Pretend • Vmin

"Nice"

[Edited]

Chapter Three

"Nice"

•

Jimin almost jumped at the sudden weight against his shoulder. He bit his upper lip and looked up at the taller boy beside him through his lashes.

"What is it, babe?" Taehyung asked, as if leaning on someone's shoulder was the most normal thing in the world. "Something bothering you?"

Jimin shook his head quickly. "N-nothing!" He shrieked softly, glancing around at the students who were clearly gossiping about them.

Taehyung let out a low chuckle and leaned closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper near Jimin's ear.
"Act natural. Is that so hard?" Jimin just nodded, tense. Then Taehyung added, almost casually, "Smile at your ex."

Jimin's frown deepened. He caught sight of Jungkook leaning against a locker, looking annoyed. Why?

'Maybe he found out about his briefs? Or the shirts?!'

He felt like a kitten being dragged into a wolf's den. He shot Taehyung a "where the hell are we going?" look, but the taller boy didn't answer.

"Jungkook!" Taehyung greeted, giving the younger a light punch on the shoulder. Jungkook didn't even look up from Jimin.

"Hyung. Didn't think you were into secondhand's." Jungkook insulted raising an eyebrow with an unreadable expression.

Taehyung chuckled, "Secondhand? Whatever do you mean because as far as I could remember last night, I was his first. Not you."

Jungkook's jaw dropped, eyes snapping to Jimin in disbelief. Jimin might have mirrored him if not for the firm hand gripping his hip, making him bite his bottom lip nervously.

"Anyway," Taehyung said smoothly, guiding Jimin through the crowd, "I'll take you to your first class. Stay close."

He stumbled on his own shoe and almost fell into Taehyung's chest. The taller boy barely flinched, steadying them both.

"Watch it," Taehyung muttered, but there was a faint smirk beneath the annoyance. "You're clumsy."

Jimin's cheeks burned. You idiot. He's only putting up a front... maybe he hates me. His thoughts spiraled, but the hand still gripping his hip made his heart pound in a way he didn't understand.

Taehyung's sigh was low, measured. "Keep up with me. Look, I'm not... sweet. Not easy to please. I don't do emotional crap." He paused, his eyes flicking to Jimin, sharper now, assessing. "If you can't keep up with me, it's your problem. Got it?"

"Yes..." Jimin whispered.

"And don't get attached." Taehyung added the last words almost offhandedly, but the intensity in his gaze made Jimin swallow hard.

Jimin's gaze fell to Taehyung's chest—white v-neck under a brown leather jacket—and noted the new brown hair and bandana. Why does he even look this good?

"Did I walk too fast?" Taehyung asked, raising an eyebrow. "Or am I being... too protective by looping my arm around your waist? Should I just hold your hand instead?"

Jimin's face flushed. "I... I just... hold onto you..."

"Hold... what?"

Jimin pressed his lips together before slowly lifting his hand to touch the hem of Taehyung's jacket, his fingertips soon grasped the material, "Jungkook doesn't like me being clingy. So instead he lets me hold his sleeve or shirt so I wouldn't lose him when he would walk fast in a crowded place."

Taehyung stared at Jimin's small, soft hand, his own calloused fingers brushing against it. "I'm not Jungkook," he said quietly, serious.

Jimin looked at Taehyung's brown eyes. "No. You're not..."

"Good. Then when I walk fast and you can't keep up... cling to my arm. Or hug me—I'll stop." Taehyung's lips curved faintly, just enough to unsettle Jimin.

Jimin nodded. "Do you... always lie? You were so quick earlier..."

Taehyung hummed, "I lie enough."

Jimin met his gaze, hand engulfed in Taehyung's larger, calloused one, heart hammering.

"Shit, we're late." Taehyung hissed, starting to run without waiting. Their hands remained entwined. Jimin scrambled to keep up, eyes on Taehyung's back—and realized he was slowing his pace for him.

He says he isn't nice... so why does this feel... nice?

⸻

The classroom buzzed with chatter as students shuffled in, backpacks slung over their shoulders. Jimin followed closely behind Taehyung, trying not to trip over his own feet, heart hammering in his chest.

Taehyung strode ahead, tall and confident, his brown jacket brushing against his sides, hair falling slightly over his forehead. A few students turned to stare, whispering behind their hands.

Taehyung dropped Jimin's hand but left his arm brushing against his, a silent claim.

Jimin kept glancing at him, unsure, conflicted. Jungkook had been his first crush... first love. But Taehyung? Taehyung was... a storm he didn't know how to navigate, and yet he couldn't look away.

He's cocky. He's dominant. He's impossible.

The bell rang, signaling the start of the class, but Jimin's mind was elsewhere, focused entirely on the way Taehyung's eyes occasionally flicked toward him, lingering just a second too long.

•
⸻