"why'd you think i'd make fun you?" jungkook asks after taking a sip of water as his eyes remain on jiah sitting in front of him. she sighs softly, shaking her head in disappointment, but brings her last sushi roll closer to her mouth.

her cheeks puff up, lips shining their natural color, looking so cute that it makes jungkook smile to himself. he picks up a napkin, extending out his hand to reach closer to jiah's face, catching her off guard when he wipes off some soy sauce from the side of her lips. jiah pulls back immediately, licking her lips clean and takes the napkin from jungkook's hand, "you don't have to do that." she mumbles, forcing the food down her throat and ends up coughing.

"you're so messy when you eat." jungkook points out, pouring some water on her glass, then shifts the napkin holder to her side. "you've got some sauce on your shirt too."

jiah glances down, much calm after taking a large sip of water and sighs in embarrassment as she takes another napkin to wipe of her top, "i'm not messy. today's just a weird day."

"i'm sure it is." jungkook grins, "why on earth would park jiah be out here with me on a normal day?"

"exactly," she looks away, taking forceful sips of water to avoid talking and also hide the pinkish tint on her cheeks.

"anyway, you didn't answer me."

"hm?"

"i mean, i understand if you didn't wanna share about your job with me. i get it, i'm no one important to you, and it doesn't really bother me. but why would you think i'd make fun of you because of it?"

jiah nods slowly, playing the little amount of water left in her glass as she opens her mouth to speak, "actually, i've been a bitch to you. i mean, if we don't consider you stalking me. that day i said you were unemployed, when i'm pretty unemployed myself... i just felt bad, and i thought you'd pick on me if you came to know."

"i'm not that kind of a jerk." jungkook chuckles.

"what does that mean?"

"it means that i might joke with you and probably tease you about stuff. but i won't ever attack anything personal, or just anything that could hurt you. i'm a guy who likes to have fun, but never by hurting someone else. especially you, jiah."

jiah rolls her eyes at that, "of course. you seem to like me a lot."

"shit, i do." he clicks his tongue. jiah glances at him amusedly, while he winks her. he leans back a little, raising his hips to take his wallet out and places his card with the check sitting beside him.

"jungkook, wait!" jiah stops quickly pulling out her own card, which makes jungkook shake his head. "i have to pay today."

"no, you don't. it's my treat." he says.

"but you got me ice cream the other day."

"that was barely anything." he says, pushing her hand back and smiles at waitress, giving her his card along with the check to make the payment. once the woman leaves, he turns back to jiah and grins. "my hyung taught me to always be a gentleman and pay when i'm with a girl."

"i can pay, though." jiah says.

"you can. but you don't need to, when you have me sitting right here."

"that's a man speaking."

"what else i do look like?" he jokes, making jiah laugh. she stands up with him, smiling a little at the restaurant workers who bow at them as they make their way to the exit. jungkook keeps his card back in his wallet, checking the time in his phone before glancing at jiah.

"what time do you have to go back to jihun?"

"he's in the daycare right now. so, probably by 5:30? max. is 6 pm."

"alright. we have a little more than an hour." he says, giving her the helmet and nods for her to get on.

"where to, now?"

"my place."

"excuse me?" jiah frowns at him, stopping with her movements and jungkook grins. "you-"

"it's not what you're thinking of, baby. i actually wanna show you a place that, fortunately for me, and unfortunately for you, is at home."

"what place? i dare you to say your bedroom, jeon. you won't be able to walk back home." jiah threatens him.

"no, not my bedroom. it's amazing by the way. but too bad, i'm not taking you anywhere near my bedroom today." he says, "and just so you feel better, namjoon hyung is at home. you can meet him too."

"oh... okay. but! if you try anything, it's my kick and your balls."

"you're obsessed with my balls and my dick." he hisses, "even i don't think about it so often, woman. you need to stop."

"you need to behave yourself."

