The Bitter Side || PJM

Tastes Bitter

Part of me dreaded whatever was to come of Taehyung's small mysterious mission, especially when he had recorded my number on his phone so that communication would make it easier between the two of us. Soon enough, Jimin's group of friends had invited our group over for lunch at the shopping mall, and I dropped out in hopes that staying cooped up at home would evade me from his mere presence. Taehyung was the one that kept me reasonable throughout that period where I could say I had turned paranoid. It wasn't just about Jimin but I was guessing that I had become very sensitive. To what, that was still a full-fledged mystery, but Taehyung was aware of the small changes in my demeanor, and the way in my which I replied sometimes; with bitterness unable to hide behind my words of semi-truth and mostly lies.

Taehyung himself had scolded me the day after the get-together, throwing a tantrum about the fact that I missed a very good lunch thanks very much and that nothing was going to come out of it if I was going to avoid Jimin at all costs, because contrary to my overreactions, it almost seemed like Jimin really didn't give a damn about me.

Or so I thought, until his phone call popped up that same night, asking if everything was okay and whining that I hadn't been present earlier that day.

"I'm fine, I'm just tired" I shuffled around and made myself comfortable on my bed, all too much aware of the slow breathing on the other side of the phone. Was I crazy to find even his small short breaths more than a little charming?

"But I had no one to talk to, and you didn't even tell me" I heard the whining in his voice; picturing the pout he was probably wearing on his face at that instant.

I just snorted, "Shut up. I bet you had a blast"

"It wasn't as fun because you weren't there" He replied as a matter of fact, "And we even went shopping together with the girls. I would've forced you into a makeover"

"Haha Jimin, that's very funny" I rolled my eyes, hating the underlying meaning behind his joke. Jimin loved his girls curvy and more on the softer side, feminine and sure of their appearance. I, on the other hand, was the complete opposite, and he always managed to remind me of that fact, no matter what he was trying to do. I still couldn't understand his actions, sometimes acting like a very good friend, and sometimes flirting like he wanted something more. I came to that stage where avoidance was the only solution, to which Taehyung replied quite stubbornly that it was not. He called me a coward, but I didn't care. I was one, I admit it, I was not going to lie, but I guess I was more scared of what he might say when discovering the truth, than actually making a move to make him understand my true intentions.

A few days after that, I agreed to go out with my friends for some bubble tea before heading home. We had settled ourselves down at our usual table when we accidentally bumped into the boys, who had also decided to stop by for refreshments.

"Hi" I murmured to Taehyung, who only reached out to pat my hand in a friendly way. Inwardly taking a deep breath and repeating to myself over and over again to act normally, I turned and caught sight of Jimin's attention diverted towards Aejung.

They seemed to be in a very serious conversation, heads together and laughing silently amongst themselves. As my gaze wouldn't detach from those two individuals, I felt something tighten inside my stomach in a very unpleasant manner. It must have shown on my face because I felt Taehyung tap my shoulder and ask, "Is everything okay? You don't look too good"

When I didn't reply, too focused on the chemistry occurring between Jimin and Aejung, his eyes perceived what caught my attention, and I felt him still next to me.

"Kim" his voice was a warning. I tore myself away and focused on the bubble tea in front of me. Biting my lip and feeling the cold drink against my fingers, a numbing confusion spread like wildfire across my brain. What did I just see? I was imagining it right? There was no way that Jimin and Aejung had something going on between them, right? Oh god, I was going crazy, thinking about every little thing so deeply. I hated being so vulnerable to all my surroundings, and Taehyung's concerned eyes on my form didn't make it any easier for me at all.