Throughout the whole lunch, Taehyung remained restrained, as if his lips were bound by some witch's spell. He didn't speak a word when he helped pay the check, nor climbing into the truck, even when Jimin asked him what was wrong.

I wanted to ask. Of course I did. I had a tendency to solve people's problems even when mine remained unanswerable. It was a habit of mine, Jimin once said. Was it bad to want to help a friend out?

"Hey, there's another party tonight! Jaebum won't be there, so no worries." Sky told everyone. My blood went cold, as if the chill of the winter air outside filled my insides. Im Jaebum, my ex-boyfriend; the only thing I've ever had that seemed okay in my quiet life. He was great in the beginning, but after two months, he ditched me multiple times. He would always want to hangout, but then he cut me off completely. I was an emotionless wreck because it was my first time being a part of a relationship.

I remembered Jimin holding me as I blubbered into his shirt, hopefully not caring about the mascara staining his shirt. Taehyung was there as well the last night I got stood up and I felt scared from how his face twisted in anger. I have never seen someone filled with rage before; Taehyung's face keeping me at bay from upsetting anyone again.

"Not another one." Jungkook groaned, slipping down into his seat.

"This one is more chill than the last one," Sky promised, laughing from Jungkook's groan. "No fights, a few drinks, and some games. That's it."

"I don't know. I have another test Monday. Plus, I'm not really much of a party person." I shrugged.

"Ona, please," The voice wasn't from who I was expecting. Taehyung was looking at me from my right, his dark brown eyes causing inflicted emotions to swarm my stomach. "You don't have to drink. Just have some fun. I'll let you come to this party." He mustered a smile, patting my thigh and causing another rush of butterflies to hit my stomach.

"What's with you?" I whispered to him quietly. He was acting very bipolar right now and I didn't like it. He was like this only sometimes; when something was bothering him or he was bored. I wasn't going to go with the latter.

"Nothing." He gave me a small smile, his pink lips looking fuller. I felt like I knew Taehyung more than he knew himself. When he was nervous he would stutter, when he was upset his eyes would aflame with anger, when something was bothering him he tried to slyly pass it off with a quick eye-smile and one worded answer. Nothing fooled me. I may be quiet, but that makes me more observant. I knew everyone's nervous tick in this car, except Sky, but I was figuring her out.

"Okay." I nodded, keeping my thoughts to myself. I wouldn't push him, that's not me. I liked it when people told me their problems instead of digging it out of them.

_____________________________________

Taehyung's Perspective

I sighed as Ona turned her head, almost as if she was embarrassed to ask me such a question. I was acting strange for a reason. Jaebum was the problem again. I didn't want her to get hurt again and any mention of him, I knew, made her tense.

The thing is, whenever someone tried to make a move on her, I felt the need to turn protective since Jimin was blinder than a mole. I felt the responsibility more than him. He only took note of when I'm teasing Ona, when truly I just like to see her blush because it's adorable.

I never thought of her in that way. Okay, maybe I have done things that would seem I have, but truthfully, she was like the baby sister I never had. I wanted to keep her safe and out of harm's way.

I won't deny that she is very pretty with her soft mocha hair, snowy, soft skin and trembling lips. Also, I will not pass the fact that my man senses were urging me to take everything a step further with her. But Ona was fragile like a cracked piece of glass. She could be strong when she wanted but I knew behind her fierceness there was that quiet, small girl from long ago. So, when Jaebum ruined that small bit of trust that was supposed to be saved for someone else, I knew what my job was. To keep her safe, but keep her happy.

That's why I'm being distant. I could only imagine the thoughts swirling through her  bright mind. Probably afraid that somehow Jaebum would follow us to the party and cause chaos.

If anything happened to her, I don't know what I would do.

To bring her safety was easy, since she rarely left her home. But when it came to her actually doing something, it gave me a purpose. This party would lighten the mood, since now Jaebum wouldn't be attending and I felt like it was time for Ona to experience her first, yet modest party.

"I guess," Ona smiled, nodding slightly which caused Sky to clap happily. "But I need to be back before midnight so I can at least get some studying in."

"Will do," Sky said. I liked her and I knew Hoseok and Namjoon did as well. Those two won't shut up about her and it's making my head hurt all together. I need to move out of their place. Maybe move in with Yoongi instead since I knew there would barely be any talking. I would share an apartment with Jungkook, but he was still living with his mother since he still attended school and he was a minor. Along with the fact, I wasn't interested in letting his eomma baby me like last time. "Which means, you'll have to change." Sky added, pointing at Ona's large sweater.

"What's wrong with this? I thought you said it was a small party." Ona tensely touched her knitted sweater. I knew she preferred something large and comfortable over dresses that were too short. The reason being because she didn't like feeling exposed because there wasn't a point to feel that way unless behind closed doors. I smiled when she had told me that a while ago, remembering how flustered she had gotten when her mother bought her a small, red dress for a cocktail party they were throwing.

She blushed madly when the neighborhood boys looked at her, causing me to send them secret death glares.

The good days before she was ruined by Jaebum, her innocence teetering on a delicate thread.

"It's a party, Ona! You need to look the part." Sky gave Namjoon directions to somehwere in a little place outside of downtown; Seoul's lights and working people changing into a more suburb area. Namjoon pulled  over to a large apartment building; the bricks a fading shade of peach-brown to give the essence of an older looking edifice.

Everyone shifted out, following Sky as she led us up the stairs to the inside lobby. I stayed by Jungkook's side, watching idly as Sky linked arms with Ona, chattering happily about the outfits she would make her try on.

