44

We entered the room, looking like the start of a gang bang porno movie. I moved away because—no the fuck not. Not in this lifetime. Not in my obituary.

For starters, Jungkook's room had a single bed. The tall window and the fluttering curtains at the end of the room were all that was going on for it.  The rest of it looked like the inside of a bottle. A perfectly white—as I previously said—single bed, a nightstand, a settee at the foot of the bed that faced the opposite direction and a stunted table to bend over and fuck ourselves I guessed.

Did we get the labourers' room or what? It didn't even have anything pretty like vases or photo frames to lighten it up. Just plastered white walls that were too white. I didn't like the colour.

"Oh fuck, this boat's sinking..." Mr Seo mumbled into his mouth as his body sank to the floor next to the bed. So close to it. He fell flat on his chest and shut his eyes immediately.

"One down." Jungkook seriously toned in and put the bags on the table. "You girls want to freshen up?"

"Yeah, go ahead." I looked at Mi Na.

She nodded, grabbed her stuff from her bag and escaped into the bathroom.

My voice literally echoed back in this place. This was like a cave or something. Cave porno. I wondered if there are porn videos featuring Stone Age men and women or something in that fashion. Who would have a fetish like that? Except the man who designed this room, of course.

I quickly unzipped my bag, grabbing my feminine essentials to be prepared—because my sanitary napkin was giving up now, a change of clothes and my skin prep for the night.

I loved packing. Was that a mental disorder? I didn't know, but man did I love organising things into a bag like I was ready to run any day.

"I'll go first."

Yes, bastard of this century. He had to start this. He just fucking had to.

"Why the hell?" I raised an eyebrow, "You just said ladies first. So why the fuck are you going in?"

"I didn't say ladies first. I asked if you ladies want to freshen up first." He slammed his bag so hard next to mine that I flinched.

Fucker.

I punched his arm. "Are you trying physical intimidation or what?"

"I guess I'm drunk." He said, unzipping his bag and revealing a navy blue towel. It looked soft. And big. Cosy, even. Not to mention expensive as fuck because the fabric was nothing like something I would use.

My body turned fully towards him now, "Are you a lady? Is that why? Then sure, you can go. No problem."

My mouth opened again to retaliate, but Mi Na walked out of the bathroom in her fresh pink pyjamas and my brain short-circuited. I flapped shut.

Suddenly, I saw chemistry. My head reminded me that this ladies'-first-bastard was kinder to Mi Na. He let her go first and now he was restricting me. Heh. Seriously?

There was a knock at the door.

"Dinner." Mr Min said from the other side and Mi Na rushed to it first.

Mr Min stepped inside, looking around the place as if he were hotel management staff, making sure we were comfortable enough.

"There's just a single bed—oh, Mr Seo..." He laughed when he saw him facedown on the floor. "He's going to be physically challenged when he wakes up tomorrow."

Jungkook chuckled, standing up and turning to face Mr Min completely.

And do so. Because I had more important things to do. Like getting to the bathroom before him. I grabbed all my things to my chest and whipped around, charging first.

Take this, you bastard. Watch me go—fuck—

Jungkook's leg obstructed me so sneakily that I barely had the chance. Barely? I absolutely did not. I landed hard on my fours, and for the first time in the day, my cramps hit my pelvis. Hard.

I whimpered, biting my lip and looking up at the pad I had wrapped in my towel, no longer wrapped in my towel. It lay sprawled in the centre for all three of them to see. Fresh. Pink. Cute. Kill me now.

"Fuck—" Jungkook cursed, moving to help me up but I raised my hand to stop him dramatically. His smirk was gone. He looked ready to perform CPR on my dignity, which honestly, I didn't need. Because he was so close to physically needing CPR after I would have beaten him down.

"You hurt me. I'm going to the bathroom first." I said through my teeth and grabbed the scattered things quickly. He couldn't say a thing. He just watched, hands hovering hesitantly around me but never touching because I said no.

"Miss Kang," Mr Min said as I stood up on my feet. "You haven't eaten much today. Make sure you have something before you sleep. Do you have painkillers?"

Mr Min was so nice. He was actually serious about this.

