◦,'°.✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽.°',◦◦

"Living with someone you love can be lonelier

than living entirely alone if the one you love doesn't love you."

◦,'°.✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽.°',◦◦

You sat with Emilia for lunch in a snug spot by the window at , your café. The sun shone bright drawing some customers outside. All morning, you two had toiled on an order for a CEO's big announcement that evening.

Last night, you got home with your head spinning from Seokjin's fiery kiss. It met all your secret wishes, but you couldn't picture being in his arms right then.

You cried yourself to sleep feeling lost and overwhelmed. Next day, your tired puffy eyes caught your mom's eye. Your phone was toast - dead and cracked. You made plans to grab a new one at the mall later and left it at that.

You felt a whirlwind of feelings as you watched your bestie. Her eyes lit up like fireworks while she dished about her dinner with the boyfriend's clan. They'd fallen head over heels for her, and boy, did it show! The whole scene had you in a tizzy of emotions.

Turning your attention to her, you hesitated before speaking, your voice barely rising above a whisper. "Emilia, um... there's something I need to share," you began tentatively. "Yesterday, at Seokjin's lavish estate, he kissed me."

Emilia's eyes widened with joy, her hands clasping together eagerly. "Oh, Mayla! That's amazing! How did it happen? What was it like?"

A hesitant smile played on your lips. "It was... incredible, Emilia. But I'm afraid, you know? Afraid of falling for him, afraid to expose myself to vulnerability again." Moisture gathered in your eyes as you drew a deep breath.

Reaching across the table, Emilia gently squeezed your hand. "I understand, May. But you can't let your past dictate your future forever. Seokjin seems like a wonderful person. He's always been caring and kind. Give him a chance to win your heart back. Perhaps he could be your redemption."

Shaking your head softly, you brushed a strand of hair behind your ear. "I... I'm not ready, Em. If I open up again, what if someone comes and takes him away? It would send my emotions spiralling out of control. Love... it's not my strong suit. I just can't..."

Emilia sighed, concern evident in her green eyes. "May, you are beautiful and kind. You deserve to experience love."

To you, love felt like a loaded gun, and you weren't willing to pull the trigger.

Just then, a notification sounded from Emilia's phone on the table.

Grinning at the text, Emilia raised her eyebrows teasingly. You chuckled. "Is that from your boyfriend?"

Biting her lip, Emilia glanced at her phone. "Oh... it's from one of your admirers... the celebrity Minhyu," she said, waving her phone in front of your bemused eyes.

You furrowed your brow. "What does he want?" you inquired, taking the last sip of your latte.

Emilia grinned. "He called three times yesterday while you were off on your escapade," she chuckled, noting your scowl.

That escapade had shaken your peace. The idea of finding yourself in Seokjin's embrace was beyond comprehension.

Minhyu, on the other hand, was a charming individual-well-mannered, affluent, and affectionate. You had been on a few dates with him, and he understood where he stood with you. It puzzled you why he wasn't pursuing that K-pop star who seemed enamoured with him. Whenever you were out together, it was always in the evenings, away from the paparazzi's gaze. You had no desire for that level of exposure in your life, and now Seokjin's sudden interest added to the complexity, which was overwhelming for your mental well-being.

Despite Minhyu's relentless pursuit, you, like Seokjin, harboured no romantic interest. You had resolved to remain single until the end of the day.

Emilia chuckled. "He mentioned to expect him later. He wants to drop by for some of your exquisite desserts and to bask in the radiance of your beautiful face, which he claims brightens his days. He mentioned he's still on set but will seek your undivided attention once they wrap up a scene," she relayed with a grin.

You rolled your eyes, unimpressed by Emilia's playful teasing. Her teasing only added to your frustrations. You even hesitated to confide in your mom about your situation with Seokjin. She was well aware of your enduring feelings for the CEO and might encourage you to pursue what you've desired for so long-Seokjin's love.

Seokjin's feelings remained a mystery to you; perhaps he was intrigued to see your growth after eight years. And then there was SungKyung. You were exhausted by the drama. It seems Seokjins'ex is not ready to let him go. You want to stay far away from that psycho.

