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“ Seoul National Marine University”.....the golden letters gleamed under the moonbeam which somehow crept through the open bedroom window.
The golden lettered envelope trembled slightly in Jungkook’s grip. His eyes, warm and brown, golden, shimmered in the moonlight.
His eyes became wet in joy and disbelief.
His name “ Jeon Jungkook” was written neatly on the acceptance letter.
He finally did it,he has finally gotten into the most prestigious marin university of Asia.
His dream is starting to take shape in real life.
His phone buzzed wildly on the nightstand.
‘Jimillybean’ his jellyfish hybrid best friend calling…..
‘Jimin’ , he softly breathed out.
‘ Kookie you won't believe it. I got in.
I am going to Seoul baby.’, came Jimin’s voice like a firework.
‘ O my god! You did!’, Jungkook exclaimed.
‘ Yes Kookie, I did it.’ Jimin squealed from the other end.
Jungkook chuckled , ‘I…I did too, I got in too Jimin. I just got it a few minutes ago and-’
‘ What!! Kookie, no freaking way! Don't play with my heart like that.’ Yelled Jimin, voice full of hope and excitement.
“Yes way! It's real Jimin. We are going to Seoul.”, Jungkook said softly.
‘Is this real? I feel like ascending,like…like the elegant jellyfish I am, floating in the ocean of tears and joy’, Jimin’s sound came like a wave.
‘Ok! Gross!, why do you have to make everything weirdly poetic!’Jungkook laughs,wiping his own nonexistent tears.
‘ What would you know about expressing joy, you emotionally constipated sea mammal!’ Jimin said dramatically.
‘You are not ascending. You are just eating shrimp chips with crumbs all over your glittery t-shirt ‘, Jungkook grinned.
After a pause he adds,’…..They are exported!’
‘But seriously Jimilybean, we really did it huh!’ Jungkook says flopping down on his pillows like a bunny.
If he wasn't already a dolphin, he would have been a bunny for sure
‘Do you think I will be giving 'class topper but still approachable' vibe Or is it more of a ‘elegant and glowy fine shyt who will cause distractions’?’ Jimin whispers, switching his tone.
‘ Definitely the latter one’ Jungkook said flatly.
‘You should be proud of the gift of my bioluminescence.’, Jimin said proudly.
‘Don't come to me crying your slimy tears when you get detention for light pollution.’,Jungkook said without missing a beat.
“And you’re going to cry at orientation because you have to speak in front of the class.”
Jungkook gasped, “traitor!”
‘Ah, those memories.’ , Jimin sighed.
‘I hate you’, Jungkook says flatly.
‘I love you too. And I will keep loving you… even when you lose your mind because I hung jellyfish shaped fairy lights over your bed for ‘emotional support’, Jimin said sweetly.
Jungkook sighs. ‘God, I’m gonna need sedatives.’
‘No! You’re going to get serotonin and the bioluminescent visionary aka Me.’Jimin let out a gasp, offended.
"Remind me again why we’re friends?’ Jungkook dragged his palm over his face.
Jimin replied, ‘Because the ocean god decided for me to babysit a soggy overachiever like you the moment you were born.’
"We haven’t even started the orientation and I already regret everything,"Jungkook groaned.
....….……………
The morning sun hadn't even fully risen when Jungkook managed to answer the video call revealing Jimin who is clad in silk pajamas who looks like he is getting paid to look like a sleep-deprived gremlin with attitude.
‘You finally answered. I'm in a crisis. Help me.’, Jimin says, pulling off his LED mask.
‘Again?’ Jungkook yawned.
‘Observe, and tell me what I am missing. So here are mood lighting, backup mood lighting, underwater speakers, and a framed quote that says ‘Rise and Hydrate’ and another one that says ’Emotions are waves,ride them or drown .’ what do you say?’
‘No way! You are taking framed corny quotations just like that’, Jungkook says, pulling the phone screen closer to his face.
‘It's for emotional support’ Jimin says.
Chaos begins after that.
After an epic episode of panic, Jungkook sat staring at his suitcase like it had personally wronged him.
After hours of packing, the room looked like it had been broken in or maybe a cyclone had just passed by.
‘Jungkook! What in the world are you trying to do exactly?’ Jimin deadpans from the video call which is propped up against a pile of tangled cloths on his bed.
Jungkook stands, breathless in front of an open suitcase which lay on the floor.
He is surrounded in a mess of clothes which are tossed everywhere as if a cyclone hit the room.
‘I’m packing. Can't you see that I am packing!’Jungkook snapped, inspecting two bottles of conditioner, one seaweed deep restore and another coral total repair.
‘You’re spiraling’ Jimin replied,‘And why do you need two conditioners?’
‘For emotional support' Jungkook said flatly.
‘Sure, whatever. At least I'm not going to do the heavy lifting stuff.’ Jimin sighs.
Jungkook peeked his head from behind the heap of mattresses he was currently dragging when he heard Jimin yell at him,’ Put those away right now! You do not need seven mattresses!’
The call kept on going, and so did the packing. As usual, it continued with a mess of flying fabrics, raised voices and hearty chuckles.
‘I packed waterproof lube. I even got extra for you too.’
‘JIMIN!’
‘What?! You’re going to college!’
‘This is inappropriate-’
Their voices shifted from yelling to laughter, but at least the suitcase got packed.
Moving to a new city,new people,new everything felt like a clean slate to jungkook.
The loud sound of the train station, the faint goodbyes of his parents were fading away as he told himself not to look back.
Because ahead, in Seoul his future waited.
Jungkook leaned his head against the window looking at the vast blur of green outside, when he felt a slight nudge beside him.
He looked up when Jimin shoved a tangerine in his hand.
“ You are thinking too hard again.” Jimin sighs.
“ Just thinking that these all feel so real”, Jungkook says while peeling the tangerine.
“ You are acting like we are going to war.” Jimin says with a mouth full of tangerine.
“ Don't talk while you have food in your mouth. Geez. Anyways…..no we might not be.But I'm just processing everything."
Jungkook says side eyeing Jimin who now has some orange strains on his brand new shirt which says'Floating through life’.
“ Let's see what awaits…” Jimin says silently wiping his hands on Jungkook’s jacket.
....………………..
The taxi disappeared faster than it had arrived. “ Welcome to Seoul” , Jimin chirps, dragging the suitcase.
Jimin stands beside Jungkook who is busy squinting at the tall dorm building.
“It looks…huge…” Jungkook huffs.
“It's a dorm, Not a prison,stop looking at it like it personally offended you and your bloodline.”Jimin says grabbing jungkook’s jacket,”Come on, lets go.”
It was a Sunday morning.
The lobby was a bit too lively and noisy for anyone arriving there.
Suddenly a loud crash echoes from the front desk catching everyone's attention.
A tall eel hybrid is allegedly arguing with the dorm manager.
The front desk looks more like a warzone.
“You can’t just bring a reef into university housing!” the manager cries, clutching a clipboard like it’s a shield.
The eel hybrid, holding an enormous glass aquarium the size of a bathtub peeps through the glass wall of the aquarium with a frown.
“It’s not a reef,” the eel hybrid snaps, “It’s emotional support infrastructure.”
Jimin and Jungkook exchange a look.
“First day,” Jimin says, slinging an arm over Jungkook’s shoulder, “And we haven’t even checked in yet.”
After a few scenes of chaos, the dorm security arrived snatching away the aquarium from the fuming eel hybrid and the lobby remained a little less chaotic but busy.
When the chaos died, they approached the counter where the whale hybrid was to know about the allotment and to get their room keys.
In no time Jimin and Jungkook got the keys for their assigned rooms.
“Kookie,how come we didn't get the same room!! This is war crime,to separate us like this….now on whose bed I'll hang jellyfish shaped fairy lights…..” Jimin whined, shaking Jungkook.
“At least I don't have to stay awake because of the light pollution of your bioluminescence.” Jungkook said, dragging his suitcase.
After getting the keys they started jogging towards the elevator when they noticed a tiny clown fish hybrid carrying at least five giant sea cucumber shaped pillows blocking the door of the elevator.
“How come he gets to bring so many pillows but when I need 7 mattresses for emotional support, I'm suddenly the villain.” Jungkook grumbles.
JImin rolled his eyes without answering him.
“I guess the stairs are the only option for us right now!”Jimin murmured.
They were about to move from the elevator door, only to get shoved inside through the pillows.
He looked back with a glare and pout.
But his angry glare vanished and his breath hitched when he was suddenly pushed in, back slamming into the elevator wall with his face crashing straight into the invader’s neck.
His nose brushed the strangers neck close to the gills.
The first thing that was registered into his brain was the intoxicating musky deep ocean scent and the close proximity.
His breath hitched as he could feel the pulse beneath.
Jungkook pulled back enough to look up at the invader, cheeks burning.
“What are you-” Jungkook started but words died in his throat when he locked eyes with the invader who was now trying to put some distance between them.
The said invader froze and for a split second neither of them moved.
The stranger blinked twice in recognition and then he just smirked down at him.
“Do you like to invade others' personal space? Or am I the exception?” The shark hybrid/ stranger says, lips curling in the same grin Jungkook remembered from childhood.
“ Kim Taehyung!!…..You shoved me, You-you son of a phytoplankton.”
“Wow! I did not..and mind you I was actually shoved into you.” Taehyung scoffed.
Jungkook snapped “By whom?!!”
Taehyung pointed lazily at the leatherback sea turtle hybrid aka Yoongi who didn't respond. Because he wasn't even looking at them.
Yoongi had his eyes fixed at the pink haired male who just curled himself in a corner turning bright just from the intense stare from the green haired guy who just stepped into the elevator before the door closed.
Yoongi doesn't even blink. He short circuited.
Taehyung snapped his fingers,”Hyung, Yoongi Hyung!”
“Huhn?”,Yoongi finally blinked, tearing his eyes away from the glowy Jimin standing in the corner.
“Why did you shove me!” Taehyung asked.
“I did!?”, Yoongi frowned.
“Yes you did!”
Yoongi looked like he was a deep thought
then said, “Maybe you were in the way between.”
Taehyung snapped, “In the way between what??”
Yoongi dragged his eyes again on Jimin who was pretending to be interested more in the floor numbers than the chaos unfolding.
“Me and the love of my life”, Yoongi muttered.
Taehyung followed his gaze and sighed, “Ooh”.
Jungkook looked puzzled between them. He looked at Jimin and then at Yoongi then back again at Jimin.
Jimin's hair started glowing faintly in bright pink.
“First of all you guys are very rude…and second of all how dare you destroy my delicate pillow arrangement!!” , the tiny clown fish hybrid says with a sharp huff adjusting her pillows aggressively.
“Sorry” Jungkook said softly.
Taehyung somewhat muttered a faint, “Sorry”.
Yoongi wasn't even listening.
And Jimin just blinked.
Ding!
The elevator door opens at floor no. 3 and the clownfish hybrid literally shoved everyone aside to get out through the door.
The remaining four stare at the door in silence.
The elevator dings again at floor 5 and Jungkook hurries outside with a dazed Jimin tailing behind him.
Jungkook slows down hearing another two pairs of footsteps behind him and Jimin.
“Why are you following me..?” He glances over his shoulder.
“I'm not!”, Taehyung blinks.
“Sounds suspicious!”, Jungkook narrows his eyes.
“FYI,my room is on this floor.”, Taehyung gestures vaguely ahead.
They start walking again.
Jungkook suddenly stopped at the door number 26 holding up his keycard.
“Why are you still behind me..?” Jungkook says frowning.
“I'm not behind you,I'm going to my room.” Taehyung says holding up his own keycard.
Jungkook blinks slowly and looks down again at his keycard.
“No way!”, Jungkook gasps.
