Jungkook had never imagined he'd spend his summer in the countryside, away from the hum of neon signs, late-night takeout, and the endless rhythm of city life. His uncle had invited him to stay at his farm for a change of pace—an idea Jungkook initially scoffed at. Dirt roads? No cafes? No gym? It sounded like torture.

Still, after a few rough months in the city, he gave in. Maybe the break would do him good.

He arrived in a sleek black car that stood out like a sore thumb on the dusty road. His suitcase, designer backpack, and wireless earbuds screamed city boy. Black jeans too tight for farm work, a white oversized t-shirt tucked neatly in. His dark hair was perfectly styled despite the heat, and he winced when the sun hit him too harshly.His boots were new—too new. Still stiff, spotless, and completely unfit for the mud that clung to the ground after last night’s rain. He wore a fitted black shirt, a silver chain glinting against his collarbone, and sunglasses that covered half his face. Everything about him screamed city: sharp edges, clean lines, and a constant low-level irritation at how quiet everything was.

"There he is! My city nephew. Thought you’d get lost on the way."

His uncle greeted him with a hearty laugh and a slap on the back that nearly knocked the air out of him.

"Hope you packed something you don’t mind getting dirty," the old man chuckled before leading him toward the modest farmhouse.

Jungkook looked around, squinting at the fields that stretched far beyond what his eyes could catch. It was... quiet. Too quiet.

He slammed the car door shut a little harder than necessary, the countryside heat already crawling under his skin. He stood at the edge of a dirt path, the scent of grass and earth thick in the air, and stared at the farmhouse in the distance like it was a different planet.

Jungkook sighed but offered a faint smirk as he approached, hauling his luggage behind him.

The farm was bigger than he expected, with wide fields stretching beyond the hills and a couple of old buildings scattered across the land. Birds chirped too loudly. The wind didn’t carry traffic—just the rustle of leaves and the occasional bark from a distant dog.

"Come on, I’ll introduce you to the one actually keeping this place running."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow but followed. They headed around the barn, and that’s when he saw him.

Leaning against the fence, wiping sweat from his brow with a gloved hand, was a guy maybe Jungkook’s age. He wore jeans that looked like they’d lived through a hundred harvests, a plain shirt sticking to his back from the sun, and boots crusted in dried mud. His hair was tousled, skin sun-kissed, a streak of dust on his jawline.

"Niko!" his uncle called. "Come meet Jungkook."

Jungkook slowed his pace as Niko turned. There was something steady in his gaze, something grounded. The way he stood—like he didn’t need to impress anyone. He looked Jungkook over once, not rude, just curious. Like he was trying to figure him out.

Jungkook nodded, pushing his sunglasses up onto his head.

"Hey."

His uncle grinned.

"Niko’ll show you around. You’ll be working with him while you're here. Don’t let his pretty face fool you—he works harder than anyone I know."

Jungkook scoffed under his breath. He hadn’t signed up to work. But when Niko stepped closer and offered a small smirk and a nod, Jungkook felt something unfamiliar stir in his chest.

Maybe this trip wasn’t going to be a waste of time after all.