*A few weeks later*
Hyeyeon managed to persuade Jimin to move back to Seoul. They were finalizing their move into a new apartment in Gangnam-gu this week. You were just finishing getting ready to help them move in when your phone buzzed with a call from Taehyung.
"Hello?" you pick up the call, balancing your phone between your shoulder and ear while you gather your things.
"Y/n-ah!" Taehyung's voice bursts through the speaker. "Are you on your way yet?"
"Just about to head out, what's up?" you respond, walking towards the door, keys jingling in your hand.
"Oh good. You're still in Itaewon, right?" he asks.
"Yes, that's right," you confirm, stepping outside.
"Could you do me a favor and pick up some beer I ordered from Seoulju? They've brewed it fresh for the housewarming tonight," he asks eagerly.
"yeah why not. Their beer's great. Good job on choosing the drinks," you agree, a smile creeping into your voice.
"I knew it would be! I had asked Jungkook to do it, but he's probably still sleeping. He was out late partying again," Taehyung chuckles.
"Of course he was," you murmur, barely audible, a slight edge to your voice.
"Don't worry, it's on my way. I'll grab it and head straight over," you assure him, a sense of responsibility settling over you as you end the call and make your way to fulfill the task.
***
Stepping into the noisy bar, you're immediately hit by a wave of lively chatter and music. You push your sunglasses up, scanning the room. Instead of finding the manager, you spot someone you weren't mentally ready to see today. There he was, Jungkook, casually chatting up a girl at a table.
"So he did remember" you sigh.
Rolling your eyes, you weave through the crowd, "accidentally" bumping into him a bit harder than necessary.
"Son of aâ" he starts, but then sees the back of you and changes his tune. "Oh, nice ass," he remarks, not recognizing you because of your new hair highlights.
"Seriously?" you mutter, still not looking back at him, disgusted but not surprised by his behavior. You don't care. Ignoring him, you head straight to the bar, trying to catch the bartender's attention in the bustling place.
Before you can get the bartender's attention, Jungkook slides up beside you, starting with, "Can I buy you a drinkâ"
He cuts himself off as he recognizes you, a mix of surprise and something else flashing across his face. "You," he says, recognition dawning.
"You're disgusting," you shoot back without missing a beat, your tone laced with disdain. "And it's 2 o'clock in the afternoon," you add, emphasizing the absurdity of his proposition given the time of day.
"You're at a bar," "In Itaewon!" he retorts with a hint of attitude.
"I'm here to pick up the beer Taehyung ordered," you explain, rolling your eyes. You manage to catch the bartender's attention with a gesture and a friendly smile.
"The Fuckâ? I was supposed to pick that up," he says, looking offended upon realizing Taehyung didn't trust him and had arranged a backup. He starts scrolling through his phone, likely to call Taehyung and give him a piece of his mind.
"No, you're here to pick up girls," you say with a smirk.
"And what's wrong with that?" he asks, raising an eyebrow, his attention momentarily diverted by an incoming girl. "Oh, she's definitely my type," he remarks, eyeing a blonde Russian girl who stands next to him attempting to order a drink.
"Can I get you something?" he asks her, leaning on the counter and flirting with his eyes, which seems to work its magic.
"Like what?" she leans in, flirting back.
"A drink, or maybe... my last name?" he throws out with a grin.
Hearing that, you can't help but snort loudly and burst into laughter. "That was so bad," you comment, amused by his attempt at flirting.
Jungkook hears your laughter, his jaw clenching in annoyance, but he quickly brushes it off and proceeds to ask the Russian girl for her number, which she gladly provides.
You ask the bartender for the manager when he walks over to you and he tells you that he isn't here yet. "Oh no" you sigh, letting him go back to work. You call Taehyung immediately, telling him about the situation. He says he'll give the manager a call and call you right back.
As you wait for Taehyung's call back, you can't help but observe Jungkook's ongoing flirtation with the girl, now more physical in nature.
"Unbelievable," you mutter under your breath, rolling your eyes at the sight. It's hard to believe there was a time when you had intense feelings for him.
A few moments later, Jungkook approaches you, showing off his phone. "Got her number, and we're meeting tonight," he says with a smirk, running a hand through his hair. He leans beside you, elbows resting on the counter, mirroring your stance.
"Oh, Please delete mine," you reply, shaking your head in disbelief at his boast. You turn away from him, laying your hand on the counter and scanning the drink options displayed in the cabinet, trying to distract yourself from the situation and Jungkook's presence.
