A LITTLE LESS - (5+1) jackbum

5: project heartbreak

jackson had really had enough of his teachers shit. she must have hated him more than he hated her class, or it seemed that way anyway. he nearly had a breakdown when she assigned their stupid project that was worth 35% of their final grade for the semester. he had barely understood anything that went on for the past two months because he just didn't have the emotional energy. he didn't really know when he got into this position exactly, because it was normal now. he was friends with jinyoung again, but he kind of felt like it wasn't right.

something was missing.

"since you and jaebum haven't been... arguing, i have decided it will be fine if you two just pair up for the project," his teacher told he and jaebum casually as she passed their desk, passing out the packets with their instructions in. she then addressed the whole class. "you have a week to start this, it will last for two weeks. that means you now have a week to prepare and you will be starting the project with your partner next tuesday. on the friday after the project starts, you must come to me at the end of our lesson to report on how far you and your partner are. there will be sections where you have a separate challenge from your partner. you must complete that, it is essential to your grade for the whole project. you may do this project in lesson if we have any free time, or after school."

jackson didn't really feel a specific way about the project or having to work with jaebum. he knew it would be hard, but if he's come this far he can get through two weeks of it, right? right. jackson could absolutely do it.

when jaebum cleared his throat, jackson simply looked at him.

"so," jackson twisted his mouth slightly, biting his cheek. "you think we should start today?" all he had to do was act as if jaebum didn't hate him. he didn't really know if he hated jaebum anymore. he didn't know how to feel about him, simply because he didn't interact with him anymore. sometimes he would think, 'jaebum isn't that bad, he doesn't deserve my anger', or he would think, 'jaebum never really gets that angry, is he really worth stressing over?' and he would be confused. but, sometimes jackson would tear up in anger, mainly before he slept at night. 'jaebum is an asshole for allowing me to get this angry over him!' and then jackson would fall asleep in anger, resulting in restless dreams that he never remembered when he woke up and an emotionless morning.

"sure. we should figure out our separate parts first. that way we don't need to waste any time," jaebum gave him a strange look that jackson read perfectly. "i'm not saying that to be rude, i just think it would be nice to finish on time and not stress towards the end." jackson's voice was monotone.

they spent the rest of the lesson quietly mumbling things to each other, passing paper back and forth to scribble notes on it. it was the first lesson where he felt satisfied. he didn't argue with jaebum even once and when he finally joined jinyoung and his friends for lunch that day, he had a sense of pride clinging onto him.

he and jaebum agreed over the next week that they would meet in the library three times a week and jaebum could come to jackson's house on a saturday afternoon to work on it. that way, it could be easily finished with time to spare and correct things.

jackson was slightly optimistic with this idea because so far, so good. but obviously it wouldn't stay that way because according to him, his luck was 'exceptionally shitty'.

jackson woke up at 1pm on the first saturday in an awful mood. so far, the week had gone well. they didn't talk about anything that wasn't to do with the project, even though jackson had to hold himself back sometimes from making a snide comment or simply stating that he didn't like how jaebum was talking to him. but today, his body was just tired of holding everything back. he showered with no effort, barely scrubbing at his hair. he didn't bother putting a shirt on, figuring he would just get ready before jaebum arrived.