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Year 16
(final part)

It takes less than a second to see a text and process what it says. So why the fuck hasn't Jeon Jungkook texted you back in over a week? He's already done half the deed judging by the read receipts under your outgoing messages from that night. You'd opt for even a lousy hey at this point.

"Hey Y/N you good?" Jimin asks.

It's then that you realize you've been strangling the innocent Coke can in your hand with your eyes glued to the one sided conversation on your screen.

"Y-Yeah," you mutter, taking a swig before slamming it down onto the lunch table. The noise hardly competes with the clamoring students gathered in the cafeteria for lunch though.

"Where's Sadia," you attempt to draw away the attention from yourself.

"Cosmetics club," Jimin responds, his tone notably disappointed.

Ever since Jungkook has taken the lunch hour to catch up on his schoolwork so he has more time to train after school it has been just the three of you. But today it seems to feel extra lonely without Sadia's presence.

"Have you guys talked," you ask, stuffing your hand into the extra potato chip bag Jimin brought for you.

"Not really," he mumbles, lifting a forkful of his homemade pasta salad to his mouth. "She said she liked my jacket this morning."

"And?"

"I almost threw up."

You huff in frustration, pinching the bridge of your nose. "Jiminieeee!"

"I know, I know," he nods, "I can't control it. Ever since you told me she likes me too I can't seem to hold up a conversation with her for my life. It's exhausting! Do you know how many eyelashes she has on her right eye, Y/N?"

You shake your head and Jimin sighs, "113. Wanna know how I know that? Because she sits next to me in physics and that's all I could fucking focus on for the entire hour!"

He whimpers, pushing the container away due to his sudden loss of appetite. You almost feel bad. The boy is so whipped, he's suffering.

"Well, hopefully things will turn out better when you go to the match with her Friday night." You offer an awkward pat on his back and he nods. Surveying his attire, you stifle a snort at the sight of his bedazzled denim jacket sporting his name on the back. "And she must like you a lot."

"Why?"

"Because that jacket is atrocious," you giggle and he rolls his eyes playfully.

"Jealousy's an ugly color on you Y/N."

"Still cuter than that jacket," you retort and he swipes your bag of chips away from you.

You chuckle and just as you're about to go to war for it, a group of girls enter the cafeteria.

In a scene vaguely reminiscent of Mean Girls, the three walk side by side in their tight skirts and even tighter crop tops through the middle aisle. Everyone's heads turn, including Jimin's in admiration. However, yours turns in shock.

It's not so much the power the girls exude that has rendered you speechless, it's who is leading the pack that has. Aria flashes a superficial smile to everyone who gawks at her cream legs and midriff proudly on display.

"It's been one day!" You exclaim as the three take a seat at the tables stereotypically known as the popular section. Your high school is no exemption to high school cliques.

"How did she get friends that fast, she's so unpleasant to be around," Jimin chuckles.

But you know the answer to that.

"Because she's pretty. And skinny." Your eyes catch the way the varsity athletes eye her cleavage, "and she has tits."

Jimin cranes his neck to see as well and he shrugs. "Boys are animals. They'll give attention to anything with tits."

You both settle into a comforting silence as you continue to observe the interactions between Aria and everyone around her like a documentary. If you were as relevant as any of the popular kids, maybe someone would have noticed and called you out on how creepy you were being. But because high school is a parallel universe stuck between reality and hell, no one pays either of you any mind.

In your daze, you're able to make out a short figure walking towards you with a rolling backpack. Planting himself in front of you two and blocking your lines of sight, you simultaneously let out groans of protest at the rude interruption.

"Hi guyth," Greg grins.

"Hello Gregory," Jimin replies in dismay, "we're sorta busy so do you mind." He motions for Greg to scoot to the left to which he willingly obliges.

Following your entranced gazes to where Aria is now cackling at something a football player said, Greg nods in understanding. "Ahh, Aria'th back."

"She's a high school anomaly," Jimin squints for a better look, sticking his tongue out in search of the straw of his juice as he refuses to break contact for even a second.

"She'th hot," Greg remarks, "I'm way out of her league, though."

You and Jimin bite back smiles before you ask, "uh, Greg was there something you needed?"

