† 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟬 †

╭─━─━─━─━─━─╮𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟬†❝𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗡 𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡❞╰─━─━─━─━─━─╯

༺ ☠︎ †  𝖁 𝖎 𝖘 𝖎 𝖔 𝖓  𝖎 𝖓  𝕯 𝖆 𝖗 𝖐  † ☠︎ ༻

The library was quiet, with only a few students scattered around, buried in their books. The soft rustling of pages and the occasional sound of a pen scratching against paper filled the air, creating an atmosphere of peaceful concentration.

Among those present were Evie and Taehyung, sitting together at their usual spot by the large window, where the afternoon light spilled in, casting a warm glow over their table.

Unlike the others, they weren't reading academic books. Instead, they were sharing a novel, a single copy borrowed from the library, with both of them leaning in slightly to read from the same page.

It had become their little routine–borrowing a book together, taking turns reading passages, and discussing their thoughts about the story. Evie, as always, was animated, her voice full of excitement as she shared her opinions, laughing at a particular scene while flipping the page.

She was completely engrossed in the story, but Taehyung wasn't listening.

He had started out with the intention of reading, but at some point, his focus had shifted entirely to her. He wasn't sure when it had begun, this strange feeling creeping up on him, but lately, he found himself unable to look away. He had never felt like this before–not with anyone. Something about her drew him in, held him captive in a way he couldn't explain.

It had been several weeks since they met, their interactions evolving from casual acquaintances to something closer, something almost like friendship. And yet, the more time he spent with her, the more he realized that his feelings weren't as simple as mere friendship.

He was behaving like a typical schoolboy–clinging to every excuse just to be around her, making sure their paths crossed even when it wasn't necessary.

His heart would beat faster whenever she laughed. A strange lightness filled him whenever she spoke to him, as if the world faded away and only she remained. The way she talked, the way she expressed herself with such enthusiasm, made him want to listen to her forever.

He relished every moment she praised him, whether it was about something trivial or something serious. It made him want to impress her, to be someone she admired. And no matter how much he tried to rationalize it, he couldn't shake off the realization that he liked it–he liked her.

It was pathetic, really, how completely she had taken over his thoughts.

He had tried to convince himself that maybe it was just a passing attraction, a result of hormones or fleeting infatuation, but deep down, he knew that wasn't it. This wasn't some shallow desire or temporary crush–it was something deeper, something pure.

And in this moment, he found himself completely lost in her again.

His eyes traced the soft curve of her lips as she spoke, the way they moved effortlessly with each word. His gaze traveled to her hair, tied up in a simple bun, with a few stray strands falling loosely around her face. The small, round glasses she wore while reading made her look more delicate, more serene.

Before he could stop himself, his fingers twitched with the urge to brush those stray strands away. The thought came so suddenly that he barely had time to process it before he was already moving, reaching out without thinking.

His fingers barely grazed her hair as he gently tucked the loose strands behind her ear.

She immediately stopped talking, her breath hitching slightly as her eyes flickered to him in surprise.

For a brief second, silence settled between them, thick and unspoken, the world around them fading into the background.

Realizing what he had just done, Taehyung quickly forced himself to act casual, shifting his attention back to the book as if nothing had happened, as if his heart wasn't currently hammering inside his chest like a fool.

Evie blinked, clearly taken aback by his action, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she hesitated for a moment before lowering her gaze back to the book, as though choosing to ignore it.

Taehyung let out a silent breath, pretending to read while internally cursing himself.

He needed to get a grip.

Because whatever this was, whatever feeling had taken root inside him–he wasn't sure if he was ready to face it yet.

After some time, as they continued flipping through the pages of the book, Taehyung leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms slightly before casually saying, "By the way, I won't be able to meet you later."

Evie, who was still focused on the novel, turned her head toward him and raised an eyebrow. "Why?" she asked, even though she already understood what he meant.

