August 7, 2019

Remember the positive state of mind, Taehyung tried to instill on me? It did not work, and it all began the moment I stepped off the plane in Seoul. When I went looking for my suitcases, one of them was missing, I asked the clerk, and they had the nerve to tell me it was left behind because freaking trunk of the airplane was at full capacity and they had to leave behind some of the luggage.  They assured me I would be receiving at the latest in a week's time, I had no choice but to leave my contact information and move on. Then arriving at the dorm building my mentor had the time wrong and was an hour late, so I just stood in the lobby all icky from a long flight waiting for her arrival. At least she seemed like a nice person and apologized profusely. I believe I came through as bratty or snobby, but that wasn't my intention I was very tired, and we all know how I get.

Receiving my schedule and all that information I could finally go up to my dorm. Opening the door, it was a nice place with a modern style with its minimalistic decorations. There were two rooms, one for each of us, a small kitchen, living area, and a joint bathroom. Each room came furnished with bed sheets and everything, including a TV. I quickly took a warm shower and as soon as my head hit the pillow loud blasting music turned on from the room beside mine in the other dorm. At this point I wanted to cry from exhaustion and was left with no other choice but to sleep on the couch if I wanted to get any rest. Safe to say the next morning my neck and back were killing me.

The next few days went by normally except for the fact that I had not received my suitcase and I had not met my roommate. She had already arrived, but didn't introduce herself at all. I knocked on her door and she ignored me as if I was just an annoying fly buzzing in her ear. It made me question if I did anything wrong or offended her in some way, although that was not possible since I hadn't even caught a glimpse of her. From the information in my personalized packet her name was Eun-Jae, she was from Australia, an architecture major and a year older than me. If she didn't want to be my friend that's fine, but I feel like it's important to communicate and establish some boundaries or whatever if we were going to be living together for 5 months.

I hadn't met anyone else from the program yet and I was desperately in need for some socialization. I'd basically been going out most days exploring the campus and the surrounding areas and when I wasn't doing that, I was in my room watching some Netflix and keeping an eye out for my mysterious roommate, yet somehow, she always managed to sneak out without me noticing.

Lying in bed with nothing to do, I decided to call somebody. I called Olivia and Macy, but they didn't answer I think it was late in California hence their silence, so, I settled for Taehyung. I called him through Facetime knowing he preferred that and waited for him answer.

"Hey Tae Tae."

"Hi Nari."

"What are you up to? I'm bored," I asked him in a whiny voice. 

"Hey! You're using my line!"

"I'm sorry but it's the truth," I shrugged innocently.    

"Apology accepted just don't make a habit of it," he teasingly narrowed his eyes at me. 

"I do what I want!"

"Wow a few days in Seoul alone and already a rebel," Taehyung scolded me. 

"Oh, I've always been a rebel," I scoffed, flipping my hair.

He began laughing at my remark before saying, "In what world?"

"Let me live!" I whined with a pout.

Even though we both knew I was not a rebel. I may break a rule or two, but deep down I was a goody two shoes.

"You're adorable," he cooed.

"You didn't answer my question!" I exclaimed, diverting his attention from my reddening cheeks.

"Ah, I'm not doing anything we had a rehearsal earlier and that was it."

"Oh, rehearsal for what?" I nosily asked.

"Lotte World," he answered simply. 

"That's in a few days, right?"

"Yeah, you know if you're so bored, why don't you come around to the dorms?"

"Oh, um, are you sure? The guys won't mind?" His question took me by surprise because even if we trusted each other I knew they were pretty private when it came to their private places such as the dorms. Also, I did not want to make the others uncomfortable 'cause I might be close to Taehyung and Jimin but not with the others.

"Nah, and besides, I think the only one here is Hoseok," he waved off.

"Okay then, sure," I agreed hesitantly. 

"Great, see you soon!"

"Wait Tae," I called after him before he hung up, "I don't know how to get to the dorms."

"Right," he sheepishly smiled. 

