Incredibili

Unbelievable

Emily had been waiting to be able to talk to that particular professor for some time now. She was sitting against the wall on the other side of the corridor, looking straight at the door, and wishing whichever student was there to come out. She hasn't even tried to take out her computer because she knew her concentration was soli focused on the questions she was going to ask. And even with that concentration, she was frustrated that she couldn't decide which ones to ask so he could help her understand what was going on with her friends.

Her head snapped to the door the moment she heard it opening at last, and when she saw a pair of students walking out of there. She stood up and walked straight to the door where the Professor now stood, looking down at her.

- I don't remember having you as my student. - He said by way of greeting but failed in dismissing her as he probably would've wanted. Her determination was too great to be intimidated by him.

- Professor Seokjin, I only came here for a few questions. - She said as calmly as she could muster as her hands grabbed her backpack straps with tight fists.

Seokjin just took a step into his classroom and walked back to his desk, and because he hadn't said the contrary, she stepped inside as well.

- Ok, then, what do you want to talk about? - He asked as he sat down like it was a throne and looked down at her from the other side of the desk. - Do you perhaps want to ask if you could see my class? -

- No, sir. - Emily was a little breathless now that she had him right there, but she pushed on. - I was actually going to ask if you could help me understand the behavior of two of my friends from a psychological point of view. -

Seokjin squinted his eyes slightly.

- Have you talked to them directly? -

Emily pursed her lips and said in a tiny voice.

- They're both males, Professor. They... - She couldn't say that they don't talk about their feelings, not anymore, not after this morning in Jungkook's room. Her eyes darted down to the desk and Seokjin clicked his tongue.

- I can't believe the number of females who go to anyone else to cry about how their males are not talking to them without ever telling them directly. - Emily looked up at Seokjin's bored face. - I really just want to tell you that if they're still alive then it's no big deal but... - He shrugged. - I guess, as a professor, I can't say such hurtful things anymore. - He sighed. - Very well then. Have you tried talking to the university psychologist? Why did you come here if it's not about class? - Emily bristled but otherwise stood her ground.

- Because, last time we spoke, I got mesmerized by your deductive thinking, and I don't need a psychologist telling me to let them be men, I want someone who would make me understand. I need to know so I can help them. - She was nearly shaking with the force of those eyes, but it will just be much more humiliating going away now, so she stayed there, looking straight at him until he spoke.

- Two things, girl. Firstly, a psychologist will surely tell you to let them "be men" because we are all taught that men are driven by reason, so, males don't often seek mental aid because they can avoid certain feelings with the power of their minds, something, it's said, a woman can't do. And secondly–

- I know that. - Emily cut him off and winced when she saw him pursing his lips but went on. - That's why I'm here. If males are creatures of reason, then why are my two friends so torn apart by their feelings? Shouldn't they be able to... I don't know, make them go away? Whatever it is that they do, why can't my friends do it? What are they lacking or why–... Why are the suicide rates filled with more men than women if they should be able to be reasonable? -

Professor Seokjin tilted his head back and surveyed her for a moment.

- These friends of yours... are they under any kind of medication? - Emily frowned. She was questioning everything she knew about Jungkook but... no, he wouldn't be... would he?

- I don't know. I think not. -

- You think not? - Seokjin leaned in and rested his elbows on the desk, frowning at her. - Aren't you friends? -

- Yes, but... After this morning, I just... don't know anymore. One of them had been keeping so many secrets I didn't know about till this morning that I'm not sure about much anymore. And it's not only him, it's both of them. -

Seokjin just looked at her worried face quizzically before talking once more.

- How much of their behavior has changed during this week? - Emily thought about it, about how they all got here perfectly, how Leo was happy and funny, how Jungkook was mesmerized by the architecture and the gardens like always... Then she realized.

Her head snapped to him.

- They started changing when they met other people. - As she said it out loud, she frowned down at the desk, and then she murmured. - Well... Jungkook has always been a little... But he seems much more... different? now? -

- Your friend is called Jungkook? -

She looked back up and nodded.

