Saved || A Jungkook fanfic

19.

Jungkook was silent.

Not just quiet, but steeped in a tense, unyielding silence that stretched between us like an unspoken weight. Since we left the bowling alley, he hadn't said a single word. Not when we stopped at a convenience store to grab ramen and drinks, not even when we found a secluded spot by the river to sit and eat. His jaw remained tight, his brows furrowed, his lips pressed into a firm, unreadable line.

And yet, despite the heavy air between us, everything else was perfect. The dark blue picnic blanket spread beneath us, the soft ripple of the water catching the last hues of the setting sun, fireflies flickering like tiny lanterns in the fresh air. No boats, no crowds. Just the two of us, wrapped in the quiet symphony of croaking frogs and the distant jingling of bicycle bells.

Jungkook had planned this. Every part of it. From the lighthearted bowling match to this peaceful escape by the river. I could see it now—how much thought he had put into making today special for me. It should have been the best date I'd ever had.

Would have been.

If only we hadn't run into Taehyung.

I stole a glance at Jungkook, watching as he absentmindedly slurped his noodles and took a long drink from his Coke. The tension in his posture hadn't eased, his knuckles slightly whitening around the can. I swallowed, unsure of how to bridge the distance that had settled between us.

"Look, Jungkook, I didn't know—"

Before I could finish, he moved.

In one swift motion, I found myself pinned beneath him, my back pressed against the blanket as his body hovered over mine. My breath hitched, heart pounding against my ribs as his arms braced on either side of me, caging me in.

His gaze burned into mine, dark and intense, his expression unreadable yet brimming with something raw, something possessive. The heat of his body radiated against mine, sending a shiver through me.

Then, without warning, he began pressing featherlight kisses along my arms, his lips ghosting over my skin like whispers in the dark. Up my shoulders. Along my collarbone. Each touch igniting sparks beneath my skin.

"Jungkook," I breathed, barely recognizing my own voice. "What are you doing?"

He took my wrist in his hand, lifting it gently, and planted a slow, lingering kiss against the pulse point. His lips were warm, soft, yet filled with unspoken words. "I'm erasing him," he murmured, his voice rough, husky. "Everywhere he touched you."

A wave of goosebumps rippled across my skin, my fingers instinctively curling into the fabric of his shirt.

"You have no idea how much I—" he exhaled sharply, shaking his head as if trying to contain the storm inside him. His jaw clenched before he finally settled on, "Only I can touch you."

His lips brushed against my cheek, barely there, yet enough to set me ablaze. His hand slid down to my hip, squeezing gently as his eyes locked onto mine, fierce with an unspoken promise.

"I don't want any other man putting his hands on you like this," he said, his voice quiet but resolute.

I stared up at him, my pulse roaring in my ears. The way the fading sunlight kissed his skin, highlighting every sharp angle of his face—the curve of his lips, the tiny scar on his cheek—made my chest tighten. His dark hair tousled slightly in the evening breeze, his strong arms bracketing me in place, making it impossible to focus on anything but him.

I had fallen for him. Somewhere along the way, without realizing it, I had fallen hard.

And for the first time, I wasn't afraid to admit it.

"I don't want anyone else to touch me," I whispered, my fingers trailing slowly up his arm, resting on the firm muscle of his tatted bicep. I averted my gaze to his nose, unable to hold his intense stare any longer. "I only want you."

The tension in his body melted instantly, his expression softening into something almost vulnerable. A small, breathtaking smile curved his lips. "Then say it, Ailene," he murmured, leaning in.

"Say what?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He cupped my face in his hand, his thumb brushing over my cheek with infinite tenderness. "That you like me too."

Time slowed. My heartbeat was deafening, each second stretching into an eternity. I had only ever confessed my feelings to one person before, and that had ended in nothing but pain. But Jungkook... he had been patient, understanding, despite my every attempt to push him away. He had given me every reason to trust him.

"I like you, Jungkook," I finally admitted, the words tumbling past my lips in a breathless rush. "It took me so long to say it, and I'm sorry."

His smile widened, and before I could say anything more, he kissed me.

Not just a kiss—something deeper, something that unraveled every carefully built wall I had around my heart. His lips moved against mine in a way that sent heat rushing through my veins, his body pressing me gently into the blanket. I clung to his arms, my fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt as if grounding myself.

I hadn't realized how badly I had craved this—craved him—until now.

His fingers tangled into my hair, tilting my head to deepen the kiss, and I let myself drown in him. His lips were soft, yet demanding, tasting of Coke and something distinctly him. Every movement, every lingering press of his mouth, felt like a silent declaration—like he had been waiting for this moment just as much as I had.

And God, I never wanted it to end.

But eventually, he pulled away, resting his forehead against mine as he caught his breath. His eyes searched mine, his thumb tracing lazy circles against my cheek. We didn't need words; everything we felt was evident in the quiet space between us.

Then, with a mischievous smirk, he pressed three more soft kisses against my lips.

"I've wanted to do that for so long," he murmured, brushing his nose against mine.

I laughed, pressing a hand to his chest, but he ignored it, stealing another kiss. Then another. His lips trailed down my jaw, my pulse jumping as warmth coiled low in my stomach.

Just as I was beginning to melt beneath his touch, he suddenly pulled back, a wicked glint in his eyes.

"Thanks for holding up your end of the bet, by the way."

I gasped, swatting at his arm as he grinned, his bunny teeth peeking through. He only chuckled, rolling off me and pulling me close, intertwining our fingers as we lay back against the blanket.

Above us, the stars had begun to scatter across the dark expanse of the sky, twinkling like whispered promises. And for the first time in what felt like forever, happiness no longer felt fleeting.

I was happy. Truly, deeply, blissfully happy.

Author Note: (2025)

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