To Be A Family | 8th Member

Ch16: Stigma (You who were only delicate and fragile)

Sorry for updating late instead of Monday. I was very busy the past week and was unable to continue writing. But, of course, there's no way I'm moving the update next week when it's already finished this week. I'll do my best updating on Monday again next week. :]

Anyways, it's time for Taehyung to shine if it wasn't obvious by now!

If I remembered right, which I probably didn't and it's sad 'cause this is my own story, Taehyung has a total of 1 POV, not including this chapter, so he's one of the least. The most is probably Jin with a confirmed total of 3 POVs so far.

It's not as long as the past 2 because the main idea for this is closer than Chokook and Yoonheun, which involved a lot of other scenes before the main interactions, so I am pretty cool with this one! :D

Enjoy~!

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"Should we wake her up?"

Taehyung looked up from where he was slurping his noodles, blinking at Jimin who was staring at Jin.

The eldest vocalist momentarily glanced at the hall where Choheun's room would be, looking at everyone who was already waiting for an answer and shrugged, stirring his ramyeon for a bit in thought. "I don't think we should. If she isn't awake yet, she must've been very tired yesterday." Jin sent a knowing look at the youngest in the table and Jeongguk blushed slightly, huffing, "And I doubt Choheun-ah will appreciate one of us—or any of us, really, barging in her room without permission."

And the fact she's not fully cozy around them? Not a chance.

Jimin pouted, sulking slightly as he picked on his food. Taehyung mentally chuckled, his best friend was truly smitten over the young trainee. Not that he could fault him, Choheun was very likable when she wasn't trying to subtly crawl away from any conversation and people in general. Wait, she wasn't unlikeable because she kept turning away, it's just she's endearing even if she willingly talked to them or not (aish, he made no sense at all).

Not adding the fact he kind of, sort of, probably, spied on her (no, he did not stalk her whatsoever, that's just too weird and creepy) when she was talking with a fellow trainee.

"Jeon Jeongguk!" Jimin whined, narrowing his eyes at the maknae and pointed his chopsticks at the bewildered teen, "Are you stealing Choheun-ah from me now?" he scowled, a hint of envy and playful jealousy evident in his voice and expression.

Jeongguk blinked slowly, slurping up a piece of noodle hanging from his mouth, before smirking just slightly like the true maknae he was. "What do you mean, hyung? I didn't know Choheun-ssi was yours. And are you afraid she'll like me more than you?" he teased, Jin and Hoseok chuckling with Namjoon and Yoongi trying not to smirk. If anyone asked Taehyung, the last two weren't really putting that much effort at holding back.

Jimin huffed, "No, of course I'm not afraid. She liked me first before any of you." He paused, switching his gaze to the eldest in the table and frowned. "Except you, hyung. We already know Choheun-ah definitely likes you more." He said before Jin could open his mouth, looking a little bitter and pouty as the broad-shouldered male only smiled sweetly.

"You know it."

"By the way, hyung," Jeongguk directed the question to the quiet member in their group, everyone looking at Yoongi curiously about what the maknae would say, "what did you and Choheun-ssi do last night? She didn't come back home like she was supposed to." He asked curiously and a little eagerly if someone asked Taehyung.