6

The next day, you find yourself stuck at home with Mino. He had insisted on spending time together, saying he missed you, but now that he's here, he's barely paying attention to you.

You're both sitting on the couch, some random show playing on the TV, but your focus isn't on the screen—it's on Mino, who's been glued to his phone for the past twenty minutes. His thumb scrolls endlessly, his face illuminated by the screen's glow, completely checked out of the moment.

You sigh, shifting slightly beside him, hoping he'll take the hint. He doesn't.

"Mino," you say, trying to keep your voice light, "are you even watching this?"

"Yeah, yeah," he mutters absentmindedly, still typing.

You press your lips together, irritation bubbling up. It's not like you want to be thinking about Jungkook right now, but after everything that's happened, sitting here with Mino—while he barely acknowledges you—just makes the contrast even more obvious.

At least with Jungkook, you felt something.

You shake the thought away, forcing yourself to focus on the show. But the nagging feeling lingers—like you're physically here, but mentally, you've already checked out. Just like Mino.

Just as you're about to say something—anything—to get Mino off his damn phone, a sudden knock at the door makes you jump.

Mino barely reacts, just glancing up for a second before returning to whatever has his attention. With an annoyed sigh, you push yourself off the couch and head for the door, brushing your hair back as you open it.

You open the door, and there Jungkook stands—casual, effortless, with that damn smirk that makes your stomach tighten.

"Hey," he says, his voice smooth. "Think I left my jacket here."

Your heartbeat stumbles. Of course he'd show up now, when Mino is here, when you're already teetering on the edge of guilt and frustration.

You hesitate for a split second before stepping aside. "Come in. I'll grab it."

Jungkook steps inside without question, his presence filling the space so easily it's almost suffocating. He doesn't even glance at Mino as he leans against the wall, waiting.

The moment Mino sees him, though, it's like a switch flips.

Suddenly, he's putting his phone down—actually paying attention. His arm snakes around your waist as he pulls you back onto the couch beside him, closer than he's been all night. His hand rests on your thigh, his voice deliberately casual as he asks, "Who's this?"

You stiffen. "This is Jungkook, my neighbor."

Jungkook simply nods in greeting, his expression unreadable as he watches Mino's sudden display. If he finds it amusing—or even worth acknowledging—he doesn't show it.

Mino hums, tightening his grip on you like he's making a statement. "Didn't know you had a neighbor stopping by." His voice is light, but there's something underneath it, something territorial.

You shift uncomfortably, hyper-aware of the tension in the room. Jungkook, however, remains completely unbothered, his expression indifferent as he watches the exchange like it doesn't affect him in the slightest.

"I just needed my jacket," he says simply, his gaze finally flicking to you. "That's all."

You nod quickly, standing up. "Right, I'll go get it."

You slip out of Mino's grasp and head to your room, needing a moment to breathe. But even as you grab Jungkook's jacket, you can't ignore the way your skin still tingles where his eyes lingered.

And the way Mino never acts like this—except when there's someone else watching.

As you walk back into the living room, jacket in hand, you can feel the tension thick in the air. Mino's grip on you earlier, the way he suddenly put his phone down, the way he keeps glancing at Jungkook like he's sizing him up—it's all so unlike him.

You've never known Mino to be the jealous type. If anything, he's always been indifferent, distant. So why now?

You hand Jungkook his jacket, avoiding his gaze. "Here."

"Thanks," he murmurs, his fingers brushing against yours as he takes it. The touch is fleeting, barely there, but it lingers in a way it shouldn't.

Before you can dwell on it, Mino suddenly stands up, stepping behind you and resting his hands on your shoulders. The movement is so out of character it almost startles you.

Then, before you can react, he's tilting your chin up and pressing a kiss to your lips.

It's not a sweet, casual kiss. It's firm, deliberate—like he's making a point. Like he's showing off.

You freeze for half a second, caught off guard by the sudden affection. He's never been one for public displays, especially not in front of someone he doesn't know.

