4 | DOUCHEBAGS & PUNCHES

By the time Jimin showed up on campus the following morning, there were few people on the main pathway. Most were walking alone as he was with just their backpacks, phone in one hand, and a drink in the other. It was just another normal day of him heading to his government class then physics before meeting up with Hoseok and Jeongguk, who of which he wasn't looking forward to seeing after what happened yesterday.

Jimin had woken up, determined to set some much needed boundaries as Jeongguk always pried into his personal life without warning, ruining any chance of making something of his love life. Even if he had good intentions, Jimin didn't want any help from his best friend. If he was going to get help, it would be from Hoseok – the one friend he could actually count on to shield him from the cruelness that was Jeongguk.

His resolve wouldn't be shaken. He was tired of being pushed around, tired of being called the cute one. He could have a backbone too. He'd rip Jeongguk a new one right in front of everyone in the cafeteria, letting them all know he wasn't to be messed with.

But first, he had to finish his apple juice box or Professor Kang wouldn't let him in the classroom. As he hadn't done his homework that was due to instead laze around, Jimin couldn't afford to miss a class. If he was going to pass, he needed to make sure he got an A for participation, which Prof. Kang took very seriously.

So he drank the rest of his juice and crushed the box just as he went inside the room, throwing it into the bin right by the door before sitting where he always sat – in one of the back corners. No surprise there. That way there was no unnecessary socializing, and he could put all his focus into learning.

Yes, Jimin was that student.

He was one who limited any interaction with his peers, could constantly be found studying in the library, and certainly a teacher's pet. The best part? No one even knew. He was once described as a snake by a professor, silent but deadly, as he often set the curve in grades, causing a handful of students to either flunk or drop the class.

Academics was the only thing Jimin really had any control of and also the thing he was most proud of, but what he really needed to work on was getting Haeri to be his friend.

Until that happened, Jimin sat in his first two classes of the day, intently listening to everything his professors taught before making his way to the main cafeteria.

Luckily he packed his own lunch, which consisted of chicken salad and a small piece of bread, so he didn't have to wait in line. Plus, he had to make up for all the junk food he had the night before and have a proper meal before the one class he always looked forward to: dance.

Brushing past several students, he searched the tables for his friends but instead found Haeri sitting alone, away from her boyfriend, who was at his usual place conversing with Park Hyungsik.

Jimin wasn't able to think much of it when Hoseok patted his shoulder.

"Hey, let's find a place to sit. My legs are killing me." Hoseok grimaced slightly and massaged a thigh with his free hand.

"Gguk convinced me to go with him to the gym, that it'd shape me up for the performance, but I don't know how I'm going to make it through today's practice feeling so sore."

Jimin rolled his eyes and scoffed. "You know not to listen to Jeongguk when it comes to working out. He pushes you past your limit, Hobi."

"Ah, I know! But it sounded like a good idea at the time."

Hoseok trudged slowly to an empty booth. Jimin followed closely behind him, sliding into one side while his best friend sat across from him. He glimpsed over his shoulder to see Haeri still alone. He had never seen her without her group of friends, without her warm and comforting smile. She seemed so out place wearing a frown.

"Do you know why she's all by herself?" Jimin asked, bringing his mix-and-match tupperware out of his backpack. He just threw it together last minute and ran out his dorm.

Hoseok had already begun chomping on his own food hungrily only to slow his pace, very noticeably, at Jimin's question.

"Haven't you heard?" He said almost inaudibe in between bites.

Considering he liked to stay away from everyone, Jimin didn't think he'd hear anything, especially gossip, and normally he wouldn't involve himself in it, but it was about Haeri. There was no way he'd go without knowing what happened, and he knew, just by her sitting alone, that it wasn't anything good.

"Heard what?" Jimin hesitantly continued with unsurety.

"Haeri and Taehyung are on a break."

Jimin froze at the news, his jaw dropping immediately.

Just a couple days ago the two were grinding against each other, and now they're no longer together? It didn't make sense.

Yesterday, Haeri seemed to be fine. She had the same chipper attitude with a smile to match, but her lips upturned, pulled into an upsetting frown. It tugged on his heart achingly, as if he was the one broken up with when clearly he wasn't. Unlike Taehyung who was daring enough to laugh and make jokes with Hyungsik, like Haeri hadn't been anyone more than someone he could mess around with.

That jerk. He was just as bad as Jeongguk. That good-for-nothing douchebag.

Jimin's shock morphed into fury. It didn't matter that Taehyung was the golden boy. He hurt Haeri, and for that, Jimin was more than willing to get his face rearranged. He slid out from his seat and glared in Taehyung's direction.

"Jimin, what are you-" Hoseok's statement was cut short when said douchebag came into view, brow quirked in amusement.

"Oh, I guess you heard." Jeongguk sighed without an ounce of sympathy, walking past Jimin and taking his seat, pushing his salad aside to make room for a burger and fries.

He threw one of them into his mouth and chewed it loudly. "I don't know what you think you're going to do, but trust me when I say that Taehyung and his buddies will beat you up before you even have the chance to blink. Have you forgotten he's taller than you?"

Jimin huffed, hating how right Jeongguk was, but someone had to stand up for Haeri. Sure he wasn't close with her and maybe it might make him look even crazier. At this point, there was no harm in it. What were a couple bruises going to do? It wouldn't change anything.

He took one step only to be tugged back into his seat with ease. Damn Jeongguk and his muscles. He stood no chance against them.

"Did you not hear me, or do you really want to have that pretty face of yours ruined?" Jeongguk shook his head, eating another fry.

"Besides, you haven't heard the whole story."

Jimin wasn't all that interested in listening seeing as Haeri was the one who got the bitter end of the breakup. If she was the one hurting then it didn't take much to know just who was the cause of her pain.

And Kim Taehyung was going to to be in worse pain.

With words, of course, because Jimin couldn't fight for the life of him, but with his wide vocabulary he was positive he could hurt Taehyung without any difficulty, and then he'd run like hell. He'd hightail it out of there so fast, Taehyung wouldn't know what hit him until it was too late. If that didn't work, Jimin would be cute. That had gotten him out of trouble more times than he could count.

"He what?!" Hoseok's sudden burst brought Jimin out of his rampant thoughts. He turned to look at Jeongguk, lips still thinned in anger.

"Shh, keep it down, Hoseok. It was hard to even be included in locker room talk. Those guys hate my guts, so the fact they told me means we can come to amends, but not if you tell the whole world."

"Sorry," Hoseok sheepishly apologized. "But I didn't know the Kim Taehyung was into that sort of thing."

Jimin's disinterest became curiosity in an instant. "What sort of thing?"

Jeongguk sullenly glanced at Jimin and shook his head. "I said Taehyung is in two other relationships, and Haeri just found out this morning."

Before Jeongguk could even say another word, Jimin took the remaining steps to Taehyung's table. He marched right to him, lifted his fist, and did the one thing he said he wouldn't.

He punched Taehyung.