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chapter three

The road back to Seoul was quiet—the blossoming morning accompanied by rain under the still shining streetlamps, a feeble sun hiding behind grey clouds. Rain still falls in large lazy drops and the cars pass with a hiss, headlamps and wipers on.

Both of them have soon entered the building of their dorms. They can already hear the group's hearty laughter through the thin walls.

Not a single word was uttered during the entire ride from neither of them. Yoongi understood her situation with ease and didn't want to put her in an uncomfortable place—much surprisingly to Yona.

As they're about to enter the dorms, Ahri lightly grabs onto his arm. His eyes immediately locate toward the spot she has touched, blinking while waiting for some sort of explanation. "Oh," she realizes soon. "Sorry. I'm an arm-grabber," Ahri says the last word in English; not knowing what it means in her native language.

"Thank you for the money." Yet she's swift to change the subject, bowing her head slightly. "I'll pay you back. I promise."

He mumbles after a small pause, "It's okay."

"Yona," he suddenly calls out for her name. Said girl instinctively looks up to meet his gaze. "You can always come and talk to me if you want to."

Maybe Yoongi isn't that bad.

Before she could even utter out a word, the door of the dorm opens in a sudden. Jungkook's eyes rip open at the sight of the tall girl; immediately tottering back and hiding behind the door.

Yoongi and Ahri blink, simultaneously tilting their heads to the side in confusion. Though the former chuckles to himself, entering the dorms while ruffling Jungkook's hair, who's still hiding.

"Um..." Yona awkwardly clears her throat. "Jungkook," she calls out, causing him to squeak slightly. Her eyes widen at that reaction. But she quickly composes herself. "I know that you're there. You... know that, right?"

Realization hits him, and he gasps soundly. Jungkook runs further into the dorms.

That leaves her perplexed. Ahri stands there, mouth ajar.

"Cute." She chuckles lightly.

She enters the apartment. But as soon as she does, she's attacked by an over-affectionate Jimin. "Yona!" He exclaims, clinging onto her like a koala. "Where were you? Me and Taehyung went to wake you up, but you weren't there."

"Oh, um, I..." She clears her throat. "Had to talk to a... relative... and all..."

"Ah, Ahri, you came right in time!" Seokjin calls out from the doorway, rushing toward them with some other members trailing behind. "We have to leave now for the meeting."

And they do. Si-Hyuk is already awaiting them, an excited smile on his face. Everyone takes a seat around the wide table. "Now that your debut is approaching, we will have to lay down all the official information and facts," he begins. "Since Ahri isn't known to this type of business, I'll have to explain the essentials."

"First of all, let's start with general information. What would you like your stage name to be?" He collects her short amount of attention. "We have a few suggestions, but you could keep your real name as well."

Huh... That leaves Ahri thinking. While she's deep in thought and so mentally completely absent, the others select their own stage names.

"I think..." she speaks up, gaining everyone's attention. "Yves."

"What?" All of them exclaim dumbly.

"Yves. My stage name." She frantically nods. But as she comprehends that they're waiting for an elaboration, she delivers one. "It means archer in French. It has Germanic history. I think it fits with my German nationality." Ahri nervously plays with her fingers beneath the table. She mutters quietly, looking down, "It's meaningful..."

Namjoon is astonished, widened eyes staring at her. "That's so cool!" He smiles. "Yves also means 'yew', which is a coniferous tree with incredibly poisonous berrylike fruits!"

"Well, that fits," Yoongi mutters aside.

Her glare immediately throws daggers at him. He gladly returns it. It creates more awkward tension between the group again, but Si-Hyuk swiftly slices it and brings the attention back on him.

"That's a great name, Ahri! Yves it is, then." He sends her a small smile. "We have already decided what your group name will be."

Excitement bubbles up in the group's chests. "It's Bulletproof Boy Scouts, shortly called BTS!"

Am I a boy? Ahri's eyebrows furrow in genuine confusion.

"PD-nim, that's a great name, but..." Namjoon clears his throat, glancing over at the puzzled girl. "We have a female member now..."

"I am aware," retorts the said man, nodding. "But the name is used very loosely. Most will call you by BTS. Your introduction is, 'We are BTS,' and not otherwise. It's also important for Ahri to blend in with you guys."

Yona keeps on scratching her wrists rather harshly, uneasy feelings at the tip of her stomach.

"Um..." The attention is on her again as she croaks out a few words. "PD-nim, maybe it's better for me to..." Ahri searches for the correct words for some time, before continuing, "Train first. Maybe it's better for me to be in a girl-group... I don't fit in."

"What are you saying, Yonnie?" Jimin swiftly speaks up, bewildered eyes snapping toward her. Everyone is perplexed, blinking to comprehend it.

"I-It's the truth..." She tries her hardest to conceal those agitated feelings, yet that is easier said than done. "I mean, I didn't even train. It's all too sudden. I'm not ready. I don't want to ruin you guys' chance, either."

