He really was too friendly for Yoongi's comfort. Every chance that arose, Jimin would turn around in his seat to talk to Yoongi, who, to the best of his ability, tried to block Jimin out without seeming too obvious about it. Typically on the first day of the first semester, Yoongi hardly paid any attention to what the teachers were saying anyway; for the most part they merely greeted the students in an overly cheery manner and briefly introduced what they had planned for the school year. Except one teacher, who threatened to confiscate Yoongi's phone if he didn't stop texting during class. Truthfully, though, he wasn't texting, since Namjoon was too busy being sick and lazy to respond. Rather, he pretended to be texting someone in hopes that Jimin wouldn't try to speak to him.

His efforts failed miserably.

"Hey, Yoongi, are you any good at math?" Jimin let out a quiet breath of exasperation. "By the sound of it, it seems like this year's course is gonna be complex. I suck at math. And Tae's kind of an idiot too, so he's no help."

As if sensing his name had been mentioned, Taehyung's head turned slightly in the direction of the back left corner of the room. He narrowed accusing eyes at Yoongi.

The mint-haired boy clenched his teeth and scarcely withheld a scowl. "Math gives me no trouble," he said simply. Jimin's expression lit up.

"Then you could help me? You know, if I ever start seeing one digit grades on my papers?"

Yoongi lifted a slow, judgmental gaze. "Has that ever happened?"

Shame washed over the other boy's face and he pressed his lips together, offering a somewhat guilty smile that made Yoongi roll his eyes. Taehyung rolled his eyes too, but no one was paying attention to him. Especially not Yoongi, who hardly paid attention to the person he was 'talking' to at the moment. On the other hand Jimin didn't allow the apathetic boy to drop the question he was keen on getting an answer to. He tapped his fingertips against Yoongi's desk.

"You're being annoying."

"Will you be my tutor?"

"First you slam my head into a wooden board, and now you're asking me to do you a favor?"

And thus the conversation ended abruptly, with Jimin gradually turning himself back around at the feeling of his guilt resurfacing. Guess he's still mad about that, he thought. Jimin decided then that he would leave the grumpy boy alone for a little while, not wanting to get on any more of his nerves.

Yoongi felt bad--just a little--but congratulated himself for achieving his goal in getting Jimin to leave him alone. One more second of those big brown eyes trained on him and Yoongi feared he would start visibly sweating.

One eternity later, the lunch bell rang. Jack-in-the-box Taehyung sprung out of his seat and glided over to Jimin, who he then seized by the arm and happily dragged out of the classroom before Yoongi could look up from his phone.

Yoongi: ur feeling better right

Yoongi: joon ansr

Joonie: i actually get sicker evry time u text

Yoongi: lies

Yoongi: ur gonna be in tomorrow right

Joonie: yoongs let me sleep

Joonie: go eat lunch or smth its that time isn't it

Yoongi: didn't bring a lunch

Joonie: buy smth

Yoongi: don't have money on me

Joonie: min yoongi i swear

He actually did bring a lunch that day. But he wanted to give Namjoon motivation to come back early. Namjoon was a kind soul, so perhaps if Yoongi acted irresponsibly enough, his friend would want to return to school to see that he was taking care of himself properly. Unfortunately for the both of them, however, Namjoon was a bit too under the weather to even consider going into school the next day. The words 'I won't be in today' hit Yoongi like a bus. He swore that he would stay home today as well. He would stay at Namjoon's house, even make him noodle soup if he had to. Anything. He just didn't want to walk into class alone again. The first day had been bad enough. Though he had tried his best to ignore it, it was a sinking, disheartening feeling not having Namjoon by his side, like a gap, a terrible, terrible gap that should have never been made. Yoongi hated crowds and attention. But sometimes he wondered if what he hated more was feeling alone.

He trudged into his classroom that second morning of school with heavy, unwilling steps. At least he didn't hit his head again, he thought, attempting to be positive, but failing. His head still hurt, but for a different reason.

Joonie: im really sorry for not being there with u yoongs. pls take it easy ok? eat a lunch, try talking with ppl. unless ur agoraphobia kicks in. in which case i'll allow u to bombard me with texts. i promise that as soon as i get better we'll hang out. until then, take care of urself

He couldn't stop staring at his friend's last message. Kind words, they were, but Yoongi was much too stubborn to reply with even a simple 'thank you.'

Curse you, Kim Namjoon.

"Good morning, Yoongi!"

Yoongi tensed up immediately at the sound of this unexpected greeting. He looked up, and who should he find standing at the classroom doorway waving softly but the orange haired boy from yesterday--Park Jimin, smiling that sweet smile. He made his way over to the back left corner of the room where Yoongi was trying to subtly make himself disappear.

"Morning," Jimin greeted again. He waited a moment for a reply. Met with silence, he tilted his head at his classmate, uttering a quiet, "You feeling okay?"

"No."

Jimin's smile dimmed, which for some reason caused Yoongi to regret answering him at all. "I'm sorry," he said sincerely, "you must not have been feeling well yesterday too. I didn't want to mention it, because I know it's really none of my business, but you seemed really upset about something."

Yoongi met Jimin's gaze, though it pained him a little to do so. He didn't know why but he felt weak to those kind brown eyes. "What..." He swallowed his breath. "What makes you say that?"

"Your expression. Especially your eyes. They seem...incredibly lonely."

"Jiminiiiiiiie!!!"

As if made of the world's thinnest paper, the sentimental moment being shared between Jimin and Yoongi was torn mercilessly by a certain, obnoxious boy who really seemed to like wearing sunglasses indoors. Taehyung had nearly run into the door frame in the rush of his excitement, and scarcely did he catch himself in time to duck into the right classroom rather than racing past it. He had his phone in hand. Urgency of some kind was plastered on his face, which still revealed traces of the cream doughnut he had eaten for breakfast.

