My Delinquent|tk

3| i'm not giving up on you, yet

Taehyung—

I ran up to Jungkook, after class ended, and reached out to grab his shoulder. The younger turned his head, an irritated expression on his face. "What do you want?" He asked, coldly. Ignoring the harshness in his tone, I placed a wide smile on my lips. "We're partners, right? Shouldn't we schedule times to meet up to work on the project?" The latter sighed, his face softening, slightly, "yeah, yeah. Whatever."

Grinning, I pulled out my phone, "great, give me your number." I noticed how reluctantly Jungkook reached for my phone and typed in his contact. I get where he was thinking. If I have his number then I'd become more involved with him, and he wasn't wrong. I don't know what was compelling me to want to help him, but I wasn't going to go against the feeling. I can't turn someone away when they clearly need assistance.

The younger handed me my phone back, a troubled expression on his face. "Thanks, I'll send a text to you right now, so you know it's me," I said, whilst pressing on the text messaging button and sending a simple "hi." The sound of Jungkook's phone dinging rang, making the latter pull it out from his pocket. "This your number?" He asked, facing the screen towards me. I glanced at the numbers and nodded, smiling widely. "Yep, text or call me when you want to meet up, alright?" With that, I waved goodbye before turning to head down the library.

Mark my words, Jeon Jungkook, I will help you. Whether it's a money issue or a family issue I will help you. Yet, there was that question again. Why did I want to help him? It's not like this situation has ever happened before. Why was he different? What was the reason why I felt like taking all of his burdens as my own, so he could finally breathe? I don't understand it myself. I barely know the guy, but here I am butting my nose into where it, clearly, doesn't belong.

Sighing, I stuffed my hands into my pockets, and pushed open the library door with my elbow, holding the door open with my foot, just enough for me to slide in. The large room was cold and quiet as usual. There was nothing friendly or warm about a college library. The air was filled with frustration and strained tension. Worrying thoughts of passing that test or finishing this project. The only sounds that emitted were low murmurings for group assignments, or the scratching of a pencil, or the clicking sounds of a keyboard being typed.

Quickly, I chose a table in the back, near the windows, that looked out into the small park that laid in front of the main building of the campus. There you could see students outside, enjoying the fall weather. I longed to go outside, but this essay wasn't going to type itself. Sighing again, I reached into my bag to take out my laptop and my textbooks, as reference materials, for the assignment.

I wouldn't call myself a good student, but I wouldn't call myself the worst. I had to make sure that I made exceptional grades for my parents, since I would be taking over the hospital once I graduate. I needed to make sure that I didn't fail them. That would be the last thing I would do, after everything they did for me. Despite being busy with their jobs, they still tried to make time for me, and make sure to ask how my day was and do all of those little things that regular kids would take for granted and even scoff at. I needed to make my parents proud of me, and the only way to accomplish that was to do the best I can. The hospital won't let some slacker become their chairman.

The essay was fairly easy, only taking me around two hours to compose and edit, with a small coffee break in the middle. I ran over what I'd written, while sipping at my sweetened drink. There were a few grammatical errors, here and there, which I fixed immediately. Satisfied with my work, I hit send on my computer, and leaned back into my seat, massaging my weary eyes. Maybe I should take that walk outside, now. Smiling at the thought of the cool weather, just waiting for me, I began to pack my things into my bag.

Just before I was about to head out of the freezing library, my phone vibrated from inside my pocket. Frowning, I pulled out the device, and turned it on to read the notification. My eyes widened when I saw that it was a text from Jungkook, asking if I had time to do the project.

Plans of taking a walk flew out of my mind, as I plopped back down in my seat and sent a quick reply back, saying that I was fine doing it now. I felt excitement buzz through me as I texted him my location. I placed my phone on the table, as I unzipped my backpack and pulled out my, still warm, laptop, and the materials for the project. For some reason I really wanted to see the younger again. If I was going to help him, I'll need to pry a little. I need to become his friend. I needed to be someone he'd trust. If I can't simply ask him to befriend me, then I'll just have to slowly work myself into it, and this partnered assignment is my ticket in.

Jungkook pulled up a chair, across from me, not long after I told him where to go. I flashed him a wide smile, in greeting, only getting a slight nod in return. At least he wasn't glaring at me. I find a simple nod progress from how he'd addressed me this morning. Though, if I were in his shoes, I'd probably wouldn't want to see me either.

"Let's get started then," the younger spoke, shortly, taking his laptop out of his bag. I nodded and pulled out the guidelines for the assignment. "Alright, we're supposedly running a business together. What would that business be?" I asked, flipping through the pages. "What would you want it to be?" Jungkook replied, offhandedly. "Medical," I responded, immediately. It was what I was studying, so that would obviously be my choice. The dark-haired male nodded his head, and turned on his laptop. "That's not a bad idea. It could work if we say we're running a small little pharmacy together."

I grinned, "I like where you're thinking, Jeon." The younger flinched when I said his last name, a pained expression passing his face. I frowned, not sure if I saw that correctly. The fleeting look of fear and sadness was there, yet it disappeared just as fast, as if it never crossed the latter's face at all. What exactly was he hiding?

Jungkook cleared his throat harshly, "just call me Jungkook." I nodded, not sure how to approach this kind of situation. "Sure," I replied, simply. If he reacted like that after I called him by his last name there must be something wrong with his family. Something traumatizing, surely, for him to react like that.

We worked, almost, silently, with only the occasional brief discussions on what to do for the project. I wanted to scream, curiosity itching at my brain. What are you hiding Jeon Jungkook?

I cleared my throat, awkwardly, "so...uh. Jungkook...do you have any siblings?" The younger raised an eyebrow, not looking up from his laptop. "No. I'm a single child. You?" I chuckled, slightly, "no. I'm a single child as well." Suddenly the tapping sounds from Jungkook's keyboard grew louder. I must be touching on something sensitive. I needed to delve deeper. "What are your parents like?" I asked. I noticed how his shoulders tensed. "They're like any regular parents," he responded tersely.

"Do they know that you steal?"

At that, Jungkook peered up from his laptop screen, eyes narrowed. "Where are you going with this?" He demanded, voice low. I shrugged, playing innocent. God, he's so scary; I'm sweating so hard. "I'm just making small talk. Why? Is it bothering you?" I noticed that the aforementioned's eye twitched, at my question. "It is, actually, so I'd like if you'd stop and just pay attention to the task at hand."

With that being said, the latter flicked his eyes back to his laptop, leaving me to sigh, dejectedly.

I'm not giving up on you, yet.

—

What a sweet boy, Tae is :)

Also, for my fellow STAYs, what songs do you like from I am Who? I flippin love Voices >.<

-Author-nim