[unedited]
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Chapter Twenty-Five

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"Guess who got a date to the dance," Jungkook sings, propping himself on the work table you hustle at. "This sexy twink right-the-fuck-here," the boy's teeth poke over his lips; fingers point to his chest.

Pela smiles next to you. There's a giggle that escapes the woman who greets Jungkook with a cheek kiss. When the boy leans over for you to do the same, you slap his knee from leaning onto your laptop screen.

"Excuse you! Trying to get my degree here!"

"What crawled up your ass? I know it ain't no man." Jungkook tries no smile when Pela hushes him with her eyes. The friend sends warning signs but the boy doesn't listen, teases by pulling your pony tail.

You gasp, lowly growl, then slap his knee again with a whine. Psychology isn't going to finish itself! Fingers move back to focus on screen. Need to be prepared for Ella tomorrow morning...

"Weren't you supposed to be done this by today?" Jungkook peeks at your screen. "You were supposed to meet her this morning, no?"

You don't respond. Jungkook glances at Pela who sighs and whispers in answers for you. "Ella texted her last night asking for a 'rain check'...so our girl over here took that as an opportunity to slack." Pela glances your way hesitantly, then looks back to Jungkook with a, "She was FaceTiming Taehyung all night," exposing you.

Your cheeks get warm. Now there is no way for you to look away from your screen. They'll see your embarrassment if you do. Psych psych psych psych. Think of psych. Zone them out! Too late. Now you're thinking about Taehyung cuddled into his pillow with the camera zoomed up to his nostrils just so you'd laugh.

Before Jungkook can pull an unimpressed shrug, Pela slaps his thighs and has his feet rest on either side of her thighs on her seat. He towers. She allows, asking, "So this date...?" Jungkook claps his hands. "Yes yes. He's the cute one in Psych! The partner I ditched her for—" he points at you.

There's nothing in the world that can stop you from flipping him off now, so you do. Pettiness concluded, you go back to type.

"Ooo the cutie with the plum-booty?" Pela says, low-fiving Jungkook who nods in the cockiest of ways.

He pokes his fingers under your chin, for amusing agitation, but also catching your attention for the next question, "You got a date yet?"

"No, no one's asked me." You mumble in a tone that screams to be left alone.

Pela's brows furrow when Jungkook doesn't ask her. The confusion folds deeper when Jungkook swings his legs away from her sides. Childishly scratching his neck.

"Why not ask me?"

"I would but I think you're being asked...right now—oh Go—" Jungkook slaps his hand of his mouth so he won't snort.

Pela's eyes look horrified when seeing such a reaction. "What?" She asks, scared to look behind her shoulder. Her heart runs wild, her hands shyly move on her lap. She thinks to the only boy that she knows to like her, Jimin.

Your intrigue ignites, making you glance to Pela's side where a sheepish figure finds strength to awkwardly clear his throat. "Hey...Pela, right?"

You can't look to long. There's laughter begging to erupt from the back of your throat. Adding Jungkook's wiggling eyebrows doesn't help.

Pela glances at the boy and her smile wavers slightly. Slightly. "Hi," she says to a face that isn't Jimin, "...you're in my Film Studies class, right?"

"Yeah, we sat next to each other a few times one class."

Jungkook being a douche sings, "N'aww. " He looks over but you're afraid to move. You'll burst if you do. "You hear that? How adorable." Nothing stops this boy.

Pela can't even glare, eyes meeting the boy who bravely stands still. Nodding for him to continue, he clears his throat and does what she does: pretends Jungkook isn't present. He asks, "Well I uh, I wanted to know if you were attending the dance?"

"I might, yes," Pela says.

"Cool. Cool." The boy stands there for a long 30 seconds. Jungkook is shaking from not being able to laugh out loud.

Pela reassures him with a smile. "Was there something el—" "Yah! Would you like to go with me?" And...there it is.

You blink while,
Jungkook ducks his head. Casually trying to play off the fact that he isn't holding his lips shut again.
The both of you know her answer. Pela's never said no to any that have been brave enough to approach her kindly.

The beautiful woman purses her lips. "Thanks for being so brave and sweet..." she chuckles nervously, "I would've loved to...but another's already asked me." The boy looks defeated and Pela awkwardly whispers her apology.

