Jungkook removes his mask fully, taking a deep breath to compose himself. He raises his hand to show the imprint of your teeth, a silent accusation of the desperation of the moment. You roll your eyes, impatient and on edge.
"What are you doing here?" you demand, keeping your gun trained on him, though slightly lowered now due to your recognition.
"I should ask you that," he replies, his eyes flashing with a mixture of frustration and concern. "How'd you know this place?"
"Oh please, if you can find this place, I can find it in my sleep. Easy peasy!" He scoffs.
You roll your eyes again, hearing him speak. Turning back, you fix him with a hard stare, demanding the truth silently. He catches on and rolls his eyes in response.
"When you left with BoHyun, I found this," he says, pulling out a diamond ring that you instantly recognize as Hyeyeon's. "So she really was here?" you ask, taking the ring from his hand.
"Yes, and that's why I had to check on her last night's whereabouts. While I was at it, I looked into yours as well. Both your phones were tracked to this location last night before yours went off. It only came back on this morning. Hyeyeon's phone, however, has been on the whole time and pinned here, so I had to come check. But here you are, showing up by yourself" he then leans towards you, his daunting eyes matching yours.
"We're definitely going to have a serious talk about that," he says, his tone firm.
Before you can respond, both of you freeze at the sound of a voice approaching.
"You guys go ahead, I need to take a quick pee," calls out someone from the hallway.
In an instant, Jungkook's hands are on you again. He pulls you close, covering your mouth with one hand, pressing you both chest to chest to conceal your presence behind the shower curtain. This time, you don't resist; the proximity is a necessity as the footsteps grow nearer.
Hidden together in the cramped space, your heart races with the adrenaline of the situation and the unexpected closeness to Jungkook.
As the man enters, Jungkook presses you gently against the wall, a position more comfortable, his arm holding you securely. Positioned so closely, his face just above yours, you find yourself caught up in the moment, inhaling the familiar scent of him. Although his attention is fixed on the man outside the shower curtain, you can't help but study his features.
Amidst the tension of your hiding spot, thoughts swirl through your mind. You think how you might have just ended your relationship for this man right here. As these thoughts unfold, Jungkook catches your gaze, his expression changing slightly as he tries to read the emotions in your eyes with your faces so close.
The tension escalates rapidly when your grip loosens, and the gun slips from your hand, clattering loudly against the bathtub. Both your eyes and Jungkook's snap wide open as the noise abruptly stops the man's activity outside. Jungkook's frustration is palpable; he presses his eyes shut briefly and clenches his jaw in a silent curse.
"Who's there?" the man steps back. "Show yourself!" he demands gruffly, the sound of a gun being loaded chillingly clear in the small space.
Jungkook mutters a soft "Fuck" under his breath, realizing the gravity of the situation. He swiftly moves into action, straightening up into a defensive stance. With practiced ease, he pulls out his own gun, equipped with a silencer, ready to confront.
He turns to you, urgency etched on his face, and gestures sharply for you to face the wall. It's a clear signal that he doesn't want you to witness what might happen nextâa protective move, both to shield you from the violence and to keep you out of the line of fire. As you comply, turning to press your face against the cold wall, the reality of your situation sets in, heightened by the sound of footsteps approaching the bathtub.
As the footsteps grow louder, signaling the man's approach, Jungkook instinctively positions himself between you and the threat. He shifts you behind him, effectively using his body as a shield to protect you from any potential gunfire.
The tension in the air peaks as the man reaches the shower curtain. With a swift yank, he pulls it aside, exposing both of you in a sudden and aggressive move. But Jungkook is prepared; the moment the curtain is drawn back, he reacts with precision. He pulls the trigger of his silenced gun, and the man collapses onto the floor almost instantly. Blood splatters the tiles coming out of his forehead.
The bathroom is suddenly very still, save for the sound of dripping water and the harsh, ragged breaths filling the space.
Jungkook quickly shifts into action again after the deadly encounter. "Y/N, we need to get out of this building," he says urgently, his voice firm, signaling the immediate danger still present.
With a decisive move, he wraps his arm around your waist from behind, supporting your back against his chest. In a swift and efficient motion, he lifts you out of the bathtub, setting you firmly on your feet outside. "Don't turn around and keep an eye out," he instructs as he turns back to handle the aftermath of the confrontation.
You nod, your mind racing as you try to process the shock of what just happened. The sound of the body being maneuvered back into the bathtub and the curtain being hastily pulled closed breaks through your thoughts.
"Alright, let's go," Jungkook says, taking your hand firmly in his.