Immediately, most of the boys disagree and try to talk her out of it. Meanwhile, some are just shocked.

But Taehyung, somehow, seems to be the most worried member out of all of them. His desire of her not leaving is indescribable. "You can't just go now, Yona!" He is thrown-off to say the least. Even the boys have to check his needy demeanor twice.

"We will talk about this alone after this meeting, Ahri," Si-Hyuk declares, to which she nods. "Until then..."

"If I can persuade you on being a member of this group, because, trust me, you have the perfect qualities for it, Yona," he mentions in an honest tone. "Then, I want you to call your other male members 'hyung.' It's firstly for you to completely fit in with them and not to stick out too much, but to also make sure that you are in a 'brotherhood' with the other members. Many people will romanticize and take matters out of context if you call them by the actual, correct honorific."

Ahri inclines her head. Si-Hyuk remains on talking, but her mind has already wandered off. Even as she tries to concentrate, she simply can't. The voices in her head take her hands and pull her out of that universe and into another one.

It's safe to say that Si-Hyuk did, in fact, persuade Yona in staying.

"Ahri, I'm going to be honest," he began. "Your talent is simply striking and not to oversee. Even at your young age and without any sort of experience, you have magnificent rapping skills and just the right sense for it. Yes, your dancing may lack a little rhythm, but it's nothing we can't polish and let fully shine in the end of this story."

Just like Ahri usually does, her body is laid down on the hard mattress while she stares up at the ceiling; rethinking her life choices.

"Grandma must be beyond worried..." Her lips curl downward at the thought of her.

Feelings of distressing perturbation nibble on her form that there is nothing else she can think of. Ahri shakes her head at those thoughts. But even as that doesn't change her poor state, she impulsively jumps up and throws the bag over her shoulder.

In that bag are dozens of spray bottles. She has exited the building and strolls in the night streets of Seoul to find a nice place to draw at. Thankfully, the neighborhood they live in isn't that crowded, so it's way easier to stay undetected.

As she spots a blank, almost unblemished wall, she takes quick steps toward it. Ahri pulls out the colorful spray bottles from her bag and allows the chaotic hues of her mind to spread across the canvas-like wall.

It doesn't take long for her to finish it. Yona relieves a satisfied sigh as she notices that her niggling worries have calmed down at the end—now observing her painting.

A scenery is on sinister flames of red fire in the graffiti. There is an archer dressed in nothing but ink-like hues who attacks the once dazzling trees and strawberry village with countless of burning arrows—again and again. Everything is in chaos. Everything is burning down.

Right in the corner are two letters: Y and S.

"Hey! You! What are you doing?!"

Behind her are a few men—most probably a citizen that has reported the crime to the police. But Ahri had instantly ran off at the faint sounds of footsteps already. Even if they would be close, they could never reach up to her. She's simply too fast. And this situation isn't anything new to her, either.

Ahri exhales a very needed breath as she has arrived back at her house, bending over slightly to catch a stabilized heartbeat. Whilst she is sure that the normal beats of her heart are back, the familiar voice shocks her.

"What are you doing at this hour, Yona?"

There Taehyung sits, his butt planted on the floor. His pajama has countless of  strawberries on it, and she almost chuckles at the adorable sight. But his concerned expression holds her up from it.

"Hello, Taehyung," is all she can muster out.

Even saying the name after that long of a time has managed to become peculiar to her. Yet he doesn't seem to notice how croaked out his name has rolled off of her tongue—rather rubbing his tired eyes while locating his gaze at the striking stars behind Yona's figure instead. He looks back at her. Then he looks back at the stars. And then at her again. He smiles, keeping his warm eyes on her now.

Taehyung beckons her to sit down next to him, and she obeys. To not make the situation any more awkward, she asks him, "Why are you awake?"

"I couldn't sleep well." He looks straight ahead, avoiding her curious gaze. "Lots of thoughts and all."

"Oh."

Unfortunately, the atmosphere does turn awkward.

Much to Ahri's dismay. She cringes. Physically. And Taehyung immediately notices that, for her laughs at the sour expression that is plastered on her face. The all too familiar sound of his laugh emerges one to escape her as well.

His intense eyes stay keen on her smile for a while. Yet that only causes it to falter in growing embarrassment, widened eyes staring back at him. "What?" Ahri stammers slightly.

"You have a really pretty smile," is all he says while keeping his eyes on her lips. His voice is monotonous, as if there is something else lingering in his mind. "I had friend who," he suddenly pokes her cheeks one by one, "Has the same dimples as you."

"Ha-ha, what a coincidence..." Ahri mutters aside while gently pushing his hand away from her now heated cheeks.

It seems that he wants to finally release words that have been clouding his mind for days now, but Ahri interrupts that and states, "I think we should go now. The other members can get worried. You are probably tired"

Yet Taehyung seems rather conflicted. Yona simultaneously detects that. So, she asks him in a careful tone, "Are you okay?"

