#writtenbydesi

The shrill sound of an alarm echoed throughout the apartment.

Jungkook groaned quietly before reaching toward the nightstand, fumbling around until his hand finally found his phone.

7:32 A.M.

He silenced it before letting out another tired sigh.

"...Five more minutes."

Silence.

His eyes slowly opened.

There was no knocking.

No Namjoon.

No Jin yelling from the kitchen.

No Jimin complaining that breakfast was getting cold.

Just the faint hum of the refrigerator somewhere down the hall.

Jungkook slowly sat up, and for a moment - he almost forgot.

His room looked exactly the same.

The same desk sat beneath the window and the same bookshelf rested in the corner.

He looked to the side to see his graduation gown hung neatly beside the closet.

He quietly climbed out of bed, making his way over. 

The cap rested comfortably on top.

He picked it up, reading the small words,

Class of 2026.

Nothing more.

No drawings, no cap ideas, no inside jokes.

Just-

Class of 2026.

His thumb slowly traced the letters before placing it back exactly where he'd found it.

"...Right."

The word barely came out.

He quietly made his way toward the bedroom door before slowly opening it.

The hallway greeted him with complete silence.

He stood there for a second, listening. 

There was no laughter, no arguing, no smell of burnt toast.

Just silence.

He slowly stepped farther into the apartment.

Everything looked familiar, yet somehow nothing felt like home.

His eyes landed on another bedroom across the hallway.

One he didn't recognize.

The door stood halfway open as curiosity quietly pulled him forward.

Inside sat a simple computer desk pushed against the wall with a laptop, printer and a stack of textbooks.

A corkboard covered in class schedules; grocery lists and reminders hung right above. 

Graduation Ceremony.

10:00 A.M.

Student Union.

Jungkook quietly looked around the room before stepping back into the hallway.

He didn't need anyone to explain it anymore.

The procedure had worked.

He lived here.

Alone.

He slowly wandered toward the kitchen, the sound of the refrigerator getting closer.

Morning sunlight spilled across the countertops.

The sink held one plate and a coffee mug.

He opened the refrigerator to see left over Chinese food, half a carton of milk, orange juice and a pizza box that balanced awkwardly on the top shelf.

Nothing looked wrong.

It looked...

Normal.

He slowly closed the refrigerator before leaning both hands against the counter.

His head lowered, a shaky breath escaped him.

Then another.

Before he realized it, his vision blurred.

He covered his face with one hand as the tears quietly slipped through his fingers.

There wasn't anyone there to hear him.

Still, he tried to stay quiet.

After a long while, he wiped beneath his eyes before opening the refrigerator again.

He grabbed the orange juice, pouring himself a glass.

He smiled, just a little as the thought of Jimin came into mind.

"...You'd tell me I poured too much."

The smile slowly disappeared.

He quietly rinsed the glass before setting it inside the sink.

After drying off his hands, he takes one more look around the empty apartment before getting ready.

The walk toward campus felt different.

Nobody looked at him.

Nobody whispered.

Nobody pointed.

Nobody asked for a picture.

Nobody even glanced his way.

For the first time in years, Jungkook walked through the city completely unnoticed.

It should've felt freeing, but instead it only reminded him of what he'd given up.

His feet automatically slowed as he approached the familiar bus stop.

His eyes searched it before he could stop himself.

Empty.

No Rosie.

No notebook.

No strawberry soda.

Nothing.

He quietly looked away before continuing toward campus.

Graduates had already begun filling the sidewalks.

Families carried bouquets & friends stopped every few steps to take pictures together.

Laughter echoed all across campus.

Everyone seemed to belong somewhere.

Everyone except him.

His breathing slowly became uneven.

Too many people.

Too much noise.

He quietly slipped into one of the nearby academic buildings before leaning against the hallway wall.

He closed his eyes, taking in one slow breath.

Then another.

"...Get it together." He whispered to himself.

"...Sheesh."

A voice suddenly spoke up.

"You look like shit."

Jungkook looked over and standing a few feet away was a familiar girl adjusting the tassel on her graduation cap.

His eyes widened as he straightened himself.

"...Callie?"

She blinked for a second before letting out a small laugh.

"...Kind of weird that you know my name considering I've never seen you around before."

Jungkook immediately froze.

Right.

She wouldn't know him.

Not anymore.

He quickly rubbed the back of his neck before forcing out a small laugh.

"...Oh..."

"I think we have..."

He pauses, trying to think.

"...Like one class together."

Callie tilted her head.

"Hm."

She shrugged.

"Maybe."

She looked him up and down.

"So - is this graduation jitters or just a rough morning?"

Jungkook couldn't help but laugh.

"...Both."

That earned another laugh from her.

"Yeah..." She smiled kindly

"I figured."

"You have a name?"

Jungkook instinctively stepped forward, holding his hand out.

"I'm Ju—"

The word caught in his throat.

He froze before quietly correcting himself.

"...Peter."

Callie stared at him for a second before laughing.

"...Ju-Peter?"

He smiled awkwardly.

"Minus the "ju"." He corrects.

"So, just-" He sighs, cursing himself for the last-minute panic.

"Peter."

"Very American." Callie nods as another laugh escapes him.

"...New York." He shrugged, going along with the lie.

Callie just stands there, letting out a small scoff.

"Like Spider-Man?"

Jungkook laughed.

"...Uh..."

"Yeah." He nods. 

"Something like that."

"Well..." She adjusted the strap of her backpack.

"Whatever you're going through..." She pauses.

"I hope it all eases up soon."

Jungkook smiled.

"...Thanks."

She smiled back.

It was a small silence until she came in again.

"Hey, so my roommate and I are actually throwing a graduation party after we walk."

"You should come."

Jungkook blinked.

"...Really?"

"Yeah." She laughed.

"It's basically for everyone who finally made it out of this shithole."

That finally made him laugh.

"You look like you need a drink or two." She continues.

"...Yeah." He smiled.

"That actually sounds nice."

"Good." She held out her hand.

Jungkook frowned.

"...What?"

"Your phone." She laughed once more.

"I'll put my number in, so I could text you the address."

"...Oh."

He reached into his pocket before pulling it out.

The screen lit up.

A sunset.

Nothing else.

No Rosie.

No memories.

He unlocked it, quickly scrolling.

There were no unread messages, no familiar contacts.

Nothing.

He hesitated before handing it over. 

Callie raised an eyebrow but didn't question it.

She quickly typed in her number before sending herself a text.

"There." She smiled, handing it back.

"I'll see you on stage."

She began walking away before turning around one last time.

"It was nice meeting you, 'Just' Peter." She smiled.

Jungkook smiled back.

"...You too."

He continues to stay there as he watched her disappear into the crowd.

"My roommate..."

The words quietly replayed inside his head.

Not...

"My best friend."

His heart slowly sank.

Maybe Rosie didn't go here anymore.

Or maybe, their lives had changed so much - that they'd never met either.

A faculty member's voice echoed across the courtyard.

"Graduates, please begin lining up."

Jungkook quietly adjusted the tassel on his cap before stepping back outside.

Rows of students slowly merged together into one long line.

He found his place somewhere in the middle.

Then, almost instinctively- his eyes searched the audience.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Nothing.

No Rosie.

No BTS.

No familiar faces.

Just a bunch of strangers.

Jungkook stands there, trying to steady his breathing & staying strong.

He walks up to the panel as one of the facility staff asks how to pronounce his name.

He clears his throat, continuing with the small white lie.

"And you're positive you want to do this?" Namjoon asks, looking at the maknae.

"You do know it's gonna be hard to be- well; normal, right?"

Just as he was gonna respond, Jin had came in with a flick to his ear.

"You shouldn't scare him like that!" He exclaims.

"If he wants to do this, he can." He defends

"You can't just tell him not to go to school."

The two had pulled Jungkook aside to talk as all three of them were standing in front of the 'Dunkook University School Of Music' sign, and to be frank; It was more like two parents playing good cop - bad cop if anything.

"You guys have nothing to worry about." Jungkook reassures, looking at the hyungs about to rip each others faces off.

He had to admit- he always loved the care the other members give him; but sometimes being babied over a long period of time could be a little too overwhelming. He wanted to explore outside of his abilities and try his hardest to improve on his dancing, singing, and rapping skills not just for himself- but for the fans too.

And if going to school means he'd make that happen, then so be it.

He was ready for anything.

Namjoon looks over at the campus a few feet away from where they were standing before sighing and turning back to his friends.

"I just don't want you to be even more stressed out now that you're taking in classes." He explains.

"You already have a lot of weight on your shoulders and you're still too young to go through all of this."

"I chose this life, hyung." He reminds calmly.

"You have to remember I'm allowed to make my own decisions down the road." He looks at Namjoon's worried expression before leaning over and pulling him into a hug, in which Namjoon returns by resting his head on his shoulder in the process.

"We'll both be here to pick you up." Jin mentions after pulling him into a hug.

He rubs his hands together for a bit of warmth before talking again.

"I'm sorry again that the rest of the guys couldn't be here; It just would've been too obvious if all of us went."

Jungkook lets out a small laugh, reassuring that everything was okay.

"I'm only gonna be gone for a few hours." He points out.

"It's not like I'm enlisting into the army or anything."

"Might as well." Namjoon mumbles and Jin just flicks the back of his head, having Namjoon flinch in response.

Jungkook keeps his smile up, brushing aside the small bundle of nerves in him and pulling the both of them into one more hug before saying his last goodbye until they meet again.

"Oh wait!" Namjoon says just as he was gonna enter the vehicle.

He rushes back to Jungkook and hands him a face mask.

"Just in case." He breaths. "I mean, you never know when you're gonna need this."

Jungkook smiles down at the cloth in his hand before taking it.

"Hyung, I already have one-" He tries to explain and Namjoon sends one more smile his way, ignoring him and turning around, heading back into the car.

Jungkook shakes his head, waiting a little by standing on the pavement and watching the car drive until he could no longer see it.

Once he felt their presence disappear, he turns to face the school before him, sighing contently.

He began fixing the straps on his back pack before walking up to the building.

