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justbelievinginmagic · 3 years ago

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I Need U - Chapter 10: smile with me

a hyyh au / bangtan universe au ft oc x taehyung, oc x seokjin, yoongi x jungkook, ot7 & oc being pals.

series summary: Song Nari wanted to go home. Tired from working her part-time job after school, the last thing she wanted was to be sitting in traffic late at night. But her life is forever changed by seven delinquents who decided that tonight was the night to cause a traffic jam and havoc.

chapter summary: Life is just a series of snapshots. Smile.

rated: m

tags/warnings: implied/referenced recreational drug usage, implied/referenced abuse, implied/referenced hospitalization, health issues, abusive home situations, injuries, bullying, ptsd responses, depression, anxiety, drug misuse, loneliness, bad use of authoritative power, manipulation, mention of dead parents, self-hatred/self-destructive mindsets, explicit language, seizures, fluffy moments, smooching.

A/N: hi! with this chapter, we are caught up to my ao3 posts! with this post the fanfic is also currently at 58k words and we are definitely not done yet! I do want to warn that from this point onwards the topics touched upon in the story (while canonic to the HYYH world) are dark. This story is M rated due to this reason.

I also wanted to thank those who are reading! I really do love seeing your likes and your comments! I’m so happy you are enjoying the fic!! if you ever have any questions about the fic/characters/etc, feel free to ask! I’ve been writing this fic for the past 7 months so I really do know the world pretty well now lolol.

wordcount: 10.3k

series’ masterlist

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The year blurred after the beach. Even in the summer’s glow, memories happened far too quickly. Some things happened in snapshots, as if moments with the group were as disposable as Seokjin’s polaroids and Nari was doing her best to collect the photographs before the flew away in the summer wind.

One moment they were at the beach, the next it was her seventeenth birthday where they had decorated the abandoned pool for her with balloons and confetti (Namjoon had bought her a huge bag of lollipops and she had jumped up and down as if he’d given her the world.)

One moment they were laying in the middle of the street watching summer fireworks in the sky (Hoseok cuddled into Jimin when the sound got too loud, pressing his ear to the other’s chest to focus on his friend’s heartbeat instead.)

Another moment, they were loitering in the nearby arcade - watching Jungkook get the top score at a shooter game, and taking goofy pictures in the photo booth (how they managed to all squeeze into the tiny booth was unbelievable; Nari could feel still Namjoon’s elbow jabbing into her ribs while Jimin’s hip bone pressed into her back.)

In a blink, they were lazing around the industrialized jungle by Hoseok’s apartment and talking about Hoseok’s new job at Two Star Burger – which they had just ate at; Jungkook was chewing on his drink’s straw all day despite there being barely anything to drink left in the cup (Nari may have fallen asleep on Seokjin’s shoulder, and he had to carry her back to the car on his back.)

Then in a flash, they were back in school for fall.

“It’s weird without them,” Jungkook mumbled against his palm.

“Yeah,” Nari agreed, her eyes lifted from her notebook to look at the group.

The lunch table felt vacant. School had been in session for a month and a half now, but the table that used to bubble with energy felt empty without the two other men. Seokjin and Hoseok had graduated. However, the energy was different at the table for one important reason.

Yoongi.

Yoongi, the eldest out of the school group now, had his nose in a book. The resident “I don’t care about academics” Yoongi was caring about academics.

“Yah, can you be quiet?” Yoongi muttered out, actually pouting. Not his signature scowl but ‘a plush bottom lip jutting out in frustration’ pout. Between bites of his food, he had been studying. Yes, actually studying. And quite frankly, he hated it. Whoever decided high schoolers needed to know physics was stupid.

“Hush, you need to study,” Nari scolded, pointing to his notebook. “You heard the principal.”

He rolled his eyes begrudgingly.

Yeah, Yoongi wasn’t happy about his current situation. His grades were low enough that unless he got amazing grades this year he wouldn’t be able to graduate. He needed to graduate. He had to graduate. He had to be done with stupid school.

He just hated it.

“Hyung, we can study together after school,” Jungkook offered. He hated seeing the older – and now, eldest at the table – so upset. It wasn’t even the same brooding upset attitude he donned typically. The cool façade of control. No, Yoongi was pouting and grumbling like a child.

Yoongi’s lips quirked a bit at that offer though, making Jungkook feel a wave of pleasant warmth prickle his skin.

Seokjin and Hoseok still managed to visit them in the storage room. They claimed since it was after school hours it didn’t really matter if they were on school property. That was a lie, and she knew it. But she loved her friends so much it didn’t matter as long as they didn’t get caught. Oh, how they had changed her view on the rules of society.

Seokjin had enrolled at the local college though he had often talked about the abroad program in the US. His dad had been pushing for it for months. The more time went by away from Seokjin, the more Nari worried he’d take up the offer his dad consistently presented.

Seokjin didn’t prosper without his friends. He felt distant. It was odd. He was around – he usually was sat beside her or Yoongi in the storage room working on whatever - but he certainly didn’t talk as much as he did a few months ago.

“You alright, oppa?” she had queried, sitting next to him on the floor with a small sigh.

He was working on an essay on his laptop – a laptop far more expensive than what any of them had. Sometimes it was easy to forget how rich Seokjin was with how much he hoarded and penny pinched when they went to the nearby convenience store for snacks. (“Get your own jellies!” echoed in her mind; once she had tried to sneak a few of his jelly worms and he threw a fit like no tomorrow.) But, with a laptop that could easily cost 3,000 dollars, it was a fast reminder how different their lives were at times.

His hand rubbed his eyes tiredly.

“Yeah,” he commented, his voice hazy with sleepiness. “I don’t like this course.”

“College is better than high school though, right?” she snorted. Her own focus was split between him and her notebook – per usual.

“I don’t know,” he sighed, his voice whining a bit.

He hadn’t smiled much she noted glancing at him from the corner of her eyes. Seokjin didn’t look like himself so sad and tired.

“It’ll get better,” she told him, reassuringly. Her hand went to pat his knee. “Eventually.”

Things would get better, right?

Yoongi hated a lot of things about the world.

Yoongi hated school.

Yoongi hated his dad and his dead mom.

Yoongi hated being told what to do.

Yoongi hated pianos.

Yoongi hated himself.

But there were some things that he loved.

He loved the melody that played in his heart. He loved that whenever they talked he couldn’t hide his gummy smile. He loved that he felt like he could share things with him, showing the brutally painted skin across his ribs. He loved how he could feel him relax when he rested his head on his lap. He loved knowing that he was safe with him. He loved that his hand was warm against his. He loved the fragrance that lingered in the air when their fingers composed against the keys together. He loved how even in the silence his world felt alive with song.

