War of Hormones

Nari's POV

The small gathering was already an hour in and I have successfully managed to avoid anymore interactions with Taehyung. After that intense meeting, I welcomed them in and excused myself to my friends. Avoiding Jimin's confused stare, I practically ran to them, keeping my blazing cheeks hidden from both men in my heed. I continued to munch on the snacks within my reach with no intention of going to the island where the guys were talking.

"Nari, you're going to give yourself a stomachache," Soo Min giggled while pulling a chip that I was about to stuff into my mouth, "What's up with you?"

"Nothing," I scoffed.

"Nothing, my ass," she laughed, "You've been acting strange since Jimin and his friend arrived."

"Yeah, normally you'd drag Jimin over here and challenge him to whatever game you've been playing," Mi Cha added.

I couldn't deny either of their statements. It was true. At every other gathering, I would have Jimin sitting on this couch and I'd already be jumping in either victory or defeat. Making a fool of myself was never an issue when it came to my cousins and friends being around. I would then challenge everyone else around just to have bragging rights or in hopes of redeeming myself after Jimin wiped the floor with me.

I glance in the direction of the kitchen and see all of them laughing and eating the food Hobi had provided. Taehyung's adorable boxy smile killing me the longer I stare. As if feeling my eyes on him, he looked in my direction and smiled with his eyes.

I awkwardly smiled and turned around. 'What is wrong with me? I rarely get to see Jimin and I'm letting this guy scare me away?"

"Nari?" that unmistakable baritone voice blessed my ears.

I turn to face the person addressing me, praying that it wasn't who I already knew it was. He sat next to me keeping some space between us. Once again he smiled at me with that ridiculously charming mouth.

"Yes," I mumbled. Soo Min and Mi Cha stared at him with huge grins. They practically had hearts coming out of their eyes.

"Jimin's mentioned in the past that you were an awesome gamer," he said gesturing to the console on the tv stand, "would you like to play something? Not that I don't trust Jimin, but I'd like to see this for myself."

I feel myself nod which he returns with a grin. My friends begin whispering but I'm not paying attention to them as I watch him set up the game. 'Ok, Nari, you got this. He's just a boy.'

*One hour later*

"IN YOUR FACE!"

Everyone in the living burst out laughing as I stand up pointing at Taehyung's baffled face. He had beat me in the last four games, but I managed to barely win the fifth round. Throughout the game, we would engage in small teasing. Not to the extent that Jimin and I do as we don't really know each other yet.

The fact that I wasn't cursing or hitting him like I do everyone else made it even more hysterical for the others. Jimin kept on teasing me about my "proper" and "prissy" attitude. Soo Min would chuckle stupid comments about how I was being distracted by Taehyung's dashing looks which lead to Hobi and Joonie's obnoxious chanting of "ooohs." It only added to my frustration because I wasn't loosing for those reasons. He surpassed my expectations and was a difficult opponent, even better than Jimin. He continued to sit there unfazed by all the comments. The grin on his face never wavering until I won and shouted.

He stared up at me with wide eyes while the others continued to laugh. Realizing what I was doing, I pulled my finger out of his face and sat back down. He let out a little puff of air as if unsure what to say.

"Good game?" I grinned, trying to save face.

He grinned at me and extended his hand, "It's been fun."

"Yes, it was." We shook hands and I felt the same feeling I had earlier. I know he felt it too by the way his grin widened.

"As fun as this is, it's about time we head off," Soo Mi interrupted. It was already midnight and her curfew was thirty minutes away.

"Oh, you should of said something earlier," I chided, "Do you think you'll make it on time?"

"Of course I will if someone gives me a ride," she not to subtly said. We all glance at Jimin who was pretending to be preoccupied with a piece of lint on his pants. Hobi and Joon giggled at his attempt to ignore her.

"Uh..." I tried to defuse the awkwardness, "Hobi?"

"Don't worry, Nari," Joon said, "Jin and I should head back to our dorms. We have our internship tomorrow so we can take your friends home on our way."

