Episode 2 – Lost in Time

Evening slowly melted into night.

The café that had been full of chatter earlier was now almost silent.

Soft music played in the background while the warm yellow lights reflected off the wooden tables.

At the corner table, Jimin sat completely lost in his world.

His pen moved quickly across the pages of his diary.

 Line after line.

Thought after thought.

Everything he had kept inside the whole day was finally pouring onto paper.

He didn’t notice the quiet café.

He didn’t notice the passing time.

He didn’t even notice someone watching him.

Across the café, Jungkook closed the book he had been reading.

He had finished it a while ago.

Yet he didn’t leave.

Instead, he stayed seated, occasionally glancing toward Jimin.

 He’s still writing…

Jungkook checked the time on his phone.

It was getting late.

Most customers had already left.

But for some reason…

he still didn’t move.

 Why am I still here?

He leaned back in his chair.

Just leave.

But his eyes drifted toward Jimin again.

The way Jimin leaned over the diary…

 The way his brows slightly frowned while thinking…

The way his lips curved faintly when writing something meaningful.

 Jungkook looked away quickly.

Why am I even paying attention…?

 Minutes passed.

Then finally—

Jimin closed his diary.

He stretched his arms high above his head.

“Ahhh…”

Like someone who had just finished a huge mission.

 Across the café, Jungkook quietly exhaled.

Finally.

 At that exact moment, Jimin’s phone started ringing.

He glanced at the screen.

 A soft smile appeared on his face.

 “Taehyungie?”

  He answered the call.

 The voice on the other side exploded immediately.

 “PARK JIMIN! WHERE ARE YOU?!”

  Jimin quickly pulled the phone away from his ear.

    “I’m here, I’m here!”

“Do you know what time it is?” Taehyung complained loudly.

 “You’re not home! I thought you got lost or something!”

   Jimin chuckled softly.

    “I’m okay, Tae. Don’t worry.”

     “Then where are you?”

    “I was studying… and writing. I didn’t realize the time.”

A dramatic sigh came from the other side of the phone.

    “You didn’t eat anything again, did you?”

   Jimin stayed silent.

That silence was enough.

  “I knew it,” Taehyung groaned. “Just come home quickly. I made dinner.”

  Jimin’s eyes softened.

     “Okay. I’m coming.”

   The call ended.

From his seat nearby, Jungkook had heard parts of the conversation.

   His brows slowly furrowed.

     Who was he talking to…?

Then he immediately shook his head.

   Why do I care?

 Just then—

 Jimin started walking toward him.

 Jungkook froze.

    Wait…

 Why is he coming here?

His mind suddenly started racing.

Did he heard my thoughts oh! no, he can’t ?

Did he notice me staring?

Does he know I stayed here because—

 Jimin stopped beside him.

   “Senior?”

 Jungkook straightened immediately.

     “…Yes?”

Jimin politely pointed forward.

  “Could you move a little? I need to order something.”

  Jungkook blinked.

   Then he realized—

He was standing right in front of the counter.

“Oh.”

He stepped aside quickly.

“Sorry.”

Jimin smiled kindly.

“It’s okay.”

Jungkook awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.

That was embarrassing…

Jimin placed an order for takeaway food.

While waiting, his phone buzzed again.

He checked the message.

Then suddenly—

He laughed.

A soft, genuine laugh.

On the screen was Taehyung’s message:

😠WHERE ARE YOU? COME HOME FAST.

Jimin shook his head affectionately.

“He’s so dramatic…”

Not far away, Jungkook watched quietly.

Something about that smile…

Something about the way Jimin spoke about that person…

made a strange feeling settle in his chest.

They must be really close.

Jungkook looked away.

Why am I even thinking about this…

A moment later, the café staff handed Jimin his order.

Jimin took the bag and turned toward Jungkook.

 “Goodnight, senior.”

Jungkook nodded.

“Goodnight.”

Jimin waved lightly before leaving.

Ding—

The café door closed behind him.

Jungkook looked around the café.

Most of the customers were gone now.

The staff were already cleaning the tables and preparing to close.

He walked toward the counter.

Jungkook:

“You guys can go home.”

The staff looked up in surprise.

Staff:

“But sir, what about closing?”

Jungkook picked up his jacket from the chair.

