Playlist for this chapter;
Falling Behind - Laufey
Rises The Moon - Liana Flores
_

It's a bright morning. Just any regular morning Jimin has. He's having his freshly brewed coffee, watered his plants, sung few good words to them. Had breakfast, slipped on his earphones, and peddles on his way to school.

He stops on his way and feeds a cat he's been taking care of for a week or so. Leaves the cat food from the convenience store in front of the cat. Gives the cat a few pats as the cat nuzzles close to his feet and fondles him.

"Hey there, little buddy" Jimin crouches down, caresses his head, and smiles to himself, "It's tough out here, isn't it?" He sympathizes with him as the cat tip-toes away and licks the food and likes it. His tail swished back and forth.

Jimin laughs softly, "Such a good boy." Fills water in a small bowl he brought for him to drink from. "I gotta go to school, so I'll see you later." He gets up and the cat mews.

"Hey!" A cycle bell rings as it comes closer and takes sudden breaks. Jimin looks behind his shoulders to see none other than Jungkook.

It's a sunny morning. Sun's hallow fell on Jungkook's tousled hair. His smile glowing with the warmth of the sun shining. He sparkles in his eyes as soon as he sees Jimin. The highlighting curves of his cheeks as his lips move.

"Jimin?" He's shaken from his trance.

"Wakey-wakey! It's time to come back to the living." Jungkook is moving his palms in front of Jimin. It's slow and steady for Jimin. He's seeing things differently today. Shakes his head immediately.

Jungkook tilts his head to see him slowly come back to his senses. "How was the visit to the daydream land, mate?" He rests his palms on his shoulders, "Seems like you were having some serious meeting out—"

"You prick—" Jimin shoves his arm, "Act normal for once." He shakes his head and looks at the cat slowly scurrying away after completing the food and knocking the bowl into its small cave.

"You scared the cat." He blames Jungkook, gets on his cycle and notices Jungkook gaping in shock. "It was you." He phrases ridiculously, "You scared Butterscotch with your voice, not me."

Jimin frowns, "Butterscotch?"

"Him." His eyes drop to the cat, who's looking at Jungkook with his big eyes. Love glowing in those eyes. Jimin has never seen the cat see Jimin that way, the way he was seeing Jungkook.

He's mouthing 'traitor' to the cat, a little jealous. And Jungkook notices. He laughs in his folded arms on the cycle. Brushes his hair behind as he lifts his head to see Jimin. "Met him a few days ago." He says, "Brought him a small blanket to stay warm in."

Jimin parted his lips. "Oh, so it was you."

Jungkook nods stiffly. "The one and only." Smiles with his dimples.

A few high school girls walking by them suddenly take their attention with little smiley murmurings. Eyes smiling and lovely.

All Jungkook could do was give a slight, respectful bow as they realized that he had overheard them. Their scream pitched up as they run away with heart-shaped eyes getting all shy.

Jimin notices Jungkook chuckling and sitting up straight. His posture perfect. Shoulder blades curved like greeks. A cute baby face. Hair freshly cut. Jungkook was handsome. Genuinely.

"I need to leave first— I'm running late." Jimin wants to run. Basically from his thoughts.

"—YAH!"Jungkook is trying to peddle his cycle to catch up to him. "It wouldn't hurt being late one day!" He guesses he was running because he was getting late to school. Screams and Jimin doesn't bother with it. Keeps a straight face and tries to reach school as quickly as possible.

"Yah! Jimin!" He doesn't know why Jimin's trying to run so quickly away as if he's running away from him. Can't catch up to him. "Get it, you're the topper of our class, can't get a remark but leaving your best friend behind—!" Jungkook is furious. "Utter sinful!" He is cursing words now, "You insolent piece of—" Old ladies going on a walk early morning almost get a heart attack hearing a young boy use all kinds of bad words.

Jimin ultimately stops in his tracks for Jungkook.

