a big deal. I'll sort it out."

You nodded, sensing Ji-Ah's reluctance to delve further and deciding not to push further if she wasn't ready to open up. You knew that after the breakup, she had been distant lately. You understood the weight she carried.

"Alright, if you say so. But if you need anything," you reach out her hand, caressing it. "You know I'm here, right?"

A faint smile graced Ji-Ah's lips. "Yeah, I know. Thanks."

"Now, you tell me what's going on." she shifted her attention back to you.

You settled in your bed, crossed your legs, and cleared your throat. Ji-Ah followed suit, putting her feet up on the bed as well.

"Remember when we were both at the club?-"

As you delved into the details, Ji-Ah's expression became a canvas of shifting emotions, each word painting a new layer of understanding and concern. Her features morphed from confusion to surprise, then to a dawning realization.

"But why didn't you say anything earlier?"

You shifted uncomfortably, feeling a twinge of guilt. "I wanted to-" you confessed, a sheepish expression crossing your face.

"But yesterday, when I was planning to talk to you about it, I-I-"

"You saw the news and-lost your mind."

She finished for you, embarrassment painting your cheeks in shades of crimson.

"I'm sorry," you murmured, the words heavy with remorse as you met her gaze.

She didn't say anything; she merely shook her head gently and nodded, silently reassuring you that there was no need for apologies.

"So, whoever he is, why is he following you?"

"I don't know-"

You trailed off, your thoughts interrupted as your phone buzzed with a message. You glanced down to see a message from Ji-Hun, a funny emoji accompanying his playful text.

A smile tugged at the corners of your lips as you chuckled, quickly typing out a reply.

But as you looked up, you caught Ji-Ah's wide-eyed gaze fixed on you; her mouth hung slightly open, and your smile faltered.

She barely sees you like this now; the last time she saw you like this was when you were with Jungkook.

"And what's with Ji-Hun?"

You texted him and put your phone aside.

"You are going out with him already?" she continued, her voice carrying a mix of surprise and concern.

"Uh-I-he seems nice-" you stammer, but she cuts you off abruptly.

"I get that he helped you and all." Her tone was skeptical. "-But isn't it weird that whenever someone followed you, Ji-Hun was with you?" pause of thought.

"And-and how this could be a coincidence-that he helped us at the club and-the next day he was working in your office."

You paused, considering Ji-Ah's observation. It did seem odd that Ji-Hun had been present whenever someone was tailing you lately.

You wondered: Why can't it be a coincidence? In a world full of possibilities, anything can happen.

"I guess it does seem strange," you say, pausing to furrow your brows in thought. Ji-ah's eyes are glued to your thoughtful expression.

"But I don't think he's involved in anything on this."

Ji-Ah groans, annoyed, her eyes rolling to the ceiling.

"He's nice to me," you said with emphasis. "And he's been helping me out. I think he's a good guy."

She is not looking at you; her finger is on her brow.

"And you wanted me to move on, right?" you continued, and she gave you a small nod. "Finally, I've met someone who cares about me."

You reassured her by staying firm with your words. Ji-ah's eyes are still not accepting, with a spark of fear in them.

"Okay," she says. "But be careful."

...........

FLASHBACK:

In the dimly lit alley outside the pulsating club, a lone figure sat in his car, shrouded in a cloud of cigarette smoke that lazily drifted out the open window.

Beside him stood a silhouette, barely discernible in the darkness, its outline hunched and weary. Clad in ragged clothing, the figure extended a trembling hand towards the man in the car.

Without saying anything, the man felt in his pocket and pulled out crumpled cash. As he counted the money, his gaze was drawn to the beggar's face, which was staring greedily like a dog at its food.

"Here," he muttered, thrusting the cash into the outstretched palm.

"Do it properly, and I'll give you the rest after the work is done."

With a swift nod, the beggar snatched the money, greed glinting in his eyes as he stuffed the bills into his tattered pockets.

FLASHBACK END:

..............

Shortly after, Jihun sat in a dim, messy room. Things were scattered everywhere-the bed was messy, the wine glasses were empty, and they spilled on the floor.

He wonders what might have happened here. And the girl running-who was she?

Jihun plopped onto the chair, snapping out of his thoughts, when he noticed someone impatiently pacing.

With her eyes burning with rage or irritation, she gave off the impression of a hyena preparing for a storm, as if something was slowly eating away at her.

Ha-Yun.

He wanted to ask what happened but hesitated.