"I woke up because I had a bad dream," he replies, slightly embarrassed about it. Taehyung scratches his neck. "Could I maybe sleep in your dorm...? I feel lonely in ours."

Though she can only frown at that last saying. "There are six other people in your dorm. How can you—" But she quickly stops herself, shaking her head. "Never mind. Of course you can."

Thus, a wide smile spreads on his features. He jumps up and practically whizzes toward her apartment. Once the keys are handed to him, Taehyung opens the door and throws himself on the couch.

Yona does, too. She gulps, widened eyes looking straight at the ceiling.

For the next passing minutes, there is not a single sound to be heard. Everything and anything is quiet at this late hour. All is silenced. Yona can finally drop her eyes closed; ready for a dreamy slumber with, hopefully, no unsettling nightmares.

"Sleep well, Nana."

Her eyes rip open.

No other word is dropped into the room after that.

Ahri's mind stutters. She can't properly process her thoughts. There is a weird feeling that bubbles in the pit of her stomach at the usage of her old nickname.

But maybe she has only imagined him saying that.

The morning sun greets them faster than thought. Ahri watches how it arises more and more with every passing second. She hasn't been able to fall into slumber after her mind kept on replaying Taehyung's words like a mantra.

Said boy awakens soon enough. "Good morning," he elongates the words in his morning voice as he stretches himself. Taehyung rubs his with fatigue-filled eyes.

"Morning," mumbles Ahri, avoiding his gaze. The girl swiftly stands up and decides to get ready to spare any more moments of torturing humiliating.

Once she's finished, she moves over to the boys' dorm. Taehyung had left beforehand. All members greet her gleefully, which she tries returning as good as she can.

"Okay, so," Namjoon starts as everyone is huddled up in the small living room. "PD-nim told us that we have a day-off today because of Ahri's arrival. He said that we should get to know each other better before starting off with the hard work."

"That's a good idea." Nodding his head along, Seokjin suggests, "Should we stay at home or do something outside? I think doing outdoor activities would be better for bonding. We could go to a restaurant."

Oh, God, please no—

Some members, thankfully, shake their heads in disapproval. "We could go and play at an arcade!" Jungkook exclaims. Taehyung immediately agrees with the same energy. They begin on debating soon, and all Yona does is observe them quietly.

"Do you have any suggestions, Ahri?" Hoseok asks, taking a seat on the couch beside her.

Said girl scratches her head. "Um..." She glances around every member, just to notice that all of their attention is focused on her. It makes her feel embarrassed. Simultaneously, her gaze falls to the ground again. "I don't mind going anywhere you suggest."

"Let's go to an amusement park, then!" Jimin states. "It's really fun there."

Everyone agrees to his idea. Not even a few minutes later, every single member is sprawled in different places of the dorm; getting ready.

"What are you doing?" Yona asks quietly as she enters the small kitchen, watching the eldest.

"Oh, hi, Ahri!" Seokjin sends her a warm smile. He focuses his gaze below at the counter and everything that is on it. "I'm preparing some snacks. The members get hungry really easily." He chuckles.

Fidgeting with her fingers, she quivers, "Can I help...?"

"Of course!" He answers in joy.

Ahri moves over next to him, and then takes out all the necessities from the refrigerator like Seokjin tells her to.

"Do you like amusement parks, Ahri?" The question is rather lighthearted and thrown into the room to loosen the visible tension in the girl's shoulders.

"Uh..." She has to think about it first; summing up all the memories she has in mind. "I guess." She shrugs. "I only went once."

Her reply leaves him stunned. "Only once? Why?"

"My parents didn't..." Ahri's lips run dry. She gulps, looking down and avoiding his gaze while picking up an apple. "We did other stuff." As she looks up, she sends Seokjin a forced smile. "That's all."

It doesn't take long for the snacks to be finished. The group leaves their dorms without any more obstacles and enters the amusement park, soon on.

A slight breeze rustles the leaves, making them fall to the solid ground one by one. The air's warm, the beams of sunlight glowing on their skin. Flowers are vast, and they conceal the freshly cut green grass.

The pathway is nothing more than dirt littered with random rocks. the children are playing and the parents talking among each other.

"What should we do first?" Namjoon asks around.

Many different ideas are thrown in the air, and after nobody can properly decide on what to do, they simply decide to split themselves up.

In the end, Jimin and Hoseok go to the carousel, Jeongguk drags Seokjin to the roller coaster, and Namjoon goes to the ferris wheel with Yoongi.

Left are Yona and Taehyung. The latter is as excited as ever—dragging the girl around to every place the park has. In contrast, Ahri is nervous and terror-stricken in his presence. Yet she manages to not show it and enjoys her missed times with him.

"Let's go to the bumper cars now!" His exhilaration finds no end, and it warms her heart. Yona just nods her head and allows him to pull her toward wherever he desires to.

