-ATTACK ON PURPOSE-

─────

- FLASHBACK -

The man drags Jungkook along, gripping his arm tightly, and leads him to a horse. Jungkook feels extremely uncomfortable, his breathing becoming heavy, and his senses heightened. The grass seems to move, and he can even smell a dish being cooked miles away. It's a bewildering experience, and he can't comprehend what's happening to him.

"I—I—" Jungkook stammers, still trying to make sense of the strange sensations he's experiencing.

"You can feel the grass moving and smell food from miles away. You're thirsty and uncomfortable," the man interrupts, pulling Jungkook along through the cold night.

"Y—Yes," Jungkook nods, his eyes darting around as he tries to cope with these newfound senses. He follows a passerby instinctively, but the man restraining him tightens his grip.

"You can't," the tall man insists, his grip unyielding.

"I can't what?" Jungkook asks in confusion, his hand instinctively reaching for his throat, feeling parched.

The man remains silent as they reach their destination. Jungkook looks around nervously during the ride, still trying to comprehend the overwhelming sensations.

When they arrive, the man stops near a small house in the forest. He dismounts from the horse and gestures for Jungkook to do the same. Another man with tanned skin emerges from the house.

"A new member?" the tanned man asks with a sweet smile and dimples as he notices Jungkook.

Jungkook frowns and takes a step back, feeling uneasy.

"Namjoon, shut up. It's his decision," the man next to Jungkook says, guiding him inside the house, while Namjoon follows them.

Jungkook is seated on a couch, and the man sits across from him. As Jungkook remains distracted by the sounds of ants on the ground, he becomes increasingly uncomfortable, grabbing his ears to block out the noises.

Namjoon intervenes, gripping Jungkook's neck gently and bringing their foreheads together. He reassures him, "It's okay. You can do this. Just don't focus on those noises."

Namjoon stands up and asks the man, "Where did you find him?"

"He's a noble. He was attacked on purpose, not a mistake," the man replies, peeking from behind a wall.

"Planned?" Namjoon frowns, crouching down near the ground.

Jungkook looks at him with bewildered doe eyes, unable to grasp the situation.

"Hey, do you have any enemies?" Namjoon asks Jungkook, attempting to make sense of the circumstances.

- END OF FLASHBACK -

───── ☾ ─────

Jungkook steps into his room, the warm glow of the afternoon sunlight filtering through the curtains. He sits on the floor, leaning against his bed, and gazes at a worn-out picture in his hands. In the photo, he and Jimin stand together, both wearing bright smiles. Jimin playfully makes bunny ears behind Jungkook's head as Jungkook gives him a mock glare.

"Come back to me. I don't know what's happening to me nowadays..." Jungkook whispers softly, his fingers caressing the picture. A solitary tear escapes his eye, and he fights to hold back more, lying down on the floor with the photo still in his hands.

You step out of your house, a peculiar feeling tugging at your heart. Your hand instinctively finds its place over your chest. It's as if someone is missing you.

With a sigh, you turn away, heading toward your motorcycle. You put on your helmet, starting the engine, and drive away, the mysterious sense of longing lingering.

───── ☾ ─────

Alita's voice resonates with astonishment, "You found a waterfall?!" She exclaims, "And you didn't think it was worth mentioning?"

"Yeah, yeah, but that's not the point, Alita," you reply, your gaze directed downward as you absentmindedly twirl a strand of hair behind your ear.

Seated on the right, Raya joins the conversation, while Alita occupies the left side of the bed.

"So this man calls you Señorita?" Raya inquires, seeking clarification, and you nod.

"But no, that's not the point!" You raise your voice, your frustration evident.

"Then what is?" Raya gently grips your shoulder, applying a reassuring squeeze.

You struggle to articulate your feelings, your fingers now twisting your hair. "I feel like I'm missing something significant. When I see that man, it's as if there's a longing, like something isn't right when he and I are apart. It's hard to describe," you confess, your emotions swirling within you. You run your hand through your hair, exclaiming, "Oh, man!"

Overwhelmed by emotion, you collapse onto Raya's lap, your expression contorted in a mock cry.

"Is he the man from—" Alita starts, but you swiftly interrupt her, pressing your hand to her mouth to prevent her from mentioning the man from your dreams.

