Suddenly we were no longer children. The pastel hair colours and naïve clothes had changed into more conservative natural colours and t-shirts, jeans and boots. Concert wear was much less pink with sequins and a lot more black with leather.

There was no avoiding the fact that JungKook had grown up. He had matured into a considerate, understanding human being that anybody would be proud to call a friend.

It felt like overnight, he had changed from the slim, wary, scared fawn into a whole different animal, more akin to a stag. He had filled in, his body all ribbed muscle, his character more intense, even confident. His quietness remained but it was not a bad thing. He had a stern aura that put most people slightly on the edge with him, until they learnt of his silly, warm personality hiding underneath.

I, too, found myself reacting to this new JungKook in a completely different way.

The silly playfulness disappeared and instead, something else evolved -something I didn't have a name for... the only thing I knew was that it left me confused and flustered. I didn't know how to be around him anymore...

Now, when he teased me, rather than tease him back like I used to, I found myself being shy and almost coy around him, avoiding eye contact. The reaction was entirely automatic, I had no control over it. My body felt possessed.

*

There was a peculiar tightness in my chest whenever he was in the room.

At night, his strong body wrapped itself around me, making me feel protected and vulnerable at the same time. When his strong arms were around me, I found myself wishing I could stay there forever.

Our roles had reversed.

Where, previously, I had been the older one helping and guiding him, the one that he looked up to, now he was the one who supported me. On the outside our relationship looked exactly the same as it had always been, but in reality, everything was different. I needed him because he protected and supported me. When I was with him, I wasn't afraid.

Against my better judgement, I yearned for him, knowing I could never have him.

*

We came off the stage after the final performance of the evening. Wiping his sweaty brow, Jimin hollered to JungKook:

"Wow, what was all that, JungKook-hey!?? You had those women in the front row swooning: flirting like that you harlot, you have no shame!" He pretended to be outraged, his angelic figure dancing around JungKook, slapping his leather-clad butt.

Still breathless, I got close to JungKook and said: "Jimin, he doesn't know how to flirt, he's way too innocent for that...aren't you Kookie...?" I said playfully, tracing a line with my index finger from his Adam's apple down the sliver of naked flesh visible on his chest. Jimin had already danced along when I gave JungKook my darkest bedroom eyes, lip graze and a tempting sexy smile with my fingers still lingering on his moist flesh.

His stare was so intense I felt it at the base of my spine. My breath left me.

His temples were glistening with sweat, his hair was wet. His tight leather trousers hugged his narrow hips while wrapping his muscular thighs tightly, leaving very little to the imagination. His white shirt, damp with sweat, was clinging onto his muscles, virtually transparent. My fingers were itching to touch him. My mouth went dry.

He grabbed my wrist, his hand a shackle. Firmly, he pulled my fingers off his chest, twisting my wrist, drawing me in against him.

"Are you sure about that?" he whispered, his breathless voice suddenly low and intimate. My suddenly blank mind was short on smart comebacks so all I could do was stare at him, flicking from eye to eye, nervously licking my lips.

His eyes darkened when his eyes lowered to my mouth, catching a glimpse of my pink tongue.

A single finger lifted my chin up, he leaned close, as if he were going to kiss me. Helpless to do anything about it, I felt my body mould into his.

Suddenly, everything and everyone else disappeared and all I could see was JungKook. I felt myself fall into the black pools of his eyes, my lips trembling.

He licked the corner of his mouth slowly, flashing a wet, pink tongue right in front of my face. Fascinated, I stared, dumbfounded. He bit his lower lip and slowly let it loose, letting it fall out plump and wet. A small groan escaped my lips. I flushed.

Suddenly, he let me go and I felt like I was going to fall over.

He smiled, knowing full well what effect his little show had on me and said: "Was that good enough for you?" smirking, he walked away, leaving me hanging.

"Hm-hmmm" I nodded my head affirmatively and fell down on a seat, trying to cover my semi-hard cock bulging in my trousers. FUCK!