Chapter 3 — Paper Planes

The sky outside was pale—undecided between rain or shine. Inside, the classroom smelled of glue sticks and sharpened pencils.
Window seat – Morning
Taehyung sat with sleeves over his palms, crayon box open. He liked the pale blue best. It reminded him of his mother’s lullabies—soft, endless, a little sad.
younger jk
younger jk
*plopping down, breathless* You draw so quiet. Can I color with you?
younger V
younger V
*Nodding* *pushes entire crayon box toward him*
younger jk
younger jk
All of them?
younger V
younger V
You can use any color.
younger jk
younger jk
Even the shiny gold one?
younger V
younger V
Even that one.
Jungkook held the gold crayon like treasure.
.
From across the room, Jimin watched. Not sneaky—Jimin was never sneaky— But his gaze had something new in it. Something unnamed.
younger jimin
younger jimin
*Sitting on Taehyung’s other side* You’re not usually this quiet, Kook.
younger jk
younger jk
Taehyung gave me his crayons. *holds up gold stub like a trophy*
younger jimin
younger jimin
You’re sharing?*tilts head*
younger V
younger V
*nods shyly*
younger jimin
younger jimin
*smiling*That’s nice.
He pulled out a sheet of white paper and began folding.
younger jk
younger jk
What’re you doing?
younger jimin
younger jimin
Making a plane.
younger jk
younger jk
A paper plane?
younger jimin
younger jimin
*Deadpan* No. A real one.
younger jk
younger jk
*Snorts* You’re weird.
younger jk
younger jk
Takes one to know one.
Taehyung stayed silent, noticing everything— The way Jungkook leaned closer when Jimin laughed. The way Jimin’s hand brushed Jungkook’s knee. And then— Jungkook reaching to tuck a fallen crayon behind Taehyung’s ear.
younger jk
younger jk
You’ll drop it. *soft*
Taehyung’s breath caught. The crayon felt warm. A little bit golden.
By the end, their papers showed— A paper tiger. A rainbow sky. And a fat bunny.
younger jimin
younger jimin
That’s not a bunny. That’s a potato with ears.
younger jk
younger jk
It’s my bunny.
younger jimin
younger jimin
Potato. *grinning*
Taehyung didn’t join in. Instead, he folded his own paper. Not a tiger. Not a bunny. A plane.
younger V
younger V
Here. *offers it to Jungkook*
younger jk
younger jk
You made one too?
younger V
younger V
*Nods*
younger jk
younger jk
It’s… really nice. *runs thumb over folds*
And then, impulsively— He launched it.
It soared. Dipped. Glided into the teacher’s desk. The class laughed. Even Miss Han smiled. But Jimin didn’t laugh. He looked at the plane. At how carefully it was made. At the way Jungkook held it like it was precious. At the way Taehyung watched Jungkook’s face, not the flight.
Something in Jimin’s chest shifted. Not pain. Not yet. But awareness. Like hearing the first note of a song— And knowing you’ll never forget it.
After school – Steps outside
Taehyung’s fingers curled around his backpack strap. Jungkook leaned against his shoulder, humming. Jimin sat beside them, chin in hand.
younger jk
younger jk
You guys ever wish school never ended?
younger V
younger V
Sometimes
younger jimin
younger jimin
Only if we get snacks all day.
younger jk
younger jk
And Taehyung brings crayons.
younger jimin
younger jimin
And I get the gold one.
Taehyung looked at him. Then—opened the box. Handed it over. The gold crayon.
Their fingers brushed. It was nothing. It was everything
Episodes

Download

Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Download

Bonus

New users downloading the APP can read 10 episodes for free

Receive
NovelToon
Step Into A Different WORLD!
Download NovelToon APP on App Store and Google Play