"Oh yeth!" He unzips his backpack and pulls out his obnoxiously large laptop decorated with Star Wars and Naruto stickers. "Did you hear? Jungkook moved up another rank."

"Yippie," you monotonously reply.

He rotates his screen to display to you both what looks to be a partially finished article with Jungkook's school picture in the corner. "Admin wanth to brag about it in the thcool webthite. But I can't find him anywhere for an interview. Thought one of you two might have hith number or could path on the word."

Another rank? As if the guy wasn't busy enough, now he's facing even older opponents. If he knew that this was coming, he could've NOT agreed to teach you. It wouldn't kill him to tell you that his time is so priceless that it can't be wasted on such ordeals instead of allowing you to just find out for yourself.

"Sorry Greg but he hasn't been talking to us either lately."

Jimin scoffs in offense. "Speak for yourself! My bestie always has time to talk to me!"

And like clockwork, the cafeteria doors open again revealing a lax Jungkook stroll in. His jaw clenches as he chews a piece of gum, accentuating the already sharp structure beautifully. You're not the only one who notices as you catch other girls' conversations trail off to gush over the boy. You can't blame them.

But despite him looking as handsome as ever, something still nags at you. He looks way too nonchalant to just be coming back from catching up with his schoolwork. And after what he pulled last week with you, you wouldn't doubt that staying in during lunch was a ruse as well.

"So he always has time for you, huh?" You narrow your eyes just as Jungkook is nearing your table. With no notable intention of sitting there, fyi.

"Uh-huh," Jimin nods, "and I'll prove it right now."

Before you can stop him, Jimin is standing and shouting Jungkook's name to capture his attention.

Jungkook freezes, shooting your table a dumbfounded look before his features soften and he smiles warmly...at Jimin. Jimin nudges you to show off his achievement and you roll your eyes. With his small hand, he beckons him over to which Jungkook obeys.

Until he stops.

And you wish you didn't know why.

Jungkook fits into a clique. He's a sexy jock who can knock someone out with a bunny smile. Everyone either wants to fuck him, be friends with him, or be him. He has an image to maintain now, especially considering this article that's going to be published about him.

So can you really blame him when the section of neanderthals your high school deems popular calls him over at the exact same time and he is at a crossroads?

Yes.

Because although you and Jimin are an unusual pair in the eyes of the weak, accompanied by Greg who is wearing fashion from at least three decades ago but has an IQ larger than everyone in that section combined, you're as loyal as they come. It's a no brainer of who he should sit with.

Jungkook's eyes skim over your table, scanning Greg then Jimin and in a surprising turn of events, you.

He snaps his gum, conflicted brows furrowed. You pierce his eyes with your own, arching a brow in an attempt to further communicate with him wordlessly.

What are you going to do, Jeon?

He blinks at you with a blank expression, eyes flitting from you to the idiots and then back to you.

I don't know.

You roll your eyes, sinking back into your seat on the bench before shaking your head.

Don't do it.

If Jungkook stayed, maybe you'd hate him a little less. It'd show he still has a drop of regard for your friendship.

If you weren't staring directly at him, you may have missed the way the corners of his lips twitched downwards, doe eyes glazing over with remorse and the way his shoulder sag.

I'm sorry.

His lips part and a string of stuttering sounds leave before he sighs. Sparing you three a forced smile, he speed walks straight on into the testosterone and tit table of horror.

Jimin, still standing, watches, an awkward smile still plastered on his face. "Okay, haha. Thank you." Imagine calling someone over and getting completely ignored. He chuckles nervously, slowly sinking down into the bench and landing with a thud.

For the first time, Jimin looks embarrassed.

He continues to chuckle as a coping mechanism to what he's just endured. The small snickers from those surrounding you doesn't seem to help, either. You'd drape an arm around him but you know Jimin hates pity.

And like the dramatic king he is, with a forced smile on his face to match Jungkook's, he finally says, "he's dead to me."

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"Are we dead yet?" Namjoon asks, eyes squeezed shut in horror from the passenger seat.

You stare at him, fingertips barely grazing your seatbelt before scoffing. "I haven't even put on my seatbelt yet."

"Okay," he exhales shakily, "always remember your seatbelt."

"THAT'S WHAT I WAS JUST- fine," you give up, clicking your seatbelt shut.

