Opposites Attract

Chapter 02

Taehyung sat by the pool, his eyes glazed over as he stared at the still water, lost in thought. He could hear faint splashes echoing around the empty training area, but his mind was elsewhere, circling back to his recent argument with Lisa. For the first time in their relationship, he was beginning to wonder if the connection they shared was as solid as he once thought.

Just then, Jimin appeared, a faint smile on his face as he walked over. "Hey, Tae," he greeted, nudging him. "You alright? You look like you’re a thousand miles away."

Taehyung blinked, snapping out of his reverie. He looked up at Jimin, managing a half-hearted smile. "Oh, hey, Jimin. Didn’t see you there."

Jimin raised an eyebrow, taking in his friend’s distracted expression. "You’re spacing out. We still good to grab some food? I figured you’d be ready after practice, so I thought I'd swing by."

“Yeah... Yeah, let's go,” Taehyung replied, gathering his things and following Jimin. But as they walked, the weight of his thoughts only grew heavier.

---

They ended up at a cozy Korean BBQ spot nearby, the familiar scents of sizzling meat filling the air. The two settled into a booth, the lively chatter around them providing a comforting backdrop. Jimin quietly watched Taehyung from across the table, a slight furrow in his brow. He’d known Taehyung long enough to see that something was bothering him, but he also knew better than to push. Instead, he casually mentioned, “So… you and Lisa? How’s everything going?”

Taehyung’s expression tightened for a moment before he forced a shrug. “It’s... complicated.”

“Complicated how?” Jimin asked, pouring them both some water and eyeing Taehyung carefully.

Taehyung paused, choosing his words with caution. “I don’t know, Jimin... She’s just... been different lately. I don’t know if I’m seeing her differently, or if we’ve both changed.” He let out a frustrated sigh. “You know, I care about her, but there’s a side of her that... it just doesn’t sit right with me.”

Jimin gave a thoughtful nod, a look of sympathy crossing his face. “I noticed the way she acted around that girl the other day. It was... harsh. People are starting to talk about it at school, you know? They’re saying you two are... different.”

Taehyung flinched at the comment, staring down at the table. “I know. And it bothers me. A lot.” He paused, his voice barely above a whisper. “I just... I don’t want to be the kind of person who’s okay with that sort of thing. I want kindness and fairness to matter.”

“Maybe you just need to remind yourself of why you got together in the first place,” Jimin offered, reaching for a slice of grilled meat. “What was it that drew you to her?”

A nostalgic smile tugged at Taehyung’s lips. “It feels like a lifetime ago, but I remember it was at Jackson’s party, two years back…”

---

Flashback

It was a lively night. Jackson had thrown a senior party, inviting the entire school, and everyone was there. The music was loud, people were dancing, and the energy was electric.

Taehyung had been hanging out with his friends by the bar, laughing and chatting without a care in the world. As he glanced around, his gaze fell on a girl across the room. She had a sharp, confident look, unlike the others around her, and she was watching him with an amused smirk.

He felt a strange pull. He nudged his friend, gesturing subtly in her direction. “Who’s that?”

“Oh, her?” his friend had laughed. “That’s Lisa. She’s a junior. Friends with Jennie over there.”

Taehyung was curious. Something about her was different, intriguing. Lisa seemed uninterested in the usual flirting and gossip that her friends were caught up in, and her gaze never wavered from his. After a moment, he made a decision. He excused himself from his friends and walked over, leaning against the table beside her.

“Hey,” he greeted, a friendly smile on his face.

Lisa smiled back, raising an eyebrow as she took a sip from her drink. “Hey.”

“Kim Taehyung,” he introduced himself, holding out his hand.

“Lisa,” she replied, slipping her hand into his.

The spark between them was instantaneous. Taehyung wasn’t usually one to make the first move, but something about Lisa’s confidence made him bold. “Would you want to dance with me?” he asked, his voice carrying a note of playfulness.

She didn’t hesitate. “Sure.”

The next hour flew by as they moved to the beat of the music, laughter bubbling up between them. Lisa eventually pulled him out of the crowd and they ended up in a secluded hallway. In an impulsive, heated moment, she pulled him by the collar to reach his lips since he was much taller, making his arms place against the wall blocking both her sides and leaned in and kissed him, catching him off guard. He didn’t resist; instead, he found himself returning the kiss with equal intensity.

End Flashback

---

Taehyung cleared his throat, cutting his memory short, embarrassed. “I... uh, well, you get the idea.”

Jimin laughed, raising his hands. “Alright, no need for all the details. I get it.”

They both shared a chuckle, but the amusement quickly faded from Taehyung’s face. “It’s just... I don’t know, Jimin. That was two years ago, and things felt so different back then.”

Jimin took a bite of his food, nodding thoughtfully. “People change, Tae. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. But what’s important is that you stay true to who you are. You have a strong sense of what’s right. Don’t compromise that.”

Taehyung’s face softened at his friend’s words. “Thanks, Jimin.”

---

Later that day, Taehyung arranged to meet Lisa, hoping to clear the air. They sat across from each other at a quiet café, the atmosphere tense. Taehyung broke the silence first, his voice gentle but firm.

“Lisa, we need to talk about what happened.”

Lisa rolled her eyes slightly, brushing off his concern with a casual wave of her hand. “Tae, you’re really making a big deal out of this. It was just a minor misunderstanding.”

Taehyung frowned, feeling a flicker of frustration. “A ‘minor misunderstanding’? Lisa, you were unnecessarily harsh to that girl. You embarrassed her in front of everyone. I just... I can’t stand by and ignore that.”

She scoffed, crossing her arms. “So what? I was almost the one on the ground, and I wasn’t going to let her.”

“That’s not the point,” Taehyung countered, his voice growing more insistent. “It’s about how you handled it. You could’ve just ignored her or talk politely. Instead, you chose to make a scene.”

Lisa’s eyes flashed, her voice taking on a defensive edge. “And since when do you care so much about how I act? You’re not my teacher, Taehyung. Sometimes I feel like you take this student council role a bit too seriously.”

Taehyung’s gaze hardened. “It’s not about being on the council. It’s about respect and treating people decently. I thought we both valued that.”

She leaned back, folding her arms defensively. “You’re just overthinking it, Tae. You’re always so careful about everything, and it’s... exhausting sometimes.”

They sat in silence, each of them processing the weight of their words. Taehyung finally looked at her, his expression a mix of sadness and resolve. “Maybe we’re different, Lisa. Maybe we want different things.”

For a moment, she looked away, her expression conflicted. Then, with a sigh, she softened, reaching out for his hand. “Look... I’m sorry, alright? I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s just... sometimes I feel like you don’t understand me.”

Taehyung glanced down at her hand, giving it a light squeeze before letting go. “Maybe that’s the problem,” he murmured quietly, unable to shake the feeling that, despite everything they’d been through, their paths were starting to diverge.