Seung Hee threw her phone on the bed and jabbed a finger at Yoongi's picture.
“Just where on earth are you?” she demanded. “Huh? You never pick up my phone calls and you always leave me all alone...”

She tried calling again, but he didn't pick up. She hesitated – it was quite late – but got dressed and headed out. She caught a bus to go to BTS's dorm. Maybe he was there. Anyway, she really, really needed to see him. Desperately. She needed his comfort that night and she wanted to tell him about her mother.

Sighing, she laid her head against the window and remembered how Yoongi had taken her to her mother's apartment that morning. She had seemed surprised to see Seung Hee and Yoongi, but had let them come in.

The apartment was cluttered with dirty dishes, clothes, paint, brushes, papers – she was even dressed in a bulky sweater, the complete opposite of what Seung Hee remembered her as. She used to be so neat…

The silence between them had been so strained and Yoongi finally excused himself, giving Seung Hee's hand a reassuring squeeze before leaving.

Seung Hee's mother had cleared up a bit of the mess - mostly art equipment – and explained that she was an illustrator. The news hadn't really surprised Seung Hee; she had seen her mother paint in the little free time she had as a doctor.

Her mother brought her milk and Oreos – so she still remembered Seung Hee's favourite snack. Seung Hee noticed the way she had put the plate down nervously, and ask slowly, “You still like this, don't you?”

She had remembered – that little detail made Seung Hee's breathing just a little bit easier. She had no idea what to say, but her mother had.

“Seung Hee,” she had said. “I know what I did is unforgivable, but I want you to know my side of the story.”

Seung Hee had taken a cookie just for the sake of doing something. Had Yoongi called beforehand? To tell her to explain what had happened?

“You know,” Seung Hee's mother had said. “Because of my parents, I became a doctor when all I wanted to do was draw. Because of them, too, I married your father. I thought that if they were happy, I would be happy, too – but that wasn't the case at all.

“I couldn't do anything I wanted to, and your father was so dominating – he poisoned my thoughts so much that eventually I couldn't stand anything that had to do with him – including you. I know that this isn't an excuse, and I'm not trying to make excuses. I know how you felt-”

“You didn't,” cut in Seung Hee, and realized that she was imitating Yoongi's cold voice. “How I felt.. you have no idea. You have no idea how it feels to spend every night with headphones on to drown out your fighting! You have no idea how much I hated myself, how bad I felt felt when neither of you wanted to even drop me off at school!”

“I'm so sorry...”

Seung Hee had gotten up. “I appreciate you telling me everything honestly, but I have to go now.”

“No, Seung Hee!” her mother had cried. “Please! I want to take of you properly – I want to cook for you and take you to school and go shopping-”

“You should have done all that when you had the chance.” Seung Hee was about to leave when she had heard the sound of shattering glass.

She had turned around and seen shards of glass glittering on the floor in a puddle of milk…. And her mother, who was barefoot, had taken a step towards her.

And all Seung Hee knew was that her mother was going to get cut, so she had rushed forward and began to pick up the glass.

Her mother had knelt, too, and stopped Seung Hee. “Don't,” she had said. “You'll hurt yourself.”

Seung Hee had pushed her off and picked up another piece, but dropped and gave a cry of pain. Blood blossomed from her fingertip and her mother quickly made her rise and led her to the tap. Cold water had rinsed the blood away, and when her mother had brought the first-aid kit, Seung Hee said, “It's all right – it's just a cut.”

“It could get infected,” replied her mother, and had dabbed on disinfectant and then put a band-aid around Seung Hee's index finger.

“Does it hurt?”

Seung Hee had shaken her head, not quite sure of what to say – her mother had changed so much. In the past, she never cared when Seung Hee fell and scraped her knees, and only scolded her about getting hurt because she was clumsy.

Seung Hee didn't know why she said the next thing, and didn't even think before blurting out, “Lunch – can you make me lunch?”

The smile her mother gave her was one of pure happiness. The mother Seung Hee used to know would have never even wanted to make her instant noodles. And she found herself thinking that maybe – just maybe – she could forgive her mother. Just a little bit – because she was so different from when Seung Hee had known her. She was like a different person, in fact...

Now, the bus jolted to a stop, and after realizing that it was her stop, Seung Hee got off and walked to BTS's dorm, which was just around the corner. She didn't notice a certain man watching her go inside, nor was she aware of the picture that was taken.

