-I'm so powerful

I don't need batteries to play-

-Sia-

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That evening, back in Namjoon' penthouse, Sully found it difficult to sleep. The gathering at Hoseok and his wife's place had been exactly what she needed.

Sully's sudden change in demeanor slightly alarmed Lucia, but the relaxed atmosphere, infused with Seokjin and Hoseok's sunny dispositions and constant joking, reassured her. For a brief moment, Sully forgot about the altercation with the striker. Mia and Hoseok' hospitality was top-notch, and the triplets were a joy to meet. Two were so loud, but the girl was very quiet.

She still couldn’t believe he’d accused her of blatantly seducing him. He had initiated that kiss. And the way he kissed her...so hungry, so raw...it was like she was an oasis in his desert. He practically cheated on Aitana with her. Was he vulnerable? Or did he just succumb to her charm?

Upon her return to the apartment with Jungkook, a wave of shame washed over her. How could she kiss him back? Why didn’t she hold herself back? She had kissed him like she meant it; even her swollen lips still attested to that. Oh my goodness, the way they hungrily held on to each other, her fingers in his soft dark hair, his arms and hands feverishly caressing her back, pressing her tightly against his hard chest. His hot, feverish mouth blending with hers.

Their bodies were on fire, and at that moment she wanted him with every fiber of her being. She wanted someone that belongs to someone else. How low could she get? Her face paled and flushed at the same time when she thought about how she led him on. She did start it. Why was she so shameless? She could still taste the bitter lemon cider on his lips, their breath mixing together. If they were somewhere else, she's sure they would've ended up doing something that they would both regret.

That kiss felt like a scene from a reunion after military service. Sully told herself to try harder to stay off Jimin's radar. She’d treat that kiss as a punishment for whatever unknown reason he hated her for.

She doesn't even have that experience in kissing. Her first and only boyfriend was adorable, but he was lousy when it came to kissing. Gosh, he still believed in that old Asian wall kissing. But Jimin' Spanish blood was no joke.

Lying under the covers, her eyes welled up again, and the sobs came quietly. The ache in her heart deepened when she realized with defeat that she was still hopelessly in love with a boy who seemed to despise her for no apparent reason.

And she didn’t even know what she had done for him to dislike her so much. Aitana, his stunning model girlfriend, already seemed to hate her. The girl's attitude had been off from the beginning. The way she watches her with the grace of a feline, a wordless war between them.

Maybe it was better to stay away from Namjoon’s friends. She was already being accused of riding her brother’s coattails and getting favors like a nepo baby. In a week's time, Namjoon would return from LA, and they’d fly to Italy together for the match, and then she'll be back in time for graduation.

Sully finally drifted off around midnight. Before that, she texted her brother, who was surprised to receive a message from her so late. He immediately asked if everything was okay, telling her how much he missed home and their grandparents. He also expressed his eagerness for her to meet his prospective girlfriend. He wants her blessing first.

He wanted to know if the boys were looking out for her. She reassured him, mentioning how she had become good friends with Lucia and Niki and how Jungkook had been kind enough to spend time with her. Namjoon only had one rule: she was off-limits to his teammates.

She also called her dad in Seoul. He was still at work but thrilled to hear from her. She told him she’d be home sooner than expected; she missed home deeply. At first, he was upset that Namjoon had left her alone in the apartment for two weeks, but she reassured him that she was safe in his penthouse.

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The next morning, Namjoon’s driver arrived early to fetch her.

The training center buzzed with energy as she entered through the glass doors with her tote bag. She was a little early and spotted Lucia in the lobby, signing in. Lucia looked stunning in tight navy leggings, Converse sneakers, and a light tan hoodie over a white T-shirt.

Sully wore denim jeans, a tight white crop top paired with a chocolate velvet midriff sweater jersey, and matching black Jordans. Sully's hair fell straight and glossy over her petite shoulders.

L

ucia turned and beamed. “Ah, Sully! Good to see you. We’re a bit early; want to grab some coffee at the shop? Messi asked the guys to be on the field an hour earlier today. Three of them have interviews, a Vogue shoot, and an ambassador appearance lined up.”

