Switching Places || vkook fic

Chapter 8 || Park Jimin

Taehyung went to get food for his classmate in the cafeteria before rushing back to the infirmary. When he came back, Jimin was already treated by the nurse.

He was in a sitting position on the bed. He had an ice pack at the injured area with bandages securing it at that place. The nurse excused herself to give the new report to the office.

Taehyung watched the nurse leave before settling down in front of Jimin. He handed the other an egg and cheese with ham sandwich and an apple juicebox. "It's lunchtime, so I ought to get you food." It was an awkward silence when the other broke it.

"Thanks... Y'know, you aren't as bad as what people say," Jimin remarked, biting the sandwich carefully.

Taehyung smiled shyly. Act like Taegyeong. "Well.. it's the first time anyone had ever said that to me. I mean-" he almost choked upon remembering what Taegyeong told him. Her experiences pricked at his heart. "Thank you."

"Whenever I see you getting bullied by that cockhead and fake Mina, I just had the urge to help you but I was a coward. So I just watched," Jimin admitted sadly, eyes looking elsewhere. Quickly he shook his head, removing any negative thoughts from his mind. "But now that we're here, let's be friends?"

Taehyung pat himself on the back mentally. Made a new friend for her! "Sure. My name's Kim Taegyeong."

"Park Jimin's the name," he flashed a bright smile. "For the first time in three months, you're so active and energetic. You were so.. silent, quiet and looking hopeless about everything. It was hard to approach you.

"Until yesterday. You just changed when you talked back to Jungkook after gym class."

Oh right, there was gym yesterday. I missed it.

"Figured I could start being friends with you if I tried hard enough," the other grinned cheekily. Taehyung smiled softly, at least there's someone who was watching his sister. His eyes averted to the ticking clock and had five minutes before the next lesson. "Hurry up and eat, we gotta go back to class."

"Okay okay chill out Tae. I have a broken jaw," Jimin pouted childishly.

Taehyung thought he had blown his cover but remembered he was still in his sister's disguise. Well it's a common nickname for me and her in separate environments.

"Does your back hurt?" Taehyung raised a quizzical eyebrow. He didn't understand what he was saying until he remembered the last moment when Jungkook whammed a ball into his back.

He straightened his back as if nothing happened but he could feel the slight sting when he did so. He tried to cover it up with a smile but failed. Jimin rolled his eyes and laughed in amusement. "I-I'm fine!"

When the nurse came back, she had insisted Jimin to stay in the infirmary for the rest of the school day because she was afraid anything could happen to him. Taehyung had to agree so he waved goodbye to him and left for the next class.

He learnt that Jimin was his permanent classmate throughout the whole first semester. Taehyung decided to take notes for his new friend and smiled fondly at the thought. At least he had something better to do than deal with that Jeoncock's bullshit.

Jungkook stayed motionless in his seat, staring absolutely at nowhere but the teacher. He had his cheek rested on his palm, supported by his elbow. A day was boring without taunting Taegyeong. That was his rule for the year.