"The shadow of a thing doesn't exist without the original to cast it. A dry bed was still once a river. A bell unrung is still a bell." —Jodi Picoult

**

SHE WALKS hallways like it is the runway.

Every student, new and old, those who know her or have heard of her, the people who admire her and the people who hate her, paused as she made way in the corridors. They follow her with both stares and glares.

Wearing a mahogany red open back top and brown pegged pants, she grazed the campus on her running shoes and tied her hair in a high ponytail. A white Prada promenade bag is clinging on her arm, as if announcing her wealth with just her bag.

If people's feelings about her are summarized, it will most likely be envy.

"You're back," said her friend, Joy.

Only a group of four girls awaited her at the end of the long hallways. It's like they have been waiting for her for so long.

She smiled. A hint of pride and menace plastered with it.

"I am," Irene answered.

The queen has returned.

—

"Isn't he supposed to be a dropout or suspended?"
"I heard he's on drugs and that he's connected with a mafia."
"My orgmate told me he'll beat you up if you stare at him for five seconds."

TAEHYUNG always hated how he had sharp hearing. Or maybe he doesn't have one... Maybe people wanted him to hear it. Clearly, the accusations and stories about him became exaggerated over time. He could care less, though.

But they could at least shut up a little.

"Good morning. Today, our group will present..." Namjoon's voice was muffled in his ear, as if their judging whispers were louder than his voice.

Heck, he's not scared or embarrassed. Still, it is uncomfortable.

He remained standing in front. Even with his groupmates, he feels crucified under the scrutinizing gazes of these strangers. He didn't ask them to look but they watched his moves eagerly. Nit-picking every detail. Finally finding someone they can look down to, so they can feel better about themselves and everyone will agree, no one will pity, no one will tell them it's awful to spew insults without looking through the mirror first.

He's the bad guy, after all.

"What a great performance! You've tackled every needed point in your presentation and I could see the effort and the very good relay of answers. Good job," the professor beamed and praised the presentation after they finished it.

Fortunately, he did not need to stand in front of them for an hour.

The teacher eyed him suspiciously, "Miraculously, everyone participated huh," he commented in a disdainful manner, "If you have trouble with any members, just tell me. We can deduct their individual scores."

Taehyung rolled his eyes. It's very obvious that the last statement pertains to him. He'd say it's petty but of course, a delinquent student like him saying something like that would just be mocked upon.

The only thing he can do is to not care.

He could not care any less.

They started walking back to their seats as the class was about to end. Jisoo went beside him and whispered, "You did fantastic! Group presentations are not that bad, right?"

He stared at her for a second.

She's definitely oblivious of how she's the only one who thinks he is supposed to be there or that he did good. Of course he won't tell that to her.

She's so happy when he participated. He can't break it to her.

"Maybe," he simply said, not wanting to disappoint her enthusiasm.

Jisoo smiled at him in relief. He was silent as he watched her with a slight change of mind before averting his eyes. Thinking about how glad she was...

Yeah. Maybe it's not that bad, after all.

—

TAEHYUNG only has two classes for the day. One where they presented earlier and the second one where he just slept throughout the lecture. He tried to listen for the first five minutes but he drifted to sleep in the end. Well, at least he has attendance.

The next two hours is his free time. Actually, he could've gone straight home after the second subject because has no other schedule left. Jisoo though, he thinks, still has one last class after the break.

Unconsciously, he stayed.

It's lunch time so the hallways are crowded by students. He decided to go to her room. Oddly enough, he memorized her schedule first rather than his own. If she knew, she'd definitely lecture him about it.

Taehyung saw Jisoo right away. He was about to call her but before he could, her friends arrived.

"You're spending lunch with us today, right?" he heard the blonde girl, Rosé, ask Jisoo.

Ah, wrong timing.

"Uhm..." Bona saw him and tapped Rosé, making her friends look in his direction before he could even think to leave.

"Taehyungie?" Jisoo finally saw him too, "How long have you been there?" she asked.

"I just arrived," his eyes glanced at the girl with bangs, Lisa, who was staring at him.

The confrontation last time still bothers him a little. Not because the girl hates her but because he saw how Jisoo was affected when she had a fight with her friend. And it's because of him. He doesn't want a repeat of it anymore.

"Do you have lunch with you?" Jisoo worriedly asked him, pulling him back to reality.

Taehyung never brings lunch because he doesn't know how to cook and he doesn't usually shop for groceries. Most of his meals are just cup noodles or ordered from fast food chains.

Then again, he knows that if she learns about it, she will invite him with them. It will be awkward if he goes and well, he cannot really take her time with her friends after being such a big bother all the time so...

