The word 'tired' doesn't even begin to describe the unbelievable pressure she felt, as though the weight of her entire world was sitting solely on her shoulders.

From a young age, she'd always leaned towards being more independent, learning that all things were possible with hard work and dedication. But Park Chaeyoung begins to wonder whether she bit off more than she could chew, especially so when functioning on 3 hours of sleep becomes the new normal for her, not having much time outside of extracurriculars cheerleading, study, her mandatory tutoring program and living alone.

The pressure begins to mount and get to her by her final year of high school, as the pressure of maintaining her perfect grade keeps ringing in the back of her ears, as her teachers remind her that universities will be making offers soon, expecting a full ride for her.

And God, she is just deathly tired.

Day by day, the façade was getting more difficult to maintain.

As the newly elected student council president, she found herself running around the school between classes more often, preparing hard for the new autumn festival. She'd stayed up all night going through the proposal and working on the posters in her studio apartment, so much that she missed her alarm and that for the first time in seventeen years of living, she'd came late to class.

12 minutes to be exact.

When she enters the classroom, her teacher calls out her name.

"Chaeyoung, you're late," she pushes her glasses push the bridge of her nose, "... I expected more from you."

She wants to sigh and yell, but hold herself from doing so, instead bowing her head down low and apologising, "... I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

Park Chaeyoung feels humiliated, and she wonders whether she's being overly emotional.

"We've already made partners for the final project," the teacher announces, "... who doesn't have a partner yet?"

Park Chaeyoung slowly looks up, seeing all of her friends giving her a sympathetic smile. It's silent for a few minutes before someone raises their hand from the side of the classroom.

"That's settled then, Chaeyoung you'll be with Jungkook. Don't be late to my class again."

She turns to look at the boy, tattooed arms peeking through his black t-shirt, hair falling to the sides of her face.

Jeon Jungkook.

Oh God, it's going to be a long year ahead...

The only time she'd ever encountered him her entire life (which says a lot) was because he was missing school for a week straight with no news.

She thinks that her group project, may end up being an individual one.

-

When the class ends, Park Chaeyoung's friends quickly rush to her hugging her.

"Are you okay?" Jennie Kim gives a slight pout on her lips, "... maybe we can ask if you can join in a group of three with us!"

"Out of all people to get stuck with Jeon Jungkook," Lalisa Manoban comments, "... he's lucky you'll probably end up carrying him this project."

"I heard he never even submits anything," Jisoo Kim comments.

Park Chaeyoung gives a tired smile, nodding, "... it's okay, it's my fault anyway—I missed my alarm."

"Since when? You're usually the first one in class," Lalisa Manoban asks.

For a minute she considers venting out her frustrations about her student council duties, but decides it'll be unfruitful. She gives a tired nod.

Just as she was about speak, she feels a tap on her shoulder.

It was Park Jimin, "... Chaeyoung, do you know who you're going to go to prom with at the end of the year?"

She can see the way her friends gasp and smile at one another from the side, obviously excited at the connotations. They'd been talking about how important it was for her to get a "good date" for prom, so that she could be prom queen.

It's not that she doesn't like him, but certainly not in that way. Prom is the last thing on her mind.

"Oh, no," she give a soft chuckle, a tinge of discomfort as she smiles at him, "... I haven't thought that far ahead."

Park Jimin smiles, "... well, I better start working on my prom-posal, then. I'll see you in the next class."

When he leaves, the other girls gasp and cheer.

"Chaeyoung! He was totally flirting with you!" Jisoo Kim playfully hits her on the side of her arm, "... you're so lucky!"

"Honestly, not surprised... prom is still ten months away but everyones already asking our Chaeyoungie, she's so popular," Jennie Kim comments, "... make sure you save some dates for us."

Park Chaeyoung rolls her eyes at them, "... come on, don't say that. I also don't even know if I'm going to go to prom."

"What?!" Lalisa Manoban gasps, "... how could the student president not come? Besides, the crown is obviously yours."

Park Chaeyoung sighs.

This was exactly why she didn't want to, on top of the fact that dresses were so expensive and she needed to save up as much as she could already.

"We'll see," she tries to end the conversation, "... I need to go to the administration office before class to sort out some things for the festival, but I'll see you in chemistry?"

