0 9.   G a l a x y   j e w e l s

Jimin slides his fingers in the packet of crunchy potato chips and shot it on my face. He then glided his finger on my cheek, licking it in absolute pleasure, "You taste salty."

On the other side, Nari elbowed me in the ribs, catching me off guard. I was sitting next to them absent-mindedly.
Unbearably, inexplicable silence washed over my face.

"Hey, girl, who's bothering you to the extent that you look like a lifeless creature rotting in the drain somewhere?" Nari asked me, tucking the strand of hair behind my ear.

"Nari... I want to talk to you in private, it's an important subject matter." I said with a hint of seriousness, narrowing my eyes as I squeezed her hands in my shivery hands.

"Since when the two of you have developed this habit of keeping secrets from me? And Nari, you never told me about that guy, yesterday I spotted you with?" His eyebrows twitched in disappointment.

Jimin had always acted like a magistrate, who goes through to every itty-bitty detail or incident that takes place in our lives.

"Aish! this asshole, I was just helping him with the address thing, that's it. Now, will you stop stalking me?" She widened her eyes, causing him to slightly shiver.

"What do I do? We live in the same locality." He spoke aggressively, before cutely laying his head on the silverish shiny desk, facing on the other side.

"Jimin-ah," I moaned his name compassionately. "I will tell you everything just let this class end."

Just then some other professor entered the classroom, making the class scowl in shock. "Prof. V is on leave today. So students, open up your books and do your self-studies." He said dryly. The dull look glistening on his face made the period even duller.

I looked around the classroom and found myself surrounded by lazy people, the boys were yawning and secretly sneaking food in, whereas the butterflies of the class were wiping off their vibrant matte lipstick, tying the hair into a messy ponytail. Everyone looked depressed, their battery seems to have gone dead as they didn't get to see Prof. V aka our daily charger.

The time somehow passed, students were moving out for the other class, but I rather chose to go back home.

"Hy Dasom, you were talking about something really important?" Nari recalled my words.

"Ahh...maybe next time." My body shook, biding them a farewell. I went on my way.

***

I was randomly hitting the pebbles on my way back home. It seems like my energy has been drenched and I'm about to die out of curiosity. Why didn't he show up? Is he really busy with his professional assignments? Or is he avoiding me? Such kind of questions was boiling at a high temperature inside my head.

"V...." My eyes sparkled with new hope as I saw him leaning against his car. I ran towards him like a small kid, he was wearing a Black hoodie, the hair bangs covered his eyes completely. This look was completely different from his usual looks, he looked like perfect boyfriend material.

"Professor! what are you doing here?" I was perplexed, never thought of meeting him near my place.

"Dasom." He let a small breath, staring in my eyes with an unshakable intent.

"Why didn't you show up? you got me---" I suddenly stopped and then realized my words would be too on the point. "Oh sorry, I mean you got the entire class worried."

"Dasom, I felt ashamed of my behavior, that evening um," He took a long pause in between. "Cause of which I couldn't even gather the confidence to look in your eyes back again with the same trust that I once promised to keep with you." He sounded guilty of his act, looking at his hands blankly.

"So that's the reason why you were absent today?" I said with smiling eyes, trying my best not to laugh at this moment.

He simply nodded.

"Er... It's okay." I said with a weak smile.

He looked in my eyes for a second and then looked at his moist hands, repeating the same process for a minute or two.

"Dasom just forget about the apology." He snapped, waving a hand. I closed my mouth after seeing him fight with his complex thoughts so evidently.

I nodded my head, with an open mouth unable to comprehend his intention. Suddenly things got pepped up and I couldn't help but smile, smile and smile.

"Recently I've not been able to sleep, eat and even concentrate on my work properly. I set aside Mrs. Lee's scrumptious dishes, don't really care about my appearance, fucking up with the digits all the time, I'm totally devasted, you see." He raked his fingers through his hair, that was the time when I got a quick look of his forehead and his deep-set brown Bambi eyes.

"Is that so. You should see a doc." I almost spoke in a breathy tone, without moving my jaw. The words rushed out of my mouth, lacking humor and sensibility.

"Dasom, the matter is more serious than you think. I bet the doctor will get into thinking too." He got one step closer to me and I could see his eyes orbs turn all darkish.

"Professor. I know a doctor-" I breathed out slowly and was cut in the middle of completion of my sentence.

"I don't want you to see me as your professor anymore. Can't I be your friend? a mutual friend." He squinted his eyes which were demanding an answer right now.

After staring at each other's eyes, I decided to speak first, "Okay I've got to go now." I nervously thumped towards the direction of my home.

"Wait. I've to give you something."
He opened the door of his car and speedily appeared in front of me with a box of chocolates in his hands.

"This is my favorite flavor, Chocomint." He shyly placed the small decorated box in my hands.

"Oh, thank you." I pursed my lips, as my heart skipped a beat. This little gesture of his gave me the feel of the great heavens.

"Wait there's something more."
He cowered down to pick the large box of something from the passenger seat of his car. In doing so, his head collided with the solid roof of the car.

"Ouch!"

"You okay!"

"Yes, I'm."

In the mean time, I saw my dad, rolling down the slope in our direction along with Jongi who had his hands intertwined with him.

"Fuck it! I will see you at noon and you don't have to pick me up."A wave of panic swept through my face. Trying to slip out of the alarming situation, I paced towards my home, leaving him behind in confusion.

Taehyung

"Did I go wrong anywhere? not again." I bit my lips in annoyance.

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Word count -1038
Captain's note - Taetae keep your spirits up!