rivals | taejin

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"Explain what? I can't be friends with him?" Taehyung asked, slouching back in the chair.

"Friends?" Athena laughs mockingly, "From what I saw, it wasn't "just friends" for me."

Taehyung titled his head to the side questioningly, "From what you saw? How did you even see me in the first place? From what I know, you haven't even stepped foot in the school for months."

Athena crossed her legs, "It doesn't matter wether I am physically there or not. I have my eyes on you at all times."

She gets up and makes her way to Taehyung. She stands beside him, her hand going down to tilt his chin, making him look up at her. "My dear Taehyung, I never thought i'd have to worry so much about you. You were doing just fine until a while ago. Things with Jisoo and Aphrodite were well and moving along. But he just had to come...once again, Medusa is ruining my life. But this time, it's not just mine.

She ruining yours by having her son attend here. She's ruining Jisoo's and Aphrodite's. She's ruining multiple other's just for existing." she smiled cruelly, her hands gripping her son's chin harshly. "All because of that time. Because she just had to become impregnated. And she had to birth her child. Have him come here. And not just that, but everyone is on his side now. Letting him come here with no after thoughts!"

Taehyung pulled away from her grip, getting up and stepping back. "What happened betweeen you and Medusa was between you two. I don't have a reason to dislike Seokjin. He's been...nice to me...even though I had inicially started off on the wrong foot with him. Seokjin can be a good friend of mine, i'm sure of it."

Athena's mouth twisted sourly before a lightning bulb turned on in her head. She calmly smiled, shaking her head slowly. "Ahh, Taehyung. You're too naive. You don't know the real intentions behind his kind gestures and smiles. Neither do you know what's happening behind the scenes between him and his mother."

"...And you know something?" Taehyung asked, slightly intrigued. "Is there really something happening? Or is it a lie i'm supposed to believe?"

Athena hummed, "Well, I suppose you know the Gods and Godesses had a meeting a few days ago. Usually, nothing that we say should be repeated outside of that room, but, since you're my son, I think I can trust you."

She turned around and walked back to her chair behind her desk. She grabbed the porcelain tea kettle from the side, pouring tea into two matching porcelain tea cups. She smiled and looked at Taehyung. "Have a seat, you're going to need one for what i'm going to tell you. Because it will definitely catch you by surprise."

***

The Next Day

Seokjin was walking through the flower gardens when he felt his ear itch. He scratched it, making it turn red and warm. "Is someone talking about me?" he asked himself. He shrugged it off and continued walking.

"Oh, hello Blondie." he heard from behind him.

He turned and smiled when he saw it was Jungkook. He stopped and waited for the other to catch up to him so they could walk side by side.

"Oh, weren't we going to work on the project today? I was just thinking of heading over to the library." Seokjin said.

Jungkook shrugged, "I've been trying to get contact of Taehyung but he hasn't even read my messages. I haven't seen him since he left yesterday."

Seokjin frowned. "Didn't he go to meet his mother? Maybe he decided to stay with her?"

"He and his mother don't have a relationship like that anymore. She controls him. I don't think he'd agree to stay there for any longer than he had to." Jungkook replied.

They stopped when another male stopped them in their tracks. He stopped right in front of them, obstructing their way. He had bright ocean-blue hair, pretty brown eyes and plump pink lips. Seokjin didn't know him nor had he seen him before.

"I know Taehyung was paired up with you two for a class project. I thought i'd ask if you know of where he is?" he asked, looking between them.

"Aren't you like his best friend? How do you not know?" Jungkook asked, crossing his arms. "And just because of that, it doesn't mean we know where he is."

The male sighed, "He hasn't responded since yesterday evening. He didn't even come to school today, as you can see. Plus, I heard he went to visit Aphrodite." he looked to the side, "Something unpleasant always happens when he goes there. He avoids it at all costs. So, I just wanted to ask but since you don't know, I guess I just wasted my time." he sighed.

He turned around to walk away but was stopped with Seokjin saying, "Wait."

He turned around and raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Seokjin rubbed his arm nervously. "Uhm, who are you? I've never seen you before and since I guess you're close to Taehyung—"

"I'm Park Jimin." he interrupted. He looked at him for a few more seconds before walking away and disappearing from their view.

"Park Jimin...", Seokjin repeated in a whisper.

"You've never seen him before?" Jungkook asked.

Seokjin turned to him and shook his head, "Nope. Who is he?"

"Well, he's the son of Poseidon. He's pretty popular around here. He and Taehyung make up the most popular duo here, as they've been friends for many years and no one can deny their good looks and brains. I'm kind of surprised you hadn't heard of him until now."

Seokjin shrugged, "Well, i'm not good with knowing who people are as you might be able to tell. Maybe i'll ask Hobi to tell me who I should know."

"Yeah, some people here can be dangerous. You wouldn't want to tick off the wrong person and then get something unlucky cursed on you." Jungkook nodded. He took his phone out his pocket. "I haven't tried calling him, so i'll call him so we can tell him we're planning on meeting at the library."

Seokjin nodded as he ringed the call.

"Well, no surprise there. He didn't respond. I'll message him then."

Seokjin watched as Jungkook sent him the message, and not even a minute later, there was a reply.

"He said, 'I can't make it today, i'm sorry.'" Jungkook read. They looked at each other questioningly.

Jungkook sighed, putting his phone away. "Well, guess we'll be doing it alone again."

"We should visit him again after we work on the project...maybe he isn't well?" Seokjin said.

"Sure, let's do that." Jungkook agreed.

***

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it's 10:37 pm but i was able to finish and deliver this chapter to you 💜💜💜💜