The aroma of spicy tteokbokki and sizzling dumplings hung in the air of the campus cafeteria, but Jungkook was oblivious to it all.

While Jimin was enthusiastically devouring his lunch, Jungkook had his head bowed low over the vampire novel. He had placed the book beside his food tray, but his fork was untouched, his attention completely consumed by the words on the page.

Jimin poked a piece of dumpling with his fork, a look of mock exasperation on his face. “Kookie, are you going to eat that, or are you just going to stare at it while your vampire boyfriend gets all the attention?”

Jungkook didn’t even look up. He was reading a passage describing the vampire's unique ability to move through shadows as if they were water.

He read the words aloud, a soft, poetic whisper. “He was the essence of night, a fleeting whisper in the dark, a silent dance between moonlight and shadow. He moved with a grace that was both beautiful and terrifying, a paradox born of eternal twilight.”

Jimin put down his fork with a loud clatter, a so done expression plastered on his face. “Jungkook, I swear, if you don't eat something, I'm going to feed you myself.”

Jungkook finally looked up, blinking as if he had just woken from a dream. “Jimin, you don't understand. This book... it’s not just a story. It feels like a historical account. The way it describes things… the shadows, the moon, the sense of a presence… it’s so specific.”

Jimin leaned forward, his voice dropping to a serious tone. “Okay, look. I get that you’re into it. But you’re acting strange. You’ve been distracted all day. You’re not even eating. It’s just a book, Kookie. A very dramatic book, clearly.”

Jungkook sighed, pushing his tray away. "It's not just a book, Jimin. The other night, when I was reading... the window just flew open. And a black feather fell out of the pages. I'm telling you, it was weird."

Jimin’s eyebrows shot up, but then he quickly recovered, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “A feather? Kookie, you live on the fifth floor. Maybe a bird hit your window and you just didn’t notice. Come on, don't let some cheesy fantasy novel get into your head.”

Jungkook didn’t respond, his gaze returning to the pages of the book. Jimin was a pragmatist; he would never understand the strange pull the story had on him.

To Jimin, it was just a story. To Jungkook, it felt like the beginning of one. He ran his hand over the book's cover, the embossed title feeling warmer than before.

That night, with his commerce textbook open and a fresh cup of coffee beside him, Jungkook made a pact with himself.

The professor's disappointed look was still fresh in his mind, and he knew he had to get his priorities straight. The vampire novel, as captivating as it was, couldn't be his only focus.

He scribbled a small note on the corner of his textbook: Academic life first. Novel time only after midnight, for exactly one hour.

He took a deep breath, determined to stick to his new rule. He powered through chapters on market analysis and financial forecasting, his mind a whirlwind of numbers and theories. Every now and then, his eyes would drift to the mysterious black book on his nightstand, the lure of the story a constant presence. He would tell himself, "Just a little longer. Just get through this section."

As the clock on his laptop hit 12:00 a.m., Jungkook slammed his textbook shut with a satisfying thud. "Okay, now for the good stuff," he murmured to himself.

He practically leapt for the novel, a small thrill running through him. He settled back in his chair, the feeling of the book in his hands a comforting weight. The characters and plot were his reward for a night of hard work. The story picked up where he left off, and he found himself devouring the pages, lost in the ancient world once more.

He had just finished a chapter where the vampire protagonist was contemplating the nature of his existence when his phone buzzed. It was a message from Jimin.

Jimin: Still reading that book? I knew you couldn't stay away. Don't forget your one-hour rule!

Jungkook smiled, a little surprised Jimin remembered their conversation.

Jungkook: Just started. Don't worry, I'm sticking to the rules. Gotta be responsible, you know?

Jimin: That's my boy. Now get some sleep. We have that awful macroeconomics class tomorrow morning.

Jungkook closed the book reluctantly, a little disappointed that his hour was up so quickly. He placed the book back on his nightstand and got into bed.

He closed his eyes, his mind still replaying scenes from the novel. The world of vampires and ancient power felt so much more real than the one with balance sheets and market trends.

As he drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but wonder what he would read about tomorrow. The one-hour rule was in place, but his fascination with the story was only growing.

TBC 💜

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AUTHOR - BEAR 🐻