Genre: angst, romance Requester: tessaxnomy Textual reference: Some by Soyou ft. Junggigo     Ring ring. Ring ring. “Tessa? Tessa! Call me back when you get this message.” My phone bleeped. I tried to take a deep breath to calm my shaking hands, but it came out in short, quick puffs. I covered my face with my hands. Why am I acting like this? I can’t keep spoiling my mum’s happiness. It was my mum’s engagement party in two weeks and I honestly was freaking out. There will be so many people there and mum will expect me to join in conversation with her friends, colleagues and people in the family that I don’t even know or need to know. I picked up my phone, biting my lip hesitantly. I let out a distressed sigh and called her back. “Hey honey, how are you?” I heard shuffling around, “Me and your dad are just moving in all the boxes full of decorations. You are coming, right?” I imagined the party, me freaking out and my mum disappointed. “He’s not my dad. And he’s not even my stepdad yet either. I don’t care if me and Yerin are best buds, him and my dad are not the same person.” My mum sighed, leaving me feeling guilty again. “Tessa don’t be so mean to Seokjin. He’s trying his best for you. I know you don’t like him. Forget it.” “No! Mum! I like him. He’s cool. It’s just… why do I have to go? I can’t take time off work.” I lied. “Really? You found work? Maybe I was right about the Jimin boy. He’s good for you. Please honey, can you please talk to your boss and persuade him… her… whatever to give you the day off?” “No, I’m sorry but no, my boss won’t let me. Something about being low on staff. Gotta go, love you!” I hung up, slumping back on my bed. Why am I so pathetic? I can’t even go to one small party.   Ding dong. Ding dong. I lay in bed with my face buried in my pillow, working out a way to persuade Yerin to cover for me. I groaned, not wanting to face door salesmen again, when I heard a key in the lock. Aside from me, only three people have a key to the house: Yerin, Jimin, and Jimin’s older sister Jiyoung. Jiyoung was currently away at university so I knew it couldn’t be her, and Yerin was helping my mum and ‘dad’ with the decorations, so I knew it must be Jimin. A smile appeared on my face. “Right.” Jimin stood at the doorway with his hands on his hips. “You ignored my call.” I shrugged. “I spoke to your mum. She was upset with you. She said you lied to her about working on the day of the engagement party and then hung up on her.” I shrugged again. “Tessa!” he smacked my with a rolled up magazine. I rolled over. “You’re going and that is final.” I clenched and unclenched my fists. “Come on. I’ll help you choose a dress. You’ll be the belle of the ball. Believe me.” “No Jimin. No.” I hid myself under the covers, until he snatched them away from me. “Don’t give me that look, fishcake.” I smacked his stomach playfully. “You know I hate shopping.” “I know.” He grinned. “I’m going to purposely cheer loudly whenever you come out the changing room just to embarrass you.” he stuck his tongue out at me. It would be better if you didn’t.   In the end, Jimin dragged me along to do dress shopping. “Oh this looks pretty. You could show off your long legs.” He winked. He’s such a ert, I thought. And I am definitely not wearing that. My cheeks reddened. My palms started to sweat. I wiped them clean on my jeans. “This?” I shook my head. “This?” I shook my head again. Jimin rolled his eyes. “Yes! You should wear this one!” He held up another short, sparkly, beige coloured dress. I crossed my arms and shook my head. “Come on! Just try it. If you don’t like it we can keep looking.” He reached for my wrist but I moved away. He moved closer and tried again but I stepped away, shaking with tears. I probably seem like a big baby to him. He doesn’t understand. “What’s wrong? You don’t like it?” I sat down on a chair by the changing rooms. “Do you not want to go because you don’t like Seokjin?” I shook my head, my head swirling around. Jimin held onto my shoulders. “Everyone’s going to be staring at me. They’ll all be wondering why I’m so quiet and they’ll prod at me. I don’t belong there, Jimin.  They’ll all poke and poke at me and laugh at me. They’ll think I’m stupid.” I sobbed into Jimin’s shirt. Jimin cautiously my hair comfortingly before pulling back. “Look,” his thumb caressed my cheek. “People will be staring at you, because you’re so beautiful. I mean, look at you, how many times have guys tried to ask you out?” I bit my lip. “I’m sorry.” I mumbled, my voice trembling and weak. Jimin shook his head and led me out.   My phone beeped several times. “Are you going to answer that?” Jimin asked, flicking the channel on the TV. I shook my head, getting up. “Hey Yerin!” he answered the call. I flung open the fridge, looking at the cans of beer. Should I walk away? Or should I drink? I took two beers, one for myself and another for Jimin. “Oh yeah, she’s just in the kitchen.” I plopped myself on the sofa and handed Jimin his can. I opened my can with a hiss. “Yeah, she’s just-Tessa, what are you doing? Huh? Sorry, I have to go. Call back later!” Jimin hung up and snatched my can away from me just as I swallowed my first sip. “Drinking isn’t going to solve this. Nor is it going to get you out of talking to me.” “Jimin, I’m sorry. I’m so pathetic.” I pulled the blanket that was on my lap over my face. He softened. “Tessa, I wasn’t shouting at you, I just wan