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Jungkook sat in his dimly lit suite, long after the driver had dropped him off.
He was staring at his phone.

More specifically, at her name glowing softly on the screen—Sera.

He’d saved her number.

Not just as a contact, but as something more. Something personal. Intimate. The tiny, grainy profile picture beside her name—just a candid shot of her laughing with a blurred background—made something tighten in his chest.

He zoomed in slowly.

Her hair was tied messily, no filter, no pretense. She was laughing, head tilted slightly back, unaware that someone was capturing her in that moment. It was... real.

And Jungkook couldn’t look away.

His thumb hovered over her name like it had a pulse of its own. He didn’t smile. He didn’t sigh. But there was a flicker of emotion in his eyes—something dangerous and raw—like a wolf that had finally sniffed the edge of the forest.

She had no idea what giving her number meant.

She’d handed over a piece of herself.

And he would never give it back.

He leaned back in his chair, still holding the phone, still staring at her face, his mind drifting somewhere far from the luxury of his surroundings.

“You trust too easily, Sera.”

His voice was soft, barely audible.

“And now, you’re mine to know.”

__________________________________

Sera walked into Ethan’s apartment and immediately dropped her bag beside the couch, letting out a long sigh. Her body felt heavy—not just from the walk but from everything that had happened in the last couple of hours.

Ethan was already on the couch, legs stretched out in loose joggers, flipping channels half-heartedly. The moment he saw her face, though, he muted the TV.

"You okay?" he asked, patting the space beside him.

She nodded and climbed onto the couch, resting her back against the armrest while stretching her legs out across his lap. He casually placed his hand on her shin, rubbing slow circles without thinking.

There was a beat of silence.

“ you know what happened?I met Jungkook again that day”

she said.

Ethan blinked.

“Okay, wait. Again? Where this time—your school? Bus stop?”

“No… the park,”

she said, watching his reaction closely.

“The one near the staff quarters.  He walked to me when I was sitting in the park”

Ethan tilted his head slightly, surprised.

“That's... three times now?”

“I know,” she said, sitting up straighter.

“That’s exactly what I told him. I said it doesn’t feel like coincidence anymore. I asked him indirectly—if he’s following me or something.”

Ethan gave a low whistle, equal parts impressed and alarmed.

“Damn, Sera. You actually said that to him?”

“I had to. It was getting weird,”

she said, shaking her head. “And you know what he said?”

“What?”

Her voice was low, almost hesitant. Ethan nodded, letting her speak without interruption.

"I told him how weird it was—how we kept running into each other. And he just looked at me with this... tired smile and said, 'It surprises me too.'"

She paused, pulling a loose thread from her sleeve.

"He said he didn’t plan any of it. The school event? Apparently, his team picked my school randomly for some outreach thing. He said it could’ve been any school, but... when he saw me, it stuck with him. Like something about me stayed in his head."

Ethan’s brows furrowed slightly, his jaw tightening just a little. But he remained quiet.

"And then he talked about the bus stop too," Sera continued. "He said he was just grabbing coffee nearby, and that’s when he saw me again. And the park... he said his shoot was close by, and he just wanted to walk. Alone. No planning. No following."

She let out a quiet breath, eyes flicking to the reflection of the moon on the river.

"He sounded... tired. Not physically, but emotionally. Like he was trying to say something deeper. He told me about how suffocating his life can get. That even when he sleeps, someone’s outside his door. Even when he cries, someone’s there, watching. Trying to capture the moment."

Ethan’s expression softened a little, sensing the weight behind her words.

"Then he said something that really hit me," she went on. "He said, ‘You have no idea how lonely it gets… being watched like an exhibit, loved by everyone, yet known by no one.’"

Her fingers toyed with the chain around her neck as she stared ahead.

"And then he looked at me and said… ‘And then I saw you.’"

Ethan turned to her fully now, listening closely.

"He told me that I didn’t scream or ask for a photo or treat him like some untouchable celebrity. That I just talked. Like he was human. And… he said that’s rare. That people don’t do that with him anymore."

Sera finally looked at Ethan, her eyes slightly unsure.

"I don’t know why he was telling me all that. Maybe he just needed someone to hear him out. Or maybe... he meant something more. But it felt honest, Ethan. Not like some idol pretending to be deep. Just a person... needing connection."

“He said, ‘

Some people just make you feel calm. Like peace. I don’t get that often. I guess I was selfish, and I came to feel that around you.’”

Ethan raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback.