Because of him.

Yoongi hated a lot about the world.

But, with Jungkook, he loved a lot about the world.

“Are you a dog or a cat person?” Nari prompted, leaning back among the pillows of her bed. Her phone was resting on her chest, her earbuds at home in her ears as she shut her eyes.

“I’m obviously a dog person, Nari,” Taehyung’s voice rumbled out through the headphones.

It was becoming a habit now. When she couldn’t manage to sneak out to go hang out with Taehyung, they’d call or facetime.

Tonight, with a facemask on her face, she felt a tumble of nerves to turn on facetime, so she hadn’t. Taehyung had complained a good amount about wanting to see her “dumb face.” But after a while, he conceded.

“I think I’m a cat person,” she commented. “I love dogs but – something about how free a cat is. I mean, think about that one we’ve seen about the streets. That white one. Every time I feel like it’s gotten hurt or hasn’t shown up in a while, he pops up. They’re sly.”

“You’ve got a cat personality,” Taehyung commented after a moment, the words deeper with every exhale of smoke. (She knew he was by the lull in her voice; his voice got this gravelly hum like the ocean’s roar.) “You act like you have nine lives, crazy girl,” he teased, bringing up the old nickname him and Yoongi once used for her.

“Oh, c’mon,” she whined a bit. Why were her ears burning? “You’re being mean. You’re supposed to have the dog personality.”

“Dogs are playful,” he added.

Their conversation went like that for a while longer. Nari couldn’t explain the warmth that tingle at her fingertips when she spoke to him late at night like this. Where anything was a topic from something silly to something serious. Taehyung was comforting to her.

They were laughing; eating the left-overs from Hoseok’s job. They may miss Hoseok’s presence at school, but his new job at the fast-food joint was nice. Especially when they get to mooch off his discount and laze around the restaurant without much fear of getting kicked out. The boys even cleaned up after themselves knowing Hoseok was going to do it if they leave it.

They better clean up after themselves, Nari thought. Taehyung was currently tossing fries into Jungkook’s mouth and missing more than actually making it into his mouth. Grease-soaked French fries were scattered across the white-tiled floor. Nari let out a giggle as Taehyung made a triumphant face as soon as Jungkook caught one, turning to look at her (searching for her approval).

Her form leaned into Jimin in sleepiness. The setting sun made her sleepy. Sunshine flickered through the window panels and painted the restaurant in a golden hue that made her eyelids heavy. And that’s when she noticed it. Jimin hadn’t moved. He hadn’t even focused on Taehyung’s game, usually giggling along with his antics. Jimin’s gaze was distant. His body frozen in his spot. Eyes staring on, despite the sunlight piercing his pupils.

Her hand nudged his ribs.

“You alright?” she asked.

A long pause. His eyes were glassy, his attention not flickering to her.

“Jiminie?” she prodded again.

There was a long pause. He swayed a bit before finally blinking.

“Huh?” he mumbled after a second. Blinking rapidly.

“You alright?” she repeated. Her chin shifted on his shoulder to look at him with concerned brows. Her fingers nudged at his forearm lightly.

“Yeah, yeah,” he lied.

It happened again. He was having more frequent seizures. He knew he was. How he felt lost for a moment; how he couldn’t focus and spaced out easily; how one arm or a leg would be consumed by a TV-static tingle like he hadn’t been using it for a long time.

It scared him.

“Eat some more,” Jimin nudged his fries’ container towards her with his knuckles – with the hand that hadn’t felt numb and full of pins-and-needles. He offered a bright smile her way.

Nari complied, picking up a cold fry to munch on as she remained partially snuggled against his shoulder.

Jimin let a small breath out, swinging his arm around the girl before focusing on Taehyung and Jungkook once more. They were hollering at the first fry to land in Taehyung’s mouth in a while. He tried to smile.

No one could know.

Not even Nari.

“Just talk to her,” Namjoon suggested.

“I can’t, hyung,” Taehyung replied back, his voice a low timbre and cheeks aflame.

“You’ve known her for months, and you still have the crush; it’s not going to go away,” the older commented, leaning back against the brick wall. A hand rose to fix the baseball cap to tilt over his eyes.

Namjoon had thought Taehyung had gotten over the little crush he had on Nari but here the younger was blushing like a schoolboy over a single text message from her.

“Tell her. Ask her on a date. Do something,” the blonde urged.

Taehyung’s lower lip was caught between his teeth as he shook the spray paint can. Ask her on a date. And get rejected. Ruin their friendship. Or she accepts and she sees him as a failure. He couldn’t bring her home to meet his dad and sister. And he knew her mom wouldn’t want her with a guy who gets chased by the police. And what if she didn’t want him?

Taehyung’s mind was going around in indecisive circles.

“I can’t ruin our friendship,” Taehyung voiced. “What would I even say?”

“What’s poppin’, girl?” Namjoon offered.

The dirty look Taehyung leveled towards Namjoon made his answer clear. No way would he say that.

Namjoon sighed, plucking the cigarette from between his teeth. The younger directed his gaze back to his phone, his lips curling into a bashful grin. His cheeks rosy and gleaming in the amber streetlight. Namjoon watched as Taehyung’s eyes curved into half-moons and his hands jittered – he knew it wasn’t from the weed the younger had bought that night. No. All of this was due to one text from Song Nari – he wanted to laugh if it wasn’t so sad.

[ 09:15pm ] nari : I didn’t see you today at school. I missed you!

“You’ve been hanging around those boys for a while now?” her mother commented, leaning a bit into the kitchen counter. She was watching on as her daughter tugged on her boots. It wasn’t too late in the day. The sun was still high enough in the sky that Nari didn’t need to sneak out – something to this day, she was still surprised she did. She knew her parents knew. Her dad threw a fit when he caught her sneaking home at 4 am. But… her grades didn’t falter. She did her chores. She worked hard still. After a while, her parents simply ignored their daughter’s rebellious acts.

“Yeah, tonight we are going to the library.” Surprising, not a lie. Namjoon had been waiting for a book to get released, and it finally was out. She knew Jimin was most likely going to join them as well, loitering around the storage room for far too long earlier. It’d be difficult for him to be able to walk home before dark now. He’d most likely need a ride from Seokjin.

“That’s a first,” her mother noted, raising a brow. “Maybe you’re rubbing off on them.”

It made her brows crinkle a bit. Nari and her mother weren’t extremely close. No, she worked an office job and wasn’t around often. And when she was, she was tired. Both her parents were tired often. But Nari didn’t think they… cared about her friends. Or noticed them.

The last time she remembered her mom talking about her friends was when it was her first year in high school and she mentioned how she hadn’t had a boyfriend yet and how her friend – Jiwoo – was a cute boy.