Two other interns came by and told them to relax and have coffee while they handled the first half on the field. Maria carried a crate of energy drinks and snacks, while the other girl had clean towels.

Upstairs, the coffee shop was cozy and quiet. Only a few older coaches were chatting. Sully ordered a vanilla latte and a chocolate croissant; Lucia got a mochaccino and a huge chocolate muffin.

Lucia took a sip of her drink and grinned. “You look worn out, Suls. Late night again?”

Sully gave a small smile. “I was worn out, but I couldn’t sleep well... I stayed up texting Joon and Dad.” She focused on buttering her croissant, adding marmalade and cheese.

Lucia nodded. “Your dad must really miss you.”

Sully’s honey-brown eyes darkened. “I miss him too... After a summer, I’m going back home. I just worry he doesn’t eat properly. He’s always so busy with stressful cases...he’s a prosecutor.”

Lucia chuckled. “No wonder. In two weeks, we’ll be vibing in Florence.e. Watch the matches and go shopping untill we drop."

Sully grinned. “I hope they win against Italy and qualify for the World Cup.”

They chatted a bit more before heading to the field where the two interns were working. The players were doing tactical training: foam rollers, corner laps, and stretches.

Sully’s eyes scanned the field until they landed on Jimin. He had his expensive earphones in and seemed distant. Niki, Bangchan, and Suga were training nearby, but it was clear Jimin wasn’t having a good day. He looked distracted and disturbed. He appeared particularly moody, especially in the presence of Jungkook, who also seemed annoyed by Jimin's foul attitude.

She hoped he hadn’t confessed anything to Aitana or his friends about their indiscretion. That girl looked like she could fight, and Sully valued her peace too much for drama...and she's too afraid to confront such powerful people.

Under the water table canopy, the atmosphere was light and cheerful. Maria’s jokes had her laughing genuinely. Sully felt free, at ease, and thankful for Lucia’s warmth and inclusion in her friendship circle. It will be a shame to lose Lucia's friendship. She likes her a lot. She holds a special place in her heart for Jungkook and Niki.

When the rigorous training ended, the boys came over, sweaty and bantering and bickering. Lucia was already handing out water bottles, so Sully kept her head down, refilling the drinks and staying busy. She felt nervous tremors running up her spine, clearly aware of Jimin's presence.

She felt his intense eyes on her, but she just ignored it. Taehyung and Jungkook, as usual, were in teasing mode, making her smile softly.

Jungkook grinned. “Are you busy this afternoon, Sully?” He waggled his brows.

Taehyung’s eyes widened. “Oh wow! Kooks, are you and Sully…” He made a dramatic gesture between them.

Sully and Jungkook both refuted the idea quickly. Jungkook shoves Taehyung away from him, who just bursts out in laughter.

Jimin raised an eyebrow at her blushing face, clearly amused. Sully merely scowled at him, yet a glint in his eyes revealed his amusement.

“No, Taehyung. A girl and a guy can hang out without romance,” Sully interjected firmly.

Jungkook laughed, nudging her shoulder. “Sully is girlfriend material, and we all know the bloody rules—” He trailed off, and his tone turned sour when he saw Sully smirking. Everyone feared Namjoon’s protectiveness. Jimin violated the rule that prohibits anyone from touching her.

Jimin just rolled his eyes mockingly and scoffed, walking off with Seokjin and Hoseok.

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Around noon, Sully and Lucia packed up and carried crates of towels back to the lockers.

Lucia groaned, “Oh gosh, Suls, we still need twelve clean towels?” Every team member gets at least three towels.

Sully grinned. “No problem. I’ll check the gym; Maria might have extra unused ones.”

“Thanks! You’re a lifesaver. Niki and I have a date, and I still need to do my hair.” She blushed as she stacked towels on Suga’s bench.

Meanwhile, most of the senior players had left for the gym or their scheduled appearances. Taehyung and Niki were sitting beside Jimin, who quietly sipped his energy drink, eyes faraway.

“José, why are you always so cold to Sully?” Taehyung asked, nudging him.

