1. Please make sure to check all previously reblogged posts before asking about a writer.
Or see following list of reblogged writers (alphabetical order):
@adelinayaa / @kimadelina
@astralkookie
@bambiyoonz
@belleeebelleee
@bloodred-jk
@bobbyseyesmile
@borahaedarkly
@chwrrybby
@givemethatkookie
@g|00s
@gloriousstarfishcoffee
@ggukgcf
@gguksprincess
@guupie
@hwaloverrr
@igotnojamzzz
@imnoomin
@inkedwithcharm
@itssskimiiii
@jeonlic
@jeonsdeerbaby
@jikookncity
@jjkarmy091
@jjkvisions
@jkwrites-m
@jungkoode / @kikiskook
@kooklovee
@kookquettes
@kryia-g
@luvismenu
@luvvjayk
@melancholy-of-nadia
@minalous
@mrsvante
@myseachell
@outrokoo
@personasintro
@pojkyo
@rosalescent
@saltedcaramelcupcakes
@seokbite
@ssbb-22
@tarathetic / @jungkoostar
@unknowncyn
@words-in-purple
@youthguk
@yufawnz
2. You will also find excerpts from writers here; some had already blocked me before I had the opportunity to reblog their work, while others have not and were included because their writing exhibits the characteristics discussed in the respective post.
3. Asks recommending potential ai writers are generally not answered directly and will instead be addressed through corresponding reblogs (please refer to 1. and 2.). I reserve the right to make exceptions.
4. I cannot and will not guide every individual through whether or why I consider someone an ai writer. My explanations and methodology can be found here. Please make use of them and feel free to draw your own conclusions.
5. When reading fics independently and/or consulting my recommendations, it is important to remember that it is not the use of these linguistic patterns in itself that is indicative (after all, as is often said, âai learns from human writingâ), but rather the frequency with which these recurring structures appear within a single chapter, one-shot, or throughout an entire series. This can serve as an almost perfect indicator of ai-generated writing and its highly standardized semantic patterns.
To put it as clearly and simply as possible: if a single word typically associated with ai or one isolated sentence appears in a large work with a high word count, it is very likely not ai-generated. E.g. if a fic exceeding 150k words and spanning multiple chapters contains only a handful of sentences resembling the examples shown in my post on ai elements, itâs probably not ai.Â
6. I am generally available for questions, including technical questions and discussion. However, I reserve the right not to respond immediately, particularly as I am not chronically online.
7. You can find answered asks here.
8. I do not support or promote ai in art and fics.
9. If anything is missing, feel free to let me know through an ask. Thank you.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
â Live Streamingâ Interactive Chatâ Private Showsâ HD Qualityâ Free Actions
Free to watch ⢠No registration required ⢠HD streaming
No, she is not one of us, and neither is dreamersparacosm (we have seen sheâs been accused of being one of us, so would like to confirm that she is not).
hii can you repost your usernames post but tagging these people just to its easier to block them?
if they aren't ashamed of their use of ai, they shouldn't be surprised that there's anti-ai people blocking them especially when they don't bother to disclose their use of ai in the first place
We have changed the post so they now have the @ and are tagged. Some of the authors have blocked us, therefore links to their account wonât work, and youâll have to search for them yourself.
this isn't even a hate blog lol you guys are doing too much and i'm sure some of the exposed writers are behind those anons
Exactly. We have not encouraged hate or harassment. That is other peopleâs choice.
We do think some of the authors weâve exposed are behind these asks. Some might even be from the same person. Seems like they donât want to believe or accept the fact that people outside of our group are actually sending us asks.
The other day u answered an ask saying if a story looks 30 percent ai you wont reblog it. You reblogged rosalecent and guksprincess tbh they stories dont sound very ai. it doesnt give off ai like the other people u reblogged
Guess we can identify ai better than you can. We stand by our decision.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
â Live Streamingâ Interactive Chatâ Private Showsâ HD Qualityâ Free Actions
Free to watch ⢠No registration required ⢠HD streaming
hey! So i have a question... what do u actually do if a fic gives off slight ai vibes, but ur not 100% sure? like would u still reblog it anyway?
âim asking because ive seen a few sus fics that honestly werent even bad, but also some of those "ai tells" people talk about are literally just how i normally write đ it's lowkey terrifying thinking someone might look at my fics and accuse me of using ai just because of my sentence flow or whatever. how do u draw the line when picking stuff to expose?
SUMMARY -> jungkook, a divorced single dad, falls for his daughterâs nanny.
TROPES -> she falls first he falls harder, yearning, age gap, angst, hurt comfort, absent mother, jungkook is a little pathetic
now playing: back to me - the marĂasË.ââŞ
SERIES MASTERLIST ⌠MAIN MASTERLIST
PREVIOUS CHAPTER ⌠NEXT CHAPTER
08: home
the front door clicked shut behind them.
silence settled over the house immediately.
it felt wrong.
too quiet.
jungkook stood in the foyer for a long moment, loosening his tie with one hand.
normally, arin would've been running through the hallway in her pajamas by now.
normally, you'd still be lingering by the door, reminding him not to forget the leftovers in the refrigerator or asking if he wanted coffee before you left.
instead, there was nothing.
just him and yoonseo.
she slipped off her heels without a word, setting them neatly beside the door like she'd never left this house in the first place. arin was at a friendâs house for her first ever sleepover.
"arin looked happy," she said.
jungkook only hummed.
"she always liked school plays."
another hum. he walked toward the kitchen without looking back. he needed water. he needed silence. he needed about a thousand miles between himself and this conversation.
behind him, he heard leather scrape. the sound of a purse opening. paper rustling.
his jaw tightened before he even turned around.
when he did, there it was.
a manila folder.
she set it neatly on the kitchen island.
"sign them."
he stared at it. didn't touch it. didn't even look down. instead, he looked at her. really looked at her. the expensive coat. perfect makeup. the detached expression she'd worn almost the entire afternoon.
his jaw flexed.
"...seriously?"
yoonseo folded her arms.
"i've been waiting two weeks."
"you've been hounding me for two weeks."
"same difference."
he let out a humorless laugh.
"you flew to america for paperwork?"
"i was already nearby."
"don't."
his voice came out flat.
"don't insult my intelligence."
she didn't answer.
because they both knew. she hadn't come for arin. she hadn't suddenly missed being a mother. she'd come because her lawyer told her an in-person visit would get the papers signed faster.
that realization settled into his chest like lead. he stared at the folder. then slowly looked back up at her.
"...you really used her."
yoonseo's expression barely changed.
"don't be dramatic."
"dramatic?"
he laughed once.
"you walked into that school today pretending to be mother of the year."
"i am her mother."
"biologically."
that finally earned him a reaction.
her eyes narrowed.
"careful."
"no."
he stepped closer.
"you be careful."
the kitchen suddenly felt much smaller.
he couldn't stop now.
months of resentment clawed their way to the surface.
"do you know what her favorite movie is?"
silence.
"do you know what stuffed animal she sleeps with?"
nothing.
"what teacher she has?"
"..."