Taehyung smirked. "Because I have a football match and I'll be playing in it," he said as if it were obvious. Then, as if a thought had just struck him, he looked at her and suggested, "You should come watch. The entire college will be there, and most of the students who are even remotely interested in football show up to cheer."

Evie hesitated, shifting her gaze back to the book. "I don't know... I have some work to do," she replied vaguely, trying to find an excuse.

Taehyung, however, wasn't going to let her off that easily. "What work? You don't even have that much left to do," he pointed out with a teasing grin. "Besides, I'll help you finish it. So now you have no excuse."

Evie chuckled at his persistence, shaking her head. "Honestly, most of my work already gets done by you anyway," she admitted playfully.

Taehyung shrugged, completely unbothered. "Then that just means you have plenty of free time to come to the match."

Evie sighed dramatically. "It's not just that. I don't even understand football that well. All I know is that you have to kick a ball into a net. That's it."

Taehyung laughed at her blunt explanation before leaning forward slightly. "That's fine. You don't need to know much," he assured her. "Just sit there, watch the students, and follow what they do. If they cheer, you cheer. Simple." Then, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, he added, "But first, make sure you're cheering for the right team. And that means you'll be cheering for me."

Evie let out a small laugh, amused by his confidence. "Oh? And what if I decide to cheer for the opposing team instead?" she teased, raising an eyebrow.

Taehyung scoffed in mock offense. "Then I'll make sure to personally find you in the audience and change your mind," he said smugly.

Evie chuckled again, shaking her head. "Alright, alright. I'll see if I can make it."

Taehyung smirked knowingly. "That's just another way of saying you will come."

Evie didn't reply, only rolling her eyes playfully as she returned her attention to the book.

Taehyung, however, was already looking forward to seeing her there.

As their reading session came to an end, Evie let out a small sigh, stretching her arms before closing the book. "I should return this before we leave," she said, glancing at Taehyung. He nodded, standing up and shoving his hands into his pockets. "Go ahead. I'll wait for you outside."

With that, Evie made her way toward the librarian's desk, while Taehyung exited the library and leaned against the wall just outside, crossing his arms over his chest. A small smile played on his lips as he stared at nothing in particular, lost in his thoughts.

He felt lighter, happier, even excited. Evie was going to come to his match–well, she didn't confirm it outright, but he knew she would. And because of that, he had a reason to play even better. Maybe he'd even score a goal just so she'd have no choice but to cheer for him. He could already picture her in the crowd, her eyes focused on the game, clapping and cheering when his team won.

The thought made his smile widen.

But just as he was indulging in his daydream, a familiar voice snapped him out of it.

"Oh, Taehyung," someone called in a sickeningly sweet tone.

Taehyung's smile vanished instantly, his jaw clenching as he turned his head toward the voice.

Raven.

There she stood, her arms crossed over her chest, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. Taehyung barely masked the irritation that flickered across his face. His patience was already running thin, and the last thing he needed was her of all people getting in his way.

"What do you want?" he asked flatly, his tone void of any warmth.

Raven tilted her head slightly, amusement flashing in her eyes as if she had caught onto something interesting. "First, why don't you tell me where you've been and what you're up to?" she asked, arching a brow.

Taehyung scoffed, rolling his eyes. "What kind of stupid question is that? I was in the library, as usual," he answered in a clipped tone, hoping she'd get bored and walk away.

But Raven wasn't the type to give up so easily. Instead, she chuckled, shaking her head. "As usual?" she echoed mockingly. "Come on, Taehyung, you might be able to fool everyone else, but not me. Sure, you go to the library often, but lately..." She trailed off, studying him closely before smirking again. "I don't know. Something just seems off. Like you're making excuses. Avoiding us. You're not hanging out with our group the way you used to."

Taehyung exhaled sharply through his nose, the irritation bubbling inside him. It was so like Raven to poke her nose where it didn't belong. "Maybe because I want to," he shot back. "I don't feel like wasting my time on nonsense."

