The next few days pass by rather quickly for Jeongguk. The morning after their sleepover at Taehyung's, most everyone, including Jeongguk himself, left early for various reasons, Yoongi being the only one who stayed for breakfast.

It's Monday morning now. As usual, Jeongguk gets up early, gets dressed and eats breakfast, and drives to his best friend's house to take them both to school. Shockingly, despite being a Monday, Tae actually gets his act together and is out the door before Jeongguk has to spam him with texts and calls. He wouldn't have minded so much today, though. He's in a good mood. Maybe as a result of lingering memories from the sleepover and his little talk with Jimin, maybe because Jimin replied to his "good morning" text earlier. Maybe both.

"What's got you so chipper, pal?" Taehyung asks upon climbing into the car and observing the quite noticeable smile on his friend's face. He pokes Jeongguk's cheek. "You and Jimin stay up late texting last night or something?"

"No," the other boy replies as he attempts to frown. "He texted me back this morning, though."

"Oh, my goodness, you're practically married."

"Shut up." He rolls his eyes and lightly smacks Tae's shoulder. "I could make you walk to school. Be more respectful."

"You wouldn't."

"Hey, Tae, do you have a crush on Hoseok?"

"Not gay, Guk-"

"Get out of my car."

"Dude."

Jeongguk laughs it off like he's joking, but at the same time, a part of him wishes he could legitimately talk to his friend about it. Just the other night, Taehyung had been the one to excitedly tell Jeongguk about Hoseok replying to a text. Not to mention, of course, the frequent compliments and related comments Tae has made and still makes about him. But no matter how many times the other brings it up, Taehyung continuously turns the mere idea away.

A topic for another day, Jeongguk sighs and says to himself. Hopefully some day.

Upon their arrival to school, Jeongguk's giddiness returns as he trifles the thought of seeing Jimin smile again in person. He can't help it. The soft, adorable manner in which that boy expresses himself isn't something Jeongguk will be able to forget easily and he knows it.

With that in mind, he retrieves his things from his locker and delays a bit to see if Jimin will show up soon. Fortunately for him, the boy does. And Jeongguk, without thinking twice for even a second, approaches Jimin's locker to say hello.

It's the same reaction as before. That alarmed, panicked gasp followed by rushed actions and speedy footsteps down the hall. Jeongguk is left standing by the lockers, dumbfounded.

He heads to class without another word and takes his usual seat. Jimin's already taken his seat, too. Head turned down, earphones in, world tuned out, it appears.

Jeongguk takes out his own phone in hopes he'll at least get a text response.

-

me
is something wrong? you're still avoiding me

Jimin
we've been over this remember

Jimin
i just really don't want the attention

me
i know, i get that but like

me
does that mean i can't talk to you at school at all?

Jimin
what does it matter?? it's not like you don't have people to talk to

me
but i wanna talk to you :(

Jimin
why??

me
cus you're cute and i'd like to get to know you

-

Right as he sends the message, Jeongguk allows his curious gaze to drift over his shoulder back at Jimin, pleased to watch as a light shade of red warms the boy's cheeks - his brow furrows somewhat in distress, however, as he begins to tap at his screen again.

-

Jimin
i'm not cute don't tell me that

Jimin
unless u just mean my outfit

me
well your outfits are always cute too but i also just meant you

me
can't i say you're cute? cus you arrreeeee :)

Jimin
i'm just cute because of my clothes

me
i mean that's just your opinion but ok :/

Jimin
it's the opinion you should have too

me
i think that's my decision lol

me
so whether u like it or not jimin, i think you're really cute :)

-

The lack of reply is disheartening to say the very least. Jeongguks stares at the text message for several minutes before realizing Jimin doesn't plan to text back this time. Mrs. Choi enters the room soon, anyway, so he dejectedly slips his phone back into his pocket before slouching in his chair.

She delivers a boring lecture that day. Jeongguk disregards the mentioning of a quiz coming up and instead makes room in his head for the thoughts more concerning to him right now. Jimin. He just can't stop thinking about Jimin, wondering about Jimin, about what's going on with him, the reason for his variance in behavior in school vs. outside of school, if it really only has to do with not wanting to draw attention to himself or if there's some other factor involved.

