Sylvania || jjk

10

Jungkook stood stiffly in front of his grandmother’s huge desk, his heart pounding in his chest.

His jaw was tight, fists clenched at his sides. “You’re really doing this, grandma?” he asked, voice sharp and low.

Harley sat still, calm as ever, her fingers laced together. “Jungkook,” she said evenly, “you know the rules. That girl–”

“Chaeyong,” he cut in quickly, voice firm. “Her name is Chaeyong. You're not talking about just some random student.”

Harley paused, her eyes narrowing just slightly. “Chaeyong, then. She broke the rules. Not once, but multiple times.”

Jungkook let out a harsh laugh. “Yeah? So did I. But I don’t see anyone expelling me.”

Harley didn’t flinch. “You know why that is.”

That pushed him over the edge. “Because I’m your grandson. Because my name gets me protection.” His voice rose, angry now. “You’re letting me off easy while she’s being punished for something we both did!”

Harley’s gaze hardened. “Jungkook. Watch your tone.”

But Jungkook didn’t back down. Not this time.

“She doesn’t deserve this. If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. I told her to come.”

“She still made the choice,” Harley said firmly.

He shook his head, breathing hard. “She made it for me. And now you’re just... throwing her away.”

For a second, Harley didn’t say anything. The room went quiet.

Then she leaned back slightly. “Fine.”

Jungkook blinked. “What?”

“Fine,” she repeated. “She stays. But this is your one chance, Jungkook. Don’t make me regret it.”

Relief hit him so fast it almost knocked the breath out of him. He stepped back slowly, nodding. “You won’t.”

Harley didn’t look up. She just waved a hand. “Go. And tell that girl to stay out of trouble.”

He didn’t smile. Not yet. But as he turned to leave, he glanced back at her – this woman who seemed cold and strict to everyone else, but who used to tuck him in at night and hum lullabies when he was scared.

And in that moment, he realized – under all the rules and power, she was still his grandmother. She still cared.

---

He had one target in mind – Yoojin.

She was the reason Chaeng almost got kicked out. The reason he had to stand in front of his grandmother and fight. The reason his hands were still shaking with anger.

And she was going to pay for it.

He found her inside The Celestial Hall – a fancy room meant for elite students and event planning. She was by a long table, flipping through papers and fabrics for the Winter Moon Gala like nothing had happened.

Jungkook didn’t care about the damn gala.

“Yoojin,” he said, voice sharp and cold.

Both Yoojin and her friend Misun turned. Misun looked startled. Yoojin didn’t. She smiled, calm and smug.

“Jungkook,” she said sweetly. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Misun, leave,” he said without even looking at her.