A big smile comes on Jungkook's face as he catches up on Jimin. Doesn't stop and instead peddles faster and surpasses Jimin, turns his head and shows him a thumbs down, boos, "Haha loser!" Laughs loudly and Jimin is deadpanning so badly.

He was such a kid.

But Jimin's eyes widen when he witnesses Jungkook suddenly bumping into a light pole.

The cycle falls and Jungkook falls over the street, rolling and hitting his body on the dead end close by.

Jimin sighs. Ignores him completely. Takes a turn as if he doesn't even know him. Embarrassed. Peddles and leaves him behind as Jungkook holds his heart dramatically mixed with all specks of dust and tears. Watches Jimin leaving him not even recognise who he was when some people come to check on him.

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The professor takes a leisurely walk around the class with the book in his hands. He adjusts his glasses. "Students." He makes the students raise their heads from their books. "Have you ever wondered how our perceptions and preferences influenced by the mere exposure effect?"

All the students were curious and didn't understand in what context he was speaking. Jungkook yawns. Barely interested in the class. Professor notices.

Jimin, sitting in the first row, looks behind at the last bench to find Jungkook slacking off.

"Mr Jeon," the professor smiles sarcastically, "Would you like to shed some light on this topic?"

Jungkook can't help but yawn again. He gets up. Is sleepy for no reason. "Uh—sure."

"Have you been fighting around? Huh?" The professor notices his dirty uniform and busted elbow. "Are you going around bullying kids or taking—"

"Professor!" Jungkook wakes up from his sleep, rubs his face, groans. "I'm such a diligent student. How could you assume that about me?" He is whining but the professor can't take this. "I gotta call your parents, they—"

"You—" Jungkook punches his own heart, "You thought I was slacking off, wasn't you?" He shows his pain with a very sorrowful gaze, heart clenching, "You want the answer, right?" He shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath. "I'll give it to you." He keeps his chest high as he walks in front of the class, a little off-beat because he hit his knee too and it's hard to keep a momentum.

The students pitying him.

Jimin didn't know it was this serious. He is concerned. Didn't even notice when he arrived. Got caught up with his girlfriend as soon as he came to school.

Jungkook doesn't see him. To put it clearly, ignores him in return when he's standing right in front of his desk.

"You asked about the effects of exposure to various influences and perceptions, right?" He nods, and decides to answer, "This effect sheds light on human behaviours." The class is intently listening.

One thing Jimin knows is that Jungkook can go to any extent to come out of various alerting situations. This was one of them. He's always slacking off but always scores good marks. Is too lazy to give answers when knows answers to all of them. Uses half of his brain because he thinks it's a burden to use its full potential.

One reason why Jimin is still on top. If not for Jungkook's laid-back personality and attitude, he would top the entire school. But unfortunately, he chooses not to.

"This effect explains when we're more exposed to something or someone, the more we tend to like it." Jungkook lifts his finger, "Why do you think so?" He asks in class, adds his answer, "Because familiarity breeds bring comfort and a sense of safety."

He rests his palm down on the bench and leans forward. "It comes with familiarity with positive context, for example, a brand of soda..."

He picks up Jimin's pouch. "We might want to have a certain brand of soda when we're partying or having a fun gathering." He eyes the professor, "The positive experience associated with the gatherings and soda can bring us to develop a liking for it because of the sense of similarity, reminding us of all the enjoyable time we had with it."

He places the pouch down, chin up, class utterly shocked with his brain. "Psychologist Robert Zajonc studied this effect in the 1960s. So, it's true." He smiles, "And I'm not bluffing if you're wondering, just in case." He bows and slowly goes back to his seat and the birds chirping are heard, the wig of the professor slipping off his head because of the sweat. Half of the class traumatized, unaware of the smart version of Jungkook and Jimin breaking into a knowing smile.

Meanwhile, Jungkook returning to his beauty sleep, causing a big silent ruckus in class.

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Amxnx