This chapter is dedicated to all those who started college this year. It must have been hard for some of you guys. But hey, never give up and just keep doing your very best🌟

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   "Did you go through my suitcase?" she asked, voice dangerously calm — the kind of calm that came right before the storm. Rage throbbed through her veins like lava on the brink of eruption. Jeon Jungkook might've always been a Class-A douchecanoe, but even he wouldn't sink so low. Right?

Wrong.

"Uhm, duh..." he drawled, tone soaked in arrogance and sin, like he'd just won the damn lottery of pissing her off. His smug grin was practically a slap to her soul.

Her eye twitched. She had trusted that — however idiotic — he wouldn't cross that line. But apparently, Jeon "Mega Douchecanoe" Jungkook didn't just cross lines. He took a goddamn flamethrower to them.

"JEON FREAKING JUNGKOOK, HOW COULD YOU GO THROUGH MY STUFF?!" she shrieked, her voice echoing through the corridor like a war cry. The poor souls around them winced, clutching their ears as if the walls themselves were about to collapse.

Jungkook didn't even flinch. In fact, that smirk of his only grew wider as he casually strolled back to their shared room like he hadn't just committed social homicide.

Nina, practically foaming at the mouth, followed behind — her fists clenched like weapons of mass destruction. The moment she stepped inside, she didn't even hesitate. Her eyes locked onto the ceramic vase perched innocently on the bedside table.

It was no longer just decoration.

She grasped it with both hands, fully prepared to redecorate Jungkook's face.

Jungkook stood at the far end of the bed, arms folded, exuding zero remorse. Nina, planted on the opposite side, was vibrating with fury, her hands twitching at her sides like she didn't trust them to stay still.

"Why did you do it?" she asked, voice tight, swallowing down the tornado brewing in her chest.

He shrugged. "Aren't I supposed to pick your outfit?"

"You could've waited," she snapped, eyes narrowing. "Let me show you what I packed, you impatient son of—of—your mother."

Jungkook cocked a brow. "That's... usually how it works, yeah."

Without thinking, Nina stormed around the bed and grabbed him by the collar, yanking him forward. He stumbled — but not quite how she imagined — landing on the mattress with a laugh as his face mashed into the pillow.

She eyed the vase. Pure, white ceramic. Heavy. Deadly.

"Don't you dare," he warned without even looking, his voice muffled.

Nina lifted it — more for dramatic flair than intent — but her hand hovered mid-air, eyes flicking to the back of his stupid head. Would it be worth it? Jail time? Possibly murder charges? Ugh.

She sighed dramatically and lowered the vase back onto the nightstand.

Jungkook rolled over just in time to catch the disappointment flicker across her face. "You wanted to brain me with that, didn't you?"

"You deserve it," she muttered.

In a blink, he lunged — faster than she expected — and suddenly she was the one face-down on the mattress with a startled yelp. Jungkook straddled her with far too much ease, pinning her down like it was second nature.

"Let me go, you giant pest!" she wriggled beneath him, her fists beating the bed uselessly.

"Why do you always go full psycho first?" he mocked, grinning down at her. "I didn't steal your diary, I went through your bag. Big difference."

"You invaded my privacy!" she hissed, twisting beneath him, breath catching. "And you had the audacity to call my clothes slutty—"

"Bag full of tiny, lacy nothings. What was I supposed to think?" he cut in, eyes dancing with teasing malice.

"You're so annoying," she groaned.

"And you stabbed me with a pen yesterday, remember? I think I'm entitled to one revenge pin-down." His weight shifted slightly and Nina gasped, half from surprise, half from the sheer chaos of it all.

"You're crushing me, you cow," she huffed, struggling again.

"You started this," he said smugly, leaning down a fraction. "Next time? Just show me the damn outfits like a civilized person."

"I'd rather set myself on fire."

"Tempting," he muttered. "At least you'd be warm for once instead of cold and scary."

She whipped her head toward him. "I am not scary!"

He smirked. "Tell that to the vase."

Jeon Jungkook's P.o.v

She glared up at me like she was ready to chew through steel. That ridiculous vase was still sitting on the nightstand — the one she definitely considered slamming on my head five seconds ago. Honestly? I kind of respected the restraint.

"You know," I said, cocking my head, "if looks could kill, I'd be six feet under."

"You'd deserve it," she muttered, face half-smashed into the pillow.

God, she was so dramatic. But I couldn't lie — it was entertaining. No one else reacted to me like this. Everyone else either tried too hard to impress me or avoided me completely. But Nina? She declared psychological warfare with zero hesitation.

"You're still mad about the bag thing, huh?" I asked, not moving an inch off her. She squirmed again and I grinned.

"You violated my space."

"Oh please," I scoffed. "You act like I hacked into your bank account. I just flipped open your suitcase and saw a glitter thong staring back at me. That thing had sequins, Nina. I thought it was a disco ball."