- Jungkook Jeon Abram. - Emily knew she had broken her promise to Jungkook when she had admitted him to be the son of the headmaster, but she did it in the name of worry. - And Leonardo Bellamy. -

Seokjin's face was impassive, then he leaned back in his chair as slowly as he nodded.

- The son of the headmaster and deputy headmistress, and the son of the lawyers who created "Bellamy & Co Solicitors"... And a girl who cares so much for them, she's studying psychology. What a trio. - Emily stood there stunned, not only because he knew about them but... he had noticed her primary reason for studying this career. Seokjin sighed greatly and then told her what she least wanted to hear. - Look, I did not specialize in feelings, and you know that. You came here because you thought there could be a neurological explanation for their behavior and maybe there is but without any physical exams we couldn't even attempt to predict what it is that's making them behave like this. Much less will I even be able to predict anything if they aren't here, and you're not certain of anything regarding them so... I cannot help you. But if it gets worse or... weird... you tell me directly, alright? No one else. -

She didn't like the dismissal, the thought of going away empty-handed, but even so, she couldn't help the slight shock at the offer he had given her. He had told her to come to him directly, that's surely unheard of when he's known to send off students to other teachers. So, she stood straight and nodded.

- Yes. Thank you very much, Professor. -

He didn't answer.

She turned around and left, feeling more lost than before as she walked towards the cafeteria where she hoped Leo would be waiting for her to take lunch. But even so, the cafeteria was kind of a long way away, so she took her phone to send him a message.

- I think your phone's vibrating. - Finn said between stifling laughter as he sat on his bed and Leo rested on the floor.

"Rested" as in "rested from the fall he had acquired by attempting to jump from one bed to the other, and failing". Well, to his credit, he didn't fail entirely, the points of his socked feet landed on the other matres, the problem was that the rest of his body didn't make it, so he just landed on his back while his feet still laid over the other bed.

Leo groaned with his face covered by the insides of his elbows, so Finn just grabbed the vibrating phone from the other side of the half-eaten mountain of sweets and threw it as gently as he could towards Leo's stomach.

Leo groaned again but unfolded his arms to grab it and see what it was.

- Emily... Lunch... - Was all he muttered as he read over the messages before he started typing a response.

- Oh, yeah. Are you still hungry after this? Because I don't know if I... - Finn's voice trailed away thoughtfully as he swung his feet off the bed and pulled his shoes close to himself.

Leo sent the message and looked up beside him towards Finn. For a moment, he just laid there looking up at his thoughtful frown, like he was still thinking of whether or not he should eat, and Leo chuckled.

- Why's your face like that? - Finn tilted his head to the side, confused, his hand stopping from grabbing the other shoe. And Leo chuckled again. - You can't seriously tell me you're full when you barely ate any of it. You are going to eat a good, full lunch, understood? - He said with a sure voice as he grinned at him. Then he straightened, sat upright on the floor, and turned around to face him to lean to the side and grab his own shoes. When he heard Finn mutter.

- ...alright, then. -

Leo looked up and saw him smiling gently down as he put on his shoes. He kept looking at him for a while, and once he finished putting his shoes on, he spoke again.

- Hey, - Leo called softly, genuine worry creeping up on him at not being able to know what was wrong if there was something wrong in the first place. Finn looked back at him once his shoes were on. - What is it? -

Finn took in a sharp deep breath, apparently not knowing what to say, and then shook his head.

- Just... - He shrugged, looking away. - I've never had anybody who cares if I eat or not. - Finn stood up and straightened his shirt for then to turn around and start straightening the bed covers as well.

Leo didn't know what to think. There was something there, in the way Finn had gone quiet or the way he started organizing everything, or the way he had said: "if I eat or not". But his friend kept on throwing away what must be thrown away, putting the rest back on the bag, all of this while Leo just watched without knowing if this was one of those moments where he should just leave him alone or prod him to talk about it. He was just so new at this "talk about your feelings" thing that he didn't know when he should do it.

