It's Complicated

18

The crowd roared to life as our defence made a play, forcing one of the running backs to make a fumble. The player went down, but the ball was back in our possession. The crowd, even my Mom, was hollering in excitement.

But I couldn't see any of it. I couldn't hear any of it.

Despite Jungkook now running on the field to try and put more of a lead to finalize our victory, I couldn't focus on him. My heart wasn't beating for him.

"Jimin..."

I spun on my heel and ran back down the steps that lead to the large open isle. I heard my mom calling out for me, but my feet wouldn't stop running. I couldn't stop. I had to get to Jimin. I had to tell him exactly how I feel.

I'm running on so much adrenaline, that by the time I reach the parking lot, I can finally hear the sounds of the game again. Or rather, the sounds of our school's victory. The announcer is congratulating Jungkook and our school. I can just feel the buzz of victory coming from behind me.

But I use that as fuel to propel me into more running. I strain my eyes to look for the one thing that could possibly mean anything to me; his old beat up white truck. I don't even know if he's still here, but I can't give up hope. I have to keep looking.

Just as I'm about to stop looking and pull out my phone, I see his truck at the far edge of the parking lot, away from the rest of the parked cars.

"Jimin...!"

I sprint and dodge through the parked cars to make my way towards it. But as I get closer I don't see him in his truck. I huff out of breath as I get to the front of his truck; leaning on it with both of my hands as I close my eyes and catch my breath. Only when I'm close enough to be next to the truck do I hear music playing from his radio.

"Hello?"

I look up and peek around the front to see Jimin sitting up from the bed of his truck. "Y-You're still here!" I ran around the back, seeing the tailgate opened with his legs dangling from it.

"Yeah... uh..." he scratched the back of his neck before running his hand through his hair, "I was gonna leave, but realized I didn't know where I wanted to go. So uh, I ended up just lying down back here."

I breathed through my mouth as I stared at him, fully taking in the boy in front of me. He looked tired. He looked lost. In a time when he should feel over the moon - being accepted to his first choice and on the verge of graduating - he looks so sad.

"Why are you here," he asked with very little emotion. "Shouldn't you be back in there? It sounds like we won, right? Jungkook would-"

"I love you Park Jimin."

He stared wide eyed with his mouth slightly open.

I felt my heart beating too fast in my chest, but I trusted in my feelings. "I love you so much. I always have. M-Maybe not in the beginning, but after a while, I couldn't imagine a life without you. A life of just us. Me and you taking on the world. And- And I don't want it any other way." I gulped hard and felt like running away from embarrassment, but I stayed with my feet planted on the ground in front of him. "I know I complain a lot, and I know I can be pretty selfish, but... I want to keep growing up with you." I blushed, finally looking away from his eyes, "I want us to be together. Not as best friends... but as a couple. Because.... Because... I-"

"I love you." Our eyes locked in a moment that seemed to last a lifetime. But as he stood up and pulled me into a tight embrace, time seemed to move again. "I love you so much Y/N. I'm so sorry it took me so long to realize it."

"I'm sorry I never said anything to begin with," I apologized into his chest.

"I'm sorry I didn't pick up on it. I'm a total idiot."

"Yeah you are."

He picked up my whole body and spun around once, "Shut up you brat."

I giggled, despite the few tears that fell, "You're the one who said it."

He put me back down and smiled wide as he stared into my eyes, "Yeah...I guess I did."

"Yeah..." I repeated, staring back.

He carded his fingers through my hair and cupped my face, "Are you sure it's me you want?"

"I realized that as I looked at Jungkook on the field, my heart wasn't beating for him. I wasn't thinking about him. Because all I could think about was you. I wanted to be with you."

He blushed as he took a step back, covering his grin with his hand and trying not to chuckle from embarrassment and happiness. "Oh," was all he could say.

"Oh? That's it?"

"What do you want, a poem?"

"A haiku would be nice," I smiled mockingly.

He coughed out a laugh before pulling me in for a kiss, "Brat."

"Jerk."

Just as our lips found their new home in each other, I Want It That Way by the Backstreet Boys started serenading us from his car radio. It felt too perfect, being in his arms, kissing him like it was our first, and hearing Backstreet Boys in the background. This is exactly how I imagined our first kiss to be.

Who knew it'd take our third one to get it right?

But I guess that's just how high school love turns out.

The End.