:D

“Dari, you’re so beautiful,” Meatbun-oppa murmured as he my hair.

I snuggled into him as we lay together under the twinkling stars. The air tasted like grass as the cool wind blew across our foreheads, mussing up my hair.

He angled his face towards mine and leaned in. I closed my eyes and prepared myself as he whispered, “Wake up Dari.”

 “… Jung? Miss Jung are you paying attention?” Mr Cho’s voice sounded immediately next to my ear.

With a shock I snapped to attention in the middle of class, Mr Cho inches away from my head.

“Um, yes sir,” I coughed, shaking myself awake as Zelo smirked at me.

Somehow I had fallen asleep in Math class. No surprise there, seeing as I stayed up late every night to talk to Meatbun-oppa on the phone. It had been about two months since we’d started going out, but we hadn’t had the chance to properly go out for dates because of the whole parents/brother thing. The most we managed to get was a few hours at the library each week with the excuse of him tutoring me as well as walking home together. As such, we’d resorted to calling each other at night or just texting each other, which resulted in pretty late nights.

“Since you can pay attention to the lesson with your eyes closed, I’m sure you can solve the problem on the board with your eyes closed too,” Mr Cho remarked cuttingly, passing me a piece of chalk.

My eyes whipped to the blackboard in horror before relaxing.

Props to having a smart boyfriend, I smirked to myself, confidently walking up to the blackboard with the answer already in my head. I scribbled the answer down hastily, glancing now and then at Mr Cho’s increasingly flabbergasted face.

“… Not bad Ms Jung. However, do consider that finals are coming soon. It would be fantastic if you would care to stay awake. Class, turn your books to page 75,” Mr Cho paused just as the bell rang signalling lunch. “Alright, we’ll continue tomorrow. Do pages 375 to 380 as homework for today.”

He strolled out coolly amidst the collective groans of the class at the ever-increasing load of homework. Zelo bounced over just as I stuffed all my papers into my bag. I still couldn’t get used to him without his blue hair. In fact, the whole BAP had decided that June was the perfect time to redye their hair. Yongguk-oppa, Himchan-oppa, Daehyun-oppa and Meatbun-oppa now had black hair, Jongup-oppa had brown hair and Zelo had ash-brown hair.

“Bro, the key to sleeping in class is to not look like you’re sleeping in class,” he snickered.

“Because you’re the expert at sleeping in class, aren’t you?” I remarked drily, hefting the bag over my shoulder.

“I’m wounded,” he grabbed at his chest in mock hurt before swinging an arm over my shoulders. “Let’s go for lunch!”

I glanced awkwardly to Eunhye sitting by herself on the far side of the classroom.

Things had been weird ever since that sleepover we had at my house. When I’d woken up, both Eunhye and Zelo were gone. Eunhye never answered the texts I sent her asking if she was okay or if she wanted to talk and Zelo never gave me an answer, choosing to switch the topic of conversation immediately as soon as I breached the topic of Eunhye.

“Forget about her,” he laughed loudly (almost too loudly) as he noticed my prolonged gaze and made a move towards the door. “Come on, the dessert is milk pudding today! If we don’t go now guess who’s gonna eat all the pudding again!”

Sighing, I followed him out, casting a last worried glance at Eunhye.

---

Lunch was rather dismal to say the least. Since Eunhye wasn’t there, I was eating with Zelo alone. I could feel the piercing stares from his ladies stabbing me from all sides. Zelo seemed oblivious to the tension, chattering on and on about the weirdest things ever.

“You know, I found a worm in my socks when I was a kid and I named him Bum?” he rattled, spoon trailing circles in his soup, yet he never took a sip of it. “He grew into a butterfly and flew off though. I kind of miss him. He was a nice worm. Worms don’t hurt your feelings you know?”

“Worms don’t turn into butterflies, stupid,” I muttered distractedly. “Caterpillars do.”

Thoughts of Eunhye sitting alone in the classroom flooded my mind. I couldn’t take it anymore. Eunhye needed her best girl friend and I was going to her.

“Hey, I’m gonna go check on Eunhye alright?” I stood up from the table.

“Don’t… Don’t leave me,” his voice cracked as his hand shot out and yanked me down back onto the seat.

I turned around, my eyes meeting the most heartbroken look I’d ever seen on his face.

“… Oh.”

A sudden light dawned on me. Regret and disappointment and sympathy crossed my features as his façade broke, a single silent tear rolling down his cheek.

Eunhye had rejected Zelo?

I almost felt my heart break. I knew her love for Himchan-oppa wasn’t real. I knew that Zelo was the right one for her, that he’d loved her from the moment they’d met. But maybe she just didn’t feel the same way. And now their friendship was ruined.