This day seems to be her lucky one, due to the fact that everyone under the age of 16 is allowed to be on three free rides. The bumper cars would be Ahri's third and last one. 

Both of them go inside different cars and await them to start functioning. And, as soon as it does, Taehyung chases after Yona and swiftly bumps into her.

"You're so bad at this," remarks Taehyung, laughing as Ahri is now the one chasing after him.

All she does is roll her eyes at him playfully. Yona proves him wrong in the next second; bumping into him three times.

A smile stains upon her lips and happiness takes place in her heart like a light to her soul.

This very event is so unusual than the ones she has had. It's almost peculiar to someone like her, really. So she decides to cherish every precious moment of it, for she knows that eternal peace and joy have no place in her soul.

Yona is seated down on a big stone as she awaits for Taehyung to come again. He told her to stay there until he comes back from buying candy.

Unhurriedly, the sun is bidding farewells to the sky. Warmth is sucked slowly yet surely out of the atmosphere with every passing second. And Yona notices that. She frowns upon it.

But Taehyung is able to divert her attention from it. "I bought cotton candy!" He exclaims with a wide beam, showing the snack off proudly. "Here!"

"How do you know that I like strawberry the most?" Yona asks, widened and astonished eyes looking up at him.

With a weak smile, he shrugs. "I guessed."

He takes a seat opposite of her. While the sun sinks behind them, the duo talks about random topics.

Though, once the sun has disappeared off the surface and has taken away all the warmth with it, Taehyung's aura changes. His brows are furrowed, lips in a straight line.

"Ahri," he calls out. She looks up at him, oblivious eyes meeting his. Taehyung swallows the disappointment down as he remains his eyes on her. 

Those eyes used to be his escape once. Though they were a dark, intimidating tunnel, he longed to know what was inside of it. So, with light guiding him, he took sanguine steps and lit up the entire tunnel in the very end.

Yet he doesn't see any of his old accomplishments as he gazes into those with bottomless eyes. It has varnished. The light has evaporated. And the tunnel is as dark as it has ever been.

"Why did you lie to me?"

His voice isn't harsh—nor is it in an accusing way. He just wants to know. He longs for an answer.

It starts again. Ahri's breathing shallows and her heartbeat quickens in an unhealthy way. Words leave her.

"I—"

"You what, Ahri?" Taehyung isn't angry with her. He's just disappointed. And that disappointment is profoundly shown in his eyes. "We used to be friends only a few years ago. Did you seriously think I would forget about you? Or is that what you wanted?"

There isn't a significant answer she can give him. Why did you do that? She doesn't know herself. Ahri's gaze falls to the ground, feeling shame wash her over.

"I gave you so many chances to tell me who you are." His lips curl down with every said word. He wants her to look into his eyes—to feel his torment—but she isn't able to. "Why didn't you do it?"

The inky darkness engulfs the frail light, diminishing all happiness and bliss that had risen with the sun. Now only silence, despondency, and disappointment linger in the air.

Taehyung continues staring at her. His tense shoulders tell the world that he's angry, yet his eyes speak to her only and say that he's saddened and truly disappointed.

They stay seated in an unnerving silence for some more time. No one dares saying another word. Taehyung wants to know the reasoning behind her questionable actions, but there is none to give. Ahri can't deliver him any. She's just as confused as he is.

He doesn't utter out a word as he simply stands up and walks away from her.

You did it again, Ahri.

Once Taehyung has found his other members, he walks up to them. All of them have gleeful expressions plastered onto their faces whilst they're engulfed in happy waves of laughter.

"Where's Ahri?" Seokjin asks as he sees him, looking for the younger one.

"I don't know, and I don't care," Taehyung flatly replies, sitting down on a bench with crossed arms.

Their laughter dies down in the same second as they notice their member having a sour mood.

Jimin and Jungkook are quick to sit down next to him. "Are you okay?" The former asks carefully, rubbing Taehyung's shoulder to soothe the tenseness.

"Totally. I'm perfect," he responds sarcastically.

Sometimes, people have to keep quiet in order to comfort someone. And the younger boys are aware of that, for they share the torment that Taehyung is so stuck in in a comforting silence.

Meanwhile Yoongi gazes at them in prominent puzzlement. Where is Yona? He asks himself.

The older ones glance in between each other.

"Should we search for her?" Hoseok asks, worried about his friend.

"Let's wait for a little. Maybe she'll come along by herself," Namjoon replies. "I don't think it's good to disturb her alone time. Maybe she has to think some things through on her own."

But Yoongi can't wait. There's worry written on his tense features. Grandma Kim's words spin through his head like a whirlpool. It's almost like the woman is haunting the poor boy.

And so, Yoongi takes off to find her.

Safe to say that he searches for her in almost every corner of the amusement park. It takes half an hour for him to finally find her. And as he does, he watches how Ahri stares the opposite stone down as if it's the most mesmerizing statue in the galaxy.

