Sinister

"Sora! Stop it! You'll get hurt!" Jimin snapped, yanking me back as I scrambled onto my feet, causing my elbow to scrap against the jagged road.

"OH! SINCE WHEN DID YOU CARE ABOUT ME?!" I screamed, pushing Jimin away with all my might as I grabbed onto my stinging elbows in tears. Jimin shot me a hurtful look.

"I'm also in pain!-" Jimin snapped at me in anger, but I suddenly shot up since I didn't want to listen to his fucking excuses anymore.

"Save yourself," I glared at him in tears.

"WAE!? I THOUGHT YOU HATED HIM!? WHY ARE YOU OVERREACTING?!" Jimin suddenly grabbed my wrist and jerked me back... furiously glaring at me.

"I'M OVERREACTING?! JUNGKOOK IS GONE! OH, I KNOW, YOU DON'T CARE. YOU JUST WANT TO SAVE YOURSELF!" I screamed, pounding on Jimin's chest in rage.

"I'M TRYING TO SAVE YOU-" Jimin gritted as I hastily tugged my arms away from his grasp, but he wouldn't let me go. I got frustrated and violently thrashed around until my eyes fell on a familiar figure standing on the other side of the road. My heart stopped. I stood... completely frozen in my place as I stared at the figure in a white button-up shirt and black pants. Jimin glanced at me in confusion before averting his eyes to where I was staring at. My chest aches so bad I felt like blacking out.

"LET ME GO!" I screamed, shoving Jimin away in tears. Jimin gripped my wrist, but I thrust him away and dashed across the street at full speed.

About 15 feet away from the burning car... stood... Jungkook. He was staring at his car in terror as he held onto a white plastic bag in his wounded hand. Still stunned by the explosion... He slowly turned to me in tears as I raced towards him. My heart pounded and throbbed with every step I took toward him.

"SORA! BE CAREFUL!" Jungkook's eyes grew huge in panic. He suddenly rushed towards me. BANG. The car exploded for the third time, sending a scorching fire rage towards our direction. I could feel the heat slamming into me as Jungkook grabbed my shoulders. He firmly engulfed me in his arms and spun me away from the fire.

"A-Are you o-okay?! I-I saw the c-car expl-ode- I thought you were-" I pushed away from him and began trembling in tears as a hot lump formed in my throat. I thought you died... I thought I lost you... Wae- How is he here..?

"It's okay. It's okay. I'm sorry, I'm here," Jungkook suddenly pulled me into a tight hug. My heart churned in pain as I clenched onto his shirt in shock. I thought... I lost him. I was so scared... I felt as if I lost everything. Jungkook tugged my head against his shoulder and tightened his grip around me as I stared at the raging fire before me in tears. I thought I lost him, and it killed me. I can't- my eyes drifted off to Jimin, standing on the other side of the street... staring at us with an empty expression. His eyes were glimmering in tears. Darkness surrounded him as he stood motionlessly... watching me hold onto Jungkook.

I loved him. I really did, but my hurt aches too much to continue loving him. This game... it broke us.

Flashback

Jungkook's POV

"I must've left it in the cafe-" Sora mumbled, shifting around her seat to look for Taehyung's jacket.

"I'll get it-"

"No. It's alright. I'll get it," She shook her head and got out of the car. She's distracting herself from the pain. I leaned over to the glove compartment and pulled it open... it's empty. Sighing, I quickly got out of my car and walked towards the mini-mart at the corner of the street.

"Welcome in," The staff greeted me as I entered the mart. I awkwardly glanced around the dull-looking store in displease.

"What does she like?" I whispered, walking down the aisle of snacks. She just broke up with Jimin, and she's on her period, so she'll go through a tough time later. I should get something for her to munch on because she'll definitely refuse food. The problem is... most of the snacks look foreign to me. I've never eaten snacks from the mart before. Appa always got me the best quality snacks from foreign countries...

"Ehem...," I awkwardly coughed at the staff, who was gaming on his phone by the counter.

"Neh...?" The staff dawdled, keeping his eyes on the phone. How disrespectful. I quickly shot the security camera an offended look. How can they hire such unprofessional staff?!

"Bring me the best quality chocolate," I said sternly.

"You can check the shelves over there-"

"No. I said the best. Are those even chocolate? The majority of the mixture is probably sugar," I demanded. He suddenly shot me a blank and confused look. Aish... Why's the average so rude?!

"It's the most popular one. I don't know what you're searching for, but this is all a mini-mart has. The 5000 won chocolate is the priciest here," The staff dismissively nodded at the lower shelf again.

"5000 won?!-" I quickly snapped my head towards some weird-looking chocolate bar. Is it even safe to consume a 5000-won chocolate?! Is it even food?!

"Don't you have-"

"Ajusshi. The chocolate you're looking for doesn't exist here. The locals won't buy a chocolate bar for over 5000 won. It's a scam. Chocolate will always taste like chocolate," The staff dawdled while rolling his eyes at me.

