It had been a week since Namjoon had come to my rescue, and our friendship had grown stronger. He would meet me at the cafe and listen to me rant about how stressed I was about my university assignments.

I started looking forward to our café chats more and more. He was a calming presence in my otherwise hectic life. Today, however, he had to cancel last minute due to an urgent meeting, so I decided to head to the library for some quiet study time. He had promised that he would come and pick me up later in tonight and drop me home. He didn't want me walking alone at night, not after what happened a week ago.

As I settled into my usual spot by the window, I noticed someone new at the next table over. He was engrossed in a thick textbook, his long, dark hair falling into his eyes as he read. There was something striking about him—an intensity in his concentration that mirrored my own.

I must have been staring because he suddenly looked up, meeting my gaze with a curious smile. I quickly looked away, feeling my cheeks flush.

I looked up when I heard someone take a seat in front of me. Looking up I noticed it was the same boy I was just staring at. My cheeks were still red from being caught staring. He didn't look much older than me.

“Are you studying criminal psychology too?” His voice was unexpectedly gentle, with a hint of playfulness as he stared at me. I noticed that he had piercings in his eyebrows and lips while his right hand was full of tattoos.

“Uh, yeah. How did you know?” I asked surprised, before smiling my head. He must have seen my books which were spread out on the table.

He chuckled, closing his book to show me the cover.

“I’m majoring in it as well. My name’s Jungkook, by the way.” He said

“Ava,” I replied, smiling.

“Nice to meet you, Jungkook.” I continued

We fell into an easy conversation, discussing our favorite classes and professors. Jungkook was incredibly knowledgeable, and I found myself enjoying his company immensely. He had a way of making even the most complex topics seem interesting. It was like deja vu for me. His personality reminded me of Namjoon and in was beginning to wonder, did the two of them have some connection?

Over the next few days, Jungkook and I began studying together regularly. He was a great study partner—focused and insightful, with a knack for explaining difficult concepts. It wasn’t long before I started looking forward to our study sessions almost as much as my meetings with Namjoon. I had made it a routine to study with jungkook during our free periods while I met up with Namjoon during lunch.

One afternoon, as we were packing up our things, Jungkook glanced at me, a thoughtful expression on his face.

“You know, Ava, I think you’d get along well with my friends. They’re... interesting people.”  he said as he handed me my water bottle.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

“Oh? Do you all study criminal psychology?” I asked as I closed my backpack and lifted it into my shoulders. Gosh it was heavy.

He laughed, shaking his head.

“Not exactly. But they’re good people. I’ll introduce you sometime.” he said before he grabbed my backpack and motioned for me to continue walking.

Meeting Jungkook had been serendipitous, a connection I hadn't expected but deeply appreciated. He brought a different energy into my life—his intensity and passion mirrored my own in many ways. Our study sessions were productive and enjoyable, and his friendship was becoming as precious to me as my bond with Namjoon.

As I got to know Jungkook better, I realized there was much more to him than just a fellow student. His curiosity about life and his deep commitment to understanding the human mind fascinated me. We spent hours debating theories and discussing case studies, each conversation drawing us closer.

One afternoon, we decided to take a break from studying and grab some coffee.  Namjoon had told me that he had another meeting and thst he couldn't t make it.

As we sat in the café, sipping our drinks, Jungkook's eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Ava, there's something I want to show you,” he said, a mysterious smile on his face.

Intrigued, I followed him out of the café. We walked for a while until we reached a quiet, secluded part of the park. Jungkook led me to a small clearing where the city’s skyline was visible against the setting sun.

“This is one of my favorite spots,”
he said,sitting down on the grass. “It’s a great place to think and unwind.”

I sat beside him, feeling the calmness of the moment seep into me. We talked about our dreams and aspirations, sharing stories about our past and hopes for the future. It was in these quiet moments that I felt our bond deepening, a connection that was becoming more meaningful with each passing day.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Jungkook turned to me, his expression serious.

“Ava, I’m really glad we met,” he said softly. “You’ve become an important part of my life.”

His words warmed my heart, and I realized just how much I had come to care for him.

“I’m glad we met too, Jungkook. You’ve made my life so much richer. I've never had friends before but, now I feel that I don't need many friends, if I have you around. ” I said.

Later that evening Jungkook had offered to drop me off home. Just like Namjoon,this boy too owned a sleek black car. Not thinking much I got into the car and enjoyed the ride back to my house.