"No, wait," you interject, gripping his arm to stop him.
"Hyeyeon is in that room down the hall," you declare.
"What? Are you sure?" he asks, his brow furrowing.
"I'm 99% sure it's her. I swear I heard her voice," you insist.
"Y/N, in moments like this, it's easy to hear what you want to hear," he cautions. "It might not be Hyeyeon. There's a very small chance."
"But there's still a chance, right?" you press.
Seeing the resolve in your eyes, he understands your desperation to find out if it's truly Hyeyeon down that hall.
"Okay, I'll check on her, but I need to get you out of here first," he asserts with determination.
"No, I'm coming with you," you state firmly, standing your ground as he begins to turn away.
"Y/N, that's not happening. I'm not taking any chances; for all we know, that might not even be her," he counters, his tone final.
"Jungkook, pleaseâ"
"Y/N!" he nearly shouts, cutting you off. "I said no, end of discussion," he concludes, his words edged with frustration.
He begins guiding you out of the bathroom and down the stairs, each step calculated and quiet to avoid drawing any further attention.
As you and Jungkook attempt to make your escape from the floor, you suddenly come face-to-face with two men, one of whom you recognize from earlier. Your heart skips a beat, but without missing a stride, you swiftly take control of the situation.
"What the fuck are you doing here? Didn't I tell you toâ" the familiar man starts, his tone aggressive and suspicious as he steps towards you.
Before he can finish, you interrupt confidently, seizing an opportunity to create a diversion. "I found him," you declare, pointing at Jungkook. "He was just inside that room, with another girl." With these words, you spin around and deliver a sharp, resounding slap to Jungkook's face. The sound cracks through the tense air, leaving Jungkook momentarily stunned and wide-eyed, confused by your actions.
"I am going to kill him today," you proclaim loudly, grabbing Jungkook's collar and beginning to drag him down the stairs. "Move," you command, shoving one of the men aside with surprising force. Both men, taken aback by your sudden and aggressive behavior, hesitate just long enough for you to make your move.
With Jungkook in tow, feigning anger and dominance, you push through the confusion you've sown, quickly descending the stairs as the men recover from their shock. Your heart pounds with the adrenaline of the act, knowing that every second counts in maintaining the ruse long enough to escape.
As you descend the stairs, a voice from one of the men echoes through the corridor, "Yah! She lied, there's no girl in this room, but Hyun-won is dead in here." You and Jungkook exchange a quick, alarmed glance, then immediately hasten your steps, rushing out of the building.
After a tense escape, you and Jungkook finally make it outside the building. Panting and adrenaline-fueled, you both duck behind a car to catch your breath and assess your next steps. Jungkook, still reeling from the sudden slap and the aggressive ruse you used to get past the guards, turns to you with a mix of confusion and frustration.
"What the fuck was that?" Jungkook exclaims, still reeling from the events. "That was the second time you've slapped me today," he says, trying to make sense of the chaotic sequence of events.
"That was me saving our asses, and when the hell did I slap you today?" you snap back, rolling your eyes. Despite the tension, you're relieved that your quick actions helped you both escape immediate danger.
"You don't remember that?" he presses, his confusion evident as he challenges your claim.
"No, Jungkook," you respond, glancing around nervously to ensure none of the men from the building are in pursuit.
Jungkook looks at you, still puzzled by your denial about the earlier incident, but he quickly refocuses on the task at hand.
"Alright, how are you planning to go back up there? They must be alarmed by now," you ask, scanning the area for any signs of increased activity from the gang.
Jungkook also surveys the surroundings, his method more methodical and precise than yours.
As he observes, more members of the opposing gang begin to converge on the building. Despite this, he spots a potential route. "I'll go up the fire escape on the back of the building," he decides, returning to your side with a plan in mind.
"Okay, how can I help you?" you ask, ready to follow his lead and determined to be part of the action.
"You are going to go in my car and lock yourself up," he commands, his tone leaving little room for negotiation.
"What? No. I want to be useful," you protest, unwilling to be sidelined when you feel there's more you could do to help.
"This is not the side of the world you are part of. Leave it all to me," Jungkook insists firmly.
"Let's go get you in my car," he adds, grabbing your hand and leading you toward his vehicle with a sense of urgency.
"Jungkook, trust me, I am ready for this," you assert as you reach his car, trying to convince him of your capability to handle the situation.
He doesn't respond to your plea and continues with his preparations, popping open the car trunk to grab more bullet magazines. As he rummages through the dashboard, a rectangular box falls out. He quickly shoves it aside, his actions suspicious and hurried.
