My Delinquent|tk

6| i. don't. need. your. goddamn. help

Taehyung—

We met up at the café I requested, since I was in desperate need of caffeine. Jungkook got a black coffee with a little amount of sugar added, to reflect his bitter personality, while I ordered a caramel Frappuccino with extra whipped cream. Silently, we chose a table nestled in the corner of the café, away from the younger college students. I pulled out my laptop, and turned it on, waiting for the device to load itself.

Jungkook barely spoke, only responding in the shortest ways possible when I'd ask him a question. Sighing, I began to work on the project, not knowing how to start a conversation with the guy. He was so hard to break through, it was almost infuriating if I wasn't such an enduring person. I needed to tear down that steel wall he has, surrounding his heart. I needed to make him trust me, and confide in me. I needed him to see me as a friend. If I can't do that then I can't help him. I've already learned about his past, but according to Yoongi that wasn't the only reason to why he's stealing now. No, there's something more, and I am determined to find out what it is, and correct whatever is wrong in his life.

The only problem is that I can't start a conversation decent enough for him to actually pay attention to me. Maybe if I told him something that he didn't like, he might actually look up. Glaring is better than ignoring. Although...that plan could backfire, since it might just make him hate me more than he already does.

Deciding to test my luck, I lifted my head up from my laptop, and stared at the younger. "I know what happened to you." Jungkook rose one disinterested eyebrow, "oh? And what do you know, exactly?" A whisper of a smile passed my lips. At least he replied to me. "About your past. I know what happened to you when you were a kid." At that, the latter stopped what he was doing to snap his head up, sharply, a dangerous look on his face. "What do you know about my childhood?" He hissed, eyes narrowing. I kept my face expressionless, but my legs felt so wobbly, if someone told me to stand up, I'd probably fall right away.

"I know what happened to you and your father, and I know what happened to you after. That's it." In a flash, Jungkook's hand was fisting the collar of my sweater, yanking my face close to his. "Who told you?" The younger demanded, voice low, and icy. I didn't even bat an eye. If I wanted to get through to him, I needed to show him that I wasn't going to back down just because he's all big and bad. He wasn't going to intimidate me away. "Whoever told me doesn't matter. All you need to know is that I'm still here to help you, no matter what." Jungkook scoffed, letting go of my shirt, and throwing me back into my chair. "Like I said. I. Don't. Need. Your. Goddamn. Help. So, why can't you just back off, and leave me alone, huh?" I shook my head, crossing my arms. "No can do. I care about you, even though you don't want me to. I know we just met, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let that fact stop me."

I stared at the other male, dead in the eyes. "Come on, just let me in." Jungkook sneered, and started to pack his things into his bag, roughly. "Stop while you're ahead, Kim. I don't need some meddlesome rich boy butting his nose into my life, when he doesn't need to. If you know what had happened to me back then, you'd be sure to steer clear from me. After this project, our interactions will end." With that being said, the younger zipped up his backpack, the same one from the Seven Eleven, and slung it over his shoulder. He glared down at me, evident hostility in his eyes. "The next time we meet up for the assignment, you better not bring this up again. In fact, if you open your mouth at all, I'll shove the nearest object down your throat, you hear?"

He left me sitting at the café table, with a deforming Frappuccino and a hole in my heart. At least he spoke to me. At least he acknowledged my presence. At least he didn't call off the project. At least he said that there was a next time that we're going to be meeting. At least, at least, at least. Those were the thoughts that ran through my head, as I try to reassure myself that I still have a shot to get through with Jungkook. I can't keep climbing in the dark like this, but there was nothing else that I could do. Just knowing his past isn't really amounting to anything. Sure, it gave him a shock, but that doesn't mean he was going to suddenly open up to me. I might've just blown up all of my chances, in one go. How could I be so stupid?

Sighing, heavily, I rested my elbows on the table, and pressed my palms into my eyes, frustrated. What could I do to make some connection with him? Should I just quit? I'm not making any progress, anyway. Maybe I should stop before I do something I'll regret. Yet, there was a nagging feeling inside of my chest, telling me not to. I needed to see this all the way through. I still have no idea what my drive was, but whatever it is, it's still telling me to continue to try and help Jungkook.

Besides, if I were to drop all of this, I wouldn't even be able to even glance at the younger anymore, knowing that he has something going on, and I decided to quit helping him. To know that he's struggling with something, and I decided to just leave him to struggle. There would be no way for me to bear with the guilt. No, I need to help him, and I will do whatever I can to make that happen. Whatever it takes.

I began to gather my things, and slide them into my bag. I have to think of a new approach. Something that will make Jungkook trust me. I stared at my liquid-y Frappuccino, blankly. Nothing was hitting me, I had no idea what I should do next. The only thing I could do was stay persistent and hope that I make progress  somehow. If that was what I had to resort to, then I'll do it. Even if I have to embarrass myself, I'll do it. I'll do it for him. I'll do it for Jungkook.

Because there's something in my gut telling me that all of this is the right thing to do.

I just hope that I can trust that gut feeling.

—

Is Tae starting to doubt himself?

Anyone ready for the Love Yourself Answer next week? Because ya girl ain't even close to ready.

-Author-nim