Jimin didn’t reply immediately. “I’m not cold to her,” he said coolly.

Niki raised a brow. “Yeah, right. Tell that to the alien on the moon. Since I’ve known her, she’s been sweet, thoughtful, kind, and an amazing friend to Lucia.”

Jimin exhaled slowly, his tone flat. “I see through her, Niki. She’s pretending. Nobody’s that perfect.”

Taehyung blinked. “What do you mean, ‘off?’” Or are you just shocked she’s not the awkward, chubby-cheeked girl from high school anymore? She’s stunning. Who’d have guessed Namjoon’s little sister would grow up so fine?”

He chuckled and nudged Jimin again, unaware of the pained expression that flashed in Jimin’s eyes.

Jimin bit back, too sharp: “Sully’s not my type. Beauty’s subjective. She tries too hard to fit in with the WAGs. She will forever remain the awkward duckling. Makeup can’t change that.”

Niki shook his head. “You’re being cruel. She’s lovely. And she’s not some ugly duckling.”

Unbeknownst to them, Sully had just exited the building that was located near the bleachers. Hearing her name, she froze. She listened to the end of the conversation, and Jimin's sharp words struck her deeply. She blinked fast to fight the tears and quietly slipped away, clutching the crate of towels.

Her heart pounded, and her mind swirled. Why had he kissed her if she wasn’t his type?

Awkward duckling. Ugly duckling. Not enough. Her childhood crush shattered in a second. Jimin was never the sweet boy she thought he was.

When she entered the locker room, Lucia glanced up from her phone, smiling ... until she noticed Sully’s red-rimmed eyes.

“Suls, what’s wrong?”

Sully shook her head and set down the crate. “I I think my contacts are scratched. Might be a tear. It's really irritating.”

Lucia frowned. “That’s serious. You need to fix it.”

Sully forced a smile. “I’ll call my eye specialist. Maybe go home early.”

Lucia nodded, still worried. “Okay…”

They finished their task and walked out, arms linked.

⚽️⚽️⚽️

Sully happily hopped into the car and headed home. A hot bath, comfy loungewear, and a romance novel from Namjoon’s shelf were all she needed. Anything to forget the boy who tore her heart apart.

She understood now. She’d never be like the girls Jimin dated, his glamorous high school sweetheart, and now the platinum-blonde Miss Argentina, Aitana.

The next day, Sully called her supervisor to take the day off. She decided to visit her grandparents home. It was always her home for the first 12 years of her life. A true Spanish girl.

The warmth of their home, the scent of baked goods, and the laughter of her grandfather as they made tartlets brought her peace. Her grandparents had big hearts, down to earth even if the reek of old money.

Dressed in cozy casual wear and her grandma’s cute pink apron, she baked her favourite sweet treats and assorted cookies and let herself enjoy the safety of love ;even if she wasn't related by blood.  The Kims and Namjoons' Argentinian grandparents  raised her, grounded her, shaped her into the woman she is today. She’d always be grateful for their love and sacrifice. She always strive to be a good daughter and not disappoint her dad and Namjoon.

She wished she had known her mother, but her dad said she doesn't look like her late mom, maybe like her unknown father. Soon, her mother’s estate would pay out...cash and properties. But she still wondered who her father was. Why did no one from her mother’s side claim her? Was her mom’s pregnancy a secret? Another mystery, like her mom’s and Namjoon’s mother and sister’s untimely deaths.

Later, as they drank tea and munch on their sweet treats, Namjoon called. He shared stories about photoshoots, interviews, and his new girlfriend. Laughter echoed through the house, wrapping Sully in a welcome, comforting embrace.

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A/n: Jimins' words were like daggers.

Thank you to all the readers who support by reading,voting and commenting. 🫠

1. What was your favourite scene?

2. Do you think Sully must distant herself from Namjoons' friends?

3. Do you think the tension between Sully and Jimin will cease if she stay away?

4. Will Jimin be able to hide his growing attraction toward Sully?

5. If you were Jimin, what will you do?

6. If you were in Sullys shoes what will you do?

7. Do you think Sully is on Aitanas radar?