So he just let it drop for now, only because his head was still full with that inexplicable wish to make Finn laugh by making himself fall deliberately. Because he could've made the jump so easily, he could've even gone on and broken through the window, but he still let himself fall on his ass knowing that it'll hurt, and he was still confused about why he had even done that stupidity, but hearing Finn laughing so openly... It felt nice.

But once Finn turned around to look at him as he pocketed his phone back inside his pocket, he let it all drop and just nodded once before heading out the door.

They were walking silently and were just about to head down the stairs to the glass doors when Leo said suddenly,

- Wait, I need to get to my room for a second. - Finn nodded and instead of going down, they went up.

- What for? -

- My keys. I only just remembered. -

- You forgot your keys? - Finn sounded bewildered, like something like that could never happen.

Leo chuckled.

- Yes, I forgot. This morning my mind was just... so... out of it. - Because of that dream. That dream that he will not talk about, or think about, much less speculate about.

- Valid. - Finn said with a shrug and Leo laughed at that, forgetting once more what was troubling him. - Let's just wish your roommate is--

- He's there, I'm sure he's there, he's always there. - Leo breathed out as they neared his door.

His room was one of those without a window, the first door to the left of the second floor's main corridor, and, although the room was still as wide as Jungkook's, Emily's, and Finn's, his always felt cramped because of all the electronics on the other side of the room, including the desk of his roommate that made every other furniture move to the side. His bed was supposed to be under the shelf on the wall like Jungkook's was, but instead, it was beside it and against the wall, while his nightstand was under the shelf as well as his roommate's so the desk and the tower of his laptop and his small refrigerator with his blender on top could fit... as well as the number of screens.

Just thinking about it all made him want to go back to Finn's room and rest under the breeze of that open window.

However, his thoughts were halted as well as his hand the moment he heard a hiss coming from the other side of the door.

- Those idiots are going to get themselves killed! -

Finn and Leo froze...

- Yoongi, calm down, they have it--

- They don't have it under control, Hoby! They don't! They're a bunch of Warrior Core morons who think themselves superior just because they know how to fight. Who allowed that stupidity to happen!? I thought Aloisia had agreed on using Shadow Cores! -

- She wanted to, but the original plan was with the Warriors. Hey, listen to-- ¡Listen to me! I was going to tell you this before you started screaming, alright? So listen carefully... Cadoc is there. - Silence... - Only fully developed Warrior Cores were allowed on the front lines. As well as Healer Cores and Wisdom Cores; Shadows will be used later on, and that's all I know. -

An eerie silence... filled the room... as well as silence filled the hall... filled their minds...

They had absolutely no idea what they were talking about, but it was because of how they sounded that whatever they were saying should indeed be real and about to happen soon.

Which only scared them even more. Because the headlines on the news this past week...

- So they do have a plan. - A small voice, contrary to the previous angry shouts it had made.

- Yes. Is The Rose's plan. - Nothing but leadership calmness.

But the other one groaned terribly, almost sounding like he had lifted his hands to pull at his hair in agony.

- But we haven't found The Rose, how will they continue after this? Do they even know what to do if they win today's fight? Hoby... I saw the papers he left for them with my own two eyes, I know there's nothing after this, only a blank page... - It sounded like he started to hyperventilate with worry or fear or stress or something. - It'll be our fault, all our fault-- The Rose was supposed to be here, we were supposed to have found him already. Hoby, what if he's dead? What if he never... What if. What if... -

Leo was stunned at hearing what sounded like a panic attack. He never thought that one was capable of feeling that way.

- Calm down, Yoongi. - J said, steadily. Because Leo could identify him now. - Trust in our leaders. They'll know what to do next if he's never found. And if he is indeed never found, then they will understand that it hadn't been our fault. But until we graduate or we die, we'll keep searching for him. And then some more. Because we're Protectors, remember that. Understood? -

A chill ran down Leo's back at the pure command in his voice. But the strangeness of it was that it didn't sound aggressive, more like... grounding and steadying.

