Chapter Text
Everyone has their own preferences. If you are male, liking someone means looking at their face first, their legs, maybe their chest. Physical appearances is the first thing they sought. That’s undeniable.
What else is there to love?
It’s human nature to judge after appearance. It’s not only male, but also female. Everyone ignores the things they can’t see.
Like, heart…
A sigh escaped Taehyung’s mouth, as he looked outside the window, observing the commotion of students from his seat in his classroom. He twirled the pen on his hand and yawned.
Self-study period is so boring, makes me so sleepy, thought Taehyung.
A couple of girls waved at him from outside the window, and he smiled back, even waved at them. Those girls giggled and squealed upon his wave-reply, though Taehyung really knew what they were saying. They are all the same. He’s so cute! Look at his boxy smile! He knew what those girls were saying about him, and it didn’t flatter him anymore.
Being the art club president sure has its perks, he thought. He had been chosen by his club members as the president even though he wasn’t the best artist in the club. He must admit he was the most expressive member and always dared to show his feelings on his drawings. Or maybe his club members chose him because he was a girl magnet, boy magnet too, and attracted many students to join the club.
Taehyung knew people were superficial here, like they care to know what people could be underneath their appearance. So everybody knew him in this school, everyone knew who he was, but, well, not really.
“Those girls don’t like ‘me’ as a person.” He thought out loud, as the rest of his classmates were busy with their own things. Rather, it’s all about my face.
Suddenly, a book hit Taehyung’s head, as a sneer could be heard from his back.
“That hurts!” Taehyung whined, turning his body to the said person. “Jimin? Why did you hit me?
Park Jimin, the famous vice-president of dance club, is Taehyung’s so-called-bff. They had been friends since Jimin helped him to find the auditorium as he was late to attend the opening ceremony. Then, they had been stuck just like Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez (I AM THE SELENA GOMEZ ONE OKAY, said Jimin once they heard what other students called them).
“Taehyung, you…” Jimin crossed his tiny arms in front of his chest, looking at his best friend as if he was the most oblivious human in the earth.
“Did you hit me with literature book just now?” Taehyung was still rubbing his aching head. The Literature Handbook is the heaviest text book he had ever seen and that Park fucking Jimin just hit him with that. It gonna a leave big bump later, thought Taehyung.
“You did, didn’t you? How scary.”
Jimin leaned down toward Taehyung and poked his precious face using a pen on Taehyung’s table.
“Taehyung, it’s all because your face is a scam.” said Jimin straight-forwardly as he took a seat behind Taehyung and rolled his eyes on him.
“What the hell Park Jimin.” Taehyung said, clearly annoyed. His best-friend was as frank as him, but the other would tend to go overboard. The saying Kids say the darnedest thing suited his best friend, well, also the kid part.
“Well, it’s true. It’s because you do unrefined things like yawning out loud with a good-looking face like yours. You are so handsome but the partners you’re with always dump you in a flash, you know?”
Taehyung turned his chair and sat comfortably in front of Jimin as he continued. “You should have taken care of things like that.”
“Yeah, yeah I get it.” Taehyung pouted at Jimin. “It’s not actually my fault either.”
“You never listen to my advice Tae. If you go on like that, that Kim Minjae is going to fall out of love with you pretty soon.” said Jimin. “Or even today.”
Taehyung gave Jimin his best smile and ruffled his best friend’s hair. “Thanks for your concern Jimjam, but I already got dumped.”
Jimin stared at Taehyung, seeing no sadness or whatsoever on his best friend expression.
“… When?”
“Yesterday.”
Taehyung chuckled, “He told me that I wasn’t the person he thought I was.”
“There didn’t I tell you so?”
“They are all always like that.” Taehyung sighed. “They are always the one who confess to me and then they get all disappointed when they know the real me.”
“You can’t blame them Tae.” said Jimin. “They like you because of your face. See, you have your angelic face when you’re walking past the others. Then you have your serious face when you’re painting. Heck, even your whiny face is cute.”
“Stop it Jimothy. You might fall in love with me.” Taehyung winked at Jimin, teasing him.
“You wish! I will never be fooled by your face, Perfect Boy Taemothy!” Jimin said as he crunched his nose, pretending to be disgusted over his friend words.
“Perfect boy only exist in books and TV drama. They should’ve realise about that already.”
Taehyung stood up and put his arms around Jimin’s neck. “I’ll be lucky if I can get someone as realistic as you Jiminnie.”