"what size shoes she wears?"
she looked away.
he laughed bitterly.
"exactly."
"i've been busy."
"everyone is busy."
his voice rose despite himself.
"i'm busy."
he pointed toward the empty hallway.
"i'm the one getting her ready every morning."
another step.
"i'm the one packing lunches."
another.
"i'm the one sitting through parent-teacher conferences."
another.
"i'm the one holding her when she cries because she thinks her mom forgot her birthday."
yoonseo's expression hardened.
"i didn't forget."
"you called three days later."
"i was overseas."
"you have a phone."
silence.
the kind that only existed between people who had already run out of things worth saving.
she sighed.
"are you done?"
he stared at her.
"...that's all you have to say?"
"what do you want from me?"
she sounded tired. not guilty. tired. like this conversation was inconveniencing her. he shook his head slowly.
"nothing."
his voice dropped.
"i stopped expecting anything from you a long time ago."
something flickered across her face. gone almost immediately.
instead, she smiled.
small. sharp.
"interesting."
he frowned.
"what."
"you seem... emotional today."
he didn't answer. she leaned casually against the island.
"i wonder why."
his stomach tightened. he recognized that look. she wasn't finished. not even close.
"it couldn't possibly have anything to do with your nanny."
he looked at her evenly.
"leave her out of this."
"why?"
she tilted her head innocently.
"she's clearly become part of the household."
his jaw tightened.
"she works for me."
"mhm."
she nodded slowly.
"that's one word for it."
he felt irritation creep beneath his skin.
"say what you actually mean."
she smiled wider.
"she's sweet."
silence.
"very pretty."
he said nothing.
"very young."
still nothing.
"how old is she?"
"..."
"twenty?"
he didn't answer.
"twenty-one?"
his stare stayed fixed on her. she laughed quietly.
"god."
another shake of her head.
"she practically still looks like a student."
because she was. he hated that she'd even said it.
"she is a student," he replied coldly.
"exactly."
another smile.
"which makes all of this..."
she gestured vaguely.
"...interesting."
"there is no 'all of this.'"
"isn't there?"
she looked almost amused now.
"she looks at you like you've hung the moon."
his heart sank. he kept his face perfectly still.
"you're imagining things."
"am i?"
she folded her arms.
"she blushes every time you speak. she laughs too hard at your jokes. she watches you when she thinks you aren't looking."
he clenched his jaw. because she wasn't wrong. she noticed. of course she noticed.
yoonseo had always been frighteningly observant.
"she has a crush."
she shrugged.
"it's cute."
he didn't move.
didn't blink.
"she's young."
another shrug.
"girls that age get crushes."
his voice stayed calm.
"and?"
"and..."
she smiled again.
"...it's pathetic that you're entertaining it."
his head lifted.
slowly.
"watch yourself."
"why?"
"because you're talking about someone who has done nothing wrong."
"i didn't say she did."
she laughed lightly.
"i'm talking about you."
he felt something dangerous settle in his chest.
"she's kind."
"she's naĂŻve."
"she cares about arin."
"she cares about you."
he looked away. big mistake. yoonseo noticed immediately.
"...there it is."
his eyes snapped back to hers.
"what."
"that look."
she smiled knowingly.
"you're falling for her."
he scoffed.
"don't flatter yourself."
"i'm not."
she tilted her head.
"i'm observing."
he laughed once.
"you don't know anything."
"i know enough."
she walked around the island slowly.
"i watched you today."
he said nothing.
"you watched her every time she wasn't looking."
"..."
"you looked disappointed when she left."
"..."
"you called her a car."
"..."
"you've never called me a car."
he stared at her.
"you've never needed one."
"no."
she smiled.
"i suppose not."
silence.
"have you slept with her?"
everything stopped.
the air. the room. his heartbeat. he stared at her.
"...what."
"you heard me."
his voice came out dangerously quiet.
"don't."
"i'm asking."
"no."
"really?"
she sounded unconvinced.
"because she's certainly devoted enough."
his hands curled into fists.
"she comes running every time you call."
"stop."
"she cooks."
"stop."
"she practically plays houseâ"
"enough."
his voice cracked through the kitchen like thunder.
yoonseo fell silent.
his breathing had quickened. not because he'd been accused. because she'd dragged you into something filthy.
something you didn't deserve.
you.
who apologized when you stayed too late. who blushed when he complimented you. who worried over whether he'd eaten breakfast.
the thought of someone reducing your kindness to that made him sick.
"she is a genuine person."
every word came out clipped.
controlled.
"don't ever stand in my house and imply her kindness is motivated by anything else."
yoonseo watched him carefully. then smiled slowly.
"...you love her."
he laughed. a bitter, exhausted laugh.
"this conversation is over."
"you didn't deny it."
he grabbed the folder from the counter and shoved it back toward her hard enough that it slid across the marble.
"take your papers."
"jungkookâ"
"get out."
she blinked, "excuse me?"
"get. out.â his voice shook.
silence. for a long moment, neither of them moved. then yoonseo slowly picked up the folder.
"...you've changed."
he looked at her without emotion.
"no."
his voice was quiet now.
"i finally remembered that you donât get to run your mouth in my house anymore. leave."
for the first time all night, she didn't have a response. she simply stared at him. then turned, walked to the front door, opened it, and left.
âiâll email you the amendment again. donât ignore me.â
the house fell silent again. jungkook stood alone in the kitchen, his hands still shaking. he looked around the empty room. his eyes drifted toward the chair where you'd sat that morning. where you'd fussed over him for skipping breakfast. where you'd smiled so shyly when he'd called you sweet.
he closed his eyes. because somehow...the quiet felt even louder now.
the house had never felt this quiet.
jungkook stood in the kitchen for another minute after yoonseo left.
then another.
his eyes landed on the second coffee mug still sitting in the drying rack.
small.
white.
the one you'd somehow started reaching for every morning without thinking.
he stared at it.
"...fuck."
he rubbed both hands over his face.
he was exhausted.
emotionally wrung out.
the argument had drained whatever energy he had left.
all he wantedâ
was for you to walk through the front door.
he could picture it so easily.
your soft "i'm here."
the way you'd slip off your shoes.
the pink socks.
the cardigan that was always threatening to slide off one shoulder.
the way you'd ask if he'd eaten before you'd even asked how his day was.
his chest tightened.
he missed you.
the realization settled over him so suddenly he almost laughed.
you'd left barely three hours ago.
and he already missed you.
pathetic.
absolutely pathetic.
he wandered into the living room.
everything still carried traces of you.
one of arin's coloring books sat open on the coffee table.
you'd been helping her color two mornings ago.
there was still a tiny pink hair tie tucked beneath the couch.
he knew it wasn't arin's.
it was yours.
it must've fallen off your wrist.
before he could stop himself, he bent down and picked it up.
a simple elastic.
nothing special.
he rolled it between his fingers.
then realized what he was doing.
