Falling For My Enemy

15

Jimin pov.

I rounded the kitchen island and leaned back on it, glad to be alone for a minute. Even though I tried to make sense of what just happened, I couldn't. My head pounded from the effort, or maybe it was the alcohol.

First, Taehyung admitted he had a crush on me, even though he claimed it was when we were little. Then, Jungkook said he wanted to kiss me after his epic lip lock with Lisa. Though I'm pretty sure that was all a part of his master plan to annihilate me once and for all, and then Taehyung asked me to kiss him.

What. The. Heck.

This evening almost made me wish I had stayed home. But after being grounded, other than to work on the project for the last two weeks, I was finally free, and the last thing I wanted to do was go back to my house when both of my parents would be home. As awful as this party was, I had no desire to play witness to the ensuing conflict of WWIII.

I was deliberating hiding in the kitchen as an alternative when someone entered in. I shoved my shoulders back and spun around, expecting Taehyung.

But it wasn't Taehyung. It was Jungkook.

He stood in the entryway, hands in his pockets, head bowed.

Well, at least he had the decency to look sheepish.

I squared my shoulders and tipped my chin, ready for a fight. When he stepped closer, I couldn't help myself as I asked,

"Why'd you invite me here? Was it just to embarrass me? Because if that's the case, then congratulations. You win."

Jungkook exhaled and raked a hand through his thick brown hair. "I invited you because I wanted you here."

"But why?"

"I wanted to see you. Outside of school. Outside of the project stuff. But I didn't think you'd bring Taehyung. I mean, I guess I should've known. You guys do everything together, but. . ." He shrugged.

"What was that out there?" I asked, motioning toward the living room. It sounded like the others had continued without us, and I briefly wondered if Taehyung was still playing along.

Jungkook rounded the island until he stood beside me. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

My hands fisted by my side until my fingernails dug into my palms. "You don't know what I mean? Okay, how about when Lisa asked you, out of anyone in the room, who you'd kiss, and you said my name. What about that? Was that just to make me feel stupid? So you could kiss me then make fun of me after? And what about the thing Jin said about Taemin? Then there was Taehyung. All those questions and then you acted all-"

"Slow down." Jungkook shifted to face me and placed a hand on each of my biceps. "Breathe," he coaxed, and the corners of his mouth pulled up into a smile. "That was a lot of questions.

It was a lot of things to confuse me, I wanted to say, but instead, I remained silent, trying to ignore the heat of his palms burning into my skin.

"The thing Jin said?"

I nodded.

"You dated Taemin in your freshman year."

Losing my patience, I scowled and said, "I know when I dated him. He asked me out, and we went on one date before he dumped me. He claimed it was him, not me, which everyone knows is code for "I just don't want to hurt your feelings."

Jungkook laughed. "Or it was because I told him that you were actually not into him and that you were just using him as a front so your parents didn't find out."

I gasped as the horror of what he just told me sunk in. "No," I drawled.

He pursed his lips. "Guilty."

I allowed that to sink in a moment. So that’s why Taemin was always giving me and Kira funny looks during the science lab. “That is wrong on so many levels,” I said.

Jungkook looks away in a way that I was pretty sure was an indicator of guilt. As I stared up at him, my entire high school love life started flashing in my head. People would seem so into me, and then—boom—out of nowhere they’d turn cold, and it was as if I never stood a chance.

I opened my mouth, then closed it again, my question stuck in the back of my throat.

Jungkook wasn’t that cruel, was he?

Who was I kidding?

“When felix asked me about homecoming—”

“I told him you kiss like a dog.”

My eyes widened as anger surged inside me like a volcano, ready to erupt. “Last year, Sangwoo said he was planning to take me out on a date. Then, at the last minute, he changed his mind and asked someone else.”

Jungkook made a face; one that left me puzzled. There was something he wasn’t sharing with me.

I pointed at him. “What's with that expression?” I jabbed him in the ribs, and his grip on my arms tightened.

“He might've backed out of asking you because he heard your dad once showed up on a date with a loaded shotgun.”

“What? That’s not true. My dad doesn’t even own a—”

Laughter burst out from him.

Glaring, I said, “You told him that?”

“I may or may not have let it slip at one of my parties.”

“But why?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t want you to go with him.”

“Because...?”

“Trust me, I did you a favor because Sangwoo’s breath stinks.”

My hands clenched at my sides as a surge of anger coursed through me. How dare he manipulate my choices! “Let me get this straight,” I said through gritted teeth. “You’re trying to claim that you saved me from bad breath?”

“You’re welcome.” His brown doe eyes sparkled. I wanted to shield them with my hands; they were too beautiful for someone so rude.

“How many times have you done this? Scared boys away?”

“I don’t know. Only a few times.”

I advanced, pushing him back until he was against the counter. “Why? Do you really hate me that much?” I asked, embarrassed by the way my voice wavered. I feared I might break down in tears any moment, making a fool of myself.

“I don’t hate you, Jimin,” he murmured.

I tried to push him away once more, but he had no escape, so instead, he drew me nearer. His hands gliding up and down my arms sent shivers down my spine. When he gently lifted my chin to meet his gaze, a wave of goosebumps spread wherever his touch landed.

What was his game?

Then, leaning in, he whispered softly in my ear, "I'm sorry." As he pulled back, his eyes held a tenderness I hadn't seen before.

My breath hitched, a fiery turmoil swirling within me, burning in my chest. The intensity of his gaze shifting to my lips set my heart racing.

With a deep breath, I summoned my courage. In this moment, his demeanor spoke of anything but disdain. His gaze hinted at something more, a hint of affection, perhaps even a desire to kiss me.

And against all reason, I found myself wanting that too.

I took a deep breath, my voice barely above a whisper. "When you mentioned wanting to kiss me earlier... did you really mean it?"

His gaze locked onto my lips. As he leaned closer, his breath mingled with mine, sending a jolt through me. I shut my eyes, every sensation heightened to an almost unbearable intensity. The sound of my erratic breathing filled the space, drowning out all other noise.

"What do you think?" he murmured, his words hanging in the charged air between us.

A/n: Sorry for the late update; I have been sick and felt unmotivated to write these past few days. Thanks for being patient with me. Don't worry; I won't abandon the story or stop updating. I plan to continue, even if it takes more time.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