The registration hall buzzed with the nervous energy of incoming freshmen. Jin, clutching his acceptance letter like a lifeline, felt swallowed by the sea of unfamiliar faces. This was it. The start to a new beginning. Hopefully, one where whispers of curse didn't follow him like a shadow.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the din. "Hey! You! The one with the moon-bunny necklace!"

Jin flinched and turned, his eyes widening. Standing before him, radiating an almost intimidating aura of effortless cool, was the same guy from the mall. 

"Jin, do you recognize me?" the guy asked eagerly.

Momentarily surprised, Jin wondered how the guy knew his name before forcing himself to look properly at the handsome face in front of him whose intense gaze was now locked onto him.

Then, recognition sparked in his eyes, widening them. 

"J-Jungkook?" 

The name tasted strange after so many years, like a forgotten flavor.

He could see it now. The guy in front of him was older, taller, with an edge of sophistication Jin had never seen in the mischievous boy he remembered, but undeniably Jungkook.

A slow smile spread across Jungkook's face, softening the sharp angles of his features. He grabbed Jin's shoulders, almost too tightly. "Wow. After all these years... what are you doing here?"

"I... I got in," Jin stammered, gesturing to the letter. "I'm here for admission."

Jungkook's smile faltered slightly. He dropped his hands and took a step back, his expression hardening. "So, you just... show up? After all this time? Without a word?"

The accusation hung in the air, heavy and thick. Jin felt a familiar pang of guilt twist in his stomach. "I..."

"You just left, Jin," Jungkook continued, his voice laced with a hurt that surprised Jin. "Just vanished. Mom and I came back, and you were gone. No goodbye, no note, nothing. Do you have any idea how worried I was? We were best friends! Didn't I mean anything to you?"

The words stung. Jin felt his throat tighten, the guilt morphing into a painful ache. He wanted to explain, to rewind time and do things differently, but the memories were a jumbled mess of fear and desperation.

He closed his eyes, and the past flooded back, a torrent of images and emotions.

<The fateful night>

A cold wind whipped around him as the little boy crept through the overgrown path leading to the Jeon mansion. The moon offered little light, casting long, menacing shadows that played tricks on his eyes. His father was gone, taken by the sickness that the villagers will be sure to blame on him, on his 'cursed blood.' Si-hyuk was busy packing his meager belongings, preparing to send him away to his aunt in the city. Away from the glares, the whispers, the outright threats.

He had to say goodbye to Jungkook. He knew Jungkook was out of town helping his mother, but he still had to leave a letter, a small explanation. He couldn't just disappear.

He reached the back gate, his heart pounding against his ribs. He slipped inside, hugging the wall, trying to remain unseen. He knew the housemaid, Mrs. Cho, didn't like him. She tolerated him only when Mrs. Jeon was around.

He reached the back door and cautiously pushed it open. The kitchen was empty, bathed in the soft glow of a single lamp. He was halfway to Jungkook's room when a harsh voice startled him.

"What do you think you're doing here, boy?"

Mrs. Cho stood in the doorway, her arms crossed, her face etched with disapproval. Jin knew she disliked him enough to rat him out to the villagers. The only thing stopping her was the love for her job and poor financial status.

Jin flinched. "I'm leaving the village. I just wanted to leave a letter for Jungkook," he whispered, his voice trembling.

"Good riddance, I say. You brought nothing but bad luck to this village." Mrs. Cho scoffed. "Jungkook doesn't need a letter from the likes of you. Now get out of here before I call the villagers upon you. Go on, shoo!"

Her words were like a slap in the face. Jin, defeated and terrified of being caught, turned and fled, the undeliverd letter burning a hole in his pocket. He hadn't dared to try again. Fear, and the heavy weight of the villagers' accusations, had kept him away.

Jungkook stared at him, his expression unreadable. The anger seemed to have dissipated, replaced by something softer, a flicker of empathy. He ran a hand through his hair, sighing. It had not been his intention to hurt Jin on their first proper encounter after so many years.

He stepped closer to Jin, his gaze intense. "It doesn't change the fact that it hurt, Jin. But... I guess I understand a little better now."

"Anyways, welcome to the college. Now you will have to see me every day to make up for the lost time." He grinned.

•·.·''·.·••

Jungkook's ice cream remained forgotten, melting, as he watched Jin eat his ice cream. His eyes closed in bliss, and a contented smile spread across the pink lips. He savored each spoonful as if it were the most exquisite thing in the world.

"You really love ice cream, don't you?" Jungkook teased, his heart swelling at the sight of Jin being so happy."

"I do," Jin replied, her smile faltering for a moment. "I don't get to have it very often."

"Why not?"

Jin hesitated, looking down at her ice cream. "My aunt is very strict..... she says we have to always stay in shape. She thinks beauty is the most important thing."

Jungkook frowned. "That doesn't sound fair."

Jin shrugged, looking away. "It's just how it is. She's been through a lot too. But she's all I have now."

As hours passed, reminiscing about the past, Jin happened to glance at his watch and notice the time. "I should go. My aunt will be worried."

Jungkook didn't want the day to end. "Can I walk you home?" He asked hoping to learn about Jin's address.

Jin hesitated, then nodded. "Okay, but just to the corner. She doesn't like visitors."

They walked in comfortable silence, the day fading into twilight. When they reached the corner, Jin turned to him. "Thank you, Jungkook. For today. It was... wonderful."

Jungkook didn't reply, opting to just engulf him in a tight hug as a reply.