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bluenpjm · 2 months

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CLOUD9 AGENCY ☁ JJK X OC

synopsis. faced with decisions that can change the course of her career, the art director of the cloud9 agency decides it is time to act and reignite the flame she had once lost. and all because of an intern… genre. non-idol au ; slice of life au ; intern!jungkook ◦ fluff ◦ angst ◦ smut pairing. JJK x OC rating. M wordcount. 4.8K warnings. foul words, violent thoughts, sad vibes and life not making sense, drinking, arguing, just a lot of different feelings! a/n. a really really late birthday gift to my #1 supporter of this story. happy late birthday lulu, you're the best! 🥺💛🌻 chapters. 3 — 4 — 5

It hadn’t been the first time someone had disappointed Carolina. It had been, however, the first time she had allowed someone to get too close too quickly. And that was a mistake she wouldn’t be committing again anytime soon. After all, you learn from your mistakes. At least you should.

She storms towards the elevator, her anger seething within her.

Carolina doesn’t care to collect any of her belongings that stay laid in her office—and for the sake of everyone in that entire building, it would be best that her little purple troll with neon green hair would be in the box with her stuff the next day. Horace—the troll—had been her companion throughout the most challenging moments of trite; that, and her camera. Cassandra never bothered to replace the agency’s old one that, for the entire time Carolina had been with Cloud9, had been broken and merely acting as yet another item in her glass office to be left to collect dust.

Already inside the elevator, she faces the crowd for the seconds it takes the doors to close—some people had already started whispering, others dispersed once faced with Cassandra, while the one intern that she cared about didn’t move; her eyes are on him and she doesn’t look away until the doors close. As she begins its descent, she’s met with her reflection in the steel doors. She wants to scream and punch someone. Wholeheartedly, she wouldn’t mind punching both Jungkook and Cassandra straight in the face. “Stupid Jungkook,” she mutters under her breath, hands falling to her hips. “Fuck you and your meaningless empty words.”

Her chest keeps rising and falling as she crouches on the floor, practicing her breathing exercises to calm her racing nerves, as the box keeps on dinging, signaling that she is closer and closer to the ground level.

Stepping out of the tall building that had been her workplace for the last couple of years, Carolina stood on the bustling sidewalk, the busy street teeming with people despite the hour. She hated early meetings. In fact, she hated all sorts of meetings. There was no need to have an entire team stop their days so that they could waste 45 minutes of their busy schedules to speak about something that could easily be an email.

Her work day was managed according to her own will. The team that worked closely with the creative director was used to her being offline in the morning and extremely active during night hours. Her brain became electric after midnight and they had all been able to coordinate a pretty balanced work schedule so they could communicate effectively.

With its modern design, the towering building loomed above her. Car horns, the hurried footsteps, and the chatter of pedestrians created a symphony of urban chaos that served as background noise for the audio message she was recording for her best friends, trying her best to veil her frustration and disappointment as she recounted the situation. She knew she didn’t have to lie; in fact, it only worried her that her friends would jump Cassandra in the street or key her car. It wasn’t like her to openly discuss her feelings. Instead, she made some jokes.

“But yeah—” She pauses briefly, phone momentarily touching her lips. “I’ll be seeing you guys at 8 pm. As usual. Peace out!”

She hits the green button, sending her audio through, before immediately typing a quick message so they don’t rush to listen to her recording. 15 entire minutes of her ranting about her day so early in the morning would definitely alarm them.

Her ride finally arrives and she lets out a sigh of relief as she climbs into the backseat. The added feature of no conversation was a blessing as her mind throbbed with frustration. Leaning back against the comfortable leather seats, Carolina closes her eyes and lets the soothing melodies of the music playing on the radio wash over her. As the car began its journey, the towering buildings of the city gradually faded into the background, replaced by the familiar sights of her own neighborhood. The streets became lined with quaint houses and small local businesses.

From time to time, she would open her eyes, checking that the normal-looking guy who was driving her home didn’t have a little bit of Joe Goldberg in him and took a detour to his secret layer where he would try to murder her. She had been devouring true crime podcasts and it had quickly taken over her mind—whichever situation she found herself in could be the perfect crime scene. Sometimes she even found herself looking for ways to leave clues behind so that the investigative team could find her body.

But as her paranoid mind came to ease, she couldn’t help but appreciate the contrast between the hectic city and the peacefulness of her neighborhood. The cool breeze gently brushed against her face as she peered out of the window, and her home was just around the corner. She longed for a cold shower, a chance to wash away the stress and frustrations that had been weighing on her shoulders.

Successfully arriving home without being kidnapped, Carolina takes the stairs up to the third floor. The elevator in her building had been making weird noises and after getting stuck there twice, she decided not to put her luck to the test any longer. The angels were probably worrying about someone else because she was having one hell of a day.

She feels exhausted and defeated. As she closes the door behind her, one of her shoes is already flying as she swiftly takes it off. The other follows suit. Tossing her keys on top of her bag that had also been thrown to the floor, she moved with automatic precision toward the bathroom.

The soothing sound of running water fills the room as Carolina turns the faucet, letting it pour into the bathtub. The cold shower is replaced by a warm bath that would hopefully serve as a place to unwind and let go of the stress that had accumulated throughout her morning. The day had barely started and she was feeling drained.

Stepping into the warm water, she lets out a sigh of relief as it caresses her skin, the tension in her muscles slowly melting away. But the feeling of betrayal kept lingering in her mind, as she could still vividly picture Jungkook’s doe eyes stuck to the floor, the question of why he hadn’t backed her up as he promised haunting her. Closing her eyes, Carolina submerges herself in the water, wanting nothing more than the world surrounding her to fade away.

By the time Carolina left her bathroom, she was surprised to find her living room dimly lit, washed in tones of orange as the sun had already begun to set. She fetched her phone and wasn't surprised by the thousands of messages her friends had sent her, both on their group but also in the private chat. She was expecting them to explode by the news—that, and that they were going to kill her because of the lack of communication.

Her wrinkly fingers wouldn't allow her to leave a fingerprint behind, making it impossible to unlock her phone. Her attention fell on the time displayed on the screen instead and she knew she had to hurry if she didn't want to be yet again late to their dinner date.

Carolina’s encounter with her friends that evening was based on venting frustrations and only after she had some drinks and shared some laughs, they discussed her situation with Cassandra and Jungkook. As she had expected, the two girls immediately began a plan to make the lives of the two people who were tormenting her friend’s mind a living hell.

As the evening drew to a close, Carolina managed to put her friends in their respective cars, calling one for herself while feeling grateful for them. She knew that with the two she would never be alone in her struggles and that they would always be there for her. But as she arrived home, she couldn’t help but check her phone for any missed messages. Despite still being upset with Jungkook, deep down she craved to have something from him—some sort of explanation for his reaction earlier. Scrolling through her social media, the feelings only grew inside her and she decided it was time to call it a day. Setting her phone down, the silence in her room is deafening and it feels like it’s spinning. She just wanted to close her eyes and forget this day ever happened.

As days turned into weeks, Carolina’s rage faded down.

After quitting her job, her days settled into a monotonous rhythm. Her once bustling schedule was now a simple sequence of actions that played out in the confined space of her house. The path she treaded between her bed, the fridge, and the bathroom would soon start to feel worn, like a well-trodden trail that could be found in the woods.

During the initial days of her newfound routine, Carolina found a peculiar comfort in the limited space, as if the world beyond was too vast and too overwhelming to face. Deep down, she had been craving this alone time; this silence—a relief. The constant ringing of her phone, which had once been a constant reminder of work-related stress, was now replaced by a soothing quietness. For the first time in a while, she was able to breathe in the stillness of her surroundings.

However, a sense of emptiness began to creep into her life. Despite the wanted freedom, an undeniable void had emerged. Her phone became a reminder and creator of chaos in her mind. Whenever it chimed, her heart would skip a beat, anticipation rising in her chest. Her thoughts darted between who could be the culprit behind the sensation of the mini heart attack she suffered with each buzz. Most times, it would be her friends. But those weren’t the calls or messages that she craved; her mind darted to the possibility of it being him.

Jungkook crossed her mind endless times per day. The man who, somehow, had vanished from her life. His absence, although appreciated at first, started to gnaw at her, the frustration and anger that had been her initial response giving way to more complex emotions. She started feeling helpless. The more shows she binged, the more she started to realize that her life, in that moment, was stripped of sense.

Carolina’s thoughts seemed to gravitate towards Jungkook with every passing day. She would catch herself wondering where he was, what he was doing, and whether he was thinking about her as much as she thought of him. And every time, she would end up feeling ridiculous by occupying her mind with someone whom she believed she didn’t mean half as much to.

“So,” At the sound of her friend’s voice, Carolina’s gaze left the blurry images that were displayed on her screen to face the girl sitting on the other end of the couch.

“Oh no…” She sighed, fighting the urge to massage her temples. “what is it this time?”

“How’s that portfolio coming along?” Deo eyed Carolina through her eyebrows as she sipped on the noodles that were fuming from the cup in her hand.

“It’s coming.” The short answer was an easy indicator of the lack of interest regarding the topic. “Ya’ know.”

The friend hummed and Carolina pursed her lips together. Her friends had been bugging her for the past week so that she would get some work done. Deep down, she knew that this was their attempt at making her leave the somewhat depressing state she had allowed her body to grow into. She wasn’t like this—the type to back down; cross her arms while the world revolved and she remained still. She was a force of nature to be reckoned with. And so, it was odd to see her so defeated.

That night, however, after saying goodbye to her friend, she didn’t go to bed. She didn’t slouch on her couch either, as usual, Netflix playing on the screen of the TV with the most recent drama until she either finished it, the sun rose or she fell asleep. Instead, she managed to take all the clothes that laid on her desk’s chair and moved them to her bed, allowing her to sit in front of her laptop for the first time in weeks.

The first couple of times she hit the power button, it wouldn’t turn on, completely drained of power. So, Carolina lost a couple more minutes looking for the charger.

It took some minutes for the machine to reboot and for the screen to make her dark eyes glow. Opening the first drawer of her desk, she fetched an old dotted notebook and started to outline a strategy. In her mind, it wasn’t that clear yet, but Carolina had started to define, step by step, how she was going to get control of her life again and make it incredible.

The visual identity of her very own agency wasn’t done that night. The sun rose and she continued glued to her screen. And after a couple of days, she contacted previous clients, explained her new situation, and offered her services. She planned to start her very own agency, offering her creative mind to those in need. A modern-day superhero, if one could say.

The first couple of months were hard—harder than Carolina had anticipated. Regardless, she was in a good place. After a long day, her mind didn’t wander back to Jungkook; she didn’t think of him at all. He had become a wound that healed—a thought that she managed to wipe completely from her mind.

Someone once said that the most beautiful parts of life were in the small things. Carolina’s small thing lately was the group of people who acted as her employees—some freelancers that she hired to help out on her projects. The group worked weirdly in sync together and they had been a constant in her life in the last weeks.

Lu, a photographer with a keen eye for art and amazing drawing skills, had become a close friend. The other girl in the group was Sarah, a writer who would often pitch in Carolina’s social media strategies. The three girls were walking to the bar after hitting the dance floor of a club for the past thirty minutes.

“Are you official, yet?” Sarah nudged Carolina on her side, head tilting to a table where 5 guys were sitting. The latter’s eyes followed and landed on the one who was trying to vent some air through his black shirt. Jae. Carolina laughed. “Exclusive, then?”

“We’re playing a dangerous game already,” Carolina turned her back to the table, viewing the ludicrous wall of liquor. “Giving it a label will only make it more complicated.”

“Those big round eyes—he looks just like a lost puppy,” Lu’s speech is slurred.

“Getting strays off the streets is more your scene. How’s Lucious?” Carolina joked wittedly, remembering that just last week the girl had sent her a photo of a stray cat that she rescued from the streets. It would be kitty number four now and she was certain that the it’s just temporary—until I find someone to take him talk was a big fat lie.

As the conversation develops between the other two girls, Carolina’s eyes fall on the subject of their previous conversation. If anyone had asked her about him, she would most likely say he's nobody—better yet, a work colleague; someone that she hired now and then to help her out on her gigs. But when her friends asked, it had become quite evident that their little rendezvous after work, which usually resulted in her doing a walk of shame back to her apartment the next morning and ignoring his texts for the next couple of days until work brought them together had become more and more common and Carolina was trying her best so that people wouldn’t notice how he messed with her head and heart. Their eyes meet and Jae gives Carolina a giant smile, which she shyly reciprocates before turning around to face the bar yet again.

People-watching was one of Carolina’s favorite hobbies. Her creative mind would go wild, creating stories according to the faces of the people in her sight, sometimes even roaming into the dialogues they were having. Lucky for her, the area is packed.

A woman, not much older than her—or at least she guessed—playfully twirled her hair between her fingers, a radiant smile on her lips as she talked to a guy next to her. He had the puffiest lips Carolina had seen that night and it was evident by his body language that he hadn’t kissed or been kissed enough that night.

Another man sat not so far away and, in contrast to the people next to him, he was gloomy. Head was swinging up and down as his focus was on catching the attention of the barman to ask him for another drink. That one certainly would have a hard time finding a taxi home. And that is of course if he wouldn’t end up sleeping on one of the benches outside of the club.

The barman that the gloom wanted to attract was busy taking the orders of a young man over the loud noise of the music. The man was leaning his whole body on the counter in a kind of boyish manner, trying his best to speak clearly despite his eyes already appearing somewhat foggy. As he finally finishes, the barman gives him an assertive nod and the man smiles. And suddenly it clicks… that smile. It sends Carolina down a spiral and she has to control the pulsating need that rushes through her body.

“Hey, you’re feeling ok?” Lu rapidly asks but gets no response. “Are you going to throw up?”

Carolina focuses on the man’s movements and sees how he licks his lips as his back hits the counter, attention dispersing to something—or someone—in the crowd. His silhouette was unmistakable amidst the sea of gyrating bodies now that she had found him. Her eyes dart from his profile to the back of his head and it’s like she has laser vision and it’s starting to burn a hole in his head as his hand comes to caress the area. It’s at that moment that their eyes meet for brief seconds.

“I’ll be right back,” Carolina speaks through gritted teeth, not noticing the man taking a double look at her.

“Where are you going?” Sarah’s concern is palpable in her voice as she watches Carolina dart through the crowd.

The pulsating bass of the music reverberated through the dimly lit club, creating a rhythmic throb that seemed to synchronize with Carolina’s racing heartbeat. The air had suddenly become dense with laughter, chatter, and the occasional clink of glasses.

Carolina’s eyes finally meet the man’s surprised ones again. Determination fueled her steps as she pushed through the tightly packed room, navigating the ocean of people that ebbed and flowed around the bar. Each step felt heavy, like a battle against a roaring sea, the tide pushing her back in the shape of warm bodies that added to the suffocating atmosphere. The scent of perfume, sweat, and spilled drinks mingled in the air; it felt nauseating, the surge of emotions of seeing him after so long threatening to spill over.

Her breaths came in shallow gasps as emotions threatened to consume her, and yet, the determination to confront the man she had managed to extinguish from her mind propelled her forward. Carolina stands before him, hands resting on her hips as her eyes lock into his. The world seemed to quiet for a moment, the surrounding chaos fading into the background as she prepared to unleash the torrent of emotions that had simmered within her.

“Carolina, I—” And as her name rolls out of the man’s tongue, she almost crumbles, getting hit by sudden nostalgia. His shaky eyes scan her entirely and she restrains her body from moving. Jungkook is only steps away from her and where she thought hurt would lay, a sense of antipathy is born.

"Cat got your tongue?"

Yet again, they were face to face. Had she been completely honest, Carolina was terrified. Her life was decent—good, even. She was healthy, and happy, and enjoyed what she was doing. She was proud of her projects. She would even wake up some mornings and go for a jog. But encountering Jungkook at the club and being with him in the intoxicating setting such as his car, with all those memories and all those emotions, made her swing back and forth between maintaining her cool and ignoring the feelings that hadn’t been dealt with and, instead, shoved deep down into her core.

“I am sorry.” He paced slightly from the end of the couch he was sitting on to the window. For a few seconds, he stared outside. And then he noticed she hadn’t even blinked. “I am.”

A long sigh escaped Carolina’s puffy lips. She wondered if he was trying to make her believe his words or if he was trying to realize if he meant them. “So you’ve said.”

“I mean it.” Jungkook sat back down on the couch. He stared intensely deep into her eyes, trying to reach the warmth of her soul, sincerity pouring through his, while she gazed at him back, void of emotion. “I really do.”

“Can’t exactly say your word means much.” She reclined back into the armchair. While Jungkook was sitting on her couch, she had decided to take aid in the singleness of her armchair, far enough that he couldn’t reach her. “You say a lot of stuff, but it doesn’t seem to have much meaning.”

Carolina knew that her harsh words and unfiltered sincerity were one of the things that bothered Jungkook. It was probably one of the things that always made him feel like he was walking on eggshells around her. He was the complete opposite. Politically correct, even. His expressions could fail him—although rarely—but he would always say the nice thing, or not say anything at all. Carolina would be truthful if regarding something she was passionate about, even if it meant saying something the other person wouldn’t enjoy.

“I know what I did to you—the way I acted,” Jungkook stopped mid-sentence, almost as if trying to collect his words, afraid that if he said the wrong thing, Carolina would throw him out of the window. She had already pictured that scenario only minutes after he had entered her apartment. “it was wrong, and you deserved better.”

“And yet…” She gesticulates with her hands, emphasizing their position. “here we are.”

He just wasn’t saying the right thing. And if Carolina could be honest, she wasn’t sure there was a right thing to say. Maybe there was nothing that he could say to make up for the heartache she felt. For the humiliation. And seeing him hide his face between his hands as his head hung heavy between his legs, just made her want him gone. And almost as if reading her mind, Jungkook asked “What do you want me to say? I am really really sorry and I haven’t stopped thinking about it and you ever since.”

And that last sentence was like a punch to the gut. “Ya’ know what? I forgive you!” Almost as if Carolina had been suddenly hit with a wave of good spirits, she gets up from her armchair, her tone chipper. “You are forgiven for being an absolute asshole and a liar. I am completely over the fact that you betrayed my confidence.” Her hands fell to her hips and Jungkook’s eyebrows furrowed. “So, please, leave. We don’t have anything else to discuss.”

Grabbing him by the arm, Carolina almost hauls Jungkook from his seat. “Wait,” his manifests are in vain though, because only when he enforces his stance she stops. “I think I loved you,” Jungkook’s eyes are glued to the floor. “and that freaked me out.”

“Oh, give me a fucking break.” Arms in the air, Carolina turns to face her wall. She takes a deep breath. “You loved me so you played me and then never spoke to me again. Can’t imagine what kind of father you’d be!”

He ignores her comeback, “I wanted to be with you every second of my day. I wanted to stay until late in the cloud room with you just noticing how the colors made you look more and more beautiful. You were messing with my mind and I was allowing myself to fall for you, even though it wasn’t appropriate.”

Carolina’s hand doesn’t move from the front door’s handle and she has to strain the laugh that threatens to leave her lips. Jungkook’s stance is incredulous as he doesn’t dare to look her in the eye as he professes what seems to be his undying love for the girl.

“You’re different and you’re weird and you have a funky taste and it scares the living shit out of me. You made me feel. When you smiled at me. When you trusted me with assignments…” Completely ignoring the girl’s wishes for his departure, Jungkook sits back on the couch again, this time on the armrest, his body facing her. “And then I get to the office, late as fuck, already freaking out, and see that scene. I was shocked. And when I finally came to my senses, I felt too embarrassed to reach out to you.” He speaks fast and his lisp is noticeable. Carolina sees how truthful his words are, his tongue poking the inside of his mouth as he faces the empty wall. “I was ashamed that I let you go like that, let you go through that situation with everyone looking at you and I didn’t stand my ground immediately like I should have.”

Jungkook stands up and Carolina’s grip on the handle falls. “So, you have every right to hate me. You can even punch me if you’d like if that would make you less hurt…” he walks closer to her, stopping only a couple of inches away, somewhat afraid that she would take on the offer. He gives her a small smile. “although I would prefer you wouldn’t. You look like you have a mean hook.”

She finally lets out a dry laugh, focusing everywhere but on the man in front of her. She’s trying to remain defensive, fighting the urge from her body to give in to his speech, to believe that he’s saying the truth, that maybe—maybe—this time, things can take a different turn. “So… past tense, huh?”

He ignores her sarcasm completely, as if switching roles and him being the serious one. Jungkook wants to take her hand that hangs mindlessly in the air but restrains himself from doing so. He fights the urge to run his hands through her fluffy hair like he had done so the previous night in his car. His brain can still recall how soft it felt on his fingers and how it smelled of lavender. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I know it’s my fault and I just want you to know that I feel like garbage for hurting someone who meant—means—so much to me.”

Carolina purses her lips together, focusing on the dirt that stained the white of his Converse.

“Can we start over? Friends?” Her eyes land on his extended hand and travel all the way up to his face. He’s hopeful and she can’t wait to touch his skin again, so she shakes it. He smiles radiantly as if a little kid who just won the biggest fluffiest teddy bear at a fair. “I’ll text you tomorrow.” Jungkook wants to sound certain but Carolina senses the shakiness in his voice.

“Just don’t spam me.” Carolina rolls her eyes while they finally let go of each other’s hands. Jungkook gives her one last look, providing her with a silent chance to change her mind and as she doesn’t, he nods, pleased, before leaving.

Carolina’s hands fly to her head, fingers massaging her temples as she is dazed by the event she has just lived. She closes her door, back hitting it for support and her focus relies on outside her window, how the sun had already set and the night had taken over instead, the sky painted dark navy blue while some stars shone in the distance.

There’s a knock on her door and she rushes back to open it, reason completely out of her mind, “Jun—” She stops mid-word. “Jae! I was not expecting you.”

“In my defense, I did text you. Not my fault you don’t look at the thing.” As he makes his way inside, chuckling, he gives her a small peck on the cheek. “Brought food.”

“Great!” Before closing the door, Carolina glanced at the empty corridor, trying to shake the weird feeling that left her stomach turning. It doesn’t go away, not even after she ate the ramen Jae brought. And so she takes this sudden unwell state to send him off. The drawers inside her mind were all messy; she had some organizing to do.

[ chapter 5 ]

☁ want to be tagged in the next part? comment below or send me an ask!

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bluenpjm · 10 months

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bad decisions ; 3 — kth x you x pjm

synopsis. there are people who say that high school is one of the best times of your lives: where you find your first love, where you might lose your virginity, where you get to go to your first party, where you meet your friends for life. all they ask is that you live day after day, decision after decision… you try your best to avoid bad decisions and deal with your emotions at the same time.

genre. high school au + fluff + angst + smut

pairing. taehyung x you x jimin

rating. M

wordcount. 5.7K

warnings. underage drinking, mentions of smoking, abuse of alcohol, foul language, friendship ending, fights, heartbreak, and your good old teenage drama :)

a/n. the biggest shoutout to my bestie @singguks for being kim tae on that last bit cause honestly they are both so scary i wouldn’t be able to do it without her <3 also do you see that new banner, tho? 🤭

chapters. 2 × 3 × 4

The peace didn’t last.

And now, you were starting to regret every life decision you had ever made. Good and bad.

“Fuck, Angie!” You squeal, your hands immediately letting go of her hair as you step away, the vomit in your shoes almost making you slip and fall onto the bathroom floor.

There really was no turning point from where you were now. This was your lowest.

“Oh, Y/N, I’m so sorry!” The girl cries and you sigh, frustrated.

“Just… don’t move your head.” You whisper. The music outside makes it almost impossible for the girl now hugging the toilet to hear you, head stuck in the bowel. “You’re a mess and the party barely even started.”

Using all the baby wipes available in the bathroom, you try your best to clean your shoes without mimicking Angie. If there was something you always had difficulty facing was vomiting—especially from other people.

Leaning against the sink, your eyes fall again on the girl on the floor.

“Do you want me to take you home?” You ask but in reality, you hope she says no. You had been expecting this party. Almost as much as the host.

Jimin’s so-expected eighteenth birthday had finally arrived and it turned out that all the beforehand gloating wasn’t as fabricated as everyone expected. Yes, you had come later than you had wanted. The invitation of getting ready with Angie was unexpected but a welcome surprise considering the relentless couple of weeks you’ve been having.

As you stepped into the heart of the party, a surge of emotions washed over you. The vibrant atmosphere enveloped you and you felt an electric energy buzzing in the air. Excitement mixed with a hint of nervous anticipation coursed through your veins, intensifying your senses and making you acutely aware of the pulsating rhythm of the music and the infectious laughter that filled the room.

As you and Angie made your way through the crowd, the irresistible pull of the dance floor proved too strong to resist, your bodies moving in sync with the music, swaying and twirling with carefree abandon. The euphoria of the moment mingled with the laughter and cheers of those around you, creating a whirlwind of joy and liberation, so much so that you end up forgetting your mission of finding either your best friend or the birthday boy.

As drinks flowed freely, the liquid courage emboldened Angie to try new concoctions, her inhibitions melting away with each sip. Laughter spilled from her lips, cheeks flushed with a combination of exhilaration and the warmth of alcohol. The room seemed to spin in a dizzying haze, lights swirling and blurring together. Until the girl couldn’t stand her ground anymore, and you found yourself chaperoning her to the bathroom.

“Nah,” Her hair falls all over her face. “I’m good now.” But as she attempts to get up, you rush to grab her arm, preventing the messy blonde from hitting the toilet with her hip.

“You’re in no condition.” You shake your head, torn between staying with her as a good friend would and going out to enjoy the so much-needed party.

“Naah,” She repeats but this time the syllables are lengthier. Her eyes are fixed on a blank point on the wall.

“Let’s get you some water, yeah?”

With a mix of determination and concern, you end up hoisting Angie up around your neck, holding her tightly by the waist as you venture through the crowded corridor of the second floor of Jimin’s house. The scent of alcohol and traces of smoke fills the air.

“What’s going on in there?” Angie lifts her head that had been hanging as her earing sense doesn’t seem to be dormant like the rest of her body. A baffled moaning is heard through the corridor.

You can’t help but chuckle as you struggle not to lose balance amidst the chaos. “Trust me, Angie, you don’t wanna go in there now.”

Still half-dazed, Angie reluctantly agrees as you continue your journey down the stairs. The sounds of laughter and thumping music grow louder, beckoning you toward the epicenter of the party yet again.

Descending to the first floor is a tricky task but you end up managing to arrive safely without breaking a leg or letting Angie go. Huffing and puffing, you navigate through the throngs of partygoers. Laughter and snippets of conversation surround you as your path is guided by the flickering lights. The kitchen shines like a beacon of respite, a sanctuary amidst the frenzy. You could already imagine the cool touch of water against your lips, offering momentary relief.

Leaving Angie by the kitchen island, you scan the room in search of clean cups. The room buzzes with activity, a vibrant mix of laughter and hushed whispers, punctuated by the aroma of the various drinks opened on the counter. Your eyes end up falling on familiar’s ones.

“Jake!” Making your way through the crowd, you force a smile that doesn’t quite reach your eyes.

“YN!” He swings his arms up, showing the red cup he had been holding. “It’s just juice.”

“Very responsible,” You pat his shoulder playfully, irony dripping from your voice “You should see your sister.”

Jake’s smile fades slightly, concern filling his eyes as he glances at his sister behind your shoulder. He purses his lips together. “I’ll get her.”

Accompanied by a light drink, you make your way outside to the pool area, seeking a moment of peace from the lively chaos indoors. As you step through the glass door, a refreshing breeze caresses your face. October was almost halfway through and fall hadn’t been the most gentle.

The poolside was a haven of tranquility compared to the energetic atmosphere inside. Softly glowing fairy lights adorned the area, casting a gentle illumination on the water’s surface. Finding an empty lounge chair, you settle into it, savoring the solitude and the chance to collect your thoughts. You take a sip of your drink, the cool liquid soothing your parched throat, as you watch ripples dance across the pool.

The distant laughter and conversations from inside provide a comforting backdrop, as your mind wandered, contemplating the complexity of friendship and the tangled emotions that had been stirring within you. Taehyung quickly comes to your mind and you turn back, facing the party inside, in hopes of spotting him in the crowd.

At that moment, the doors swung open, and the vibrant sounds of the party spilled into the serene pool area, shattering the tranquility. And there he was. Your eyes fall onto Jimin as he steps through the threshold with an air of magnetic charm that makes your heart flutter. Charmingly so, he fixes his hair with his vacant hand as his tongue wets his lips.

Quick to regain your composure, you rise from your seat, adjusting your dress that had ridden up slightly, and with open arms, you welcome the birthday boy, a radiant smile lighting up both of your faces.

“Mochi, happy birthday!” You notice how he cringes at the nickname, scrunching his nose slightly.

“Thank you, YN!” Jimin immediately wraps his arms around you, pulling you into a warm and tight hug, his embrace making your heart skip a beat. One of your hands is quick to grab the hem of your dress. This would be the last time you would wear something of Angie’s.

“I was beginning to think I wasn’t going to see you today.” You chuckle as your other arm falls to your other side, signaling the hug was over. Jimin, however, keeps his hand firmly on the end of your back.

“Had lots of people to speak to—and shots to drink.” He smiles sheepishly. “But I’m glad that you’re here.”

“Of course! I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” You chuckle. “The most anticipated party of the school.”

“Just the school?” He snorts. “The God-damned country!”

