8:00 p.m.

By the time Hana and I had reached our destination, the sun had vanished and the extensive sky was painted in a dark, cobalt hue.

To my surprise, the bus stop was located beside a metallic fence which overlooked a breathtaking panorama of the night city of Seoul.

"Wow, it's so pretty up here at this time." Hana muttered under her breath in utter amazement, her eyes glistening and reflecting the illuminations of the countless building lights.

"Look at the view Jung-"

But right as she twirled around, the corners of her lips instantaneously curled up as she exploded into hysterical laughter at the sight of me.

"Oh my god Jungkook, your hair!" she managed to say despite her voice trembling from cracking up so much, probably laughing at a bump on my head that formed from sleeping in the same position for three hours.

"Come here, let me fix it for you." Hana strode towards me and halted about seven inches away from where I stood, tip-toeing while gently combing down my unkempt hair with the ends of her fingers.

I remained wordless, not because I was shy, but because I was completely stunned.

Out of the seven days I've been with her, this was my very first time seeing her laugh like that.

Her facial expression lit up brighter than the shimmering view behind her, her tinted lips and perfectly white teeth somehow sending a voltaic wave throughout every minuscule cell of my body.

I've always been a sucker for smiles.

But Hana, her smile, was on a different level of beautiful.

But of course I wasn't gonna tell her that.

"There you go." Hana grinned, once more sending an electrifying surge down my veins.

"Anyway, where are you going to stay from now on?" she queried with a subtle tilt of her head, now that I was going to be residing in this city until I graduated.

"H-H-H-Homestay." I stuttered severely, this strange and constant nervousness irking me inside and causing me to behave abnormally.

What the hell is wrong with me?

After bursting into unmanageable giggles once more, Hana asked while clutching onto her stomach tightly, "You okay? You seem a little off."

Trying not to let my stupid emotions show, I regained my composure.

"Yeah. I don't know what you're talking about." I acted totally unaffected, quickly changing the subject and suggesting, "Alright, we should get going. Come on, I'll walk you home."

"What? why? You should head to your homestay. It's getting late." Hana objected, simultaneously shaking her head and palms at me.

"Do you want to get kidnapped?" I asked, holding my waist in annoyance.

"Jungkook, I'm strong. I can protect myself thank you very much." she protested, and I simply stared in disbelief at her nonexistent muscles around her arms.

Sighing in surrender, I grabbed her shoulder with one hand and shoved the other hand in the pocket of my sweatpants.

"Look, I don't want grandma to track me down and kill me with her bare hands for you losing you. So shut up and let's go."

Being aware that anything pertaining to grandma was Hana's soft spot, I successfully made her zip her mouth and compliantly follow after me.

＊　＊　＊

~ Hana's POV ~

"So that's where I used to play as a little kid, that's where my best friend used to live, that's where I tripped and scraped my knee, and that's-"

"Hana Hana Hana." Jungkook eagerly called my name out of the blue, interrupting my detailed presentation of the certain events that took place in my life.

"Hm?" I said, wondering what was so urgent.

"Do you remember when I asked to know about your childhood life? Yeah, me neither." he stated in an indifferent tone, technically telling me "I don't give a crap" in a less callous way.

Pouting grouchily, I promptly quit chattering.

As we continued to stroll down the sidewalk with the sound of the wheels of our luggages echoing in the background, Jungkook suddenly questioned, "Hey, what's your ideal type?"

"Why are you asking?" I gave him a perplexed look, definitely not expecting that question to ever come out of his mouth.

"You know, just curious." he shrugged his shoulders, his gaze awkwardly shifting to the cement ground.

Still a bit skeptical, I began to read off of my lengthy lists of requirements in my brain, "Uhm... Well... I've always had a thing for tall guys? And with big eyes. And with a nice fashion sense. And with-"

"Okay okay. That's enough." Jungkook cut me off yet again before I could blabber on and on.

"How about hair?" he precisely asked this time.

After a second of contemplation, I replied, "It doesn't really matter to me. As long as it's not like an abnormal style or color."

"So... do you prefer black or brown?" he went into further specifics.

"Uh, maybe brown? I don't know. Why are you interrogating me?!" I queried and gave him a weirded out expression, wondering if something had gotten into him.

"I just want to get to know you better. Geez, I can't even try to be actual friends with you?" Jungkook scoffed, and I did the exact same and mumbled, "Gross."

Upon reaching my house, I spotted by beloved mother in front of the gate, appearing to be awaiting my arrival in patience.

Glimpsing over at her daughter, she gasped and waved her hand full of energy as she shouted, "Hana!"

Rejoining with her and sharing an exuberant embrace, my mom lovingly pecked my forehead and whispered in her appeasing voice, "Welcome home honey."

Finally acknowledging Jungkook's presence next to me, she raised both of her eyebrows and questioned, "Oh? Who's this?"

"Mom, this is my friend Jeon Jungkook." I introduced lazily, but Jungkook almost immediately placed a hand on his chest and gave me that "I am so touched" look from the fact that I referred to him as my friend.

Rolling my eyes at his overdramatic ass, I returned my attention to my mother.

"Well, Jungkook, would you like to come in and join us for dinner?" she cordially invited, not even asking for my opinion first.

"Mom!" I shouted and tugged on her shirt, mouthing the words "HELL NO" clearly and desperately.

"I would love to, but I actually have to head over to my homestay." Jungkook gave an apologetic expression, demonstrating a side of him that I have never witnessed.

Psh, what a fake b-

"Aw, how about tomorrow? I'd like to get to know you better." my mom impeded my trail of thought with her persistent invitation for him.

"Mom!!!" I whined once more, confused to why she wanted him to come over so badly.

Making sure to give me a smirk of wickedness, Jungkook agreed, "Sure, I'd be more than delighted to."

"Great! Hana and I will be waiting for you tomorrow." my mother grinned happily, bringing me into this without my consent.

"Thank you Hana's mom. Have a great night." Jungkook gave a courteous 90 degree bow, sent a smile back, and left the two of us.

"My goodness, how can someone be so respectful and so handsome at the same time?" my mom held her face with her palm in admiration, and I couldn't help but scoff at those two terms that were the total opposite of who he is.

"I'm hungry. Let's go inside." I groaned as I stormed into my house, now with my optimism for tomorrow completely ruined.