Past

34| "Her chaos and violence."

"Nina, you look tense." Ji-hoon's voice jingled in Nina's ears, piercing her fierce focus on the court entrance where Aria had dragged Taehyung out. Aria didn't just take him with her, Nina felt as if she had plucked her soul out of her body. A few minutes ago, with a bright smile, Nina was doing a small victory dance around Ji-hoon, and unexpectedly her demeanor switched into gloaming clouds.

"What happened, Nini?" Ji-hoon grabbed her shoulder, shaking her softly on not getting a reply. His frowns exacerbated into concern when she kept gaping at the door with a berserk glint in her eyes. She was in a trance, appearing furious and ready to break any moment. However, this time she wasn't going to break.

"How could he just go with her after creating a scene in the morning, after kissing me in front of Ji-hoon in the most morbid way possible?" Nina thought. A tick took place in Nina's eyebrows, every lining of her face harshens. Her grip turned deadly against the ball to quell the vomit that was threatening to pour out of her in detestation.

Nina tried to convince herself not to care about Taehyung's actions or his unnecessary efforts to unnerve her. Deep down she was aware that she couldn't escape this boy when he was in the same room. His presence demanded attention and sent her body into high alert mode, even though she could hear his deep, mellifluous laugh ringing in the hollow of her chest sometimes.

Nina's composure and confidence were powdered as soon as she noticed Aria wrapping around Taehyung's arm like a snake, grinning at him with such seduction, it singed Nina's skin.

It wasn't something entertaining or new, she had witnessed them together during the years. She had seen Taehyung being cheeky and playful with half the girls in school. Right in front of her lockers, behind her seat, or her favorite spot in the library, Nina had seen girls buzzing around Taehyung like bees. They had to go to every place where Nina could be located. What made Nina's cheeks bright red, when the whole world was focusing on him, she always found Taehyung's eyes fixated on her.

"If I say how I feel, would you understand?" The question wasn't supposed to come out loud and it wasn't meant for Ji-hoon. The white of her eyes wavered as the new discomfort blossomed in the pit of her solitary heart.

"Huh?" Ji-hoon sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, I'm not good with advice and words, but I'm a good listener, Nina. I'll be here, I'll understand and comfort you whenever you need, whenever you want." Ji-hoon grabbed Nina's hands which were still squeezing the ball in a tight clutch as she looked down, feeling a bleak palpitation surpassing her stomach when Ji-hoon inched closer to her, so close until her face seared with his breaths.

The closeness wasn't as usual, not the friendly and normal one. Every fibre of Ji-hoon's being roared he wanted more from her, more of the mere friendship she was offering him.

"Nina, please look at me." Ji-hoon closely pleaded. The hard lining of her shoulders stiffened when he cupped her cheek and lifted her head to peer into her eyes. Chills onslaught her being, not the chaotic and toe-curling chills that Taehyung gave her. They were the uncomfortable ones.

Nina believed when two souls are meant to be one, the whole universe would fight for them, it's a conspiracy. According to Nina, she didn't see the universe working for them. No war, no combat of emotions, no spark stem within her for Ji-hoon.

But the war and spark for Taehyung beats under her skin. Painfully, forcefully, and unbearably.

"You are very sweet, Ji-hoon. But I don't see us that way." Nina stepped back, rattled by the pressure crowding her spine." Let's not ruin our friendship, please." Nina implored, matching Ji-hoon's premature intensity. Before her uncertainty could hit the roof, Ji-hoon smiled, saving her heart from sinking.

"Aw, not this face. Why do you look like someone has punched your guts? As you can see, I'm fine." Ji-hoon feigned a pout. "Don't be so sentimental, you know I'll always respect your decision. No words and actions of mine will ever hurt you." The sincerity in Ji-hoon's tone drove Nina deeply into the pit of misery. She felt pathetic for turning down a guy like Ji-hoon, understanding that getting involved with him would be the destruction of their solid friendship.

"See, you are so sweet and perfect." His smile widened when Nina softly patted his cheek in pure adoration.

"I'm sweet and perfect with a big dick, Nini. Trust me, You're missing a golden chance." Nina shook her head, smiling at his cheekiness.

