Over the following days, Taehyung's words ring true. He truly begins to change. He starts by avoiding any parties and hanging out with his usual crowd. He spends more time alone, reflecting on his past actions and focusing on bettering himself.

As Taehyung works on himself, he starts spending more time studying and working harder in school. He is more focused in class, and his grades start to improve. He even starts helping others with their work and assignments, showing a more selfless side to his personality.

A few days later, Taehyung is at school, sitting in a bench in the courtyard with his friends. His friends are discussing their usual topics - girls they've hooked up with, parties they've attended, things that typically interest boys their age. But Taehyung seems detached from the conversation, his mind elsewhere.

His friends notice his distraction and nudge him to participate in the conversation. One of them, a boy named Jackson, turns to Taehyung and grins.

"Hey, Tae, we've been talking about the party this weekend. You're coming, right?"

Taehyung hesitates for a moment, his thoughts flickering to you. He then shakes his head, a firm expression on his face.

"Um, no, I don't think I'm gonna go. I've gotta study this weekend."

His friends look at him, taken aback by his response. They start to protest, wanting him to join them.

Jackson: "What do you mean you're not gonna come? You always go to parties with us. You're not gonna ditch us, are you?"

Taehyung looks at his friends, his resolve faltering for a moment. He then stands his ground, his voice firm and confident.

"No, seriously, I can't go. I have to study for an important test next week. I can't afford to get distracted."

Jackson groans, clearly disappointed.

Jackson: "Come on, man! Can't you just study after the party? It's gonna be a crazy one! You don't wanna miss it!"

Taehyung shakes his head, his voice firm.

"No, sorry guys. I can't risk it. Besides, I think it's about time I start making some better decisions, you know? Maybe partying all the time isn't really the best thing for me right now."

His friends exchange confused glances, not understanding why Taehyung is acting like this all of a sudden. One of them, Mark, pipes up.

Mark: "What's gotten into you, dude? You love partying. Since when do you care about studying?"

Taehyung shrugs, trying to downplay it.

"I don't know, I just...I just want to prioritize my future a bit more, I guess. I've got college applications coming up soon, and I can't afford to mess them up. I gotta focus more on my studies."

Taehyung's friends continue to pester him, trying to convince him to change his mind about going to the party. But Taehyung stays steadfast, refusing to cave in to their pleading. Finally, Mark gives up, rolling his eyes.

Mark: "Fine, fine. You do you, Mr. Goody Two Shoes."

Taehyung smiles at their lighthearted teasing, knowing they're just trying to get a rise out of him.

"Yeah, yeah, make fun all you want. But you guys should start thinking about your own futures. We're all gonna be adults soon, and we're gonna have real responsibilities."

Jackson scoffs, waving his hand dismissively.

Jackson: "Oh, spare us the lecture, Tae. We know you're just being all responsible and mature now to impress some girl, right?"

Taehyung's eyes widen for a moment, surprised by Jackson's guess. But he quickly regains his composure, forcing a casual tone.

"W-what? What are you talking about? I'm not trying to impress anyone. I'm just being serious about my studies, that's all."

His friends exchange knowing glances, not buying Taehyung's denial. They nudge him playfully.

Jackson: "Oh, come on, man. We know you. Whenever you start acting all serious and responsible, it's always because there's a girl involved."

Taehyung can feel his cheeks burning, the truth in their words hitting too close to home. He tries to deny it, but his friends just won't let up.

Mark: "Yeah, we know you better than you know yourself. Spill it, who's the lucky girl?"

Taehyung sighs, knowing there's no point in hiding it any longer.

"Fine, fine, you win. There is someone...but you have to PROMISE you won't say a word about it."

His friends immediately lean forward, excited that Taehyung is finally admitting it. They pester him with questions.

Jackson: "Oh, man, this is juicy. Who is she? Is she cute? Is she smart? Is she single?"

Taehyung laughs, trying to play it cool.

"Slow down, guys! Geez, you don't need to know everything. All I'm gonna say is she's smart, kind, and beautiful. But you CANNOT tell anyone. Seriously."

His friends pout, clearly unsatisfied with Taehyung's vagueness.

Mark: "Come on, man, throw us a bone here. At least give us a hint about who she is."

Taehyung groans, knowing his friends won't stop until they get some sort of information from him.

"Fine, but seriously, not a word to anyone, got it? Trust me, I'll never hear the end of it if I let her name slip out."

His friends nod enthusiastically, eager to know who the mystery girl is. Taehyung takes a deep breath, preparing himself for their reaction.

"Okay, so...you know she's really smart. And she's got these big, beautiful eyes that can disarm you within a second. She's not just gorgeous on the outside...she's got this amazing personality, too. But I gotta keep her name a secret for now, alright?"

Taehyung watches as his friends practically vibrate with excitement, trying to figure out who the girl is. Mark pipes up, a sly grin on his face.

Mark: "Wait, wait. Are we allowed to guess?"

Taehyung nods slowly, accepting the challenge.

