Little Red Riding Jimin

"Well, this should be interesting.", she thought to herself as she put the freshly brewed pot of tea on the table. She glanced over to Ilse, who was hiding behind her camera as per usual, taking pictures not of the self-made sets on the breakfast table, but of the bedhair-donning Taehyung, sitting on the opposite of her. 

She chuckled, "It seems my dear roommate has taken a liking to you, Taehyung.". Taehyung shed her a kind smile, "I'm flattered.". His slender hand reached out to grab a piece of toast, his eyes not leaving the lens once, "However, I can't help but be curious who the person behind that camera is.". Ilse looked up from the ocular, blinking at him in surprise, before resuming her photo shoot. "She'll introduce herself.", the other chuckled as she took a sip of her tea. "In due time.", she added. Taehyung scoffed, "Introductions don't seem to be this house's forte.". She shot him an angry look and sighed, "I guess you're right. Thanks for bringing that up.". He shrugged, "Just saying.". She rolled her eyes at his nonchalance, "Just eat your breakfast. I've got to leave in a little less than an hour.". The rest of the morning meal was had in silence, broken only by the soft sound of Ilse's shutter snapping open and shut, open and shut again.

 

"Oh well, I need to go get ready.", she said as she slid back her chair, "I'd kick you out, but I honestly can't be bothered. Besides, you're more her -", she jerked her head in Ilse's direction,"- than my guest right now.". Taehyung chuckled, "I'm not sure which one I prefer.". She laughed and cleaned up her plate, "Play nice.". He feigned a hurt expression, "Don't I always?".

 

When she had washed and dressed herself, she checked her phone. By now, she'd lost track of how many times she had gone through this motion, met every single time with the same, disappointing result. He hadn't tried to contact her. She sighed as she grabbed her bag and left the apartment, leaving the pair at each other's mercy. 

When she got on the elevator, she silently prayed for it to go down seamlessly. Without having heard anything from Jimin and therefor having no clue on where they stood, she started off her day in an agitated manner. The rest of it was spent as nearly all of them had, before she had met him. Colleges, chit-chat, over-priced lunch at the university cafe, spending her afternoon doing supplementary research and coursework for extra credit. She sought her solace in distraction, putting herself in the hands of philosophers of ancient times. Sitting at the grand ebony table in the library, she thought back to the day she had blindly chased after what turned out to be a person she had falsely thought to be Jimin. "Where did my curiousity about him go?", she thought to herself, "Did having him close to me spoil me into thinking he was mine?". Her own thoughts surprised her. Did she want him to be hers exclusively? Her heart experienced a sharp stab at the thought of him being with another. Was she in love then? She chuckled at the preposterous idea. "People don't fall in love that easily.", she whispered to herself.

 

"Does that mean you are in love?", a voice behind her said, startling her. She turned around swiftly, looking directly into the understanding eyes of Seokjin. She laughed nervously, trying to think of a hasty explanation for her words, but nothing came to her. She sighed in defeat. "I might be. I don't know.", she mumbled. Seokjin graciously moved into the seat next to her.

He reached out inquisitively for the book on top of the pile she had gathered near her. He snickered when he read the title, "De Ira? 'About Anger', how fitting. Is it helping?". She eyed him in slight surprise, "You know Latin? More importantly, Seneca?". He smiled mysteriously, "You read some things, you learn some things..". She chuckled and ran a hand through her hair, "Either way. It's helping. A little. I'm just trying to understand..", she made an ambiguous gesture in the air, "things.". He put the book back down and patted her shoulder, "I'm all for studying, but how about you try to figure things out by talking to me and above all Jimin, instead of locking yourself up here?". She looked into his knowing eyes and could feel herself blushing faintly at his welcome words, "You could tell, huh? That sounds good though. I know a coffeehouse nearby." He got up and offered her his hand, "Lead the way.".

 

Fortunately, they arrived at her favourite coffee place right after the afternoon rush hour had ended. They were greeted by a blushing barista she'd learned to know as Rose. "Hi again! Will you be having your regular order?", the black-curled girl asked, stealing a glance at Seokjin. "I'm back again! Also, yes please.", she chuckled and looked over at Seokjin, "Anything I can get you?". Seokjin quickly viewed the chalkboard menu, "I'll have the green tea latte.". Rose nodded and smiled warmly, "Coming right up!".

