So close, yet so far

9

Six years ago [ him ]

"Min!" Jungkook called for his bestfriend, Jimin, who's currently eating his lunch on the cafeteria. Jimin didn't bother to look up at the boy, instead asking him a question, "I told you to stop skipping your classes, why are you here? This is not for a high schooler."

"Don't joke around, you look much of a high schooler than I am!" Jungkook then bursted out laughing, Jimin is not new to his bestfriend's tease about his height but nevertheless threw an empty tumbler to him, which the younger effortlessly caught with his hand.

They spent a whole ten minutes of Jungkook teasing Jimin and stealing pieces from his lunch and the older hissing at him. Jungkook then shut up for a whole minute, still eating Jimin's food, "Say.. Min, who is that?" he asked, looking straight ahead where the college president was sitting.

"The college president, Kim Taehyung. Are you interested in him? He has a boyfriend, you dumbass", Jimin stated in response, keeping his voice low. Jungkook finally looked back at him, "I didn't even say anything." the just older rolled his eyes.

"I'll go check on him", Jungkook said before taking the last piece of nugget in Jimin's plate and standing up before earning a kick from Jimin, "Are you dumb?" Jimin started, "You will get a warning if he finds out you're a high school student! Obviously, I will, too." he added but Jungkook just gave him a smirk and fixed his polo before walking up to the said guy. Jimin didn't bother to get him back because of embarrassment, they'd surely draw attention so he just pretended that he doesn't know his own bestfriend.

"He-" "What is Park Jimin's bestfriend doing in my table?" Taehyung didn't let the younger finish, and made him surprised, "How did you know?", "You didn't even deny it", "No- I mean- How did uh.. How can you say that?" Jungkook panicked but saw Taehyung's cold and strict expression change into a soft one when he smiled.

"Hey, why are you smiling? Are you making fun of me?" Jungkook tried to argue, but earned a giggle from the older instead, "You're funny, but in a good way". Good way, huh? Jungkook thought.

"Well, are you gonna report me to the Dean now that you caught me?" Jungkook asked, and Taehyung finally looked in his eyes after containing his smile, "I would've done that long ago if I had the intention to", the president stated, earning a 'why is that?' look from Jungkook.

"Park Jimin doesn't hangout with anybody. I don't know why, he's great on socializing, teaming up, and other things only when related to studies. But he sits on the same table every lunch alone. And I saw you were the first one who did and continued to do so-" Taehyung wasn't able to finish when Jungkook suddenly spoke, nonchalantly, "Why didn't you sit with him, then?"

"Huh?" , "You were sitting alone, too" Taehyung thought that the boy has the other thing in his mind and was upset for his friend, but he was also thinking about Taehyung. "I don't always sit alone.. and I barely go to cafeteria for lunch. I'm just here to observe", Jungkook nodded and gave him a smile which Taehyung found very baseless. As if the boy was thankful from the first sentence he said.

And there, started their friendship.

"Min! Have you seen Tae?" it's been a week since Jungkook made friends with the college President and now he doesn't only have Jimin as the reason of breaking in the college building. Jimin was surprised, too. Knowing Taehyung doesn't have lots of friends because he was too busy doing his duty, but his dear bestfriend managed to befriend him in just one sitting.

"It's really weird to have my bestfriend be friends with the President, you know. I saw him go to the music room with his boyfriend, I think they got into a fight or something", Jimin plainly said, "Oh, are you going there? I think I forgot my flute, can you please get it for me? It's on a red bag on top of the white Piano" he added, which Jungkook fully understood and headed to the music room.

It's utterly weird that a high school student knows the college building very well when they weren't allowed there in the first place. Jungkook spotted the black door of the music room effortlessly. He walked faster but also slowed his pace when he heard a familiar voice. Taehyung.

Taehyung was speaking in between his sobs, Jungkook wasn't able to interpret it since he also stopped walking farther. After a few minutes, Jungkook decided to walk forward a bit to check if they finished talking, on the window, he spotted the red bag on top of the white piano Jimin was talking about, then turning his attention back to the person speaking. It wasn't Taehyung this time.

"Promise me, you will pursue your dream to be an idol, hm? I will be out there, somewhere, cheering for you. I'm your number one fan. Always. You're the love of my life", was all Jungkook remembered, the next thing he knew, a tall guy with plump face walked past by him, it was his sign to go inside the room to check on Taehyung.

The moment he entered the music room, his eyes fell on the red bag Jimin wanted him to get, but just when he remembered about Taehyung, the guy was already hugging him tight and crying on the crook of his neck. He felt Taehyung's warm tears wetting his polo, but that wasn't what he's concerned with, it's the fact that Taehyung is shedding tears.