Chapter Text
“It’s okay, baby,” Jungkook continues to coddle you into his lap, caressing your hair while you sniffle into the crook of his neck. “You’re the smartest person I know."
Somehow, hearing that made your sobs even worse. It’s overdramatic, and you would probably be ashamed of yourself when you remember this in the morning.
Jungkook notices it and starts rubbing your back, even going as far as rocking you both on the bed, tightening his other arm around your waist. He peers down at you and kisses the crown of your head. "Remember that time when the team you lead won best research in the regional competition. You were so cool, baby.”
That makes you frown. It was a nice memory but somehow, it makes you deflate. How could you win a big competition outside but fail a school project?
You sigh on his neck, and ever so slowly, you looked up at him. “I had more than five breakdowns during those times.”
Jungkook leans down to peck your lips. It tasted a bit salty because of the tears on your face and maybe it was wrong to think like it especially when you’re genuinely upset, but you still looked really pretty even though your face was red, eyes puffy from crying. Jungkook still doesn’t get how he gets to have you like this. All vulnerable and his. Well of course, you’re yours. But at times like this, he appreciates that you’re comfortable with showing this side that you don’t ever let anyone find out about you. He’s glad to know you trust him enough like this that you allow him to comfort you.
“Hm. I would really love to hear you talk about forest and chemistry again, though."
"It was forensic chemistry."
He knows it was. He just couldn’t miss the opportunity to see your lips tilt in a gorgeous smile. Something that has been missing the whole day, something he’s been seeking for since 5pm when he picked you up at the school’s library. It brings a grin to his face.
"Was it?” His other hand from your head descends so that both of his arms are around you now, pulling you closer to him. “Sorry. You know I can’t focus when pretty girls talk to me. Especially when they’re smart."
Despite your heavy heart still not weighing down, his comment makes you let out a poorly covered snort. You roll your eyes at him in a playful manner, heartbeat going stupid.
"Shut up."
He arches a brow. "You don’t like it when I call you my pretty girl?”
You do, hence the blood rushing to your cheeks after he mentioned it. It doesn’t escape his observation and with that he continues to tease more.
“Well, what about – my smart girl?” You slap his chest but he doesn’t even flinch. Just holds your wrist, put it down on your lap and press a kiss on your lips once again. “You’re perfect, baby. I’m proud of you. Everything you do."
This time, gone was the playful glint in his eyes and the teasing smile on his face. His gaze was sincere now, soft and delicate, like he wants you to really believe his every word. And you do. You’ve reached this far, surpassing the long years of self-doubt in your teen years. Of course it was thanks to you and the people who supported you along the way, but when Jungkook came into your life, all sweaty and gross and dirty from the field but all smiles and warm presence one day in your second year of college, it’s like everything started to feel so much better. You’ve built yourself from the ground up, but you’re still learning. You just can’t help this feeling of frustration sometimes when things don’t go your way, making you doubt yourself, but you’re glad there’s someone who always reminds you how great you are. Even though sometimes it’s hard to actually own up to it.
You’re more than grateful, though.
"I love you.” You whisper that against his lips and he beams once again, like an angel. Or like Bambi with his eyes that are so full of stars sometimes you genuinely wonder if they have stars in them. Surely, they must. They’re just so sparkly and full of life. You love him. Very much.
“Love you more, my perfect girl."
And he kisses away your sadness, pulls you impossibly tight to him and makes your heart flutter the special ways he knows how. He loves being able to hold you and feel you pliant against him, loves it when you respond to his love so willingly he couldn’t keep it in his heart to just… tell and show you how much he feels for you every chance he gets.
"I love you so much, baby. Please don’t cry again. I hate seeing you cry.” When you look up at him, he corrects himself. “Of course you can cry–just. Don't do it alone. Tell me when you’re upset, okay? Wanna be there for you.” He pecks your mouth for a solid momentum.
Your lips part but he keeps his forehead pressed to yours. This time, you’re the one who catches his lips. You sigh against his mouth.
“I’m sorry for crying to you about a project grade."
When you put it like that, it sure does sound silly. You know it’s not a big deal… Well, it shouldn’t be. But you have your own standards for yourself and today’s announcement of your grades on a project you worked on last week was released. Obviously, you didn’t like what you got.
"Don’t be sorry, babe. I get upset when I lose in my games, too. We’re just the same in different ways,” You smile when he says that. Jungkook often says these self-deprecating jokes but he’s actually a brilliant guy. You hope he sees it soon and starts to channel his positive energy in himself. “But hey, you still passed that project. A C won’t do anything, I promise."
