VMIN / THE GUTTER

18

The sun is soaking through the small, thin windows that line the top of the exam hall. Jimin can see the blue sky seeping through when he allows himself a moment to pause and briefly glance up. It's bizarrely comforting to see that small spring of cerulean blue, as it basks down upon him, whilst his fingers ache, his mind throbs, and he tries to ignore the fact he thinks there's eyes on him.

It's a similar feeling to before. To when he was last in the hall and he'd felt that ghostly presence, and had apparently wrongfully supposed it to be Taehyung's father. He can feel a flickering gaze suspended on him, and it makes him feel... warm.

It's the same feeling as before, but this time it's clear to him — it's a nice sensation. There's something genuine and amatory in it, something that settles as soppy in substance when it flocks to his heart. It takes him a while, and he's mainly focused on his test, so it's only as the examination is declared over, that he finally puts his finger on it.

His eyes shoot up, and he thinks can detect where the gaze is coming from — right beside Taehyung.

Jimin isn't quite so lucky this time, as he doesn't manage to capture Taehyung again as he comes from the hall, because the boy is too quick.

Jimin frowns as he sees that shock of blue hair scuttle off down the hall, seemingly going to the library. Jimin traipses behind, persistent on catching up with him, that is until Yoongi materialises there, with an arm thrust across Jimin's shoulder. "Fuck me. That was awful." Comes his whine, and he laughs into it, evidently not all that fussed about his grades, not like Jimin, who was constantly grafting, scrambling to do as well as possible.

"It wasn't too bad." Jimin says, laughs at him, unabashed in his cockiness, trying to let go of the small itch batting away at him, as he desperately seeks conversation with Kim Taehyung, of all people.

"You really are a wonder, Jimin." Gok Youra's beautiful, crystalline voice curls through the air, as she suddenly appears by their side, having just filed out the door. She greets them in the flurry of the sun, and the rays seems as if ornaments of hers, like dangling assets to her already perfect countenance. The sun is like gold jewellery hanging from her, welded to her, part of her. And she smiles so saccharine, with a little sugarplum friend beside her, holding her bag.

Yoongi's brow cocks, and Jimin blinks at her, a little confused.

"That test was horrendous." She informs, eyelashes fluttering in a sublime fashion. "Wasn't it, Ki?" She asks her friend for back up.

Ki is a lot shorter, and a tad more rotund in stature, but no less beautiful. She's just a tad more subtle in the way she likes to exploit her beauty. She shrugs and sweetly says, "was the worst thing I've ever fucking done."

Jimin laughs kindly. "It was probably better than you think."

"Only Park Jimin can say that." Youra hums mildly, and there's an essence of flirtation in her tone, always. "I wish you would've tutored me."

Yoongi rolls his eyes, and squeezes Jimin closer to him, from where his arm is still around his friends' neck. "Didn't Ki tutor you?" He inquires, brow raising slightly, as he glances down at the shorter girl.

"Yeah, but we're both as bad as each other." She says with a laugh that Ki bashfully returns. "Anyway." She abruptly changes the subject, as the topic of school was starting to bore her, clearly, "are you guys going to come unwind at Bora's party on Saturday?"

Jimin stiffens slightly. Yoongi feels him and slouches across his body. "Our last exams are next week. Aren't you gonna wait till then to unwind?"

Youra just clicks her tongue. It's Ki who says, "it's supposed to be good for you to de-stress before you do a test. Enhances your performance."