seesawsatan

[seesawsatan]

paper hearts and answer sheets (2)

Dinner was a blur of noisy chopsticks, sauce stains, and Hoseok singing dramatically about soy garlic flavor as if it were his long-lost love. Soyeon had dragged a dining chair into the middle of the living room, propped her grading stack on a throw pillow like it was a VIP guest, and was casually judging teenagers while shoveling kimchi stew into her mouth.

Jiwon, sitting cross-legged on the floor next to Jungkook, was no longer on edge. Every few minutes, Soyeon would flip a paper, go silent, then deliver a quote that had the entire room in tears.

“Okay, next masterpiece,” Soyeon declared, licking stew from her chopsticks. “‘The moon is made of cheese because that’s what the astronauts took a bite of when they landed. That’s why Neil Armstrong was smiling.’”

Taehyung choked on his water. “Stop. STOP.”

“No, no—listen to this essay title: ‘Why World War II Was Probably a Group Project.’ I haven’t even read it yet, but I already want to give this kid a scholarship.”

“Can you please let me be a guest lecturer in your class?” Jin begged. “I want to see this comedy live.”

“You can, but you’ll need hazard pay,” Soyeon said. “One of them turned in a blank sheet and wrote at the bottom: ‘Mentally I was present.’”

Namjoon lost it.

Jiwon laughed so hard she almost spilled her tea.

Taehyung, meanwhile, had snuck over and was leaning over Soyeon’s shoulder, reading along.

“Wait, what’s this one?” he asked.

Soyeon tilted the page toward him. “‘Name three types of governments.’ This child wrote: Monarchy, Democracy, and Beyoncé.”

“Honestly? Accurate,” Taehyung nodded.

Jiwon leaned closer to Jungkook. “She’s so funny. Like... accidentally the main character.”

Jungkook beamed. “She’s always like this. The sarcasm is part of the family curse.”

Soyeon suddenly turned to Jiwon with narrowed eyes, waving a particularly heinous answer sheet. “Okay, I have to ask. You’re clearly smart, patient, and not running away screaming. So, what exactly do you like about Jungkook?”

Jungkook: “Hey!”

Jiwon bit back a laugh. “He... doesn’t try too hard. Like, he’s just himself. And he listens. Like really listens, even when I say dumb things.”

“That’s the kind of answer I should be getting in essays,” Soyeon said, mock-offended. “Instead, I get ‘Gandhi invented yoga and then died for it.’”

“I think I would’ve liked your class in high school,” Jiwon grinned.

“Oh, you would’ve thrived. I give bonus points for sarcasm and creative excuses,” Soyeon said, then turned to the rest. “Speaking of which, roll call—what’s the worst excuse you’ve ever used to get out of something?”

Yoongi raised a hand. “I once told my teacher I couldn’t submit my essay because my goldfish died. I didn’t even own a goldfish.”

“Respect,” Soyeon nodded solemnly.

Jungkook: “I once said I was allergic to group projects.”

“That’s not even an excuse. That’s a truth universally acknowledged,” she replied.

Dinner slowly turned into dessert — courtesy of Taehyung raiding their freezer and finding half-melted ice cream and some questionable mochi. They didn’t care. The night had that hazy comfort to it, like a blanket you didn’t want to move from.

Later, the crowd thinned. Jin had gone home to feed his plants (they had names). Hoseok left in search of a midnight donut. Yoongi dozed off on the couch, face half-covered by a cushion. Namjoon and Jimin were whispering about philosophy vs. pineapple on pizza. Jungkook was helping Jiwon clean up the dishes, and Taehyung... was in Soyeon’s room again.

Jiwon hesitated near the hallway, glancing toward that closed door. “Is that... a thing?” she asked Jungkook quietly.

He glanced over. “What, Tae and Soyeon? I mean… it’s not not a thing.”

“Oh.”

“I don’t ask questions. I just make popcorn and stay out of the blast zone.”

Jiwon giggled. “They’re cute together. He’s so soft around her.”

“Everyone is. She’s the boss.”

Soyeon reemerged moments later, now hoodie-free and in her sleepy panda t-shirt, her grading stack now mercifully complete. She flopped onto the armchair like she’d fought a war.

“I have survived seventeen essays about the French Revolution. None of them mentioned bread. None. Do you know how statistically impossible that is?”

