flashback chapter
"hey," heejin looked up to see taehyung standing beside her desk.
"what's wrong? i was about to go over to you."
"let's go somewhere else today?" he motioned for her to follow him.
"where are we going?" she asked when they were out of the classroom.
"the other day you asked where i go for lunch when i don't eat with you in the classroom. do you want to see?"
her eyes lit up when she heard where they were going and she grabbed his hand without thinking. "i also wondered where you went bec-"
taehyung wasn't listening to what she was saying and looked at their hands.
"taehyung?" she let out a small laugh as she looked at his face. "your face is red. is it because we're holding hands?"
taehyung's eyes widened and she laughed again. "do you not like it? ill let go if you want."
"whatever, let's just go." taehyung mumbled as he started dragging her towards the end of the hallway.
"you still didn't let go of my hand," she laughed from behind him. he ignored her until they reached the room and he pushed open the door.
she became surprised as she realized they were in one of the empty classrooms and she noticed another figure sitting on the desk.
"is that a ghost?" taehyung glanced at her and laughed seeing how pale she'd become.
"no, that's jeongguk."
jeongguk lifted his head up when he heard his name and smiled when he saw taehyung. "hi," he said directed towards the girl standing beside heejin.
"have you two always eaten here together?"
"no," taehyung sighed. "this used to just be my own hideout. i came here to take naps since our classroom is so loud."
"i invaded this place on my first day here," jeongguk said proudly, jabbing a thumb to his chest.
taehyung rolled his eyes before he realized something. "that was also the day we met," he said to heejin.
"that day was so long ago," jeongguk yawned.
"it was," taehyung mumbled.
that day taehyung had never imagined that he'd become so close to either of them. he didn't really mind, though. before the two of them he'd never had any real friends. he was popular but he didn't consider the other students that hung around him to be real friends.
"we should start eating here everyday instead," heejin spoke up, grabbing both of their attention.
"hm?"
"it's so much more peaceful here," she glanced around at the emptiness of the room-aside from the desks scattered around the room. "we can talk about whatever we want without worrying about other people butting in or bothering us. and i know you don't like it in there, taehyung."
taehyung was kind of surprised she'd noticed something like that since he chose to stay there sometimes. he bit back his smile and turned to look at jeongguk.
"why're you two looking at me?"
"would we bother you if we started eating here from now on?" heejin asked, her smile basically telling jeongguk he had no choice.
jeongguk let out a loud sigh and looked away from them. "fine, but i'll be charging five dollars on the days you two usually eat in the classroom."
"we're your upperclassmen."
"don't care. welcome to my humble abode."
"this way, come on." heejin grabbed taehyung's hand and pulled him in a different direction until they were crouched behind bushes.
"heejin, don't worry. this park is huge there's no way he'll be able to find us."
"look," she said, looking over the bushes. "he's right there." she pointed at jeongguk searching for them a bit further away. "it's easier to avoid getting caught if we keep an eye on where he is. if we stay in one place and just wait he'll definitely find us eventually."
"isn't running away too much? he'll never be able to find us."
"he's the one who suggested the rule that we were allowed to move places." as she went to step back, the back of her shoe hit against a tree root and she fell backwards.
"fuck-" just as she thought she was about to hit the ground, she felt taehyung's arms wrap around her as she fell. "taehyung," her eyes widened as she realized she was on him and she struggled to stand up.
"i'm sorry. are you alright?" taehyung avoided her gaze, trying to cover how red his face was as he nodded.
"found ya," they each looked up simultaneously to see jeongguk grinning at them from over the bushes.
"why's your face so red? what the hell are you thinking about?" jeongguk stared at taehyung from across the dining table.
taehyung had been spaced out and staring at his notebook and jeongguk was getting tired. "you said you were coming over to study."
"sorry," taehyung mumbled.
"what're you thinking about? you've been acting weird since yesterday afternoon..." but the time jeongguk finished his sentence his eyes widened and he had a mischievous smirk on his face. "did something happen at the park?"
"heejin fell on me. and i hugged her." taehyung said absentmindedly. "well it was to catch her but i still hugged her."
jeongguk broke out in laughter, almost falling out of his chair at the expression on taehyung's face. "you look like your soul left you."
"jeongguk, i like heejin."
"no shit, idiot. everyone knows that." jeongguk couldn't hold back his laughter, earning him a glare from taehyung. "people at school already think you two are dating."
taehyung's eyebrows furrowed when he heard that. "dating?" his mouth dropped into an 'o' shape. "does it look like we're really dating?"
jeongguk frowned at his friend's ignorance as he looked at him beam. "yes." a disgusted look crossed jeongguk's face as he shook off a shiver, "some girls have tried to comfort me like "boohoo you poor third wheel." why the hell would they think that's necessary."
"you're no third wheel, gguk." taehyung pat jeongguk's head. "the three of us are all friends."
"mhm sure," jeongguk rolled his eyes. he flipped his book closed, sending it a last glare as he shoved it towards the end of the table with a sigh. "so, are you going to tell her?"
"uhhh.."
