Chapter Text
Taehyung’s phone buzzes twice, he swears he turned it off when he started studying. Two text messages from Jimin.
“ hey taehyungie ”
“so hobi invited us to a party tomorrow, plsss come with me!!!!!!!!!”
Taheyung has zero intention of attending the party, but he replies anyways
“where is it?”
“okay dont be mad at me its at jungkooks, BUT I SWEAR WE WONT EVEN RUN INTO HIM, HE HAS A BIG HUGE ASS HOUSE. HE WONT EVEN KNOW THAT YOURE THERE PLSSS”
Jungkook was someone Taehyung liked to stay away from. Taehyung is not sure what he did to make Jungkook hate him so much, but he has decided just to stay away from him.
“I’ll let you know Jimin”
—-
Taehyung always got to his classes 20 minutes early, so he could go over the syllabus, and prepare himself for the lesson. He takes out his notebooks and anything else he may need for his class. Suddenly, there was a dark shadow hovering over Taehyung. He did not need to look up to know who it was, so he kept his eyes glued to his lap.
“Why are you always wearing the same three outfits? Are you poor or something?”
He didn’t answer.
“HEY! Im talking to you. Are you fucking deaf?”
“N-No, I um”
Jungkook grabs Taheyung by his hair pulling his head.
“Look at me when I'm talking to you”
“U-uh I’m sorry” Taehyung replies, tears forming in his eyes.
Jungkook loosens his grip on Taehyung’s hair but keeps his hand there, and his gaze softens “You know if you were a girl, you would probably be the prettiest girl in the room and that would probably mean you would be mine”. Jungkook eyes scan Taehyung's face as he pauses for a minute, his face suddenly turns sour “too bad you’re stuck looking this ugly”. Jungkook finally lets go and walks to his seat.
Soon the other students start piling into class taking their seats, and nobody sits next to Taehyung. His only friend on campus and his roommate, Jimin didn’t share any classes together.
The incident with Jungkook left Taehyung feeling shaken and vulnerable. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions before the class started. As the professor began the lesson, Taehyung struggled to focus. His mind kept replaying the hurtful words and actions of Jungkook. He wondered why someone could be so cruel and why he seemed to be the target of his hostility.
Throughout the class, Taehyung tried to keep his head down and avoid drawing attention to himself. He didn't want anyone to notice the tears that still lingered in his eyes. The bell finally rang, signaling the end of the class, and he hurriedly packed his belongings.
Jimin had been texting him about the party, but Taehyung couldn't shake off the impact of the encounter with Jungkook. He decided to skip lunch and spend some time alone in the campus garden, hoping to clear his mind. As he sat on a bench, surrounded by the beauty of nature, he found himself thinking about his life at the university.
He had always been shy and introverted, finding it difficult to make friends easily. Jimin had been one of the few people who had reached out to him and made an effort to be his friend. However, the incident with Jungkook was a painful reminder of the challenges he faced socially.
As he sat there, lost in thought, Jimin suddenly appeared, "There you are, Tae! I was worried when you didn't answer my texts," Jimin said, taking a seat beside him.
Taehyung managed a small smile. "Sorry, I just needed some fresh air."
Jimin looked at him with concern. "Is everything okay?"
Taehyung hesitated but he recounted the encounter with Jungkook, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to resurface. Jimin listened attentively, his expression growing angrier with every word.
"I can't believe he would do something like that! He's always been a jerk" Jimin said, his voice filled with indignation. "You don't deserve to be treated that way, Tae."
Taehyung appreciated Jimin's support, but he didn't want things to escalate further. "Let's just forget about it, Jimin. I'm used to dealing with people like him."
Jimin frowned but respected Taehyung's decision. "Alright, but promise me that you'll talk to me if anything like this happens again. And about the party, are you coming?"
Taehyung paused for a moment, weighing his options. "Okay, I'll come to the party. But let's leave early if things get uncomfortable."
Jimin smiled, relieved to see Taehyung opening up again. "Deal! It's going to be fun, I promise."
----------
Taehyung and Jimin headed back inside and parted ways as Jimin has a class in 10 minutes, and Taehyung has an hour-long break between his next class. He decided to sit in the library and go over his calendar, to see what assignments and tests he has coming up.
Taehyung found it hard to focus as the table a few rows over was a little too loud for a library. He was not surprised to find sitting at the table was Jeon Jeongguk and his equally unbearable and rude friends. Taehyung observed the people sitting there. Jeon Jeongguk is the most horrible person Taehyung has met, but it seems that Jeongguk is the golden boy in everyone else's eyes. Jungkok is your typical rich boy, and everything comes easy to him, money, grades, and popularity. Well, Taehyung has to work extra hard for everything. Also sat at the table was Park Seojoon, one of Jeongguk’s closest friends, and Jeongguk’s girlfriend of the month Kim Jennie.
