Parasite

It was early when Sooyeong's alarm incessantly went off but she didn’t move, not even one bit because she really didn’t want to get out of bed.

Rather she simply cradled herself within her blanket and pillows and kept a shut eye because it was her self-declared off-day for healing.

As she laid nestled in the warmth, the incessant sound of the alarm became too much for her ears to bare so she put a stop to it then covered up her face with her blanket.

For minutes on end she enjoyed the one-day perk of over sleeping but internally her mind and body knew that this act of rebellion would have disastrous consequences probed on by The Dragon Lady.

From her safe haven she groaned then rolled out of bed but in the process of doing so she got even more tangled up in her blanket and ended up splatting straight onto the floor with a loud thud followed by another soft groan.

Once she got up, which took her a good few minutes, she grabbed her smartphone, a grey hoodie, a t-shirt, her uniform skirt, backpack and lastly she slipped on a pair of Levi's before heading for the main house.

Although she grabbed her uniform skirt, she most definitely was still going to skip school. She simply wanted it to be low-key and a secret to Seokjin otherwise he may think something might wrong — which she really didn’t need.

She pushed open the sliding door to the kitchen and hurried inside. Trying to avoid any sort of eye contact with Seokjin, she quickly greeted him with a bow before attempting to slip away upstairs but alas his eyes where sharper than she thought— a lot of carrots have been in the diet lately.

“You cut your hair?” his voiced held disbelief as he put down the bread knife.

She nervously smiled, “Yes… A new beginning I guess…”

He raised an eyebrow, “Is that so?”

She rapidly nodded with a slight nibble on her bottom lip.

“Alright, go on then.” He smiled then went back to buttering some toast. “And it looks cute. Really suits you.”

“Thank you,” she smiled warmly before running upstairs to do her daily morning routine.

Once she was done with showering, she plastered up the cut on her wrist with a new band aid and she fluffed out her hair, getting a good volume out of it.

It didn’t look so bad. Perhaps she could get used to it.

Straight after, she made her way downstairs to lay out the table for the mother-daughter duo in order for them to have breakfast.

As they walked in Sooyeong simply bit down on her toast as she stood beside Seokjin and the both of them only watched the apparent head of the households get settled in and they began to eat.

The painful memories from yesterday flashed over Sooyeong's mind as she stared at Ahro’s rather stiff form.

Even as the two had walked in Ahro didn’t attempt to make any eye contact with Sooyeong which baffled her. It made her wonder if Ahro might be feeling some sort of regret or maybe it was her spiteful side.

Nevertheless, Sooyeong pushed away her ravaging emotions and finished off the last of her toast before she packed her lunch into her backpack.

“Seems like you’ve got a new hairstyle, Sooyeong. And you’re missing a blazer as well.” Ahro’s confident voice sliced the silent kitchen then she looked over her shoulder at Sooyeong with a smirk.

Those words easily confirmed that Ahro didn’t feel any regrets whatsoever rather she was just waiting for the right moment to poke at Sooyeong. Furthermore, it seemed as if she didn’t know that Taehyung helped her out after the incident but in any case she hoped it could stay that way.

Without a word from Sooyeong, she zipped up her backpack before making toward the exit but alas her heart grew heavy so before she could slip away she turned to face Ahro with slanted eyes.

“Your mother said this hairstyle wouldn’t attract the boys.” She tucked some of her hair behind an ear — putting up an illusion that she has already gotten used to its length. “It shows that you two really are cut from the same filthy cloth.”

“Yah! How dare yo—” Ahro vented, and like the last time she got up, but Sooyeong didn’t wait for another near death experience rather she slipped out of the house to avoid further conflict.

Once outside, she strapped on her helmet over her head and threw a leg over her bicycle before she glued herself to the seat. The gate creaked open with a single push and she rolled out onto the pavement but unexpectedly her eyes caught sight of a figure leaning against the wall and she yelped in freight.

“Oh my mochi!” She breathed heavily. “Taehyung ah! You scared the life out of me!”

He chuckled awkwardly as he straightened up, “Sorry,”

“Why are you even here? You should be restocking on your snacks or heading to school…” She said and readjusted herself on her bicycle, once again.

