BACK TO I.NS POV

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It started like any other lazy afternoon. I was sprawled out on the couch, enjoying my favorite bag of crisps—the sacred, the holy, the only snack worth fighting for:READY SALTED Chips. My day had been stressful enough with Jungwon whining about missing Jay and Chan living rent-free in my head 24/7, so this was my moment of peace.

And then, he walked in.

Chan. My kryptonite. My problem. The reason I haven't been able to focus on literally anything except the way his stupid dimpled smile makes my brain short-circuit.

"Hey, Jeongin," he said casually, plopping down beside me.

"Don't," I warned, clutching the bag of crisps closer.

"Don't what?" he asked, feigning innocence.

"You know what."

He leaned in, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "C'mon, just one."

"Chan, I will kill you. I will end you."

He didn't listen. Of course, he didn't. His hand darted out faster than I could react, snatching a crisp from my sacred stash like a thief in the night.

"You absolute criminal!" I shouted, launching myself at him.

What followed was a mess of limbs, cushions flying, and me screaming like a banshee while Chan laughed like a maniac. The bag of crisps went tumbling to the floor, and I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes.

"Give them back!" I growled, trying to wrestle the bag from his grip.

"Nope," he replied, holding it above his head like some evil overlord.

Fueled by sheer rage and the need for salty, buttery justice, I threw myself at him, only for him to suddenly flip me around and pin me against the wall.

My heart stopped.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go. I was supposed to be the one victorious, not—not this!

He leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear. "You're cute when you're mad, you know that?"

My brain? Gone. My ability to speak? Erased. My dignity? Nowhere to be found.

I felt his lips ghost over the side of my neck, and my knees nearly gave out. Was this revenge for me trying to kill him over crisps? Because if so, it was working. Too well.

Suddenly, I heard a gasp from the doorway. My head snapped to the side, and there they were: Jungwon and Jay, standing like deer caught in headlights.

"What the hell?" Jungwon asked, his eyes wide.

"Honestly? Kinda hot," Jay added, earning himself a smack on the arm from Jungwon.

Before I could even attempt to explain myself, they both turned and disappeared like they'd just seen a ghost, leaving me alone with Chan.

"I—uh—" I stammered, my face hotter than the sun.

"Still mad about the crisps?" Chan asked, his voice teasing.

"Yes!" I lied, shoving him away.

But as I bent down to grab the remains of my beloved snack, I couldn't stop thinking about the way his lips felt so close to my skin. Damn it.

DID I MAKE YOU FLUSTERED, I.N?" Chan smirked, leaning casually against the wall like he hadn't just obliterated every ounce of dignity I had left.

I wanted to punch that stupidly handsome smirk right off his face. "No!" I snapped, crossing my arms and glaring at him. "You did not."

He raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Oh? Then why's your face as red as Jungwon's stuffed tomato plushie?"

My hands twitched at my sides. Violence was not the answer. Violence was not the answer. But my brain kept screaming, Just one punch! Just one, Jeongin!

"That's just my natural glow," I shot back, huffing like a child who'd just been caught stealing cookies. "Has nothing to do with you."

"Right," he drawled, stepping closer. Too close. Dangerously close.

My heart betrayed me, beating like I was in a high-stakes action movie instead of... well, this awkward tension-filled moment.

"You're kind of cute when you're mad, you know that?" he said, voice dropping an octave.

Oh my GOD. I could hear the universe mocking me. Was this karma for stealing Jungwon's last pudding last week?

"Do you have a death wish, Chan?" I managed to spit out, stepping back until I hit the wall. Trapped.

He leaned down, just enough for our faces to be inches apart. "Not a death wish," he murmured, "but maybe a wish to see you like this more often."

I was done. Finished. Deceased. My brain short-circuited while my body betrayed me, cheeks burning so hot I could've fried an egg on them.

"HOW I WANT TO PUNCH YOU RIGHT NOW!" I finally yelled, shoving him away as he burst out laughing.

"Sure, you do," he said, walking backward with his hands up in mock surrender. "But next time, try harder to keep your cool. It's way too fun messing with you."

"Get OUT before I actually murder you!"

Still laughing, he left the room, leaving me there to stew in my humiliation. I slid down the wall, burying my face in my hands.

Why does he always win?

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poor i.n 

also i need to finish my mafia series cause i want to start the hyunlix and jaywon so bad