“What do you mean, Momma?” she asked, tying the laces of her boots finally and leaning back on the wall of the living room.

“They’re a bit different from your other friends.” Her mother commented. “I’ve seen that one boy damaging property; I don’t like it.”

Tae.

Immediately, his name popped into her mind and she pressed her lips together. If her mom knew she had done graffiti too. She took in a soft breath through her nose.

“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” Nari lied.

When had she become a liar?

“They’re fine, mom. I like them a lot.” Nari said. She heard a beep of a car horn from outside. Looking between the blinds, she could see Seokjin’s rumbling car sitting on the curb. Namjoon, Jimin, and Seokjin sat there, chatting among themselves while they waited for her.

“I just want you to be careful,” her mother commented, crossing her arms. Nari hadn’t been paying attention to hear any other words of wisdom. She was scrambling to grab her backpack. “I can tell they are different from you, sweetheart. I don’t your heart to get broken.”

Did she think she was dating one of them? Her brows crinkled a bit but with the thought of the three outside she shook off her mother’s words.

“I’ll be fine. I’ll be back later. Love you,” Nari waved her mother’s concerns off with a bright smile before she was braving the cold to the truck.

Jungkook met her every day at the crossroads. She would rather walk with him than drive alone at this rate. Besides, it was a highlight of her day; the more she didn’t see the others as frequently, she cherished these moments. After all, their bonfire nights and parties had slowed. Once they were every weekend and occasionally twice a week, now the last time they all had seen one another was a month ago.

She missed them. So, she decided she’d take any time she could to be around them. It was this desperate feeling, like a child clinging to their parent’s leg as they walked to kindergarten for the first time. Reluctancy to change.

December was rapidly approaching – maybe that was the reason. The chill in the air hinted at snow soon, making the pair walk closer together. Jungkook’s green jacket was oversized for his lean frame and only highlighted the cold rosy hue that pinched at his cheekbones and nose. However, it also brought out the pallor of his skin more. Purple kissed under his eyes.

“Are you getting sleep?” she checked, eyeing his tired appearance.

Jungkook nodded sleepily.

“You better be,” she threatened, wrapping her arm around his arm, friendly-like. “Aish, it’s cold.”

He nodded along. Most mornings Jungkook would stumble to school, barely awake. Without Nari beside him to keep him on track, he’d stumble into a pole due to his sleepy eyes.

“I hope it snows,” Jungkook revealed, offering a sleepy smile. “I miss the snow.” His gaze tilted up to look at the sky. When it snowed, he was reminded of better days. Sunlit bright snow, blue skies with fluffy white clouds, a smiling mom and dad, hot chocolate mugs warming up too-cold fingers.

The sky was grey again he noted.

If anyone at school had asked around about Nari (which they didn’t), they’d mention Jungkook, the underclassman that stuck to her hip. It had been months since their tentative first conversations where Jungkook could barely stutter out a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ reply to her. Now, the pair could talk easily or embrace the comfortable silence without it feeling awkward or forced.

There had been too many weekends where Jungkook had ended up on her doorstep. His hair windswept asking if she could hang out suddenly. He never revealed why he decided to appear even when she tempted him with banana milk as compensation. Regardless, his presence was a comfort. He had taken control of the video game console her sister had in her room. (It had been collecting dust, so he said Nari should thank him for making sure it worked.) The sounds of a shooter game accompanied her studying now. She’s surprised her bed didn’t have a Jungkook-shaped indent from how often he’d sit criss-crossed, playing his games, there.

Their friendship blossomed during these months. Jungkook often was sat between two people at lunch – Yoongi on one side of him and Nari on the other side. He was happy enough. He could ignore the ache of his bruises on his ribs. Endure a bit more of the bitter winter for the warmth of his friends beside him. It was a quiet euphoria – a feeling that he barely could identify at the time, but later he knew that he couldn’t live without it.

Namjoon had begun to become a wallflower. He faded into the background easily. He was quieter than ever – even with the ever-talkative Taehyung by his side. His eyes were ringed with exhaustion; he wore the same clothes two days in a row; he was picking up extra shifts at his job(s). The plural being a secret from the others that sat around the lunch table beside him.

[ 12:04 pm ] nari : hey.

Despite that, Nari found a way to drag his tired eyes away from his greying surroundings. Picking up his cracked phone, he typed a reply, his eyes lazily lifting to look at her, a brow raising.

[ 12:04 pm ] joonie : why are you texting when you are sitting right in front of me?

She offered a bashful smile towards the tall bleach blonde before her gaze flickered over to Taehyung who was currently enrapturing the other younger members of the group – Jungkook and Jimin – in his story about the police chase he escaped from the night before.

[ 12:05 pm ] nari : you looked sleepy and besides…

[ 12:05 pm ] nari : tae is talking. Which means the lunch hour will be full of his stories and not us talking.

Her smile grew into a playful smirk before nodding at Taehyung’s story as his eyes met hers. Her attention was easily split between her phone and the rebellious storyteller. The tired Namjoon was not even sure what story Taehyung was telling currently.

[ 12:07 pm ] nari : you okay?

[ 12:07 pm ] joonie : just tired.

[ 12:07 pm ] nari : don’t go out with tae tonight then. I’ll go?

He let out a breath through his nose. He forgot he promised Taehyung he was going to go spray painting with him this evening. He’d been so focused on other things. His dad had been showing signs of improvement – or so said the doctors; they were talking about moving him to a different hospital – a better one where he could have more of this treatment round the clock. He had to be there for his mom. He couldn’t let her make this decision alone. Not when she had been so heart-wrecked this week.

And his little brother, Namhyun, was struggling in his classes. Namjoon had opened his report card on accident last month and saw the latest results; he hid them from his mom, knowing it would only cause more stress. How could Namjoon help? He had to help.

He had to do something.

He had to find control in his life.

[ 12:09 pm ] joonie : thanks. I owe you.

[ 12:10 pm ] nari : lol. just get some sleep, joonie.

The text was followed by a string of purple hearts.

It made him smile. He wished he could give her that wish. He knew he wouldn’t.

Namjoon let out a yawn. Maybe he could sleep in Literature class; he had an A in it anyways.

“Can’t you just come and play video games like Jungkook does?” Nari lightly complained as she wrapped her scarf closer to her neck. The night was cold; her toes were already freezing.

“The snow means less police,” Taehyung told her as he walked ahead of her. He wasn’t dressed for this weather. and it made Nari worry. His favorite leather jacket was over his shoulders; gloves were over his fingertips, but that was it. He wasn’t even wearing a scarf or hat.

“You’re gonna get sick,” she told him, brows furrowing.

He was being stupid – reckless.