“Oh, of course!” You agree, shoving him playfully. “Nice game by the way.”

“You know… I actually couldn’t take my eyes off of you. You were distracting me.” Jimin’s shameless flirting leaves you speechless, mouth hanging slightly open as the only reaction you can manage is a laugh.

“Really?”

“Yeah–” His grip on your back intensifies and you have to stop yourself from jumping into the pool, the fresh wind not being enough to refresh your burning cheeks.

“Was that why you missed that pass?” Your defense mechanism kicks in and you laugh directly at his face, noting how he tilts his head slightly.

The conversation is cut short, for your luck. The sound of excited voices nearby erupts in the area. A group of people gathers in a circle, moving the lounge chairs as to gain room, laughing and whispering conspiratorially.

You’re quick to look at Jimin with a mischievous smile as the words spin the bottle catch your ears. “Should we join?”

“Only if you don’t sit next to me,” Jimin states boldly as he watches you go toward the game area.

As the group gathers in a circle, excitement fills the air, accompanied by nervous laughter and playful banter. You find yourself seated across Jimin, as he had said, eyes locking for a fleeting moment. The bottle is placed in the center, ready to decide whose fate will pair together. With each spin, anticipation grows, and Jimin’s heart pounds in his chest.

The bottle spins, its momentum gradually slowing down. Jimin’s eyes remain fixed on it, silently pleading for it to point toward you. But as luck would have it, the bottle lands just an inch away from you, leaving Jimin feeling a mix of disappointment and curiousness as he moves closer to kiss the girl next to you. The group cheers as the birthday boy finally gets some action.

Still numb from what you had just witnessed, you prepare yourself for the next round, and your gaze shifts to the door opening yet again. Excusing yourself, you are quick to get up from the circle, immediately recognizing the wavy hair of the boy that had just stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jean jacket. You approach Taehyung, heart racing with excitement. A smile spreads across your face as he turns around, ready to greet your best friend.

As you draw closer, though, your eyes catch the glimpse of someone by his side. Your steps falter for a split second as you register the presence of a familiar girl, her expression momentarily clouded with surprise. Maddie. Her smile wavers ever so slightly, replaced by a polite and somewhat forced greeting. Taehyung shifts by her side.

Deep inside, a pang of unease stirs and you can’t help but wonder what Taehyung was doing with the girl. But just as quickly it came, it faded, as you get reminded of the last time you had decided to jump to conclusions, you push those thoughts aside.

“What’s up, guys?” The high-pitch tone that your voice comes out in makes you curse mentally.

Jimin’s eyes flicker back and forth between you and Taehyung, as he had to turn his body completely to follow you out of the circle. He observes your interaction from a distance, a part of him yearning to understand the dynamics between the two.

The circle buzzes with excitement as the spinning bottle gradually loses its momentum, the whirling sound fading into a gentle him. Jimin’s attention snaps back to the game just in time to witness the bottle coming to a stop, finally realizing that this could be his long-awaited chance to finally taste your lips.

“YN!” Jimin whines, but before the can even utter another plea for you to return to the game, his words caught in his throat as the girl he had already kissed is quick to go back for more.

One more time, the group erupts and Jimin fakes his disappointment with a smirk. He’s greeted by the sound of his best friend chuckling. The group makes space for the new players, Taehyung sitting right next to the jock. And as you go to sit, you find your seat unexpectedly occupied by Taehyung’s friend. Maddie sits perfectly in the diagonal of Taehyung and you can’t help but chuckle, before finding a space for you to sit in.

The game continues and the tension is palpable. Each time the bottle whizzes past you, your eyes lock with one of the boys. The anticipation lingers, electrifying the atmosphere. However, you’re not fortunate enough to kiss anyone, instead watching with amusement whenever the bottle lands on a pair.

Taehyung, too, experiences a similar fate, except for when the bottle spin with too much force, resulting in a surprising kiss between him and Jimin. Laughter erupts between the group, as the Capricorn that at first had been reluctant, now caressed the knee of his best friend.

“Get a room!”

Of course, fate will always follow its own course and Taehyung’s was quick to change. As the bottle finally comes to a rest, it points directly at Maddie. The boy’s gaze instinctively shifts towards you, seeking a reaction. You, however, let out a laugh, shoulder-shrugging nonchalantly as if to say it’s a game, you idiot! while deep down a flicker of complex debate dances in your eyes.

As Maddie leans in to kiss Taehyung, a hush falls over the circle and the sound of catcalls and teasing fills the air. The onlookers, fueled by the energy of the party, can’t help but revel in the dramatic moment. Some cheer, while others whistle and jeer playfully, enjoying the spectacle of the unexpected kiss. You can’t help but force a smile while your eyes roll instinctively. Deep down, you’re getting eaten alive by jealousy but refuse to let it show. Staying in the game was the mature thing to do, undoubtedly.

As the cheers die down, Taehyung meets your eyes, silently looking for any type of emotion. Diverting your gaze from his, your focus on the bottle that, without wasting too much time, is already spinning again.

“Ah fuck! I’m cursed at this game.” You finally get up from the circle. “I’m going to find myself a drink.”

As you step away from the circle, the protests from your absence become less audible, muffled by the animated ambiance on the other side of the door. Your heart felt heavy by the conflicted emotions that rushed through your mind and you decide to search for solace inside.

Stepping in, you get hit by the thick air with mingling scents of alcohol, sweat, laughter, and music, enveloping you in the pulsating energy of the party. The rhythm of the music seeped through the walls, syncing with the beat of your racing heart as you make your way to the kitchen.

Right by the edge of the kitchen island, you spot the familiar sight of red cups, all messily stacked, ready to be filled with an array of beverages. Their vibrant red color contrasts perfectly against the dimly lit room. You scan the several options at your disposal as the cup is bountifully held in between your teeth. Finally choosing to go with a plain vodka, the liquid swirls within the cup as your pour it half-full.

What you reckon to previously be the dining area of Jimin’s house had now been transformed into a beer pong arena. The clattering of ping pong balls against the plastic cups drums in your ears draws your attention to the game. You rest by the wall, watching the intense game of the four guys you had never seen before.

Your eyes met the gaze of one of the boys, slightly disheveled and clearly tipsy. The odds were not in his favor, especially considering the way his friend had collapsed onto a nearby couch, leaving his teammate all alone.

You can’t help but chuckle as you shake your head at an epic miss and the boy’s eyes sparkle with a mixture of amusement and mischief, as he held another ping-pong ball in his hand, ready to shoot in the place of his friend.

“Wanna play?” He stops with his arm half pushed back.

With a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of your lips, you decide to join him, confidently pushing your hair back, as you seize this would be the perfect distraction from your thoughts. “We still got a shot to win this.”

“I’m Jin, by the way.” He shakes his hand but is cut short by the protests of your newly found adversaries.

“Nice to meet you Jin,” Opening your mouth slightly, you jump in your place, feet never leaving the ground as you take your shot. The ball turmoils around the cup, finally drowning in the liquid. “I’m YN.”

Your camaraderie with Jin grows with each thrown ping-pong ball and, although you form an unlikely duo, you find comfort in the temporary connection amidst the chaos of the party. With each missed shot and shared laughter, you begin to feel the weight on your shoulders dissipate.

Weary from the relentless beer pong games, you decide it was time to step away from your throne. After dominating two consecutive games, the alcohol coursing through your veins made your head spin and your stomach churned uncomfortably. Bidding your farewells to Jin with a bright smile, he doesn’t let you leave without inviting you to a fraternity party his frat would be having soon. He comments that you should bring all your friends. The more, the merrier.

As yet again you made your way through the lively crowd, your path intersected with Hoseok, a familiar face from the neighborhood, who had opened up his dance studio after finishing up high school with the help of his parents. Rumour had it that he would often bring girls to the studio after hours for epic make-out sessions.

The pulsating beat of the music reverberated through the air, compelling Hoseok to showcase his jaw-dropping dance skills. A circle had been quick to form around him, entranced by his fluid movements and captivating energy.

Your gaze lingered on Hoseok, his body effortlessly gliding across the dance floor. The vibrant lights and infectious rhythm created an electric atmosphere, infusing the room with a sense of euphoria.

As you couldn’t help to be drawn to the vibrant energy that surrounded him, you raid Jimin’s pantry, your eyes immediately noticing a tantalizing array of cookies neatly arranged on the shelf. The detour was necessary, as you feared that joining Hoseok with an almost empty stomach would make you reach a state similar to Angie’s. With a cookie in hand, you succumb to the magnetic pull of the dance floor. The glee pulsed through your veins as you joined the crowd, surrendering to the infectious beat.

As you twirled and swayed to the music, the intoxicating ambiance of the party involved you, temporarily silencing your worries as the thought of Taehyung and his whereabouts kept on crossing your mind. In that whirlwind of sound and movement, surrounded by familiar faces and the carefree spirit of the night, you found yourself breathing freely.

Get Stüpid by Bülow echoed through the house as the party had reached its peak. The decor was slightly disheveled and you were sure that Jimin’s mom would add a couple of rules for the next rager that her son threw. Despite the party going on for more than a couple of hours now, people were still cheerful chaos to witness.

Amidst the commotion, you find yourself settled comfortably on a couch in Jimin’s living room, your colleagues occupying the nearby seats. With a mixture of exhaustion and contentment, you sink into the cushions, letting your body relax as your feet find comfort on the glass coffee table. The room shone with the colorful party lights casting a soft glow over you.

To your left sat Jimin, radiating his signature charm as once again he commented about the last point of the game that had granted them the victory. He leaned in closer to the public, engaged in the conversation that would occasionally be punctuated by his contagious laughter.

To your right, Taehyung lounged with a relaxed demeanor, his arm casually draped around your shoulder. The warmth of his touch offered a sense of familiarity and comfort amidst the loud and clamorous surroundings. His fingertips playfully traveled up and down your arm, goosebumps forming on your body.

As the night wore on and the party gradually winded down, you felt a comforting weariness slowly seep into your body. The constant buzz of conversations and music seemed to fade into the background, replaced by a gentle lull that rocked you toward the embrace of sleep. As your drowsiness deepened and your eyelids began to flutter, the soft tendrils of sleep began to wrap around you. Just as you were about to succumb to the blissful embrace of slumber, a voice pierced through the haze, calling out Taehyung’s name with an excited urgency.

You jolt, eyes flickering open, as you were momentarily disoriented by the interruption. Jimin clasps your legs on his lap together as Taehyung releases his embrace on you.

“Where is he going?” You begin to rub your eyes before stopping mid-action, remembering that you had mascara on.

“Beer pong,” Jimin says softly. “Were you sleeping at my party?!” His voice shrills and you can’t help but snort at the fake offended look on his face. “Guess I was.”

“Time for a game then,” Jimin’s smirk makes your heart beat faster, the mischief almost dripping from his voice.

As Jimin’s voice rings out, proposing a game of truth or dare, the people sitting on the other couches come alive. The childish game makes people eager to gather around, forming a circle that crackles with anticipation and excitement. The group that formed for the game was rather small, but it made things much more exciting.

“Given it’s my party, I should do the honors,” Jimin proposes. His hand lands on your tight, squeezing it lightly as he scans who his victim will be. “Maddie, truth or dare?”

“Truth,” The girl speaks confidently. Some people watching the game cheer excited. “I’m an open book.”

“Do you have a crush on anyone in this room?” Jimin winks at her as everyone waits for an answer.

She looks around the room and you can’t help to raise an eyebrow at her theatrics. “Considering you have an open floorplan, I do, actually.”

“Oh, so it’s not me?” Jimin pretends to be offended and everyone laughs, some still eyeing the girl

“Shut up,” She giggles at his flirtatious comment. “Now… Lisa! Truth or dare?”

“Dare.”

Maddie clasps her hands together, devilishly. She ends up daring the girl to twerk for everybody in the room, which she has to do to the sound of Ed Sheeran. Everyone laughs and it’s the turn of someone else to be faced with the decision. All participants take turns eagerly, revealing amusing truths and partaking in some entertaining dares, igniting laughter and creating unforgettable moments even in the minds of those that are a little bit too tipsy.

As the game continued, the energy in the room escalated, each turn becoming more dramatic than the last. You sit on the edge of the circle, bracing yourself for the next challenge to come. “YN,” You jolt at the sound of your name once again. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth.” You speak after a momentary pause.

Maddie’s eyebrows shoot up, as she leans forward into the circle, a sly grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Again? We’ve had 3 truths in a row. I dare say that’s a little… boring.” She clicks her tongue, gaining a dry laugh from you.

A collective gasp rippled through the circle, followed by a chorus of playful boos and teasing remarks. You feel your cheeks getting flustered by the sudden spotlight.

With your competitive spirit igniting, you met Maddie’s gaze head-on. After a moment of contemplation, you made up your mind. A mischievous smile spreads across the girl’s lips. “Alright, Madeleine,” you begin, voice dripping with annoyance, “I’ll take the dare.”

The room erupts with cheers and applauses, impressed by your bold choice, laced with the effect of the liquids they had been ingesting all night. You feel your heart pounding in your chest, ready to step out of your comfort zone to wipe the smug smile off the girl’s face.

“I dare you to…” People chip in, whispering giggles into Maddie’s ears of suggestions to make you tap out of the dare. “Skinnydip into the pool.”

“What?” You look around the room as everyone expects some sort of action from you. “It’s freezing outside, I’m not doing that.”

Glaring, Maddie takes a deep breath. “Fine, but then you can’t refuse the other dare.”

“Those are the rules.” You reply dryly.

The brunette looks around the room until the mischief returns to her features, face lighting up. Truthfully, the only thing missing was the light bulb popping up on her head. Flickering, obviously.

“I dare you to make out with Jimin.”

Your heart pounds in your ears, the room suddenly swirling with a mix of cheers, laughter, and excited whispers. The weight of Maddie’s dare hung in the air, and you felt like someone had a hand on your throat, stopping you from breathing properly.

“Excuse me?”

Your gaze shifts to Jimin, still sitting by your side on the couch as his face shows a mix of surprise and curiosity. Unlike you, he wasn’t offended by the dare, seeming more like he had to make a mental note to thank his friend later for the opportunity to finally kiss you.

Of course, making out with Jimin had crossed your mind hundreds of times. He was the hottest guy in the school but he was also Taehyung’s best friend and Taehyung was your best friend. It was a very complicated mess.

“Are you chickening out of this one too?”

Brushing off the surge of nervousness that travelled through your veins, you take a deep breath, chest filled with determination to prove her wrong. Turning to your side, you now face Jimin. Your hands travel to his face and leaning forward, you give him a small peck on the lips. It was so quick, that he barely even had the chance to close his eyes.

“There you go,” You smile, sarcastically.

“Didn’t I say make out? Not even a 5-year-old would be that bad.” Maddie hysterically laughs.

“That was a bit too quick…” Jimin whispers beside you and you feel like you could snap his head out.

“Oh, so you want a scene?” You feel your blood boil, ready to get up from your seat and drag Maddie into the pool so you could watch her drown.

“Of course, girl.”

“Fine.”

Readjusting yourself, you take one last deep breath before brushing Taehyung off of your mind. Trapping Jimin between your legs, you adjust yourself in his lap, moving your head to one side to as to hide your flustered cheeks from the crowd. He’s smiling like a fool and his hands are quick to find a strong grip on your hips. The room erupts with excitement.

“Fuck it,” You whisper, hand resting on his face as you finally close the space between you.

As your lips clash, an electric surge pulses through your entire being. The softness with which you had initiated the kiss was quickly transformed into a fervent hunger, as your mouths melded together. Jimin’s lips pressed firmly against yours.

You felt the warmth of Jimin’s breath mixing with your own, synchronized breaths quickening as the kiss deepened. His lips moved with skill and confidence, exploring the contours of your mouth with an intoxicating mix of tenderness and longing.

As he kept on asking permission, your tongues danced, almost in a tango, an unspoken language of eagerness growing as the seconds passed. Each gentle stroke of his fingers and playful tease sent shivers down your spine, the intensity of the moment causing you to lose yourself in the intoxicating sensation of his lips on yours.

“What the hell is going on here?!” Taehyung’s voice boomed through the room, shattering the moment you and Jimin were intensively emerged in. You hastily pull away from each other, your expressions a mix of surprise and confusion at the sudden abruptness.

Taehyung’s face contorted in a combination of anger and hurt as he mumbled a few incomprehensible words under his breath. His eyes met yours and you could immediately note that they were filled with disappointment and a pain that cut deep.

Without a word, he turned on his heels, storming out of the room.

You are unable to find your voice or move, suddenly feeling all eyes on you as your own filled with tears. The realization of the consequences of your actions sank in, deepening the state of shock your mind was in.

Jimin, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events looks back and forth between Taehyung’s retreating figure and your stunned loss of words. Confusion clouded his expression as he struggled to make sense of the situation. He hesitated for a moment before his brain commanded his legs to move after his best friend, hoping to be able to clarify whatever was going on.

“Hey, wait up!” Jimin sprints after Taehyung, catching him by the pool. Taehyung spots on his tracks, eyes glued to the floor as he’s afraid of whatever might fall from his lips. “What is going on, bro?”

Hands placed on his hips, Taehyung still has his back facing Jimin. He ponders if he should do this now if he should even bother at all, and finally turns away. His eyes quickly shift between Jimin and the people inside the house. “Oh, I don’t know… you tell me!” Sarcasm drips from his voice and Jimin catches himself frowning.

“Tae, are you feeling ok? Did you take something?” Jimin trails lightly and Taehyung’s reaction only adds fuel to the fire, as he laughs at the question.

“Did I take–” He scoffs, “are you really that daft?!”

More and more people gather outside, curious about the commotion that had just begun. Jimin laughs nervously, taking a step closer to his best friend. “I’m starting to feel like I might have done something I shouldn’t.”

“You feel? You feel, is it?” Taehyung raises his eyebrows, tongue wetting his lips as he goes over his emotions. “The worst part is that you don’t even know what it is–” He laughs at his own disgrace, hands resting over his hips.

“The kiss?” Jimin threads carefully, still clueless. “We were playing truth or dare, bro. Like, I know she’s your best friend but–” He chuckles but not because he finds the situation funny.

“You’re supposed to be my best friend.” Taehyung glares. “And you’re so fucking absorbed by yourself that you forgot to do at least an ok job at it.”

“Why are you being a dick?” Jimin looks around the area, offended by the harsh words of his friend.

“You stick your tongue on the girl I like and I’m the dick?!” Taehyung raises his voice, “but I guess we should all make way for the all-year-round birthday boy, right?!”

“What?” Jimin faintly asks, his mind struggling to process all the information he’s receiving.

“Are you two out of your fucking minds?!” You come rushing in from inside the house, finally having snap out of your trance and noticing how things were escalating quickly. “You’re causing a scene.”

Taehyung looks directly into your eyes, his expression boring and numb. “I’m actually zero concerned about other people. Perhaps that’s why I don’t seem to fit.” He shrugs, carefree. “Happy birthday. I’m done here.”

You can’t help but scoff at his attitude. Of course, deep down you were in the right, but his tone didn’t sit well with you, making you raise your voice. “Oh, so what? You get to kiss whoever you please and I can’t?!”

“So now you’re blaming me?” Despite already having turned his back on the two, Taehyung can’t ignore your comment and turns to face you once more. His expression, though, now is an angry one. “I’m not the one who’s not able to make up my mind. I was pretty clear with you.” He pauses, yet again wetting his lips. “And you didn’t seem to bother right then if I kissed someone else or not—You didn’t seem to bother when you were making out with my best friend. So why now?! Why put the blame on me now?”

You find yourself speechless at his outburst. Taehyung never spoke out. He would always let things slide, except for when he reached his limit. And when he did so, he could be scary.

“Ok, I think we should stop before we say something we might regret.” Jimin chips in.

“We already did,” Taehyung states blankly. “But it wasn’t today.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” All the words he had said to you run through your head and you feel your heart beating faster.

Taehyung sighs, fingers rubbing his temples. “It means that I don’t to wait for you and I should have never said so.” He pauses, hand returning to rest on his hips. “I told you I like you, and I mean it still… So, do you like me or not?”

You’re at a loss for words. Your heart pounds heavily and you feel like there’s a lump in your throat. What Taehyung was implying was a lot more than a simple let’s be together or not. It put your whole friendship on the line and you were not yet ready to answer his question. You were being selfish, of course, but despite how hard you tried, not a single word came out.

“That actually says a lot.” Taehyung nods, hurt. “I’ll get going now.”

“Taehyung, wait, let’s talk about this.” Jimin panics, grabbing his best friend by the arm.

“Let go!”

Wanting nothing more than to get out of that environment, Taehyung pushes Jimin away and doesn’t dare to look. Not even when you call for him. Nor when Jimin hits the water and everyone gasps. He wanted nothing more to do you or Jimin.

next chapter.

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bluenpjm · 10 months

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park jimin's bad decision

❝ bad decisions ㅡ high school au : ̗̀➛ smut + angst + fluff synopsis. there are people who say that high school is one of the best times of your life: where you find your first love, where you might lose your virginity, where you get to go to your first party, where you meet your friends for life. all they ask is that you live day after day, decision after decision… you try your best to avoid bad decisions and deal with your emotions at the same time.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

“Alright, listen up, team,” Jimin’s coach calls out, his voice soft and at the same time determined. The team gathers around, their attention fixed on the man. Jimin felt a surge of anticipation, eager to know what the figure he often looked up to was about to say.

“You guys have been through thick and thin together,” The coach scanners the faces of his players. “Football is not just a game—it’s about the bonds you forge, the trust you build with your teammates. You’ve experienced victories and defeats together, fought shoulder to shoulder on that field.”

He paused, taking a moment to let his words sink in. Jimin couldn’t help but reflect on his own journey, the countless hours spent practicing, the things and time he had sacrificed along with his teammates. His thoughts were quick to veer toward his best friend, Taehyung, who had always been there for him, both on and off the field.

Jimin looked back, facing the bleachers where Taehyung stood. If he hadn’t been so clueless, he would be there, scrabbling on his notebook as he waited for how long it was necessary to hang out even 5 minutes with his best friend after school.

The coach’s words struck a chord within him, reminding him of the importance of friendship and loyalty.

“So, as we approach the upcoming games, I want you to think about what it truly means to be a team. To be there for one another, to lift each other up when the weight of the world feels heavy.”

Jimin bites his lips nervously. The unspoken words and unresolved tension between Taehyung linger in his mind. It had been a week now since his party, and it had also been a week since he last spoke with his friend. He realized it was time to mend what had been broken.

As the coach concluded his speech, Jimin felt a renewed sense of determination. He knew that true friendship was a precious gift, one that deserved to be cherished and nurtured. With tenancy in his heart, he made a silent promise to visit Taehyung’s house after practice, to bridge the gap that had grown between them and reaffirm the unbreakable bond they had formed.

He was going to get his best friend back.

ˏˋ°•*⁀ : ̗̀➛ tag list : @jeontier @armystayzen @agustlee @itsceesaw @taespocket @jooniepie @investigativelewis @bibliotae @hobilyss @iznui @itshanic @singguks @socksjinie

#jimin #jimin smut #jimin fluff #jimin angst #park jimin #bts scenarios #jimin scenarios #vmin #jimin x you #jimin x yn #jimin x reader #jimin aesthetic #moodboard #lq moodboard #lq jimin #cardd #bluenpjm #bluenpjm.docx #bluenpjm.png

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bluenpjm · 10 months

Text

kim taehyung’s bad decision

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Taehyung stares blankly at the sheet of paper filled with soft blue lines on his table. His fingers rotate his number two pencil as he frustratedly ponders over the question his teacher had just announced as the topic of this class essay.

Around him, his classmates are in a similar situation. The question written on the blackboard reads What’s your most recent bad decision? Taehyung finds himself grappling with the choice of topic. He knew he should write something lighthearted, something safe and relatable like forgetting to study for a test, but deep down in his heart, he yearns to pour out his true emotions onto the piece of paper.

With a sigh, he began writing the title of his essay, A Bad Decision I Made, not too creative, but it would suffice for the time being. Slowly but steadily, he begins writing, stark and truthful. Taehyung chuckles to himself, knowing that his decision of the night before would perfectly fit the bill. He had spent three hours mindlessly scrolling through TikTok, completely losing track of time and, in the process, not doing an important essay for his literature class. It was a classic case of procrastination that his teacher would devour with delight.

As he delved deeper into his essay, Taehyung found himself contemplating the real reason behind his procrastination. It wasn’t just about wasting time on social media—it was a way for him to distract himself from the pain and confusion he had been feeling for the past couple of days. Truthfully, he wanted to write about how heartbroken he was, about how you didn’t reciprocate his feelings.

Of course, sharing such vulnerability with his teacher and classmates made him hesitate. It was too personal, too raw to expose in a classroom setting, filled with people that would devour his pain. Instead, Taehyung decided to weave his emotions into his art, finding solace in painting. The strokes of color on the canvas became his medium for expressing the depth of his heartache.

In his essay, Taehyung paints a clear picture of your typical teenage mistake, highlighting his struggle with procrastination and the allure of the app’s endless distractions. He wrote about the consequences of his actions and the importance of time management. It was a relatable tale that his classmates would connect with, but that concealed his deeper emotions.

The decision of staying on TikTok for hours wasn’t a mistake. Not recognizing this action as a bad decision while knowing perfectly that today—and tomorrow, and the day after that—I’ll be repeating the act, would consider me an insane person. Everyone makes mistakes and everyone makes bad decisions but, considering I’m not insane, bad decisions don’t deserve to get second chances.

ˏˋ°•*⁀ : ̗̀➛ tag list : @jeontier @armystayzen @agustlee @itsceesaw @taespocket @jooniepie @investigativelewis @bibliotae @hobilyss @iznui @itshanic @singguks @socksjinie

#taehyung #taehyung smut #taehyung fluff #taehyung angst #taehyung scenario #taehyung bts #taehyung x y/n #kim taehyung #taehyung icons #taehyung messy icons #taehyung low quality #taehyung high school #cardd #moodboard #taehyung aesthetic #bluenpjm #bluenpjm.docx #bluenpjm.png #bad decisions

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bluenpjm · 10 months

Text

she said no! ﹡ ksj x you

synopsis. the last 9 years with Seokjin have been nothing but a rollercoaster full of happiness and love and you can’t help but wonder how much your life will change on your anniversary. genre. slice of life au ◦ angst pairing. KSJ x YN wordcount. 1000 warnings. relationships can be complicated, i suppose

Tonight was a big night. And although it wasn’t your style at all, you had taken forever to get ready. Taking one last glance in the mirror, you could see yourself glowing in the silky red dress you had bought specially for the occasion. The vibrant colors hugged your curves with grace and you smiled sheepishly at your reflection, Seokjin popping right into your head.

The smooth fabric cascaded down to your knees, accentuating your every movement and your wavy hair had been styled in loose waves that added a touch of effortless allure to your appearance. The golden earring that had been a cherished gift from Jin on your first Valentine’s Day dangled delicately from your ears.

Your phone rang, signaling that he had arrived and, swiftly grabbing your purse, you excitedly exited your apartment. You slammed the door confidently, knowing that you’d have to deal with the mess your bathroom had been left with only tomorrow morning.

“Wow,” Seokjin leans forward in his seat, kissing your cheek gently. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you,” You couldn’t wipe the smile plastered on your face, so big that it made your cheeks hurt.

The restaurant exuded an air of elegance and sophistication, its lavish decor and tasteful ambiance setting the stage for a memorable evening. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft, warm glow upon the finely polished tables adorned with fresh flowers. The walls, replenished with framed artwork, added a touch of refinement to your surroundings.

You sat by the window, your table offering a breathtaking view of the city outside. As the evening sky darkened, the streetlights below came to life, their golden hues dancing in harmony with the stars above. The cityscape twinkled with life, creating a magical backdrop for your 9th-anniversary celebration.

The soft music playing in the background and the gentle hum of conversation added to the enchanting ambiance, creating an intimate space for couples to bask in the warmth of their love. Looking around you, you couldn’t help but wonder if this was the night Seokjin was finally going to propose.

With each course, you lavished upon your favorite dishes, greatly accompanied by laughter and shared memories of all your years together. Of course, so did your hopes grow, the expectations soaring to unimaginable heights. But as the desserts rolled in, you felt your heart withered, as Jin made no move to reach for a ring or drop to one knee, a wave of disappointment washing over you.

Silent tears welled up in your eyes, barely concealed behind a strained smile. It had been something that had popped into your head constantly, the beginning of your forever, especially now that you both found yourselves in such good places in your life.

Sensing your sadness, Jin’s eyebrows furrowed, his eyes searching for answers. “What’s wrong, YN? You seem upset,” He probed gently, his voice laced with concern.

Trying to fight back the tears, you struggle to show him a strong smile to conceal your lie “Nothing,” You clear your throat, “I’m just feeling tired.”

Jin’s voice softened as he reached for your hand across the table, “Are you sure?”

You sigh as one tear rolls down your face and your eyes met his worried ones, “I… I just thought tonight would be the night, you know?” He tilts his head, confused. “The night you’d ask me to marry you.”

He’s somewhat taken about by your statement, the retreatment of his hand making your heartache. “I thought we were happy just the way we are.”

“And we are, but—” Your voice trembles as you retorted.

An uncomfortable silence hangs in the air, the weight of your differing viewpoints heavy on your hearts. Over all these years, you had discussed spending your life together, moving in, getting a dog over a cat or even kids, but you were never specific on marriage, assuming you had been on the same page; that one thing involved the other.

