"If someone makes you feel, let them." —Reyna Biddy

**

"I'LL JUST go to the office of school affairs. They miss me there," Jisoo put her arms over her chest and looked at Taehyung in disbelief after he sarcastically joked about the notice he received.

"Fine. But remember, we have a group activity and you really need to attend this session. You've been absent for so long, they are not happy with it. So go to room 302 right after, okay?" she lectured him as he stared at her boredly.

"Taehyung," Jisoo uttered in a warning tone. He put his arms in the air as defeat.

"Yeah, sure," he answered dismissively. She squinted her eyes at him before bidding him farewell and going to her class.

Taehyung instantly walked his way to the office. When he entered, the professor in charge glanced at his direction. After seeing him, his face frowned and heaved a deep disappointed sigh.

The man opened the book on his desk and started writing something on it, "Great, you're still alive oh dear sir?" he said.

Taehyung lazily stood in front of the professor with a hand in his pocket and the other holding the strap of his bag, "I'd rather have me dead too."

The man was not able to speak and just gawked at him weirdly. Taehyung rolled his eyes at him.

"Do I get a detention slip or do you call them?" he jokingly asked and gestured a phone with his free hand.

The man sighed again and stamped a paper loudly, "5 hours detention today. That's it. Nothing ever happens to a hopeless case like you. It's just exhausting at this point. Get the slip and go leave."

He quickly abided and grabbed the slip before leaving for the door. But before he can close it, the professor speaks to himself.

"Douchebag," he heard him whisper. Kind of. He's not sure if he intentionally mumbled to let him hear it.

Well, that's all spiteful they can get, anyway. The school administration is careful of touching him or intervening with him. He's kind of protected, untouchable, whatever they want to call it. Not like he cares.

He actually hates it.

There are a lot of things he cannot control and get rid of in his life. He decided it's not the time to dwell on it. Especially if he knows it will not change anything. Taehyung woke up in a good light today so he ignored it and went to room 302 right away. Probably to drop by and tell Jisoo he has detention.

"We cannot put him in the team at the last minute."

Taehyung paused on his tracks and leaned at the wall beside the door of the room. His group is inside and to what he presumes, currently having an argument.

Actually, no. It's more like Jisoo is still begging for him to be part of their presentation having no ally in the heated debate.

His hands balled into fists.

Of course it's not the first time people did it to him. But that did not make hearing it all alright. He could care less about what they think of him but —

"He'll attend today, I swear. He's here," he heard her talk.

"We don't see him here," a voice, Jimin's, answered, "Or is he invisible? Is it wizarding?" he added.

"I'm serious. He just dropped by the office but he said he'll go here after. Let us just wait for him a little,"Jisoo continued.

"You know I gave a very ample amount of time and consideration, right? He's already late. That's too much of a special treatment. It's unfair for me, you, and everyone here," he heard a man, Namjoon, calmly explaining.

"I know... But it was just yesterday. Yesterday, there was really an emergency. I can testify," Jisoo insisted.

"Uh, we could wait for him. If he attends, like Jisoo says. I'm listening to it. Besides, your deadline of his absence is really yesterday so if he shows up... It's not a big deal, I guess?" one girl's voice, Bona's, sided with her.

"Someone agrees with me!" Jisoo happily exclaimed and whispered a thanks to her friend who just shrugged and gave her a thumbs up.

"Jisoo, that's being stupid. It's obvious that he has no plans of participating and he can never change. Give it up," he heard Jinyoung interrupt.

That's it. The last straw.

"Don't cry prince not-so-charming," Taehyung barged in the classroom and all the eyes turned to him.

He has no plans of contradicting what was said, which is partially true. If he can choose, he'll definitely not participate so he'd acknowledge those few points right. He just couldn't take one thing.

No one insults her as stupid.

Well, aside from him of course.

"Taehyungie!" Jisoo happily ran to him and held his right arm starting to sway it left and right in glee, "Finally you came! He's here! He's here!" Jisoo cheerfully dragged him in front of their other members.

"You're already one week absent from all our meetings," Namjoon strictly stated and observed him from head to toe.

"Man, you look awful. Those are fresh wounds. Did you get beaten up?" Jimin sat up straight and put his elbow on his friend's shoulder while looking at him.

"More like I beat them up," Taehyung casually answered, earning a scoff from Jinyoung and a raised eyebrow from Namjoon.

"Uhuh," Jimin is the only one who laughed, "I thought he wasn't a celebrity? Sounds like an action star to me," he turned to Bona and Nayeon kiddingly.

"No comment," Nayeon laughed awkwardly while Bona acted to imaginary zip her mouth.