"You're right." Nina agreed. "I'll see you later." With that she sauntered out of the court, still holding the basketball.

"Fucking bitch." Ji-hoon spat in disdain. "How long she is going to taste my patience? Does she expect me to always be kind and sweet to her?" The veins of his neck popped up on the surface, throbbing rapidly.

"How can I make you see me, Nina? How can I make you choose me?"

The buzzing in her stomach was threatening to climb her throat as she had this desperate need to wreak havoc. Nina didn't know where her feet were leading her. Nina had never liked Aria though she never wished to deal with her even though she and her minions acted like complete bitches. However, catching sight of Taehyung with her right after him proclaiming to Ji-hoon that Nina belonged to him was like a profound gash in her emotions.

Would Taehyung also tell Aria that she belonged to him? Would he also grab and kiss and pump Aria's nerves like he did to Nina? Or maybe he would do something more? Nina couldn't stop those cancerous ideas from strangling her. Her lips were still tingling from the way he kissed her, the way he feasted on her in all savagery, how he grabbed her as if he knew the melody of her body better than her, and held her as if he would die the next moment without her breaths in his mouth.

So, Taehyung could fool around with Aria but Nina couldn't even glance at any boy? That was grossly unfair and morally wrong but again Taehyung never plays fair and Nina refused to get involved in his sick games. Taehyung just couldn't come and play with her feelings just because he wanted to or he could, the world didn't revolve around him and he had to accept this.

"Today, I'll be strong enough to withstand him. Today, I'll kill my feelings for him and stomp all over it." She stormed toward every classroom, searching for the particular golden-eyed boy to slaughter his determination to bend her against her will.

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"Wish I could give you the attention that your parents couldn't give you, but you see, I don't have time for your stupid  games." Taehyung unleashed his usual cocky tone, not caring that it could offend the girl standing in front of him. Deep down, Taehyung wished Aria to be offended— wounded so she quit her ways to annoy him. It would be so much better If she stopped talking to him altogether.

"Ha-ha-ha funny." Aria sassily flipped her hair, narrowing her eyes at him. For a  moment Taehyung's eyes flickered over her fingers that were casually flattering over the button of her shirt, one was already undone.

Taehyung mentally sent profanities himself for not figuring out Aria's intentions at the right time. If he knew she was silently inviting him for the deed which he wasn't slightly interested in he would have shoved her so far away until he couldn't feel her breathing down his neck.

"You always make me want you more, Tae." Taehyung withstood the impulse to laugh at that sickly sweet comment as he stared ahead, snubbing her seductive stares.

"Geez, will you come closer? I'm not going to bite you." Aria forced a chuckle, the irritation was obvious in her undertone by the way Taehyung wasn't responding the way she had thought. He was just standing there with an emotionless expression, evidently bored and ridiculously irked …not salivating after her.

"I don't trust you, Aria."  Taehyung took his steps back when Aria innocently batted her lashes, erasing the distance between them.

Taehyung didn't want to be alone with her when he had more important things to do.

Like watching Nina making another score, daydreaming about her when she laughs, and murdering that loser Ji-hoon in his head.

Taehyung wasn't amused nor thrilled seeing Aria's cleavage on the display as he grimly looked away when the third button of her shirt popped open, revealing the lacy white bra and glistening skin. Maybe she was pretending not to get the clue that Taehyung had uprightly rejected her sensual offer.

"You know I've had it bad for you since we started mingling, you are my guy." Aria stood in front of him, tipping her chin up and a new frown toured Taehyung's features, magnifying his irritation.

"We started nothing. You thinking of me as your guy doesn't make me yours. Yes, we hang out but that doesn't mean I'll accept whatever sick romance you are creating in your head." Taehyung arched his brows, taunting her in the process.

Taehyung wouldn't deny that on some occasions he did respond to her flirty behavior, especially when he felt Nina's attention on them. Though he made sure the lines didn't blur with Aria. Not even when she had thrown herself in his lap every time she got the chance.

It was Taehyung's fault, he knew he shouldn't have given her ideas and he didn't intend to come off as a jerk, but he wasn't about to let Aria think he owed her anything. Aria toyed and messed with every popular guy on the basketball team, he didn't think she would be serious about him.

