| a month later.

As my CSAT exams approached, I couldn't help but start getting anxious about my results. I'd studied my ass off in the past month to the point that I could barely contact my friends, or even Jungkook because when I didn't have anything to do, they were studying. I'm not the only one; everyone is stressed, but in the back of my mind I couldn't help but feel alone since I have no one to talk with about this.

Today, I was meeting with Jungkook after two long weeks. I was glad until I realized we'd both have to sneak out of our houses in the evening with an excuse for group studies. Call me a good girl because I've never done something like that. 

I'd informed Joy that if she called her and asked if I was at her place, she had to say yes, or else I'd inform her crush that she likes him just the way she informed my mom that I wasn't at her place. This condition was the only reason I trusted her because she's an absolute troublemaker and she wouldn't hesitate to tell Mom that I'm on a date with Jungkook with her 'excuse' of group studies. 

Well, that just made me think... 

When was I going to inform Mom and Dad about me and Jungkook?

| time skip / 3 hours later / a/n pov.

"Hell! I don't know what to wear," you whined. You'd decided to go outside in your casuals and change your clothes in a café restroom or something, but then again, you didn't know what to wear; hence, you were whining over what to wear. 

You met him two weeks later and believed you had to look good. It was a do-or-die situation for you. 

Ten minutes later, you finally calmed down when you realized you'd chosen a good set of clothes. "Finally," you sighed. A black tank top and loose black pants paired with a white cardigan. You quickly grabbed a simple pendant in your hand and shoved it in your bag right before leaving.

"Bye, mom!" you exclaimed. Your mom took a short glance and mouthed a goodbye. The door swung open and almost immediately shut. 

Two weeks later, you thought to yourself, sighing with relief. A smile crept onto your face as you thought of him; an odd, ticklish sensation of excitement in your belly.

However, you got a reality check when you glanced at your wristwatch. 'Fuck,' you cursed to yourself and rushed to the nearest café nearby. 

You went inside the washroom, changed into your outfit, applied lip balm on your lips (didn't have enough time for anything else), and ran out at an indescribable pace. "Fuck!" you whisper-yelled, still to yourself when you saw Jungkook on his phone at the bus stop. And then you realized, you were supposed to meet at the bus stop!

"I thought I was gonna get upset with you for coming late but I didn't know that you'd look so pretty," Jungkook said while his flattering gaze scanned you from top to bottom. You smiled. "That's so cheesy," you pressed the word. Jungkook chuckled in response. "Whatever. Wanna grab some ice cream?" 

"Sure," you gladly responded. "How's studies?"

Jungkook groaned, rolling his eyes dramatically. "Don't ask me. It's hectic. I end up sleeping after four to five hours."

You cleared your throat. "Four to five hours? Are you insane?"

"No, but–uhm, nevermind. Leave it. We're not here to talk about studies anyway," he shrugged. "You can talk about it if you want to, nerd!" he teased, nudging your arm with his elbow. You rolled your eyes, scoffing.

"I'm not a nerd. I was just concerned for you!"

"Thanks for the concern, ma'am," he chuckled mockingly. "Alright. I'm having mint chocolate, what about you?" he asked as you both reached an ice cream parlor. 

"Ew, you're disgusting," you made an icky face. "Chocolate is way better!" 

Jungkook faced you with his arms crossed against his chest. "Excuse me? It's way, way better than your chocolate ice cream that looks like POOP!"

You gasped. "Poop, you say? But do you realize that when you're paying for this mint ice cream, you're paying for getting your teeth brushed!" 

"Well, I'll be paying for that poopy ice cream, too! So what if I don't pay for it? You won't be able to eat that poop!"

You realized what he was saying. You have been craving chocolate ice cream for many days, and you can't afford to miss this golden opportunity. "Sorry," you rolled your eyes. "I won't say anything bad about your mint chocolate ice cream."

"Good girl," he caressed your head. "One mint chocolate and chocolate ice cream each," he told the ice cream girl. The girl was beautiful, and she was smiling all the while you both were arguing. 

"Sure," she smiled kindly. However, although you hate to admit it, you felt like she was staring at Jungkook all the time, even when he was arguing with you. You cleared your throat deliberately and turned around. 

However, your body froze when you felt his arm snaking around your waist protectively. He pulled you closer to his figure.

