Chapter 5: The New Bug of His Life

"Imagine meeting someone who understood even the dustiest corners of your mixed up soul." -Anonymous

-

2:07 AM

TAEHYUNG was having a staring contest with the dead ceiling above him. He was sprawled on his bed as he just arrived at his house. His body is aching all over, drained and suffering from yet another migraine.

He touched the scarf around his neck and eyed it. The scarf is just a simple piece of cloth but it feels oddly too comforting.

"You're cold aren't you?" echoed her voice in his mind.

He paused, spacing out after remembering her. "What does she want from me?" He tried to rack his brain for an answer as to why she keeps on meddling with him but he cannot find one. He doesn't even know her until recently.

"Because I'm not leaving."

He shut his eyes in frustration and repeatedly rolled over his bed, trying to get it out of his head. Then, his phone beeped. He rolled to the side table and reached, for it lazily. Very few people contacts him, so who is this?

From: Unknown Number
Hey Taehyung are you home now?

It beeped again from the same sender.

Don't do something like that again, oki? I can't see you so be a good boy kekekeke

Who the fuck? Taehyung's brow furrowed and glared on the screen. And as if the sender heard him, it messaged again.

From: Unknown Number
This is Jisoo just so you know ヾ(^∇^) Got your number at the rooftop when you're not looking hehe sorry for using your phone I know it's annoying but you won't give it to me and I just want to check on you (,﹏,)

He sat up in irritation, How dare she do that? Who does she think she is?

Before he could type and answer, she texted again.

Please forgive me ໒( ಥ Ĺ̯ ಥ )७

His brow shot up and he heaved a deep sigh. His fingers typed the reply with force. He remembers her. Of course, how could he not? She saw him in that pitiful state earlier and it had been bothering him ever since they parted ways. But she doesn't need to know that.

To: Unknown Number
Who the hell is Jisoo

She might get the hint now. I don't want anything to do with her, he thought as he sleep his phone. However, the screen lit up again as a notification popped.

From: Unknown Number
Yah!!! Jisoo!!! I'm the one who's with you earlier~
You silly boy~~~ kekeke

He rolled his eyes, She doesn't get the hint. Noob.

Taehyung decided that it would do no good to pretend that he doesn't know her so he decided that he will just tell her off. Girls like her are easy to threaten or scare.

To: Unknown Number
Damn stop bugging me
What do you really want?!
And don't you dare tell what happened earlier to anyone
You wouldn't want to be on my bad side.

He sighed and plopped down on his bed again. He's kind of infamous as this scary delinquent so she should at least fear him in the slightest. He held his phone, staring a hole on its screen until she replied.

From: Unknown Number
HAHAHA! Definitely not on your bad side, I wanna be your friend ヾ(▼ヘ▼;)

Friend? He was confused, What the heck is she smoking? She has a bad taste for friends.

And of course I will not tell what happened kekeke I got you bro (≧▽≦)

Taehyung squinted his eyes on the screen, looking at her text faces. It's his first time seeing those symbols. He doesn't text much but he is aware of emojis or emoticons and he hasn't seen such as what she is sending.

To: Unknown Number
What the fuck are those stupid faces

He stared at the last smiling text face on the screen and immediately, her smile flashed in his mind. He shook his head in shock. What the hell was that? Did he just think of her? He closed his eyes and massaged it. He's starting to get corrupted of her, so to deny it, he added a message.

It looks as stupid as you

Not sounding convinced from himself, he sent another one.

Fucking stupid

Yeah right, "stupid". Her smile is stupid. That's definitely what's bothering him.

He faced to his left, staring on the screen. It's not like he's waiting for her reply... But he just had nothing to do.

From: Unknown Number
Hey stop cursing!!!

Tch, that's it? He thought but she added two more messages

And no!!
It's cute! ლ(ಥ Д ಥ )ლ

His forehead creased. Seriously, this girl is really really weird. Everything about her is just weird.

To: Unknown Number
Nah
It looks like something a brainless elementary student who failed her mathematics class will type

If there is one talent he has, it's probably insulting people. He's good with it that everyone just can't stand him and leave or shut up. But she's different. She replied fast.

From: Unknown Number
Omg! I can't believe it! How did you know I'm not good in math?!?! Are you a psychic?!! ヽ(゜~゜o)ノ

The fuck? He laid flat on his back again and typed. Does she realize that she is getting insulted? It's making his head hurt more.