Jiwon smiled, curling up beside Jungkook on the couch. “You need a raise.”

“I need a bottle of wine and a class full of mute, genius children,” Soyeon replied.

Taehyung followed her out, brushing imaginary lint from her shoulder. “You forgot ‘hot coworkers.’”

“Please. You teach history through interpretive dance.”

“I’m memorable,” he grinned.

She side-eyed him with a smirk. “Yeah, you’re like a school fire drill. Loud. Chaotic. No one knows what to do.”

Everyone wheezed.

Taehyung just smiled, unfazed. “Still got you to smile, though.”

There was a tiny pink flush on Soyeon’s cheek before she rolled her eyes and plopped down next to Jiwon again. “Alright, interrogation part two: what’s your biggest red flag?”

“Wait—mine?”

“You’re dating my cousin. You don’t get out of this.”

Jiwon thought. “I... cry during animated movies.”

“Red flag. You’ll be emotionally compromised during Up and can’t be trusted to hold a remote.”

Jungkook: “You cried watching ‘Finding Dory.’”

Soyeon: “She forgets her family and still finds them! It’s a cinematic masterpiece!”

Jiwon was laughing so hard her stomach hurt.

Later that night, as everyone left or curled into their respective sleep spaces, Jiwon was waiting near the door, slipping on her shoes.

Jungkook stood beside her. “So...?”

“I had so much fun,” she said, eyes shining. “Your friends are amazing. Your cousin is terrifying. But in a really cool way.”

He grinned. “She likes you, by the way.”

“She interrogated me.”

“That’s how you know.”

Jiwon looked back toward the hallway. “Hey... thanks for inviting me. I was nervous, but... it kinda felt like a weird, warm, chaotic family.”

“That's the goal,” he said softly.

As she stepped out into the quiet night, Jungkook turned and saw Soyeon leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

“She’s good,” Soyeon said.

“I know.”

“And if she breaks your heart, I’ll unleash every sarcastic essay I’ve ever graded onto her soul.”

“Noted.”

Soyeon smirked, ruffling his hair. “Go to bed, idiot.”

“Night, noona.”

[seesawsatan]

paper hearts and answer sheets

The low hum of chatter, the occasional clink of soda bottles, and the warm smell of takeout filled the shared apartment Jungkook called home. It wasn’t fancy, mismatched cushions, half-assembled IKEA furniture, a BTS poster half peeling off the wall — but it was home. And right now, it was also buzzing with energy, thanks to the full lineup of BTS members hanging around.

Jungkook’s knee bounced nervously as he glanced at the door.

“She’s late,” he muttered, earning a smirk from Jimin who was sprawled on the floor, lazily tossing popcorn into his mouth.

“She’s probably just nervous. You did say this is your first proper date night with her,” Namjoon offered, leaning back into the couch with a book still open in his hands.

“It’s not a date,” Jungkook said quickly. “It’s just... she’s meeting you guys. It’s casual.”

“Casual with all of us? That’s terrifying,” Yoongi deadpanned.

Then the buzzer rang.

Jungkook jumped to his feet. “She’s here.”

He rushed to open the door, revealing a petite girl with a nervous smile and wide eyes — Jiwon. Her hands were fidgeting with the hem of her oversized sweater, and her lips parted like she was about to say something, but then lost the words.

“Hey,” Jungkook said softly, smiling. “You look cute.”

She visibly relaxed. “Hi... thanks.”

He brought her in, and all at once, the noise turned into chaos. Introductions flew, hugs were offered, jokes cracked. Jiwon was trying her best not to melt into the floor. Then she noticed something odd — sneakers by the door, neatly lined up. Women’s sneakers.

Before she could ask, a door creaked open from down the hallway. A woman emerged — tall, black sweatpants, messy bun, oversized hoodie that probably belonged to Jungkook at some point. She had a red pen tucked behind her ear and a sleepy look in her eyes.

“Hey,” she said to the room. “Who left the cereal open again? I swear if the ants come back—”

“Not me!” Jungkook raised both hands.

“Wasn’t even here,” Jin chimed in.

Then she turned to Jungkook, eyes briefly landing on Jiwon. “Guest?”

“Oh— yeah. This is Jiwon. My—uh, girlfriend.”

