High School Love

Chapter 4

Jungkook, on the other side of town, stared at the clock on the wall. Its relentless ticking was a countdown to the moment he'd have to face another day at Arlington Prep. His mom hovered over him, insisting he eat at least one piece of bread before he left. "Come on, Jungkook," she urged, her voice laced with the same concern that had filled their dinner conversation the night before. "You need to keep your strength up."

With a sigh, he took the bread from her outstretched hand and nibbled at the crust. She hovered, watching him like a hawk over a field mouse. "Just one more bite," she said, her eyes pleading. Jungkook obliged, not wanting to disappoint her. The bread was stale, a reminder of the many meals they'd stretched to make ends meet, but he chewed and swallowed without complaint. His mother's smile was his only reward.

"Bye, Mom," Jungkook called over his shoulder, pulling on his worn-out jacket. She waved back, the warmth of her love following him out the door. He took off at a run, his sneakers slapping against the concrete as he sprinted toward the bus stop. He was already late, and the chances of catching the bus grew slimmer with every second that ticked by. The early morning air was cold and damp, sending shivers down his spine, but he didn't dare slow down.

As he rounded the corner, his heart sank. The bus was already pulling away from the curb, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake. "Wait!" he shouted, his voice strained and desperate. "Please, wait!" But the bus was deaf to his cries, its red taillights growing smaller and smaller until they disappeared entirely. He slammed his hand against a nearby lamppost, his knuckles white with frustration. "Shit, fuck," he hissed, the word ripping from his chest like a tornado tearing through a field of wheat.

Just when he was about to give up and start the long walk to school, a big red sports car pulled up alongside him, the engine purring like a contented cat. The windows were down, and the cool air inside was a stark contrast to the warmth of the early morning. Jungkook squinted through the glare of the sun to see Taehyung, his golden hair ruffled by the breeze, looking at him with a smirk and a pair of sunglasses perched on his nose. "What got this bunny so worked up in the morning?" Taehyung called out, his voice carrying the casual amusement of someone who had never known the desperation of missing a bus.

"I missed my bus," Jungkook muttered, his cheeks flushing. He was already late, and now he had to deal with the school's most popular student taking an interest in his mundane problems. Not forgetting that fact, he was really frustrated and annoyed today. Taehyung's smirk grew wider, and he nodded. "Ah, I see," he said, his tone light. "Well, I can't have that, can I? Get in, I'll drop you off."

Jungkook hesitated, his instincts telling him to decline the offer. He didn't need charity, especially not from someone who lived in a world so far removed from his own. "No, thank you," he said firmly, his eyes on the horizon. "I can manage." But as he turned to leave, Taehyung's voice called out again.

"C'mon," Taehyung said with a laugh, "we have the same destination. Why make the journey any harder than it has to be?" Jungkook stopped, his back to the car. "What's your problem?" he snapped, the frustration of the morning boiling over. Taehyung's smile didn't waver. "No problem," he said, his voice easy. "Just trying to help out a fellow student."

With a sigh, Jungkook turned and began to walk away from the car, his feet setting a brisk pace. Behind him, Taehyung rolled his eyes and put the car in gear, matching Jungkook's stride with the slow roll of the luxurious vehicle. The engine purred like a content kitten, the contrast to Jungkook's heavy footsteps stark. "Race you," Taehyung called out, his voice playful. Jungkook didn't bother to look back, his jaw set in determination.

"Are you going to follow me like that all the way to school?" Jungkook asked, his voice edged with annoyance. He didn't have time for this, not when his stomach was already doing somersaults at the thought of facing another day of isolation. "I'll keep up until you get in," Taehyung replied, his tone teasing. Jungkook's hands curled into fists at his side. "Then keep doing this," he spat over his shoulder, the words laced with challenge.