Jungkook sat up leisurely, placing a muscled bare arm behind Helen to support himself as he leaned toward her with a lazy grin.

"You don't remember my name? I'm hurt," he said with a fake pout.

Helen blinked, trying to remember what happened. "Um...your name is Jungkook?"

"Bingo," he said, kissing her cheek.

Helen was completely still in shock. She put her head in her hands, her headache intensifying as she tried to recall the events of last night. She didn't feel anything different about her body, and yet she couldn't be sure. A man this sexy couldn't possibly have spent the night just sleeping and nothing else with a woman he met in a bar and took home. And there was the fact she was wearing what was most likely his shirt, with her dress and safety shorts tossed carelessly on the floor.

"No, this can't be happening," Helen mumbled. "This isn't me, I don't do this!"

Jungkook's lazy grin was replaced by a look of concern as he furrowed his brows in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"This! One night stands! I'm not into that kind of thing! I'm the fool who believes in love and waiting for the right moment, for Pete's sake! What have I done?" Helen cried in confusion and anguish.

Jungkook turned to fully face her and gently pulled her hands away from her face. Wiping her tears, he lifted her chin to make her look at him.

"Hey, listen. Don't cry, we didn't do anything last night if it makes you feel better. It kinda hurts my ego, but you asked for water, brushed your teeth, and passed out right after we got here. I just changed and slept next to you, that's all."

Helen sniffed. "Really?"

"Really."

"But why didn't you do anything?"

Jungkook laughed. "I'm not about to wake up a woman who wants to sleep just so I can pick up where we left off. Plus I think it's for the best since we were both drunk anyway."

"Do you have a girlfriend?" Helen asked abruptly.

"No, why?"

"Huh. I'm surprised," Helen mumbled.

A handsome man like him who also considered something most men didn't was a total catch. How he wasn't attached was beyond her.

"I just hadn't found anyone I was interested in yet. Although," he paused, looking at Helen thoughtfully. "I might be reconsidering that after last night and this morning."

Helen sharply looked up, startled to hear the implication in his words. She stuttered uncertainly.

"You don't have a boyfriend do you?" Jungkook asked, hoping he didn't just spend the night with someone who had a partner already.

Helen sighed, remembering what brought her to the bar last night. "No, not anymore."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow quizzically. "Anymore? You recently broke up?"

"It's been a month so I'm not sure if that counts as recent, but yeah, we're broken up."

"Then since we're here, why don't we explore what this could be?" Jungkook asked, a smile returning to his face as he leaned in to kiss her.

Helen moved away slightly, making Jungkook stop immediately in confusion. "I'm sorry, really. I just...I don't think I can, not right now. I just got out of a relationship where I thought I was going to marry him, so I don't think it's fair to either of us if I agree. I don't want a rebound, and you don't deserve that either."

Jungkook was silent for a long moment, studying her intently. He was disappointed, but what surprised him was that he felt a newfound respect for her. He already knew he liked her, which was rare already, but he didn't expect that she would consider him to that extent. But again, there was something about Helen that made him feel like he needed her in his life, even if it was just as friends for now. She was bright last night even when she was just watching him at the bar. And this morning, she glowed despite her slightly disheveled appearance. Her tears were like diamonds hanging on her thick lashes, and her hair was like glossy onyx. Her chestnut skin glowed in the morning sun, and most importantly, her heart shone through her words. He didn't know much about her, but all he knew was he didn't want to let her go.

"That's fair. But since we've met and you're as single as I am, would it be okay if we became friends at least?" Jungkook asked.

Helen looked him over carefully. Being friends with such a man was a slippery slope. She wasn't looking for a relationship yet, but her heart somehow didn't want to let go of Jungkook.

"I don't want a "friends with benefits" situationship either," she replied.

"No, just friends, no sexual or romantic benefits. Other benefits though...I've been told I'm a great cook and conversationalist," he joked.

Helen chuckled despite herself. She was careful to stay away from all men except those in her family out of consideration for Nick. But now, she didn't have to. And, Jungkook looked so adorable waiting for her answer. If they couldn't get along, they could always part ways amicably.

"Okay, let's be friends," Helen said with a smile.

Jungkook cheered, making Helen laugh at his antics.

"How about brunch then? You hungry?" he asked.

"You're cooking?"

"Never doubt my cooking skills, Hely."

She laughed, ignoring how her heart accelerated at his nickname for her. "Okay, let's see it then, Kookie."

"One sumptuous brunch coming right up!" Jungkook said with an excited grin as he hopped out of bed. Grabbing a shirt, he put it on. "Oh by the way, you're welcome to take a shower here if you like, and in case you don't remember, your toothbrush is the blue one. Feel free to take some of my clothes to wear, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable wearing your dress again."

"Wow that's...really thoughtful, Jungkook. Thank you," Helen said quietly.

"No worries, it's the least I can do! I'll see you in the kitchen when you're done. Just follow the scent of food," he said with a light chuckle, closing the door behind him.

Helen sat in his bed, looking around at his room for a moment. The bed was a mess, the floor had her clothes on it, but besides that his room was surprisingly very neat. His open closet and a shirt hanging off the edge of the laundry basket made sure that although it was neat, it wasn't stark. She got up and made the bed automatically, not wanting to mar the image of the room with a messy bed.

She picked up her dress and shorts, folding them neatly. Making her way to the bathroom, she took in her appearance. Objectively, she looked terrible. Her face had sleep lines, her hair looked like rats had nested in it, and...she peered in the mirror before blushing. She had a hickey on her neck, right under her hairline and behind her ear. At first she wanted to throw her hair in a bun, but the emergence of the hickey made it impossible, so she decided to let her hair down after her shower. She was pleasantly surprised to find that his body wash, although a masculine scent, still smelled somewhat like citrus. On her skin, the manly scent morphed into something a little softer, although it gave her a suspicious thrill that she smelled the same way he did.

After showering and brushing her teeth, she opened his closet, a little daunted that she was picking out clothes from a man's closet. Opting for the smallest pair of joggers, hoodie, and T-shirt she could find, she had to cuff the jogging pants before stepping out of the bedroom barefooted.

Immediately, she smelled a delicious spicy scent. Remembering his joke to follow the scent, she walked to the end of the hallway before finding the kitchen on her left. Jungkook's back was to her, an apron tied around his waist that somehow accentuated his broad back.

A couple bowls and mugs were set on the breakfast bar behind him. Jungkook's arms flexed slightly as he stirred whatever was in the pot, a fact Helen tried her hardest not to notice.

She cleared her throat. "Um, I'm all done," she said awkwardly.

Jungkook turned around. Helen was wearing his clothes. He already knew she would, but something about seeing her swallowed up in his clothes like a girlfriend drove his heart to beat faster. She was especially adorable with the sleeves so long her fingers were lost inside his hoodie, and he couldn't do anything about it because he had chosen to respect her feelings.

"She's your friend, Jungkook. Don't forget that," he thought to himself.

He turned off the stove, heading over to the foyer to grab a pair of slippers. "Do you have any allergies or things you don't eat? I just realized I should've asked you in the bedroom earlier."

Hearing him say "the bedroom" so casually made Helen's cheeks burn, but she kept her face impassive. "Um no, I'm not picky."

Jungkook put the slippers in front of her. "And how's your spice tolerance?"

"Pretty good, I like spice," she said as she slipped her feet inside. "Thanks."

"No worries. Allow me to present to you...Korean dried pollack soup!" Jungkook said, picking up the small pot on the stove and setting it down with a flourish in the center of the table.

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