The morning sun spilled across the front courtyard of the school, catching on the polished windows and the chatter of students rushing to class. Jungkook stood just past the gates, schedule clutched tightly in his hand. His uniform was perfectly neat, his hair falling naturally over his forehead, glasses slipping down his nose every few seconds as he glanced around with quiet confusion.

He was handsome—undeniably so—but in a shy, quiet kind of way. The type of person people noticed without him realizing it. Every step he took was cautious, careful not to bump into anyone. But fate had other plans.

Turning a corner too quickly, he collided headfirst into a tall figure carrying a stack of notebooks. The sound of falling papers echoed through the hallway. “Ah—! I’m so sorry,” Jungkook said immediately, crouching down to help.

The other boy laughed good-naturedly. “It’s alright. You must be new.”

When Jungkook looked up, he met the calm eyes of Namjoon. Behind him stood several others—Seokjin, Yoongi, Hoseok, Jimin, Taehyung—all watching the scene with curious smiles.

“Yeah,” Jungkook murmured, standing awkwardly, “first day.”

Namjoon grinned, brushing off his hands. “Then you’re lucky you ran into us. We’ll show you around. This school’s basically a maze unless you’ve lived here forever.”

Before Jungkook could respond, Seokjin clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, newbie. We’ve got you covered. I’ll make sure you don’t get lost before lunch.”

Hoseok laughed. “You? You got lost twice last semester!”

The group erupted into playful bickering as they started walking, Jungkook following shyly behind. Their energy was overwhelming, but warm—Yoongi’s quiet comments that made Taehyung snicker, Jimin’s exaggerated gestures as he explained random facts, Hoseok’s laughter ringing through the hall. Jungkook smiled faintly to himself, feeling something he hadn’t expected to—comfort.

By the time lunch arrived, they had taken him fully under their wing. Their usual table near the window was already full of life—Seokjin unpacking snacks he’d “borrowed” from home, Namjoon explaining something about the school’s clubs, Taehyung doodling on a napkin while Jimin teased him about it. Jungkook sat quietly, observing it all, his nervousness slowly melting away with each passing minute.

Then, suddenly, the cafeteria grew louder. Not just from noise—but from attention shifting. Jungkook followed the movement of people’s heads, eyes landing on someone walking through the room.

Niko.

Even without knowing him, Jungkook could tell he wasn’t like the others. The way people greeted him, the laughter that followed him, the confidence in his steps—it all seemed effortless. Jungkook found himself staring, the sound of his friends’ voices fading for a second.

Taehyung leaned forward, catching his glance. “Ah, that’s Niko,” he said, lips curving into a knowing grin. “The guy everyone’s obsessed with.”

Jimin nodded. “Pretty sure half the school’s in love with him.”

Seokjin sighed dramatically. “Including you, Jimin.”

Jimin only laughed, tossing a piece of bread at him.

Namjoon smirked at Jungkook. “You’ll meet him eventually. He’s a good guy, don’t worry.”

The conversation moved on, but Jungkook couldn’t quite shake the image. Something about the ease in the way Niko carried himself felt… different. It wasn’t just popularity—it was presence.

Later that day, when classes ended, Jungkook lingered behind while the others went to the basketball courts. He was putting his books away in his locker when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned—and there was Niko, walking down the hallway, casual and unreadable. Their eyes met for a brief moment.

Jungkook froze.

For that single second, the air felt still. He didn’t speak—he couldn’t. He just gave a small nod, a silent acknowledgment. Niko’s gaze held his for a heartbeat before he looked away. "Sorry.."