"All stars are born in the dark and all darkness dies in the light." -MvDarkLight

**

Seven years ago

"GOOD MORNING MR. JUNG!" Jisoo waved at the old man reading his newspaper on the front porch. The man just raised his mug of coffee at her and smiled. Jisoo leaned forward and pedaled faster. She is riding her bicycle to her university.

Jisoo was humming her favorite song with a smile on her face. After some time, she reached the school gates and greeted the guard, "Good morning Mr. Lee!" she waved and the guard laughed at her.

"Good morning, Jisoo. Aren't you too early?" he asked, opening the gate for her.

"Better early than late, sir," she smiled at him.

"Well then, good luck with your classes today!" he said. Jisoo gave him a thumbs up and thanked the school guard.

She went down with her bike and brought it to the parking lot where the student cars were. Good thing the university also offers post and ring bike racks. She placed her bike and grabbed on the strap of her backpack while skipping her way to their classroom.

When she reached their room, it was empty. Mr. Lee was right, she is still too early. She messaged her friends and they nagged her because it is still half an hour before their first class but Jisoo was too enthusiastic. They actually have a group work to do so she thought they could do it before the classes start-although her group mates refused to.

Jisoo shrugged and put out her bright yellow notebook designed with withered daisy petals which she made. She scribbled on the pages while humming lightly. She always loved singing whenever it was too quiet because she was never fond of plain silence that it became her habit.

After some time, she heard footsteps entering the classroom so she looked up. Then came a tall, lean man wearing a black sweater and pants. His backpack is hanging with one strap on his shoulder, chewing gum in his mouth. His hair was messy, eyes blank with a cut on his eyebrow.

It's her classmate, Taehyung.

"Hello, good morning Taehyung!" she greeted him and smiled. He almost went past her since he obviously doesn't care about what is around him but because she greeted him, he noticed her presence and spared her a glance.

Taehyung eyed her from head to toe before going in front of her. He put his one hand on the side of her chair and leaned closer, locking his stares with her orbs. Jisoo felt chills, his eyes were dreadfully scary. He wasn't glaring but its emptiness is frightening. He tilted his head to one side and blew the chewing gum. He made it burst right in front of her too, she closed her eyes out of shock.

"Morning's not good," he uttered with a monotonous tone before taking the gum out of his mouth and then sticking it below her arm chair. He stood up properly, put his hands on his pocket before leaving her to go to his seat at the very back of the classroom.

Taehyung took his place at the corner of the room just beside the window. He plugged his earphones in, threw his head back, eyes closed and started rocking his chair silently. Jisoo was astounded for a minute.

What just happened? I just wanted to greet him good morning.

She looked below her arm chair and checked the gum he stuck on it, making her grimace out of disgust. Jisoo craned her neck to his side again and ogled at him.

Taehyung is the infamous delinquent of their campus. Most students are avoiding him because he just causes fights out of nowhere. He rarely goes to school and whenever he does, he is either brawling with another student or spending his time in detention because of... Still petty fights-well, not quite. Sometimes he gets detention because of vandalism and other stuff.

Jisoo averted her gaze from him when she heard laughing from the hallways. She can recognize it's her friends' voice so she waited for them to enter the room. She was right, seconds after, Bona and Nayeon appeared.

"Why are you so early?" Bona said with a creased forehead as she looked at Jisoo, "I can't even open my eyes earlier, I almost skipped this class," she laughed.

"Uh, Because I..." Jisoo scratched her head and smiled a little at her, "I thought we could at least start our play presentation," she shrugged.

"Girl, the presentation is like weeks from now," Nayeon answered while shaking her head and placing her bag just beside Jisoo's seat. The two took their seats and continued talking as their other classmates started entering the room, too.

"But we need to start already! What if we have tons of load for the upcoming days? We will end up cramming! Do you guys want to cram?" Jisoo said and pouted, puffing her cheeks.

"I don't know why I'm grouped with you," Bona laughed and pinched her cheek, "You are so studious. While we are procrastinators, so..." she trailed off and giggled.

"Our other members seem to not care, too," Nayeon added like that justifies their slacking off.

