IDOL'S OBSESSION

The Puppet Strings Begin to Move

Jungkook stood behind a nearby tree, watching. Every part of him was still.

She's so warm... so kind... she smiles at them like that...

He clenched his jaw.

His eyes narrowed, not in anger, but in something deeper. Possessiveness. Envy.

They get to feel your touch... your hands graze their fur... they hear your soft voice every week... they get to be near you, to smell you, to make you laugh...

He swallowed thickly, his heart thudding loud in his ears.

I should've been in their place.

His feet moved on their own. Drawn to her like waves are to the shore-inevitable, unstoppable.

He stepped forward, slowly, carefully, drinking in every detail of her. The breeze carried her scent-fresh, like rain-drenched earth and sunflowers. He breathed it in deeply, like a man deprived of air.

She sat cross-legged, tossing crumbs into the grass, giggling when one of the puppies pawed at her bag. Her braid had loosened slightly, strands brushing her cheeks.

He stood behind her now, close-so close he could feel her presence brushing against his skin.

Sera paused.

As if her heart knew before her eyes did.

She turned her head slowly, her smile fading as her gaze locked with the dark figure standing behind her. For a second, she froze.

Then panic spread across her face.

In a flurry, she tried to get up, stumbling backward in fear, her hand slipping on the grass. Her body lurched, and she nearly fell-until strong arms caught her midair.

"Careful," came a low, familiar voice.

Her breath hitched.

She immediately jerked away from his grasp, standing up with hurried steps. Her eyes flickered with alarm, her body tense.

Jungkook stood still.

He didn't move to calm her. Instead, he reached up slowly, sliding his mask down from his face, revealing those features she had seen once before-in a completely different world.

The cap followed.

His face, glowing softly under the dying light of sunset, was now completely visible.

He took one step closer.

His voice dropped to a near whisper.

" Surprise... Sera?"

Her eyes widened, lips parted slightly. Confusion. Shock. Fear. They all danced across her face as she stared at the man who had haunted her thoughts unknowingly.

But she said nothing.

And Jungkook... he just looked at her like she was the only thing that had ever existed.

-
Sera stared at the man in front of her, breath faltering, heart thudding like distant thunder beneath her chest. The puppies scampered off, sensing the shift in the air-like even they could feel something was wrong.

But Jungkook smiled. Calm. Friendly.

" Y....you what are you doing here? You're here... alone?"

she finally asked, trying to sound composed but her voice betrayed her.

Jungkook nodded casually, brushing a hand through his hair.

"Yeah. I had a shoot here earlier. Thought I'd walk a bit before heading home."