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Chapter 4: Jogging Buddies – July 1, 2019

Jungkook spent the next week hanging out with Yunseong in her bedroom.  Playing MIRᴙOR ImageN.  Trading turns beating each other.  One morning, she glanced up at him.

“Are you sure that you’re not my twin?” she murmured.

Jungkook laughed.  “We do seem to be pretty evenly matched.”  He glanced around.  “Is Yunyeong here?”

She nodded.  “She’s getting ready to go for her jog.”

“Is she?  I missed mine this morning.”  

On purpose.  In the hope that he could join Yunyeong on hers.  He stood up.  And stretched.  “I think I need to take a break.  And go for a jog.”

“You’re going for a jog?” It was Yunyeong’s voice.  She was standing in the doorway.  She’d just materialized.

He nodded.  “I missed mine this morning.”  He gave her a crooked smile.  “It was imperative that I rise and come straight here to beat your sister.”

“Hey!” Yunseong exclaimed.  “It was just your turn!  I beat you last night.”

“Touché,” he shook his head.  “Too true.”  He gazed down at the floor.  “I must practice more.  You’ve defeated me more often than anyone else.”

“She truly is your match then,” Yunyeong murmured.

They both glanced up at her in surprise.  For each of them had heard the tremor of disappointment in her voice.

“Are you headed out for a jog?” Yunseong asked her.

When Yunyeong nodded, her sister suggested, “Why don’t you two run together?”  

Yunyeong’s eyes locked with Jungkook’s.

“Please?” he asked softly.  “I’d love to have a jogging buddy.  It’s so much more fun that way.  Where do you run?”

“Around the park.”

“Perfect.  There should be a lot of people out this morning.  It’s such a lovely day outside.”

If he was trying to set her at ease, he had accomplished his goal by reminding her they’d be surrounded by other people.  No danger here.

“But – aren’t you two hanging out together?” Her eyes searched out Yunseong’s.

Her sister just shrugged.  “I have some chores to finish up.  And you know I loathe jogging.”

Yunyeong smiled, and her eyes caught Jungkook’s. “She does, you know?  If you were hoping to find a workout buddy, you picked the wrong girl.”

“Yes,” Yunseong sighed.  “Jungkook, I’ll have to loan you my sister for your workouts.  Promise you’ll take good care of her and not wear her out.”

Jungkook eyed Yunyeong.  “Why do I get the feeling I might be the one who has trouble keeping up?”

Yunseong laughed.  “Have you met my sister before?”

“A few times,” he murmured.  

His intense eyes were locked on Yunyeong’s.  Her heart began to hammer, and she felt oddly uncomfortable.  Vulnerable.  Because she enjoyed the way he was looking at her.  But…he liked her sister, right?  She could never steal a guy from her twin.  

She looked away from him suddenly.  Jungkook’s heart sank. Was he asking for too much too soon?

“It’s okay,” he murmured.  “I’ll just go jog by myself.”  He stood up.  “I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.”

Her eyes snapped back to his.  He had been able to detect her discomfort? 

As she glanced into his eyes, she disturbed the sorrow there.  Curious, she continued to gaze into the depths of those deep, obsidian orbs.  Why was he sad?  Just because he’d made her uncomfortable?  Or because he’d been hoping to jog with her?

“I’ll come with you.  I just need to put my shoes on,” she commented suddenly.

The look in his eyes instantly turned jubilant.  And a wide grin spread across his face.  Was he that happy that she was going to go running with him?