It doesn't sit well with Jeongguk. The way Jimin seems to see himself - clearly not on a high pedestal, or a pedestal at all, for that matter. It's such a shame, he thinks. What a dreadful enemy low self-esteem can be. Most everyone experiences it at least once in their life, or from time to time, whereas for some people Jeongguk is aware how exponentially worse it can be. But with Jimin it just doesn't make sense to him.

He's the cutest boy I've ever seen. What else could he possibly see while looking in the mirror?

"Jeongguk, I said do you remember what year North and South Korea split?"

"Hm?" He flinches slightly at the unexpected mentioning of his name. Mrs. Choi is staring directly at him with beady, accusing eyes. "Uh...1945, ma'am," Jeongguk soon answers. The teachers nods slowly before facing the chalkboard and resuming her talk.

Not a second later, Taehyung extends his foot to tap Jeongguk's.

"Dude," he whispers with a smirk on his face. "You were in dreamland, weren't you?"

"I wasn't," Jeongguk argues, arching his brows. "Shut up. I was just thinking."

"Mm. Were there lips touching involved in this 'thinking'?"

Jeongguk kicks his friend's leg a little harder than intended.

"Ow, dude!"

"Taehyung, is there an issue?"

"No issue here, Mrs. Choi," the boy recovers quickly. "I'm actually super invested in this lecture. I'm learning so much."

"I'm sure. Wednesday's quiz will prove that."

"Wait, there's a quiz on Wednesday?" Yoongi asks. Mrs. Choi visibly has to restrain herself from yelling.

"Yes, my boy," she says through gritted teeth. "Sleep at home instead of school and maybe you'll be able to keep up better."

"Valid suggestion."

To an extent, Jeongguk manages to focus on the teacher's words for the rest of the class, at least enough that he won't be caught off guard and risk embarrassing himself. But he still finds himself glancing frequently at Jimin and wanting nothing more than to talk to him again.

Lunch comes around and Jeongguk and Taehyung are sitting at a table with some of their other friends - again, nothing that isn't the norm for them. But Jeongguk isn't participating in conversation as much as he typically does. His eyes are snagged by the sight of Jimin and Hoseok sitting at their own table, talking and eating together.

Jimin's face is visible from where Jeongguk sits. There's distress in that boy's face. Lingering from earlier that day, at least that's what Jeongguk can assume. To think a harmless little compliment could trigger such a thing. Again, it doesn't make sense to him. Am I just naïve? I mean, it's one thing if he doesn't fully agree with me, but to get mad at me for thinking he's cute...

"Hey, Guk, something wrong?"

"Hm? Oh, no, nothing." He laughs off the question asked of him by his friend from across the table, but Taehyung, being right beside Jeongguk, nudges him and fires a disbelieving glance.

"Are you creepin' on Jimin?"

"Tae, cut it out," he elbows the boy. "I'm not creeping on him. I'm just...worried."

"Tell me your troubles, son."

"He seems off, you know? And I don't mean like 'off' as in 'different from how he's always been' but like..." Jeongguk taps his fingernails aggressively on the table. "...like, something feels wrong. There's gotta be something going on with him."

"If it's personal issues, then no one can make him tell us," Taehyung says, popping an Oreo into his mouth. Jeongguk grumbles under his breath.

"You're not supposed to make good points, Tae."

"Okay, sorry, lemme correct myself." He clears his throat. "Maybe you should walk up to Jimin and be like, 'hey, cutie, less depressy, more progressy, dinner tonight?' "

This sassy remark earns Taehyung another elbow to his side, which the boy quickly reciprocates.

"Sorry," Jeongguk mumbles a moment after. "You're right...but, I just...wish I knew a way to get close to him, or make him want to tell me what's wrong, you know?"

"Have you tried asking Hoseok?"

"Last time I asked Hoseok about Jimin, he jokingly agreed with me when I asked if Jimin hated me."

"He's so funny." Taehyung turns his head briefly to laugh. "Still," he adds, "maybe he'll tell you at least something."

"Maybe..."

"Hey, Jeongguk, could you pass the salt?"

"Yeah, sure." Wait, salt?

"Yeah, I was right, he's totally out of it."

"Seokjin, it's not funny..."

—-