Chapter 9: A prom date
''Would you be my prom date?''
I kept staring at the text and the person who sent it for a long time. I kept going back and forth from the message to the sender to see if I saw it right and that this wasn't a prank.
Maybe it is, but I wouldn't think Namjoon is a prankster or would joke about this. I've known him through Jin enough to know that.
But it still felt so surreal to read it. Does Namjoon really want to go with me? But why? He is older than me, and I'm his friend's sister.
I did not know what to answer. Namjoon has seen that I've seen the message, so there is no going back, or I cannot pretend I haven't received it. Maybe he'll understand if I tell him I will think about it.
But that doesn't mean I will reply to this text. God knows what I might say in this state of mind. I might regret it tomorrow.
Even with these thoughts and panic, I still found myself lowkey smiling at the thought. I had been stressing over this stupid prom and who I'd ask to be my date. And now I wouldn't have to think about it anymore if I said yes.
But what will say yes bring to me? Too much, in my opinion. First of all, his age. Though he is only three years older than me, it isn't too old for me, but to others, it might be. I might get into bullying that I couldn't find a prom date from people my age.
Then, of course, there is Jin. He could easily say no to this though it is none of his business. Just for the sake of it, I'd love to say yes to Namjoon and go against Jin. He told me to mind my business and not care about him and Seolhyun.
What do I do?
I thought about the text for a long time during the evening. I couldn't focus on my homework and kept hearing those two.
Seolhyun's giggles were practically filling up the entire house, and I tried to cover it up by putting the music louder from my headphones. Sometimes it did feel like even those didn't help, especially when the voices started to turn into something more than just giggling.
But eventually, even those stopped, and after it, I did not hear anything. I was still up, and it was about 1 am. I hopped off from my bed to go get some water.
On my way down, I ran into my dad and Jin's mom coming in from the door on that second.
''Y/n? Why aren't you in bed already? It is super late,'' My dad argued.
''I know, but I was struggling with one assignment and came to get some water before heading to sleep,'' I lied to him and walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water before walking back to my room and under the covers.
The morning came quicker than I wanted. I didn't want to go to school as I had just read Namjoon's text and not replied to him. He must think I'm ignoring him in a way, or I was just being rude.
I definitely wanted to skip school and make up an excuse to go, but my parents would see right through me. And I bet Jin would also join the conversation by saying I was fine yesterday.
And it would also tell Namjoon a signal, and I don't want him to think I don't like him.
So I had no choice but to get ready for school. I texted Jungkook to stop by my house as he is only a few blocks away. He often walks to school anyway. I needed to talk to him about this when we weren't in school. I feel comfortable that way and not scared of who will hear and what.
I sprinted down the stairs as the doorbell rang, yelling at my parents, who were by the breakfast table, that it was Jungkook.
I opened the door revealing him and inviting him inside. ''Wait, I will grab my bag!''
I ran back upstairs and ran into Jin. ''Aren't you coming with Seolhyun and me?'' He must have heard me yelling Jungkook's name.
''After last night listening to you guys? No thanks,'' I said. I grabbed my bag to walk back downstairs.
''Aren't you going to eat anything?'' Jin's mom yelled after me.
''It's so early, so we will stop by the store on our way to grab something to eat,'' I said.
''We are?'' Jungkook was confused as I had already asked him to come a little earlier so I would have time to tell him everything on the go. He definitely didn't think we'd stop by the nearest store.
I rolled my eyes and dragged him out of the house to the pathway.
''What was so urgent for you to ask me to come this early, Y/n, we have like one hour before the class starts, and we walk there in 15 minutes,'' Jungkook sighed as we started walking.
I took my phone out of my pocket, searched for the text, and gave the phone to Jungkook to see. He read it carefully, not understanding until he saw who sent it.
''This is why you asked me to wake up early? So what? Namjoon hyung asked you to be his prom date. What's the big deal?'' Jungkook laughed.
''Big deal!?'' I raised my voice. ''You know exactly why!''
''Because he happens to be your brother's friend? So what? I'm his friend as well,'' Jungkook chuckled.
''Yeah, but that's different!'' I argued.
''How is it different?'' Jungkook questioned.
''Shut up, it just is! We have been best friends since we were toddlers! Jin might not have been in the picture back then and later in your teenage years, but he knows you can be trusted! Besides, he knows you're into guys,'' I tried to make sense to him.
''Wow, thank you. Who knows, I might turn bisexual and seduce you if I end up alone. You'll be my wife, and we live happily ever after,'' Jungkook clung to my side, and I pushed him away.
''Ya! Focus!''
''What do you want me to do? He asked you, not me. You wouldn't be exactly the first person to go to prom with someone older than them. It's no big deal,'' Jungkook laughed.
''Yeah, but they didn't happen to be one of the school's popular guys. I will get killed if I say yes.''
''Now you're just overreacting,'' Jungkook stopped. ''Our school isn't like in those kdramas you watch where a group of girls threatens your life because you stole their man.''
Jungkook is right. We do not have such a thing. Jin and his friends are ''popular'' guys in the school but still.
We stepped into the little store that happened to be on our way to school. We used to stop here many times when we were younger.
I went through shelves, trying to look for the snack I wanted. Jungkook had already finished looking for what he wanted. Banana milk and some seaweed chips. I grabbed a tuna sandwich with strawberry milk before we went to the counter.
''Is the reason for your panic the fact that Namjoon asked you and you don't want to or is it all because you're afraid of what Jin might think?'' Jungkook asked as we exited the shop.
I gulped. I actually did not know.
''Namjoon is a nice guy, and it'd be nice to go with him. I don't have anything against him. And when it comes to Jin, even though he is my brother, he still can't make decisions for me,'' I said.
''Well, there you have it,'' Jungkook said, and I looked at him. ''You will say yes to him. Besides, we'll hang out together all evening, so what so bad as walking in with him?''
''I hate you,'' I pouted.
''But you love me, let's go,'' he said. I took a deep breath and followed him along.
The first two classes had passed, and I sat on the benches near my next classroom. Jungkook went to get a little snack from the canteen, and I stayed checking the homework.
I was immersed in the book when I noticed a pair of legs. I looked to see Namjoon smiling and showing his cute dimples on the go. ''Hi,'' he said.
''H-hi, look, I'm sorry I haven't replied to your text,'' I went straight with the truth because I didn't want to lie to him.
''No, that's okay. I understand it must have been quite a shock. But I'm not joking. I felt we had so much in common, and I wasn't interested in romantic gestures but just going as friends. I think it'd be fun,'' he smiled back.
''So just as friends?''
He nodded. ''And it's not because I couldn't get interested in a girl like you, but rather to make you feel comfortable. Though we have known each other through Jin for a long time, I still feel it'd be awkward if we went that way.''
Why can't all guys be like this?
''Okay.''
''Huh?'' Namjoon asked.
''I'll be your prom date,'' I smiled. Namjoon's smile grew again.
''That's awesome!'' the bell rang as a signal of the break ends. ''Well, we can talk about it more later. Bye,'' he said and jogged towards his own class.
''Bye,'' I waved, smiling.
Jungkook came running back with a protein bar in his mouth. ''I'm not late?''
''No, you're not,'' I said as I grabbed my bag from the floor. ''But hey, I have a prom date now.''
I giggled as he looked at me with his big eyes and the bar in his mouth before he sprinted after me, asking more questions.