"I'm seriously doomed, aren't I?" Yeri grumbled, eyeing her sprained ankle. So much for trying to be useful to someone else, now I'm the one in trouble. She thought to herself.
Yeri looked around her surrounding area. Trees, trees, and more trees. No one who could help her in sight. Thinking to herself that there was no use sitting on the ground doing nothing as the sun was visibly setting, she tried to push herself up with her hands and her other foot supporting her injured one.
Leaning from one tree to another, it was quite a difficult task to walk because one; the ground was uneven and there were too many hurdles such as large tree roots and rocks, and two; she had no idea where the hell she was.
After struggling for almost half an hour to walk barely a distance from where she came from, she stopped and sat on the last tree she was leaning for support on. This time, struggling to sit down. She had to rest her good foot that had been supporting her entire weight.
"I really should start walking to build my stamina up once I get home." Yeri sighed to herself.
"Would it be better to walk around looking for the way... Or stay in one place in hopes that someone actually finds me?" Yeri thought aloud. There was just one thing she didn't like about waiting. She could feel the time running, making her anxious and restless. What if I get stuck here until night time?
Panic started to build up in Yeri's gut when there was no sign of help after more than an hour. This made her abruptly push herself up, unconsciously stressing her weight on both feet which made her yell out in pain before falling on her knees. She didn't want to cry but the pain and frustration was getting to her. Yeri looked back to how she was led to this situation and bit her lip hard.
"What did I ever do to deserve this?" She was suddenly making new friends, getting along with them and actually having fun. Yeri thought she was actually doing well and finally getting called out by some girls from another class. She thought it'd be different this time.
My arrogance led me to this... A sprained ankle, scraped knee, and zero to nothing pride in this damned wilderness.
"I just thought..." Her voice trailed. Biting her quivering lips harder 'til she tasted rust.
"You thought what?"
Yeri's head whipped up, stunned. Eye to eye with a raven haired boy who's eyes couldn't contain his relief. And just as he was relieved to see the girl, it was equal to how worried he was at the sight of her. And thinking about how this was most likely foul play made his blood boil.
"What the hell happened?!" The boy couldn't help but raise his voice, kneeling down on one knee in front of her, examining Yeri's condition; swelling ankle, inflamed knees and bleeding lips.
The entire time, she watched his movements, and once she was sure she wasn't imagining it, that someone was finally here, someone came to find her, and someone worried for her, the tears that she was trying to suppress just burst out.
"J...Jungkook-ahhh!!!"
Startled by her sudden outburst, Jungkook was lost. Not knowing what to do, he let her cry her heart out. The silence and serenity of the woods was filled with Yeri's sad cries. All the while, letting her release everything, he tended to her needs. Jungkook wiped her bleeding lips, cleaned her knees as much as he can with his unused handkerchief, and examined her swollen ankles.
"Are you hurt anywhere else?" Jungkook gently asked, pushing back hair strands from her face. Yeri who was flushed from still crying, hiccuped and unable to respond.
"Alright, alright. Come here." Jungkook ushered the girl towards him and wiped her tears with his thumbs, unable to make use of the blood stained handkerchief he had. When the tears just won't stop, he paused and stared at the girl. His heart clenched as he watched her crying.
Pulling her in gently for a hug, he awkwardly pat her back, letting her cry as much as she want. It was the first time he actually held a girl in his arms so it felt alien at first but he couldn't help but cast away the thought as the girl gripped the back of his shirt as she shivered in tears. "What took you so looooong?" Yeri whined like a child, although she never expected that he would be the one looking for her, she was so grateful yet couldn't help but show her childish and vulnerable side to him.
"Yeah... I'm sorry I took so long." Still patting her back, trying to comfort the girl. "You did well." His words made her break down even more, and she couldn't even care less that she was crying in his shoulders in a very unsophisticated way. There was just this sense of comfort in his arms, in a way as if she could be vulnerable like this if it's him and he wouldn't even mind.
The sun was setting, trees were dancing in sync to their breathing, in the woods there sat the two of them, until there were only little sniffles heard.
"Yeri." Jungkook called out softly to the tired girl.
"Hmm." She hummed in reply, drained of energy from all the tears she has wept. Her body relaxed from the stress and tension she was under just a little while ago.
"Come on, let's go and get you treated." Without any complaint, she let herself be carried on his back, her chin on his right shoulder. This time, Jungkook wasn't in a rush as he was earlier while he searched for her desperately. He walked leisurely to the direction of the camp. His friends had probably reported the incident already and he was sure they were waiting for them so they didn't have to rush.
And besides, he still had to know...
"Are you gonna tell me what happened?" Jungkook asked softly, unsure if Yeri was awake or not. There was a long pause. The girl was contemplating. Her eyes that were closed the entire time slowly peered open, now staring at the array of trees they passed by. She could smell the manly mint scent the boy emitted and found solace from the aroma.
Yeri wasn't the type to ever complain about people, not even when it gets to the point that she's bossed around or bullied because she knows once she tells her eonnies, things will escalate and it won't be pretty for either parties. But somehow, the thought of confiding to Jungkook wasn't as intimidating as she thought opening up would be.