"...get a grip."
he set it back down immediately.
almost guiltily.
like someone had caught him.
he climbed the stairs instead.
his bedroom offered no relief.
he loosened his tie completely and let it fall over the chair.
changed into sweatpants.
washed his face.
none of it helped.
his mind kept wandering back to you.
the way you'd looked standing in his entryway today.
all dressed up.
you'd bought that dress.
he knew you had.
because he'd never seen it before.
and now...
he couldn't stop wondering why.
had you been excited?
had you smiled while getting ready?
had you spent extra time picking your earrings?
his stomach twisted.
you'd thought you were having dinner with him.
he hadn't even gotten the chance to explain.
the disappointment on your face when he'd quietly said they needed to leave...
it replayed over and over in his mind.
you'd hidden it well.
too well.
but he'd seen it.
because he'd been disappointed too.
he sank onto the edge of his bed.
forty-eight hours.
that's when you'd be back.
monday morning.
forty-eight hours suddenly sounded unbearable.
he'd gone entire business trips without thinking twice.
now two days felt impossibly long.
he leaned back against the headboard and reached for his phone before he could overthink it.
your conversation sat near the top.
his thumb hovered over the keyboard.
did you make it home?
too formal.
he erased it.
are you home safe?
deleted.
he sighed.
then typed the simplest thing he could think of.
did you make it home okay?
he looked at it for a second.
then hit send. seen by no one. he placed the phone beside him. she'll answer in a minute.
you always answered. you were probably changing into pajamas. washing your face. talking to your mom. he smiled faintly.
five minutes passed. nothing. he checked the screen again. still delivered. ten minutes. nothing.
he tossed the phone onto the bed.
don't be ridiculous.
she has a life.
she doesn't have to answer immediately.
fifteen minutes.
he picked it back up.
still nothing.
his chest began filling with a strange, unfamiliar uneasiness.
had you fallen asleep? were you on the phone? did your battery die? he frowned.
or...had he done something?
his thoughts immediately drifted back to the play.
the way you'd disappeared into the crowd.
the way you'd insisted on leaving early.
the way you'd smiled only with your mouth. not your eyes. he swallowed. you were upset.
he hadn't understood it then.
not completely.
but now...
looking back...
something had changed.
you'd seemed quieter.
careful.
almost distant.
his stomach sank.
had yoonseo said something?
had you overheard something?
had he missed something obvious?
he looked down at your unanswered message again.
his thumb hovered over the keyboard.
he wanted to text again.
did i do something?
are you okay?
i'm sorry about dinner.
instead, he locked his phone.
no.
he wasn't going to overwhelm you.
if you needed space, he'd give it to you.
he set the phone on the nightstand and lay back against his pillow.
the room was dark.
empty.
his eyes drifted toward the ceiling.
forty-eight hours.
he'd see you in forty-eight hours.
if he was lucky.
the weekend became the slowest thing he had ever endured. it shouldnât have.
he'd sat through sixteen-hour negotiations without checking the time once. he'd crossed oceans for investors. he'd survived weeks away from home. forty-eight hours should have been nothing.
instead, every hour seemed to stretch into three. he checked his phone more than he cared to admit.
saturday morning.
nothing.
saturday afternoon.
still nothing.
by saturday evening, he had convinced himself you were simply busy.
sunday came.
still no reply.
his message remained delivered. never opened. he stared at the screen for a long moment before locking it again. he wasn't entitled to your time. he knew that.
you didn't owe him an immediate response.
you didn't owe him any response.
still...he couldn't stop wondering.
had you changed your number?
no.
had your phone broken?
unlikely.
had he upset you?
that possibility refused to leave him alone.
he replayed friday over and over.
your smile at the beginning of the day. the excitement in your eyes. the pretty dress.
then, your smile after meeting yoonseo. smaller. careful.
your quiet voice during the drive. the way you'd disappeared into the crowd without saying anything. the way you'd insisted on leaving afterward.
how had he not noticed? he'd been so distracted by yoonseo. so busy trying to keep the peace. he hadn't noticed you slipping further and further away.
the realization sat heavily in his chest all weekend.
sunday night found him standing in arin's bedroom. she was already asleep after returning from her sleepover, sprawled dramatically across her bed with one stuffed bunny hanging halfway onto the floor.
he bent down, covering her properly with her blanket. his eyes drifted toward the little calendar hanging beside her desk.
monday.
you'd be here tomorrow. he smiled despite himself.
tomorrow.
he'd finally get to see you.
he'd apologize for dinner. he'd explain what happened. he'd tell youâ
his thoughts stopped there.
tell you what?
that yoonseo showing up had blindsided him? that dinner hadn't been canceled because he didn't want to go? that he'd actually been looking forward to spending that hour with you far more than he should have?
his ears warmed. no.
he couldn't say any of that. he sighed softly before switching off arin's bedroom light.
"tomorrow," he whispered.
he dreamed about you again. not the cottage this time. nothing elaborate.
just you sitting across from him at that little restaurant he'd mentioned over the phone.
laughing. talking.
asking him questions about work while stealing fries from his plate. every time he looked at you, you smiled. every time he smiled back, you smiled wider.
he woke before the food even arrived.
monday morning came entirely too early.
jungkook was already downstairs when the doorbell rang.
his heart reacted before the rest of him.
he opened the door almost immediately.
you stood there.
same canvas tote. same soft curls. same gentle smile.
but, something was different.
you looked up at him.
"good morning, mr. jeon,â you said politely, avoiding eye contact.
his smile faltered.
"...good morning."
there was no shy laugh. no warm conversation. you stepped politely around him.
"good morning, arin!"
your entire face lit up the moment arin came running down the stairs.
"pretty nanny!"
arin nearly tackled you.
you laughed, catching her effortlessly before spinning her once.
"i missed you."
"i missed you too!"
your voice was full of warmth. full of affection. exactly as it had always been.
you kissed the top of her head. fixed the crooked strap on her dress. asked about her sleepover. listened with complete attention as she launched into a five-minute explanation about pillow forts.
jungkook watched quietly from the kitchen. the difference became impossible to ignore.
with arin, you were yourself.
you barely looked his way.
every interaction was polite. professional. careful.
"would you like coffee, mr. jeon?"
"thank you."
"i'll leave it here."
"okay."
that was it.
no fussing over whether he'd eaten. no teasing him about living off caffeine. no quiet little smiles.
just...distance.
it hurt more than he expected.
far more.
he caught himself waiting for you to ask if he'd slept.
you didn't.
waiting for you to notice the dark circles beneath his eyes.
you didn't.
waiting for you to quietly slide breakfast in front of him anyway.
instead, you simply prepared arin's breakfast before cleaning up after her. professional. efficient. kind.
to everyone.
except there was now an invisible wall around him. one he had no idea how to climb.
work wasn't much better.
he reread the same contract three times without absorbing a single sentence.
"you've been staring at page four for fifteen minutes."
jungkook looked up.
beomgyu stood in the doorway holding a tablet.
"...have i?"
"yes."
he walked inside, setting several folders down.
"everything okay?"
"fine."
beomgyu gave him a look that clearly said i don't believe you.
before he could press further, another executive stepped into the conference room.
"good news."
jungkook looked up.
