Work Text
The universe has an odd way of showing people things. Sometimes harsh and seemingly unnecessary, but some people don't listen to soft, whispered signs, sometimes they need everything falling down around them before they realise the tragic reasoning of how everything has come to be.Sometimes answers are better left buried and untouched, the tales of the past are just that- tales left to be wondered about wether they are fact or fiction. But sometimes, just sometimes, knowing all the answers will be the only thing that saves you and finally gives you peace.While the city usually echoed the sound of chaos and trouble, on this day a sudden calm seemed to take over.The sirens and horns came to a halt and left nothing but the songs of birds flying through the sky and the quiet hum of a metropolitan city.Even the wind had paused, there was an eerie calm blanketing the city Mina thought, as she cleaned the tabletops at the coffee store she started at just three weeks ago.Four hours into her eleven-to-four shift, she took a mental note of the one hour left until she was free. The temptation to hand in her two weeks notice to the job she just started was definitely there, teasing her, convincing her to just give in.Quit the job where she barely made end's meet and do something more with her life, find the adventure every part of her craves. But for the time being that is all but a pipe dream, latte art and sickly sweet frappuccinos it must be.She noticed a twitch of movement out of the corner of her eye outside, which took her by surprise because of how empty the streets were, the road completely deserted.If this were a western movie a tumbleweed would've blown through the street, past the shop window.Even the shop itself only had half a dozen people in it, Mina's manager mentioned something about an event closing off roads in the surrounding area.She shook her head at her ridiculous over-active imagination when she realised it was only a man exiting the building across the road. Anything to capture her attention from the boring monotony of cleaning tables all day.The man looked both ways for oncoming traffic, she stifled a laugh considering there's no cars now and there hadn't been all day.Her eyes felt drawn to his presence, on a usual day the hustle and bustle of the business men and women marching past the storefront window wouldn't catch her attention, but this one man did.She averted her eyes before he realised he was being watched- and right on time as the man who was dressed in a white button-up shirt, holding a navy blue blazer over his shoulder, looked up to peer inside the coffee shop window, almost as though he felt her eyes burning into his skin.Mina walked back to the counter to inform the one other member of staff on that she had finished the cleaning duties for the hour and she's going back to behind the counter again.An order for a large vanilla latte and a small cappuccino pops up on their online delivery tablet, she printed the receipt and went to start the order but suddenly a bang echoed across the city from outside.She watched the customers kick up a fuss and explode into a reckless commotion, they throw their seats back and some hid under tables, a few ran out the door and down the street.Was that a gunshot? Mina wondered, though living the life she had, she'd have no idea what a gunshot even sounds like but if she had to guess- it'd be that.She dropped the towels she was holding and ran to the door, she stood still for a moment as the sight before her eyes set in.She waved her coworkers off as they warned her it's too dangerous and ran outside, 'the shooter might still be outside' they warned, every part of the saviour complex within her didn't care.She risked it anyway. Part of her felt oddly pulled toward the scene, like she had to be there to witness this moment. She couldn't stay put and be a useless bystander, she had to be the one to do something, she knew it had to be her.Laying in the middle of the road, gunshot wound to the chest- or someone in that region- there was too much blood, it was too hard to tell- was the man Mina saw cross the road moments ago.She bent down to ground as he made a choking sound and spurted out blood, meanwhile a dark pool already started to puddle around him.That means there's an exit wound, that's good right? Mina tried applying the basic knowledge she'd picked up on from watching medical drama shows, though probably not always accurate, she never thought you'd ever actually have to use it."Sir, please stay with me. Come on, keep your eyes open," she cooed, gently touching the side of the man's face as though he was never even a stranger to her. In this moment he wasn't, his life lay in Mina's hands so she was going to do everything in her power to make him as comfortable as possible."My name is Mina, I'm not going let anything else happen to you, I've got you." He tried to open his eyes but they barely fluttered open for a second before closing again. "Hey, hey- what's your name? You got one?""Hos-" Eyes still shut, he struggled to build enough energy to get any words out, and everything in him wanted to tell this girl his name.Despite the situation at hand, everything inside him was roaring out to him, telling him to tell Mina his name."Please stay with me, you're going to be okay, you have to be okay." At this point that was more of a cry for help to the universe, please let this man be alright, don't let mine be the last face he sees she cried internally. "Open your eyes, Sir, you can do that for me, can't you?"He nodded a small nod and attempted to open his eyes as best he could. His body was numb to the pain which wasn't what he thought getting shot would feel like but it's as though all his energy is focused on staying alive, his body has no time to feel the pain.His eyes burned to keep them open, almost like when you know it's time to sleep at night when you can no longer hold your eyes open due to the burning sensation the light causes.But this isn't a night's rest the man feared, he knew his body was calling him to a longer and deeper rest right now, so he fought it with every ounce of strength in him. He held onto every word his heroine said, she were the reason he was hanging on.Mina heard the distant sound of an ambulance and police car approaching. Thankfully the man was conscious enough to hear the ambulance coming because his breathing changed and he tried to look in the direction of the sirens.Mina hopelessly looked around, unsure of what else she could do except keep her hands pressed firmly on the entry wound and not move until the paramedics arrive.Which she assumed one of the fleeing customers called- thankfully, or else she worried it would've been too late.The ambulance and police cars finally pulled up on scene, the paramedics were first to rush over, holding the equipment necessary to save this man's life.No earlier than they crouch down beside him, Mina removed her hands from his chest and let the paramedics take over. Thank God, he was finally in good hands.But her hands? They were covered in blood. His blood. A dark red substance soaking her hands, staining her work apron and the ground around her feet.It's quite a jarring sight to see, looking down at your own two hands and seeing nothing but blood.Almost like gloves, covering every inch of your skin on your hands and even your arms, but it's not. This isn't a pair of gloves."Sir, are you with me? What's your name?" The paramedic questions in an urgent, yet somehow calming tone."Jung Hoseok," he finally managed to say whilst gasping for breaths."Okay, Jung Hoseok, we're going to get you to a hospital, alright?"His eyes fluttered shut again, he was in and out of consciousness but you could tell he wanted to remain alert, he wanted to open his eyes.Mina felt someone tap her shoulder, she jumped back, slightly startled considering the situation. The police were asking for a statement, it took her a minute to divert her eyes from the man now known as Jung Hoseok, back to her bloodied hands and then to the police officer.This is far from the adventure she was hoping for, but somehow this felt more important.
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Hoseok
Hoseok awoke to the rain softly beating against his window and the hum of Seoul city life around him.Cars driving by, sirens sounding and the general hustle and bustle of the city life from outside his twenty-storey apartment, and the buzz of his refrigerator in the kitchen.But louder than any of that, an ambulance siren fully awoke him from his still half-asleep state. It almost sounded like it could be in the hallway of his apartment complex; that's how loud it sounded.He had the strangest dream last night, thank the heavens it was just a dream because that was a pain he never wanted to feel again.He got shot.After walking out of a tense meeting about his company's future proceedings, the possibility of expanding and so on and so forth.A van with no particular markings to identify from the split second Hoseok got to look at it, no license plate, not a thing.Before he could get to the other side of the road he felt the searing red pain shoot through his chest, before he knew it he was on the ground and a crowd of people emerged from the coffee store he was about to enter and scattered.What's the opposite of the bystander effect? Because those people were good for nothing. All of them but one.The most real and memorable part of that dream. Her.He heard her coworkers- which all sounded ten miles away- calling out to her, warning her of the danger, but she did it anyway.And for what? It had to of been a dream because the bravery such a softly, beautiful face may not be possible in this world. Why did she decide he was worth it?Her voice calmed him, despite the blood pouring out of him, he instantly felt at ease when she asked his name. While he struggled beyond belief to give it to her, as much as every bone in his body told him he had to tell her, he couldn't.He wishes he was able to speak in the dream. He wanted nothing but to have a five minute conversation with the ethereal beauty that was his knight in shinning armour.But unfortunately, the gaping wound in his chest drained him of every ounce of energy and a conversation was the last thing he could muster the strength for.He remembered the dream vividly, like that was all actually real life and just as real as the life he's living now. He remembered her even better.Her soft hair falling just beneath her shoulders- black with silver highlights throughout.She had her work apron on which unfortunately ended up covered in his blood. He hoped his dream-self took care of the dry cleaning bill for that.In this life he feared everyone around him would be far too afraid to help the man that lay dying in the middle of an empty, deserted road.He really wished he could thank the girl for helping him, for being his saving grace when no one else would.Mina.That was her name, he thought.He looked at his phone '3:34pm'. He pounced out of bed and looks at his phone again, did he see that right? It can't possibly be that late.Hoseok was up at six-am sharp, every morning, business meeting after business meeting, important tasks to take care of and a multi-million (borderline billion) dollar company to run.He would never sleep in this late, not with all the alarms he has set. The amount of people that would hound him and be on his ass if he even dared sleep an extra five minutes.No, something isn't right."Hoseok, come on open your eyes." He heard. It sounded close, but not really. He could only assume one of his assistants had used their spare key to get into his apartment and wake him, or check he wasn't dead with such a drastic lie in."I'm already up, hold on." He stepped over to his bedroom door and gripped the handle before he realised- that wasn't his assistant's voice. Something definitely isn't right."Stay with me Sir, you'll be alright."None of this made any sense. What the fuck?"Fuck," Hoseok exclaimed as he stepped on something cold and hard, he reached down to see what it was only to see- a bullet?"Heart rate is slowing down, we're losing him. Come on Jung Hoseok, wake up, keep your eyes open!"Heart rate? Losing him? Losing who? Whose voice was this?All of a sudden he was overtaken by a loss of every drop of energy he had. He could feel his heart slowing down and a burning sensation in his chest. He looked down and there saw his clothes slowly being soaked with blood.His breathing was hitched, he gasped for air that seemed to have disappeared, it felt like the oxygen had been sucked out of the room and the life force was being drained from him.He couldn't breathe. Couldn't move. He fell to the floor and felt his pulse start to slow down until it was nothing.The pain started to take over, he didn't even have a moment to question his deteriorating environment before he gave in to the blackness taking over and fell back to the state of unconscious he just awoke from.- - -He opened his eyes only be be blinded by bright white lights- like that of a hospital. So it wasn't a dream?He was at a loss for words, not that he could even speak with the tube down his throat that was obviously there to help him breathe.Hoseok had never been so confused in his life, couldn't quite grasp what was happening. He didn't even fully know where he was, could only guess because of the severe disorientation."Hoseok? Dude, how are you? Holy shit, you're alive."He looked over to the bedside to see his best friend Namjoon, wide eyed, clearly ecstatic whilst also shocked that Hoseok was awake.He sits on an uncomfortable looking chair beside the bed, with a bag on the floor and messy hair like he'd just woken up from a nap.Had Namjoon been staying here beside him? How long had he been out?Before Hoseok could respond at all, Namjoon called in the doctors who spent a few minutes checking over Hoseok, checking vitals, pupil response, and finally removing the intubation tube from his throat.The doctors left the room, satisfied Hoseok was finally stable and left the two to talk."Don't try to talk much, the doctors said it'll probably be tough after having that tube down your throat for three days." Namjoon said, sitting back down in his bedside chair."Three days?" Hoseok choked out in a raspy voice, his throat was scratchy and even just breathing hurt but he was in a state of disbelief."Three days bud. You've been out on us quite a while. I sent the boys home to sleep this afternoon, no one has slept a wink since it happened. Those boys needed a night in a real bed. I'm okay right here."Three days of unconsciousness. Three days of floating between the barrier of life and death. What was the dream all about?He seriously thought he already woke up. How could he trust this wasn't the real dream? A product of him fainting in his room.He could try and explain this away as much as he wanted but this- this hospital room, the beating vitals machine, the worry that haunted Namjoon's face- this was real.He felt the deep pain in his chest and he was certain this wasn't the dream."The doctors said you might be in a bit of pain when you woke up, they said they'll be back to adjust your meds shortly. You got fucking shot, dude! Police think it was a random drive-by."Random? Why would someone random want to shoot him? What could possibly posses someone to do such a thing to someone they don't even know? Was this how evil the world was?"I missed my birthday," Hoseok said quietly, about as loud as his voice is going to get."Yeah dude, sorry about that. But hey, you've got plenty of gifts awaiting you." He motioned over to where piles of presents sat waiting, cards displayed on the counter. "You're officially twenty-six, geez dude you're getting old, hows it feel?""I didn't anticipate spending it in a coma," he tried to laugh but it came out at nothing more than a gasp for air."Yeah I asked them to let me maybe shake you, or even slap you or something to wake you up. They wouldn't let me for whatever reason. We had plans dude, why'd you have to go and get yourself shot?" Namjoon asked and they both laughed and then a silence fills the room.It wasn't really a dream, he can thank her."Has a girl come by?""Why, expecting some sympathy action?" Namjoon said with a sly smirk. He knew his best friend better than anyone, he wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.Hoseok tried to crack a smile and shake it off, "No don't worry, it's nothing.""If you're talking about the girl they said saved you, no I don't know if she's come by. She might've visited when I went home to get a bag of clothes to stay, but not since I've been here."He sighed but felt a twinge of hope, maybe she'd come by if she found out he was awake?Then again, why would she? He's just a random guy that got shot and she was nice enough to help, but witnessing something like that must've been traumatic.She was under no obligation to visit at all, but by god he really hoped she would.
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Mina
It had been a week since it happened. A week since the fragility of life was shown to Mina, bringing her to question life and everything that it means.The fate of someone's life was in her hands. A situation she never thought she'd find herself in, being brought face to face with death himself, fighting him for the life of a man she'd never met.She didn't know why she felt so drawn to the situation, a situation most people ran from in fear of their own lives. Why did she stay?She'd been questioning that every second of the day, every waking hour devoted to wondering why it had to be her that helped him. Why not anyone else?Not a single part of the day made sense at all.She wasn't quite sure if it was the sequence of events she couldn't stop thinking about or the man.Something about the way he looked into her eyes whilst he lay there, entrusting Mina with his life in her hands, his blood on her hands- well literally, not figuratively.She visited the day it happened, quickly followed the ambulance to the hospital and waited until he was out of surgery.She waited around for hours to see if he'd be okay. He was in a medically induced coma when she left, she'd heard nothing since.Part of her wanted to visit again. But she's a stranger, who's to say he wanted her to visit?But almost like atoms being drawn together, every part of Mina felt drawn to that hospital room, and an even bigger part of her felt as though he wouldn't mind her presence.She needed to know that he's okay because if not she really wouldn't be able to forgive herself. It'd be her fault, right? She could've done so much more for him.If he's not okay it's all her fault.To the hospital it was then- to appease her guilt more than anything, that's what she told herself anyway.* *When Mina arrived and the receptionist questioned wether or not she was family of the man, she started to wonder wether to not this was a good idea.She didn't have much time to contemplate and before she knew it the words, "Yes, I'm his cousin" spilled out of her mouth."Room 111," she was told.If she was being directed straight to a room, surely that meant he's not dead.She made her way through the pristine white hallways, smelling nothing but disinfectant and hearing the beeping of vitals machines echo throughout the long, empty hallways.The sound was yet another reminder of lives hanging in the balance, each of these people were fighting for a chance to continue living, and the heartbreaking fact that not all of them were going to make it.Room 108.. She could feel her heart rate spike, maybe she needed to be connected to one of those machines.109.. Was this even a good idea?110.. She could still turn back.111.. All of this had to happen for a reason, she was drawn to the scene and pulled to the hospital for a reason.It had to mean something.She got to the door and the door swiftly opened as she pushed it, and there he was.Sitting alone, but sitting and awake. This was all she asked for."It's you," were the first words to leave his mouth. Not, 'who are you? what are you doing here?', but- it's you?"It's me?" Mina questioned."You're the one who saved me.""I don't know that I saved you, the paramedics and doctors did that. I did what any decent human being would do." She remarked, still hovering in the door frame, awkwardly scratching her neck, completely unsure of how to feel in this situation."Considering your customers ran out without taking a second glance at me, I'd say you must've been the only decent human being about then." He awkwardly laughed, also touching his neck uncomfortably.Neither of them knew how to feel in this situation. They'd both been dreaming of it for days, but both were too overwhelmed to even begin to know how to react."I mean one of them must have called an ambulance because it came quick and I didn't call?""I guess they're semi decent people then." This time they both laughed, a little bit of the tension finally being lifted from the air."So, how're you doing?" Though the answer is almost obvious Mina thought to herself, the guy got shot just a week ago."Well all things considered, I'm doing alright. Better now." He quietly said the last part, she almost didn't hear but she did, and she felt shivers down her spine as she realised it."I'm glad you're okay." And you genuinely are.Not just for the sake of her conscience, she was glad he got to keep living because something deep within her was already telling her he was one of the good guys.Call it a gut feeling."So a drive-by, huh? You believe that?""What else can I believe?""Well I don't mean to create a conspiracy, but violent crime is rare here, what's even more rare is random drive-bys. Seriously, you're more likely to get shot by your own Mom than you are a stranger. No offence, I'm sure your Mom is a great woman.""Honestly you're right. I've had doubts in my mind about it all since I found about. But honestly what else can I believe? I don't have much to go off right now. Maybe they thought I was someone else, someone they do know." He queried, desperately trying to find any other answer other than someone genuinely wanting him dead."You could also be right. I know I really don't know you but you don't seem like the type to of made too many enemies, and I do want you to stay safe. I don't want to have to save your life again- my apron got covered in your blood.""I wanted to mention that to you- I'll pay for your dry cleaning bill." They both laughed together once again. They were good at that- making each other laugh."As you should." Mina joked along.He suddenly groaned in pain and shifted the weight off his shoulder."I have so many people I'm letting down with this. So many meetings I'm missing, so much money lost."She didn't question the money loss comment, didn't feel it appropriate to get into the money affairs of a man she didn't know. "I'm sure the people around you will understand, this wasn't your fault.""But you're right, what if it was though. What if it wasn't random and someone has it out for me? It might as well be my own fault.""Please don't think like that, you didn't deserve this. No one deserves this. I don't think there's anything you could've done to deserve this.""I appreciate that, I do, but there's so much riding on me right now. I can't afford to take a day off, never mind a week in a coma.""You're putting far too much pressure on yourself, relax, that's what you need to do right now or else you'll have to spend even more time off recovering."And somehow he did relax, the weight dropped off his shoulders just a little, he started to breathe again and let his mind stop thinking of the stress of work for just a minute."What do you do for work anyway? I saw you come out of that massive, fancy looking office building, you work there?""I kind of own the building," he said, awkwardly looking away, trying not to come off too pretentious and scare Mina away."Seriously? Like the whole thing?""Yeah, I'm the owner of the company.""So there really is a lot of pressure on you then?""Yeah," he sighed, looking down again, falling back into the tunnel vision of stress in his mind."The company will still be there when you get back, I'm sure you've got plenty of competent people around you and working for you to keep the place afloat. You deserve to take this time to rest, focus on yourself and your own recovery. Don't think about them, don't think about work, think about you."He gave her a light smile in agreement and a slight nod. He took every word in and deep down he knows she's right, somehow he had a feeling every word Mina ever told him was right, but the stress that company put him under was too immense to ignore."You can come in you know?" You were still standing barely in the room."Sorry," she awkwardly laughed, finally stepping in and walking over the window-side table to look at the cards sitting there. "It was your birthday?""Yeah, the day after I got shot.""You were in a coma on your birthday?""Unfortunately so. My friends informed me that I ruined their party plans." He laughed."I can see that," Mina said picking up a card with a dancing monkey on the front. "Thank you for ruining our plans, Hobi. Just wanted you to know, we celebrated without you. Wake up soon dork. Happy birthday, love from Jimin x x x" She read the card aloud."Yeah, he's a delight really, that boy would take any excuse to drink, and me being in a coma definitely is not getting in the way of that." Hoseok laughed.The room fell silent as she noticed a strange card. It was a plain red card, no pictures on the front, no 'happy birthday' or even 'get well soon' displayed anywhere on the card. The only writing on the inside reads, 'Count yourself lucky that a pretty young girl came to your rescue. Next time- you won't be so lucky, neither will she.'"Um, hey have you read this one? It's kinda weird.""I was delirious when I opened those, I set it there and fell asleep, still high off the drugs they give me probably. Why, what's up?"Mina showed him the card and his face became blank. He stared at the words on the card without making a sound. She lay her hand on his shoulder- the one that wasn't shot.A voice knocked both of them out of their fearful daze. "Hey Hoseok, who's your new friend?""Oh, hey Taehyung." He said, fear coating his voice. He looks at Taehyung, then at Mina.She looked up with a slight smile,"Hi I'm Mina."
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Mina
"So you think this card is real, like you seriously think someone planned this? Maybe it's just some sort of prank?" Taehyung asked, sitting on the edge of Hoseok's hospital bed, shocked at what Hoseok just showed him."What kind of people do you guys know that would pull a sick prank like this?" Mina queried, getting quite curious about what kind of life these boys led."But you and Hoseok just met. Why would someone have a vendetta against both of you already?" Taehyung questioned, and he was right, Mina and Hoseok had no ties, why them?"Maybe because I was a witness to what they tried to do? Had I not of ran out there he could've died and they would've got what they wanted?" She suggested.Mina and Taehyung had barely spoke five words to each other before they were thrown into this discourse as a result of this mysterious card putting both her and Hoseok's lives in peril."I'm gonna call the rest of the guys and we can talk about it." Taehyung said, trying not the let the fear show in his voice, he wanted to put on a brave front for his best friend."Sure whatever. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about anyway, just some idiot messing around with the guy who just woke up from a coma."Taehyung left the room to make the call, leaving Hoseok and Mina to each other's company."So this is a great way for us to bond. We just met and we're already in peril together!" Hoseok laughed awkwardly."Yeah definitely beats going out for dinner, what better way to get to know each other than facing death together.""Hopefully it's nothing, we'll give the card to the police and let them figure it out. I'd hate myself if I got you mixed up in whatever this is all because you were at the wrong place at the wrong time.""I'd argue that I was at the right place, right time.""But on the other hand, if this is real you could be in danger; because of me." The thought overtook Hoseok and he was consumed with guilt and panic again, he felt suffocated by the potential danger he could've now put you in."I don't care, I'd do it again if it meant saving your life. I couldn't live with myself if I watched you die when I could've done something. Whatever this is, I'll help you figure it out."Hoseok sighed, shifting his weight from one side to the other again, he's still in pain it seems."You're far too kind to a guy you just met, ya know?""This is the bare minimum, this is the least I can do.""I'm giving you an out now, you can have it if you want, you don't need to be involved in this.""I'm already far too involved, I can't run now, that might do more harm than good. I think we need each other." A blush ran over Mina's face at the insinuation of her and Hoseok needing each other in any way, and Hoseok felt those words hit his core."Hoseok dude," Taehyung said entering the room. "The rest of the boys are coming over now. You're gonna be in hospital for a week longer after their visit, they're going to drain you of every ounce of energy.""Oh great I can't wait," Hoseok joked, looking over to Mina and smiling."I better get going, let you talk to your friends without the heroine of the week intruding.""No no, stay!" Hoseok pleaded. "Please? You'll be the one to calm the storm when they come rushing in here with as much energy as a five year old. Please stay?"She sighed, looking between Hoseok and Taehyung, both of whom were staring at her, patiently awaiting her answer.Her eyes stopped on Hoseok, her eyes meet his and almost like he could convince her of anything with just a look, without him having to say anything- she gave in."Alright I'll stay. If you're sure your friends will be okay with it?""Yeah, they totally will be, don't worry about it.""You seem like a pretty cool girl from the twenty minutes I've known you and you saved Hoseok's life, I'm sure they'd like to thank you in person." resounded Taehyung."Thank you guys for being so sweet. The last thing I'd want to do is intrude on personal time with your friends.""Thank us? No, thank you! You saved my life y/n, that is something worth very high praising."* *"So what does getting shot feel like?" The boy leaning on the edge of the bed as close to Hoseok as possible asked. That boy, Mina learned, is Jungkook.He was the youngest of the boys, the baby of the family."Woah Kook, that's a pretty full on question. I know you live in the world of video games but give him space," The oldest of the group, Seokjin scolded."Don't worry about it Jin, it's a valid question. I would've asked too." Hoseok assured. "I didn't realise what was going on until I felt my body fall to the ground, it's like my mind was having trouble catching up. My body had reacted and fallen, but in my head I was still crossing the road, it kind of went by in slow-motion. I really didn't feel much, I was winded and I think I recall finding it difficult to talk, right y/n?" Hoseok questioned the train of events, looking over to Mina; who for the last thirty minutes has sat quietly in the corner observing this tightly knit group of people.Laughing along with them, occasionally adding in her two cents, but still trying to give them space to catch up. After all, it's their friend that was in a coma for three days, she was just the girl that happened to be there at the right time to help him- did she really have any right to be here?"Yeah, I asked your name and you couldn't even finish saying Jung before your eyes started to shut again. You were able to tell the paramedic your name but I think you passed out as soon as they got you onto the stretcher."The boys stared at her enraptured with what she was saying, hanging on to her every word.Especially Jungkook, his still very child-like features and doe-like eyes stared at her contently, placing his hand firmly on Hoseok's arm affirming his support for his friend."We cannot thank you enough for going out there to help our Hobi." Yoongi started. "If you hadn't of done that, we might've lost him and I-" he stopped unable to go on, tears falling from his eyes, he wiped them but Hoseok sat up and said,"Yoongi, don't get all emotional on me. I'm alright, I'm right here, I promise you I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. I won't ever leave you guys." He pulled Yoongi in for a hug and sat back again."No, I'm crying because it's been up to us to cover your slack in work, I understand why you're so stressed all the time now, boss man. Why'd you have to go and get shot, huh?" He joked, wiping more tears away and everyone, including Mina, laughed."Seriously though Mina, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your heroic act that day. There's not enough money in the world I could pay you to express my thanks." Yoongi continued."You're making me emotional now," she said wiping away a fake tear, though she was close to actually shedding a tear or two. "As far as I'm concerned there was no other choice for me to make, I had to go out there and help him. I wouldn't be able to live with myself otherwise. So really I did it for a selfish reason." She joked and the boys laughed."I don't think a better person could have saved Hoseok- thank you, Mina." Said a smaller looking boy, with slate grey hair and a soft boysish smile. She'd learned his name was Jimin, he sat there twiddling with his hands on his lap.Her eyes hovered on him before she looked away without saying a word, though a smile played on her lips as she fought an unfamiliar feeling inside her."You guys are making me feel bad, you've thanked her more than I have, and I'm the one she saved," Hoseok professed."You've thanked me plenty." She said taking his hands."I reckon you take her on a date after you're all healed to thank the girl properly," Namjoon said.There was a chorus of oohs and aahs around the room as the boys laughed and nodded in agreement with Namjoon's proposal.Mina sat laughing along, an even bigger smile now being displayed on her face, she felt comfortable with these boys."Ooh, Hoseok going on a date?" Jungkook playfully said, with such a childlike innocence."He hasn't had one of those in a while," Taehyung added."He usually skips that step and takes it all the way to the bedroom." Yoongi chortled. She laughed at that, along with the rest of the boys, minus Jimin.Even Hoseok was laughing, though the pain still burned through his body, that much was obvious but he couldn't help but laugh. Jimin was the odd one out."Yeah well that's great for Hoseok, but our date will end with him walking me to my door and then he leaves.""Playing hard to get?" Yoongi mocked."I take it this is the first time a woman hasn't thrown herself at Hoseok and dragged him to bed?"And with that Hoseok choked on the iced water he was drinking. Mina looked at him with a raised eyebrow and chuckle before looking down to her feet and sighing."Okay you make me sound really promiscuous.""You are really promiscuous!" Taehyung chimed in."Yeah, be careful with him Mina, he has quite the reputation." Seokjin said with a wink in her direction."How come I've never heard of any of Hoseok's affairs?" Jungkook pointed out."Because the ladies come home after your bed time, Kook." Yoongi divulged.Jungkook nodded in understanding and acceptance for a moment before furrowing his eyebrows and letting out a juvenile, "hey!"Yet again Mina looked to Jimin and he wasn't laughing or amused by the group at all. Instead he remained distant and set a part from the seven of the others, not really saying much. She wondered if perhaps he was worried about Hoseok and his wellbeing?She was the only one who seemed to have noticed his absence in the conversation so she tried to pull him into it by saying,"So Jimin, how promiscuous is Hoseok really?"He snapped out of whatever daydream he was in, looked to her and replied with, "Huh? Oh yeah, real promiscuous. Stay away, Mina." And immediately withdrew from the conversation again. Something must've really been troubling him."So what do you guys actually think is going on? With Hoseok getting shot and then receiving that weird card that threatens not only him, but y/n too?" Yoongi said, changing the conversation."Well the police said it was a drive-by so why don't we go with that? I'm sure the card was just a dumb prank." Taehyung suggests the already investigated path."No, it feels like something more and I really don't like it." Mina explained, the anxiety clawed at her neck with the idea of some wild conspiracy being attached to this."Well you're part of the group now, so we vow to protect you as much as we will Hoseok." Seokjin affirmed. "Isn't that right guys?""Yes. Definitely!" The rest of the group chorused, including Jimin this time."Well thank you guys for being so kind and welcoming- once again. I did the thing any decent human being would've done, I didn't expect to be met with such acceptance and solidarity from people I don't really know. I don't know that I truly deserve it, but I do thank you for welcoming me with open arms.""I really wish you'd stop saying you don't deserve my thanks because you deserve that and so much more. I will take you on that date, I'll show you my dancing skills and I'll give you the best night of your life if it's the last thing I do. Seriously- it's the least you deserve. I would give you the world and so much more if it was payment enough for helping me that day, but I fear that I won't ever be able to repay you for your heroics that day. Thank you Mina, truly."And with that she was actually sent to tears. Hoseok's speech really seemed to have come from his heart, and it made her feel a lot of things that she didn't know were appropriate after only a few hours of knowing someone."Geez Hoseok you've really got me crying now." She laughed whilst dabbing at the tears with her sleeve.Jimin quickly jumped out of his seat in which he'd contently sat for thirty minutes and grabed a tissue box from the window sill."Here you go, Mina. You're an amazing person for what you did for Hoseok; for us."She took the tissues from Jimin and caught his eyes as she bowed slightly to thank him, he held the glance for a second longer than she expected and it took her off guard a little.She awkwardly backed away and sat back in her chair, still taken aback by the extended period of time he stared into her eyes."I'm going to the bathroom guys, I'll be one minute." He said and with that, he left.Mina couldn't help but wonder if there was something more than this situation presented before them that was bothering him? Either way it's really none of her business so she decided not to pry any further. She was sure he could handle it, whatever it was."I'm glad you came to visit Hyung, Namjoon said he really wanted to see you as soon as he woke up." Taehyung jabbered, not entirely aware of what he just said."Oh really now?" She smirked, turning to look at Hoseok, who's face was red and buried in his blanket."Hey! All I wanted to do was offer to pay for your cleaning bill, you made it weird by talking about that strange red card.""Oh sorry about that, guess knowing about another threat to your life isn't that important to you, huh?""Guess not.""This has turned into an emotions fest." Taehyung laughed."Yeah, we came here to discuss your impending doom, not talk about our feelings." Yoongi said."Theory- a gang shot Hoseok thinking it was one of their enemies." She proposed."What if it's a rival company that wants to take us out one by one before we take over the world stage?" Taehyung presented his theory.Mina learned that all the boys work together at the company Hoseok mentioned earlier. Hoseok and Namjoon both being CEOs, Jin being the company president, Yoongi chief operating officer, Jimin, Taehyung and Jungkook all joining the board of directors.They seemed to run this place together, and as stressful as it may have been it brought them all together.They never let it get in between their friendship. And to be so young yet so successful? She couldn't help but be impressed."Or the government trying to make sure the country doesn't get to see the ideas we have for this place boys- we'd be way too powerful for them to control if they let us come out with what we've been planning!" The youngest said, bemusing the rest of the room."What are you two, the conspiracy boys?" Jimin asks, walking back into the room and thus announcing his presence."Let the children have fun, I'm handing the card over to the police and letting them sort it out.""You should take pictures so you have copies, never know if you can trust the police nowadays." Jungkook said, starting yet another insane theory."You watch too many cop shows kiddo." Hoseok mocked."Well if you won't take a picture I will,"Jungkook reiterated, picking up the plain red card and snapping a picture. "I don't trust the cops with something as important as this." Seokjin chuckles and shoved Jungkook's shoulder in response to his childish naivety.Mina had learned a lot about this group's friendship dynamic over the two hours she'd been there and she had to admit, she'd really enjoyed the time spent with them.They were such a tight knit group after working together for the past few years, they were already such good role-models for the younger boys of the company.Mina could see all of this from the few hours she'd known them. Whatever this thing with Hoseok is, she looked forward to getting to know him and the group more.Specifically him."Geez all this conspiracy talk has made me hungry." Hoseok groaned."Yeah me too," The rest group agreed, minus Jimin. Who for the third time was completely spaced out. Staring into the corner of the room with a blank look on his face, clearly hadn't heard anything the group just said- yet Mina was the only one who noticed.She stood up and walked over to him to shake him, almost as if she was waking him from a slumber. "Hey Jimin. You hungry?" She asked."Uh no. I'm fine." Was all he said, flashing a polite smile her way."Well I'll leave you seven to chat, I'll go grab everyone something from the cafeteria." She said about to leave the room, but before she could Jimin jumped back to life and said,"I'll go with you." He said this with an energetic tone before adding softly, "You know, to keep you company."She smiled and nodded towards the door, inviting him to tag along. Maybe she could broach the subject of what's bothering him.Who knows, maybe this was how Jimin was, she hadn't known him for more than two hours. It's just that something felt off and she wanted to help in whatever way she could.* *"Call me out if I'm prying where I'm not wanted but you've been pretty withdrawn from the conversation the past while. Are you okay?" She questioned, deciding to get straight to the point and cutting through all the small talk."Me? Withdrawn? No, I'm just tired. A lot of work with the company, especially the past week.""Are you sure? Maybe it's me? You'd rather talk to your friends and catch up with Hoseok without a stranger intruding? I'd understand if that's the case-""No, no. Seriously it's not you, I'm just sorting through some weird feelings in my head.""Yeah, your best friend getting shot must be a tough pill to swallow.""Yeah, yeah that's it. It's just hard to get your head around, you know?" He admitted, though he was still reluctant to open up anymore, she understood that she was virtually a stranger and he didn't need to explain his mindset to her."Yeah, I've been a wreck this past week. Truthfully I haven't stopped thinking about Hoseok since I left the hospital that day. Hoping he'd make it. Hoping he'd wake up. Just praying that he'd be able to laugh and smile with his friends again. If he hadn't of made it I don't think I would be able to survive the guilt, it would take over me. I wouldn't be me anymore, I'd be a shell of the person I was before after witnessing something like this and losing the person I was supposed to save. I've only known him for a few hours and I can already tell he's such a special and genuine person, I'm so thankful in a weird way that I was the one there to help him.""Wow, I hadn't thought of how difficult it must've been for you. To be frank I didn't actually think you'd come to visit. I heard Hoseok mentioned you as soon as he woke up," Jimin said, looking solemn and deeply considering what Mina had just said."I guess he remembered you specifically, who could forget someone like you?" He mumbled the last part, maybe letting out one too many of his thoughts.He started to shy away from the conversation and withdraw into himself again as though he went a step too far with what he was trying to say.He was quiet and twiddling with his hands on his lap again as Mina waited in the cafeteria for everyone's food.They were reduced to silence again, listening to everyone else's conversations rather than engaging in their own.She felt bad that he almost always seemed to close into himself on your accord, whenever she spoke to him. Maybe he truly wasn't comfortable with a new face with the group?The waiter called Jimin's name and motioned him over to collect the cart of food for the entire group, it's like a small dinner party and she hoped it would do something to cheer Jimin up, part of her ached in response to his withdrawal from the conversation.She knew he had to come out of his shell soon enough, call it a gut feeling.* *"Aw, they forgot to give me a chocolate chip cookie, that might just be my favourite dessert item." Mina frowned.Before anyone could get a word in Jimin said, "Really? You can have mine.""No, I'll just go grab one and tell them they forgot-""No, I insist. Take it- please.""You're sure?""It's a cookie, not my car." He asserted, finally showing his sarcastic sense of humour and lightening up a bit.Maybe all it took was getting him out of that small cramped room and stretching his legs a little and exercising his mind rather than confining it to these four walls.She was glad he'd opened himself up to her more, she'd like to get to know this group and finally having Jimin accept her presence was a happy place to start.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
1 month later
Mina
"Have you seen the amount of news articles written about you? There's dozens here, still a month later. You're a well-liked businessman Mr Jung." Mina remarked, sitting at the foot of Hoseok's bed where he still lay recovering after the event that- little did he know- would change his life forever.Hoseok's company was more successful than she realised, he was a very well known man in the business world.Every business insider website had written an article about Seoul's top CEO being shot right outside his own office building.From sympathy articles, to articles on worries about profit-loss to the city's economy, even articles claiming he had actually died on the road that day.Fortunately he hadn't, and Mina was eternally grateful. The two had grown considerably close over the last month, she spent every day she could, which was basically everyday, coming over to look after him.Though his friends all lived in the same apartment block, on the same floor as him, they were always close by to help everyday but Mina felt it was her duty to help him get through this.Neither of them had received anymore threats like the ominous red card left in his hospital room but she still felt bonded to him somehow, she wanted to be here helping him.With the gunshot being along his shoulder muscle, heavy lifting or really any sort of lifting, was out of the question for him so Mina was there to give a helping hand.And what a help she was. Though having his friends at his beck and call, they did practically everything for him, he still felt as though he couldn't of gotten through the last few weeks without her.Just something about her mere presence was enough to give Hoseok the energy to get out of bed, get ready as painful as that task may be, and go to physical therapy.Despite his pleads, the doctor almost demanded Hoseok take at least one more week off work.He only got out of hospital a week ago but he'd of gone straight back to work the second he was checked out if he could.In his mind, the business was falling apart without him.Though he knew the people he'd hired were very capable men, his friends had definitely held the company together, it didn't feel right without him running it all.Just one more week."I've read them all. Some are very nice, others not so nice." Hoseok replied, adjusting his position in bed.Him still being in bed at noon was very out of the ordinary, and not something he wanted to get used to anytime soon."I'm sure you've been trying to manage as much of the company from home as you can," Mina said rolling her eyes at his dedication to his work, even at the sacrifice of his own health."I wish. The Doctor has made sure I do no work at all even if it's from home. Said the stress would set my recovery back too much, whatever that means.""I get your dedication to your job, I understand you wouldn't of got to the place your company is at without it, but please don't overwork yourself. Don't go back too soon, for once in your career put your health first." All she could do was plead with him, wether or not it did any good she could never actually tell.She could never actually tell because he always brushed her begging off with sarcastic remarks, "Aw, are you worried about me?""Me? Worried about you? No, obviously not." But he knew she was, and she knew he knew. But they both always played it cool between each other.Don't care too much, don't care too little. It was a fun game for the time being."Come on Miss Rhee, you know you want nothing more than to wrap me in bubble wrap and never let me venture out into the world again.""I can't even deny that," she gave in. "I'm sure I could find a ten-metre roll online for a really cheap price," she took her phone out to pretend to check amazon."Mina, I'll be fine," Hoseok laughed and grabbed her hands. "You've been so good to me since we met. I'm sure if it hadn't of been for you the boys would have me running about the streets of Seoul by now and at that point, I'd of probably needed an extra year of recovery time. But with you coming over every day and keeping me at bay here, I've really had no need to leave my apartment and I'm sure that's really helped my body get the rest it needs. I'm so close to feeling like me again, this company has my heart and soul in it, I won't let this set me back."Mina shook her head softly and sighed, "I trust you."All it took was for that heart shaped smile to appear and she already knew that he was right, he will be okay.The strength and determination the man has shown over the past month to get better is incredible.
