Chapter 11: A Lot Different

"You make me feel things I didn't believe in anymore." —bekas_notepad

**

LEANING on the door frame, Taehyung watched Jisoo's back, who was cooking while humming lightly, with his arms crossed over his chest. The smell was so salivating that he could feel his stomach grumble in hunger. He stared at her back for a minute and sighed.

"Don't you have a life on your own?" he suddenly said which made her jump a little and hold her chest. He raised his brow at her.

"Do you really just go around and sleep in a house alone with a guy you barely know?" he added in a harsh tone.

"Hm?" she adjusted the fire in the stove before facing him, "It's not like I can leave you yesterday and I didn't actually plan to stay the night over."

"You care too much," he said coldly before standing on his feet.

"Sorry..." her voice trailed off and looked at him apologetically, "I won't be at peace with you alone after seeing your condition yesterday."

He smiled bitterly and dragged the chair to sit down, "I don't need your pity."

Jisoo was baffled. She didn't answer right away and turned the stove off first. She put her hands on her waist while furrowing brows at him, "Pity? What do you mean?"

Taehyung glared at her, "That you think I'm fucking pathetic and you do this out of pity because you're stupid."

"I don't pity you," she said calmly while going near him. It made him itch on his seat and moved on his position.

"I'm worried. That's different," Jisoo put her one hand on the table. She leaned to him, taking him by surprise as he backed away from her, almost falling from his chair. His eyes were wide and he could hear his chest thumping hard again.

Pity and worry. Until that very moment, he wasn't aware that they are not the same. All he ever received was pity... None of those made him feel better. If anything, it just made him feel worse.

Miserable. Rueful. Worthless— he felt more degraded than what he already feels about himself.

But during that split second... Her soft voice and gentle eyes showed him the fragile difference between pity and worry.

"I'm worried because you might harm yourself again and I'm worried because I care for you," she explained before standing properly. She gave him a smile.

Jisoo stared at him and tilted her head, "Too much to absorb?"

For the first time in so long, he actually felt special in a good way. No feeling of being treated like he is any less.

He cleared his throat and looked away, "Don't your parents search for you? You didn't go home. Or your friends?" he asked, trying to change the topic.

"Not really," she laughed nervously and checked her phone.

"After you fell asleep, I kinda gave a white lie to my friend who knew I was here. Hoseok. I told him I went home, he'd go berserk if he knew I entered your house," she smiled sheepishly and scratched her head.

"You're gripping on me tightly so I couldn't move much. I just transferred you to bed with all my might," Jisoo flexed her arms jokingly.

"I watched you but I guess I kinda fell asleep soon, too," she added and shrugged.

"Again, you could've left," he reasoned in an odd tone, "That Hoseok boyfriend of yours would get mad, anyway."

Jisoo guffawed as if he just told her something very funny, "It's boy space friend. He's my buddy! Since middle school!" she shook her head and walked back to the kitchen counter.

"You're so close with guys, huh," Taehyung scoffed and placed his chin on his hand while looking at her accusingly.

"Why? What's wrong with that?" she started getting plates, "Girls and boys can have platonic relationships, ya know!"

"Yeah, shitty platonic my ass," he rolled his eyes as she continued setting up the table for breakfast.

While Jisoo was placing the food on the table, he noticed something on her extended arm, "What's that?" he nodded to her wound. It looks fresh and he didn't remember her having that before.

"Huh?" she paused and looked at her arm innocently, "Oh... Maybe I got a small scratch accidentally yesterday. I didn't notice, it didn't hurt," she smiled then ignored it like nothing. She went on arranging the food again when he suddenly stood up with a loud sound. Stomping outside the kitchen.

Jisoo craned her neck while looking at him leave. She pouted, Grumpy...

A few seconds after, he is back with a first aid kit. He grabbed her while she was pouring a glass of water making the pitcher spill a little on the table. She turned to him, "Wha—?"

"You're so weak and clumsy," he cut her off. His sharp eyes are focused on her arm. Contrary to his gazes, his hold was gentle. He is slowly putting alcohol on cotton before softly applying pressure on her wound.

Taehyung leaned down to blow on her scratch, "Before you keep on babbling this and that about caring for others, check yourself first," he looked at her from behind his bangs, "Dumbass."

Jisoo beamed at him.

"What?!" he hissed at her, "Stop smiling weirdly."

"Thank you," she suddenly said and grinned.

He paused before letting go of her arm forcefully. He quickly turned his back away and sat down, "Where the hell is the breakfast?" he complained, not facing her directly as he can feel a faint heat on his cheeks.

"Hm," she giggled and proceeded to slide the plates of food to him.

"I only managed an omelette and cheesy noodles because you don't have much supplies here. Not even milk, coffee or cereals," she said before sitting down across from him.

"I hate groceries," he said and dug into the food.

"Let's eat!" Jisoo just said and started taking a spoonful, concentrating on their little breakfast.

Little did she know, he looked at her in secret. Stealing glances before diverting his eyes and chewing on his food.

What a morning it was.

JISOO, Rosé and Bona sat waiting for Nayeon to arrive. They were sitting on the chairs of the auditorium while watching Lisa practice on the small stage below.

"Go Lisa! You are the best!" clapped Jisoo.

"Queen, give us the moves!" Rosé whistled.

"Own the floor, bitch!" Bona gave a thumbs up.