Yoongi sighs to himself lightly, taking quiet steps toward the silent girl. Even as he takes a seat on the stone she keeps staring at, her posture doesn't change. It's almost like she doesn't even notice him.

I should've brought Jimin, Yoongi thinks to himself. I'm not good with comforting people.

"What did you do wrong again?"

There you go, Counselor Yoongi!

"The real question is..." Ahri tilts her head up, hollow eyes looking at him. There seems to be no expression on her face, for the fact that she purposely hides them to not show any hints of vulnerability. Even her voice is composed and in an almost carefree manner. But Yoongi can see behind those walls instantly; as if they're made of glass. "What did I not do wrong?"

"I don't know if you noticed, but..." Ahri seems to be thinking of the correct words for some time. A smile is on her lips, but it does not reach her eyes. Not at all. "I have never done anything right in my life."

"Then you need to learn to do that." Yoongi nods his head. "You need to learn on how to make the right choices. But, firstly, you need to learn what's right and wrong."

To say the least, she's confused about his advice. Ahri just looks at him with furrowed brows, wanting him to elaborate.

"Yona," he begins, leaning further toward her. "If your old classmate was to make fun of you, what would you do?"

"Beat his mouth till he can't make fun of anyone anymore," she responds out of a pistol, face blank.

Pause. Yoongi stares at her, blinking. Though he soon manages to compose himself. "Your morals are wrong to begin with."

"Morals can't be wrong."

"They can when it comes to you."

At that, she sighs. "Look, Ahri," he starts again. "I don't know what goes on between you and Taehyung, but all I can say is that comprehension and communication is key to any friendship or relationship. If both of you don't talk and understand the other one's emotions, you will never make the right choices. You have to think of other people and how your words and actions affect them before doing or saying something."

"I guess you're right..." she retorts, her feet playing with the grass and leaves beneath.

"Let's get back now." Yoongi stands up from his spot. The others are worried about you."

"Worried about me?" she questions in disbelief.

"Well, yeah." He shrugs. "You're our member now, after all."

Those words may have been lighthearted from his side, but to her, they're meaningful. Warmth ignites in her chest just like fire does.

They walk back toward the boys, who are waiting for them to arrive rather impatiently.

"Guess who I found," Yoongi says in order to gain their attention. And it does.

Seokjin and Hoseok immediately rush to her side, engulfing her in warm touches. "I'm so happy that he found you!" The eldest exclaims dramatically, wiping a nonexistent tear away. "I thought I lost the only mature one!"

"Hey!" Almost every single one of them call out.

Namjoon puts a comforting hand on her shoulder."I really thought you ran away from us." He chuckles.

"No." Yona shakes her head, promising, "I won't do that."

Not even a second later, the two other youngest members are by her side. Jimin is quick to wrap his arms around her in a soft hug. Jungkook just stands there.

"Oh, come on, man," Jimin says, annoyed with the maknae's shyness.

Jimin pulls Jungkook by his collar, and the three of them soon embrace each other tightly. Although it's a bit awkward, due to the fact that the two maknaes don't know how to hug because of different reasons. Jungkook is scared of Ahri, meanwhile she doesn't even know how a proper hug works.

As Ahri lies on her bed, she hears the first familiar rumbles of thunder from the kitchen.

Her dad's booming voice seems to shake the walls. It is quickly echoed by the shrill tones of her mother that electrified the air.

Pulling her head under the pillow, she waits for the storm to abate.

Yet it doesn't. It never does.

"You'll never achieve anything in life!" He bellowed, pushing the small girl's body around.

"I-It was just glass..." stammered the girl, unable to look into his stone-cold eyes.

The tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down her face. Ahri looked down at the floor while her father kept pushing and screaming at her.

"Do you seriously think that someone would need you for anything? You can't even carry a glass without breaking it." He shook his head. His tall form hovered over her. "You're completely incompetent, Ahri."

In a sudden, her mother's bruised and fragile body stood up and went in front of her. "Don't..." She has to pick up the broken pieces of herself once before having the strength to speak against him. But, once she has found them, the woman looks up at him with narrowed eyes. Her body may be weakened, but her tone remains strong and dominating. "Don't touch her."

"Get out of my way, woman!" He did not hesitate one second and clapped the side of her already damaged face with his palm, making her collapse against the hard wall.

When the sight of the unconscious mother first comes to Ahri's view, she didn't recognize if. She looked too peculiar and her gait was all wrong.

But as she continued staring at her, her heart shattered into pieces. There her mother was laying, her swollen skin more purple than its natural pale color. Her left eye was swollen, for she was not even able to properly see from it. Her face still bore congealed blood and her clothes are an utter mess.

That spreading purple with yellow blotches was only the surface wound. The real one was within, that feeling of betrayal, that breaking of trust that is so essential to true love.

Then, she tried saying her name, her cracked lips failing at the first syllable.