This is how driving lessons have started for the last week with Namjoon. He says something that completely discourages you and then follows up with something stupid to aggravate you enough to forget. But otherwise he has been quite the patient instructor; constantly watching your mirrors as you still forget to do so, warning you when you're getting too close to other cars or when you should speed up. It's been fun, honestly. He's good company.

"So," he grins as he unwraps a lollipop, "what part of town should we drive around today?"

You purse your lips and hum. "It's Friday night, so none of the main streets. They'll be packed."

"True," he agrees, "then we can just drive around the shelter. It's far enough from the rest of civilization as it is."

He did have a point. The shelter is located on the outskirts of the city and takes over an hour bus ride to get to.

After driving around for a while and listening to Namjoon recount various tales of his own crashes in an attempt to prepare you, you both settle into a peaceful silence.

At least until your phone buzzes from its spot in the cup holder located in the middle compartment.

You turn your head exactly 2 degrees to the right before Namjoon stops you.

"HEY!" He snaps, popping out the sucker and pointing it towards the street, "eyes on the road. No texting while driving."

It's an reasonable warning but that doesn't stop you from pouting a fine laced with your teenage attitude. He nods before glancing down at your phone and snorting. "What the hell is your lock screen?"

His reaction to your dreadful lock screen is understandable because...it's weird. Having just watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Jungkook, Jimin, and you thought of the hilarious idea of being oompa loompas for Halloween in elementary school. That resulted in your grandma's couch being accidentally spray painted green along with orange fingerprints littered all around your house due to the face paint. You all wanted it to be as authentic as possible. It was a memorable night, people around your neighborhoods either laughed or awed, both reactions deriving LOTS of candy.

But no one thought it was funnier than Papa Jeon who even stuffed your overalls with pillow cases to make you three look plumper as he snapped a photo.

The photo that is now your lock screen.

"It's from Halloween a while ago." You can't even fight the smile that splits your features as you recount the memory.

Namjoon stares at it and smirks, "oompa loompas?"

"We wanted to be funny."

"We?"

"Me, Jimin, and Jungkook," you list, the last name unconsciously leaving your lips as a whisper.

Namjoon quirks a brow, tilting his head before nodding in understanding, "ah, your boy."

Namjoon has always teased you about Jungkook ever since you've told him about your best friend but today the nickname seems to irk you more than usual.

"Stop calling him that."

"Why?"

"Because he's not my boy," you mutter, "he hasn't talked to me in over a week."

"So?" Namjoon asks, crunching down on the sugary ball of red.

"What do you mean so?"

"Why do you care so much if he hasn't talked to you in a week?"

You meet his indifferent face as you're stopped at a streetlight and allow your brow to sink in confusion. "Um...because he's my best friend?"

"My best friend lives 3 hours away and I don't care if he doesn't talk to me for a week. Doesn't stop us from being best friends."

Your immediate instinct is to rebuttal but the words die on your tongue. The memories or moments in your lives you and Jungkook have shared won't be erased just because you two haven't spoken. Nor will the impact you have on each other. Are you overreacting?

"Unless..." Namjoon trails off, a smirk failing to hide even as he turns his head.

"What?"

"Well, people only get this upset over someone not talking to them when...," again he trails off, wiggling his eyebrows at you to catch his drift.

"You think I like Jungkook?"

"Like?!" He guffaws, "shit, girl. I thought you liked him last week when you told me he was gonna 'teach you how to drive.' I thought that was some code for having sex. But now...Y/N I'm sure you love him."

Your eyes go wide and your jaw goes slack as you stare at him incredulously.

"I love him...as a friend," you start slowly, your mouth feeling drier by the second.

"Well let's see. You've known him since you could talk. He was your first kiss. He's spent nights with you while you've cried in his arms. Is there anything more to explain?"

"D-Don't all friends experience that together," you stammer.

"Not all friends blush like that when the possibility of being in love with their best friend is mentioned," he replies while pointing at your cheeks you hadn't noticed were reddening.

At some point you found it impossible to concentrate on what Namjoon was revealing to you and drive simultaneously so you decide to pull into an empty park close by. Clicking off your seat belt and rotating your entire body 90 degrees to gift him your full focus, you stare at his annoyingly indifferent face as he continues to casually reveal the "obvious."

