"Hey! We're supposed to be studying, Jeoncock. Not taking a nap in the library!" Hoseok frowned, sitting on the opposite side of Jeongguk. He had his elbows placed on the table with several books scattered around.

Jeongguk groaned, still resting his head on the desk. "Fuck off, Hoseok." He muttered, keeping his eyes closed.

Hoseok leaned back onto the wooden chair, tilting his head back. He stayed like that for a minute before throwing himself back upright. "I'll stop calling you 'Jeoncock' for the rest of our session if you get up and study."

Jeongguk got up, arms still on the table and squinted at Hoseok. "How about for a whole month."

"For the rest of our study session." Hoseok repeated, arranging his highlighters across the table in order of colour. He didn't want to accept Jeongguk's ridiculous offer.

"For a week." Jeongguk attempted, pursing his lips. Hoseok shook his head 'no' in response, organising his textbooks in alphabetical order of authors' last names.

Jeongguk sighed to himself, knowing he wouldn't be able to get himself a full bargain so he tried to compromise.

"For all of today and tomorrow." He negotiated, smiling when Hoseok begrudgingly agreed, he was now getting out his hole-puncher, placing it to the side.

Jeongguk propped himself on the desk, chin placed on his palm whilst tapping his pen in his other hand. He glanced at the window behind Hoseok, watching the ice start to melt on the trees as the leaves started to bloom on the branches.

Spring was just around the corner, hosts of daisies were spread across parks and fields however many chose not to walk on the grass as wet patches remained from where the ice had melted.

Strands of light pierced through the smudges of clouds, shining upon the buildings and streets below. The greenness of the grass mimicking the leaves of the trees, the vibrant colours of the plants then mixing with the grey clouds, eventually mixing with the pale blue sky once the clouds have cleared.

"Whatcha looking at?" Hoseok grinned, still sorting his supplies.

Jeongguk was slightly startled, he glanced back at Hoseok. "Oh, nothing. Just outside."

Hoseok raised a brow, he turned his head behind, looking at the view. "S'not that interesting." He mumbled, Jeongguk just rolling his eyes at that.

Winter had gone by in a blink of an eye. It went too fast in Jeongguk's opinion. He could remember when he and Taehyung went 'ice-skating' like it was yesterday and that was one and a half months ago.

Speaking of Taehyung.

The two were great, they didn't argue during lessons anymore and occasionally made fun of each other for laughs. It was evident that Jeongguk no longer 'hated' him.

This made theatre a bit more bearable for Jeongguk. See, he used to always dread it whenever he saw it in his lesson plan. Jeongguk still does but it isn't as bad as it was when he first started the subject.

Hoseok looked back from the window, he looked at Jeongguk with a curious expression.

"Hey." He began, eyeing Jeongguk.

"Yeah?" Jeongguk replied, back to staring out the window.

"Random question but- how's your ex? M'curious. What was his name again? Namsoon? No. Namjin-"

"Don't mention him, please. I'm done with him." Jeongguk dismissed, not wanting to bring him up.

As for Namjoon? Jeongguk hasn't spoken to him since that time in science. The breakup was painful for Jeongguk most definitely, but day by day he was beginning to heal. They still accidentally make eye-contact during classes which increased the awkwardness between them but Jeongguk couldn't care less.

Namjoon was out of his life and he was thankful for that.

"What about Jimin? I haven't seen him all day. Have you?"

Jeongguk let out a dry chuckle. "Nope. Haven't seen him since yesterday."

He and Jimin were still close, spending most of their weekends binge-watching chick-flicks and whatever crappy originals Netflix had to offer. But as the months went on, Jimin kept on disappearing more and more often. And Jeongguk wasn't going to lie. It hurt.

Though it got him hang out with Hoseok more, he was funny. Always there if Jeongguk wanted to vent.

Which was why he was in the library with him, trying to study for their exams.

There were other students too, some on the computers while others were actually studying. It was pretty empty since it was around nine in the morning.

"Dude- remember when you were known as that kid who chugged ten drinks?" Hoseok gave a laugh, looking over at Jeongguk.

Jeongguk rolled his eyes. "Everyone forgot about that by the end of the week."

"You were famous though."

"Was I?" Jeongguk teased, rubbing his eyes as Hoseok brushed his comment off, letting out a sigh.

"So-" Hoseok began, changing the subject as he piled together his flashcards. "Should we start with science?"

