AFTER SCHOOL HOURS
-JOON'S HOUSE-

"So you are telling me they tried to say you killed Somi so you can replace her? Are they nuts?" Taehyung asked Jennie who was right now sitting on the floor, her head on Chaeyoung's shoulder as they both munched on some popcorn. 

"Exactly, like they don't even have good questions," Jennie said eye-rolling while Jungkook, Taehyung, and Chaeyoung talked about their own case too. Jisoo eyed these four, it had always been like that. No matter how close the eleven can get, Rose, Jungkook, Taehyung, and Jennie always shared a very special bond, which they weren't planning on sharing with the others. These four always made the eleven feel a bit divided at times and Jisoo knew, no one can replace any of them. 

"I told the police something," Jimin finally spoke up, sitting straight as the others turned towards him. "What?" Namjoon asked as Jimin narrated word to word about what he told Ruiz, the others listening to him carefully

"Why are we coming to know about this mysterious lover boy now? How long have you known?" Lisa asked Jimin the minute he finished as the others processed what he just told

"Somi asked me to keep it as a secret. She told me about it a few months after Summer vacations ended, it was the year of 2018," Jimin answered her as they all immediately started to think about who it could be

"It could be Riyan, that boy who works in The Marshmallow shop downtown, Somi went there every week, and he was so creepy but she called him cute," Jisoo suggested as she thought of that day when she and Somi went to buy some candies and Somi giggled while whispering, "Isn't he cute?" 

Jennie threw a smug look at Jisoo while speaking, "Jisoo, are you serious? Why the hell will Somi date a candy boy who can't possibly pay his rents," while Rose chuckled at the comment

"Jisoo was just giving a suggestion Jennie, chill," Lisa said hugging Jisoo. 

Yoongi, who was sitting silently asked, "Or it could be Chen, that guy who lived next to her lake villa, he was in college that time," 

"Somi rarely visited her lake villa, like once in a month. I am sure it would be filled with spider webs right now, but for sure it isn't Chen," Hoseok told

"Whoever it was, surely has a lot to do with this case," Jungkook said as they all nodded

-----NEXT DAY----

"I still can't believe you score higher than me in Maths," Rose shouted at Jungkook as they both entered his mansion, tired from school and the daily drama, Rose and Jungkook decided to grab a latte at his house. Jungkook's mom made the best latte, no doubt, the twelve came to his house, every week and his mom appreciated that. 

Jungkook giggled at the way she dramatically cursed for getting a B grade at maths, as he said, "I am going to ask my mom to make us some, you stay here by the time," Jungkook offered as Rose mouthed a sure. As Jungkook walked away, someone unexpected, entered the room, someone who brought back horrible flashbacks for Roseanne. It was Isa, Eunwoo's fiancee. Rose's throat went dry, if Isa is here, would Eunwoo be too? 

After that day, Rose had tried her best to ignore Isa and Eunwoo. Not attending parties where Eunwoo could possibly be present, not crossing the road where he teaches, Rose was definitely scared. Especially with XOXO in the frame, she didn't want to see their face. 

"Hey Rosie, long time," Isa said as she took a seat on the big couch

"Hey Isa, yeah... How come are you here?" Rose said, her voice a bit shaky, and then she realized how dumb it was to ask that. Isa is literally Jungkook's sister in law, of course, she can be here. 

Before Isa can answer the question, Jungkook entered the room back, a tray in his hands, as he kept three glasses on the table. Now Rose was just praying that her secret doesn't come out, she had worked hard enough to forget about it, knowing XOXO, who kept the entire power to spill it. 

"Isa and Eunwoo are staying here, their house is being renovated, moreover since Isa is pregnant, mom wants to take care of her here" Jungkook answered, as Isa went a shade of pink at the last few words. It took Rose several minutes to process it, all she wanted to do right now was leave. Quickly finishing her drink, she stood up, "Kook, I need to go, I have got some homework to finish," 

"Why so early Chae? You have a whole night to finish it, stay a little bit longer," he said

"Please Kookie, I promise I will stay longer next time. I really need to leave," Rose said licking off her dry lip as she picked up her backpack

"Okay, fine," Jungkook spoke. "Bye Kook, Bye Isa," Rose said before finally leaving, her secret will haunt her for her entire life like it just did. 

"She would make a nice girlfriend for you," Isa commented after she left as Jungkook smiled, "Shut up Isa," 

--------------

"We are not doing Romeo and Juliet, it's so old now, literally every school does it!" Jisoo argued as the acting club held it's meeting this evening. The set makers, actors, script team sat together as they all worked on deciding what drama they should do for this month. Every month, the acting club prepared a small drama, that took place on the last day of the month. 

"Jisoo, you know how Mrs. Kristina is the biggest fan of Shakespeare, she is the judge of the month, we have to do it," Park Jinyoung, a member of the club told her

"Shakespeare has written more than Romeo and Juliet," Im Nayeon said banging the table 

"This month genre is romance, nothing is better than Romeo and Juliet, we will do it!" Jaehyun said reading out all options, Shuhua had written on a paper. Jisoo sighed, of course, they will do the classic. 

