2 years back

"So coach, who is the best swimmer on the team, the one you want to send in the National competition, representing our school?" Coach Lin's assistant, Mona asked her as they both admired the school's swimming team who were currently practicing. The coach looked at the swim team, or to be accurate, Veronica and Taehyung. While the others mainly swimmed because their parents wanted them to, Veronica and Taehyung had passion for swimming, and it showed.

"And Done! Come out, team! Get changed now, the time is over," the coach blew her purple whistle as a signal. The team immediately took her order and exited, as Veronica's friend Paige passed her a towel and Taehyung took his own, the coach called both of them, "You guys are brilliant," as Taehyung and Veronica smiled at her

"Veronica, you are selected for Seoul National Swimming Competiton, you will represent our school," the coach firmly said patting her back as she mumbled a thank you, "Wait, what?" Taehyung asked in disbelief, "Sorry Taehyung, you are amazing but I think Veronica deserves this," the coach answered firmly. For a second, Taehyung felt his whole world shatter. His parents are planning this huge party for him already, his relatives, family friens, everyone was invited. How will Taehyung tell his parents? It will be like telling your parents, you don't wanna marry when your bride is already walking down the aisle.

"Is it because she is the principal's daughter? Am sorry ma'am, but my parents already think I am getting this, they are even planning a whole party!? I have been on the team since I was 6, and she joined last year. Is going because she is the principal's daught-" Taehyung almost shouted

"Control yourself, Mr. Kim, we don't appreciate that. Also, no. In SNHS we believe everyone is equal, but I am not changing my decision, she deserves this" the coach said before she and her assistant went away.

"I am sorry Taehyung, don't worry, I will tell you everything about how the competition was when I return," Veronica said giving a smug-smile and then waving off

"We'll see about that," Taehyung whispered with his deep voice, clenching his fist.

----------------

Next day- 3 weeks left for the competition

"Remind me again, why Somi did not come to school today?" Jennie asked Taehyung, Roseanne, and Jungkook who were sitting with her at the same table in the cafeteria, while the others were sitting else-where. If Somi wasn't here, they would split into two parts, Jennie, Taehyung, Roseanne, and Jungkook on one, while Lisa, Hoseok, Jin, Jisoo, and Namjoon on the other. She was like a string that kept the eleven connected, and no matter, if the string is rough or loose the string, keeps the whole toy alive

"She has a fever," Roseanne answered, taking a spoonful of her cake. The cafeteria felt so unusually quiet even though everyone was shouting, maybe because the queen-bee wasn't there. Taehyung gave a smile to Hoseok who was taking a seat, not so far, with the other famous 12.

"It's raining so hard today," Jungkook commented as they all nodded. The glass panes were tainted with rain-drops and no one expected the rain to stop anytime soon.

It was afternoon already, noon with a chilly wind as the rain continued to pour heavily. The students were either celebrating that they had a car or umbrella, or either crying because they had to run in the rain with their bag on their head. The eleven were walking to the main entrance of the school, in utter-silence. "I have my car, I can give you all a lift," Jungkook said pointing to Rosie, Jin, Hoseok, and Jimin, aka the Michan street gang along with him. "I have my car too, I can give the others a lift," Namjoon said pointing to others. While the Michan's left already, the others were in the parking lot with Namjoon. "I forgot my phone in the class, shit," Taehyung cursed suddenly

"I would have understood if you forgot your math textbook, but your phone? What the hell. Go, get it," Jennie taunted

As Taehyung rushed into the hallways, he first looked behind, no one is following him thank god. The hallways were empty and not a single soul

except her

"Hey, Paige," Taehyung gave her a smug smile as she returned the same, "Hey Taehyung, she is inside, grabbing her books," Paige, aka Veronica's, "best" friend told him

"and the picture?' he asked her

"Emailed it to you, sue that bitch, I hate her," Paige said as she eye-rolled as he took out his phone and made an "ooo" mouth, seeing the picture. "I will make sure I do," he muttered before entering the room. Veronica was kneeling down in front of a cupboard, finding some books but then she turned when she heard the door open and close.