Jinyoung, who was glaring at him, turned to ask Namjoon, "We're not accepting late freeloaders in the group, right?" he sarcastically asked.

Before Namjoon could answer, Jisoo spoke, "Technically, earlier, I still had a stand when I asked Namjoon to wait for the last time today and Taehyung showed up! So he's still part of the group right?" Jisoo beamed at everyone, especially towards Namjoon.

Namjoon didn't know what to say. He was already irritated with Taehyung. Biggest pet peeve; improper groupmates. Also, by what he gathers and sees, it is not a very good first impression. That makes him a lot less willing to consider his 'excuse'. Especially he has trust issues with group activities alibis.

If it was just him, he already removed him way, way, way before but the Jisoo looking at him right now with sparkling eyes and wide smile is someone you will feel sad to disappoint or say no to.

Oh God, why does she seem to be such a good person that it makes me feel like I'm a bad human being when I decline her? He contemplated silently.

Jisoo let go of Taehyung's arm and grabbed Namjoon by his shoulder. Shaking him slightly with a childish smile, "Right, Namjoonie? Right? Right?"

Namjoon gulped. This girl has no idea how cute she is right now and up close.

God will hate me if I refuse his angel. Bad luck.

He sighed in defeat, "Yeah. As long as he can study his role quickly then it's fine. He can join but! No more absences or it's really removal. No buts or further reconsiderations. This is my peak kindness."

I should receive a blessing later or whatever, he thought to himself one last time before waving her dismissively.

Jisoo clapped and smiled happily, "Yay! Of course he can do it and he will attend our practices from now on, right Taehyungie?"

Taehyung just stared at her blankly. She has this bright aura around her and when she smiles it reaches her eyes, spewing more warm aura from her. She seems to be unaware of that, though.

In the end, he just quietly grabbed the script Jisoo has been holding since earlier. He never uttered a word but he started reading the script looking for the role assigned to him.

It's just a minor one with three lines. It does not even actually matter, you can remove it and the presentation is still intact. As if it's really made for someone with no assurance of participating like him. He'd say it's wise of whoever wrote it, who he thinks is probably the Namjoon guy.

"Uhm, that's him, saying yes. Hehe," Jisoo just awkwardly explained to Namjoon who sighed and shook his head.

"Anyways, we are a complete group now! Yehey!" Jisoo cheered. She was the only one happy and comfortable with the aura around them right now.

"Yay," Bona lamely followed in second motion and drank on her tumbler bottle.

"To success!" Jimin uttered and offered a high five to Jisoo to ease the heavy tension in the air.

"Success!" Jisoo retorted and high-fived him.

Jimin held her hand firmly, "You should've gone to law school," he shook it, "You'll ace as a lawyer," he bowed formally to her like ending a business deal which made her laugh.

And earned a sideward glare from Taehyung.

He didn't know if she is just plain stupid and naive or maybe she just tries to ignore the awkward state they are right now but she set the mood for them.

—

"HOW WERE your lines? It's not that hard, yeah?" like the usual, they went to the rooftop after her part time shift. She is sitting down beside the railings as he sits on the railings itself.

"I literally just say less than twenty words in my three dialogues," Taehyung scoffed, "I'm not illiterate," he added and took a chunky bite on his strawberry skewers.

Jisoo laughed at him, "Well, at least Namjoon let you join in. I knew he was kind," she said and chewed on her own strawberry skewers.

Taehyung's forehead creased even if she cannot see him, "He's bossy."

"He's a good leader," she defended him, "Fair man I'd say."

"Yeah," he sarcastically mumbled and rolled his eyes, "You like him?" he tauntingly asked.

"Yup," she answered, however, popping the p sound and wiping her lips.

Taehyung turned to look down to her in betrayal, "You're fucking unhinged," he muttered in disbelief, "You can't possibly like everyone. You told Suga you like him to yesternight."

"Is yesternight a word?" Jisoo looked up to gaze back at him innocently.

"Yes it is and don't screw with me," he seriously told her.

She laughed again before looking at her final strawberry and biting on it, "I like their personalities, is that wrong?" she mumbled dismissively.

"Hell yeah!" Taehyung exaggeratedly exclaimed with his hand.

"How come?" she looked at him confused, "I even like you too," she added and blinked her eyes at him.

He was about to say something but his mouth paused and he stared at her in shock. Then, he choked and hit his chest while coughing.

Jisoo was alerted and jumped on her feet, "Are you okay?" she worriedly went to his side and rubbed his back gently. She quickly offered her bottle to him and leaned to look.

Taehyung pushed her face away with his palm, "Stupid," he said as his coughs die down.

"Don't say it like that," he softly uttered like a kid.

She removed his hand on her face, "Like what?"

