It was just like any other night. Though night was used for sleeping, no one had the liberty of doing so. It was work. At least, that’s what he told himself, and every time he returned, a little part of himself was left behind. He was afraid… that eventually there would be nothing left. He would be all gone. Forever.

“Aish…” Tae’s voice rang throughout the silence, “That took longer than usual.”

Yoongi grunted beneath the thin blankets of his bed, “Tell me about it…”

Jungkook sat quietly, staring out at the quiet grounds of the camp. Days continued to drag by, and weeks turned into months. It felt like a lifetime. Why? She wasn’t there, and he couldn’t help but feel a little selfish for wishing that she was.  

“I am never ever agreeing to Jina again,” Tae shuddered, shaking his head, “I’m a ruined man.”

“We all are,” Yoongi drawled, face buried in his pillow. If Jungkook didn’t know better, he would have thought that Yoongi loved his pillow more than his own girlfriend. Not that Frida would let that happen.

“I’m going to have nightmares,” collapsing against his mattress, Tae held his hands up to the light flickering on the ceiling, “Her voice just gives me chills.”

“We don’t need to know the details,” Yoongi groaned.

Scoffing, Tae rolled to his side in defeat, “Kookie, you were with Anna, right?”

Jungkook nodded mutely, continuing to stare out the window.

“She’s not that bad,” he sighed, “I had her last week. Thank god she’s quiet-”

“Tae,” Yoongi snapped, “Shut up.”

Sending his roommate the death glare, Tae turned back to his best friend, “You okay?”

Jungkook nodded again in silence.

“You haven’t spoken more than two words this week,” Tae grumbled, “And that was to say ‘thank you.’”

Jungkook shrugged.

“Look, would it kill you to at least talk to me once in awhile?” Tae sat up suddenly, agitated, “I mean, she’s not going to come back just because you died in silence-”

Jungkook shot him a look, and his friend went silent. It was always like this… at least since she left. He didn’t know why, but he didn’t feel like speaking anymore. Why share his thoughts, when there was no one to share them with? Sure, he had Tae, and Yoongi, and Namjoon, and Jin, and JHope, and Eunnie, and Frida… but he didn’t have Jimin. And he didn’t have her. When she wasn’t there to listen, Jimin was there, and when Jimin wasn’t there, she took his place. Maybe it was his fault for becoming too attached to the both of them.

“Just go to sleep,” Yoongi yawned, “That’s enough for today.”

Tae nodded, for once, in silence. Reaching up to flip the switch, he watched as Jungkook continued to stare out the tiny window by his bed. He shook his head and sunk beneath the covers as the lights dimmed into darkness.

“-Kookie…”

He spun around, squinting at the bright white light surrounding him. “Rose?” he called, struggling to move forward. The clanking of chains drew his attention to the ground, and he stared at the cuffs embracing his ankles as the chains tied him to the ground. Looking up, he searched for the voice- for Rose, but all he could see was fog and white. “Rose!” he called again, “Rose, where are you? Rose-”

A figure appeared before him, but instead of the woman he was expecting, a man smiled.

“Jimin?” Jungkook struggled to move forward, “Jimin-”

“She liked you,” Jimin replied sadly, stepping away, “She’s always liked you-”

“Jimin, stop-”

“But not anymore,” Jimin’s eyes seemed glossy. Unreal.

“Kookie,” Rose’s voice spoke up again, and this time her figure appeared through the fog.

“R-Rose-”

“You said we would leave together,” a tear slipped down her cheek, “You lied, Kookie. You lied to me.”

“Rose, I didn’t-” Jungkook’s mind was muffled and fuzzy. Why couldn’t he think straight?

“I love Jimin,” Rose spoke quietly, and even those words that seemed so gentle sent a thousand daggers in his heart.

“N-no-” the chains around his ankles burned, and he collapsed to the ground.

“You had your chance,” Jimin took Rose’s hand, “Now I have mine.” With that, he drew her closer. Their lips pressed together, and the chains blew up in flames.

Jungkook gasped in agony, clutching his heart as if it were to jump right out of his chest. “Please,” he choked, “Rose-”

“You mean nothing to me,” she stared at his crumpled body against the floor, “Not anymore.”

