Chapter 87: Plants, Pinkies & Paper Cranes

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He stepped in.

Even bundled in black fleece, something about him radiated precision.

Not just his body-though that was impossible to ignore, all lean muscle and quiet power-but the way he moved.

Controlled. A dancer pretending not to be one.

A shadow trying not to be caught in light.

His jeans tapered perfectly over sleek boots, dark hair peeking out in messy tufts that made my fingers itch.

He pulled down his mask.
And there it was-his face.

And there it was-his face

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God, he was gorgeous.

He was beautiful in a way that made my chest pull tight.

Sharp jaw, full lips, wide eyes with lashes too long for someone who wore them like armor.

He scanned the room first, not me. Always reading. Always two steps ahead.

"Taehyung-si?... uhm... hyu-hyung?"

he said, and his voice-God-his voice was warmer than I remembered.

That subtle Busan drawl clinging to the vowels, like he was still tasting the word hyung on his tongue.

I lit up.
It was ridiculous.

My face actually hurt from how hard I smiled. I probably looked like someone who'd just found a puppy on their doorstep. But I couldn't help it.

"That's me," I said, trying to sound chill but probably failing,

"And you... are taller than I imagined. Been dying to meet you."

My hand came up on instinct, but I caught myself-paused just short.

I didn't want to spook him.
This was already delicate.

He was still halfway in his shell, eyes darting like he was checking for exits.

Jungkook's gaze flicked to mine.

Brief. A heartbeat.

And then, like he made the decision mid-breath, he reached out.

His fingers curled around mine.

His grip was firm, steady, but there was a tremor in it.

Not fear. Not really. More like... resistance meeting recognition.

Like the moment a magnet realizes it's being pulled and doesn't know whether to surrender or snap away.

His eyes didn't meet mine, not fully.

They hovered near my collarbone, then the plant behind me, then the floor.

"Hi, hyung.." he said softly.

Like we hadn't already said so much in silence.

I held onto his hand a second longer than necessary.

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