"Ugh, nevermind. You need to go home. It's past six already," he avoided her question. He jumped down and picked up his bag, hung it on one shoulder and walked to the door.

"I don't wanna go home yet!" Jisoo complained but was still getting her bag and running to catch on his back.

"Shut it, even Cinderella has a curfew," Taehyunng said.

"Oh My God you watch Disney?!" she asked in shock and laughed.

"Forced to," he simply answered.

And they continued talking about the most random stuff on the way home.

—

"ARE YOU campaigning for an election?" Taehyung protested to her as he carried the cooler with him. She texted him that they are meeting after class for another group session.

He had no classes today and she went home early because she only had one morning class scheduled so they met up in front of the convenience store.

"The water outside is cheaper plus I get a discount since I work part time here. They might forget to bring their drinks and it's hot today, we'll get dehydrated later," Jisoo simply told him.

"Yeah but is this not your responsibility?" he asked and showed her the cooler.

"But I want to," she countered.

"Just what do you get by doing this?" Taehyung continued as he glanced at her.

"Nothing," Jisoo shrugged.

"I don't get you," he retorted.

She sighed, "You know, I'll carry it if you don't like to."

"Nah," he moved away from her reach, "I'm carrying this shit."

Jisoo softly glared at him until they heard loud sobs by the gutter. They saw a kid crying. He would have gone past the child but of course, Jisoo stopped.

"Are you lost?" she asked the boy who just stared at her.

Taehyung adjusted his hold on the cooler and irritatedly spoke, "Brat, she's asking you," it made the boy cry harder.

"Taehyungie!" Jisoo reprimanded him.

"What?!" he hissed, she slapped him lightly on his leg and shushed him.

"It's okay, we won't hurt you. We want to help," she gently smiled at the kid. The child is still reluctant to answer. Jisoo sighed and took out sweets from her pockets.

"Of course you have candies prepared," Taehyung sarcastically commented.

Her forehead creased but nonetheless decided to ignore him. The boy took her candy and now looked more comfortable with her as he accepted it.

"You can't find mommy?" Jisoo carefully asked as the child nodded and ate the sweets.

"Do you know her name? Did she give you some identification just in case?" She queried. The child opened his fist and showed a wrinkly card on it.

It had a number named to what she assumed was his mom. Jisoo abruptly dialed the digits and the mother answered. After having a short conversation, they stayed to watch the boy as they waited for her. Jisoo is talking with the child happily as Taehyung is frowning. He put down the cooler for a minute because his arms are growing tired of it.

"Thank you very much," the lady in her mid-thirties told them as she hugged her child.

"No problem ma'am," Jisoo smiled at her. The mother reached and offered to give her dollar bills.

"Oh, no. It's okay. You don't need to, it's fine. We're glad to help," she politely refused before bidding them goodbye.

"Should've accepted it. Still a hundred bucks ya know," Taehyung commented when they were a little far from them already.

"We did not do it for that," she uttered.

"Don't say no to blessings," he shrugged teasingly.

"C'mon," Jisoo glanced at him, "You called the kid brat earlier."

"That's me naturally. Fair treatment for everybody. No discrimination," he playfully answered in a serious tone.

"At least don't frown too much, you scared the little boy," Jisoo told him.

"So you're saying my face is scary?" Taehyung looked at her, offended.

"I'm saying, just try smiling a little," she gently responded.

"Dunno how," he whispered quite honestly.

Jisoo was bewildered and looked at him, "Please, everyone knows how to smile!"

"I don't," Taehyung firmly said.

"Stop bluffing," she countered and faced him.

"This is my smile," he said somehow gibberish and stretched his lips open as if showing off his teeth. It made her giggle.

"At least, curve it a little," Jisoo said while demonstrating it with a grin. Her hand motioned on the curve of her smile.

Taehyung continued his lame snarling, a little bit to spite her jokingly as she lectured him about it while laughing until the bus ride back to the university.

—

THEIR SECOND day of practicing as a complete group out of the four days left before their actual presentation is still chaotic.

They practiced inside the campus. They are at the benches near the wide football field.

"I don't get this shit, what are we? Middle schoolers?" Jimin complained for the nth time and slammed his head on the stone table.

"Your height looks like one," Namjoon uttered boredly and flipped what he was reading.

"Fuck you man," Jimin threw him a crumpled paper.

"I brought water for everyone," Jisoo announced, pulling the water pack and distributing it to everyone in the team.

"Gee, thanks," Nayeon smiled at her and pinched her cheeks softly.

"You carried this alone? Girl, you shouldn't have gone through such lengths," Bona said while grabbing the bottle.

