Chapter 2 – The Seat Beside Him

Kim Taehyung spent the next thirty minutes convincing himself that he would probably never see Jeon Jungkook again.

Northbridge University was huge. There were thousands of students on campus. The chances of repeatedly meeting the same rude, emotionally constipated boy had to be low.

Very low.

Unfortunately, fate clearly hated him.

Taehyung entered Creative Literature 101 while fixing his wet hair with one hand and holding his coffee with the other. The classroom was already crowded, conversations filling the room loudly.

“Perfect,” he whispered dramatically. “Nothing says ‘good first impression’ like arriving half-drowned.”

A few students laughed softly nearby. Taehyung smiled automatically before looking around for an empty seat.

Then he froze.

There was exactly one empty chair left in the entire classroom.

And sitting beside it was Jeon Jungkook.

Taehyung stared at him in disbelief.

Jungkook looked up from his notebook slowly. His expression immediately became unreadable.

“No,” Taehyung muttered under his breath.

Jungkook leaned back slightly in his chair.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” Taehyung replied while walking toward the seat carefully.

He dropped into the chair beside Jungkook with unnecessary drama.

“I just want you to know,” Taehyung said while placing his bag down, “this feels deeply personal.”

“You’re loud even this early in the morning.”

“You’re rude even this early in the morning.”

“That’s because you ran into me an hour ago.”

“You looked emotionally hittable.”

For the first time, Jungkook looked genuinely speechless.

Taehyung smiled proudly. “I won that round.”

Before Jungkook could reply, the professor entered the room.

The conversations slowly quieted.

Professor Kim Namjoon carried several books under one arm while adjusting his glasses with the other hand. He looked calm in the way only literature professors somehow managed to look.

“Good morning, everyone,” Namjoon said warmly. “Welcome to Creative Literature.”

Taehyung sat back in his chair while Jungkook opened his notebook immediately.

Of course he did.

“This semester,” Namjoon continued, “you’ll learn that writing is not just about talent. It’s about honesty.”

Taehyung immediately looked uncomfortable.

Honesty.

He already disliked this class.

“If your writing hides too much,” Namjoon said while walking slowly across the room, “people will feel the distance in your words.”

Taehyung glanced sideways and noticed Jungkook’s expression shift slightly.

Only for a second.

But it was there.

Like those words hit something personal.

Then Jungkook’s face became unreadable again.

Interesting.

“Now,” Namjoon said happily, “because good writing also requires trust, all major assignments this semester will be done in pairs.”

The classroom immediately exploded with reactions.

Taehyung slowly turned toward Jungkook.

Jungkook closed his eyes briefly like he was physically preparing for emotional damage.

“No.”

“Yes,” Taehyung whispered back immediately.

“You’ll stay paired with the person sitting beside you for the entire semester.”

Taehyung dramatically placed both hands over his face.

“This university is bullying me.”

“You’ll survive,” Jungkook replied calmly.

Taehyung looked at him. “You say that a lot for someone who looks dead inside.”

Jungkook stared silently for a second before looking away again.

Somehow, Taehyung felt like he had accidentally said something too real.

Namjoon started explaining the first assignment.

A personal essay.

Topic:

Write about a moment that changed your life.

Taehyung immediately groaned.

“Oh no.”

Jungkook glanced sideways. “Problem?”

“I hate writing personal things.”

“That’s literally the assignment.”

“Exactly. Why would anyone willingly expose their emotions?”

Jungkook looked at him carefully.

“That’s surprising.”

Taehyung blinked. “What is?”

“You seem like the type of person who says everything on his mind.”

Taehyung laughed softly at that.

“People think talking a lot means honesty,” he admitted quietly. “It’s easier to joke around than explain real things.”

For a moment, Jungkook just looked at him.

Not annoyed.

Not cold.

Just quietly observing.

Then Namjoon interrupted again.

“Before class ends, exchange numbers with your partner.”

Taehyung sighed dramatically.

“Well, partner,” he said while pulling out his phone, “if this turns into a toxic academic relationship, I’m blaming you.”

“We already started badly.”

“That’s true.”

Taehyung handed him his phone. Their fingers brushed slightly during the exchange.

A tiny thing.

But strangely noticeable.

Neither of them reacted outwardly.

Still, Taehyung caught Jungkook looking away a little too quickly afterward.

Interesting.

After class ended, students slowly started leaving.

Taehyung adjusted his bag while Jungkook packed his books neatly.

“You organize your notes like you’re preparing for war,” Taehyung commented.

“You carry emotional chaos in your backpack.”

Taehyung looked offended. “That’s not true.”

A pen immediately fell out of his bag onto the floor.

Jungkook stared silently.

“…Don’t look at me.”

For the first time, Taehyung heard it.

A soft laugh.

Small. Brief. Quiet.

But real.

Taehyung blinked in surprise.

Because suddenly Jungkook didn’t look cold anymore.

He looked human.

Dangerously human.

“When do you want to work on the assignment?” Taehyung asked carefully.

Jungkook zipped his bag closed before answering.

“Library. Seven tonight.”

“That sounded less like a suggestion and more like a threat.”

“Be there on time.”

Taehyung smiled slightly. “See? You do care.”

Jungkook looked at him for a long second before turning toward the classroom door.

And right before leaving, he said quietly:

“Don’t get lost this time.”

Taehyung stared after him, surprised by the tiny tease hidden inside the sentence.

Then slowly, without realizing it, he smiled to himself.

Maybe Jeon Jungkook wasn’t impossible after all.

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