Song of the chapter:
Field Trip - Melanie Martinez
"Did you hear anything?"
"What are you talking about?"
"About Lee Sunmi..."
"Oh, yeah. I heard she left the university."
"What? I heard she relocated to England."
"I'm not entirely sure, but it's strange how she vanished without even saying goodbye."
"Well, she's attractive, so I'm sure she'll thrive wherever she goes."
"Absolutely."
As you walked past the students engrossed in their gossip about Lee Sunmi's sudden disappearance, a wave of amusement washed over you. It was all lies, every bit of it. The rumours about Sunmi transferring to another university were carefully crafted to conceal the truth—that Sunmi was dead, and Jungkook was the one who had taken her life.
A wicked smile played on your lips as you reminisced about the gruesome scene. The fear in Sunmi's eyes as Jungkook mercilessly stabbed her, the crimson blood seeping from her wounds in sync with the fading rhythm of her heart—it was a beautiful memory etched in your mind.
Your joy was palpable as you sauntered down the hallway, believing that nothing could taint your mood. But your elation shattered when a familiar voice interrupted your thoughts, a tap on your shoulder forcing you to face Lee Ji-eun—someone you had no desire to see at that moment.
"[Y/N]!" Ji-eun's beaming smile irritated you to no end. "Where have you been? I've been searching everywhere for you. I missed you!"
"Nowhere," the lie slipped from your lips effortlessly, a well-rehearsed deceit. "I've just been busy with classes lately. How are you?"
"I'm great!" Ji-eun clutched a textbook against her chest. "By the way, are you available today?"
You hesitated, contemplating your options. Technically, you were always available unless you were occupied with tracking Jungkook's movements. Socialising wasn't your forte, but you decided to entertain Ji-eun's request—for appearances, if nothing else. "I think so. Let me check my schedule. Why do you ask?"
"Well, the big masquerade party is coming up," she explained. "And I haven't found a dress yet. I thought it would be fun if you could come dress shopping with me. What do you say? That is, if you don't already have a dress..."
You realised you did need a dress for the occasion. Reluctantly, you put on a fake smile. "Sure, sounds like fun."
• • •
The shopping mall overwhelmed your senses with its enticing displays and constant push for purchases. It was a haven for excessive consumerism, filled with everything you could ever want but very little that you actually needed. Navigating through the crowd meant getting closer to people than you usually preferred, but online shopping wasn't an option for finding a dress in time for the masquerade ball.
However, if given a choice between shopping with Lee Ji-eun and diving into a pool of cold vomit, you would gladly choose the latter. The hours spent with IU in the grand mall had been exhausting, trying on countless dresses. She effortlessly looked stunning in anything she wore, even a simple potato sack.
"What's taking you so long?" IU impatiently questioned from outside the changing room. "I'm sure the dress looks amazing on you, just come out already."
"Just give me a minute," you snapped back. "I'm struggling to put on this dress."
IU huffed in exasperation, but her annoyance quickly faded when a pair of strong, muscular arms wrapped around her waist, catching her by surprise. She turned around to find a familiar face with bright brown eyes.
"Jungkook!" She squealed, rising on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "You're here!"
"Of course I am," he replied happily.
"I'm so glad!" IU beamed. "Hold on a minute, I just need to use the bathroom real quick. Will you wait here for [Y/N]?"
[Y/N], the girl Jungkook had met at the library.
"No, of course I don't mind," he said, kissing her nose. "Go ahead."
"Thank you!" IU said before scurrying away. Once she was out of sight, Jungkook's gaze shifted to the changing room door, a smirk forming on his lips. There was something intriguing about you that captured his interest, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Uh...IU, I'm not sure if I should go with the blue one instead," you finally emerged from the changing room, unaware that IU had left you alone with the most captivating man in the world.
Jungkook watched you intently, his breath momentarily taken away. The red silk dress hugged your body, eliciting a seductive allure. It fascinated his senses, like an enchanting lover skilled in the art of attraction.
