>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Having spent the weekend with Taehyung at the highlands made Seunghee view him in a new light. He’s not all silly after all. There’s more to him than his stupidity. He’s worth more than his good looks and it’s a good thing. It doesn’t really matter if he’s all narcissistic and stuff. He’s dependable when it comes down to it and that’s one of the traits only a hero can have.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Seunghee waits for Jeonghan at the practice room but it seems like he’s running late. They said they’ll meet up by 5PM but it’s been 15minutes past 5 and he isn’t there yet. She sits there by the piano, staring at the sky. The sky looks dark and it seems it’s gonna rain any moment. She just doesn’t know that a thunderstorm is forthcoming.

Taehyung has been walking down the corridors for a while now, searching for a place to stay. He’s trying to figure out what to do with his composition, he’s actually lost in the midst of writing. Passing by the practice rooms, he notices an open door and peeks into it. Luckily, it’s Seunghee hanging about inside.

He goes inside calling her, “Seunghee!”

She turns to him promptly, only to frown at his face, “Ah, it’s just you,” looking back at the sky finding it more interesting.

“Yes, it’s me!” Taehyung cheerfully replies. “Waiting for someone?”

He puts his bag down one of the chairs on the corner and just suddenly spurts out singing,
“Some people want it all,
But I don’t want nothing at all.
If it ain’t you baby.
If I ain’t got you baby…”

Seunghee is surprised listening to him sing this song. She chuckles a bit.

“Wae?” he finds it offending somehow. “I sound good right?”

“I didn’t say anything,” she glances at him smiling. “I just didn’t think you’d sing this kind of song.”

“Well, I do have my moments at times.”

They continue chatting for a while and are still talking, when thunder suddenly slam through the sky. Then shortly, strikes of lightning follow. Automatically, Seunghee takes cover behind the wall, ducking at the corner, eyes tightly shut hands covering her ears firmly.

"Wae? Wae? Wae!?" Taehyung exclaims, totally surprised that Seunghee is suddenly scared, but of what?

"You have this phobia?!" he inquires, with eyes so wide, he can't believe it's true.

Seunghee doesn't respond though. She keeps herself safe by totally ignoring him. So by the time it sinks into him, Taehyung takes it as a fact. That she is actually scared of thunderstorms.

"Seriously?" he says.

He thinks of anything, desperate for something, then he scans his bag, taking out a pair of shades and his music player with the big headphones. He walks over the mutely shut girl and puts the tinted lenses on her eyes. Feeling this, she finally opens her eyes, wondering what he's doing.

"What is this?" she wonders at him.

Wordlessly, he continues and puts the headphones on her head, taking her hands off, loud music filling her ears. She stares at him quite shocked. And then he smiles idiotically at her with a ridiculous thumbs up. After that, he sits beside her skimming through his music notes.

It finally dawns to her what he did. He's trying to help her overcome her fear. With the dark glasses not to see the lightning directly and the loud headphone music not to hear the thunder. She can only reply with a tender smile on her face. He may be a total idiot, but he can be a genius at times. She feels overwhelmed. He thought of doing this for her. And it really makes her glad.

Since the music is so loud, she can't talk to him. He knows that so he only sits there with her, waiting for the storm to calm. They let the rainstorm pass just like that, silently sitting beside each other, feeling safe and sound.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

A few moments later, Jeonghan finally arrives. He sees Taehyung and Seunghee chatting and Seunghee spontaneously flocks to him and tells him about what Taehyung did.

“Thank you Taehyung,” she tells him with a smile which he returns casually. 

Jeonghan smiles at him too but he feels a little uncertain about it, “Why don’t we go home for now? Let’s just practice tomorrow.” And he walks to the doorway.

“Okay,“ Seunghee obliges and gets her things. “You coming Tae?”

It ticks Jeonghan off. She’s calling him Tae? He stiffens at the sound of it but he doesn’t let it show.

Taehyung replies otherwise though, “Just go ahead. I really have to finish something. I need to concentrate.”

“Okay, see yah later,” she bids.

“Later Taehyung,” Jeonghan seconds.

