chapter 3

“Didn’t expect to see you here. It’s nice seeing you again.”

“Y…yeah. Same goes. What are you doing here?”

“I come here every now and then to play soccer. It’s nice really.” Taehyung gave the foreground a quick glance before turning his gaze onto Tae Ni. Without even realising, Taehyung stood next to her in the line asTae Ni wandered numerous thoughts in concept of a conversation starter. She wasn’t the social type unless she was with Jimin.

Seconds later, Taehyung asked her the same question. “What brings you here?”

“O…oh… I’m here with Jimin. Like… for a walk sort of thing.”

“That’s cool. How long have you two been going out for?” Tae Ni bulged her eyes out as a knot formed in , causing her to gulp rather forcefully and loudly.

“We’re not going out. He’s my best friend.” Tae Ni cleared the misinterpretation.

“Oh. Well sorry for the mix-up. I’m actually surprised you’re not going out. You two just seem really close.”

Tae Ni smiled in appreciation as she nodded to his opinion. She was merely surprised at the fact that Taehyung would start talking to her like this, especially since they were in public on a weekend. She discreetly let out her breath, exhaling as a calming nature.

The time finally arrived where they were first in line. Tae Ni moved up to the ice cream truck’s window, tip toeing to get a better view. Little did she know, Taehyung was beside her, chuckling at her figure.

Ordering a banana and vanilla flavoured scoops of ice cream, she struggled to get the 5 dollar note out of her pocket since she didn’t want to drop the two cones. Just as she took it out uncomfortably, she noticed Taehyung handing in a 5 dollar note to the ice cream truck man. She gave Taehyung a look to which he responded with a smile.

“I…I’ll pay you back. You didn’t need to pay for these.” She spoke as they walked out of the line, one again under the sun’s piercing heating waves.

“Don’t worry about it Tae Ni. I just thought I’d do something nice. You don’t have to pay me back, but I’d like to see you around here more often.” Taehyung cheekily grinning, Tae Ni was dying of mere ecstasy. If she had the weirdness to do so, she’d jump around screaming in joy, but she kept her cool.

“Y…yeah. Maybe I will.”

“Good. It’d be nice to see you again some other time. I better get back to my soccer game but… I’ll see you around?” Tae Ni nodded nonchalantly before waving him farewell. Jogging his way to the soccer field, he couldn’t help but smile at his encounter with Tae Ni.

Making her way back to where Jimin was, thought of glee and joy jumped like stars around her head. Dazed exactly, she didn’t notice Jimin walking up in front of her. She continued to walk in a trance as Jimin took the banana flavoured cone from her hand. Bringing her back to reality she looked up at Jimin who glanced at her, questioning.

“Did the ice cream put a hypnosis on you?” She shook her head before smiling cheekily. Tasting her vanilla flavoured ice cream, Jimin and Tae Ni walked onto the field of green even grass and sat beside each other.

“So what’s on this afternoon’s agenda?” Tae Ni turned her head to face Jimin, eager to hear his idea.

He hummed questionably before he responded. “First, I was thinking we could set off some fire crackers. Then we could watch a 2D movie wearing 3D glasses. After that we could show our appreciation of our friendship by having a stare off for 5 minutes. Then… ”

“A 2D movie wearing 3D glasses? I don’t think I want to hear the rest.” Jimin let out a small chuckle before proceeding to eat his banana flavoured ice cream.

“I’m surprised that you were more shocked about the 2D thing than the fire crackers or the staring thing.” Jimin pointed out.

“Your agenda seems a bit absurd, don’t you think?” Tae Ni questioned, hoping he was the slightest bit joking.

“What do you want to do?” He asked.

First Tae Ni was hesitant to share her idea. If she shared the reason to it, he’d determine straight away her scheme.

Therefore, she gave an excuse version. “Want to watch a game of soccer?”

“Did that last game of soccer actually compel you to like the sport?” Jimin questioned as he raised an eyebrow. She hummed doubtfully before she turned her head to face Jimin.

“Looks like we have to find out.”

Standing up to leave, Jimin took one last to his ice cream before munching his cone until it no longer existed to be visible – let’s just say he stuffed it in his mouth, protruding the inner chipmunk he is.

Heading their way to the soccer game playing field, Tae Ni caught her eye on a distinctive figure she minded to see. As they walked closer to the soccer ground, Jimin squinted quizzical of the familiar person running along, chasing the rolling ball. Jimin followed the idea and smirked at Tae Ni.

“You wanted to see Taehyung~”

“No…~ I just wanted to watch the game. I didn’t even know Taehyung played here.” Tae Ni spoke, completely in denial.

“Okay. Let’s ‘watch the game.’” Jimin emphasized the last few words before Tae Ni sent him a death glare, playfully hitting him on the arm.

“Do they sell pom poms?” Jimin asked out of the blue. Tae Ni sent an interrogating expression as Jimin looked out into the field.

“You need to cheer for your boyfriend don’t you? ‘Let’s go! U-to the-G-to the-L-to the-Y and what does that spell? Taehyung! Whoop whoop~” Jimin teased as Tae Ni couldn’t help but laugh, nonetheless feeling the slightest bit guilty.

“Taehyung isn’t ugly.”

“Psh. Yeah. You keep tell yourself that all you want darling. I don’t get what you see in him anyway.”

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There is no doubt that Tae Ni and Jimin were absorbed into the game as it progressed to be more intense. Spectators were growing in numbers, intrigued of the game play’s performance.

Taehyung’s team was one point behind from drawing the game, yet the other team was one point away from winning the game.

Tae Ni clasped her hands together and held it below her chin as she inwardly cheered for Taehyung to score a goal. Captivated by his performance, Taehyung dribbled the ball across the field, swiftly dodging two opponent players before passing it to one of his team members.

Controlling the ball towards the goal post, the team member was about to be cornered as three opponents came rushing at him. Quick with no hesitation, he passed back to Taehyung who swung a kick for the goal. Almost as if the goalie didn’t see it coming, the crowd cheered in ecstasy, jumping around or applauding for the tied game.

“Taehyung better win.” Jimin beamed, anticipating the end of the game.

Pass to pass, the game settled to having a really motivated performance from all the players. The goalies seemed to have a readied stance which made it harder for all the players to score a goal. You could see the players exhausted and running out of stamina. It’s as almost if they are playing a real professional game.

Just when they thought they were giving up, Taehyung came rushing with the ball across the field, constantly passing to his team mate across from his side. Almost like a zig zag their way up to the goal, Taehyung once again swung a kick for the winning point. With the goalie slightly touching it, the ball bounced its way until it hit the net.

Tae Ni stood up and cheered for the winning goal as she applauded and screamed festively. Jimin chuckled at her merriment mood before standing up with her and applauding for the game.

Taehyung caught her eye and smiled as he waved at her. Almost completely changing her mood, she stopped jumping up and down to shyly wave back at him. Unexpectedly, he came jogging towards her direction, surprising Tae Ni. She tugged on Jimin’s sleeve before asking.

“Is he coming here? He’s not coming here is he? He’s making his way here. I don’t think he’s coming to us. He’s getting closer. What do I do?” Tae Ni spoke few questions and sentences into one.

“Firstly… speak like a normal person. Secondly… calm down.” Jimin advised. It wasn’t long until Taehyung was in front of Tae Ni’s figure.

“When I said see you later, I didn’t expect now.” Taehyung asked, almost eagerly. Tae Ni glanced at Jimin for a second who looked the slightest bit confused.

“You did really well.” Tae Ni complimented, just to break the ice. Without noticing, Jimin rolled his eyes as Taehyung chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck.

“I would hug you, but I’m all sweaty.” Tae Ni was in a state of pure bliss.

“I’ll hug her for you.” Jimin broke the moment. Tae Ni looked at him, creasing her forehead, as if he was crazy, but Jimin acted of innocence.

“I’ll see you around? Maybe later?” Taehyung ignored the awkward moment and turned to face Tae Ni.

“Um… yeah. Sure.” Tae Ni’s cheeks couldn’t help but colour of a reddening shade. Taehyung noticed her blushing state and simply grinned and chuckled to himself.

“Thanks for… watching the game and cheering for me.” Were his last words before turning back.

“We weren’t watching you. We were watching the ball. The ball is the shining star in the game.” Jimin muttered, but audible for Tae Ni to hear. Luckily, Taehyung was no longer in front of them.

Tae Ni sent a death glare before hitting him on the arm.

“Ow! Why’d you hit me?!”

“I’ll hug her for you? We weren’t watching you, we were watching the ball? Are you crazy?!”

