My gaze keeps drifting towards you,

This warm fluttery feeling in my heart is new

When our gazes lock, we try to look away

But your eyes tell, they convey what you cannot say

-Milli, 'Gaze' 

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A few weeks were all it took for everyone to learn the fact that they shouldn't mess with Jeon Jungkook.

 Jungkook had been skeptic about lasting in Seobeom High for even one week but it was his fourth week now and he still hadn't been expelled or politely kicked out by a forced transfer.

 He had broken their student code and regulations left and right and continued to do so but surprisingly, the school hadn't got tired of him yet. 

He had started getting demerits after the excuse of being new to school started to wear out after his second week. Teachers mostly kept him out of the classroom as punishment for not completing his assignments which was an added bonus to him for he despised listening to them drone on and on in class on subjects he didn't give a fuck about.

 Still, he was yet to get a suspension, even after refusing to wear the school uniform and cutting his hair and not even trying to complete his assignments.

If he didn't know better he would think his teachers and fellow classmates were scared of him.

Well, to be honest they were scared of him, intimidated by him but also the fact that he was a government aid student meant that kicking him out would prove to be a bit difficult and the principal of Seobeom High must have known this. 

Jungkook had oddly found Seoul not as bad as he thought even though he wouldn't ever admit it out loud. Busan was no home and neither was Seoul, but Jungkook didn't feel completely stifled here.

 His uncle Min Yoongi would seldom be home as he worked in a studio during the day and as a DJ at night. He was a man of few words and even fewer actions, much to Jungkook's relief for he shuddered to think of the possibility of his uncle being like the nosy old geezer named Officer Choi from Busan. 

At school, no one dared to even talk to Jungkook. They had seemed to come to terms with the fact that he wouldn't bother with responding and he liked to keep it that way. 

People had started to steer clear of the ripped jeans clad boy who always seemed to block all the din around him with a pair of headphones inserted in his ears.

Well, a few exceptions were there.

While Jungkook had left the meddlesome Officer Choi back in Busan, it seemed as if his fate demanded him to cross paths with a Choi everywhere. Seobeom High's P.E. teacher was also a Mr. Choi, and while he didn't resemble the old officer one bit, he was a pain in the ass; one of the only teachers who didn't get tired bestowing punishments.

As if that wasn't enough, his class had an annoying boy named Jimin or something, and usually Jungkook didn't bother to even remember names but the said boy was proving to a nuisance. 

He was someone who would always complain to teachers yet never directly to the tattooed boy about the rules Jungkook loved to disregard. The short boy was also very much talkative and over-friendly, a social butterfly; from what Jungkook had observed- a trait which made him despise Jimin even more.

Even though Jimin hadn't tried to talk to him after his first day, he was getting on Jungkook's nerves.

As was one particular girl named Lee Noelle. 

Jungkook normally didn't bother himself much with girls, especially high school girls. If anything, girls his age gave him a headache for even back in Busan so he always would go for older girls. 

He perceived them as giggly, exasperating fools he didn't like to tolerate for more than a convenient and quick screw or two, but this one girl was proving to be something else entirely.

He had encountered the hazel-eyed short girl on his first day at Seobeom. His first impression of her when he first saw her from the corner of his eyes was that she had an innocent aura around her, something he wasn't well familiar with given his usual choice of women.

So it had dumfounded him to say the least when he had heard curses escape those naturally pink lips of hers, the bottom more fuller than the top one. Her fiery nagging at him for smoking near school grounds had astonished him more.

 He had expected her to be one of those goody two-shoes who would blush if they even heard the word 'jerk' and not at all expected her to snatch his cigarette away and stub it with the heel of her shoe arrogantly. 

That action of hers did anger him for he had recently bought the pack but a strange feeling had also taken ahold of him when his eyes had landed on her heart shaped face framed by wisps of inky black hair held back by a high ponytail.

Since then he had frustratingly found his eyes wanting to follow her little movements, even while in class. 

