#off the road

Like this shit is literally a hobby? You can't even get paid for it, do you need online social credit that badly, and you can't even DOUBLE CHECK THE WORK YOU'RE POSTING?

part four. part five paring. older brother's best friend x reader genre. street racing, angst, slow burn, etc! word count. 3.7K+ summary. racing was his life and nothing was more important until you came into his line of fire... status. ongoing ⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒ waking up with the light shining on my face, i grab my phone and scroll through it for a few minutes before tossing it back onto my bed. with a sigh, i finally push myself up, stretching as i blink away the last traces of sleep. i shuffle towards the window, pulling open the curtains to let the morning light flood my room. the brightness stings my tired eyes for a moment, but i welcome the warmth.

dragging my feet, i make my way toward the bathroom, already dreading the long day ahead. turning the faucet on, i splash cold water onto my face, hoping it’ll wake me up. the chill sends a shiver down my spine, but it does the trick. i stare at my reflection in the mirror, my hair a tangled mess and my eyes still heavy with sleep. with a tired sigh, i grab my toothbrush and begin my usual routine, letting the monotony of it all settle my thoughts.

after freshening up, i head back to my room, i walk to my desk chair and grab my uniform sitting on there. slipping into my outfit, i run a brush through my hair, attempting to tame the chaos.

grabbing my bag from the chair, i check my phone one last time—no new notifications, just the usual. with a deep breath, i sling my bag over my shoulder and step out of my room.

stepping into the hallway, the apartment is eerily quiet, save for the distant hum of the city outside. i glance toward the living room, half-expecting to see jimin lounging on the couch, but it’s empty. jungkook’s door is shut, and for a brief moment, i wonder if he’s awake yet. shaking off the thought, i head to the kitchen, my stomach twisting with the familiar pang of hunger.

i grab a slice of bread, lazily popping it into the toaster before leaning against the counter, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. my mind still feels foggy, weighed down by the remnants of sleep and the lingering unease from last night.

the toaster pops, snapping me out of my daze. i grab the toast, taking a small bite as i glance at the clock. i need to leave soon if i don’t want to be late. chewing quickly, i gulp down a glass of water before grabbing my keys and heading for the door.

just as i reach for the handle, i hear a door creak open behind me. turning my head slightly, i see jungkook stepping out of his room, his hair a tousled mess, eyes still heavy with sleep. he pauses when he notices me, his gaze flickering over my appearance like he’s trying to read something unspoken.

“you’re up early,” he murmurs, voice rough from sleep.

i nod, tightening my grip on my bag. “class,” i say simply, not trusting myself to say more.

he hums in response, running a hand through his hair. there’s something about the way he looks right now—so effortlessly disheveled, so unlike the guarded presence he carried last night. it’s almost unnerving.

“do you usually leave this early?” he asks, leaning against the doorway.

i hesitate, not sure why he’s making small talk. “yeah,” i reply after a beat. “depends on the day.”

he nods, his expression unreadable. for a second, it feels like he’s about to say something else, but then jimin’s door swings open, breaking the moment.

“oh? you two are up already?” jimin’s voice is thick with sleep, but his usual cheerfulness is there. he ruffles his own bedhead, blinking at us before grinning. “cute.”

i roll my eyes. “i’m leaving,” i mutter, turning toward the door.

“have fun at class, y/nnie!” jimin calls after me.

as i make my way down to the parking garage, the quiet hum of the city fades behind me, replaced by the echo of my own footsteps against the concrete floor. the dim fluorescent lights cast a cold glow over the rows of parked cars, the air heavy with the scent of oil and faint traces of exhaust.

reaching my car, i unlock it and slide into the driver’s seat, tossing my bag onto the passenger side. the familiar routine of starting my car is second nature—foot on the brake, key in the ignition, turn.

except… nothing happens.

frowning, i try again. the engine stutters weakly before falling silent. my stomach drops. i exhale slowly, adjusting my grip on the wheel before attempting once more. the same sputter, the same failure.

