I never thought Jimin would be like this.

Right in the living room down the stairs, I could feel him waiting like an animal predator, guarding the door so I wouldn't be able to leave.

I rolled on my bed as a frustrated, angry groan left my mouth from the pit of my stomach. Why wasn't he hanging out with Taehyung or his friends like the other days?

I hated how he was meddling with my life. We were both consenting adults, but maybe we never grew from our little bubbles. I thought I was the one who was childish, now I had realized Jimin was too.

There was another thought running through my mind. Would I have approved if it was Jimin dating a teacher of his college?

There could be female teachers. Young, and beautiful, and maybe only a few years older than him, but even that thought made me uncomfortable. A teacher was a teacher. As much as I hated it, I couldn't but think Jimin was right from his perspective.

I fiddled with my phone, unconsciously biting on my lower lip thinking if I should contact Namjoon or not. I wanted to meet him, because after he would leave we would only talk through texts or phone calls. And I was never good at them.

My phone buzzed with an incoming call, Jungkook's ID popped up. This was the sixth time he had called and casually, I ignored. For the last hour he had been constantly calling me and I wondered what the heck it was, but I was not  curious or forgiving enough to pick it up.

My phone buzzed again, now for a text. Jungkook again. Rolling my eyes I opened it, not that I was going to reply.

When I started reading the texts my throat went dry, with each passing second I could feel my body going numb. A bitter taste started to spread through mouth and everything became blurred.

Junkook: I saw professor cha today

Jungkook: I went to college to return a book I borrowed from the library and saw him. He looked fine so I went to talk to him and he said he came back today and can't wait to start taking our classes from tomorrow

Jungkook: then I looked for mr kim and couldn't find him anywhere

Jungkook: I think you should contact him

Jungkook: and I'm sorry. I really am.

My heart dropped as I read more and more of the texts coming from Jungkook. The phone fell through my shaky fingers, and my stomach coiled. A lump made its way to my throat, threatening to make me throw up everything I had in breakfast.

Within seconds, I got up and took my hoodie. Slipping it on, I ran for the door, quickly climbing down the staircase and then reaching the front door.

"Where are you going?" Jimin's voice stopped me right when I was about to leave.

"None of your business," I stated, calmer than I thought I would be. "Stop interfering with my life. You don't know anything."

Perhaps there was something in my eyes, something that made him go silent as if he didn't know what to say. Rather his eyes started to soften.

"I just wanted to say sorry because I was too harsh yesterday. I was worried, and still am. You and this professor of yours—"

"He's not anymore," I spat with my tone harsh. "The teach he was filling in for joined today. So he's going to leave, maybe, even today. Who knows!"

My voice cracked at the end of my sentence. I couldn't keep that calm and cool facade on anymore.

"So go on with your friends, Jimin! Live your life like you always have been. You're just like dad. Don't start to care only now because there's no turning back for me at this point."

With every second passing by I could feel my heart shattering into bits and bits of pieces and the thought, the thought of not being able to see Namjoon again, spending time with him, talking to him, laughing with him, made me feel nauseated. As if I was in the verge of fainting because being away from him, it hurt so much even just by imagining.

"Leave then," Jimin said through his pursed lips, visibily irritated. I knew he loathed our father just as much. And maybe I shouldn't have gone there, but the apology needed to wait for when we had both calmed down. "Tell him to stay in Seoul and get another job or something," he said.

I frantically wiped my cheeks, wet with fresh tears. I didn't know when I had started crying.

"He's going to leave anyway," I replied with my lips trembling. Still finding it hard to believe that Jimin had approved.

"Go." Jimin sighed. "Seriously, I wouldn't have worried this much if you dated a girl instead and said you were gay. I always thought that was the case anyway. Whatever, go get him now."

And so I left. Not even caring that I was wearing pajamas and flipflops. Even with my hoodie on I probably looked like a homeless person.

As I hurriedly climed up the staircases and reached his place, I was surprised seeing his apartment's door fully open. But what was more shocking that from the outside I could see nothing was there. The couch, table, his books scattered on the floor, nothing.

"Namjoon?" I hesitantly called out, stepping a foot inside.

I noticed that a few packed cardboard boxes were lying here and there, but most of the furnitures were gone. "Namjoon, are you there?"

I started to feel afraid. It was too silent.

He wouldn't leave me. Not saying a word, he wouldn't leave like that.

But what if he left already? 

That's absurd, he wouldn't leave. He would never leave like that. He was not like my father.

But he wasn't there.

"Soomi? When did you come here?" A jollygood voice made me turn towards the door. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was Namjoon!

Not wasting another second, I ran and wrapped my arms around him. I then put my head on the circle of his broad chest. Feeling his heartbeat and his warmth in an instance, I couldn't believe that just a moment ago I thought I'd never see him again.

"A-ah." Namjoon said flustered. "What are you doing Soomi? I almost grabbed the cactus."

I looked up with my head still brushing on his chest, my arms embracing him. There was indeed a cactus plant in his hand that he was holding further away. So it couldn't harm me.

"Who gave you that?" I mumbled. With hundreds of questions running through my mind, I couldn't think straight.

"The landlady. She says I resemble his son, he's in the army now. But hey.." Namjoon lifted up my chin with his other hand, deeply staring at my face. "Were you crying?"

"No." I let go off him instantly. "I wasn't."

He stepped closer. "You look like you were crying. Don't lie to me."

And I looked away. His soft and caring voice, the way he was seeking my answer, every time he did those reminded me of how dadlike he was.

"Professor Cha came back," I murmured. "I thought you wouldn't tell me and leave like that."

