Heartbeat // JK

37- Names and Their Weights

I should've known something was off when they made me sit in the middle row.

Normally Jungkook grabs that spot and complains about his knees, but this morning, he waved me into the seat like a chauffeur with a mission. Taehyung climbed in next to me, suspiciously quiet. Jimin climbed in after, already giggling like he knew something I didn't.

"Are you guys—" I started, looking between them.

"No questions," Namjoon called from the passenger seat, adjusting his sunglasses.

"You'll like it," Jin promised from the third row.

"You'll love it," Hobi corrected, grinning like he'd just won something.

Jungkook didn't say anything. Just slipped his fingers through mine like that would distract me.

It worked—for about ten minutes.

Until the car took a left off Sunset and my stomach dropped.

I straightened slowly.

No.
No.

The palm-lined drive, the salmon-colored stucco, the wrought iron gates—this wasn't just any place.

This was the place.
I blinked at the front sign as we rolled closer.

The Beverly Hills Hotel.

Oh god.
Oh no.

And then the gates opened.

They didn't ask for a name — they didn't have to. The reservation was already on file, confirmed through management hours ago. The driver gave a polite nod, and the guard waved us through without a second glance.

"Okay," I said slowly.

"Where are we going?"

Taehyung leaned forward.

"It's a surprise."

"Just a little brunch," Jin added.

"I didn't think this was your kind of place," I said.

"It's not." Jimin shrugged.

"Exactly why we brought you," Taehyung added, grinning.

"Big day. Big vibes."

The SUV coasted through the main drive.
Then it turned left.

No.

The wheels crunched over pale gravel and my throat closed.

I knew this turn.

I'd taken it in the backseat of a silver Bentley with mirrored windows and a mother who said I was walking too loudly.

My spine went cold.
They were taking me to the Polo Lounge.

The car stopped.

Jungkook opened the door and hopped out first, stretching a little.

"We made it."

He turned to offer me a hand, like this was just any other morning, any other restaurant, any other world.

I didn't take it.
I was still staring at the entrance.

The white awning. The gold-trimmed menu board. The arched hedge that looked like a portal back into a life I never wanted to claim.

Namjoon stepped out first and looked back at me with that calm kind of smile.

"Hey. You'll be fine. Just food and us."