High School Sweethearts

Chapter 27

School had just finished, Jennie grabbed her backpack and told the girls goodbye. After that, she went outside. Only now, she realized how cold it had gotten.

It's alright, she thought to herself. Taehyung will be here soon, she just had to ask him something and then she'd run off home.

Maybe, it's not a myth that time goes slower when you're not having fun. Because, indeed, Jennie wasn't having fun standing outside in the cold waiting for Taehyung.

Yet, the stupid teachers didn't want them to start wearing their uniforms for the cold season. How did they expect the girls, especially, to be able to survive wearing thin leggings, a skirt and a short armed suit?

"Jennie, what are you doing here?" she heard a deep male voice ask, immediately, she knew it was Taehyung.

She turned around and faced him with a smile. Finally, the boy she'd been waiting for was here!

"Just waiting for you, Taehyung," she answered.

Taehyung smiled at her,

"You wanted to walk home together?"

That wasn't what Jennie had wanted to ask, but she realized that it was also a great opportunity for them to talk.

"Yeah, I did!"

"Let's get going then, you're starting to look like the reindeer Rudolph," Taehyung said.

Jennie laughed at that statement, and the two friends started walking.

After two minutes of walking, Jennie cleared her voice to break the awkward silence so she could ask the question,

"Taehyung, do you have any free time this week?"

"Well, yeah. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, I just thought we could study together for the upcoming tests and finish assignments together."

"Sounds great, actually."

"Yeah. So when do you wanna go? I'm free every day this week."

"Hm, let's take it on Saturday."

"Sounds great, actually."

The awkward silence had returned.

Taehyung thought that it was his turn to start a conversation now. He looked at Jennie, she looked really pale and her cheeks looked like two tomatoes. She was really freezing.

To Jennie's surprise, Taehyung stopped.

"What are you doing? There are no houses or apartments here, there are just convenience stores and ATMs here," Jennie told him.

"I know that," Taehyung answered as he took off his jacket.

"Hey, it's cold outside! Are you stupid?"

"I can handle cold weather," Taehyung told her as he walked up to her and put the black jacket on her.

"Taehyung, you didn't have to do that," Jennie said.

"You almost froze to death, I can't let one of my closest friends freeze to death in front of me," Taehyung said.

"God, you're so stupid," Jennie laughed.

"I think you're the stupid one here, who doesn't bring a jacket to school? You know the teachers say 'clothes after weather'."

"Can't forget that iconic expression, so come on, let's go!"

Taehyung didn't move, his eyes were on one of the convenience stores.

"Down to earth, Taehyung!"

Taehyung looked at Jennie with his cute round eyes.

"What is it?"

"Now that I think about it, I'm hungry. Let's go eat noodles, since I'm hungry and you'll be warmed up."

"Fine. You're paying."

"I gave you my jacket!"

"You're the man, so act like it."

"Alright, alright."

The pair walked into the convenience store, the warmth hit Jennie like a ray of sunshine and it was almost as if she had been without a home for years.

Jennie knew where the noodles were placed by heart. In middle school, she used to eat here every day with Jisoo. Those were the times when Lisa hadn't come to Korea yet.

Immediately, Jennie got two packs of noodles and some extras. She handed them to Taehyung and used her hands to tell him to go pay for it.

Taehyung only laughed at her, but went and paid for the packs.

"Alright, give me them now!" Jennie told him.

"Jeez, here you go," Taehyung said as he handed them over.

"Now, Kim Taehyung, you will learn the secret of making the BEST meal ever."

Without letting Taehyung say another word, Jennie opened both of the packs and poured milliliters of boiled water into them.

After 5 minutes, she removed the water from the noodles, effortlessly.

She then put the liquid sauce into the noodles, even if the preparing wasn't finished yet, it still looked appetizing.

Jennie stirred both of the packs of noodles very well, making them look like a 5 star meal already.

"I'm not done," Jennie informed him.

Jennie grabbed a string of cheese, halved it and put one half each into the noodles and stirred them again.

She then sprinkled some green onions and red pepper flakes, as topping.

After that, she clapped her hands.

"Bon appetite!"

Taehyung was shocked at the short time it had taken to make a meal that looked so appetizing.

"I'm good at a lot of things, probably everything," Jennie stated as she sat down and grabbed chopsticks.

"We will eat well," she said.

Taehyung also sat down, repeated what Jennie had said and he started to eat.

"So, how is it?"

Taehyung looked up at Jennie.

"This is the best after school meal I've ever eaten in my life," he told her.

"I knew it," Jennie said.

"You should consider becoming a cook. Maybe, you can invite me for dinner someday?"

"That's a great idea, I have a big house so I can invite mine and your friends!"

Taehyung was a bit disappointed, he had wanted it to only be the two of them but he didn't show his disappointment.

"Yeah, that's a great idea, actually."

"I'll make mandu and japchae," Jennie said.

"Oh my god, japchae is actually my favorite food," Taehyung said.

"Ooh, really?"

Taehyung nodded.

"Then, great."

"I'm so lucky to be friends with you."

Jennie smiled, not just at what Taehyung had said, but also at the fact that Taehyung didn't know that Jennie wanted something more than just the friendship they had.