It felt like she could tell him ever single thing and he'll just listen to every word she'll say with an open mind. And that would've been enough for her.
So Yeri told him everything.
"They said they needed my help to look for that girl's bracelet... I think her name was Miyeon." She trailed off. "Next thing I knew I was pushed and I tripped on a large tree root, alone in the middle of nowhere."
Yeri pouted in annoyance. "That's how I sprained my ankle. I even fell after that which explains my injured knees too." She was frustrated at her stupidity but Jungkook hid his rage. Deep, deep within him.
Then there was silence between them. And it wasn't awkward, not one bit.
"Please don't tell my eonnies."
"...alright. I won't."
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When the two got back to the camp, most of the students were already sent back home. Some were still left with most of the facilitators and professors, and that include the boys who had reported the incident and the girls who were the root of the problem.
It seemed like they had already been told off by the head facilitator and professor as they had their heads hanging low in shame. Yeri didn't spare them a glance at all as they watched Jungkook with the girl on his back eyeing them with a menacing blank stare.
"Yeri-ah!" Mingyu ran over to the two to check the situation. Noticing the injuries, he didn't waste any words and immediately ran straight to another facilitator requesting for first aid.
"Took you a little longer than expected, Jungkookie." Minghao smirked at the boy as Enwoo & Seokmin prepared a chair and assisted the girl to sit. It was embarrassing to get so much attention just from a couple of minor wounds, thought the girl but it seems like she was the only one taking everything lightly now that she's within the base camp. Everyone looked so serious and she didn't know what to do.
"Yeri-ah ~" Bambam cooed and pouted. "You must've been scared being alone there for a long time." He pat her head endearingly.
"I'm alright. I'm just glad someone remembered to look for me." She chuckled shyly.
"What do you mean? Of course we were looking for you! You got us worried!" Yugyeom interjected. "We knew something was suspicious, which was why we were more worried about you.".
Hearing those words made her feel like she could cry again, but she suppressed it. Yeri let out a small thank you, as she tried to avoid breaking down like a child in front of many like how she just did with only Jungkook. One embarrassment is enough, she thought to herself.
"I'll go get your coat." Jungkook rested his hand on top of her head before turning to leave but was stopped when he felt a tug on his shirt. He turned but Yeri was looking down, he hand grpped the hem of his shirt, indicating what she wanted to say.
Jeonghan smiled at the side. He patted Jungkook's shoulder. "You stay here, I'll go get her coat." Jungkook nodded as thanks.
Yeri then got her first aid treatment and afterwards, was asked if she wanted to have a word with the girls but she refused. She didn't know what she should do or say to them. She only felt stupid for thinking that they actually wanted to be her friend.
"Are you sure? We can have this escalated to the office if you would like, Yeri-ssi." Professor Taeyeon, a pretty faculty staff and facilitor spoke gently to the girl.
But Jungkook stepped in between them, shielding Yeri. "Please just tell them that they should never dare speak or get close to her ever again. Not even to apologise because she doesn't need it. We'll just pretend they don't exist and this never happened at all." As much as he wanted them to pay for what they did, Yeri wouldn't have wanted that so he just said what he knew she would've preferred.
"Aww..." Minghao groaned playfully. "But that would be boring." Everyone turned to him.
He smirked evilly, and turned to the girls. His voice loud enough for them to hear. "They should at least fo some reflection at the very least. You know... Like cleaning the school's rest room or the gym. Something like humanity work so they can work on their humility. Don't you agree?"
All of the boys shrugged. "Seems fair." They all agreed and watched the girls with wide eyes, in horror.
And that is how their Foundation Day camp ended.
•••
Meanwhile, back at home;
"So, you really thought you can hide what happened from us with that very obvious injuries you have?" Irene glowered with her arms crossed.
Grumbling to herself, she still ended up telling them the entire story. So much for hiding everything from her eonnies.
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Everything was back to normal. Normal school days, normal classes, normal schedules and normal group of friends. Everything went back to the way it was before it got busy for the camp. Everything except for one. And Seulgi couldn't help but notice the overwhelming change.
It was the most obvious during their art class when her seatmate was her old seatmate, Kei. Kei, who also noticed the change sat there stiffly in between Seulgi who was looking at the boy on her right who on the other hand had his eyes locked in front of the white board. It was the most awkward class of her entire life and she felt suffocated.
What the hell happened? Last time I saw these two, they were both holding hands in that damned clearing as if they were the most perfect couple... And that was just yesterday!
Kei, blabbered on and on through her internal monologue as if she would get answers.
The moment the bell rang, it was as if she was robbed off of oxygen and finally she could breathe again as she let out a huge sigh. Kei stayed in her seat as she watched Jimin stood up not even giving the girl on her left a single glance and left the class.
"Uhm..." Kei awkwardly started as she slowly turned to Seulgi who stayed seated, eyes fixed on the back of the boy's head. "So... You and Jimin."
At the mention of his name, Seulgi turned to Kei. "You two fought or something?"
