"YOU DON'T FIGHT RACISM WITH RACISM, THE BEST WAY TO FIGHT RACISM IS WITH SOLIDARITY."
- Bobby Seale

MI-YOUNG PARK WAS SURPRISED.

She certainly wasn't expecting to open the door at 4 in the morning to see Jungkook flushed and stuttering the name "Lee Areum."

"Why are you at my house at 4 in the morning and who the hell is Lee Areum and what does her existence have anything to do with mine?"

"Uh, w-well—"

"Goddamnit this better be good."

As Mi-young invited Jungkook inside the Park house, Jungkook couldn't help but feel nervous, yet delighted that she didn't send him away considering the time of day.

The two sat down at the living room table and Mi-young patiently waited for Jungkook to talk.

"I'm ready for the tea."

"T-Tea?"

"Yeah. Spill the tea— I'm ready."

Jungkook fidgeted the entire time as he told the story of Areum.

The girl that broke the bond between Taehyung and Jungkook.

The girl who drove the two men mad, competing over a silly girl's love.

That silly girl being the only girl Jungkook ever felt such strong emotions for.

Until he met Mi-young.

Jungkook admitted to Mi-young, in a rather flustered and embarrassed way, that he was in love with Mi-young even though it seemed crazy considering the two never really talked that much before.

He explained the way he loved how her hair fell past her shoulders in silky waves with the obsidian strands glistening under the sunlight, her face always puffy and soft with a rose tinge at her cheeks and her pale complexion that paired beautifully with her doe eyes that had the unique beauty never seen before.

He explained the deeply rooted kindness and serenity that surrounded her and how the way she talked and acted gave him goosebumps and made his heart beat madly for the innocent naive girl.

He also explained how much Mi-young reminded him of Areum.

The two similarly meek in personalities, innocent to the eyes, sweet as cotton candy, and, unfortunately, alluring to both Jungkook and Taehyung.

"S-So I'm telling you this because I want you to know that you don't have to change. Y-You shouldn't change! I mean, you know what I mean? You're just so, so perfect the way you are. The way you move and act and talk, m-makes me feel all giddy and I swear I feel like I'm on Cloud-9. How you act around others, i-it makes me want to just hold you and hug you and pet your fluffy hair and tell you that other's opinions don't matter and that y-you shouldn't let it? If that makes sense? Let them talk about you, whatever, cause you should know that you're amazing the way you are. No cheese intended. You're just so great the way you are. A real diamond. One of a kind, precious, shining. A star! Glowing, radiating, the only bright thing in such a gloomy, dark, bad world. Y-You really don't have to change. Everything you do is great, they're just ignorant bastards that think they're the best when they're really not. And I just, I just felt like you needed to know that. Especially after lunch that day! You can eat whatever you want, don't mind the stares and whispers. It ain't that bad, ya know? Just enjoy your food, whatever food. Oh, don't diet. D-Don't let them make you feel any less than you are. Eat lots of what you want! I-I mean, I'm not saying I wouldn't switch foods with you again, because I would! I would! I'd do anything for you! B-But it's important not to let things those racist bastards do affect you or change you. Don't change your hair or dye it or tan or dress differently cause of them. That's not fair, they don't deserve your effort! Racism and mean comments and bullying and all of this is gonna happen anywhere you go. You can't just conform to society and what society deems to be perfect or pretty or nice or ideal. Again, no cheese intended. I mean, I'm just speaking from experience after being at this shitty school with all these shitty people for so long. Everything is just so shitty. This neighborhood, the people, life, everything is just so, so shitty and awful. I can't wait to leave this town and live freely without worrying about what others say. I mean sure racism is everywhere you go, it's unavoidable, b-but it would be nice to see other Asians in town who can relate. Not just all these ugly fuckers' faces and the unrelated shit that comes out of their mouths. I mean, I'm not tryna say that people that aren't Asian can't relate or that they're all meanies, that's not what I'm tryna say at all! Gah, I'm not good with words. B-But I'm here for you! You can see my face everyday! I'll help you relate! I'll listen to you! Does that make sense? Am I making sense right now? Life doesn't make sense but I— sorry, I'm rambling, I'll stop."

Mi-young smiled so brightly at the embarrassed boy before her.

"You're so sweet and cute, ya know that?"

Jungkook ducked his head down and stared at his feet, blushing at the compliment and smiling like a mad fool.

"I appreciate all this, but why'd you have to tell me all this now? Like, you couldn't wait until at least 8 A.M.?"

Jungkook shrugged.

"Late night thoughts, always keeping me up at night and makin' me feel emo. I needed to get it off my chest, I guess. Also wanted to tell you how I felt before Taehyung came and snatched you up."

"This is what you think of late at night?"

"Um, yes?"

Mi-young slowly nodded, recollecting everything she was told.

"So, what I'm hearing is, this Areum girl is a huge thot."

"Huh?"

"Thotties are everywhere I swear—"

"Wait, I-I wouldn't go so far as to call her a thot—"

"But she is one. Look at her stringing you along just to drop you and choose Tae instead."

"B-But that's not—"

"So what's this thottie have anything to do with me? Other than I remind you of her, clearly."

"P-Please don't call her a thottie."

"Okay, fine. So what's this hoe have anything to do with me?"

He sighed.

"Well—"

She gasped.

"Wait! You don't know where she went? Do you think she was murdered?"

"W-What?"

"Ya know, do you think that maybe she was murdered and her family was so scared that the murderer was after the rest of them that they just had to skedaddle away without a word?"

"No, I don't think she was—"

"Or maybe she's a member of some top secret spy agency and her cover was blown so she had to leave immediately without saying goodbye or—"

"Areum left because of Taehyung. You need to be careful when you're around him. You can't trust the guy! He's messing with your head I swear! He's doing the same thing to you as he did to Areum."

The room was silent until Mi-young gasped.

"Dun-dun-duuunnnnnn!"

Jungkook sighed.

~•~

He couldn't believe his ears.

Taehyung? What'd Taehyung do? What is this? Goddamnit I knew I shouldn't have left my bed.

Jimin scratched his head as he continued to eavesdrop, although it was quite hard to hear what Jungkook was saying from the top of the stairs.

But no matter how hard Jimin tried to listen and pay attention, there was only one thing going through his mind.

Who the hell is Kim Taehyung really?

~•~

A/N: y'all were so confused last chapter so I wrote this chapter asap cause everyone being confused and asking me questions gave me anxiety BDJEJEODJW

Oi, it's also sorta late and I'm tired and I wrote this quickly (with me fast fingers (; ) so forgive me if this aint explaining well or if this ain't connecting well🤢✊

This book will probably end soon. Or not. I don't know? I haven't figured out my ending yet bUt I'm pretty sure this'll end soon :) I want to keep it short and sweet but now I got this digging up past shit cause I realized I only hinted at Tae and Jungoo having a bad past but I never explained it so 🤷‍♀️ here it is :0

Okay I did two updates in one day, so now it's time for me to never update until another week or so :> or not, I don't know🤷‍♀️

Smh I needs to get me shit together😖

I love you even though I already said that today so—

Double ily! Ily ily! Take care :)