Chapter Text
Sunday morning dawned bright. You could hear birds chirping outside your windows, joined by the buzzing of bees.
Those were some loud fucking bees.
No, wait, that was your phone.
Your phone was vibrating nonstop on your nightstand. Who the hell was calling you so early in the morning? Didn’t they know people were still sleeping at – you squinted at your clock – 1:42 pm?
Groaning, you grabbed your phone.
Missed Call: Bestie 1:40 pm
You also had six missed texts. Maybe binging that steamy period drama you and your friends loved to bitch about hadn’t been a great idea. You’d nearly slept the day away.
Bestie 😇 (11:01): Rise & shine! Wanna do brunch with me and Jisoo?
Bestie 😇 (11:01): We want to hear all about your date with Jin last night!
Bestie 😇 (11:02): Noon at the diner on the corner?
Bestie 😇 (11:15): Hello?
Queen Ji 👑 (11:30): Hey, Jennie says you’re not answering her. Asleep or dead?
Queen Ji 👑 (11:32): Or wait, are you not alone? Send a 🍆 if Jin’s there!
Snorting, you fired off a text apologizing to Jennie and Jisoo, then flopped back onto your pillows. Your phone lit up not a second later.
Bestie 😇 (1:44): She lives! I was this close to bringing Yoongi over to break your door down.
(1:45): But you have a key??
Bestie 😇 (1:45): What if you were being attacked? Why would I wait to unlock the door when he could just break it??
(1:46): I love that you have roped your fiancé into your rescue fantasies. Nothing bonds a couple like shared delusions.
Bestie 😇 (1:46): You expect me to beat off your murderer by myself?!?
(1:46): I think Yoongi might have some objections if you’re expecting him to help you beat off other men
Bestie 😇 (1:47): It’s amazing, I can actually hear your eyebrows waggling all the way over here
(1:47): You’re just jealous because I’m the funny one
Queen Ji 👑 (1:48): Did this really need to be a group chat?
Bestie 😇 (1:49): YES, sunshine, we still want to get together, right? Late lunch?
(1:49): Please! I can meet you in 30 at the diner. 20 if I skip a shower.
Queen Ji 👑 (1:50): Let’s make it 2:30, you heathen. Please wash yourself.
**********
Ding!
The elevator doors swept open, and you entered, pressing the button for the first floor.
“Hold it!” a voice called out as a tall figure jogged into view. You held out your arm, keeping the doors open as your neighbor, Jeon Jungkook, stepped inside.
Jungkook nodded appreciatively at you as the doors slid shut. He leaned against the wall, eyes closing as music drifted from the earbuds tucked into his ears.
His long black hair fell haphazardly into his face, obscuring his eyes and skimming his cheekbones. He wore his usual oversized hoodie and sweatpants, all black, of course. As far as you were aware, he didn’t own any clothing in any other shade.
You let your head rest against the wall as you surreptitiously peered at your neighbor, thinking about just how little you really knew about the man. Two years of living next door to him, and he remained a complete mystery to you.
Other than the occasional run-in, you rarely saw Jungkook. You had no idea what he did for a living or how he spent his time, other than the fact that he never seemed to be awake before noon. (The wall between your apartments was woefully thin, enough that you’d gotten to know the shrill bleating of his alarm all too well.)
You supposed that you could take the initiative to learn more about him. Maybe try to engage him in conversation beyond the occasional “hey.” But Jungkook didn’t make it easy, the way he’d run back to his apartment anytime you saw him in the hallway, his big brown eyes widening like a startled deer trapped in headlights whenever he was caught off guard by your presence.
At least he wasn’t rude. You’d had your share of asshole neighbors. He was nowhere near that list. He just seemed reserved. Maybe even a little shy, given his tendency to dash off like a frightened rabbit.