She led him to her usual table in the back corner and let herself fall back into the large, leather seat. They sat in silence for a while, when she finally spoke up, "So.. To be completely honest, I don't really know what to tell you.". Seokjin looked up at her and shrugged his shoulders, "That's not a problem. How about we start with you telling me about how the two of you met?". She suppressed laughter, thinking back to the night she had seen him stumble through the darkness, "Sure, I can do that. It all started when I went out for a smoke and he got home drunk.."

 

Seokjin nodded along to her story, giving small input here and there, chuckling when hearing anecdotes about s' antics. He frowned once the story came to the matter of Taehyung, "I still don't understand why he decided to do all this.". She sighed, "My guess is he was just bored. That doesn't validate his actions, but I just.. I don't think he understands the hurt he caused.". Seokjin shook his head in defeat, "I don't think I will ever understand that kid.". In the corner of his eye, he saw Rose walking in their direction, focusing hard not to drop or spill anything on the tray she carried. He turned around and chuckled softly at the sight of the girl, biting her lip in concentration. He turned back to his conversational partner and was met with a suspicious grin, "Isn't Rose cute?". Seokjin pursed his lips nonchalantly, "She is certainly knowledgeable on teas and I suppose she possesses an innocent kind of charm.". She smirked at his words, taking note of the way his eyes seemed to track back to her. Rose put the tray down on their table with absolute care, gracefully serving the chamomile tea she had suggested to the pair. When she replied to their thanks with a soft smile, she couldn't help but be let her gaze be drawn to Seokjin's lips, as he took a sip of his tea, anticipating his reaction. "It tastes great, Rose. Thank you very much.", Rose's eyes shot over to the woman, pulled out of the spell she had seemingly been under. Rose nodded nervously and thanked her before walking away quickly. 

 

The pair staked out at the cafe for while, enjoying their tea and each other's company, content with having discussed the recent events that had stirred their little world. As they left the place, after thanking Rose repeatedly for giving them a discount, they walked back to the apartment together, continuing their conversation on philosophy. She had found out just that day that Seokjin was in fact attending the same university, as he came to know that she was another candidate for the university's prestigious studying abroad program. He blinked at her in surprise, "But then what about Jimin?". She sighed, "Well, as much as I have liked him so far and I do care for him, really, I feel that I shouldn't let my future be tied down by a relationship.". She twiddled with her thumbs a little before adding, "Especially with how things are now.". He put an arm around her shoulder, "Either way, let's figure things out one by one.". She laughed at his encouragement and swung her arm around his waist, "Amen to that.". They fooled around for a while, walking through the park, playfully trying to trip one another. The relaxed atmosphere calmed her down, giving her new faith that things would work out. She was about to yell at Seokjin to warn him to step up his game, when she spotted a figure standing on a first floor balcony. She looked up and registered his familiar features in the blink of an eye. Jimin turned around, barging back into the apartment. She froze and as Seokjin tried to gain her attention, she mumbled, "Oh .", before darting off to the entrance, flying up the stairs and running straight to his front door. She pounded it repeatedly, desperately hoping to get him to open up, let her explain and most importantly, work out whatever had built up between them, "Jimin, I know you're in there! Open up so we can talk!"

 

The frequency of her knocking slowly dropped at the absence of a response from the apartment. She slumped down the wall next to the door after completely giving up and could feel the knot in her stomach growing every second that passed without a sound. Finally, a click was heard and the door opened. She shot up and was about to start her waterfall of explanations when she realised she was looking right in the eyes of Jeongguk. "I'm sorry, would you mind coming back later?", the boy said to her, his voice matching his icy stare. She quivered at his gaze, taken aback by his hostile stature. She regained her composure and stared back at him, determined to stay until she had spoken to Jimin, "In fact, I do mind. This has gone too far already. Now you either step aside and let me in or I will force my way in.". Jeongguk blinked at her, surprised by her stubborn stance. Tension slowly built between them, neither willing to give in to the other's demands. 

 

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