chapter five ;; glitter glue
jeongguk's perspective
°☆.。.:*・°☆

It was positively mesmerizing. The bright liquid made out of plastics ran through my fingertips. It globed onto to the counter, but I didn't care. It was gold, the glitter that is, and it illuminates like a beacon. It runs across my hands, putting a thick film of stickiness over them. Most people fall out of the whole phase where they play with glue, but I was very much still in it.

A soft sigh escapes from my lips as the glitter covers my every being. The light of my desk lamp bounces off of the golden glitter that puts multiple golden orbs of shine across my face.

My eyes were no longer red with tears, yet they still stung ever so slightly. The bright glue was meant to be a way to keep my mind off of the whole occurrence of the day. It barely worked. All I knew is that I really didn't like that Taehyung guy. It was something about him. Maybe it was his aura that was all too bright or his annoying way of emphasizing all the unwanted words. It was clear that he meant no harm, but it also didn't mean that it was wanted.

Subdued music plays in the background. My phone was currently plugged into my water speaker set, colors of the rainbow jumping up and down to the low beat, and yes, it was a California-based song playing. I realized that it wasn't myself who picked out all of these California songs, but it was the composer's fault for always singing about the West Coast life...at least the realness of it.

I was a realistic and blunt person, and that's why it always made me cringe when people sugar coated things. No, your favorite idol does not truly love you, they don't even know you. No, you will not get accepted into that fancy college, but your parents tell you that you'll make it because they themselves are blinded by the rich thought of it all. No, you won't get to kiss that boy before he leaves for Europe because he'll be far gone before you even think of seeing him one last time. My mind was extremely real, and I hated it just for that reason.

I didn't realize that my breath had become heavy until all of the glue had fallen onto the table, leaving sticky glitter on my small, pale hands. With fury, I slam them down onto the white countertop, standing up and having my chair fall behind me. I was fed up with my own self, how stupid of me to get worked up again.

I leave my chair on the floor, going into the kitchen and wetting a paper towel before going back to clean off the countertops along with my hands. My short bliss was well lived, but as the song turns into a saddened one once more, I quickly turn it off, turn off everything, no music, no tv, no lights, no talking.

----

"Jimin," I whimper through sniffs. My phone is cold against my wet cheeks, resting comfortably on my shoulder as my arms clutch my knees to my body, "I need a friend right now." I continue, shoulders shaking as my bottom lip quivers.

"Jeongguk, what's wrong?" Jimin softly says. His usual happy tone now solemn and serious, "Talk to me...You know I care about you."

"I- I know," I sniff again, my eyes tightly shut. It's like I can't stop crying, "b-but I don't even kn-know wh-what I want-t. I've b-been shouting a-at nothing for the past th-thirty min-utes." I take in a deep breath so that I don't die of not having enough oxygen in my lungs, "Why, why, why, why!?"

"Shh, shh, calm down, Love." Jimin soothingly speaks, trapping me in a moment of sincerity. The nickname doesn't pass by, though. Jimin never used names like this towards me, "You'll be fine. Watch a real-time sketch video. I know that those help you in times like these."

"B-But I-I've tr-tried that." The hiccups only worsen while I sob into my knees.

"Why are you so sad all of a sudden? You were fine this morning. Please, Jeongguk, tell me. I want to help you." Jimin stops talking but I don't answer. I already explained that I didn't know why I was crying, "Is it the whole English class transfer? You can always ask to be moved back. You don't have do be advanced."

"N-No it's f-fine there."

"Jeongguk?" Jimin softly asks, regaining my full attention, "Can you sing for me?"

"Wh-What?"

"Sing for me...please." I let out a long sigh, not wanting to.

"Do I have to?"

"Please?"

I sniff again, putting the phone in my hand and letting my legs move away from my chest. This reminded me of a time where only Jimin knew that I could sing, now, Taehyung knew about it. I hadn't even held a proper conversation with the boy, and he already knew too much about me. The song that leaves my lips is a song about California nights and its sublime, haunting essence. My fingers pick at my white comforter that lays on my white bedsheets.

"Thank you, Gukie. I can tell that you're feeling better already. Listen to yourself. You're you're not crying anymore." Jimin tells me, a knowing smile on his face, "You just needed a distraction."

I smile as well, thankful that Jimin knew exactly how to calm me down, "Jimin?"

"Hm?"

"I'm glad that I have you for a friend."

I can practically hear Jimin's smile widen, "Me too, Jeongguk. Go to sleep now. It's late."

"Tsk tsk, Jimin, do you not know me? I'm up for at least another two hours." I joke while lightly laughing.

"I know but that doesn't mean I like you staying up so late. It's not good for your health."

Sighing, I gaze out of my small window, "Alright. I'll go to bed now. You go to bed too, okay?"

"Of course. I'll see you tomorrow, Lovely." My petite shoulders synch at the sweet pet name.

"Goodnight, Jimin."

"Goodnight, Jeongguk." I take the phone away from my ear, staring down at the screen.

