So it was a little awkward when you realized the handsome stranger was Tae.

Two days later, you're still apologizing for being a huge flirt. He doesn't seem to mind, though. Every time you brought it up, he shook you off and told you not to worry about it. 

You can't help it. Poor guy was on the receiving end of you being a bit of a hoe. You almost laugh at your own thoughts. You've lived your whole life trapped inside a pretty mansion where your parents brought elegant guests every week for a party. It's not like flirting is any stranger to you. In fact, you rather enjoy it. Why not, right? Why not be confident, even if it's fake.

The sweet aroma of pasta feels the air, your eyes practically turning into hearts at the smell. "I never knew how much went into cooking pasta. I've been doing it wrong the whole time," you say with a dramatic sigh. 

Tae chuckles and stirs some more. "Adding salt to boiling water isn't something I'd consider gourmet, Y/n. I'm starting to think you're stereotyping Italians as pasta lovers."

"Well, do you love pasta?" you ask. He goes to answer, then stops. You snort. "Uh huh." 

The two of you go back to cooking together, a soft hum leaving Tae's lips. You listen for a few moments before softly smiling. "Did you sing in Italy?" you ask, Tae letting you stir the pasta. 

"Ah, it's kind of stupid, but my grandmother raised me. I sung her to sleep every night. She always loved my voice." 

"I can see why," you say. "Just from humming I can hear the depth of your voice. It's something special, Tae."

"Not as special as my cooking skills," he replies. 

"Well, you do make one mean spaghetti and meatball dish." 

The two of you laugh again, more of the sweet aroma filling the air. Tae pulls out a single strand of noodle and blows on it before tasting it. He smacks his lips together when he's done. 

"Mm! Perfection! Time to strain!"

Being the bodyguard, he of course makes you stand far away from the sink. He takes the piping hot pot and dumps the water out, the pasta landing in the strainer set up in the sink. 

"I made meals for my grandma every day. All her favorites in hopes that maybe one day I could thank her for what she's done for me," he explains, the sloshing sounds the water makes almost drowning his voice out. When it stops, he places the pot down on the side, pressing his hands into the counter. The smell of cooked, wet noodles fills the air, you drinking in the scent.

"I promised her I'd take care of her for life, that I'd get a good job and give back to the world, just how she taught me," he whispers, bringing his eyes up to the ceiling. "Now I'm here, getting high pay and protecting people for a living." Tae dryly chuckles and turns to you with tears in his eyes. "And she didn't get to see a damn second of it."

A frown rests on your lips, your feet carrying you over to him. He sniffles, sighing while shaking his head. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I told you that. We were just making dinner and I..." 

You interrupt his words by embracing him, his arms instantly wrapping around you, squeezing you. The two of you stay like that. Hugging. Feeling together. You nuzzle your head up against his chest, him brushing your hair. Your real hair this time, not some wig.

When you part, he rests a hand on your cheek and smiles. "Thank you," he whispers. 

"Don't thank me for wanting to be here for my friend." 

His eyes expand. "I'm your friend?" 

"Of course you are. Kim Taehyung, you're one of the closest friends I've ever had and I've known you for less than a month. How? The answer is pretty obvious to me. You're special. You really, truly are, you half-Korean half-Italian man."

He laughs, booping his nose off yours before pulling away completely. The sudden lack of skinship has your body breaking out with goosebumps. Holy shit, you've missed affection. You've only had a few relationships before, none long-lasting because of your living situation. It shows how little you've had in moments like these, where a simple hug from a friend has your body reacting in a way that makes your heart yearn for more. Except this time you want the touch from someone else. Someone who hasn't left your mind in ages.

Your phone rings, Tae motioning for you to answer it. Within a few seconds, you do. "Hello?" you ask. You don't need to glance at the contact to know who it is. 

"Hey Winters, just calling to check in on you. Everything going okay?" Jungkook's voice replies. 

You softly smile and sit back on the balls of your feet. "I'm okay, Kook. I haven't died yet." 

"Key word is yet. If you die it's probably going to be because Jae or Hans was being clumsy and they stabbed you on accident." 

"Yes, cause my best friends are so clumsy they would definitely stab me on accident. I think the odds of them stabbing me on purpose are higher than the odds of them stabbing me on accident, bunny boy."

