♣ ♣ ♣

Thus another week went by in a blur as it's already Thursday afternoon. The school bell finally rang, meaning that yet another day of school had come to its end. Areum and I exit the classroom with a cheerful aura surrounding us as we're hyped for the epic movie-night that will finally take place tomorrow. We eventually reach the stairs where we part ways and bid our goodbyes before my feet slowly makes their way upstairs. Meanwhile, I considered staying at the library for a couple of hours since I had some math to catch up on. But I'd much rather chill in my bed and not talk to anyone or move a muscle.

I suddenly feel something poke me in the ribs, the ticklish sensation causing me to jump in my place while releasing a high-pitched squeal. A split second later I hear someone burst out laughing beside me, and I immediately shoot the culprit a deadly glare.

"I wish I never told you I was ticklish," I mutter at Taehyung -- who's still laughing at my reaction -- feeling betrayed.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. I never expected you to jump like that though," he wheezes, trying to gain control over his breathing. I then poke him hard in his ribs to avenge myself and he lets out a shriek in the process. Now it was my turn to be gasping for air due to the uncontrollable laughter leaving my lips.

"Don't forget that I already know your weakness," I remind him with a chuckle, flashing my most evil grin. He chuckles while raising his hand up to prevent me from coming near him.

"Okay okay, we're even now!" he exclaims in defeat.

We finally reach our lockers and grab our bags.

"So what are you doing today then?" he asks casually as we start making our way towards the stairs.

"Study in the library until I'm too tired, I guess. Math is killing me," I reply with a low groan, pouting at him. "What about you?"

"Oh that sucks. I could stay and help you, but I have to do some stuff for dad so.." he says with a frown, however my heart flutters at the possibility of him staying with me.

"Oh that's kind of you, but it's okay. Thank you for the offer," I quickly say with a smile. I then narrow my eyes slightly at him while tilting my head to the side."I didn't know you're good at math."

"I'm good at everything," he says like it's the most obvious thing in the world. I roll my eyes playfully at him, meanwhile he's smirking confidently.

"Well congrats to your good genes I'm not envious at all," I mutter bitterly, making him snort.

"What can I say? I'm an exceptional human being."

"And you have confidence. I understand why all the girls are all up in your face."

"Jealous?" he asks, flashing me a smirk with one raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, I wish the girls drooled over me too," I reply sarcastically while rolling my eyes at him, making him laugh again.

We reach the entrance to the library, I turn around to look at him.

"Thank you for escorting me to the library, you are very kind," I sarcastically thank him with an exaggerated thankful voice. "I hope whatever you're helping your dad with goes well." He chuckles at my sudden change of character, grinning amusingly towards me.

"Thanks, and good luck with your studies," he says, keeping the grin on his face before turning around and wave me goodbye as he leaves. I silently admire his broad shoulders for a few seconds before shaking my head to myself. Then I sigh and enter the almost deserted library.

Is he changing? He seems like a whole other person in comparison to last week. Is it normal that his personality takes a one-eighty turn like this? Either way, I can't even deny to myself that I found this to be something extremely positive. I was even looking forward to see him tomorrow -- which I don't think I've ever done before.

When finding a quiet, secluded place to study at, I spread my books over the table and put my earbuds on before studying away. Shortly after, however, my focus was interrupted by a soft poke on my shoulder. The unexpected contact made me flinch slightly before I look up at the person who apparently seeks my attention. My eyes widen when I notice it's Jimin.

"Oh, Hi Jimin," I greet him a little nervously while removing the buds from my ears.

"Did I disturb you or something?" he asks hesitantly, like he was worried that he interrupted my deep thinking -- which to be honest we all know I don't possess the ability to do.

"Don't worry, I was just getting started so I didn't make it far anyway."

"Oh okay, do you mind if I join you?" he asks, I shake my head and gesture him to take a seat. He flashes another heartwarming smile as he sits down in front of me. "Do you always come here and hide?"

I snort at his comment. "Dammit, my secret hideout is exposed.." I groan dramatically, earning a laugh from him. "Were you looking for me?"

His eyes look away from mine, averting to nothing in particular as he drags out a "maybe.."

I chuckle at his cuteness before asking, "How did you know I was here?"

"Well you said during lunch that you had to study today, so my first guess was the library."

"You're smart, no wonder why you're the top student here," I praise him, but then letting out a hopeless sigh. "I wish I was smart too."

"Why? Are you having trouble with something?" he asks, sounding genuinely concerned. I slowly nod my head.

"I'm bad at math, everything else is fine. It's just so frustrating sometimes because no matter how much I try to understand, it just won't get inside my head," I admit frustratedly, squeezing my cheeks with my hands as I support my elbows against the table. Jimin chuckles to himself before leaving his seat to go sit beside me instead.

"Math happens to be my specialty. What's troubling you?" he asks, giving me a reassuring smile. As we're looking into each other's eyes, I slowly, bit by bit, melt inside.