“Touche!!”, Taehyung says, unlocking the door and slamming it at Jungkook’s face disappearing.
Jungkook’s knuckles turn white gripping the key card tight.
“This is unbelievable, I can not inhabit with this uncultured sea swamp.”,Jungkook stomps his feet, annoyed.
Jungkook’s eyes search Jimin when it lands on the two figures standing in front of the door exactly opposite side of his door.
Jimin stands a little close to the door, looking down to the keycard in his hand which feels heavier than it should be.
Yoongi on the other hand looks pleased downright.
He leans forward reading the keycard, then he puts a smile,the gummy one.
He grins, “ Looks like we are roommates,I think I need to thank divine intervention for this.”
Jimin’s ears burn instantly and his hair starts to glow again.
Jungkook raises an eyebrow annoyed, “you acting like you won't a prize.”
“Didn't I! If you need help with luggage feel free to ask sweetie.”, Yoongi winks at Jimin and swipes the card unlocking the door disappearing into the room.
“Damn… what happened to my best friend! This shy,glowy lamp can't be my best friend.”, Jungkook says, squinting at Jimin.
Jimin panics, “ I just-”
“Wait, Is it the same Park Jimin who packed waterproof lube for emotional support…I can see how it will benefit you now!”, Jungkook gasps.
“Shut up!! …I was optimistic back then.” , Jimin mutters.
“And what happened now?”, Jungkook raises an eyebrow.
“ Normally jellyfishs aren't supposed to feel safe around sea turtles, let alone a leatherback sea turtle. When I'm near one, my body reacts before my mind does and I get scared.” Jimin says softly
“But you didn't look scared in front of him though, quite the contrary” ,Jungkook says teasingly.
“That' the strange part! His smell doesn't make me feel like prey.” , Jimin sighs.
“Ooh great!! Here you go pining on your roommate from day one. But I swear for me this roommate situation is worse than I imagined.” Jungkook groans.
Jimin raises an eyebrow, “Worse you say! But weren't you enjoyed being pressed to the said roommate earlier in the elevator. The same Taehyung you swore you hated the most cause he ate your pet clown fish when you were what? Seven? .”
Jungkook freezes, “what!! Nooo i wasn't….and I still hate him.”
“ Well at least you don't have to worry about surviving with someone who smells so good you can't think properly in front of them.” Jimin says.
Jungkook groans dramatically covering his face, “ I don't know!! This is terrifying. I thought I was ready for college but living under the same room as Taehyung!!”
The lock of room 25 opens and a tall blond angle fish hybrid comes out looking like a runway model.
The blond looks at the pair and the luggages, sighes, clearly not amused.
“Wow,” he said folding his arms. “I leave my room for two seconds and see people starting a disaster in the hallway?”
He gestures vaguely. “ I'm Seokjin. You guys must be new. Go on….Get to your rooms…. unpack your bags first.”
Then he adds before going to his room, “After that, you’re welcome to come to my room and unpack your emotions too,but without causing chaos this time.”
Jimin and Jungkook stood dumbfounded. They exchanged a glance and slowly turned towards their respective rooms dragging their luggage behind.
Jungkook stormed into the room , slamming the door behind.
He looked around the room only to find Taehyung sprawled across the bed like he owned the room.
“I don't care that you took the bed of the best corner of the room,but I need the desk near your bed in front of the window.
You need to clean that junkyard of empty snack wrappers and energy drink cans.” Jungkook points accusingly.
Taehyung just rolls over.
“You…you…where do I put my stuff, this room looks like a disaster. And get these pile of dirty clothes away from my bed sidee”, Jungkook stomps over to his side of the room.
Taehyung stretches,”Everything is in it's place. You'll get used to it…this is a shark territory.”
Jungkook grabs a pillow and throws it at him, “Shark territory my foot!! I didn't sign up for living in this dirty shark tank…I can't live like this.”
Taehyung catches the pillow effortlessly,”Relax. Don't worry! You'll adjust.”
“No I'll not. This is insane.”, Jungkook yells flopping into the bed dramatically.
Taehyung leans back, smirking, “You'll survive.”
“This is torture”, Jungkook says aggressively unpacking.
“Always so dramatic.”, Taehyung mutters softly.
Taehyung looks at Jungkook who was yanking open the wardrobe for a few seconds before commenting, “you can use the floor as temporary storage if you want.”
“Temporary! This pile of clothes needs to go away…I'm not even kidding”, Jungkook kneels before the suitcase unfolding his clothes.
“Are these dumbbells under my bed?” Jungkook struggles to pull out two 20kg dumbbells from under his bed.
“Ah,My bad, I'll put them away.” Taehyung hops down from the bed before crouching in front of Jungkook reaching for his dumbbells.
Taehyung’s hand settles over Jungkook’s.
Jungkook’s breath hitched as Taehyung's hands were warm in contrast to the dumbbell’s cold metal.
The door opens.
Jimin steps in,eyes flickering between the two.
“Did I interrupt something…” he asks.
“No!!” Jungkook answers fast.
“Why are there dumbbells involved?”, Jimin squints.
Taehyung pulls his hands away standing up. He just shrugs and leaves the room.
“I'll just pretend that nothing happened!.” Jimin smirks.
Jungkook groans, “Don’t.”
“I didn't even say anything”, Jimin protests.
Jungkook groans. “but you were about to…”
“Ok fine…so ……You held his hand,” Jimin says simply.
“It was the dumbbell!”
Jungkook sat on the floor infront of the unpacked luggage.
Jimin, balancing one foot while trying to hang a poster,says, “You know I accidentally strung Yoongi Hyung.”
“Hyung? You are in “Hyung” terms so fast!”, Jungkook pulles out a few snacks to put them in the shared fridge.
“He was helping me unpack,and he got so close …and my tentacles just had their own mind.” Jimin trails off.
“Why is there sand in the fridge!” Jungkook’s shrills.
……………….
It took longer than anyone expected, but eventually the room looked a bit decent…decent on Jungkook's side of course.