"Yeah, I'll just eat at the rooftop," or just sleep, actually— echoed in his mind as he lied.

She eyed him intently for a second, "Are you sure?"

He nodded firmly, "You should go with them," he said and tried to sound more assured. She'll worry about him again. She always does.

Jisoo sighed, "Message me for..." her words trailed a little as she felt slightly uncomfortable knowing her friends are around earshot, "You know, anything," she uttered with a double meaning between them.

Taehyung caught onto what she pertained.

"Okay," he said and waved his hand quickly before turning his back, afraid that his selfishness might slip out.

Jisoo watched him as she went with her friends and took the other way.

"You could've asked him to join," Lisa said. As she observed Taehyung earlier, she felt something in between of conscience, pity, and disturbed.

"We won't mind," Nayeon added, too.

"Thanks but... He's probably still going to refuse," Jisoo gave them a tight smile. She knows what he is thinking. Being with him for quite some time, she learned that he is not as stoic as he appears to be.

If you stare enough, you'll see how transparent he actually is.

In his tired, blank eyes.

Rosé noticed her in deep thoughts. She held Jisoo softly on her shoulder, "You want to eat with him? You could go, don't worry," she told her. She was the one who asked to eat, anyway.

However, Jisoo shook her head, "Hm, I want to eat with you guys too," she smiled at them. Her friends just decided not to push the matter.

"If you say so," Bona shrugged and clung onto her arm.

—

WHEN THEY arrived, the whole cafeteria was in a fuss. Students were whispering and gossiping over the scene in the middle of the canteen.

Nayeon and Bona quickly ran to squeeze themselves into the crowd. Jisoo just creased her forehead. It is an unusual sight.

"What is happening?" Rosé curiously mumbled as they followed their two friends.

To Jisoo's surprise, after they made their way to the horde of people, they finally had a grasp of the situation.

It was Irene with her minions and... Jennie.

"Do you know what you just did?" she heard Irene said angrily.

Jennie looked at the stranger in front of her from head to toe. Irene has her clothes soiled, "Pretty much, I guess," she retorted nonchalantly.

Irene automatically raised an eyebrow, "You spilled your stupid drink all over me," she said in what it seems a warning tone.

"Oh, that. Well..." Jennie paused and looked up to her face with no emotions.

"You were in my way," she answered.

Lisa laughed and shushed herself. "Fuck, she did not?" she cussed sharply because of shock and amusement.

"My heart is thumping fast," Rosé commented with wide eyes as she watched the two girls too. Like them, Jisoo is also surprised but she remained quiet and observed.

Irene looked so pissed and smirked in disbelief, "Come again?"

"You didn't hear me? I said you're in my goddamn way," Jennie was the one to raise a brow this time, clearly pissed off. She looked at her watch for a second.

Irene lifted her hand to slap her but Jennie caught her hand, "I don't like people touching me," she responded head on.

"Bitch," Irene grit her teeth as she moved forward.

"Not as much as you," Jennie smiled demeaningly.

"You're starting a war with me? You think I'd let you live peacefully here after?" Irene threatened her.

Still, Jennie looked pretty emotionless, "I'm not scared of you," she uttered and walked away like it was nothing.

Irene was shocked. For the first time, someone did that to her... Not to mention she was humiliated in front of everyone.

"The hell are y'all watching for?!" she yelled and glared at the watching crowd.

Everyone flinched and quickly dispersed. Lisa grabbed Jisoo by the head and ducked her over before she pulled her away. It's not the best time for Irene to see her friend, she knows it.

"We'll order the food, see you by the benches," Rosé understood in cue and pulled Bona with her. Nayeon joined Lisa and Jisoo as they sneaked out of the cafeteria.

"You know... I'd agree that Jennie girl is not bad," Lisa said to Jisoo and smirked, "Good thing she was just as bitchy as Irene," she continued as they walked by the hallways.

"She's a transferee, so I get she doesn't care about Irene's reputation here," Nayeon replied, "She started a war though," she added and shook her head

"I don't think this will be a good thing," Jisoo mumbled, her mind drifting somewhere after the scene they just witnessed.

"Obviously," Lisa shrugged, "I don't really care who it will be or if it's another bitch but Irene deserves a match. All she has is an influential family, that's all," she said with a grudge.

"Jennie is very rich too," Nayeon informed them,"I heard their family owns a big chain of hotels around Asia."

"Makes sense that they're the same," Lisa chuckled, "I hope Irene receives her karma."

"Stop saying that, Lisa," Jisoo sighed heavily.