"Ah, Taehyung help me with it," she gestured towards him who was sitting on the opposite side.

"Hm," she nodded and looked away while drinking. Nayeon kicked her by the leg.

"Shut up," she said.

"Bitch, I'm not even speaking?" Bona complained.

Jisoo didn't pay any attention to them and proceeded to offer Jinyoung a drink which made Taehyung throw a sideward glance at them from the far side.

He didn't want to flock with the other people and he for sure knows they prefer it that way so like usual, he is out of the group's picture.

"No thanks," Jinyoung declined right off the bat and practically ignored her while scrolling through his phone.

"Oh, okay," Jisoo uttered, confused and backed away.

He must be having a bad day lately, she thought.

Nayeon caught a glimpse of the scene but decided to not talk about what she noticed and is noticing.

Bona then pulled Jisoo by the arm before she could go to Taehyung and she asked something regarding their script. Jisoo listened keenly to her friend but along with her babblings, her eyes traveled to Taehyung in the corner.

He was yawning audibly. Most likely bored. They already spent two hours rehearsing.

As if he felt her looking, he paused and looked directly at her.

Jisoo gestured her fingers on her face, telling him to smile. He opened his mouth a little.

He ended up giving her a grimace and Jisoo just shook her head.

"So, it's just correct, right?" Bona turned to her and asked innocently.

"Uh, Jisoo? Girl?" she tried to catch her attention and wave her hand on her face.

"H-huh?" she blinked before facing her again, "Yes, yes it is," she affirmed disoriented.

Bona looked over her shoulder to Taehyung's direction who averted his gaze and drank his water. She squinted her eyes at her friend.

"What?" Jisoo asked her but her friend just sighed and smiled at her.

"Break's over. Let's finish this in one last take," Namjoon stood up and clapped to get their attention.

Another hour passed during their session. Fortunately, they seem to be polishing everything. Everyone started arranging their stuff.

"Good practice," Namjoon beamed, showing his dimples. He is obviously glad about their output for today.

After wrapping up, one by one, they leave the benches. Namjoon and Jimin said they'll stay to meet someone. Jinyoung left without a word while Bona and Nayeon invited her to go to the mall but Jisoo refused because of her work.

"We'll go now," she said and waved at the two guys.

"See ya, angel," Jimin teased and waved back. Taehyung blankly bore his eyes at him.

Just as they are walking away, though, Jisoo bumped into someone heading towards the bench making Taehyung stop behind her too.

"Oh, sorry..." the man in a baggy shirt looked up and was stunned the moment he saw her.

"It's okay... Oh, Jungkook?" Jisoo recognized the latter.

"J-Jisoo?" he stuttered and fell a little backwards.

"Yeah!" she exclaimed and grinned at him, "Why are you here?" she friendly asked. Taehyung observed the stranger in front him. It was the first time he saw the guy.

"Ah... I was... Just.. Uhm," he was staring at her but couldn't speak straight.

Fuck, I hate myself, Junngkook thought and wanted to get eaten by the ground right at the moment.

"Dude!" Jimin walked past them and put his arm around Jungkook, "You arrived just in time! We just finished practice, help me force Namjoon to treat us to dinner in his house later."

"Y-yeah," he awkwardly answered his friend.

"The heck man? Why the jitters? Are you in trouble?" Jimin curiously looked at him.

"Wow, you guys are close," Jisoo interjected as she watched the two guys.

Suddenly, Namjoon spoke from behind, approaching them, "Nah. We're just tolerating Jimin."

"They bully me," Jimin made a pouty face to Jisoo and she laughed at him.

"Gross," Taehyung commented.

Jimin looked at him in disbelief, "What the hell, man?"

Jungkook looked at Taehyung, finally noticing his presence. For a brief moment, his mind thought of something he ended up discarding.

Jisoo laughed again, "Pardon his humor," she said and motioned to Taehyung's direction.

"No biggie. I'm not sensitive unlike these two pussies," Jimin kid again and Namjoon lightly hit his head in response.

"So, we'll just see ya tomorrow in class? And the group session too," he uttered to end the interaction before Jimin says another word.

"Yup," Jisoo smiled and left with Taehyung.

Jungkook's eyes followed the two leaving. He held his camera silently. His mind is still blank from the quick conversation... If that is a conversation on his side.

"Bro, let's go sit. You still have a class?" Jimin uttered, heading back to the bench where their things are.

"You okay? You seem lost," Namjoon asked while observing him.

"Yeah," he nodded and gave him a tight smile, "Just... Thinking of something."

Or like someone.

Jungkook went with his friends and he sat by the stone table. He looked down on the lens of his camera as he blurred out the conversation of his two friends.

She's way prettier up close.