Work Text:
Snap!
He was sitting in class struggling to pay attention as his teacher droned on and on about some sort of math equation. Was it quadratics? Something about the hypotenuse? Maybe it had something to do with zeroes. They’d been working on the concept of imaginary numbers last he checked. He couldn’t tell, he wasn’t paying attention.
Snap! Snap!
She keeps talking, her back facing the students. She didn’t really care either. Every now and then she’d turn around and scan the room of uninterested students with too-bright eyes. She was young, probably only been teaching for a couple of years based on how eager and nervous she was.
Snap!
She’d started teaching at his school about a month ago. As of now, she was a substitute for the usual teacher, and they didn’t know when she’d leave. Jungkook had no idea when the old teacher would come back, but this substitute really pissed him off.
Snap!
She was too eager to teach. Way too enthusiastic about math of all things. It was ridiculous. And she spoke with such a patronizing tone, especially when someone did something wrong. Her high-pitched and airy voice was always hopeful sounding. It was almost obnoxious.
Snap! Snap!
It wasn’t like he was the only one not paying attention. He hated math and so did everyone else. But they had to learn it and excel at it anyway. It didn’t matter how they felt about it. If you were bad at math, you were stupid. You didn’t want to be stupid. That’s just how things were. They’d accepted and adapted to that fact a long time ago.
Snap! Snap! Snap!
He’d have to study. Maybe he’d ask one of his hyungs for help later. He had a test on Thursday. He’d ask after dance practice. He would probably score low on his test anyway, but that was still a pass. He could handle being considered stupid. At least this teacher didn’t post everyone’s marks publicly. Small mercies.
Snap!
But if he got help tonight after dance, he wouldn’t have time to practice his vocals.
Snap!
If he finished his science project before and during a light dinner – it would have to be alone, his hyungs were too distracting on a good day – he’d be able to start his essay during dance breaks (he got more than the others due to how easily he picked up choreo). Then he could ask Namjoon-hyung for help with math and still be able to get 3 hours of sleep after finishing his essay and the rest of his work.
Snap!
He wouldn’t be able to do his vocal warm-ups, but he could do them the next morning on the way to school.
Snap!
He really should be paying attention. This was probably important.
Snap!
“-ngkook! Jungkook!”
SNAP!
The rubber band broke. He looked up frantically, finally hearing his name. His teacher was standing in front of his desk and looking at his wrist worriedly. He followed her gaze to see that his repeated snapping of the rubber band had caused red welts to develop around his skin. He quickly pulled down his sleeve and looked up at her.
“Yes?” he asked rather rudely. She stared at him concerned for a moment, before gesturing to the empty classroom.
“The school day is over…” she prompted. He took a look at the clock and promptly cursed internally realizing he’d only have 30 minutes to complete his bio project and he’d have to put off his essay. Damn. He nodded sharply and gathered his books before rushing out. He wasn’t in the mood to speak to anyone. As he was jogging back to where he was staying with the rest of the trainees, he pulled out a bag of elastic bands from his pockets. He pulled out a couple and replaced the bag.
That was the 17th band that had broken this week. Luckily he’d be able to cover up the red raised skin with the new rubber bands, but his bag was already half empty and it had only been 3 months since the school year had started. He’d have to be more careful from now on. Jin-hyung was beginning to notice he wore a lot of elastic bands for no reason – his hair wasn’t long enough to need to be tied back.
Snap!
He’d need to pick up some more rubber bands too.