Jungkook:

“I’ll lock up. It’s already late.”

One of the staff members smiled knowingly.

Staff:

“You stayed longer today.”

Jungkook paused for a moment.

Then he sighed softly.

Jungkook:

“Yeah… sorry about that. Because of me, you all had to stay late.”

The staff quickly shook their heads.

Staff:

“No, no! It’s fine. We don’t mind.”

Another staff member laughed lightly.

Staff:

“Besides, it’s rare to see the boss sitting quietly for so long.”

Jungkook raised an eyebrow.

“Is that so?”

The staff nodded playfully.

Jungkook just shook his head and walked toward the door.

Jungkook:

“Alright. Go home safely.”

Staff:

“Goodnight, boss!”

Jungkook:

“Goodnight.”

One by one, the staff left the café.

Soon, the place became completely quiet.

Jungkook stood there alone for a moment.

His eyes drifted toward the table where Jimin had been sitting earlier.

For some reason…

That seat felt strangely empty now.

Jimin stepped outside, holding the small paper bag he had ordered to take home. The cool evening air brushed gently against his face as he walked down the quiet street.

Behind him, inside the café, Jungkook stood near the counter.

For a moment, he simply stared at the closed door.

Then he sighed softly and walked toward the table where Jimin had been sitting.

The empty glass was still there.

Jungkook picked it up slowly.

“…He finished it.”

He stared at the glass for a second before shaking his head lightly.

Why am I even paying attention to this?

He carried the glass back to the counter and began cleaning it, but for some reason his thoughts kept drifting back to the boy who had just left.

The way Jimin smiled while drinking the chocolate.

The way his eyes brightened after the first sip.

Jungkook leaned against the counter and closed his eyes for a moment.

“…Weird.”

Just then, headlights appeared outside the café window.

A sleek black car slowly stopped in front of the café.

Jungkook glanced outside and sighed.

“Right on time.”

The car door opened.

Kim Seokjin stepped out first, adjusting his sunglasses dramatically.

“OUR BABY IS STILL WORKING!”

Inside the car, Namjoon sighed.

“Hyung… it’s nighttime.”

“So?”

“You’re wearing sunglasses.”

Jungkook walked outside, clearly embarrassed.

“You two are loud.”

Jin gasped dramatically.

“Excuse me? I came all the way here to pick you up!”

Namjoon leaned slightly out of the car window.

“You stayed late again.”

Jungkook shrugged casually.

“Just reading.”

But in his mind, a certain smile kept appearing again and again.

Jimin’s smile.

Jungkook looked away quickly and got into the car.

The café slowly disappeared behind them as the car drove into the night.

Meanwhile…

Jimin quietly opened the apartment door.

The moment he stepped inside, a delicious smell filled the air.

His eyes widened.

“…Meat?”

From the kitchen came a loud voice.

“PARK JIMIN!”

Jimin froze.

Taehyung walked into the living room with his arms crossed dramatically.

“Do you know what time it is?!”

Jimin quickly raised the paper bag in his hand.

“I brought you a hamburger!”

Taehyung stared at the bag.

Then at Jimin.

“…You think you can bribe me with food?”

Jimin nodded slowly.

“Yes.”

Taehyung tried to stay angry.

He really tried.

But the smell of the hamburger reached his nose.

“…Give it.”

Jimin burst out laughing and handed it over.

Taehyung grabbed the bag and sat down dramatically.

“I was worried about you, you know,” he muttered while opening the wrapper.

Jimin smiled softly.

“I’m sorry.”

Taehyung took a huge bite.

“…Where were you anyway?”

Jimin placed his bag on the table.

“I found this really quiet café near school.”

Taehyung paused mid-bite.

“A café?”

“Yeah,” Jimin said happily. “It’s peaceful. There are lots of books too.”

Taehyung nodded thoughtfully while chewing.

“Hm.”

Jimin suddenly noticed a plate on the table.

Grilled meat.

His favorite.

“Tae… did you make this?”

Taehyung shrugged casually.

“You skipped dinner yesterday too. So I made your favorite.”

Jimin’s smile softened.

“Thank you.”

They both sat down and started eating.

For a few minutes, everything was quiet.

Then Taehyung leaned closer.

