Taehyung pov :
I nestled my face into my pillow, the room filled with a warm, gentle light. As I snuggled deeper, my arms wrapped around something soft, and I inhaled a sweet mix of woodsy and coconut scents. Wait, coconut? My eyes flew open, and I froze, holding my breath. I couldn't budge. My gaze wandered, and my heart raced. I couldn't believe it; I wasn't clutching a pillow; I was cradling Alice's head. Her hair smelled sweet. My arms were locked around her waist, and her back pressed against my front. Our legs were entangled.
Oh dear, I couldn't move, and breathing became a challenge. My heart thudded loudly, and I feared she'd wake up. If she did, I'd be in trouble. Luckily, Alice was a deep sleeper, so I stayed still. I couldn't make sense of my emotions; it just felt right to be here like this. Suddenly, she stirred in her sleep, and my heart skipped a beat.
She turned, now facing me. My lips grazed her forehead just as she snuggled closer to my embrace, sighing softly. Goosebumps danced on my skin, and warmth surged through me, intensifying. It was like my body was ablaze. I couldn't tear my eyes away from her closed ones, the soft, pale skin bathed in the soft light. My gaze drifted to her small, pointed nose, and then to her lips. They looked so soft and inviting. Would they taste as warm and tender? I jolted, hearing noises from outside, suddenly realizing the predicament I had gotten myself into.
What in the world, Kim Taehyung? What on earth are you thinking? Move, you fool!
I moved as quietly as a mouse, careful not to wake her up. My arms clung to her waist like they had a mind of their own, but eventually, I managed to peel them away. Untangling my legs, I spun around and sat up. Taking in a deep breath, I tried to calm my racing heart. I gently patted my chest as if it might leap out any second. After a moment, I moved closer to her and pulled the duvet over her. She immediately snuggled into the warmth, and a surge of affection welled up in my chest. Unbeknownst to me, a smile crept onto my lips because she looked utterly adorable.
With a final, longing look, I left the tent. Everyone was already dressed and ready for the day. I couldn't help but notice my twin, who waved at me with a teasing grin that set off alarm bells in my head.
Jennie hopped down from the rock where she had been perched. "So, did you sleep well, brother?" I raised an eyebrow but nodded. "And did you manage to capture the heart?" she asked, a sly smirk on her face, as if she doubted my success. Without a word, I pulled out my phone and thrust it in front of her. She snatched the phone, her eyes widening in disbelief as she stared at the picture. I couldn't help but smirk. "Did you really think I wouldn't? Oh, Jenn, you underestimated me." Grinning, I swiped the phone back and headed off, leaving her behind.
"Would you strut around with so much confidence if I showed these to her?" Jennie chimed in. I turned around, puzzled, but my expression froze when I saw the photos on her phone. She waved them in front of my face—images of me hugging Alice tightly, like a snake.
I couldn't contain my frustration and tried to grab the phone from her, but she was too quick.
"Delete them, Jennie," I snarled. She shook her head defiantly. "No way." I took a step closer. "Jennie Kim, don't push me." She brushed me off with a dismissive wave and then shoved me in the shoulder. "Nah, brother, if you want these gone, we'll have to make a deal."
"What kind of deal?" I asked, exasperated by my mischievous twin.
"You'll have to do as I say for twenty-four hours, and then the pictures will disappear," she proposed with a mischievous grin. I shook my head firmly. "I'm not playing along with this," I snapped, my temper flaring.
"Very well," she shrugged. "I'll just show these to Ali."
"You wouldn't dare," I shot her an intense glare, but she only chuckled. "Try me, brother." She wiggled her eyebrows, and I clenched my fists. If she actually showed these pictures to Alice, as I feared she would, I'd be in serious trouble. Alice might not just kill me; she might never want to see me again or let me work with her. It was a nightmare scenario.
Jennie wore a smug smile of victory as she watched my defeated expression. She moved closer, patting me on the shoulder. "Good thing you made the right choice, brother." I silently vowed to myself that someday, I'd find a way to get back at her—just waiting for the perfect moment.
I kept my gaze fixed on, frozen .The thing here is that we're dressed the same way. We both have on black cargo pants, white shirts, and dark green cardigans. I quickly looked away when our eyes met.
Amara stood beside me, looking annoyed. "Why are you two dressed alike?" I shrugged my right shoulder nonchalantly. "Coincidence," I replied, trying to sound casual. She gave me a look like you think i'm an idiot.
"Seriously? So, that's why you only gave me that suitcase for her ? I thought you said she needed to dress more casually, and you hid her suitcase?" She reached out and tugged on my cardigan forcefully.
"Alice is going to kill me! I told her she could take one of my suitcase because I packed two without realizing you included matching outfits, Tae." I grinned as I snatched my cardigan back from her grip.
"Don't worry, nothing bad will happen. She won't know that I hid her suitcase or that the suitcase you gave her was from me." I patted her head as she glared at me with an angry pout. "Come on, baby bear, relax." She huffed and walked away, not before hitting my shoulder.
