4 years ago;

Laughs and snickers filled the school hallways, flooded by many kinds of students. Everybody rejoicing as the lunch break finally came to a start, different kinds of expensive lunch boxes displayed everywhere.

Almost everyone has their own group— everyone has somebody but Jungkook. He was silent and had his head down, and unlike any freshmen, he was friendless, alone and lonely. His brother has already graduated high school and is already on college so that leaves him alone to wander and experience the cruel side of high school and the dark side of being an introvert and having no friends.

He was never fond of speaking, making it hard for him to make friends and even utter a small greeting to anybody. He was afraid— to be rejected, to be a bother. Seokjin was his only friend, aside from being his older brother. And being alone in the middle of the crowd without seokjin to guide him on what to do— Jungkook felt like dying.

Jungkook passed by each individuals, random conversations filling his ears as he gulps, reaching to enter the passcode of his locker. For some reasons, he feels suffocated and as fast as he can, he gathered his things and rushed to the only place he knows would give him comfort— the stairs. And thus starts his mission to avoid any forms of contact against everyone, ducking his head low as he gripped on both slings of his backpack.

It had always been his routine everyday. He would always try his best to avoid everyone and any chances to be noticed, eyes always locked on the floor. And everyday, he would go by the stairs to eat lunch, away from everybody, from the things that suffocates him.
It was located on the farthest back of the school, but Jungkook didn't mind, as long as he gets to be alone then so be it. It was like his safe haven, his small escape place.

It was then when a flash of red caught his eyes that he halted on his steps, frozen as he gulps. His heart started palpitating at the sight of someone sitting on his self claimed stairs. He felt like his heart was being ripped off of his chest as he gazed at the blue lunch box beside the red haired boy.

He hates blue.

The boy had his earphones plugged on both of his ears, head bobbling to the beat playing and his mouth mimicking the words of the song. His right foot was tapping along the music as he reaches to take a bite on his fried chicken from time to time. Jungkook gulped, not knowing what to do. Should he shove him away or should he just leave and look for another place?

The last one would definitely be better, he decided, turning to leave and search for an empty hallway or stairs to spend and eat his lunch on. He barely even took a step when a high pitched voice spoke,

"Stay," he said, catching Jungkook off guard. "You can stay."

Jungkook could feel his insides churn by the way the boy stared at him. It felt like he was looking pass through him, his gaze burning holes til the back of his mind like a lazer. It was horrifying yet at the same time, Jungkook found himself mesmerised. But knowing that it was the ever famous Park Jimin, he felt small.

He have heard a lot of things about the older. He was famous in both male and females, not only for his incredible visuals but as well as his talents. People admired him and would often gape at him wherever he goes. He was a walking masterpiece as what some would say, and Jungkook thinks that he indeed was. He was never close with the older, the closest thing he had been with him was that one time when he accidentally bumped him by the hallways to which Jimin only gave him a glance before turning around and walking away.

But despite being famous, Jimin remained alone and friendless. He was considered a loner. He isolates himself away from everybody, only speaking if necessary. Many have tried to befriend the red head but so far, none have made it through his thick walls, which is why Jungkook was surprised when the older asked him to stay.

"Staring is rude, ya'know." Jimin spoke, chewing on his chicken.

Jungkook felt his cheeks heat, suddenly finding his shoes far more interesting than anything as he looked down. "S-sorry," he managed to croak out.

"So are you just gonna stand there or what?" He looked up, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, taking small and slow steps forward. Jungkook could feel the fast beating of his heart, the quivering of his lips and the way his hands shook. He felt nervous, embarassed, shy and scared all together.

He wanted to speak and reject the older's offer to stay. Jungkook fought the urge to walk further but it was like his feet has a mind of its own and lead him even more closer to his undesired destination. Like a strong magnet pulling him towards the boy, a heat that somehow caused Jungkook to lose his shits.

He found himself sitting one seat apart the older. They were barely talking nor interacting but for some reasons, Jungkook couldn't help but feel all sorts of things in his stomach. May it be his lunch or may it be just park jimin himself, he didn't know.

Every stares and his every sighs, Jungkook was fully aware of all of that. He could feel the older's intense glances, trying his best to keep a straight face and just ignore the red head. But with every stares and with every glance, Jungkook could feel the burn of his skin, like a lazer boring wholes on his whole being. His heart beating faster than even before, making it hard for him to eat his lunch and ignore everything like what he intended to do.

The bell rang, disrupting the awkward silence formed for just a moment. Jungkook made no move to stand up nor collect his things, for it was the bell only for the class A seniors and Jimin just so happens to be one of them. But the relief in his chest vanished when the older made no move as well. He stayed still and silent, his back rested by the railings as he continues to bore wholes on Jungkook's side profile.

"T-the bell rang, hyung.." He said, embarassed.

"So?" was the older's only response, making him look up from his lunch to frown at the red head. He's the top of the class, sure the teachers wouldn't like him cutting class. It wouldn't be good for his grades and his record, specially for a senior like him. Jimin noticed the frown on his face, earning an eye roll from him. "What? You think I'm a goody two shoes?" he said blankly.

"N-no! I- you...you're a senior. Wouldn't it be bad for your record?" He stuttered, silently cursing himself for doing so.

"Do I look like I give a fuck?" Jimin raised a brow, making him gulp and look away, muttering a small sorry. The younger felt like mentally punching himself in the face for being such an idiot. He feels awful now. Jungkook was once again about to apologize and have made up his mind to leave when a heart felt laugh echoed through his ears, one that had his heart beating uncontrollably for how angelic it was. "I intimidate you, don't I?" he heard the older asks.

Jungkook could only direct his stare down the ground, hands frozen in place. "You're really cute," then he felt a pinch on his cheeks, eyes going wide as he flinched at the contact. Jimin on the other hand, was oblivious to the younger's discomfort and had the audacity to lean closer. "Jeon Jungkook, right?" he heard the senior asked.

He responded with a shy nod, hiding his face under his bangs which earned yet another hearty chuckle from the red head. "So cute." and for the first time, Jungkook managed to look up, only to be stuck in awe as he gazed at the most breathtaking sight. His eyes travelled down from the older's crescent eyes down to his nicely curved lips, and Jungkook may or may not have gaped too obvious for the red head to see and Jimin may or may not have smirked before he stood on his feet and went on his way.

It had been exactly five minutes since the senior left but Jungkook still sat by the end of the stairs, mouth agape with his eyes rooted on Jimin's now cold and empty place. Still, he couldn't believe his eyes, unable to distinguish whether he was just dreaming or was everything real, but either way, he feels a certain warmth forming in his chest. Maybe it was in the way Jimin's eyes sparkled in glee or how magnificent his smile just is— Jungkook couldn't find it in him to fathom.

And for the first time, he feels something.

love?

maybe, maybe not.