Jungkook doesn't react. Not a twitch of an eyebrow, not a smirk, not even the slightest change in his expression. He simply watches, completely unreadable, like he's already checked out of the moment.

When Mino pulls away, his arm stays loosely around your waist as he glances at Jungkook. "Nice meeting you, man."

Jungkook gives him the barest nod, then looks at you. "See you around." His voice is smooth, calm—completely unaffected.

And just like that, he turns and leaves, slipping through the door without a second glance.

You exhale a breath you didn't even realize you were holding.

Mino, still close, watches the door shut before looking down at you. "What's up with him?"

You swallow, shaking your head. "I don't know."

But the real question gnawing at you is—what's up with you?

Because that kiss? It should have reassured you. It should have reminded you where you stand.

But all it did was make you realize how different it felt.And worse—how much you noticed Jungkook's lack of reaction.

As the door clicks shut behind Jungkook, Mino lingers for a moment before turning to you, arms crossing over his chest.

"So..." he starts, his tone casual, but you can tell there's something else behind it. "Why was his jacket here?"

You sigh, already feeling tired of the conversation. "He helps with my garden sometimes," you say, shrugging. "He must've left it the last time he was over."

Mino raises an eyebrow. "Helps with your garden?"

"Yes, Mino." Your tone is already edged with irritation. "He's my neighbor."

He hums like he doesn't quite believe it, then leans against the couch, still watching you. "What does he do for a living?"

You blink at him, caught off guard by how nosy he suddenly is. "Why do you care?"

Mino scoffs, gesturing vaguely toward the door. "I don't care. I just think it's weird that some random guy is hanging around your house, leaving his jacket here."

You cross your arms, frustration bubbling. "He's not some random guy, he's my neighbor. And if you must know, he's a boxer."

Mino pauses at that. "A boxer?" He raises an eyebrow, his expression shifting slightly. "Like... professional?"

You sigh. "Yes, professional."

Mino clicks his tongue, shaking his head like he's putting something together in his mind. "Huh."

That's it. That's all he says. But it's the way he says it that makes your irritation spike.

You huff, stepping back. "Why are you so up in Jungkook's business all of a sudden?" You gesture toward the couch. "You've been glued to your phone all night, barely paying attention to me, but the second he walks in, you're suddenly all over me? Now you care?"

Mino's jaw tightens, his eyes narrowing slightly. "That's not—"

"Just admit it," you cut in, shaking your head. "You didn't like him being here."

Mino exhales through his nose, looking away for a moment before muttering, "Can you blame me?"

You stare at him, caught between frustration and something deeper, something you don't quite want to name.

Because maybe, just maybe, Mino is picking up on something you don't want to admit to yourself.

And that scares you.

Just as the tension between you and Mino reaches its peak, his phone vibrates in his pocket. He pulls it out, glances at the screen, and in an instant, his whole demeanor shifts.

"Hey," he answers, his voice suddenly lighter, almost cheerful. A small smile tugs at his lips—one you haven't seen all evening.

You stand there, arms crossed, watching as he turns slightly away from you, lowering his voice. Whatever—or whoever—is on the other end of that call has his full attention now.

"Yeah, for sure," he says, chuckling at something. "I can be there soon."

Your stomach tightens. So that's it? One second, he's all worked up about Jungkook, and the next, he's grinning at his phone like nothing even happened?

Mino finally ends the call and shoves his phone into his pocket before glancing at you. "I gotta go."

You blink. "Seriously?"

He shrugs, not even bothering to give you an excuse. "Yeah, something came up."

Something. Someone.

You don't know why, but it stings more than it should. Maybe because just minutes ago, he was acting possessive—jealous, even—and now, he's ditching you without a second thought.

You exhale sharply, stepping back. "Fine. Go."

Mino hesitates for half a second, like he wants to say something else, but then he just nods. "I'll text you later."

And with that, he's gone, leaving you standing in the middle of your living room—alone with your thoughts.

And the unsettling realization that, for the first time in your relationship, you don't feel bad watching him walk away.

