Chapter 3 – Seven in the Evening

Taehyung arrived at the library at exactly 6:57 p.m.

Not because he was responsible.

But because Jeon Jungkook looked like the type of person who would remember lateness for the next fifty years.

Northbridge’s library was quieter in the evening. The sunlight outside had faded into soft orange, and the large windows reflected rows of bookshelves stretching endlessly across the room. Students sat scattered around with headphones on and coffee cups beside their laptops.

Taehyung spotted Jungkook immediately.

Of course he was already there.

Jungkook sat near the windows with several books open around him, looking completely focused. His sleeves were rolled slightly above his wrists while he wrote something carefully in his notebook.

Taehyung slowed down unconsciously.

For someone so rude, Jungkook looked unfairly beautiful while concentrating.

Annoying.

Very annoying.

“You’re staring again.”

Taehyung nearly walked into a bookshelf.

“I was not staring.”

“You almost hit the shelf.”

“That proves nothing.”

Jungkook looked up slowly, and Taehyung noticed it again — that tiny almost-smile he kept trying to hide.

Taehyung dropped dramatically into the chair across from him.

“You came early?”

“I’m always early.”

“That sounds exhausting.”

“It’s called being responsible.”

“It’s called having no social life.”

Jungkook ignored the comment and pushed a notebook toward him.

“Outline for the essay.”

Taehyung stared at the page in horror.

Everything was color-coded.

Titles were perfectly aligned.

Even the handwriting looked expensive.

“Oh my god,” Taehyung whispered. “You’re one of those students.”

“One of what students?”

“The terrifying smart ones who probably enjoy suffering academically.”

Jungkook looked completely unbothered. “Focus.”

“You definitely had perfect attendance in school.”

“I did.”

“That’s actually scary.”

Taehyung rested his chin dramatically on the table while flipping through the outline.

“You planned the entire assignment already?”

“It’s easier if we organize first.”

Taehyung narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Do you secretly enjoy controlling people?”

“No. I just dislike chaos.”

“You would hate my room.”

“I already do.”

Taehyung gasped. “You’ve never even seen it!”

“I can imagine it.”

Taehyung opened his mouth to argue but stopped when he noticed something strange.

Jungkook sounded… comfortable.

Still sarcastic.

Still blunt.

But less cold than before.

Like the sharp edges around him softened slightly when he forgot to keep his distance.

It made Taehyung strangely curious.

They started working properly after that.

At least they tried to.

“You can’t start your essay with ‘Life is complicated,’” Jungkook said flatly after reading Taehyung’s first paragraph.

“Why not?”

“Because it sounds like a teenager discovering emotions for the first time.”

Taehyung looked offended immediately.

“I am a teenager discovering emotions for the first time.”

“You’re twenty-two.”

“Still young enough to suffer dramatically.”

Jungkook shook his head slightly before editing the sentence himself.

Taehyung watched him quietly for a moment.

Jungkook looked different here.

In class, he seemed distant from everyone. Like he built invisible walls around himself naturally.

But in the quiet library light, when he focused on writing or absentmindedly pushed his hair away from his eyes, he looked less untouchable.

More real.

Taehyung noticed small things too.

Like how Jungkook tapped his fingers softly against the table whenever he was thinking deeply.

Or how he quietly reread his sentences under his breath.

Or how tired his eyes looked when he stopped paying attention for too long.

A notification suddenly lit up Jungkook’s phone.

Taehyung accidentally glanced at the screen.

One message.

From someone saved as:

Mom

Jungkook immediately turned the phone face-down.

Too quickly.

The shift in his expression lasted only a second, but Taehyung noticed it.

Something heavy.

Something exhausted.

“You okay?” Taehyung asked softly before thinking.

Jungkook looked slightly surprised by the question.

Then guarded again.

“I’m fine.”

The answer sounded automatic.

Like something he had repeated too many times.

Taehyung looked at him for a second longer before quietly sliding his iced coffee across the table.

Jungkook frowned. “What’s this?”

“You look emotionally drained.”

“I don’t drink sugar.”

“That sounds fake.”

“It’s not fake.”

“Just try it.”

Jungkook stared at him silently before finally taking one sip.

Taehyung immediately leaned forward dramatically.

“Oh my god. You listened to me.”

“You’re loud even when whispering.”

“But you listened.”

Jungkook looked down at the cup for a second.

“…It’s not terrible.”

Taehyung clutched his chest. “That’s basically a love confession coming from you.”

For the first time that evening, Jungkook laughed properly.

A real laugh.

Soft.

Quiet.

Beautiful.

Taehyung froze completely.

Because suddenly Jungkook didn’t look cold anymore.

He looked dangerous in an entirely different way.

Jungkook noticed Taehyung staring again.

“What now?”

Taehyung blinked quickly. “Nothing.”

“Liar.”

Taehyung grabbed his notebook dramatically. “We should continue working before I start having thoughts.”

Jungkook raised an eyebrow slightly. “Concerning thoughts?”

“Very.”

That tiny almost-smile appeared again.

And this time, Jungkook didn’t hide it completely.

Hours passed faster than either of them expected.

By the time they finally packed their things, the library was nearly empty.

Taehyung stretched his arms tiredly while Jungkook slid books back into his bag neatly.

“You know,” Taehyung said while standing up, “you’re less horrible than I thought.”

“You’re still annoying.”

“That sounded affectionate.”

“It wasn’t.”

“Sure.”

They walked toward the library exit together quietly.

Outside, the rain had stopped completely.

The campus lights glowed softly against the dark evening sky.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

And strangely…

the silence didn’t feel uncomfortable anymore.

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