The classroom buzzed with low murmurs as students prepared their projects, the nervous energy thick in the air. All conversation ceased the moment Professor Kim Taehyung entered, his presence commanding silence without a word. His sharp eyes swept across the room, missing nothing, as he set his materials down at the desk with quiet precision.
"I hope you've all prepared well," Taehyung said, his voice calm yet carrying an authority that made backs straighten. "Today, each group will present their work. I expect professionalism."
He glanced down at the sheet in his hand, then back at the students. "Let's begin with the first group."
Presentations started one after another, the students stumbling through their nerves while Taehyung listened with a critical, unwavering gaze. His comments after each presentation were fair but blunt, never hesitating to point out flaws that others might politely ignore.
When he finally called the next name, his voice seemed to shift slightly, softer in a way barely noticeable to anyone else.
"Jeon Jungkook's group."
Jungkook rose from his seat, exuding the easy confidence that made him stand out even without trying. Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he strode to the front with a few of his teammates, papers tucked under his arm.
As he spoke, the room grew still. Jungkook's voice was steady, clear, and passionate, outlining every detail of the project with sharp precision. His charisma made it impossible to look away — yet no one was more focused than Taehyung himself.
The professor's eyes remained fixed on Jungkook, a certain unreadable intensity flickering within them. Not the professional detachment he showed others. There was something else there — something quieter. Something heavier.
From his seat near the front, Eunwoo watched with growing unease. He noticed it — the way Taehyung's gaze seemed almost too attentive, too lingering. His fingers curled into fists against his lap.
When Jungkook finished, the class broke into muted applause. Taehyung set his pen down slowly, nodding.
"Good work," he said. His voice was calm, but the slightest warmth edged his words. "Clear delivery. Well-structured project. You've set a strong example for the others."
Jungkook bowed slightly, his expression polite, masking the flicker of pride in his chest. He returned to his seat, feeling Taehyung's eyes still following him for a moment longer than necessary.
Class ended not long after, students filing out in noisy clusters. Jungkook was gathering his things when Eunwoo approached him, his face tight with something between worry and frustration.
"Jungkook," Eunwoo said, his voice low, "can we talk? Outside?"
Jungkook blinked, surprised by his serious tone, but nodded and followed him into the quieter hallway.
They stopped near the lockers, away from the stream of students passing by. Eunwoo turned to face him, arms crossed over his chest.
"What's going on between you and Professor Taehyung?"
The bluntness of the question caught Jungkook off guard. His brows furrowed.
"What the hell are you talking about?" he asked, keeping his voice casual, though he felt a ripple of discomfort inside.
"I saw it," Eunwoo pressed, stepping closer. "The way he looks at you. Today. Last night, too. It's not normal, Jungkook. Everyone else might be too blind to notice, but I'm not."
Jungkook gave a short laugh, shaking his head. "You're imagining things. He's my professor. That's it."
But Eunwoo didn't back off. His eyes were serious, almost pleading.
"You don't get it," he said. "Even if nothing's happening... it's dangerous. For you. You could get dragged into something bad."
Jungkook's jaw tightened. He hated being cornered like this, especially when he wasn't even sure how to explain the way Taehyung's attention made him feel. Admiration? Pressure? Something more complicated that he didn't want to name?
"Look," Jungkook said sharply, "I'm not stupid, Eunwoo. I know what I'm doing. I don't need you acting like my damn babysitter."
Eunwoo flinched, his mouth pressing into a thin line. For a second, neither of them said anything.
Finally, Eunwoo sighed and stepped back.
"I just don't want you to get hurt," he muttered.
Jungkook stared at him, something bitter rising in his throat. He wasn't a kid who needed protecting. He had fought his way through worse than a complicated professor-student relationship — if that's even what this was.
Without another word, Jungkook turned on his heel and walked away, not trusting himself to say anything else.
He didn't see the figure standing around the corner, hidden from view.
Taehyung stood there, hands shoved deep in his pockets, having overheard everything. His expression was unreadable — cold, almost — but his knuckles were white where they pressed against the fabric of his jacket.
He didn't know what frustrated him more: Eunwoo's possessiveness, or the fact that Jungkook hadn't denied caring about him.
He stayed hidden, watching Jungkook's retreating back, before silently turning toward the faculty office with a tension in his chest he couldn't shake off.
And for the first time, Taehyung realized something dangerous —
he didn't just want to protect Jungkook.
He wanted to claim him.