"Uhh- what-"

"Why are you here this time?" She cut off, stopped pacing abruptly, and turned to him, her eyes shooting daggers.

"You didn't specify a time."

He maintained his composure, meeting her gaze without flinching.

"Clearly, not during the afternoon," she snapped, grabbing a bottle and taking a long swig.

"And you should have been at the office with Y/N."

She pierced his soul with her gaze as she wiped the liquor from the corner of her lips. Jihun shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.

"She's not feeling well today, so she's getting a day off."

Ha-yun scoffed and took another drink.

"And you believe her?" she says, returning to pacing.

"She sounded genuinely-ill on the phone-" his voice trailing off.

"So you are already defending her now? wow!"

With a loud thud, Ha-Yun slammed the bottle down, causing him to flinch. She was getting a little drunk.

"Don't you tell me that you started to fall for her already?"

He rolled his eyes around, shocked and disbelieving. He clenched his fist tightly and ran it through his hair.

"What are you saying? I'm not."

Then, unexpectedly, she started laughing, her giggles echoing through the room.

"She's not my type anyway," Jihun added defensively.

"That doesn't matter," she said, her face once again turning cold. She again picked up the bottle, took a long swig, and turned, her back facing him.

"I think this is not the right time to talk," he began. "We talk later-" he got up and turning to leave.

"She will trap you and make you bend to her will." He stopped. "You won't even know when you'll start doing things her way." He turned.

Her eyes welled up with tears as she took another big swig.

...........

FLASHBACK:

You sat beneath the trees, the gentle sunlight peeking through the leaves. With Ji-Ah and Chi-Won by your side, you were completely absorbed in your project.

Suddenly, Jungkook appeared out of nowhere and settled himself beside you, causing you to startle slightly at his unexpected presence.

"Jungkook!? What the?" you exclaimed, surprised by his sudden appearance.

"I'm sorry."

His smile softened the edges of his apology as he looked at you. You tried to suppress a blush, not wanting to betray your feelings in front of him.

"It's okay."

You managed to reply, though your heart raced at his proximity. As Jungkook leaned back against the tree, his gaze fixed on your work.

"What are you doing?"

"We are working on a project that we have to gather."

Amused by his forgetfulness, you glanced at him from your work.

"You forgot?"

With levity in your gaze, you gave a gentle teasing.

"Oh! Yeah, I do remember now."

Jungkook ran a hand through his hair, a sheepish grin spreading across his face as realization dawned on him.

"I don't think I'll be able to complete it, though. We have a band practice for the college music festival."

As Jungkook's words slipped out, Ji-Ah and Chi-Won exchanged glances. Chi-Won adjusted his glasses, tilting them slightly down his nose as he glared in Jungkook's direction.

Sensing the tension, you quickly intervened.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

With a sense of relief, Ji-Ah and Chi-Won returned their attention to their work, their expressions softening slightly at your assurance.

"You're the best," he exclaimed, his smile stretching from ear to ear.

Jungkook looked at you with admiration, his hands gently resting on your shoulder as he closed the gap between you. You couldn't help but worry that he might hear the frantic rhythm of your heartbeat, which felt like a speeding train in your chest.

Every gentle touch from him sent hundreds of butterflies flying in my tummy, unwilling to stop even when I wished they would. I strained to keep my cool, secretly praying that he wouldn't notice his influence on me.

"Hey, I heard next week everybody from the band is going for the audition. Are you going too?"

Ji-ah's curiosity piqued as she asked him. Jungkook's expression faltered, a shadow passing over his features as he withdrew his hand from your shoulder.

"No, I am not."

His expression shifted as he shrugged, trying to avoid her gaze by looking away in a different direction.

You observed him closely, feeling the depth of his disappointment and hurt, even though he tried to hide it. His frustration and pain were evident in your eyes.

Gently, you reached for his hand, intertwining your fingers with his. You caressed his hands, feeling them warm in yours. As your eyes locked in a silent exchange, a wordless understanding flowed between you, connecting your souls in a moment.

...>>

As the day neared its end and it was time to leave, Jungkook suggested to the group that they ride together in his car.

Ji-Ah's eyes lit up with excitement at the idea, but her enthusiasm dimmed when you politely declined the offer.

As you watched Ji-Ah and Chi-Won continue ahead, "Wait for me at the stop, okay?" you instructed.

They nodded in understanding before continuing on their way, leaving you alone with Him. and you turned to Jungkook with a soft smile.

