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Jay leaned against the sleek leather couch in the lounge of the business building, a smirk tugging at his lips as he sipped his coffee. He was waiting for Jake, who had promised to meet him with some additional "insight" into Jungwon. Jake was always reliable when it came to gossip, and today was no exception.

Not long after, Jake strolled in with Heeseung, Jay's occasional accomplice in their school escapades. Heeseung, with his sharp eyes and casual swagger, always had an air of knowing more than he let on.

"You're late," Jay said without looking up, swirling the remnants of his coffee.

Jake flopped into the seat next to him, grinning. "Relax. You're the one who wanted the 411 on the dance kid."

Heeseung sat across from them, raising an eyebrow. "Dance kid? Who are we talking about?"

"Jungwon," Jay replied, his smirk widening. "He's my next... project."

Heeseung chuckled, shaking his head. "You're really out here picking targets, huh? What did this one do to catch your attention?"

Jay shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Nothing, really. That's the point. He doesn't know who I am, and he couldn't care less. Makes him... interesting."

Jake leaned forward, eager to share. "Alright, here's the rundown. Jungwon's a dance major, obviously. He's roommates with his older brother, Jeongin, who majors in psychology. From what I hear, they're really close, but Jungwon's the more reserved one. Doesn't open up easily, keeps his circle tight."

"Sounds boring," Heeseung muttered, though there was a glint of amusement in his eyes.

Jake ignored him. "He's friends with Sunoo, who, by the way, is a walking encyclopedia of gossip. If you really want to know more, Sunoo's your guy. Oh, and Jungwon spends most of his time in the studio. He's serious about his craft, like, next-level focused. No distractions, no drama."

Jay tapped his fingers against the side of his coffee cup, mulling over the information. "So he's a no-nonsense type. That'll make it fun to shake him up a little."

Heeseung smirked. "And by 'fun,' you mean you're going to worm your way into his life just to see how long it takes to make him fall for you?"

Jay shot him a sly grin. "Something like that. Besides, he might be the perfect distraction. I've been bored lately."

Jake leaned back, crossing his arms. "You know, for someone who gets bored easily, you sure like a challenge. Jungwon's not like the others, Jay. He's not going to fall for your usual tricks."

"That's what makes it interesting," Jay replied smoothly. "He doesn't know who I am, doesn't care. But once he does... well, we'll see how long he can resist."

Heeseung shook his head, amused but skeptical. "Just don't mess with him too much, alright? I've heard good things about Jungwon. He doesn't deserve to get caught up in one of your games."

Jay raised his cup in mock agreement. "Noted, hyung. But don't worry, I'll be... gentle."

Jake sighed, but there was a small smile on his face. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Jay leaned back, his smirk widening. "That's why you love me."

With his next move already forming in his mind, Jay couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. Jungwon was different, sure. But everyone had a breaking point, and Jay was determined to find his.

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Jay's day unfolded as it always did—classes, a quick workout, a casual lunch with some business majors vying for his attention, and, of course, his usual nonchalant strolls across campus that garnered more than a few admiring glances. Yet, amidst the mundane rhythm of his schedule, his mind kept drifting back to Jungwon.

There was something annoyingly magnetic about the dance major. The way he had brushed Jay off without a second thought, the fire in his eyes, the sharp way he'd spoken—it was refreshing. And now that Jay had decided to make Jungwon his "project," he needed intel, and fast.

After finishing up his last class of the day, Jay sat on one of the benches in the courtyard, pulling out his phone. If anyone could give him deeper insight into Jungwon's life, it would be Chan. Chan was well-connected and had a reputation for being dependable—maybe a little too dependable. The guy had a soft spot for his friends, especially Jeongin, Jungwon's older brother.

Rumor had it Chan wasn't just close to Jeongin; some said he was secretly in love with him. Jay smirked at the thought as he scrolled through his contacts and tapped on Chan's name.

The phone rang a couple of times before Chan's familiar voice came through. "Yo, Jay. What's up?"

"Hey, Chan," Jay said, leaning back on the bench. "You busy?"

"Not really. Just working on some tracks. What do you need?" Chan's tone was casual, but there was always a subtle edge of warmth in it, especially when it came to helping people he cared about.

Jay wasted no time. "You're close with Jeongin, right? I mean, like, really close?"

There was a brief pause on the other end. "Yeah, we're close. Why?"

"Just curious," Jay said, keeping his tone light. "You know anything about his younger brother, Jungwon?"

Another pause, this one longer. Jay could almost picture Chan sitting up straighter, his mind already piecing things together. "Why are you asking about Jungwon?"

Jay chuckled. "Relax, I'm not planning anything crazy. Just... bumped into him the other day. Thought he seemed interesting."

"Interesting?" Chan repeated, his voice skeptical. "Jay, you don't usually find people 'interesting' unless you're planning to mess with them. Jungwon's a good kid. Don't drag him into whatever game you're playing."

"Game?" Jay echoed, feigning innocence. "I'm just trying to get to know him. That's all."

Chan sighed, clearly unconvinced. "Fine. What do you want to know?"

Jay grinned, knowing he'd won this round. "What's he like? What's his deal?"

Chan hesitated before answering. "Jungwon's quiet, but he's got a strong presence. He's focused, hardworking, and pretty protective of the people he cares about. He doesn't let people in easily, though. If you're looking for a quick fling or something, he's not the one."

Jay hummed thoughtfully. "Protective, huh? That's good to know."

"Jay," Chan warned, his tone firm. "I mean it. Don't mess with him. Jeongin would kill you if you hurt his brother."

"Noted," Jay said breezily, though he had no intention of backing off. "Thanks for the info, Chan. You're the best."

"Yeah, yeah," Chan muttered. "Just... don't do anything stupid."

Jay ended the call with a satisfied smirk, pocketing his phone. Chan's hesitation had only confirmed what he suspected—Jungwon was worth the effort. Now, all he had to do was figure out how to crack that tough exterior.

And if Chan was right about Jungwon's protective nature, Jay already knew one surefire way to get under his skin. After all, nothing made people react quite like playing with their emotions.

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ok pillows and jaywon shippers as i said this book is inspired by the song pocket locket so you can kinda see it playing out ig, i also forgot to pick jungwon and jays major until last minute😁 my forgetful ass so i just did the reg majors dance and business

hope your enjoying the book