I blinked at him, realising that my period had officially turned abusive to my body and domestic violence was on the market. So I nodded, "The painkillers please..."

"Alright." He nodded. "I'll pass them to Miss Yoo."

Great. My cramps had HR involvement, too, now. Just what was my life at this point but a series of corporately stupid events?

"Thanks." I bowed and then rushed to the bathroom first thing.

Once I was inside, I realised that I had left Mi Na and Jungkook more time to explore their chemistry. Shit fuck. What the hell was happening with me? Why was I constantly thinking of what was going to happen between them?

Back up, Haerin. Back up. Back up please!

When I stepped out of the washroom, all changed up and prepped for the night, the scene that awaited me was from a family romance drama. Jungkook and Mi Na were setting up the dishes, plating dinner while discussing something I didn't want to hear. Mr Min was gone.

What next, a wedding registry? I guess HR can file paperwork too.

Fuck this shit man.

I rolled my eyes, walking over to the balcony and hanging my towel out to dry.

I opened my mouth, trying to eat some air and taste something other than constant confusion. I inhaled deeply and then let go. My mouth shut too when I noticed a mosquito buzzing around. Couldn't risk eating this cuisine.

I was going to be just fine.

Just fine.

"Are the dinosaurs on your pyjamas dangerous?"

That's what Jungkook had to say from the settee.

"If they experience danger, then yes." I stretched my lips, walking over to them plating up the dinner.

Why the fuck was he noticing my pyjamas anyway? Just mind your own business doofus.

I grabbed some for myself, sitting down on the floor next to the table. Considering both were occupied by these two lovebirds.

"You can sit up." Jungkook began but I shook my head, digging my chopsticks in.

"It's relaxing this way."

He couldn't argue with that, but he did seem uncomfortable that he, as a man, sat on the settee while I didn't. Good for him. Be uncomfortable, you dumbass.

"Jungkook and I were just discussing the sleeping arrangements." Mi Na began, "He can sleep on the settee and we can adjust on the single bed. I think we both can fit."

So, girl on girl huh? I guess I'll just hang myself on the balcony rail.

"Yep. Sure." I nodded my head at the same time that we heard someone rip a fart.

Wha—my mouth opened and we turned to Mr Seo lying with his butt up.

Laughter erupted in the room, and as much as I pitied him, I couldn't stop laughing.

"Open the fucking windows!" I yelled at Jungkook and he nodded and opened all the windows he could. "We'll just use a mosquito repellent tonight."

We chuckled.

We revealed some leftover drinks from before and passed them around, laughing a little more before we officially made it to our beds to commence sleep because it was almost one in the morning.

Mi Na and I hopped on the bed and Jungkook decided to freshen up in his expensive navy blue towel.

In the next minute, she was snoring herself into sleep, completely unaware that she was in starfish mode.

Agent Haerin, requesting back-up from headquarters. Target is to sleep, and the current enemy, Mi Na, is using a starfish trajectory to dispose of her.

Push the limbs. That's what my first method was.

I tried to push but this woman was dead as a rock. She barely moved. She just squirmed and made sure I knew that this was a single bed in every way possible.

Was she stupid? She told me we'd fit, right? Why the hell was she not cooperating now?

I had to sleep. I had to fucking sleep.

This woman was getting on my nerves now.

I folded my arms, straight as a stick as I stuck to the edge of the bed. Yes. Finally. My eyes closed, trying to count the sheep, but now the blanket was off me too and I was cold.

FUCK!

I squirmed, almost tipping off backwards, but I grabbed the nightstand in time. My body balanced itself like that for a few seconds. Then I turned again, closing my eyes and trying to revisit sleep.

Please, please, please. I was on my period. Please don't do this to me Yoo Mi Na! This was supposed to be girl on girl! Why am I an extra on the bed?

I trembled when she squirmed a bit more. No way. I had to push my way inside. I couldn't let this bitch drive me crazy like this! I've got to put me first!

I pushed my feet up, applying all the pressure I could to slide her away from me.

"That's it..." I whispered, trying to wrap her hands around herself, too, but they kept flopping to the side.

This was going to be an HR complaint in the morning, I swore.

