"And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time." —Libba Bray

**

"THIS UNIVERSITY is huge," Jimin said as he looked around the vast campus. The three of them are walking together after they have left the Dean's office and escaped the commotion outside.

"Yeah, we're supposed to go to the faculty department and now we're lost," Namjoon answered him as he clicked his tongue.

"It's because you led us in the wrong direction dude," Jimin told him jokingly and received a glare from the latter.

"I thought you read the map around here?" Jungkook said to Namjoon.

"Map?" Namjoon's forehead creased as he turned to Jungkook, "What map? There's no university guidebook," he added, confused.

"Huh? We had one! It's just one copy for the three of us. I thought you had it?" Jungkook was the one to get confused now. He is sure that there is a guidebook given to them.

"What are you saying? I received no book," Namjoon insisted.

"Wait, by book..." Jimin stopped walking so the other two halted and looked at him, "You mean the blue one? This size and thick?" he asked while gesturing with his hands.

"Yeah, that," Jungkook confirmed.

"Oh," Jimin smiled sheepishly and chuckled, "I left it in the dorm. We'll just get our IDs and sched for today right? I didn't think we would need a book during the first day," he explained while shrugging.

"Dumbass," Namjoon smacked his head lightly, "And now who's the one leading us into the wrong direction? You could've told me first," he said to him.

"We can just ask for directions, ya know!" Jimin protested and pointed to Jungkook, "You JK, go ask that student," he said and referred to a girl sitting on the bench not far from them.

"Why me? Why not you?" Jungkook squinted his eyes at him.

"Because you ate my cereal earlier!" Jimin reasoned out.

"Guys, you're not seriously fighting over cereal in the middle of the field right now, right?" Namjoon shook his head and massaged his temple. In their group, he really is the pacifier of the two guys.

"Fine," Jungkook was the one who just complied so they could drop the issue already, "But I'll ask the guard instead," he told them and went to the guard patrolling around the near hallway.

"Damn, I was trying to get him to talk to a girl," Jimin laughed and put his hands behind his head as he watched his friend go to the guard, "Why is he so scared of girls?"

"Gynophobia?" Namjoon said hesitantly and shrugged.

"Gyno—what?" Jimin turned to his other friend because he's saying weird words to him again but he noticed a girl jogging in their direction.

"My essay!" yelled the female student following a paper blown by the wind.

Jisoo chased her paper until she noticed the two students in front of her so she paused. However, because of her sudden stop, she lost balance and bumped into Namjoon's back. Jimin looked behind Namjoon and Namjoon, feeling the impact of her crash, faced her too.

Jisoo rubbed her forehead and looked up at him. Namjoon is a tall man and his towering height intimidated her petite figure, "Oh, sorry," she grinned at him.

"Ah, it's okay," Namjoon smiled back and picked up her paper from the ground, "This is yours?" he asked and gave her the piece of paper.

Jisoo nodded and took it from his hand, "Thank you!" she noticed Jimin behind Namjoon's back who was just staring at her, his hands languidly resting behind his head. She smiled at him.

"Wait, you're the transferees right?" she asked while looking back-and-forth at the both of them.

It seemed to pique Jimin's attention as he dropped his hands properly before standing straight and taking one step forward, "You know us?" he said.

"Well... You guys kinda caused a ruckus earlier so..." Jisoo nodded lively and hummed a yes as an answer. The two guys exchanged looks.

"Actually, we're having trouble finding our way to the faculty department near the registrar. Do you know where it is?" Jimin asked her.

"Yup. You see the building there? Go to the west wing and turn to the right corridor. You'll see the departments there. Since you guys are transferees, I assume you're summoned by the heads, it's room 207 and just across it is directly the registrar," she enthusiastically instructed while motioning them the right directions.

The two guys are keenly listening— Namjoon, to be specific while Jimin is simply just gawking at her. His eyes never left her but none of what she said actually sinks into him.