“I’m tough,” he preened, looking over his shoulder and winking at her before he noticed how distanced they were. Crunching snow accompanied his low laughter as he hurried back beside her. His hand took hers, interlacing their fingers before tugging her along. “We won’t stay out long, Nari-ah.” Taehyung promised.

The lack of police was relieving. Taehyung had been causing more trouble recently. He hated going home. He hated seeing his bastard of a father and his bruised sister. He hated how it made him feel like he couldn’t do anything. Powerless. Running away with the smell of paint on his fingertips and the rush of adrenaline in his veins made him feel something. Something. He didn’t know what. It was an echo of living. A stain of euphoria. Fleeting.

He liked chasing that feeling.

If he ran, the police would follow.

Taehyung had been lucky in the past, but now he’d been caught enough that the police was starting to notice his handiwork around town. If it was him and Namjoon spray painting tonight, he knew Namjoon could handle himself – could get himself out of trouble. Namjoon was clever… responsible. (Taehyung wanted to say brotherly.)

Nari… Nari was good. Nari didn’t deserve being on the cops’ radar because of who she hung around – because a boy had a crush on her and dragged her along to his personal art museum on the streets.

He liked the snow, because it meant safety.

Safety for her.

Jungkook’s nose was bruised one Thursday. The thing was an ugly red and purple color, daintily covered up by a band-aid. The bruise leaked out from the sides regardless of the band-aid’s coverage and even tinted the corners of his eyes. He was lucky his nose hadn’t broken.

“What the fuck happened?” Namjoon was the one to exclaim at the first sight of Jungkook. His large hands almost grabbed Jungkook’s face to get a good look at the younger’s injuries. Nari was right behind Namjoon, brows pursed close together.

“Some kids caught me after school,” Jungkook mumbled. A thumb prodded the skin gently making the maknae flinch. “Nari,” he whined softly at her touch.

“Sorry,” she murmured.

“So, who do I need to go beat up?” Yoongi commented, walking up besides the other three. His hands were tucked into his pockets, almost casually - if it weren’t for the deadly look in his eyes, they’d think he’d be talking about the weather.

“Hyung,” Jungkook gasped, head ducking a bit. “Its fine. I’m fine. It’s nothing really.”

Namjoon shared a look with Yoongi.

“I’m going to go get an ice bag from the nurse,” Nari claimed, already ready to care for the youngest. She was quick to leave, ditching her backpack with Yoongi who reluctantly held the pastel pink thing in his tight angry grasp.

Jungkook’s shoulders sagged a bit more at her concern; he was fine. He was fine. (He wasn’t used to this attention.) Namjoon threw his arm around the younger’s shoulder reassuringly as they entered the school’s main hallway, walking towards the cafeteria for lunch.

Taehyung eventually joined them, moving away from his lockers. If they watched closely, he was shoving a manga book into it before walking besides them. He commented on the younger’s injuries with a furrowed brow before quickly going into a conversation about his latest art work with Namjoon.

It left Yoongi and Jungkook walking side by side behind the duo.

“Hang out with me after school, Kook,” Yoongi said, no, commanded. “We can walk home together.”

No one was going to beat him up on his watch, Yoongi promised.

He’d protect him.

The snow began to melt now. Her ears didn’t need warm muffs to keep them from turning red. Jungkook had begun to shed the oversized green jacket; the others began to abandon their leather jackets or windbreakers for hoodies again – including Nari. Spring was coming.

The storage room had become less and less housed by the group. Jungkook still insisted on dragging her to it.

“Kookie,” her fond nickname for him left her lips. “Why can’t we just go to the library?”

“I like the storage room better. Hyung’s snacks are still there,” he excused.

Sitting in the afternoon rays like a cat, Jungkook ate the cheese puffs Seokjin had stored away in the room. Nari began her studies, getting lost in the countless papers she filled her far too active mind with.

A knock on the door startled the pair of them an hour later. No one ever came over here anymore.

“It’s me!” Jimin’s head popped in.

“Jimin-sshi,” Jungkook let out, the name leaving his lips akin to a curse.

The black-haired boy let out a laugh before walking inside with a bright smile. Jimin felt bubbling today, and it made her smile fondly.

“Hobi-hyung has work tonight; I thought we could hang out instead!” he prompted. It was hopeful. Jimin always had this hopeful air – though, like a flame, it was easily put out. She hated that she had to.

Nari shook her head, and his smile depleted.

“I need to study, Jiminie.” Nari prompted.

Nari had been working hard. Her job at the restaurant had disappeared soon after she met the boys. Not of her own volition, of course. The shop closed. Something about not enough funds. Nari had been job hunting – more than once Hoseok had joked about her working beside him at the fast-food chain. Honestly, it was starting to look more and more appealing as her money began to trickle from her fingertips.

Alongside that, she had been writing papers non-stop. She had to get into a university. She had to. Her scholarship was right at her fingertips. Her grades were looking promising. She could do this. She had to do this.

“Can we hang out, Jungkookie?” Jimin asked next, walking over to him.

“Sure.” Jungkook smiled a bit unsurely.

Jimin and Jungkook sat in the light, popping snacks into their mouths with cheese-dusted fingers. Their conversation was slow and clumsy. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was accompanied by many silences. The pair weren’t exactly close. Jimin’s occasional shift to timidness and Jungkook’s natural shyness led to a clash in personalities. A stand still of conversation with neither brave enough to continue the topic. It was better when the others were around to lead. Still, they continued on, munching on snacks and talking low. Nari’s gaze would flicker up occasionally to eye the two.

The pair were peering down at Jungkook’s sketchbook.

“Wow,” Jimin gasped out lightly.

At a closer look, she saw they were looking at artwork. Sketches done in graphite and charcoal. Drawn dark eyes staring back at them eerily. Birds drawn in chicken scratch lines that seemed to jump off the paper.

“You’re really good,” the older commented, tilting his head at Jungkook in appreciation.

Nari didn’t know Jungkook drew.

Sometimes Hoseok feels utterly alone. The group comes around weekly. The group chat is active – at least from the younger members. He shouldn’t feel this way. He should feel loved. Cared about. Yet…

Hoseok stared in the mirror. His eyes lacked warmth. His face was pallid, grey in the bad lighting of his apartment’s bathroom.

Shouldn’t he feel accomplished? He was living in an apartment he paid rent for. Alone. He was working. Alone.

Alone. Alone. Alone.

Why was he left alone?

He grabbed his meds.

Takes two oblong pills out. Places them on his tongue. Swallows.

The apartment felt quiet.

He missed the orphanage.

He missed the group.

He missed how things were.

Still, his eyes raised to look in the mirror again. He forced a smile. It looked painful. Hell, if he was honest, it felt painful.