“And then he added… ‘People usually look at me with either obsession or fear. You don’t. You look at me like I’m just a guy sitting on a bench. I like that.’”

For a second, Ethan just stared at her.

“…That’s heavy,” he said finally.

Sera nodded.

“It was strange. I mean, I could tell he wasn’t being fake. He looked… sad. Like really lonely. And for a second, I actually felt bad for him.”

“Did you ask why he was even around there?”

“He just smiled and said, ‘I won’t cross a line. If my presence makes you uncomfortable, I’ll leave. But if not… I’d like to be your friend.’”

Ethan's eyebrows shot up.

“He said that?”

“Yeah.”

“Jungkook—as in global star, millions of fans—wants to be friends with you? A school teacher from nowhere?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Thanks for making me sound like a background character.”

He laughed. “You know what I mean. I’m just… surprised.”

She shrugged. “So was I.”

Ethan let his fingers graze her ankle lightly, thinking.

“I mean, I feel bad for him, honestly. Sounds like he’s… emotionally exhausted or something.”

“He looked it,” Sera replied softly.

“He wasn’t cocky or fake or trying to impress me. He just looked… tired.”

“But still…”

Ethan trailed off, his voice a little more serious now.

“You’re sure he’s not faking it? I mean, I don’t want to be that guy, but it’s hard not to be suspicious when someone that famous just pops into your life three times in a week.”

Sera hesitated.

“I thought the same. And I’m still not completely convinced. But something about the way he talks… it didn’t feel manipulative. It felt more like… desperation.”

Ethan stayed quiet, absorbing her words.

She added,

“I didn’t give him any hope or anything.  I wasn’t sure about being friends. But I gave him my number. I couldn’t say no in that moment.”

He looked at her, surprised.

“You gave him your number?”

“Yeah,” she said honestly.

Ethan leaned his head back on the cushion. “Wow.”

She narrowed her eyes at him.

“Are you mad?”

He shook his head immediately.

“No. Honestly? I think you handled it exactly right. You didn’t encourage him, but you also didn’t shut him out like a jerk. And you told me right away. I’d be more upset if you hid it.”

Sera exhaled in relief.

“But,” Ethan added with a half-smile,

“I’m still gonna say this—what’s stopping a guy like him from using the whole I’m lonely act just to get close to someone?”

Sera bit her lip. “I don’t know.”

Ethan looked at her, his expression thoughtful.

“You’re a good person, Sera. That’s probably why people like him are drawn to you. But just… be careful, okay?”

“I will,” she promised.

“And honestly, I think you’re giving me too much credit.”

“No,” he said, his voice suddenly serious.

“I’m not. You were calm, clear, and honest with a man that most people would lose their minds over. That’s something.”

She smiled and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “Thanks.”

He smiled too, but deep down, that little knot of suspicion didn’t go away completely. He trusted Sera—but Jungkook? Something about his timing, his presence, the way he spoke to her… it felt too perfectly placed.

But Ethan didn’t want to ruin the moment.

So, for now, he shook the feeling off.

---

After Sera gave him her number, Jungkook didn’t bombard her with texts like some teenage admirer. In fact, he messaged her only two or three times in the span of a week. Each conversation was brief, simple—asking about her day or how life was going. It wasn’t how he wanted to talk to her, not with the layers of thoughts he carried in his mind, not with the hunger he had to know everything about her. But his schedule was relentless—world tours, interviews, brand meetings, late-night rehearsals—he barely got time to sleep, let alone have the kind of slow, meaningful conversations he imagined having with her. Still, he kept those few exchanges saved, rereading them during flights or in hotel rooms like they were pieces of a puzzle he was slowly putting together.

Then, one quiet evening, while lounging on his couch in a rare moment of peace, he messaged her again—randomly, without thinking too much.

Hey, how’s the chaos today?

This time, she responded quickly. Her reply was animated, casual—telling him about how busy things were with the upcoming school annual function. She mentioned she was choreographing a performance with the kids, and even participating herself. As she shared little bits about the music, costumes, and the energy of her students, Jungkook found himself smiling softly, visualizing it all. But then came the moment that caught him off guard. When he asked about her performance or whether she'd be comfortable sharing the details of the show, she simply said:

“It’s a surprise. I’m not revealing anything to anyone, not even you. You’ll see it when the world does!

He stared at her message for a while.

She hadn’t invited him.

There was no

"Would you like to come?" or even a casual "You should drop by."

And for a moment, it stung.