"You wanted me to drop you alone."

He teased with a playful smile, clearly flirting, but he had done it so many times before that you couldn't tell if he was just playing around or being serious. Sometimes you wonder if he actually meant what he said or if it was just you getting affected by it.

"No, I just wanted to say something," your eyes searching for courage. "I know there's no use in saying this, but I have to."

"Jungkook-" took a deep breath. "-I know you said you're not going for the audition, but I think you should reconsider."

His eyes shift; you already know what he's going to say.

"You know I can't go, Y/N." Shighed. "There's no point in discussing this."

"It's your dream, and you shouldn't let anything hold you back," you urged. "Talk to your dad; make him understand how much this means to you."

Jungkook remained silent, his gaze fixed on you as you continued to speak, pouring your heart out.

"I know you're going to regret it, and I don't want that. I want to see you succeed. I am gonna be your biggest supporter. I promi-"

Suddenly, Jungkook's hand clasped yours, drawing you into his embrace. Your head found its place on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat as his warmth enveloped you. His voice, warm, deep, and sincere, reached your ears.

"Thank you for saying all this." He murmured. "It means a lot to me."

In that moment, you hugged him back tightly, feelings flowing like a river, not thinking about whether anyone was watching or not, lost in each other's embrace.

I can be here with you like this. Forever. I wish. Always. Not lying.

"Wish I could." You snapped out of your thoughts, as if he had heard them, and reluctantly pulled away from the hug, his hands remaining on your back.

"But I already decided not to go."

FLASHBACK END...

...........

FLASHBACK: (from chapter 6 )

"Did I not say, 'Don't call me when I'm in the office'?"

she snapped, pressing the phone to her ear.

"Okay, tell me the news."

On the other end, a voice crackled with urgency.

"I joined her company, and she is the new creative head now," it whispered, a note of bitterness seeping through the words.

Her grip tightened on the phone, a surge of frustration bubbling beneath her calm facade.

"Huh, really! This b##ch!"

she muttered under her breath, her mind already racing with thoughts of revenge and rivalry.

"And about the money," the voice continued, cutting through her reverie.

"I need some time."

"Okay, find out more and let me know," she replied, her tone cool.

"You remember the deal, right?"

FLASHBACK END:

.........

"You couldn't even manage a small task," she lamented. "What are you even doing?"

Jihun is biting his lip now, trying to calm him down.

"I checked the boss's account from the accountant's office, but it's registered under an unknown user who sent the money," he says. "And Y/N seems to be unaware of it, just as I told you before."

"I told you not to believe her!" she exclaimed. "I thought you were good at this, but it doesn't seem like it."

"So you have something with the boss too; why does it even matter where the money comes from?" He stressed, clenching and unclenching his hand.

"I have nothing to do with his boss." She is drooling. "But I'm the reason he went bankrupt. I did it because of Y/N." She giggled.

Ha-yun was swaying drunk; she dropped the bottle from her hand. Ji-hun screamed, grabbed her, and laid her on the bed so that the broken glass would not harm her.

"I want to make her life hell, wherever she is." She says. Ji-hun was on top of her, with his hands on her shoulders.

"And I want to know, how did he pay me back so easily?" She mumbled, gripping his shirt too tightly. "I want to know who's helping her." and her eyes shut.

............

He kicked off his shoes and tossed his jacket aside, feeling the weight on his shoulders. With a sigh, he collapsed onto the couch.

Suddenly, he felt something soft touching his lips and cheeks, slurping softly, licking. The breath stank. A smile spread across his lips as he opened his eyes, delighted and surprised. He chuckled, awwing, as Bam gave him love kisses, his tail wagging happily.

"Bamiee!" Sitting up as Bam continued to lavish him with kisses. "When did you get here?" Petting Bam's neck.

huh? "What did you eat?" He placed Bam on the couch, on his lap. "You stink! they didn't clean your teeth."

"Aishh! Dad's tired, Bam," he said. "I'll clean it later." They both quietly sat on the couch, him caressing Bam, as they relaxed together.

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. He sat back. his jaw clenched and his forehead tensed.

Bam also got up, wrapping his paws around him, giving him more kisses, playfully disturbing him.

"Bam! House! Go House!" Eventually, Bam obeyed and left.

He takes his phone and dials someone. The phone is off. He furrows his brow, groaning in frustration.

"Where the heck did he go!?"

..........

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