The bathroom light shone when Jungkook stepped out.

Fuck, fuck, fuck—

He leaned on the doorway, smirking at my twisted form, "New fighting skill, Miss Kang?"

That's it.

I gasped, suddenly aware that he was watching. My body gave out and I flopped. I rolled down and landed straight on Mr Seo's back who was lying next to the bed. Great. Perfect body slam. WWE. Miss Kang Vs Middle Management.

He barely understood anything but I almost screamed.

My hands jammed into the floor, struggling to get off that man.

"What the fuck?" Jungkook rushed over, his body wash or shampoo or whatever it was, suddenly slamming the hell out of me.

I whimpered, grabbing his arm and letting him twist it around mine to lift me out of there. I accidentally stepped on Mr Seo's back and my feet slid.

"Careful, careful." Jungkook pulled me out and then let go.

"This—this is hell!" I whisper-yelled at him. "I can't afford to sleep next to that donkey while cramping up like this!"

Jungkook drove a hand through his hair, lazily gesturing for me, "Come on."

"Come on where? Do you have another room?" I continued complaining after him as he led me to the settee.

"Sleep here. I'll sleep on the floor." Jungkook turned to me and that's when I saw him completely for the first time.

Usually, he was all packed in his suit and vest, trying to show off how hot and intimidating he was. But right now, he looked way more...approachable. Just his tracks and a grey t-shirt. His hair was also slightly dishevelled.

I blinked at him for a second and then looked away. WHAT THE FUCK HAERIN?

Why was I blushing?!

"Where—where will you—"

"Floor." He completed before me.

My eyes shot at him, frustrated that he didn't let me complete. "I mean where the hell is your pillow and blanket?"

He smirked, "I don't need a blanket. This room is warm. And I can just borrow a cushion from here." He picked up a cushion from the settee and dropped it on the floor next to it.

His smirk was gone now. Just quiet insistence in his eyes as if it actually mattered to him that I was comfortable.

Warm. "Right. I almost forgot that your cabin is a mini-Antarctica back at Neureva." I rolled my eyes, walking over to the settee and sitting down on it.

"Is it that cold?" His voice was a low hum and when the lights shut off, the dark suddenly made it seem way more intimate than it should have felt.

Kick me. I didn't have a dick, but kick me in the nuts, please.

"Penguins can live there." I straightened my feet, finally relaxing in the space as I leaned back, reaching for the lip balm in my pocket. Because yes, my pyjamas had pockets!

He noticed but lay back on the floor, tightening the cushion under his head. His biceps flexed, eyes never leaving me.

"I almost froze to death every time I was there." I sneered.

"You should have told me if it was that cold." He smirked. "With all that you were wearing, the cold must have hit extra hard."

"All that I was wearing?" I scowled, fixing the blanket over my body and adjusting myself on the cushions. "What kind of sexist—"

"I mean the skirts." He rolled his eyes. "But you could have told me if it's that cold in my office."

"Oh, and risk you making it even colder so that it killed me? I think not." I rubbed the balm stick on my lips quickly and put it on the table that Jungkook had moved aside to make room for him to sleep.

"You have very sadistic opinions of me, Miss Kang." He smiled at me. "I can assure you that I can be very sweet."

I turned on my side to face him, "Oh, I got a full episode of your sweetness with Miss Yoo. But I'm not the one who gets that so yes, you are sadistic to me."

His shoulders shook when he snickered, then he turned to face me too. "Do you think I treated Miss Yoo sweetly? I think that was just gentlemanly."

"Oh, come on. Do you think I'm stupid? You both clearly have something going on. Go for it." I rolled my eyes, snorting at the thought that he was calling all of that laughing and giggling gentlemanly.

"Is that why you've been ignoring me, Miss Kang?"

I scoffed, "Ignoring you? Aren't you the one who is more interested in Miss Thank-You-for-your-interest-in-our-company?"

"Miss what?" He hid his face, laughing out loud. "You have a knack for calling people and things with weird names, Miss Kang."

"When have I ever?" My eyes narrowed. "You should get checked for delusions. You're hallucinating about me."

