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“You’re just mad I can play this and you can’t!”
“No, I'm mad because you’re not adding nuance to your performance! You act like you're so good, but you'll never have the experience to add the right emotion!”
“Oh, bullshit!” Jungkook stands up, “Then you're just extra mad that I can play this despite playing for less than a third of the time you have!”
“Jeon Jungkook, who do you think you are?” Jin shouts, standing from his chair and walking closer, "I'm just trying to help you as your senior!”
“Maybe you’re just going deaf in your old age, because I'm sure anyone here could say I play it better than you!” Jungkook looks around at the other saxophones.
“Um, I think that both of you guys play it great. But, Jin, can we get on with the sectional?” Hoseok timidly asks.
“Oh, of course, Hobi! As long as Jeon Jungkook lets us move on.” Jin smiles sweetly. Jungkook throws up his middle finger.
—
Seokjin is very detail-oriented and orderly. He doesn't appreciate surprises, so he doesn't let them happen. Each day, he does the same thing in order to prevent anything unpleasant from happening.
He wakes up at 4 every morning, goes for a 30-minute jog, catches up on any work he didn't finish the night before, and gets ready until he feels perfect. He styles his hair until it lies exactly how he likes it, wears the outfit he planned the week before, and puts on a small amount of makeup to enhance his features. He leaves for school early and stops for an americano before finally arriving.
He takes notes in all his classes, most of which are APs, and asks questions about everything. At lunch, he does his homework; during passing periods, he looks over his notes; during his free period, he practices in the band room. When at home, he does homework, studies, and practices. He has no free time in his day, and he prefers it that way.
—
Jungkook is young, wild, and free. Why would he be anything else? What's the point of youth, the point of life, if not to try new things?
That's why he doesn't understand Kim Seokjin. Seokjin is young, beautiful, and horribly, horribly stingy. Maybe Seokjin just hasn't figured out that high school is supposed to be enjoyable.
But, maybe not all of Seokjin’s fussiness is for nothing. He’s not first chair and constantly given awards for no reason. Losing the joy of life doesn’t seem hardly worth that, though.
Jungkook has a few classes with him — AP physics, AP psych, music theory, and, of course, band — and he’s seen how hard he works. Jungkook’s only in APs because his counselor said it would be good for him, but Seokjin seems to put so much effort into schoolwork. While Jungkook has his head down, Seokjin’s diligently writing down and color-coding everything the teacher says.
Seems like hell.
—
Jeon Jungkook’s not in first period AP physics again for the fourth day in a row, and Jin’s irritated. They have a big test in 2 weeks, and the teacher's been giving example questions. Well, it’s not like Jungkook would do any better on the test if he were here, considering he sleeps his way through class, but it's the premise of it.
A knock on the door pulls Jin out his stupor. He sits closest to the entrance, so he sighs and goes to open the door.
“Sorry I’m late!” Jungkook says in the direction of the teacher as he walks through the doorway.
“Thanks, Seokjin,” he adds on in a faux-kind tone while glaring at Jin.
“Yeah, no problem, Jeon Jungkook,” Jin replies a little too loudly, attempting to control his frown.
They make their way back to their seats, and just as Jin is settling back into taking notes, a note is thrown on his desk. Jin and Jungkook sit next to each other in this class, but Jungkook usually leaves Jin to his work since he's too busy napping. Apparently, that's not true for today.
Jin ignores the piece of paper, but soon another is thrown at his head, instead. Jin schools his expression and continues writing while three more pieces of paper are thrown at him.
Leaning over closer to Jungkook’s desk, Jin whisper-yells, “Oh my god, Jeon Jungkook, what do you want from me?”
Jungkook points at the first note in lieu of a verbal reply. Sighing, Jin unfolds the note.
why does a burger have less energy than a steak? because its in its ground state
Although Jin would never admit it, he lets out a snort and immediately tries — and fails — to hide his smile.
—
Jungkook has finally learned Kim Seokjin’s weakness: dad jokes. That day in physics had to be the first time Jungkook’s ever seen him laugh.
So, for all of last week, he teased him in every class with little notes, just to get under his skin a little and totally not to see him laugh again. But now that it's Monday of the next week, Seokjin seems uncharacteristically unreceptive. He straight-up ignored Jungkook when he insulted him and threw away the note he gave him in psych without even opening it.
Now, they're in band, and Seokjin looks pissed.
“Hey, Seokjin! What's got your fucking panties in a twist!” Jungkook jokes as he sits in his seat.