"I'm not your boyfriend, fortunately never will be." There, Taehyung said something which she couldn't read all over his face. 

"Why? How could you just say this impulsively? Think how exquisite couple we'd make." the corner of her lips lifted for a grin, not accepting the rejection.

Taehyung's eyes flared with disturbance when her manicured fingers cupped his jaw and she leaned to kiss him. Before her mouth could meet him, Taehyung jerked her hand away, shoving her away and ambling toward the door.

"Do me and yourself a favor and fix your appearance, you look nonsense, Aria." Taehyung released the lock in haste, suddenly his stomach had deadly coils. However, he was surprised he didn't throw up. He released the lock and was going to open the door then his body stilled when Aria dared to grab him by his arms.

"I know you are trying to play hard to get, you want me to chase you right, baby. I get it but how long do I have to run behind you?" Aria grabbed his collar in a deadly clutch, hauling and pulling him toward her with all her strength.

Taehyung assumed the reason behind her annoyance was that most of the time she got whatever she wished. Boys would just drop to their knees for her, girls would spin around her, so yeah that got in her head.

"We look so good together Taehyung, even my mom said we look good together. She will be so happy if we date, she will be so pleased." Aria cupped the back of his neck, the desperation in her voice was like scalding water pouring into Taehyung's ears. 

"Sis, trust me, your mother needs to check her eyesight." Taehyung grabbed her wrists, attempting to free himself from her stubborn grasp. As Aria made sure to cling to him with her whole power. She pressed herself onto him, every soft curve of her body squeezed against his hard muscles, her breasts crushing against his chest as he could feel her nipples grazing him through the shirt.

"You should be thankful that you are a girl and not a boy, otherwise you would be crying with a broken nose." Taehyung's brows dipped, a hair strand falling over his forehead. You learn a lot about people when they don't get what they want, they will unravel their reality and greed. And  Taehyung had learned the real face of Aria behind that batting lashes. He always knew she was a spoiled brat but damn she was a mother of bitches.

"She won't ever look at you Taehyung." This caused a pause in Taehyung's struggles, a tick arose in his jaw.  "I'm talking about our favorite charity case, Nina Wang. It's not like I've not noticed, she is nobody to everyone but for you she is special." Her feline smirk was broadening when Taehyung didn't bother to deny her statement.

"You want to taste her but let me tell you one thing." Aria cooed at him, trailing her finger over his jaw, earning a throaty growl from him.

"Have you ever thought that you have ruined all your ways to get her? I mean just think, why would she even want a guy who has constantly ridiculed her, even if you were trying to get her attention, it was a dick move." Her words thundered in the space. She hit the nail on the head with that one, guess she wasn't that slow.

"She will never want you, Taehyung. Certainly not a manwhore who had slept with half of the girls in the school." Taehyung's body got rigid. His V card was still intact, not even a scratch there as it was all a fallacy that he carelessly designed but what about other points that Aria had slapped all over his face?

Taehyung hated to accept but she wasn't wrong. All these years he had made her life a custom-made hell as Nina had endured. She fought him. She stood her ground with that feisty attitude.  Sometimes when Taehyung pushed her away from him, he caught a glimpse of a sparkle of remorse lingering in her eyes that made him want to cut himself open and stomp on the remains.

When all those years he kept a distance then he had no right to expect anything out of her, not even her kindness, not a fucking glance. He shouldn't go to that road that would lead him to her. He shouldn't chase her now, get involved with her, or kiss her.  He should've hated her as he ought to himself a few years ago, he should have thought about making her the puppet in the string but the more he sees her, the more his determination was fading, and the more it wounds to breathe without her.

"The way you are so awfully silent tells me I must have struck a nerve. You really do want her, I guess." Aria hummed, placing her index under his chin and tilted his face as if he was some kind of a toy.

Taehyung said nothing though he could disclaim her assumptions. He could easily laugh at Aria— still, he had no intent to entertain her. Yes, he wanted Nina, desired her and the world wouldn't crumble if he just admitted it but it's better sometimes just to pretend not to care because people can pick your weakness and use it against you. Unfortunately, Aria happened to be a little brainy, so what's the point of pretending?