"No! Don't jinx it," you urgently plead, removing your hand from Alita's mouth. She nods, her eyes wide, startled by your sudden actions.

"Why don't you want it to be him?" Alita inquires, her brows furrowed, while Raya watches you with a curious expression.

"I don't know," you admit, your gaze fixed on the ground as you toy with the hem of your sleeve. "But I feel scared when I think it might be him. It's a mix of excitement and... fear."

───── ☾ ─────

Jungkook emerges from his bathroom after taking a shower, a towel wrapped around his waist. He tosses a separate towel onto the bed and stands near the mirror, drying his hair.

He proceeds to his closet, opening it and grabbing a hanger, which he tosses onto the bed. The door unlocks, and Jin enters the room, letting out a scream upon seeing a half-naked Jungkook.

Jungkook rolls his eyes, annoyed. "Hyung, please knock next time."

"Fine," Jin concedes. "But after you've put on your clothes, come downstairs. We need to talk."

With a sigh, Jungkook acknowledges the impending conversation, "Okay," he murmurs, and Jin turns to leave.

───── ☾ ─────

Having dressed, Jungkook descends the stairs and finds all his hyungs waiting for him in the living room. He nonchalantly approaches them and takes a seat on the couch.

All eyes turn toward him, and Jin reassures him, "It's okay if you don't want to work. Jimin and Taehyung can handle it."

Jimin, feeling slightly aggrieved, raises an eyebrow, while Taehyung nods in agreement. Jimin prepares to voice his concerns but ultimately remains silent, his brow furrowed.

Jungkook mutters, "Hyung," drawing Jin's attention.

Jin looks at him, and Jungkook continues, "I'll go to work."

"Why?" Jin inquires.

"I think that's the right thing to do," Jungkook replies. He places his hand over his chest, a thoughtful gesture as he contemplates the enigmatic girl who has stirred something within him.

───── ☾ ─────

You find yourself in the bustling cafe, engrossed in your work alongside Raya and Alita. The fatigue from a late-night shift still lingers, causing you to let out a heavy yawn, despite the bright daylight streaming through the windows.

Raya, ever the vigilant friend, nudges a tray toward you and chides playfully, "Don't yawn in front of me."

With a weariness that only those who have worked through the night can understand, you respond earnestly, "I worked until 2 AM last night, Raya," punctuating your point with another yawn.

Raya, empathetic to your situation, smiles in understanding. Her comment about your dedication to your younger brother draws a warm smile to your face.

"I got a call from mom," you excitedly share, "she said Ji Hoon has started walking."

Raya joins in your joy, exclaiming, "Oh, he's growing up so fast. Give me your cute little brother!"

You respond with a hint of protectiveness, "Nah, he's mine," accompanied by a playful frown.

Alita, in her no-nonsense manner, grabs your shoulders and delivers a stern reminder, "The customer has been waiting for the past fifteen minutes. Go!"

You reluctantly tear yourself away from your friends, acknowledging the strain on the cafe's limited staff. Alita's exasperated eye roll serves as a stark reminder of the challenging workload, urging you to attend to the waiting customer.

───── ☾ ─────

As your working hours come to an end, you, Raya, and Alita leave the cafe together, ready to head home. While strolling along the street, you decide to check your phone and are surprised to find a missed call and a new message from an unknown number.

The message reads, "Hello. I am Kim Namjoon. The guy that asked for your number while you did a pizza delivery to the forest. Is the post still empty for recruitment?"

A smile unconsciously spreads across your face as you read the message, and you can't help but bite your lip in excitement. It seems like the forest encounter with Namjoon might be leading to something interesting.

Raya notices your reaction and curiously asks, "What happened?"

Alita, too, stops in her tracks, intrigued by your sudden pause.

With a grin, you start typing a reply to Namjoon:

YOU: "Yes, this is the address of the cafe." inserts address

Unknown Number: "They'll be there tomorrow morning. Thank you for the help."

YOU: "My pleasure."

Alita leans in, trying to get a glimpse of your messages. She voices her confusion, "Who are you typing to? Wait, are we getting more co-workers? Like I don't wanna work more like slaves."

You nod enthusiastically, your smile growing wider with each passing moment.

Both Raya and Alita smile back at you, sharing in your anticipation.

