24

"And then you jump, right leg in front, and turn to the left. Got it?" Soyoung tries to help Mia to catch up on the 4 days worth of practice she missed.

Mia sheepishly smiles, "could you repeat it once more?" She seemed lost from the complicated choreograph.

She was still slightly sick, but refused to stay for another day in that dreadful grave her ass has prominently marked from all the sitting in her bed.

"Alright, time for lunch." The staff announced, hearing sighs from everyone with relief, except Mia who sighed in disappointment from only managing to learn half of the song.

Mia watch the members rush towards freedom. "Let's go," Hyeji stands by the door, waiting for me to follow.

"I'll be there soon. I just have to go over some steps." Mia points at the mirror.

Hyeji's shoulders drops in concern. "Don't overwork yourself Mi, you don't wanna get worse. Come eat soon alright?"

Mia shows her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry Jiji, I know my body's limit. I'll be quick."

Hyeji stands still, hesitating whether to drag her or not, but she trusts that Mia is capable of taking care of herself.

Hyeji makes it to the cafeteria with the others. Jimin's eyes automatically search for any other figure behind her, but there was no one else.

"I thought Mia was back today?" JHope asks. Jimin was relieved that he didn't have to question it himself.

"She is," she nodded. "Still at the practice room," she pointed her thumb towards the place. "I know it's because she doesn't like dragging the group slower, so she's trying to catch up."

"Why is she over doing it? I'll call her here." Jimin jumps out in worry, the feeling of agitation pooling in his stomach for being the reason of her sickness.

"You can try, but she's really hard headed. We've all tried before." Hyeji states a fact.

But this didn't stop Jimin from trudging towards the practice room.

His eyes softens at the first sight of Mia repeating and counting the steps properly. He had so much to say, which was the reason why he decided to approach her. But his confidence blew out the door, nervous of how Mia would react at his sudden presence.

He softly knocks on the door, making Mia falter at the turning of her body, almost making her trip.

"Oof, sorry. Are you okay?" Jimin quickly runs over to Mia.

Mia stares at him blankly at his question. 'Are you okay?' There was so much meaning and so many answers she could give towards that vague question.

She looks away towards her watch. "Oh yeah, it's lunchtime." She walks to the side of the room to pick up her water bottle.

"Mia," Jimin softly says. Mia grips her water bottle stronger.

"It's time to eat," she starts to speed walk towards the door.

"Can I talk to you?" He tries.

"Hmm? We are talking, stupid." She chuckles making Jimin surprised at her teasing self.

"I'm hungry okay?" She smiles before quickly leaving. Jimin slowly follows her to the cafeteria, dumbfounded at her actions.

"Well, it seems like Jimin could control your stiff ass." Hyeji looks at Jimin, impressed.

"Shut it." Mia smiles through gritted teeth.

She seemed like she was fine. She was smiling, teasing... happy? Jimin couldn't help but feel unsettled. He could see it.

It was all fake.

. • . • .

If there was one other thing Mia was good at other than embarassing herself, it was avoiding people she chooses to avoid. She could come up with excuses quicker than she could figure out algebraic problems.

Therefore Jimin had the hardest time trying to start a conversation. He could sense that Mia was avoiding him, and he knew this coming.

She rarely make mistakes, but this was one of her unlucky moments.

He finally got her attention, when Mia screwed up. She was sitting by the bench, when she noticed Jimin approaching through her peripheral vision.

She quickly inserts the earphones into her ears and nods her head along with the imaginary beat as she shuts her eyes, pretending to relax, hoping Jimin wouldn't be rude, intruding her space.

But she couldn't settle, so she jumps to her feet and walks away.

"Mia!" Jimin yells. Her jaws tighten at the calling of her name, continuing to casually stroll away as if she didn't hear.

She wanted to sprint away. She wanted a van to appear out of nowhere and kidnap her, just to be away from the future awkward interaction. She was desperate.

"MIA!" Heavy footsteps grew louder.

She sighs, seeing the descending sun. The whole day that she had tried to shake Jimin off her tail was exhausting.

The heavy footsteps halt, as she feels his prescence beside her, but she continues to pretend not to have noticed him.

"Well, I just wanted to let you know that they aren't plugged into your phone." Jimin takes hold of the end of the hanging earphones.

Mia halts, biting her bottom lip at her failed attempt.

She grabs it off Jimin's hand as she resumes her walk without even acknowledging his prescence.

"Can we talk?" Jimin engulfs her cold hand, making her freeze in her position.

She stares at his warm hand holding hers, her toes curling deeper into her shoes.

"Hmm? Sorry, I guess I just had a lot on my mind." She wiggles her hand off his touch.

"I just-" Jimin fiddles with his fingers, not knowing where to start as his plan of script poofed into oblivion.

"Sorry." He blurts out. "I'm sorry for-"

"That wasn't your fault. I chose to run out without warm clothes, how silly of me." She scoffs. "So we good now okay?" She gives him two thumbs up, smiling widely, showing her teeth, yet didn't quite reach eyes.

"Stop blaming yourself." She hesitantly reaches for his shoulder to pat him. Yet Jimin still had his eyebrows furrowed in worry, confusion and uneasiness.

She turns around, praying Jimin would get lost as she picks up her pace away from him.

Jimin on the other hand didn't hesitate to chase after her, gripping on her hand, somewhat annoyed.

"Can you drop this act? Acting like you're all fine, choosing to forget everything that just happened, running away all the time!" He raises his voice making her whimper.

"Why should I? Did you not run away when I wanted to talk? Aren't you being a hypocrite?" Mia looks up at Jimin, teary eyed.

Jimin inhales, composing himself. "I know I don't deserve your attention. But just give me a chance to explain myself. You can stay quiet. You don't have to say anything. Just listen to what I have to say, please?" He softly says. Mia peers at the cold dusty concrete, forced to listen.

"First of all, I want to apologise for being an asshole. For choosing to ignore you that night, for hurting your feelings."

"Do you have a reason for why you did it?"

Jimin was hushed.

"At least you know you're an asshole. But I hope you don't do this to others."

Jimin looks up at Mia in question. What does she mean? Do what to others?

"That night when you 'confessed,' I can't believe I fell for that shit." She scoffs, face palming herself mentally. "That was a nice action to trigger my feelings."

The glare Mia gives Jimin made him feel intimidated.

"Lucky I realised sooner, or else I probably would've lost my sanity."

"Mia-"

"I'll forget about it okay? Let's just get on with life. I traveled countries and worked hard alone to get this far. Don't ruin this for me."

"I didn't play with you."

"Because you weren't playing with me. You were playing by yourself." She sighs, "I don't want to go on thinking how selfish you would be to hinder someone from reaching their dreams. So let's just drop this. Let's drop it while we're still by the surface. Ignore me during practices, and not come back to this, okay?" She was ready to walk out.

"You still haven't given me the chance to explain myself."

"I don't need to. I want to forget about all of this. Leave me alone-" Mia shakes Jimin's grip from her wrist, but he only pulls it closer, stronger than intended, making her land towards him.

Jimin holds her closer, arms wrapped around hers, gazing at each other, but each with different emotions. One, breathless, nervous of her racing heart, the other, guilty for making her sparkling eyes water in sorrow.

"What," she struggles under his warm hold, lowkey not wanting to let go, "are you-"

His lips crash onto hers.