Ayane stepped through the polished, grand doors of the private section of Sungwon Academy, the golden accents of the room gleaming under the soft, ambient light. The space was quieter here, a stark contrast to the chaotic energy of the academy’s more public areas. This was a part of the school reserved for the elite, a place where students like Ayane could retreat into a sense of luxury and solitude. But today, it felt more like a cage than a sanctuary.

As she walked through the hallway, her mind still replaying the encounter with Jimin—that boy from the bridge—she almost didn’t notice the figure at the end of the corridor.

Jennie Kim.

The girl was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, wearing a casual yet undeniably expensive outfit. She had a warm, easy smile that made her seem approachable, effortless. Jennie’s presence was a light in contrast to Ayane’s own shadowed world. While Ayane had always been weighed down by her family's expectations and her own inner turmoil, Jennie was carefree, unburdened by the heavy legacy that Ayane carried on her shoulders.

"Hey, Ayane!" Jennie called out, her voice bright and full of cheer. She pushed herself off the wall and bounced toward her friend, her energy contagious. "You’re looking all serious again. What’s going on? The world not treating you well today?" Jennie’s laughter echoed through the hallway as Ayane couldn’t help but smile—slightly. It was a rare gesture, but Jennie had a way of making her feel at ease in a world that often felt like it was pushing her further away.

Jennie was the only person at Sungwon who had made an effort to reach out to Ayane. The other students, always cautious and calculating around her, saw Ayane as nothing more than a symbol of wealth and status. But Jennie saw beyond all that. She was the only person who didn’t look at Ayane with the usual reverence or curiosity, and somehow, that made Ayane feel like she mattered for who she truly was—not just as an heiress.

Ayane took a deep breath, her gaze still flicking to the ground as if searching for some answer that eluded her. "It’s nothing," she replied, her voice softer than usual. "Just… stuff."

Jennie raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Stuff? Come on, you can tell me. You’ve been looking like a walking storm cloud ever since you got here. Something’s bothering you, I can tell." She grinned knowingly, her energy still high, as if her cheerfulness could lift Ayane out of her own dark thoughts.

Ayane couldn’t help but chuckle softly, though it lacked any real humor. Jennie’s presence was a balm for her raw emotions, but it couldn’t erase the heavy thoughts weighing her down. "I don’t know, Jennie. It’s like I’m living in two worlds. One where everything is supposed to be perfect, and one where I don’t know who I am. Where I’m supposed to belong. I can’t even…"

Jennie reached out, placing a hand on Ayane’s shoulder, her touch grounding. "Hey, I get it," she said, her voice gentler now, more serious. "But you can’t let it eat you up. I know you’ve got all these big expectations and the weight of your family on you, but that doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. Not for them, not for anyone. Just… be you, Ayane. Let them see you, the real you. You don’t have to live up to some image they’ve set for you."

Ayane's eyes flickered up to meet Jennie’s. Jennie was looking at her with such raw sincerity, and for a moment, Ayane felt like the walls around her started to crumble, just a little bit. Jennie had a way of seeing through her, through the cold, aloof exterior Ayane had built over the years. And in some way, Ayane was grateful for it, though she hated how vulnerable it made her feel.

"I don’t know how to do that," Ayane admitted quietly, the words feeling heavy as they left her lips. "I don’t know who I am anymore. All I’ve ever been is what they made me."

Jennie smiled gently, her eyes full of understanding. "That’s okay. It’s okay not to have it all figured out. Just take it one step at a time. You’ve got time. And you’ve got me." She gave Ayane a playful nudge. "Besides, you’re already living on the edge. Changing schools, refusing to go abroad—maybe you’re already starting to figure it out."

Ayane laughed softly, a small but real smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I guess so."

Jennie’s eyes sparkled. "Good. Now, enough about that serious stuff. Let’s go grab lunch. I’ll treat you. I think you need a break from all that thinking." She winked mischievously. "Come on, let’s go before they start calling you ‘Miss Perfect’ again."