"Jiminie!" In the blink of an eye, Taehyung was at Jimin's desk.

"Who spiked your coffee?" Jimin joked, words vibrating with the subtle laughter that escaped his lips. Taehyung immediately shook his head.

"No coffee, not this morning. The cashier told me someone had come in earlier and paid for a chai tea--which I love more than the air I breathe, as you know--and she told me that they told her to give the drink to a Kim Taehyung."

"Your name is Kim Taehyung."

"My name is Kim Taehyung."

Jimin and Tae spent the next several minutes whispering to each other what Yoongi could only label as complete and utter nonsense. He was tempted to relocate to a quieter place, but at a time so near to the start of first period, what would be the point? And besides, he was much too lazy anyway. By the time he managed to peel himself out of his seat, the bell would have rung. So Yoongi took out his phone. But after a second of contemplation, he decided against texting Namjoon. I'm probably getting on his nerves, he muttered under his breath. Namjoon needs his rest, not a clingy friend who makes him feel bad for being sick.

"Oh, and Tae, what do you think of Yoongi's hair? It's cool, isn't it?"

Yoongi's train of thought snapped at the realization he was suddenly being scrutinized by Jimin's peculiar friend. He tore off his Gucci sunglasses. And, one dramatic, sweeping arm gesture later, Taehyung's hand was on his chin, a thoughtful hum drawn from his mouth.

"Hmm...it's not bad," he commented. "I didn't think much of it yesterday, but now that you mention it, I suppose...it's alright." Taehyung then shrugged, closing his eyes before adding in a quieter voice, "can't say I'd ever try a color like that myself, though."

Jimin's expression went deadpan. "Oh, please." He cracked a smile. "Tae, you literally had green highlights done in your hair last year. Even if just temporarily."

"Where's your proof?"

No hesitation was made on Jimin's part, and before even ten seconds had passed, Yoongi found himself gazing upon an image that Jimin had within his phone's extensive photo gallery.

"He looks good, doesn't he?"

Yoongi agreed, to some extent, but inwardly. On the outside he merely shrugged, just as Taehyung had done when asked for his opinion on Yoongi's hair.

"Jiminie, might I ask when this was taken?"

"Tae, we went to a park so I could test out my new camera, remember? I transferred all the photos over to my phone. Just look at the quality, it's incredible."

Taehyung's face was inscrutable as he stared at the picture of himself. For a brief moment, Jimin seemed quite concerned, but that changed when Taehyung's quick hands reached for the device, snatched it, then hastily deleted said picture faster than Jimin could say, Kim Taehyung, don't even think about it. Regardless, he didn't appear to be mad at all. Rather, Jimin began wrestling with Tae to win back his stolen device, all the while laughing in a way that made Yoongi's heart do that annoying thing he hated.

It's not cute, he told his confused heart, it's obnoxious. Jimin's not cute. He's not.

-----

Yoongi didn't expect himself to be dwelling on Jimin's words. He was supposed to be paying attention in class. Not only for himself, but for his sick friend, who relied on lectures to do well in his classes. But Yoongi couldn't get that soft voice out of his head.

"Your expression. Especially your eyes. They seem...incredibly lonely."

It had to have been the first time anyone other than Namjoon saw through his bitter front, and so effortlessly, too. Most people would take one look at him and see his despondency as nothing more than a bad temper, and so often did Yoongi believe they were right. So how was it that Jimin, who he had known for not even two days, managed to do what only his best friend had ever done?

It scared him.

When the lunch bell sounded, Yoongi dragged himself sluggishly out of the classroom and headed for the roof, the only place he knew of where he actually get some peace. Well, he tried to go there, anyway, but was obstructed by an excited voice calling out his name. Yoongi stopped in his tracks. Then, with sloth-like movements, he turned to face Jimin, who grinned from ear to ear as he held up a small plastic container.

He outstretched his hand. Yoongi, who didn't like to admit he could be a bit dense at times, was taken aback by the gesture. He was legitimately confused as to why this boy was smiling at him right now. Why he had stopped Yoongi from leaving so quickly. And it wasn't until Jimin spoke that he connected the dots.

"Gimbap."

Oh.

"You're serious?"

Now it was Jimin's turn to be confused. "Of course I'm serious," he said. "I told you I'd make it up to you by making you lunch, didn't I? And voila." He peeled off the container's lid to reveal the beautifully arranged contents, the savory aroma of seaweed wrapped rice, meat, and vegetables now able to drift over to Yoongi and wrap itself around the helpless mint-haired boy.

"Gimbap," Yoongi said. His stomach growled and his eyes felt like drooling. Jimin, trying his very best not to laugh at Yoongi's laughable expression, reached for his wrist and lifted it so that he could place the container in Yoongi's hand.

"Gimbap," he repeated. "Made it myself. I hope it's enough to make up for hurting your head yesterday."

"...I already told you I wouldn't hold a grudge."

"Just let me be nice, okay?"

Yoongi tightened his grip on the container. You've been nothing but nice since I met you. I need you to stop being nice so I can breathe properly.

"Do you eat lunch by yourself?" Jimin asked him, just as Taehyung had come up from behind and rested his chin on the shorter boy's shoulder. "If you want, you could eat with us."

Yoongi looked down at the gimbap. Uncertainty began to well up inside him. Maybe he should accept the offer.

"No, thanks. There's a friend of mine who I always eat lunch with. He's probably waiting for me now."

"Oh, is that so? I'm sorry, I guess I kept you too long. Well, I hope the gimbap's okay. I'll see you around, Yoongi."

"Yeah..."

Namjoon, what do I do?