𝐌𝐘 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄

CHAPTER 9

Jin sat on the living room couch, idly flipping through some fashion magazines his aunt had bought. He couldn't wait for his aunt to leave for her date. Though he was grateful for her company, Jin didn't mind these occasional outings; it gave him some time to use her computer and research the various options for his future.

The doorbell chimed, interrupting Jin's reading. He glanced towards the entrance, her curiosity piqued by the sound. Eunju had mentioned her date, but she hadn't said much about him, leaving Jin with only his imagination to fill in the gaps. So, he couldn't help but wonder who this mystery man was.

"Jin, open the door and entertain him. I'll be down in a moment." Eunju yelled from her room upstairs.

He swung open the door with the perfunctory smile reserved for visitors, which dimmed significantly as the man came into view. An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of his stomach as the man, whose name he hadn't yet heard, exuded an unsettling aura, especially by the way his eyes seemed to scan him. He unconsciously pulled down his shorts which he was sure once belonged to a girl, no matter how much his aunt denied it.

"This way please." He led him to the living room. "Please take a seat. I'll go and see if aunt needs help." He pointed to the sofa and turned to leave when he was stopped by a grip on his wrist.

"I think she will be down soon. Why don't we chat till then?" He grinned at Jin. "I'm Jongseok."

"I'm Seokjin" 

Before Jongseok could speak more, a sound of heels clicking on the hardwood floor approached them, causing him to leave Jin's hand and stand up. 

Jin watched his aunt's face light up with anticipation. Even at her age, she looked stunning in her emerald green dress, her auburn hair cascading in waves down her back. Jin couldn't help but smile. He loved seeing Eunju happy, even if it meant enduring some awkward encounters with her dates.

"Eunju, my dear, you look absolutely radiant tonight!" the man said, his voice dripping with insincerity.

Eunju blushed and smiled, clearly flattered by the compliment. "Thank you, Jongseok. You look dashing yourself."

Jongseok grinned, revealing teeth that were just a bit too perfect to be natural. "Shall we get going then?"

Jin felt gagging at the fake sweet tone of the man. How he wished he could warn his aunt about the uneasy feeling he got from the man but could do nothing as he watched his aunt get into an expensive car with the creepy man and drive away. He let out a sigh and hoped that Eunju returned safely.

•·.·''·.·••

Jungkook couldn't get Jin out of his mind. After their chance encounter at the mall, he was plagued by thoughts of the guy he had harbored a secret crush on since childhood. He'd been on cloud nine that day, feeling like fate had finally intervened to bring them back together. Yet, there was one glaring problem: he had no way to contact Jin. Their encounter had been brief, and so unfortunate that Jungkook couldn't even get his number.

As the days turned into weeks, Jungkook's frustration grew. He had tried everything he could think of to find Jin. He'd scoured social media, sent messages to people with the same name, and visited the mall multiple times, hoping for another serendipitous encounter. But it was as if Jin had vanished into thin air.

One evening, after yet another fruitless search online, Jungkook threw his phone on his bed in exasperation. He had almost given up hope. It was then that his best friend, Taehyung, walked into the room and raised an eyebrow at Jungkook's obvious distress.

"Kook, what's eating you?" Taehyung asked, settling on the edge of the bed.

Jungkook sighed, his frustration and longing evident in his voice. "It's Jin, Tae. I met him at the mall, and it's been weeks, but I can't find any way to contact him. He's like a ghost."

Taehyung's face softened as he recognized the depths of his friend's feelings. He had witnessed Jungkook's crush on Jin grow over the years, and it was clear that this chance encounter had reignited that spark. Taehyung knew he needed to help.

"Okay, Kook, let's figure this out together," Taehyung said, offering his support. "Tell me everything you know about him. Did he mention where he works, or what he likes to do?"

Jungkook shook his head, recalling their meeting on the blissful day. "No, he didn't mention anything specific. To be exact, we didn't even talk. He seemed to be with his aunt or a relative."

Taehyung nodded thoughtfully. "No worries, we can work with what we have. You said you met him at the mall, right?"

Jungkook nodded, his eyes filled with hope. "Yeah, that's where it all began. But it seems impossible to find him there again."

Taehyung grinned mischievously. "Well, it's time I take advantage of my social skills." He said and went forward to explain his plan.

Jungkook's eyes widened at the suggestion. "You really think that could work? It's a big city, and we have no idea if they would show up."

Taehyung shrugged. "It's a start, and it's better than sitting around doing nothing, right? Plus, it gives you a chance to socialize more and make connections."

Jungkook smiled, feeling grateful for Taehyung's unwavering support. "You're right, Tae. Let's do it. If we fail, we can think of another plan. Till then let's stick to this."

With newfound determination and Taehyung by his side, Jungkook felt a renewed sense of hope. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was ready to embark on this adventure to find Jin and, just maybe, rekindle the childhood crush that had grown through the years.