He knows how to get himself to the light at the end of the tunnel, but perhaps it was her that got him there, just maybe.There's been a few bumps along the way but he's made it this far, Jung Hoseok was not the type of man to give up on himself and what he wants to achieve, this is one thing Mina know for sure."What are we doing for lunch?" Hoseok asked, an innocent look on his face like he could do no wrong."You mean what am I doing for lunch, Hoseok? You can't cook.""I most certainly can!""Oh you most certainly cannot." she retorted with an amused look on your face. "It was just yesterday morning you set the fire alarms off because you left a sausage frying in the pan unattended, that's literally the most important thing not to do whilst cooking.""In my defence, I thought you'd fallen over and hurt yourself, I was coming to your rescue- you're welcome.""Hey, I'm the only heroine in this household." Mina joked, a joke she had made many times which she knew he took well, he fortunately finds no fault in her humour."And for that I'm grateful." He smiled sincerely, and she knew he meant it every time he said it.Another thing that's evident through just a month of getting to know him, there is sincerity in everything he says and does.The man tells no lie, never says a word he doesn't mean, he understands the value of the things he says and makes sure to carefully place each word without being dishonest in any form.That's how Mina knew she was still welcome in his life after all this time, had had always expressed his gratitude and appreciation for her in any way he could and had never once made her feel unwelcome.Despite all that, she still didn't feel she deserved such treatment. After all, she did what any decent human being would do. Right?"So, what do you want for breakfast then, kiddo?" She asked with a warm smile."Pancakes and waffles! With lots of syrup." He said in the voice of a child, his imitation was pretty spot on, which wasn't surprising really considering he was a big child himself.Most people wouldn't expect it from a hard-headed and serious business man, who could command the attention of a room not listening like no other.A man who, in that suit and tie, will send shudders down the spine of any employee- of his own or otherwise- that dares look at him.But he was a child at heart, soft and loving, unexpectedly so."Coming right up my little sunshine."And that he was. Mina was really beginning to believe it to be true. Sunshine on a dark and depressing day.* * *"Okay so I just don't understand why there wasn't any pancakes and waffles made for me?" Jungkook questioned you the second he stepped in and smelled the aroma in the apartment.He had certainly gotten less shy over the last month, he had become very comfortable around Mina, sometimes too comfortable."You were shopping, Hoseok needed fuel before he did his physical therapy. I'm sorry you missed out, Guk.""I'm definitely taking this as a personal attack.""You are so overdramatic." She sighed and rolled her eyes whilst tidying up Hoseok's dishes, which had been left sitting on the kitchen counter for four hours because the one thing Hoseok couldn't do, was tidy up after himself."You are so overdramatic." Jungkook taunted her with a mocking tone."And time and time again you remind me that you're still the baby of the company. Always will be." He pouted and crossed his arms in reaction to this, further illustrating her point."How's work?" Hoseok asked Jungkook, lazily cleaning the kitchen counter in order to not sound too interested in Jungkook's answer. But he was, he was beyond jealous the rest of the boys were working and he wasn't."Namjoon didn't tell you?""Didn't tell me what?" He dropped the cool and calm demeanour and picked up a serious tone, he also dropped the wet rag on the kitchen floor."Ah that's right, the doctors want you to stay away from work, that must be why he hasn't told you.""Jungkook, hasn't told me what?""He announced it at a board meeting today- the acquisition meeting went off without a hitch, we got it Hoseok, we're building an empire." Jungkook smiled, looking between Hoseok and Mina for a reaction.All the tension dropped from Hoseok's body, his mouth dropped open and he had to use the kitchen counter to stabilise himself in his state of shock.He knew they could do it, he never had any question that the expansion would go ahead. He had the utmost faith in his team, he just didn't realise it'd be this easy."But the last we approached them they said they weren't for sale? They weren't interested?""A lot's happened since you've been off Hoseok, the business world doesn't often move fast but this has, something about this time has been different. They gave in, from what Namjoon's said they weren't even capable of saying no at this point.""I knew we'd get it done I just didn't know it'd be this fast," he'd moved to the seat around the marble kitchen island at this point."We're a powerful team, Boss, nothing we can't do," Jungkook smiled, radiating the same power and confidence as Hoseok."Has the sale been finalised yet? When's that happening?" Hoseok was on the edge of his seat, hungrily prying for every detail."It hasn't been finalised yet, we wanted to wait for you to get back into the office so you could at least witness some of the action.""I appreciate that but we need to push this for as soon as possible, I don't know exactly when the doctor's are going to let me come back and I want this a.s.a.p. We're finally starting to show this country what we're made of, what every single one of us can do, Kook.""We'll need your signature on a few things anyway, so as long as the doctor is okay with me bringing home a few documents then we'll get that sorted. And the next meeting we'll get you in on a zoom call. We need our leader there, you led us here Hoseok. You and Joon and Jin, this company would be nothing without you guys." Jungook's words dripped with sincerity and admiration for his boss and best friend.That was the beauty of this company, everyone employed by them had the genuine power to accomplish absolutely any idea, plan or goal they set out to.While not directly in charge of hiring, Namjoon and Hoseok sat down to create a stringent selection criteria for hiring staff.The hiring manager for any role or position in the company had to make sure each prospective employee checked every single point.There were no shortcuts, no 'maybe they have potential', no major faults in the candidates career background; it all had to be perfect, by the book.Not just anyone could work for this company. Every single person had to be able to get the job done and get it done well.Every single person had to see their vision and give sustainable ideas in their interview to reach it.This company wasn't a starting job for anyone, not just a job you could take just out of University, unless you had the backing behind you.Proof that you were capable of being on the world's stage and making this company number one.That's the only reason Jungkook was hired so young, it's how he became chairman of the board of executives so quick.Hoseok saw something in that boy's eyes the day he hired him, and he hasn't looked back since.Every decision he has helped make for the company has been indisputably the right one, everything the young boy touched turned to gold.With Taehyung as Vice-chair and Jimin as secretary of the board, the boys ran a tight ship and they ran the ship well.They say don't mix friendship and business but these men did it right, they made it work. They'd even argue that without their friendship, this mission wouldn't work.Because that's really what this was, this wasn't just a company, a job to provide for the family, this was a mission each of these men had set out on."I don't know if I should be here for this? Do you guys want me to go?" Mina suddenly chimed in. Hearing such private matters of their business seemed personal."You've heard it already, you're okay to stay, Mina. Hoseok told me you're apart of the vision now, he said you're important-" Jungkook stopped speaking when he realised he'd said too much by Hoseok angrily making 'cut it out, stop speaking' motions behind Mina's back.She turned to look at him with a smirk and a raised eyebrow, "really now? what is this supposed to mean?""Who else is supposed to make me my pancakes and waffles to fuel my hard day at work?" he said, changing the subject to a light hearted joke rather than what Jungkook had just revealed."Hmm okay," she decided not to press the comment any further, she accepted it as is for now, only time could tell what he really meant.* * *Mina browsed through the clothes rack, sighing as each rack was less promising than the one before.She'd been there thirty minutes and hadn't found a single thing she wanted to buy.After an early open shift in work, she got out early enough to head out to the city and have some time to herself. She hadn't had a lot of that recently.Her days have turned into spending long hours in work and then going straight to Hoseok's to help him. Yes, he had the boys there to help him but she genuinely wanted to be there for him.He was an enjoyable person to be around and day by day Mina felt their bond growing a little more.In the way he acted with her, how comfortable they were getting with each other, every time he called her the nickname he made up for her that only he's ever called her.It all put a stampede of butterflies in her stomach, a perfect balance of nervousness and excitement. It all felt right with him.So even after those long days at work, Mina knew she had him to fall back on, because as much as she was the one helping him, his support for her was what kept her going.But every once in a while there's nothing wrong with a bit of me time, she didn't want him to feel too smothered by her presence.Finally a cute, ruched black top called out to her from one of the racks. Nothing too fancy, just long black sleeves with a ruched front and a little lace bow hanging down.And finally getting to the jeans section the perfect pair of jeans was hanging on the rack and they had her size? Suddenly her luck was getting better today.Just to test her luck some more, she shuffled over to the men's section- just in case.Hoseok has spent his time off work rotating through three T-shirts which lay on the floor of his bedroom.He picks it up, examines for stains, smells it and either puts it on or throws it at Mina to wash.'His own personal maid' he liked to call her sometimes.Whilst he dressed very smart and in the most expensive suits and ties and formal wear in work, at home he's a simple man.The men's section was so much easier to shop in, picking up a few black fitted tees so he can actually rotate them through the wash, a few stylish oversized graphic tees and a pair of sweats or two and Hoseok's shop was done.Maybe she'd overdone it? This had turned more into a Hoseok shopping spree than it ever was a 'me-day' for Mina.Before she could be tempted to buy him one more thing she quickly made her way to the dressing rooms to try on the one outfit she found for herself.The lady in charge of the fitting room directed her to the rooms, all of which are empty so she decided on the first one she could see.She set the basket of clothes for Hoseok down and placed her bag and coat on the hanger on the back of the door.She stripped down to just her bra and underwear, cautiously so- dressing rooms have always panicked her a little.The overthinking part of Mina's brain worried about hidden cameras or people peeking in to watch her.While she knew logically the chances were slim, there was still always a chance so she subconsciously ended up covering herself ever so slightly, eager to get try on the clothes she picked out.She picked up the jeans and turned around to look in the full length mirror before trying them on and found herself falling back against the door in shock.
' Next time there'll be two shots,
one for him, one more for you'
Written on the mirror in what seems to be lipstick?She couldn't quite bring herself to get close enough to examine any further.What is this? Who did this? This can't possibly be real life. Mina found herself pinching her skin to try and wake herself up.She was awake. This was real. Someone really was watching you.This situation was so much more dangerous than she ever realised it to be.It wasn't random. This was planned and coordinated. That bullet was meant for Hoseok and the next one will be meant for Mina.Someone really had it out for two people that just met? Two people that only met because of these people's actions, how could they possibly have it out for both of them?There was a thousand thoughts going through her head, her mind was going a million miles per hour.She completely forgot she was still standing here half naked even as she stared at the mirror the note was written on.Her instinct was to pull out her phone to take a picture but realised it would only show her revealing figure right now so she put her own clothes back on, completely losing all interest in the new outfit she wanted to try on.Once fully clothed she attempted to take a picture, trying to angle herself out of it as best as possible in such a cramped room considering it would only show her shocked and fearful expression.What was she going to tell Hoseok? How could she reveal to him that this was all really happening?The card wasn't a joke, all of his progress could potentially be set back because of this revelation.
Mina's life had changed so drastically within the last few weeks, that was enough for you. But she had a feeling that now it was going to change a whole lot more.* * *Mina arrived back at Hoseok's apartment, shopping bag's in tow, because even after all that happened she still knew he needed a few fresh outfits to get him out of the ones that were basically rotting on his floor.She texted him on the way home that she had something serious to tell him, he had a sinking feeling in his stomach as he read it.His mind jumped to the worst possible scenarios, maybe Mina couldn't deal with all the pressure of being there for him constantly anymore or that she'd witnessed someone else get shot.He didn't know what to think and the unknown had kept him on edge the entire time he was waiting for her to get back.The second he heard the front door shut he jumped up out of bed and faster than a walk, slower than a run, made his way straight to Mina."You all good? You're okay, right?" He said, placing his hands tenderly on her arm, ushering her further into the apartment."Hoseok, calm down, I'm alright. Don't worry about me, I promise I'm okay.""You're sure?"Mina placed her hand on his cheek and made sure he held eye contact with her before saying, "I'm okay, I promise you I'm okay."Something about such soft yet intense eye contact with him almost set her soul on fire.Despite how little amount of time they'd known each other, just this simple act of eye contact had her question every decision she'd ever made in her life that led her to this man here.It was almost as though his eyes held the answer to every question she had ever asked the universe, maybe that was why she couldn't look away.Not knowing how else to take her eyes away from his, she moved over to the couch and set her bags down before sitting down beside them."I do have something important to show you though."He awkwardly cleared his throat, as if he was bracing himself whilst trying to get past the moment they just had and came over to sit beside her."So you know how I was out shopping today? Trying to have as much as a me day as possible?" Mina started, still with his full attention, his eyes not leaving her at all. "Something happened, in the dressing room."He cut her off with frantic questions, "did someone touch you? did you find a camera? what store was it, I'll call them right now and have my lawyers on it, I swear to god if someone's hurt you, Mina.""Hoseok, please I told you I'm okay, no one's hurt me. I'm scared but no one's hurt me, yet." She said that last part quietly, knowing how much it would panic him."Yet? Mina, what do you mean yet?" The man was borderline having a panic attack, he moved as close to her as he could possibly get. Almost as though he was making sure she was safe as long as he was touching her."I went into the fitting rooms to try some clothes on and saw this," she pulled out her phone and showed him the picture she had taken of the mirror, the message written in that hauntingly bright shade of red lipstick.He took the phone out of her hands and zoomed in on the message. She saw the life drain from his face as he read the message, just as much directed at him as it was her.Mina might've been the one to find it but this was a warning to Hoseok too. Both of their lives were at risk and that realisation was what made Hoseok's heart skip a beat.He'd survived one bullet, what are the odds he'd survive two? And what are the odds Mina would be as lucky as he was the first time?He couldn't help but feel at fault for dragging her into this. Surely whoever was doing this, their only real issue was with him? Not her.It was all his fault, her life was in danger because of someone he had pissed off. The only reason they were targeting her was because she had a heart of gold, she just had to run out and help him that one fateful day."Mina. I.. I really don't know what to say or do or.. Who do we call? We have to tell someone, the police, my lawyers- someone. I'm not having random people threatening you, watching you, knowing where you are enough to leave petty little notes on fitting room mirrors. I'm not sitting back and watching this happen to you!" He was getting riled up now, the thought of her getting hurt inspired a fiery rage in him that he didn't know he had."Hoseok this isn't just happening to me, it's happening to you too. These threats started with that red card, this isn't going to be the last, they'll probably make their way to you soon enough. You can't just worry about me in this situation, you have to look out for yourself.""I don't care about myself, Mina. I dragged you into this mess, this is all my fault, you don't deserve this. I've probably done something to piss off the wrong people but not you, you don't deserve any of this. I will have my people figure this out, I will not let you get hurt, I promise you right now," he picked up her hands and once again looked into her eyes, "I promise you, this will not touch you.""I trust you, Hoseok, you know I do. But I think we keep this to ourselves for a bit, something about this feels like more than what the police can handle, I don't think they should know." She said choosing every word carefully, knowing Hoseok would protest not telling the police about something that could possibly endanger her."Are you kidding? Seriously, come on! You want to not tell the police? Do you realise what you're saying, Mina. This is your life we're talking about, our lives, I'm not just gonna get them play us like some game pieces on a board only they know the rules to.""I understand that, and I get why your first instinct may be to tell the police but my gut is telling me not to. I just think right now it may do more harm than good. Did they even give you any update on the card when you handed it in for evidence?"Hoseok looked down and spoke quietly in defeat, "they did say it was likely just a prank, someone looking to scare us and get a reaction.""So they didn't take it seriously the first time?" Hoseok shook his head."Exactly, so who's to say they're even going to believe us now? Please, let's just keep this to ourselves for now.""I trust you," he finally gave in.This relationship was built on such a solid foundation of trust, a bond already so unbreakable in such a short amount of time. I guess that's what happens when you save someone's life.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
warning- this chapter contains a lot of drug use.
'gucci suit & tie only' group chat:
3:16pm
hobi
- calling an executive meeting at mine asap boys
3:17pm
joonie
- what's up?
3:17pm
yoongles
- i'm in the middle of pretending i'm working, what's happening?
3:17pm
hobi
- i don't want to talk about this over the phone, i just really need you guys home as soon as you can
3:18pm
jin
- tae, jimin and kook are in a meeting right now but the second we're all done we'll meet you there, alright boss? hope you're all good
Hoseok set his phone down on the couch beside him and ran his hands through his blonde hair.The reality of the situation was sinking in for him, the threat at hand finally becoming more real.Someone really had it out of him and because of that, someone now had it out for Mina too.She worked at a coffee shop, she lived a low risk life, this should've never been how her life went.They've barely known each other for a month and he was already dragging her down a dangerous path.Hoseok's life could be dangerous at the best of times, being the person he was he wasn't a stranger to threats on his life.He had his team follow them up, if they were substantial it always ended up with an arrest, and otherwise they ended up being a troll with a vendetta against men who know how to make money.But never had anyone ever followed through. Never did Hoseok think anyone would be capable of getting so close to him to pull this off.Everyone around him and always urged him to up his security, but he never felt it truly necessary. Too prestigious, he felt like it made it seem like he had too high an opinion of himself and his place in society.He now sees they were right all along, they would've never got close enough if he would've had a stronger team around him keeping a watchful eye out.While he was in hospital, the rest of the boys compiled a spreadsheet of every threat- wether it be by email, handwritten letter, twitter, facebook, anything- and gave it to the police.Urging them to investigate each and every claim further, even though the company had already done so, getting a second look and making sure the police knew of every avenue of possibility couldn't do any harm.He'd once walked out of the office after a long day of hair-pulling meetings, walked to his black Bentley Suv and on the front windshield underneath the window wiper was a note that read,
'Sleep with one eye open, steal my job, I steal your life'.
Mediocre, not the scariest note he's ever received, certainly not the most threatening or credible.With the amount of businesses the company has bought out and then rehired new people for those positions or fired people unfit to continue to work for his company- there were a few mad at him for 'stealing their job'.This one was filed, reported to the police as a precaution, they checked local cctv around Hoseok's car and the guy was found within two days.He was harmless and only put the note there to scare him. It wasn't easy to scare Hoseok. You were gonna have to do more than a note.Hoseok had no idea how his friend's were going to react to the news of another threat. He worried that further involving them would only have the people at fault go after his friends too, but what choice did he have?They were the only people in the world who could help him look at this and try and understand where everything had went so wrong.They all knew each other as well as you'd know yourself, there was almost no secrets kept between them, so if anyone could help Hoseok find a reason in his past for this it'd be them.But if any of them got hurt as a result of this he'd never forgive himself.Everyone was already in too deep, there was no escaping any of this, this was a real and credible threat.Whoever they were knew what store Mina was in, at the exact time, enough to go in and write a note on a mirror they knew she'd use.They were always close.They were always watching.This was so much more dangerous than Hoseok could ever begin to understand, and he so badly wanted to untangle her from the grasps of these people but it was too late.She was already involved from that one fateful day but Hoseok was going to do everything in his power to make sure this hurt her no further.He was going to put his life on the line for her. No matter what it takes, this was his battle, he'd take a second bullet before they ever touched her.The boys had really taken Mina in as one of their own over the last few weeks, they too felt they owed everything to her.Without Hoseok the company was nothing. Without Hoseok their group was nothing.They couldn't lose the sunshine that held them all together.They needed him.And they were eternally grateful that she was the reason they got to keep him.So Hoseok knew that no matter what the reason for all this was, whatever happened, the boys would help keep her safe- he was relying on that fact.***One by one the boys trickled into the apartment, all still in their formal work attire- Gucci suit and ties.They all complained that Hoseok wouldn't let them get changed first, after all they all live on the same floor but he said no diversions, straight to his apartment.So here they are.They set their briefcases on the kitchen counter and each of them spread about the open plan apartment, kicking their shoes off and making themselves at home."So, what's the big announcement?" Jimin was first to speak up."Is it work related or what's going on here?" Tae queried, tilting his head slightly."What's so important that it couldn't be said over text?" Namjoon added to finish before Hoseok snapped,"I'd tell you all if you'd give me a second to speak and stopped asking questions!"As per the voice that commands the attention of any man in any meeting room, including his friends, they all quietened down and fastened their attention on him."So you all remember about that weird red card I woke up to in the hospital, right? The one that threatened Mina and I?" Everyone nodded, still completely silent. "There's been another one. Another threat I mean.""What? Where'd you find it this time? Was it another card?" Namjoon asked, standing up out of his seat to take a more serious and worried stance."Are you okay? Did they physically threaten you or what, how'd it go this time?" Seokjin questioned."I wasn't the one to find it, Mina was."Each one of the men in the room let out a gasp, followed by a chorus of 'oh shit' or 'fucking hell'."Mina? Is she okay, what'd it say, is she alright?" Jimin piped up from the corner of the room."She's alright, they didn't physically hurt her, she's just pretty shaken up.""Where is she now?" Jimin pressed Hoseok further."She's napping in my bed right now. I can't let her go home, at least not anytime soon, it doesn't feel safe. The whole experience exhausted her, she's so emotionally drained and confused and scared and I'm doing everything in my power to keep that girl safe."He felt like he owed her that at the very least. She saved his life and now he was going to do everything he could to save hers."You should let her stay here for a while, until we start to figure this out, it's really not safe for her to go home," Jimin continued to fight for you."I was actually going to speak to her about that when she wakes up.""How'd they do it anyway? Threaten her I mean." Taehyung asked, him too intrigued in the conversation of her protection."This is how I know it's serious, they knew exactly where she was and when she'd be there. They have a close enough eye on her and probably me to know where we are. She was trying in clothes in a store, turned around and this was written on the mirror," he stopped to pull out his phone and send the picture of the ominous lipstick threat to the boy's group chat.Everyone's phone beeped and they all recoiled in shock and horror as they saw the picture of the message Mina had seen before your own eyes.It was setting in on everyone's faces that that red card was more than just a cruel prank.This was more than just a random drive-by. This meant something to someone. This was personal.Someone had truly meant to kill Hoseok, the CEO of Bangtan Security, he was not supposed to be walking the streets right now.Someone had tried to end his life and now it was almost certain they were going to try again but there was someone else in the mix this time.Mina. They had taken a personal vendetta against Hoseok and decided she deserved to die for it too. What? Because she saved a man's life?She got in the way of them fulfilling their plan so their next mission involved taking her out too.But she now had seven men around her who didn't intend on letting that happen."So this really is serious then. Have you shown this to the police?" Yoongi asked."No, she thinks we shouldn't.""What! Is she insane? Is she calling out to death to take her sooner?" Jimin almost yelled, genuinely taken aback by her judgment."She doesn't think they're trustworthy.""And she'd be right," Jungkook interrupted, raising an eyebrow in humble agreement."How could she possibly be right? It's the police, let them handle the matter, you know we always get things like this sorted." Namjoon tried to rationalise, he was always the one in the group to try and find the rationale in things."This is different, these guys actually almost succeeded in taking me out, they got closer than any petty threatening note or dodgy article claiming to expose me online. The police said the card was likely just a prank, right? So I already don't have a lot of credibility with them, they won't take this seriously.""So what's your plan? Sit around and do nothing until they try again, but take Mina out this time too?" Jimin asked, almost angrily at Mina and Hoseok's decision to not involve police."That's why I invited you all round bozo. We're going to sit here and talk about every bad or immoral thing I've ever done in my life to possibly warrant this. Someone is holding a very personal grudge against me and you guys know me better than anyone, there's no secrets between us, we'll find a connection somewhere.""God Hoseok well that's not going to be easy, you've not had the easiest life at times, you sure you wanna drudge all that up?" Yoongi said, now increasingly concerned."I have to if we're going to get to the bottom of this. It's not just my life depending on it now, it's Mina's, I can't let this touch her.""Shouldn't she be involved in this meeting? It concerns her too." Jimin said."I wanted to but.." he trailed off and paused for a second, trying to find his words. "Like Yoongi said, this could get ugly, I wanted to be sure we know what we're starting with before I tell her what we figure out.""We're going to need the meeting room set up for this fiasco," Taehyung started, with his head in his hands knowing this was going to be a rough discussion, "To the drawing board!"***"Okay, so I don't know if being the winning team in a season of soccer counts as a personal vendetta?" Hoseok laughed, crossing out 'soccer defeat' on the white board in the meeting room the boys had moved to."You went in and bullied the other team before the final game began so they'd feel threatened and be off their A-game?" Namjoon retorted."It worked didn't it? We won! I still don't think it's reason enough to shoot me.""You never know with some people, that could've really pushed those poor guys over the edge." Taehyung suggested in a playful tone. "You sure it wasn't a soccer bus drive-by?"The room exploded into laughter once again. The conversation hadn't been taken one hundred percent serious yet.The boys knew how deep this could get and were trying to avoid it like the plague.So with jokes and laughter and suggestions that weren't serious, they avoided it for as long as they could, but they all knew what was coming and none of them knew how to handle such a discussion.This is why Hoseok couldn't have Mina here for this discussion yet.She saw him as this perfect, well rounded, stand-up citizen of society when he knew himself to be far from it.Hoseok had a past that she didn't need to know about, she may be partially involved but she didn't need to know every little detail.He wasn't sure if this was because he didn't want to damage her perception of him, or maybe he didn't fully trust her yet.Trust didn't come easy to him. With being who he was, holding such a position in society, he wasn't a stranger to being used for what he has rather than loved for who he was.He knew she wasn't using him, that much was obvious after how much she'd supported his recovery, but once you build that wall around trust it's close to impossible to let people in.No one needed to know any of this information but the boys. Those were the people he could trust.All of a sudden Seokjin cleared his throat, almost to break the silence that had now dawned on the room, "we're going to have to start seriously somewhere.""There's three avenues we could go down here, Hoseok. It really depends where you want to start." Jimin said, writing three potential topics to discuss on the whiteboard.The boys sighed as he finished, setting the marker down and stepping back with his arms crossed examining what he'd just written.'Jackson Wang' was the first thing Jimin had written. He was starting off easy."Every one of these has the potential to be the reason why," Hoseok groaned, in this moment he was particularly regretful of his life choices."Yeah we really fucked it on this night, it wouldn't surprise me if this one came back to bite you in the ass," Namjoon said, rubbing his chin, remembering the events of this night.
5 years ago
"Sink it, sink it, sink it!" The crowd of University graduates roared as Hoseok opened his third beer can in a row and raised it his mouth to pour down his throat.The room was littered with drunken bodies all over the floor, empty drinks around them, everyone stepping in puddles of spilled beer causing sticky shoes and a mess no one here intended on cleaning themselves.It was a typical student's party, all of them celebrating the end of year in the only way young people knew how.The room held the smell of sweaty warm bodies, the result of so many of the people there being on three day benders with only a wet towel and a bit of soap as their daily 'shower'.But with everyone here being so incredibly inebriated, not one person really noticed nor cared."Come on Hobi, you've got this dude!" Namjoon cheered for his lifelong best friend."Come on loser, faster than that!" Seokjin added from the corner of the room, elbowing Namjoon as they laughed together.With a loud, drawn out burp he finished and threw the can to the floor, "No one does it like me boys!" he yelled, pushing his way through the crowd to Namjoon and Seokjin.The three of them just having completed each of their courses, now fresh out of University, armed with their own respective degrees, this summer they each intended on going out with a bang before starting up the most ambitious venture of their lives.They each graduated top of their classes, giving up partying during the working semester to fully devote themselves to their studies but once the year is done?You couldn't pull the alcohol out of their hand if you tried."You really are the man, Hoseok." Namjoon chuckled, holding his friend in a chokehold and messing up his hair."Nah you've seen me perform so much better dude, that was nothing, he's still a weakling." Seokjin said in competition."A weakling?" Hoseok laughed. "You know exactly where I out perform you, then you can try and call me a weakling." He tapped his nose, sniffing at the same time.Jin and Namjoon looked at each other, eyes wide, smiles on their faces."Didn't we say this was going to be a night to take it easy?" Jin laughed, knowing full well that no matter how many times they said it, it never would be."You know money's not the problem for us, so why do you guys sound like you're pussying out tonight?" Hoseok said with a smirk and a raised eyebrow."I barely got away with it the last time, you forced me to and the next day when I had to attend my cousin's wedding with my Mom and Dad every single person I spoke to asked if I had slept at all. I had to smile and nod and tell them a lack of sleep was the reason it looked like I was on death's door." Seokjin answered, probably the more cautious of the three right now, but Hoseok knew he'd say yes when it came down to it."It took you days to get over it that time, you were running on pure will power and an overdose of caffeine in your lectures that week," Namjoon laughed at Seokjin and one of his not-so fine points of his life."At least I didn't end up in hospital after our last bender," Jin retorted."Hey now, no need to bring that up, it was laced I swear by that.""Uh huh, I'd say that too if I couldn't handle a tiny bit of cocaine. Little weakling." Jin teased and Hoseok and Namjoon laughed along.They all knew he was joking, these boys had a tight knit bond and a code of honour among them and it meant any joke was always just that- a joke."Like Hobi said, if you're gonna go around calling us weaklings at least put your nose where your mouth is and then let's see who the weakling is. Time to get the real party started it seems?"The three of them were privy to the act of racking white powdered lines and sniffing them through a rolled up dollar bill on the weekends.Or weekdays when summer came around- any day of the week, as long as there was a party.While not every party goer does drugs, every party contains drugs somewhere, and these three boys were always sure to find them.They didn't have a drug problem by any means, they could function fine without them, it was just at parties for a little bit of extra fun they decided to let go and live a little.Once the school year rolled back around they emptied their baggies and dropped the habit cold-turkey.They were all capable of being sober, but right now, at this point in time? There was no reason to be."Where's Jackson at, you guys seen him around?" Hoseok questioned, one hundred percent certain who their cocaine source for the night was."He's definitely here, I'm almost certain I saw him go upstairs and head for one of the bedrooms earlier." Jin replied."Was he alone or with a petite slut in tow?" Hoseok asked, raising an eyebrow in suggestion."Pretty sure he was alone, just carrying that stupid little satchel he always carries around.""That stupid little satchel contains all of our hopes and dreams tonight, let's go see if we can sort ourselves some class A's boys."Hoseok led the way for Jin and Namjoon to follow him up the stairs, pushing past each drunken, sweaty body that fell against them.Whilst also completely ignoring any wasted girl that threw themselves at each of the boys, that wasn't what they were here for tonight.They got to the top of the stairs and were faced with a long hallway with multiple doors, behind some was obvious moaning, loud arguing voices behind another, it made it pretty hard to guess which one Jackson Wang was behind."Did you see which one he went into?" Hoseok asked Jin and he shook his head. "Fuck." He cursed under his breath.The only thing Hoseok could think of was walking up to each door and pressing his ear to it to guess what activity was going on behind each door.For most it wasn't hard to guess.Until he got to the one door with no noise behind it, Jin did say Jackson was alone?Hoseok wrapped one finger against the door, in a polite, not too loud knock, questioning if he could enter or not.He stood for a moment, waiting for a response. When he didn't get one, he looked back at Namjoon and Jin and shrugged his shoulders."Fuck it, I'm not walking into any of those other rooms, this one it is."He slowly opened the door, praying a sleeping couple wasn't behind it or worse, a naked Jackson Wang with one of his many side pieces laying beside him.As he peeked into the room he realised it was empty, not a single soul in sight.The three boys walked into the middle of the bedroom as the door swung shut behind them."Well shit. If he's not in here does that mean he's one of the moaning messes in the other rooms? I am not cockblocking Jackson just to ask if he can sort us with an ounce of cocaine." Hoseok said with a nervous laugh."Why don't you just text him, tell him to meet us when he's done?" Namjoon said, finally pulling out a smart idea."Yeah, you're probably right. Fuck sake, who knows how long we'll be waiting now, I've heard that boy go all night at other parties with the amount of drugs that go up his nose."Right as they were about to leave the room Jin suddenly says, "hey wait, isn't that Jackson's satchel?"Pointing to a navy blue bag laying between the pillows on the bed, they almost didn't see it because it blends in with the pillows so well.Hoseok walked over and picked it up, it had quite a bit of weight to it. "Yeah this is definitely it." He smirked and looked at his friends. "I think we've just hit the jackpot.""You're saying we just take his supply?" Jin said with a highly concerned voice."Are you nuts?" Namjoon yelled, a little too loud for Hoseok's liking."Keep your voice down!" He reprimanded, stepping closer to Namjoon, bag still in hand."We don't know where Jackson is right now but we can still get the night started. We take whatever we need and then leave the money in the bag, no losses to him.""If he knows we've touched his supply without his permission there'll be some losses to us- starting with our fingers and potentially our lives, Hoseok!" Namjoon tried to rationalise."Oh come on, we're not actually stealing anything when we're literally leaving the exact amount in the bag in the place of whatever we take.""I'm not too sure about this idea of yours dude," Jin said, biting his finger nails in deep thought."You two need to live a little, it'll be fine, he'll never even know it was us if we do it all in this room, leave him the money and then walk out like nothing happened. We'll bounce to the next party and he'll never even know we were on anything."Namjoon and Jin traded concerned looks, both of them unsure of the intelligence of this idea, but both of them also aware of the fact that now that the idea had been presented they were probably going to do it anyway.They always did follow Hoseok's lead."Fine then," they both gave in."Let's get this party started," Hoseok smiled.He opened the bag and his eyes widened in amazement, he was like a kid in a candy store.Inside wasn't just the cocaine they were hoping for, but also so many different bags of different coloured pills.Hoseok emptied the bag's contents out onto the bed. A mass amount of cocaine, but also amphetamines and what also looked to be ecstasy pills.Jackson Wang was one seriously wealthy man to have such a selection on him all at one time.Most dealers stuck to one type of drug but Jackson was like Santa on Christmas day, bringing all the presents you could possibly ask for."Jackpot." Hoseok grinned from ear to ear."God we are so going to regret this." Jin said, shaking his head.Namjoon ran to the bedroom door and turned the lock, "suddenly I'm glad Hobi here convinced us to grow a pair, the fun is just about to begin." He smiled and Hoseok laughed along.Hoseok grabbed one of the cocaine baggies and emptied it's contents on an antique plate that was displayed on the dresser."They won't be missing this, we're finally putting it to good use anyway."He racked six equal sized lines, two each to start everyone off. He pulled out a ten dollar bill from his wallet. "Who's going first then?"Namjoon quickly stepped up, now with a new found eagerness to get into Jackson's supply.He sniffed two of the lines one after the other, not leaving anything on the plate. Once he'd finished he stood up straight and held his finger to his nose as he breathed in deeply."That smells great," he laughed. "Who's up next?"First Hoseok and then Jin, they each polished their own lines off, leaving not a single grain of cocaine on the plate.Hoseok deciding to go all out, he licked the plate clean to destroy every bit of evidence, and to ensure not a single bit was wasted.If they were going to get into Jackson's supply without permission the least they could do was use it all, right?They each cracked open another can of beer they brought with them and as the effects of the drug hit them, the energy coursed through their veins and none of them could even think about sitting down.They were bursting with energy and the only way they could think of to use it was to dance around the bedroom wildly, all of them laughing at the stupidity of themselves.With the drug lowering their inhibitions and any filter of words they once had, they sat spewing deep discussions of life and how they felt about finishing school and their future plans for their still unnamed business.Now that they were almost completely carefree, the thought of getting in trouble for this never even crossed their mind, they were having too much fun and any consequences that were to later come was a problem for later.After forty five minutes of dancing and deep drug induced talks, and multiple more bags of cocaine, they had started to calm down, while the buzz still rippled through their veins the effects were lesser but they still didn't feel the end of the night coming on any time soon."So what's up next? These ecstasy pills are calling my name if I do say so myself," Hoseok said, lifting out a bag of ten little tiny, pressed pills.Five blue, two green and three yellow, they were tiny powder pressed pills in the shape of little figures or random shapes.All with different names but these three boys didn't care what they were called as they all took them to the same place."Lead the way boss." Jin said, sprawled out in a starfish position in the middle of the king sized bed.With that, Hoseok took out one of the blue coloured pills, grabbed his can of beer, put the pill in his mouth and washed it down with a swig of beer."Ahhh," he exclaimed. "That hit the spot."Jin and Namjoon followed, each of them also taking a blue pill, if they were going down, they were going down together."You ready for the ride boys?" Hoseok said, looking between his friends with a devious look on his face.He knew the wave about to hit them, and he loved nothing more than that familiar wave of pure euphoria washing over him as the drug took it's effects.And just a short five minutes later it did. Slowly but surely each of them felt that quiet buzz of ecstasy flow through their bodies.Quietly sneaking up on them but the second it hit you, you knew it was there.Each of the boys were no more than a meter away from each other, Jin sprawled out on the bed, Hoseok lying on the left side of the bed and Namjoon on a chair beside the bed but in their own heads they started to feel miles away from each other.The music started to sound quieter and they started to feel like they were sinking into themselves.Into their own personal euphoria within their own head, they were miles away from each other whilst only being but a mere distance away from each other in the physical realm.Some people enjoy the feeling, some may not, the disconnect from your body and the mind games the drug puts you through may be too much to handle for some.For those who've never experienced such a feeling, they may panic with their first try, but these three were seasoned pros.The three of them love nothing more than to separate mind and body and go on a roller coaster ride in their own mind.Whilst ecstasy's psychoactive properties weren't as intense as other drugs, it still took the boys on a ride they were fully satisfied with.They each sat, not saying a word to each other, completely zoned out in their own worlds as pure euphoria washed over each of them, that was the one thing about this drug- the extreme serotonin rush that came with it.As they came out of the initial peak of the pills, they all looked at each other and started expressing hoe much they truly love and care for one another, how excited they were to start on this new business venture with each other."We're three very powerful men, we're going to take over this country with this company." Hoseok said, his bright smile not leaving his face."This country? Come on, dream bigger Hoseok. We're going to take over the world." Namjoon grinned, moving over to sit beside Hoseok on the bed.The three boys were now all sat on the bed beside each other, Hoseok in the middle with his hands on each of the boy's shoulders. Pills always made him particularly touchy feely."I'm so thankful to get to start this adventure with you guys, I truly hope you know how much I mean that. I will always have your back, through abso-fucking-lutely anything, no matter how morally wrong or dangerous, I will never leave your side. You guys got that?" Jin proudly said, although with inhibitions severely lowered, he still meant every word."I one hundred percent agree, through thick and thin, life or death, I've got your guy's back." Hoseok agreed. "How about you, Joon?"They looked over to Namjoon who was sitting there, once again zoned out in his own little drug trip.Hoseok and Jin laughed, maybe he was the weakling of the three.Quietening down their laughter, a knock at the door.Jin and Hoseok quickly gathered themselves, fighting the effects of the drug, almost like the fright quickly sobered them up- though not quite."Anyone in there?" A voice called out and the door handle shook."Shit shit shit." Hoseok whispered quietly, unsure of what to do.He quickly started gathering the little baggys thrown about the bed and put them back in Jackson's satchel."It doesn't sound like Jackson?" Jin reasoned."So? We're still fucked if it's one of his friends."He put the bag behind a pillow and slowly stepped towards the door, looking back at Jin who sat still wide eyed and nervous and Namjoon who lay still out of it.With quick thinking, Jim pulled a fleece blanket over Namjoon to make it seem as though he was just drunkenly passed out.Hoseok unlocked the door and opened it to two faces he didn't recognise."Who're you two? Hoseok asked, almost rudely, wondering why some strangers were interrupting what was previously a very good night."Park Jimin," the first innocent looking face smiled."And you are?" Hoseok questioned the other."Kim Taehyung," the second one said, less cheery than the first, more guarded."What do you two want?""Our friend owns the house, Yoongi. He's the reason you even have a party to do drugs at in the first place." Taehyung said, glaring at Hoseok."What makes you think-"Taehyung cut Hoseok off by saying, "oh come on, no need to pretend here. Have you looked at your eyes in the mirror? There is almost no colour in your pupil whatsoever, it's just a gaping black hole." He smirked. "I know what you guys are up to.""Got any more for two guests?" Jimin piped up, Hoseok didn't expect that from the more innocent looking of the two."Not for children, no." And he attempted to close the door.Taehyung stuck his foot out before he could. "You're graduates, right? We're not that much younger than you, get off your high horse."Jin snickered from the bed at that comment, the way Taehyung had the confidence to come for Hoseok im such a way was laughable."No drugs in here, sorry kiddo." Hoseok said finally, pushing away Taehyung's foot and closing the door.He turned back to Jin and the still out of it Namjoon and sighed."Thank fuck that's over with," he said."You think I don't know you're at Jackson's stash?" Taehyung called out from behind the door.Hoseok froze in shock, Jin's eyed widened in disbelief and fear.The consequences were catching up to them.Hoseok rushed over to the door, opened it and ushered Taehyung and Jimin in."Keep your voice down!" He said sternly, shoving Taehyung's shoulder slightly."Or what? I'm the one in control here. I saw Jackson come in here earlier with his bag, I know what he keeps in it I've bought off him plenty enough. Then he left the room without it, not sure why he was stupid enough to do that- evidently there's untrustworthy people here that would do anything to get their hands on his stash.""We weren't stealing, we're leaving the money owed in the bag in place of whatever we've taken. We'll leave and no one ever has to know it was us," Hoseok said calmly, trying to convince the two strangers."We know," Jimin smirked. He was quiet but brave."What's it going to do to keep you two quiet?" Jin sighed, now sitting on the edge of the bed."We want some of the pills, pretty simple really." Taehyung said."That's it? We pass you the bag and you don't say anything to Jackson?" Hoseok said, unsure of wether to trust them or not."That's it. If we take some we're in the same position as you, obviously we're not going to say anything." Jimin said in a matter of fact tone."Done deal." Jin grabbed the bag from behind the pillow and threw it straight to Taehyung.He opened the bag, smiled and looked at Jimin. "Jackpot.""Ha! That's what you said Hoseok." Namjoon suddenly said, waking from his daze.Jin stifled a laugh and Hoseok glared at him in response."Jesus, that guy was dead." Jimin laughed, and Taehyung along with him. "That's the level I want to be at.""Once we play catch up, you guys up for round two?" Taehyung suggested, holding up the bag of pills and Hoseok smiled.These were his type of boys.After Jimin and Taehyung had taken what they deemed enough cocaine, which Hoseok was surprised at how much they could handle, they all looked at the bag of pills.The three oldest had already start to come-down off their first peak and were completely ready for a second go.Taehyung passed the satchel to Hoseok who slung it over his shoulder for safe keeping, grabbed the bag of tiny coloured pills, and handed one to Namjoon and Jin, all of them ready with their drinks in hand."These pack a pretty powerful punch, you two little ones sure you can handle it?" Hoseok teased."See you on the other side," Taehyung said with a smirk, before putting the pill in his mouth and swallowing with a mouth full of vodka soda.Right as everyone swallowed their pill, the door swung open.A face no one wanted to see right now.He looked from Jin, to Namjoon, to Taehyung and then Jimin and finall Hoseok who stood in the middle of the room, holding his satchel.It made it seem like Hoseok was the ring leader- this must've been his idea.And all over the bed?Lots of empty baggies sprawled about instead of the full bags Jackson knew he had.They were caught.Jackson took a deep breath in. "So whose idea was this then, huh?" He was calm as of this moment."Right, Jackson buddy, here's the thing." Hoseok started, praying Jackson would accept his explanation. Though he had a feeling he wouldn't."We came looking for you to buy a bit of coke earlier, but we couldn't find you. But we did find your bag. So our plan was to take what we came for and then leave the money we owe you in the bag in placement of whatever we took. See? I told you there was a reasonable explanation!" Hoseok flashed a nervous smile, he knew Jackson wasn't buying it even though he was telling the truth, they didn't intend on truly stealing anything."Somehow I fail to believe that," he cracked his neck to the side and stepped towards Hoseok."I swear to you Jackson we were just about to leave it, I've got my wallet here, however much you need I've got it!" Hoseok said, stepping back but taking out his wallet and raffling through his notes."To me, Jung Hoseok, it looks like you were taste testing my stash and trying to steal whatever you losers haven't sniffed," Jackson says through gritted teeth before throwing a punch at Hoseok that connects with the right side of his jaw.Jin jumps up off the bed, fighting the effects of the pill he had just taken which was quickly starting to make him want to fall to the floor, but he didn't.Instead he tackled Jackson to the floor to keep him from attacking Hoseok any further.Namjoon, also struggling to move as the pill hit the come-up stage, climbed out of bed to Hoseok's aid who had fallen to the floor with the force of the punch but then succumb to the effects of the pill and the punch all at once.He pulled him to his feet as Jimin rushed over to help. Taehyung jumped into action and delivered a few kicks to Jackson's ribs as Jin threw a few punches to his face.As Namjoon and Jimin helped Hoseok out the door, Jin delivered one final blow and Taehyung one final kick to Jackson who lay almost unresponsive on the bedroom floor, and they too rushed to leave the room.The five boys stumbled out of the party, met with confused looks on the faces of other party goers as the why they were rushing out so quickly, practically dragging along a red haired graduate who was incapable of walkingThey kept walking down the street as far as far away from the house as they could get before Jackson was discovered and someone connected the dots.They stopped as they reached a forest at the end of a neighbourhood and just about entered the tree line, slightly more hidden from the civilian area, before all dropping to the ground as they gave into the drug.They couldn't call a cab now, no driver would let them in their car in this state.Most of their speech incomprehensible, each of them in and out of consciousness with the wave of the pill they had just taken before Jackson discovered them, washing over them.Riding the wave of ecstasy euphoria in a forest was definitely an experience of a lifetime.As they came to a little more, at least come-to enough to know wether or not they were actually on their phone or if in their drug fuelled mind they had imagined it.Taehyung knew just who to call to give them all a ride home. He scrolled through his contacts to the person he knew would always save him at a time like this."Jungkook? Ugh we have a little situation."~ ~ ~"God I never want to experience a comedown like that again," Namjoon groaned, closing his eyes almost to hide himself from the memory of it all."None of us left the apartment for a week." Hoseok added."Sharing a bed in your guy' spare bedroom with Jimin that week was not ideal at all," Taehyung complained."Hey, you weren't a perfect bedmate either. Your nose didn't function properly for weeks after that night, you slept with your mouth open and the snoring that you produced was quite frankly terrifying." Jimin said as a rebuttal."Despite how it was great that night brought us all together, we're now left with the question of wether or not Jackson could've had anything to do with what happened," Jin said, being the first to broach what was sure to be a complicated discussion."I feel like if Jackson was to blame anyone for that night it'd be me and Jin, we were the ones that hospitalised him. If he's going after Hoseok surely he'd go after the everyone else in the room that night too?" Taehyung suggested."Maybe Hoseok was the only face he remembered? We left him in a pretty bad state, maybe all he remembers was seeing Hoseok standing there with his satchel and decided to place all the blame on him." Jin wondered, looking at the rest of the boys to see if anyone agreed."Maybe I'm not the only one he blames but I'm the first one he could get to. What if he's after you guys too, but after failing to take me out the first time he's sending all these threatening messages to warn me about finishing off the job?" All Hoseok could do was throw questions into the universe, there was no way of him truly having any of the answers unless they investigated further."Either way, wether he's coming after Jin, Tae and Jimin next or not, dragging Mina, a girl he doesn't know just because she saved you? A step too far." Namjoon concluded, all of the boys felt a need to protect her from all of this, not just Hoseok."Agreed. If it's Jackson, there's not a chance I'm letting him put his hands on her." Jimin said, making it clear he too had her back."Are we all sure this is in his character though? Think back to the Jackson we all knew, yeah he was a dealer and not always the nicest of guys but come on? An assassination attempt? That's a bit extreme, even for him." Yoongi argued.The group felt like they'd hit a wall. Was this really in Jackson Wang's character? Would he really try to end Hoseok's life after one misunderstood night five years ago? Hoseok took a deep breath and started,"Well we still have two other options to discuss here. So, option two..."
