Soobin ended up staying the night, and Taehyung texted Jungkook that he'd be late. Now that it's a new morning, he walks to school with Soobin. He can't deny he misses Taehyung, and yes, Jungkook was looking forward to seeing him first thing in the morning; however, he'll just have to wait.

"I practised so hard, yet you still beat me every time," Soobin whines.

"You're still thinking about that?" Jungkook chuckles. They spent the entire night playing Smash and Soobin wouldn't give up, despite losing every round. Jungkook thought of purposely losing just so they could go to sleep, but he felt it would be a disservice to Soobin knowing how hard he was trying just to get one win.

"How do I get better?" Soobin asks.

"With time. The reason I'm better is that I've been playing the game for a long time. You've improved so much!" Jungkook smiles, watching Soobin's eyes light up. "Last time we played, you couldn't even Up B."

Soobin giggles with joy. "You're right! I can at least make it back to the stage when you hit me off."

Jungkook nods. "Come over more. I'll teach you."

"Can Taehyung teach me too?"

Jungkook frowns. "Am I not good enough?"

"I want to learn from the best!"

"Hey! You little-"Jungkook chases Soobin down the street while they both laugh in between puffs. This is nice. That feeling of contentment fades when Jungkook sees Naeun waiting at the school gate.

"Jungkook~" Naeun waves. "Can we talk?" She looks at Soobin. "In private."

Jungkook looks at Soobin, then back to Naeun. "Soobin can stay."

Soobin shakes his head timidly, waving his hands in front of him. "No, it's fine. See you in class." He bows, then rushes off.

Jungkook keeps a groan in, waiting for whatever Naeun has to say. Nothing good has come out of this girl's mouth; he doesn't expect much from her.

"Okay," Naeun starts, straightening her posture. Her hair gently flows as a gust of wind blows by. "I need your help."

Jungkook snorts. "Really?"

Naeun nods.

"After all you've done, you want my help?" Jungkook laughs.

Naeun rolls her eyes, putting a hand on her hip. "Hear me out."

"I'm listening," Jungkook says, giggles still escaping. He could hear Naeun say this a few more times, just to uplift his mood. It's not every day Naeun shows her vulnerable side.

"We're in big trouble." Naeun's face is serious, only heightening Jungkook's amusement. He can't think of a time when Naeun has given him a look this desperate before.

"We are?"

Naeun nods. "You're being blackmailed, right?"

"Are you here to blackmail me, too?" It wouldn't be the first time—or second.

Naeun rolls her eyes. "Don't come to a conclusion without hearing me out." She looks around before leaning closer. "We might have our differences, but this is our common ground; a common enemy."

Jungkook nods, listening more intently.

"It's Mina." Naeun looks around again, probably to make sure no one is listening. "The other day I let her sit at my table at lunch, and we became a little close—at least that's what I thought."

"Oh?"

"That backstabbing bitch stole something of mine."

Jungkook scoffs. "That's it?"

"No. Not only that, but she's using it against me."

Jungkook laughs again. "Oh, how the tables have turned," he sing-songs.

"Shut up. You're meant to help."

"I'm not obliged to do so."

Naeun whines. "What don't you understand about 'common enemy'?"

"I don't know." Jungkook sighs. I don't really want to partake in your girl drama."

"It's not! This involves you!"

"Why?" Jungkook raises a brow. "And how?"

Naeun stomps her feet. "It does. Just... Trust me... Please?"

Jungkook brushes her off. "I have to go." He starts to walk. "See you around."

Naeun calls out in desperation, "Jeon Jungkook! Don't walk away from me!"

💌

"A reminder that your parents need to sign the permission form for swimming classes starting on the first Monday after the summer holidays," the homeroom teacher announces. "This is to prepare you for the swimming carnival later in the semester."

A mixture of groans and whispers flood the room. Personally, Jungkook isn't a fan of the swimming carnival, and he's definitely not a fan of the swimming lessons.

"Finally." Taehyung turns to Jungkook. "Something I'm good at."

Jungkook sighs. "I can't even float. Why do they have to torture us like this?"

"These lessons are here to help you float."

"I don't want to float."

"Then you'll drown."

"Good. Let me."

Taehyung chuckles. "Well, at least I get to see you in cute swimwear."

"Pervert."

"You love it."

Jungkook turns away from Taehyung's annoying face as his phone vibrates.

Mina:

Aren't you getting a bit too close?

Jungkook frowns. He looks at Taehyung and then thinks about him in a swimsuit. It's never really crossed his mind, but now images of tight-fitting speedos hugging all the right places on Taehyung's lower body, sending blood down south to his own. He slaps his cheeks and then sends a reply to Mina.

Jungkook:

Nothing you should worry about x

Jungkook is proud of his reply, but it's short-lived.