Sometimes, when you’d say hello, his nose would scrunch up and his eyes would squeeze shut as his perfectly pouty lips pulled back to reveal a sweet smile that made your heart flip. The first time he’d grinned like that, you’d been completely disarmed, not expecting this hulking figure in black to transform into a cute little bunny.
(You weren’t sure why you automatically thought of innocent woodland creatures when daydreaming about your neighbor’s fine features, but here you were.)
The elevator dinged as it landed on the first floor, and you quickly tore your gaze from Jungkook before he could catch you staring. The doors opened and you slipped out first, but Jungkook’s long legs quickly overtook you and he reached the main entrance before you. He swiftly pulled one door open, holding it for you to walk through.
“Thanks, Jungkook,” you said as you passed by him.
Ah, there was one of those sweet smiles that you loved so much.
**********
Even for 2:30 in the afternoon, the diner was packed. Jisoo had snagged a booth near the back, and the three of you chatted idly as you debated what to eat. But once the waitress had left with your orders, Jennie immediately got down to business.
“Okay,” Jennie said. “You’ve made us wait long enough. How did your date go last night? Spill!” She rested her elbows on the table, chin on her hands, as she peered expectantly at you.
You laughed. “All right, relax! I had a great time meeting Jin last night. Is that what you were waiting to hear?”
“Yes!” Jennie clapped her hands together in joy. “I knew you guys would hit it off. Keep talking.”
“Honestly, there isn’t much to tell you. He’s really funny, even though he laughs at his own jokes, like, a lot. We only met for drinks. He said his plans for work had changed and he had an early flight today, but he couldn’t wait to meet me because I guess someone has been talking me up nonstop?” You threw Jennie an accusatory look, which she countered with a wink. “So we drank and talked and then I went home and caught up on the last 4 episodes of ‘Be Still My Heart.”
“Oooh, can you believe what Sir Hugh said to Lady Beatrice in the last ep?” Jisoo exclaimed.
“I know!” you gasped. “He’s such a scoundrel!”
“Focus!” Jennie giggled, waving her hands between you and Jisoo to draw your attention back to her. “Come on, what else happened? You had a few drinks, and talked, and then…?”
“That’s really it, I swear,” you answered. “Like I said, it wasn’t a very long date, because he had to travel early this morning. Apparently, he and his business partners are opening another restaurant. I guess being an in-demand chef means he travels a lot.”
“Wait, Jin’s a chef? Hold on. Are we talking about this Kim Seokjin?” Jisoo inquired, scrolling through her phone. “Him?” She held up a photo.
“Yep, that’s him,” you confirmed. “Uh, why is his photo saved on your phone?”
“What, you don’t have a folder of photos of hot celebs on your phone?” Jisoo blinked. “What if you need inspiration?”
“Inspiration? For what?”
Jisoo just gave you a knowing look.
“Wow, okay, forget I asked,” you giggled. “Besides, is he really a celebrity?”
“He’s got a pretty big following online, between his restaurants and that cooking show he streams every week from his kitchen. He’s close enough.”
Jennie just sat silently, arms crossed, clearly waiting for you to continue.
You exhaled loudly. “Look, I know Jin is Yoongi’s best man, and since I’m your maid of honor, you have this fantasy of the two of us falling in love and getting married so you two can be in our wedding party as best man and matron of honor - ”
“I never said that! I might’ve been thinking it, though,” Jennie admitted.
“ – and yes, you were right, he is ridiculously handsome –“
“So handsome,” Jisoo murmured, still looking at her phone.
“- but I’m sad to report that there were no proposals last night. But he was nice, yes, nice, stop making that face, and I did have a good time, so yes, I want to see him again.” You couldn’t help but grin, thinking about Jin, feeling hopeful for once.
It had been so long since you’d felt that way after a date. The last several you’d been on before Jin had been… disappointing, to say the least.
Jennie sighed and took your face in her hands. “You know I just want you to be happy, right?”
You nodded as best you could with her hands clamped on either side of your face.