Jimin put his arms around his best friend’s waist and said “Then, do you want to try dating me?”
A pair of hands pried them two and they looked after their assaulter.
“Yoongi-hyung…” Taehyung grinned sheepishly.
“Stop this rom-com bullshit and don’t touch Jimin like that” he grunted.
Jimin pulled Yoongi to sit together with him and hugged him. “Aww Hyung. Taehyung is just joking. He just broke up with that Kim Minjae, you know.”
“Again? Well, I expected that already.”
Taehyung whined again. “So cruel! What do you mean by that Hyung!”
“Anyway Tae, Hoseok and I were ordering pizza earlier. But teacher called him and I’m lazy to wait outside. If you want some, go wait for it.”
“Why me? Why not Jimin?!”
Yoongi encircled his arm around Jimin’s waist and smirked. “Because I have something to do with him. Right Jimin-ah?”
Whatever. Taehyung snorted at the couple. He went on and trod towards the school gates. He leaned against the tall wall lonesome when he reached the school gates, waiting for the delivery boy to come. He put on his headphone, pretending to listen to music so no one would come up to him. He wasn’t in the mood to entertain anyone right now.
“That’s the art club president right? He looks so handsome!” Taehyung heard a girl gushed to her companion as they walked past him, controlling the urge to roll his eyes. Instead, he acted nonchalantly and continued standing there with eyes downcast, putting his hand inside his pocket as he eavesdropped on the two girl’s gushing.
“Yeah that’s Kim Taehyung. He looks so cute standing there by himself.”
“He’s the only reason I attend the art club exhibition. He’s the best!”
“Oh, but do you know now there’s another cute guy in the art club?”
“That’s impossible! No one could beat Kim Taehyung!”
“I’m not saying he is cuter, but he is really handsome and gives cool guy vibes.”
“Are you talking about that freshman? The one that called ‘Golden-artist’?”
“Exactly! And his name is Jeon Jeongguk. Ugh even his name sounds cool.”
The two girls went inside the school, away from Taehyung’s earshot. He frowned as he took of his headphones. So people were talking about that freshman. Well, even Taehyung agreed to everything those girls said.
Jeon Jeongguk was only a freshman but he was already popular. He’s multitalented. He’s one of the dance crew member in dance club with Jimin and Hoseok, and also the golden member of art club. Everything he painted became masterpiece and always won an award. And it didn’t hurt that guy is good-looking too. And that he’s tall. Taehyung was two years older than him yet the kid had the same height as him, and maybe a centimetre taller than him. Damn.
Yet, the thing that attracted people towards him the most was a quirk that Jeon Jeongguk had when it came to his love life. Nobody knew why the golden artist was doing it, but they sure were curious as hell.
So, Jeon Jeongguk was known to say yes to the first person to confess to him on Mondays, only to break it off with that person on Sundays. It was a cycle every girl and even boy in school was looking forward to. It was a mystery that everyone was intrigued about.
Taehyung was so deep in his own thoughts that he didn’t see that a pink convertible driven by a very beautiful man had parked right in front of him. Just then, then man who Taehyung had been thinking about had gotten off the car, his jet black hair tousled by the wind. The younger man nodded briefly towards the man in the car before turning to walk towards the school.
In that very moment, their eyes met. They had known each other because of the art club and it was obvious the younger man recognized him. Jeongguk slung his bag on his shoulder as he smiled at Taehyung, a smile that could be regarded as a smirk. “Good morning, Sunbae.”
Jeongguk had always caused a stir with that good-looking face of his, Taehyung thought to himself as he nodded at Jeongguk in greeting. “You’re late for school, hoobae.”
Jeongguk answered with slight smile and a scratch on his head.
This guy sure thinks he’s cool, Taehyung thought as he looked at the younger guy curiously. Well, Taehyung couldn't deny that Jeongguk emitted really cool charms but without pretenses or affectations, like he didn't need to try to act like he's awesome. From his black, bushy hair that the other seemed to keep uncombed, to his fair complexion, to the neat way he wore his uniform and the way he walked, Jeongguk seemed to have everything done effortlessly. And that's not to mention Jeongguk's reputation as golden-artist and genius dancer.
Taehyung shook his head. Why am I thinking of this guy anyway?
"So." Taehyung started, saying the first thing that came to his minds just to stop himself from thinking, "That beautiful man who drove you here, is he your boyfriend for this week?"
