𝗘𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 | 𝗝𝗶𝗞𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗩 ✓

4

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They sat in a quiet corner of the canteen, a small, isolated space away from the usual bustle of students. The noise from the rest of the cafeteria—laughter, clattering trays, and the hum of casual chatter—was muffled here. The dim light from the overhead fixtures bathed the table in a warm glow, highlighting the colorful spread before them: white rice, golden-brown Korean curry, crispy cheese tonkatsu, a fresh cejan chicken salad, and spicy kimchi. The meal, though simple, looked rich and satisfying.

Ji-Min motioned for Tae-Hyung to sit beside Jung-Kook, but Tae-Hyung hesitated. His shyness took over, and with a small, uncertain smile, he took the seat next to Ji-Min instead. Ji-Min shot a playful but pointed glare at his best friend, and Tae-Hyung shyly returned the look with a sheepish smile. Jung-Kook, however, was oblivious to their little exchange, his attention fully on the food in front of him.

"Let’s eat," Jung-Kook said, breaking the brief silence. His voice was casual, but his eyes glimmered with the quiet joy of someone who had a genuine love for food. Without waiting, he took a bite of his cheese tonkatsu, savoring the combination of crunchy exterior and melting cheese inside.

Ji-Min nodded in agreement, eager to dig in himself. "Right," he said, as he picked up his chopsticks. The conversation, however, was never far behind.

"Hyung, when’s your final match?" Ji-Min asked, glancing at Jung-Kook, his eyes eager to know more. It wasn't every day that you got to sit next to one of the best players on the school basketball team.

Jung-Kook swallowed his bite of food and glanced up at Ji-Min, his expression brightening. "It’s this Sunday," he said, taking another bite. "Are you coming?" His eyes met Ji-Min's, and the question hung in the air between them.

"Yeah, I’ll come, but I need to buy tickets," Ji-Min replied, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious. He hadn’t bought the tickets yet, and the price was something he’d been avoiding thinking about. With how popular the game was, tickets were bound to be expensive.

Tae-Hyung, who had been quietly picking at his rice, glanced up at the mention of the match. A small pout formed on his lips, an expression of quiet disappointment. He wanted to go too, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to afford the ticket. The prices were steep, and he couldn’t justify the expense.

"Why do you need to buy tickets?" Jung-Kook asked, chuckling as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. He tilted his head slightly, as if the answer were obvious. "Your brother's a basketball player, so am I. Here, take two tickets," he said, sliding the tickets across the table with a friendly grin. "I bought them for my family, but you two can have them."

Tae-Hyung immediately shook his head, his face flushed with surprise and gratitude. "No, Jung-Kook-shi, it must be expensive. We can’t take them," he said, his voice low but earnest.

But Jung-Kook only shook his head. "It's free for the player's family," he explained with a warm smile. "Trust me, it’s no big deal. Take them."

Ji-Min’s eyes widened as he looked at the tickets in front of him. His mind raced, and suddenly, everything clicked. So Yoongi had been lying to him—telling him that tickets weren't free for family members of the players. He felt a mix of disbelief and irritation. He needed to have a serious talk with his older brother.

"Thank you, hyung," Ji-Min said, his voice sincere as he took the tickets. He handed one to Tae-Hyung, who took it with a shy smile. "We’ll be cheering for you," Ji-Min added, his voice brimming with appreciation.

Tae-Hyung felt his heart flutter at the thought of cheering for Jung-Kook. "Yeah, we’ll cheer for you," he echoed softly, his cheeks slightly flushed from the close proximity to his crush.

Jung-Kook nodded, a pleased smile forming on his lips. He seemed genuinely touched by their enthusiasm. He took another bite of his tonkatsu, the food providing a small break in the conversation. After chewing thoughtfully, he glanced at Tae-Hyung.

"So, what do you study, Tae-Hyung?" Jung-Kook asked, his tone light but direct. Tae-Hyung felt a nervous flutter in his stomach as the question caught him off guard. He had never really expected Jung-Kook to talk to him directly, let alone ask about his studies. His mind briefly went blank, but he quickly composed himself.

"I-I'm doing a business course, Jung-Kook-shi," Tae-Hyung stammered, his voice quiet, but clear. He glanced briefly at Ji-Min, then back at Jung-Kook, his cheeks tinged pink from the nervousness.

Jung-Kook nodded, looking impressed. "Business, huh? That's impressive," he said. "You can call me hyung, just like Ji-Min." His smile softened as he turned back to Ji-Min. "Speaking of you, how are your classes going? Yoongi-hyung said you're not so good at math."

Ji-Min’s face flushed a little, and he let out a nervous laugh. "Ehh, that subject is just... really boring, actually," he admitted, his voice sheepish. His smile was more apologetic than anything, though there was a playful glint in his eyes.

Jung-Kook chuckled lightly. "Well, I know a really good tutor. She can help you with math, if you want," he said, his tone warm and kind. "And if either of you need help with anything else, just let me know. I’ve got friends who are really good at all sorts of subjects, and they’ll help you out for free."

Tae-Hyung felt a rush of gratitude at the offer. His eyes brightened as he turned to Jung-Kook. "Thank you, hyung," he said sincerely. "That really means a lot."

Ji-Min nodded enthusiastically as well. "Yeah, thank you so much. We’ll definitely take you up on that," he added.

Just as Jung-Kook was about to say something else, a voice cut through their conversation.

"Hey, Jung-Kook," a boy called, sliding into the seat next to him. Jae-Sun casually placed his tray on the table and grinned widely at the group. His presence immediately seemed to change the atmosphere. Ji-Min felt a familiar surge of irritation, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched the other boy settle in.

"Hey!" Jung-Kook greeted him, smiling. "What’s up?"

Jae-Sun shrugged nonchalantly. "The other tables are full. You don’t mind if I sit here, do you?" he asked, glancing around at the empty seat next to Jung-Kook-Kook.

Jung-Kook shook his head, still smiling. "No problem," he said easily.

Ji-Min let out an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes at the exchange. He couldn’t stand the sight of Jae-Sun, especially since he was one of Jung-Kook’s rivals on the court. They may have been friends off the court, but Ji-Min knew better than to trust Jae-Sun completely.

"Typical," Ji-Min muttered under his breath to Tae-Hyung, who sat beside him, glancing at the new arrival.

Tae-Hyung frowned slightly. "Ji-Min, don’t be rude," he whispered, nudging his friend.

Ji-Min shot Tae-Hyung a quick look, his expression softening as he nodded. He returned to his food, eating in silence, though his glare remained firmly fixed on Jae-Sun, who was now deep in conversation with Jung-Kook about the upcoming basketball game.

Tae-Hyung, meanwhile, continued eating his meal, his gaze often drifting to Jung-Kook, unable to resist sneaking glances at the boy he had a secret crush on. The warmth of the canteen and the hum of chatter seemed so distant as his heart raced in his chest.