Entering, he notices rushing students passing by each other, some with instruments to their side or guitars attached to them, some with nothing but a hopeful look on their faces, but nevertheless; to Jungkook- they seemed like they knew what they were doing.

He couldn't lie at the thought of feeling out of placed. There were so many people there starting from scratch that he felt he was rather taking the easy way out.

But then again, everyone makes mistakes, and he's just as human as anyone else there.

He walks up to one of the kiosks, leaning over to get his schedule.

"Jeon Jungkook." He says, looking at the girl who was behind the table.

She looks over the papers in front of her, scrolling through each one individually. After finally finding his name, she holds the schedule up to hand to him, and meeting eyes.

Jungkook just sends a warm smile and her bored out expression from before soon turned into star struck. She opened her mouth, and Jungkook squints his face a little in hopes she wasn't gonna scream; but instead of waiting for her to fangirl, the boy takes the paper out of her grip.

"Thank you." He bows and exits quickly down the hall, leaving the girl speechless.

While walking around, he notices multiple stares from unfamiliar faces his way. The boy sighs, keeping his head down; taking the mask out of his pants pocket and wrapping it over his face.

He holds his back pack straps closer to him before looking down at his schedule at the first class of the day.

"Fourty-One B." He reads through the mask. 

He then looks up and around at the random numbered lettered rooms and it didn't take him long to realize;

he was on the wrong side of the building.

Jungkook sighs once more, looking at the time on his wrist watch.

"Fuck." He curses slightly, now rushing past everyone and passing the kiosk from before to walk to the other side.

After walking around for what felt like an eternity- Jungkook slowly began to feel himself give up. He then takes out a school map he had taken earlier from aside the girl and opens it up.

His eyes scan from left to right, trying to find his location when someone had bumped into him, making him drop the paper.

He leans down quickly to pick it up only to see a very scary looking dude in front of him afterwards. The guy just stares at him before laughing and shaking his head.

"Watch where you're going next time, yeah?" He warns, walking away and Jungkook did nothing but tighten his grip a little on his map, ignoring the negativity and continuing to mind his own business.

He was there to learn and improve, not get into fights with people who were probably having a poopy day.

Once he finally reached his classroom, the boy enters inside and has almost the entire class and even the teacher look at him.

His hands began to feel clammy and his heart began to beat fast.

Sure he's experienced having everyone look at him; but this felt incredibly different. He felt judged, and he hasn't even spoken one word yet.

"First day?" The teacher asks, and the boy nods in response, unable to speak.

The professor then smiles at the boy, stepping aside a little.

"In this class we show our faces rather than hide." He explains. "You have a name?"

Jungkook blinks a little before snapping back into the moment, rushing to take his mask off.

"Sorry, sir-" He apologizes, slowly unhooking the edges from his ears to reveal his full face.

"Jeon Jungkook." He introduces, bowing in a respective manner and trying his hardest to ignore the instant chatters and whispers that were now filling up the room.

He didn't dare to look at anyone but the teacher, standing up in a straight position.

The teacher just raises his eyebrows, slightly shocked at the idol and Jungkook smiles a little at that.

"I knew we were gonna have a famous presence at this school- I just didn't think I'd be the one to teach him." He laughs.

Jungkook just stays in his position, before the teacher head motions him towards the rest of the class.

"Take an empty seat anywhere."

Jungkook bows once more, now moving past the front row and up the stairs to the farthest cornered spot he could find. He sat down quickly, calming his speeding heart down by shaking his leg nervously and paying attention to the lesson.

The rest of the time in class was the longest time Jungkook's ever felt anxious.

It seemed as if the low talkings from other people were getting louder, and he could've sworn he saw someone even take a picture. He wanted to put his mask on so badly, but had to restrain himself from doing so to obey the rules from the teacher.

He just wished the time would go by faster, and when the bell rang to indicate class was finally over, Jungkook didn't hesitate to pack up his stuff and leave.

He lets out a few quick breaths before placing the now crumbled mask over his face again.

Running a hand through his hair, Jungkook takes out his headphones, plugging it into his phone and turning up the volume on whatever song was playing on shuffle.

He looks at the time on his wrist and sighs.

The day wasn't even close to ending.

He finds himself walking around in his own thoughts and staring at the art of music notes along the walls; admiring its beauty.

He slows down on his walking as he notices an open, empty music room filled with instruments.

Looking around the halls and stepping in, Jungkook takes off his mask and looks around in awe.

He smiles to himself as he lets his hand run across a big grand piano in the center of the room.

He steps in front of it, pressing a few keys before playing a small melody Namjoon had once taught him during one of their studio sessions.

Jungkook felt a little at ease as he plays the familiar song. It reminded him of the reason to why he was there in the first place and sort of gave him back that confidence boost to continue the day.

One melody turned into another and soon Jungkook found himself sitting down and playing one of BTS's famous songs - 'Butterfly.'

He hums along with the sound, mumbling the words even; when he was interrupted by a small cough.

Snapping back into reality, he lets out a frustrated sigh, angry at whoever ruined the moment.

"Can't a guy get some peace?" He almost yells, looking up from the instrument to see a girl standing awkwardly at the doorway.

He looks at her before noticing it was the same girl from the kiosk.

"Sorry-" She stutters

"I didn't mean..Sorry."

She steps closer into the room and Jungkook rolls his eyes.

Usually he would be polite and humble, but considering how everyone was treating him, he couldn't help but feel frustratingly overwhelmed.

"You said that already." He says bluntly, resting his hands on his lap and the girl continues to look at him with wide, apologetic eyes.

"Sorry-" She apologizes again.

"I, uh-" She stops a little before coming in again.

"Was that you? Playing?" She asks

"You're really good- It sounded different, coming from you." She says quietly and Jungkook continues to look at her before replying.

"Than my usual 'stupid cookie cutter pop star' stuff? Sorry to disappoint." He huffs, and the girl was quick to step in.

"You didn't!" She reminds before turning awkward again.

"I liked it." She nods

"I mean, it was good for 'stupid cookie cutter pop star' stuff." 

She sends him a warm smile and Jungkook couldn't help but send one in return. He felt his anger slowly dying down and now he just felt plain mean.

"Wow." He laughs.

"You sure know how to make a guy feel better." He comments and the girl just laughs along with before Jungkook moves aside on the chair, patting the seat next to him.

She looks at him with wide eyes again as Jungkook laughs once more.

"Come on." He pats

"I don't bite- I promise." He jokes a little, having the girl feel a bit at ease.

She just awkwardly makes her way to the piano and takes a seat next to him, tensing up a bit when she feels Jungkook move close to the point where their legs were touching.

She wanted to believe this was a dream, and that she wasn't sitting next to BTS's youngest member Jungkook; But she decided to scream and jump later when all of this is done.

She had noticed Jungkook's anxious behavior after their encounter at the kiosk, and after noticing what happened in the class they just so happened to be in together- she could only imagine the 'being left out' feeling he was going through.

So with that being said, she took it in her gut to maybe try and be friends with him;

She just didn't think it would turn out like this.

"What's your name?" He asks, looking over at her, and seeing his features and hearing his voice that close up almost made her faint.

He looked and sounded exactly like the pictures and videos- just in person and more clear.

She looks at him in his eyes, smiling nervously.

"Rosie." She introduces and Jungkook stays quiet, smiling in return.

He holds a hand out infront of her before introducing himself.

"Jungkook." He says and the girl just places her hand in his, shaking it gently; trying to push away the tingling feeling.

"I know." She blurts out before having her cheeks turn a bright pink.

"I mean- I know like- it's obvious, and I mean, who wouldn't know? You know?" 

She rushes through her explanation and Jungkook lets out a small laugh, sending chills down her spine.

"None of what you just said made any sense." He says and the girl lets out a nervous breath.

The two look at each other, and it looked like Jungkook was gonna make some sort of move, until they were both interrupted by the bell ringing throughout the halls.

Jungkook doesn't wait to stand up and grab his bag, wrapping both straps around his arms and placing his mask on.

He looks down at the girl, offering a hand to help her up, and it wasn't even a second later when she felt that tingling feeling again.

"Well, I should be going." She says, brushing herself off and Jungkook just stands close, nodding.

"If I'm late to class, professor would literally kill me." She laughs.

Jungkook looks at her, and she couldn't help but be even more attracted at how good he looked in a mask. It was like every Jungkook college AU coming to life.

"Before you get killed and all-" He eye smiles her way.

"Do you think you could show me to my other class? You seem to know more about this place than I do." He asks before cutting in again.

"I mean, if not- I have my map" He laughs "I just thought, it'd be easier to you know- have someone next to me."

The girl couldn't help but feel butterflies before saying "Yes" rather quickly, having Jungkook laugh once more.

She just laughs along, but her smile slowly fades when she realized something.

"Wouldn't people talk even more?" She questions

"I'm pretty sure everyone knows who you are behind that mask." She tried not to sound too rude and started to even regret what she had said as Jungkook stares at her quietly.

He thinks a little, sighing and nodding before taking out his spare mask.

"That's true." He agrees, offering it her way.

"So why don't we pretend they don't know together?" He asks, sending another eye smile through his mask and the girl looks down at the offering before grabbing it and wrapping it around her face.

"This is risky, no?" She asks and Jungkook shrugs.

"It's school." He says "They shouldn't expect me to not have any friends."

"What if we do get caught?" She then questions, feeling nervous herself. 

She looks up at the boy as they both stop in front of the door.

"Well then I guess it's just a risk I'm willing to take." He replies, looking down at her and the girl smiles to herself before following Jungkook's lead out into the halls.

----

Namjoon and Jin wait outside at the same spot before Namjoon claps his hands excitingly after seeing Jungkook walking towards them.

"How was it?" Jin asks, placing a hand on his shoulder and Namjoon pushes Jin off to have his turn by wrapping an arm around him. 

"Yeah," He says

"Was it how you pictured?"

Jungkook looks between the two elders and smiles to himself at the thought of the girl he had met.

