EPHEMERAL- LSK.NJH

places&time

January 10, 2006; Seoul
stran·ger: a person whom one does not know or with whom one is not familiar.
NJH

"you're absolutely ridiculous!" he laughs. "you actually sound more of a dumbass than you usually do." i manage to roll my eyes at that. with a satisfying amount of common knowledge helped by my fine years of schooling, at this very moment i am in fact not the dumbass here. "then for all means, go ahead and throw another party, get wasted for the rest of your life. that's just not me."

like every other weekend, after one of yoongi's oh so great parties, comes the wonderful aftermath. he leans up against the couch beneath a mountain of unfinished chip bags and crushed soda cans. "not you?" he asks more of a statement than a question. "sometimes i don't get you joo. we've literally got high school in for us, and this is not you?"

i let out a heavy sigh. nobody seems to get me, do they? "yoongi has a point though," the friend with the red hair begins, taeyong was it? "why worry about something like that now? it's only your first year."

i study the two, chunky silver rings on their index fingers, the same cut on their eyebrow. though it is our first year, it hasn't stopped them from being busy.

i know what they're about, what they do outside school when we're not goofing around in class. i've known since i first stepped foot in those cramped halls. i'd rather start something for myself before i get stuck into something unprepared for. "i think i know that. i'm asking for this one thing for a reason. he's being a little unfair." emphasis on he.

"if I'm being unfair, you're being unreasonable. lately, you've been so uptight and been missing out on parties. it's getting annoying." he groggily attempts to get up and makes his way to the kitchen. "and besides, it doesn't make sense for you to start working when you've got mirae." i'm getting really tired of hearing her name so casually in my conversations.

the friend follows and i claim yoongi's seat on the couch, throwing the rubbish on the floor while rubbing my temple. i know for sure i didn't have anything to drink last night, so why the headache?

yoongi reappears and throws me a water bottle.

i squint my eyes at him while he cracks open a can of beer. "you said your dad is looking for interns right? can't you put in a good word for me? talk him into getting me a spot?" he sends his head back to cackle and leans against the wall.

"the guy i haven't spoken to in years?" he jokes. i am not in a joking mood. "look, if i ask him for something like that, he'd just list off all the reasons why i'm a failure and forget why i attempted to have a normal conversation with him in the first place."

"can't you at least do this one thing for me? i'm always covering for you." he stops to look at me, an eyebrow raised as he scratches his bleached blonde hair. "why so interested in getting a job lately? we are youth with a whole lot of looks and a whole lot of girls. what you should be focusing on is using this time wisely." he nods, agreeing with himself. the other walks back into the room, seeming to have heard us.

"plus, doesn't mirae-" "i really don't wanna hear it."  groaning, i begin to get up. "was yesterday that bad? it doesn't look as crazy as it usually does."  "that's cause it was more of an 'upstairs party', to try and see how many pants anyone could get into." taeyong states disappearing into another room.

i shake my head, instantly regretting it mid shake after the pain grows worse. "you know, once your brother gets home he's going to kill you." wrapping an arm around my shoulder, he smirks. "this is the peak of my legacy, i don't need to hear that right now." he gives my back a slap and i smile at my crazy yet determined friend. making his way upstairs, he pauses in his tracks and turns to look at me.

"there are two whole fourth years in my room right now. care to join me?" i sigh and respond to him with a stifled laugh while shaking my head. "have fun." i make my way out of the mansion with that annoying thought sticking onto my brain. i'm pretty good at ignoring my problems, but this time around it's not that easy.

zipping up my jacket, i begin my journey to the bus stop, following wherever the wind decides to lead me. the snow seems to be growing heavier which gives my jacket holes the advantage of making it colder than it seems.

it doesn't look like it's going to last much longer. i look at the ground, making sure to skip each line on the sidewalk and my thoughts start to reappear once again. the events of last night abruptly flash across my mind, the rent notice placed freshly opened up from the aggravating red envelope on the kitchen table.

after giving the cause of this effect, the bastard, a cold earned stare like any other day, but with intent this time, i decided yoongi's was the best place to blow off steam.

if he actually worked and maybe made money, my ass might have been thinking about parties and girls and getting laid. but sorrowfully, i am not granted to have such a wonderful opportunity.

the cold air hits my cheek harshly as i manage my way to the stop. leaning against the pole, my head continues to throb, making my thoughts harder to process. i know i didn't drink but the ache just continues to pound.

the bus arrives and i board paying with the few cents in my pocket. making my way to the back, i scan the few people sitting in a scattered fashion, far enough to make themselves and other comfortable. i take my favourite seat, secluded from everyone else, and look out the window.

i see a few kids playing soccer in a field despite the weather being shitty and people walking on the sidewalk. frost creeps upon the window and i begin to draw little doodles, unfazed with the day ahead of me.

within a few stops, more people fill up the bus and I suddenly feel a shadow cast upon me and takes the seat to my left. i blink and look around the bus. there are an abundance of seats to choose from, far from people that aren't so welcoming as me, and i grow annoyed.

i take a glance at the fellow. he looks about my age. ignoring him, i continue my scribbles.

"what're you drawing there?" great he speaks.

i decide it's best to act as if i hadn't heard the question and scoot a bit closer to the window. "Oooh those designs look really cool!" he beams and leans into the space i had moved from.

it seems he doesn't take a hint so i follow with a sigh. "well it's nothing." i state plainly and wipe the drawing off the glass. looking forward i try my best to think up a plan for today. nothing excelling comes to mind but luckily, i am awarded with another question.

"don't you think everyone on the bus looks a little too sad?" i continue looking forward but look around again. the look on all these people do look downcast.

i shrug, "everyone has to do things they just don't wanna do." "but why exactly do they do things that only end up making them sad?"

i raise an eyebrow as i turn to look at the boys face. i study him and notice his big jacket and expensive clothing. my gut feels a pang of annoyance and envy. as if he has anything to worry about.

i find myself staring at him too long as he uses this as an opportunity to continue conversation.

"i'm taehyung." he grins a grin that spreads wide across his face. "i'm leaving." i respond as i decide this right here is my stop. pulling the stop request, i make my way to the front, wobbling as the bus moves unsteadily until i finally grasp onto the pole. the vehicle finally comes to a halt opens my only way out of another conversation i didn't sign up for.

i walk into the cold air yet again, only to be met with the sadly now familiar voice.

"where're you off to?"

-
A/N
I'm so tired guys if you left comments that'd make me happy.
Bye for now.

-rosie