Lisa just shushed them and rolled her eyes while stretching. They are so loud, their voices echoing in the half empty room. Her co-members are laughing at her.

"Bambam looks so cute," Bona giggled while pointing at him, Rosé caught her hand and pushed it down.

"Can you stop being embarrassing?" she asked while shaking her head.

"What?" Bona just said and laughed.

Jisoo just smiled at her two friends and checked her phone. After yesterday, she only managed to go to one class because she got an earful from Lisa who was worried sick. She never really skips classes but she was late already. She just told Lisa she got an upset stomach as an alibi.

She decided not to force Taehyung to go to his classes anymore. Jisoo realized that he probably needs time for himself, she doesn't know what exactly he is going through and maybe it's really hard for him to think about college life in addition to his personal matters. That would be too nosy of her.

Still, there is worry in her chest. She actually feels guilty about lying to her friends but if she tells the truth, that requires exposing his secret. It's not her story to tell and she doesn't want to break his trust.

Nayeon suddenly arrived with a cup of coffee. She gave them their cup each.

"Thanks," Jisoo took her cup and smiled. Nayeon took the seat on her other side. On her left was Rosé then Bona.

"Oh, yo Lisa!" Nayeon greeted them and she waved to their friend.

"I wonder who will audition and get accepted in their dance troupe today," she suddenly blurted out while drinking and eyeing the students on the stage.

"Wait, this is an audition?" Bona asked.

"Uh, yes?" Nayeon looked at her, "You went here without knowing that?"

"We just wanna watch Lisa," Rosé laughed.

"Oh, look!" Jisoo exclaimed while biting her straw. She pointed at the stage, "That's the transferee right?" they all looked at who she was referring to.

"Ah, Jimin Park," Nayeon nodded

"He's cute!" Bona gushed and hit Rosé on the shoulder.

"All guys are cute for you," Rosé rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Not all," Bona defended.

Jimin talked with one of the students there and fell in line. There were only a few who were watching. It's still early in the morning, most students are in their first classes. Good thing they are all available. It rarely happens.

Lisa's dance troupe went on the stage. Loud hip hop music bombarded the auditorium and they started to perform. The girls cheered on their friend. It was just a short performance as if they were just an intermission number.

After performing, a professor announced the start of the audition. They fell silent and observed. After two students performed, it was then Jimin's turn.

The judge is talking about something they can't understand. Jimin looked up at the bleachers. Then, his eyes landed on Jisoo. He looked shocked for a second before he smiled and waved at her.

The three girls hastily turned their heads towards her. Jisoo looked around and at her back but no one was there so she just waved and smiled back at him.

"What the heck?" Bona uttered in shock.

"Did he just..." Nayeon trailed off and looked at Jisoo, "Waved at you?"

"You know him?" Rosé intrigued her too.

"Huh?" Jisoo didn't know what to say, "Oh, well... I kinda had an encounter with him the other day so maybe he remembered me."

"Seriously? How—" Bona was cut off when an orchestral music suddenly played and echoed within the walls of the room.

Once the beat dropped, all their eyes were stuck on Jimin.

He started dancing. His moves were elegant, powerful and captivating all at the same time. He moves his body like he is one with rhythm. Every flick of his move left them awestruck.

His facial expressions were flawless. He is like a storyteller. His dance looked like a new language which communicates a resounding message to the audience.

They were in a trance watching him. They didn't notice it until he bowed and the music stopped.

A moment of silence passed the auditorium like everyone needed a moment to react. Suddenly, slow claps filled the place until it turned into loud cheers. Jimin smiled and looked up from bowing to Jisoo. He winked when their eyes met.

"Sheez," Nayeon was so shocked and her mouth was agape, Rosé nudged her and Bona looked at Jisoo teasingly.

"He's hitting on you!" Bona whispered.

"What? No!" Jisoo's forehead creased and she shook her head. She looked at the stage again, "Maybe there was something that got into his eyes."

"Uh, no?" Rosé looked at her in disbelief. She cannot believe how her friend could be dense.

"You guys... Stop giving malice to everything," Jisoo laughed and noticed Lisa from the corner, waving at them.

"Lisa is done! Let's go to her!" she suddenly stood up to avoid the issue. The three girls exchanged looks and shrugged. They know Jisoo wants to drop the matter.

"You won't wait for the results?" Rosé asked Lisa as they walked outside the auditorium.

"I still have a class after this," Lisa simply said.

"I wanted to see the results but I also have my next class," Bona stomped her feet and sighed.

"Ugh, me too," Nayeon seconded the motion while grunting under her breath.

"Oh... That reminds me of my club meeting today!" Rosé clicked her tongue and slumped while walking. Their moods died down.

"It's actually my vacant..." Jisoo said, "I guess I'd just spend my time in the library or the cafeteria."

"Let's just message when our next available time," Lisa said to them and they all agreed before separating ways. Jisoo took the other corridor alone.

Jisoo was walking silently while sipping the last of her coffee when she slowly started to stop on her tracks. She looked in front. Her eyes squinted on a familiar figure.

Tall and towering. Wearing a jacket over a loose shirt and pants. One of his hands languidly in his pocket while chewing something. He moves his neck like he is stretching. A bag was hanging on his other shoulder.

The image of his figure is not clear because of the distance before it dawned Jisoo. Her eyes widened and she froze. The guy went to her and stopped.

Jisoo slowly looked up to see his face properly. He burst the bubble gum right on her face and smirked.

Taehyung.

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