Location: Incheon International Airport, Korea

Time: Late afternoon

Scene: Arrival – AK and Jungkook return from Japan.

☁️ Scene 1 — Arrival: AK & Jungkook

The sliding glass doors of the airport hissed open, and a soft breeze brushed through the crowd. She stepped out first—poised, dressed in elegant neutrals, face half-covered by a soft beige mask and large sunglasses.

Kim Aurora.

Or the world’s version of her.

Beside her, laughing softly while juggling their bags, was Jungkook—golden boy, singer, sunshine, and her best friend since childhood.

> “You look like a mafia queen in that coat,” Jungkook teased as they walked through the terminal.

She returns from Japan with Jungkook, the “innocent” younger sister with a warm family welcome…

But only Taehyung and Yoongi know she’s not the same girl they said goodbye to.

Behind her soft smile is a calculating mind.

Behind the “cute” aura is a queen who’s already planning her next move.

📍 Setting: Private terminal, late evening

Characters Present: Kim brothers, Jungkook, AK (Aurora), Cousins, Jackson, Eunwoo (arrives later)

POV: Third person, limited (Yoongi/Taehyung observe; switch to AK briefly)

---

✒️ Chapter 1: The Return

The terminal was quiet, drenched in soft gold lighting as the private jet touched down. Outside, the air hung with a kind of nervous warmth. Homecomings always carried weight—but this one felt different.

Kim Taehyung stood with his hands in his pockets, jaw tense.

Beside him, Yoongi’s eyes were trained on the staircase that unfolded from the jet, expression unreadable.

The others didn’t notice it.

They stood there, laughing, excited.

“Jungkookie’s finally back!” Jimin grinned, waving eagerly.

“Aurora too. Wonder if she’s still that clumsy little pup,” Namjoon chuckled.

Jin sighed dramatically. “She better not cry the second she sees me again.”

Taehyung didn’t smile.

Because she wasn’t going to cry.

And she wasn’t a pup anymore.

---

The first figure down the stairs was Jeon Jungkook—confident as ever, dressed in black with his signature smirk.

The second…

Was silence itself.

Aurora stepped into the lights slowly.

Her long coat fluttered behind her, dark hair swept into a loose knot, minimal makeup, and calm, wide eyes that sparkled with practiced softness.

To the untrained eye, she looked the same.

But Taehyung felt the difference like a blade to the throat.

Yoongi’s voice was low. “She’s not the girl they remember.”

Aurora smiled—just enough.

“hyung,” she whispered, running into Jin’s arms first.

He lifted her up in a hug, eyes welling.

“Still my little sister,” he murmured. “Still my baby girl.”

She smiled again. Hugged them all.

Namjoon. Hoseok. Jimin. Even Jackson pulled her into a warm spin, pretending to be emotional.

It was perfect.

Too perfect.

Because not once did her heartbeat quicken.

Not once did her mask crack.

---

🩶 Later That Night:

After the welcome dinner, while everyone lounged in the family estate...

AK’s room was dark.

She stood by the window, slipping on her earrings—silver daggers designed to look delicate.

Behind her, Taehyung leaned against the wall.

“They didn’t notice,” he said.

“Of course not,” she replied softly, adjusting her sleeve.

Yoongi’s voice came from the door. “You still play the role too well.”

She turned, smiling faintly. “Isn’t that what I was trained for?”

“Your eyes didn’t soften even once,” Taehyung murmured.

Aurora’s gaze darkened. “I don’t have that luxury anymore.”

---

🕯️ Scene End Beat:

Just before she leaves for the next morning’s meeting...

Jungkook (still unaware of her secret) finds her in the hallway.

“ruru,” he says, looking puzzled. “You’ve changed.”

She tilts her head, smile perfectly placed.

“That’s what Japan does to people, Kook.”

But behind her back, she’s already opening her secured phone.

KA Group. Meeting confirmed.

Time to stop being Aurora.

Time to be AK.

📍 Setting: KA Group Boardroom, Seoul

Characters Present: AK (as CEO), Jeon Eunwoo, KA Executives

POV: Third Person Limited – Eunwoo

---

The boardroom was silent.

Not empty—silent.

People sat still, tablets open, pens clicking nervously. The air carried something dense… something sharp, like the moment before a storm breaks.

Jeon Eunwoo adjusted his cufflinks, his jaw ticking in growing impatience.

He hated late meetings. Hated faceless CEOs who thought power was best served cold and distant.

And yet—he was here.

Because KA Group wasn’t just a company. It was a phantom empire. Untouchable. Ruthless.

And today, the CEO herself had summoned him.

Except… no one had ever seen her.

Rumors floated—

“She’s old.”

“She’s inherited the power from a mafia clan.”

“She’s a ghost. A man in disguise. A machine.”

Eunwoo didn’t believe any of that crap.

He believed in control, structure, order.

Not myths.

So when the doors opened and the room stood—he didn’t.

Not until she walked in.

---

She didn’t speak at first.

She just moved—like she owned the air everyone else breathed.

Dressed in black, her hair pinned neatly, not a single piece out of place. Her heels didn’t even click against the marble floor.

But her presence did.