“Am I not allowed to check up on my friend?” She perked an eyebrow at his words but he only stood directly in front of her bicycle. “And where are you headed off to?”

She pouted and ignored his question, “Your friend is fine so just go to school like a normal person.”

“I guess you’re in luck then,” he gave her a weird yet cute smile and leaned closer. “I’m nowhere near normal.”

She sent him a blank look, “I guess that is true but what are you playing at?”

“Skipping class for a day is not a train smash.” He explained. “I already texted Jungkook and said we’re aren’t coming.”

“We?” she asked appalled and slipped his hands off the basket he had been leaning on then she took off. “There is no we, you’re going to school.”

“Sooyeong ah~,” he whined and jogged behind her like a lost puppy. “I’m a parasite now and you’re the host. So wherever you go, I go.”

“W-What?” she laughed. “You do realise a parasite is detrimental to it’s host?”

“Yah! You get what I’m what saying besides not all are bad.” He finally ran in front of her and she stopped just in time. “Let me take you somewhere.”

“The nurses office?” she shot teasingly.

“No,” he chuckled. “I found it online last night and I know it’ll cheer you up.”

He had a pleading look on his features and it made her heart pound but at the same time she wasn’t sure if spending more time with him would lead to another possible disaster.

“Tae ah,”  she sent him a pursed lip smile. “You really don’t need to go this far. I just need one day to break away.”

“And I understand that.” He admitted and stepped beside her to get a closer look at her, “But I also need a day away otherwise I might go insane after seeing Ahro and Nayeon. Please. Moreover, I promised to be there for you.”

She stared up at him for the longest time ever and the more she stared the more her heart fought with her brain on his offer thus leading to her now rosier cheeks.

“Fine,” she softly hit her helmeted head on his chest and his hand instinctively reached over her shoulder. “Let me just leave my bicycle back home then we—”

“No! We’re taking the bike!” He hollered and she blinked in surprise.

• • •

“Tae ah,” Sooyeong called from her position behind him on the bicycle, “I’ve never used the extra seat attachment before. This is dangerous!”

At the moment, Sooyeong sat behind Taehyung over the extra seat attachment on her bicycle. She had her one hand gripping onto the lower portion of his white school shirt and the other on her seat as he peddled along the pavement.

Since the secret location which Taehyung had in store for her only opened around ten o'clock, she shared her days plan with him which consisted of going to Café Shooky.

Originally, she planned on spending her day there so she could help out with Yoongi's birthday preparations but now it looked like Taehyung was going to get in on the action as well.

“It won’t be dangerous if you just properly hold onto me.” He hollered back with his eyes fixed ahead of him. “Sling your arms around me if you really don’t feel safe.”

She blushed at his words. Did he realise what he just said and what it might to do to her heart? At that rate she might as well be diagnosed with a cardiopulmonary vascular disease.

Nevertheless, she bit on her lower lip and slowly slipped her arms around his slim body.

In an instant the blood full on rushed to her cheeks, staining it red. Her hands met at the front only to rest over his tummy and above his belt.

Her heart pounded in its chest and she wondered who in this big blue planet would need cardio workouts when things like that could happen.

Albeit, the experience of this wasn’t half as bad when compared to the piggy back ride he offered her yesterday because in this case there was literally no skin ship from him, which saved her a few more myocytes.

“Isn’t that better?” he asked.

Although taking her bike was part of his devious plan to get closer to her. Internally, his own body riled with emotion at her simple touch.

He began to wonder if he might have bitten off more than he could chew and he also prayed to the heavens not to let him crash that bike because of his selfish motives — that was more so cute than anything else. 

Moreover, Sooyeong was the only one using a helmet (although she had offered it to him before they could leave) and she was pretty battered up herself after all of the things she had been through. He just didn’t want to make it any more worse than it already was.

“I feel safer already…” she choked out with heavily flushed cheeks as she watched the many people they passed by with each peddle Taehyung took.

No-one seemed to be gawking at them which was a good thing in both their cases but at the same time this sort of sight is not an unusual one.

Normally, this type of activity was done between high school couples but what was the insanity of it all was that they weren’t even one.

“If the wind’s too much for you I’ll slow down.” He informed sweetly.