Jungkook's eyes narrow, his back straightening. Your eyes widen, then soften. Your intrigue has been tested all over again.

The boy sighs. "Well shit." His eyes spark over to you as he asks, "What about you? You got someone?" Pela's eyes widen. Jungkook bursts and spit flies onto his palm.

You stutter, blinking wild like the old-school meme you'd always send in group chats; a response to Pela or Jungkook trying your ass during roasts. Now, thinking about your reality, you lie and say, "Yes I've got someone. Thank you."

He walks away, waving his hand as if he just whacked a slow fly away.

Jungkook holds his stomach and lets it all out. Pela grows away from her shyness from the moment as she joins him. You, well, you go back to Psychology and wonder why the image of Taehyung clouds your mind suddenly.

"What's so funny?" The boy who holds this voice slaps Jungkook's back. Then another, a quieter boy says, "Hey," while approaching your side of the bench. It's a confusing double-glance each side to recognize Jimin by Jungkook, with Taehyung coincidently by you.

"Oh," Taehyung says, glancing over at Jungkook and Jimin who tense, "I'll uh...I'll come back later?" His nose scrunches, unable to make it less awkward. Jungkook nods, not helping the atmosphere change.

You roll your eyes. "No no, stay," you say, watching the first-year hold back his tongue when Taehyung eventually nods and lingers about.

Jimin slaps Jungkook's arm. The boy sighs, nods, and accepts Jimin's wordless notion. Both pay tribute to Taehyung's existence as Jimin says, "Hey," and Jungkook goes, "Hmph."

That's enough for Taehyung who smiles bright their direction. Then he looks to you who winks.

Jimin moves his hands into his pocket. He stares over at everyone before lingering his gaze on one specifically. Pela props her shoulders up and hesitantly looks his way, which leaves Jimin's response to target the whole group casually, "You guys hear more about the dance?"

Taehyung glances between the two but finds himself distracted each time; his eyes on you. He thinks about the dance. Smile gone.

"No, any new news?" You ask Jimin who shakes his head.

Jungkook whistles. "Bitch, speak for yourself. The only new news that should matter is my saucy date to the darn thing."

Jimin smiles, squeezing Jungkook's shoulder in congrats. Taehyung wishes to say his reaction but holds back, doing nothing but smile for his friend while on the sidelines.

Instead, Taehyung makes his efforts on another matter that bothers him. He asks, "What about the rest of you going? Luck with any..." The boy swallows hard when staring at your eyes looking up, "...dates?"

Jimin glances over at you. He sneaks a few to Pela. Hands in his pockets, his heels are played back on as he adds, "Y-Yeah, any questions popped over here?" Jimin's palm stupidly does circles in your general direction, only to do a quick one in Pela's direction. "A-And right, right here?" The boy's throat tears as he swallows hard in resemblance to Taehyung.

Jungkook lazily says, "A fine one just asked these two actually." He grins when two different glares are shot his way. The boy's amusement doesn't die, he says, "Apparently these two have got dates!"

No matter how hard he tries, Jimin can't fake a smile. "Oh? That's, that's..." No attempt to finish.

Taehyung would help if he could. He, well, this boy's lost his tongue. He stares without a blink, heart in its grave sink when wanting to ask, "What the fuck?" but settling for a weak, "W-Woww..." instead.

You look at Taehyung who grows pale.

Pela reacts for you, shaking her head. "N-No, we don't have dates—I haven't been asked yet," she hastily corrects, her voice softening when stealthily glancing Jimin's direction.

Jungkook's brows jump along with yours. Pela doesn't seem to care as she smiles. "Really?" Jimin asks, staring and trying not to smirk ear to ear. The woman shyly nods before looking away first and at Jungkook who inspects everything with a devilish grin.

Taehyung feels what Jimin feels. Maybe even more. He watches the initial surprise from your face vanish when glancing his way with a slow smile. He stares at that smile. He stares at those lips. The jump at his chest makes him bounce back to your eyes. Taehyung blinks slow, very slow. His mouth runs dry, his tongue curls at the roof of his mouth. He holds back.