He sniffed the air suspiciously.

“…Why do you smell like chocolate?”

Jimin froze.

“What?”

Taehyung narrowed his eyes.

“You said you went to study.”

“I did.”

“Then why do you smell like dessert?”

Jimin quickly looked away.

“It’s nothing.”

Taehyung leaned back slowly.

“…Suspicious.”

Jimin laughed nervously.

But inside his mind, a memory appeared again.

A warm glass placed gently on the table.

“…Chocolate milkshake?”

“It’s my favorite.”

And Jungkook quietly saying—

“Good.”

Jimin shook his head quickly.

Why am I thinking about him again?

Across the table, Taehyung was still staring.

“You’re hiding something.”

“I’m not!”  no , you must be tired after making so much food for me, I think you need beauty sleep to look more handsome, what you think?

Taehyung pointed his chopsticks at him.

You’re right , I need my beauty sleep for my handsome face but “I will investigate.”

Jimin groaned.

Good night.

Taehyung :

Yeahh good night

The next morning arrived quickly.

The classroom buzzed with students talking before the lecture started.

Taehyung dropped his head dramatically onto the desk.

“This lecture will destroy my soul.”

Jimin laughed softly.

“You say that every day.”

The teacher began writing complicated notes on the board.

Five minutes later—

Taehyung whispered,

“…I understand nothing.”

Jimin whispered back,

“Same.”

Behind them, someone scoffed.

Min Yoongi.

“You two are louder than the teacher.”

Taehyung immediately straightened.

“O-oh… Yoongi sunbae.”

Yoongi rolled his eyes.

“Just listen.”

In the front row, Jung Hoseok suddenly turned around with a bright grin.

“Yoongi, stop scaring the kids.”

“I’m not scaring anyone,” Yoongi replied flatly.

Taehyung whispered to Jimin,

“His brother is scary too.”

Jimin tried not to laugh.

Halfway through the lecture, the teacher suddenly stopped.

“Jimin.”

Jimin looked up.

“Yes, sir?”

“You’re the new transfer student, correct?”

“Yes.”

The teacher glanced around the classroom.

“Your seat is too far from the board.”

Taehyung’s eyes widened.

“Wait—”

“Move to the front,” the teacher continued calmly.

The classroom fell silent.

“And sit next to Jungkook.”

Taehyung looked personally betrayed.

Jimin slowly turned toward the front row.

Jeon Jungkook sat near the window.

Quiet.

Calm.

Watching.

Jimin nervously picked up his bag and walked forward.

Taehyung whispered loudly,

“DON’T LEAVE ME.”

Jimin sat down beside Jungkook.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Jungkook quietly said,

“…You’re late.”

Jimin blinked.

“Huh?”

“You usually arrive earlier.”

Jimin stared at him in shock.

How does he know that…?

Across the classroom, Taehyung looked miserable.

“My best friend abandoned me.”

Yoongi sighed.

“You’re dramatic.”

After school ended, students gathered near the front gate.

Suddenly, a sleek black car stopped outside.

Students began whispering.

“Who is that?”

The car door opened.

First stepped out Namjoon.

Then Jin followed, adjusting his sunglasses dramatically.

Taehyung whispered,

“Are we in a mafia movie?”

Jimin laughed softly.

Just then Jungkook walked out of the school building.

Jin waved loudly.

“JUNGKOOKIE!”

Jungkook looked instantly embarrassed.

“Hyung… stop yelling.”

Students stared in shock.

Taehyung whispered again,

“…Wait.”

“Is that his brother?”

Namjoon smiled calmly.

“Ready to go home?”

Jungkook nodded.

Before getting into the car, he glanced back toward the gate.

Right toward Jimin.

Their eyes met for a brief moment.

Then Jungkook got into the car and it drove away.

Taehyung slowly turned to Jimin.

“…Your life just became interesting.”

Jimin didn’t answer.

Because for some reason…

That one look from Jungkook stayed in his mind long after the car disappeared.

Author’s Note Thank you for reading 💜

Jimin only wanted a quiet place to write, and he thinks Jungkook is just someone who works at the café. But Jungkook seems to notice Jimin more than he expected.

For now, they are still strangers… but fate has placed them in the same classroom.

What will happen next?

See you in the next episode ✨

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