It aggravated him, the fact that he had felt drawn to her briefly. Only a few days at Seobeom had made him realise that she was sort of a royalty there, the best student in school who was adored by teachers and students alike for even though he loved to drown out the losers he now had to call classmates, he did have ears and eyes. 

It didn't take a genius to figure out that she was poles apart from him. 

The fact that she tried to ignore his iciness and try to pester him about the work he had missed and assignments and what-not after eventually giving up two weeks ago made him think about her even more, even as he pushed her away.

She didn't try anymore, but Jungkook would occasionally catch her steal a glance or two at him from the corner of her eyes. 

Jungkook knew that all of Seobeom regarded her as the 'school goddess' in terms of intellect and looks but he also had heard her curse like a sailor.

 How would they react if anyone of them ever heard her uttering less-than-holy words?

The stray thought infiltered his mind one morning when he saw her talking with a couple of girls while eating lunch at her desk with a graceful smile on her face. It made the corner of his lips twitch in amusement, begging to transform into a chuckle, only to realise that he hadn't even smiled in a long time. 

The realisation soured his mood instantly, making him itch for a smoke when he saw the irritating Class President suddenly appear in front of him, most likely to pester him about his silver piercings or something. 

The more the oh-so-righteous Park Jimin nagged him, (sometimes even more than the teachers) the more was Jungkook tempted to aggravate the said boy by dyeing his hair too. 

He hadn't dyed his natural brown locks for a long while, maybe he should go blonde again? Jungkook mulled over bleaching his hair a pale blonde color this time instead of the darker dirty blonde look he had opted for a few years ago.

But then the image of his twenty nine year old young uncle with pale blonde hair floated into his mind, making him wince involuntarily at even thinking about the prospect of resembling the short young man who was supposed to be his only living family.

Jimin cleared his throat from where he stood in front of his desk to get his attention. A wide smile which made the boy's eyes disappear made Jungkook frown in confusion because for all he knew, Jimin didn't like the troublesome rebel one bit.

"We have our school's annual October Fest next week and even though our grade isn't obligated to organise it as this is our senior year, they award the 'Best Class' with an award during the opening ceremony. My class has always won that." he declared proudly.

Jungkook didn't look at him, he simply scrolled through his phone mindlessly, his eyes glued to the screen.

"Now, I know you don't get along well with others and it's understandable seeing that you seem to have different...um, interests than the rest of us..." 

The boy trailed off and eyed him up and down in a condescending manner which made Jungkook's jaw clench and his eye twitch as he finally acknowledged Jimin with a glare which said, "What's your point?"

"My point is," Jimin said as if he read the words from Jungkook's mind, "sadly, as our Class President I have to ask for your cooperation. I refuse to lose to the other section just because you can't resist the urge to stand out and disobey everyone. You are handsome enough that you stand out from the crowd as it is, you don't need to wear all this and act like a badboy. And please for goodness' sake, get a haircut!"

Jungkook sure as hell didn't want to 'cooperate'. No, his reason wasn't that he was particularly fond of drawing attention on himself. In fact, he loathed narcissistic people. He simply didn't want to.

"I take it you can at least show up dressed to school like a high school student decently?"

 Park Jimin, that bastard, didn't wait for his reply. He simply took Jungkook's stoic silence as a yes and gave him a thumbs up before strutting away dramatically.

Jungkook sighed out loud, rubbing his temples just as he felt someone watching him. When he returned the stare, his eyes locked with startled hazel ones which quickly looked away.

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"What are you reading?" 

A familiar husky voice whispered from behind Noelle. She didn't jump in her seat in surprise for she had sensed him before he spoke out loud.

Then again, Lee Noelle knew Kim Taehyung like the back of her hand.

She didn't lift her eyes from the page she was focused on, she just slightly lifted the cover from one side of the book so that he could read the title of the novel which had engaged her for the past half hour or so when she should've been studying Calculus instead. Her mom would surely disapprove but Noelle couldn't bear to solve another sum after doing just that ever since school got over for the day hours ago.

"An english novel again? I can't understand your obsession with them." Taehyung chuckled and she heard the chair next to her being pulled out as he flopped down and leaned closer to whisper his words- They were in a library after all.