Jungkook scoffs at your retort, but his gaze lingers on you a moment longer. "Nice hair," he comments, turning his attention away as if trying to downplay the compliment.
"I know," you reply, shrugging off his remark.
He shakes his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "So, I heard you've got yourself a man," he probes further, his tone laced with curiosity and perhaps a hint of skepticism. "Is he real?" he adds, almost tauntingly.
Your ridiculed gaze meets his, and for a moment, you're tempted to respond defensively. But then, realizing that it wasn't worth getting into an argument with him, you choose to dismiss his provocations.
"Don't talk to me about him," you say firmly. "Actually, don't talk to me at all." Rolling your eyes, you turn away, your attention now solely focused on waiting for Taehyung's call, eager to escape this unwanted conversation.
"Hi, I just got a all from my manager" "We have your order at the back. If you want to follow me I can take you there" The same bartender updates you. Looks like Taehyung worked it out.
"Oh, thank God!" you exclaim, eager to finally complete this errand. Gesturing for the bartender to lead the way with a polite "After you," you start to follow him, only to notice that Jungkook has decided to tag along as well.
Arriving at the storage area, the bartender presents two large cartons, mentioning, "Here you go. It's all paid for."
You thank him as he departs, leaving you to reckon with the bulky packages. The weight and size of the cartons daunt you. Upon seeing the two large cartons awaiting you, your heart sinks a bit, anticipating the struggle to transport them to your car.
Sensing an opportunity amidst the challenge, Jungkook offers his assistance with a smugness you've come to expect, "Need help?" He stands with an air of self-satisfaction, elevated ego, hands in his pockets, and that all-too-familiar smirk plastered on his face.
You take a deep breath, quickly calculating your next move. Without giving him the satisfaction of seeing any sign of gratitude or desperation from you, you decide to accept his offer, but on your terms.
"Sure! Put both of these in the back of my car's trunk. Thank you," you command crisply, turning the situation on his head. With that, you turn around on your heels, don your sunglasses and effortlessly brush past him, making clear who's the boss which leaves no room for a comeback from him.
He's left momentarily speechless, the smirk wiped from his face as he processes your cool, commanding presence. Realizing he's been outplayed, he can only respond with a slightly humbled, "Yes, ma'am," as he prepares to fulfill your request, a subtle acknowledgment of your assertiveness.
As you reached your car, you popped open the trunk, standing confidently with one hand on your waist, your gaze fixed on Jungkook. He, now donning sunglasses, appeared even more charming as he easily lifted the two heavy cartons and placed them into your trunk.
His actions were smooth, his hands brushing off as if to signal the task's completion. His smirk, though hidden behind the shades, was palpable, exuding a blend of satisfaction and a hint of challenge.
Just as he turned to leave, a thought struck you. "Hold on," you called out, signaling him to wait with a flick of your index finger. Swiftly, you opened one of the cartons, grabbed a bottle of beer, and extended it towards him. "Tip," you said with a playful smirk, your gesture surprising yet impressing him.
He paused, taking the bottle from you, his admiration for you clear in his stance.
As you turned to head back to your car, ready to leave the charged atmosphere behind, Jungkook's hand found yours, pulling you back to him with a gentle yet firm grip. The closeness was unexpected, his presence intimidating suddenly.
"Does the offer for being friends still stand?" he inquired, his voice carrying a mixture of hope and seriousness.
You pause, taken aback by his sudden question and the proximity between you two. The warmth from his hand around yours sparks a flurry of emotions you thought you had neatly packed away. You look into his eyes, hidden behind the sunglasses, trying to sense the sincerity of his question.
Taking a moment to consider his words, you finally respond with a measured calmness. "Jungkook, we've been through a lot. Being friends..." You trail off, searching for the right words. "It's not about whether the offer stands. It's about whether you can actually do it without falling back into old habits."
"I'm willing to try if you are," you add, feeling a sense of resolve. "But we have to set boundaries. For real this time."
Jungkook's grip on your hand loosens slightly, but he doesn't let go. "Boundaries," he repeats, considering the term. "I can do that. Let's start fresh, Y/N."
Letting go of your hand, he steps back, a hint of humor in his eyes that lightens the mood. It's a small gesture, but it marks a new beginning, a fragile understanding forming between the two of you.
"Well then, I guess we're friends," you say with a half-smile, offering your hand as a symbol of this new accord.
"I'd shake on it, but my 'girlfriend' might get jealous," he jokes, taking a step toward his car, his tone teasing.
