Chemistry - taekook

chapter 1

Routine. It's important. There's no fumbling to get ready at the last minute or running around the apartment to make sure nothing important is left behind. The body moves mechanically after doing the same routine over and over, there's no conscious thinking, just moving.

Jungkook loves routine.

He wakes up earlier than he needs to just in case, prepared for anything that could interrupt his need to be on time. With eyes closed and sleep still tugging at him, routine helps him brush his teeth and collect the clothes he laid out the night before without thinking about it. Even responding to Hoseok's late night texts are part of it, Jungkook standing outside of the running shower in his underwear, laughing tiredly at Hoseok's shenanigans before finding the playlist he has made for the morning.

It's routine, important, a necessity for Jungkook to have in his busy life. He doesn't allow anything to interrupt it.

Jungkook touches lightly over the black and white striped tie hanging from his throat, patting it down until it lays flat against the white, crisp dress shirt. He inhales deeply, watching his cheeks form into bubbles in the mirror before deflating.

Once he's tucked his shirt into the band of his pants, he straps on his belt and reaches for his comb. The wind knocks at the windows, signaling that Jungkook either shouldn't put too much effort in slicking his hair back and curling it over his forehead just right, or he should use Yoongi's extra, super, mega hold hairspray.

Jungkook considers it, but the smell is strong and his roommate will definitely know he's used it. The day is going to suck already, he doesn't need a scolding from Yoongi as well. Not that Yoongi ever sticks to his scoldings well, he is a bit of a sucker for the wide eye, innocent look Jungkook sends his way whenever he's in trouble.

Said roommate is currently passed out on the living room couch, one arm hanging off and mouth opened wide around quiet snores. There's lipstick smudged over his cheeks and his pants are half off, hanging from one leg. Jungkook smiles fondly as he pulls the cloth the rest of the way off, just to throw the blanket on the back of the couch over him.

It's surprising they work so well at living together when Jungkook is big on routine and Yoongi wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. But taking care of Yoongi after a night out with Hoseok is part of the routine and Jungkook finds himself leaving the apartment after cleaning Yoongi's mess right on schedule.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are the busiest day of the week for Jungkook. Normally, classes start at nine and go through until four, where Jungkook is skipping over bushes and hidden pathways to get to work on time. Despite this, Jungkook has taken an extra shift at the tutoring center for the mornings. Seven in the morning. It's a devastating time and Jungkook's feeling the exhaustion already, but he's stubborn.

His mother had insisted it would be too much for him, uncaring that the president of the school himself asked Jungkook to tutor his son. Between needing to work to afford to live and attempting to maintain a high enough grade point average to keep his scholarship, Jungkook can get quite worn out throughout the semester. But he agreed to do it, and he told his mother he can handle it even if he wasn't sure, so now he has to prove her wrong.

Even if Jungkook dies of exhaustion and extremely high blood pressure from eating too much microwaveable ramen.

The campus is pretty empty given the early hour and anyone who is awake drag their feet or sucks down their coffee from the student center like their lives depend on it. Coffee makes his hands a bit shaky, his stomach jittery, but Jungkook wanders into the student cafe anyway in case it's his last chance to ever see it.

It's dramatic, some would say. But also some (most people) don't seem to dislike the President Kim's son the way Jungkook does. He's insanely popular even though Jungkook didn't think that would still be a thing in college. He lives up on a high horse and a podium of privilege, not needing to work hard or care about school at all. He doesn't have to worry about living his life drowning in debt, and despite how amazing it is to not pay for a higher education, he's doing nothing to deserve a free ride.