Sylvania || jjk

16

I sat between Jimin and Jaemin, halfheartedly stirring the mashed potatoes on my plate. The dining hall buzzed with noise. Clinking forks, bursts of laughter, the usual lunchtime chaos. But I barely sensed any of it.

My eyes flicked across the room, and there they were.

Yoojin sat close to Jungkook, her elbow resting on the table, fingers dancing near his as she whispered something. He didn’t move away. Instead, he smiled. Small and faint, but there.

Then she laughed. That high, airy sound that always got on my nerves, especially when it was followed by her gently nudging his arm like they were sharing some inside joke.

I looked away so fast it made my neck ache.

I stabbed a carrot instead.

"Is it just me," Taehyung muttered from across the table, his voice low, "or has Jungkook been... I don’t know, off lately?"

Jimin glanced up from his plate, chewing thoughtfully. "You mean the whole distant, mysterious act he’s been doing for the past one month?"

Taehyung nodded, resting his chin in his palm. “Exactly. He barely talks during training, disappears after class... and when he’s around, it’s just awkward.”

“I tried talking to him yesterday,” Jimin said, picking at his food. “Just asked how he was doing. He gave me this weird half-answer and then said he had somewhere to be.”

“Let me guess,” Eun said, sipping from her water bottle. “That 'somewhere' was Yoojin’s lap?”

Jimin choked a little. Taehyung laughed.

“No but seriously,” Eun continued, more serious now. “He’s different. He used to joke around, stay back late, hang with you guys. Now it’s like... all his time is scheduled around her.”

“No offense,” Taehyung said, glancing toward the couple across the room, “but when he was single? He was more fun. Now he just seems... I don’t know. Like he's holding something back all the time.”

Jimin exhaled. “I miss him, honestly. Not in a clingy way, but like... it sucks when your friend becomes a stranger just ‘cause he’s in a relationship.”

“Mm-hm,” Jaemin chimed in with a smirk. “He passed me in the hall yesterday, looked directly at me, and then just… blinked. Like I didn’t exist. I thought maybe I’d died and become a ghost.”

Rosé leaned forward, whispering dramatically, “Plot twist: Jaemin’s been dead this whole time.”

“Would explain a lot, honestly,” Eun added, reaching for a roll. “Ghost boy energy.”

Jaemin placed a hand over his chest. “I’m hurt.”

“But seriously,” Rosé said, glancing across the room again, “Jungkook's different. Like… too calm. He used to argue with Taehyung over who gets the last piece of brownie. Now he doesn't even join you guys for meals.”

“Maybe Yoojin’s teaching him restraint,” Taehyung said with mock seriousness. “Or witchcraft.”

“Oh, for sure,” Eun said. “She definitely made him drink some shady tea under a blood moon. I’d bet Jaemin’s ghost powers on it.”

“I am offended,” Jaemin replied, “but not enough to disagree.”

Everyone laughed. Even Rosé cracked up, her head tilted back slightly.

I didn’t.

I just kept watching the gravy pool on my plate like it held the answers to the universe.