Paradise in You | sope

paradise lived | two

Much to Yoongi's dismay, Hoseok's words would not get out of his head.

The first couple of days after Hoseok and Yoongi had spoken, Yoongi had managed to bury Hoseok's words, focusing more on devoting himself to God. However, the more he would flip the pages in the Bible, the more Hoseok's words resonated in his head, and he would often find himself closing the book, hoping that would get Hoseok to shut up.

Hoseok had planted the seeds of temptation, Yoongi had decided. And now God was testing Yoongi to see if he truly was someone that was devoted to his religion. This was an obstacle that Yoongi was supposed to overcome. He couldn't let himself be taken away by Hoseok's words.

Yet, it was all Yoongi could think about, despite their conversation happening weeks ago.

"Something's bothering you."

Yoongi looked up from his workbook, attention focusing on his best friend, Namjoon Kim. Namjoon only looked at Yoongi questioningly, concern etched into the sliver of his irises, as he waited patiently for Yoongi to respond.

"It's nothing," Yoongi dismissed. "Just thinking."

"About?"

Knowing Namjoon wasn't going to stop asking Yoongi about it anytime soon, he changed the subject.

"I haven't finalized my college application yet," Yoongi said, chewing on his bottom lip. "I'm starting to feel the pressure of everything."

Namjoon smiled in understanding. He placed a hand on Yoongi's shoulder, giving his shoulder a few taps before, saying, "The University of Notre Dame is the one your parents want you at, right? There's no way you won't get in. I don't think you have to worry. If that doesn't work out, then there's the College of Saint Benedict. Baylor's a good one too, and only a couple hundred miles from here. I know how bent you are on attending a religious school."

There was no judgment in Namjoon's voice as he said this, which relaxed Yoongi a bit. Though he'd been stretching the truth about what was preoccupying him, finalizing a list for the colleges that he would apply to was weighing on him more than he'd like to admit. Per his parent's request, he'd been preparing a list filled with Christian and Catholic universities.

It hadn't been Yoongi's original plan. He'd wanted to branch out, to apply to different schools— mostly out of state so that he could get the ultimate college experience. He'd already had a list of schools he'd wanted to apply to years ago, but, his parents knew that the college list Yoongi had created had been one that Hoseok and he had worked on. After the rumors and his parents forcing him to stop speaking with Hoseok, they discouraged Yoongi from applying to those places.

It would be useful, his parents had told him, for Yoongi to go somewhere where he'll be around people that are devoted to God. That way, he could also find his future wife, and there wouldn't be any crashing ideologies.

Yoongi was hurt at first, but he understood. After a while, he'd convinced himself that it was what he wanted.

Still, that didn't stop Yoongi from mentioning other universities to his parents, though it was always for nothing.

They always said no.

Namjoon had a different path set out for him. His parents were relatively supportive about the places Namjoon was going to apply to, no matter what type of university it was. Namjoon was a bright student, and Yoongi knew that Namjoon was set on attending an Ivy League, and if that didn't work out, then he would study at a university abroad.

"Did you decide to add Yale to the list?" Namjoon asked. "I know you were looking at Northeastern and USC too."

"I tried bringing the topic up to my parents again," Yoongi said, forcing a smile on his lips. "They wouldn't hear it."