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"Option two- business affairs." Hoseok started, reading off the second potential reason that Jimin had previously written in the board. "God, the fact that option one and two aren't even close to the worst of it all really shows me what kind of a person I am."The boys were still sitting with a hint of tension in the air at the discussion of that tragic run in with Jackson Wang.Hoseok on edge as he thought of the mistakes he made that had brought him and his friends to this position.Taehyung and Jin sitting with their arms tightly crossed across their bodies in a guarded manner, as though subconsciously protecting themselves from any judgement procured from their involvement in the events of that night.They all just wanted to get to the bottom of this. Between the seven of them, one of them were bound to know the reason as to why this happened, they don't know they know it, but somewhere there's a connection.Hoseok hated that he had multiple reasons that someone decided to shoot him. If he were a normal guy, a genuinely nice guy through and through, he'd have zero.But after years of miscalculated decisions and bad judgment on numerous occasions, it's brought him to this point. The point of no return.Now life was a ticking time bomb, constantly ticking in the back of his mind knowing that any second it could come to an end.If only he had made better choices, if only he would've cared about people more, if only he hadn't of made so many enemies.So many hypothetical situations, questions of cause and effect running through his mind. If he hadn't of done this particular thing, would this certain thing still of happened?A very complicated example of the butterfly effect. Each decision he has made in his life has brought him to face certain peril- with Mina.Hoseok had made one too many horrible life choices, and now it was catching up to him."Now I see why you didn't want Mina here," Seokjin commented."There's no successful business out there that hasn't been built on some level of shady deals and taking advantage of smaller companies." Namjoon said, trying to defend Hoseok's actions in that meeting just nine months ago.He was right, you can't become a millionaire without taking advantage of other people's weaknesses.Someone's bound to get hurt on your climb to the top.Mina thought Hoseok was of one hundred percent sound moral character, him and the boys knew him to be far from it at the worst of times.He tried to be a good person, he wanted to be, and most of the time he was.He donated a fair sum of money to charity every year, helped out his community where he could, he was typically a respectable man- but when it came down to his business?He was willing to do anything to help them get to where they needed to be.He made a promise to Namjoon and Jin the day they started this venture together, and he's stuck to it."But did I take it a step too far that day?"
Nine months ago
"So, you've discussed our offer. What do you think?" Kim Namjoon asked the CEO of the smaller company standing across from him.Namjoon, Hoseok and Seokjin were all standing around the meeting table, serious looks painted on each of their faces, a completely serious demeanour fell over each of them the second they stepped into this room.On the fortieth floor of the skyscraper that overlooked the city of Seoul, Jin stood with his arms crossed looking out the glass window that spanned the entire wall.The city sounded silent from up here, an unusual calm blanketing the usually loud and busy city.It was a grey, dreary day outside. Clouds hoovered over the skyscrapers and sat plump and full, ready to burst and let a downfall of rain fall over Seoul any second.While deep in his thoughts, but also making sure to show a confident, unbothered manner, Seokjin slipped his hands into his expensive, black suit pockets and turned to face the young man who stood still flipping through the documents to handed to him."So you're interesting in buying outright? Not just a percentage?" The other CEO asked the three men standing guardedly across from him."That is correct," Hoseok confirmed."I know we've touched on this briefly before, but why did you approach us? Why are you so interested in buying us?"The three men paused for a moment as thought they were all deep in thought, deciding the best thing to say, before each of them looked at each other snd began to speak."We have a vision for our business." Hoseok started."A very very strong and well thought out vision." Namjoon continued."Each business we buy, each company expansion helps us get closer to reaching that goal. And we will get there, buying your business out is nothing but a small stepping stone." Seokjin finished, perfectly wrapping up what Hoseok and Namjoon were thinking.Seemingly still not fully convinced, the other young CEO and his team stood quietly, pondering in silence, internally debating wether or not they truly wanted to do this."Your business seems to have a lot of growth potential. I believe with the backing of a company like us, it'll have an even better chance to achieving its full potential and thus also helping serve our goal." Hoseok said, in an attempt to pull the sellers back into this deal, they were going astray and Hoseok needed them to be in on this.He really needed them to accept this offer without question.Preferably he wouldn't have to pull a few tricks out of his sleeve but he had one.If they decline this offer and try to leave without giving it a second thought, Hoseok was going to give them something to think about.He just hoped it didn't have to get to that point."We've thought a lot about this, discussed it all as a team at multiple points over the last few weeks," the seller started, Namjoon, Hoseok and Jin all stood calmly but hanging onto every word the man said. "I just don't think it's right for our business."And inwardly Hoseok felt his heart collapse, this was not the news any of them were hoping for, obviously.They wanted this, sure they didn't need it, they were a strong company with or without this sale, but it sure was a blow.But this still wasn't the end."I don't see how it could benefit us. We're very happy with how we're doing right now and as much as we appreciate the offer, I'm unfortunately going to have to end the discussions here. I'm very sorry.""No, I'm sorry." Hoseok muttered under his breath."Sorry, what was that?" The seller said as he was packing up the documents and placing them in his briefcase."You're the sole CEO of your business, correct?" Hoseok asked.Namjoon and Seokin exchanged a quick look between each other, unsure of what other stops Hoseok could possibly pull out."That'd be correct," he nodded"Let's talk for a second, just me and you, CEO to CEO."At this point Namjoon spoke up, as the other CEO of Bangtan Security, "Should I also be present for this, Hoseok?" Raising an eyebrow, now even further confused as to what he could possibly be doing.Everyone in the room was visibly confused, none of them knew what to expect from this last proposal.What could Hoseok possibly have to say alone that he doesn't want to say in front of everyone else?"Come on guys, clear out for a second, I just want to add one final thing."The other company's team looked at their CEO, confused as to wether or not they should comply.With a nod of his head, in agreement with Hoseok's request, they exited the room and held the door as they waited for Seokjin and Namjoon to follow."You sure about this, boss?" Seokjin queried, not doubting his friend's abilities, but ever so slightly confused of his motives."Indeed, Jin. We won't be long, this'll just take a moment." Hoseok said with a smile, giving Namjoon and Jin the okay to leave."So, what's so important you couldn't of said in front of our teams? Once again, as much as we truly appreciate the offer I don't think there's much else to discuss, we're not for sale-" Hoseok cut the man off, with words he truly didn't want to say but it was all he had left."I know.""Pardon?" The seller stood confused and taken aback by Hoseok's cryptic two word sentence."Don't make me say it dude, I know." With Hoseok dropping the business formalities and now speaking so casually, the other CEO was truly bewildered."I ugh, think it's time we end this. Good day, Jung Hoseok." He said, stuttering as he picked up his briefcase and walked toward the door."I know about the your affair, Sehun." He stopped dead in his tracks.Those were words the man did not expect to hear today."I know you're cheating on your wife with your secretary."Hoseok didn't take pride in revealing his knowledge of this information, he knew it made him an asshole, but right now he didn't care.His company came first, always. He didn't mind being the asshole if they succeeded."I don't know what you're talking about."Playing dumb? God, this was going to be difficult."Yes you do, Sehun. You've been having an affair with your secretary for two years. The typical story business-men tell their stay at home wives, telling her you're working late at the office, gotta put in overtime. But instead you're at your secretary's house fucking her senseless while your poor wife lays in bed waiting for her loving husband to come home and hold her."Hoseok was playing dirty now. The more he spoke the more he felt it.It was almost like a game he was playing, getting in character as best he can to try and intimidate tho other character.And he was doing it well."God damn it, who told you this?" Sehun said, throwing his briefcase to the table in defeat."It doesn't matter how I found out. All that matters is I know.""Do the other guys know?""No, just me.""Good, keep it that way," he scoffed, annoyed he had found himself in such a mess."It depends on how the rest of this discussion goes. It may not just be my men that find out.""What do you mean by that?""Ahh, Sehun. You really have screwed yourself over here by screwing your secretary instead of your wife. All you had to do was stay loyal, that was it. That's the promise you made to her the day you married her and how hard is it really to keep it in your pants? I'm disappointed, I truly thought you were a good guy when we first met and first starting discussing all of this."Hoseok spoke like a disappointed father, an air of authority surrounding him and making him seem in charge of the situation. Well, with the information he just revealed he was in charge."What do you want, huh? Money? I'll see what I can come up with but you have to give me time, a few days at most." Sehun begged, starting to get desperate."You know what I want."It took a moment to settle in, but then it did and a look of realisation and pain fell over Sehun's face."No." He shook his head."Yes, Sehun. I'm sorry it had to be this way but you gave me no choice." He started, a maniacal smile starting to play on his lips.He was getting into character and enjoying this a little too much."We want your business. We want to buy your business. And you are going to sell to us. Without any further questions, no further back and forth. We'll get the papers to you, you'll sign them and the business is ours. Deal?""God you filthy bastard." Sehun shook his head and ran his hands through his hair whilst pacing back and forth before stopping and saying, "And what if I say no?""I post an article online, and in the papers, and make sure it even hits the news- 'Oh Sehun, owner of Ex-Oh Security has a dirty, two year affair with his business's secretary.' The city will be shocked.""Where's your proof, huh? Who's going to believe you?"Without hesitation Hoseok picked up his own briefcase and riffled through it to pick up 3 photos.One was Sehun sitting in a car kissing a woman who was so obviously not his wife, a blonde haired woman while his wife had dark hair.The second being him at the door of a house that was not his own, flowers in hand, kissing the same blonde haired woman who was not his wife.And the third was taken by his own security cameras in his office, it was the two hidden in the elevator of the building, embraced in a very passionate looking kiss.Sehun's head dropped into his hands, he knew it was over, he had no other way out of this."It's just how the game is played, my friend. I'm truly sorry it had to happen like this but I told you I was willing to do anything to make my company's vision come to life, and this falls under anything I'm afraid.""What am I supposed to tell my men? I had a sudden change of heart? I'm feeling nice and decided you deserve to buy our livelihood?""It's not up to me what you tell them, that's your decision. You can make up whatever lie you want, whatever works for you. Just as long as they know there's no question about this, convince them to do this, convince them that they too want this.""Jesus you are one crooked bastard.""Maybe. But at the end of the day whose company is going to be at the top, and who's going to be left in the dust? Without us, your business would be left in the dust, swept away like it was nothing. You need us."He had nothing else to say. No more arguments he wanted to try and make, no more pleads for mercy, he knew it was over.Sehun knew he deserved this, he was an awful man for doing what he's done, but his wife could never know about this. The world could never know about this.If this affair gets revealed he loses all credibility and nobody trusts him to run the business anyway, he'd well and truly lose everything if Hoseok did him that dirty.So selling was his only option.Just as he was walking out to meet his team and reveal his sudden change of heart in their business's destiny, Hoseok called out one final reveal."And tell your secretary I said good luck at the baby's first sonogram!"~ ~ ~"I wish I could've seen the look on the rat's face when you told him," Taehyung laughed excitedly. He took pleasure in seeing bad men go down, and he certainly didn't see Hoseok as one for his actions that day."He deserved that and more, you did nothing wrong, boss." Jungkook tried to console Hoseok, but he was still disappointed in himself for letting it get that far."Maybe not to you guys, not to us because look at where we are now, but to Sehun? That was a harsh blow. I threaten to ruin his life, he takes mine. Seems like a fair deal in some odd, twisted way.""Yeah I guess in some weird, twisted, murderous way it makes sense but it doesn't make it okay. If it's Sehun he has to pay for what he's tried to do and we have to make sure he doesn't try again and succeed. You have to remember, it's not just you at risk Hoseok, it's her too. I know all of these situations bring back really bad memories but we need to talk about it all, we have to figure this out." Taehyung said in response to Hoseok's point.Sure when it all comes down to it, it doesn't make sense, killing Hoseok isn't retribution for what he did in that meeting but could it of been Sehun's way of getting his revenge? Potentially.Could it of been Jackson's way of finally taking something from Hoseok because of the night Hoseok took something from him? Take my drugs, I take your life?To most people those two things don't entirely correlate. Taking someone's life is not justice for anything they could've possibly done.But in this world, in the life Hoseok lives, it doesn't matter how small what you've done seems to everyone else, you have to pay.And your life is the highest price you can pay, these people were going to make sure the debt is paid."Realistically though, I still have those pictures of Sehun and his mistress. It's been nine months, his mistress has had the baby by now, if his wife doesn't already know about the affair, he knows I can still bring him down with those photos why would he risk that?""These are the sort of things we need to look into further. See if Jackson's still hanging around our old stomping grounds and what state he's in nowadays. Check up on Sehun, see if he's still making late night trips to wifey number two and then connect the dots from there." Jimin started, before lowering his voice to an even more serious tone than he'd already started in."But there's still one more potential reason on the board." He continued."No!" Hoseok quickly interjected with a sense of urgency, like he couldn't even think about the last option that was written. "We don't go there yet.""Hoseok it's a valid point. Quite possibly the most likely reason there. You know it, I know it, we all know it." Namjoon reasoned."I know it's a hard one to talk about but you're going to have to face it at some point." Taehyung followed, trying his best to calm Hoseok."None of us here have any room to judge for this, we all play a part but it is something that has to be considered." Yoongi stated."Guys please, right now, no. Anything but that one. We don't go there until we're out of options, I'm not ready for it. We explore our other options first and then if our attempts are futile, then and only then do we even begin to discuss this one, alright?"The boys all let out a sigh and sat moving uncomfortably in their seats or awkwardly shifting their weight from one foot to the other before settling into a sea of silence.They all understand why Hoseok couldn't talk about this. It was his worst memory. The worst thing he's ever done.Which is exactly why it's the most plausible reason as to why this was all happening. But as much as the other boys wanted to explore this option the most, in respect for Hoseok, they wouldn't. Not until he was ready.All they could do was keep their guards up, protect Mina and Hoseok as best they could and make sure they find the assailants before they find either of them.Despite the fact that they already have.Everyone in this room knew Mins and Hoseok were in inescapable danger. There was no running from this, they're in far too deep now."So how much of this are you going to tell Mina?" Jungkook asked."You have to tell her something." Jimin pointed out, "she deserves to know at least something, you can't keep her in the dark on this.""I don't plan on it. But I don't really know where to start. Do I tell her about Jackson and Sehun? Do I only tell her about one? Do I wait until we've investigated them both a little further before even saying anything? God, she's going to hate me. She'll never understand and I wouldn't blame her!" Hoseok cried out, throwing his head into his hands in fear of his worries really being true.Would she hate him for decisions of his past? Would she walk out the door and never look back once she realised the kind of person he really was?Mina don't know almost as much about Hoseok as she thought she did, and this stuff was only the tip of the ice berg."Whatever I tell her," Hoseok began standing up and walking over to the whiteboard, "we don't tell her about this."He wiped the third option off the board, erasing it from existence as though it never happened, because he liked to convince himself it hadn't. As long as he didn't have to think about it, it never happened."Understood?"Without argument the other boys nodded their head. They could argue back and forth all night that she deserved to know at least something, but not this.They all understood why Hoseok wanted to keep this one thing from her and they weren't going to press the issue any further."At the end of the day, this concerns Mina a lot more than it concerns us right now. You bring her down here and you explain what's written on that board. If she understands then that's great, we can all start investigating together and if not? Well we cross that bridge when we come to it." Jimin asserted. He was going to make sure Mina was involved in this, she deserved to know."Explain what?" A small, soft spoke voice says from the tall, open glass doors of Hoseok's at home meeting room.There Mina stood in the doorway, hair thrown messily into a bun, wearing a slightly oversized t shirt and sweats that belonged to Hoseok, rubbing her eyes as she stood yawning waiting for an answer."What is it you wanted to tell me, Hoseok?"
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Hoseok
After one long, agonising conversation, I'd finally decided what to tell Mina and how much. How much she deserved to know and what I should maybe hold back on.How much could she handle? Would too much all at once overwhelm her and send her sprinting out my office doors, refusing to even hear me speak another word?I still don't know how much I can trust her. I'm not sure how much I want to trust her.It sounds insane to say I'm struggling to trust a girl who saved my life, but trust has so many layers.I trust her with my life, I know she'd do anything to save me, but with my secrets? With the knowledge of the worst things I've ever done?I don't know how much I can trust her with that. I've never been big on trust. How can I be when I'm constantly used for my wealth and connections and what I can do for people, not how I can be there for them.I've built a vault around myself and I don't know how to get myself out at this point.It's like no matter how much I want to leave this safe place I've built for myself, I'm stuck, bolted inside and the only way out is for someone else to help me out.Someone else I trust enough to give the entry code to. God, I wish I could find it within me to have it be her but every part of me argued against it.My body burns and aches at the thought of trusting someone else with the parts of myself that I hate.I never want Mina to feel like I don't care about her or our friendship because I've put too much of a distance between us just because I don't know how to trust her with who I truly am.I don't want her to feel pushed away or like a burden because I don't know how much to open up to people.It's not fair on her, if circumstances hadn't been like they were I wouldn't of welcomed her into my life with such open arms.Maybe we would've met in passing, pushing through a crowd of people in the busy city.She bumps into me rushing through on her way to work.Our eyes meet momentarily, she apologises and give a quick bow before scurrying in the other direction.I'd mutter a few choices words and continue on with my day.That could've been our one brief meeting in life and it could've ended there. I'd of pushed her away as you tripped into me and place her hands on my chest to balance herself.Pushed her straight out of my life just like I've done with everyone else who's tried to enter it so suddenly. It never works.The only people I needed around me were my family and friends- my friends now basically my family.Until I met Mina. In the way we did- it mattered. Everything happens for a reason and us meeting had to happen this way for our friendship to blossom into what it's become.She's a bright shining light of inspiration and beauty. And i'm nothing but a very bad cook, at least I make her laugh.We've found something special here in our connection, platonically or romantically or just in between- I think I need her in my life.A guardian angel, she didn't fall from Heaven like you was trash, not wanted anymore, thrown from the sky and hitting the earth with a thud.She was placed carefully into my life by God himself, delicate placement during a very crucial moment.She's a soft spoken angel whose loyalty knows no bounds. All she's missing is the wings.I'm so afraid of her losing her misplaced trust in me if I tell her too much. But I still don't know how to trust her the same way she trusted me.I wish I could, I really really wish I could, but I'm just not there yet, I don't know if I'll ever be.But Jimin was right, she does deserve to know at least something, so I started with Jackson.I told her about my past and what I used to be like, the crowd I used to run with and the things we used to do.I explained how that night progressed and what ended up happening. I made sure Jin and Taehyung would be okay with me telling her their part at the end of the night because they're not proud of their actions either but they agreed she had to know.And then I revealed how our business has got to where it is today, it's not always boring meetings and the like. Sometimes there is corruption and evil doings and I'm not always the great guy she thought I was.I told her how that meeting with Oh Sehun went and made sure she knew that the blackmailing was purely my idea, it had nothing to do with the boys.I had my team carry out research on Sehun and hired a private investigator to keep an eye on him. I was worried the meeting wouldn't go our way, I needed a backup plan.But I had to make sure her opinion of them wasn't tarnished through this, these were my battles, not theirs.I was the ring leader through it all, I take the blame and I take the heat for it all.I'm not proud of any of my actions, I wish I could be that perfect guy she thought I was but I'm not and I don't think I ever will be.I think it's for the best she knew that now and decided wether she wanted to stay or run far away from me for good."So you guys just left Jackson there? After beating him senseless? After an all night long drug binge?" Mina asked me, a slight look of shock and disbelief painted on her face.Also potentially a hint of betrayal. Like this sudden revelation of my true character was a betrayal to her.I'd constructed a character that I showed her and kept the real me hidden from her."Yeah, we left him there," I sighed, looking down to my hands as I fiddled with the rings on my fingers, anything so I didn't have to look in her eyes and see how disappointed she was."Yoongi was the owner of that house though, right? Why would he become friends with you after that?""He was already friends with Tae and Jimin, he had their back no matter what so I guess in turn that automatically meant he had ours. Our name was kept out of it, Jackson didn't dare tell police because then he'd have to admit he was a dealer and no one that went to that party had the balls to snitch on the five guys they saw running out of the room we left him in.""So you got away with it then? No repercussions whatsoever? Well, until now potentially." She said, running her hands through her hair as though she was trying to make sense of all of this.Trying to make sense of the man in front of her and who he really is.People show you want they want you to see. You'll never really know the real them, you'll just see a diluted version and the rest will be hidden unless they want you to see it.I guess she was trying to come to terms with the fact that I didn't trust her enough to see it."We got away with it. After that night we strayed away from our college friends and stuck to each other, we never saw the people at that party again for them to question us over it anyway. We moved away and haven't seen him since either.""You don't know where Jackson is today?" She asked, sitting on the edge of the couch, body tense, hands clasped together on her lap as she held onto my every word, still trying to piece it all together."I've sort of kept tabs on him, every few months or so I'd check in to see where he was. But the month before the shooting I had no intel. He could've been in Seoul, maybe not, I wouldn't know. Namjoon's going to start on investigating him in work tomorrow and we'll go from there." I say, still finding it hard to look at her at all.While I looked down at my hands, ashamed and withdrawn, as though looking away from her was the only way for me to find the strength to reveal to her my greatest secrets, she kept a watchful eye on me.I refused to look at her but I can see it, out of the corner of my eye, she won't take hers off me. Her eyes searing holes into my skin, a burning desire to take a look inside me at who I truly am.Her confidence intrigues me. She didn't shy away from the horror tales I'm sharing with her, she sat on the edge of her seat, begging for more.She didn't get scared at the mention of violent outbursts and lawless corruption. She sat, poised and collected, eyes focused intently on me, and it's almost like the air around her hisses 'tell me more'.But for once in my life, even through the countless meetings I've been through where hot-headed men have yelled harsh profanities at me and lunged over the glass table between us, threatening my life because a deal didn't go their way, despite standing my ground with bravery and determination then...Here, with Mina, I feel timid and small. I don't want to face her, smug and gleaming with pride, trying to tower over her and prove that I am the strong one in this room.In this room with her, I let her see the shame that I'm drowning in, the perils of my mind, admit to another human being that I'm not the stoic, cold man I hold myself to be outside of these apartment walls.For the first time in my life I open up to someone, other than the boys, about my biggest regrets.Thought I admit this is something I would never ordinarily do, if we weren't forced into it, no one would ever know about these events.Even someday if I get married, when this is all said and done and we figure out who did this, make them pay and sweep it all under the rug like nothing ever happened, my future wife will never even know of these events.Even someone I'm supposed to swear my life to, someone who is supposed to join me as one and be with me through thick and thin, even they will never know.There's no need for it to be discussed unless it's life or death, and this is. This is the only reason I'm telling her."And you really think Sehun would just sit around and brood for nine months before taking action? You think it could be him?""I kept my eye on him for a while too, he went to his mistresses' house less and less, after two months he stopped completely. I figured he'd finally either told his wife and she was weak enough to stay with him, or he left the side piece and pretended it never happened. I haven't checked up on him in a while, Jin's gonna get started on that in the office tomorrow." I clarify, suddenly the guilt is almost lifted off my shoulders now that I've finally admitted part of it all to someone."So you guys actually acquired his company after that? Without anymore bumps in the road?""Smooth sailing after that." I confirm.She didn't seem to shy away from the details of the meeting with Sehun too much, almost as though she shared Taehyung's point of view that I didn't do much wrong in that meeting."Well I for one think he deserved it," and she confirmed my thoughts."You'd make number two, Taehyung thinks so too." I let out a light laugh, I didn't want to bring too much laughter to the discussion but I can't help but chuckle at her response.She had genuinely taken this in a lot better than I thought she would. I assumed she would've cowered away in fear and disgust in response to the man she thought she knew, spilling his worst life doings to her.Even with how well she took it, I can still accept it as one of the worst things I've ever done.The corruption and deceit shines through my character like the light behind the colourful glass panes of a Church window.Others may argue he deserved it, but morally it was still wrong. I forced Sehun's hand to get the cards I wanted, so that I could win the game even though I knew he had no chance of winning from the start.It was messed up but I don't care, that's where the problem lies.I understand it's wrong, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't do it again. Anything for the company.The day we started Bangtan Security, I made a promise to those boys, I vowed to them that this business comes before all else.No matter what it costs, whatever sacrifice it takes, the vision we have for our future is more important than anything else, more important than anyone else.That's why we don't hire just anyone, it's a very stringent, vetted hiring process and every person that enters those office doors to work has to share that same mindset.I know it seems harsh, probably seems unnecessary to most, but it's worth it when you come to be Korea's leading security firm, soon to be the world's number one.We worked so hard for this and we're not going to let lazy workers, or people who don't understand how important this all is, ruin our vision.We're on a fast track road to the top and I was not going to let my shame or disappointment in my own moral character stop us from reaching it.Almost as though she was reading my mind she came off with, "don't you feel guilty about it all? About any of it?"I don't know how to answer truthfully. I don't think I want to, so I give her a half-truth and quickly change the subject."No point feeling guilty over something that can't be changed. Anyway, you needed to know all of this information, my life isn't the only one at risk now and since it was your idea not to tell the police, I'm going to need you by my side helping me figure this out, okay?"For the first time in this conversation Mina's eyes wondered away from me and to the fireplace in front of her, watching the flames dance about, casting a warm orange glow on the floor in front it.It decorated her face with autumn hues, a warm orange and a deep red, her face warmed with a natural photo filter.The shadows the flames have caused dance around the dark room and cause the lighting to bounce back and forth, ever changing the way I see her face.In all its natural beauty, even after spending most of the evening napping she still managed to walk out here and look the way she does.Finally able to look at her without fear of her catching my eyes and pulling me into a hold of judgement and disgust, I watch her intently this time.She sat in silence for a moment, I could see the thoughts running through her mind, micro expressions falling over her face and quickly changing into another as she grappled with her feelings.She toyed with the Pandora charm bracelet on her wrist, like she was trying to draw strength from each little charm that swings from the bracelet.She dropped the charms and pulled the thick, fluffy blanket over her shoulders, probably feeling the chill of the cold March evening, then sit cross-legged on the couch and finally look back over to me."I'd be a hypocrite if I ran from you after hearing all of this, I'm not an angel either, Hoseok. I've made my fair share of questionable decisions, I'm not going to be the one to judge for your past, that's not my place." She started, in a confident, assured tone, she truly did take this better than I could've ever expected. "I think we started this friendship off on the wrong foot, thinking of each other as perfect angels that could do no wrong, when both of us know that to be untrue about ourselves. It set us off on a lie and I don't like that, so from here on out, if we're going to be a team on this, we have to get a better grip on honesty and good communication- as hard as that may be. Agree?"I nod, and threw her a smile, "I agree."Already going against the one thing she asked of me, but I can't give her complete, one-hundred percent honesty. Not yet, maybe not ever, I know it's not fair to lie but what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her."I've told you my deepest, darkest secrets- when do I find out yours?" I say with a devious grin and a slight eyebrow raise."Whenever the time is right, pretty eyes."Her word choice sent chills down my spine; the eyes are the windows to the soul, one peek and I won't be able to hide anything from her, I can't let that happen.