Not because he expected special treatment. But because, somewhere deep down, he wanted it—from her. She was supposed to see him, not as the global star Jungkook, but as someone worthy of her small, personal moments. But Sera… she didn’t operate like others. She wasn’t the kind of woman who would seek his attention or go out of her way to include him just to flatter him.

And maybe that’s why he felt so drawn to her.

There was no pretense. No calculation. Just a woman who loved her job, loved her kids, and was unapologetically simple in a world full of complications.

So Jungkook made a decision.

If she wasn’t going to invite him, he would go anyway.

Not for the applause. Not for attention. But just to see her.

To watch her light up on stage doing what she loved.

To silently enter her world, just for a moment—without headlines, without flashing lights—just a man sitting in a crowd, falling a little deeper without her even knowing.

Few weeks later

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The school auditorium buzzed with excitement. Children were running around in glittery costumes—some dressed as animals, others as little vegetables or raindrops, their laughter echoing through the corridors. Teachers darted back and forth, adjusting props, calming nervous kids, and helping pin wings or straighten paper crowns. Banners fluttered with bright colors:

Annual Day Celebration – Let the Dreams Fly!

Parents slowly began filling the hall, chatting among themselves, phones ready to record every moment of their little one’s big day.

Backstage, Sera was helping one of her kids fix their butterfly wings.

"Ma’am, are you nervous?"

a tiny girl asked, tugging Sera’s fairy gown.

Sera chuckled softly, kneeling down to the child’s level.

"A little. But you know what I always say, right?"

The kids replied in unison, giggling,

“Nervousness means you're about to do something great!”

Suni walked in holding a clipboard, her headset hanging around her neck.

“Sera, ten minutes to your segment. You good?”

Sera nodded, adjusting her glittery wand and smoothing out the soft pastel netting of her dress. She wore a light lavender fairy costume gown ,  delicate silver sparkles dancing across her cheeks.

“Yeah. Kids are all set.”

“You look adorable, by the way. Like, Disney princess level,”

Suni smirked.
“Too bad your boyfriend isn’t here to see this.”

Sera raised a brow. “ Don't suni I'll deal with him later””

“Well, his loss,”

Suni teased before disappearing to the sound booth.

Meanwhile, outside in the main hall, the show had already begun.

Hidden beneath a cap and a simple hoodie, Jungkook slipped into the back rows of the hall, completely unnoticed. A black mask covered half his face, and his eyes scanned the crowd with quiet caution. He hadn’t come with any security. No flashy entrance. Just him, like any other person in the audience. He found a spot toward the middle, between two distracted parents fussing over their cameras, and settled in.

The stage was alive with color and energy—tiny tots performing nursery rhymes with wide smiles and clumsy steps. Jungkook watched absently, his gaze flicking now and then to the backstage entrance.

He was waiting.

His heart thudded heavier than usual. He wasn’t even sure why he felt this anxious. It wasn’t a concert, wasn’t a red carpet. It was a simple school function. But it was her stage. Her world.

Then, the lights dimmed slightly, and a gentle announcement echoed from the speakers.

“And now… a special performance by our very own butterflies, guided and joined by our beloved teacher, Miss Sera Choi.”

The curtains parted.

And there she was.

Sera stepped out, leading a group of kids, her dress catching the light and glimmering like soft moonlight. Her dress was light and flowy, bouncing slightly as she moved, and her hair was tied half-up with delicate beads woven through the strands. The children around her danced in a circle, tiny feet tapping, wings flapping, smiles shining bright. The song playing was a sweet, upbeat melody about dreams, childhood, and flying free—innocent, melodic, and heartwarming.

But Jungkook didn’t hear the song.

He didn’t see the rest of the crowd.

All he saw was her.

His breath hitched slightly as his eyes followed her across the stage. Her movements were soft, full of joy, genuine laughter sparkling in her eyes as she danced with her students. She twirled lightly, lifted one of the smaller kids into her arms mid-beat, her fairy wand shimmering under the spotlight.

And in that moment…

He felt it.

Jungkook felt like he was watching something he wasn’t supposed to, something too beautiful, too pure for him.

. She was simply being herself—this magical blend of softness and strength, nurturing and playful. She looked like she belonged there, among innocence, color, and dreams.

And he—

He felt like a shadow in the crowd, sitting there with a thousand feelings crashing into his chest.

A strange ache grew in his chest. A longing that gnawed at his insides. Not the kind that came from physical desire, but something more desperate… more dangerous. The urge to possess her joy, to be a part of the world she danced in. The realization that she didn’t even know he was watching, and yet, she was unraveling him piece by piece.