"Yeah." The maknae nods, then looking up at Namjoon. He just stops the two before continuing.

if only you knew.

jeon jungkook × original female character

Jeon Jungkook wanted one thing the world could never give him: an ordinary life. Rosie never imagined falling in love with the most famous man on the planet. But fame has a way of taking everything it touches. When love becomes dangerous, Jungkook is left with an impossible choice: hold on to the person he loves... or let the entire world forget he ever existed. Sometimes the greatest act of love is letting yourself be forgotten.

genre: romance • angst • slow burn • idol au

status: completed

thank you for giving my story a chance. i can't wait to share this journey with you all. ♡

-----

🤍 If Only You Knew — Masterlist

Chapters

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen (Final Chapter)

-----

PART TWO OF THE SERIES:

🤍 What Comes After - Masterlist

The bell above the door chimed as another customer stepped into the ice cream shop, and Jungkook immediately looked up from the register with the same practiced smile he'd been wearing for the better part of the afternoon.

"Hi, welcome in."

He greeted the customer, ringing up their order before handing over their cup and quietly wishing them a good day as they walked back outside.

The shop had been relatively busy that afternoon, but Jungkook found himself distracted more often than usual. Every few minutes, his eyes would wander toward the front door before he'd catch himself and force his attention back toward whatever he was doing.

It had become a habit.

One Yoonhee had apparently noticed.

"You know," She said from behind the register, watching him with an amused expression

"If you keep staring at that door, you're going to burn a hole through it."

Jungkook looked over his shoulder, trying to hide the smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"I'm not staring at the door."

Yoonhee raised an eyebrow.

"You've looked at it at least six times."

"I was just checking."

"Checking for what?"

He shrugged, turning his attention back toward the counter as he picked up a cloth and began wiping a spot that had already been cleaned twice.

"Nothing."

Yoonhee let out a quiet laugh.

"Of course."

Jungkook smiled to himself, knowing exactly what she was implying.

He didn't bother arguing.

She'd known him long enough to know when he was lying.

The three girls who had become regulars at the shop were sitting at their usual table by the window. Two of them were quietly talking to each other, occasionally glancing toward the counter with amused smiles whenever Jungkook caught himself looking at the door again.

The third seemed completely uninterested in whatever they were talking about, eating her cookies and cream as if the entire world could disappear around her and she wouldn't notice.

Jungkook glanced toward the clock.

She should be coming soon.

He tried not to smile, but instantly failed.

Yoonhee noticed immediately.

"She'll be here."

Jungkook looked over at her.

"I know."

There was something about saying it out loud that made his chest feel lighter.

He knew she'd come.

And yet, somehow every time he waited for her, there was still that tiny part of him that felt like a teenager waiting to see her for the first time.

After everything they'd been through, he wasn't sure that feeling would ever go away.

And honestly, he didn't want it to.

The bell above the door chimed again, and this time Jungkook didn't even pretend he wasn't looking.

He turned toward the entrance almost immediately.

And there she was.

Rosie stepped inside, but unlike the last time she'd walked through those doors, she wasn't wearing the familiar ice cream shop apron.

Instead, she was dressed in a neatly tailored outfit, her work bag resting over one shoulder as she walked through the shop with a confidence that hadn't been there when she'd first started working with them.

Jungkook's eyes followed her instinctively.

A smile slowly spread across her face as she caught his gaze almost immediately.

"Hi."

Jungkook's own smile softened.

"Hey."

There was still something almost surreal about seeing her walk toward him.

No matter how many times he saw her, it always felt like the first.

The first time she'd smiled at him.

The first time she'd walked into that piano room.

The first time he'd realized that against everything he'd tried to convince himself of, he was falling in love with her all over again.

Except now, he didn't have to pretend.

Rosie walked toward the counter, setting her bag down before leaning against it.

"How's my favorite employee?"

Jungkook laughed quietly.

"Your favorite employee?"

"Mhm."

She nodded, smiling.

"Definitely."

"I'm actually doing much better now." Jungkook replies, letting out a quick laugh.

He stepped out from behind the counter and met her halfway, barely giving her enough time to say anything before leaning down and pressing a kiss to her lips.

Rosie laughed against him, her hands instinctively finding his arms before she pulled away.

"Jungkook."

He grinned.

"What?"

She glanced around the shop.

"You've got to stop doing that in public."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Doing what?"

"Kissing me whenever you feel like it."

She shook her head, trying not to laugh.

"Especially when you're working."

Jungkook glanced toward the register before waving a hand dismissively.

"Ah. What's she gonna do?"

He nodded toward Yoonhee.

"Fire me?"

A rag suddenly smacked him across the shoulder.

Jungkook jumped, turning around to find Yoonhee standing behind him with her arms crossed.

"Don't tempt me."

Rosie immediately burst into laughter.

Jungkook rubbed his shoulder, looking at Yoonhee with a dramatic frown.

"That actually hurt."

"Good."

Rosie was still laughing as she stepped around the counter and walked toward Yoonhee, opening her arms before pulling her into a hug.

"Hi."

Yoonhee's expression softened immediately as she hugged her back.

"There's my girl."

When they pulled apart, Yoonhee looked her over with an approving smile.

"And how is my favorite CEO doing?"

Rosie laughed.

"I'm not a CEO just yet."

"I know."

Yoonhee waved her off.

"But the more I say it, the more it's bound to come true."

Rosie shook her head, smiling.

"That's not how that works."

"Let an old woman dream."

She winked before turning back toward the register.

Rosie looked over at Jungkook, who was still watching her with that same soft smile.

"What?"

He shook his head.

"Nothing."

She narrowed her eyes playfully.

"You're staring again."

"I wasn't."

"You were."

Jungkook laughed, reaching for his apron strings.

"Is it your lunch already?"

Rosie glanced toward the clock and nodded.

"Yeah."

She picked up her bag again.

"Ready?"

Jungkook smiled.

"Always."

He untied his apron and hung it behind the counter before turning toward Yoonhee.

"Yoonhee, we're heading out now!"

Yoonhee waved a hand without looking up.

"Go already!"

Rosie laughed as she followed Jungkook toward the door.

The two stepped outside, leaving Yoonhee to watch them disappear down the sidewalk with a smile on her face.

Their first stop was the convenience store a few blocks away.

Neither of them had bothered to discuss where they were going.

They'd done this enough times that it had become routine.

Jungkook grabbed a sandwich from the refrigerator while Rosie wandered toward the drinks, eventually returning with two strawberry sodas in her hands.

She held one out toward him.

"I got yours."

He smiled as he took it.

"You know me too well."

"I'd hope so."

They paid and continued walking until the familiar trees of the park came into view.

Jungkook's pace naturally slowed.

There was something about this place that still carried a weight he couldn't quite explain.

It wasn't painful anymore.

Not in the way it once had been.

Now, it felt almost comforting.

Rosie walked toward the swings without saying anything, taking her usual place on the left.

Jungkook sat beside her, resting his sandwich in his lap as Rosie twisted the cap off her strawberry soda.

She took a long sip and smiled.

"I could never get tired of this."

Jungkook glanced over, taking a sip out of his.

"I know."

She smiled at him before taking another sip.

For a while, neither of them said anything.

The afternoon sun warmed the grass around them, and the sound of children playing somewhere in the distance filled the silence.

Everything felt normal.

Almost perfect.

Until Rosie finally looked over.

"What about the others?"

Jungkook's smile slowly faded.

He knew exactly what she meant.

He looked down at the sandwich in his hands, turning it over slightly as if suddenly finding the wrapper fascinating.

"The members."

He didn't answer immediately.

"I know you don't like talking about it." Rosie mentions, watching him.

Jungkook finally looked at her.

"But Jungkook..."

Her voice softened.

"They were a huge part of your life."

She paused.

"Way before me."

Jungkook looked back toward the trees.

"I know."

His voice was quiet as his thoughts began to get loud.

"I already went through hell trying to brush aside the fact that you might never remember me."

He let out a slow breath, his fingers tightening slightly around the sandwich.

"I can't go through the same thing with them. It'll hurt too much."

He took a bite of his sandwich, chewing for a moment before looking down again.

"What if the procedure only failed with you?"

Rosie stayed quiet.

"What if they're really gone, and they may actually never remember me?"

His voice cracked slightly.

"I don't want to get my hopes up."

He shook his head.

"I can't."

Rosie reached over and gently touched his arm.

"Baby."

Jungkook looked at her as she smiled softly.

"Slow down." She sighs, rubbing her hand up and down gently.

"I know you're scared."

He looked away before meeting eyes again as she continued.

"But you're not alone anymore."

For a moment, Jungkook didn't respond.

Those words had once been something he'd wished for without even realizing it.

Someone beside him.

Someone who wouldn't let him carry everything alone.

He finally looked at her again and let out a quiet sigh.

"Okay."

Rosie smiled.

"Okay?"

He nodded.

"Okay."

He leaned back against the swing.

"But even if we do try to find them..."

His eyebrows pulled together.

"How would we?"

Rosie thought for a moment, tapping her fingers lightly against her sandwich.

"You do realize Namjoon is literally just a phone call away, right? Him and Callie still live together. I could just call her and—"

"I don't want to take that risk."

The words came out quickly enough that Rosie stopped mid-sentence.

Jungkook kept his eyes on his sandwich, picking at the edge of the wrapper with his thumb as he tried to explain what he couldn't quite put into words.

"Especially with them." He added quietly. "I just... I don't know. Maybe this whole 'celebrity thing not existing anymore' is for the best."

Rosie's eyebrows pulled together.

"So what you're saying is, you don't want to talk to them because you think they'd be better off normal? You think they'd be better off not being noticed?"

Jungkook gave a small shrug, taking another bite of his sandwich as he stared ahead.

"Maybe."

Rosie studied him for a moment, her head slowly tilting to the side as that familiar knowing smile began to form.

"You do realize you're doing the thing again, right?"

Jungkook stopped chewing.

He turned toward her, already knowing exactly what she meant.

"What thing?"

"The thing where you decide what's best for someone without actually asking them what they want."

For a second, Jungkook just stared at her.

