Insight into the chapter

"Seems like you have been caught red-handed! Will it tear you and him apart?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"That is why I am offering half a million dollars to anyone within our organizations who can find this Nam Gil's daughter and bring her to me. And with any luck, we can use her to access the common fund once more."

They are after me.

Suddenly, a voice from behind startled me.

"Eun Jeong, what are you doing?"

"Jungkook!"

My mind raced at what I just heard, your expression was one of pure shock, your body language tensed and was ready to spring.

He caught me red-handed. And now he is going to kill me. Or worse, he will hand me over to Chan Yeol Jeon to be tortured. Not going to happen.

Instinct took over and I bolted for the entrance hall. I raced through the main hall, now emptying out as people filtered into their seats in the theater. You ran hot on my heels.

"Eun Jeong!"

Good thing I had a plan for this...

Running past several waiters and towards the bar, I deftly snatched an empty yet hefty bottle that had at one point held champagne.

If it does not work as a blunt weapon, I could always smash it and use it like a knife.

Clutching the bottle tightly, I heard you calling me.

"Come on, Eun Jeong! Stop!"

"No, Jungkook! You are going to try to kill me!"

The few people remaining in the main hall turned their heads to watch as I hurtled through the main hall away from you.

"I am not going to hurt you, Eun Jeong! Just talk to me!"

Talk? I am pretty sure that is a code for putting a bullet through my skull.

As I ran, I looked around for exits, attempting to remember my strategy.

"Come on, Eun Jeong... Think, think, think."

Right! The stage!

Running into the theater and through the crowd filing into their seats, I vaulted up onto the stage, navigating quickly through the actors' backstage to the nearest door marked 'Exit'.

Spilling from the backstage exit and out into the dark alleyway, I looked around to get my bearings, when a voice from behind startled me.

"Piccola!"

I turned on my heels to face you. For a moment, we both stood frozen. Your expression was unreadable.

"Piccola, I need you to tell me what you think you saw back there."

"I-I saw some really shady shit."

Your shoulders tensed as if you were about to enter a defensive stance.

"There is nothing shady about a bunch of old men talking but eavesdropping... that is very shady. Now, don't make this any more difficult than it has to be."

Just walk away, Jungkook... please... I don't want to hurt you.

As you took a cautious step forward, my assassin training kicked in. My heart felt heavy as I moved to strike, but the muscle memory was too strong not to fight.

I am so sorry.

You stepped within striking distance, and I quickly brought the bottle down in a blurred motion towards your head, when my hand suddenly stopped.

"Huh?" I exclaimed turned my face towards my hand.

With a viselike grip, you held my wrist keeping my weapon pointed away from yourself.

How... How did he do that? Has he...

You squeezed my wrist a little tighter, causing me to drop my weapon and you swiftly kicked it far down the alley as the realization slowly dawned on me.

He has been trained as a killer too!

My eyes darted inside your jacket, the grip of a handgun was just visible from a shoulder holster.

That's my ticket out of this.

Stepping forward in a feinting maneuver, I kicked out to trip you as you attempted to move out of the way. You staggered back but still held tightly to my wrist.

"What the...!" you yelled.

In an attempt to keep from tripping, you used your hold on me as an anchor. To my surprise, you turned sharply just as I reached for the gun, and you pined my back against the wall. 

I momentarily fought back against your hold. Your face was tantalizingly close to mine. With your voice dropping to hoarse whisper, you leaned in closer.

He has got me right where he wants me. Maybe if I lay it on heavy, he will lower his guard.

Batting my eyelashes innocently, my voice raised an octave. "Please, Jungkook... just let me go. I swear I will not cause any trouble for you."

"You got to try harder if you want to fool me, Piccola. I need to know who sent you. Now."

I don't want to hurt Jungkook. Despite everything, I feel like he is completely different from anyone else I have met. Maybe... maybe one last kiss. Maybe that will make him let me go.

"Come on, Piccola. Just tell me who-"

Before you could finish, I leaned forward, our lips meeting tightly. At first, you seemed to pull away, then you slowly leaned into me, surrendering to the kiss.

Time seemed to ebb away as our lips stayed locked together. The adrenaline fueled the passion in my body.

I just want this moment to last forever.

Pressing my hips to yours, my pulse quickened when my body met with a warm, rigid response. Instinctively, your hands dropped from my hands to waist, gripping tightly.

You pressed your body even tighter to mine and you grunted as I savored the sensation of your growing erection. My heard pounded in my chest.

As I leaned into the kiss even further, your shoulders slump back to attention, and you ripped yourself away. Panting slightly as you inspected my face.

"What are you doing to me, Eun Jeong?"

"Can't you tell? I was trying to show you that I care."

"I care about you too, Eun Jeong. But that doesn't make any of this easier. I need to know what on earth is going on."

So, this is how it has to be, I guess.

"I am sorry, Jungkook, but I cannot give you what you want."

Yanking my whole body to break your grip, I pushed away, then raised my hands defensively, feet aligned in a boxer's stance.

"Now, I am going to do what I have to do."

You staggered back, quickly resuming a defensive stance, your eyes were laser-focused on me, a look of determination tinged with... regret? Worry?

What could possibly be going through his head right now?