"Taehyung, what are you doing here?" She asked not leaving her bossy attitude

"I just messaged you something, maybe wanna check?" he answered, acting totally innocent. Veronica eye-rolled and cursed under her breath before taking out her phone and checking her inbox, but the minute she did, she almost choked, this can't be.

"H-Ho-How d-did you f-find this? W-who e-else has i-it?" Veronica asked as she couldn't believe her eyes, how does he know her dirty secret

"Aww, you turned from a lioness to a small kitten pretty quick," he commented as he leaned on the wall.

"A-answer m-my que-question," she said, her face already stained with tears

"No one else has it, only me. Leave the team and I will keep it to myself," he said, straight-forward

"Okay, anything for this, just don't tell anyone," she said wiping her face as tears continued to drool

"Promise," he said before unlocking the door, "and trust me, I keep promises but if you try to do anything else, I will break it,"

As Taehyung exited the room, Paige gave him a high-five

"Thanks for the help girl," he said smiling as she smiled back. Taehyung continued to walk but before that he said something,

"Paige, this better stay between the two of us, or else check your phone, I know your secret too,"

Taehyung entered the car as the others sighed, finally they can leave. "Did you went to find your phone, or on a treasure hunt?" Jennie asked him as he was sitting next to her. "I didn't do the treasure hunt, I straight away got the treasure," he replied, looking out of the window

"You have been reading too many Robinhood books," Hoseok commented as they all laughed along

-------------

The same day: 5 pm

"Somi, Taehyung has come to meet you!" Mrs. Ennik shouted from downstairs and Somi tossed one of the magazines she was reading on the floor as she fixed her appearance in a jiffy.

"Hey," she turned around as Taehyung entered her room with 2 papers in his hand. Somi flashed her infamous smile

"Hey, how are you now?" he asked her

"Better now, Doctor said I just need to rest, and the fever will be gone," she said plopping down on her bed as Taehyung passed her the two papers, "Mrs. Felia asked me to give you your assignment,"

"Thanks," Somi muttered as she took the assignment and examined it, "Why do we really need to study and give a test about this stupid topic?"

Meanwhile, she ranted about how boring Biology was, Taehyung took a seat and then looked at her. "I did something terrible, and I am not proud of it," he confessed as Somi looked at him, she kept the paper down and turned to him. "What happened Tae?" she asked keeping a hand on his shoulder, a sign of support and care. She genuinely cared.

---------------

"Oh my goodness," that's all Somi said as he told her everything. Taehyung trusted Somi, more than anyone, of course, all his friends were close with her, but Taehyung knew what he and Somi shared was something way too special.

"It's okay, I hated that bitch anyways, she acted like she is Queen Elizabeth," Somi said grabbing her energy back, but Taehyung still felt a bit unconvinced.
"Hey, Tae, it's not your fault, bitches deserve that. If I were you, I would have done something way worse," Somi said in a joking tone as Taehyung finally smiled

"This will stay between us two right?" he asked her as she pulled him in a hug as he hugged back, "Of course, I promise," she said

"You know Taehyung, you were always my favorite. The one who was always honest with me, and one I count the most on," she said they both pulled away looking into each other's eyes as they both leaned in slowly, kissing each other.

And that's when Taehyung figured it out, he really had a crush on her.

A big one.

--------------

CURRENT DAY

Taehyung got out of the pool, fully drenched as he took his towel and ran it through his dark black hair. He was stressed, with all this XOXO drama, he felt way too tired. Swimming helped him relax, sometimes we wondered can he just sit underwater and spend the rest of his life until XOXO goes away.

He took his phone to see if he had any messages, and the minute he opened his inbox, a new message arrived

The phone almost slipped from his hand, as he looked at the message. How the fuck. He tried to ignore the message, and opened some other app, trying to divert his attention, and there he saw a picture of Jennie, on Instagram. She was pouting and looked like the cutest bun, and that's when Taehyung commented, "You are so cute <3"

and the phone again buzzed, and it was a message

from XOXO

Wasn't the first one creepy enough that he really had to send another? Taehyung opened the message.