"Are you sure you want her to go to a party?" Jungkook asked me. I turned to the younger one, chuckling at the concern he showed for Ona. He always showed a large care for his Noona, which I loved teasing him about, but I knew I appreciated his worry because if I wasn't able to do it, I knew I could trust him.

"Sky said it was a small party, I believe her," We all trudged up a flight of stairs, Sky informing us the elevators were under maintenance at the moment. "Also, I want to hang out with Ona more. Don't you?" I budged his side, causing him to lightly hold his arm.

He gave me a sideways glance, as if I had told him something he already knew. We made it to Sky's apartment, the door the color of dark mint. Once unlocked, we were all ushered into a small living room, natural light pouring inside. It was small, but I could even imagine myself living in a place like this.

"Come on, Ona." Sky made us wait in the living area as she dragged Ona to what I was guessing was her room. As the others talked amongst themselves, I took the time to let my eyes scan over every inch of the place. Next to the front door, on the left, was the tiny kitchen, pots and plates stacked near a cupboard from someone that was probably cleaning up. No dining room was present but a circular wooden table sat against a wall with three chairs, dark purple, wicker place mats in front of each one.

Seems to nice for someone so evil to live here. Last time I 'visited' Jaebum, he lived on his own. It was hard to imagine him sharing an apartment with someone. I walked around the small living room, taking in the large black, plush sofas that surrounded a large plasma television, game consoles plugged in, waiting for someone to play. I walked to the fireplace on the far left where pictures were displayed.

The first frame made me smile a little; Sky with a group of people I can only imagine as old friends. She looked younger than now, so I assumed this was a while ago. The other pictures though were of a different man I haven't ever met, but he was in between Jaebum and Sky; making me expect he was a mutual friend of his.

"Taehyung, get over here before you break something." Namjoon called to me.

"You're one to talk, Hyung." I chuckled, not listening as I kept looking over the furniture and eccentric paintings that lined the wall.

"What's that mean?" I smiled to myself as I knew Namjoon was trying to deny his very clumsy body. He may be our leader, but he caused more destruction than all of us together. Clumsy Hyung.

"Do I really need to explain?" I turned to face him, wiggling my finger. About two years ago, we were in a deep game of basketball, Namjoon more than all of us. He was so into it that he had tripped over his own shoelaces, causing him to break one finger and sprain the others. How? I have no clue, but it is a funny story to make him remember.

"Listen--" He pointed a finger at me, but Jin shoved it down, rolling his eyes.

"You two, calm down. This is someone else's place and we're not fighting here." Jin glared at the two of us, still not dissolving the silly grin on my face.

"They're taking way too long." Hoseok groaned, slumping down on the sofa, causing Jin to push him back up.

"They're girls," I said, leaning against the wall, shoving my hands in my pockets. "Looking glammed up is their thing." I shrugged, pulling up my hood.

It was another 20 minutes before we heard a distant door creak open, causing our heads to maneuver to the noise.

"She looks amazing." Sky came out, her midnight shimmery hair pushed to one side, wearing a sleek leather jacket, ripped white jeans and knee high boots.

I didn't see Ona and I had a feeling she was feeling embarrassed. She can get shy quite easily.

"Noona?" Jungkook called out. We were all waiting, as if the Mayor of Seoul was going to step out any minute. We heard a small shuffle until a petite figure came out, head down a little as she stood before us.

I knew everyone's eyes were bugging out their heads, minds not being able to process the scene they were seeing. I was used to seeing Ona in her cute sweaters and tight jeans or leggings and that one time with her red dress. But this was different.

Her usual straight brown locks were in tight curls, hitting the curve of her elbow. Her eyes were dabbed lightly with make-up, enough to make her chocolate eyes to burst brighter. The dress she wore was black with a grey shift underneath with lace covering her arms and chest. Her feet were covered with black heels, but shorter so she could handle them well.

I felt like I couldn't breath. It was hard to imagine her like this, not like the cute girl that was easy to tease and make laugh. She looked like a woman, shy but more mature.

I knew everyone else was feeling the same way as silence hung in the room was dense like a fog rolling through a city. I looked to see Jimin's eyes were in disbelief as well while Jungkook's were more happy.

"Doesn't she look great?" Sky pushed at us, trying to make the silence no more since the atmosphere became awkward.

"You look amazing." Hoseok smiled, giving her a thumbs up.

"Noona, you look pretty." Jungkook smiled at her, causing a faint blush to coat her cheeks as she nodded to him.

"Beautiful." Whose voice was that? Each head snapped to me, Jimin's face looking annoyed and that's when I realized I had let that slip from my mouth. Was it so bad to compliment a friend?

Ona looked towards me, as if what I said was alien to her, but a smile grew on her face as she tug on the arm of the dress up her shoulder.

"I won't deny this feels weird." She said, trying to pull the dress down.

"But you look great," Sky nodded, smiling. "You all ready?" She asked us. We all nodded and started to follow her out the door. I waited for Jimin to be out of earshot before walking next to Ona, scaring a bit when I nudged her arm with mine.

"You better plan on breaking boy's hearts tonight." I said, making her look up with me, brows furrowed and eyelashes shadowing her eyes to give her a puppy look.

"What? Why?" I helped her down the steps to avoid her accidentally falling from the heels. I let go of her small hand once we reached the bottom of the steps, the rest of the group a little ahead of us. The way she looked, I was already expecting other guys to try and hit on her and being protective, I wasn't going to let that happen.

"So that I won't have the trouble of doing it myself."