"What will you do when this is all over?" She questions him randomly.

"Sleep," he has the most serious expression on his face, knowing that they were only about a month away from finishing their final project, "... and you? I bet you'll still be busy doing a million things as you always do."

"Not that," she rolls her eyes, "... will you work for your parents? I mean, both your parents have businesses, which one will you choose? Or do you have your own ambition?"

"Hmm, probably my mother. Taking over my father's skincare clinic will mean I definitely need to go to college and well—that sounds boring. Plus, I've been attending functions with my mum and her side of the family for a while," he explains his logic, "... and you? I bet you already have colleges lining up for you."

She nods, "... I've already gotten conditional scholarships in SNU and UCLA."

"As expected from the class president," he simply smiles and nods, "... congratulations, I know it's not easy."

Park Chaeyoung doesn't want to be cliché, but something about him was different.

On one side, she saw a side to him that was playful and soft, especially when she watched as he interacted with his mother yet, on the other, undoubtedly, he was a man. There were a few instances where they'd go for dinner after studying, particularly on Tuesdays because Tuesday nights were date nights for his parents so the staff didn't usually prepare a big meal, and she cannot deny the fact that she felt attracted to him.

Such as the time where he would drive her back and where suddenly a car was driving reckless in front and he needed to break, he'd instinctively hold his hand out against her body to stop her from hitting the dashboard. Then there was the fact that Jeon Jungkook always paid, and perhaps it was because his family were relatively well off that he'd always been a step ahead—preparing a card to the cashier when she wasn't looking or what not.

He was a gentleman, she'll give him that.

Slowly, well—more like quickly, Park Chaeyoung fell for him.

So much so that when the pair pack up after another late night on their group work, she finds herself on her tiptoes as she ruffles through his hair, pushing it away from his face.

"You really should cut your hair, Jungkook," she tells him, partly thinking that it's such a shame that the word misses out on how truly attractive he was.

"Hmm, you're sounding like my mother," he jokes before leaning in and doing the same to hers, only that it ends up creating frizz on her long hair, "... and you look like Einstein."

Park Chaeyoung frowns and playfully pushes him, only that she underestimates his strength and somehow—their faces end up close, too close in that they're inches away from each other.

Her eyes slowly dim by instinct and she thinks that this is the moment, the moment where he'll take her first kiss.

But she's wrong, instead he pulls away and turns around, muttering, "... let me take you back, it's late."

She thinks she's a fool.

-

Jeon Jungkook has fucked up, when he watches as she quickly rushes inside her apartment, not bothering to turn and wave like she usually did.

It wasn't that he didn't want to kiss her, because God knows how badly he's waited for that moment, but as it happened, his brain and body just froze and when it finally unfroze, he turned around in disbelief, wondering whether he was hallucinating.

Stupid, stupid!

As he's in the car outside of her apartment, he calls her number only for it to go to voicemail and his texts remain unread.

He thinks he must've really lost the girl of his dreams, right there and then.

The next morning, he goes to school extra early to the surprise of everyone in his household. His mother jokes that perhaps he's planning on going somewhere with his crush, just as she often did when she was his age.

But to his disappointment, there is no response.

In fact, Park Chaeyoung doesn't even go to school that day, leaving her teachers to comment that it was the first time she'd ever taken a sick day.

Jeon Jungkook decides to skip class after first period, driving to the front of her apartment as he rings the door bell.

No answer.

He asks the security guard at front, who doesn't really seem to care.

"Oh, the blonde girl?" He finally acknowledges when he slips him a bill, "... she left this morning with a suitcase."

A suitcase?

When he rushes home, his mother cannot help but notice that something's wrong with her son.

"Are you guys not working on the project tonight?" She questions, already accustomed to her son's crush (and hopefully soon to be wife) joining them for dinner.

He explains the entire situation to her, despite how embarrassed he was.

"So you do like her..." His father chimes in, "... even though you kept insisting—"

"Not helping, dad," he snaps back before turning to his mother, "... I passed by her friends in class too and heard something about how they hadn't heard from her too. What if she's in danger?"

Mrs. Jeon sighs, "... honey, rejection is not an easy thing for anyone. Especially for strong and independent women— when you rejected that moment, especially for someone who's a high achiever like her, she probably felt embarrassed and just needs some time alone."

Suddenly, Mrs. Jeon leans in and pinches her husband's ears tightly, tugging on it, "... this is your fault, Jungkook is exactly like you! Super passive! You know, your father did the exact same thing to me when we met— what the hell is wrong with the Jeon boys huh? I didn't raise you to be like this!"

Even so, he doesn't know what to do.

"I know I screwed up mum, tell me how to make it right," he responds.

A lined, sympathetic smile spreads across her lips.

"I think you just need to let time take it's course, and make sure it doesn't happen. Tell her how you feel, damn it! Or else you both will really drift away, especially when you two graduate..." Mrs. Jeon lectures, "... let me ask my friend who's a pastor, maybe he can pray for you."

Jeon Jungkook doesn't know if he believes in God, but when she gets a text that night, he thinks that perhaps he should.

From: Chaeyoung

Hi, sorry... I just landed in Australia. It's a long story...

My father asked me to see him.

My birth father.