One becomes two. Two becomes three. Slowly the number of friends Dae Hyeon has in her life increases, she begins to live life with companions by her side. A fierce circle of friends who look out for her, care for her, love her for who she is. The seventh addition comes when she is 15.

The others are yet to arrive, so she dithers near reception, mindlessly fiddling with the strap of her backpack, straightening out her jacket, smoothing out imaginary creases on her shirt and just as she's about to pull up her left sock, a figure comes crashing into her and the two of them go tumbling to the ground in a tangle of limbs. Just as Dae Hyeon braces herself for the agonising pain that will shoot up her head when it inevitably collides with the pavement, she's pleasantly surprised by the warm, large hand that cradles her face protecting her from injury.

The hand is surprisingly gentle and they help her back up, bringing her upto a seated position and then holding his hands out to set her back on her feet. He looks abashed, face colouring with embarrassment as Dae Hyeon just stares at him. He fiddles with his own sleeves, straightening them out painstakingly before looking up at her through eyes obscured slightly by messy locks of hair.

"I'm so, so sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going, I'm new and I was a bit nervous and..." he begins to ramble before Dae Hyeon cuts him off, placing a hand on his sleeve and stilling him.

She looks up at him, smiling at him in a way she hopes is reassuring and not a grimace.

"It's okay, you protected me with your hand—" and then suddenly comes to the realisation that his hand might be injured. She spots a graze that is red, drops of blood slowly coming to surface. She winces and his eyes catch on that, follow her gaze, and promptly proceeds to shove his hand behind his back.

"You're hurt." It's a statement, not a question and she shoots him a firm look, gesturing for him to bring his hand out.

He does so slowly, bringing it up for her to see. She reaches out to brush a hand over it, healing energy bursting from her fingertips and healing the abrasion, leaving behind an unmarked hand.

He gapes at her, eyes widened with awe.

"I'm Dae Hyeon and I'm 15, Grade 10." She introduces.

He clears his throat before sticking his hand out.

"Gyeom, 15 and also Grade 10." He says

And just then six other boys appear, rushing over to where the two stand.

There faces are a mix of trepidation, worry, protectiveness and curiosity.

And like that, seven become eight.

----

JIN POV:

"You know, it's not fair! Why do all of my friends know you so well?" Kookie huffs from where he's lying against Jiminie and looks at (Y/N) who is currently curled up against Yoongi, he's asleep and decided his pillow for the time being was her.

"Look Koo, it's not my fault!" she whisper shouts, looking affronted by him as he shoots disgruntled looks at her.

"Well, I just learnt that you've known Yugyeom since you were both 15! 15! How do I compete with that? And for my own soulmate too?" he protests loudly, becoming louder and louder with each word. But it hasn't descended into anger, it's just him venting.

I'm keeping a close eye on the two, the last thing I want is a full-blown argument over something trivial. Kookie is feeling a bit insecure but that doesn't mean that he lashes out and says stuff that the two will be hurt by later.

"Listen Koo, it's just the way life pans out. But we have forever to get to know each other, so don't worry." (Y/N) speaks up, and her words are so reassuring, so calming that I feel my own body respond to her lilting soft tone.

Kookie's face shows the same and he curls into Jiminie, who just laughs fondly and peppers him with kisses and tickles him, promptly bringing an end to the conversation.

Where (Y/N) is curled up, Yoongi's eyes open a fraction.

"I have forever to plot ways to get back at you Kook for waking me..." he mumbles but his words are lost in peals of laughter and high-pitched giggles.

But then again, Yoongi's own face is fond and his eyes are surprisingly alert. Which makes me wonder if he was ever asleep in the first place.

Hobi and Joon are out, they're yet to come home, and it's already really dark out. Not that I'm worried, of course not. They're two strong grown men, they'll be fine. Even if they're usually home an hour or so earlier than this, and they always call or message to say if they're running late.

So of course I'm not worried...I'm internally panicking. Tae who has been resting against my arm suddenly looks up, gaze sharp as they run over me.

"Hyung stop worrying, they'll be home in ten. They messaged me some time ago." He reassures and just like that saps all my tension out of me.

"Yah! Why didn't you tell me? I've been sitting here staring at my phone like a madman waiting for them to tell me something." I turn to face him fully, irksome at the casualness with which he explains it all.

