† 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟰 †

╭─━─━─━─━─━─╮𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟰†❝𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗠 𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗠❞╰─━─━─━─━─━─╯

༺ ☠︎ †  𝖁 𝖎 𝖘 𝖎 𝖔 𝖓  𝖎 𝖓  𝕯 𝖆 𝖗 𝖐  † ☠︎ ༻

The room was dim, the thick curtains blocking out most of the sunlight that was still pouring outside. Despite it being broad daylight, the space felt warm and cozy, almost like it belonged to a different world–one far away from reality.

Taehyung and Evie were fast asleep on the bed, completely tangled up in each other's arms. Their bodies were still bare under the covers, skin pressed together, breaths matching in rhythm.

They looked peaceful, as if the world outside didn't exist. They hadn't meant to fall asleep like this, messy and undone, without cleaning up or even changing. But after everything, the heat, the intimacy, the emotions–they were simply too exhausted.

They had planned to rest for a bit and then get up, maybe clean themselves, maybe talk, but neither of them had realized when their tired eyes closed for good and they slipped into a deep, heavy sleep.

Time had passed. A lot of time.

Taehyung shifted in his sleep, letting out a low breath as he pressed his face closer to Evie's shoulder, his arm instinctively tightening around her waist, trying to find a more comfortable position without waking up. Their legs were still tangled, the warmth between them unbroken, and the sheets lay half–twisted beneath them.

They looked soft together. Natural. Like two people who belonged.

But then–

A sudden buzz sliced through the silence. The phone on the bedside table vibrated, loud and sharp in the quiet room.

Evie stirred slightly, her brows furrowing as she mumbled something under her breath. Still half-asleep, her hand reached out lazily, fumbling around until her fingers found her phone. She didn't even bother looking at the screen before she brought it to her ear, her voice low and scratchy from sleep.

"Hello..." she murmured, eyes still closed.

"Evie, it's me. Are you feeling better now?" her father's voice came through the line. "I'm at the grocery store right now. Tell me what you want for dinner, I'll bring it on the way back."

Evie frowned in confusion, still barely awake. Her brain was slow to process the voice or the words. She groaned a little and shifted on the bed, still trying to wake up properly.

"Hmm... dinner...?" she mumbled, eyes starting to blink open.

"Yes, sweetheart. What do you feel like eating tonight? I was thinking of getting some chicken or maybe pasta... or do you want something else? Are you still not feeling well?"

That was when it hit her.

Her eyes flew open, fully alert now. She blinked hard and stared at the ceiling for a second as reality crashed in. She quickly looked at the phone screen and saw the time–it was almost evening.

Evening.

Her entire body tensed as she turned her head and saw Taehyung still fast asleep beside her, his bare chest rising and falling calmly. Her cheeks turned red instantly as she realized -

They had been sleeping like this all day.

She was still naked. He was still naked. They hadn't even moved. Hadn't cleaned up. Nothing.

Panic started to creep up in her chest.

"Uh, Dad..." she said quickly, trying to sound normal. "I'm feeling a lot better now. Sorry, I just woke up. I must've slept the whole day..."

"Oh, good. I'm glad you rested. You must've needed it," he said kindly. "So, what do you want to eat?"

"Um, anything is fine, really... Maybe pasta. Yeah, pasta sounds good," she said, trying not to let the nerves show in her voice as she carefully pulled the blanket higher over her chest, still watching Taehyung sleep like a baby beside her.

"Alright then, I'll get what we need for pasta. I'll be home in about ten minutes. Take it easy, okay? And open the windows a little. It must be stuffy inside if you've been sleeping all day."

Evie swallowed. Ten minutes.

"Okay, Dad. See you soon. Drive safe."

"Always do," he chuckled, then the line went dead.

She slowly lowered the phone and stared at it for a second, her eyes wide.

"Oh my god..." she whispered under her breath.

She turned to look at Taehyung, still sleeping soundly, his face calm as if the entire world around them wasn't slowly starting to spin out of control. She reached over and gently shook his shoulder, whispering urgently.

"Taehyung... wake up..."

He let out a soft groan, burying his face deeper into the pillow, completely unaware of the chaos she was already feeling in her chest.

"Taehyung, please," she said, her voice more firm this time, "It's evening already. My dad just called... he's at the grocery store and coming home soon."

That seemed to finally hit him. His brows furrowed, and he blinked as he turned his head toward her, still half-asleep. But the moment he heard the word "dad," his body stiffened. He sat up quickly, his eyes going straight to the clock on her nightstand. Then his gaze shifted to her, to the messy sheets, to his own bare body under the blanket.

