23 - Unusual date

"Jungkook, this is the dumbest idea you've ever had."

I stand in the middle of an empty, abandoned bowling alley, staring at the dust-covered lanes and flickering neon sign that barely spells out "Strike Zone" above us. The place is completely deserted—no staff, no music, just the sound of our footsteps echoing off the worn wooden floors.

Jungkook, however, looks absolutely thrilled. "Oh, come on," he says, nudging me with his elbow. "Where's your sense of adventure?"

"I think I left it at home" I mumble, watching as he jogs over to one of the lanes and picks up a bowling ball that looks like it's been there since the early 2000s.

He dusts it off, dramatically stretches his arms, and takes an exaggerated stance. "Alright, watch and learn, doll. This is how a pro does it."

I cross my arms and smirk. "A pro? You do realize this place has probably been closed for years, right?"

"Exactly! Which means I'm the reigning champion." He grins, then sends the ball rolling down the lane with surprising precision. It knocks over a few pins, but before we can celebrate, the ball disappears into the return system... and doesn't come back.

Jungkook stares at the empty return slot. "Well. That's unfortunate."

I burst out laughing. "Guess your champion title is revoked."

"Or maybe..." He turns to me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Maybe I just need a new rival. Come on, let's make a bet."

I raise an eyebrow. "A bet? With what? There are no working lanes, no pins, and we just lost the only ball!"

He shrugs. "Doesn't matter. Let's say... whoever finds another bowling ball first gets to ask for a favor. No questions asked."

I consider it for a moment before grinning. "Deal."

For the next ten minutes, we scour the dark corners of the alley, laughing as we stumble over forgotten furniture and random arcade machines covered in dust.

At one point, Jungkook tries to lift an ancient vending machine, convinced a ball might be stuck underneath, only to nearly topple it over.

"You're going to get us both killed" I say between fits of laughter.

"But what a way to go" he quips, flashing me his charming smile.

Eventually, I find a ball stuck behind a counter and hold it up victoriously. "Looks like I win."

Jungkook groans. "Damn it. Alright, what's your favor?"

I tap my chin, pretending to think. "I'll save it for later."

He narrows his eyes. "Dangerous. I respect it."

The sun is setting by the time we leave, the sky painted in shades of orange and deep blue. The air is warm, but there's a slight breeze as we walk towards his car.

Jungkook turns to me as he unlocks the door. "Hey... do you want to come up for a drink?"

I hesitate for a second, then nod. "Yeah, I'd like that."

~~~~~~~~~~

Stepping into Jungkook's apartment, I immediately feel like I've walked into a model home rather than someone's actual living space. It's eerily clean, almost impersonal.

There are no framed photos, no cozy blankets tossed over the couch, no signs of life. Just minimalist furniture, a perfectly organized kitchen, and a bookshelf that looks untouched.

"Your place is... very neat" I say carefully.

Jungkook hands me a glass of whiskey, taking a sip of his own before smirking. "You mean it looks like no one actually lives here?"

I give him a sheepish smile. "A little bit, yeah."

He leans against the counter, swirling the liquid in his glass. "I guess I never really settled in. It's just a place to sleep and work. That's about it."

I glance around again, my fingers tightening around my glass. "That's kind of sad."

He chuckles. "Maybe." Then, after a beat, he smirks. "But, you know... there is one place I actually put some effort into."

I raise an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"My bed." He grins, finishing the rest of his drink. "Surprisingly comfortable. You should come test it out."

I roll my eyes, but my heart skips a beat. "Smooth, Mr. Jeon."

He shrugs, setting his glass down. "What can I say? I like getting what I want."

And as I look into his dark, mischievous eyes, I realize—so do I.