His stylists buzzed around, hurriedly finishing the final touches — tugging on a high-neck sleeveless tee over him to fully hide the evidence from last night.
(And by evidence, everyone meant Ivory's crimes.)
The shirt clung to his broad shoulders, leaving his full sleeve tattoos deliciously on display — a striking contrast against the soft exhaustion on his face.
His dark mullet brushed against his nape, messy but stupidly attractive.
Ivory was escorted back behind the stage since the madness of the fans outside almost bulldozed her from the VIP seats. Mr. Lee opted for her to stay back stage before the show starts.
Ivory sat next to Jake, a few feet away, pretending to scroll on her phone, but she wasn't fooling anybody.
She was simping so hard it should've been illegal.
Her outfit didn't help either — a delicate backless white top, tied lazily at the back, paired with a lemon-printed midi skirt that kissed her ankles and strappy sandals.
Her cheeks were already pink, lips flushed a wicked shade of cherry, despite doing absolutely nothing except exist (and stare at her boyfriend like he was a snack).
Jake caught her in the mirror, his sleepy eyes sharpening into something teasing.
"Enjoying the view, princess?" he murmured low enough for only her to hear.
Ivory had the audacity to smirk. "Who wouldn't?"
She leaned her shoulder against the wall, unabashedly drinking him in.
Jake huffed a laugh under his breath, but it turned into a groan when the stylist tugged at the neck of the shirt again.
"This is because of you," he said, voice playfully accusing. "Had to wear a turtleneck at a rock festival because you couldn't keep your mouth off me last night."
Ivory innocently batted her lashes. "You were irresistible."
She gave a cheeky shrug, the back of her top fluttering open just enough to reveal more skin.
Jake cursed softly under his breath, dragging a hand down his face.
"You're lucky I'm already late," he muttered, trying and failing to look annoyed.
Jimin, watching from the side with a full cup of coffee, burst out laughing. "Good god, get a room!"
Then he pointed at Jake's neck. "Or at least better tape next time, Kook!"
Jake flipped him off behind the stylist's back.
Ivory blew Jake a kiss, mouthing, "Good luck, my rich roast," before slipping out of the room tugging Jimin with her—
leaving Jake stunned, smiling helplessly, and completely ruined for the rest of the day.
[Later, at the show]
Jimin sat in the VIP section, waving his lightstick like a true supportive bestie.
Ivory sat beside him, trying not to burst from pride as Jake performed with a glow even brighter than usual.
Halfway through a song, Jake spotted them—
and right in the middle of a high note, he grinned so wide it was almost dangerous.
He pointed subtly toward them, mouthing, "My people."
Jimin nearly cried into his lightstick in a dramatically exaggerating way. Ivory just laughed and gave Jake a thumbs up.
[Backstage after the concert]
Jake was still buzzing from the concert when Ivory and Jimin barged into his dressing room, both carrying mischievous grins like they were plotting a heist.
"Alright, boys," Ivory clapped her hands once, holding up her laptop with a proud little flourish. "Congratulations! You're now officially the full faces of JaKed Up Coffee!"
Jake, wiping sweat from his neck, blinked. "Wait... Jimin's finalized already?"
Jimin laughed, "She stole a photo of me from your phone, dude. That adorable shot of me eating gelato? Yeah, that's now the Sweet Roast concept."
Jake groaned into his towel. "I knew you were up to something."
Ivory winked. "Your Rich Roast campaign's already shot and set. But this guy," she pointed at Jimin, "needs a proper shoot. We can't just drop a gelato pic."
Jimin puffed his chest. "I deserve my own glamorous moment!"
Jake snorted. "You're sweet and dramatic. Perfect match."
"And," Ivory said with a grin, "since you two are overdue for some fresh air, we're doing a relaxed camping and kayaking shoot tomorrow. Rustic, outdoorsy, soft-boy-core. Perfect for both flavors."
Jake raised a brow. "Kayaking?"
Ivory smirked. "Yep. 'Cause nothing says real like two handsome guys roasting marshmallows and capsizing a kayak."
Jimin immediately burst out laughing. "Sold."
Jake mock-glared. "This is entrapment. I'm reporting you."
Ivory just blew him a kiss. "Love you too, Rich Roast."
[Back at the Hotel – After Jake's New York Concert]
The moment Jake kicked the hotel room door shut behind them, he didn't bother with anything else.
The duffel bag, his jacket, even his hat — everything hit the floor with a heavy thud.
Ivory barely had time to blink before she found herself swept up into Jake's arms, laughing and yelping in surprise.
"Jake—!"
"Remember what I said?" he growled playfully into her ear, walking them straight toward the bathroom. "When I get back, you're dead."
"You serious?" she gasped, giggling as she clutched at his shoulders. "You just performed for hours! Shouldn't you be dead on your feet?"
"Oh, I still have plenty left," Jake shot back, kicking the bathroom door open. "Thanks to a certain someone parading around in a backless top and a lemon-printed skirt all day."
Ivory squealed as the cool tiles kissed her skin, her back bumping against the shower wall as Jake pinned her there with a wicked grin.
Without another word, he reached over and turned on the water, the showerhead spraying a warm, sudden mist over them.
