Strawberries And Cigarettes | Jikook

3. Otra Vez.

Jimin took a deep breath and sighed for the umpteenth time that day, just as Taehyung pulled into the huge parking lot of the school. The taller boy gave him a small smile before exiting the car, just as Jimin followed him. He quickly fell in step beside Taehyung and soon they were standing before a grandeur building otherwise known as Hwayang High School.

A lot of things passed through Jimin's head as he stood there, but even though he was in a completely foreign space, he couldn't help but feel the familiarity of the situation. Almost as if he's been here before. His thoughts jumbled as a rush of vivid emotions surged through him, the most prominent being nostalgia, his consciousness swapping back to the time he'd first set foot in a high school. Before he turned into a Vampire. Before everything turned upside down.

Scared and nervous, a fifteen year old Jimin walked through a crowded hallway of Busan High School for the very first time. He was a newly admitted freshman, walking the grounds of a public school after being home-schooled for all of his life. Just as he made his way through the crowd, he felt even smaller than he actually was, lost even, barely aware of his classroom location.

People around him didn't care to spare him a glance or help him out, they just chatted and made their way over to their classes. Jimin, despite being surrounded by so many students, felt hopelessly alone. He shadowed himself near a rather quiet corner of the hallway, waiting desperately for the rush to end. For some reason, he could feel hot tears stinging at the end of his eyes as he tried his best to keep them in, looking around bewildered. Like a reindeer in headlights.

"Hey...you lost or something?" A fairly deep voice beside him caused Jimin to jump up and clutch his books closer to his chest, before he turned to his side to find the source of the voice. There, leaning against the wall, an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips was a boy of about his height, hair dyed a fresh mint as his narrow, unreadable eyes studied Jimin's scared ones.

Jimin didn't know why this boy had bothered to take a notice of him. And given by his audacity to carry cigarettes around openly in school, he sure seemed to be bad news. Exactly the type of guy his mom had warned him to stay away from. But there was something in the mint-haired boy's soft features, that exceedingly contrasted his tough look which mildly intrigued Jimin.

"I...I'm a freshman, today's my first day. Will...you tell me where's homeroom 3-B?" Jimin uttered in a small voice as he dropped his gaze to the floor, unable to hold eye-contact any longer.

The mint-haired boy smirked, definitely interested in the smaller boy. He took the cigarette from his lips, put it back in the packet and nudged him.

"Come on, newbie. I'll take you around." He replied in his calming voice as Jimin slowly followed his gaze up to him again, thoroughly confused at the boy's nice behaviour with him. But he decided not to push his luck and just nodded in response. Why would he complain if someone was actually helping him? (Despite it being who he thought was definitely the wrong crowd, you have to do whatever to survive high school.)

The other boy smiled and asked Jimin to follow him, which he did. Just as they walked side by side, Jimin's gaze mostly downwards, the mint-haired boy stole frequent glances at him. Finally they were near the homeroom, and relief washed over Jimin. He looked up at the boy hesitantly and searched for the right thing to say.

"T-Thank you so much...?" It was in that moment that he realised he hadn't even bothered to ask the name of his saviour.

The mint-haired boy smiled, an actual smile which showed all of his gums and made him look like a happy child.

"Min Yoongi. I'm a junior, so I guess you could call me Yoongi hyung. "

Jimin blushed a little, which was one of his traits, before smiling at Yoongi. "Park Jimin."

Yoongi pointed at the classroom, "You need to go in, don't want to be late on your first day." Then he leaned in and dropped his voice to a whisper, his breath brushing against Jimin's ear. "Also...if you want, come find me after school."

Jimin smiled shyly as the older pulled away and with one last smirk on his face, he gave the younger a short salute. "See you around, Park Jimin." He turned around and started walking away, pulling out his previously unlit cigarette and lighting it up.

Jimin stared after Yoongi's figure until he was out of sight. He smiled and headed to his class, but not before waving at the mint-haired boy, even though he couldn't see it.

"See you...Yoongi hyung."

"Jimin-ah!" Taehyung almost yelled in Jimin's ear, causing the shorter to jump up, pulling him out of he past. He gave the taller a mild glare before nudging him in the ribs.

"Geez, Taehyung. You just popped my eardrum." Jimin gave him a look.

Taehyung rubbed at the place Jimin had not-so-subtly nudged, before looking at the shorter in disbelief. "Yah, don't be so dramatic. You're fine. I was just bringing you back to reality from that euphoric place you keep wandering to."

Euphoric place indeed.

Jimin sighed microscopically before raising his hands. "Okay, okay. You win. I'm back alright? Shall we go inside now?" He wasn't particularly eager to go in early, but that seemed like a better idea than just strolling around.

"Sounds good to me." Taehyung shrugged. In a few minutes, just as they were about to cross the street to walk towards the school's gate, a red Lamborghini raced in front of them, cutting off their progress. It almost hit Taehyung, but thanks to Jimin's powers, he sensed that beforehand and pulled the taller back towards him as both of them cursed under their breath.

The car stopped a few feet ahead of them, the window rolling down. Jimin looked at the car with anger burning in his eyes. His first instinct was to go ahead and confront the asshole that almost ran over his roommate, but then he remembered his plan of laying low and controlled his urge.

"You fucking lowlifes! Why don't you pick a car of your standard to die under!?" A deep, intimidating and angry voice yelled out from the car.

Now that snapped Jimin's temper hard as he clenched his fists tightly. But when he turned to look at Taehyung, he realised he wasn't the only one with the anguish. Taehyung's eyes were fuming with hatred as he heard the way-too-familiar voice.

"Jeon fucking Jungkook..." He muttered under his breath. And as if on cue, the owner of that name exited the car, walking directly towards them.

He was tall, strongly built and had a shock of brown, smooth hair. Sunlight reflected off his blemish free skin and cut-chiseled jawline, giving it a sharp glow, enhancing his beauty. He was dressed head to toe in black, tight jeans hugging his glorious thighs. His tiny waist moved perfectly in sync with his wide shoulders, as he made his way over to the duo, his sneer turning into a smirk as his eyes fell on Taehyung.

"Well, well, look who it is. Long time no see, baby boy."

***
^Otra Vez- (Spanish) One More Time.