Jisoo Kim nods, "... we'll save you a seat, don't be late."

As she quickly dismisses herself, she rushes out the door to see Jeon Jungkook, clad in full black leans against the wall beside the door. He holds his hand out to her, pulling her towards him which causes her to gasp in surprise.

"Oh, Jungkook," she gives him a smile.

"Our group project," he comments, "... do you want to brainstorm?"

Her eyes widen in surprise, before she finally realises she hadn't responded.

"Oh, yes—when is good for you? I have student council meeting all afternoon though so I'm only free at night," she informs him apologetically, "... would that be possible?"

He nods, "... that's fine, I'll wait for you in the library then."

"It might be a little late, usually the meeting goes overtime," she warns him, "... so if you want to go home first it's okay too."

"It's fine," he responds before taking out his phone, "... put your number, you can text me when you're done."

-

The meeting finishes at 8pm, and Park Chaeyoung runs to the library, feeling bad at the fact that her partner had waited for so long. She almost laughs when she spots him, sitting alone on the corner of one of the tables, intently staring at his phone.

When she reaches him, she realises he's playing a game.

Clearly her throat, he looks up in surprise at her.

"I'm sorry did you wait long?" She asks him.

He shakes his head, putting his phone away, "... not at all."

"Seems as though you were busy doing work," she jokes, putting her bag down and sitting beside him.

He smiles.

The first time she'd ever seen him do so.

She wonders why her chest tightens at the sight.

"Are you okay?" He notices her staring.

She quickly turns her attention to her bag, taking out her books.

Fifteen minutes pass and she cannot hear herself think, due to the loudness of the people in the library who were discussing group work or just gossiping.

"It's quite loud to concentrate," he comments absently, "... I can barely hear you."

"I can barely hear myself thinking," she comments apologetically, "... sorry."

"It's not your fault," he comments, "... do you want to go to a café or something? We can get food too."

She wonders whether they should, but remembers the fact that she won't get her stipend from the scholarship program for another week.

"I, uh—it might be loud with people," she makes up an excuse.

"That's true," he shrugs, "... do you want to go to my house? Don't worry, my parents are home... I won't murder you or anything."

-

Park Chaeyoung shares her live location to the group chat when she excuses herself to the bathroom before they head to his house.

As much as she'd like to believe that her university vetted the students beforehand, she's read too many stories about people being abducted and well, to be frank, Jeon Jungkook was certainly not the epitome of an angel.

He's waiting for her outside of the library, texting on his phone.

"My driver's on the way," he tells her, "... Did you bring your car today?"

Park Chaeyoung shakes her head, somewhat embarrassed when she responds, "... I usually just take the bus."

He pauses before nodding, "... I can take you home then after, it's already quite late anyway."

"Oh no, it's okay!" She quickly tells him, "... I can order a car or taxi."

Before he could reply, a black Mercedes stops in front of them, the driver getting out before opening the door for them.

"Mr. Jeon," the man nods.

Jeon Jungkook, motions for her to go inside first before he rushes to the other side and sitting on the other side.

She feels out of place.

"Just a warning, my mother can be a bit much," he tells her as they begin driving, "... don't tell too pressured she just gets excited when we have guests over."

But excited was an understatement.

Park Chaeyoung's mouth drops open when the car stops in what she feels is a mansion straight out of a movie, as the pair are greeted by maids upon entry.

She feels out of place as she follows behind him, as he walks casually through the kitchen and finds his mother.

"Mom, this is Chaeyoung, we're doing a group project today," he informs her.

The older woman turns, hair perfectly voluminous and down to her chest.

She looked young, despite the slight wrinkles on the side of her eyes.

"Oh, Chaeyoung it's nice to meet you, you're so pretty," she holds her hand out, "... Jungkook never brings his friends over. Have you eaten?"

"Sorry to intrude Mrs. Jeon," she returns the hand gesture before smiling, "... I've already eaten."

"She's lying," Jeon Jungkook adds, "... she's being in a meeting all afternoon. I'm hungry too."

Park Chaeyoung's face goes completely red.