How can one be as cute and kind as Jimin? I was currently drowning in his eyes, not wanting to swim up to the surface for a while. It wasn't until I started wondering over how he could have so perfect skin that I realize how close we're currently sitting. Being this close reminded me slightly of...

The pepero game.

Flashbacks from Baekhyun's party invades my mind, making me relive the moments of both fear and excitement. The memory of the way his hand had cupped my cheek and brought our faces closer to each other suddenly brought back vivid mental images. I could feel the sparks between us all over again, as if I was back in Baekhyun's livingroom. My body decides to turn up the heat as I remember how our lips had brushed against each other, reminding me that we were literally about to kiss back there, and how I had wanted him to kiss me.

I immediately break our way too long gaze, averting my eyes to my notebook in order to pretend to read the scribbles of numbers that my brain couldn't comprehend anyway. But as expected every time I got flustered; my brain commenced complete shutdown.

Get a goddamn hold of yourself.

"Are you okay?" Jimin asks, sounding concerned as he leans even more towards me, carefully placing the back of his hand against my forehead. "Damn, you're really warm. Are you sure that you can keep studying?

It's not a fucking fever I'm just flustered because I'm thinking about you kissing me.

"Oh, no I'm totally fine! I'm just a little tired, I guess," I lie quickly. "Honestly, I don't know what's bugging me most about math. As bizarre as it may sound, I think I'm clueless to everything," I explain with a chuckle.

"Then think about it for a while and whenever you come up with something you're bad at, scribble it down. Then we can figure it out. Are you free on Saturday? We can study at my place if you want," he suggests with a shy smile, scratching the back of his head.

"Are you sure? I mean, I don't want to disturb or distract you from your own studies. I'm sure you're busy and all."

"Yes, I'm one-hundred percent sure. So don't worry about it, okay? Come," he says while rising slightly from his seat and softly tugs on my arm. "Let's get you home, you're too out of it to study now anyways."

I let out a sigh, but knowing that there was no point in continuing anyway, so we pack our bags and leave the library.

"Thank you, by the way. You're too kind," I thank him as we're walking through the front yard of the school.

He chuckles and smiles that particular smile where his eyes disappear into small crescents. "No need to thank me. Do you want me to drive you home by the way?"

"Oh, you really don't have to! I don't mind walking," I say reassuringly, not wanting to trouble him even further than I already have.

"I insist, really," he says with a sweet smile before tugging my arm again and drag me along towards the parking lot with him. I sigh in defeat.

"Jimin, why are you so kind?" I whine when we reach his car, making him chuckle.

"I am?" he asks obliviously as he opens the door for me. I sigh and sit down on the passenger side.

"Helping me study and driving me home makes you pretty kind, I'd say."

"Aren't those things friends do for each other?" he says questiongly as if it was obvious.

"I guess those are things that friends do. In that case you're a good friend then, Jimin," I say with a chuckle and smile at him. He looks at me for a brief moment and smiles again, before turning his gaze back on the road.

My heart flutters slightly as we're making our way through the streets while enjoying the music that made its presence known through the speakers, blessing our ears with its pleasant beats. I don't know why it was so hard to not stare at the male next to me who had his focus on the road, his aura was a whole other level of charmness. While discretely studying his facial features, I started wondering over what made him appear so flawless. But as soon as those thoughts struck my mind, Taehyung suddenly decided to invade them instead as if I had cheated on them.

Why do I always end up thinking about him? He makes my blood boil, but at the same time he also possesses the most unique way of making my stomach flutter. It was just something about him that attracted me so much that wasn't just his out-of-this-world handsome appearance. It kind of amazes me how many emotions he makes me feel even though he's the most arrogant jerk I've ever laid my eyes on.

The car eventually comes to a stop, finally making me break out of my own thoughts.

"We're here. Oh and uhm, before you go.. Do you mind if we exchange numbers? So you can call or text me whenever you need my expertise."

My heart almost melts at his words and I can't help but give him a genuine wide smile. How did I deserve someone like him in my life?

"Are you sure? I really don't want to be a burden."

"Just stop, I insist." His eyes are locked onto mine, and they show nothing else but sincereness. This made me eventually nod and hand him over my phone so he could add himself to my contacts. I snort when I notice that he put a cat heart-eyes emoji next to his name.

"Thank you again, Jimin. I'll see you tomorrow!" I chirp before exiting the car, and I wave him goodbye as he drives away. My heart was jumping with excitement as I was making my way up to my room in order to plop myself down onto my bed which I had been longing to reunite with all day.

Naturally, my mind started processing today's unexpected events involving Jimin and Taehyung. We're all friends, right? But I still couldn't shake the feeling that there was just something more to it when it comes to Taehyung. All our small moments were out of the ordinary for me. There was just something in the air when we were together, something unspoken and uncertain. Being close to him always made me slightly nervous, but that only made me feel more alive in some way. Still, there were many things that left me afraid.

Can I trust him? Is he genuine or is everything just a game to him? What if he's just pretending?

I can't allow myself to fall for him. I can't let him making me fall for him. At least not until I know that he feels the same.