- Understood. -The other one answered in softer tones, having finally calmed down from his overload of worry.

It was right in that thoughtful silence where no student could be heard prowling around in the corridors to the rooms... it was right then where not even a breath could be heard because Finn and Leo had been holding theirs ... Right then... Leo's phone vibrated loudly.

They both looked down at his pocket with the same wide eye expression. And thunderous steps neared the door. But before Leo could take his phone to muffle the sound or even take a step back, the door was yanked open.

And it wasn't his roommate who opened it.

It was the guy his roommate had presented as August, the one that looked like an angry ghost, and Leo had been so out of himself since he woke up this morning that he forgot he was bigger than him. But it wouldn't have mattered anyway. That guy snarled at both of them and grabbed their forearms with bone-crushing strength to pull them inside like they were nothing but puppets.

Leo couldn't find words, couldn't concentrate on things to say, couldn't think. He just looked around his room with wide eyes, saw Finn behind him with eyes just as wide as his, saw the one who had pulled them inside locking the door as he stood there in his black attire, and then looked to the other side at his roommate who was just finishing turning off the largest screen beside the door. The motion was so swift that Leo didn't even get to see the image before it went black.

- Leo, what brings you here? Shouldn't you be at lunch? - J, his roommate, talked to him as if his friend hadn't just left claw marks on his forearm. Leo didn't answer and just frowned at him the moment he turned around from the screen to look at them. - Well? - He stood there, eyes calm yet his posture was firm as he folded his hands behind his back.

Leo didn't know how to act in this circumstance, the only thing he could remember was his teacher telling him "don't do what they want you to do, only then they'll leave you alone", but he had those classes when he was a toddler and never took more once he grew up believing that his physical strength would be enough to win. But his mental strength was so brittle that he had let himself get caught inside this room without a way out.

- I think I can loosen him up a little. - August took a step forward, his arms folded over his chest as his eyes looked... deadly.

Leo's heart started beating frantically but he stood ready for a fight.

- August, don't. - J warned in a calmed tone, looking at the floor towards him before looking back up at Leo. - Look, we just want to make sure you didn't hear anything that could be turned against you. We want to make sure you'll be well. - His voice was so sympathetic, like a teacher explaining something gently.

But when he didn't speak and instead looked towards Finn to give a shake of his head, August had enough.

- That's it. I'll make him talk. -

Leo turned to him and raised his fists, but August didn't walk toward him... he just took a step toward Finn who was in the middle of them.

Then, everything turned to slow motion. The guy took Finn's wrist and turned him so he would be facing Leo, kicked the back of his knees so he would fall in front of him, and, as he held his arms behind his back with one hand, the other had him by the throat.

All this was made too fast and too expertly for Leo to ever think this guy was not a professional. And just as he surely knew would happen, Leo went completely still.

- Look closely, young fella. - He spoke to him softly but intently, looking straight at him as Finn looked up at that pale face in mute horror. - I hope you're smart enough to understand the position that you're in. Now... would you be so kind to tell us what you heard? -

Shaking with anger and fear, Leo opened his mouth.

- Cadoc is with the Warriors on the front lines? - J took a fast step forwards toward him, and August tightened his hold on Finn's throat making him close his eyes tight. Leo looked down at him and up at them, and shook his head as he rushed to say. - I don't know who that is or where they are and I don't even care, I swear. -

That wasn't entirely truthful.

They didn't say or did anything, they weren't even moving, not even breathing. Leo swallowed and looked back down at Finn and saw... a tear rolling down his face as he looked down at the floor, his chin up at him.

Surely they won't kill him, surely they couldn't pull that off in the middle of a university, surely–... He was sure of it, Leo was sure of it. Why was Finn crying? He wasn't a fearful person, he wasn't shaking in fright, and he was sure he could still breathe normally. Did it hurt? Was he afraid?