He gripped the edge of his seat lightly, his knuckles going pale.

This wasn’t just interest.

It was turning into obsession.

A craving not just for her presence—but for her entire life. Her time. Her laughter. Her simplicity.

And the most dangerous part?

She had no idea what she was doing to him.

She was up there, smiling freely.

And he was down here, hidden in the dark, falling deeper into something he knew he wouldn’t be able to come back from.

The stars were beginning to peek through the dusky sky, the streetlights outside the school flickering on one by one as the crowd from the annual function slowly dispersed. Laughter still echoed faintly in the air—children holding flowers, proud parents chattering about their little ones’ performances. Teachers were exchanging goodbyes, some still cleaning up the mess inside.

But Sera stood alone outside the main school gate.

Arms crossed. Lips in a pout. The glitter on her cheeks had smudged slightly,
She was fuming.

"Unbelievable. Just… unbelievable!"

she muttered under her breath, checking her phone again for the hundredth time.

"He said he’d be here before the function started."

She glanced down the road. Empty.

With a frustrated huff, she stomped her foot onto the pavement—hard—expecting it would somehow ease the irritation brewing inside her.

Instead—

"Ow ow ow OW!"

She lifted her leg in a hop, pain shooting through her heel.

“Stupid shoes, stupid road, stupid… ME!”

She tossed her wand onto the bench beside her and sat down abruptly, muttering curses under her breath.

"Why would I wear these again? Of course, let’s dance in heels and then stomp around like a psycho after."

She rubbed her foot aggressively, glancing at her phone again. No new notifications. No Ethan.

“Is he lost on the moon or something?!”

She sighed heavily, fingers threading through her hair, visibly close to throwing a tantrum. —but the sweetness of her fairy performance had long vanished. Now she looked like an angry, grumpy little elf.

But from across the street, inside a sleek black car parked quietly behind a tree, another set of eyes was fixed on her.

Jungkook sat still, one hand resting on the steering wheel, the other clenched near his mouth. He hadn’t left after the show. No, he couldn't. The performance had left him reeling, but this—this scene unfolding before him—tugged at something deeper.

She was no longer on stage. No longer in front of adoring children or an applauding audience. This was the real Sera.

Frustrated. Unfiltered. Human.

He watched the way she muttered to herself, her brows furrowed, the way she clumsily rubbed her foot and cursed her own existence like a child throwing a fit. She was irritated, tired, real. And to him… achingly beautiful.

A crooked smile tugged at his lips.

She had no idea he was watching. Again.

He could get out. Just walk up to her. Pretend it was a coincidence. Offer her a ride. Say something clever. She might be surprised… but she'd talk to him.

His hand reached toward the car door.

But then—

A black bike pulled up fast, screeching slightly as it stopped right in front of Sera.

Jungkook froze.

, and out came a young man—tall, a bit disheveled, dressed in a grey hoodie and jeans, phone in hand, breathless.

“Ser! I’m so sorry!”

the man called out, rushing toward her.

Sera looked up, crossing her arms tighter.

“Wow. You missed everything, Ethan. Everything.”

“I know, I know, I’m the worst. My practice got delayed, and then traffic was just—”

“Save it,” she snapped, standing up with a slight limp in her step. “

The kids were so excited to see you. You promised you'd come.”

Ethan frowned, his expression soft.

“I know. I’m really sorry. I’ll make it up to you, okay? I swear.”

Sera didn’t answer, Jungkook’s jaw tightened.

The warmth in his gaze slowly cooled, turning sharp and unreadable. His hand dropped from the door handle as his eyes locked onto Ethan. He watched the way Ethan looked at Sera… the familiarity, the apology, the softness in his tone.

So this was him.

His chest felt heavy, heat creeping into his jaw as he clenched it tighter. It wasn’t jealousy. It was something darker. More possessive. The raw ache of watching someone touch what you secretly claimed in your heart. He felt like a thief who had watched someone else walk out of the museum holding his treasure.

They were talking. Laughing faintly now. As if the anger had started melting.

Sera stepped on Ethan’s bike , but instead of heading home, they went for long ride
Her brows were still furrowed slightly, even though the anger had softened into something closer to sulkiness. She folded her arms tightly, lips pursed. Ethan noticed immediately.
“You’re still mad?”

he asked, almost teasingly, leaning against his bike and raising an eyebrow.
She turned her face away with a mock huff.