As soon as Mino steps outside, something urges you to follow him—not literally, but just enough to watch through the window. You don't even know why you do it. Maybe curiosity. Maybe frustration. Maybe because the tension from earlier is still weighing on you.

He strides toward his car, but then he pauses.

Your eyes follow his line of sight, and that's when you see Jungkook.

He's in his driveway, crouched next to a sleek black motorcycle, his toned arms flexing as he tightens something near the engine. He's focused, oblivious at first—until Mino changes course and heads straight for him.

You frown, stepping closer to the window, your heart picking up pace. What is he doing?

Mino stops a few feet away, hands in his pockets. Jungkook finally notices him, glancing up, his expression unreadable as he wipes his hands on a rag.

Then, to your absolute shock, Mino asks, "You single?"

Your breath catches.

Jungkook doesn't react at first. He just blinks, then tilts his head slightly, as if processing the question. Then, slowly, a smirk tugs at the corner of his lips.

"Why?" Jungkook replies, voice smooth, teasing. "You interested?"

Mino scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Not even close, man." He shifts on his feet. "Just wondering."

Jungkook leans back against his bike, crossing his arms. "You seem real invested in my personal life for someone who just met me."

Mino huffs, clearly irritated. "I just don't get it."

Jungkook raises a brow. "Get what?"

Mino glances toward your house, and your stomach flips as you quickly step back, hoping he doesn't see you. "Nothing," he mutters, shaking his head. "Forget it."

Without another word, he turns and stalks back to his car, slamming the door shut before driving off.

Jungkook watches him go, then—almost like he knows you're watching—he lifts his gaze toward your window.

And then, just barely, he smirks.

Your breath catches in your throat, heart hammering as you quickly step away from the window.

A few minutes pass, and you're still standing in the middle of your living room, your mind racing. You don't know what the hell that was about—Mino questioning Jungkook like that, the tension in the air, the way Jungkook smirked like he knew something you didn't.

Then, your phone buzzes.

You hesitate before looking down at the screen.

Jungkook: You know I can see you, right?

Your heart skips.

You freeze, glancing toward the window again, but this time, you don't step closer. You don't dare. Instead, you clutch your phone tighter, your pulse suddenly too loud in your ears.

Another message comes in.

Jungkook: Did you like the show?

Your breath catches. That cocky bastard.

Biting your lip, you hesitate, fingers hovering over your screen. You shouldn't respond. You should put your phone down, pretend you didn't see it.

But then—almost like your hands have a mind of their own—you type back.

You: What was that about?

It doesn't take long for him to reply.

Jungkook: You tell me. Your boyfriend seems real curious about me.

You exhale sharply, frustration and something else curling in your stomach.

You: He's not usually like that.

A beat passes. Then—

Jungkook: Interesting.

That's all he says. Just one word. But somehow, it's enough to make your entire body feel warm.

You don't reply. You can't. Because deep down, you know this is dangerous.

Your phone buzzes again.

Jungkook: I'm coming over.

Your breath catches. You stare at the screen, rereading the message as a rush of something—anticipation? excitement?—floods through you.

You shouldn't feel this way. You should tell him no, that it's not a good idea, that Mino just left and the last thing you need is to make things even messier.

But instead, your fingers move on their own.

You: Right now?

His response is instant.

Jungkook: Yeah. Unless you don't want me to.

Your stomach flips. You glance at the mirror, suddenly aware of how you look—still in your comfy clothes, hair slightly messy from the long day. You should say no. You should.

But you don't.

You: Door's unlocked.

The second you send it, your heart races. You barely have time to process what you've just done before you hear it—three soft knocks at the door.

He's already here.

You take a deep breath before opening the door, and there he is—Jungkook, leaning against the doorframe like he has all the time in the world. His dark eyes scan over you slowly, taking you in, before a smirk tugs at his lips.

"Didn't take long for your boyfriend to run off," he muses, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. His voice is smooth, teasing. Dangerous.

