My eyes don't rise to glance anywhere except the man who heads us towards the basketball stands while my mind fails to function properly. There is a grim silence between us but danbi's word latch cruelly in my chest bringing ache and heavy exhales. I don't know what to think anymore, who to believe because at this point, I'm in no place to assort the thoughts troubling my head. My hand loosens to reside the clothes next to me, my chest expanding with sharp breaths as a strange tension arises in my body."How are you feeling?",The person beside me decides to break the silence, startling with his concern."I don't know…. It's just a lot to take in.",The tears threaten to reveal my weak state again so I don't match my gaze with him. I almost felt myself at the edge of breaking into a panic attack until he handled the situation, who was the last person I had expected to intervene considering how we have never talked much except exchanging a few words.

"It's understandable. The way she behaved and cornered you…it was total madness, a pathetic one. I would have sewn her mouth shut before she even spoke a word if I was there but I want you to know that the stuff about you, jungkook or the both of you, none of that is true.", He makes my pupils shoot at him, appalled and unconvinced at the same time. His actions themselves come as a surprise and now he's confusing me even more with this.

"You aren't saying this because you're his friend, right? I know how boys have each other's back but this would only make it worse if you're doing that for him because I'm…. I'm honestly tired, mingyu…",My voice falters so I swallow a gulp of air down my throat.There's no will in me to face anyone at the moment, exhaustion is only soaring after the incident back in the gym, leaving me everything but confident about all the emotions I felt in the past few days about jungkook. As if he has taken the cue to elaborate his words, mingyu flashes me a look of firm belief.

"I know he has a reputation of being seen as the centre of attention amongst everyone here and it's only right when girls throw themselves at you with the flick of an eye. I won't give you false hopes because I haven't honestly figured out the equation between you two, which I don't want to intervene between by any means but if there's one thing I can say for sure, it's that jungkook doesn't play with someone's feelings. He has always been clear on his part and as much as I've seen you two hanging out in school, he is, not in any way, fucking around with your friendship. You can trust me on that.",he clears his throat, emitting a deep sound.He doesn't sound skeptical, nor dubious which is a promising sign."It seems like you know him well.",I lick my lips, feeling conscious of this conversation now that things are out in the open. What a unique way to start the first real conversation between us!

"Been friends with that jerk since middle school, through thick and thin and honestly",His eyebrow arches,"I thought he was an asshole at first but he grows on you pretty soon, once you discover his feelings and heart.",I have no doubts about the latter, learning how I had seen his gentle and considerate behaviour which constricts my chest with the similar longing again. For some reason, I had felt myself submitting to the relief and comfort his arms offered me, the peace that I begged from god a few minutes ago. The accusations didn't matter much but it's the fact that I tasted heartbreak with even a pinch of them turning out to be true.

"You're a good girl,y/n. You don't deserve whatever happened back there just because some girls are jealous and insecure of you. You're a lot different from them. In a good way.So don't give it much thought or stress about it and as for jungkook….Well, I suppose you should follow your instincts, try to talk to him or something.",He advises like a sweet friend and I'm grateful for his presence that keeps me afloat from drowning into worthless conclusions. "Can you do me a favour?",I make his eyes glint at me,"Please don't tell jungkook about this. I can't handle things going down after he gets to know about what she said.", I'm not sure if he'll go insane after hearing about my insult or his, either way, I can't afford another avalanche in my normal routine.The past few days have been eventful, as if my life has joined a new path which gives me mixed feelings.

A faint smile drives his lips to a curve and he nods to playfully snatch my device out of my hold."In that case, I'm saving my number in your phone. You can reach out to me whenever you need someone to talk to, or you know when you feel like you want a good friend close to you.",I don't stop him from securing his contact and smile in gratitude before retrieving my device back. I'm put at ease from the way he doesn't force himself and instead offers me companionship from a comfortable distance and this feels refreshing.

"Thank you for saving me back there and for this. You're a hero.",I fly my device and he chuckles warmly at my exaggeration which is supposedly genuine but he gives me a tentative smirk that pokes dimples in his cheeks."How about 'Thank you Baek Mingyu, you're my superhero. I owe you my life, soul and loyalty'?",his eyes twinkle with humour and I can see he's attempting to make me feel better, succeeding at the first instance but I don't break into a smile, amused by him since I've always seen him faze a straight face.

"No? Alright, I guess…. you're welcome.",He manages to erupt a burst of laughter and I feel happy for the first time since the morning.

4:15 P.M.

The clouds roar in thunder, dark sky announcing an unpredictable rain as I sigh wearily, my body sprawling on the mattress. My mind hasn't stopped working on a way to not let danbi's bullshit affect my opinion of jungkook because he doesn't deserve being accused of being the asshole she claims he is.My phone vibrates with a notification so I toss my body to crawl my hand near the table lamp, the screen lighting up to display one of my favourite names.