Ayane let out a breath, feeling the weight on her chest lighten just a little. Jennie’s friendship was a rare gift, one Ayane didn’t fully understand but deeply appreciated. She nodded, allowing herself to be pulled into the warmth of Jennie’s energy. As they walked together toward the cafeteria, Ayane couldn’t help but feel, for the first time today, that maybe—just maybe—she was starting to find her way.

And yet, even with Jennie by her side, Ayane couldn’t escape the thoughts of that stranger from the bridge; Now at the same school. Jimin. The furious boy who had, for reasons she couldn’t understand, stayed in her mind.

---

The opulent cafeteria buzzed with the chatter of students, the air rich with the scent of gourmet meals and the hum of high-end conversations. Ayane walked beside Jennie, both of them in the midst of light-hearted banter. Jennie was teasing Ayane about her reserved nature, making jokes about how Ayane would never survive a casual hangout in a place like this. Ayane, for once, felt relaxed, the weight of her thoughts momentarily forgotten in the sea of laughter and casual chatter.

But as they strolled through the room, Ayane's focus was still drifting between the conversation and her surroundings, trying to make sense of her new life here at Sungwon Academy. It was then, in the middle of a particularly amusing story Jennie was telling about one of her classmates, that Ayane felt an unexpected collision.

A force slammed into her from the front, and before she could react, she felt the warm, greasy splash of food as Jimin’s lunch tray tipped over, spilling its contents all over her pristine uniform.

The room fell silent.

Ayane froze, stunned not just by the unexpected mess, but by the sudden recognition of the boy in front of her. Jimin. The furious stranger from the bridge. His lunch, a mix of pasta and salad, now drenched her in a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.

"Ah, crap!" Jimin cursed under his breath, his eyes wide in shock as he took a step back. "I’m so sorry! I wasn’t paying attention, I—"

Before he could finish, Hoseok and the rest of the crew—Namjoon, Seokjin, Taehyung, and Yoongi—burst into action, their usually relaxed faces now contorted in guilty expressions. They began muttering quick apologies.

“Sorry, sorry, we didn’t see you there!” Hoseok said, visibly flustered.

“Geez, Jimin, you really know how to make a first impression,” Namjoon added with a half-smile, though there was a nervous edge to it.

Seokjin immediately reached for a napkin from the nearby counter, trying to clean up the mess. “I’ll help, don’t worry!” he said, though his face held an awkward mixture of embarrassment and concern.

Taehyung, ever the laid-back one, simply stood there with his hands in his pockets, looking amused, though he couldn’t help but offer a half-hearted apology, “Well, at least it’s a good lunch.”

Yoongi just sighed, rubbing his eyes with a tired expression. “We’re all idiots. Can we just get this over with?”

Jennie, her face scrunching in irritation, stepped forward with her arms crossed. "Watch where you’re going, idiot!" she snapped, her voice sharp, cutting through the awkward atmosphere.

Ayane, however, was still too stunned to react immediately. She had been lost in the depths of Jimin's gaze, their eyes locked in a silent, unspoken understanding. The world around her faded away for a moment as she stared at him, the memories of the bridge flooding back.

Jimin stood there, still frozen in place, staring at Ayane with a mixture of guilt and disbelief. His heart was pounding in his chest, his earlier confidence now shattered. There was something deeply unsettling about seeing her again—about the fact that he had just spilled his lunch on her. But what unsettled him more was the strange connection he felt, like the bridge between them hadn’t been erased by time.

Ayane remained silent, her emotions a swirl of confusion, frustration, and something unexplainable. She hadn’t expected to see him here, not in this place, not in this situation. But now, standing in front of him again, she felt the weight of their past encounter hang between them like an invisible thread.

Jennie noticed the way Ayane was looking at Jimin—like she was seeing through him—and she narrowed her eyes, sensing something off. "Ayane, are you okay?" she asked softly, though there was an edge to her voice, still annoyed by the situation.

Ayane blinked, her trance broken. She took a slow breath and straightened herself, wiping off some of the food from her uniform, though it didn’t seem to matter much at this point. Her voice, when she spoke, was cool and steady. "I’m fine," she said, her tone not entirely matching her calm appearance. "But you should be more careful."

