They had continued with their canoeing trip for another hour before they deemed it was enough physical activity for the day and began their way back to the dock. Hanuel had calmed down after their little encounter but all she wanted to do was to be able to go back to the cabin and wash herself off.

Jungkook had offered to take a shower with her.

She refused.

“Oh, come on. It's not like I haven't showered with you before,” He complained. Hanuel rolled her eyes from the front of the canoe, “That was when we were kids. For the final time, Jungkook, no means no.”

“Are you just playing hard to get?”

“I sincerely hope with all my heart that you fall off the canoe and into the river.”

“My heart hurts. You're so mean to me, Hanuel.” Jungkook pouted as he turned their canoe around to lay it parallel to the dock so they could get off. He got off the canoe first and turned around to his girlfriend.

“Maybe I should just leave you here,” He commented. She raised an eyebrow, “You think I can't get out myself?” She pulled herself up and looked at him through the corner of her eyes as she began taking off her life jacket, “Loser.”

“I was kidding! I was going to get you out anyway!” He called out as she walked on ahead of him. He chuckled to himself and jogged up to hold her hand. She turned to him with a frown, “Go away.” He blinked and held up their hands, “Negative, my lady.” She rolled her eyes and pretended to gag, “Gross.”

“You know you love this,”

“You know I don't.”

“Bickering again, are we?” J-Hope laughed as he came over with the rest of the group. Minjung tilted her head to observe Hanuel's appearance, “What happened to you? You look like you got run over by a bull.”

“We ran into a hanging branch,” Hanuel sighed as she recalled the horrid memory. Jungkook laughed, “And she freaked out because a spider was in the canoe.”

“Excuse you, we wouldn't have ran into it anyway if it weren't for you!” She refuted. He raised an eyebrow, “Yeah, but you stopped paying attention to where we were paddling because you were too busy staring at me.”

“He is lying,” She rolled her eyes and walked away with Minjung while J-Hope laughed.

“You two are so cute.”

- - - - -

“I'm so tired and I feel sunburnt. Do we have to go out again?” Minjung groaned as she rolled around on her bedsheets. Hanuel looked up from her phone and laughed, “Yeah, unless you don't want dinner.” Minjung shot straight up into a sitting position, “Just kidding!”

“Did you have fun today?” Hanuel questioned. Minjung nodded with a thoughtful smile, “Yeah, of course. I paid for this trip,” Hanuel shot her a look and she chuckled, “Okay, okay. Yes, I did. It was fun and I learned some things I never knew about before today.”

“Same here,” Hanuel replied. Minjung suddenly burst out laughing and Hanuel rounded her eyes in question, “Yeah, like running into a branch full of bugs right?”

“Hey!” Minjung yelped when Hanuel threw her pillow at her. The girl rolled her eyes, “It wasn't my fault. Jungkook squished a caterpillar on his leg so I turned around to see what he had freaked out about.” Minjung's face contorted into one of disgust and she stuck out her tongue, “Bleh. That sounds horrifying.”

“Exactly,”

Their conversation was cut short when they heard a knock on their door and a teacher on the other side had told them to meet back in the clearing. The two of them put on their shoes and headed out together.

“I'm so hungry,” Minjung sighed as she put a hand over her stomach. Hanuel nodded, “I feel drained too.”

They made their way towards the crowd of students and looked around for the boys. Minjung spotted V and J-Hope off to the side and pulled Hanuel along with her. They came over and she looked around, “Where's loverboy?”

“Inside with Jimin.” V wiggled his eyebrows, “You jealous, Hanuel?” Said girl shook her head, “Nah. Good for him.” J-Hope laughed, “He's just lagging behind because he had to shower last I bet.”

“Why do you guys always make the youngest shower last?” Minjung questioned. V shrugged, “He said he's taking one for the team.” J-Hope slung arm over his shoulder and ruffled his hair, “More like you and Jimin can't stop arguing about it so he just gives up.”

