The Only

Anywhere But Home

Over the bustling conversations coursing through the flooded hallway, Jimin turns to me and has the audacity to ask, "Is it just me or are you actually in a good mood for once?" He was located on my left-hand side while Bogum occupied the right. The bell would ring soon, signaling classes to be in session. In the meantime, we found an empty pocket between two classrooms and decided to idly chat before we headed to our homerooms.

Now, this may come as a hell of a surprise, but for the first time in weeks, maybe even a month, Bogum had joined me on the walk to school. It's even weirder to find out that Jimin decided to tag along as well—the reasoning being unknown. According to Bogum, Sooyoung wasn't feeling too well, so she stayed home. And of course, unfortunately, the third catalyst of our trio is also absent, all due to her early morning presidential duties. We spent the entirety of our walk smothered in silence, too sluggish, half-lidded, and brainless for words, or even thoughts.

Nonetheless, I quirk an eyebrow and respond to Jimin with yet another question:

"For once? What's that supposed to mean?" I took no offense to his insinuations, since I was known to be a total grump, but a vital part of me didn't want to let it slide just yet.

Bogum laughs uneasily. "I think what he means is, you're visibly happy this morning, and it's showing. He's surprised by it, is all."

"Thanks for rephrasing it nicely." I found it rather comedic, only because I am in the greatest mood, and it's doubtful that anything could ruin it. With an itching curiosity, I throw my attention back on Jimin. "What makes you think so, though?"

"Well, for one, you got a little pep in your step."

I snort, unaware of such a thing. "A pep in my step?"

"Hell, yeah," my cousin replies, like that wasn't the most laughable choice of description he's ever used. And there have been plenty of those. "When you're in a not-so-great mood, you usually drag your feet and hunch your shoulders."

"Damn, since when did you start analyzing me?"

He chuckles, shaking his head. "You're just that obvious, man."

"Pretty sure it's 'cause he spoke to Joohyun." Bogum has the right idea. "You cleared shit up with her, right?"

I nod my head but before I could verbally reply, someone else beat me to it.

"Wait, what? You talked to her already?" Jimin balks. "Since when? And why haven't I been informed of the details?"

"Because you were gone the whole weekend." That was an excuse, if anything. He came home after his eight-hour shift of pleasing his girlfriend, but I still hadn't bothered to tell him shit. Well, at least not yet. Bogum was the main priority, and realistically, he's the only one I tell this sort of stuff, too.

"That's not true!" He retorts, as expected.

"Look, your mind revolves around Chaeyoung twenty-four-seven, so I didn't bother mentioning it," I explain. "Besides, it wasn't that big of a deal. We just met up after school on Friday and talked about the things I was going through—things you already know."

"Whatever." My cousin flaps his hand through the air, bidding my excuses away. "Did you apologize?" He, then, folded his arms over his chest.

"No shit. More than once."

"Good," he says. "Because once you ghosted her, she was questioning the entire student body about you."

"That's going a little overboard."

"I know. It's just another way of saying she was extremely worried about you." But why? Those are the only thoughts that flash through my mind, and although I can understand to an extent (hence being her best friend and all), I can't help but continue to wonder why. During times like these, I don't believe I matter all that much, but maybe that's just the negative mentality talking.