He looks taken aback before his eyes flash in retaliation.

"Don't be like that hyung! It slipped from my mind; you don't have to be so mean about it." He retorts, face twisting in sorrow and he looks like he's on the verge of sudden tears, eyes glistening slightly.

I feel instant guilt, why am I being so horrible about it? He just forgot, I don't need to be mean and hurt his feelings because of the fact that I was overstressing. I reach out to draw him into my arms, he stiffens but the moment I wrap him into an embrace he all but melts into me, pressing himself tightly into me- as though trying to merge us together.

I don't know what it was but the whole house had been on-edge today, slightly easier, and more prone to argue, tear up as well as being antsy. But I couldn't figure out what it was, maybe it was just an off day. What I did know was that I didn't want to go through another day like this.

(Y/N) POV:

No matter how comfortable it was to lie on the couch and cuddle with Yoongi oppa, I just couldn't relax fully. Every shift just sent a shooting spark of pain up my abdomen and my hands came to cradle my stomach as though it would help ease the pain.

The first few days of my cycle was always rough, always days when I'd seek out Seo-Yeon unnie for her famous hot chocolates and stash of pain medication and heat pads and be content to snuggle up with her and Soo Jin with blankets and just watch shows and binge on junk food.

I was pretty sure the boys weren't oblivious to the matter but then I also didn't know how to go about bringing the matter up in the first place. I was perfectly content to wallow in my own misery and seek out a large plushie or Soo Jin for comfort but I feared that now that we'd bonded, the boys would feel at least an echo of my pain and discomfort. I did try enforcing a mental block, to spare them the experience but I didn't know if it held strong enough and the cramps kept distracting me from enforcing them properly.

I breathed shallowly through my mouth, trying to breathe deeply past the pain and trying to muffle any sounds into the cushion. It was no good. I'd have to get up and find some pain relief tablets, even if it would undoubtedly lead to a barrage of questions.

I silently slipped off the couch, smiling at Minnie whose eyes widened inquisitively, waving it off with what I hoped was a causal gesture.

"Just getting some water." I said as I walked past.

The moment I entered the kitchen, I dropped the façade and allowed my face to twist up with the pain that was currently dancing along my spine and crippling my abdomen. I hurried to where I'd see Jinnie oppa place the first-aid kit, after Joonie oppa had accidentally cut his finger while opening a tin. But when my fingers desperately scrabble through the medical supplies, I realise that there's only two pills left.

But it'll do for now. It's enough.

I down them with a large gulp of water, and just as I turn to leave the kitchen come face to face with a worried looking Kookie. And from the look in his eyes, I know he's seen.

KOOKIE POV:

When (Y/N) goes to the kitchen to get water I bound to my feet.

Jiminie hyung looks at me with confused eyes.

"I'm going to apologise. I shouldn't have been so overly sensitive. I'm not usually like this." I explain before going after her.

But I freeze when I enter the kitchen, she hasn't noticed me yet, she's busy throwing open the cupboard doors to bring out the first-aid kit.

The sight of the green and white box immediately stirs up worry in me, she's hurt? Why didn't she say anything?

I continue watching as her fingers latch onto a near-empty packet of pain relief tablets. My suspicions become facts as I see her taking the two pills and washing them down with a large gulp of water.

It's only when she spins around does, she realise I'm there, that I have been since she entered the kitchen. But right now I need to know where she's hurting. Why she's hurting? We can discuss later why she thought it was ideal to hide it.

"(Y/N)-ah, what's wrong? Where are you hurt?" I hurry to scan her from head to toe, twisting her from side to side to see if there's any injuries on her.

I check her forehead for a fever but there isn't one.

She laughs, the sound puts me at ease.

"I didn't want to have the conversation like this Koo but there's no other way to say it. I'm on my period." She says bluntly, I just look at her bemused. She's on a period of what?

She huffs.

"Sit down Kookie, let me explain..." she says guiding me to the chairs around the table.

----

I rush out, hands clasped over my ears. I don't want to hear anymore, (Y/N) can't make me hear anymore. The whole conversation had been so mortifying from start to finish and I'm pretty sure that I've turned every shade of pink and red.

