FALLING FOR THE FLAME

Part 2:THE SUBTLE SHIFT

The Next Morning:

Y/N arrived at the office early, as usual. The sun hadn’t fully risen, but the soft light filtered through the windows, making the whole place feel quieter, more intimate. She got to her desk, quickly going through her emails. But her thoughts kept drifting to Jungkook.

She didn’t know why she couldn’t shake the feeling from yesterday. His praise. The way he looked at her. It was different. She could feel the tension between them growing stronger with each passing day.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from him.

Jungkook - "Come to my office. We need to discuss the presentation."

Y/N’s heart fluttered. She swallowed hard and quickly stood, smoothing her skirt as she walked towards his office. Each step felt heavier than the last.

When she reached the door, she hesitated for a second, before knocking and walking in.

Y/N - "You wanted to see me, sir?"

Jungkook was sitting at his desk, looking over a few papers. He didn’t immediately acknowledge her, but she could see the tension in his shoulders. He wasn’t his usual, relaxed self today.

Jungkook - "Sit down."

Y/N took a seat in the chair opposite him, her heart racing.

There was a long silence between them, one that felt far too heavy for just discussing work. She waited, trying to control the fluttering in her chest.

Finally, Jungkook looked up, his eyes locking with hers.

Jungkook - "I’ve been thinking about the presentation. You’ve done good work."

Y/N blinked, surprised by the praise. She wasn’t used to him being so... genuine.

Y/N - "Thank you, sir. I’m just doing my job."

Jungkook - "No. It’s more than that. You’re good at this. You’re good at what you do."

Y/N felt her cheeks heat up. Was he... complimenting her? She looked down at her hands, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Y/N - "I appreciate that, sir."

Jungkook’s gaze didn’t leave hers, his expression unreadable. She could feel the weight of his stare, a pressure that seemed to make the room feel smaller.

Jungkook - "You know, you’re not like the others."

The words hung in the air, leaving Y/N confused. She didn’t know how to respond, so she simply nodded.

Y/N - "I—"

Before she could finish, Jungkook’s phone rang, and he quickly picked it up. The moment was broken. Y/N quickly stood to leave, but as she reached the door, he called out to her.

Jungkook - "Y/N."

She paused, turning to face him, her heart beating fast.

Jungkook - "I need you to stay late tonight. We’ve got to go over everything before the meeting tomorrow."

Y/N nodded. Of course, she would. She always did. She had no choice. But a part of her couldn’t help but wonder why he had asked for her specifically. He could have asked anyone else.

Y/N - "I’ll stay, sir."

Later That Day:

The day dragged on, and Y/N found herself getting lost in her work. But as the clock ticked closer to the end of the day, she couldn’t shake the thought that Jungkook was still on her mind. The way his gaze lingered. The way his words were different. It was like there was something unspoken between them, something neither of them had addressed.

When the office finally cleared out, Y/N stayed behind, finishing up her tasks. The quietness of the office made everything feel more intense, like she was walking in a world where only she and Jungkook existed.

Her phone buzzed again, and this time, it was from him.

Jungkook - "I’ll be in my office when you’re ready."

Y/N grabbed her things and made her way to his office. The closer she got, the more she could feel her nerves building.

When she stepped inside, Jungkook was standing by the window, looking out at the city lights. His posture was tense, but there was something about the way he stood—something that made him seem more... vulnerable.

Y/N - "Sir, I’m here."

He didn’t turn around immediately. Instead, he stood there for a few more seconds before finally facing her. His eyes locked onto hers again, the intensity growing.

Jungkook - "I need to ask you something, Y/N."

Her breath caught in her throat.

Y/N - "What is it, sir?"

Jungkook - " Why do you keep pushing yourself so hard?
                       You are already such a great employee "!

Y/N didn’t know how to respond. She had always been a hard worker, but something in his voice made her feel exposed.

Y/N - "I... I want to do my best. For you, for the company..."

But her voice trailed off as she met his gaze. There was something in the air—something unspoken. Jungkook took a step closer, and for a brief moment, Y/N thought he might say something more. But instead, he simply nodded.

Jungkook - "You don’t need to do this alone, you know. We’re a team."

Y/N blinked, feeling a warmth spreading through her chest. Had he just opened up to her? Had he really said that? She wasn’t sure, but the sincerity in his words left her speechless.

Y/N - "I... I know. Thank you, sir."

Before she could say more, Jungkook motioned to the desk where the files were laid out.

Jungkook - "Let’s get started."

---

Later That Night:

The office was silent, save for the sound of their voices as they worked. The tension between them was thick, but it wasn’t uncomfortable—it was charged. Every time their hands brushed as they reached for the same file, Y/N’s heart fluttered. Every time she looked up and saw Jungkook glancing at her, there was a shift in the air.

It was getting late, and Y/N was starting to feel the exhaustion setting in. But as she looked at Jungkook, she realized he wasn’t showing any signs of slowing down. He was still focused, still determined. And a part of her admired that.

But as she stood to grab another coffee, she caught him staring at her again. His gaze was almost too intense, too heated.

Y/N - "Sir, is everything okay?"

Jungkook didn’t respond immediately. He just looked at her, his expression unreadable. Then, he spoke softly, his voice almost a whisper.

Jungkook - "You’ve been working so hard tonight. I just wanted to make sure you’re alright."

His words hit her harder than she expected. No one had ever shown this kind of concern for her before, and it made her feel... special.

But before she could respond, Jungkook returned to the work in front of him, the moment passing as quickly as it came.

Y/N stood there for a moment, unsure of what to make of it. Was he really concerned for her? Or was it just a passing thought?

The night dragged on, and the tension between them only seemed to grow. But one thing was certain—everything between them was changing.

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