Saving Grace [discontinued]

{chapter 18} - baby

"-And they thought the dorm and practice building wouldn't be safe for a while, which brings us here," Jungkook finished, letting out an exhale of relief. He took one final swing of tea before setting down the mug with a sigh of satisfaction.

Meanwhile, I had an elbow propped on the table, arms trying to support my head that wouldn't stop lolling forward out of exhaustion. I had barely been able to listen to Jungkook's explanation because of the way his voice lured me to sleep. My eyes felt heavier than sandbags.

"Grace?" Jungkook's sudden question startled me and my eyes flew open.

"Yes? I'm so sorry, what were you saying?" I asked, a big yawn overtaking my face.

Jungkook chuckled and stood up from the booth. After carefully shimmying out, he walked over to my side and held out his arms in invitation. "Come here 자기야 [jagiya//baby, darling], I'll carry you back to bed."

"Who are you calling baby, I'm not a baby," I grumbled tiredly. Another big yawn escaped my mouth.

The next time I blinked, I was in Jungkook's arms with the blanket wrapped around me so that he wouldn't have to touch my bare thighs.

"But you sure look like one," Jungkook said, smirking.

If I was more than 50% awake and aware of my surroundings, I would have immediately protested and probably slapped Jungkook. But unfortunately for me, I was more than half asleep and completely oblivious to what was happening.

The ride back up the elevator and the walk back to our rooms was all a blur for me. My vision kept cutting out and back in, eyelids struggling to stay open. The only thing that managed to jostle me awake was a sudden realization that made me groan in despair.

"What is it jagiya?" Jungkook asked, frowning. "Am I holding you too tight?"

"Hm? No, no, that's fine," I reassured him, refusing to acknowledge the nickname that the little flirt had used again. "It's just that I don't have a-" I cut myself off. I didn't know how to say "key" in Korean.

Freeing my arms from my sides, I started to make a motion that was similar to putting a key in a keyhole and opening the door. I repeated it a couple times but Jungkook didn't seem to understand. In fact, he almost looked appalled. Like I was doing something wrong...

I froze. Realization caused my heart to pound in my chest. I did the gesture one more time, slowly, and more to myself than Jungkook. I gasped and my cheeks flushed red.

The gesture looked... scandalous at the very least.

Jungkook was still wearing an expression of nervousness and shock. I could feel hands shaking on my legs. He cleared his throat, "Grace, I'm not going to-"

I covered his mouth with one of my bandaged hands, refusing to let him finish his sentence. I honestly wanted to cry. I was so jet-lagged and ready to die from exhaustion. All I wanted was for my brain to work for once in my life...

"열쇠 [yeolsui]!" I cried out. Jungkook's face drained of all the anxiety that had built up as he started to understand what the gesture meant. "I don't have one," I finished, exhaling in relief.

"Oh? We can just try knocking-"

"No," Jungkook looked a little taken aback by my blunt refusal.

"I mean, um, Sana will kill me if I wake her up," I added in an apologetic and less sharp tone. My mouth curved into a yawn again and I quickly covered it with my hands, as if I was ashamed that I had allowed myself to yawn. Just Jungkook's presence made me feel like I needed to act ladylike and neat. However, I couldn't stop when my eyes started to feel dry, and I brought my hands up and rubbed them tiredly. I missed Jungkook's gaze that was watching me, studying my actions.