The hallway felt different whenever Niko walked through it—like the air tightened, conversations dropped, and every student automatically stepped out of his way. Wealth whispered from every part of him: the tailored uniform jacket, the expensive watch he never looked at, the clean dark shoes that somehow never collected dust on the floors everyone else trudged through.

But even more than the money, it was the silence. Niko never spoke. Not once. Not to teachers. Not to classmates. Not to anyone.

Rumors filled the silence for him—his family owned half the city; he’d been expelled from three schools before this one; he’d fought a teacher once; he was adopted; his parents hated him; he hated everyone; he had a genius IQ; he couldn’t read; he was dangerous; he was depressed; he was planning something. Every week, a new rumor. He never corrected a single one.

And that was exactly why Jungkook couldn’t stop staring.

It started in class. Niko sat in the far corner next to the window, headphones on even though the teacher constantly told him to take them off. He never did. His eyes never left the notebook in front of him, though no one ever saw him write anything. His posture was perfect, still, cold—like he existed in a different climate than everyone else.

Jungkook, meanwhile, was sunshine compared to him. Popular, loud enough but not annoyingly so, always smiling, always surrounded by people. He wasn’t rich, not at all, but he dressed well, played sports, and teachers surprisingly liked him. There was something naturally easy about him. Except today. Today his eyes kept drifting to that quiet corner.

When the bell rang and everyone shot up, Jungkook made a decision—an impulsive one, the kind he usually didn’t bother thinking through.

He slipped out of his seat and walked straight toward the cold boy by the window.

Niko packed in silence, movements sharp and efficient, like he’d practiced ignoring the world for years. Jungkook stood in front of his desk, hands in pockets, pretending he wasn’t nervous.

He waited until Niko finally lifted his eyes, and for the first time Jungkook understood why the whole school whispered about him. His stare was freezing—emotionless, unreadable, like he was evaluating Jungkook and finding him barely worth a glance.

Jungkook still smiled.

“Hey,” he said quietly, not wanting anyone else to overhear. “You probably don’t care, but… I kinda wanted to meet you.”

That earned nothing—not a blink, not a flinch. Niko’s expression didn’t move an inch.

Jungkook leaned a bit closer, lowering his voice with a playful lilt. “You’re way more interesting than the rumors, you know.”

Niko slid his bag over his shoulder without acknowledging him. Cold. Perfectly cold.

But Jungkook didn’t move away.

“I’m Jungkook,” he added, still smiling. “Thought I’d say it, since no one else has the guts to talk to you.”

When Jungkook stepped aside to let him pass, Niko walked by without a word… but Jungkook swore—swore—that he saw the smallest hesitation in those calm steps. A pause. Barely a fraction of a second, but real.

And that was all Jungkook needed.

Because Jungkook wasn’t just curious anymore. He was determined.

After school, he found Niko again—outside at the bike racks, standing with that same lonely stillness, staring at something only he could see.

Jungkook approached slowly.

“You know,” he said, leaning against the rack, “if you keep ignoring me, I’m just gonna talk even more.”

Still no response. Still that icy aura. But Jungkook laughed softly anyway.

“You’re not as untouchable as you think.”

He waited, letting silence hang thick between them.

Wind tugged at Niko’s hair; the setting sun lined his profile in gold. He looked unreal, like he didn’t belong in this gray school at all.

Jungkook tilted his head.

“I’m gonna figure you out,” he said with a small, confident smirk. “Even if you never say a single word to me.”