His laugh died and he examined my face, clearly drunk. That look in his eyes. It wasn't the usual kind. He was softer. Drunk. That's what it was. And I couldn't say anything different for me either.

I was just as drunk. My eyes were fluttering but heavy at the same time.

I gulped.

His eyes turned into that usual, unreadable emotion. I didn't know what he was thinking all of a sudden.

"Do you have siblings?" He asked out of the blue.

What the fuck—? Out of the blue he had to pick the most random card in this board game. Siblings?

I blinked at him, confused. Then, I shook my head. "My mother had complications when she conceived me. She couldn't have children after me."

Fuck. Why the hell did I say all of that to him?

"I'm sorry to hear that." His voice softened, eyes hovering over my face in a weird way.

"You don't have to be. My parents don't blame me for not being able to have a boy. Only my relatives do." I chuckled. "Do you have any siblings?"

"I do. Older brother. He lives abroad with his wife." He admitted.

"Oh, do you want to leave...the country some day too?" My voice softened, suddenly reminded of New York and that shitty airport episode I had when Jong Suk left.

Jungkook's eyes deepened, "I'm not thinking of that. But if there's a feasible opportunity, then why not?"

"For your family and just the people you like over here. Wouldn't they make you want to stay?" I scowled. "Is it that easy to just decide and leave?"

He chuckled,  "I never said that. I said if it's feasible. That considers the thought of my family and my loved ones too."

I stayed silent.

Because what the hell did that even mean?

Feasible? How do you decide what is feasible?

He didn't say anything for a long time after that. We stayed like that. Mi Na was dead. Mr Seo was snoring in bits and pieces and I was curled under the blanket, pulling it up to my chin, my eyes heaving and fluttering drunk. Jungkook lay beside the settee, his hand under his head as he watched. Quiet.

His eyes weren't those bratty ones. He was watching me silently like something had shifted in the air.

I curled tighter into the blanket.

"What shade is that?"

I blinked at him, heart slowing down. "....shade?"

He motioned with his chin towards my mouth.

Uh—uh—what?

A smirk curled up on my lips, that cockiness not leaving me, "Haerin's beauty. Limited edition. One of one."

His mouth curled too, eyes hovering over my lips as if he was genuinely interested in the shade. He smirked, then chuckled softly.

Then, as if he was checking, his free hand reached for my face.

Holy. Holy moly.

My eyes were heavier still when his hand gripped the entirety of my face. His warm fingers settled behind my ear. His thumb tested the corner of my mouth.

Shit.

What the—

His thumb brushed my lower lip.

I should have used my karate chop. Pushed him out. Told him to stay in his Neureva limits. But all I did was let my lip tremble under his thumb.

He pressed my lip, dragging it lower to open my mouth.

"Soft..." He said that so softly, almost to himself.

His hand was warm against my face. Too warm. Almost cosy. I couldn't tell if it was my face or his hand. His grip was too big for my face. The veins that typed on those stupid keyboards...they were finally on my face. It made my head hazy.

"Stop," I whispered, eyes fluttering when I saw how intently he was staring. He wasn't even fucking blinking or anything.

My brain was getting foggy.

But the moment this thumb slid inside, my eyes flew wide.

Holy. Fuck.

His thumb padded—oh god—it padded against the roof of my mouth, then pressed on my tongue. My mouth closed around his finger—help me—it closed around him.

"So soft." He whispered. "Fuck...so dangerous..."

I tried to gulp but the insides of my lips just ended up stroking his thumb.

Shit. Shit. SHIT!

Slowly, he pulled his thumb out again, his thumb rubbing the leftover lip balm on my lower lip. Then he left my face.

He tasted the lip balm on his thumb. He tasted me.

He what now?!

I could still taste the sensation of his thumb in my mouth. WHAT THE HELLLLL!!!

I pulled the covers over my head, "You're drunk. Please can you go to sleep...?"

I heard him exhale loudly and I twitched.

Then I heard him softly say, "If the HR caught me now, I'd file a complaint against myself."

I squeezed my eyes shut, "Please go to sleep, Jungkook?"

"Ma'am."

I hated how much I liked the sound of that.

That's the last I heard of him before I finally dozed off by the weight of the rush, and the weight of the alcohol in me.