The city lights blinked quietly beyond the wide glass windows, casting a soft glow into the penthouse. Jake hadn't moved from where he rested, head now leaning comfortably against Ivory's shoulder, his hand loosely resting on hers. Neither of them said anything. They didn't need to.
Until—
Bzzzt. Bzzzt.
The front door's security panel flashed. Jake groaned.
Ivory glanced down at him. "More guards?"
He sighed. "Worse. Hyung."
The door opened moments later, and the peace was swept away by the sound of shoes shuffling, bags crinkling, and voices chatting in rapid Korean.
"Yahhh, JungKook-ah! You're alive!" his manager called out, already dragging in a portable grill with a couple of staff trailing behind, arms loaded with grocery bags and containers.
They moved like a practiced unit, setting up a foldable table, preparing the grill, laying out marinated pork belly, kimchi, side dishes, lettuce, and sauces. The room was suddenly alive with movement and the scent of sizzling meat.
Ivory stepped back instinctively, wide-eyed and fascinated. She'd never seen anything like this.
Jake appeared at her side, a cheeky grin forming. "First time seeing samgyeopsal, huh?"
She nodded slowly, eyes fixed on the table like it was some kind of ritual. "Is this a celebration or a military strategy?"
He laughed. "Both."
Then he gestured toward the manager who had just taken off his coat and stretched with a sigh. "Ivory, this is Hyung. He's basically my second father. Hyung, this is... my special one."
The way he said it made heads turn. His manager raised a brow, eyeing the girl beside him, then turned to JungKook with a smirk. "Oh? So this is the reason you suddenly wanted to stop sulking and face your scandal like a man."
JungKook shrugged innocently. "Guilty."
Ivory laughed softly, bowing a little in greeting, unsure of what was appropriate. "Hi... it's nice to meet you. And thank you for the food?"
"Of course, of course," Hyung said, bowing slightly in return. "Anything to feed this brat."
"I apologize for what happened earlier, aigoo-ya... you got scraped."
"Please, this is nothing. The guards that wrestled me shouldn't get fired. They're just doing their job."
Jungkook looked at her, and then at his manager. Whispering in Korean, saying along the lines of 'she's different, a breath of fresh air than Sayuri--his ex ever was.'
As the grill fired up and the smell filled the air, Hyung dragged JungKook aside for a private conversation in the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Ivory, ever the curious soul, approached the crew now huddled around the sizzling pork. She crouched slightly, hands on her knees, eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"Okay... tell me everything. What is this? Why does it smell illegal?"
The staff paused mid-turn, startled.
"Uh... this... is... pork," one of them managed.
"Very good pork," another added, holding up a slab like it was treasure.
"It's cooked here," one said, pointing at the grill with a proud smile.
"And you eat with... leaf," a third chimed in, waving a lettuce leaf like a flag.
Ivory's laughter bubbled up like music. "It's like a food warzone and I'm not mad about it."
She was a natural. Asking questions, throwing jokes that made everyone laugh even when they only half-understood. One of the younger staff pulled out his phone and started using a translation app, trying to explain what ssamjang was while Ivory nodded dramatically like she was solving a mystery.
From across the room, JungKook leaned against the kitchen island, watching it all.
His manager noticed the way he was utterly, hopelessly gone.
"Do I even bother talking?" Hyung asked with a sigh.
"Nope," JungKook grinned, arms crossed. "You'll never win."
Hyung glanced at the way JungKook's eyes followed every move Ivory made. "You're different now."
"Yeah?"
"You were miserable before you left. Snapping at everyone. Wouldn't eat. Wouldn't smile. I thought we lost you for real this time."
JungKook's smile softened as he watched Ivory laugh at something one of the staff said. "She found me."
Hyung clapped him on the shoulder, conceding with a chuckle. "Then don't lose her."
And just like that, the room wasn't just full of food and laughter—it was full of something warmer.
"Why didn't you tell me about this kind of food Jake?!" She teased in half-betrayal.
The kind of chaos that felt like home
As the last strips of pork belly sizzled on the grill, the staff began quietly cleaning up the prep mess, stacking empty containers and slowly drifting toward the door like ghosts trying not to intrude.
Ivory, mouth full of lettuce-wrapped goodness, noticed the movement. She swallowed quickly. "Wait—where are you all going?"
One of the staff froze mid-step, blinking. "Uh... to eat outside?"
"But why? There's so much food here!"
Hyung stepped in, offering a polite smile. "They usually don't eat with the artist. It's just... not how it's done."
Ivory looked genuinely baffled. "That's ridiculous. There's plenty of food, and they did all the hard work. Why wouldn't they eat with us?"
The crew exchanged surprised glances, awkward and unsure what to do.
