Unbearable | Jeon Jungkook

fourteen

The Contest and His Romance

"Outline the drawings. If the image and the details are closer, trace the sides in a darker shade than the others."

Ms. Lee is a great teacher, that's what I've observed. She's strict but wise and helpful. She's also young but I heard she had plenty of experiences with contests, as she was always the representative when she was a high school student.

Our quiet training was interrupted when a ring tone echoed throughout the room. Ms. Lee breathed in, stopping the discussion and took her phone from her pocket. "Let me take this. I'll be back in a minute." She said before turning and walking out.

The faculty members provided a vacant classroom in the highest floor of the school. It was a large space; there were long desks and monoblock chairs unlike the usual arm chairs we use daily. There were numerous windows, most were open, letting the cool breeze enter.

I've been training for a few days now. My parents were pleased to find out that I was qualified to join the Lion's Sketch Contest. They told me that it was a massive opportunity for me to finally do what I love, but at the same time, they weren't pressuring me to join. My cousins were also shortly informed about this and they were all very supportive. Eunhye was definitely thrilled. Jisoo even asked for a Facetime, saying that chats and texts weren't enough to express how proud and happy he was for me.

Well, I think he was exaggerating. I haven't achieved anything yet but it felt nice to know that they're encouraging me.

Mr. Yoo was also very glad to receive my favorable reply. He immediately excused me from my classes and asked me to join Jimin and Ms. Lee in training.

"You're quiet," from the silence, Jimin spoke in his usual gentle voice. He was sitting just beside me.

I turned my head and realized he was looking at me. "I'm just thinking." I replied shortly.

Recently, Jimin has been close with me - it wasn't a bad thing but I don't quite like it. Especially that he's saying romantic things to me. What he said in the cafeteria days ago still bothers me. Well, I might be wrong - maybe those words are said out of friendship. I hope.

There was a pause between us. A few seconds later, he spoke again with a chuckle. "You have nothing to be afraid of. I trust your abilities. We can win."

I smiled. "You're awfully nice to me."

Jimin breathed out, looking at the open windows for a split second before returning his gaze on me. "I'm not like this to everyone."

There he is again.

Does he like me? I kept asking myself. I'm not dense. Even if I was, I'm not dumb. With his behavior like this and words like that, anyone would be able to get what he's implying.

I shook my head. "Have you been in a relationship, Jimin?"

I don't know why the hell I asked that. It just came out of nowhere.

He propped his elbow on the desk and placed his chin on his palm, his eyes fixated in front. I took the chance to look at him; his jaw was well-defined and seemed as if it was clenching. Shoot. Did I make him mad?

Come to think of it, I always make boys mad. What's wrong with me?

I was about to take my words back until he spoke. "Yes, I've been in a few."

"Oh..." I nodded, feeling the awkwardness between us. "Sorry if I sound like I'm probing. It was out of curiosity."

"It's fine," Jimin dropped his hand and turned to look at me. "Those relationships weren't really serious."