Fire and Ice || J.Jk

Part 6: lock down

It's in the middle of deep winter, and I'm feeling better than ever, with my ice flowing free from my fingers, and Jungguk's fire's wavering on the brink of fading.

The cold weather is doing wonders for our relationship, since I don't mind sitting beside him in class nearly so much now. But maybe he minds a lot more. He's always shivering when Im around. Or maybe he's shivering all the time, but I never get to see.

Still, he's wearing my scarf wherever he goes, helping him to combat the cold, and despite the January frost, it makes my heart glow warm, knowing the gift is appreciated.

At this rate, maybe Ill even get to apologise properly, and let him know I don't hate him. Maybe today will be the day.

As I leave class after him, I run to catch up, calling his name, and when he turns to wait for me, maybe it's just my imagination, but his expression seems warmer than usual. "What is it?"

I pull on the sleeves of my school uniform, feeling heat fanning across my face. "I was just... thinking we could walk to our next class together, since my other friends don't take Elemental Control."

"Is this because you hate being alone?" he asks teasingly, remembering the last time I tried and failed to apologise, but his voice is gentler than normal.

I want to bite back with sarcasm, but under his dark eyes, I can only give a soft, "Maybe..."

"Alright then," he turns around and begins to walk towards our next class, slowing his steps to let me fall in pace beside him.

I glance across to his profile as I walked, his eyes fixed forward, brows scrunched, and chin tucked under the folds of my scarf, well.. now his scarf.

"So you're still wearing this?" I grabbed one of the tassels of the scarf, flapping free by his side.

He looks down to my hand, holding the faded material. "Yeah... well, it's cold and you said I could have it, so?"

I let it go, leaving it to flutter by his side, "So nothing. I'm glad it was useful."

Jungguk shoots me a peculiar look. "Have you caught the winter flu or something?"

"Why? Do I look sick?"

"Well... just... you're never normally this nice. Or civil. I though you must be pretty out of it to be talking to me like this. You do realise you're talking to Jungkook, fire-tamer, ice-melter, life ruiner?"

I bit down on my lip, feeling my cheeks burning, like Jungguk's flames have infected my skin. "Sorry... is this weird?"

"Yes, it's a little weird!" His eyes widen, brows raised. He looks like a startled bunny.

Cute. No. Not cute.

"Well, I can be mean again, if you'd prefer that," I huff, "But... I'm getting a little tired of hating you to be honest."

"Now I know you're ill," Jungguk mutters.

I wish the walk to class wasn't quite so long, this is getting increasingly awkward for both of us, and if my face gets any redder i might actually combust on the spot. Crunching to a halt, I ball your hands into fists, tangling my fingers in your jumper sleeves. "Listen, you don't need to hang around me if it's making you so uncomfortable. I was just trying to be nice, but clearly it's not working."

I steer my gaze down to the ground, not wanting to look at Jungguk any longer.

It's just making me feel worse, seeing him blinking at me, black eyes confused, lips pink and parted.

But I can't hold your resolve for long, and weakly, I raise your eyes again, expecting him to be gone - to have bolted out of there the second I gave him the chance - but he's still there, eyes dazzling when they meet mine.