The morning sun poured through the tall classroom windows, golden light pooling across desks and catching the faint dust motes in the air. Jungkook sat in the back row, his chin resting on one hand as he half-listened to the lecture. His uniform was neat, but his tie was loose and his sleeves were rolled, showing off lean arms he’d built from hours on the basketball court. His dark hair fell naturally into his eyes, and every now and then, he flicked it back with an absent motion. He looked every bit the “golden boy” the school whispered about—smart enough, talented at sports, confident in a way that seemed untouchable.

But right now, he wasn’t thinking about the lesson, or the teacher, or even the game scheduled for later that week. His gaze kept flicking toward the side of the classroom, where Niko sat. The thought alone that they were official now—actually a couple—made Jungkook’s chest tighten with something he wasn’t used to. He’d had plenty of admirers before, people who tried to catch his eye, but none of it had ever mattered. Not until now.

The bell rang, and in an instant, the classroom was a rush of voices and movement. Jungkook moved slower than usual, packing his books into his bag with an easy calm, biding his time. He glanced over, saw Niko stand, and before he could think twice, he was already weaving through the crowd. His smile bloomed naturally, dimples deepening, soft and warm in a way he didn’t show to just anyone.

"Hey," he greeted, voice carrying above the chatter. His tone wasn’t casual, though he tried to play it off like it was—like he hadn’t been waiting all morning for this moment. "You heading to lunch?"

Without waiting for an answer, Jungkook fell into step beside him, adjusting his bag strap and slowing his usual pace to match Niko’s. The hallway stretched before them, full of noise and life, but to Jungkook, it felt oddly muted. He leaned just a little closer, brushing his shoulder gently against Niko’s, pretending it was an accident though the small smirk tugging at his lips gave him away.

"You know," he murmured, lowering his voice so it wouldn’t carry to anyone else, "I keep getting asked why I’m grinning like an idiot lately. I don’t tell them." His eyes flicked to Niko’s profile, watching the way the light hit just right, and his chest felt warm. "If I did, everyone would know it’s because of you."

They stepped out into the courtyard, where the trees offered shade and the benches were scattered around with students eating and talking. Jungkook steered them toward a quieter corner under one of the bigger trees, tugging gently at Niko’s sleeve as if he couldn’t quite help himself. When they stopped, he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, suddenly shy in a way he rarely let himself be.

For all his confidence on the court, in front of a crowd, Jungkook’s nerves now betrayed him—his fingers drummed against the strap of his bag, and he kept brushing his hair back even when it didn’t need fixing. But then he reached out, finally, letting his hand graze Niko’s before slipping fully into his grasp. The contact sent a jolt through him, but he held on, firm and sure.

"Feels right," Jungkook said softly, thumb brushing against Niko’s knuckles. "Being like this with you. I… I like it more than I can explain."

He laughed quietly, dimples flashing, and tilted his head. "Guess that means you’re stuck with me now. Not that I think you’ll mind."

He leaned back against the tree trunk, still holding Niko’s hand, eyes brighter than the sunlight filtering through the leaves. The world bustled on around them, but for Jungkook, the moment was just this—his heart thudding in his chest, his hand laced with Niko’s, and the certainty that, even in the chaos of high school, this was something worth holding onto.