The Clandestine Us

Thirty-five

───── ❝ Jungkook's POV ❞ ─────

I was just about to make another round around the yacht on the jet ski I was riding when my eyes landed on her—my girl, standing at the beach club area like she owned the whole scene.

Jennie was laughing as she spoke with Nayeon, flanked by Rosé and Lisa, with Joy and Seulgi nearby. At first, it seemed like just another conversation—until Yuta and Taeyong walked up to them. Still, I kept my cool. That is, until Nayeon stepped away and Taeil suddenly joined them too.

I felt my blood pressure spike.

I sped back to the dock and tried to park the jet ski as fast as I could. Even the lock on my life jacket was testing my patience, like it knew I was trying to keep it together.

I wasn't planning to make a scene. I wasn't planning to be violent—even though every inch of me wanted to be. All I wanted was to get Jennie the hell away from that group of guys who clearly didn't know the concept of boundaries.

I mean... I get it. Jennie's aura? It's impossible to ignore. She walks into a space and all eyes naturally follow. But doesn't her energy scream, "I'm taken"?

So why does no one seem to hear it?

I even marked her—not that I expected anyone to see it right away. They covered it up too well. Not a trace was visible, even though she'd been swimming and was still a little wet from the ocean.

And yet there she was, laughing freely at something Taeyong said, while those three assholes stood there soaking up her attention like they were the reason she was smiling.

My jaw clenched.

I thought NCT knew about us. I thought it was obvious from the way Jennie and I acted at the club before. Our body language wasn't exactly subtle. But maybe since we never officially said anything, they assumed it wasn't serious. Even Jaehyun seemed confused that night.

Having a pretty girlfriend is both a blessing and a curse. Like... what do you mean, wherever she goes, something like this always happens?

Just as I finally got the damn life jacket unlatched, I took a step forward to head straight to her.

"Man," I heard Mingyu call out behind me.

I turned around to see him standing on his jet ski, arms spread like he needed help getting off, even though a crew was right there assisting him. He didn't need my help. He was stalling me.

Still, I walked back to help him.

"I know exactly what you're doing, Gyu," I muttered.

"What?" he replied, feigning innocence with the fakest expression I've ever seen. "I just needed help."

I rolled my eyes as he started unfastening his life jacket. He was definitely buying time. Probably thought I needed a second to calm down before I went stomping across the deck like a possessive boyfriend on the verge of losing it.

He wasn't wrong.

As I turned to walk toward Jennie again, the crowd wasn't making it any easier. A bunch of tipsy idols—guys and girls alike—were scattered across the inflatable, chatting, laughing, and swaying with drinks in hand. Almost every few steps, someone greeted me, thanked me for the party, or asked if we were doing this again next year.

I didn't want to be rude, so I took the time to smile, nod, and exchange a few polite words here and there, but my eyes? They kept glancing at Jennie.

She was still with them. And I was close to doing something I'd regret.