FOUR

School had ended for the day. This was basically a relief for Nari since for her, the day had gone good but also bad. Just like herself, her day had also been full of mixed feelings.

Her mother had asked her to stay this afternoon with her because no one could take care of them. The two girls were with their mother inside the middle school building. Nari had just finished her homework while Ara had none so she was typing away on her phone.
Her mother was grading some papers.

Nari's stomach started growling, she tried stopping it with the touch of her hand but the sound became louder.

"Go get something to eat, there's a food machine in the high school building." her mother told her as she chuckled.

She smiled and got up quickly, "Do you guys want anything?" she asked as she took the money from her book bag.

Ara looked up from her phone, "Chips." she replied before continuing to scroll away.

Nari chuckled before looking at their mother, "Mom, do you want anything?"

Her mother shook her head in disagreement.

Nari set off to find the food machine which she had not seen throughout the whole day. Again she roamed around the halls but no food machine could be found. She looked everywhere.

The girl was roaming around the main entrance hall of the school when she heard a loud sound coming from outside.

She should've just gone away, minding her own business but she didn't.

Her hands pushed the door opened and she found a group of huddled teens around another teen.

More specifically, she found seven teens around one trembling teen.

"What did you say?" the oldest of the group, Seokjin, shouted at the boy's face.

The small boy mumbled, "Nothing."

Yoongi growled, "No, you said something and we heard it."

She couldn't watch this anymore. She tried to hold in her anger but it just came back.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" she shouted as she ran to the boy's side.

The seven boys looked unfazed as they let the boy go.

"Just go." Namjoon said as he pushed the boy away.

The boy ran with small tears on his eyes and he wouldn't even dare to look at Nari or the boys.

They all turned to see a fuming Nari.

"Who do you think you are, huh?" Namjoon said to her as he cocked his eyebrow.

She took a deep breath, she still had to see them everyday, "Someone who isn't going to stand by while you abuse other people." she crossed her hands on her chest.

They all laughed, even Taehyung. Oh Taehyung. She noticed that he followed the boys but just a few minutes before he was being very kind to her. The things popularity makes people do are endless.

Hoseok laughed and chewed on his gum, "This isn't abuse, were just having fun."

Her mouth opened but she got interrupted before even starting to speak.

"Wait, aren't you the girl from last night?" Jin asked.

"I am. Now just leave people alone." she replied earning chuckles from them.

This time Jungkook spoke, "We will, but only if you do what we say."

If he thinks blackmailing me will work, it won't, she said to herself.

"I'll never do what you say, never." she said as she pushed her way through them and left.

Her new found confidence had astonished her. She was bullied all through elementary, sadly she was shy so she didn't bring herself to defend herself. That is, until one day when she found the courage to do it, ever since she swore she would never let anyone be abused and not do anything about it.

Her phone rang signaling she had received a message.

From: Sis
found the food machine, turns out it was in the middle school building.

To: Sis
I'll be right there.

-

Her hands were small but her nails were the opposite. She painted her nails with such calmness that it was fascinating.

She had just turned on the news on her tv but she wasn't even paying attention to it.

"Korea's most wanted gang, Bangtan, have claimed responsibility for tonight's robbery. More to be revealed later after the break." Nari heard the news woman and her nail polish spilled on the floor.

"Great, just great." she raised the volume of her tv and went to her bathroom in search for a paper towel.

She could just imagine people's reactions if they ever knew that the most wanted gang consisted of a bunch of teens. Teenagers who are just figuring out their lives by going on the wrong path of life.

Throwing the paper towel in the trash can, she plopped down on her bed making herself comfortable before paying attention to the news.

The tv showed footage of a grocery store she recognized very well, Suk's.

Her eyes widened and she sat up before putting her hands on her mouth.

"The robbery happened around the afternoon, luckily no one was hurt. As usual, Bangtan are still not found, putting them higher up on the most wanted list. In other news-"  Nari turned off the tv before pulling the covers over her and turning off the lights.

She'd decided that she was going to visit Suk tomorrow after school. Even if she met him a few weeks before, he had become a very important person in her life.

They rob and kill for a living. She can't believe it. The craziest thing is that they take it all as some kind of game. What if one day they are found and finally arrested, wouldn't their future be jeopardized? What will their families think if they ever found out about their biggest secret? Their biggest secret that only she was aware of.

With all those thoughts in her head she kept tossing and turning until she finally found what she needed, to sleep.

                             -

The morning air entered as she entered the school. Her hands were stuffed on her blouse pockets. Even though she heard the devastating news of Suk's robbery, she slept so profound and woke up happily, which is strange. She didn't even know why she felt like this. Her mother thought she was in to something. Nari was not a morning person.

"So I got to finish my art portfolio!" Eun said as they walked in unison towards their lockers.

She smiled,"That is so cool, but wait isn't that for the end of this semester?"

Eun giggled at Nari's confused expression as she opened her locker, "Yes but I love drawing so I did all my drawings last night."

She passed her the giant portfolio and it was so heavy. Nari opened it and inside she found beautiful sketches like the one the art teacher had asked for.

"Hold up," she closed the portfolio and passed it to Eun, "these are so beautiful, Eun!" she exclaimed.

They were so beautiful. You could see that she had put so much effort into every line, every curve and every swirl. Eun had an artistic talent and she was putting it to good use.

