Heartbeat // JK

14 - Too Fast, Too Much

The light was soft and golden, the kind that only hit my apartment twice a week and never when I needed it.

I was warm. Too warm. Jungkook's arm was still draped across my waist, heavy and protective, like even in his sleep he was trying to keep me from slipping away.

His face was half-buried in the pillow. There was a crease on his cheek and one of my rings tangled in his hair — how that even happened, I had no idea. He mumbled something in Korean under his breath. I didn't understand it, but the shape of his lips when he spoke made me smile.

I shifted carefully, trying not to wake him, and slid out of bed. The apartment wasn't spotless — it never was — but I'd been trying. The blanket I'd tossed over the chair was at least folded now. My desk was almost clean except for two open lip glosses and a tangled charging cable. The sink was empty, which felt like a miracle. A candle I forgot to blow out flickered on the counter, smelling like overpriced fig and something that was probably sandalwood. One of Jungkook's socks was still on the windowsill. That part wasn't my fault.

The espresso machine sputtered and hissed like it hated being awake. I winced and muttered something at it under my breath.

Behind me, the bedsheets shifted.
Then — silence.

I didn't turn around.

A few seconds later, I felt him. Barefoot steps on wood, slower than usual. He padded over and just... stood there, hovering.

"Did I wake you?" I asked, not looking.

"No," he said.

Then after a beat, "Yes."

I smirked.

He didn't say anything else — just stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, a little awkward at first, like he wasn't sure I'd let him. His hoodie was soft. His grip was warm.

"You left," he murmured, voice thick with sleep.

"To make coffee," I said, pretending I didn't freeze at the way he said it — like I was supposed to still be there.

He didn't say anything. Just leaned into me, forehead pressing against the curve of my shoulder.

"Clingy," I mumbled.

"You like it," he whispered, almost smug.

I handed him a mug over my shoulder without looking. He took it without letting go.

"You've got an airport in a few hours," I said after a long beat.

"You should probably start getting ready."

He hummed into my skin.

"Later."

There was something quiet in his tone. Something that made my heart do that thing it kept doing around him — stumbling.

"The guys want breakfast," Jungkook said a few minutes later, once we'd moved to the couch — me curled up with my knees under his hoodie, him scrolling through something he wouldn't let me see.

"All of them?"

He nodded.

"Namjoon texted. We're meeting soon."

I tried to keep my face neutral, but my stomach tightened. Right. The guys.

He didn't look up, just said, "Come with me."

My heart stuttered.

"You sure?" I asked, quieter than I meant to.

He nodded again.