JENNIE
Don't say goodbye.
~ Romeo's Quest
Walking back into the cafeteria, I gasped when I saw Nayeon sitting with Taehyung at our table talking. I rushed over and hugged Nayeon tightly. "I thought you weren't coming back this week!"
She smiled. "Gotta start back sometime."
Lisa returned to the cafeteria and walked over to our table. "Taehyung, can I talk to you for a minute in my classroom?"
Taehyung narrowed his eyes on Ms. Manoban and huffed, "No thanks."
I cringed at his reaction and moved over to Taehyung. I placed my mouth near his ear and sighed. "Please, Taehyung? For me?"
He frowned and shook his head back and forth. He didn't say a word. He just stood up and followed Lisa out of the room.
Nayeon and I sat back down at the table. "Remember in the beginning of the year when I said I'd never seen two people love each other so quietly? About Mingyu and Avery?" Nayeon asked. I nodded. Her eyes moved toward Lisa, who was walking away. "I stand corrected."
I leaned in toward her. "Taehyung told you?" She nodded. I started to explain the complete situation but she cut me off.
"You don't have to explain anything to me, Jennie." Her eyes watered over and she shrugged. "Friends stick together no matter what. And I told Taehyung to shut his big mouth and keep it to himself."
I grimaced. "Yeah, well, I don't think he has plans to do that."
"If he cares for you the way Ms. Manoban cares for you, then he'll shut up."
It felt like forever since Lisa and Taehyung had left the cafeteria. And they didn't return before the lunch period was over. I rushed toward Lisa's classroom, my heart pounding out of my chest, fear almost eating me up. Her door was closed, so I waited across from it as students walked past me, moving on with their lives. But I stayed still.
The door opened and Taehyung walked out first. I hiccupped when I saw him and rushed to his side. He looked befuddled and walked in a slow pace.
"Taehyung? Talk to me, please. What happened?"
He looked up to me, his eyes heavy with emotion, and he shrugged. "I think I just fell in love with Ms. Manoban."
I laughed when I saw him smirk. "Yeah, it has a way of sneaking up on you."
His brows fell. "You're really leaving? Going back to Chicago?"
I nodded.
"Look, it's not because of me saying I would make her pay was it? Because I didn't know—" He paused. "I didn't know another human being could care about someone as much as she does you."
"It's not because of you, Taehyung. It's just life. Life is happening, and I'm allowing myself to happen right along with it."
"I'll watch after her," he promised. "Nayeon. I'll sit with her every day. She won't eat lunch alone."
"Thank you, Taehyung." I kissed his cheek.
"You're welcome, Jennie." He put the stress on my name. And I kissed his cheek again.