It's all going to plan. Jungkook opened his locker, and the look on Taehyung's face is... well it's... the face. You know, the one that makes Jungkook's insides burn—but in a good way.

"Really? Another one?" Taehyung scans the hallway, not knowing that the culprit is right in front of his eyes. "What does it say this time?"

Jungkook guards the note. "Why should I show you?"

"Because I'm your friend."

Yeah, a friend who hates the fact that he is capable of receiving attention, Jungkook wants to say, taking his backpack out from his locker.

"Are you actually enjoying this?" Taehyung asks, leaning next to Jungkook's locker with his arms crossed.

"I'm not phased," Jungkook says.

"Right. The smile on your face says otherwise."

Jungkook closes his locker, putting his hands up in the air. "Geez, fine. I enjoy it. What are you going to do about it?"

Taehyung uncrosses his arms, straightening his posture. "If you like it, who am I to tell you otherwise."

Jungkook nods cautiously. He hands the note to Taehyung. "You can read it." He watches Taehyung unfold the note.

"I would say god bless you, but it seems he already has—okay, this one is funny. Why can't someone send me funny notes?" Taehyung says, drawing attention from a group of girls nearby.

Right? When I came across that one, I knew I had to write it down, Jungkook almost says; taking his normally lacking self-love to the next level.

"Actually, I take that back," Taehyung says, looking to the girls.

Jungkook however, fixates his eyes down the hall, recognising a figure being pushed up against a locker. He tugs on Taehyung's uniform, saying, "Hey, isn't that Soobin?"

Taehyung follows Jungkook's gaze, squinting. "Who is all up in his face?"

They walk closer to the two in question. Jungkook weighs up if the compromising position is malicious or homoerotic. He slaps his cheeks, ridding the latter from his mind.

"Soobin," Taehyung calls out, breaking the two out of whatever was happening there.

"Oh—Hi, Taehyung, Jungkook," Soobin says, looking flushed. "This is uh—"

"Yoongi," Taehyung says dully.

"Nice to see you too, Kim," Yoongi says, putting his hands in his pockets, looking at Jungkook with a slight nod. "Jeon."

Yoongi and Jungkook have never gotten along. He's sometimes been forced to work on group projects with him, unfortunately. Yoongi had the whole school calling him 'Taehyung's dog' in year eight. "Look, Jungkook is lost without his owner," Yoongi would say.

Jungkook wasn't good at standing up for himself back then—not that much has improved. He would happily let Taehyung do all the talking for him, and he's sure Taehyung didn't mind; in fact, Taehyung would insist on defending him, somewhat like a knight in shining armour. He cringes. Is it weird to call your friend a knight?

"What were you two doing?" Taehyung asks, raising a brow.

"None of your business, Kim. Go back to whatever you two do," Yoongi says, distaste clear in his voice.

Taehyung ignores Yoongi, looking to Soobin. "Is he causing you problems?"

Yoongi scoffs. "What a shock. I've never seen you care about anyone else apart from Jungkook."

Taehyung frowns. "Soobin is Jungkook's friend, so he is a friend of mine," he says.

Jungkook wouldn't go as far as calling Soobin his friend; he's just someone who sits at their table; but sure, he'll let Taehyung assume.

"I—" Soobin starts but instead looks away.

"If he's bothering you, just say. Okay?" Taehyung places a hand on Soobin's shoulder.

Soobin nods. "Okay."

"Now, leave us be," Yoongi says.

Jungkook tugs on Taehyung's arm. "Let's go."

Taehyung resists for a moment but gives in. Yoongi might be right; Taehyung doesn't usually pay much attention to others. Jungkook assumes it's because the people in this school are usually just a bit... Not great.

With Taehyung's popularity, he should be hanging with the cool students—like Naeun and Seokjin—but he sticks with Jungkook.

💌

The next day, Jungkook didn't bother to bring any notes. Perhaps he's had enough fun, and he should stop now before he gets caught. The first period is science; when lining up for class, he notices Soobin standing alone. Oh? He walks up to Soobin, clearing his throat. "I didn't know you were in my science class."

Soobin turns to Jungkook, eyes wide. "Jungkook."

"That's me."

Soobin smiles with his hand resting on the side of his neck. "I've always been in this class. You haven't really noticed me until a few days ago when I sat at your table."

Jungkook nods. "Perhaps so."

They end up sitting next to each other.

Mr Lee—in his white lab coat—addresses the class, "Good morning, everyone. First, I want everyone to pair up." He claps twice. "Go on."