Ahri was paralyzed. Her widened eyes could not do a thing but stare at the woman in nothing but complete disbelief.

This was the moment in which she had realized.

Back then, all expressions left Ahri's face in an instant. Even as the tears kept streaming down her face, there wasn't a twitch of her lips nor a sign of furrowed brows. She wasn't even trembling anymore.

Everything became clear yet she was also so blind.

Out of nowhere, her eyes came in contact with a sharp object. Ahri tilted her head to the side. She took steps toward it, and, soon on, the metal blade was in her hand.

She played with it. There were countless of voices that tried preventing her from doing anything stupid, but all was inaudible to her in that moment.

Then, her hollow eyes located toward him. She could see him bellowing at him, yet she didn't hear anything. She went over to him in a slow pace.

The knife met flesh and made a squish as the tip of the blade sank deeper into his skin, making him cry out in pain.

His clothes were stained with blood and gashed in several places as he fell to the floor.

Ahri feels the panic begin like a cluster of spark plugs in her abdomen. Her breathing becomes more rapid, more shallow.

Tension grows in her face and limbs, her mind replaying the last moment.

"I didn't do it..." she mutters out.

Her head is still hidden beneath the pillow that she wishes to protect her from the dangers outside. Yet to no avail.

A fleck of sunlight glitters on the window pane, reflecting the light into her room. The first ray of sun shines through the dense green trees, turning the stillness of the night into a peaceful morning.

Without having caught a wink of sleep, Ahri stands up from her bed and gets ready for the day. But as she opens the refrigerator to find something edible, she is disappointed to say the least as there is nothing to be found. She has promised herself to look for a job to look out for herself better.

So, in order to fulfill that task, she knocks on the door of the boys' dorm. Seokjin opens it, and both of them greet each other gleefully.

"I wanted to tell you that I won't be home for a few hours." Beforehand, Ahri had memorized the words to form a perfect sentence.

"Okay." He nods, not wanting to ask anything further in order to not invade her privacy. "But please be home in three hours. We're going to practice today again."

"Of course." She nods, bowing slightly. After bidding farewells, Ahri leaves and discovers the city more and more.

Discovering the city is an easier task than actually finding a job—that's one of the first things she has learned. Ahri sighs after exiting another restaurant; another failed attempt.

Two hours have already passed, so she simply gives up and decides to go back home. Her shoulders are slumped, a pout on her face because of the failure.

What am I supposed to do now? Thousands of question marks rotate through her head without finding an end.

God, please. She looks up at the sky almost beggarly. I know I disappoint you a lot, but just let me find a job, man.

Suddenly, she bumps into someone bigger and is ready to land on her butt, but a firm hand on her wrist holds her up steadily.

Yona is caught off-guard, looking up—just to be met with brown eyes and dimpled grin.

"Guess you can't help falling for me, Ahri."

Jaehyun releases his hold on her rather quickly to not make her uncomfortable. Clearing her throat, Ahri fixes her attire and gazes down; trying to hide the rosiness on her cheeks.

He chuckles lightly as he notices the blush on her face, but it fades as soon as he discovers her slumped shoulders and pouty lips. "What's wrong?" He asks, tilting his head to the side.

"N-Nothing." Ahri fidgets with her fingers, sending him a nervous smile. She's quick in wanting to walk away. "Thank you."

"I can help you," he tries again, chasing after her.

Rather tiredly, she mumbles, "I don't think you can find me a job."

"I can!" Jaehyun is quick to state.

That alone causes her to spin around. Her widened eyes look up at him, shining with hope. "Really? Where? What job?"

"Follow me. I'll show you."

And she does. Wow, Ahri! Following a stranger! Splendid!

Yet as they're in front of the café Jaehyun himself works at, Ahri frowns. "Here?"

"Yes." He opens the door for her. "Come inside."

Both of them stride behind the counters and he shows her around. "So," Jaehyun begins. "You can work as a waitress or a barista—whichever you like or qualify in. You can do both, too, but it'll take more of your time. You'll also be paid more, then, of course."

"Will your boss..." Ahri searches for words, once again. "Accept me?"

"Yeah." He quickly nods. "Don't worry about that. We can everything through right now. Then, you can sign the papers and begin working immediately."

Each of her features are filled with relief in joy. Yona happily nods and complies to anything he says. They enter a small room and take a seat around a table.

"So, what's your name?" Jaehyun asks, a pen between his fingers to write everything down.

Dumbfounded, Ahri stares at him, blinking. "You already know my name."

"Uncooperative and rude," he mumbles to himself while writing it down.

Instantly, her eyes widen. "No! No, okay! My name is Kim Ahri Yona, and I'm born on the 21st September 19..." She blinks for some seconds, recollecting the number she learned from Jungkook. "1997!"

Jaehyun asks her a couple more questions. Overall, the young boy seems really mature for his age. It even surprises Yona.