The room was still a disaster but only in Taehyung's corner.
Jungkook zipped his last suitcase shut before shoving it under the bed."Finally done.”
“We’re supposed to meet the Seokjin guy.” Jimin says from where he was lying exhausted in Jungkook’s bed.
“The one who was judging us openly.” Jungkook adds.
“Yes. We should go say hello.”
They headed down the hall together.
Jimin knocked.
The door swung open almost instantly.
Jungkook forgot how to breathe.
There stood a tall, really tall man,broad shoulders,glasses slightly crooked,long bare legs …. Big thighs, bare torso and boxer briefs that did nothing to help the situation.
Jungkook squeaked making Jimin freeze mid-bow.
The guy blinked at them,then looked down at himself.
Then a voice cut in from behind him.
“Kim Namjoon.”
Namjoon froze.
Seokjin stepped into view,arms crossed, “ why are you standing in the doorway half naked.”
“I thought the food was here.”Namjoon adjusted his glasses.
“God! Put some clothes on before you traumatize the children.”, Jin sighs.
“I'm not a child!”, Jungkook says in a haze.
Looking away from Namjoon’s retreating figure, Jin says, “You are now. As I have decided to adopt you.”
“You can't adopt someone without their consent,this is crime.” Jungkook mumbled.
Jimin bowed again, shoving Jungkook’s head down before saying,“Sorry about that. I'm Jimin and this dumbass is Jungkook.”
“Hmm, you seem polite, unlike the other one.” Seokjin nodded.
“Thank you….umm Seokjin Hyung.”, Jimin says politely.
“You guys are invited for dinner tonight. Make sure to come.”Jin says closing the door.
Jimin and Jungkook blinked at each other before heading towards Jimin’s room.
………………
Yoongi was lying flat on his back on the floor staring at his swollen finger like a love struck fool he is.
Taehyung was pacing.
“I'm telling you. He hates me.”, Taehyung says, gesturing with a chopstick in hand, with a pause before slurping his instant ramen again.
“Sit down before you strain the bed and carpet with ramen sauce you uncultured swamp.”, Yoongi sighs.
“I'm just saying! It was a summer camp in Busan. And I swallowed his pet fish when I was seven. He cried a river over that fish . Hyung…I had nightmares for half a decade.” Taehyung began, sitting down,settling his chopsticks aside.
Yoongi stared, “You what-”
“I swallowed it. I was young. My instincts weren't fully regulated that time.” Taehyung insisted.
“What happened afterwards?” Yoongi askes.
Taehyung lookes haunted, “I said the fish was delicious and Jungkook screamed”
“Well, obviously.” Yoongi presses his lips together to stop laughing.
“Hyung, this is serious, he looked at me like I was a monster .” Taehyung crossed his arms.
“You were a predator though.” Yoongi says.
“I was a child.” Taehyung leans closer, “ It even gets worse.”
“Ooh,no.” Yoongi sighs.
“I had nightmares. It always started with the fish tank. And there in the water the fish would just stare at me. With Jungkook's eyes,big,round and accusing and it would blink at me.”Taehyung whispers.
“Fish don't -”Yoongi tries.
“It had Jungkook's eyes.” Taehyung continues.
“You probably need therapy.” Yoongi says quietly.
“It was trauma and guilt.” Taehyung covers his face and groans,“Do you think Jungkook remembers?.
Yoongi throws a pillow at him.
Taehyung ducks.
The door handle rattled.
Both of them went still.
The door swung open,and Jimin walked in first. The pillow lands perfectly on Jimin’s face.
“Umm hi?”, he stated dumbfounded after recovering from the sudden hit.
Yoongi smiled awkwardly at him.
Taehyung points finger at Yoongi.
Behind Jimin,Jungkook stepped in,and immediately their eyes met.
Both of them froze.
“You!” Jungkook said.
Yoongi and jimin shares a glance knowingly.
“You know what..you guys must be hungry. Let's make noodles.”, Yoongi stood stretching.
Jimin blinked, grabbing a few instant noodles from the cupboard, trying to look competent, “ let me help you Hyung.”
And that's how the unhinged day one continued.
………………….
Jin’s door was wide open when they arrived.
A sign saying “shoes off,no dominance display and no fist fights” caught their eyes.
Namjoon was placing dishes on the table with great precision.
Jungkook stopped at the doorway when he says Taehyung near kitchen.
Jimin had to drag him into the room before closing the door himself.
Jin stepped out from the kitchen carrying a pot with a hovering taehyung behind him.
Turns out Taehyung and Yoongi are also invited as they are friends with them.
Jin clapped his palms together, setting the pot on the table, “ welcome all of you,to your first official dorm dinner.”
They all sat down. Unfortunately Jungkook had to sit beside Taehyung.
The air turned tense between them.
“Is that a grilled mackerel?”, Taehyung asked,his eyes shining bright.
“Hands off…we pray first.”,Jin warns.
After that they start passing the dishes.
Jungkook reached for the kimchi when his elbow nudged Taehyung's arm.
Jungkook froze.
Taehyung unfortunately noticed it very much and leaned in enough to annoy him, “Careful, Is your echolocation radar… off??.”
Jungkook didn’t look at him. “At least I don’t mistake pets for food.”
Taehyung tilted his head, looking haunted. “It was just one clownfish.”
Yoongi looked up from his soup,” Do we really need to bring that up while eating soup!”
“He had a name!” Jungkook snapped, ignoring, “Nemo…..and Nemo had dreams!”
Jin slammed his chopsticks down, “We are a civilized household. We pass food quietly and we do not mention childhood cannibalism in front of food. Now apologize to each other."
“I'm sorry for eating your fish.”, Taehyung muttered.
“He had a name and it's Nemo. I'm not sure if I can forgive you yet.” Jungkook snaps back.
“How come he didn't say sorry.” Taehyung protests.
Chaos begins..
