Quick Note...
For future reference, If characters are speaking in Korean from this point on, it will be italicized like so. If they are speaking English, the text will just be normal :) Thanks, I hope it's not too confusing!
~~~
"I'm telling you, it's so hot over here," Jungkook spoke in Korean to Jimin through his laptop, walking around his room as he conversed with his friend.
"It's hot here too," Jimin countered, rolling his eyes, "It's summer time. Tell me something interesting! It seems like the only one you ever talk to anymore is Namjoon, and I mean really. Come on Kookie, we're like BFF's!"
"Well, maybe because there's just not a lot to say? School hasn't started yet so there isn't really a lot to do."
"Stop lying to me Jungkookie."
Jungkook looked questioningly at his friend through the monitor as he climbed on top of his bed to sit more comfortably. Crossing his legs and pulling on his collar to allow better air flow into his shirt within the warm atmosphere, he turned up the volume on his laptop.
"What are you talking about? I'm not lying about any-"
"The girl. You thought you could hide the fact that you met a girl from me?"
Yes. That's exactly what he was going to do, because he knew Jimin would overreact. Now that he knew, Jungkook's heart began racing with the prospect of getting teased. After years of making fun of his friend, he could hardly blame him for potentially using his friendship with you as ammo against him.
"Oh, (Y/N)? Well, that's no big deal exactly," He spoke shyly, rubbing the back of his head and mentally reminding himself to scold Namjoon for telling on him later.
"No big deal?!" Jimin scoffed, "You're terrified of girls! You've never been able to get close to them, and now Namjoon tells me you're trying to befriend one?! And you can't even talk to her?! This is huge!"
"I can talk to her!" He protested, then thought again and ducked his head lower in embarrassment. "Well... I mean I could be better at it, but I still can. I bet my English is much better than yours these days."
"So? English isn't a barrier when you're as cute as me." Jimin spoke smugly, batting his eyelashes and puffing his cheeks cutely. "Now quit trying to change the subject. Namjoon says she's your neighbor? What does she look like? Do you like her?" He began bombarding the younger one with so many questions that his head began spinning.
"Yeah she lives next door. She looks really pretty. No, not like that, I barely even know her really," He answered each inquiry, blushing lightly towards the end.
"Then why such a change of heart? You normally tense up and can't talk straight to girls that speak your own language. How were you able to approach and converse with a girl that speaks English?"
Jungkook sighed and tussled his messy brown hair a bit under his fingertips as he slightly looked out the window to see the sun setting. He thought back to when he had first met you, how you looked at him and did your best to make him feel comfortable, even though you clearly weren't relaxed yourself.
"I don't really know," He started, tugging on his ear, "It started out like always, I was really scared and could hardly look her in the eye, but she... was different. She looked at me and I immediately felt my fears leaving. Maybe because it seemed as if she was just as afraid of me as I was of her, yet she still smiled and did her best to help me. She helped me order food and fit in at a party and even took me to a pool. She's now this sort of comfort to me as I sort of see her as a friend and someone I know I can rely on, even though I still don't know her very well." Jungkook admitted shyly, "So I want to return the favor by attempting to better my English. The least I can do is talk to her and actually get to know her." He finished, his eyes briefly glancing at the textbooks that lay on his computer desk that were still opened to where he had been studying common phrases.
Jimin looked stunned and smiled widely at his younger friend as he talked so fondly about you.
"Oh wow!" He exclaimed happily, "You really have grown up! Talking about a girl so seriously," Jimin cooed, wiping a fake tear from his eye.
"I just said it's not like that," Jungkook groaned, holding his face in his hands in embarrassment. "This is why I didn't want to tell you."
"Did you get her number yet?" Jimin asked, ignoring Jungkook's bashfulness.
"Her what? Why would I need that?"
"Wow. You are so clueless, good thing you have me as a friend," Jimin spoke in astonishment at his cluelessness, "A number is a staple of communication with a girl. You especially will want it, you know with the language barrier and all."
"Well... I guess you're right." Jungkook admitted with a slight blush, knowing texting you would be a lot better if he ever wanted to do anything with you or ask a question that had difficult words in it. He could talk to you with his good friend Google Translate all from the comforts of his home.
"You bet I'm right. Now, you better get that girl's number or I'll take it instead."