"I just like them." Noelle shrugged, dog-marking her page. It was a very bad habit indeed but Noelle hated using bookmarks.

"You're late today." she said in a matter-of-factly tone, digging into her bag on the chair to her right to take out a pencil from her pencil case. The Calculus book and her notebook along with her pens were already on the old wooden table, sitting beside the paperback she had been reading.

"Basketball practice ran late. Sorry Elle." he flashed her his trademark boxy smile, making Noelle's lips pull up in a grin too. 

"No problem. I have about half an hour before I have to go home for tuition, it's not even eight yet." Noelle stifled a sigh at that.

She had a private tutor for Science and Maths subjects unlike most of her classmates who went to cram school. Her mom thought that home tuitions were more convenient as they would ensure that the tutor focus solely on Noelle. 

So, after her evening yaja (야자 ), Noelle would often go home. Yaja was no longer compulsory at Seobeom, but almost all seniors stayed back at school for self study. 

Noelle too stayed back till it was time for her tuition classes, but she preferred to study in the massive school library rather than her noisy class. Her teachers never minded as they knew she was a diligent student who wouldn't bunk. 

More often than not, she and Taehyung would study together in the library even though he wasn't in her section. He would help her solve any difficult numerical questions that stumped her and she would help him out with Korean Literature and English. 

Jimin would sometimes come too, but Noelle would often get irritated when he decided to third wheel during their study sessions. Park Jimin was a huge gloater who had a tendency to make jabs at and tease Noelle if she ever made even the teeniest-tiniest calculation mistake.

Noelle had known Taehyung as long as she had known Jimin for the trio had had countless play-dates as children when their parents got together. They had studied in the same kindergarten, elementary, middle school and now high school too.

"Shoot, even I have to be home by then!" Taehyung didn't stifle his sigh like Noelle did. He raked a hand through his curly hair which stuck to his temples, damp with sweat. He had a private tutor too, just like Noelle.

"It's okay, I already solved a few exercises already so I'll wait till you reach where I am." Noelle said as she opened the big fat Calculus book, placing it between them.

"I'll solve them at home, let's do one together." Taehyung insisted and she shrugged and nodded. 

She hated Calculus but somehow solving sums with him was as easy as breathing. His presence had a sort of calming effect on others, his aura had a soothing glow of sorts and Noelle had always envied Kim Taehyung's natural ability to do so. It was like that ever since they were kids. 

He also had the patience of a saint- he would never get frustrated with Noelle if she didn't understand anything. He was the one who broke Jimin and Noelle's fights while growing up after all. Without him, there was nothing which kept the duo from constantly being at each other's throats.

Noelle and Taehyung were halfway through the worksheet they were solving when a pair of arms wrapped around Taehyung's shoulders from behind him, making the startled boy screech. It earned them a glower from the librarian to whom Noelle gave a sheepishly apologetic look.

"TaeTae did I scare you?" Jimin's chuckle morphed into a yelp when Taehyung slapped his arms which were now wound around the boy's neck as he leaned his head on Taehyung's shoulder.

"What do you want?" Noelle rolled her eyes at Jimin who flashed her a smirk,

"Why so whiny Ellie, did I offend you by crashing your little library date?" he wiggled his eyebrows as he gestured at the two and Noelle huffed but was aware that redness had crept up on her neck at his remark. She was also aware that Taehyung elbowed Jimin but his cheeks were aflame too.

"Say something which makes sense Jimin!" Noelle whisper-yelled, glaring at him.

"But it does!" He insisted, "The whole school thinks you both are dating anyways. Everyone here ships our Seobeom's "star students". I heard it through the grapevine that you both will get engaged when we graduate. Congratulations in advance by the way." 

 Even though his tone was playful like usual, Noelle thought she detected an undercurrent of another emotion which she couldn't quite name although she quickly brushed the thought away.

"There are silly rumors that you and me are dating too Jimin," Noelle reminded him, disgust lacing her words, "but we both know how true is that."

"Aww, do you want it to be true then, Ellie? Tell me, I'll date you if you want me to. I like you too but more than that, the thought of being in a love triangle somehow thrills me." 