 

* * * *

 

No one was at the dorm. Seung Hee sighed and sent Yoongi a text telling him where she was and she decided to wait for him. She did not want to go back to an empty apartment, and right now she wanted to see him so badly. Just for one minute… she had to be in his arms even for just one minute.

She paced around impatiently, rushing to look out of the window every few minutes. Every car that passed was Yoongi's, every group of people who passed was BTS. It was actually a good thing that she went to check at the slightest sound, because one hour later, that was how she knew that Manager Woo was coming up the steps.

Oh no! He wouldn't like seeing her here at all. Panicked, Seung Hee ran to Yoongi and Namjoon's room and rolled under one of the beds. Instantly, her nose began to fizz and she suppressed a sneeze – when was the last time anyone had cleaned down here?

BTS must have returned, too, because there were loud voices engaged in a heated argument in the next room. Everybody was yelling at the same time and she couldn't catch what they were saying – and she trying to concentrate on not sneezing – but she understood that it was about some kind of contract.

Eventually, things became quiet and the door creaked open and a pair of feet in grey socks padded towards the bed. Seung Hee was ninety-nine percent sure that the feet belonged to Yoongi – she could recognize the way he walked. She reached out and tugged on his pant leg.

“What the hell!” yelled Yoongi, jumping. He bent down, looking a bit spooked, and saw Seung Hee.

“Seung Hee?”

“Hi, it's me.”

“What… what are you doing down there?'

“I miss you – I wanted to see you so bad and you won't answer the phone and-”

“Shhh,” he whispered. “Manager Woo's here. I don't think he'll be very pleased to see you.”

“I know that.”

“Wait, is that why you're hiding down here?'

She rolled her eyes. “You're a real genius.”

He glared and Namjoon poked his head inside to say, “Woo's gone and – yah, what are you doing down there?”

“Dropped something...” muttered Yoongi, getting up.

“I see. Anyway, I'll be back late so just go to sleep now.”

As soon as he left, Yoongi bent down again and ordered, “Get out of there.”

Seung Hee crawled out and he brushed something off her hair.

“Aish, you're covered with dust.” He wiped the tip of her nose with his sleeve and picked her up.

“Stay here,” he ordered. “I'll check whether the coast is clear.”

Seung Hee didn't want to leave – well, ok, but only if he came with her. She watched him go out, and without really knowing why, she climbed into one of the beds and pulled the covers over her head. Ah, so cozy…

Yoongi came running back in. “Trouble!” He got in next to her and crowded her against the wall. She was squished between the cold wall and Yoongi's warm form – and she was squished so much that she couldn't really breathe. And it didn't help that he was so close to her that she could actually feel his irregular heartbeat.

“Yah,” she said. “You're squashing me-”

His hand came over . “Shh, Woo's back.”

Yoongi pulled the covers over her head and put a pillow on top of her to hide her form. Seung Hee couldn't help but think that he was overreacting about the whole thing but Manager Woo really was back. He even came inside the room – she could recognize the voice that said, “Why are you suddenly trying to fight this, Min? You weren't like this before. Is it because of that Lee brat?”

Seung Hee felt Yoongi's fists clench behind her back; she knew that she was the Lee brat...

“I know you're not asleep, Min,”said Woo. "I know that you turned down that drama because of the kid. And about this afternoon, I don't want to hear you say such a thing ever again. For the last time, know your place.”

Woo finally left, but Yoongi stayed pressed against Seung Hee for a long time, and she dared not move or say anything. He needed time right now. After a while, though, she whispered, “Did something happen?”

“Not really.”

“He said something about a drama-”

“Oh, that. I rejected it because I didn't like the script.”

“Are you sure?'

“Yeah. It was boring.”

Seung Hee knew that Yoongi wasn't telling the truth, but decided to drop it.

“Then why was he so mad?”

He took the pillow off and put his arm around her waist.

“Not much,” he said against her ear. “Just that on a show today, I said something. I talked about how people become idols because they want to… but the passion dies because of all the pressure. My agency didn't really like that.”

“That's what happened to you, isn't it?” asked Seung Hee.

Yoongi didn't answer and they remained in silence until she couldn't stand it any more and said, “Go to bed – it's late.”

“I am in bed,” he replied.

“Then I'll go to the other one.”

Yoongi swung a leg over her. “There. Now you can't.”

