chapter 1

February 8, Seoul

One of the most prestigious universities in the heart of Seoul...

During the last lecture of his first year in Computer Applications, Park Jimin suddenly stood up. Without a word, he walked out.

He wore a midi-length coat over a fitted turtleneck, slim trousers, and polished ankle boots. The sharp click of his heels echoed in the hallway — tak... tak... — steady, composed. His eyes, however, scanned his surroundings with quiet restlessness.

The corridor stretched wide and bright. A spiral staircase rose to the next floor, classrooms lined either side, and further ahead another staircase led higher, like a path to somewhere unknown.

Through the glass doors, Jimin glimpsed the front garden — neatly kept flower beds, benches under swaying trees, winter blossoms trembling in the breeze. Seoul was beautiful, even in February. But beauty wasn't enough to erase the hollowness that had settled inside him these past weeks.

Six days into the semester, and still... he felt like a stranger.

Just two weeks ago, his father — a bank manager — had been transferred from Busan to Seoul. Jimin had begged to stay in his old college dorms, begged to keep the friends who felt like family. But his parents had refused.

"You're our only son. How can we let you stay away from us?"

So here he was. Quiet. Reserved. Listening to lectures and leaving before anyone could try to know him.

**********************************************

Five days later...

On his way from class to the campus café, someone collided with him. The impact jolted him, and he spun around, annoyance flashing in his eyes.

"Sorry! Sorry! I didn't see you!"

The voice was warm, hurried — belonging to a boy who immediately bowed.

Jimin's gaze caught on him.

Tall — at least six feet. Milky-white skin. A gym-toned frame beneath casual clothes.

A cropped hairstyle sharpened his striking features, a silver bracelet glinted on his right wrist, a stylish watch on the left.

bambi eyes, a perfectly straight nose, lips faintly red from clean living. stubble roughened his jawline — making him look both elegant and dangerous.

The moment Jimin saw him, something inside clicked. He liked him instantly.

But the boy didn't spare him a second glance. He just walked away.

"Hey... excuse me!" Jimin called.

The boy stopped. Turned. His eyes caught Jimin's, steady and unreadable.

"What's your name?" Jimin asked before he could stop himself.

A small smile curved on his lips. "Jeon Jungkook."

That smile — effortless, disarming — held Jimin's gaze captive.

"Do you study here? Which year? Which department?" Jimin pressed, his heart unexpectedly quickening.

"Hey," Jungkook's tone shifted — calm, firm, final. "I bumped into you by mistake. I apologised. That's the end of it. No need for introductions."

And with that, he turned and walked away.

Jimin stood frozen, still watching his retreating figure — and because of that distraction, he collided with someone else.

Strong hands caught his shoulders before he could fall.

Annoyed, Jimin brushed them off. "Sorry, I wasn't looking. I turned too fast."

The boy in front of him gave him a slow once-over, lips curving into a half-smirk.

"Wow... you're really hot. Do you study here? I've never seen you before."

His eyes glittered with playful mischief.

"Which department? Which year? My name's Min Yoongi — Business depatment, second year."

Jimin's eyes narrowed. He shot back the words he'd just heard moments ago.

"I bumped into you by mistake. I apologised. That's enough. No need for introductions."

And brushing past him, he walked on.

But that night, no matter how hard he tried, Jeon Jungkook's name refused to leave his mind.

The next few days, Jimin quietly began asking around about him. And soon he learned something surprising —

the boy who had walked away without a second glance... and the boy who had smirked at him in the hallway...were close friends.

Jungkook was the son of a businessman. He was in his second year in the Business Department, specialising in Finance. After graduating , he and Yoongi had started an export–import company, JY Exports, working tirelessly for two years until they raised it to a respectable level.

Once Jungkook felt confident the company could run without his constant presence, he handed the daily operations over to his manager and enrolled in the Business program alongside Yoongi.

While Jungkook pursued Finance, Yoongi focused on Administration.

In six more months, they would both graduate — and Jungkook planned to devote himself completely to the company again.

The more Jimin learned about him, the more his interest grew.

For the next ten days, Jimin quietly observed. He figured out which classroom Jungkook used, where he hung out, and even what time he'd pass certain parts of campus.

Now, Jimin was finally on his way to confess.

That morning he had searched across campus, but Jungkook was nowhere to be found.

At lunch, he checked the café — still no sign.

By late afternoon, he found himself walking toward the staircase on the left side of the campus building. Opposite those stairs was a bench nestled between rows of shrubs and flowering plants.

And there he was — Jungkook, sitting casually, sunlight falling across his face.

Jimin had noticed something: no matter how handsome Jungkook was, he was never seen with any girl. Always only with Min Yoongi.

So Jimin thought, If I confess first, maybe I'll have a chance.

As he approached the bench, a nervous smile tugged at his lips. Jungkook sat there alone, head bent, scrolling through his phone.

Jimin stepped closer. "Excuse me..." he said softly.