Raya, still curious, finally asks, "What are you so happy for?"

With an arm wrapped around each of your friends, you confidently reply, "You'll know tomorrow." The prospect of new co-workers and perhaps more excitement in your life fills you with a sense of eager anticipation as you continue your journey home.

───── ☾ ─────

Jimin and Taehyung emerge from their residence to find Jungkook leaning casually against a car, sporting stylish shades that accentuate his striking appearance under the scorching sun. Sunlight bathes him in a warm glow, highlighting his handsome features. Jimin offers a stiff smile in greeting, while Taehyung, as usual, responds with an eye roll as they approach Jungkook.

Taehyung, playfully gesturing toward the car, quips, "Did you rent this one?"

Jimin can't help but chuckle at their usual banter as he shakes his head and proceeds to open the car's back door, settling into the rear seat.

Jungkook, however, appears slightly perturbed by their comments. He furrows his brows and clarifies, "What? I may not be rolling in money, but this car is mine. It's been parked in the garage for years, untouched since I acquired my powers. As you can see, it's an old model." He makes a face as he settles into the driver's seat.

Taehyung, the relentless provocateur, shrugs nonchalantly and takes a seat in the passenger side, seemingly unimpressed. He continues his teasing, "I thought you were so broke you couldn't even afford a—"

Jungkook promptly cuts him off with a stern, "Don't," fully aware of where Taehyung is heading.

Unperturbed, Taehyung persists, "—pair of underwear." Their century-long friendship is peppered with good-natured banter and the occasional ribbing.

Jungkook, displaying a hint of irritation, gestures for Taehyung to exit the car, inviting him to join him outside. Taehyung, choosing discretion, turns his attention to the world outside, pointedly avoiding Jungkook's gaze.

Jimin, well accustomed to his friends' antics, contents himself by immersing in a game on his phone, escaping the good-natured banter that characterizes their friendship.

Jungkook, feeling increasingly uneasy, unbuttons his shirt and turns on the car's air conditioning in an attempt to quell his growing nervousness. Taehyung, in his usual straightforward manner, questions, "Why are you so nervous? Thinking about the girl getting you all worked up?"

Jungkook's patience is wearing thin, and he finally opens the car door, leaning out to motion for Taehyung to exit. Firmly, he instructs, "Get out." With that, Jungkook drives away, leaving Taehyung to find his own way to the cafe, at least temporarily relieved from his friend's teasing presence.

───── ☾ ─────

Jungkook stands outside the cafe, his nervousness palpable as he questions, "We're just here for an interview, right?" His anxiety is evident, though there is no apparent reason for it.

Jimin rolls his eyes at Jungkook's apprehension and reassures him, "Yes, Jungkook. It's just an interview. No one's going to stake you." He firmly takes Jungkook's hand and leads him towards the entrance of the cafe.

However, Jungkook halts them before entering. "Wait," he says, causing Jimin to sigh and turn to face him.

"What now?" Jimin inquires with mild exasperation.

Jungkook hesitates, then asks, "Let's wait for Taehyung."

Jimin, not one to mince words, responds bluntly, "You claim to dislike him, but you're quite concerned about his whereabouts."

"If you only knew how much he teases me," Jungkook mumbles, his irritation evident.

"Fine," Jimin acquiesces.

Just as they're waiting, Taehyung suddenly appears, sprinting towards them like a blur. Jimin can't help but express his surprise, asking, "How did you get here so quickly?"

Taehyung leans in to whisper to Jimin, "I used vampire speed when no one was looking." He then turns his attention to Jungkook with a mischievous grin, saying, "I'll get my revenge."

Jungkook's momentary smile vanishes as he rolls his eyes. Clearly, his fear of Taehyung's teasing outweighs any interview jitters he has. With Taehyung's arrival, Jungkook gains some newfound confidence and enters the cafe alongside his friends, leaving Jimin momentarily baffled by the sudden change in his demeanor.

Inside the cafe, you crouch down to speak with a child, taking his order while his mother watches with a smile, appreciating how well you interact with her son. You have plenty of experience in handling such situations, and it shows.

However, as you stand up, you hear the familiar ting sound signaling someone's entrance. Turning to see who it is, you observe Jungkook striding in with an air of charisma, as if he has just stepped out of a K-drama and is the most dashing character of them all. Jimin and Taehyung follow him, but they don't look like ordinary workers – they resemble customers more than anything else.