Jimin quietly moves his chair two inches closer to Yoongi, “Just so you know,I string when I'm emotional or stressed.”
Namjoon tries to change the topic, “So… you guys…..college starts tomorrow?.”
Under the table, Taehyung’s knee nudged Jungkook’s ….... quietly.
Jungkook kicked back harder, making the table shake.
Jin pinches the bridge of his nose. “I give them one week before the dorm floods.”
Namjoon smiles softly. “Or maybe before they fall in love.”
The two threw some tissues at him.
And like that, the dinner ended with chaos and some wounded Pride here and there.
The morning next day did not begin peacefully, it began with screaming.
“Why is there water on the floor?” Jungkook’s voice echoed down the hallway.
The bathroom door opened and Taehyung stepped out, towel around his neck, entirely smug. “Relax. Why do You panic so easily! You were sleep talking about tides. Maybe all the water came from there.” Taehyung shrugged.
“I did not-” Jungkook yells.
“Relax. I’ll clean it.”,Taehyung says, stretching lazily.
The door opens revealing a disappointed Yoongi who had seen his first sunrise for his liking,“It’s 7 a.m. Why are you both conscious? Anyways I ran out of coffee. I'm taking one from your cabinet Tae.!!”
Jungkook groaned and turned to leave.
“Hey.” Taehyung calls after him.
He paused looking back.
He shoved a protein bar toward Jungkook without eye contact.
Jungkook blinked at the protein bar and then towards Taehyung.
“Don't think too much, I just don't want you to faint on the 1st day.” Taehyung clicked his tongue. “ And you can also think of it as an apology token for eating your pet.”
Jungkook hesitates and then takes it…muttering a quiet “…Thanks but I'll need time to forgive you”
.......,…………..
Their first class was Hybrid Behaviour Therapy.
The lecture hall is packed with every kind of aquatic hybrid one can imagine. The hall is filled with noise.
For Jungkook’s misery he had to sit beside Taehyung once again.
The door swings open. The entire hall quiets down the second he walks in.
He doesn’t need to raise his voice.
Jung Hoseok , the lionfish hybrid, his spines faintly visible along his forearms, venomous tips glinting under light, deadly but luminous.
He smiles at the students. His smile ever radiant.
“Welcome to Hybrid Behaviour Therapy,” he says brightly clapping his hands,"This is the most important class where we learn not to act on instinct and how to make ourselves and others function well in our shared ecosystem.”
“If you’re here to prove dominance, you’re in the wrong class. If you’re here to understand it..you are welcome.”
A few predator alpha hybrids shifted in their seats.
Professor Hoseok continues lecturing about hierarchy , dynamics and suppression theories but Jungkook is more aware about the steady warmth and the soothing scent beside him.
Midway through class, another alpha octopus hybrid from across the aisle glances for a long time at Jungkook, his gaze lingering.
Taehyung notices it immediately and he looks toward the other alpha instinctively. His gaze goes sharp.
He shifts his gaze from the alpha to Jungkook.
He looks at Jungkook. Looks the way he is so absorbed in the lecture that he doesn’t even notice the room.
The way he slides the end of his pen between his lips while flipping a page.
Taehyung notices, unfortunately, the way a strand of hair falls over his forehead.
His heart skips a beat.
The alpha across the aisle leans forward slightly.
Taehyung’s eyes flicker over him and his jaw tightens.
Before he can even think about it, his body angles subtly blocking the line of sight of the octopus hybrid.
As if sensing something, Jungkook glances sideways at Taehyung.
“Do you need something?” Jungkook whispers tilting his neck a little, the pen still between his lips.
Taehyung blinks once.
His throat goes dry. Because from this close Jungkook looks ethereal.
His heart skips again.
“No.”, he says fast, looking away.
Across the aisle, that alpha shifts in his seat, irritated.
Taehyung does not look at Jungkook again, because if Jungkook does tilt his head once more……He might actually malfunction.
......………………..
By the third week, it isn’t subtle anymore, Jungkook notices the pattern.
How the lecture halls subtly rearrange around Taehyung , empty chairs, hushed voices when he walks past.
Even louder hybrids think twice before holding eye contact for too long.
Across campus, whispers travel fast.
“He’s the one from coastal territory.”
“I heard he was transferred after a big fight.”
“I heard once he threatened to eat a hybrid.”
“Don’t provoke him.”
Taehyung never corrects them or protests, he acts like they don't exist.
Like The Great white shark hybrid he is.
At least the chair doesn't stay empty beside him nowadays when there is Jungkook in the class.
Everyone else kept their distance. Everyone except Jungkook.
........……………..
Every single day for the last four weeks,
Jungkook wakes up before the sun like he’s in competition with it.
And the two roommates never missed an opportunity to argue over almost anything.
The peace never lasts more than five minutes in the morning ever.
The shower is running, and Steam is curling under the door.
Taehyung lays half asleep, listening to Jungkook's soft off key humming, rethinking his life choices.
The water shuts off before the humidifier gets clicked on.
Taehyung groans dramatically into his pillow,“Are you trying to drown the room in moisture?”
Jungkook steps out with damp hair and with already a hoodie pulled over his shirt. “ This room needs balanced humidity.”
Jungkook walks over and slides the window shut.
Taehyung doesn’t even open his eyes before he reaches out and shoves it back open halfway,“ And I need fresh air.”
“But It’s cold.” Jungkook whines.
“You are cold, I'm not. I'm quite hot you see...” Taehyung says.
“You’re impossible.” Jungkook huffs
“You love that.” Taehyung winks.
Jungkook pauses before looking at taehyung sideways.
“…That’s not relevant at all.”, Jungkook turns away quickly and sits at his desk, notebook already open.
Behind him,Taehyung flops onto his back with a dramatic sigh, one arm covering his eyes.
“You’re studying at six in the morning.”
“Yes.”
Taehyung doesn't say anything for a few minutes.
The only sounds there are only of pen scratching and the humidifier humming like it’s proud of itself.
The window creaks open wider as the wind pushes it.
