"What in the hell am I doing here?" Jimin thought as he sat in front of Mr. Bang in his office along with his parents.

With rustling and small voices outside, they all looked towards the door and Jimin scoffed as he spotted Jungkook. "Of course, I think he is hurt I picked on his clothes. Pouty little baby."

Jimin's thoughts were disrupted when he saw two adults walking behind Jungkook, graceful, merry faces, twinkling eyes unlike his parents, and above all, they exuded a warmth that suddenly filled the room.

"Mr. Bang, how have you been?" The man stepped ahead and bowed while extending his hand towards the principal.

"Mr. Jeon, apologies for calling you on short notice. Please sit," He gestured at the two empty chairs. "I have been fine. I hope you both are doing well now." He stated, settling down on his chair and entwining his fingers after fixing his round spectacles.

Jungkook let his parents sit and stood behind them silently. "Jungkook isn't getting beaten anymore, so I guess we are happy." Mrs. Jeon chuckled and Mrs. Park stared at Jimin through her side eyes while the boy almost choked on nothing.

Rubbing his sweaty palms over his thighs, he decided to stand up. "Remain seated, Jimin." Mr. Bang ordered sternly. Jimin could feel that shit was about to go down. He lowered his ass on the chair, keenly reading the expressions on the man's face.

"Mr. Park," Mr. Bang started with a sigh. "There is an opportunity that can get Jimin extra credit on his college application in the final year. We have an interschool international quiz and Jimin has decided to shut the opportunity off. I called you here to discuss it again."

Mr. Park looked at Jimin, silently demanding answers with his judgemental eyes that were getting under Jimin's skin. "Why wouldn't you tell us?"

"I am not interested, as I said before." Jimin blinked his eyes at the principal.

"Too bad, you are still going." Mr. Bang took out a form from his desk drawer and handed it over to his parents. "This is the permission form. You need to sign it."

Jimin's mother took out a pen from her bag and signed it without even talking to Jimin and the boy balled his fists in anger, feeling the humiliation not only in front of Jungkook, but also his parents.

"Can I go now?" He scowled in exasperation.

"Before you do, meet the Jeons' here." Mr. Bang smiled.

"Hello, son." Mrs. Jeon smiled warmly at the boy.

Jimin bowed, his eyes suddenly faltered in admiration towards the mellifluous lady. "H-Hello, ma'am."

"Here's what we are going to do. Since Jungkook and Jimin don't get along well, I decided to involve you in this matter as this is of utmost concern." Mr. Bang said suggestively.

Mr. Jeon stared at Jimin, understanding that it was him who had beaten Jungkook the last time. He suddenly wasn't as warm towards the boy as his wife.

"To ensure that they don't kill each other off in the states, I want them to start getting along before the trip. It is solely among you to discuss how you want to do it. In case if they aren't friendly with each other before they depart from here, I will cancel everything, including the festival." Mr. Bang punctuated, his eyes averted at Jimin.

"Thank you, Mr. Bang. We will definitely work something out." Mr. Park stood up and ended their meeting.

There was a really awkward atmosphere amongst them as they stood and waited for one another to talk outside the office. "Shall we move to the cafeteria?" Mrs. Jeon offered, easing the tension a little but not enough to douse it entirely.

**

"I won't do it. He is basically forcing me and it's blackmailing what he just did there." Jimin sneered as they all sat at a table, Jeons' at one side and Parks' on the other side.

"That's enough, Jimin." Mr. Park announced in a clear, deep voice which adequately shut Jimin for good. At times like these, he wanted to run away and never look back. "I apologize on his behalf." The man added to Jeons' who were blankly looking at the cold, bickering family.

"No, he is right. Mr. Bang did indeed blackmail the kids," Mr. Jeon chuckled, causing Jimin to snap his neck towards him so swiftly that it made a noise. "But I guess we are in a bit of a situation. May I suggest something?"

"Sure." Mrs. Park said after exchanging a few glances with her husband, forcing a smile that didn't look natural at all.

"I think we can start by having each other at our place. Jimin can come and study with Jungkook and I can drop my boy at your place sometimes," The man suggested and quickly raised his hands, "only if it's convenient for you."

Mr. Park hummed as if thinking about it. "That could work," He said after a bit of consideration. Jimin can drive to your place and Jungkook can come over to ours."

"And you don't necessarily have to drive Jungkook, Jimin has a license and he can drive. Jungkook can come directly from the school with him." Mrs. Park added effectively.

"Wonderful!" Mrs. Jeon beamed. "It would be lovely to have Jimin at our home. Why not Jimin come with us now?" She asked the boy who only looked with flabbergasted expressions, feeling as his legs were cut off and he couldn't do anything he wanted.

"Actually, I have a car. If I don't take it back, they will confiscate and fine me." He desperately made effort like a drowning man does to hang on to the last straw.

"Then Jungkook can go with you." Mrs. Park silently looked at Jimin.

"Whatever." Jimin stood and abruptly left, leaving everyone to second thought if this was a good idea after all.

Jungkook looked at his parents. "Go, have a good study session. I will come to pick you up in two hours." Mr. Jeon told the boy while caressing his head.

Instead of feeling rebellious, Jungkook grinned ear-to-ear. "Yesss! No more school bus."

**

Jimin sauntered ahead after getting out of the car, letting Jungkook trail off behind him and looking at his house and the big garden.

During the entire drive, Jimin didn't speak to Jungkook and the younger sat stiffly on his seat, as though afraid that if Jimin detected any movement, he would storm at him.

Jungkook gulped silently while looking down with his innocent big eyes. "Kids are home." Mrs. Park announced to let Mr. Park know.

The man appeared out of his room and smiled in a very polite way. "Study well, and Jimin," he addressed his son, "I don't want any shrewdness or tactic coming out of you." He warned before putting on his sunglasses and walking out of the house.

Jungkook stood straight while holding onto the backpack when his stomach growled. Mrs. Park chuckled out loud, and this time, it rolled off in a way more natural than before. "Are you hungry, Jungkook?"

"No, I am not." Jungkook took almost no time to deny the fact as he shook his head, but his stomach growled louder, having no sympathy for its owner to help in covering up the lie.

Rolling his eyes, Jimin made a beeline towards the stairs to go into his room. He plopped down on his bed and immediately called Hoseok.

"Hyung, this disaster has now reached my home." He whined.

"Don't worry, the day is not far that this disaster will find its way in your heart." Hoseok chuckled ridiculously.

"I am sure your head is stuck in your behind. Please get it out because your thoughts stink." Jimin complained in concern.

"Do you want to bet on it? It is a classic case of Rom-Com where the school bully falls in love with the victim." Hoseok instigated Jimin more.

"Do you also know that in most crime scenes, the perpetrator knows his victim from before? Say, for example, he is a best friend." Jimin snarked back.

Meanwhile, Jungkook had some fruits and snacks that Mrs. Park let the maids serve to him. He was still eating when Jimin came into his view from the dining table after a few minutes.

The boy was wearing a loose lavender t-shirt and off-white Pyjamas. Jungkook couldn't help but ogle the older who looked really different than his usual self at school.

"Want to finish a month's allotment?" Jimin asked as he let his weight fall on the chair.

Jungkook shook his head while still stuffing his mouth.

Jimin grinned sweetly while narrowing his eyes sarcastically. "Will you stop eating then?"

4 Nov 2021