24/7 Yours

Chapter 25

The next day, Jungkook's excitement was palpable as he walked down the familiar road, a noticeable spring in his step.

Liza, walking beside him, glanced at him with a mix of curiosity and amusement. Jungkook's energy was infectious, and his bright demeanor was reflected in the new hairstyle he had tried, neatly styled with small, decorative pins that added a playful touch.

"You seem very excited today," Liza remarked, her gaze lingering on his hair. It was unlike Jungkook to fuss over his appearance like this, and the extra effort hadn't gone unnoticed.

Jungkook smiled, a soft blush creeping onto his cheeks. "Mm, nothing like that. I'm just... excited to see my photos," he replied, trying to keep his tone casual, though the anticipation was evident in his voice.

Liza arched an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. "For photos?" she echoed, skepticism lacing her words.

Jungkook nodded, avoiding her gaze as he adjusted the strap of his bag. "Yeah, you know, just curious how they turned out," he added, his voice a bit too enthusiastic.

Liza watched him for a moment before a teasing smile spread across her face. "You’re not falling for Taehyung, are you?" she asked, her tone playful yet probing.

Jungkook stopped in his tracks, her question catching him off guard. His expression flickered, a mix of surprise and something else.. something he quickly masked. He turned to look at her, his face unreadable, before he slowly shook his head, his eyes darting away.

"Haha, you're just funny," Jungkook said, laughing nervously as he resumed walking, quickening his pace slightly as if trying to escape the conversation.

Liza hummed softly, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before she fell into step beside him. She could sense there was more to it, but she decided not to press further. Instead, she followed quietly, her thoughts swirling as she observed Jungkook's behavior.

The silence between them was comfortable yet filled with unspoken questions. As they approached their destination, Jungkook's heart beat a little faster, a mixture of excitement and nervousness bubbling within him. He couldn’t help but wonder if Liza’s teasing held more truth than he was willing to admit to himself.

"I... I’ll just go and collect the pictures," Jungkook said as they approached the staircase leading up to Taehyung’s room. His voice was steady, but there was a noticeable eagerness in his step as he started to ascend, skipping two steps at a time.

Liza nodded, stopping beneath the rail, her eyes following Jungkook as he bounded up the stairs. She leaned against the wall, waiting patiently, though she couldn't help but notice the slight bounce in his step.

As Jungkook reached the door, he paused, raising his hand to knock when a voice called out from downstairs.

"Hey..."

He turned around, eyebrows furrowing in confusion as he spotted a woman, likely in her late fifties, standing at the foot of the stairs. "Are you Koo?" she asked, her voice kind yet direct.

Jungkook glanced at Liza, then nodded slowly. "Yeah, I am."

"Okay, Taehyung asked me to give this to you," she said, extending a paper cover towards him.

Jungkook hesitated, taking a step down. "Taehyung? Is he not here?" he asked, his disappointment barely masked.

The woman shook her head. "No, he had to go somewhere. Some emergency came up."