The All-Rounder || Karina X Male Reader

12. Face Card Never Declines

Jaeyoung stood there for a moment, blinking in surprise as Jimin pouted dramatically, her arms still outstretched.

“Cuddle, please?” she repeated in an exaggeratedly cute tone, tilting her head and batting her lashes.

He raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress a grin. “That’s… incredibly cringey, you know that, right?”

Jimin giggled, patting the spot on the couch beside her. “I don’t care. You owe me for being such a tease earlier. Now, come here.”

Jaeyoung sighed, pretending to be reluctant as he walked over and sat down beside her. Before he could get comfortable, Jimin wasted no time scooting closer, tucking herself under his arm.

“There. Much better,” she murmured, resting her head against his chest.

Jaeyoung’s heart thudded loudly in his chest, and he was pretty sure Jimin could hear it. He let out a soft breath, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “You’re really something, Jimin.”

“Something good or something bad?” she asked teasingly, looking up at him with a playful smile.

“Depends on the moment,” he replied, smirking. “Right now, I’d say… something dangerously cute.”

Jimin laughed, swatting his chest lightly. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

The room fell into a comfortable silence as they stayed like that, the sound of their breathing and the faint hum of the city outside filling the space. Jaeyoung couldn’t help but let his mind wander. This felt so natural, so easy, like they’d done this a thousand times before.

But then Jimin’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Hey, Jae?”

“Hmm?”

She hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Do you think… this is weird?”

He frowned slightly, looking down at her. “Weird how?”

“I mean, us.” She gestured vaguely to the space between them, though it was barely existent. “We’ve never been… like this before. And now it’s just happening, and I don’t know if I’m making a mistake or…”

Jaeyoung tightened his arm around her, cutting her off gently. “You’re overthinking again,” he said softly. “This doesn’t have to be anything more than what it is right now. Just… let it be, Jimin.”

Her eyes searched his face, as if trying to find reassurance in his words. Eventually, she nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Okay,” she whispered.

“Okay,” he echoed, resting his chin lightly on the top of her head.

The two of them stayed like that for a while longer, the world outside forgotten. For Jaeyoung, this moment felt like a fragile truce, a step forward into something neither of them fully understood yet.

And for once, he didn’t mind the uncertainty. All he knew was that he didn’t want to let her go—not now, not anytime soon.

---

Jaeyoung blinked sleepily, stirring awake to find himself still on the couch with Jimin nestled against him. He tried to move gently to not wake her, but the soft creak of the couch stirred her. She shifted slightly, groaning softly as she buried her face deeper into his chest.

“Stay still,” she murmured sleepily, her voice muffled.

Jaeyoung chuckled quietly, letting her settle back to sleep. As he glanced at the clock, his peace was abruptly shattered by the sound of heavy knocks on the door.