"Jisoo-ya!" Taehyung grabbed hold of Jisoo's wrist. "Where are you going?"
Jisoo turned around. Her eyes were red from all the crying. "I'm sick of staying under the same roof as them, I just- I just need a break."
"You're... leaving home?" Taehyung gasped, scanning Jisoo from head to toe. "In a blouse, a pair of jeans and... your phone? You can't be serious."
"I am," Jisoo bit her lower lip. "Even staying on the streets would be better than living in that hellhole."
Taehyung frowned, trying to reason with Jisoo logically. "Look- you're just upset now. But if you think about it, maybe your parents just don't understand that showering you with money and gifts is not love? Maybe they grew up that way too and-"
"I don't think they'll ever understand," Jisoo shook her head sadly. "They're... simply the worst."
"Come on, don't say that," Taehyung frowned. "Give them a chance to change. Besides, you've never actually told them your true feelings, have you?"
"I di-" Jisoo paused. "Okay, fine. That's true."
"Exactly," Taehyung smiled. "I'm sure they'll take what you said into consideration and perhaps try to understand you more after hearing all that you said today. So perhaps... we should take you home right now? I'm sure your parents will worry if you're gone for too long."
Jisoo scoffed. "I don't think they'll ever understand, Taehyung. They never listened to me since I was young, so at some point, I simply gave up. But just now I was so upset, I just couldn't control myself."
"I was surprised, to be honest," Taehyung chuckled softly. "I've never seen you that mad."
Jisoo smiled slightly. "I must have given you a shock, didn't I?"
"So..." Taehyung tried his luck once more. "Not going home today?"
"No," Jisoo shook her head firmly. "At least not today. Tomorrow... well, I'll think about it."
"Where are you gonna stay then?" Taehyung raised his eyebrows. "Have you ever thought about that?"
"I have my e-credit card," Jisoo mumbled to herself. "If my dad doesn't terminate my account, I should be able to get a room at a hotel-"
"Hotel-?" Taehyung shook his head. "Did you know hotels are one of the most dangerous places to stay at alone?"
Jisoo was startled. "Really?"
"Yeah," Taehyung's eyes widened, nodding his head dramatically. "Really."
"It's just one night," Jisoo shrugged. "Nothing bad will happen."
"You're not staying at a hotel," Taehyung insisted. "I'm not gonna let you."
"Pfft," Jisoo laughed. "Why would you care?"
"Well," Taehyung frowned. "Because you're my friend? I can't just let a girl stay in a hotel on her own like that."
Jisoo smiled to herself. Knowing that someone had her back sure felt good. "Then what do you suggest?"
"I suggest," Taehyung scratched his chin. "You really should just go back and try talking it ou-"
"Taehyung!" Jisoo frowned. "I told you I'm not doing that. I'm really upset right now, if I go back I really have no idea what I might end up doing. Please, I really need some time to cool down."
"Then promise you'll go back once you've cooled down?" Taehyung stuck out his little pinky.
"I promise, I promise," Jisoo rolled her eyes, but interlocked her little pinky with Taehyung's anyway. "But if hotel is out of the picture... then... then..."
"Well," Taehyung bit his lower lip. "I've got a place in mind, if you don't mind-"
"Please don't say it's your place," Jisoo interrupted.
"That's a given," Taehyung knew Jisoo and Seokjin were cool, but that was still... honestly, kinda weird. Taehyung grinned. "Don't worry, it's somewhere else. It's a good place."
"A good place? What is that even supposed to mean?" Jisoo frowned. "It better not be someone like Park Chaeyoung or Kim Yongsun. I swear I heard rumours about them and-"
"No, what?" Taehyung laughed. "That sure was random. I'm not even close to them, plus, those rumours you heard were true. I heard from my bro that those two girls talked down on Byul-" Taehyung stopped midway, glancing at Jisoo to make sure she was alright. "Anyway, they were talking down on someone, so yeah, I don't mess with them."
"Why did you stop halfway?" Jisoo asked.
"Stop halfway?" Taehyung tried to act blur. "Stop halfway where?"
"Byulyi," Jisoo said, her facial expressions unchanging. "Moon Byulyi, you were gonna say her name, weren't you?"
"No-" Taehyung paused. "I mean, yeah, but-"
"Just say it then," Jisoo nodded. "Why did you hesitate?"
"I just-" Taehyung shrugged. "I just thought you might not want to hear her name, you know, after everything that happened..."
Jisoo pursed her lips as she nodded slowly, as a nervous Taehyung watched her carefully.
"It's fine," Jisoo finally said. "You can say it."
Taehyung raised his eyebrows. "You're okay?"
"Hm," Jisoo thought for a while. "You see, I always found Byulyi a nice person. I always wanted to get close to her somehow. It's just that, you know, things got into the way."
"Things meaning... my brother?"
Jisoo ignored his question. "I don't really have any hard feelings against Byulyi or anything. I mean, it's awkward how we got pulled into the same mess but... if I ever had the chance in the future, I'd love to be friends with her."
"Hm."
"Neither do I have any hard feelings against Seokjin, for that matter," Jisoo continued. "Sure, I was upset with Seokjin for agreeing to date me so carelessly and continuing to date me when he found out his own feelings but... to be really honest, I feel like I could have been upset too if he had been honest with me from the beginning. I had my fair share of bad deeds too... so I guess we're even. And... I don't hate him at all for not returning my feelings, love cannot be forced."
