The insistent thrumming of sunlight through my eyelids dragged me from a sleep unlike any other. My head pounded with a dull ache, the remnants of a dream swirling just out of reach. Fragments - a storm, a kiss, a searing possessiveness - flickered in the periphery of mind, refusing to coalesce into a coherent memory.
Disoriented, I sat up, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. Plush cushions swathed me in an unexpected embrace, the air thick with the musky scent of... cedarwood? My gaze darted to the adjacent side of the king-sized bed. Empty. A pang of disappointment, sharp and unexpected, pierced my chest.
Then, a smirk emerged from the doorway, framed by the broad shoulders and chiseled jawline of Jungkook. He leaned against the doorframe, a playful glint in his dark eyes.
"Well, Sleeping Beauty, you finally decided to grace the world with your presence."
My cheeks flushed a furious red. Memories, blurry and fragmented, flooded back. The kiss. The raw, desperate hunger in his eyes. My own traitorous response, a spark of something wild and dangerous that had ignited within me.
"What happened last night?" My voice came out hoarse, a mere whisper.
Jungkook sauntered closer, the smirk on his face widening. "Let's just say you provided excellent entertainment," he purred, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down my spine.
The memory of his touch, the possessive heat of his kiss, morphed into a suffocating wave of unease. I scrambled out of bed, a desperate need for distance warring with the undeniable pull I felt towards him.
"I need to get to class," I stammered, brushing past him towards the bathroom.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Lectures went in one ear and out the other, Jungkook's intense gaze a constant presence burning into the back of my head. Jealous whispers followed me like a shadow, fueled by the sight of us walking to class together.
One particularly agonizing scene involved Mike shamelessly locking lips with another girl in the hallway. A primal possessiveness, a feeling I couldn't explain, flared within me.
Later on, during lunch, Lana, introduced me to her boyfriend, Ryles. Towering over us with a mop of messy brown hair and a gentle smile, he exuded an aura of quiet confidence. There was a kindness in his eyes that put me at ease instantly, a stark contrast to the volatile mix of emotions Jungkook stirred within me.
As the day progressed, I found myself stealing glances at Jungkook across the crowded cafeteria. His gaze met mine, a dark fire burning within it.
Then, the unexpected happened. Taehyung, swaggered past our table, his gaze locking onto Jungkook with an intensity that mirrored my own confusion. A silent exchange passed between them, a hostility lingering in the air so thick it was almost tangible.
The air crackled with unspoken animosity. It was clear that Jungkook and Taehyung had history, a history that likely revolved around me. As I looked between them, a single thought surfaced in my mind - this was just the beginning, and I was caught right in the middle of a storm brewing between two powerful, possessive forces.
"Hey, Jane," he said, his voice laced with a seriousness that sent shivers down my spine. "Can I talk to you outside for a sec?"
Before I could answer, he gestured towards the exit, leading the way with a purposeful stride. We stopped under the shade of a sprawling oak tree, a cool breeze rustling the leaves.
"Do you remember Jungkook?" he blurted out, his eyes searching mine with a mix of concern and disbelief.
The name sent a jolt through me. "Jungkook? The guy I met a few weeks ago at the club.. and he's my classmate as well?"
Taehyung's jaw clenched visibly. He seemed to be on the verge of saying something, then stopped himself. "Yeah, him," he finally muttered. "We'll... we'll talk about it later."
His cryptic response only fueled my confusion. What was he hiding? Before I could press him further, the sound of laughter drew my attention. Jungkook stood a few feet away, his phone clutched in his hand, a devilish glint in his eyes that sent a shiver down my spine.
He seemed to be texting someone, a playful smirk twisting his lips. As I walked past him, he reached out, grabbing my wrist with surprising force. My body jolted in surprise, a frown furrowing my brow.
"Whoa, there," I said, pulling back slightly. "What's going on?"
Ignoring my question, he held out a brightly colored ice cream cup. It was my favorite flavor - the one I always ordered at the campus cafe.
"Here," he said, his voice dripping with mock sweetness. "Feed me."
I scoffed. "Seriously, Jungkook? What's gotten into you?"
Before I could protest further, he held up a finger, a white bandage peeking out from under the nail. "Last nig-"
I cut him off abruptly, snatching the ice cream cup from his hand. "Fine, fine," I sighed playfully. "But only because you look like a helpless puppy with that bandage."
A triumphant grin spread across his face as I scooped a spoonful of ice cream and held it towards his mouth. He leaned in, his eyes sparkling with amusement. Just as his lips brushed against the spoon, he whispered, "Last night was..."
I leaned closer, eager to hear the rest of his sentence, but before he could finish, a mischievous glint entered his eyes. He opened his mouth wide, engulfing the entire spoonful of ice cream in one go.
"Delicious," he declared with a satisfied smirk, leaving me speechless and covered in sprinkles.
The scene had captured the attention of everyone around us. Lana and Ryles stood frozen, their mouths agape. Other students stared, a mixture of shock and curiosity etched on their faces.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then, Jungkook chuckled, a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine. "See, feeding me wasn't so bad, was it?" he said, his gaze lingering on me for a beat too long.
Heat flooded my cheeks as I realized everyone was watching. This was not how I imagined spending my afternoon. But as Jungkook winked at me, a familiar spark of defiance ignited within me.
Maybe this unexpected turn of events wouldn't be so bad after all.