Jimin, still flustered, opened his mouth to apologize again, but the words caught in his throat. There was so much he wanted to say, but the moment felt too intense, too strange. He just nodded awkwardly. "Sorry. Really. I didn’t mean to—"

Ayane’s eyes narrowed, a silent acknowledgment between them before she turned to Jennie. "Let’s just go," she said curtly, her voice devoid of warmth. She moved past Jimin, not sparing him another glance.

Jennie, though still fuming over the accident, shot Jimin one last glare before following Ayane. "Watch where you’re going, next time," she muttered.

The group watched them go, the tension lingering in the air. Hoseok, who had been trying to alleviate the situation with his usual cheerful demeanor, gave Jimin an apologetic look. "Well, that was… awkward."

Jimin, lost in thought, barely registered his friends’ comments. His mind was still locked on Ayane. The girl from the bridge. The girl who had almost ended her life, yet here she was, standing in front of him, as distant as ever.

And as he watched her walk away, something inside him gnawed at him—a question he couldn’t yet answer.

---

Jimin and Hoseok's crew settled around a large table in the opulent cafeteria, the tension from the earlier incident with Ayane slowly started to fade. Jimin sat down with a sigh, clearly feeling the awkwardness of the whole situation. His tray of food was a bit of a mess after the earlier mishap, but Hoseok's crew wasn't about to let him wallow in his embarrassment for too long.

"Well, well, well," Hoseok grinned, plopping down beside Jimin. "Seems like someone had a delicious introduction to Sungwon Academy, huh?"

Jimin shot Hoseok a half-hearted glare. "Yeah, thanks for that. You guys couldn’t have helped a bit?"

Seokjin, who had already started unwrapping his food, raised an eyebrow. "We tried! But you know... you were the one who decided to spill pasta all over Miss perfect over there."

Taehyung leaned back in his chair with a smirk. "That was legendary, though. Like a scene straight out of a movie. The heroic save... followed by the most epic food disaster."

Jimin groaned and buried his face in his hands. "I swear, I’ll never live this down."

"Aw, come on, Jimin," Namjoon said with a grin. "You’ve still got us, right? And we’re a pretty solid group. You’re a part of our crew now. No need to sweat over one little... food fight."

"Yeah, man," Hoseok added, patting Jimin on the back dramatically. "In fact, we’re gonna make sure you’re really part of this school by showing you what it means to truly fit in. With food. Shared food, obviously."

And just like that, the group began the most ridiculous, over-the-top food sharing ceremony Jimin had ever witnessed.

Seokjin dramatically pushed his tray toward Jimin. "Here, my friend, you must take the first bite of Seokjin's Special Fried Rice." He had a playful glint in his eye as he shoved the plate in front of Jimin. "It’s blessed with the most delicate balance of flavors. A chef's touch."

Jimin raised an eyebrow, slightly suspicious. "Uh, no offense, but you’re the dad joke guy, right?"

"That's Mr. Dad Joke to you," Seokjin replied with a grin, his voice dropping into an exaggeratedly serious tone. "This rice... this rice is not just food, Jimin. It’s an experience. One that transcends the ordinary."

Jimin hesitated for a moment, but with a dramatic sigh, he reluctantly picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. To his surprise, it actually tasted pretty good—if not a little salty. He blinked and looked up at Seokjin, who was watching him eagerly.

"Not bad," Jimin said, trying to keep his tone casual.

Seokjin puffed his chest out proudly. "Told you, buddy. A masterpiece. You're welcome."

"Alright, now that Jimin has received Seokjin’s culinary blessing," Namjoon said, lifting his hand dramatically, "it’s time for you to taste Taehyung's Special."

Taehyung tossed a few fries from his tray into Jimin’s lap with the utmost nonchalance. "Here," Taehyung said, his expression blank as ever. "It’s the perfect combination of junk food and laziness. Best meal for high-class people like us."

Jimin stared at the fries, blinking. "Uh... okay, sure."

"Hey, you got to respect the classics," Taehyung added, giving a knowing look.

"Classy," Jimin said sarcastically, picking up a fry and nibbling at it.

