Say It Back

Awkward Meetings

"Jaebum sunbae is so hot, look as he walks by..."

"Yes he is."

The giggling of the girls are very loud and obvious as the infamous Im Jaebum walks pass by them. Jaebum being the "nice" guy that he is smiled and waved at them, which made the girls blush and fawn over his charm.

"I can see you're still popular as ever Jaebum", his friend Namjoon sighed. "This is why I can't get a girlfriend. Because girls always notice you when we are together, kinda outshines me. It sucks, really." He laughed as he half jokingly confessed what he was thinking.

Jaebum and Namjoon continued to chat as they walk until they reached the stairs. A couple of girls were waiting for them, mostly for Jaebum, to give him a letter. This is an everyday occurrence in their campus. Im Jaebum, the only son and the heir to a multibillion dollar real estate company owner, charming yet grounded, is loved by every student, whether male or female. Popular is an understatement.  

While Jaebum is busy entertaining the girls that are waiting for him, Namjoon noticed a face he's not familiar with walk pass by them. He was intrigued because he never saw the boy. The boy is walking in a rush, seemingly avoiding contact with everyone, and before he knew it, Namjoon followed the new face. To piss him off to be exact. Completely random, but that's who Namjoon is. Silly and is always looking for trouble.

Jaebum saw Namjoon walk away, so he excused himself from the girls to follow his friend, and mostly to stop him from whatever silly thing he is about to commit.

"Psst!" Namjoon tried to get the attention of the boy but he was ignored as unknown student continued to walk. Not bothered by him at all.

"Hey!", he tried to get his attention once again but noticed that the boy has earphones on. This did not stop him however, he decided to poke the boy.

Finally, the boy noticed the presence bothering him and he removed his earphones. "What?" he asked in a very annoyed tone. It is very obvious he does not want to be bothered, and yet Namjoon just couldn't get a grip of it.

Mamjoon laughed when he saw how the new student reacted. It fueled his desire to annoy him even more. "Oh nothing." he said, smirking, taunting the boy.

The new student rolled his eyes in annoyance as he put his earphones back in his ears and continued to walk, once again ignoring the presence of others as if nothing happened.

Namjoon didn't give up and continued his quest to annoy the hell out of the new student. It gives him a sense of satisfaction. Jaebum, who is now behind him asked Namjoon what he's up to and why he is following someone. Seems like a waste of time for the both of them, he thought.

"Do you know that boy? Its my face time seeing his face" he asked Jaebum.

"No. Quit messing around and stop bothering strangers. Lets go." Jaebum nagged. This is a daily occurence, Namjoon annoying someone out of boredom and he is getting fed up.

"Okay, chill." Namjoon said. "Let me annoy him one more time." He added as he followed the student. Jaebum protested with Namjoon's idea but before he knew it, Namjoon was already behind the boy. Jaebum couldn't do anything but sigh.

Jaebum followed Namjoon and with his surprise, Namjoon out of nowhere, grabbed the boy's butt which surprised both the boy and Jaebum. "What the hell was he thinking?!" Jaebum thought. That was borderline harassment. 

The boy angrily turned his back to his surprise, and intended to slap the boy who has been bothering him for quite a while as a defense mechanism, because he was just groped by now, and that is not okay at all. But when he turned his back, his slap accidentally landed on a different face, Im Jaebum.

Jaebum who was just slapped by now and is to say the least, very shocked, looked at the boy with so much confusion. "What the hell", he said.

When the boy realized that he slapped the wrong person, he was taken aback. Panicked, he quickly ran because at that moment, what else is his option. He thought. It was either an awkward confrontation or he flights. And he hates confrontations. He was too embarrassed.

Namjoon chuckled when he saw Jaebum get slapped before asking him if he's okay. He's enjoying the scene he caused. Jaebum can only laugh awkwardly because he is still in shock of the series of events that just took place.