"the expansion was approved."
that got his attention.
"already?"
the executive nodded.
"we've officially outgrown this building."
jungkook leaned back slightly.
they'd known it was coming.
the company had doubled in size over the last year.
new hires.
new departments.
new investors.
they'd been squeezing people into conference rooms and temporary workstations for months.
"construction starts next week," the executive continued. "they're estimating twelve to fourteen weeks."
jungkook frowned.
"where's everyone working?"
"hybrid."
another folder slid across the table.
"executives will primarily work remotely."
"...from home."
"correct."
he blinked.
his home.
which meant...
his thoughts immediately drifted there.
you.
arin.
the kitchen.
breakfast.
the living room.
three months.
the executive kept talking.
"it'll save us leasing temporary office space."
jungkook barely heard him.
because another realization had already settled in.
arin was only four.
she couldn't quietly entertain herself all day while he worked.
you'd still need to be there.
which meant for the next several months all three of you would be under the same roof.
every day.
breakfast.
lunch.
afternoons.
evenings, sometimes.
the thought should have made him nervous.
instead, it was the first thing all morning that made him smile.
small.
hopeful.
because maybe, just maybe, being close to you again would give him a chance to figure out what had happened.
and maybe, if he was careful, he could find a way to make you smile at him the way you used to.
working from home sounded wonderful in theory.
in practice, it was torture.
jungkook's office had always been his escape.
structured.
quiet.
predictable.
home wasn't.
home smelled like pancakes in the morning.
home echoed with arin's laughter.
home had you.
he walked through the front door with his laptop bag over one shoulder just before eight.
you were already there.
of course you were.
you were kneeling beside arin in the living room, carefully helping her tape construction paper onto what looked like a cardboard castle.
"higher," arin instructed.
you obediently moved the paper up half an inch.
"here?"
"a little more."
you adjusted it again.
"perfect!"
you smiled so brightly at the praise that jungkook's chest tightened.
you looked up when you heard him.
your smile softened politely.
"good morning."
"morning."
there was a tiny pause.
"...your office is all set up."
he blinked.
"my office?"
you nodded.
"i dusted everything and moved the boxes out of the way so you'd have room."
his eyes drifted toward the hallway.
he hadn't asked you to do that.
"...thank you."
"of course."
just that.
no teasing.
no little lecture about remembering to eat.
no warm smile lingering for an extra second.
you simply looked back down at arin.
"okay," you said softly. "should we make the tower taller?"
"yes!"
jungkook stood there for another moment.
waiting.
for what, exactly, he wasn't sure.
you never looked back up.
his stomach sank.
he quietly disappeared into his office.
it wasn't until almost noon that he emerged again.
he'd spent nearly four hours pretending to work.
pretending being the important word.
he'd answered emails.
joined two meetings.
reviewed three contracts.
and somehow retained absolutely none of it.
because every few minutesâ
he heard your laugh from somewhere else in the house.
or arin shouting your name.
or both of you singing badly together.
it was impossible to concentrate.
he followed the sound into the kitchen.
you were standing at the stove in one of your oversized cardigans, stirring soup while arin sat at the island coloring.
neither of you noticed him immediately.
"does daddy like carrots?" arin asked.
"i think so."
"he picks them out."
you frowned dramatically.
"really?"
"mhm."
you looked thoughtfully into the pot.
"well..."
you fished out three carrot slices with a spoon.
"problem solved."
arin gasped.
"you're so smart."
"thank you."
"i'm smart too."
"you are."
"pretty too."
you smiled.
"the prettiest."
jungkook leaned quietly against the doorway.
his heart ached.
because this...
this was exactly how he'd imagined home sounding.
you finally noticed him.
your shoulders straightened automatically.
"lunch is almost ready."
professional.
again.
he nodded.
"smells good."
"thank you."
you returned to stirring.
he stayed where he was.
he didn't know why.
he just wanted to be near you.
after a moment, you reached carefully for a bowl on the highest shelf.
it sat just beyond your fingertips.
you stretched.
a little farther.
still couldn't reach.
before you could grab a chair, jungkook stepped beside you.
"here."
his arm lifted over your shoulder.
his chest brushed lightly against your back as he reached for the bowl.
you froze.
completely.
he noticed immediately.
"...sorry."
he stepped back, handing it to you.
your fingers brushed his.
tiny.
accidental.
your cheeks pinked almost instantly.
"thank you," you murmured.
you didn't meet his eyes.
instead, you busied yourself pouring soup into bowls.
jungkook watched you quietly.
"...that's a nice cardigan."
the compliment slipped out before he could stop it.
your hands stopped moving.
"what?"
"your cardigan."
he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"...it's cute."
you looked down at the pink knit fabric like you'd forgotten you were wearing it.
then...
very slowly...
your ears turned pink too.
"oh."
a tiny smile threatened to appear.
you caught it immediately.
pressed your lips together.
"thank you."
your voice came out so quiet he almost missed it.
you turned back toward the soup a little too quickly.
jungkook noticed you smiling to yourself anyway.
his own lips almost lifted.
almost.
arin looked between both of you suspiciously.
"your face is red."
your eyes widened.
"is it?"
arin nodded enthusiastically.
"really red."
you laughed nervously.
"it's hot in here."
jungkook glanced toward the thermostat.
it definitely wasn't.
arin accepted the explanation immediately.
"oh."
you looked relieved.
jungkook found it unbearably adorable.
the three of you ate lunch together.
or rather, arin talked enough for all three of you.
she explained her cardboard castle, her imaginary dragon, the unfairness of nap time, the fact that dinosaurs would probably enjoy grilled cheese.
you listened like every sentence deserved careful consideration.
asking questions.
encouraging her.
laughing in all the right places.
jungkook mostly watched.
every now and then, he'd look at you.
every single time, you were already looking away.
it wasn't obvious. most people wouldn't have noticed. he did. you never lingered. never held eye contact. never smiled directly at him anymore.
the warmth that used to belong to him had been packed away somewhere he couldn't reach.
it hurt.
more than it should have.
after lunch, you stood and began gathering bowls.
he reached for his automatically.
"leave mine."
you blinked.
"...i can wash it."
"i know."
he held the bowl a little closer to himself.
"i want to."
you hesitated.
then nodded once.
"okay."
you didn't argue.
that somehow felt worse.
before, you would've fussed.
told him to sit down.
told him he worked too hard. now, you simply accepted it. like there was a line you refused to cross anymore.
he washed his own bowl slowly.
listening to you and arin disappear into the backyard.
their laughter drifted through the open kitchen window.
he dried his hands.
looked outside.
you were helping arin blow bubbles across the grass.
the afternoon sun caught your hair.
you laughed as one landed on your nose.
arin laughed even harder.
you looked beautiful.
so heartbreakingly beautiful it almost made him angry.
because you were still exactly the same girl he'd fallen for.
kind.
gentle.
soft.
the only thing that had changed was the way you looked at him.
and jungkook had no idea how to fix it.
authorâs note:
even more angst!
i have so much more motivation after seeing how much you guys actually love this series! i thought that people liked my oneshots and didnât care for my girl but i was so wrong! thank you so much for showing this series love, itâs my babyđ¤
Itâs honestly hilarious that you created an entire hate blog, then sent yourself a bunch of anonymous questions. What a weird corner of Tumblr. Youâre really giving off âunhappy broken-home kidâ energy.
nothing is crazier then authors who (allegedly) use ai to offer memberships on ko-fi. itâs one thing to use ai and the other to put it on ko-fi because itâs only exclusively on there. itâs quite paradox to want money when ai writes your fics. đ
Well, in most cases, you can dispense with the word âallegedlyâ
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Free to watch ⢠No registration required ⢠HD streaming
Hi! I saw that you reblogged my story, so thank you for that. I wanted to reach out because several people suddenly started messaging me angrily after coming from your Tumblr.