“Kim Taehyung!” The four of them whipped their heads around at the sudden shout. Many other students turned around at the sudden noise as well. Jimin stomped over with Jungkook behind him. He stopped in front of V and held out his hand.

“Give me my phone back,” Jimin demanded. V looked around at the faces and then pointed to himself, “What? Me?” Jimin glared at him, “Come on, . I knew it was you,”

Jungkook came over beside Hanuel and wrapped his arm around her waist and she turned her head to look at him with an amused smile, “What are they up to now?” Jungkook shrugged, “I don't even know, honestly.”

J-Hope leaned back to peak behind V's back pocket and a smirk came upon his face. He locked eyes with Jimin and nodded his head towards the direction and Jimin blinked before reaching for it. V gasped, “Is this ual assault!?”

“It's called theft.” Jimin rolled his eyes as he grabbed his phone. He turned it on and his jaw dropped when he saw what V had did.

“You changed my lock screen? What is this?!” He screamed in horror when he saw the face of a mangled ghost. V laughed at his reaction and ducked behind J-Hope.

“Okay, I'm going to get food before I get dragged into their mess,” J-Hope announced. Jungkook, Hanuel and Minjung followed along to leave the two behind. Minjung looked behind her, “How are they friends?”

“They've been like that since forever. They're like a version of Hanuel and Jungkook,” J-Hope commented. Jungkook socked his shoulder and he winced in pain, “Okay, okay. You guys are the better version, happy?”

“We've set up two tents with four lines that you may get your food from. Please, use the four lines to avoid ramming into each other,” The teacher called out. The six of them went towards the tents together to get their food.

Once they had all gotten their food, they returned to the circle with the bonfire and sat down.

“I'm so tired,” V sighed. J-Hope raised an eyebrow, “Tired? You didn't even do the rowing. I did!” Jimin scoffed and took a sip of his drink, “When does he ever do work?”

“I wasn't talking to you, jerk.” V stuck out his tongue.

“Can we eat withot listening to you guys bicker for once? Thanks,” Jungkook took a bite of his burger. Hanuel silently chuckled beside him.

“I really want to go out and play capture the flag,” J-Hope sighed. Jungkook looked up, “I think you guys still can after eating. It ends when the sun goes down and by the looks of it, it isn't going to get dark any time soon.”

“Anyone want to join me?” J-Hope asked as he looked around. The two other guys raised their hands and Minjung did as well. J-Hope turned to look at Jungkook and Hanuel.

“I would assume you two want some privacy.” Jungkook rolled his eyes, “No. I'm just certain she's tired after canoeing so she won't have much energy to do her best anyway.”

“Wow, how caring,” Jimin commented sarcastically. Jungkook kicked a pebble at him in response.

- - - - -

Indeed, the four of them had gone into the forest to join the teachers and students who were playing rounds of capture the flag. Jungkook and Hanuel had decided to take a walk to the river and chat.

The weather had dropped a bit and Hanuel wrapped her arms around her body to preserve some warmth. Jungkook noticed her actions and pulled her into his chest as they sat on the giant rocks beside the river. She lay her head against his shoulder and sighed in content.

“Why didn't you bring a sweater, huh?” He asked as he ducked his head down to rest his chin on her shuolder.

“I ddn't think it would be cold. Why didn't you, huh?” She questioned back. She felt the rumble of his laughter on her shoulder, “So I could hold you like this, of course.” She rolled her eyes but still smiled, “You're so weird.”

“Only for you.”

They sat there, once again, in silence and enjoyed the prescence of one another. Jungkook looked out at the water splashing against the rocks.

“Hey,” He called out. Hanuel turned to the side, “Hm?” He turned her body around so she was facing him and she blinked in surprise, “What are you doing?”

“You know I've liked you for the longest time right?” He began. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion at the abrupt question, “Yes.”

“You also know we've known each other since we were babies right?” She nodded.

“And you know I value you as much as I do my mother and sister.” She thought about it in her head before letting out a small nod.