“Jin is such a catch! Maybe he was too distracted by his upcoming trip to turn on the full charm. I bet after another date, you won’t be able to stop talking about him.” She smiled at you. “You’ll see. You’ll both be head over heels in no time. I can just feel it.”
It was always so easy for your blissfully engaged friend to make such proclamations when it came to love.
Jennie and Yoongi had been together since freshman year of college, where you’d all met. To hear Jennie tell it, it was love at first sight. Yoongi was walking out of the library one autumn afternoon as Jennie was walking in. They exchanged a single look, and that was it.
What was that like – falling in love in an instant? No hesitation, no questioning if you were making the right choice?
Fuck if you knew.
**********
During the week, your life ran on a track, a groove worn in by years of repetition. You woke at 8 to log on to your job working from home as a financial analyst, only stopping for the occasional break or lunch, logging out right at 5. Dinner was usually something you’d have delivered. Your evenings were filled with streaming shows and texts with your friends, before you’d head to bed, picking up a book from your ever-growing to be read pile to read yourself to sleep.
It was a simple routine, but you liked it.
By Friday, you were at your wits end with your latest report, numbers swimming in your head as you tried to focus. You scowled at your spreadsheet as if it had personally offended you, wishing the software could just read your mind and save you the effort.
A loud beeping suddenly blared through the wall behind your desk. Jungkook’s alarm. The clock on your laptop informed you it was one o’clock. Deciding to take a break, you grabbed your keys and went to check your mail.
You stretched as you shuffled towards the mailboxes, muscles uncurling now that you were no longer hunched over your desk. Popping your mailbox open, you leaned against the wall as you sorted through the large stack of envelopes you found inside. Nearly all junk. Typical.
“G’morning,” a voice mumbled your way. Glancing up, you saw your Jungkook stumbling towards you. He looked as tired as you felt.
“Hey, Jungkook,” you replied, not bothering to inform him that it was technically afternoon.
Jungkook swung his mailbox open as he covered his mouth with a tattooed hand, hiding a yawn.
You watched your neighbor as he chucked some unwanted mail into the recycling bin.
“God, why is it always just junk mail?” you mused out loud.
Jungkook hummed in response.
Hmmm. Was today the day you got him to talk to you?
You closed your mailbox and stood there, racking your brain, trying desperately to think of something, anything else to say. But you were coming up empty, and after a minute you realized Jungkook was watching you, wide-eyed.
Probably wondering why you were staring at the door of your mailbox in dead silence.
“Uh, well, anyway,” you cleared your throat.
“Have a good one,” Jungkook muttered, giving you a small smile as he turned away. You resisted the urge to bounce your forehead off your mailbox.
“You too,” you called softly down the hallway behind him. After a moment, you sighed and followed him towards your apartment.
**********
Back in your place, you tossed the mail on the counter and picked up your phone.
New messages (7)
The first one was from Jin. Smiling to yourself, you read over his message a few times.
The other six were all from Jennie. You shook your head in exasperated amusement.
Jennie 😇 (1:05): It’s here!!
Jennie 😇 (1:05): It’s finally here!!!
Jennie 😇 (1:06): Happy Bachelorette Party Day to ME!!!!! 🎉
Jennie 😇 (1:06): I don’t care if that’s not a thing, I’m making it a thing
Jennie 😇 (1:07): Because it’s MY day!! 💃💃💃
Jennie 😇 (1:07): I can’t wait until tonight, when we get to PARADISE!!
Despite being tired as hell, worn out from fighting with your report, you felt a little stir of excitement thinking about the evening’s plans. You attributed that to your friend’s infectious enthusiasm. Jennie was always like that, able to cheer you up no matter your mood.
As Jennie’s maid of honor, it had fallen to you to plan her bachelorette party. But before you could even begin to plan anything, Jennie had let you know exactly what she wanted.
“Please, can we go to Paradise?” she’d begged. “I’ve always wanted to go!”
