AUTHOR'S POV

The air outside Choi Mansion was quiet, far too quiet for a house that had recently driven away its fifth bodyguard in less than a year.

Inside, the tension was palpable.

A sharp voice broke the silence.

"She did it again, Sejin-ssi. Miss YN took the bodyguard's bike and rode it to college without his knowledge. He quit on the spot."

Choi Sejin-head of one of the most powerful political families in Seoul-stood in front of the grand marble staircase, rubbing his temples. Dressed in a sleek grey three-piece suit, he looked like a man who carried the weight of nations. But right now, his burden was a bratty, rebellious daughter.

"That girl is testing me," he muttered to himself.

From the top of the stairs, she appeared-Choi YN.

Her long black hair was in a messy braid, a pair of sunglasses pushed up into her hair. She wore a college blazer over a crop top, paired with jeans that were far too casual for the family's reputation. She descended the steps leisurely, as if she hadn't just caused chaos that morning.

"Dad, why are you so dramatic?" YN asked, brushing past a housemaid. "I made it to class on time. What's the big deal?"

Sejin's eyes snapped up to her.

"The big deal is you're the only daughter of a man with a hundred enemies. You don't get to be reckless."

YN rolled her eyes. "I'm twenty, not twelve. And if your enemies are that dangerous, maybe you should be the one with a bodyguard."

"You're impossible," Sejin muttered. Then he waved toward the entrance. "Fine. Since you don't respect authority, maybe this time you will."

The double doors opened.

And in stepped him.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dressed in a plain black shirt with sleeves rolled up, showing hints of ink on his forearm. Sharp jawline. A slight scar traced from the edge of his eyebrow to his cheekbone. His eyes-dark, unreadable-locked onto YN.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Who's this? Another puppy for me to scare off?"

"Jeon Jungkook," the man said, his voice deep and clipped. "New security detail. Assigned only to you."

YN smirked. "Assigned by my father?"

Jungkook didn't flinch. "Assigned for your protection."

Sejin spoke again. "This is not optional, YN. Jungkook will stay by your side. Everywhere."

YN scoffed. "We'll see how long he lasts."

Jungkook's lips curved upward ever so slightly, though there was no amusement in his eyes. "Try me."

--

That evening, Jungkook stood silently outside her room, one hand behind his back, the other lightly resting near the gun holstered at his hip beneath his coat.

The mansion was large, but Jungkook had studied every inch of it before stepping inside. He had seen the security layouts, memorized the blind spots, checked every entry point.

Not because of protocol.

But because this was the place where his parents had been killed.

Not by criminals.

But by Choi Sejin.

And now, the perfect opportunity had fallen into his hands. The man had unknowingly invited his greatest threat through his front door-disguised as a protector.

"Take care of her," Sejin had said.

Jungkook's smile turned cold in the dark.

"Oh, I will. I'll protect her so well... that you'll never see it coming."

--

Inside her room, YN flopped on her bed, kicking off her heels.

"Jeon Jungkook, huh?" she whispered, smirking. "Let's see if you survive me."

But neither of them knew that fate had its own game to play.

And revenge would be far more complicated... when hearts began to betray their mission.

---

Monday mornings in Seoul were loud, crowded, and absolutely annoying-especially for someone like Choi YN, who had zero tolerance for rules and even less for men following her around like shadows.

Her new bodyguard, however, didn't seem to get the message.

Jeon Jungkook.

He was always there.

Behind her.

Beside her.

Across the hall.

Standing by the bathroom door.

Waiting outside her classes like a damn statue.

The man was everywhere.

And what annoyed her the most?

He was completely unaffected.

She tried ignoring him the first day at college. He didn't blink.

She tried walking through a crowd at full speed to lose him-he stayed at her pace effortlessly.

She even climbed out the back window of the campus lounge and dropped into the garden to escape.

He was already waiting at the gate when she reached it, sipping a cold bottle of water like he'd taken a stroll through the clouds.

No reaction. No lecture. Just a nod.

Infuriating.

Today, YN decided to go further. Much further.

--

"Let's see if your patience is really made of steel, Jeon Jungkook," she murmured to herself as she snuck into the mansion kitchen after breakfast.

She replaced the sugar in his coffee thermos with salt.

She loosened the straps on his holster belt while it lay on the table.

She even put glitter in his backup black hoodie.

Revenge of the Sparkles, she called it.

Jungkook came downstairs just in time to see her "innocently" placing the thermos on the counter.

He raised an eyebrow. "You made my coffee?"

YN fluttered her lashes. "Just trying to be... helpful."

He sipped once, paused, then swallowed it like it was fine wine.

Not even a wince.

YN blinked. "It's... not bad?"

Jungkook wiped his lips, his tone blank. "Tastes like effort."

She frowned. "You have zero sense of humor, you know that?"

"And you have zero ability to lie."

She huffed and turned away, muttering curses under her breath.

But she wasn't done. Not yet.

--

Later that evening, Jungkook stood on the balcony outside his guest room. He'd just finished checking the perimeter cameras when his phone rang. He picked it up calmly.

"Hyung."

"Yeah, I'm in. The brat's difficult, but nothing I can't handle," Jungkook said, leaning on the railing. His voice was low, serious. "Everything's exactly like we thought. The staff here still doesn't talk about the past, but I'll get the proof. Sejin's guard is down."

There was silence on the other end, followed by a chuckle.

"You're not falling for the girl, are you?"

Jungkook rolled his eyes. "She's annoying. And spoiled."

Just then-

SNATCH!

"Gotcha!" YN shrieked as she grabbed the phone from his hand and bolted like a thief down the hallway.

Jungkook didn't move right away. He simply closed his eyes, exhaled, and muttered under his breath.

"...God, give me strength."

He walked after her-not ran, walked-like he already knew her energy would die out before the chase even began.

"YN," he called out in a calm, warning tone, "Give it back."

She looked over her shoulder, holding the phone up like a trophy. "Oh, so now you're mad, huh? Call me brat again and I'll throw this in the pool!"

Jungkook barely flinched. "I've memorized the number."

"Ugh!" she growled, stomping her foot. "Why aren't you reacting?!"

"Because I don't react to kindergarten tactics."

YN's mouth dropped. "Excuse me?!"

"Give me the phone, YN," he said again, this time his voice deeper, quieter, almost chilling.

And that tone... it sent a strange shiver down her spine.

Like she'd poked something far more dangerous than she realized.

Still, she forced herself to laugh. "Are you always this boring? I'm doing all this so you'd quit already!"

Jungkook took a slow step toward her. "Then try harder. You're not even close."

Her eyes narrowed. "You're so weird."

He held out his hand. "Phone."

Reluctantly, she handed it back-after wiping the screen on her shirt like a child trying to prove a point. Jungkook took it without a word, checking the call log to make sure nothing was heard.

"You don't scare easy, do you?" she asked, her tone suddenly curious.

"I don't scare at all," he replied, walking away.

YN watched him retreat down the hallway, something heavy lingering in her chest. He wasn't like the others. He didn't shout or complain or run off at the first tantrum. No-he was... steady. Like a storm that waited patiently before swallowing everything.

She didn't know that behind that calmness... was vengeance.

And Jungkook?

He didn't know that beneath all her bratty walls... YN was someone far more complicated than just spoiled.

Fate had begun to weave its web.

And this game... was only getting started.

---