KIM NAMJOON'S POV

"I was worried."

"I didn't ask you anything." Yoongi yawned in front of me, his eyes dripping off boredom.

"I mean, just imagine me finding out that girl was in college when she was supposed to be in a date with Soomi. Of course, I'd get worried, right?" I said it fast in one breath, sitting at the edge of my seat waiting, not-so-patiently for Yoongi's answer.

"You sound annoying." He yawned again.

"I know." I huffed out the breath I was holding, while letting my tensed shoulders relax. "I know I sound annoying but—"

"Now you sound like a girl."

"Do I?" I frowned. What I did last night made me seem so petty, but I couldn't help that. Since she was my student, and I knew her close to a personal level, it was natural that I'd worry. Or was it not?

"Does she remind you of someone?" Yoongi said in a low voice, making me look up at his sleepy eyes.

"Who?" I asked, bewildered.

"I hope you don't make the same mistake again." He got up from his seat. "Doesn't your class start in ten minutes?"

"Yeah." I checked my watch, and grabbed my coat in the meantime. "But tell me what you were talking about."

"Nothing." Stretching his arms out, he left the office after heaving yet another silent and heavy yawn.

***

"Remember to bring me the essay on your current favorite modern English novel, comparing the writing and the setting with a classic favourite of yours next class. Do not make it long. You do not have to work too hard on this. It wouldn't affect your exam papers either. It'll just help me get a good insight on each of you and I want to get to know you better." I smiled at the end of my lecture and the class bell rang just then. Perfect timing.

The students started getting up from their seats, leaving the classroom in a hurry, bodies jostling against each other. Some took it slow. I was rearranging the books on my table but from the corner of my eyes, I noticed Soomi getting ready to leave.

When she came up to the door, completely ignoring my existence after everyone had left, I couldn't help but run up to her.

"Soomi!" I called out her name making her stop, but she wouldn't turn my way or look at my face.

"What?" She said, still looking down.

"Look at me."

"Why?"

"Oh look, a cat in the classroom!" I shouted and she immediately turned around.

"How could you fall for that?" I was genuinely surprised that she actually turned, but thankfully I could see her face clearly this time. "I was right, you did hurt your face."

A crease appeared between her brows as she shook her head furiously to the sides, making her bangs cover up her forehead marred with the dark bruise.

"None of your business!" She spat, and I struggled to contain my laughter.

She was like a stray cat you'd want to take care of, because it was helpless, and adorable but it would keep getting angry at you even if you showed care, probably because no one cared for it before, or it didn't like that small gesture. Though, even its grumpiness would make you want to care for it more.

I heaved a small sigh looking at her eyes that were screaming annoyance. "Since I'm your teacher and since I saw it, of course it's my business. Let's go to my office. I have a first aid kit."

"I don't want to!" She cried like a small child. I laughed silently walking a few steps ahead so she wouldn't see me.

"I'm not hearing 'no' for an answer. Aren't you coming?" I looked back and asked. She let out a frustrated groan, before she started following me, leaving heavy footsteps behind.

***

"What is it with you? Can't you be more gentle!"

She hissed under her breath as soon as I'd touched her forehead with a piece of cotton dipped in medicine. "Just put a band aid on it. What the hell are you doing?" She moved her head back, giving me that infuriated look again.

It was somewhat hilarious to me that the very expression terrified me when I first got to know her. In the course of only a few days, to me, it felt like a lot had changed in the dynamics of my relationship with her.

"I'm not a nurse but even I know that you have to clean the wounded place first." I explained holding the side of her head. "Now come here, it'll sting a bit at first but you'll be fine later."

"Do it slowly, for God's sake." She flinched when I blew at her injury.

"Almost done," I said, rolling my shirt's sleeves up to my arms. "Bandaid, bandaid," mumbling to myself I searched for them in the drawers. "Say, how did you get such a big one this time? Who were you fighting?"

"No one." She shrugged. I leaned closer to her with the bandaid I'd found.

"Don't tell me you just fell on your face flat for no reason."

"I did, but not for 'no reason'. I was, ah, trying to play football in the back of my house by my own," she murmured, and I moved away since I was done.

"Your brother isn't home yet?"

"He will be, the day after tomorrow."

"Then let's play football together tomorrow." I suggested starting to clean off the table, putting back the medicines and everything where it belonged. "Maybe we can invite Yoongi too and play basketball since he's good at that."

"Forget it. I don't wanna be a burden." She got up from her seat, heaving a small sigh.

"You wouldn't be a burden. I feel like I haven't worked out properly in a long time. I need to work out, play and stuff!"

"Then why do you have those biceps?"  She pointed at my upper arms with her eyes.

"Ah, those?" I looked at my left arm to the sides, holding onto my jacket. "Do they consider as biceps? Wait, is my shirt too tight? I shouldn't have worn—"

"Man just look at them biceps." Soomi's voice made me look up at her. She was making a frame with her fingers that was probably capturing my biceps. "I'm so jealous."

"Why? For this?" I flexed my muscle and she quickly looked away.

"Don't even. Just don't!" She fake cried biting her lower lip hard. "Do you even know how hard it is for normal people like us to build a bicep when yours are natural? God is unfair!"

I couldn't contain my laughter anymore. I bursted out in laughter and I kept on laughing. It felt like I hadn't lost myself like this in ages.

"What? Because I'm a girl you're telling me I shouldn't get abs? Or biceps?" She asked looking offended so I tried calming down.

"No, it's just that, no one has ever told it to me like this before. And of course, you should get some abs if you want. Gender should never matter."

"Good." She narrowed her eyes on me. "Now tell me, how did you know I'd hurt my face?"

"I just guessed," I answered, getting ready to leave the nurse's room and she was too.

"Don't ever do that again." She turned around all of a sudden, making me bump with her but I halted at the right time.

We were standing really close.

So close, that I could see her dark eyes clearly, underneath those bangs and her lashes. Actually, they weren't fully black but a little brown too.

"Don't guess stupid stuff," she murmured, making me look down at her lips.

"I will keep guessing them." I moved away from her. Giving her angry face another look, I started walking ahead. "See you tomorrow for morning lessons Soomi."

I shouldn't have felt flustered like I did just now.

I thought it was only care that I'd felt for her.

She's just a student.