Taehyung's POV-

Sitting across from Jimin, who's been staring at me with eyes as wide as saucers despite Koo being the one doing most of the talking, I've never felt so exposed in front of him. So uneasy.

I don't like talking about this. Don't like reliving it.

I also don't like hearing Koo tell the limited details he knows, leaving me to fill in the blanks myself.

Not out loud of course. I've hardly said a word. I've been remembering details he's missing in my head.

I thought I could do it. Thought that if there was anyone I could talk to besides Koo and Yoongi it'd be Chim. But I'm not ready. Not even close.

And even though Koo had taken over the conversation when I couldn't find my voice shortly after the three of us sitting down, I can't be here anymore.

I can't handle the look Chim is giving me.

He isn't intentionally making me uncomfortable, of course.

His shock is as natural a reaction as any human being would have to hearing someone, especially their best friend who they had originally anticipated was going to come clean about taking a vacation and purposely not inviting them, had gone through something so unexpectedly horrific.

The more Koo speaks, explaining our disappearance over the last few days, the more my skin crawls.

My chest has progressively started rising and falling more rapidly as my breathing becomes uneven, labored, but I'm trying to keep it together.

I don't want to be weak. I'm not weak. I haven't been for a long time. Not since I was younger and Mrs. Jeon-

My eyes immediately prick with tears at the thought of her.

Thankfully, a knock at the door pulls all focus away from my mental spiraling, drawing it to the door instead.

Chanyeol pokes his head in hesitantly, looking first at Koo, then Chim saying, "I'm sorry to interrupt," with a timid smile, probably sensing the palpable tension in the room before locking eyes with me.

"Can I talk to you real quick?"

I let out a choked exhale as I nod my head rapidly.

Turning my head in the direction of my two friends, keeping my eyes from looking at their faces though, I tell Koo he is free to tell Chim whatever else he wants to know, free to answer all of his questions, before jumping up and practically running to the door.

As soon as I hear it shut behind me, I bend over, resting my hands on my knees as I finally feel like I have a chance to catch my breath.

We were only in that room for about thirty minutes, but it felt like an eternity.

Chan moves to stand next to me, raising his hand to presumably either pat my back or my shoulder or something in attempt to comfort me and I have to fight the urge to smack him away.

At this point, I am so fucking done with people feeling bad for me.

Despite the need to push him away, I ignore the hand on my shoulder as I stand up straight, asking, "What was it you needed to talk to me about?"

"Yoongi is actually the one who needs to talk to you. He asked if I could bring you to his studio. If you're okay to sit and wait for him there for a few minutes he said he'll meet you there to talk."

I let out a sigh of relief at the thought of not only getting away from the conversation with Chim and Koo but at the thought of getting to be by myself for a few minutes.

"Please," I exhale.

Get me the fuck away from this room. From the condolences. From all of this. I refrain from adding.

Chan nods before removing his hand from my shoulder, turning to walk to Yoongi's studio.

Once there, he quickly puts in the passcode before letting me inside. He repeats to me again that Yoongi will be there in a few minutes before leaving me alone.

As soon as the door clicks shut, I completely lose it.

Taking full advantage of this sound proof studio, I drop myself on the small couch and let my sobs free, truly free, for the first time since everything has happened.

Even with all of the crying and break downs I had at the base, I still held back a little. But I'm not going to do that now.

Not since I have the chance to let my hurt pour out by myself in soundproof solitude.

And I want to do it now and be done with getting it out before Yoongi gets here.

Thankfully, about fifteen minutes later, which was just enough time for me to be pull myself somewhat back together, I hear the beeping of the buttons on the keypad being pushed before the door is opened.

I look up at Yoongi as he enters from where I'm sat on the couch.

He has his eyes down on his phone when he initially walks in, biting back a wide smile it looks like.

After he shuts the door he locks the phone before sliding it into his pocket.

Once he looks at me I see his eyes roam over me, appraising my appearance.

I know there's no way to miss the puffiness of my eyes, the irritation on the tops of my cheekbones from the repetitive wiping of my tears, but even with the mess I'm sure I look like, his face stays neutral, which nearly makes me want to cry all over again, but out of happiness.

I can see that his eyes have a softness in them, an apologetic softness, but other than that his face is neutral. Not a trace of pity and for that, I feel an overwhelming amount of relief.

That relief is only magnified when he speaks.

"That shirt is ridiculous."

I let out a breathy laugh, blinking back happy tears at his lack of sympathetic apologies or inquiries on if I'm okay.

This. This is what I needed.

"I asked Yeol to go get you because I need a favor." He slides his phone out of his pocket again as he walks over to the couch, taking a seat next to me. "I want to order lunch to be picked up or delivered later but I cannot for the life of me remember that place you used to order lunch from for me."

I narrow my eyes at him with a crooked, skeptical smile.

"You asked Chan to come get me... to order lunch?"