“Please don’t-”

“Goodbye, Kookie,” Jimin cast on last smile until he disappeared, hand in hand with Rose.

At that very moment, the fog itself blew up in heart-wrenching flames.

Jungkook sat bolt upright, shivering against the cold. Sweat trickled down his neck, and goosebumps covered his skin from head to toe. Shaking his head, he let out a long, shaky breath. “Just a dream…” he murmured, staring at the palms of his hands, “Just… just a dream…”

***

“Why do the showers have to be so cold,” Tae grumbled, running his finger through his wet locks.

“Just get dressed,” Yoongi yawned, tossing him his uniform.

“Seriously,” tugging on his pants, he scoffed, “Do they want us to freeze to death or something?”

Yoongi shrugged, “I don’t know. It’d probably be better than staying here the rest of our lives.”

“True,” a sigh escaped Tae’s mouth, and he leaned against the lockers in defeat, “I’d rather drown, though. That’s quicker.”

“Dying in your sleep is painless, though,” Yoongi shrugged, buttoning up his shirt.

“You already spend more time asleep than awake,” rolling his eyes, he turned away to fish his blazer off the ground.

“It’s better than being awake in this nightmare.”

Jungkook nodded silently, and though that statement was simple, it was true. They say that lies sting. He couldn’t believe that, for the truth… it burned. At times, he wished for a lie. He wished for false hope, yet there was no room to even share a tiny fib. At this point, he could no longer believe in any kind of happiness, for it wasn’t there. It never would be.

“Kookie,” Tae slung an arm over his shoulder, “Come with me to Vocal Class?”

Jungkook nodded mutely.

“I don’t want to be alone again,” sighing, Tae shook his head, “Too many girls.”

Jungkook nodded again, staring at the light flickering by the rusting mirror.

Yoongi groaned, ruffling his hair in frustration, “I have poetry class today…”

“I thought you liked poetry,” scoffing, Tae rolled his eyes.

“Not with those idiots teaching,” Yoongi retorted, “Seriously. Do they think we’re going to actually write something happy about this place?”

Tae shrugged, “They’re idiots. What do you expect? You said so yourself.”

“Shut up,” Yoongi grumbled.

“Y-”

“HURRY UP, BASTARDS. WE HAVEN’T GOT ALL DAY!” Taikaswami shouted over the hushed chattering between the boys.

Shooting a disgusted look at the burly man, Yoongi nodded to the door, “Come on. I don’t feel like dealing with him today.”

***

“-if we snuck out on this night?”

“That wouldn’t work,” Namjoon shook his head, “Too many guards.”

“What time do you think most of them are almost asleep?” Eunnie leaned in, glancing back at the girls slowly circling around them like sharks.

“Either mid-shift, or when they’re changing,” Jin nodded.

“This is too risky,” crossing her arms, Frida pursed her lips, “Who says we aren’t going to get caught once over the wall?”

“There’s a river not too far from here,” Tae whispered, “If we stay close to it, the dogs won’t be able to track our location.”

“If we get caught, it’s over,” Yoongi shook his head, “They won’t let us go. We’ll get split up into the worst camps plus receive the harshest punishment. We can’t just guess our way around this.”

“We don’t have a choice at this point,” Namjoon’s gaze flickered to the girls circling for a moment, “The camp is already growing. If it grow anymore, we won’t have a chance. They’ll send in more officials.”

JHope nodded in agreement, “We can’t wait this out. I heard the Head say there’s a group of about hundred being shipped in from the Philippines next week.”

Eunnie gripped Jin’s hand anxiously, “We don’t have time-?”

“Thursday night,” Namjoon concluded, “All the officials will be preparing for Friday, so that has to be our best bet. After that, we’re screwed. The security is bound to be tightened the following week.”

“But what about after?” Frida stared at him skeptically.

Namjoon was silent for a while, until he answered slowly, “We find Jimin.”

“Are you crazy?” Yoongi hissed, “His father’s the President! The one who got us in this mess to begin with!”

Jungkook stared at the ground in silence. Yes, it was crazy. It was absolutely, one hundred percent insane, and yet he had to believe. He had to believe those words. He only told Namjoon the day after they left, and even then, Namjoon didn’t believe him. Who would? It was ridiculous. Impossible. Clearing his throat, Jungkook looked up, surprising the resting of his friends. “Jimin…” he spoke quietly, “Jimin told me to.”