Jeongguk looked at their table, school supplies organised neatly and professionally on top which was a huge contrast to Hoseok's laidback personality. His eyebrows quirked up.

"Why-why are you organising all your stationery like that. Heck- what do you even need all this for?" Jeongguk asked, picking up his hole-puncher.

"Well, Jeonco-" Hoseok paused and gulped when Jeongguk gave him a death glare, burning holes into his skull. "Well, Jeongguk. M'needing all this to study of course! I heard that if we don't, we'll get kicked out! I'll get crucified by my parents!"

"Kicked out?" Jeongguk gave Hoseok a look. "Who told you that?"

"Some bitch off the basketball team."

"Ah." Jeongguk giggled. "That's not how it works. At least I don't think so." Jeongguk spoke, mumbling the last part.

"Oh, really?" Hoseok asked, zipping his bag open and holding it at the edge of the table. "Nevermind then." He grinned, shoving all his supplies back into his back in one swoop.

Jeongguk just sighed, putting a hand to his head. He looked at Hoseok, tapping his fingers on the table. "Hey, Hobi. Can I talk to you about something?"

"Yeah-" Hoseok zipped up his bag, placing it under his chair. "-What's up?"

Jeongguk breathed in slowly, not knowing how to start this. He stopped tapping his fingers. "How often do you see Jimin?" Jeongguk began.

Hoseok sat and thought, crossing his arms and placing them on the table. "Well- we're roommates so basically every day but no sight of him today."

Jeongguk hummed in response. "Do you ever notice how he disappears half the time doing who knows what?"

Hoseok nodded frantically, drumming his fingers on his arm. "I know! Doesn't he? Sometimes, he disappears in the middle of the night. He thinks I don't see him but I do!" Hoseok ranted, sighing in disbelief.

"Hey, come closer." Hoseok motioned a finger towards him and Jeongguk did, nudging up a bit more to Hoseok across the table. "I think I know what's up with him." He mumbled.

Jeongguk looked at Hoseok, eyes big. "What is it?" He asked in a whisper, eager to know.

Hoseok bit his lip, breathing out. "I think he could be dealing with drugs."

Jeongguk froze, he checked Hoseok's expression to see whether or not he was serious but he seemed to be so. He put a hand over his mouth. "You really think so? Why?"

Hoseok leaned into his chair, looking at Jeongguk directly in the eye. "Think about it! He always disappears in the most weirdest of times and there are always those kids who are high all the time. Jimin's behind it all!"

Jeongguk took a moment to collect his thoughts, he sat up. "-So you're telling me that my best friend has been dealing with drugs right under our noses and hasn't told us a thing? How could he have hidden it for so long?" Jeongguk asked, bewildered.

Hoseok gave a shrug. "Who knows, but what we do know is that Jimin is most likely a drug dealer! S'true! We just need a bit more evidence.." He trailed, putting a finger on his chin, as if he was thinking.

He snapped his fingers. "Hey, I have an idea."

Jeongguk blinked his doe eyes. "What's your idea?"

"We think that Jimin is a drug dealer, right? So what I think we should do is find out a bit more about it and confront him with the evidence later." Hoseok whispered, his voice barely audible but Jeongguk was able to make out his words.

Jeongguk scoffed. "What would be the point in that? What are we supposed to expect?"

Hoseok rolled his eyes. "It means that we'd be able to know a bit more about Jimin, why he's been hiding this from us and probably get an entertaining backstory out of him."

"So you're basically doing this for your entertainment."

"Hey!" Hoseok playfully hit Jeongguk. "Think of it like a detective case. Find the evidence of the suspect, confront said suspect and see what happens next. Oh, come on, please! S'gonna be fun!"

Jeongguk still had an apprehensive look on his face, and Hoseok groaned.

"I'll stop calling you 'Jeoncock' for the rest of the week then."

"Deal." Jeongguk smiled. "I'll get evidence to help you on your 'little' conquest."

"Good." Hoseok replied. "But it better be good because you don't know how difficult it is to call you by your actual name."

"Yeah, yeah." Jeongguk began with a giggle but gradually stopped, the thought of Jimin being a 'drug dealer' according to Hoseok gave Jeongguk an uneasy feeling.

An uneasy feeling that made him want to throw up.

Jeongguk would never think Jimin would be that type of person and to hide it for so long. If it was true, what Hoseok was saying, then it would make Jeongguk really question how much he knew about his friends.

