compendium | bts x lovelyz

53│love? psh.

Is romantic love even necessary?

Jiae rolled her eyes as her friend blabbered in front of her.

"You see, Jiae, you need to start a relationship now. Or just get laid. You're twenty-six for Pete's sake!" her friend, Mijoo scolded.

"I told you, I don't need a man. Love is not for me, Mijoo. So, please, for the love of God, stop pestering me with relationship talks like you're my mom," she retorted with a glare.

Mijoo scoffed. "I'm worried about you. You're nearing thirty and you still haven't met the one for you," she softly said, concerned. "I just want you to be happy. To be complete. To be loved like how you deserve to be."

"I don't need someone to do that for me. I am happy and complete with my own. I fucking love myself, so what's the use of a man when I already have everything I've ever wanted," Jiae snapped back.

She was getting infuriated with Mijoo because of her talks. Jiae knew that she was just concerned, but she didn't need it. She didn't need all those things because she's contented. Everything was great for her—work was amazing (she just got promoted), her family was great, she was independent and has a great amount of money for her and her family, and life was just simply bearable for her.

The thing is, all her friends already have the love of their lives—some of them were already married. Yes, it did make her feel kinda lonely sometimes—when she came home to an empty apartment, and when her friends display affection to their beaus—but it was okay because she knew that even though romance can fill you up, it could also destruct you. She didn't want that. She didn't see the need of having someone beside her.

Mijoo sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Okay. But you better be happy or else I'm gonna pick a man for you—"

"A man is not the answer to my happiness, Mijoo. And I'm already happy with my own self," she replied, rolling her eyes.

Mijoo softly smiled. "I know. But, I just want you to experience love, that's all."

"Wow, geez mom."

"Oh, shut up. I'm gonna go now," she quickly said before rushing to gather her bag.

"Say hi to Hoseok for me."

Mijoo winked. "Oh, I will. Bye, bitch."

Jiae smirked. "Bye, ultra bitch."

With one last laugh, Mijoo left the cafe. Jiae sat there, rubbing her hands on her face. She couldn't deny that her friend was sometimes a hassle.

"That was really your friend?"

Jiae turned her head towards the direction of the voice and saw a young man, who was probably the same age as hers, seating at a table beside her and looking at her with a lazy gaze.

"M-Me?" she stammered, not sure if he was talking to here.

The young man softly chuckled. "Yes, you. Was she your friend?"

She carefully nodded. "Yes. Why?"

"Well, it's just that she probably keeps on pestering you with that 'love' talks of hers," he answered, "She wouldn't even understand your point. If that's what you called a friend, then I guess you've got a wrong one."

Jiae raised her brows at his words. Feeling defensive for her long-time friend, her first curled at her sides. She gave him a nasty glare. "How dare you say that? She's just concerned for me and you don't have the right to judge her and my selection of friends," she retorted defensively.

He blinked. "I'm sorry, miss. I'm quite blunt sometimes," he admitted bashfully.

Her eyes narrowed. "You mean most of the time?"

The stranger beside her just chuckled. "You're right. Probably why no one lasted with me before."

"Are you gonna start sobbing now?"

Laughing softly, he replied jokingly, "No. Probably another time."

Jiae chuckled.

"But you were right earlier though," he spoke up.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

"That you don't need someone to be happy, complete, and be loved. That you are already contented with just yourself," he replied, his gaze softening.

"Right? I'm glad you think so too."

"Yeah. It's so frustrating that people wouldn't stop pestering you about your love life or in our case, lack thereof. You're lucky that it was only your friend who annoys you, but for me, my whole family would bomb me with questions and scoldings whenever I go home to my hometown," he said, frustration evident in his voice.

Jiae looked at him with empathy. "My family is like that too. They would ask, "When will you get married?" or "Why are you not dating someone?" It's so annoying."

He bitterly chuckled. "They would also scold you with, "You should find someone right now because blah blah blah..."

"You're right. And then they would go to 'kids talk' and then to 'getting old talk'. Ugh, they're infuriating!"

He just laughed and sipped his coffee. "They would even tell me, "Love will give you everything". Everything my ass," he mockingly said. "Love will only take everything from you."

Jiae nodded eagerly. "Yes! It's also a waste of time. Why focus on loving someone else when you can love yourself instead? Why the need to find someone to love you when you have yourself?"

"That's right! It's a complete and utter waste of time and effort."

She gave him a smile before extending her hand. "Jiae. Yoo Jiae."

Smirking, he reached out and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, Jiae. I'm Yoongi. Min Yoongi."

"I'm so glad that I finally got to talk to someone who has the same view as me," she said with a grin.

Yoongi smiled. "I can say the same thing. It's a relief." 

Jiae gave him a cheeky grin before finishing the last bit of her cake.

When she was finally done, Yoongi spoke up.

"I'm going out now. Would you care to join me and talk about our anti-love movement?" he cheekily said.

Standing up, Jiae laughed and gathered her things. "Wouldn't miss such an opportunity," she replied, a smile adoring her face.

a/n: hey everyone! i know u guys heard about what happened w jk today (the girl and bighit denied btw)...and i wanted you guys to know that we should just stay positive. :)