"Congratulations. You're officially working at Biscuit & Chill!"

Joy bubbles up in her chest. Yona simply has to hold herself together to not clap for herself. "Thank you! But who came up with that stupid name?"

Triggered and offended, he remarks, "It's a cool name, okay?"

What follows is her pay and working hours. Ahri has persuaded him in working almost every day of the week. Even if it shocked Jaehyun a bit, he still agreed.

"Um, also..." Ahri scratches her head, keeping her eyes down. "Could I please get paid every day? Like, not every month?" Her nervousness causes the languages to mingle into one again, as she rambles on, "It's fine if it doesn't work, really, since you have been nothing but generous to me—"

"That's completely fine, Ahri." He smiles, somehow understanding her weird mixture of languages.

By the end of the conversation, Ahri is ready to work. She does everything that is ordered almost flawlessly, and all of the co-workers are friendly and empathic toward her as well.

"Ahri!" Jaehyun suddenly calls out. "Please cut these newly baked cakes, and then place them on the counters."

"Will do, boss!" Yona replies, instantly following his instructions.

Placing the blueberry cake on the nearest counter, her eyes then begin on searching for a knife to cut it. She finds one soon enough.

But as she touches the sharp blade, her breathing shallows. The memories incessantly accelerate inside her head. Ahri wants them to slow down, but they won't. They replay again and again—just like a broken cassette recorder. Her heart hammers inside her chest as if it belongs to a rabbit running for its skin.

"Why did you do that, Ahri?" The familiar voice of her brother is stuck in her head and does her no justice.

"I didn't do it..." Yona mutters out in a mere whisper.

All voices disappear as she feels Jaehyun's warm touch on her shoulder. "Why didn't you cut the cakes yet, Yona?" His voice is careful, soft. "The costumers are waiting." 

"Yeah..." Her soul slowly connects back to reality, yet she's still absentminded.

"Okay, I think that's enough for today, Yona," Jaehyun states. He takes the knife from her hand.

Swiftly, she offers, "I can work more—"

"No, no, no. You've worked enough, thank you," he disagrees, smiling. Then, he hands her an envelope.

"What's this?" Ahri asks him, holding it up.

"That's your payment for today." He nods.

It's as if she's a kid who has been handed a piece of candy. Her eyes brighten instantly. "Thank you!"

She exits the café right after. Although it isn't a lot of money, she would still be able to buy something to eat. And so, she searches for a grocery store. Yona finds one with ease and buys all necessities she needs at first.

Once she has arrived at home, she's immediately attacked with Yoongi's questions. "Where were you?" His eyes show that he has been waiting for hours—impatience and irritation evident in them. Seokjin is right beside him, observing the scene.

"I was working," Ahri replies nonchalantly.

"Since when do you work? You're only 15!" Seokjin questions, evidently exasperated.

"And?" She's confused to say the least. Ahri opens the door of her dorm and enters it. "I can still work,"

Without an invitation, they burst into her dorm as well. Whilst she walks into the kitchen, the boys follow her. Ahri places the groceries in the fridge and the small cupboards.

"Where are you working, Ahri?" Yoongi's last straw of patience seems to fade soon.

Yet the said girl doesn't care. "At the café we went to the last time. Why?"

"Ahri-ah, you're not really allowed to work before our debut," Seokjin reasons, a few meters away from her and Yoongi.

"Do you have any knowledge of how dangerous the streets can be? Especially when you're alone? In Seoul? You cannot work and become an idol," Yoongi declares, staring at her in disbelief. "Life isn't that easy."

Yet again, Ahri is his enemy. These swings from caring to hating are going to be the end of her. She draws in a deep breath while he's suffocating her with a burning hard stare.

"I know that life isn't easy." Ahri's lethal stare is vicious. She tries her hardest to control her tone, but Yoongi is making it incredibly hard for her to do so. "I apologize for wanting to buy myself some food to eat a day."

Though the last statement was sarcastic, it still manages to shock him. His eyes soon fill with realization.

"Why didn't you tell us that you have no money, Ahri?" Seokjin asks, moving forward to stand beside Yoongi.

Her eyes widen.

Great job, Ahri. You couldn't even keep a damn secret. You really are incompetent.

FUN-FACT
although yokook (jungkook and yona)
is one of the biggest ships, the ship wasn't
even founded before the middle of 2016.
this was due to the fact that the duo never
really interacted with each other. they got
closer over time,and armys love to watch
how their friendship blossomed right in
front of their eyes. literally and figuratively.