Jungkook shudders and says “Close it.”
“No.”
“It’s freezing cold right now. Are you out of your mind?” Jungkook yells.
“It'll build character.”Taehyung insists.
Jungkook stands up.
Taehyung sits up at the same time.
They both reach for the window frame, their foreheads almost bumping.
Jungkook’s hair is still a bit damp, smelling faintly like the coral total repair conditioner he uses.
Taehyung swallows.
“You’re going to dry the room out,” Jungkook mutters.
“You’re turning it into a moisture pool,” Taehyung replies.
Neither of them let go.
Then Taehyung flicks Jungkook’s forehead lightly.
“You are so serious in the morning.”
“And you are very annoying.”Jungkook rolls his eyes and gently moves Taehyung’s fingers off the window.
He closes it leaving a little gap.
Taehyung notices but he doesn't comment on it.
Instead he flops back onto the bed and mumbles, “If you get sick from over studying, don’t expect any sympathy from me.”
Jungkook sits back down at his desk.
“And…If you get sick from dramatic temperature changes, I’m not giving you notes from the class.”
Taehyung grins into his pillow,“Liar.”
Jungkook doesn’t answer.
But he does quietly turn the humidifier down one level.
.....…………………
Min Yoongi does not do anything subtle.
People underestimate him often because he moves like he has nowhere urgent to be.
But how wrong they are!
He simply doesn’t waste his energy on trivial matters,especially not when it’s not related to Park Jimin.
Jimin floats through campus like the visionary he is, all soft giggly smiles.
And Yoongi just follows him everywhere.
If Jimin goes somewhere,Yoongi has to appear in less than 5 minutes like a ritual.
If any alpha tries to approach Jimin, Yoongi is there immediately threatening their entire bloodline through a single gaze.
Taehyung is already at their usual table in the cafeteria, long legs stretched out under the bench. Jin is ranting about some ppt slides while Namjoon is listening to him like it’s a lecture.
Yoongi arrives last,immediately stopping.
Because Jimin is at the drink station,laughing,with the alpha working there.
Yoongi’s eyes narrow.
He just walks over to them, unhurried.
Yoongi places a hand lightly at Jimin’s lower back,”Hi, beautiful.”
Jimin smiles softly “You’re late.”
“I was thinking about you.” he deadpans, eyes threatening towards the alpha.
The other hybrid excuses himself immediately.
Jimin rolls his eyes fondly. “You’re ridiculous.”
Yoongi leans slightly closer. “ But,you like it.”
“I tolerate it.”Jimin smiles.
“That’s not what you said last night.”
Jimin glows faintly.” Stop saying things like that in public.”
And Yoongi has the audacity to look pleased.
......……………..
The hallway outside the lecture hall is always loud with lockers slamming, footsteps echoing against old tiled floors and constant chattering of students.
But it was mostly empty today because it's middle of the lunch time and Jungkook was running out of time
Jungkook adjusted the strap of his bag. He was on his way to the cafeteria where Taehyung and others were waiting for him.
He almost made it.
When someone called
“Hey.”
It made him stop and he turned slowly.
The alpha octopus hybrid from his class,leaning against the stone railing, smiled like this was the most casual thing to do.
“You always rush off,” the alpha said.
“I have somewhere to be. If you excuse me.” Jungkook says.
“Yeah, running to the shark of yours like the imprinted little duckling you are.”, the alpha replied easily blocking his path.
Releasing his alpha pheromone trying to dominate Jungkook.
His dolphin instincts hated being cornered.
Jungkook’s jaw tightened,“Move.”
The alpha caught his wrist.
“Relax,” the alpha says lightly. “I’m just saying,you could do better. Maybe you just need a better and stronger alpha.Better than that Shark who just stands there glaring at people like he owns the place.”
Jungkook’s pulse spiked.
He yanked against the grip.
“Let go,” he says, his voice coming out thinner than he meant it to.
Dolphin hybrids are social, but they are not built for this kind of forced dominance especially for an omega.
“See?” he says, leaning closer. “You tense up when that damn shark isn't around. Maybe you just need a real alpha.”
Jungkook couldn’t answer.
He hated that his body betrayed him.
Hated that his knees felt weak because of the forced dominance.
His heart pounded too fast.
Then suddenly something in the air shifted.
The alpha octopus hybrid's scent faltered.
Because something heavy and predatory cut through it.
And Jungkook felt him before he saw him.
Felt the way his lungs expanded easier and how he could breath finally.
The alpha’s fingers twitched around Jungkook’s wrist.
“Take your dirty hands off him.”,Taehyung stood a few steps away.
The alpha tries,“We were just talking.”
Taehyung stepped closer.
“Talking,you say.”, Taehyung says, his gaze dropping to the hand gripping Jungkook’s wrist.
His scent condensed, making the air thick around him.
The alpha's breath hitched, releasing Jungkook's wrist instantly.
Jungkook stumbles backward slightly, his breath shaking.
Taehyung moved without thinking, placing himself fully between them.
Blocking completely.
Taehyung stepped closer to that alpha,too close.
“If you are desperate to test dominance,” he says , “why don't you test it on someone who hunts back?!!”
The alpha swallowed.
Fear flashed across his face.
His head bows down in submission.
He doesn't say anything but leaves feeling humiliated.
Jungkook never saw this side of Taehyung.
Taehyung is no doubt a terrible roommate. He always keeps the window open even in chilly weather.
His used towels, socks, empty snack wrappers and what not migrate across the room mysteriously and end up on Jungkook's chair,bed and sometimes even in the fridge..
Living under the same roof as Taehyung was exhausting for someone like Jungkook.
But, when Jungkook caught a cold, Taehyung was the one who bought tissues and medicine and stayed up late at night to make sure he was okay.
He would pretend not to notice when Jungkook dozed off while studying, only for Jungkook to wake up later with his notes organized and his glasses neatly folded on the desk. Sometimes a blanket would appear over him.