"Ajusshi-?!" I gritted in disbelief as the staff stared at me. He looks like a high school kid. How can he call me ahjusshi!? I'm not old! He must be mocking me on purpose.

"Are you going to buy? Please leave if you aren't going to buy anything," The kid shot me a warning glare.

"Yahhhh~... This is unbelievable," I scoffed in annoyance. How dare he glare at a top-rank alpha?! I'm going to make him pay- The kid suddenly seized my upper arm, startling me, and tried to drag me out of the store.

"You're wasting my time-"

"Yah! Don't touch me! Araso! I'll buy it!" I snapped, shrugging the kid's arm off me in disgust before walking over to the shelves in frustration. Should I kill him? I should kill him. I sideways glared at the staff, but he was already watching me suspiciously with his arms crossed. So I quickly averted my eyes back to the chocolate and pretended to pick the packages instead. If only you weren't an average, I'd snapped your head off! I grabbed the entire row of chocolate and dumped it on the counter before rushing over to the freezer to grab a handful of ice cream. I seized an armful of snacks, then dumped it on the counter again.

"Do you have enough money...?" The kid asked, eyeing the pile of ice cream, chocolate, and snacks with a doubtful look, causing my blood to boil in frustration. Yah... I swear I've never wanted to punch anyone as badly as I want to punch the average right now.

"Of course," I gritted as I tried hard not to murder the stupid ass kid. I quickly paid for the snacks and left the mini-mart in irritation. I'm going to destroy this mart! I was halfway back to the car when Sora came rushing out of the cafe... with Jimin behind her. Did she get into a fight with him again-

KABOOM.

My car suddenly burst into fire, sending showers of flames everywhere, followed by an immense force- making me stumble backward. I shielded my eyes in confusion. I quickly dropped my hands and stared at the fire with my jaws open. Who- How dare- My mind completely shut off when I realized Sora sprinted towards my car a moment ago. My heart began beating like crazy as I ran towards the car in a panic. Where is she-

"Argh!" I yelped when a sharp pain suddenly pierced my head. I looked up to find two blurry figures on the other side of the streets, but my vision was too distorted. A loud static noise buzzed my ears, causing my head to ring in pain. I shook my head to shake it off, but everything went dark. A second later, my eyes flew open. I was no longer on the street... my flaming car disappeared... Sora disappeared... I was in a hallway filled with smoke... a little girl was coughing at me in her light pink nightgown. I turned around in confusion when I heard heavy thuds against the door. I coughed in pain as smoke filled my lungs... I felt dizzy... someone grabbed me and the little girl... and dragged us down the hallway. I didn't pay attention to the person- keeping my eyes on the wooden doors. THUD. Someone banged on the door...

"HELP! HELP! HELP! IS ANYONE OUT THERE?! HELP US PLEASE!" A man's voice begged from the other side of the door. For some reason... I recognized the voice... a picture of a middle-aged man appeared in my mind. He had slightly wavy hair... and a clean undercut... a lean-looking guy with a bright smile. Although I recognized the voice, I didn't know who he was or how I came to remember his face. My lungs burned in pain, causing me to cough frantically as my burning tears swelled from the stinging smoke. The carpet down the hallway suddenly caught fire, causing heat to erupt all around us. The banging on the door grew more violent as the man screeched for his life. I was yanked down the hallway again... even if I was struggling to breathe... I kept my eyes on the door... and that's when I saw the handle... it's locked from the outside with a clamp. It rattled as the man pounced against the door, but his strength was nothing compared to the clamp holding the door shut... trapping him inside the burning room.

Snap.

The aching pain in my head suddenly subsided, and my vision became clear again. I averted my eyes in confusion and found myself back on the street... and my car was still on fire. I slowly turned towards the figure... it was Sora ... screaming in pain as she stared at the burning car while Jimin held onto her. What happened? Why do I keep on seeing odd things? Is it my missing memories? Or is it just another made-up episode?

BOOM

The car exploded again, sending me toppling backward, so I gripped the snack bag in fright. I turned to find Sora thrashing around wildly... She looked torn. She screamed and smacked Jimin repeatedly as he tried to calm her down. Without any warning, I felt a sharp stab in my chest when Sora suddenly halted. Her teary eyes locked with mine... blood drained from her face as she stared at me in disbelief... even if she was on the other side... I could see the streams of tears running down her cheeks. Her crystal eyes gleamed brightly from the raging fire... so I knew... I knew... she felt the pain as well. She thought she lost me just like I thought I lost her.

Sora's POV

"Aigo. That was one of my favorite cars," Jungkook dryly chuckled, glancing at the burning car before averting his eyes to mine.

"How can you laugh in this situation?" I muttered, rubbing away my tears as he smiled at me.

"We escaped death once again. Shouldn't I be happy? If you didn't forget Taehyung's jacket, we could've turned into roasted human corpses," Jungkook shook his head at the raging fire.

