Jungkook twirled the tiny keychain in his hand, the faint scent of leather lingering on his fingers. It was delicate yet sturdy, clearly handmade. The craftsmanship was impressive, each detail, from the tiny roof to the door etched into the design, seemed thoughtful.

He placed it on the coffee table and leaned back on his couch, staring at the object. Who could have left it? None of his colleagues or clients seemed like the type to send him something so personal, and his social circle was... well, practically nonexistent outside of work.

The thought gnawed at him as the night stretched on. By the time Jungkook went to bed, the keychain had been added to his keyring, a small but growing part of him unwilling to discard it.

______________________________________

Across the hall, Taehyung sat at his desk, his sketchbook open but untouched. His pencils lay scattered, abandoned as his mind raced.

Jungkook took it inside.

The image replayed in his head on a loop, Jungkook bending down to pick up the gift, his brows furrowing with curiosity. He hadn't left it behind, hadn't tossed it aside.

It was a small victory, but for someone as shy as Taehyung, it felt monumental.

Still, a familiar voice of doubt crept in. What if he thinks it's weird? What if he's angry?

Shaking his head, Taehyung pushed the thoughts away and began sketching ideas for the next gift. His nervousness hadn't faded, but a spark of hope kept him going.

______________________________________

The next day, Jungkook found himself thinking about the gift more often than he wanted to admit. He'd catch himself glancing at his keychain during meetings, running his thumb over the smooth wood when he was lost in thought. It had become a small comfort, one he didn't fully understand.

That evening, as he returned home, his eyes instinctively drifted toward his doorstep. Empty. He wasn't sure why he felt disappointed.

Inside his apartment, he poured himself a glass of wine and sat by the window, staring at the city lights. His life was quiet, orderly, a far cry from the chaotic lifestyle he'd once had in his younger years.

Yet the mystery of the gift lingered, stirring something he hadn't felt in a long time, curiosity.

______________________________________

Taehyung was a bundle of nerves. He had spent hours crafting the next gift, this time a set of hand-painted bookmarks. Each one featured a simple yet elegant design, stars, flowers, and a silhouette of a city skyline.

It was late, almost midnight, when he finally worked up the courage to leave his apartment. The bookmarks were wrapped in soft tissue paper, tied with a slender ribbon.

He stepped into the hallway, every sound amplified in the silence. As he approached Jungkook's door, his heartbeat quickened. Carefully, he placed the package on the mat, just as he had two nights ago.

This time, he lingered for a moment longer, his fingers brushing the ribbon as if to say goodbye to the tiny pieces of himself he was leaving behind.

And then, he retreated, shutting his door just as softly as before.

______________________________________

Jungkook arrived home not long after, his footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. His eyes immediately landed on the new package.

He crouched down, his lips pressing into a thin line as he studied it. The same careful wrapping, the same simple elegance.

Carrying it inside, he sat at his kitchen table and unwrapped the gift. The bookmarks spilled onto the surface, each one unique and stunning.

Jungkook picked one up, tracing the painted flowers with his thumb. There was a delicate charm to the design, a kind of quiet thoughtfulness that felt almost intimate.

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the bookmarks.

Someone was paying attention to him.

For the first time in years, the cold shell around his heart began to thaw, little by little.