Catching Her Heart

Ridhi's POV

The night air was cooler than I expected. I pulled my jacket tighter around me as I stood outside my apartment, trying to focus on the quiet hum of the city rather than the nervous rhythm of my heart. I glanced at my phone again—11:45 PM. Jungkook had said he’d pick me up soon, but time felt like it was stretching longer than usual.

I had told myself it was just a friendly outing, but my heart refused to settle down, pounding every time a car passed by, only to realize it wasn’t his.

When he said he was free, I never imagined it would be this late at night. Jungkook explained that he felt more comfortable meeting after dark. With fewer people on the streets, the chance of someone recognizing him decreased. And if someone did, it would be easier to slip into the shadows for a quick escape. Since it was the weekend, I agreed, especially since he mentioned an amazing ice cream cafe on the outskirts of Seoul that stayed open all night.

As I absentmindedly stared up at the sky, a low rumble pulled me back to the present. A bike. The rider was dressed in all black, his face covered with a mask. Panic surged through me—lone foreign girl, late night, suspicious stranger coming straight towards me. Without thinking, I retreated into the safety of my apartment building, heart racing.

I stepped back, dread rising in my chest. I bolted inside, slamming the apartment door behind me. My heart raced as I fumbled for my phone, fingers shaking when the screen lit up with Jungkook’s name.

Thoughts raced through my mind—mafia? Human traffickers? What if they kidnapped girls for—

"Hello?" I answered, my voice trembling.

"Why did you go inside? Did you forget something?" Jungkook’s voice came through, calm and slightly confused.

Wait. You saw me? I managed to ask, still bewildered.

"What are you talking about, Ridhi? Just come outside." He cut the call before I could respond.

Still on edge, I cautiously stepped outside, only to be met with the sight of Jungkook sitting on the bike, dressed head-to-toe in black. Relief flooded through me.

The sight took my breath away. He sat there, helmet resting in front of him, drumming his fingers on it as he waited for me. The streetlight cast a soft glow on his face, making him look like a prince straight out of a fairytale—a brave prince on a dark horse, ready to fight the dragons that had kidnapped the princess and kept her away from him.

Shaking myself from my dreamy thoughts, I walked towards him, feeling the metal slightly warm from the engine under my fingers. “Since when did you start riding bikes?” I asked, excitement bubbling in my voice.

"I’ll explain everything, but wear this and hop on. We can't stay for long," Jungkook said, reaching behind him to grab the extra helmet attached to the seat.

Sitting on a bike shouldn't be difficult for me, as I had ridden behind many guy friends back home, but this felt different. "Is it... okay if I hold on to you?" I asked, hesitating for a second before continuing. I didn't want to seem nervous, but the thought of getting closer to him made my heart race.

Jungkook turned to meet my gaze and nodded. I held his shoulders as I hopped on the bike, both hands gripping him tightly, signaling that he could start moving.

The engine roared to life, and the cold wind brushed against my face as we rode away.

Jungkook started at a normal pace, which was manageable for my anxious heart. But once we hit empty roads, he slightly increased the speed, and I tightened my hold on his shoulders. I could feel the muscles beneath my fingers, warm and firm, sending a thrill through me. What was it about being so close to him that made my heart race even faster than the bike?