† 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟭 †

╭─━─━─━─━─━─╮𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟭†❝𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧❞╰─━─━─━─━─━─╯

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

Evie arrived at the football ground, just as Taehyung had told her to. She wasn't particularly interested in sports, but she didn't want to turn him down, especially when he had specifically invited her. Even if she didn't care much for the game itself, she figured she could at least watch and support him.

Taehyung had already left a few minutes ago since the players had to be there earlier than the usual time to warm up and prepare for the match. When she reached the field, she noticed that a large crowd of students had already gathered, filling the seats on both sides of the ground. The energy in the air was lively, with excited chatter and anticipation buzzing among the spectators.

Since she didn't know anyone well enough to sit with, she quietly took a seat in the far corner, away from the main crowd, hoping she wouldn't stand out too much. She wasn't exactly used to being in such crowded and noisy environments, and blending in seemed like the best option for now.

She sat there patiently, waiting for the match to begin, until finally, she spotted the players making their way onto the field. Two different teams walked out, each dressed in their respective jerseys, ready to take their positions.

The problem was, Evie had no idea which team she was supposed to be supporting. Since she was new here, she didn't know which side represented what, and more importantly, she didn't even know which team Taehyung was on.

Her eyes scanned the field carefully, trying to spot him among the players. Then, as the teams gathered in the middle of the ground, her gaze landed on a familiar figure.

Taehyung.

He stood tall, dressed in a white and blue team jersey, looking effortlessly handsome, the colors complementing his sharp features. Even from a distance, he stood out, exuding confidence and calmness as he prepared for the game.

Unconsciously, a small smile formed on Evie's lips as she watched him.

At the same time, Taehyung's eyes swept across the audience, searching for her among the sea of students. He knew she had promised to come, but spotting her from this distance was proving to be difficult. There were just too many people in the stands, and he couldn't make out her face among the crowd.

For a brief second, Evie felt the urge to call out his name, just to let him know she was there. But the thought of yelling in front of so many people made her hesitate. She didn't want to embarrass herself, especially when she barely knew anything about football.

As she debated whether to wave or just stay quiet, her gaze shifted slightly and that's when she noticed him.

Jungkook.

He was wearing the same white and blue team jersey as Taehyung, standing not too far from him.

Evie's expression stiffened slightly at the sight of him. She hadn't expected him to be on the same team as Taehyung. Of all people, it had to be Jungkook.

Evie made no effort to acknowledge Jungkook's presence. The moment she spotted him, she simply looked away, deliberately choosing to ignore him. She wasn't here for him, after all. She was here because Taehyung had invited her, and she had no interest in paying attention to anyone else.

Soon, the match was about to begin. The players moved onto the field, taking their positions, while the excitement among the spectators grew. Cheers erupted from different sections of the audience, students rooting for their respective teams, clapping and calling out names. The atmosphere was alive with energy, filled with loud voices and the occasional whistle blowing from the referee, signaling the start of the game.

Taehyung, already standing in his position on the field, once again let his gaze drift toward the crowd, searching for Evie. He had tried to find her earlier but had no luck. Now, with the game about to start, he wanted to know where she was sitting. He knew she had promised to come, but with the number of students in the audience, spotting her wasn't easy.

Then, finally, after scanning the seats for a while, he saw her.

She was sitting in the far corner, a little away from the main crowd, watching the field with quiet curiosity. The moment he saw her, an involuntary smile spread across his face, wide and genuine. For some reason, knowing that she was there, watching him, made something warm settle in his chest.

Evie, who had been waiting for the game to begin, noticed his eyes on her. Seeing his bright smile, she couldn't help but smile back. Then, lifting her hand slightly, she gave him a small wave before mouthing the words, Best of luck.

Taehyung's smile grew even wider. He nodded in acknowledgment, feeling a newfound determination surge through him. He wanted to do well in this match–not just for the sake of winning, but because Evie was watching. He wanted to impress her, to show her that he was good at what he did.

And with that thought in mind, the match began.

The players moved swiftly across the field, the game quickly picking up intensity as the two teams fought for possession of the ball. Taehyung was focused, keeping up with the fast pace, passing the ball, dodging the opposing team, and trying to create opportunities to score.

But then, something unexpected started happening.

Taehyung found himself making small mistakes - something that rarely happened to him. He wasn't playing as smoothly as he usually did. His passes weren’t as precise, his movements slightly off. He was struggling to maintain his usual level of focus.

And he knew exactly why.

Evie.