"You mean..." Bona looked around their room before she dramatically leaned closer to them and whispered, "Taehyung?" she looked at his direction in a very, obvious way.

"Stop looking at him, he might notice!" Nayeon jokingly pulled her hair to stop her from gawking at him, "You wanna get punched?" she added and glared at Bona.

"Of course not!" she leaned back and held her arms over her chest. Then, she tapped Jisoo's shoulder, "Have you thought about what we've been telling you? He's a really scary man. There is gossip about him doing immoral things here on the campus, like... Doing that 'you-know-what-married-couples-do'. Some say he's on drugs! You know, the other day, a student saw him-" Jisoo covered her mouth to stop Bona from rambling.

"Okay, okay, no need to say those foul things," Jisoo smiled awkwardly and looked around to see if anyone heard her loud friend before removing her hand off her mouth, "Uhm, I think he's kinda... Nice?" she laughed hesitantly to convince her friends... And maybe herself too.

Well, he acknowledged her morning greeting so that's not so bad of him. He can just ignore her-although we should just remove the bubble gum part.

"Jisoo, you have a crush on him?!" Nayeon concluded with wide eyes and screamed. She looked at her like she's out of her mind.

"What? No!" Jisoo answered back, her voice raising and waving her hands desperately to deny it. Then she sighed and eyed her friends, "I just think you guys are being so harsh to him, maybe he's not that bad. You insulting him behind his back is something that is bad, too."

"Are you for real?" Nayeon looked at her in disbelief. She can't believe what she just heard from Jisoo. It's the first time someone sided with a person like Taehyung.

"You're just saying that because you're kind. Stop being too kind," Bona shook her head. Before Jisoo could retort to defend herself, they fell silent because the professor entered the room and greeted the whole class.

Soon enough, the girls focused on the discussion. However, Jisoo's mind couldn't help but wander back to him. Usually, she doesn't notice him before since he rarely attends school and when he does, he's not in classes. She just has two subjects with him as far as she can remember.

Taehyung felt her stares so he glared at her. Jisoo's eyes widened so she looked away in panic. She bowed her head down her notebook and pretended she was scribbling what's on the board.

He rolled his eyes before putting his head on his arm chair and slept until the class was over.

Once the bell rang and the class was dismissed, everyone rushed out of the room. Jisoo arranged her things and put it back in her bag as she watched him still sleeping on his desk. Bona nudged Nayeon and gestured to the oblivious Jisoo using her mouth. Nayeon smiled then she leaned to Jisoo's ear.

"Not your crush, huh?" she teased. Jisoo was startled that she gave Nayeon a soft glare.

"No," she said a little annoyed before pouting and stomping her way out of the room. The two laughed at their friend before following her.

On their way to the cafeteria, Bona went the other direction saying she has a thing to settle with their English professor so it was just Nayeon and Jisoo who continued to the canteen. They easily found their other friends, Lisa and Rosé who already found a seat and ordered their food. Nayeon went to fall in line while Jisoo went directly to their table.

She smiled at them and they asked about how their first classes went. Lisa ranted about a surprise quiz while Rosé said it was vacant, her professor was absent.

Nayeon got back to their table with her tray, "Bona said she's just here in the cafeteria," she took her seat beside Jisoo and put the tray down, looking around.

"Why's she late, though? Didn't you three have the same class?" Rosé asked, munching on her apple.

"She talked to her English professor," Jisoo said, shrugging while messaging Bona.

"Where is she now?" Lisa looked around while opening her bottle, slightly standing up to look for her friend, "Oh wait, I think I saw her," she gestured at the entrance of the cafeteria.

Jisoo turned her head hastily to the direction Lisa pointed and stood from her seat. Then she waves her arms enthusiastically while yelling, "Bona! Here! Here we are! Come on! I'm hungry!" she didn't mind even if the whole canteen literally paused and eyed her weirdly.

"Shh! You're so loud! Stop being embarrassing! Everyone's looking at us," Nayeon pulled Jisoo back to sit down. She massaged her temple and sighed because of her friend's daily antics.

