I See Colors | Taegi

thirty-two

"Taehyung.
   Can I ask you something?"

   I hum
   and try to focus on Yoongi
   as much as he's been focused on me.

   "Why do you talk to me?"

   I furrow my eyebrows.
   He seems to have read my thoughts clearly.

   "In all honesty,
   there are plenty of people you can choose to be friends with
   that would probably be better for you than me.
   Like...people who actually know and enjoy astronomy.
   I don't feel bad about it or anything.
   I'm just wondering...
   Why?"

   I glance over to the door
   then back at Yoongi.

   I didn't expect him to ask this,
   because usually no one does.
   They only care about the fact that they have a friend.

   "You're new here."
   I tell him,
   "I had zero friends in the past three years
   because everyone saw me as that one alien boy in their class.
   When you came,
   that was my chance to make a friend with someone
   who still saw me as a human."

   Yoongi hums.
   "Sorry. I was just curious."

   I smile.
   "No.
   Thank you for that."

   "Huh?"

   "You've made me realize I've changed,
   and I can use that as proof to show my classmates
   that I am not an alien."

   Yoongi's surprise turns into a smile.
   "Ah. So you're using me just for evidence?"

   I let myself smile back.
   "No!"

   He stands from the stool
   and holds my shoulder to keep me still.
   I look up at him
   with my smile beginning to show my teeth.

   "Am I nothing but evidence to you? Huh?"
   He shakes my shoulder.

   "No~!"
   I laugh as I try to whine.

   "You said that I am."
   Yoongi tries to act serious,
   but it seems he can't help but smile.

   He puts his other hand to his heart.
   "I thought I was your friend!"

   "Hyung. You are my friend."

   He stops shaking my shoulder
   and he can now be serious.

   My smile fades away.
   I made a mistake somewhere.
I don't know what it is, though.

   He leans his face closer to mine.
   I try my best to keep my eyes focused on his.

   "Hyung?
   Is that what you called me?"

   I back my head away and smile
   as I realize it wasn't that serious.
   "Yeah."

   Yoongi lets out a hmph and mumbles,
   "I guess we are friends then.
   You're jumping too fast, boy."

   "...Yeah.
   I am."

   Yoongi leans a little closer and whispers,
   "Ask me something.
   It'll give this scene some more spice."

   "Okay."

   I look at my lap and lick my lips.

   I look back at him
   and whisper.
   "What's the chemical name for sugar?"

   "Are you calling me sweet?"

   I laugh at his quiet voice.
   "You're pale
   and your voice tastes like mint candy,
   Suga hyung."

   Yoongi holds back his laughter.
   "You have a cute smile,
   Tae."

   My mind stays on that sentence
   and removes every other topic out.

   Cute?
   I have a cute smile?
   Or is he teasing me?

   Yoongi leans back
   and shakes my shoulder again.

   Yeah.
   He's teasing.