"Jisoo, I've never said this..." Taehyung commented, after listening quietly for five minutes. "But that's pretty cool of you."
"What?" Jisoo laughed. "I am?"
"The fact that you're able to see everything in this way..." Taehyung nodded. "I mean, it sure takes a lot of courage. I'm just... really happy for you."
"You played a part in this, Taehyung," Jisoo smiled. "I have you to thank."
"Me, huh," Taehyung grinned. "I'm happy to have been of help. Since that's the case, let me help you one more time. Trust me, I have a plan."
~~~
It was getting late in the day, yet Jieun still hadn't replied any of Jungkook's messages or calls the entire day. Well, it could jolly well have been that Jieun's phone had spoilt or she was busy, but Jungkook was getting worried.
So he decided to go look for her.
He knocked on the door later that evening, looking for Jieun. He knocked three times, before Jieun's mom finally answered the door.
"Oh my, aren't you Jungkook?" Mrs Lee gasped at the sight of one of the two guys she was eyeing as her her son-in-law. But she soon smiled warmly. "What are you doing here at this hour?"
"Mrs Lee," Jungkook smiled slightly, trying to catch his breath from running all the way to Jieun's house from the bus stop. "I'm looking for Jieun. Is she in?"
"Well, yeah, she is."
Jungkook heaved a sigh of relief. At least she was safe and sound.
"Well... then could I meet her?" Jungkook asked.
"Um... well..." Mrs Lee pursed her lips. "I mean... you could but..."
"But?"
"She went out this morning to run some errands," Mrs Lee frowned. "But then she came home and never left her room for the rest of the day."
"She never left her room?" Jungkook raised his eyebrows, looking slightly alarmed. "Is she okay?"
"She is," Mrs Lee scratched her chin. "Maybe just a bit sad."
"Sad?" Jungkook furrowed his eyebrows. "Sad about what?"
"I'm afraid I can't say anymore, dear," Mrs Lee looked over her shoulder, before turning back to Jungkook. "I'm afraid Jieun wouldn't like me spilling her secrets without her consent. I'm really sorry."
"No, no, no," Jungkook shook his head, waving his hands in front of him politely. "Not at all, Mrs Lee. I understand."
"Perhaps you could drop her a text and ask her?" Mrs Lee suggested. "You mean a lot to her. I'm sure she'll tell you."
You mean a lot to her.
"I'm afraid that's not possible, Mrs Lee," Jungkook frowned. "I texted her since morning and she hasn't replied till now. That's why I had to come check if she's okay."
Mrs Lee raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Oh, wow- you must really care about her a lot. Well, Jungkook, would you like to come in and wait? Perhaps she'll wake up from her nap soon, then you guys can talk."
Jungkook was just waiting for her offer. He grinned from ear to ear. "That'd be great, Mrs Lee. Thank you so much."
~~~
"Here's the place?" Jisoo gasped, scanning the building in front of her from up to down. It was a pretty old apartment building - a huge contrast from Jisoo's mansion home. "The place- the place I'll be staying at?"
"Mmhmm," Taehyung nodded. "Why - is it too shabby for you?"
"Hm-" Jisoo pursed her lips. "I mean, well, it sure is different from what I expected, but- but- I guess I'd get used to it."
"It's just for one night, too," Taehyung turned to look at Jisoo. "Right?"
"That I don't know," Jisoo frowned. "But I promise I'd go back once I got it settled out."
"That's good to hear," Taehyung smiled. "Let's go."
Taehyung led Jisoo up a series of stairs before arriving in front of a unit on the sixth floor.
"Those shoes look kinda familiar," Jisoo narrowed her eyes, looking at the plain white pair of sneakers on the shoerack by the door. "Is she someone we know?"
"You'll see," Taehyung grinned as he knocked on the door. "You'll see."
"I'm coming!" A familiar voice came from inside the apartment.
It was a voice so familiar that Jisoo recognised it almost immediately, her eyes widening as she did so. "No way, Kim Taehyung- you didn't-"
And the door opened.
"Oh, Byulyi-ah!" Taehyung grinned.
~~~
"Please, make yourself comfortable," Mrs Lee handed Jungkook a warm cup of tea, after telling him to sit down on the sofa.
"Thank you, auntie."
Jungkook looked around the house. The last time he'd been here had been a whole month ago. Since then, nothing had changed much. It was still as homely, as warm, as comfy as he'd remembered.
Plus, this time he was here alone, without Taehyung. He almost let out a chuckle as he recalled how messy the previous time was, when he was fighting with Taehyung for Jieun's attention. Now that Jieun had confessed she liked him and not Taehyung, his heart was finally at ease.
"Jungkook, was it?"
Jungkook looked up at the mention of his name. It was Jieun's father, finally looking up from his newspaper, looking directly at him.
Jungkook smiled. "Yes, uncle. I'm Jungkook, we met before."
"Of course I remember you," Mr Lee smiled. "It's hard to forget someone with a face like yours."
"Oh-" Jungkook laughed embarrassedly. "Wow, I take that as a compliment, sir. Thank you."
"Mm," Mr Lee nodded in approval. "So... how are things going?"
"Things?" Jungkook put down his cup of tea temporarily. "Well, school just ended for us, so we have about a month worth of holidays before we start school next year. During the break, I was thinking of-"
"I wasn't asking about that," Mr Lee continued. "I was asking about things between you and my daughter."