CupCake.

5

SUP ARMYs

"Why were you watching me?"

"Why aren't you eating?"

"Why didn't you call my brother?"

"Would you have wanted me to?"

Penelope knew he had a point. If Yoongi found out about this, he'd make a big deal out of it and tell her parents. Telling JaeHee obviously is a no because then she'd have to lie to Penelope's brother and complicate their relationship. Of course, Penelope was jealous of Yoongi paying more attention to her best friend than his own sister but she wasn't selfish.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"Nurse wasn't at school."

"Why is he here?"

"Provided assistance. You should thank him." Taken aback, she nods towards him and nods at Taehyung as he hands her a bowl of hot ramyeon. Taehyung smiled wide and made himself comfortable across Penelope's crossed legged figure. He slurped at his ramyeon contently, ignoring Jimin's annoyed expression. Turning to Penelope, he sighs. "Why aren't you eating?" She had already heard his question the first time. Looking down shamefully, she let the arms that helped support her bowl, rest on her thighs. "I am."

"An apple a day doesn't keep the doctors away, Penny." She sighs, licking her lips and suddenly feeling the pressure. Just like the habit she had, she ate to ease her stress. "If you're trying to...make yourself feel better, starving isn't the way to go."

"You can say it, Jimin. I'm not fragile." Jimin stayed silent, thinking the opposite of what she said. Penelope decided to put it plain and simple. "Weight. If I'm trying to lose weight, starving myself is definitely the way to go." Jimin's insides quivered and he had to look away. "No, it's not. Been there," he started, standing up and leaving the room. "done that," he whispered.

She watched as he left in such a distressed manner. She couldn't understand why Jimin would mumble such a phrase. "Jimin used to think the same thing you did." The bright brunette said as he finished his ramyeon. The information surprised her, being unexpected. "I don't know if you ever noticed but Jimin missed a week of school once." Penelope shook her head. "Ever since I've known him, Jimin has always struggled when it comes to his weight. It may not look like it, but he gains weight very easily. At least, that's what he says. He claims his cheeks swell up and become too chubby and his face looks fat. I don't really care, he's still mochi to me." Taehyung's boxed smile appears, a giggle following after. "But for a while, he gave up trying to keep his diet going. He didn't need it, the diet I mean. He always worked out, was in the dance academy for about four years before he quit. He was in a couple of sports and always hung out at the park with me and Kook on his spare time. He was always up and about. Until he just gave and quit. He sat at home and ate nothing. He'd tried to eat at school but he would lie and tell us that someone gave him their breakfast. We believed him because there'd be a few times when it'd happen." Taehyung's head dropped, the grief written on his face and he remembered the sad day. "But one day, he didn't show up to school. Nor the next or the day after that. So I went to look for him. Yoo—" Taehyung cut himself and looked at her to see if she got his slip. Penelope remained in thought. "Someone was already there, leaving his house frantically and telling me Jimin was in the hospital. He was malnourished, weak and thin. His skin was pale than usual. He had bags under his eyes. The hospital gown kind of exposed a few of his bones and many were too defined. He used to walk to school then. Someone found him on the ground unconscious." Taehyung sniffled. "The doctor said that if he hadn't been found and woken up by himself, it could've gone worse. He was at risk of an illness that means your body wouldn't have taken any food and Jimin—" he cuts himself. "Jimin could've become a living corpse." Wiping under his eyes, he breathes out shakily. "It was terrible after that. It was difficult just to get him to eat. And sometimes he'd break down and just throw the food away and sometimes throw it up."