From Reluctance to Desire: A Mafia Story [JJK]

✨RUN AND RECKONING✨

Author's POV:

 The streets were alive with the chaotic hum of the city—honking cars, hurried footsteps, and the ever-present murmur of urban life. Amid the bustle, a young girl sprinted through the crowd, her breath coming in sharp, desperate gasps. She darted between pedestrians, her heart pounding as fast as her feet. Chased by several men, her only thought was to escape. Her movements were quick, almost animalistic, as she vaulted over railings, scaled fire escapes, and weaved through the maze of people.

She rounded a corner sharply, eyes flicking over her shoulder, fear etched across her face. But her frantic pace was cut short. She slammed into something solid—someone. The force knocked her to the ground.

Dazed, she looked up, her pulse racing. It was a tall man, his dark eyes peering down at her from beneath the brim of his hat. He wore a long coat that seemed to ripple in the wind, giving him an imposing presence.

"Sorry!" she blurted, scrambling to her feet in an instant. She turned to flee, but before she could take a step, his hand shot out, gripping her arm with surprising strength.

"Not so fast," he growled, his voice cutting through the noise of the street like a blade.

The man's grip tightened around her arm. "I caught her," he muttered with a smirk.

The girl froze, her wide eyes locking onto his face. Shock washed over her as she realized who it was. "Jimin?"

"Jimin, let me go! I need to get away from them!" she pleaded, her voice a mixture of urgency and relief.

Jimin's grin widened, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh no, not so fast. You pulled a fast one on me yesterday and got that dress. Pay me back, and then maybe I'll let you go."

"Jimin, I'll pay you later! This is serious!" she insisted, glancing over her shoulder.

"Money first," he said firmly, crossing his arms.

With a frustrated sigh, she quickly fished out the cash from her pocket, handing it over. Jimin took it with a satisfied nod, but before she could dash off, he grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

"Come on," he said, tugging her down the street. "This way."

They ran together, weaving through alleyways and bustling crowds until they reached the safety of Jimin's apartment. Once inside, he handed her a glass of water. She gulped it down, still breathless from the chase.

Jimin leaned against the counter, arms crossed, his playful expression giving way to concern. "Alright, what's going on? What did you get yourself into this time?"

She wiped her mouth, still catching her breath. "It's a long story. I was sitting in a restaurant, watching a match. At the next table, a few guys were rooting for the other team. I saw an opportunity and went over to them. We made a bet—losers pay the restaurant bill."

Jimin raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Sounds like you."

"The match was neck-and-neck," she continued, her eyes wide with excitement as she recalled the moment. "In the last few minutes, the other team was about to score, and I realized I'd lose. So, right before the final goal, I turned off his phone and told them it died. I said I'd check the score on my phone and showed them an old match that my team had won. They thought they lost and paid the bill."

Jimin chuckled, shaking his head. "You didn't..."

"I did!" she grinned. "But just as I was about to leave, some guy saw his phone and shouted that their team had won. They figured it out, and that's when I started running. And well... then I bumped into you."