Who are you?

17. Gloomy alley

Taehyung honestly wasn't paying attention to what Yugyeom was saying... 

The week was almost over, and he couldn't delay any longer with the assignment Seojoon had given in instead of attendance.  Something that resembling yourself...  Taehyung walked around the campus with the camera slung over his shoulder. The empty classroom, the empty bench in front of the building, the fountain without running water... All the lonely things caught Taehyung's attention. Was there really no one on campus in the early evening? Is it possible? No way.... But Taehyung knew that he was only looking for places where there were no people. As if he must be alone where no one is...

However, meeting Yugyeom in the midst of that was a really unexpected coincidence. Moreover, walking alone on such a dim schoolyard with him, who was not even close to him, was something Taehyung could never have imagined.

"Aren't you Taehyung? Wow~ What are you doing here? Did you come out alone? Where is Jungkook? Isn't he with you?"

He suddenly appeared out of nowhere and approached him with a friendly voice. There aren't many people here, or maybe even in the world, who can talk friendly with him. And besides those few people, the only person he had ever talked to was Yugyeom. And on the few occasions they met, he always appealed that he was friends with Jungkook, as if he was trying to keep Taehyung from being wary. Fortunately, because of his such a behavior, Taehyung could easily recognize who he was. Taehyung tried to tell Yugyeom that he wouldn't be able to go to his party tomorrow. He wasn't in the mood to go to a party these days.

But, Yugyeom was very quick-witted. He quickly mentioned Jimin. He said that when he met Jimin by chance a few days ago, Jimin asked him about the dress code, and that Jimin was very excited about the party tomorrow. And, as Yugyeom predicted, Taehyung couldn't say anything. 

Yugyeom found out that Taehyung was doing a photo assignment and naturally followed him around as if they were close friends. Of course, Taehyung was uncomfortable with Yugyeom following him around as if he didn't care about his intentions and kept talking to him without stopping. But suddenly, when Jungkook's words came to mind, he thought about it.  If I get along well with other people, will Jungkook's bad impression of me be able to change even a little...?  Taehyung didn't know why he felt that way. But at that moment, it was clear what he wanted. He didn't want Jungkook to hate him.

"Taehyung~ What are you looking for? It's getting darker..."

Will he treat me like he treats everyone else?  Taehyung let out a low sigh.

"If I'm going to the party tomorrow, I need to finish this today."

"Ohhhh, that's right! But what are you looking for? What should you take picture?"

"..............."

What? What the hell does he want to shoot?  Taehyung chewed his lower lip as if thinking for a moment. And he suddenly remembered the narrow and dark alley between the buildings he had seen before. He wondered what the alley looked like and where it led...  The dark, narrow, and questionable the path probably resembles him... Wouldn't it be okay if he went with Jungkook's friend?  

"Um, could you go with me? There's an alley between the buildings on the way to the library. I've been passing by a few times... "

"Huh? Was there something like an alleyway there? Anyway, okay, let's go!"

Taehyung smiled involuntarily at Yugyeom's cheerful voice, who readily accepted. Maybe making friends was not as difficult as he thought, and it seemed like a good thing. And while walking with him, Taehyung could feel his discomfort lessen. Maybe all the things that have disturbed and troubled his mind were caused by himself? Could it be different depending on how he has his mind? A smile formed on Taehyung's face as he curled his lips inward.