"Did you get my flowers?" Hoseok asked, standing on my porch in a black face mask and a hat. It was chilly that evening, and I had answered the door wearing a cotton shirt. Goosebumps rose to the top of my skin, multiple shivers running down my spine.

I gave an apologetic look. "Yes. I'm sorry for not acknowledging it. Today was a bit... distracting. Thanks."

"No problem. Did you like them?" He asked, his voice calling a hopeful tint.

"They were nice," I answered. I wasn't comfortable standing out there and it didn't have anything to do with the person looking at me with hopeful eyes.

The event of that day was still fresh in my mind like an open wound. Every sound, every movement, even the pressure of the wind—made my eyes dart around, waiting to see the mysterious person who'd sent me the flowers.

I didn't even know whom it was—was it a man? Or a boy my age? Maybe someone a little older? I could have walked past this person on the street or even been in the same room with them. The mystery of who and why made me uneasy just standing outside my house.

"We haven't really spoken since the day I came over. I feel like you're mad at me," he said. "I want to make sure that things are fine between us before I leave."

"You're leaving again?"

"Yeah. But are we cool? I'd hate to lose you as a friend," he said. "I realize you don't feel the same way that I do and that's completely okay. But you're my friend and that means more to me than anything."

"We're cool, Hoseok," I said, honestly. A little relieved I didn't have to go through the torture of turning down his proposal. "When are you coming back?"

He shrugged, smiling. "Who knows? We have a lot scheduled this year, it'd be a miracle if I come back before Christmas."

"It's February," I reminded him.

"A big miracle," he reiterated. "About your dad, will you be okay?"

I didn't want to go into the conversation. The bouquet stuff was still weighing on me, and adding to it with my dad's sickness was just going to torture me further. I nodded. "I'll be fine."

"You'll call me, won't you? You'll text me too and reach out to me whenever you need a friend, I promise I'll make out time to chat with you."

"I will," I said.

Hoseok leaned in and hugged me, his hands patting my back. "Take care of yourself," he said before pulling away.

I stood on my porch, arms folded tightly around my body as Hoseok climbed into his car. He waved at me and as I waved back, I felt some kind of sorrow within me seeing him go.

I knew my feelings were channelled towards Jungkook now, but it didn't mean seeing him go didn't make my heart break a little.

After Hoseok had left, Aunt Soohyun came into my room to ask me about what had happened at school. She heard about the strange bouquets but no one had known about the note except Yoongi. And I couldn't tell her that I was possibly being stalked, so I told her it had been a prank by some silly students.

Honestly, the last thing I wanted to do was make my family worry or involve them in the messiness of what had become my life. If anything, I wanted them to be safe and away from the drama. It was what was best for everyone.

Jungkook told me he would look into it. I noticed he was more touchy with me after I told him. He didn't let go of my hand for most of the day, and kept squeezing them, placing kisses on them during our movie. Before he drove off after dropping me, he'd hugged me and said, "I promise no one's going to hurt you."

I'd felt safe with him. Maybe he knew this and maybe he didn't but Jungkook made me feel safe, like nothing could happen to me. He made me happy and I knew what I felt for him was way beyond something as simple as like.

It was more.

"You need to go and see your dad," Mum said the moment I stepped into the Kitchen. She had a mug of steaming black coffee in front of her, and dark circles around her crinkled red eyes.

I hadn't even noticed how badly she'd been struggling. I'd been too caught up in my own feelings and drama. Last night, I'd been so anxious, I couldn't sleep. I spent the hours tossing and thinking with my heart beating in my throat.

The possessive voice had come again, asking me to make the short trip to the bathroom. I knew going would be worth it. I knew it would relieve me of the turmoil in my head and my chest and my throat.

But I remembered the worried look on Jungkook's face and I remembered how disgusting I'd felt after lying to him about the scalding on my hand. And I realized to myself I never wanted to lie to him again. So, I remained on my bed, just trying to bare the torture going on within me.

The urge was strong. The pull was magnetic but my will to never hurt myself again was stronger. Instead, I jumped from my bed and dashed through my stationary drawers, searching frantically until I found the rubber bands. Three of them I grabbed and slipped them through my hand.

The snaps were painful, but they distracted the voice in my head and they were less shameful than submerging my hand in steaming water or taking a shower in the scalding hotness just to escape.