"But how can I be in love? I'm only 16?!"

Namjoon chuckles, clicking off his own seatbelt to relax as he fixes the lever to recline his seat. "There's no age requirement for falling in love, kid. It's not something you plan, it just happens."

"Have you ever been in love?"

At that he shifts around in his seat, his natural smirk faltering for a moment as he scans your innocent face. When all you do is blink at him waiting for his response, you hear what sounds like a sigh leave his lips before he smiles softly and shakes his head. "No, but it's all the same, isn't it?"

"What is?"

"It's just a feeling, like being happy or sad. One minute you could be driving around with them, laughing or even just sitting there and you feel like you're high because just being in their presence erases the rest of the world." He smiles wider, dimples so deep you're sure your finger would disappear if you tried to poke them. And just as fast as it appears, it vanishes as his expression drops. "But it's destructive. It's a drug that gives you insane withdrawals. Love makes you act crazy like you're doing right now. Angry at him for not talking to you, wondering where he is, making up any excuse just to get close to her- uh him."

Your face twists in confusion as you process each word. It's true that ever since you could remember, Jungkook has been at your side and if you're being honest...there's nowhere you would have rather been. Even though it had been a short week without him, it'd felt like an eternity. You quickly realize that not only are you still angry at him, you're angry that you miss him.

And not in the friendliest of ways either.

You miss the feeling of his strong arms squeezing your small frame in a hug. His soft lips on yours and his hands tracing your curves. The way he smiles at you and only for you. The way he makes you feel like you're the only girl in the world when he looks into your eyes.

Holy shit.

"I'm in love with Jungkook," you confess, sinking into your seat as you shudder.

"Yup." Namjoon pops the P before pursing his lips and staring straight forward at the empty park.

Something about the revelation warms your heart and has you chewing on your bottom lip in anticipation.

You have to tell him.

A buzzing on your lap rips you away from your thoughts and you grin when you see Jimin's face appear on your phone.

You hastily unlock it, pressing the device to your ear before excitedly saying, "Jiminie!"

"Yeah...hey Y/N-"

"You'll never guess what I just freaking realized!" You blurt before frowning, "Hey, wait aren't you supposed to be at the match with Sadia?"

"Uh...yeah, I'm here but listen-"

"Oh my gosh how's it going?! I hope Papa Jeon isn't making it awkward!"

"Well, yeah that's the thing. Papa Jeon didn't come to this match-"

"IS HE OKAY?!" You panic.

"Yeah, yes he's fine! Taehyung told me Jungkook said he worked late but listen-"

"Is JK okay? It's weird for his dad not to go to a match especially when he just moved up a rank!"

"Y/N!" Jimin shouts but it's useless because you're already spiraling.

"He needs support Jiminie!" You glance at the time on your phone before nodding curtly even though he can't see it. "I'm on my way," and with that you hang up, failing to hear out the reason why he called you in the first place. Turning to Namjoon who is still staring straight ahead, you seriously say, "we have to go to the gym."

He scoffs, "now? Alright, but at least let me drive."

By the time you reach the gym, you're stumbling towards the door in an attempt to see the match before it ends. There's a crowd of people gathered outside also trying to even catch a glimpse of the brawl through the glass panes. But you can't afford to just stand around and watch. Without the support of his own father and Jimin now shunning him, Jungkook needs you. This is your chance to fulfill the promises he has unconsciously broken. At least you hope.

When everyone begins to cheer, your eyes flit around for a window of opportunity and you spot a security guard rounding the corner of the gym to scold everyone who didn't buy a ticket. Without hesitation, you jog towards the side and spot the door flung wide open.

You run inside.

The commentator's voice fills your ears and you whirl your head around as you take in the amount of people currently cheering on Jungkook. The stands are filled to the brim. You continue to walk forward, craning your neck in an effort to find Jimin but trip on an orange cable on the floor. You steady yourself, gaze following the cable just to see it leads to a camera that a man is panning around the glossy ring.

The match is being freaking televised.

Jungkook must be a nervous wreck.