"Hyung!" Jungkook exclaimed, embarrassed even though he was the only one talking to him, "How would you even-"
"I'd fly down there if she's really as great as you say. Don't think I wouldn't. You better be careful Jungkookie, act quickly or I may steal her." Jimin winked while Jungkook groaned and rolled his eyes.
After a bit of silence following Jimin's playful laughter, Jungkook became lost in thought.
"Hyung," He started talking again, more shyly this time, "How do you even ask for a girl's number?"
~~~
You were writing a poem quietly in your room that evening, taking it easy and relaxing as one should do in the summer time. It was quite hot and stuffy so you decided to open your window a bit to let some air in.
Unfortunately, upon returning to your desk, a gust of air from the outside blew the piece of paper your poem had been written on into the air and out of your grasp.
You tried to catch it as it flew away, but you couldn't reach it in time and it slipped underneath your window.
Opening the glass panel wider, you looked out to see that the paper had been caught in one of the branches of the tree right outside. You huffed in irritation, but remembering how hard you had worked on writing it sighed. Taking a step onto the large thick piece of the wood that was sturdy enough for you to stand on, you wobbled a little but quickly caught your balance by grabbing onto one of the taller and smaller branches above you. You had loved the tree when you were younger and it was even more fascinating to you now that it had grown to the point where it reached your window.
Taking careful steps as to not trip and fall an entire story down to the ground, you inched forward on the trunk to retrieve the paper.
After successfully plucking it from the tree, you looked at it in satisfaction, almost turning back to your room but a sight stopping you from doing so.
The sunset was beautiful, the swirling colors catching your eye as they danced across your vision. It made you stop what you were doing and entranced you into simply sitting on the truck, your legs swinging freely in the air as you stared at the setting sun.
Meanwhile, Jungkook was extremely flabbergasted with Jimin's advice.
"What does this have to do with anything?" Jungkook complained as Jimin was giving him pointers on how to capture your attention, "I just want her number!"
"And you'll get it! Now, if you sort of tease her and bite your bottom lip or something, she'll definitely go crazy. Especially with looks like yours."
Jungkook groaned and buried his face in his pillow.
"For the hundredth time, I don't want her to go crazy! I'm trying to be friends with her and nothing more. If you don't stop it, I'll be forced to block you."
Jimin gasped.
"You wouldn't!"
"I would."
Huffing in anger, Jimin crossed his arms.
"Well, then I would have two reasons to fly down there. One to beat up your disrespectful butt and two to take (Y/N) from you, seeing as you aren't going to be making any moves to claim her yourself."
Jungkook clutched this blanket in his fists tightly as his elder made him angry, and was about to snap at him once more but something stopped him from doing so.
"Hyung," He nervously stammered, staring out his window, "S-She's here."
"What?" Jimin huffed, still a little angry that Jungkook didn't care about his advice, "Who's where?"
"(Y/N)!" He hissed, crawling under his blanket and covering his face in slight fear, "She's outside! I mean, there's this tree that goes to my window and she's sitting on one of the branches."
Jimin's face lit up at the news and he clapped in happiness.
"This is great! Go talk to her! Get her number!"
"What?!" Jungkook exclaimed, laughing in nervousness, "Um... maybe some other time?"
Jimin blinked in surprise at his cowardly hiding and arched an eyebrow in questioning.
"I thought you weren't scared?"
"OK, maybe I lied! I still get nervous alright?!" Jungkook admitted, pulling the covers over his head in embarrassment, "I don't think I can-"
"Jungkook, as your hyung, I'm forcing you to stop hiding and go talk to that girl."
Jungkook pulled the blanket back down and looked at him through the computer screen in shock.
"You can't do that! When was that a thing?!"
"DO IT OR I'M BOOKING A FLIGHT TICKET!"
"OK OK!" Jungkook surrendered, holding up his hands, "I'll do it! But... ah... how do you even say can I have your number in English?"
"Can I have your number," Jimin clearly recited, at first shocking Jungkook that he knew how to say it so perfectly, but then he remembered that Jimin could, at times, be quite the international playboy.
"O-Oh. OK, I think I got it." Jungkook began trying to pump himself up, looking at you swinging your legs and staring at the sunset through his glass window.
