Claws And Fangs

Chapter 5

“Wow…” I breathed, stepping closer to the enormous tree. Its roots snaked deep into the ground, and its trunk was wide enough to hide a small house behind it. I wrapped my arms around it, barely reaching halfway. “You’re so old… You’ve seen the world change, haven’t you?” I pressed my cheek to the bark, smiling. “Three centuries… That’s incredible.”

Just then, I heard the sharp cry of a peacock echo through the trees.

I turned my head and spotted it a little ahead, its feathers fanned out like a moving painting. The sunlight slipped through the leaves, catching every color—blue, green, gold. It was breathtaking.

“Hey there…” I said gently, stepping toward it. “Don’t run. I won’t hurt you.”

Of course, it didn’t listen. The moment I got closer, it turned and began to walk away, fast.

I let out a small laugh. “I just want to touch you. That’s all,” I said softly, half to myself, half to the bird.

“You’re scaring it.”
The voice came from my left.

I turned and saw Jungkook, leaning against another tree with his arms crossed, watching me.

“I’m not trying to,” I said. “I just wanted to feel its feathers... Maybe connect, I don’t know.”

“You’re acting like a kid.” He gave me a look, the kind that said he was both amused and done with me.

I rolled my eyes, but before I could say anything back, the peacock flapped its wings and flew away.

“No! Wait—” I called out, taking a step forward.

“Too late,” Jungkook said.

I sighed and turned around—but my breath caught.

He was suddenly standing right in front of me.

“How...?” I blinked. “You were just—back there. Far.”

He tilted his head, calmly. “No, I wasn’t.”

“Yes, you were. I saw you—”

“You imagined it.” His voice was steady, too calm.

“But I—”

Before I could finish, he stepped in, closing the space between us, and placed one hand against the tree behind me, trapping me gently.

“Maybe the tree’s been messing with your head,” he said with a small smile.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Stop messing around, Jeon.”

He leaned in just a little more. “Then stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?” I snapped.

“Like you want me to mess with you,” he whispered near my ear, the warmth of his breath sending a small shiver down my spine.

I tried to glare at him, but my heartbeat was all over the place.

His fingers brushed along my cheek and down my arm, finally holding my hand.

“Your hand is cold,” I said, surprised.

He paused for a second too long. “It’s the weather,” he replied, and then smiled again—too casually.

Before I could read too far into it, he leaned in and kissed my cheek gently.

“You looked cute chasing that bird,” he said, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

I blinked, confused. My mind was still trying to catch up.