Realizing his mistake, he rapidly arranged a driver to pick me up and take me to the dorms. Taehyung mentioned it would be easier than me taking a taxi since I needed a code to enter the building complex. While I waited for the driver, I exchanged my sweatpants for some jeans, kept my white hoodie on and looked for my white converse, the only pair of shoes I had with me since the others were in the lost suitcase. Not long after I received a call from the driver letting me know he had arrived. Grabbing my phone, I rushed downstairs and got into the black, tinted car.

On the way to the dorms, I thought about how Taehyung's and I's relationship has evolved over the past few months. It all began as me as a fan, then as strangers, to friends, to really good friends. Him opening up to me made way for our friendship to blossom even more not only is he more open but so am I.  He spoke about his struggles as an idol and how people fail to see him as a human sometimes and how they expect him to be perfect all the time. It has led him to be cautious of every little thing he does not necessarily because he cares about what people think, but because he doesn't want to let the fans down or their expectations.

On the other side, I spoke to him about my stresses as a college student how I always felt the pressure of doing good in class and when that didn't happen how I beat myself up for it. The problem being that me doing bad is getting a B, it is not bad at all, but my brain doesn't seem to get it. This state of mind always leads me to spending long nights stuck in the computer studying, searching for a source of caffeine, and inevitably ruining my mood. Countless nights I have spent crying thinking I couldn't do it before getting myself together to keep studying. Taehyung tried advising me, yet there was not much to do at the moment since it was summer, maybe now I can put into practice what he's told me. At the beginning I was very hesitant to talk to him about it since compared to his problems mine seem minuscule, but he always made sure to reassure me that my problems mattered too. We lead different lives, making our problems different, yet not less important.

All this talking took me down a path of accepting that I did have some feelings for Taehyung. I wouldn't say it's love yet, but there is no doubt in my mind that if I decide to pursue this it could very well turn into it. A part of me is telling me to go for it ask him out for all of his flirting could mean he feels something too, he asked me to dance something no guy who wants to be just friends does. Another part is saying that he was just being playful, polite, and it doesn't mean anything. Which one to believe? I want to go with the first one, then again when Taehyung began talking to me it was because he was lonely and wanted a friend. Am I now perpetually stuck in the friend zone or is there an exit somewhere close?

My thoughts were interrupted as the car stopped in front of big fancy gates, the doors opened slowly, and I was met with a gated community filled with building complexes. I was nervous to go to the dorms because of all the times we've seen each other we haven't been in each other's personal space. Him inviting me to the dorms is giving me a glimpse of another part of him and although the apartment is all seven of them there is no doubt, I'll see some of Taehyung's personality splashed in. I really hope the guys don't mind me being there I don't want them to see it as me invading their space.

The driver pulled into an underground garage parking close to a set of doors. He got out of the car and before I could open the door, he did it for me.

"Miss Seong, the elevators are through those doors, just press number 17 and it should take you up to Mr. Kim's apartment," he politely informed me with a nod.

"Thank you," I shyly whispered, feeling uncomfortable with the fancy treatment. 

The elevator doors opened urging me in and closing promptly as I pressed on the shiny number 17 making it light up. As the numbers went up, I began to fidget nervously at the new environment. With a loud 'ding' the doors opened once again leading me into a short hallway with a door at the end. Knocking on it the door was thrown open, revealing Taehyung on the other side. He looked relaxed in a T-shirt and sweatpants, his face make-up free making him appear more youthful.

"You're here!" he yelled in excitement, pulling me into a tight hug and swaying us side to side.

"Hi," I giggled into the hug. 

"Come in, come in," he ushered me in after our hug.

Taehyung gave me a brief tour of the place showing me where the living room was, the kitchen, the hallway leading to the rooms, and the balcony with a tremendous view. Like I expected the apartment was a reflection of all the boys and their taste and it was kept incredibly neat and tidy.

"Tell me how the past few days have been," Taehyung spoke, directing me to the living room sofa after the tour. 