What do they want?

He was just about to come up with something when August spoke to J.

- Erase his memory. -

Silence.

Leo had a mad urge to laugh at the absurdity of that request. No one could erase--... unless they hit him really hard in the head. At once, his mad urge to laugh vanished. Leo looked from one to the other, waiting for one of them to move, until J said calmly.

- I won't. -

- You must. - August hissed, turning his head to look at him. - We're already dealing with enough, these two will--

- These two... will stay silent about what happened here. - J spoke gently as he took slow steps towards them all and then stood still in their middle, looking up at Leo, down at Finn, and up again as he said. - You will do as I say and everything will keep on the way it has been. You are both safe and well, and that's it. Alright? -

Leo was just... genuinely scared for both their lives. He had been sleeping next to a person who was friends with a guy that could immobilize someone in a matter of a second. No, he had been sleeping next to a person who gave orders to someone that could do much more damage than just immobilize someone.

He wanted to get away.

- I'll... change rooms. - Leo muttered, but then August cut in.

- You can't anymore. Seeing how you'll stay with that information because someone's too soft, we have to keep an eye on you from now on. - Leo frowned.

- Seriously, we didn't understand shit of what we heard, why are you reacting this way? - Instead of answering, J looked at August, and Finn's eyes snapped open at the mounting pressure against his windpipe. - Alright! Alright! We'll do it! Let go! - At once, August threw Finn onto the floor. Finn managed to catch himself in his elbows and then started to cough.

Leo's heart was racing, his blood pumping, and the only thing in his head was the thundering jolt of "They hurt him. They hurt him.".

In a leap, he plunged towards August, his hands outstretched to grab his throat, but, just when he was about to take hold of that grinning bastard, he felt a piercing jab to the side that made the knee he was leaning on, give weight completely, making him fall to the floor in utter pain.

He screamed on the floor, holding the left side of his stomach and unable to move his left leg.

J had punched him hard in the side with his fingers stretched to a precise point that made the whole of his left leg go completely numb all of a sudden.

As Leo and Finn lay there breathing hard, J squatted down to his level and said softly.

- You will not talk about this. - The moment he finished saying that, he snapped his fingers like it somehow sealed his command. - You will not talk about what you overheard. - Snap. - What you saw us doing. - Snap. - What you think we're doing. - Snap. - I will keep on being your roommate and August is my friend which you dislike and want to stay away from. - A final snap, and then he stood back up. - I'm genuinely sorry about what happened right now. But you really should've knocked. - He sounded disappointed, and his eyes were sorrowful before he took his usual bottle from his desk and walked out the room, flanked by August who closed the door behind them without a second glance.

- Finn. - Leo called him in a strained whisper, straightening up with a wince because of the awful pain in his side, and looked down at him. - Finn. - He called again, but Finn didn't answer, he just slowly sat back on his heels as he dried his face.

Leo wanted to ask if he was hurt, but that was such an obvious thing that he just said nothing.

Right at that moment, Leo remembered when they were inside that janitor's closet and Finn had placed his hands around his neck in distress, and then again today when Jimin had locked himself inside that bathroom and wouldn't answer his calling.

They had hurt him just now, far beyond the physical.

And he had allowed it.

Leo scowled at himself as he looked down at his hands and then stood up with the help of his bed. He couldn't move his left leg from the hip down yet it was so uncomfortable that the pain of the punch flowed down until it reached his foot. Even if he took a step, his knee would just bend. But even so, he didn't want to stay here anymore, he didn't care if August had said that they would keep an eye on him, he didn't want to sleep in this room anymore.

So he just took a spare backpack from below his bed and jumped and stumbled his way around Finn and towards his chest of drawers to put inside a change of clothes. Right then, he heard Finn say in a small voice.

- Did they hurt you badly? -

Finn had just made the question he had avoided even if it was obvious. Leo stopped and held himself with his hands against the first drawer. Yes, Finn was just like that, he didn't avoid anything, he'd rather talk it out even if it hurts than keep it inside. So Leo took in a breath and answered as truthfully as he only did with him.