"Why? I'm just calling Bona," Jisoo blinked her eyes innocently at her friends.

"Girl," Rosé shook her head and laughed a little. She finds Jisoo cute but still weird most of the time.

"Hey, stop shouting too loud," Bona finally reached their table and playfully slapped her shoulder before taking a seat.

The girls just dropped the topic and started eating. Jisoo put out her lunch pack, "Okay, sorry. Let's hurry up, our next class will start in a few," she said while grabbing her utensils.

"You seriously pack your own lunch?" Lisa asked while looking at Jisoo who is now swallowing a spoonful of her food.

"I'm a good cook!" she said with her mouth full before gulping, "And I'm broke so..." Jisoo laughed.

"Here, you can have my drink," Lisa pushed the bottle of coke to Jisoo and took a big bite of her sandwich.

"Really? Thank you Lisa!" Jisoo grinned at her.

"No prob," her friend gave her a thumbs up.

They just continued eating while conversing about random things until they finished their food. They got out of the cafeteria and bid their goodbyes since they will just see each other during dismissal. The girls then separated ways to attend their respective classes.

Jisoo entered her next class and took the seat just beside the door in the front row. However, before she could settle her things, four ladies in stilettos stood in front of her and glared at her. It was Joy, Yeri, Wendy and Seulgi.

"That's my seat," Joy said with raised eyebrows, her hand on her waist. Jisoo looked up at her as she stood up in panic, fumbling over her things.

"Sorry," she said and bowed down. She hastily moved to the seat beside it but then Joy stopped her again.

"Still our seat," she uttered, arms crossed over her chest.

Jisoo's eyes widened. She cannot remember any sitting arrangement for this class but she decided to let it pass. Maybe they just want the seats in the front row so they can listen properly in class.

She bowed down repeatedly, "Oh, okay. Sorry," Joy's forehead creased while looking at her then she rolled her eyes.

Jisoo just excused herself from them and walked to the back of the room. She occupied the empty space there and finally arranged her things. She glanced at the ladies in the front who were gossiping and laughing. They have always been like that to her. It's actually a good thing that they are not complete today, she got off the hook faster.

She just sighed and put out her notebook as their professor entered the room. She has better things to focus on.

—

TAEHYUNG was walking with earphones plugged in his ears, the loud sound of metal rock music blasting off. He played a lollipop with his tongue since he cannot smoke around the campus premises. He closed his eyes and massaged his nape as he strided down the corridors but suddenly, someone bumped into his shoulder- obviously intending to do it as he stumbled a little backwards with the impact.

He opened his eyes and automatically scowled at the person in front him.

Ah, if it isn't Jinyoung, his archenemy.

"What the hell?" Jinyoung said and stopped walking. He is with four of his friends. Taehyung spared him a glance for a second before walking past him, completely ignoring his presence.

Jinyoung's jaw clenched as he didn't like what he did. He grabbed Taehyung's arm and pulled him back. Taehyung rolled his eyes before shrugging Jinyoung's hand off him and facing his direction with a bored look.

"Hey bastard," Jinyoung spat in rage. Taehyung sighed and pulled one of his earphones to hear him out, "Say sorry," Jinyoung said with smugness, taking a step closer to him. He remained silent and didn't answer.

"You haven't apologized for your existence," Jinyoung continuously poked his chest harshly with his finger, lightly pushing him off.

Sure, this is a personal grudge and not just the plain bumping of shoulders by the hallways.

"Bro, let's just... Go to class?" Bambam, one of Jinyoung's friends, tapped him on his shoulder, gesturing for them to just quit it and leave.

"No," Jinyoung stubbornly said, "I'm not letting this asshole pass," he said while pointing at Taehyung who was glaring at him.

"Why are you still going to school? It's not like your life will ever be fixed by books, yeah? Why don't you just vanish too? So at least you can stop pestering other people's lives?" he said. This, somehow, started annoying Taehyung a lot more, he balled his fists silently.

"Shut up," Taehyung said in a low tone.

"Why would I?" Jinyoung mocked him with a smirk.

