“Oppa” Hani sat by him in the courtyard and tilted her head. Her eyes shone with slight pain and Hoseok caught a glimpse of the small child that she used to be before she moved away. Actually, if he hadn’t known about her past life, he would have never been a friend to her. But ever since he learnt that Hani was neglected at home, he couldn’t help but feel pity for her. She was as neglected as he was pressured, and he found it almost ironic how they both had successful parents with different demeanors. On the other hand, he wouldn’t have minded being in Hani’s place. At least without his parents on his back all the time, he’d have the time alone for himself, time to grow for himself, and the ability to become what he wanted to without anyone to protest against his biggest dreams and ambitions. 

“You remember this?” She pulled out her necklace from the depths of her neck, and the blue-black stone shone in the sunlight, glinting with specks of white as the boy gazed at it with remembrance dawning on him. 

“You gave it to me” Hani smiled, putting it back in its place. “It was the magic stone that made us friends” 

He nodded. She had been crying that day, and he had leant his shoulder for her to lean on to. It had been the times where innocent and naïve Hoseok had let a girl close to his personal space, and the experience had been as refreshing as crystal water on a hot summer’s day. The boy had found that particular stone earlier that day, but when he saw her tears, he couldn’t bring himself to comfort her, seeing as he didn’t know what to do. Instead, he gave it to her and told her that it would protect her whenever she felt like she needed to hold onto something. 

“I’m sorry you had to be stuck to me, oppa” she gave a false laugh with bitterness like coffee. 

The boy looked upon her with a frown “Yah, don’t think like that” 

“What? It’s true” She let out a half-chuckle “If it weren’t for me, maybe you’d have a girlfriend by now” 

Not a word left J-Hope’s lips, but instantly his thoughts drew to Soa. The reason was unknown to why, but it annoyed him that everything reminded his subconscious of her even though he wasn’t doing anything to trigger it. 

“Oppa” 

Shifting his gaze and attention back to Hani, he pushed the thought of Soa aside for now. “Hm?” 

“I don’t know how to tell you this…” Hani took a huge gulp of air and turned to him with shimmering eyes “But…Soa told me that she wanted you to stay away from her” 

What? 

His blood ran cold; his heart literally froze as he gazed at the girl with a frown furrowed onto his fac. Maybe to Hani, she couldn’t see anything that disturbed him. But behind all that stony façade was his sudden shock and crumbling feelings that fell apart at the mention of Soa not wanting to have anything to do with him. What was she talking about? It couldn’t be true, he thought to himself, he had just seen her yesterday, and everything had been fine! Why the sudden change of mind now?! His heartstrings pulled and were getting wrenched out of his chest, his muscle pulsing with pain and numerous patches of wounds that were slowly opening up. 

“Oppa, gwenchanayo?” 

He nodded robotically, not really listening to her banter when she continued talking. Instead, his thoughts were stuck on one and only individual; Kang Soa. 

He hated himself for being so weak.

And he hated it more because he couldn’t understand what the hell was happening to him. 

From a distance, an unknown individual hid against the wall, panting hard and looking up at the ceiling with that desperate look in their eyes. Raking a hand through their hair, the particular person looked back to see Hani suddenly clamp her gaze on them, and instantly shrunk back against the shadows as the breath got caught in their throat. Quickly, as silent as a snake but as smooth as a feline, they made their way to the other side of the building with just one thought in mind. 

One needed to protect Soa. 

-----------

A sigh left Soa’s lips for the millionth time that day, gazing out of the library window while Jungkook was next to her, raking his big hands through his thick midnight hair as he tried to comprehend the text and the way he’s supposed to analyze it. When the boy looked up to catch Soa’s melancholic look in her eyes, he softened, worry taking over his thoughts for the girl. 

Tentatively, he reached out to place a hand on her shoulder “Hey, are you okay? You seem distracted” 

The girl turned to him and the look was gone a second later, like it had never been there to start with. “Huh?” 

“Is something bothering you?” 

“No.” She hadn’t planned on blurting it out so bluntly, but then felt bad when she noticed the hurt across his face. “I mean, it’s okay” 

But then her lips pressed into a tight, thin line when she muttered “can I ask you something?’ 

“Sure.” the young boy looked at her curiously; worry swimming at the border of his irises. 

“I..How are you supposed to know w-when you l-like someone?” 

Jungkook blinked.
Once, then twice. 

Then gasped at Soa with a grin that was threatening to break out of his face, almost splitting in two. His teeth dug into his lower lip so as not to upset the girl, but she was sharp. She knew when Jungkook was about to make fun of her, and instantly retreated into her shell of protection. “Stop laughing!”

“B-But-“ He spluttered and kept on laughing, cheeks hurting from the huge grin that wouldn’t wipe off his face no matter what. “-Omg, S-Soa – AHAHAH-Soa is asking me that” 

“Stop-Stop it!” with little pride left, the girl punched his arm forcefully. Her cheejs were threatening to stay the scarlette color she was sporting if he continued like this. After Jungkook had calmed down from his laughing fit and was in his right mind to answer her, he turned to Soa with a soft gaze.

“Do you think you’re in love, Soa?” 

More than annoyed, the latter huffed and looked away in annoyance. How dare he make fun of her when of all times, she was trying to be serious?! Why? Couldn’t she ask about love as well? What made him so surprised that he had to humiliate her for more than she had ever been humiliated?! 

“No, but seriously” Hiding his snigger behind his fist, he scooted his chair closer and whispered in her ear “Is this about Hoseok hyung?” 

“N-NO! Bull!” the roaring fire of red blazing across her whole face was so entertaining that if Jungkook had been with the rest of BTS, the girl wouldn’t have been able to make it through their teasing alive and whole. No matter what words were sprouting of Soa’s mouth, Jungkook was aware of her growing feelings for his older friend, and he couldn’t help but smile at the thought. From the day they had met, he knew there would have been something happening sooner or later between those two, and to say that he wasn’t excited to see his hyung happy again was a big fat understatement. 

He couldn’t wait to tease both of them when they would start dating each other. Seriously. 

“Haha okay okay, mianhae” He let out one last laugh before replying “So … you wanna know if you love Hoseok hyung?” 

“I didn’t say that” She scowled. 

“But you implied it” 

She rolled her eyes “Are you going to help me or not?” 

“Sure” Jungkook smiled at her frustrated expression. “Okay well..actually I don’t really know much about it” He confessed a bit sheepishly, scratching the back of his head while the girl groaned in annoyance and buried her face in her arms, mumbling something about him being useless to her if he was going to act like this. 

“But hey, from what I’ve heard from Namjoon hyung,” Jungkook continued, trying to ignore the glare that was getting darker and darker on the girl’s face. “Infatuated people usually think a lot about the person in question. He said that when he first met his first love, he felt like he couldn’t breathe when she was around” 

That sounded mildly familiar to Soa, but wasn’t that just physical attraction? 

“But when you’re really in love, and I quote from him “ he even raised his fingers into quotation marks “You begin to recognize their inner energy, the scent of their skin, their scent. You’re only focused on the essence of the person, not the shell. Unquote” 

His cheeks were tainted, as red as Soa’s by the time he finished, and when he turned to meet her gaze shyly she couldn’t resist from bursting into loud and happy laughter. The kind of laughter that made you want to smile and was filled with bubbles and rainbows and everything that seemed to emit joy. Jungkook had heard her laugh before, but this was entirely different. Soa looked nice when she laughed, more human somehow, and much more approachable than her usual pokerfaced exterior. Catching onto her good feelings, he broke out into soft chuckles himself. 

“Is that what you learn from your friends?” Her eyes twinkled with amusement “you guys are funny” 

“That’s what he said! Don’t ask me!” 

“Didn’t you just invent that yourself?” Soa replied with a snort. “Wouldn’t be surprised if you did” 

“Yah, I’m helping you and that’s what I get back?” Jungkook proceeded to nudge her shoulder in an amiable manner, to which she replied with a harsher nudge.
“Anyway,” He continued, folding his hands in front of him and leaning his elbows onto the table “What’s he trying to say is that you tend to recognize that person’s scent, and his usual aura. Somehow you know, and it makes you want to be close to him” 

That left Soa as confused as ever. While returning home, she continued to dwell on Jungkook’s words, munching them over and over inside her brain and trying to extort some information that could help her out of it. Actually speaking, she was quite frustrated about that abstract definition, because that only left her with more questions. She had already embarrassed herself in front of Jungkook, now what was she to do? She couldn’t possibly go and ask all of BTS, they’d surely make fun of her! Her hands reached up to her hair and grasped her strands in annoyance, Argh! I thought I was supposed to live a normal life! There’s nothing normal about this! She thought to herself in dismay. 

She almost got the shock of her life when she turned to her doorstep and saw Hoseok leaning against the door to her flat. 

