Autumnal Equinox (JinJi)

Nine

Homeward Route

When they were fifteen and nearing the end of their first year in high school, Jisoo correctly guessed that Mark and Nayeon would be the first ones in their class to start dating. Which wasn't that big a deal, since nearly everyone knew that they were secretly crushing on each other since middle school.

Still, Jinyoung and Jisoo were a little shocked when Mark told them after school that day that he wouldn't be walking home with them that day or from then on. He'd be walking with Nayeon, instead.

"Didn't I tell you they would be the first one's in our grade to date?" Jisoo said. It was mid-afternoon. She and Jinyoung were making their way home after school. She was playing a game on his Nintendo DS and walking at the same time.

Jinyoung had his arms outstretched for balance as he walked on top of a low brick wall.

"Big deal," Jinyoung said. "Everyone knew they were going to get together eventually."

"Yeah, but I was the first one to say it," Jisoo said.

Of course, everyone in class had their crushes. They sent each other secret admirer valentines and passed notes in class with multiple choice questions like "Do you like me? Yes, no, maybe? Circle one." But Mark and Nayeon were the first ones to actually take action, and their courage would unknowingly give other potential couples in their class permission to do the same.

"So, Mark and Nayeon are a thing now," Jinyoung said, jumping down from the wall. "Who else do you think is going to start dating?"

Jisoo paused and thought for a minute.

"Jackson and Hana. They're next. I can feel it," Jisoo said, closing Jinyoung's Nintendo and handing it back to him. "They're literally always together now, and they walk home together, and they're friends, but something's going to click, and they'll start dating. Or maybe Krystal and Jongin. Personally, I don't think Jongin is serious about her, but if he asked Krystal, she probably wouldn't say no."

"What about Jaebum and that goth girl, Jennie?" he laughed as soon as he said it. He had caught Jaebum staring at Jennie before, during baseball practice when she was sitting under the bleachers reading thick Bronte novels. Everyone on the team had a good laugh about that when Jinyoung pointed it out, but he low-key thought it was kind of sweet that the baseball team captain and most popular boy in class had a crush on the dark loner girl.

"I wish him luck," Jisoo said, kicking a pebble. "Everyone knows that Jennie isn't interested in boys in our grade."

Jinyoung felt bad for Jaebum.

"Okay," Jinyoung said, swinging his backpack around to put his Nintendo away. "What about... Yugyeom and Rose?"

Jisoo raised her brows. "Yugyeom likes Rose?"

"You kidding?" Jinyoung said. "Head over heels. He never shuts up about her during band practice."

"Oh god, I feel bad now," Jisoo said, pressing a palm to her cheek. "Should we tell him that Rose likes Youngjae?"

It Jinyoung's turn to crease his brows. "I thought Rose liked Chanyeol?"

"No, that's Seulgi," Jisoo said. "Rose likes Youngjae. She told me during lunch once, she was upset because she found out that—"

"That Youngjae likes Mijoo?" Jinyoung said. Jisoo started laughing.

"Yeah, and Mijoo likes Jaebum, and Jaebum likes Jennie, and Jennie only loves Mumford and Sons."

Jinyoung laughed. "Is this our school or the plot of a daytime TV drama?" he said. "Love is complicated."

He was laughing along with Jisoo at the convoluted network of crushes unfolding in their class and the drama that was bound to explode onto their idyllic high school life, but the thought of dating and all this talk of love brought the idea of marriage to his mind. Which only made him think of his parents and their crumbling one. He was eager all of a sudden to change the subject. Speaking of TV, Jinyoung decided to ask Jisoo what she thought of the latest episode of "The Walking Dead," but before he could even say the words, Jisoo had stopped and asked him: