THIRD

"I don't like him," Seokjin blurts out a day later.


Namjoon snorts. "No kidding." He pulls his locker open and looks for his history book.


"Why was he even at our table?" The older mutters, his eyes on the other, waiting for some more response than what Namjoon is currently offering him. "And the way he made fun of Jimin, that's so not okay on so many levels."


"He was probably just joking around," Namjoon tries. He shoves a few things around before digging in deeper. The book has to be in there somewhere and he needs it. He was severely reprimanded for not having brought his book to class even once ever since school started, meaning his contribution to the history lessons are close to non-existent. The exact words the teacher used were 'don't bother coming in until you plan on at least pretending to participate', and well, pretending to participate is sort of Namjoon's thing. So he needs the freaking book.


"Probably?" Seokjin shoots back, but when Namjoon doesn't provide him with a retort, he drags the conversation on to his next point. "And what's with Kook saying he already knew the guy? What was it again, Min Yoongi?" He pronounces the newcomer's name with a certain sense of disgust, which compels Namjoon not to reply and wisely keep his thoughts to himself. 


Then the bell rings and Seokjin sighs. He reaches past Namjoon into the locker and fishes out the history book. "Pay attention in class," he tells the younger. "Put those brains of yours to good use for once." 


Namjoon just stares at the book that's being shoved into his hands, and then to his slowly trudging away hyung until he's completely absorbed by the already thinning masses in the hallway.


Only when the bell rings for the second time he drops down back to earth. Right. Class.


-------


"Where is Yoongi-hyung?" Taehyung asks Hoseok the second he lowers himself at their table. 


Jimin looks up too, suddenly more interested in the conversation than his food.


Hoseok frowns. "How should I know? Am I his keeper?"


Taehyung shakes his head but smiles either way. "No, but you're his captain."


Before he realises, kimchi hits his face and Jimin laughs. He calls him 'fermented' for the rest of the day. 


"That was uncalled for," Taehyung accuses Hoseok, the kimchi thrower, who ignores him and goes back to his lunch.


Then Seokjin joins them, instantly running his eyes over the table. "Where's Namjoon?" He asks Hoseok.


"Seriously," the boy grumbles while rolling his eyes exaggeratedly. "Do I look like I keep tabs on everyone's whereabouts?"


Seokjin frowns and it makes Hoseok give way. "He was late to history. The teacher told him to stay after class. He's probably being reprimanded as we sp