𝓚𝓲𝓶 𝓙𝓲𝓷𝓱𝓮𝓮

ɪ ʙʟɪɴᴋᴇᴅ ᴀ ғᴇᴡ ᴛɪᴍᴇs. Whether it was because I was afraid that I heard it wrong or I wanted it to be wrong.

"What?" I asked with a serious expression.

"I said... I like you, Jinhee." Jimin repeated again.

This time I heard it all clear. But all I could do was to remain silent while Jimin was still holding onto my hand. His warm eyes looking straight at me. I wondered why was it so hard to let those three words sunk into my brain. Was it because Jimin was the one who said it?

I had always treated him like a brother. We would joke around and tease each other quite a lot that I felt comfortable whenever I was with him. For him to have romantic feeling towards me was totally unexpected.

I looked at Jimin, feeling guilty. No... I don't want to hurt him. I know that he was not okay, he looked like he could break down anytime if I ever rejected him, as though he was depending on me for his last piece of happiness. His eyes showed it all. So, I slowly embraced him.

"I'm sorry Jimin," I apologized softly while tightening the hug. "I don't want to hurt you now, I know you're not okay, but I have to be honest. You're like a brother to me."

I could feel myself trembling. I didn't have the courage to look at his reaction, I was scared. To see his pained expression because of my words would make me feel like I was the worst human being ever.

"I love you, Jimin. I really do love you. I will always be here when you need me." I whispered again, fighting back the urge to cry. Slowly, I could feel he hugged me back, tightening the hug.

"Thank you, Jinhee." His voice was husky. Although I couldn't see it, I could feel him smiling with our cheeks touching. We stayed like that for a few minutes before we broke the hug. I think I heard the door closed but I didn't bother to look at it.

"Why are you crying, geez." Jimin chuckled softly, rubbing off the tears from my cheeks. I was too embarrassed to look up so I just stared at our intertwined hands.

"Because I don't want to hurt you... After all the rumors, I know everything is giving you a hard time." I mumbled under my breath, not sure whether he would hear it or not. I looked up when Jimin patted my head, his lips quirked up into a smile.

"I'm just going to say this once. You're too cute, Jinhee." He ruffled my hair for the second time today, quite roughly that my hair became a bird nest the next second. Once he was satisfied, he laughed, looking at my disheveled state.

"Yah..." I playfully slapped his arm, frown a little at his mischievousness. He laughed his contagious laugh. I tried to restrain myself but I couldn't help laughing along with him.

✿ ✿ ✿

I looked at the time.

5.30pm.

It was kind of late. I had just finished helping with the Sports festival preparation that would be held tomorrow. There were still a few students left, working with their mascots. Looking out of the window, I saw some of them still practicing hard for their own sports. I smiled. I guessed everyone was pretty excited for the Sports festival even though along the way of it, most of them complained how annoying this festival was. Well, most of them were the nerds who were too lazy to throw out their energy besides using it for their brain.

I walked down the stairs at a quick pace, afraid that Chang Wook might be waiting in the apartment since the time was getting late. He was always worried about me, that made me wonder why he was not busy with his company these days. Wait. Perhaps, he wasn't worried about me... He was worried about Jungkook. He wanted to play with Jungkook, that's it. Gosh, everyone loved Jungkook so much.

As I was busy thinking, I heard flirty voices echoed under the dark staircase.

"Aww, Taehyung, don't tease me please." I stopped at my track. That girly voice called Taehyung?

No, maybe another Taehyung. I tried to calm my wavering heart.

"You're so cute, you know that." This time, it was my heartbeat stopped. That all-too-familiar voice chuckled along with the girl's husky laughs.

Slowly, I turned to look at their direction. I silently gasped at the scene right in front of me. With my own eyes, I saw they were hugging and whispering with their faces only a few centimeters from each other. I was more shocked to see that the guy was really Taehyung. He was facing me while I only see the girl's back.

But that small Prada clutch, the five inch high heels and the furry coat she was wearing, wasn't she the one who attacked me that morning? If I was not mistaken, her name was Goo Hara? Yeah, the school's Queenka according to herself.

I feel like an idiot because I couldn't make a move except just stay rooted to the spot; observing them as he was leaning toward the girl while she curled her arms around his neck, seducing each other with playful smiles while my heart is slowly strangling me.

Damn it, Jinhee. Run away before he noticed you! The dark place at the base of my brains shouted, giving me warning.

I took the courage to make a step, but as I was about to, his dark brown eyes met mine. My heart started to pound at a frantic tempo and for some reason I was blushing furiously, whether it was because I was caught witnessing the embarrassing scene or because he was staring right through me. I held his unwavering and intense gaze for a few seconds.

