Chapter 8: The Week That Swallowed Me Whole
Jungkook's POV
I didn't plan to go to that party.
I didn't plan to watch her, either.
And I definitely didn't plan to feel what I did…when some guy grabbed her wrist and leaned too close to her ear.
But I did.
And I made him leave. Only to get told to mind my own business.
She was right.
And that's what I tried to do —All. Week. Long.
But the truth?
I couldn't.
Everywhere I turned, I saw her. In the empty chair beside Liam. In the way Grace laughed and leaned on him — like Wonie used to do with me when we were kids.
In the leaves falling in slow motion across the campus sidewalks. In the smell of strawberries from someone's smoothie. Even the echo of her laugh in my memories followed me around like a ghost.
I kept waiting to "bump into her." Take the same hallway. Accidentally run into her near the library. Maybe catch her walking out of the dorm.
But she was never there. Or maybe I was just always a little too late.
And the weirdest part?
It hurt.
More than it should have.
I didn't recognize her that night at the double date. Not right away.
But the second her hand reached out and she said,"Hi, I'm Wonie."Like we were strangers—
It shattered something in me I didn't even know I was protecting.
I didn't know she had changed so much.
I didn't know I had, too.
So tonight, I caved.
I got her number from Liam. (He asked why. I didn't answer.) I walked to her dorm. And I texted her.
"Look out of the window."
Wonie's POV – Present
There he was. Still standing there like a scene from a drama.
Still that same posture. Like he wasn't sure if he wanted to leave or run.
I pulled on a hoodie. Slipped on my sneakers. Didn't bother brushing my hair.
Jungkook's POV – Present
The dorm door opened. And there she was.
No makeup. Barefoot inside her shoes. Hair messy from a lazy bun. Eyes sleepy but sharp.
Still beautiful. Still her.
She walked up to me and crossed her arms.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey," I answered.
We started walking. No destination. Just the street lamps and the night.
"You didn't come to the game," she said first.
I looked sideways at her. "Didn't think I was invited."
"You were always invited". Her voice had a small smile in it.
I kicked at a loose stone on the path."Did you have fun?"
"Yeah. Until some guy wouldn't stop interrupting me. She glanced at me, teasing.
I smirked. "Sounds like he's got good instincts."
"Sounds like he's nosy."
We both laughed.
For once, it wasn't awkward.
"How's your major?" she asked.
"Insane. The lectures are brutal. But it's what I wanted."
"Still dreaming of making chicken rock music?"
"Still dreaming of writing lyrics for them?"
We smiled at the same time.
We didn't have to say it. That childhood dream still lived somewhere between us.
We talked about professors. And dorm food. And Liam and Grace (we both agreed: painfully cute, painfully fast). And how autumn in New York felt like walking inside a movie set.
It wasn't deep. It wasn't emotional.
But it was honest.
And for the first time in years…it felt safe to just talk.
We stopped walking in front of her dorm.
She looked up at the building. Then back at me.
"Thanks for the walk," she said, hands in her hoodie pockets.
"Thanks for coming down," I said.
Silence wrapped around us again — not awkward this time. Just... still.
She waved a little. "Goodnight, Kook."
And there it was again. That old nickname. My heartbeat tripped.
I smiled.
"Goodnight, Wonie."
She turned and went inside.
I stayed there a while. Looking up at her window again.
This time…it didn't feel so far away.