Accidentally Assisting

Chapter 24 - Why do you care so much, Jungkook?

He only breaks eye contact to serve me my water, and once I've accepted it, he asks: "So, Rose. How long are you staying in Atlanta for?"

"We're leaving tomorrow night," I explain. We both know already what he's going to ask next, and my heart beats fast from anticipation.

"I'm sure you're busy, but if you just have thirty free minutes, would you like to get a cup of coffee with me? You're such an interesting person and I'd like to get to know you more."

Of course, I'm aware that this relationship with James has absolutely no future, given that I live in Korea and he lives, well, here. In America. But it just feels so incredibly refreshing to be around someone else for once. In my life, I'm always around the same people, especially one particular man.

And, frankly, it's nice to be around someone who's impressed with you. When you only work with highly talented and hard-working people, this rarely happens.

I'm about to accept his offer when I feel a hand on my shoulder and an all-too-familiar voice in my ear. "There you are, Rosie! I've been looking everywhere for you."

Confused, I meet Jungkook's dark doe eyes. "You have? But I told you I – "

Why do I suddenly feel so guilty? I've done nothing wrong, it's written nowhere in my contract that I'm not allowed to flirt with boys. So why do I feel so ashamed?

"Anywho, we have to leave now," he talks over me. "Hyung and I are tired." Then, with the fakest smile I've ever witnessed, he addresses James in English. "Thank you. We're going home now."

"Oh." Disappointment flashes over the young waiter's face. "Have a nice evening, then."

I open my mouth to say goodbye as well and tell him my Instagram handle so he can find me again but Jungkook does not seem to agree with these plans as he firmly pulls me with him.

"But oppa," I protest, "I couldn't even say goodbye."

"So?", he retorts. "You'll never see him again, what does he matter?"

Angrily, I stare at the back of his head. "We got along quite well, that's all. And he asked me to meet up tomorrow."

This statement makes Jungkook abruptly stop in his steps and turn around towards me, now angrily snarling. "Why the hell would he ask you that?"

I raise an eyebrow at him. "Is it hard to believe that people would like to hang out with me?"

"And what did you answer?" He doesn't even acknowledge my question, his gaze so hard that it makes me gulp. My heart suddenly beats very fast one again. Why am I turned on now? This is not the right moment.

And then, maybe because I have a death wish, I respond: "I didn't get the chance to answer since you interrupted us. But I would have told him yes." I force myself to hold his dark, fiery gaze, as something in him seems to explode at my provocative words.

"Why would you be so reckless, Rose-ah? Do you even know his age? This guy is a stranger, he's not safe for you to be around him." His voice is deep and raspy, transforming my legs into a puddle. To outsiders, our conversation might seem like a fight, but in reality, I've never felt this much sexual tension between the two us. And I'm confident that Jungkook's feeling it too because he's stepped unnecessarily close to me. Dangerously close.

I've never been so thankful to be in a public environment. If we weren't, I couldn't guarantee anything anymore. I would be ready to throw all that self-control out the window to finally, finally, kiss this man.

"Everyone's a stranger when you first meet them, Jungkook oppa.," I whisper as I can feel his breath on my skin. He smells like a mix of whiskey and aftershave, which makes him even more attractive if that's even possible.