"You don't have a girlfriend," you retort with a playful eye roll.
"Just like you don't have a boyfriend," he counters with a smirk, his voice tinged with a playful denial.
You sigh deeply and shake your head at his words before you two got in your cars and drove towards Hyeyeon's new place.
***
"Here I am," you announce as you step through the door, greeted by Taehyung's bright smile which quickly morphs into confusion when he notices your hands are empty.
"Where's the beer?" he asks, a puzzled look crossing his face.
"It's in the trunk," you reply, tossing your car keys to him with an effortless grin. Taehyung shoots you a questioning glance, clearly not expecting this turn of events. Just then, Jungkook enters, and without missing a beat, Taehyung seizes the opportunity.
"Help me out brother," he says, quickly enlisting Jungkook's aid and pulling him towards the door.
Jungkook protests, "Yah! I just carried all of thatâ" but his complaints fall on deaf ears as Taehyung drags him away, leaving you to chuckle at their retreating figures.
"Hey, you guys!" You greet Jimin and Hyeyeon as you walk in, and they return the greeting with the same enthusiasm.
"Hi, love, what's up?" you ask Hyeyeon, giving her a hug from behind. She looks stressed out, staring at her laptop screen.
"Just trying to sort out this guest list," she says, sounding overwhelmed.
"Oh, could you add a plus-one for me?" you casually mention.
Suddenly, the room goes quiet, and everyone turns to look at you, including Taehyung and Jungkook, who freeze in their tracks by the door, still holding heavy cartons. The sudden silence highlights the unexpectedness of your request.
"See?" "And you guys didn't believe me when I said she is dating," Hyeyeon turns to the others with a look of vindication. "You all made fun of me, said I was being gaslit," she adds, giving you an victimized glance.
At her confirmation, everyone's attention shifts to Jungkook, who seems momentarily taken aback but quickly regains his composure. "What are you guys looking at me for?" he protests, somewhat flustered. "We're friends now," he clarifies, hoping to dismiss the sudden scrutiny.
"Oh, please," everyone responds in unison, their skepticism clear, not buying the 'just friends' narrative and teasing Jungkook for his apparent discomfort.
"You wanna back me up on that, Y/N?" Jungkook asks, setting down the beer cartons on the kitchen counter.
Taking a deep breath, you weigh your next words carefully, knowing the impact they might have. "Guys, I really am dating someone and I think...........," you begin, capturing the room's attention.
"I think I am in love with him. Yes it's only been a few weeks that we're together but we have known each other for quite a while and I'm committed to seeing where this goes" you say, your gaze drifting towards Jungkook.
His expression is a mixture of tension and unspoken emotions. His stance is a bit stiffer, his stoic demeanor forced. Despite the tension, he nods, offering a strained form of acceptance.
"Also, yes, me and Jungkook, we are past whatever relationship we had in the past and we are giving our friendship a chance," you add, the weight of your statement silencing the room, marking a definitive end to any lingering questions about your relationship with Jungkook.
Jungkook's response, though understated, is loaded with a complex mix of acceptance and reluctance.
Jungkook is definitely feeling a lot right now. He's putting on a brave face, trying to show he's okay with everything that's going on. Deep down, though, he's a little upset and confused. Hearing about you being happy with someone else is tough for him. He's happy for you, sure, but it also makes him wonder about what could have been between you two.
Even though he says he's all for being friends, there's this tiny voice inside him that's not quite ready to let go. But seeing you happy is important to him, so he's doing his best to be supportive while quietly dealing with his own bundle of feelings.
On the other hand, you were feeling satisfied after looking at his face. That satisfaction in your heart, it's complex. On one hand, it's not like you want to see Jungkook hurt but at the same time you want to. The Y/N in you from the night he shattered your heart and changed you, she feels relieved to see him affected by your new relationship. It's validation in a way, confirmation that what you two had mattered, that it wasn't all in your head.
The secret smirk on your face is your armor, a way to show you've moved on, even if there are layers of feelings underneath that are more complicated. It's a silent message that you're doing well, that you're not just surviving without him but thriving. This moment, it's about reclaiming your power, showing him that you're in control of your life and emotions now.
There's no chance in hell you can be friends, you know it very well and you are going to remind him of that again and again until he is mentally in you're feet begging for you to comeback to him. You definitely aim to hurt him but also to make him acknowledge the value of his loss. You imagine a future where he comes to you, understanding not just his mistake, but your true value. It's a delicate balance, navigating between moving on and ensuring he feels the weight of his choices.