There was one person there, who is the complete opposite of the people at the table, Hobi. He was someone Taehyung cared for a lot.
When Taehyung started college, he found himself without any friends. Fortunately, Jimin, his roommate, was the first person he met on campus. At first, Taehyung expected their relationship to be superficial, but as Jimin would later admit, he couldn't help but develop strong feelings of friendship and connection with Taehyung. They soon became inseparable and now, after nearly a year, Jimin is the closest friend Taehyung has ever had. Almost like soulmates.
Thanks to Jimin, Taehyung was introduced to a circle of new friends, including Namjoon, Jin, Yoongi, and Hobi. However, among them was also Jeongguk, who proved to be quite challenging to deal with at times. Despite that, Taehyung's bond with Jimin and the rest of the group has become an essential part of his college life.
Taehyung got along with the other boys perfectly fine, but Jeongguk never seemed to take a liking to Taehyung. The boys treat Taehyung with such kindness that it could melt his heart, but these days he barely spends time with them, as Jeongguk has made it clear, he does not want Taehyung around killing his vibe. So he only ever sees the other guys around campus, or if Jeongguk cancels plans with the group to hang out with his girlfriends, meaning Taehyung can go out with his friends without Jeongguk tormenting him.
The other boys know about Jeongguk's behavior, but no matter how much they scold him, he never listens. He tends to ease up on his teasing when he's around the guys, so they won’t yell at him but no matter what he knows they'll forgive him, no matter what.
Jimin and Jeongguk, along with the rest of the guys, attended the same high school and lived in the same neighborhood. Despite the age difference, they all became close friends and have remained so for nearly 6 years. However, Jimin is more loyal to Taehyung ever since they met. Whenever Taehyung decides to skip a group hangout due to Jeongguk's presence, Jimin will also stay back. And if Jeongguk ever speaks rudely to Taehyung, Jimin will react strongly, staying upset instead of easily forgiving like the other boys.
Taehyung really loved Jimin and the other guys, but Jeongguk had always been an asshole ever since they met. Although Taehyung and Jeongguk share the same friends, they can't seem to get along,
Taheyung finally snaps out of his thoughts and begins to work on one of the assignments when somebody takes a seat next to him. He looks up and is happy to see Hobi.
“Taehyungie” Hobi beams with excitement, wrapping his arms around Taehyung pulling him into a tight hug.
“Why are you sitting here by yourself?” Hobi questioned.
“I just really need to focus on my work” Taehyung answered.
“Ahh my little Taehyungie always studying so hard,” Hobi says laughing, “well you better finish up your work by tomorrow, because Jimin told me you're coming to Jeongguk’s party”
“Yea about that I have been thinking, Jeongguk doesn't even like me and I'm sure he wouldn't want me at his house” Taehyung explains.
“Oh don’t you worry about him, by the time you get there, he’ll already be drunk and too distracted to notice you're even there, plus Tae you haven't gone out with us in soo long, so you gotta come, the other boys and me would love to see you outside of school,” Hobi says with pleading eyes and a slight pout.
“Okay fine, as long your sure Jeongguk won't mind”
“Im 110% sure”
Hobi and Taheyung chatted for about 10 minutes more, before Hobi went back to his table, mentioning something about a big paper due. Taehyung watched as his hyung walked back to his seat, and caught Jeongguk's eyes staring daggers into him. Taehyung immediately looks away, but can still feel the eyes of the other on him. Eventually, Taehyung decided to leave and sit in a different part of the library. Taehyung begins to look around for a place to sit when he runs into Minho.
“Taehyung!” Minho beams.
Taehyung absolutely loved his Minho hyung. Minho was Taehyung’s friend first and then went on to meet the rest of the boys. Although they met first, he spend most of his time with the other boys but still makes time for Taehyung.
“You look nice today Taehyung” Taheyung blushes at the compliment, he won't lie, one of the reasons he even wanted to be the elder’s friend was that he was attracted to him.
“Thank you Minho Hyung” Taheyung smiles at Minho.
“You know I was going to text you today, to see if you wanted to grab some lunch tomorrow,” Minho asks.
“Yes! I mean…its sounds like a plan, where did you want to go?”
“Where else would take my Taehyungie if not his favorite Panda Express”
Taehyung was sure his face was red.
Minho brings his hand to Taehyung's face, brushing some strands of hair out of his face, “I'll text tomorrow okay?”
Taheyung nods his head and also watches Minho take his seat at the table where Jeongguk was, who still was staring draggers into Taehyung. This prompts Taehyung to walk away as quickly as possible,
He finally settles down in a quiet room in the corner of the library where nobody comes, except for a few students here and there.
Taheyung begins to start getting lost in his work. About 20 minutes go by when the door swings open.
Standing at the door, looking pissed off and ready to punch something or someone was Jeongguk.
Fuck.