A/N ~
This chapter is either going to make you hate me or love me for finally... no in between. Enjoy 😇

Jungkook flopped down next to me with a tired sigh. Not looking up from my phone, I held out a towel to him.

We were sitting on the gym floor. Everyone had left about an hour ago, but Jungkook had wanted to work-out more, so I stayed back with him.

"Eunha." Jungkook called, towel bunched up in his hands. Not using it yet. I hummed, letting him know I was listening. It took a moment for me to realise he didn't answer.

Worried, I looked at him. Only to find him wringing the towel between his hands. Loosening and crushing it again. Over and over again. Working it like a stress ball.

Dropping my phone on my lap, I laid a hand on the inside of his elbow.

"Kook?" I questioned. Tilting my head, I didn't even realise I'd pushed myself closer to him. "What's wrong?"

He finally looked at me. Noticing how close we were, we both pulled back at the same time. Cheeks reddening, he dropped his gaze. I held his even if I could feel the heat in my cheeks as well.

"Will you...?" He started but trailed off, a frown marring his brows.

Not understanding what he was trying to ask, I bent further down, seeking out his eyes. When his flickered up, they met mine. Thankfully he held it instead of dropping it instantly.

Eyes crinkling with determination, he started again. "Will you help me with something?"

Chuckling that's all it was, I nodded my head as I sat up straighter. Bending double wasn't a joke. My back hurt.

"Of course I'd help silly. Why are you so hesitant to ask for help. As if I'd ever say no."

"What if it's something you really don't want to do?" He asked. His eyes challenging, a smirk on his lips.

I pursed my lips, tilting my head in question. "Hmm, like what?"

Jungkook stared at me for a beat before looking away. His voice was small as he mumbled the next words. So small I wasn't sure I heard him right.

"Like date me?"

I blinked, taken by shock - complete and utter shock - at his question. My mind reeled and the only think that functioned was my eyelids. Which went blink blink blink, while the rest of my body was frozen solid.

Had he just really asked me what I thought he asked me? Did he really just ask me to date him? Or was it one of those trick questions? Like, was it a example question to my question. Just to prove a point? How was I supposed to answer this? Was I even supposed to answer it.

Did I even like him like that?

Why is my heart beating so fast? Why was it so hard to breath?

No, it wasn't a panic attack. So what was happeneing? Why did I feel so scared? I don't understand.

"Eunha! Eunha! EUNHA!"

Hands on my shoulder, I was met with Jungkook's doe eyes when I snapped out my spiralling thoughts. When he realised I was focused on him again, he dropped his hand from my shoulders, sitting back.

"Aish, did you hear anything I told you?" He asked. A quick glance before staring off somewhere else.

"I - ur- you want to... um date me?" I answered, tugging on the end of my hair. I'm not even sure my voice was loud enough. It was more of a tiny squeak than anything.

However we were the only two in the gym. I'm sure someone else was there somewhere, but for right then, we were very much alone.

Jungkook sighed. His fingers raking through his hair as he mumbled something under his breath. The only word I caught was my name.

Closing his eyes, he knocked his head on the wall, then stayed still. Biting my lip, I stared at him. He looked like he was gathering his thoughts, so I stayed silent.

Even if my gut was churning with something I couldn't quite identify. Even if my inside was twisting unpleasently. Even as I felt bile rising to my throat. I stayed still, staring at him, until he explained.

"I want to make Haneul jealous. No matter how long she's there with us, she never... gets it Eunha." Jungkook explained. His eyes remained squeezed shut. Like he was forcing the words out. "She only ever pays attention when I'm around you. That's something I noticed this past week. Whenever you talk to me, or you're in the room, she... pretend to be my girlfriend?"

He fisted his towel so tight his knuckles were white. His eyes were still squeezed shut, but he looked at me - directly at me - at the word girlfriend.

It was my turn to drop my gaze. It fell on his hands resting on his lap. Studied his fingers as they twisted with the strings in the towel.

My mind was drawing a blank. I can't think. A single thought refused to focus. Not his question. Not what I was supposed to say. Not even what a stupid thought it was.

Instead, the thought that really focused on my mind was how nice his hands were. The nerves that popped.

"Eunha... don't space out of me now."

His words my head dart up to him. It wasn't until he relaxed - more like forced himself to relax - that I even noticed how tensed he'd been.

"I... am not." I told, frowning. Unsure of my own words.

I wasn't spacing out, I wasn't. I just...

I could comprehend what he'd just asked me. My mind was rejecting the very thought of the offer. It refused to process.

More than anything, I didn't know what to do. What to say. How to process from here. Not without letting millions of secrets slip. All not mine to tell. His whole explanation itself was a contradiction.

I wanted oppa. I wanted him to tell me what to do. To explain Jungkook's feelings to me. The logistics of what he was telling.

How do I explain to him that Haneul was too in love with Suga to ever look at him in that light? Do I even tell him? Or do I play along and let him break his own heart? Nothing made sense.