The couple finally leaves the room and strolls the corridors, with Seunghee’s arm tangled in Jeonghan’s. She’s smiling so happily talking him as Jeonghan stares down tenderly at her. Taehyung unexpectedly feels lonesome for the first time. And when they are out of the view, he wonders why. It’s something he hasn’t felt before. And he can’t understand what he’s feeling.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Seunghee is still talking chirpily about something when Jeonghan pulls her over by the arm softly. They are already by their doorsteps, just a few steps away from it. She looks up to him wondering.

“Wae, jagiya?” she asks.

She’s so pretty today. He can’t stop himself from thinking of jealous things between her and Taehyung.

“You didn’t hug him right?” he blurts out.

This makes her grimace at him unbelievably, “So that’s what you were thinking all along?” She shakes her head and pushes him away lightly, “I can’t believe you. I’m going inside.”

She skims through her bag for the keys but Jeonghan pulls her back to him with a sorry look, “Come on, I’m sorry.” He hugs her lightly, caressing the back of her hair. “I didn’t mean to doubt you okay? I was just thinking too much.”

She feels like crying. This is the first he ever doubted her and it hurts her pride. “If you don’t want me to be with Taehyung, just tell me so. Don’t be like this.”

“I know I’m sorry okay?”

He hears her sniffling and he slowly faces her, touching her chin. She’s on the verge of crying and he traces her flustered cheeks, as he looks deeply into her eyes. “Taehyung’s my best friend. And I know there’s more to him than meets the eye. But I trust you, I trust both of you. And I feel ashamed for feeling this way. But I just want to be honest with you. My insecurities are probably just winning me over again. So I’m sorry. Jagiya, I’m really sorry.”

He’s in vain. And she feels his pain. But there is nothing for him to worry about. Just like any other guy who came between them, he’s the same. She stops her tears and kisses him.

“Why do you always have to feel insecure every time? Just trust me okay? And I know Taehyung will do the same. He’s your best friend right and I’m your girlfriend. I’m yours and no one can tear us apart. And if ever I hear you jealous about him again, I’m really gonna get mad, you got that?”

He just nods and pecks at her forehead. “I won’t do it again, jagiya.”

She hugs him in return and somehow feels relieved.

They’ve triumphed more than enough struggles this past year and she thinks there can be nothing more than what they’ve achieved together. However, the underlying circumstances are far more complicated than it is. This is their hardest battle to face yet. And it’s only just about to begin.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

“Kim Taehyung!!” Seunghee screams calling him.

What meets her sight is a very messy kitchen. With completely dirty kitchenware and a couple of unfinished meals just right before the sink. It’s a sunny Saturday morning and the day has just begun. Jeonghan is not home. He got out early for a biking session with Jisoo and Seunghee just got there too, checking if he’s home already. But she finds this instead.

“Aghh!! Kim Taehyung, you better clean this up!” she shouts again, Taehyung still not showing up.

She proceeds inside with dismay displayed all over her face.

“Kim Taehyung!!” she shouts once again.

And then suddenly, a more messed up Taehyung surprised her by emerging from the side of the table. He is actually hiding from her. He hid from her the moment he heard her voice.

With his face all covered up in white stuff, looks like some baking powder, he utters in a low voice, “Boo!”

Seunghee almost stumbles as she sees him, clutching on her chest shocked like seeing a ghost. She scolds him big time hitting him on the arm, “Aish!! Yah! Are you trying to kill me? And what is this?! Do I have to tell Jeonghan to kick you out of his apartment before you get act together?”

Taehyung is only laughing at her though which makes her a lot more irritated.

“Yah!” she screams at him and spurts a handful of blue powder on the table.

It’s like a color fight that he really likes so in no time, he returns her the favor, throwing at her some trickles of red powder. The residues hit her on the face and she revolts.

“How dare you!” she exclaims.

She returns the favor by throwing at him a bunch. Surprisingly, he likes it. There they start throwing at each other. And while doing it, Seunghee unconsciously finds herself laughing.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Areum has arrived at the corridors and stands by Seunghee’s door. She has something to ask her and she passed by since she’s around the area. But before she can hit the doorbell, she sees that Jeonghan’s door is open. She gets curious, looks into the room, and finds something strange.

“What is this?!” Areum exclaims as soon as she enters the room.

There are traces of food color on the floor, the mattress and just about every corner of the kitchen. Then she hears Seunghee laughing and Taehyung making funny noises. She walks in further and catches the two in a color fight, all smudged in rainbow colors.

“What in the world?” she exclaims.