“seriously?” i mutter under my breath, pressing my forehead against the steering wheel. this is not how i wanted to start my day. looking at my phone and watching the time, i sigh in frustration. with a quiet huff, i push the car door open, stepping out into the cold air of the parking garage.

locking the door behind me, i toss the keys into my bag and sling it over my shoulder, not wanting to bother jimin at such an early time, my feet move quickly as i make my way toward the exit, my mind already shifting to plan b—taking the train. it’s not ideal, but at least it’ll get me to class on time.

the morning air outside is crisp, the city already alive with the sounds of traffic and distant chatter. i pull my jacket tighter around me as i walk briskly toward the station, weaving through the early commuters.

as i descend the stairs, the familiar scent of metal and concrete fills my senses. the train platform is bustling with people—some staring at their phones, others clutching coffee cups, their tired faces mirroring how i feel.

checking the time again, i exhale sharply. hopefully, the train will come soon.

as i step onto the train platform, the cold air seems to settle into my bones, making me shiver despite my jacket. the dull hum of the city above is replaced by the screech of distant trains and the rhythmic chatter of early commuters. i glance up at the digital display board—three minutes until the next train. good. i can make it on time if there are no delays.

shifting my weight from foot to foot, i pull my phone out and check my notifications. nothing important. just jimin sending a dumb meme and a few unread messages i don’t feel like answering. but just as i go to lock my screen, i get this weird feeling—like someone’s watching me.

my grip on my phone tightens as i casually glance around. the platform isn’t empty, but no one seems out of place. office workers, students, a few older folks heading into the city. nothing unusual. still, the feeling lingers, a prickling sensation running down my spine.

the train's arrival cuts through my thoughts, the doors sliding open with a hiss. i step inside, choosing a spot near the doors, gripping the cold metal pole as more people shuffle in. the space is tight, the air thick with a mix of coffee, perfume, and the faint scent of rain-soaked concrete.

just as the doors begin to close, a last-minute passenger slips in. i barely pay attention until i sense someone standing closer than necessary. too close.

i turn my head slightly, and my breath catches.

jungkook.

he’s standing just a few feet away, his hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie, dark eyes already locked onto mine. my stomach twists, a mix of surprise and something else i can’t quite place.

"your car wouldn’t start?" he asks, his voice low, barely audible over the train's movement.

i blink. "how do you—"

"i saw you in the garage," he says simply, tilting his head as if studying me. "thought you'd ask for help."

“it’s fine” i say nervously as i bite the corner of my lip, a bad habit of mines.

the train jerks forward, and i stumble slightly, my fingers tightening around the pole for balance. jungkook shifts effortlessly with the movement, barely fazed, and for some reason, that annoys me.

“so, you take the train too?” i ask, more to fill the silence than anything.

he doesn’t answer right away, just glances at me before looking ahead. “not usually.”

my brows furrow. “so why today?”

a beat of silence. then—

“maybe i had a feeling,” he says, his lips curling slightly. “or maybe i just wanted to see if you’d ask me for help.”

nodding my head in response is all i do while the train speeds through the tunnels, the city blurring past the windows. despite the crowded space, the only thing i seem to notice is him.

the train ride stretches between us, filled with the distant hum of conversations and the rhythmic clatter of wheels on tracks. i grip the pole a little tighter, suddenly hyper-aware of jungkook's presence beside me. he’s quiet, but not in a way that makes him fade into the background. no—he’s the kind of quiet that demands attention, the kind that pulls you in even when you don’t mean to look.

i steal a glance at him, but he’s already looking at me. caught, i quickly turn away, my face heating up.

"what?" i mutter, pretending to focus on the floor.

"nothing," he says, but there's an edge of amusement in his voice.

i sigh, shifting my weight. "do you always stare at people like that?"

"only when they're interesting."

my head snaps up, eyes narrowing. "i'm not interesting."

he tilts his head slightly, studying me. "if you say so."

before i can come up with a response, the train slows, the automated voice announcing the next station. my stop. i exhale in relief, glad to have an excuse to escape whatever weird tension is buzzing between us.

as the doors slide open, i push forward, slipping through the crowd and onto the platform. the cool morning air hits me immediately, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the packed train. i adjust my bag and start walking, hoping jungkook will just stay on the train and let this encounter end here.

but, of course, he doesn’t.

his footsteps fall in sync with mine, effortlessly keeping pace. "you walk fast," he comments.

"you follow people a lot?" i counter, glancing at him.

he smirks. "only when they’re interesting."

i groan. "you really have to stop saying that."

"why? does it make you nervous?"

i scoff. "no. it makes me annoyed."