Jeongguk seemed startled, yet he still smiled. "I didn't know even Sunbae knows of that.” he said.
"Yeah, I heard some girls talking about it.” Taehyung answered nonchalantly. "But your new boyfriend, he looks kinda old for you." he added, earning a chuckle from the other.
"It's true! He looks a little over 20.” Taehyung defended, but felt a little guilty as an afterthought, since he shouldn't be talking about that man in a frank way if he was Jeongguk's boyfriend, he might get offended.
"He's not my boyfriend, Sunbae" Jeongguk answered, seemingly not affected with what Taehyung said.
"Oh.” Taehyung uttered, not really knowing how to continue with the conversation. It would be interesting to know who Jeongguk's next girlfriend or boyfriend would be, if he still didn't have one. Taehyung checked the time, and it was just 9:00 a.m. A little early for them to confess, if anyone would ask me, Taehyung thought.
"What are you doing here, Sunbae?" Jeongguk broke the silence, and Taehyung wondered why the other hasn't gone inside the school yet.
"I'm waiting for the delivery guy, my friends and I ordered pizza.” Taehyung answered, though his thoughts were not on what they were talking about.
"Hey, so you don't have anyone for this week yet?" he asked, since he was so curious he couldn't stop himself.
Jeongguk laughed with what Taehyung asked. "Talk about being random.” the other commented.
"Yeah, well I'm a random kind of guy.” Taehyung answered deprecatingly. "So, do you?" he asked again, intending to know the answer.
"No one has confessed to me yet today.” Jeongguk answered honestly, matter-of-factly, like being confessed to be the most natural thing in the world.
"Hmm, so it starts today huh?" Taehyung thought out loud. This weird habit of Jeongguk, Taehyung really found it interesting; he wanted to know why the other was doing it, why was he say yes to anyone who would ask him, only to break up with them?
"Then, would anyone be alright as long as they confess? What if they aren't your type?" Taehyung asked, but he knew the more he asked, the more curious he got.
"Well, I don't know.” Jeongguk said, seemingly thoughtful. "No one would really know their type just by looking at them, wouldn't they?" the other answered back.
"But what type of face do you like?" Taehyung asked insistently. He was now only driven by his eagerness to know more.
Jeongguk paused for a while, contemplating his answer, looking at his foot as he did so. And then after a while, he shrugged and said, "Looks don't really matter to me. Gender too."
"Really." Taehyung muttered, not believing what Jeongguk said. This person surely must have a sort of standard when it comes to his partner, right?
"But I like your face, Sunbae." Jeongguk said suddenly, a friendly, innocent smile splayed on his face that Taehyung figured the other wasn't flirting with him. But it sure was strange to hear this person say that.
"I see.” Taehyung managed to say in spite of his surprise. Well, Jimin often say many guys like my face, he mused. Or maybe Jeongguk's just the type who looks at everyone with admiring eyes; he accepted all who confessed to him after all.
"So, anyone will do, huh. How about it? Will you go out with me?" he heard himself saying, though he wasn't serious. If anything, it was just his mind running away with him again. There were a lot of times when his impulsiveness and curiosity got the best of him.
Jeongguk didn't say anything, and he really didn't have time to respond, since just then the delivery guy came.
"Oh, the pizza's here!" Taehyung exclaimed, excited since he was already starving. The delivery guy handed him the pizza box and Taehyung searched his pocket for money.
"Shit, I forgot my wallet inside.” Taehyung muttered to himself, cursing Jimin and Yoongi for flirting earlier. If they didn't gross him out with their PDA, he wouldn't leave hastily and leave his money behind.
Taehyung was about to tell the delivery guy to wait for him to get his wallet when he heard someone offer, "I'll just pay for it, Sunbae." and when he turned around, he saw Jeongguk already handing bills to the delivery guy. I totally forgot that he's still here, Taehyung thought.
"Thanks.” Taehyung said, albeit curiously. Well, Jeon Jeongguk is one random kind of kid, too, if anyone asks me, Taehyung mused. "You saved me a trip back to my classroom. I was in a hurry to go out of the room earlier that I didn't notice I didn't have money with me.” he explained.
"Its fine, Sunbae." Jeongguk answered and flashed his infamous smile, again. "I'll see you later then.” the other added before he turned and walked towards the campus.
“Ah, Jeongguk wait…” said Taehyung but the called guy already disappeared from his sight.