Then he looked away with a quiet sigh, because there really wasn't much he could say to that.

Rosie smiled to herself, watching him squirm.

"Are you going to keep using that against me?"

She laughed softly, nudging his shoulder with hers.

"If you do something as crazy as wiping out my entire memory of you again? Yeah. Absolutely."

Jungkook let out a laugh, shaking his head as he looked down at his sandwich.

"Okay, fair."

He took another bite before glancing back at her, his expression becoming more serious.

"But what if he's genuinely happy?"

"Namjoon?" Rosie asks

"Mhm."

Rosie shrugged, resting her elbows against her knees.

"He complains to me and Callie all the time about how he wishes he had a better job."

Jungkook's eyebrows lifted.

"Really?"

"Yeah." She smiled. "And, by the way, he does ask about you."

Jungkook's expression softened almost immediately.

"He does?"

Rosie nodded.

"Mhm. Both Callie and Namjoon have been dying to finally meet the amazing 'Peter' I've apparently been dating for a year."

Jungkook laughed under his breath.

"One year?"

"Well..." Rosie glanced at him, her smile turning playful. "That's what they think."

He shook his head, looking down for a moment before a small smile crept across his face.

"Best three..."

He paused, his eyes finding hers again.

"And what could've been four years of my life."

Rosie's expression softened.

"Yeah."

She leaned closer, her fingers brushing against his hand.

"Those too."

Before he could say anything else, she leaned over and kissed him.

Jungkook didn't hesitate.

His hand found hers as he kissed her back, the familiar warmth settling over him as he let himself forget, even if only for a moment, about everything waiting for them beyond the park.

When they finally pulled apart, Rosie stayed close, her forehead resting lightly against his.

"You know," She murmured "You don't have to be afraid of anything anymore."

Jungkook smiled faintly.

"I know."

"You have me now."

His fingers tightened gently around hers.

"I know."

"And I'm not going anywhere."

That made him laugh softly.

"You're really not letting me have the last word today, are you?"

"Nope."

She smiled.

"Definitely not."

Jungkook laughed again, shaking his head as he looked down at their intertwined hands.

For the first time since getting Rosie back, the thought of finding the others didn't feel quite as terrifying.

Maybe it was because she was sitting beside him.

Maybe it was because, unlike before, he wasn't going to make the decision for anyone else.

Whatever happened next, they'd face it together.

And for the first time, Jungkook wasn't trying to figure out how to live with what he'd lost.

He was finally figuring out what to do with what he'd gotten back.

The next morning, Jungkook stood behind the counter, staring at the clock for what felt like the hundredth time.

Rosie wasn't there.

He glanced toward the front door again, almost expecting the bell to chime.

Nothing.

He picked up the cloth beside the register and began wiping down the counter, even though he'd already cleaned it twice.

After a few seconds, he finally looked toward Yoonhee.

"Is it just us today?"

Yoonhee looked up from the register.

"For now." She shrugged.

"She said she'd come in later. Sounded like she had some things to take care of."

Jungkook nodded slowly.

"Oh."

He looked back toward the door.

"Right."

He tried to convince himself it wasn't bothering him.

Maybe she really did have something to take care of.

Maybe she'd just slept in.

Maybe—

She's probably figuring out how to quit.

His hand slowed against the counter.

After everything he'd told her last night, why would she even want to come back?

Why would she?

He'd finally told her the truth, only to remind her of everything he'd taken away from her.

Maybe she'd decided that Peter was someone she didn't want to know anymore.

Maybe she didn't want anything to do with Jungkook either.

He sighed quietly.

I put her through all of this just to end up hurting her again.

"So..."

The voice of Yoonhee snapped him out of his thoughts as she leaned against the counter.

"How did you do it?"

Jungkook blinked.

"Do what?"

Yoonhee raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, please." She gave him a knowing look.

"I'm old, not stupid- remember, Peter?" She laughs, slapping his shoulder.

Something about the way she said the name made his stomach twist.

Then her smile widened.

"Or should I say..."

She paused, tilting her head.

"Jungkook?"

The cloth slipped slightly from his hand as his eyes widened.

"What?"

Yoonhee laughed.

"How did you—"

He looked around the shop before lowering his voice.

"When?"

"Why?"

"How do you know my—"

"Slow down!" She waved him off, letting out another laugh.

"I've been alive for a long time."

She walked around the counter.

"And I have never met someone as afraid as you."

Jungkook's eyebrows pulled together.

"I'm not afraid."

Yoonhee gave him a look.

"You're right." She nods.

"You're terrified."

Jungkook opened his mouth to argue, but she continued.

"I noticed it the day you decided to play with your fate."

His expression changed.

"What do you mean?"

"I was on my way to get more inventory from another local parlor."

She folded her arms.

"And I noticed a very familiar face."

Jungkook stared at her as she smiles.

"You."

"I didn't think much of it." She shrugged.

"People come and go."

"But then I saw you again at the park."

Jungkook's breath caught as Yoonhee continued.

"You were with Rosie."

"And then I saw you again at a crosswalk."

Her expression remained.

"You were driving toward the clinic."

Jungkook just continued to remain quiet as a million thoughts were now rushing through his mind.

"Once?"

She held up one finger.

"Doesn't mean much."

"Twice?"

Another finger.

"Could be a coincidence."

Then she held up three.

"But three times?"

She laughed softly.

"That's when I started paying attention."

Jungkook didn't say anything.

"Korea is a big place." Yoonhee shrugged.

"If you see the same face consistently..."

She looked at him.

"Maybe you're meant to be in that person's life."

Something in Jungkook's chest loosened.

For the first time in years, someone was looking at him and seeing Jungkook.

Not Peter.

Not the person he'd pretended to be.

Not the celebrity he'd spent years trying to bury.

Him.

His eyes suddenly burned.

He quickly looked away, wiping beneath one eye with the back of his hand.

Yoonhee noticed but didn't comment.

Jungkook took a shaky breath.

"But the procedure..." His voice cracked.

Yoonhee sighed.

"It didn't work the way you thought."

Jungkook looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"I've done my fair share of research." She replies

"I couldn't find anything about the specific procedure you went through."

She pauses, glancing away- trying to remember.

"I'm not even sure that clinic is still there."

Jungkook's eyebrows furrowed.

"But it must've worked." His voice softened.

"She doesn't remember me."

Yoonhee shook her head.

"It's not that she doesn't remember you."

She looks at him.

"It's just..."

She paused.

"The memories are buried, not forgotten."

"What?" Jungkook scoffs, and before Yoonhee could explain, the bell above the front door chimed.

Both of them turned to see Rosie standing just inside the entrance.

Jungkook's heart immediately jumped into his throat.

She looked between them before smiling awkwardly.

"Oh..." She laughs lightly.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Yoonhee's expression immediately brightened.

"Oh, never, dear!" She waved Rosie over, immediately switching her energy.

"Come."

Rosie smiled and walked toward the counter.

Her eyes immediately found Jungkook.

"Can I talk to you?"

She hesitated.

"Peter?"

Jungkook glanced toward Yoonhee, who did nothing but simply motion toward the back door.

Jungkook sends her a smile, sending her a nod before turning back toward Rosie.

"Yeah."

The back of the shop was quiet.

Rosie stood a few feet away, her arms folded loosely across her chest.

Jungkook stayed where he was.

He didn't want to get too close.

Not after everything that happened.

Rosie looked down at the ground for a few seconds before meeting eyes.

"I've been having these weird dreams." She confesses.

Jungkook's eyebrows pulled together.

"What kind of dreams?"

"The park." She answers, now avoiding eye contact.

His heart skipped.

"The swings."

She rubbed her palms together.

"And sometimes I'll have like these weird flashbacks of places I've never been."

She gave a nervous laugh.

"At least, I don't think I've been there."

Jungkook remained quiet.

"At first, I thought it was just bad déjà vu from my childhood or something?"

She lets out a nervous breath, now meeting eyes.

She pauses.

"But then I started noticing something."

She steps forward.

"The feeling gets stronger whenever I'm around you."

Jungkook's chest tightened, feeling his heart beat fast.

"And after yesterday-" She took a slow breath.

"After stepping into your apartment-"

Her voice became quieter.

"I don't know how to explain it." She shakes her head.

"It just felt..."

She pauses again, trying to find the right word.

"Familiar."

Jungkook's heart began beating faster.

"Like I'd been there before." She continues. "And I knew where everything was."

She lets out another scoff.

"And I know that doesn't make any sense, but I know what I felt."

Jungkook took a small step closer as Rosie watches him.

"It scares me." She admits quietly.

She looked down again.

"It hurts me to know that I may never be able to know how I truly feel about you."

His heart sank.

"I wish you didn't go through with it."

She swallowed.

Jungkook nodded, keeping his eyes on her.

"Me too." He says, trying to catch her gaze.

"I'm sorry."

Rosie looked at him for a long moment before slowly nodding.

"Yeah."

The two stood in silence.

Neither seemed to know what to say next.

Then Rosie's eyes dropped toward his hand.

Jungkook noticed as she was the one to now step forward.

She hesitated before slowly reaching for his hand.

Jungkook watched them, unable to move.

He was almost afraid that if he did, he'd scare her away.

Her fingertips brushed against his palm.

His breath caught.

Slowly, he turned his hand over, happily letting her fingers slip into his.

The second their hands connected, something shifted across Rosie's face.

Her eyes widened.

She sucked in a sharp breath.

Jungkook immediately looked at her.

"Rosie?"

She pulled her hand away and Jungkook noticed her breathing had quickened.

She stared at him as if she were looking through him.

Like there was something behind his face she was trying desperately to reach.

"What did you see?"

Rosie shook her head.

"I..."

She looked down at her hand.

"I don't know."

Then she looked back at him.

Something had changed.

She stepped forward again.

Jungkook's heart pounded.

"Rosie..."

She stopped directly in front of him.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then she leaned forward, her lips meeting his.

Jungkook froze for only a second, when instinct took over.

His hand found her waist as he kissed her back.

Somehow it didn't feel like their first kiss.

