x
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HOSEOK269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqtHwqpCmK
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"Scouts behind target, status?"
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"Hundred meter mark, clear."
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"Sixty meter mark, clear."
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"Thirty meter mark, target in sight, clear."
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I turned nonchalantly to see the last woman who had spoke in my earpiece down the straight path we were on. She had a partner. But not a romantic partner. A work partner meant to feign a significant other. The man and woman were mid-conversation, their regard for each other resembled that of a real loving couple. They were good.
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Target in sight indicated that Seokjin was in view of the personnel who called it. Also an indication that I hadn't needed to voice my update, much to my relief. At some points, the bends for instance, made it difficult -not mention awkward- to suddenly pull away from the group to whisper my status to the voices in my ear.
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The voices made this hike less than ideal.
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No, it was irritating as hell.
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The constant concourse of robotic tones repeating the same crap was more monotonous than a text-to-speech app. The past four hours felt like I had two songs of different genres playing in each ear. Nothing made sense until I ignored one. I'm sure I popped at least two veins today.
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My eyes wavered toward a shy Yurim. Her timid body wrapped around the broad shouldered white knight.
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And maybe there were other reasons why I found myself to be slightly irked...
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She didn't seem particularly excited with the prospect of being carried by any of us. But the difference in her composure with the two guys was an interesting observation. Annoying but interesting. Now, as Seokjin carried her, there was a tension in her limbs and muscles. Like she was insecure about something. On Yoongi's back, her body had looked limp in comparison. Though she kept her face a safe distance from his. Had she gotten used to him already?
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"I picked this for you."
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My eyes cut to my best friend and her temporary steed. Seokjin carefully pulled a flower from his pocket. I saw him pick it during the hike while we were split up. The flower petals were purple which faded to white at the tips. The middle sprouted orange, fuzzy stamens that reminded me of the balls of yarn Yurim had piled in her room last year. She and her mom took on a crocheting job to help fund some repairs they needed for the business. I wasn't useful when it came to the crocheting, but I pedaled Yurim like hell to have them delivered in time.
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One night after making all the deliveries, we stopped for ice cream to treat ourselves. Yurim broke down that day. It was the first time I saw her cry. She unloaded all of her concerns and frustrations. That girl worried too much for her own good sometimes but it was the moment I was waiting for since I met her. At first glance I pitied her. Seeing a hoard of concerns swimming behind her tired eyes with no one to tell them to.
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I don't know why I went through the trouble of earning her trust. Then again, it's not like there were many interesting students at school anyway. I just knew that everyone should have at least one person in their life they felt safe enough to crumble in front of. Someone they didn't have to keep it together for. Even gang members have a sense of brotherhood that nurtured their familial needs. Sure, there's no crying and hugging involved but everyone had their different languages.
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It was amazing that a single flower brought so much meaning and memory. Which was why I picked the same exact one before throwing it away just so the prince could get his moment.
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"Really?" She responded. I could practically hear her blushing. "It's pretty." Yurim spin the flower by its stem, watching the petals spin like a pinwheel.
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"Very pretty," Seokjin nodded. "Now we're both holding pretty flowers."
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Aiiiish, I cringed.
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"Psst."
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I looked to my side where the sound was. Minju marched beside me, her eyes also investigating her sister. This girl's curiosity and tenacity was beyond what was normal. She was everything a guy hated in a girl. Nosy, bossy, selfish, obsessed with gossip, clingy, manipulative, etc. But, as Yurim said, she was still young and had some time to grow out of those qualities. In the beginning of our friendship, my patience was infantile.
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Eventually, while being inspired by Yurim's patience, I found harmless ways of annoying her without leaving my cheery persona. It was safe to say that I now saw her as a little sister.
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"Oppa." She whispered.
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"Mm?"
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"Does Yurim and Yoongi know each other?"
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What should've been an immediate answer hit a snag in my brain. We were all classmates, so yeah, we all knew him. With the friends he's had and their recent harassment aimed at her, one could say they were enemies. But that's clearly not what Minju was seeing. Neither did I see any truth in telling her that.
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I knew Yoongi had differences between himself and his friends regarding her but there was something else. There was something I didn't know. I could feel an absence of information about those two that scratched at my nerves. Why did he feel different?
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"We all go to the same school." I told her.
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"I thought so. Oppa, I have a serious question and you have to answer me honestly okay?" Minju spoke even softer. The gears in her head turning.
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I chuckled knowing the most ridiculous things usually left her mouth after she thought too much. "I can't wait to hear it."
