PERSONA ✓

03.

When Taehyung got the text from Namjoon, he certainly didn't smile stupidly at his phone for two whole minutes before replying.

From across the table, Seokjin asked, "What're you smiling at?"

Taehyung turned his phone off and looked up. It was only the two of them at the table; their parents were surgeons and were frequently called in for surgeries that sometimes took the whole night. Tonight was one of those nights.

"I think I'm making friends."

Though Taehyung would never admit it to anyone but Seokjin, he was lonely. His good grades in every subject caused people to be jealous of him. So Taehyung got only decent grades in every subject, except engineering, to downplay his intelligence.

Seokjin smiled. "Really? Who?"

"Kim Namjoon. I'm going to his house tomorrow for an engineering project," Taehyung lied. He was never good at lying, but it had just slipped out easily this time.

"Great job, Tae. I'm happy for you."

Seokjin was the most popular boy at school. He didn't go to parties or anything like that; he was quiet and studious. Yet all the teachers and all the kids liked him. Frequently, he would get asked out by both girls and boys, but he kindly rejected them. He was everyone's friend effortlessly.

Often Taehyung found himself becoming jealous of Seokjin's ability to make friends. He didn't try at all and had the whole school worshiping the ground he walked on, yet Taehyung tried his hardest, only to have people use him for their own benefit.

"Let's just hope I don't mess it up," Taehyung said.

Seokjin's smile fell. "Hey, don't say that. You won't mess up."

"Easy for you to say."

Seokjin stared at him for a second, a bit of hurt evident in his eyes, before returning to his meal.

Maybe, Taehyung thought, I should learn to keep my mouth shut.

-

Taehyung was greeted by the butlers. They showed him the way to Namjoon's room. When Taehyung opened the door, he was met with the sight of Namjoon, who had transformed into Persona, and the cherry haired boy excitedly explaining something.

Taehyung closed the door behind him.

"Spandex doesn't suit you," he said to Namjoon.

Namjoon rolled his eyes. "Thanks for that."

Namjoon pulled up his mask and put on the shades. Opening the window, he climbed through. Speaking to the cherry haired one, he said, "Is everything all set?"

The boy nodded and turned on all of the computer screens. On one of them popped up a diagram of Namjoon's suit. "I can see your vitals and everything, hyung, we're good."

Namjoon nodded before flying off.

Taehyung surveyed the room. It was large, as was the rest of the house. He spun around on his heel to look at the cherry haired boy.

"Why is your bedroom your base of operations?"

The smaller boy answered, "For fun."

"And because you've only known for about two days?"

The boy blinked. "How'd you know that?"

"You still look at Namjoon in wonder anytime he's transformed. He asked if everything was all set. Those computers seem to be recently set up, and you have no idea what you're doing."