Seulgi blinked to herself. "Us? Fought?" She wondered out loud, as if she was as confused as Kei.
"I don't know, it kind of looked like he was ignoring you." It didn't just look like it, he actually was but let's not say it that way of course. Kei thought to herself but suddenly she panicked as she looked at Seulgi who had reacted at the word she had just dropped.
"Jimin... was ignoring me?" Seulgi asked, slowly letting the words leave her lips.
Oh, shit.
"Oh no! I must be wrong, I mean- how could he right? I must've been mistaken! Stupid me. HA HA HA" Yup- I'm screwed. Kei feared she was gonna make this pretty girl cry and everyone would kill her right there and then.
"No..." Seulgi muttered under her breathe. "I think he was but..." Abruptly pushing back the chair, Seulgi stood up, determined. "I have to talk to him."
"Y-yeah! You go girl." Kei exclaimed, awkwardly doing a fighting pose until the girl was out of sight. "Stupid Kei." She muttered, dissing herself.
•••
Seulgi looked for a chance to speak to Jimin but everytime she tried, he was always either occupied with tasks, with someone other than Taehyung, and most of the time he just wasn't there aside from during classes.
Seulgi tried to send him messages through paper during class and she'd watch him contemplate, scribble a response, pause and then end up not replying at all.
She also tried to send him text messages and he would reply in a heartbeat but she couldn't bring herself to ask him about it in that way. Seulgi thought it would be better if she could ask him in person. She didn't want to misunderstand, he could be genuinely busy for all she knows.
This went on for days, and from days to weeks. Everyone had already noticed the big change between the two but what was the most striking was how drained the two of them looked like. As if life was sucked out from the two of them and neither of the two noticed at all. Everyone knew they were deprived of each other but just couldn't understand why they won't just stick together like they used to.
They never failed to send messages to each other, Seulgi made sure of that. The only thread that kept them connected. But it had been a while, no, it had been so long since the last time she saw his smile and that in itself pained her. All she could do was stare at the picture of them both that she had on her phone all night until she ended up sleeping.
Seulgi and Jimin texted so much that their contact names constantly changed until it was what it is now;
Jiminie ❤️
Good morning ! xx
I hope you slept well.
My Lady 💛
Good morning ~ It took me a long time to sleep, but I slept well. : )
Jiminie ❤️
That's good. I'll be off somewhere with Jungkookie today, I think we'll be home by evening. 🤔 Hope you have a happy weekend. 💕
My Lady 💛
Take care both of you. 🥰
And they'd text for the entire day if they could but once they're in the same vicinity, it's as if they never spoke at all and this left the girl conflicted. She would watch from afar as Jimin would converse with his friend, his hyungs, her eonnies, and even Wendy and it felt like forever since their eyes met.
Wendy and Krystal who would normally all over Seulgi and Jimin had left the two deal with this on their own. To them, it felt like something that shouldn't be meddled with so although it pained them to watch from the sidelines, they didn't have any choice.
"She has to grow from this." Krystal muttered, her arms crossed across her chest as she turned from Seulgi to Jimin.
"I know..." Wendy replied dejectedly.
Another week has passed and one day, watching Jimin leave the classroom, Seulgi was surprised when she felt a presence right in front of her desk. "What the hell are you two doing?"
"I'm... not sure what you mean..." Seulgi's voice trailed, uncertain. This made Eunha boil in anger.
"I can't believe I got rejected because of someone as coward as you!" Eunha exclaimed at her face and this sent a pang at Seulgi's heart.
"Yah!" Wendy warned. "Watch what you say!" But Eunha ignored her.
"You'll regret it when you see him get stolen by someone else. It might not be by me but someone will and I swear, you'll regret it." She hissed and turned to Wendy and Krystal.
"You keep on babying her like this, and you'll regret it too!" She was about to leave, finally giving a piece of her mind to the girls but paused and added more. "You don't wanna wait around for him to get stolen from you, I'm telling you this." Flipping her hair, she left the room leaving everyone in shock.
Stolen... by someone else...
Seulgi looked down at her desk. Eunha's words kept ringing in her ears. She imagined Jimin standing beside someone else, staring down at her, holding her hand and flashing that beautiful contagious eye smile. Seulgi felt like choking from the pain in her chest.
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That night, with her door locked, lights closed, only the light from her phone shone. She stared at her messages with Jimin. Unconsciously, she typed out the words she's been desperately wishing for.
'I want to hear your voice.'
And not even a second passed, her phone rang.
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Hello beautiful humans! I'm sorry for the lack of update for two weekends straight! I just had to catch some sleep from work.
So here it is! Finally, an update. I swear, I'm enjoying writing again so don't worry. I'll be sticking around to finally finish this.
Also, I'm trying to figure out this text thingy. I think I want to try out a text generator? But most of them are kinda shitty so if anyone knows a good one, please do suggest the website to me. Preferably in iPhone format. Thank you!
Anywayy, enjoy this chapter! This author's note is rushed coz my best friend is gonna get a tattoo tonight.
Also- I would very much appreciate it if you leave lots of love for this chapter. Thank you very much! Always stay safe.
Alice 💛