Jade's POV…
"Rise and shine," Kookie's voice jolts me awake as he lightly taps my arm.
Groggily, I respond, my eyes still shut, "Is it time for me to take the wheel?" I lazily stretch in the passenger seat.
"No, it's time to head up to your place," he replies, causing me to sit up abruptly.
"But I specifically asked you to wake me up at the halfway point so I could drive and let you rest," I protested.
"You were sleeping so peacefully, I couldn't bring myself to disturb you," he explains, leaning over to unfasten my seatbelt. "You can lecture me about being stubborn once we're in the comfort of your apartment."
I stepped out of the car and quickly grabbed the heaviest luggage bag I had packed before Kookie had the chance to reach for it. He just chuckled at my antics and followed me into the building. "Considering your inability to honor our previously agreed-upon deal before leaving my parents' house, I'll be taking the wheel the next time we visit either of our parents' places," I muttered while we stood waiting for the elevator.
"We'll see about that," he retorted, just as a strikingly attractive man approached and positioned himself on the other side of me.
"Hi," the man greeted us with a deep, captivating voice.
"Hello," Kookie and I responded simultaneously.
"Which floor are you headed to?" Kookie asked the man after pressing the button for my floor.
"I'm actually going to the same floor as you guys," he replied, a warm smile illuminating his gorgeous face.
"Better close your mouth before a bug decides to fly in there," Kookie whispered in my ear, then leaned against the elevator wall with a big grin plastered on his face.
"I'm Rico Vasquez," the stranger introduced himself.
"Nice to meet you, Rico. I'm Jungkook, and this is Jade," Kookie responded before asking, "Are you a new tenant here?"
"Yeah, I just moved into apartment 504 yesterday," Rico revealed, turning his attention to the steel elevator doors. My head snapped towards him as soon as those words left his lips. It was an understatement to say that I was utterly taken aback when I discovered that an incredibly attractive individual had moved into the apartment right across the hall from mine. This unit had remained unoccupied for nearly a year—precisely eleven months and twelve days. Having lived in this upscale apartment complex for a few years, I had grown accustomed to the fact that the male tenants who occupied it were often a bit off or lacking in physical appeal.
The previous guys who occupied the apartment were by no means unattractive. They just didn't exude the kind of irresistible magnetism or confidence that would make you stop in your tracks to appreciate the full glory of their manliness without shame.
"It was nice meeting you two," Rico said, bidding us farewell before stepping off the elevator ahead of us. After stepping off, I grabbed Kookie's arm, preventing him from moving forward.
Kookie turned to me, his voice filled with concern. "What's the matter?"
"Just wait," I whispered, my eyes fixed on Rico's leisurely stroll down the corridor, his gaze locked on his phone with unwavering intensity.
Kookie followed my line of sight, his curiosity evident in his voice. "Why are we waiting?"
"I can't fathom the fact that an incredibly attractive man has chosen to reside in the apartment adjacent to mine," I exclaimed, my voice filled with awe.
"Who on earth could you be referring to? Surely, you can't be talking about Rico," he retorted dismissively. "He's nothing more than average, at best. And if that."
"That's a lie, and you know it," I shot back. Clutching my bag in one hand and my house keys in the other, I began to make my way to my apartment.
"Care for something to drink?" I inquired, dropping my luggage onto the floor the moment I crossed the threshold of my apartment.
"Nah, I'm going to head home once I make sure your place is secure," he responded, swiftly picking up the bag I had just dropped.
"Alright, I'll be in the kitchen then." I made my way to the kitchen to find something to drink, while he ventured down the dimly lit hallway toward my bedroom, clutching my belongings. As I rummaged through the fridge, searching for a drink for both Kookie and myself, my thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the minor disagreement we'd had earlier today.
This morning, I was well aware that how I was treating him was wrong, but at the time, I just couldn’t bring myself to admit that to him. My stubbornness and pride had a tight grip on me, preventing me from doing so. After grabbing two bottles of water, I sliced two generous portions of triple chocolate cake and placed them on disposable styrofoam plates, then set them on the table. Lost in contemplation, I took a seat, waiting for Kookie to enter the kitchen.
"Everything looks good," he called out as he poked his head into the room.
"Can we talk?" I inquired, gesturing for him to join me.
"Can it wait until tomorrow?"
"No, but I assure you, what I need to say won't take much time."
"Alright," he replied, pulling out a chair and turning it to face me directly. "Does this have to do with what happened between us earlier?" he asked, picking up the fork and cutting into his piece of cake.
"Yes," I sighed, digging into my own slice of cake.
"I promise I won’t..."
"I'm sorry," I blurted out before he could finish speaking. "I was the one in the wrong this time. It should've been me apologizing to you, but instead, I let my hurt feelings prevent me from doing what was right."
"How about we both..."
"Stop!" I interrupted, placing my finger gently over his lips. "I know you're trying to make me feel better, but I can't let you do that this time. You did nothing wrong," I uttered, standing to my feet. I walked into the living room, grabbed the two gifts he had bought me earlier today, and then returned to the kitchen. Holding them out toward him, I blurted, "I can't accept these. I don't deserve them."
"You can, and you will," Kookie said, then abruptly stood to his feet and walked out of the kitchen. He exited the apartment without saying another word, leaving me still holding the painting and the book. I sat on the living room sofa, wondering if he was mad at me for refusing to accept his gifts.
The loud beeping of my phone let me know I had received a text message. A smile crept onto my face as I saw a message from Kookie that read, "No, I'm not mad at you. Sleep well, I'll see you tomorrow," along with a little heart emoji.
Responding with equal adoration, I typed out "I love you too" before making my way toward the serenity of my bedroom. There, I embraced the tranquility of a warm bath, allowing its soothing embrace to wash away the weariness of the day, and meticulously prepared myself for a peaceful night's slumber.
Greetings, esteemed ladies and gentlemen. I sincerely hope that you and your families are in good health and high spirits. As for me and my loved ones, we are thriving splendidly. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for embarking on this writing journey alongside me. The overwhelming love and unwavering support that you shower upon me are deeply cherished. In anticipation, I express my profound appreciation for your forthcoming votes, insightful comments, and for selecting this book to be shared with your cherished ones.
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Playing With Fire
Fanfiction"I'll go into the kitchen to grab a few more glasses and snacks..." I started to say, but Jade linked her arm with mine and blurted out, "I'm coming with you." Turning to face her as soon as we were in the kitchen, I asked, "What's wrong? What have...