"I'm sure you'll find someone to take you," Jimin blurts towards Pela. This brings Taehyung out of his trance, allowing him to blink faster and find pace with his emotions galloping off into the sunset of denial. With a breath, Taehyung props along with Jimin's idiocy. He directs to you when saying, "You'll get someone asking you eventually."

Your shoulders sulk along with Pela. Yours dig deeper, eyes stooping with disappointment.

"Yeah..." you whisper with a sad smile, "Someone." Eyes meet Taehyung's face which looks to be in deep thought.

Deep thoughts follows him later, away from you and jogging next to Jimin elsewhere. You remain with slumped shoulders, on an outside bench rather than the inside where Jungkook bothers your ear.

You get 3/4 of your assignment complete. Wrists cramping, the best done takes time intervals after each page. Laying your head back with eyes closed, rays of the sun becomes a refresher.

In the same area meeting Ella days ago, you sit alone in the run-down section of the campus. Your knee shook with anxiety in the beginning, now, you sit comfortably. The little wobble introduced itself once again when familiar long hair is seen in the distance.

By the chipping door entrances, you see her petite form in jeans, a hoodie, and circular sunglasses. Even with her hood up, her hair flows in the slight chill of the wind by her chest. When you think Ella looks your way, you wave.

She doesn't wave back. Unable to see you, her general focus is serious and on the parking lot. The girl taps her feet, pulls her sleeves in nervousness. Ella waits for someone.

You try to look back at your laptop screen. Succeeding for a few minutes, when Ella's legs start to bounce for a run to the parking lot, there's a roar from the same car that picked her up once with you. You blink over and spot it. Seeing in, you're not able to peep the driver until his long fingers make a rough stop between parking lines.

Ella claps her hands. She jumps before petting the hood of the car the same way Jin lovingly does to his. Brows furrowing, curiousity brings you away from work as you watch.

The man's Timbs prop out of the car first. They're dirtied from mud, making the yellow matte paler than usual. He stands up, his back facing you. Looks kinda cute...

Ella smiles, grabs a large box from his hands and wraps herself in a jump hug to which he twists in. Turning, you capture the man's face that smiles into her shoulder. Your face falls when seeing Oki. Ew ew ew! You flash eyes away in alert.

There's a part of your heart that wiggles with awkwardness. You glance their way, still hugging. They talk close to each other before Ella jogs away with the car's keys he tosses to her fingers, and the box she initially grabbed.

His hands go into the pockets of his jeans, his plaid button-up unbuttoned revealing one of the white tees you got him for a 2 for 1 deal. You stare away from his body when knowing you're staring too long. There's no helping it.

That was the same shirt he wore the first night he spent with you. Nothing overdramatic, a few kisses here and there, popcorn and senseless tv. No matter how angry now, admitting that he once made you smile saddens you now.

Blinking adorably when his hand waves, you snap out of your trance when looking away. You don't wave back to the boy who sees you. There are curses in your mind as he bravely walks over. You remind yourself to stand ground, heart beating from anxiety that shakes your knees again.

"Hey..."

When you look up next, you wish you hadn't. Oki stands by the table, squinting his eyes from the sun that keeps you warm. You look back down and nod, not saying anything back.

His mouth makes a popping noise as he awkwardly points back to the car. "We weren't...we aren't a thing or anything. She just needs a friend right now," he says honestly.

There's a tiny part of your heart that relaxes at that. You break that section, little by little—reminding yourself what he did. It's as if he reads your hesitant thoughts and says, "I-I, uh, I haven't been with another girl since...her, I mean. That one night."

"Whatever." Your voice is too soft.

"Yeah."

Silence.

You glance up and squint your own eyes. The boy smiles when you catch his gaze. "You look great," he says, pointing over at your slumming attire.

"I don't," you answer.

Oki licks his lip. Pointing to the bench across from you, he says, "May I si—" "N-No," you say, failing when he slides in for a seat. "Whoops," he teases, sitting across from you, twitching in your seat.

You ignore his stares. When your absent mind finds some focus on words written, Oki's throat clears. He says, "I'm guessing you're working on your psych assignment? The one with Ella?"