“What are you doing here?” She let the frown darken her face. To her utter fear, her nose instantly wrinkled at the smell of Hoseok’s perfume wafting towards her in agonizing waves. 

He lazily took off his weight from the door, his eyes dark and unwavering “What the is your problem?” 

Soa’s frown deepened “What?” 

“Why the do you want me to stay away?” 

She blinked in confusion “I never- who told you that?” 

“Hani did” He finished for her. The girl’s heart reeled at the name. Hani? Why would Hani do such a thing? She grumbled to herself in shock. Something was wrong, and Soa could feel it. Hoseok didn’t seem like the one who had kissed her so tenderly last night, this gentle Hoseok was gone. Now, all there was seemed to be the angry and a little more than bipolar J-Hope. She didn’t like it one bit how quickly he could jump to conclusions without even asking her anything or clarification. 

“Damn it Soa!” He threw a fist at the wall in anger while she watched in horror as the sound of his knuckles cracked. However, her anger had taken the toll on her body. She was sick of him trying to assume things when all he did was just mess everything up. Did he even know half of the story? She hadn’t even said that to Hani, it didn’t even pass by her mind to stay away from Hoseok, and the fact that he believed instantly Hani’s words showed exactly on which side he was on. 

“You’re such a ing jerk, you know that?” She wretched out of with spite. 

He turned his anger-filled eyes upon her “I was trying so hard with you, and you just push me away every-ing-time!” 

“What? You think that just because Hani told you so?!” 

“Hani wouldn’t ing lie” He gritted his teeth together, slowly grinding them in order not to lose his temper “you’re the one who’s a bipolar ” 

“YOU DON’T EVEN ING KNOW HALF OF THE STORY!”

He froze at her loud tone. Never, never had he heard Soa’s voice explode like that. Her light soprano boomed through the walls like wildfire, and when he turned to look at her, for the first time in his life, his heart lurched upon seeing her tears sparkling through her maroon orbs. Soa didn’t cry, he knew that much. She was a strong girl, someone that wouldn’t break down at the simplest little obstacle that came her way. The only time he had seen her cry was because of her past life, and that was something quite reasonable. But right now, the fact that her tears were spilling out because of him. It made him feel really bad, and guilt didn’t take it’s sweet time to wash over his nerves and numbing all his anger senses. Taking a step in her direction, everything about him softened as he reached out. All he wanted was for her to stop crying, because otherwise he didn’t know how he would feel to see her shed those beautiful crystal jewels because of someone as unworthy as him. 

“I’ll ing kill you if you come any closer!” She screamed, nostrils flaring and red. “You’re a ing bastard, Jung Hoseok! That’s what you are!” Biting her lip so hard it started to bleed, what the boy wished to do was just hug her with everything he had. He knew it was a bad timing, but somehow his gaze got stuck to her lips once they sprung from her teeth, red and cherry-soft. Soa took a deep breath and pushed him away from her door “ Believe Hani, fine! She’s always your first choice, right!? I’m just a sad with a bad past!” 

“Soa, wait-“ 

“-NO!” She slapped his hand away when he tried to reach for her. Her eyes weren’t showcasing anger anymore, but just desperation, devastation, and most of all…. like she was a broken being. 

Soa twisted her door open, and entered it, casting one last look at the shocked boy before murmuring loud enough for his ears to hear “And I thought we were starting to become friends” She chuckled darkly “I’m always just ms. Second placer, right?” 

And before he could mutter anything else, she slammed the door in his face. 

Hello hello!~
I know I haven't been updating everyday recently, but yeah it took me some time into figuring out how this chapter was to be delivered, so I hope you're happy with the outcome. If not, I'm sorry >< 

HOW'S THE CHAPPIE? :D HEHEHEEH DRAMA DRAMA DRAMAAAA OMGGG DO YOU GUYS KNOW HOW I HAD TO RESTRAIN FROM JUST MAKING THEM HAVE  A HOT MAKEOUT SESSION AGAINST THE DOOR CAN YOU LIKE IMAGINE HOBI JUST.....ARGHHHHH! I think I should start a oneshot series just to release my frustrations of fluffiness :3 Don't worry guys! Everything will become fluffy and light and cute soon! AND WHEN I SAY BE READY, REALLY BE READY FOR IT MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA XD 

What do you think's gonna happen next? :) Comment down below! <3

As usual, thanks for the support guys! the comments make my day, literally:) <3 Im so happy to have all of you :)~ I love you all~ <3