But you take one look at the man of the hour and realize he is the exact opposite. He lands a few hooks in the other boy's ribs, loud enough to hear even over all the commotion. Jungkook doesn't even look like he's been touched, the only evidence of the fight being his sweat-drenched hair and glistening torso.

The other boy looks a mess. His eyebrow is cut and gushing with blood, he's limping as he runs around the ring, and he blinks rapidly as if he can't see straight. He looks like he'll topple over any second.

Then, Jungkook breaks out into a small run and leaps into the air, pulling back his arm before letting his punch fly straight into the boy's face knocking him off of his toes. The boy collapses onto the floor and bell dings to indicate the end.

With his red mouthpiece still inside, Jungkook grins proudly as the referee lifts his arm victoriously. The crowd goes even wilder than they were before, applauding and chanting JK as loud as they can. And you're right there with them, heart swelling with pride witnessing your best friend beat an opponent years older than him. The boy you're in love with.

"Y/N!" You hear a shout and spot Sadia and Jimin jogging towards the you, hand in hand. The joy you feel in the moment seems to cloud your senses from noticing the worry on their faces.

"DID YOU GUYS SEE THAT," you gleam, throwing your arms around their necks for a hug to which they awkwardly return.

"Y-Yeah, Y/N you weren't supposed to come. Didn't you listen to me on the phone-" Jimin hastily starts but you shake your head before he can finish.

"No, I get it now. We completely misunderstood him, Jiminie. He wasn't being an ass to us on purpose, he was just overwhelmed with training because of this," you motion toward the crowds now making their exit or trying to gather around the ring to congratulate Jungkook.

Jimin narrows his eyes, "what? No, Y/N, girl listen. He let someone else take Papa Jeon's place-"

The crowd gets rowdier and Jimin's voice fades out. You whirl your head just to find the cause of the commotion is due to the champ approaching you three. A wide smile splits your features the closer he comes and you have to stop yourself from running into the boy's arms and jumping on him.

Jungkook smiles even wider, face still a bit pink from the match as he opens his arms. This is what you've been waiting for, the feeling you've craved for what feels like weeks. This is who you've been waiting for.

Suddenly you feel a shove and you almost fly forward before Jimin catches your wrist to steady you. But maybe he should've just let you fall, it seems like that would've hurt a lot less than what you saw when you looked back up.

Aria is tangled in Jungkook's arms, giggling obnoxiously as she poses for the various cameras now swarming the couple. She peels his hand that was settled on her back to cup her ass in her tight pink mini dress as she kisses his cheek.

You were so enveloped in confessing to Jungkook that you had completely imagined that he was looking directly at you. That you were still the only girl in his world.

"Honey," Sadia starts, expression pained as she puts a hand on your shoulder, "we didn't want you to see this. Jimin tried to tell you. Jungkook invited Aria instead of his dad."

"Instead of me," you add, exhaling shakily as more people barrel past you in an attempt to see the happy couple.

"Y/N," Jimin frowns as your eyes turn glassy, "I'm so sorry-"

"Sorry?" You plaster on a smile, glancing at the two through the bodies of people, "there's nothing to be sorry about. He's not my property."

"Y/N-"

"I have to go."

It feels easier to pretend nothing bothers you in the moment than to admit you'd convinced yourself that Jungkook needed you. So lost in your own thoughts as you exit the door you don't realize the chime of the bell captures Jungkook's attention and prompts him to run after you.

Namjoon was right.

Love is destructive.

"Y/N!" You know it's his voice but you don't even have the heart to look him in the eye. But he's next to you, you can feel his presence. "I-I didn't even know you came today."

"Yeah," you whisper, in an intense staring contest with the pavement, "good job."

"Thanks for coming."

"Yup."

It's a battle to suppress your rage, your sadness, your heartbreak. Especially when he looks as good as he does. Leave it to Jungkook to test how mad you are as he towers over you shirtless. Why the fuck is he shirtless?

"Hey," he tilts your chin up to meet his doe eyes that once brought you comfort. Now all they do is remind you of the slits they turn into when they look at Aria. "I'm sorry about last week. I didn't get a chance to tell you but my dad's truck was acting up and he didn't get home until late. And you just kept texting and I felt so bad..."

"What?" You sigh and frown, "you saw the texts? And you didn't even bother to reply?"

"I didn't know what to say," he chews on his bottom lip.

