Heartbeat // JK

29- A Calculated Surprise

She smiled, soft as syrup.

"What—no hug?"

A beat.

"I thought you'd miss me."

For a second, I thought I was dreaming.

Emma stood there — framed by the hotel hallway light, in a beige uniform that was too crisp to be real.

Her hair was curled, her lipstick perfect, her perfume so strong it barely covered the fact that none of this made sense.

My throat went dry.

"Emma... what are you—"

She cut me off with a laugh that didn't touch her eyes.

"You weren't answering my messages. I got worried."

Jungkook's fingers tightened around mine.
Taehyung stepped a half‑step in front of me, calm but solid, like a human wall.
Namjoon's phone was already in his hand.

"Worried?" Jin said quietly, disbelief wrapped in politeness.

Emma tilted her head, all innocence.

"Of course. I mean, you vanish to L.A., no texts, no calls—what was I supposed to think?"

Jungkook stepped forward, tone cold.

"How did you even know she was in L.A.?" He asked.

Emma blinked slowly, like the question didn't deserve an answer.

Namjoon crossed his arms.

"Only two people knew she flew here. And none of them talk to you."

"Not even me," Taehyung added, stepping beside me.

"And I'm her best friend."

That did it.
Emma's eyes snapped to him.
Something flickered. Just for a second — jealousy, possession, something darker — before the sugar-coating snapped back into place.

"I must've missed the ceremony," she said sweetly.

"Was there a friendship crown involved, or...?"

"Emma," I said, warning low.

She smiled.

"Relax. I just mean — if you really didn't want anyone to know where you were, maybe don't post songs that sound like goodbye."

I froze.
Because I hadn't posted anything.
Not since before the dinner.

She tilted her head, too pleased with herself.

"Or maybe I just know you, Eva. I know how you think. And if you ran this far? All the way here, of all places?" Her smile curved.

"Then something must've gone really, really wrong."

Jungkook stepped closer.
Namjoon's jaw was tight.

And for the first time, I didn't feel under a spell.

My spine stiffened.

"Emma," I said carefully.

"How did you know what hotel we're staying in?"

She blinked.

"Google exists. And public permits. And... you know... fan forums."

My stomach dropped.
Jungkook's arm tightened slightly around my waist.

Namjoon stepped forward.

"So you stalked a restricted permit list, cross-referenced the location, dressed like staff, and waited at a VIP-only floor?"