Suddenly, my phone releases a short sound which interrupts my moment of mental analyzing. My heart skips a beat when I see Jimin's name on the text-notification I just recieved.

I can't help but smile widely to myself as I reply to his message. All my thoughts about Taehyung suddenly got replaced with Jimin. All Jimin has ever done to me is being straight up too kind for his own good. He always supports me in one way or another and he's never shown a sign of wanting to use me. He's proven that I can trust him. Perhaps I should just forget about Taehyung and be close to Jimin instead?

"Do you have any idea how manipulative Jimin is?"

Taehyung's words suddenly reminds me that Jimin may not be as kind as he seems, making me yet again confused over this entire situation. I release a loud, frustrated sigh before grabbing the closest pillow next to me and bury my face in it and groan to myself.

Here I am, thinking that my life would be as simple and boring as it could get in Korea. Little did I know that I'd be caught up in the middle of some sort of silent triangle-drama, not having any idea of why these boys were doing this to me and what was going to happen next.

Oh boy, how naive I was.

♣

The next morning I wake up completely dead. I realized a bit too late last night that I had promised to bring some cakes for tonight -- so naturally I stayed up until two in the morning to make three cakes. I realize now that it perhaps would've been a better idea to just buy three cakes from a bakery, but who comes up with good solutions before they've done it the hard way?

I am currently dragging my feet across the floor since I have next to zero energy to walk like a normal human being. I also now realize that I maybe shouldn't even had showed up. Universe, why did you make me this way?

Plopping down on my assigned seat, I immediately make myself comfortable resting my head on my arms as I proceed to have a quick nap before the lesson starts. I almost even fall asleep, if it wasn't for Taehyung poking my shoulder which caused me to flinch and immediately sit up straight in my chair. My eyes are wide in fear as I look around me, expecting to see Mr Vong standing there ready to send me to the depths of hell. Taehyung bursts out laughing at me and I shrink back down in my chair in relief before groaning while rubbing my tired eyes.

"Why was that necessary?"

"You're falling asleep," he says matter-of-factly, flashing me a grin. "How late did you study last night?"

"I'm not tired.." I mumble and yawn loudly. "Okay, I'm a little tired. But that's because I stayed up late making those damn cakes for tonight. And I didn't study for that long, Jimin drove me home after like an hour or so."

His smile disappears the moment I mentioned Jimin, and an intense stare replaces his expression instead. He looks pissed.

"What-" he begins, but got abruptly cut off by Mr Vong who had loudly cleared his throat, which was his indication that class had officially started. Taehyung then avert his eyes to the window, staring into the infinity with his jaw clenched. I couldn't help but wonder what suddenly made him so upset. However, I quickly decide not to ask him about it during the lesson since I really don't want to get on his bad side.

♣

"Before you leave, I will hand out your assignments. You can come up to my desk and collect them here," Mr Vong calls out before ending the lesson and sitting down on his chair. I immediately nudge a distracted Taehyung whose eyes are still locked on the window, who still appears to be as pissed off as a wasp who's trapped inside a glass.

Without a word, he stands up from his seat and approach the teacher's desk without even waiting for me. A moment of confusion strucks me, leaving me frozen in my seat as I try to process what just happened. Then I rise up as well and quickly make my way to the front to stand by his side, waiting for Mr Vong to hand us our work.

"You two did an excellent job on The Cold War. Therefore, you're awarded an A on this assignment," Mr Vong praises us as he hands over the papers. As if a gust of wind just passed by and took my tiredness away, an unknown energy fills me instead and in some way obliviates the previous sleepiness. Both Taehyung and I bow deeply as we thank him before we return to our seats.

"Ermahgerd Kim Taehyung! We got an A!" I squeal as I playfully shake his arm. "And it's all thanks to you!"

However, to further confuse me, he doesn't respond like I thought he would. All he did was giving me a cold look.

"Well, duh? Of course we'd get an A. I never fail," he snaps at me, causing my eyebrows to immediately furrow in perplexion. What's up with him? Why is he so grumpy all of sudden?

"Aw come on, what's up with this grumpiness? Let me see a little smile~," I sing in attempt to lift his mood up a bit. For a split second I swear I could see the corner of his mouth twitch upward, but it quickly remains as a straight line. That's when I let out a deep sigh before muttering, "You're no fun today. Let me know when you've cooled down."

I quickly collect my books and leave the classroom without another word nor throwing a last glance at him. After leaving the books in my locker, I decide to visit the bathroom for a quick before joining the others for lunch.

Just when I'm washing my hands, a group of girls suddenly enters the room. At first I just minded my own business and not giving them much of a thought, that is until I notice them walking straight towards me before surrounding me from behind. Confused, I watch them through the reflection with my eyebrows furrowed before slowly turning around to face them, unable to get through.

"Uh, excuse me?" I question them, wondering what in the world they could possibly want from me. They all just look at me with that typical judgemental expression that makes you question your whole appearance and life-choices -- and I was definitely questioning mine right now.