"I waited for you for 2 and a half hours Jungkook!" You shout, jerking your face away from his touch, "you could've just said you weren't coming. It doesn't take a freaking rocket scientist to figure that out!"

"I-I know, I messed up. I just didn't want you to be upset that I...that I broke-"

"That you broke a promise?!" You fume, crossing your arms over your chest, "so you would've rather just let me wait? Who even are you anymore? Do these promises mean nothing to you anymore? Do I mean anything to you?"

Jungkook arches a brow and you purse your lips at what you might have just revealed. "Of course you mean something to me. But we aren't little kids anymore, Y/N."

"It's just decent human courtesy, idiot!"

You feel stupid for even trying to clear his new reputation of being an ass with Jimin as he rolls his eyes and says, "this is why I've been avoiding you. Look at how you act when you're mad. You weren't even supposed to come to this match."

You could really superman punch him right now.

"I was trying to freaking support you, just like I have for, I don't know, the last fucking 11 years!" You catch a glimpse of a familiar shade of pink through the glass of the gym and dryly chuckle, "but I think you have enough of that now."

"Yeah. I guess I do."

You stare at his face. He looks like the same Jungkook. The same eyes, the same nose, even the same mole under his bottom lip. But you don't recognize him. He's an empty shell of who your best friend used to be, before the articles, and the popularity, and the fame.

This is not who you thought you were in love with.

"What did I do to you," you rasp, the tears pricking the back of your eyes threatening to escape any second.

"What are you talking about?"

"What did I do for you to completely forget about us? To forget about me?"

A twinge of sadness seems to soften his features as he looks down at your defeated expression. You're heartbroken and he can see it. But he doesn't know how to stop it. "Is this because of Aria?"

You could confess. You could admit that in fact you are upset that he is with Aria and not with you. But...it wouldn't change the fact that Jungkook has blown you off more times in the last couple of months than you care to remember. You love Jungkook. But you value friendship more, and these are his true colors.

There's a beat of silence and Jungkook frowns at the lack of response. "Do you feel anything when you see me with someone else?"

Silence.

What good would it do to tell him that your heart feels like it's been through a meat grinder after watching Aria plant her lips where yours should be? It wouldn't erase the past. Jungkook is a free man. You couldn't have expected him to stay faithful to someone who he isn't obligated to.

Love is destructive.

The sentence bounces around your head and you inadvertently glance back at the silver car. You can make out Namjoon's silhouette through the windows. He waited for you.

Following your line of sight to the car, Jungkook scoffs. "Damn, that was quick."

You seriously doubt Namjoon is quick. "You stood me up, Jeon. What was I supposed to do? Wait for you to come around and decide to teach me?"

"So what? What did you come for? Just to shove it in my face that I fucked up with you? That doesn't really matter now that you have him!" He clenches his jaw, chest heaving as his eyes flit from you to Namjoon and back to you.

"Why the hell are you out here talking to me when you have her," you point at the ditzy girl in pink, chest heaving with exasperation.

"So you do feel something when you see me with her?!"

"I didn't say that!"

"Really," he quirks a brow, smug look on his face, "because it sure seems like it."

There's no point in confessing to him now. This is not who you want. This arrogant, snarky, condescending boy is not who you want. Not when he has the power to hurt you this bad even without the mention of love.

You can't help it.

You snap.

Drilling a finger into his unclothed chest, you stare up into his empty eyes and all you can see is red. "I promise that I don't feel a single thing when I see you with Aria, or Grace, or ANYTHING with a freaking vagina get close to you. The only thing I feel is sorry for them!"

"You promise?" He continues to challenge, breathing so hard you can feel the forceful gusts of air hit your face as he attempt to keep his composure.

Staring daggers at him, you roughly link his pinky with yours and spit an, "I promise."

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OKAY DONT KILL ME I AM SORRY FOR ANOTHER EMO CHAPTER but the story needed a little spice

also this is the age where boys start acting like ✨asshats✨ so it is what it is

next chapter will be sticky sweet to make up for this i promise (shameless plug)

p.s. i'm so down to write a chapter about their oompa loompa halloween if you would like that :))

that's all hehe

onto year 18 🏊🏻‍♀️🏊🏻‍♀️