딸기 | Kim Taehyung

seven

Cho, Taehyung, and Yuri roamed through the halls on their way to their next classes.

Cho, being immersed in conversation, was startled as a tall figure bumped into her. Taehyung gripped her shoulders to make sure she didn't fall, glaring at the unknown figure.

"Oh hi Cho", He immediately states with a smile across his face.

"Hi Jaebum, you need to watch where you're going", Cho smiles.

Taehyung's hands fall to his sides.

"Yeah, sorry about that", Jaebum responds, rubbing his neck, red emerging on his cheeks.

"Alright, well I have to go, see you around".

"Yeah".

As Jaebum walks away Yuri asks,  "Is that your boyfriend, Cho"?

"No, just a friend", Cho laughs.

Taehyung's muscles relax at this statement.

***

Cho and Yuri take their seats at their table during lunch, Taehyung was running late.

Jaebum passes with his friends, he immediately stops at the sight of Cho. He whispers to his friend and makes his way to the table.

"Hey stranger".

"Hey Jaebum".

"Can I sit with you today? "

"Yeah".

Jaebum takes a seat next to Cho, the same spot Taehyung always sat at.

Soon enough, they were in deep conversation.

***

Taehyung made his way through the cafeteria doors with a smile plastered on his face. Scanning the cafeteria, his smile drops as his eyes land on a familiar table.

Cho was in deep conversation, her head leaning on Jaebum's shoulder.

He turns around and makes his way to his friends' table, shoulders slightly slumped.

As he takes a seat Jimin questions his presence, "What happened Tae, why aren't you sitting with Cho"?

Taehyung nudges his head in the direction of Cho.

"Oh".

***

"I wonder where Taehyung is, I miss him", Cho states as her body collapses in exhaustion, her head leaning on Jaebum's shoulder.

Jaebum's smile from the prior conversation fades, as the memory of a past conversation comes to mind.

***

After a brief silence Jaebum asks a fatal question.

"So...... Taehyung, are you two close"?

"Define close".

"As in, are you two a thing"? 

"No.... ", Cho states as she smiles looking into her coffee mug, stirring it around.

His heart sinks into his stomach.

***

Will Jaebum ever get a chance?