Fated Foes

6

The next morning, Jungkook woke up early, his room filled with large, neatly packed boxes. Today was the day. He stretched and glanced around, double-checking to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything important. His books were stacked, his clothes folded, and even his favorite mug was safely packed.

“Ready for breakfast?” his mom called from the kitchen.

“Coming!” Jungkook replied, pulling on a simple gray hoodie and jeans.

At the dining table, his parents sat with subdued expressions. His mom pushed a plate of toast and eggs toward him. “Eat up. You’ll need your energy for all the unpacking.”

Jungkook smiled as he took a bite. “I’ll be fine, Mom. It’s just moving. And I’m not going to the moon.”

His dad sipped his coffee, raising an eyebrow. “You’re parking my car at night, right? Don’t forget to bring it back.”

“Relax, Dad,” Jungkook said with a grin. “I’ll have it back by evening. You won’t even know it’s gone.”

After breakfast, Jungkook loaded the last of his boxes into the car and gave his parents a quick hug. “I’ll text when I’m settled.”

His mom fussed with his hair one last time. “Call if you need anything. And don’t forget to eat!”

“Yes, Mom,” Jungkook promised, climbing into the driver’s seat.

The drive to the dorm was uneventful, and Jungkook arrived mid-morning. The building was buzzing with activity—students moving in, parents shouting instructions, and a few already lounging on the steps as if they owned the place.

Jungkook parked, hauled his boxes to his assigned room, and got to work unpacking. The room was small but cozy, with enough space for his bed, desk, and a tiny wardrobe. He arranged his books neatly on the shelf, set up his laptop, and even hung a small poster of the periodic table on the wall for motivation.

By the time he was done, the clock struck noon, and his stomach growled in protest. “Guess it’s coffee time,” he muttered, grabbing his wallet and heading to the campus café.

The café was bustling, filled with students chatting over lattes and sandwiches. Jungkook ordered a simple black coffee and found a quiet corner to sit in, sipping slowly as he watched the lively scene.

Feeling refreshed, he headed back to his family home to return his dad’s car. His parents were waiting on the porch when he pulled into the driveway.

“That was fast,” his dad said, taking the keys.

“Yeah, everything’s set up,” Jungkook replied. “The dorm’s not bad, actually.”

His mom looked relieved. “Good. Just remember to call us, okay?”

“Will do,” Jungkook promised before heading back to the dorm.

By the time he returned, exhaustion had set in. He kicked off his shoes, flopped onto his freshly made bed, and let out a deep sigh. The hum of campus life buzzed faintly in the background, but within minutes, Jungkook was fast asleep, dreaming of a quiet, uneventful start to dorm life.

Monday mornings are universally hated. No one likes them, and Kim Taehyung certainly wasn’t about to start a fan club. He groaned as his alarm buzzed for the third time.

“Why isn’t Sunday a five-day thing?” he muttered, dragging himself out of bed like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

He stumbled into the bathroom, did the bare minimum for his morning routine, and returned to his room. Tossing his damp towel on a chair, Taehyung lazily arranged his books. Well, “arranged” might have been a strong word—it was more like shifting them from one messy pile to another.

Meanwhile, in the room next door, a certain bunny-faced boy was having a very different kind of morning.

Jeon Jungkook had already completed his morning routine, his breakfast was neatly plated, and he was standing in front of his mirror. He gave himself a once-over, tilting his head to examine every angle.

“Wow, I’m handsome,” he said with a proud grin, flashing himself a quick finger heart. Satisfied with his appearance, he grabbed his bag and reached for the door handle. But just as he was about to leave, he froze.

“My headphones!” he exclaimed, spinning back into the room. “How could I forget my precious babies?”

While Jungkook dashed back to his desk to retrieve them, Taehyung was finally stepping out of his room. Still humming a tune from yesterday’s playlist, he casually locked his door and started down the hallway.

Here’s the twist: Taehyung and Jungkook lived right next to each other.

Not that they knew, of course. Only we know. (Shh! Don’t tell them.)

As fate—or the dormitory's questionable room assignments—would have it, their doors were practically shoulder-to-shoulder. Yet, in their shared hatred for Mondays and life’s chaotic timing, they had somehow avoided bumping into each other.

For now.

Taehyung hummed his way down the hall, blissfully unaware of the bunny boy just a few seconds away from walking out. Jungkook, oblivious to his infamous neighbor, found his headphones and popped them into his bag with a satisfied smile.

The universe seemed to hold its breath.

Would they meet today? Would they finally realize how close they were?

Spoiler alert: not yet. But it’s only Monday, and the week is just getting started.