The All-Rounder || Karina X Male Reader

6. Confrontation

The classroom buzzed with energy as Mr. Choi wrapped up his instructions for the latest project—a scrapbook assignment titled "Life Lately." The title sounded simple enough, but Mr. Choi’s emphasis on capturing “personal insights, moments, and reflections” made me a little uneasy. I glanced over at Jimin, wondering if she’d feel the same.

But, of course, Jimin looked perfectly unfazed. She was half-listening, scrolling through her phone under the desk. Her usual cool, detached expression was in place, as though nothing could interrupt her world.

“Alright, let me announce your partners!” Mr. Choi’s voice brought the class’s chatter to a halt. “This project will be in pairs.”

My stomach did a small flip. Partnering in this class meant sharing more than just notes—it meant long hours, coordination, and an unspoken agreement to cooperate. I wasn’t sure who I’d get, but as long as it wasn’t—

“Jaeyoung and Jimin,” Mr. Choi called out, barely glancing up from his list.

The entire class turned to look at us. Some people exchanged grins; others whispered to their friends. I noticed Wonyoung arch an eyebrow from the back row, looking curious.

Jimin didn’t react immediately. She just kept scrolling on her phone like she hadn’t heard a thing. But when I caught her eye, she gave a brief, almost indifferent nod.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, I gathered my stuff and walked over to Jimin. She looked up, her gaze cool as ever. “So… when do you want to start?” I asked, keeping my tone casual.

Jimin glanced at her watch, clearly thinking it over. “Let’s get it done as soon as possible,” she said briskly. “I’m a busy woman, and this project isn’t exactly a top priority.”

“Alright,” I replied, trying to ignore the slight jab. “When are you free?”

She paused, probably calculating the most convenient time for her. “Tonight. Come over to my place by six. We can get started then.”

I nodded, feeling the curiosity grow. “Alright. I’ll be there.”

She gave a quick nod, then spun on her heel, her long hair whipping over her shoulder as she disappeared down the hallway without a backward glance.

---

Later that evening, I found myself standing in front of Jimin’s apartment building. It was upscale, modern, with clean lines and elegant lighting. The kind of place I’d only seen in movies. I took a deep breath, double-checked the address she’d texted me, and headed inside.

When I knocked on her door, Jimin opened it almost immediately. She was dressed casually in a simple hoodie and jeans, her hair tied back in a low ponytail. It was the most relaxed I’d ever seen her look, though her expression was still guarded.

“Come in,” she said, gesturing me inside.

Her apartment was immaculate, the kind of place where everything had a place and nothing was out of order. There were a few family photos on the walls and a minimalistic but tasteful decor. I set my bag down on the table and took a seat as she joined me, pulling out a small stack of materials—photo paper, pens, scissors, and a couple of blank scrapbook pages.

“So,” she said, folding her arms. “Any ideas on how you want to approach this?”

I shrugged. “I was thinking we could each pick a theme or something—like what’s been important to us lately. That way, it’s still personal but also balanced.”

She gave me a quick, assessing look. “That could work. But we should keep it organized. I don’t want a scattered mess of random pages.”

“Right.” I pulled out a notebook to jot down ideas. “Maybe we could each do three sections? Keep it simple but still meaningful.”