"Well, I'm better than her in every possible way." Aria's eyes sparkled in boast.

"You are not." Aria flared him a look of offense, she gasped when Taehyung shoved her harshly.

"Excuse me." She arrogantly put her hand on her jutted-out hip.

"You aren't capable to tame me, but she fucking breath in my madness, in me and that's why she is better than you." Taehyung grinned, looking her up and down with an unimpressed stare. " And she doesn't go around sexually assaulting boys like a bitch in heat." Taehyung turned to leave, he was fed up dealing with her tantrums and just wanted to get away from her as soon as possible.

"Taehyung, you can't reject me. This isn't fair!" Aria stomped her legs like the spoiled brat she was, her breaths coming into huffs and puffs. A sigh escaped from his lips when she grabbed his hand, attempting to stop him.

"If you leave this classroom, I'll go to Nina and tell her that you forced yourself on me. Maybe she doesn't care if you are a man-slut but she undoubtedly won't like a molester. I'll spread the rumors, not just the school but all over the media. You know my mum can pull some strings, trust me I'll destroy you and I feel like your father won't like seeing his high and mighty
son carrying a 'molester' tag on his chest." Aria babbled, it was clear that she wasn't going to let Taehyung get out of the room before she successfully made Taehyung her exclusive boyfriend who she could show off around, by hook or by crook.

"You are a bitch, Aria!" Taehyung sneered. Sudden fury flashed in his eyes as he yanked his hand away from her grip in pure disdain.

"Ouch, I know right, we are perfect for each other." Aria puckered her lips. "I'll make sure she doesn't even look your way."

Taehyung knew his so-called father wouldn't think twice before tossing him to some other country, far away from this place. If this happened then he wouldn't be able to see his mother, he wouldn't be able to find his sister…and he would lose Nina to his father. The mere thought of Nina made Taehyung's chest fill with a ball of pang, it ached so violently as if someone was constantly punching his ribs. No, he had to be around to protect her from Hyeon but he couldn't accept Aria's ill motives.

"Seems like your daddy didn't buy you class and dignity." Taehyung chuckled, he tilted his head sideways. "I dare you to try. Go ahead and destroy me." Aria's mouth opened and shut as she got flustered by his vanity.

"Ah, what the fuck!" Aria screamed, stunned when the door burst open and a basketball hit her shoulder, she stumbled a little.

"Bonjour bitches." Nina stepped inside, she flicked a blasé glance at the surprised Taehyung and then Aria who was hissing from the pain on her shoulder.

Nina's eyes traveled to Aria's shirt that was open to her belly, causing Taehyung's chest to plunge into anxiety. Okay, if it was some other time he wouldn't have a problem making Nina jealous but right now he didn't want her to get any wrong idea.

"What are you staring at, you tacky charity case?" Aria snarled, flinging her pointy fingernails at Nina. If it was some other time, Nina would just flare her a deadly stare and go ahead to mind her business but today was something different.

"Oh I was thinking how a stripper walks into our school then I realize it's you." Nina tossed a disgusting look at the girl who gasped so loud, Nina almost laughed. "Well, a stripper has more elegance than you." Nina stood her ground when Aria stomped toward her with raging eyes and pointed her finger at her.

"You are being too comfortable. Don't think highly of yourself just because Ji-hoon is hanging out with you, he is doing it out of pity because that's what you are. A fucking pity. He isn't here to protect you, red riding hood, so it will be better if you just mind your business and walk away. We are busy." Aria gritted out, waving Nina with her hand.

"Busy harassing him? If he isn't interested in you then why is your pea brain not getting this simple thing? I can't stand a nonchalant bitch like you." Taehyung's shoulders dropped in relief as he felt a heavy burden sliding off his chest.

It didn't matter why and how she found them, the thing that mattered was that Nina heard everything and came to release him from Aria's claws. At the moment Taehyung craved nothing but to pull the red-haired girl in his arms and hide his face in her neck until the world became blurred.

