(un)happy birthday

Part 3

Days passed.
You've let your guard down & opened up more to Jimin.
Your classmates, especially the girls who obviously have a crush on Jimin, would glare at you with so much hatred whenever they see you with him. However, you try to brush it off & pretend that you don't notice.
"I don't get it. I really don't. Ugh.. I suck at math." Jimin groans in frustration after he listens to your explanation on how to solve the math problem.
"It's ok. I know it's a bit difficult to understand. I'll explain it to you one more time." You say reassuringly.
"I'm tired.." He slouches forward & lays his head on your desk.
"Come on. You can do this."
"Hey, I have an idea. What if you become my tutor?" He abruptly sits up, his eyes lighting up in excitement.
"Me? I don't think I'm qualified. There are some after-school academies that students here go to. You can-"
"You're the smartest student in this school! If you're not qualified, then who is? Come onnn.. I'll pay you." He pleads.
"Well.. Ok then. But you don't need to pay me, just do well on your exam next time." You smile at him.
"Yeay! Sooo.. let's start our lesson after school today? How does that sound?"
"Uhm.. That's fine, I guess." Thinking about spending time alone with Jimin is enough to make your heart race.
Stop it. He just wants you to teach him math. Don't think too much. He's not interested in you that way.

"Alright, that's it for today. I'll see you tomorrow." Your teacher drops his marker & says to the class.
"Do you want to go home first or do you want to go straightaway?" Jimin asks as he packs up his books.
"Huh? What do you mean?" You look at him in confusion.
"Our lesson, remember?" He chuckles.
"Wait. Aren't we studying here? At school?"
"Nooo.. I was thinking that we'd study at my house or at a cafe."
"Oh." You answer, eyes blank.
"You don't mind, do you?" He searches your face for confirmation.
So this will be like a date? Ya! Stop thinking nonsense!
"No, of course not! I mean.. I don't mind. Haha. But I need to go to the restroom real quick." You quickly turn away & rush out of the classroom to hide your blushing cheeks.
"Alright, I'll wait for you outside." He yells at your back.
You run to the restroom & check your reflection in the mirror.
He won't want to date an ugly girl like me.
Just then, the restroom door swings open & a bunch of girls walk in, the popular girls in school who have their eyes on Jimin. Naeun, Jungha, & Hyosung.
I better get out of here.
"Where are you going Y/n ah? Not so fast." Hyosung blocks your way out.
"Please let me through." You ask, head lowered.
"We want to have a talk with you." Jungha says as she pulls your backpack off.
"Give it back to me!" You turn around & scramble to grab it from her, but Naeun pushes you making you fall onto the floor.
"Don't worry, we will, after we're done with you." Naeun smirks.
"What do you want?!" You shout at them.
"I'm just curious why Jimin prefers hanging out with you than with us. Did you put a spell on him? Like one of those mystique spell from where you came from?" Naeun speaks in an exaggerated spooky tone, which earns a fit of laughter from her friends.
"Why don't you just go back to where you came from instead of hurting our eyes by your presence here? Or at least, if you want to stay, you should try to be one of us. Right, girls?" Naeun snickers evilly.
"W-What are you doing?" Your eyes widen in fear as you see Jungha handing a bottle of something to Naeun.
"This is a potion so that you can be like us." She chuckles, unscrews the cap & pours the content of the bottle on your head.
The white paint drips all over your hair, face, uniform, everything.
"Stop! I beg you! Please." You try to get away, but Jungha & Hyosung pin you down on the floor.
"This should teach you not to get anywhere near Jimin again. If you do-"
God, please help me. Please. Someone help me.
The door suddenly barges open.
"What are you doing?!" Jimin shouts furiously as he sees the scene before him.
Naeun instantly throws away the bottle in her hand, while Hyosung & Jungha frantically releases you & rushes behind Naeun.
"Are you guys crazy?! Why are you doing this to her?!" He kneels down beside you & helps you stand up, ignoring the white paint that's staining his uniform.
"J-Jimin ah, I-I can explain." Naeun stutters, her face as pale as a sheet of paper.
"Don't bother. I don't want to listen to your bullshit explanation. If you ever dare to do this again to her, I swear to God I'll give you a taste of the same thing. Let's go Y/n ah." Jimin spits at her, grabs your bag & guides you out of the restroom.
"Are you ok? I'm so sorry, I should've come sooner." He apologetically says.
"It's not your fault." You smile faintly at him, although your body is still trembling from the shock.
He stops in his track & turns your body to face him.
You slowly lift your eyes to meet his, which are filled with so much tenderness that melts your heart.
"I promise I won't let anything bad happen to you again. 난 네가 지켜줄게 (nan niga jikkyeojulke = I will protect you)." He takes your hand in his & squeezes it tight.
A surge of fresh tears sting your eyes & you quickly sniff them away.
"Thank you Jimin ah. Thank you.." You smile back at him.
"Let's go & get you cleaned up." Still not letting go of your hand, he pulls you towards the front gate.
His touch makes you forget all the humiliation & pain you've experienced earlier. Like a sun shining on the darkest corners of your room, making you forget the existence of shadow.
And that moment, you know that you've fallen for him.

