Seasons 계절

Chapter 3- cookies?

Chapter 3

"Ma'am, you don't have to do this." Jungkook shyly uttered, holding a container full of home-made cookies, the warm surface tingling his palms. His cautious footsteps pierced through the air as he entered his neighbor's home.

"Aigoo aigoo, don't even mention it! I'm glad Hyun Joo finally had some friends in the neighborhood!" A woman in her 40's explained while giggling, a red floral apron hugging her waist as her flour-coated hand motioned him to sit on the cushion.

Jungkook was flustered of the kind offer so he kept his gaze down. Pursing his lips together, he glanced back behind him to look at the girl, silently pleading for help. He swore it wasn't his intention to snoop outside their window, he just wanted to check if she left for school already, that's all.

In distance, Hyun Joo could only bite her lips to refrain from smiling. Well she couldn't blame him, her mom had this odd habit of being over-friendly with strangers,poor boy must have been overwhelmed.

"Mom, we're running late." Hyun Joo spoke up in an attempt to make their conversation shorter, a flash of relief passed through Jungkook's eyes. Supposedly, they should be on their way to school right now, not before her mother spotted him outside their house.

"It's still early, don't be in such a rush." Her mother snapped back, silencing her. Smiling, she quickly diverted her attention back to Jungkook, "I heard you also go the same school. Omo omo, what a coincidence!"

Hyun Joo almost rolled her her eyes, there's no helping it. They were currently in the Jung household, casually sitting on the sofa in the living room. Her mom was cheerfully chatting with Jungkook to which the boy only responded with humble replies and a bow from time to time.

Upon her mother witnessing the both of them going home together one afternoon, her mother was extremely delighted seeing this young man getting acquainted with her daughter. Saying that she had welcomed him warmly is an understatement.

"Your daughter is a really good friend." He said in a humble tone, fiddling his fingers as he sat in the soft cushion. She refrained herself from actually laughing out loud, it was the first time she saw him getting all nervous.

It has been a week since their first fateful encounter. The friendship was quite sudden but they are both strangely comfortable with each other, but never did she know that it could get this far.

Jungkook noticed how she refrained from laughing and can't help but glare at her; a hint of betrayal swirling in his eyes. Suddenly, his shoulders visibly tensed up when her mother cupped his hands. "Hyun Joo can get really annoying sometimes, but please bear with her." She pleaded.

"Mom!" She snapped in embarrassment. This time, it was Jungkook's turn to snicker, giving her a you-deserve-it look. She wanted to run to her room in the moment, wrap herself up in a blanket and never show up again.

None of this would've happened if her mom didn't have eagle-sharp vision and noticed Jungkook outside their doorstep a few minutes earlier. He was leaning on his bike, as if waiting for someone.

Why was he there in the first place?

"Yah, Jungkook, why were you even in my doorstep?" She gritted back at him, eyes narrowed before a ridiculous idea popped in her head "Were you waiting for me?"

The taunting smirk never fell off her lips, yet it quickly subsided when she noticed his eyes widen a fraction, his form suddenly turning rigid.

He didn't actually wait, did he?

Jungkook cleared his throat, "Don't jump into conclusions, I just happened to stop by in case you were also on your way." He managed not to stutter, composing himself. "Besides, isn't it better? In case you break your bike again." He chuckled, looking at her triumphantly.

"W-whatever, Kook." She mentally slapped herself for stuttering, rolling her eyes before looking back to her mother. "What about me, don't I get cookies?" She said in a whiny tone, trying to change the topic.

"Don't bother, you always get to have some every weekend." Her mother quickly responded to which she gasped in disbelief.

"Oh no, look at the time." Her mother glanced at the clock, "The both of you better get going now!" She quickly ushered them to the doorway.

About time. She sighed.

"Jungkook dear! You're always welcome here, visit us again sometime!" This was the last thing they heard before they eventually took off.

***

"I'm sorry about my mom, she can get overly chatty sometimes." She broke the silence as she got off her bike, Jungkook trailing after her as they skimmed through the parking lot.

"No worries, she's cooler than you anyways." He tilted his head sideward, rubbing the softness of his bottom lip as he patiently waited for her reaction.