"Because if not, I'm gonna let my fist do the talking," Taehyung took a step closer and completely removed his earplugs.

"You heard him?" Jinyoung chuckled while looking at his disappointed friends over his shoulder. Then, he faced Taehyung again, "Oh, do you think" he wasn't able to finish his sentence when Taehyung punched him hard on the face, he fell on the ground.

"I said shut the fuck up!" Taehyung yelled, his eyes blazing with anger. Mark, Jinyoung's friend, went to his back and tried to hold him by his shoulders to prevent him from lunging towards Jinyoung again.

"Chill, you two, calm down. Look, dude—" Mark tried to lecture the two men but Taehyung suddenly shrugged his hold off him forcefully.

"Let go, dumbshit!" he bursted and punched Mark hard on the face. The latter was taken by surprise that he tumbled down. He quickly stood up and pushed Taehyung hard, losing his patience.

Jinyoung already recovered so he interrupted and was the one to punch Taehyung straight on his face so that he tripped a little on his feet. Good thing, he managed to balance himself and not fall on the ground.

"Guys, we're getting in trouble—" Jackson tried to go in between them to halt the fight but he was also quickly punched by Taehyung too, since he's blocking Jinyoung's position.

"Damn it," Jackson cursed and wiped the blood off his lips before punching Taehyung back.

The other guys tried to stop them too, but they ended up just teaming up against Taehyung. They have been fighting for quite a while and it attracted a crowd of students, watching them brawl. No one attempted to stop the intense fight.

"Omygod, what's happening there?" Rosé, who was walking with her blockmate to her next class, saw the huddled crowd and rushed to see what students were fussing about. She gasped at the sight of the guys knocking each other down.

"You douche! I'm tired of getting the fuck involved with you," Taehyung gritted his teeth as he let out one very strong punch at Jinyoung. The latter hit the wall with force because of the impact.

Jaebeom held Taehyung by the shoulder and pulled him to face his direction before punching him, too. Taehyung fell on the ground. He spat blood from his mouth before quickly standing up.

"Someone call the teachers!" Rosé yelled from the horde of gossiping students.

Just in time, the guards entered the picture blowing their whistle and clearing the crowd. They scolded the students to go back to their classes. Rosé complied but she spared a glance at the guys being held by the securities, looking as if they would be dragged to the guidance office.

—

"JISOO! Have you heard about what happened earlier?" Lisa asked as she clung on Jisoo's arm. It was dismissal and the girls met up, on their way to the gates of the university.

"Omygod, the fight?" Bona was the one who answered Lisa as she gushed about the issue, "I heard Taehyung was suspended after they beat the hell out of each other," she added.

"They did what?" Jisoo asked, shocked by what she heard.

"They fought one another earlier. It was quite a sight. The fight looked like those we see in action movies. You know, the gangster films. Although it was kinda unfair since it was five against one. Taehyung fights well! He stood against Jinyoung and his friends and girl, he punched hard! I thought Jinyoung's head was gonna detach from his body," Rosé enthusiastically narrated.

"You were there?" Nayeon asked her.

"I was passing by to my next class when I saw them," she answered.

"Wait, if Taehyung was suspended, then how about Jinyoung and his friends?" Bona said.

"Nah, he's the grandson of the Dean, remember? He won't get suspended," Nayeon shrugged like it was no big deal.

"That's unfair. Even if he is the grandson of our Dean, he should still be given a punishment. All of them. I mean, it's not good to be involved in a riot like that. Why didn't they just settled it peacefully and become friends?" Jisoo uttered, slightly shaking her head

"Girl, don't expect guys to settle matters with conversations over a cup of tea," Lisa said, "And speaking about being unfair, Taehyung's offenses are already candidates for expulsion but he is still not getting expelled. That's unfair, too."

"Yeah, that got me thinking. I wonder why too, he rarely even gets suspended like this, don't you think it was a little suspicious?" Rosé added.

"He should be expelled," Bona said in agreement.

"Aren't you girls a little too harsh? Whenever it comes to him, you act like he should not be given even a benefit of a doubt?" Jisoo sighed as she could not understand her friends.