"I'm guessing she's told you all about it, huh?" You poke your tongue to your cheek. Oki smirks but you don't see it, you hear it. "You care if we talk?" He asks, to which you mumble, "No, just find it weird considering she's your best friend's ex and all..."

The smirk leaves his face immediately. A part of you wonders what he's thinking. Does he think the same about Taehyung when around me? ...Does he still think...about...me?

"Look, Ella's livin—"

"I don't care," you blurt. There's a panic when you assume what he's about to finish. Regretting cutting him off, Oki grows silent.

You write one sentence. One grammatically incorrect sentence. Oki's voice asks, "How have you been?"

You glance his way. Thinking whether he's been staring this entire time, an uneasy knot collects in your gut. "What?" You say, wanting to sound angry but only seeming pathetically scared instead. It doesn't help that the boy's eyes soften.

"How's life going?"

"I'm not doing this with you Oki."

"Why not?"

You deadpan. He grins with charm.

"Please leave."

"Come on."

"I'm trying to get work done."

"Maybe I'll help you."

"I don't need your help... plus you haven't even taken Psychology."

"True," Oki whispers, "...but if it's anything like Chemistry, I'm sure the two of us would work great together."

You blink, unimpressed. "Get out of my face."

Oki laughs. "Lighten up, will you?"

"No," you sigh, grabbing your pen to jot haste notes. The silence gets cut from how fast you turn pages in your notebook next.

"...I've still got your pencil," Oki says slow, "if you ever need it back one day, just give a shout."

He still has it? "I don't need it back."

"Okay."

You make a big mistake in looking up at him. No matter how you form dry answers, he won't move. But seeing him now, eyes soft and bottom lip pouting the slightest, your pen twirls aimlessly.

The two of you stare at each other.

No attempts to act okay, no attempts to hide feelings, no attempts for a defence. There's a conversation between the eye contact that you hold sacred. He breaks the contact, elbows resting on the table. "It's been hard," is all he says and you surprise yourself when nodding back at that.

"I'm sorry for treating you the way I did."

You don't say anything.

"I'm fully responsible for what I chose to do, so no matter what rumours go about just kno—"

"Okay."

The boy's lips purse. You follow him.

It's a long quiet dwelling in heart before his mouth curves into a smile. His soft chin dimple curves in, saying, "So this dance thing..."

Your brows furrow. "Don't even think about it Oki."

He chuckles. "What? What am I thinking for you to react that way?"

"You're thinking about asking me out. I can see from the way your lip twitches."

"My what?"

"You know what I mean! That thing," his brows jump when you adorably point to his mouth, "The cute thing with your lips you'd do when flirting."

Oki smiles. "Cute huh?"

You get warm from anger...there's a hint from embarrassment. He notices and feels bad so he lays off. Instead, he jokes about the situation.

"...would it be incredibly stupid of me to think that was a good idea? Yeah, right?" He chuckles.

"Of course! An absolute horrid idea."

He leans back cocky. "What can I say? I chase after danger."

"You can go now, I'm done talking."

Oki side-smiles when you wave your pen. He steals it and you try to reach for it with a gasp. "Give my pen back!"

"Alright, hold up for a second," he writes a '1' and a '—' on your hand that you wiggle around. When he lets go, you curse at him before pulling your hand away.

"Don't ever touch me, I've told you before yo—"

His hands go up in defence. "Sorry, Sorry."

You stare at the marking, glance up and watch your pen being placed neatly on the notebook. "Wha—" "One week and a half." He stands up and you ask, "What?" successfully.

"I'll give you one week and a half, after that, if you still don't have a date to the dance, I'll try my chances again." You sink into your seat, watching him grin and walk away.

"Your chances are non-existent!" You yell as he walks off. Oki waves his fingers in a saluting bye to the air, his back to you. "We'll see about that beautiful!" is the last he says.

Chest heaving, you wipe at the 1 and — , failing to drive away from your body, and now mind.

The fact that your heart flutters doesn't help. You choke the feeling up to your anxiety, teeth gritting. There is no way I'm going back to him. Stop. Stop thinking about it!

[ a.n. Prepare yo nachos soon, don't say I didn't give warnings. ]