I leaned over, opening my arms wide for him. He accepted the hug quietly, tears wetting my jacket but I didn’t care.

My best friends were hurt and there was nothing I could do about it.

---

Youngjae yawned widely, covering his mouth with his left hand as he scribbled notes from the Geography lecture. Daehyun was already snoring away, drool pooling onto his table. He snorted and leaned over to wake him up.

“No…” he groaned. “Just 5 more minutes…”

Youngjae smirked, preparing a snarky comment.

“You’re not good enough…” Daehyun yawned and shifted to a more comfortable position.

Youngjae recoiled sharply, the words stabbing him right through the chest.

Dari had reassured him time and again that she didn’t care about his status in the world, but Youngjae knew her parents would never accept him the way he was right now. Not to mention, Daehyun was a touchy subject between the both of them. He really didn’t want to hide anything from his best friend, but Dari didn’t want him to go ape.

He also hadn’t said anything to his mum or Youngwon-hyung, but he didn’t really think much about them since they were so used to Daehyun being around, so they should be okay with Dari, right?

Sighing, he contented himself with balancing his stationery on Daehyun’s cheek.

Maybe I’ll bring it up later, he thought offhandedly, gingerly placing his mechanical pencil onto Daehyun’s cheekbone.

---

I dashed out of class hurriedly as Mr. Kim finally dismissed us from Science. He had an annoying habit of making us stay in class while he continued the lesson until where he had planned to stop, regardless of whether the bell had rung or not. Today he had been particularly ambitious, wanting to finish the entire topic of magnetism and had dismissed us an hour late.

I checked my watch in anxiety as I slipped out of my indoor shoes and into my sneakers. It was 3.30 pm and almost half an hour later than our arranged meeting time and I really hoped he hadn’t left already.

As I approached the park, I sighed in relief.

Meatbun-oppa was sitting on one of the park benches, book in hand and leg crossed over the other. One of his arms was slung carelessly over the back of the bench. He looked so engrossed in his book I almost didn’t want to disturb him, but I went up to him anyway.

“Sorry I’m late,” I hugged his neck from behind. “Mr. Kim made us stay in late to finish the last stupid part of magnetism.”

“It’s alright,” Meatbun-oppa looked up from his book, flashing a grin. “Ready to go?”

I nodded as he got off the bench and grabbed his bag.

“So what happened today?” he asked conversationally.

I was about to tell him about Zelo and Eunhye, but something about the genuine torture on Zelo's face made me think twice about it. Somehow, it didn't seem like my story to share.

“Mr. Cho caught me sleeping in class,” I finally confessed guiltily. “He made me do a problem on the board but it was pretty easy since we went through it last week.”

“My girlfriend is too smart,” Meatbun-oppa teased. ”Were you dreaming of me while you napped?”

“… Shut up,” my face flushed a dark red as he giggled to himself once again. “Anyway, it’s thanks to you that I could solve that problem.”

“Okay, we’re both smart,” he laughed again as we lapsed into a comfortable silence, our hands naturally finding each other.

I liked the fact that his hands were bigger than mine. They were just big enough to envelop mine; a perfect fit. I squeezed his hand tighter as we walked past the park, leaning into him.

At least Hyunnie-oppa never came this way. We always took the longer route just in case we ran into him.

Five minutes later, we were at our usual table, tucked away from the other tables in our own quiet little corner. I started working on the English essay Mr. Lau had given us for homework as Meatbun-oppa lay his head on the table, gazing up at me.

“Yes, oppa?” I sighed, looking up from my notepaper.

“I’ve been starved of kisses,” he sighed softly.

“You want one now?” I asked in disbelief, trusty blush already rising to my face.

“Yeah,” he grinned slyly. “Now.”

It wasn’t as if we hadn’t kissed before… But aside from the two times before we got together we hadn’t actually kissed again. Somehow the idea of kissing him drove butterflies into my stomach.

 “The CSATs are coming up soon so you better study,” I poked his nose with my pencil cheekily after a pause. “No time for kisses.”

He sulked, getting out his books slowly and muttering about selfish girlfriends and the like.

“If you finish studying properly today I’ll give you one,” I offered.

His movements quickened after that, right hand blasting across the pages of his Social Studies essay. I coughed, trying to hide my growing smile at the idiot.

---

I wrote my last sentence with a flourish and looked up at the clock. Somehow, 4 hours had passed by in a flash. It was already 8 pm and I had just finished writing the notes for the first few chapters in Science. Meatbun-oppa was neck deep in Math worksheets and the library was quiet except for the sound of our pens scribbling. I stretched my tired muscles before leaning back in my chair and casually observing him do work.