Maybe things will change with seasons.

“I like someone,” Jungkook said softly as the pair walked by the river. His rubber-soled feet were skidding against the cement ground.

“Really?” Nari beamed, brightly. This was news to her. Jungkook was shy – so the fact he was admitting he liked someone was a miracle. “Who is it?” Her mind was flickering through potential partners. Was it that girl he saw by their lockers the other day? Or maybe Bora from his Literature class? Her excitement was electric, bubbling from her form.

“I—” he froze up, hand going to fiddle with the back of his neck. His throat closing up a bit.

“Do I know them?” she asked, tugging on her backpack straps. “Is it that girl you have that group assignment with – Sumi?”

“No!” He blurted out, wide eyed. “No.” he clarified. “You know him—them – her?” Jungkook stumbled over his words, flushing a bright red when he realized what he said.

Panic clung to his lungs. His eyes were like a doe’s as he diverted his gaze from her, staring at the ground.

Him. Her eyes widened a bit more. A him. She didn’t know Jungkook liked hims. Blinking, she offered a soft smile.

“So, I know him,” she repeated, nodding calmly. She hoped her calm attitude would calm him. His energy was both static and anxious. He often froze when he was scared. Her elbow nudged him. “Do we see him a lot?”

Jungkook was stammering now, his cheeks red.

Nari couldn’t help teasing the younger.

“I mean, I could start guessing boys,” she stated, singing the words out a bit.

“Noona,” Jungkook whined out, a hand going to rub at the back of his neck.

“I’m teasing, JK,” she laughed.

Nari let the subject drop then though the twinkle in her eye didn’t leave.

Jungkook had a crush.

He was handsome.

She had never really noticed how handsome he was.

It wasn’t a general handsomeness. Like Nari knew Seokjin was handsome. With Taehyung, it was different.

His shaggy hair looked so soft, and she knew it was soft; she has spent time running her fingers through it. (But she does that to Jungkook and Jimin too. Hoseok too!)

His eyes. They were beautiful. (They were brown. How could brown eyes feel so beautiful? It felt like there were different colors, stars locked away in the glimmer of the deep brown.)

His lips. They were so plump. But not like Jimin’s lips. No, Taehyung’s were different. Soft, but harsh. Smiling roundly, but often pouting at her or smirking at her. Kissable.

“Nari?”

Namjoon’s voice broke her out of her stupor.

“What?” she sputtered out, tearing her gaze away from Taehyung.

“You dozing off there?” Hoseok laughed out, shoulder nudging hers softly.

“Y-yeah!” she lied, a hand going to push her hair away from her face. Her nails scraped at her scalp.

She hoped her ears weren’t red.

Nari had a crush.

“Just because you’ve graduated, doesn’t mean our agreement doesn’t still stand,” the principal commented to Seokjin, who was looking out the window.

Guilt clung to his bones. For months, he had been giving the principal tabs on the group. When they skipped, where Namjoon and Yoongi smoked on campus, and other such things. He had even told the principal about the bonfire nights.

All under one agreement: it’s the right thing to do. You’re doing a good thing telling the authorities about anything wrong. Anything. Everything.

He was a spy.

“I-“ Seokjin started.

“You know, I’m quite good friends with the Dean over at your college,” the principal commented, his hand shifting a “Principal of the Year” award resting on his table. “And your father, you know, I’m sure he’d be disappointed if anything were to happen to his great son’s educational record. He wants you to go into his company, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, sir,” Seokjin murmured, head still looking towards the window. His plump lips were barely moving with his words. Subservient. Meek even.

“Then… I’m sure he wouldn’t want any hassle with pauses in your education, would he?”

Just like those years ago when he transferred, the principal wasn’t smiling, and Seokjin could feel the ghostly grip of his father’s hand on his shoulder once again.

“Right, sir.” Seokjin replied, his gaze finally moving to rest on the principal.

“Good, I’m glad to hear it. Now, here’s my phone number, son. Just report anything you think is important,” the principal placed the piece of paper on the desk. “We’ve caught that Jungkook kid getting into fights recently, thanks to your help. We will do great work together.”

Seokjin nodded quietly.

She found Yoongi in the one place she never thought she’d see him willingly. The library.

“This is what you’ve come to,” she teased relentlessly, sitting down beside him. Her bag clattered to the table next to his textbook.

Yoongi �� with his fading blonde hair – look up at her from his notebook a look of cold annoyance in his eyes. He didn’t retort.

She knew him well enough by now though that it made her giggle. He was still fuming silently about the state of his grades and graduation status. His silences varied in mood that she could read them as easily as a mood ring. (Although, sometimes a mood ring was not always real.)

“I hate school. It’s here to make us into drones, so we can work ‘til we die. Don’t know what to do with your life? Go to school and get your head stuffed with things that they say is true.” He grumbled.

Nari raised her brows at that.

“Wise words from you,” she replied.

“I know.” He huffed, plopping his chin down on the textbook in front of him. His lips pouted in frustration. “We learned about capitalistic societies today.” He added.

“Makes sense,” she laughed.

Pulling out her own notebooks, she kept Yoongi in her peripheral. He hadn’t moved his chin from the book, his cat-like eyes drooping in sleepiness – or was it annoyance? She knew Yoongi was clever in his own way. He knew a lot of obscure things. She knew he liked learning regardless of what anyone or what any grade said about him. He just didn’t like being forced to learn. He truly was an independent soul.

Her eyes warmed at a thought. Her hand dug through her pink backpack, through jelly candy bags that she kept for Seokjin, through the spare pieces of notebook paper she tore out, through pens and junk that she kept loose in her bag since her pencil bag got stolen the last time Taehyung had tugged her away from her studies and made her leave her stuff behind – until she pulled out a singular lollipop.

A smile that was too mischievous for her own good was painted on her lips as she nudged the candy towards the older boy. She wanted to see him laugh, see him scowl, something than this pouting mess of a begrudgingly studious boy he became.

When his long fingers reached out and unwrapped the sour apple candy, Nari’s mouth fell into a soft “o”.

“It must be bad,” Nari empathized as he popped the lollipop into his mouth.

He gave the candy a suck.

“Fuck school,” he said blankly.

“You’re almost done, Yoongi,” she comforted, a hand rubbing his shoulder softly.

He leaned towards her embrace, head leaning into her shoulder. His fried hair brushed against her skin, scratchy against her honeyed skin.

“You didn’t have any other flavors than sour apple?” Yoongi commented with a scrunched-up face – hidden from her view.

That made her giggle.

“I’ll give you a better flavor next time.” She joked, wrapping her other arm around his shoulders to give him a squeeze. He made a grumble of a whine. “We should head out soon; it’s almost sunset. You wouldn’t get caught staying at school into the evening.” She was teasing the rebel.