You sighed deeply as Emilia excused herself to attend to new customers entering the café. Two companies had arrived to collect their orders, three blocks from Dilly Dally, along with a nursery school ordering over 200 fairy cupcakes for an event.

Observing their excitement upon seeing Emilia, they were surprised to find a beautiful foreign girl behind the counter.

Sighing, you rose from your seat and returned to your office. You had fulfilled your daily tasks and longed to retreat home for some much-needed rest.

......

An hour later...

You and Minyu shared laughter over his anecdotes about the mishaps on set, including the director's misplaced toupee-a genuinely hilarious moment.

He savoured the delightful Swiss dessert you had prepared, a strawberry cake roll. Emilia graciously served you both hot tea.

Amidst the pleasant atmosphere, he even extended an invitation for a lunch date, and after some persuasion, you reluctantly agreed. However, you suggested brunch instead. Meanwhile, your mom had gone to the mall for banking errands and taken your phone for repairs. With numerous client contacts on your device, having your physical phone is essential.

As you emerged from the bakery the following day, you were greeted by Minhyu, the charming actor. His vibrant red sports car was parked directly in front of the café. His infectious brightness made you smile as he approached you at the entrance.

Upon spotting him parked outside, you swiftly decided to meet him outdoors, a choice met with a smirk from Emilia. The bustling café held too many prying eyes, and you preferred to avoid any unnecessary commotion or star-struck patrons with their phones poised for snapshots.

Minhyu was impeccably dressed in charcoal designer attire, with light grey slacks and black suede Dolce & Gabbana loafers. Undoubtedly handsome, though not quite as captivating as Mr. Kim... you swiftly pushed aside those fleeting thoughts.

He flashed you a charming smile and extended his arm. "You look beautiful today, May. How about brunch at the most exclusive restaurant in town? I have an hour or two to spare."

The restaurant was just a block away, and you mentioned how fresh the air felt today, suggesting a stroll to enjoy the scenery. He grinned, pulling up his sunglasses and adjusting his striped bucket hat, looking adorable.

You chuckled, feeling your heart warmed by Minhyu's effortless charm. Walking down the street together, you engaged in light-hearted conversation. You couldn't shake your reservations about dating despite the comfortable atmosphere and easy friendship.

You had a wonderful time with Minhyu at a small, highly private restaurant that required prior booking. Though petite, the restaurant was incredibly exclusive, often frequented by celebrities seeking discretion.

An hour later, you and Minhyu strolled along the pavement, enjoying each other's company. His humour was infectious, helping you forget your melancholy. He expressed his desire to take you to an amusement park in town for fun. You haven't been to one in years. The last time you went was in high school when you were sixteen. You, Emila and your 'other best friend went before the life-altering event occurred that changed the cause of your life drastically.

As you neared the Dilly Dally café, your breath hitched at seeing Seokjin standing by his sleek black sports car parked at the entrance. His gaze was fixed on you, one eyebrow raised, flickering with an unreadable emotion as he observed the actor standing beside you with a slight smirk.

Upon Minhyu's arrival at the café entrance, a silent standoff unfolded between him and Seokjin. Tension crackled in the air as they exchanged a polite bow in acknowledgement. You could feel the unspoken tension palpably as your eyes darted between the two handsome men.

Clearing your throat, nerves evident across your flustered face, you greeted Seokjin, "Oh, um... good afternoon, Seokjin. Er... good to see you."

A lazy smile formed at the corners of his mouth as he took off his sunglasses, "Puppy face... how are you? I just came to drop off... something," he uttered in a husky voice, causing your heart to race at the richness of his tone.

Your eyes widened at his nickname, narrowing with pursed lips as you observed his unbothered expression. Minhyu furrowed his brows, observing your nervous gestures around the well-known billionaire. He had heard about the famous and exclusive Bangtan Elite Club of Seoul, the crème de la crème of South Korea, composed of old money and self-made billionaires.

His heart constricted as he realized something was amiss between you and Seokjin. Did the renowned restaurant connoisseur and former ramp model harbour feelings for the beautiful and introverted Mayla? The girl he had almost pursued for a year.