—Junghee
> GUESS WHAT?]

[You bought chicken sandwich from Sando's again and this time they gave you the cheese dip for free 😌<

> WOW😳]
> That would be a miracle but work harder]

[You saw jungkook using your dad's spare car and now you're going to tell your parents👍.

> I should provoke him to. His face would be a photographic masterpiece]
> What's up with my brainy y/n? Come on dude 😭]

[ Spill already, I'm already frustrated from school and this close to throwing myself off a cliff<

>HYERIN IS COMING OVER TO HANG OUT IN FIVE MINUTES.

[OH MY GOD !!

> and I expect you to be here because I've got clammy hands and this boy here can't help me]

[oh my god<

I gape at the last text sent by her, my heartbeat rising at the mere thought of facing him that brings an unrelenting rush to my nerves. Either my life has really been obstructed in a different dimension or my guardian angel is sleeping. I lick my lips, breathing in and out while my fingers linger in the air, contemplating my decision and an exhale chortles in my throat when the three dots transition into a text.

> Don't tell me you've got work to do. I'm really nervous because it's my first time bringing someone home and I really need someone to calm me down. This boy here can't help me.I don't know what I might do or how I might act. I'm really clueless so get ready and come.]
> Please :(]

[Okay, be there in 10 😚<

I succumb to her nervousness, my fondness for her over-powering the uncertainty that threatens my thoughts. There's no use to spare my time to repent because I don't want to. She is the best friend I've ever had and I'm not going to refrain from holding her hand when she needs support. I steal a glance across the window to watch their house in my sight without any apparent reason. Perhaps it's the thought of facing jungkook or the abrupt rainfall that makes my chest heave palpitations. "Ah, whatever.",I shrug every troublesome thought and find my gaze to settle over my cupboard to leave for my best friend.

10 minutes later

The umbrella shutting after shielding from the chilly weather, I skim my feet over the perch at the doorstep and ring the doorbell for the door to swing open within a few seconds, a pair of chocolate brown eyes greeting me."Hey, pocky.",His form slouches on the wall and his gaze flutters at me with a smile on his lips. "Hey.",I bulldoze my way past him hoping for him to not notice my expressions but his hand clasp the umbrella, his other hand closing the door behind us."I'm gonna put it here.",His pupils deviate to the furniture for the purpose so I let go of my belonging and mutter a 'thank you'  to head towards the couch when a head swivels in my direction.

"Oh my god, you're here!",she jumps in excitement to startle the girl beside her who watches us sharing an embrace."Thank god you came.",she whispers in my nape while hugging me for some confidence so I return the clasp with even more affection."Don't worry, you'll be good.",I know for a fact that she will be, for she has come a long way from being in conflict with her feelings to wearing her choices with pride. The girl occupying the couch who I suppose is her friend, greets me with a merry smile that I cannot help but admire."Hey, I'm Hyerin.Nice to meet you.", she surges a hand forth for me to shake."Y/n, nice to meet you too.",I shoot a look of appreciation in my friend's direction who is currently fighting to stop her hands from fiddling anxiously. How do I tell her that she doesn't need to be conscious when she's already so lovable?

"Alright, enough of it. One of you needs to come here and help me arrange the snacks before cozying up there.",A grumpy man complains from the kitchen and junghee doesn't waste another second to pace to help him, leaving us by ourselves in the room which is specifically designed for movie marathons." Okay, guess it's our cue to decide the movie then.",I quip to break the ice and we settle ourselves on the cozy couch. Jungkook didn't lie, this furniture does have a special ability to lure us into comfort."What do you feel like watching?",I set my eyes on her."Anything you like. Honestly, I'm just…happy to be here.",She wins my heart without any doubt, bringing a smile to accompany hers.

"Hey, we're happy to hang out with you, too.Junghee talks a lot about you and we couldn't wait to meet you.",I tell her the truth and she squirms in her seat, her cheeks rising to accept the appreciation with nervousness and her eyes beam at my words."That's really sweet of you but I hope she doesn't rattle about me dragging her to the canteen everyday because I can defend the accusations. Really.",She broaches the incident I'm already aware of but I act preposterous to listen to her version."Because she doesn't like to mingle around with people?", There's no other reason to show her disliking people, no matter how surprisingly opposite they turn out to be. This girl is too adamant to accept people's company."Exactly. I've spent so much time for her to get out there and know that not every other person is annoying. I think I've come a bit far because now she looks at people as if she's one step up from beating them, not killing them.",She cracks a round of laughter between us. I've come to a realisation that she has junghee perfectly figured out which means that she has managed to know her true self.