He'll see me later? Taehyung's forehead creased. "He must be talking about the pizza payment.” he told himself as he shrugged, walking towards the campus with the pizza box in his hands.
::
"Taemothy! Where have you been? We thought you ate the pizza all by yourself.” was what Jimin said to him the moment he stepped inside the classroom. It seemed like Jimin and Yoongi-hyung already finished their ‘business’, though they were still inseparable. Jimin opted to sit on Yoongi's lap instead of on a chair.
"Well I would've hogged all the pizza if I wasn't worried you'll eat each other's faces off if you won't have any diversion.” he answered sarcastically as he put the pizza box he'd been holding on the desk across the love birds and settling himself down near the two.
"Very funny.” Yoongi said, rolling his eyes at him.
"Totally.” Jimin seconded.
"Thanks, I try to be.” Taehyung answered back with a poker face, opening the pizza box in front of him and taking a slice.
"And I got hold up talking to Jeongguk at the school gate.” he added before taking a bite of the pizza. "Ugh, you know, pizza is the best food ever."
"You talked to Jeon Jeongguk?" Jimin asked, ignoring his comment about the pizza.
Taehyung just shrugged. "Yeah, so?" he asked between munching the most awe-inspiring food ever made by man.
"Yeah Jimin, so?" Yoongi echoed what Taehyung said, turning slightly to glare at his boyfriend.
"Hyung, we talked about this already, remember baby?" Jimin cooed, wrapping his arms around Yoongi's waist.
"What are you two talking about?" Taehyung, who had been until that point just staring at Jimin and Yoongi with pizza in his mouth, curiously asked. "Jimjam, do you know Jeongguk?" he asked his best friend.
"Oh he does know him alright." Yoongi answered for his boyfriend, his tone slightly mocking. "In fact, he was one of those flocks of people who had been on a one-week affair with that freshman."
"You never told me that!" Taehyung exclaimed, clearly surprised, that Jimin was one of them. When they said Jeongguk accepts all who would confess, they weren't kidding, Taehyung thought to himself.
"It's not worth telling dude!" Jimin groaned, seemingly frustrated by the conversation. "Maybe I was just intrigued with him that time, I don't know okay.” his best friend explained.
"But still, I'm hurt.” Taehyung said, clutching his heart mockingly. "I didn't know Jeongguk was your type. That freshman and Yoongi are so different in many ways."
"I know.” Yoongi butted in. "I'm way hotter and cooler than that kid.” he said airily.
"That's what you say.” Taehyung remarked sarcastically.
"He isn't my type.” Jimin said exasperatedly.
"Like I said, I didn't know what I was thinking, it was a momentary lapse in judgment.” he explained defensively. "And that happened before I knew you, Hyung."
Jimin was telling Yoongi, pulling on his boyfriend's waist so the other leaned his back towards him, "but when I laid my eyes on you, I knew I was taken.” he wooed.
Yoongi seemed to melt when he heard what Jimin said, grunted as he muttered, "Sweet talker."
"Oh my fuck please kill me I think I'm gonna die.” Taehyung complained. If these two started making out again, Taehyung would be tempted to throw the pizza box at them. With the desk.
"Anyway, that was so over and I do not have any intention of having anything to do with that guy." Jimin said in conclusion, happy that he was able to appease his boyfriend's irritation.
"Why did you do it in the first place? You were never as impulsive as me.” Taehyung asked, not dropping the topic that easily.
"Do you know what they say about Jeongguk? They said being with him, even for a week, is like a dream.” Jimin explained.
"I heard that, too." Yoongi agreed. "They said he's the perfect boyfriend. He makes anyone who's with him for that moment feel really special. That's why even if he dumps them after a week, nobody says anything negative about him or the time they spent together."
"You make him sound like a prince or something." Taehyung rolled his eyes. "Nobody's that perfect." he added, clearly disbelieving what he just heard. "Maybe he's good in bed or something."
"Oh, but that's the thing. He never touches anyone he's with." Jimin informed him. "He's not touchy, he just gives people a good time. Then after a week, he brings the person he's with to a nice place, and he would say, ' I'm sorry, but I can't fall in love with you. Let's break up.' That's it. It's over, and he moves on to another victim."
"Now that's just harsh." Taehyung said. He still didn't understand why people would confess to a person who would dump them heartlessly after a week.
"But he's a good guy.” Jimin commented, and Yoongi cleared his throat. "Of course, my Yoongi-hyung is the best guy ever created."