Mina
I took Hoseok up on his offer of moving into his apartment, his penthouse apartment.Now living in a luxurious, million dollar, penthouse apartment overlooking the expensive looking skyline of Seoul.I didn't know how long it was going to last but I had all the boys breathing down my neck about moving in, how they could best protect me from here, how Hoseok and I were safer in one place rather than two.And they were all right, it was just an odd change. After all, I'd only known Hoseok for just over a month and now I was living with him?It scared me a little but this wasn't exactly a normal situation, none of this was even in the realm of normal so I decided to try and question things less and just go with the flow.Go with where the wind took me, and now this was where I'd ended up.I had yet to explain any of what was going on to my best friends, Jennie and Lisa.I wasn't sure how much I could explain. I couldn't tell them everything, but I had to tell them enough for this all to make sense.If I told them after a month of knowing him I had out of the blue decided to move in with the boy I 'saved' from dying, they'd think I was insane.None of this made sense to me never mind them with how little detail I was able to give them.We were all planning on moving in together, how do I tell them that our plans were now on hold indefinitely?This was all such a disaster, the stress was piling up more and more as the days went by and it was beginning to feel like I had no one to talk to.I couldn't talk to my friends about it all because I couldn't tell them anything I'm scared about without telling them too much and who else did that leave? Hoseok?Could I talk to him about this kind of thing? I felt some sort of duty of care to him through out all of this, I was like an at-home nurse that helped his recovery but that's all it really felt like sometimes.I knew how to make him feel better, I've spent the last month doing just that but when I began feeling suffocated, would he be able to help me?Would he want to help me? Was it even fair of me to ask that of him, to ask him to be the one to quell my fears when he was facing it too?I didn't know the answer to any of these questions, all I knew was I was scared and alone and yet, that's the way it's always been.I had began to get used to getting through things by myself, though I knew you had my friends when I needed them, I wasn't a stranger to pulling myself out of the depths of my despair.I wanted so badly to run to my friends but I knew I couldn't, I questioned wether or not I could go to Hoseok but once it comes down to it all I only really have myself at the end of the day.Maybe Hoseok would be there for me, maybe he wouldn't, but I wasn't going to poise the question anytime soon.I've got this. The only support I need is my own and as long as I could see my reflection in the mirror, then I'll be the one to be there for myself.And tonight, I looked at my reflection in the large glass window that spans an entire wall of the bedroom Hoseok has situated me in.The rain pitter-pattered against the windows from the top floor and it's almost like it's louder from up here. Up here so close to the horizon, everything feels so much more intense.With it being 11pm, the sky was pitch black, though it's been that way all day with grey clouds filling the sky, warning the citizens below of an impending storm which has now arrived and unleashed itself.My eyes draw focus back and forth, from the foregrounds looking at your own reflection and the raindrops decorating it on the glass outside, to the background where Seoul lies.The city still bright with billboards and skyscrapers that shine like a glow stick in the sky, cars that dare take the roads at this time of night and yet- I couldn't hear any of it.Not this high up, it was like none of it mattered. Like this penthouse, on the top floor of one of the city's tallest apartment blocks, was truly the top of the world where you could climb no higher.It puts you on a pedestal above everyone else, making those below you mere peasants beneath your feet.Of course I didn't feel that way, but I could see how others could let the power balance get to their head.Honestly though maybe it wasn't the view that made those people the way they are, a view doesn't change you, you are who you are on the top floor or bottom.But those who can afford to live on the top floors already move in with bad character, they're already awful people to start, the view just reaffirms their thoughts that everyone else is below them and this is their world for you to serve them.Reminding me how wrong about Hoseok's character I was. It was unfair of me to assume he was as perfect as my brain had wanted to believe, after all I knew I wasn't.Hoseok saw the heroic, selfless, compassion side of me. There was much more than that underneath the surface.After my discussion with him today about his questionable life choices it led me to think about mine and the life events that have made me who I am.I told Hoseok I'd tell him my secrets in due time, but would there ever come a time where I could trust him enough to tell him?Not even my journal knows about this, nor any friends or family members, so how could I possibly find it within myself to tell him?The more I sat and pondered, the more I realised that Hoseok and I did really start off on a lie.I suppose it's easy to believe people are perfect, moral-upholding citizens when you barely know them, when your relationship has barely scratched the surface of acquaintances.I had skeletons in my closet that I wasn't willing to reveal to him and I was almost certain he had some extra ones hidden away from me that he hadn't revealed yet.Even looking down and away from me, I could see it in his eyes, when he was telling me everything that happened and the potential reasons for this situation we found ourselves in, he was hiding something more.Not just the Jackson situation, not just the meeting with Sehun, there was something more.The look in his eyes, that look of glazed over, empty nothingness as though he was doing everything he could to keep one last thing from me.I could see it on his face, every sentence he dared to speak he was afraid he'd spill too much.He kept his eyes averted from my direction, he wouldn't give me a chance to hold eye contact with him because he knew if he did, I'd end up knowing far too much.I could tell we were both keeping things from each other, I just wondered if either of us would ever be able to open up enough to reveal the worst parts of ourselves.
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Mina
"So tell me again, I need to hear this twice, why is it you've decided to move in with this man after a month of knowing him?" Mina's best friend, Lisa yelled at her.She braced herself to once again tell Lisa and Jennie why she had to make this decision, because she knew she had to, there were no alternatives but there was still no way she could tell them without potentially endangering them too.She'd been sitting in Jennie's apartment for over an hour, trying to explain to them why she's made this sudden decision, neither of them understood which was perfectly understandable.This was a confusing situation to everyone, including those involved. Mina didn't know how to navigate any of this and keeping her friends updated when she had to conceal so much vital information wasn't easy either.She never thought you'd be living the life of a main character but here she was, living such a life as though there's cameras on her at all times, every moment of her life dramatised and nail biting enough to keep an audience coming back for more.She was improvising every word that came out of her mouth as she spoke to her friends, trying not to trip up and tell them one detail too many."Like I said, Hoseok's recovery is taking longer than we expected, I've been helping him around at home and considering I spend so much time there we figured maybe I just move in for a little to help out more." She lied through your teeth."He's a big boy, you said him and his six other friends seem very close, why can't they help him?" Jennie asked, just as confused as Lisa."His friends have been helping, we all have. It's complicated guys, I genuinely don't know how to explain it, I just feel like I have to do this."This much was true, she has been helping Hoseok out so much because she felt like she had to.Their paths crossed in such a way that this all must mean something, it wouldn't feel right to just walk away from him after 'saving' him."What's so complicated about it? You don't have to do anything for this guy, Mina. He's a stranger, you know nothing about him!" Lisa said with a warning tone in her voice, sounding a lot more bothered than Jennie but Mina knew it was only because she was worried about her."I know I don't have to, trust me he's never asked me to but I'd feel weird walking away after the way we met. I know I don't know a whole lot about him but the things I do know intrigue me, I want to get to know him more." Mina retorted, trying her best to get them on her side, her friends opinions were important to her and she needed them to be on her side for this."Why can't you get to know him from the apartment we're supposed to be moving into together? I thought you were excited about this, why get in the way of our plans for a boy?" Lisa queried again."I know, I feel awful about it guys but I feel like he needs my support right now. Please try and understand where I'm coming from, this means a lot to me but so do you guys.""This means a lot to you or he means a lot to you?" Jennie says with a slight smirk and an eyebrow raise in your direction."What's that supposed to mean?" Mina said in a slightly higher pitched voice as she was clearly taken aback by what Jennie was hinting at.Mina knew what she meant, but just to clarify, she had to ask."Oh come on, there has to be more going on than just helping around the mystery man with a boo boo. I've googled him, he's hot. Like- seriously hot. Anything you want to tell us?" Jennie joked.Mina could tell she was just trying to lighten the mood after Lisa jumped down her throat for her poor decision making.She appreciated them both all the more for it. Lisa was only coming from a place of love, she'd have done the same if she was in Lisa's shoes and she came to Mina withholding one key piece of information."So that's why you're abandoning us- you've finally got yourself a boyfriend." Lisa said, a smile now creeping over her face. "The fact that we can google search him and get millions of results says enough. You're dating a millionaire?""No, guys no! Definitely not, Hoseok is not my boyfriend, we're just friends. I care about him a lot but we're just friends, that's all.""Mhmm I don't believe it for a second." Lisa smiled, the anger finally leaving her body and amusement taking over.If letting her believe there was something going on between Mina and Hoseok was the way to get her to go along with this then maybe that's what she should do."I will admit, he is very very pretty, no one can deny that. We get along pretty well, he's an interesting guy. Moving in with him means I get to learn more about him." None of that was a lie, she had to give in to Jennie's conspiracies just a little and pretend there was more going on than there was."So what about our plans to move in together then? We've been wanting to live together since we were little girls, planned out the interior design for each and every room to suit all of us best. Homey but chic, not too minimalist but definitely not too much clutter, can't end up on an episode of hoarders." Lisa giggled, starting to get slightly emotional."Come on Li, no need to get emotional. I promise you it's not going to be for long, it's not permanent. We are going to move in together and have the house of our dreams and everything will be perfect, I swear. I just have to do this for a little while, okay?" Mina moved closer to her on the couch and pulled her into a hug."I get it Mina, it's okay. We haven't even found the perfect place yet, we can keep looking until you're ready and then when we find it we know it'll be the right time. You do what you gotta do, I trust you." Jennie smiled, moving closer to her and enveloping the three of them in a hug so that Mina was squished in the middle of her and Lisa."Okay, as long as you promise this isn't for long." Lisa said pulling away and looking into her eyes.She couldn't lie to her, sitting here looking into her eyes, she couldn't. But she also couldn't predict how this was going to go, how long it would take her, Hoseok and his friends to solve this.But for the sake of Mina and her friends, she was going to do everything in her power to help Hoseok and make sure this didn't last for long.She had to. She couldn't be away from her friends forever. No matter what it took, no matter what secrets she had to pry from Hoseok's hands, she was going to solve this and keep her promise."I promise.""Then I trust you too, for whatever crazy reason you're really moving in with this guy, I trust you. But if he starts to turn into a creep you let me know and I'll be straight over to his penthouse suite to kick his ass, got it?" She joked, raising her eyebrows waiting for Mina to confirm."Got it sister." She nodded with a smile."Are we ever going to get to meet him?" Jennie asked."I don't know-" she stared, but was cut off by her text tone.She shuffled around the couch looking for her phone and found it behind one of the pillows, picking it up she realised the text was from Hoseok."Speak of the devil." She teased.' Hope I'm not interrupting your plans, kinda getting bored at home without you, all alone since the boys are all at work. I was just wondering if you wanted to go out for dinner at around 6, I wanted to talk over our plans for how we're going to go about this all. I've already booked a table so if you can't go I don't mind going alone. But just let me know what you think :) 'Unbeknownst to her, Lisa and Jennie were reading the text and startled her out of her daze with a chorus of,"Aww, how cute!" They both said."He likes you." Lisa sang in tune, dragging out the end of the word you."He's asking you out for dinner, as in a date? But what does he mean 'go about this'?" Jennie puzzled.Mina could feel the blush on her cheeks. "No, not a date. Just dinner, he's obviously hungry, the idiot can't cook and he's home alone. I think he just means me living with him, our at home physical therapy plans and that sort of thing." She lied.She hated lying to them so much but this was for their own good, for their own protection. They couldn't know the real reason for all of this, not if she wanted to keep them safe."It's definitely a date, he even basically said he misses you." Lisa contended."He misses having someone wait on hand and foot for him, I told you this is why he asked me tomove in." She laughed."You can't leave him alone, imagine how lonely he'd be," Lisa said with a frown.She was right. Just the image in her head of Hoseok sitting alone at a table sort of pulled on her heart strings a little, looking like a man that had been stood up by some undeserving woman. She couldn't do that to him.She was just glad neither of them questioned her any further on the reason for dinner, what he wanted to talk to her about.She'd told them as much as you could, she managed to explain her strange decision away in a reasonable manner and they believed her.Her lies have kept them safe- for now.As long as they never ask any further questions they'll be safe from harm, she was never going to let this touch the most important people in her life.Keeping things from them killed her inside, for as long as she'd known them the three of them had never kept secrets from each other but none of them had ever faced death himself until now and he seems to make honesty quite hard.So with a heavy heart and a feeling of loneliness in her chest everywhere you went, she kept them safe from her life's tragedies and carried on as if nothing was happening.She wasn't sure if she was jealous that Hoseok's friends got to be in the know of the situation or not.Mina knew Hoseok was worried about the safety of his friends and she was too to be quite honest.Not only had she grown close to Hoseok but to his friends too, she'd hate to see anything happen to them.So far the threats had been directed at Mina and Hoseok, they were safe for now but if the people who are after them both realised that his friends were snooping, would that endanger them too?The thought scared her and she felt an ache in her chest as the anxiety started to buzz around her body.She'd suffered with anxiety for as long as she'd known herself and it snuck up on her at the most random times.Even sitting with her friends, safe and away from harm something as simple as a thought can bring everything crashing down around her, making her feel trapped and claustrophobic as the anxiety trapped her in her own mind.With or without a reason, it was always there, tip toeing up behind her before suddenly making it's presence known with a panic attack or a deep, aching pain in her chest that felt a little too close to a heart attack.It was a feeling she'd learnt to live with, something she accepted was life long and was never going to leave her but that didn't make it any easier to live with.Some good days, some bad, some days she didn't have to think about it, some days it was all she could think about and every paranoid, anxious thought took over no matter where she was or who she was with.Right now, that familiar feeling was creeping up over her, brought on by the mere thought of the people around her potentially being in danger.Mina's leg started to shake on the spot, starting slowly but picking up the pace as she tapped her foot on the floor, the nerves buzzing through her body, this repetitive action the only way to ease the adrenaline rush.She tried to keep it all in for as long as possible, keep the anxiety at bay and bottled up inside of her so she could just get through the day but it's moments like these it all comes busting through the seams.She tried to keep it all inside so it came out in small showings like this.She didn't want anyone to see her in such a vulnerable state, having a panic attack around people was something she wanted to avoid at all costs.So she pushed the anxiety-driven thoughts to the back of her mind and got on with whatever she was doing as best she could.It wasn't easy, the thoughts were clawing at her brain like an animal locked in a cage. Trying to defeat her, trying to tear her down to the dark depths that anxiety lives within.It was hard not to listen, trying not to give into the fearful paranoia of her thoughts but it was like a voice screaming at her begging her to give into its delusions.Doing everything to convince her that the voices that drive her to overthinking were right, to give into the urge to do nothing but lie in bed all day and let the thoughts overtake her.And she did some days. Some days she did nothing but laze around her apartment all day and wallow in her own misery.Doing everything to try and distract herself from painful coping mechanisms, she tried her best to not let the voices of opposition win.But when it came down to the worst days, her friends saw through it all. They saw through her attempts to push it all to the back of her head and keep it all to herself.They picked up on the small intricacies of her anxiety and they knew how to calm her. She tried to keep it hidden so she didn't have to bother anyone else with her pain.Which is how she knew this wasn't getting past them, they were always the ones to calm her down."Hey girl, are you okay? What's going on in your head right now?" Lisa asked with nothing but concern dripping through her voice looking softly into Mina's eyes.Jennie placed her hand on her knee to settle it down and looked at her just as lovingly as Lisa had, "You know you can talk to us, princess."Mina didn't know what she could tell them. She was worried for her's and her new friend's lives? She was being threatened by a group of assailants who shot the man she's moving in with?"Just the thought of all this change, it's just a lot." She lied."Girl you've got this, I've never met anyone as strong as you, no change is going to tear you down, don't let the thoughts get to you," Jennie comforted."Listen, you're here with us, right now. The thoughts in your head mean nothing. Just let them pass through, don't bury them, don't try to pretend they're not there, you don't need to analyse them and try to make sense of them. Just listen to us here and now- everything will be okay. Whatever's going on, everything will be okay." Lisa cooed, her and Jennie both always knew just what to say and when to say it.It didn't always have to be bad. It didn't always have to bury her and leave her breathless, gasping for air as she fought the anxiety flowing through her.With Lisa and Jennie by her side, most of the time they got her through it. And in this moment, they've helped more than they could ever understand.The adrenaline was still there, keeping her leg bouncing and her breaths shaky, but the thoughts were passing on through.Like a storm cloud passing over the city without causing a storm and bringing everything in its path crashing down around it.This time, Mina pushed through it and their calming words helped her catch a breath. With them by her side she was more than her struggles, she drew strength from them."Thank you guys, so much. I know it must be exhausting always having to be the one to pull me down to earth when I get like this but I appreciate it more than you could ever understand, I hope I can be there for you guys as much as you are for me, you know I am, right?""Of course we know, sunshine." Lisa smiled, rubbing her back comfortingly."What sort of friends would we be if we weren't there for you through it all- bad or good. We've got you and you've got us and that's the way it'll always be." Jennie added."Promise?" Mina said, looking between the two."Promise." Jennie and Lisa say in unison, offering her their pinky finger and the three intertwine their fingers and kissed their thumbs.Promising each other that they were there through it all, loyal through and through.Mina took a deep breath in to compose herself, she looked up and dabbed the corner of her sleeves to her eye in an attempt to stop the tears falling that were almost spilling over the edge of her eye.Satisfied that she'd stopped the tears before they'd started and not ruined her makeup in the process, she breathed in again and said, "So, what do I wear out to dinner with a fancy CEO who's no doubt booked us in at some fancy restaurant I'd never dream of going to if it weren't for him?""You have to pick out the hottest dress you own. You can never go wrong with a little black dress. You have anything that'll work for that?" Jennie said excitedly, when it comes to fashion, now you're talking her language."I think I have an idea of what I could go for." But she wasn't entirely confident in anything she could pick out.Was Hoseok going to book them into a fancy, five-star rated, expensive restaurant or was it just a simple bite to eat at any old chain restaurant?Was she to dress up or dress casually? This was Hoseok after all, he'd never really seen Mina in more than a baggy hoodie and sweats, most of them being his.She'd never had any sort of experience with a man like this, how was she to know what to expect?She decided to text him to save the confusion and embarrassment.'So what if I say yes? Any suggestions of what I should wear? 🤨'Almost instantly she watched the bubble with the three dots pop up, indicating he was currently typing a response.That was fast.'Wear something hot. I wanna see you dressed up for a change, not wearing one of my old shirts ;)'Just as before, Mina heard two gasps come from either side of her- they really couldn't resist reading her texts."I don't want to hear it you two." She cut them off before either one of them could make a presumptuous comment about her wearing his clothes, or his comment about wearing something 'hot'.Mina wasn't entirely sure what to make of that comment without Jennie and Lisa questioning her over it, she wouldn't know what answer to give them.Hoseok was expecting her to dress up for him? He wanted her to look hot?Was she reading into that comment more than she should've? Maybe, but you were definitely taken aback.As close as the two had grown over the last month, the bond they had has always been platonic. Right?Nothing more. Strictly friends. Very close friends.There was no genuinely flirting, neither of them had pursued one another or made a move on each other.They'd been too focused on Hoseok's recovery to do much else.Mina never thought about pursuing Hoseok in any sort of romantic way. It took weeks to come down off the shock of 'saving him', trying to pursue the poor man who could barely even leave bed for weeks was certainly the last thing on her mind.Sure the two were close but Mina had never even thought twice about it. But had he?Was there a chance something more could happen? Did she want something more to happen?She came down from her whirlwind of thoughts, this was just a formal dinner to discuss their plans for what was essentially their investigation into Hoseok's past.It wasn't a date.There were no romantic implications from this dinner.They wouldn't be sitting down with a candlelit meal to stare into each other's eyes and get to know each other, it wasn't like that.Just two friends sitting down to discuss how to save their lives from impending doom. Nothing more.But was Mina really sure about that? Guess there's only one way to find out.
Hoseok
You'd think with a walk in closet the size of my childhood bedroom I'd be able to find a suit that would work for dinner at a five star restaurant but it's a lot harder than expected.I'm no stranger to five star, fine dining experiences, that's not the issue. The issue is the guest coming along with me.The last time I went out for dinner was for a business meeting. Me, Namjoon, Seokjin and other high-level business executives discussing company plans and the like.I wore a simple Armani suit and tie with a price tag of three thousand something, threw on the matching Armani, business formal trousers and was good to go.This was different, a lot different. My company this time was an attractive girl, the outfit should probably have more effort put into it.This restaurant is my go-to, wether it be for new business associates or meetings or a dinner to wow a girl before taking her home for the night, I know the menu like the back of my hand.Taking someone to a five star, highly rated restaurant and being able to recommend particular dishes gives off a distinguished vibe, and if I didn't match it with my outfit then I'd be screwed.With this being my usual place to eat, I know the staff quite well.The waiters and waitresses know me by name, if I call ahead of time and it's not too busy they make sure I get whichever table I ask for and have my go-to starter waiting for me by the time I arrive.Probably because they realise how well I tip.Like I said, tonight was a little different. I wasn't coming with six other, stoic business men in tow.It was Mina, me and a candlelit dinner.I had to make the right impression on not only her, but the staff by dressing well.I had a reputation to uphold and if I don't dress accordingly in consideration of tonight being a date as opposed to a business dinner, I risked damaging that.But was tonight a date? Is this what this is?I know I'm the one that's planning it and I asked Mina along with me but I wasn't sure of the implications of this.We need to discuss how to go forth with all that concerns us right now, I didn't want to be cramped up in the apartment all night so I opted for dinner.She'd spent so many nights in my apartment cooking us dinner, lunch, breakfast, whatever it may be.I thought it was about time I spoiled her- in the only way I know how considering I can't cook, she knew that by now.But further than just this discussion we were due to have, what do we consider tonight?Were we going to talk about more than just our plans to figure this whole mess out? Or were we going to talk about our investigation tactics and then leave, just like another business strategy meeting.I've taken girls out for dinner, but it's girls that I spend the night with and they know they're not getting a call tomorrow.There's none like her. Everything about her is so different from them.That's why I feel like she deserved more than just a sit down talking about our impending doom and then home for the night.I wanted to make this a relaxing, worthwhile evening for the both of us. Does that make it a date?I wonder if she's wondering the same thing right now. Currently sitting in her room, well the room I've given her, getting ready wondering what my intentions are with her.I wouldn't really blame her, I did tell her to dress hot, not that she needed to try much. She made my old T shirts and sweats look hot, she somehow made more clothing look all the more appealing.Some girls pride themselves on the shadows of their figure being their selling point, tight clothes showing all the right attributes.And while there's no problem with that, Mina didn't need to, she was effortlessly stunning.Admitting that felt odd. Admitting that means that I'm accepting this is a date and even I wasn't sure of my intentions with her. I've never really thought much of it.Of course it's been a rollercoaster of a month being nursed back to health by a girl as gorgeous as her, I've always noticed her beauty, but I never placed the idea of us being more than friends in that equation.She was the pretty nurse and I was the suffering patient who was grateful for the help he was getting and was still grasping with the fact that someone attempted to take my life.Still waking up day to day questioning why I was waking up. Why was I saved that day? How was I so lucky to make it out the other side of that?The shock of coming so close to death was still very much present for the weeks immediately following the shooting, Mina being there for me was simply like having an at home nurse.Both of us too blinded by the absurdity of our situation to even consider looking at each other in a more than platonic way.Sure we built a very close, interesting bond, but it was built on the friendship we founded and the connection we feel we have- even as friends.It felt right having her in my life, like everything has fallen into place even with the disarray left over from the explosive events in our life, she was the one good piece of it all.She'd gotten me through this much so far, the least she deserved is for me to call this a date, so that's what it would be.Now more panicked than ever, I rummage through the racks of suits I have in my closest, all in dry cleaning bags to keep them from getting dusty and away from moths.Armani, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Valentino- so much choice, yet I still can't make up my mind which would look best alongside Mina.Each brand is organised on different racks, a dozen Armani on one rack, half a dozen Gucci on the other, Valentino and Ralph Lauren on two others- that's not even all of them.There's still more and I still can't find one that'll even come close to what I picture in my head.That is until I turn around and on its own rack, standing all alone is exactly what I prayed for- an all black, Valentino suit and tie.Black jacket, black slacks and a black shirt and tie to go under. A bold statement to wear all black, but one I can certainly pull off.I need to match the power and energy Mina exudes, and if she can pull off an outfit like the image I have in my head, making me light headed the more I think of it, we will be the most powerful, attention demanding duo in that restaurant.I feel a smile play on my lips as I carefully lift the suit and tie off the rack and take it out of the dry cleaning bag. This is just what I needed.I put the outfit on and step into the extension of my walk in closet, the mirror room.Four mirrors, one taking up the entire wall facing you as you walk in, one on the left and one on the right and then when you walk all the way in if you close the door there's a mirror on the back of it too.Giving you a view of every single angle of your outfit with a stool in the centre of the room, it's a room I had personally installed just to ensure I never went wrong with an outfit.And it's clearly a very smart idea because I have never once gone wrong with an outfit.I check every angle, making sure the suit still fits well and only when I'm fully satisfied with how it looks I walk back into the closet.I did my hair after the shower, just the smallest amount of gel ran through it to give it a tousled, yet still tidy and put together look, so I'm all ready to go, that just leaves Mina.As I'm walking through the vast upstairs area and then down the stairs, I pull out my phone to text her that I'm ready and waiting in the living room.Right as I hit send and arrive in the living room myself, I hear a 'ping' of a text tone and look up from my phone to see her already waiting in the living room.Not only was she ready before me but by god, she looked...Incredible, better than I could have ever imagined.It's only now it hits me why it's taken me until this moment to consider anything deeper between us because I have never felt my heart beat harder against my chest than I have in this moment.I've always admired women for the work of art their is their bodies and everything about them but she's on a whole other level.It's not even fair to put her in the same category as any other woman I've been with. There's just something so different about her, as cliche as that may be, I truly can't describe the attraction I have to her in this moment.She stands in front of me, in a short tight, satin black dress with a neck line that hangs down revealing the crescent moon and stars necklace she'd adorned herself with.With black heels that tie with string around her ankle and up her calf, it takes me a moment to take it all in and understand the beauty that stands before me.Her hair in lose curls and not too much makeup on, she manages to make even the simplest of looks look jaw dropping.Exactly what I had pictured in my mind's eye when I saw us walking into the restaurant together, the most eye catching and powerful two there.She pulls me out of my thoughts by saying," 'Come downstairs loser, I'm waiting'. You were waiting, huh?" Reading my text aloud with a smirk on her face as she joked at the fact that it somehow took me longer than her to get ready."Oh yeah, I was waiting forever. I'll never understand why it takes girls so long to get ready." I sarcastically roll my eyes and look away from her to catch my breath.Was it obvious the effect she had on me with how incredible she looked? The things she was doing to me?As I look back to her I see that soft and gentle look she always has in her eyes, the one that can draw me in and keep me captured in the pools of her eyes, that look I can't hide from."I'm oh so sorry for making you wait, Hoseok." The smirk still dances on her lips as she stared into my soul and held me there- that's what it feels like anyway.I smile in response, step forward and offer her my arm to cross hers with. "Shall we go?" I say.And after crossing my arms and a delicate smile on her lips she answers, "We shall."* * *As Mina sits in front of me at our table for two, scanning her eyes over the menu I struggle to see what she's thinking.There's no tell tale body language to point me in the direction of how she's feeling tonight, on a date with me.Just her finger tapping her lip as she slowly reads over all the options on the menu, flipping it to the back side, reading a few options and then back to the other side as though trying to narrow her choices down to one.She's difficult to read, I've never found anyone difficult to read.Never found it hard to simply look at their face and know what they're thinking without a word leaving their lips.Being a businessman, you have to be able to see past the empty expressions that permanently stain the face of many other business higher ups and figure out what they really want from you, without looking incompetent enough to ask.But Mina? It's almost as though she keeps a mask on at all times making it impossible to know what she's feeling.I want to know what she's thinking, if she's impressed by the choice of restaurant or not, if the food is to her standards or not, does she like my outfit, does she want this to be a date? God, I'm not even sure I do but knowing what she wants might make it easier.I beg the universe for the answers to all of this but her face still holds a neutral expression, making it impossible for me to read much more into her.I don't have to look at the menu, with how many times I've been here I know what's good and find it best to stick with what I already know I enjoy.I'm not one to ever really feel nervous but sitting here with her, in a restaurant where all the staff knows me and have seen me with one too many girls, I know what they're thinking.They're thinking that she's just another one of them, a girl on rotation until the next shows up for a night and then I move on to the next.It pains me that they're going to put her in that category with the rest of them, because she's far different from them.I'm not entirely sure what makes her different, what sets her apart from the rest of them. Other than the obvious- she saved my life and no one will ever compete with that.But on a deeper level, what is it about Mina that I'm so drawn to?Because I am, wether I accept that all we have is platonic or not, from the start there has been something about her that has me holding onto her, desperate to keep her in my life.I've never felt drawn to someone in the way I am with her, it even feels cringy to say it but I could take a dozen girls out for dinner, wine them, dine them, take them home and sixty nine them and not call them back the next day without a care in the world.I could never see myself doing that to her. The aura around her leaves me unable to detach myself so easily, I know she deserves so much more than that.She finally sets the menu down and casts her eyes on me.I feel shivers fall down my spine as her eyes land on me. Almost as though my body is in shock a woman so beautiful has graced me with a simple look.Those eyes. I'm not sure if she does it on purpose, but the way she looks at me, head slightly tilted down so she almost has to look up at me.That look. She has to know what she's doing to me."Are you ready to order?" She asked, oblivious."I've been ready since we arrived, darling. It's you we've been waiting on this time." I answer with a small smirk."Yeah yeah, whatever you say, doll face." She rolled her eyes and tried to contain a smile, though she doesn't do a great job of it.Right on time, a waiter approaches our table with a notepad in hand."Jung Hoseok Sir, it's lovely to see you again." The waiter I recognise from my other visits here says with a small, respectful bow."Nice to see you too, Sung Min.""And you Miss." He bows in Mina's direction. I can only imagine what he thinks of yet another female seated across from me, only I know it's different this time. "You two ready to order?""Yes we are, I'll take the spicy kimchi stew with a small bowl of rice on the side, and also a plate of mandoo" I say, handing him my menu."And I'll have the jap chae, please." She says, giving the waiter a polite smile and also handing him the menu she's finished with.I look at her with a raised eyebrow, wondering if that's all she's going to order."Are there any drinks to go with that, Sir?""I'll take a bottle of soju." She turns to me with furrowed eyebrows and a small smile on her face, possibly taken aback by my choice to drink tonight."And yourself, Miss?"She giggles to herself slightly and looks down to the drinks menu on the table. "I guess I'll have a soju too." Before looking back to me with a smile on her face."Will that be everything for you two?" Sung Min asks."It shall." I answer."We'll have that ready for you as soon as possible, Mr Jung.""Thank you, Sung min."With that, he gives us a small bow and walks back to the kitchen to give the chefs our order."So we're drinking tonight then?" She says with a grin on her face."I thought we could do with something to loosen us up a little bit.""Loosen us up?""You're so used to being my nurse and helping me around the house and being super woman, I thought you deserved tonight to relax a little."Her face relaxes into a more plain expression, still not the easiest to read but I can tell from the way she shifts in her seat and looks away from me that she's confused about what tonight is.She casts her eyes around the dimmed restaurant for a few seconds, almost as though she's trying to gather her thoughts and figure out how to respond.She looks back to me and says, "That sounds an awful lot like a date, Jung Hoseok?"She says it with a poised, confidence that I always watch her speak with. Like she knows exactly the type of response she's going to get and how to get it."Do you want it to be a date?" I pull her into holding solid eye contact with me, trying my hardest to figure out what she's thinking before she says it- just in case the words that come out of her mouth aren't entirely honest."Doesn't matter if I want it to be one, you're the one that planned all this. So is it one?" Of course she does everything she can to dodge the question."I guess it is, yes, per my intentions anyway. But if you're not comfortable with it being a date then it's simply two friends having dinner.""No, don't worry it doesn't make me uncomfortable, I haven't been on a date in quite a while so I'm happy to be on one."I can see the twinkle of candle lights in her eyes, bringing a hopeful light to them that is so reflective of who she is as a person, bringing light everywhere she goes.The continued eye contact gives me goose bumps but I maintain it, I won't be the one to back down but I can already tell she's not the type to either."I'm glad we're on the same page then." I smile."But I thought tonight was purely about discussing our plan for going forward? Now it's a date?""Yeah that was just sort of my excuse to get you here in case you weren't up for it. We can talk about it a little but I'd rather talk about you."A blush slowly creeps over her face and she scratches the back of her neck, almost displaying signs of being shocked but still refusing to drop eye contact."You want to talk about me?""You know so much about me already, more than most people do. You've met my friends, they tell you plenty about me. I want to know more about you.""Your drinks, Mr Jung, Miss." Sung Min interrupts us by setting our bottles of Soju down."Thank you." We both say in unison with polite bows exchanged and he walks back off to kitchen."Right on time." Mina says, lifting the bottle to her lips and finally, surprisingly, ending the eye contact.She doesn't seem uncomfortable by the idea of this being a date, I saw the look in her eyes when I clarified it was one, but almost confused because of my interest in getting to know more about her."Cheers." I say, lifting mine and taking a sip.After a brief settled silence between us, neither of us knowing who should speak first, Mina starts by finally saying, "So, what do you want to know?""Let's start small, what's your favourite colour? You can tell a lot about a person by their favourite colour.""Yellow." She answers almost immediately."That's an odd answer.""How is yellow an odd answer?""I just don't hear it often.""It's a bright, happy colour. The colour of the sun and sunflowers, it's calming." She explains, rationalising her answer a little more and now it makes sense.It's so reflective of her as a person, it really doesn't shock me now that she's explained it, I see why."That's so well thought out, I respect it. I take it back, that's not an odd answer." I apologise."You're forgiven." She jokingly responds."Next one, hmm." I take a moment to think, how far do I go with these questions? "Did you have any pets growing up?""Nope, my family could never afford one, but I do love dogs, I'd love to own one some day.""That's so sad, you never grew up with pets.""No siblings either.""No siblings or pets? God, you must've been bored out of your mind growing up." Slowly learning more about her, I feel us growing closer millimetre by millimetre as she gives me small details about her childhood."Indeed I was." She says, backing out of the conversation a little like she doesn't want to discuss the topic much further, her voice quiet and almost uncomfortable sounding.I quickly change the subject. "What's your favourite animal?""Penguins." She answers, her voice now quiet and uninterested sounding.I start to feel bad, like I might've upset her asking about her childhood which I'm beginning to think might be a touchy topic for her."I love penguins. I went to the zoo once when I was a kid, I watched a group of them repeatedly climb up a rock slide they had and keep sliding down it into the pool of water. After a few minutes of quietly watching them do that, I pointed at them, turned around to my Grandparents and said, 'look at all those chickens!'"The surprise of my childhood naivety story cracks her shell a little again and she comes back to life by bursting into a fit of laughter."That genuinely sounds like such a you thing to say, it doesn't surprise me in the slightest." She says in between laughs."Are you saying I'm unintelligent?" I place my hand on my chest, feigning offence to what she said."I'm saying you're not very observant, but if the shoe fits..." She trials off."I'll have you know I'm very intelligent and great at identifying animals."I point to the painting of a horse on the wall, "that is a cow."Then to the dog walking past the window outside, "that's a fox."And then to Mina,"And that's a really pretty girl that I'm glad to be here with tonight."Of course, only one of those was really true."You're doing an excellent job at wooing me tonight, Hoseok." A warm smile spreads across her face, I successfully pulled her out of whatever place in her mind she went to when she thought about her childhood and that is all that matters."I'm just being honest. I've always had a patient-nurse fantasy." I say with a smirk and she rolls her eyes at me."Always having to ruin the moment." But there's a smile on her face too, I know she's happy with how tonight's going."And I hate to ruin the moment once again but I did actually want to talk about everything going on, just a few things I wanted to update you on."The smile slowly fades from her face as she puts on a more concentrated, serious look. Crossing her arms across her body, she looks at me and says, "I'm listening.""Jin checked out Sehun a little. He still lives in the same house so I was thinking tomorrow we could go and set up a stake-out outside his house if you're free? If not I'll take one of the boys with me, I just wanted to involve you in this as much as possible.""What do you think you'll see?""I just want to be up to date on our prime suspects current lives, wether or not he's still with his wife, what he spends his day doing, how much of his day he spends at home- that kind of thing.""Do you really think it could be him? The Sehun you knew, would he take it that far?" She asks."I didn't know him that well, but back then, standing face to face with him as I revealed what I knew I saw a twitch of something in his eyes.""What was it?" She says quietly."A look that told me this wasn't over, a brief second that he silently communicated I'd regret this."Mina raises her hand to her mouth and covers it as she looks away in a wondering gaze.She stops to take in what I just said. To try and think about what could happen tomorrow, what we may or may not see and discover. Wondering if it was worth the risk of potentially being caught.Before either one of us can break the silence Sung Min, our waiter, does by saying,"Your food Mr Jung and Miss-""Miss Rhee." I finish for him, he hasn't asked Mina's name all night which bothers me, but I don't let it show too much."Miss Rhee." He corrects himself. "Enjoy your food and please, call me over if I can help with anything else.""Could we get two more soju?""Of course, right away Mr Jung." He once again gives a polite bow and walks away after retrieving our other empty soju bottles."We're being risky tonight." She smiles and raises her eyebrows."Just wanted to make sure you enjoy yourself.""Are you trying to get me drunk, Hoseok?" She jokingly hints."Why would I ever try to get you drunk, Mina?" I give a sly smirk in response.It's almost as if an odd tension suddenly cuts through the air. It may just be the alcohol starting to go to my head but it starts to get harder to ignore how beautiful she looks in that short little dress tonight.The way it clings to her hourglass figure and highlights all the right definitions of her body.I can tell she isn't wearing a bra, boy can you tell, and she doesn't even need one to feign a false cleavage, it's there even with no bra to help.I hate that I'm suddenly so perceptive of such intimate areas of her body but the more I feel the alcohol flow through my veins, and I mean every single vein, I can't push away the thoughts.I didn't know it was possible to be so attracted to someone and it's so different to how I've felt before, cheesy, cliché- all of the above, I don't care.The models I've brought out to eat before, sure they were hot and didn't struggle to get my dick hard but Mina just needs to breathe on me and it twitches in my trousers.And in that tight, short black dress tonight it feels like she's teasing me with hints of the body underneath that I won't get to see.Surely she knows how attractive she is? She definitely gets a fair bit of male attention, she has to see how blessed she is in every department.Her lips are the perfect plumped, heart shape. The most perfectly proportioned nose. Her jawline and cheekbones, not too sharp, but prominent enough.And god those eyes. The things she can do by just giving me a simple look. That captivating light brown hue, producing such an innocent stare that comes from deep within. All she has to do is look at me and I'd do whatever she asks of me.I didn't want this to be a night like all the others where I bring a girl out to dinner and then home to sleep with her, Mina means more to me than that, she's special and I want her to know that.So even if I miraculously had the chance to sleep with her I wouldn't, not yet, it had to be at the right time, when it meant something. Not just because I'm drunk and horny and she looks especially sexy tonight.The more I gave way to the thoughts the more I had to struggle to contain the hard on I was currently growing under the table, but oh my, she makes it so difficult.I want nothing more than to have her under the table, taking all of me in her mouth, gagging while my eyes roll into the back of my head. I have a feeling she'd be good, no particular reasoning behind that, she just seems like she wouldn't let me down.But I'm going to control myself, she deserves that much. So in saying that, I think of my Grandma and the hard on instantly grows soft.Once again, ending a silent moment, the waiter returns with our soju, gives us it with a polite bow and walks away."How about we see who can finish the bottle the fastest?" I suggest."Oh you are trying to get me drunk, Mr Jung." She giggles."You won't be the only drunk one, don't worry. My security is right outside, they'll be getting us home safe.""Okay then, you're on. But don't expect an easy win here, I've had my fair share of party days too.""Oh yeah? I'm sure you have." I laugh. "1, 2, 3- go!"We both quickly raise the bottle to our mouths and start drinking, I remember this being a lot easier in my college days.I hear her bottle hit the table and two seconds later I finish mine to look across from me and see she's already finished."Wow." Is all I can say."Told you not to get cocky, Hoseok." Mina shrugs and wipes her mouth."I never claimed I was going to win." I pretend to be a sore loser with a pout."Awk, poor baby sad he lost to a girl half the size of him." She puts a fake, sympathetic look on her face and acts sad."I want a redo." I insist."If you say so, but you're going to lose once again." She laughs."Oh yeah? We'll see about that."
