#Tae's POV...
I did not expect Kookie to sit with me at lunch. I was losing my calmness, god my heart was beating really bad. I did not expect her to ask to be friends. Nor did I expect her to accept my invitation to ride bikes together in the mornings. I did, however, expect it to be difficult to talk to him. How do you face someone that rejected you but still never leaves your mind?
When the bell rang and I walked back to class, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, I still had a slim chance with kookie.
I stopped doing well on the tests when our seats were switched. Now, Kookie was across the classroom, much further than I wished he were. Not because of the answers, of course. Just because I like being around him.
And before you ask, yes, I know people catch me looking at him. Honestly, I don't care anymore. Everyone knows I like him. What's the point of trying to hide it now?
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🌳🐓🌳
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Placing my books into the basket, I mounted my bicycle. After a minute or so, Kookie was beside me.
❝How was your day?❞ He asked brightly.
I smiled at him. ❝Science sucked. But it's better now.❞
❝Why?❞
❝Why'd science suck? Because of Olivia, of course,❞ I replied. Man, did he not notice that? Was he not hoping to be partners with me?
Kookie shook his head. ❝No, no, I meant why's it better now? I knew you were partners with Olivia.❞
❝Oh,❞ I spurted, relieved. He paid attention after all. ❝It's better now because... because of you...❞ Oh god, i said that. I was casual from outside but from inside I was frantic. I felt some sweat dripping from my back. I can feel each of them. But those words are real & worthful.
His cheeks turned a tomato red, ❝Aw, Hyung, that's awfully sweet...❞
My heart was pounding. He called me Sweet, sᴡᴇᴇᴛ!. He complimented me! Gosh, maybe all hope wasn't lost after all.
❝Well, we're home now,❞ kookie said, interrupting my thoughts. ❝I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning?❞
❝Yeah, tomorrow morning.❞
❝Sounds like a plan,❞ he replied.
I waved to Kookie from my front porch as he went inside, and I couldn't help but feel excited. He wanted to spend time with me. He had talked to me, and he hadn't been mad! Oh, buddy, you'd think I was crazy for this boy... Which I sorta am.
Stumbling back into the door, I clambered inside, peeling off my grey baseball sweatshirt. Hoping I could sneak off to my room unnoticed, I tip-toed down the hall. To my despair, I was called from the front room by my Aboeji.
❝Taehyung, son, would you come here, please? I'd like to talk to you.❞
❝I'll be there in a minute, just let me put my things away!❞ I shouted back, dumping my books in a mess on my bedroom floor and then proceeding to where I had been called from.
❝Yes?❞ I asked reluctantly.
He looked over my face sternly. ❝What's going on between you and Jeon Jungkook? You rode with him both before and after school, has he forgiven you?❞
I swallowed thickly. How could he know about that? It wasn't even his business! ❝I-I'd like to think he's forgiven me. And, well, we're just good friends at the moment and he prefers to ride to school on his bike so I accompanied him today.❞ Inhaling sharply, I prayed that Aboeji inquired no further.
❝I see,❞ he replied with a nod. ❝You seem, how do I say this, smitten with him.❞
Great, just great. ❝Well, I mean, it seemed like you wanted me to like him before... you know, telling me about how he's ❛iridescent❜ and special and everything.❞ And He Is! Oh, he is, the way he can form words into these beautifully abstract ideas that no other eighth-grader could imagine.
❝It's not that I have any issue with him, quite frankly, if I chose for you it would undoubtedly be him, it's just that I want you to know that you can be honest with me. And if you ever, say, need a way to leave the house,❞ he said with a wink, ❝I could be of service.❞
It felt good to have someone's support. ❝Thanks, Aboeji , I'll keep that in mind. But, uhh, I wouldn't think that far out. Kookie and I... We're just friends at the moment, and I don't even know if he likes me!❞ The words I spouted stung, and though I had my fantasies, it felt like I was truly absorbing the true meaning of kookie's actions thus far. I didn't have any evidence that he like-liked me. Man, I should've known! He might just want to be friends after all...
❝Oh, and Tae?❞
❝Yes?❞
❝I fixed your radio ; so the music should work fine now,❞ Aboeji replied.
❝Oh, thanks!❞