"HOLY CRAP, IS ANYONE FOLLOWING US?"
"I DON'T KNOW, JIMIN. I DON'T DARE TO LOOK."
"FORGET IT, MY LUNGS ARE GOING TO BURST."
Jimin and Yoojung finally came to a stop, after running a kilometre from the café. They were panting and panting, after running for so long.
"I'm so unfit!" Yoojung exclaimed.
"Me too, I thought I was gonna die running just now." Jimin laughed.
The two of them looked up and their eyes met. They traced their hands down, only to realise that they were still holding each other's hands. They let go and turned away immediately.
"What was Jennie doing inside there earlier?" Yoojung exclaimed. "I was so shocked to see her!"
"I know right," Jimin took a seat on a wooden bench, still panting hard. "But she saved our lives! We could have gotten into a stampede there, earlier."
"But, still." Yoojung sighed, taking a seat next to Jimin on the bench. "She ruined my plan."
"What was your plan?" Jimin glanced over at Yoojung.
"To wreck havoc in there!" Yoojung exclaimed.
"How exactly?"
Yoojung thought hard. "To be honest, I don't know."
Both of them burst into laughter. Their eyes met again and they stopped laughing at once.
"It was fun," Jimin exclaimed. "The thrill of possibly getting noticed and also, running away, with you."
Yoojung laughed. "I agree, especially the running away part."
There was silence for a while.
"Should we just run away together?" Jimin asked with a straight face.
Yoojung turned and their eyes met for the third time. This time, she didn't turn away. No matter how absurd it seemed, she seemed to be considering Jimin's suggestion for real. They sat there for a while, under the blazing hot sun, staring at each other.
But the Yoojung laughed, and changed the subject. Jimin laughed as well, pretending that it was all a joke, but in that moment, he seemed dead serious.
"You know what? I gotta admit, it hurts my prode." Yoojung sighed. "The fact that Jennie had a plan, and I didn't. Jieun's my best friend, not hers."
"That's the thing sometimes," Jimin got serious all of sudden. "That nasty little thing called pride. Our pride can make us not able to do certain things at times. Like apologise, like say thank you, like... putting the past aside. It can even make us say real hurtful things."
Yoojung knew very well that Jimin was talking about people in general, but for some reason, she felt like he was talking about himself. She decided to change the topic again.
"What were you doing there, anyway?" Yoojung asked. "I thought Taehyung was gonna invite you to his party."
"Well, he did." Jimin said. "But I thought that you know, I haven't been really close to Jieun at all. She's close to all of you, but me? Not really. I thought I should make the effort. She's someone you picked and really like, after all."
Why did that make her heart flutter?
"Really," Yoojung pursed her lips. "So... you wanted to get closer to her, huh."
Jimin nodded. "And you too, Yoojung," he added softly.
Yoojung couldn't stop herself from smiling. This few weeks of torture they had put themselves through... just because of confessions, rejections, one-sided feelings, confusion, sadness... All these emotions... were what made them human. This was all part of their youth. Why couldn't they just put it aside at the moment and enjoy each other's company? Let everything go and see where the future took them? Why did they have to be so careful and awkward around each other?
Just like running down the street earlier... the time could be better spent on making beautiful memories with each other, whether as lovers or simply, as friends. Why worry about what the future holds?
"Why are you smiling?" Jimin asked, grinning at Yoojung.
"I'm smiling because I am so happy right now," Yoojung said, grinning from ear to ear.
"You should smile more often," Jimin said, pushing Yoojung slightly, causing her to topple. "Oh, sorry!"
"Ya! If sorry can cure anything, what are the police for?" Yoojung laughed, punching Jimin in the arm. "I'm sorry!"
"Ya!" Jimin laughed along, messing up Yoojung's hair. "Hey, you actually look better like that. Oh- and I'm sorry!" Jimin got up and ran.
And that is how, Jimin and Yoojung started acting normally around each other again. Not as lovers, but as friends. But nevertheless, that was a step towards whatever they would become in the future.
