Bubble games

thirteen

Jimin is in his English class, sitting right between Taehyung and Jungkook–and he does not think it is the wisest choice he has done. He does not know why they keep hating each other, when he perfectly knows they are actually quite fond of each other.

"Hyung," Jungkook whispers discreetly into the smaller teenager's right ear, "can you pass this note to TaeTae?"

"I'm right there, you moron! You don't need to pass me notes if you want to talk," Taehyung intervenes, bending his head so he can see his classmate. "And stop calling me that!" Nonetheless, he steals the bit of paper from Jimin's tiny hands and opens it avidly. When he sees what is scribbled on it, he crumples the note and throws it onto Jungkook. "For your personal information, I do not have a crush on Beyoncé. Everybody knows Rihanna's the real queen."

Jimin giggles, but his laughter is suddenly cut off by their teacher. "Mr. Kim, Park and Jeon, will you ever keep quiet? It's the third time this week." He narrows his eyes, staring at the second young man. "I've never known you this inattentive, Mr. Park. What happened to my model student?" He sighs and resumes, "That's detention for you three tonight. Now pay attention before I make you move seats."

"Thanks, Kookie," Taehyung hisses angrily. "Just what we needed."

"Stop whining. You'll get to spend even more time with me, ain't you lucky?"

As the class ends, Jimin looks a bit down, and his two friends try to lift his spirits a little. "C'mon, Jiminie, detention's not that bad," Taehyung says.

"Detention with me's always fun," Jungkook adds with a wink.

"It's just– Yoongi and I always take the bus together back home. Plus, he's going to get worried if he learns I've got detention, he'll be disappointed, and–"

"You'll tell him it's Jungkook's fault. And I'm sure he'll wait for you. Come on, now, I'm starving!" After slightly tapping the back of the youngest's head, he sticks out his tongue at him and tries to taunt him, "Well, my brother has cooked us home-made japchae, and you're not having any!"

Jungkook starts running after him, yelling that he wants some, and Jimin somehow follows them in the halls, though more slowly and dragging his feet–his smile has not returned.

"Doin' alright, sunshine?" Jimin immediately raises his head. Yoongi is leaning against a wall, hands in his jacket pockets. "Can I walk with you?" The orange-haired boy waits for him to get nearer, and firmly takes hold of his arm, resuming walking, still quiet and looking down. "Now, what's with you?"

"I– Hyung, I got detention today." He quickly adds, "I'm sorry, I didn't– It wasn't my fault, I swear, I–"

"Hey, hey, I'm not mad at you."

"You're not?"

"No. I'm quite impressed. Never thought you'd get detention. You're starting to become a little rebel." He smiles fondly. "I think I like that."

Jimin blushes and leans slightly, putting his head on his best friend's shoulder. He feels quite good right now–or better, at least. Because school is the only place, now, where he can actually be with Yoongi. He no longer fears the crowded corridors, the stares and the laughters. Yoongi makes him forget everything–it is as if Yoongi created a sound-proof bubble all around him.

So when the younger student hears people snicker around them, simply because Jimin is quite closer to Yoongi than usual, simply because Jimin is happy, the orange-haired teenager turns around and spits, "Do you want my picture?"

The snickers immediately stop and people go back to their business, quite astonished that Park Jimin should reply to them. When Jimin starts walking again, dragging Yoongi forward, the latter stutters, "Where did that come from, baby?"