One rainy afternoon, Jungkook came home drenched head to toe because he forgot to take his umbrella as the weather is very unpredictable.
Taehyung looked up from the bed where he was working on his laptop and took one look, and frowned.
“How can you be so stupid!,” he said flatly.
Jungkook bristles. “It wasn’t raining when I left though.”
“It wasn't sunny even.”, Taehyung argued.
Then he just stood up, grabbed a towel and tossed it in Jungkook's face.
“Dry your hair properly,” he muttered. “You get sick easily so don't pull this move anymore..”
The next morning Jungkook woke up with a new umbrella on his desk.
Taehyung never acknowledged these ever.
When Jungkook tried to thank him, Taehyung would say “you were hallucinating” or “You need more sleep.”
Sometimes Jungkook wondered if Taehyung even realized the things he did.
But today, he has felt how Taehyung’s scent thickened in the air that forced the other alpha into submission, and wrapped in that same intensified alpha scent, Jungkook felt nothing but shielded. He felt safe.
“You okay?” Taehyung asked without turning as if he didn't want Jungkook to see his eyes which had gone completely white with predatory Shark instincts.
Jungkook swallowed. “Yeah.”
“Let's go.”They started walking.
The cafeteria was loud but not as loud as Jimin.
“He did what!”, Jimin stands up, his chair scraping harshly against the floor.
“It wasn’t a big deal,” he tried, “It just happened fast.”
“He grabbed you? And forced his scent on you!! How dare he….?” Jimin slammed his hands on the table.
“Sit down.”,Yoongi muttered without looking up from his food.
Jimin ignored him.
“Who is he? If I don't put the deadliest poison in him-”Jimin starts.
“It doesn’t matter. Taehyung was there and he handled it.”, Jungkook said calmly.
Taehyung met his gaze evenly. “He won’t do it again.”
“Did you hit him?” Jin asked carefully.
“No! But I did think about it.” Taehyung’s jaw hardened.
Jin cleared his throat. “Well, I’m glad no one is in the hospital.”
Jimin leaned back, still watching Taehyung.
Taehyung didn’t say anything else, he just reached for his drink again.
But his hand brushed Jungkook’s briefly on the table.
And this time Jungkook didn't move away.
A quiet understanding and friendship blooming between them.
…………………
It was fieldwork day for hybrid behaviour therapy class.
Jungkook should have known that the day was going to be exhausting when professor Jung Hoseok announced Taehyung as Jungkook's partner for the project.
The kindergarten was smaller than Jungkook thought. Warm yellow walls and tiny people running around through the corridors.
Within a few minutes, Jungkook had a tiny jellyfish hybrid clinging to his arm and another crab hybrid inspecting Taehyung like he was a painting in a museum exhibit.
“How are you so tall?”the boy demanded.
“ It's all genetics, “ Taehyung says flatly.
“What's genetics?” The crab hybrid says, clinging to Taehyung’s leg.
“It's something you’ll learn later if you do your studies well and pass all your exams,” Taehyung said.
Jungkook elbowed him. “We’re here to encourage them. And not give them trauma mentioning scary concepts like exams.”
“I am encouraging academic progress.” Taehyung says picking up the tiny crab hybrid.
“You're so pretty!” an omega shellfish hybrid told Jungkook, grabbing his hand without hesitation.
Jungkook smiled brightly.
They spent half an hour observing behaviors and social responses like they are supposed to.Taking notes in between.
At some point, the shellfish hybrid climbed into Jungkook’s lap while he was sitting on the floor.
The crab hybrid fell asleep on Taehyung's shoulder.
Other children scattered around them minding their own businesses.
“Are you two married?” the tiny shellfish hybrid asked looking up, suddenly making Jungkook choke on air.
“No,we’re not….”
“But you look like boyfriends,” the girl says confidently.
Taehyung didn’t even blink. “Is that so?” he said calmly.
The children nodded enthusiastically.
“You match,” another boy explained like it was obvious.
Jungkook’s ears were burning. “ It's our apron and we're classmates.”
“But he keeps looking at you like that,” the girl whispered loudly.
Taehyung’s lips twitched.
Jungkook feels helpless trying to defend, “Say something”, he looks at Taehyung.
Taehyung glanced at the child and then back at Jungkook.
“They have good pattern recognition skills,” he said smoothly, aggressively scribbling on his note.
Jungkook stared at him like he’d just asked for his left kidney.
“Why would you even say that?!” Jungkook whispered fiercely.
“Well for my defence they seem happy with their hypothesis.” Taehyung says.
“That’s not a hypothesis, that’s pure slander.”
A tiny voice added in, “You’re blushing.”
“I am not!” Jungkook blushes furiously.
“You are!”, Taehyung added hopefully.
“Oh my god. Shut up,” Jungkook muttered, covering his face.
The girl patted his cheek empathetically,“It’s okay. Love is not a crime.”
Taehyung coughed to hide his laugh.
And Jungkook considered that it'll be better to fake his own death or maybe change his name to move to Antarctica.
Jungkook took at least 3 business days to recover from emotional damage.
“So,” Jimin said, spinning in Jungkook’s chair. “How did your romantic outing program go?”
“It was a fieldwork day.,” Jungkook snapped.
““Umm….hmm. But a little birdy told me that many children were excited to know about your wedding details?”
Jungkook’s eyes twitched.
“They asked if we were boyfriends,”Jungkooj muttered.
Jimin screamed.
“It was not like that!” Jungkook protested.
“Oh really?” Jimin leaned forward. “Did Taehyung deny it…?”
Jungkook opened his lips but nothing came out.
Jimin’s jaw dropped. “So that means,he didn't.”
“That’s not the point!” Jungkook yelled.
Jimin leaned back, grinning like a villain,“I leave you alone for a day and you get diagnosed by children about your love life.”
Jungkook buries his face in his hands.
.....…..…………….
Jungkook had been avoiding Taehyung for a week.
Studying in the library instead of their room, arriving to class earlier and sitting in the front row, in a very subtle way.
