the rules of love and war.

13

Without waiting for a response, I turned around and made my way up the stairs to chase down Yugeom. I knew he had answers to questions I shouldn't even be asking. There was a part of me that should be happy about the new, happy norm that had developed after Jungkook brought me to Namjoon's house. I shouldn't be trying to turn over rocks, attempting to find more dark secrets and lies that Taehyung was hiding from me. Wasn't all I wanted in the first place was to be happy with Taehyung? He was giving me that happiness by doing what I'd been asking him to do for the past two years – ignore Jungkook.

And for some reason, I just couldn't leave it alone.

"Yugeom!" I called out, startling him. I saw him turn around, looking for whomever had called for him. Realizing that I was the only one standing close to him, Yugeom's expression changed from startled to amused.

"Well, well, well." Yugeom smirked, slowly walking towards me. While yugeom was an extraordinarily well-rounded student, the one reason he got along so well with Jungkook in the first place was because of his personality. He was very capable of being a complete asshole without any remorse, just like his best friend Jungkook. "Lalisa Manoban. I definitely didn't think you'd ever be talking to me. I'm honored. What can I do for you?"

Ignoring the sarcasm in his voice, I grabbed his wrist and began pulling him towards the closest stairwell. "Shut up, I don't need my friends seeing us talking." I snapped, quickly walking down the stairs and out the door that led to the lawn at the back of our school. "What the hell is going on with you guys?" I spun on him the very second we were outside of the building, jabbing my index finger into his chest.

The smirk was wiped off his face as it was replaced by confusion. "What the hell is wrong with us? What the fuck are you talking about, Lisa? As far as I'm concerned, we're doing you guys a favor."

"How is this a favor to us?" I took a step forward towards him, forcing him to take one back.

"How?" The look on disbelief was impossible to miss. Even as the conversation continued to develop and I began hearing the words that were coming out of my mouth, I was confusing myself more and more. How was this not a favor to me?

Asides from the fact that all communication seemed to be cut off between me and Jungkook.

"Yes, how. For all I know, you guys are planning some fucked up shit to hit us with later. Am I right?"

"Dude, calm the fuck down." Yugeom snapped, putting a hand on my shoulder to increase the distance between our bodies. "We never plan anything. I'm pretty much positive I'm not the first person to tell you this; we aren't the ones who make the first move every time. The only reason Jungkook ever retaliates is because your boyfriend is the one who takes it one step too far. Besides, Jungkook was the one who told us not to interact with any of you for the time being, to just give you some space because you're going through a hard time. I know nothing more than that."

I immediately stopped breathing the moment yugeom mentioned why Jungkook had told them to ease up with being a constant presence in my life. He actually cared that much about my wellbeing?

"Why?" I finally managed to say as yugeom merely shrugged.

"Hell if I know, man. It was just so sudden. About a week and a half ago, he was okay with us making ourselves seen by Taehyung cause he knew how much it would piss him off. Now he's telling us to stay away for your sake? It's never stopped him before, so why now? We just saw you as collateral damage, but Jungkook-"

"But Jungkook what?" A voice said from behind us. I let my eyes slide shut slowly, hating myself for frequently putting myself in this situation.

"Oh. Hey. Jeon." Yugeom let out nervously, rubbing the back of his neck slowly.