High School Love

Chapter 7

The next day, the library was once again a silent bastion of learning when Mark and his gang strutted in, their laughter echoing off the tall bookshelves. Jungkook sat at the same spot, his nose buried in his books, surrounded by a small huddle of students. Mark's eyes scanned the room, his gaze lingering on Jungkook before he announced with a smug grin, "Everyone, clear out. We've got important business to discuss."

Jungkook's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing at the intrusion. "Why?" he demanded, his voice a soft growl that made the air in the library thick with tension. The other students shifted in their seats, looking at each other nervously. Mark's smirk grew wider as he sauntered over, his gang following like shadows.

The student who had spoken up earlier looked at Jungkook with a mix of defiance and fear. "They hide inappropriate stuff in here," she whispered, her eyes darting towards Mark. Jungkook's brows shot up in disbelief. "Inappropriate stuff?" he echoed, his voice a little louder this time. The room grew quieter as everyone held their breath, waiting for the storm to break.

Mark's smile faltered, his eyes narrowing at the girl. "What are you talking about?" he sneered. "We're just here to study." But Jungkook wasn't buying it. He had seen the smirks on the faces of Mark's friends, the way they hovered around the bookshelves, hiding something behind their backs.

One by one, the students stood up, their books clutched to their chests like shields. They avoided Mark's gaze as they scurried out of the library, their footsteps echoing in the now cavernous space. The room emptied, leaving only Jungkook, Mark, and his gang behind. The silence was so profound, it felt like it could shatter at the slightest provocation.

"What do you want?" Jungkook asked, his voice a calm sea breeze in the face of the storm that was Mark's rage. Mark stepped closer, the shadows playing with the contours of his face, making him look like a villain from a graphic novel.

"You know what we want," Mark snarled, his fingers tightening around Jungkook's jaw. Jungkook's eyes widened in pain, but he didn't flinch. His heart pounded in his chest, a wild drum beating out a warning. Mark leaned in, his breath hot and sour. "We want you to leave," he hissed, his eyes glinting with malice.

The grip on Jungkook's face was like a vice, his knuckles white with the effort. Jungkook's mind raced, trying to find a way out of this situation without causing a scene. He knew Mark's type, knew that any show of fear or weakness would only fuel the bully's ego. With a deep breath, Jungkook spoke, his voice surprisingly calm. "I'm not going anywhere."

Just as Mark's fist began to pull back, ready to deliver the blow, a strong hand wrapped around his wrist, halting the punch mid-air. Taehyung stepped out from behind the bookshelf, his eyes blazing with a fierce protectiveness that made Mark's smug grin falter. "I don't think so," Taehyung said, his grip on Mark's hand unyielding. The library, which had been so still just moments ago, now buzzed with tension that was palpable enough to cut with a knife.

The grip on his jaw loosened as Mark's attention was drawn to the new threat. Taehyung's deep voice rumbled through the room, a thunderous declaration that resonated in their very bones. "We got a problem here?" he repeated, his gaze unwavering as it met Mark's.

The gang of bullies took a collective step back, their bravado slipping like a mask in the face of the unyielding presence that Taehyung exuded. Mark's hand hovered in the air, his arm trembling with the effort of holding back his punch. It was clear that he hadn't expected Taehyung to intervene, let alone be so fiercely protective of Jungkook. The air grew colder, the very atmosphere seeming to shift in response to the sudden power dynamics at play.

"Tae," Jungkook breathed, his voice a gentle breeze that Taehyung felt rather than heard. But Taehyung's focus was solely on Mark, his eyes narrowed into slits. Mark's face contorted with fear and anger, his grip on Jungkook's jaw loosening completely as he tried to process the sudden turn of events.