chapter 2
As Kook was still sitting on her bed, her phone buzzed again. She picked it up and saw another notification from Mangatoon. Someone had commented on her story once more. She quickly tapped it open and saw the message:
comment
Hey, do you have an Instagram ID?
Kook stared at the screen for a moment, unsure of what to do. She hesitated. She had just started exploring this new world, and the thought of giving her Instagram ID to a stranger made her a bit nervous.
jeon jung-kook
💭.But they’ve been nice so far, and they’re just trying to connect,
She reasoned with herself.
With a deep breath, she typed back:
jeon jung-kook
Yeah, I do. My Instagram is @bunny_the_butterfly. Feel free to message me there.
After hitting send, Kook felt a little anxious.
jeon jung-kook
💭.What if it’s weird? What if they don’t message?
But she pushed those thoughts aside, distracting herself by picking up her favorite book from her bed.
It wasn’t long before her phone buzzed again, snapping her out of her thoughts. She checked it and saw a message notification from Instagram. She unlocked her phone and opened the app to find a message from someone named
@winter_bear ( tae)
Hi, there?
Kook’s heart fluttered slightly, and she found herself smiling. She had to admit, it felt nice to have someone reach out to her. After a moment of considering her response, she typed back:
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
Hi, how are you doing?
Her finger hovered over the send button for a moment, but then she pressed it, feeling a little shy but also excited to be connecting with someone. She stared at the screen, waiting for a reply, a small smile tugging at her lips as she wondered what this new connection might bring.
Kook sat back on her bed, waiting for the reply to her message. As the seconds passed, her curiosity grew. She decided to ask the person a question to keep the conversation going.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
So, are you a boy or a girl?
Kook typed, tapping on the screen before sending it off.
A few moments later, a reply popped up:
@winter_bear ( tae)
I’m a girl.
Kook smiled at the response. She was a little relieved to know that she wasn’t talking to a stranger of the opposite gender—sometimes that could feel awkward. Feeling a little more comfortable, she decided to ask another question.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
How old are you?
She typed, then quickly added,
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
If you don’t mind me asking.
There was a short pause before the reply came, and when it did, it was playful:
@winter_bear ( tae)
Guess.
Kook raised an eyebrow, a small laugh escaping her lips. *Guess?* She wasn’t the best at guessing ages, but she figured she would give it a shot. She quickly typed:
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
21?
The response came almost immediately:
@winter_bear ( tae)
Haha, nope! I’m 18.
Kook blinked at the message. *18?* That was a little younger than she had expected, but she figured it wasn’t a big deal. Smiling, she decided to keep the playful tone going.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
Well, in that case, I’m 17,
She typed, feeling a little mischievous.
jeon jung-kook
💭.That would make her my sister, right?
She thought to herself, unsure if she was being too bold.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
You are big sister then?
The reply came quickly, and this time it was followed by a laughing emoji:
@winter_bear ( tae)
Call me anything, but not sister!
Kook laughed aloud at that.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
Okay, okay, no sister,
She typed back, grinning as she imagined how this conversation would unfold. She had no idea where this was headed, but it felt nice to be talking to someone who seemed to get her sense of humor.
Kook leaned back on her bed, feeling the weight of the conversation slowly easing her tension. After the playful exchange about their ages, she felt more comfortable with the girl on the other end of the screen. Wanting to know more about her thoughts on her writing, she decided to ask for a bit of feedback.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
So, what do you think of my story?
She typed, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. She’d already gotten a good review earlier, but she was curious if the person had more to say.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
Be honest, please!
A few moments passed before a message from "winter_bear" popped up.
@winter_bear ( tae)
It’s really good, bunny! I love the way you write.
@winter_bear ( tae)
The characters feel real, and the plot has a nice flow. You should definitely keep going!
Kook felt a rush of warmth in her chest. It felt good to receive positive feedback from someone who wasn’t just a friend or family member. It made her feel like maybe her writing had potential, after all.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
Thanks so much,
Kook typed, her fingers moving quickly.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
That really means a lot.
@winter_bear ( tae)
Of course! You’ve got talent. Keep writing, and you’ll go far!
Kook smiled at the words. It was exactly the kind of encouragement she needed. After a few more back-and-forth messages, the conversation started to slow down. Her eyes were starting to get heavy, and she realized it was getting late.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
Well, I think I should get some sleep now,
She typed, her fingers feeling sluggish.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
But thanks again for everything. You’ve made my night.
@winter_bear ( tae)
No problem! Have a good night, bunny . Sleep well!
With a content smile, Kook set her phone down on the nightstand and tucked herself into bed. She closed her eyes, feeling a sense of peace settle over her. The connection, the encouragement, the friendly exchange—it was all just what she needed to end the day on a high note.
As she drifted off to sleep, her thoughts lingered on the new connections she was making. For the first time since arriving at the dorm, she didn’t feel quite as alone.
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