Mina:

Something you should be worried about is this:

Jungkook looks to Mina and nearly squeaks, seeing the photo she's using to blackmail him in full screen up in plain sight. Anyone could see making him angrily mouth the words, 'put it down.'

"What are you looking at?" Taehyung asks. He turns to see what the fuss is.

Mina quickly puts her phone down, waving with a big fat fake smile. Naeun's proposition earlier is suddenly more attractive.

"We haven't seen Mina in a while," Taehyung says. "She's a nice girl."

Jungkook lips thin. It's disappointing that Taehyung still likes Mina to a certain extent.

"What?" Taehyung nudges Jungkook.

"Yeah, very nice." Jungkook looks back to Mina, who is flicking through her notebook, giggling. Sus.

💌

Jungkook, Soobin and Jimin are sitting around the cafeteria table. Jungkook views Jimin differently after Soobin spilled some tea about his past, and now he's even noticed things he usually would never pay attention to; like the fact that Yoongi always sits two tables away from theirs, having a perfect view of Jimin.

Jungkook also notices Naeun is missing from her usual table—in her place is Mina. He needs to be cautious around Seokjin after seeing him whisper into Mina's ear.

"Jungkookie~ Feed me," Taehyung coos, opening his mouth.

"Do it yourself." Jungkook turns his shoulder to block Taehyung's adorable face. Now is not the time to be ogling over Taehyung. It's time to come up with a battle plan to make Mina delete the photo.

"Please," Taehyung whines.

"Stop, people are going to look," Jungkook mutters, hoping Soobin and Jimin didn't catch on.

Taehyung pouts.

Jungkook tries to distract himself by striking up a conversation with Jimin, but it's interrupted by Taehyung's hand touching his leg. His breath hitches but he tries his hardest to make it not noticeable, but it gets harder when the hand treads dangerously close to his nether region.

Flustered, Jungkook quickly stands up. "I'm getting banana milk."

Walking off, he tries to rid his mind of all ungodly thoughts. Why the hell was Taehyung trying to feel him up in the middle of a busy cafeteria?

"Jungkook." Seokjin taps Jungkook on the shoulder. He wonders what Seokjin wants—just a second ago, he was for sure gossiping with Mina.

"Seokjin," Jungkook says back.

"I saw you and thought, hey, why not exchange socials since we are partners in food studies?"

Jungkook clenches his jaw and nods. "Sure." However, Jungkook didn't sound too sure—he sounded more like the epitome of unsure.

Seokjin smiles, taking Jungkook's phone out of his hands, and inputting his digits before handing it back. "I think I have nearly everyone in this school now."

This means Jungkook was very low on his priority list until now. Is he really that irrelevant? He takes a banana milk and returns to his table.

"None for me?" Taehyung whines, trying to take Jungkook's banana milk.

"You don't even like banana milk."

"I like anything that you like," Taehyung says.

Jungkook pokes his tongue out, sticking the straw into the milk and taking a long quenching sip just to rub it in Taehyung's face.

The cafeteria seemed to have quietened down, making Jungkook insecure about the scene he just made. He looks around. Everyone is watching him. Is there something on his face?

"May I sit here?" Naeun asks, a tray full of food. It's like the whole cafeteria held their breath as they're all collectively shocked at Naeun's presence at their table.

"Uh..." Jungkook puts his banana milk on the table.

"Say yes already. The whole cafeteria has their eyes on us," Jimin says.

"Sure." Jungkook gulps. He guesses it's convenient now that Jungkook wants to follow up on the whole common enemy situation (if that's still on the table.)

Naeun grins, sliding next to Taehyung. This must be driving Mina mad, and Jungkook would live for it if it were any other person, but the person happens to be Taehyung and his feelings are getting in the way.

"Move aside." More whispers and gasps echo through the room as Yoongi sits next to Jungkook.

"W-What are you here for?" Jungkook asks.

Jimin is looking away from Yoongi, who is staring him down.

"Don't ask questions," Yoongi snaps, taking Jungkook's banana milk.

"Hey! That's mine." Jungkook feels violated as Yoongi takes a sip.

"Why does he get to have it?!" Taehyung stands up, leaning over the table to grab Yoongi's collar. "He's mine!"

"He's yours?" Yoongi raises a brow, clasping his hand over Taehyung's clenched fist in an effort to free himself.

Everyone at the table (and cafeteria) is looking at Taehyung for answers.

"U-Um." Taehyung lets go of Yoongi, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "The banana milk..."

There's a vibration in Jungkook's pocket, prompting him to panic-look at Mina's table, but she's not there—she's storming out of the cafeteria.

Shit.

How did things escalate like this?

💌

A.N: Thanks for reading💜