16 15. Fall

Monday, 16th. March. 2015.

As I looked up the aisle I caught sight of Jungkook. He looked effortlessly cool despite only wearing a plain black hoodie. When he spotted me, his eyes widened, and he waved his hand at me to come over. I glanced aside to see intense scrutiny from that group of girls upon me.

But, as I looked back at Jungkook, he was moving his bag off the chair beside him… Had he been saving that seat just for me?

I felt queasy at the thought of ignoring him after he'd saved me a space beside him… Could I really do such a heartless thing?

I took a deep breath and went over, trying to push aside my worries about any possible repercussions for later.

"Hey, how was your weekend?" He asked, smiling plainly as he pulled out the seat for me.

"Yeah, it was good. I was hanging out with some of your group members." Taking up his offer, I sat down. I put my bag down on the floor in between us.

"Oh, right, they mentioned seeing you. Jiminie showed me a flower you gave him" Jungkook fiddled with the pen in his hand. It was kinda hard to tell, but I felt like there was something more he wanted to say.

"He showed that to you?" I asked, wondering if he'd shown anyone else or if it was only him.

As I noticed Jungkook purse his lips and tilt his head aside shyly, it hit me. Did he think there was something going on between Jimin and me? It wasn't a big deal, right? It was just a flower.

"Mm. Yeah, he showed me. It was cute, kinda wish I had one…" He mumbled, scratching at the side of his neck. My memory floated back to the initials he'd scribbled in his book.

"Oh… Does your girlfriend press flowers, by any chance?" But, as Jungkook sat back, the mood shifted, leading me to believe perhaps I'd said something wrong.

"I don't have one," he said plainly, sparing a glance in my direction.

"Sorry… I just thought…" I quickly tried to apologise, but he brushed it off as he broke into a thin smile, perfectly white front teeth peeking through his parted bow lips.

"It's ok. There is someone I like, though. You're not wrong about that…" He nodded alongside his words.

The teacher came in, cutting off our conversation before I could say anything else. As the lecture went on, it was getting harder and harder to concentrate with the intensive pressure I felt coming from certain onlookers.

I knew Jungkook had good intentions and, that for the most part, the girls were always seated behind Jungkook, conveniently out of his direct line of sight.

So, I was under the impression he hadn't seen the full extent of it. But, even so, it only set off anxiety in me which grew over the span of the class. At first, it was like a tiny knot in my stomach. Now and again, I'd glance at Jungkook's side profile, the way his dark hair framed his face, the metal glints of his multiple earrings. Two little beauty spots on his thick neck. But just behind him lay heavy glares. Wringing that tiny knot tighter and tighter until it twisted in my stomach like some awful premonition.

Jungkook sent me questioning glances at noticing my discomfort, even leaning in closely beside my ear and asking if I was alright. With a nod of my head, I told him I was fine. His silent-filled state afterwards held doubt. But all I wanted to do was for the class to end so I could get out of there.

Soon enough, the time came. I said a hurried goodbye to Jungkook and left. Out of there with the first wave of people exiting the room. My anxiety loosened for a moment, but, at the bittersweet echo of my name being called from one of those girls from behind, it tightened back up instantly.

Damn it. Seriously?

I didn't look back. Instead, I made a sharp turn up the stairs in an attempt to lose her and anyone else who may have been following me.

Panic filled me. I needed to get away. The first thing I saw was the door to the balcony, the same one I'd retreated through the first time. I rushed to it, yanked it open, but the sound of footsteps closed in.

"What the fuck. Where do you think you're going? I thought we told you to stay away from Jungkook. And now you're sitting with him?" The black-haired girl pushed her way out straight after me, followed by her ensemble of nastily dressed girls.

My breath caught in my throat. The surrounding air was different, more sinister. I could feel it heavy as they rushed forward. Leaving me nowhere to escape.

I backed up until I hit the concrete of the balcony. Leaving me pinned in this shrinking, dangerous space.

The breeze is cold on my face. It's strong from the height we are at. With every step closer, the lower my stomach sank.

"Niah, careful. She might fall~" One of them cackled. But it wasn't a joke. The glint of malice flashed at her friend's suggestion, sending chills of ice down my spine.