“After this year, you bet your ass I won’t ever again.”

Jimin had joined Jungkook and Nari on their morning walk to school. He lived further than the rest of the group, but, somehow, he was in front of Nari’s door that morning, his clothes a bit too cold to the touch for her to feel reassured at his words.

“I was only waiting for a while! I wanted to join you guys. Please?”

Nari had a hard time saying no to Jimin when he gave her puppy dog eyes.

So, the trio walked side by side as the sun shined in the early morning. She had grabbed an apple from her kitchen for Jimin, so he wouldn’t be left out when Jungkook appeared with two bagels – one for himself and one for her – like usual.

Jimin munched on his ruby red apple happily as they walked along. Conversation was light. Jungkook talked about a new game he bought – it was a few years old, but he still rambled on excitedly between yawns; Jimin smiled and laughed at the right moments.

He had hoped this would make him feel better. Walking beside his friends instead of the cold aura of his parents as they drove him to school, disappointment lingering in the air when their eyes didn’t meet his face. The hour drive felt more like torture. Surely, his friends would be better.

The smell of flowers in the air made his stomach churn; the apple in his hand tasted like ash. He felt hollow. He didn’t feel better. And his friends kept talking and talking and talking. They didn’t notice how he stopped talking, how he felt clammy, how his eyes felt blurred, how their words felt distant.

“The Arboretum smells so nice. I’ve been wanting to go for a while now. I heard they have these super rare flowers there,” Nari commented, catching a waft of the cherry blossoms in the air. “I haven’t gone there since I was a kid.”

Jimin’s breath was uneasy.

“Since when did you like flowers, noona?” Jungkook commented.

His nails dug into the apple in his hand.

“I don’t know. It’s the season,” she replied with a shrug before biting into her bagel.

He pierced the flesh, nectar dripping down his fingers.

Jimin swallowed roughly.

He didn’t like the walk he decided.

“Jin?” Nari let out, confused.

Why was Seokjin at the school this late? She had just left Yoongi’s side in the storage room to grab a snack from the snack machine when she spotted him. The tall college student was walking down the hall. Away from the principal’s office.

“Nari!” Her name came out in a stumbled mess. His eyes widening a bit. His full lips fell open as his breath left him. Never before on his reports with the principal had he run into his friends afterwards.

It startled him. Made his stomach flip in an unpleasant way.

How couldn’t it when he was just telling the principal about where Taehyung was tagging his art or that the group snuck on campus to sit in the storage room two weeks ago at midnight? Or that Yoongi was in another fight with some students the other day?

“What’re you doing here, oppa?” she asked, tilting her head in genuine curiosity. “Did you text the group chat?”

Her hand reached for her phone that rested in her hoodie’s pocket.

“No!” Seokjin exclaimed. “No! I wanted to see if you guys were here still?”

Seokjin had always been a bad liar.

Nari, however, wasn’t always a good listener – especially when her mind was focused on finishing an essay. Her stress was up. Sometimes when she got like this it felt like cotton was in her ears. All she could think about was finishing the assignment – if she doesn’t, she’d get an F; if she gets an F, she could fail the class; then she couldn’t get a scholarship for university. Then she’d be stuck at home, trying to get married or a job at a convenience store for the rest of her life. Nari didn’t want that. Wait, hadn’t Seokjin been talking?

“Oh, we are still here. Yoongi and Jimin are here.” A pause. “You never come in that way,” she commented before turning towards the storage room. “Come on, I have the jelly candies you like. I’ve been eating them all afternoon.”

Seokjin let out an anxious giggle, one that sounded forced as he joined her by her side.

“Sounds good. How have you been?” he asked as the pair began to walk towards their storage room.

His stomach still tumbled in anxiety. He was almost caught… but wasn’t telling authorities what was wrong a good thing? His dad from day one had told him to tell the principal anything that he saw. He was a good kid after all.

A good person.

Namjoon’s apartment was small for the four-person family. But it was well-loved. Nari could see that as she was ushered in. It was a bit messy with newspapers and coupons scattered around and jackets on backs of couches and chairs.

“It’ll only take a minute,” Namjoon promised. Originally, Namjoon and Nari was going to head to work – well, his work as an ads distributor when he said he forgot something for work at his place. “Make yourself at home.”

Nari nodded, looking at the few photographs scattered about. A young woman and a young man in a wheelchair. He looked like Namjoon she noted. There were a handful of baby photos, too. A tiny Namjoon and even tinier little brother.

Nari didn’t know Namjoon had a brother.

She didn’t know much about his family either.

“I’ll go later, okay, just rest,” she could hear Namjoon talking in the other room. The walls were apparently very thin. Nari’s gaze shifted, trying not to eavesdrop. “I know, Mom, I know. Namhyun will be home soon. Please take some medicine. This is the third migraine in a week.”

His words were muffled as she heard shuffling around. Nari’s gaze went to settle on some books on the table. Philosophy books. A medical journal. Into the Magic Shop. Demian. The Ones Who Walk Away From Omela.

Interesting. Nari wondered briefly if they were Namjoon’s preferences or his parents’. Beside the table, on its own little pedestal, was a bonsai tree. Well cared for and flourishing.

“It’s been in my family for a long time,” Namjoon laughed lightly, suddenly behind her again. His deep voice made her jump. “We thought it was going to die when we were moving.”

(When it was thrown out by the landowner of their last apartment alongside their other belongings. The branches were twisted and broken in places when they finally returned home to the locked apartment; the note on the door that stated their overdue rent had forced the landowner’s hand hadn’t made sense to the young Namjoon who had been scrambling to find his own belongings in the heap.)

“It just can’t seem to die.” He rolled his eyes.

“You sound like you want it to,” Nari scoffed, looking back at him.

His brow had a wrinkle, but he was still smiling lightly at her.

“It’s a lot of maintenance,” Namjoon whined, sounding like the teenager he truly was under his premature wrinkles and maturity he wore.

“Whatever,” she scoffed lightly. “You good to go? Your shift starts soon.”

He waved the advertisements that he supposedly had forgotten at home.

“Ready.” Namjoon smiled, his dimple popping against his honey skin. “Let’s go.”

Hoseok was raising his brows at her, conspiringly.

She had just waved off Taehyung in front of the burger joint moments ago. Taehyung had been so sleepy all day. Even if he begrudgingly joined her at the restaurant, his head was snuggled into her shoulder the entire time. He’d been staying out later and later. Fine lavender circles were forming under his eyes, clashing with his warm skin.