Jin leaned back, his eyes searching for your face again, “YN, I love you more than words can express. And I want to be with you, to live the rest of my life with you by my side, but we don’t need a piece of paper to validate our love, or even to make it real… right?”

At the lack of response from you, his voice softens, reaching for your hand across the table, “We can still have a beautiful future together, YN.”

With a heavy sigh, you struggle to find the words, finding yourself in inner turmoil. He was right, of course; you had been happy for all these years, but marriage had been something you anticipated, something to bring your relationship to the next; to prove your love was real and strong.

“I just need some time,”

With an apologetic look in your eyes, you get up from the table, leaving a speechless Seokjin and an untouched desert behind. You ignore his voice as he calls your name from the table and, as you enter the taxi, your heartache and disappointment become too heavy to bear. The passing city lights become blurred as you travel home, your emotions threatening to consume you.

Seokjin is left speechless, cheeks flustered as he keeps on replaying your escape in his mind. He’s quick to ask the waiter for the check, finding comfort in the emptiness of his car where the prying eyes of the nearby tables could no longer find him.

He drives home, and similar to the mess you’ve left your bathroom in, he finds his living room—rose petals on the floor as they lead to the center table, where laid his surprise—a key to his home beautifully wrapped as he had been preparing to ask you to come to live with him.

He laughs drily at the situation, heartbreak tugging into his heart as he can’t shake the feeling of how disappointed you’d be once you opened the little box and saw a key, instead of a ring inside.

#jin angst #jin fluff #jin smut #jing scenarios #jin au #slice of life au #break up au #kim seokjin #jin #seokjin #drabble #bts au #bts scenarios #jin x you #jin x reader #jin x yn #bluenpjm #bluenpjm.docx

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bluenpjm · 11 months

Text

cloud9 agency ☁ jjk x oc

genre. non-idol au ; slice of life au ; intern!jungkook ◦ fluff ◦ angst ◦ smut

pairing. JJK x OC

rating. M

wordcount. 4.5K

warnings. feelings of distress when you know you did something wrong and you also don’t know what to do with your life.

a/n. 생일 축하합니다, 친구! to the one that makes being the youngest a challenge, i hope this makes you happy on your special day~ i love you to the moon and back, cee! let’s be friends forever 😌💛

chapters. 2 — 3 — 4

It hadn’t yet occurred to Jungkook how terribly awful work could be. That only happened, of course, after Carolina’s departure from Cloud9. What once he did with pleasure and gratification, soon became a disturbance. Going to bed to wake up early the following day to go to work had become something abominable. It pained him to see his life wasted with something that no longer brought him a joy to do.

He was quick to make up his mind about his stay at the agency. With his internship close to terminating, he had no doubt he didn’t belong there. In fact, that might’ve been one of the few things he hadn’t been questioning these days.

Jungkook was an introspective kind of guy. Although, most times, he didn’t show it. For a decision to be made, it resulted in many sleepless hours, his mind replaying the countless scenarios that could develop due to his actions.

“So, what are you going to do now?” Jimin’s question was barely perceived by the group as he had just stuffed his mouth with chips. His focus was torn between his friend’s problem and the videogame that he was now losing.

“Suck on that!” Taehyung childishly sang, not daring to skip the replay of the goal that had placed him in the victory spot. It was now two for one.

While Jimin curses under his breath, Jungkook’s smile is disrupted by his own thoughts yet again. “I’m not sure.” He eventually comes to a conclusion. “Jin got me a gig at his modeling agency. Some good might come out of it.”

“Kim?” Jimin keeps his head, suddenly interested. Jungkook hums positively. “Can I go with you?”

“What?” Jungkook is as confused as Taehyung looks amused at the question of his housemate and that only increases the suspicion. “Why?”

“He’s been going at it about this one girl—blonde short-hair, blue eyes, foreign accent…” Taehyung trails and from the corner of his eye, he can see Jimin smiling sheepishly. “She’s a model at the same agency as Jin.” Taehyung summarizes and is quick to continue on about the previous subject, “But I mean, the worst thing that can happen is you losing your home because you can’t pay rent.”

Jungkook frowns as he watches his friend stuff his mouth with the popcorn he had bought for their hangout. It had become a habit of theirs. Every Friday night they would go to each other's houses to play video games or watch sports on the tv. Taehyung and Jimin lived together, so every other week Jungkook would have them over. Would those be the last popcorn he bought? His eyes widened at the thought.

“And let me tell you, you have a great home,” Jimin adds.

Jungkook is left speechless, a whole new problem forming in his mind. He doesn’t see the rest of the game his friends are playing nor does he get brought back to reality the two times Taehyung celebrates another scored goal.

“I think I’m gonna go grab some food.” Jungkook gets up from the ottoman.

“It’s our turn now!” Jimin gesticulates to the screen, controller in one hand wobbling in a threatening way. Jungkook had already lost to Taehyung, much to his displeasure, and now they had to decide, out of the three, who was the ultimate loser. The final match. “Let’s order in instead. Taehyung, search something up.” He nudges his friend, noticing how he was glued to his phone, scrolling on his ex-girlfriend's social media profile.

“Nah, you guys play another round.” Jungkook plays with his lip ring, his brain working fast as he comes up with the perfect words. “I think someone might’ve been cheating during the penalties.”

The simple shrug he adds at the end, accompanied by the head tilt towards the Capricorn is enough for Jimin to be completely revolted, hands in the air as he claims unfairness and a complete disregard of the previous match.

As he could do with his eyes closed, Jungkook travels across his living room, promptly fetching the keys that lay on the entryway table, right next to the marbled-clay-like tray that his sister-in-law had given him when he first moved into the apartment.

He doesn’t take the elevator to reach the ground level. Instead, he prefers to rush down the stairs, allowing his mind to be occupied for the twenty seconds it takes him to arrive. That was, of course, only one of the reasons why he had settled for the stairs. Ever since Taehyung had gotten stuck in the elevator, Jungkook tried his best to refrain from using it.

He welcomes the chilling wind that hits his face as soon as he steps outside. But the more he walks, the more he begins to think he should’ve driven. And so he fastens his pace, with only one more block left to cross.

As he makes a turn, he can already see the red neon light of the restaurant that lights the entire street.

He reaches the door, and the thought of calling the restaurant beforehand crosses his mind. Now, we will have to order and wait, to then have to walk back home. He’s tired and sighs, before mustering a small smile to the girl at the register.

“Good night, sir. What I can help you with?”

He quickly glances down, his right hand unlocking his phone as he checks there are no unread messages. Either his friends were still playing, or they were satisfied with being surprised by his choice of the menu.

He feels tense about making a decision but ends up playing it safe, and buying enough fried chicken for the three to eat and repeat until they feel nauseous.

“Sousa,” The young man behind the counter yells, as he raises a plastic bag and drops it on the counter. His abrupt movement lets the steam that was being held captive inside free.

Jungkook eyes widen and for a moment he thinks he misheard.

“Order 71, under Sousa.”

The young man calls again.

And that is when he sees her.

Carolina strides towards the counter, apologizing as one of the sides of her headphones pushes her hair back, making her features perfectly seen. Her cheeks are a soft shade of pink and it was noticeable how uncomfortable she became from all the stares she gained from the starving customers that awaited their orders.

She hadn’t seen him, of course. And Jungkook panics when the thought crosses his mind. Of her seeing him. Would she pretend she didn’t know him, ignoring his presence completely as if no one but a mere ghost stood on his shoes; or would she march towards him, bag swinging towards his face as she shouted hurt left-to-say words? He looks left and right and if his neck could handle a 360, he would’ve. His breath accelerates and he only manages to put his hoodie over his head, eyes glued to the ground as his bare toes become the focal point of his admiration.

He notices how his index and middle toe try to surpass his big toe. How his pinky is so small that he can barely see his nail and how his twin, from the other foot, is crooked. And how the buckle of his sandals seems to be hanging only by a couple of threads. And so he keeps on switching between

It feels like hours go by and he doesn’t dare to look up, too scared he would find her there, with the most disappointing look on her face.

“Order 78, Jeon.” The young man calls. “Order for Jeon.”

And he finally dares to look up, sighing in relief as he notices that she’s not there.

Jungkook is exhausted. His legs hurt and he doesn’t remember when was the last time he had to stand for some many hours. The little money he’s being paid certainly doesn’t make up for all the hard work he’s been putting in.

As expected, Jin hadn’t been completely honest with the job description.

It had seemed a little bit preposterous for an agency of such caliber to hire someone with so much ease to run a photoshoot. And they hadn’t. In fact, they were simply looking for something similar to a busboy. Someone to clean the lenses of the cameras, adjust the lights and even get water to the crew. The only time Jungkook got to hold a camera was when the photographer had to sneeze. And then he had to disinfect it, as he refused to grab any device held by peasants.

So, by the time Jin and he were walking back to his car, he had also ruled out working in the fashion industry. Jungkook tapped the steering wheel, impatiently, as he watches through the rearview mirror Jin stacking up his bag on the trunk of the car.

“Should I drop you home?” The car roars, finally signaling their trip was about to start and Jungkook was closer to getting his much-deserved rest.

“Actually,” Jin types feverishly into his phone, fingers smashing the screen. “we have a party to go to.”

“A party?” Jin doesn’t care to look at Jungkook, but the face he makes matches the discontent in his voice.

“Yeah, I have a friend you need to meet. He might need a photographer for his events.” Jin finally puts his phone down, now looking at the driver that, despite having the car running, hadn’t moved from the parking lot. “With this many gigs, I might have to start charging you a fee. Plus, you got to look at my handsome face for 10 hours.”

Jungkook laughs drily along the vivid chuckle of Jin, not amused. The rumpled envelope with little over 100 bucks in Jungkook’s jeans begins to weigh uncomfortably in his pockets. He would really have to reconsider accepting help from friends in the future.

Alas, the youngest doesn’t fight Jin in his decision of going to the party. Instead, he agrees, mentally convincing himself that he would be able to lose him and get home as soon as possible.

As they descend into the depths of the city, the pulsating energy of the underground club engulfed their senses. A heavy bass reverberated through the air, intertwining with the rhythmic beats of the hip-hop music playing. The dimly lit ambiance added an aura of mystery, with flickering neon lights casting vibrant hues across the smoky room. The space was filled to the brim with a diverse crowd, their bodies swaying and grooving to the infectious tunes, creating a living, breathing entity of music and movement.

Jungkook got to learn Jin's friend's name as soon as they arrived at the club. Agust D. Also known as Yoongi. The posters hanging from the walls next to the stage made the designer doubt that he needed any help. At least, one that Jungkook could provide.

Perched on an elevated stage, Yoongi commanded the attention of the entire room. With each track, he was able to manipulate the crowd’s emotions. The air was thick with anticipation as he expertly curated a sonic journey, carefully having selected tracks that ignited the crowd's energy, compelling them to lose themselves in the music.

Amidst the swirling sea of bodies, conversations were carried away by the thunderous sound system. Laughter and shouts of excitement intermingled with the music, creating an exhilarating cacophony of human connection. The atmosphere was electric, with the collective joy and euphoria permeating every corner of the club.

That was, of course, but from one table in the very far corner of the club. Jungkook sat alone, as he wobbled his head to the music. The drink he had was now nothing but melted ice and he risks losing his table as his lips begin to feel dry and he makes his way to the bar.

He orders his drink and leans against the counter. His gaze wanders across the sea of bodies swaying to the music, each lost in their own world of rhythm and movement. The dim lights danced upon their faces, casting shadows and revealing moments of pure joy.

Engulfed in his surly state, Jungkook can’t shake off the feeling of being watched. He turns his head subtly, scanning the crowd. And then, on the edge of his peripheral field, he saw her—a familiar face that sent a jolt through his veins. A mix of surprise and uncertainty flickered in her eyes as she met his gaze. Memories flooded back, reminding him and her of the pain he had caused and the lack of effort to make amends.

Time seems to slow down as their eyes locked, and Jungkook’s heart races with a medley of emotions, seeming to accompany the rhythm of the music playing. A mix of anticipation and anxiety surged through him, uncertain of how she would react to his presence as he notices her move from the far end of the bar she was in, to the stool next to him.

“Carolina, I—” He struggles to find the words. Doubt of even being able to make himself heard through the music crosses his mind. “I—hum,”

“Huh…” The girl’s finger contours the oval rim of her cup. “So you developed a stutter.”

“What?” The way he frows his eyebrows shows how confused he is. The musician up on stage now helps them converse, as he stops the music to take a break and puts on some background music.

“I always wondered what had happened to you,” She grabs her cup, her exposed back leaning against the cold counter as she faces the crowd. “Guess now I know.”

Despite feeling the sarcasm in her voice, Jungkook can’t help the warm feeling that overflows inside him. She cared enough to think about him from time to time and that, in some strange way, gave him hope—hope that not all was lost.

She doesn’t spare him another look, though, and doesn’t wait for his response either, as instead, she launches towards the sea of people that stood by them and the stage.

“Oh, wait–!” Jungkook hurriedly grabs his drink, bumping into some people as he rushes after her. His eyes are fixed on the girl as he weaved through the sea of bodies. He could feel the distance closing between them. In a sort of drunken courage, he couldn’t let the opportunity slip away without expressing how he was feeling.

Breathing heavily, Jungkook finally catches up to her, gently grabbing her arm to get her attention once again. She turned, surprise mingling with a trace of skepticism in her eyes. The air crackled with tension as they stood face to face, the music and voices surrounding them fading into the background.

"Can we talk?" Jungkook mustered, voice barely audible through the deafening music. Carolina hesitated, but after a moment, she nodded.

Grabbing the girl’s hand, Jungkook navigates their way through the packed dance floor as they make their way outside, seeking refuge in the relative calm of the night. Walking in silence, once outside, Carolina lets go of his hand.

Jungkook looks at her, confused.

“So? Go on…” She urges, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and impatience. As she spoke, a slight shiver ran through her, a reminder of the biting cold outside. Her arms wrapped tightly around her body, as she began to miss her jacket laying somewhere inside the club.

Noticing her discomfort Jungkook’s eyes flicker with concern. “My car is parked out back.”

“Lead the way,”

Minutes passed, the silence stretching, as Jungkook struggled to find the right words. The weight of his past actions hung heavily in the air, and he could feel her guarded gaze fixed upon him. The music from the club thumped in the distance, a constant reminder of the chaos that existed just moments ago. With a deep breath, Jungkook finally mustered the courage to break the silence, ready to face the consequences of his past and make amends for the hurt he had caused.

Jungkook mustered the strength to utter the words he had longed to say, his voice laced with genuine remorse, "I'm sorry." However, as the confession left his lips, he felt his throat constrict with an overwhelming mix of emotions. His mind raced, searching for the right words to continue, but he found himself at a loss.

The cold air seemed to hang still, magnifying the weight of the moment. Carolina had hoped for more than a simple apology, looking for a deeper understanding and an explanation for the way things had been left between them. Yet, as the seconds ticked by, she sensed his hesitation and the struggle within him wouldn’t allow him to continue.

Her patience began to waver, and her face portrayed a mix of confusion, frustration, and hurt. The harsh reality of the situation settled upon her shoulders, and she wrestled with a turmoil of conflicting thoughts. Her first reaction would be to leave the car immediately. She had long been disappointed by Jungkook and his actions. Adding yet another memory to that wouldn’t break her. Yet, it didn’t feel right. It felt like she should fight, and scold him even, as she craved to know the reasons behind his behavior months ago.

Caught in the tense silence, the girl's emotions swirled within her, her eyes darting between Jungkook's troubled face and the darkness that engulfed them. The cold seeped deeper into her, both a physical discomfort and a metaphorical reminder of the distance that separated them. At that moment, she stood at a crossroads, unsure of which path to take.

As she dangled on the precipice of a decision, her eyes locked with Jungkook's. A surge of raw emotion coursed through him, and at that moment, without warning, Jungkook's hesitations vanished.

In an impulsive act of desperation and longing, he closed the distance between them. With a swift motion, he moved forward, capturing her lips. Time seemed to stand still as their mouths melded together, her heartbreak momentarily forgotten. Their connection ignited, fueled by the intensity of their shared memory in that same car.

Their lips moved fervently against each other. The coldness of the night faded into the background, replaced by the heat of their intertwined bodies. Their embrace grew tighter, hands exploring each other's contours with a mixture of urgency and tenderness.

Every touch, every brush of their lips, spoke volumes that words had failed to convey. It was a moment of surrender, a bittersweet collision. The weight of their unspoken conversations hung in the air.

But just as their connection deepened, a sudden interruption shattered the moment.

The sound of the car door opening behind them broke through the haze. Startled, Jungkook and Carolina pulled apart, their eyes widening in surprise. Their hearts raced as they turned to see Jin—a mischievous grin spread across their face—climbing into the backseat of the car.

“Please, pretend I’m not here.” The oldest speaks. The way he drags his words shows how drunk he is.

Their faces flushed with embarrassment, they fumbled to regain their composure. Awkward laughter filled the air. They exchanged hurried glances, their expressions a mix of flustered amusement and lingering longing.

Trying to steady his racing heart, Jungkook searches for Carolina’s eyes. Their stolen moment of intimacy had been abruptly cut short, and they now found themselves wrestling with the unexpected intrusion.

“I’m Jin, by the way.” The drunk lunches forward, hand reaching out to the girl.

“Not that nice to meet you, Jin.” She reluctantly shakes his hand, before grabbing her purse from the floor and making her escape, hurried footsteps echoing in the night.

Jungkook's heart sinks as he watches her, his mind racing to process what had just happened. Without a moment's hesitation, he rushes after her, desperately seeking clarity amidst the chaos.

“Cee! Wait, please!” He calls out, voice screaming with urgency.

“We’re not doing this again.” She turns around, voice trembling and he searches her eyes for answers, his own filled with a mix of confusion and longing.

“This is insane…” He whispers. “Please give me a chance to explain.”

“I’ve got to go.” He notices how her face goes blank, eyes suddenly boring with their conversation.

"No, wait—" She can't help but notice how he constantly keeps on changing his weight from one foot to the other. "I really want to—"

"I'm leaving," She interrupts with a tighter grip around her purse.

“I’ll call you tomorrow, then.” He reaches for her hand. She takes a step back, a mixture of uncertainty and fear clouding her judgment. “Alright?”

Reluctantly, Jungkook released his grip, watching her retreat into the night. As he turned back towards the car, he was met with Jin, passed out in the backseat, completely oblivious to the emotional turmoil that had unfolded. Frustration welled up within Jungkook and with a heavy sigh, he settled behind the wheel, uncertainty gnawing at his thoughts as he drove home.

Jungkook woke to a day devoid of purpose. The weight of unfinished tasks hung heavy in his mind and yet he couldn't muster the motivation to face them. Instead, he decided to choose the solace of his dimly lit apartment, seeking refuge from the outside world.

The morning sunlight timidly filtered through the curtains, casting faint shadows on the cluttered room, a live representation of the disarray his mind was in.

He had a lot to do. Yet, there was no sense of obligation in the tasks at hand so, as the day wore on, frustration slowly coiled around Jungkook's soul.

His mind kept on drifting back to the previous day. His body felt exhausted and he still felt bitter about the mess Jin had dragged him into. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he replayed snippets of the gig, wondering how he had let himself be trapped in such a situation.

Truly, Jungkook welcomed the frustrated thoughts as a different memory kept on tugging at his heartstrings. The vivid recollection of Carolina yet again in his car. He felt intoxicated by her as if he was under the influence and unable to form a coherent line of thought when it came to her.

Afraid and uncertain, he kept on delaying the promised phone call. Until the sun had begun to set and he forced himself to—at least once—act upon his word.

The silence of his phone echoed the emptiness in his heart as Jungkook dialed Carolina's number. But she didn't answer, and his unease deepened. He longed to discuss their unresolved issues, seeking a chance to mend the fractures in their connection while at the same time hoping she wouldn't pick up, unsure that he would be able to have the conversation over the phone. With each unanswered call, his anxiety grew, pushing him to make a decision.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in shades of twilight, Jungkook's determination reached its peak. With momentaneous courage, he pocketed his phone and stepped outside, his footsteps echoing against the pavement as he made his way to his car. His destination was clear—a green apartment building.

The glow of streetlights cast a hazy aura around him as he neared Carolina's residence, his heart kept pounding in anticipation. The night sky mirrored his apprehension, stars twinkling like distant flickers of hope.

With each step toward the building's entrance, Jungkook's confidence solidified, determined to confront the uncertainties that had plagued him for too long. His heart pounded with a mix of relief and trepidation as he scanned the rows of mailboxes outside the complex. His eyes darted from one name to another, searching for the name of the girl that made it hard to breathe.

Fingers trembling, he clutched his phone tightly, contemplating whether to make one final attempt to reach her before pressing the bell.

Just as he was about to give up and resign himself to leaving empty-handed, his gaze settled on her name, neatly printed on a small metal plate. He pressed the last digit of her phone number one final time as his finger hovered over the bell, ready to announce his presence.

As the ringing echoed through the receiver, Jungkook's heart thudded with each passing second. One ring, two rings... his anxiety threatened to consume him. But just when he thought he would be swallowed by the silence, a faint voice broke through the void.

"What?"

He opened his mouth for a brief second, closing it right after as he craved his nails on the palm of his hand. A rush of emotions flooded his body.

"Hello?" Carolina made herself heard once more.

"I'm outside," His breath sounded shaky and he hoped she couldn't notice it; or at least that she would attribute it to the cold outside and not his nervous heart.

"Outside?" She trailed, her voice laced with confusion.

"I'm outside your building. We should talk."

She went silent for a while and Jungkook felt like his heart was trying to climb his throat, an attempt to escape the situation his brain had put him in.

"3C."

The phone cries as the call ends and Jungkook is startled by the sudden buzz coming from the door beside him. He ascends the stairs to the third floor, anticipation mingling with curiosity heightening his senses. As he reached her floor and approached the door adorned with the letter C, he took a deep breath, preparing himself for what lay beyond.

He knocks lightly and Carolina swings open the door, revealing herself to Jungkook in a state of casual allure. She was quite the sight.

She's wearing sweatpants and her hair cascades around her features like a lion's mane, wild and untamed. Yet, there's a heaviness in her eyes, devoid of the usual spark of happiness. With a mere gesture, she commands him to enter.

Upon entering, he found himself immersed in a unique blend of minimalism and chaos. Carolina's love for color was evident in every corner of the room. Vibrant artwork adorned the walls, injecting life into the otherwise serene atmosphere.

Amidst the vibrant hues, traces of Carolina's minimalistic tendencies peeked through. The furniture was simple yet functional, carefully chosen to maximize space. Clutter was kept at bay, although occasional hints of disarray whispered of a mind too restless to fully embrace tidiness. The sight tugs a smile from Jungkook's lips as he recalls her desk at Cloud9.

His gaze fell upon a comfortable sofa, draped with a mismatched assortment of throw pillows in various shades. A cozy blanket was haphazardly thrown over one armrest. The air hummed with a hint of creativity as if the very essence of her artistic soul permeated the room. His eyes follow her, as she settles onto the couch, the pillows embracing her form as she sank into the softness.

As Jungkook stood, his nerves coursing through him, she waited rather impatient, her stoic expression holding an air of anticipation. The silence hung heavy in the room, urging him to break it, yet his words remained trapped within. A mix of longing and uncertainty flickered in his eyes as he searched for the right words, desperate to close the gap that had formed between them.

"Cat got your tongue?" Carolina's apathetic demeanor heightened the suspense, leaving Jungkook yearning for a glimmer of understanding, a crack in the facade. In that charged atmosphere, the stage was set for a pivotal moment, a conversation that held the potential to mend their fractured bond or shatter it irreparably.

[ chapter 4 ]

☁ want to be tagged in the next part? comment below or send me an ask!

#jungkook au #jungkook fluff #jungkook angst #jungkook smut #jungkook scenarios #jungkook x you #jungkook x oc #jungkook #slice of life au #jungkook scenario #bts jungkook #jungkook bts #bluenpjm.docx

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bluenpjm · 1 year

Text

serendipity in a box ☾ knj x oc

synopsis. little by little, the world forces her to slow down and be happy.

genre. slice of life + non-idol!namjoon + fluff

pairing. knj + oc

rating. G

wordcount. 1.7K

warnings. some claustrophobic moments

a/n. to the one that despite being far, is always close. happy happy birthday hyo, i love you from here to the moon and back a million times ♡ ! (also ps how cute would this be if i turned it into a series? 🤭)

The sun wasn’t shining yet when Hyori rolled the blinds on her window. She could see the moon on the horizon, saying her farewells as she prepared for another turn around Earth—a full moon; Hyori’s favorite.

Her first alarm of the day rings, feebly. Hadn’t the girl been already tying her shoelaces, she would be dozing off from dreamland now. But today, her routine was a little bit different.

Grabbing her headphones, she notices the light that comes from her friend Carolina’s room. Knocking lightly, she peaks her head inside, only to find the oldest in her bed, laptop open as she munches on some chips.

“Is it 5 already?” Eyes widened, the sleepless girl asked.

“That better not be that show we were watching together tonight.” Threateningly, Hyori speaks and the small guilt-filled smile that appears on the face of her friend makes her roll her eyes.

“I don’t mind watching it again?” Carolina finds herself asking as if looking for the right thing to say.

“You better.” Hyori is about to close the door, only to abruptly open it. “Get some sleep.”

Running was a coping mechanism for Hyori. She always felt prepared to face a new day after her runs, but today she couldn’t shake the feeling of being sick to her stomach.

She had a job interview. Truthfully, she had been disenchanted with her current occupation for a while now. She wanted a change of pace. But it was comfortable. So, after a month of sending in resumes, she was finally starting to hear back from some companies. She managed to schedule one interview that landed on a week where she could work from home, so she was able to coordinate that with her office time. But today, with this interview, she had to lie to her boss to be able to be present.

Deep down, she blamed her flatmates. Easily so, they encouraged her to lie to her boss and say she had to make a visit to the doctor, such a concerning visit that simply missing the hour of the appointment at work wouldn’t be enough. No–her health state was of such concern that she was in desperate need of taking the entire day.

And so, clumsily, she managed to fabricate the symptoms she had been feeling. The concerned look on her boss’ face only made her feel worse. The cherry on top was, of course, that on the next day, she had to walk into her office and present a false declaration that Deo, her other flatmate, had made for her, signed and everything, stating that Miss Kang Hyori had paid a visit to the doctor and was “very very ill”. She would have to deal with all sorts of questions about her condition and the diagnosis that resulted from the appointment. Hyori is a terrible liar, so she was shooting for success in the situation she had allowed herself to be in.

“Please hold the door!” Hyori struggles to balance herself on the uncomfortable heels she had borrowed. This style suited the company but she most definitely preferred her most relaxed, cozy-like style. Hyori always dressed like a warm spring day.

Despite waking up earlier than usual, Hyori was close to running late. She had missed the bus—faultlessly, as she was able to see the bus cut the corner 5 minutes earlier than the time it should’ve been reaching the stop. Checking her phone, the nearest Uber presents to be an inefficient and too-expensive solution, so she finds herself dialing an old friend’s number.

By the time Seokjin was able to drop her off, she was close to running late.

The building resembled the one where she currently worked on. Skyscraper-like, with crystal blue windows that prolonged the infinity of the sky. The day had barely started but people frantically walked by, too engrossed in their lives to take a minute to enjoy the rays of sun that scaped through the clouds.

“Thank you.” Hyori gives a small smile to the older man in a suit that held the elevator. He simply nods and she finds a spot in the box after checking that the button with the number of the floor she was headed had already been pressed.

The elevator keeps on stopping, floor after floor as, similarly to the center of the city, people go on about their lives. Hyori kept her focus on her phone. She kept on analyzing her cv and rereading the job requisites. She wasn’t sure she wanted this job. But she hated to be prepared. Even if her commitment to the position wasn’t 100%, she still wanted to be their top choice.

Suddenly, the power goes out, and the elevator car jerks to a stop, plunging the room into darkness. Hyori gasps at the abrupt stop, while the low hum of the emergency lights flickers as the elevator car comes to a standstill.

“I’m sure it will just be a minute.” Hyori’s eyes follow the sound of the voice of the man standing in the other corner of the elevator, now just realizing she wasn’t alone.

She doesn’t answer, instead showing him a weak but polite smile. He doesn’t notice it, though, too busy pacing back and forth, noticeably distressed with the situation he found himself in.

More than a minute goes by and the man, impatient, takes a stride toward the elevator’s panel.

He pressed the emergency button but nothing comes out. Both passengers fixate their eyes on the holes where the speaker is. No sound, no message of hope. He presses it again, this time longer. But the outcome is the same.

Grabbing his phone from the inside pocket of his blazer, he sighs. Hyori swiftly concludes that his phone was in the same state as hers—no signal.

“Looks like we’ll be here for a while…” Defeated, the man slouches down to the floor, his bag, which had been weighing on his shoulder, now realized on the floor. “Good thing I brought a book.” And just as he spoke, he removed the book from his bag.

Hyori timidly finds a place on the floor as well. “What are you reading?”

Fingers drum on the edge of the book, the cover is simple, a worn-out beige color with a doodle that leads to a pen. Thinking, Fast and Slow.

“I’ve read that book before.” Hyori’s eyes light up in acknowledgment. “How far out are you?”

“I’m rereading it, actually.” The man chuckles lightly. “What d’you think of it?” The book falls on his lap, thumb securing the spot where he’d resume his reading.