"What? Harsh? Are you hearing yourself? That's Taehyung we are talking about!" Lisa exclaimed, a little dramatic as she clicked her tongue in contradiction of Jisoo.

"Yeah but... Both of them are at fault, why is he the only one suspended? Why is he always pictured like the devil of the story? I know he has wrongdoings but people are sometimes going over the top, too," Jisoo exasperatedly reasoned.

"Well, he obviously started the fight. Jinyoung's a good student, he never had cases like this before. Look at the damage to him! Omygod, I saw him at the clinic and he was really beaten up. No exaggeration," Nayeon continuously said with hand gestures like she is very affected by what happened.

"Why were you at the clinic?" Jisoo asked as she found it weird why Nayeon would end up around that area since the fight happened during classes.

"Uh, running errands?" Nayeon blushed as she answered in panic, "H-hey, that's not the topic! Whatever. Let's... Stop this conversation, okay. They fought. Taehyung got suspended and I heard he'll pay the hospital bills too, so let's knock it off," she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

The rest of the girls looked at each other weirdly as Nayeon sounded defensive but they just shrugged it off. Once they left the university premises, they took different turns to go home.

"Bye! Take care!" Jisoo waved at her friends then she jogged to the bus waiting near the shed. She hastily entered the bus and greeted the driver who just smiled at her.

Jisoo swiped her card before walking to the half empty vehicle. While looking for a seat, she saw Taehyung sleeping. His head was leaning on the chair, earphones plugged in again yet she can hear the faint sound of the metal rock music he is playing. It was on full volume. She bit her lip thinking that it may hurt his ears but she doesn't want to wake him up. Jisoo stood just beside him.

She held onto the bus handle as they were still not moving, waiting for other passengers. She leaned closer to take a clearer look of his face as she noticed that he had bruises and cuts. Jisoo heaved a sigh as she pity his state.

He's beaten up too...

Slowly, she lifted her hand and gently wiped the blood on his lips but Taehyung flinched. He felt her touch that his forehead creased and was about to open his eye. Before he could see her, Jisoo turned her back to him and took the seat across from him, whistling softly, acting innocent.

Taehyung sat properly and the bus started moving. Jisoo cannot help but glance secretly at him.

He was looking outside the window. His cheek was resting on his hand. He was sighing per minute and she saw him grimaced a little like something was hurting his ears. He shook his head roughly and balled his fists, biting his lips as his stares turned into glares outside the window.

Jisoo averted her gaze after some time. She doesn't want to look like a creep and besides, she might make him feel uncomfortable if she keeps staring. She just looked outside the window, too.

Deep inside, she contemplated whether to approach him or ask how he was doing but she restrained herself. Taehyung looks like he wanted to be alone for the meantime and she might have just pissed him off more. So instead, she remained silent and let her mind wander throughout the ride.

After some time, Taehyung got off the bus. Jisoo's eyes followed him as he went down. Even before the bus left, she followed his figure, walking away until he was out of her sight.

Jisoo pursed her lips as she thought about him. She heaved a deep sigh as she looked up at the sky, the pastel orange painted in the clouds as the sun set. The bus started moving again.

She didn't know why but as she stared at him, he didn't look like the delinquent guy people tell her he is.

In her eyes, he was so gloomy. He looks like the gray clouds before it rains a storm. Something inside her felt like it was being pierced whenever she saw him. Especially those dull eyes— there's just something oddly familiar in his eyes. The mystery hugging his dark aura is like drawing her in.

They say that he is a really bad person but why is that for her, she can only see one thing? And that is...

He looks so lonely.

**

Author's Note:

So, how was it? Hehe. (つ°ヮ°)つ

THIS UPDATES TWO TIMES A WEEK.

Mostly Tuesdays or Saturdays. Three days interval. If I could post more than two chapters per week, I would.

The prologue is just a foreshadowing but the novel's timeline will be seven years ago. This is one long novel, please bear with me. I kinda revised and edited some parts but I know I might have left some typos, I will try to proofread in the future.

Thank you for reading! (≧▽≦)