The awareness that she was watching him was messing with his concentration. Every time he thought about her sitting in the audience, possibly paying attention to every move he made, he became overly conscious of himself. He had wanted to impress her, but instead, he was embarrassing himself. His hands clenched slightly in frustration.

He was a good player. He had played in many matches before. This wasn't new to him. But today, for some reason, knowing that Evie's eyes might be on him, waiting to see how he performed, made his nerves act up in ways he couldn't understand.

He tried to shake it off and refocus.

But then, just as he attempted a pass, he miscalculated, sending the ball in the wrong direction.

Jungkook, the captain of their team, groaned audibly, clearly irritated. He shot Taehyung a sharp look, as if silently asking, What the hell are you doing?

Taehyung exhaled through his nose, forcing himself to calm down. He needed to get his head back in the game. He couldn't afford to let small distractions ruin his performance. Taking a deep breath, he pushed aside his unnecessary thoughts and focused only on the match.

And slowly, as the game progressed, he found his rhythm again. He played better, making solid passes, moving swiftly, regaining control over his actions. The nervousness he had felt earlier started to fade as he immersed himself fully into the competition.

By the time the match neared its end, Taehyung had recovered well, contributing to his team's overall performance. And when the final whistle blew, signaling the end of the game, he let out a breath of relief.

Their team had won.

The audience erupted into cheers, excited voices filling the air. Players exchanged congratulatory handshakes and pats on the back, celebrating their victory.

Jungkook, as the team captain, had played exceptionally well and was named Man of the Match. He stood with his usual composed expression as some students praised his performance but Taehyung barely paid attention to that. His eyes once again sought out Evie, wondering if she had enjoyed the game, if she had noticed his moments of struggle or if she had only focused on the good parts.

And more than anything, he wondered if he had managed to leave an impression on her at all.

After the match ended, Taehyung had hoped to meet Evie, to talk to her, even if only for a moment. But the players weren't allowed to leave immediately, and by the time they were finally dismissed, the college hours were nearly over, and students were already beginning to leave the campus.

Feeling slightly impatient, Taehyung quickly packed his bag, barely paying attention to his teammates and rushed out of the locker room without waiting for anyone. He didn't even bother walking out with his usual group of friends, nor did he spare Jungkook a glance.

Today, he wanted to be alone or rather, he wanted to be with someone else. He knew if he left with them, they would either distract him or notice something was off about his behavior. And the last thing he wanted was for them to catch on to the fact that he was waiting for someone.

Moving swiftly through the hallways, Taehyung found a secluded spot near the corner, where he could see students pouring out of the classrooms and making their way toward the exit. His eyes carefully scanned the faces, searching for the one person he had been waiting for.

Evie.

He knew her routine by now–she never left with the large crowd. She usually waited for the rush to die down before stepping out, which meant she would be one of the last students to leave. Taehyung leaned against the wall, waiting patiently, his gaze shifting every few seconds, hoping to catch sight of her.

But just when he thought he was in the clear, a familiar voice called out from behind him.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?"

Taehyung stiffened.

Shit.

Mentally, he cursed.

Slowly, he turned around, already dreading what he would see. And there he was–Jeon Jungkook, standing there with his arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on Taehyung as if he had caught him red-handed.

Taehyung let out a frustrated sigh in his mind. He had gone through all this effort to avoid his friends, to leave early so that no one would question him, yet Jungkook still managed to track him down. He should have known that bastard wouldn't just mind his own business.

Jungkook tilted his head slightly, his expression one of mild amusement mixed with curiosity. "You left your friends behind and came sneaking around here. What exactly are you up to?"

Taehyung kept his face neutral, forcing himself to appear casual. "Nothing. I had some work in the library," he replied smoothly. "I figured I'd wait for the crowd to clear before heading there. That's all."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Work? You're just standing here. More like waiting for someone, aren't you?"

Taehyung's jaw tightened slightly, but he refused to let his irritation show. "You're being ridiculous," he said, shaking his head. "I really do have work to do. And besides, I don't need to explain myself to you."

Jungkook smirked, stepping closer. "You're acting weird. And why do I get the feeling you don't want me here?"

Taehyung sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Because you're being annoying?" he muttered under his breath before speaking louder. "Look, I told you, I have work to do. It's going to take time, so you should just go ahead with the others. I won't be joining you."

Jungkook hummed, not looking convinced in the slightest. "That's fine," he said with a shrug. "What are friends for? We can wait for you."

Taehyung clenched his fists at his sides, holding back another string of curses. Of course, Jungkook had to make things difficult. He wasn't supposed to wait. No one was.

