A New Beginning

The morning air felt colder than usual.

Jimin stood quietly in front of the tall school gates, holding the straps of his bag. Students were walking past him, laughing and talking, excited to start the new semester.

For them, it was just another day.

For Jimin… it was a new beginning.

Not long ago, everything in his life had changed. His parents had died in a sudden accident, leaving him alone with memories he tried not to think about too often.

But Jimin had learned something important.

If he smiled, people wouldn’t ask questions.

So he smiled.

Even when his heart felt heavy, he kept the same warm and friendly expression on his face. People always said Jimin was easy to talk to, kind, and cheerful.

But the truth was… he didn’t let anyone get too close anymore.

At his previous school, many students had been nice to him. Too nice.

Later, he realized most of them only stayed around because of his family’s money. The moment things changed, their kindness disappeared.

That was the reason Jimin transferred.

He wanted a place where he could start again.

Taking a small breath, Jimin walked inside the campus.

“Jimin?!”

A familiar voice suddenly called out.

Jimin turned around, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Taehyung?!”

The two of them stared at each other for a moment before breaking into wide smiles. Taehyung—his old school friend who used to sit beside him in class.

“You transferred here too?” Taehyung asked excitedly.

“I didn’t know you were studying here!” Jimin laughed, feeling a sudden wave of relief. Maybe this new school wouldn’t be so lonely after all.

The two friends walked together, talking happily as they entered the main building.

But while turning a corner in the hallway—

Thud.

Jimin suddenly bumped into someone.

His books nearly slipped from his hands.

“Oh! I’m so sor—”

The words stopped in his throat.

Standing in front of him was a tall student with sharp eyes and calm but intimidating presence. His expression was unreadable as he looked down at Jimin.

The hallway seemed to grow strangely quiet.

Jimin quickly bowed.

“I’m really sorry, senior.”

The boy didn’t say anything.

He just kept staring at Jimin with a strange, intense look—like he was studying him carefully.

For a moment, Jimin felt nervous under that gaze.

Then the senior finally looked away and walked past him without saying a single word.

Jimin blinked in confusion.

“What was that about…?”

Beside him, Taehyung sighed.

“You just bumped into Jeon Jungkook.”

“Jeon… Jungkook?”

Taehyung nodded seriously.

“He’s one of the most famous seniors in this school. Rich, smart, good at everything… but he hates people getting close to him.”

Jimin frowned slightly.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean exactly that,” Taehyung said. “He doesn’t like people touching him, talking too much, or following him around. Most students avoid him.”

Taehyung then looked directly at Jimin.

“So trust me… stay away from him. Got it?”

Jimin glanced down the hallway where Jungkook had disappeared.

For some reason…

That strange look Jungkook gave him was still stuck in his mind.

*** Lunch Time***

The morning classes passed quickly, but Jimin couldn’t stop thinking about the senior he had bumped into earlier.

Jeon Jungkook.

Even the way he looked at him felt strange.

When the lunch bell rang, students rushed toward the cafeteria, filling the hallways with noise and excitement.

Taehyung stretched lazily.

“Let’s go eat. I’m starving.”

But when they reached the cafeteria, it was already packed with students. Every table was full, and the line for food looked endless.

Jimin laughed awkwardly.

“It’s really crowded…”

Taehyung nodded. “Yeah. It’s always like this.”

Jimin looked around for a moment before speaking.

“I think I’ll walk around outside for a bit.”

“Okay,” Taehyung replied. “Don’t get lost.”

Jimin left the noisy building and slowly walked near the school gate. The area was much quieter there.

That’s when he noticed a small café on the corner of the street.

The sign above the door read:

Book Café

Jimin tilted his head slightly.

“I’ve never seen this place before…”

Curious, he walked closer and gently pushed the door open.

Ding.

A small bell rang.

The café was peaceful, filled with shelves of books and the soft smell of coffee. Sunlight streamed through the windows, making the place feel warm and calm.

Jimin smiled softly.

“This place is perfect for studying…”

But when he looked further inside—

He suddenly froze.

Sitting near the window, quietly reading a book…

was Jeon Jungkook.

The same senior he had bumped into earlier that morning.

As if sensing someone’s presence, Jungkook slowly lifted his eyes from the book.

Their eyes met again.

For a moment, the entire café felt silent.

Jimin quickly bowed.

“S-senior… hello.”

Jungkook didn’t say anything.

He simply stared at Jimin with that same strange look.

And for some reason…

Jimin felt like this meeting wasn’t just a coincidence.

Author’s Note

**Hi readers! **

Thank you so much for reading the first episode of Pages of Us. This story will be a slow-burn Jikook journey filled with emotions, secrets, soft moments, and unexpected twists.

Jimin has just started a new life after leaving his old school, and meeting Jungkook might change more than he expects. But why did Jungkook look at him like that…? And why does it feel like their meeting isn’t just a coincidence?

You’ll find out soon. 👀

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Please share your thoughts, theories, or favorite moments in the comments. Your support really motivates me to continue writing.

See you in the next episode! 📚✨

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