3 | JEONGGUK & LAST WORDS

The local grocery store was Jimin's go-to place for food, especially when all he wanted was snacks and $5 movies to binge watch as he moped over the previous night.

After finding refuge in Yoongi, Jimin had felt better after learning he wasn't a natural when it came to flirting or to casual conversations with the opposite sex, even with his eyes. But, he wasn't going to think about it tonight. He skipped out on his Political Government and Physics' homework for an extra pick-me-up.

Rummaging through the movie bin, the thoughts of last night vanished when Jimin found The Proposal.

"Perfect," he mumbled, giving the casing a dirty look for having the audacity to be the first film he picked out.

There was romance and comedy along with the reminder that he'd never have either as he was too much of a coward to do anything with his love life.

If only life were like the movies. By some force of nature, he and Haeri would have been ankle deep in denying their attraction to each other. The only thing Jimin was denying though was the possibility of him and Haeri even ending up together. She already had someone else, her own Ryan Reynolds. He'd be the douchey guy trying to get her deported. Everyone would hate him.

Jimin's lips dipped as he placed the movie back into the bin. He continued searching for another movie, The Proposal sinking further into the bin. Not much later, his gaze landed on The Maze Runner. He grabbed the action packed film and headed to the candy and chip aisle immediately after.

There was nothing quite like junk food to help him feel better. He wasn't ashamed to admit he ate his feelings away. His mom, Park Mijeong, always chided him for it but was also amazed at where he put it all. He never seemed to gain any weight, courtesy of all the dancing and his high metabolism.

Speaking of weight, he was going to eat his in Sweethearts and Hot Cheetos. He grabbed the biggest size in each instinctively before rushing to the register, bags of junk food in one hand and a movie in the other.

"Hi, sir! Did you find everything okay?" The cashier greeted as he placed his items on the conveyor belt.

Jimin remained silent and nodded his head in response, quickly pulling his wallet out of his back pocket. Needless to say, he wanted to get out of there and return to the comfort of his own home where he would switch out his ripped jeans and hoodie for something far more comfortable.

"That's good! It'll be $7.48."

He handed a $10 bill to the girl only to freeze when his gaze locked on Haeri's. Again? Was he always going to react like this everytime he came in contact with her? He had bought all these things to forget about her and the nightmare of embarrassing himself, but there he was, losing all function of his body. Ugh, why was he being such a loser?

"Sir?" Haeri prodded, her brows creasing in concern, tugging a bit harder on the dollar in his hand. "Uh, Jimin? Are you going to pay for your snacks, or are you just going to stare at me all night?"

All he could do was blink at her in return as his name rolled off her tongue.

She knew his name.

Jimin's lips involuntarily pulled into a smile. He couldn't believe she knew who he was. With newfound confidence, he released his hold on the bill. "Sorry, um, I-I wasn't trying to be rude."

Point for Jimin for finally being able to say actual words to Haeri. He was one step closer to his endgame. Plan "Friend-zone" was officially a go.

"I don't think you have a mean bone in your body." She laughed. Her eyes seemed to twinkle, finding humor in Jimin's sincere apology. "What did they used to call you? Mochi?"

Jimin's cheeks tinted. "Yeah, you r-remember that?"

"It's hard to forget when you were the talk of the school."

He was what?

Since when did people include Jimin in their day-to-day conversation? As far as he was concerned, he was a nobody to his peers, but it would explain how Haeri knew him.

Still, the fact others conversed about him was unsettling. He couldn't recall doing or being anything special, specifically because everyone usually only paid mind to Hoseok and Jeongguk. Something didn't feel right, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

"I'm sorry, but did you say that p-people actually talked about me?"

"Yeah, like all the time," Haeri paused, "Well, they used to anyway."

He opened his mouth to speak but was drawn away when a hand suddenly yanked him back.

"Jimin, hey!" He turned to face Jeongguk, who was smiling at him in surprise. "Thought you'd be in bed all day."

"I didn't drink all that much yesterday." His nerves calmed at Jeongguk's presence. The vexation Jimin's best friend had a tendency to invoke came flooding right in. "But you wouldn't know that seeing as you ditched me for Hana."

"Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?"

"Yeah, right. Don't fool yourself," Jimin trailed off, knowing he was still in the store with Haeri about a foot away.

He didn't want her to see how annoyed he became around Jeongguk. This was a chance to redeem himself. Now was not the time to bicker with his best friend.

"I won't, but fooling around with you sounds extremely fun," Jeongguk rebutted, winking ever so slightly.

Was he being serious?

Jimin gave Jeongguk a death glare and balled his hands into fists. "I hate you."

"Stop it. When you say that I get all tingly inside."

Haeri cleared her throat, grabbing Jimin's attention once more.

"Uh, here's your change." She narrowly glanced at Jeongguk for a second before flitting her eyes back to Jimin. "Have a nice day."

He took the plastic bag that she had placed the movie and snacks inside. "Y-you too, Haeri."

Ignoring Jeongguk, he left the store and went straight to his car, hoping that his best friend would leave him be.

Jimin had finally spoken to her, but Jeongguk had ruined the whole thing. Of course, he ruined a lot of things. This one in particular though had to be at the top of Jimin's list. Jeongguk knew he had a crush on Haeri, knew how much it meant to him to become friendly with her. Butting himself into the situation deterred it.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to get rid of me." Jeongguk hurried to catch up to Jimin's long strides.

"Really? What could have possibly given that away?" Jimin's sarcasm wasn't hard to miss. His mood had been soured, and he wasn't going to hide it from the one person who caused it.

"Hey, I was only trying to save your ass back there." Jeongguk's trademark smirk appeared. "Mochi."

Jimin stopped in his tracks. "Don't call me that."

"Why not? You let Haeri say it."

Glimpsing over his shoulder, Jimin sighed. "I like her. You? Not so much right now."

Jeongguk shook his head. "Come on, Jimin. You were stuttering over your words. I was only trying to help."

"Yeah, well don't." Jimin resumed walking to his car, leaving Jeongguk behind in silence after their dispute.

For the first time ever, he got the last word.