"Oh Chaeyoung, don't be shy. Make yourself at home. Come and eat first then, Jungkook's dad is coming home late so I don't want to eat alone either," she smiles before turning to the maid, "... can you prepare one more set of cutlery, Jungkook's friend will be joining us for dinner."

The maid quickly rushes off before his mother turns to him, "... put your bags down in the study room and then come meet us back in the dining room. And will you please for God's sake not put your hair out like that, you probably scare everyone—"

"Mom..." Jeon Jungkook comments before turning to her, "... let's put out things down first."

He carefully holds her by the elbow as they walk upstairs to the "study room" as they begin unloading their things. She can't help but look around in awe, seeing all the books on the book shelf, almost as though it were a library of its own. His study room was bigger than her studio.

"Sorry about my mother, she gets too excited because I never have friends over," he apologises, "... just ignore her."

"She's sweet," she smiles, "... she's really pretty and young too."

"Please don't say that, you'll boost her ego even more," he comments before running his tattooed fingers through his hair and tying his hair into a manbun as his mother requested, "... she does a lot of facial treatments, my father owns a skin clinic."

Only then did she realise, how attractive he was.

Sharp cheekbones.

Bright eyes.

Clear skin.

He turns, looking at her in confusion, "... you okay?"

"Y-yeah," she internally slaps herself for being so obvious!

-

Jeon Jungkook regrets inviting her to his home, when the dinner is closer to an interrogation.

"So Chaeyoung, do you have a boyfriend?" His mother asks, a bright smile on her face.

He chokes on his food.

"Mom!" He furrows his brows.

She raises her shoulders, "... what? It's a genuine question."

"You don't have to answer that," he turns to her.

"Ah, I guess you're taken then. It's no surprise, you're such a beautiful girl—ah, I hope Jungkook can find a girl as pretty and sweet as you," she comments.

"Mom, you're embarrassing me, stop," he turns and glares at her, "... let the poor girl eat, you're talking too much she's barely touched the food."

Park Chaeyoung giggles, a smile at her mother, "... it's okay, actually—I like it. My mother died before I came to Korea, so it's quite nice to be able to spend time like this. I'm still single too, I just need to focus on my studies for now."

Jeon Jungkook turns, confused.

Somehow, he wouldn't expect such a revelation.

"Chaeyoung you're always welcomed in our house. Anytime. Even if it's not with Jungkook," she tells her, "... I've always wanted a daughter. Can you imagine my disappointment when the doctor told me that Jungk—"

"Mom!"

He swears, he'll never let her come over again.

-

The rest of the night goes relatively well, mainly because after dinner, he bans his mother from entering the study room (though it didn't stop her from coming in unannounced with snacks and drinks). By 11pm, she'd fallen asleep on the desk when he'd excused himself to use the bathroom.

By the time he was back, she's awoke by the sound of the door opening.

"Do you want to go back home? You seem tired, we can do the rest another time," he tells her.

She nods, looking down to see that she drooled on the table. Horrified she wipes the drool with her arm.

"I'll take you home then," he confirms, "... you can get packed up, I'll let mom know I'm going out."

She waits until he's gone to take out her phone, seeing a million texts from the group.

The Girls Group Chat.

Jisoo:

Chaeyoung are you alive?

Lisa:

Chaeyoung text us we're worried! You haven't updated us in hours.

Jennie:

It's already 11pm I'm calling the police if you don't reply by midnight.

Lisa:

Don't tell me he's murdering you.

Jisoo:

That's it, I'm calling the police.

She quickly panics, reaching for her phone and sending a text back.

Chaeyoung:

Sorry, I had dinner with his mom.

Chaeyoung:

Heading home now

Closing her phone and putting it in her bag, she knows the girls will have many questions. She'll have to explain it all in the morning.

A few minutes pass and he remerges, with his mother.

"Oh Mrs. Jeon, I'll be heading back now. So sorry to disturb you and thank you for dinn—"

"Chaeyoung, it's raining quite hard and the drivers have already gone home, and it's also very late, and I don't trust this brat driving in these conditions," she comments, "... do you want to sleep over? You can use the guest room and we can wash your uniform and dry it tonight. You can go to school with Jungkook tomorrow in the morning."

As much as she hates to admit it, it was the best sleep of her life.