“I’m good, just keep going.” She replied, nervously. The last thing she needed was him slowing down which would obviously prolong their journey thus meaning she’d have to hold onto him for longer.

Her heart exploded at the thought.

“Alright,” he replied. “And if the wind’s too cold, use my back as a shield.”

She bit the inside of her cheek, “Okay, Taehyung ah.”

She was ready to fall off the bicycle and drop dead. Could someone really be this kind, she wondered.

Throughout the rest of their journey, all she achieved were barely good attempts to control her breathing rate, heart rate and flushness but the only thing that seemed to work out was her skirt not going skyward thanks to Taehyung's blazer.

After a few bends, they finally arrived at Café Shooky and once Taehyung came to a halt, Sooyeong released her hold from around his torso and got up to calm herself. Whereas Taehyung took the pleasure of chaining up the bicycle onto a designated railing.

Soon after they both entered the café and were greeted by both Yoongi and Hoseok but in an instant both their expressions faltered.

“You changed your hairstyle?” Yoongi's voice was soft yet laced with surprise.

She smiled awkwardly, “Yes.”

“But don’t you prefer longer hair? Or did senior year maybe probe a change?”

Taehyung tensed up at Hoseok’s words and so did Sooyeong. Circumstances in senior year did in fact cause this to happen but alas Sooyeong’s finally decided to try and come to terms with it because it was just hair and she knew it would eventually grow back.

Though contrary to that, it was the circumstance that probed this outcome which mostly worried her because it demoralised her and made her feel worthless to the point where she almost ended it all.

“I do but I thought it was time to try something different…” She smiled and latched onto Taehyung’s hand because she could clearly sense his uneasiness from beside her.

“Kids and their fashion statements these days...” Yoongi sent her a gummy smile. “But it’s very pretty, kid.”

“Thanks Oppa.” She said before swiftly approaching Hoseok with Taehyung being pulled behind her.

“Is Taehyung here to stock up on snacks for school?” Hoseok teased with a sweet smile and he leaned over the counter.

“I was wondering,” Sooyeong spoke, and leaned over as well but Taehyung on the other hand only watched their hands detach from each other. “Can we help with anything for tomorrow?”

“Aigoo,” Hoseok cooed while he stared at her excited expression. “Hyung said he doesn’t want any surprises so it’s going to be very simple. I’ll handle everything.”

“But,” she pouted, feeling heartbroken.

“No buts.” He warned and exchanged glances between the two. “I don’t want the patrolling officer to come in here and accuse hyung of running a sweatshop when you two should clearly be in school.”

She puckered her lips and looked as if she would shed a bucket full of tears.

“Aish, hyung’s right. You don’t want them to get into trouble now?” Taehyung agreed and slid over to the glass that held the tasty treats behind them but secretly he was overjoyed because he could spend time with her. “Let’s just get something good to eat and we’ll be well on our way.”

She looked at him with both a sad and confused expression while Hoseok only readied himself for the order to come.

“Hmm…” Taehyung hummed as he scanned the treats. “Why don’t we get the Bungeoppang. I really enjoyed it the last time.”

“Really?” she deadpanned and nudged his shoulder. “Even though you didn’t want it at the time?”

“Aish,” he breathed, shyly. “Pack six to go hyung.”

Hoseok nodded and got straight on it.

“Six?” she breathed in surprise. “I can only eat two unless you’re going to eat the four by yourself?”

“When you’re with me, you’re going to eat more.” He smiled widely and squished her cheeks but internally he thought that she probably didn’t have the stomach to eat dinner last night. “I need to make these cheeks more fat.”

She only pouted, “I don’t want to be a glutton.”

Both Taehyung and Hoseok laughed, “You’ve been thin all your life Sooyeong, you’re not going to get fat by eating an extra Bungeoppang.”

“See, even hyung is not against it.” Taehyung smiled before paying for the treats but she on the other hand only stood beside him and poked her own cheeks.

“Mandu cheeks.” She mumbled softly.

Shortly after the both of them said their goodbyes and exited the cosy café to kick off their breakaway day.

A U T H O R ' S  N O T E

Can we all just get a Kim Taehyung already? I mean the man is perfect 😭

Author, Lu 💜