_

"Welcome everyone to a very special night. Tonight, we'll be playing a game that could change the course of your journey in this house. This is the "Lock-in Partner Event"

Each of you—both the guys and the girls—will secretly write down the name of the person you're most interested in. This could be someone you're curious about, someone you feel a connection with, or someone you'd simply like to get to know better.

Once you've written your choice, you'll place your slip into the "Box of Fate" here at the center. But here's the twist: only if both of you choose each other, will you get the chance to go on a private date tonight.

So think carefully, because your decision could lead to an unforgettable evening... or leave you wondering what could have been.

Good luck to everyone, and may the matches be in your favor. It's time to lock in your choices"

—

"Damn they're kidding me." Yoongi stretches and pulls on his arms. Relaxes in his seat. "Isn't this too soon?"

Everyone agrees.

"Since you don't seem to so happy about it, let's have you go first." Jungkook slides the box containing the paper to Yoongi who deadpans at him. Jungkook's teasing smile all wide as he was having fun messing around with Yoongi.

But Yoongi the man he was, he didn't want the ladies to think he's doing it because he doesn't like any of then—when that's not the case. It's just too soon, he realizes. Gives in and outsmarts Jungkook on that.

He picks up a paper and pen, "Well not everyone can be a man like me." And he smiles, and nods at the ladies before leaving. Making an impression on everyone. The ladies gawking at him. Specifically Yumi, having an eye contact with him as he takes off. Getting the hint.

Amused everyone starts cheering getting the vibe in. The rest of them picks out their own paper and when you reach for a new slip Jungkook's fingers brush against it.

You pause.

He pauses.

He looks at you. The eye contact.

Oh your poor delusional little heart.

"After you," He lets go, flashing a quick smile as you nod in thanks, grabbing the slip and heading off to a quiet spot with a pen. You find an empty couch on the balcony, rest into it, knees tucked close, going deep in thinking.

Jimin. He was the easiest choice. You'd thought things would spark with him, but after that one conversation, it all went a little quiet. No real connection, no real reason to write his name down. It felt too soon to settle on anyone.

You sigh, twirling the pen, lost in thought–until the patio door slightly opens. Taehyung steps out, flashing a big smile, "What's with that sigh?," he teases, "Having a hard time picking your Prince Charming for tonight?"

You laugh, "Guess I'm not as lucky as some," you say, shivering by the sudden gust of wind. Hug yourself for warmth.

Shaking his head, Taehyung slips back inside.

You notice how windy it has become. Assume it's not right to sit outside and shiver like this. Get ready to get up until Taehyung comes back in, this time with a thick warm throw, holding it out to you. "Here," he extends his hand out for you, "Can't have you freezing to death while you're Prince-searching."

And you accept it with a grateful smile. Thank him. He pulls the couch next to you more closer, and settles down. Its only when he sits that he realizes the seat is icy cold.

With a grimace he shifts uncomfortably, awkwardly angling himself at the seat. His face all scrunched up. Eyes narrowed with regret.

You can't help but laugh at such sight.

He sights you laughing. "Girl," he calls and hears your laughter only increasing, "I'm concerned." He mutters holding his awkward position watching you giggling.

Your laughter is filling the entire patio. Loud and uncontrollable. It aches your stomach. It's the hardest you've laughed in ages and Taehyung joins in, chuckling from the sight of you losing it.

"What's so funny?" He stands up straight, not being able to stay in the crouchy position for this long.

You're too breathless to answer, stumbling to the door, still laughing. He follows, holding it open for you so you don't smack into it mid-hysteria.

"I-I'm so sorry." You're teary eyed.

"You're crazy." He laughs.

"Not always, I promise." You wipe your tears. The comfort wrapped around you sweeping the floor as you get in. "Hey, hey," Jungkook from the back lifts up the comfort dragging on the floor, "Slow down, Cinderella. You're gonna leave a whole trail of comfort behind you."

And you look over your shoulders to find Jungkook collecting the comfort for you and holding it up for you. His straight out of a movie face, charming you up. Somehow all that laughter has made you less nervous. "I think I found ny prince charming," you lean over to whisper Taehyung and his smile reaches his eyes. He ducks his head down laughing silently. "I approve."

Jungkook still standing with the comfort steps closer, casually peering in between you two. "What's cooking?" He asks, his voice playful. You jump startled, not expecting him to be this close.

Unfortunately the ground beneath you betrays you—your feet slips on the comfort beneath you-just as Jungkook's reflexes kick in faster than you could even process.

His strong arms encircle your shoulders, pulling you in effortlessly, your heart racing in surprise. You're frozen, eyes mixed in shock and something you cannot put name onto.

Jungkook lets out a heavy breath of relief and looks down at you, and your gazes lock. The kind you only see in movies in slow motion. The room around you had erupted into gasps as soon as he held you right on time. The moment giving romantic movie. Oh, you were crazy for this.

Was it fate? Or a really — really good timing?

Fuck it.

The only thing your brain is focused on arms that are secured like shield around you. Solid, warm, and possibly comforting. You're down. So down.