It doesn’t seem right in her eyes. She looks like having fun playing with this person, the best friend of his boyfriend. It’s not wrong to have fun but she isn’t the type to be like this with just anyone. She knows Seunghee and this is something she’s not supposed to do carelessly.

“Unnie!” Seunghee utters. She wipes herself, her face is filled with the combination of colors white, red, blue and yellow. “It’s his fault!” pointing directly at Taehyung.

“Anyounghaseyo….” Taehyung shyly bows at her.

“Whatever? Where is Jeonghan? Does he know about this?” Areum straightforwardly asks.

“It was supposed to be for him. But she walked in before him so it just happened,” Taehyung explains.

“Really? But what a mess have you guys done!” Areum points on the colors on the floor.

“Don’t worry, it’s water-based, it’ll come off easy,” he tells her.

“Still, the owner of the house might not like it,” she replies.

“I’ll take full responsibility!” he says with a salute. “Anyway, I think I’ll have to start cleaning now.”

He has the floor map ready and a pale of water at the side. And while Taehyung is starting to clean his mess, Areum pulls Seunghee to the corner and whispers to her.

“Aren’t you getting a bit too close to him?” she asks Seunghee.

“I am? I don’t really mind. He’s just like Jun, but a silly one,” she chuckles at it.

“But you knew Jun for months before being close enough. And besides, this guy is on your age bracket. Doesn’t Jeonghan have to say anything about this?”

“What are you implying unnie?”

“I’m just saying that it’s not nice for a girlfriend to be with another guy like this. Even if he’s your best friend. But he’s not! He’s actually your boyfriend’s best friend.”

“We’re not doing anything wrong. This is friendship unnie. It only works that way. In fact, jagiya is happy we’re finally getting along. But I can say, not completely.”

“I warned you okay.”

“Just let it go unnie. He’s totally harmless.”

“He maybe a peculiar but he is a total package Seunghee.”

“Ah… please don’t put any malice to this unnie.”

Seunghee goes back to help Taehyung clean the place up. But Areum has a different feeling about it. It’s even stronger than what she felt when Nayeon came. She just wishes she’s just overthinking it. But looking at them, she’s somewhat worried. If it continues to be this way, she doubts it’ll be avoided.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Soon, Jeonghan also arrives. Jisoo didn’t tag along for he has another thing to attend to. He walks in his apartment and quickly notices the fuss in the kitchen. He also sees Areum standing nearby while staring at his girlfriend and his best friend, who are busy cleaning up the place.

“What the heck happened here?” Jeonghan utters.

“The kids just wanted to play,” Areum comments.

“Ah, jagiya!” Seunghee raises her head and points at Taehyung, “This friend of yours. He’s the root to all this. He said he’ll take full responsibility for it right?”

“Just don’t kick me out Han-ya. Anything but that,” Taehyung seriously replies.

“Maybe it’s better to kick him out though,” Seunghee suggests.

“Please don’t corrupt his mind into doing that,” Taehyung mumbles.

Seunghee just giggles, “I’d say whatever I’d please.”

Jeonghan is just silent looking at them. The way they’re interacting is new to him. This is one side of her, he barely knew. She’s reacting too much over him. Yes, he’s seen her get this close to other guys like Jun and Hansol but as for Taehyung, it’s something completely different. He’s not jealous anymore, he’s just slowly getting disturbed by it. And it’s not good for him. Cuz he promised her he won’t say anything about Taehyung again. But if it becomes too much, he won’t think twice to talk about it.

Areum watches Jeonghan as he stares at the two. She knows he’s feeling something wrong about it but maybe he chooses to be quiet and not react as much. But she knows this better be stopped. Seunghee can be trusted but is the other guy too? She’s definitely on the edge just by looking at them.

Without a word, Jeonghan approaches the two and helps in cleaning, “I’m not letting you use the kitchen for a while Tae.”

“Ay, ay sir,” he replies with a salute.

He then continues, “And Seunghee you’re grounded.”

“What am I, your daughter?” she chuckles.

“For now, you are,” Jeonghan looks at her with a straight face.

She pouts and gives in. She has been a naughty one after all. “Yes, dad…”

“That sounds terrible,” Jeonghan says.

And then they all chuckle. For a while, they continue with the cleaning with Areum watching them from the counter.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

To be continued…

(16.10.04)