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The younger girl cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered, "is Eonni secretly a harlot?"
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My fingers twitched but remembered this was Minju. I chuckled, "ya, I should pull you by your ear all the way down this mountain. How could you even think that about your sister?"
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"Well, how else could someone boring like her catch all these guys' attention?" She shrugged. "There's no way she doesn't have some secret life of some kind."
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I shook my head at her ridiculous theories. "Your sister is just different. Different can be...refreshing for some guys."
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I just didn't expect them to find her so damn soon.
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"I'm different." She proclaimed, still deep in thought.
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I grimaced and patted her head. "Sure you are."
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After five minutes of putting her suspicions to rest Hyeji called her over to help her assist Jimin. Those two, Hyeji especially, spoiled him rotten with their care and attention. I smirked to myself at the guys distress. He'd lost my respect ever since I over heard him mention Yurim being naked at the hot springs. What business was it of his to talk about her like that?
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Gradually I swaggered to the back of the group toward Yoongi. Everyone was perfectly distracted enough for me to check in on him.
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The guy was fuming, never letting his eyes off Yurim and Seokjin for more than ten seconds. He reacted to Seokjin better than I expected, though I figured he knew it would work against his favor if he didn't tolerate him. For a moment I thought he'd take a swing at the taller guy for sure. No doubt rough around the edges but his restraint was impressive thus far, I'll admit.
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"You'll burn a hole through her back pretty soon." I said.
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Yoongi blinked away from them to me before relaxing his surveillance. "More like his face."
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"Jealousy never won anyone's heart, you know."
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"Who said anything about winning anyone?" He defended.
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It's all over your face, you idiot.
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"I just needed her to know that I'm not tryna hurt her like the others."
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"And does she?" I inquired.
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"If she doesn't by now, she's an even bigger idiot than I thought." He flicked a look at her again. The guy's body language and tone communicated irritation, but I sensed a genuine concern over the prospect of not being understood by her. I smiled mischievously. I had to test him.
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"Which would make you the bigger idiot for trying so hard to win her over, huh?"
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Yoongi glared over at me. "Are you tryna start a fight?"
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"Hoseok-ah, don't lose focus. You're on the clock." Heejae warned in my ear. I ignored her.
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I laughed. "Fine. Enlighten me. Why else would you care about what she thinks?"
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In my ear, Heejae asked everyone for their statuses again but I didn't let the voices distract me from the conversation. I didn't know what I was looking for just yet but my gut told me to push him.
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The loner turned his eyes to his feet. The look said he knew his answer clearly, he just didn't want to share it. The annoying itch returned as I recalled the missing information. Did his answer have something to do with that part I didn't know? The longer he refused to answer, the itch became more and more annoying.
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"Come on, it can't be that complicated." I goaded. "Don't tell me it's like those dramas where the guy says, 'I made a promise years ago and I plan to keep it.'" I exaggerated with a theatrically deep voice.
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"Hoseok-ah, do not push him. Are you hearing me?"
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I caught a twitch in his eye and jaw muscle. His chin dropped slightly but he didn't respond. Was I getting close? Even though I may have been a step closer to finding out what I was missing, his lack of cooperation was starting to tick me off. I needed to know once and for all.
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I played a incredulous face. "Wait...am I actually right? You two knew each other before? Wow, who knew Yoongi was the hopeless romantic type-" A rough tug cut me off.
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"Ma'am the angry one has Hoseok by the shirt. He looks hostile, should we step in?" The scout behind us reported hastily but calm as Yoongi stabbed his raging and unforgiving eyes into mine.
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"No he probably deserves it. What's the status of the other kids?"
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"They're unaware."
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"Good. Interfere only if Seokjin steps in."
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"Understood."
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Seeing many eyes like his in my past, I only returned them with careless acknowledgement. Perhaps a little sprinkle of amusement as well. Deep, angry wrinkles formed around his nose as he spoke in a low tone.
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"You're really pushing your luck. How well do you think you'll keep up your clown act once I punch that smirk off your face?" He threatened.
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"De-escalate, kid."
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I scoffed. "You think I can't take a few punches? You think I haven't cracked a smile while choking on my own blood?" Yoongi's furrowed eyes blinked and searched my face for any sign of a bluff.
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"That's not de-escalating."
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"Yoongi, I don't hate you so I'll let you know right now. I'm not a prideful guy but I'm always a step ahead. You'll lose it and take it out on me and you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna take it because I can. And whatever progress you made with her today will have gone to shit. No one loses but you." My heart raced with excitement. I haven't played this game in a long time. The grip on my shirt remained tight, his eyes considering my words.