"Sure, you can guess. But trust me, you're not gonna figure it out."

His friends begin throwing out names of the girls in their class. They throw out names of cheerleaders, honor roll students, and popular girls. But Taehyung shakes his head at each guess, amused by their failed attempts.

His friends continue to guess, growing more and more frustrated as they fail to figure out the mystery girl's identity. They're about to give up when Jackson suddenly snaps his fingers.

Jackson: "I've got it! Is it that girl from the library? The one who's always studying and never talks?"

Taehyung can't help but grin at Jackson's guess. He shakes his head, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

"Nope, not the library girl. Try again."

His friends collectively groan, running out of ideas. They sit silent for a moment, racking their brains for clues. Mark suddenly perks up,

Mark: "Wait, wait. Is it that girl who's always super serious and doesn't put up with your crap?"

Taehyung laughs, nodding in acknowledgement.

"You're getting closer. Keep going."

Jackson chimes in, narrowing down the possibilities.

Jackson: "Is she in our grade? Is she in any of our classes?"

Taehyung smiles, knowing they're getting warmer. He nods slowly.

"Yes, she's in our grade. And yes, she's in one of our classes."

Excitement fills the air as his friends zero in on the possibilities. Mark starts listing off girls who are in their classes.

Mark: "Aha! Is it Jenna? Or Rachel? Or Lisa?"

Taehyung laughs, shaking his head at each name. He starts to feel a bit guilty, knowing that they'll never guess it.

"Nope, nope, and nope. Keep guessing."

His friends grow restless, frustrated by their continued failed guesses. They start looking around at the girls in the courtyard.

Jackson: "Okay, I'm out of guesses. Is it Sarah? No, wait, maybe it's Emily. Or...damn, who's that girl from math class?"

Taehyung rolls his eyes, enjoying their struggles.

"Nope, nope, and nope. Getting closer, though. But just because I'm a nice guy, I'll give you guys another hint."

His friends lean in eagerly, waiting for another clue.

"Okay, so this girl, she's not someone who's into the whole party scene. She's not like the cheerleaders or the popular girls. She's a bit more...reserved, if you will."

Taehyung watches as his friends process the hint, their eyebrows furrowed in thought.

Jackson: "Hmm, reserved, huh? That narrows it down a bit. Is she shy or something? She doesn't really hang out with people much, right?"

Taehyung nods, impressed by their deduction.

"Yeah, you could say she's shy. She's more the type to keep to herself, not really one to socialize much. But she's not really introverted either, she just doesn't let a lot of people into her circle, you know?"

Taehyung's friends exchange glances, their minds racing with the limited information they've gathered so far. Jackson grins suddenly.

Jackson: "Wait, hold on, I think I know who it is. Is it...is it...that girl who never talks in class? The one who always has her head buried in a book?"

Taehyung laughs, surprised that they're so close to the answer. He nods in affirmation.

"Yep, you got it. It's her."

His friends explode in shock, excitement, and curiosity.

Jackson: "Whooa, really? That girl? The beautiful nerdy one with glasses who never looks up from her books?"

Taehyung nods, defending the nerdy girl's honor.

"Yeah, really. And she's not just the nerdy girl with glasses. She's actually really smart, funny, exceptionally beautiful and kind. She's the whole package, trust me."

Jackson raises an eyebrow, intrigued.

Jackson: "Damn, man. She must be something else for you to ditch parties and start talking about your future like this. Are you, like...in love with her or something?"

A blush creeps up Taehyung's cheeks at Jackson's question. He quickly composes himself, clearing his throat.

"I...I wouldn't say love. I mean, I really like her, yeah. But love? That's a big word, man. We're just...getting to know each other better, that's all."

His friends chuckle, seeing right through his denial. Mark teases him.

Mark: "Yeah, sure, sure, you're "just getting to know each other". You've got it bad, dude. It's written all over your face."

Taehyung rolls his eyes, trying to play it off.

"You guys are ridiculous. Seriously, I don't know why I even told you guys about this. You're never going to let me live this down, are you?
Jackson grins mischievously.

Jackson: "Nah, bro, you're in too deep now. We're gonna be teasing you about this for the rest of the year. Maybe even next year, too."

Taehyung groans, knowing they're going to make his life hell. But secretly, a part of him doesn't mind the ribbing. Seeing as they're his friends, he knows it's all in good fun.

Jackson grins, nudging Taehyung playfully.

Jackson: "So, have you asked her out yet? Or are you still being too chicken to make a move?"

Taehyung scoffs, feigning nonchalance.

"I'm not being chicken. I just...wanna take it slow, you know? Make sure we get to know each other better before rushing into anything."

Jackson snickers, clearly not buying his excuse*

Jackson: "Oh, really? That's what you're going with, huh? We all know you're just scared of ruining it. Come on, man. Just ask her out already. What's the worst that could happen?"

Taehyung sighs, knowing his friends aren't going to drop it until he confesses the truth.

