Stalemate // BTS JIKOOK

Chapter 2 - A New Face

The three of us slowly made our way to class, turning heads around as usual. Well, not so much for me. It was for the two of them; Hobi and Tae Tae.

"Taehyung oppa~ Why are you eating an energy bar? Did you skip breakfast again?" a few longtime admirers of his called out, coming up to him with worried expressions. 

"Yeah, I woke up really late," he replied, putting on the smile that made everyone melt. He has honestly mastered it at this point.

"Otteoke~ you shouldn't be eating that bar then. I packed a bento box with lots of meat and vegetables for you," one of them said, reaching for the bar that he held in front of him and holding out a panda shaped bento box instead. 

He quickly pulled his hand away.

"Andwaeyo, Jiminie gave me this energy bar," he said, holding it preciously and taking another bite. "It's tasty."

"But it's not good for you," they said in unison, clearly disappointed at his rejection over the bento. They smiled in my direction for a moment but their eyes shot daggers, glaring at me like I was a piece of trash. 

If I hadn't been part of the friend group, I would've been ripped apart right then and there behind their backs. It was a feeling I was used to. They didn't think I was good enough to hang out with their oppas... 

They're probably right.

After that fiasco, we arrived at the classroom and took our regular seats near the windows. Unlike other schools, we have the same classmates in all classes for the semester and different teachers come in instead of us moving. It was supposed to promote closer "bonds". 

This year, Tae Tae and Hobi were with me while the other three in the group were with each other in a different class. 

Together, they made up the ulzzang group of the school; the 5 princes of Bangtan High. Me? I 'm just a tag-a-along that hangs out with them. In a way, their popularity made me more popular as well so I guess I was considered to be a part of them but I knew...that I was in a dangerous spot. 

One wrong move, one wrong word, and I'd be kicked to the corner without another glance.

 That's why I pretend so much. 

I pretend to be okay with everything. I pretend not be annoyed and frustrated by what they say and do. All to please everyone and draw attention to the innocent me on the outside and not the me that was simmering inside. All so that people will accept me and like me, even at the cost of not being myself and hiding my real opinion. 

I...don't want to be left behind anymore. Not like in the past. Not ever.

"Alright, settle down," our homeroom teacher Mr.Lee said, walking up to the small podium and holding out his attendance book. The noise lowered to small murmurs. "I'm going to take roll now."

He went down the list of names, calling out each and every person in the room before pausing for a moment. 

"Now don't get too crazy at what I'm about to say everyone,"he said with a serious expression. 

Despite that, the murmurs grew louder, everyone beginning to wonder what was happening. There usually wasn't much news during homeroom.

"We have a new transfer student."

The door swung open and a boy wearing the school's white uniform shirt and black pants waltzed in, an earbud in one of his ears. Mr.Lee began writing out his name on the board. 

전정국. 

Jeon Jungkook. 

It wasn't long before the girls in the class squealed super loudly, fangirling over this new handsome guy that appeared.

"Yah, yah, he's totally my style," I heard one of them say.

"Don't even think about it!" another said.

And just like that, the classroom was filled with a wave of competition, arguments, and smitten girls. 

Mr.Lee slammed a book onto the podium, silencing the noise and shaking his head with a sigh. 

"You kids never listen do you...At least let the guy speak," he said, turning towards the transfer student with exasperation.

A  moment of silence passed, Jungkook's expression one of nonchalance. 

"Aren't you going to give me a seat?" he asked, turning towards the teacher. Mr.Lee blinked a few times, taken aback by his question.

"A-Aren't you going to tell us a little bit about yourself first?" Mr.Lee asked. Jungkook turned back towards the class with a small smirk.

"This," he started, gesturing towards his name on the board. "Is all you need to know." 

A chorus of "Ooh's~" and screams echoed through at his cool response. 

Without another word, he made a beeline for any seat as he pleased, ignoring the heart-filled gazes the girls were giving him. 

And so he stopped at a seat.

Right next to me.