The Last Shot

*Prologue

" He felt at once betrayed and betrayer, deceived and deceiver. He was a criminal forced into crime. "

- In accordance to the ticket pulled out this weekend, this quote from "Jaws", written by Peter Benchely , will be the theme of your next essay. Any questions regarding the assignment ?

Friday evening was being washed away, smudged by the window with uneven drops of rain, all a drained sunset. In class, a scene similar to the Strange War played. Both the teacher and students were proportionally aligned for the scheme of "question and answer" , yet after a long day of small and quick social battles, all fighters were weakened so much so that the wave of these soldiers' swords would be alike the amateurish plays between the piano tiles of a toothpick.

Everybody in class was tired, and so to agree, or maybe to resign in defeat, the teacher lowered his hand, letting the ticket he had earlier pulled have its final rest on the desk. The tired soldiers have been preparing to flee and return to their other fights, lovers and beds; to their homes.

- Mr. Kim!
- Yes?

The young student was ready to leave his head down hanging in embarrassment for staying behind the rest of the class to ask a question, openly addmitting this way to his self-concious nature. The classroom is empty, but his mind is crowded with thoughts, them fearing to hear the sentence of his own jury: imprisonment in shame until further notice. It was that very fear that straightened his back in an instinctive position of fight, scorning his words out of his now stilted ribcage.

- I don't quite understand the quote.
- Well.. the idea of, or at least what I expect the essay to be, is simply an interpretation. There is no right nor wrong answer. Is that helpful.. or?
- Yes!

The teacher giggled at the worrisome quickness of his answer.

- Sure? OK.. what is the first thought that came to your mind when you first heard this quote?
- That.. the character was reduced to a primary being by this description of "a criminal forced into crime" , as if they had no functional stream of conciousness.

He breathed deeply to reassure himself of his presence and acceptance in the possible rejection of his answer.

- Beautiful wording!

The teacher opened his arms in hopes of encouraging a more resting feeling in his student.

- I would say that is good enough for a starting point. What is your name?
- Park Jimin.
- Just to remember. I'm curious about how the essay will come out.
- Thank you, sir!
- Anytime.

When out of class, Jimin returned to his habit of lowering his head, but not in a contemptuous manner this time. The corners of his mouth pinned a smile on his face, one which he tried to polish by plucking and licking his lips. His pride was renewed, now walking faster, hands behind his back as if patrolling around, judging his now former attitude.

Part of this sure walk was the fact that he knew where he was headed, more precisely the school yard, where his classmate, Taehyung, would hurry in order to catch photos of the groups of students before leaving the district for a school project, which was due soon, probably the very reason why he was now in this paranoia of not catching the shot of the right moment, taking his camera everywhere and photographing everything that was opportune.

Leaning over him was Jungkook, admiring the mastery of his friend. Like a watchful humming bird, he would point out silly mannerisms or a group of students emerged in their conversation. His observations sometimes disoriented Taehyung, losing his focus on his previous subject. So far, the theme; portraying the experience of school from your perspective, and the execution, were coming along nicely.

Seokjin would arrive and scoff from steps away, knowing that Jungkook's back can only be the roof for the art salon that was Taehyung, his camera and his vision.

Jin gave Jimin a tilted nod. Jimin blinked a couple of times and was reminded of his current surroundings, heading to his group of friends. This time he walked, not hurried. There was nothing to run from. Everything is fine.