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+THIRD+

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want you to feel pressured to talk if you didn't have to."

"But this is your scholarship, Namjoon." Malia paces in the living room as he sits on the couch.

"And it's your trauma, Malia. How could I ask you to talk knowing that you don't want to?" He watches her walk back and forth in front of the TV.

"How could I not knowing what you'll lose if I don't?"

"This is why I didn't tell you." Namjoon says as he sits up. "You don't need to force yourself to speak. This could affect the rest of your life."

"And so could losing your scholarship."

"That's different. Two totally different topics. My scholarship isn't worth your mental health.

"But you think it's worth yours? That's not okay."

"None of this is, Malia. What do you want me to do?"

"Nothing." She says as her eyes water. "You don't have to do anything."

His eyebrows twitch.

"I'm going to talk to the board tomorrow morning."

"What?" He stands up as his eyebrows furrow.

"That's what I talked to the Dean about. I'm going tomorrow morning and you're gonna play in the next game. Your scholarship will stay in tact and you won't miss any more."

"Malia, I-."

"No." She cuts him off, standing firm on her decision. "I'm going and that's it."

The look in her eyes is determined and the tone of her voice is stern. It's surprising for Namjoon to see. It kind of scares him a little as he's taken aback by it.

"...o- okay."

Even Malia herself is surprised by the tone. She's never heard it out of her own mouth before. In made up scenarios in her head, maybe. But never out loud.

"...Okay. Now go back to class. You have a presentation, don't you?" Her voice gradually becomes soft again and he nods.

"Yeah." He grabs his bag and puts it back on.

"I'll see you after then."

He smiles at her slowly as she walks over. He opens his arms to hug her and she engulfs herself in them. He kisses her forehead, cheeks and lips before looking at her.

"I love you. And I know this isn't going to be the easiest thing in the world for you to do. But I'm backing you 110%."

"I hope so."

"I always will."

He pecks her lips a few more times before she goes to her room and Namjoon leaves and heads to his final block of the day. He and Malia had a very long conversation and she was tearful for a lot of the beginning. But she pulled through long enough to finish it and get everything out.

She feels overwhelmed and stressed about all of this but she can get through it. She has to. Malia may need a pep talk though. She texts Janae, telling her to call her when she's out of class.

Until then, she'll sleep it off.

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Namjoon walks into class seven minutes after the buzzer sounds. Gianna stops bouncing her leg and looks at him. She was starting to worry that he wouldn't come. Willie didn't show up but that was expected at this point.

FRAT LINE|Year 2&3-KNJ✔️Where stories live. Discover now