It felt familiar.

Natural.

Like his body remembered something his mind as spent years mourning.

Rosie's fingers curled into the front of his shirt as Jungkook closed his eyes.

For a moment, there was no clinic.

No procedure.

No two years apart.

Just them.

When Rosie finally pulled away, she stared at him.

Her eyes widening again.

"Jungkook..." She breaths, quickly taking a step back.

He couldn't move.

He didn't know what was happening.

He was terrified that if he said anything, the moment would disappear.

Then Rosie's eyes filled with tears.

Jungkook's expression immediately changed.

"Rosie?"

She covered her mouth, a shaky laugh escaping her.

"Holy shit..."

Jungkook stepped closer.

"What?"

She looked at him.

"I remember."

His heart stopped.

"What?"

"I remember." She repeats, this time letting tears spill down her cheeks.

She laughed through them, shaking her head as memories seemed to crash into her all at once.

"School-"

Jungkook watched her, unable to hold in a watery smile.

"You..."

She looked at him like she couldn't believe he was standing there.

"Our late-night walks."

Another laugh escaped her.

"The stupid convenience store we used to go to because you were always hungry."

Jungkook's lips parted.

"And you would always say you weren't hungry!"

She wiped beneath her eyes.

"Then we'd get home and you'd eat half of whatever I brought."

Jungkook laughed, his own eyes filling.

"And the rain!" She looks up at the sky before back at him.

"That day we got caught walking home - and we were completely soaked."

"You kept blaming me because I didn't bring an umbrella." She nods and Jungkook shook his head, now laughing through the tears.

"You refused to bring one."

"Because I thought it wasn't going to rain!" Rosie exclaims.

"It was pouring." Jungkook sniffs, smiling.

"I know!" She laughed.

Then suddenly her expression changed again.

"The park."

Jungkook's smile softened.

"The swings."

She pressed both hands against her face.

"Oh my god."

She laughed, overwhelmed.

"Your apartment."

She looked toward the building.

"This place!" Her eyes widened.

"We used to come here for ice cream!" She lets out another breath.

"Holy shit and now we work here?"

She glances at the building, continuing.

"And we'd bring dessert back to your apartment, and Jin would be cooking dinner-"

She suddenly stopped as more memories continued to flow.

"Jin."

Jungkook's smile faded slightly.

"Wait." Rosie grabbed his arm.

"Where is he?"

"Is he okay?"

"Did they forget you too?"

Her words began tumbling over one another.

"Wait, did everyone forget you?"

"Did you really spend all this time alone?"

She shook her head, tears still falling.

"Jungkook, I—"

Jungkook pulled her into his arms, with Rosie immediately wrapping her arms around him, burying her face against his chest.

He held her tightly.

For years, he'd imagined what it would feel like to have her back in his arms.

He'd imagined it so many times that he'd stopped believing it could ever happen.

But now she was here.

Really here.

Remembering.

"It's okay." His voice shook, letting out a soft laugh.

"It's okay."

Rosie pulled back just enough to look at him.

Her cheeks were wet, but she was smiling.

"I remember everything."

Jungkook let out another laugh through his tears.

"I know."

She stared at him with a smile as her hand reached for his face.

"God, I missed you."

Jungkook's eyes filled again.

"I missed you too." He nods, still smiling.

Rosie leaned forward and kissed him again, and this time there was no hesitation.

She remembered exactly who he was.

And exactly who they were.

And finally, Jungkook wasn't Peter.

He wasn't a stranger.

He was Jungkook.

Jungkook stood frozen in the doorway, two water bottles still in his hands.

Rosie stood on the other side of the room, the letter hanging loosely between her fingers.

His letter.

The one he'd written two years ago and shoved into a drawer because he couldn't bring himself to throw it away.

He'd spent so long convincing himself that it didn't matter anymore.

That it was just a piece of paper.

A few words from a life that no longer existed.

But now Rosie was standing in front of him, reading every single one of them.

His heart hammered against his chest.

Her eyes slowly lifted from the page and met his.

"Who is Jeon Jungkook?"

Jungkook forgot how to breathe.

His mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Rosie's eyebrows pulled together as she looked between him and the letter.

"Peter?"

He swallowed.

"My cousin."

The lie slipped out before he could stop it.

Rosie blinked.

"Your cousin?"

"Mhm."

He nodded far too quickly.

"Yeah."

She looked back down at the letter.

"Then why do you have a letter from him?"

Jungkook shifted the water bottles between his hands.

"I just..."

His eyes darted toward the desk as his mind desperately searched for an explanation that didn't sound completely ridiculous.

"He recently moved."

Rosie waited.

"And we kind of..."

He sighs.

"...had a falling out."

"So he wanted to reconnect?" Rosie asks, not believing a word.

"Yeah." He nodded.

"Exactly."

For a brief second, he thought maybe he'd gotten away with it.

Then Rosie looked back down at the letter.

Her eyes moved slowly across the page.

"Then how does he know my favorite soda?"

Jungkook's stomach dropped as she lifted her eyes toward him.

The bottles in his hands crinkled beneath his grip.

Rosie's expression softened, but there was something unsettled behind her eyes now.

"Peter..."

She glanced around the room.

"I don't know what's going on here."

She held the paper a little tighter.

"But I think I deserve to know the truth."

Jungkook's chest tightened.

He could feel his heartbeat in his throat.

"Rosie, I—"

He stopped.

She had already said his name once.

Not Peter.

Jungkook.

And somehow, hearing it from her—even though she didn't know why she'd said it—felt like being punched straight through the chest.

"Jungkook..."

Her eyes stayed on him.

"Is that you?"

Jungkook froze.

"What?"

Rosie lifted the letter slightly.

"Is that you?"

"No."

The answer came out immediately.

Too immediately.

He saw the confusion in her face and instantly knew he'd made things worse.

"I mean—"

He shook his head.

"Rosie, I—"

"Peter." She cuts off, her voice quieter now.

She looked down at the page again.

"You both have the same handwriting."

Jungkook's eyes fell.

There was no point anymore.

She'd figured it out.

Rosie slowly lowered the letter.

"I don't know what kind of game this is-"

"It's not a game." Jungkook shakes his head.

"Then tell me the truth."

Her voice cracked slightly.

"Please."

That word hit him harder than anything else.

Jungkook slowly set the water bottles down on the desk.

The plastic made a soft sound against the wood.

He dragged both hands through his hair, pacing one step before stopping himself.

He'd imagined this moment so many times.

He'd thought about what he'd say.

How he'd explain everything.

How he'd tell her that he did it because he loved her.

How he'd tell her that he'd spent years missing her.

How he'd tell her that every day without her had felt wrong.

But standing there now, all he could think was—

She knows.

He looked back at her.

"Okay."

His voice was quiet.

"Okay, I'll tell you."

Rosie watched him carefully.

"Just..."

He let out a shaky laugh.

"Give me a second to figure out how to explain this without sounding completely insane."

She raised an eyebrow.

"You've already told me your 'cousin' wrote a letter about my favorite soda."

Jungkook winced.

"Yeah."

He nodded.

"Fair point."

For the smallest moment, the corner of her mouth twitched.

Then the seriousness returned.

Rosie slowly sat down in the chair beside the desk as Jungkook remained standing.

She waved toward the empty chair across from her.

"I'm waiting."

He exhaled through his nose before making his way over.

"Right."

He sat down.

His elbows rested against his knees as he takes a breath.

For several seconds, he just stared at the floor.

Then he finally looked up.

"My name is Jeon Jungkook."

Rosie remained quiet.

"I knew you before the graduation party."

Her expression changed slightly.

"Actually, we knew each other for a long time."

He swallowed.

He smiles before clearing his throat.

"We were together."

Rosie's eyebrows lifted.

"Together?"

Jungkook nodded.

"For two years."

The words seemed to hang between the two and Jungkook just watches her try to process everything.

"I know."

He gave a nervous little laugh.

"It's a lot."

Rosie didn't answer and Jungkook just looks down again.

"I tried to live without you."

He paused.

"I really did."

His fingers tightened together.

"I thought if I just stayed away from you, eventually you'd be okay."

He looked back at her.

"And you were."

A small, sad smile appeared.

"You looked happy." He says. "You had your own life, your own friends-"

He pauses.

"Your music."

He swallowed before continuing.

"And I thought..."

He shrugged.

"Okay, this is good."

"This is what I wanted."

His smile slowly disappeared.

"Except..."

A quiet laugh escaped him.

"Apparently I'm really bad at the whole moving-on thing."

Rosie watched him, unable to think.

Jungkook's eyes dropped to the floor before looking back up at her.

"I love you."

The words slipped out before he could think about them.

His shoulders relaxed slightly afterward, almost like he'd finally let go of something he'd been carrying too long.

He then stared down at his hands.

"I know that's probably a really weird thing to hear."

He laughed nervously.

"Especially because you met me as Peter and now I'm sitting here telling you that I'm actually some guy named Jungkook who apparently used to be your boyfriend."

He shook his head.

"Yeah."

"Not exactly the best first impression."

Rosie didn't laugh, having Jungkook's smile fade.

"But it's true." His voice softened.

"I still love you."

He looked up.

"I haven't stopped thinking about you since the day I lost you."

His eyes began to sting.

"And when I saw you again..."

He shook his head, a small smile finding its way back.

"I don't even know." He shrugs again.

"I wanted to tell you."

"I wanted to tell you so badly."

He looks up, now looking over at her, in which Rosie did nothing but glance back.

"But then I saw you smiling." He scoffs

"You were happy."

He sighs once more.

"I couldn't just take that away from you."

He looked at her.

"I felt like, maybe you deserved to live a life away from all of that."

Rosie's expression changed.

"And you think that was okay?"

Jungkook's smile disappeared.

"To erase everything I've known about you?"

Her voice trembled.

"How was that fair to me?"

Jungkook leaned forward.

"Rosie..."

He could feel his throat tightening.

"I know."

"I know it wasn't." He continues to look at her.

"But I couldn't live with myself knowing I was hurting you."

