"Jeon Jungkook?"

Jungkook looked up, turning his head from left to right as people stared at him. He stood up, following what everyone before him had done, and walked to the front of the room. His hands were sweaty and he felt a cold sweat coming on. He licked his lips a few time while his throat was dry as he stood before everyone.

Being a homeschooled kid, he only ever spoke in front of his grandparents, and occasionally two or three of their friends, but never thousands of people. To top it off, these people were around his age, people that didn't drink wine and talked about art. Jungkook was sure they would make fun of him if he stumbled over a word.

He could already feel whispers just inches away from his ear, taunting him. He just wanted to be back in his living room with his grandparents where the house smelled like—

"Jungkook?"

Jungkook probably jumped, turning to the senior, Minseok, that spoke to him and bowing when he made eye contact.

Minseok chuckled and waved his hands, "No need to do that. We're all friends here. Now tell us about yourself."

Jungkook gulped and faced the crowd full of judging eyes. At least they seemed judging to him. No, they were friendly. They were all new and wanted to be welcomed and feel like they belong here.

Maybe.

He bowed towards the crowd, taking a deep inhale and exhale when he stood upright again.

"My name is Jeon Jungkook," he said with his hands clasped in front of him. "But you know that already."

The students chuckled and Jungkook smiled softly, beginning to loosen up. Was that funny?

"I was homeschooled up until now, and I'm a photography major." Jungkook smiled fully this time. "I hope we can be friends." He bowed once more before going back to his seat as everyone clapped.

Minseok thanked him for his small speech and called up the next person.

"Kim Namjoon?"

The moment he stood up Jungkook noticed the attention he got. Namjoon stood up from his chair, immediately beginning whispered conversations. His hands were in his pockets and a smile on his face as he walked to the front of the room. To Jungkook it was a bit of a drag for an introduction.

His basic white tee and jeans was enough to make girls swoon.

Jungkook was sure they were swooning over something else though, something Jungkook found fascinating but would surely never get a day in his life.

A sleeve of tattoos shown on his right arm and a few were painted on his left, each tattoo sitting on a piece of muscle. It was evident that he worked out and kept himself fit. Anyone could see the leg muscles through the tightness of his ripped jeans, especially on his thighs. His hair laid loose, but attractive on his head, giving him the sense of innocence that his body lacked.

When he made it to the front, he introduced himself once again. "Kim Namjoon at your service. I major in art and blah blah all that boring stuff. The good stuff is where I get to paint one of you lovely ladies like one of my French girls. Any volunteers?" He winked, sending a cringe down Jungkook's throat.

Was this guy for real?

"Alright, that'll be enough, Namjoon," Minseok chuckled as he sent Namjoon off.

He made his way back to his seat the same way he left it. His hands in his pockets and his shoulders straight and confident.

Jungkook could tell this man was probably cocky and egotistic, but he couldn't help but want the confidence Namjoon had. He wanted to be able to wink at people without being embarrassed, or walk with pride.

Well maybe not the winking thing.

He was, to a certain extent, confident in himself. That certain extent being he was able to complete math equations quickly and tell you the capitol of Peru.

Jungkook silently continued to watch as students repeatedly moved to the front of the room and told the others about themselves, while also wrestling with his own concerns in his mind. He started to pay attention once Minseok said the word activities.

"We'll be playing a game called animal kingdom!" Minseok said as the rest of the students cheered.

In the corner of his eye, Jungkook watched as someone exited the room. Maybe they were just going to the bathroom... they probably weren't. He should probably go and bring them back. Then again it wasn't Jungkook's business if he left or not.

***

After fighting with himself, Jungkook found himself standing outside of a liquor store. He looked up and sighed wondering how he ended up following the tattoo giant all the way over here.

He didn't plan for it to happen like this. He was just going to bring Namjoon back to the orientation so he wouldn't get in trouble. But now they might both get in trouble.

He should not be at a liquor store right now.

The door chimed when he walked in, letting the cashier know he entered. Jungkook forced a smile towards the employee and quickly bowed.

It wasn't hard to find Namjoon, seeing as the store was so tiny and Namjoon was so ... not tiny.

When Jungkook found him, he was trying to sneak a carton of alcohol out the back door of the little shop. He probably could have gotten away with it if Jungkook hadn't caught him, the cashier was on her phone the majority of the time.

"Oh shit." Namjoon said startled then sighed, noticing it was only Jungkook and subconsciously making him look down at his shoes. "Help me out?"

"Of course not," Jungkook grimaced at Namjoon. "Don't you have any money on you?"

"Nada." Namjoon showed him his pockets.

"No credit or debit?"

"I just showed you my debit and credit." Namjoon pointed to his pockets with a grin. "Savings on the left, checkings on the right." He laughed while Jungkook looked at him in disbelief.

Did no one teach this kid the value of saving his money?

"Give it to me." Jungkook held out his hand, signaling Namjoon to place the carton of drinks in his hand.