Jisoo finally looked at the both of them again, "I'd love to go with you guys there but I have a class right now. Did you get it? Can you go? Or should I still accompany you? I think it's okay to get a little late though, if you guys are still confused," she smiled.

"Will you go with—" Namjoon stomped on Jimin's foot inconspicuously to interrupt him from speaking.

"Of course, no need. We could go by ourselves," Namjoon smiled at her, "Thank you, Miss...?"

"Jisoo," she introduced herself.

"Thank you Jisoo," Namjoon's smile widened, showing off his dimples.

Jisoo laughed and waved, "No worries see you around!" she left the two and just in time, Jungkook arrived.

"Hey, the guard said..." he paused and looked at his two friends who were staring in front. He followed their eyes and saw the back of a girl, "Who is that?" he asked them.

"An angel on earth," Jimin dreamily said, causing Namjoon to elbow him.

—

AFTER her classes, Jisoo was waiting for Jinyoung in front of their school's bulletin board. She stood there, playfully tiptoeing as she stared on her phone. She was texting Taehyung and he hasn't replied yet.

To: Taehyung

Heyyy what are you doing? Not going to classes? ಥ_ಥ

"Sorry, did I keep you waiting?" a voice suddenly said that made Jisoo look up. It was Jinyoung, "My last professor went a little over time," he said and smiled a little. Jisoo stood properly and hid her phone.

"Nope, not really," she smiled at him and opened her bag to get what he asked for.

"Here's the book. I've inserted some sticky notes on several pages to highlight helpful contexts, too. You can check it, might help you," she explained to him while showing some of the pages of the book.

"Wow, thanks. That is very thoughtful," he grinned and took the book from her.

"Sure, anytime," Jisoo said and just as she was about to bid farewell, someone arrived.

"What the hell?" Joy went in between the two of them. Her arms crossed over her chest, "Jinyoung? What is this? You're talking to her?" she eyed Jisoo with a disgusted face and glared.

"Uh, I just lent him the book he needed. That's all," Jisoo defended herself because she knows how Joy and her gang reacts to her. She doesn't want her to think that there's something between them but Joy raised a brow and looked at her from head to toe.

"Joy, it's seriously none of your business," Jinyoung said, obviously pissed.

"None of my business?" she exclaimed horridly with a flick of her fingers. She sighed dramatically as if she could not believe him. Joy stomped her feet and faced Jisoo instead.

"Hey, little Miss irritating fakeass smile, I say you stay in your lane," she went a bit closer and pushed her shoulder with a little force, "Know your place loser. Doesn't mean that she is not here, you can lurk in triumph here on the campus."

Joy leaned on her ear, "She's coming back in a month," she whispered.

Jisoo's eyes widened but before she could react, someone pushed Joy away from her, "Get off her, bitch."

Jisoo looked over her shoulder and saw her friend, Lisa.

"Great! Vermins gathering one by one," Joy sarcastically said and clapped mockingly. Lisa snickered.

"Please," she rolled her eyes and scoffed at Joy, "You're not getting brave just because you're leeching on your bitchy queen-wanna-be friend, yeah?"

"What did you—" Joy was about to grab Lisa's hair when Jinyoung suddenly went between them to shield Joy.

"Stop," he said, his voice darker and more firm that rendered her silent, "Joy just stop that," he repeated more deadly, his eyes glaring at her. Joy gulped.

"Come on Jisoo, let's leave," Lisa said which made Jinyoung face them.

"Okay..." Jisoo glanced at him and Joy, "Uh, sorry," she bowed.

"No Jisoo," Jinyoung uttered softly, "Sorry," he was the one who apologized. Jisoo nodded and gave him a small smile before excusing herself and Lisa. Jinyoung watched as the two girls left.

"That's so nice of you Jinyoung," Joy spitefully stated while staring at him.

"Shut up," he hissed and looked at her again.

