Chapter 2

Second Day

The second day of school felt slightly more organized than the first, but still unfamiliar enough to make Taehyung feel like he was walking through someone else’s life.

As instructed, all students gathered on the ground after reaching school. The morning air was filled with scattered conversations, footsteps, and the restless energy of a new academic beginning.

Taehyung stood somewhere in the crowd with Lisa not far away, adjusting his bag strap while listening to announcements being made.

That’s when he met someone new.

A boy who happened to share the same interest in K-dramas.

It started casually—just a comment about a show, then another reply, and suddenly it turned into an easy conversation as if they had known each other longer than a few minutes.

His name was Jimin.

There was something about him that made talking effortless, like familiarity forming too quickly in a place full of strangers.

Soon after, classes were allocated, homeroom teachers were assigned, and the students were directed to their respective classrooms.

When Taehyung stepped inside his classroom, it already had the quiet chaos of a first-week setup—students choosing seats, scanning faces, testing where they would belong.

The classroom had three distinct sections: one row beside the windows, one in the middle, and one near the main entrance.

Taehyung chose the middle row.

Third bench.

Not too far. Not too close.

Just… in between everything.

In front of him, on the second bench of the middle row, sat two girls already talking softly. On the first bench of the front row, two boys were seated, relaxed and unaware of how new everything still felt.

Then the homeroom teacher entered.

The room settled immediately.

She introduced herself with calm authority and asked everyone to do the same—one by one.

Names, places, brief smiles, nervous voices.

Taehyung stood up when his turn came.

“Hi, I’m Taehyung,” he said, voice steady but quiet. “I live in… this city.”

He sat down before his nervousness could turn into something more noticeable.

One by one, the introductions continued.

The girls in front spoke next, their voices blending into the room’s growing familiarity. Then came the boys seated in the front row.

The first one stood up.

“Park Seo Jeon,” he said confidently.

A simple introduction, but enough to register in the room.

Then the second boy stood.

Taehyung didn’t look directly at him at first. He was still adjusting his notebook, still half-focused on random thoughts, until the voice reached him.

“My name is Jeon Jungkook,” the boy said.

Something about his voice made Taehyung pause.

Not loud. Not dramatic. Just… clear. Distinct.

For a moment, Taehyung didn’t even look up properly. He just repeated the name in his mind.

"Jeon Jungkook."

Testing it silently, like it was unfamiliar but strangely easy to remember.

The boy was sitting in the front row, back turned slightly toward him. Taehyung could only see his outline, the way he leaned a little forward after speaking, as if he didn’t think his introduction mattered much at all.

But Taehyung found himself paying attention anyway.

The rest of the day passed slowly in introductions, small interactions, and settling into unfamiliar seats. But Taehyung’s mind kept returning to that voice.

He tried to see his face properly during the day—subtly, without making it obvious. But every time he attempted, there was always something in the way. A movement. A turn. A distraction.

He only caught glimpses.

And that was enough to make his curiosity worse.

It wasn’t until the end of the school day, when students started leaving in small groups and the noise softened, that Taehyung finally saw him clearly—for a brief moment.

A side profile.

Nothing dramatic. Just a passing angle as the boy turned while walking.

But it stayed with him longer than expected.

As Taehyung stepped out of the classroom, he found himself thinking something quietly, almost unconsciously.

Can he be my friend?

And immediately after that—

another thought followed, softer but more uncertain.

Will he even want to be?

.........

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