But Taehyung notices anyways.
On the seventh day, in the room, Jungkook pretends to study and Taehyung sits on his bed looking at Jungkook.
“Why are you avoiding me?”, Taehyung says calmly.
Jungkook doesn't look up from his book, “I’m not…..”
“You switched seats in class.You left when I walked into the cafeteria.”
“I had somewhere to be. And you don't get to analyse me.” Jungkook glares at his book.
Taehyung leans forward slightly. “You won't even look at me….Is it because of that field day at the kindergarten?”
Jungkook finally met his eyes. “You didn't even deny it and then you are acting all normal.”
Taehyung doesn’t hesitate this time,“ I didn't deny it because I wanted it to be true.”
Jungkook’s breath hitched.
“I’ve been thinking whether to say this for weeks,” Taehyung admits. “Because if I said it, I wouldn’t take it back.And I didn't know how you had reacted. But you avoiding me was the last straw.”
“What ... .what are you saying…?!.”Jungkook says softly,his eyes searching Taehyung's.
Taehyung leans closer looking straight into Jungkook's eyes, “ What I'm saying is that I like you Jungkook. I think I have liked you since the day you started sitting next to me in class. Since you would quietly lower the humidifier level for me. Since you began cooking actual meals so I wouldn’t survive on protein bars and ramen noodles and call it my dinner. When you helped me feel like me again. And in all these, I stopped picturing my life without you in it.”
His voice lowers a bit, “ So yeah …I was saying that I like you. I didn't plan on saying it like this until I thought I might lose you.”
“You say you stopped picturing a life without me.” Jungkook exhales slowly.
“But I know for sure that when I imagine my life moving forward, you’re there too. Even though you argue with me about microscopic matters. Even though you live like a storm passed by your side of the room. Even though you steal the last piece of chicken. Even though you get sudden motivation for exercises and do them at 2 in the morning waking me up in the process. But you are still there.”Jungkook sounds breathless.
“I don’t know what this is supposed to be yet. But I like you too.” Jungkook laces his fingers with Taehyung.
“But I know that I want to try,with you.” His grip tightens.
“So this means you forgive me for eating Nemo? finally”, Taehyung mutters.
“Did you really mention it right now!”Jungkook lunges at Taehyung.
……………………………
Absolutely nothing changed.
Taehyung still leaves his wet towel on the study chair. And Jungkook still complains about it.
Taehyung used to lay across the couch like he personally owned it but now he would sprawl with his head in Jungkook’s lap while Jungkook pretends to scroll on his phone. Because all his focus would be on his fingers that would run through Taehyung’s soft hair.
And their scents would start to tangle together.
Their friends witness the shift slowly too.
One evening Jimin came unannounced.
And he freezes,because he opened the door to find Jungkook in the kitchen, wearing Taehyung’s oversized hoodie, the fabric slipping off one shoulder. While Taehyung is wrapped around behind him in a bear hug. His nose, buried in Jungkook's nape right over his scent gland.
He doesn’t move when the door opens.
If anything, his hold tightens slightly.
“Ahm……Should I come back later?”Jimin's voice jolts Jungkook slightly.
“Did you just walk in without knocking?”Jungkook tries to wiggle out of Taehyung’s grip.
Taehyung's hold tightens more.
“I have a key remember”, Jimin holds up the key.
Without removing his arm, Taehyung reaches and lowers the flame.
“Wow! Are you doing this now! And why are you wearing his hoodie…Did you lose a bet or something?” Jimin says.
“It's comfortable. And shut up, Like you don't wear Yoongi hyung’s hoodie without him noticing.”, Jungkook points the spatula at him.
“He notices.” Taehyung declares resting his chin on Jungkook's shoulder now.
Jimin pretends not to hear it and lifts a brow,“Are you guys dating yet?”
Jungkook’s eyes widened.
Taehyung stays silent.
“You’re hopeless,” Jimin says flatly, “I hope you guys short your emotional baggage into physical forms because this is just exhausting to witness.”
Jimin sets the earphones which he came to return,down on the table. “I’ll ask again next week.”
Jimin heads toward the door, shaking his head. “So….Seriously. Get your shit together.”
The door closes with a thud.
Jungkook exhales, “He’s dramatic.”
“Dramatic?” Taehyung repeats softly.
Jungkook swallows. “Yeah? He acts like we are …..”
The stove clicks off and suddenly Taehyung turns him around,his back slamming against the counter.
His hands settle on Jungkook’s waist again,fingers pressing onto the fabric probably leaving red marks on the skin.
His forehead rests on Jungkook's shoulder.
“What are you doing?”, Jungkook’s breath stutters.
“I’m tired of trying. I don’t want to hold you and act like we’re still figuring it out.”, he says.
“Tired of pretending I don’t feel this every time you are this close to me, tired of pretending this isn’t real yet. Because for me it is. It is real. And I'll be damned if it isn't the case.”, Taehyung presses his forehead into Jungkook's shoulder.
Jungkook’s fingers flexed over Taehyung’s back.
“If you don't feel it when we are this close, if you want to pretend all these between us aren't real,then tell me now.” Taehyung looks at Jungkook searching his eyes.
His scent,maddening.
“If you want me to stop, tell me now.”, Taehyung says, his lips ghosting over Jungkook's.
Jungkook can feel his own heartbeat against his ribs.
Jungkook grips on Taehyung's shirt.
“Don’t stop, don't wanna pretend anymore too.” he exheals.
Their lips meet like a soft melody, Jungkook melting into it almost immediately.
Taehyung’s thumb brushes lightly over Jungkook’s jaw,holding him so softly.
When they break apart, they’re both breathing hard,their foreheads are touching,lips still brushing.
“I don’t want to try either,” Jungkook’s low, almost trembling.
“Good,” Taehyung whispers before he kisses him again.
They broke the kiss with the quiet promise of not pretending anymore, not to each other and not to their friends or to the world from now on.