"Here's poop– I mean, here's your ice cream," he smiled cheekily. Instead of fighting, though, a smile appeared on your face. "Thanks for the ice cream," he thanked the girl and left from there. After you both had reached a certain distance from the ice cream parlor, you asked Jungkook.

"Why did you suddenly start getting so touchy there?"

Jungkook smiled slyly. "I don't think you need to ask but anyway, I saw that you were feeling jealous, so..." he smirked.

"That's not true," you rolled your eyes, although it was true. Jungkook just smiled, knowing what you meant by that. "Anyway, do you have some tissue?"

"Mhm," Jungkook nodded. He put his hand inside his pocket and took out a tissue. "Here you go." You took the tissue from him and wiped your mouth, knowing that by now you probably look like a brown bear from your face.

"There's still some ice cream on the corner of your lips," Jungkook said when you thought you were done with it.

"Huh? Here?" you pointed the tissue near your lips, but Jungkook shook his head in disagreement. He stuck out his thumb, wiped the ice cream on the corner of your lips, and very casually managed to lick it.

Your eyes widened and a shade of crimson rushed over to your cheeks. When Jungkook noticed, his lips eventually curved up into a playful smirk. "I can do more, you know," he whispered in your ear.

"Sh-shut up," you rolled your eyes, trying to act as coolly as possible although your heart was beating at an inhumane speed.

Jungkook took the last bite of his ice cream and threw it in a nearby dustbin. "Do you want to eat something else?" he asked, to which you immediately shook your head. "No way. If I get full and don't eat later at home, Mom will eventually become suspicious and my life may come to a very miserable end," you replied humorously, although with a serious face. Jungkook chuckled.

"Let's go there," you pointed towards the benches near the Han River. Jungkook nodded, took your hand in his and you both sauntered over to the bench.

There were only a few people nearby, and most of them were even leaving. "I love this place a lot. It gives me peace," you said calmly. Jungkook's gaze shifted from the water to you; a sign that he wanted to listen to you. "Will you get bored?" you asked, just to ensure. Jungkook shook his head as a no, earning a small smile from you. You shifted your gaze from Jungkook to the water. I came here with my grandma when I was a kid–maybe four or five. You know, when Mom and Dad weren't home," you sighed. "I used to trouble her a lot just for coming here, every evening. She used to buy me some chips or ice cream and I ate it with her, sitting on one of these benches. But one day, when Mom and Dad were leaving for just another 'business party', instead of my grandma, my aunt came. I then very rudely asked her why she was here instead of grandma and she said that she wasn't well. I remember telling her to take care of Grandma when she was leaving. I didn't hear about Grandma for the next one to two months till the news of her passing away."

"I'm sorry," Jungkook could only whisper. However, you shook your head with a smile. "Why are you apologizing? It's not like it was your fault. Anyway, I've moved on from it. Everyone has to go one day."

You sighed, a small smile still lingering on your lips as the cool air hit your skin. You relished the feeling profoundly since it reminded you of the days you'd spent here with your grandma.

On the other hand, though, Jungkook remained sitting there, simply adoring you–the way the moonlight fell on your skin, irradiating your skin. However, he had to snap out of his reverie because it had gotten dark already, and as per your previous words, your mom would possibly 'kill you' if you got late. But he felt a sense of reluctance because of how peacefully you were watching the water–he didn't want to disturb you. But then again, it was for your good.

"Y/n?" he called out to you, sauntering to get close to you. You turned around to face him. 

"Thank God. I thought that you were thinking of drowning down there or something," he teased. You rolled your eyes. "It's 8:30 already and I think that you might want to go for your group studies?"

You pouted, not wanting to go to study. "Can I not stay?" 

"I was just reminding you. It's your choice whether you want to go or not," he said as if shrugging, pretending as if he didn't care about it at all. You furrowed your eyebrows.

"Why are you acting as if you don't care about it, huh? Don't you want to stay with me?"

Jungkook smirked, deciding to play along. "No. I have other things to do," he rolled his eyes. However, you caught him miserably failing to glance at you, and you knew that he was pranking you and he intended to see your reaction. You smiled slyly.

"Do you think I'm dumb?"

"Isn't it obvious?" he grinned. "You're so dumb. Isn't it obvious that I want to do this?" he pulled you by your waist and before you could process anything, his lips were locked with yours.

____________________________________________

edited: 13-12-23