Her entire body tensed. "You're such a—"

"Careful," I murmured, leaning in just enough to make her freeze. "Call me one more name and I'm not moving."

"You're already not moving, jackass."

That was it. She wanted war.

"You sure about that?" I said, voice dropping just slightly as I braced one hand next to her head. "Because I can stay like this all day."

I didn't miss the way her breath caught. Just a flicker — but I caught it.

We both paused. The air between us thickened, heat crawling under my skin and pooling low in my gut. Her perfume was something floral and wild, like jasmine that refused to behave. Her hair fanned out across the bed, and despite the scowl on her face, her cheeks had flushed — whether from rage or something else, I didn't know. Didn't care.

"Get off," she whispered, but it didn't sound half as threatening this time.

I smirked. "Say please."

She turned her head, eyes blazing. "You wish."

God, she was stubborn. And stupidly pretty. And possibly insane.

I exhaled through my nose and finally eased off, rolling to the side and letting her flip over with a dramatic gasp like I'd just rescued her from a burning building. She looked ready to throw me off the balcony.

But instead, she sat up, glared, and yanked her pillow to her chest like it was a shield. "You're the worst teammate in the history of teammates." 

"And yet," I said, stretching like this entire thing hadn't just borderline combusted, "you still haven't requested a trade. Interesting."

"Because that would mean losing, and I'd rather stick forks in my eyes than let you win."

I grinned as I reached for my phone, pretending to be busy as I watched her from the corner of my eye.

Forks in her eyes. Dramatic. Terrifying. Kind of adorable.

Yep. She was going to kill me before this trip was over.

And I was probably going to enjoy every second of it.

Regardless of all that chaos upstairs, I still picked out a simple pair of jeans and a T-shirt for her. Nothing flashy, nothing ridiculous. But knowing her? She probably tossed them across the room the second I left. Drama seemed to be her love language.

I headed down to the celebration hall — the so-called party zone for the evening. It looked like someone tried to turn a school auditorium into a low-budget wedding reception. Lights dimmed. No alcohol, of course. And the bartender? A poor guy who clearly thought he was Tom Cruise in Cocktail, but couldn't even pour a mocktail straight.

A few students trickled in. Then more. I spotted Taehyung near the snacks table, face still puffed like he took a softball to the cheek. I couldn't help the snort that escaped. "You need ice, mate?"

He scowled. "She nearly dislocated my jaw."

"You let her knock you out 'cause you like her," I said, grabbing a glass of whatever orange thing the bartender just butchered. "You're hopeless."

He shrugged like he didn't care, which made it worse.

When he asked what I'd picked out for Nina, I told him: jeans, T-shirt — basic stuff. Practical.

He blinked. "What? No, she's wearing something else... and gosh her legs—"

That's when my smile dropped.

She didn't wear what I picked?

Typical. That crabby, self-righteous, chaos-harboring little snake.

I didn't even want her to wear something hot. Just... what I picked. But no — of course not. She had to remind me she doesn't take orders. Not from me. Not from anyone.

And then to make it worse — as if my mood needed help — the other schools started showing up. Marblewell and Dreamberry. It was like a crossover episode of Skater Boy Hell and Mean Girl Heaven.

The guys from Marblewell? Bald heads. Goth eyeliner. Tattoos and piercings like it was some underground metal club. The girls? Honestly? Hot as hell. Hourglass curves, legs for days, and dressed like they had zero adult supervision.

"Hey, handsome," a voice purred beside me.

I hadn't even noticed her walk up. Pink hair, silver hoops, a globe tattoo on her shoulder — she looked like trouble dipped in glitter. I raised a brow. "Who are you waiting for? Your girlfriend?" she teased, leaning close.

"Single," I said without missing a beat, smirking as I tugged her a little closer. Her perfume was citrusy and bold, not like Nina's wild jasmine mess that lingered in my brain way too often.

Just as I tilted my head down, lips brushing closer to hers, I caught a blur of black and legs in the corner of my eye.

And yep. There she was.

Nina.

Wearing something I didn't choose.

Looking like she owned the goddamn planet.

"Bro, check out that hot chick," some asshole nearby said.

"What the hell did you just call me?"

Nina. Her voice sliced through the crowd like a siren.

I pulled away from the kiss, panting, scanning the room—and there she was. Center of the hall. Dressed like a goddess and glowing like a fire I had no right touching.

Before I could move, Elijah's fist collided with the guy's face.

"Calm your dick, you horny motherfucker," he growled.

The teachers finally decided to be useful and stepped in, breaking the crowd apart.

"Mr. Lewis... Mr. Kim, no more drama," one of them scolded.

Elijah only shrugged and walked toward Nina.

"You okay? Your knuckles..." she asked softly, brushing his hand.

