Just a fan // JK

10 - Quiet Storms

The sunlight poured through the windows, bathing my apartment in soft, golden hues. I curled up on the couch, my phone in hand, but my thoughts drifted far from the screen. Every few minutes, my eyes flickered to the door, a tiny part of me hoping Jungkook might walk through it at any moment. He'd promised to come back, but my mind ran circles with the "what ifs." What if he changed his mind?

A knock shattered the quiet, and my heart jumped. Setting my phone down, I hurried to the door, but the face on the other side wasn't the one I'd expected.

"Emma?"

She stood there, her red hair catching the afternoon light, a small bouquet of white daisies clutched in her hands. Her expression was tentative, almost vulnerable.

"Hi," she said softly, her voice wavering. "I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now."

I froze for a moment, unsure how to respond. "What are you doing here?"

She shifted on her feet, glancing down at the daisies before holding them out. "I wanted to apologize. For everything. For what I said, how I acted—it was wrong. And I'm sorry."

Her words caught me off guard. I stared at her, then the flowers, before carefully reaching out to take them. "You didn't have to do this."

"I wanted to," she said quickly, managing a small, hesitant smile. "I've been thinking a lot about how I treated you, and it's been eating at me. I miss you, Eva. And I want to make things right."

I hesitated, the weight of our last argument still lingering in my chest. "You really hurt me, Emma. What you said... it wasn't fair."

"I know," she said, her voice soft. "I was jealous. Not just of you and Jungkook, but of how you always seem to know what you want. And instead of being happy for you, I let my insecurities get the better of me." She looked up, her eyes pleading. "But I'm here now. I want to fix this, if you'll let me."

The sincerity in her voice tugged at something in me. Despite everything, Emma had been my best friend for years. And maybe—just maybe—she was trying to make things right.

I stepped aside, gesturing for her to come in. "Yeah. Okay."

She walked in, her eyes darting around the apartment. Her gaze briefly lingered on Jungkook's blazer draped over the back of the couch, but she quickly looked back at me.

"It's nice," she said, her voice a little too casual. Then she met my eyes again, her expression softening. "Eva, I'm so sorry. I don't want to lose you."

"You're not going to lose me," I said, my voice gentler now. "We've been through too much for that."

Her face lit up, relief washing over her. "Thank you. That means so much to me."

She pulled me into a hug, and I let myself relax into it. "Let me make it up to you," she said as we pulled apart. "Dinner, drinks, anything. My treat."

I smiled faintly. "Maybe soon. I've got a lot going on right now."

Her gaze flickered toward the couch again. "Jungkook's not here?"

"No, he's at practice," I said, a faint blush creeping into my cheeks.

Her lips curved into a small smile. "How's that going?"

"Good," I said quickly. "Really good."

"I'm glad," she said softly, though her eyes lingered a moment too long. "You deserve to be happy."

Emma left not long after, and though I felt lighter, something about her visit didn't sit right. I brushed the thought aside, setting the daisies in a vase on the counter before settling back on the couch.

The knock came again a little while later. My heart jumped, and when I opened the door, my breath caught.

Jungkook stood there, his dark hair slightly damp, his black shirt clinging to his frame. His eyes softened when they met mine, and a small smile tugged at his lips.

"Hi," he said, his accent coloring the word.

"Hi," I said, stepping aside to let him in.

He didn't say anything at first, just pulled me into his arms, his embrace firm and warm. "Miss you," he murmured, his voice low and quiet.

"You were only gone for a few hours," I teased, though my voice was softer than I'd intended.

"I miss... too much," he said simply, pulling back just enough to kiss my forehead.

Jungkook moved seamlessly in the kitchen, his sleeves rolled up to reveal the tattoos winding along his forearms. His movements were precise, confident—like he belonged there.

I leaned against the counter, watching as he tossed vegetables into a pan. "Do you cook like this all the time?"

He glanced up, a small smile tugging at his lips. "At home. A lot."

"You're really good at this," I said, genuinely impressed.

He shook his head modestly. "No... amazing. Just practice."

When he plated the food, it was nothing short of perfection. I took a bite and paused, my eyes widening. "Jungkook, this is incredible."

He smirked, satisfied. "Told you."

As the evening stretched on, we lay together on the couch, his head resting in my lap. My fingers played with his hair as he talked about the tour, his voice quiet and thoughtful. I listened, but the thought of him leaving tomorrow hung heavy in my chest.

When my phone buzzed on the coffee table, I frowned at the unfamiliar number.

"Who?" Jungkook asked, glancing up.

"I don't know," I said, swiping to answer. "Hello?"

"Hi, is this Eva Simon?" The voice was smooth, professional, and warm.

"Yes, this is Eva," I said cautiously, glancing at Jungkook, who was watching me curiously.

"This is Scooter Braun. I've been trying to reach you. I'd like to meet and discuss your career."

My breath caught. "Scooter Braun? As in... the Scooter Braun?"

"Yes," he said, a small chuckle in his voice. "I'd like to talk about signing you to SB Projects."

I froze, the weight of his words settling over me. My mind spun as I met Jungkook's curious gaze.