“The strip club?” You were surprised by her request, given her inability to even look at a shirtless man without blushing furiously. If she were surrounded by sexy men in various states of undress, you feared she’d spontaneously combust.
“Yes!” she confirmed. “I’ve always wanted to go there. My coworker Wendy went there for her 30th birthday last year, and she hasn’t stopped talking about it since. She claimed it was a life-changing experience.”
You nearly rolled your eyes at that. People could be so dramatic sometimes. What could be life-changing about a lap dance?
But you had no objections, and the other bridesmaids, Jisoo and your friends Lisa and Rosé, were all in, so you were only too happy to grant Jennie’s wish.
Sighing, you threw your phone on your desk and opened your laptop. You still had a few hours of work left to do before you could begin getting ready for the party.
**********
At 7 pm on the dot, you were hopping around your apartment, trying to get your heels on while throwing everything you needed for your night out into your clutch. Before you took the party to Paradise, you and the other ladies were headed to dinner, and any minute now they’d be picking you up. You’d splurged on a luxury ride for the evening, knowing that not a single one of you planned to be sober enough to drive by the end of the night.
As you walked by the mirror in the corner of your room, you paused to study your appearance. Jisoo had insisted that you dress up for tonight’s shenanigans – her exact words had been “If you show up in another goddamn hoodie and jeans ensemble, I will end you” – so she had loaned you something short, tight, and shimmery. You had to admit, as you checked yourself out, the silver dress did look pretty good on you, even if it wasn’t something you’d normally wear.
Passing by the mail you’d dropped on your counter earlier, you realized that one of the envelopes was addressed to Jungkook. You must’ve missed it when you were zoning out at your mailbox.
Clutch still in hand, you snatched the envelope and left your apartment, intending to knock on your neighbor’s door. But as you turned towards his apartment, you collided with something solid.
“Oof!” you huffed out as you stumbled backwards, tipping slightly before a pair of hands grasped your waist, keeping you upright. You blinked and realized the object you’d run into was Jungkook himself, who had exited his apartment at the exact moment you had left yours. His eyes were round with shock as his hands rested on your hips.
“S-sorry,” he stammered. His gaze swept over you. In the back of your mind, you vaguely recognized that this was the first time he’d ever seen you so glammed up, and in something so skintight to boot.
“No, I’m sorry, I ran into you,” you apologized. His eyes returned to yours.
On your sides, his fingers twitched, rubbing against the satiny material of your dress. You glanced down at his hands. “I think I’m steady now, Jungkook.”
“Huh?” You pointedly looked at his hands again and he abruptly released you. “Ah, sorry!”
He seemed flustered. Which only made him even cuter than usual.
The envelope crinkled loudly in your hand, reminding you why you were there. “I think this is yours.” You held it out to him. “Sorry I missed it earlier.”
Jungkook looked down at the piece of mail. “Oh. Thanks.” He took the envelope and stuck it in the pocket of his hoodie. Then he looked back at you, eyes roaming your face as his mouth opened and closed a few times.
“Are you ok?” You tilted your head as you peered at him in concern. Even though he was literally standing in front of his own apartment, he looked completely lost.
There was that deer in headlights expression that you found so endearing.
“Yeah! Fine! Just, uh…” Jungkook trailed off, staring at the floor. After a few seconds, he snapped his head up and gave you a tiny smile, nose scrunching up. “Thanks again!”
He unlocked his door and swiftly stepped inside, yanking it shut behind him.
Confused, you gaped at the spot where Jungkook had just been standing. Hadn’t he been leaving his apartment when you’d bumped into him?
Your phone buzzed in your clutch, derailing your train of thought.
Queen Ji 👑 (7:10): We’re here! Let’s go let’s go let’s GO!
You hurriedly reentered your apartment for one last check in the mirror, grabbed your keys, and headed out into the night.