-•-

"Please come in. Sorry it's a bit messy, coz usually it's only me & my dad." Jimin opens the door to his house & lets you in.
"I-It's ok." Your heart rate is going at a million miles an hour because you're extremely nervous right now. This is your first time ever visiting a guy's house. Heck, it's the first time that you've ever visited anyone's house.
"Wait here. I'll go get you a T-shirt." He says before disappearing into his bedroom.
You scan your surroundings. The house looks quite empty, the only decoration is a frame sitting on the mantle.
It's a picture of Jimin & who you assume to be his father, since they look so much alike. They're smiling at the camera & you can't help but lift the corners of your lips a little.
"Sorry for the long wait. It was hard finding something clean. I think I really need to do laundry today." He says as he hands you a clean white T-shirt.
"Thanks. Uhm.. but where should I.." You awkwardly clutch the T-shirt in your hand.
"Oh right. Sorry. The bathroom is the second door to your right."
"O-Ok." You hurriedly walk to the bathroom & lock the door behind you.
You're blushing profusely as you take off your paint-splattered uniform & change into Jimin's T-shirt.
It smells like him. It feels like he is hugging my body. Oh God, I'm such a perv!
"I'm done." You shyly walk out of the bathroom.
"Shall we get started then?" He smiles at you nonchalantly.
Chill Y/n, it's just a T-shirt. See? He doesn't even care.
"Sure, let's start." You grab your books & plop down on the floor beside him.
You begin explaining the equations that he has difficulties with, but suddenly you sense that he isn't paying attention.
"Do you get it now?" You look up at him & find him staring at your face.
Cheeks blushing, you quickly avert your gaze.
"Huh? Y-Yeah, got it." He realizes that he's busted & instantly looks away as well.
The atmosphere becomes awkward afterwards.
"I-" "It's-" Both of you say in unison.
"You first." "You first." You speak at the same time again.
"I-It's getting late. I better get going now." You smile awkwardly at him & gather your stuff.
"Oh, ok. I'll walk you home." He abruptly rises from his seat, seemingly disappointed by your sudden intent to leave.
"It's ok. I'm used to walking home alone." It's not that you don't want him to walk with you, but you're still embarrassed of the fact that you're living in an orphanage.
"It's not safe for a girl to walk alone in the dark. I'm not taking no for an answer. Let's go." He wears his shoes & follows you out the door.
Warmth spread throughout your body.
How can he be so nice & perfect?
On the way to the orphanage, he tells you about his childhood, how he always felt so alone, how he misses his mom, how he hates the pitiful glance people give him when they find out about his past. It feels like he takes the words right out of your mouth, because you feel the same exact way.
"What about your father?" You ask.
"He's never home, drowning himself in work, & never once cares about me. So, it felt like I grew up without a father." He shrugs.
"Well, he must have his reasons. His heart must be broken when your mom left & maybe he's still grieving." You suddenly feel the urge to hug him.
"Anw, enough about me. We're here. Thanks for being my tutor today." He says as both of you stop in front of the orphanage.
"No. Thank YOU. If you didn't come this afternoon, I don't know what would happen to me." A genuine smile curves your lips.
He stares at you in silence for a moment, before finally lifting his hand to stroke your hair.
"I won't let them bother you again. If they do, just let me know. I really meant it when I said that I'll protect you."
Your heart lurches as butterflies fly inside your stomach.
"T-Thanks." That's the only response you can think of.
"So.. same time tomorrow?" He asks.
"O-Ok. See you tomorrow at school." You begin to step towards the entrance but he's still not moving.
"Aren't you going home?" You turn around & ask.
"I'll go once you get inside. Go." He flaps his hand signaling you to keep going.
You melt again at his simple kindness. But doubt begins to creep into your mind as you wave goodbye at him & get into the building.
Am I allowed to be this happy? Will this happiness end if I start believing it to be real?