Can't stand you, Can't live without you

Chapter 13

Tw: Dubious content

Me and Taehyung sat cross-legged on the floor, textbooks sprawled out in front of us. The dim light from my desk lamp cast shadows on the walls, creating an atmosphere of quiet determination. We had been revising for hours, quizzing each other on Korean history facts, and our competitive spirits were in full swing.

“Okay, Jimin,” Taehyung said, tapping his pencil against the open book. “Who was the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty?”

I grinned, leaning forward. “Easy. It was King Taejo. And what year did he establish the dynasty?”

Taehyung furrowed his brow, thinking hard. “Um… 918 AD?”

I chuckled. “Close! It was actually 918 CE. But I’ll give you half a point for effort.” I held out my hand, and Taehyung slapped it in a high-five.

“You’re really into this, Tae,” I said, genuinely surprised. “You used to be the guy who napped through history class.”

Taehyung’s expression turned serious. “Well, things change. Wonyoung agreed to go on a date with me if I score higher than her in the exams.”

My eyes widened in realisation “Wait, seriously? That’s your motivation?”

Taehyung nodded. “Yeah. I mean, I’ve got to impress her, right?”

I leaned back, shaking my head. “You’re unbelievable, Tae. But honestly, I’m proud of you. Taking studies seriously suits you.”

Taehyung shifted uncomfortably. “My dad will be proud too if I ace these exams.”

I reached over and patted his shoulder. “You’ll do great, Tae. Don’t stress too much.”

Taehyung sighed. “I’m so nervous, Jimin. What if I mess up?”

My voice softened. “Listen, even if you don’t reach your goal, I’m still proud of you. You’ve put in the effort, and that matters.”

Taehyung looked at me, his expression unreadable. For a moment, they sat in silence, looking at each other. Then Taehyung smiled, a mix of gratitude and determination.

“Thanks, Jimin,” he said. “I’ll give it my best shot.”

"This sucks... I barely slept yesterday," Rosé complained as she flipped through her notes, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.

Yoongi, sitting nearby, added, "Well, I don't even remember what I read."

As the first warning bell to enter the exam hall rang, Namjoon muttered, "Shit," while frantically flipping through pages in a last-minute cramming session. On the other hand, Tae remained calm, reading without any visible expression on his face.

"Guys, I guess we should go inside," I suggested, glancing at my watch to check the time. Yoongi nodded in agreement, getting up from his seat. We all stood up and began to make our way to the exam hall. However, as I looked behind, I noticed that Taehyung was missing. Concerned, I immediately ran back to our classroom to find Tae still engrossed in his book.

"Taehyung, there's only 5 minutes left. Let's go," I urged, trying to pull him away from his reading. Tae, however, remained focused, responding, "Every second counts....." Anxious about being late and not allowed inside the exam hall, I continued to plead, "But if you're late, they will not allow you inside. Please come."