Forcing a casual tone, Taehyung said, "You don't have to. Really. It's going to take a while. And to be honest, I'd rather have some peace and quiet. Something I can never get when I'm around you guys." He shot Jungkook a pointed look, hoping he would take the hint and leave.

Jungkook narrowed his eyes, his smirk fading just slightly. "Peace and quiet, huh?" he echoed, before finally exhaling as if giving up. "Fine. Do whatever you want. But don't blame us later and say we don't care about you."

With that, Jungkook finally turned around and walked away, leaving Taehyung standing there, letting out a long breath of relief.

Finally.

Once Jungkook was finally gone, Taehyung let out a slow breath, relieved that he had successfully avoided further questioning. Now, he could focus on what he had been waiting for all along.

He turned his attention back to the hallway, his eyes scanning the remaining students trickling out of the building. The crowd had thinned significantly, and as he stood there, waiting just a little longer, he finally caught sight of her.

Evie.

A soft smile immediately tugged at his lips the moment he saw her. Even though he had been expecting her, something about finally seeing her in front of him made his heart race just a little faster. She was walking at her usual unhurried pace, her gaze focused on the path ahead, completely unaware that he was standing there, watching her.

For a brief moment, Taehyung simply admired her from afar, taking in the way her hair swayed slightly with each step, the way she carried herself so effortlessly. Then, realizing that he had been staring for too long, he quickly moved forward, weaving through the remaining students until he was close enough to approach her.

When Evie finally noticed him, her expression shifted slightly surprised, but not unpleasantly so. Taehyung never usually stayed after college hours. He always left with his friends, so seeing him here alone, waiting for her, was unexpected.

"Hey," Taehyung greeted, his voice warm as he stopped in front of her. "I was looking for you."

Evie tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a soft smile. "Oh?"

"Yeah," Taehyung nodded. "I wanted to meet you after the match, but, you know… the players weren't allowed to leave right away."

She gave a small laugh, shaking her head. "It's nothing. I understand."

For a second, they stood there in comfortable silence before Evie glanced around briefly, then back at him. "You're not going with your friends today?" she asked, curious.

Taehyung hesitated for a split second before running a hand over the back of his neck, forcing an easygoing smile onto his face. "Ah, they ditched me," he said, shrugging lightly. "Ran off to some party or something. Didn't really feel like going, so I let them go ahead."

It was a lie, of course.

He had deliberately left them behind. But he wasn't about to tell her that. No way.

Evie studied him for a moment, as if trying to determine whether he was being truthful, but she didn't question it. Instead, she simply smiled again.

"Well, in that case," Taehyung continued, slipping his hands into his pockets, "do you mind if I walk with you?"

Evie let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "I don't mind," she said.

And with that, they fell into step beside each other, walking together as the last few students slowly disappeared from the hallways.

As they walked side by side, making their way out of the college gates and onto the street, Taehyung felt a sense of ease settle over him. The atmosphere was calm, the soft evening breeze carrying the distant chatter of other students heading home.

For once, he wasn't surrounded by the loud banter of his usual group of friends. Instead, it was just him and Evie, walking together at a comfortable pace, and he found himself liking it more than he cared to admit.

They eventually reached the bus stop, where a few other students stood waiting, some engaged in conversation while others simply stared at their phones. Taehyung, however, had no interest in anything or anyone else at the moment–his focus remained entirely on Evie.

Normally, he wouldn't even be here. He never took the bus home, and his house wasn't even in this direction. If any of his friends found out that he had gone so far out of his way just to stand at a bus stop with a girl, they would probably lose their minds. He could already hear the teasing remarks they would throw his way, calling him a fool for doing something so ridiculous.

And yet, he didn't care.

Because standing here with Evie, prolonging this moment for just a little longer, felt completely worth it.

As they waited for the bus, Evie turned to him with a slightly curious expression. "Your house isn't in this direction, right?" she asked, tilting her head.

Taehyung hesitated for only a second before quickly coming up with a believable excuse. "Ah, no, not exactly," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. "But it's not too far off. I just have to get off a few stops early and walk a little."

It was a lie. Of course.

His house wasn't anywhere near this route. But he had money, and he could always take another bus later, so it wasn't a big deal. If it meant getting to spend more time with her, he didn't mind at all.

Evie nodded, seemingly accepting his explanation without suspicion. If she had any doubts, she didn't voice them.

Meanwhile, Taehyung couldn't help but think about how his friends would react if they ever saw him like this–going out of his way, lying just to spend a few extra minutes with a girl.