Third person POV
And with that, they both ordered more soju just as their food came out, by the time it was ready they were both already tipsy with no food to line their stomachs- which absolutely didn't help.They ate their meals and continued to drink, Mina tried some of the mandoo Hoseok ordered and practically fell in love with it.As much as Hoseok loves and appreciates spicy food, he forgot how particularly spicy the Kimchi stew was at this restaurant. He spent half the night chowing down in the side of rice he got to help with the heat and Mina sat laughing as he heavily breathed in and out to try to fight the burn of the spicy flavour.They spent more time getting to know each other but it was more of a drunken game of 20 questions, the questions not making a ton of sense or really helping them get to know each other, just making the both of them laugh hysterically.As the night date came to a close, they both stumbled out of the restaurant into the arms of Hoseok's security, who lead them to his blacked out SUV to be driven home in.They spent the car ride making more jokes, in absolute hysterics at every word each other said. This was the best night they'd both had in weeks.Not a care in the world, both of them completely forgetting all the crazy going on in their life at the minute.They make it home to Hoseok's apartment complex, the doormen let them all in- including his security who lead the two of them up to the penthouse apartment and only when Hoseok opened the front door to let them both in, did security walk away, even they laughed at their drunken antics.Even as Mina tripped over her own feet, she somehow made it to the living room couch and collapsed on it in a dramatic show of exhaustion."I don't think I can get up from this couch and make it to bed tonight, I might just have to stay in this exact position, right here, all night." She said, keeping her eyes closed the entire time, probably entirely serious in what she said.Hoseok suddenly rolls from the back of the couch down beside her, with the way he lands he pushed her close to the edge of the couch, even considering how big the couch is- potentially the depth of a single bed- and Hoseok ends up pressed to the back of the couch.Mina laughed and shuffled over so that she was no longer right on the edge and turned to face him."Even if you push me off I think I'd just fall asleep on the floor, I really wouldn't even mind."Though both of them laid side by side with their eyes closed and Hoseok said in response, "Why would I push you off? I like being this close to you."Could it be the alcohol that gave him the confidence to say this to her? Maybe he was just drunk and inhibitions were low so he didn't really know what he was saying."What?" Mina said, opening her eyes, unsure of what else to say.Just after she did, Hoseok opened his and now they were both lying on their sides, looking softly into each other's eyes with that lazy drunken look in their eyes."I want you to be this close to me." He slowly reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear to get a better view of her face, even if he was seeing two of them. "Even closer."And as close as the two were, he completely closed the gap between them on the couch by placing his hand over her back and pulling her closer to him.It leaves them both breathless, knowing that with how close they were, the other was going to feel their breath on their face, not that either of them could even remember how to breathe in this moment either.Hoseok moved his hand from Mina's hair and slowly caressed her cheek, she closed her eyes and felt shivers go down her spine as her body reacted to the first time he's ever really touched her so tenderly.She closed her eyes, letting herself get comfortable with the feeling and embraced his touch.It's an entirely unfamiliar feeling, a feeling of warmth and joy of what could happen next but the shiver of shock left her slightly cold as she wondered what he was going to do next.She opened her eyes again to see his go back and forth from her eyes to her mouth, up and down, once or twice, as though trying to decide wether he really wanted to do this. Trying to gauge wether or not Mina wanted him to do this.Almost as though he decided all it took was a few looks into her eyes to figure out what she wanted, he leaned in and it felt like it took ten years, but his lips finally hit hers.Like most drunken kisses, Mina expected it to be sloppy and with no rhythm, but it's wasn't.Somehow their lips moved perfectly in sync, like this moment was destined to happen, like their lips were moulded to one another.When she kissed other boys, she found herself questioning wether or not she was good or doing it right, but even if just because of the alcohol-and Mina had a feeling it wasn't- she didn't question herself with Hoseok.He lead them both through the kiss and every second of it felt like a second in heaven, it felt right.Both of them knew it was the alcohol that gave them the courage to make this move but it didn't matter at this moment. All it mattered is how good it felt and that was all either of them wanted to think about.They continued to kiss until they couldn't breathe a second longer and breathlessly pulled away.They were back to looking in each other's eye, only this time there was a smile on each of their faces, both of them giddy and blushing.Mina yawned and Hoseok grabbed the soft, fluffy, blanket off the back of the couch and placed it over them both.Mina smiled and found herself snuggling closer to him, he took her in his arms and held her as she quickly started to fall asleep."Goodnight, princess"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Mina
Hoseok and I currently sit in a blacked out SUV, across the street from Oh Sehun's suburban, white picket fence, type home.It's just after 7pm, we've been sitting here since 9am, just watching, quietly, patiently surveying his every movement around his house- he so far hasn't left.With darkness now blanketing the sky it'll hopefully put less spotlight on us.It seemed none of Sehun's neighbours, nor Sehun himself, has picked up on our presence.Not to my knowledge anyway. I've never done a stakeout before, so all day I've been on edge, expecting a knock on my window saying we can't be here and the police have been called.But nothing of the sort has happened, Hoseok's suv fits seamlessly into the high end cars parked along the entire street, with the blacked out windows no one could really see us in here anyway.At the start of the day, I really underestimated how much time had to be put into a stake out and just how boring it could be.
My mind has wondered far too often and I've had to come up with creative ways to keep my attention span steady and focused on the task at hand.I've spent most of the day nursing a particularly bad hangover, I always forget what soju does to me. I've really done nothing but gulp water and throw back pain killers for the headaches I've procured. If Hoseok is feeling particularly hungover, he hasn't went as far to express it to me, he took one pain killer this morning and has sat fairly silently ever since.Heavy drinking the night before a stakeout in which the two of us have to stay heavily vigilant, constantly aware of any and all movements in the area to keep an eye on our subject's movements, was probably a bad idea in hindsight.And then there was the kiss.God knows what decisions I can make while drunk, was it just another drunken exploit or was there more meaning behind it? I haven't been able to make my mind up on what it means to me, although with Hoseok's silence and utter refusal to speak to me, I'm assuming I already know what it meant to him.We still haven't spoken about it. I couldn't have been more embarrassed this morning when I woke up in his arms, I had to carefully untangle myself and slink back to my room.When Hoseok finally woke up, he came up to my room, threw me painkillers for the hangover and told me to start getting ready for the stakeout, no comment on what had happened the night before.Does that mean it meant nothing to him? Did he just want to forget about it and carry on as if nothing had happened?I can never read him, I have no idea.Did it even mean anything to me? Do I want anything to come of this? God, I've been wracking my brain for the answer and I'm not quite sure if I don't know the answer, or I don't want to accept it.So many questions flying around my head and I don't know the answers to any of them, nor do I even know how to even broach the subject with Hoseok.We've always been just friends the last few months, I've told Jennie and Lisa it's completely platonic, but is it?Yes, we've spent a lot of time together and we've grown very close and maybe there were times I wondered if anything would ever happen, but it is possible to stay just friends with someone of the opposite sex.Neither of us have ever questioned any of it, never tried anything- until now.Is it really a smart idea to get involved with someone I'm facing death with? Would it complicate things or maybe there's the chance it'll make us both even safer being so close.Honestly, I don't even know if a relationship was something on the cards for me. For the longest time, I've been so content just going about my normal day-to-day life before, working at the coffee shop, living a boring, mundane life.I've never bothered to put much effort into a love life recently, I've had relationships in the past- messy ones at that-but I've come to peace with my solitude and the routine I've built around my own free time.But now, things are changing wether I like it or not, I guess we've both tip toed on the edge of something more for a while now and it was about time it hit the surface and gave us the chance to investigate the possibility of something.What are we going to do about it, is the question. Surely we can't ignore it any longer?We've gone all day without speaking of the elephant in the room, who's going to be the one to crack and discuss what's been hanging over our heads for the last 10 hours?I'm not even sure if now is the time to do it, we have something more important to focus on, I don't want to risk missing any of Sehun's movements by pulling Hoseok's attention into a deep conversation that, quite honestly, neither of us are ready to face.I can feel my headache returning, causing an unrelenting storm in my head and I suppose this is a sign that now isn't the best time for their conversation.Right now, the most important task is finding out if Sehun could possibly have any involvement in Hoseok's shooting and that means keeping my full attention on his house and any foot traffic in or out.Although I'm beginning to think this stakeout was pointless, Sehun isn't going to leave his house today, we've barely even seen any movement at all other than lights turning on throughout the house as the evening darkened.We've occasionally see him walk past his living window, he's very trusting in the fact that he didn't have any shades over his windows, just curtain that he'd drawn open in the morning so we've had a pretty clear view of him.He hasn't done anything that'd be telling of his involvement in the shooting though, not that I'm sure what those actions would be, but he just looks like a normal guy living his life. But sure, what do I know?"How long are we going to sit here? He hasn't left the house all day and I really don't think he's going to, what could we possibly figure out from just sitting outside?" I ask Hoseok."That's telling in and of itself, it's a Monday and he hasn't left his house once. Not for work, not to run errands, nothing. His life is empty. I know Sehun, this isn't like him." Hoseok answers, clearly a lot better at analysing these situations than I am. "We'll stay here until the second he turns all those lights off tonight and goes to bed, so we can be certain he doesn't go anywhere."I let out a heavy sigh in response, I'm not as good at this as he is, I'm not sure I have it in me.I'm exhausted, hungover, bored and my butt is beginning to hurt from sitting in the car all day.I've rotated between the front and back seat multiple times, jumping between the front seats to the back rather than getting out of the car and drawing attention to us. Shifted the position I'm sitting in every 10 minutes, even resorting to pushing the chair all the way back and sitting on the floor. My legs are getting restless."You don't have to be here. I can call my security to have them pick you up just down the street a little. I can do this myself if you're not feeling it anymore." Hoseok said nonchalantly before looking back to Sehun's house again.Does he not want me here? Is that my queue to just leave?I can't help overthink now. Maybe I've assumed the kiss meant more than it actually did, Hoseok doesn't actually want it to mean anything.I can't be sure if he's being nonchalant and pushing me away on purpose, but it sure did sting a little to hear him put it so bluntly.Though hopefully there would only be a few hours left to sit here, I almost felt like maybe I'm really not welcome anymore, but then again maybe I'm overthinking that too.I honestly don't know what to think anymore so maybe it's best to take him up on the ride home."Uh yeah, call your security to pick me up I guess." I say, feeling defeated and slightly disappointed."I'll call them now." He pulls out his phone and starts to dial but right as he did, there's a movement in the front window of Sehun's house- it was him for the first time in hours."Hoseok, look, he's there!" I exclaim, pulling his attention quickly towards the house."What's he at this time?" He thinks aloud.He's standing in what seems to be his pyjama bottoms and no shirt. Has he really not gotten ready all day?I pull out the binoculars we brought, but haven't really had to use all day and Hoseok pulls out his DSLR camera, a completely professional type like you'd see an actor use while doing a stakeout in a movie.Pulling Sehun into focus of the binoculars lens I can see close enough now to realise exactly what he looked like.And not that I know what he really looked like before, but it seems like he's almost let himself go.Hair disheveled, a five o'clock shadow showing and a slight beer belly- the man looks defeated by life.In his hand he clutches what looks like a half empty bottle of whiskey, he takes off the cap, throws it to the floor and raises it to his lips. Taking in a quick chug, and throwing his head back to swallow.He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and suddenly drops back onto the couch behind him, he drops his head into his hands and his shoulders started shaking- is he crying?"Oh my." I can't help but let out.We sit in silence for a few more minutes, just watching the man sob, still with the whiskey bottle in hand. Hoseok kept taking pictures and I almost felt bad, like we're invading his privacy- we are his privacy.I'm not sure if Sehun looks like a man capable of doing this, he looks broken, surely pulling off a drive-by shooting was the last thing on the poor guy's mind.But maybe that's exactly why he's still a completely valid suspect."He's divorced." Hoseok states."What, how do you know?""Haven't you noticed we haven't seen his wife all day? Nowhere to be seen. There's one car in the driveway, and now he's sobbing into a bottle of whiskey? The man's got nothing going for him anymore. He must've been forced to tell her about the affair after what I pulled on him." He observes.Hoseok grows quiet and withdraws from the conversation.Was the success of his company worth the fall of so many around him?I have a feeling my answer may differ to Hoseok's and his friends.They've led a vastly different life to mine and how they've got to where they are still doesn't feel like any of my business.But I could never argue Hoseok's choices make him a bad person, I've made plenty of questionable decisions in my life and if Hoseok ever found out, I'd like to think he'd fight for my redemption too.I say if he finds out rather than when because I hope he never has to, the things I've done have nothing to do with what's going on now so it's simply not relevant information for him to have.Guilt is a fascinating thing. It's not something everyone feels.Some people internalise their guilt and have it be the driving factor in the rest of their life journey.Every further choice they make in life takes them back to that one place where they made the wrong choice, the choice that changed the course of their life forever, they're left spiralling as they remember their mistakes.Whilst others bury it and ignore any part of them that tells them their actions were misguided or that they should regret the decisions they made.What they did was necessary and the guilt is simply a byproduct of a hard decision, but a completely necessary one.It makes it easier to compartmentalise their emotions after making a morally questionable decision.I've always internalised everything- including the guilt over my past. Most of my personality today was built around events of the past and how I feel about what I've done.Somedays the guilt swallows me whole and leaves me riddled with anxiety and questions and what ifs until I can't take it anymore and I explode on everyone around me.The guilt overtakes me and I end up taking it out on whoever's closest to me at the time.My friends. Past lovers. Family.I've never explained to them why. At the end of the breakdown, when all is forgiven, I chalk it up to stress and assure them I'm fine.And they believe me. Until the next time when the cycle repeats and they start to question how okay I really am, but the truth is something they'll never know because I won't admit it to anyone.Every time I convince them I'm okay, but you're starting to become less and less sure of that yourself.The sense of security I've wrapped myself in is unravelling and my sanity is going with it, it's not going to take much for me to break- that is a scary realisation.But at least for now, I've found solace in the fact that I've found someone in life who can share my guilt.Not that I'll ever admit I harbour any guilt to Hoseok, but seeing his battle with his own past life choices is enough to comfort me.In saying that, I can tell he deals with his guilt in a different way.His guilt means something, his actions led his company to success and power and wealth and mine drags me down and keeps me there.I wish I had the capability to convince myself there was a greater good to my guilt, that part of it was worth it in the end.But truly the only thing my guilt does is remind me of how bad of a person I am.Hoseok is able to bury his guilt and accept it as necessary to get his team to where they are today.I guess we're in some ways the same but still vastly different.It's only recently his actions have come back to haunt him, his guilt has been unearthed and he's come to face it in a new way.Wether or not it'll truly start to affect him the way it affects me is a completely different story- only time will tell.Hoseok breaks the silence with, "We've seen all we needed to see today."I guess his guilt has challenged him enough.* * *
Meeting room
"So he's for sure divorced then?" Namjoon asks, sitting at the round table in the meeting room.The rest of the boys are spread about the room, Taehyung and Jin sitting at the table, Jungkook sitting on the table. Jimin, Yoongi and Hoseok are all sitting on the floor.Hoseok sits with his knees up and his elbows placed on his knees so his hands could support his head as stares off into the distance.With the results of the stakeout I think we're all starting to question the ease of this mission.Sehun clearly has very acceptable reasons to harbour animosity towards Hoseok, he could very well be the ring leader of this mess we all find ourselves in.But we still haven't looked at Jackson Wang, what if he still holds the past against Hoseok- enough to want him dead?How are any of us here supposed to figure out any part of what's going on. The more time goes on, the more danger we're all in, the more potential for the boys to get dragged into this.There isn't a second of the day I'm not on edge, waiting for the next bullet to fly or the next threat to be sent.But why drag it on? If they want him dead so badly, why not rip the bandage off?How long were they going to hold it over him and threaten everyone he cares about if he has always been their main target?"One car in the driveway, drinking a bottle of whiskey straight, completely dishevelled and a shell of the man we knew him as." Hoseok confirmed.I'm sitting at the back of the room by the window overlooking the city- the same view as my bedroom. Just quietly observing, not really sure of what I could add to the discussion right now.I still felt a chilling tension between us two after the events of last night, and I still can't seem to understand where me and Hoseok are at.I suppose I'm worried that he regrets it and that's why he's been so off today. Maybe it was just a drunken, heat of the moment kind of thing and it won't happen again.It felt real though. Everything leading up to the kiss and the entire night, even before the alcohol consumption, it all felt right.But maybe my feelings are one-sided. Hoseok has plenty more in his life to worry about without having to bring feelings into the equation, I shouldn't expect him to reciprocate anything.It's probably just best to give him space until he's ready to discuss it, I'm not going to force a conversation out of him.Right now we're all here to discuss the most important issue at hand, there is nothing more important than this."What does this mean then?" Jungkook asked, directing the question to anyone who may hopefully have the answer."It means, he's angry about what we did to him and took it out on Hoseok by means of heavy artillery in a drive-by!" Jimin shouts."We can't jump to conclusions yet, Jimin, sure there's now a little more evidence to back up Sehun being the perpetrator but not enough. You're forgetting what else was written on that board." Namjoon retorts.I watch Jimin open his mouth to argue but he closes it before any words could leave his mouth, does he agree with Namjoon or is he too afraid to say what he really thinks?The board is now wiped clean but I already know the other suspect to be Jackson Wang, who also has fair reason to want to enact his revenge against Hoseok.Hoseok stares at the board, where Sehun and Jackson's name were previously written, I'm sure his mind is going a million miles a minute, desperately trying to figure all this out. Which of them did it? Or was it neither of them? Are our only two leads a complete dead-end which would mean we're in a lot more trouble than any of us care to admit.It has to be one of them."Does anyone have any information on Jackson's whereabouts?" Hoseok asks, looking around the room at the rest of the boys."We got intel that he's currently in Incheon, probably gambling and making poor decisions like he's always done." Jin answers.Hoseok nods and starts writing in the notepad he also brought to the Sehun stakeout. "Do we know who he's with or where he's staying?""Some of his company seems to change nightly but he has a solid crew around him from what I could gather.""Who is it then?""Jae-Beom and Roseanne Park." The boys around the room suck in a breathe of air in response to that, I suppose they're taken aback by his choice of company."When did him and Jae-Beom start associating with each other? They weren't particularly close in college from what I remember? I know Jae-Beom mostly kept his inner circle to those apart of the gangs he was in, but Wang wasn't apart of any gangs, was he?" Jimin probes, turning to Hoseok for the answer."I didn't realise they were involved at all. Obviously Jackson dealt drugs but I don't remember him being in any gangs, but I guess the connection makes sense, it wouldn't be hard for them to get acquainted.""And Roseanne Park? Why has she stooped that low? She was always such a smoke-show, could do so much better than Jackson Wang." Yoongi says with disdain in his voice."You always did have a fat crush on that girl," Taehyung laughs."Are you kidding, how could I not? Don't tell me you didn't too."Taehyung raises an eyebrow and purses his lips, stopping himself from exposing himself any further. I stifle a small laugh."However they became friends doesn't matter, he has an interesting group around him that none of us knew about, that leaves room for a lot more variables. We need to be careful about this." Hoseok declares. "Where are they staying?""Paradise City, booked out a few rooms on the top floor." Jin answers, clearly he's done his research."Well then I guess Hoseok's going to Paradise City." Namjoon announces."What? No, I can't. I need to get back to work.""Hoseok, the doctor still has you declared unfit to work, you're not going back any time soon. We're here to run business for now, you're the only one that can do this." Namjoon argues."Well then Mina is coming with me." He looks at me for confirmation."That seems fair to me." Namjoon agrees."Definitely seems like the best option, keeping her close to you." Jimin says, everyone else around the room nodding."Do I have a say in this?" I ask."Not really." Everyone else answers with a shrug."Well alrighty then. I've never been to Incheon, first time for everything.""Ooh a couple's retreat!" Jungkook sneers.All I do is glare at him and leave words unspoken, he also receives a cutting glare from Hoseok as he ran his tongue over his teeth before clenching his jaw."Okayyy.." Kook says, backing off."Is it really safe for you guys to stay behind? I mean, what if they come after you while we're gone?" I said, fear creeping over me."There's six of us staying and two of you leaving, who is the more at-risk group here?" Yoongi replies sarcastically.I give him the same glare Hoseok gave Jungkook. "My point is, shouldn't we all stick together through this, safety in numbers and all that?""Thank you for the concern, Mina, but I promise we'll be fine." Jimin says, attempting to reassure me. "Like Yoongi said, there's six of us so we do have safety in numbers, you and Hoseok will have the highest level of security with you at all times to protect you. We need to stay here and keep the business going, we need everyone to see us running the business smoothly and like nothings going on.""Only if you're sure you'll be safe.""We will be Mina, you think too much." Jimin says, throwing a soft, playful smile in my direction."You also don't think enough about yourself and your own safety, we're gonna have a lot of ground rules for this trip." Hoseok says sternly."Oh here we go." Jungkook groans, rolling his eyes."Big man, Hoseok. The boss man setting more rules, what a surprise." Taehying jokes."Yeah good luck with that, Mina." Jin smirked, "you can deal with that alone." He says before getting up out of his chair and starting to leave the room."Hoseok is a rule-junky on normal trips as is, never mind when he's being hunted down." Namjoon says, also getting up to leave."Try not to bore the girl to death, Hobi." Yoongi sarcastically remarks, before leaving the room with everyone else, leaving just Hoseok and I alone.Alone for the first time since the stakeout, in which we never spoke about what had happened between us..The silence between us was striking, ever since last night this is how it's been- the silence hugging us tightly as neither of us knew what to say or where we stand.So is now the time to talk about it?Is it ever going to be talked about?Who is going to be the one to swallow their pride and start off the somewhat difficult, definitely very awkward, conversation?Part of me wants to play the cool girl and act like it was no big deal, like I didn't want anything to come of it anyway.But that isn't me, I need to know wether I'm being strung along or not.Obviously our situation is so beyond unique to any other romance, but I deserve some clarity on what's going on.It happened and there's no going back on that, all that either of us can do is move forward, but that can't be done until we talk about how we're going to move forward.I know Hoseok well enough to know that surely he wouldn't just use me for a night and move on without a care, right?Maybe I don't know everything about him, but surely I know that much.Sure, there's a chance talking about it would make everything awkward, potentially ruin the bond we've created through such tumultuous times.But for my own sanity, for better or for worse, I have to know.The conversation about ground rules could wait for another time.But where do I even start?"Can we leave the whole ground-rules conversation for another time? I have a few things I want to say first." I ask, with a confident tone and a shaking foot."Uh sure, I'm all ears," Hoseok replies, moving from the floor to a chair and spinning around to look at me, though still not looking directly at me as he held eye contact with a fixed point on the skyline behind me."I'm not bringing this up because I'm expecting anything, I'm not bringing this up because I want anything- I just need to know where I stand." I start and Hoseok took in a breathe and held it there whilst biting the skin on his lip. "I just think it's only fair that we clear the air on this. It doesn't have to be awkward, I don't want anything to get in the way of the friendship we have, we of all people can't lose that.""Obviously this is a somewhat awkward discussion to have and that's the only reason I didn't say anything to you in the car earlier. We were hungover and I wanted to give you space, I didn't wanna push anything one way or another." He finally spoke up.He's stopped biting his lip and moved to scratching his neck whilst staring at the floor, speaking to me at the same time."Look, I'm not a serious relationship kinda person- at least I haven't been for a few years. I never intended for that night to go the way it did, the dinner genuinely was for us to get to know each other and discuss our little predicament. The way it ended wasn't a plan I had up my sleeve or anything and I'm not complaining that it happened, I just don't want to lead you on. We have a great friendship, after all we've been through I'm glad we do, but I don't think I can give you much more than that. I just don't think it's a great idea for us to take this any further considering the situation we're in."He hasn't held eye contact once the entire time he was speaking.But I haven't taken my eyes off him."I appreciate your honesty." Is all I can say.Is there really much need to say anything more?
"So are we all good?" Hoseok asks tentatively, finally looking away from the pen lying on the floor and up to me."Yep. We're all good." I confirm, or lie, I'm not too sure. I tried to convey little to no emotion in my voice but I don't know if it came across that way."So, do you want to go over the rules for the trip now or?" He trails off at the end of the question, waiting for my answer."I'm pretty tired after being up so early and waking up hungover- it hasn't done me any good I'd rather just get to bed. We can do it another time though, yeah?"He gave me a soft nod and a small smile and quietly replied, "yeah."And that's that. I got my answer, for better or for worse. How easy it's going to be to digest it is another question, but that's none of Hoseok's concern.
So with that I leave the room as quickly as I can and resolve to lying in bed in the dark, with nothing but the rain against my window to talk to the tears falling down my cheeks.And I'm alone all over again.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Hoseok
Finally arriving at our room in Paradise city at 3pm, on the floor just below Jackson's, I watch as Mina struggles to get her suitcase and carry on into the room. I stand silently a few feet back, stifling a laugh."Need any help?""Nope," she says still struggling, "I got it." Her voice holds no emotion and she's surrounded by an air of stubbornness.I'm not quite sure if my rejection last night wasn't what she was hoping for and this is her attempt to distance herself from me, or if there's something else on her mind. But whatever it is, it's clear she doesn't want to talk to me about it.I understand our personal relationship has gotten a little bit complicated, but I don't want that to affect what we're here to do. I hope she's able to pull it together sooner rather than later.She finally gets into the room, without my help, and what a room it is indeed. I've never stayed here, but it's definitely up to my taste. Though I'd rather have the penthouse-suite, Jackson, unsurprisingly, has that one booked.It's grand and exquisitely decorated and the balcony has a great view, the ensuite bathroom has both a bath and shower and there's a whole bar at the other end of the room but- due to the fact that I left the booking of the hotel to Jin- there's just one king sized bed.Mina stops in the middle of the room and surveys it, almost as though she's looking anywhere she could for a second bed.I feel myself slowly being thrust into the middle of a stupid romance novel, except for the sheer lack of romance between us- that's what I've been telling myself anyway.She turns to look at me with a fiery look in her eyes. "Did you only book one bed?""I didn't, Jin did." I admit."Why did you leave the booking up to any of the boys?""Because I didn't think they were this incompetent.""You say that like he didn't do it on purpose." This makes me pause, I haven't thought about it that way. I'm going to kill him when we're home."Yeah, well I'm never letting him book anything for me ever again. I'll just call the front desk and see if they have any other rooms available." I say, moving towards the phone but I get stopped by Mina."No, don't be so entitled, we can make do. There's a couch, I'll sleep there.""Well come on, I'm obviously not going to let you sleep on the couch.""Fine, then you sleep on it." I was kind of hoping she wouldn't mind sharing the bed. I mean, it's a king size and we've already slept beside each other once before.. But I don't argue."I'll happily sleep on the couch.""Good boy," is all she says and my heart flutters. I do my best to ignore it. "So, what's the plan then? We just going to go up and knock on his door and start hurling questions at him? Do we threaten him? How are we doing this?"I stare at her, silent for a moment, eyebrows raised. "None of that. We're going to sit at the bar outside, if he comes or goes, the bar has a direct view. We'll also be able to see his balcony from there, he can't go anywhere without us seeing.""That's a decent plan, I guess." But she doesn't seem too pleased."You have any better ideas? Except I already know you don't.""No need to be so rude," she spits, but that's not how I intended to come across."I didn't mean to be rude, I was trying to make a joke, sorry." My words trial off at the end."We have better things to do than make jokes." So this is how this trip is going to go."Understandable, sorry." I pause for a moment, trying to think of the best thing to say. "You can stay here while I go sit at the bar, if you want?""I thought the point of me coming along was so I'm not let out of your sight?""Well.. I can tell you don't really want to be around me right now, so I don't want to put you through it if we don't have to." I don't say it's also because I don't want to put up with the snide remarks and attitude all day over something so minuscule in the grand scheme of things.She takes a small breath in and looks around the room for a moment, thinking."Sure, I don't mind staying here, just call me if anything significant happens.""Sure thing," I say. And without another word from either of us, I leave for the bar.// //I arrive at the bar and ponder for a moment wether or not I should order a drink. Maybe I shouldn't so I can keep my wits about me in case Jackson makes an appearance, but a louder part of my brain is telling me that a drink won't hurt- so I do it.A vodka soda. The bartender hands me the drink and it's stronger than I expected.I take a seat at an empty table and angle myself so I'm directly facing Jackson's balcony. I can't see any movement in the room, the doors closed and there's no one on the balcony or any of the other ones that his group is staying in.This is starting to feel a lot like yesterday's stakeout.I know I should focus on Jackson but, just like yesterday, my mind drifts to Mina.I thought I had a weight off my chest, letting her down gently, but still, the heaviness is there.Something is still weighing me down. There's too many options of what that could be that I try my best to ignore the feeling completely, that's a lot easier said than done though.There's still a heavy weight, tied around my neck like a ball and chain, dragging behind me and taking all of my mental energy just to get through the day.But if there's one thing I'm good at, it's suppressing my emotions- and that is exactly what I'll do, what's one more time gonna hurt?I just wish I wasn't hurting her more in the process. It's clear to me now, the way she's pushing me away today, what my rejection meant to her. It doesn't take a genius to see that maybe she was hoping for me to say that it meant something, and it pains me that I couldn't give her that.I organised that date, yes to discuss our predicament, but I genuinely did want to get to know her more. And it's not that I didn't like what I learned or any part of her that's turned me away, but there was a moment that night, after we had fallen asleep together that I woke up with her in a deep sleep in my arms and I laid awake for a while just thinking.I came to a cutting realisation that I am not good for her. Knowing me has brought nothing but danger to her life, I've completely uprooted her and essentially made her my live-in maid for a while and what good am I bringing to her?She's brought every ounce of goodness she has into our friendship and I've done nothing but drain her of it and provide a few jokes here and there. I didn't do it on purpose, but if that's all I have to provide, then how could I entangle her with me even deeper when I'll do nothing but drag her down?As soon as we solve this, I can slowly start to let her go. She can move in with her friends again, she can be free of me and the danger that shadows me wherever I go and no one has to get hurt any further.If I admitted to her that kiss meant something, there'd be no telling what would grow between us and then she'd never be able to leave at the end of this story that's being written for us. So I won't let it happen.As much as it hurts me, I'll let her push me away if that's what's best for her. As long as I can still keep her close enough to keep her safe, then whatever distance she wants to remain is okay with me.I finish my drink faster than I realise and, considering how strong it was, I feel my inhibitions slowly start to lower and I decide to order another.After I finish that one, I get a text from Jin. I have to squint to see my phone properly and even then, I can just about make out the words.
'Just got word from the hotel manager, Jackson checked out at midnight last night, seemed to be in a hurry'
I don't even bother attempting to write a reply, I groan and slam my phone down on the table, not caring about wether or not it breaks.I wonder for a minute how Jin convinced the hotel manager to feed us information until I remember that we supply security software to this hotel, we have them in our pockets.I then get to thinking why on earth would Jackson flee at 5am? What could be so urgent that has him rushing out?He left long before we got here, now it's an entirely wasted trip. Although I decide it doesn't have to be and order a third drink.I always knew my life wasn't going to be easy, it never has been and the moment the boys and I started setting up the company, I knew this life was going to come with many hurdles. But I never could've seen all of this coming.And I know I deserve it, as much as I hate to admit it, the boys probably do too. None of us have a squeaky clean slate, but Mina? She doesn't deserve to be put through all of this because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's all it was for her and now her life is in constant danger because of something I did- and I still don't know what that is.What if it wasn't Jackson? What if it wasn't Sehun? Does that mean it has to be the third option? The one thing Mina can never know about me. I've sat up through so many late nights, trying to think of ways I could get through this without telling Mina the third option and they all lead back to me having to tell her. If she doesn't hate me now, she'd hate me then.I order a fourth drink.I can deal with her hating me over the rejection, but if the reason she hates me is because of the reason I hate myself? It might just be the last nail in the coffin.If it isn't Jackson or Sehun, we're going back to the drawing board. We'll come up with another reason, God knows there's plenty more. We jumped the gun putting option three out there, there's other people it could be. I would tell Mina every other reason someone could be out to get me before I tell her option three.I look down at my glass to take another sip and it's empty. I barely even remember drinking it at this point.I can feel my thoughts slowly start to fill up the confines of my mind, pilling up against my skull, pounding on my head and they all start to flow out in the form of, "can I get another vodka soda please?"But I know the more I drink, the more I won't have to think about the things I've done, the less it'll hurt and the less time I have to spend hating myself, so maybe drinking myself into oblivion isn't really a bad idea.// //By the time I decided to leave the bar at around 9pm, I was considerably drunk, potentially even more drunk than Mina and I were a few nights ago, and definitely too drunk to go back to the room in this state.I wasn't going to let Mina be responsible for babysitting my drunken self, so even though it was closed, I found the hotel pool and threw myself in it.Was there a risk of drowning considering my far from sober state? Potentially. But I was more going for the sobering technique and it sort of worked. Falling into the definitely-not-heated pool sent a large enough jolt of adrenaline through my system to wake me up enough to go back to the room, where Mina would hopefully be fast asleep, but I still felt slightly drunk- albeit less than I was before.Before security came and found me in the pool after hours, I quickly got out and made my way back to our room.I swipe the keycard in the door and with a beep and a flash of the green light, it opens and Mina is nowhere to be seen.I rush into the room, already starting to feel a slight wave of panic- I knew I shouldn't have left her alone, I check the balcony and she's not there, I rush back into the room before shouting, "Mina!" I pause for a moment and notice the bathroom door is closed and the shower is running.Crisis averted. Just to be sure, I go to the door and shout, "Mina, you in there?""Obviously I'm in here, I'm in the shower!" She shouts back. Still has an attitude, but at least she's okay.I take my wet clothes off and put on a fresh pair of boxers and decide it's too hot for any pyjamas, so this is how I'm sleeping tonight.I make sure the door to our room is locked and just for a moment, just until she's out of the shower, I lie down on the bed. She won't mind if it's just for a minute.The shower's still running, I've got some time, I close my eyes just to rest them for a moment, I'll be out of the bed as soon as she turns the shower off.//By the time I wake up, I feel a movement beside me in the bed, I look over and see Mina slipping under the covers. Considering how big the bed is, she's far enough away from me that we aren't touching but we're close.It's a full moon tonight, and the curtains are still open so as the light floods into the room it just about lights up Mina's face so that I can, thankfully, still see it.I don't know if she's noticed I'm awake yet so I clear my throat and say, "sorry, I.. I just meant to rest my eyes, I'll move to the couch now.""No," she starts quietly, "I don't mind, you can stay there if you want." She says it in the softest, most gentle voice, I can feel it melting the ice cold shell of my heart; just a little."Are you sure?""As long as you stay on your side, I don't mind." I notice her eyes trail down, ever so slightly, and I remember all I'm wearing is boxers. I quickly feel my cheeks flush and all of a sudden I feel exposed.I know earlier I said I wouldn't mind sharing a bed but right now I'm starting to take that back. I can't give Mina what she wants from me but right now, lying half-naked in a bed next to her? How am I supposed to keep my mind from going there?But I can't let anything happen, no matter how bad either of us want something to happen, I can't drag her down even more with me. We have to stay as detached as we possibly can.I care about her, God, I care about her so so much and I want to make sure she knows that, but it's because I care about her that there can't be anything more than friendship.But she hasn't stopped looking at me in the last twenty seconds of silence between us and I can't stop looking at her and I wonder which of us is going to break first because if she doesn't, I don't know how to hold myself back from kissing her.As much as I'm still half drunk, I'm also half sober and that's when reason starts to win in my mind over the lust- the last time I kissed her, we were drunk. She may not be this time, but I can't do that again.It's the drunken impulsivity and careless decisions that leads me to do that, I'm letting my sober mind win this fight. I can't keep leading her on just because I'm drunk and she's pretty and who doesn't like kissing pretty girls?Really pretty girls who fill my stomach with butterflies when they say my name and who breaks my heart anytime she looks sad, the pretty girl who floats around my mind all day like a song lyric you can't seem forget about- except I don't want to forget about her. She dances around my mind all day long, she's like an angel on my shoulder but the devil at the same time- I would do anything for her.How on earth am I supposed to act like I don't want her when she's this perfect, right in front of me, she's real and she's perfect and I can't do anything about it.Still just lying in silence, looking at each other, I stiffen as she makes a move towards me. She leans up on her elbow, and almost as though she read my mind, she kisses me on the forehead and whispers, "Goodnight, Hoseok."// //Mina stands in the bathroom packing her toiletries and I sit, defeated, on the edge of the bed- the one that we slept in together last night- not that that means anything to me.We were fifteen hours late, fifteen whole hours. Did we just get unlucky? Or did Jackson somehow know we were coming? He couldn't have, the only people who knew we were coming to Paradise city was me, Mina and the boys, and none of them even cross my mind, so how?I don't like being two steps behind my adversaries, it's not an enjoyable position to be in. It gets me no where and gives them something to hold over me, I can't have that. I know our people will be able to find him again but if he got a whiff of us, he's already got enough of a head start, we can't fall even more behind.I fall back onto the bed and let out a heavy sigh, Mina comes out ready to pack her toiletries bag and I shut my eyes."Still stressing about Jackson?" She asks. I'm still a little taken aback that she's actually still willing to speak to me.I suppose last night was an indication that she's prepared to move on from this, it's like she read my mind when she kissed my forehead, she understands we can't go on the way we were. That she accepts what I said to her and we can move on together.Good. That's exactly what I want.We can't have anything dragging us down."Yeah, I'm just pissed off we were so late, we could've left last night after the meeting and maybe we wouldn't have."
She sits down next to me on the bed."Yeah, no. It would've been a solo trip for you because I was still hungover and after that stakeout? I just wanted a hot bath and my bed."I turn to her with a small smile, "yeah you were a bit of a baby about it.""Hey!" She exclaims, shoving me slightly but smiling straight back at me. "Don't think I won't push you off this bed right now, we'll test your hangover today.""I am barely hungover.""Please, I heard you retching in the bathroom this morning, you are so hungover.""Maybe just a little," I give in."How much did you have to drink?""Enough so they completely ran out of the drink I was ordering."She looks at me with a look of nothing but shock and maybe a little bit of horror. "And why were your clothes wet on the floor?""I jumped in the pool to sober up a little.""Well you fell asleep in my bed so it didn't work." She says coyly."I did only say a little. And you told me it was fine!""You'd already fallen asleep, I wasn't going to wake a sleeping man and tell him to get on the couch.""Why didn't you?" She furrows her eyebrows in confusion. "Sleep on the couch, I mean." I'm in dangerous territory and maybe this is stupid of me to ask but I'm curious as to what she'll say.She looks me straight in the eyes with a glare that almost reads, 'now why would you ask me that?' But it doesn't look mean and she doesn't look sad, once again, she doesn't really I've anything away, I'm back to being unable to read her.But she takes a breath in and shifts her mouth to the side a little and pauses for a moment, then says, "you expect a lady to sleep on the couch? And we already agreed the bed was mine." She said it in a playful tone, trying to take the weight off what she said because we both know that's not the reason why.But I'll play dumb, if it saves us the heartache, I'll play dumb.I don't want her, she doesn't want me, that's all there is to it.She gets off the bed and walks over to her suitcase with her toiletry bag, I open my mouth to attempt to reply to her lighthearted, untrue joke but I get cut off by a gasp from Mina.I jump up out of bed saying, "what is it?" and rush over to her, placing my hand on the back of her arm as if this is my attempt to protect her.She says nothing but she takes a step back revealing her open suitcase and a red sticky note in the middle.I feel my heart stop in the middle of a beat.
