I FOUND FUTURE IN YOU | KM [✓]°

8

"My locker is over there," Jungkook said, pointing down the hall, but Jimin didn't respond.

Jungkook didn’t mind. He hadn’t expected much of a response anyway. They weren’t exactly friends yet. Not like that.

"Meet me in front in five," Jungkook added, his voice a little quieter, like he was trying to make it sound casual, but there was an edge of hope behind it.

Jimin didn’t answer, but just before turning to walk away, he glanced back at Jungkook. Their eyes met for a brief second, and they shared a small, fleeting smile. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make Jungkook’s heart skip. He couldn’t quite place it, but something about the way Jimin smiled—so soft, so sincere, as if he wasn’t used to it—made Jungkook want to see it again. A real smile. A smile that wasn’t weighed down by sorrow or fear.

They parted ways, and Jungkook couldn’t help but glance at Jimin’s retreating form. His eyes lingered on the smaller boy’s lips, noticing how full and swollen they were. They looked *kissable*—like they'd been chewed on, bitten until the pink was raw. Jungkook had seen the way Jimin nervously bit his lip when he was anxious or stressed, and it made something stir in him, a strange ache deep in his chest. But beyond the slight abuse, Jimin’s lips held a softness, a beauty. When Jimin smiled, those lips would form a perfect curve, and it felt like the entire world lit up.

God, I want to see him smile more often, Jungkook thought, a soft, wistful sigh escaping him.

He shook his head, trying to focus and  walked toward his locker, slinging his bag over his shoulder and digging through it, pulling out a few books he didn’t need for class.

Jungkook opened his locker, shoving the books in, his mind still on Jimin. He hadn’t expected this—this feeling. It was unexpected and confusing, but so strong. Jungkook found himself hoping, almost praying, that Jimin would find something to smile about more often.

He closed the locker and was about to turn down the hall to head outside when he heard footsteps behind him. A soft click of shoes against the polished floor, unmistakable.

Jungkook smiled, half-turning, already anticipating the sight of Jimin. Maybe Jimin had changed his mind, maybe—

"Jimi—"

He froze mid-sentence, realizing immediately that it wasn’t Jimin walking toward him. It wasn’t even someone close to his age. The familiar form of his Bio teacher, Mr. Lee, was now in front of him, standing with his arms crossed and a pointed look on his face.

Shit.

Jungkook mentally cursed, straightening up in front of the teacher. His heart gave an uncomfortable lurch, and the brief moment of happiness he had felt melted away.

"So?" Mr. Lee asked, raising an eyebrow. Jungkook fought the urge to roll his eyes.

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