Nari had closed her locker when she noticed that Hyuk wasn't there with them and the second class was about to start.

"Hyuk didn't come today?" she asked as they walked to the English classroom.

Eun sighed, "He is going to be late, he's fixing some family problems."

Nari nodded as they sat down on the chairs. The students were already sitting down and the teacher was scribbling on the board.

She leaned to mumble to Eun, "but is he okay?"

"Yes, it's just his dad is giving him an internship on his company." she said.

"What? His father owns a company?" Nari asked.

"His father owns a record company." she answered as she took her pencils out.

She was amazed, everyone in that school owned companies or lived in the most expensive places in Korea. After all, this was Korea's most expensive and prestigious school.

"Okay class, good morning. I hope you all read your assignment." the teacher begun the class and as usual, Nari was jotting down notes but her mind was blank.

The class was boring but she just kept doodling on her notebook. The teacher was calmly giving the class when the door was opened.

Inside walked Jungkook and Hoseok with overflowing confidence. The teacher didn't even glance or shout at them. Of course since they had absolute control over this school.

Before he could even set his eyes on her, she continued doodling on her notebook as the teacher continued talking about adverbs and all the grammar related themes.

She felt him staring at her. Today she wasn't in the mood to fight so she kept ignoring him. After her confidence sky rocketed yesterday, she was determined to never let him dominate her and her friends.

She wasn't like them. She'll never be.

A paper fell on her desk coming from the back of the classroom. She didn't even see who was seated at that area but she opened it.

    You look really beautiful with your hair down.
                               - JK

What the heck is going on? Is he for real? She couldn't believe it. First he's a complete douche to her and now he's complementing her?

Her hand crumbled the paper not after letting it fall to the floor so he could see it.

She is not having it today.

Nari heard him scoff before continuing to pay attention to the class.

Another paper was thrown at her table. Eun looked at her and whispered, "Who is that?"

"No one." she replied to her friend.

Eun chuckled, "Sure." not believing what Nari said.

Opening the paper she rolled her eyes.

       Oh, so now you are ignoring me? When I am actually trying to be nice to you for once?
                                         -JK

She started writing on the paper when the teacher noticed.

"Miss Yun!" he exclaimed, she looked up as fast as she could, "Are you passing notes? In my class?" the teacher had moved to the front of the class with his eyes on her.

She widened her eyes, "I can explain-"

"There is no need for you to explain, detention!" the teacher replied giving her a pink slip.

Jungkook's chuckle got her even more mad. She gets detention but he doesn't, this is unfair. So unfair.

"But-"

She was interrupted by the bell signaling that the class was over. Great, this is just the greatest thing ever.

Nari was standing up to gather her belongings and she glanced at Eun. She shrugged at Eun earning another shrug in response.

Jungkook and Hoseok were both sat in the back still, as the students were leaving they just kept talking. She could see the smile on Jungkook's face, he got what he wanted.

The girls were about to leave when the teacher called Nari.

"Yes?" she asked politely.

The teacher then proceeded to call another person, "Jungkook, come here please."

Yes he's finally getting what he deserves! Justice is being served after all! She thought to herself.

The boy walked with a smug look on his face and stood beside Nari as Eun stood by the door. Hoseok was leaning against a wall.

"Last year, your English grade was very low." the teacher motioned to Jungkook, "Miss Yun here has an above average grade, according to her past records." he continued.

Jungkook furrowed his eyebrows and so did Nari, she didn't know where this was going.

"If you want extra credit, the both of you, you'll need tutoring," he said but Nari interrupted him.

"But you said I had an above average grade-"

The teacher rolled his eyes, "Let me rephrase myself, Miss Yun," he took a deep breath and looked at both worried teens, "For extra credit you'll tutor Jungkook–"

This cannot be happening right now. Life might not be on my side today, she kept thinking over and over.

She shouted without thinking, "What!"

Meanwhile, the boy had a smile on his face but he tried to hide it by looking away. Nari saw it and that made her anger grow like a time bomb, second by second.

"Extra credit might help you through college, you'll tutor him until senior year, no excuses." this made her outraged.

"I am completely fine with it, sir." Jungkook said teasingly, she could tell that he loved what was happening.

On the other hand, she is hating every second of it.

"Sir, I-"

"Yun Nari, one more word and you get two weeks worth of detention, you are dismissed." he settled some papers on the table and sat down, not saying another word.

She walked slowly toward Eun who had a sympathetic expression on her face.

They both walked out to the hall, the boys were following them.

She saw Jungkook walk towards her but she kept a distance, "Here. Call me, see you around babe." he said as he put a paper on her hands.

His smile had grown from ear to ear, he was enjoying it and she knew it.

Strangely she felt something different when he touched her hand, she just couldn't put her finger on it.

Both boys left, she could see their backs getting smaller as they were getting farther away.

Nari looked at Eun and sighed, "First it was detention and now this, I can't believe this. I'm done."

Eun just put her arm around her friends shoulder, "If he tries anything, you let me know and I'll punch him as hard as I can." she joked.

Life wasn't in her side today but at least her friend was there when she needed it the most. Her true friends who she just met one day ago, had become very special to her and she'd do anything to see them smile; anything to not see a single tear on their eyes.

EDITED

+

so on twt most of you ship #taeri instead...

  we'll see about that...

  *wink wink*