To: Unknown Number
You're hopeless

The conversation is not going anywhere and it's already past two am, he just wants her to take the hint and shut up.

Leave me alone

He closed his eyes and put his arm on it, still holding his phone. The exhaustion is slowly starting to come back. Then, his phone beeped again. She just doesn't know how to stop, does she?

From: Unknown Number
Nooooo~~~

Taehyung paused and stared on his bright screen. It took him aback. There is something in her words that rendered him silent for a split second.

From: Unknown Number
But for now yes, you need to get some sleep. I need to sleep too keke

So you finally realized how late it is huh, he sleep his phone again, thinking that it is her last message but she just can't end it like that. Of course there is something she has to say again. He rolled his eyes before reading it.

From: Unknown Number
Sleep tight oki?!
Call me if something bad happens

Call her? He scoffed.

To: Unknown Number
Why would I call you?!
No

It seems to him that she is getting way too comfortable already as if they were very good friends. It doesn't mean that he answers her, she can act like that.

From: Unknown Number
Tsk tsk tsk stop being so hard headeeeed
I'll always check on you

Check on me my ass, a notification again.

⊂((・▽・))⊃

He glared at the text face she sent. Hug? The text face asking for a hug? Hug-her hug. The warmth her hug gave him earlier. Those new, surging emotions only she has triggered. That one hug.

Dumbshit! He hit his forehead with his phone, What the hell am I thinking? He rub his palm over his face in frustration. However, as much as he is frustrated, he cannot stop himself from replying. And that pisses him off, a lot.

To: Unknown Number
You're dumb

From: Unknown Number
But cute (≧▽≦)

Midnight black long hair. Bright, sparkling, soft eyes. Porcelain skin. Small nose. Pinkish heart-shaped lips who wore a cheerful smile. The image of her flashed back on his head.

Cute huh? He cursed under his breath while rolling around his bed before he typed again.

To: Unknown Number
No. You're plain dumb

From: Unknown Number
How can you be such a bully ಥ_ಥ

To: Unknown Number
Whatever

He threw his phone on the left side of the bed and faced the right side, pulling his hair and screaming.

Fuck it. I'm going insane. Why am I entertaining her?

He stared off the empty space for a minute before hearing his phone beeping. He closed his eyes forcefully but his arm still reached over it.

From: Unknown Number
Kekekeke good night now!
Sweet dreams!!!
Go to the convenience store tomorrow oki?!

His brows furrowed. Ah, right. He almost forgot that she works there.

To: Unknown Number
No
Why would I follow someone as dumb and stupid like you

He checked the time, it's almost three in the morning. She doesn't look like the one who would stay up late but she still keeps the conversation going. And he's... He doesn't even know why he keeps on replying!

From: Unknown Number
Hmppp
I'm just gonna sleep now but I'll be bugging you tomorrow and we'll talk about that~
So sleep for now, you need the energy ヽ(^Д^)ノ

Nagger, he thought.

To: Unknown Number
Whatever, idiot

He remained holding his phone with their conversation still opened. He just paused there, eyes fixated on the last message he sent until a message popped out.

From: Unknown Number
〜( ̄▽ ̄〜)

Tch, he snickered and threw his phone to the other side of the bed again. He grabbed a pillow and buried his face on it until he fell asleep.

-

TAEHYUNG puffed an air of smoke and watched the white clouds it made. He was leaning on a light post at the back alley of the underground basement he usually goes to when he feels like it.

It's only ten minutes past five in the morning. He didn't know why but he was restless and cannot go back to sleep anymore so he decided to drop by the basement.

The underground basement is infamous for thugs, gangsters and the likes. It is a place where illegal brawls are held. Since the fights here are watched by hooligans, they bet money on who is the winner. They have a system there, organized by a big syndicate that manages the money system which attracts people to join.

For him, it is just his pastime whenever he wants to distract himself from thinking about things he tries to forget. Although it turned out to be a somewhat source of money for him.

"Thought you already hid and wag your tail like a scared dog, asshole," Taehyung spared a glance to the one who spoke. He has a pale round face, small bored cat-shaped eyes and arched brows which always gives him the cold impression.

Ah, if it isn't his "teammate"; Suga. 

He heard his actual name is Yoongi but for technical reasons, everyone has a moniker in the underground to preserve their identity somehow.