“I really like that it made me question my beliefs. It made me think in a more critical way.”

The man nods for a while, contemplating. “It definitely leaves you thinking.”

“That’s why you’re reading it a second time?”

“One thing that I took from it was that I should take my time to reflect before moving on–” Their eyes meet and the man is suddenly embarrassed. Hyori simply nods, having the feeling that he was pondering whether he should move to a new book or if it related to something deeper from his private life.

She trails off, looking at the elevators’ walls. “I actually was left with the impression that too much information can sometimes lead to worse decisions.”

“That’s debatable.”

As the minutes' tick by, the two continue their conversation, each fascinated by the other’s perspectives. Their share of insights and ideas on various topics, end up sparking other thought-provoking conversations that could last well into the rest of the day.

“I’m Namjoon, by the way.” Extending his hand, Hyori notices the dimple that accompanies his genuine smile.

“Hyori.” She shakes his hands.

“I don’t think I ever seen you around?” He squints his eyes, trying to pinpoint the newly discovered name to the face. If he had to be honest, he was terrible with names, but he always recognized a face, especially one like the one in front of him.

“I could say the same.” Feeling cheeky, Hyori blurts out, immediately regretting the words that come out of her mouth. “I’m sorry, that was silly.” She chuckles. “I actually came for an interview.”

That sparks a new interest in Namjoon and he begins asking her all sorts of questions. Despite the stressful situation of being stuck in an elevator, the two find each other marveled by their minds. Hyori comes to find out that, in the eventuality of getting the job, Namjoon would be her new colleague. He gives her some pointers on the right things to say and the topics to avoid.

Minutes turn into hours and although the two had been wrapped up in their conversations, the lack of movement from the car they are in slowly returns them to the reality they are in–stuck in a minuscule box, 16 floors up on the air, with no chance of communicating with the outside world.

Ending 1

“Wait–do you hear that?” Namjoon is quick to get up on his feet.

Hyori watches him confused, “What?”

“Sssshhh,” He has his face leaning against the heavy elevator doors. “There are people outside.”

“So we must be close to a floor!” Hyori is quick to catch his line of thinking, standing up and leaning against the door as well. For a second, they face each other, ears cold against the stainless steel doors.

“IN HERE! WE’RE HERE!”

“PLEASE HELP US!”

They frantically scream for a minute, until they hear knocking from the other side of the door. It only takes a couple more minutes before Namjoon is helping push the doors open, first responders on the other side, breaking through the high-security doors of the elevator.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Hyori.” Namjoon hand falls on her shoulder, a smile on his face.

“Likewise, although… it could’ve been under better circumstances.” She chuckles, glancing back to the elevator.

Exchanging a nod and a smile, they feel grateful for the unexpected encounter and the new connection they’ve made. Hyori can’t help but search for Namjoon in the middle of the confusion that the floor where they had managed to exit. Something deep down lets her know that they will see each other again.

↩ return to masterlist

#namjoon au #namjoon fluff #namjoon angst #namjoon smut #namjoon scenarios #non-idol au #slice of life #bts namjoon #namjoon x reader #namjoon x oc #bluenpjm.docx

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bluenpjm · 2 years

Text

𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕.

LAST UPDATED. ❝ cloud 9 agency ☁ 4 ― 28.02.2024

KEY. ⁝ status ◈ in the making ◆ complete ◇ hiatus ⁝ genre ☂ angst ✿ fluff ✹ smut

KIM SEOKJIN.

❝ coming soon.

MIN YOONGI.

❝ into the woods ㅡ royal au ; ☂ ✿ ✹ ; ◇ synopsis. once upon a time, there was a King who had 3 children, as different as they could be. Seokjin, the oldest, was charming and brave. Carolina, the middle and only girl, was cunning, smart, and somewhat a tomboy, constantly defying her father’s rules. secretly, she was his favorite. lastly, the youngest, Hoseok, the lazy life of the party. they see their fates separated and all gets lost, as Carolina roams deep into the woods, trying to run a destiny she does not see deserving of her own. type. series ｡･:*˚:✧｡ moodboards

JUNG HOSEOK.

❝ ganadara ㅡ slice of life ; ✿ ; ◆ synopsis. as if it was destined, a connection as simple as ABC. type. drabble ｡･:*˚:✧｡ wordcount. 899

KIM NAMJOON.

❝ serendipity in a box ㅡ slice of life + non-idol!namjoon ; ✿ ; ◆ synopsis. little by little, the world forces her to slow down and be happy. type. drabble ｡･:*˚:✧｡ wordcount. 1704

❝ the kang code ㅡ detective!namjoon + mystery au ; ☂ ✿ ; ◆ synopsis. when you can’t trust your instincts anymore, what do you turn to? type. series ｡･:*˚:✧｡ wordcount. 9709

❝ to you sir, with love ㅡ bridgerton au ; ☂ ✿ ✹ ; ◇ ｡･:*˚:✧｡ the garden of paper hearts ― tbd synopsis. as, year after year, debutants prepare themselves to make their way into society, under Queen Charlotte’s judgmental eyes, five siblings navigate London’s high society in search of true love and happiness while discovering that friends and foes seem much alike under dim lights. will this family succeed on their quest, or will the successor of Lady Whistledown manage to pervade their, ruining their image to the influential Ton? type. series ｡･:*˚:✧｡ collab

PARK JIMIN.

❝ bad decisions ㅡ high school au ; ☂ ✿ ✹ ; ◈ synopsis. there are people who say that high school is one of the best times of your life: where you find your first love, where you might lose your virginity, where you get to go to your first party, where you meet your friends for life. all they ask is that you live day after day, decision after decision… you try your best to avoid bad decisions and deal with your emotions at the same time. type. series

KIM TAEHYUNG.

❝ to you sir, with love ㅡ bridgerton au ; ☂ ✿ ✹ ; ◈ ｡･:*˚:✧｡ diamond of the first water synopsis. the search for true love is a hazardous quest, indeed. Could such a gracious sentiment be the reason for the appearance of the Duke of Elffire? certainly, all the Mamas of London will have an eye out on the most eligible bachelor of the season. type. series ｡･:*˚:✧｡ collab

JEON JUNGKOOK.

❝ cloud9 agency ㅡ intern!jungkook + slice of life ; ☂ ✿ ✹ ; ◈ synopsis. faced with decisions that can change the course of her career, the art director of the cloud9 agency decides it is time to act and reignite the flame she had once lost. and all because of an intern… type. series

❝ into the woods ㅡ royal au ; ☂ ✿ ✹ ; ◈ synopsis. once upon a time, there was a King who had 3 children, as different as they could be. Seokjin, the oldest, was charming and brave. Carolina, the middle and only girl, was cunning, smart, and somewhat a tomboy, constantly defying her father’s rules. secretly, she was his favorite. lastly, the youngest, Hoseok, the lazy life of the party. they see their fates separated and all gets lost, as Carolina roams deep into the woods, trying to run a destiny she does not see deserving of her own. type. series ｡･:*˚:✧｡ moodboards

❝ to you sir, with love ㅡ bridgerton au ; ☂ ✿ ✹ ; ◇ ｡･:*˚:✧｡ a bee dancing in the dusk ― tbd synopsis. as, year after year, debutants prepare themselves to make their way into society, under Queen Charlotte’s judgmental eyes, five siblings navigate London’s high society in search of true love and happiness while discovering that friends and foes seem much alike under dim lights. will this family succeed on their quest, or will the successor of Lady Whistledown manage to pervade their, ruining their image to the influential Ton? type. series ｡･:*˚:✧｡ collab

BANGTAN.

❝ #fighton! ㅡ college au ; ☂ ✿ ✹ ; ◇ synopsis. like every college, this one also has gossip and drama to fill the hallways, as well as lots of parties and games to attend. but when two of the most popular groups start to collide the whole campus goes into havoc. suddenly all eyes are on them. what will be the final outcome of this clash of clans? type. series ｡･:*˚:✧｡ collab

❝ A. O. G. ㅡ idol au ; ☂ ✿ ✹ ; ◇ synopsis. it was as if their lives had been divined. everything they wanted, right in front of their eyes. until they are spotted together, leaving a party. the two kpop groups were brought together by scandals. now… the question is: which ones are real? type. series

❝ horus academy ㅡ boarding school au + gossip girl au ; ☂ ✿ ✹ ; ◈ synopsis. in a school where greek methods rules, not everything is as clear as it appears to be. heart, mind, soul, and body. those are the teams of the horus academy and boarding school. but deep within the long corridors, lies dark secrets. the so-called loving families formed in the shapes of teams begin to tear up when an anonymous source unravels their deepest secrets. type. series ｡･:*˚:✧｡ collab

❝ the least of our problems ㅡ zombie au + sm au ; ☂ ✿ ✹ ; ◇ synopsis. once the dead began to rise humanity was quick to lose its senses. survivors fight for their lives and there’s no way to know who you can trust. area 109 is waiting. how many will arrive without a bite? type. series ｡･:*˚:✧｡ collab

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#bluenpjm #masterlist #bluenpjm.docx #jungkook smut #taehyung smut #jimin smut #hoseok smut #namjoon smut #yoongi smut #seokjin smut #bts smut #bts scenarios #bts drabbles #bts #bts au #bts series #bts x oc #bts x reader #bts x you

108 notes · View notes

bluenpjm · 2 years

Text

cloud9 agency ☁ jjk x oc

genre. non-idol au ; slice of life au ; intern!jungkook ◦ fluff ◦ angst ◦ smut

pairing. JJK x OC

rating. M

wordcount. 4.2K

warnings. driving under the influence, drinking, making dubious decisions, some foul language, being somewhat displeased with current job situation

a/n. to the person i cannot go a day without talking to: happy birthday @itsceesaw! thank you for supporting me, always. may we be friends forever, surrounded by pizza, good vibes, and bts! ✌🏻🍕

chapters. 1 — 2

There was nothing more appalling than starting the day by answering emails.

Carolina figured there were far better things where she could waste her time and energy, especially this early in the morning. Daring to take yet another glance at the time on her phone, she sighed, noticing it was half-past eight and she was still stuck on this one email. She lacked what her boss would call the “delicacy” to make their clients understand how the business was and how simply their requests could be met. At least that was how she was supposed to present it to them.

If she had to be honest, she was wishing nothing more than to see her intern walking straight through those doors. And she never expected herself to think such a thing.

Carolina’s memories of her days as an intern were bitter. She never had the opportunity to do something out of the box — in her style — constantly trapped by the hawk-like eyes of her supervisor. And her taste was dull, to say the least. She was also never credited for the hard work she would put into her creations. Each assignment given to her was treated with all the care in the world, even if it wasn’t something she cared for.

So, when the chance occurred for her to have an intern, she had promised herself that she wouldn’t be a bitch and would actually let the person experiment and tinker with their works and put their personality in them.

Her intern — Jungkook — had been assigned to assist her in any way, shape, or form. She needed coffee? He would fetch it for her. The lenses in her camera needed a good cleaning? He had probably already taken care of that. But that wasn’t why he joined the company. Over drinks, one night after work, he confessed how much he loved photography and even had a secret Instagram account where he would post his pictures.

Secretly, she would check his feed now and then, often feeling immersed in the emotions that he could capture so simply through the click of a camera. He would never know, though.

With a soft heart — which now that she was regretting listening to — there she was, head pounding as instead of clocking in at 11 — no, actually — just make it an early lunch break and she would be at the office around 2 in the afternoon, ideas fresh in her mind.

The list of emails was endless and as she went further down, opening email after email, they seemed to get longer and somewhat stupider. It was… impressive, even.

Still, it was somewhat worth it as her intern was nothing but excited the day before, going on and about how much research he had and how many angles he had studied to make the photo shoot he was attending in her place absolutely perfect.

The kid got talent. She couldn’t deny that. But Jungkook lacked something she always had. And that was what she considered one of the most important things in her field: following your gut. You need to be able to trust your instincts in this area. After all, the client is hardly ever right nor knows what they want. You almost need to have a degree in psychology to understand the deeper meaning behind their simple-minded requests.

And well… her intern lacked the spontaneity she wished he had. He was quick and highly talented but… Every 30 minutes, he would come to her desk, an excited smile on his face, most similar to a puppy, wanting you to throw the ball back yet again. And she would compliment his work, most deservingly as Carolina would never say she liked something when she didn’t — and throw him another project. And once he was done… there he was again, waiting for approval and direction on what to do next.

She opened the sent tab on her email account, looking for some faint sight of hope there would be a standardized way of answering the clients' messages. A soft way of saying ‘Hey, I saw your email but won’t get to it now. So just wait until I feel like trying to explain to you, for the thousandth time, that I have what you described and you simply don’t know what you want! Toodles.’

“These people go to lengths…” She talked to herself, eyes quickly scanning all the different responses the clients would get. “They should get a raise!” She scoffed, realizing how ridiculous their efforts were as she leaned her body back on the chair, wheels shifting her away from the desk with the impulse.

Being an art director, she expected to have more creative liberty. After all, she had been hired for her inspiring mind, standing out from a homogenous pile of applications. And the reason why she was still there was due to the big check at the end of the month.

In her early years, she was content with some freelancing. Some gigs here and there while she managed to balance her social life. But adulthood proved itself to be well… inescapable. And being accustomed to a certain lifestyle, she had to sacrifice a little. Money over happiness… The tip of the iceberg of adult life. It couldn’t get any sadder than that, could it?

Her phone rings out of a sudden, being the perfect escape from the tedious action she had found herself trapped in. Not even needing to unlock it, she could already tell who was behind the incessant ringing. Very few were the people who would be texting her with such enthusiasm, this early in the day.

A smile immediately popped on Carolina’s lips as she read the incoming texts in her group chat. She would constantly be shocked at how her best friends would be in sync. And their energy in the morning… unmatchable. They tended to meet later in the day when Carolina would be fully awake and filled with energy. Usually for drinks, as they loved to complain about the most insignificant things in their lives. Deo would end up crying, confessing her love and loyalty to the two, Hyori joining a little bit after on the rampage, and Carolina would stare at the two with a sheepish smile, knowing she would be able to tease them in the morning.

Before she had the chance to answer them, another text came in.

She clicked on it immediately after reading the name of the sender. Her heart was quick to find its way to her throat and the mere seconds it took to open the chatroom made it feel like it was ready to jump out.

If she had to describe how she was feeling, it would be something very similar to what moms say when they drop their kids for the first time in daycare. Or when they get a phone, passcode-protected, and you fear that they have started to send nudes to lousy boys. The fear of something happening to someone you are supposed to look after and you are not there to hold their hand in case they need it. Or even more, the fear of something going wrong and she wouldn’t be there to fix it right away.

Thankfully, Carolina could relax. And her entire posture does so, body reclining once more in the comfortable office chair. Analyzing the texts again, her stomach growls, reminding her that she was still to have breakfast.

Shutting off her laptop, she decides her intern could have a fun afternoon answering emails. Now, she was going to have some much-deserved breakfast.

Carolina had gotten into collage early in life. And ever since her nanny presented it to her, it had been a constant hobby of hers. She would often do it for her own entertainment, a pure way of relaxing and having a fun evening. So it came as no surprise when the skill revealed itself as a useful practice in her work. It helped people around her visualize what she was thinking when words seemed weak to prove her point. She was always more of a visual kind of person rather than words.

Sitting on the floor, legs crossed, she leaned on her hands, body falling back as she looked up at how the ceiling of her favorite room in Cloud9 was turning from the softest shade of blue to purple. It was shaped like a cloud. Upon Carolina’s arrival at the company, she suggested cotton and led lights should be pinned to the ceiling, turning it into a different room from all the others in the company, making it seem like their own personal cloud-filled sky.

“Croissant?” Jungkook emphasized the word, a weak attempt of a french accent leaving his lips. He sits down, crossing his legs as well, the box resting right in the middle of the two.

“Oui, oui,” Carolina showed her never acquired skills of speaking french. Simple words were easy. But make a native speaker to her, she will give them a thumbs up, before smartly removing herself from the conversation. “How was it?”

Jungkook notices how she picks up the box from the floor, admiring the sweets inside while trying to make up her mind about which one she should pick. “It was good.” He spoke cooly.

“Good.” She eyes him, knowing he was trying to sound less excited than he was on the inside.

“I had the best time ever.” He showed her his bunny smile. “Thank you for trusting me.”

“Of course.” She dismisses him. “But I will never answer emails, ever again.”

He chuckles. Email answering was something he did with ease, but he couldn’t deny how boring the task was.

“That lady from the flower shop…” she snaps her fingers, trying to remember the name of the store.

“May Flowers?”

“Exactly! She sent yet another email about how the colors of the logo you did were different from her phone screen to her tablet…” Carolina rolled her eyes.

“Seriously?” Jungkook laughed. “I stayed with her on the phone— on the phone! for like an hour yesterday explaining to her why that happened…”

“She called?” Carolina scoffed, incredulous.

“Well… I did offer.” Jungkook scratches the back of his neck, sleeve pulling down and Carolina notices the tattoos adorning his arm.

“Why?” She did her best poker face. “Are you a masochist or…?”

“I never expected her to say yes…” He smiled embarrassedly. “What are you working on?”

Carolina had her notebook in her legs, half-closed. “I need to pitch an idea for a client Cassandra really wants.”

He nods. “Anything I can help with?”

“Sure,”

Removing the box that was standing between the two, Carolina scootches closer to the intern, opening her book in the pages she had been scribbling. She briefs him on the client, their business ideas, the concept, and what she already had in mind. In between sentences, she scribbles some notes down. She always found that brainstorming with someone resulted in better ideas. Jungkook also pitches in but remains contained in his words. Sometimes, he feels like being quiet is better. Carolina’s ideas seem so out of the box, he decides he is better left off just making little suggestions, instead of dropping something completely random.

“Do we know if other agencies are after them?” He asks. If there was something Carolina liked in Jungkook was how competitive he was. The tiniest thing was able to ignite something in him.

“We don’t know, but it’s most likely. A big fish dropping in the water like that is sure to make every head turn. It made Cassandra’s.”

Jungkook nods. “I’ll do some research on the CEO for you.”

“Thanks.”

Carolina calls it a day soon after her conversation with Jungkook. When she leaves her office, he’s still at his desk, headphones in and she notices from the corner of her eye the image of the CEO of the company they had been discussing on the screen. A smile appears on her lips due to the hard work he’s putting in.

The thought of telling him to go home rushes through her mind, you did well today. But it seems too personal. And Carolina isn’t, in fact, that close with Jungkook. So, instead, she simply leaves, her uber already waiting for her.

Before dozing off in the back seat of the car, she takes her phone out, exchanging a couple of quick texts with her best friends.

As expected, Carolina is indeed late to her dinner with the girls. Falling asleep on the couch right after her shower, she wakes up a couple of hours later, both girls calling her nonstop until the vibration of her cellphone, laying on top of her belly, is enough to wake her up. Still, she manages to keep them waiting for less than 30 minutes, calling her car before getting dressed and both things ended up aligning perfectly.

They order more drinks than food. A meal for the three of them would usually take 2 hours — if not more — to get finished, mostly because they would get lost in the conversation.

“He might’ve as well hit the self-destruction button.” Hyori lets out a dry laugh.

“Wait, didn’t he just print out the wrong reports?” Carolina asked, serving the girls who already had their cups empty.

“Yes. And I corrected him, but someone swooped the wrong ones from his desk without asking and delivered them to my supervisor.” Hyori massaged her temples. “So, I got scolded, as if I was a 5-year-old because the mistake of another person was my own nonetheless.”

“That’s why I will never accept an intern.” Deo scoffed, a spoon full of rice finding its way into her mouth.

“That’s ‘cause you’re a control freak.” Carolina laughed and Hyori nodded, a pensive look on her face as she eyed her friend.

“Speaking of intern… what happened with yours, then?” Hyori turned to the oldest.

“Nothing as severe as you drama queens were trying to make it seem.” Rolling her eyes, the art director takes a sip from her glass. “He went on his first photo shoot today.”

“Woa— look at her, looking all proud!” Deo teased.

“He’s good.” Carolina shrugged.

“But…?” Hyori sang. She always expected a but. Not that she was the pessimist of the group, instead of the real one.

“He’s just… inexperienced. I wish he would speak his mind, you know? Share his ideas…” Carolina struggled to find the right word. “But in time he’ll get there. I’m sure.”

“Oh, yes. I’m sure he’ll come out as a more experienced guy once the internship is over.” Hyori teased, Deo laughing right by her side.

“Hey, I don’t know what kind of games you play with your intern but don’t think I’m a perv like you.” Carolina attacked, chuckling once noticing the offended look on her friend’s look.

The black-haired girl gulps her drink down in one go. “I guess that’s my cue. Before I confess my sins.”

Hyori is already influenced by the happy liquid she has been ingesting. Leaving the bathroom, she walks by the counter, ordering another bottle for her table as her eyes fall upon a guy. A guy she could swear she knew. Staring with no shame, she even tilts her head to the side. Eventually, the staring becomes too much and as the guy turns to leave with his takeout bags, they become face to face.

“Can I help you…?” The man asked. His eyes are widened, as big as a dear blinded by lights.

“You’re Jungkook, right?” Hyori beamed, finally connecting the face to the name.

“Yeah… have we met? I’m so sor—” Jungkook’s tone goes from confused to embarrassed. He was never that good with faces.

“I’m a friend of Carolina— Hyori! Why don’t you sit with us?” Hyori asked but she was more demanding than inviting.

“Oh— no— I actually—” And Jungkook didn’t have a say, following the girl to the table where Carolina and Deo were sitting, every protest that escaped his lips being ignored by the friend of his superior.

“Look who I found!” Hyori squeals once she reaches the table, occupying her previous place next to Deo.

“Jungkook!” Carolina says surprised.

“Hey Cee,” He gives Deo a little wave, lips pressed together as he is uncomfortable with the social situation he had found himself in.

“Do you wanna join us?” The smallest of the girls asks, noticing that her friend was just staring at the boy standing in front of her.

“Oh, I don’t want to intrude.” He says politely, eyes shifting quickly between the girls.

“You don’t! Right, Cee?” Hyori tries to quick the oldest beneath the table, ending up pushing the chair in front of her a little bit behind.

“Of course. Unless… you have plans.” She notices the white bags in his hands.

“Not really.” Jungkook scratches the back of his neck.

“Sit then!” Deo gives him a warm smile and he ends up surrendering.

Both girls are quick to integrate Jungkook into the group. And, of course, they even share some old stories of Carolina. Conversation flowing, bottle after bottle comes to the table, until Deo is already snoozing, head laying on top of the table as Hyori is lost in thought. Jungkook and Carolina keep a light conversation when the servant announces that they will be closing shortly.

“Text me once you get home!” Carolina screams, seeing her two friends already dozing off in the back seat of the car she had called them.

“They are fun.” Jungkook comments, a sheepish smile on his lips.

“You’ve seen nothing.” Carolina laughs. She passes back, clearing away from the street. “Did you call a car for you already?”

“I drove actually. Do you need a ride?”

“Oh, no need. I’m calling a car for me now.”

“I promise I didn’t drink that much.” He assures her. “And I won’t charge you the trip.”

He jokes, making her laugh. “Sure, but I choose the music.”

“Deal.”

Red Orange County is blasting in Jungkook’s car. He keeps a hand on the steering wheel while the other lies on the gearstick. Looking to his right, Carolina is singing along softly, arms leaning out the window as she rests her head on top of them, the wind being a refreshment on her heated cheeks.

“Next left and then is the green building, you can’t miss it.” She says, lowering the volume a bit.

“Got it.”

She stares at him for a while, admiring his features. “How come you got a car?” Carolina asks, head tilting slightly to the side. “Are you one of those rich people that work for fun?”

“I wish,” He chuckles. “My grandma gave it to me once pops passed.”

“Oh,” Is the only thing she manages to murmur.

“It’s alright.” He gives her a weak smile and the tone of his voice makes her come at a loss for words.

“Why don’t you speak out?” Carolina asks, turning on her seat as soon as Jungkook pulls over.

“Huh?” Jungkook tilts his head, body turning slightly so he was now facing her as well. “What do you mean?”

“At the agency. I’ve seen what you can do. You have potential.” She leans her head on the headrest of her seat. “You never participate, never share your ideas…”

Jungkook shrugs, eyes falling on his fidgety fingers. “I’m just an intern.”

“That’s bullshit.” Her words come slurry, the liquor in her system affecting her speech.

“I don’t people would take me seriously— If I spoke out.” He now speaks more seriously. “I see how they are sometimes with you. Imagine how they would react with me.”

She shakes her head. “Your fear is valid but I won’t validate it. They turn me down but I still managed to be heard. I spoke out. And getting rejected is the exception, not the rule.”

“Start your own agency and I’ll start speaking.” Jungkook chuckles.

“Y’know what? I just might.” She shrugs, the idea not sounding too insane. “What about your insta? You haven’t updated it in too long.”

“How–” Jungkook looks her in the eye, confused, before getting hit by a flashback of the last time they had drinks together and his love confession about photography. The confused expression quickly changes into a smile. “You haven’t updated yours either.”

“Well, but I’m busy. You’re just an intern.” She turns his own words against him. “Don’t you have any good pictures? Post one now!” The excited smile on her lips is mimicked by the guy next to her as he takes his phone from his jeans pocket.

Somehow, both scootch closer, arms brushing on the armrest as Jungkook opens his gallery, images flying by with the simple swipe of his finger. Carolina would comment, from time to time, asking him to go slower or to return to a previous picture he had swiped on too quickly. Jungkook would look at her every time she commented. He wasn’t just trying to memorize every tip or compliment she would pay. Instead, he was looking at her features — the way the corner of her slightly parted lips were turned up, her eyes glowing with the light that emanated from the screen, showing how much of a soft brown they were, hidden behind a dark shield during the day by the rush of their lives.

“Woa— go back.” She comes to a halt as if suddenly getting hit by ice-cold water. Jungkook bites his lower lip. He had hoped she hadn’t noticed. “That’s me.”

“Yeah,” His voice shakes as he feels nervous about how she might react.

“When was that?” She’s now staring straight into his eyes.

“My first day.” He chuckles, eyes looking ahead as the memory comes back to him. “You announced my arrival to the team and referred me as if I was Spider-Man joining the Avengers. And then you said you wanted to leave the office earlier to go to the movies.”

“Well, first of all, I think I had just watched Avengers the night before. And second, there should be some sort of work license that allowed you to leave to catch a good movie session.” She shrugged, a serious look on her face that made Jungkook chuckle.

“I agree.”

“But why did you take that?” She nudged his arm, now resting her chin on her hand.

“I don’t know… I felt like I was supposed to eternalize that moment.”

“With me in it,” Carolina spoke coyly.

“Yes.” Jungkook almost whispers. “Lean back.”

“What?” Carolina is caught off guard, straightening herself in the passenger's seat.

“Lean back.” He repeated. “I want to take a picture of you.”

“Oh, I don’—” She tried to reason, but it was in vain.

“C’mon,”

The first picture comes out with Carolina giving him the finger, followed by another with her tongue out and a couple of others of her laughing, embarrassed. But you could hardly tell. Only by the way her cheeks were a soft shade of pink. It could easily be pinned on the drinks she had. As Jungkook keeps snapping, the pictures come out looking more like an old painting, the night making the quality of the pictures low but perfect in the photographer’s eyes.

“Perfect,” Jungkook sings. “Moment successfully eternalized.”

“Let me see. You’re deleting the ones I don’t like.” She gives him a threatening look and he opens his mouth to speak, before getting interrupted. “Or you’re getting fired.”

He pokes the inside of his cheek with his tongue, head flicking as he chuckles. “Alright.”

Yet again, they began to swipe through the pictures Jungkook took. The first few make Carolina laugh, the sound making the guy next to her open up a smile as well. Until they reach where Carolina wasn't so flattered and she laughs it off.

"Now here's one you're going to delete."

"No way!" Jungkook laughs, moving the phone away from the girl and out of her reach.

"I will fire you." She threatens in a light tone.

"You wouldn't dare." He smirks.

"Don't test me, Jeon."

"Are we back to formalities, Sousa?" Jungkook teases and the girl scoffs.

Almost kneeling on the passenger's seat, Carolina launches forward, catching Jungkook off guard as she goes for the phone. She ends up falling on his lap, the only thing between their bodies is the armrest that was still pushed forward.

Jungkook helps her up, hand still on her arm, keeping her close to him. "Who will answer your emails if I'm gone?"

"Oh, shut up."

Closing the space that was left between them, Carolina presses her lips against his. At first, he's shocked, not expecting her reaction but he is quick to kiss back, deepening the kiss as his hand travels from her arm to the back of her neck, pulling her to him so now she is sitting perfectly on his lap.

The loud bang of Carolina’s building’s front door makes the make-out session come to an end and the girl swiftly returns to her previous seat. “I’ll, hum, see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah— have a good night!” Jungkook lets out, watching the girl walk to the door until she’s out of his sight. “Fuck…”

[ chapter 2 ]

☁ want to be tagged in the next part? comment below or send me an ask!

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bluenpjm · 2 years

Text

ganadara ❀ hoseok x oc

synopsis. as if it was destined, a connection as simple as ABC.

genre. slice of life au ; dancer!hoseok ◦ fluff

pairing. JHS x OC

wordcount. 899

warnings. adorable hoseok ପ(๑•ᴗ•๑)ଓ ♡

a/n. happy birthday to the iconic @narimiese~ the only person with whom i am willing to share hobi (i am not kidding) may your life be as glamorous and filled with light as you deserve! Thank you for being here since day one! ♡

It had become a constant in Hoseok’s day. Unlike the majority of people, he hated the weekends — especially because he couldn’t see her. The girl that worked in the store in front of his dance studio. He even had to change his routine to be able to see her more often.

