"Wait... what do you mean?"
Jungkook turned himself to face Jieun, who sat on the swing, staring down at her feet. Just seconds ago, she had said the most ridiculous words Jungkook had ever heard in his life.
"What do you mean we can't even be friends anymore-" Jungkook grabbed Jieun's arm, staring at her with his confused eyes. But she wasn't looking back. "Jieun, listen-"
"What was it you wanted to tell me?" Jieun said almost emotionlessly as she got to her feet. She didn't even turn around to look at Jungkook, whose grip was still firmly secured on her arm. "You said you had something to say too."
"I did-" Jungkook rose, begging for Jieun to turn around and just look at him once. He had something to say, he had so much to say to her just a few minutes ago - that was precisely what brought him here. He wanted to clarify so much things, hear everything from Jieun, but then she decided to drop this bombshell on him? Jungkook couldn't think straight.
"Then say it quickly," Jieun glanced at her watch. "I don't have much time to spare."
Jieun was cold. Completely, undeniably cold. And Jungkook couldn't understand it one single bit. Just a week ago, he'd confessed to her- and she'd said she had feelings for him too. But what made her change overnight? It was as if she had become a whole different person. She was avoiding him, completely ignoring his calls and finally, after a week, after finally agreeing to his request to meet up, she says she no longer wants to be friends?
"Why, Jieun?" Jungkook could feel tears welling up in his eyes. He was one who barely- almost, never- cried. But he was so overwhelmed with emotion, with confusion and at a complete lost of what to do he just couldn't even control himself. The tears welled up in his eyes and Jungkook willed them, with all his might, to go away, but they didn't. His voice broke as he continued. "Why are you like this? You can't just drop something like this on me and leave."
"But I've finished what I wanted to say. And if you don't have anything to say to me, I'll take my leave."
Jieun was distancing herself yet again. And Jungkook could feel it. She tried to walk away, but Jungkook only tightened his grip around her arm, though making sure not to hurt her. Tears were falling down the sides of his cheeks like a waterfall but Jungkook didn't care.
"No, Jieun. I refuse to accept this-" Jungkook shook his head in denial. "Listen to me, if this is about-"
"Okay, fine- If you really want an answer, I'll give it to you." Jungkook saw Jieun's jaw clench. "I don't like you in that way and lately... you've been kind of getting on my nerves."
Silence.
Jungkook felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. He thought he had an idea of why Jieun had been hiding from him all this while. After he'd seen the photo album- But never did he expect this answer from her.
Was she playing with his feelings all this while?
But no, this wasn't it. This couldn't be it. Jungkook could feel it in his stomach. There was definitely something more. Jungkook swallowed hard, pursing his lips so his salty tears fell to the floor instead of into his mouth.
"Then... why can't you look at me?"
~
"Just exactly how amazing is this place you speak of?"
"You'll see," Taehyung grinned, as he opened the door to the rooftop and pulled Jisoo in right behind him.
The two of them stepped into an open space - a rooftop of a building near to Jisoo's house - a place Jisoo never knew about, but here she was. The whole journey there, Taehyung had been telling her about what a wonderful place it was, with an amazing view of the sun setting over the Seoul skyline.
He was smiling and talking non-stop so excitedly, Jisoo couldn't help but notice the little things he did when he was happy - the little nose scrunch, the wide-eyed side glance he gave her as he raised his eyebrows and the endearing boxy smile that spread across his face. Jisoo listened in silence, paying close attention to all the stories he shared about this secret little hideout of his that no one knew about.
According to him, he had spent a great part of his childhood there, when he needed a break from people, so he'd kept a lot of his belongings there as well. No one used that spot, so the security guard left him to his own devices. He claimed he'd practically lived there and now that Jisoo was there to see for herself, she saw that it was true.
It was a cozy little hideout, for sure, first of all - Taehyung didn't lie when he said he practically lived there - there were pots and ramen and books and pillows and a heater and a whole sofa and more under the sheltered area. He also didn't exaggerate what a great view it had - it was... epic.
Jisoo let out a little squeal as she ran over to the railing, gazing into the golden yellow sunset. "Oh my god."
Taehyung let out a boxy grin as he sauntered over, leaning back on the railing next to Jisoo and wriggling his eyebrows. "Not bad, huh."
"And you've never shared this place with anyone?" Jisoo asked in disbelief. "No one at all?"
"Nope," Taehyung grinned, turning around to admire the sunset as well. "Not even Seokjin. You're the first."
"Why me, then?"
Exactly - why her?
It hit Taehyung how he couldn't even answer that question. It felt so natural, to bring her here, for her to relax before going home and settling things with her parents later, but it just occured to him that never did he ever tell anyone about this place.
Once, he'd fell asleep up here and Seokjin realised he didn't come home that night. He'd threatened to tell their parents if Taehyung didn't come clean with him where he was, so Taehyung had no choice but to tell him the truth. But no matter how much Seokjin had pestered him from that day onwards to bring him here, he'd refused.