( INCORRECT QUOTES ! )

hoseok: did you know that apparently when you get a song stuck in your head, it's because your soulmate is singing it?
jimin: that's so cool!
ahri: ok who THE FUCK has been singing "baby shark" from 2 till 4 am in the past month?!
jungkook: *whistles innocently*

taehyung, kicking ahri awake: i see you can't sleep either

ahri, admiring chungha from afar: she could end my life any day and i'd thank her
bts, sick and tired of hearing this: we'd thank her too

hoseok: so i heard a shocking rumor today! the—
jimin & ahri: only one? we've started at least sixteen

ahri, getting up from a nap: thank you, sleep
ahri: or as i like to call you, death practice

seokjin: yona told me to stop being sad and 'go get it, girl!'
namjoon: get what?
seokjin: unclear. i'll get everything just in case

ahri: yoongi is actually the softest human being every, just watch
ahri: *places down a slice of strawberry shortcake*
yoongi: *silently walks, picks up the plate and takes a bite*
bts & army: aw
yoongi: fuck all of you

ahri, after taehyung gets injured during dance practice: are you okay?! did you break a bone?!
taehyung: you can't break what you don't have
ahri:
ahri: what

ahri: do you consider us adorable?
namjoon: no, we're adult people.
namjoon: we're cute.

hoseok: i wouldn't wish death on my enemies
ahri: i would.

ahri: he looked at me the way all women want to be looked at...
hoseok: awww
ahri: with fear in his eyes.
hoseok:
hoseok: awww!

ahri: when i get murdered, can you make sure the murder is unsolved?
seokjin: what?
ahri: i want to be on buzzfeed unsolved
seokjin: no can we go back to the part where you said "when i get murdered"?
ahri:
seokjin:
ahri: are you doing the job or nah?

bang pd: you need to have 100% focus on your career, ahri. that means no boys. understood?
ahri: understood.
ahri: to the girls i go!

ahri: shut up jungkook
jungkook: you know what? i've had enough. if you want me to shut up that badly why don't you just kiss me?
ahri:
ahri, taken aback: *blushing slightly*
jungkook, hands on his hips: you're not so brave anymore huh tough guy?
jungkook, noticing her reaction: wait.
jungkook, running to his hyungs: gUYS OMG I MADE HER FLUSTERED—

ahri: ah
taehyung: ah
ahri: ri
taehyung: ri
ahri: yo
taehyung: yo
ahri: na
taehyung: na
ahri: ahri yona
taehyung: nana!
ahri:

ahri to herself, calming down after a suspiciously long amount of laughter: okay, stop this nonsense. enough. we have depression. and we'll fucking act like it.

pd-nim, to bts: can i talk to you for a second?
ahri: ooooh someone's in troubleeee
ahri: it's me.
ahri: i'm in trouble.
ahri: i have no idea why i said that.

' PHYSICAL FEATURES !
᭝ her distinguishing self

᭝ FIRSTLY, yona has very deer-like
facial features. head being in an oval
shape and ending with a pointy chin,
her nose is like a button; small and
cute. ahri's eyes are big and very round,
which gives her an overall sweeter and
more innocent look. but she hates that
comparison. call her bambi and
you won't see tomorrow's light.

᭝ HER LIPS ARE pouty and full.
they aren't chapped at any times,
considering that she always invests
time in her appearance—showing
that she obviously cares about
the way she presents herself.

᭝ AHRI STRUGGLED with her body for
the majority of her life. she just didn't feel
comfortable in herself; a reason why she
spent more time on her face with makeup
or others. around the age of eighteen,
she followed jungkook's lead and began
training. it was also a great distraction.
more importantly, though, she developed
her body into a really fit and toned one.

᭝ NO MATTER HOW HARD she
tries concealing her toned body
through baggy clothes, netizens
have immediately taken notice of
her long legs. mommy long legs
is how armys like calling her.

' PERSONALITY !
᭝ infamous traits

᭝ TO OUTSIDERS, ahri has very strong
and intimidating aura. that is because of
her daunting and always roaming-around
eyes. she mostly stays quiet in an unknown
environment and simply observes the area
with a straight face. but, once you go up and
actually speak to her, it's very obvious that
she is not like that. not even a single bit.

᭝ TROUBLEMAKER is what most
people call her—from bang si-hyuk
to our beloved yoongi. anywhere she
is is where unpredictable dangers
happen and escalate. it's her talent,
really. ahri is known for being the
little devil on your shoulder, who
incites you to do the most random
and morally questionable antics.

᭝ AMRYS LOVE calling her
delinquent. within time and the
more ahri opened up about her
actual self, everyone has noted
how ahri doesn't care much about
order and the law in general. when
ahri read out the comment that
called her delinquent, she got
embarrassed; thinking that she's
a bad role model to her fans.

᭝ FIERY AND DOMINANT are great
adjectives to describe her. may it be an
argument or general conversations, ahri
is a very opinionated and outspoken person.
she isn't one to back down on a fight. when
wronged, she will call people out instantly.

᭝ BENEATH IT ALL, ahri is very
forgiving and empathic towards
others. she forgives people rather
easily, for the fact that knows that
nobody—including herself—is perfect.
she adores helping other people and
giving advice; and people come to her
when in struggle as well. they know
very well that she will not judge them
under any circumstances.