BEYOND THE PAGES

Chapter 1

Jungkook flinched as the unexpected clatter of his well-worn book hitting the floor shattered the peaceful stillness of the night. The sudden noise reverberated through the quiet house, breaking the calm ambience like a stone dropped into a still pond. Moments later, his mother swung the door open with a firm motion that spoke volumes. The dim, muted light from the hallway spilt into his room, casting a gentle glow that illuminated her figure, which stood poised and unwavering in the doorway.

"Are you seriously still reading those fictional novels?" she questioned, her voice laced with authority, the kind that could command attention in any situation. She stood tall in the doorway, dressed in a flowing white nightgown that elegantly billowed slightly around her ankles. An off-white robe draped over her shoulders added an air of warmth to her imposing presence, the fabric soft and worn, a testament to many nights like this one.

"I'm sorry, Mom," Jungkook replied, mustering a slight pout aimed to elicit sympathy, although it did little to hide the defiance brewing beneath the surface.

“It’s 3 a.m., Kook. You need to focus on your schoolwork,” she asserted, her voice unwavering and resolute as she stood her ground, a maternal fortress against his late-night escapades. This was the authoritative tone she adopted whenever she intended to instil a sense of responsibility in him, her words carrying the weight of parental expectations—perhaps even a hint of disappointment.

With a disapproving shake of her head, she turned and walked away, the door clicking softly behind her. Alone in the quiet room, Jungkook inhaled a deep sigh of resignation, his shoulders slumping slightly. He reluctantly set his book down on the side table, the pages still warm with the adventures he had immersed himself in mere moments ago. Pulling the duvet over himself, he succumbed to the seductive pull of sleep, his mind lingering on the enchanting world of the story’s captivating male lead. 

The next morning, the serenity of his dreams was abruptly shattered when Mrs. Jeon stormed into his room like a whirlwind, her appearance a chaotic mix of urgency and resolve. "Jungkook, get up! It's time for school; you will be late!" she yelled, her voice ringing with urgency.

Startled awake, Jungkook leapt out of bed, fumbling to put on his thick glasses. His hurried movements echoed through the house, and he narrowly avoided tripping over a shoe but knocked over his toiletries instead, causing a loud crash. Hearing the commotion, his mother sighed as she quickly tidied up, smoothing the bedsheets and placing his beloved childhood plushie back on the bed.

"Mom, where is my underwear?" Jungkook called out, emerging from the bathroom, still buttoning his shirt haphazardly while his pants dangled precariously on his shoulder, leaving him embarrassingly exposed beneath the fabric of his now half-finished outfit.

"Jungkook, such a shameless boy!" his mother exclaimed, her voice a mix of exasperation and amusement. A knowing smile danced on her lips as she handed him a pair of black underwear, the fabric soft and familiar. "Here, take this and make your way down for breakfast."

"I don't have time—" he started to protest, casting a frantic glance at the clock and feeling the heat of panic rising in his chest, but she cut him off with a wave of her hand, a gesture both dismissive and maternal.

"Come down for breakfast," she insisted firmly, closing the door behind her with a soft yet definitive click that echoed with the weight of an unspoken rule. Left alone, Jungkook hurriedly completed his morning routine in a blur, a chaotic dance of dressing and panic against the relentless ticking of the clock that loomed ominously overhead.

Finally, with a groan under his breath, he snatched his bag and raced downstairs, the threat of tardiness lending him an extra boost of speed.

As he reached the bottom of the staircase, a familiar sight greeted him: his father was already seated at the kitchen table, the morning newspaper sprawled out before him, the pages slightly crinkled from frequent use. He sipped his coffee with an air of calm, the aroma of freshly brewed beans mingling with the earthy scent of toast wafting through the air. Jungkook approached him, a bright smile spreading across his face as if to usher in the day despite the morning's chaos.