"Mum, I can't," I said to my mother.

She slammed her hand on the table. "Why won't you just listen to me for God's sake? Why are you so stubborn?" she cried, her outburst startling me. "Why can't you just get this over with?! Why are you like this?! Why are you so much like him? Why don't you have a forgiving heart?! Why?!" She snapped at me.

My hands shook and the tears I didn't know had formed fell. "What have I done?" I asked, ignoring how much my voice shook.

"He's your father!" She cried, tears pouring uncontrollably from her eyes.

"So?" I asked. "That gives him the right to break my heart? Because he's my father he can abandon me at will and I just have to forgive him because he's sick?"

"Yes! He's your father!"

"And it's so easy?" I tried so hard to keep my tone low but the more I heard her voice and saw the accusing look on her face, the angrier I got. "Do you think it's been easy for me? Do you have the slightest idea what I've been through these past weeks? What I've done to stop myself from going mental?"

She buried her head on the table, spilling her coffee on her arm but she just stayed there, sobbing loudly. "I just want you to forgive him. I just want you to forgive him. You should forgive him."

Sobs broke at the back of my throat. I watched her, my lips quivering uncontrollably. I was so mad at her. I was sure if I stayed a second longer, I'd say things to her that we both would regret. So, I turned and stormed out of the house.

Jungkook's call came in on my way out of the house but I ignored it, turning off my phone. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. I just wanted to be alone.

• • •

I didn't go to school that morning. I took a long, slow walk until I found myself in Jungkook's neighborhood, but my legs wouldn't take me to his building. I needed to be on my own, for a while.

From where I was I could see the towering building of his apartment complex but I knew going to Jungkook's place would be a distraction. I didn't want to be distracted after the conversation with my mum. I wanted to think.

For four hours, I sat under an oak tree on the cliff that overlooked an expanse of the city—sometimes standing to stretch my legs when my muscles started to tighten—and let my thoughts run free. And they were wild. Everything I hated, every emotion I felt came rushing in like an angry wind and knocked me into the worst mood swings of my life.

My dad, the note and bouquets, my mum's words... I let them all consume me for as long as I sat there, letting the tears I had tried to hold back fall freely.

Eventually, after gathering enough momentum, I started to climb down from my haven but not without calling Namjoon to tell him about what had happened on Valentines day.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath through the phone after I'd told him everything. "There's something you should know."

I stopped walking. "What? Do you know anything about it?"

"No, I mean, not really but I think the person who sent you those might have sent me a card, too."

"What'd you mean?" I asked.

"So, I got a card a few days ago, it said, 'it's your fault'. I assumed it was a prank and tore it up. Then yesterday I received a card with a single dying rose and the card this time said, I see you. At that point, I I just believed it was a bitter ex trying to scare me but now, I don't think it's as trivia as I'd thought."

"Who could it be?"

"I have no idea but it's definitely someone we both know," he said. Then as an afterthought he added,"Do you think it's Taehyung?"

The thought had crossed my mind. He'd been embarrassed twice at school—the first time by me and the second time by Namjoon. We both didn't like him and we weren't exactly his favorite persons. So, it would be logical that the person doing this was him.

Also, he hadn't come to school since Namjoon had beat him up, so he could possibly be holding a grudge.

"I guess, but you said you received the first letter the day you got back from your camp trip which was four days ago. The fight with Taehyung was three days ago. He had nothing against you until then, so it can't be him."

"We didn't exactly have a meet-cute at my place the other day," he further said.

Still, I doubted it. If it was Taehyung, the target would have been me but from what I understood, the target seemed to be Namjoon. And Taehyung never struck me as the vindictive type.

Yes, he was quiet and I was aware they say, "Never underestimate the quiet ones," but Taehyung wasn't a bad person. At least, that was what I believed.

"I can't be Taehyung."

"Because he used to be your friend?"

"Because I don't think I'm the target here Namjoon. If it was Taehyung, he has more against me than with you. Yet, you received 2 cards. I received one. The first one claimed that it was your fault. Your last card stated 'I see you', mine stated, 'I see you, too'. Like an afterthought. Like an addition."