"Ah, you're a life saver. Knew you'd help." Namjoon smirked, placing the carton in Jungkook's hands.

But instead of walking out the backdoor, Jungkook walked to the cashier and set the drinks in front of her. "Woah, woah woah. The exit is that way." Namjoon whispered and kept his head down. "What are you doing?" Yet he followed and watched as Jungkook pulled out his wallet, handing the lady some cash and showing his ID.

The lady eyed Namjoon and Jungkook suspiciously before taking the cash from Jungkook's hand. Pushing the carton towards the two, she bid them goodbye.

Once they exited the store, Namjoon took a bottle from the carton and took a drink. "Money really makes the world go round. Thanks, bro. If you need to get laid any time just call me." He grinned then pat Jungkook's back.

Jungkook slightly wheezed at the impact and took a deep breath. "Y-Yeah, no problem," he coughed out.

"You should have one, it's on me."

"On you? I paid."

Namjoon shrugged.

Jungkook looked down at the alcohol in his hands. "I've never drank before."

Namjoon spit out his drink, bending over as he began to choke. Jungkook's eyes widened and he set the drinks down, patting Namjoon's back until he stopped coughing.

"You've been sober since birth?" Namjoon was the one with wide eyes now. "Well obviously." Jungkook just nodded.

"Open your mouth right now." Namjoon tried to push his head back but Jungkook immediately pushed back.

"No! It smells bad."

"Trust me when I say this it taste much better when it's down your throat. Like food and...other foods. Now drink!"Namjoon shouted, raising his arms.

Jungkook rolled his eyes. This dude only took a few sips but he was acting drunk already.

"Just take a few sips of mine if you don't want to open your own." Namjoon pushed his bottle of alcohol in Jungkook's face.

He grimaced, is this what peer pressure felt like? Is this the type of behavior his grandparents warned him about. Jungkook was ready to put the bottle down, turn around and walk away but he didn't.

Live your own life.

He it into his hands. Jungkook placed the rim of the bottle on his lips, throwing his head back as he took a swig. The liquid burned his stomach immediately after entering his body, but it was a good kind of burn.

"I think you like it," Namjoon grabbed another bottle. "You can finish that one. I'll open another one for me."

***

"There's a ribbon in the sky that I loOve!"

"Walk straight!"

"But I ammmm," Namjoon stumbled forward, throwing his hands out to catch himself from face planting onto the ground.

"Yeah right," Jungkook scoffed, crossing his arms and watching as Namjoon put himself on his own two feet and began to walk in zig zags again.

Jungkook had taken Namjoon to his dorm building. He had no idea where Namjoon's dorm was, and he wasn't going to just leave him drunk as hell on the streets. So, being the amazing person he was, he decided to let Namjoon crash at his place that night.

"Timberland, are you cominggg?" Namjoon turned around, tilting his head to the side.

Jungkook huffed. "First of all, that's not my name." He walked over to Namjoon, lifting his "friend's" arm and putting it over his shoulders.

"Why," Jungkook took a breath, "are you," and another, "so," and another, "heavy?" last one.

"It's all sexyyy muscle, Tim—woAh! I mean Jongkoo," Namjoon snorted, grabbing one of his tattoo covered biceps and squeezing it.

"What made you want tattoos?" Jungkook asked out of pure curiosity.

Namjoon went silent, then suddenly burst into tears. He fell to his knees on the floor, covering his face. He looked a mess.

Jungkook panicked, kneeling down and grabbing onto Namjoon's shoulders. "What happened? Are you okay? Namjoon!" he shook Namjoon's shoulders.

"Love sucks man." He sniffles and Jungkook looked at him beyond confused.

"It always starts with a girl," he said in between sniffles and snorts. "She'll hold your heart...then SMASH it on the floor. I loved her, Jungkook!" He screamed.

Jungkook was thankful no one was in the lobby of this building, otherwise they'd call up a therapist for Namjoon with the way he was gripping onto Jungkook and yelling.

Jungkook cringed, not knowing what Namjoon felt like. He wasn't one to swoon over girls.

Awkwardly he sat with Namjoon on the ground, patting his back as he continued to sob. Jungkook hoped this was just the alcohol in him acting. It sort of hurt him to see someone all broken up just with the refreshing of a memory.

"Junglebook..." Namjoon hiccuped. Jungkook chuckled to himself not even bothering to correct him this time.

"Don't ever, and I mean ever fall in love with a girl who's just as pretty as your mother."

What the hell?

Jungkook laughed now, finding this too funny not to laugh at.

After Namjoon had calmed down, Jungkook brought his sleepy friend into his bedroom, placing him on the bed in the middle of the room. He helped Namjoon slip off his shoes and set them by the bed. He tucked the blanket around Namjoon and grabbed a spare blanket for his night on the couch.

He had a spare room in his dorm, but since he—unfortunately—didn't live with anyone, there was no bed in there. So Jungkook snuggled up on the couch with his legs curled up against his chest and fell asleep.

———————————————

THIS IS SO EXCITING
-ro