Allured (JIKOOK) [Completed]

The Shadows Deepen

The next morning, Jimin woke up feeling exhausted. The events of the previous day had taken a toll on him, and he couldn't shake off the fatigue. He decided to take a day off from his schedule, much to Mr. Kim's dismay.

"Jimin, you can't just take a day off without notice!" Mr. Kim protested over the phone.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kim, but I really need this," Jimin replied, his voice weak. "I'll make up for it later, I promise."

Mr. Kim sighed. "Fine, but don't think this is going to become a habit, got it?"

Jimin smiled, relieved. "Got it, thanks, Mr. Kim."

He spent the morning lounging in bed, trying to recharge. Later, he texted Taehyung and J-Hope, asking them to come over for a chill day.

Taehyung arrived first, carrying a bag of snacks and drinks. "Hey, Jimin! Heard you had a rough day yesterday. How are you feeling?"

Jimin smiled, grateful for his friend's concern. "I'm better now, thanks for coming over."

J-Hope arrived soon after, and the three of them spent the day lounging around Jimin's apartment, watching movies, playing video games, and just enjoying each other's company.

At one point, Taehyung turned to Jimin and asked, "So, what happened yesterday? You were being pretty vague over text."

Jimin hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about his friends' presence put him at ease, and he found himself opening up about the strange occurrences and Jungkook's mysterious appearance.

Taehyung and J-Hope listened intently, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.

"That's wild, Jimin," Taehyung said when he finished. "We're here for you, man. Whatever is going on, we'll face it together."

Jimin smiled, feeling grateful for his friends. "Thanks, guys. Just having you here makes me feel better."

The three of them clinked their drinks together in a silent toast, enjoying the comfort of each other's company.

As the night drew to a close, Taehyung and J-Hope prepared to leave, bidding Jimin farewell and heading out into the darkness. Jimin locked the door behind them, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He was finally alone, and the eerie feelings of the past day seemed to dissipate.

As he drifted off to sleep, the doorbell pierced the silence, jolting Jimin awake. His heart raced as he hesitated, wondering who it could be at this hour. He thought to himself, "Maybe it's Taehyung or J-Hope, maybe they forgot something."

But as he opened the door, his expectation turned to horror. Jungkook stood before him, his towering figure casting a long shadow in the dim light of the hallway.

"Jungkook... what are you doing here?" Jimin stammered, trying to hide the fear from his voice.

"I just came to greet my neighbour," Jungkook replied, his deep voice calm and steady. "I'm new around here, and I like to make a good impression."

His eyes locked onto Jimin's, piercing and intense, making Jimin's heart race. Jungkook's smile was polite, but his gaze was unsettling, as if he could see right through Jimin.

Jimin felt a shiver run down his spine as Jungkook's presence seemed to fill the doorway, his tall frame looming over him. He tried to speak, but his voice caught in his throat.

"It's... nice to meet you," Jimin stuttered, trying to hide his unease.

Jungkook's smile widened, his eyes never leaving Jimin's face. "Likewise, Jimin. I've heard a lot about you."

Jimin's mind raced as he wondered what Jungkook could have possibly heard about him. His heart raced faster, his palms growing sweaty.

"Well, I... I should get back inside," Jimin stammered, trying to step back.

But Jungkook didn't move, his gaze pinning Jimin in place. "So soon? I was hoping we could get to know each other better, neighbour."

The way Jungkook emphasized the word "neighbour" sent a chill down Jimin's spine. He felt trapped, unable to escape the intense gaze of the mysterious stranger who had suddenly appeared in his life.

Jungkook's eyes seemed to bore into Jimin's soul, as if he could see every fear, every doubt, every secret. Jimin felt like a rabbit caught in a snake's gaze, frozen and helpless.

"Get to know each other better?" Jimin repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jungkook nodded, his smile growing wider. "Yes, Jimin. I think we have a lot in common. More than you think."

Jimin's mind raced as he tried to think of what they could possibly have in common. But before he could respond, Jungkook turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving Jimin feeling shaken and confused.

As Jimin closed the door and leaned against it, he couldn't shake the feeling that his life was about to change in ways he couldn't imagine.

Jimin tried to shake off the feeling of unease, telling himself he was overreacting. But as he turned to go back inside, he noticed something that made his heart skip a beat.

On the floor, just inside the doorway, was a small piece of paper. It was folded into a neat square, with a single sentence written on it in red ink:

"I'm always watching you."

Jimin's eyes widened as he stared at the message, his mind racing with fear and uncertainty. The words seemed to burn into his brain, making him feel like he was being constantly surveilled. He spun around, half-expecting to see Jungkook lurking in the shadows, but there was no one there.

The message seemed to whisper in his ear, "I'm always watching you, Jimin. Always."

Jimin's heart raced as he tried to process the ominous message. He felt like he was living in a nightmare, with Jungkook's presence haunting him everywhere he went. He tried to shake off the feeling of being watched, telling himself it was just his imagination playing tricks on him.

But as he turned to go back inside, he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. A shadowy figure, tall and imposing, standing just beyond the reach of the porch light.

Jimin's breath caught in his throat as he spun around, his eyes scanning the darkness. But there was no one there. The shadow seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving behind only the faintest hint of a presence.

"I'm always watching you," the message seemed to whisper in his ear again.

Jimin knew then that he had to get out of there, to escape the feeling of being trapped and watched. He turned and ran back into his apartment, slamming the door shut behind him.

But as he leaned against the door, trying to catch his breath, he realized that he couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. It was as if Jungkook's eyes were still on him, boring into his skin like cold, dark needles.

From that moment on, Jimin knew that his life would never be the same, haunted by the ominous presence of Jungkook, always watching, always waiting.

_END OF CHAPTER 3_