I don't know how she managed to tell me it all without becoming a bright red mess too but she seemed rather unbothered, she was just stating facts she said when I just looked at her blankly.

But then I stopped in my tracks. Why was I running away? She trusted me and told me what was wrong immediately. Even though I could feel embarrassment through our bond from the two of us, she had remained calm about it all. And how could I forget that she was in pain?!

I pulled my phone out, darting off a long text to both Joonie hyung and Hobi hyung after some quick research. I turned back to see (Y/N) approaching me, hesitant look on her face.

"I'm sorry." The two of us said in unison.

"Why are you sorry? I shouldn't have made you uncomfortable." She asks.

"I shouldn't run away from that though. You're hurt and you can't help the fact that you know—" I gestured at her, unable to finish.

"Bleed every month. Yeah I guess I can't." she says amused even though her eyes show gratitude.

"Now let's go cuddle until hyungs get home." I offer, holding my arms out hopefully, hugging her tightly when she walks over.

----

(Y/N) has just drifted off to sleep, head resting against my neck, small huffs of breath against my neck as she clutches tightly at my t-shirt between her hands. I hold her close, mindful that her body isn't lying on top of me uncomfortably. My hand runs up and down her back gently whilst the other is settled on the low of her back, under the fabric of the loose top she's wearing, her skin is warm against my own.

There's something incredibly satisfying about caring for my soulmate, for being able to provide her with comfort, for being able to be the older one for once. I'm accustomed to being babied but doing this...these tender acts of holding her close, cradling her is something which makes our bond burn brighter. Makes me feel utterly content.

I press a soft kiss to the top of her head, the quiet hum of the TV playing in the background, the regular ticking sound of the clock, the even breaths of (Y/N) as she sleeps. It's all so calm, so normal.

But normal is thrown out of the window when the front door flings open, crashing loudly against the wall, the sound of two bodies crashing about in the hallway before appearing dishevelled in the doorway.

"What do you mean (Y/N) is bleeding constantly and you need me to pick up lots of chocolates and snacks and heating pads?!" Hobi hyung screeches, entering the room with a panic and suddenly filling the room with a palpable tension, nervous energy thrumming through the bond and radiating off him.

Behind him Joonie hyung comes crashing in, bags swinging wildly and glasses askew as he peers fearfully over Hobi hyung's shoulder.

And all eyes fly to us in a panic. (Y/N)'s eyes blinking blearily open at the sudden change in volume.

"What's going on?" she mumbles, lips moving distractingly against my collarbone.

"I think Kookie has got a bit of explaining to do." Yoongi hyung says, voice raspy and level despite the worry I know he's feeling.

Oops. Guess I should've been a bit clearer in my text.

(THERE YOU GO! THIS WAS HONESTLY SUCH A CHALLENGING CHAPTER TO WRITE BUT THEN IT ENDED UP BEING FUN TO WRITE BECAUSE IT WAS PLAYING ON MY MIND FOR A WHILE WHAT IT WOULD BE TO WRITE THIS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY...THE GUYS CAN FEEL WHAT SHE'S FEELING. AND THAT IS THE TRUE REASON THEY'RE ALL ON EDGE, WHY THE GUYS ARE IRRITABLE, CLOSE TO TEARS OR SECONDS AWAY FROM ARGUING...AND POOR THINGS DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEM!! SO HOW WAS IT? LET ME KNOW! AND I'VE BEEN THINKING THAT AFTER THE WHOLE STORY IS OVER...WHICH MIGHT NOT BE THAT LONG AWAY! I'LL DO A SERIES OF BONUS CHAPTERS FOR THEIR RELATIONSHIP AS IT PROGRESSES- SO WE CAN GET AN INSIGHT INTO LATER ON IN THEIR LIFE TOO WITHOUT HAVING MASSIVE, MASSIVE TIME SKIPS. LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S THAT OPTION YOU'D PREFER OR SOMETHING ELSE. STAY SAFE!)

Friends are someone who are there for you through thick and thin, who see you both at your best and at your worst, who see you at your lowest and help you rise again, who see you making a mistake and help you fix it, who see you going down the wrong path and guide you back to the right. A friend is someone who helps you grow and won't hesitate to tell you when you're wrong. We all need someone like that in life and to be that friend for someone else.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3