"mm," he hums, as if unconvinced.

i shake my head, choosing to ignore him as i weave through the busy sidewalks. the highschool was just a few blocks away, and all i needed to do was get there without letting jungkook crawl under my skin any more than he already has.

but when we finally reach the school gates, he doesn’t turn in another direction. he just keeps walking beside me, his hands tucked into his hoodie pockets like this is the most natural thing in the world.

i frown. “are you gonna leave?” “get in first then i’ll leave.”

walking in the gates, i wait a bit until i look back to see jungkook walking down the street with his hands in his pockets 

the morning rush is a blur of half-awake students trudging through the hallways, the air thick with the hum of conversations and the occasional slamming of lockers. i weave through the crowd, keeping my head down, gripping the straps of my bag a little tighter. i’m already late.

my car breaking down this morning completely threw off my routine. i barely made it onto the train, and even then, i had to endure jungkook’s presence the entire ride. he didn’t even have to be there—he just seemed to enjoy making my morning more difficult. now, i was rushing through the halls, trying to make it to first period before the final bell.

as i slip into my seat, the teacher barely spares me a glance before continuing the lesson. i let out a slow breath, sinking into my chair, but the uneasy feeling from this morning lingers.

jungkook.

i don’t know why he bothers me so much. maybe it’s because he’s jimin’s friend, and that alone means i’ll be seeing him more than i’d like. or maybe it’s the way he looks at me—like he knows something i don’t. like he finds me amusing.

i shake the thought away, forcing myself to focus. whatever. he’s just some random guy from jimin’s university. he doesn’t matter.

— Lunchtime rolls around, and I sit at my usual spot in the cafeteria, absentmindedly pushing my food around on my tray while my friends chatter around me. The noise of the cafeteria blends into the background as I scroll through my phone, my notifications flooded with messages from Jimin.

minnie <3:i heard your car wouldn’t start this morning.let me know when class ends, i’ll pick you up.

i sigh, already knowing there’s no point in arguing, but i try anyway.

you:it’s fine, i can just take the train home.

almost immediately, another message pops up.

minnie <3:just call me when you're done.

i roll my eyes but can’t help the small smile tugging at my lips. typical jimin—acting like i can’t function on my own just because he’s not around. ever since he left for university, he’s been even more overbearing than usual, checking in constantly like I’m some helpless kid.

"who’s got you looking all annoyed?" minji asks, setting her tray down across from me.

"jimin," i mumble, locking my phone and tossing it onto the table.

mai snickers. "what’s he freaking out about this time?"

"my car wouldn’t start this morning, so now he’s acting like i need a personal escort home."

minji raises an eyebrow. "didn’t you already get one this morning?"

i frown. "what?"

mai smirks. "don’t play dumb, y/n. you know what we’re talking about."

i shift in my seat, pretending to be confused, but my heart rate picks up. "i seriously have no idea what you’re talking about." minji scoffs. "the guy you walked in with this morning? tall, black hoodie, piercings—basically looks like trouble, but a hot one.”

i blink. right. Of course people saw.

jungkook.

"It’s not like that," i say quickly, shaking my head. "he just... happened to be there."

"right," minji drawls, clearly unconvinced. mai and minji exchange a knowing glance before turning back to me, matching smirks on their faces.

"sure," mai says, dragging out the word. "so, you just happened to walk side by side? and he just happened to look at you like he actually wanted to be there?"

i huff, crossing my arms. "you guys are reading too much into it."

"are we?" minji leans forward, resting her chin on her hand. "because i distinctly remember seeing him glance back at you even after you walked through the gates. like, I don't know, maybe he wanted to make sure you got in safely or something?"

mai gasps dramatically. "a protective bad boy? how romantic!"

i groan, covering my face with my hands. "oh my god, shut up."

"just saying," mai teases, nudging my arm. "jungkook’s hot, and he’s new, in a sense you’ve never seen him before and he’s your older brother's best friend, you could do so much worse."

i shake my head. "jimin would actually kill me if he even thought something was going on between us."

minji raises an eyebrow, a sly grin tugging at her lips. "since when do you care about what jimin thinks?"

"since forever," i mumble, picking at my food again, my thoughts spinning. "he's literally my brother."

mai shrugs, clearly unconcerned. "and? that’s never stopped anyone before."