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"The girls are stirring. They're bound to notice the two left behind."
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"Hoseok-ah! If your friends see you two and Seokjin feels inclined to jump in, we'll be forced to step in. And there's nothing you'll be able to do to keep Yoongi from being blacklisted. You know what that means right?" Heejae warned.
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We all waited in anticipation. I hoped he wouldn't be stubborn enough to make the wrong choice. If he did, maybe I trusted him prematurely. I turned my eyes to its corners. The girls were giggling loudly, getting Yurim's attention. She worked to look over her shoulder. Only then did I begin to feel nervous. Whatever he decided, if he took too long, the choice will be made for him.
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My shirt fell in a wrinkled bunch below my neck. The fabric stretched. Yoongi stepped back, his hostility disappeared but he still regarded me with calm suspicion.
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"He released him."
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"What are you?" He asked finally.
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"How do you two really know each other?" I retorted. An answer for an answer. That's what the deal was.
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"HEY! WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING ALL THE WAY OVER THERE!" Minju called to us. Everyone stopped to turn and look at us. I gave them all a big smile and waved,
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"WE THOUGHT WE SAW A BEAVER! WE'LL CATCH UP!"
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They waved back and continued walking on. Though Seokjin observed us a little longer, mainly Yoongi, before turning back. When all had returned to normal, I looked at the guy next to me who had been watching my bubbly mannerisms I had just displayed to everyone. He reeked of caution.
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I chuckled. "Don't look so serious. Come on. Sharing time ends when we catch up to them."
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Just as the hypnotizing swing of a pendulum, my red meshed shoes swung in and out of view. Every step had a natural numbing affect on my mind where thoughts wandered without direction and arrangement. Most times this relaxed flow of thought was a recipe for disaster and I avoided them. But I couldn't stop thinking about what Yoongi told me.
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Middle school.
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They'd known each other then.
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I wasn't convinced that he told me everything, but I didn't exactly bare my soul either. But I got what I needed.
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I had to laugh at my initial jealousy when he told me. So she was acquainted with him before me. Big deal. Wasn't I the outsider who moved into this town only two years ago? It's not surprising.
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Still...
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I've had this childish perception of us being our own little world. Life with the gang wasn't terrible. Or at least I didn't think so then. I had a place I belonged to and people who actually believed in my abilities. I thought I'd never find a better situation.
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And then I came here and met her. A weird, intellectual yet dense loner. Yurim, my uncle, and even Heejae were my family now. They all believed in me too. But it wasn't the same as the gang. It was a different kind of happy. Like it would last longer. Maybe even forever. I wanted her to last with me forever. Even if we stayed friends, I was okay with it.
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However, that lie was easier to accept when no one was looking at her.
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"You're quiet." Yurim whispered in my ear. A shiver rattled down my spine, pulling me from my trance into high alert. I almost forgot I was holding her.
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I tried to meet her eyes over my shoulder, but caught a glimpse of her lips instead. Quickly, I blinked away and decided looking forward was safest.
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"Mm?" She noticed my hesitation. "Are you okay? Am I too heavy?"
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I smiled. Her worry was endearing. "How can you be too heavy? If a gust of wind came, you'd end up on the other side of the world." I joked. "Besides, I've carried you lots of times."
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"I had to be sure. What were you thinking about?"
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"You." I smirked.
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One of the perks of being best friends was I could say bold things and she still wouldn't know that I loved her. What's funny is how it was also tragic for the same exact reason. And by funny, I mean it sucked.
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"Me? Why?" She asked, curious.
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"You and Yoongi." I paused intentionally.
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"Me and...? W-why? What's there to think about? That's weird. Why would you think of us? It doesn't make sense, really." She rambled nervously. A subtle disappointment weighed on my chest. Yoongi made known the possibility that she had forgotten their middle school encounters. I hoped that was the case. If it wasn't, I wondered why she never told me about it.
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"I was just hoping he took good care of you while we couldn't be there." I lied.
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"Oh, that." Yurim chuckled with relief. "Seokjin-shi was concerned about that too. But I guess you could say he...took care of me. Even though he was annoying about it."
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"Seems different lately doesn't he? Have you noticed he hasn't been around his friends much?" My mind craved to know her thoughts but I needed to be careful about it. She wasn't just anyone I could push to the point of insanity to give me answers.
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It took a few seconds but she finally responded. "No. I hadn't noticed."
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"Seems like a good sign, huh? What do you think?"