"Why?" Joy gave him a hollow laugh, "Playing gentleman now?" she rolled her eyes at him. Jinyoung grabbed her wrist and held it strongly, making Joy grimace.

"Stop this and quit it Joy," he warned her. Joy looked in his eyes.

"No," she told him, "You stop playing the nice guy act," her eyes showed anger in them. She slipped off his hold forcefully and massaged her wrist.

"Because we both know you are not one," she added before she left, her stilettos clanking on the silent corridors.

Jinyoung remained standing there. He inhaled sharply and put his hands on his waist.

What a nuisance.

—

"TAEHYUNGIE you agreed to attend your classes to me! Why didn't you go earlier? When will you return to the university?" Jisoo is done with her shift and now they are walking to the bus stop. It's already night time, around them are busy people passing by. City lights and cars illuminated the night.

Ever since their usual meet-up in the convenience store earlier, Jisoo has been bugging him about going to school.

"Maybe two years from now," he sarcastically answered.

"What?" Jisoo's brow furrowed and she stopped in her tracks.

"Didn't promise you what year, yeah?" he said teasingly and licked his ice cream. He walked past her as she was throwing tantrums on her spot. They were eating ice cream on the way, he bought it in the convenience store before they closed it.

In Taehyung's own words, he didn't treat her to ice cream. He said it's 'doing charity'.

"Mean!" Jisoo yelled and caught up to his long strides, "Come on, I thought we're over this topic already," she pulled on his sleeves while eating her ice cream.

Taehyung swallowed the last bit of his cone and did not answer. Jisoo is still gripping on his sleeve while walking beside him. He gave her a sideward glance.

Jisoo is pouting and her head is bowed down as she looks at her feet. Her shoulders were slumped down and her small hands remained on his sleeves while the other held her ice cream.

He averted his eyes from her and to the road beside them. However, after a few seconds he glanced at her again. She is still lamenting quietly. He thought she'd bugged him but she remained silent and that bothered him on a whole new level.

Ugh is she doing this on purpose? Taehyung thought and sighed inwardly. He stopped walking, making Jisoo halt too.

"Tomorrow," he said, not looking at her but he felt how Jisoo's eyes traveled to him.

"Huh?" she asked, confused. Taehyung rolled his eyes and faced her.

He pushed her forehead with his finger gently, making her stumble back a little, "I'll go to school tomorrow," he said.

Jisoo's eyes widened and her face broke into a big smile, "Are you telling the truth?" she cheerily said.

"Yeah," he coughed and shrugged, looking away from her. He covered his mouth with the back of his hand for seconds, he didn't know what he was feeling but it was something near giddy and embarrassed.

"Yehey!" Jisoo suddenly jumped around and smiled, "I knew it! My powers never fail," she attempted to laugh evilly but ended up as a burst of her giggles. Taehyung cannot help but look at her.

Her smile was brighter than the lights that night. She was glowing in her own light. It's as if there was a pause in the world around him. The tall buildings, the passing people, the driving cars all ceased in the background.

They were in the middle of the sidewalk, the night was young and so was his foolish self. He cannot fathom his thoughts, he was a wreck of new emotions just because of the harmony of her laughter. Her twinkling eyes dethroned the stars in the sky.

And there it came. Her gazes. She looked at him.

He was stunned. He stood there, unmoving. What is it? Why is his heart thumping so fast? What is this feeling? Why does she have this effect on him?

Jisoo jumped in front of him and reached out her finger to his face, "Taehyungie~" she called him in a sing-song voice. She waved her hands in his face because all he does is stare at her. Finally, that snapped him back from his reverie.

"W-what?" he asked, still a bit unfocused.

"Promise me clearly this time," she said and wiggled her finger, showing him, "Pinky promise," she added. His forehead creased.

"Are you a fucking kid?" Taehyung was back in his proper mind. Much to his relief.

"No!" she pouted, "And don't curse," she pointed out before shoving her finger nearer to his face, "Promise?" Jisoo insisted.

