Miniature Me

11

a/n: still needs some extra grammatical editing.

| ❀ Talks ❀|

A week passed with nothing changing in their current situation. A week in which Taehyung kept to his word and spent the last Saturday with her, taking her to the spots he used to remember she liked. Yerim was pleasantly surprised—not as surprised when Taehyung admitted on the drive back that he got a lot of help from Joy in reminding him what it was she enjoyed the most—all those years ago. She wasn't sure how to feel about it, but against her better judgment, she asked him how it was going, being friends with Joy. She had not expected to see him smile so brightly at her question as he mumbled that it was going well and that he should've raised the white flag a long time ago.

"I always knew you cared for her, oppa. You may have annoyed her a lot but you were always there for us when we were in trouble. I mean—you got mad at what she wore on a date like a protective older brother."

"Older brother?"

"Yes? I don't know. I saw it that way. Yet, you were the only one to really care. Not even Jimin oppa, and he's closer to being her brother than you."

"Ah, yeah ... I guess you're right."

Taehyung didn't talk much after that, and she didn't push him. She wanted to know what he would say. He had opened his mouth as if to explain himself and chose against it. They had connected again. Like they used to, only now they were both older. He was in his twenties, and she was still in school. It was different on its own. She forgot how much could change in a span of a few years. She didn't ask, although she did wonder if now, he had experience with being intimate. Taehyung was attractive. There was no way he wouldn't, right?

Yerim groaned.

She wanted to stop thinking about him. About his stupid grin that was boxy or how whenever he would look at her, she felt herself blush. She didn't want to feel butterflies erupt as he would pet her hair in the manner he always had. Why did she like him in the first place? What would Jungkook have thought about it if he hadn't gotten in that accident? Would he have teased her? She knew the answer was yes. She would have teased him when he admitted to having a crush on Joy.

Joy. Yerim didn't know what to feel with Joy, even less than when she was with Taehyung. Joy had been there that night when she cried after SinB and Mingyu went to the café. Joy had come running in and engulfed her in a hug, cursing both that made her feel bad and cry. Jin had seen her and told the girls. Yerim had mumbled about her being busy, and Joy replied she was more important than work. Being in Joy's embrace made her feel bad for her jealousy. It wasn't Joy's fault if boys liked her. She was kind and friendly. That was enough to leave boys tripping after her. Joy was also shy and reserved. So, why did Yerim feel so much animosity towards her? That night, she pushed everything back and decided to treat Joy like she used to. They were fine. The girls made her laugh. She felt guilty knowing that JK was there hearing all their girls talk.

Her feelings were a mess, though. The more she thought about it. The only time that Taehyung would not invade her thoughts would be when she would randomly be reminded that Jungkook was still missing—with no trace of his disappearance—and his miniature version she called JK was constantly with her. At the café, it was easy to forget Taehyung with how Taeyong would treat her, smiling and helping her out. Slowly, he was becoming one of her closest friends. A sort of replacement for Jungkook. She felt she could tell Taeyong anything and not be judged. She relied on him for what she felt, and he gave advice the whole time, smiling and complimenting her. Only, he wasn't like Jungkook because Taeyong had the same effect that Taehyung had on her. He made her stomach lurch and heart skip a beat with just one smile or side glance.