Eighth
:Chapter Eight:

     Taehyung cleaned off his body. He needed a shower after the events at practice and being overworked due to his actions. He knew he deserved it but that didn't mean he wasn't exhausted and beat.

What made it worse was the fact he still had to go see Jihyun, his girlfriend.

Seeing her wasn't exhausting but it was just going to another place and then hearing the same crap he's been hearing.

Jihyun goes on and on about how they don't spend enough time together and how Taehyung only ever talks about baseball and practice and sometimes Hoseok — which wasn't wrong. Taehyung knew that, but he wish she just understood that he had an undying passion for baseball and this is what he wanted to do with his life.

Baseball was truly his first love. The moment his adoptive father told him about baseball and started to play with him, the more he realized just how incredible the sport really was.

The running, the positions, the adrenaline to just go out there and do your very best. Everything about it was just so beautiful and Taehyung wished his girlfriend knew that.

He truly does like her — not love. They haven't made it to the 'love' part of their relationship but Taehyung knows he's partly to blame. They barely do anything.

When the two of them first got together, Taehyung was amazed and star struck, mainly because she asked him out and she was just one of those pretty girls who was more focused on school work than she was boys. Apparently Taehyung was an exception to that rule she had because she asked him out right out of the blue.

Taehyung, like most of the boys, had a crush on her. She had mid-length dark brown hair, big, doe-like eyes, and her lips were soft and pouty. She was all over the place with style but it was so cute. Sometimes she looked all dressed up while other times her style was baggy and loose fitted. Her skin was pale but nothing too pale, she had an olive tone to her and then she was pink. She had naturally red cheeks and ears which just made her adorable.

Hoseok once told Taehyung that Jihyun was a girl version of him and sometimes Taehyung could see it but only sometimes.

Sometimes he wished he treated her better, took her out more, appreciated her like a boyfriend should. They were dating for ten months now. A pretty long time of you asked Taehyung.

She asked him out last year, in June, a few days before school ended. They started off great. The whole summer was about them, dates, carnivals, movies, and more. Then, junior year came along and they were still pretty strong.

They went to homecoming together, known as one of the hottest couples the school had to offer. Then, February rolled in and things changed.

Taehyung warned her. He told her that baseball season was starting back up so that meant he would be focused on practice and working on his pitch. She was pretty understanding then and told him to do his thing but as days and weeks went along, they became pretty distant.

Jihyun had convinced him to stop by here and there at the very least and he had agreed because it seemed fair. He can't just totally ignore her and brush her off like he was doing.

     With that, Taehyung had gotten dressed and made himself smell good just for her. He wore a pair of light wash denim jeans that weren't too tight but a bit fitted. He then pulled on a simple band T-shirt that had 'Rolling Stones' on it. To tie it all together, he matched his shoes with his shirt — red converses. It was a pretty simple outfit but something that appeared he had tried. She would appreciate it.

He grabbed his phone, keys, and his wallet before he left his house. Taehyung made sure to shoot his adoptive parents a message saying he was going to his girlfriend's house which they replied to him, telling him it was okay and to have fun.

They were very aware of Taehyung and his relationship with this girl — not about the sex part of their relationship. They adored the relationship the two had and always invited her over for dinner whenever she wanted to stop by.

Taehyung locked the door behind him, his parents out at the moment. He then went to his car, slipping into the driver's side.

This was the least fun about the whole going over to his girlfriend's house. Driving. Usually he got rides with Hoseok to school and wherever else but Taehyung wasn't bringing his best friend to go see his girlfriend.

What that meant, in short, is that he had to drive. He hated driving. He wouldn't say he was reckless, but he was pretty reckless. Hoseok never let Taehyung drive when they were together. He called it a death wish if Taehyung was driving, therefore, Hoseok was the one who drove.

He started up the engine, taking a deep breath, and putting the car in drive, then he was off to see his caring girlfriend.

     To skip the driving experience, Taehyung made it in ten minutes. He took his time though he was still bad at timing turns and he may have drove past few stop signs along the way, but the only thing that mattered was him making it in one piece.

He slipped out of his car, making sure he still looked good before he walked over to Jihyun's door, balling his fist and knocking on the wooden door.

Taehyung stood there for a moment, his ears picking up the soft steps of her walking over to get to the door, revealing herself.

