Uniqueness || j.jk

--4--

A few weeks later, for History, the class is in the vast media center for the day to work on a big presentation. Ava and Jungkook pour into books and references and online articles and old archives. They help read deeper into vague pieces and help to make sense of definitions that are a bit beyond their comprehension. Ava does ask a few times for Jungkook to explain a few words to her which he finds amusing, considering they're usually words that he'd think she'd know. But apparently she missed them or lacked to be taught them in her online courses.

"It taught me practical things, not academic things usually," she defends herself.

"And yet you know how to explain physics to me!" Jungkook teases.

"Because the words are the same just pronounced in Korean, I did well in physics in America."

Jungkook finds her nerdy tendencies slightly adorable, how she can argue about her academic strengths and brag lowkey. "So why did you come to South Korea if you were doing so well in America?" It's a real question he wants to know the answer to, one that everyone actually wants to know to some capacity or other.

"There's a good music program at this school and it wasn't too hard to me to contact the school about coming to study."

"And you're doing okay here?"

"In South Korea? Here? Eh," Ava just shrugs and looks away.

"Why just eh?" Jungkook mocks her shrug. She glares and then softens her expression, pouting a bit.

"Out of place."

Jungkook can't help but laugh. "Well yeah no shit," he curses. She looks at him with a darkened face, unamused by his teasing. But she gets it, it's not like she's oblivious. Her EQ is just as high as her IQ. Jungkook stops laughing when he realizes he offended her and apologizes.

"I just feel out of place sometimes. I'm actually really smart but all people seem to see in me is my wild appearance."

"Well, it's hard to miss," Jungkook says. She nods, knowing that there's no way around admitting it.

"I just feel like everyone around here is really pretentious music students. And that expressing how you feel and your music style is forbidden or something..."

"Well, the reason people here dress preppy is because that's how idols dress. Our music styles here are ballads and pop groups, not rock and metal usually."

"You know the music though," Ava looks over at him, confused.

"Yeah, I do. I have a wide range of music taste."

"Like?"

"LInkin Park and a few other old bands. I like the guitar solos. But I like Korean music too, lots of slow songs to sing to."

"Well you have a good voice, so I'm sure they suit you," Ava comments and Jungkook smiles.

"Thanks. Do you sing?"

"Not really, just play guitar."

"Can you play any Linkin Park?"

"Not really, a few little parts though. A lot of it is techno parts from a keyboard so I can't but a lot of the older songs I can figure out if I listen a few times."

"You can just listen and figure out the chords?" Jungkook asks, impressed immensely.

Ava nods, encouraged by his positive feedback, "Yeah, I've been playing for a long time so I've just gotten to that part."

"You're really talented and smart," Jungkook says, a bit in awe actually.

Ava turns her head slightly, blushing and embarrassed at the same time at Jungkook's nice words. He's a polite kid, she'll give him that, and really fun to talk to. It doesn't seem like he's judging her and actually sounds interested in her life and experiences and talents and all that jazz. Jungkook's phone buzzes and he checks it for a while. Ava busies herself with the assignment for a while as Jungkook texts and laughs at responses. She looks up every once in a while to see his expression. He has a cute smile....

"Hey," Jungkook says, looking up from the tiny screen as Ava is watching him.

"Yeah?"

"Want to come to my friend's house party?"

"When?" She asks, surprised he's offering.

"Tonight. If you're free it's just going to be a few people."

"Why are you asking me?" She asks, a bit defensive, afraid deep down it's a set up. He was laughing at a lot of messages.

"You're my friend." The way he says it seems like he's being authentic.

"Sure," she accepts.