"yeah," minji chimes in, wiggling her eyebrows in a way that makes me want to hide under the table. "forbidden romance? i love that trope."

i shoot her a deadpan look, my cheeks heating up. "this is not a romance."

minji hums, tapping a manicured finger against the table, as if she’s savoring the moment. "then what is it? because from what i saw this morning, it sure looked like he was walking you in, not just going his own way." "like i said, you guys are reading too much into it," i reply quickly, trying to keep my voice steady, but it’s hard with the heat creeping up my neck. my mind is already flashing back to this morning—jungkook walking next to me, his eyes flicking over to make sure i was okay, his presence lingering as if he had no intention of just leaving me behind.

“uh-huh,” minji drawls, clearly not buying it. “sure, whatever you say. but tell me this, y/n: why do you look like you’re about to burst into flames every time we bring him up?”

i roll my eyes, forcing a laugh, but it's shaky. "i’m not. i just—" i pause, glancing around at their expectant faces. "look, it’s not like that. he’s just... new. jimin’s friend. that’s it."

mai leans forward, her gaze piercing. "and you’re sure that’s all it is? because, honestly, he doesn’t exactly look like a 'just jimin’s friend' kind of guy. not with that whole ‘i could steal your soul with one glance’ vibe he’s got going on."

i groan, covering my face with my hands. "why are you guys making this so complicated? i told you, i barely know him."

minji smirks, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "uh-huh. sure. keep telling yourself that." she looks over at mai, giving her a knowing look. “you know, we could totally make a whole drama out of this. jungkook and y/n—secrets, tension, the works.”

“please, no,” i mutter, sinking lower in my seat, wishing for the floor to swallow me up.

"okay, okay, we’ll lay off," mai says, holding up her hands in mock surrender, but her grin says otherwise. "for now."

"yeah, yeah," minji says with a wink. "we'll just have to keep our eyes peeled, that's all."

i exhale sharply, wishing lunch could end already. "you guys are ridiculous."

hearing the bell finally ring, i quickly grab my things and bid goodbye to minji and mai, who are still whispering to each other with teasing grins. as much as i wanted to stay and argue my non-existent "romance" with jungkook, the last thing i needed was more attention.

i make my way down the halls, weaving through the crowd of students, my mind still a little foggy from the conversation. pulling my biology textbook out of my locker, i grab the books i need for class and head toward the science wing.

when i step into the classroom, i glance around, already knowing my usual spot in the back corner by the window. i drop my bag onto the floor beside me and sit down, the familiar hum of chatter from the other students slowly fading into the background. i take a deep breath, trying to clear my thoughts as i pull my glasses from my bag and put them on, the cool metal of the frames settling comfortably on the bridge of my nose.

opening the textbook, i start reading through the chapter we’re covering today, focusing on the diagrams and notes. i’m trying to concentrate, but all i can think about is jungkook. his eyes, the way he walked beside me, how effortlessly we seemed to be in sync even though we didn’t know each other. the image of him glancing back as he walked away this morning flickers in my mind, and for a moment, i’m lost in it.

shaking my head, i try to shake off the fog in my brain and focus again on the teacher. i can hear the words, but they don’t seem to stick, so i keep writing, scribbling down whatever i think is important. it’s almost like my hand is on autopilot. before i know it, the bell rings, loud and sudden, and it snaps me back to reality.

the class is over. i quickly shove everything into my bag, slinging it over my shoulder without a second thought. as i walk out of the classroom, i grab my earbuds from the front pocket of my backpack and slip them into my ears, tuning out the noise of the crowded hallway.

i make my way down the stairs, the steady rhythm of my footsteps the only thing i’m aware of. i had meant to call jimin, but the thought slips from my mind as soon as i hit the bottom.

walking through the school doors, the cool air hits my face, a welcome change from the stale classrooms. i take a few steps out and head toward the gates, my eyes glued to the ground. but then, i look up and stop.

leaning against the door of a 1996 nissan 180 sx, with that same lazy grin plastered on his face, is someone i didn’t expect to see.

“missed me?” jungkook’s voice is low and teasing, and i can’t help but feel a little flustered.

looking away, i ask him a simple question. “where’s jimin?”

he shrugs casually, not seeming to care about the fact that i’m avoiding his gaze. “he forgot he had an appointment at the shop today. went down to help a customer. asked me to pick you up instead.”

i shift on my feet, my voice barely above a whisper. “don’t you have a life of your own?”

he grins, his fingers absentmindedly playing with his lip piercing. “i do. but i’ve got the time,” he says, as if it’s no big deal.