Feeling defeated, he looked at her exasperatedly, "You're not giving it up, are you?" she smiled and shook her head. He heaved a deep sigh.

He raised his pinky finger and intertwined with hers. He looked at their fingers.

"Say it! Pinky promise, right?" she annoyingly persists.

"Yeah, whatever," Taehyung rolled his eyes but received a soft glare from Jisoo, "Fine. I promise."

"Really—" she was about to repeat it when he covered her whole face with his whole hand and pushed her because the bus had already arrived, "Wait, wait..." he forced her to enter the bus.

"Just go home, stupidiot," he said and backed away just in time when the doors closed. He saw Jisoo running to the seat beside the window. She opened it and yelled.

"I'll wait for you tomorrow okay?! Don't change your mind!" she waved her hands as the bus was slowly getting farther, "I'll wait!" he heard her say for the last time.

Taehyung bit his lip and brushed a hand over his face. He bowed and held his neck while staring at his shoes for a minute. He sighed again and looked up at the starry sky.

I don't understand myself lately, he thought and closed his eyes, I guess I'd just have to go tomorrow.

He decided to finally walk back to his house. When he arrived, his phone rang. He looked at the screen and saw the number. He did not answer. It was not Jisoo.

He threw the phone to his bed even when it kept on ringing and stripped off his hoodie and shirt. He let the shirt drop on the floor of his messy room and grabbed a new one inside his drawer. He also checked a hoodie he can wear for tomorrow before closing his cabinet, his phone is still ringing.

Irritated, he grabbed his phone harshly and answered the call, "The fuck you want?!"

"Taehyung," a serious voice answered from the other line. He knows who owns it and that irked him more.

"Go home already," the monotonous voice said. The voice sounds very intimidating but for him, he could just care less.

"Go home? To where?" he scoffed, "I have none," he spitefully said and hung up. He turned off his phone so he will not be bothered again.

Because of the call, his mood was ruined. Taehyung combed his messy hair with his hand in frustration. He flinched when a screeching sound in his head hurt his ear.

He hastily opened his drawer and grabbed the small bottle he kept there. He poured all the pills left and swallowed it in one gulp. He coughed and punched his chest several times to breathe properly before he dove on his bed. He grabbed a pillow and burrowed his face on it.

I hope I'll get a proper sleep tonight.

—

THE NEXT DAY, Jisoo is sitting on her chair. She is looking outside the window. Today, she has a class with Taehyung and she is waiting for him to arrive. She bugged him earlier that morning and he said he'll go if she shuts up so she did not send another message.

Jisoo hummed happily and waited. She is positive this time. Just like always, she is the earliest bird so there are only a few students around the campus. This reminds her of one of their earliest encounters.

Well I hope this time he'll not stick a bubble gum under my chair, she smiled to herself until she heard voices.

"Hey, Jisoo," Bona and Nayeon appeared together. They are neighbors so they usually go to the university together.

"Good morning!" she greeted them.

"Early as always, huh," Jisoo just laughed at Nayeon and glanced at her phone. Minutes passed and students arrived. Jisoo is starting to get worried.

Five minutes left. The class is about to start, he'll be late, she thought inwardly.

However, until the bell rang and their professor arrived, there was no Taehyung in sight.

"Good morning class," the professor started, "Bring out your textbooks now."

Where is he? She wondered, looking at the opened door of their class.

Second and third periods passed and he is still nowhere. It was break time already and she is on the table with her friends. Jisoo was bothered. She sent him a bunch of text messages and to her surprise, there is not even one reply.

"Jisoo-yah, you're not eating?" Rosé asked while pointing to her untouched food.

"Uhm, I don't have an appetite today," she honestly admitted. She is obviously jittery and cannot stay still in her spot. Lisa noticed it.

"You okay?" Jisoo was looking around when Lisa asked her so she paused and directed her gaze to her, "Are you sick?" her friend added.

"No!" her eyes widened and she raised her voice a little. All of her friends looked at her weirdly so she couldn't help but gulp.

