Chapter 1: The Project Partner

Y/N’s POV

I walked into the classroom, my mind already buzzing with the assignments, lectures, and endless to-dos on my plate. But nothing prepared me for the announcement our professor was about to make.

"As part of this course, you’ll be completing a semester-long project," Professor Kim began, scanning the room. "I've already assigned your partners. Look at the list on the board."

My gaze followed the professor’s pointing finger, eyes scanning the list as my heart hammered a little faster. When I finally spotted my name, I froze.

Y/N & Jeon Jungkook.

No way. Not him. Anyone but him. Jeon Jungkook—school heartthrob, self-proclaimed genius, and my sworn enemy since… forever. We’d clashed over the simplest things, and it seemed like every interaction was just an argument waiting to happen. And now we were going to be partners? For an entire semester?

He walked into the room seconds later, his usual confident strut drawing a few glances from everyone. His eyes scanned the list, and when he saw my name next to his, he raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering across his face.

"Looks like we're stuck with each other, Y/N," he smirked, strolling over to me.

I crossed my arms, steeling myself. "Let's just get this done, okay? We don't have to like each other. We just have to work together."

"Relax," he said with a chuckle, dropping into the seat next to mine like it was the most natural thing in the world. "It’ll be fine if you just follow my lead."

I couldn’t help the glare that shot his way. "Your lead? Please, Jungkook. Just because you think you’re some kind of prodigy doesn’t mean I’m going to play by your rules."

"Suit yourself." He shrugged, looking entirely unbothered. "As long as you keep up."

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Later, in the Library

We sat across from each other, our laptops open, books spread out between us. The silence was… uncomfortable. For the first fifteen minutes, neither of us said a word, and I was perfectly fine with that. But then, of course, Jungkook had to break it.

"Alright, what’s the plan?" he asked, sounding as if this was some board meeting he was running.

I took a steadying breath. "I was thinking I’d handle the research and we can divide the report-writing tasks. I'll work on the initial draft, and you can… refine it."

He smirked, leaning back in his chair with an amused glint in his eyes. "So you’re just assuming I can't handle the research?"

"Jungkook," I said, pinching the bridge of my nose, "I’m trying to make this easy for us both. Can we just… work with this plan?"

He was silent for a moment, almost as if considering, before he finally nodded. "Fine. But if I see you slacking, I’m not covering for you."

I rolled my eyes. "Don’t worry about me slacking. Just focus on your part."

And with that, we went back to our books, the tension thick but bearable—for now. Neither of us was willing to admit it, but maybe this project wouldn’t be so easy after all.