paper planes | jjk

02

It had been a week since the tutor session.

My knees bounced anxiously, I sat at my seat waiting for the bell that signalled the end of school to go. My stomach churned, anxiety settling into the pit of it like 30 pounds of sand, I was also waiting to get my test results back from the exam I had been studying with Jungkook for. I had to collect them from my teacher at her office.

This exchange was arranged by my parents, whom were left understandably disappointed by my previous results. Tired of hearing their friends remarks about their straight A daughters, and Olympic gymnast sons, my mom decided to hire her closest friends son as a tutor.

Jungkook was popular, however he ignored attention from girls, and I never saw him at any parties or anything like that, which I admit was strange for someone who had as many friends as he did.

My hand rubbed over my jeans, as I tried to focus on anything but my results. Looking outside, I noticed a glistening flake of snow trail down the window.

the first snow. My heart jumped.

I remember Jungkook rambling about the first snow, and how it means good omens if you happen to catch the first snowflake before the entirety of it all.

Besides this nonsense. Every year someone in the senior year hosts a Bonfire on the day of the first snow, to celebrate the coming of exam season, and to wish everyone luck. The entirety of the the senior class goes, it's not the sort of thing you need to be invited to.

My chest calmed and my palms grew less sweaty. Maybe I won't fail after all. It's a good omen right? I looked around and everyone was gasping at the snow, conversation about the Bonfire was leaping around from mouth to mouth.

I took my time walking through the cold air home, letting it warm itself in my chest as I inhaled. My fingers could no longer feel the envelope that held my results in it.

I hope these don't have to be chopped off . I laughed to myself, stretching them in and out to create some sort of blood flow throughout my hands.

I look up and notice I'm outside my house, pausing I say fake goodbyes to the street as if it's the last time I'll see them.

Now or never. I say, walking past the wooden gate at the front of my house.

As soon as I stepped into the foyer, the smell of hot soup enveloped my senses and forced my mouth to water. I hear laughs coming from the kitchen.

Taking off my scarf and hanging it as well as my jacket. I head straight to the beacon of light, laughs and hot food.

"Freya, you're home!" My mother beamed whilst stirring the hotpot.

I cautiously slipped my grades onto the counter, noticing an extra set of eyes on me, other than mom and dads.

Looking to my left, Jungkook was sitting at the far side of the countertop. With his mom, beaming at me from his right. Both of them noticing the report I slid onto the counter.

Jungkooks eyes held a look of worry within them, but it quickly changed after a few seconds of eye contact. I noticed we'd been staring at each other too long, we both looked away, him focusing on his soup and I on my parents.

"I haven't opened it yet, I think my fingers froze." I joked, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

"I'm sure you did great, knowing my little Jungkook helped, makes me optimistic." His mom beamed. Jungkook and I gulped. If I failed, we were both in shit.

My dad jokingly held it by two fingers, as if it would combust in his very hands. Taking a seat and putting my hand in my hands, I waited the words. "C-"

"B+!" My mother said eagerly, tender in her voice. My shoulders instantly relaxed

so much better.

Both Jungkook and I were visually pleased, I slumped in my chair, feeling proud whilst my mom sat down the hotpot onto the table.

Food instantly changed everyone's agenda about grades, to finding a seat.

I wound up next to Jungkook, both of us eating quietly, whilst his mother paraded about his achievements to my parents, it felt like we were in our own little bubble, tucked miles away from reality.

"Sorry about her." He said whilst dropping noodles into his bowl.

I shook my head and laughed. "Plans for tonight?" I asked, turning my head with my checks full of food.

"Nothing, studying." He said sounding a bit unimpressed with his answer. He shoved more food into his mouth.

I nodded quietly and swallowed. "Can Jungkook and I go to the student lounge to study for next weeks pop quiz?" I interrupted the adults conversation, earning their attention as if they forgot Jungkook and I existed.

They were so engrossed in their conversation Jungkook and I may as well have not even been there at this point.

I looked between the two moms, knowing dad had no say. If mom said yes, it was a yes.

"I don't see why not..." mom replied, looking at Jungkooks mom for approval.

She eyed us, looking between the two, she swallowed the soup in her mouth. "Be back by 11." That's all I needed to hear before I was eagerly slurping the contents of my bowl, and dragging jungkook upstairs with me.

"Why are we going to the student lounge on a Wednesday, when it's snowing outside." Jungkook questioned, watching me throw winter coats onto my bed.

He stood against the door frame with his arms crossed.

Pushing all my coat hangers back, I finally found the specific black coat I was looking for, and slipped it on and weaved past him, into the hallway.

"We're not." I said with a cheeky smile on my face. He looked confused, like a lost puppy...it was kind of cute.

"Ever heard of the First Snow Bonfire?" I grabbed his sleeve and started running down the stairs, back to the kitchen.

"Back by 11, no later." I said quickly, kissing moms cheeks, obviously eager to get out of the house. We were out so quick I think my dad yelled something but I didn't hear any of it.

Slipping out into the cold, Jungkook right behind me, the air instantly felt a lot warmer despite the snow, compared to walking home earlier alone.