He bit his lip anxiously, brows furrowed as he gazed over the problems and reeling formulae from his head. I could almost see the gears working and the little ‘ding’ of the lightbulb as his face relaxed and he scribbled the workings down, a victorious smile forming on his face.

“Hey,” I prodded him with my pen. “It’s 8. Wanna go?”

“Already?” he looked up from his work blearily. “Let me just finish this problem and we’ll…”

Right on cue, my stomach growled wildly. My face immediately heated up as the corner of his lips twitched involuntarily.

“Come on, let’s go to my place,” he offered, shoving the rest of his stuff into his bag. “There should be enough for the both of us, since Youngwon-hyung usually eats out with his friends.”

I nodded my head absentmindedly as my stomach growled again, reminding me that my last meal was at noon.

---

His building was even creepier at night and I stayed close to him. I couldn’t help but shiver as I recalled that old man trying to feel me up again. As if he noticed, his grip on my hand became tighter, as if reassuring me that he was still here. Gratefully, I leaned into him.

“I think my mother’s home but she’s nice, so don’t worry,” he unlocked the door to his house, pushing it open.

I gulped, praying that his mother wouldn’t “accidentally” throw a knife at me for dating him or something.

“I’m home!” he called, removing his shoes as I followed suit. “I brought someone with me!”

He grabbed my bag and his and placed them near the door as I twiddled my thumbs awkwardly.

“Welcome home, Youngjae!” a warm voice greeted him from the kitchen. “Did you bring Daehyun over again? I made extra mandu just in case!”

I flushed in embarrassment for Hyunnie-oppa and his eating habits. At least she seemed to like him, so she should like me too right?

 “Uhm… It’s not Daehyun today,” he replied a little sheepishly. “It’s his sister, Jung Dari.”

“Good evening Mrs. Yoo,” I greeted and bowed as a matronly woman walked out carrying a large plate of steaming mandu.

“Good evening!” His mother nodded back and set the plate onto the table, which already contained a large bowl of noodles and several side dishes. She wiped her hands on a dishcloth before turning back to me.

“Oh, Jung Dari! I remember when your father used to bring you to work! You’ve grown so well!” her eyes crinkled as she smiled widely. “I didn’t expect you to be Youngjae’s friend too! Is he a good boy?”

I nodded my head bashfully as she led me to the table, asking constantly if I felt comfortable and if I needed anything else as Youngjae-oppa stifled a chortle behind the back of his hand. We soon settled down to eat, Youngjae-oppa next to me as Mrs. Yoo asked continuously about Hyunnie-oppa, how school was like, whether Youngjae-oppa behaved well and more.

Even though I was used to dishes cooked by professional chefs, this tasted pretty damn good. The mandu was cooked to perfection, the noodles springy and the Korean side dishes were absolutely delicious.

Not only that, the atmosphere was so warm and comforting, with Youngjae-oppa joking around and Mrs. Yoo being so caring and tender that I felt immediately at home with them. This hardly happened at my house, especially since Mother and Father worked late hours and the only meal we had together was breakfast, which wasn’t even often given their frequent business trips and early morning meetings. I knew they cared a lot about me, but they were way too busy with work to sit down to a proper dinner together, and it would be pretty selfish of me to insist… But even so, I would have liked to eat in such a saturated scent of home.

Right in the middle of dinner, the door slammed open.

“I’m home,” a low voice came from the door.

We all looked up from our food as Youngjae-oppa’s elder brother strode in, dropping his briefcase by the pile of bags near the door. He looked at me in surprise before smiling warmly.

“Good evening sunbaenim,” I stood up and greeted, bowing. “I’m Jung Dari.”

“Good evening,” Yoo Youngwon-sunbaenim greeted back, sitting onto the cushion beside Mrs Yoo. “You must be Youngjae’s new girlfriend.”

Immediately Mrs. Yoo choked, giving us barely enough time to react. Yoo Youngwon-sunbaenim pounced into action, slapping her hard on the back and Youngjae-oppa rushed over to her, screaming about the Heimlich manoeuvre as I sat dumbfounded and unable to move.

“I’m… I’m okay,” Mrs. Yoo heaved loudly, coughing like her life depended on it. “Let’s get back to dinner.”

Wordlessly, we continued, but the atmosphere was definitely strained now. Yoo Youngwon-sunbaenim kept sending questioning glances towards the two of us as Youngjae-oppa stared straight ahead at his mother. The only sound now was the clink of cutlery and the occasional “more noodles please”.

