Crossed Paths (Jungkook ff)

6. (●'◡'●)

Y/N's POV-

The smell of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon wafted through the air as I sat at the breakfast table, the familiar hum of my family's banter surrounding me. My mom was flipping pancakes while my dad read the morning news, and my brother, Jake, was already halfway through a pile of scrambled eggs, making exaggerated noises of delight.

"Seriously, Mom, you could open a pancake restaurant," Jake declared, stuffing another bite into his mouth. "I'd be your first customer."

Mom chuckled, glancing over her shoulder. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Jake. Besides, you'd probably eat all the profits."

"Maybe I'll charge you for the pancakes, then," Jake shot back, grinning mischievously. "One pancake, one dollar. I'll make a fortune!"

I couldn't help but smile at their playful banter, but my thoughts kept drifting back to last night-the confrontation with Jungkook, the way he had looked at me. I shook my head, trying to clear my mind, but it was as if his smirk was still lingering somewhere in the back of my thoughts.

"Y/N! Earth to Y/N!" My dad's voice broke through my reverie. "Where are you lost?"

"Nowhere, Dad," I replied quickly, forcing a smile, but I could tell by the skeptical look on his face that he didn't believe me.

"Uh-oh, something's definitely on her mind," Mom chimed in, wiping her hands on a towel as she turned to face me. "Did something happen at the club last night?"

My eyes widened, and I nearly choked on my orange juice. "No! Absolutely not!" I exclaimed, waving my hands defensively. "I'm just... worried about midterms coming up."

"Midterms, huh?" Dad said, raising an eyebrow. "You don't usually lose your focus over a little studying. You know we're here to support you, right?"

"Yeah, and if you need extra help, I can tutor you," Jake teased, winking at me. "Or you could just pay me in pancakes."

"Very funny, Jake," I said, rolling my eyes. "I think I'll pass on the Jake-tutoring program. Last time I checked, you got a D in history."

He pretended to be offended, dramatically clutching his chest. "I'll have you know that D stands for 'distinguished!'"

"Sure it does," I replied, suppressing a laugh. "You keep telling yourself that."

Mom interjected with a smile, "Alright, you two, save some of that energy for studying. Y/N, if you need a quiet place to concentrate, you're welcome to use my office."

"Thanks, Mom, but I think I'll go study at Lisa's house today. It's quieter there, and I can focus better," I said, pushing my plate away and standing up.

"Just don't forget to bring back some of Lisa's cookies!" Jake called after me. "Or maybe you'll learn some of her study secrets! We could use some magic in this house!"

"Yeah, like how to ace a test without actually studying!" I replied with a laugh, rolling my eyes as I made my way to the door.

"Don't be too late! You know I need my pancake buddy for lunch!" Mom said, waving me off with a smile.

As I stepped outside, I took a deep breath, letting the fresh air clear my head. The playful chaos of my family faded behind me, and I began walking toward Lisa's house. Yet, as I walked, my thoughts drifted back to the club incident-the way Jungkook's eyes had glinted with something dangerous, the heat of his presence. I brushed my thoughts aside, shaking my head slightly as if to physically dislodge them.

In an effort to push the memory further away, I pulled out my phone and hit play on my Taylor Swift playlist. The upbeat rhythm of "Shake It Off" filled my ears, lifting my spirits as I strolled through the familiar streets. I found myself humming along, letting the music drown out the lingering thoughts of last night. With every step, I felt the worries of my encounter with Jungkook slip away, only for a little while.