Jungkook's POV

My heart shattered into countless pieces as I witnessed the vase colliding with the floor. I had made a promise to my brother-no matter what, we would never be apart.

"Jungkook, it's getting late for school. Aren't you coming?" Elijah's voice broke through, calling me for the sixth time that morning. Sleep had eluded me last night, my eyes fixated on the ceiling. "Come out, man. We're worried, especially Nina. She made you breakfast; please have some." Their assumption that I cared, either about her or her breakfast, irked me. "Leave me alone," I snapped. Elijah ceased his attempts and left for school with Taehyung.

An hour later, I returned to working on the shattered vase. Collecting every tiny piece proved challenging, and as I glued them together, it wasn't easy. I couldn't store my brother's ashes in a broken vase; I needed to replace it soon.

The bell rang abruptly, nearly causing me to drop the vase I had just finished glueing. Cursing and wondering who would bother me in the middle of the afternoon, I walked to the door. It turned out to be Nina. "Did you eat something? I got you a sandwich-" What was she trying to achieve after ruining my brother? I was about to close the door when she barged inside. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. I feel so bad...please forgive me," she quickly said. "I don't want your useless apologies, Nina. Just get out," I gritted.

"Why do you have to be so stubborn? I'm trying to apologise. Why won't you just let it go? I keep telling you it was an accident; I didn't mean to do it-" I harshly pushed her against the wall. She closed her eyes in fear. "Don't force me to beat the hell out of you, and why the heck would I let it go when you broke my brother's vase? How would you feel if I break your brother's vase of ashes? Oh wait... your brother doesn't even care if you're dead or alive-" I watched as she cried. She never expected me to say something like that. She opened up to me because she trusted me, and here I am doing nasty things. "I hate you..." She hit my chest so hard that it actually hurt.

"I just wanted to say I was sorry... and wanted to check if you were okay, and you are acting like a jerk," she sobbed, aggressively wiping her tears. Nudging me aside, she walked out before dropping the sandwiches on the couch. I am such an asshole.

..........

Refusing to stay locked in my room, I aimed to confront the aftermath of my brother's scattered ashes and the pain I caused Nina yesterday. Choosing to face the harsh realities, I went to school today, determined to handle the usual challenges like a mature person.

Upon entering, my initial plan unravelled worse than a cup of coffee with salt. What are these witches doing here? "Debate, brotha," Elijah reminded me out of nowhere. "Glad you came," he added as we entered our classroom. Random girls from Autumn High filled the room, alongside Nina, seated in a corner with her eyes fixed on her laptop. Frustration marred her face as she rubbed it and glared back at the screen. What could be causing her such frustration?

Taking my usual seat, I observed as the debate between Panther and Autumn commenced. Although the competition wasn't against each other, it began with a debate and culminated in the tournament.

"Next, Jeon Jungkook and Natalie," Mrs. Jones, my homeroom teacher, announced. I stood, walked to my side, and awaited the appearance of my opponent. However, she was conspicuously absent. "Ms. Sam? Where's your teammate?" Mrs. Jones asked a disoriented Nina, who stuttered, "I... Natalie? She couldn't join-"
"Ms. Sam, I don't have all day. Could you come to the front and do the debate yourself?" Mrs. Jones sounded irritated. I could sense Nina's embarrassment in front of the fifty students. If Mrs. Jones spoke to her like that again, she might face consequences. Nina, who is typically well-organized in her group, seemed off today.

"Your topic will be: should we or should we not ban mobile phones on campus," Mrs. Jones declared as Nina stood at the front, just a few inches away from me.

I began presenting my points while Nina took her time to grasp the ongoing discussion in class. "We're all living in the 21st century, the era of science and technology. Scientists worldwide are constantly inventing new technologies to make our lives more comfortable and provide us with convenience. Mobile phones, or smartphones, are created to offer comfort and keep us updated with global knowledge, just a fingertip away."

"Female students should carry mobiles because they are often subjected to teasing or even kidnapping. Carrying mobile phones to school can help them protect themselves. In situations like accidents or vehicle issues on the road, students can inform their parents promptly. Additionally, if they face delays in coaching classes, they can easily communicate it back home." - Jungkook.

"I vehemently oppose the idea of allowing mobile phones in schools. Their presence would be detrimental to students, leading to distractions and a lack of focus on studies. Instead of paying attention to teachers, students might use phones to listen to music or watch movies with earphones on. Engaging in activities like sending SMS texts, chatting on WhatsApp, surfing on Facebook, creating inappropriate content, and visiting inappropriate websites could further contribute to their distraction. Allowing phones could lead to cheating, tarnishing the school's name and reputation," argued Nina.