Jihyun was wearing a grey sweatshirt, regardless the warm weather, and had loose fitted sweatpants that matched her sweatshirt. She then had her cute pink socks to add a touch of real color. Her hair was tied into a nice ponytail, some loose baby hairs and adult hairs sticking out but it just made the hairstyle look better overall.

"Taehyungie!" She greeted, throwing her arms over her boyfriend. "I thought you weren't going to come for a second!"

"Ah, I wouldn't do that to you, Ji." Taehyung kissed her cheek and walked inside after she pulled back, shutting the door behind him.

Jihyun had some cut up apple slices and grapes on a plate, Taehyung assumed she was just snacking but he didn't care what she did, as long as she was happy with it.

Jihyun nodded, walking over and taking a seat on the couch, patting beside her for her boyfriend to follow. "I wanted to start this new drama with you, thought maybe you would like it." She said simply, a cozy smile on her face. She looked pretty happy which internally made Taehyung warm and fuzzy.

The aforementioned walked over and sat down, throwing his arm over her shoulders and pulling her close to his body. "What's it called?" He questioned, playing with the fabric to her shirt.

"It's called, 'While You Were Sleeping'. It looked pretty good when I saw the trailer for it." Jihyun briefly explained. "Beautiful and sad at the same time, maybe it's something worth a watch, yeah?"

"Sure, I don't mind watching it. Maybe we can watch an episode everyday after my practices? I don't want to rush right into it, it takes away the excitement and the build up." Taehyung replied.

"Sounds good to me!" Jihyun beamed, going to the show and pushing start. She then set the remote down and got cozied up next to her boyfriend, hand placed on his chest, head on his shoulder. Taehyung kept his arm securely wrapped around her, feeling pretty peaceful.

At least with this, Newbie can't ruin. He already took away baseball and gym — though Taehyung would find ways to enjoy it without him — but the first basemen knew Jeongguk couldn't just take this from him.

Jihyun was loyal and Taehyung was more than sure Jeongguk had better things to do rather than try to take other people's girlfriends.

     Twenty minutes had passed by the couple who lazed around. Neither one of them got up or needed to but Jihyun decided to pause the show regardless, looking back at Taehyung who gave a confused look.

"Bathroom break?" He wondered and she shook her head, fixing the way she sat so she could face him.

"No, silly, I just wanted to talk. I know it's right in the middle of the show but, like, I don't know." Jihyun shrugged, pulling her knees to her chest as her eyes stayed fixated on Taehyung. "I missed you and we just cut right into the show without much to say. Makes me feel like a bad partner for not asking your day or practice or any of that. How's your parents? I should come over for dinner again sometime soon, huh?"

Like Taehyung, Jihyun was a bit clingy and liked to interact with whoever her lover was. Taehyung was too but again, baseball was put first inevitably.

Communication was a key part to Jihyun and she was upset she didn't even bother to ask Taehyung but now she was and to her, that's what mattered.

"Oh, um," Taehyung also fixed the way he sat, looking back at her. "They're good. They've been a bit more busy but that's just because of work and this time of year when summer's coming up." He shrugged. "How's your mom?" Such a basic question.

"Good, really." Jihyun smiled sadly. "It's hard to get her to go to those support groups but she agreed she would go so she doesn't have to lose me." Jihyun's mom was a recovering alcoholic. She had started drinking after Jihyun's father left them when their daughter was only eleven. She was seventeen now, older than Taehyung by two months but both were seventeen.

"I'm glad she's trying to better herself as a mother and as a person overall." Taehyung said sympathetically, taking her hand and holding it. "I know I don't say it enough but you're so strong and so beautiful and I'm so proud of you, Jihyun, really." He leaned close and placed a gentle, reassuring kiss on her naturally pouty lips. "You're very strong."

Jihyun smiled and returned the small kiss. Even though they seemed a bit more distant now, Taehyung never failed to make her smile and to make her feel appreciated. "Thank you, Tae." She hummed out, holding his hand and rubbing her thumb over his knuckles.

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A/N:

1. Jihyun is so sweet :(
2. Make sure to vote and share, I don't want this story to flop
3. Do you guys like Jihyun after reading this chapter? Or do you feel uneasy? Be sure to comment to let me know!