You let out a deep breath. "Well, barely. I passed by, like, 2%. That’s so close from failing."
"But you didn’t. Come on, I read your project and it was the best. Fuck Mr. Cha."
You laugh at that.
“See? So much prettier when you laugh. Come here, let’s lay down. Wanna hold my pretty girl.” Jungkook gently coaxes you into the mattress, with you still on his lap.
He plops down, and you roll yourself over to his side, where his arm is laid out for you to rest your head on. You bury your face under his armpit, one arm draped over his waist. Jungkook hums, turning to you with a smile on his face. “You okay now?"
You don’t wanna be cliche or anything like that, but you’re starting to feel better now than you did before. It’s probably because you finally let out your emotions, and to the person you adore the most, who welcomed you warmly. You might feel bad again tomorrow when you think about the C grade and how it might affect your GPA in the end of the semester, but you think about now and the comforting presence of your boyfriend. It’s nice. Your heart is not as gloomy as it was five hours ago.
"Hm. Just…” you trail off, removing your face from his armpit. You stare up at him, and there’s a jut on your lips when you resume speaking. “He didn’t even give me atleast a C+. He’s so annoying."
Jungkook’s hand comes up to swipe at the dried tears on your cheek. He wants to say it’s just a project, a grade—something that definitely does not define you or how much you work hard. Because it’s true. You work harder than anybody he knows. Always pushing yourself to be the best in whatever you do… always trying to be excellent as much as you can. And a simple A, B, C do no justice to that.
But he knows your perspectives on these things, and as he says, you have your differences. Sure, grades are important and he too is trying to keep a decent GPA to graduate smoothly, but would he cry over a C? No. But that doesn’t mean he could shame someone–or you, in this case, for doing that. You’re just… very hard on yourself sometimes. You’ve told him before you have your own goals– academically and in the real world, so he’s not about to say something that would sound like he’s disregarding your feelings and views that absolutely do no harm. He respects you too much for that.
"I’m sure you’re gonna get a much better result the next project, baby. You’re smart, there’s no reason to doubt that, hm?” He hooks your chin on his finger, kissing the pout off your lips.
This time, it lasts longer than the other ones he gave you awhile ago. It starts off slow and sweet, but then your tongue is prodding for him to open his mouth so he could kiss you properly and he does so as you wish. The finger on your chin drops down to hold your face this time, and Jungkook deepens the kiss, making you let out a low whimper.
He chuckles at the cute sound, already readying himself to hover over you, but when he’s just about to do that, you hiccuped.
You both stopped.
Embarrassed, you pull away.
You groan. “I’m sorry for ruining the mo–” But there’s something that barges in your throat again and you weren’t able to finish.
It doesn’t make Jungkook back off from his original plans, though. So he completely caged you in his arms, his body inches away from laying atop yours.
“It’s alright.” He pecks your lips for good measure, looks at you in the eyes. “Wanna make you feel good, are you okay with that?” He inquires with such look of intimacy.
Sure, you’ve done this a lot before, having already dated him for almost two years, but when he says it like that… you can’t help but look away.
“Uhm. Are you not sleepy?” You lamely ask. You know what he’s gonna say, anyway.
But Jungkook’s hands are already under your shirt, on your back where you arch off the mattress to help him unclip your bra. He doesn’t even bother to take it off entirely and just cups your chest in his hands. A relieved sigh falls off your lips. You really love his big and warm hands.
“Are you not sleepy?” He uses your own words, rising his brows playfully, earning a scoff out of you. He squeezes your boobs in his palms, ducking down to peck the two peaks of your nipples under your thin and worn out shirt you usually wore to bed. It gives a shiver down your spine and suddenly, you feel impatient to have his touch everywhere on your body.
“Jungkook.” You whine.
He laughs, hands now hooking on the waistline of your boyshorts. While you fight your bra off your chest, he makes sure to kiss your mouth again before he completely goes down south.
“Love you, my smart girl.” And then a peck to your temples, loud smacks on your cheeks, a playful one on your nose, and a few ticklish smooches on every part of your face until you’re giggling (yeah, giggling) uncontrollably under him.
“Stop that!” You huff when he stops his ambush, but of course it’s half-hearted.
Your boyfriend only shakes his head but leans down to kiss you anyway–only that now, he couldn’t, because you’re covering your mouth, a brow arched, as if to hinder him from kissing you.
Jungkook stares at you and thinks he’s more in love with you than he was one minute ago, and he will never be tired of showing you how much.