You apologized apologetically to Minhyu, "Er, Minhyu, sorry... I don't know if you know Kim Seokjin... Choi Minhyu." You introduced them with a rushed tone.

Seokjin's presence unnerved you greatly, reminding you of being snug in his arms, tasting his soft, full lips. You cursed your sudden hormonal surge. You didn't want to be romantically involved with either of these guys.

Seokjin smiled politely at the very silent Minhyu, who looked at him with calculating eyes. "Oh... we know each other, ....Choi Minhyu," Seokjin acknowledged him.

Minhyu smirked, "It's great seeing you again?" but a cold flash appeared in his eyes.

Seokjin grinned, but a mocking glint was in his eyes, "Is it?" he snorted coldly. You furrowed your brows at the undercurrent tension of the two men.

Minhyu's smile faltered at the cool tone. He and a friend had a previous altercation with Seokjin and one of his other 'wealthy brats' friends at an event hosted by the country club. Minhyu's now ex-girlfriend had been fascinated with that 'brat' and had drooled over him the entire evening. He almost caught snakes when the 'brat ' saw his fury and deliberately flirted with his flighty girlfriend. Let's say...he dumped that cheap 'hussy.

Minhyu chuckled, "Oh, don't sweat it, Mr. Kim. I was dropping off Mayla from our brunch date..." He inwardly smirked as he noticed Seokjin's clenched jaw but kept his composure.

You furrowed your brows at the two men, feeling missing something. Why did Minhyu speak as if you were dating? You shook your head in confusion.

Minhyu turned to you with a broad smile, "Erm... May I see you on Saturday for our fun date? I'll call you... dress comfortably, sweetie." He emphasized the last part for Seokjin's benefit, who stood next to his car with folded arms, his broad shoulders embraced by his designer shirt.

Unexpectedly, Minhyu gave your cheek a sweet peck, leaving you stunned in silence. He then turned to Seokjin and gave him a mocking salute before smoothly jumping into his open coupe sports car and speeding off the road, leaving you and Seokjin bewildered.

You looked apologetically at Seokjin and said, "Er, sorry about that. It seems the two of you have a little history." You raised your brows at Seokjin, who lazily moved before you, holding a silver, black, and pink gift bag with an Apple logo.

"It's a long story involving one of our maknaes," he dismissively answered.

He smirked as he observed your nervous demeanour, taking your hand and placing the bag around your fingers.

You looked shocked as you peered inside the bag, examining the item, a box. "Seokjin, please don't tell me you bought me a new phone. I told you that you don't have to." Apprehension filled the air, and you couldn't understand the tension.

Seokjin grinned, "Puppy, I want to do it for you. Please don't reject my gift," he pleaded, looking at you with a cute pout. He ensured he bought her the most expensive imported phone on the market.

You sighed exasperatedly, a small smile on your lips, "You are too much. Do you know that?... but thanks," you softly thanked him for the pricey iPhone.

His smile widened as he unexpectedly embraced you, your head resting gently against his chest with his strong arms around your tiny shoulders. You were too stunned to react. Your nose was assaulted with his highly expensive cologne- your new favourite scent of him. You inhaled deeply.

Seokjin softly muttered in your hair, "I missed you, Puppy face. Please let me also spend time with you" he softly breathed in.

You stood frozen in his embrace, wondering how you ended up with two men vying for your love and attention in one day.

A/n Sorry, my beautiful Jin-stans, for such a late update.

Thank you for all your love and support for this underrated book. Don't forget to vote and comment on your thoughts.

Shout out to @AliciaCummings2 itsmethesmc librachilddd @MariKarlsson3

1. Do you believe Mayla will give Minhyu, the actor, an opportunity?

2. Do you think Seokjin will step aside for Minhyu?

3. Who do you think Minhyu was referring to as the 'brat'?

4. the competition for Mayla's love and affection is heating up. Who do you think stands a stronger chance?

5. Whose support does Seokjin need to secure in pursuing Mayla?

6. It seems something happened in Maylas'past any ideas?