“There’s no need to panic. He didn’t hear any of it. Plus, he’s grossing himself out. I would hug you, but I’m all sweaty? Girls don’t want to hear that. Sweat is gross, he is ugly and we should get going.”

“You’re just jealous.”

“Psh. Me? Jealous? I was feeling sorry for the ball being kicked around by Taehyung. What did it ever do to him? Nothing. So there is no reason as to why he should hurt the fellow.”

Tae Ni threw her arms up in the air before turning around to leave the park.

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

“Yah Tae Ni!”

Looking from behind her, she frowned furthermore speed walking with the arm movement swinging in attitude. Still grumbling about his behaviour since their bump into Taehyung, she didn’t give up in giving him this sort of punishment. Lessons needed to be learned.

“Stop following me!” She shouted, not really caring about the people around her who thought of her act.

“Well stop following me but forwards!” Jimin badly retorted. Even he found it rather stupid himself, puffing out a breath of laughter softly.

“That doesn’t even make sense!”

Still pouting her way to wherever her feet may take her, Jimin sparked a light bulb at the crown of his head; an idea. Grinning cheekily to himself, he jogged at a rate where the patter sound of his steps wouldn’t be as loud for her to hear it.

Taking refuge behind a tree, he peered his head to the tree’s edge, as he watched Tae Ni on the pathway to see the aftermath of her reaction when she finds out he wasn’t behind her.

Her senses came to her when things fell subtly silent, which was a first for her- in a good or bad way? She slowed her walking pace to listen closely for the familiar steps of her best friend. She didn’t want to give up and embarrass herself in defeat, but she was the slightest bit suspicious of the silence that remained.

Eventually she halted her tracks as both feet stood next to each other. Taking the moment to perceive whether Jimin was sooner going to catch up to her, nothing could be read from her senses.

Worried and defeated, she turned around to see the one figure she’d hope to be standing parallel to her on the same path. But he wasn’t.

“Yah! I’m not playing your little funny games!” She barked.

Feeling the slightest bit powerful, Jimin scoffed and remained to befriend the tree, staying with it longer.

Tae Ni has a thing for being alone in public for certain amount of time. She sort of had a for a friend by her side – whether it was an animal or person, whenever and wherever; as long as she wasn’t alone. That’s just how she is.

Once she felt she was really alone, she’d have this phenomenon barrier from strangers from approaching her; and that was to crouch, hug her legs and bury her face in her knees. One phenomenon barrier right?

“She didn’t even bother looking for me? Can you believe her?” Jimin talked to himself. Moreover the tree.

Baffled, he sighed before making his way to the crouched figure whom likely felt scared and lonely.

Reluctantly, he squatted to copy her position before chuckling at her state. He placed a palm below the nape of her neck before rubbing outline of the arch of her back, somewhat comforting her.

She didn’t bulge, nor did she look up to see her companionship.

Instead, she muffled speech whilst her head was buried in her knees. “How could you play a game like that? Do you know how scared I felt? What if someone tried to take me away?”

“Stop being a cry baby and be protected. I’ll always be there.”

“Then why weren’t you here earlier?”

“Because you told me to stop following you.”

“I didn’t mean it!” Her head exited her shell to face Jimin and, to a certain degree, disciplined him.

“Exactly. You can never stay mad at me.”

Her arm extended to give him a push since his words were genuine. She couldn’t stay mad at him, but he could never be mad at her. That’s how it worked.

“Come on. We still have the day ahead of us.”

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Still having plenty of the afternoon’s hours, almost an hour of walking the paths leaded them to colourful lights, tented stalls and festive music moreover rides, fairy floss and possibly firecrackers. In other words, a carnival.

This was a typical weekend day for Tae Ni and Jimin; wondrous for things to do during their spare time, not that they went to the carnival every weekend. Exploring the carnival’s tavern, game to game and ride by ride, their laughter would join in with many other attendants within the area.

Who can avoid the claw machine? Jimin would waste $30 dollars to get a giant stuffed toy from there, no matter how long he did it for. It was one of the things that either really brought the motivated side of him or the raging fury that kicked the machine if he failed. Spotting a pretty presentable alien giant teddy, Tae Ni squealed for Jimin to claw it out.

It didn’t take him $30, in fact $26 in 13 tries. You could say he was getting better and better. Sort of.