"i didn't even say anything! it was you who kept mentioning my bedroom!"

jiah's about to retort at him, probably have a sharper comeback, but a voice interrupts her. she turns around along with jungkook's eyes following with a frown, because it's a guy's voice. jiah's lips stretch into a surprised smile, waving at the guy who smiles at her as well, approaching her with a few quick steps.

"jaesung? hey," she chuckles, "i didn't expect to see you suddenly. where have you been all this time?"

it's the guy from jimin's company who used to work with her until she was called to be jimin's secretary due to which they had to stop hanging out between work. and after that jiah didn't even get to see him that often. jaesung glances around, shrugging his shoulders, "yeah, actually i had an emergency back at home. so i was with my family for a while. just returned two days ago." he says, "forget about that, jiah. i came to know what mr arrogant did!"

jiah scrunches up her face, glancing at jungkook who looks confused, but at the mention of 'mr arrogant' he grows tiny bit interested, waiting for jiah to say something back. "well, it's nothing new." she sighs. "anyway. jaesung, this is jungkook, my friend. and jungkook, he's jaesung. we used to work together." she says quickly, smiling at the boys.

they greet each other with a handshake and jungkook speaks first, "it's nice to meet you." he doesn't sound very friendly, but at least he puts on a smile to cover up.

"yeah, same here." jaesung nods, looking back at jiah, "i felt so bad when i came back and you weren't there. i had- and still have, so much to tell you. there's no one who gives better reactions, jiah." he says, earning a gasp from the girl as she grins instantly.

"tell me you found someone..." she whispers.

"i- maybe...?" he mumbles and jiah squeals, jumping on him for a hug. jaesung grins proudly, patting her back and nods, "i met them back in busan. they're working at my dad's café."

"them? oh i see," jiah wiggles her eyebrows, "good for you, boy. now listen, we gotta set a date soon and i've to know everything, okay?"

"of course! you're my only best friend. i'll text you during the weekend if you're free?"

"yeah, sure." jiah nods with a smile.

"okay, then i'll get going now. i'm actually moving to this side of the city, so it's taking a while until i settle in completely."

"oh, you can always let me know if you need something, jae. i'll be happy to help you." jiah says.

"that's really sweet of you. thanks." he nods subtly, "you should go with your friend now. bye, see you around."

"yeah, of course. bye," jiah says, watching as jaesung walks away and she turns to jungkook, smiling for an unknown reason. despite the guy he just got to see, jungkook ends up smiling as well, his hand automatically going up to stroke jiah's hair. "he was one of my first friends at work." she tells jungkook, getting on the seat behind him and scoots a bit closer, so he'll be able to hear her properly, "he's literally so sweet and funny, jungkook. when ji- park jimin appointed me as his secretary and i had to move to work under him all the time, me and jae used to get so bored. him especially because he had no one else."

"really? and what about you?" jungkook asks.

"my boss wasn't so boring then." she giggles.

"you used to like him right?"

"uhm i guess i found him attractive. in fact i still find him very attractive, which is dangerous y'know? but at least i'm not into him, and i know i wouldn't feel anything like that for him again."

"did he really mess up that bad?"

"he accused me of-" jiah stops suddenly, remembering that jungkook doesn't have to know anything that happened between her and jimin. she clears her throat, getting a soft look from jungkook for a fraction of second before he focuses back on the street and applies the breaks suddenly, making jiah gasp in surprise, pressed against his back. "what are you doing? are you trying to get us killed?!" she shrieks, hitting him on his back.

"no, just thought that you might be cold." he grins, "you can hug me if you want. i won't mind."

