Choices

Days blended into weeks, and July into September. School had done its part to distract Hyejin from Taehyung's ordeal and the mention of him didn't produce an effect on her as it did before. Or so she said to herself.

She had passed her first semester final exams with flying colours, even in Chemistry. Especially in Chemistry. She had told Taehyung over the text of this feat and thanked him profusely.

He had been glad and offered his help as always.

That had been the content of their conversation.

She wanted to avoid meeting Taehyung during the Chuseok holidays as she still didn't believe the full removal of her feelings. She didn't know how this would come by, as there hadn't been a single Chuseok where their families weren't united.

The good news came to her during a supper with the family when her parents announced that they were going to their hometown for the Chuseok holidays. One of their paternal uncle had returned to Korea after 3 years abroad and all of the siblings had decided to spend the time with their parents.

Hyejin and Jimin were more than happy to comply as it had been quite some time since they had visited all four of their grandparents and also because winter was quite a delight in that small town. Hyejin had one more reason to be happy about this arrangement which she would never admit out loud.

For now, her problem was sorted. She breathed a sigh of relief as she went to bed that night.

_______________

The Parks returned to Daegu four days later and Hyejin came to know from Jimin that Taehyung would be leaving the same day. Jimin had decided that he would go meet him at his house and offered Hyejin to go with him which she declined.

She would avoid him as long as she could without raising any suspicions. But then again, its not like she had ever shown her eagerness to meet Taehyung at any point of time in the past. Or more like there never had been any eagerness. She didn't know what had come over her for the past few months and she wished to go back the way she was before. Oh, how much she wanted Taehyung to just be Jimin's best friend and Beomgyu's older brother and not someone who confused her as much as he excited her.

She pushed the thoughts at the back of her mind and went to iron her dress for the school next day, before being called by her mother for dinner.

"Taehyung was asking why I didn't bring you." Jimin said while chewing, making his mother throw a disapproving look in his direction.

Hyejin swallowed her food with water before speaking.

"Me? Why?" she asked, not liking the way her heart had picked up the pace.

"Just like this. Nothing special." he shrugged his shoulders.

She hummed in response, not showing her excitement at the news.

Surely, it wouldn't be anything special. He asked about you because you usually accompany Jimin to his house.

She thought, trying to focus her attention back to the table.

That night, she contemplated the information given by Jimin and considered messaging Taehyung but dismissed the idea as soon as it had occurred, telling herself that it indeed had just been an offhanded comment and that he wasn't really interested to know the reason of her absence.

_______________

December came in the blink of an eye and so did the final examinations. Thankfully, Hyejin had studied so much in depth with Taehyung that she didn't need his help over the texts this time around too. For which she was glad. Asking questions would mean communication, and communication would lead to her feelings resurfacing.

The exams passed as soon as they had come, although Jungkook would disagree with her as he complained everyday about the never ending exam days.

"Fucking finally!" Jungkook said, as he joined Hyejin outside the class.

"Yeah...finally." she said.

She looked both ways in the corridor to find the rest of their friends. Jungkook waved his hand in one direction and soon enough, they were joined by Seokmin and Haeun.

"Where should we go?" Seokmin asked, as if that had been the only thing on his mind all day.

After much discussion, the group decided to go to karaoke. They all knew at the end it would be karaoke only, but discussion was necessary.

"So, we all will be going to the same high school, right?" Haeun asked, as they exited the school.

"Yeah."

"Yes."

"Hmm."

"Good." she said. "I would have killed if anyone of you had betrayed the rest." she said, earning a dramatic gasp from Seokmin.

"It's already December and so cold, yet we still haven't witnessed the snowfall this year." Hyejin commented, wrapping her arms around herself.

"True. The forecast says it could be anytime soon." Jungkook added.

The conversation about the weather came to an end as the group reached their destination.

_______________

Hyejin reached home late in the evening, only to find Taehyung in the living room, along with the rest of the family.

There was a sudden rush in her system and it took all her energy to focus on what her mother was saying.

She had asked about the exam. Hyejin had responded. She had asked her to change and join them for tea. Hyejin had nodded. Taehyung had greeted her. Finally. She had greeted him back.

Still in a daze, she went to her room and freshened up. After the shock had subsided, the senses returned. She knew that she had behaved a bit strangely downstairs, but she would blame it all on the long day. She took a deep breath and went downstairs, greeting everyone again in her usual lively manner, eliminating any need for questions.

After the tea, the boys excused themselves and went to play video game, Jimin saying something about a due challenge. Hyejin followed suit and went to her room to rest for a bit.

She fell back on the pillows, and as she stared at the ceiling, certain thoughts raced in her mind.

She didn't know why she had reacted the way she did upon seeing Taehyung abruptly. She was afraid of the way her heart had sped up at the mere sight of him. She didn't like the fact that even after all these months, her efforts had been in vain and there was still something she felt for Taehyung.

She closed her eyes and there he was again. She opened them with a start, as she realised grimly, her stomach dropping.

I have fallen for Kim Taehyung.

That night, the first snow fell.

___________________________________________

A/N:

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