Almost V

열여덟

You'd think that two people who maybe, just might like each other (sometimes) and who definitely, usually (almost always) work together would find some time - or any time, really - to be alone. If not for kissing, then at least for talking. But an entire week passed, and all I got from Taehyung after the visit to his family's surf shop was a daily greeting, a lot of smiling, and enough desperate across-the-lobby stares to fill up the entire museum.

Every day, I watched the bruises on his face lighten and his wound heal, but as they disappear, so does the memory of what happened between us, and I am feeling something akin to physical withdrawals. Sure, I received some texts from him during work hours. They include the following:

On a scale from 1 to Hades, how humid is the Hotbox today?

You should wear scandals to work more often. You feet are sexy. Maybe I'm the one with the foot fetish.

I thought about sneaking out to your house last night, but I didn't want to risk getting you in trouble with your dad if I got caught.

I'm tired. Let's go take a nap together in the big teepee.

And when he texted me, I think I need medical care. Will you come nurse me again? I nearly fell off my stool in the ticket booth. but when I texted him back that I would be right there, his reply was: Sigh. I wish. Yoongi is sitting next to me. Awkward.

The boy is killing me. K-I-L-L-I-N-G.

Things were much simpler when we were archenemies.

"Sometimes I feel like Taehyung is Yoongi's nurse," I say under my breath.

Anna hands tickets through the window and mutes the microphone. "Know what I heard? That all that weed Yoongi vapers might actually be medical. The dude might have the big C."

I frown. "What? Cancer? Who told you that?"

"It's just a rumor going around. Don't know if it's true. You know how people talk. That girl Raven up in the cafe says she heard that he's been in remission for years, and that he just uses it as an excuse to get high. So who knows? He doesn't look sick to me."

Me either, but can you really tell? And it's not like I'm going to walk up and flat-out ask him. I hate rumors. It makes me sad that people are tlaking about Yoongi behind his back.

"What the hell is going on between you two, anyway?" Anna asks me as she adjusts the portable fan.

"Yoongi and me?"

She gives me a classic Anna eyeroll that clearly states: You know what I'm asking about: don't play dumb. "Taehyung and you."

"Beats me," I say, thoroughly grumpy. I'd already told her about the kissing. No details. Well . . . some details. Anna has a way of dragging things out of me. (Maybe because I'm the author? Hahaha.) "Maybe he's dating someone else, and he's trying to juggle two girls at once."

Anna shakes her head. "No other girlfriend. He works at the surf shop after he leaves here every day. it's open until nine. Then he turns back around and works there every morning - and that's if he hasn't been surfing. When has he got time for another girl?"

Good point. I feel guilty for even joking about it.

"I saw him arguing with Mr. Lopez about the schedule that just got posted," she notes as her phone buzzes. She checks the message, texts something back, and smiles to herself.

"And?"

She shrugs as she passes tickets through the window.

Now my phone buzzes with a text. It's Taehyung. We both have tomorrow off. If you're not busy, would you like to go on a date? Time: tomorrow afternoon until? Chance of being caught by your dad: very low. (please say yes.)