[Modern Rustic Restaurant by the Lake— Brunch]
The next morning, the sun peeked over the misty lake, painting everything in soft gold.
Ivory, ever the thoughtful planner, had arranged a special congratulatory brunch at a modern rustic restaurant nearby — a beautiful place with a sprawling garden that overlooked the still waters of the lake.
The little crew buzzed with excitement as they took their seats at the long, wooden tables under the shaded terrace, a warm breeze weaving through the hanging lights above.
Ivory stood up before everyone could dig in, tapping her glass lightly. "Before we eat... I just want to thank all of you," she said, smiling brightly. "The campaign wouldn't have been half as amazing without your hard work. So today's meal — all of it — is on me. Please, eat, drink, and celebrate."
The crew erupted into claps and grateful cheers, some bowing slightly from their seats. Jake, sitting beside her, nudged her shoulder fondly, a proud smile stretching across his face.
"You're really something, you know that?" he whispered, just for her.
She grinned back. "I know."
Later, while everyone was happily sipping on local craft beers and loading up their plates with food, Jake, who had been unusually quiet, stood up with his bottle of beer.
"Be right back," he mumbled, wandering out into the garden.
Ivory and Jimin watched him go, blinking.
It had started to drizzle, soft and slow, dotting the ground and making the lush greenery smell even richer.
Ivory and Jimin spotted him through the glass windows, both of them leaning in unison to watch.
Jake walked across the stone path, head slightly tilted up to the gray sky, beer hanging loose in his tattooed hand.
His black shirt clung lightly to his frame with the mist, his hair falling in messy strands across his forehead.
He looked like — like he was trying to be the brooding main character in a K-drama. Rain, beer, brooding. The whole thing.
Ivory took a slow sip of her beer, staring at him. "...What is he doing?"
Jimin didn't even hesitate: "Thinking he's in a drama special. Episode titled: 'The Man Who Loved Too Much.'"
Ivory snorted into her drink. "More like 'The Man Who Forgot We Can See Him Being Extra AF.'"
They watched as Jake turned in a slow circle, like he was waiting for someone to cue dramatic violin music.
Jimin leaned closer, conspiratorially: "Should we throw him a rose?"
"Maybe a towel first," Ivory said, laughing into her hand.
"Maybe he's thinking about life," Ivory continued, sipping her beer. "Or maybe he's just wondering how the hell he ended up falling off a kayak yesterday."
Jimin snorted into his drink, "Bro thinks he's the main character."
Jake, catching their laughing faces through the window, flipped them off playfully before dramatically spreading his arms out, letting the light rain soak into his black tee — completely leaning into the cliché like he owned it.
"WE NEED TO SEND THIS TO THE GROUP CHAT!!" Jimin howled.
Ivory already had her phone out.
She snapped a photo of Jake looking like the poster boy for "Emotionally Damaged But Still Hot," and captioned it:
"JAKE. 24. Singer. Drama King. Will fall into a lake for love."
But Jimin wasn't done.
From the depths of his phone, he pulled out the real weapon:
The drone footage of Jake dramatically tipping over into the lake during the kayak shoot — complete with a girlish scream of "BABE, MY PHONE!!!" echoing over the water.
Without hesitation, Jimin uploaded both the tragic rain photo and the chaotic kayak footage into the group chat.
The chat exploded instantly.
[🐯 Taehyung]:
LMFAOOOO IS THIS AN ALBUM CONCEPT OR THERAPY SESSION
[🐱 Yoongi]:
...Bro what the hell is he doing LMAO.
[🧠 Namjoon]:
I thought he couldn't top falling into the lake. I was wrong.
[🐯 Taehyung]:
HE'S NOT EVEN TRYING TO BE NORMAL OMG
[🧠 Namjoon]:
This is art. Exhibit A: "Idol in Love."
Subtitled: "The Downfall of Jeon Jungkook."
[🐹 Jin]:
WHY IS HE POSING LIKE A GOBLIN COSPLAYER
This is cinema. This is history.
[🐿️ Hoseok]:
THIS IS SO EMBARRASSING I CAN'T BREATHE
Next comeback: Drenched Kookie.
[🐥 Jimin]:
Update: he's just standing there... menacingly.
[🐯 Taehyung]:
NO BUT THE WAY HE SCREAMED FOR HIS PHONE—
[🐱 Yoongi]:
Put that scream in the documentary credits. Make it the soundtrack.
Jake, eventually strolling back inside — soaked but smug — plopped down beside Ivory, stole a fry off her plate, and declared:
"You're all just jealous of my emotional depth."
Ivory and Jimin?
Absolutely howling.
Unfortunately for them, Jake heard everything.
He turned on his heel, beer still in hand, scowling (but not really) at the two of them through the mist.
"You heathens," he called out across the garden. "Let a man have his moment in peace!"
"You're literally pretending you're in Goblin right now!" Jimin shouted back, laughing so hard he almost fell out of his chair.
"I'm serious!" Jake protested, walking back toward them, his black shirt dotted with rain and his mullet slightly dripping. "It's called being cinematic. It's called artistic vision."
"It's called being dramatic as hell," Ivory said, grinning as she scooted over to make room for him.
Jake dropped heavily back into his chair, took a moody swig of his beer —
and immediately pulled Ivory into his side, soaking her with his rain-damp shirt.
"YAH!" Ivory yelped, pushing at him uselessly.
Jake just smirked lazily against her temple, mumbling, "There. Now you're in the drama too, babe."
Jimin banged the table, howling with laughter. "I CAN'T WITH YOU TWO. I HOPE IT STARTS POURING FOR REAL—"
It didn't.
But Jake, grinning and smug and very much in love, held onto his girl like he'd just won some slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers K-drama plotline.
Meanwhile, Jake's phone buzzed furiously on the table.
Jake finally noticed and checked the screen.
Saw the video thumbnail.
Saw the 87 laughing emojis.
And then he groaned so loud the entire restaurant garden looked over.
"JIMIN!" Jake barked, his ears going red. "YOU—"
"You deserve it," Jimin said smugly, taking a victorious sip of his beer. "For being the human version of a tragic love ballad."
Ivory leaned in, barely holding in her laughter. "Don't worry, Jake. You look handsome. Even when you're pretending you're heartbroken in a thunderstorm."
Jake just flopped back into his chair, covering his face with his hands.
"I'm never living this down," he mumbled, half-laughing, half-mortified.
Jimin clapped him on the back. "Congratulations. You're officially the group's new icon of love and suffering."
"And drama," Ivory added sweetly, kissing his temple.
"And rainwater," Jimin quipped.
"I hate you all," Jake grumbled into his beer.
But secretly?
He didn't mind one bit.
Not when he had this — the laughter, the teasing, the love, the family he'd built along the way.
Not when he had Ivory's hand finding his under the table, squeezing it tight.
Rain or shine, dramatic or not — Jake was exactly where he was meant to be.