Taking the toy from the machine, he held it in front of him, observing the thing.

“Well this looks- this would look nice but instead, it does not. It looks very un-nice. I don’t get why you wanted the alienated toy instead of the cute fluffy one. Why don’t you want the fluffy one?”

“Taehyung is known to be the 4D alien.”

“Right. Of course. Why wouldn’t he be the 4D alien? He’s so weird and abnormal like. I still don’t understand what you see in that dude.”

Taking a break from their expedition of ecstasy, Jimin and Tae Ni walked through the path between stalls, almost like a market setting. Keeping an eye out for an item, Jimin turned to face Tae Ni.

“Tae Ni… do you think they sell firecrackers here?”

“I highly doubt that they sell firecrackers. A hundred percent guaranteed they don’t sell firecrackers. Even if they did, you need to be 18 and over to buy it.”

“Hey… I’m 17 and 9 months. It’s close enough.” Tae Ni chuckled at his senseless charm as she noticed the billboard hung on the side of one of the stalls. Appealing to her judgement, the billboard advertised of a firework event. Jimin followed her suit and scanned the billboard.

“They’re not firecrackers but fireworks sound… eccentric.” Jimin considered.

“Next week Saturday we see the fireworks. Sounds like a plan.”

She turned her head to face Jimin who was slightly inches away from her figure. He copied her action before smiling and grabbing her wrist to their next journey.

Seemingly finding a calming spot to rest their energy, Tae Ni stood her ground and took out her phone, holding it out before capturing a shot of the foreground in front of her. It wasn’t exactly a clear meadow, but this part of the land had uneven patches of plants growing.

 They sat together along the pathway giving the landscape view in front of them.

“Are we actually going to see the fireworks?” Tae Ni asked, keen on his positive answer.

“Yeah. Why not? Just don’t invite Taehyung.”

“What’s wrong with Taehyung?”

“First of all, you mentioned it yourself. He is a 4D alien, and you already have that so I don’t need another Kim Taehyung.” Jimin nagged, pointing at the alienated giant teddy he won earlier. Tae Ni pouted to his childish behaviour before cuddling the teddy.

“I know that this is supposed to be a tall and giant cute teddy but it just makes me seem really short.” She playfully hit the teddy’s nose, somehow disciplining it for demeaning her figure. That didn’t stop her from cuddling it. Jimin chuckled at her behaviour before placing his arm around her shoulders and pulling her in as her head rested on his shoulder.

Glancing up at the sky, enjoying its view, they couldn’t help but enjoy this moment.

Tae Ni remarked the fact that this sort of thing was what misunderstood people’s interpretation about them. Nonetheless, she was happy with the way things were, so she continued to rest her head on Jimin’s shoulder.

Yeah, they live for little moments like this.

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

“What wimbly monster wimbles his way over to Wimbletown?” Speaking in a repetition of a somewhat interested manner, Tae Ni scanned through the pantry, hopefully to get something out of her evening meal.

Close but no cigar, some essential ingredients to certain recipes weren’t on the list of foods in Jimin’s pantry.

“You really need to go grocery shopping.” Tae Ni advised and continued to scan through the untidiness of a pantry, having faith that there would be a proper meal at the dinner table.

This evening, she decided to have her dinner over at Jimin’s unit since it wasn’t much of a hassle. They’re neighbours anyway.

Busy contemplating the idea of dinner, Jimin peered his head in the kitchen domain before leaning his side onto the wall’s cut out.

“Speaking of grocery shopping, care to do the honours?” He offered as Tae Ni rolled her eyes, completely denying the idea.

“I’m not doing your shopping for you.”

“No~ we go grocery shopping. You make it sound like I’m that kind of person that always makes his girlfriend pay for everything.”

“I think you’d do that. At least once in your life.”

“Do you think I’m that type of person to do that?” Raising an eyebrow, Tae Ni turned around to face him, mindset on the answer of his question.

“No wait. Can I change my question?” Tae Ni waited for him to continue from his question as a response.

Jimin spoke as he straightened his posture. “Would I ever do that to you?”

Picture this: Tae Ni holding a pillow, aggressively and viciously beating Jimin with it as he cried out, pleading for help.

That’s what happened.

author's note : Ah yes... Another update. Don't you just love that feeling? I hope you enjoyed this chapter. ^^