chapter 11

The Awakening of Something NewJungkook was in his cabin, surrounded by a mountain of paperwork that had kept him shackled to his desk since early morning. The weight of his CEO title bore down on him, his muscles aching from hours of sitting in the same position. The air in the office was thick with the scent of leather and expensive cologne, but even that did little to mask the frustration simmering beneath his cold exterior.He massaged his forehead, exhaling sharply as he skimmed through another report. It wasn't as if he hated his work-he was good at it, damn great, actually-but sometimes it sucked. Badly.A sharp knock on his cabin door snapped him out of his thoughts. Without looking up, he muttered, "Come in."The door opened slightly, and his secretary, Tony, peeked inside. "May I enter, sir?""Hmm."Tony approached the desk and observed his boss, who was practically drowning in work. Jungkook, for all his cold demeanor, was a man of discipline and determination. In Tony's eyes, he was nothing short of an inspiration, despite being a ruthless businessman with a reputation for being distant and unapproachable."Boss, your lunch," Tony announced, placing a neatly packed lunch box on the desk.At the mention of food, Jungkook's eyes flickered with interest, the weariness in them momentarily replaced with something lighter. He sat up straighter, his gaze dropping to the box in Tony's hands as if it held something sacred."Leave it here," Jungkook ordered, his voice calmer now.Tony obeyed, setting the lunch down before giving a small bow. "Enjoy your meal, sir.""You too," Jungkook replied absentmindedly, already focused on the box.As the door clicked shut behind Tony, Jungkook wasted no time. He pulled the box closer, the aroma of freshly prepared food instantly hitting his senses. His stomach growled in response.It wasn't the first time Y/N had sent him lunch, but for some reason, today was different. Maybe because, for the first time in six months of marriage, he was actually appreciating it.Maybe because he was starting to notice her efforts.Maybe because he had begun to realize how much she did for him, without expecting anything in return.A strange warmth settled in his chest. Shaking off the unfamiliar feeling, Jungkook dialed his secretary. After confirming his schedule was clear for the evening, he grabbed his belongings and walked out of the cabin, a sudden urge pulling him homeward.It was strange. Unbelievable, even. But he wanted to see her.---At HomeY/N sat in the living room, surrounded by Jungkook's cousins. They were engaged in their usual playful banter, their voices filling the space with laughter and lighthearted arguments. Y/N mostly listened, offering small smiles and quiet chuckles.Then, Leena, one of Jungkook's cousins, suddenly turned to Y/N, her eyes glinting with mischief."So, Y/N," Leena began, placing her juice glass down. "Where are you from? And how exactly did you end up with Jungkook? I mean, you didn't even know him before the wedding, right? So, how did this miracle of marrying a rich man happen?"There was something off about her tone-too sweet, too calculated. The words, though phrased casually, carried a sharp edge.Y/N, oblivious to the underlying malice, smiled softly. "You're right. Jungkook and I never met before our wedding. My father and Mr. Jeon were best friends. When my father fell ill, he wished to see his friend one last time. That's when Mr. Jeon visited us. I used to live with my father in Roha."As she mentioned her father, Y/N's eyes glistened, but she quickly composed herself."Roha?" Leena frowned. "Isn't that near Gwangju River? A village?"Y/N nodded hesitantly, sensing the change in Leena's demeanor."A village? Wow!" Bora, another cousin, sighed dreamily. "I always wanted to visit a place like that. A cozy little cottage, a river nearby, fresh air, and a handsome boyfriend to cuddle with-so romantic!"Y/N chuckled at Bora's fantasy, but Leena scoffed."Not romantic. Disgusting," Leena sneered. "I mean, imagine living in a place with no AC, surrounded by mud and mosquitoes. Ew. I swear, I wouldn't even last a day in such a place."Y/N's fingers curled into her lap, a wave of discomfort washing over her."I honestly don't know how Jungkook agreed to this marriage," Leena continued, her voice laced with fake amusement. "He always had high standards, you know? He used to say he'd only marry someone of his status-a modern, sophisticated woman. Not an illiterate village girl."Silence filled the room.Bora and Zaid exchanged glances, sensing the tension."Leena, stop your nonsense," Zaid finally snapped. "You're embarrassing Y/N for no reason. There's nothing wrong with coming from a village. Honestly, I'd choose that over this polluted city any day."Leena shrugged, offering a fake smile. "Oh, Y/N, I didn't mean it that way. Please don't take it personally."Y/N forced a smile, swallowing the lump in her throat.Leena smirked, satisfied, before excusing herself. As she walked away, the sting of her words lingered."You okay?" Bora asked gently.Y/N nodded, but her heart felt heavy.