"We should head home. it's too dangerous..." I sniffled and trailed off when a black jeep pulled up beside us. It was Taehyung. He kept his eyes trained on the burning car with one hand on the steering wheel.

"Get on," He beckoned while staring blankly at the fire with a wary expression. Jungkook quickly pulled the back door open for me, so I got in. Jungkook slammed the door shut, rounded the car, and hopped into the passenger seat beside Taehyung.

"Jimin?" Taehyung asked while staring through the rearview mirror with his dull eyes.

"I don't know," I gulped, glancing outside the window. Jimin disappeared. Taehyung clicked his tongue in annoyance before slamming onto the throttle, jerking the car forward. No one said a single word on the way home. Taehyung and Jungkook were both lost in their own thoughts. It's Seokjin... I'm sure it's him. He tried to get rid of me and Jungkook. Hah... What a dirty move. We could've died in the explosion. I need to keep my guard up.

"Omo! I'm glad you're safe!" Mrs. Kim rushed up to us as soon as we got to the mansion.

"Are you hurt?" Mr. Jeon asked, walking up to Jungkook, who was weirdly still clinging to his white grocery bag.

"I'm fine," I gulped, pulling the sleeves down to hide my bleeding elbow from the fight with Jimin.

"We'll discuss this tomorrow when your parents return. Get some rest. We'll take care of the incident," Mr. Jeon pulled his lips into a thin line.

"Sora. Have you seen Jimin?" Mrs. Park suddenly asked, looking very drained. She must be worried about him.

"He was there, but he didn't get hurt. He left before I could stop him. I don't know where he went," I bit my lips sadly. She gasped in shock as Mr. Park held onto her. Without another word, we separated our ways and went to our rooms. I was numb... I couldn't focus on anything so I took a warm bath and pulled on my pajamas. The stinging on my elbow didn't ease, so I got the first aid kit and placed it on the coffee table before slumping down onto the couch. I twisted my arm and softly dabbed the disinfectant on my elbow until someone knocked on my door.

"Come in. I didn't lock the door," I called and continued dabbing my elbow. The door swung open, and Taehyung came striding in, dressed in a white T-shirt and black sweatpants.

"Why didn't you go to the medical room?" He asked, sitting down beside me, then pulled the cotton swipe out of my hand.

"It's just a scratch," I whispered. There were scratches all over my back from the shattered glass, but it didn't matter.

"The last time you said that Jimin lost it," Taehyung chuckled, gently dabbing against my elbow as a sharp pain throbbed in my chest. Jimin... his name pains me... Where is he? Is he with So-young- Sora!

"What is it?" Taehyung asked, locking his dark eyes with mine as he applied some cream on the bruises.

"Hmm?" I asked in confusion. What's with his empathetic expression?

"Something's bothering you. What is it?" Taehyung asked, averting his eyes to my wound as he reached for the bandages.

"I don't think I can bring Jimin back," I whispered while shaking my head in tears. Taehyung paused and glanced at me. I know they're all depending on me to bring Jimin back... but he's gone... I let him go.

"What do you mean?" Taehyung stared at me.

"I broke up with him. I pushed him away. I'm sorry. I know I should've convinced him to return to us," I shook my head at Taehyung. He stared at me in utter silence... lost in his thoughts.

"He'll-"

"Aish. I'm so pissed," The door suddenly swung open again, and Jungkook came striding in dressed in a gray jacket and sweatpants. Taehyung quickly snapped out of his thoughts and pressed the bandage on my elbows just as Jungkook settled down with the white plastic bag in his hand.

"You've been holding onto that bag for a while," I smiled at him.

"Oh. I'm still devastated by the fact that this 5000-won chocolate saved my life," Jungkook scoffed, nodding at the bag with his eyes wide open.

"Moh? What happened? You were in the car-"

"Exactly. I was supposed to be in the car while I waited for you. But I got off and went to the stupid mart and even argued with the rude staff over the 5000-won chocolate. I wouldn't be sitting here if it weren't for that," Jungkook scoffed at me in disbelief.

"Seokjin played dirty," Taehyung muttered, leaning back against the couch with his arms behind his head.

"It's obviously him, but we need evidence. Maybe it'll help us strike him next week," Jungkook muttered, taking out a chocolate bar... unconsciously munching on it.

"He'll never do it directly, so it's hard to track down-"

"It is him. He did it directly," I whispered in realization. Namjoon...

"How do you know?" Jungkook asked while staring at me.

"It was Namjoon. He was at the parking lot when you left to grab your keys. An average can't touch your car since it's parked in the most secured area, so he had to plant the bomb himself. Namjoon's sleeves were stained in black ink. I thought it was ink, but it was actually... fuel and dirt," I bit on my fingertips restlessly as memories filled my head. Namjoon installed the bomb...

"Aish. That stupid brat. Did he have to blow up my car?!" Jungkook cursed in irritation as he took another heavy bite of the chocolate.