"You should kiss her Kookie," Jimin suddenly blurted out, making Jungkook's face errupt into a blushing mess.
"SHUT UP!" He hissed, "I'm not going to-"
"Once you kiss a girl they won't be able to stop thinking about you. (Y/N) will definitely fall for you and you'll get to kiss her, and you know you want to, so it's a win win for you."
Jimin really wasn't helping his nerves AT ALL and only worsened Jungkook's anxiety as his heart beat pounded against his chest. His anger rose as Jimin continued to tease and ignore him.
"For the last time it ISN'T like that, I'm JUST trying to be her friend, and YOU are getting blocked," Jungkook angrily yelled, slamming his laptop shut and pressing the palms of his hands to his hot cheeks. Breathing out in anxiety, he looked back at his window only to feel his heart stop.
You were looking towards his room in confusion, most likely due to the fact that you heard his angry outburst at Jimin.
It was now or never.
Jungkook's knees felt shaky as he walked towards the window and you saw him approach.
"Can I have your number, can I have your number, can I have your number," Jungkook nervously practiced in a whisper under his breath as he lifted the glass upwards and felt the night air hit his face.
"Oh! Jungkook!" You exclaimed, sitting up straighter as you noticed his presence, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to intrude, I'll go back in if you want."
"H-Hi (Y/N), it's OK don't say sorry," he quickly assured, swinging one leg outside his window to carefully balance on the same branch you were sitting on.
You watched as he came closer and sat next to you, his legs also hanging off the branch as he faced the sunset, trying not to think about what Jimin had said and avoiding looking at your face.
Jungkook had been getting a lot more comfortable around you but now Jimin had pretty much ruined that as he found his anxiety returning in your presence.
"You should kiss her Kookie,"
He cleared his throat and did his best to dispose of Jimin's terrible and forward advice from his mind.
"How are you?" He asked, finally turning to face you after pumping himself up.
"I'm good. How about you?"
"Good."
Darn it. The silence was so awkward. This wasn't supposed to happen. After the two of you had mutually agreed on a friendship, shouldn't things begin running smoothly? Yet there you were, awkwardly sitting together without saying a word. You noticed that Jungkook seemed extra nervous and shifted around more uncomfortably.
You could have just left, but... you really didn't want to. You liked Jungkook and after the confirmation of friendship you told yourself you would do everything you could to make it successful during the summer. You didn't know what would happen in the school year.
You quickly realized that no matter how bad you were at it, you would have to be the one to lead conversation with your nervous friend. It was difficult, but you were willing to do it.
"How's your sunburn?" You prompted, "Your face seems better."
As you had been thinking Jungkook had still been staring at you and found that when you spoke, he forgot to listen. He noticed you looking at him, waiting for a response, and blinked, his eyes widening as he realized his mistake.
"I-I'm so sorry, but can you say again?" He nervously told you, clenching the fabric of his pants in his sweaty hands.
"Jungkook are you OK?" You asked with a frown, "Why are you so nervous?"
"I'm fine."
He wasn't. He hated himself for his fears. Why had Jimin suggested getting your number?! Now it was all he could think about as he was scared he could potentially ruin the friendship with you that had been working on building up.
He remembered how much fun the two of you had had at the pool and took a deep breath. He could do this.
"I'm sorry," he told you, "I'm just... nervous about my English." It wasn't NOT true...
"Oh!" You exclaimed, relieved that there was nothing wrong, "Don't worry about it, I don't mind. I think your English is pretty good, especially your pronunciation."
"Really?" He squeaked, clearing his throat with a blush. This was the best compliment you ever could have given him as he found his spirits soaring and became more confident.
"Yeah!" You assured him with a smile. He found his own self smiling as he became very happy.
"So, what are you doing? Here?" Jungkook asked, tapping on the branch the two of you were sitting on. Your eyes flickered down to the paper your poem was written on and shyly fingered it in your hands. Jungkook's eyes followed yours and he looked at the paper in curiosity.
"Well... I was writing something and it flew out the window. Then I stopped to watch the sunset."
"Writing? What writing? I mean, what are you writing?" Jungkook questioned, having to take a few attempts.
"Um... a poem." You shyly admitted.