"Yeah right. That'd be such a shame. Everyone would just think you jumped, you know," Her arms raised, reaching out to push me. I put my hands up to try and push her away, but then my world came to a halt.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" I glanced in horror down the stairs to see Yoongi. His eyes were dark as voids as he stared at Niah. With each step closer Yoongi took up the stairs, I felt the fear shift. His aura grew colder, more so than the breeze hitting the back of my neck.

I let out a shaky breath as Yoongi reached the top, piercing gaze now at eye level with us. My legs weakened beneath me, but I couldn't move as the events unfold before me.

"Yoongi Sunbae-nim. I think you have it all wrong, we're just talking" The brunette behind speaks up. Yoongi's hefty gaze shifts from Niah to her.

"I don't give a shit what your excuse is. Girls like you are what I hate most. Disgusting." Yoongi harshly spat on the floor beside their feet, causing them to flinch.

"If I see you anywhere near her again, I'll file a harassment lawsuit and get you blacklisted from my company. Good luck seeing Jungkook ever again" Yoongi's words were spat like venom. The girls, obviously shaken, apologised and quickly shuffled away.

It wasn't until a moment's silence passed that I realised at some point I'd stopped breathing, and, to compensate, I hyperventilated. I clutched my chest and bent forward, unable to focus on anything else.

"Jia, try to calm down. It's okay. I'm here" Arms enveloped me, my cheek meeting the soft cotton of his grey hoodie. My heaving breaths lessened as his hands worked their way up and down my back.

"Yoongi… I was so scared." My bottom lip quivered, tears threatening to spill hotly from the corners of my eyes.

Had I been within seconds of being pushed off a balcony? My mind twists at reality.

The two of us stayed huddled together until I'd calmed down. Afterwards, Yoongi strongly insisted on walking me home.

It was for the best. I just couldn't see how I could focus on class after something like that.

Yoongi walked me right up to my front door, lingering and hesitant about leaving me. But, by now, I felt better and reassured him it was okay. He picked at his bottom lip worriedly before asking me for a copy of my class timetable.

Upon asking why his response was firm. He wanted to be sure that someone would accompany me the next few days, just to be sure I was kept safe.

I usually would've declined, but the truth was I'd been scared out of my mind at that moment. So, I texted him a copy. He'd lingered for a moment before he'd left. It was so hard for me to read what was going on behind the depths of his almost onyx eyes.

I went back into my apartment and shut the door behind me. Waves of uncertainty washed over as I leaned against the door, eventually bringing me to a heap on the floor.

___________________________

Memories - Jungkook's Piece:

Present Day

I struggled to keep up as Jia left class. She seemed fine at first, but the way she rushed off, something was undoubtedly wrong.

What had changed?

Why was she suddenly acting so weird?

Was it because of me?

I noticed a group of girls follow her up the stairs and thought a door out to the fire escape. I pushed past people in the hall and up the stairs to try and catch up with them. But, at the sight of cracking open that door, my feet refused to move.

That band of girls who incessantly followed me around had Jia backed up against the balcony.

Fuck. I need to stop them and fast.

Just as I was about to burst forward, a familiar voice stopped me. It was Yoongi Hyung.

I hesitated, glancing back at Jia. She was terrified, on the verge of tears. I'd seen that look before, and it was the one I hated seeing the most.

As I listened to Hyung threaten those girls, my stomach dropped at the mention of my name. Was this because of me somehow?

I ducked out of the way to not be seen as the girls ran back through the door and down the stairs. My brain was working overtime.

Was that the reason Jia had been so uncomfortable in class? Had those girls been harassing her?

How did I not notice earlier?

Letting out a shaky breath, I peered back outside. Yoongi Hyungie was holding Jia in a tight hug. My emotions swirled, a mixture of relief that she was safe, and guilt that I'd been the reason for her hurt.

I had it all so picture perfect in my head, so happy she was back. That I'd been given another chance to make things right this time.

But how did it become like this again?

I hate this.

Hate all my flaws.

Hate that I couldn't protect her before.

I'd convinced myself the next time around it'd be different, but… no, it wasn't. I hate everything right now.