JJG

Exam preparations are the only time you'll see the students actually be quiet for once. So quiet you'd hear a pin drop. Everyone serious, head buried in study notes and hands working out in exemple questions, eyes not even allowing a blink to read over every corner of their textbooks. For some students, this time wasn't too much of a deal, but for the seniors it sure was. The college entrance exam, what they've all been preparing for their entire school education.

So can someone explain on why in the world one of the most hardworking and smartest student in the entire school is currently asleep on his desk? Taehyung wasn't one to be cocky over his grades, and he wasn't just born with an impeccably genius brain. He too studied very hard to get his grades. It shocked everyone seeing how tired the boy was.

"Saw him at the study room until ten-thirty last night, he stayed even after I left. He must've been pulling all-nighter's studying!" was one of the more popular whispers, a very reasonable one at that.

"Then how do you explain Jeon Jeongguk?"

Yup, Jeongguk was also dead asleep. Well, it wasn't the first for him, but the boy got very serious around exam time. Yes his grades may not be the best, but there's a line he just can't cross or else he'd be pulled right back to his hometown, and let's just say he was very close to falling over. Now that was no secret. Plus, he needed to take this one seriously, his life goal is to go to the same university as Taehyung. A mission impossible indeed, but the word impossible didn't exist in Jeongguk's dictionary.

It was also the only period of time where Jeongguk wouldn't talk as much to Taehyung, afraid he'd disrupt his studies. Sadly, since it came directly after Jeongguk's failure of an experiment, the boy hasn't got a lot of time to talk with the other for a while. This left him a little sad, keeping him up at night. He just can't help but imagine scenarios of the possibilities of his life in future with his Prince Charming no matter how tired he was, all to make up for the bare contact he'd been receiving.

Slam!

Both boy were jolted awake. Taehyung rubbed his eyes as Jeongguk let out a yawn. Standing in front of them was none other than their home room teacher with the rolled notebook that was used to make their wake up sound.

"Good morning, boys! I know sleep is very important, but I think I've given you two a good amount. Let's study a little as well, alright? Good luck!" With a sweet smile, he returned to his desk.

Jeongguk and Taehyung looked at each other, surprised the other was sleeping. Without an exchange of words, both began pulling out their materials. Once Jeongguk got everything out on his desk, he neatly arranged them so they were at least pleasing to look at. He then took a hold of the banana milk at his desk, the treat from his yet to be figured out admirer. He picked off the stickers carefully, randomly placing them on his notebook as he took little sips.

"Gguk!" he heard someone whisper out his name.

"What?" he whispered back.

Hoseok passed what looked to be a note. Jeongguk rolled his eyes and took the piece of paper. He took a quick glance at Taehyung who was concentrated in his English workbook as he snacked away at Jeongguk's homemade granola bar. Jeongguk looked at the front with his name and class number written on, then opened the note, which read:

Meet me under the blossom tree during second break.

Jeongguk read the note twice before throwing Hoseok a confused look. The blossom tree at their school is a student favourite for confessions. It's not even in bloom yet due to the weather.

"Not from me," Hoseok whispered, shaking his head.

"Then who?"

Hoseok shrugged. "No clue. It's been jumping around classes, man."

Jeongguk nodded. He read over the note again. It must be the same person who's been leaving the banana milk for the past couple weeks, he thought. The boy frowned. A little part in him hoped it would've been Taehyung, but of course, this isn't some fairytale where his crush will like him back and they'll live happily ever after.

Jeongguk shoved the note into his sweater pocket and opened his book. He should use his time wisely. After a couple literacy question, Jeongguk couldn't help but take a quick little glance at Taehyung, who also thought to do so at the same times. Their eyes met. Both quickly turned their heads away. The silence had to be broke now.

"Are you tired? Aren't you getting enough sleep at night?" Taehyung quietly said first.

"Well... there's just been a lot on my mind lately. You?"

Jeongguk couldn't see as he was looking down to his workbook, but Taehyung slowly nodded.

"Yeah, um, you could say the same, I guess. Plus been studying a lot more late," he replied. "Thanks for the granola bar."

Jeongguk didn't reply to that. He was still in that embarrassed phase for getting caught in the most stupid of ways. The two continued to study in silence, as did the rest of the class.

First break soon came, a lot of the students leaving to get themselves a snack or just to stretch, and some staying back to either just keep their earphones plugged in and study with no end or just talk with others, Jeongguk and Taehyung being in that last bunch.

"So you've been staying late at school? The senior's study space?" Jeongguk started.

"Yeah. I live right above the restaurant right, so it gets a little loud at times. I also have access to resources at school so it's easier."