I sighed in relief and gave him a big hug for offering a solution out of another uncomfortable situation for Jimin. I love my best friend, but she never takes a hint. She pouts and grabs her bag to follow the two guys and Mi Cha to the door. I wave as they head out, leaving only the remaining four of us in the living room.

"I'm going to go take a shower and go to bed," Hobi yawned, "We can just clean up tomorrow. Jimin?"

"Yeah?"

"You and your friend crashing here?"

I gulped. It's never been a problem having Jimin stay over. He usually sleeps on the couch and it never bothers me, but the thought of Taehyung being under the same roof as me for a night, made the butterflies already in my stomach go ballistic.

"Not tonight, hyung,"he declined to my relief, "We actually have a concert in Seoul tomorrow so we're gonna crash at his place."

"Alright. See ya," Hobi began walking up the stairs.

"Ri, I have a soccer game against your school next Tuesday, let's have dinner after," Jimin invited.

"I hate soccer," I groaned.

"But you love me," he quipped, "Come on! You can even bring Mi Cha."

"Smooth," I deadpanned.

"What?"

"What about Soo Min?"

He pouted. I laughed and nodded my head. I can't resist that sad, puppy face. Soo Min will just have to sit this one out. I walked both to the door and hugged Jimin before he walked out. Taehyung silently walked out and I was about to close the door, thinking he was leaving without a farewell.

He stopped my actions with his hand. I stared in surprise. He didn't smile. He had a serious stare as he said in a voice only I could hear, "It was truly a pleasure to meet you."

*Taehyung's POV*

"See, I told you Nari wasn't so bad," Jimin playfully elbowed me as I drove us to my place.

"I never said she was," I huffed. I guess my avoidance was not subtle. After a while, he stopped asking me to visit which I should have realized that he got the vibe that I was not interested in meeting her.

"You didn't have to," he giggled, "Tae, I think you forget that I know your family's busy running their restaurant and don't have time for all the gatherings you tried convincing me you were attending. Not to mention that your mom would have invited me to go with you guys."

It's true. My mother loves him like another son and is constantly inviting him over for free meals or family trips on rare occasions when they did close the restaurant.

"Fine," I concede, "I feel a little let down about your hype of her gaming though."

"Hey, she's beat me multiple times!"

"I'm better than you though."

"Always humble," he jokingly said, "I was hoping Soo Min would latch onto you. Damn, I guess you're losing your touch."

"Anyone watching could see that there's no stealing her from you," I shot back.

"Maybe getting a girlfriend would deter her."

"I doubt it," I shrugged, "She'd just continue staring from a distance like a little stalker."

He groaned in annoyance and I couldn't help but feel bad for him. This infatuation has been going on as long as she's been friends with Nari. Soo Min seemed like a nice girl from what little I did see, but she was definitely not his type. I was aware of his attempt to use me as a shield and I probably would have helped if I hadn't been blinded by Nari.

Nari...I can't get her excited face when she finally beat me out of my mind. It was so cute how she dramatically shouted her victory. I was into our game since she seemed to be getting better the more we played that I hadn't expected that reaction. I could tell she had been trying to avoid me, so I decided to try to engage in conversation.

I had been sneaking glances at her while eating with the guys but she seemed to be doing everything in her power to stay out of our area. When I caught her watching me, I took my chance. Leaping at Jimin's previous game suggestions, I offered our first round. Seeing her flustered and frustrated was definitely fun to watch. I know part of it was my presence.

I laughed thinking about her stuffing her face with chips. 'I'm looking forward to our next run in.'

"What's so funny?" Jimin asked.

I coughed, "Nothing. Thinking about something that happened at school earlier."

He nodded and began to doze off. I sighed, glad that he didn't question further. I couldn't exactly tell him I was thinking about how attracted I was to his cousin. How she made my heart rate escalate at just a hand shake. How I can't get the image of her biting her lip in frustration after I won for the third time out of my mind. How cute I think she is when she blushes when I catch her watching me.

Yeah, I think it's best not to test Jimin's friendship.