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

Chapter 17

Taehyung point of view

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding as I sat cross-legged on the floor. The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the ceiling fan. My nephew, Yeonjun, is playing with his toy cars while eating chocolate nearby, blissfully unaware of the emotional storm brewing inside me.

"Okay," I whispered, my voice trembling with a mix of shame and hope. "I get it, Jimin. You're right."  I closed my eyes, the weight of my actions pressing down on me. "I was a terrible person to you in the past. I hurt you, and I'm so sorry. But now... now I truly want to be close to you again. I like you, Jimin. You're more than just a friend. You're the reason Wonyoung agreed to go on that date this weekend. For the first time in my life, Appa treats me like his son. He's proud of me. And I owe it all to you, to your help, your kindness, and your friendship. I miss you terribly. I miss your laughter, our conversations, our shared moments. Please, give me another chance."

I paused, my frustration bubbling up. “Yah! Jiminah? Why do you sit there, stuffing your face without a hint of emotion, while I pour my heart out?” I gestured toward him, my voice rising. “You’re such a brat!”

Yeonjun glanced up from his toys, his eyes wide. His lower lip trembled, and without thinking, I just blurted out, 'Yah!, Jiminah! What's up? Why you acting like this? Are you being a little narcissistic and thinking you're cute when you're all jealous and pouty like a baby chick? Well, maybe you are. *muttered to myself* Fine, forget it. I hope we can be friends again eventually. Your friendship means a lot to me.

My nephew’s tears spilled over, and panic surged through me. “Yeonjun-ah, please calm down,” I said, my tone softer. “I’m sorry. Let’s go to the park, okay? I’ll buy you ice cream.” Poor Yeonjun, caught in the crossfire of my emotions. I wanted to talk to Jimin like this, but that idiot at school acts like I’m a total stranger. So here I am, venting to a kid who doesn’t even understand half of what I’m saying.

I wiped the sweat from my brow, my cleats digging into the grass. Tomorrow was the big match, and the pressure was mounting. Our team—Jungkook, Jin, J-Hope, and me—had trained hard, but my mind kept wandering.

JIMIN.

The bleachers stretched before me, empty and silent.  I'd been staring at them for a good five minutes, replaying the scene in my head.  His beautiful smile, the way he leaned against the fence, the way his presence seemed to fill the entire field... it was all so vivid, so real. 

But then, as I blinked, the image faded.  He wasn't there.  Just the empty bleachers, the sun glinting off the worn-out paint.  It was just my imagination, playing tricks on me.

My heart ached.  Was he coming to watch me play tomorrow?  The thought sent a flutter of excitement through me, but then reality sunk in.  The SATs were just around the corner.  He was probably buried in textbooks, cramming for the big test. 

I sighed, the disappointment settling in my stomach.  Maybe it was foolish to even hope.  But a small part of me still clung to the possibility.  Maybe, just maybe, he'd find a way to squeeze in a few minutes to watch me play. 

I needed to focus on the game, on my team, on the victory I craved.  But a part of me would be looking out for him, a silent hope flickering in my chest.

I lined up for a kick, the goalpost looming ahead. But my mind conjured Jimin’s face instead—the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed, the warmth of his hand in mine. I missed the goal by a mile, and Jungkook groaned.

“Focus, Tae!” he shouted. “You’re the captain!”

Mingyu, seized the opportunity. “Captain Kim can’t even hit the target,” he taunted. “Maybe it’s time for a new leader.”