Episode 2: The Cafeteria War Begins

Min Yoongi didn’t like noisy places.

That’s why he avoided the campus cafeteria on most days. Too many people, too many smells, and too many loud voices. But today, thanks to a certain loud-mouthed dance major named Park Jimin, he found himself standing in line for kimchi fried rice, wondering where his life went wrong.

“Why are you making that face?” Jimin asked, poking Yoongi’s cheek from behind.

“Because I’m thinking about walking away and pretending I never met you.”

Jimin grinned. “Aww, you do care.”

Yoongi rolled his eyes. “I came because you said you were buying. That’s it.”

“And because you like me.”

Yoongi turned slowly. “What?”

“I mean, as a person. You like me as a person. Obviously,” Jimin said quickly, but the cheeky smile never left his face.

Yoongi grabbed his tray, trying not to blush. “You’re full of yourself.”

“And you’re full of mystery,” Jimin said, walking beside him with his own tray. “That’s why you’re fun.”

They found a table in the corner, far from the crowd. As they sat down, Jimin immediately started mixing his rice and egg together like he hadn’t eaten in days.

Yoongi ate slowly, watching the chaos of the lunchroom. He spotted Hoseok dancing in line, Namjoon spilling water on his notes, and Seokjin showing off his food like a cooking show host.

“Looks like your friends have their own dramas,” Yoongi said.

Jimin looked up with rice on his cheek. “That’s why I love them. They make every day feel like a comedy show.”

Yoongi handed him a napkin. “You’ve got rice on your face.”

Jimin wiped it off. “Thanks, Mom.”

Yoongi raised a brow. “Don’t ever call me that again.”

Jimin laughed so hard he almost dropped his spoon.

Just then, Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook walked up to their table with their trays.

“Yo! Is this seat taken?” Taehyung asked, not waiting for an answer before sitting.

“Hyung, are you okay?” Jungkook asked Yoongi politely. “You look a little… trapped.”

“I am trapped,” Yoongi said.

“In friendship!” Jimin added cheerfully.

Yoongi gave him a look that said, I’m this close to pouring soup on your head.

Jungkook laughed. “Jimin-hyung really won’t leave you alone, huh?”

“He’s like a mosquito,” Yoongi muttered.

“I’m an adorable mosquito,” Jimin said proudly.

Yoongi sighed. “You’re really not.”

Taehyung leaned forward with a smirk. “You guys fight like a married couple.”

Yoongi choked on his drink. “Excuse me?”

Jimin didn’t even blink. “Yeah, except Yoongi doesn’t hold my hand yet.”

Yoongi stared at him. “You need help.”

“Love is the best help,” Jimin said with a wink.

Taehyung and Jungkook laughed, clearly enjoying the show.

“Hey!” a voice yelled across the cafeteria. “Jimin-ah! You forgot to give me back my USB!”

Jimin turned and saw a tall, athletic boy jogging toward their table.

“That’s Kim Mingyu from acting class,” Jungkook whispered. “He always lets Jimin use his USB drive.”

Jimin pulled it from his bag and tossed it to Mingyu. “Here, my guy!”

Mingyu caught it and gave Jimin a thumbs up.

Yoongi raised an eyebrow. “You flirt with him too?”

“I flirt with everyone,” Jimin said. “But you’re my favorite target.”

“Gee. Lucky me.”

“You are lucky,” Jimin teased.

Yoongi tried to look annoyed, but honestly, Jimin’s silly grin was starting to grow on him. Even if the boy drove him nuts, there was something kind of… warm about his chaos.

Taehyung suddenly stood up. “Cafeteria war begins in three… two…”

Before Yoongi could ask what he meant, a spoon flew across the room and hit someone’s tray. A piece of tofu went flying, landing on another table.

Then the yelling started.

Yoongi blinked. “Is this normal?”

“Every Thursday,” Jimin said casually. “We call it Food Fight Light.”

“Light?” Yoongi repeated.

“No throwing trays. Only soft food,” Jimin explained, just as a cherry tomato bounced off Taehyung’s shoulder.

Yoongi ducked as a piece of lettuce flew past his ear. “I hate this place.”

Jimin shielded him with a tray. “Don’t worry, Sleepy Grandpa. I’ll protect your pretty face.”

“Stop calling me that!”

But Yoongi didn’t pull away when Jimin leaned close, shielding him like a bodyguard with a tray shield.

Once the chaos settled and the cafeteria staff started yelling, everyone sat down like nothing had happened. Taehyung clapped his hands once. “Another successful mission.”

“You people are insane,” Yoongi mumbled.

“But fun, right?” Jimin asked.

Yoongi didn’t answer. But the corners of his mouth curved up.

After lunch, Jimin walked with Yoongi to his next class, even though it was on the opposite side of campus.

“You don’t have to follow me, you know,” Yoongi said.

“I want to follow you,” Jimin replied.

Yoongi looked at him. “Why?”

Jimin slowed down. “Okay, fine. Serious moment.”

Yoongi blinked. “What?”

Jimin rubbed the back of his neck. “You know, everyone here is loud, friendly, all over the place. But you… you’re quiet. You don’t pretend. I like that. And yeah, I tease you. A lot. But I’m not trying to be mean.”

Yoongi stared at him. “So you are bullying me. But nicely?”

Jimin grinned. “Exactly.”

Yoongi snorted. “You’re impossible.”

“I know,” Jimin said, looking pleased.

There was a silence between them as they reached the music building again. Yoongi looked at Jimin, who was watching him with that same playful glint in his eyes.

“You really don’t get tired of this?” Yoongi asked.

“Nope,” Jimin said. “You’re my favorite part of today.”

Yoongi’s heart did something weird. He looked away quickly. “That’s… your problem.”

Jimin chuckled. “One I’m happy to have.”

Yoongi walked into the building without saying goodbye.

But inside, his ears were red.

Bye guys see you in next episode (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

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