Aria's cheeks heated in humiliation as she lifted her hand and then slapped her across her face, making Nina stumble at the tight impact. Taehyung was quick to approach her, his arms circling her waist, saving Nina from falling to the ground. Nina was still astounded, she placed her hand on her cheek and winched when the throb intensified.

"How dare you put your hand on her?!" Taehyung seethed, glaring daggers at Aria who just scoffed in response, checking her nails.

"What the hell is going on here?!" Ji-hoon joined them as he scrutinized all of their faces one by one. A frown melded his face on seeing Nina in Taehyung's arms and then her reddish cheek.

"What happened to you, Nina? Are you alright?" Ji-hoon raised his hand to touch her but quickly pulled it away when Taehyung pressed Nina to his chest, flashing him a deathly stare. "Will someone tell me what's happening? I can't get my head around it." Ji-hoon's voice was shrill and his eyes shortly skimmed at Aria who still didn't bother to button her shirt, negligently flaunting her bra.

"Geez, are you sleeping with both of them? Of course, after all, why would they care about you? Such a slut behavior." Aria wheezed, the jealousy was fairly evident in her snarky tone.

"I'll pull your tongue out and then step on it if you don't stop spouting bullshit." Taehyung enunciated, his voice was razor-edged, cutting through the room.

"Close the door." Nina husked with such intensity, Taehyung felt the sound excruciating his insides, something deeper.

"What?" Taehyung and Ji-hoon uttered in unison. Nina pulled away from Taehyung, slowly running her hands through her hair.

"I said close the fucking door."  Nina harshly stared into Taehyung's golden eyes as he couldn't resist the urge to obey her, so he simply nodded.

Taehyung bit the heel of his palm to control himself before he pounced on her and dived into her mouth with his brutal kisses. Her energy was so sensual— he nearly salivated.

"What are you doing now?" Ji-hoon rubbed his forehead, slowly shaking his head at Taehyung.

"Are you blind? I'm closing the door." Taehyung lifted his shoulders for a casual shrug and then locked the door. He pressed his back against it while crossing his arms across his chest. "Aria is dead." He said in a sing-song way, winking at the confused Ji-hoon.

"The classroom is at the end of the hallway, no one could hear us." Ji-hoon mumbled.

"Exactly!" Taehyung clicked his tongue in mischief.

Nina pulled the sleeves of her hoodie to her elbows. She had always been the victim of pranks and taunts at school, the worst of all having her assignments stolen from her locker, hearing vulgar names in the hallways and rumors about her that she had sex with the teacher, but no one, no fucking one had ever dared to put their hands on Nina— if Aria thinks Nina would tolerate this bullshit and lower her head then she was big time wrong.

"What? Do you think glaring at me will scare me? Try harder, charity case." Her smirk cut off when Nina struck her cheek with her fist. A slap wouldn't do anything, it wouldn't calm her down, but that punch did satisfy Nina.

Taehyung's lips formed into an 'O' shape and Ji-hoon gasped beside him. One was delighted, even proud, the other one was panicked beyond belief.

"Oh my god!" Aria fell to the ground as Nina loomed over her. She straddled Aria's waist and slapped her hard across her face. Hearing Aria's cries gave Nina instant joy yet it wasn't enough to calm that fury that split out of her veins. It was old and rusty, digging under her skin and when finally it was out, she didn't want to restrain it.

"You shouldn't have poured paint on my breakfast that day." Slap. "You shouldn't have spread the word that I slept with one of the teachers, because I didn't. I'm not you." Slap. "You shouldn't have slapped me." another slap, this time way too hard, yanking another wail of pain from struggling Aria.

"You shouldn't have forced yourself on him. Don't touch him again and you won't be able to run this smarty mouth of yours. I don't bluff so take me seriously." Nina mumbled, she grabbed Aria's collar and slapped her again, making Aria's face loll to the side. Blood oozed out of her lips as she floundered like a fish out of water.

"That's my girl." Taehyung cheered as Ji-hoon eyed the scene with mouth wide open.

"Nina, stop. You will get in trouble." Ji-hoon moved toward her, grabbing her shoulder and trying to stop her but Nina was invincible at the moment.

"Why? She is taking her revenge, let her do it in peace." Taehyung flicked the hair strand falling over his forehead.

