[Your POV]
“But Mom! I don’t want a tutor. I’m already good on my own!”
I stood in the living room with my mother, both of us seated on the worn floral couch. She’d called me down from upstairs, claiming she had something important to tell me. I’d braced for another announcement about her business trips, anticipating a somber explanation of delayed departures. Instead, she’d casually dropped the bomb: a three-month assignment abroad, coupled with the arrival of a tutor.
I didn’t *need* a tutor. Okay, maybe I wasn’t top of the class, but I wasn’t struggling either. I could study independently. Yet, that didn’t stop her. She always pushed for academic excellence, but the pressure felt stifling. Most teenagers navigated school for fun, for friendship. I was one of them.
“Lee Y/n, you’re getting a tutor, whether you like it or not. And I’ve arranged for him to act as a house sitter while I’m gone, so you won’t be so lonely.”
Wait. What?
“Babysitter?! Mom, I’m not a baby anymore! I’m seventeen, and in a year I can move out of here and—”
“Enough. You’re not at that age yet, Missy. And how many times do I have to tell you, that while you’re under my roof, you’ll do as I say? Besides, I’m your mother, and don’t you dare yell at me again. Now, go upstairs and study. I’m leaving at six.”
“Ugh, fine.”
Old hag…
“What did you say?” My mother’s voice was sharp.
“Nothing.” I mumbled, then bolted upstairs, slamming my bedroom door behind me. I flung myself onto my bed, grabbed my laptop, and initiated a video call with Minhee, my best friend since second grade.
*Video Call*
MyB: Hey gurl, what’s up?
Misspunchy: Mom hired a tutor. That’s what’s up.
MyB: Ah, no. That’s messed up. You’re not *that* dumb, are you? Wait, yeah, your mom has a point.
Misspunchy: You too, gurl.
MyB: I’m kidding, but seriously, it’s nothing to worry about. And besides, tutors these days are hot young guys. If your mom got you an old man, then you’re toast.
Misspunchy: Fine, fine. I’ll try to ignore it for now. Oh, and Mom’s leaving for another business trip this evening. Wanna crash at my place?
MyB: Sure. My parents are out for a month on “vacation,” so I’ll be there at seven.
Misspunchy: Okay, see ya later.
*End of Video Call*
I leaned back on my bed and sighed, closing my eyes in exhaustion. A few knocks on my door jolted me awake. I glanced up to see my mother standing there.
“Y/n Sweetie, here’s some money for the next three months. Don’t spend it on anything ridiculous, okay? Only use it for things you really need. And I gave your new tutor the address, so if you see a guy knocking on your door, let him in. Oh, his name is Jeon Jungkook, by the way.”
“My tutor is a boy?!”
“Yes.”
“But Mom, what if he rapes me?!” The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
“Silly darling, I’m sure he wouldn’t dare. He’s about your age, only two years older. I think you two would be great friends. Now come here.”
I stood up from my bed and gave my mother a hug. She knew I’d miss her, but she had to work to provide for us both. Since my father died when I was two, she’d carried the weight of our lives alone. I joined her towards the door, gave one last hug, and she pecked my forehead before saying goodbye.
I waved as she climbed into the cab, and watched as it pulled away. Before I could turn back inside, another cab arrived. Minhee’s head popped out, she paid the driver and rushed towards me.
We hugged, and her smile was blindingly bright.
“Woah, what’s with the happy face?” I asked, still slightly dazed.
She grabbed my hand and dragged me inside, slamming the door behind us. I stood there, shocked.
“What the heck is wrong with you today?”
I noticed she was carrying a cage. A small bark echoed from inside. My eyes widened in disbelief. She placed the cage down, and a tiny, fluffy Pomeranian scampered out.
“Ah!!! You got a dog?!”
I scooped up the little dog, and it immediately started licking my face. I giggled, feeling tickles on my nose, while Minhee laughed at me, grabbing the dog from me. I pouted, while she shook her head laughing.
“Yeah, I did. And I brought him here to show you, not for you to steal him from me.”
I laughed, she let the dog loose while bringing her bags and placing them down on one of our sofas, my tummy growled in hunger the same with Minhee, she then laughed again and took out some chips and some soda.
“Wanna watch a movie, Minhee?”
“Sure.”
She slumped onto the couch, placing the chips beside her and the sodas on the coffee table. I went to grab a DVD from our movie box thingy—I don’t really know what it’s called—and chose ‘La La Land.’
“Wanna watch this?” I asked, raising the DVD. She was munching on her chips, removing her attention from her phone, her eyebrows furrowed at the DVD’s name.
“You watched La La Land? I thought you didn’t like those kinds of stuff.”
“Nope, never seen that movie, but also wanted to try to watch, but never had the time to, so why not watch now, right?”
“Yeah sure, why not?”
“I know, so let’s watch this and go sleep right after.”
“Okay.”
I placed the DVD in, grabbed the remote, and sat down. We started eating the chips Minhee brought. Halfway through the movie, Minhee’s phone rang. It was her dad. She excused herself, leaving the room.
I paused the movie and scrolled through Instagram, liking a few posts and laughing at some memes. Then I heard a scream. I looked up and saw Minhee frantically grabbing her bag, running for the door. I chased after her and grabbed her arm.
“Minhee, what’s wrong?!”
“Dad called and told me he’s in the hospital. Mom was rushed to the ER!”
“What?! I thought they were out for a month!”
“Yeah, they were supposed to be. They came back to collect some things and Mom had a stroke. They’re in the hospital right now, Y/n. I need to go there, now!”
“Um-um okay, I’ll drive you. Come on.”
“Okay, thank you.”
We ran towards the garage, and I grabbed my keys from my pockets and started the engine. Minhee already opened the gate, and we sped towards the hospital. She told me she’d call if there was any news and I should just go home. I protested, but she insisted, and I couldn’t argue. I agreed and turned back home.
The gate opened automatically, and I drove inside. I parked the car and stepped out. A man in a red hoodie and black jeans stood by the door. He turned around—and my God, he was gorgeous.
He smiled at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and I felt my heart melt. He bowed slightly, and I instinctively mirrored the gesture.
“My name is Jungkook, and I’m looking for Lee Y/n? Is she here?”
My eyes widened. Could this handsome stranger be my tutor? It was almost too much to believe.