“I should be. You missed my fairy moment. The kids nailed every beat.”
Ethan chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck.

“I know, I deserve to be cursed. But hey… what if I treat you to something nice, hmm? Han River? Street food? Ramyeon under the stars? Classic apology package.”
Sera peeked at him from the corner of her eye.
“No fancy restaurants?”
“Nope.”
“No wine?”
“Only canned soda.”
A tiny smile curled on her lips.

“Fine. I’ll consider forgiving you.”
“That’s my girl,” he grinned, patting the back seat of his motorcycle.
As Ethan started the bike, she grabbed his shoulders, then leaned forward and whispered—
“You better drive fast.”
He laughed.

“You’re so easy to melt when you’re mad, it’s cute.”
She narrowed her eyes and pulled on his ear lightly.

“And you’re too confident for someone who’s skating on thin ice.”
“Is that a threat or foreplay?”
“Depends on how fast you drive.”
The bike roared to life, and the two sped off into the night, laughter and the flutter of her costume lost in the wind.
But they didn’t know…

Jungkook was right behind them.
In a sleek black car, headlights dimmed, distance maintained with a hunter’s precision—he followed.
He’d started the engine the moment Ethan pulled away. He didn’t care how long it would take or where they were headed. He had to know. He had to see. He had to feel why his chest was aching like someone had pushed a knife into it and twisted it slowly with every smile she gave Ethan.
And now, as he tailed them through the narrow city streets, his hands were clenched around the steering wheel so tight his knuckles were white.
The bike ride was something out of a dream.
Sera, now fully in her playful element, stretched her arms wide into the wind like a little girl flying. Her laughter echoed against the buildings as the city lights danced on her glittery face. Her  hair whipped against Ethan’s back.
At one point, she leaned close and whispered something that made Ethan smile wide—and then, suddenly, she bit his earlobe softly.
“Agh—Sera!” he yelped, nearly swerving the bike.
“That’s for calling me easy to melt,”
she teased, giggling against his neck.
“You’re insane.”
“And you like it.”
“Too much.”
Then she pressed her lips to his cheek, gently, lingeringly.
“You’re forgiven,” she murmured sweetly.
Ethan laughed, and his hand found her thigh behind him, giving it a soft squeeze.
“You’re the best apology I’ve ever received.”
“You better remember it.”
Their voices, their laughter—it was a world of their own. Golden and untouched.
But from the car behind them—
Jungkook’s jaw ticked, and his eyes darkened with a rage he couldn’t explain. Each moment he watched felt like punishment. The way she clung to Ethan, how her lips brushed his cheek, how she looked so damn alive with him—it set every nerve in his body on fire.

A part of him wanted to honk and pull them over. Grab her by the wrist. Tell her to stop smiling for another man. To stop showing pieces of herself to someone who didn’t deserve it.
But another part of him—darker, more patient—wanted to wait.
Let her live her little fantasy.
Because soon…
She would belong to him.
Whether she liked it or not.
He followed.
Silently.

He sat motionless in the driver's seat, his jaw clenched so tight it ached. The image of Sera's soft lips pressed against Ethan’s cheek replayed in his mind like a cruel loop—her laughter ringing in his ears, her arms stretched wide like a bird in flight, her fingers digging playfully into another man's skin.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened, veins bulging as he stared ahead, eyes burning with something between rage and desire.

“She smiled like that for him… kissed him like he was her world,” Jungkook whispered under his breath, voice low, trembling—not from weakness, but from something far darker.

He could take her away right now if he wanted.

He had the power. The money. The reach.

But no—he didn’t want a stolen version of her. He didn’t want her screaming or running. He wanted her willingly. Softly. Completely.

He wanted her to fall.

Fall in love with him.

And once she did—once she surrendered her heart to him—she would be his. Entirely. Unshakably. Irrevocably.

A twisted smile curled on his lips as he watched Ethan’s bike disappear down the road. His chest still burned, but now it wasn’t just jealousy—it was hunger.

“She doesn’t even know what she’s doing to me,” he muttered, leaning back in the seat, eyes dark with obsession.

“But she will. I’ll make her see me. Need me. Love me.”

He wasn’t going to wait for fate or luck. He didn’t believe in those things.

He believed in precision. In persistence. In control.

And he knew exactly how to do it.

“Everyone falls in love eventually,”
he murmured, staring at the faint glow where Sera had just been, his voice curling like smoke.

“She just doesn’t know yet—she’s meant to fall for me.”

He started the car, engine purring like a beast beneath him.

Game on.

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