Zhen moved around the house in a panic. She hurriedly grabbed Kirakira, who was barking incessantly and followed Cho Hee out to the car. She didn’t say anything, she didn’t hear anything, and she hurried to climb into the car with Cho Hee, who immediately sped away from the house. They raced towards Mallory’s apartment building, and Zhen leapt from the car before it could even be parked. Police cars were already outside, and she spotted one of the officers

escorting Claude out in handcuffs.

The butterflies relaxed, but only slightly, as she still hadn’t found Mallory. She hurried to the elevator, which took far too long in her eyes to reach Mallory’s apartment floor, and raced towards the door, which was still opened.

When she moved into the apartment, panting and searching frantically, she found Mallory sitting on the couch, her hand knotted with Suga’s, and an officer in front of her, writing things on a pad of paper. Mallory’s eyes found Zhen, and she stood.

In an instant, Zhen and Mallory were hugging each other in a tight grip, Zhen shaking her head and trying not to cry. “I was so scared,” She said.

Mallory breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, for answering.” She said, shaking violently.

Zhen pulled back and frowned. “What the hell happened?”

“My mom let him in, and he started demanding things, like for my cooperation so he didn’t look bad in court, and then he pulled out another gun, and pointed it at Suga, so I told him I would say what he wanted me to say.” She shrugged. “But once we’re in that court, there’s nothing he can do.”

Zhen nodded, looking around. “Where are your parents?”

“Being questioned down stairs,” Suga answered. “Her mother has decided that they’ve overstayed their welcome, and wants to leave in the morning.” He sighed. “I feel bad, honestly, that she feels so guilty for it.”

Mallory shrugged. “They’d have to leave anyways. This apartment has some kind of dark aura. I want to move out.”

Zhen’s eyes widened. “What? But you’ve lived here for, like, four years. Maybe more! There’s nothing wrong with the apartment.”

Mallory shrugged again. “But Claude knows where it is, and where we keep the spare key, same with Caleb, and a whole bunch of other creeps that I don’t want getting in. For the time being, I’m staying with Jun Hyun. And you,” She said, smiling. “Can help me find my new house.”

Zhen raised an eyebrow. “House, or apartment.”

“Not sure yet.” She said, sighing. “But I need to get out of here. It’s too much.” She said, shaking her head. “Anyways, I’m fine, so you should probably go home and get ready for your presentation.”

“Are you staying here tonight then?”

Suga had just managed to pull a bag from Mallory’s room when Zhen asked this. “I’m actually staying with Jun Hyun and Ha-Neul for the time being.” She said, smiling. “It’ll be fun, I guess.”

Zhen sat on the bench in the locker room, tugging off her shoes, when Jungkook plopped down beside her and planted a kiss on her cheek. “How was your morning?” He asked, unlacing his shoes.

Zhen bit her lip, trying not to blush. Even now, after a long bit, Jungkook still made her bashful. “It was slow.” He hummed beside her, and she slipped her feet into her slippers. “Mallory is moving out of her apartment.”

“What’s wrong with it?”

Zhen shrugged. “Not as private as it should be, I suppose.” She sighed, lifting her shoes and carrying them to her locker. “How about you? How was your morning?”

Jungkook was in the middle of stretching when Zhen turned around. He gave her a sheepish smile. “Tiring?” He offered, and she laughed. He stood and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Let’s get to class. I’m itching to get this presentation over with.”

Zhen nodded and walked out of his grip. He followed behind her as they made their way towards the classroom. The class was already beginning to file in. Ha Na glared at her as the two entered and Jungkook reached to grab her, and Zhen almost smiled. He turned her to face him. “We’re doing the false one first?” She nodded and then continued forward.

The teacher moved into the room, and everyone rushed to their seats, staring at the front of the class intentively. He put down his briefcase and turned to look at class with narrowed eyes and a small frown. “As I’m sure you all know, your semester projects were due today, as it is the final week of semester.”

There was a collective groan throughout classroom. “And who would like to go first?”

Please log in to read the full chapter