"She's really lucky to have you as her friend but I guess you already know because you're still alive.",I switch my attention towards the screen, the options offered by the streaming service confusing me."I think I'm the lucky one too because she's a really sweet and caring person once you get to know her.",Her voice turns delicate and I don't miss the softness reflecting on her face. I don't say anything, sensing the expressions on her face which give a slight hint of her reciprocating Junghee's feelings. Maybe it's just my mind playing tricks on me, but my instincts are telling me they are going a long way.

As if she determines the impact of her words, she frames her face to pick the remote."Gilmore girls?",She picks almost every girl's all time favourite."Sure."

"No fucking way. I'm not going to tolerate that show one more time.", Long legs stride across the couch to place the bowls of popcorn and soft drinks on the table before his body plops next to mine. My gaze struts down on his thighs aligned next to mine, the gray sweatpants coming in my sight before my eyes glide to his face for a miniscule second to digest the look of despise that he throws at the characters of the show."Not like anyone's going to listen to you.",Junghee plops her body beside hyerin at the sound of the pilot episode beginning on the large screen.

"Seriously ? You have rewatched this show more than a hundred times. Just play Stranger Things, would you?",He doesn't settle until he hears my exasperated sigh."This show deserves even more than that, jungkook. You can watch Stranger Things some other time but now majority of us want to watch this one.",I keep my pupils persistent as he absorbs my words plaintively. This is the first time I let my eyes zero on him since yesterday but that doesn't stop the butterflies from swarming in my stomach when I see his lips twitching into a pout. Is this man really whining over a show?

He doesn't counter us, instead switching his focus on the device in his hands before clicking the screen on and rising from the seat."I'll be in my room. Call me if you need something.", After a few seconds, thudding on stairs and lungful of breaths, he's gone in his room. I turn to junghee to read annoyance imprinted all over face which explains what she meant when she said jungkook can't help her. She drops her back on the couch, groaning to relax in the comforting leather seat before we fall into an awkward silence. Hyerin steals a hesitant look from me and I offer a forced smile to dig myself a place in my mind."He's gonna be okay after a while. Let's just resume it.",The second one from the stubborn pair taps the button on the remote to resume the dialogue which manages to grab our attention so we enjoy the show.

15 minutes later

My gaze wandering towards upstairs for the umpteenth time, I wonder about the strange silence, troubling my mind to skim through all the possibilities of his actions after he walked out of the room. The lack of company beside me is bothering me more than it should. I can sense discomfort erupting from the pair joining me who haven't talked since the show started so I don't think before standing from the couch. "I'll just be back. I'm gonna check on him.",I find my way to leave them alone so they don't hesitate to converse and earn an ambiguous lift of mouth from my friend who approves my actions.

The staircase leads me to his room and I knock on the door to hear his response."Come in.", The door flings open and jungkook straightens his back to lay it against the headboard upon seeing me, astounded by my presence."Look who's here.",He gives me a smug smile, placing his phone on the cabinet so I walk towards the television to switch on the screen to display the show that he demanded earlier and turn my figure to face him.

As soon as he watches the logo zooming on the black screen, something flicks his eyes to glow at me, rewarding and sublime in gratitude. I'm unable to drift my vision apart from him, my heart gravitating involuntarily towards him. I'll never be able to reason the effect he has on me because I have guessed I can't help, it's natural, he possesses that power."Come here.", I step closer at his request to join him, the air thickening with anticipation as his eyes hover over my face before he presses his lips on my cheekbone, arousing my rapid heartbeat."You're a sweet one for this.",He refers to my actions causing my lips to break in a smile before I adjust myself next to him on the pillows. Jesus, his bed looks like a four person compartment with a spacious mattress and so many pillows.

"Guess I can do that for you after you chased away.",I pique to lay my attention on the show but his eyebrows arch at me."Chased away? I wouldn't call it that. You know what I would call chasing away?",His body lists towards me, both of us facing each other and I feel a sudden need to close the space between us to feel his arms like yesterday. I'm probably insane but when he places his piercing orbs at me, warmth pools in my stomach so I answer him."What?"

"You avoiding me in school and a few minutes before.",He states blatantly and my jaw hangs to the ground. How the hell did he notice that? Was I that obvious? I comprehend revealing the reason that still aches my chest but I hoist my composure. I don't need another fight and I'll do anything to avoid further conflicts even if it demands withholding unease in my mind.

"I didn't avoid you.",I lick my lips,"I was just…busy today and about earlier. I don't think you can call me ignorant for rushing my way inside when it's raining.",I hope to rectify his thoughts and watch him suspecting my words. My gaze slides to the thin silver sterling chain that disappears under his black tee and it's the first time I have noticed he wears a chain around his neck which looks attractive on him."Alright. I'll believe you….only if you give me a kiss.",He relives and appals me in the same sentence, sucking a breath out of my chest.