From Reluctance to Desire: A Mafia Story [JJK]

✨SAVORING THE MOMENT✨

After a while, we finally finished our sandcastle. It wasn't perfect, but it was ours. I admired our handiwork, the sunlight warming our skin as we sat back, satisfied with our creation.

The sand felt cool under my legs, and for the first time in a long while, I felt at peace, as if the worries I'd carried around had somehow drifted away with the tide.

After washing off the sand, we found a small house nestled among the dunes.

"Come on," he said, his eyes glinting with something playful.

Inside, the space was cozy, sunlight spilling through the windows, casting a warm, inviting glow on everything. The room smelled faintly of salt and sun, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful—just the two of us in our own little world.

I turned to ask him what we were doing here, but before I could speak, Jungkook stepped behind me and gently placed his hands over my eyes.

"Jungkook—?"

"Shh," he whispered softly against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. "It's a surprise."

A few moments later, he pulled his hands away, and I gasped.

Before me was a beautifully set table with a homemade meal—pasta, fresh bread, a small salad. The aroma filled the room, warm and inviting. It was simple, yet somehow perfect. Everything about it felt... special.

"You cooked?" I turned to him, wide-eyed, unable to hide the surprise and admiration in my voice.

Jungkook smirked, clearly enjoying my reaction. "Told you I had some skills."

"You blindfolded me just to show off your cooking?" I teased, feeling a flutter in my chest.

"Of course," he winked. "Had to make an impression."

I laughed, shaking my head in disbelief. "Consider me very impressed."

Jungkook's smile grew even wider, and before I could process his words, he started placing foods in front of me. The simple yet elegant spread he had prepared seemed like it belonged in a restaurant, and yet here we were—sitting in this cozy house, sharing something personal and intimate.

I raised an eyebrow as I sat down at the table. "When did you have time to cook? I woke up late."

Jungkook chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with a playful glint. "I woke up early, before you. I didn't want to rush, so I made sure everything was perfect."

I was genuinely impressed. "What did you make?"

He grinned as he opened a basket, revealing several dishes. "Well, I thought we could have some classic Korean dishes—kimchi, ramen, some kimbap, and a little bit of bulgogi."

My mouth watered at the mention of bulgogi. The smell of the food made my stomach growl, and I suddenly realized just how hungry I was after all the fun in the sun. The sight of the kimbap, the aroma of the bulgogi, and the rich scent of kimchi—it was a comforting, nostalgic mix of flavors, all of them my favorites.

"Wow, this looks amazing," I said, taking a small piece of kimbap, my eyes wide in appreciation. "How do you know how to make all this?"

Jungkook laughed softly, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked at me with a shy smile. "It's a hobby of mine, actually. I used to cook for my friends and myself all the time. My favorite food is actually bulgogi—it's just something I've always loved to make."