**********
Based on its location outside an old, almost barren strip mall on the outskirts of town, it looked like Paradise might be ironically named. You braced yourself, expecting to find a seedy, rundown bar inside. But as soon as you and your friends stepped through the doors, you were pleasantly surprised to find you were mistaken.
The club was bathed in pink and blue lighting. Purple velvet curtains hung from the walls. Tables dotted the floor, surrounded by plush black chairs, all running along a stage that jutted out from the back wall. A DJ booth sat to one side of the stage, and a bar ran along the wall on the other.
Of course, the highlight of the club was, without a doubt, the staff.
There were gorgeous shirtless men everywhere, wandering the floor, delivering drinks, offering private dances. On the stage, a platinum blond man was grinding it out to “How Do You Want It” as your friends surveyed the room.
“Oh, this place is amazing!” Jennie trilled, clapping her hands in glee. She adjusted the tiara she’d insisted on wearing and ran her fingers along the sash draped over her rose gold jumpsuit that proclaimed her the “Bride-to-Be.” Normally, you scoffed at such things, but Jennie was so excited that you couldn’t help but get swept up with her.
“What should we do first?” Rosé asked.
A dark-haired waiter with a boxy smile walked by, winking at Jisoo as he passed, and she mumbled, “Him,” before turning to follow.
“Hold on!” you yelled, grabbing Jisoo by the shoulders. “Let’s pace ourselves, shall we? There will be plenty of time for dances or whatever. First, how about we grab some drinks and find some seats?”
You led the way to the bar, eyeing the crowd as you passed. The energy in the room was incredible, people shouting and tossing cash at the handsome dancer on the stage as he dropped to the ground, hips rolling against the stage. The floor under your feet vibrated from the bass hammering through the speakers.
At the bar, you all gathered around Jennie, who was reading a drink menu and giggling at the ridiculous names. “I think I want a Pop My Cherry to start!” She flagged down the bartender.
Yet another devastatingly handsome man came into view as the bartender wandered your way. He leaned against the bar, running a hand through his hair. “Evening, ladies,” he intoned as he smiled at your group. “Welcome to Paradise! What can I get you?”
Jisoo stepped forward before Jennie could even open her mouth. “I’d love a Screaming Orgasm.” she purred, batting her eyelashes. You heard Rosé and Lisa giggling behind you and stifled your own laugh.
The bartender licked his lips. “I’d be more than happy to help you with that,” he drawled.
As Jisoo and the bartender bantered, Jennie turned to you. “Ten bucks says she gets his number by the end of the night.”
You grinned. “Twenty says she gets his AND that cute waiter’s.”
Rosé and Lisa were already talking to another bartender, clearly tired of waiting for Jisoo’s to stop flirting, so you joined them. Once your drinks were in hand, you scanned the room, spotting an empty table near the front of the stage.
“All right, give it up one more time for Hoseok!” The DJ’s voice boomed over the sound system. Everyone cheered as the platinum blonde took another bow, blowing kisses at the audience as he ran backstage. “Let’s keep this party going!”
The music swirled around you as you sipped your drink, delightfully named Adios Motherfucker. It contained half a shelf of liquor and tasted like burning, but it was helping you relax.
Dancer after dancer took the stage as the night wore on. Your table began to fill up with empty glasses as you and your friends reveled in the raucous atmosphere.
Rosé took one look at a tall, blue-haired man who bounded on stage and whistled. “There’s a tree I’d like to climb!”
You shimmied in your seat as the man on stage dipped and popped, muscles flexing as he worked the crowd.
“You guys, this is exactly what I wanted tonight,” Jennie cooed as she threw her arms in the air and swayed to the hip-hop blaring overhead. “Thank you!”
“Here’s to Jennie, the best bride ever!” Lisa cried out, holding her drink up for a toast.
“Thank you for being such an amazing friend to all of us,” Rosé added.
“Thank you for not being a Bridezilla!” Jisoo shouted.
