Taehyung ༉

»Dude, you don't believe how relieved I am not to go to this dump on my own.«

Namjoon groaned annoyed and patted my shoulder, which should be shows his gratitude. »I'd like to miss«, I said in a whisper, shaking his hand, which still rested on the same place.

I could feel his astonished look on me - who could blame him, because I had really changed a lot. But since Namjoon has always been a simple person, he simply shrugged his shoulders and didn’t elaborate. He didn’t ask, but took it that way. In contrast to my parents.

After a few minutes, we reached the school that I hadn't seen for a year. In the beginning I had missed it, because in America everything was different, but at some point I had problems there too, so I couldn't think about my life here.

»Hey, look«, Namjoon snorted, pointing in a direction I followed with my eyes. Even though I didn't want to, I stopped in shock and stared at the black-haired, petite boy, who was crouched on the ground and desperately wanted to pick up the notes, which the wind slowly spread over the schoolyard. »There's someone accidentally beating the slut, by mistake.«

I didn't really hear Namjoon's words, my attention was just Jeongguk alone. Again and again he wiped his cheeks to remove the tears that always left his dark eyes. Nobody helped him, everyone passed him laughing, just like Namjoon.

I still stood there rooted to the spot and only when the younger one raised his gaze and answered mine, did I come out of my stupor.
Relief and joy suddenly spread in his expression and he turned to face me. He looked pathetic, he had become even thinner than he was a year ago and his little self-esteem had completely vanished during my absence. I should feel sorry for him, but I wasn't.

»Tae«, he whispered incredibly softly my nickname and I almost didn't hear it because of the volume around us. But it fell silent as the other classmates heard that someone was talking to Jeongguk. And that someone was unfortunately me. »You're back.«

I clucked my tongue and folded my arms over my chest, giving him another look from top to bottom before hissing back.  »What happened to you?«

His eyes widened in shock, but he shook his head directly and started to smile. A smile that I liked incredibly. »I'm glad we'll see each other again.« He just ignored my question and took another step closer.

»Not me«, I said curtly, and finally passed him before his voice sent me one last breath. »Why are you like this, Tae? What happened?«

»People are changing, Jeongguk. You can't only see that in me, but also in you.«