After class, people gathered around your bench.
One girl giggled:
"You two fight like Tom and Jerry!"
Another said:
"You guys are like rivals!"
A boy added:
"Enemies-to-allies type vibe!"
You and Jungkook answered at the same time:
"WE ARE NOT ENEMIES!"
Then glared at each other again.
You grabbed your books and stood up.
"Forget it. I don't want to argue anymore."
Jungkook stood too.
"Same."
Both of you walked in opposite directions…
…but both of you looked back at the same time and saw each other looking away.
And everyone watching whispered:
"They act like enemies… but the tension between them is CRAAAAZY."
The morning started as usual—class noise, laughter, backpacks thrown carelessly.
But the moment teacher stepped in, silence fell like a blanket.
She looked straight at you and Jungkook.
"Y/n. Jungkook. Stand up."
You both rose immediately, confused.
Teacher continued:
"I heard your argument yesterday. You both complain about each other nonstop. So… NEW RULE — you will sit together for the entire week."
The class gasped.
Someone whispered loudly:
"Class will explode today."
Another laughed:
"Two rivals on one bench? God save us."
You looked at Jungkook with wide eyes.
He looked at you like,
"I didn't sign up for this."
Teacher pointed to the front bench.
"Sit here. Together. Now."
You grabbed your books and moved first. Jungkook followed silently.
You both sat down stiffly—half an inch apart, like there was an invisible wall.
THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF SITTING TOGETHER
You opened your notebook.
Jungkook opened his.
Both of you wrote the date at the exact same time.
You glanced at him.
He glanced at you.
Both looked away quickly.
Your friend from behind whispered:
"Y/n… I swear… I thought today the bench will break."
You whispered back:
"No one is breaking anything."
Jungkook heard and muttered:
"The bench will break if you talk nonstop."
You turned slowly and glared.
"I wasn't talking to you."
He shrugged.
"I wasn't talking to you either."
Teacher looked at both of you and narrowed her eyes.
You immediately faced forward and began writing again.
WHEN HE HELPS YOU UNEXPECTEDLY
Teacher wrote a long equation on the board.
You blinked at it.
It didn't make sense for a moment.
You tried solving but couldn't see one step clearly.
You leaned forward, squinting.
Jungkook noticed.
He murmured, without looking at you:
"Move your notebook a bit. You're doing step three wrong."
You looked at him surprised.
"I didn't ask you."
He replied calmly:
"You didn't have to. I saw your expression."
You blinked again.
"I didn't have any expression."
He smirked slightly.
"You always make that confused face when you don't understand a step."
You turned to him, offended.
"I do NOT make a confused face."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Then what is this face right now?"
You slapped your notebook shut lightly.
"Stop looking at my face and mind your own work."
He pushed his notebook slightly toward you.
"I'm helping you."
"I didn't ask."
"You needed it."
You stared at him…
He stared back…
Your heartbeat did something weird for half a second.
You quickly looked away and continued writing.
He watched you for a moment, then quietly said:
"You're welcome."
You didn't reply, but you heard it.
CLASS REACTION
Your friend poked you from behind.
"Y/n… DID HE JUST HELP YOU?"
You whispered back:
"No. He just thinks he knows everything."
Jungkook heard again and muttered:
"At least I don't pretend."
You turned.
"I don't pretend!"
He raised his hands.
"Okay okay…"
Your friend whispered:
"Why do you both talk like this? Are you rivals or siblings?"
You both said at the same time:
"NONE!"
Class cracked up laughing.
Teacher glared.
Everyone went silent again.
LUNCH BREAK – YOU FIND HIM UPSET
During lunch, you sat with your girl group as always.
You were laughing, eating, gossiping.
You looked up and noticed Jungkook sitting alone at his bench.
He wasn't eating.
He wasn't talking to his boy group.
He was just scrolling his pen on his table… slowly.
His shoulders were slightly down.
His eyes were unfocused.
Taesung came and sat beside you.
"Y/n, don't say anything to him today."
You frowned.
"What happened to him?"
Taesung sighed.
"He's not okay. Something happened at home in the morning."
Your eyes softened slightly.
"What happened?"
Taesung shook his head.
"He didn't tell us. He just said 'I don't want to talk.'"
You looked again.
Jungkook now had his head down on the desk, pretending to sleep but clearly not sleeping.
For the first time ever, you saw him not arguing… not smirking… not competing.
Just quiet.
Sad.
And strangely… it bothered you.
THE MOMENT YOU APPROACH HIM (QUIETLY)
When lunch ended and everyone left the room, you walked slowly toward his desk.
He didn't lift his head.
You stood there for a moment before saying softly:
"Are you okay?"
He didn't look up.
"Why are you asking?"
You swallowed.
"You look… upset."
He lifted his eyes slightly but didn't raise his head.
"You don't need to worry about me."
His voice was low, rough, different.
You sat beside him without thinking.
"I'm not worried. I'm just asking."
He gave a tiny humourless smile.
"Then don't ask."
You frowned.
"You're being rude again."
"I'm being honest."
You stared at him for a second.
He finally sat up slowly and looked at you properly.
His eyes were tired.
"I don't want to argue with you today, Y/n."
Your heartbeat stopped for a moment.
He had never said your name so softly before.
You looked away quickly.
"Well… good. Because I don't want to argue either."
A few seconds of silence passed.
Then Jungkook whispered:
"Thanks… for asking."
You blinked.
He rarely thanked anyone.
You stood up, trying not to show your surprise.
"Whatever. It's not a big thing."
But when you walked back to your seat, your friends noticed something different in your expression.
Sol Hee whispered:
"Y/n… your face looks weird. Did something happen?"
You shook your head.
"No. Nothing."
But in your mind…
Jungkook's sad eyes stayed.
LAST PERIOD – THE UNEXPECTED SMILE
During the last period, teacher returned tests.
When Jungkook got his paper, he looked at it without reacting.
You nudged him lightly.
"Your marks are good."
He looked at you, surprised.
"You actually looked at my marks?"
You shrugged casually.
"I was just checking if you did better than me."
He smirked slightly.
"And?"
"You didn't."
He chuckled—quiet but genuine.
"Of course."
You turned away trying not to smile.
He whispered:
"You still didn't tell me why you asked if I was okay."
You took a deep breath.
"Because… even rivals have eyes."
He smiled fully this time.
"We're not rivals."
You raised an eyebrow.
"Then what are we?"
He looked away and packed his bag.
"I don't know."
But his expression said he wanted to know.
The next few days after the punishment seat were strangely quiet between you and Jungkook.
Not awkward…
Not friendly…
Just quiet.
A kind of silence that everyone in class noticed.
Sol Hee kept whispering:
"Y/n… why is Jungkook not fighting with you today?"
Taesung added:
"Yeah… it feels like the class is missing sound effects."
You rolled your eyes.
"Both of you are dramatic. Nothing is happening."
But deep inside, something HAD changed.
Ever since you saw him upset that day, your attitude softened slightly.
And ever since you asked if he was okay…
Jungkook's eyes followed you more silently than before.