From Reluctance to Desire: A Mafia Story [JJK]

✨RUN AND RECKONING✨

Author's POV:

The city streets were chaotic—cars honking, people rushing, noise coming from every direction. In the middle of it all, a girl was sprinting like her life depended on it. Her breathing was ragged as she dodged crowds, jumped over rails, and even scaled a wall like some kind of ninja.

She turned a corner and bam! She crashed into someone and hit the ground.

Dazed, she looked up to see a tall guy in a long coat, his dark eyes locked on her. He looked like trouble.

"Sorry!" she blurted, scrambling up to run again, but he grabbed her arm, his grip strong.

"Not so fast," he said, his voice sharp.

She froze, her eyes wide. Then she gasped. "Jimin?"

"Yeah, it's me," he smirked. "You pulled one on me yesterday for that dress. Pay me back, then maybe I'll let you go."

"Jimin, not now! I'm in serious trouble!" she pleaded, glancing back at her pursuers.

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

With a groan, she shoved some cash into his hand. But instead of letting her go, he grabbed her hand and started running. "This way," he said, pulling her along.

They ran together, weaving through alleyways and bustling crowds until they reached the safety of Jimin's apartment. Inside, Jimin handed her water, his playful smirk fading into concern. "Alright, spill. What did you do 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 the guy's phone and told them it died. Then I pulled up an old match on myphone—one where my team won—and showed it to them. They thought they lost and paid."

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."

Jimin laughed, pushing himself off the counter. "Only you could turn watching a football match into a life-or-death chase."

---

Back home, she walked in to see her brother, Namjoon, paying off the men she had duped. His face screamed angry big brother mode. He didn't even look at her.

Without a word, she turned and bolted, her feet carrying her up the stairs faster than she could think. She retreated to her room, closing the door behind her with a quiet thud. The sanctuary of her personal space provided a brief respite from the confrontation. She moved to the en-suite bathroom, the cool marble tiles underfoot contrasting sharply with the heated emotions she felt.

Standing before the sink, she turned on the tap, letting the water run until it reached a soothing temperature. She splashed her face with the cool liquid, feeling the immediate refreshment against her flushed skin. The droplets trickled down her cheeks, mingling with the remnants of her frustration.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she took a deep breath.

She already knew what was coming. Namjoon was always the one forced to clean up after her messes, the one giving lectures, the one rolling his eyes when she got in trouble. And then there was their dad. The real problem.

If Namjoon was strict, their dad was worse. Always serious, always distant. He didn't get her. He barely even liked her. At least, that's how it felt.

He and Namjoon acted like she was some liability, someone who needed to be fixed. Her pranks, her reckless behavior—they were her way of fighting back, her way of feeling alive. But they never saw it that way.

Only Jimin and her mom actually understood her. Jimin, especially—he was her person, her ride-or-die.

Today had been a mess. She'd used Jimin's name to sneak out to the restaurant, knowing he wouldn't snitch. But things went south fast, and now she had Namjoon mad at her again.

And just like that, the sound of thunderous footsteps echoed down the hall.She barely had time to react before Namjoon slammed her door open.

"You've gotta stop this. It's not funny anymore," he said, arms crossed.

She avoided his gaze, pretending to ignore him.

"If you keep this up, I'll tell Dad," he warned, his voice cold.

Her heart dropped, and she whispered, "Please, don't."

His phone buzzed, cutting the moment short. With a frustrated glare, he left, slamming the door behind him.

She stood there, staring at the mirror, her emotions a mix of anger and regret. But instead of worrying, she slid into bed, pulling the covers over her head. As her thoughts faded, she let sleep take over, leaving the chaos behind—for now.

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