☁︎
Namjoon
My mother didn't notice the bruise on my jaw. And by the time I'd arrived home, I hadn't really expected her to. It was probably for the best anyway, otherwise, I surely would've ended up in some sort of trouble. But I couldn't help but heave a long, overdue sigh as I slipped through the house, unnoticed.
I tried to remind myself that I was lucky, lucky that I'd been able to convince Principal Choi not to call my parents. Now all I needed to do was waste good studying time to help out at school. At least I could be out of the house for a bit.
When I reached my bedroom, I closed the door completely shut and couldn't help but collapse onto my bed. Anna's words prickled uncomfortably through my head, reminding me of how much she knew that I didn't want her to know.
"Is he going to tell your parents?"
But then I realized that, for the first time ever, someone had seemed to genuinely share in my discomfort of disapproval from parents. Mine specifically. Feeling a bit regretful about the way I'd left her and Hoseok, I sat up and reached for my bag, pulling out my cellphone.
"He isn't going to tell my parents," I texted her.
Then, with a few moments of hesitation, my thumb twitched and I inadvertently sent it. A bit of nervousness seeped through my stomach as I put the phone down, wondering whether she was annoyed with me. But then, Anna had seemed actually worried about me after the fight.
I froze suddenly. Anna had been there. At the fight.
Did that mean she'd heard what I'd said?
"You can't keep me from Anna. No one can..."
What if she took it the wrong way? How was I supposed to tell her I'd said that to aggravate my attacker? I gulped, wondering if perhaps I was overthinking it. I prayed I was overreacting. Maybe she would forget it.
My phone buzzed at that moment, causing me to jump. I looked at the device with a sinking stomach. Surely she wouldn't say anything about it. Right? Swallowing hard, I leaned over to grab the phone.
"Good," she replied.
I blinked at the curt message. Then sighed in relief. Anna was still her usual self.
☁︎
I awoke earlier than usual that Saturday morning, feeling regretful at how quickly the week had passed. Sometimes I wished there were no such thing as weekends. Multiple days where one was forced to stay home. But I shook my head, pulling back the covers. Today was different however. Today I would be unwillingly spending time with the student who'd been causing the worst of the recent, unwanted excitement in my life.
I pulled on a sweater and jeans, wondering how long this service activity would be taking. I also wondered whether Seokjin would even be showing up. I half-hoped he wouldn't be.
It was quiet as I begrudgingly made my way downstairs. If I left now, I'd be over an hour early, but I planned on that. I had to be out of the house within fifteen minutes, so that I could leave without much question. My mother wouldn't ask where I'd been until I returned, so that would give me a lot of time to think up an excuse. My stomach growled a little, but I ignored it, adjusting my backpack and grabbing my car keys. I had to leave now.
☁︎
"Oh," I said quietly, staring at the familiar face in front of me.
Anna blinked back at me, the same look of mild surprise on her face. We stared at each other for a moment, before Anna looked away first. She cleared her throat, almost awkwardly.
"Okay, class president, what can I get for you?" She asked.
I'd ended up at a small cafe near the school, after driving around aimlessly for about twenty minutes. My stomach had ached, and I knew it was best to not attempt to go through the day without at least a small bite. So here I was, at this small coffee shop I'd never been to before. And Geum Shin Anna, of all people, was working the cash register.
"Uh, I suppose I'll have a muffin," I said, asking for the first thing my eyes landed on.
"What about a drink?" She asked.
"What do you usually get?" I asked hesitantly.
Truthfully, I hardly ever went out for coffee. Or for any kind of drinks really.
"Americano," Anna replied, watching me with those careful eyes.
"I'll have that," I said.
Anna shook her head and plugged in my order. After I payed, I couldn't help but stand there and watch her pathetically, a bit unsure of what to do next. Anna began to wipe the counter before noticing me still waiting there on the other side.
"Do you need something else, Namjoon?"
"Well, where exactly should I sit?" I murmured.
Anna gave me a dubious look before motioning aimlessly around the shop.
"Anywhere, Namjoon. It's self seating," she said, almost amusedly.
I gave her a sheepish look and muttered a quick thank you.
"Sometimes I wonder just how intelligent you really are," she called lightly as I hurried to an empty table.
I shook my head and slid into the seat, looking around the cafe with mild interest. Another familiar face caught my eyes. I blinked in surprise. Park Jimin was practically storming over to me with a scowl.
"Kim Namjoon, what a surprise. You have some explaining to do," he said as soon as he reached my table.
"Uh, excuse me?" I replied, watching him carefully.
"Uh, what do you mean 'excuse me'? Do you forget abandoning me and everyone else at Ignis?!" He snapped, crossing his arms.
I watched as Anna came up behind him, looking slightly ticked off.
"Don't you have anything to say, ditcher?!" He exclaimed. "Or are you just gonna stare off into space?"
"Jimin, behind--" I began.
But before he could comprehend the beginning of my response, Anna had whacked him over the head.
"Ah!" He yelped, grabbing the back of his head.
"Yah, you little punk, shouldn't you be mopping?" She asked him, a warning tone in her voice.
"A-Anna, Noon-im, oh, hello! I didn't even know you'd arrived to work yet," Jimin said nervously.
"We walked in together, you runt, now get back to work before I tell Nana."
"Aish, fine! But I can't believe you're defending him, the traitor!" Jimin said, ducking his head quickly.
I looked down at the table, feeling ashamed. It was true that I'd yet to apologize to anyone about that night. But I didn't want to even think about it. And having to go and say sorry to everyone who'd been there wouldn't help me forget it.
"Get over yourself, Jimin. It's not like you died," Anna said coldly. "Namjoon had his reasons. Right, Namjoon?"
I blinked and looked up at her, surprised she was defending me. I hadn't even given her an explanation yet.
"Y-yeah. I was planning on apologizing, but I don't even have your numbers," I replied quickly.
"Psh," Jimin replied. "Whatever. You...you just better not do it again. If Anna didn't have a crush on you, you'd be out of this store before you even stepped inside!"
With that, he ducked his head again and scurried away.
"Y-yah!" Anna exclaimed, storming after him, angrier than I'd ever seen her before.
And I was left, sitting at that table, my face slowly turning a bright red. Because I wondered whether or not I'd really just been trying to egg on Seokjin when I'd said no one could keep from Geum Shin Anna.