“Hear, hear,” you cackled, clinking your glasses as Jennie flapped her hands in an “oh, stop” manner.
Lisa motioned to a waiter as he walked by. “Can we get another round?”
“Let’s hear it for Joon!” the DJ bellowed over the speakers. The tall dancer grinned, flashing a set of dimples as he bowed and left the stage. “Now, our next dance is a special dance for one of our VIP guests tonight! We need Kim Jennie to the stage!”
Jennie sat bolt upright in her seat and squealed. “Oh my God, what did you guys do??”
You exchanged confused glances with Jisoo, who shrugged. Rosé and Lisa high fived.
“We got you a little treat,” Rosé smirked.
“Consider it your one last hurrah!” Lisa winked.
“Well done, ladies,” you raved as you waved your hands in the air, pointing to Jennie. “She’s over here!”
The dark-haired waiter who’d hypnotized Jisoo earlier sauntered over and offered his hand to Jennie. “Come with me, please,” he murmured in a husky voice. His eyes flickered to the tiara on her head, and he carefully removed it, setting it on the table.
“Gotta secure all loose items before you get on this ride,” he smirked as Jennie took his hand, eyes round as saucers. The rest of you were practically vibrating in your seats, giddy with anticipation.
The waiter led her to a small set of steps by the stage, where a lone chair now sat. As soon as Jennie had taken a seat, the lights dimmed. A hush fell over the crowd, and a spotlight came up.
Standing next to Jennie was a tall, dark-haired man clad in a black silk shirt and tight leather pants. He stood with his back to the audience. Bass began pounding through the speakers as he reached out one hand to gently caress Jennie’s cheek. She immediately began to giggle and covered her face with both hands.
Slowly, the dancer turned around, and your jaw dropped.
The man about to dance for Jennie was your neighbor.
Jeon Jungkook.
The shy boy next door.
Only this dancer appeared to be the furthest thing from timid, rocking his hips salaciously to the thumping music that pulsed through the club.
Jungkook’s long dark hair was slicked back, revealing not just his entire gorgeous face but also a set of piercings on his right eyebrow. You’d never noticed them before, always hidden beneath his messy hair. Silver hoops adorned his ears, along with a long silver chain that dangled from his left lobe.
His silk shirt was partially unbuttoned, chest exposed to just above his navel. You gawked at the way his shirt draped across his taut pecs, marveled at how his leather pants hugged his thick thighs.
Jungkook strutted in time to the beat to the edge of the stage. Sliding one hand up his torso, he lifted the bottom of his shirt, displaying a tight set of abs.
The room filled with shouts encouraging him to take it off, but Jungkook just shook his head, wiggling his finger, teasing the crowd. He then dropped to one knee and thrust several times, the power of the motion causing your friends to scream with delight.
Mesmerized, you were frozen in place, eyes locked on the stunning man dancing around your friend. As you stared, Jungkook rolled his body, the movement smooth as the silk that clung to his broad shoulders.
Every twitch of his hips sent tiny sparks of electricity shooting through you.
The air in the room felt hot, thick with the collective desire of the crowd. You knew without looking that all eyes in the room were drawn to Jungkook’s hypnotic presence.
No one else seemed to notice your reaction. Your friends hooted and hollered, completely oblivious to how you sat silent and still. You were thankful for this, because if anyone asked you what was going on, you weren’t sure you’d be able to form a coherent sentence. The only thought running through your brain was, what the fuuuuuuuck.
Meanwhile, Jennie was having the time of her life, shrieking and laughing as Jungkook writhed in her lap. He lifted one of her hands and placed it on his shirt, silently urging her to undo the remaining buttons. The silky material dipped low over his back as he languidly peeled it off, exposing a sleeve of tattoos that ran up the length of his right arm and across his shoulder blade.
You were biting your lip so hard, it was starting to go numb.
