𝑬𝑵𝑺𝑵𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑫 | JUNGKOOK

87. Look Here

Alba's POV

You sat at your bed, staring at the screen of your iPad, but none of the words were sinking in. The document in front of you was a blur, your mind too restless to focus as your thoughts drifted to Jungkook.

That arrogant, insufferable man. Your grip your iPad tightened, knuckles turned white with anger. You exhaled slowly, trying to shake off the tension in your body. You knew earlier today, in the conference room he was teasing you.

And... That look in his eyes, the one he hide behind all the teasing, the smirks, and the arrogance. It was different today. Softer, maybe. Vulnerable, even. Like he was trying to tell you something he didn't know how to say.

You rubbed your temples, frustrated at yourself for letting him occupy so much of your mind. You'd asked for space, and he'd given it to you, mostly. He was changed. Not completely, he still had that arrogant jerk part as you saw that today. But that didn't mean you were ready to let him back in, not fully. There was still that fear that if you let him in, he would hurt you all over again like Jimin did.

But as you sat there, you couldn't help but wonder if giving him space was even the right move. Maybe you should have walked away from him completely. You closed your eyes, leaning back against the headboard.

For now, you just needed to breathe. Tomorrow, you would face him again. You would keep your distance. And when you'll be ready, you'll talk to him. On your terms. But until then, he can wait.

***

You tapped your fingers against the side of your coffee mug, staring out at the sprawling cityscape as the early morning sun filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across your desk. The silence in the office was a rare kind of peace, but instead of calming you, it felt suffocating.

You had come in before sunrise, hoping to get some work done without distractions, without him. But no matter how quiet the office was, no amount of work could keep Jungkook from invading your thoughts.

You took a slow sip of your coffee, eyes skimming over the design concept on the screen in front of you. You should have been focusing on the project, which was important. But the lines on the screen blurred as your mind drifted back to the look him. The way he stood up for you.

You shook your head, trying to push the thought away. No, don't go there.

But before you could convince yourself any further, the sound of footsteps broke the quiet. Instinctively, your heart skipped a beat, and you knew it was him before he even entered the room. It was like your body had learned to recognize him before your mind did.

Jungkook stepped into your office without knocking, as if he belonged there. He was carrying a stack of papers, but his eyes were already fixed on you, the same unreadable expression from yesterday lingering behind the usual mask.

"Early start?" he asked casually, though there was something familiar in his tone, something almost... cautious.

You straightened in your chair, pushing your hair behind your ear, trying to appear composed. "Had some things to finish."

He smirked, setting the papers down on the edge of your desk, too close for comfort. "Always working hard."

You didn't respond immediately, keeping your eyes on the document in front of you, ignoring the pull between you. His presence was magnetic, something you couldn't escape even when you wanted to. When you finally looked up, you tried to keep your expression neutral. "Did you need something?"

He tilted his head, his gaze flickering with that familiar spark of mischief, but today, there was something else beneath it. Something that made you uneasy. "I wanted to go over the plans for the final presentation," he said, his voice dipping lower, more serious. "We need to make sure everything's perfect for Claire."