"Ugh, please save me the speech," Lisa said and rolled her eyes.

She hated how Jisoo was too lenient to Irene after all their history. She was there, she saw it all. She had a deeper grudge to Irene than her friend and it annoys her a little because she thinks Jisoo is being too kind to the point that it's foolish already.

"I'm on Lisa's side. That girl is problematic. She's been bullying you Jisoo," Nayeon backed up her friend.

"Can't say I can blame her," Jisoo thought out loud.

"Huh?" Nayeon looked at her, failing to hear what her friend seemed to whisper. Lisa glanced at her too.

"Nothing," Jisoo gave a tight smile. She sighed in relief that they did not hear it. However, she continued to dwell in deep thoughts.

How do I tell them?

—

SOMEWHERE on the campus, another conflict is impending. The two guys glared at one another. They are at the back of the building at the far-end of the university. The building is an old one so it's rare to have classes or students around.

"You can't run away forever," Jinyoung said.

Taehyung snickered, "Oh, you care?"

Jinyoung scoffed at him, "If it's just me, I'd rather have you out of my life."

"Wow, the only thing you said I could agree with," Taehyung fired back while he leaned on the mossy wall.

Jinyoung's jaw clenched and he sighed. "Just drop by."

"I won't go back to that hell," Taehyung stated. This time, anger is evident in his tone.

For Jinyoung, he never really understood the reasons why Taehyung hated it. And it pisses him a lot more. He just stared at the guy in front of him and commented, "Not so much of a hell without the devil though."

"Nah, I don't think so. You still live there, right?" Taehyung smirked.

Jinyoung's face went dark as he stopped himself from the urge of punching him. He paused for a minute before he asked, "Are you serious with her? What are you two, anyway?"

Taehyung's brows furrowed but they both knew who he was referring to. Even without the name, they knew pretty well who they were talking about.

"What's it for you?" he retorted in annoyance.

Jinyoung did not answer anymore and just glared at him before standing straight and started walking. However, before he got past him, he whispered to Taehyung.

"She's just pitying you, asshole."

—

JISOO is slowly walking past a big glass window of a store while she is subtly glancing at the reflection to confirm her instincts.

Someone is really following her.

She didn't recognize the person but she was sure that it was a man.

It couldn't be Taehyung. She messaged him earlier after she realized he already went home. He just left her on read so she went straight to her shift. But because the owner said he needs to attend to something, they closed it early again. She called Taehyung but he said he'll just be sleeping for the day and she did not bother him anymore.

Her eyes widened and she gulped. She gripped onto her pepper spray. Jisoo decided to observe him for a few more minutes and find a place with a crowd.

When she was sure that he was still following, she walked a bit faster and suddenly turned to a corner and hid behind a lamp post.

Jisoo can feel the guy coming near and before he gets past her, she jumps in front of him, surprising him in the process. She quickly sprayed her pepper spray.

"I'm not afraid of you!" she yelled while trembling and spraying more of the pepper spray. The guy stumbled a few steps backward and Jisoo can't help but to smile.

Who says pepper sprays are useless?

"I'm calling the cops!" Jisoo walked backwards and tried to take a peek of his face since he is wearing a cap but he is avoiding her gaze but because of what she said, he became alarmed and finally looked up.

"No, please, I meant no harm!" he finally showed his face, making Jisoo halt from dialing the number in her phone. She stared at him until she realized who it was.

"Jungkook?" she asked. He nodded and removed his cap.

"You scared me! Why are you hiding?" Jisoo chuckled and she held her chest while sighing in relief.

Jungkook's face is flaring red. He scratched his nape.

This is so embarrassing, she might think I'm a creep, he thought.

"Sorry! I'll go bury myself somewhere and disappear," he said right away and quickly turned his back from her. Jisoo stopped him, though.

"Wait. Hold up, I'm not mad, okay? I was just bothered earlier but then it's you so... yeah," Jisoo faced him and he blushed profusely this time.

"Sorry. I won't do this again, sorry if you feel uncomfortable," he shyly said to her with still panic in his voice

Jisoo laughed and slapped his arm jokingly, "You're too serious. It's okay. But can you tell me why you are following me and taking some pictures? I heard camera shutters earlier." she looked at the camera hanging on his neck.

"I wasn't sure of what I heard but now that I saw you... Well, uh, I'm not mad. Just tell me, you're the one who took my pictures?" she gently asked him as she notice that he is holding his breath and he might faint anytime.

"No! Uhm, y-yes but not exactly! Uh, technically I... I only c-captured it accidentally... That day and uhm—" Jungkook was fumbling his fingers and can't look directly at her like some kid caught stealing candies.