"Okay, everybody, next week we are holding the audition for this, We have to hurry up, prepare for the roles, and we will see," Suzy, the head of the club said as they all nodded and started to pack their bags

Jisoo stuffed some books in her bag when all of a sudden she was surrounded by Nayeon and Miyeon. "Jisoo, you should audition for Juliet, you suit it perfectly," Nayeon said, jumping a bit

"No way," Jisoo spoke up, but when Miyeon kept her hand on her shoulder and told her a piece of amazing news, she had to think again, "Jisoo you know, I asked Taeyong to convince Jin for trying out Romeo. Come on, you and Jin, like Romeo and Juliet, it would be perfect," 

Jisoo bit her lip, sneaking a glance at the corner where he stood, talking to his buddies before finally answering, "Fine, I will audition for Juliet," 

"Come on, Jin! You suit Romeo perfectly!" Kyungsoo said to Jin who shook his head, while Taeyong said, "Jisoo is auditioning for Juliet, now are you planning to audition for Romeo or should I ask someone else?" 

Jin looked at both his friends, asking him to audition for Romeo, "Fine," he mumbled under his breath

--------------------
NEXT DAY
-YOONGI'S HOUSE-

The eleven had gathered at Yoongi's house this evening to talk and catch up, updating each other with the recent dilemmas. They all were wrapped up in soft blankets, sipping on hot chocolate, the room was warm as a fire was lit up, Yoongi's family was such a fan of such vintage things. The place felt safe, as if they were fine for now, even though they weren't

"And then I finally told Soyeon about XOXO and all of this matter," Yoongi said lightly, telling everyone about it. 

"You are sure she will not tell anyone right?" Jennie asked she shifted closer to Taehyung who had his arm wrapped around her body. For a second, the eleven wished it would stay like this, no loud drama, no mental stress, just them together in a calm place. 

"No, she will not, I trust her, more than I trust myself," Yoongi said, his tone confident. There was no way Soyeon would break his trust. 

"So should I tell Soojin too?" Jimin asked the others, as much as he wanted to keep Soojin away from this matter, he didn't want to lie to her. Relationships with lies never work out. 

"Yes, tell her if you feel like it," Rose said resting her head on Jungkook's shoulder after she noticed Jennie and Taehyung. Jungkook was a bit taken back but he lightly stroked her hair. Lisa and Hoseok too were sitting together, although Lisa was totally oblivious about the little feelings Hoseok had started to develop. 

and there was Kim Jisoo, judging the three duos cuddled up with each other. Jisoo was in a panicked state, she was sitting between Jin and Namjoon, while Jin was her crush at a time, Namjoon too had been showing some signs recently, and all Jisoo could do was smile as if nothing is wrong. 

The calm and peaceful environment was disturbed soon after the bell rang, Yoongi stood up and went to the door, he wasn't expecting anyone. The door opened revealing Jay. Jeon Ennik Jay, Somi's elder brother. 

As a teen, Jay was considered a rebellious child due to him smoking marijuana and hanging out with the creepy kids In high school, but as University approached, Jay had become more serious. 

"Hey Jay," Yoongi said, which rather came out as a whisper. Hadn't the Enniks moved out of the town?

"Hey Yoongi," Jay said, he was carrying a large box in his hands, his mouth barely visible as he held it in front of it. 

"Come in," Yoongi said, noticing how heavy it would be

As Jay entered the house, his eyes widened, the eleven were sitting so cozily at Yoongi's house. Never did he expected this. The eleven eyed him, trying to smile, but failed, thoughts gushing over as they looked at him. Jay put the box on the floor as he panted and then spoke

"Wow, what a coincidence, I met you all here. You all are still close?" 

The others uncomfortably shifted at their positions as Yoongi brought a glass of water which Jay happily accepted, "Hey Jay, what brings you here?" Rose asked, smiling a bit. 

"Hey Rosie, well I got a job here," Jay answered, it was clear the eleven wanted to avoid the Somi topic right now. Jay always locked himself in his room when the eleven came over at his house, Somi used to call him the creepy brother. 

"Oh, that's good," Lisa said when she clearly meant the opposite 

"I was just cleaning up the house, it has been 2 years since I went there, found a lot of things in the attic, this was one of them," Jay said, his voice a bit sad, as he pointed to the carton

"What is it?" Namjoon asked getting up to place it on the table

Jisoo carefully opened it as Jay answered, "Pictures, a lot of pictures. The ones Somi clicked with you, and some things as well, I don't know about them, but maybe you guys do, I thought why not bring it over," 

"Thank you, Jay, we will check it," Jennie said standing up as she moved closer to see the inside

"I need to go now, a lot of cleaning to do, you can keep it if you want, or return it tomorrow," Jay said smiling 

"Sure, if you need any help, I live next door, just give me a call," Yoongi said as Jay smiled at his politeness. 

The minute Jay left, the eleven gathered around the table, opening the box to see the insides.  Jisoo picked up a photo album that said "BFFS". She flipped over the pages to see thousands of pictures, Somi and the eleven posing together at various places

"This was when we baked a cake but the oven got on fire, we were crying but Somi suggested to take a picture, it made a memory," Jin said pointing to a picture where the eleven were standing in front of a burnt oven

"and this was when we went to the beach and it ended up raining, that was so hilarious," Jungkook said picking up a polaroid picture

"Oh my god, this was the bracelet I gifted Somi on friendship day, see, it says S&R," Rose said, her eyes almost tearing up as she picked a purple bracelet 

"Remember this owl necklace, Somi showed up wearing it, and we all commented how old fashioned it was, but she said it's vintage," Lisa said passing the necklace for the others to see

The others quickly started remembering every memory the thing or the picture carried as they saw them, it was fun yet emotional, but suddenly Jimin said something, which caused the others to look at him, in curiosity

"This is not a necklace,"

"What?" Hoseok asked, not able to understand 

"This... is a pen drive," Jimin said as he showed the others the flash drive, separating it, the others looking at each other, gulping. Something was not good.