They would tease the hell out of him, mock him for acting so differently than usual. But again, he found that he didn't care.

Because Evie was worth it.

She was different from his earlier experience with others, she's kind-hearted, down-to-earth, effortlessly beautiful in a way that wasn't just about her looks but also about the way she carried herself. There was something about her that felt familiar, like she understood him in a way others didn't. And the more time he spent with her, the more he found himself wanting something more than just friendship.

They weren't kids anymore, after all. They were both twenty-one, adults who could make their own decisions. And if he wanted her to be more than just a friend, he saw nothing wrong with that.

Wanting to shift the conversation into something lighter, Taehyung cleared his throat before speaking. "So… what did you think about the match?" he asked, glancing at her.

Evie smiled softly. "It was good," she said, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice. "Even though I didn't really understand much of it."

Taehyung raised an eyebrow. "You didn't?"

She let out a small laugh. "Not really. I just watched everyone else. If they cheered, I cheered. If they got quiet, I stayed quiet."

Taehyung couldn't help but chuckle at that. The thought of her sitting there, pretending to follow along just so she could be part of the excitement, was undeniably cute.

The only thing she hadn't noticed, though, was how badly he had played at the beginning. And she certainly hadn't realized that the reason for his shaky performance had been her.

"Well," he said, shaking his head with a sheepish grin, "I didn't actually play that well."

Evie frowned slightly. "Really? I thought you did fine."

Taehyung let out a short laugh. "Trust me, I wasn't at my best."

She didn't know it, but her presence had completely thrown him off during the match. He had wanted to impress her, to show her how good he was but the knowledge that she was watching had only made him more nervous, causing him to make mistakes.

But in the end, it hadn't mattered.

As the bus pulled up with a soft screech, Evie and Taehyung stepped forward, moving with the small crowd of students who were also boarding. The doors swung open, and people filed in one after another, filling up the space quickly. It was rush hour, after all, and most of the seats were already taken.

Evie stepped inside first, holding onto the rail for balance as she scanned the bus for any available seats. But there were none. With a quiet sigh, she shifted to the side to make room for Taehyung, who had just stepped in behind her.

The bus was packed, the air warm from the number of bodies pressed together. Taehyung barely had any space as he moved closer, standing just beside her. The slight movement of the bus made the distance between them shrink even further, their shoulders brushing against each other.

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Taehyung could feel the faint scent of her shampoo–something light and sweet, though he couldn't quite place what it was. It wasn't overwhelming, just enough to linger in the air between them. It made his heart beat a little faster.

He wasn't the type of this, But standing this close to Evie, feeling her presence this near, was something else entirely.

The bus jerked slightly as it started moving, and instinctively, Taehyung reached out, gripping the overhead handle to steady himself. At the same time, Evie stumbled just a little, her balance momentarily thrown off by the sudden motion. Without thinking, Taehyung's other hand moved to her arm, a natural reflex to keep her from falling.

She looked up at him, surprised by the sudden touch, and their eyes met for a brief second. He quickly withdrew his hand, clearing his throat as if nothing had happened.

"Sorry," he murmured, offering a small smile. "Didn't want you to fall."

Evie smiled back, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's okay," she said softly, though there was a slight pink tint on her cheeks.

The ride continued, the movement of the bus forcing them to remain close. Each time the vehicle swayed, Evie would lean slightly in his direction, and he would subtly shift, making sure she didn't lose her balance. It wasn't intentional, but the closeness between them felt… different.

The stops passed by too quickly for Taehyung's liking. Before he knew it, the bus was nearing the place where he had told Evie he would be getting off. The lie. The fake stop he had chosen just so he could ride with her for a little while longer.

He didn't want to get off.

But he had no choice. He had already told her this was his stop, and dragging it out any longer would make things obvious.

As the bus slowed down, he sighed inwardly, letting go of the handle and glancing at Evie one last time.

"Guess this is my stop," he said, forcing a small smile.

Evie nodded, her expression neutral, as if she didn't think much of it. "Okay, see you tomorrow," she said simply.

Taehyung hesitated for half a second, wishing she would say something–anything that might give him a reason to stay a little longer. But she didn't.

With one last look, he stepped off the bus, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he watched it pull away. The moment it disappeared down the street, he let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head at himself.

Now he had to go all the way back in the opposite direction.

But strangely, he didn't regret it.

Because for just a little while, he had been close to her, and that was enough to make the extra journey worth it.

★ ★ ★

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