jungkook

"have you heard about the news already?" hari, the student council's secretary gossiped.

the members were busy arranging some papers for an upcoming program our school has decided with, and while doing so, some of them were already talking about the news that has recently spread around the school. i didn't respond, instead another member answered her.

"of course. i heard it from one of the teachers when i passed by the faculty room. it seemed it was true."

"why do you think it happened?"

"i don't know either. i'm confused just like everybody else."

"there must be a reason why that orange-haired dude dropped out of school."

"ya, just mind your own lives and do your work without talking about another person's business." i said as i was getting irritated listening to their conversation.

"aww, is our dear president angry again? why, did jimin remind you of the 'nonsensical' fight you got involved with which ruined your good-boy image?" taehyung snickered.

"no, and shut up. i'm trying to take my mind off that stupid incident already. i was hoping that the students would forget about it, too."

"hey, come to think of it, don't you think there was a sudden change in the school's atmosphere when everybody heard about jimin leaving? especially the girls, it was as if they were mourning in someone's funeral." one of the girls stated.

"yeah, i noticed that too. even me, i kinda missed seeing him in the hallways usually following that girl with the spectacles. i think it's very sweet how he announced to everyone that she's his girlfriend," another girl agreed.

great, i was reminded of my unrequited love for her again. the memory of idiot jimin kissing her back at the detention room was still fresh in my mind, and something tells me that he purposely did that to worsen my mood. my teeth gritted out of annoyance, but despite that i remained silent.

"speaking of that girl, i don't think i saw her today at school. does she know the news already? wait, jungkook, weren't you friends with her? i remember seeing you talking to her a few times."

i was brought to reality when taehyung mentioned my name, "huh? oh yeah, i'm friends with her. and i think it's a good thing that she's not here at school now when people are talking about jimin's whereabouts." i responded.

"what do you mean? isn't she aware of this?"

i nodded, "she's not, and she shouldn't be."

all of them went silent, confused, and they pondered as if they were trying to figure out the main idea of what i said.

i hesitantly added, "she'll feel hurt once she finds out. jimin himself wouldn't want that."

--

the night before

(jungkook's apartment, three hours before midnight date)

never had i felt myself any better as i did this thing called procrastinating, since i needed to get my mind off things. i am not as responsible as people think i am, heck i get lazy sometimes.

it was nine in the evening and there were about eight bags of potato chips on my couch. i smiled in delight, just about to open one of them, when i heard a soft knock on the door. i grunted, finding myself annoyed as i tried think of a person who would disturb my beloved snack time, "who'd come here this late?"

the door moderately creaked as i opened it, and my mood got worse as it instantly transformed from 'just annoyed' to 'completely annoyed because my mortal enemy just appeared and disturbed me from my only snack time happiness making me want to rip all of his stupid, idiotic orange hair off'.

nevertheless, i composed myself in front of jimin since i was still a student model that wouldn't want to make the same mistake of showing nonsensical actions in front of other students again. i just gave him a stern look, "what do you want?"

"jungkook, can we talk?"

"no," i was about to slam the door shut but he prevented me from doing so.

"please, this is really important," i was slightly surprised of how his eyes looked like they were pleading.

something's up. there should be some reason as to why he would make the effort to come here at my place at nine in the evening, so i replied, "fine, but just make sure it's worth the delay of my interrupted snack time happiness."

-

"c-can you repeat what you just said? i think i heard it wrong," i laughed nervously as i put the glass of water i was holding back to the table, afraid that i might drop it because of the complete state of shock i'm in right now.

"you heard it right, jungkook. i'm leaving for america tomorrow evening," jimin repeated.

"why? what are you going to do there?"

"my parents wanted me to finish high school there instead of graduating here in korea. i can't refuse, they'll still get me even if i oppose."

"then what about your girlfriend? does she know about this?"

he went silent for a moment, "she doesn't know about this yet. that's what i'm here for, actually."

i waited for him to continue.

"jungkook, you love her, right?" his sudden question made me frown out of confusion, "right?"

"yeah yeah, but that's not the case--"

"then, do me a favor," he stated before i could finish my sentence, "please look after her when i'm gone. you see, leaving for america means letting her go."

"what do you mean?",

"i'm giving up my feelings for her. i'm not even sure whether i would ever come back or not. you know, after how many times of thinking about it, maybe i wasn't really the right guy for her. i'm not qualified."

for some reason, i started shouting, "are you kidding me? why are you doing this all of a sudden? it took me a lot of strength to accept the fact that i can't ever be the guy for her. i had to suppress my feelings knowing that she's happier when she's with you! and now, you suddenly tell me to take care of her because you're leaving? do you know how hurt she will be if you'd do this to her? she'll have her heart broken, jimin! she loves you! do you even care about her feelings at all?"

i was taken aback when he smiled, a sad one, "i'm sorry, jungkook. but as much as i hate to admit it, i'm not good enough for her. that's why i'm giving you the chance to show your feelings for her. i love her so much that the last thing i want for her is to get hurt."

"it's better if she doesn't know yet until tomorrow evening. that way, it will be less harder for both of us, especially for me, to let go. and besides, even if she does find out, i think she won't suffer that much. she doesn't love me, jungkook. i'm just a good friend to her."

"...what?" i somehow found myself speechless, "but... i thought you two were a couple because you kept calling her your girlfriend."

"oh, that," jimin gloomily laughed, "i just called her girlfriend for fun. we weren't really a couple. i'm also suffering from unrequited love, you know."

that moment, i realized that maybe jimin was just as hurt as i am. loving someone knowing that she can't love you back hurts enough, what more if you had to give up your feelings for her because you just realize one day that you just can't be with her?

a few milliseconds of silence passed  before he spoke again, calling my name, "hey, jungkook."

"what?"

"you didn't agree to my favor yet. look after her, please?"

without dithering, i firmly said as if i was stating an oath, "sure, jimin. i'd do it if it's for her sake."

he smiled, "thanks. i'm now rest assured."

"but are you sure you won't let her see you leave tomorrow? you might regret it. you love her after all."

"i won't. but i'm planning on saying goodbye to her tonight."

"tonight?"

"yeah," he grinned as if he remembered something wonderful, "at midnight."

--

a/n: and then comes after their last ramen date together /cries/