Rosie shook her head.

"That wasn't your choice to make."

Jungkook stopped.

His lips parted, but no words came.

He looked down at the floor.

There it was.

The one thing he had spent two years trying not to think about.

He'd called it love.

A sacrifice.

Protection.

Anything that made it easier to live with.

But underneath all of it was the truth.

He had made the decision for her.

Again.

"Yeah."

His voice was barely audible.

"I know."

He swallowed.

"I'm sorry."

He rubbed his hands over his face before letting them fall into his lap.

"I'm really sorry." He apologizes again.

"Minji said the procedure would erase everything with no speck of anyone remembering, so I didn't think-"

"Who's Minji?" Rosie interrupts and Jungkook lets out another breath.

His mind was so jumbled in the moment, he completely forgot key details.

Jungkook stopped before looking at her again.

"She was the head nurse at the clinic."

Rosie just stares at him for a few seconds.

"Peter..."

She looked down at the letter again.

Then back at him.

"Or..."

She shook her head.

"Jungkook."

She said his name slowly.

"I don't even know if any of this is real." She scoffs.

Jungkook shifted closer, lowering himself into the chair beside her.

"It is."

He turned toward her.

"One hundred percent."

His eyes held hers.

"Ask me anything."

His voice softened.

"Anything."

"I promise I'll tell you."

Rosie looked down at her hands, trying to calm her beating heart.

For several seconds, she didn't speak.

Then she finally looked over.

"Why did you do it?"

Jungkook took a slow breath.

"I was hurting you." He repeats, and Rosie immediately shook her head.

"I doubt that."

He blinked.

"You wouldn't even kill a spider that was in the garbage the other day, and you expect me to believe you did all of this because you were hurting me?"

Jungkook couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"That's not what I mean."

He looked down.

"My life was..."

He paused, searching for the right words.

"A lot."

"People were always watching." He sighs.

"Always."

"And eventually, people started associating you with me."

He shook his head.

"The way they talked about you, and the things they said."

His jaw tightened.

"I started feeling like you couldn't even be yourself anymore."

He looked at her.

"And I felt like..."

His voice softened.

"Maybe you lost yourself by being with me."

Rosie remained quiet.

"And that was the last thing I ever wanted."

He continued to look at her.

"I still don't want that."

Rosie just sits there, staring ahead and all Jungkook wanted to do was pull her into a hug and hold her.

"You got the job." He then admits, instantly catching Rosie's attention.

"What?"

"The job." Jungkook repeats.

"You ended up getting it."

The two meet eyes and at this point, Rosie couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"You turned it down." Jungkook continues.

Rosie's eyebrows furrowed.

"It was my fault." He admits.

"I reached out to someone I knew, and instead of trusting you, I ended up being selfish."

He rubbed his hands together as he continued.

"I thought that was it, but then it turns out-"

He pauses as the flashbacks replay in his mind.

"Uh, turns out that was just one of the many problems."

Rosie looked at him, eyebrows furrowed.

Jungkook took a breath.

"I saw everything." He says.

"The hate comments, the edits, the messages."

"You showed me all of it."

His eyes lowered.

"And I couldn't live with myself knowing you couldn't be fully yourself without people judging you."

"Rosie, these people didn't even know you."

Rosie stared at him, clearing her throat.

"But if you are..."

She hesitated.

"Or were..."

"This big celebrity..."

"Weren't you going through the same thing?"

Jungkook went still.

His eyes dropped.

For a moment, the room around him disappeared.

He could see that last day all over again.

Rosie's face.

The look in her eyes.

The things she'd said.

The things he'd wanted to say back.

The words he'd swallowed because he was too angry to understand what he was actually feeling.

He blinked slowly.

"I've dealt with it my whole life." He lets out a small breath, looking back at her.

"But..."

He paused.

"It was something I chose."

"You didn't get that choice."

His voice softened.

"Because of me."

Rosie's eyes filled with tears.

"So you made the decision for me?"

She looked down at the letter.

"To wipe out everything I've known about you?"

Jungkook's chest tightened.

He wanted to tell her why in a way that would make her understand.

But he'd already explained it.

And none of it changed the fact that she'd never asked him to save her.

He slowly nodded.

"Yeah."

"I did."

Rosie looked away.

Jungkook watched her fingers tighten around the letter.

Then she looked back at him.

"Did we love each other?"

The question caught him completely off guard.

His eyes lifted to hers.

The question was so simple, but it carried the weight of everything he'd lost.

A small smile slowly pulled at his lips.

"Yeah."

He looked down, blinking against the tears gathering in his eyes.

"We did."

A quiet laugh escaped him.

"God, Rosie..."

He shook his head.

"We loved each other so much."

His fingers rubbed nervously against his palm.

"You were my best friend and the number one person I told everything to."

"And then somehow..."

He looked at her.

"You became my person."

His smile trembled.

"I never stopped loving you."

This time Rosie's expression soften a bit, still trying to wrap her head around everything.

"I haven't known you for very long."

She paused, her fingers brushing over the edge of the letter.

"And I'm not saying I don't believe you."

Jungkook looked at her.

"Because I do."

For the briefest moment, hope flickered across his face.

Then she continued.

"But..."

That hope disappeared just as quickly.

"As far as I know..."

She swallowed.

"Jungkook..."

Her voice shook.

"I don't even know you."

Jungkook looks down for a second, feeling his entire heart break.

The words hurt.

But he couldn't argue against them, no matter how hard he wanted to.

"Yeah."

He nodded slowly, looking over at her.

"I know."

Rosie took a shaky breath.

"I'm sorry."

She looked at him.

"But I don't love you."

Jungkook went completely still.

For a moment, he didn't even blink.

He'd imagined this possibility.

He'd told himself that if Rosie ever found out, she might not feel the same.

He'd prepared for it.

At least, he thought he had.

But hearing the words from her mouth made something inside his chest cave in.

His eyes burned.

He looked away quickly, blinking hard.

He refused to let the tears fall in front of her.

Not because he was ashamed of them, but because he just didn't want her to feel responsible for them.

A small, broken laugh escaped him.

"Yeah."

He nodded.

"That's..."

He rubbed his palms against his jeans.

"That's fair."

His voice cracked slightly.

"I mean..."

He looked back at her, forcing the smallest smile he could manage.

Rosie's expression softened.

"Jungkook..."

He immediately shook his head.

"It's okay."

He gave her another small smile.

"It is."

He looked down.

"I'd rather you tell me the truth."

Rosie stared at him for a moment, when her eyes then fell towards the letter.

"I think..."

She took a breath.

"I think I should go."

Jungkook immediately stood.

He stepped aside, giving her enough room to pass.

"Yeah."

He nodded.

"Of course."

Rosie slowly gathered her bag from the chair.

Jungkook watched her, every part of him screaming at him to say something.

Don't go.

Please.

Just stay.

But he stayed quiet.

He'd already taken one choice away from her.

He wasn't going to do it again.

Rosie reached the door.

Her hand rested on the doorknob, and for a second, she didn't move.

Jungkook's eyes stayed fixed on her.

He wanted to say her name.

He wanted to tell her he was sorry.

He wanted to tell her that if she ever wanted to come back, he'd still be here.

But instead, all he managed was—

"Rosie?"

She turned.

Jungkook stood there, his eyes red and his smile barely holding together.

"I meant it." He nods.

"All of it."

Rosie stared at him for a long moment before giving him the smallest nod.

"I know."

She sends him one more small smile before opening the door, leaving completely.

Jungkook remained standing there as the door slowly swung shut behind her.

The silence that followed was almost unbearable.

His eyes fell toward the desk.

The two water bottles he'd brought in were still sitting exactly where he'd left them.

He stared at them for a few seconds before slowly lowering himself back into the chair.

His elbows rested against his knees, covering his face with both hands.

For years, he'd convinced himself that losing Rosie was the price of giving her a better life.

He'd told himself that if she was happy, he could live with the pain.

But now, she knew.

She knew who he was.

She knew that he loved her.

She knew that they'd once loved each other.

And she still chose to walk away.

Jungkook slowly lowered his hands.

A few days had passed since Jungkook found the letter.

He hadn't touched it again.

It remained tucked away in the drawer beside his desk, hidden beneath a few old notebooks and receipts.

Out of sight, out of mind.

At least, that's what he told himself.

The afternoon at the dessert shop had been unusually quiet.

Yoonhee was somewhere in the back, organizing inventory, leaving Jungkook alone behind the counter.

He wiped down the glass display before glancing at the clock.

4:17 P.M.

He sighed.

Only a couple more hours.

The bell above the front door suddenly chimed, catching Jungkook's attention.

He looked up and couldn't help but smile when he saw Rosie standing just inside the entrance.

"Hi." She waves, smiling back.

Jungkook leaned against the counter.

"Isn't it your day off?"

"Mhm." She nodded, slowly making her way toward him.

She stands there for a second before leaning against the counter as well.

Jungkook swallowed.

He had to use every ounce of self-control he had not to reach across the counter and pull her into his arms.

Instead, he smiled.

"So, what are you doing here?"

Rosie smiled.

"I'm coming to pick you up."

Jungkook blinked.

"...What?"

"I'll explain everything in the car." She replies, now standing straight.

He glanced toward the back.

"I'm literally on the clock." He laughs, now looking at her.

"I can't just leave."

Before Rosie could answer, Yoonhee appeared from the back.

"Oh, just go already."

Jungkook turned towards the small woman.

"But you need help—" He tries to get out, when Yoonhee just scoffs.

"I've held this fort down for the past forty years." She playfully slaps his shoulder.

"You think I can't handle one more day?"

Jungkook looked between them as Rosie just shrugs.

"Go. Both of you." Yoonhee continues, waving them off.

"Enjoy the rest of your day." 

Jungkook looks back over at Rosie for another second before laughing.

"Fine, but you owe me two more hours of work." He teases, untying his apron.

Rosie rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, we'll just ask Yoonhee to take it out of my paycheck."

Yoonhee laughed.

"Now get out of here."

The three shared one more laugh as they headed for the exit.

