Sunshine

Chapter Forty-One

It had already been a week I haven't seen Taehyung, including the weekends, today was Tuesday. He hadn't texted me, or blurt a word out to me. I've just seen him with Hyeji, and minded my business. He roamed the halls the same time I did, or we appeared in the same bathroom, sometimes he'd spare a glance, but avert his gaze when I tried to commit eye contact. I wasn't sure how to feel about that, I felt hurt but..

I guess that's how things have to be.

I mean, he has a girlfriend. I can't hog him up all for myself.
"Jimin-ah!" A voice sounds from behind me and I turn lethargically, glaring at the person that came sprinting towards me. But I fixed my mood and gazed to Joowon that grinned.
"I missed you." He teased.

He reminds me of Taehyung and I's old days.

"Nice to see you too, what's popping?" I ask.
"Oh- uhh.. I'm sorry I didn't text you, but the hangout is later tonight."

"Joo, I don't think I can g—.."
"Please?! It'll be fun, I'm a man of my word." He grins, "Well~?"

I gazed at him in uncertainty before avoiding his eyes. I don't know.. I'm so tired. But fuck it, I need a break from my house and Taehyung.
"Yeah, I'll go." I nod, he beams with a smile and he suddenly embraces me.

I needed that.

I froze for a couple of seconds before burying my face in his chest, feeling the warmth around his wool vest, he smelled of faint cologne and waffle cones. It was a nice scent so I relaxed my head for a bit.
"Why are you sad?"

I glanced up at him, my hands planted on his chest as he peeped down at me.
"I'm not sad.. just.. stressed." I lazily grin and he holds my cheek with a hand and my heart starts pumping blood way more quicker.
"Which is why you'll have plenty of fun tonight, I can assure you that." Joowon adds, "Also, what cologne do you use?"

"I was gonna ask the same thing..." I laughed nervously.

I flinch as he turned me around and slung an arm over my shoulder,
"Your next class?"
"Period seven, so it's near the seven-hundreds, but you don't need to walk me th—.."
"Don't worry about it!" Joo grins cheekily before ruffling his jet black hair and leading me towards my direction. He's pretty tall.. almost as tall as Taehyung, and his voice was calmly deep. I think I can keep him as a close friend, I just wish Taemin was here as well.

Speak of another devil.

There Hyeji and Taehyung were, staring right at us. I didn't look directly at the couple, I could see them from the corner of my eye. It was like slow-motion Joowon had caressed my face to lift it up, and Taehyung had walked toward me, yanking my arm.

That hurt.

Joowon nearly tripped over as his arm left my shoulders, he gazed at Taehyung that held my shoulders and plainly stared at Joowon before glancing down at me.
"Let me walk you to class."

It felt like ages since I've heard his voice.

But he can't be cold then be polite now.

"I was actually walking with.. Joowon." I mumble.
"I said I'll walk you there." Taheyung enunciated, his voice sharp and clear, while Hyeji scoffs.
"Oh my god, I don't need a fucking femboy walking with us!"

..

Oh.

Thats fucking it.

I swiftly turn and grab Hyeji by her crusty hair an yanked it roughly, some students backing away and gasping as Taehyung roughly yanked me away, but Hyeji slid to the ground as she was still in my firm grasp.
"I'm the femboy, you say?!?" I shout, pounding my palm on her face a couple of times before Joowon snatched me, and I was panting heavily like a dog.

"What the fuck is the matter with you?!" Taehyung yells at me.
"I'm done, I can't be your chew toy anymore." I gulp, my words shaky and I laugh out, "I can't do it anymore."
I heard Hyeji weep and stand up, she shrieked at me and sprinted towards me, prior to when I tried grabbing her again, but Joowon secure me tightly.
"It's not worth it!" He whispers to me, "Listen, it's not worth it." He grabs my face and I shake my head.

"No, hyung." I sigh out, my breath trembling as Taehyung embraced Hyeji, I scrutinized her as she sobbed hysterically in his arms and I felt Joowon's eyes focused on mine.
"How are you so calm..?" He asks me.
"I'm not." I glance to him, "I want to go home."

He hushed me and guided me towards the bathroom, but my sweater was pulled roughly.
"You keep your hands of—.." Taehyung began.
"You fucking dog, get your shit off of me!" I boom, and Hyeji grabs me by the hair.

It was all a blur, and so fast. Joowon had tried to calm me down and grab me, but I heard a punch land. Taehyung hurt him.

He hurt someone he doesn't know.

He's legit brainwashed.

What did popularity do to the Taehyung I know?

"Get off." I plainly say to Hyeji, "You smell like fucking onions!"

My foot had impacted her knee and she folded like my laundry, collapsing on the floor while I stared at Taehyung that was staring right at me, in shock, appalled, in dismay, whatever.
"What? You gonna hit me?" I snarl, crouching down to assist Joowon on his feet. And we finally escape to the bathroom. He rests nearby a stall as I rinsed and scoured the blood from his mouth.

"No.. no, is your hair okay?" He asks me and I nod.
"She's a fugly beast, the only thing she hurts is my eyes, hyung." I mumble and he chuckled, I gaze up at him with a smile.
"We're late for class." He mumbles.
"For a valid reason, we'll be fine."

Us both could hear Hyeji's screams of anger before it faded, the couple walked another way and left us alone.
"I think getting drunk is worth it tonight." I scoff.
"Drunk buddies." Joowon grins, "Just like homecoming!" He ruffles my blond hair before leading me out the bathroom.
_