September 7
Thursday
Year 1

I wander the halls after class, debating whether I should go home or stay on campus to study. As I explore the hallways, I turn into new hallways I've never entered before. It doesn't take me long to get lost and panic as I try to find an atrium or lobby.

Finally, I walk in circles and up near the cafe. With a sigh of relief, I walk toward the center as I peek into the classrooms. In one of them, I see a ton of research books spread on the ground and a student hunched over as they take notes. I say student as if I didn't know it was Taehyung comfortably sitting on the ground, glasses on as he immersed himself in his studies. Butterflies bloom in my chest and I hold my necklace, trying to hold them back.

Taking a step back, I make sure that he can't see me. Guilt weighs heavily on me as I recall the dream. I was taking advantage of Taehyung's kindness. All Taehyung did was be the first person to reach out to me and be my friend. What does it say about my character if I like him because of that? I feel silly and ashamed when I place myself in his shoes. Imagine being nice to someone and they interpret your kindness as interest? How could I use him? It wasn't fair to him.

Closing my eyes, I sigh deeply, upset with myself. If Taehyung even had a hint of a feeling of how I felt, he might never talk to me.

You don't fall for your friends, Seolli.

My hands tremble at the thought of confessing to Taehyung. He wouldn't laugh at me, but the flash of distress on his face would haunt me for the rest of my life.

Luckily, Taehyung was really busy these days because I needed a lesson on boundaries. When I wake up in the morning, he's who I'm excited to meet on campus. I no longer try to make friends in any of my other classes either... Am I depending too much on him?

Footsteps down the hall, shake me from all thoughts. Taking an awkward step forward, I walk away from the door, hoping it wasn't obvious that I was lounging around.

A gentle hand is placed on top of my head and teasingly pulls me back. I let out a small yelp before glancing up at Jeon.

He grins while looking into the room. "What are we looking at?"

My cheeks burn at being caught. "I- the classroom is busy-and I..."

He blinks his eyes my way, surprised. "Do... you know him?"

Biting down on my lip, I glance at the clock behind him. "I.... am going to miss my bus home!"

Wanting out of this interaction, I turn to walk back toward the cafe so I can find an exit.

"Can I follow you?" Jeon rushes to my side.

"H-home?"

He grins. "Well, I could, but I was thinking ... I didn't know how to use the bus the other time and we live in the same area so I could get off at your stop and figure it out from there."

Has he been walking this whole time? Even in the rain the other day?

"Of course!" I smile. "Have you received your campus bus pass? It lets us board on the city buses for free."

He puffs his cheeks out as he digs into his pocket for his wallet. "This one?" He asks while holding his ID in two fingers.

Tilting my head, I look at his ID photo. More importantly...

I gasp when I see his name, and he covers my mouth, fighting off his own giggle. "Ah, you got me~"

Jeon Jungkook! His name's Jungkook.

I can't help but smile at him, too excited by the discovery.

When we board the bus and sit down, I turn to ask, "Is your motorcycle still in the shop?"

He nods, leaning more my way as he looks out the window. "Yup. Why? Looking forward to another ride?"

I nod my head.

He looks surprised. "Actually?"

"My dad owned lots of motorcycles, and he would always take me on rides around the parks. But my favorite was riding near the lake downtown. The sun was so bright that the lake sparkled," I tell him softly.

He leans his head against the seat, listening. "Sounds like a pretty cool dad."

I nod. Clearing my throat, I ask, "What happened to your motorcycle?"

"Caught fire."

My eyes widen.

"My brother's a pyromaniac."

My jaw drops and a small smile plays on his lips. "Kidding. It was an accident. I had spilled some gasoline when I filled up my motorcycle and forgot to clean it up. His cigarette caught it on fire."

I frown, envisioning it happening. "I'm so sorry."

He shakes his head. "It wasn't your fault. And it wasn't his, either. I shouldn't have been filling it up at home. The house is okay. It was just my motorcycle."

"I'm sure he feels horrible, too."

He shrugs. "He hates me. Instead of being mad at him, I just hope this accident will make him hate me a little less. Do you have any siblings?"

He doesn't get along with his brother?

"I-I don't know..." I answer truthfully.

Jungkook chuckles, "You don't know?"

I realize how silly that sounds without an explanation. "I might. My parents... they aren't together anymore. My father, I think he has a new family now. It's not really a secret, but nobody mentions it out loud."

And I know it's because they still want to preserve the idea of our family for me.

"B-but it's all good between us, really. It doesn't bother me, but there's no way to explain it without it sounding-"

Jungkook pulls me in for a hug, my long hair getting trapped under his arm. "I'm sorry."

I'm surprised by how close he's gotten, but I find comfort in his hug. "Thank you."

When he lets go, I smile reassuringly. "I'm fine. It's already been a while. I promise."

He nods. "My family is the same. My dad remarried and now me and my baby brother live with him. Except, my dad and I don't get along sometimes. He doesn't approve of my piercings or tattoos... any way that I express myself, really. It shouldn't matter since I've always been on top of my class. My brother... my other brother... he gets away with things because he looks better, but he has some issues. Still, I feel like I have to keep proving myself. I took a semester off for a break after the burn out I got. But I came back because I'm trying to get a degree and then move away to freedom."

I chew on my lip. We might be similar, but he's going through a lot more. Seeing him, as he was before, I wouldn't have thought he was as serious about his education. How silly of me to think that. "W-What are you studying?"

"Early childhood education."

"You want to be-"

"A teacher." He confirms, proudly.

With how warm his voice is and how fun his energy is, I know he'll be a great teacher.

My stop arrives and we get off.

"I'm just over the bridge that way." Jungkook points.

I point the opposite way. "And I'm over there."

He nods and starts to wave as he walks backwards.

"Bye, Jungkook." I wave back, happy that I spoke more to him and even learned his name.

His smile stretches wider.

"Bye, Lili."