⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

I walk into school the next day with a weight on my chest. It's like I could burst into tears at any moment. As I walk down the hall of people I still don't know, I tell myself I'm not sad.

"Hey," Iseul says. His tone friendly but I know he's mocking me.

"Hey," I say with a polite nod. He's not gonna get to me—even on my off days.

"Coffee shop boy," I hear Jungkook call. I smile when I see him approaching. "Hi."

"Hi."

"Are we still on for after school?"

I frown a little remembering our plans. He walks with me as I continue to my class. "I'm not so sure."

"Why? What's wrong?" Jungkook asks.

"Nothing," I say. I couldn't explain it if I wanted to—the feeling of wanting to self isolate without proper cause. "Can we reschedule?"

"Fine, but tell me what's wrong," He pushes.

"I said it's nothing," I say—slightly agitated.

"You can say it's nothing but I can tell it's something," Jungkook says, stopping me before I walk into my class.

"Why do you even care? Nobody else does." I regret the words as they leave my lips.

"Well, I mean, I care about about all of my friends," Jungkook says.

I look up from my shoes—finding his eyes on mine. "We're friends?"

"I thought so," He says with a smile that could move mountains. Okay, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration.

The bell rings, ending our conversation.

"Bye, Jungkook," I say, walking away from him.

"Later, Coffee shop boy," Jungkook says as I go.

My teacher stands when I enter the classroom. She smiles and waves me over.
I approach her desk a bit hesitantly but she quickly reassures me that I'm not in trouble.

"I was looking at some of your work and its exceptional, really. I looked over your previous transcript with Principal Greene and we both agree that it'd be in your best interest to be placed in a course where you'd be challenged more academically."

"Oh?"

"You could be placed in a more advance course starting next week," she replies. "With the consent of your parents of course and yourself."

"Uhm..." There's a part of me that's always been an over achiever. "How advanced?"

"A senior English class."

My eyes widen slightly. "B-But I'm a junior."

"That's why it's advance,Taehyung." She hands me the papers in her hand. "Give this paperwork to your parents and it will be final."

I take the papers and thank her before going to take my seat.

A senior class?

☾𖤓☽

"A senior class?" Mom asks, shocked, as she makes a drink for one of our regulars.

"Yeah. It'd just be more advanced. And I would still get the credit to graduate."

"If its what you want," Mom says.

"It is," I say even though I know she's not listening as she greets another customer.

I take the papers back to my table in the back of the café. I put them back in the fold I had transported them in and grabbed my book—opening it to a random page.

Its been a while since I've been able to go get new books and I'm getting kind of tired of reading the same ones. I'll have to ask my mom to take me to the store.

The chair in front of me scrapes from under the table drawing my attention.

"Did you know that armadillos have four babies at a time and they are always all the same sex?" Jungkook asks.

"Gee. Where did you read that?" I ask without looking up from my book.

"Nowhere, I just find armadillos fascinating."

"Of course you do," I say closing my book. "Hi, Jungkook."

"Hey, Coffee shop boy," He says. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Why?" I ask. "There wasn't anything wrong before."

"There obviously was." Jungkook argues. "You can't fool me, I'm an empath."

"It doesn't matter."

"Everyone's feelings matter. Especially yours."

"Me especially?" I ask. "You don't even know my name."

"I know your name, Taehyung," Jungkook says, an amused smile playing on his lips.

I can't help but smile when he says my name.

"Then why do you keep calling me 'Coffee shop boy?'" I ask.

"Because it's funny," Jungkook says. "But if you prefer Taehyung I'll call you Taehyung."

"I don't have a preference."

"Okay." He smiles. "You read a lot, huh?"

"I read everything," I say grateful for the change in conversation.

"Speaking of reading—I was telling my mom about you the other night and she said she's got tons of old books in the basement that she doesn't use," Jungkook says. "She says their yours if you want them."

"Seriously?" I ask—enthused.

"Yeah if you want," Jungkook says. "Maybe you could come to mine and look through them?"

"That'd be great." I say. "S'nice of your mom really. I've been needing new books."

"Yeah, she'd love if you took them off her hands," Jungkook says. "Anyway, I should get going. My mom doesn't know I left."

"Okay." I'm disappointed that he has to leave. I wish we could talk forever. "Later, Jungkook."

"Later, Taehyung," Jungkook says with a wink before turning on his heel and exiting the shop. I put his head down to hide the smile on my face.

"Taehyung," Mom calls from the counter.

"Yes?" I say picking my head up.

"Put your coat on I'm going to tell Jihye we're leaving."

"Alright." I stand and pull on my jacket. The walk back to the apartment is oddly silent but I don't question it.

"Go to your room I'll be there in a moment."

"Mom. What's the matter~" I start to ask before mom cuts me off.

"Nothings wrong, Tae. Go on." She leaves me standing by the door.

I go to my room and change my close before sitting and waiting. When mom enters my room her expression is distant and she doesn't say anything.

"Are you mad at me or something?" I ask as she checks me for any marks.

"Of course not, sweetheart." She says forcing a light tone.

I fall silent letting her continue her step by step process.

"Your shoulder is bruised here," She points out. "What happened?"

"I might've bumped into something."

"Nobody's bothering you at school are they?"

"No." I don't bother mentioning Iseul. Even if I did tell her, what was there she could do about it? It's not like he's actually done anything.

Mom finishes taking my temperature and blood pressure before everything is finally done.

"Mom, I was wondering something," I say as she packs everything away.

"Go on, darling,"

"I have a friend—Jungkook-"

"The boy at the coffee shop," She says as if she already knew all about him.

"Yeah. I was wondering if I could go to his some day," I say. "By myself."

"I don't know, Tae," Mom says with an uneasy look.

"It's not far I don't think. He walks to the shop from there. I'd be extra careful and wear my coat at all times unless I'm inside," I say—trying to persuade her to let me go. "And Jungkook is really nice to me. So, you don't have to worry about him hurting me."

"Jungkook doesn't know about your condition," she says. "What if something happens?"

"Nothing will. Nothing ever does," I say. "Please?"

"Fine but. Only for an hour."

"Two?"

"No."

"Hour forty?"

"Hour thirty and if you're late you will never leave my sight again," She warns with narrowed eyes.

"That's a bit harsh," I say as my watch beeps in unison with hers.

"I'll go make your dinner."

"I'm coming," I say as she leaves, shutting the door behind her.

I smile silently to myself as I change out.

My mom never lets me do anything on my own. She's even anxious about me going to school. I know it'll be hard for her, but, I'll prove to her that I can take care of myself.

At least for an hour and thirty minutes.

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