Sylvania || jjk

24

The bags were packed, and the villagers waved them off with warm smiles and goodbyes. The excitement from the past few days still hung in the air, but for some… there was something heavier beneath it all.

Aldric stood in front of them, arms crossed, his usual playful smirk replaced with something softer. His voice carried a hint of sadness as he sighed dramatically.

“Well, I suppose this is goodbye,” he said, shaking his head. “You kids caused me too much trouble. Especially you two.” His eyes flickered between Chaeng and Jungkook, the remnants of last night’s tension still lingering between them.

Chaeng reflected a small smile. “We weren’t that bad.”

Everyone chuckled, but beneath the laughter, Jungkook barely heard a word. His eyes were on Chaeng. She was standing a few feet away, her hands tucked into the pockets of her coat, her expression unreadable.

She hadn’t spoken to him at all since last night.

Jungkook sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“You’ll come back next year, right?” Aldric asked.

“We’ll see,” Taehyung said, smirking. “If you survive another two days of dealing with us.”

Aldric dramatically clutched his chest. “Oh, the horror.”

Everyone laughed again before starting to board the bus. Jungkook stepped inside first, scanning for seats. He immediately slid into one near the front and placed his bag on the seat beside him.

He didn’t even hesitate. This was for Chaeng.

But when she entered, she didn’t stop.

His heart sank as she walked right past him.

She didn’t even glance in his direction.

Jungkook turned, watching as she made her way toward the back, slipping into a seat beside the window.

Jimin and Taehyung soon took the seats around her, chatting with her, unaware of the heavy weight in Jungkook’s chest.

Slowly, he turned back, his hands clenching into fists.

She was really avoiding him.

The bus ride back was nothing like the ride to Sylvania Village.

Gone were the excited whispers and laughter. Instead, there was a strange mix of exhaustion and lingering nostalgia. Some students dozed off, others listened to music, and a few chatted quietly.

Jungkook, however, just stared out the window.

He wanted to talk to her. He wanted to fix this. But every time he even thought about turning around, his mind replayed the hurt in her eyes from last night.

He’d never felt this helpless before.

But she couldn’t bring herself to go to him. Not when her heart still ached.

Not when she still didn’t know what they even were.

Chaeng sat near the window, her arms crossed as she stared outside, lost in thought. The day had been long, and her heart still felt heavy from last night.

That’s when Jungkook got up from his seat.

He had been quiet all this time, but now, he reached into his duffel bag and pulled out a small package wrapped neatly in parchment paper. With determined steps, he made his way to the back of the bus, stopping in front of her seat.

Chaeng glanced at him, eyebrows furrowing. “What do you want?”

Without a word, Jungkook held out the package. “Here.”