He stood and tossed the shirt into the crowd. Your friends cackled as two women at a nearby table jumped up and caught it, each trying to wrest it from the other’s hands. But your eyes never left Jungkook as he spun around Jennie, running his hands over his smooth chest and down the ridges of his abs. You could see every muscle dripping with sweat.
Like the statue of a god come to life, marble made flesh and blood, Jeon Jungkook danced before you, more beautiful than any man you’d ever seen.
Jungkook glided across the stage, whipping the crowd into a frenzy. He ran his hands through his hair, tossing his head back, mouthing opening as if caught in the throes of ecstasy. After a few more turns, he stopped in front of Jennie and fell to his knees. Nudging her legs apart with his hands, he slowly slid his way up her body, rolling his hips as her jaw dropped.
Was it the heat from the crowd or the stage making you sweat?
Jungkook placed his hands on the back of Jennie’s chair. He glanced back at the audience and smirked before he leaned forward, biceps glinting under the stage lights as he lowered her to the ground. Jennie’s eyes went wide again as he laid her down gently, hands gripping the sides of her seat as if she were hanging on for dear life.
Jungkook spun and blew kisses to the audience, who roared. Winding his body to the beat, he slowly sank to his knees, and hips bucking in time, thrust his crotch repeatedly in her face.
Jisoo raised her hands to the ceiling as if praising the heavens for the sight in front of her as Rosé and Lisa clutched each other, both near tears with joy.
“Holy shit, he’s amazing!” Lisa cried.
“Worth every fucking penny,” Rosé agreed.
But Jungkook wasn’t finished. As the song blasting through the speakers neared its end, the throbbing rhythm reaching its climax, he suddenly rose to his feet. Grabbing Jennie’s waist, he wrenched her from her seat, holding her upside down. As his face bobbed above the split her legs naturally fell into, thanks to gravity, his tongue darted out to run lewdly over his lips.
By now, you’d found your voice, and you weren’t sure who was screeching louder, Jennie or yourself.
Jungkook continued to thrust to the beat, bouncing Jennie gently. Then he grinned and winked at the crowd before he flipped her up over his shoulder, spinning her around in midair until she was right side up, and set her back on her feet.
“Oh my GOD!” You read the words on Jennie’s lips as pandemonium erupted around you. Money rained down on Jungkook as he took Jennie’s hand and kissed it tenderly, before spinning around and bowing to the crowd.
You couldn’t hear anything over the racket the audience made as they showered Jungkook in praise. Your friends were on their feet, giving him a standing ovation, and you joined them, moving slowly as though underwater, feeling disoriented.
As if it were you that Jungkook had just flipped upside down.
“Give it up for JK!” The DJ had to scream into the mic to be heard.
On stage, Jungkook bowed again, basking in the adoration. He took Jennie’s hand to walk her across the stage to the steps. But Jennie’s legs seemed shaky, and she wore a dazed look on her face, so Jungkook ended up escorting her all the way back to your table.
As they approached, you tried to avert your gaze, focusing on the remnants of your cocktail instead of Jungkook’s physique. But your eyes kept snapping back to his shoulders, his chest, his face. Every inch of him glistening in the dim lights of the club.
“Here you are, sweetheart,” Jungkook murmured as he helped Jennie back into her chair. Lisa handed her the tiara, and she put it on, peering up at Jungkook as he hovered over her.
“That was, uh… thank you,” she breathed, still a little dazzled.
Jungkook laughed, eyes crinkling. “I’m glad you had a good time,” he teased. “I hope your friends enjoyed the show.” He ran his hand through his damp hair, lifting the curling edges from his face.
Your friends all loudly enthused that yes, they had very much enjoyed his dancing.
But you didn’t say a word, studying the tattoos that wound around his arm and across his chest. All those times you’d seen the tats on his hand and wrist, you’d never imagined what other ink he might have.
Realizing you were staring, you glanced up just as he looked your way.
Jungkook’s eyes locked with yours. For the tiniest fraction of a second, they widened, that familiar startled look flashing across his face. But then it vanished, replaced by a smirk that made your breath hitch in your chest.