"yeah yeah, just drive." jiah doesn't really speak after that and sits quietly, just feeling the wind brushing her hair back. it's good while it lasts until jungkook takes a turn and they're in a much quieter locality. this side is still new to jiah, and all the houses look big and dreamy, leaving her to imagine herself owning one like these someday.

jungkook pulls up in the drive of a big house where a familiar car is parked, and jiah realises it is where jungkook lives with his hyung. she gets off the bike, waiting for jungkook to lead the way as she feels conscious and tiny here. with a smile, jungkook gestures his hand towards the front porch and takes her inside. "i'm home!" he yells for his brother to know, then tosses his keys on the console table, glancing at jiah. "come," he says reaching the living room and motions towards the couch.

jiah's just about to sit down when namjoon's voice makes her flinch in surprise, for it's still the first time she's ever hearing him mad, "where were you?!" he's heading down the stairs, while jungkook sighs softly, scrunching up his face. "what did i ask you to do today?"

"i was-"

"don't make any exc- jiah?" namjoon stops, frowning at the girl, who smiles nervously, waving at him.

"hi, oppa,"

"hi... what are you doing here? how did you-"

"we're friends," jungkook smirks proudly at the elder male, "she came with me."

"i swear to god, jungkook, if you kidnapped her-"

jungkook gasps at that, shaking his head as he exasperates, "no! i would never kidnap anyone, hyung! how can you say that?!"

jiah laughs as well, "he didn't kidnap me, oppa. i came here willingly. he said he wanted to show me something, and we had some time... so, i agreed. i hope i'm not disturbing you, though?"

"no, you're never a bother, jiah." namjoon smiles softly at her, patting her head, then gives a firm glare to jungkook, "so, you're friends with her. do not do anything weird, and be a gentleman. did you offer her something to eat or drink?"

"no, we just-"

"that's why you're single, buddy. anyway, talk to her, get her what she likes and don't be a brat."

"hyung," jungkook eyes him not to talk like that, and namjoon just shakes his head, turning to face jiah again.

"don't mind him, please? he's always been pampered a lot by our parents, and then even i never scolded him that much. so, he's grown a little stubborn."

jiah holds in her laugh, nodding in understatement to his words, "of course, i understand."

"thanks," namjoon smiles, glancing at the younger brother too and sighs, "alright, i actually had to leave half an hour ago, but because of this boy, i'm running late now. so without wasting any more time, i'll get going. and you, jungkook, behave yourself."

"just go. you's so embarrassing!" he whisper yells to his brother, pushing him towards the door. once namjoon is out of sight, jungkook massages his temples, shutting the door and clicks his tongue on hearing jiah laughing.

"namjoon oppa always has something to say about you!" she snorts, falling on the couch and continues laughing at jungkook. "i can't believe you're anything like he says. but if you are, then you must be cute."

jungkook shrugs his shoulders, sitting beside her and says, "what he tells in his stories is a very old version of me. i don't understand how he can't see that i'm not thirteen anymore." he sighs, smiling a little, "if you ask hyung my age, he might have to stop and think."

"i know that feeling. yoongi oppa can never see me as a grown up! he's always calls me 'kid' when i legit have a kid of my own." she chuckles.

"yoongi's your brother?"

"uhm not really. but at the same time he is. it's like i met him when i was eight-ish...? and he was big... like maybe eighteen or probably older. i went to his house for trick or treat on halloween. after that i started visiting him more often since we were neighbours, and we grew close."

"that's a cute story." jungkook grins, checking the time again and bites his lip, remembering that they don't have too much of it left. so he stands up and holds jiah's hand, bringing her towards a corridor which eventually bears stairs going down.

"where are we going?"

jungkook smiles at her confused voice, not wanting to answer yet, and asks her a question instead, "you said you've trained in jiu jitsu for eight years?"

"yeah...?" jiah looks unsure of this, taking slow steps beside jungkook, eventually stopping in front of a door, "you're not gonna ask me to fight you or anything, right?"

"no," he laughs and opens the door, switching on the lights, making jiah gasp as a big, spacious gym is revealed. there's a punching bag, a boxing ring, treadmills, dumbbells and a lot of other gym equipments. she enters the place, looking fascinated and turns to jungkook, "wow... this is amazing." she hushes out. "it's yours?"