They made their way outside and towards Rosie's car, but before he could reach the handle, she stopped.

"Actually..." Rosie interrupts, catching his attention.

"Do you think we could walk instead?" She asks and Jungkook just raises an eyebrow.

"I just thought of a better idea." She continues, smiling.

Jungkook just looks at her before smiling back.

"Okay."

And just like that, they started walking - with neither of them really knowing where they were going.

At first, it was just small talk.

Then teasing.

Then somehow, they were laughing so hard that Jungkook had to stop walking for a second.

"You did not just say that." Rosie laughed.

"I absolutely did."

"That's terrible."

"It's true!"

Jungkook shook his head.

"You're ridiculous."

"And yet you agreed to come with me." She teases, smiling up at him and Jungkook couldn't help but let out a nervous breath.

"Against my better judgment."

She smiled.

"Sure."

He laughed.

For a moment, Jungkook forgot.

Forgot that she didn't remember him.

Forgot that their lives had once been completely different.

Forgot about the procedure.

The letter.

The sacrifice.

For the first time in a long time, he was simply walking beside Rosie.

And he was happy.

It wasn't until they turned the corner that Jungkook realized where they were.

His smile slowly disappeared as they stopped in front of the park.

His heart dropped, looking ahead at the familiar trees.

Everything was the same.

From the walking path to the same playground in the distance. 

Rosie slowed down, oblivious to Jungkooks state.

She began looking around, and Jungkook even noticed her expression change.

It was as if she was searching for something.

Jungkook quietly followed but suddenly stopped when she saw her heading for the swings.

The two empty seats swayed gently in the breeze.

Rosie smiled, making her way over towards the left swing.

Jungkook stared.

Of course.

She sat down, swinging for a bit before looking over at him.

"Well?"

She motioned toward the empty swing.

"Come on."

Jungkook hesitated before slowly sitting down beside her.

For a few minutes, neither of them spoke.

The swings moved gently beneath them as Rosie stared ahead.

"I entered the raffle." She then admits quietly, breaking the silence.

Jungkook immediately looked over.

"You did?"

She smiled.

"Yeah."

He couldn't help but smile.

"That's amazing."

She nodded.

"But..." She pauses, glancing at him.

"That's not all."

Jungkook waited.

"I landed one of the interviews." She continues.

His eyes widened.

For a second, he couldn't speak.

Then a shaky laugh escaped him.

"Rosie..."

He smiled.

"That's so amazing."

"I'm so proud of you."

Her smile grew.

"Well, I couldn't have done it without you." She hums and Jungkook immediately shook his head.

"I'm sure you could have." He replies.

"No." She laughed softly.

"I probably wouldn't have had the guts if it weren't for you."

She nudged his shoulder.

"And your wise words of wisdom."

Jungkook laughed.

"I don't think I said anything that wise."

"You did." She smiled.

"And it worked."

Jungkook looked ahead, trying to contain his happiness.

His heart felt full.

This was everything he'd wanted.

Rosie was chasing her dream.

She was becoming the person she was always supposed to be.

And somehow, he'd gotten to help her the right way.

Right?

Maybe the choice he'd made had been worth it.

"I'm glad I was able to help." He nods, holding back a tear

Rosie sent a gentle smile back.

"Thank you."

Silence settled between them again, when Jungkook looked over again.

"So, what made you choose the park?"

Rosie laughed nervously before replying.

"This is going to sound weird." She says 

"I'm listening." Jungkook smiles and Rosie just scoffs.

"I saw it in a dream." She confesses 

Jungkook's eyebrows furrowed.

"A dream?"

"Yeah."

She looked around.

"I don't know."

"It just..."

She shrugged.

"Felt familiar."

Jungkook stared at her.

For a second, something inside him went completely still.

"That's..."

He paused.

"...weird."

Rosie laughed.

"Right?"

"I didn't think this place was real."

Jungkook looked at the swings.

He knew better.

But he smiled anyway.

"Maybe your brain just has good taste."

Rosie laughed.

"Maybe."

She turned toward him.

"Okay."

"Your turn."

Jungkook blinked.

"Huh?"

"You motivated me to enter the raffle."

She smiled.

"Now I want to return the favor."

She leaned forward.

"Your music."

Jungkook immediately knew where this was going.

"Do you have more?"

He laughed awkwardly.

"Uh..."

"Yeah."

"At my house."

Rosie stood.

"Okay."

"Come on."

Jungkook stared at her.

"...Come on where?"

"You're going to show me the rest of your music." She crossed her arms.

"And we're going to brainstorm ways to get it out there."

He laughed.

"You serious?"

She stared at him, eyebrows furrowed. 

"You think I'm joking?"

"N-no."

"Of course not." Jungkook lets out another laugh, shaking his head.

She smiled.

"Good."

She started walking.

"We can even stop for pizza on the way."

Jungkook just smiles at her before getting off the swing.

"My treat." She looked back.

"Think of it as a thank you."

Jungkook shook his head.

"You're really persistent."

"I know." Rosie shrugs, smiling.

He lets out a small breath before following.

By the time they reached his apartment, Rosie was carrying the pizza while Jungkook held the drinks.

He unlocked the door and Rosie couldn't help but tilt her head, like she was confused.

She quickly brushes it off, following him.

"My studio is the room next to mine, down the hall." He mentions as they both step inside.

"If you want to get a head start, I'll grab some plates and napkins."

Rosie nodded, smiling. 

"Okay."

She walked down the hallway as Jungkook disappears into the kitchen.

Rosie took a few more steps before stopping.

Her eyes slowly moved across the hallway.

Something felt...

Familiar.

She frowned.

She didn't know why.

She'd never been here before.

At least, she didn't think she had.

There was no way.

She continued walking, only to have the feeling grow stronger.

She then found the room she was looking for before entering.

She smiled as she admired everything. It was filled with music.

Sheets of paper covered the desk, notes, lyrics, half-finished compositions.

Her eyes wandered towards his open laptop, a document still pulled up on the screen.

Rosie smiled as she slowly walked further inside.

She then notices a whiteboard just right next to his corkboard.

A small smile formed.

"Oh my god."

She laughed quietly.

"I have to leave him a note."

She looked around for a marker.

Nothing.

She checked the desk.

Still nothing.

She frowned.

"Peter?"

From the kitchen, Jungkook called back.

"Yeah?"

"Do you have a marker?"

"Yeah."

"It's probably in one of the drawers." His voice muffles.

"You can look."

"Okay!" Rosie smiles before excitingly reaching for one of his drawers. 

Nothing.

She checked another.

Still nothing.

She sighs, continuing to look when her fingers brushed against something folded.

She pulled it out to see an envelope, and for some reason - she had a strong urge to open it.

Her eyebrows furrowed as she slowly took it out and unfolded the piece of paper.

"What the hell...?"

Her eyes moved across the page as she continues to read it.

Her breathing changed and something inside her chest tightened the more she read.

The words felt strangely familiar.

Not because she'd seen them before.

But because they felt like they belonged to her.

Her heart began beating faster as her fingers trembled around the paper.

Suddenly, that same feeling from the hallway returned.

Except this time, it was stronger.

Like something buried deep inside her was desperately trying to surface.

Rosie stared at the signature at the bottom.

Jeon, Jungkook.

Her eyes widened.

"Jungkook...?"

The name felt foreign.

And yet, somehow - it didn't.

Footsteps approached from behind.

"Alright." 

Jungkook walked into the room carrying two water bottles.

"I know you were set on soda, but I figured water would be better from all that grease from the pizza-" 

He stopped mid explanation.

One Month Later

The little dessert shop had slowly started to feel different.

Like somehow, it felt brighter. 

Jungkook couldn't quite explain it, but then again something was telling him it had everything to do with Rosie.

She knew which scoop belonged to which flavor, which customers wanted extra toppings- and even the names of the kids who would change their mind three times before finally ordering.

There was even a point in time where she corrected Jungkook for putting something back in the wrong place.

"Peter." She smiles, watching him.

"Hm?" 

"The napkins go over here."

Jungkook looked over, genuinely confused. 

"Since when?"

Rosie laughed.

"Since forever."

"They were literally over there yesterday." Jungkook gets out, having Rosie let out another laugh.

"Because you put them there." She replies

Jungkook just stares at her for a second before realizing.

"...Oh."

She shook her head, laughing as she moved the stack herself.

"You're lucky you're cute." She nudges against him lightly before walking away.

Jungkook froze as she didn't seem to realize what she'd just said.

He continued to watch her, smiling to himself. 

It wasn't until a few seconds later where a quiet laugh came from behind the register.

He glances over to see Yoonhee smiling. 

The two just smile at each other as Jungkook waves a hand before returning to his work.

Somewhere along the way, Jungkook had started looking forward to coming into work.

And on time too.

It was because Rosie would be there.

And he knew that was probably dangerous.

Because this was possibly the closest, he'd ever get to her again. 

So, he let himself enjoy it.

The little conversations.

The jokes.

The way she hummed while cleaning.

The way she'd sneak little tastes of whatever new flavor they were testing.

The way she'd laugh whenever he teased her.

Sometimes, he'd catch himself watching her from across the shop.

Not because he expected anything.

He just simply would admire her.

Yoonhee noticed. (Of course she did)

She'd glance over at Jungkook whenever he was staring at Rosie, only to find him smiling to himself.

And every time, she'd smile too.

----

The bell above the door chimed.

Three familiar girls walked inside, immediately making their way toward the counter.

One of them stopped when she noticed Rosie standing beside Jungkook.

"...Wait." She whispered, glancing at her friends.

"Who's she?"

Rosie looked up and smiled.

"Hi!"

The girls exchanged a quick look before one of them smiled back.

"Oh—you're new, right?"

"Yeah."

Rosie laughed.

"I've only been here about a month."

It was a small silence when Rosie tilts her head before noticing the girls jewlery.

"I love your necklace, by the way." She compliments 

"Gold is so cute on you." 

Jungkook smiled as the girl's energy immediately shifted. 

"Thank you." She waves a hand and the two other girls just smile with.