He winked at her, making her nose scrunch up with revulsion. 

 She saw Taehyung smile, amused at their banter and she shot him a glare too; to which he simply shrugged his shoulders, a wry grin still painted on his face.

"Ugh! Enough of  your jokes and this nonsense Jimin! We were studying before you barged in and interrupted us. Join us if you want but please, I want to solve the questions without your commentary so try to keep that to a minimum. I'm heading home after a few minutes as it is." 

"As tempting as that offer is dear Ellie, I'm afraid I have to decline. I have to go home early today. I just wanted to see your faces before I left for the day." 

"Now that you have, you can leave." Noelle muttered.

"Oh, and by the way, I'll will not be going easy on you just because we are best friends Tae. Our class will kick your section's sorry asses and win the Best Class trophy, just you wait!" 

Jimin gleefully declared to Taehyung, who was the Class President of another section from their grade.

"I don't expect you to Jim. In fact, I would also like to wish you all the best," Taehyung chuckled, "but isn't that new student in your class? The troublesome one?" 

"Jeon Jungkook." 

Noelle found herself say his name. It had been a couple of weeks since his arrival and by now he was pretty much known by each and every student. 

Rumors surrounded the mysterious new boy, many of them being that he was a member of a local Busan criminal gang before transferring to Seoul. There were also rumors that he was an ex-convict, a member of mafia and what-not. Noelle didn't believe the ridiculous rumors though.

 Nevertheless, Jeon Jungkook had become the infamous rebel, the scariest badboy of Seobeom High who no one could even dare to mess with.

Surprise flickered in Taehyung's eyes and he raised a curious eyebrow at Noelle when he said, "Yes him. I heard he's quite a handful." but she knew he was actually questioning her about the sigh that had escaped her throat as she said Jungkook's name. 

Noelle ignored it. She didn't quite like the new addition in her class, didn't like his smoking habit, his lack of basic manners towards their teachers but she couldn't quite find herself loathing him too.

 And she hated that, coupled with the annoying fact that her eyes seemed to stray to the said boy a lot these past few weeks, as if they had completely cut off contact with the rational part of her brain. 

"That he is." Jimin nodded in agreement and clucked his tongue. "Horrible personality, great face. Such a shame really, it's a total waste of his good looks."

"Then we will win." Taehyung proclaimed with a rueful grin.

"I will forcefully rip those ripped jeans of his and buy him a uniform if that is what it takes to win TaeTae." Jimin ruffled Taehyung's mane, earning a skeptical 'Hmm" in response. Noelle chuckled under her breath at Jimin's empty threats.

Even Noelle knew that Jimin's bark was worse than his bite. She knew that Jungkook had hurt his pride but she also had a sneaking suspicion that Jimin was scared of the boy just as much as the other students.

Yet somehow, Noelle didn't find Jeon Jungkook scary. 

On the rare occasion that her eyes would lock with his in class, she saw something in those brown depths. Something which stirred dangerous yet unknown feelings inside her chest, something which made her palms clammy and her heart start racing.

 She knew that it wasn't fear.

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A/N

It is so like me to introduce a new guy in a filler chapter. *giggles*

Kim Taehyung has entered the plot y'all! Will this be a love triangle? A love quadrilateral? (sorry my geometry sucks. Scratch that, my maths sucks too.) Only time will tell you that...

Or I will pm you if you really wish to know, just wire 100 million in my account. KIDDING! ;)

In all seriousness, what's your first impression of Taehyung? 

Also, yaja (야자 ) means 'night self learning time'.  It is a self-learning program held at school. which used to be mandatory back in the old days, however nowadays students can choose whether to do 야자 (yaja) or not. What you need to do during the night self-learning time is to study in a quiet classroom. You can do your homework or work on the areas that you need to improve on by planning your own study strategy.

By the way, the lines written at the starting of the chapter were penned by me ^^

P.S.- Who's your bias in BTS? I personally am all for ot7 but my ultimate bias is Kim Namjoon a.k.a RM.

Love, 

Milli