It was foolish, now that he thought about it.

4 months had already passed since the first time he ever laid eyes on her. Fixing a more than broken mannequin and trying her best to tie its falling arm with some necklaces. In the end, the fit ended up looking more unique than anything in the store.

He loved it. It was way up his alley.

And ever since, he had this weird sensation in the bottom of his stomach. The first couple of days, he had nagged his best friend about the possibility of being extremely sick, as he counted the days until he could no longer escape the visit to the E.R.

Despite how much he thought, he couldn’t pinpoint what had been that had left him that sick. Until he saw her again. This time closing up the shop. Her hair was tied in a messy ponytail as the straps of her bag kept on pushing her buttons, constantly falling from her shoulder. It all made sense now. He was feeling butterflies.

In his mind, he knew a lot about her.

After all… he did find her on social media. Her feed filled with cute pictures of cafés and showing her impeccable outfits. She was classy and artsy and he was dying to talk to her.

Sunday morning meant that he would not see her. Usually, Hoseok would constantly look around. Fate, maybe? Today, in lieu, he focused on the task ahead of him: finding a gift for his friend.

“He just moved into a new house, so I wanted something that he would actually want but that wasn’t that much of a big deal…” Hoseok rambles on to the staff he had mindlessly stopped in the midst of rearranging some products on the shelves.

“Why don’t you take a look around? I’ll be with you in a minute.” The smile shown is weak and Hoseok nods, him too forcing a smile before strolling along deep into the store.

He wandered aimlessly with his hands stuffed inside the pockets of his baggy jeans. The store had a little bit of everything and perhaps that much variety made the task at hand even more challenging.

“Does your friend like music?” The voice startles him and as Hoseok turns around, his eyes widen, mouth agape as he isn’t able to form a single word. “I think music is always a thoughtful gift…”

Swiftly, the girl moves her fingers along the records in front of her. Lifting her gaze, she smiles at Hoseok.

“I’m Nari. Kim Nari.”

“I- hum,” For a moment, Hoseok almost feels starstruck. Clearing his throat, he manages to speak. “I’m Hoseok,” A strident laugh falls from his lips, the nerves getting the best of him. “But my friends call me Hope.”

“So, Hope…” The playful smile on the girl’s lips makes his heart twirl. “What kind of music does your friend like?”

“Well… Taehyung is a wild card… He listens to everything, really.” Pressing his lips together, the girl’s eyes fall on the little dimple that shows on the dancer’s features.

Humming, Nari takes her eyes off Hoseok so she can focus on the records in front of her for a second. “What about… Golden Link? I’ve been addicted.”

“Oh, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of them…”

“Do you want to listen to it? I have most of the songs from their new album on my playlist.” Nari offers, already searching her bag for her earphones.

“Yeah! Should we– hum– go grab a coffee or something?” Hoseok lets out a nervous laugh.

Crossing the street, they enter the small coffee shop and order before directing themselves to a table on the esplanade. The soft morning sun felt cozy against their skins and they scotched closer. The first music begins to play and by the time their order is delivered to the table, Hoseok had lost focus on the tracks. His eyes fell solely on the bronzed skin of the girl standing only a couple of centimeters from him.

Fate really brought us together… Yoongi would never believe him.

“So?” Removing her earpiece, a smile adorns her lips. “What do you think?”

“Beautiful,” Hoseok speaks softly, quickly snapping out of the trance he was trapped in. “They have really good songs, I mean. Thank you.”

“Of course,” Her smile reaches her eyes now and Hoseok feels his heart melt.

The girl begins to gather her belongings, getting ready to get up from her seat. Hoseok mimics her actions. “Do you think I could get your number?” Yoongi would be proud now.

And for the first time, she is thrown off guard, surprised. “Mine?”

“Yeah–” Eyes widen and he feels droplets of sweat beginning to form on his forehead.

“You got it.” Watching her leave, Hoseok wants nothing more but to jump up and down, feeling victorious. And if he was buying that album? Of course. He just needed to make another stop before storing the precious memory in a vinyl-shape in his home. He still needed to find a gift for his friend…

#ganadara #happy nari day #jhope #hoseok #hoseok fluff #hoseok angst #hoseok smut #slice of life au #fluff #bts au #drabble #bts jhope #bts scenarios #bts fic #bts x oc #bluenpjm.docx #bluenpjm

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bluenpjm · 2 years

Text

the kang code ✹ 5 — knj x oc

synopsis. when you can’t trust your instincts anymore, what do you turn to?

genre. murder au + detective namjoon + angst + fluff

pairing. knj + oc

rating. M

wordcount. 2.1K

warnings. mentions of guns and death and betrayal and violence. just an angsty mess really

a/n. the last part of the kang code! to hyori, i hope you enjoyed reading this because i sure as hell loved writing detective namjoon!

chapters. previous — five

Go to where it all started.

Namjoon is torn at the different possibilities, mind rushing.

He could go to the first crime scene. But that wasn't where it all started. At least not for the killer. He somehow feels like this is bigger, deeper, than that. It is too important to simply be a simple message. So, his mind is quick to wander to the mission his old friend was conducting. Searching all the abandoned buildings and houses on what seemed to be the only lead he managed to get out of all the clues the killer had left for the police. Still, he isn't convinced that's right. If the Busan Police really were in the right spot, the killer wouldn't be wasting time playing cat and mouse with Namjoon. He knows that. Or Seokjin really was right about the killer and they weren’t the brightest mind.

Despite how much he tries to ignore the nagging feeling on the back of his head, he can't anymore. Even more so than that, he knows he’s wasting precious time by delaying the inevitable. He knows where he needs to go. If not for his brain and instincts, for his heart. Namjoon can picture it perfectly — the first time he laid his eyes on the woman he was so desperate to get out of his mind and bring back to safety. It was a strange feeling. Almost inebriating. She was consuming all his energy. And the chance of her being the killer was so big… The coincidences were so many. It was impossible for Namjoon to ignore it. Even in his current state.

So he walked. He passed by the train station and was quick to find the small café that had served him the most bitter cup of coffee he ever had the displeasure of tasting. And then, there it is. The small bench where he had first sat alone. And almost like he had a photographic memory, there she is — sun hitting her fair skin, an intrigued look on her face that made her seem unbeatable.

Namjoon looks around. Nothing stands out. Letting out a long sigh that he hadn't realized he was holding, he sits on the bench.

"I knew it wasn't you." He whispers under his breath. "I'm going to find you, Kang Hyor-"

But his eyes divert quickly to the other side of the street. By the streetlight. Seemingly buried in the small clump of weeds surrounding the metal pole. A small piece of paper. His heart begins to beat fast yet again and he stands up reluctantly. Could it really be... Kneeling down, he grabs the crumpled piece of paper, unfolding it slowly.

“So easy to get inside your head…” Namjoon reads out. By now, he is so used to the killer's way of writing, that he doesn't need to pull out a pen and paper to decipher the coded message. “I'll be by the sea. Storage 317. Can you find me in time?”

He crumples the paper in his hand more than it already was, nerves getting over him. He feels like a fool. How could she trick him with such ease? And even worse... How could he have fallen for her charms just like that? He should've known better.

One thing Namjoon liked about Hyori was how casually she would speak to him. She seemed fierce, yet, somehow, fragile. He felt a blurred sensation of protecting her. Even now that he was hunting her. Deep down, he always knew. She was dangerous. Too dangerous for his own sake. And she had always been one step ahead of him. Helping him solve the clue — guiding him for most of the cipher like he wasn't capable of doing it himself. Lying to Seokjin when she was in the interrogation room and then getting away with it… Knowing exactly that he was watching her during the entire day and swiftly guiding him to that hallway. Pretending to get kidnapped… that one really was the last straw for Namjoon. She had played with his feelings enough.

The Deep Sea Storage Units.

From all the storage units in Busan, this one seemed the only one fitting Namjoon. The message the killer — no, Hyori — had left him was vague. But he hoped he was in right place.

He shows a badge to the security guard by the front gate. The old man doesn't recall seeing any woman matching Hyori's description passing by, but the look on his face tells Namjoon he doesn't pay much attention to the folks that rent units nor about what they keep inside.

The gun he carries feels strange to him. He was eager to be able to reclaim his stolen belongings. But most importantly, his gun.

309... 310... 311...

The corridors are empty and quiet. He feels too exposed but there is no other way he could go. Finding himself out in the open, Namjoon begins to wonder if he should have called for backup. No one at the station knew where he had gone. Still, he doubts there is any signal so deep into the units as he is.

314... 315... 316...

And finally, there it is. 317. The gate is pulled down and the bright white light in the corridor makes it almost impossible to see if there's light inside. Still, Namjoon is quick to notice how there's no padlock keeping the interior of the unit safe. This has to be the right place.

He takes a deep breath, knowing what he has to do now... Namjoon understands that this might be it for him. Nowhere to run. It is time to be brave and face whatever and whoever might be inside that storage.

Taking a deep breath, he lowers his body, one hand grabbing the latch while the other holds the gun he had been carrying ever since reaching unit number 300.

“Drop it.”

The sudden cold feeling of a gun against his head makes him grit his teeth. Slowly, he raises both hands up in the air, the gun he was holding hanging from his thumb as his finger was now far from the trigger.

“Turn slowly.”

And he faces her again. But this time she doesn't seem sweet. Her face is... different. He can't read her. She feels distant. It was the Hyori he had gotten to know. Still, it had never crossed his mind that she could’ve been the killer.

“Hyori, you don't have to do this,” Namjoon speaks lowly as she takes the gun from his hand.

“Shut up. Please.” Her voice trembles as she pushes his body forward, forcing him to look ahead and begin to walk.

“Where are we even going?” He scoffs. “There are cameras all over this place.”

“You're smarter than that, aren't you?” She laughs dryly. “Do you know how cheap it is to rent a unit here?”

“I begin to have an idea.”

“Hell, I might even ponder leaving my rental and moving here. The square area is pretty similar. Although I don't think I could live without a window…” She rambles.

Namjoon turns around to her and Hyori is quick to pull the gun she was lazily carrying back to the level of his eyes. “What's your plan?”

“Just keep walking. Or I'll shoot.”

“And leave your MO?”

“Don't test me. You think I won't do it?!” She raises her voice, echoing down the empty corridor.

“Yeah,” Namjoon speaks as rapidly as he moves, hand managing to grab the pipe of the gun and effortlessly disarming the woman. “If you're going to shoot someone, at least unlock the safety.”

But Hyori's reaction is everything but what Namjoon had thought it would be. She wasn't angry, trying to retrieve the weapon. And she wasn't trying to run for it. Instead, her expression changed to a relieved one. And then she looked behind her.

“Run.”

HYORI'S POV

I still remember that evening like it was today. And seeing Namjoon peacefully sleeping, head laying on my lap and chest rising up and down... I can't help but feel safer.

For some time, he used to wake up in the middle of the night with night terrors. I had trouble sleeping as well. But mostly because I feared he would need me in the middle of the night and I wouldn't be there for him. Most mornings, I would wake up with messages from him checking in on me. Received at ungodly hours. And it would take him seconds to get back to me as soon as I reached him.

Once the case was closed, he returned to Seoul and it took us almost 5 months to see each other again. It's almost funny thinking about it… considering how we're only a 3-hour train ride away. But I think we both needed the time. We never lost touch, though.

My hand touches the scar on his exposed arm. It isn't deep. And it doesn't hurt anymore. At least not physically. I always notice how he tries his best to hide it. And it makes my heart ache to see him like that.

The corners of his lips twist up.

I can't help but release a deep breath I was holding. Despite not being as recurrent, he still has some nightmares. Ever since we moved in together, he said he has been able to sleep better. And that makes me sleep better as well.

“Are you staring at me?” He sings, his eyes still closed as the hand that was lightly tugged underneath my legs gives them a light squizz.

“Of course.” He smiles big and his dimples pop. My fingers are quick to pinch his cheek.

“What time is it?” He now opens one eye, but only so slightly, getting attacked by the sudden light.

“Still early,” I said once I managed to unlock my phone. “Should we order something for dinner?”

“Anything you want.” He sits on the couch, arms finding his way around my body as he pulls me in closer, dropping a kiss on my head.

After stretching, Namjoon finally gets up, mumbling something about being cold and fetching a jacket from the bedroom. I get up as well, but this time to the kitchen to see what I could snack on while waiting for the food to arrive.

“You okay?” He asks, silently appearing behind me.

“Yeah, kinda hungry though. I don't think I'll be able to wait for the food.”

Namjoon gives me a small smile and I know that wasn't what he meant. From time to time, he would ask me that question. No apparent reason. At least for anyone outside our relationship. Seokjin, who had become a close friend, could tell what he meant from time to time. Of course, he could. After all, he had been the one to write the reports about the case.

The Kang Code. That was how the media had entitled it. It sounded odd, for the first couple of days, constantly hearing my last name on something that I had lived so closely.

I grabbed his hand, the steps behind us growing closer and closer. My heart seemed like it would gain a will of his own and jump out of my mouth at any time. Namjoon, on the other hand, seemed calm. He had been trained for this situation. He had his gun out, ready to shoot if needed.

“What now?” I asked, a shaky breath covering my voice.

“Don't worry. Just stay behind me.” His hands found my shoulder and a smile formed on his lips. A weak attempt at comforting me.

“Namjoon-!” I gasped.

But I was too late. Blood was running down his arm quickly. The sound of the gun firing made my ears ring and I felt light-headed. I keep on looking at Namjoon, hand grabbing his wounded arm, and at the man that had taken me. He was stepping closer and closer, gun ready to fire at any second.

“Didn't I say you were easy to find, Detective Kim?”

“Step back!” I scream at him, trembling hands managing to get Namjoon’s gun from the gun. The same one I was holding from before.

“Miss Kang… I’m not done with you yet. Please, save your strengths for later.”

The man speaks in a soft tone. And the smile he has on his face makes my skin crawl. “I said step back!”

“Miss Kang!” He screams too, eyes piercing through my soul. “This will be quick.”

A sadistic smile forms on the man’s lips and I see Namjoon’s tone whiten, looking paler as his eyes fall on me. The sound of the safety unlocking echoes through the corridor. And then the gun fires. The man falls to the floor and I almost mimic his actions. A clean shot in the head. And he lays there, lifeless, as blood begins to fill the corridor.

“Let’s go.” Namjoon manages to speak out, carrying me alongside him. “Don’t look. You’re safe now.”

#bluenpjm #the kang code #namjoon #detective au #mystery au #namjoon detective #namjoon angst #namjoon fluff #namjoon smut #namjoon au #bts namjoon #namjoon scenarios #namjoon fanfic #bts au #bts scenarios #bts fanfic #bts fluff #bts angst #bluenpjm.docx

56 notes · View notes

bluenpjm · 2 years

Text

the kang code ✹ 4 — knj x oc

synopsis. when you can’t trust your instincts anymore, what do you turn to?

genre. murder au + detective namjoon + angst + fluff

pairing. knj + oc

rating. M

wordcount. 1.8K

warnings. ignoring needed medical care + the entire stress of a killer being on the loose

chapters. previous — four — next // new chapters every day at 00:00 KST

May 10th, 2022.

My head hurts like hell. The paramedics said I should go to the hospital. They said I might have a concussion. But I can’t. How did I let this happen? Right in front of my eyes… I should’ve been more careful. Now Hyori might be — no might be, that wasn’t a sick joke. She is in danger. And all because of me. I will find her in time. Even if it is the last thing I do.

If Namjoon had stopped to think about the current situation he found himself in, he would probably consider the possibility of admitting himself to psychiatric arrest. This… this sudden behavior of his was very much out of character. This foolish thinking. Or better yet, this lack of thinking. At all. He was always analytical. Despite being sentimental and empathic. Although, his profession had quickly taken a tool on his soft side. Everyone was a suspect. Everyone.

So this sudden connection with Hyori was... strange, to say the least.

He would be lying if he were to say that he hadn't had this kind of platonic passion. Just a beautiful stranger that he would sometimes pass by in the street. A mind that seemed to match his on a deeper level. The scenarios he painted. His lack of social life would often make him reminisce — despite feeling very much empty — about the different outcomes that could happen to him. Only if he was brave enough to follow his feelings. To act on impulse. Be the guy from the movie that gets the girl. The guy that risks everything and still has his way in the end.

But that had proven foolish. And it was a basic rule from the academy. Always focus on the evidence. Don't let your feelings get in the way.

So to see Hyori come so swiftly into his life... If it could even be described as that. Such a short period of time had passed. Today was his fourth day in Busan, after all. And in that span of time, she had been the only thing in his mind. The thing that would make him relax when he became too anxious about the case he had been presented with. She was always there. The scenarios he had imagined before with strangers. But this time he had a name for the beautiful face. From the moment he would open his eyes and sometimes even while he had them close. Still, something in him told him she was more than that — that if he took the risk, she would mean more than a silly crush. Despite that, he was too stiff to follow his gut. Too scared. So, for the time being, he had decided to keep on dreaming — with her.

Just like last night.

After waking up in the alley where he had last seen Hyori, he managed to walk back until he saw someone. He didn't have his phone with him. His notebook was gone, too. His badge... and then it hit him. The sudden weight he had been so accustomed to… His gun wasn’t perfectly attached to his belt anymore. He was in big trouble. He wasn't even supposed to have it in him. So far away from his jurisdiction… What was he thinking? The thing that at the beginning of the day had made him feel safer now was making him feel like he could faint at any time, his stomach swirling with the uncertainty of what his future would look like. For a second — and a second, really — he even pondered hiding such an important fact. He wasn’t that much of a coward, though.

It had taken him crucial time to get help to the alley. And when Seokjin finally appeared, followed by two other patrol cars, Namjoon was losing it.

Pacing back and forth, he tried his best to remember everything. Eventually, the paramedics had already given up trying to clean his wound. Seokjin was sitting on the ambulance, feet swaying, scrapping lightly on the asphalt. At the moment, he was more concerned with his friend's state than the information he was giving. Namjoon wasn’t one to lose his cool like that. And seeing him like that… well, let’s say it was making Seokjin question his stance on the case.

“Alright, Joon.” Seokjin finally gets up from the ambulance, his hand finding a place on Namjoon's shoulder. “Let's get you checked up first and then we can work with that.”

“No. It's been hours Jin. You know these are the most important. We need to move. Have people on the ground. They were in a van. By now they could be anywhere!” Namjoon raises his voice.

“I know. And we are going to find her. For all we know, this could even be a trap.” It was funny how Seokjin had suddenly become the rational one of the two. And even more so, how such a simple astute comment had Namjoon fuming.

“Fuck Jin. I got the note. He was watching me. And he was watching her.”

Seokjin sighs. “I believe you. But we need to do this smart. We don't know anything. Even if she's really a victim.”

Namjoon hadn't been able to shut his eyes. He was sitting by Seokjin's desk, eyes quickly yet carefully scanning the pictures in his hands. It didn't feel the same as analyzing his rough sketches in his notebook. His head was pounding, still, and it felt harder and harder to focus. Despite that, he was trying his best to focus.

Lifting his eyes from the printed paper, he saw Seokjin in the glass room, drawings on a whiteboard as tables were filled with officers in uniform. He was giving them the tactical move, the profile of the killer — which, if Namjoon could be honest, was very much still a blur in everyone's mind.

Seokjin was trying to keep him away from the investigation. The reaction his old friend had was far from great. He couldn't quite understand why, but something made Namjoon's mind foggy when it came to the killer and the woman missing, and having him, in such a state, was a risk Seokjin couldn't and wouldn't take.

His eyes fall back to the papers in his hand. There was something hidden in the messages... Namjoon was certain of it. He wished he could have his notebook with him. There were so many notes written on the side of the pages, that he was certain he would already have some sort of thought formed about the case. Something that would help.

Displaying all the pictures on the desk, he grabs the post-its, writing down the deciphered version and sticking them on top of the respective image.

Can you solve this? Kang is my name. Next kill is in 24 hours.

Was I sloppy? I think not. Can you catch me? Or will I kill again?

And, of course, the one he had received the afternoon of the day before. The one no one seemed to believe he had seen.

You are so easy to find. Are you taking the right steps? Think again, pig. No one is safe. Tictoc.

The highlighted words in each message made less and less sense to him.

24 hours.

You. Will. Kill.

You. Find. The. Right. Steps. Tictoc.

There had to be some sort of hidden message. Namjoon was certain of it. But he couldn't figure it out. If he could... by now Hyori could be safe and sound and the killer would have been stopped, put behind bars, where he wouldn't be able to hurt anyone, anymore.

He sighs heavily, gaining some looks from the officers at the nearby desks. He gives them a small smile, fingers finding his hair. For a moment, he rests his hands there. His mind is absolutely blank as he stares at the papers.

Readjusting his position on the chair, he furrows his brows. Let’s do this, he thinks.

There were two indicators of time. The 24 hours and the tictoc. But truth be told, those could mean anything. Hyori's voice echoes in his mind, as she points out all the different meanings the number could have. A date, a time, a street name… And following his gut, he decides to look up the maps of the area.

“Seokjin!” He calls out, seeing the man leaving the glass room. “I think I may have something.”

“That’s my man!” Seokjin pats his back, before leaning next to him, ready to take in all the information.

“See here-” Namjoon points at the red crosses on the map. “These were where the two victims were found. And here, this street… it could be a long way, but hear me out.”

Namjoon grabs the papers from the desk with the first cipher.

“We immediately assumed this was an hour- you know because the second body showed up just a day after. But what if it isn’t?”

“What is it then?” Seokjin makes a somewhat confused face.

“A street,” Namjoon says brightly.

“Did you pull satellite images yet?”

“I did.” Clicking on the computer, he continues his explanation. “This street stands perfectly between the two alleys. There isn’t a number 24, I checked. But there’s a series of abandoned houses that could be the perfect spot. There’s also no surveillance on some routes he could’ve taken. Only on the main street but considering the van, he could easily slip the bodies in and drop them later.”

Seokjin nods, hand finding his chin as he caresses it, thinking hard.

“Perfect. If he has the woman, she will be there. Otherwise, it would be unnecessary far. Stupid even.” Seokjin concludes, a pleased smile on his face. “I mean, he is about to get caught, so he can’t be that smart.”

Namjoon begins to get up from the chair, right after Seokjin. “I agree.” He chuckles.

“You should stay here.” Seokjin’s hand stops Namjoon, resting on his shoulder and the smile the former had on his lips is quick to fade. “You’re our brains. If you think of anything else, just let me know, yeah?”

Namjoon can’t help but just nod, his lips pressed tightly as all he wanted to do was oppose the leading detective’s order. He slumps in the chair, chin resting on his balled fist. He watches all the officers follow Seokjin into the garage. Namjoon feels useless.

An hour goes by and through the communicator, Namjoon listens attentively. He left the main area, secluding himself in the break room. By now, all the buildings begin to be scavenged by Seokjin and the rest of the officers. He listens, one by one, as each update comes out as a failure. Empty houses. And nothing but the growing pain in Namjoon’s chest.

“Mr. Kim,” an officer knocks on the door. “There’s a package for you. At the front desk.”

“For me?” Namjoon frowns but is already getting up.

A craft package is handed to him as soon as he reaches the counter. 형사 김남준 is written on the front, in big, bold, red letters. He thanked the officer, before returning to the break room. He fights the urge to open it, a feeling of whom it might be from.

[ chapter five ]

57 notes · View notes

bluenpjm · 2 years

Text

the kang code ✹ 3 — knj x oc

synopsis. when you can’t trust your instincts anymore, what do you turn to?

genre. murder au + detective namjoon + angst + fluff

pairing. knj + oc

rating. M

wordcount. 2.1K

warnings. there’s a killer on the loose and he’s about to make a mess!

chapters. previous — three — next // new chapters every day at 00:00 KST

May 9th, 2022.

Hyori was lying. She lied to Seokjin. And then she lied to me. The coroner had just finished the autopsy when Seokjin was interviewing her and it was impossible for her to hear a scream. The girls were already dead when they were dropped in the alleys. She never heard a scream. So, what was she doing there?

I haven’t told Seokjin about us- about my connecting with her. I know I should have.

I don’t know what to do.

Namjoon looks at the watch on his wrist as he sits on a bench just a few meters away from the entrance of the suspect’s apartment. His eyes are heavy. He had managed to get only a couple of hours of sleep.

The door of the building he had been watching finally swings open, and the person he had been anticipating seeing for at least the last half hour finally appears.

Hyori walks at a quick pace and Namjoon forces his legs to move, trying not to lose sight of her.

Seokjin had insisted that Namjoon should be the one keeping an eye out on the woman who had quickly become the number one suspect in the Kang case. All her lies, including the ones Seokjin was clueless about, had made her a person of interest, climbing right to the top of the list. And as such, she had to be watched.

The killer hadn't delivered any more clues, nor had any more bodies appeared. Namjoon was nervous about that. The killer had presented himself to be careless, impulsive — most likely used to acting upon instinct during most of his life. This sudden stop was killing Namjoon. The waiting… Namjoon was usually patient — more than most people — but this… it felt too close to home. It was as if he was already too invested with the case. And he wanted to solve it as quickly as he possibly could.

Hyori is small but surprisingly fast. Namjoon is having a hard time keeping up with her. The streets are busy and most people meander, drunk on sleep, as it seems to be too early to even try to be happy, making Namjoon easily left behind, as Hyori seems nothing like the ones around her.

Stopping a couple of stores down, Namjoon notices Hyori make her first stop of the day. A small café. And it doesn’t take her long to come out, hand finding the strap of her mask to remove it and take a sip of the liquid on the cardboard cup she carries.

She resumes her walk, this time at a much moderate pace. The tote bag she carries keeps falling from her shoulder and he notices how quick she is to switch it to her hands. Practical.

Noticing a bus stop reaching, Namjoon slows his pace a bit more, the possibility to be caught seeming terrible at this time of the day. He hadn’t gotten up this early to go right back to the station empty-handed.

Hyori sits down. So, she takes the bus to work. Namjoon makes the mental note. He has his notebook stuffed into his bag but prefers to keep commenting on what he’s observing to himself. Adjusting his mask and cap, he hopes to remain as invisible as possible, the simple possibility of the woman laying her eyes on him now that they have both stopped makes the palms of his hands' sweat. He had never really appreciated this part of his job.

“Oh, no, please! I insist!”

Namjoon’s thoughts are interrupted by the sudden soft voice of Hyori as she stands up from the bus bench to offer it to an older woman. Underneath the mask she wears, Namjoon can see a soft shade of red begin to adorn her cheeks. There is a little back and forth between the woman he has been watching and the old lady that had just arrived at the scene, the latter refusing to accept the seat and the youngest standing her ground. Eventually, the lady takes the seat, many thanks falling from her lips as Hyori keeps bowing, eyes smiling.

The bus arrives and Namjoon is the last one to enter. By then, Hyori had already taken her seat, eyes glued to her phone and headphones in. Namjoon can breathe with ease as he sits a couple of rows behind the girl.

As the bus comes to a halt just a couple of minutes before 8 AM, Namjoon has to rush after Hyori as she makes her way to work. She stops just outside a big building, windows for walls as the sun shines on the glass, illuminating the entire street. He watches as she quickly fixes her outfit, taking the opportunity to catch her breath before going inside.

Deep down, Namjoon finds all of this useless. Hell, he was never one to trust his gut feeling over all the concrete evidence he had. And if he had to be completely honest, Hyori was conveniently placed in all of this. Still, something inside him screamed that he was chasing her for the wrong reasons.

Across the street, he spots a bench, placed perfectly so that he could watch the main entrance of the building without being too suspicious. He had nothing but time to think of the case and to think of the woman that had been making him slowly go insane, unable to sleep properly as she kept on crossing his mind. Taking his notebook out, he begins to brainstorm all the details he has about the case so far. The coroner’s report brings new light and he hopes that by lunchtime, he will have an idea of what to do.

“Sir,”

A boy comes rushing, stopping right next to Namjoon, and hands him a crumpled piece of paper. And just as quickly as he was there, Namjoon watches as he runs. As an instinct, he gets up, mind trying to decide if it would be more important to catch the teen or see the content of the paper he had messily handed to him.

“HEY! KID!” Namjoon screams, but he’s long gone. “Fuck!”

He sighs, hands finding a place at his hips. His tongue clicks and he figures he might as well look at the paper. Turning his back on the building, he unfolds the crumbled piece, trying not to damage it.

Taking his pen out, Namjoon is quick to solve the code, now familiarized with the killer’s way of writing. His heart begins to beat as he reads the message out loud.

You are so easy to find. Are you taking the right steps? Think again, pig. No one is safe. Tic toc…

“You… find… the… right… steps… tic… toc…” He whispers under his breath.

His heart begins racing and he stands up high, breath shallow as he looks around. No one stands out, but his head is still spinning. This entire time, he was being watched. And he had no clue.

“Are you lost?” A voice makes Namjoon jump and he turns quickly.

“Hyori!” His voice trembles. “What are you doing here?”

“I work just across the street.” The woman tilts her head towards the big building Namjoon had had his eyes on for the past 4 hours. He had been so engrossed with it he had forgotten to beware of his surroundings.

“Oh, I see.” Namjoon eyes the building, head continuously nodding in a slow movement.

“Do you need to go anywhere? I’m on my lunch break but I can take you if it’s close by.” She smiles gently.

