Chapter 87: Plants, Pinkies & Paper Cranes

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But there's still that furrow in his brow.
Still that ghost of fear in his eyes.

"You keep saying you don't wanna hurt anyone," I say slowly.

"But you haven't. Not really. Just... confused the hell out of everyone, maybe."

I nudge his knee with mine.

"And that's fair. You've had to process a lot. Probably more than you've let on."

He doesn't respond right away.

Just watches me, like he's trying to decide if he should let me see the rest of what he's holding back.

"I didn't expect you to be like this,"

I admit quietly.

He blinks. "Like what?"

I grin.

"Charming. Funny. A little shy, but not in a bad way. You've got this energy..."

I trail off, because God, I'm not trying to overwhelm him either. But it's the truth.

There's something magnetic about him.

He rolls his eyes, a little embarrassed, but I can see the corners of his mouth twitching.

"You're ridiculous."

"And you are deflecting."

His eyes meet mine again, and this time, he holds the stare.

There's something blooming there. Hesitation, sure.

But also trust.
A sliver of comfort.

I ease back, give him space again.

"You don't have to explain everything to me. I just... want you to know I'm here. No agenda. No strings. I just like you, Jungkook."

His eyes widen.

I laugh gently.

"Not just like that-though, you are stupid hot, you know that, everyone knows that. Heck yoongi hyung even almost crashed the van we were in when your profile came up and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't kinda mad about it. But mostly, I just think... you deserve people who see you. Who let you breathe."

Silence stretches between us.

Not awkward-just full.

Then, his voice comes, quiet.

"It's not that simple."

"I know," I say.

"But maybe it doesn't have to be that hard either."

His lips part like he wants to say something, but instead he just nods.

Slowly. Thoughtfully.

The light from the windows of the greenhouse are faded now, leaving us in a hush of shadows and soft light.

There's something electric in the air-not tension, exactly.

Something gentler.
Like the first warm breeze after winter.

He looks at me, really looks this time.

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