Feeling a lump in his throat, Jeongguk thought it would be best to not think about it. He shouldn't be getting upset over this.

Hoseok grabbed his bag, sliding one of the straps over his shoulder. "Try and gather as much evidence as possible. We can meet at the coffee shop tomorrow and see what we found."

"Got it?"

Jeongguk jokingly saluted, standing up straight with his hand lined up to his head, trying to look looking serious.

Hoseok chuckled, pulling Jeongguk's hand down which broke his serious stance. Jeongguk giggled, slinging his back over his shoulder.

Once the got out of the library, the two went their separate ways but Jeongguk still couldn't get the thought of Hoseok's speculation out of his head.

No matter how hard he tried.

×

"I don't understand how there are some people out there who could be so fucking wrong about something, like- what happened during your childhood that made you this way?"

Jeongguk huffed, standing up from one of the theatre seats. "No, Jin. You're the wrong one here. It's obvious that there is something wrong with you."

Jin held his hands over his hips, his pink hoodie stretching over his broad shoulders. "Fuck you, Jeongguk! What are you talking about? You're obviously the one with issues."

Jeongguk scoffed. "Me? I'm sorry. I don't speak dumbass." He muttered, and Jin gasped, walking away.

"Jeongguk, I can't fucking believe you." He groaned, head in his palms.

"Jin! I should be the one in disbelief! You're so wrong it hurts!" Jeongguk cried, hearing other students chat in the background.

"I have to laugh." Jin muttered, he stopped walking. Furrowing his eyebrows, Jin turned back abruptly and jolted towards Jeongguk.

"You! Stop thinking whatever you say is fact. It isn't."

Jeongguk plopped back down on his seat, laying an arm on top of the seats with one leg over the other. "But we both know I'm right." He giggled with one hand over his mouth, he was feeling cocky.

Jin pointed a nimble finger towards Jeongguk, his face about to burst. "Stop! You're not this time. God- people like you make me want to switch course!"

"So you're admitting I'm right most of the time?"

"Fuck off!"

Jeongguk's giggles became more louder as he tried to hold it in, his shoulders quivering. This argument was starting to get ridiculous and it was difficult to stay so serious about it.

"-Orange juice is not better than apple juice for fuck's sake! Get your facts right." Jin cried, his hands pressed against his face.

Jeongguk's face fell. "Um. It actually is, Jin. Apple juice is disgusting. Tastes like piss."

Jin gasped loudly. "You take that back!"

Jeongguk stood up promptly, tiny hands balled up into fists. "I won't!"

Jin huffed, turning away from Jeongguk so his back was facing him. "You fucking disgust me, Jeon Jeongguk." Jin spoke lowly, and Jeongguk's face morphed to a scowl.

"At least I don't drink piss for lunch."

"Yeah? Well-"

Their conversation came to a halt by a sudden opening of the door, making heads turn as the sound echoed through the hall.

Taehyung was revealed, panting and out of breath. Some let out a few snickers only to be shut up when Taehyung shot them a death glare. He sunk to his knees, his hands on the ground as he tried to catch his breath.

Jeongguk ran over to Taehyung, a hand over his mouth as he tried not to laugh. "Taehyung? Didn't know you were that eager for class."

"Shut it, Jeon." Taehyung breathed out, placing a hand on his chest, his body hunched over with his head facing down.

Jin trotted over to the two, bringing a hand out to help Taehyung up. "You're actually on time, what a miracle." He teased, Jeongguk standing beside him.

"Wait-" Taehyung looked up then around the room, seeing that the teacher was nowhere in sight. He then looked up at the clock, his eyes widening. "Woah. I guess I really am." Taehyung smiled.

"Yep-" Jin heaved Taehyung up by the hand. "You are."

"Where's Mr. Han-?"

And as if on cue- he appeared from the door, donning yet another blouse. Mr. Han looked at all the students, smiling before walking up to the board.

"Alright, lovelies. Please take a seat as the lesson is now starting." He called out, smiling in satisfaction when all the students sat down almost immediately and zipped up.

"Thank you, so-"

As Mr. Han began the lesson, Jeongguk was seated in between Taehyung and Jin, one leg over the other. Taehyung slipped off his coffee-coloured coat, showing his plaid shirt tucked into his jeans with a belt wrapped around them securely. He threw his coat under his chair before paying attention to the lesson.