He huffs. "I don't look like a bunny." 

"Of course that's what you took out of that." 

Jungkook laughs, you smiling at the sounds. One thing that you really like about Jungkook is his laugh. The laugh that can fill an entire room with joy. A joy you really need in your life, especially right now.

Wait. 

Your heart almost lurches up to your throat. This isn't supposed to happen. You were told one thing: don't make any permanent connections while you're here. Wow, this is going well. Now Jungkook's attached and literally tomorrow you could get called back to a trial, never to return to Korea again. Unless you wanted to.  

That's a good question: after the trial, what do you do? You've always been so focused on getting here that what comes after has never occurred to you.

"Ami? You kinda went quiet for a minute there. Did I scare you off?" he asks.

"Pffft, you wish. Still here to haunt you." 

"Haunt? Isn't that something you save for after death, love?" 

You almost choke on air. Wait wait, sorry - love?!?! He's calling you love now? Oh lord, fuck the trial, fuck everyone; he's totally worth it. He's worth every ounce of your being if he's treating you like this. Like you're worthy of love.

"Well I'm haunting you now. Is that a problem?" you ask. No answer. You go still, your fingers subconsciously wrapping around your phone tighter, "Jungkook?" A nervous laugh leaves your throat. "Uh oh, did I scare you off this time?" There's a small breath. 

"Sorry... I'm getting another call. I'll call you back later, okay?" 

Before you can even say goodbye he hangs up. Tae observes you with worry evident in those gorgeous brown eyes of his. 

"What's going on?" he asks. You place your phone on the table and sigh. 

"I have no fucking idea."

~~~

Jungkook presses his hands against the counter, tears pitter-pattering against the wood. "Jungkook!" Yuri's cheerful voice calls. "Jungkook I got the food!"

He's in no mood to mess around. Jungkook loves his sister dearly, but right now, if he doesn't act fast, they're both in danger. 

"Jungkook, are you hiding again?" she asks. Poor girl has no idea that her night is about to be ruined. She skips into the room, holding the bag of burgers close to her chest. "Jungko-"

Her voice falling flat tells him all he needs to know. She rushes over, placing the bag on the corner and a hand on his shoulder, her fingers rubbing over his shirt. For a minute, it's silent. 

"How long?" she asks. 

"A week," he mumbles. 

"No, not a whole fucking week." 

He doesn't even have the strength to comment on her language. "I'm sorry," he forces out, "I wish I knew about this before, but it's always sudden." 

"Always," she repeats.

She keeps rubbing his back soothingly until he decides to shift. She steps back, Jungkook running a hand through his black locks. "I need to go smoke."

"Where? In front of our house?" 

She shoots him a look of disapproval, so, he sighs. "I'll link up with Jin. I don't know. I'll think of something. All I know is that I can't be alone right now. Not like this." 

"You're not alone," she says. 

"You're a kid, babes," he whispers, "this isn't something you should have to deal with. Let me."

"I may be your baby sister, but I'm almost a legal adult, Kook. I'm not letting you deal with this alone. Not now," she says, coming closer to him. 

Jungkook glances around the kitchen, trying to focus on anything else. It doesn't work. "I can't do this right now," he mutters before turning on his heel and walking away.

Yuri follows him, Jungkook not even bothering to grab his favorite leather jacket as he storms out the door. "Jungkook! Your tattoos are showing!"

"I don't care," he calls back, slipping on his bike. 

She rushes over, stopping right next to him. "Please come inside. Please, let's talk about this." 

Jungkook grips the handles of his motorcycle harder. "I can't."

"Not even for a minute?" 

The bike hums to life under his touch, his eyes staying away from hers. "Get back inside. Lock the doors and keep your knife near you. If anything happens, anything at all, call me right away. No one else. Me first, got it?" 

Yuri places a single hand on her hip. "You've made me memorize those words by now, Jeon." 

"Then you should know them, Jeon," he replies, finally bringing his eyes over to her, "please stay safe. Please." 

She puts a hand on his shoulder. "I will. I promise."

He softly smiles, her backing up so he can kick off. Within a second, she's rushing back inside while he watches. He waits until the door shuts. 

Then, he zooms off.