Trouble

Blood

I licked the ice cream as I walked down the street. Even though the breeze was steady, licking the cold ice cream gave me a different kind of satisfaction. I sighed as I finished it, and threw the popsicle in the bin. So much for chocolate ice cream making me feel happy. 

In the past few days, my friends had tried and talk me out of dating Yoongi, and they supplied 'friendly' advice regarding it. I was happy that they were at least to try and follow what I had told them. I, however, wasn't pleased that they were so negative without ever having met him. 

I had talked to Seong about it: the only one keen on having a two-way discussion regarding this topic. 

"I know Yoongi is not like the normal guys. He never actually tells me how he feels, and he is more closed off than I am, but I relate to him. Sometimes I feel like he understands how I feel better than any one." I had told her before our Psychology teacher had entered the class.

"Talk to him about it," She had said, shooting me a smile, before heading for her seat. 

It seemed easy. But...There was still something bothering me, and I couldn't place it.

I felt someone tap my shoulder and turned around. I met Yoongi's hooded figure and instantly felt a smile light up my face. I removed one of the earphones from my ear, as he lowered his hood.

"He-" The rest of my greeting died on my lips as I noticed the fresh, red bruise near his eye.

"What did you do?" I reach to try and soothe his pain, but he flinches and backs away. I bring my hand down and wait for him to explain.

"Can you help me?" He says instead. I melt inside and nod. I extend my palm, hoping he would put his hand in mine, but he pockets it instead. I shrug it off, but I felt a claw draw a bleeding line across my heart. I simply ask him to follow me as I lead him to the convenience store where I bought my ice cream.

"Wait here," I said, walking inside. It had been seven days since my fight with my friends. Things had gone back to normal, but Bora and Jeong still mentioned how I shouldn't be fraternizing with Yoongi. I agreed, now. Something was wrong...

I had smelled trouble on him before both of them had, but I still couldn't ignore him. I couldn't understand why.

I picked up some antiseptic, cotton, and a fresh Band-Aid big enough to cover his wound. I cash the items in and quickly make my way outside to where he was leaning against the wall.

He inches himself lower, and I kneel in front of him to clean and patch him up.

"What happened?" I asked again, pouring some antiseptic onto the cotton.

"I walked into a pole," He said, hissing as I touched the cotton to his wound, and slowly began wiping away the blood. It was oddly dry.

"Did you walk into a pole in Busan and then drive here?" I questioned, reaching the place where the skin was split open.

"It doesn't hurt much," He says instead. He screams as I place a fresh bout of antiseptic on the wound. He holds onto the bottom of my sweater, involuntarily pulling me towards him. I clear my throat and continue my work.

I put some lotion on a small piece of cotton, place it on the wound, and then say, "Hold this in place," I bring his hand and place it on the cotton. He does what I ask as I unpackaged the Band-Aid. I carefully place it on his forehead and straighten the edges.

"It's done," I begin to clean up the mess we had created, picking up the antiseptic, cotton strays, and the remnant papers of the Band-Aid packaging. I placed it in the pocket on the side of my backpack, mentally telling myself to throw them away when I see a dustbin.