Raven's smirk widened at his annoyed response. She loved getting under his skin. "Oh, is that so? Or is it because you've been busy?" she teased, the amusement clear in her tone.

Taehyung narrowed his eyes. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Raven leaned closer slightly, lowering her voice as if she was sharing some sort of secret. "I've seen you," she said knowingly. "Sitting with that girl." She let out a small chuckle, clearly enjoying the way Taehyung's jaw tensed. "You've been spending quite a lot of time with her. And now you're suddenly too busy for us?"

Taehyung's irritation spiked. He had expected Raven to bring something like this up, knowing how much she loved this. He also knew exactly where her mind was going, and it was far from the truth.

"It's nothing like that," he muttered, voice cold. "She's a new student. I'm just helping her out. That's all."

Raven clicked her tongue, shaking her head as if she didn't believe a word he was saying. "Oh, really? That's funny," she mused, crossing her arms again. "Because you never once helped us with our studies. You barely even talk about academics. And suddenly, you're tutoring some random girl? Interesting. A very sudden change."

Taehyung clenched his jaw, his patience snapping. "Why don't you mind your own damn business?" he snapped, his eyes darkening as he stared her down.

Raven, completely unfazed, smirked. "Because your business is my business," she shot back playfully, tilting her head. "Come on, Taehyung. Why are you getting so worked up? I was just saying... You seem different lately. And I know it's because of her."

Taehyung let out a frustrated sigh. "You think you know everything, but you don't," he muttered.

Raven leaned closer, her smirk turning flirtatious. "Relax," she drawled. "I'm just looking out for you."

Taehyung rolled his eyes, barely containing his annoyance. "Yeah? Then do me a favor and stop looking out for me."

Raven chuckled at his sharp words, as if she found his irritation entertaining rather than offensive.

She stepped even closer, lowering her voice. "You know, you're cute when you're mad," she purred. "If you ever get bored of playing tutor, you know where to find me."

Taehyung had had enough, his eyes were cold as ice as he done of her bullshit. He tilted his head slightly, feigning curiosity before saying in a low, mocking tone, "What's the matter, Raven? Jungkook not satisfying you enough?"

Raven's smirk widened at Taehyung's words, completely unfazed by his insult. Instead of getting offended, she tilted her head slightly, her voice dripping with amusement as she replied, "Oh, is that what you think? Jungkook is more than enough for me—"

She paused to look at his reaction then continued, "—But what about you, Taehyung? You talk big, but I bet you don't even know what to do with a woman. All that time spent in the library, burying your head in books–what, are you saving yourself for some fairytale romance? Or maybe you're just too much of a virgin to handle someone like me."

Her eyes gleamed with mischief as she chuckled mockingly, enjoying the way her words were meant to cut deep.

But Taehyung didn't flinch. His expression remained cold, his dark eyes unreadable as he let out a slow, unimpressed sigh. "You think being passed around by half the guys in this college makes you experienced? That just means you're desperate. Congratulations, Raven. You've got Jungkook's attention–for now. But when he gets bored, which we both know he will, you'll just be another name on his list. And trust me, no one's keeping count because no one actually gives a damn about you." His voice was calm, almost detached, as if he couldn't be bothered to put any real effort into the conversation.

Raven's smirk faltered for a second, her fingers curling slightly as she stepped closer to him, her confidence dimming just a little at his brutal words. "You're so full of yourself," she hissed, her voice carrying a sharp edge. "Always acting like you're better than everyone, like nothing affects you. But you're just as pathetic as the rest of them, Taehyung. You hide behind that cold, arrogant attitude, acting like you're untouchable, but deep down, you're just a coward who's too scared to deal with it."

She trying to get under his skin, trying to provoke some kind of reaction out of him.

But Taehyung remained unfazed. His gaze stayed locked onto her, completely devoid of emotion, as he shrugged. "I'm not full of myself, Raven. I just have standards. And unlike Jungkook, I don't settle for trash." His voice was as cutting as ever, calm.