"Bro she should take revenge on you, you started all of this. Don't you think you should disappear from her life so she can live in peace?" Ji-hoon jabbed his finger on Taehyung's chest.

"You are not in a position to give me advice, let alone touch me. Your bruises are still fresh, take care of them." Taehyung taunted Ji-hoon, looking at the faint scrape on his face. "And what makes you think I won't let her take revenge on me." Taehyung inched toward Nina. Circling his arm around her waist, in complete ease Taehyung pulled her away from weeping Aria.

"Let me go!" Nina snarled, thrashing in his arms and flinging her legs in the air. Taehyung was sure, if he put her down, Nina would again strike Aria in a feral mode. Taehyung sighed, eyeing down at Nina who was ready to claw Aria's face.

"Violence isn't something that can be deliberately ignored in an aristocratic school like KINGS HIGH, you don't want to get kicked out, do you?" Taehyung whispers in Nina's ear, deliciously low and sinfully wanton as suddenly she felt her body going limp in his hold. He was right, she couldn't afford to destroy her last year— and that damn voice was like feathers across her skin.

"That's my red." Taehyung brushed his lips against her ear, loving how she let out a large intake of breath. He lifted her and moved toward the door as if he was carrying a doll, not a human being.

"I can walk, asshole." Nina scratched his arm like a cat, she even hissed.

"No you can't, milady." He stole a kiss on her cheek as she gritted her teeth at him.

"Oh, and Aria you should be thankful for Nina." Taehyung spun to the crying girl, his eyes had a mocking glimmer. Ji-hoon helped her to stand up, he even offered her a handkerchief which Aria nearly snatched from his hand and didn't care to thank him. Ji-hoon pursed his lips, glancing at seething Nina in Taehyung's arms, his face bleached in bitterness.

"Why?!" Aria growled, pressing the cloth on her bloody lip.

"For suppressing the urge to not kill you in cold blood." Taehyung wickedly grinned at the frightened Aria, chills overtook her spine when her rounded eyes collided with Nina's cold one.

"Whatever man, your girl is crazy." She wiped her tears, hissing when the clothes brushed against her bruised skin.

"I'm not his girl." Nina got out of Taehyung's hold, opened the door and stomped out without glancing back at the messy art piece she created out of Aria.

"Aria, I don't think your parents will appreciate their daughter whoring around. I can imagine the heartbreak on their faces when I tell them how half of the basketball team has shoved their dick down your throat…poor them, still believing that their baby girl is a virgin." A tight lump swallowed past her throat as the dark cloud of fear fell over her face.

"You thought you could blackmail me, yeah? Nice try though, you nearly made me edgy but I always have my ways." Taehyung shoved his hand in his pockets, his shoulders squaring and the golden of his eyes turning a darker shade.

"You just get into a fight and don't wanna take that person's name because you were at fault and you are kind enough not to give someone any trouble. It doesn't matter who asks, even the principal or your parents, you are gonna stay quiet. Now lower your head and go to the nurse, you look pathetic. You can help her, Ji-hoon boy." When Taehyung was assured that Aria wouldn't open her mouth in front of her parents and Nina wouldn't get into trouble, he turned at his heels and walked out only to find Nina in the distance. Hands behind her back, she was leaning against the wall, looking down at her Mary Jane shoes. 

Taehyung hovered over her, his heart rumbled in his chest when she lifted her head and stared at him through her lashes. The neat concern trickled in Taehyung's veins as he cupped her cheeks upon seeing a hurt look stretching across her face. The warm feeling in his chest turned into a dark fog, gliding to his throat when she jerked his hand away in pure hatred.

"I wish I could just scratch you out of my life, all you did is hurt me, even right now, looking into your eyes is breaking me. I don't deserve any of this and you don't deserve me. I shouldn't have saved you that day… I'm sorry that I saved you that day." Nina turned and left as if she didn't just penetrate Taehyung's chest with her razor-like words and left him bleeding.

"Right, you shouldn't have saved me, you shouldn't have stolen my heart that day."  All he could do was just gape at the ground in defeat, this time he didn't follow her, this time he drowned himself in self-loathing.

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I wrote this chapter with my fever brain… not very proud.