"Wow," he breathed out. Startled by his gaze, you turned your attention to him, noticing a hint of drool at the corner of his mouth.
Feeling the heat rise to your cheeks, you quickly averted your gaze, afraid of getting lost in his beautiful brown eyes.
"Uh...where's IU?" You asked, trying to ease the sudden awkward tension.
"Bathroom," he replied. "She'll be back soon."
"Oh," you replied, the awkwardness lingering between the two of you. "Well, hi."
"Hey," he grinned cheekily, his excitement evident in his eyes. It made your heart flutter.
"Hello," you awkwardly responded, feeling foolish.
Jungkook chuckled, his laughter sounding like that of a carefree boy. It revealed a glimpse of his inner child, contrasting with his mature physique and voice. His eyes held warmth, exuding a welcoming aura. Each time you coincidentally met him, you felt both lost and at home.
"You're a cute one," he playfully teased, causing you to blush profusely. "How's 'The Black Goat's Egg' treating you?"
"Good, I actually finished it," you replied. "It was tragic yet beautiful in its twisted way."
"I agree," he nodded. "Such a captivating character, isn't he?"
"He is," you smiled softly, appreciating the shared admiration for the character. "It made me realise that killers can have hearts too, I guess. They just need the right person to give it to."
"That's a controversial statement," he smirked, leaning slightly closer. "You're lucky it's just me here, and I happen to agree with you. Say that to the wrong person, and you'll be all over Twitter as the girl with a horrific opinion."
You shrugged nonchalantly. "Can't help it. I always seem to fall for the worst kind of people."
"Because all the best people are crazy," he winked, his words carrying a hint of truth.
You scoffed, rolling your eyes playfully. "And what about you? How's your writing going?"
"Great, actually," he grinned. "Meeting you at the library must have been fate or something."
You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "How so?"
"You inspired me," he explained. "I decided to venture out of my comfort zone this time. So, I should thank you."
A mischievous idea sparked in your mind. "Thank me by letting me read a sneak peek of your book sometime. It would be an honour."
"Ah," he laughed. "Maybe I'll just quote a little something to you instead." He closed his eyes momentarily, as if channeling his protagonist. "You're like a mystery, a ghost in the shadows, an enigma. And whenever I close my eyes and try to paint a picture of you, it's like you're a colour that doesn't exist. So...what are you?"
As he opened his eyes, staring intensely at you, your breath caught in your throat. "W-Wow. I'm sure the book is going to be amazing."
"I hope so," he said, his gaze lingering. "Just remember, you're my muse."
You felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness wash over you. Maybe you had revealed too much, considering Jungkook was still searching for the mystery girl. "I should probably go and change now," you suggested, trying to regain composure. "But thank you for the kind words about the dress."
He smiled warmly. "The dress looks stunning on you. You should definitely pick the red one."
"Why?" You asked, genuinely curious.
"Because red is my favourite colour," he replied, his voice laced with a hint of playfulness.
A blush painted your cheeks once again, but this time, you couldn't help but smile. "Well, if it's your favourite colour, then I guess I have no choice but to go with the red dress."
Jungkook chuckled, the sound melodic and contagious. "You won't regret it. Red suits you."
Before the conversation could continue, IU returned from the bathroom, her eyes widening when she noticed the two of you engaged in conversation. She beamed, joining the interaction without missing a beat. "What did I miss?"
Jungkook turned to IU, his eyes shining with affection. "Nothing much, just helping [Y/N] choose the perfect dress. We both agree that red is the way to go."
IU's gaze shifted between the two of you, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Well, then it's settled. Red it is. [Y/N], you'll look stunning in it."
You exchanged glances with Jungkook, a mix of excitement and anticipation filling the air. Little did you know that this chance encounter would be the beginning of an extraordinary connection and a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. The masquerade ball seemed to be the catalyst for something much more magical than you had ever imagined.