"We can secure the camera footage, but I guess it's too late now. I'm sure Namjoon got rid of it," Taehyung sighed in defeat.

"Wait a minute," Jungkook suddenly sat up straight with a puzzled look.

"Moh?" Taehyung asked, turning to stare at Jungkook.

"If he installed the bomb... then why didn't he blow us up right away when we left the university...? Why did he wait?" Jungkook questioned, raising his eyebrows at us in confusion. He's right... Why didn't Namjoon kill us immediately...?

"Did anyone else go near your car?" Taehyung asked, pressing his hand against his chin.

"Um... no- wait. Yeah. An ajusshi... He spilled his coins. That's it," Jungkook mumbled, thinking hard as he continued to chew the half-eaten chocolate bar. Taehyung leaned back against the couch again and thought hard about the situation.

"I think I know what happened. It's just a theory," Taehyung muttered, anxiously glancing at me.

"Go on," I nodded.

"It's very likely Namjoon installed a controlled car bomb since an automatic bomb takes longer to install. It's a lot riskier too... since it might be triggered the instant you start the engine, which will likely destroy the university before you can even leave. He only had a short period of time, so naturally, he planted the controlled bomb, which means he had control over the timing. However, due to unexpected technical difficulties... or maybe he didn't have enough time because Sora was also in the parking lot. He couldn't activate the bomb on time which explains why you two didn't get blasted into pieces when you left the university," Taehyung spoke dimly. That makes sense. If Namjoon activated the bomb- he could've wirelessly controlled the bomb... but he missed his chance.

"Ah! So someone had to activate it, and it was the old man! Wow! Ms. Kind Heart, this is what you get for being nice to strangers," Jungkook scoffed as he fired me a mocking glare.

"Yah. How am I supposed to know?!" I snapped at him in irritation. The ajusshi must've activated the bomb when he bent over to collect his coins while I wasn't paying attention. Aish... I can't even trust the average. Suddenly... the ajusshi's words replayed in my head. He said I'll be at a better place... was that what he meant? He thought I was going to die...? The thought of it scares me.

"Seokjin and Namjoon will never stop. They'll attack us with every given opportunity without hesitation. So we have to protect ourselves. The safest place is here, so from now on, no one will leave the mansion until the next meeting," Taehyung crossed his arms, turning to narrow his eyes at us.

"So, we're hiding now instead of firing back?" Jungkook huffed at Taehyung.

"We can't afford to give Seokjin more reasons to eliminate us. It's better to stay low at this point," Taehyung shook his head. What about Jimin- What about him?! Why do I care?!- He's out there alone- so what?! He left you Sora!

"Aish. Whatever. Do you have an extra blanket?" Jungkook asked, turning to look at me.

"Wae? Go and sleep in your room!" I snapped at Jungkook. I don't feel good right now. I want to be left alone. I need to process everything... plus... I'm a little embarrassed about my reaction to the explosion. Why did I bawl my eyes out over a dumb ass like him?

"Yah! You can sleep in my room, but I can't sleep-"

"You slept in his room?" Taehyung asked, turning to look at me in shock.

"Well- I-uh... I slept on the couch. He slept on the bed," I shrugged awkwardly at Taehyung.

"Yah! You kicked me off my bed-"

"I'll sleep here too," Taehyung nodded, causing Jungkook and I to stare at him with our mouths hanging open.

"Yah. The couch is mine," Jungkook snapped, quickly spreading himself on the couch to claim his territory.

"Then I'll sleep on the bed with Sora. It's a king-size bed, so it's very spacious-"

"Andwae! You can't sleep with her!" Jungkook snapped, sitting up in shock, causing Taehyung to fall silent.

"Wae? Do you want to share the bed with her? Then give me the couch-"

"Hajima! You two can share the bed. I'll sleep on the couch," I snapped, tugging Jungkook off the couch and slumped onto it. Why won't they leave me alone?! Taehyung and Jungkook continued to glare at one another, but they eventually agreed and shared my bed. I didn't sleep well that night. I keep on having recurring nightmares. The explosion... Jimin staring emptily at me from across the street... Seokjin choking on the poison... Namjoon blasting off Jiwoo's head... Hoseok drowning... Yoongi getting shot... distorted figures inside a room.

For the next few days... I woke up sweating every night. The nightmare wouldn't stop... it got so intense I sometimes woke up with pain pounding in my head. I'm really going crazy. Eomma and appa didn't react to the bomb incident as if they expected it. Just like Taehyung, they advised everyone to stay low. No one was allowed to leave the mansion, so Jungkook, Taehyung, and I were stuck behind the walls for over a week. The final elite meeting is in four days... and the elders are tirelessly working days and nights to prepare for it... by elders... I mean the Jeons, the Kims, and the Parks. For some reason, my parents are very relaxed. They didn't even seem nervous... wae? Do they have a plan? Or is it just a mask to cover their uneasiness? I can't tell.