"Oh that's so funny.” Taehyung mocked as he fake-chuckled. "Don't flatter him too much Jimothy, he might start believing that he's all that."
Yoongi would've retorted with Taehyung's insult if only their conversation wasn't interrupted with the bell. Yoongi stood up and kissed Jimin’s s cheek before going back to his class.
“Yoongi-hyung could be scary sometimes. I wonder why are you dating that grumpy old man Jimin.” Taehyung shuddered and sat on his chair.
Jimin chuckled and went back to his chair. “Love doesn't need any reason, Taehyung-ah”
::
“Tae, do you want to join me and Yoongi-hyung to go to the newest café in Hongdae?”said Jimin as they tidied their things up.
Taehyung slung his bag on his shoulders. “Ah sure… But why I feel like I’ve forgotten about something.”
Jimin raised his eyebrows. “What is it? You don’t have any club activities right?”
“No. But…”
Taehyung stopped talking because one of their classmates, Jackson, tapped his shoulder rather excitedly. "Somebody's looking for you outside."
"Who is it?" Taehyung asked even as he was walking towards the door. His questions was answered when he saw outside, standing there with his red letterman jacket, the subject of the conversation he just had.
“Ah!”
"Sunbae." Jeongguk smiled at him in greeting, his face lighting up as he offered a friendly smile.
“Sorry about that Jeongguk. Thanks for helping me.”
Taehyung must admit, maybe because of what Jimin and Yoongi told him about the guy, that Jeon Jeongguk seemed cooler, more charming than when they were talking at the school gate earlier.
"I didn't know you're in Building 3. I'm in Building 3, too.” said Jeongguk. "Now I know where to find you."
Find me?
"This is about the pizza earlier, right?" Taehyung said excitedly, figuring out why Jeongguk was looking for him. He took some bills from his wallet, and handed them to Jeongguk, who accepted the money, though he seemed confused about it.
"Thanks for helping me earlier, man.” he told Jeongguk.
"Uhm, I didn't come here for this.” Jeongguk admitted. He was caught off guard when Jeongguk suddenly extended his arm and put the bills inside Taehyung's shirt pocket.
What the... Taehyung stared at Jeongguk curiously, the other's face still brightened with his pleasant smile. Taehyung heard the other man say, "I came here so we could go home together."
"Huh?" Taehyung asked dumbly. And he said I was the random one. Taehyung figured that Jeongguk was thinking of being friends with him, but the other's approach sure was weird.
"But freshmen have art club today, right?" he asked by way of reminding the other.
"Ah, club." Jeongguk must've really forgotten about his club activity, rubbing his nape and smiling rather boyishly in realization.
"Then, can I just have your phone number? So I could contact you."
"Uhm, okay?" Taehyung answered; though he didn't see any harm in giving the other his number, it was extremely weird, since before this morning, they haven't had a single conversation with each other. Yet now, here he was, fishing his pocket for his phone and handing it to the golden-artist.
Jeongguk took the phone from him and looked at the name and number on the screen. "Kim Taehyung" the other murmured his name gently.
The other fell quiet for a while, then said out of the blue, "Can I just call you Tae or Hyung?" Jeongguk asked, chuckling deprecatingly as he did so. "There's was someone who dumped me once before, and coincidentally his name is Kim too." he confessed.
"Tae sounds good.” Taehyung agreed to the other's request absent-mindedly. Is he still pining for that man? Taehyung wondered. It's possible that Jeongguk was still hung up on that man Kim that he couldn't bear hearing his name.
"Thanks. Tae suits you anyway, since it's as cute as you.” Jeongguk beamed, and Taehyung's face slightly heated up.
But before he could snap back at the younger guy, Jeongguk said, "Well, I better be going, I don't want to be late for art club. I'll call you later. Bye, Tae."
Then just like what happened in front of the school earlier, the younger guy turned and made his way to the art club, leaving Taehyung wondering what was just happened.
If he was to think deeply, it was really peculiar of Jeongguk to just be acting too familiar with him. Asking him to walk home with him, then asking for his number, telling him that he'll call him later, calling him Tae, what is fucking up with him?
Wait.
Could Jeongguk have...?
Taehyung's eyes widened as he gasped, the idea striking him so suddenly. Taehyung didn't think it's possible, it was a far-fetched probability, but it's the only reason Taehyung could think of why Jeongguk was acting so strangely towards him.
He couldn't have taken it seriously, right?