"YA! PARK JI MIN! GET BACK HERE!"
~
"Who are you?"
Back in the cafe, everything was still in a mess. The leader of the anti fanclub was standing up for the 36, minus 2, minus 2... 32 anti-fans.
Jennie laughed. "Who am I? I don't want want to shock you all with my name but I, and my boyfriend over here, are the missing two in your list."
"I know her!" Someone shouted. "She's that girl from F4's class! Jen... Genevieve or something? Gerry Kim?"
"What?!" Jennie frowned. "It's Jennie Kim, you fools! Get that right, because you'll be hearing from me more often from now. Kai?"
The man who was sitting opposite her earlier stood up and handed her a clipboard.
"Thanks, baby," Jennie smiled sweetly at her boyfriend, before turnjng back to the anti-fans and a nasty expression on her face. "You guys all better write down your names here, I'm gonna report you to the authorities!"
"Why should we? It's not like your bodyguards are gonna beat us up or something."
Jennie laughed. "Oh, you poor things. Sure, they can't beat you up but as long as they're there, you can't escape. By the way, do you think I can't get your names if you don't give them to me? I'm Jennie Kim, I can get your names as long as I want to... I'm just being nice here, girls. And if you guys aren't the ones giving me your names, when I get them..." Jennie chuckled. "I'm gonna sue all of you!"
"What?!"
"She sounds crazy."
"Who does she think she is?"
"Didn't she have some beef with Yoojung a while ago, why is she so friendly with them now?"
"She thinks she can sue us, LOL."
Jennie scoffed. "It seems like a lot of you here aren't aware, so I'll educate you guys a bit. I was on bad terms with Yoojung a few months ago. But I realised what a cutie and wonderful person she is, so we're besties now, okay?! And if Jieun is Yoojung's friend, then Jieun is my friend! Shouldn't that be the way? If Jieun is Yoojung's friend, and you guys are Yoojung's fans, shouldn't you support Jieun as well! Terrible! You should feel ashamed." Jennie cleared her throat and took a sip of water. "Anyway, those people saying that you don't think I can sue you, you are so thoughtless!" Jennie laughed. "Do you know who my dad is? Johnny Kim! The best lawyer in all of South Korea, you get it? He'll never lose a case. Do you guys really wanna go to court?"
A long line started to form in front of Jennie, everyone writing down their names on the piece of paper.
"My dad knows the cafe owner here, so I can get the CCTV footage anytime I want," Jennie announced. "If I find out that any one of you lied about your identity, you're all going to court, you hear me?"
"Yes." A resonant agreement.
"I can't here you!" Jennie teased.
"Yes!" They all sounded so scared.
"Okay, get out now." Jennie waved her hand and the bodyguards moved aside at once. She sat back down at her table, taking a sip of her iced coffee. "Ew! It's diluted now." She smiled sweetly at Kai, her boyfriend. "I did great, didn't I?"
Kai nodded, bopping her in the nose.
"Jennie?" A guy fully dressed in black approached them. He was covered from head-to-toe, so Jennie couldn't see his face.
"Sorry, do I know you?" Jennie asked, squinting and tilting her head, trying to get a glimpse of the guy's face.
The guy hesitated, then shook his head.
"Then... how may I help you?"
"I just wanted to say... I wanted to say that... what you did just now was really cool. And both of you look great together." The guy gestured towards Kai. "Your boyfriend, right?"
Jennie smiled. "Thank you, you're so sweet. By the way, why are you dressed like that on such a hot day?"
The guy didn't answer, he left the cafe at once.
"Must be a fan of yours," Kai commented.
"Probably," Jennie said, deep in thought. "He felt oddly familiar, though."
"He said he didn't know you, though."
Jennie shrugged. "I guess I'm mistaken."
Outside the restaurant, Taehyung took off his mask, sunglasses and cap, sweating buckets everywhere. There were tears in his eyes, but they didn't fall.
"Thank you, Jennie. And goodbye, for real."