Jungkook looked up, brows knitting slightly as if to ask, Who are you?

Jimin smiled, introducing himself.

"My name's Park Jimin. I'm in my first year in Computer Application. My dad's a bank employee — we recently moved to Seoul, so I joined the university about fifteen days ago.

Ten days ago, I accidentally bumped into you. From that moment, I really liked you...

In these ten days, I learned a little more about you — and I like you even more now. I just wanted to tell you that—"

"Eh. Stop."

Jungkook cut him off, irritation flickering clearly across his face.

From the start of high school until now, no one had ever responded to Jimin's advances with that kind of cold annoyance. If someone wasn't interested, they usually declined politely — but this? This got under his skin.

"Hey, Jungkook! Maybe you didn't look at me properly—" Jimin's voice tightened, defiance pushing through his nerves.

"I'm a perfect match for you — in looks and in lifestyle," he said boldly, standing his ground.

"My dad might be a bank employee, but we have plenty of property. I'm not here because you're rich or good-looking. The moment I saw you, I liked you. — that's why I came to say this."

For the first time, Jungkook's eyes lingered on him properly.

Fair skin. Delicate features. Stylish, confident.

Before either could say more, a group appeared in the distance — Yoongi, Dahyun, Mina, and Nayeon.

"Dahyun!" Jungkook called out.

She turned with a smile. "We were coming to you anyway," she said, leading the group closer.

Yoongi's eyes immediately found Jimin.

"Jimin! What are you doing here? Were you looking for me?" he asked, clearly pleased.

"He came for me," Jungkook said flatly, not even glancing up from his phone. "Dahyun, tell him all about me."

The moment Jungkook said he came for me, Yoongi's expression shifted — surprise flickering into quiet disappointment — before he looked back at Jimin.

Jimin, meanwhile, blinked in confusion, eyes darting toward Dahyun.

Dahyun grinned mischievously.

"Oh, I get it... You saw him, liked him, and ran all the way here to confess, huh?" she teased.

Jimin's jaw clenched, his ears burning. Without a word, he turned sharply to leave.

"Wait, dear, wait! Why so much anger?" Dahyun blocked his path with a teasing smile.

"I'll tell you why he's like this... but first, what's your name?"

"Jimin," Park Jimin, Yoongi cut in before Jimin could speak.

Dahyun glanced at Yoongi, then back at Jimin. "Which department? Which year?"

"Computer Application, first year. He joined just fifteen days ago," Yoongi replied casually.

"Hey, can you shut your mouth for a minute? He came to talk to Jungkook, right? Let me explain about him first — then you can talk all you want," Dahyun said, her voice sharp but playful.

"Alright," Yoongi muttered, moving to sit a few steps away on the grass. He opened his notebook, pretending to study, though his ears were tuned to every word.

"Jungkook already has someone special," Mina chimed in suddenly. "He's literally sitting here waiting for him right now."

Jimin's brows furrowed.

"I've been watching him for the past ten days. Not once has he been with anyone else. If he doesn't like me, fine — but why lie?"

"Oh? Are you saying we're lying? You... or us?" Nayeon let out a sharp laugh.

"Omo, Dahyun!" Mina giggled. "This kid's only a first year, but he's fearless. He just says whatever he's thinking, straight up. Let's recruit him into our group."

At that, a faint smile tugged at Yoongi's lips as he glanced up briefly from his notes.

"Hold on, kid. Let me explain so you understand," Dahyun said, raising a hand before Jimin could argue again. Her tone softened slightly as she leaned closer.

"We don't need to lie to you... Jungkook really likes someone. And that someone likes him back.

"He's in Business Finance, first year too. he doesn't hang around him much — maybe thirty minutes here and there, sitting together and talking. Then he's gone. he's busier than he is.

"You must've rushed here from class to confess, right? Well, class is ending now. In about two minutes, he'll be coming down. I'll show you. Just wait."

As Dahyun spoke, a group of guys came down the stairs first, followed by some girls.

Dahyun smirked at Jimin. "Guess who Jungkook's special someone is."

Jimin's eyes immediately scanned the crowd, his heart racing.

A tall, elegant girl with long, wavy hair and a stylish red skirt stepped out.

"This one?" Jimin asked hopefully.

"Nope," Dahyun replied.

Then another girl appeared, wearing cropped trousers and a fitted T-shirt.

"This one?" Jimin asked again, a little impatient.

"No," Dahyun said, shaking her head.

A girl in a soft pink blouse with a delicate hairpin tucked in stepped next.

"This one?" Jimin asked.

"Nope."

Then another — tight jeans, high ponytail, flawless makeup, confident stride.

Jimin's eyes widened. She's prettier than me... Could be her.

"My classmate said the prettiest girl in first year was this one... what was her name again?" he murmured.

"sohee," Mina supplied.

"Yes, sohee. Even the name is perfect... Is it her?" Jimin asked hopefully.

"That would've been nice. But no," Dahyun said with mock regret.