"Shit..." he mumbled under his breath as he ran a hand through his tousled hair, now fully awake and realizing the situation they were in.

Evie was already out of bed, grabbing her clothes from the floor in a rush, not even caring about the awkwardness of being fully naked in front of him. There was no time for embarrassment or modesty now. She was focused only on one thing - getting everything in order before her father stepped into this room and saw something he shouldn't.

"We have to clean everything," she said in a hurried tone as she slipped on her clothes and pulled her shirt over her head, her movements quick and frantic. "The sheets, our clothes, the smell... it's all here. It's obvious."

Taehyung nodded, standing up from the bed and quickly pulling on his boxers and pants without saying a word, still processing how fast everything was happening. They both avoided eye contact, not out of discomfort, but because their minds were racing too fast to think about anything else.

Evie pulled the blanket off the bed and stared at it for a second–stained, wrinkled, still holding clear proof of everything that happened between them. She didn't hesitate.

She grabbed it, bunched it up in her arms, and tossed it toward the laundry basket in the corner of her room, making a mental note to sneak it into the washing machine later when her dad wasn't around.

She quickly ran a hand through her messy hair, fixing herself as much as she could in the mirror while trying not to panic. Her cheeks were still red from everything they had done, and her body still ached in places she hadn't even known could feel sore - but none of that mattered right now.

Taehyung was now standing behind her, wearing his tshirt in a hurry as he looked around the room, making sure there wasn't anything else lying around that could give them away.

After quickly putting on their clothes and trying to fix themselves up as best as they could, Taehyung and Evie rushed downstairs, hearts still racing. The panic hadn't quite left them yet, but at least they looked presentable now. As they reached the living room, Evie handed him his backpack, which had been lying near the couch since morning.

"Here," she said softly, trying to hide her nervousness.

Taehyung took it and slung it over his shoulder while slipping on his shoes near the door. But just as he was about to leave, he suddenly turned around and leaned in, pressing a quick kiss on her lips. It caught Evie by surprise, but her heart fluttered at the warmth of it.

"I don't want to hear any excuses tomorrow," he whispered against her lips, his voice caring. "Don't skip college again. It's already been two days since I last saw you, and I missed you way too much."

Evie smiled, lowering her gaze as she muttered under her breath, "Only if we go together."

Her words made Taehyung pause, and his chest tightened with a soft kind of happiness. He looked at her with a gentle smile–one of those smiles that said everything without needing a single word.

He knew her house was in the opposite direction of his, and it would take much longer if he came to pick her up every day. But the thought of spending even that extra time with her, just the two of them in a simple bus, made it feel more than worth it.

"I will," he said quietly. "Get ready on time tomorrow morning and meet me at the entrance of the colony. I'll wait there."

He was just about to leave when he opened the door and froze.

Right outside, Evie's father had just parked his car and was walking up toward the house, holding a few grocery bags. Taehyung's eyes widened slightly in shock. His mind raced–he didn't expect to see him now, not like this, especially not after everything that had happened just hours ago.

Evie's father looked a little surprised too, seeing Taehyung standing there with his backpack in the evening, even though he had come over in the morning. Still, he smiled kindly, not showing any immediate suspicion.

Taehyung quickly bowed slightly and greeted him politely, trying his best to stay calm. "Good evening, sir. I was just about to leave."

Her father raised a brow curiously. "Oh? You were here the whole day?"

Before anything could seem too unusual, Taehyung replied smoothly, "Yes, sir. Evie had a lot of pending assignments, and there's a big one due tomorrow. I thought I'd help her out since we're in the same class."

Her father nodded slowly, still smiling, but his eyes showed something else–something knowing.

He had been young once too. He wasn't stupid. There was a calm understanding behind that look. But he didn't say anything, just looked at Evie for a moment, who stood there trying to look normal while silently praying he didn't sense anything.

"Well, I'm glad you helped her out," her father finally said. "You should stay for dinner."

Taehyung quickly shook his head, smiling politely. "Thank you, sir, but I should get going. It's already late, and my parents will be waiting for me at home."

Her father nodded again, not pushing further. "Alright, next time then."

Taehyung gave one last glance at Evie - just a soft, lingering look that made her heart skip a beat - before stepping out and walking away, the cool air outside doing little to calm the storm of emotions that still lingered in both their chests.

⋆༺𓆩♱𓆪༻⋆𝔙 𝔦 𝔰 𝔦 𝔬 𝔫  𝔦 𝔫  𝔇 𝔞 𝔯 𝔨⋆༺𓆩♱𓆪༻⋆

The next morning, Evie stood at the entrance of her colony, right where Taehyung had told her to meet him. She was dressed neatly for college, her bag hanging from one shoulder, but her heart was pounding inside her chest. After skipping college for two whole days, she was finally going back - and it didn't feel easy.