I do use different platforms to help translate my writing so it doesnât sound too stiff, and sometimes I ask them to make the wording smoother. Iâve never denied using AI, because I do use it. Iâm not against AI, and I believe technology is meant to be used as a tool. In fact, using AI is also part of my work.
Most of my stories are originally written in my own language and in my own words, and I use these tools mainly for translation and editing. I hope this clears things up and answers your question. I just found it a little surprising that people suddenly came to my inbox angry after visiting your Tumblr, hehe.. have a great day!
Hi. We do not intend to address every point, but tags exist precisely to prevent readers from being misled about a workâs content.
97dollz definitely uses ai to write, they even use Ai pictures.
Just like how you're confident about judging everybody's works, i am also confident because I use ai and I know the repeated dialogues and basic lingo - they uses ai sentences like â
you want x? fine. but let's do it y way.
use of "messy rhythm", using rhythm a lot in every explicit scene
this is directly from their fic: ânot this one," taehyung hummed, trying to convince the young prince otherwise, "she looked so incredibly pure and innocent. the kind of innocence that makes you want to ruin it just to see what color her soul turns.... â using 'the kind of this' 'the kind of that'
their longer fics have more ai lingo than their drabbles because it's easy to not repeat the same sentences in drabbles.
I am sorry but i am not really against ai because millions of people do use it, it's inevitable honestly. But I see that your recommendations are not entirely true. I hope you're not actually biased because a lot of writers are getting bashed and harassed, no matter how much you say that's not what you're trying to do â you're still encouraging it, You know how this fandom is, they like the drama. They don't care about who uses ai. Im 1000% sure all the people who are telling you to check other writers - they use ai daily, they probably watch ai videos and whatnot.
There are so many other platforms like x, insta, tiktok, where ai receives millions likes, views, ... why aren't we talking about them? why aren't we calling them out?
This just looks like personal grudge against a few writers you hate. You're a group of people, right? Please don't take tumblr so seriously. You're doing nothing but spread hate.
Thank you for your (still snippy) response. Weâll take another look at their longer fics.
âKeep spreading hate like usualâ ⌠that anon be reaching because I have not once seen you guys tell people to go and attack writers. Thatâs other peopleâs own decision to be a bully and send hate to writers.
And funny that anon wants to discourage hate and yet they and their friends (or maybe theyâre all the same person??) are the ones sending you guys hate.
Quite the opposite. We are firmly opposed to harassment and hatred toward others. What a waste of energy, especially when there are far better things to devote it to.
I disagree with that anon who said some of those writers you recommended use ai. I re-read through their works and believe none of them use it. Thereâs not enough common ai features in a chapter or oneshot for it to be considered ai.
I remember you said you only reblog/post a fic when thereâs many ai traits within a chapter/oneshot, right?
Some of those authors do have some sentences that look familiar in ai use, but itâs not everywhere like in the fics youâve reblogged, and thatâs the difference.
Maybe that anon is biased themselves and doesnât like one of the authors you recommended đ
Keep up the good work!
It increasingly feels as though people are not actually reading what we write. There is little point in repeating the same explanation to those determined not to hear it. But yes, you are right!
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
â Live Streamingâ Interactive Chatâ Private Showsâ HD Qualityâ Free Actions
Free to watch ⢠No registration required ⢠HD streaming
This series is a Ko-fi Exclusive Membership story. Parts 1â2 will be posted on Tumblr, so you can read them first and decide whether this is a story youâd like to continue following. If youâd like to learn more about the Ko-fi Exclusive Membership, you can read about it here.
Summary: She was never supposed to fall for him. Just a quiet connection, something simpleâuntil he became the one she started waiting for. But loving him meant becoming the place he ran to⌠and the one he left behind. When she finally chooses herself and walks away, he realizes too lateâshe was never just an option. She was everything he needed. And this time, no matter how much it hurtsâ she wonât be the one who stays.
Status: Series | Series Masterlist
Pairing: Idol!Jungkook x Reader
Word Count: 4.1k~ | Full: 35.5k~
Genre: Idol!AU, Fluff, Smut, Angst
Rated: MDNI, 18+ đ
Tags: Older Reader, Strangers to Lovers, Exes to Lovers, Secret, Drama, Slice of Life, Slow Burn
Started: July 23, 2026
SCC: Ko-fi âď¸ Âˇ Taglist đ
The restaurant lights were warm, dim, just enough to make everyone look more relaxed than usual. You arrived with a friend from your cooking class, still carrying the scent of the kitchen that seemed to linger on your hands. The place belonged to one of your mutual friends, so the atmosphere felt more like a small gathering than a formal event.
You immediately spotted Kim Seok-jin at one of the tables. He waved as soon as he saw you.
âNoona,â he called lightly, his smile as alwaysâwarm, effortless.
You walked over, returning the smile, then sat down. âYou came too. Thought youâd be busy.â
âFor good food? Iâm always there,â he replied casually.
You let out a small laugh. As always, Jin was just like that. Famous or not, in your eyes he was still the sameâyour cooking class friend who liked to joke around and was secretly a perfectionist in the kitchen.
But that day, he didnât come alone. Beside him sat someone who caught your attention even before you could properly see his face. The way he sat was relaxed, but his aura⌠different. A little messy, a little cold, but impossible to ignore.
When he turned, your eyes met. And for the first time that night, you forgot how to breathe. Jeon Jungkook.
âThis is Jungkook,â Jin said casually. âKook, this is Y/N noona.â
His voice was low, soft, but there was something⌠heavy in it. You couldnât explain it, but you could feel it.
You nodded lightly. âHello.â
At first, everything felt normal. You ate, chatted lightly, talked about cooking class, ingredients, failed techniques, even joked about who made the biggest mess in the kitchen.
You stayed as you always wereânatural, not trying to attract anyoneâs attention. Even when others occasionally stole glances at Jin or Jungkook, you stayed focused on your food.
And that was exactly what made Jungkook notice you.
You didnât realize when he glanced at you several times. His gaze didnât linger long, but often enough to show that his attention had started to turn toward you.
Until finallyâ
âHyung,â Jungkook whispered softly to Jin, but close enough for you to hear. âWho is she?â
Jin glanced at you briefly, then smiled faintly, as if he already knew where this was going.