Eunwoo’s eyes narrowed.

Young. Too young.

Eyes like smoke—unreadable. Cold.

Lips pressed in a neutral line. Expression soft. But there was nothing soft in her energy.

> That’s not a girl.

That’s a weapon with a pulse.

She sat at the head of the table, folding one leg over the other.

“Begin,” she said softly.

It wasn’t a request.

And suddenly, silence turned into obedience.

---

🧊 Meeting Begins:

“Mr. Jeon,” she said, voice smooth and neutral. “I hear your expansion team is requesting space in Tokyo. That area falls under our watch.”

Eunwoo smiled politely. “We’re aware. I assumed you’d appreciate directness.”

She tilted her head, still unreadable. “I appreciate precision more than politeness.”

Touché.

His lips curved faintly. “Then allow me to be precise: I believe our collaboration could benefit both sides.”

AK stared at him for a moment longer than was polite.

Not flirtation. Not challenge. Just… calculation.

> Why does she look at me like she’s solving an equation?

> Like I’m not an equal—just a variable.

“Noted,” she finally said, eyes lowering to her tablet. “We’ll consider it.”

---

🔥 Eunwoo’s Inner Thoughts (POV):

He hated her.

No—scratch that.

He hated the way she didn’t flinch, didn’t rush, didn’t smile like the rest of the over-eager executives.

She wasn’t impressed by him. And that irritated him more than it should.

> Who the hell is she?

> Why does her voice sound vaguely familiar?

---

🕯️ Scene Break: After the Meeting

Everyone filed out. Except Eunwoo.

He lingered near the windows, under the pretense of checking messages.

She stood alone at the head of the table, collecting her notes. Still graceful. Still composed.

So he tried.

“Miss AK,” he said, voice like velvet with just enough edge.

“I didn’t expect the infamous CEO to be so… understated.”

She didn’t even look up.

“Underestimation makes control easier.”

His brows twitched. “Interesting strategy.”

Her eyes finally lifted—and met his.

And something flickered.

He didn’t know what it was. Recognition? Curiosity?

But she smiled, just slightly.

Not sweet.

Sharp.

“You’ll get used to it, Mr. Jeon.”

Then she turned and walked out—

And for the first time since arriving, Eunwoo forgot why he came.

---

✨ End of Chapter 2

The Kim Mansion buzzed with warmth that evening. Laughter echoed down the hallways, servants moved briskly preparing dinner, and familiar fragrances of eucalyptus and sandalwood hung in the air—Aurora was home.

She padded down the polished wooden hallway barefoot, dressed in soft grey joggers and an oversized sweatshirt. Her long hair was loosely tied up, the image of cozy innocence.

"You're finally looking human again," a deep voice teased behind her.

She turned—and there he stood. Cha Eunwoo.

In a crisp button-down, sleeves rolled to the elbows, leaning against the doorframe with that lazy, half-smile he always wore around her. He looked like something out of a tailored dream: sharp jaw, those damn eyes, and a presence that never tried too hard yet always made her heart skip in ways she refused to admit.

"Oppa," she greeted, grinning. “Didn’t expect to see you lounging around here.”

"I live two floors up, genius," he chuckled, walking over with two mugs in hand. “Green tea. Still your favorite, right?”

"Depends," she said, accepting the cup. "Is this before or after you started stealing my cookies at 3 a.m.?"

He laughed. “That was one time. And your baking skills were suspiciously good for someone claiming to ‘just be average.’”

She took a sip, eyes narrowing. “Maybe I’m not average.”

Something flickered in his gaze. Just for a second.

“I never thought you were.”

The words hung heavier than either of them intended. A small silence followed—comfortable but crackling underneath.

She broke it with a smirk. “You’ve gotten better at compliments. Japan must’ve made me soft.”

“You? Soft?” He arched a brow, amused. “You were literally a marshmallow in high school. Remember the time you cried over a drama character dying?”

“I was twelve!” she argued, pushing his arm playfully. “And he was poisoned!”

They both laughed, the kind that came from memories etched deep into their bones.

Eunwoo sat beside her on the lounge sofa in the sunroom, their shoulders barely touching. “It’s good to have you back, Aroua.”

Her smile faltered for half a second before recovering.

“It’s good to be back,” she said. But her voice was softer, like the words didn’t come easy.

He noticed. Of course, he did. Eunwoo always noticed.

But he didn’t press. Not yet.

Instead, he looked out at the garden through the glass. “Tae said you’ve changed. Grown sharper.”

She tilted her head, watching him. “Do you think I have?”

He turned back to her, their eyes locking for just a moment too long. “I think... you hide more now.”

A pause. Her heart slowed. Her fingers curled around the mug.

“Maybe I’ve learned some people are better at watching than asking.”

“Maybe,” he murmured. “But some people are better at waiting than chasing.”

She stared at him. He smiled softly, then bumped her shoulder with his.

> “So? Ready to lose to me at Uno again?”

“Only if you promise not to cry when I reverse+4 you.”

She giggled, rising with him, and in that moment—no secrets existed, no lies hovered, no blood or power or shadows.

Just two souls, brushing close in the eye of a storm neither of them could see coming.

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