"Yah!" Hyun Joo scrunched up her face in annoyance, pinching his sides intentionally hard. Jungkook let out a deep groan, trying to struggle from her grasp.

"Wow." He breathed out as he leaned on his knees, glancing up at her through half-hooded lids. "You're pretty rough."

"I can be rough in different things, so don't test me, Jeon Jungkook." She huffed exasperatedly, walking ahead of him. Her words seemed to pique his interest, making his head jerk up to catch up with her.

"Like what things in particular hmm?" His sulty tone rang in her ears, glancing up, she was greeted by a sly smirk in his lips. His eyes flickering with odd mischievousness as he arched his body to get in eye-level with her.

She stared back at him blankly for a few seconds before opening the locker , hearing a loud thud as it came in contact with his face.

"Ow!" Jungkook shrieked, his head popping out of the open locker door. His brows were knitted in irritation, yet his eyes says otherwise. "It was bold for me to assume that you get rough in other areas, rather than this." He rubbed his nose firmly, trying to ease down the throbbing.

He clicked his tongue, opening his own locker which just so happens to be beside her. Hyun Joo rolled her eyes yet the sudden silence on the other side made her confused.

She heard a low shuffling, "Omo, what should I do? This cookies smell so nice. I bet they're also tasty!" Jungkook's voice suddenly reverberated from the other side. "Omo, I'm so lucky!"

Crossing her arms, Hyun Joo rolled her eyes in his childish antics. "Mmm, this is delicious. Oh no, I got crumbs on my clothes." Raising up his voice, she swear she heard him snickering but the locker remained on concealing his face.

"Aish, will you stop it." She peered at him, seeing him jump in reflex. His wide eyes greeted back at her like a deer spotted in headlights, crumbs of cookies lay on the side of his lips. "You want one?" He muttered, handing her a single piece of cookie.

"You know what, you're such a kid." She crossed her arms, leaning on her closed locker. Her hand reached out to wipe the crumbs off his lips, a sudden feeling swept her like dejavú.

Jungkook's cheeks visibly flushed, he slowly yanked his hand downward. "N-nevermind, I'm not giving you any." His abrupt response made her confused. His eyes were shifty and he suddenly turned his back on her, walking away.

***

"I'm inviting Hoseok over tomorrow." A soft voice said as they settled in the green grasses below a tree shade. The place was rather windy as the school's oval stretched widely behind them.

Jungkook zoned out, eyes fixated blankly at somewhere. Beside him was Namjoon silently reading a book, his ankles crossed as he leaned his back in the tree.

Jimin groaned, looking at them impatiently after hearing no response and slumped down in the grass in defeat. He huffed loudly, twisting his back so he no longer faces the both of them.

He suddenly propped himself using one elbow and seemed to gaze something far off a distance.

"Speaking of which," He started, squinting his eyes at one particular girl, "You know that girl right, Jungkook?"

This seemed to catch his interest, averting his eyes to which Jimin's eyes were directed. It was Hyun Joo and So Ah, carrying boxes. His lips curving upwards as soon as he saw her.

They were technically starting to be bestfriends, though he doesn't want to assume. He just find her really carefree and affectionate, she can appreciate small things. Plus her mother bakes good cookies.

"Are you friends with her?" Jimin added, hoisting his self up so he was in a comfortable sitting position. "She's cute." He smirked, his eyes travelling up and down the girl.

Jungkook's eye twitched a little. "Hey!" He chided, giving him a warning look as Jimin's words rang in his ears.

Jimin only snickered at him, "Why? It's not like you're into her or something. I know she isn't your type."

He was caught off-guard, getting slightly irritated by the comment as his jaw clenched unintentionally. He doesn't like it when Jimin starts checking out his friend.

"C'mon, Kook. You can help me with her." Jimin said suggestively, wiggling an eyebrow but Jungkook only ignored him, his brows twitching occasionally.

"I'll pass, Jimin" He sighed, his eyes following her disappearing figure, "She's off-limits."

As if hearing nothing, Jimin dismissed his words, flicking his tongue out along his bottom lip. "You're not the one to tell me what to do, Kookie. If you won't help me, then I'll do it myself."

***