All eyes in the cafe, particularly those of the girls, are drawn to the trio. The entrance even causes a girl to spill her latte, and another girl who is about to take a bite of her cake ends up with it smeared on her cheek. The male customers, on the other hand, pay them little attention and go about their business as usual. Meanwhile, the child who had interacted with you earlier seems quite taken by Jungkook's charismatic demeanor, breaking into a delighted smile.

Jungkook notices the child's reaction and then shifts his gaze towards you. Realizing the situation, he mutters, "Oh." Panic flashes across his face, and he turns abruptly, as if attempting to make a hasty exit back to his car.

However, Jimin and Taehyung promptly catch hold of Jungkook, one on each side, preventing his escape. Jungkook lets out a resigned sigh and coughs, slowly making his way towards you.

After a couple more coughs, Jungkook awkwardly asks, "So, where should we conduct the interview?"

You, ever the professional, maintain your composure and reply nonchalantly, "Inside. Follow me." Pretending as if nothing unusual has just occurred, you lead them further into the cafe, ready to proceed with the interview.

───── ☾ ─────

In a separate room within the cafe, Jungkook can't contain his curiosity and asks the elderly lady who owns the establishment, "So, did we get the job?" The three of them, Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook, stand before the old lady, who is seated at a table.

With a slight smile, the elderly lady confirms, "Yes, you've got the job."

Jungkook turns to leave, but once again, Jimin and Taehyung clamp onto his arms, preventing him from making a hasty exit. Jungkook looks around in confusion. "What now?" he inquires, his gaze darting between Jimin and Taehyung.

Taehyung smirks mischievously, declaring, "Let's bid farewell to your Señorita." He emphasizes the phrase 'buh bye,' which only adds to Jungkook's confusion.

"This is your idea of revenge? And why 'Señorita'?" Jungkook asks, still bewildered. However, his question goes unanswered as they drag him towards the cashier's counter.

Eventually, they all reach the cashier area where you, Raya, and Alita are working. Raya is busy preparing an order near one of the machines.

Jungkook lets out a sigh. "Fine, I'll walk on my own. Let me go," he requests, and they release him.

As they approach the cashier's counter, Taehyung can't help but gawk at Alita, muttering, "OMG."

"What's wrong?" Jungkook turns to Taehyung.

Taehyung gasps, placing a hand over his mouth, and starts hiccupping uncontrollably. It suddenly dawns on him that the girl who had threatened to karate kick him is now working here, side by side with Jungkook's "Señorita."

"I don't want to be here either. I'm leaving. Bye," Taehyung turns around, attempting to make a quick escape. However, Jungkook promptly grabs his arm, raising an eyebrow as he smirks.

"You thought you could take revenge on me and just leave? Not a chance. Let's go meet Señorita," Jungkook declares, dragging Taehyung along. Alita, who has been holding a drink and walking to place it on a tray, notices them and glances in their direction.

"Why is everyone so nervous?" Jimin wonders aloud, his frown indicating his confusion. He's about to finish his sentence when his gaze lands on Raya, and he abruptly stops himself.

"Oh, no. GUHFFYHBF," Jimin mutters.

"What?" Jungkook asks, unable to comprehend Jimin's incoherent words.

"Goodbye. I've been caught by her. The girl will probably scream her lungs out when she sees me. Have a terrible day. May both of you be even more nervous," Jimin mutters before attempting to walk away.

Jungkook and Taehyung both grab his arms. "Let's jump off the roof together. Isn't that what friendship is for?" Taehyung suggests, pulling Jimin along, though Jimin rolls his eyes.

"I'm not as nervous as you two," Jimin mutters in response.

Meanwhile, Raya gets ready with a tray to serve the next customer. She looks up from her tray and finds Jimin standing there with a wide smile, as Jungkook and Taehyung observe from behind with their arms crossed.

"Hi," Jimin greets, his smile unwavering.

In response, Raya lets out a piercing scream that echoes through the cafe, causing the tray in her hands to fall to the floor.

Jimin turns to Jungkook and Taehyung with a self-satisfied grin. "See? I told you she'd scream."

──────

VOTE