And Jimin... I haven't heard from him ever since the incident. He didn't contact his parents or Taehyung. Where is he? Is he alright? I was in a lot of pain for the first few days... but I don't feel it as much now. I'm too numb. I spent my day wondering about his well-being... love isn't easy... even if I cut him loose... I still miss him... I still yearn for him... and I still care about him. I'm relying on time to heal me but it's taking longer than it should.

After isolating ourselves for over a week, we were finally allowed to leave the mansion again. Just one day. The three of us had to present our project at the university, so we had to attend class. However, security was tight though. At first, the elders insisted on making the drivers take us to the university separately, but Taehyung and Jungkook refused. So they eventually let Jungkook take his car with me while Taehyung took his usual motorbike. Our security system monitored our every action as soon as we left the mansion.

Oddly, people gasped in shock when they saw Jungkook and I. They look as if they've seen a ghost. Did they think we actually died...? We showed up during lunch break since it was unnecessary to attend in the morning. We entered the crowded luxurious alpha's lounge, and everyone fell dead silent.

Minah shot me a surprised look, Hoseok bit his lips nervously, Yoongi sat blankly, Minho and Mira stared at us with their eyes wide open, Haerim gave us one quick glance before turning back to her phone, Dohyun immediately stopped laughing with the lower ranks, So-young tensed up when she saw Taehyung, Namjoon snorted at us in disbelief while Seokjin leaned forward with an eager look. Where's Jimin...? Thud thud thud. Taehyung's heavy footsteps echoed throughout the lounge as he marched towards Seokjin, who slowly got up from the couch... smiling smugly at Taehyung.

"Ah. My friend, I see you're well-" Seokjin smiled, opening his arms to welcome his rival when Taehyung suddenly slammed his fist into Seokjin's jaw, sending him back onto the couch. The room gasped in shock, but no one said anything.

"Wae? The ultimate meeting will decide our fate, so why did you have to intervene?!" Taehyung roared, violently grabbing Seokjin's collar in anger.

"Get your filthy hands off me!" Seokjin bellowed, punching Taehyung hard in the nose, sending him stumbling backward. Jungkook immediately grabbed onto Taehyung when he tried to launch back at Seokjin.

"Stop it!" Jungkook gritted at Taehyung, who was murderously thrashing around in fury as he glared at Seokjin. He told us not to react... yet he lost himself.

"Are you that terrified, Kim Seokjin? I thought you were confident about winning the case, so why did you have to get your hands dirty and tried to murder my allies?! Hah. A goddamn controlled bomb, you fucking dickhead," Taehyung angrily spat at Seokjin with a bleeding nose.

"Why do you always accuse-"

"Don't try to be smart, Namjoon. Your sleeves were dirty, remember? I explicitly told you not to stain your life, but you did. Kim Namjoon... you are smart, but you weren't quick enough to activate the bomb," I shot Namjoon a sour expression when he tried to defend Seokjin. Seokjin shot Namjoon a disappointed look after hearing my words, so Namjoon gulped and glanced away.

"I'll make sure you die a painful death," Taehyung glared at Seokjin before stomping out of the lounge.

"What did you do to Jimin?!" So-young suddenly snapped, causing everyone to turn to her. Oh... was she afraid to speak when Taehyung was in the room? I mean... he could've ripped off her throat for good.

"I didn't do anything-"

"He's my official ally, so you can't restrain him against his will," So-young snapped in frustration. Jungkook and I quickly exchanged awkward glances. What is she talking about... wait. She thinks I locked up Jimin...? Isn't Jimin with her? What. So Jimin isn't with her...? Where is he then...? Why isn't he with her??? He can't be alone... it's too dangerous.

"I'm not restraining him. He's in discussion with his parents. He signed your contract without his parent's consent, so he has to resolve it," I chuckled at her. Jungkook darted me a "what the fuck are you saying" expression.

"It's been over a week! I know you locked him up- so he can't return. I'm doubting this is even for the political aspects of your household. I think you're just obsessed with him because he dumped you for me," So-young glared at me. Oh, now she thinks I'm the crazy ex-girlfriend. Seriously... What is wrong with her? How many dramas did she watch to come up with such absurd ideas?

"Don't worry about his well-being. He's fine-" Jungkook suddenly grabbed onto my arms and pulled me out of the room. What's wrong with him!?

"Why did you lie!?" Jungkook snapped in annoyance.

"Didn't you hear her? He's been by himself for over a week! Ever since the incident! If the alphas know we abandoned him- He'll be in danger!" I gritted, cautiously eyeing the empty hallways.

"Why are you protecting that asshole!? He deserves it!" Jungkook snapped, gripping onto my wrist.

"Because I still care about him! I know I broke up with him, but my heart doesn't heal as quickly as yours! I'm sorry, alright?" I muttered, pulling my wrist away from his grasp in guilt. Sora... you shouldn't let your emotions drive your decisions.