'Didn't think you'd find us here did you? You'll never see us, but we're watching you. We promised you, next time, there's enough bullets for 2.'
And for a moment, it's as though my heart refuses to pump anymore blood, it's now frozen in time. I have no idea what's going on around me as I focus completely on the note. I hesitate to lift it out of the suitcase and flip it over, examining it as if it's going to give me anymore clues.It won't. They're ten steps ahead of us and they know how to play this game better than us, whoever 'they' is.How on earth did they get in the room? When? Why now? Why not just kill us if they were here to place a note? Why go through the effort of taunting us so heavily- what is their game?My heart suddenly bursts into action and now I can feel it doing overtime, the extra work it's doing pumping adrenaline through my veins and I can either chose to fight or flight and I'm definitely not picking flight.I rush over to the door and check it's locked, looking through the peephole and seeing nothing. As if it matters now anyway. "Did anyone knock on the door when I was at the bar yesterday?" I ask urgently."No.. No, I sat and watched a couple movies and read a few chapters of my book, no one knocked." Mina replies, visibly still in shock."Did you fall asleep at any point?""No. I.. I was awake the entire time, I was waiting for you." My heat skips a beat a little. It doesn't matter. Not now."What about when you were in the shower? Did you hear anything at all in the room?" I'm frantically trying to piece it all together. Not that any of this information would be of any help now."I had only been in the shower for five minutes before you came back.""That's all they would've needed." I say quietly, shaking my head slightly. "I mean it could've been while we were asleep too, I was comatose, it wouldn't have woken me as long as they were quiet about it.""Yeah, I'm a pretty heavy sleeper too." Mina says, voice flat and devoid of any emotion. Almost as though if she pulls it all back she won't feel it, she's scared, I know she is.She stands, leaning against the bar, gripping both of her elbows as she crosses her arms across her chest.I know I hurt her yesterday but I have to be there for her now. I stand in front of her and place my hands on her arms and say, "I promised you from the beginning I would protect you from this and I promise you I will from here on out. I should've had security closer, I put you in danger and for that I am so so sorry. I will throw myself in front of every shot fired if it means protecting you and you know who else would? Every single one of the boys, especially Jimin. He keeps saying how you're the best thing to ever come into our lives and you are. I can't express to you how grateful I am to have met you, Mina."She says nothing for a moment but closes her eyes and steadies her breathing as best she can before opening her eyes, looking at me and saying, "Thank you, that means a lot but can we get out of here because my skin is starting to crawl." She steps away from me, finally putting her toiletries away and getting ready to leave faster than I've ever seen any girl get ready before.She's pulling away again and I deserve it, but I still mean every word I said.I will do anything for her.
Mina
I'm still shaking as security leads us from the exit of the hotel towards a massive, completely blacked out van.How can this be happening? Security was supposed to be closer and how on earth did they get into the room and why taunt us instead of killing us? I don't think I can handle these sick and twisted games they're playing. They refer to themselves as a 'we' on the note- so it's a group? It's Jackson's entourage that he keeps around him?Why are we never safe? How am I supposed to sleep at night knowing I'm never safe?I'm spiralling. I can feel it.I'm going down a path I can't save myself from.I need Jennie and Lisa. They can save me when I can't save myself.I turn to Hoseok and desperately say, "give me five minutes? I just need to talk to Jennie and Lisa quickly, I promise I won't take long."He whistles to security in front of us and holds up five fingers, they nod and stand in front of the van, although facing us, never taking their eyes off us."I'll just be over there, just wait here please." I ask.He looks hesitant but he nods and I walk over to a tree and steady myself against it before calling Lisa's phone.It rings and rings and rings... And with every dial tone I feel my heartbeat quicken and the tears threaten to spill. It keeps ringing and my heart drops into my stomach. She's not going to pick up.The ringing ends with no answer and I let out a deeply held sigh but remember I still have Jennie.I start calling and she picks up within two rings."Oh god, Jennie, thank you for answering. Can you talk?" I say through shaky breaths and tears that now steadily flow."Yes, of course. Oh doll, you sound all bent out of shape, what's wrong?" Her voice is all warmth and sunlight, comfort and home."I need a hug from you so bad right now, I wish you were here.""Where's here, Mins? Why aren't you home?""Hoseok and I went on a trip out of town and it's all gone so wrong, so so wrong.""What's he done to you? I'll be over straight away, just tell me what he's doing and I'll make the punishment fit the crime." If I wasn't crying I'd laugh."It's not Hoseok, he hasn't done anything to me." I assure her. Though I suppose that's not one-hundred-percent true, but that's a conversation for another day."Are you sure?""I promise, it's not Hoseok.""What's got you so worked up then? I haven't seen you this way since before you met him."And she's right, from the beginning, being around him has instilled a deep sense of calm within me. Like I've always known him and my mind knows it's safe with him. He's almost become my new safe place and that's a dangerous discovery considering the emotional wall now formed between us. I can't place all my hope in him being the one to keep me safe, I can't let it happen."I can't really talk about it, and I know I'm being so cryptic recently, I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you more but I can't. I'm just really worried right now, everything's so.. so confusing and even if I wanted to give you answers I couldn't. I just need you to help me calm down before I really go over the edge, please.""Oh, love. Something's really getting to you, huh? Whatever you want to share with me, that's okay, and whatever you don't want to share that's okay too. I will always support you and be here for you anytime you need me- day or night, you know that. Right now, I need you to take a deep breath for me, can you do that?""I don't think I can, not anymore, everything's so much harder now." I feel like I'm suffocating."You have faced so much, Mins. I know and you know that whatever is happening right now is not enough to beat you. Right?"I let out a scoff at my own pathetic behaviour, "it might just be.""No, love. It won't be. I won't let you think like that. I promised to always pull you back from the edge whenever your mind dare send you near it and that's what I intend to do, hear me?""I hear you.""Good, now how about that deep breath?"I do as she asks, I try to let her work her magic on me but it doesn't feel like before, this life I've been thrust into is making it so much harder.But I try, I owe it to her to really try."In and then out? You got that? In and out. Keep doing that- slow breaths, keep doing that until they're steady breaths. You are so unbelievably strong, Mina. You've got through this before and you'll do it again."I stop her, "I'm not as strong as you think.""Hey don't stop those deep breaths, keep at it until it's steady. I don't know what you're going through right now but I know you can beat
it. You can beat whatever life throws at you. Anxiety may be your inner demon but you've never let it win before and I know you know that now isn't the time to let it happen either. Focus on your breathing, settle your nervous system. Remind yourself that the fight is not now, you don't have to catastrophize like this. I know it feels like it's all falling down around you but it's not, I promise you it's not. You've got this, Mina, you do. You hear me?" Time and time again, a miracle worker.Just the sound of her voice leading me through the dark and some guided deep breathing and I my mind already feels less chaotic. My heartbeat feels less urgent.She is my light in the dark. My saviour."Jennie Kim, I love you. You are a miracle worker- my miracle worker. I should pay you for the work you do.""Oh stop that you," she says humbly."I mean it. I couldn't get through life without you.""I love you too, sister. Are you okay now?""Thanks to you, yes. I hope I didn't disrupt your day.""No you didn't, don't worry. I was just setting up some new furniture but you're more important.""And you're one in a million. I'll talk to you later?""Of course. Bye, Mins." Jennie says, and I can hear the smile through her voice."Later, pretty." I reply with a smile too.I hang up, finally able to breathe properly. I take another deep breath in and out, steady myself and turn around to walk back to Hoseok.But he isn't standing just a few feet away where I left him, he's standing surrounded by security, and the look on his face is nothing but sheer anger and determination. He's speaking to one of the security guards, but he keeps going back and forth, like he's directing individual instructions at each guard. It's more like yelling but I can tell it's not at the security, just whatever's going on.What is going on?Confused by the situation before me, I jog over to the men, announcing myself to Hoseok's back with, "what's happening? Is something wrong?" Not again, Jennie just fixed me."Jimin's missing." He snapped as he turns to face me. I don't take it personal."What?" I exclaim."I.. God, I.." He can't even get his words out before burying his face in his hands and then running them through his hair."How do you know?" He hands me a phone, open on a text from an unknown number.
'Heard from Jimin much? I doubt it. Ask your friends the last time they heard from him.'
"No.." I can't manage to say much else.I don't have the same level of connection with Jimin that I have with Hoseok, but out of the rest of the boys, he'd be the one I'm closest to. There's just something he does when I'm with him that puts me at ease, sort of similar to how I feel with Hoseok but a little different.When I'm with Hoseok I know I'm physically safe, no harm will ever come to me. I know he cares deeply for me and I, of course, feel the same way about him.I honestly haven't spent really any one-on-one time with Jimin, just fleeting moments here and there. But when he's in the room, there's always a sense of calm. I can never pinpoint exactly what it is that comes over me when he's around, I don't want to give it too much merit yet, but it feels real.So the fact that he's missing? Right after the note. Are they connected? Why not just mention this in the note?I know my world wants to fall in on itself but I can't let it this time. This is about more than me and when it comes to protecting those I care about, I will not fall apart."I called the boys and they admitted that Jimin left for the hotel to confront Jackson right after our meeting, he left around 9pm and the last they heard from him was 11:14. Sixteen whole hours before we got to the hotel. Sixteen hours and no one fucking told me!" He bellows, throwing his phone to the gravel on the ground.I've never seen Hoseok so angry before, he's usually very good at holding such a calm expression at all times, a poker face so no one knows how he's feeling.Although I of course understand why at this very moment, all of that composure goes out the window, no one could blame him. We all hit our breaking point eventually and for him to have held on for this long is impressive, I just wish I could actually do something to help in this situation.All the security guards, except one who stays with us, walk back into the hotel, presumably to ask the staff if they saw anything."So Jackson has him? He went to confront Jackson and he took him. Where would Jackson go after here, would he take him back to Seoul?""I don't know. I don't know." He says, his voice filled with worry. "How am I supposed to know that, Mina?" He yells at me.Don't take it personally, Mina."Have you tried texting the number? Seeing what they want?" I ask hesitantly."No.. No that's a good start." He picks his phone up off the ground, it ended up with a few cracks, but not enough to obscure the screen. "What do I say?""Maybe just start with what do you want?" I suggest.He quickly types the message with a shaking hand and presses send, surprisingly it goes through.Not even a second goes by and the three little dots that indicate someone is typing pops up. While we wait for a response, I toy with the rings on my fingers and find myself biting the skin on my lips- a habit I've had for years.Suddenly, the wind picks up and the trees on the grounds of the hotel start swaying, the leaves on its branches rustling, creating an environment that is anything but silent. The cool air strikes my skin and I feel goosebumps run over my bare arms. The cold would usually bother me, but not right now, my mind is preoccupied by a million other things."Holy shit, how long does it-" Hoseok says, but stops himself when a message pops up on the screen.
'We want you, Hoseok. If you're not here by 2pm- alone. Well.. I think you can imagine what'll happen'
The following message is a location tag and just half a second later follows a picture. Hoseok presses it, it's Jimin. Tied up on a chair in what seems to be a barn.There's blood dripping from his nose and a large gash evident on his forehead. One eye is swollen shut so he looks up at the camera with just one eye. His face is pulled in a tightened expression, one that shows all the pain he's endured the past sixteen hours- and all we can see is the damage to his face. Who knows what else they've done to him?My heart screams out to the rest of my body that I have to do something. It's the same feeling I had when I found Hoseok bleeding out in the middle of that road that one, fateful day. That sense of dread and urgency. The feeling that says this moment is going to be more important than I realise, which is something I only figured out in hindsight but I recognise it now, I know what it means."Put the address in maps, come on, we have to go now." I say, starting to walk to the passenger side door but Hoseok grabs my arm."No, Mina. The text says alone, just me. I'm not dragging you into more dangerous situations and I'm not putting Jimin's life at risk.""I have to do something, I can't just sit here and do nothing!""That's exactly what you're going to do! I'm going tell the driver to get out and give me the keys, then I'm going to get in this car and drive off. You're going to stay here and tell security not to follow me. You'll be safe with them, they'll get another car here very quickly and they'll take you back to my apartment where you'll wait until Jimin and I get back. Do you understand?" He tells me all of this with an authoritative tone but I'm barely listening.All I can pay attention to is the sound of my heartbeat and the rushing thoughts that tell me I can't let Jimin die."You're seriously going to leave me here with them? And what if something happens to you both and you don't come back?" I ask, my voice dripping with disdain."Oh come on, Mina, now is not the time to act like a spoiled brat. I don't have time for this, I don't have time for you. 2pm they said, or Jimin dies. Don't you get that? It's 12:04 now, I don't know how long it's going to take to get there, I don't have time to stand here arguing with a damn child. Jimin is my responsibility, not yours, stop acting like you have a say in this."It's getting a lot harder not to take the things he says personally. Is he seriously implying I don't have the right to care about Jimin?"Are we done?" He spits, and in this moment it feels like he hates me.I roll my eyes and let out a sigh, "sure." He rushes to the drivers side and opens the door, briefly says something to the driver and before I know it, he speeds off.Security comes rushing out of the hotel, frantically looking around until their eyes stop on me. They fire a dozen questions at me and I tell them everything Hoseok said, they curse amongst each other and then one of them calls for another car.I know I can't be the one to save everyone but I can't help but feel like the most useless person on the entire planet.
Hoseok
I can't slow down my thoughts, I feel like I've drank ten energy drinks but yet, I'm more focused than I've ever been. My brain is analysing every detail my eyes send its way, every word on every road sign, every car that passes by me and the people inside, the birds that glide through the sky above.I've been driving for around fifteen minutes, the GPS says I'm just ten minutes away; I'm gonna make it there in time.In the time I've been driving I've had time to think, if Jackson would go this far as to kidnap Jimin and then lure me out to the middle of nowhere, what else is he capable of? This has to mean he's the one who orchestrated the shooting, right?He's held a grudge against me for this long and this is how he gets his revenge.There's every chance I'm not going to walk away from this.There's no way he's luring me out there to what? Have a chat and then he'll let Jimin and I go? His gripe is with me, not Jimin, I can't let him hurt him. But when it comes down to it all, both of our lives have value to The Company, I have to find a way for both of us to make it out of this alive.I've never been in a position like this with any of the boys, never been faced with losing the ones who are closest to me. The vision that The Company has for the world can't be completed unless all seven of us are apart of it, if we lose even one of us... Everything we have planned will never come to fruition.I come down from my thoughts and all that rings through my mind is how important Jimin is in this world, and to me. I'll be damned if I let Jackson take that away from us.That man has severely underestimated the lengths we would go to for each other.Even with how fast I'm driving, my attention is still drawn to a figure at the side of the road. I slow down slightly and focus my eyes on the limping man, walking along the dirt track at the side of the road. It takes less than a second for my brain to work out who it is.I quickly bring the car to a halt and pull over, before getting out and running to the man."Jimin! What the fuck? How the fuck?" I exclaim.In the picture Jackson sent earlier, only one of his eyes were swollen shut, although at this point the other one is almost shut with it. On closer inspection, I can tell the gash on his forehead definitely needs medical attention."Hey man," he spurts out, before slipping into a small coughing fit."How did you get away?"He coughs some more before he answers with, "you know how weak that crew is. Bunch of prissy little boys, getting out of there was nothing." He says smugly."Yeah, well looks like those prissy little boys did quite a number on you." I say with an eyebrow raised and a slight smile."They caught a man at a bad time. And it's easy to pummel him if you knock him out and tie him to a chair first. They left me alone for too long, I got out of the chair and messed a few of them up when they came back to the barn and then I was out of there."I put my arm around his body to support him and lead him into the passenger seat of the car. I quickly run around to the driver's seat, get in and lock the door, who knows how close they could be if they've come after him."What was the point of all this? Did Jackson admit to shooting me?""I mean not in so many words but these were the actions of a desperate man. When I woke up tied to the chair, he was sitting on a chair in front of me just staring at me, waiting. He threw the first few kicks and punches before he let his man have at it. But in between punches he'd stop and get angry about that night, when we took his stash. We have to be right man, he's held a grudge all this time. He got too worked up and left before I could ask him anything about what he did to you."I put my face in my hands and sigh before rubbing my eyes and looking at Jimin, who's looking worse by the minute."Why would you put yourself at risk like this, Jimin. I had it handled, you didn't need to put yourself in the crosshairs.""He's hurt you enough, I didn't want to see him do it again, I wanted to step up for once. I wanted to make him pay, and I would've if he didn't get the jump on me first."I sigh before pulling him into a hug, "thank you brother.""Ahh, take it easy, I don't think there's a place on my body the bastards didn't leave a bruise.""Sorry," I laugh slightly. "For real though, thank you.""Nothing we wouldn't all do for each other, right?" He says."That's damn right." I smile. "Now it's time to get you to a hospital. We can say you got mugged."He tuts, "no brother, I'm not the one that got mugged." He holds up a gold watch, "you don't think his boys will miss this, do you?"I shake my head and laugh, "you're a fucking menace, Park Jimin.""All in a days work," he laughs with me.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Mina
For a while it seemed like maybe it was just Hoseok and I at risk, there was no indication the people who shot him were after his friends too, but after the events of the past twenty-four hours?It became increasingly obvious that there was no safe players in the game we found ourselves entrapped in.Hoseok came home after dropping Jimin off, safe and sound. Triple security around everyone's apartment, ours included.There was always at least a few security around at all times, but the increased measures was a lot to get used to, but as long as it meant no one else would get hurt then I'd grit and bear it.Although I did have to admit, being at a point in my life where I had constant security around me at all times of the day made me wonder how I ever went without it.I always had an anxious mind, so every bump in the night made my mind wander and every shadow outside my bedroom window had my heart racing.But knowing that I had a line of defence around me all day long? I'd never felt safer.Of course there was still worries, because of the situation Hoseok and I happened to be in, but having armed men to stand guard around us definitely mollified a lot of the anxious thoughts.Not only did the security make me feel safe, the people I was surrounded by did a great job of that too.Hoseok would've never let anyone harm a hair on my head, he let me move into his apartment with him just to keep me safe and he did a good job of it.But Jimin was the kind of person who radiated serenity and safety the second he walked into a room, does that make sense?I don't know how to describe it, it was just the energy he carried with him without even saying a word.You knew your secrets were safe with him, your feelings, your drink- anything.Sometimes it took the worst case scenario happening for you to realise how you actually felt about someone; what happened to Jimin only made me realise how much I wanted to develop my friendship with him.We had a lot in common and found ourselves relating to each other in the few conversations we had. I liked all of Hoseok's friends, but Jimin had to take first place.You know when you meet someone on the playground at school and you start talking or playing a game and you just know, in that very moment, that you're going to be the best of friends? That was what it felt like talking to Jimin.And I hoped it wasn't just me who felt that way. My friendship with Hoseok had become quite frayed; we'd always have a close bond because of the trauma we shared, but I couldn't help but feel far from him.Developing a closer relationship with Jimin would do a lot to help me get through the stress of everything that was going on. I rarely got to see Jennie and Lisa anymore, but I saw the boys almost everyday, so it'd be nice to have a closer relationship with at least one of them.Someone I could talk to about the stresses of our unique situation, I couldn't talk to Jennie or Lisa about this stuff, nor did I think I could talk to Hoseok- so who did that leave?The boy who gave me his only chocolate chip cookie the first day we met. He didn't know me, but he still cared enough to sacrifice his own pleasure for me.He brought a very specific vibe to the group that I swear is impossible to find in other people. You start talking and all of his attention was completely focused on you, you could feel his eyes boring into your innermost self, it felt like he could read you like a book. And then when he responded to the things you said, he made sure to give genuine answers, showing you that he listened to every word that you spoke. He'd always make sure to include you on everything that was going on- if he was going out for food but you say you'd rather stay home, he'd bring you home a full meal, even if you didn't ask.It's rare to find a person so attentive to every little detail, but Jimin made it look easy.That's why it struck a cord in me when Hoseok said he'd been taken, I couldn't help but think about how much light the world would lose if Jimin was no longer in it. It's not even worth thinking about.I didn't know how useful I was going to be in this endeavour, but I was going to try my hardest to make sure no more harm came to Jimin- or anyone else for that matter- but Jimin, specifically, deserved some peace.It was barely 10am and I'd already tidied and organised my entire room- most of my belongings were still in suitcases or bags from when I moved into the apartment. I had a habit of procrastinating things for so long and then suddenly getting a burning desire to do it all at once, so that was what happened this morning.In doing that, I neglected breakfast, so with every movement I made, my stomach groaned and begged for some sustenance, I finally decided to comply.When I walked into the kitchen, Hoseok was slouched at the breakfast island, slowly and begrudgingly eating what looked to be a burnt fried egg. How someone could even burn a fried egg, I had no idea, but if anyone could manage it, it'd be Hoseok."Good morning, Grumpy," I said.He looked up and with absolutely no enthusiasm replied, "morning.""Not a good one?" I asked."Not really.""Care to elaborate?""It doesn't matter.""Well it does if you're gonna sit here sad all day, you're ruining the vibes of the apartment," I joked."Sorry,""You don't need to apologise, I was joking," I paused. "Ya know what, never mind. Are you holding back because you really don't want to talk about it, or because you don't want to bother me?""The second one.""Okay, well I'm telling you now it won't bother me, so you up for talking now?"He took a deep breath in and dropped his fork to the plate- fried egg still on the end of it- he sat in silence for a brief second before saying, "I don't know how to explain it and I don't know if you'll understand it- I just miss work. I know most people would be ecstatic to get so much time off, but I've wanted to get back since the second I woke up in that hospital bed. You don't know how much blood, sweat and tears I've put into building this company into the multi-billion won company that it is and I genuinely enjoy what I do. I never went into work hating my life and the job I had, I woke up excited to go to work, and never wanting to leave when I got there. We've built an empire, me and the boys, and I don't want to let down a single one of them. This company is so damn important, I can't even put it into words. That place truly contains my heart and soul in the walls and I want nothing more than to go back but I don't know if I have the all clear yet. I feel useless."He finished and looked up from his plate and caught my eye, I held his gaze, trying to peer into his soul to try and understand him completely- but that was something I didn't have the luxury of."Wow, I had no idea work meant that much to you. It's commendable how much you've put into that place, truly, I give you my respect. You're right in saying I don't know how you feel, I've never experienced that, but I do understand where you're coming from.""I'm just feeling a little lost at the moment, but just don't mind me, you don't have to worry.""Well of course I'm going to worry. You know I care about you, seeing you this way hurts me.""I'm sorry."I gave a small smile, "I told you, you have nothing to be sorry for.""Sorr-" he cut himself off and we both laughed.I took a moment to ponder an idea before suggesting it to Hoseok. "The doctor might've said you can't do any work right now, but he never said you couldn't go to work, right?"He furrowed his eyebrows a little and smirked, "what are you implying?""Let's take a trip into the office, you can show me around and soak in the feeling of how nice it is to be there.""That's not a bad idea." A full smile spread across his face. "You really want to come with me?""Of course I do, if it wipes the frown you had off your face then I'll do anything.""You're an angel, Mina.""I know," I smiled. "I'm going to make myself breakfast before we head out, I think my stomach is about to digest itself. Would you like some actually edible food too?""If you don't mind..""Whatever you like, your Majesty.""Did I ever tell you you're the best?""No, but you should more often."We shared another laugh as I started to pull ingredients out of the fridge."By the way, I don't like to call work 'the office', it feels like it demeans the value of the company and it's worth so much more than just some boring little office building.""Oops, my bad. What is the company's full name anyway? You might've told me before, but I don't remember.""Bangtan Security. But for reasons unknown, we've always referred to it as Bighit. I think one of the boys came up with it one day because of a joke and it just stuck.""Sounds good to me. One breakfast fit for a king on its way, then we're off to Bighit.""That sentence was music to my ears."❧❦ ❧Stepping into the Bighit building, you could instantly tell it was a multi-billion won company.The large, modern lobby hailed high ceilings and marble floors, with a grand black and gold chandelier that hung from the ceiling. To the left, you could see up onto the second and third floor and to the right there was a half-circle-like reception desk at which a young woman sat, very focused on whatever she was typing on her computer.As Hoseok and I walked through security at the front door and towards to centre of the lobby, we captured the woman's attention, she looked at us for a quick second before standing and giving him a deep bow and cheerfully she said, "CEO Jung, oh my, you're back?""Hello, Jisoo," Hoseok said with a bow in response. "I'm just in for a visit today, I should back to working very soon."He spoke to his employees with so much respect, that wasn't something you'd typically see in CEOs of big companies. Although, knowing Hoseok, this wasn't much of a surprise but it was nice to see.And how excited Jisoo was as soon as she saw him was only further proof of how well his employees must've been treated."Yes, Sir, of course. Your health is most important! It's wonderful to see you again, though.""Thank you, Jisoo, it's lovely to see you too," Hoseok replied with a very genuine smile, one that lit up every one of his features, the truest smile I'd seen from him in weeks. To this, Jisoo blushed and was very clearly flustered, she smiled and turned away back to her computer where she smiled to herself as she continued typing.We started to walk towards the elevators at the wall opposite the entrance as I said, "she's a big fan of yours.""Jisoo? She's a nice girl, she's worked here since the beginning.""Oh wow, you have very dedicated staff.""I told you, there's not a single person that works here who isn't here for a reason," he said confidently.This left me confused, what reason was he talking about? But before I could ask, an elevator opened and revealed Namjoon.He was wearing charcoal grey dress pants and a white shirt with the top two buttons undone, with a completely undone tie hung around his neck. He carried a grey suit jacket over his arm and a coffee in the other hand.
He was looking at the floor and just before he looked up and noticed us, I noticed his face was painted with a look of exasperation and the way he was dressed reflected that.But the second he looked up his expression changed and joy flooded his face. "Hoseok!" He exclaimed, quickly exiting the elevator and jogging towards him with open arms. "I've missed seeing you in this building."They embraced each other and clapped each other's backs in typical 'bro hug' fashion."Good to see you too, Joon."Namjoon turned to me, also opening his arms and embracing me whilst saying, "it's very nice to see you too, Mina."We separated and I replied, "Good to see you too. How's your day been, you look frazzled.""Frazzled doesn't even describe it. I'm going to the cafeteria where I'm praying some food will help clear my mind, you two wanna join?""I'm going up to discuss a few things with Jin, we can all meet in a meeting room in a bit though?" Hoseok said."Sure, just text me when.""Will do. Oh, can you bring me back something good though? Whatever today's special is.""You got it, brother. You want anything, Mina?""I'm all good, thank you for the offer though," I said brightly before he replied,"no worries!" And walked towards a corridor which I assumed, must've led to the cafeteria.We stepped into an elevator that had fifty-two buttons displayed. Obviously I could tell this was a large building, but the sobering reality of it being a fifty-two floor building quickly washed over me.Thank goodness I wasn't afraid of heights, otherwise living in Hoseok's penthouse suite and visiting this place would be an absolute nightmare for me.Hoseok pressed the button that says '34' and the elevator started to ascend."I'm gonna go meet Jin, he has a few things he wants to talk about. I'm gonna find an empty meeting room for you to wait in if that's alright? I promise I won't be long and you'll be completely safe being alone, there's so much security in and around this building, you honestly couldn't be anywhere safer," Hoseok announced."I'm a big girl, I don't mind being alone for a while.""Good. I know. I just want to make sure you feel comfortable.""I do, you don't have to worry," I said.He tutted, "using my own words against me? I stand defeated," he clutched his shirt against his chest in a feigned defeat.I laughed and said, "take as long as you need with Jin, I'm sure I can entertain myself.""I'll try not to be too long though, I don't want you getting too bored and threatening a hostile takeover.""If you start pushing the six hour mark I might consider that," I joked."I'll be back in five hours, fifty-nine minutes then, deal?""Deal," I nodded.Just as we finished talking, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open to reveal an open floor. To the left, there was a few ceiling to floor glass windows with meeting rooms behind them.Some of the front windows to the rooms seemed to be frosted over- I could only assume that meant they were in use.Hoseok led me to one of the rooms that wasn't in use, he opened the door and we walked in and sat there and at end of a large table was Jimin."Hobi, my man." Jimin stood up before Hoseok said,"Jimin, why on earth are you here today? I told you to take a couple days off."Jimin made his way to Hoseok and bear hugged him. These boys really loved their hugs."I'm fine, don't worry about me! If I took the day off that'd be two of us out of action and we can't have that, not a chance."He pulled away and then turned to me. He tilted his head slightly and the smile that was already on his face changed from a smile showing humour, to a warm one.His gaze danced across my face before settling back on my eyes as he said, "Mina, it's really good to see you." His voice softened from the strong energy he was trying to exude before, to a sweet, genuine voice.I felt my chest tighten slightly when I took in his bruised and broken state. His left arm was in a sling and his face was battered and bruised, and as he walked over to us, I noticed he had a slight limp.I choked back the pity."I don't think I've ever been happier to see someone since I walked into the hospital and saw Hoseok sitting there, alive," I smiledHe gasped, "you thought Jackson Wang could take me out? I'm offended.""Of course not, no one could ever take down the mighty Jimin. I'm just glad to see you're doing alright."I waited for him to say something back but instead he said nothing and we stood in silence as he subtly bit the tiniest bit of his bottom lip- and I realised I wouldn't have noticed that unless I was looking at his lips. I couldn't help myself, the boy had enviable lips."Yeah yeah, I'm glad to see you're alive too," Hoseok ended the silence that lasted a few seconds too long. "But I have business to attend to with Jin. Mina, do you mind staying here?""I'll be fine, Hoseok, go." I shooed him to the door."I'll stay with her, she'll be alright," Jimin said.Hoseok looked between Jimin and I before saying, "alright alright, I'm going. Don't miss me too much!" He said loudly as he walked away."We won't!" Jimin and I said at the same time before he closed the door behind us and pressed a button which quickly turned the windows from see-through to frosted glass.We sat down beside each other at the end of the table closest to the windows to the outside and with the natural light pouring in, I then noticed the full extent of his injuries.He sported two black eyes, which were actually mostly composed of a deep, dark red and purple colour. One of them was actually still swollen shut, showing how bad it must've been to start with. His nose was cut and bruised, potentially also even broken. There was a large wound on his forehead that was sutured together with at least a dozen stitches. His mouth also had a few small cuts and bruises scattered around it.There truly wasn't one part of his face that wasn't damaged; this broke my heart even more.I furrowed my eyebrows and my lips turned downward a little and I gently placed my hand on his arm, not sure if the contact was okay or not. When he didn't pull away, I settled it there."Jimin," I said softly."Mina," he shook his head and pursed his lips. "You don't have to say anything. I'm okay," He said reassuringly, but still, I wasn't convinced."You don't look okay. Seriously, you shouldn't be working today, it hasn't even been twenty-four hours.""The hospital hooked me up with some strong pain killers, I'm on the moon right now, I don't feel anything," he joked."Even more of a reason you should be at home," I scolded him."You sound like my Mom, she said the exact same thing," he said after rolling his eyes at me."Yeah, well, women know best. You should listen to us.""You know Hoseok would've skipped his whole hospital stay and just came straight back to work after he got shot if he had it his way?""Yes, I'm very aware of that and that's exactly why I stuck around. You boys don't know what's good for you," I sighed."This place is what's good for us. All seven of us would have it the same way.""I really wish I understood that more.""You should get a job here and find out," Jimin suggested, and I couldn't quite tell if he was joking so I bite."Find me one and maybe I will.""If you're serious about that then I will actually find something for you.""I thought all the staff that works here is absolutely dedicated and loyal to this place, why would anyone leave and create any sort of opening for me?" I pondered, but I was mostly trying to catch him in a checkmate to see if he was entirely serious."They are but people die and their position opens, or sometimes we even create entirely new positions. There's plenty of open positions at the moment, they won't stay open for long though.""That's a little morbid," I grimaced."Circle of life," he shrugged."You're serious about getting me a job here?""If you pass the interview stages then yes. But I have a feeling that won't be a problem for you.""How do you know?" I asked with my head tilted slightly."Just a gut feeling."I took a minute to think about how willing I was to leave my job across the street at the coffee shop, and realised it wasn't even a question."Deal," I said, extending my hand for a hand shake.He gripped my hand firmly with his non-injured one and shook it. "You have yourself a deal, Mina.""When did you start working here?" I asked."Day one.""That easily?""Yep. Hoseok, Namjoon and Jin may have started the company officially, but they brought the rest of us on without question. We've all built it from the ground up," he smiled proudly."That's never caused any fights between you guys?""Occasionally, but not nearly as much as people assume. Friends working together doesn't always work this well, but with us it was never an option for it not to work.""Wow, I respect that. That must take a lot of work.""Again, not nearly as much as you'd think.""Damn, almost like you guys are soulmates," I joked.Jimin just grinned and said, "something like that, I suppose. What about you, who's your soulmate?" His grin changed to a smirk."I don't know, I haven't met them yet.""Ouch, don't let Hoseok hear you say that.""What on earth is that supposed to mean?" I said, taken aback."I can't expose my boy any further," he pretended to zip his mouth shut and threw away the key."Hoseok is a bachelor, he wants no part in being my soulmate.""He tell you that?"I nod in response."Hmm interesting," Jimin said, furrowing his eyebrows at me."I don't want him to be either.""Keep telling yourself that, Mina.""I really don't." I tried to defend myself as best I could, although I wasn't too sure how it came across."Okay, okay," he put his hands up, "if you say so.""I do say so.""Calm down, pretty, I believe you."This struck me, did he just call me pretty? Did he mean to call me pretty?The confusion I felt inwardly must also have been reflected outwardly because Jimin's face held a flustered expression before saying, "uhh-"I cut him off, "you think I'm pretty?""That's no secret, darlin.""Oh I'm darlin now?" I teased. "You must be smitten.""You think so?" He said with a smug look on his face."I know so.""Maybe you're right." After a beat he said, "if Hoseok isn't your soulmate then is the spot still open?""Why'd you ask?""Just wondering." He held my eye contact steadily once again- something he liked to do often, and left me slightly flustered every time.The silence sat still between us for a moment, I found myself unsure of how to break it after what he said."I'm pretty sure my soulmate was my family dog that I grew up with," Jimin said and we both spent a couple of seconds laughing."Can I just say, without any jokes, I'm really really glad you're okay," I admitted."Thank you, Mins," he said, his voice dripping with sincerity. I ignored the slight flutter in my stomach when he called me 'Mins'. It was a nickname I'd always liked anyone calling me, I didn't know why Jimin calling me it would be any different.A thought entered my mind and I debated wether I should let it pass on through or if I should actually consider it.I pondered for a second, quickly internally sorting through a pros and cons list if I said it out loud. There wasn't many cons, I concluded, and decided to say it aloud."Are you busy tonight?" I asked."No. Why do you ask?" I saw micro-expressions flash across his face in an instant, something he tried to hide but I noticed- confusion and then it was replaced by a slight smirk.I took a breath in to steady myself and said, "how about tonight I cook us dinner? Just you and me, whatever your heart desires."The smirk was replaced by a slight shocked expression, he paused with his mouth open as though he couldn't quite find his words, he stayed like that for a few seconds. I waved my hand in front of his face."Earth to Jimin. Anyone home?" I joked."Sorry," he shook his head. "Yeah, of course you can. We can do it at my place so we're not disturbing Hoseok. Not that he'd notice us in his mansion of an apartment, but just to be polite." A smile made its way onto his lips, like it was contagious, it spread to mine too."Great. How does seven sound?""Seven sounds great." The smile still hadn't left his lips, and mine might've even gotten a little bit bigger. "You have a really nice smile." Him saying that shocked me a little and I found, for a moment, that I was the speechless one."You must be looking in a mirror.""Wow, are you trying to sweep me off my feet with that line? You really are charmer, Miss Rhee Mina.""I do try, Mr Park Jimin." I pretended to swipe my hair off my shoulder in a faked attempt to act coy."You better be bringing that much charm to dinner tonight.""I'll pack plenty of it, don't you worry.""I'll hold you to that.""I won't let you down, I would never."I felt a twinge of something when I said that I'd never let him down, and it struck me that I really did mean it. Jimin was the type of person it would break my heart to let down, he deserved so much more than that.If you think about the saying, 'treat people how you want to be treated', how Jimin treated the people around him was exactly how he deserved to be treated. And he was the kindest soul you'd ever meet- so I'd be that kind of friend for him."I know you wouldn't," he said, in a matter-of-fact tone whilst looking at me intently, once again.My heartbeat grew more uneven the longer he looked at me, not in an uncomfortable way, nervous maybe? I didn't know why I was nervous in this moment though."Mina?" He said, finally smashing through the silence."Yeah?" I replied.But before he could even open his mouth to speak, Hoseok bust open the door, commanding all the attention of anyone around."I am not in the mood for this today," he groaned, pulling out a chair and dramatically collapsing in it.Jin walked in behind him, clutching a laptop in his arms."What's up, boss?" Jimin said, scooting his chair back, further away from me."Jin's found out a thing or two but we're not discussing anything further until Namjoon gets here with my food.""Is it bad?" I asked."Well it's not good," Hoseok replied dejectedly, putting his head onto the table on top of his crossed arms.Silence fell over the room, except for Jin's typing and Hoseok's stomach occasionally growling, and I started to wonder what Jimin was about to say before Hoseok interrupted. Whatever it was, he took some time to arrange his thoughts before quietly saying my name.I decided I was overthinking it, it probably wasn't too important.In the time we spent waiting for Namjoon to arrive, I pulled out my phone and replied to a few texts, scrolled through social media and when I finally got bored of taking my thumbs for a walk- Namjoon arrived.He looked more put together than he did when we first saw him. His tie was tied around his neck, his hair less dishevelled and he looked cheerful."Here you go, your highness," he bowed to Hoseok as he passed him a box of food."Did I ever tell you that you're my favourite?""Hey!" Jin and Jimin exclaimed in unison."I know," Namjoon said, ruffling Hoseok's hair, although Hoseok wasn't bothered in the slightest, he had already started shovelling food into his mouth as though I didn't feed him a full meal two hours prior."So, what did you find out, Jin?" Jimin asked."Starting with Jackson- not much. He's gone complete underground. I can't find anything on him. Which obviously is less than ideal, but.. I was able to locate Roseanne Park's sister. Now, I have a proposition for Mina, if you're not okay with it we can go back to the drawing board, but I have to ask.""I think it's a stupid idea," Hoseok mumbled, his mouth full of food."Give it to me," I said."Every Friday, she goes to a yoga class, I was thinking that you show up to that very class and befriend her. Worm your way into her life. Getting close to her may lead us to Rose and that might be the key to finding out where Jackson and his group disappeared to after what he did to Jimin.""I told you it was stupid," Hoseok said. "She's not doing that.""Why are you making my decision for me?" I asked."I'm trying to keep you safe! And this plan doesn't do that, it leaves you vulnerable and we can't risk that.""I appreciate that you're trying to keep me safe, but I can handle myself, Hoseok.""If Mina thinks she can handle it then that's the only thing that matters," Jimin said.At least someone believed in me.I turned around to face him and smiled gently, "thank you, Jimin." I turned back to the rest of the group and said, "It sounds like a good plan and the only one we've got right now so I'll do it.""Great!" Jin said. "Now, I did get a bit on Sehun too. It took me a while to get the records, but he is in fact divorced. And I also got access to his bank records- no one ask how. Every month he transfers the same amount to the same bank account. I got the info of that account which belongs to none other than, drumroll please- the infamous secretary!" He said this like he was announcing an act on stage. "Child support in the sum of 3.2 million won a month! So, in saying all this, could Sehun potentially blame Hoseok for his life basically being destroyed? Yes. But I say it's all his own fault, but who knows how the crazy feels.""I have an idea for this one, this involves you, Joon," Hoseok said."Am I going to like it?" Namjoon asked."Probably not. But you're gonna do it anyway. Tonight, you and I are gonna break into Sehun's home and find anything we can to link him to shooting me. At this point we're all assuming it's Jackson, and it's looking to be more likely with how desperate he got attacking Jimin, but I'm not ready to put all my eggs in one basket yet.""I have no choice in this?""No.""I won't argue," Namjoon sighed."At least we've got some plans in motion, even if one of them is a terrible plan," Hoseok said."Yeah, breaking into the house of someone who might be the one who shot you is a terrible plan," I said.He said nothing but shoots me a glare."Well, they're the only plans we've got so unless you have any better ideas then let's move on," Hoseok retorted."You've already survived one bullet, I'm sure you'll survive a second," I said with a shrug."Real mature you are, Mina," Hoseok said.I couldn't understand why a little tension had developed between us, it seemed like we could never just be happy. Maybe it was for the best he didn't want to give us a shot.It seemed like everyone else could feel the tension too because Jin interrupted it by saying, "anywho.. These are the only plans we've got unfortunately. So wether they're good plans or bad plans, we've gotta put them in motion. We need to get somewhere with this investigation. I feel like we're ten steps behind everyone else and I don't like that, we need to get an edge on them.""You're right, you're right," I started, "we'll be fine, I know we will. As long as Jimin doesn't try to get involved we'll be fine," I joked and Namjoon and Jin laughed."Oh ha ha," Jimin said, voice flat and unamused."You're not wrong, Mina. Jimin, you stay out of this," Hoseok said."I have plans tonight anyway, I won't get involved." I heard the smile in his voice and I felt the blood rush to my cheeks and I prayed no one noticed."Alright then, that's everything I've got for today. I've made a new group chat and added everyone to it just to keep everyone updated for future meetings," Jin said, pressing a few keys on his laptop before shutting it.Namjoon and Jimin followed, but not before Jimin stopped right beside me and whispered, "I'll see you tonight."Him saying this made me feel giddy and parts of me wished it didn't, but the other part of me couldn't help but revel in it."See you tonight, Jimin," I whispered back.The boys finally left the room and then it was just Hoseok and I left.He was still eating the food Namjoon brought him and I wondered if I should tell him about my dinner with Jimin. Did I even need to tell him? Was it any of his business?He was going to assume it meant more than it did but it was really nothing serious, it was just dinner. There was nothing going on between Jimin and I, we were just friends. Couldn't friends have dinner?Despite all this, I decided it was probably best that I told him. I didn't want to feel like I was keeping anything from him or blindsiding him, and most of the time he likes to know where I was for safety reasons anyway.I didn't want to get in the habit of keeping secrets, he deserved to know."Hoseok?""Mhm," he said, still shovelling mouthfuls of food into his mouth."Just in case you're wondering where I am tonight, I'm going over to Jimin's place to make dinner. I felt bad seeing him in such rough shape so I said I'd help," there was a hint of caution in my voice, not quite sure how he'd react.He stopped eating briefly, staring forward, holding his chopsticks still. He seemed to gather himself just a moment later and continued eating, before nonchalantly saying, "oh. Why don't you do it at our place?"I took a mental note of him calling his apartment 'our place'. As though these two words placed beside each other tied us together even further."We didn't want to bother you. That and the fact that Jimin is on death's door, I'd feel awful making him leave his house to come to yours.""Ours," he corrected me."Uh- sure.""Is it a date?""No," I shook my head, "it's not a date. Can friends not have dinner together?""They can, I just didn't realise you and Jimin were friends.""Is there a problem with that?"He shook his head, "no problem at all.""I'll be leaving around 6:45 tonight," I said."Hope you enjoy yourselves," he replied with a small smile."We will. Be careful at Sehun's tonight. I still think it's a stupid plan but if you think you and Namjoon can get it done then I trust you will.""We'll be fine, no need to worry.""I wasn't worrying. Like I said, I trust you. But remember, I won't be there to save you this time," I joked."Oh whatever I will do," Hoseok sang, his voice coated in obvious sarcasm."Just don't do anything too risky. In and out of there as quick as you can.""Mina, we know what we're doing."That was what I was worried about Hoseok, why did this come so easily to you?❧❦ ❧
Hoseok
The night sky glistened with stars, the moon's reflected light created a guided path ahead for us, these were the only things that revealed us in the dark of night outside Sehun's house.I had a lot to think about this day and I just wanted to get this over with.As soon as we got word that Sehun had left his house, we went straight over, no time to waste. The clock was ticking and I wasn't going to let time steal this from us.I wished I could control time, I'd imagine time standing still, the arms on the clock no longer spinning, the numbers falling away from us like they didn't matter, but this wasn't a luxury we had available to us in that moment.Fortunately, Sehun had no security cameras set up around his house- which was odd for a man who used to work in cyber security, but, nonetheless, this worked to our advantage.Namjoon was picking Sehun's door lock and the full moon illuminating the sky was beginning to work against us, we were going to get caught before this begun if he didn't hurry up."Namjoon, tick tock," I said."Just give me a second," he replied.He wiggled the tool around a few more times, listening for clicks and an eternity later, the door finally opened.He dramatically stepped aside and held out his arm directed to the door, "ladies first.""You're very funny, loser. Hurry up, get in and shut the door before anyone sees. No lights, just torches. Be vigilant, keep your eyes and ears open.""Aye aye, Captain!" He saluted me.The only response that warranted was a sigh and an eye roll, that man acted more immature than Jungkook at times.Sehun definitely had to downgrade his house in years gone by, with the child-support he was paying and whatever career fails he had since our company acquired his, he could never afford the house he was in before.That, or his ex-wife won it in the divorce.The last house had a grand entryway, two staircases twisting up to a balcony overlooking the front door. Comprised of five bedrooms and three bathrooms, and a shiny Golden Retriever gallivanting through the halls; in addition to the wife and two young kids the house was home to.This house was a lot more humble, no grand entryway, just an average-sized entrance, the kitchen straight ahead, living room to the left, and stairs to the right.The house was still big enough to where it was going to take us more time than I was pleased about to search."What are we looking for?" Namjoon asked."Anything incriminating. Journal entry, emails on a computer, bloody shoes, bullet casings- a gun perhaps. Something that'll get us two steps ahead. You go upstairs, I'll look down here. I'll shout out if he comes back.""Sounds good. Good luck."Namjoon headed up stairs, as we both got started on the mission laid out in front of us.