“No, no. It’s fine. I wouldn’t want to keep you.” Namjoon reassures. It might be best if she keeps a safe distance from me, he thinks.

“Are you working on the case?” Hyori eyes him suspiciously as she notices him looking around, paper sloppily folded in hand. He grabs it so tightly that his thumb has started to lose color, now looking a faint white. “I won’t pry.”

“Yeah- I can’t really talk about it.” He finally looks at her, his eyes meeting her expectant ones. He feels at ease once again. “Sorry.”

She chuckles at his apology. As if one was needed. “It’s okay. Have you eaten yet?”

“Actually, no.”

“There’s this place just a couple of streets down. It has the best fried chicken I’ve ever eaten.” She balances from one foot to the other. At the lack of response from him, she continues. “I was thinking of eating there.”

Namjoon looks around one last time. The boy that had handed him the paper was long gone and it would be impossible for him to identify the real killer with all these people around. Except… “Can I join you?” He asks, now smiling at the woman.

“Sure!”

They walk quietly, Hyori enjoying the fresh breeze that runs in the air. Her hair floats and Namjoon notices as she continuously keeps pushing the same strand of hair behind her ear. She puffs, arms shooting to the front of her body as she checks her wrists.

“Do you need a rubber band?” Namjoon lifts his sleeve up, taking the elastic from his wrist and handing it to the woman.

“Thank you!” She smiles politely, eyes quickly scanning the rubber band. It’s a simple, black band and it looks as good as new. There are some fissures on it, but it wouldn’t be from the weight of the hair.

Namjoon watches as she makes a messy ponytail, just glad that she was able to take the hair from her face. “You look nice like that.”

“You think?” Hyori lets out a giggle, embarrassed by the sudden compliment but even more by noticing how red the detective’s cheeks had gotten.

He nods, a dimple appearing on his cheek. Hyori finds him absolutely adorable. How a man so big and strong is able to sound so soft.

Yet again, Namjoon watches Hyori, this time from the building he had earlier that day seen her enter to what he believes to be the way back to her house. She doesn’t rush home this time around, walking slowly instead. She’s different from every single person around her, he notes.

Hyori takes a stroll around the park Namjoon had been sitting in. He has to hide behind a tree when she abruptly stops. He watches as she kneels on the floor, hand stuffed into her bag for a moment. She approaches the pound and unravels what she had fetched from inside the tote. The ducks that had been swimming nearby quickly approach and delight in the crumbs of bread she offers them.

She sticks around for some time, just enjoying the company of the birds. Snapping some pictures of the scenery she finds herself in, she begins to walk again. Namjoon can’t help but fight the urge he has of joining her. He could see himself mimicking her actions if he had been in Seoul, enjoying a day off from work.

She doesn’t stop at the bus stop. Instead, she keeps walking. Is she taking the long way home? Namjoon ponders. He was already feeling tired, the muscles of his legs asking for some rest. But Hyori walks swiftly to the sound of the melody playing in her headphones. Until she stops abruptly, eyes fixated on her screen.

The sun was setting and there were fewer and fewer people out on the streets. The paths Hyori takes divert further away from the main road until they are in walking through alleys, not a soul to be seen. Namjoon finds it more difficult to find places to hide. With no one in sight, he was sure to be spotted and scare the girl away.

Standing behind so he can remain hidden, Namjoon loses sight of Hyori for a couple of seconds. He decides it is time to move again, stealthily walking at a rushed pace. He peaks his head at the corner, Hyori already far off. She’s walking faster now, her tote bag already hanging low on her arm. She keeps on looking at each of her sides. Something’s off, Namjoon can feel it.

Something cold hits Namjoon’s head and the last thing he sees is a black van pulling up just down the alley and Hyori trying to run the opposite way. He wants to cry out for her to run but finds himself as a mere spectator, his body now lying on the floor, head pounding with the pain.

A man leaves the van, grabbing Hyori and pushing her inside before driving off.

It takes Namjoon forever before he gets his senses back. As he opens his eyes, he’s still lying on the cold floor. His hand reaches for the back of his head, feeling the somewhat dry blood already mixing up with his hair.

He sits up, looking around him. It’s dark. The sun has already set and he feels disoriented.

“Hyori…” He murmurs, suddenly being hit with the memories of what had happened a couple of hours ago.

[ chapter four ]

53 notes · View notes

bluenpjm · 2 years

Text

the kang code ✹ 2 — knj x oc

synopsis. when you can’t trust your instincts anymore, what do you turn to?

genre. murder au + detective namjoon + angst + fluff

pairing. knj + oc

rating. M

wordcount. 1.8K

warnings. description of crime scenes, c.

chapters. previous — two — next // new chapters every day at 00:00 KST

May 8th, 2022.

Can you solve this? Kang is my name. Next kill is in 24 h.

I was too late. How did I not see it? The code was so obvious… But I had to wait for another body to show up to focus and figure this out. I could’ve prevented everything.

Seokjin says there’s a witness. He invited me to watch the interrogation from the other side of the glass.

In the meantime, I have a new cipher to solve. The sick bastard…

Hopefully, this time, I won’t let anybody down. I can’t.

The waiting room was busy that morning. Namjoon had barely slept, the details of the crime scene Seokjin had called him to flash on his mind. The body was lying on the ground of a dark alley, right next to a dumpster. Flies were already filling the body and Namjoon watched as the coroner tried to examine it before determining it was ready to be moved.

Like the other victim, a young woman, probably in her mid-twenties. Her body was intact, seemingly. The police were still waiting on the autopsy of the first girl. But they were pale, more than it would be expected for a corpse, and their lips were a blood-red, painted perfectly.

Namjoon looks at the cipher in his hands.

He has solved most of it, by now. It follows the same rules as the previous one, the one he failed to crack on time, he keeps on reminding himself. Some of the words are even the same. The killer has a style and Namjoon doesn’t understand why he would leave the clues behind. He’s certain there are clues in the messages. There must be. Still, he is left wondering what they might be.

“How’s that going?” Seokjin sits next to Namjoon, coffee in hand.

“It’s going.” Namjoon presses his lips together.

“C’mon, let’s get you a coffee. You look like you need it.”

Namjoon chuckles, but he’s embarrassed mostly. As a perfectionist, he expected more.

“You can’t blame yourself for it.” Seokjin turns his back on him, operating with the coffee machine. “There’s no way we could’ve known.”

“I almost had it.”

“You’ll have it this time.” He squeezes his shoulder, handing him the coffee he just prepared.

They sit at a small, round table. There are some old marks of coffee mugs that rested there previously. Clearly, cleaning wasn’t their priority. This break room is similar to the one at Namjoon’s station. He notices the new couch, though, contrasting oddly with the other furniture, which is mostly old and ready to crumble to pieces at the softest chance of contact. Perhaps, it might be a little bit bigger than Namjoon’s, the room.

“Appreciating my most frequently used bed?” Seokjin laughs, noticing the gaze of his friend on the leather couch.

“Yeah, I might suggest that for my station. Our sucks.” Namjoon scrunches his nose. “It even has a spring sticking out.”

“This was a donation, actually. This guy tried to kill his wife-” Seokjin explains, a chuckle leaving his lips despite how absurd the situation actually is. “We found the weapon hidden on the couch. The dude didn’t even try to hide it. The wife said she always hated the couch and offered it to us for solving everything so quickly.”

“Lucky you. People up in the capital aren’t that nice.” They both laugh.

“So, can you show me what you have?” Namjoon nods, opening his notebook and setting it on the table.

“You… Will… Kill…” Seokjin reads slowly, eyes shooting up at Namjoon.

“I think they’re trying to communicate with us- I think there’s something hidden in the messages they leave with the bodies,” Namjoon speaks fast, eyes diverting between Seokjin and the notebook. “Why else would they leave something like that behind?”

“I don’t know, man…” Seokjin scratches his chin, supporting his elbow on the table. “He did leave a witness behind this time.”

“Did he?”

“The first kill is always easier. There’s no one on the look for them. They have more time to plan and prepare… Killing right in the next 24 hours? Nah, he’s getting sloppy.”

“Sloppy!” Namjoon’s eyes widen at the sound of the word, his hand furiously searching for a pen inside his bag. Seokjin watches as he scribbles on the cipher. “Was I sloppy? I __ not. Can you…”

“I think not? Can you catch me?” Seokjin speaks, full of doubt.

Seokjin was keen on acting based on his instinct. Namjoon, on the other hand, was extremely intelligent. He always saw the bigger picture. Those were the qualities that helped them get to the position of detectives so young.

“It might be! The way they write the t’s, h’s, and i’s match.” Namjoon writes down the last words. “Or will I kill again?”

“So we only have one choice- we have to catch whoever’s doing this.”

Namjoon foils through his notebook, eyes scanning the solved codes as his mind tries to make sense of the meaning behind the killer’s messages. Nothing comes to his mind, despite how hard he tries. The crime scenes are spotless. No fingerprints or any clues could give the Busan police an indication of where to start looking. His pen keeps tapping on the steel table, leg jumping up and down, until the door of the interrogation room swings open.

A young woman walks in. Dark hair, pink wide-leg pants, and a white blouse. There’s something familiar about her. Namjoon knows this girl. And as his mind tries to remember her name, he instantly recalls his first moments in Busan, just the day before, as he got the help of a beautiful stranger with the killer’s first warning.

“Good afternoon, miss…” Seokjin enters the room and lingers, waiting for the woman to give him her name.

“Hyori. Kang Hyori.” He tries not to react, but still, he does. Moving the chair so he could take a seat, Seokjin gives a glare at the mirror, hoping Namjoon’s heart was racing as fast with this possible coincidence as his was. Hyori furrows her brows slightly.

That’s her name. Namjoon stands up from where he is sitting. He hadn’t had the opportunity to text her and she hadn’t done the same either. He had wanted to. But every time he tried to type in some words, his mind kept on running off to the body he hadn’t been able to save. Either way, it was curious how their paths had crossed again.

“Does the name Han Minju ring any bells?”

“No, I don’t think I know anyone by that name.” She responds calmly.

“Last night- can you tell me about what you saw?” Seokjin’s tone is friendly, charming almost.

“I was walking home. I had to stay in late at work- there were some mistakes with these important reports-” Hyori rambles. “I heard a scream and at first I was paralyzed. I- I got scared and couldn’t really move. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a scream like that…”

“It’s okay, take your time,” Seokjin speaks softly.

“When I finally get to move… I just saw a man standing over the body. The woman was on the floor, just lying there. When he saw me, he just took off.”

“Were you able to get a look at his face?”

“Not really… He was tall- well-built. I couldn’t see his face. He was wearing a black hoodie. The pants were cargo style and shoe size 8? Maybe 9? I can’t tell for sure. But he was fast. And too big for me to dare go after him.”

“You did the right thing calling us instead of chasing after him. He’s dangerous.” Seokjin scribbles down on the notepad on the table. “That’s helpful. Really helpful.”

“I’d say he was probably 5 foot 9.”

Seokjin nods as he keeps noting down all the details. “Did you notice the writings on the wall?”

“Yeah, what does it mean?” Hyori asks.

“Have you ever seen this before?” Seokjin shows the young woman before him a picture of the code from the first crime scene.

She scans the paper, expression never changing. “No.”

Namjoon furrows his brows. Why would she lie? She wouldn’t simply forget something that had happened a day before. Especially considering how invested she seemed to be. He doesn’t want to listen anymore, overwhelmed with emotions. He needs to step out for a moment and get some fresh air.

“Why did you lie?” Namjoon calls out as soon as his eyes notice the woman from the investigation room leaving the station.

She turns back, but as soon as she lays eyes on the man, she quickens her pace.

“Hyori!” He growls, walking right after her.

“Do not talk to me.” She stops in her tracks, turning around as she speaks sternly.

“Why did you lie? You helped me solve that code.”

“Did I? Or did I help you make it? Test it? Whatever that was!” She speaks fast, eyes filled with rage.

“What?” Namjoon is taken aback by her outburst.

“That’s your code.” Hyori pushes. “It was written in your book.”

“I was trying to solve it.” He yells. People passing by begin to stare.

“Whatever. Just get away from me.” She scoffs.

“You’re under arrest.” Namjoon grabs her wrist.

“Excuse me?” She jerks away from his grip. “I will walk in there and tell detective Kim that you’re the killer.”

“I am working with him!” He sighs.

“You’re a cop?” She opens her mouth, baffled. “I-”

“I’m a detective, too.” He lifts his jacket slightly, showing her the badge on his belt. “I came here to help with the case. When we met- I had just arrived.”

“Oh…” Her eyes are on the floor, unable to lookup. She is too embarrassed by the accusations she had just proclaimed. “I see.”

“So, do you want to come back inside? Maybe talk to detective Kim again?” Namjoon suggests.

“I already said everything I knew. You know… besides seeing the code.”

“But why would you lie about that?”

“I- I don’t know…” Her eyes are still on the ground. “Listen, I have to get to work.”

“No, of course. Do you need me to call you a taxi?” Namjoon asks, hand ready to grab his phone and dial the company.

“No need. But thank you.” She gives him a small smile. “I’ll see you around.”

And yet again, Namjoon is left seeing the young woman leave until she’s nowhere near his sight camp. He sighs, hands ruffling his hair. He decides to go back inside, still unsure of what to do about the liar he had just allowed to escape. Seokjin was probably looking for him, either way.

“There you are!” Seokjin has some files on his hands, immediately gaining Namjoon’s attention. “Where did you wander off to?”

“What’s that?” He diverts from the question, head tilting towards the documents in the detective’s hands.

“The woman was lying,” Seokjin says, a smile on his face. “We might’ve to bring her back.”

[ chapter three ]

50 notes · View notes

bluenpjm · 2 years

Text

bad decisions — kth x you x pjm

genre. high school au + fluff + angst + smut

pairing. taehyung x you x pjm

rating. M

wordcount. 5.7k

warnings. light smut and foul language; teens being teens; high school drama; dna taehyung

a/n. big big shout out to my girls @singguks and @socksjinie for helping me edit this. i will cherish the moments we spend together forever! ♡

chapters. 1 × 2 × 3

How can a bad decision be declared a bad decision?

That was the thing that kept on running through your mind as you lay half-naked next to your best friend. You sigh as you run your hands through your hair. Carefully, you turn on the bed, now facing him directly.

Fuck, he’s handsome.

You had never really paid much attention to his looks before. Before today. His chest lifted up and down softly as he was asleep. You noticed the way his bangs fell onto his eyes, the mole on his nose, his parted lips.

Fuck. Fuck.

You turn again, this time your back facing him.

The door is right there.

But at the same time, how bad would it be for you to leave now? While he’s asleep? After what you did? Without even a goodbye?

I could say…

You could, but he always knows when you’re lying. Even by text.

So I’ll wake him.

And say what?

This was a bad decision. That part is settled. And sadly, not the last one of the day. What matters now is how you get away from it. What matters now is how you deal with this situation. Because one wrong move — a wrong word, a wrong look, a simple hesitation — your comfort zone is destroyed.

You turn again.

“Tae,” you whisper. He doesn’t move. “Tae.”

He takes a deep breath, your voice bringing him back to planet earth. “Hmm,”

“I’m gonna go-”

His eyes shoot open. “I’ll take you home.”

“No, no. You don’t have to.” You feel yourself blush. Fuck. How did you get into this situation? Things will never be the same.

You have already begun to gather your clothes from the ground, putting them on the best you can considering your priority now is speed over decency. Taehyung sits up on the bed. He can’t see your face but the way your body moves makes him nervous. He decides not to press on it and keeps quiet, fidgeting with his fingers. This is new territory to both of you.

“I’ll text you when I get home, yes?” You face him again. He’s trying to read you, and you’re trying to read him. But you almost feel like strangers.

“Don’t forget.” He gives you a serious look and you hand him a weak smile in return. “Please.”

“I won’t.”

— 9 hours earlier —

9 A.M.

As Archie once said, only those who are in high school really live the triumphs and defeats, the epic highs and lows. Now, if he was talking about football, yes. And if Riverdale is painful to watch, also yes. That’s not the point. The point is that today was one of those epic lows that Archie mentioned to the boy that had quit school while in fourth grade to go sell drugs in order to support his grandmother.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Your brother arched his eyebrow, an extremely confused look on his face.

“Haven’t you been listening, Jungkook?” You asked with a tone. “I have a math quiz.”

“And she stayed up until 3 am watching Riverdale.” Taehyung mocked, leaning against your locker.

That had been your first bad decision of the day. You could’ve stopped when you checked your phone and it was nearly 1 am. But what harm one more episode would do? You would soon find out.

“Weren’t you saying that you would rather die over watching another second of that show?” Taehyung chuckled at your brother’s comment. You glare at him.

“I got curious.” You confess, eyes stuck to the ground as you feel a little embarrassed for being caught watching that terribly-almost-comedic show.

Jungkook laughs, pulling his backpack over his shoulder. “Well, guess I’ll see you in math class next year, dumbass.”

You were ready to hit his head, but he made a run for it. If it weren’t 9 am, he would be dead.

“Learn to respect your elders!” You scream and the entire hallway looks at you, which you ignore. “Shall we?”

“We shall.” Taehyung offers you his arm but before you could lock it, someone gets in the way.

“Ah, just who we were missing.” You glare at the blondie as he winks at your comment.

“I tried to stay home, but my mom made me come.” Jimin pouts. “On the bright side, she had to drive me here.” His expression is quick to change to a proud smile.

“So I guess you’re as ready as we are?” Taehyung asked.

“Wai-,” Jimin forces a speechless look. “You mean I can’t cheat? I thought you were going to help me, Y/N.”

You notice as Jimin’s right arm that was embracing Taehyung falls to his side, but his left remains tightly around your neck. “Ah- yeah. I don’t think you’ll be in much luck.”

Jimin doesn’t move his arm until you reach the door where your first class of the day will be.

Your dynamic was strange.

You weren’t dating. You didn’t even know if Jimin had a crush on you. And it was quite fuzzy on your head where he stood. And that was because of who he was and how he placed himself.

Every time he could, he would hang out with you, Taehyung, and some of your other friends. Both boys had been friends since childhood. You had only met Tae a couple of years ago when you transferred schools and, in consequence, Jimin. They were like those supermarket deals, pay for 1 and get 2.

Now, while Taehyung was extremely art-oriented, Jimin was a jock. He was the guy you saw on tv shows about high school when they’re played by people in their 20s or 30s. But Jimin was 17 and had amazing abs and was kind and sweet and fucking handsome. So, everyone at your school had a crush on him.

“Don’t you think, Y/N?” Jimin’s eyes find yours.

“Huh?” You weren’t listening to the conversation and had learned long ago that it was better to look dumb than to agree to something you most definitely didn’t agree with.

“Maddie has a crush on Tae.”

“Maddie Thompson?” Your face is a mix of surprise and disgust.

“Yeah,” Taehyung nods, his eyes never leaving your face. While yours might’ve been saying a lot, his face wasn’t saying anything at all.

“And what about it?” You arch your eyebrow.

“I arranged a date. Today. After class. At the Breakfast Club.” Jimin says proudly.

Huh. This was new. Let’s just-

“Their waffles suck.” You say.

“They do not,” Jimin argues, scoffing at your answer.

“Oh, they do,” You stop leaning against the wall to go stand right beside Taehyung. “Tae?”

“And they only sell Pepsi.” Taehyung backs you up but is immediately confused as you hit him in the arm.

“Not the point.” You say through gritted teeth.

“Whatever. You’re not going there for waffles either way.” Jimin makes a devilish smile.

“Nah, bro.” Taehyung laughs lightly.

“You’re gross.” You roll your eyes.

“Y/N!” Jimin whines, as he calls out for you as you enter the classroom, but the only response he gets is your middle finger up in the air.

Your second bad decision of the day: not staying home. And it really worked out in a complete snowball effect. Because if you hadn’t gone to school, none of the other bad decisions would’ve happened.

You take your usual seats on the third row; Taehyung by the window, you to his right, and Jimin beside you. As soon as the teacher drops the sheets of paper, you begin to feel sick, a burning feeling in your throat. There is no way you will be able to pass this test. Ever since they introduced letters to simple 1+1, it had ruined your life. You went from having math as your best discipline to it being your first C and D. Why would you need to know all of this when you could hire an accountant? Your parents didn’t even do their own taxes.

Math is pointless.

So, you had no doubt that you would fail this test.

You finished fast, not wasting too much time trying to figure out what was the right route to resolving the problems Mr. Tanner had come up with. You glanced at him. His glasses fell all the way down to the tip of his nose as he stared deeply into the white box of that ancient computer the school provided. You could imagine him making the test, evil laughs escaping through his thin lips as he reckoned most students would squirm and sweat as they read the sentences of his elaborate problems.

Tae was already sleeping on his table after 45 minutes into the test. Jimin, on the other hand, kept on trying to help you and make you help him.

But you were both in deep shit.

— 2 hours earlier —

4 P.M.

Fridays were supposed to feel fun. Right? But this year, yours was just catastrophic. You started off early with Math. It was only October but you had lost count of how many times you had gotten detention for being late to the class. Then, you had Geography. A different kind of hell. Two hours of lunch to have enough time to drown the sorrows of the morning just so you could stress right after the bell rang.

Creative Writing was an elective you had chosen. You had always loved to write but were never really that great at expressing yourself. Having to write college applications, the school’s counselor thought it was a good idea to enroll. Taehyung joined you, of course. But he was extremely more talented than you would ever be.

Your mind was simple, and so were your words. After a month of mediocre writing, you were never called out front to read your pieces.

But today the class hadn’t started like it usually did. Miss Harlow was late. She was never late. So you took the time to turn back and watch some TikTok videos with Taehyung. At first, you mocked him for spending so much time on such a stupid app. Now, you were worse than him.

“Sorry I am late!” Miss Harlow rushes into the classroom. Her cheeks are a little red and you could tell she had to rush on her uncomfortable high heels to the classroom. “I was talking to the Dean,” she explains. “I have two good news!”

The entire classroom begins to whisper.

“First, you’ll have a new colleague!” She squeals in excitement as she peeps outside the classroom door. “Everyone, please welcome Maddie Thompson!”

You fight the urge to look back to see Taehyung’s reaction. Instead, you control your facial expression.

Miss Harlow gestures for the girl to come inside.

“Weren’t you in Psycho 101?” Angela, one of your good friends from this class, asks.

“I was,” Maddie says simply. “It wasn’t challenging enough.”

You can’t help but snort, gaining a few looks. How can creative writing be more challenging than psychology? But who were you to talk, you couldn’t even write a single good essay.

“You will definitely exercise your mind and skills here!” Miss Harlow speaks excitedly, as she gestures once more for the girl to move, now to find her seat.

She walks past your row, her eyes never even glancing at your face.

“She is absolutely obnoxious.” Angela, or better, Angie whispers to you.

“Right? Such a pick-me…” The other girl in front of her comments, as if the conversation was with her.

You decide not to respond, keeping the comments you wanted to make locked in your head.

Miss Harlow gives a brief explanation of how the classes work and how important they are to your future and to your college life. You doze off for a moment, pen in hand drawing random doodles on your notebook, having already listened to this boring speech once.

“Now, second good news,” Miss Harlow elevates her voice tone, catching your attention. “Today our class will be outside! I want you to grab your notebooks, make groups of 3, and head out into the school. I will assign each of you a different location and I want you to go there and write.”

Ah yes, another oblivious assignment. But it’s fine. You turn on your seat. Tae will nail this.

“Team?” He asks.

“Team.”

Angie joins in on your group. You might actually be the only person in the class that didn’t enroll in it because of your love for writing. And it showed. At least now you had Maddie. She was one of the smartest students in your school. Although intelligence wasn’t exactly the same as creativity.

“Hold on-” Miss Harlow stops your group from exiting the class. “Taehyung,” she grabs his shoulders, moving him far away from you. You begin to lose any hope you had left for this assignment. “Camille, trade with Taehyung here. ”

Taehyung was her best student. Of course, she would pair him with Maddie.

“I want you to write with Maddie today. I guarantee you she won’t slow you down any more than any other student would.” The teacher quickly glances at you. Ouch? “Just help her with any doubts she might have.”

She pats his back and you leave to the stairs, while Taehyung follows in the opposite direction, towards the gym.

You feel annoyed. If you had little interest in today’s project, now it was lower than none. You didn’t have to do everything with him… but it sure made it a lot more fun. Hell, he was your best friend. And everyone knows that if there’s one thing you don’t do in high school is to separate best friends in projects. It should be a damn rule.

Your group wasn’t that bad. Cami was a sweetheart and Angie would always fill you in on the school’s gossip. Somehow, she always knew the dirtiest scoops. So, instead of writing when you got to the left-wing stairs, you all sat in the steps, as Angie rambled on and on about a girl you had just passed on the hallway and how — and she swore on her life — was on her way to the bathroom to meet with Steve Jones, a sophomore that was starting to make some competition for Jimin in the football team.

You all laugh. It was harmless gossip. You were in the age of experimenting and Angie was a wild one. Sometimes you would think she was lying. The stories she told were straight out of tv-shows. But who knew, really?

Time had passed while you talked and the conversation eventually had run down, being substituted by the phones in your hands. Camille had tried to make you write, but noticing how unmotivated the both of you were, it rubbed on her and she was quick to give up. Noticing the time, it wasn’t likely that you would present anything to the class today, so she just figured she could write something once she got home.

“Look at this,” Angie sat right next to you. “Let’s do this trend!”

Angela didn’t even give you time to see the entire video on TikTok. Instead, she was already applying a filter to her face. A square popped up on top of her head and as soon as she started recording, that square that displayed the tv-show Euphoria’s logo was quickly replaced by different images, switching from one to the next too fast for you to be able to read what they said.

A photo from one of Euphoria’s episodes pops up on top of Angie’s head and she squinted her eyes so she could read the quote. Why is everyone, like, so dramatic?

“No, this one is no fun. I say this at least 3 times a day.” And she clicks on the screen again, the filter generating a new quote as it reads her features.

I’m not sure it’s a good thing we met.

“Oh snap. This was the one that the girl from the video got.” She gets a little serious but quickly brushes it off. “Now, you send it to your best friend and see how they react!”

“What if they react… you know… bad?” Cami asks silently.

“Then they’re not your real best friend.” Angie shrugs. “I am expecting nothing less than a punch from Jennie when she reads this.”

“But-”

“Wanna do it?” Angie asks, cutting Cami during her existential crisis.

“Y/N can do it first.”

“Deal. I’m going to send you the video. Do it through there.”

You don’t even get a say. But that’s how Angie works. She is chaotic. You wait for the notification as you watch her text her best friend with no fear of the expected scenario not coming true.

“Now you.” Angie looks excitedly at you.

You quickly follow the notification to your inbox, clicking on the video and then on the filter. Your front camera opens and Cami quickly moves from behind you as she sees herself on the frame.

“Just click on the screen,” Angie says eagerly.

You do as she says and you wait as the images keep changing quickly. You notice how your eyeliner was starting to fade and was a little smudged on the corner of your eyes. And the little pimple that was growing on your right cheek.

Why don’t you kiss me?

You get startled by Angie’s scream.

“I want to do it again.” You cry.

“No way!” Angie laughs out loud. By the end of the first period on Monday, everyone would know that you sent this to Taehyung.

“But you changed yours!” You whine.

“Yeah, cause the first one sucked! The second one causes chaos. Your first is going to cause chaos.” It was that simple for Angie.

“It will be weird!”

“Only if you make it weird!”

“Or him,” Cami adds, completely not helping your nerves.

“C’mon. It’s a joke.”

“Fine…”

You sigh and open your texts with Taehyung. Both girls lean in close as you type the words.

“I can already see the new power couple!” Angie laughs loudly again, jumping on the steps of the stairs.

“And he’s super handsome,” Cami comments as she laughs at Angie’s figure. “Do you like him?”

“Wha-”

You don’t get to finish your sentence. In a matter of a split second, Miss Harlow is standing right in front of you, questioning all the commotion you were causing, blaming you three for disrupting nearby classes. As soon as her eyes lie on your phone, she sticks her hand out. Fuck. Sending this text was yet another bad decision. Before that one was not writing the damn essay like Miss Harlow had told you to. Snowball effect, yeah.

“You can pick up your phone after class,” Miss Harlow smiles ironically. “First thing, Monday morning!”

Fuck Riverdale.

— 1 hour earlier —

5 P.M.

If you had your phone now, you would be walking through the hallways as everyone rushed home, Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever playing on your earphones. But instead, you were bothered by the noise everyone was making on the hallways, girls laughing, lockers being slammed, the excitement of the weekend being felt high.

Today sucked. And it was hard imagining it getting any worse. Oh, but it was most certainly possible. After the karma you had just been served, you would definitely start your morning emanating good vibes. That attraction law bullshit.

You had your head inside your locker as you grabbed all the books you needed for the weekend. Your stomach felt upset. You pretended to not know why, but not having your phone with you right after what you did… was driving you crazy.

And he’s probably on the way to his date. Yeah.

Not awkward at all! Just ask him why he won’t kiss you and then don’t say a thing for the next 48 hours. Yup. Cool. Cool, cool, cool.

“Penny for your thoughts?” You’re startled by Jimin’s voice.

“Jesus Christ! You scared the living shit of me.” You place your hand on top of your heart as if stopping it from escaping your body. For a moment, you thought it was Taehyung. “Aren’t you supposed to be in practice?”

“There’s no game this weekend, only next. So I was thinking about skipping practice and we could go out.”