--

When Youngjae reached his classroom, he was sweating like he just ran a marathon. His heart was racing too fast from the adrenaline rush that he felt after running from the boy whom he accidentally slapped.

"What happened to you?" Youngjae's best friend and well, his only friend, Jackson asked, obviously concerned for his friend, and proceeded to hand him a handkerchief.

"Its a long story, and crazy too." Youngjae responded back. 

"Well, good. Because I have all the time to listen. Tell me." Curious Jackson insisted, which worked. Youngjae tried to catch his breath as he prepares to sit next to Jackson.

"Okay, so I was walk-" Youngjae is suddenly cut off when his classmates started freaking out. The girls are in panic mode and he got up from his seat to see what is happening and what was the fuss all about. And he was shocked and scared when he saw that the guy he slapped just few minutes ago is now standing in front of their class room. His head is occupied with panic. "What am I gonna do? Am I in trouble." He thought.

Youngjae freaked out. "Jackson, hide me." He said in a rush but it was too late. The two boys he met at the hallway already spotted his presence. Their eyes met which Youngjae quickly avoided. 

"Hey, you!" Jaebum yelled at Youngjae. All eyes are on Youngjae now, and he hates it. He hates the unwanted attention, and most of all, he hates that he put himself in a situation like this. He wanted to disappear at that very moment. Jaebum started walking in his direction, and as their distance gets smaller, Youngjae's heart rate gets faster.

Youngjae froze in panic. He closed his eyes and turned around, facing the direction of Jaebum. "Well, I guess I have no way out now." He said to himself. "Don't panic, you didn't do anything wrong. Well except for the fact that you slapped someone." He tried to reassure himself. And the moment he opened his eyes, their eyes met, exchanging looks. He saw an intimidating gaze in both Jaebum and Namjoon's eyes.

"Come with us." Jaebum said. It was an order. And before Youngjae could even protest, Namjoon already grabbed his wrist, leading him outside their classroom. 

Youngjae's mind is all over the place. He has no idea what to do. 

Youngjae bowed deeply facing Jaebum and Namjoon. "I-i'm sorry. I'm sorry, I didn't mean t-". He was fumbling. His words were barely understandable. He just wants to get over this situation. A humiliating one.

"Its okay." Jaebum smiled, which obviously surprised Youngjae. Its completely a different reaction from what he has in mind. He expects exchanges of harsh words, and for him to get in trouble, but hearing those words were comforting yet confusing. 

"Don't let hi-" Namjoon was going to say something but Jaebum gave him a look, interrupting him.

"I-i'm sorry. It will never happen again, I'm sorry." Youngjae, still avoiding Jaebum's eyes, apologized sincerely, keeping his head down. He apologized once more, and was ready to leave but Jaebum interrupted him.

"Wait!", Jaebum said. This caught Youngjae's attention, which made him turn back, facing Jaebum. "What is it?" Youngjae asked.

"What's your name?" Jaebum smiled at him.

Youngjae is taken aback with the question. "Choi Youngjae. A sophomore" he awkwardly responded, not sure what to do next.

"I'm Im Jaebum." the older flashed another smile, which made Youngjae's heart skip a beat. "I'm your senior, and this is one is Namjoon." he then pointed at Namjoon's direction. "Sorry for his behavior earlier." Namjoon just waved. "That was hell for an introduction." Youngjae thought to himself.

"O-okay." Youngjae said awkwardly and proceeded to leave the scene. He can feel the looks of his classmates and it stresses him out.

Jaebum can't help but smile while looking at Youngjae awkwardly fleeting the scene with his head down and panicked walk. Namjoon just looked at him, confused. "That's not how I expected things to turn out." Namjoon said. "I thought you'd give him a hard time for slapping you." He added.

"It was technically your fault, you know." Jaebum responded. "If anything, you should apologize to him, and to me."

"Touche". Namjoon said as they leave the floor in which Youngjae was in.

He's very interesting. I'm intrigued. Jaebum thought.