Popularity | Taejin ✔︎

nineteen

Jin's P.O.V

"Why did you want to eat outside when its almost ten at night? It's cold." Taehyung squeezes himself shut trying to eat what's in his paper bowl. His hands barely moving. His fault for not layering up. "God this food is good." He takes another big bite.

"I'm still surprised you have never had this dish before." I smile.

Taehyung stirs his food with his spoon growing quiet. "Well, I didn't grow up with my mom cooking. It was mostly maids who did the job. Always the same dish every other week," he looks off into the distance at the city lights. "So trying new food everything tasted gross. Weird, huh?" He cracks a smile.

"I'm sorry," I say. "I can cook for you or maybe even bring you this dish when you want it?" I offer.

Taehyung shakes his head. "No, its fine. Don't go out of your way to be nice."

"Why can't I?" I question.

"Because..." He takes one more bite. "Usually no one is. When they are they leave me. I guess you can say that's why I'm not afraid of Yoongi and Jungkook leaving." Taehyung laughs.

I frown. Part of me was thinking he'd say 'because I hurt you' but no. "You're popular nobody would leave you. Leaving you is like leaving gold behind on a trip." I huff as I go back to eating, my eyes on the food. I watch the steam leave the food into the cold air.

"You think because I'm popular nobody is mean to me?" Taehyung points out.

"Isn't that how it goes? When you are popular everyone loves you. They all have tabs on you and you can't do anything without having their opinion or their laughs to keep going." I bite my lip hearing myself say those words. I know that isn't true because before I didn't like Taehyung. He has people that mess with him so the whole school doesn't love him. I know the teachers don't.

"That's not how it goes. They control you," Taehyung sighs.

"Who?" I glance at him.

"Everyone in the school. You basically make fun of yourself everyday and they love it. It gets boring after a while." Taehyung sets down his bowl on a table next to him. Slumping in the chair he stops eating.

I eye the setting behind me. A couple people sit inside enjoying their food as Taehyung and I stand outside with a few tables, only us. "I wouldn't be bored of it." I tell him.

"Of course you wouldn't. But soon you'll realize they treat you like a robot that has no feelings. Like you said you can't do anything without them knowing." Taehyung babbles tossing his bowl on the table not caring if it fell over or not.

"Yea...like who you are friends with and-"

"Who I'm dating." Taehyung interrupts. My eyes widen. "Don't act like I don't know what you think about." Taehyung follows my gaze with a small smirk.

"I never said I thought that way." I growl.

"From your words about a couple hours ago I'm sure that is what you have been thinking for a while now." Taehyung closes me in on my truth.

"Whatever." I scuff.

"You were jealous of Hae-win weren't you?" He asks.

"I didn't say I was, no."

"Yet you got so worked up when you heard we were dating. Jin," my eyes tear up. "We weren't dating from the start, Hae-win and me. There was and is nothing between me and her." Taehyung reaches for my hand.

I step away. "There isn't?"

"There wasn't." His words bring hope to my heart. I feel better. A weight lifted away. I sigh. "It's not like she can do anything to get me on the bad radar. Without me she's nothing."

"Okay." I reply. "I believe that, I'm sorry, I made up all of it in my head."

"Don't be sorry. It was my fault I didn't tell you sooner." Taehyung concludes. "When you confessed to me that one day I wanted to start brand new almost."

"You are just saying that." I roll my eyes.

"I'm not. I got obsessed, seeing you with that egg head I wanted to kill him and-"

"We are only friends. I can promise you that."

"He liked you though." Taehyung brings up.

I shrug. "Yea, he did. Maybe he still does." I said.

It's silent once more. The wind blows through my hair and causes my ears to form the color red. "I wish people didn't care so fucking much," Taehyung speaks. "I would be calling you mine if they didn't care."

"Why can't you even if they do care?" I feel anger inside. Excuses. He is just going to give me excuses to make it seem like he can't do much about being popular.

"I don't know. I could, but then people would come after you." Taehyung answers.

I lean on the railing. "So what? Won't you still like me?" I turn my head in his direction.

"Jin, I-"

A loud knock comes from behind us. We both look to see happily smiley Hoseok who waves to us. He opens the sliding glass door to join Taehyung and I. I'm not surprised to see Hoseok here, he loves this place and always goes with his family. I'm glad to see him still be himself with all his bright smiling and happy attitude. "Funny to see you guys here," Hoseok laughs. "Jin!" Hoseoks arms are on me right away hugging tightly.

"Who brought in the horse?" Taehyung spits.

Hoseok gaps and glares at him. "What did you say?" Hoseok stands tall.

"You heard me." Taehyung grins.

"Okay, stop. Hoseok, go wait inside for me." I tell him.

"Don't bring in the dog then, they are meant to be kept outside." Hoseok is done what he is told after giving me a smile. I'm sure he'd murder Taehyung in a second without regretting it. Hoseok can be kind and nice looking but he'll turn on you when you turn on him.

"Didn't know the horse could be so rude." Taehyung brings up.

"Well, this date might be cut short." I tell him.

"No way in hell it is. I'll make sure it isn't." Taehyung declares. "Nows the time to make it up. I lead the date now.

Whatever you say. This is the most I have ever talked to Taehyung, more than I thought I'd do. Before I confessed to him I never thought I would even talk to him or even have eye contact with him for more than five seconds. It's great don't get me wrong I'm glad I finally go to talk to him. Didn't think Taehyung would get so close to me he would tell me all his troubles he'd have with his popularity. To be honest I'm more concerned about his popularity than my mental health. What would happen if he told people? Would he even tell people? I don't think he would because like Hoseok said, he is a dog. And behaviors of a dog don't change unless you train them. You can'y train this dog.