I was expecting him to back away but to my surprise, he leaned in more, slightly tilting his head as if he was ready to kiss that girl, while his gaze never left mine. Then he broke his gaze from mine and kissed the girl. That was the moment I heard my heart broke into pieces.

What's he trying to prove?

Instead of crying and running away like a weak typical girl, I found myself bravely walking towards them.

"What are you trying to do?" I asked with my almost shaky voice. I tried my best to fix them but still, I couldn't fake it because of my messy thoughts and feelings at that moment.

"What the hell?!" I heard Hara shrieked as I interrupted her heaven-like moment.

Taehyung lazily moved his gaze to meet mine. He backed away from Hara and now facing me with his million dollar smirk.

"Can't you see? We're making out. And you're kind of in the way, Jinhee." I flinched at his words, feeling hurt. His tone is clipped and cool as his eyes showing obvious irritation.

"If you did this just to prove that you've no feelings for me anymore, then you're just wasting your time." I looked at him with burning gaze, clenching my fist to hold the pain in my heart. Hold it in, Jinhee, just a few more seconds.

He raised his brows before he spoke again,"What are you talking about? I like her. The best thing you can do right now is to walk away and pretend that you didn't see anything."

Slap.

I heard a loud gasp, certainly it was from Hara because my action was too sudden that I was shocked even myself. I stared at Taehyung who was facing away because of my tight slap, menacingly, he turned to look back at me, his amused expression was gone yet he didn't speak another word.

"Jerk." I glared at him for one last time before I ran off with the energy left in me. After knowing that I was already far away from them, my step started to slow down. I stopped and leaned on a wall for support, at the same time trying to catch my breath and calm my raging heart down.

I guessed that was not the same Taehyung that I know. I didn't know what was he trying to do but I had enough. The pain was too much to bear. Everything that he did so far was nothing but just hurting me. I have to forget about these feelings toward him. I took a last deep breath and walked back home with a heavy heart.  I hate you, Kim Taehyung. 

✿ ✿ ✿

The loud siren honked as Chairman Jung, our school principal declared the opening of the Sports Festival, at the same time receiving loud cheerings and even whistles from the students. I clapped weakly along with them. Everyone was assembled on the spacious green field with the running track encircled us. I watched the students around me getting pumped up for the various events that will be starting in a few minutes more.

Suddenly, I heard a loud uproar from the guys. I slightly lifted my back foot to see what was happening and I saw all the cheerleaders cane out, wearing a yellow colored tight outfit with a few streaks of red, running slow on the grass and their hands at the guys. There was one person that stood out the most as her outfit shone with glitters when the sunlight reflected on her. I subconsciously rolled my eyes because that person was none other than Goo Hara.

"What was that for?" Suzy who was stretching beside me asked as she noticed my small gesture.

"What?" I feigned innocence.

"You just rolled your eyes after seeing Goo Hara." I bit my lips because she just saw right through me. Soojung looked at me curiously too.

"Nothing. But you guys didn't tell me that she's the Queenka." I frowned at Suzy and Soojung, but then, I saw them mirrored my expression.

"She's not!" Soojung exclaimed in her high-pitched voice. "I'm the Queenka, for God's sake, are you really my best friend, Jinhee?" She grimaced, looking offended.

"Well, you didn't tell me about it." I retorted.

"It's obvious." She flipped her blonde hair like a princess she was. "She's my rival since elementary, don't get close to her or I will be upset." She threw a look at me before she started to join Suzy for stretching.

"Believe me, I hate her." I voiced out almost immediately.

"That's why you're my best friend." Soojung smirked at me and I chuckled. Then, I joined them with stretching too.

None too soon, we heard a clamor again, and this time it was the girls' high-pitched annoying voices. Suzy, Soojung and me rolled our eyes together, knowing what was the crowd for.

"Bangtan boys in da house~" Suzy stretched the syllables in a fake excitement which earned laughter from me and Soojung.

"Hey girls." Namjoon greeted us when we were done with our stretching. I only smiled back at him. He was eyeing Soojung from head to toe while Soojung just glared at him.

"What?" Soojung put her hands on her waist, giving Namjoon a questioning look.

Namjoon shook his head a few times before smiling, showing his deep dimples on his cheeks. "You look hot."

Instantly, I could see Soojung's cheeks flushed pink. It was obvious under the dazzling sunlight. "You're such a pervert!" She yelled back, crossing her arms.

"It was a compliment!" Namjoon trying to defend himself and the love birds started to bicker.

While Suzy and Jin had a coupled pink hats and they were talking quite peacefully, different from the other couple. I saw Hoseok and Jungkook started to stretch their arms with some girls taking picture of them. I couldn't help myself laughing at Hoseok's weird way of stretching. His mouth would form into a long 'O' as he performed every different poses. Jungkook laughing along with me, showing his bunny smile.