It had taken her thirty minutes to wake him up. Soft calls of his name that only made him hum in his sleep, his lips mouthing at her shoulder unconsciously. Shaking his shoulder which only made him cling to her like a koala bear. Each attempt made her cheeks flush, her heart race just a bit more. He was so cute. So cute. But she couldn’t-shouldn’t-wouldn’t. He was her best friend. Best. Friend.

Finally, she jabbed his ribs, and it seemed to immediately shock him awake, jumping further into her embrace – as if shielding her from something.

After encouraging him on heading home to sleep, with much pouting and eventually pleading, he complied and went home.

And now, Hoseok was staring at her with an evil glint in his dark eyes.

“Hobi?”

He raised his brows again.

“What?” Nari stuttered out, crossing her arms.

“What was that, blushy?” he teased.

Her cheeks immediately flushed.

“What are you talking about?” she turned to look at the now-abandoned booth. She scooted in, avoiding her friend’s gaze to pick up her backpack. She was quick to begin to shove her notebook and other school supplies into the bag.

“Don’t do that. I’m not dumb, Nari. I grew up with countless brothers and sisters,” Hoseok continued, leaning forward on the counter.

“You like Taehyung.”

Hearing someone say it out loud made her stomach do a somersault. The blood in her veins picked up speed. Her fingertips tingled with adrenaline.

“I—I don’t know,” Nari muttered out. Turning now to focus on other things at the table. Trash. Taehyung and her shared fries earlier. She picked up the empty, grease-stained bag.

“Riri,” he whined out, his voice high pitched in a teasing manner.

“I don’t know, Hobi!” she exclaimed, her words tumbling over one another as she walked over to the trash can. “I—I like him like I like all of you.”

“You don’t blush when Jimin cuddles into you.” He pointed out. “Or Jungkook.”

“I wasn’t blushing,” she countered, a hand rubbing at her neck.

“Riri,” he sighed out, tilting his head back. His hands pressed into the counter in exhaustion at her denial.

“It’s-it’s just a crush! He’s cute! And I like… his face.”

“His face,” Hoseok repeated.

“His personality, too,” she mumbled

“You like him!”

Nari really was all bark, no bite, because as soon as Hoseok said that she dramatically fell into the booth and curled up.

“I don’t know, maybe!” she cried out. “But he’s my best friend.”

“Ouch,” Hoseok commented, mildly offended.

“One! One of my best friends!” she clarified. “And I can’t fall for my best friend. He’s my friend!”

“So, what are you gonna do? Just keep blushing around him?” he laughed lightly.

Nari didn’t have an answer as she buried her face in her palms.

Jungkook sat there that night in his rickety bed. His bruises ached, but he couldn’t wipe the bunny like smile off his face. He scrambled up to grab it again. It wasn’t anything seemingly special. A plaid button up, a red and yellowed white color. Worn and comfy. There was a burnt hole in the corner of the sleeve. From a cigarette’s butt.

It didn’t smell like smoke, not really.

When Jungkook slung his arms through it and tugged it up his shoulders, it didn’t smell like cigarette smoke. It smelled like Yoongi.

Safe, warm, musty. His cologne lingered, a woodsy smell. Jungkook’s cheeks warmed as he huddled more into the fabric. His hands tugged it close, as if it were Yoongi hugging him close.

Earlier that day, Yoongi had shed the article of clothing from his shoulders when Jungkook had shivered on their walk by the river. He hadn’t even needed to say anything. Yoongi noticed. Yoongi noticed everything.

“You’re freezing, Kook,” Yoongi mumbled as he handed the button up to the other.

It wasn’t comparable to a jacket, but Yoongi was always warm. So warm.

Safe.

Jungkook had felt safe when Yoongi then reached for his hand to interlace their fingers.

A week later, they finally had a bonfire night. It was their first bonfire night in months. However, they were missing one person – Namjoon. He had sent a last-minute text to the group chat:

[ 10:15pm ] joonie : cant make it. have a bottle for me.

The missing member was palpable. The flow was rocky – though many thought it was simply because it had been a while since they all have been together. Taehyung still thought it felt like a ghost was with them – he kept looking for Namjoon, turning his head while he laughed at something Hoseok said.

Alongside that, the atmosphere felt funny. Seokjin wasn’t filming like he used to. Instead, he was nursing his bottle and remaining quiet. A rarity for the loud mouth eldest. It was enough for Jimin to notice and glance at Hoseok with a raised brow. Neither boy knew much.

As the night went on, the group discussed all sorts of things. Yoongi lamented the fact he was studying so hard still. Jungkook cooed up at him from his spot, resting his head against the elder’s lap. It made Yoongi’s gummy smile appear. In fact, Nari noted that she hadn’t seen Yoongi look that happy… ever. It made her smile even as Taehyung swooped in and stole her bottle of soju with an “I’ll finish that.”

Hoseok – who was all grins and laughter like usual – told the group about his interest in a dance studio he saw a sign for. It was Taehyung who teased the older man about his moves. Which ended up in the two drunkenly dancing off to a song Jungkook picked from the sidelines – while Jimin filmed it on his phone. Nari giggled, leaning into the smaller man. Her head rested against his jacketed shoulder as she watched from his phone’s screen. Hoseok’s moves were highlighted – sharp even in his drunken state; Jimin seemed to favor Hobi, zooming in on the sunshine-y man.

“I’ll join you at the studio, hyungie,” Jimin called out. “TaeTae doesn’t have the moves.”

“I have moves,” Taehyung complained lightly as he plopped down beside Nari. His warm figure tugged at the blanket Nari had on her lap– the one stained in red spray paint. “Share.” He commanded, pouting at her.

She relented easily. How could she saw no to his pretty pout? It made butterflies tickle at her ribs. It wasn’t long before he began to wrap his limbs around her, cocooning her close to him.

Anytime this happened she hoped he couldn’t hear her racing heart. Why was Taehyung doing this so different compared to when Jungkook or Jimin snuggled up to her? It made her skin feel on fire.

“Seokjin-oppa, take a photo so we can send it to Namjoonie and tell him we miss him!” the lone girl prompted, trying to distract herself from the warmth of Taehyung’s breath on her neck.

Namjoon didn’t reply to the sweet message that Seokjin had sent – using the words Nari encouraged sleepily from beside Jimin and Taehyung.

Seokjin and Nari hadn’t hung out alone in ages. Before he had graduated, they were study buddies or carpool pals. Often trading snacks while they sat in the library or storage room or car.

While he loved snacks – and even studying - Seokjin felt most free when driving. He felt like he could get away. Away from family, school, responsibilities, lies. Away from everything. He was more of the racer compared to the others. Hell, that was why he was the get-away driver back when the boys caused havoc. He was fast and good behind the wheel.

So, when Nari voiced feeling weighed down by school work the other day in the group chat, Seokjin had pulled up the school and grabbed her by the wrist and tugged her from the storage room.