Jungkook smiled and reached out a little, insinuating that he wanted to read it. You hid the paper behind your back, insecure of your work.
After pouting, Jungkook huffed and quickly snatched it from behind your back; turning away from you so you couldn't take it and he could read it.
"HEY!" You exclaimed angrily, pressing up against the now playful boy's back to try to get the paper. His shoulders were too wide though and you couldn't reach. "Jungkook!" You whined, "Give it back!"
He just laughed and held it up high out of your grasp. Placing a hand on his shoulder, you tried to pull his arm down and take it back from him but to no prevail. He was much too strong.
Jungkook's senses were on high alert as you got so close to him and touched him but found his anxiety not as bad as he thought it would be. You really must have been something special to be able to calm his nerves with just your presence. You made him not able to stop smiling.
After a few glances at the paper though, he found that his attempts were useless and shyly handed it back to you.
You stuck your tongue out at him and quickly snatched it back with a huff. Although angry, you found that you really liked Jungkook's playful and childish side.
"I can't read it," he admitted with a shy smile, "The words are big. You must be smart,"
You laughed a little as he admitted he didn't even understand the words and playfully hit his arm.
"Serves you right. But thank you."
You smiled at each other again before tearing your eyes away to catch the last of the sunset.
"It's pretty," you murmured, staring at the fading colors. Jungkook couldn't help but agree. As the sun disappeared completely and it got dark, you cleared your throat to catch his attention and began standing.
"I guess I better go in now-" You began but was interrupted by Jungkook grabbing your wrist and pulling you back down. You almost lost your balance and had to grab onto him in order to steady yourself.
"I'm so sorry!" He apologized with a blush, grabbing onto you as well to make sure you didn't fall, which would have been unfortunate. "I just wanted to ask you something."
You looked at him quizzically as he quickly unlatched his arms from around you and you lessened your hold on his shoulders to pull away. Jungkook steadied his breathing to the best of his ability and tried to calm down his frantic heart.
"C-Can I have your number?" He asked quickly, the words running past his lips faster than his brain could acknowledge and ponder what he was saying. He did this on purpose due to the fact that if he thought about it too hard he might chicken out.
"Oh!" You exclaimed, your eyes widening, "Of course!"
Jungkook felt his body relaxing in absolute relief as you exuberantly responded to his request and began smiling again as the both of you took out your phones. You didn't have many contacts in your phone and it felt almost satisfying to you when you inserted the new number in after Jungkook gave it to you.
After a slight moment of hesitation, you input his name as Kookie. You didn't tell him because you thought it might be weird, but ever since he told you his friends back in Korea called him that you couldn't stop thinking about how cute and fitting the nickname was.
"Thank you!" Jungkook exclaimed after making you an official contact and smiled at you.
"No problem, see you soon! Bye!" You called out while carefully standing up and making your way back to your room.
"S-See you soon!" He called back, smiling widely before going back towards his window. After making his way back to his room, he was still grinning as he collapsed on his bed.
"It wasn't that bad," He murmured to himself as he stared up at the ceiling, "She's so nice, I don't need to get nervous anymore. I think... maybe I'm getting over my stupid phobia!"
He was very happy at that thought as he fingered his phone in his hands. Jungkook had always been nervous around girls, but little by little, you seemed to be making him much more comfortable. Around you at least. He was already playing around with you a little bit much like how he did with his hyung's back home. The two of you really were developing a friendship, and this made Jungkook ecstatic. He had thought he wouldn't have any friends upon arrival, but it was only summer and he already had one.
He almost went to bed, but froze as he found he couldn't stop staring at his phone. Would it be weird to text you...?
Before he could ponder it too hard, he unlocked his phone and typed,
Good night :)
After throwing his phone on his nightstand, he jumped when only a few seconds later his phone buzzed.
Night!
~~~
"WHY WOULD YOU TELL JIMIN!?"
"I'm sorry! It slipped! He was complaining about how you're not talking to him as much and I accidentally said that he's probably busy with his new friend. Then he asked who... I wasn't thinking and said her name... I'm sorry Kookie, hopefully he didn't embarrass you too badly?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"... but did you get her number?"
"HYUNG!"
"Sorry! I was curious OK?!"
"You guys are seriously driving me crazy.
but... yes. I did get her number."