Fateful Alliance ∞

Ⅴ

JUNGKOOK

The sunlight barged into the room without an ounce of mercy, dragging me out of sleep. I groaned, burying my face into the pillow, but it was useless. My body knew the day had already begun. The space beside me was empty, the sheets cool. Taehyung was up long before me.

I pushed myself upright, rubbing at my face until the blur of sleep cleared, and stumbled toward the door in search of him. Just as my hand reached for the knob, the door swung open with sudden force.

"Ah-!"

I nearly toppled forward, but strong arms caught me before I could kiss the hardwood floor. In one dizzying heartbeat, I found myself pressed against Taehyung's chest, his hand firm at my waist, holding me upright.

The world shrank to that single moment. His scent was clean, subtle, with a trace of wood and spice. Up close, his features were overwhelming. sharp lines softened by the early morning light, eyes that sparkled in a way that felt too dangerous to look at for too long.

I froze, unable to move, unable to breathe. His gaze lingered on mine for just a fraction too long, and something flickered there, something unspoken. Then, almost abruptly, he cleared his throat and stepped back, his hand falling away as though it had never touched me.

"Careful," he said smoothly, his tone composed again. "Don't take a tumble."

I nodded mutely, though inside, my pulse hammered so loudly I was sure the whole house could hear it. The ghost of his warmth lingered against my skin, and for reasons I couldn't name, the air between us felt charged, like it had been stitched with electricity.

I tried to slip past him, but his voice halted me.

"Jungkook, wait a moment. There are some things I should explain."

Curious, and maybe a little flustered, I sat down on the edge of the bed while he leaned against the desk, arms crossed with a seriousness that made me sit straighter.

"My family is... traditional," he began, his tone cautious. "They have their rules, and while you don't need to change who you are, it's easier if you know what matters to them."

I nodded, trying not to fidget under the weight of his gaze.

"First," he said, "meals. Breakfast and dinner are family time. Lunch doesn't matter since most of us are at work, but breakfast and dinner? we always gather, no excuses. The only acceptable reasons for missing are illness, injury, or truly urgent business. Otherwise, the family expects everyone at the table."

I raised a brow, not entirely sure how I felt about that. Meals had never meant much in my house. They were obligations at best, battlegrounds at worst. Still, I found myself smiling faintly. "That doesn't sound too bad."

He nodded, relief softening his expression before he continued.

"The second rule is more important. No disrespect, no matter what. Elders cannot disrespect the younger ones, and the younger ones cannot disrespect elders. And it extends to everyone in this house—maids, staff, family, guests. Everyone deserves respect."

His voice carried weight with that last part, and I realized this wasn't just a family tradition. It was a principle he lived by.

I let his words sink in before answering, "I can handle that."

But then a small truth slipped out, unbidden. "The thing is... I don't really know how to 'do family.'"

Taehyung's brows pulled together in confusion.

I bit my lip, unsure how much to reveal, then decided honesty was better than pretending. "The last time my family ate together, I was ten. Since then, it's been about power. My father gives orders, my mother criticizes, and my sister and I learned to stay quiet. There wasn't... love. Or warmth. Definitely no respect. So if I mess up here... it's not because I don't care. I just... don't know how to act."