YOONGI.
“He’s doing it again,” Yuqi murmured into Yoongi’s ear, her gaze fixed on a figure absorbed by his phone. He seemed oblivious to their conversation, lost in a digital world.
“What?” Yoongi’s head snapped around, pulling him from his thoughts. He looked down at Yuqi, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face.
“I said Tae is on his phone again, pretending we don’t exist.” Yuqi spoke, her voice laced with frustration.
“Let him be. He probably found a new game. He’ll grow bored of it in two weeks, max.” Yoongi defended Taehyung automatically, the words tumbling out before he could consciously consider them. It was a reflex, a habitual shield he erected around Taehyung. No matter the situation, he’d rationalize, justify, find a way to excuse Taehyung’s behavior. Even the thought of Taehyung unknowingly breaking his heart with indifference didn’t deter him.
“But it’s annoying. Look at this.” Yuqi continued, her voice rising slightly. “Hey, Tae…” She called out to Taehyung, who trailed behind them as they navigated the crowded cafeteria. He didn’t even register her voice, his eyes glued to the glowing screen, fingers flying across the glass. “Tae.” Yuqi repeated, louder this time, but still no response. “Taehyung!”
“Hm?” Taehyung finally looked up, his eyes blinking as if roused from a deep sleep. He turned to Yuqi, a vacant expression on his face.
“Are you coming over to Yoongi’s after school or not?”
“I… Actually can’t tonight, sorry… I don’t have time.” Taehyung apologized, then immediately returned to his phone, dismissing her question with a casual wave of his hand.
It had been over a week since this pattern began.
Yoongi didn’t give it much weight. Taehyung was easily distracted, he reasoned. It was simply Taehyung being Taehyung. But Yuqi saw it differently.
She sensed something more insidious, a hidden layer beneath the surface. The boy was concealing something, or someone, and wasn't sharing it with his friends. A prickle of unease ran down her spine.
“Are you going to glare at him all day, or are you going to sit down?” Yoongi teased, noticing the dark cloud over Yuqi’s expression.
“I’ll do both.” She mumbled, then settled into the lunch table, her jaw tight.
“So… How’s class?” Yoongi asked, his gaze fixed on Yuqi, knowing Taehyung wouldn’t register the question.
“He kept texting someone and almost got caught, so I had to help him hide his phone from the teacher.”
“Wait, he uses his phone *in* class?” Yoongi’s voice rose in disbelief.
“Yeah, that’s why I’m so annoyed right now.” Yuqi retorted, her frustration bubbling over. Usually, she’d be cheerful even when Taehyung ignored them, but today, the constant dismissal felt like a personal affront.
“Yeah… Why are you so annoyed? Is everything okay?”
“If you’re trying to subtly ask if I’m on my period but don’t want to piss me off by assuming girls are only ever in a bad mood when they have their periods, let me stop you right there and assure you that I am not on my period.”
“You just said ‘period’ three times in one sentence.” Yoongi chuckled.
Yuqi remained silent for a moment, then finally surrendered to the laughter she’d been suppressing. She shoved Yoongi playfully, then looked down at her food and resumed eating.
“But I’m serious, Yu. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just in a bad mood. And he’s not really helping either.” Yuqi explained, glancing at Taehyung who giggled at something on his screen. “Do you think he’s…” She trailed off, hesitant to voice her fear. She didn't want to shatter Yoongi’s fragile composure.
“Do I think he’s what?” Yoongi questioned, his brow furrowed.
“Nothing.”
“No, tell me.”
“Do you think he’s… talking to someone?” Yuqi whispered, her voice barely audible. It wasn’t as if Taehyung could hear them, he was lost in his own universe.
“You mean… flirting? Getting to know someone? Maybe falling for them?”
“That thought has occurred to me before, yes. Why are you asking?”
“You won’t do anything about it?”
Of course, Yuqi was pitying him.
Yoongi wasn’t adept at concealing his feelings. His crush on Taehyung, a silent, simmering ache since their friendship blossomed, was painfully obvious to everyone except the object of his affection.
Yoongi was well aware that it was a *someone*, not a *something*, occupying Taehyung’s attention. Yet his heart refused to accept it, clinging to a desperate hope that if he waited long enough, Taehyung would finally fall for him. He didn’t want to be hurt, so he clung to denial.
“No, Yu. I won’t.” Yoongi answered, his gaze fixed on Taehyung, a flicker of resignation in his eyes.