You roll your eyes, shutting the door behind him. "Mino's just—"

"Jealous?" Jungkook finishes for you, raising a brow. "Yeah, I noticed." He chuckles, shaking his head as he steps closer, closing the space between you. "Didn't expect him to straight-up ask if I was single, though."

You swallow, feeling the warmth of his presence. "He's not usually like that."

Jungkook hums, eyes flickering down to your lips before meeting your gaze again. "Interesting."

The way he says it makes your skin heat. Then, before you can react, he lifts a hand, his fingers grazing along your jaw, slow and deliberate. "Not that it matters to me." His voice drops slightly, more intimate now. "I don't care what he thinks."

Your breath hitches. "You don't?"

He shakes his head, tilting his own slightly. "Nah. I just know I wanted to see you." His fingers trail down your arm, sending shivers up your spine. "And now that I'm here..."

He leans in, his lips just barely brushing your ear as he murmurs, "I just wanna feel you."

Your whole body reacts to his words. The air is thick, charged with something you know you shouldn't give into—but God, does it feel intoxicating.

Then, he pulls back just enough to meet your eyes again, his gaze heavy with something unreadable. "You look good, by the way." His smirk returns, cocky but undeniably attractive. "Even better than I remember."

Your heart pounds. You should say something, push him away, remind him that this is wrong.

But instead, you just stand there—breathless, waiting, wanting.

Before you can even protest, Jungkook grips your waist and lifts you effortlessly into his arms. A small gasp escapes you, but he only chuckles, carrying you through the hallway like it's the easiest thing in the world.

"Jungkook—"

He smirks, pushing open your bedroom door with his foot. "Don't act so shy now," he teases, placing you down on the bed. His strong hands stay on your hips for a moment, his touch lingering. "We made a deal, remember?"

Your heart pounds as you look up at him. "The garden..."

Jungkook nods, leaning in slightly. "That's right. I mow your lawn, and you..." His fingers trail up your thigh, making you shiver. "Give me something back in return."

You swallow hard, your breath catching as his dark eyes hold yours. The room feels smaller, warmer, charged with something undeniable.

He tilts his head, watching you closely. "So, are you gonna keep your end of the deal?"

You smirk, tilting your head as you look up at him. "You do realize you already mowed my garden, right?"

Jungkook blinks, then lets out a deep chuckle, shaking his head. "Oh, so that's how it is?" He leans in closer, his hands bracing on either side of you. "Trying to get out of our deal now?"

You bite your lip, amused by the way his voice drops, thick with teasing. "I mean... technically, the job's already done."

He hums, pretending to think about it before he drops his head, lips barely brushing your ear. "Yeah, but I like collecting my payments in advance."

Your stomach flips as his fingers trace down your arm, his touch slow, deliberate. You know he's playing with you, testing just how far you'll let this go.

So, you decide to challenge him back.

"Well," you say, eyes locking with his, "if you're collecting in advance... does that mean you'll have to mow the garden again?"

Jungkook grins, his tongue swiping across his lower lip. "Oh, sweetheart," he murmurs, "at this rate, your lawn's gonna be the best-kept one on the block."

Jungkook doesn't hesitate. As soon as your words leave your lips, his arms are around you again, lifting you effortlessly. A surprised gasp escapes you, but it quickly turns into a laugh when you see the smug look on his face.

"You talk too much," he teases, carrying you down the hallway.

Your arms instinctively wrap around his shoulders, feeling the strength in them as he moves with ease. "And you're too eager," you fire back playfully.

Jungkook only smirks. "Can you blame me?"

Before you can respond, he reaches your bedroom and nudges the door open with his foot. The moment you're inside, he kicks it shut behind him, the soft click of the door locking sending a shiver down your spine.

Now, it's just the two of you.

No distractions. No interruptions.

Just the deal you made... and the undeniable tension crackling between you.

Jungkook sets you down gently on the bed, hovering over you with that same dark, knowing gaze. "Guess I'll have to remind you why this deal works so well," he murmurs, his fingers grazing your jaw.

