Episode 3: Level 1

The next day, Jungkook walked through the hallways, his thoughts still swirling from the previous day’s encounter with Taehyung and his friends. He wasn’t sure if joining the music club was the right decision, but something about Taehyung’s persistence had made it hard to say no.

As he made his way to the cafeteria, he noticed two students waving at him from a nearby table. Jungkook recognized one of them as Bang Chan, a cheerful guy he’d met briefly during orientation. The other was Eunbi, a bubbly girl with an infectious smile.

“Jungkook! Over here!” Bang Chan called out.

Hesitating for only a moment, Jungkook walked over to join them.

“Hey,” Jungkook said, taking a seat.

“This is Eunbi,” Bang Chan said, gesturing to his friend. “We’re from a different section, but we’ve heard about you. You’re kind of famous already.”

“Famous?” Jungkook asked, confused.

“Yeah, Taehyung’s been talking about you,” Eunbi said, smirking slightly. “Word spreads fast when he takes an interest in someone.”

Jungkook felt his cheeks heat up. “I don’t think it’s like that…”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Bang Chan said, waving off his embarrassment. “We’re just teasing. So, how are you finding our school so far?”

Before Jungkook could respond, Jimin and Hoseok appeared at their table, carrying trays of food.

“Look who’s making new friends already!” Jimin exclaimed, grinning as he slid into the seat next to Jungkook.

Hoseok nodded in agreement. “Nice to see you fitting in, Jungkook. These two are good company.”

The five of them quickly fell into an easy conversation, laughing and sharing stories. For the first time since transferring, Jungkook felt a sense of belonging.

Meanwhile, in the music room, Taehyung sat with Yoongi and Namjoon, tuning his guitar as they discussed song ideas.

“You seem unusually focused today,” Namjoon remarked, glancing at Taehyung.

Taehyung smirked, strumming a few chords. “Let’s just say I have some... inspiration.”

Yoongi raised an eyebrow. “You mean Jungkook?”

“Of course,” Taehyung said, his tone light but his eyes glinting with mischief. “He’s got the voice, the look, and the charm. He’s perfect for our band. But you know me—I like to keep things interesting.”

Namjoon frowned. “Just don’t mess this up, Tae. Jungkook seems like a good kid. He doesn’t deserve to be dragged into one of your games.”

Taehyung laughed softly, setting his guitar down. “Relax. I’m not planning to hurt him. It’s all in good fun.”

Yoongi leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “That’s what you said about Yujin.”

At the mention of the name, Taehyung’s smirk faltered for a brief moment. He quickly recovered, brushing off the comment with a wave of his hand.

“That was different,” Taehyung said, his tone defensive.

“Was it?” Yoongi asked, his voice sharp. “Yujin left the school because of you. You played with her heart until she couldn’t take it anymore. Don’t pretend you don’t know that.”

Taehyung’s expression darkened, but he said nothing. Namjoon sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“Look,” Namjoon said, his tone serious. “We’re your friends, Tae, but you need to think about what you’re doing. If you’re not careful, you’re going to hurt someone again.”

Taehyung stood abruptly, grabbing his bag. “I don’t need a lecture,” he said coldly. “I know what I’m doing.”

As he left the room, his usual confident facade slipped for just a moment, revealing a flicker of uncertainty.

That evening, Jungkook found himself back in the music room. He had decided to give the club a chance, despite his reservations. When he walked in, Taehyung was already there, tuning his guitar.

“Jungkookie!” Taehyung greeted him with a wide smile. “I knew you’d come around.”

Jungkook managed a small smile in return. “I thought I’d give it a try.”

“Good,” Taehyung said, his tone warm. “You won’t regret it.”

As they began practicing, Taehyung couldn’t help but steal glances at Jungkook, his smirk returning whenever the younger boy wasn’t looking.

The game was just beginning, and Taehyung was determined to win.

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