"It's not necessary that students would use cell phones solely for chatting or social media purposes. If permitted by the school, these phones could assist in recording lectures, completing projects, finishing assignments, and even submitting work online. Carrying a mobile phone is less cumbersome than lugging heavy bags to school. Mobile-based teaching and learning could also add an interesting dimension for both teachers and students," - Jungkook.

"Educational and extracurricular activities will be overshadowed by unhealthy competitions centered around possessing the latest models and hottest brands of cell phones. This distraction can divert their attention from studies and teachers. In my view, schools are meant to impart education, knowledge, and instill good and healthy habits among children. Allowing mobile phones encourages cyber crimes within the campus," expressed Nina.

"Alternatively, in emergencies, teachers and students should switch off their cell phones and rely on the school's landline or designated phones if necessary. The numerous disadvantages of mobile phone use in schools could be avoided if schools simply restrict their usage on campus," Nina emphasized.

"In contemporary times, children often attend extra classes or coaching before or after school, spending around 8 to 10 hours daily outside. Allowing them to carry mobile phones would at least enable their parents to trace their whereabouts, unlike some parents who seem indifferent to their kids' existence," I added.

If she can escalate this debate into a war, then I can also be provocative and say things to her. As soon as I finished my sentence, she shot me a glare, muttering, "I trusted you..." before swiftly running out of the class. Damn it.

"Panther High 10," "Autumn High 9," I could faintly hear Mrs. Jones' voice as I took long strides out of the classroom. I need to stop this before I ruin everything. Why am I even doing this? Maybe I should ignore everything and go back home.

I spotted Nina running out of our school building, quickly catching up to her before she left the campus. "What do you want now?" She sniffled, still stomping her way out. "I didn't mean to say that yesterday, and now... I was angry."

"It's fine. Just don't talk to me from now on, and I regret opening up to you. I thought you understood my family problems, but you just made fun of it like it didn't matter to me." I grabbed her hand, stopping her from walking further.

"I am sorry; forgive me this one time," I pleaded, wanting to make things right between us. She stared at me with those red, swollen eyes, contemplating whether she should forgive me or not. "You broke my promise, but I am forgiving you because I broke your brother's vase." We both got hurt, and we are even now. "So, friends?" "Friends? With you? Stop dreaming," she scoffed. Before it got more humiliating, I dragged her into our school's cafeteria. I bought her everything she asked for and got myself a burger. She ate her food like she was starving for days.

"Earlier today in class, why were you so worried?" I inquired, curious about what had unsettled Nina. "I was searching for the exact vase... I couldn't find one. When I found something similar, I couldn't afford it. Even if I saved money for a whole year, it wouldn't be enough," she sighed, unwrapping her strawberry sandwich. "Thanks, but I don't need another vase. I have other vases to keep my brother safe," I informed.

Nina's POV

Feeling a sense of satisfaction now that Jungkook and I have reconciled is quite comforting, a stark contrast to our frequent arguments. During our lunch together, I expressed my frustration about not winning the debate competition, and I honestly had no clue about Natalie's whereabouts.

"I wasn't prepared for any debate," I pouted as he teased me.

Autumn High '09, Panther High '10.

"But I was... We selected the debate topics," he shared his diary with over 20 topics, including dress code, uniforms, extracurricular activities, and gender equality among students. "Impressive choices," I commented, sipping my cold latte.

As I perused his book, intrigued by his apparent diligence in schoolwork, I hoped to discover more. What if he harbored secrets like this? Isn't knowing and preparing debate topics beforehand considered cheating? Am I the sole fool who's aware of this? Mrs. Jones exuded such authority that her commanding voice sent shivers down my spine.

Flipping through numerous unproductive pages filled with unpleasant drawings of female anime characters, I eventually stumbled upon some letters. Letting out a sigh, I began reading. "Real spider on Nina, Get box of lizards, Break her heel, permanent color water- ...

"What has your keen interest right now?"

"Oh, I don't know, why don't you enlighten me?"

I tossed the book onto his side of the table, nearly knocking over his burger plate. Once he saw what I was reading - a list of pranks he had to execute - he exclaimed, "I thought you were finished with pranks after the paintball game!" I boomed.

How can someone be so resolute in making another's life miserable by creating a list? "You're not going to change, are you?" I gathered my belongings, unable to bear talking to him or facing his malevolent expression.

"I wrote it back then, and I'm done with it," he retrieved my items from my bag, placing them back on the table. "Don't you dare lie to my face; look at the date, it was yesterday!" I shouted at his audacity.

"I understand, you won't change. You don't want to change for me or anyone else," I scolded once more while packing. I pushed his hands away as he continued to take things out. When I finished, he clutched my bag, insisting he never intended any harm and only wrote it down out of annoyance. Was pranking the only way he coped with irritation? Perhaps I should reciprocate. Maybe I should prank him to alleviate my vexation. "Let me go!" I threw my coffee on his face and stormed out of the cafeteria.

Damn you, Jeon Jungkook.

..............

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