You furrow your eyebrows instinctively. Jimin’s caught off guard as he lets out a big laugh, his eyes almost closing. He would do this often when he got nervous.

“I mean, to spy on Tae’s date.”

“Has he left already?” You ask, ignoring his quirky habit.

“He better have.” He laughs. “Didn’t you have class together?”

“Yeah, but we had class outside and got separated.”

“And he didn’t text you?” Jimin tilts his head and intuitively checks his phone.

“Miss Harlow confiscated my phone, actually.” You shrug.

“Ah, that sucks, but do we have a date?” Jimin looks at you expectantly, but you don’t notice nor focus on his words.

“Actually I-” You look over Jimin’s shoulder and can’t finish the sentence. “I have to go. See you Monday!”

You turn on your heels, slamming your locker’s door and leaving an extremely confused Jimin behind.

“Text me,” You hear Jimin’s faint and confused voice over the loud conversations of the people in the hallway but don’t turn around to him. Instead, you fasten your pace.

You weren’t running from anyone. Not at all. It had actually just crossed your mind that you had a thing. Yeah, that thing. And it really couldn’t wait. Imagine making it wait. The thing. You are 5 steps away from the school’s front gate and can almost breathe from relief. Your house is in the exact opposite direction of his.

Why are you running?

“Y/N!” You immediately recognize the voice but your body doesn’t allow you to stop walking.

The voice keeps calling and you keep walking.

“What the hell?” You’re finally facing Taehyung, his hand wrapped around your wrist in an attempt to stop you. “Why didn’t you stop?”

“What?” Bad decision number 5: playing dumb with Taehyung.

“Why weren’t you answering your phone?” His usual cheerful self wasn’t present.

“Miss Harlow took it from me.” You decide to stare at the floor as you fidget with your fingers.

Taehyung doesn’t say anything. His mind is rushing, a million things he wants to say but doesn’t know how to. He sighs, hand massaging his temples as he tries to think. But it’s too busy. You still hadn’t found the courage to look at him.

Fucking Angie and Cami. Of course, it was going to be awkward.

Then say something. Do something. What’s one more bad decision?

But you don’t.

Seeing you not being able to face him, Taehyung grabs your hand as he pulls you in the opposite direction of your home. You don’t stop him and also don’t say anything. You knew from the moment you had pressed send that it was a bad idea. Being friends with boys was different from being friends with girls. You had no problem with being sweet to your guy friends. But you wouldn’t go around hugging them or kissing them. People would say you were dating. That wasn’t normal best friend boy and girl behavior. And even though you didn’t think that way, you knew others did and it bothered you. Because Taehyung never had problems with being sweet to you in public. You, on the other hand, not so much.

“What about your date?” You stop in your tracks. The sudden stop makes his hand fall from yours.

He sighs before answering. “Do you think that matters now?”

“Of cour-”

“Let’s just go.” You frown but have no time to protest as he grabs your hand once again and continues walking.

You walk in silence the rest of the way to Taehyung’s house, hand in hand. As you enter it, you quickly greet his mother, who was sitting in the living room. She tries to make small talk with you, offering you something to eat or drink, but Taehyung is quick to dismiss her.

You go up the stairs to Taehyung’s bedroom. You have been here a million times. He closed the door and dropped his backpack on the floor. You take a seat on his bed but refuse to move more than that.

You and Taehyung only fought once and it was one of the worst days of your life. While you were explosive when arguing, letting all of your feelings out, Taehyung was quiet. He would shut himself out, knowing that if he spoke his mind he would end up saying something he really didn’t mean and hurt your feelings. But you preferred it that way. Not knowing what he was thinking made you feel uneasy. The thought of losing him over a dumb joke made your heart hurt and you were feeling like the room was closing in on you, making it harder and harder to breathe.

“Are you mad?” You force the question out. As soon as your eyes meet, you look back down to the floor. He is standing right in front of you and the only thing you can see are his feet.

“Mad?” He asks, a dry laugh escaping his lips. “I can’t wrap my head around it. Why would you say that?”

It was a joke. That’s what you want to say but don’t.

It’s quiet for a while.

“Were you jealous because of Maddie and just wanted to fuck with me?”

“What? Jealous?” You laugh at his dumb supposition. “Of what? Her?”

“Of me with her.” He says. “Because I don’t see any other reason for you to send me what you sent.”

You scoff. “I couldn’t care less.”

“What the fuck, Y/N.”

“What, Taehyung?” You roll your eyes at him, irony filling your voice tone. “What can I fucking say?”

He doesn’t answer.

“I don’t feel mentally challenged about your new fucking relationship.” You mock.

“Real mature, Y/N. Keep going.”

“I really don’t understand why you didn’t just let me go my way and went on your fucking date.” You say and you notice how his jaw clenches. You know you sound jealous and that was the last thing you wanted, but once you begin, you can’t stop yourself, never giving him the chance to intervene. “Or perhaps you didn’t even need it. You know, after two hours of creative writing together to create a masterpiece about a fucking gym, I would be head over heels too!”

“So Maddie clearly isn’t the problem,” Taehyung says ironically.

“Clearly she is. You were the one asking if I am jealous of her. Do I need to be?” You ask but is rhetorical. “Should I be concerned this random girl just comes out of nowhere and fucking steals my best friend away from me? Is that what’s going to happen?”

“Is that what I am?”

“Stop acting dumb.”

He laughs at your comment. “Why do you need to make this so hard?”

“What do you expect me to do, then?” You spat. “Huh?” You press. You can see his expression change to a desperate one. Taehyung is reaching his limit with this conversation and you can see it from a mile away.

“I don’t expect you to act like this,” He says coldly and you feel the upsetting feeling that has consumed you leave. Taehyung’s facial expressions were killing you.

“I’m sorry. I- I didn’t mean it,” Your eyes fall back to the ground.

For a moment, the only sound you could hear was the cars passing by on the street outside.

“Look at me,” Taehyung asks and you hesitate for a second. Your eyes meet. “Do you want me to kiss you?”

“What?” Your hearing is muffled and you feel like your heart is going to jump from your throat at any second.

“Cause I want to kiss you.”

You don’t really hear that last part, still baffled by his initial question.

Slowly, he leans in, his hand finding your chin and lifting it up. Time begins to move slowly and you can already feel his breath on your skin.

“Can I?” He asks again, your lips almost touching.

You don’t answer. Instead, you’re the one closing the gap between you. The kiss starts off hungry as if both of you wanted to do this for a really long time. Taehyung’s hand falls from your chin all the way down to your waist and he pulls you in closer to him. You quickly find yourself lying in the bed, Taehyung pinning you underneath him, hands playing with the hem of your shirt, your legs parted by his thigh.

“Taehyung,” You coo, parting the kiss. He wanted to kiss again so badly, his eyes focused on your lips rather than your eyes.

“Yeah?”

“This is a good decision,” You say but mean it to sound like a question. Your senses were muffled by his cold fingers that had begun to brush your skin.

“Undoubtedly.” He looks into your eyes as he answers.

Despite the epic state he was in, he would never do anything to make you feel uncomfortable. Seeing no regret or second thoughts on your features, he kisses you again, this time more eagerly. Slowly, he bites your bottom lip as he stops kissing you and moves to your neck, leaving gentle bites and marks. You can’t help the soft whine that escapes your lips. Taehyung chuckles as he keeps on placing kisses on your neck, his hand running through your side.

You push him away from you, standing on the bed as you remove your shirt.

“Oh, fuck.” Taehyung watches in awe at the end of his bed, taking in every single inch of your body that was revealing itself to him.

You crawl to him, hands finding the hem of his shirt and removing it for him, as you sit on top of him. You can feel his cock throb as you rock back and forth as it is now your turn to kiss his neck. Taehyung hisses, thrusting up to meet your touch.

“You are such a tease, Y/N.” His voice is raspy and his breath uneven.

“Should I stop?” You move a little away from him, an innocent look on your face. You even tilt your head a little to the side.

Taehyung licks his lips, hands grabbing your hips. He picks you up and is quick to change your positions, you falling back on the bed.

“Isn’t this better?” He grins.

He doesn’t kiss you, his focus being on removing yet another piece of your clothing. He leaves your panties on, before going back for a kiss. You take advantage of his approach, hands reaching out to the bulk on his pants. You feel him smile into the kiss, obviously pleased.

His hand stops massaging one of your breasts and you feel Taehyung’s long fingers running up and down your clothed slit. Your eyes fluttered shut for a moment, his movements making you moan his name.

You bite your lip, suddenly Taehyung’s mother who is just a floor below you crosses your mind. Your breath is shaky and you can’t hold another moan when you feel his middle finger inside you.

“Oh- fuck, Tae-”

Taehyung was satisfied just listening to you moan his name as his fingers came in and out of you. Parting from your neck, his thumb finds your clit and he watches as you roll your eyes in pleasure.

“F-fuck, you’re beautiful,”

— 1 hour after —

7 P.M.

It takes you double the time it would to reach home. You felt like you were wandering aimlessly, a million thoughts going through your head. You don’t regret what you did with Taehyung, but it kept on lingering on the back of your head, making it impossible for you to relax.

What the hell have I done?

Your head kept on being filled with horrible thoughts. When you moved, Taehyung was the first friend you made. He was kind to you and wasn’t bothered to be friends with the new girl. He was the one that showed you all the cool spots around town. The best liquor shop to buy some booze without having to show your ID. He had been your comfort zone for the past 2 years and a half. Losing him, losing your friendship, would be heartbreaking.

Still, it was inevitable. The numerous bad decisions that you had made throughout this day alone were enough to define your friendship going forward.

You had no clue what was the right move to do here.

You weren’t even certain of his feelings for you.

If only you hadn’t sent that text.

You sigh, restless and defeated.

“Sup’ nerd,” Jungkook calls out. He is playing basketball in your front yard.

Your father had installed the plastic hoop when he was 4 years old right on top of your garage. Throughout the years, you had lost count of how many times Jungkook — and sometimes, you — had missed the hoop and made the ball crash right on top of the hood of your parents' cars.

“Where have you been?” He asks when he gets no snappy comeback from you.

You ponder before replying. Should you lie? “At Tae’s.” You decide against lying.

“Well, you could’ve given me a heads-up. I waited for, like, 30 minutes for you in front of the school.” Jungkook sounds annoyed. You really don’t have the patience for this now.

“I don’t have my phone.” You glare at him. You turn, walking towards the front door. “Actually, can you text Taehyung and tell him I’m home? Thanks.”

“Did you lose your phone?” Jungkook rushes after you. “Y/N.” He calls out. “Mom and dad are going to be pissed if they have to buy you a new phone.” He mocks you.

You can only slam the door on his face as you feel your blood boil. Were all siblings this annoying? Jesus fuck.

That night you don’t have dinner with your family. You don’t even bother sitting at the table with your family. You can barely sleep that night, too afraid of what might be brought up by your subconscious during your dreams. Seeing Taehyung, even if in your dreams, would be too painful now.

Deep down, you feel relieved that Miss Harlow confiscated your phone. Taehyung was a problem you only had to face on Monday. You had 48 hours to figure out this mess.

next chapter.

#bluenpjm #taehyung smut #taehyung fluff #taehyung angst #taehyung au #taehyung #taehyung x you #high school au #bts taehyung #jungkook smut #jimin smut #namjoon smut #hoseok smut #yoongi smut #seokjin smut #bts au #bts scenarios #bluenpjm.docx

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bluenpjm · 2 years

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into the woods — jjk x oc ft. myg

synopsis. once upon a time, there was a King who had 3 children, as different as they could be. Seokjin, the oldest, was charming and brave. Carolina, the middle and only girl, was cunning, smart, and somewhat a tomboy, constantly defying her father’s rules. secretly, she was his favorite. lastly, the youngest, Hoseok, the lazy life of the party. they see their fates separated and all gets lost, as Carolina roams deep into the woods, trying to run a destiny she does not see deserving of her own.

genre. royal au + fluff + angst + smut

pairing. yoongi x oc ( later on it will be focused on jjk more)

rating. M

wordcount. 10.6k

warnings. light smut and some swearing.

a/n. this was the first solo story I ever wrote. it was actually published on my first blog @httpangelicjimin which is now deactivated but since I loved this story so much, I decided to edit the chapters I had and repost this! hope you all enjoy it~

chapters. 1 × 2

moodboards. here.

Carolina crossed the yard. Both ends of her excessively long dress were tugged into her hands. She was late, again. The thought of her tardiness crossed her mind but was quickly shrugged away. Her maidens knew that if it was mandatory for her to wear a corset, then it would take more than a pair of hands to dress her the damn thing.

She became at peace the moment she laid eyes on the bluebells her father had the royal botanist plant for her. The memories took her back to when he had to leave for the war. Every day, she would sit in the yard, waiting for the flowers to bloom, her father’s words echoing in her mind as if they were a song, dandled by the sound the wind made when crossing the bells, ‘I’ll be home when they bloom nighean. I’ll trust you this castle, God knows your brothers are a disgrace’.

He joked about her brothers. Hoseok was the youngest and thank the heavens for that. He was rather busy enjoying all the pleasures being a prince had to offer him, rather than focusing on the hard life his older brother had ahead of himself, full of politics and hard decisions. He still had to study but he was a coward, everyone knew that. Still, he threw the best parties.

Seokjin was the oldest. He was truly charming. He had a charisma that made his father proud. The King had offers from other kingdoms for deals that would make the devil turn in jealousy so that their daughters could marry the heir prince, but all those were in vain. The King had bigger plans for the oldest. He was going to make him proud. Of that he was sure. He was going to make the kingdom proud and once he did, they were going to party for months on end.

Therefore, Carolina was the one left. She was the middle child. Her father’s pride. Even more so than the oldest. She was always fascinated by the power of the sword, the swift movements the knights did when fighting and she always thrived in that area. She was smart and cunning. But, she was a princess and her part in the royal family had been made clear from the day she was born.

The flowers bloomed twice, and everyone lost hope that the King would ever come back from the terrible war to home. Everyone but Carolina. She would spend her days in that yard, drawing the flowers to show them to her father once he return. He still had time. And he appeared, in a stormy afternoon, chin up, mounting his horse and followed by the surviving troops. The kingdom partied for three weeks straight.

“Do you still believe they are purple or have your mind finally rested with the blue?” A voice sounded behind her, pulling her out of the daze she was in.

“I’m still convinced they’re purple and no one will ever change my mind.” Carolina turns, the smile she was trying to hold showing itself involuntarily. She sees who she was expecting already. Her faithful friend, Yoongi. “Not even you, my good sir.”

“I start to lose faith that one day you'll wake up more wise and reasonable…” He gives her a smirk, never leaving his perfect position. His mother would’ve been proud to see that all the etiquette lessons she had given him had paid off. “Anywhere I can escort you, Princess?”

“Dinna fash sir, I’m already wise.” She winks, dismissing his ironical worry quickly. She always had a smart mouth. “And as a matter of fact… yes.” She pauses slightly, taking in her surroundings one last time. “You could escort me out of here. I’ve been dying to ride a horse.” A playful smile takes form and Yoongi can’t help but shake his head.

“Considering your vestments, I’d say riding a horse now wouldn’t be the best option.” he pauses. He knew her schedule as if it was his own. He always makes sure the gaps in his match with hers. “Are you on your way to see his Majesty? It is Monday morning, so I suppose you have a learning day ahead of yourself.”

Carolina’s shoulders immediately sunk. She was hoping to have the day all to herself. “I do not ken anything of the sort.”

“Shall we?” Yoongi’s arms that were formally intertwined behind finally fall to meet the rest of his body as he slides swiftly to her side, offering her his right arm.

“And so we shall.” A bored look splattered on the princess’ face is shown as she takes his arm. “Everyone is such a bore around here.”

They walked silently.

Carolina and Yoongi had grown together. He was the son of the King’s servant— a stern woman, with a heart as cold as ice — but the King liked to keep her around the castle because she was good when a bargain was needed. That was what Yoongi took after her, and that was why he was allowed to live and walk around the castle without having to be escorted by the guards.

Now, Yoongi acted as a nobleman and somewhat of a counselor for the King when the subject was his daughter. He would always rely on the pale boy to help deal with Carolina’s tough moods and ludicrous ways of thinking. She had a tendency to shut off instead of lashing out and that made it hard for the King to understand her when things turned south. But not for Yoongi. Their minds were a lot alike.

They walked through the long chilly corridors; this time of the year would always make them hawkish. The wind howled into the window’s shell and they fastened their pace as if being pushed by the blown of the winds. The weather always influenced the King’s temper and considering the howling and how late Carolina was, there was a storm about to be formed in the Throne Room.

“ENOUGH!” The King’s voice echoed, making the messenger across the table sink in his seat.

“But your Majesty,” He started carefully. Whatever the topic was, when the King raised his voice, everyone knew better than to incite his anger.

“I don’t want to hear another word about such matter!” The King continued, standing up from his seat and turning around, finally facing the two meddling souls that were standing by the door. “Nighean,” his expression soften immediately. “I was expecting you.”

“Everything’s alright, father?” She asked, taking a step forward. Yoongi didn’t follow. Instead, he bowed and then pace backward, until he was no longer in the King’s sight and could turn his back to leave. He knew better than to meddle in businesses that were not his own.

“We were dealing with business, nothing you have to worry about.” He placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her out of the room. Before leaving, he threw the messenger another glance. One he knew sent out the message he was trying to say before being interrupted by his daughter. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Hadn’t had the time. But what business was that?” Carolina answered briefly. The hunger she was feeling quickly vanished with thoughts about the royal business. She could never let these matters be. If it concerned her father, then it concerned her and her brothers as well.

“Nighean now is not the time to speak of such matters.” He said sternly and although Carolina wasn’t pleased, she knew better than to test forces with her father. “Walk with me.”

They walked down the long chilly hall. The right side of the walls was filled with portraits of the previous Kings, Carolina’s ancestors. The castle where they lived was passed on for generations, this one being the seventh generation that took care of the castle. Only this time the portrait was of the King and his children.

Arriving at the dining hall, a servant was already pouring something into Seokjin’s glass and he thanked her politely, a blush creeping on her face at that moment.

“There you are!” Jin smiled big, noticing the King and his little sister walking in. “Did you forget we had to have breakfast today?” A quirky smile replaced the sweet one he had.

“I would never,” Carolina spoke as she sat down in the opposite chair of his. Their father sat at the end of the table.

“You are as much of a liar as you are charming.” He teased.

“Now my children, that’s is enough.” The King said, satisfied to see how well they got along. “Where is your brother?”

“Haven’t seen him today yet father.” Jin’s tone changed to a serious one now.

“Why isn’t he here?” The King rose his voice as he looked to one of the maidens that stood by the entrance.

“I’ll go ask his maidens, your Majesty.” The girl didn’t dare to look the King in the eye — mostly out of respect, but also a hint of fear — as she made a little bow before leaving the room.

“God forbid he was my oldest…” The King whispered under his breath, his eyes glued to the food on his plate as he suddenly felt the hunger leave him.

“Do you have to battle today?” That was what Jin and Carolina used to call to her lessons. She liked knowing, she didn’t necessarily enjoy studying and repeating the things she already knew.

“Sadly.”

“What a shame. All days today, that I wanted to take you out for a ride.” He teased.

“Be pitiful brother.” Carolina almost whined. She missed horse riding a lot. It had been too long since the last time she had the time to do so.

Before Seokjin could make yet another remark to tease his little sister, the King stopped him, by raising his hand. “Isn’t it time for your class?”

“I think I still have a moment.” Carolina tried to win over her father, but as soon as she saw his expression, she knew there was no luck for her today. The very few moments she had spent her father today, had proven that the bad weather was going to stay. He was in a bad mood, and whenever such a thing happened, everyone was quick to suffer consequences. Reluctantly, she took the napkin out of her lap, placed it messily on the table, and got up.

“You shouldn’t keep Sir Mackinnon waiting.” The King said sternly.

Before the princess had any chance to protest, Seokjin stood up. “I’ll accompany you.”

“I need to have a word with you son. Carolina can find her way just fine.” The King said, signaling Seokjin to sit down with his hand and he did so.

Carolina reluctantly left the room. Her father’s attitude was making her feel uncomfortable and she knew something was wrong. She was used to not knowing about the royal issues right away. It took some time before Seokjin — or even Hoseok — came to her and share what they had learned. Hoseok would come to her almost immediately. He couldn’t stand the burden of royalty on his own. Seokjin was the one burdened the most about such things. Truth was, he didn’t really like it. But being the oldest meant he had to do a lot of things he didn’t want for the sake of his kingdom and to please his father for most of his actions.

Yet, she couldn’t obey her father’s rules and as soon as she turned the corner, she stopped. Leaning in as much as she could but still making sure she wasn’t seen, she tried hard to listen to the conversation the two here having. As if they knew, the King kept his voice low but the words she could make out, she preferred to pretend she hadn’t heard a thing. She could already tell that today was going to be another wasted battle while repeating yet again all the things she knew in another lesson with Sir Mackinnon.

As she turned her back, the maiden that went to check on Hoseok was standing right behind her. Startled, she had to place a hand over her lips to not make a noise and risk being caught by someone else.

“You never saw me here,” Carolina said getting close to the maid, before fleeing away to her class.

There was a soft knock on the door. The rhythm it played made Carolina know who it was instantly. She waited for it to stop, knowing the person behind the door, he would probably be annoyed if she made him stop mid-knock.

“Come on in.” She said nonchalantly, not worried to see the person walking inside. She was certain it was him.

“Good afternoon, Mary.” Hoseok's charming voice echoed in the room, giving the maiden a smile. “Mind giving us some privacy?”

“Oh boy… what did you do now?” Carolina mostly whispered to herself but the comment reached the boy’s ears, earning her a roll of boy’s dark eyes. The maiden politely bowed before leaving the room.

“I’m glad you let me finish this time.” He said, referring to the knock.

“After last time, I’ll never interrupt you again brother.” She laughed lightly.

“Father gave me a hard time for not being present during breakfast.” He said, followed by a sigh, dropping into an armchair that was next to Carolina’s bed. “He is always so hard on me…”

“You should be used to that by now. He sent a maid off to see where you were.”

“Safely sleeping.” Hoseok showed her his signature smile, making her shake her head.

“What can I be of use for, brother?” She turned on her chair, closing her journal that was set on the little oak desk.

“I see you still use that.” He nodded his head towards the book that Carolina used as a journal. “Can I see?”

“It’s private so I’d rather not.” She spoke quietly. The boy smiled devishly. “Try it and I’ll make sure to break your fingers.” The smile vaded as quickly as it had appeared and for a moment Hoseok became quiet.

“D’you miss Pegasus?” Hoseok asked. He noticed as soon as he entered the room that his sister was drawing her favorite horse on the journal. She had that habit — of drawing everything she liked. If she would have the unfortune of forgeting how beautiful the things surrounding her looked, she could just pick her journal and see them again. As she was fierce with a sword, she was also delicate on those pages, showing the most intimate and sweet side of her.

“It’s been a while since I rode.”

“So…” Hoseok’s tone changed to the one he used to do every time he had an idea. Of course, those would always end in the three siblings being punished but they always had fun. Sometimes, Carolina or Seokjin could get away with the punishment. Never the two and never Hoseok. He would always be punished for whatever silly thing he did. “Should we just jump out of the window?”

“Not jump, but he can use something a little better.” She said, making Hoseok’s expression change into a puzzled one. Swiftly, Carolina made her way into her closet and pulled what looked like a rope made of rags. “You need to be smarter brother, otherwise you’ll end up dead.”

“Is that what you use when you sneak out at night?” He teased, passing by her remark to open the window as quietly as he could. They were certain Mary was patiently waiting outside their door.

“Ah. Ah.” She laughed drily. “Are you up for the task?”

That was indeed what she used for her rendezvous. Although she would never give the satisfaction to her brother of admitting, she was having those nightly adventures. Tightly tying one end of the rope to one of the posters from her bed, Carolina moved carefully not to slip.

Ever since the rain came back, the rendezvous had become less and less because Yoongi didn’t want to risk her falling down to her death. It was too high, but it also was the Princess’ room. She needed to be secure from all dangers. Some servants that lived in the castle were aware of what was going on between the Princess and the nobleman but they would never dare to speak about it out loud, afraid their words would reach the King’s ears.

Yoongi didn’t really care for the King’s opinion, although he was sure he wouldn’t appreciate the reprecursions much. Carolina was keeping the secret mostly for the thrill of having to sneak out of her window late at night and for the feeling of almost getting caught a couple of times. She needed that feeling in her life.

Hoseok wasn’t cut out for the thrilling life. Almost with his feet on the ground, one of his hands started to feel tired and he fell, his butt hitting the floor hard. Carolina had to put her hand on top of her lips to not laugh out loud and expose the two but once she managed to contain herself, she helped her brother get up, despite being scuffed away. Once he managed to get all the dirt out of his butt, they rushed to the stable where all the horses were.

The castle had a vast green area. The great walls that surrounded and protected the castle were made high but long so that that way, the royal family could enjoy nature while being safely protected in between the walls. Carolina felt like a bird in a cage sometimes, but there were areas they could go where it was away enough so that the castle could stay out of sight and feel like she was out, deep into the woods.

Sir Graham was the caretaker of all the horses. He had some men helping him, but if a horse had to leave the stable, he had to know about it. Gladly, he didn’t really care if the weather was good or not, neither if the kids had permission to ride the horses at that time nor if it was just then doing mischief. So, he gave Pegasus and Grain to Carolina and Hoseok and once they set them up, they rode into the vast property. It was still the same place they would go to, ever since they were kids.

“Did you have breakfast with Seokjin and father today?” Carolina asked. They had stopped for the horses to get some water from the lake and both siblings laid down on the grass.

“No,” Hoseok scrapped the back of his neck, almost shameful. “When I got there, there was only food but father caught me on the halls and gave me an earful of his mind about my behavior.” He tilted his head to the side when he heard Carolina snort.

“Lucky you’re the son of the King otherwise you’d have your arse in a cell for the rest of your days.”

Hoseok didn’t answer that. He knew his sister was teasing but there was some truth hidden in that sentence. “Why do you ask?” He said after a few moments of silence.

“I was just wondering.” She shrugged.

“Wondering?” Hoseok asked, now sitting up. “What? If I ate everything off my plate?” His left eyebrow was arched. He knew her sister more than she liked.

“When I was there…” Carolina trailed off, almost as if remembering the moment. “Father sent me away for my lesson because he claimed he needed to speak to Seokjin. Seokjin, only.” She emphasized the last part.

“I see…” Hoseok answered deep in thought as he climbed back up on his horse. “Race you to the stables?” And the boy went off.

“Cheater!”

She tsked, her tongue clicking on the sky of her mouth, signaling Pegasus it was time to go and fast! Pegasus quickly caught up to Grain and Carolina could only hear Hoseok’s excited screams, mildly complaining yet enjoying seeing the smile on his sister’s face.

There was no time she felt freer than when she was riding and everyone could tell.

By the time they got to the stable, Hoseok had stayed far behind and he was certain Carolina wouldn’t let that drop. She was already waiting patiently by the entrance, a cocky smile on her lips and the only thing her brother could do was pretend she wasn’t there and walked right past her.

“You know he isn’t interested in discussing politics with us.” Hoseok shrugged, returning the subject they had felt before.

“Lucky you huh?” Her tongue clicked. “And before, I caught him screaming to a messenger about some business. I'm pretty sure it’s related.”

“Why don’t you simply ask Seokjin?”

“If things were that simple…” Carolina sighed. “We should know about politics too!” She threw her hands up, frustrated, only to sigh right after.

“I’m fine with my duties.” Hoseok stood up, going to his horse and petting him. “We have so much fun, don’t we Grain? We don’t care about politics, just fun!” A childish voice came out of Hoseok’s mouth, making Carolina chuckle.

She’d had Pegasus ever since she was little. She was the one training him and he took a little after her temper. He liked to challenge all the other horses and when he had to be tied down the entire day in his compartment, he would always make a fuss. So every day, Carolina made the promise to visit him, even if only to brush his dark, black, almost blue-ish mane. It gave her a nostalgic feeling when thinking about the times she could ride every single day. She missed that.

“Remember when politics weren’t our concern?” Carolina started. Her eyes were focused on Pegasus but her mind was elsewhere.

“To be honest sister, politics still don’t concern me much.” Hoseok shrugged but Carolina didn’t even listen.

“Remember that time we fooled Ms. McGregor and came here to race each other? And you-” she turned to look at her brother, a smile already on her face and she couldn’t contain the giggles that escaped her. “You fell out of the horse because he is a scaredy cat — much like yourself.” As if he understood, Grain chirruped. “It started to recoil and you were so scared! When Jin got to you, you had blood all over your forehead and then father caught us…”

“That day…” Hoseok started once he stopped laughing. “It was bloody awful! I thought I was going to die! So much blood everywhere!”

“Oh, stop being a wee!” Carolina laughed even harder after hearing her brother’s comment. “The best part was even though you had to get stitched up, you still were the one to blame… and the idea to run away wasn’t even yours to beging with!”

“Perhaps that’s why I started to rebel? I was always to blame…” Hoseok said in a theatrical way. “You and Seokjin were worse than me most of the time!”

“And you know why?” Carolina said, a teasing look on her face, a hint of suspense in the air. “Because we both were very interested in politics! That’s why you would always be the one to blame, you couldn’t even plot otherwise!”

