[CONTENTID1]No...?[/CONTENTID1]

[CONTENTID2]

Part 2/2

Two semesters in college passed by in a bumpy blur. It wasn't an easy journey but Eunjoo hadn't even realized she had just started her second year (first sem) in college.

Engineering was fun. Her college building was boring exterior-wise (unlike the extravagant architect-students' building), but Eunjoo had been fascinated with seeing majoring third year students mix up cement in the outdoor part of the building.

Eunjoo was still taking up gen. ed. classes as prerequisites for her majors, but she had fun learning things other than math.

Last year on her previous two semesters, her schedule was a hassle as she was unfortunate to have gotten a p.m. schedule. Her classes start late in the afternoon and end nearing the late hours of the evening.

The only upside with her situation last year was that she was staying on the in-campus dorms and that she wouldn't have to worry about commuting late at night back home.

Oh, and by the way, her mother had miraculously started dating again. And Eunjoo was more thrilled to hear that Dr. Byun was the lucky man. Baekhyun and his brother were already oppa-material, and Eunjoo was psyched to have her best friend and his brother become her official step-brothers soon.

This semester, her schedule had been changed into the morning shift. She was thankful for that. But, because she had somehow gotten used to a late schedule, Eunjoo was having difficulty with adjusting her body-clock.

All her first classes for the rest of the week were about Advanced Korean History, and they all start at 7 am. It wouldn't have been a problem if she wasn't used to sleeping at 2 in the early morning. Luckily, her roomie - Hyerim - was nice enough to help her wake up early just so Eunjoo wouldn't be marked late or absent.

On the plus side, after her first class was a one-hour break and Eunjoo had decided to use that one hour for a quick shut-eye either in a quiet, empty pavilion or a vacant air conditioned lecture room.

Looking groggily at the time in her phone, Eunjoo tiredly cheers for there were only 10 minutes left of the discussion. She was glad to vaguely remember that her Korean History professor was nice and gives nice grades as long as you don't get to the teacher's bad side and submits nicely done outputs on time.

With heavy eyelids, Eunjoo flinches in her seat when she heard the professor bid goodbye and her blockmates for that class were all starting to exit the room. Eunjoo took a couple minutes resting her head on the table, willing herself enough energy to walk around until she found a place to properly sleep in.

A year can really change a lot in a person as much as a month changed her Gray elastic braces bands to a cool transparent one.

For one, her fashion sense had definitely changed. If before she'd take an hour to pick through her many clothes for the perfect fashionable outfit, two semesters ago she picks whatever simple clothes she first sees in her closet.

She had somehow began to learn how to properly apply make-up, though she rarely uses it because going to her college building was always a hustle. Recently, she's been dedicating only 5 minutes in the bathroom for a quick eyeliner and face powder application.

Eunjoo had very much loved her long black hair. But 365 days later, she finds herself thinking that a two-tone (black and green) above-the-shoulder length hair was convenient especially since it was warmer in the campus located in the busy capital city.

Eunjoo bolts up five minutes later, swinging her shoulder bag onto her shoulder, fixing her messily tucked plain white tee and ripped boyfriend denim pants, her metal braces as she always does, ruffling her slightly-messy hair, trudging towards the opened door with her bleached red low-cut Converses.

Dazedly and groggily, she plans out when and how she would be able to sleep and make finishing touches for her Calculus assignment. Eunjoo won't even bother finding out what the commotion was right outside the lecture room she was in.

'If I hurry up, I might be able to get a 20-minute rest in the small library. Then I'll have enough time to finish my assignment. If I finish early before the break ends, I might have more time for shut-eye.'

Once she was out, Eunjoo immediately trudges out through the door and heads towards the direction of her planned sleeping place.

But, as she was dragging herself, Eunjoo was suddenly halted with a pair of hands holding-pushing her in place by her shoulders. She faintly hears the high-pitched whines of females - saying "Aww! He has a girlfriend!" - before Eunjoo cautiously looks up.

Her eyes slightly widens at the familiar wide boyish grin, the expected loosely buttoned uniform, the peaked black hair style, those large front teeth, those sparkling eyes, his ever-plump lips- "Noona..."

