The fan signing event was buzzing with energy, the kind that seemed to hum through the air and settle into Jungkook’s chest. The line outside wound endlessly, curling back on itself in neat rows, and yet it still looked as though it might stretch on for miles. He always found these events both thrilling and humbling—getting to meet the people who cheered for him and the members, who spent their time and hearts supporting them. Of course, there were always a few over-the-top fans, bold with their questions or gestures, but he never minded too much. He liked the unpredictability of it.

Today, though, felt a little different. Jungkook couldn’t explain why, only that the moment he sat down, some faint buzz of anticipation tugged at him, as if he were waiting for something without knowing what.

He kept busy with the fans, his pen moving easily across albums and posters, his smile lighting up in that way that always made people lean in closer. But when his gaze flicked up, he noticed her. Just another fan in line—nothing about her stood out in any obvious way. She was waiting patiently, notebook in hand, greeting each member with a polite bow and that kind of warm smile that softened her whole face. Still… his eyes lingered longer than they should have. Something about her presence pulled at him. He blinked and forced himself back to the fan in front of him, laughing at their bold question and scribbling his signature across the glossy page.

By the time she drew closer, Jungkook found himself sneaking glances again—watching the way she laughed with Jimin, the way she seemed completely at ease as if she wasn’t trying too hard to impress anyone. Charming, he realized. Effortlessly so.

And then, she was standing in front of him. She placed her notebook gently on the table, her smile steady but not forced, like it came naturally. For a second, Jungkook just looked at her, his pen hovering above the page. A flicker of shyness threatened to creep in—the kind that always sneaked up on him when he wasn’t prepared—but he pushed it aside with a grin, that familiar bunny smile curving across his face.

“Hello,” he said, his voice warm, playful even, as if he’d been waiting for her turn all along. “Are you having fun so far?”

He didn’t need to ask her name—of course, she knew his—but still, he found himself hoping she’d tell him anyway.