“Yah!” cried Seung Hee, trying to push his leg off – why was it so heavy? “We can't do this!”

“It's not like this is the first time we're sleeping in the same bed.”

“That was a big one – this one is so small and-”

“That's why I like it so much,” said Yoongi. “Now I can be close to you all night.”

Silence settled upon them again. The weight of Yoongi's arm and leg over her was strange but not unpleasant. And it was nice to have him so close. She struggled to roll onto her other side, facing him, and snuggled against his chest.

“What's with you?” he asked, chuckling.

“Nothing,” she mumbled. “I just really needed to see you.”

“Well, now you have. Why? You like me so much?”

“I had lunch with my mother today,” Seung Hee told him. “She explained about that time… and….”

“And?” prompted Yoongi.

“I don't know – maybe one day, I can forgive her. She changed a lot and-”

Suddenly, she couldn't speak – Yoongi was hugging her so tightly all the breath was squeezed out of her lungs.

“Can't breathe,” she choked, and he loosened his hold.

“I knew it!” he said. “You're so quick to forgive.”

“I'm not easy!”

“I never said that you were.”

"Things can never be perfect between us,” she said.

“I know.”
“It's like when you break something and glue it back together – the cracks will always be there.”

“I know.”

“But I can try – she changed a lot.”
“I know.”

“Did I… do the right thing?” she asked uncertainly.

He squeezed her hand, and got her answer. Yes, she had done the right thing, and he would be there to pick her up if she fell.

Seung Hee sighed in contentment; Yoongi was all the reassurance she needed. And now, in his arms, she felt so safe and her eyes began to droop and she realized how sleepy she really was. She hadn't noticed it before because it was buried under a sea of churning emotions of self-doubt, which Yoongi had just gotten rid of.

Lying so close to him like this was not bad – it gave her an excuse to cuddle with him and maybe she should try to stay awake a bit longer – it wasn't every day that she could be with him. In spite of herself, Seung Hee fell asleep just when she was about to say something…

 

* * * *

The next morning,Taehyung nearly had a heart-attack when he walked into Yoongi and Namjoon's room.

“Yah, Namjoon hyung,” he called – and his mouth fell open. Yoongi and Seung Hee were sleeping together on one of those tiny beds – and Yoongi even had his arm around her.

“What the hell?” he muttered. Was he seeing things? Yoongi was actually sleeping with someone in his arms?

He raced out to find someone who could tell him that he wasn't seeing things. And the first person he came across was Jungkook.

“Yah, Kookie, come here!” he cried, grabbing the maknae and dragging him, half-asleep, to the room.

“What is it?” he asked, a bit crabby.

Taehyung pointed dramatically. “Look!”

Jungkook's eyes widened. “Is that….?”

“Yoongi hyung and Seung Hee? Yes, it is. You see this, too, right?” he asked anxiously. “Phew – I thought I was going mad or something.”

Jungkook didn't reply.

“This is so strange, isn't it?” said the blissfully ignorant Taehyung. “I've never even seen Yoongi hyung touch anyone – much less hold someone like that. Actually, it's kind of cute.”

He whipped out his phone.

“What are you doing?” demanded Jungkook.

“Taking a picture, of course – I could make him do anything if I have a picture like this.”

“What if someone sees it?” asked Jungkook. “What if you lose your phone and someone sees it?”

“You're right,” said Taehyung, sadly putting his phone away. Then he began to tiptoe towards the bed.

Jungkook caught his arm. “Now what are you up to?”
“Oh, come on – I'm going to wake him up.”

“Leave them alone.”

“Sheesh, when did you turn so serious?” demanded Taehyung. "I'm just trying to have a bit of fun!"

“You're such a child sometimes,” snapped Jungkook. “Honestly, just grow up a bit!”

“Fine, I get it,” huffed Taehyung. “No one likes me.”

“You always say that!”

“Because it's true. You hate me.”

“Yah-”

“No, I understand. Leave me alone.”

Taehyung, his shoulders drooping, trudged out. Exasperated – honestly, how many times had he done this already? - Jungkook followed, trying to pacify him.

“You know I love you, hyung. Hey, I'll make you breakfast, ok? And I'll clean up for you, ok?”

“Really?” said Taehyung in a tiny voice.

Jungkook nodded.

Taehyung grinned. “Done!”

And Jungkook couldn't help but feel that something wasn't quite fair over here…