Anxiety sat heavy on her chest like a rock. Her mind was full of thoughts. What if something happens today? What if people say things I don't want to hear? But the scariest thought of all was about Jungkook. What if he does something... What if he didn't forget what happened? What if he's angry and waiting for the right time?

She tried to shake off the feeling, reminding herself why she agreed to come today - because Taehyung was going with her. With him, she felt safe. Like nothing could touch her.

And just then, she saw a familiar figure walking toward her. It was Taehyung, smiling wide, his hair messy in the morning breeze, and his hands casually stuffed in his pockets.

"There you are," he said cheerfully, eyes scanning her from head to toe. "You look beautiful today."

Evie gave him a small smile, but her nervous eyes gave her away. Still, Taehyung didn't press her. He simply walked beside her, and they both headed to the nearby bus stop together.

The bus arrived soon, and they got on quickly. It wasn't too crowded, so they found two seats together. Taehyung sat beside her, still talking in his usual cheerful tone, cracking light jokes and sharing random things just to distract her.

He was laughing, and his energy was comforting - but Evie wasn't fully present. She kept nodding or smiling quietly, but inside, she was still scared. Her stomach was tight with fear, and her hands were cold. She could barely focus on anything Taehyung was saying.

What if Jungkook does something today? she kept thinking. He's not the kind of person who just lets things go... And worst of all, she knew he had power. The kind of power that could turn her world upside down if he wanted.

She took a deep breath and silently prayed in her heart. Please, God... let him forget it... let him understand he was himself wrong at first place... please don't let anything bad happen today.

The bus finally stopped near their college, and they got down together. The familiar building stood in front of them, just like always - but today, everything felt different. Her steps were slow, cautious. But Taehyung was still right beside her.

They walked through the gates, and she braced herself for what was waiting inside.

As Evie stepped into the college campus, everything felt surprisingly normal. The usual crowd was walking around, students chatting in small groups, some rushing to their classes, some sitting lazily in corners.

Nothing seemed off. The college felt the same as always. The hallway looked the same, the classrooms sounded the same. It was almost strange how normal it all was, especially when her heart had been so anxious the entire morning.

She and Taehyung walked down the hallway together. His presence beside her helped her stay calm. He smiled at her every now and then, saying little things to make conversation.

When they reached their classroom, they quietly took their usual seats, side by side. Evie tried to focus, tried to pay attention to what the teachers were saying, but her mind was restless. Every now and then, she would glance at the door or look around the room, expecting something to happen.

Maybe Jungkook would suddenly walk in. Maybe his friends would say something. Maybe a whisper would reach her ears. But nothing came. No looks, no words, no presence. Everything felt too quiet.

As the day went on, Evie found herself holding Taehyung's hand during lectures. It brought her comfort, gave her a sense of safety. With him sitting next to her, his warm hand in hers, she felt less afraid. She barely listened to the teachers, her mind too busy watching him, feeling thankful that he was with her.

Throughout the entire day, she did not see Jungkook. Not even once. Nor did she see his close friends. No one mentioned him. No one brought up anything from the past two days. It was as if nothing had happened. And slowly, Evie allowed herself to breathe a little easier.

The fear in her chest loosened, just a little. The silence gave her relief, even if it was temporary. She spent her entire day with Taehyung, quietly leaning on him for comfort, and it was all she needed for now.

Even if she did not fully believe the storm had passed, she was grateful for the peace that today brought.

The entire day had passed just like a calm dream. Evie had stayed with Taehyung from the morning till now, and being around him felt like a warm blanket wrapped around her heart. After everything they had shared, especially the intimacy they had experienced, things had changed between them.

It was no longer just a friendship, not just innocent feelings or harmless closeness. It was something deeper now, something real. Taehyung was no longer just her best friend. He had become someone more. Someone she felt safe with. Someone who touched her soul gently and made her feel loved.

Taehyung had been so good to her all day. He did not treat her differently or awkwardly after they had gotten close that night. In fact, he made her feel even more special.

The way he smiled at her, the way he held her hand so casually, the way he looked into her eyes while talking–it was soft, comforting, and everything she had quietly wished for. Evie could not stop thinking about how kind he had been to her.

He was never tough, never selfish. When they were together, it was soft, tender, and full of emotion. It felt right.

Now it was the end of the day. The college was wrapping up. The bell had rung, and students were slowly pouring out of the classrooms. There was the usual noise of laughter, footsteps, and bags zipping up. Everyone was getting ready to leave.

