From Reluctance to Desire: A Mafia Story [JJK]

✨SOFTENING EDGES✨

The night air was cool against my skin, but the warmth of Jungkook's fingers lingered, leaving a trail of fire where they had touched my cheek. I could still feel it, the weight of his gaze, the silent battle playing out between us—one neither of us could put into words.

For a fleeting moment, I thought he was about to say something real. Something honest. But just as quickly as it came, it was gone.

Jungkook's hand fell away, his expression shifting in an instant. The raw vulnerability I had glimpsed—the one I ached to understand—vanished behind a carefully crafted mask.

"Well," he said, clearing his throat, his voice suddenly distant. "I should get going. Work to do."

Just like that, he turned away.

And something inside me snapped.

"Oh, so that's it? You're just going to act like nothing happened?"

I hadn't meant to say it. The words tumbled out before I could stop them, fueled by frustration, by the way he kept doing this. Pushing and pulling, getting close only to retreat. I was exhausted by the game—by the way he made me feel everything and then pretended like none of it mattered.

Jungkook turned back, one brow arching in amusement, but there was something else behind his gaze—something unreadable. "What exactly did happen, Y/N? You stood in front of me like a statue, and I touched your cheek. Not exactly groundbreaking stuff." His voice was teasing, but there was a hint of something more behind it—a challenge, maybe.

My eyes narrowed at him. "Don't act like you weren't trying to say something just now. And stop smirking like that!" I could feel my face heating up, and his infuriating smirk only made it worse.

He took a step closer, crossing his arms over his chest. "Smirking? Oh, you mean this?" He exaggerated the expression, turning it into a ridiculous, cartoonish grin. It was so over-the-top that I almost choked on a laugh. "Am I doing it right? I read somewhere that this is what makes people 'charming.'"

"Ugh, you're impossible," I muttered, turning to walk away before I said something I'd regret.

But before I could make my escape, he grabbed my wrist gently, pulling me back. "Hold on a second," he said, his tone serious now. "Why are you getting so worked up? You're acting like... like..."

"Like what?" I challenged, facing him again, my cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

"Like a kid who's been caught sneaking cookies," he teased, his lips twitching in a barely suppressed grin. "Is that what this is, Y/N? Did you sneak a peek into something you weren't supposed to?"

His words caught me off guard, and I stumbled over my response. "No! I mean... I don't know what you're talking about. You're the one acting all weird."

"Weird?" His eyes widened in mock offense. "I'm not the one sneaking around gardens and getting flustered over a little touch."

"Flustered?" I scoffed, crossing my arms defensively. "I was not flustered. I was... caught off guard, that's all."

He took another step toward me, closing the distance again, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Caught off guard, huh? So, if I do this again—" He reached out, his fingers brushing my cheek lightly. "—you won't get all... flustered?"

I swatted his hand away, feeling my face heat up even more. "Stop that! You're being ridiculous." I turned my head, trying to hide the smile threatening to break through.