Looking ahead, we were about to play tag and war with teams chosen by chits from the bowl. Alice was on my team with Jin and Jisoo, while the other team had Jennie, Amara, Jungkook, and Jimin, who had joined us earlier.
I somehow convinced them to play this game, even though Jungkook had been the most reluctant. But my baby bear charms work well in these situations.
Amara asked Jennie, "Are you sure you want to stand at the front?" Jennie gave me a determined look and replied, "Yeah, I want to see his face when he loses." I rolled my eyes and fake-smiled, "We'll see about that."
Alice stood in front of me, with Jin and Jisoo behind her, gripping the rope tightly. "Do I really have to do this?" Alice grumbled, holding the rope firmly. I smiled and whispered in her ear, "Yes, you do." I felt her back tense up.
"Okay, on the count of three: one, two, three, go!"
We started pulling, and cheers erupted from the onlookers. Jennie pulled the rope as if her life depended on it. Alice's back pressed against my chest as we almost got pulled forward. Just then, an idea struck me. I turned my head back to Jin, who gave me a bewildered look that seemed to say, "What are you doing? Focus on the game; we're going to lose, idiot!"
"Jin, listen," I told him . He took a moment to understand and then smirked, nodding. "Tell Jisoo," I said, turning my head back to the game.
"I'm going to make sure you eat dirt, Kim," Jennie snarled as the tension in the game increased. I gave her a resigned look and then slipped my hand over Alice's, which was gripping the rope. She stiffened, and my sister's voice reached my ears, adding complexity to the situation.
"Brother, you should be holding the rope, not her hand," my sister's voice came, confusing the other five people on the opposing team. My gaze remained on Alice as I smirked and winked at my twin, silently mouthing, "You shouldn't have made it onto my hit list."
"Alright," I announced with a sly grin. All five people on the other team stared at me with confusion. I smirked again and counted, "One, two, three." I yanked Alice's hand off the rope, pulling her back with me. The other team, thinking we were about to pull harder, went backward. Jennie fell backward, grunting. Jungkook, on the other hand, reacted quickly, saving Amara from falling, and Jimin stumbled but managed to stay on his feet.
"Cheating! That was cheating!" Jennie cursed. "And congratulations; that's why you're the winner," I retorted. Jennie was about to respond, but then we heard a heartwarming laugh. I looked down, seeing Alice's lips curve into a full smile as she laughed. At that moment, I felt like I was melting. I loved her laugh.
"Mr. Kim, I'll give you one point for that," she said between her laughter. Help me, this girl was going to be the death of me.
Alice walked toward Jimin, who stood there with a worried expression that made my insides twist. They began talking, but I couldn't hear what they were saying, and I tore my gaze away, feeling something I couldn't quite explain.
Alice pov:
I wore my black glasses because the sun was shining so harshly and irritating my eyes. We marched through the forest, and there were small stairs leading us to our destination.
The letter from yesterday clearly stated that Taehyung was on someone's hit list. I needed to keep a close eye on that foolish and reckless man. I believe he might put himself in danger even if he knows it's a red zone. That's why I followed him last night when I saw him leaving the camping area. Seriously, he bet his life so carelessly.
"Brother, I need water," my gaze turned to my left, and I saw Jennie with a sly smile. To my shock, Taehyung took out the water bottle and handed it to her with a forced look. I was taken aback. Something was wrong. Why was Taehyung doing what she wanted? Something didn't add up.
Taehyung turned to me. "Are you tired or thirsty? Drink this." He rambled without waiting for my answer, handing me the water bottle. I stared at it. I was getting tired, so I drank it in one go, not realizing how thirsty I was.
The weight of my bag that had been draping over my shoulder was instantly gone. I looked to see Taehyung wearing it over his shoulder. I narrowed my eyes. What was he doing?
He grinned. "I will carry it."
"Why are you doing that?" I asked.
He took a step up on the stairs. "You look like you'll fall if you carry that for a second longer."
"I do not," I argued, but he flicked my forehead. "You do. Now, let's go." He moved out of my way, leaving me there. I turned around. "Hey, that is complete nonsense. I can carry that." But my words fell on deaf ears, and he didn't listen. Stubborn!
Finally, we reached the top of the hill, and the surroundings made me forget to blink. There was a waterfall around the edge of the mountain, falling into a pond. The sight was breathtaking.
"I'm going to jump in there," I heard Taehyung's voice. Of course, he would. No one wanted to miss the perfect opportunity. I wished I could go in there, but I couldn't swim. I was terrible at every activity except studying.
"Do you want to go?" I heard my sister, not taking my eyes off the sight. Jennie, Jisoo, and even Jin were inside that pond, enjoying themselves. I asked, "Don't you want to?"
"I can't," I turned to stare at her, trying not to show the worry on my face. Amara's history with water was not good. She had refused to learn swimming while growing up, and I had been so busy with my studies that I hadn't paid attention.
"But I will still go in there," she said with a smile creeping onto her face. She turned around and smiled at her husband, and I was left watching him take her into the water, holding her closely to his body.
My chest warmed up. My sister had found the right person, and that made me feel relaxed and happy for her.
