Jungkook’s fingers deftly flipped a page, the soft rustle of the paperback a stark contrast to the drone of Professor Kim’s voice explaining the intricacies of balance sheets.

Sunlight streamed through the large windows of the lecture hall in Seoul, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, but Jungkook’s world was currently confined to the dramatic cliffhanger facing the heroine in his fantasy novel.

He was perched precariously on the edge of his wooden chair in his commerce class, pretending to take notes, while his textbook lay open just enough to conceal his illicit reading material.

“Mr. Jeon?” Professor Kim’s sharp voice cut through Jungkook’s concentration like a knife. Jungkook’s head snapped up, a flush creeping up his neck. He blinked, trying to look attentive.

“Yes, Professor?” he mumbled, his heart thumping against his ribs.

“Perhaps you could enlighten us on the difference between assets and liabilities?” The professor’s gaze was unwavering, a hint of amusement playing around his lips.

Jungkook’s mind went blank. Balance sheets, assets, liabilities – they were all a hazy blur compared to the intricate magic system he had been engrossed in moments ago. He swallowed hard, his eyes darting around the room for a lifeline.

“Uh… assets are… things the company owns?” he offered weakly, the words sounding pathetic even to his own ears.

A few stifled giggles rippled through the class. Professor Kim sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “And liabilities, Mr. Jeon?”

Jungkook’s gaze fell back to his open textbook, his eyes desperately scanning the visible paragraphs, hoping for a miracle. He spotted the words ‘financial obligations’ and seized upon them. “Liabilities are… financial obligations?” he repeated, his voice gaining a sliver of confidence, though he wasn't entirely sure if he was even using the phrase correctly in context.

“Close enough,” Professor Kim conceded with a weary smile. “Perhaps you’ll find the intricacies of financial obligations more engaging if you paid a little more attention, Mr. Jeon.”

“Yes, Professor,” Jungkook mumbled, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. He discreetly tucked his novel deeper under his textbook as the professor continued his lecture, vowing to at least feign interest for the next few minutes. The heroine could wait; his GPA, unfortunately, could not.

The lecture bell finally rang, a sweet symphony to Jungkook’s ears. He sighed in relief, quickly shoving his novel into his backpack before gathering his other belongings. The classroom emptied quickly as students rushed out, eager to escape. Jungkook slung his backpack over his shoulder and was just about to head for the door when a familiar voice called his name.

“Jungkook! You almost fell asleep in there, didn’t you?”

Jimin's mischievous grin was the first thing Jungkook saw as he turned around. Jimin, with his fluffy blond hair and bright eyes, was a stark contrast to Jungkook’s more somber demeanor. He was always full of energy and seemed to effortlessly breeze through classes while Jungkook struggled.

“I was not!” Jungkook protested half-heartedly, though the blush on his cheeks betrayed him. “Professor Kim just has this talent for making balance sheets sound like a lullaby.”

Jimin laughed, slinging an arm around Jungkook’s shoulder. “You and me both, Kookie. I swear I was just drawing little doodles in my notebook to stay awake.” He then leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “So, how’s the book going? Don't tell me the hero is still stuck in that cursed forest.”

“He is, actually,” Jungkook said with a dramatic sigh. “And the heroine just confessed her feelings, but he’s too busy trying to find a way out to even notice.”

“Aish, typical,” Jimin said, shaking his head with mock disappointment. “So, what are we doing for lunch? I’m starving.”

Jungkook’s stomach rumbled in agreement. “How about that new tteokbokki place near the campus gate? I heard their cheese tteokbokki is amazing.”

“Sounds perfect,” Jimin agreed, his face lighting up. “Let’s go.”

As they walked out of the building and into the bustling campus courtyard, the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the manicured lawns.

The air was filled with the chatter of students and the distant sound of a ball being kicked around on the sports field. Jungkook felt a sense of peace settle over him, the earlier embarrassment forgotten.

He was just a regular college student, on his way to get lunch with his best friend. He had no idea what fate had in store for him in the city of Seoul.

Jungkook’s good intentions of studying for his commerce class lasted exactly one hour after lunch. The library, a haven of quiet and focused minds, proved too tempting.

He was supposed to be reviewing his notes, but the allure of the fiction section was a siren song he couldn’t resist.

He found himself wandering the familiar aisles, his fingers tracing the spines of various books, a comfortable smile on his face.

He had already devoured most of the fantasy and sci-fi sections, and today, he was in the mood for something different. He stopped in front of a shelf marked ‘Myth and Folklore’, his eyes scanning the titles.

That's when he saw it. Tucked between a worn-out copy of a book on Greek myths and a collection of old Korean folktales, was a novel with a simple, black cover. The title, embossed in a deep crimson, read: Children of the Night.

Intrigued, Jungkook pulled the book out. The cover was simple yet elegant, and the pages had a faint, musty smell that he found appealing. He opened the book to the first page, his eyes catching the first line: He was a creature of darkness, born of shadow and moonlight, with a thirst that could never be quenched.

Jungkook’s heart gave a little jolt. A vampire story. He had read a few, of course, but this one felt… different. More serious, less about romance and more about the darkness of the creatures themselves.

He flipped through the pages, the text filled with descriptions of ancient castles, eternal life, and the brutal reality of a vampire's existence.

Suddenly, a voice startled him. "Ah, you're a fan of fantasy, I see."

Jungkook spun around, the book still in his hands. He was met with the kind eyes of the library's archivist, a kind, elderly man named Mr. Lee.

"Oh, uh, yes, I am," Jungkook stammered, holding up the book. "I just found this. It looks interesting."

Mr. Lee chuckled softly, a knowing look in his eyes. "That's a very old book. Very few people ever take it out. It's said to be one of the most accurate accounts of the legends."

Jungkook's eyebrows shot up. "Accurate? But... it's just a story, right?"

"Is it?" Mr. Lee's smile was enigmatic. "Some legends are based on a grain of truth. You never know what's lurking in the shadows of Seoul."

He winked before turning to attend to another student, leaving Jungkook alone with the book and a sudden, thrilling chill running down his spine. He clutched the book to his chest, his curiosity piqued.

He decided right then and there that he had to read it, regardless of his impending commerce exam. The mysteries of the night, even in the form of a fictional story, were far more compelling than financial obligations.

TBC 💜

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AUTHOR - BEAR 🐻