Stay l Taekook

-27-

I was sitting at lunch with my two best friends, just like every day. Jungkook hadn't gone to school today but I didn't know why, I had texted him multiple times during the morning but I still hadn't gotten a response. Namjoon and Yoongi were talking about some stupid rumor that had been going around about how a student was involved with a teacher and I wasn't paying attention.

"I know gossiping is beneath you, but you could at least look at us to make us feel like we exist, man" Namjoon looked at me as he peeled his mandarin.

"Sorry, I was thinking about-"

"Jungkook, we know" They both answered at the same time. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I could feel myself chuckling on instinct.

"Am I turning into one of those mushy partners that cannot live without their boyfriend?"

"Yes" The answered yet again. I smiled and looked down, what other answer was I expecting?

"Are you really worried though?" I look at Yoongi and shrugged.

"Not really, I mean if he's sick he's probably sleeping. And if it's something else he may be busy. I don't know, I don't mind, it's just that I'm beginning to realize that my day got incredibly boring now that he's not here." I twirl my fork in between my fingers and sigh.

"Well you two have been engaged in a battle of wits since the start of the year, I'd be bored too if my main attraction wasn't here" Namjoon offered me a smile which made me warm inside, it was nice to see he was trying to cheer me up.

We spent the rest of lunch talking quietly about the end of the year and the exams that were coming up and just as we were about to get up and leave, a boy sat down next to us. We all exchanged looks, it was a student we had never seen before.

"Sorry, Hi my name is Jungwon, I'm new here. I just transferred from another school and is it true Jeon Jungkook is in this school?" We all looked at each other and nodded. "And is it true you two are going out?"

"Yeah, why? Do you know him?"

"Yes! I was a first year when he was a second year. We never really talked but I was friends with friends of his. Well friends with the ex-boyfriend he beat up" I watched him chuckle on his own whereas I froze.

"The what?" I ask.

"well, I'm sure you guys know the story of how he got expelled"

"I know he tagged some lockers but I've never heard anything about a beating" By that point, my whole body was facing the blond kid and my legs was bouncing up and down under the table.

"Well he was dating this other boy and then one day out of the blue, he came into school and beat the shit out of him. Almost left him unconscious. When he was done, he grabbed a spraying bottle and insulted the shit out of him all over those lockers. Then he got expelled, he almost went to juvie too but apparently, he didn't. I don't know why though"

"Oh" I looked at the boy who hadn't lost his smile ever since he sat down and then I looked at my friends. Namjoon was already looking at me and Yoongi had an amused look on his face as he stared at the younger boy.

"Well, I'm gonna go. Have a good day though" Jungwon drum rolled on the table and left. I managed to squeeze out a goodbye and Yoongi was down right smiling now.

"He's so unhinged, I love that guy" I turned to look at him but I couldn't find anything to say.

"So, are you going to talk to Jungkook?"

"I don't know, Namjoon. Am I at risk of being beaten almost unconscious?" I snapped. "Sorry, that wasn't fair to you"
"What are you gonna do, Tae?" Namjoon asked once again.

"It's really simple, man. What are you going to put first, your feelings or your princip-"

"My principles. And there is no excuse for what Jungkook did. Violence solves nothing" I got up and went to throw away my tray and trash.

I left the cafeteria without my friends and went to an empty classroom I found. I kept going over and over what Jungkook had done. What could possibly justify beating someone like that? Especially someone you had feelings for? I always knew he was a "bad boy" but not to that extent. Pff, talk about a bad case of anger issues....

I remembered what he said about being in a lot of fights after being expelled, that hadn't bothered me because I knew tons of boys that would get into fights, didn't mean they were violent. But attacking a boyfriend and beating him to a pulp was a different story.

++++

When the last bell rang, I went to put some stuff in my locker and made my way out of the school. A few meters before the exit, I see two boys sitting down by the doors.

"What are you guys doing here?" I ask and stop in front of them.

"We were wondering what you were going to do. About this whole Jungkook thing" Namjoon got up and dusted his pants.

"Nothing for now, I'm going to go home and not think about him at all because the mere thought of his arms wrapped around me make me shiver"

"Right, good call then. Well, let us know when or if you know something more?" I nodded my head and bid goodbye to my friends.

I walked across the parking lot and got into my car, driving back home. As soon as I got out of the shower, my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and saw it was Jungkook. I let it ring and went to lay down on my bed. The phone rang again and again, three times in a row. I eventually grew tired of it and placed my phone under the pillow as I went downstairs.

When dinner was over and the dishes were in the dishwasher, I went back into my bedroom and took out my phone. I had twenty missed calls over the last two hours and about the same amount of texts. I pondered whether or not I should answer any of them but the thought of having to deal with it was already making my head hurt. Instead, I took out my computer and started watching Rick and Morty.

I was halfway through my sixth episode when my mom knocked on my door and entered.

"You know you shouldn't bother to knock if you're going to come in right after" I close my computer and sit up on my bed.

"Is everything okay?" I nod my head and look at my mother, why would she ask that? "Jungkook called, he said you didn't answer your text or your phone all day. He sounded very worried" She sat down on my bed and looked at me.

"Oh, I forgot to charge it last night so it died early this morning. It should be good now though, I'll text him and let him know I'm alright" I smiled and grabbed my phone as if I would do it right away.

"So everything is okay between you two?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't they be?"

"You're a very honest person, Tae, but that means it's easy to see right through you" She smiled fondly and I watched her get up. "Goodnight, baby. Don't stay up too late"

"I won't" She closed the door and silence came back inside my bedroom.

Should I really text him now? Maybe to tell him to stop texting or calling my parents, but I didn't want to have to deal with him at all. He'll just have to wait until tomorrow morning. I opened my computer and resumed my episode until one in the morning when I finally went to bed.