"W-well," He clears his throat. "Like I said. I wanted to order lunch and I couldn't remember the restaurant. You know how I am with names and things like that. Besides, you are still my assistant." He adds in a matter of fact sounding tone with a shrug. "This definitely falls under the scope of your job title."

I continue to stare at him. Studying him.

The way he's avoiding looking at me, becoming very invested and taking far too long to get the browser open on his phone in order for me to get to the restaurant I know he remembers the name of's website.

He doesn't need me to do this for him. No, he knew. Somehow he knew I needed to be saved.

I can't confirm this fact of course because not only do I already know he'll deny it immediately if I ask, he will just get flustered.

That would normally be okay with me, but I don't want to deter him from doing this in the future.

Continuing to do what he does when it comes to silently taking care of the people around him.

So instead, I keep my mouth shut, only reaching for the phone to do as requested.

"You got it boss."

He then places the phone in my outstretched palm so I can get the food ordered.

"It would be for all of us. So... eleven people?" He pouts his lips as he looks down at his hand, silently counting on his fingers as he numbers off everyone we'll be feeding.

After he repeats the action twice, obviously either recalculating or forgetting people so he has to start over, I break into a fit of laughter.

"What?" He looks at me with raised brows and the corner of his lips turned up ever so slightly. "Why are you laughing."

"You." I grin as I look back down at the phone. "And yes, eleven. If I'm correct in my thinking, you are counting you, Koo, Chim, Jin and Namjoon maybe, possibly Hoseok, Chan, Minho and Kyungsoo, which is very nice of you if that's the case, as well as myself. And Chungha." I glance up at him from the screen after logging into my online account on the restaurant's site. "Am I right?"

"Exactly right." He nods with a smile.

"Speaking of Chungha," I voice as I begin to reorder the same things I've gotten for Yoongi in the past, portions multiplied by three and four. "Did you talk with her about what you wanted to? With a house?"

"I did." He nods, leaning back on the couch. "We have a place picked and we sent the specs to the General for approval. As soon as we get the go ahead from him that the home is securable, we can set up arrangements for the move."

"That's good." I smile softly before asking, "Can I see the house?"

"No."

I turn to look at him, surprised at the answer, but my surprise turns quickly to confusion as I see the knowing smile on his face.

"Why? And why are you looking at me like that."

"I want it to be a surprise."

I furrow my brows. "A surprise?"

"Yes." He nods, raising his hands up, interlocking his fingers behind his head.

"What could be surprising about some house in the middle of the woods?"

He looks at me with a teasing smile. "You'll just have to wait and see."

"I don't like this." I complain. "I don't like surprises."

"Nonsense. Anything that can cause a spectacle you are all for and we both know it." He teases. "And wouldn't a house reveal be quite the spectacle, Taehyungie?"

I raise my brows. "Taehyungie?"

"What will you be ordering?" He changes the subject swiftly, only a light dusting of pink on his cheeks.

I eye him skeptically before turning my attention back to the phone. "The usual. A few new things they've added that sound good, but mostly just what I've gotten before."

"Perfect." He comments, closing his eyes.

"You seem awful calm, hyung." I voice, submitting the order before placing his phone on the coffee table in front of us.

"You didn't need my card?" He asks.

"No," I sigh. "The card's saved. Now, back to my question. Why are you so calm?"

"I got some news. And it's worth being happy about. When I spoke with the General earlier to let him know I'd found a place and asked him where to send the details of it to, he told me that he and Hyuk heard form the district attorney this morning."

I perk up immediately at his words. This paired with his overall positive aura right now is telling me that this news must be good. Very good.

"And? What did he say?!"

Yoongi lowers his head to level his stare at me, eyes gleaming with unmistakable happiness. "I haven't told the others this yet. I was literally told on my walk here from the meeting room. I'd just ended my call before I walked in here."

"My God, say it already!" I bounce in my seat, adjusting my position as I tuck my knees under myself to be facing him.

"They're going to bring her in."

My heart skips a beat and my jaw drops. "Are you saying what I hope you are?"

Yoongi sits up straight as he turns to me. He takes both of my hands in his, looking at me with tearful eyes and a wide smile.

"The day after tomorrow, first thing in the morning, officers from Daegu will be showing up at her door to escort her to back to Daegu. They're arresting her, Taehyung." He lets out a sharp breath. "They're arresting her."

"They're... arresting her..." I gasp, bringing a hand up to cover my mouth.

"He said that authorities don't necessarily have much to go off of. The recordings didn't give any out right confessions of her having those people killed, but it was enough to raise suspicion. And where all of the missing person's cases are open and cold, the police force is more open with their investigating. More open with following any and every lead thoroughly.

"Because of this, despite her not outwardly saying she had anyone killed, some of the recordings offer enough for them to bring her in for questioning. And if she's there, it buys us time-"

"It buys us time to find more evidence to get to the D.A. to keep building a case." I finish his thought lowly. "It gives us more time to find Hyuk's friends too. To find them along with whatever was recovered from that room. She's going to be so focused on getting out of police custody that we'll have time to work while she's distracted! Oh my God, this is amazing!" I exclaim, lunging forward to throw my arms around his neck.