As Jungkook hovers over you, you take a second to really look at him. It hits you then—just how easy it is to fall into his rhythm, to get swept up in his teasing, his touch, his presence. Every time he flirts, every time he smirks like he knows exactly what he's doing to you, you fall right into it without hesitation.

And looking at him now? It's obvious why.

His dark hair is slightly messy, strands falling over his forehead like he's just run his hands through it. His sharp, defined jaw clenches slightly, his tongue peeking out to wet his lips as his gaze stays locked onto yours. His eyes—dark, focused, intense—hold something unreadable, something dangerous that makes your heart race.

His skin glows under the soft light of your room, a mix of golden warmth and shadow highlighting the sharp lines of his cheekbones. The tattoos on his arm shift as he braces himself over you, muscles flexing beneath smooth skin. He's wearing a fitted black t-shirt, the fabric clinging to his broad chest, his toned shoulders, his strong arms. He looks effortlessly put together, yet there's something raw, something untamed about him.

And then, of course, there's that smirk. The one that's been driving you crazy since the moment you met him.

"You're staring," Jungkook murmurs, amusement lacing his tone.

Your breath catches. You weren't even aware you were doing it.

"You just..." You swallow, trying to sound unaffected. "You always look like trouble."

Jungkook chuckles, his fingers tracing up your arm, featherlight. "That's because I am trouble, sweetheart." His gaze flickers down to your lips before meeting your eyes again, darker this time. "And you? You love it."

As Jungkook leans in closer, the scent of his cologne surrounds you—rich, woody, with a hint of something slightly sweet. It's intoxicating, lingering in the air between you, making it impossible to focus on anything else. It smells like him—bold, irresistible, dangerous.

And then there's his breath, cool and fresh, carrying the faint scent of mint. It mixes with the warmth of his skin, the heat radiating from his body as he watches you with that knowing smirk.

"You're thinking too much," he murmurs, his voice low, teasing. His fingers trace gently along your jaw, tilting your chin up slightly. "Or are you just distracted?"

Your pulse quickens. The answer is obvious.

Jungkook chuckles, his breath fanning against your lips. "I'll take that as a yes."

Jungkook tilts his head, his smirk deepening as he watches your reaction. His fingers trail lightly down your arm, sending a shiver through you. "You know," he murmurs, his voice dripping with amusement, "I can't stop thinking about earlier."

You blink, trying to steady your breath. "Earlier?"

He nods, leaning in just enough for you to catch another whiff of his cologne, mixed with that cool, minty breath. "The way your boyfriend got all territorial the second I stepped inside," he muses, his lips dangerously close to your ear. "Like he knows he's got competition."

Your heart stutters in your chest, but before you can respond, Jungkook pulls back just enough to meet your gaze. His eyes are dark, filled with mischief.

"He should be worried, though," he adds casually, tracing his thumb along your wrist. "I mean... we both know I'm better at this than he is."

Your breath catches. "Better at what?"

Jungkook grins, his teeth sinking into his lower lip like he's holding back a laugh. "Everything." His voice is smooth, confident, absolutely cocky. "Talking to you. Teasing you. Touching you." His gaze flickers down to where his fingers graze your skin. "And from the way you keep looking at me? I think you agree."

Your stomach flips, heat rushing through you. He's insufferable. Shameless. Completely full of himself.

You roll your eyes, exhaling sharply. "You talk way too much," you mutter.

Jungkook only smirks. "Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do about it?"

Without another word, you grab the front of his shirt and pull him closer, closing the distance between you in one swift motion. His breath catches for just a second—just long enough for you to catch that flicker of surprise in his dark eyes—before he chuckles lowly against your lips.

"Mm," he hums, amused. "That's one way to shut me up."

His hands settle on your waist, fingers pressing into your skin like he's anchoring himself. "But," he murmurs, tilting his head slightly, his voice dropping, "you do realize this just proves my point, right?"

You narrow your eyes at him, but before you can respond, he leans in, his lips ghosting over yours as he smirks.

"I knew you liked me better."