GOLDEN HEADLINES

35: Night Visit

"F-FOCUS ON CASE"

Alessia paced around her apartment, her hair in a messy bun, a mop in one hand and a feather duster in the other.

She muttered under her breath, her anxiety spilling into a flurry of words as she darted from one corner of the room to another.

"Okay, Alessia, deep breaths. It's just Jungkook. No big deal. Just the cold, silent, ridiculously intimidating guy who could spot a speck of dust from a mile away."

She groaned, running the mop across the floor with unnecessary aggression.

She glanced at the clock. "Fifteen minutes. That's all I have. Why do I always do this to myself? Why couldn't I have just... I don't know, kept my apartment clean like a normal person?"

Her eyes landed on the pile of laundry dumped on the couch.

"Oh great, as if he doesn't already think I'm a mess. Perfect. Just perfect. Hi, Jungkook! Welcome to my laundry sanctuary! Please, have a seat—oh wait, you can't because my couch is buried under mismatched socks!"

She turned her attention to the dining table.

"What if he wants water? Oh no, what if he asks for coffee? I don't even have milk! And—oh my God, are those crumbs?!"

She leaned over the table, furiously wiping at an imaginary spot.

"Focus, Alessia, focus. Jungkook doesn't care about crumbs. He probably drinks, like... air. Or black coffee made of liquid intimidation."

She paused, her mind racing. "What if he doesn't like my apartment? What if he secretly judges me? Or worse—what if he thinks I'm... ordinary?"

That night, Alessia made sure everything was set. No one was supposed to be at her apartment.

She'd sent Mabel away slowly, as per Jungkook's instructions. She wasn't sure why, but she felt a sense of unease as the hours ticked by, waiting for him to arrive.

When the knock finally came, her heart skipped a beat. She wasn't prepared for what came next.

"He came"

+

Alessia opened the door, and there stood Jungkook, cloaked in a black hoodie, his face obscured by a black mask.

His whole presence was magnetic, like a force pulling her in without effort. His sleeves were rolled up, showcasing the intricate tattoos on his arms—each one telling its own story.

Without saying a word, he stepped inside with that same calm intensity he always carried. His movements were swift, purposeful, and with one click of the lock, he secured the door.

Now, the two of them were alone, and the atmosphere shifted instantly.

"Sit—"

Jungkook cut her off  "Where is her room?"

"Uh..lets go.."

"So, we share the same room, right? But it's divided—her stuff on the left, my stuff on the right."

"But look at this! She always takes up all the space! Like, I barely have enough room for myself. This corner, this tiny little corner!"

Alessia was practically waving her arms in exasperation, going on and on about how Mabel always encroached on her space.

"And, like, do you see this? It's practically a war zone! I can barely fit anything here. Meanwhile, Mabel's stuff is everywhere!"

Jungkook didn't even look at her. "Shut up."