"Tch, piss off. I just have other business aside from this unlike you, lifeless shit," he dropped the cigarette and stomped on it.

"Well good thing you cleared it and appeared before we have our match or it's trouble for ya," the tall, lean man behind Suga spoke. His face is angular but has a soft feature. Fair skin, round eyes and thick lips, he smirked as he put his elbow on Suga's shoulder.

Taehyung eyed him blankly. He has the face of a polite classy gentleman which he is far from... Jin. Kind of too close to his real name Seokjin.

"Everything's trouble here, what are you complaining for?" he asked and finally stood straight from leaning on the post.

"Fair enough," Jin dismissively said and shrugged, "Let's get back inside. We're next," he added.

Taehyung didn't answer and just followed them back to the basement. When they entered, the crowd of thugs doubled and a referee in the middle of the ring raised the arm of the winner who just finished his match.

Since the matches can be one against one, two against two or by gangs, it depends on the participants. And just like what Jin said, they were called on the stage to start their fight.

"So it's them again," Suga laughed mockingly as he looked at their opponent.

Jin looked over his shoulder, "Who? Byungshitpants again?" he smiled as he saw the guy at the other side of the ring, "This is going to be easy," he laughed and crossed his arms over his chest, looking smugly on their glaring foes.

The other three men they are going to fight exaggeratedly stretched their arms and rotate their shoulder blades while shooting them haughty looks. Suga and Jin scoffed and stood properly while Taehyung took a little step forward.

He smirked. Taehyung tilted his head and cracked his knuckles, "I wonder how many bones I could break today," he whispered under his breath.

And with that, shot the starting pistol sound, indicating that the fight... Has now begun.

-

JISOO was humming while cutting heart-shaped carrots. It's past seven o'clock in the morning. She already had a quick breakfast but she is cooking her lunch for later. After this, she would start preparing to go to the university since her first subject will start an hour from now.

She was putting the ingredients in the pan when she remembered a certain someone who only eats cup noodles.

Hm, what he is doing right now?

Jisoo wiped her hands on her apron and grabbed her phone. She typed a good morning message and sent it to him.

To: Taehyung
GOOD MORNING TAEHYUNG! (☞゚ヮ゚)☞ ⊂((・▽・))⊃ ☜(゚ヮ゚☜)

She put her phone down on the table and went back to cooking. Minutes passed and her food was almost cooked before her phone beeped. Jisoo checked it right away.

From: Taehyung
What's good in the morning if your message is the first thing

She laughed because she could clearly imagine his crumpled face. No matter how much he frowns though, Jisoo cannot feel any fear and instead, she always pictured him as an angry little puppy.

To: Taehyung
WOW that rhymes! ヽ(⌐■_■)ノ♪♬ Cool~

She giggled, I'm sure smoke is already coming out of his nose in annoyance.

From: Taehyung
Fuck off

Jisoo ended guffawing on his message because it is fun teasing him, she shook her head because he is always swearing. She wanted to call him out for it since it does not sound pleasing if he always curses. But before she could reply, she heard the pan boiling so she rushed to turn off the stove.

Ah, I was distracted, Jisoo pouted and looked at the clock.

On the other side, Taehyung is sitting on the gutter while wiping the blood on the side of his lips with his thumb. His brows furrowed as he waited for her reply. It's already an hour after their fight and they unsurprisingly won. He is just waiting for his part of the money before going home. Yoongi and Jin already went to the organizer to get their share.

Taking her long to reply, huh? He thought as he stared on the screen. Then, seconds after, her message popped up.

From: Unknown Number
Hmppp you really have a foul mouth

He rolled his eyes. She always nags him. His phone beeped again.

Anyway eat your breakfast now!!!

Breakfast? He wondered and checked the time on his phone. He just noticed that it's already 7:30 in the morning and because of that, he started feeling how his stomach grumble. Just then, she messaged again.

Stop eating cup noodles. I'll make you some lunch. Meet me at the store later kekekeke

His brow raised, One time she's a nagging mother and a second after she's a cook already.

1pm!!! (⌐▨_▨)

He stared at the last message, not knowing what to reply until Suga appeared and threw an envelope to him.

"Your share," he said. Taehyung opened the envelope and count his part. He nod at him after checking the money.

"You guys want lunch?" Jin showed up from Suga's back and smiled at them. They just stared at him blankly, "What? It's my treat," he chuckled.