JungKook just leaned against the table with his arms crossed, watching her quietly. There was a soft grin on his face like he was watching a romcom in real time.
"Let them stay," he said finally, giving Hyung a sideways look. "She's got a point."
The manager raised an eyebrow. "You're letting her make the call?"
JungKook shrugged. "She's cute when she bosses people around."
Ivory shot him a look and then grinned proudly when the staff slowly returned to the table, still shy, but clearly grateful. The air felt lighter—like a gathering of friends instead of a formal production.
As everyone got seated again, Ivory sat beside Jake, watching him expertly wrap a lettuce ssam. He placed the meat, rice, a touch of kimchi, a dollop of sauce, and a sliver of garlic on the leaf, then rolled it tight.
He handed it to her like he was passing her a piece of treasure.
"Like this," he said, "One bite only. Don't be a coward."
"I feel like I'm being hazed into a food cult," she replied, inspecting it.
"Correct. Welcome to the cult of ssam," he winked.
She took the whole bite and nearly melted into her seat. "That's illegal. Arrest yourself."
JungKook laughed—really laughed—and nudged her shoulder with his. "Told you."
Just then, the door to the penthouse opened again and in came Kim Seokjin, tall, handsome, and holding two large bags of soju like they were sacred scrolls.
"I brought reinforcements!" he declared in Korean before pausing, seeing the room full and JungKook actually smiling. "Oh. Are we throwing parties now?"
JungKook stood up, eyes wide in mock horror. "Hyung! I thought you were busy being washed-up and irrelevant?"
Seokjin gasped dramatically. "You disrespect me in my presence?"
"You walked in uninvited."
"I brought soju, you gremlin."
The two bantered in a flurry of sarcastic Korean until Ivory blinked and leaned toward one of the staff, whispering, "Who's that?"
The staff laughed, whispering back, "Kim Seokjin. Idol. Actor. He thinks he's the world's most handsome man."
Ivory looks at the man, "but he does. My boy is handsome, but this man is ethereal."
The staff leaned in, "Wait till you meat Kim Taehyung, JK's friend."
JungKook must've heard because he turned, grinning. "Ivory, meet the 'Worldwide Handsome' hyung. SeokJin"
Seokjin beamed. "Jin," he introduced, "you must be the famous Ivory. I've heard you've corrupted our poor JungKook into becoming a functioning adult."
"I don't know if I should take credit or apologize," she quipped.
Jin barked out a laugh. "I like her."
The two clicked instantly—throwing sarcastic jabs back and forth like old friends. Jake just sat back, sipping from a soju cup, watching the scene with the kind of soft smile that said everything without a single word.
"So," Jin leaned in conspiratorially, "what do you call a fake noodle?"
Ivory raised a brow. "I'm afraid to ask."
"An impasta," he grinned proudly.
Manager Hyung groaned while Ivory let out a theatrical gasp. "Oh no. One of those."
"Oh yes," Jin said smugly. "I've got a whole collection."
"Fantastic," Ivory said dryly. "Can't wait to survive that experience."
He wiggled his eyebrows. "Why don't skeletons fight each other?"
"Because they don't have the guts," she fired back without missing a beat.
Jin froze mid-smile. "Hey! That was my line."
She sipped her drink with a smirk. "Catch up, Jin. I'm the one with the spine."
Manager Hyung let out a wheeze while Jake tried to hide his grin behind his cup.
"Oh, I see how it is," Jin held up his hands dramatically. "I've met my match."
Ivory patted his shoulder in mock sympathy. "Don't feel bad. You're still worldwide handsome after all."
He perked up immediately, beaming. "You know what, I am."
Jake leaned over, chuckling under his breath. "This was a mistake."
Hyung, still wiping away a tear from laughing, muttered, "You brought this chaos upon yourself, JungKook."
Ivory raised her glass. "To chaos."
Jin clinked his glass to hers. "And to finally being dethroned by someone worthy."
"Don't worry," she winked. "You can keep the crown. I just want the mic."
Jake shook his head, grinning like a man completely and utterly gone for her.
After the meal, as the crew departed, Ivory began tidying up the kitchen while Jake took out the trash. Jin lingered, watching her for a moment before speaking.
"You know, it's been a while since I've seen JungKook this happy," he said.
Ivory looked up, surprised. "Really?"
"Yeah," Jin nodded. "His last relationship took a toll on him. But since meeting you, he's been... lighter."
Ivory smiled softly. "I'm glad."
Jin chuckled. "Also, I'm fluent in English. Comes in handy with international fans and business."
"Business?" Ivory inquired.
"I own a restaurant," he replied. "You should come by sometime. When you're not busy."
"I'd like that," she said.
They shared a warm smile, the beginning of a new friendship forming amidst the remnants of a joyful evening.