Love Again

2

Seokjin had been staying at the hotel for several days now, and while he knew he couldn't keep avoiding reality forever, the comfort and convenience of the place made it hard to leave. The luxury was a soothing balm to his frayed nerves, and for the moment, he was willing to indulge himself-though the cost did linger in the back of his mind.

Still, he decided he deserved to spoil himself a little longer. After everything that had happened with Taehyung, he needed a break. So, that morning, Seokjin made his way down to the breakfast buffet, the smell of freshly prepared food pulling him in as soon as he stepped into the dining area.

The spread was even more impressive than the previous days-freshly baked pastries, stacks of pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausages, an array of fruits, and so much more. His eyes widened in delight, and for a brief moment, he forgot about everything else. He grabbed a plate, loading it with an assortment of everything, then a second plate, and then another. He knew he was going overboard, but at this point, he didn't care. He was hungry, and the food looked too good to pass up.

Balancing the plates, Seokjin made his way to an empty table and sat down, ready to enjoy the feast in front of him. As he took his first bite, a small smile tugged at his lips. The food was amazing, even better than he had expected.

Meanwhile, back in the hotel kitchen, Jungkook had just finished his morning shift. Dressed in his chef's whites, complete with a white jacket, apron, and chef's hat perched slightly askew on his head, he stepped out to check on the buffet. It was part of his usual routine-he liked to see how the guests were enjoying the food and make sure everything was running smoothly.

Jungkook made his way through the dining area, scanning the buffet to see if any dishes needed refilling. Everything looked perfect, and the guests seemed satisfied, quietly enjoying their meals. As he was about to turn back toward the kitchen, a familiar figure caught his eye.

Sitting at a table near the window was Seokjin.

Jungkook's eyes brightened with recognition. It had been a few days since their last encounter, and seeing Seokjin again sparked his curiosity. The actor seemed entirely focused on the mountain of food in front of him, and Jungkook couldn't help but grin. Seokjin looked so different now, relaxed and at ease compared to the broken man he had met on the road.

With a casual confidence, Jungkook walked over to Seokjin's table, his chef's outfit crisp and neat as he navigated the dining room. He hadn't noticed the hushed murmurs of the staff behind him, whispering about Seokjin's celebrity status.

"Isn't that Kim Seokjin? The actor? I think he's staying here."

"Yeah, I've seen him in so many movies! I had no idea he was staying in our hotel."

But Jungkook didn't hear any of it. His focus was on Seokjin, and as he approached, he couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement at the sheer amount of food Seokjin had taken. He stopped beside Seokjin's table, folding his arms casually as he spoke.

"Hey," Jungkook said, his voice light with amusement. "How's the food treating you?"

Seokjin, mid-bite, looked up, startled. His eyes widened slightly when he saw Jungkook standing there in a full chef's outfit. For a moment, he wasn't sure if he was imagining things.

"Jungkook?" Seokjin said, his surprise evident. "You're a chef here?"

Jungkook chuckled, adjusting his apron as he leaned against the back of the chair. "Yep. I work in the kitchen here, and I like to come out and see how people are enjoying the food. You seem to be having a good time with it."

Seokjin blinked, still trying to process the coincidence of running into Jungkook again. "I didn't expect to see you here," he admitted, glancing at Jungkook's chef outfit. "You're... a chef? For real?"