A beat passes and your cheeks burn, your mind finding hard to form words. "I-I-I'm—" you're stammering. This moment was perfect, too real and way too embarrassing. You were cooked.

Ivy from a distance narrows her eyes at Jungkook. "Doesn't he make a perfect play boy image portrayed just like in the movies–all the silly girls fall for?" She's talking to Namjoon, a drink swirling in her fingers as Namjoon chuckles, his eyes on you two. "He's just charming, you cannot blame him."

She twists her lips, "Too bad, I took a liking to him."

"Are you into enemies to lovers typa shit?" He laughs considering their banter since they met and Ivy bursts into a big smile, proving his point, "Nope." Lies. And he smiles with his dimples. "Little miss is delusional."

"I'm just a girl, Joon."

"Not an excuse."

"Have some pity on me, please." She meets eyes with him and he pours a glass of soju for himself, sly smirk still resting on his face, "No way. You're on your own for that one."

She huffs, takes another sip. "Just so you know, I'll win him over, just wait." And Namjoon laughs leaning back, placing the glass on the counter and crossing his arms, "Sure, sure, if you say so." He looks at her, "Be careful though, don't tell me later I didn't warn you."

"Oh I'm not worried about that." She sounds confident, "I'll make him forget all about the romantic movies he's creating out there."

+++

The names have been picked from the list. You did not get chosen.

Jungkook and Ivy did.

You dig your head in your folded knees close to your chest. Embarrassed. You wrote Jungkook's name but obviously he chose Ivy. They were way closer than you and him got.

Or maybe he had written her name before encountering with you before the patio. Or maybe you're overthinking this. Crap you're a mess. Only if your girl friends were here to help you with this.

It could've been fine if you were here with someone left but funnily everyone got a partner. Yumi with Yoongi, Suzy with Hobi, Ivy with Jungkook and unexpectedly Jackie with Jin. The last one seeming surprising cause you never saw Jackie and Jin talking at all. Sometimes fate plays with people. Like it did to you.

You don't dwell on it. Take off your make up about to have a good good sleep. That's what you tell yourself until suddenly the idea of you ending up depressed in some corner makes you shiver. Not that it mattered but your girls would definitely watch the show starring you, rooting for you and you don't want to disappoint any of them. Oh you already miss them.

A knock on your door takes you by surprise. "God—" your heart was about to tear out your ribcage. You weren't expecting that.

"Come in?" you call out, voice muffled slightly by the cooling cucumber slices resting over your eyes. You're in your favorite pajamas—adorable Shin-chan ones you'd wanted forever, a gift from your girls on your last birthday. Ever since, they've been your absolute go-to..

To your dismay its Jimin who opens the door and your taken off guard. He comes in to see you standing with a clay mask in your hands. Hair tied up roughly in a pony tail. The band on your head stretching the baldness of your forehead.

"Oh," you're so dead.

And he stares at you. Taken completely taken aback. "Uh—should I come later?" He's trying to scoop out of this but you don't want to make it awkward. "Why, come haha." And he stares at you for a second more to comfirm if it was okay and you call him in. He does.

"Ignore the mess." You clean off your bed from the straightener and pile of some clothes you were digging for tomorrow to wear. There's music from the vinyl in the distance playing. You started it while you were doing your skincare. It had good songs no lie and you're a song lover. It had to be here or you wouldn't have survived without your phone.

"Thanks." He sits on the edge of your bed, watching as you hurriedly shove clothes into your closet. You manage to close the door—only for it to pop open a second later, unleashing an avalanche of clothes right onto your head.

Concerned, Jimin gets up, "you need help?"

One of your undies lying on your head slips down and his eyes follow it drop down to the floor. "Oh—" and he parts his lips. Immediately looks away clearing his throat. Scratches his nape. "You know what... I'll wait for you outside."

"Sure." You smile. The smile that doesn't reach your lips at all. And as soon as he leaves you drop down on the floor. Your face resting in your palms. Silent groans screaming through you. It couldn't get any worse.

+++

You take off the cucumber peels off your face. Spread the glue all over your face, change clothes to not so weird hoodie and pants. Its not that Shin-Chan embarrassed you or anything but it made you look bare open for a person to guess what you were like. Which too bad—Jimin witnessed but again it was alright since it was Jimin. He doesn't judge.

You wear your slippers and go out to see the lights in the living room dim. Slight rain drizzling outside. The heaters in the hall warming you.

Jimin is busy looking through the books. His figure from the back—that snatched waist—his pale-pale clear skin. The moon tattoos on his back that are residing inside his shirt. Oh you miss thirsting over this man online—

No. Snap out of it.

You shake your head, fighting to rein in your sanity. But it's impossible to stay unaffected around him—or any of them. They have that effect, turning even the calmest person into a mess.

You head to him and he glances up at you, shuts the book as soon as he sees you. Smiles. "You made it."