Fucking shit, is this why I'm failing my english subject? He wondered and scolded himself inwardly.

Jisoo held him by the shoulder. It took him by surprise and he almost jumped on his feet. She met his gaze and smiled softly at him to calm him down, "I told you I'm not mad. I'm just curious why."

Jungkook just stared at her for a second before he noticed that his breathing calmed. He took a big gulp.

"Okay... Uhm, i-it's my hobby to take pictures of things I find beautiful and the other day when I was going around, my camera accidentally captured you. Y-you looked beautiful and uh..."

What the hell am I saying? He thought once again.

Jisoo was just laughing softly and observing him as she listened to his explanation. She actually finds it cute because he doesn't look like the shy boy he is.

"B-but! But... That's the... O-only picture I got from you. Then, yesterday, I saw you again after buying a drink. Y-you were leaving the store... You're with Taehyung and uh, I saw another p-person..." he trailed off as he remembered the encounter yesterday.

"The guy... He is intentionally taking your pictures so uh, I ran after him and tried to tackle him down but he escaped. I... I w-wanted to tell you about it but... I can't and uh, I uhm, tried again that's w-why I went to the store today..." Jisoo continued listening to him intently, she felt her heart thumping by what she discovered.

"I ended up being too s-shy to approach so I failed to go tell y-you... Then, I noticed that uhm... Taehyung is not with you today... So I followed you to make sure that the stalker will not try to harm you b-but I guess I also became a stalker and it's scary and s-so sorry, and I should've just said it and—."

Jisoo held him by his shoulders again, "Hey... Jungkook?" she tried to catch his gazes once more, "Calm down. I should be thankful, actually. I understand now, okay?"

He nodded his head excessively and Jisoo tried not to laugh. He is obviously jittery around people. Or what she assumed since he always looks shy around her.

How do I calm him down? She thought until her mind had a brilliant idea.

"You like photography, you say? I wanna see your works! I bet they are great!" she excitedly said to him. It was genuine though, after she recalled him saying he takes photographs, she became curious about his shots.

Jungkook, on the other hand, was taken aback. Only a few people are interested in his photos. Usually, just strangers online when he posts with his photography account. His friends are not that interested in those kinds of things.

His family? They hate his hobby of photography and thinks it is a waste of time.

He was okay with it for so long but hearing someone say it now, it does feel flattering that someone is interested in his works.

"Uhm, sure, sure. But... W-we should uh, report that case first... Right?" he suddenly said. She looked shocked though so he instantly regretted it and took it back.

"I'm sorry. I'm too nosy, it's annoying, maybe I'll just really go and bury myself—" Jisoo pulled him before he could really attempt to leave.

She laughed so hard which made him watch her, "Pfft. You're so funny, you know?" she wiped her eyes in tears of laughters and smiled at him.

"Look, you're right. I need to report it. Will you go with me?" Jisoo asked him.

Jungkook inhaled sharply and nodded, "I will go anywhere with you," his tongue slipped and he closed his eyes in yet another regret. He heard her laugh again.

I am officially a walking embarrassment, he thought.

"I know a chicken restaurant is just around the corner! Let's eat after. It's my treat today, Mr. Photographer! My thank you gift!" Jisoo enthusiastically exclaimed.

"Uh, no, n-no, no. You don't have to—" Jungkook didn't finish his sentence when Jisoo grabbed him by his hand and started dragging him with her.

He looked at her hand holding his and hastily looked up to close his eyes because he could feel his face and neck turning red, blushing really hard.

Oh boy, this is bad news.

He definitely had it bad.

—

ON THE FAR SIDE corner of the street, however, a man with a leather jacket and cap keenly watched them go while on his phone.

"She just got off work today, sir. She's with a boy," he reported.

"A boy? Who? The one she is hanging out with lately?" a voice responded.

"No, sir. Not the same guy," he stated.

The other line went silent.

"Should I follow them, sir?"

"Does he look suspicious?"

"They seem like friends."

"Okay, just let her be," the intimidating voice uttered before the call ended.

**
Author's Note:

We hit no. 1 in the Jisoo tag the other day? I can't believe it, tysm everyone! (ಥ﹏ಥ)

Anyway, I want to keep this note short. The past chapters are all focused on the two main characters, I think it's time to show the supporting ones more and hear their story too. This chapter is like the transition for it, yay~

As a treat, I edited believe!vsoo selfie in picrew, hehe.

Thank you for reading, see y'all next chapter!(ง'̀-'́)ง