"Wait, I just need to call someone. Excuse me," Jisoo quickly stood up and grabbed her things. She went outside of the cafeteria.

She went to the nearest benches and stood by there. She called Taehyung's number repeatedly but he is still not answering. She checked her messages and again, no texts back.

Why am I so worried? She sighed and started biting her nails in nervousness, I feel like something bad happened.

She paced back and forth and decided to dial someone that could help her. She called Hoseok and after a few rings, he answered.

"Bud!" she exclaimed and stood in her place, "Hello! You're just around Taehyung's area right?" she asked him in a hurry.

"Wow, good morning to you too, Jisoo," she can hear the evident sarcasm in his voice.

"Sorry, good morning. But hey, it's past 11 now," she said and laughed a little to calm her nerves.

"Yeah, I just woke up though," Hoseok said until he got back to the topic, "Why are you asking for him? Don't tell me you are planning on going to his house? Are you forgetting that he is a guy too?!" he started lecturing.

"No, It's not like that. I have a bad feeling," she said and sighed, "He told me he is going to classes today but he didn't show up."

Hoseok rolled his eyes from the other line, "He usually doesn't go to classes, right? Maybe he's just playing with you or to shut you up."

"No," she said firmly, "He promised," she added.

"And?" Hoseok stopped from drying his hair and looked at his phone on the bed. He put her in speaker while talking, "Promises are not assurances, you know that."

"But he is not replying! No matter how annoyed he is, he always replies to me. I'm worried," Jisoo explained frantically.

"Maybe it's not something bad, Jisoo. You know him," he sat on his bed and put the phone in his ear now.

Yes I know him. Exactly why I'm worried right now, Jisoo wanted to add but she agreed to Taehyung not to tell anyone about what she knows.

She sighed, "Just please tell me his house number. He's your neighbor right? Just near your house?"

"Jisoo, you're going way too much," Hoseok told her.

"Please Hoseok," she pleaded. Her voice is in deep worry that he cannot just ignore it. The line went silent for seconds.

"We'll go after my dismissal," he suddenly said.

"But your class is afternoon shift?" Jisoo contradicted.

"Our time will not meet. If you'll go to him after your classes, I'd be in my university by then, I'm not letting you go alone so we'd go after my dismissal," Hoseok explained.

"Your classes end by six right? What if something bad happened already?" Jisoo persisted.

"Ugh," Hoseok stood up from his bed and walked to his window, "I'll just skip class," he peeked on his blinds and looked at Taehyung's house two blocks away, "I can see his house here, still quiet. I'd ring his doorbell later to give you peace of mind."

"Just give me his house number. I promise I'll just check on him," Jisoo did not give up what she wanted.

Hoseok was horrified on the other line, "Jisoo, we still don't know him!" but her reply rendered him quiet.

"I know him," she said confidently, "Trust me, Hoseok. Please."

He messed his hair in frustration. The only thing he dislikes about Jisoo is how stubborn and persistent she could be. Once she sets her mind up to something, she will not give it up. It makes him worry every time because he knows how naive her friend is, she cannot recognize red flags.

He sighed. Well, there is nothing really that he could do.

"You're just checking on him, okay? If you confirm he is fine there, you leave, yeah? And you keep updating me. Message me right away even the slightest of harm intent. I'll be calling you. You're not staying there, do you hear me?" he ranted continuously.

"Yes, thank you!" Jisoo finally broke into a relieved smile.

"God, I don't know why I'm even listening to you and letting you do these reckless things," he shook his head slowly, "I swear Jisoo, take care of yourself or I can never forgive myself if something bad happens to you."

"I will," Jisoo grinned because of how caring her friend is.

"Okay, I'd send you his exact address," he hung up the call.

Soon enough, her phone beeped. She opened his message. Hoseok sent his address and picture of the house. She decided she'll go straight to him after her last class.

Taehyung, please be okay.