My two hot Neighbors

Chapter 6: Shadows in the Spotlight

The music class was more intense than I expected. I thought we’d be playing a few instruments or humming some tunes, but it turned out we were preparing for the upcoming university festival, and I somehow ended up being nominated for the duet performance with Jeon Jungkook. The bad boy himself.

I didn’t even get to protest before everyone started clapping and cheering. I glanced at Jungkook, expecting his usual bored expression, but to my surprise, he was smirking.

“Guess we’re partners now,” he said, leaning in close enough for me to catch a faint trace of his cologne—something dark and foresty.

“Guess we are,” I said, raising a brow.

As class went on, I tried focusing on the music sheets, but something felt…off. I had this strange, crawling feeling down my spine, like someone was watching me. Not in a typical classroom way, but something colder. More invasive. I subtly glanced around but found nothing unusual.

When the class ended, I walked out with Jungkook, who, surprisingly, offered to carry my books. I was about to tease him, but then I spotted a red envelope in my locker. It was out of place—no one used red envelopes here. My heart clenched.

Dark Rose.

I opened it cautiously, the scent of roses hitting me instantly. Inside, the note read in elegant handwriting:

> “Even surrounded by a crowd, you’re still mine. The Phoenix can fly far, but I’ll always find her flames. Welcome to Seoul, Nora.”

My grip tightened. Jungkook noticed my change in expression.

“You good?” he asked, leaning slightly.

“Yeah,” I lied, slipping the envelope into my bag. “Just junk.”

But I knew better. This wasn’t over. It had only just begun.

Later that evening, I sat in my private theater room, flipping through footage from the spy cam in my locker. I’d installed it more for old habits than actual suspicion, but now… something felt worth checking.

At 7:45 AM, a hooded figure walked by my locker. They paused, scanned the area, then slipped something in.

It wasn’t a student. The build was too tall, too smooth in movement. Whoever it was, they knew exactly where my locker was—despite it being randomly assigned just this morning.

This was no fan. This was obsession. This was Dark Rose.

Just then, my phone buzzed.

[Britney: u home yet? i think ur being followed. call me. now.]

Chills ran down my spine. I bolted up and checked every window. Lights off. Curtains closed. Silence.

I FaceTimed her. Her face appeared immediately, wild blonde hair tied in a messy bun, eyes darting around.

“Nora,” she said in a low tone. “There’s a black van parked two houses from yours. Tinted windows. It’s been there for 30 minutes.”

I went to the balcony and peeked out—sure enough, the van was there. Still. Idle. Watching.

“Got it,” I said calmly. “Thanks, Brit.”

“You need me to come over? I can take the red-eye flight.”

I smiled slightly, touched. “I’ll be fine. But… maybe keep your phone close. Just in case.”

The next day, at university, everyone was buzzing about Phoenix—the mysterious agent. Posters had gone up announcing a themed event: “Unmask the Phoenix”. Students had three days to uncover who Phoenix was, and I was supposed to play along without giving anything away.

Meanwhile, group assignments continued. My trio of Taehyung, Jungkook, and Chanyeol were surprisingly good at teamwork—though the tension between Jungkook and Taehyung was obvious. If looks could kill, Seoul would’ve been in ruins.

During our research session, Chanyeol casually asked, “So, who do you think Phoenix is?”

Taehyung smirked. “Probably some wannabe agent who watched too many spy movies.”

Jungkook raised a brow. “Or someone real. Someone dangerous. Sexy, even.”

I rolled my eyes. “Maybe it’s you, Jungkook.”

He gave me that lopsided grin. “Wouldn’t that be a twist?”

You have no idea.

Later, as we walked out of class, Taehyung slowed his pace beside me.

“You’ve changed,” he said softly.

I turned to him. “What do you mean?”

“You smile less. Laugh less. But your eyes—they still carry fire.”

I didn’t know what to say to that.

And just as I was about to respond, my phone buzzed again.

Another message.

[Unknown: That boy who touched your hand today… next time, he won’t have one.]

I froze.

Jungkook and Taehyung noticed immediately.

“Nora?” Jungkook asked, stepping closer.

I stared at the screen, then back up.

“I need to go,” I said.

And I ran.

To be continued…