Jeongguk was wearing a simple white t-shirt, over that was a cotton yellow jacket with a black collar and zip, along with some jeans. It was a plain outfit, yes; but it provided comfort for Jeongguk.

Subtly side glancing at Jin, Jeongguk was reminded of the first lesson of theatre where he and Taehyung were okay. Jin's reaction was priceless.

After Jeongguk had greeted Taehyung when he had walked in, he saw that Jin had a confused expression but didn't think much of it. Smiling when he waved to Taehyung.

However, when they were making conversation, that was when Jin seemed to be even more confused. Jeongguk feeling his gaze on him when he was laughing at a joke Taehyung had made.

Jeongguk had figured Jin would be a tad confused at the beginning but he didn't expect to be accused of witchcraft!

See, in the middle of their conversation, Jin interrupted. He pointed an accusing finger towards Jeongguk, spewing nonsense and saying he 'cast a spell' on Taehyung, that being the most rational explanation for why he was so nice to Jeongguk for Jin.

Jeongguk blinked his doe eyes in shock, Taehyung had a similar expression. They stayed like that for a second or two before bursting out into laughter, Taehyung was clutching his stomach whilst Jeongguk had his eyes squeezed shut from the laughter.

Jin frowned. He sternly told Jeongguk to stop messing about as this was 'serious' with an angered expression. However, Taehyung was able to calm him down by explaining the story, leaving out some details obviously.

Jeongguk gave a small smile to Jin when he let out a small 'oh'. Lips apart in realisation.

Jimin had a less dramatic reaction. Giving a dismissive comment like: 'Oh I knew you two would become friends eventually.' Whilst Jeongguk merely smiled, sighing in relief that he didn't make much of a big deal out of it like Jin did.

"-So, for our play. I thought that we should do The Tempest! A classic Shakespeare comedy." Mr. Han announced, a huge grin plastered on his face.

Some of the students gave an excited cry whilst others groaned, complaining to the person next to them. Mumbles were heard around the classroom, making Mr. Han sigh to himself.

Jeongguk looked over to Taehyung who had a neutral expression on his face, Jeongguk cocked a brow. "Have you heard of The Tempest?" He asked in mock interest.

Taehyung jokingly scoffed, looking at Jeongguk through his thick bangs. "Of course I have, Jeon. I just have no opinion of it." Taehyung muttered, rubbing his eyes with his palm.

Rolling his eyes, Jeongguk adjusted his collar. "I think it's a pretty good play, good characters."

"Never asked for your opinion, Jeon." Taehyung chuckled sarcastically, making Jeongguk jokingly punch him in the arm.

Turning to Jin, who had an enthusiastic expression on his face, Jeongguk giggled. "Excited?"

Jin jumped slightly, letting out a laugh when he realised it was Jeongguk. "Yep! I'm glad we're doing a comedy instead of a tragedy. Not in the mood to cry."

"Shakespeare's plays aren't even that sad-"

"Shut up."

Mr. Han clapped his hands, getting the students' attention. "Ah, thanks."

He cleared his throat. "Auditions will be held in two or three weeks time. For now in lessons, we will be looking over the play and watching other plays to get a feel for acting as some of us are new here." He spoke, glancing at some individuals, including Jeongguk.

Jeongguk gulped, hoping that he wouldn't have to act. He knew next to nothing about theatre which made his teeth chatter in his nervousness.

"Please be wary that even if you don't get the part you wanted, you should still be an active member and support your classmates. Understood?" To which the students nodded their heads.

"Also- don't be late. It'll affect your chance of getting the role you wanted." He warned, glaring at Taehyung.

Taehyung jokingly rolled his eyes, muttering something about how he wouldn't be late this time. However, this made Jeongguk sit and think, fingers tapping on his cheek as he had head placed on his palm.

Taehyung was always late- from what Jeongguk could see as the two didn't share all their lectures. Jimin too, sometimes during one of them the two would appear late by a couple of minutes.

This would never arouse suspicion for Jeongguk but he thought back to earlier today. Hoseok's hunch about Jimin. What if- what if Taehyung was in on it too?

Jeongguk inaudibly gasped as he began to piece together the 'evidence'. His doe eyes wide. Whenever Taehyung was late, Jimin would be too. It was obvious that the two were together- selling drugs!

Jeongguk bit his lip. It would make more sense that Taehyung was a drug dealer more than Jimin- he wasn't as open. His eyes travelled towards Taehyung, he eyed him down as he tried to make links between events.