ghostly ➳ kim taehyung

ten; "figure it out for yourself"

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"Mina, it was so strange. It was just silent, like, 80% of the time, but it wasn't awkward at all. We kinda just stared at each other without saying anything."

"You have a crush on him," Mina states matter-of-factly.

"What?" Chaewon scoffs. "No way. He's just--"

"--Your crush."

"No, he isn't," Chaewon sighs, leaning back into her chair. They're in class but the teacher is already almost fifteen minutes late. "I think I like someone else."

"Who, Jimin?" Mina questions with a raised brow.

"No, no, no. Jimin is like a brother to me."

"Who, then?"

"Yeongs--"

"Nope," Mina interrupts. "Not him. Anyone but him. He's an asshole."

"He's really kind to me," Chaewon whines in protest. "I don't understand why everyone hates him so much. He's funny, smart -- well, kind of smart -- and his looks are just a bonus. I tutor him, Mina, I think I would know by now if he's not a good person."

"Whatever you say, Chae," Mina says quietly just as the teacher bursts through the door, apologising profusely for her lateness. "I'll let you figure it out for yourself."

Chaewon frowns but doesn't respond.

❁

The weekend rolls round quicker than Chaewon expected. It's currently Sunday and her parents insisted on having a barbecue for the first time in their new backyard.

"Invite some of your new friends over, Chaewon," her dad insists as he empties a bag of charcoal onto the cooker. "What about the boy next door?"

"Jimin's visiting his dad this weekend. He works away."

"Isn't there anyone else from school?" He asks, turning to look at her. Chaewon thinks it's strange that he doesn't mention Taehyung, considering the latter is often invited into the house by her dad. Her dad must know who he is, even if he doesn't know his name.

"There's Mina, and a few of Jimin's friends who I hang round with. Mina is practicing piano for a charity concert on Thursday or something and I don't even have the others' numbers."

"What about that kind boy from your father's work meal? The CEO's son. What was he called again? Yo-something?"

"Yeongsu," Chaewon corrects her mother with a small laugh. "No, I'm not asking him."

"You should invite him, Chaewon!" Subin says excitedly, dashing towards her holding an oversized teddy bear. "It's my birthday tomorrow so you have to ask him."

"I don't understand your logic, sis," Chaewon giggles. "What about Taehyung, dad? The boy who you always let inside the house."

Chaewon's dad turns to her immediately with a frown, setting his spatula down onto the side.

"What?"

"Taehyung," she repeats. "He probably never told you his name but he's the boy who you invited inside the first day we moved here. He visits almost everyday. The boy who wears the ugly clothes, you know him."

"I have no idea who you're talking about, sweetie," he chuckles and diverts his attention back to the burgers that are on the brink of turning black. "But next time you invite a boy over, let me or your mother know."

Chaewon feels a wave of confusion wash over her, knowing fully that something isn't quite right. Why does nobody know who Taehyung is but her?

❁

The following Monday, Chaewon greets Jimin by his locker. It's the day before their project is due so the three agreed to meet up before their lunch break.

"Hey," Chaewon smiles. "You ready?"

"Yeah, sure," Jimin says, shutting his locker before they head down the corridor to lthe library once again.

Jimin sits by the computer whilst Mina, who rushed in a few minutes late, and Chaewon add the final touches to their poster. They're all pretty confident that they're going to fail.

"I'll print this off now," Jimin announces, swirling round on his chair so that he's facing the two girls.

Chaewon glances at the screen behind him, her eyes narrowing at the photograph of the old students displayed largely on the screen. She slowly stands, an uncomfortable sense of confusion settling inside her as something becomes increasingly familiar.

"Zoom in on that photo please, Jimin," she requests quietly, now leaning over the computer beside him. "Right there, top left."

Jimin does as Chaewon asks and after a few delayed moments the photograph is magnified, depicting a surprisingly clear view of individual faces. If Chaewon remembers correctly, the photograph is from the 1930s, depicting the first ever students at their high school.

Which is why she stands back in horror, hands clasped over her mouth as her heart beings to beat loudly inside her chest.

"What's wrong, Chae?" Mina asks worriedly as she stands up at Chaewon's side.

"T-That's..." she stutters, unable to form a coherent sentence.

"What is it, Chaewon?" Jimin is next to ask. "What's wrong?"

"That's," she whispers, eyes glued to the familiar face on the screen in front of her. "That's Taehyung."

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author's note: hey, everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I apologise for the slow updates :)