I tried to find Min Yoongi and I wasn't surprised at all when I saw him taking a nap under a shade of a tree. Jimin tried to wake him up but was pushed away almost immediately that he was now walking towards me with a frown. 

"Are you feeling better, Jiminie?" I flashed him a sweet smile of mine. He simply shrugged with a weak smile.

"Everything is okay, I guess..." He answered, but something was telling me that he didn't mean it. Was there something else that bothered him still?

"Say Jinhee..." Jimin trailed off, making me looked at him. "Do you like Taehyung?"

"What? No!" I answered almost immediately that it came out as a yell. People around us stared at me, including Taehyung who was sitting under the white umbrella shade. He looked at me long enough that I managed to glare at him before looking back at Jimin.

"I hate him." I replied coldly as my voice laced with vexation and anger.

"Are you guys fighting?" He asked, looking concerned.

"I don't know, it's better to ask him." I avoided his gaze, hoping he would stop asking anything related to Taehyung.

"The random-things marathon will start in a few minutes. The participants for this race please get ready at the booth." The announcer said.

"I'll be right back." Jimin stood up and dusted off the back of his pants, which made me raise my brows.

"You will be joining the race?" I asked, absent-mindedly.

"No, we will be joining the race. Noona, cheer me up and be on standby, who knows I might need you." Jungkook rotated his muscled arms with his bunny smile.

I chuckled at his excitement. Sometimes, I think that his cute face didn't suit his built up body, but I would just keep it in, didn't want to hurt his little heart.

I stood at the side of the running track, looking at Bangtan boys who were getting ready at the starting line along with other participants. This race was only opened for the male students.

I hated to say this, but I couldn't really take my eyes off Taehyung. He was wearing a headband on his head, showing off his attractive looking forehead. I tried to look at the other guys but always ended up looking back at him.

It's so not fair.

I heard the pistol shoot off indicating the race has started. I cheered for Jungkook and Jimin as they dashed very fast to the medium-sized pink box. But what surprised me more was that Yoongi was the first one to reach the pink box.

"Yoongi omg!" I heard Soojung exclaimed in amazement. I let out a series of laughter, couldn't seem to believe in what has just happened in a split of second.

They shoved their hands inside into the pink box, scrabbled for a while and picked out a random piece of pink paper which an item had been written on it and they needed to bring along the item to the end line.

Jimin opened the pink paper, he stared at it for a second before his eyes furiously searching for someone in the crowd outside the running track. Then, his eyes landed on me. Instantly, he ran up to me that I moved a few steps back. I frowned at him as he showed me the item written.

'A Girl With Brown Eyes'

He was about to pull me into the running track but suddenly Taehyung stopped the both of us.

"I need her, Jimin." Taehyung said, his voice breathy and his expression solemn. On the other hand, Jimin who was clearly annoyed by his presence pushed him away.

"I found her first!" Jimin argued.

"I don't have other choices! You have to pick another girl." He showed Jimin his pink paper, I tried to read the item that he needed but he quickly closed the paper that made me frown the next second. It looked like he was doing that on purpose.

Jimin looked reluctant, but after contemplating, he just let it go before hissing at Taehyung. He hurriedly searched for another replacement for his item.

Taehyung looked at me carefully before pulling my hand gently to the running track. I wanted to protest but the way he looked at me, it was like having a hidden meaning behind it.

We ran to the finishing line while holding hands. Taehyung was running at a steady pace but he would keep turning around to check on me, at the same time following my slow pace while I was more focused at our connecting hands. The way he held my hands... gentle yet firm. I felt the butterflies again, it brought back the memories of the first time we held each other's hand. I managed to catch an annoyed looking Hara during the run as she stomped her feet in anger. Seeing that, I let out a triumphant smile.

As soon as we finished the race, Taehyung pulled me to the side. I was breathing hard while he just huffed a few breaths, then his breathing got back to normal.

"You alright?" Taehyung asked as his dark brown eyes appraising me. I nodded, still trying to get as much oxygen as I could. Then, I noticed that our hands were still linking together. I pulled away almost immediately that he was startled.

Without saying anything, I just walked away. Of course, I was still mad at him. Those wonderful feelings just existed momentarily, it didn't change the fact that he just flirted and kissed another girl.

A few seconds later, I decided to stop walking and turned to look at him. I saw him walking away, shoving the pink paper into the pocket of his sport pants.

I wonder what was written in the pink paper?

♡━━━━━━━━━━━━━♡

𝓣𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮𝓻

"I love you, but I know that you don't belong with me."