"Come on, Nina. It's nothing."

"Thanks. You didn't have to..." she said, voice gentler than I'd ever heard it.

"Thanks? What are we, strangers?" he teased with a hand to his chest.

"That, we're not."

She hugged him. He hugged back. Muscles flexed. Her smile softened.

And I nearly gagged.

Disgusting shit...

The girl I was flirting with? Gone. Can't blame her. I was busy watching Nina like a lunatic.

I turned back to the bartender, catching the tail end of Elijah telling Nina to stay the hell away from Jason Kim. The mayor's son. An entitled dickbag with a god complex.

Nina only scoffed. "We shouldn't let people like him get away with shit just because of their parents."

Easy for her to say. She's new. She doesn't know how things really work here.

"I'll be back. Gotta help Emily change," Elijah said before leaving.

Nina sauntered up to the bar. "Do you have grape or berry juice?"

The idiot bartender tried to show off again, juggling bottles like a circus clown.

"A pretty lady like you deserves a delightful drink," he said, all teeth and ego.

He returned with some violently red drink. "Strawberry with a splash of blackcurrant."

"It's... wow, I like it," she said with that stupid little smile.

"Keep rolling your eyes and they'll get stuck at the back of your head," she commented as she caught me staring.

Without a word, I snatched the drink from her and took a sip. Absolutely disgusting.

"You couldn't get your own?" she snapped.

I was still trying to figure out what the hell was in that drink when the Marblewell boys slithered back in.

Jason glared at me as he strolled toward the drinks, then turned to Nina and smirked. Bastard.

"Hey Khun, catch!" Jason tossed a basketball across the hall.

And that's when a whole-ass linebacker of a guy came jogging in, trying to catch it—right in Nina's direction.

Before he could bulldoze her, I grabbed her waist and yanked her into me. She gasped as her drink spilled all over my shirt.

I shoved the guy with enough force to make him stumble. "This isn't a damn playground!" I growled.

Jason walked over, grinning. "Chill, Jeon. We were just fooling around."

"Then go fool around somewhere else," I hissed.

"Or what?" he challenged.

"Jungkook... stop," Nina whispered, pulling me back. "He's not worth it."

"Come on..." she whined pulling me with her, I simply glared at that piece of fucking shit.

"He purposely did it, why did you pull me away" I shouted at Nina, she simply walked towards our room.

"I told you he wasn't worth your anger or fist" she lectured opening our door.

"Weren't you just saying that we should not let that bastard fool around just because he is the son of the mayor?" I asked when she finally was facing me.

"I did, but they were like ten and we were two, just two..." Like that was enough of a reason to let assholes like Jason get away with anything.

My hands curled into fists. She wasn't wrong, but it didn't mean I had to accept it.

I was about to argue again, but something sticky clung to my skin. That stupid scarlet drink—smeared across my shirt. When the hell did that happen? Maybe when I pulled her away. Maybe when I let instinct override logic.

I glanced back at her.

She stood at the suitcase, flipping through clothes like this was just another normal night. Like she hadn't just been gawked at by half a dozen creeps. Like she hadn't thrown herself into the fire and dragged me along.

And then she picked it.

A sequin dress. Bold. Skin-baring. Dangerous. She stared at it like it was calling to her soul.

"Don't even think about it," I snapped before I could stop myself.

She didn't flinch. Just cradled the dress like it meant something. "It's cute," she murmured.

Cute.

She had no fucking clue what world we were in. No clue what that dress would do in the eyes of the wrong people.

I didn't wait. I ripped it from her hands and shoved the t-shirt and jeans I picked earlier right into her face.

"You're not wearing that."

"Didn't you see the way they were offending you and making horrible comments?" I asked. There was silence. Then her voice, quiet, bitter. "They're not after the dress, Jungkook. It's never about the dress."

And just like that, she killed whatever breath I had left.

Because she was right.

I didn't need her to explain. I already knew. Had known it for years. But hearing it out loud—watching her admit it, like it was just another fact of life—cut something raw in me.

She looked at me like she was waiting for me to say something. Waiting for me to fight her on it. But I didn't. I couldn't.

She sighed. The kind that sounds like giving up. And disappeared into the bathroom.

The door clicked shut behind her.

I stood there, shirt soaked, hands clenched, mind spiraling.

And for the first time that night, I didn't know who I was angrier at—Jason. The world. Or myself.

........

How was the chapter?
How do you feel about the new character? Jason Kim??
Hope you guys enjoyed🌟🎀
Thank you for reading, do vote if you like my book🥰💜

One more important thing, I have finally joined college for my master's program!!!!! I can't wait to get active again, go outside, study, prepare for exams and so on!

Updating timetable!
Every Tuesday - Stuck with you
Every Friday - A new start

Wc - 1955

Her dress