"What if he uses your affection against you again? He knows you have a soft spot for him," Jungkook softened his voice as he stood staring at me with a worried look.

"Then let him use it against me. The more he hurts me... the further I drift away from him. I stopped falling for him. I won't fall anymore because I've finally landed... and landing hurts... but it doesn't change the fact that I'm still in love with him. And I know I shouldn't... believe me, I'm doing everything I can to detach my feelings... but it takes time," I shook my head weakly at Jungkook. He let out a deep sigh and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

"Aish... I can't believe this..." Jungkook shot me a disappointed look before striding off without another word. Jungkook-ah... I really want to escape the mess I'm in... but it feels like I'm trapped in the pit of hell. Maybe I won't escape. Maybe, I need someone to pull me out of it... and I know you're willing to reach out for me, but I don't want to risk losing you too.

Taehyung, Jungkook, and I dealt with our project presentation individually, and it was the last period of class. I went to my locker to put away my books when I felt the presence of a person.

"Moh?" I asked, slamming my locker shut to find Minah leaning against the locker.

"You're alive. I knew you were. Everyone said you died in the explosion," Minah pouted at me.

"It takes a lot more to kill me," I smiled at her.

"You might not believe me, but I really mean it. I'm glad you're alive. I was dead worried about you... and... Jungkook," Minah mumbled sadly.

"At this point, it's hard to believe in anyone. But thank you... did you talk to Jungkook?" I asked while leaning against the locker.

"He wouldn't talk to me. But I confronted him a while ago and threatened him to see me after the last session. So I hope he'll show up," Minah nodded hopelessly at me just as Taehyung walked past us.

"I hope it goes well. Find your closure. I'll see you later," I patted Minah's shoulder and quickly ran up to Taehyung.

"Are you okay?" I asked, glancing at Taehyung's bruised nose.

"Definitely felt better after punching his perfect face," Taehyung smirked at me.

"Look-"

"No," Taehyung immediately cuts me off. Did he just read my mind...?

"Listen-"

"Whatever you're thinking of doing. Don't do it. We have to head home," Taehyung shook his head, cutting me off once again.

"It's about Jimin!" I blurted before he could cut me off again. Taehyung suddenly paused at the entrance of the university.

"What about him?" Taehyung sighed, turning to face me.

"We thought he left us, but he was never with So-young... ever since the explosion. I think we still have hope," I replied, desperately searching Taehyung's dull eyes with an anxious expression.

"You want to bring him back? Do you know how risky-"

"I know! But Jimin didn't return home, nor did he go to So-young. He's stuck in a dilemma right now. He doesn't know where to go or what to do because of the mess he made. You and I know exactly where he's at. And if I try hard enough... maybe we can bring him back..." I pleaded as I gripped Taehyung's forearm. Taehyung stood staring at me quietly as he tried to make up his mind.

"Won't your heart ache? It's not just about him. Sora, you can't hurt yourself to save him," Taehyung sighed while staring at me with a concerned expression.

"I'll be fine. Trust me," I weakly smiled. Taehyung paused to search my eyes for answers. He then let out a huge sigh and strode into the parking lot.

"I'll give you three hours. And Jungkook- What the-" Taehyung suddenly halted when he spotted Jungkook's Ferrari zooming out of the university.

"He's going to see Minah. They're going to settle their issues as well. We won't be able to leave the mansion until the final meeting. This is our only chance to put everything back into its righteous place," I sighed as I watched Jungkook's car leave through the gate.

"Three hours," Taehyung agreed, stiffly placing the helmet on my head. I got onto his bike, and we left the university together. Half an hour later, we arrived at the familiar old apartment building. I also dropped by a restaurant to order some food on our way there.

"I'll see you-"

"I don't trust him. I'm coming with you," Taehyung exhaled, eyeing the building cautiously after mounting his bike.

"No. I'll go alone. If you two fight again... it's over. Please..." I begged while holding onto Taehyung's shoulder to stop him from moving forward.

"Fine. Three hours. I'll be back to pick you up. 8:30 PM," Taehyung pulled his lips into a thin line and backed away. He mounted his bike and drove off. I took a deep breath and made my way into the building. My heart began racing with every step I took up the stairs. What if Jimin refuses? What makes me think he won't hurt me? I saw his dark aura that night... it wasn't the innocent Park Jimin I used to know. I halted in front of the door on the fifth floor. I'm scared... my heart's racing too fast. What if I end up losing myself?

"Aish...," I muttered. I bit onto my lower lips and reached out to click the intercom but stopped. I can't do this... I can't face him. Sora... it's your only chance! Sighing, I reached for the button again and pressed my hand against the cold button. Click it... click it.... aish! I quickly dropped my hands in frustration, ran my hand through my hair, and turned away from the door. I can't do this!

"AH! KAMJAGIYA!" I yelped in panic when I turned to find Jimin leaning against the staircase... silently watching me. He scared me so bad I accidentally bumped my head against the door, causing a surge of pain to expand across my skull.

