Mochi

CHAPTER TWO

I blush, immediately speeding up at the mention of Kim Seokjin. I've had a crush on him for years, and despite my inane ability to make a fool of myself around him, he has yet to catch on.

If I have my way he never will either.

"Jiminie, " I whine pitifully, fully adopting the embarrassing demeanor that, for whatever reason, Jimin has never been able to resist.

"Oh no, " he says, pushing me away in rejection. "Nope! Not happening."

"But-"

"I will not support any of the fantasies in your head, " he interrupts. "This is all in your head, Jin doesn't care whether you're around or not. He doesn't even know you, so you have no reason to be so obnoxiously nervous every time you have to look at him."

He stands, tapping his foot impatiently as he awaits my compliance. I pout for only a few more moments before caving. I know that he's serious.

"Fine, " I exhale morosely. "Also, ouch Jimin. Ouch."

Extending his upturned palm to me, Jimin says "I can hold your hand for moral support though."

I smile, taking the hand offered to me gratefully.

"Jimin always knows, " I think to myself "just how to make everything better."

But as the main gate grows near I am nearly paralyzed with fear. My palms grow sweaty, and Jimin attempts to drag my unnaturally stiff body along.

For a split moment, as Seokjin turns his face ever so slightly, I am certain that he is going to see me. And if he sees me, he's going to talk to me. And if he talks to me? Well, I'm going to make a complete fool out of myself.

Luckily, he doesn't spot me at all. Granted, that could be in large part because of my sudden change in speed.

The moment his face begins to turn my instincts start screaming, and without even realizing it, I have begun dashing forward as if I were training for the Olympics.

Jimin wheezes along behind me, keeping up for the most part. It isn't until we have, within eyesight, the door to our first class of the day that I realize the pace I have set and slow down accordingly.

"Sweet Jesus, " Jimin groans, clutching the wall behind me in a feeble attempt to remain upright. "Can we not do that again? Like, ever?"

I merely groan, covering my face with my hands. To any passerby I probably looked like a madwoman what with the way I speeded past everyone.

"On the plus side, even if Jin-hyung did see you there's no way he'll talk to you after you rushed past him as if he's got the plague, " Jimin teases mercilessly. "Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if he thinks you hate him."

"I hate you Park Jimin," I mutter angrily beneath my breath.

I take my earlier statement back, what Jimin is actually good at is crushing my hopes and dreams. 

"Aww," he coo's mockingly. "You're so cute when you're upset! Don't worry. I know you love me!"

He laughs, utterly unaffected by my theatrics.

"Seriously though!" I yell, still at least mildly annoyed. "That was a really mean thing to say!"

As we file into the classroom, Jimin and I chatter, bickering back and forth as is our norm. 

I don't notice that my backpack's right strap is straining until it is too late. The strap snaps and my backpack, which holds my finnicky monstrosity of a laptop, plummets towards the ground. It almost seems slow enough that I could catch it, if I wasn't frozen in dumb shock. The eyes of the classroom are watching, and I've never felt more awkward.

But a deft hand comes out of nowhere. snatching my backpack up before it can meet the floor.

"You should be more careful!" Kim Seokjin exclaims. "Luckily I was here to help."

Despite his cocky statement Seokjin's demeanor is entirely humble. Even the smile upon his lips is somehow humble, or maybe it's just humbling. When did he get here? Normally Jimin and I are seated before anything like this can happen, Jin is almost always the last person to class. 

I am beet red and rigid. After muttering a muffled thank you, I take my seat with about as much fluidity as a cardboard box. My ears must be beet red right now, and I curse inwardly. If I weren't so pale maybe my embarrassment wouldn't be so awkward, but I can practically feel the heat in my cheeks.

Hello, my name is Shin Olivia, and I am a lobster.

I sigh, deflating even further into my seat.

"You're so dramatic, " Jimin chuckles.

And then he yelps in pain, because I slam my heel into his foot. His accompanying jump rattles the table stretched out before us, upsetting nearby classmates pencils and laptops as well as earning him at least five scorning glares.

I stick my tongue out as he sends his own glare my way, daring him to one up me.

"Wanna take this outside short stuff?" I whisper into his ear, snickering towards the end.

"I'm not short! I'm taller than you!" He yells, pounding his fist against the table angrily.

Several more death glares are sent our way, and I struggle to reign in my laughter.Jimin is so adorable when he's enraged.

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The best part is, by the time lunch rolls around, Jimin is still upset at having been called short. He's been sulky all day, and I've seen him silently measuring just about everyone that we've run into up. His mood had become absolutely foul after I'd witnessed him inwardly measuring the difference between himself and Jin as we'd exited the classroom, and no matter how much I needle him, he refuses to leave me alone.

And when we sit down, after having purchased our meal, Jimin grows increasingly even more irritated. His frown is too cute to take, I just wanna squish his cheeks are ruffle his hair.

"Jimin, " In response to my voice Jimin turns to face me, and I quickly peck his cheek. "You know I love you right?"

I can't say that I don't enjoy the way his cheeks light up in embarrassment.