Find the evidence. Get out.
I started by going to the living room, the same one Mina and I witnessed him crying in just a couple of days prior. In that moment, it might've been the first time I felt true guilt for what I did to him.Just for a brief second, guilt drifted through my mind, but it wasn't there to stay. I couldn't let myself feel it all. If I owned all the emotions associated with the things I'd done to people, I'd spend a lifetime in a psychiatric hospital. It wasn't my responsibility to feel anything, I'd leave that to the victims of the things I'd done. At least that's what I told myself. Who was I to feel pain over things that happened to them? I wasn't the victim here.Sehun's living room contained no evidence of life, just light brown couches, a long one against the wall opposite the window, and one against the wall to the left of it. Not even a picture of any one of his three children, no decor, not a clock- yet I could still hear a tick-tock, tick-tock, in my head.How could someone live like that? Perhaps the depressive standard of this room was simply a reflection of the man's mind that lived there.Every way I turned in this house I had to remind myself that it was not my fault.Stood strong and stood alone, in the corner of the room, there was a small wooden structure with one golden knob adorned on the front, a drawer I assumed.I made my way over to investigate, completely expecting the drawer to be locked but, to my surprise, it wasn't.But inside was nothing but mail. I shuffled through and most of it was fairly old, the guy must've turned into a hoarder in his mid-life crisis. The only thing I might have had mild interest in was a phone bill from February.I flicked through the mail some more, praying his phone bill hadn't went digital and to my utter surprise, the February phone bill was in my hand.I opened the letter and skim to any phone calls made on February 16th. I was looking for a pattern, any number he contacted multiple times that day. It took a moment for my brain to pick up on it, but sprinkled within some other calls, one number that repeated at least two-dozen times that day. It could be a coincidence, but on the day I was shot, Sehun was extremely desperate to get through the someone. I took a picture of the entire phone bill just in case there was something I missed, and put the bill back between the rest of the mail and tried to leave the drawer looking as undisturbed as possible.I thought this house was big enough to take some time to get through but with this little furniture to hide things in, I was less and less concerned about time.I walked to the kitchen which was decently sized, an island and the rest of the appliances to the left and a dining table just ahead of you as you walked in. But it was still so impersonal. If I didn't know any better I'd have thought the was a show home.I wasn't entirely convinced he'd be likely to hide incriminating evidence in his kitchen, but not looking would be foolish, so I persist.First I browsed through the light pinewood-drawers, nothing but cutlery, more cutlery, towels and the obligatory 'stuff drawer'.The cupboards, as expected, were just home to cups, bowls and plates. I knew the kitchen was going to get me nowhere.His kitchen sink had a window to the outside world above it, and from it I got a full view of the perfect night sky.I gazed at the stars in awe, in complete astonishment that these stars were the same stars every human-being that had ever walked the planet had looked at.That's how old the stars are. They're up there, alone and free, swimming in a vast sea of nothing, yet everything at the same time.Oh, how I yearned to be free like the glimmering diamonds above. To not be prey to an enemy unknown. To just simply exist.But, to my dismay, my dreams were interrupted by Namjoon calling my name. I followed his voice and saunter med upstairs and found him in the master bedroom."You find something?""Oh I found something alright, take a look at this."His gloved hand revealed a black, matte gun from behind his back, a rifle."Where's you find this?" I questioned."In the closet, tucked at the very back.""Good find," I said, marvelling the weapon."Do you know what type of gun this is?" Namjoon asked.I carefully took the weapon from him, examining it closely, every little detail. From the safety pin to the stock, the scope and to the trigger.Was this the trigger that started it all?I brushed my finger over it, was it so easy for Sehun to just play with my life like that? I realised the irony in that question and my self pity faded away."Looks like a Barrett M82, the US Navy favours this. This type of gun would have to be imported, you won't see many of these out on the streets of Seoul. This could penetrate an armoured vehicle, even a brick wall from far enough," I said."Is that what you were shot with?""I don't know. The police never really gave me many details, I haven't heard from them in a while.""It looks pretty heavy duty, sounds like it to from what you said. He definitely doesn't look innocent.""I was so sure it was Jackson after he took Jimin," I groaned."Does it matter who it was as long as it was one of them and not the third option? Do you have a preference for who you'd like to shoot you?" Namjoon's persistent need to make anything unserious was appreciated at times, now was not one of them."No but I don't like all the back and forth, I need to be certain about who it was so the appropriate parties can be dealt with.""The appropriate parties will be deal with, Hoseok. Trust me," he said, placing his hand solidly on my shoulder. "Now, are we confiscating this as evidence?""Indeed we are," I chuckled. "Let's get going before he gets back."Satisfied with our find, and us solving the mystery alas, we descended down the staircase, a celebratory pep in our steps.As we got to the bottom and touched the door handle, a light shined in from outside. Through the frosted glass I could barely make it out to be car headlights pulling up right outside the house."Shit shit shit," Namjoon exclaimed, in a whispered tone."Fuck," was all I could quite get out. "We've got about twenty seconds before this is all over.""What do you mean? We've got the rifle.""Is there any ammunition in it?"He pulled back the bolt and checked the chamber and as I expected, empty.I spun around on my heel, looking around for a hiding spot to jump out at me. Non-furnished living room, no pantry in the kitchen, upstairs too risky but last second, the door under the stairs called my name.Before I could give myself another second to think, I dragged Namjoon over to the door, opened it and fortunately it just about fit the two of us. Very Harry Potter-esque.We had not a second to spare as the front door swung open not a second later. To my heartbeat's dismay, five distinct footprint patterns clicked through the entry way and made their way into the house. I wished I could see what was going on."Gentleman, this way," I heard Sehun announce.I almost feared he would hear my heartbeat from where we were hidden. I could feel Namjoon breathing on the side of my neck and the paranoid voice in my mind screamed out that Sehun could hear that too.I compressed the thoughts to nothing, this wasn't the time to let fear get the better of me. Just sit still, listen and wait for the right moment to escape.Fortunately, no footsteps bound over us to go upstairs, it sounded like they went in the direction of the almost derelict living room. We should be able to hear them just fine."It's been a while since we last met. I did want to keep these meetings to a minimum to not arouse any suspicion, but considering the circumstances, this meeting is long overdue," Sehun says."Yes, it's certainly been too long since we last met, I do regret that," another voice replied, I didn't recognise it, it was a man but that was all I could tell."Why has it been so long?" Sehun asked."You know why, Sehun. We're trying but this isn't as easy as you might think," a third, unknown, voice said."Aw come on, Chanyeol, it seems pretty easy to me.""We haven't even seen a penny yet, Sehun!" Another unknown voice."Because you haven't done what I asked, Suho!" Sehun bellowed in response."Suho man, calm down, not right now.""Kai, I didn't ask you," spat the voice I now know as Suho."Kai is right, Suho, this isn't the discussion we're having right now," Sehun started. "You're here today to tell me why the fuck you haven't done what I told you to do.""The plan got messed up, we weren't expecting it but we were there so we tried anyway and it didn't work. Next time, there'll be no margin for failure, we're working on it.""Thank you for the honesty, Baekhyun, but failure isn't going to cut it. You've gotten so close to blowing my cover, who says I should even bother to work with you four anymore? Should I risk it?""You need us, Sehun, you know you do. Quit messing around, we'll get it done, you know we will. Then you'll pay us and we'll be done with all this, alright?" Kai said, a hint of finality in his tone."Okay, okay, you've got one more chance. Don't miss this time."❧❦ ❧The small heel of Mina's boots clicked clacked against the floor of Jimin's apartment building. She followed his directions and found herself on the twenty-first floor, exiting the elevator whilst looking down at her phone to triple-check his apartment number.104She repeated the number in her head, filling her brain with the three numbers so she definitely wouldn't forget.Although, she realised the didn't have to memorise anything, there were two security guards posted outside a door and that made it pretty obvious she had arrived.At the same moment in time, Jimin was inside his apartment frantically tidying up things that Mina probably wouldn't even notice. Like the dust on the plant by the door, or the sprawled out magazines sitting on the coffee table. His energy was as frantic as his thoughts from the second he got the text saying she was in the elevator.He triple-checked there was no dust left on the plant- there wasn't. He stopped by the door and spun around to survey the open floor apartment, if he had missed something it was too late now because the door bell had already rang.Outside, Mina reapplied her lipgloss in a frenzied hurry. Inside, Jimin ran his hand through his hair and settled it how he liked it best.He spun around to look at the apartment again before sighing and cursing himself for being so overly paranoid. He turned back to the door and took a quick breath in and out before finally opening the door.Despite the pain of the cuts and bruises, and the black eyes that made it difficult to see, every muscle in Jimin's face came together to display pure, enamoured joy.Like looking back in a mirror, a person and reflection one and the same, Mina's face shined with the same light."Is this your guest, Mr Park?" One of the guards asked Jimin."Yes she is, thank you. Hey, Mins," Jimin said, pulling her in for a hug."Hey P.Jimin," she replied, her head buried in the crook of his neck. His scent seemed familiar to her for reasons unknown to her."Come on in," he said, ushering her inside. She took off her boots and left them on a shoe rack beside the door before standing up and surveying the apartment."Wow! This is a really nice place," she said, eyes still scanning the high ceilings and the large open floor living room to kitchen space."Thank you, I did try.""You decorated by yourself?" Mina asked in disbelief."I have a thing for interior design," he shrugged, but the smirk made him look less humble than he was trying to show."I can tell," she marvelled.After Mina had admired Jimin's decor, her attention was caught by a boiling pot on the stovetop, which was sending a billowing mass of steam into the kitchen."What's on the stove?" She asked."Oh shit," Jimin said in a panic before running into the kitchen."Jimin, I told you I'd cook for you.""As much as I appreciate the offer, truly, I do. I'd just feel awful inviting you over and making you cook for me. You're a guest in my home, let me make you feel welcome," he said whilst stirring the food.Mina made her way into the kitchen and asked, "what's for dinner then, my wonderful chef?""I asked Hoseok what your favourite meal is, and it just so happened to be mine too.""Kimchi stew?" She asked excitedly."It is indeed, I added pork with a side of rice. A huge side. I might've over portioned how much I should put in the rice cooker."Mina laughed, already incredibly impressed with how much effort Jimin had put into the evening. She was supposed to be spoiling him and he had beat her at her own game."I brought food that I was going to cook, I'll just put it in the refrigerator for you to have some other time, at least this way I feel like I'm helping you out a little.""Mina, you don't have to-"She cut him off, "ah, no arguments. Let me do this one thing for you!""Okay, I'll accept it. Thank you, Mins."There go the butterflies again, Mina thought."You're welcome Jim.""Jim?""You call me Mins, I've got to have some kind of nickname for you.""Let's hope you come up with something other than Jim," he laughed."Only time can tell."As Mina was putting the groceries away in the fridge, Jimin was still intently stirring the kimchi, holding onto the spoon with a tight grasp, staring into the midst of the stew while trying to steady himself.In actuality, the food was ready as soon as Mina entered the apartment, Jimin just couldn't find the courage to turn around and look at her for longer than two seconds.Tonight, more than any other day, she made his heart skip a beat.In Jimin's mind, she was true, ethereal beauty. She was prettier than a field of a million roses or the sky of a trillion stars. She was the word beauty stepped out of the dictionary, appearing in human form. She was one of the lucky ones God himself spent extra time on until she was the image of pure perfection.Jimin couldn't contain his heart in a confined space such as his chest anymore, it was knocking on the door of his ribcage, just begging to be let free.But the last thing he wanted to do was scare Mina off with how much he admired her, so he gripped the stovetop and silently, under his breath he muttered, "get it together, Jimin.""Did you say something?" Mina asked, tilting her head while looking at him."No, no I didn't say anything," he quickly answered.Mina sauntered from the fridge, over to stand beside Jimin and asked, "need any help?"She was blissfully unaware the effect that her standing so close to him had on him."Would you mind getting some bowls from the cupboard over there. I tried to earlier but stretching upwards doesn't feel great on my ribs.""This is why I wish you would've sat down and let me cook for you, you shouldn't be on your feet so much," Mina said, getting bowls from the cupboard and rushing back over to Jimin's side.She took the spoon from him and said, "go sit down right now, let me serve the food at the very least. I'm not giving you any other choice other than sitting down.""I would argue back but I'm afraid of what happen so I won't," Jimin said, and then he did as he was told.Whilst Mina was scooping the Kimchi from the pot to the bowls, she made sure to take steady breaths in an attempt to calm the nerves that were bouncing around her entire being. In an effort to keep the calm, collected demeanour she had arrived with. The last time she had dinner with a boy, whilst overall it was a good night, it resulted in a little bit of drama- that was the last thing she wanted from this dinner.Meanwhile, Jimin was preparing his heartbeat for when she sat down in front of him and he had no choice but to look at her. He tried to convince himself she was just a girl and this was just dinner between friends, but his heart was not so easily convinced."Voila!" Mina chimed, setting two bowls in front of Jimin before walking back over to collect her own.She sat in front of him and he had no choice but to force his heart to rest at last, he wasn't sure he'd be able to talk to her otherwise."You look great tonight," he said with a shy smile.In Mina's mind, her outfit was nothing too special. Just a pair of denim jeans with a cropped, cream, knitted cardigan buttoned up the front.She wasn't too sure on what Jimin would be wearing, so she decided to stick with a casual, yet cute outfit.As simple as the outfit was, she spent so much time deliberating over it that she had no time for her hair, so it was just straight and down.
"Thank you," she said, sending a smile back. "You look great too.""Don't lie to me, Mina," he said with a laugh."I promise I'm not lying! You think a few cuts and bruises could ruin that face?""Well then I appreciate the compliment, thank you.""The kimchi stew is my Mother's recipe, please let me know what you think so I can send reviews her way."Mina took a bite of the stew, gently placed the chopsticks back in the bowl and playfully banged her fists on the table in a dramatic display of enjoyment.She decided, in that moment, that this was the best meal she had ever eaten."Incredible. Michelin star worthy.""That good?""Seriously, this is really good!""Thank you. I said it was my Mom's recipe just in case you hated it so I could blame her but it's really just my recipe that I've perfected over the years," he admitted."Ah, well then all my compliments to chef Jimin," Mina said with a small bow of her head."I'm really glad you like it."He bit a small bit of skin at the side of his cheek as he watched her eat for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts and feelings, there was a lot of them buzzing around his mind all at once.As delicious as the food was, and as appreciative Mina was of Jimin's efforts, she hoped and prayed he wasn't expecting a kiss as a thanks. Because from this point onwards, she was going to be very selective of who she decided to kiss."Aren't you going to eat?""Huh?" Jimin snapped back to reality. "Oh, sorry I zoned out for a second.""Still taking those strong pain killers?""Yeah that's what it was, they make it a little hard to concentrate so forgive me if I zone out a lot.""That's understandable. Has any of the pain eased up?""My eyes and legs aren't as bad today, but the x-ray showed a slight hairline fracture in my arm and one of my ribs, so that's pretty painful. And, I'm not quite sure if it's related, but I've had a couple on and off migraines since it happened and those get pretty bad."Mina's eyes started to glisten and she tilted her head as she said, "I hate them for what they've done to you.""What's your nurse rates? I might have to steal you from Hoseok," Jimin tried to joke, but the expression on Mina's face didn't budge. "I had it coming, it's the same thing we did to Jackson."Mina swallowed and scratched her collarbone before shaking her head and saying, "no, this was too much. They can't get away with all this, first Hoseok and then you? I refuse to let them get away with it.""Don't worry, we won't let them, you don't have to worry about me. And I—I mean we— won't let them get anywhere near you. They'll never get within six feet of you, okay? They'll have to go through the seven of us first and that'll never happen. You're always safe when you're with us, I promise you that.""I know I'm safe, I feel very safe right now.""You feel safe around me?""I don't just feel it, I know it. I'm not sure why, I just do."This admission had Jimin feeling giddy inside."You have no idea how glad I am to hear that.""I've never felt so safe since the seven of you entered my life, or I guess since I entered yours. You've all accepted me with open arms, how could I not feel safe?""That's all I've wanted for you from the start. It can be a dangerous life we lead, I just want you to come out of this safe.""Thank you for caring so much," Mina said sincerely."You're the best thing that's happened to Hoseok in a while, I just want to show my appreciation.""I feel very appreciated," Mina smiled, with her hand on her chest. After a beat she said, "what was life like for you guys before this? Before me, before the shooting?""It was quite boring really," Jimin laughed. "This has brought a little bit of extra drama to our lives, that's for sure. We spent basically all of our time in work and when we weren't in work, we'd hang out at home talking about work. Occasionally there was charity balls we'd attend, give a hefty donation, do a little speech and then leave.""Ooh that sounds fun," Mina chimed in."They aren't as fun as they sound. A lot of sitting and listening to people give speeches and blah blah blah, I always made sure we were one of the first to give our speech so we could leave quicker.""The dress up part of the night sounds fun though.""Oh yeah, very fancy dress-code for those. Maybe I'll take you to one someday?" Jimin suggested."For real?" Mina's eyes just about lit up like a Christmas tree and it spread light across all her features."If your heart is set on it, then yes, for real," he giggled at her excitement."I'm going to start planning my outfit as soon as I get home," she exclaimed."Ooh, you're referring to Hoseok's apartment as home now? Have you settled in okay then?""Yeah I finally unpacked all my stuff this morning, my room's looking a little bit more organised. It was earlier at Bighit when I told Hoseok I'd be cooking dinner for you that he referred to the apartment is 'our apartment' instead of just his.. I know he wants me to feel at home and it's all I've got right now so..." she trailed off."Hm interesting," Jimin said while scratching behind his ear. "You still think he wants to be a bachelor while referring to his apartment as yours?" He raised his eyebrows."Ooh not this again," Mina rolled her eyes and tried to hide a smile. "There is nothing going on between Hoseok and I, we're just friends, we kissed once but that's it!"Jimin gasped, "so you have kissed!""Once!""Once is enough," Jimin teased.Mina laughed before saying, "yes, once, but it's never happening again! We don't need to complicate our already complicated situation with relationship drama.""Whose decision was this?""It was a mutual decision." Mina said, trying her best to sound convincing."A mutual decision or a Hoseok decision?" Jimin said, pursing his lips and raising his eyebrows once again."Okay, it was Hoseok's decision initially, but I do agree.""It doesn't bother you at all?""No," she replied in a high pitched tone."I was taught honesty is the best policy in preschool, Mina. Did you ever learn that one?" He teased."Shut up," Mina laughed, dragging out the word 'up'. She put her hand over her heart and said, "I solemnly swear, that I do not care about Hoseok's rejection. I'm an independent woman and I don't need a romantic relationship to make me happy.""High five to knowing your worth!" Jimin said, holding up his hand for a high five, to which Mina complied."How about you then, are you a bachelor?" She asked."Me? No, definitely not. None of my relationships have ever really worked out, they all ended on good terms but they just never really felt right. When I'm not in one I just stick to myself.""I understand that, that's mostly why my last relationship ended. That and he cheated on me.""Ouch," Jimin grimaced. "You definitely deserve better than that loser and I'm sure you won't struggle to find him when the time is right. It's definitely worth it to wait until you find the right person.""Yeah, I suppose. Just how long is that going to take, ya know?""Might be sooner than you think, you never know what's around the corner." Jimin shrugged."Jimin, the great philosopher," Mina chuckled."Hey, I know more than you'd think!" He retorted."Yeah? Like what?""I know that Hoseok doesn't deserve you." The words were out of his mouth before he even realised.He hoped his face didn't reflect the lack of forethought of his words— it didn't reflect much but a frozen, mouth agape expression.Mina wanted anything but for the night to end like the dinner her and Hoseok had, so she tried avoid the impending deep conversation by squashing the topic before it started."Hoseok's a great guy, he's your best friend! He's just not a relationship guy and hey, I don't want one right now either, it's all good, no drama."She dramatically dug around in her now empty dinner bowl with the chopsticks and said, "I'm finished already? Mind if I go for seconds?"Jimin shook his head and she continued, "I'll get you some too, everyone loves seconds." She scooped up both their bowls and scurried over to pot on the stove.Whilst she stirred around the pot before spooning another portion into the bowls, she stared deeply into the kimchi stew, as though she too prayed it would give her all the answers like Jimin had earlier.Jimin sat staring forward, biting the skin on his lips, terrified that he had ruined the entire night and any chance he had to develop his friendship with Mina, that was all he wanted at the end of the day.Mina was trying as best she could to stall sitting down again so she called out to Jimin, "want a glass of water?""Yes please. The cups are in the cupboard beside the bowls."Mina slowly walked over, desperately trying to delay the inevitable awkward conversation that was to follow.It couldn't be avoided forever, so before she knew it, she was sitting down again, seconds and a glass of water in front of them both.She moved the kimchi around the bowl with the chopsticks, not really interested in the seconds she had prepared.Jimin wasn't interested in seconds either, Mina just hadn't really given him time to say no."I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable," Jimin stated quietly."Huh? You didn't, I'm not uncomfortable.""You went all silent.""My mind just ran out of things to say, it's thinking right now, it'll get there, just wait," she joked, trying to kill the awkward that had fallen over the room."I wasn't trying to come onto you. I mean you're a lovely girl and all— not that I'd dislike making a move on you, I mean I wouldn't try to, not that that would be such an awful thing, I'd love to, but I wouldn't—"Mina cut him off, perhaps a little later than she should have, "Jimin!" She shouted. "It's okay, I understand. I don't feel uncomfortable, you have nothing to apologise for.""Are you sure?" Jimin said in almost a whisper."I'm sure," Mina smiled."Are you sure, you're sure?""I'm one hundred and ten percent certain!" She laughed, and cautiously, Jimin laughed a little too. "I don't think I could ever feel uncomfortable because of you.""That's a bold statement to make.""Well, don't prove me wrong.""I'll try my hardest not to."After the tension had dissipated, they spent close to two hours joking around and getting to know each other. Jimin showed Mina his vinyl album collection and broke out Mario Kart in his movie room, Jimin complained that the game was fixed when Mina won every round.They spent the night doing exactly what they both hoped the night would be. Developing a friendship that the two of them desperately needed. Both both of them danced around Hoseok's name, terrified that the two syllabled word would coat them in tension again.It was just after 9pm, they were sat at opposite ends of the couch, when Jimin started to clutch his head."Ahh, Mina would you mind turning the light off? The switch is over there," he pointed and Mina hurried to switch it off before rushing to Jimin's side."What's wrong? Is it a migraine?"He groaned and his facial expression was pulled into a tight grimace as he nodded, suddenly completely opposed to speaking any words at all.Unbeknownst to Mina, he had been fighting the oncoming migraine for close to an hour. The attack from Jackson's crew had left him almost debilitated most of the day, Mina was the only one he had shared the details of his pain with.He had went into Bighit that day in an effort to appear unaffected to everyone else, but every moment was a different battle.The aura which came before his migraine had bright streaks of light dancing across his vision, which then turned into a few blind spots- this being the sole reason he lost Mario Kart, he played so often that he hadn't lost a game in almost a year until this moment. The aura also gave him some speech difficulties, which is why he used the excuse he 'just liked to concentrate' during Mario Kart.He knew the migraine was coming, he just didn't want the night with Mina to end so he fought every warning sign until it became too much."Can you make it to your bedroom while I get you some painkillers and water?" Mina asked and Jimin nodded. "Oh and an ice pack, I heard those help."Jimin slowly got up off the couch, knowing fast movements would only aggravate the attack. He only made it two feet before he had to stop as he was almost completely unable to see, white spots covering his vision."Mina?" He croaked.She quickly stopped what she was doing and ran to his aid, he put his arm around her and she slowly guided him to his room. She made sure all the lights were completely off, the curtains were drawn and the room was as quiet as possible before helping him settle in bed.He was under the covers, eyes still closed tight as Mina tucked him in, and adjusted his pillows for him- her nursing experience from Hoseok proving to be useful."I'll be right back," she whispered, barely audible before rushing off to get the water, pain killers and ice pack.By the time she got back, Jimin's face still held the same pained expression and Mina felt her heart ache."Can you sit up to take these pills?" She asked, still whispering.Jimin nodded and slowly sat up, Mina placed her hand at the top of his back to support him as he took the pills and finished the glass of water.He settled back into the king sized bed and Mina ran her hand gently over his forehead, moving his hair off his face before carefully placing the ice pack on his forehead.She tucked him in a little tighter, making sure he was covered in enough blanket to combat the cold from the ice pack."Take the ice pack off in fifteen minutes, okay?" She whispered, but she got no response, he was out like a light.Standing at his beside, seeing Jimin so broken, it wasn't pity she felt. It was anger at the people who did this to him. She knew what he had done to Jackson when they were younger, but she also truly did not care. The Jimin she knew did not deserve this and she was going to put her all into the plan that Jin had concocted for her earlier.Become best friends with Roseanne Park's sister and find out where Jackson was, for everything he had done she was going to get her revenge- that she was sure of.The anger slowly melted into a desire to do no wrong by Jimin. His apartment was a little messy— the dishes were left undone, blankets were strewn over the couch and the movie room was a mess from the popcorn they had spilled.The last thing she wanted Jimin to think of when he woke up was having to clean the apartment, it was the least she could do for him.So she quietly got to work, using only her phone's flashlight as a light source, she didn't want any amount of light to disturb Jimin's rest.Forty minutes later when the apartment was finally cleaned and organised, exactly as it was when she first arrived, she tip-toed back to Jimin's room to check on him.Quietly and slowly she opened the door and only using the light from her phone, she shone it on him and thankfully the pain had left his face- as had the ice pack which had fallen onto the pillow when he rolled onto his side.She moved the ice pack off his pillow and set it on the bedside table, carefully so as not to disturb him at all.Snug as a bug, completely tucked under the blankets, Mina was satisfied in her job as nurse and house cleaner."Goodnight, Jiminie," she whispered, praying he didn't wake up- partially because she didn't want him to complain about the cute nickname.When he didn't wake up, she tip-toed out of the room as quietly as possible. It was 10pm and Mina could hear sleep calling her name. She grabbed her boots from the shoe rack and sat on the couch to put them on.Although she might've sat back a little bit too far and got a little bit too comfortable because before she knew it, halfway through zipping up her first shoe, she entered the world of dreams right there on Jimin's couch.❧❦ ❧
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
MinaHow long do you think it takes you to really know someone?It's strange, some days it felt like I had known Hoseok my entire life and I could predict every moment of his day. Other days, he was a complete stranger.It was like this invisible push and pull was going on between us. Some days I was allowed to get close, some days I wasn't.I didn't even care about anything romantic between us at this point, I just wanted him to stop building walls between our friendship. We needed each other more than we needed anyone else. We had to stick together to get through the car crash we were caught under.We started this 'adventure' so close and then it was like we went backwards and I didn't know if we were ever going to get back to what we had.We were thrown into a corner, forcing us to live together, to have each other's backs all the time, but at the end of the day- would our friendship have developed organically if it wasn't for the shooting?I highly doubt it.I started to think that maybe it was for the best. We could stick it out until we figured everything out and then part ways, was there any real point in maintaining the relationship any longer than that?This is what I tried to convince myself of anyway. Wether or not I actually believed it is another question.But if I was going to get the answer, we had to start putting real effort into solving everything. We were constantly two steps behind and that wasn't good enough, we had to do better. I had to do better. I had to be a bigger part of this, no matter how much Hoseok hated it.I arrived at the yoga studio that I'd hopefully be befriending Lisa's sister at, my car followed by another filled with security guards- what a fun life I led.It was a morning yoga class and I was actually a little excited for it, it sounded like a refreshing way to start my day and I don't know why it took this situation for me to finally try it, but today I was here for business.I went shopping with Jimin a few days prior to get some cute yoga clothes and a yoga mat which I had with me, to get the most out of the workout of course.I got the mat and my bag out of the back seat and gave a small nod of both acknowledgment and appreciation to the security car parked behind me, and headed into the yoga studio.It was relatively new, only open for around six months or so, I'd been told Lisa's sister had only started attending recently.I felt my heart rate pick up a little, and I started to scratch my collarbone in a pathetic attempt to relax my nervous system.I hoped Rose's sister, who I had learned was called Alice, was actually going to show up today. What if she changed her mind or was sick? That'd be the last thing I need.There was already six or so other girls setting up their mats, sitting down stretching, wearing big 'don't talk to me' headphones.I set up my own mat and started doing the basic stretches I looked up online, although I really had no idea what I was doing.The teacher, the instructor- what is it they're called? Hadn't arrived yet, and neither had Alice. I was starting to get a little antsy, nervous the only plan we had wasn't going to amount to anything.A few minutes later my attention was drawn to the door opening, I silently prayed it was Alice and, of course, it was not.The woman walked to the front of the room and apologised for being late and then announced herself as the teacher. I glanced at my phone and it was a little after 7am, if the teacher was already late did that just mean Alice wasn't going to show?I sighed heavily but decided not to waste what could be a relaxing morning and stay anyway, might as well get something out of the class.The teacher pressed play on an old school speaker that played some sort of relaxing meditation music, and started out with a few guided stretches.I copied her as best I could, but my mind drifted to other places.I'm envious of those who can just shut their mind off when they need to concentrate and not think about life's stresses. My mind is on at all times, no turning her off.As I went through the motions of the stretches, I was really inside my head the entire time, wondering what exactly would happen if we didn't solve this?How long would they taunt us before they finally decided to go after Hoseok- and me- again? There was no way either of us would be so lucky to survive a second time, whoever was responsible wouldn't let that happen.Before I could get any deeper in my thoughts, the door opened again, and this time, it was a dream come true; Alice Park."Sorry, sorry, traffic!" She profusely apologised, bowing towards the teacher and the class apologetically.Fortunately for her, I saved her a space, right beside my mat.She surveyed the room and I made sure to grab her attention with a small wave, "there's a space here," pointing beside me.She gave a bright, polite smile and rushed over to the spot. "Thank you, that's very kind of you," she said quietly, she almost seemed a little shy."It's no problem at all." I made sure to muster the kindest smile I could, this may have been the most important first impression of my life.She didn't say anything after that, or during the class, which I suppose makes sense, yoga is supposed to be meditative and being quiet is part of that I guess.It was an hour and thirty minute class, so there was a break at the 45 minute mark, I knew that would be my opportunity to strike up a conversation."Have you been attending these classes for long?" I said casually."Oh hey," she started. "Just a couple weeks.""That's cool. This is my first class, I'm new to the area. I'm Hanna," I lied."I'm Alice," she smiled. "Where did you move from?""Just outside Seoul. Are you from around here?""I've lived here for a couple years.""Oh nice. Do you like it?""It has its ups and downs, I don't think I'll stay here forever though.""Why, city life not for you?""Something like that," she murmured.I didn't press her any further than that, for the time being. Five minutes had soon past and the teacher was starting up the class again. I didn't get much out of her but at least I developed a little bit of rapport.I was going to have to get a lot closer to her if I wanted her to open up to me, she didn't seem the type to overshare. No bother- I was prepared to play the long game.