âThat noona? Sheâs good at cooking. And⌠different.â
âDifferent how?â
Jin just shrugged. âFind out for yourself.â
The sentence sounded light, but it was enough to change something. Not long after that, Jungkook started talking to you directly.
âNoona, what technique did you use for the sauce earlier?â
You turned, slightly surprised. âWhich one?â
âThe chicken. It tasted⌠different.â
You explained casually, without much flair. But Jungkook really listened. Not just small talkâhe focused, his eyes on you, occasionally nodding. And strangely⌠It felt comfortable.
At first, you thought it was just amusing. A younger guy curious about cooking. Nothing more. But Jungkook didnât stop there.
That night, he kept finding reasons to talk to you. About recipes, about class, about small things that didnât really matterâbut the way he said them made everything feel⌠meaningful.
And without realizing it, you started responding the same way. Not too much. Not too close. But not keeping your usual distance either. And that⌠was the beginning.
The days after that moved quickly. It started with chatting about recipes. Then longer conversations. Then meeting again, simple excuses like âwant to try a new dishâ or âjust passing by.â
Nothing was planned. Nothing was defined. But slowly, it became a habit.
You started to know him beyond just âJinâs friend.â Jungkook who was relaxed, sometimes quiet but suddenly talkative when the topic interested him. Jungkook who noticed small things without being asked. Jungkook who⌠always came back to you.
And youâwho never needed anyone, started waiting. Waiting for messages. Waiting for his name to appear on your screen. Waiting for small things you had never cared about before.
You never talked about the relationship. Never gave it a name. But the way he held your hand in the car, the way he called you ânoonaâ softly when it was just the two of you, the way he always looked for you first in a roomâŚ
That wasnât just friendship. And you⌠started opening your heart. Slowly, unconsciously.
Until one night. You were sitting together in your apartment. Nothing special. Just a simple dinner you cooked together.
Jungkook seemed quieter than usual.
You asked, âTired?â
He nodded. âA little.â
You didnât push. You just sat beside him, letting the silence stay calmâas usual. Until his phone vibrated.
Once. Twice. Again and again.
Jungkook immediately picked it up. Reflex. Too fast. And somehowâthat felt different. He didnât open the message in front of you. Instead, he shifted slightly away. Not far, but enough for you to noticeâa new distance forming between you.
âKook?â you called softly.
He turned quickly. âHm?â
âWho is that?â
âFriend,â he answered shortly.
Too short. And for the first time since you grew close⌠you didnât believe him.
A few minutes later, he stood up. âIâll go to the balcony for a bit.â
And he took his phone with him.
You stayed there. Alone. The warmth from earlier⌠slowly changed. Not shattered instantly. But something shifted. Something that made your chest feel uncomfortable.
When he came back, his expression had changed. Lighter. Even smiling. As if nothing happened. And thatâwas the most unsettling part.
In the following days, it started happening again. Sudden messages. Calls he wouldnât answer near you. Small steps away⌠that grew more noticeable over time. And you began to realizeâthis wasnât a coincidence.
Until finally, you couldnât pretend not to see it anymore.
âKook,â your voice was soft, but firm this time.
He turned. âWhat is it, noona?â
You looked at him for a long moment, trying to read something in his eyes.
âWho is she?â
Silence. And from the way he didnât answer immediatelyâyou already knew. The name hadnât been spoken. But the feeling had already fallen first. And for the first time since he entered your lifeâyou felt⌠you might have never truly had him.
. Ýâ âš . Ý âĄ Ý . âš â Ý.
After that night, you thought everything was over. And honestly⌠you were ready if it really had to end.
Not because you didnât care. But because from the beginning, you never truly expected anything from Jeon Jungkook. In your eyes, he was just a younger guy who happened to enter your life. First, you had long made peace with a life that was⌠calm.
Without drama.
Without dependency.
Without someone who could come in and mess it up.
But Jungkookâ entered without you realizing it.
The way he noticed small things. The way he made sure you ate. The way he listenedânot just heardâthe things that others would consider trivial.
You never asked for it. But he gave it. And without realizing⌠you got used to it. Started waiting. Started feeling like maybe⌠it was okay to open a little space. Just a little. But apparently, even a little was too much for someone like him.
The days after that night felt⌠empty. Not shattered. Just empty. You still woke up early. Still working. Still went to cooking class. Still smiled when needed. As if nothing had happened. Because you were used to not depending on anyone. Or at least⌠you thought so.
Until one afternoon. In the class kitchen.
âNoona.â
That voice.
You stopped. The knife in your hand hovered mid-air for a second. Your body recognized him⌠faster than your mind. And it was annoying.
You turned slowly. He was standing there. Jeon Jungkook. Looking⌠the same. Or maybe neater. Calmer. As if nothing had changed.
And thatâmade your chest feel strange.
âWhat are you doing here?â you asked flatly.
âIâm looking for you.â
You let out a small laugh. Without humor.
âWhat for?â
He stepped a little closer. Not too close.
âNoona, Iââ
âAre you still with her?â you cut him off.
Direct. No space.
Jungkook went silent. And that silence⌠was too familiar.
âKook,â you exhaled softly, âIâm tired of pretending I donât understand.â
âI didnât go back,â he said quickly. âItâs just⌠sheââ
âYou still answered her.â
He couldnât deny it. And you simply nodded. Confirming something you had already known from the start.
âWhy are you here?â you repeated.
This time, Jungkook looked⌠unsure.
âI miss you.â
Two simple words. Words that, before, might have melted you instantly. But nowâ
âYou miss me,â you repeated softly, âor you miss the calm feeling I gave you?â
He looked at you. Didnât answer. And that was enough.
You gave a small, tired smile.
âDo you know,â your voice stayed soft, but sharper, âfrom the beginning, I never saw you as a man.â
Jungkook frowned slightly.
âI saw you as a kid,â you continued honestly. âA younger brother. Someone who⌠maybe needed to be taken care of.â
Silence.
âThen whyâŚâ his voice was low, âdid you change, noona?â
You paused. Because that was a question you had asked yourself too.
âBecause of you,â you finally answered.
Simple. Honest. Painful.
âYou started everything.â
His eyes wavered.
âYou looked for me. You made me get used to it. You made me feel⌠noticed.â
Your breath hitched slightly.
âEven though I didnât need that.â
Silence.
âAnd when I finally⌠yeah, maybe softened a littleââ
You smiled bitterly.
âYou went back to the same place.â
Jungkook immediately shook his head. âI didnâtââ
âYou still answer her.â
Silence.
âYou still hide things from me.â
Silence again.
âYou still choose her.â
âNoona, I didnât chooseââ
âYou always choose her.â
Your voice rose slightly. Not angry. Just⌠broken. And Jungkook couldnât deny it. Because he knew it was true.
You looked at him for a long moment. âIâm not the person you need, Kook.â
He shook his head quickly, stepping closer. âNo. Noona, youââ
âIâm just someone you used to forget.â
The words came out softly. But like a knife. And this time, Jungkook had no answer at all.