"It doesn't have to be this way, Eun Jeong. Just tell me who you really are and why you were spying on my father."

"Not a chance."

"So, we are doing this the hard way then... fine."

He is not going to give up on this without a fight. He is faster than he looks. He is trained. 

Squaring my shoulders like my old trainers taught me, I raised my fist to protect my face, quickly blocking a punch from you.

Ugh... that hurts. Keep going, Eun Jeong. Got to mix it up.

You and I circled each other, trading jabs and blocking back and forth until I spotted an opening in your defense and used the opportunity to sidestep and punch you square in the jaw.

"Not bad, Eun Jeong."

You rubbed your jaw for a moment, eyes shone in the dark. You lunged forward to land a strike of your own, which I instinctively blocked and loved to counterattack.

"You are going to tell me what I want to know, Piccola. One way or the other."

As you once again prepared for another attack, there was something else in your expression that caught me off guard.

Is... is he enjoying this?

"Listen, Jungkook, I really don't want to fight you"

You flashed a sly grin as you maintained your fighting stance, giving a few quick practice jabs in the air with impressive fluidity,

"Huh. And here I was starting to have fun."

As you took a few advancing steps, the sense of confidence and purpose in your strides forced me into action.

Crap! How the hell did I get into this mess?! Fighting the man I don't want to fight... The man who was my target just a week ago.

I pulled away just in time to avoid a left hook coming straight for my head.

Huh!

For a few moments, we both took each other in, breathing hard and fast.

The man in front of me is none other than the next leader of a rival mafia gang- Jungkook Jeon.

"Damn, Eun Jeong! You are fast!"

You spat on the ground, breathing heavily.

"Where did you learn to move like that?"

"Jungkook... I don't want to fight with you."

You hesitated for a split second but then composed yourself.

"But you leave me no choice, Jungkook."

I charged at you and landed a blow to your ribs as I ducked under your arm.

"Argh!" you screamed.

This is my chance to win the fight!

I span and delivered a kick on your ribs again.

"Oh, did I mention I also had belle dancing lessons?" I taunted.

You did not respond to my taunt. You held to your side, gasping for breath.

Gosh! Did I break his ribs? I was careful with that kick!

Worry started to gnaw at me. Without thought, I stepped forward to check if you were alright.

"Jungkook?"

But you wasted no time. I only glimpsed the wicket smile before you lunged at me.

You pushed me against the wall, pinning my hands above my head. Your body pressed against mine, keeping me trapped.

"Damn!" I yelled.

I tried to fight against your hold, but you were just too strong.

"Stand still, Piccola," you teased me.

Crap! I should have seen that coming! Why did I give in to him so easily?

As my anger grew, so did my arousal. Feeling your body against mine, throbbing with what must be the same excitement. It made my nether ache. I could feel your breath against my neck, a steady rhythm that kept in time with the beating of my heart. I'd never felt anything like this before - and I wanted to feel it forever.

"I won," you announced.

Your smile hurt even more than hitting my back against the wall. The feeling of accomplishment was evident in your voice, but the underlying pain from my mistake was still there.

"Jungkook!" I tried to wiggle out, but it got me nowhere.

"Easy there, Piccola."

"Get off me, Grande," I yelled.

"And you say I am a sore loser?"

A chuckle escaped me, followed by a frustrated growl.

"Let. Go. Of. Me. You--"

Before I could even finish saying that you pressed your lips against mine, shutting me up.

Crap.

I melted into the kiss, the familiarity and taste of you bringing down all of my defenses. I never wanted the moment to end, desperate to stay in the embrace of your familiarity and love. Even so, I was aware that the moment would have to pass eventually, and I would have to return to reality.

How did I end up here? Kissing my enemy? Willing to not fight him anymore? Well, it all started the day I first met you. When my plan for revenge got totally derailed...

The memories of the last few days swirled hazily in my mind as my instincts fought the lulling sensation of the kiss.

No more playing around.

Using your movement of distraction to my advantage, I quickly lunged out from your embrace.

Got to get that bottle back!

Breaking into a sprint, I ran a little further up the alley with you in pursuit, stooping down to grab the now broken champagne bottle and turning to attack you while you ran closer.

You stopped suddenly as the jagged edge of the broken bottle just barely touched your throat. I looked down and realized that you had your gun trained on your neck.

"Looks like we are at an impasse, Piccola."

"Why are you smiling? You know we are fighting, right?"

The weapon shook in my hand as your smile grew wider.

"Oh, I have not forgotten. I have just enjoyed watching you in action. But everything about your skills begs the question: Who. Are. You?"

TO BE CONTINUED

13th May, 2023

*Author's Note

When I wrote the line "Who are you?" there was a line or let's say lyric that just popped into my mind which was ♫Who are you? Cause you're not the girl I fell in love with, Babe. ♫ I am sure many of you understood what I meant and felt the same thing as me.

To anyone who didn't realize, I want to inform that a week in this story has been passed which means, we are in the time/part where the prologue was/started. I hope I was clear enough because I don't know if I was... but you guys can tell me. And I am not sure whether you guys are able to understand my story because maybe it is confusing... is it? I really need to know, Armyah, and I will only get to know if you guys tell me. So, do tell me. I am counting on you all.

~ Susanna