Platonic.

15

Saturday came slowly for Taehyung.

Days since his conversation with Yoongi and since he made his very humbling visit to the campus clinic, he was now faced with the task of doing something he dreaded even more than having a q-tip shoved up his....you know.

He had to be honest with Jade.

About everything.

Waiting outside of the campus gym, Taehyung sat on the hood of his car with his head down. In a brief text conversation from earlier, she'd told him that she would be there so he decided to wait for her there rather than tell her to come to him.

He twiddles his thumbs nervously, trying his best to ignore the urge to get in his car and retreat. For hours he contemplated what would be the best way to tell her, knowing a text was completely out of the question.

He considered a phone call but the thought of catching Jade at a good time to talk only to give her bad news made his stomach turn. He could just about imagine her face, going from happy to hear his voice to a progressive shift of sadness, disgust, and disappointment. There was also the possibility of her being around others when he'd call, making her reaction to his news for others to witness.

No.

He had to do this in person.

Face to face.

That was the only way.

The automatic glass doors divide and out walks the most beautiful girl Taehyung was sure he'd laid eyes on. The afternoon sun kissed her tawny skin, accented by the cream-colored sports bra and sweat pants she wore. Her long wavy hair is pulled back in a low ponytail and her lightweight jacket is draped over her shoulders, along with the strap of her Nike gym bag as she exits the building with her head down. She fumbled with her keys distractedly for a moment before lifting her head slowly.

As if she sensed his presence, Jade glances up to find Taehyung waiting for her in the parking lot. She smiles genuinely and walks over to where he is.

"Hey, you...What are you doing here?" she beams, stepping into his space comfortably. Taehyung smiles wordlessly as he pulls her close to his chest, burying his face in the crook of her neck to inhale her scent. Even after working out, she smells like heaven. Warm and sweet, like home. He shrugs.

"I dunno...felt like seeing you.." he murmurs against her skin. He continues nuzzling her, committing the softness of her body to memory as he squeezed her. She giggles at the tickle of his stubble against her bare shoulder.

"Well...that's sweet..." she sighs. After a beat, Taehyung still held her, and Jade furrows her brow at the way he lingers in her embrace.

"Um...? Is....something wrong?" She asks cautiously. The worry in her tone makes Taehyung's heart ache and after squeezing her one more time, he sighs.

Jade's eyes flutter slightly as he lifted his head from her neck so that he could look down at her concerned expression. Their eyes danced between each other and the sadness in his gaze made her heart stutter.

He opens his mouth as if he's about to speak, but the words die on his tongue. His brow crinkles with the struggle and Jade unwraps her arms from around his waist slowly.

"Ok, now you're scaring me a little bit...What happened?" She says more sternly. Taehyung feels her slowly distancing herself from him as she stepped back and he reaches out to her immediately, capturing her hand in his and holding it firmly. He glances down at her small hand in his, running his thumb over the dips of her knuckles as he swallows down the thickness of fear and anxiety in his throat. Eventually, he lets out a shaky breath before lifting his head to look her in the eye again.