"I don't really like the self-study area here. It's so stuffy, and dark, and quiet. I hate it when people say school's like a prison but the atmosphere in there really makes me understand that. Make me feel disconnected from the world, y'know?" Jeongguk began ranting without realizing. "Ah, sorry."

Taehyung shook his head. "I feel the exact same way. But what can I do, it's the only place I've got. The library gotten way too swarmed with juniors, and they're not always quiet."

"Mhm... Well my place is really quiet, there's no one else but me."

"Hmm?"

"Hmm?"

Taehyung rose a brow. Jeongguk was really letting his mouth run wild that day. "I m-mean, you're free to come anytime! And I'm probably going to lose it soon, so take advantage of it while you can, right?"

Jeongguk glanced back down at his workbook, all the questions he'd gotten incorrect were all he could see. He really needed to get his marks up! His parents are ready to spend all his college saving into a new plot of land, he needed to show them he really could do it.

Taehyung nodded. "It's alright, but thank you."

•—•—•

KTH

Taehyung was hoping to talk with Jeongguk once again during their break, but the boy seemed to have somewhere to go. He couldn't help but notice lazy walk as he left the classroom. Taehyung could only sigh and continue writing out his study notes.

Then came Kumi running in and sitting in Jeongguk's desk. Taehyung watched as the girl panted. "Mizu," Kumi breathed out, pointing at his water bottle. Taehyung quickly uncapped his bottle and handed over to her, the girl taking a long waterfall.

After a while, Kumi calmed down. She looked at Taehyung. "Did you know?"

"Know what?" Taehyung's always confused when it came to this girl.

"That's Jeongguk's moving!"

Taehyung's eyes widened. "Moving?"

"Yes. Out of the city moving! Oh wait, you didn't know?"

Taehyung shook his head, trying to recall if Jeongguk ever told him.

Kumi lowered her voice. "I probably shouldn't be the one telling you this, but... Yerim told me he's moving. His parents are dealing with some issues right now with their farm she thinks. I don't know all the details, but I hope he's alright."

Taehyung nodded. It made sense now, all his worried looks, the emergency call from his mom, the quietness, his sudden decision to give up on his crush, the things keeping him up at night, him saying he's probably going to lose his room... it all made sense!

"But it's so late in the year," Taehyung said, trying to reason.

Kumi could only shrug. "He must've gotten a special permission from the school or something. Yerim said he's leaving today and will be back for exams."

The boy was immediately on his feet. "Today?? That doesn't make sense."

"Nothing really does," Kumi said with a sigh. "Look at him, boy looks so depressed. Kanashii."

Taehyung turned his head to where Kumi was looking. Out the window, was the figure of the only student outside under the blossom tree. He could see clearly Jeongguk leaning against the tree, looking very sad in fact. He bit his lip.

"Thanks, Kumi."

With that, Taehyung dashed out the classroom. Everyone was returning as break time was just about ending. Kumi smiled. "Yatta! Gather around everyone, we're about to see something very interesting," she said, pointing out at the windows and pulled out her phone, texting a couple people.

Taehyung ran down the stairs and out of the building, teachers and students who saw him pass by looking confused. Taehyung didn't care enough to worry about that. His eyes immediately found Jeongguk and in an instant he was in front of him. Jeongguk, confused, straightened up. He looked down at his watch to check the time.

"Ah, did the teacher send you down to get me? Sorry, I didn't realize break ended," Jeongguk said.

Taehyung shook his head. He grabbed the boy's shoulder and got close.

"T-Tae?" Jeongguk called out, his voice barely able to come out.

"I like you!" Taehyung said, loud and clear.

Jeongguk blinked. "What?"

"You're like amazing, and really nice, and kind, sweet, caring... and really pretty! A-and, and– I don't know what I'd do without you! Please don't leave!"

"I don't– what're you saying??"

Taehyung took in a deep breath. He looked at Jeongguk worried eyes. What more can he say? He was currently breathless, and Jeongguk being in front of him really didn't help.

"I just... I like you. I really really like you. Like, you know, that feeling when you really like someone. Like, romantically."

Jeongguk almost laughed at Taehyung finding the need to clear that up. He crossed his arms. "Liar."

Taehyung knotted his brow. What now? "I'm not lying."

"Yes you are."

Taehyung couldn't believe it. He let his shoulder's go but instead, he brought his hands to softly cup Jeongguk's cheeks. Before Jeongguk could process what was happening, Taehyung came down and set a gentle kiss on the boy's lips.

"What about now?"

Jeongguk's mouth dropped. His arm uncrossed, one going up to point at his own mouth. "T-That was real, right?? You kissed me, right? I'm not dreaming again, right?"