"Okay, okay, fine. I am scared. I don't want to mess this up. I really like her, you know? What if she doesn't feel the same? "

Mark chimes in, trying to reassure him.

Mark: "Hey, you don't know that. She might feel the same way about you. And even if she doesn't, at least you'll know for sure. Better than spending the rest of the semester wondering, right?"

Taehyung nods slowly, taking in his friends' words.

"I guess you're right. But it's just...easier said than done, you know? Asking someone out isn't exactly easy, especially when you really care about them."

Jackson puts his arm around Taehyung's shoulders, giving him a friendly shake.

Jackson: "You've got this, man. Just be yourself, be honest, and don't put too much pressure on it. If she likes you, she'll say yes. And if she doesn't, it's her loss. But at least you'll have tried."

Taehyung takes a deep breath, feeling a mixture of nerves and determination. He nods, gathering his courage.

"You guys are right. I should just go for it. Life's too short to be scared, right?"

Mark grins, patting him on the back.

Mark: "That's the spirit, man. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. And hey, if for some bizarre reason she says no, we'll be here to console you with ice cream and shitty movies."

Taehyung laughs, appreciating his friends' support.

"Thanks, you losers. If it wasn't for you guys, I probably would've chickened out."

Jackson grins, feigning insult.

Jackson: "Hey, woah, woah, woah. We're losers? I prefer the term "lovable idiots." It's a lot more flattering."

Mark chuckles, shaking his head.

Mark: "Right, 'lovable idiots.' That's much better. We should get that embroidered on a pillow or something."

Taehyung rolls his eyes, pretending not to find their jokes amusing. But secretly, he's grateful for their light-hearted banter. It helps take the edge off his nerves.

Jackson: "Speaking of pillows, you need to be getting some rest, lovebird. You're gonna need all the energy you can get to woo that shy nerdy girl of yours."

Taehyung laughs, realizing it's getting late. He stands up, stretching his arms.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I'd rather not be completely dead on my feet when I finally ask her out."

Mark claps a hand on his shoulder.

Mark: "Exactly. Plus, we don't want you making a fool of yourself because you're too tired to form coherent sentences."

Jackson nods, grinning widely.

Jackson: "Yeah, imagine trying to charm the love of your life and stumbling over your words like a complete idiot. That would be embarrassing."

Taehyung laughs, pretending to be insulted.

"Hey, who says she's the love of my life? We've only known each other for, like, a semester."

Mark snorts, clearly enjoying teasing him.

Mark: "Oh, come on man. We all know you're gone for this girl. You may not realize it yet, but she's got your heart wrapped around her finger already."

Taehyung groans, realizing he's not going to win this argument. He waves his friends off, feigning annoyance.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I get it. I'm head over heels. Happy now?"

*His friends burst out laughing, clearly pleased with his admission.*

Jackson: "Oh, man, you should see your face right now. You're as red as a tomato."

Taehyung swats at him.

"Shut up, man. I am not."

Mark: "You totally are. It's adorable, really."

Taehyung rolls his eyes, trying to hide his blush.

"You guys are the worst. I should never have told you about her."

Jackson grins, wiggling his eyebrows.

Jackson: "And miss out on the chance to witness you falling head over heels for a girl? Nah, man. This is too good. We're never going to let you live this down."

Taehyung groans, realizing they're going to ride this as long as they can.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Ridicule my every move, make fun of me for being all gooey over a girl, the whole nine yards. Remind me why I'm friends with you guys again?"

Mark grins, giving his shoulder a friendly punch.

Mark: "Because deep down, you know we're the best friends you could ask for. We support you, even when you're acting like a lovesick idiot."

Taehyung chuckles, reluctantly admitting the truth.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. You guys are the best, even if you are annoying as hell sometimes."

Taehyung's phone buzzes in his pocket, pulling him out of the playful banter. He pulls it out, seeing an unknown number flashed across the screen. Slightly confused, he picks up.

"Hello?"

"hello...Taehyung."

" Yes, Taehyung here. Who are you speaking miss?"

"its...me."

Taehyung's heart skips a beat as he suddenly realizes who it is. He turns away from his friends, putting the phone up to his ear.

"Is that...is that you YN? How did you get my number?"

'Uh I saved it the other day...from student's profile."

Taehyung nods, realizing you must have looked up his number on the school directory.

"Right, right. Of course. So, uh, what's up? Is everything okay?"

"hm...not really." You whisper, your panting breath ragged.

Taehyung is suddenly on high alert. Your curt response and the way the normally talkative girl suddenly sounds off has him worried.

"Hey, are you okay? You sound...different."

"i-i..."

His concern intensifies. Is she upset? Frustrated? Sad?

"Hey, hey, what's wrong? You can talk to me, you know that, right?"

He's growing more and more worried. He can hear the hesitation in her voice. Something's not right.

"Hey, seriously, you can tell me. Whatever it is, I won't judge. Just...tell me what's going on, okay?"

"I think...some bad guys are following me."