A sudden splash of water startled me. I quickly turned to find Taehyung, wearing a mischievous grin, leaning over the pond's edge. He'd just drenched me with a handful of water.
"What the heck, Kim Taehyung?" I exclaimed, shooting him an angry glare. "Now I'm all wet!" His only response was with a playful wiggle of his eyebrows.
"Are you trying to say I'm the reason you're soaked?" I growled, frustration coursing through me. I pointed an accusing finger at him. "Watch out, Kim Taehyung. You might end up communicating through sign language one day," I threatened, wiping the water from my face and shedding my already-damp cardigan.
But before I could react, another splash hit me, and I clenched my teeth. "Kim freaking Taehyung, get back here!" I charged forward, extending my hand to grab him, but he dashed away, laughing.
"You're a dead man!" I muttered, rolling up my sleeves and pursuing him. His laughter echoed in my ears. The moment I got hold of him, I intended to dunk him in the pond. I finally caught up to him and grabbed his shirt, spinning him around. However, my plan backfired. He turned toward me and wrapped his arms around me, and with a resounding splash, we both plunged into the water.
Water was everywhere, and I struggled to reach the surface. Panic surged within me as I couldn't swim. But then, strong arms gripped my waist and propelled me upward, and I gasped, filling my lungs with precious air.
"Are you okay, Frozen?" Taehyung's voice filled my ears with concern. I brushed the wet hair from my face and glared at him.
"Seriously, screw you," I retorted. His playful expression remained as he chuckled, keeping me close.
"I can't believe you, Taehyung. I could've drowned, you idiot. I don't even know how to swim," I said, still shaken.
"But look at you, alive and breathing," he remarked, rolling his eyes at me. "Having fun? I've got you, I promise not to let go." He took a moment to steady us.
As I looked around, the water felt surprisingly warm, despite the chilly weather. I kicked my feet, feeling buoyant. Unknowingly, a smile crept onto my face until Taehyung broke the silence. "You should smile more, Frozen. It suits you." I stopped moving, locking eyes with him. His soft, warm, light brown eyes and the way his hair fell over his forehead gave him an almost divine appearance. It was as if some invisible force kept me from looking away, and I was lost in the moment until a camera's click brought me back to reality. I nearly shoved Taehyung, but then I remembered my inability to swim.
Jennie gave a thumbs-up while holding the camera over the edge. "That looks fantastic," she chimed before casually walking away.
I turned to Taehyung, who was throwing a playful jab at his twin's back. "I want to get out," I mumbled, my voice low and heavy despite my attempts to sound firm. Taehyung nodded and swam us to the edge. I quickly stepped out, avoiding his gaze, and shivered as the cold wind hit my wet clothes.
What had I been thinking? I walked over and draped my cardigan over my drenched attire because I was freezing to the bone.
Taehyung climbed out of the pond, his head shaking like a dog trying to dry off. I winced, moving back.
"Can't you refrain from doing that?" I waved my hand to shield my face from the water droplets.
"Why are you blushing while looking at me?" His eyes locked onto mine, and I couldn't fathom what was going on in his mind.
"Don't delude yourself, Taehyung. You resemble a dog trying to dry off," I growled, but he seemed immune to my insults. He only grinned, closing the gap between us, and I shot him a furious glare.
"Stay away from me right now; it's freezing," I cautioned when he attempted to pull me closer.
"Oh, come on, you're no fun!" He pouted. Yes, he actually pouted, and it left me flabbergasted.
"Let me jog your memory. You promised that if I played that ridiculous tag war with you, you wouldn't play tricks on me or annoy me," I sneered, attempting to free my arm as he reached for it again.
God, help me before I do something that lands me in jail. My body temperature was skyrocketing. Taehyung with a pout walk away over his twin and they were back on fighting with each other i shook my head
I scanned the surroundings, feeling eyes on me. Goosebumps pricked my skin, and my bones felt like they were being pricked by needles. My heart raced; he was close. I sensed it even before I saw him—the man from my nightmares. Just then, my phone began to ring; it was in my bag, sitting nearby. I walked over and retrieved it, noticing an unknown number. I glanced around and moved away from the group.
"Hello," I answered, but all I heard was heavy breathing. My head spun as I realized whose call I had answered. I was about to hang up, but then I remembered I couldn't let him think he had scared me. Kim Alice wasn't afraid of anything.
I held the phone to my ear. "Listen to me, coward. If you think this is one of your filthy games , then stop hiding," I sneered, my anger surging. When I heard a chuckle on the other end, my rage flared. "Keep your filthy hands off Kim Taehyung. Touch him, and I'll ensure that this time I put an end to you for good." I snapped, hanging up and hurling the phone with all my might at a nearby rock, shattering it to pieces. My hands were trembling.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Alright, you're not here, Alice, and you're not backing down this time. No running, no hiding. I'll confront him with the strength I've built up since the last time. This time, the game is mine to play and mine to win.
..hi my lovely voila what's up I see you are all loving this book and bearing with my a weekly updates , make sure you leave your thoughts i got passionate to write when I read your comments make sure you all vote and a little gift from me the next update will be not after a week but on this Sunday till then take care …..