"I just... don't ... understand how. I-" I shook my head, cutting myself off. I made very little sense to myself. I'm not even sure what I wanted to ask him. To tell him. My mind was drawing a blank. I had to force myself to think. To react, to do something. To not sit there like a pudding and just stare at him.

"This is a bad idea." Finally a proper sentence. Even if it was a stupid thing to tell. I couldn't say something like this and not explain further.

I couldn't explain further.

It wasn't my secret to tell.

Especially when I didn't even know the whole story.

Jungkook must've understood something was wrong. That something more than what he told me was going on.

I felt his fingers on his hair, caressing through my locks, down my nape and the dip of my back. His other hand cupped over my pair that rested on my lap.

"Hey, Eunha it -" when I looked up at him, his words trailed off. The sharpness of my gaze seemed to have taken him off gaurd, as he pulled back a little when our gazes met.

"Don't tell me something you don't mean just because you want to console me." I told my pout contradicting my hard tone. "Don't tell me something just because I want to hear it. Not if you want my help."

Jungkook was quick to nod his head.

"But it really is alright if you don't want to help, that's all I was going to say promise." He said, massaging my nape. I groaned feeling the stress simply flow out of my body at his actions.

Why was he so good at this.

I didn't even notice I had melted back into his side. Not even when my head rested on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around my waist. I felt him adjusting his position so I'd be more comfortable, I felt it, but thought nothing much of his.

Because all the while he kept massaging my neck.

He just turned me to a puddle of goo in his hand.

"Kookie! Are you still here?" Haneul's voice called. He tensed under me at the same time, his hand fell down. It was probably unconscious he dropped it my waist because the hand that had been wrapped around it pulled away.

Before I could sit upright, Haneul already found us.

"Oh, Eunha, you're also here?" She asked, eyes darting between the two. A glance thrown at the hand on my waist then back again... and awkward silence following.

"Yeah, I was keeping Jungkook company because he wanted stay an hour longer." I said as I sat up, pretending that we weren't just talking about her. Jungkooks silence clearly stated he wasn't about to be the one to break the ice. The hardness of Haneul's eyes demanded an explanation we weren't entitled to give.

Haneul hummed before turning to Jungkook. "Ah, that's good. Namjoon oppa sent me to find you. They're about to head out for dinner." She said.

"Oh right. We'll be right there." Jungkook said as he rushed to stand up. Towel carelessly dropping to the floor as he followed her like a puppy after a treat. It would've been sweet... if I didn't know he didn't stand a chance with her.

My heart twisted painfully and I dropped my gaze, not wanting to see his blatant affection any longer.

"Actually, I won't be join all of you." I said as I got to my feet. Keeping my eyes carefully away from both of them. "I promised Mira I'd hang out with her after work. Tell Jin oppa not to worry if I get late to come home." Not really waiting for an answer, I gave a small bow and all but ran out of there.

It hurt. Looking at Jungkook hurt. My indecisiveness hurt. His affection for her hurt. The reality of his situation hurt. Everything spiraled and spiralled out of control, and the anchor I so desired was no longer here to tell me what I must do.

I wanted - no needed. - Suga right now. To tell me what I should do?

Eyes blurry with tears, I took the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator. I needed to get out of here. To get away from everyone. To think.

Once I reached my cubicle, I locked myself in. No, I hadn't lied to them. I did promise Mira Iwe could hang out once I was down with work. It had been her I had been texting while I was waiting for Jungkook to finish his workout.

It was her I called. Trembling in my swirly chair, my hand vibrating so much it my phone slipped three times while I dialled her number.

"Mira-chan. B-bakery. 30 minutes." I prattled off.

I was still finding it difficult to string sentences together.

The line was silent for a moment, then she agreed, hanging up so I won't have to. She understood I wasn't in a stable state of mind. She also understood it wasn't something I could go to the boys with. Considering she knew I was already with them, I would never have called her in the first place if it is was something so simple as that.

I didn't bother to make sure I looked presentable enough to go outside. I only made sure I had my phone and money on me before I locked my cubicle. I did meet Jimin on my way out. Just my luck, he was talking to someone and didn't see me. So I slipped out without a word.

I didn't have to wait for long before I caught a taxi.

I arrived ten minutes early due to catching a taxi. Which left me with too much alone time to wait for her. So I decided to head into the bakery. Jihae eonni would still be out back at this hour. She usually didn't leave the bakery until around 2 a.m.

However else would I find Midnight snacks for Suga oppa when he works overtime.

"Eonni! Are you inside?" I shouted while knocking on the door.

Obviously, the bakery was closed. It was too late to remain open. Yet a moment late a smiling lady, older than me by six years, appeared at the door. Opening the door, she let me in with a bright, welcoming smile.

"Eunha, it's been a while since you stopped by, and so early too." She teased as she held the door open for me to step inside.

Her dark hair was pulled back into a tight, neat bun, not a strand out of place. She wore a flour covered white apron over the floral printed frock.

