🤎✨LOVE IN SEOUL✨🤎 ( UNDER EDITING )

32

The air in the classroom was thick, almost stifling, but not from the lingering summer heat outside. It was something else entirely — something Taehyung couldn't shake off.

Seated at his desk, he tried to focus on the whiteboard where Mr Jin scrawled Hangul characters in fluid strokes, but his attention kept drifting to the boy sitting two rows ahead of him.

Jungkook.

His best friend. His biggest headache. And right now, the person he was most worried about.

Jungkook hadn't said a word all day. He was absent during lunch, but Tae had felt it was due to the argument back at his place. But watching Jungkook now, he barely moved, barely reacted. The only thing he'd done in the past forty minutes was sit there, his posture stiff, his gaze locked into his notebook as if he were seeing something no one else could.

His pen, which usually never stopped moving — Tapping, spinning, scribbling, or doodling nonsense— was still.

Taehyung swallowed, gripping his pen tighter. He didn't like it one bit. Not how Jungkook looked lost. Spaced out. It bothered him. It made him worry.

But he should ignore it. Really should— considering they weren't exactly on the best terms right now. But the unease in his chest refused to go away.

His fingers tapped against his desk, his jaw clenching slightly.

He hated this.

When the bell finally rang, a collective shuffle of books and chatter filled the classroom. Students stretched, some already making their way out of the classroom.

"EXAM IS AROUND THE CORNER! Y'ALL BETTER READ!" Mr. Jin announced before leaving the classroom.

Jungkook moved quickly, standing up from his seat and heading toward the door as if he couldn't get out of the classroom fast enough.

Taehyung didn't hesitate. He pushed back his chair and followed, weaving between desks before reaching out. He grabbed Jungkook's wrist just before he could slip out.

The contact sent a jolt through him — not because it was unusual, but because Jungkook flinched.

Taehyung felt it — the way Jungkook's muscles tensed under his fingers like he had been snapped out of a trance.

Jungkook turned, his dark orbs meeting Taehyung's for the first time all day. There was something unreadable in them. Distant.

"What?" Jungkook asked, his voice low, almost weary.

Taehyung stared searchingly into Jungkook's gaze, trying to figure out what the hell was going on in his head. "What's wrong with you?"

Jungkook exhaled, looking away. "Nothing," he murmured.

Taehyung narrowed his eyes. "Really?"

"Yeah."

Taehyung scoffed. He wasn't buying it.

He tightened his grip slightly. "Jungkook, you haven't said a single word all day. You were absent at lunch. You think I wouldn't notice?"

"Yeah, considering you don't care about me anymore." Jungkook said, shrugging. "It's surprising how you noticed my absence," he added.

"Don't start now, Kookie. I'm worried about you... For real."

Jungkook let out a sharp sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. "It's nothing, Tae..."

"Liar," Taehyung shot, his voice firm but not unkind. "I know you more than you know yourself, Jungkook. What's going on? Tell me." he urged.

Jungkook bit his inner cheeks, clearly irritated but not angry. More like... defeated.