“Where are we going?” Nari had prompted settling into the passenger seat. He had shoved her favorite soda – watermelon soda - into her grasp – something he had learned after sitting beside her in one of 2 Star Burger’s booths and getting her favorite drink knocked into his lap by Namjoon.

“Anywhere,” Seokjin supplied.

For hours, they simply drove. His nice leathered seats were comfy. The air conditioning was cool enough and the music was soft enough they could talk.

“Why are you stressed?” Seokjin finally queried about two hours into the drive.

“I—I don’t know. I just am,” she sighed out, furrowing into the seat. Her feet kicked up onto the seat as well.

“No feet on the leather,” he half-scolded, slapping at her knee.

A whine left her throat.

“Hey,” he whined back before his hand returned to the wheel. “C’mon, talk to me.”

Seokjin and Nari had the ability to just… talk. Somehow, even among the pretty lies and covering up of their true minds and feelings, they’d hear the truth. Like when Seokjin told her about his mother’s death. Seokjin and Nari were oddly in tune with one another. Like passing ships in the night.

“I’m… scared I won’t get into college,” she commented, picking at her jeans’ fibers.

“Why? You’re smart,” Seokjin replied, his gaze didn’t move from the road. It was almost more freeing. Not being watched while baring your worries.

“I--- don’t know,” she stuttered.

His hand moved to fix the polaroid, the one of them at the beach taken by the driver himself, hanging on the rearview mirror.

“You sound like you’re going in circles,” he teased softly. “But, you know somewhere why you’re feeling that way. I won’t judge you, Nari.”

It was a gentle reassurance. One that she knew was true. Despite his bright exterior with whines and occasional nagging, Seokjin was quite neutral. He didn’t like conflict. He hated seeing her like this. Worried, crumpled into herself with anxiety.

“I need a scholarship badly,” Nari mumbled, finally. She hadn’t told any of them about this. Not even Taehyung. “I need one so I can go to college. My--- Home… Money isn’t ready like—” she sighed deeply through her nose.

A hand went to rub at her face, the tension in her jaw making her cheeks feel achy and heavy. Her free hand though was caught by Seokjin’s.

“You’ll get one,” he hummed out. “If you didn’t, I’d be shocked.” He let out a gentle laugh before his gaze flickered to hers as they reached a stop light. “Nari, your worries are valid, but I think you’re so good at school. Unless you completely stop trying, you’re going to get an offer from the college you’re looking at.”

His thumb brushed over her knuckles softly.

“Okay?” he hummed.

Her lips quirked up on one side, a half smile or a half frown. “I guess.”

“Hey, isn’t this your favorite song? Hoseok was blasting it the other night at 2 Star,” he teased as he heard the tinkling tune of a pop song that was popular at the moment. It was some boy band she liked. She gave a soft smile as he turned it up, fingers on the dial immediately.

And like that, Seokjin did all he could to make her smile. Singing loudly, his voice cracking at random moments, Seokjin made a fool of himself for her. Because seeing her sad smile hurt.

Maybe it was guilt.

Namjoon had missed the last few days of school. Nari had texted each day. A simple ‘hey’ and she got no reply.

“What’s up with Joonie?” she asked Taehyung through Facetime, flopping back on her bed. Nari tucked her phone against her pillow as she turned on her hip to look at Taehyung through the screen.

“I don’t think anything’s up, Nari,” he commented.

Nari sighed, her lips forming a slight pout that Taehyung wished he could kiss. His gaze flickered from the screen of his phone as he leaned back on the bus stop’s seat. He couldn’t think that. She’s his best friend. Best. Friend. No. Kissing.

“He’s not at school. You’d know if you stopped ditching,” Nari half-scolded. “And he hasn’t answered my texts or anything in the group chat.”

“That’s because the group chat is Jungkookie sending memes, and Hobi-hyung sending too many emojis.” Taehyung laughed. “And you never answer in the group chat as much as you should.”

“I text you guys individually!” Nari defended.

“I thought you only did that for me. I was special,” he joked.

You are. She wanted to tell him.

She smiled lightly, chuckles leaving her throat in a soft hum before burying her face in her pillow, eyes and nose scrunched up. Taehyung took in the sight with a fondness.

“In all seriousness, can you text him, too?” she asked after a moment before her eyes flickered open to peer up at him.

He pressed his lips together.

“Fine.” She was overreacting. Namjoon was fine. “You owe me.”

“I’ll buy you ramyeon,” she hummed.

“Deal.” It was a quick reply that made her giggle.

She didn’t mean to find out. Nari had gotten tired of studying in the library. When she walked to the storage room, she thought no one would be there. It was nearing five pm. On a Friday. But she was wrong. The door was barely open a crack. The melody of a tune playing. It made her smile. Yoongi. She hadn’t seen him in a few days. It’d be nice to catch up.

“Can I help?” she heard another voice. A familiar voice. “Hyung?”

Her shoulder pressed to the wall beside the barely open door. Jungkook and Yoongi. Yoongi was playing music in front of Jungkook too! It wasn’t jealousy that flooded her veins but happiness. Yoongi was becoming more comfortable.

The music began again. This time a bit sloppily. Untrained hands danced over the keys. A melody she remembered hearing Yoongi play over and over like it was a bird’s call. Licking her lips, she peered through the crack. She knew she shouldn’t but her own curiosity was itching at her fingertips. Yoongi’s long fingers guided Jungkook’s over the keys slowly but surely. Their forms were close. A hum of the last key was in the air, fingers intertwining soon after. She caught Yoongi pressing a kiss to Jungkook’s flushed cheek.

Her eyes widened. A hand clasped over her mouth as she pressed her back fully to the wall in hopes they didn’t see her. She wanted to screech. Nari quickly scurried away on tip toes, hoping her shoes weren’t making audible noise against the linoleum now that the music had stopped. Nari could hear Jungkook’s nervous stutters and the warm comforting reassurances from Yoongi. She even heard a soft wet kissing noise.

As soon as she was outside, she let out an excited noise something between a shriek and giggle.

Yoongi and Jungkook were… dating? Together?

He kissed him! Yoongi kissed Jungkook!

Her friends were dating!

Oh my gosh, Yoongi was the one Jungkook had a crush on. He was the HIM!

Nari was beyond happy for them. And she was bubbling with energy. She wished she could tell someone – celebrate for her friends’ happiness.

She wanted to tell anyone.

But she couldn’t – especially when she saw it without them knowing. Fuck.

Fuck.

What does she do now!?

#yoongi x jungkook #taehyung x oc #seokjin x oc #hyyh au #bts hyyh #bts hyyh fanfic #bts fanfic #bts hurt/comfort

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