Love, Affairs, and Hardships | PJM

2.

No One POV:

Jimin and Taehyung continued to walk toward the commotion, their curiosity growing with each step.

Eunji, standing amidst a small group of classmates, confronted a fuming Hyemin. "I know you like Taehyung," Eunji confidently stated, causing a ripple of whispers among their peers. Jimin glanced at Taehyung, who responded with a perplexed shrug, equally taken aback by this revelation.

"I know you like Jimin," Hyemin retorted, her voice carrying a surprising level of certainty. The collective gasp that followed echoed throughout the corridor.

While Hyemin's crush on  Taehyung was an open secret, her assertion about Eunji's feelings for Jimin was a bombshell that left everyone astonished.

Taehyung exchanged wide-eyed glances with Jimin, both men utterly bewildered by the unexpected turn of events.

"Did you just say I like Jimin? I would never. He's not my type," Eunji dismissed the accusation with an eye roll, though her heart raced at the thought of the impending confrontation.

Hyemin snorted, clearly not buying Eunji's denial. "I used to be your best friend, Eunji. I know you like cute guys," she insisted, convinced she had uncovered a hidden truth.

Eunji rolled her eyes again, her defense mechanism kicking in. "A lot has changed since then. Cute guys are not my thing anymore," she declared, trying her best to convince herself and everyone else that Jimin was not the object of her affections.

"What's your type, then?" Hyemin probed further, determined to extract the truth from her friend.

Eunji hesitated for a moment before responding, "Uh, I like tall guys with big hands." It was a half-bluff, as she genuinely found tall guys attractive, but her heart belonged to Jimin above all else.

"That's the polar opposite of you," Taehyung teased, sending a playful smirk in Jimin's direction. Jimin couldn't help but feel self-conscious at the remark, knowing he fell short in both the height and big hands departments. He frowned, feeling somewhat inadequate.

"Oh, please, if I want, I can start dating her today itself," Jimin retorted defensively, his gaze narrowing at Taehyung. He knew that Taehyung's protective nature was the primary obstacle to any potential relationship between him and Eunji.

"Try your best, what's stopping you?" Taehyung challenged with a sweet, innocent smile. He couldn't resist teasing Jimin, who responded with a side-eye full of frustration. "You, who else," He mumbled and Taehyung raised his eyebrow. 

"But if you do, I'll break both of your arms and legs and then pack you in a bag and ship you to Ohio," Taehyung threatened with a sweet psychotic smile and Jimin blinked at him, clearly used to Taehyung's antics. 

As Hyemin was about to spill the beans about Eunji's long-standing affection for Jimin, she spotted Jimin in the crowd and widened her eyes in realization. She suddenly hesitated, her words hanging in the air, unspoken.

"I think you don't like Jimin, then," Hyemin awkwardly laughed, trying to backtrack from her previous assertion. Eunji exchanged perplexed glances with Hyemin, wondering why she had suddenly changed her tune.

However, her confusion was short-lived as she followed Hyemin's gaze to where Jimin stood in the midst of the commotion. Their expressions mirrored each other – a mix of astonishment and realization – as they silently acknowledged the unspoken truth that had just been laid bare.

"I don't think you like Taehyung either; I was just messing around," Eunji said, her laughter filling the air as she tried to defuse the tense atmosphere. She didn't want the drama to escalate any further. "Okay, people, that's enough drama for today. Let's all go back to our classes," she announced, and the crowd dispersed, leaving behind a sigh of relief.

Hyemin, her awkwardness dissipating, remarked, "That was close," before bidding Eunji goodbye and heading to her own class. Despite their falling out and frequent clashes, neither of them was willing to betray the other like that.

Eunji sighed in relief as well and went to her locker, which was filled with chocolates and letters as usual. She unwrapped a chocolate and savored it, finding solace in its sweetness.

Pushing the letters to the corner, she retrieved her books and made her way to her next class, nibbling on the chocolate as she went. Suddenly, she felt someone wrap their arm around her shoulder, startling her so much that the chocolate slipped from her hand.

Eunji looked up to see her best friend, grinning at her. She glanced down at the fallen chocolate and then back at him.

"You have 3 seconds, 3—" Eunji began counting, but she didn't need to finish. Her bestie, anticipating her reaction, bolted as fast as he could. Eunji, equally swift, chased after him. He reached their classroom first and cheekily stuck out his tongue before taking his seat.

Eunji rolled her eyes and settled in next to him. If the teacher wasn't present, she'd have unleashed her wrath on him. 'You're so dead,' she telepathically conveyed her thoughts to Jungkook. He responded in kind, 'I didn't know you were having a chocolate, I apologize.'

Jeon Jungkook, one of the most handsome and charming guys in the school, also held the prestigious position of being the basketball team captain. He excelled in everything, from academics to sports and beyond.

Jungkook and Eunji had been best friends since they were practically in diapers. Their mothers were inseparable friends, and that bond carried on to their children. Despite their incessant bickering, their love for each other ran deep.

Over their 17 years of friendship, they had become so close that they could communicate with just a glance and often understood each other's feelings without words.

As the class ended, Eunji immediately put Jungkook in a playful headlock. "How dare you waste my chocolate," she scolded, but her tone was playful, and Jungkook chuckled. "I said it was a mistake. I'll buy you another one," he promised, and Eunji released him.

"You have to buy me whatever I want from the store," Eunji declared, and Jungkook gasped dramatically. "I'm too broke for that," he protested.

"Your dad owns a chain of hotels all across Korea, what are you saying you old man?" Eunji retorted. "That means my parents are rich; I'm not," Jungkook argued. "You own a freaking black card," Eunji pointed out, throwing her arms up in exasperation.

"Fine, fine, I'll treat you, you peasant," Jungkook conceded, and Eunji burst into laughter. 

They linked arms and walked goofily to their next class, their camaraderie evident to anyone who saw them.

Jimin, observing the scene from afar, frowned. He couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy as he watched Eunji and Jungkook. Their close friendship and playful interactions made them look like a couple, and that didn't sit well with him at all.