“So, are you and Youngjae dating?” Yoo Youngwon-sunbaenim asked curiously as we finished dinner.

I looked to Youngjae-oppa, silently asking if it was okay. He nodded and gripped my hand under the table.

“Yeah, she is,” he announced. “We’ve been together for two months now.”

Silence permeated the room. Youngwon-sunbaenim grinned and patted his brother on the back while Youngjae’s mother looked at us straight in the eye.

“I think it’s time for Dari to go home,” Mrs. Yoo said quietly, her maternal demeanour entirely wiped off her face. “After you walk her home, I want to have a talk with you.”

Youngjae-oppa opened his mouth to protest but Youngwon-hyung gestured at him to go. Sighing, he got off the seat and beckoned me to follow.

“Goodbye Mrs. Yoo, Youngwon-sunbaenim,” I bowed goodbye.

Mrs. Yoo smiled briefly at me and turned away as Youngwon-sunbaenim waved.

A little confused and more than a little hurt, I pulled on my sneakers and followed Youngjae-oppa out of the house.

---

The two of them strode through the neighbourhood together in silence. Dari was oddly subdued and Youngjae couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed. Shouldn’t Mum be happy that he was dating someone? Heck, when she met Youngwon-hyung’s girlfriend she was so happy, she immediately started wedding planning.

He turned to Dari, who was looking at the ground sadly. He knew she was beating herself up over the rejection from his mother, and he insanely wanted to cheer her up, but he didn’t know how.

“Well… That didn’t go so well,” he started.

“Yeah…” she sighed, eyes still on the ground. “Maybe she doesn’t like me.”

“That can’t be the reason,” he frowned. “She was treating you really nicely just now… I’m sure it has nothing to do with you. Don’t worry too much alright? I’ll make sure she comes around.”

“Do you think my parents are going to act like that too?” she stopped walking and looked at him, tearing up. “What if I can’t be with you?”

“We’ll overcome the odds,” he reassured her, hugging her slight frame to him, her face against his chest. “Even if the entire world is against us, I won’t let you go.”

“You’re so cheesy,” she sniffed into his shirt, but he could feel her smiling.

“I will steal all of the cheese in the world for you, sweetheart,” he , chuckling as she whacked him on the arm.

“Aww that hurt, baby,” he laughed and skipped out of range as she reached out to whack him again.

Growling playfully, she pounced for him as he danced in circles around her.

“Catch me, darling!” he yelled and started sprinting in the direction of her house.

“Oppa, don’t be so gross!” she whined as she chased him, Youngjae still giggling gleefully, relishing in the fact that she’d finally cheered up.

They arrived outside the gate to her house, panting heavily and covered in sweat, but smiling happily.

“I’ll walk you to your doorstep,” Youngjae ruffled her hair and buzzed the doorbell.

The gates swung open as the two walked inside. Youngjae marvelled at everything from the swan in the fountain to the well pruned bushes. Even though he had been coming here for the past half a decade, he still couldn’t get used to the glamour of her and Daehyun’s house.

“Looks like we’re here,” he gazed up at the main doors of her house. “I’ll be going now then, so if you need me you can call.”

As he turned to go, her hand caught hold of his jacket arm. He looked back at her questioningly.

“You forgot something,” she smiled playfully, before leaning in and gently connecting their lips together.

His eyes widened in surprise before closing slowly and his heart immediately raced. Somehow, he found himself enjoying the strangely familiar feeling of her soft lips against his. His hands automatically went up to her face as hers gripped his shoulders lightly. All he could smell was her orangey scent while all he could think of was how much greater this kiss was compared to the others, which were filled with bitter angst and red hot anger. This one tasted sweet and shy, innocent yet still as passion-filled as the previous two.

They broke apart slowly. Youngjae beamed widely, his heart still thumping like an elephant stomping.

“Goodnight,” Dari smiled shyly back, her cheeks tinged red, raising her hand in a half wave before running into the house.

Still grinning to himself, Youngjae practically skipped home.

Neither of them noticed the person three floors up staring at them, fingers clenched white against the rail of the window.

"Wow, where have you been?" Reader asks the peanut cowering in the corner.

"I... I've been busy," Peanut mumbles, hiding her stash of procrastination beneath her bum. 

Reader gets ready a baseball bat as Peanut closes her eyes, preparing herself for the -beating she will definitely receive in 3... 2... 

Seriously guys I'm sorry I will cry for all of you ;-; but I'm back! And alive! I've been writing!!! Honestly this has been sitting in my folder for like a year, I was just so caught up with school ugh it's horrid. School is painful. Thank you for all the love! I will finish this story I SWEAR!!!!!

Loving all of you :(

-Peanut