During lunch break, you were talking to a boy from your class—Minjae.
He was nice, smart, and always asked you doubts because he knew you were topper.
Today, he kept talking nonstop.
"Y/n, explain this concept—please this time slowly—"
You were explaining patiently, showing him on his notebook.
Minjae leaned a bit closer to see the diagram.
That was when you noticed Jungkook standing near the window, looking inside the class.
He wasn't smiling.
He wasn't blinking.
He wasn't moving.
He was just staring at the two of you.
His jaw clenched.
Eyes narrowed slightly.
But when he saw you noticing him, he immediately looked away as if nothing happened.
You blinked.
Why was he watching?
Why did he look annoyed?
You continued explaining to Minjae:
"So basically, if demand increases—"
Jungkook suddenly walked inside the class.
Straight to your bench.
He didn't look at Minjae.
He looked only at you.
"Y/n," he said firmly, "teacher is calling you."
You frowned.
"Which teacher?"
He didn't blink.
"Maths ma'am."
"But she is not even in school today—"
"English ma'am then."
You raised an eyebrow.
"She is on leave too."
Jungkook stared at you.
Your eyes narrowed.
"Jungkook… are you lying?"
Minjae looked confused.
"Why would he lie?"
Jungkook replied instantly:
"Because she needs to come OUTSIDE. Now."
You crossed your arms.
"And why exactly?"
He didn't say anything.
He just stared at Minjae's face for a second… then looked away.
And you understood.
He was jealous.
But you didn't say it.
You simply stood up slowly and said:
"Fine. I'm coming."
You followed Jungkook outside.
As soon as you were out of Minjae's earshot, you stopped walking.
"Jungkook," you said quietly, "there is no teacher calling me."
He looked anywhere but at you.
"Yeah… I know."
You stared at him.
"So why did you pull me away?"
He shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Because he was annoying you."
You blinked.
"He was NOT annoying me. He was asking doubt."
Jungkook looked at you finally.
"He was sitting too close."
You stared at him with wide eyes.
"So? He needed to see the diagram—"
"He could see it from a distance," Jungkook said sharply.
You inhaled deeply.
"Why do YOU care?"
He opened his mouth… then closed it.
He didn't have an answer.
After break, the corridor was crowded.
Everyone was pushing and running because the bell rang.
You were trying to walk with your books in hand.
Someone bumped into you from behind—hard.
Your books almost fell.
You were about to lose balance.
Before you could react, a hand grabbed your wrist tightly and pulled you forward.
You bumped into someone's chest.
Jungkook's.
He held your wrist firmly, preventing you from falling backward.
You looked up—shocked.
He looked angry.
Not at you…
At the boy who knocked into you.
"Watch where you're going," Jungkook snapped at him.
The boy mumbled sorry and left quickly.
Jungkook still held your wrist.
You stared at his fingers around it.
He quickly let go, stepping back.
"You should walk carefully," he said stiffly.
You replied with a frown:
"You acted like I was about to fall off a mountain."
He avoided your eyes.
"You WOULD have fallen—your books were slipping."
You shook your head.
"You worry for no reason."
He muttered:
"Someone has to."
You stilled.
"What?"
Jungkook quickly changed the topic.
"You dropped one pencil. Take it."
He handed it to you without looking at your face.
When you went back inside, Sol Hee dragged you to the corner.
"Y/n!! Why was Jungkook holding your hand???"
You whispered angrily:
"He was NOT holding my hand. He saved me from falling."
Taesung joined in.
"He looked SO protective. His face was literally 'don't touch her' type."
You covered your face.
"Can you two STOP imagining things??"
But class already saw everything.
Someone shouted:
"RIVALS TURNING INTO BODYGUARD–NATION!"
Another teased:
"Jungkook has anger issues only when someone touches Y/n!"
You wanted to yell.
Jungkook heard all of it.
He didn't react.
He just sat down and opened his notebook calmly.
But you saw his ears turning slightly red.
After class, you walked out alone, annoyed by all the teasing.
Suddenly Jungkook appeared beside you.
"You walk fast," he said quietly.
You looked at him.
"Why did you do that in corridor? You scared the boy."
"He deserved it."
"He apologized."
"He still ran into you."
You sighed.
"Jungkook… you don't need to protect me."
He walked a few steps silently.
Then said:
"I know."
You looked at him.
"Then why do you?"
He didn't answer immediately.
He scratched the back of his neck and muttered:
"Because I just… do."
Your heartbeat skipped slightly.
You didn't reply.
He added softly:
"And I wasn't jealous."
You smirked.
"I never said you were."
He shot a sharp glance.
"You were THINKING it."
You laughed.
"You're overconfident."
He glared lightly.
"You're annoying."
You smiled.
"You too."
Both of you walked in silence…
But this silence felt different.
Not rivalry.
Not anger.
Just something new neither of you could explain.
Three days passed.
Things between you and Jungkook were… confusing.
Not enemies.
Not friends.
Something in-between.
Your friends noticed it.
His friends noticed it.
Only YOU pretended everything was normal.