Why her?
"Why you, huh," Taehyung laughed, trying his best to play it down. "Well, first of all, it's not like it's that big of a secret. I just wanted to let you loosen up before going back home."
"Ah," Jisoo bought his explanation, distracted by the beautiful sunset once more. "It definitely seems like good place to loosen up."
"It sure is," Taehyung pursed his lips, staring out into the now bright orange sky. "You know, whenever I'm sad or angry or I just need time to myself, I just come here and shout my worries into the sunset."
"You what?" Jisoo spluttered, wondering if she'd heard him correctly. "You shout your worries into the sunset?"
"I know it sounds lame, haha," Taehyung snorted. "But it works. For me, I seldom show my feelings in front of others but here, no one can hear me, so I let it all out. And I feel much better."
"I noticed that too..." Jisoo frowned. "But I don't understand. Why can't you show your feelings to others? You listen so much to others - why can't you let us do the same for you?"
"I guess... I'm just afraid," Taehyung let out a breathy laugh. "I like helping others - that's why I listen to others' problems. But for me, I don't like being open with my feelings, I feel vulnerable doing that, I guess."
"But at least you're sharing your feelings about sharing your feelings with me right now," Jisoo laughed. "That's an improvement, I guess?"
"I guess you could say that," Taehyung twisted the small corner of his t-shirt around his finger. He wasn't used to sharing his feelings with others in the past but lately, he had. He began opening up to Seokjin, Byulyi, Jieun and now, Jisoo - and he completely knew why.
He was so lost in his thoughts he didn't even notice Jisoo staring at him. It was only when she spoke that he snapped back to reality.
"Maybe it's because of Jieun."
~
"Your name's Choi Yoojung, was it?"
Yoojung was too stunned to respond. She'd expected a tongue-lashing, or some shouting and screaming, but instead Jimin's grandma had patted her on the shoulder and was now smiling at her? What was with this old lady? Was it some kind of... schizophr-
"Welcome to Busan," Grandma smiled, now holding her hand and Yoojung glanced down, looking extremely worried. "I'm so glad my grandson brought you here."
Yoojung's eyes darted towards Jimin and gave him a "what the hell is going on right now" look. Jimin returned his "I don't know but just roll with it" look, so that's exactly what Yoojung did.
"I'm so glad to be here too, Grandma," Yoojung smiled sweetly.
"Hang on, I'll go get you a drink," Grandma said with a smile that made her eyes form little slits that wasn't dissimilar to that of Jimin's, before walking off.
"What's going on?" Yoojung grabbed Jimin's arm and pulled him outside. "What's- What's all this?"
Jimin frowned. "Quite frankly? I don't know."
"Is your grandma being genuinely nice to me right now or like did I offend her so much that she hates me now?" Yoojung narrowed her eyes, looking out for any sigh of Grandma. "'Cos like, I need to know. And also like, what was that earlier? I thought I was coming today as your girlfriend - so what, we're friends now? Am I supposed to act as your BFF or what?"
"No, you don't get it, Yoojung-" Jimin sighed. "Hear me out, okay? I just-"
"Are you really embarrassed of me?" Yoojung sighed. "Am I not good enough for you to introduce me to your family as your girlfriend?"
"No, it's not that-"
"Make me understand, Jimin," Yoojung swallowrd hard. "I came all the way here to make them like me and accept me as your girlfriend, but if you're not even gonna tell them about our relationship, there's really no point in me being here at all."
"I know, I know," Jimin grabbed Yoojung by her shoulders, looking her straight in the eye. "Trust me, Yoojung. I have a plan. My mind went blank earlier when I saw my mom at the airport, but trust me- this time I won't back out. I will introduce you to my family before we head back to Seoul, alright?"
"I know you have good intentions, Jimin," Yoojung frowned, putting her hand tentatively on top of Jimin's. "But sometimes I just wish you told me more things."
"I'm sorry, it's my fault," Jimin whispered, stroking Yoojung's face gently with the back of his hand. "It's all my fault, baby."
Yoojung smiled slightly. "Don't call me that."
Jimin pouted. "Give me a little kiss?"
"Don't!" Yoojung giggled, looking around. "Your relatives are inside."
"Just one?" Jimin pulled Yoojung closer to her by her elbows, protruding his lips a little more as he bent down. "Please?"
"Okay, fine," Yoojung smiled, leaning upwards and their lips were about to tou-
"Yoojung? Jimin? Where are you both?"
Yoojung recoiled, pushing Jimin's arms away from hers as she turned around, heading towards the sound of Grandma's voice. "We're outside here, Grandma! Jimin was giving me a tour of the house. Please give us a minute!"
Yoojung turned around to give Jimin a look of utter relief. They were literally almost caught in action. But Jimin smiled and winked at Yoojung, which Yoojung didn't know whether to interpret to be reassuring or teasing.