A few days after that, you kept your distance. Completely. Not replying to messages. Not checking on him. Not going to places where he might be.
You went back to your old life. The calm one. The one that was never supposed to change. Or at least⌠you tried.
Until one nightâ you saw something you shouldnât have seen. A photo. On your friendâs phone.
âHey, isnât thisâŚâ your friend said casually.
And on the screenâJungkook. With a woman. Beautiful. Very beautiful. Confident smile, her arm wrapped easily around his.
Winter.
The caption was simple. As if nothing had happened. As if no one else had ever existed between them. As if⌠you had never existed.
Your friend kept talking. âThey say theyâre on-off, right? But they always go back to each other.â
You just nodded. Slowly. Inside, everything felt⌠like it was collapsing. Not loudly. Not dramatically. But quietly. And that hurt more.
You didnât cry there. You waited. Until you got home. Until you were alone. Thenâyour tears fell without being held back.
Not because you lost him. But because you finally realizedâ from the beginning, you never really had him. And the most painful part⌠you werenât angry at her. You didnât even care. You were only angry at one thingâ that someone like you⌠who didnât need anyone, who was already enough on your own⌠could end up like this. Because of one person. And worseâ that person didnât even choose you.
Days later, Jungkook tried contacting you again. Over and over.
âNoona, I can explain.â
âNoona, please answer.â
âNoonaâŚâ
You read everything. But didnât reply.
Because for the first timeâ you chose yourself. Even though it felt⌠more painful than choosing him.
. Ýâ âš . Ý âĄ Ý . âš â Ý.
The news appeared without warning. At first, just a small piece on your timeline. A glance. Easy to ignore if you wanted to.
But you couldnât.
Because that nameâ
Jeon Jungkook.
And another name beside it.
Winter.
At first, you tried not to care too much. Just read it quickly, then closed it again. Telling yourself it was just another rumor that would fade on its own.
But it didnât.
The longer it went on, the more there was.
Fragments of photos.
Peopleâs comments.
Speculation that started to feel⌠too real.
âBack together?â
âSeen going out together.â
âOn-off relationship confirmed?â
And the most painful partâ
wasnât the news.
It was the silence.
Usually, things like this get denied quickly. An agency like HYBE wouldnât let rumors grow too far.
But this timeâ there was no denial. No clarification. Nothing.
Empty.
And somehow⌠that made everything clearer.
You stared at your phone screen for a long time. Until finally, you let out a small laugh.
âSo stupid,â you muttered softly.
Not at him.
At yourself.
From the beginning, you already knew. You felt something was off. You saw the signs.
But stillâ you were the one who opened your heart.
And now, it felt like you were just⌠proving all your own fears right.
That it was never you. That from the start⌠he was never truly yours.
At cooking class, the atmosphere felt a little different. Not because others knew. But because one person who did⌠chose to stay quiet.
âNoona.â
You turned. Kim Seok-jin was standing behind you, his expression unlike usual.
You already knew where this was going.
âAre you⌠okay?â he asked carefully.
You gave a small smile. âDo I look like somethingâs wrong?â
Jin didnât answer right away. He knew you well enoughâif you smiled like that, it meant you were hiding something.
âKook asked about you,â he said softly. âA few times.â
You stayed silent.
âHe asked if youâd come or not. He⌠was looking for you.â
You nodded slightly. Not surprised.
âAnd?â you asked flatly.
Jin took a breath.
âNoona⌠heâsââ
âBack with her,â you cut him off.
Jin fell silent. And this timeâhis silence was different. Not denying. Not defending. Just⌠accepting.
âI thought at first he was just confused,â Jin continued quietly. âI told him⌠he needed to be clear with you.â
You looked at him.
âI even defended him, noona.â
You gave a faint smile.
âThatâs normal. Heâs your friend.â
âYeah,â Jin nodded. âButâŚâ
He paused.
âHeâs repeating the same thing.â
Silence.
âI already told him,â his voice was firmer now, âif he keeps doing this, heâll lose someone who⌠is actually the most sincere to him.â
Your chest tightened slightly.
âBut he stillâŚâ Jin shook his head slowly.
You didnât need him to finish the sentence. You already knew.
âItâs okay,â you said finally. âIt was never me.â
Jin looked at you for a long time. And for the first timeâhe didnât know what to say.
The days after that, you completely disappeared from Jungkookâs life.
You blocked his number.
All his social mediaâyou blocked.
Every message from a new numberâyou blocked again.
Without reading.
Without hesitation.
Without leaving any space.
Because you knew one thingâ if you gave even a little space, you would fall back to the same place. And you didnât want that. Not anymore.
A few timesâhe came to your apartment. You knew.
Because the intercom rang.
Because there were knocks on the door.
Because that voiceâ
âNoona⌠please open.â
A voice that once felt warm. Now felt⌠distant.
You stood behind the door. Silent. Not moving. Not answering. And that was probably one of the hardest things you had ever done. Because every part of you wanted to open it. But you didnât.
You let him stand outside. Until eventually⌠he left.
And it didnât happen once. Not twice. But many times. Until finallyâ there were no more knocks. No more voices. No more effort. And somehow⌠that was the most painful part. Because at that point, you realizedâ even to fight for you⌠he had a limit. And that limit⌠ran out faster than his feelings for someone else.
A few weeks later, everything became truly quiet.
No news.
No messages.
Nothing.
Except the occasional updatesâabout him. About them. About a relationship that always returned to the same place.
And you?
You returned to your life.
Cooking.
Working.
Smiling.
As if everything was fine.
But one thing had changedâ you became colder. Be more careful. More closed off. Not because you were weak. But because you already knew what it felt likeâ to give something sincere to the wrong person. And to watch them⌠go back to the one who hurt them, as if you were never enough.
That night, you sat alone in your kitchen. Tasting the dish you had just finished making. It tasted good. As usual. But somehowâ you felt nothing.
You stared blankly ahead. Then gave a small smile.
âI shouldâve just⌠kept seeing him as a kid from the beginning,â you whispered softly.
And for the first timeâ you truly regretted it. Not because you lost him. But because you onceâŚÂ saw him as something more.
. Ýâ âš . Ý âĄ Ý . âš â Ý.
Those days started to feel normal again. Or at least⌠they looked normal.
You woke up early, went to work, returned to a routine you had long known. You still attended cooking class. The kitchen remained the place that felt the most⌠stable. A place where everything could be controlled. Taste. Timing. Results. Not like feelings.
And strangelyâthis time, you were actually okay. Not the kind of âokayâ thatâs forced. Not the kind that only looks fine on the outside. But something that slowly⌠felt real. You werenât waiting anymore. Not checking your phone without reason. Not quietly hoping for something you already knew wouldnât come. And that⌠was relieving. A little.
At cooking class, everything felt familiar again. The smell of raw ingredients, the sound of pans, light conversations you didnât have to think too deeply about. And in the middle of all thatâ
âNoona.â
You turned.
Kim Seok-jin stood there, as usual, with his easy smile.
âYou came too.â
âYeah,â you answered lightly. âYou too.â
The conversation felt normal. Too normal. As if nothing had ever happened within your small circle.