“We're going off to university next year and we might not be in the same school or even city anymore. That frightens me,” He confessed. She softened at the drop of emotion in his voice and reached her hand out to touch his cheek, “Jungkook, it'll be fine.” He gave her a small smile and reached up to cup her hand against his cheek.

“You know I trust you a lot right?” He continued. She couldn't help but laugh because she thought his weird questions were over.

“Yes, and I trust you just as much, silly.”

He grinned, “I just wanted to confirm whether or not you knew how much you meant to me.” She chuckled, “Okay, is that all? This is getting weird.” He shook his head,

“No, there's more. Hang on. I'm forgetting my words because I'm too nervous now.”

“What is there to be nervous about?”

She watched as he took a deep breath in and let it out through his mouth. He looked her in the eyes,

“Rather than saying 'I love you', I feel like telling you that you're the most beautiful girl I've ever known is more meaningful.” Heat rose to her cheeks at that and she looked down, “What are you getting at?”

“I want to thank you for being there all my life. For being there when I didn't make the soccer tryouts. For being there when I couldn't compete in my dance competition. For being there when my father passed away and for being there for me every step of my life.”

She looked up at him, “Jungkook, you know you don't have to thank-” He cut her off to continue,

“You're the strongest girl I know. You're perfect, in my eyes. I may be biased but I don't think it changes what defines you. The things that I'm not good at, you are. Which makes me look up and respect you even more than I already do.”

Her heart hammered against her chest at his confession and she couldn't help but smile as she looked at him.

“Which is why I want you to stay by my side for the as long as I live, Hanuel.”

She froze.

“What?”

“We're young, I get that. Feelings change, I know that. However, I feel like this can work out between us in the long run, you know?” He whispered.

“Jungkook, what-”

“Hear me out for a second,” He pleaded, “It's not like it's a marriage proposal because god, that would be weird.” She let out a laugh.

“I just want to know whether or not you believe in this relationship as much as I do.”

She took her free hand to intertwine with his.

“Jungkook, you know I'm not good at expressing my feelings but after hearing you say all this I'd feel dumb if I didn't let it out too.”

He tilted his head as if telling her to continue.

“You mean so much more to me than I tell you everyday. I like your smile. I like your personality at times. I like your attentiveness. I like you. I like everything about you. Actually, like is too simple of a word. If anything, it'd be 'love'.”

Jungkook sat there with a wide grin on his face, “That's the first time I've ever heard that.” She rolled her eyes, “Yeah, idiot.”

“I do trust this relationship because I trust you. I have confidence in our future as much as you do, so don't worry your head over this so soon okay? If anything, worry about finding a univers- actually never mind you don't need to worry about that. Worry about finding a job, perhaps.” He blew a raspberry, “Yeah, yeah.”

“So, is there a reason you made us go all gooey with each other?”

“Yes,” he replied. He reached into the pocket of his pants and took out two rings. Her eyes rounded at the sight of them.

“What are those for?” She questioned. He smiled as he lifted up her hand to slip the ring onto her finger,

“Promise rings. The promise we've now made for our future.” He smiled, “Thank you for being in my life. Thank you for loving me, and letting me love you.”

Hey! I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. You finally get to see the mature side of Jungkook, now eh? adjhakdsjadsa.

I'm also thinking of making a Q/A video for this story once it's finished. It will also be open for you guys to suggest what you might like to see in the future. Like, maybe a sequel to this story? Or any question about who the guy in this story is based off of or ANYTHING. If you guys would like to see this, leave a message in the comments to let me know! 

Thanks for the continuous support and messages. I've read them all, even if I haven't replied to them all personally! 

Find me elsewhere at:
Snapchat: ai.loveyou
kik: ai9071

 Check out my other stories here:

Next Stop, Together Again (Zelo & OC) 

Her Life Through His Eyes (J-Hope, Jungkook & OC)

Forgetful, but not Forgotten (Jungkook, Zelo & OC)

These stories will also be updated soon because two of them include Zelo and I want to update around their comeback time!

See you! :)