Evie stayed seated for a bit, packing her things like she always did. She and Taehyung usually waited until the class was almost empty before leaving, and today was no different.

Taehyung stood beside her, putting his books into his bag when he suddenly paused and looked at her.

"Evie, I just remembered," he said, lightly snapping his fingers, "Professor Jes called me after class. He wanted to discuss something about the assignment. I totally forgot."

Evie looked up at him, slightly confused. "Now?"

"Yeah, he told me to come after college hours. I will go to him real quick. Can you pack my bag too? I will meet you at the exit gate."

Evie gave him a small smile and nodded. "Okay, I will. Just don't take too long."

But before she could say anything else, Taehyung leaned in quickly and pressed his lips against hers. It caught her off guard. The kiss was deep and intense, like he had been holding it in all day and could not wait another second.

Her eyes widened at first, but she melted into it for a moment. Then she gently pushed him back and quickly looked around the empty classroom, making sure no one had seen them.

"Taehyung," she whispered with a nervous laugh, her cheeks turning red, "What if someone saw us?"

Taehyung just chuckled and winked at her. "Let them. I will see you in a few minutes, okay?"

Before she could say anything else, he picked up his phone and rushed out of the classroom, still smiling to himself. Evie watched him go, her heart fluttering.

Her face was warm from blushing, and she touched her lips without even realizing it. So many things had happened in just a few days. Some moments had broken her, but now some were making her feel whole again. It was strange how life worked.

And right now, all she wanted was to hold on to this new happiness for as long as she could.

She laughed softly to herself, then bent down to pack Taehyung's bag like he had asked. She was still blushing, still smiling, and did not want anyone to walk in and see her like this - grinning like an idiot just because of one kiss.

But just as she was zipping up the last pocket of the bag, she heard footsteps entering the classroom. At first, she thought it was another student, maybe someone who forgot something or came back for their charger. She did not pay much attention and kept her head down.

But then something about the silence felt strange. She looked up slowly, and her smile faded instantly.

Her heart dropped.

It was not just a student.

It was Jungkook.

He stood there at the entrance of the classroom, just watching her. He had not said a word. He did not move. He just stared at her with an unreadable expression on his face.

Evie's breath hitched.

Her face lost all color, and her hands froze in place.

He was the last person she wanted to see right now.

Evie looked at Jungkook, hoping–praying–that maybe he had just come in by accident, maybe he had forgotten something, or maybe he was just passing by and did not even notice her. But deep down, she knew that was not true.

The way he was standing there, the way his eyes were locked on her–it was too focused, too intense. He was not here by chance. He was here for her. And the second their eyes met, her entire body froze.

Her voice came out shaky and unsure. "What... what are you doing here?" she asked, barely managing to get the words out.

But Jungkook did not respond.

He just kept staring at her. His eyes were unreadable–cold and dark, but not showing anger exactly. It was something scarier than anger.

It was calm. Too calm. That kind of calm that came right before a storm. There was no smirk on his face. No bitterness. Just a plain expression that somehow sent shivers down her spine.

Evie immediately grabbed both her bag and Taehyung's bag, her heart pounding in her chest. She tried to move past him, tried to walk away and pretend he was not there.

But Jungkook stepped forward quickly and blocked her path.

Her body tensed. She could feel the fear rising in her chest, choking her. She stood still, holding the bags tightly as if they could somehow protect her.

She slightly stuttered again, her voice trembling, "if you're here because of what happened... because of what I did..."

He said nothing, just kept staring at her.

She swallowed hard and tried to keep her voice steady, even though it was uneve. "If you think I'm going to apologize, then... forget it. I won't. You insulted me. You said disgusting things about me and my character.... I only slapped you because you deserved it. You humiliated me... I am not sorry for defending myself. And I won't apologize."

She tried to sound confident, but her voice cracked at the end, and her eyes betrayed her fear. She was scared. She could not hide it. And she knew he could see it.

There was silence.

Jungkook took one step forward.

Evie took one step back.

Another step from him.

Another shaky step back from her.

She was cornered now. Her breath was uneven. Her fingers were clutching the straps of the bags too tightly. And still, he did not say anything for a moment.

Then finally, in a voice that was calm but heavy, he said, "I just want to talk to you."

★ ★ ★

A/N: I know it might feel rushed, out of place, or even illogical right now and that's completely understandable. But don't worry. Everything happening is intentional and part of the larger plot. As the story unfolds, each detail will fall into place, and the logic behind it all will become clear.

—𝖽𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗏𝗈𝗍𝖾           𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝗋𝗈𝗉 𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍···୨ৎ