"yes," jungkook smiles, "i love working out, so just got the basement renovated into this."

"this is so cool, jungkook- like literally."

"thanks," he nods, motioning his hands towards the machines and jiah walks with him, studying them precisely with fascination in her eyes. "how do you practice jiu jitsu? it's hard to stay in form all the time, especially when you left training many years back."

"who said i'm in form?" jiah shakes her head, "i never practice or anything. i don't have the time and place to do that- especially after giving birth. the moves i know are the bare minimum and if my coach, who trained me, saw me today, he would be so mad." she chuckles softly, eyes fixed on the dumbbell that her fingers trace, before glancing up at jungkook. "you're good at acting, jeon."

"acting...?" jungkook frowns.

"you let me win." she hushes out with a smile, "you were right, i'm not that strong."

jungkook's lips twitch to smile, rubbing the back of his neck as he glances down at his feet, "but you're smarter. and that coupled with your strength, you can defeat anyone."

"i have," jiah nods, tilting her head as she stares at jungkook, "not you, though. i can't seem to win against you. i mean look at us, you wanted to be friends, and we are now."

"it's because you let me." he says quickly, then leans down to whisper sneakily, "not to mention your slaps and kicks hurt pretty bad. i still remember all of it."

jiah's eyes shut close as she laughs at his sudden complain, throwing her head back, while hitting lightly on his arm. jungkook grins at her, just admiring how good happiness looks on her. a soft sigh works out of his lips, wondering how long he'd be able to last against this girl, when he already feels like he has fallen in deep into her.

"you can come here sometimes." he clears his throat, "you should definitely practice, jiah. especially when it's one of the most awesome martial art techniques. i would have a company as well, it gets pretty lonely for me at times."

jiah grins at that, nodding knowingly, "of course, big guy. your hyungie doesn't workout with you?"

jungkook huffs at her, crossing his arms on his chest, "no, he's busy with work all the time. one of the many reasons i don't ever feel like being employed. i can't deal with people like park jimin. if i were working there, i'd've gotten into a fight."

"explains why you're not working." jiah nods, "but i do need to find a job. it's so frustrating."

"why do you even wanna work under someone else? do something of your own."

"easy said than done."

"i'm gesturing towards martial arts. you can teach young kids that if you practice a bit. knowing self defence is always good." he shrugs his shoulders, getting a look from jiah. "i'm serious. don't look at me like that."

"that won't work. i'm just gonna look for a job right now." she sighs.

"whatever suits you the best." jungkook hums, "we should go now. it's almost 5:30."

"ah, yeah. how can i forget..." jiah mumbles, glancing at her watch and walks back with jungkook, "uhm jungkook? can i get some water please?"

"of course," he says, leading her to the kitchen first, where he hands him a glass of water, "sorry, i didn't ask sooner."

"it's okay." she smiles, "let's go now."

"yeah," he ruffles her hair, smiling down at her, "i enjoyed today. hopefully we xa hangout more often. please don't hesitate texting me if you ever wanna see someone okay? i'm an amazing listener, as you know already. and my lips are always sealed."

jiah smiles at him, nodding her head and heads out of the house, stopping in front of his bike. she gets on it behind him, placing her hands on his waist like before and watches him through the mirror, "jungkook?" he hums in response, leaning his head back a little to hear her properly over the loud wind, "thanks for today."

jungkook smiles at that, "thank you, jiah."

________

a/n- i just love jungkook and jiah together!!!! 😭😭😭 it'd my ship from today sgskssjsh

alsoooo to everyone who said the 'seven' mv looks like a short film of this book's jungkook and jiah gsksgskhkd y'all i can't unsee it now! 😩 although it's actually veryy nice! i loved the mv and now i love it more because i can legit see my (entice) jungkook and jiah together omfg sgsjdhdkd 😭❤️✨