Jimin frowned. "But no one else is as pretty as her." His gaze swept the stairwell, carefully scanning each girl's face. For a moment, he even forgot why he came here in the first place.

"I knew you wouldn't guess," Dahyun teased. "Anyway... there's Sohee."

"I knew it was Sohee! You were lying on purpose!" Jimin blurted, excitement flashing in his eyes.

 honestly... listen till I finish. It's not Sohee. It's the one next to her."

Immediately, Jimin turned his head to Sohee's right—

"This one?!" Jimin's voice cracked, disbelief flashing across his face.

Dahyun grinned. "Exactly. That's the one Jungkook actually likes."

"He looks so pale... drowning in that oversized green hoodie... is it him?" Jimin asked again, squinting.

"Yes..." Dahyun replied.

"No matter how closely I look... I can't even figure out his pants. Are those white? Beige? Or just washed-out gray? Is it really him?" Jimin asked, still confused.

"Yes..." Dahyun confirmed again.

Sohee was walking with a pen in his hand. It slipped and fell.

The boy next to him bent down to pick it up. His oily bangs slid forward, sticking to his forehead.

"His hair looks like it hasn't seen shampoo in a week... greasy, flat, clinging to his face. Not a single strand sticking out, like he combed it down with too much gel. His skin—so shiny it looks like it would drip if you wiped it with a tissue. No makeup, nothing at all to hide behind. Maybe a shade lighter than wheatish...

 Just pale, baggy clothes, hanging off his thin, bony frame. And that face—so quiet, so innocent. Tell me honestly—is it really him?"

"Yes, dear, yes," Dahyun said with a small laugh.

"You've got to be joking! How can someone like Jungkook fall for... that? He looks like the poster boy for student poverty. Would anyone even notice him in a crowd? If Jungkook doesn't like me, fine, just say that. But don't expect me to believe this story," Jimin said bitterly.

"When Jungkook told us at first, we didn't believe it either. But then Jungkook said just one thing—'See with my own eyes.' After that, we stopped arguing," Dahyun chuckled.

"Still, I don't believe it..." Jimin muttered firmly.

"He's coming right here. If you're already shocked by just seeing him... once you hear their conversation, you'll be even more surprised," Dahyun teased, just as Tae walked toward them.

"Hi, Dahyun noona! Mina noona! Nayeon noona!" Tae greeted politely, clutching the strap of his bag, then glanced at Jimin with raised eyebrows, as if asking Who's this?

"Hey! Didn't we tell you not to call us noona?" the three of them shouted in mock scolding.

"Ah—sorry, sorry! I forgot. Won't call you that again," Tae said quickly, bowing his head, his messy glasses slipping down his nose.

No matter how Jimin looked at him, he just couldn't believe that this awkward, nerdy boy could be the one Jungkook liked.

"He's Jimin! He came here because he likes Jungkook and wants to propose to him," Mina explained.

Immediately, Tae looked Jimin up and down with a hesitant smile. "He's good-looking... He'd fit perfectly next to Jungkook-ssi..." Then, nervously extending his hand, he added, "My name is Kim Taehyung. Jungkook-ssi and I... we're in love."

Jimin, stunned, slowly reached out his hand.

Before they could shake, Jungkook stood up, slipping his phone into his pocket. "You said we'd go to the park today. I've been waiting for you. Come on, let's go."

"Sir suddenly announced there's going to be a test in Accounts tomorrow. I need to study... Let's go two days later instead," Tae replied softly.

"Don't talk like you've been spending four or five hours with me. You barely stay an hour when you come... So what do you do all night then?" Jungkook demanded, his tone sharp.

"That subject is... difficult," Tae murmured, adjusting his glasses.

"If it's difficult, you should be paying attention in class, right? You only come to the park once every ten days... And now you're skipping again? It's already been seven days since our last date, and now you want two more? I'm not okay with that. You have to come now," Jungkook snapped.

"I said I can't, and I mean it," Tae replied firmly, sitting down, pulling out his bag, taking two notebooks, and starting to scribble furiously.

Jungkook glared at him, sat back down, grabbed his phone, and typed furiously before hitting send.

"I've sent you a message. You're not online? Turn on your data, check it, reply—don't you dare ignore me," he shouted in frustration.

Watching all this, Jimin's eyes grew even wider.

Tae calmly took his phone out of his bag, read the message, then tucked it back inside. Adjusting his glasses, he said softly,

"You just sent it, right? I'll think about it and reply later."

Jungkook didn't say a word. He just stared at Tae, expression unreadable, lips pressed into a thin line.

Watching this strange silence, Jimin leaned closer to Dahyun, baffled.

"They're sitting right next to each other, right? Why don't they just... talk? Why bother sending messages back and forth?"

Dahyun chuckled, shaking her head.

"We've asked them that a hundred times. They never explain... so we just assumed maybe it's because 'it feels more fun this way.'"

to be continued

please share your comments

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***