He was numb. His heart was frozen in his chest, and the light that once flickered behind his eyes was long gone. Throughout all of this, he couldn’t help but blame himself. He should have protected her. He should have shielded her from it. He should have… he should have done anything. Just to keep her by his side. But it was too late. It always was.

“Kookie?” Jimin’s voice spoke up, quietly breaking through his tangled string of thoughts.

Jungkook looked up only slightly, “Yeah?”

Pausing, Jimin sunk down to the floor beside him. His breathing was uneven, and though Jem couldn’t bring himself to look at him, he could feel his sorrow. “I’m… I’m leaving. With them.”

Jungkook nodded slowly, “I know.”

“I can’t leave her alone,” Jimin whispered.

“I know.”

Swallowing, Jimin stared up at the ceiling in defeat, “Something’s changed, Kookie. I don’t know why, but it has.”

Jungkook sat only in silence.

“My father…” Jimin shook his head, “He wants to end it. The camps.”

“What?” Jungkook’s head shot up in surprise.

“He didn’t say it directly, but I can tell,” sighing, he leaned against the wall, “She’ll be safe, Kookie. I promise.”

Jungkook turned away. He knew it… he knew it all too well, and that’s what hurt most. She would be safer with his best friend, rather than with him.

“I don’t know how long it’ll take to end it all,” Jimin spoke carefully as if afraid he’d prick his finger while searching through a pile of needles, “But it’s going to take a long time.”

Jungkook nodded again.

“If you guys escape before then… find me,” Jimin stared at him with such intensity that it was almost frightening.

“Jimin-” Jungkook began, but he cut him off.

“It’s not that far from the camp, and no one would think to look there. Security is completely controlled by my father. You’d be safe. All of you.”

Turning away, Jungkook stared at his hands, “I can’t ask that of you.”

“Kookie-”

“I can’t ask you to risk your life for me, and I can’t ask you to risk her life,” he looked up, “If we escape, I won’t drag you down with us. I can’t do that. Not to you. Not to her.”

Jimin looked away, in loss for words. “That- that’s not what I meant.”

“I know.”

“You… you’re breaking her heart, you know that, right?” Jimin whispered.

Jungkook looked up slightly.

“And don’t tell me that I’m wrong, because I know… I know I’m not,” Jimin let out a shaky breath, “It’s breaking her heart… leaving you. If you never come back, and if you never see her again… she’s not going to live through that, Jem. As much as she’s strong, she’s still fragile. You can’t do that to her.”

Jungkook could only stare at his hands in silence.

“I know it’s a lot to ask, but she would want the same,” Jimin rose to his feet, “Promise me you’ll return.”

“So… the President that’s the bad guy isn’t actually a bad guy?” JHope narrowed his eyes, “What next? Are you gonna tell me those horses with stripes exist?”

“Zebras actually exist, Hoseok,” Jin rolled his eyes.

“No, they don’t!” JHope shrieked, clutching his chest, “Don’t lie!”

“Hoseok-”

“So we get to his house,” Frida cut in, growing annoyed, “What next?”

Namjoon shrugged, “Lay low until the camps are liberated.”

“That could take years,” Yoongi shook his head, “We can’t hide for that long.”

“We could take a ship back to America,” Jin suggested, “I mean, think about it. The Korean Government already thinks that they’ve got all the kids with the breeding gene from there, so they won’t be looking for more. It’ll be safe.”

Eunnie nodded slowly, “That makes sense… Rose could show us around!”

“But how are we going to find a ship?” frowning, Frida shook her head, “This is too sketchy-”

“Excuse me?” JHope stared at her, completely offended at her question, “What am I then?!”

“What-?”

“You’re talking to the guy that single handedly stole the keys to the dungeon,” JHope scoffed, nose in the air.

“Hey, I was there too-” Tae started, but Frida rolled her eyes.

“We’re not talking about keys, Hoseok. A ship. That’s much bigger than a pair of keys-”

“Are you saying that I can’t-”

Yoongi groaned, “Just shut up already.”

