Slow Bloom: A Story Between Desks
The empty seat by the window
Seoul Fine Arts High School opened its gates to a chilly Monday morning. Students shuffled through the halls, laughter echoing between lockers, the smell of fresh textbooks and instant ramen lingering in the air.
Class 11-B was already buzzing with chatter when the homeroom teacher walked in, clipboard in hand and expression as serious as always.
Teacher
“Quiet down,” she called, and the room fell silent.
Teacher
“There’s a transfer joining us today,” she continued. “He just moved here from Busan. Jeon Jungkook?”
A boy stepped in, hands in his hoodie pockets, black hair half covering his eyes. His gaze swept across the class for half a second, then immediately dropped to the floor. He didn’t smile. Didn’t wave. Just gave a short nod.
Teacher
The teacher pointed toward the back of the classroom. “You’ll sit next to Kim Taehyung. Last row, by the window.”
All eyes shifted to the desk by the window — where Taehyung sat, doodling clouds in the corner of his notebook.
He looked up lazily, blinking at the boy walking toward him.
Jungkook didn’t say anything as he slid into the chair beside him. He kept his backpack in his lap and eyes on the board.
Taehyung tapped the edge of his pencil against his notebook once.
Taehyung/ V
Then softly said, “I like window seats too.”
Taehyung/ V
Taehyung shrugged to himself. “Alright. Silent type.”
The teacher started the lesson, and the classroom’s attention shifted forward again. Except for Jungkook, who stole a tiny glance at Taehyung from the corner of his eye.
The boy had messy brown hair, long fingers stained with pencil graphite, and a weird calmness about him — not friendly, not cold, just... there.
Later, during lunch break
Jungkook sat alone on a bench in the courtyard, earphones in, head down, lunchbox unopened.
Taehyung/ V
“Yo,” a voice said above him.
He looked up to see Taehyung standing there, holding a triangular kimbap in one hand and a juice pouch in the other.
Taehyung/ V
“You forgot to bring lunch?” Taehyung asked casually.
Kookie/ Bunny
Jungkook looked away. “Didn’t feel like eating.”
Taehyung/ V
Taehyung plopped down beside him anyway. “I always eat here. You’re sitting in my spot.”
Kookie/ Bunny
Jungkook raised an eyebrow. “I sat here first.”
Taehyung/ V
“Exactly.” Taehyung took a loud bite of his kimbap. “Guess we’ll have to share it now.”
Silence. Awkward. Slightly annoying.
But strangely not uncomfortable.
Taehyung/ V
Taehyung offered his juice pouch. “It’s apple. You want?”
Jungkook hesitated. Then took it wordlessly and sipped once.
Taehyung/ V
Taehyung nodded to himself like he just scored a silent victory. “Cool.”
That day, they didn’t talk again.
But Jungkook didn’t sit alone at lunch anymore.
And Taehyung began bringing an extra juice pouch — without asking why.
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