Secrets Of The Shadows | On Hold

Ch•4

Jungkook abruptly rose from his chair, causing Taeyong to jump in surprise. "Could you take me to the library? I have some matters to attend to," he requested, his tone casual yet firm. Taeyong swallowed hard, curiosity piqued. What could possibly require his attention in a library?

"But I just got home," she protested, weighing her options. Yet, Jungkook seemed unfazed, merely shrugging his shoulders in response.

"I'll gather my things while you get ready," he said, turning to head into another room. Taeyong nodded, deciding to comply, and made her way to her own room to grab her phone and change into something more comfortable for public outings.

As they stepped outside, the brisk air hit Taeyong like a wave, making her shiver involuntarily. She instinctively pulled her coat tighter around her and tucked her hands into her pockets. A glance at Jungkook revealed that he appeared completely unfazed by the chill.

"Aren't you cold?" Taeyong inquired, matching her pace with his.

"Not at all! What about you?" Jungkook replied, raising an eyebrow and halting in his tracks.

"Just a bit," Taeyong admitted, preparing to move forward when suddenly, she found herself enveloped in a warm bear hug from none other than Jeon Jungkook.

"What are you up to...?" Taeyong inquired, her brow furrowed in confusion at Jungkook's unexpected behavior.

"Just making sure you stay warm!" Jungkook answered, his gaze fixed ahead. Taeyong felt a twinge of oddness at his response, yet she chose not to dwell on it; the warmth was welcome, and together they made their way to the library.

Once inside, Taeyong settled into a chair, a random book resting in her hands, her eyes glued to Jungkook as he moved about the room. He was strikingly handsome, and as she lost herself in her thoughts, Jungkook suddenly turned, catching her in the act of staring.

Flustered, Taeyong quickly averted her gaze, a rosy blush creeping across her cheeks. With a playful smirk, Jungkook approached her.

"I'm heading up to the third floor. Care to join, or will you stay here?" he asked, prompting Taeyong to look up, pondering her response.

"Just leave your number before you go. In case anything happens, I’ll stay put!" she replied, and Jungkook nodded in agreement.

After exchanging numbers, he ascended to the third floor, leaving Taeyong feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. She was grateful he hadn’t questioned her staring, yet a sense of dread lingered at the thought of the mysterious stranger returning.

Pulling out her phone, she scrolled through Instagram, boredom settling in. To shake it off, she decided to listen to some music.

Moments later, the sound of footsteps echoed in the library. Assuming it was Jungkook, she called out, "Jungkook, are you finished? You’re taking too long; we should head out." Silence met her words. Rising from her chair, she followed the sound, only to find the area empty, the footsteps having ceased.

A flicker of panic ignited within her. "Jungkook, I know it’s you! Stop messing around and show yourself! I’m counting to three, and if you don’t appear, I’m leaving!" she declared, her voice steady despite her racing heart.

"One... Two... Three! I’m out of here, Jungkook!" she exclaimed, turning to leave when suddenly, a figure lunged at her from behind, attempting to wrap their arms around her in a menacing grip.

"Who are you?!" Taeyong gasped, the words escaping her lips with immense effort. Desperately, she fumbled for her phone, her fingers trembling as she dialed Jungkook's number. The grip around her throat grew tighter, constricting her breath.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Jungkook's voice came through, steady and untroubled.

"J-Jungkook...please...help..." Taeyong managed to stammer before the world around her faded into darkness.