Taehyung stood up and wiped the dust from his pants, "Pass," he said and left after.

When he arrived at his house, he plopped down on his bed and decided to reply.

To : Unknown Number
Stop bugging me

From: Unknown Number
Are you busy? Did I disturbed you? Took you long to reply kekekeke ಥ_ಥ
Sorry, then hmmm I'll just message again later
Brb too cause I need to prepare for my classes (,﹏,)

So she still goes to a university? His eyebrow raised. He first thought that she is a drop out or is not schooling anymore since she was working in the convenience store.

To: Unknown Number
Why go to school when you're still dumb tho

From: Unknown Number

"Who the fuck?" his forehead creased as he stared at the picture she sent. He didn't know what was the purpose of the photo and why she sent it. He rubbed his hands on his face in frustration.

I really can't understand her.

His hand holding the phone fell down on the bed. He put his other arm on his eyes and sighed. He just felt the exhaustion of his body now that he relaxed his self. He'll tend to his wounds later, after a long warm bath.

Taehyung was about to drift to slumber when his phone vibrated and rang.

Not many people knew his number and he never gave it to people willingly. If cellphones are not necessary, he wouldn't even get one just so they cannot contact him. But then again, who would call him? No one checks on him unless it's very important.

Oh, wait. There seems to be one who might call him for nonsense things.

He harshly answered the call without looking at the caller ID and put it on his ear, "What the hell are you calling for? Aren't you supposed to be preparing for that dumbshit classes-"

"Oh, no babe. I won't be coming back in less than a month yet," a sensual voice of a woman answered him from the other line much to his surprise, "Why? Miss me already?" she laughed.

Taehyung's brows furrowed as he remove the phone from his ear to check the caller ID. It is an unregistered number because he never saves contacts. However, he at least could recognize few numbers and who owns it. But this one, he cannot remember who the person is. Surely though, her voice is... Familiar.

Where have I heard her again?

"Who the heck are you?" he spat irritatedly. She sounds like she knows him and he is in no mood of playing guessing games.

"You don't remember me?" she asked, sounding like she cannot believe that he forgot about her.

"Bitch that's why I asked," he rudely answered and rolled his eyes, glaring at his poor innocent ceiling.

There was a giggle on the other line, "I see, you're still the same Taehyung," she said, "That's what I like about you. But stop acting like you don't know me. Can't you recognize my voice? It's me."

He scoffed, "I'm asking for a name," Taehyung emphasized, letting the woman know that he is getting more and more annoyed of her.

"And I'm saying how could you forget me! We had time together! I'm the only one who lasted for-" he turned off the call and his phone, throwing it to the other side of the bed.

Taehyung grunted as he just came from a fight and that caller made his head hurt because of her meaningless rants.

Maybe just another persistent past fling, he thought before he laid on his stomach and buried his face on a pillow.

He just wants to sleep for a very, very, long time.

-

"Hey Jisoo," one of her classmates approached her. She paused from putting her things in her bag and smiled at the girl.

"Yeah?" Jisoo faced her. She only has this class with her and they never talked so far so it's quite new to her why the girl suddenly greets her.

The girl smiled at her sweetly, "Uhm... You see, our professor asked me to clean the room before leaving but I really, really need to go to my next class now," she grabbed both of her hands and held it tightly, "Can you substitute for me just this once, please?"

Jisoo laughed and nodded, "Sure. Leave it up to me," she said.

"Really?!" the girl squeaked, "Ah, I knew it! You're so reliable! Thank you so much!" she cheerfully said and rushed to grab her things, dashing out the room quick.

Jisoo's eyes followed her as she left, Well isn't she rushing too much? I hope she doesn't get late in her next class.

She looked at her phone's screen. 11:12 AM, she still has time before her shift in the store. At least it's her last subject for the day.

Almost everyone left the room already. She went to the blackboard and grabbed the eraser. She started erasing the writings on the board, slightly coughing because of the chalk.

Jisoo tiptoed and tried her best to reach the writings on the upper part, Why is it suddenly so high now? She struggled.

As she is trying to erase it, a hand suddenly wiped it out in one swift move.

Huh? She looked up to the one who helped her and Jinyoung's face surprised her. Her hands stopped moving as she stared at him in confusion.

"Done," he said brightly and smiled before his eyes traveled down to her. His hand remained just right at the top of her head as she is still looking up to him.

