JJ

The college corridor was gradually emptying. The noise of voices faded, replaced by the hollow echo of footsteps from those rushing to their next class. JJ stood by the window, leaning his shoulder against the cool wall, watching their classmate who had just disappeared around the corner.

He shifted his gaze to the girl standing beside him. She looked as if she knew something the others didn't—confident posture, a slightly mocking glint in her eyes.

JJ chuckled, glancing down at his sneakers, then looked back at her.

"Cook and Freddie said it would be hard for me on my own," he said, lowering his voice. "But they were wrong."

The girl slowly turned her head toward him and raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. Her gaze held a hint of bewilderment mixed with curiosity.

"Well, new class, and my friends stayed in another one," he explained with a shrug. "I thought I'd feel like an outcast. Thanks for taking me under your wing."

She froze for a second, as if processing what she'd heard, and then quietly asked:

"Me?"

"Well, yeah," JJ smiled, and there was more sincerity in that smile than he usually allowed himself to show. "It's obvious you're the one in charge of this crowd. You set the tone; you decide who's in and who's out. If it weren't for you, I doubt anyone would even talk to me."

He took a step closer, closing the distance. The girl didn't back away, only tilting her head slightly to the side. Without hesitation, JJ leaned forward and quickly, almost weightlessly, brushed his lips against her cheek.