Soobin turns to Jungkook, presumably waiting for Jungkook to ask, so he does, "Do you want to be a pair?"

Soobin nods.

"Is everyone in their pairs?" Mr Lee asks, surveying the room. "Good. I see you all have your lab coats on. Today, we will be dissecting mice."

"No," Soobin mutters under his breath.

"Sorry?" Jungkook glances at Soobin.

"N-Nothing."

Mr Lee proceeds to go around, plopping a dead mouse onto the trays laid out on each table.

Jungkook looks at Soobin again. The colour on his face seems to be disappearing. "Are you okay?" Jungkook asks.

Soobin gulps, nodding. "I'm fine."

Jungkook scratches the back of his neck.

Once the mouse is on their tray, Soobin covers his mouth, gagging.

"You don't like mice?" Jungkook asks.

Soobin shakes his head.

Mr Lee continues to talk, "I have handed out pamphlets as a step by step guide for today's experiment. Make sure to write down the answers to each question in your theory book."

"I don't know if I can—" Soobin collapses onto Jungkook, almost toppling him.

"S-Soobin!" Jungkook tries to hold him up. "Mr Lee, Soobin has fainted!"

Mr Lee makes a beeline to their desk. Once he arrives, Soobin groans in Jungkook's arms.

"Are you okay?" Mr Lee asks, trying to look at Soobin's face that is now buried into Jungkook's shoulder.

Does he look like he's okay? Is what Jungkook bites back. He instead goes for, "He's lightheaded."

"Dehydration?" Mr lee furrows his brows.

Jungkook pats Soobin on the cheek. "Hey, Soobin. Try and keep it together."

Mr Lee sighs.

The whole class watches on, some getting their phones out to film.

"Take him to the infirmary," Mr Lee finally says. "I'll write you a note." He returns to his desk before coming back with a note explaining their absence from class. "Go."

Jungkook nods, helping Soobin stand up straight. "Hold on. I'll help you walk."

Soobin weakly nods. "Thank you."

It's not how Jungkook thought his morning would go, but he'll gladly take any excuse to skip class. 

💌

Smells that Jungkook likes; a list:

1. The initial sensory attack you get when you walk into a cafe. He has decided coffee smells much better than it tastes.

2. The perfume section in a department store. You'll find Jungkook spraying away on those sample sticks, never buying anything. Taehyung would sample the perfumes on himself as an excuse to wear free perfume.

3. The fabric softener that Taehyung's mum uses in his washing.

4. Taehyung.

5. His mum's cooking.

6. Freshly sharpened pencils.

7. Glue—don't judge.

8. Petrol—again, don't judge.

9. Books

10. The infirmary.

He sighs contently after taking in a big whiff. Disinfectant. Jungkook is sitting beside one of the beds, handing Soobin a glass of water. "Drink up. You might be dehydrated."

Soobin clears his throat. "Sorry for all of this."

Jungkook shakes his head, a smile spreading across his face. "Don't apologise."

Soobin smiles back. It's probably the most genuine smile Jungkook has seen coming from Soobin. It's surprising to Jungkook that he hasn't seen Soobin around before. He's been in his science class for the entirety of the year, and he hasn't even noticed.

"Do we share any other classes?" Jungkook asks.

Soobin nods. "We are in the same ethics class. Also, P.E and Computer Science." He takes a sip of water, gulping. "Oh, and we were even partners in Food Studies once in year eight—that's another class we share this year."

"How—" Is Jungkook really that oblivious? He doesn't believe it.

"Don't feel bad for not remembering me. I don't blame you," Soobin says, putting the glass down on the side table. "I usually stick to myself."

Jungkook palms the side of his neck, not feeling any better.

"No really, don't feel bad," Soobin insists. "Over the last year I've had a growth spurt. I wasn't always this tall."

Jungkook squints, scanning Soobin's face carefully.

"And I was quite chubby. Maybe you'll remember me now?"

"Ah— I do remember!" Jungkook's eyes light up. "Wow. You have changed."

Soobin is now tall and lanky, his features still soft, even after losing most of his baby fat. Growing that fast must have been painful.

A rustling sound on the other side of the room catchesJungkook's attention. A boy with soft features like Soobin rolled over to face their way. His uniform hugs his body in a stylish way—which Jungkook didn't know could be possible.

Their eyes meet, and it takes a moment before Jungkook's ears start to burn, his eyes then dart away. The look in the boy's eyes was something akin to curiosity Jungkook scratches his head, looking back at the boy. He swears he's seen him around before. Unfortunately

💌

A.N:

A reminder not to spoil the story in the comments and that I love you 💜