The steady rain had transformed the schoolyard into a sea of colorful umbrellas. Students hurried to and fro, their voices a soft murmur beneath the drumming of raindrops. Among them, Cha Gyungho walked confidently, the grey scarf wrapped snugly around his neck. His umbrella, a sleek black one, complemented his polished appearance, and he carried himself with an air of effortless charm.
The scarf, which he had proudly claimed to have been a gift from Taehyung, seemed to draw attention like a magnet.
A group of girls nearby stole glances at him, their voices hushed yet tinged with excitement.
"Wow, this is the first time I've seen Gyungho wearing a scarf," one girl said, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "He looks so good."
"Are you kidding?" her friend chimed in, twirling a strand of her hair. "A handsome guy like him would look good even in a burlap sack."
Gyungho's lips twitched into a satisfied smirk as he caught fragments of their conversation. His stride became just a bit more deliberate, his posture a touch straighter. He basked in the attention, feeling every admiring gaze on him like a spotlight.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the courtyard, two girlsâHana and Eunaeâstood beneath a shared umbrella. The drizzle made the vibrant red of their umbrella pop against the dreary grey of the day. As Gyungho passed by, his outfit and the scarf in particular caught their attention.
Hana squinted, her curiosity piqued. "Wait a second," she said, nudging Eunae gently. "Isn't that the scarf you gave to Gyungho?"
Eunae's eyes widened as she focused on the scarf. Her expression shifted from surprise to excitement as she nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes!" she exclaimed, her voice rising slightly over the sound of the rain. "That's definitely the one!"
Hana raised an eyebrow, her interest deepening. "You never mentioned you gave him a scarf. That's kind of... random?"
Eunae giggled, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment. "I guess I forgot to mention my name when I gave it to him," she admitted sheepishly. "I didn't think he'd actually keep it! It's not like I made it or anything special."
Hana tilted her head. "Then why'd you give it to him in the first place?"
Eunae shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes. "It was just something I had lying around. Nine dollars and ninety-nine cents, with free shipping," she said, recalling the exact amount with amusement. "I just stuffed it in randomly. Honestly, I thought he'd throw it away."
Both girls burst into laughter, the absurdity of the situation dawning on them. They couldn't help but watch as Gyungho continued to strut across the courtyard, blissfully unaware of the true origins of his prized scarf.
Hana shook her head, grinning. "Well, I guess it wasn't thrown away after all. He looks like he's showing it off!"
Eunae nodded, her laughter trailing off into giggles. "It's kind of hilarious. If only he knew."
As the two girls shared their private joke, Gyungho remained oblivious, enjoying the admiration of the crowd and the fleeting spotlight the rainy day had bestowed upon him.
_____
In the dimly lit bathroom, the sound of running water echoed softly. Gyungho stood before the mirror, adjusting the grey scarf around his neck with meticulous care. He angled his head slightly, examining his reflection with a smirk of satisfaction, as if he were admiring a masterpiece.
Nearby, Siwoo leaned casually against the wall, his voice low but loud enough to carry to Yejoon, who stood beside him.
"I didn't think Brother Gyu would actually wear that thing," Siwoo muttered, a sneer tugging at his lips. "It looks so cheap. Honestly, I wouldn't even use it as a rag."
The comment earned a soft chuckle from Yejoon, but their conversation abruptly halted when Gyungho shot them a sharp, warning glare through the mirror. Siwoo swallowed hard and quickly looked away, falling silent under the weight of Gyungho's gaze.
At that moment, the bathroom door creaked open slightly, and Jungkook's tall figure appeared in the doorway. He paused, leaning casually against the frame, his dark eyes sharp as they took in the scene. Yejoon noticed him immediately but chose to ignore his presence, continuing the conversation as if Jungkook were invisible.
Yejoon's tone turned deliberately light, though his words carried a subtle bite. "The scarf Taehyung personally knitted for youâit's really something, isn't it? You can tell he put a lot of effort into it."
Gyungho, catching sight of Jungkook's reflection in the mirror, smirked smugly and adjusted the scarf again with exaggerated care. "Of course," he drawled, his voice dripping with self-importance. "He knitted it himself, just to gain my favor. I suppose he's finally realized his mistake."
Jungkook's jaw tightened at Gyungho's words. He poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue, a telltale sign of his growing annoyance, though his expression remained unreadable.
Gyungho, emboldened by his own narrative, continued with a self-assured chuckle. "He'll come back to me eventually. He always does. It's only a matter of time."
Jungkook exhaled sharply through his nose, his patience wearing thin. He turned on his heel without a word, walking away from the bathroom and leaving the scene behind.
As he strode down the hallway, his fingers brushed against the soft fabric of the grey scarf wrapped around his own neckâthe one Taehyung had given him the previous day. He slowed his steps, his hand lingering on the scarf as he replayed Gyungho's words in his mind.
"Do you still like him?" Jungkook thought, his chest tightening as the question echoed in his mind. His hand clenched lightly around the fabric before he let it fall back to his side.
The memory of Taehyung carefully wrapping the scarf around him, his hands gentle and his expression warm, surged to the forefront of Jungkook's thoughts. He let out a quiet sigh and continued walking, his expression softening ever so slightly as the rain outside pattered against the windows.