“As much as I’d love to stay here and chat with you ladies, I need to go cool off a little. But I’ll be around later, if any of you want a private show,” he purred, glancing at each of your friends in turn. When his eyes met yours again, he winked. “Just let me know.”
With one final grin, he strode away, swallowed up by the adoring crowd as they swarmed around him. You felt air rush back into your lungs.
“Oh my God Jennie!” Lisa yelled into the silence that accompanied Jungkook’s departure. “What was that like? How do you feel??”
Jennie just shook her head. “That was the wildest ride I’ve ever been on, that’s what that was. Apologies to Mr. Toad.” She inspected the stage. “I think I left my brain up there.”
Rosé snickered. “I’m pretty sure it fell out when you were sixty-nining in midair!”
Jisoo sighed. “What a man. He threw you around like a fucking ragdoll, babe.” She looked at Rosé. “How much did that cost? I need to see if I can afford a private dance or ten.”
As your friends giggled and discussed Jennie’s mind-melting adventure, you were lost in thought, fingers drumming absentmindedly on the table.
Who knew that coy boy who lived beside you was hiding all that underneath his baggy clothing? Not just the tattoos, but the muscles? Those abs?
And the dancing? Fucking hell. How did he move his hips like that? The way he threw Jennie over his shoulder like a fleck of salt… could he throw anyone like that?
This time, your silence didn’t go unnoticed.
“Hey, are you ok?” Jennie asked, leaning towards you to be heard over the others. “You look as shaken as I feel.”
You blinked a few times, as if you could clear your head by clearing your vision. Reset your brain.
It didn’t work.
“Jeon Jungkook,” you blurted out.
Jennie cocked her head. “What?”
“Jeon Jungkook. My neighbor?”
Jennie nodded, recognizing the name. You’d told all your friends about him at one point or another, cooing over what a cutie he was. “What about him?”
“Him. That was him. That was him, Jennie!”
By now, everyone was looking at you.
“You mean, that was him dancing for me?” Jennie questioned.
You snorted. “For you, on you, practically in you.”
“Oh my god, your adorable neighbor is a sexy stripper!” Lisa shrieked as you dropped your head into your hands.
“Wait, that was Bambi??” Jisoo had gifted Jungkook with that nickname after you’d mentioned his doe-eyes one too many times. “Seriously? Oh babe, you gotta get on that! Why haven’t you already?”
“I don’t know, maybe because every time I see him, he runs away like he actually is Bambi?” you shot back. “I can’t believe what I just saw. He was like a completely different person!”
“Ah, yes, the duality of man,” Rosé stated in a solemn tone, nodding.
You all turned to stared at her as she sipped her cocktail, slurping up the last drops loudly.
“…anyway,” Jennie broke in, “it doesn’t matter, because you’re dating Jin now, right? Have you heard anything from him since your date last weekend?”
“Oh shit, Jin!” You pulled your phone out of your clutch as you realized you’d left Jin’s text on read all day. “He texted this afternoon and I completely forgot to answer.”
“Gimme!” Jennie swiped your phone before you could stop her. “’Hey, are you free tomorrow? I’d like to see you again. Dinner this time? I don’t have to work this weekend, so I promise you’ll have me all to yourself all night.’” She stopped reading and grinned, sticking out her tongue. “Oooh, all night!”
You felt your cheeks blazing as your friends snickered at Jin’s text. You snatched your phone back. “Okay, can we drop the discussion about my love life and get back to the reason we’re here? I think it’s time for another round – the bride-to-be is way too sober if she’s still able to read!”
As the conversation turned towards ordering more drinks, you leaned back in your chair, glancing to where Jungkook had disappeared into the crowd. Your thumb hovered over your phone, ready to text a reply to Jin. But you had nothing. How were you supposed to think of what to say when all you could picture was that wicked smirk?