Soyeon gave a short nod. “Cool. I’m Soyeon. Don’t mind the mess in the hallway, I was grading and spilled coffee on a whole stack of essays. Fun times.”

Then she disappeared back into her room, door shutting with a click.

Jiwon blinked. Girlfriend?

Who is that woman?

Why does she live here?

Why is she in sweatpants?

Why does she have coffee-stained homework?

The questions piled up in her head like traffic at rush hour. But she didn’t know how to ask without sounding jealous or weird. So she stayed quiet.

“Hyung, do we still have that frozen dumpling pack?” Jungkook yelled from the kitchen.

“I think Yoongi hid it behind the beer,” Hoseok called back.

While chaos ensued over food prep, Taehyung drifted quietly toward the hallway. No one noticed. Except Jiwon.

She watched him knock gently on the door. It opened, and Soyeon appeared again, red pen still in hand. No words passed between them that she could hear, but he slid inside, and the door closed behind him.

“Does... does Taehyung know her?” Jiwon asked, eyes darting to Jungkook.

“Huh? Yeah. They’ve hung out before,” Jungkook said absentmindedly as he searched for soy sauce.

Jiwon stared at the closed door. Her curiosity now morphed into something that buzzed under her skin.

After a while, when dinner plans were finally sorted (a chaotic fusion of dumplings, ramen, and “whatever we find in the fridge”), Jungkook knocked on Soyeon’s door.

“Hey, we’re starting food prep. You want dumplings or kimchi stew?”

Soyeon looked up from her grading. Taehyung was lounging on her bed, flipping through a notebook filled with sarcastic teacher doodles.

She got up, stretching. “Surprise me.”

“Okay— wait, come meet Jiwon properly.”

“Right,” she smirked. “Let’s interrogate the child.”

Jiwon, still nervously holding a plate of cut veggies, jumped a little when she saw Soyeon emerge from the hallway with Jungkook.

“Hey again,” Soyeon said, plopping down beside her. “You’re Jiwon?”

“Yes, ma’am. I mean— not ma’am. Just yes. I’m Jiwon.”

Soyeon raised an eyebrow, amused. “You’re cute. Nervous. But cute.”

Jiwon chuckled, unsure whether to feel comforted or more on edge.

“So,” Soyeon started, picking up a cucumber slice and examining it like it held secrets, “how long have you been seeing my idiot cousin?”

“Uh… about a month.”

“A month and you’re already at the inner sanctum of BTS chaos?”

Jiwon smiled shyly. “He insisted.”

“I’m surprised you survived the first ten minutes. Jungkook brings home girls like it’s a talent show sometimes. You must be special.”

Jiwon blinked. “W-what?”

“Relax. I’m kidding. Mostly.” Soyeon popped the cucumber into her mouth.

Jungkook groaned. “Noona...”

“I’m just testing her composure,” she replied. “And she’s passing.”

Jiwon finally laughed. “I think I like you.”

“Dangerous words. You haven’t seen me when I’m on my grading warpath.”

Right on cue, she left and returned with a terrifying stack of answer sheets, some already crumpled, many bleeding red ink.

“Alright, let’s play a game,” Soyeon said, dropping the papers on the table like it was poker night. “Guess what this kid meant by ‘The French Revolution was caused by France wanting to become Italy.’”

Everyone burst into laughter.

“Oh my god— what?” Namjoon asked, practically choking.

“I have so many of these,” she said, flipping pages like a magician.

“‘A triangle is just a confused circle’... What the hell does that even mean?” Jimin read, horrified and impressed.

“I swear, grading is the best comedy show I didn’t ask to attend,” Soyeon sighed dramatically.

Jiwon leaned in, peeking at the mess of notes and doodles. “Wait, did this kid draw an anime duck fighting Napoleon?”

“Yes. And somehow it earned a B-minus because the historical context was accidentally correct.”

Everyone laughed again, and the evening softened. Jiwon’s nerves ebbed away under the warmth of jokes, teasing, and the occasional sarcastic roast from Soyeon.

Later, as they ate dumplings in the cramped kitchen, Jiwon nudged Jungkook.

“She’s awesome.”

He smiled, watching Soyeon mock Taehyung over his terrible chopstick skills.

“Yeah,” he said fondly. “She really is.”