"Hey eonni. I didn't come because Yoongi oppa wasn't in Seoul." I said giving her a kicked puppy look. Laughing she shook her head before locking the door again.

"Hmmm, busy with comeback?" She questioned as she headed back towards the kitchen. I followed right on her heels, not about to be left alone in the dark front of the bakery.

Sure it was cozy with warm colors and a pretty amazing place to lounge around and do homework during a stressful day. However, right now it was pitch black with only the street light and the one seeping through the kitchen to aid in lighting the room. No way was I going to remain here alone.

"It's a long story unnie." I sighed once we were safe inside the kitchen. She raised an eyebrow at me.

We had around three hours before she'd even think of heading home. Three long hours for me to tell her what was going on. Only if I wanted to. Which is why she only raised her eyebrow in an invitation to share.

Shaking my head, I heaved myself onto the farthest counter from where she worked. I didn't want to get in her way. I was by no means a cook, but I could help if she wanted me to. She very well knew this, and would ask if there was anything I could help with. It was the only reason I didn't offer my help.

"I'm having another problem I'm hoping you can help me with." I said instead, nicking a cookie from the tray that lay not far from where I sat.

She laughed as she motioned for me to go on.

"Well, I had the most strange conversation with Jungkook in the gym tonight." I started, explaining to her everything that went down.

Yes, she was well aware of my relationship with not only the boys but also the deep rooted trust and love I had for Suga. She was one of the only people I had ever introduced to him. Even before I did Haneul.

That's because Jihae unnie, in one way, saved my life as much as Oppa had. Those first few days I'd been in Seoul, she had given me a job in the bakery, helped me find my footing as much as he had.

So yes, she knew of my relationship with them. Better than Mira and Haneul both combined knew. Because she'd lived through it with me. Every step of the way. She knew of the from before they debuted up 'till now.

If anyone can help me with my current problem, someone who isn't Suga, that's Jihae unnie.

My story shocked her so much, she stopped what she was doing and joined me on the counter to listen. That was something very unlike her.

Halfway through my story Mira joined us and this ended with all three of us crowding around the counter. Between the three of us, we finished a whole platter of cookies and a full jug of hot chocolate.

"That's quite the predicament you've gotten yourself into little Haya." Jihae said after a long pause once I finished explaining.

Groaning I buried my face in my hands. Yes, I already knew that very well. I was neck deep in trouble. I had few choices left at this point. Not unless I wanted to break his heart or end up betraying the trust of someone very, very dear to me.

At the end of the day, whatever I choose to do, I couldn't stop Jungkook's heart from breaking. I wasn't delusional enough to think she'd ever like him the way she likes Suga.

She gave me a pat on the back as she hopped off the counter, getting back to work.

"Well, what do you think you should do?" Mira questioned.

Looking up at her, I gave a pained look.

"I don't know. I have no clue." I wailed before hanging my head. Pressing the heels of my palms into my eyes, I took a deep breath to keep calm. No use getting an anxiety attack right now.

"I'm aware Haneul will never return his feelings, but I don't know how deep exactly his feeling truly is either. Taehyung and Jimin are convinced he's in love with me." I explained to her.

"And what's wrong with that?" Jihae asked before I could go on.

"I agree with them." Mira grumbled under her breath but I pretended not to hear her. Opting instead to answer Jihae unnie.

I gave them an exasperated look. "You know why I can't date anyone unnie, but that's besides the point here. Jungkook asked me to fake date him so Haneul will get jealous." I said, my speach turning agitated with each word. My arms waving in the air to make my point. "Jungkook isn't quite the actor to hide something this serious from his hyungs, and that's confusing me. On the other side, we both know why Jungkook thinks Haneul will get jealous if he dates me. What do I do?"

"Why don't you just play along with him?" Mira suggested. Seeing the sharp look I shot her, she was quick to add, "No, let me finish. Think about it Eunha. He's going to get heartbroken whatever you decide to do. Maybe you can slow the burnt of the fall, show him that she wouldn't be interested by staying right by his side."

I pouted, not liking this option very much.

"There's still the small problem... I will have to pretend to DATE him!" I said. Adding more than enough emphasis on 'date'.

"Think of it as a experience to get over that douchbag. He's not here in Seoul, you have to move on from what happened. It's been five - almost six - years now. This'll be good for you too." Jihae suggesed, giving me a look full of wisdom.

Groaning, I knocked my head against the wall behind me. Rubbing my eyes yet again with the heel of my palm, I hopped of the counter.

"Urgh! Do you have something for me to do? I don't want to think of this any more." I grumbled as I made my way over to her.

Chuckling Jihae pointed at a cupcake tray. "Fill those with oil paper, batter and put it in the oven." Was all she instructed. We'd done this enough times for me to know how her routine went.

A/N~
So yeah... that happened. I wanna know your thoughts on this chapter. What do you think is going on? More importantly what do you think Eunha's answer is gonna be? What do you guys want her to say to his request?

As always constructive criticism is always welcome. And do point out any typos you find.

Purple you 💜