"You want the truth?" I asked him ready to rant about my bad experiences so far. 

He nodded at my question the corner of his lips slightly turning down into a frown.

"It has sucked," I said beginning my story on the lost suitcase and the rude roommate. 

"I know it sucks right now, but stay positive it can only get better from here," he advised me after listening to my passionate rant to which he had no choice but to listen to and nod every now and then. He was the best.

"I'll try," I answered unconvincingly.

He opened his mouth to reprimand my attitude when I heard some scratching.

"What's that?"
"Probably Yeontan," Taehyung shrugged, looking over to where the noise was coming. 

"Kim Taehyung you have Yeontan here and have not introduced me yet?" I berated him in fake anger. Mostly fake.

"Maybe?" He quickly answered, having forgotten how much I loved puppies, especially Yeontan the one he always sent me pictures of.

"Where is he?"

"Come on," he waved his hand, standing up from his place on the couch.

We went into one of the rooms which I assumed was his and Namjoon's and there he was, Kim Yeontan, staring at us adoringly.

"Hi puppy," I cooed crouching down to his level and offering him my hand.

Once he sniffed it and deemed it safe, I began petting and cooing him, bringing him close to my chest, "You're so cute, yes you are..." 

"He likes you," Taehyung giggled, taking in the scene in front of him. 

"Of course he does, how could he not? I'm a pleasure to be around," I sassed at him.

"Okay, whatever you say."

"Are you saying you don't like having me around?" He was playing a dangerous game by teasing me this way. I was not going to lose.

"You said it, not me," he shrugged with a mocking smile. 

"You are so mean. Then why call me every time you're bored?"

I caught him, he didn't know how to answer so he settled on shrugging again.

"If I wasn't holding the baby, I'd smack you," I murmured, scratching behind Yeontan's ears. 

"As if you could reach me shorty," he scoffed, making fun of my height.  

"Oh, it is on," I exclaimed, putting Yeontan down. 

Taehyung didn't wait for me to place the puppy on the ground as he sprinted out of the room.

I quickly ran after him to find him in the living room we circled around the sofa, he had a smile on his face, enjoying the game, distracting me while pointing to the window he ran to the kitchen and I followed stumbling upon Hobi and letting out a quick apology. 

"You can't get me, darling," Taehyung laughed at the other side of the kitchen island. 

"And you can't run forever," I reminded him.

"That's debatable," he answered cockily running towards the exit. 

I tried running after him, but Hobi was on my way as I stumbled AGAIN with him. He stabilized me preventing me from plummeting to the ground before I shortly began the chase again.

"Aish these kids," I heard him mutter lowly. 

"Sorry again Hoseok," I yelled from down the hallway. 

I saw Taehyung going into his room again and I dashed in with a goal in mind, but it all crumbled as I smacked onto Taehyungs side full force, as he attempted not to run over the little fluff ball, causing him to fall. On his descent to the ground, he grabbed onto me, but him being heavier and me not having regained my footing he dragged me down with him. We fell to the cold wood flooring with a loud 'thump' I lifted my head with a groan putting some of my weight on my hands as to not to crush Taehyung too much. Looking up to Tae our faces were closer than I thought to the point where I felt his breath on my face, his hands were on my hips from where he tried to hold onto me. My eyes trailed down to his lips, they were pink and looked soft they had some sort of Chapstick coating them and making them look so much more tempting. I wonder what it would be like to place my lips in his if only for a moment. I was in a trance as my eyes went from his eyes to his lips, his gaze fixed on me with hooded eyes, very slowly I inched closer and closer not wanting to wait anymore for the taste of his lips. 

A/N:

I love you guys! hehehe please don't kill me. 

What is her roommates problem? Will she ever get her suitcase back? 

I apologize for any gramatical errors it is currently almost 3 AM I'll make sure to go over them soon. 

As always, please, remember to vote, comment, and share with a friend.

-Nikki Marie 💜