Jungkook had never been the type to believe in fate. Life, as he knew it, was built on choices—on grueling practice hours, on sweat and sacrifice. And yet, every time he saw her, he couldn't help but wonder if some invisible thread had tied them together long before he even knew her name.

It started earlier that day in school.

They were in the hallway when it happened. Elli, in her usual rush, had been balancing her books with one hand and stuffing something into her bag with the other. Jungkook had been walking a few steps behind, paying attention to her from afar, until she suddenly tripped over her own feet.

Time slowed.

Before he could even think, he moved—his hands catching her just in time, steadying her before she could hit the floor. Her books tumbled to the ground, but she only blinked up at him, completely unfazed.

"Oh. Whoops. That was close!" she chirped, smiling like she hadn't just nearly face-planted.

Jungkook, on the other hand, could hear his heart pounding in his ears. His hands were still around her waist, her warmth seeping through the fabric of her blazer. He should let go. He should say something. But all he could do was stare as she tilted her head at him, completely casual.

"Jungkook?" She waved a hand in front of his face. "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

He quickly dropped his hands, stepping back. "I'm fine. You should be more careful."

She laughed. "Nah, I have a built-in safety net. Clearly, you're always ready to catch me."

Jungkook swallowed hard, forcing himself to bend down and pick up her books just to have something to do. She's going to kill me one day. I swear.

Later that day, in their homeroom class, all the students were given a task—to stitch their names onto their uniform tags. It was meant to be a simple thing, just a way to personalize their blazers. But Jungkook quickly noticed Elli struggling.

Her brows were furrowed, fingers clumsy as she tried to maneuver the needle. She huffed, glaring at the mess of threads in her lap.

"I give up," she declared dramatically, tossing the needle aside. "This is a lost cause."

Jungkook found himself smiling. "You really can't stitch?"

"Nope." She grinned shamelessly. "Guess I'll just go nameless. Sounds kind of mysterious, right?"

He didn't respond, but that night, long after practice, Jungkook found himself sitting on his dorm bed, holding her uniform tag in his hands. The dorm was quiet, his roommates asleep, but he stayed up, carefully stitching the letters of her name with precise, neat strokes. It was a simple thing, really. Just thread and fabric.

But for Jungkook, it was something more.

Tomorrow, he'd give it to her. Tomorrow, she'd have her name stitched onto her uniform like everyone else. And tomorrow, she wouldn't even know that he had spent an hour making sure every letter was perfect.

But for now, he let himself enjoy the small act, knowing that it was for her.

—

The next day, with nervous anticipation bubbling in his chest, Jungkook carefully pulled out the small rectangular cloth he had stitched the night before. The delicate embroidery of her name was neat and precise, the hours he spent on it evident in every tiny detail. He had practiced on scrap pieces of fabric, ensuring it was perfect before finally stitching it onto the small cloth.

When he handed it to her, he barely had time to gauge her reaction before she let out a delighted gasp.

"Oh my God, Jungkook! You did this?" Elli's eyes sparkled as she ran her fingers over the letters.

He nodded, feeling suddenly shy under her wide-eyed gaze. "Yeah. I figured... since you couldn't do it yesterday."

Elli's face broke into the brightest grin before, without a second thought, she lunged forward and hugged him—quick, warm, and so unexpected that his entire body locked up. It wasn't just a polite thank-you hug. It was excitement, pure and unfiltered, and it made his heart explode like a thousand fireworks all at once.

His hands hovered awkwardly for a second before he slowly, hesitantly, placed them on her back, feeling the press of her warmth against him. It lasted only a few moments before she pulled away, but by then, it was too late.

Jungkook was completely ruined.

A simple hug, yet it sent his heart spiraling out of control, leaving him standing there, clutching onto the memory of her touch like a lifeline.

It was a small moment, really. Nothing grand. Nothing extraordinary.

But for Jungkook, it was everything.\

Later that day it started with a drizzle. Not heavy enough to drench, but just enough to scatter students under rooftops and hurriedly pulled-out umbrellas. Jungkook stood at the entrance of the school, watching the raindrops pelt against the pavement when he heard her voice behind him.

"Guess we're stuck, huh?"

Elizabeth Kang.

Jungkook stiffened, his grip tightening around the straps of his bag. He forced himself to turn, keeping his expression neutral as she stepped beside him, hands stuffed into the pockets of her blazer.

"Didn't bring an umbrella?" she asked, tilting her head at him.

He shook his head. Words weren't coming easily, not when she was this close, not when he could smell the faint trace of her perfume—something fresh, something warm, something undeniably her.

She hummed, rocking on her heels before suddenly brightening. "Wait here."

Before he could ask why, she darted off. He watched her weave through the crowd, her long hair swaying with every hurried step. A minute later, she returned, triumphantly holding up a bright yellow umbrella.

"Took it from the lost and found," she said, grinning. "I'm sure no one will mind."

Jungkook blinked. "You... stole an umbrella?"

"Borrowed," she corrected, twirling it open with a flourish. "Come on, Topstar. I promise I won't let you melt."

He hesitated only for a second before stepping under the umbrella. The space was small, forcing them close, their shoulders brushing every time she shifted.

Jungkook didn't know what to do with himself. His arms felt too stiff, his breaths too shallow.

"You're so awkward," she laughed, nudging him playfully. "You act like I'm some kind of alien."

"You might be," he muttered before he could stop himself.

Elli gasped in mock horror. "Jeon Jungkook just cracked a joke. The world is ending."

He shook his head, biting back a smile. The warmth of her beside him, the soft laughter that filled the space—it was so simple, so painfully normal. And yet, he wanted to stay in this moment forever.

They walked in silence for a while, feet splashing lightly against the wet pavement. Jungkook wanted to say something, anything, but his mind was tangled, lost somewhere between the sound of raindrops and the rhythmic beat of her presence beside him.

Then she did something that made his heart stutter.

She looped her arm through his.

It wasn't romantic. It wasn't intimate. It was just a casual, thoughtless gesture, like she didn't even have to think twice about being close to him.

But for Jungkook, it was a catastrophe.

He swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay still, to keep his breathing even. His pulse was a wild drumbeat in his ears. Did she even realize what she was doing to him?

"There." Elli pointed ahead. "Your dorm's that way, right?"

Jungkook nodded, barely processing the words.

"Good." She stopped, closing the umbrella and handing it to him. "Now it's yours. Pass it on if you see someone else who needs it."

He stared at her. "You're giving it to me?"

"It's called being a decent human," she teased, tapping his forehead lightly with her fingers. "See you tomorrow, Topstar."

Then she turned and walked away, completely unaware that she had just turned his world upside down.

Jungkook barely slept that night.

It was ridiculous. Stupid, even. But every time he closed his eyes, he saw her. Felt the ghost of her arm around his. Heard the teasing lilt of her voice calling him Topstar.

By the time he arrived at practice the next morning, he was a mess. His movements were stiff, his mind fogged with thoughts that had nothing to do with dance.

"Okay, what is up with you?" Taehyung finally asked, plopping down beside him. "You look like you haven't slept in a decade."

Jungkook hesitated. He hadn't meant to say anything. His feelings—whatever they were—felt too raw, too real to share. And yet, before he could stop himself, the words tumbled out.

"I like her."

Taehyung blinked. "Who?"

"Elli."

A beat of silence.

Then, Taehyung let out a dramatic gasp. "Jeon Jungkook. Are you blushing?"

"Shut up."

But no matter how much he tried to downplay it, one thing was clear—

He was completely, undeniably, head-over-heels for her.