EIGHT

As soon as i stepped out of the room, I knew my heart was deceiving Beak, I knew my heart was with Tae back in there explaining things but I knew better than to go back there he has Jimin for that and I was stuck going out with a guy I didn't really feel attracted to. Sure he was attractive looking and liked by pretty much everyone I'd made friends with over the course of all my time here but I didn't feel strongly attracted to him neither did I have any real interest to actually date him. But here I was going out on a real date with him.

"Are you sick or something?" he muttered to me as we followed the hallways out of the building "we can do this another time I truly don't mind."

My insides deepened with guilt. His face was ridden with true concern which made me feel worse and feel terrible. Going back in there also wasn't an option seeing as I wasn't ready with an explanation of my date with a guy when I claimed to not be gay two years ago. Pushing away images of a confused Tae I took Baek's hand in my own assuring him with a smile and a few words that I was fine. Soon we were through the hallways and in the parking lot. He pulled his hand from my grasp fishing out his car keys from his pocket and began to prod at the screen of his phone "I was thinking instead of a movie do you want to go for a barbecue with a few friends instead? we'll go out for hot drinks after. I prefer black coffee?" I figured a barbecue would be a better fit right, less pressure to hold hand or share pop corn and I wasn't terrible with social situations really so I happily agreed.

The misconception is social grounds at a college, an ivy league no less were taken less seriously than high school but here it seemed Baek was pretty high at the totem pole along with the likes of Ansel and Emily. Further proved when I saw Em in the distance cheekily flirting with the last person I expected to run into here and especially on this night. It was Namjoon. Baek was already shoulder bumping and fist bumping a couple of other guys I didn't know. Ansel was in the other distance seemingly in an argument with Kat for something he did I was sure. I turned back to Baek's friends greeting them all. Two of them led us over to the bonfire that was illegally spread over.

"So he finally got you out huh" the short blonde guy said to me. Before I could answer the urban haired lean guy added "He was infatuated with you at the first party he saw you at, told us he'd get you eventually and now..." he trailed his gaze suggestively backto Baek. Who held his red plastic cup firmly with his index and pinkie fingers pointing back and forth between the two saying "You make it sound like I have been out for a conquest, both of you scram or I'm embarrassing you two next time." They both snickered whilst he pulled my hand out directing me to the chairs set up around the fire saying "Let's go these two are just drunk."

"No it's alright." I didn't care

Reaching and taking our seats in the chairs we first fell in silence assuming both of us where trapped in our heads with me going back to two years ago thinking of what life would be like now had I taken a different route had I dated Tae then.

"What's on your mind." He asked.

Of course I lied. We fell in conversation soon after. It felt easy, natural, and familiar even talking with him. It was like talking to an old friend the kind you don't always keep in touch with because there's a distance or schedule conflict between the two but it's always a flight when they finally catch up as if no time passed, it felt that familiar with him. And I was grateful as I had begun worrying the date would be an absolute bore.

At some point in the night I felt heavy in the back of my neck like someone was watching me, staring daggers possibly. Eventually I made eye contact with Joon I felt small and itchy under his gaze. Led by Emily who was rubbing his arm that was clutched under hers they came to say hello to us and I wish I could say I was surprised he was friends with Baek too but at this point I knew better so I tried to maintain my composure even when Joon was staring at me his face full of confusion. I knew he knew about Baek's preference, I could also tell he wanted to ask if I knew what I was doing out on a date with a gay guy but he visibly bit his tongue. I wish Emily had the same decency though she chimed in pretty loudly too asking me "Baek is your date?" she winked to Baek and to him said "You're both so hot, this ship will not sink with captains like you two."

Namjoon could've asked me this but I think he thought I would lie to him understandably annoying. With two fingers he raised Em's chin up to him and asked "Does Jungkook know Baek wants in his pants?" to which Em cheerfully like a know it all replied "They're on a date, trust me it's mutual." Then she pulled him closer by the shirt giving him a peck on the lips. In the far distance was a volleyball match playing with disgruntled cries, roars of laughter and the two guys from earlier shouting for Joon to join them. Joon ran a hand down Em's small back and grinned before he picked her up "Ok you enjoy your date, we're gonna go play ball." Baek laughed completely missing my unsettledness. He cupped his mouth shouting "go bulldogs!!" to which earned pride growls from pretty much all the guys and a couple of giggles from girls.

He wrapped his hand around my shoulder directing me to the other end where all the drinks were. It didn't feel repugnant and it didn't also feel like the touch of a lover if anything it only felt friendly like the touch of a bro. Drowning in conversation we were interrupted by a bevy of girls barely dressed, perfectly sharp glistening faces and excitement who ran up to us. Two of them draped them easily under Baek's arms and flattered him, he seemed to enjoy the attention. The others giggled with every answer he gave, acting either bashful or naughty. I tried looking engaged but the whole time I was just wondering how these were the students at an ivy league. Growing up hanging out with the older, smart crowd made up of my best friend's brother I was always privy to all sorts of talks, including one about universities in America. I remember them talking so highly of the ivy's and even more highly of the women that attended them always painting them as these preen, proper, really refined ladies who only drank coffee and wine. Not that these women weren't looking refined because they were but they had an edge I didn't expect nor often encountered back home. They had an edge alright; breaths and cups filled of whiskey tops cutting lower and bottom clothing cutting higher, higher than their voices under the alcohol and the seaside air.

'OhmyGod!!! Sara it's really him!!!" a short long haired blonde yelled pointing a finger at me. The other girls all turned to look at me hands over their mouths gasping excitedly. "It's really him, sorry B but Jungkook here ..." said one of them girls draped over Baek before she was cut by the other girl draped over Baek too "You're roommates with V right"

With a nod I agreed what can I say I was curious too, It's not like the gifts sent over to our dorm were for me , girls seemed to be obsessed with him I'd gotten myself a few of these girl but I knew why they were all over me. It was from my sports, maybe how I looked too and the highly regarded people I hung around with...the likes of Ansel and Emily. For V or Taehyung as I know him as I didn't understand the reason why sure he is gorgeous but that couldn't be the only reason why especially since he was an out guy publicly Dating an out guy too so it's like I'd brushed off his totem pole ranking.

We came to a halt sitting down on the empty chairs around the buckets of beers.

"Have you ever seen him naked?" one of the girls asked closing in on my distance like the answer will be lost with the wind if she was any inch further from me.

"What!" I screeched

They all moved in closer to me like what she would answer with was a tight secret as she whispered "you can trust us." There was a glint of sheer curiosity sliced with absolute naughtiness. Her lids were heavy with both the bottles of mascara she had on and need of gossip. She cut through with a swear when I didn't answer another girl dripping with similar emotions and facial expressions decided to ask again "Jungkook honey, we're not perverted we're just curious I promise." Baek cut in "No behave please, who wants more drinks?"

Much to their delight I asked "Curious about how he looks naked?"

Baek let out a breath and murmured "Fine I'll get everyone meat." He got up rubbing his hand on his shorts and left.

"Not just his body. Everything and anything actually" they giggled

"You do know he's gay right?" just to make sure I asked

Only to be replied by eye rolls and groans of dissatisfaction in my answer or lack thereof. But before I could answer Baek was back with no meat and he dismissed the girls then turned to me slitting his eyes curiously before he relaxed them again and asked "Do you have a thing for your roommate JK?"