The Hidden Scar

Fell for an artist

one afternoon, as Jungkook was heading to the boxing club, his mind was focused on the upcoming practice session. The hallway was mostly empty, and he hurried along, eager to get started. Just as he rounded a corner, he suddenly collided with someone.

"Ah!" a soft voice exclaimed, and a flurry of papers, sketchbooks, and brushes tumbled to the floor. Jungkook quickly stepped back, blinking in surprise. Before him knelt a girl, hurriedly trying to gather her fallen supplies.

"I'm so sorry!" she said, her voice apologetic as she scrambled to collect everything.

Jungkook knelt down immediately to help her. "No, it's my fault. I wasn't paying attention," he replied, reaching for a brush that had rolled away. As he handed it back, he finally got a good look at her.

She was different from the other girls in school, with an air of calm about her. Her long hair framed her face, and she was dressed simply, unlike the more flashy outfits he was used to seeing. Her eyes were focused on her sketchbooks as she gathered them, but Jungkook couldn't help but notice how cute she was. There was something almost serene about her—different from the usual attention-seeking girls who often flirted with him.

His heart skipped a beat as he realized this girl had no idea who he was. She wasn't flustered, giggling, or trying to make small talk. She seemed completely absorbed in picking up her art supplies, not noticing his brief daze.

When she had finally collected everything, she gave him a quick smile, though her cheeks flushed slightly from the embarrassment of the moment. "Thanks for helping," she said softly, tucking a stray hair behind her ear.

Jungkook opened his mouth to ask for her name, but no words came out. He was usually confident, but something about this moment, the way she was so focused on her own world, made him freeze.

"No problem," he managed to say instead, his voice quiet.

Without another word, the girl stood up and quickly hurried down the hallway, leaving Jungkook still kneeling on the ground, holding a single pencil she had forgotten. He stared after her for a moment, his heart still racing.

"Who was that?" he whispered to himself, clutching the pencil. She had disappeared so fast that he hadn't had a chance to even ask for her name. She was a new student—that much was clear. If she knew who he was, she probably would've reacted differently. But she hadn't. She didn't treat him like the superstar athlete he was used to being seen as. Instead, she had simply been... herself.

And Jungkook found himself more intrigued than ever.

As he finally got up and continued walking toward the boxing club, he couldn't stop thinking about her. The encounter, brief as it was, left a lasting impression. All he knew was that he had to find out who she was 

A few days later, BTS finally found themselves sitting together in the cafeteria, a rare moment of peace amidst their busy schedules with various clubs. Between Jimin and J-Hope's dance practices, Namjoon's library volunteering, and Suga and Aera's basketball sessions, it had been a while since they all shared a meal at the same time. Some of them had been eating at odd hours, either early or late, but today, it was different.

The cafeteria buzzed with chatter as they dug into their lunches, the familiar comfort of their group providing a sense of normalcy. Jin was busy nagging Jungkook about eating more veggies, while Suga and Namjoon casually debated over something trivial. Aera and Jimin were laughing at one of J-Hope's jokes, and V was sharing his random thoughts with whoever would listen.

In the midst of all this lively conversation, Jungkook seemed strangely quiet. He absentmindedly pushed his food around with his fork, his gaze distant. It didn't take long for Jimin and V to notice.

"Yo, JK, why do you look like you're lost in another world?" V asked, raising an eyebrow and nudging Jungkook's shoulder.

Jimin smirked, leaning in. "Yeah, you've been out of it for days now. What's up, man? Got something on your mind? Or... someone?" he teased, winking.

Jungkook blinked, suddenly snapped out of his thoughts. He glanced at the others, realizing they were all looking at him now, curious and amused. He hesitated for a moment, his cheeks heating up slightly, but there was no escaping this.

"Uh... it's nothing," he muttered, trying to brush it off. But V wasn't having any of it.

"Come on, bro, spill it! You're acting all mysterious lately," V said, poking him.

Jungkook sighed, realizing he couldn't keep it to himself any longer. He set down his fork and glanced around the table. "Fine, I'll tell you," he said, a bit sheepishly. "A few days ago... I bumped into this girl. She's a new student, I think. She dropped her sketchbooks, and I helped her pick them up."

"And?" Jimin asked, leaning in further, clearly intrigued.

"And... she was... different," Jungkook continued, trying to find the right words. "She didn't know who I was. She wasn't like the other girls who always flirt with me or giggle around me. She was just... focused on her art, like she was in her own world. I couldn't even ask for her name, and she ran off before I could say anything."

The table fell silent for a moment, and then, suddenly, V and Jimin burst into laughter.

"Wait, wait, so let me get this straight," V said between laughs. "Our tough, cool Jungkook got flustered by some quiet art girl?"

Jimin clapped his hands, grinning. "And you didn't even get her name? Seriously, Jungkook? You?"

Jungkook groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I knew you guys would make fun of me."

Suga, who had been listening quietly until now, smirked. "So, you've been daydreaming about her this whole time? Should we start calling you the love-struck artist chaser?"

Jungkook shot him a look, but there was no escaping the teasing.

"Okay, but seriously," Namjoon chimed in, giving Jungkook a reassuring smile. "If she's a new student, you'll probably see her around again. Maybe next time you won't be so shy?"

"That's if he doesn't freeze up again," J-Hope teased, grinning.

"Ha ha, very funny," Jungkook muttered, but there was a small smile tugging at his lips. Despite the teasing, he felt a little better talking about it.

"Maybe it's fate," Jin said dramatically, earning a few eye rolls. "You two are destined to meet again."

"Yeah, fate or not, you should've at least gotten her name," Jimin said, patting Jungkook on the back. "Next time, don't let her get away so easily."

Jungkook sighed, nodding. "Yeah... next time."

The cafeteria was alive with laughter and chatter as BTS teased Jungkook about the mysterious girl, but Aera had been quietly observing the whole thing, her eyes narrowing in curiosity.

After Jimin and V finished their relentless teasing, Aera finally spoke up, leaning forward across the table. "You know, JK, instead of just sitting there daydreaming, maybe you should try finding her again," she suggested, her voice calm but with a hint of challenge. "If she's into art, there's probably a good chance she's hanging around the art rooms after school."

Jungkook blinked, surprised that Aera, usually reserved, was now encouraging him. "Yeah, maybe..." he mumbled, a little flustered.

Aera raised an eyebrow, her tone teasing yet firm. "Or you could just stand there staring next time," she said dryly. "But don't complain when she still doesn't notice you."

Jimin let out a laugh. "Oof, savage, Aera!"

V added with a grin, "She's got a point, though. If you want to meet her again, you're going to have to put in some effort."

Aera smirked slightly, crossing her arms. "Just don't freeze up like last time. I've never seen you act shy around anyone, JK. It's kind of amusing."

Jungkook sighed, clearly outnumbered. "I get it, I get it. I'll find her again and actually talk to her this time."

Aera gave him an approving nod. "Good. You've got this."

As the group continued talking and joking, Jungkook felt a bit more confident. Aera's straightforward advice made sense. If he wanted to find this girl again, he'd have to make the effort.