As You Are (Kim Taehyung Story)

Chapter 3

"Where are you going?!"

"Home! I think I've studied enough for today. Bye!" He smiled, purposely showing off his deep dimple that I kept envying since day 1 that I got to know him. It's so deep that I think I can swim in it.

Jooheon left almost immediately and left Taehyung and I alone. The air suddenly felt very awkward. I cleared my throat and asked if he would want another can of drink. I got up and went to the kitchen without even waiting for his reply.

"What are you doing Hyejinnnnn? What are you even nervous about? Just get to know him and stuff! You guys are neighbours anyway. There's nothing to be nervous about" I repeatedly remind myself as I walk back to the living room, where we have been for the past 2 hours.

"Here's your drink!" I tried to sound casual.

"Thanks!" He took the drink and I wondered to myself, is he not going to leave? Is he going to continue sitting here?

"So uh, what time are you leaving? No i mean, uh. Like, wouldnt your grandfather be worried if you're not at home? I'm not chasing you out, I just. Yeah"

"You are indirectly chasing me out. But don't worry, I'll leave soon. I know you're feeling awkward. It's written all over your face" he laughed.

I  touched my face in embarrasment.

"Anyway!" He suddenly continued. "I don't think we have properly introduced ourself to each other, right? I'm Kim Taehyung" he waved at me.

"Hyejin. Choi Hyejin" I awkwardly waved back.

"Since, we are neighbours and I think, we'll be friends soon, I think its important for me to know more about you, if you don't mind. I mean, I don't have any friends here as you know, I've just moved here. But, it's okay, if you're reluctant to tell me anything about yourself. I respect that"

"You make me sound like I'm being choosy when it comes to people that I want to be friends with"

"Well... Seeing that Jooheon was the only friend you brought back home, I assumed that you are choosy when it comes to choosing people that could or could not be friends with you"

"Ohmygod, did you just judged me?  No no. I'm not choosy. I'm just, highly selective" I tried to crack a joke and it worked because this kid here, laughed.

"Highly selective?"

"I'm just kidding. Jooheon isn't my only friend. I have another friend, Kim Seo Hyeon, but she's studying overseas now. So, I'm basically left with Jooheon. Now that I said it with my own mouth, I do sound like I don't have many friends. Did I really only have two friends all this while?"

Taehyung laughed while shaking his head. "You're hilarious. Well you know, some people said that its better to keep your circle of friends small. Big circle of friends isn't that good either because dramas" He rolled his eyes, trying to act like those sassy people.

"Wow, you sound like you have a lot of experience with dramas among friends. I bet your circle of friends was very big back where you were at"

Taehyung suddenly smiled while looking down. Ouh oh, did I said something wrong? Did I offend him? Was he a forever alone guy back then?

"Uh, are you okay? Did I say something wrong?"

Taehyung shook his head but still smiling.

"No.. You did not. Its just that.. I used to have friends. But I have to leave them to come here because of personal reasons but, none of them understood it and was just making up excuses so that they don't have to contact me anymore. It was much more heartbreaking as one of them were my best friend since we were 7 years old and he dropped me just like that after I told him the reason why I had to leave. Like all these years of friendship meant nothing to him"

Without us realising it, he was sharing his personal stories with me, who he just met like few days ago. I wanted to know why he moved but I guess it was the time yet as we barely knew each other.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Didn't mean to make you tell me all this things"

"It's okay. I don't even know why I told you all this" he let out a small laugh.

I want to be his first friend here.

"Let's be friends"

"Are you sure? You barely know me"

"Sure. I'll know more about you after we become friends. That's how friendship starts isn't it?" I playfully winked at him and stretched out my hand to give him a handshake. I was waiting for him to shook my hand back but he just waved at me and said "Friends!"

I slowly put my hand back down, slightly offended as my handshake was rejected. I don't know why he didn't want to shake hands with me. I tried to keep a positive mindset and kept telling myself that he probably have his own reason. What's important now is that, I finally made a new friend after years and I am going to help him get use to living here and know more about him and who knows, we'll become best friends and maybe one day, he'll tell me the reason why he had to move. Why he had to leave his friends. But, how can his friend just drop him like that? Years of friendships just ended like that? What happened?