Jungkook had no idea where he was headed, but somehow, he found himself facing the cafeteria a few minutes later. What am I doing? The bell will go soon.

As if on cue, the door opened, and before Jungkook could react, Hyunsoo and Jinyoung walked out laughing together, replacing their expressions with a poker face as soon as they noticed Jungkook staring at them.

“Came to cause more trouble?” Jinyoung frowned at Jungkook.

“What, I can’t even go to the cafeteria now? Think I’m here to ruin your precious time with her? And here I thought, you had standards.”

Jinyoung suddenly lashed forwards angrily and tried to grab Jungkook by the collar. Fortunately, Jungkook ducked just in time and put on his every day smirk.

“Not sure whether I should be taking advice from you. Heard about your weekly girls.”

For a split second, Hyunsoo saw a flick of anger pass by Jungkook’s eyes, but it was quickly covered up with his smirk.

“Well, I have a vacancy for Wednesday now,” he looked at Hyunsoo, “I would ask you to join… but you’re not for me. I don’t take on girls who can’t even stand for themselves.”

Hyunsoo felt herself heat up in embarrassment. What is he trying to get at?

Jinyoung looked from Jungkook to Hyunsoo, and back again. “Stay away from her.”

“Stay away from my new favourite toy? I think not.”

“How can you treat her like this when you don’t even know her?” Jinyoung shouted, and this time he managed to take Jungkook by the collar.

“Oh, but I do know her. Think before you act stupid.” Jungkook was smirking at Hyunsoo, ignoring Jinyoung’s hand completely.

“What do you mean?” Hyunsoo found herself asking before she could stop herself. He seemed to know something she didn’t.

However, Jungkook simply looked at her with a broad smile, which told Hyunsoo everything: He wasn’t going to tell her a thing.

She didn’t know whether it was the smiling or the fact that he knew something about her, but something in Hyunsoo made her push him away from Jinyoung and onto the floor. At the same time, the bell started ringing and people swam out into the corridors finding Jinyoung grabbing Hyunsoo and facing her away from Jungkook, who was still on the floor staring at the pair.

“I’ll walk you to class,” Jinyoung whispered to Hyunsoo.

Hyunsoo was shaking slightly from what she had just done. Something had taken over her so suddenly… something Jungkook said hit a nerve.

On their way to class, they walked past four girls stood on the side in silence. They were all glaring at Hyunsoo, except one girl who kept a blank face expression, though she gave off an even meaner impression than the others. Hyunsoo hadn’t recognised her, but she recognised the other three and started walking in pace with Jinyoung to hide her face from their view. She knew them too well to be able to recognise them at a glance. The three girls who never let Hyunsoo have her peace at middle school.

Hyunsoo clutched Jinyoung’s shirt without realising and started hiding herself against him. To this, Jinyoung looked down at Hyunsoo a little surprised but didn’t do anything and continued to walk with her. He did notice, that it must have been something to do with the girls they walked past, though he decided to keep quiet and not ask.

After school, Hyunsoo left to go home on her own, since Jimin had not been at school. She couldn’t wait to talk to him and was really curious to find out where he went and how he got away with it. However, her thoughts suddenly turned to dust when she saw her dad waiting for her in the kitchen as soon as she stepped inside the house. Common sense told her to go to her dad, otherwise it will be worse, though she lost her thoughts when her dad slapped her hard across the face. This was just a warm up.

Hyunsoo looked up at her dad. Should she even call him dad? She had to… still, he was no dad to her. She had no respect for this man. No feelings towards this man. Nothing.

She watched him pick up the chopping board and face her with disgust. Next thing she knew, he had slammed the board against her back, causing her to fall down at his feet. She wanted to cry out of pain, but she had to stop herself. This would only give pleasure to her dad. He wanted her to cry, so he could hurt her even more.

Without saying anything to Hyunsoo, he kept picking up different objects from the kitchen and using it to hurt her. After what seemed like hours, he finally stepped over her and left, slamming the door behind him. He hadn’t said a word at all. No reason to why he did this, no nothing. Nonetheless, he was gone, and she could cry now. Her eyes filled with prickly tears in an instant. Her heart felt heavy with stress and her head hurt with pain. As the tears rolled down her red face, she gave a sob and turned over on her back. Gradually, she started closing her eyes. Pain was making her body ache so much she started wishing for eternal sleep. Death.

~Ring Ring~

Hyunsoo looked up from the kitchen floor. She had fallen asleep somehow, which she was now glad for because the pain seemed to have eased during her sleep. She took out her phone from her pocket and checked the time – 01:20 – before checking the caller. It was Jimin… At this time? Is he okay?

Hyunsoo: Jimin! What are you doing up at this time? We have school tomorrow.

Jimin: Why you ask? Why? I’ve been calling you the past 5 hours! How do you think I’ve been feeling all this time!

H: I’m sorry-

J: I was worried sick! What happened?

H:

J: Hyunsoo? Hyunsoo! Are you alive?! Oh my god! Was it-

H: (Abruptly) No, it’s nothing… why didn’t you come to school then? You said you would tell me.

J: Uh, well… first answer a few questions.

H: Yes?

J: Are you hurt?

H: Jimin, I’m n-

J: Promise to answer honestly.

H: I- why can’t you just play along and pretend everything is fine?

J: Because everything is not fine! You are my friend now, Hyunsoo, and whether you like it or not, I will not ignore anything that hurts you… emotionally… or physically.

H:

J: Now answer the question.

H: Yes.

J: Was it him?

H: Yes.

J: Can I kill him?

H: … NO! Jimin!

J: Fine, but we have to do something about this. Does your mum do nothing? Is she on his side?

H: My mum is not on his side! She’s… weak. She’s in a similar situation like me. We can’t do anything.

J: Oh, yes we can! I’ll make sure of it.

H: Jimin, I- I’m sorry for burdening you with my problems. I’m really sorry-

J: Shut up.

H: I-

J: I said shut up. Now, on a brighter note, I went on a mini date today at an amusement park.

H: (Surprised) What! Really? Who?

J: Ah, so nice to see a fellow friend being cheered up only because her friend went on a date but not her-

H: Shut up.

J: (laughs)

H: Who was- Oh no! I have to go- I’m sorry!

J: What? Wai-

Hyunsoo hung up on Jimin quickly and pocketed her phone, before turning to face the front door. Someone was unlocking it… What if it’s dad again? I should run upstairs… though as soon as she stood up, the door opened and someone stepped through.