Jisoo's eyes blinked a few times before she stood properly again and finally faced him, "Uh, thank you," she smiled at him.

Jinyoung chuckled and put his hand down, "Is she your friend?" he suddenly asked.

"Who?" she answered.

"That girl," he motioned to the opened door of the room, "The one who asked you to do this in her place. Is she your friend?" he continued.

Jisoo paused for a second and think, "Hm, I guess we're friends now, starting today?" she hesitantly said.

Jinyoung leaned his hands on the desk behind him. He tilted his head and stared at her, "You know, I heard her talking with her friends. She's going straight to club with them after this and they talked about how gullible you are as they leave," he said and looked at her seriously, examining her reaction.

Jisoo was shocked for a second, "Oh... Is that so?" she nod her head continuously and suddenly giggled, covering her mouth as she looked at him, "I didn't know you were such a tattletale," she joked before turning her back from him, putting the eraser back in the drawer of the desk.

He was confused and he stopped her from closing the drawer, holding it in place. He bent down a little to take a look at her face, Jisoo was taken aback but met his gazes and grinned, "Did I offend you? It was a joke."

Jinyoung looked at her in bewilderment, "Aren't you pissed or mad of her?" he asked.

Her brows furrowed, "Why, though? This is not a tough job," she gently removed his hand from the drawer before closing it, "And she didn't force me anyway, I said yes right away. It's no biggie," she shrugged.

Jinyoung stayed quiet as he observed how Jisoo scanned the whole room, picking up crumpled papers, So she is really like what they tell she is like. Even when people are like that to her.

"Jinyoung?" she leaned to him closer, "Hey, Jinyoung?" she waved her hand over his face until he snapped back into reality.

"Sorry, what is it?" he looked at her. Again, she smiled.

"I said I'm throwing the trash away now, aren't you leaving the room yet? I'm closing it before the next class appears here," she said. He noticed how she is wearing her bag and holding the trash bin now.

"Ah, yeah. Yeah, I'm leaving," he laughed and looked at what she is carrying. Without thinking, he grabbed it away from her, "I'll throw this out. You can go to your next class now."

"No, I can handle it. I'm the one who took the offer so I'm fine. It's not heavy," she said as she tried to get it back from him.

"I insist. Like for real. Just leave this to me," he smiled kindly at her.

"But-" Jisoo was cut off when he suddenly messed her hair, "Wha-"

"You have chalk dust all over your hair," he said while dusting her head off softly. Then, Jinyoung bent down, tucking her hair neatly, "There. All is good," he said as he locked his eyes with her.

Jisoo beamed at him, her eyes sparkling with brightness which caught him off guard. He stood there frozen unconsciously blushing by the sight of her, "Thank you, then!" she said.

"I guess I'm going home, now?" she sweetly said while looking at him.

Jinyoung scratched his nape, "Ah yeah, yeah. Let's go. The next class might enter anytime soon," he said as they exit the room.

Before they parted ways, Jisoo waved at him earnestly, "Bye Jinyoung! Thank you again! See you around! Take care!" she continuously said before skipping away to the opposite direction.

He stood there in daze for a minute before he realized that he needed to throw the garbage away just like he offered. He sighed deeply before going to the back of the building where the dumpsters are.

"Man, why am I always the one to throw the trash-" he heard a familiar voice complaining as he approached the dumpster.

Jinyoung inwardly rolled his eyes, Oh, great.

The man suddenly noticed his presence as he saw him from his peripheral vision. His eyes widened in shock after seeing him. He gasped a little exaggeratedly and covered his mouth before pointing at him, "Woah, has the earth stopped orbiting the sun? What sorcery is this? Jinyoung throwing the trash? This is news!"

He glared at his loud friend, "Shut your trap, Jackson," he hit him lightly with the trash bin before dumping it over. He put it down beside his feet as he leaned on the dumpster after.

Jinyoung sighed heavily and combed his hair harshly, "I didn't even know why I suddenly became a gentleman," he admitted in a whisper.

Holy shit. That smile is going to end me.

**

Author's Note:
I'm sorry if this chapter has so much texting. It's just necessary for this part. I hope it's not annoying, hehe. Anyway, there are changes in conversations (if you've read the epistolary version) and there will be a few more changes or revisions in the future.

From here on this chapter, there will be lots of profanities (foul language). If you are uncomfortable, don't read. Again, characters do not reflect the portrayers.

Thank you!

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