“I’ve been trying to focus on class! Jungkook, do you ever care about anything? Have you ever taken a single thing in your life seriously? If I don’t pass these tests, my future is gone. Do you understand that, Jungkook? Well, actually, obviously not, considering you're still bothering me,” Seokjin scoffs, “Just leave me the fuck alone for once.”
Jungkook freezes, and the rest of the band is shocked. Seokjin doesn’t curse, and he never takes his and Jungkook’s rivalry seriously like this.
“Oh.” The whisper is pushed out of Jungkook, and he kind of feels like he’s going to cry, which is stupid because it’s just Seokjin, the stupid senior. But it feels like it's not just Seokjin, the senior he has petty fights with; it feels like it's Seokjin who has a pretty laugh, Seokjin who laughs at stupid puns, and Seokjin who plays the saxophone passionately with a carefree expression.
“Sorry, I’m just gonna go to the bathroom,” Jungkook tries to stabilize his voice, “tell the director if she asks, please,” and he rushes out the room, subtly wiping his eyes.
—
“Jin, what the fuck is wrong with you?” Taehyung, who plays the tenor saxophone, speaks up first, breaking the silence.
“I- I don’t know why I said that, I’m sorry. I’m gonna just- um, take a walk and calm down,” Seokjin stutters out.
He knows that if his grandma gets a call that he’s not in class, she’ll be worried, but he physically doesn’t think he can be in that room without crying. It's scary to cry and to feel, because you can't plan it out, and you can't get rid of the surprises.
He stumbles into the hall and starts walking.
what is wrong with me? i thought i had it under control. why do i even care? it's just Jeon Jungkook, the stupid sophomore.
But he knows deep down that Jungkook is more than the annoying sophomore that, for some reason, makes him nervous. He is annoying, yes, but he’s also the only person who bothers talking to him despite his tall walls, the person who has arguments with him over things that don’t matter, and the person who passes him notes. No one else cared to figure out what Jin liked, or have more than an acquaintanceship with him.
Jin checks his watch and sees that 10 minutes have passed already. He needs to get back soon so he can lead his section’s warmups, but he’s sure he looks ragged with how much he’s been pulling at his hair and fiddling with his clothing. He can't appear anything less than perfect, especially after that scene he made, so he heads into the bathroom to tidy himself up.
When Jin walks through the doorway, the first thing he sees is Jungkook, standing in front of the mirror with red-rimmed eyes and splotchy cheeks. Jin freezes in place, and Jungkook makes eye contact with him in the mirror, the younger’s eyes wide.
“Jungkook-“
“Don’t fucking talk to me. I thought you told me to stop bothering you anyways,” Jungkook starts toward the door.
“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I just don’t know what to do. I don’t like distractions, and you’re one hell of a distraction, but I still like talking to you. It’s confusing, and it frustrates me that I can’t plan how I feel,” Jin rants. It’s strange to say what’s on his mind like this, but it feels like a weight has been lifted off his chest, even as he’s anticipating Jungkook’s reply.
But the reply never comes, because instead of words, Jungkook lurches forward and pushes Jin against the wall, kissing him softly. Jin, without thinking about it, reciprocates.
Jungkook pulls away slightly, “Kim Seokjin, I like you. Don’t think this means I'm not mad at you, though.”
Jin smiles and places his lips back on Jungkook’s.
—
“I’ve got to leave lunch early today to practice my solo audition,” Jin announces to the lunch table. Ever since he and Jungkook started dating, he’s sat at the younger’s table. He knows Hobi, Tae, and Namjoon from band. Jin’s seen Jimin around as he’s in choir, and Yoongi plays piano for vocal jazz and theater.
“I am totally getting the solo in our ballad piece,” Jungkook states.
“Oh, please, like you could play the solo better than me.”
“Yeah, well, if you’re so sure, why don’t you give me some private lessons? I thought seniors were supposed to help the others in the section?”
“Come over later, and I’ll teach you some things,” Jin replies in a sultry voice while Jungkook looks ravenous.
Jungkook leans over to “whisper” in his ear loud enough that the rest of the table can hear it, “Why did the belt get arrested… Because it held up a pair of pants.”
Seokjin stands, dragging Jungkook by the hand, and almost moans, “Ugh, talk dirty to me, Jeon Jungkook.”
The rest of the boys groan in disgust as Jin and Jungkook walk in the direction of the bathroom.