Raven let out a frustrated breath, her face twisting in irritation. "Fuck off," she snapped, her pride wounded. "You're not even that special. Like I'd waste my time on a damn nerd like you."

Taehyung didn't even blink. His expression didn't change, his lips barely moving as he muttered, "And yet, here you are, seeking me out, trying to get a reaction. If I'm such a nerd, why are you the one running after me?" His tone was laced with quiet mockery, as if he truly couldn't care less about her presence.

Raven's lips pressed together in frustration before she scoffed and turned on her heel.

As she disappeared down the hallway, Taehyung let out a quiet sigh and shook his head slightly. It was the kind of sigh someone gave when they had just wasted their time on something completely meaningless.

He had no reason to be surprised. This was just how Raven was. She always had to stick her nose where it did not belong, stir up drama for no reason, and play games with people just to amuse herself. He had no patience for any of it.

What he did not realize was that Evie had been standing at the entrance of the library the entire time, watching everything with growing curiosity. She had seen them talking, standing close ......too close. From where she stood, she could not hear what they were saying, but she had seen the way Raven smirked at Taehyung, the way she leaned in and spoke to him like they shared some kind of familiarity.

Evie had heard about Raven before. Mia had told her all about her .......the so-called queen of the college, the girl every guy supposedly wanted. Raven had a reputation, and it was far from clean. Seeing the way she acted with Taehyung just now, it was not hard to understand why. She carried herself like she ruled the place, like she could have any guy she wanted with just a look.

And yet, from what Evie couldn't able to see Taehyung reaction. His back had been facing her, making it impossible for her to see his expression during the conversation. But the fact that he had even been talking to Raven at all made something twist in Evie's stomach.

She did not know much about Taehyung's personal life. She had no idea who he was close to, who he spent time with outside of the library, or if he had any female friends at all. But from the way Raven had been acting, it was obvious that she and Taehyung knew each other well enough to be familiar–maybe even too familiar.

Evie was not sure why that thought unsettled her so much. It was not as if she had any reason to care. But something about Raven standing so close to Taehyung, smirking at him like she knew a secret Evie did not, made her feel uneasy in a way she could not explain.

She stood there for a moment, gripping the book in her hands as she watched Raven walk away, leaving Taehyung standing alone.

Evie walked over to Taehyung casually as she took his attention.

Taehyung looked at her with a small smile and said, "You took your time."

Evie smiled back and replied just as casually, " I was standing there for a while, but you were talking to someone, so I didn't want to disturb you."

Taehyung's expression didn't change, but he felt slightly uneasy. He didn't want Evie to meet Raven or for Raven to interact with Evie. He knew exactly what kind of person Raven was, and he didn't want her causing any trouble.

"It was just a girl. Nothing much," Taehyung said, keeping his tone light as he dismissed it.

As they walked through the hallway, Evie glanced at him and asked casually, "Do you know her? Are you friends or something? I heard she's really popular in college, so I was just wondering."

Taehyung kept his voice neutral, not wanting to drag out the conversation. "She's just a student. We were just having a normal conversation. She was asking me something, that's all."

Evie nodded, but she wasn't entirely convinced. The way Raven had been smirking at him, standing so close, speaking in that particular tone- it didn't seem like just a casual conversation. Normal students didn't interact like that, at least not with Taehyung. But if he wasn't telling her anything, it meant he didn't want to talk about it. So, she shrugged it off. She was just being ridiculous. Taehyung and she were just friends, nothing more.

Still, the fact that the girl was Raven, someone with a certain kind of reputation–made Evie feel something unpleasant. And the way Raven had looked at Taehyung, as if she had some kind of claim on him, didn't sit right with her.

But seriously, this was pathetic. She shook her head at herself. She was overthinking for no reason.

Forcing the thoughts away, she laughed and continued walking with Taehyung through the hallway as if nothing had happened.

★ ★ ★

—𝖽𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗏𝗈𝗍𝖾         𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝗋𝗈𝗉 𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍···୨ৎ