Jungkook's infatuation with his literature professor quickly graduates from a sweet and innocent school boy crush to a hot and steamy Skool Luv Affair to a full blown forbidden romance that constantly tests their love for one another.
1st chapter pu...
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JUNGKOOK
The conversation flowed more freely after that. Mr. Taylor's questions became less probing and more curious—about my life with Aria, our plans for the future, even little things like what I thought of Hawaii and the resort. It felt surprisingly natural, and while I knew he was still sizing me up, there was something almost respectful in the way he approached it.
As the plates were cleared, the rhythmic beat of a pahu drum began to echo across the beach. The hula chant grew louder, filling the air with a sense of reverence. From the corner of the beach, a troupe of dancers appeared, their movements fluid and hypnotic, casting flickering patterns on the sand. Their skirts, woven from ti leaves, swayed to the pulse of the music as the dancers embodied ancient stories with each graceful step.
Aria's dad straightened slightly in his seat. "Ah, what a perfect addition to a lovely evening."
A hula show just felt like an essential part of the Hawaiian experience, so naturally I wanted to include it in the ladies' birthday dinner celebration. When Amir and I were finalizing the plans, he shared how deeply rooted hula is in the culture here. He'd even mentioned how meaningful it might be for Aria, Lana, and their dad, considering how much of their lives had been connected to this place.
Aria leaned closer to me, her breath against my ear. "It's mesmerizing, isn't it? The way they move—like they're telling a story without words."
Mmm...I could think of a few ways she could tell me a story with the way she moved later. And if we weren't sitting next to her dad, I would have whispered it to her just to see that blush spread across her cheeks. Instead, I bit back the smirk on my lips and responded like a gentleman. "Like they're painting the air. It's beautiful."
I hadn't fully grasped it when Amir had explained it initially, but now, noticing the nostalgia in Aria's eyes and the tenderness in her dad's expression, it all made sense. The way the dancers moved, the way their voices rose and fell like the ocean, felt like a window into something timeless. Every step and gesture seemed to carry the history of this beautiful place, a part of a story. And in the center of it all, we sat and watched, not only as spectators, but connected in a way I couldn't quite put into words.
"This takes me back," her dad remarked, his attention on the dancers as though he were reliving a memory etched deep in his heart. "One of the many reasons I chose to settle here after my retirement was because I wanted my girls to experience the culture I grew up with. We used to see shows like this all the time when you were younger. I remember you both sitting right up front, completely mesmerized. And Lana, she'd always find a way to join in. She had her own little grass skirt and everything."
Lana chuckled, a faint blush creeping into her cheeks. "I can't believe you still remember that. Seems like forever ago."
Aria nodded as her lips curved into a distant smile, her voice carrying a note of familiarity and fondness. "I remember that, too. It's been so long since I've seen a performance like this. Living here, you see hula everywhere—school events, family gatherings, festivals,. It's woven into life. You don't always realize how special it is until you've been away."