“Wha- How- how do you even dare to say such things?!” He was used to his sister’s words but they always caught him off guard. A blush could almost be seen forming in his cheeks from the rivalry. “To have a smart mouth I don’t need to care about politics! And- I can prove it to you!”

“Oh brother, you cannot lie. Not even if your life depended on it.” Carolina said in a form of a sigh, coming closer to the younger one and pinching his cheeks. “There is bravery in being soft, I reckon.”

“Can someone give me a break? Good lord…” Hoseok said, fussing her hand away. “Do you think Mary already noticed we’re not in your room anymore? How are we supposed to get back inside?”

“And here I was trying to compliment your arse…” Carolina rolled her eyes playfully. “Mary is my maiden for a reason, she will help us get back in without being seen.” She reassured and she was certain. Mary had helped her countless times in the past.

“So she does know about your rendezvous… I see!” Hoseok teased a little. “One last race, sister?” He asked a cocky smile splattered on his face.

“To be successful one needs to make alliances brother,” Carolina smirked, following suit. “I will. But make it fun this time! I’m getting tired of winning so easily!”

Seokjin raised his sword as the crowd cheered. His opponent was laying hard on the ground, the only thing moving was his chest as he breathed puffy tired breaths from the fight he just had with the prince. Seokjin had a habit of making his training public. He liked to hear the public cheer, the girls swoon, the men scream for his victory. His father wasn’t very fond of this doing, but that made the people happy and Seokjin made him believe that it made them feel more secure too, seeing the heir’s abilities.

As Seokjin finally had enough with sending flying kisses to the crowd, he walked over to his opponent once more, reaching out his hand to help the man stand up. The man in question was his instructor who proudly took it. Seokjin was always agile, ever since a young age but now he was a warrior. He had to be in order to be able to protect his soon-to-be kingdom. As he was ready to finish his training for the day, a man in the crowd screamed to the heir, getting everyone’s attention.

“I want teh fight the prince!” The man stumbled, making his way through the crowd. He doesn’t stand a chance, Seokjin thought to himself. “You’re afraid teh fight me, aren’t ya?”

“Shut your mouth, you crazy old man!” The instructor stepped in front of Seokjin.

“Fight me, I said!” The man kept shouting and people started to murmur. Some were shocked with the man’s audacity, to challenge the heir like that… he could easily get thrown into a cell in the castle dungeons. Some, though, were excited to see if the prince was brave to fight anyone that would challenge him, to see if he could win to other than his own instructor.

“Give him a sword.” Seokjin finally spoke, tired of hearing the man’s drunken screams for a fight. The crowd cheered once more, excited with the chance of seeing bloodshed.

This happened many times before in the past. Whenever Seokjin made his practices public for the commoners to watch, a lot of men thought they were stronger, fiercer than the heir but he was good. Too good to ever be beaten. The instructor reluctantly gave the man his sword. A crazy smile appeared on the man’s face as his fingers slid up and down the sharp blade.

Seokjin saluted the man, a bored expression on his face. The commoner sloppily did the same, except his eyes were filled with fire. The two started walking in a circle, in high-guard. The man struggled to take a swing at the sword, stumbling in his own feet. Seokjin merely fends off the waving sword, keeping his straight to maintain a safe distance from the drunken man. The atrocious fighter kept making numerous attempts to hit the heir with his weapon but they were always blocked. He kept a straight face, focusing on his training. As the fight was already taking too much of his time, he took a swing at his opponent, hitting his arm and making a small injury but that was enough to make the man drop his sword.

A little concerned, Seokjin walked to the man, pushing his sword further away to not get any unpleasant surprises and as he was about to kneel down near the fallen injured, he stood up. A radiant smile on his face.

“LONG LIVE THE HEIR!” He sang, putting his arms up and hissing, grabbing his injured arm. His past expression of ire changed into one of bliss. Soon after, all the other men joined the chant for the prince. “COULD YOU BELIEVE? THIS ARM WILL BLEED FOREVER, AS IT WAS THE SON OF THE KING THE MAKER OF THIS WOUND!”

Seokjin curtsy parted from the commoners, walking back towards the castle. He knew he needed to talk with his siblings, although he wasn’t quite sure how to approach the situation, afraid of how they would react. Hoseok had a tendency of augmenting everything he heard. A little bug on the wall yielded to be a fire-breathing dragon that was ready to take the kingdom as his new cave. As for Carolina, he was afraid of how she would react. Despite the number of words he used, making the speech up in his mind as he walked, none seemed fair, none seemed enough to make what he had to say easier. The last thing he wanted was to scare his siblings but he knew the two had different plans than the ones that were being imposed on them at this moment.

“Anella!” Seokjin called out to a maiden that was strolling in the hall.

“Yes, sir?” The girl turned, poletily bowing slightly as a way of greeting the prince.

“Do you know where my brother is? I need to talk to him immediately.”

“He’s in the Great Hall, watching the jester perform.” Anella, Hoseok’s main maiden explained. Hoseok adored seeing jester’s shows. Whether they were telling jokes or making acrobatics, he was delighted by the show they put on.

“Could you find Mary and tell her to bring Carolina there too?” Seokjin asked politely and the girl bowed slightly, before exiting the hall, on the look for the princess’ maiden.

Seokjin made his way towards his brother, his mind focused on his speech. Should he make a joke out of it? Should he stall the conversation as much as he could? No… he shouldn’t do that. That would only make things worse. Carolina would see right through him and be mad he was trying to lessen the severity of the situation. He had to be stable, honest, forward, and calm. But that was hard because he was nervous. Not about his future, he had embraced his responsibilities a long time ago.

His mind was brought back to reality as he heard Hoseok’s shrill laugh. He pushed the door open, to find the jester inside, as Hoseok was sitting in the throne.

“Tell another one!” Hoseok wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and continued laughing loudly.

“Alright, master…” The jester adjusted his position to mimic his new character. “I knew an old Bishop who had lost some of his teeth. He complained of the others being so loose that he was afraid those would soon fall out too.” The jester placed his fingers on his mouth, pretending to wiggle some of his teeth. Hoseok was already giggling. “As he was yet again telling one of his friends about his fear when the other said ‘Never fear. They won’t fall!’ The Bishop was intrigued as to why the man would say such a thing with such certainty. ‘And why not?’, enquired the Bishop. His friend replied, ‘Because my balls have been hanging loose for the last forty years as if they were going to fall off, and yet… there they are still!”

The jester finished his joke with some hilarious stunt making Hoseok almost fall off of his seat, as he was laughing hard. Seokjin had to join, admitting how amused he got by the joke.

“Oh brother!” Hoseok stood up in his chair, noticing the prince by the door. “Came to watch the show with me, have you?”

“Can’t believe you set up a show and don’t invite me.” Seokjin joked, joining his brother.

“You know me, always having fun!”

The two sat, watching the jester perform some of his tricks as the two brothers laughed in harmony. Seokjin was delighted by the puns the man was making. As for Hoseok, it impressed him more the skill he had to play many instruments. As a prince, he had access to many tutors, but he was lazy. So much so that when the time came for him to pick an instrument to play, he decided he could simply invite a jester over and be delighted by his skills.

A few moments after, the doors opened yet again, this time Carolina walking inside, accompanied by her maiden. Seokjin immediately stood up, signaling the jester to stop his show and leave. Mary did the same, closing the doors right behind her.

“Heard you wanted to see me,” Carolina started, as she walked closer to the two. “What’s going on?”

“Can’t a brother call out his sister to come and watch the show?” Seokjin let a nervous laugh escape from his lips.

“Then why did you dismiss the jester?” One of her eyebrows shot up. Seokjin knew there was no turning back now.

“Alright…” Seokjin paused for a brief moment, signaling both his siblings to sit down once more.

“Jinnie, what’s going on?” The tension and anxiety could be felt in Hoseok’s voice as he let out a laugh, his eyes shifting from Carolina to Seokjin. He wasn’t very fond of these brotherly meetings. Every time they had to do one, it meant bad news where coming. And every time, their father was too much of a coward to be the one delivering the news.

“Father spoke to me this morning and one of our ally needs help.” He started slowly, carefully placing his words so none of his siblings would throw a fit. “I'll be sent to the war instead of father.”

“WHAT?!” Hoseok screamed. For a second he thought he had misheard what his brother said. Carolina let out a nervous laugh, looking for one brother to the other, hoping what she heard was nothing but a bad joke.

“That being said…” Seokjin continued, his voice steady, ignoring his siblings' interventions. “Unless I die, you won’t have to worry!” He let out a dry laugh that soon faded as he saw Hoseok’s expression.

“What do you mean I won’t have to worry?! I don’t want to be king!” Hoseok’s despair echoed through the room.

“Are you being serious now? You'll really be going to war?” Carolina asked. The tone of her voice almost made Seokjin feel scared. She was incredulous.

“Yes. And there's more…” He paused but as he saw his siblings' worried faces, he stood up. A million things rushed through their minds. What else could he have to tell? “Carolina, you are going to come with me. Father promised you to the soon-to-be king of Korea.”

“HE DID WHAT?!” She stood up abruptly. “Correct me if I'm wrong… first my brother might die and then I'll be raped. I fucking hated this show.” She rolled her eyes, her tone was filled with sarcasm.

“And I'll be all alone?!” Hoseok said in a panic. “Brother you can't leave me! You both have to stay here!”

“It's what father needs us to do Hobi…” Seokjin tried his best to reassure his brother, hand resting on his shoulder as he gave a light squeeze. But he knew it was useless. “I'll be there to protect you.”

“You wouldn’t even be there if he didn’t order us to go! Why doesn’t he go??! Or I don’t know, send his finest man to fight for him?! Why you??” Carolina cried. She was filled with rage. “You are supposed to be his successor! A-And why me? Why-” She stopped mid-sentence, almost as if she had been defeated.

“You know father can't fight another war... he barely made it out of the last one he was in. I'll still be his successor. I'm the best fighter this kingdom has seen!” Seokjin spoke confidently.

“You want to go, don’t you?! Since that’s the only explanation for you to agree with this!” Carolina pointed her finger accusingly. “I won’t be his puppet and I won’t go.”

“Of course, I don't want to go but what can I do? If I don't go the kingdom will look weak and they can even attack us. You have to understand the situation sister. I know it’s bad but you have to.”

“Well, I don’t. If something happens to you they will attack us anyways! If the decision was between you and dad odds were in our favor if dad was the one going.” Carolina continued rambling and Seokjin knew better than to try go against her. “Pains me to say it but it’s war. It doesn’t end in a nice way I mean- Even if we win there’s still a large chance you won’t get out alive. And that means our kingdom will be left without a successor for a little while until they put Hoseok in the front. They will attack us and like you said, father won’t survive the war. More lives are at risk this way!”

“You don't understand... And it's not my position to make you understand. It's father's.” He said defeatedly, tired of arguing.

“Yes, you’re right! Your position was just to stand with your brother and sister and say no to this madness!”

Hoseok had his mind made in a twist, he was long lost in thought. How was he supposed to assume his brother’s steps? He was so perfect in everything he did. Seokjin sat in silence, reassuringly making him company. Meanwhile, Carolina’s feet could be heard stomping through the long halls as she made her way to the throne.

The doors of the Throne Room swung open.

“YOU COWARD!” Carolina entered the room, catching everyone’s attention. “You were like our hero, our example! How could you do something like this to us? Family comes first! You always said that!” She screamed in desperation.

“Nighean…” The King let out a breath, shocked by his daughter’s words. “Everyone leave the room.” He gestured to all the servants and maidens that were in the room.

“NO! No one leaves the room.” Carolina shouted once more, looking her father dead in the eye. “I want you to have a taste of your own medicine...”

“Carolina, don't throw a fit. You are all grown up now, so we will discuss this privately.” The King roars and everyone that had dared to linger in the room for a little longer, hoping they could catch a glimpse of the fight between the royals, leaves quickly.

“If I’m all grown up now let’s settle this as adults do. Let’s all have a gathering discussing the filthy things you are doing to your kids and then let’s just brush it off like it was nothing, shall we?” Carolina smiles sarcastically. “Because, oh father, I really want everyone to listen to what I have to say! I’m practicing for when I’ll have a whole crowd staring at me while a stranger marks me as his own!” She elevated her voice as she saw everyone leaving the room.

“What filthy things?” Her father looks her dead in the eye. He didn’t appreciate when his kids took the liberty to defy his authority. “Don't you understand what it means for our country for Seokjin to help our allies? And you... don't want you to stand by your brother? And what would your future be here in this kingdom?”

“What it means for our country is that Seokjin might get killed! And then what?!” She gasped furiously. “I will be alone anyways! And Hoseok will be named king like he never wanted to!” Her eyes were filled with anger and pain. “And what about our family, father? Each of us will be alone from now on! And I would rather be an unmarried peasant here, close to my brothers, my people, and my horse than to be someone’s wife in another country, all alone.”

“He won't get killed." The King’s voice was cold. The thought of his son dying made him shiver. "And Hoseok needs to gain some responsibilities! Clearly, you don't know what would be best for you, nighean. That's why I'm here to make the hard decisions.”

“Oh yes, father because you yourself didn’t take years to come back to us because of the war! You don’t know if he will or not. War is unpredictable!” She was desperate but deep down she knew there was nothing she could say that would change his mind. “And you do?! Do you know what’s best for me? If you think the best for me is to be rapped then you clearly know nothing about your own daughter!”

“Of course, he will! I did, so he will too! And you are overreacting everything! You will have time to meet the prince, there will be no such things.” He ushed her immediately.

“Have you ever pondered that I don’t want to meet the prince?”

“It's not about what you want, it's about what is best for the kingdom. We need allies. Stop behaving like a child!”

“Funny father.” Carolina laughs bitterly. “When I wanted to be a grown-up and take part in politics, you wanted me to be a child. But now you don’t like that anymore because you need me to be your bloody puppet!” She cried out, feeling tired all of a sudden. “And mark my words, a puppet I shall not be!” She turned her back, ready to leave the room.

“I am doing what is best for you, nighean. No man here would be able to give the life you will have there.” He roared, still sitting on his throne.

“No man will ever be able to give me the life I want and that includes you too.” She turned around, her eyes glazed, before exiting the room.

Carolina couldn’t help the rage she was feeling. How could her father do something like that to her… Sell her out to another man, like she was nothing but a piece of meat. Leaving the Throne Room, she banged the door harshly, a million things running through her mind. She had to make a plan. She couldn’t marry someone she didn’t love. She couldn’t leave her kingdom behind. What about Pegasus? Who would take the time to care for him every single day like she always did? What would happen to her loyal maiden Mary? Would she be thrown out of the castle once she had no one to serve? Her mind was spiraling and she felt her breath tightening around her throat.

What about Yoongi? She felt her heart race thinking of him. She wasn’t prepared to leave him behind. To say goodbye. But she knew he couldn’t come either. She rushed to her desk table, grabbing her journal and ripping a little piece of it.

meet me tonight.

love, c.

Carolina called Mary, that quickly open the door, eyes filled with concern for the princess. As she used to do, she asked the maiden to deliver the message to the nobleman. She was afflicted with what to do but she knew she had to tell him about what was going on. He deserved to know. And maybe, she thought hopefully, he could have a plan for the two of them.

When the time came Carolina ran as fast as she could towards Yoongi's cottage. By now, she could make that path with her eyes closed and even if the moon wasn’t shining bright on the sky, being her only source of light, she could move easily between the branches and trees. Reaching the wooden door of her safe heaven she came to a halt. The princess’ breath was heavy and tormented. Her hands acted as if frozen, she was too scared to push the heavy and inanimate obstacle keeping her away from her lover.

She closed her eyes in an attempt of recollecting herself but before she could do so the door swung open and so did her dark brown eyes. Her gaze met his and although her situation was still a raging mess inside of her, he was like her abyss, his darkness pulled her into the calmness she needed right now.

“Were ye’ going to just stand there?” Yoongi's hoarse voice cut the air and she did nothing but to crush her lips on his in the most urgent way. He stumbled back taken by the surprise but was quick to lace her waist with one of his arms while his free hand closed the door behind them.

Carolina had a fervor nature and the man knew that quite too well but there was something about her urge that made him furrow his brows even though his eyes were still closed shut and his body was still pressed on hers; his mouth molding the soft pair of lips that seemed too eager for that kiss.

“I'm-” he tried but she didn't budge. The man had to set his large pair of hands on her hips to push her gently in order to speak. “I'm not complaining, mo ghràdh” he started again with a playful smile on his now red lips. Carolina soften at the pet name. “but might I ken what goes through your mind to make you so starved?”

Her hesitant eyes met his and she could see they were full of questions. She wanted to answer them all but she just couldn't find the right words or the courage to say the things she needed to him. The things that he deserved to know.

“I-” Carolina tried to say but nothing came out after. “Just kiss me, Min Yoongi.” She pleaded softly and he didn't have it in him to say no. Not now, not in a million years.

His right hand came gently to her neck and he towered once more over her, as they were now laid on his small bed. Yoongi's breathing was mixing with hers, their noses touching but their lips still millimeters away.

Carolina had her eyes closed, her body begging for him to take her, never had she been so surrendered to him before. His eyes on the other hand were trailed on her features, his nose still caressing hers softly. He wanted to ask what was going through her mind. He knew her far too well but he also knew the answers would arrive in time. On her time. So he kissed her. He took her lips on his in a calming manner, almost reassuring.

The girl moaned into his mouth as if that kiss was all she needed to feel well. Her much smaller hands made way towards his somewhat cold torso, pulling hard when they reached the collar of his plain white nightshirt, still tucked inside his kilt. His kilt. How would she live without unbuckling it? While his hand pulled tighter on the strands of hair they were entangled in, one of hers traveled south to unfasten his belt. The kiss wasn't soft anymore. Carolina bit his lower lip every chance she had making him grunt and squeeze her waist harder.

“Let me undress you.” He said lowly against her lips and before she could say something his swift hands turned her body around.

On that cottage, all you could hear was the crackling of the fire that warmed the ambiance and Carolina's heavy breathing. Yoongi could feel she was nervous and he couldn't quite understand why.

This wasn't the first time she would laid down with him. He was unlacing the back of her dress, strand by strand, and every time he pulled, Carolina would let out a whimper. Until the gown fell and pooled over her ankles, the cold hitting her body, the only thing protecting her skin from it was her corset and Yoongi pressed on her back.

“I missed you, mo ghràdh,” he admitted against her neck. His breathing tingled on her skin and suddenly it was too much for her. Her mind was running wild and she needed to silence it.

She turned around to face him once again, her lips quick to find the comfort of his neck where she sucked and peppered with open-mouthed kisses before pleading once more. “Make me yours- please just make me yours.”

In a flash, they were clashing again, just like a dance where both knew exactly the movements of the other. Carolina broke the kiss to discard the little piece of clothing she still had left, the man's eyes now lit with lust and even more want for her.

In an urge of having the warmth of her body against his, Yoongi reached back to pull his nightshirt as well and when he was ready to toss it over on the floor, he heard the clink of his belt hitting the wood beneath his feet. The princess yanked the plaid cloth out of his hips and clashed on him.

They were like fire and water. Her body and eyes were flared up by her need, and him, he was the cold and his suiting touch that made her at ease. They complimented each other in every aspect. The way she pushed hard against his bed, the way his large hands squeezed hard the girl's tights while she straddled him, the way she played with his soft locks in the most gentle manner while their mouths traced a not so soft pace against each other.

“I could have you like this forever, God-” Yoongi moaned when she rolled her hips against him inciting the animal in him.

“Don't say that…” She answered immediately, eyes closed in pleasure by what his mouth could do to her breasts.

“But I do. You'll be forever mine, mo ghràdh.” He said shifting his lusted gaze from her breasts towards her eyes. He knew Carolina had a tough time externalizing her feelings but her eyes were always the most sincere. So she kissed him instead, angrily, as if she wanted to punish him for saying such words.

“Promise me,” her voice sounded strained against his lips. “Promise me you'll never forget me- and that you'll always be here, waiting for me.” As he locked his eyes on hers, it was nothing like he was expecting. It was so much more. Hers were eager, pleading as if her life depended on it. His hands came to her back, his fingertips sinking in her skin.

“I will always be by your side, my princess, you know that.” He chuckled but his tone didn't change, not sounding light as he expected, his own concern difficult to hide.

“No!” She cried. “I am being serious, Yoongi. I need-” she took his face with both her hands. “I need you to promise me ye'll wait for me no matter what.”

His eyebrows furrowed and she couldn't take looking into his eyes anymore, so she closed hers, leaning her forehead against his.

“My father sold me...” Carolina's voice was nothing but a whisper. “Tomorrow I will be someone else's to be laid with.” Yoongi didn't notice but his hands sunk in further on her skin and he could swear he heard the exact moment his heart fell to pieces as if it were merely a flower being plucked out of the ground.

“We can find a way- I can go to your father and convince him and-” Yoongi fumbled.

“There's nothing you can do this time…” The girl said gently, her eyes still closed, unable to look into his and feel even more broken than she already was.

“I can always do something, Carolina!” He said unhappily holding her closer as ever.

“I'm being sent away, Yoongi.” Her voice cracked and his heart only sunk lower. “Tomorrow morning I will be leaving for Korea with Seokjin. While he fights with our allies, I will be offered to the prince.”

“Run away with me then- We go tonight when the men are fast asleep-”

“Yoongi” she opened her eyes, her thumbs caressing his cheeks softly. “I won't risk your life for mine.”

“The hell with my life! We can run away from them. I know we can, mo ghràdh!” He said exasperated and for Yoongi that was a lot. He wasn't the type to break into a storm, not ever. And Carolina knew that so she kissed him again because nothing would change her mind, not even him. And it was impossible that she would risk his life for hers.

“All I'm asking is for you to wait for me. I will return to you Yoongi, I swear I will.” She reassured him even though she was trembling in fear beneath his touch. “I will flee at sunrise and if they catch me I will go, but I will not rest until I'm here, back to ye’, I promise you that.”

One of his hands came to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear gently. He smiled weakly at her, knowing well nothing would change her mind from what she had just said to him. And he wouldn't dare to contradict. He knew he would be killed if he did something — he wouldn't mind it, he wasn't afraid of death. But he was afraid of hurting her. And if what he felt for her was the same as what she felt for him, Yoongi knew she would prefer anything than to see him dead.

He couldn't bear to know that by morning his love could be touched by someone else but he would rather know she was with someone else than see her dead and have to live in a world without her grace. In a swift move, he placed her on his bed, trapping her between his arms. His excitement was still stiff from the previous words, firm against her lower stomach.

“Then I promise you, I surrender to you my heart and I will be here, waiting for you.” He said looking deeply into her eyes. Her hand went once again to play with his dark locks.

“Then mark me, Min Yoongi, make me yours and forever yours.” She requested sincerely. “Let me long for your touch even when I'm far away from home.”

He was slow and careful, and so was she. They wanted to remember each other's touch, each moment, and savor it. She needed to engrave as much as she could of him as if this last moment was a treasured talisman against what was yet to come; a morning and every morning after without him.

Carolina touched every inch of his body. She felt the grace and softness of each curving bone, his pale skin set on fire reflecting the flames of the woods that burnt near them. She tasted the salty sweat that adorned his throat, smelled the warm muskiness of his skin, and lavished on his soft lips that tasted faintly of blueberries.

“You are so beautiful.” He repeated like a symphony next to her ear while the orange lights from the fireplace illuminated her and he touched the skin of her inner thighs.

He was hard in her hand, so stiff with lust and wanting that every touch from the girl, as much soft as it was, made him groan in need. So when he could no longer wait, he marked her as she wanted, he took her. They moved together at a fast pace, full of wanting, pressing, and needy. They didn't want to let go. Didn't want to reach a state of bliss, fearing that if they did, they would be forever separated.

Yoongi brought his princess over and over again to her release, he himself with a pained expression trying his best to hold back. He gasped every time she clenched around him, stopping and then start moving again. An infinite circle. Until at last Carolina pulled him by the hair, pressing him tightly. With a grunt muffled in her neck, he came hard, accompanied once more by her. Their whimpers and exhaustion seemed to dissipate in thin air alongside the remaining flames by the fireplace.

They remained there, beneath the warm and cozy furs that covered his bed, their bodies pressed together in a calm and blissful way. His weight on top of her was much welcoming, like a shield to the outside world for the now so broken princess.

“Ye’ ripped my heart out.” He said at last, softly. “And it will only beat again once we are this close.”

They lied there, warm and tangled. Carolina's heart was beating fast with all his declarations but she wasn't able to form a smile. At last, he slipped free, and turning, he embraced her from behind. His hands intertwined with hers and his breath was warm and tingling on the nape of her neck.

“Rest your head, mo ghràdh, I'll be here holding you,” he whispered. “I will let you know when the time comes to go.”

She would say no, but her body was exhausted and her mind was asking for a break. So she slipped into a blissful dream, where she was the master of her destiny and fate.

Near dawn, Carolina woke up by the muffled screams coming from the outside, Yoongi's arms still around her. She rolled to the side and lifted herself to watch him, to see the first rays of light coming from the window touch the soft features of his face, so peaceful asleep, to see the dawning sun ricochet his dark locks she loved so much, for the last time.

She knew she had overslept and the screams that seemed so far away from them were probably her father's men looking for her. They already knew she was missing.

A wave of anguish broke through her, her thoughts so painful that she didn't notice the couple of tears that rolled down her cheeks or even the soft sobs she fought hard to keep within. Yoongi opened his eyes. He smiled when he saw her and right after his eyes scanned her face, his hand coming to touch her teary cheeks. Carolina knew he was memorizing her features, as she was memorizing his, she knew that this was their goodbye.

“Yoongi,” she started, her voice hoarse with sleep and swallowed tears. “It is time for me to go if I still want a chance of escaping.”

“I know, mo ghràdh.” He said sorrowfully.

The princess leaned forward for the last peck, a soft one on his pouty lips, and then got up from the bed without glancing back. She searched the floor for her clothes and once she spotted them she retrieved them swiftly, the cold cloths serving as a shield for her body once more. Her dress was the tricky part, but she took all her effort gladly to tie the laces of the corset alone as if focusing on the act would keep her safe from her feelings and her broken heart. It took her a little while, but when done with the dress and eventually her shoes, she turned back to face a now an all dressed Yoongi. She was so focused on her task she didn't even notice he was getting ready as well. With his kilt on, he made his way towards her, his sword clinking on his belt every step he took. This was it.

“Ye’ are blood of my blood…” Carolina whispered. Her eyes stared deeply at his while starting to recite the vows she knew by heart.

“...and bone of my bone.” He answered gently. “I give you my body, that we two might be one."

“I give you my spirit, 'til our life shall be done." She smiled crookedly.

Carolina was afraid, she knew the journey ahead of her wouldn't be easy... She was an adventurer by heart and she would always do her fair share of forbidden things, but to live as an outlaw and worst, to live in the wilderness alone was something she have never thought of. It was something she didn't know if she would be capable of doing. But it was looking at Yoongi's soft eyes that she gathered all the courage she needed, simply because she wanted to be with him. She wanted to be his, only his.

“Longer than that,” Yoongi said firmly, pulling the girl into him once more.

They both were interrupted by a noise coming from the hillside, right below where his cottage stayed. It was the sound of voices and footsteps. Carolina's heart was drumming loud on her ear, but she looked back at him, just for a moment to see the last sight of her lover.

He turned to her once more, catching sight of her beautiful chocolate eyes and suddenly he was crashing on her once more, pushing her hard against the wall in agony and desperation. He secured her tightly to him. She could feel his erection pressed into her stomach through the kilt.

Yoongi spoke hoarsely into her mouth. “Once more. I need you! I must have ye’- Just once more!”

He pushed her hard against the stone wall and the girl scrambled up her skirts as quickly as he raised his kilts. They looked like savages and this was hardly lovemaking as it had been hours ago in his small bed. He took her quickly and was overly powerful. Their hips snapping against each other, his large hand covering her mouth that wouldn't contain the pleasurable moans, her hands pulling hard on his hair enough to make him hiss.

“Your mine- Ah!” He felt intoxicated by her — by all the feelings he was feeling right now. How would he let her go? “Ye’re all mine.” It was all it took for Carolina to unravel against him. Her leg secure by his hand that embraced his hip spasmed and he held it even tighter. It would definitely leave marks for her to remember this moment.

“I love you.” She gasped, head leaned on the wall while his hips thrust into her at an erratic pace. Once he heard her saying those words he reached for her neck and grunted in total bliss as he came undone. The voices were nearer, both could tell.

He kissed her once more. “Never forget,” he said, “how immense my love for you is.”

And before she could say anything else he pushed her towards the back door of his cottage. As she ran for it, she glanced back to see him standing in the middle of the room, sword ready to be drawn. “Go, mo ghràdh, I will stall the men for you.”

And with tears in her eyes, she turned away from him and ran for her life. After that, she knew she could face anything that came her way, for as her thighs were wet and slick with Yoongi's seed, and she stumbled on rocks while pushing her way through branches blinded by tears, she came to the realization that nothing hurt more than to kiss your lover goodbye.

Later on, she was caught. Her father had been far too cunning, knowing his daughter would try to run. Never in her life had she done something she didn’t want. He called all his men to protect the secret passages the castle had and sadly enough, she was caught in one of those. She tried to fight, but in the end, she was too tired. Too tired to run. Too heartbroken. And has the ship sailed, in direction to her new living hell, she understood she never got to say goodbye to her brother. She never got to ask Mary to take care of her horse. She had many things unfinished, she had to come back home. She would be back.

[ next chapter ]

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