A picture of Jimin shows, hair red from before it turned orange. A peace sign lays naturally at the side of his face while he puckers his lips, a wink shown. When his picture doesn't leave my sight, I let out a loud laugh, "Jimin, you have to hang up in order to end the call."

"I was waiting for you to end it." Jimin laughs at me through the speakers of my phone, "Alright, alright. I'm leaving now, goodbye."

"Goodbye." The red hang up button finally goes away as Jimin ends the call, and his picture soon leaves my screen. The contact information for Jimin shows up again, and damn, I'm tempted to call him one more time just so I don't have to be alone with my own thoughts right now.

My phone buzzes, and a banner shows at the top of my screen.

Unknown Number: Hey, are you alright?

"What?" I whisper, quickly tapping the banner before it leaves and reading over the text again. There was no way for me to hide now as it shows that I've seen this, so I type out a lame response.

Jeongguk: sorry but I think you have the wrong number.

Unknown Number: Is this not Jeongguk?

Jeongguk: it is & who are u?

Unknown Number: Seokjin, from earlier.

Jeongguk: oh hi. how'd you get my number tho?

Seokjin: I'm mutuals w Park Jimin and I asked him for your number after hearing that you weren't feeling ok.

Jeongguk: ok..thanks for worrying but i'm alright now. jimin helped me out.

Seokjin: Good, I was worried about you.

Jeongguk: why worry about me?

Seokjin: Because it seems like no ones else truly does, and no one should experience that.

My eyes widen at his answer, feeling that same motherly warmth. Why did this boy have such scary friends?

Jeongguk: again thank you for worrying, but i'm gonna sleep now. maybe i'll see you tomorrow at school.

Seokjin: Of course. Sorry to bother you.

Jeongguk: don't be sorry, goodnight.

I turn off the app and ignore the ding after I do so. The fact that Seokjin was so worried about me was still immensely puzzling, but I wasn't going to turn away his want to help me. That'd be far too stupid. I throw my phone to the side of my bed that remains unoccupied and lay down.

For comfort, my fingers reach up for my hood and I pull it down, covering my eyes from the fairy lights that illuminate my small and cozy room, wishing that the spot next to me was no longer unoccupied and a body to be laying there next to me.

----

"Shut up." I groan, throwing a pillow at the orange haired boy who decided to come over this morning.

"How can I shut up if you won't wake up?" Jimin complains, flopping down next to me on my bed.

I pry one of my eyes open, glaring at Jimin, who was still taller by two inches. It was unfair, really, "Look, I'm up. Now leave me be." My groggy voice orders.

"No can do, you're walking with me to school today."

"Why?" I whine, "I'm so tired. I don't want to go."

"But you went to bed early last night, right?" Jimin quietly asks, his face no longer full of playfulness, "You said you would."

"Jimin, stop worrying. Of course course I did." The words ease his worrisome expression, "That's the whole thing, I went to bed early, but I'm still hella tired."

"Okay..." Jimin pauses, a smile forming on his face, "Did you just say hella?"

"Yeah and is there a problem?" Finally sitting up, my voice rings something waveringly stern, failing miserably to try and intimidate Jimin.

Jimin shakes his head while chuckling, "No, no, I don't. Wouldn't wanna get attacked by the five foot six monster over here."

"Shut up!" I shout and throw my pillow at his face, "This isn't fair at all. I want to make fun of your height!"

"No, I like your height...It's cute on you." My beam falters. Once Jimin takes note on the change in behavior, he clears his throat before sitting up and getting off of my bed, "Get dressed or we're gonna be late." He mumbles, throwing a random soft and heavy sweater and leather pants to lighten the now extremely awkward mood.

"'Kay." I faintly respond, looking down at my clothes as Jimin walks out of my room, closing the door behind him.

I pick up the heavy material, extending my arms and observing the sweater- my black and red striped sweater. Are you even allowed to wear shirts with this many rips in it to school? Eh, who cares.

----

The townhouse is extremely silent as I leave the bathroom after brushing my teeth. It's so quiet that I wonder if Jimin left while I was getting ready. My fingers run through my hair, ruffling it up for volume since I haven't washed it in 2 days. Walking through all of the rooms, still unable to find the person I claim to be my only friend is, until I reach the kitchen and go idle in the entryway

"You made breakfast?" I ask in astonishment upon my entering.

"More of 'putting frozen waffles into a toaster' but yeah, I kinda did." Jimin shrugs his shoulders, throwing me a waffle while he bites into his own, "I didn't put syrup on them because we have to bring them with us." He glances over at me and eyes me up and down before biting into his waffle again, and I finally begin to eat mine, "Nice outfit, who picked it out?"

I chuckle at him and walk out of the kitchen with a waffle still in hand before grabbing my backpack. It reminds me of Taehyung's jacket which makes me lightly sigh at the thought, "Come on Jimin, we're gonna be late." I call out, awaiting to see him walk into the front hallway.

Jimin finally walks up to me, grabbing his own bag out of my hand, "Thanks."

"Mhm, now come on." I grab onto Jimin's sleeve, pulling him along with me out the door.

----

this is so bad ohmygod sorry for this filler yikes