“What was that?”

“What?” Jaebum grabs his towel to dry himself avoiding your gaze and questions. He knows you can read him like an open book, that terrifies him somewhat. You used to catch him lying to you so all these years it is not easy to keep secrets from you. It is an established fact that you will eventually be able to bring the answers out from his own mouth.

“Do not dodge the bullets. What is with you and the another Jeon guy?” you lean your back against the cold metal watching him getting change into something warm.

“Nothing special. He is annoying” he grumbles. He doesn’t expect you to believe him straight away considering his answer only worth 0.5 marks if it is an essay exam answers.

“Oppa you are lying. What happen between of you? Shouldn't you be in good terms, you are in one team!” you exclaim with a hint of irritation and maybe teeny -weeny twinge of concern.

Jaebum rakes fingers in his wet hair, buttoning the last button of his shirt with a low grunt “I am sure you heard nasty rumors about him, you have to start believing it” he slams the locker signaling you to follow him out the room.

Something is wrong. Jaebum is playing riddles with you and for umpteenth time you really hate it when he does that. Following him absentmindedly, you know he wont give in that easily so you decide to keep your mouth shut. Upon witnessing Jaebum’s wrath, your mood to joke around teasing Jaebum depleted. Not that you are scared of him however your major concern now is why Jaebum seems disturbed.

“Oh The Ims!” you heard familiar voice calls out both of you. Jungkook gives you a wary look as he realizes you just walk out from swimming team locker room with your brother. Jaebum only give a soft nod following his next action to ruffle your hair slowly accompanied with a light pat. He mouths you ‘see you later’ and disappear from your vicinity.

‘ What is wrong with him’ you sighs in your head sadly.

“Yeoul, what is wrong with your brother? It is so unusual to see him go all soft for you” Jungkook too sense something off in him. He seems edgy than usual and the way he reacts around Yeoul is more brotherly like which he rarely shows to anyone even his own little sister.

Shaking your head in dismay “Something happen inside. He got into a small fight with the Jihwan guy. I don’t know, he just wont answer me” you look up meeting Jungkook baffle face.

“Jihwan?Jeon Jihwan? How can I forget he is in the swimming team and is actually our senior by a year. However, since he took a year off for personal reason, he is now back in campus. That guy now is in the same year as us though” his lips are pressed into thin line as if trying to debate his existence in the campus.

You are uninterested to know him let alone to hear all this story telling about Jihwan’s life. It is unnecessary.

“Oh really..” you reply halfheartedly.

“Is there something wrong between you and him? You seem unfazed to hear his name” he nudges your shoulder watching your facial expression closely. He always do that when he knows you are lying. He is quick to judge people by their expression.

Cringing in annoyance, you frown “He is annoying and rude. I don’t want to bump into him ever again” nodding in process he tries to brain the information that you pour on him.

“Let’s forget about him. I got an invitation to a party! Do you want to tag along?” Jungkook smiles brightly but only to change his mind upon remembering the memory of you at the party a year ago which turned into a horrifying tragedy.

You are quick to understand what is on his mind, so you simply nod with a smile “Let’s go” you are mentally unready to attend a place with large crowd especially parties. You have not been to any parties ever since the tragedy in response to your trauma. Avoiding parties at all cost to eradicate bad memories before they come attacking your healthy mind again.

However, it is about time to let the fear go. Sooner or later you need to face your fear, and you cant be living under the shadow of your past forever. There is an amendment need to be done for now. Watching your face with a worried look, Jungkook interlaces your hand in his.

“It is alright. We don’t need to go partying. We can do something else just the two of us” he suggests.

Giving him a soft squish with an assurance smile, you reply confidently “I am alright Jung..It has been a year, you know. I think I can manage that at least. Those painful memories are gone” you bit your lower lips as the last word coming from your mouth start to fade away. You don’t want to sound hesitant but for some reason you end up sounding like one.

“But Yeoul…I don’t think it is a wise decision to attend one. Even so, it leaves scar in your heart. I don’t want you to be remembered by those painful memories anymore” eyeing you deeply, his eyes shimmers resemble those stars at night. It puts you at ease.

“No, as long as I have you. I can face anything in this world with you by my side. I know you will always find me no matter what” your words soften him as his arms automatically find its way around you.

Jungkook kissed the top of your head inhaling the sweet scent from your hair “I will never leave you. Then, to the party we go. You are going to stick with me like my sticky potato throughout the party alright?” he your hair.

You beam in happiness “Alright. Thank you Jeon for staying by me despite how annoying I can be sometimes” mumbling softly, you find yourself growing giddy. Is it because of Jungkook? You don’t understand.

“Aww touche. Stop sounding so serious that is unlike you” he chuckles.

At the corner of the hallway, Jihwan is watching both of you living the moment to yourself. He has never seen you with someone else so he doesnt expect you to have a boyfriend. It is odd that he feels unsettled for no reason. Other thing is that, he is not liking you in the sense of wanting to date you. Bad idea anyways since you are Im Jaebum’s little sister.

Up until now, he too cant seem to understand the whole situation Jaebum hating on him so much. It is not due to the failure that he brought to the whole team, there is something else bothering the man.

Reading a man’s mind can be as complicated as the opposite gender especially when the man is Im Jaebum.

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Heavy heart. Heavy breathing. You are having this pulsating dizzy spells in your head. As much as you don’t want to show it,