INTRODUCTION and Chapter 1

Northbridge University looked beautiful in the rain.

Students crossed the huge campus with umbrellas above their heads while laughter echoed through the cold evening air. For most people, it was just the beginning of another semester.

For Kim Taehyung, it felt like the beginning of a completely different life.

Transferring to Northbridge had not been an easy decision. His old university was full of expectations he could never meet and friendships that never felt real. Everyone liked the version of Taehyung that smiled all the time, joked around, and acted like nothing ever hurt him.

But nobody really knew him.

So he left.

Northbridge was supposed to be his fresh start. A place where nobody knew his past. A place where he could quietly become someone new.

What Taehyung did not expect was Jeon Jungkook.

Jungkook was known across campus for two things: being one of the best literature students in the university and being impossible to get close to.

Quiet.

Cold.

Sharp with words.

The kind of person who looked at others like he had already decided they would disappoint him eventually.

Taehyung disliked him instantly.

Unfortunately, fate seemed to enjoy pushing them toward each other.

First in the rain.

Then in class.

Then during late-night study sessions that slowly turned into something neither of them expected.

Because behind Jungkook’s coldness was loneliness.

And behind Taehyung’s bright smile was exhaustion.

They were two people pretending they were fine in completely different ways.

What began with arguments slowly became comfort.

Comfort became attachment.

And attachment slowly turned into love.

But love was terrifying when both people were afraid of being abandoned.

Under the same sky, two boys who thought they were meant to stay alone would slowly learn what it meant to choose someone — and be chosen back.

_____Chapter 1: The Boy In the Rain______

Kim Taehyung hated being late.

Unfortunately, he was always late.

“Sorry— excuse me— wait, move—!”

Taehyung rushed through the crowded pathway with his backpack hanging off one shoulder while rain poured heavily over Northbridge University. His phone was open to the campus map, but somehow the map only made him more confused.

“How does one university have this many buildings?” he complained under his breath.

A passing student laughed. “You lost?”

“I’ve been lost for twenty minutes.”

“The literature building is straight ahead.”

Taehyung looked around dramatically. “You’re telling me I suffered emotionally for nothing?”

The student pointed behind him.

Taehyung turned.

The literature building was literally right there.

“…Wow.”

“Good luck,” the student said, still laughing before walking away.

Taehyung sighed and immediately started running again.

Which was exactly why he crashed into someone.

The impact nearly knocked the coffee out of his hand.

“Oh my god—!”

A strong hand grabbed his arm before he could fall completely.

“Watch where you’re going,” a deep voice said coldly.

Taehyung blinked before slowly looking up.

The boy standing in front of him looked annoyed, tired, and unfairly attractive all at once.

Dark wet hair covered part of his forehead.

A black hoodie clung slightly to his shoulders because of the rain.

His sharp eyes stayed fixed on Taehyung with obvious irritation.

Taehyung frowned immediately.

“You were standing in the middle of the path.”

“I was walking.”

“Walking like a movie villain.”

The stranger stared at him silently.

Rain continued falling around them.

Finally, the boy bent down and picked up Taehyung’s notebook from the wet ground.

“You dropped this.”

Taehyung grabbed it quickly. “Thanks.”

“You should pay attention.”

“You should smile at least once.”

One eyebrow lifted slightly.

“You talk too much.”

“And you sound emotionally unavailable.”

For a second, Taehyung noticed the smallest twitch at the corner of the boy’s mouth.

Almost a smile.

Almost.

Then it disappeared again.

“What building are you looking for?” the stranger asked.

Taehyung looked suspicious immediately. “Why?”

“Because you’ve walked past the same bench three times.”

“…You saw that?”

“It was hard not to.”

Taehyung groaned softly. “The literature building.”

The boy pointed behind him.

Again.

Taehyung slowly turned and saw the building directly across from them.

His soul almost left his body.

“Oh.”

“You’re welcome.”

“That felt judgmental.”

“It was.”

Taehyung narrowed his eyes. “You enjoy annoying people, don’t you?”

“And you seem naturally annoying.”

Taehyung gasped dramatically. “That’s offensive.”

“You’ll survive.”

The stranger turned slightly as if ready to leave.

“Wait,” Taehyung called.

The boy paused.

“You have a name?”

There was a brief silence before he answered.

“Jeon Jungkook.”

Taehyung smiled slightly.

“Kim Taehyung.”

Jungkook nodded once before turning away and disappearing into the rain.

Taehyung watched him leave.

There was something strange about him.

Not just his attitude.

Something heavier.

Like he carried loneliness around him quietly, hoping nobody would notice.

Taehyung shook the thought away quickly.

“Great,” he muttered while heading toward the building. “New university, new life, and rude boys with pretty faces already bothering me.”

What Taehyung did not know yet…

was that Jeon Jungkook was about to become the most important person in his life.

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