"And now, for the pièce de résistance..." Seokjin said, as if preparing for a grand finale.

"Jin, don’t you dare!" Namjoon warned, knowing exactly what was coming.

But it was too late. Jin had already prepared his special "dad joke" delivery. He stood up, dramatically holding his plate like it was a trophy. "Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present... the Dad Joke Deluxe! This burger—"

At this, Seokjin's crew leaned in, trying to stifle their laughter, knowing what was coming.

Jin continued, "This burger is as complicated as my life—filled with so many layers, but in the end, it’s just a hamburger. I call it, ‘The Hamburger of Infinite Questions.’"

Everyone at the table stared at him for a moment, processing the joke. There was a long, dramatic silence.

And then—

A laugh erupted. It wasn’t just any laugh, though. It was the most ridiculous, uncontrollable, and extra laugh that Jimin had ever heard in his life. It was like the entire cafeteria had been waiting for Seokjin's dad joke to break the dam of hilarity. Taehyung nearly spat out his water, Yoongi looked mildly disturbed, and Hoseok collapsed into the table, clutching his stomach as tears rolled down his face.

"God, Jin," Namjoon said between fits of laughter, wiping his eyes. "I swear, that’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard, but... it’s so bad it’s good."

Seokjin took a dramatic bow, clearly proud of his effort. "Thank you, thank you. I will be here all week."

Jimin couldn’t help himself. Despite the awkwardness of earlier, he found himself laughing along with the crew. It was contagious, and for the first time today, he felt like he could relax a little.

"Alright, alright, I get it," Jimin said, wiping tears from his eyes as he chuckled. "You guys are insane."

"And you’re one of us now!" Hoseok said, flashing a bright grin at Jimin. "We make the best of everything—especially food and bad jokes. Welcome to the gang."

Jimin nodded, his smile finally reaching his eyes. "This is definitely going to be... interesting."

Seokjin winked. "It’s always a good time when you’re with us. Now, who’s ready for more terrible dad jokes?"

---

The laughter gradually died down, and the crew settled into a comfortable rhythm, chatting and munching on their lunch. Jimin couldn't help but feel a little more at ease. The earlier awkwardness of his encounter with Ayane seemed to fade, replaced by the easygoing banter of Hoseok's crew. They had a way of making even the most awkward situations feel like a joke.

Seokjin wiped his mouth with a napkin, eyes glinting mischievously. "So, Jimin," he began, leaning in with a mock-serious expression. "We’ve got a big question for you."

Jimin raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "What now?"

"Who do you think is more likely to survive in a zombie apocalypse: Taehyung or Yoongi?" Seokjin asked, his tone playful.

Jimin glanced over at the two of them. Taehyung was absentmindedly playing with a straw, looking completely disinterested in the conversation, while Yoongi was staring off into space, seemingly half-asleep. Jimin blinked. "Uh... tough call."

"Yoongi’s probably the most dangerous," Hoseok interjected with a grin, "but Taehyung would somehow be the one who ends up saving everyone. Without even trying."

Taehyung, as though on cue, looked up and flashed his signature boxy smile, raising an eyebrow. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Jimin leaned back in his chair, laughing. "You know, I’m not so sure about surviving a zombie apocalypse, but I think Yoongi would be the one to calmly eat ramen in the middle of it."

Yoongi blinked, giving Jimin a half-hearted glare, but there was no real heat behind it. "If I’m going down, I’m doing it with good food," he muttered, taking another bite of his sandwich.

Seokjin grinned. "That’s the spirit! I’d probably be the first to panic. Just throw me to the zombies, I’ll take my chances."

Namjoon gave him a look of mock disbelief. "I don’t know, Jin. I think you’d make an excellent zombie general. You’ve got that ‘undead’ look down."

"I prefer to think of myself as ethereal, thank you very much," Seokjin said with a wink, holding his hand to his chest dramatically.

Jimin couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. This crew was like nothing he had ever imagined, but he was beginning to think he might actually enjoy being a part of it. For the first time, his thoughts about the school, about Ayane, and all the complexities of his new life seemed distant, overshadowed by the fun he was having here.

- Continue