Behind the Mask

~Chapter 22~

Some more Jimin fanart because apparently I'm a sucker for it, so yeah. As always, credit to the owner.

~Jimin's POV~

We finished our breakfast soon and headed back to our rooms to change into some sweatpants and loose shirts, always my first pick when it came to dancing.
I was happily humming some random tune while searching through my closet to find some clean clothes to wear when Lisa entered the room, hanging her head low, avoiding my gaze.

I watched her in silence for a while as she went into the bathroom and brushed her teeth, then came back into the room, still addressing no word to me, to choose her own clothes for the day. As she was heading back to the bathroom to change though, I noticed her eyes were slightly shimmering and she was rubbing them furiously to chase away the tears that were threatening to spill. That's when I decided to break the silence.

"Lisa-yah, look at me!" I demanded, with a tone that would hopefully convince her to do as I asked.

"Wow, what h-happened to 'I'm not talking to you anymore', huh? Why are you n-no longer upset? I wasn't nice to you earlier, even though you were just messing around. And I managed to make you angry on our second day together! I honestly thought I could do better than that", she said, fidgeting with her palms nervously, before hiding them inside her pockets.
When I caught a glimpse of her fingers, I noticed that her nails were bitten to flesh, a mark I hadn't seen yesterday. She did this to herself? Because of me?

"No, you weren't exactly nice, but I guess it was partly my fault too. I didn't know you're not a morning person and that you can't really function properly before 11 am. I'm sorry for scaring you all of a sudden. It was stupid."

"No, it's fine, I just wasn't expecting it, that's all.. I didn't mind it actually, it's the first time I start my morning like that. Living with you really changes everything, huh.." She smiled sadly while trying to hold back her tears. "Still, I'm sorry for saying those things about you. I don't even believe what I said, I was just too tired to think properly in those moments, and it was never my intention to hurt your feelings. I understand if you don't want to live with me anymore, I can switch rooms with one of the girls if that makes you feel more comfortable-"

"I doubt that will be necessary." I cut her off, and this time she finally looked in my eyes, disbelief coating her features.

"What do you mean?" She asked, rubbing her eyes one last time.

"I mean I am not mad at you. I was before, but I'm not anymore. I realized that there is no point in even trying that, since I like you too much to be able to stay mad at you. I know you didn't mean it, and I forgave you a while ago. So don't cry, I don't want to see tears spilled on those pretty cheeks, especially not because of me."

She stared at me for a moment with her mouth slightly agape, but then she just shook her head, a sweet smile curving her lips once again. I stretched my arms out to her and she gladly stepped forward, embracing me tightly and resting her head on my shoulder. I carefully petted her hair, and whispered 'See? Isn't this better than not talking to each other?'

She chuckled a little and nodded, then lifted her chin off my shoulder and, before I could react, I could feel her lips tenderly pecking my cheek.

I tried to say something, but all words got stuck in my throat when I saw her smile.

"Thank you, for being a much better roommate than I could've hoped for, Jimi- oppa" she said, and the way the word 'oppa' rolled off her tongue so suddenly caught me a little off-guard.

Say something idiot, she's staring at you, she's gonna think you're weird.. say something, for God's sake..

"Anytime! I'd like to spend as many nights as possible in your bed, Lisa-yah!"