After 45 more minutes of more positions I had definitely never found myself in before, I couldn't decide if yoga was my thing or not, regardless, it would have to be so I could keep going back for Alice.The teacher took her time with an end-of-class rambling about achieving inner peace, or something or other, I was almost afraid Alice would leave before I had the chance to ask her to coffee.She finally finished speaking and whilst Alice was mid packing her bag with her yoga mat and water bottle, I approached her."Hey, I'm really putting myself out here but I'm kind of going by the philosophy- you don't know if you don't try and since I'm so new to the area, I don't really have many friends; would you like to go for coffee or something?""You mean right now?""Only if you're not busy. I've only had three cups today and I'm itching for my fourth."She looked at her watch briefly, before saying with a smile, "sure, I should have time. That sounds fun.""Great! Do you know any good coffee shops around?""There's a cute little store called flip and sip around the corner. It's a book store but also a coffee store, it's my favourite place ever."Shit. She had me stuck there. I couldn't go into the coffee store I work in, if we went there, they'd recognise me and she'd instantly know I wasn't really new to the area. I racked my brain as quickly as I could for an excuse to stay away from there."I actually went there yesterday and just as an employee was walking by, I was looking at my phone and bumped into her. She was carrying 3 drinks on a tray, hot and cold coffee went everywhere- including over her. The look she gave me screamed 'do not ever come back here' but instead she apologised to me. I cannot go back to that store," I awkwardly laughed.To this day, I'll never understand how I came up with that lie on the spot."Wow, not around long and you're already making your mark! I know another place we can go, it's not as cool but it's good coffee.""Lead the way!"❧❦ ❧"So you didn't get anything from her?" Hoseok sighed down the phone."No, I tried, but I was trying to be subtle. I couldn't exactly flat out say, 'can you ask your sister, Rose, to tell me where Jackson Wang is? Please and thanks!', could I?""I suppose not.""I got her number though so I'll ask her to hang out within the next few days, this wasn't a complete failure.""Thank you for trying, though.""It's not over yet. Jackson's not getting away with this, we will find him.""I know we will, I just don't like how many steps ahead they're getting while we try to catch up.""Neither do I, but you gotta take some losses before you get a win, we'll get our win soon enough.""I hope you're right.""I am, I always am," I jested. Him blowing air through his nose was the only 'laugh' I got out of that joke."See you later, Mins.""See ya." And with that, I hung up.I reached our apartment door, still guarded by a couple security guards, I showed them my ID and made my way inside.I bent over and started trying to unzip my boots, which turned out to be more difficult than it should've been. I lifted my foot off the ground in an effort to see the zipper better, balancing on one foot, struggling with the zip, this scenario would've been embarrassing even if I was alone- I wasn't.When I realised I wasn't alone, that was enough to completely knock me off balance and my ass found a new home on the floor.It was then that I caught eye contact with Taehyung, standing watching me from the B-wing side of the penthouse. He stood there, grin on his face and an iced coffee in hand- in the fancy glass I bought, no less. And there I sat, on the ground, boots still on and pride all gone."You scared the shit out of me, Taehyung.""You look alright to me," he shrugged, still grinning."I don't feel it," I said, standing up and brushing myself off.I decided sitting on the couch to take my boots off was probably the best idea, but even when I kept pulling at the zip, it wouldn't budge. I kept pulling and pulling, probably looking like an idiot at this point.I half expected to look up and see Taehyung still smirking my way but, to my surprise, he had walked over and sat beside me on the couch."Put your foot on my leg."I stopped for a moment before saying, "are you sure? You look like those clothes have just been dry cleaned-""Mina. Put your foot on my leg.""Okay okay," I surrendered. No point questioning help when it comes your way.He wiggled the zipper and manoeuvred it a certain way and suddenly it was as good as new. Now I look like an even bigger idiot.I moved my foot off his leg and took the shoe off just as he asked, "is there other one stuck too?" I checked and it was not, fortunately, so I didn't have to embarrass myself any further."Thanks, Taehyung.""I really wish you'd call me Tae.""Umm I think I'll stick to Taehyung for now.""Why? So formal.""Exactly. You're my elder, I have to be.He rolled his eyes, "elder shmelder, whatever.""Anyway, Taehyung, not that it's not lovely to see you, but why are you here drinking my coffee in my fancy glasses?""Your coffee? Your glasses? The last time I checked, it's Hoseok's name on the lease, and probably his groceries too!" He feigned offence on Hoseok's behalf."Besides the fact that Hoseok is eager for me to accept this place as my own as well as his, it actually is my coffee and groceries and glasses- I bought all of it. I even bought the fancy coffee machine you probably used.""Damn, Hoseok really has you acting like a house wife already.""Ha!" Was the only response I felt dignified to give him."Oh sorry, Jimin too.""What did you hear about that?" I asked, my mouth agape."Just that you bought him groceries and then tucked him into bed.""He told you about that night?""Only the spark notes, and he was really nice about it, don't worry. He was all 'so she brought food to cook for me, like an angel, but I was already making dinner so she filled my fridge with enough food for a week- isn't she a real angel!" He imitated Jimin's Busan accent. "And then I had a migraine so she tucked me into bed and read me a bedtime story!'" That part was a baby imitation.I gave him no response, just a shake of my head and he added, "okay, maybe he didn't say that last part. But he did basically say the rest, maybe not exact words, but close enough." After a beat he said, "so which of them do you like more?""Taehyung!" I exclaimed, and hit him with a pillow.He raised his hands in defeat, "okay, okay," he laughed. "You don't have to choose now, but eventually you will!""There's nothing going on with me and Jimin or me and Hoseok. Can a man and woman not just be friends?""Not when you're kissing one and tucking the other into bed."I rolled my eyes, "whatever, Kim Taehyung. Where is Hoseok anyway?""At a doctor's appointment.""No he's not?""He is.""He didn't tell me he had one, he always tells me?""I don't know what to tell ya, princess, I'm just the messenger."I sat in the silence for a moment, wondering what Hoseok's reasons were for not telling me. I had attended every doctor's appointment with him since we met, and even if I didn't attend, he at least told me when he was going to one. What had changed?I thought for a second that maybe I had done something wrong, was it my fault he was pushing me away? But that thought was overruled by the realisation that sometimes people do things that have nothing to do with you, it was his choice to push me away and if he wanted to tell me why, he would. It still did bother me a little bit though."Don't get too worked up about it, let him do his thing, he'll tell you if it's important," Taehyung pulled me out of my thoughts."I'm a little confused but I'm not gonna lose sleep over it.""Oh I can definitely tell who you're gonna pick," he said with the same smirk that never left his lips.I picked up a pillow again and pretended like I was going to throw it at him again, but I spared him this time."I'm not picking anyone. We. Are. All. Just. Friends. Understand?"He raised his hands in a feigned defeat again, "okay okay I won't argue." After a beat he said, "you should pick Jimin though."Never mind sparing him, for that, he deserved a second smack with the pillow. He laughed as he held his arms over his face to defend himself, before picking the pillow up and throwing it back at me ten times harder than I threw it at him."You're going down," I chortled.He ran for cover behind the couch as I continued to assault him with the pillows, although his aim was a lot better than mine and he hit me back a lot more than I hit him and once again- harder.We laughed and played like children in adults bodies, I wasn't sure the last time I had a pillow fight prior to this, but I know it wasn't this exhausting."Okay, okay, I surrender," I said, out of breath."Jungkook and I pillow fight daily, you were never gonna beat me, but good try," Taehyung laughed, setting the pillows neatly back on the couch where they belonged.As I lay back against the couch, my text tone going off interrupted me catching my breath. I tiredly reached for my phone and unlocked it. To my surprise, it was a text from Alice.I gasped and sat forward, grabbing Taehyung's attention as he said, "what's up?""Rose's sister texted me asking if I want to go out for drinks with her tonight.""Ooh say yes, this could be perfect for us."I sent a text back saying, 'aww I'd love to! what time?'.I almost felt bad using this girl as a pawn in our game, she had no idea what was going on. She probably had no idea how sick her sister and her friends were. But she was a means to an end, and though I felt bad, it was our only option.'how does 11pm sound?'I texted her back saying that worked for me and right after that, the three dots, indicating she was typing, appeared on the screen again."Maybe we should consult Hoseok on this. Going out for drinks is a little different than meeting her at a yoga class," Taehyung said worriedly."Oh hush, it'll be fine," I retorted. "It's not as though Jackson himself will be there, I have to do this."I looked at the grandfather clock across from me, double checking the time and mentally sorting out my schedule for getting ready and how much time I'd have. I zoned out and ended up in my own train of thought for a moment and in doing so, Taehyung read the next text before me and alerted me to its arrival by saying, "oh shit."'do you mind if my sister, Rose, comes?'"Oh shit indeed."
Hey, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! It's quite a bit shorter than previous chapters because I'm thinking of publishing shorter chapters, but more often to hit the algorithm better and get this story out to more people. I do write for myself, but having people encouraging me and looking forward to updates would be nice, so I'm gonna focus on faster updates with shorter chapters. I cannot stick to schedules for the LIFE of me but maybe Mondays and Fridays could be update days?Maybe if I build up an audience in future I'll go back to long chapters but I'm hoping this will work for now. If there is anyone reading and you're enjoying, please consider voting or commenting, it's pretty lonely here rn lol ♡
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Hoseok"You don't have to go, you could tell her something came up and you can't go anymore," I suggested to Mina, who was searching through her closet for an outfit."I'm not gonna cancel, Hoseok. I've always told you, this could be our only lead, there's no reason for me not to go. There's no need to be that worried, there'll be a car full of security guards just down the road from the club, if anything happens, I'll call them- but nothing will happen.""You don't know that. Jackson could've shown Rose a picture of you since you're associated with me now, he could target you easily.""Have you not been reading Jin's constant updates in the group chat? Jackson is still completely off the radar and definitely not in Seoul, we'd know if he was here, he won't be targeting me tonight.""Tonight you say? So any other night is fair game?""Guess so," she shrugged."Mina!" I exclaimed. "I need you to take this seriously.""I am," she groaned. "I just don't think tonight will be an issue, you have to trust me. I can't sit back and watch you guys do everything, I can be useful here. Tonight could be good.""You're really not going to give up, are you?""Absolutely not," she said. "Ooh, this is cute, right?" She held up a mid length red dress with a deep, V-cut neckline. I had to stop myself from imagining what she'd look like in that dress."Uh huh, that's great. Fine, if you have to go, there will be a car of security outside the club and two out of uniform sitting in the club keeping an eye on you.""Overkill much?""This isn't even close to overkill.""Whatever you say, Hoseok."She nodded to herself, seemingly deciding on the red dress and walked over to set it on her bed before saying coyly, "how'd your doctors appointment go?""Yeah, about that, he uh, he actually said I can go back to work in a week.""A week?" She asked, shock evident in her voice."Yeah, he said I've healed well. Just need to take it easy and keep going to the physical therapy appointments for a while but there's no need for me to be on rest anymore.""That's great, I'm sure you're excited.""It's the best news I've had in months.""I'm happy for you.""Thank you. That means a lot." For a long few seconds, the silence surrounded us, boxing us in as it seemed neither of us knew what to say.We were stuck in a situation neither of us knew how to navigate, and there's no advice in any self help books for 'what to do when I've been shot and then saved by a pretty girl, who I kissed and then rejected for her own good and then she got mad and now I don't know what to do'.I suppose whatever way you spin it, it was my fault, but to my core I believed I was pushing her away for the best. Whatever it took to keep her safe.The situation we were in was too volatile to factor emotions into the equation, whatever I wanted didn't matter, only what was best for Mina."I'll let you get ready," I said, forcing myself to leave the room even though all I wanted to do was stay by her side. Whatever it took to keep her safe.
MinaI pulled my dress down to make sure I was adequately covered, feeling the stares of the men around the outside of the club bore into my skin as I stood in line at the club Alice and I- and Rose- were meeting at.As the bouncers were checking my ID, studying my face as though I was a suspected criminal, I could hear the thumping of the baseline that reverberated throughout my body- that had always been my favourite part of clubs. Not only listening to the music, but feeling it.Keeping on brand with the name, 'heaven's angels', as you step inside the club there were bright pink, neon signs of angel wings on the walls. With the main lights dimmed, the pink hue of the neon lights and some flashing lights was all that lit up the room.It wasn't too busy yet, so I could see Alice standing at the bar right as I walked in. I took a breath and walked over to her."Hey girl," tapping her shoulder as I stopped behind her."Oh my goodness you're here!" She pulled me into an unexpected hug. "I was kind worried you wouldn't show up. I'm not usually very good at making new friends but I just get the feeling that you're a really nice person." By this point I could tell that she had maybe had a shot or two to get her started before I arrived."Of course I showed up, I would never make plans and then not show up, my fomo is too bad for that," I joked."Ugh fomo is the worst," she agreed. "I bought you this drink by the way, I hope you like vodka and lime.""I'd never say no to a free drink, thank you! The next round is on me," I smiled."So what do you do? Are you in university or working?""No, definitely not university, I left a couple years ago. I'm twenty four.""Oh no, I was so off, I definitely thought you were a lot younger, I'm sorry," she laughed and I couldn't help but laugh too. How nice of a person she is just made me feel worse by the minute."I'm definitely not going to be offended at someone thinking I look young, don't worry. What age are you?""I'm twenty five. Although I'm still in school, I'm studying medicine.""You're smart smart!" I said in a sing-song voice."I may be book smart, but my sister has always told me I'm very naive, so do with that what you will.""You seem very level-headed to me, even when you're a little bit tipsy," I joshed. "Where is your sister anyway?""She should be here soon, she's always fashionably late.""My friends are like that. It used to bother me a lot but I'm so used to it by now that I don't even notice.""I think it would bother me more if she wasn't my sister but I'll forgive her for most things pretty quickly." Now it was time to gather valuable intel."That's cute. Are you close?""We definitely are, always have been. She's always been my safe space, she helped me a lot with my move to Seoul.""Where did you move from?""Australia.""Oh my, that must've been a difficult move.""It was, but it had to happen." She trailed off and went silent for a moment whilst she sipped on her drink. "Get a little bit of alcohol into me and I'll spill all my secrets," she joked. I just hoped her sister was the same."I'm the same, why do you think I'm drinking this drink so slowly?" We both laughed, but for me it was a fearful laugh. I didn't want to get too drunk and accidentally reveal that I knew who she and her sister were before I even met them. Maybe I'd secretly nurse mock-tails all night, just in case.Although maybe a shot or two would help calm my nerves over how delicate this whole operation was. One slip up and I screwed us all. One slip up could mean the difference between life and death- for me and Hoseok. I couldn't let that happen.If I had done this night sober, my anxiety definitely would've possessed me and taken over my mind. I would've bent to its will because of the pressure of this.I wouldn't typically encourage alcohol as a cover for anxiety, but in this situation? Where at any point I was potentially minutes away from my own demise? I think that gave me a pass.The intermittent anxious thoughts whilst getting ready almost kept me from showing up, but this was bigger than me, I couldn't let anxiety be in the driver's seat this time.I had finished my drink and decided to order two more of the same thing for Alice and I."Can you actually order a third one of those? Rose is outside in the line. I'll give you the cash.""Don't worry about the money, I said next round's on me," I smiled, and tried not to let it falter."Let me buy you a drink," I heard to my right.I looked over and was met with a man wearing glasses and a bright blue jacket. In an attempt to not start any drama, I cautiously declined."No thanks, I have a boyfriend," I lied."Tell him I said he's a very lucky man." Weirdo."Sure, will do."Why are men like that?Moving on from that, I ordered the drinks and tried not to think about the fact that Rose was minutes away from either blowing my cover, or showing she was completely unaware as to who I was. I couldn't bare to think what would happen if it was the former.I subtly moved my gaze to the corner of the club where one of the security guards Hoseok had hired sat, intently watching me the entire time Alice and I were talking. Dressed head to toe in black, even sporting a black cap- which wasn't typical club attire, but I'm sure Hoseok flashing his money had the club permitting anything.The second I made eye contact with him, he gave a small, upwards nod of his head. I nodded back, as unsuspectingly as I could without Alice seeing, but fortunately she was focused on her phone.Usually, a man studying me that intently would have me running for the hills, but this man, I felt safe with. I knew that Hoseok had paid that man a lot of money solely to make sure I stayed safe- and that mollified most of the anxious thoughts. Most."Rose is coming in right now," Alice beamed.I swallowed and inhaled a deep breath, getting ready for victory or the end of it all.I had seen plenty of pictures of her, so I noticed her the second she strutted through the door- Roseanne Park, all eyes on her.The smile on Alice's face only grew wider as Rose get closer, she opened her arms wide, just on time for Rose to step into her embrace and hug her tightly.They were definitely close, you could tell that from a mile away."Rosieee," Alice sang."Ohhh I missed you," Rose said from deep within her sister's tight embrace, it didn't look like she was letting go any time soon.I stood to the side, not just sipping, but gulping my drink by this point. Swallowing my fear just as much as the vodka.The bass was heavy and I swear the lights were getting brighter. I scratched at my collarbone as I watched Rose pull away from Alice and turn to me.This was it.But as she looked at me, as far as I could tell, there was no glimmer of recognition in her eyes. No sudden change in expression that read, 'I know you from somewhere'. She didn't look angry, she didn't look like she was seconds away from calling Jackson. She just looked... kind?That same twinkle of genuine kindness that anyone would see the second they looked into Alice's eyes, looked back at me from her sister's eyes."I'm Alice's sister, Rose, it's lovely to meet you. Mina, isn't it?""Yeah, that's me," I squeaked.The drink I had just bought was already finished."Here's a drink for you," I said, forcing as real a smile as I could muster, this was important and I wasn't about to fuck it up."Aw thank you, that's so nice- you shouldn't have!""I wanted to make a good start to the friendship," -and a friendship we would have, I was making sure of it."Let me give you the money, how much was it?" She said, already opening her purse."No, no, please, I promise this one's on me!" I insisted."Are you sure?" I nodded in response. "Aw thank you- the next round is on me then!""Deal!"Now that I knew she didn't know me, the plan was finally able to continue. I felt like I was an undercover detective trying to get intel from criminals, I suppose I was in a way. If Rose helped Jackson with what he did to Hoseok, she could get charged as an accessory.Even though I hadn't known her for long by this point, but I found it hard to believe that she could be capable of such a thing. She radiated so much kindness that the idea of her agreeing to help in a drive-by shooting was incomprehensible to me.Wether or not she was involved, Jackson was, and if Rose would help us get to him then I had to use her."So, Rose, have you lived in Seoul for long or did you move from Australia with Alice?" I asked as nonchalantly as possible."I moved about six years ago for work.""What do you do for work?""I'm a business executive for an entertainment company.""Ooh, would I know it?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows."Maybe. YG Entertainment?" She said humbly, probably knowing that there was no way I hadn't heard of YG, but too humble to brag."Wow the YG Entertainment? That's impressive, get it girl!""Thanks," she laughed, "it's a fun place to work. Are you in school still?""Umm," I laughed, getting cut off by Alice."I made the same mistake, would you believe she's twenty four?""No way! I'm sorry, I thought you were closer to twenty.""That's definitely not an insult, no need to apologise. I'm not in school or work at the moment, just trying to figure life out," I lied."Hey, there's no shame in that," Rose said."Everyone deserves a break from responsibilities for a little bit, if you can have that time to yourself there's nothing wrong with that," Alice added."That's very true. I just live with my boyfriend and he pays for everything." Pretending Hoseok was my boyfriend was an irony that was not lost on me, but I wanted to sneak relationships into the conversation to see if Rose would mention her potential boyfriend."As he should!""Sometimes I love being single, sometimes I hate it, this conversation is making me hate it," Alice sighed."Trust me, you'll have a lot less stress in your life without a man." Could this be something?"Rose is right. Relationships are a lot more trouble than they're worth. Is your boyfriend giving you trouble, Rose?" I asked."He's not technically my boyfriend but yeah, something like that," she trailed off."Well you deserve better than him, whatever he's done, screw him," I said and she didn't know how much I meant that last part."He's just not a very nice guy but I still find myself wanting to be with him, I'm not quite sure why."More and more, as the night went on, I found myself feeling even worse for Rose, but I still couldn't tell if she had anything to do with it. It sounded like she was in a bad situation and needed help getting out but I needed to put me and my people first. All I needed to do was compartmentalise and do this without letting my emotions run everything, I've done it before, I could do it now."It's a good thing you're out with us tonight, we'll make you forget all about him. Hey, maybe you can even find someone to be your real boyfriend." I said, bumping my hip into hers."Yeah, Jackson's a loser anyway, I've never liked him," Alice stated. "We'll find you someone better." So Rose was having some 'relationship' type issues with Jackson?"I don't need a man, let's just make this a fun girl's night!" Rose cheered."High five to that!" I shouted as the three of us high fived gleefully."Ready for the next round?" Rose asked with a smirk. "This one is on me!""Let's do it!" Alice and I beamed.Rose paid for the three drinks, plus 3 shots of soju, which we drank instantly before Rose grabbed my hand and sang out, "let's go to the dance floor!""I won't argue with that."So to the dance floor we went. Being on my third drink and just one shot deep, was enough to almost completely lower my inhibitions.The top of the charts musics blasted over the speakers and the glow of the neon signs and strobe lights was all I could really focus on as I danced and swayed to the music.I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I tried to completely focus on the fun I was having in this very second, not the context around it- who I was with and what it all meant- just focus on the now.As I spun around with Rose, I could just about make out the two security guards Hoseok had hired to sit inside the club, this was enough to keep my mind at ease and let me focus on enjoying myself.The boom boom boom of the music in my chest.The strobe lights, bumping into people left, right and centre but it didn't matter, in this very moment none of it mattered.I knew it wouldn't be like that for long, so I intended to make the most of it.And that I did. Alice, Rose and I took turns paying for rounds and just after the fourth round, nature was finally calling.Over the music I yelled, "I'm gonna go to the bathroom.""Want us to go with you?" Rose asked."No it's okay, I'll be quick.""We'll be right here!" Rose said whilst spinning Alice around.I excused myself as I pushed past people, tripped over a few of their feet, and then stumbled into the bathroom which, fortunately had no line. Which was odd considering only one of them was available, the rest had 'out of order' signs stuck to the doors.I walked into the one empty stall and locked the door behind me.This is the point of the night where you lean against the sink and have a talk with yourself in the mirror. I needed to take it down a notch before I spilled one too many secrets.As I stood there, trying to regain the clarity of my vision, I looked up at the mirror and it took me a moment, I wasn't entirely able to focus.For a second I assumed it was just drunken girls drawing with lipstick on the mirror, but as I looked closer, this wasn't done by a drunken girl.'We're always watching, Mina. Be careful.'I stumbled back, and not because I was drunk, this sobered me up almost instantly, but because I had to get out of there that second.Although the adrenaline had played a part in making me feel sober as a judge, my anxiety started acting up, making my hands shake so much that I struggled to open the bathroom door making me panic because I started to feel trapped.I finally managed to unlock the bathroom door but before I left, I pulled my phone out of my bag and went to my contacts and scrolled down to Hoseok's name and clicked the call button.It only had to ring once before he answered."Mina? Are you alright?" He asked worriedly."No, I need out of here," I gasped through anxious breaths."Okay, it's okay, you'll be okay. Just leave and get into the car with the guard waiting outside it, the two guards inside will follow you out, can you do that?""I think so.""Where are you right now?""In the bathroom.""Are you alone?""Yes.""Okay, leave right now, no stopping to talk, just go.""Okay okay.""Stay on the phone with me."I made my way out of the bathroom quicker than I exited the conversation with that creepy guy earlier, and tried to avoid Rose and Alice as I walked through the dance floor but, low and behold, Rose noticed me and grabbed my arm."Mina, where you going?" She said, slurring her words."I feel really sick, I gotta go," I answered, trying to get out of her grasp."Let me walk you to your ride!" She slurred some more."Yeah, you can't go alone," Alice joined in."Mina, get out of there!" I heard through the phone pressed to my ear."Guys I really have to go, I'm okay going alone, I'll text you both. Tonight's been fun, we should do it again soon!" I pulled my arm free from Rose's hand and quickly headed towards the door.Just before I got out the door I bumped into a few people in my frenzy to escape, one of them being the same bright blue coat from earlier.He was the last face I wanted to see right now. Before he could say a word, I pushed hard through the doors and was finally hit with a cool breeze marking my freedom.Free from the hot, sweaty club and instead of hearing excessively loud music, the sound of the night was replaced with the sound of the wind in the trees and a few car horns. I took a deep breath to try and calm my racing heartbeat down as much as possible.True to Hoseok's word, the car full of security guards was right up front with one standing outside.I ran over to it, the guards from inside right on my heel, I opened the door and was met with the perfect face to comfort me in that moment.
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MinaNo matter how much you try, you can never get used to your life being in constant danger.I typically did a great job of not worrying too much about what could happen and just focusing on the present. I didn't spend too much time thinking about who was stalking and persistently threatening us, which is why when the threats were right in front of me, it always hit me hard.This was the third note that had been left somewhere for me to find- they always knew exactly where I'd be and when. How could they possibly know that much? How did they have eyes literally everywhere?Was it possible that I got it wrong and Rose did recognise me? Perhaps she wrote the note on the mirror? But I'm almost positive that she didn't leave mine or Alice's side once all night and she would've had to be a really good actress with how well she played it off that she didn't recognise me.What were we missing? Right when we thought we were one step ahead, they caught right up to us. I don't know about everyone else, but I was sick of being the losing team. They couldn't be omnipresent, there was no way they knew everything, there had to be a way to get an edge on them.But I was too tired to contemplate it much further, I was already up the entire night trying to slow my anxious heart rate and hadn't left my room all day. I didn't even have much of a hangover, the only place I felt safe was inside the walls of the apartment, fifty floors up- they couldn't get me there."You know you're safe here, right?" Hoseok asked softly."I know," was all I could force myself to say."You don't have to be afraid all the time, no one's gonna let them hurt you.""I appreciate the sentiment, Hoseok, but they got close. This time it was a note in the bathroom but next time it could be a bullet. I know you go to a lot of effort to keep me safe but it isn't always going to be possible, they're always one step ahead. It's like they know everything, how could they know everything?""That's the main part I don't understand, I don't know how to make sense of it." His head dropped into his hands as he sat on the huge couch at the other side of my room. "I just feel so defeated knowing they got so close to you. I'm sorry, Mins, it won't happen again."This was another moment that spun through my brain for a while. How deeply he cared for me and worried about me, at the same time telling me the kiss meant nothing."Thank you, Hoseok. I appreciate everything you've done to keep me safe. And hey, I don't have a bullet in me yet so you're doing something right."He scoffed, hiding a laugh. "You can't ever take anything seriously, can you?""If I did, I'd be living in a constant panic attack. This is the only way I can cope.""I could use some of your humour," he said, fiddling with his hands."Take as much as you like."He looked up from his hands at me and sighed deeply, biting his cheek as though he had something to say but couldn't say it. He had a lot of these moments. I wished I could read people's minds, it would've saved me so much trouble."Ding dong! Anybody home?" I heard a loud voice call from outside my room. "Someone lead me to Mina's room, this place is a maze!"I raised an eyebrow and looked at Hoseok confusedly.He looked just as concerned as he got up to open my door and called out, "up the stairs and follow my voice.""Which stairs?""Left side."There was a few seconds of silence before the voice then said, "where are you?""Jimin?" Hoseok yelled. "Over here!"More silence and then, "my goodness this place is too big for two people never mind one before Mins moved it."What was Jimin doing here? He walked into the room with a bag in hand, he held it up and presented it to me. "Ta-da!" He sing-songed."What's this?" I asked, sitting up in bed and and trying to nonchalantly fix my hair. "Why are you here?""Oh sorry, I see where I'm not wanted, I'll just leave," Jimin said, turning around to walk out again."No no, that's not what I meant, c'mere!"Jimin moved closer to my bed and Hoseok stepped out of his way before saying, "uh I'll leave you guys alone.""No you don't have to," Jimin shook his head."I have things to do anyway," Hoseok replied quietly."Oh well I'll come down and see you when you're not busy.""Yeah sounds good. See you guys later.""See ya later," I answered just as quietly while scratching my collarbone. "So what's up?""I brought you a hangover kit!""A what?" I laughed.He sat on the edge of my bed and presented the bag again. It was a a white tote bag with beige brown block lettering in the bottom left corner that read, 'happier days are coming'."Okay, so! First off, the bag is for you to keep."I furrowed my brows and couldn't help but smile. "Aww Jimin.""That's not all. Inside we have, four revitalising face masks.""Ooh just what every girl needs!""Two kombuchas to help with the hangover nausea. This is my favourite kombucha brand, I've been drinking them forever," he said, passing me the bottles. "A pack of pain killers for any headaches incurred by the hangover, a couple packets of electrolyte powders, some fluffy socks, some really nice smelling bath-bombs, this bar of chocolate and finally, this eye mask. So, whatcha think?"You couldn't pry the smile off my face if you tried. I don't think I'd ever known anyone so thoughtful in my life and no one had ever done something this nice for me. What did the world do to deserve a man like Park Jimin? What did I do?"There's so much good in your heart and it never fails to amaze me.""Does that mean you like it?""I love it, Jimin. Thank you so much. I don't deserve this, or you.""Ah, but you do! After you coming over and offering to make dinner for me last week? This is the least I could do. You take care of me, I take care of you." He paused for a second. "Last night when you called Hoseok and said you were in trouble, I was so afraid that they had physically hurt you. And then when you opened the car door I was so relieved that you looked okay.""I was even more relieved to see you when I opened the door.""Were you really?" A smile tugged on the corner of his mouth."I was, and then when I saw Hoseok in the car too, I knew I didn't have to worry anymore.""The second he said he was having a car sit out front I told him I had to be in it. I wish I could've been inside.""It wouldn't have been safe, Rose would recognise you.""I know, but the fact that they got that close to you, that they were watching, terrifies me.""But you were right outside. That alone means a lot to me," I said with a tilted head."Hoseok said you're worried to leave the apartment now?"I shrugged, "they can't get me fifty floors up. I don't feel safe anywhere else.""We're going to get them, I promise you. They might be a step ahead now but I'll do whatever it takes to stop them from getting so close to you again.""I trust you.""I'm glad you do.""How have your migraines been this week?""I'd be lying if I said they weren't still happening every night and absolutely debilitating. I don't think they're going anyway anytime soon.""Aw Jiminie," I pouted. "This is what makes me so determined to get ahead of them. They can't get away with any of this. Shooting Hoseok? Doing this to you? None of it's fair.""I always knew our past would catch up to us eventually," he admitted. "I just wish that I would've taken Hoseok's place.""Why would you say that?" I questioned."He didn't deserve what they've put him through.""Neither do you! There's no point in focusing so much on what you can't change.""Hoseok told me he'd go through it all again if it meant still meeting you. You're the one shining star through all of this.""He didn't say that," I doubted."Oh he did," Jimin answered."Well then he didn't mean it.""I don't think you understand how much he cares about you.""Yeah I really don't, to be honest.""What do you mean?""He's just so indecisive. One minute he's telling me the kiss meant nothing and the next he's staring into my eyes trying to get me to read his mind," I groaned."I thought you didn't care about him rejecting you?" He teased.I glared at him before saying, "I don't. I just don't appreciate inconsistency. Say what you mean and stick to it.""I think Hoseok keeps a lot to himself. There's a lot going on up there not many people know about, it's hard for him to let people in.""Why?""You'd have to ask him that.""I'd rather not. If he wants me to know something he can tell me. I won't waste my time begging anyone.""I respect that. You wanna know what I think?""What do you think Jimin?""I think Hoseok needs to get his act together and appreciate what's right in front of him before someone else does.""Oh yeah?""Oh yeah!""Well that someone else better come along real soon, I'm feeling severely under appreciated.""I think they'll be along soon. Don't worry, princess."I did nothing but look into his eyes for a second while a smile danced on my lips, his face mirrored my expression."What's your plans for today then?" I asked him."I don't really have any. I was just going to lay in bed and stare at the ceiling waiting for my migraine to come on.""Aww no what kinda day is that? Why don't you join me, we can have a lazy movie day.""What kinda movies you thinking?""We could start with the notebook?" I cautiously suggested."Deal, I'm in!""Yay, and oh my goodness, we can do face-masks!""I don't know if I agreed to that," he laughed nervously."No choice, it's part of the movie night terms and conditions.""I suppose I have to then," he gave in.At this point, I could feel the weight of the anxiety being lifted off my shoulders- trust Jimin to make me feel better so quickly. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, just the presence of Jimin makes me feel safe. It truly felt like I could never come to any harm in his presence.Jimin settled onto the huge, white couch in my room- I fell asleep on it once and it's honestly just as comfortable as any bed- and threw the blanket that was draped over the back of it on top of himself.I turned on the TV and found the notebook on Amazon Prime Video, I pressed play and settled into bed.I glanced over at Jimin, who had the blanket pulled right up to his chin and this subtle, seemingly permanent smile on his face that had the power to make my heart melt. Whenever Jimin smiled, I smiled, that was just the way things were.I must've been voicing my thoughts aloud because Jimin turned to look at me, making me instantly turn to look at the TV, but I already felt the blush rising up my cheeks. I pulled the covers up around my face to conceal the evidence."Knock knock!" A voice sang from outside my door."Why am I so popular today?" I wondered out loud. "Come in!"The door opened and then a face I was not expecting to see."Taehyung?" I queried. "What're you doing here?""Interrupting something it looks like," he smirked."Oh ha ha, you're not interrupting anything."He raised his eyebrows before saying, "I just came to see how you were doing actually. Since I was with you when you got that text from Alice about going out and then I heard how the night ended, I thought I'd pay you a visit to see how you are.""Aw look at our Taehyung being a nice guy, that's so cute," Jimin cooed, from his warm cocoon on the couch."You're one to talk about being cute," Taehyung resounded, walking over to Jimin before laying done beside him and playfully messing with his hair. "Look at little Jiminie all tucked in like a little love bug, he's so cute.""Cuddle with me, Taehyung," Jimin begged."Don't have to ask me twice," Taehyung agreed, before kicking off his shows and snuggling into Jimin. "So, Mina, other than the whole bathroom fiasco, how'd the night go? What'd you find out?""Tae, you have no tact," Jimin said."I'm just here to gather the facts," he shrugged. "So?""Alice and Rose are quite close, so it should be easy to keep getting closer to Rose to lead us to Jackson. I really don't think Rose recognised me, which takes away my only theory for who wrote that note in the bathroom. Maybe less important, but her and Jackson are in a 'situation ship' of sorts-""Damn, I'm out of luck," Taehyung interrupted.I squinted my eyes as I looked at him with a slightly horrified facial expression."Yeah, anyway. Um I think that's it, I didn't get much.""Did anyone hit on you?" Taehyung quipped, and for that, Jimin hit him."One guy did. I told him I had a boyfriend and he said to tell him that he's a very lucky guy, he was a weirdo.""Don't tell Hoseok about that part.""Huh?" I said, puzzled.Jimin hit Taehyung again for reasons unknown to me and Taehyung laughed under his breath. "You told him you have a boyfriend?" Jimin asked."Well yeah, I obviously didn't mean it, he just wouldn't have left me alone if I said no.""As long as he left you alone straight after.""He did, don't worry.""So what I'm hearing is, it was a failure? You got no info and a brand new threat?" Taehyung quizzed."Yeah, I suppose it was a failure.""Guys, this was just the first move on the game board to get to where we need to be. It helped you build rapport with Alice and Rose so we can get better info in the future. We weren't gonna find everything out straight away," Jimin reasoned."Ever the optimist, Jimin.""Someone here has to be.""So when's your next night with them?" Taehyung asked."Geez I don't know, I'm still recovering from the first one.""Gotta get the ball rolling."For the third time, Jimin hit Taehyung with a pillow to shut him up, except this time a lot harder earning an, "oww Jimin!" From Taehyung."If you promise to behave, I might invite you to join us for our movie day," I suggested to Taehyung.He put his hand on his chest and gasped, "no way! The prestigious Jimin and Mina movie night and I've earned an invite?""I'll take it back if you don't calm the sass.""Aye aye captain," he said, saluting me. "I'd be honoured.""Great, now get under this blanket and cuddle me for real," Jimin implored."I have no arguments."
HoseokIt had been twelve hours since Jimin and Taehyung invited themselves into Mina's room, and they hadn't left since. I mean I suppose it would concern me more if it was just one of them, two is less of a concern, right?I knew Jimin and Mina were developing some sort of friendship, but I didn't know her and Taehyung had been too. I mean there's no one I'd trust more to be by her side when I wasn't, than any one of my friends, I know none of them would let anything happen to her.I suppose I was just a little jealous that I couldn't have the same thing. I knew it was for the best that I kept her at arms length, but it didn't make it any easier seeing my brothers have the kind of friendship with her that I wished I could have.I had never dealt with a feeling so all encompassing before. When I was around her, I felt drawn to her, but I fought everything in me to stay away.It's like looking away from the most beautiful sunset you've ever seen, it's hard, isn't it? That's what it felt like with her.Our relationship is a victim of our circumstances. We would have never met had it not have been for the shooting, there would be nothing pulling us together despite all obstacles, we would just be two strangers and we'd stay that way.There was nothing more to it.But, I was in a hell of my own making, so I forfeited my right to complain.I had spent all day in the gym, the physical energy exertion distracting me from the mental fight I was facing.I caught up with Jin and made him check that Jackson was still not in Seoul, he was not, which only meant he had helpers.Sehun wasn't at home last night, which could seem suspicious, but again, the culprit likely had helpers being their eyes and ears everywhere.Juggling the stress of the investigation, keeping Mina safe, and returning to work in two days was definitely going to be a lot to handle. Fortunately, on the Mina front, I had one certain way to keep her safe when I went back to work.When I got back to my apartment and saw Jimin and Taehyung's shoes still at the front door, all I could do all night was wonder what on earth they had been doing all day.In the end, because curiosity did indeed kill the cat, I found myself venturing up the stairs and to Mina's door. I put my ear to it and listened for a second, hearing nothing but the sound of the TV playing, no voices, before whispering at a slightly raised volume, "Mina? Jimin? Taehyung?"When I got no responses, I pushed the door open as quietly as possible and peered into the room. The TV continued to play an episode of the drama 'hwarang', despite Taehyung being completely out cold on the couch, the blanket tucked up to his chin and what looked to be a face mask on his face?And on the far left side of Mina's bed, was Mina, tucked comfortably under a mass of blankets, fast asleep. And on the far right side- was Jimin. Albeit, not under the blankets but still, comfortably curled up, asleep, on the side of Mina's bed, turned facing her. Neither of them could look more at peace if they tried.I looked up at the ceiling and exhaled a deeply held breath before closing the door as quietly as I possibly could.Whatever it took to keep her safe.