Yoongi returns the hug, wrapping his arms around my waist. "They will try to keep her in their custody for as long as they can, but her lawyers are going to be good. They are going to fight like hell to find technicalities or have everything thrown out entirely to get her out of there because the longer she is there, the harder it will be to keep her being arrested from getting out to the public."

I pull back to look at him. "Why would we want her to be arrested without the public knowing. Wouldn't that be a good thing? Have people turn against her so she loses support?"

He lets out a sigh. "That would be the ideal scenario, but that is probably wishful thinking. Think about it. When your favorite idol or celebrity gets involved in a scandal, your immediate thought is to defend them. To doubt the validity, stick up for them and show your endless support. She would be no different as she is one of the biggest names in the music industry.

"Unless we can show more solid evidence of who she really is. Prove to people that she is a monster, she would become a victim the second a single article or photo of her arrest was released whether people knew why she was there or not."

I pout my lips out as I consider what he's saying.

It's true. Whenever scandals happen fans are quick to defend and point fingers away from their favorite star. This would be no different. Maybe even worse.

It has to be kept on a need to know basis until we get more. And now, with her arrest, we will have that. Or would have that if it actually happens.

Two days is a long time away and Irene has done more extraordinary things in shorter amounts of time. I'd imagine evading arrest would be one of the easier feats to accomplish.

"And she doesn't know?" I ask slowly, keeping a close eye on him.

My arms are still around his neck, his arms around my waist, but neither of us seem to mind the rather close proximity.

"As far as I know, no. I was actually hoping we could get some more solid intel on that. And I was hoping you could help with that."

"How?"

"That girl. The small one that helped us get out of the lobby last night."

"Yeri?"

"Sure." He says with a crooked smile, obviously having no idea if that is or isn't who he's referring to.

"You really are terrible with names, Hyung." I giggle as I finally unhook my arms.

"I know." He shakes his head in mock disappointment. "I can remember nearly every lyric to every song I've ever recorded, yet I can't remember the name of a small blonde girl I've seen three times. Shame on me." He tsks with a smirk.

"Once we get back to the apartment I'll make you some flash cards to memorize the important contacts you need to start remembering." I chuckle teasingly, standing up from the couch. "And as soon as I get to my phone I'll give her a call. I don't have her number memorized, otherwise I would use your phone and call her now."

I stretch my arms above my shoulder as Yoongi asks, sounding confused, "Where are you going?"

"You just said that you haven't told anyone yet. So let's go tell them!" I smile, reaching my hand out to help him up after sliding my shoes back on. "The pickup time for the food is eleven thirty so that gives us plenty of time for all of us to talk and answer questions, because there will be so many questions, before the food comes."

"You're right. Lots of questions. Which means I'd better get the General or Hyuk back on the phone when we get in there. What I told you is the extent of my knowledge on the details and Kook alone will want to know the when, where and how of it all." He chuckles as he stands up, picking his phone up off the table once he's on his feet.

"Yes. Koo will undoubtedly have the most questions." I chuckle along with him as we make our way to the door.

We walk out into the hall, locking the door behind us of course, before we start making our way to our friends.

"Did this help?" He hesitantly asks after a few beats in a lowered voice.

"What do you mean?" I tilt my head.

"I, um," he pauses before continuing. "I meant to send Yeol to ask for your help sooner but we got caught up in looking at the houses and he left later than he should have. I'm sorry if he should have come sooner..."

He's noticeably avoiding eye contact with me as he gives me the confirmation to the suspicion I had earlier.

He knew. He knew I might need an out of my conversation with Koo and Chim.

He knew just what I needed without me even needing to ask. Hell, without him even being in the same place as me.

"His timing was perfect." I settle on answering, smiling over at him as he continues to avoid looking at me. "I'm glad I was able to help you get the food ordered. Mai Soo's by the way. That's the name of the place. For future reference." I add, bumping him lightly with my shoulder as we continue walking.

"You and I both know I'll forget that before we reach the end of this hallway." He scoffs with a smile, finally looking at me. "But thank you. And I am glad I was able to help."

I grin, wrinkling my nose before facing forward again.

"Chungha is excited to meet you." He changes the subject, because of course he does.

"I'm excited to meet her too! I heard she has some really great stories." I smile, wiggling my brows knowingly over at him.

He raises both brows, asking quickly. "What are you- What do you know?"

"Enough, hyung. I know enough." I giggle, enjoying the obviously unamused look on his face.

He knows, or at least has a suspicion that I know what I know and I'm so incredibly excited to talk to her about it.

To confirm if what I've heard is the truth or a lie.

Maybe he's right. I do enjoy a spectacle. And this has the potential to be exactly that.