It's been three days, and Jungkook hasn't seen or even texted Seokjin at all, terrified that the elder might hate him for the attempted kiss. Seokjin hasn't made any attempt to contact Jungkook, either, so he can safely assume that Seokjin does indeed hate him, which kind of sucks. Because Jungkook really likes Seokjin. Maybe even... loves him?

Jungkook heads out to go shopping for groceries. It's already getting chilly, he notes. Less than two weeks until September— and college. He shudders at the thought of college. It sounds like a nightmare.

He's walking back to his apartment when he spots Seokjin, stepping out of a taxi and walking in the direction of a movie theater. His steps falter for a moment, and his breath gets caught in his throat as his eyes follow the male, dressed casually but still managing to look very nice (to Jungkook, at least). 

He prays that Seokjin doesn't see him, and even slows his footsteps so that their paths don't cross.

His prayers are unanswered, however, since Seokjin glances his way and does a double take, staring at Jungkook for several long moments before waving hesitantly. Jungkook offers him a nervous smile, heart pounding in his ears. His heartbeat increases when Seokjin begins walking towards him.

"Hey, Jungkook." Seokjin smiles at him, although somewhat awkwardly. "Grocery shopping?" he asks, glancing at the plastic bag in the younger's hand.

"Yeah." They lapse into an uncomfortable silence. "So—" he begins, just as an "Um—" comes from Seokjin's lips. "Oh, you go first," Jungkook stammers, cursing himself for his terrible timing.

"Uh..." Seokjin seems to have forgotten what he was going to say. "...Nice weather, yeah?"

"I guess."

I shouldn't have tried to kiss Seokjin hyung. Now everything is all messed up and awkward and just— ugh. I ruined everything, fuck my life.

"You up to anything tomorrow?" Seokjin asks, patting down his hair. "We could hang out, maybe. If you're free."

Jungkook pauses for a moment, thinking, before answering, "I'm free in the evening."

"We should go out to eat," Seokjin offers, lips upturning in a tentative smile.

"For— For dinner?" Jungkook's eyebrows raise ever so slightly. That's like a date, holy shit.

"Yeah," Seokjin says simply. "Unless you don't want to," he adds hastily, brows knitting together.

"Uh... No," Jungkook says, cringing when his voice cracks at the end. He clears his throat. "That sounds good."

Seokjin forces another smile, as if worried to give Jungkook the wrong message by smiling genuinely. "Cool." He nods. "I have to go now," he says with a glance at his watch. "Namjoon and I are going to watch a movie and it's going to start soon. So, see you later?"

"Yeah, see you later—" Jungkook isn't sure why he stops himself from tacking on the usual Seokjin hyung at the end. It just... doesn't seem fitting. But Seokjin doesn't seem to notice the abrupt halt in Jungkook's words, walking at a brisk pace and disappearing into the building.

A harsh exhalation of air leaves Jungkook's lips as his brows come together, frustrated and angry at himself. "Fucking idiot," he mutters under his breath. "He even said that he won't ever like you, why the hell did you even try to kiss him?" His irritated rambling continues as he walks all the way to his apartment, coming to a stop only when he notices two girls carrying boxes into the apartment next to his. Are they moving in?

"Hi!" one of them greets, her eyes crinkling into pretty crescents as she smiles. "I'm Seojun. My friend Jihyun and I are moving in." She gestures at the purple haired girl who is currently staring at the ceiling of her new home with an angry expression contorting her features.

"I'm Jungkook," the boy replies, unable to tear his gaze away from the purple haired girl— Jihyun— who has acquired a spatula and is scraping away at something on the ceiling while precariously balancing on a cardboard box and a large beanbag chair.

"Jihyun," Seojun scolds, "don't step on that, it's mine!" She looks at Jungkook apologetically. "Sorry, she's kind of crazy."

Jungkook laughs. "No, it's fine." He looks back at Seojun. "So you two are living together?"

Seojun nods. "Yup. We figured renting an apartment would be cheaper than staying at one of the dorms on campus. Are you in college, too?" she adds, tilting her head. "You look around our age."

Jungkook nods. "I'll be starting at Deoksu this year. I'm eighteen."

"Oh." Seojun looks surprised. "We're your noonas, then! Jihyun's twenty and I'm nineteen."

"I'm almost nineteen," Jungkook blurts, almost defensively. "My birthday is in two weeks."

Seojun cracks a smile. "I'm turning twenty in three weeks."

Jungkook doesn't know what to say to that.

"Seojun, stop flirting with the neighbors and help me unpack our stuff," Jihyun calls, glancing at Jungkook, whose face flushes a light pink at that comment.

Seojun snorts. "I'm not flirting." She turns to Jungkook, adjusting her Mario sweater. "Well, talk to you later, yeah? Maybe we'll see each other on campus."

"Maybe. See you later," Jungkook says, and goes into his own apartment, locking the door behind him.

Weird neighbors.

。。。

A/N: I DIDNT KNOW HOW TO END THIS CHAPTER OKAY IM SORRY

Also, I had my two hardest finals today, so most of the stress has been lifted off my shoulders and I decided to update since I haven't updated in a few days. (You're welcome lol) The next update is probably going to be Friday btw.

Anyway, we've got paranoid teenager Kookie again, and two new characters?!?! What do you guys think???

So I gotta sleep now and (maybe) ace my French final tmrw! Please comment and vote, it really makes my day, thank you! (And I didn't proofread, so excuse any typos)