It wasn't a second until he had bursted out in a soft fit of giggles. "You've read too many cliché stuff Soomi."

I could only frown at him in reply.

"Okay, I'm sorry for laughing." He put a hand over his mouth, though his eyes were still small for how he was laughing silently. He held my hand putting the pot down and took me inside, to his bedoom. His bed was still there.

He made me sit there and sat by my side. Still holding my hand and slowly he interwined his fingers with mine, making me blush red just in a millisecond.

"Soomi," Namjoon breathed out speaking softly. "I'll leave tomorrow night. I wish I could move the date to the end of this week but my mom can't wait. She wanted me to come home today, that's why almost all the furnitures are gone. She made me sent them as a reassurance. And as much as I look like an adult, my mom still thinks I'm a kid. Believe me or not." Namjoon laughed at the end of his sentence, slightly squeezing my hand.

"You are a kid," I retorted. With his hand on my hand, I felt calmer. I was sad but there was this warm feeling too. "Come to think of it, I don't know anything about your family."

"I have a dad, a mom. My dad is a teacher too." Namjoon smiled at me. "I have a sister too, though she's a brat. And I have a dog."

"I love dogs," I commented letting out a giggle.

"He's a big and friendly guy. Next time when I visit Seoul I'll bring him with me. I'm sure he'll like you too."

"You're coming next time right?" That melancholic feeling was coming back yet again.

He was going to leave. He really was leaving.

"Of course." Namjoon scrunched up his eyebrows. "Soomi, you really need to stop reading them. Faster than a kiss and stuff like those."

"What?" My soul, I swore it left my body right there. "Don't tell me you've read that manga."

"Yeah, I did." Namjoon grinned sheepishly. "I have to say it was not my taste, but I wanted to know more about you. It was cute overall."

Oh no.

"Why did you read that! God! I'm so embarrassed!!" I cried, cringing at myself. I wanted to hit him at that moment.

"It's okay really." Namjoon cackled. "I know you like those teacher-student manga, and stuff."

"Oh, shut up!" I snarled at him in response. My ears going red.

Namjoon only bit on his lips, looking more amused than ever, trying so hard not to laugh.

After getting a hold of himself he breathed out, playing with my fingers in the meantime. My hand still in his clasp.

"Soomi, I wanted to tell you this beforehand. I'm working on something. A thesis." He breathed out. "And I'm going to send it to a university in Philadelphia. I really don't know if they'll accept me for their PhD program, but if they do, it would take months. Probably even a year."

First it was his hometown. Now he was saying someday he'll leave for phil-god-damn-delphia.

Even mother nature was against the idea of us being together. That was most probably the case.

"And I was thinking if you could come with me." Namjoon added. For the second time my soul left my body.

"What?" I shouted loudly. My eyes so wide, every body cell of mine shooketh.

"Yeah." Namjoon slowly furrowed his eyebrows at me. "I think it'd be the best if you apply for the scholarship program, if you want. You're a bright student after all. And we can both try this way— don't tell me you were thinking of something else."

I said nothing in reply and only rolled my lips inside my mouth. Sweating inside.

"Did you perhaps think it was some kind of I don't know, a marriage proposal?" Namjoon raised an eyebrow. Yet I was silent.

"Oh my god, you really have read too many stuff like those!" Once again he bursted out laughing. This time harder than ever, he was laughing so hard I thought he'd explode like an atomic bomb and I couldn't bear watching anymore.

"Argh, I hate you!" I took a pillow that was lying near me and hit him with that. I didn't want to stop, I couldn't. I kept hitting him until he stopped laughing and snatched the pillow away from me.

And then he cupped my cheeks instead. His hands were so huge they could cover my whole face. The biggest smile spread across his face and with that he laughed. "You look like a grumpy cat when you get angry like this."

Grumpy cat? I puffed my cheeks frowning. Which made him grin harder.

"You know what? If you wanna get married we can. But first you need to graduate okay?" He teased biting on his full lips. "I didn't know you were so eager to get married."

"I wheet you." He was cupping my cheeks so hard I couldn't even say it clearly.

Seeing me struggle he loosened his hold. Still he was staring into my eyes. I couldn't tell what his own eyes were saying. But his hands were so warm, I wanted to be here like this, with him, forever.

With our gazes locked on each others he leaned in a little. That's when I realized, that I was in his bedroom. On his bed. And no one was here.

My heart started beating faster, pumping out more blood than it could ever. I closed my eyes shut. Not caring if something happened, more than a kiss perhaps. I would want that even though I was not ready for it right then.

But he planted a kiss on my forehead instead.

My eyes shot open when I felt his soft lips pressed against my forehead. This again, was nothing like I'd ever felt before. Every thing, every feeling I had shared with him were so different from each other.

When he moved away still staring in my eyes, I felt this warmth in my chest. And I wanted to cry, pour my eyes out because I was so happy to be with him yet sad since he'd be gone soon.

"You want a ride on my bike this evening?" He smiled, pushing a strand of my hair behind my ear.

I only nodded as I bit on my lip. Trying my hardest not to cry. And he seemed to understand that. Even though he was smiling, his smile looked despondent.

"Then do you want to help me now with the packing?" He asked softly.

I nodded. Still we sat there just holding eachother's hands, not uttering a single word.

I was never prepared for a goodbye.

And I still had a lot to know, lot to give him. And a long way to go.

---
A/n: don't cry. There will be an epilogue!

If you have any questions regarding me or this book,or even your math homework (probably wouldn't be able to answer that since I suck at math yikes) ask away.