You talked about new recipes, failed techniques, the small things that used to be safe topics. And for the first timeâthat name wasnât mentioned. Not by you. Not by Jin. And that⌠was intentional.
Jin could see it. The way you no longer searched. The way you no longer looked like you were âwaiting.â The way you spoke without the pauses that used to appear whenever that name was in your head. And that should have been a relief. It should have.
But on the other sideâthere was someone who was becoming even more restless.
Jeon Jungkook.
His life⌠seemed to return to where it used to be. Back to the old rhythm. Back to the same person.
Winter.
Like it always happened. Like a cycle that never really ended.
From the outside, everything looked like it was moving forward. They looked fine. Just like before.
Winter was still the sameâbeautiful, confident⌠but this time sharper. More calculated. She knew when to smile, when to stay quiet, and when to make someone feel guilty without raising her voice. She wasnât just âattractiveââshe knew how to hold someone. Slowly. Without making it obvious.
She never truly gave certainty. But she never truly left either. And Jungkook⌠was always stuck in between.
From the outside, they still looked normal. Sitting side by side. Talking as if nothing was wrong. But in realityâeverything moved according to Winterâs rhythm.
She controlled the distance.
She decided when Jungkook was allowed to feel close.
And when Jungkook started to pull awayâ
âOppa, are you even listening to me?â
Her voice sounded soft. But there was something behind it. Subtle pressure. As if Jungkook was the one at fault for not paying attention.
Winter didnât answer right away. She stayed silent for a moment. Letting the silence hang⌠long enough for Jungkook to feel uncomfortable.
âYouâre thinking about her again, arenât you?â
Direct. Without a name.
Jungkook went quiet. And thatâwas enough.
Winter smiled faintly. But it wasnât warm. More like⌠victorious.
âI figured,â she continued casually. âBecause every time youâre with me now⌠you feel so empty.â
The words were light. But clearly demeaning. As if his presence there meant nothing.
Jungkook took a slow breath. âMinjeongââ
âBut Iâm curious,â she cut him off quickly. âHow can you even think about someone like her?â
Silence. Her tone shifted slightly. Sharper. More honestâor at least sounding like it.
âI meanâŚâ she leaned back, looking him up and down, âare you serious?â
A faint smile.
âWhat is she, anyway?â
The sentence fell softly. But it was cruel.
Jungkook looked at her immediately. âDonât.â
âWhy?â Winter raised a brow. âAm I wrong?â
She leaned closer. Her voice dropped.
âSheâs so⌠average, oppa.â
One second. Two seconds. No one could stop that sentence.
âNot that pretty. Not interesting. Nothing about her makes people stay long.â
She paused. Then addedâsofter, sharper:
âAnd the funniest part⌠she wasnât even brave enough to hold onto you.â
Silence.
Jungkook clenched his jaw. âStop.â
But Winter wasnât done. She let out a small laugh.
âDo you know why you âmissâ her?â she asked lightly.
Jungkook didnât answer.
âBecause sheâs easy.â
Direct. No filter.
âShe doesnât demand anything. Not complicated. Always there. Always accepts you, no matter what you do.â
Winter stared at him sharply.
âPeople like that⌠donât mean anything.â
The sentence was intentional. To shrink your meaning in Jungkookâs eyes. To make everything you did⌠seem small.
Jungkook looked at her. âYou donât know her.â
âI donât need to,â Winter replied quickly. âI just need to look at you.â
She pointed lightly at his chest.
âYou go back to her whenever youâre tired. Not because sheâs specialââ
She paused. Then finished softly:
ââbut because sheâs easy to use when you want to run.â
Silence.
The words were cruel. And manipulative. Because she wasnât just insulting youâshe was twisting Jungkookâs feelings. Making him doubt: was it love⌠or just escape?
Jungkook shook his head slowly. âThatâs notââ
âWhat?â Winter cut in sharply, her voice rising slightly for the first time.
âYouâre going to say you love her?â
Her gaze was sharp. Challenging. Pushing.
Jungkook stayed silent.
And Winter caught that instantly. She laughed softly. Cynical.
âSee?â she said quietly. âEven youâre not sure.â
She stepped back, crossing her arms. The position had shifted now. She was above. Jungkook was cornered.
âYou just like the feeling of being âneededâ,â she continued. âAnd she just happens to be the easiest one to give that to you.â
She shook her head slowly.
âItâs not love, oppa. Donât be dramatic.â
Silence.
Jungkook finally spoke, his voice lower.
âI lost her.â
The words came out honestly.
And for the first timeâWinter paused. Just for a moment. Then she smiled again. Colder.
âLost?â she repeated softly.
She stepped closer. Very close.
âShe was never yours to begin with.â
Sharp. Without hesitation.
âYou were the one who left. You were the one who walked away. And now you want to call that âlosingâ?â
She shook her head.
âThatâs funny.â
Jungkook closed his eyes briefly. His breathing was heavy. And Winter⌠saw it. Saw him falter. And stepped in again.
âIf she really mattered,â she continued softly, âshe wouldâve held onto you.â
Silence.
âShe wouldâve gotten angry. Fought. Made you stay.â
She looked straight into his eyes.
âBut she didnât, right?â
Silence.
âBecause she knew she wasnât enough.â
That sentenceâcrushed everything. Not just you. But reality itself.
Jungkook opened his eyes. âThatâs enough, Minjeong.â
His voice was firmer now. But Winter made one last move. Her tone softened again. Almost like a victim.
âIâm just being honest,â she said quietly. âI just donât want you falling for someone who⌠canât even take care of you.â
Gaslighting again.
âI donât want to continue,â Jungkook said finally.
Winter went silent. For a while. Thenâ
âOkay.â
Too easy.
Jungkook was even slightly surprised.
Winter smiled. This time⌠warm. Fake.
âI wonât stop you.â
She looked at him gently.
âBut later⌠when you realize youâre wrongââ
She stopped. Let the sentence hang.
âYou know where to come back.â
Not hope. A quiet threat.
She planted one thing in Jungkookâs mind: if you leave, youâll still come back to me. And that⌠was the most manipulative way to keep someone tied.
Jungkook looked at her for a long moment. For a few secondsâhe almost hesitated. Almost.
But this timeâ
âNo.â
One word. Firm.
And for the first timeâWinter didnât have control. Her smile remained. But her eyes⌠cold.
âFine,â she said softly. âWeâll see.â
Not an ending. More like⌠a game not finished yet. But this timeâthere was no hesitation.
After that, there was truly nothing left. No messages. No replies. No effort. And for the first timeâ Jungkook was completely alone.
Part 2 â
â¨EARLY ACCESS⨠| You can read the next chapter ahead of everyone else on my Ko-fi âď¸
Author Notes: This is one of those stories that I keep rereading myself because itâs so angsty! You guys already know how much I love slow-burn and angst-filled stories, so thatâs exactly why I wrote this one. I really hope youâll enjoy it too. Please feel free to share your thoughts and feedback so I can continue improving as a writer. Thank you so much!
