Chapter 4 — The Price of Touching What’s Mine

When the rain finally stopped, they stepped out of the cabin.

The sky had cleared.

Stars slowly appeared.

The road was still empty.

But something had changed.

Not around them.

Between them.

As they walked back toward the car, Jimin reached for her hand again.

This time—

Rosé didn’t hesitate.

She held it.

Tightly.

And Jimin didn’t let go.

Because now he knew one thing for sure—

This wasn’t just curiosity anymore.

This wasn’t just interest.

This was something deeper.

Stronger.

And far more dangerous.

And somewhere in the shadows of his world…

people had already started noticing.

The campus didn’t feel the same anymore.

Not for Rosé (singer).

Not after that night.

Every corridor felt quieter. Every shadow felt like it was watching. And every time she walked alone… she could feel it.

Eyes.

Following her.

The Message

It started small.

A note slipped inside her music notebook.

No name. No signature.

Just four words—

“Stay away from him.”

Rosé frowned, reading it again.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the paper.

Before she could think too much, a voice came from behind—

“You look troubled.”

She turned.

Jungkook.

He walked closer, hands in his pockets, expression softer than usual.

“What happened?”

Rosé hesitated.

“It’s nothing…”

Jungkook sighed.

“You’re a bad liar.”

She forced a small smile.

“I’m fine, really.”

But Jungkook wasn’t convinced.

His eyes shifted slightly… noticing the crumpled paper in her hand.

Before he could ask more—

A shadow fell between them.

Jimin.

The Shift

The air changed instantly.

Jungkook’s jaw tightened.

“Well… you always show up at the right time.”

Jimin ignored him completely.

His gaze was fixed on Rosé.

“What is that?”

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

Rosé hesitated… then handed him the note.

Jimin read it once.

Then again.

Something in his eyes darkened.

The softness she knew—gone.

Replaced by something cold.

Sharp.

Dangerous.

“Who gave you this?” he asked quietly.

“I don’t know…”

Silence.

Then Jimin folded the paper slowly.

Too slowly.

As if controlling something inside him.

Jungkook crossed his arms.

“See? This is exactly what I was talking about.”

Jimin looked at him.

That one look was enough.

“Leave.”

Jungkook scoffed.

“Not this time.”

Jimin stepped closer.

The tension snapped tight.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Rosé quickly stepped in between them again.

“Stop. Both of you.”

Her voice was soft—but firm.

Jimin’s eyes flickered back to her.

And just like before—

He stopped.

“For you,” he murmured.

Jungkook shook his head.

“This isn’t over.”

He walked away.

But this time… there was something serious in his eyes.

Not just annoyance.

Concern.

Jimin grabbed Rosé’s wrist gently.

“Come with me.”

“Jimin—where—?”

“Now.”

There was no anger in his grip.

But there was urgency.

And something deeper.

Fear.

He took her to the empty parking area behind the campus.

The same black car waited.

Silent.

Like always.

He opened the door for her.

“Get in.”

She did.

No questions this time.

Because she could feel it—

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

The Other Side of Jimin

The car stopped far from the campus.

Not near the city.

Not near the cliff.

But somewhere darker.

An abandoned warehouse area.

Rosé’s heart started beating faster.

“Jimin… why are we here?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he stepped out of the car.

Then opened her door.

“Stay close to me.”

His voice wasn’t soft anymore.

It was commanding.

Protective.

Possessive.

She nodded.

They walked inside the warehouse.

Dim lights flickered.

And then—

Rosé froze.

A man was tied to a chair.

Bruised.

Barely conscious.

Her breath caught.

“Jimin… what is this…?”

Jimin walked forward slowly.

Cold.

Controlled.

Terrifyingly calm.

“He’s the one who sent the note.”

Rosé’s eyes widened.

“What?”

The man looked up weakly.

“P-Please… I didn’t know she was yours…”

Jimin tilted his head slightly.

“Exactly.”

His voice dropped.

“That’s the problem.”

Rosé stepped forward quickly.

“Jimin, stop—this is too much—”

But Jimin raised his hand slightly.

She stopped.

Not because she wanted to.

But because something in him right now… wasn’t someone she could easily stop.

Possession Turns Dark

Jimin crouched in front of the man.

“Who told you to do it?”

The man hesitated.

Jimin’s expression didn’t change.

But the air grew heavier.

“I… I was paid…”

“By who?”

Silence.

Jimin sighed softly.

Disappointed.

Then he stood up.

“Fine.”

He turned slightly—

And before Rosé could react—

He punched the man.

Hard.

The sound echoed in the empty warehouse.

Rosé flinched.

“Jimin!”

But he didn’t stop.

Another hit.

Controlled.

Precise.

Not wild.

But terrifyingly calm.

“Talk,” Jimin said quietly.

The man broke.

“I DON’T KNOW HIS NAME—just… just someone powerful—he said to scare her away from you!”

Silence.

Jimin stepped back.

Breathing steady.

Not even shaken.

Rosé stared at him.

Her heart racing.

This…

This was his world.

The one he warned her about.

The Line Between Fear and Love

Jimin walked back to her.

Slowly.

His expression softened the moment he looked at her.

“Are you okay?”

Rosé blinked.

“You’re asking me that…?”

He reached out.

His fingers gently touched her cheek.

“You shouldn’t have seen this.”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“This is who you are…?”

Jimin didn’t lie.

“Yes.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Then he added quietly—

“But only for people who try to touch what’s mine.”

Rosé’s breath caught.

“What’s… yours?”

Jimin stepped closer.

Close enough that she couldn’t look away.

“You.”

Her heart pounded violently.

“That’s not something you can just decide…”

His gaze didn’t waver.

“I already did.”

The Promise

Outside, the night felt colder.

Darker.

As they walked back to the car, Rosé’s mind was spinning.

Fear.

Shock.

But also—

Something else.

Something she didn’t want to admit.

Because even after seeing that side of him…

She still felt safe with him.

Jimin opened the car door for her again.

Before she got in, she stopped.

“Jimin.”

He looked at her.

“If I stay… in your world…”

Her voice was soft.

“Will you always protect me?”

Jimin didn’t hesitate.

“With everything I have.”

“And if I get scared?”

His answer came instantly.

“Then I’ll stand between you and everything that scares you.”

Rosé held his gaze.

For a long moment.

Then slowly—

She got into the car.

Not because she wasn’t afraid.

But because…

She had already crossed the line.

And deep down—

She knew.

There was no going back now.

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