"—Alive." You add and he silently laughs, places the book back in the shelf and walks over the couch where two to three pepero boxes were kept. Your eyes sparkle. "Oh my god—pepero!" And sit down as Jimin sits next to you. "Oh so you're a pepero fan huh?"

"Tell me who isn't?" And you cross your arms. Smiling. Resisting yourself from picking them up until offered and Jimin tears the cover. "I thought we'd chat over this," and you sit upright, "Chat?"

And he hums, offering you the box as you beam. Accept it and he chuckles. Tearing another one for himself. "Yeah." He takes the oreo one.

You're chewing on the sticks, "Where'd you find this anyway?" And he sits back comfortably. He's wearing a black t shirt on loose denims. You'd totally screenshot this look and make it one of your wallpapers if he had posted it. But it looks so much better in person that you could never get enough of it. You were so glad to come here. So glad.

"In the snack shelf."

You're chewing mouth full. "Forreal?" And fold your legs on the couch getting comfortable, "I didn't see it when I was cooking."

He hums, busy picking out another stick that got stuck inside. "Namjoon demanded for it ahaha." And you gaze at his fingers trying so hard to take that one stick out. "Damn that's so nice of him." And Jimim finally pulls it out. "I know, he always wants it when he's watching a movie—which he is right now."

And it hits you how he's been left here too.

"Ah—I see." And Jimin places the box away. Shifting to face you. "Yeah Taehyung's with him. Just downstairs."

"Which movie is it?" You get done with yours and Jimin leans his head on the couch. "10 things I hate about you."

"Ah classic." You bop your head. And Jimin looks at you. "I know."

"Didn't expect them to go for a rom-com, but I guess everyone's got a soft side." You look at him finding him already looking at you. "Right?" And he laughs. "I can already bet Taehyung ranting about his favourite scene later like—"

"—The 'I'm too cool for school' energy would be his go to." You comment with a amused laugh and Jimin agrees instantly, "and Namjoon going on about Kat and Patricks banter." And you almost jump out of your seat. "So true!"

And he laughs with you.

Jimin's laughter slows down and he meets your eyes. Your eyes dropping on the bracelet he was still wearing. You look up and he finds you staring it before you look up.

"About tonight..." and you know where this was going. You didn't write his name and must it be why he was still here. But again it was Jimin we were talking about.

"I wanted to clear up the matter with—"

"I know." You cut him and raises his brows questionably, "hm?" You twist your lips. "Your too focused on career to even get with a girl here—did not write my name tonight because you didn't want to lead me on—yeah I know it all you don't have to clear up anything."

He's sitting surprised as you talk. How did you get that right?

You tap on his shoulders. "Chill, I know you're not into romance—"

"Hey-hey, I'm still a man with desires and ambitions." He corrects you.

"But you don't find anyone attractive or distracting enough to let you off hook from your schedule." You spill and he squints his brows. "Y/n."

And your insides churn with the name calling. "I'm pretty sure you'll find someone, don't beat yourself to it, it'll be alright but again you're too busy and focused on work...," you're picking on the empty pepero box to throw it aside, you're nonchalantly ongoing about it, Jimin silently listening until you're suddenly cut midway, pulled back, Jimin's hand gripping your wrist and tugging you towards him.

It happens within few seconds. Your breath is stuck in your throat. Completely caught off guard. And in the next second you're only few inches away from his face. Close enough to smell his cologne.

His eyes are looking onto yours with intensity but calmness at the same time. The distance between you two almost questioning you your entire existence. His brows squint. "You think I'm too busy for anyone?"

You gulp.

"You believe I'm too focused on that to care about anything else?"

You were wrong. Complete wrong. You forgot how Jimin was the sluttiest man alive. How he'd gotten everyone dying over him. Oh you picked a fight with the wrong person. His aura was entirely different now that you see. Your insides are screaming to this.

His eyes briefly flicker to your lips and then your eyes, reading every second of your reaction, "If you think you got me figured out, no Y/n, you don't." And he breathes, still close to you, he smells good is all you can think of. "Just because I'm not showing it the way you want, doesn't mean I can't handle it."

"My bad." Your eyes haven't looked away from Jimin's lips. Fuck it. This man's seductive. Too intimidating for you. You misjudged him. Usually he's always so composed and controlled but now, it's like he's letting a small crack show in his usual wall.

You don't know if you should be intrigued or nervous.

And he leans even closer, his brows still furrowed, "Just so you know, do not take me lightly. Careful how you assume things about me."

And you learnt it the hard way.

His grip slowly leaves your wrists and you clench your jaw as he flickers your cheeks with his fingers and chuckles, "Relax girl." and gets up stretching out his hand in front of you, "Wanna go watch the movie together for the night?"

The floor beneath your feet escapes.
Life was really unexpected at times and you were so not up for it.
+++

Million dollar question — who's our lead gonna end up with hahaha

Its been 2 months wth
Sorry about the late post
I'll update weekly forsure
ILL TRY MY BEST

Hope you liked the chapter hahaha

Look forward to the next one ;)
We're in for a good ride besties

Stay warm
Xoxo

Amxnx