"Wae? Are you leaving?" Jimin asked in a soft tone while staring at me with dark circles under his eyes. He looks... exhausted.

"Ah- Ani. I'm not leaving," I shook my head, awkwardly biting onto my lips. Why am I so nervous?!

"Come on in then," Jimin nodded, blankly walking up the remaining stairs. He made his way towards me and unlocked the door to let me in. I bit my lips and entered his dark apartment. Why won't he open the curtains...? I quickly rushed across the room and drew the curtain back to reveal the messy flat. Bottles and cans of alcohol littered the entire apartment... leftovers of packaged food scattered all over the place... and the sink was filled with dirty plates.

"I brought you tofu soup, kimchi fried rice, some drinks, and snacks," I muttered, setting the food down as Jimin collapsed onto the couch and closed his eyes. He didn't respond to me and remained on the couch in silence. Is he taking a nap...? I didn't want to bother him- No, you just don't want to talk to him... shut up. Anyways, I didn't know what to do, so I cleaned up the apartment. How can he live like this? I collected the bottles, cans, and leftovers- then threw it out before vacuuming and mopping the floor. Jimin didn't budge as he lay on the couch. Maybe he doesn't want to talk to me...? I mean, I said many hurtful things to him. I entered his bedroom, tugged the curtain back, made his bed, folded his clothes, and did the laundry. I only have the dishes left. I walked out of his room to examine the refreshing apartment when Jimin suddenly sat up. He rubbed his puffy eyes and yawned with his eyes half-open.

"You should eat. I'll heat up the food," I briefly glanced at Jimin as he sat staring at me from the living room.

"I'll take a quick shower then," Jimin nodded, walking out of the living room. I exhaled in relief before placing the food packages into the microwave. I only have an hour and a half left. I should really talk to him. Ding. I snapped out of my thoughts and settled the food down onto the table just as Jimin came striding out of his room. Oh dear. My cheeks flushed red when I turned to find Jimin drying his wet hair. He was shirtless... and to make it even worse... he was in his towel. He sat down and stared at his food. Why won't he put on his clothes?

"Eat up. I'll wash the dish-"

"Eat with me," Jimin interrupted, staring at me from under his wet bangs.

"I'm not hungry-"

"Then sit with me," Jimin continued when I tried to avoid him. I glanced at him uneasily and sat down in front of him. Should I get him a shirt? His bare chest and ripe abs are a bit distracting.

"Wae? Why are you so quiet?" Jimin asked, slowly chewing the food as he stared at me curiously. I couldn't focus... my eyes kept on drifting to the wet bangs covering his eyes.

"I just don't want to ruin your mood," I gulped, looking down at the food as he stared at me.

"Your presence never ruins my mood, you know that," Jimin suddenly chuckled, causing me to look up in confusion. Why is he acting as if nothing happened between us...? He should be upset... but why is he so calm...?

"You should come back home. Everyone's worried," I muttered, glancing at Jimin briefly as I fidget with my fingers under the table. Maybe Jungkook's right... I'm not ready to face Jimin.

"Are you worried about me too?" Jimin asked, pushing a spoonful of food into his mouth as he stared at me without blinking. My body turned cold as I stared into his eyes. Why am I like this...? He's not gonna bite... right? Jimin sat eyeing me with a faint smile on his face. He looks like a hungry panther... ready to pounce at its prey. I think he might murder me.

"Oh. Of course, I am. Why else would I come here?" I nodded, chewing my lips nervously. Why am I panicking?! Sora! Calm the fuck down!

"I'm sorry. I must've hurt you that night," Jimin sighed, glancing at my elbow in guilt, making my chest swell in pain. Those poor eyes... Sora! Keep yourself together!

"It's okay. I know I overreacted as well," I nodded quietly. I said a lot of hurtful things to him.

"It's natural to react that way when the person you cherish is in danger," Jimin said dully, making my heart stop dead. Is he referring to Jungkook...? I slowly looked at Jimin as he sat smiling at me. It wasn't a happy or an innocent smile... It was a sinister smile.. . and it gave me chills. Sora... something's wrong with him. I think you should get out of here... maybe you should excuse yourself to use the restroom and call Taehyung.

"I need to use the bathroom," I gulped, got onto my feet, then quickly made my way into the bathroom and locked it. I covered my mouth and squatted down to calm my racing beat. Something's wrong with Jimin... I'm scared. Trembling, I quickly dialed Taehyung- no service. Blood drained from my face. Why's there no signal in here? I quickly stretched my arms out around the bathroom to search for the signal... but there was nothing. Fuck fuck fuck! Okay... as long as you don't provoke him... and stay on your guards... I'll be alright. Heart pounding in fear, I flushed the toilet, washed my hands, and walked back out of the living room to find Jimin sitting at the table with his arms spread over the chairs.

"A-aren't you cold?" I stuttered as he turned to smile at me. He slowly glanced down at his bare torso.