“Don’t-”

“I didn’t say-”

“Guys!” Namjoon raised his voice just above the whisper they had all secluded themselves to, “Back to the plan?”

“Right…”

“Chances are that Jimin could get us all a boat to America,” Namjoon rubbed his temples tiredly, “Just… go with the flow, okay?”

Jin, Eunnie, Jungkook, Tae, and Hoseok all nodded, but Yoongi and Frida still showed signs of worry across their faces.

“It’ll be fine, okay?” Namjoon straightened up, glancing at the group of girls that had now form a crowd before them, “We’ll discuss this later.”

Just like that, the held silence formulating amongst the group of girls shattered, and their voices rang throughout the hall like a siren. Hands reached out to brush against their sleeves, and desperate calls clambered over one another in attempt to be heard. Not that it really helped, for no one could hear anything with such noise.

“Rapmon-”

“JHOPE!”

“Tae, please l-”

“KOOKIE!”

“Oh my god,” Frida sighed, sitting down against the wall.

Resting her head against Frida’s shoulder, Eunnie nodded tiredly, “I’m exhausted just looking at them.”

“How do you think I feel?” Yoongi muttered.

“Rapmon! Can you help me with Chemistry?” one girl latched onto Namjoon’s arm, “I really don’t understand it.”

Struggling to free his arm, he laughed nervously, “Uh… I’m not really one to ask about this-”

“You’re the smartest one here,” another girl chirped.

“I’m not good at tutoring-”

“We don’t have to just study-”

“JHOPE!” a girl screamed, “CAN YOU MARRY ME?!”

“They’ve gotten worse,” Frida sighed.

“Yep,” Eunnie nodded.

“Sorry, but I’m a bachelor for life,” JHope declared.

Eunnie burst out laughing, causing all the girls to spin around in shock and annoyance. “Hoseok,” she gasped between her laughing, clutching her side in pain, “This is why I love you.”

JHope flashed a grin, and the girls once fawning over him turned to glare at her.

Jin smiled a little, sitting beside his girlfriend and playing with her hair, “Not more than me, right?”

She rolled her eyes, “Oh, I don’t know… yeah?” laughing, she shook her head, “Idiot…”

The shouting of the piranhas continued for thirty more minutes or so until the door finally opened. If there was anything as pointless as Free Time, pigs would fly. Honestly.

***

The night was clear, and it seemed as if all the veils concealing the universe were finally drawn back. The moon was a shimmering, silver pearl hanging in a sea of black, casting all waves of light through the darkness. A light breeze ruffled the trees outside the walls, and though winter had only just left its goodbyes, traces of snow could still be spotted along the ground.

Jungkook sighed. Throughout the calm and beauty, he couldn’t help but feel unrest churning at the pit of his stomach. All he could do was hope that she was seeing the same sky.

“Thinking about her?” Namjoon’s voice spoke quietly behind him.

Giving a small nod, Jungkook continued to stare up at the sky.

Namjoon lowered himself to sit on the edge of the roof beside him, “Don’t worry. You’ll see her in a few days.”

Jungkook shook his head, tearing his eyes away from the moon, “It’s… it’s not that.”

Namjoon nodded slowly, staring at the palms of his hands, “You love her.”

Letting out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, Jungkook nodded. “I just… I don’t want to get my hopes up. She’s been with… with Jimin for so long, I don’t want to expect anything. She deserves the best… I can’t give her that.”

The corners of Namjoon’s mouth curved upwards to form a tiny, sad smile, “I know.”

“I want her to be happy,” Jungkook swallowed hard, “If she’s happy… then I’ll be happy.”

“You never know,” leaning back onto the heels of his hands, Namjoon cast a reassuring glance to his friend, “If she truly loves you, she’ll be waiting. With or without Jimin.”

Jungkook shook his head, “That’s the thing… Jimin deserves her more than I do. He deserves to be loved.”

“And you don’t?”

Jungkook remained silent.

“You know,” Namjoon spoke slowly, “The only one who gets to decide who Rose deserves to be with, is Rose. You can’t force it upon her. If she loves Jimin, she loves Jimin. If she loves you, she loves you. Don’t forget that.”

Jungkook nodded. If only it was that simple. If only.