Caramel Macchiato (Jungkook's perspective)

Chapter 15

(A/N: The original song btw)

I walk into the café, heart beating like crazy. Today's the day. The song drops, and maybe... just maybe, I'll see her again.

Why am I so nervous? It's just a café, just a song... just Minseo.

I scan the room, and there she is. Sitting in the corner, my favorite seat. Caramel macchiato in hand, calm as ever.

Seriously? She has no clue what's coming.

I can't go up to her yet. No, not now. Not until the song releases. Be cool, Jungkook. Wait for the right moment. I find a spot far enough so she won't notice me but close enough to see her face when it happens. My fingers hover over my phone. Just a few more minutes.

God, she looks so peaceful. Does she even know what she did to me?

Finally, her phone buzzes. Here we go. She picks it up, brows furrowing for a second. Then, I watch as she clicks the notification.

This is it.

I hold my breath. She presses play. Her expression shifts- confusion, surprise, then... recognition. Her eyes go wide, her lips part slightly, and she leans closer to the screen.

She knows. She knows it's for her.

I get up, feeling like my legs are made of jelly, and walk over to her. I wait until she looks up from her phone. Her calm composure is still there, but there's a softness now, something different.

"Hey," I say, trying to sound chill.

She smiles, that tiny, calm smile of hers. "That was... unexpected."

You don't say.

I chuckle, scratching the back of my neck. "Yeah, I thought it might be."

She closes the video, putting her phone down. "It's a beautiful song, Jungkook. You did an amazing job."

Okay, this is it. Tell her.

"Thanks... but I, uh... I wrote it for you."

There. I said it. My heart's practically pounding out of my chest.

She takes a deep breath, her fingers gripping the cup a little tighter. "I figured," she says softly, "-but Jungkook, I... I can't."

Wait, what?

I blink, completely thrown off. "What do you mean? You can't what?"

She looks away for a second, like she's gathering herself. Then she meets my eyes again. "I can't date you. I... I don't have the time or space for it right now."

Oh, come on. This can't be happening.

I sit down across from her, trying to stay calm. "But... why? Is it about ARMY? I swear they'll support you. They'll support us."

She shakes her head. "It's not just that. I feel like... I'm always trying to prove to myself that I don't deserve everything I have. The luxury, the money. My parents gave me everything, and I haven't earned any of it."

What? That's not true.

I lean in, frowning. "What are you talking about? You don't need to prove anything to anyone."

"It's not about proving it to anyone," she says, voice steady but with that hint of vulnerability. "It's about me. I need to work for myself, to build something that's mine. Dating an idol... would only make things harder. And the media, the pressure... ARMY..."

God, she really thinks like this?

"Minseo... you don't have to prove anything. Not to your parents, not to the world, not to me. I don't care about any of that."

She gives me this small, sad smile. "It's not about you, Jungkook. I need to figure out who I am, on my own."

Okay, this is harder than I thought... but I'm not giving up that easy.

I lean forward, hands gripping the edge of the table. "Can I ask for one thing, then?"

She looks at me, confused. "What?"

"One day," I say, voice full of hope. "Just one day. Let me show you how much you mean to me. That's all I'm asking."

She blinks, her eyes searching mine. "Jungkook..."

"One day. No expectations, no pressure. Just give me one chance to show you that I'm serious."

Come on, Minseo. Just one day.

She hesitates, her fingers tapping the cup. "Fine. One day. But don't get your hopes up."

That's all I need.

I smile, feeling like I can breathe again. "Tomorrow, then?"

She nods, giving me that calm, knowing look again. "Tomorrow."