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The next morning, three tall kids surrounded Jimin in the hallway.

“So,” began the most muscular one.  “We heard you’re into ballet.”  His voice was mocking.

“Yeah, ballet,” echoed the next one.  He was several inches taller than his friend but very skinny.

“Do you like to dress up in dresses too?” derided the third.

“Not as much as you do,” Tae purred smoothly into the cretin’s ear.

He swung around, but when he saw how tall and cool Tae was, he backed up despite curling his fists.

“Jimin!  Would you like to eat lunch with us today?”

Jimin glanced at Tae.  He still felt tense, but this nice guy had just come to his rescue.  Tae’s gaze shifted towards the other three.

“When you can claim to be as talented as this guy here,” he dropped his hand on Jimin’s shoulder, “then we’ll revisit your earlier conversation,’ he murmured sweetly.  But Jimin could hear the steel in his voice.

“Whatever, man,” mumbled the first one as he turned to leave.

His friends followed him.

Jimin breathed out.  He turned towards Tae.  “Thank you.” He paused as his eyes searched Tae’s.  “No one has ever done anything like that for me.  Guys have made fun of me for years.”

“Well, they’re just revealing how stupid they are.  I saw your practice a couple of days ago.  You are amazing!”

Jimin felt a sweet heat flooding his heart.  Was it possible he had finally met a guy who understood him?  But he was puzzled about one thing.  “Where did you see me practicing?”

“I had to pick—” Tae glanced down into his backpack, and his voice was muffled for a moment, “—ina up early a couple nights ago from her class.  I walked by your room on my way to her class.  All those glass windows, you know?  You were practicing some plies or something.  But then your teacher had you demonstrate something for the group.  I had a moment before I was supposed to meet her, so I stopped to watch.  You truly have a gift, man.  You’re a born dancer.”

Tae smiled at him.

Jimin grinned.  “I wish I could eat lunch with you, but for the next two weeks I’m meeting with a couple teachers to get caught up since I came here a few weeks after the semester started.  But…maybe in two weeks?”

“Sure.  You’re welcome to join us anytime.”

“Thanks.”  Jimin paused.  “Tae?”

Tae quirked a dark eyebrow.

“I mean it.  Thank you.  You’re a really nice guy.”

“So are you, Jimin.  You gave up your seat so I could sit by my girlfriend.  I won’t forget.”

Yeah.  But did he have to remind Jimin?

——————–

Nina and Mina sat at their usual lunch table waiting for Tae.  Nina let out a loud sigh as she stabbed her chopsticks into her rice.

“What’s wrong?  And don’t bother acting like nothing’s wrong.  Spit it out.” Mina said as she took a bite of her apple.

Nina sighed again. “Jimin’s acting weird.”

“Nina, you barely know him.”

“I know!  But…he was just acting odd.  He asked if I had a brother the other day…and…I don’t know…his moods just seem on and off.”

Mina shrugged. “Maybe he’s stressed?”

Nina shook her head. “That’s not it.”

“Well then, I don’t know what to tell you.”

Tae came running over to their table just then. “Sorry I’m late!  I had a run-in in the hall.”

“It’s fine.” Mina responded vaguely as she shoved a bite of rice into her mouth. “Nina’s having boy problems.”

“I am not!” Nina smacked Mina on the shoulder.

“Oh really?  Jimin acting weird is not a boy problem?  Is he a girl, then?”

“He most certainly is not!” Nina exclaimed.

Mina giggled. “It’s a boy problem, then.”

Nina was fuming.  And Mina was giggling.  Tae shook his head.

“You two are ridiculous.”