SUGA: Chapter 2 (1/1)

“Yoongiyah!” I shout as I run up the stairs to catch up with him. This guy’s legs aren’t that long but he sure is fast. Yoongi turns around as he pulls out his earphones. He slightly nods. I guess that’s his way of greeting people. I catch my breath and begin walking beside him.      “Did you eat?” I ask as we walk by the school field. It’s such a beautiful day: the sun shining brightly in the clear sky is perfectly accompanied by a gentle breeze that cools us as we make our way to class. Yoongi nods again.   “What’d you eat?” I face him and he looks slightly annoyed.  “Stop asking such useless things,” he says and plugs his earphones back into his ears. I take that as a sign that he doesn’t want to talk or walk with me anymore and so I don’t follow after him as he speeds away. Goodness, Min Yoongi. Rude. But cute. I smile and walk the rest of the way to class alone.    I’m so tempted to sit with Yoongi in the back seat again, but remember my mission. I choose the seat in the very front to be able to observe Min Junki as he lectures. Who knows? Maybe there will be something I can report to Mr. Kim today.  “Good morning,” Min Junki says as he walks into the room. After taking role, he begins his lecture. I try my best to catch every detail. His steps are poised, his attire is flawless, and his voice has a bold tone. Nothing new yet. I’m about to yawn when I notice something. “It’s key to find a way to visualize concepts as you break down difficult mathematical equations…” he’s saying. He grabs a whiteboard marker and begins to write on the enormous board. Although very subtle, I notice a slight but constant shaking in his hand. Hm. I know there are several factors for tremors in the hand, but all I can think of as of now is...does Min Junki have drinking problems? I mean, he doesn’t look like it, but it’s a possibility. I’ll have to investigate his evening routines.    “Yoongiyah!” I slide into the seat in front of him and set my tray of food down. It’s always so busy in the cafeteria during lunch hour, which is why I try to eat outside of school as much as possible. But I changed my mind today after seeing Yoongi walk into the cafeteria.  “Do you usually eat here?” I ask while leaning towards him so that he can actually hear me in this loud, chaotic place. Yoongi looks at me and then continues picking at some meat with his chopsticks. Shoot. Chopsticks. I know this sounds silly, but I only ate western food they have in Korea (I need my burgers and pizzas, okay?) and it’s my first time having to eat actual Korean food. I mean, all the Asian restaurants back home (mostly Panda Express) have forks I can use. So now the question is...do I know how to use chopsticks?  “Yeah. I do,” Yoongi answers my question and I’m still staring at my food. “Aren’t you gonna eat?” he asks as he takes a sip of water. This time it’s me who just nods. I gulp and take the chopsticks laid in front of me. I then look at Yoongi’s hand and try to observe how he uses his pair of chopsticks. Dang it, I should have learned beforehand. Or at least practice by eating sushi since there’s so many sushi places near our headquarters. I would have naturally learned.  Minus points as an agent, I can almost hear Mr. Kim saying in my ear.         “Can you eat and not just stare at me?” Yoongi stops eating and I stupidly laugh in embarrassment.       “I will, I will,” I say and end up stabbing my chopsticks into the piece of chicken in front of me. As I place it into my mouth, Yoongi’s chopsticks resume moving. I give up trying to ‘fit in’ and grab my spoon after throwing my chopsticks aside. I scoop up everything on my tray and shove it into my mouth, realizing how hungry I was. As my cheeks are stuffed with food, I look up and see Yoongi staring at me.   “Vat ah you rookin ah (what are you looking at)?” I ask with my mouth full. Yoongi bites his lip like he’s trying not to break into a smile. I probably look like a hog right now and I can’t help but feel my cheeks grow warm. Yoongi shakes his head after a minute before continuing to eat. I start chewing as well.    I watch Yoongi as he consumes the rest of his meal. His pale skin looks whiter against his dark hair as the sun shines in through the cafeteria windows. As he takes another sip of his water, he turns to the side, revealing his sharp jawline. Why is he such a work of art? I have to remind myself to stop being such a creep and finish the food in my mouth.  Before long, Yoongi eats the last of his meal and starts to get up.   “Wait for me!” I say as I grab my stuff and tray. I run out the door after him and try to keep up with him. He walks so stinking fast.   “Yoongiyah,” I call out to him. He keeps walking. I do too. “Yoongiyah,” I say again, determined to get a response. For some reason, I’m never offended when Yoongi ignores me (and he’s done it a few times now). I feel like I’m bugging him, and the annoying person I am thinks it’s fun doing so.    “Yoongiyah,” I repeat and only then does Yoongi turn to me.  “What,” he says, clearly annoyed. I laugh and he turns away. I grab his arm and he looks at me again.   “Yoongiyah,” I say and Yoongi responds in his gravelly voice, “What do you want.”    I feel like he’s going to get super ticked off if I tell him, ‘Oh nothing, I just wanted to say your name and see how long it takes for you to respond,’ so I try to come up with something to say. I then remember my last night’s plan of asking for his number. I reach into my pocket and take out my phone. I hold it out in front of him but Yoongi just stares at it, making my hand awkwardly hang in midair.   “Well…?” I say as I wave my phone at his face.  “What do you want me to do?” he asks blankly. Oh my goodness, does he really not get it?  “I want your number,” I tell him. I look up at him with hopeful eyes and he sighs before taking my phone. He then starts inputting numbers with his lean, white fingers and I can’t help but smile. I’m going to bug him even more now.  “Thank you, Yoongiyah,” I say with a smile as he hands me my phone back.  “Don’t contact me unless you have a good reason to,” he says. I nod and he clears his throat before walking away. He never walks with me to class, when he knows we have the same classes together. I shrug. Oh well, at least I got his number.   ***  I think I called Yoongi like twenty more times today, constantly chirping “Yoongiyah this” “Yoongiyah that.” And every time I would ask him things like “Do you understand this problem?” or “What’s your favorite color?” Yoongi would answer, but I’m sure by the look on his face he’s done with me by now. And I don’t know why I keep talking to him; I just want to know more about him.   “Yeah” and “White” were his answers to the two questions I mentioned and now that I think about it, he always answers in three words or less.  It’s now the end of the day, and I’m slowly making my way out the school building when I spot an orange backpack in front of me. I grin.  “Yoongiyah!” I call out. Yoongi stops and turns around. His eyes meet mine. I wave before running up to him.     “Okay hold up. It’s (y/n), right?” Yoongi stops me before I can say anything. I feel myself smiling at how he at least knows my name. I mean, I’ve bugged him all day and I take the same exact classes as him. He’d be stupid if he didn’t know my name. I nod excitedly and he continues, “What do you want from me? Why do you keep following me everywhere?”   “I just...want to be friends with you,” I answer him with a small shrug. He must think I’m a stalker or something, but it’s true. I just want to get to know him.   “Me? Why?” Yoongi asks with a genuinely confused look. Does he really not know how attractive he is? I’m kidding; sure it was his looks that drew me to him at first, but now I’m honestly just trying to be friends. There’s something about his cold demeanour that makes me want to break through it.  “I just do,” I shrug at him again and he sighs.  “Don’t,” he says.  “Why?” I ask back. “I don’t want to be friends with you,” he rubs the side of his neck. I almost laugh at how blunt he is.  “Why not?”  “You’re too talkative. I don’t like that.” Just as Yoongi finishes talking, a man catches my eye. It’s Min Junki. I grab my phone and check the time. 5:50 pm. I need to follow him. I ignore what Yoongi says and wave at him saying, “Okay well see you tomorrow Yoongiyah! I’ll call you!” before taking off.   In the midst of hurrying after Min Junki, I still catch a glimpse of Yoongi’s flustered face.   Sorry man, you’re just going to have to accept the fact that you now have a talkative friend.  *** “Mr. Kim, are you there?” I press the button on my mic. After a few seconds I hear his voice.  “(y/n), I’m here. What’s the matter?”  “I’m about to follow Min Junki’s steps. He’s currently walking to his car. Should I grab a cab?” I honestly have no clue how I’m going to follow him if he drives his car since I don’t have one.  “There’s no need. Do you see the white car in the parking spot across from Min Junki’s car?” he asks. I look around and spot the white car he’s talking about.  “Yes sir,” I say.  “It’s yours to drive,” he says and I blink.  “Pardon?” I ask. I mean how did he manage to get a car for me?  “We placed the car there for you to use just in case. I didn’t tell you about it until now because I didn’t want you taking advantage of the car and drive it around everywhere,” Mr. Kim almost teases and then continues, “Now that you need it, feel free to drive it. It’s one of our cars, so your fingerprint is the key to start it.” “Sir, I’m not a kid. I’m not going to take advantage of a car,” I say with a pout. It’s been five years under Mr. Kim. I knew better. “But thank you sir. I’ll contact you once I get some information on Min Junki.” Mr. Kim ends our call with “Good.” I run to the car and place my thumb on the car handle. Sure enough, I hear a click and the door opens. Nice. I slide in and wait for Min Junki to start driving. I see his car light up and he smoothly slides out of the parking spot before hitting the road. I place my thumb on the engine starter and my car lights up as well. I then chase after Min Junki. I make sure not to be too obvious by leaving two cars in between us, but soon it’s just us two as I follow him down an alley and into some local supermarket parking lot. I guess he picks up groceries after school. As Min Junki’s car lights turn off, the door soon opens and he steps out. He then walks into the store. I debate over whether or not I should follow him inside and then quickly pull into a parking space before entering the store.   It takes me a minute to find Min Junki, and I spot him near the fruits and vegetables section. He’s pulling a cart around while talking to someone on the phone.  “Hey, what do you want for dinner?” he’s saying as I go closer to him. I pick up some carrots, pretending like I’m inspecting them to buy them, while eavesdropping on Min Junki.  “Come on, I’ll cook dinner tonight. What do you want? Bulgogi?” he continues and moves over to the meat section. I set the carrots down and follow him. By the time Min Junki is done, he has vegetables and meat in his cart. He heads towards the cashier, and then stops at a shelf. I observe him and then watch him as he takes seven bottles of soju with him. His hands shaking slightly during class come into mind again. So he does have some alcohol issues. As he finishes paying and walks out with his groceries, I contact Mr. Kim.  “Mr. Kim,” I say and after a moment he responds, “Go on.” “The last time I checked Min Junki’s profile, it said he lives with his younger brother after his wife passed away, right?” I ask, remembering the profile I had read earlier today when I wasn’t bugging Yoongi.  “Yes,” he says. “I think the death of his wife might have led to some depression or at least to some bad habits,” I reply as I sit back down in my car. I eye Min Junki, who's starting up his car.  “Possibly. Evidence?” Mr. Kim asks and I quickly tell him I witnessed him buying seven bottles of alcohol.  “Yes, but you’ll have to follow him every day this week in order to see if he constantly buys that many bottles or if he buys them occasionally to drink for a long period of time.”  “Yes sir, I will. But…” I start and Mr. Kim waits.  “Well?” he asks. “But today sir, I saw that he has a minor hand tremor and I think it may be because of drinking problems,” I tell him.  “Interesting. You may be onto something, but investigate more and report to me tomorrow too, okay?” Mr. Kim replies and I end our call with a “yes sir.” I hit the road after Min Junki again and this time he takes me to some apartment buildings. He parks and grabs his groceries before entering a building. Number 301. I pull out his profile (on my phone) again and check his address. Sure enough, apartment building 301. So Min Junki went home. I yawn, realizing how tiring it is to spy on someone and also realize how hungry I am. It’s already 6:40pm. I quickly start up the car again and head back to my own home.   ***  I end up eating a sandwich for dinner and by the time I’m done cleaning up and washing up, it’s half past 8. As I sit down and open my laptop, I remember all the homework from all my classes but then also remember how I never have to do them. My mission is to catch a murderer, not get a degree. That’s why Mr. Kim made it so that a few people at the headquarters send me completed assignments I can use as my own. There’s nothing to do except read Min Junki’s profile all over again and surf the web. I look at my phone. Hm, wonder what Yoongi is doing. I smile at the thought of bugging him for the hundredth time today.   “Hello?” I hear Yoongi’s voice after a couple of dials. “Yoongiyah!” I say brightly. “(y/n)?”  he asks after a moment. I can’t help but grin. All that bugging was worth it, seeing that he recognizes my voice. “Are you busy?” I ask. “No,” is his reply. “What’re you doing now?” I ask again. “I thought I told you not to call me unless you have a good reason to,” Yoongi says. Goodness, he never fails to ignore me.  “This is a good reason,” I tell him. There’s a moment of silence as if he’s waiting for me to explain. I mean, I get the fact that asking him what he’s doing doesn’t make this sound like an urgent call. When he still doesn’t say anything, I add, “I’m bored.”  “You’re bored?” Yoongi repeats, and I can hear the disbelief in his voice.  “Yeah,” I say shamelessly and continue on, “So tell me how your day was. Did you eat dinner?”  “Yeah,” Yoongi says after a few seconds with a sigh. I think he gave up. I smile and ask, “What’d you eat?” I remember how I asked him this in the morning and got a cold response. I expect the same, cold response but get a different one. “Bulgogi,” he says before continuing in his low voice, “Do you know what that is?” “Uh, the marinated beef barbecue thing?” I ask. I hear Yoongi laugh briefly. “Yes, the marinated beef barbecue thing,” he says and I can’t believe I made this guy laugh. I feel accomplished. Wait a minute. Bulgogi? I play a flashback in my mind at the grocery store with Min Junki. Come on, I’ll cook dinner tonight. What do you want? Bulgogi? he had said to the person he was calling with. Huh. Maybe it’s common to eat Bulgogi for dinner.  “Did you finish homework?” I change the topic and Yoongi replies with another “yeah.” Another moment of silence follows as I run out of things to say. Why’s it always me that has to come up with conversation starters? I yawn and realize I should go to bed now. I think Yoongi wants to rest too because he soon says, “Go to bed if you’re bored. I’m going to sleep so I can’t help you anymore.”  “Okay,” I tell him. I didn’t know he was the type to sleep so early (like me). I quickly end our call with “see you tomorrow,” although he doesn’t say anything back.   *** Author's Notes:I know it's boring so far but I think we've succeeded in getting into Yoongi's head a bit--he's starting to notice y'all more XDThis lead girl's character is a lot more bold and shameless (?) than the other characters so far, but I'm thinking of adding another male character to speed things up (since each of these are supposed to be short stories haha)--like a potential second lead... but I suck at love triangles so I don't know.. gah...AND it's the first time I'm writing a murder case so please bear with me... I'm trying my best to make things at least a little interesting^^ So see you soon with more Yoongi and this time...he's going to be a bit more expressive...I promise! XDThank you so much for reading and hope you have a wonderful day:-)