---The night was quiet, save for the distant hum of the city outside their bedroom window. The warm glow of the bedside lamp cast soft shadows across the room as Y/N adjusted the pillows on the bed, her fingers absently smoothing over the fabric. She had spent the evening with Jungkook's family, enduring subtle jabs from Leena, who made sure to remind her of how 'lucky' she was to be married to him. But was she really lucky?The thought lingered in her mind as she absentmindedly fluffed the pillow.Just then, the bathroom door creaked open.Y/N didn't turn, too lost in her thoughts. But she heard the sound of bare feet padding against the wooden floor, the subtle rustling of fabric, and then-"Y/N!"She flinched slightly, snapped out of her trance by Jungkook's sudden call."Hmm?" she responded, still not facing him."Aish... what the-" he muttered in frustration before sighing. "Y/N, can you help me? I'm stuck!"Stuck?Her brows furrowed, and she turned, only for her breath to catch in her throat.Jungkook stood there, his head trapped inside his half-worn shirt, his arms tangled in the fabric as he struggled to pull it off. His toned torso was on full display, the dim lighting accentuating every defined muscle. His damp hair stuck to his forehead, droplets of water trailing down his collarbones.For a brief moment, she simply stared.Then, the sight registered, and she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing."Yah! Where are you?" Jungkook whined, shifting in frustration as he attempted to free himself. "Help me!"Suppressing the giggle threatening to escape, Y/N shook her head and walked toward him."How did you even manage this?" she asked, amusement laced in her voice."I forgot to unbutton the top two buttons before putting it on," he grumbled, struggling uselessly.She sighed, stepping closer to untangle him. "Hold still."Jungkook went still immediately, letting her fingers work through the fabric. As she carefully freed his arms first, their hands brushed for the briefest moment.A jolt ran through him.His breath hitched, and Y/N faltered slightly, her fingers hesitating before resuming. There was something oddly intimate about the way she was helping him-close enough for him to catch the faint scent of her shampoo, her warmth radiating against him.Jungkook could feel the heat creeping up his neck, though he wasn't sure if it was from the embarrassment of getting stuck in his own shirt or the way Y/N's fingers delicately brushed against his skin as she worked to free him.His breathing hitched when her fingertips grazed his collarbone, a featherlight touch that sent an unexpected jolt through his body. He swallowed hard, his senses suddenly too aware of everything-her proximity, the warmth of her skin, the way her breath fanned over his jaw. Y/N, on the other hand, felt an odd heat creeping up her neck. She focused on the buttons, fingers trembling slightly as she undid the last one, finally pulling the shirt over his head.Jungkook exhaled in relief, eyes fluttering shut for a second-only to wince when he felt a sharp tug at his scalp."Ow-"She gasped, realizing what had happened. "Oh! Wait, your hair's caught-"Y/N reached up quickly, her fingers threading through his damp locks to free the strands from the stubborn button. Jungkook remained still, his pulse hammering as her fingers brushed against his scalp.But the sensation wasn't unpleasant-it was oddly soothing.God.Why did that feel so... nice?Then he realized.They were too close.The space between them had vanished without him noticing, her scent wrapping around him-subtle, sweet, and familiar. His eyes flickered to her lips for a brief secondHer gentle touch sent an involuntary shiver down his spine. His breathing grew shallow as he became hyper-aware of everything-the warmth of her body so close, the way her breath fanned over his jaw.And then it happened.Before he could think, before he could stop himself, his arms instinctively wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer.Y/N stiffened.Her heart stuttered, caught off guard by the sudden hold. Jungkook barely registered what he was doing before his body betrayed him. His head dipped slightly, and before he could stop himself, his face found the crook of her neck.God.She was warm.Soft.His lashes fluttered as he inhaled deeply, drowning in the faint trace of vanilla and something undeniably her. His grip on her waist tightened ever so slightly, his fingers flexing against the fabric of her nightwear.His nose brushed against the delicate skin of her neck, and a violent shudder ran through her.She shivered.His scent-clean, musky, intoxicating-flooded her senses, overwhelming her. She felt his breath ghost against her collarbone, the barest brush of his nose against her skin.Jungkook's grip tightened slightly.What was he doing?He didn't know.All he knew was that she was warm, that she smelled too good, that something about this moment felt like a dangerous line they had never crossed before-one he wasn't sure he wanted to step back from.Y/N was frozen in place, her mind spiraling. His touch, his warmth, his breath against her skin-it was too much. Too close.She opened her mouth, voice barely above a whisper."J-Jungkook..."She whispered, her voice barely audible.And just like that, he snapped out of it.His entire body went rigid before he jerked back as if burned. His eyes widened in panic, ears flushed pink."Oh-uh-sorry!" He practically jumped away. "I mean-thanks! Also-uh-good night!"Without waiting for her response, he all but sprinted to the bed, yanking the blanket over his face in mortification.What the hell just happened?Y/N stood frozen, heart hammering against her ribs.What the hell just happened?Did Jungkook just... hug her?Did he just nuzzle into her neck like a needy puppy?She touched her neck absentmindedly, still feeling the warmth of him lingering there.Jungkook had never done anything like that before.And the way he held her-the way he breathed her in-was far too intimate.Her fingers brushed against her neck absentmindedly, still feeling the phantom sensation of his touch.Jungkook, hidden beneath the covers, was no better. His heart was racing, his skin still tingling where it had touched hers.Neither of them dared to move.Something had changed.And neither of them knew what it meant yet.Long Chapter 😗Comment your opinions pweaseeee 🥺Your Coconut 🥥