As we near my neighborhood, I turn my head in his direction. "I can go home by myself from here, thank you so much for coming with me."

"I just felt it was a duty on my part, so I had to. You don't need to thank me." He smiles a little. "Can I walk you to your apartment?" 

"Sure...that could be inconvenient for you, though. I guess you are already running a bit late..."

"Not a problem at all, Y/N. I live in the same neighborhood as yours."

I gape at him in surprise. "Wow, how come I don't know about it?"

"I am shady." He chortles, cockiness dripping from his voice. 

"For sure." I laugh along. 

We walk together in small steps. As soon as we reach my house, I turn to wave him goodbye. "Thank you, Namjoon, for considering to support me in my grief...and buying me lunch."

"Again, Y/N, you don't need to thank me. You trust me, that's all I want." 

After a few moments of us awkwardly standing there, none of us taking the initiative to say the first goodbye, I finally gather the courage to do so. "Bye, Namjoon." I smile at him.

He returns the same expression, even though his smile seems to be tinged with a wee bit of sadness. "There is no such thing as a sweet parting..." 

I look up, eyebrows raised. Unmoved, he continues.

"A bye can never be good. So, badbye." 

I simply stand there and blink. Stumped, stupefied and at a loss of words. 

"Poetic." It is all that comes out of my mouth. I cough before returning the queer greeting. "Badbye, Namjoon."

The last I see of him is when I push past the entrance door to my apartment. A light drizzle of rain. Gray clouds in a gray-er sky. Him standing right in the middle of the road, his school bag slung over his shoulder. The rain wetting his spiky hair and his navy blue shirt. A mellow expression on his face. Thick lips pressed into a tight straight line. Raven eyes dead, looking straight ahead. Into my eyes.

My heart starts racing at its highest speed and I gulp, a bit afraid, as I bolt the door after me. Taehyung can be heard humming the tunes of a jazz song as he works in the kitchen. Wow, I must be pretty early today.

But first things first. 

I run up to my room and lock the door from the inside, before fishing my phone out of my closet. I open the texting app, and as expected, there are a few texts waiting for me. Sent by none other than Yoongi.

SugarLove: anythin wrong? m worried 😕

                       : sweetie do u need me? m here!

                       : why did u not come over 2day? I was missin u!

                       : u r busy ig hmu when u get the time

Me: hey 

      : m sorry 

      : a classm8 wanted 2 walk me home n I couldn't refuse 

He instantly comes online. 

SugarLove: boy or girl 

Me: huh

      : ? 

SugarLove: was that friend a guy or a girl? 

Me: a guy

He goes offline in an instant, leaving me on read. 

I knew he won't approve. I sigh loudly as I type out a text for him.

Me: ayyy yoonie...

      : knock knock 🤗

      : talk 2 me suga...pls don't feel bad 🙄

      : heyyy

      : ily 💓

      : I'll explain everything why don't u listen to wht I hv to say, hon

      : plsss 

      : suga

      : my sugaboo, I'm levitating 

      : the milky way, we're renegading 🌌

      : yea yea yea yea yea!!!

      : anyone there?

      : sugaaa

      : bye if u don't wanna talk

      : since I'm not ill-mannered as u r I'm wishing u goodnight 

      : MIC Drop 🎤

Sighing deeply, I sign off and go take a shower. 

7.15 PM 

My phone beeps. A lone message notification. 

SugarLove: how do u expect me 2 be normal after a random guy calls dibs on u when u hv a bf?!

He is such a possessive drama queen. I slap my palm to my head in a disapproving gesture before typing out my reply. 

Me: oh pls 🤦‍♀️

      : I just hope u r not kidding  

      : I love u n only u

      : he didn't 'call dibs' on me, he just walked me home, period.

SugarLove: why?

Me: I was late 4 school 2day n this guy comes up, concerned. idk how but he knows I couldn't bring lunch n he buys me some. I m like, thanku so much how cn I repay u, n he proposes that he walks me home

SugarLove: sounds fishy but k

                       : wht's his name? 

Me: u think m gonna tell u his name? for all I know, u might hire someone 2 push a knife thru his chest 😶

SugarLove: 😂 u might be right 

                       : on a serious note, I missed u. like, a lot. 

                       : if he gets too 'concerned' don't hesitate 2 tell me. I'll go fix him up.

Me: lol, but u don't need 2 do that. 

SugarLove: just making a point. goodnite, sweetie. hope 2 c u tomo

Me: sureee goodnite! 

Taehyung bursts into my room the moment I put the phone back at its hiding place, a protective measure just so he doesn't go through my messages. He raises an eyebrow playfully. 

"Who was that guy who dropped you home?"