"I'm fine," Jimin shook his head and averted his eyes back to mine.

"I'll do the dishes," I nodded, stiffly turning towards the sink to wash the piles of plates.

"Did the elders plan anything?" Jimin asked.

"They told us to stay low, that's all. The elders didn't strike back because they didn't want Seokjin to take advantage of the situation. Besides that, they want you to come back home," I answered while washing the cups, then placed it back into the cupboard.

"I'm sure Taehyung and Jungkook objected," Jimin chuckled, causing my heart to skip a beat. Why is he scaring me so much...? It's because he's giving off odd vibes... this isn't the energy he used to give off! Maybe I should just wait until Taehyung arrives. He'll definitely come looking for me... until then, I just have to stay alive.

Jimin's darkness is a lot more sinister than Taehyung's. It's hard to explain. Taehyung's darkness is like tempered darkness. He'll literally snap you apart when he's mad, and you'll die instantly. But Jimin... his darkness... he doesn't kill right away... instead... he gives his victims time to enjoy their last breath before murdering them. He does it slowly... making sure his victim suffers brutally before dying... that's the vibes I get from Jimin's darkness, and it's frightening. It's almost like an obsessive-psychopathic darkness...

"Oh. They were mad at you, but they were hurt... so... of course... they reacted the way they did," I nodded, putting away the dishes before turning to wash the utensils. For some reason... Jimin said nothing. The entire apartment grew silent. I wanted to turn around, but I was too paralyzed. I felt the back of my neck crawling because I knew he was watching me.

"I-I'm sure they'll welcome you. Not immediately, but you know them. They like to hide their emotions. I'm sure you can make it up to them-..." I trailed off when my eyes landed on a dagger in the sink. It was covered in a dark brown substance. It looks like... dried blood. My heart began racing as I shakily picked it up. Sora... your intuition is not wrong!

"Can I make it up to you...?" Jimin suddenly whispered into my right ear, sending chills down my back. My heart pounded so hard I almost screamed out loud. When did he get so close to me?! I'm scared... I'm really scared.

"Did you hurt yourself...?" I asked while staring at the dagger in horror. Why do I feel like it's not his blood...?

"Ani... it's just ketchup," Jimin lowly chuckled right behind me as he gulped down some water from a cup. I felt my feet going weak, so I pressed my hands against the sink to support my body and quietly washed the dagger. Ketchup...? This is not ketchup... I'm not stupid. I paused abruptly in fear when Jimin's arms suddenly slithered around my waist. I held my breath and tightly gripped the dagger. And to my surprise, he reached towards the faucet to wash his hands... pressing his bare chest against my back, securing me between his arms as he slowly rinsed his fingers. I bit my lower lips as he pinned his body against mine. He was so close, I could feel his faint breath brushing against the side of my face.

"Be careful... it might cut you," Jimin whispered into my ear and took the dagger out of my hands. I didn't want to give it to him, but I was too afraid to resist, so I let him. I fearfully kept my eyes on the dagger. Welp... if he stabs me, then I'll drop dead instantly. Even Taehyung can't save me this time.

"Well, I finished cleaning the dishes. You shouldn't- ah~ Jimin~" I tried to break the tension when I felt his wet lips against my neck... chills ran down my spine as Jimin gripped onto my waist and began kissing my collar. This shouldn't be happening... no. I tried to turn away, but Jimin only tightened his grip around me. He suddenly slipped his hand under my shirt to massage my body, making me quiver at his sensual strokes.

"I miss you," Jimin whispered, turning me around to face him. And before I could even mutter a single word, he aggressively thrust his lips against mine, so I leaned stiffly against the sink. I shakily gripped onto the edge of the sink in fear as Jimin gently gripped my buttcheeks.

"Jimin~ I- Ah~" I moaned as he caressed his lips against mine. No... Sora... you can't lose yourself... but no matter how hard I resisted... I failed. I've been suppressing my feelings for too long. I thought I was okay, but I wasn't. Goosebumps spread all over my skin as the burning emotions unleashed themselves from the door I trapped it in.

I miss his love... his touch... his warmth... I miss him.

I finally gave in and wrapped my arms around his neck, gently kissing him back. I panted when I felt Jimin's steamy breath brushing warmly against my cheeks as he slipped his fingers under my shirt again. Jimin suddenly lifted me up and made his way to his bedroom to lay me down on his bed. He interlaced his fingers with mine and began nibbling my neck, making me moan as he pressed my hand against the mattress. I pulled my hands free from his and ran it across his chest... down to his abs... tugging him closer to me. Jimin found his way back to my lips and lowered his hot body over me as he gently slid his hands down my thighs to reach between my legs. I felt my body aching for him, so I tugged his towel nervously as he positioned his body between my legs, making me tense my muscles from his sensual touch.

I couldn't think straight... I tried so hard to dismiss my feelings... but in the end... I've lost myself once again...