"Are you listening to me?" you ask, feeling ignored and sidelined. "I am ready for thisâ"Before you can finish your sentence, Jungkook snaps.
"No, you aren't fucking ready, Y/N!" he shouts, his voice loud enough to startle you. His intense reaction reflects his deep concern for your safety, underscored by the dangerous environment that he feels you are not prepared to face.
"No, you aren't listening to me! I said I am fucking ready. The only thing I wasn't ready for was to hear that my best friend of 18 years is dead, that too on the day of my birthday," you retort fiercely, your emotions raw and your resolve firm.
"Y/N," Jungkook responds patiently, his hand reaching up to envelope your neck gently, pulling your face close to his. His eyes search yours, intense and focused. "I know you are hurting, but if I take you with me, all my attention will be on you and keeping you safe. If you stay back here, I'll know you'll be safe, and I will be able to do my job," he explains, his voice gritty, his breath softly brushing against your face with your lips so close.
"It's your choice," he adds silently, releasing you gently and stepping back to continue his preparations. His words hang in the air, giving you a moment to consider the gravity of the situation and the impact of your decision on both of your safety and the mission's success.
As you ponder Jungkook's words, you watch him prepare himself for the task ahead. He takes off his hoodie, then the shirt underneath, revealing a bare torso marked only by a silver chain around his neck. Your eyes inadvertently trace the lines of his body up to his face.
"How do I know you'll come back safe?" you ask, the worry evident in your voice, shifting the focus from Hyeyeon's safety to his, momemntarily. Your question catches him off guard, showing a vulnerability that neither of you has addressed until now.
He pauses, looking back at you with a seriousness that softens slightly as he understands your concern. Dressed now in a black t-shirt and a black hat, he appears ready, yet his next words are meant to reassure you. "Because this isn't my first rodeo," he says confidently. "I've dealt with worse."
His assurance is meant to comfort you, yet the reality of the danger he's about to face hangs heavily between you. His experience might give him an edge, but it also underscores the risks involved in what he's about to do.
He then grabs the box you noticed earlier and shoves it toward you. "Happy birthday," he mutters, almost reluctantly, without making eye contact. You had already forgotten that it was your birthday but he didn't. As you take the box, understanding that it's indeed your birthday gift adds another layer of emotions between you two.
"Okay, get in the car now," he commands, holding the door open and waiting for you to comply.
"Good girl," he adds as you step inside. As soon as you're settled, he presses a button that locks all the doors, making it impossible for you to open them from the inside.
"Are you serious?" you exclaim, agitated by his overprotective actions.
He gives you a knowing look, his mind already shifting back to the task ahead as he surveys the building again. "Alright, I'll be back," he assures, beginning to close the door.
But before he can leave, you catch his attention, compelling him to look at you one more time. "If you die today, I will kill you," you half-joke, half-serious, trying to lighten the mood with a hint of humor despite the gravity of the situation.
He looks down at your lips and then back into your eyes, a soft smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "See you soon," he promises, and then he's gone, disappearing into the fray, leaving you in the locked car, filled with a mix of worry and hope as you wait for his safe return with Hyeyeon.
As you sit in the silence of the locked car, your curiosity gets the better of you, and you finally look down at the box Jungkook handed you. With a mixture of anticipation and curiosity, you gently untie the ribbon and lift the lid of the box. To your surprise, the box contains nothing but only a piece of paper. Puzzled, you remove it and discover it's a receipt and a bond of purchase. As you scan the document, trying to make sense of it, another piece of paper slips outâa post-it note.
Your heart skips a beat as you pick up the small, yellow square and unfold the mystery it carries. The realization of what it represents washes over you, and your eyes fill with tearsânot of sadness, but of overwhelmed gratitude and disbelief. The paper is a proof of purchase for a piece of land in downtown of Gangnam-gu, registered under your name. The post-it bears a handwritten message from Jungkook: "For your first cafe."
You know well that such a property costs a fortune and requires special permissions to acquire. Your heart pounds loudly in your chest as you process what Jungkook has done for you. This was your dream, to open a café, a dream you might have mentioned in passing but never expected anyone to remember or act upon with especially such a grand gesture.
He had remembered your dreamâperhaps more vividly and committedly than even you had lately. This gesture, so thoughtful and impactful, solidifies how deeply he cares about your aspirations. It ignites something within you, a growing realization of the depth of your feelings for him. As you hold the papers, clutching them close to your heart, you feel a mix of hope and fear for his safe return, now more eager than ever for him to come back so you can thank him for the gift.