Several tense days passed. The Jeon house felt sealed tight, curtains perpetually drawn. Tae kept strictly to her routine, avoiding even her porch when Jungkook’s bike roared past. Friday afternoon brought oppressive heat and the grating sound of suitcases being dragged across the Jeon driveway. Peeking through her kitchen blinds, Tae watched Mr. and Mrs. Jeon load bags into their sedan. Jungkook stood stiffly beside the car, nodding at his mother’s sharp instructions. He glanced once, quickly, towards her house before ducking his head. The car pulled away, leaving a plume of dust hanging in the heavy air. Jungkook stood alone on the driveway for a long moment, shoulders slumped. Silence descended, thick and expectant.

Later that evening, Tae was fresh out of the shower, humming softly as she toweled damp hair. Water pooled at her bare feet on the cool bathroom tile. She’d slipped into a minuscule terrycloth towel barely cinched around her hips, the damp fabric clinging precariously to her curves. The doorbell chimed, sharp and unexpected in the quiet house. She paused, towel draped loosely as she padded towards the front door. "Who is it?" she called out, her voice echoing slightly in the hallway.

"It's... it’s Jungkook." His voice sounded muffled, hesitant, through the wood.

A slow grin spread across Tae’s face. She didn’t unlock it. "Door's open, Kookie," she sang out, her voice deliberately light and teasing. "Come on in. Be right there!" She turned and walked back towards her bedroom, deliberately letting the towel shift just a fraction as she moved. She heard the hesitant creak of the front door opening behind her.

When Tae emerged from her bedroom doorway a minute later, she found Jungkook frozen just inside the threshold, staring at her. The thin towel was her only covering, revealing sun-kissed shoulders and legs still gleaming with droplets from her shower. Water darkened the towel where it hugged her hips. Jungkook’s eyes widened impossibly, locked onto her. His jaw dropped slightly, a strangled gasp escaping his lips. His knuckles were white where he gripped the doorframe. Sweat beaded instantly on his forehead despite the cool evening air drifting through the open door.

Tae let out a low, melodic laugh, utterly delighted by his stunned paralysis. She took a slow step forward, the scent of mango lotion and clean skin enveloping him. "See something you like, Kookie?" she murmured, her gaze lingering on his flushed face. She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Where’s your Mom and Dad tonight?"

Jungkook swallowed hard, his throat clicking. He forced his gaze upward, away from the damp towel clinging desperately to her hips. "G-grandparents," he stammered, voice cracking. "Weekend. Farming town... south." Sweat trickled down his temple despite the cool draft from the open door. His knuckles were bone-white on the doorframe.

"I’m Studying... exams..." His eyes darted back, helplessly, to the exposed curve of her shoulder. A bead of water traced a slow path down her collarbone. He shuddered visibly.

Tae closed the distance, stopping just inches from him. The heat radiating from her body mixed with his own frantic panic. She reached up slowly, tracing the damp sweat along his hairline with her fingertip. He flinched as if scalded, pressing himself harder against the doorjamb. "All alone," she breathed, her voice a velvet whisper. Her free hand drifted lightly to the knot of her towel. "Big house... quiet..." She watched his pupils dilate, dark pools swallowing the warm brown of his irises. His breath hitched, ragged and shallow. The towel slipped a fraction lower, revealing the swell of her breast beneath the terrycloth edge. A choked whimper escaped him.

Suddenly, Tae stepped back, chuckling softly. She adjusted the towel with deliberate slowness. "Relax," she teased, her eyes dancing. "I’m just messing with you." She turned, swaying slightly, and walked towards the kitchen. "Thirsty? I have juice."

Jungkook remained frozen, trembling against the doorframe, watching the damp imprint of the towel cling to the curve of her backside as she walked away. The air crackled with unsaid things. He hadn’t moved an inch. His racing heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird.

When Tae reappeared moments later, she’d changed into a tiny strawberry-stained sundress—thin white cotton that clung to her damp skin, barely covering her thighs. The hem rode high as she bent to retrieve a glass from the cupboard, offering a glimpse of lace trim. She poured him bright orange juice, the condensation dripping onto the counter.

"Here," she said, handing him the cold glass. Her fingers brushed his; he jerked as if shocked. She leaned against the countertop, sipping her own juice, watching him over the rim. "So, Kookie," she began casually, the tension easing into comfortable chatter. "Tell me about your MBA finals. Drowning in spreadsheets?"

She listened intently as he stammered about marketing strategies and group projects, his eyes darting everywhere except her body. She laughed at his awkward jokes, the sound warm and genuine, filling the quiet kitchen. The scent of citrus mixed with the lingering coconut from her shower.

As twilight deepened outside, Tae gestured towards the stove. "Stay for dinner?" she offered, already pulling ingredients from the fridge—fresh greens, vibrant peppers, fragrant garlic. "I cook better than those instant noodles promise."

Jungkook hesitated, shifting uneasily near the doorway. Tae glanced over her shoulder, her sundress slipping slightly off one shoulder. "Stay," she insisted softly, her tone leaving no room for refusal. He nodded mutely, sinking onto a stool as she moved with practiced grace—chopping, sizzling, stirring—the tiny dress riding up whenever she reached for a spice jar. Steam rose from the wok, carrying the rich, savory aroma of ginger and soy.

Jungkook watched, mesmerized, his earlier panic subsiding into shy fascination. The meal was simple stir-fry but bursting with flavor—crisp vegetables, tender chicken, a perfect balance of sweet and spicy. He ate hungrily, praising each bite between flushed cheeks. "It's... amazing," he mumbled, avoiding her gaze as she refilled his plate, her hip brushing his arm.

Afterwards, Jungkook helped clear the dishes, careful not to touch her. The night air had cooled, drifting through the open door. "I... I should go," he said finally, standing awkwardly in the hallway, his fingers twisting together. Tae walked him to the door, her bare feet silent on the wood floor.

Outside, the street was quiet, stars just beginning to pierce the indigo sky. She stopped him on her porch step, the warm glow from her hallway spilling onto his face. "Goodnight, Kookie," she murmured, her voice husky. Before he could react, she leaned in swiftly, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to his flushed cheek. Her lips were warm, leaving the faint scent of mango lotion and soy sauce on his skin.

Jungkook froze, eyes wide, breath catching audibly. He choked out a strangled "G-goodnight," before stumbling backwards down the steps, tripping slightly on the last one. He fled across the lawn without looking back, shoulders hunched, ears burning crimson in the darkness. Tae watched him disappear into his empty house, a slow, satisfied smile playing on her lips. She touched her own cheek where his skin had scorched hers.