Fateful Alliance ∞

ⅠⅤ

JUNGKOOK

The moon hangs heavy in the sky as I sit with my notepad, staring at the blank page. Nothing comes. Not a single idea, not even a scrap of dialogue. Deadlines have a way of wringing every drop of inspiration out of me.

I tap my pen against the page, frustrated, until I hear soft footsteps. Taehyung appears on the balcony, glass of water in hand, and leans casually against the railing.

"Why are you awake?" I ask, raising a brow.

He chuckles. "Shouldn't I be asking you that? I woke up for water, didn't see you, thought maybe you ran away." His smile is teasing, but his eyes search my face. "So? What are you doing out here?"

I sigh. "Deadline. I need a plot outline by Tuesday, but I've got nothing."

"You've got a whole week," he points out. "You should sleep."

I laugh softly. "If I leave it, I'll just procrastinate. And my anxiety won't let me sleep without at least something down."

Taehyung drags a chair next to mine and sits, folding his arms. "Alright. Then tell me—how do you usually get ideas?"

"They just... happen," I admit. "When I hear a song, or catch a random conversation, or even when I'm making coffee. Inspiration doesn't come on command. It sneaks up on me."

He tilts his head. "How about your last novel?"

That makes me smile. "I was in a park, sitting alone, when I overheard two friends. One said, 'It's been a year since we last met.' That one line sparked everything. I imagined two lovers who only meet once a year, on the same date, at the same place. Their love survives on that single day."

Taehyung's eyes widen slightly, impressed. "So... if I told you something random, you could make a story out of it?"

"Most likely," I grin. "It doesn't have to be big. A line, a mood, even a color could spark something."

He thinks for a moment, then says, "I once read a quote online: 'I'll love you forever... even if it's only from the shadows.' Can you work with that?"

The words strike like lightning. My heart races, and before I can stop myself, I throw my arms around him. "You're a genius, Taehyung!"

He freezes, surprised, but when I pull away, he's laughing softly as I scribble down the line. Ideas tumble out faster than I can write.

"It's about a ghost," I say breathlessly. "A ghost who falls in love with a human. The human can't see him, but feels his presence—meals cooked, accidents avoided, songs played at night. At first, he thinks he's losing his mind. Then, one day, he finds a letter from the ghost. A farewell. The ghost confesses his love but says his time on earth is over. He hopes they'll meet in another life."

I pause, pen hovering, before finishing softly, "And when the human realizes the truth... it destroys him. He can't live without the ghost. His last word, before he... goes... is the ghost's name."

Taehyung stares at me, mouth open. "That's... wow."

I laugh, reaching out to tap his chin shut. "Gotcha."

He shakes his head in disbelief, a smile tugging at his lips. "Seriously though, that's incredible."

Warmth spreads in my chest at his words. For once, someone doesn't dismiss my ideas as silly or too sentimental. He actually listens.

"Alright," he says finally, standing. "Enough genius for tonight. Let's sleep."

We walk back inside, and I slip under the covers. Moonlight spills across the bed, silvering the sheets. Taehyung's voice drifts from the other side.

"Goodnight, Jungkook."

"Goodnight."

Lying there, I think about how strange life is. How two people so different could end up here, sharing the same roof, the same bed. Maybe this marriage isn't such a bad idea after all.

I smile to myself, eyes fluttering shut. Somewhere between exhaustion and comfort, I drift into dreams.