"Um, three cookies and cream please." 

Jungkook laughed quietly.

"You guys still ordering the same thing?"

One of them looked at him.

"...Obviously." 

Rosie just laughs, starting to prepare their order as the girl just sends Jungkook a wink.

Jungkook lets out a small laugh before glancing over to Rosie.

He watched her for a moment.

It reminded him of something.

Rosie had always been like this.

Even when people didn't know her.

Even when they judged her.

She never gave them a reason to stay angry.

She simply smiled.

And somehow, they always ended up smiling back.

Later that afternoon, the shop finally slowed down.

Jungkook and Rosie sat in the back during their lunch break.

He opened his container of leftovers before glancing over to see Rosie pulling something from her bag.

A familiar red bottle caught his attention.

He stopped.

"...Is that strawberry soda?"

Rosie looked down before following his attention.

"Hm?"

She held it up, letting out a small laugh.

"Oh, yeah."

Jungkook does nothing but smile.

"You like strawberry soda?" He asks, having Rosie giggle again.

"It's my favorite." She replies and this time, Jungkook tried not to smile too much.

"Really?" He continues

"Yeah." She nods, twisting the cap open.

"I mean, it's suuuper sweet." She made a face, taking another sip.

"But I can't get enough."

Jungkook laughed.

"I know what you mean."

Rosie continued to sip on her drink when she notices Jungkooks smug smile. 

"What?" She squints, trying not to smile back.

"Nothing." Jungkook replies calmly.

He continued to smile before looking back down at his food.

"I just..."

He paused.

"I think now's a good time to ask." He continues, now meeting eyes again.

Rosie raised an eyebrow.

"Ask what?"

"You've been here for a month."

He shifted slightly in his chair.

"...What's your favorite ice cream flavor?"

She thought about it, even though Jungkook already knew.

Still, he waited.

"Pistachio." She nodded confidently.

"Definitely pistachio."

Jungkook smiled.

"Yeah."

"I had a feeling you'd say that."

Rosie tilted her head.

"What do you mean?"

His heart skipped.

He needed an answer.

Fast.

"Uh..." He shrugged.

"You just look like someone who'd enjoy pistachio."

Rosie stared at him for a second before laughing.

"I hope that's a compliment."

"It is." Jungkook nods as the answer almost came out a little too fast.

She smiled, not thinking much of it.

"...Good."

She took another sip of her soda.

Jungkook quietly smiled to himself.

Four years and she still loved the same things.

---

The rest of the afternoon passed slowly.

Almost too slowly to the point where the shop was nearly empty.

Rosie wiped down the countertops while Jungkook sat in the corner with his notebook open.

His pen moved steadily across the page, not even realizing her glancing over.

"You write?"

Jungkook immediately looked up, snapping out of his thoughts.

"Oh."

He closed the notebook halfway.

"Yeah."

"A little here and there."

Rosie smiled.

"Can I see?"

His hand froze.

Every page in that notebook held something he'd never been able to say.

Every melody.

Every lyric.

Every unfinished thought...

Was about her.

"...Sure." He hesitated before handing it over.

Rosie took the notebook & began reading, a smile spreading across her face.

At first, her expression was curious, then Jungkook noticed something changed.

Her eyes slowed over the page and her smile faded.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the notebook as she read another line.

At this point Jungkook couldn't help but bounce his leg up and down, trying to calm his anxiety that was creeping up.

"Rosie?" He clears his throat, instantly snapping her out of it.

She blinked.

"...Hm?"

"You okay?"

She looked over at him, and for a second - she seemed almost confused.

Like she was trying to remember something she couldn't quite reach.

Brushing it off, she quickly smiles. 

"Yeah." She scoffs, handing the notebook back.

"I'm fine."

She continues to look at him before mentioning. 

"I write too."

Jungkook blinked, as she now took a seat next to him- making his heart pound.

"You do?"

"Well..."

She laughed nervously.

"More like compose music."

"Or at least..."

She shrugged.

"That's what I strive to be."

Jungkook smiled, enjoying the closed space between them.

"What do you mean?"

She looked down.

"It's always been my dream to compose for the Korean National Symphony."

She laughed quietly.

"As silly as that sounds."

Jungkook immediately shook his head.

"That's not silly."

He smiled.

"That's actually..." He pauses

"Really cool."

Rosie's expression softened before she continued.

"I've always wanted to make music that makes people..."

She paused.

"...Feel."

Jungkook stared at her.

"Like..."

"Something they can't explain."

His chest tightened.

Deja vu.

That was exactly how she used to talk about music.

She'd always said music should make people feel something.

Anything.

Even if they didn't know what it was.

"...Yeah." He nodded slowly.

"I know what you mean."

Rosie smiled.

"There's actually this raffle." She leaned forward.

"Anyone can enter."

"It's for a chance to score an interview with them for their trainee program."

Jungkook's eyebrows lifted.

"Are you going to enter?"

Rosie laughed.

"So I can get turned down and watch my dreams go down the drain?"

She shook her head.

"I think I'd rather scoop ice cream for the rest of my life."

Jungkook studied her.

He couldn't help but think about the Rosie he remembered.

Confident.

Driven.

The girl who never backed away from what she wanted.

Why was she so afraid now?

"...I don't think you mean that."

Rosie looked at him.

A small smile appeared.

"Yeah." She hums, nodding. 

"Maybe you're right."

Silence settled between them as she looked down at her hands.

"I don't know." She continues quietly.

"I haven't really taken my music seriously since graduation."

She sighed.

"For some reason, every time I find myself writing..."

She paused.

"...It's like something's missing."

Jungkook just watches her, feeling his heart beat at 100mph. 

"Maybe..."

He leaned back slightly.

"You just need motivation."

Rosie looked at him.

"Motivation?"

"Maybe you just need something..."

He paused.

"...Or someone to push you."

She smiled, letting out a little laugh.

"Yeah." She nods once more.

"Maybe."

Her eyes stayed on his, and this time Rosie was the one to lean forward, closing the gap.

Just slightly.

"If you happen to know anything or..."

She paused.

"...Someone..."

A small smile tugged at her lips.

"You should let me know."

Jungkook smiled and for a second, it felt like she was waiting for him to make the next move; in which - Jungkook didn't hesitate to do so.

He leaned forward slightly as Rosie continued to watch him.

And then—

Chime.

The bell from the front door rang, causing them both to look up.

A familiar voice echoed through the shop.

"Rosie?"

Her entire expression changed & her eyes brightened.

A smile immediately spread across her face as she snaps back to reality.

"Chanyeol!"

Jungkook's heart sank, watching as the young man approaches the counter.

"You're early!"

"I wanted to see you in your element." He smiled.

"And may I say..." He pauses, looking her up and down.

"You look absolutely beautiful in that apron."

Rosie laughed before lightly smacking his shoulder.

"Stop."

Jungkook watched quietly.

She looked happy.

Really happy.

Rosie turned toward him.

"Oh!"

"Peter, this is my boyfriend." She introduces, smiling.

"Chanyeol."

Chanyeol extended his hand.

"Nice to meet you, man."

Jungkook looked at it for a moment before accepting it.

"...Likewise."

They shook hands.

"Babe, Peter was actually at the graduation party- he's a friend of Callie's." 

Chanyeol does nothing but send Jungkook a surprised expression.

"Oh wow!" He smiles.

"What a small world." 

Jungkook just smiles, brushing off any type of emotions he was feeling.

At first, jealousy burned quietly beneath his ribs.

But then Chanyeol started talking.

And somehow, he seemed pretty cool.

They joked about the party, the shop - and even laughed about how many people had somehow managed to fit inside the loft.

Rosie watched the two of them with a smile, completely oblivious. 

Eventually, she glanced toward the clock.

"Well..." She sighs

"My shift's almost done."

She looked at Chanyeol.

"I'm just gonna close up and I'll meet you at the car."

"Take your time." He smiled before leaning down and placing a soft kiss against her forehead.

Jungkook looked away as Chanyeol then waved toward Yoonhee, who giggled and waved back-obviously enjoying the entertainment.

"Nice to meet you again, man." He continues, now looking at Jungkook.

"Maybe one day we could all hang, you know- outside of the shop."

Jungkook just smiles, nodding.

"Uh- y-yeah." He laughs 

"That would be...great." 

Chanyeol smiled once more before heading toward the door, having the bell chime behind him as he exited.

Jungkook waited a moment before looking over at Rosie.

"Hey." 

She looked over, and suddenly his stomach turned.

"It's only five minutes until we're done." He continues, forcing his feelings down.

"I could close up if you want to head out."

Rosie gasped, catching Jungkook off guard for a bit.

"Are you kidding?" She exclaims.

"And lose my chance at employee of the month?"

Jungkook laughed, now catching her drift.

"I don't think that's a thing." He says having Rosie laugh.

"Not yet."

She grinned before lightly patting his shoulder.

Jungkook shook his head, laughing as she disappeared into the back.

The shop fell quiet again when Yoonhee slowly walked over.

She stood beside him for a moment and Jungkook could already tell what was coming next.

"You're not very good at hiding your emotions, you know."

Jungkook sighed.

He looked down at the counter.

"Yeah."

"I've been told."

Yoonhee smiled softly, letting out a laugh before walking away.

Jungkook just sighs once more, brushing a hand over his face.

---

Later that night, he sat at his desk with a plate of leftovers beside him.

The room was quiet as he continued to write another line in his notebook. 

Just as he found himself in a flow state - he paused when he notices the pen had ran out of ink.

"...Seriously?" He frowns.

He scribbled against the corner of the page.

Nothing.

Jungkook sighed before opening the drawer beside him, searching through it.

Paper clips, pencils, old receipts- even a pair of headphones.

He continued to dig when fingers stopped.

A folded piece of paper sat at the very back.

He knew exactly what it was.

The letter.

The one he'd written two years ago.

He slowly pulled it out, tracing his thumb over the folded edge.

For a moment he considered opening it.

But he didn't.

Instead, he quietly placed it into a different drawer.

One he rarely opened.

He closed it.

Found another pen.