Namjoon was quiet for a minute. I could hear his soft breathing through the phone. I could tell he was upset about this. I had decided to go to Jungkook's place but speaking to Namjoon now had me changing my mind. I stopped just before I entered the gate to Jungkook's building.

I had to go and see Namjoon. I turned and started to leave. "Give me a—" My words cut off when I saw Jungkook casually walking towards the building from a corner, a headphone on his ears. He wore a large sweater and sweatpants which meant he was coming from the gym or he'd gone running. "Let me call you back," I said to Namjoon before hanging up the call.

Jungkook saw me and his face registered confusion at first then he was walking towards me, his strides longer than before. "You're not in school," he stated, hands cupping my face. "Is everything okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine."

"Are you sure? I called you this morning—"

"Yeah. I forgot to call back. And I just needed a moment to breathe then," I explained. "But I'm okay now."

He stared at me for a second as if trying to decide if he believed or not. But eventually, he nodded. "Okay," he said and started to lead me into the building, but I shook my head. "Why?"

"Did you find out about the flower shop?"

He didn't say anything for a minute, he just stared at me, then nodded. "I did."

My heart dropped. Anticipation washed through me at once. "Who's it?"

If it was Taehyung, I'd kill him with my bare hands not giving a hoot whatever his fucked up reason for doing this sick shit was.

"Let's go inside," Jungkook urged softly. I didn't get him. Wasn't it obvious I was dying to know? I'd barely slept the entire night. I'd been sick worried, and now knowing my best friend was in on this sick joke as well, it made the entire thing worse.

"Just tell me who the fuck it is," I snapped. "Please," I said more calmly knowing I was just pouring pent up frustration on someone who did not deserve it, at all.

"Your English teacher."

"Aunt Soohyun?"

"Former English teacher," he rephrased. "Cho Son Bin."

His words didn't immediately sink in. The name didn't instantly register. I found myself struggling to figure out what he'd said and who Cho Son Bin was. It took a couple of long seconds with me being confused and Jungkook looking at me with the most patient, understanding expression.

Then it all came rushing in. "Mr. Cho?"

He nodded, his patient gaze unwavering. I probably seemed like I was operating on half a brain cell.

"My former English teacher?" I questioned. I shifted uncomfortably. "I don't understand. Mr. Cho would never..." I trailed on, shaking my head.

"Listen, baby, I understand it's difficult to accept this but he made the order. Why he did it? I don't know. But I'll find out," he said calmly, taking my shoulders in his hands. He was looking into my eyes and I was staring back at him, but what I saw was not Jungkook, it was Mr. Cho smiling amd waving at students, it was him going out of his way to explain a concept that he had no business explaining just because he couldn't say no to a student, it was him telling me I was his one of favorite students.

I couldn't understand why then. "Where is he?"

"I don't—"

"I have to know why he's doing this," I stated, pulling away from Jungkook's hold. "I have to see him right now."

Jungkook grabbed my hand as I made to walk past him. "You're not going anywhere," he said, his voice assertive.

"Let me fucking go!"

"Just listen to me for one fucking second!"

"You can't tell me what to do," I snapped at him, snatching my hand from his tight hold.

"You think I'm saying this because I feel like ordering you around?! Cho Son Bin is in hiding. He made the order through a phone call. You're not the only one he's been harassing. He's been harassing his ex-husband, Cho Michael." He took a short pause, gave me a look and licked his lips as if to stall. "He's been harassing your friend, too. Namjoon."

That shut me up. I shut my eyes, tugging at my hair. "And no one knows why he's doing this."

"I told you, I'll find him."

"But what if he does something worse than send a card and bouquets of rose thorns. What if the next time he hurts someone? Like, actually—"

"He's not going to hurt you."

"I'm not talking about myself," I said, shaking my head. "I don't care if anything happens to me anymore. But nothing can happen to Namjoon."

"I care if something happens to you," Jungkook said. "I care, Jin, and I swear, it won't. I won't let him get close to you."

Still. "But Namjoon..."

"Will be fine."

He was standing in front of me now, stroking my hair with his fingers. "What are you going to do?" I asked.

"Anything," He said, cupping my face with his other hand. I leaned towards him, my breathing heavy, our lips inches apart. "I'll do anything to him. Anything for you," he assured, before closing the gap separating us.