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Yurim hesitated before giving a weak chuckle. "You're always looking for the good in people, aren't you?" She embraced me tightly, the sides of our warm faces pressed together. I clench my jaw, once again resisting the urge to turn and graze her jaw with my lips.
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For a moment I forgot that I had just lost any chance of gaining her thoughts about Yoongi. It didn't matter anyway. She redirected the question and changed the topic. She didn't want to talk about it. And me being a hopeless case, didn't dare push her.
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YURIM
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The afternoon sun beat down upon the gravel outside the main building. Luckily we sat on a bench under the shade of the over hang. Hoseok and Seokjin sat at either side of me. My dad's old pair of crutches between me and Hoseok. The fresh air was preferable after another one of dad's worried lectures.
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Even my mom began to question my recent injuries recently and grew more concerned. I lied and assured her I've just been clumsy lately. Even then, her eyes held a look of doubt, as though she was making a mental note to keep a close eye on me. My chest ached with both guilt and dread for making them worry, for lying about the things happening at school recently, and just being a mess in general today.
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I took a deep breath of the guilt free air. The thick white clouds drifted overhead beneath a blue sky. The trees rustled in the winds creating a chorus of fluttering leaves. Absent of parental concerns. Absent of poisonous school bullies. Absent of danger. Nothing but the sound and natural beauties of life surrounded us.
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Only when I was able to take in the peacefulness of my surroundings did I notice that I had been twisting a piece of thread in between my fingers.
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I looked down at the bandage around my hand. I must've been picking at it subconsciously because part of it already began to shred. The shredded threads I found entwined into a single rope between my thumb and index finger. The bandage itself gave a strange feeling. It was like an extension of the person who put it there. A palpable reminder that he was here.
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Was, being the ultimate word.
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No one knew when Yoongi left. He was just gone. The last time I saw him, he'd stayed behind in the lobby as Hoseok and Seokjin took me to my room. When I came back out to escape my parents, he was nowhere to be seen. Clearly, he didn't know manners enough to let someone know he was leaving. Forever rude miscreant! At least Jimin said goodbye!
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Jimin's mother's assistant picked him up several minutes ago. They went to get his rash checked immediately. I'm surprised Seokjin didn't go with him. I chanced a look at his hands which were resting on his knees. His fingers drumming one at a time in a repeated sequence.
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"Do you have a plan for getting to school?" Hoseok broke the silence.
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"Huh? You're still going to school?" Seokjin asked. "Aren't you going to let yourself recover first?"
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I cringed. "I can't. I've already had enough absences this year. And no, there's no plan," I looked back at Hoseok. "Walking to the bus stop isn't hard--even on crutches. I'll be fine." My friend considered my words but still appeared to be troubled about something.
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"It's not that we're worried about." Seokjin was leaned forward, his foot pushing the gravel absentmindedly with his shoe. "It's Namjoon and his friends."
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Bile churned in my gut. I almost forgot about those guys. Those three horrid faces were etched in my brain.
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"You're more vulnerable now and something tells me they're not going to let you slide just because you're injured." Seokjin explained gently.
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"Right..." I acknowledged my peril.
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"Hoseok-oppa." We all looked at Minju who waved Hoseok towards her. "Dad needs your help with something."
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"What is it?" He got up. Despite asking, Hoseok followed her away without an answer. "Ya, disrespectful kid, are you not gonna answer?" He muttered before disappearing into the building.
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Silence floated between me and Seokjin. The air was stale with solemnity from our previous discussion. But it didn't last long. The sounds of nature intensified again, cleansing the air. Even the sprinklers contributed to the peaceful music surrounding us. The silence went from solemn to peaceful and safe.
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Birds whistled. I looked toward them. Tiny brown birds with yellow streaks on their bellies. Just one looked as though it'd be cozy in my the palm of my hand. There were at least seven fluttering from branch to branch on a nearby tree. They moved in harmony with each other.
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A sudden strong breeze blew one away from the flock. The dainty ball of feathers disappeared into a bush with soft thump. I gasped before it popped out of the hedge. It hopped up the tree little by little. I smiled with relief when it joined the others, curing my short lived anxiety for the adorable creature.
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"Happy ending?" Seokjin asked. I met his eyes, startled to find an intrigued expression with no small amount of amusement mixed in. Embarrassed, I shied away. He'd been watching my reactions.
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"Yes." I nodded. "I didn't expect to get so invested."
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"Neither did I," he gave a meaningful smile.
