TARGET- The World Is A Mystery { J.JK }

/9/

Tick...Tick...Tick

The rhythmic ticking of the clock was all that filled the silence. Occasionally, a soft snore or the gentle breaths of the others would break the quiet, but it was fleeting. Everyone else had finally managed to fall asleep, but I lay wide awake, tangled in my thoughts.

I sat up groggily, my body aching with the kind of exhaustion that craved sleep, but my mind refused to shut down. The mission with Yuki Lee, the journalist, should have put me at ease. We’d done everything right — informed her, surrounded her with security. She was safe. But my thoughts wouldn’t stop spiraling. What if we missed something? What if we weren’t fast enough?

The soft rustling of my sheets must have disturbed Jungkook. His bunk, right beside mine, creaked slightly as he shifted. I felt his presence before he spoke, his voice low and husky with sleep.

“Why are you up?” His question was gentle, yet it made my skin tingle in the stillness.

"Oh, not much... just couldn’t sleep,” I replied in a quiet voice, mindful not to wake the others.

Jungkook moved, sitting up now too. Even in the dim light of the dorm, I could see the concern etched into his sleepy features. His hair was a tousled mess, and his sleepy eyes looked softer than usual.

“You’ve been like this for days, Sena,” he said, his voice now clearer, “You need rest.”

I sighed and shrugged. “I know. I just… I don’t know. I can’t turn my brain off. What if something happens, and we’re not fast enough to stop it?”

He was quiet for a moment, as if weighing his words. “You’ve done everything you can. We all have. Sitting here worrying won’t change anything, you know that.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Yeah, but knowing doesn’t help me sleep.”

Jungkook chuckled softly, the sound barely louder than a whisper. “You’re hopeless.”

I smiled weakly. "Tell me something I don’t know."

He shifted his weight, leaning his back against the wall. “Scoot over.”

“What?” I blinked at him.

“Move,” he repeated, a hint of amusement creeping into his tone. “You need to relax, and I’m gonna help you.”

I shifted over slightly, and to my surprise, he climbed up from his bunk and sat next to me on mine, his long legs stretching out in front of him. The warmth of his body next to mine was oddly comforting.

“Close your eyes,” he instructed softly.

“Seriously?” I gave him a doubtful look.

“Just do it,” he teased gently, his lips curving into a small smile. “Trust me.”

With a sigh, I did as he said, letting my eyes flutter shut. I felt him shift closer, his hand lightly brushing against my arm as he reached for something — my hair.

“Your hair’s a mess,” he muttered softly, as his fingers began to gather my hair.

“Is that your solution to insomnia?” I joked, keeping my voice low. “Haircare tips?”

He chuckled, and I felt the vibrations of his laughter through his shoulder. “If it works, I’ll take the credit.”

His fingers worked gently, pulling my hair into a loose ponytail, the soft tugs and his concentrated silence were oddly soothing.

“Better?” he asked after a few moments, his voice barely above a whisper.

I opened my eyes, turning slightly to face him. His proximity, the gentle look in his eyes, the way his hand still rested lightly on my shoulder—it made my heart stutter.

“Much better,” I murmured, though I wasn’t sure if I meant my hair or the warmth his presence brought.

For a second, neither of us moved. The space between us felt charged, like something unspoken hung in the air. My breath caught in my throat as his gaze lingered on mine, his dark eyes soft and searching.

I wasn’t sure who leaned in first, but suddenly the distance between us vanished. His hands were on mine, soft and hesitant at first, as if testing the waters. But when I didn’t pull away, when I melted into his touch, he caressed my hand with his thumb, slow and tender, like we had all the time in the world

“I’m supposed to be helping you sleep,” he whispered, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

“Well,” I breathed, my lips pracitcally aching to taste his soft ones, “I guess that helped. A lot,” I whispered, my voice barely audible as I looked into his eyes.

Jungkook chuckled softly, his breath fanning against my skin. “Glad to be of service.”

Neither of us moved, both lingering in the moment as if neither wanted to break the fragile spell we had just woven. It was the calmest I had felt in days, a feeling I never thought a gesture as simple as this could bring. But this...this was different. It wasn’t just about the way my hand fir perfectly in his, It was about him — the way he always knew how to calm me, how to be there without asking, how to make everything seem less overwhelming.

“Think you can sleep now?” he asked softly, his voice still laced with that husky undertone.

I smiled. “Maybe. But only if you stay here.”

Jungkook smiled back, brushing a stray strand of hair away from my face. “I’m not going anywhere.”

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I'm whipped, they're just too adorable 🤧
UwU 💗