"Jeon... Jungkook...?"

+++

"No."

No. Jungkook wasn't shocked, but he felt frozen to the spot.

No. Jungkook wasn't expecting that, but he should have known better than to hear an agreement.

Maybe. Jungkook was slight hurt, but he wasn't fazed.

He was glad and sad at the same time and this brought upon a panicked expression across the face of the girl on his lap.

"I-I... Jungkook..." Eunjoo tried to find the words to say and take back her unintentionally harsh reply. Now that she knew Jungkook had pulled the question from the depths of his heart, Eunjoo dares to reject him.

It wasn't that Eunjoo didn't like him; she really likes him after the two months of him courting her.

It wasn't that Eunjoo thought two months wasn't enough to get to know about Jungkook considering that they'd practically been unofficially (one-sidedly) liking each other since the day they began to playfully date.

It was just that she was scared of a break-up happening again what with Jungkook leaving in a week then turning hiatus for five months until Christmas break. (Eunjoo really didn't hurt much during the time they broke up, but now that feelings were completely genuine, she was sure the pain would be intensified a hundred-hundred times) She had faith in both of them, but it was too much of a risk to take especially during the blossom of their official genuine relationship.

The hands on his cheeks and the heat of her skin on his lap was enough to convince Jungkook this wasn't what Eunjoo wanted, but thinking carefully he realized the circumstances they were in.

He sighs and cautiously leans in to steal one of many pecks he had done to her lips starting from when he was officially courting her. He leans back, his eyes staring filled with understanding at Eunjoo's. "It was stupid of me to ask when I'm leaving soon."

Eunjoo scoots closer, eventually wrapping her freed arms around his narrow torso while her head laid atop his collarbones. "It was, but I'm sorry for rejecting you... I do want to, but..."

She trailed away, nervously at her lips and pushing subtly the wires at her teeth. Her back felt Jungkook's hands cautiously hover lightly above it. Carefully, she snaps her head up and immediately puts a wide distance between their faces. "I like-like you too. There, I said it."

Jungkook smiles. He knows, but it was more than nice to hear her confirming it herself. "I know."

Eunjoo sputters, her face turning red in mere seconds, "I... I just thought... That maybe you'd think that you won't have a chance with me i-if i didn't confess... Ugh, i can't..."

Jungkook found it cute when Eunjoo hurriedly stands up from his lap and runs towards his bed. He scoots closer the edge of the bed near Eunjoo's protruding feet then leans his head back on the soft edge. "I'm very happy you like me back, Joo. And, I understand why you said no. But, I won't stop courting you, if you don't mind...?"

Eunjoo stumbles upon sitting pressed up beside Jungkook. "I don't mind!"

Realizing she had sounded uncharacteristically desperate, Eunjoo clears and says in a very small embarrassed voice, "i m-mean... I did say that i l-like you... and..."

"Yeah..." Jungkook leans closer Eunjoo, practically feeling the heat radiate from the girl's face. It would have been fun to tease then kiss her, but Jungkook thought that was too much for today. (He did get to make her sit on his lap and steal a kiss from her lips a while ago. That was more than enough skinship for today)

Before he could further close the distance, Jungkook sighs and stands up. He was amused seeing Eunjoo dazed and disappointed face, but he thought maybe he'd go further next time. "Come on, I haven't done packing yet. Which shirt should I bring: this or this?"

Eunjoo would have answered seriously if Jungkook wasn't holding up two identical plain white shirts.

+++

A week after Jungkook had arrived in his military academy school, Eunjoo and him were constantly in contact every night.

A few weeks later, they rarely talked with each other since Jungkook's instructor had confiscated all their phones for six days.

A couple of months passed and soon Eunjoo was the one busy with trying to gain good grades by dedicating even her free time with studying hard.

They came to the extent when they'd just leave messages for the other to see, but it takes weeks until they were seen and replied to.

The finals period were the most hectic, but Eunjoo and Jungkook were both glad that the upcoming holidays meant going back home at the same time.

+++

Awkward.

Awkward? Probably. Slightly. One can say that.

Sitting across her mother was awkward especially since her mother was blatantly flirting with Dr. Byun.

Even every t