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I chuckled before his meaning hit. When it did, my mind buffered for an embarrassing moment. Heat flooded my cheeks. My stomach did multiple flips, making the butterflies there dizzy. Slowly, my face gained mobility. A smile crept out which I tried to bite back. I should say something. This is where someone in my place says something!
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I searched my mind for something witty and flirtatious. Something. Anything! Conveniently, the file cabinets in my brain turned up empty. All I could do was sit there and hope he didn't think I was stupid. A gentle breeze made long strands of my hair float around my face. It even carried traces of the fresh scent of detergent from Seokjin's clothes. Only reminding me he was here, with me, while I was in my head.
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"What are you thinking about?"
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I grimaced, hesitant to further embarrass myself.
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"Come on now, where's my brutally honest date?" He raised his eyebrows. My smile faded a little.
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Too honest. That has always been my defining feature all these years. Yet I was lying to my own family about being a target at school. It's the kind of thing I never thought I'd do. What was also concerning was the feeling that there was more I wasn't being totally honest about.
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I felt false.
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"Um..." I tested my voice first and cleared my throat. "I was thinking about how hard it is to think of something to say." I admitted. It's was embarrassing but I wasn't going to make a habit out of lying.
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Seokjin's head tilted to the side. "Not everything needs a response. Sometimes silence does more to express ourselves than words. Try not to overthink the small things." He smiled and my shoulders felt lighter. And my vision brighter. Not even the summer sun could melt away my cares as well as Seokjin's assuring words and kind smile. "People should live simply. So don't push yourself to do something just because you think it's expected of you. I don't want being with me to feel like a chore. It isn't...is it?"
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Quick like lightning, my hands shot up, frantically waving, "no, no, no! It's not! I like being with you!" A part of his eyebrow twitched.
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"Good." He smiled. A moment passed. "Actually, during the hike- before he got bitten by something, Jimin was just suggesting that we all go the Summer Carnival together."
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"The Summer Carnival? Isn't that close to finals?"
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Seokjin shrugged. "Just before. Which isn't too bad. It could give everyone a chance to relax before they take the test of their lives. The moment we get to prove our worth." He continued snidely. It was initially a wary thought to risk a distraction before the most stressful period of high school. But I supposed he had a point.
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"All of us?" I guessed he didn't really mean everyone who went hiking.
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"Don't worry, Hoseok was excited about the idea too." He answered. I gave a small smile, my fingers fidgeted the thread of the cream colored bandage again. "Unless...you'd prefer just me and you." He leaned in closer, touching his arm to mine. My chest burned at the added warmth. The scent of his clothes and now his hair were carried in the gentle breezes around us. The faint cherry blossom scent suggested he brought his own necessities.
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"Well," I squeaked before clearing my throat. Why did this make me so nervous? We've been alone before. It wouldn't be anything new.
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Seokjin's plump lips drew back to reveal his perfect teeth. "Just kidding. It'd be rude to leave our best friends behind."
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I chuckled nervously. "Oh, right..."
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"Besides, we could always sneak off together if we need to." He looked away with half of his devilish smile in full view. Goosebumps had risen along my arms. My cheeks were inflamed. Why was he saying these things? I rubbed the bumps on my arms away, doing my best to seem indifferent. Though I wasn't confident I was doing a good job of it.
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"Hm? You're not cold, are you?" He asked, observing my attempt to hide my goosebumps. "Wait, why is your face red?"
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"What? Red? Are you sure? It may just be the heat. My skin is pretty sensitive to heat you know. It's Summer after all." I babbled anxiously. Turning my face away from him.
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A black car then pulled up onto the property and parked in front of us. I tried to get a look at the driver but the windows were heavily tinted. It was impossible.
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"That's me." The boy next to me announced. His voice losing some of its playfulness from earlier. "Good things really do come to an end."
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"As do they begin anew." I countered encouragingly.
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He smiled while shouldering his bag with his belongings. "I guess I'll see you at school." I nodded in agreement. I was really lucky to have people to make school better despite what's been going on. "Oh! I almost forgot. I think I accidentally deleted your number. Could you send me a text or something?"
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"Oh. Okay." I immediately took my phone out to look for his number.
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That's when I felt something soft peck my cheek. A flurry of fireworks went off in my body. It seemed to happen in slow motion yet it was over before I had time to process what had just happened. As he walked toward the vehicle, the spot under my cheek bone tingled and buzzed with electricity. By the time I came to, he'd stepped into the car with a last wave towards me.
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I blinked out of my shock to waved back. A tremor persisted in my hands. My legs felt weak. If my face was red before, it must've been hellish now.
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He kissed me.
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Kim Seokjin kissed me!
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