Love, Affairs, and Hardships | PJM

8.

No One's POV:

Jimin's presence seemed to have become a constant in Eunji and Jungkook's life, just as it had been in the café. Jimin was sure to follow wherever they went, a presence that Jungkook found increasingly irritating.

Jungkook couldn't hide his frustration and smacked his head on the table when he saw Jimin approaching with a tray of food in his hands. His glares were not subtle as he sat down, ready to voice his displeasure.

"You've been following us for a week, coming everywhere with us, not letting me gossip with Eunji. Don't you know how much stuff I have to tell her about the girls in our class?" Jungkook complained, shooting another glare at Jimin.

Jimin simply smiled, seemingly unbothered. "Oh, Jungkook, you seem a bit too happy to see me. Why don't you share your gossip with me too? I don't mind hearing it," he replied, and Eunji nodded in agreement. Jungkook felt a sense of betrayal from Eunji.

"Why are you always near us? Leave us alone. You're taking my bestie away from me," Jungkook whined, expressing his frustration.

"I can't help it; I am courting your bestie," Jimin stated matter-of-factly, causing Eunji to choke on her Banana milk. In response, Jungkook accidentally spat his drink onto Jimin's face, who looked at him in disgust and quickly cleaned himself up with a tissue.

"You guys didn't notice?" Jimin asked with genuine surprise. "Well, yeah, it was weird seeing you follow her around like a lovesick puppy, picking up her backpack, standing outside our class, getting her coffee, ignoring Taehyung at every turn, and concentrating on us," Jungkook explained, nonchalant.

Eunji was recovering from her choking fit but couldn't help but be thoroughly baffled by the situation. She blinked at Jimin with confusion in her eyes. "Why are you courting me?" she finally inquired.

Jimin couldn't believe the absurdity of the situation and gazed at her as if she were the most clueless person on the planet. Jungkook blinked at her with a blank face and made a 'tch' sound. 

"Why are you courting me?" Eunji repeated, still trying to wrap her head around it. "Is this some kind of prank? Did you plan this with Tae?" she added, suspicion creeping into her tone.

"No, what the heck? I genuinely like you, and I have since I was 7 years old," Jimin stated, matter-of-factly. Jungkook beamed at the revelation, while Eunji's jaw dropped.

"You like me? Why? Since when? Are you kidding? Are you in alliance with Taehyung?" Eunji fired off a barrage of questions, her mind racing to process the unexpected confession.

Jimin leaned back in his chair, bewildered by Eunji's response. "No, I'm not kidding. I've liked you since I was 7," he reiterated. Jungkook shook his head and smiled, understanding Jimin's genuine feelings for their friend.

Eunji still seemed hesitant and skeptical. The prospect of Jimin liking her seemed too surreal, and even if he did, Taehyung's overprotective nature cast a shadow of doubt on the possibility of them being together.

Before Jimin could utter another word, Eunji abruptly stood up. "I just remembered I left my cat in the microwave, yes," she claimed, her tone a mix of urgency and absurdity, before bolting out of the cafeteria. Jimin watched her go with a bewildered expression, and Jungkook gave him a knowing shrug.

"Rethink your life decisions, brother," Jungkook quipped, offering Jimin some friendly advice before he, too, left the cafeteria. Jimin remained seated, still trying to process what had just happened. Had he been rejected?

•••

Eunji dashed out of the cafeteria at full speed, still caught in a whirlwind of thoughts. "Jimin likes me, Jimin likes me, Jimin likes me," was the mantra playing on repeat in her mind. In her distracted state, she failed to notice her surroundings and collided with a solid object.

Both she and the object fell to the ground in a chaotic tangle. Rubbing her forehead, which had taken the brunt of the collision, Eunji finally realized that she had inadvertently tackled someone. She quickly scrambled to her feet and extended her hand to help the unknown person up.

As he turned to look at her, Eunji couldn't help but be taken aback by his striking appearance. Her mind raced with thoughts, and she unconsciously blurted out, "Wow, is it legal to be this pretty?" The words had escaped her mouth before she could stop them.

The stranger chuckled at her candidness and responded, "I haven't gone to jail yet, so maybe it is legal." His laughter mingled with Eunji's surprise at having spoken her thoughts aloud.

Quickly regaining her composure, Eunji offered an apology, her cheeks flushed. "I'm sorry for making you fall like that." She bowed as a gesture of politeness.

He waved it off with a friendly smile. "No problem at all, it didn't hurt," he assured her, returning the polite gesture with a bow of his own. Eunji's smile widened, appreciative of his understanding.

With a polite exchange completed, Eunji turned and continued on her way, leaving the encounter behind her. As she walked away, the stranger, named Seonghwa, heard his friend Minho calling out to him.

"Yo, Seonghwa, are you coming or not?" Minho's voice echoed through the hallway.

"Yes, Minho, I'm coming," Seonghwa responded, shaking his head at the unexpected encounter before heading off to join his friend.