Ivory shrieked at the unexpected warmth, batting at his chest — but Jake only laughed, a low, husky sound that made her knees wobble.
And then he kissed her.
Hungry, deep, desperate — like he hadn't touched her in years.
His fingers tangled into her dampening hair, his mouth moving against hers like he could drink her laughter, her sweetness, her very soul.
Ivory melted into him, her arms winding around his neck, pulling him closer still.
There was no concert crowd here.
No flashing lights.
No heavy expectations.
Just Jake.
And her.
And the shower cascading around them, washing away the tiredness, the world, everything but the two of them.
Jake whispered against her lips, "Payback's a beautiful thing, Angel."
Ivory couldn't help but think, as his kisses grew fiercer, deeper,
that if this was payback—
she was going to be very, very dead by morning.
And honestly?
She wouldn't mind at all.
***
[The next morning. Lake CampSite]
Jake slumped against the side of the van, a giant thermos of coffee glued to his hand, sunglasses hiding his tired eyes.
Ivory, fresh as a daisy in her flowy floral dress and messy bun, practically floated around, handing out breakfast bars and bottled water to the small crew.
Jimin took one look at Jake — hair a mess under his cap, jaw tight, walking like a man twenty years older — and immediately started howling.
"Bro..." Jimin gasped between cackles, nearly dropping his breakfast. "You look like you fought a grizzly bear. What the hell happened to you?"
Jake glared over his sunglasses. "Mind your business, Park."
"Oh, I AM minding it," Jimin said, delighted, clapping his hands. "It's written all over your face — and your neck. You're lucky the makeup team had enough industrial tape and concealer for the crime scene yesterday."
Ivory breezed past, offering Jake a bottle of water with a sweet smile that was WAY too innocent.
"Drink up, love," she chirped, batting her lashes. "You'll need it after the night you had."
Jake nearly choked on air.
Jimin roared. "SHE SAID IT, NOT ME!"
Jake scrubbed a hand down his face, muttering under his breath about traitors and backless tops being illegal weapons.
"I'm telling you," Jimin said as they started unloading the kayaks. "Next time Ivory's out of the country, I'm kidnapping you. Third wheeling duty. You're too soft when she's around."
Jake, deadpan, shot back, "At least I'm not the Sweet Roast mascot."
Jimin gasped. "YOU TAKE THAT BACK—"
Meanwhile, Ivory just whistled innocently, adjusting her glasses and pretending she wasn't the sole reason Jake looked like a man clinging to the last shred of his dignity.
And she loved every second of it.
[Lake Scene – Sweet Roast Kayak Shoot]
The air was fresh, the lake glistening under a soft drizzle, the kayaks bobbing playfully by the wooden dock.
Jake and Jimin were already suited up, life jackets secured, GoPros strapped to their chests, while Ivory perched comfortably under a canopy nearby, watching the live drone footage on a monitor with the crew.
"This is going to be good," Ivory whispered mischievously to a staff member, crossing her arms as she leaned closer to the screen.
Out on the dock, Jake smirked, flexing dramatically as he helped push his kayak into the water. "First one across the lake wins eternal bragging rights," he declared, flashing a cocky grin at Jimin.
"And a swift punch from karma," Jimin shot back, laughing as he slid into his kayak with the agility of a caffeinated cat.
"Don't jinx it!" Jake called, effortlessly settling into his kayak with a flourish — too effortlessly. He even flashed Ivory a cocky grin.
"Watch and learn, babe."
Cue Jake immediately leaning the wrong way —
SPLOOSH!!!
On the monitor, Ivory saw it happen in perfect, cinematic HD: one second Jake was upright, a vision of grace; the next, the kayak tilted violently, and Jake tumbled headfirst into the lake like a character out of a slapstick comedy.
"JAKE!!!" Ivory let out a shriek-laugh so loud it startled half the crew. "Oh My God." she wheezed, clutching her stomach.
Jimin burst into unholy cackles, slapping the surface of the lake with his paddle. "THE UNIVERSE HAS SPOKEN!!" he hollered. "THIS IS KARMA, YOU COCKY LITTLE—"
The small production crew and Mr. Lee scattered in a frenzy, shouting, "Is he okay?! JungKook-ssi! JungKook-ssi!!"" as they rushed toward him, pairs of hands reaching out to him even the owner of the Lake CampSite. Nervous of having a global superstar drown on his lake.
Jake surfaced a second later, sputtering, hair flattened against his forehead, shirt plastered to his chest, the sleeve of tattoos looking somehow even hotter while he looked like a drowned cat. His face twisted in pure, dramatic betrayal.
"BABE!!" he sputtered, spinning in the water like an angry sea otter. "MY PHONE?! DO YOU HAVE MY PHONE??" As he sat on the dock, his hands flying to every pockets of his pants.
From her seat by the monitor, Ivory calmly held up his phone, waving it with a victorious grin. "Safe and dry, love!" she chirped brightly, the entire crew giggling behind her.
Jake shot her the most wounded look imaginable as he clung to the rescue boat. "You think this is funny?!"
"I think this is the greatest day of my life," Ivory managed between hiccuping fits of laughter.