The other nodded as a response, making Jeongguk break out into the widest smile, showing off his beautiful bunny-like smile.

"Well, the last time was real too," Taehyung confessed.

"Huh!" Jeongguk screamed. Taehyung laughed lightly.

With an angry pout, Jeongguk threw his arms over Taehyung's neck, getting even closer. He commanded, "now."

The other stared back, confused. Jeongguk continued, "you haven't given me a chance to enjoy my first two kisses! I wasn't ready! I'm ready now."

"Ready for...?"

"Kiss me now."

Taehyung smiled. Without wasting another second, he reattached their lips, and Jeongguk could finally kiss him back. They both moved at a slow paced, taking breaks for air but coming back together once again. A very sweet and innocent kiss.

"Woohoo!!!" chants were suddenly heard, the boy's breaking away to look at where it was coming from. Heads from all the seniors classes poked out, waving their hands out and screaming happy cheers, some juniors as well.

"We love you Taegguk!" they heard Yerim yell, other's echoing her. Taehyung and Jeongguk could only smile and laugh at their classmates encouragent, Taehyung feeling lightly embarrassed as they got a clear look at his confession, and well, Jeongguk blew back kisses to his fans. That's when Taehyung realized what drove him there in the first place.

"But you still have to move..." Taehyung said, his voice down.

Jeongguk laughed. "Moving? Who keeps starting these unnecessary rumours? I'm not moving anywhere."

"What? You looked so troubled though."

Jeongguk shook his head. He pinched the boy's cheek. "Because of you, you idiot."

Well, Taehyung surely was an idiot, but it seems that they've been troubling each other at night. Taehyung's been spending an awful lot time speaking to his ceiling, practicing his confession and kicking around every time because it just wasn't right! Jeongguk deserved nothing more than perfect!

Taehyung scratched his head. He looked back at all the student who still hadn't stopped cheering. His eyes then met with Kumi standing beside Yerim.

"Gomennasai," she apologized at the top of her lungs, not forgetting to add a wink. Taehyung's smile returned as he realized what the girl had done. He laughed at himself for falling for it, he didn't even stop to think about it all. It didn't matter, right now he only felt like thanking her.

The students from a class suddenly stopped cheering, their  heads turning back into the room. The teacher must've returned to check up on them and all the noise.

"We should probably go back," Taehyung said.

"Yeah," Jeongguk agreed. "Weird, the note said to meet here, but they never came."

"I'll explain later, c'mon."

Jeongguk looked at Taehyung for a few seconds, but he didn't really care enough to pry more. He nodded and Taehyung began walking. Jeongguk quickly followed, linking their hands together. Without stopping his tracks Taehyung looked at their intertwined hands then at Jeongguk, matching his smile. Jeongguk's hand was warm and nice, they had been standing out in the cold for a while after all.

As they made way to their classroom, the boys ducked low when passing the teacher's office. They took a quick peak to see that their teacher was sitting at his desk. A breath of relief escaped the two seeing their teacher there, smiling to himself looking over some papers. They quickly made their way inside their classroom. Taehyung immediately ducked his head down to hide the blush on his cheeks and sticked closer to Jeongguk, but both of them couldn't help but grin when the class "oo"-ed as they walked down. Neither let go of the other's hand as they sat on their desk.

Seeing all eyes on them, Jeongguk could feel Taehyung feeling slightly uncomfortable to the new attention. "Shoo! What are y'all looking at? Study! if anyone gets a mark lower than mine, I'll be laughing at you for months!" he yelled, waving his hand at them. The class giggled but complied to the boy's wishes.

The two then exchanged a series of notes, Taehyung revealing all of Kumi's schemes and the identity of the banana milk provider, Jeongguk gasping more than once and grabbing everyone's attention only to swat it away again. In the midst of all the stress, the students still couldn't pass up a chance for drama or gossip.

Everything felt so surreal to Taehyung. He couldn't believe he finally spoke out what he had been holding in for so long, and what more was that there he was, holding Jeongguk's hand, sharing dumb grins and looks of love. He didn't expect everything to come together so easily, making him wish he had gotten the guts to make Jeongguk his earlier.

And if Taehyung felt that way, could you even imagine Jeongguk?? He was over the moon, and it definitely showed. When the two returned to continue their studies, Jeongguk couldn't help himself from breaking out into giggles, replaying what had gone on under that tree. It really was a special tree.

Taehyung on the other hand, seemed to look calm as his pen scribbled around all over the page, but truly, the boy was just pretending to be working hard when he was actually taking secret looks at Jeongguk. He looked so happy. Taehyung did always love his smile. He hoped he could keep the boy smiling forever.

—•
What do y'all think about Kumi?

Bye<3