Introduction

◆ Park Jimin ◆ The only daughter of the wealthy Park family and future heir to Park Company. Despite growing up surrounded by luxury, Jimin prefers a simple life and dislikes being judged for her family's wealth. After graduating from abroad, she chooses to work at her father's company as an ordinary employee, keeping her true identity hidden from most people. Kind, hardworking, and down-to-earth, Jimin appears confident on the outside. However, a painful betrayal from her first love left scars she has never fully healed from. Now in a relationship with Jungkook, doubts slowly begin to grow in her heart once again. Desperate for answers, she turns to the one person she trusts most—her best friend, Taehyung.

◆ Kim Taehyung ◆ Jimin's best friend since high school and the person who knows her better than anyone else. Born into an ordinary middle-class family, Taehyung lives with his father, who works as a finance manager. Easygoing, friendly, and fiercely loyal, he prefers enjoying life over rushing into adulthood. After graduating a few months ago, Taehyung is currently taking a break while waiting for the results of an overseas job opportunity he recently applied for. Whenever Jimin returns from work, the two often spend weekends together catching up, just like they did in high school. Taehyung wants nothing more than a peaceful life. Unfortunately, one desperate favor from Jimin is about to drag him into the most ridiculous and complicated situation he has ever faced. A situation that requires him to pretend to be someone he isn't.

◆ Jeon Jungkook ◆ A hardworking and reserved employee at Park Company. To everyone around him, Jungkook seems like an ordinary young man trying to build his career. Calm, responsible, and dependable, he rarely talks about himself and prefers keeping his feelings hidden. Although he is dating Jimin, he often struggles to express affection, causing misunderstandings between them. What nobody knows is that Jungkook is hiding secrets of his own.

📌 Author's Note

The soft music inside the restaurant should have made the evening romantic. At least that's what Jimin had hoped. She sat across from Jungkook, absentmindedly stirring the melting ice in her drink while stealing glances at him.

Three months. Three whole months since they had started dating. Three months of dates. Three months of sweet messages. Three months of trying. And yet... Something felt missing.

Jimin blinked before forcing a smile.

His answer came naturally. Without hesitation. Just like always. Jungkook remembered everything. Her favorite coffee. Her allergies. The songs she liked. The books she wanted to buy. He was thoughtful. Kind. Patient. A perfect boyfriend.

So why did she feel so unhappy? The conversation continued. Comfortable. Easy. Normal. Too normal. Like two friends having dinner. Not a couple. Not people who supposedly loved each other. Jimin pushed those thoughts away. Maybe she was overthinking again. Maybe her past was making her paranoid. Maybe—

Her phone vibrated. A new message.

Jimin almost laughed. She quickly typed back.

The reply arrived instantly.

Jimin glanced at Jungkook. He was reading something on his phone while waiting for their food. Not ignoring her. Just... Existing beside her.

Jimin locked her phone. A strange heaviness settled in her chest. The rest of dinner passed quietly. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Later that night. Jimin stood outside her apartment building. Jungkook had walked her home. Like always. Reliable. Responsible. Perfect. The silence stretched between them. Jimin waited. Maybe today. Maybe this time Maybe he would pull her closer. Maybe he would kiss her. Maybe he would look at her the way people in love were supposed to. Instead...

A polite smile. The same smile he gave everyone. Jimin's heart sank.

He waited until she entered the building safely before turning around and leaving. Just like always. Jimin watched his disappearing figure. And for the first time since they started dating... A terrible thought entered her mind. Does Jungkook actually like me? Or am I just convenient? ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Meanwhile... Jungkook walked alone through the quiet streets. His hands buried inside his pockets. The cool night air felt refreshing. His phone buzzed. A message from his father.

💬Dad: How are things with Jimin?

Jungkook stared at the screen. Then sighed. After several seconds, he typed.

He hit send. But for some reason... The answer felt like a lie. To be continued...

Jimin hated overthinking. Unfortunately, she was very good at it. Lying on her bed, she stared at the ceiling while replaying every interaction she'd had with Jungkook over the last three months. Three months. Three months of dating. Three months of dinners. Three months of texting. Three months of wondering if her boyfriend actually liked her. With an annoyed groan, Jimin buried her face in a pillow. Maybe she was being dramatic. Maybe she was imagining things. Maybe—

Jimin sat up immediately. She wasn't imagining anything. Something was definitely wrong.

Three Months Earlier Park Company Annual Party The office was loud. Employees were eating, laughing, and completely avoiding work. Someone suggested Truth or Dare. A terrible idea. An even worse idea was Jimin agreeing to play. "Dare." The entire table cheered. Jimin instantly regretted her life choices. A coworker pointed toward a certain employee sitting across the room. "I dare you to confess to your office crush." The room exploded. Jimin nearly choked. Because unfortunately... She actually had one. And unfortunately... Everyone immediately figured out who it was.

Jeon Jungkook. The handsome employee from the marketing department.

"Do it!" "Go!" "Confess!"

Jimin wanted to resign on the spot. But she wasn't a coward. Mostly. So she marched over to Jungkook's table. The entire office watching. Her dignity dying. And blurted out—

Complete silence.

Jungkook looked shocked. Jimin wanted the earth to open and swallow her.

Then Jungkook smiled slightly.

The next day... Jungkook appeared beside her desk.

She almost fell off her chair.

Jimin blinked.

And somehow... That was how it started.

Back To Present At first, everything felt perfect. Jungkook was thoughtful. Reliable. Sweet. He remembered everything she told him. Even tiny details. If she skipped breakfast, he noticed. If she looked tired, he noticed. If she had a bad day, he noticed. The problem was... Sometimes it felt like he noticed everything except her feelings. Three months. And they hadn't even kissed. Not once. Whenever a romantic moment appeared... Jungkook somehow escaped it. Naturally. Without even trying. Like romance wasn't something he thought about. Like dating her was simply another responsibility. And Jimin hated herself for thinking that.

Her phone suddenly rang.

Caller ID: 🐻 Taetae Jimin answered immediately.

Taehyung sounded offended.

Jimin rolled her eyes.

There was a dramatic sigh.

Jimin laughed despite herself. Some things never changed. Taehyung continued dramatically.

Then—

Jimin started laughing. "Did you just attack me?"

Jimin froze.

The teasing voice immediately disappeared.

Jimin looked toward the ceiling. Her smile slowly fading.

The question hit harder than she expected. Because that was exactly it. Nothing happened. No fights. No arguments. No betrayal. No red flags. Just... Nothing. No excitement. No romance. No certainty. For a few seconds, neither spoke. Then Taehyung sighed.

Jimin smiled despite herself.

For the first time all day, Jimin felt slightly better.

Maybe seeing Taehyung tomorrow would help clear her head. Little did she know... That conversation was about to change all three of their lives.