Meanwhile, Jimin, still comfortably afloat in his kayak like he was born for this moment, pointed a triumphant finger. "BRO, KARMA'S A B*TCH RIGHT??"
"Delete the footage," Jake growled as the drizzle intensified, water dripping from his nose.
"Absolutely not," Jimin smirked, paddling a lazy circle around him. "This is going straight to the group chat. THE SIX DORKS PLUS ONE LUCKY BASTARD NEED TO SEE THIS IMMEDIATELY!!"
Ivory was crying from laughing so hard, still filming Jake's sad, drenched form dragging himself back onto the dock like a shipwreck survivor. Dripping and glaring, she gasped through her giggles, "You still look stupidly hot!"
Jake locked eyes with her from across the dock, his expression melting from betrayed annoyance to a helpless, lovesick smile.
Because despite the shivering, despite the humiliation... seeing her so happy — absolutely glowing with laughter — made it all worth it.
And honestly?
He'd fall into a lake a thousand more times just to hear her laugh like that again.
The cameras clicked wildly in the background —capturing the realest, purest Sweet Roast moment possible.(The marketing team later agreed it was the best ad material they'd ever gotten.)
[Campfire Scene – Post Kayak Chaos]
They sat by the crackling campfire, cozy in sweaters and beanies, mugs of Rich Roast and Sweet Roast coffee warming their hands.
The shoot was done, but Ivory insisted they keep it real—no fancy catering, just grilled cheese sandwiches, roasted marshmallows, and the stars above them.
Everyone was bundled in cozy blankets, drying off from their lake debacle.
Jake plopped down right next to her — so close their arms pressed together — and immediately wormed under her blanket too, draping it over both of them without even asking.
"Jake—" she laughed, trying to nudge him, "you have your own—"
"Cold," Jake mumbled, shameless, pressing his nose into the curve of her neck. "You owe me after dragging me into open water to die."
Ivory snorted. "You flipped yourself over, genius."
"Semantics." His arms wrapped tight around her waist, locking her in place like a clingy octopus.
Jimin, roasting a marshmallow across the fire, groaned loudly.
"Oh, my GOD." he said, mock disgusted. "Can you two, for once, not treat public spaces like your own private honeymoon suite?"
He ripped the toasted marshmallow off the stick and shoved it aggressively into his mouth, glaring at them.
Jake, with zero remorse, only cuddled closer. "Cry about it."
"I WILL," Jimin shot back, mouth full. "I can even imagine your face when I do those lovey-dovey things in front of you while you cry at a corner screaming in pain. Ivoryyyyy Ivoryyyyy. My Ivoryyyy." Jimin exaggerates his crying-screaming of Ivory's name.
Ivory laughed, cheeks flushed, pretending to look scandalized. "You're just jealous you don't have anyone to share a soggy blanket with."
Jimin dramatically clutched his chest. "I'M JEALOUS OF NOTHING EXCEPT MY LOST PEACE."
He flung a spare marshmallow at Jake, who caught it easily and popped it in his mouth without moving from Ivory's side.
Jake only smiled lazily, looking completely at peace under the stars, warm fire flickering in his dark eyes.
He didn't care if they were getting roasted by Jimin —
he had his girl, his blanket, and exactly zero plans to move.
(He was never letting go. Not now, not ever.)
"This," Jake murmured, smiling at Ivory, "is the kind of memory I wanna replay in my head when I'm away."
Ivory squeezed his hand. "It'll be waiting for you when you come back."
Jake, warm and sleepy and absolutely wrecked by how pretty Ivory looked in the firelight — her cheeks pink, her lips glossy, her eyes sparkling — leaned in, bumping his forehead lightly against hers.
"You're trouble," he whispered, his voice low and scratchy from laughing too much earlier.
Ivory grinned, tipping her head up closer. "You love it."
Jake chuckled under his breath, brushing a stray hair off her face, fingers lingering. His eyes dropped to her lips.
A second passed —
two —
and then without thinking — quick, sharp, greedy — he stole a kiss.
Just a soft, fast press of his mouth against hers, hidden under the blanket like a secret they weren't supposed to have.
It would've gone completely unnoticed —
if not for Jimin turning around at that exact moment.
"YAH—!" Jimin shrieked, nearly dropping his marshmallow skewer. "I TURN MY BACK FOR TWO SECONDS—"
Jake pulled back, way too smug, while Ivory immediately burst into uncontrollable giggles, covering her face.
"This is why you're banned from being happy in public!" Jimin wailed, dramatically throwing his hands in the air like he was cursing the stars. "YOU'RE MENACES. YOU'RE— YOU'RE A PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD."
Jake only pulled Ivory closer, shameless as ever. "Get better timing, Jimin-ssi."
"I HOPE YOU FALL IN THE LAKE AGAIN TOMORROW," Jimin snapped.
Jake laughed so hard he had to hide his face in Ivory's shoulder.
And Ivory, breathless from giggling, only whispered, "Worth it."
Jake's fingers tightened around her waist, whispering back with a grin, "Always."
The stars above sparkled brighter, and the night wrapped around them like a blessing.