- Yes. My leg is... numb, but fine. It is--... It's just--... - He sighed and then chuckled humorlessly. - All muscles and no brain. - He shook his head in disgust. - I train to be stronger, but the moment it actually matters, I serve for nothing. - A silence spread through the room, but it also spread inside of him.

He heard Finn sitting on his bed, and he took a deep breath before asking.

- And you? -

Finn took some time to answer but when he did, it was as he stood.

- I'm fine... - Leo frowned thinking that was all he was going to get, but then Finn talked again, his hand on the doorknob. - I hate when people grab me by the throat. - The coldness in his tone made Leo turn around to look at him.

- You say that... like it happens often. - He muttered, and when Finn looked back at him, there was not a single gleam in those green eyes.

- It doesn't. - Finn said simply, chilling Leo on the spot, and then he opened the door. - I'll wait for you on the stairs. I need air. -

And with that, he left, leaving Leo with the beginning of a headache at the course of events that just took place in such a swift motion that his brain couldn't comprehend any of it.

He was so mad that he knew so little.

With a frown, he finished pocketing some clothes, and limping, he walked out of there, choosing to leave his keys.

- Hey, stop that. - Jungkook giggled as Taehyung hugged him from behind and stopped him from taking his shoes from the living room floor.

- Nooo... - Taehyung whined with his lips close to Jungkook's neck as he breathed him in, both of them newly showered and clothed. - Are you sure we can't stay here? - He whined again, asking for the tenth time since they woke up from their nap about thirty minutes ago. Jungkook just smiled endearingly as he put his hands on Taehyung's arms over his stomach.

- Yes, I'm sure. I want to eat outside. And see your new car. And buy things for your kitchen because I want you to cook tonight. Wouldn't you like to cook me dinner? - He crooned against his temple before leaving a sweet little kiss there.

- Yes... - Taehyung breathed out dreamily, liking the sound of cooking for him. Something that made Jungkook kiss his temple again.

- Alright then, let go so I can put my shoes on. -

- You don't need shoes, I can carry you. -

Jungkook laughed and hastily turned around in Taehyung's arms to then grab his head and kiss him hard on the lips until Taehyung's hands grabbed him by the waist and he was able to step back and sit down on the couch.

- Oh, you're evil. -

Jungkook laughed as he put his shoes on.

- Of course, I am. I'm smart. -

Taehyung laughed.

- Won't argue with that. -

As Jungkook tied his shoes, Taehyung stepped close to him and brushed his hair with his fingers or played with the collar of his white button-up shirt; a shirt that Taehyung had to lend him because the red one was in the washer. But Jungkook had to admit, not only was the smell unbelievably amazing but also the texture was so soft it was nearly see-through. Just nearly, but not quite. Not quite... Yet, it made Taehyung growl when he saw him wearing it.

Jungkook smirked and stood up.

- Alright. Now... - He took Taehyung's hands that were trying to get around him once more, and looked him seriously in the eyes, something that made Taehyung stop playing immediately. - We both know what will happen outside. -

Taehyung nodded, displeased.

- I hope the car windows are tinted. - He admitted and Jungkook lost a chuckle.

- Yeah, me too. -

Taehyung smiled softly before leaning in gently to leave a kiss on his lips, and then to leave a tender promise on their corner.

- I love you. -

Jungkook opened his eyes and looked closely into Taehyung's. His mind was still madly confused at how pure this love was and how easy it felt to live with him when they had just met. Tomorrow will mark a week of their meeting, and yet... Jungkook could feel it in his chest, he could feel like this love was not new, like it had always been part of him... So he just smiled back at Taehyung and spoke with his heart when he said.

- I've always loved you. -

Taehyung's eyes softened even more as his smile turned even sweeter.

- And I was made for you. -

- Indeed. - Jungkook nodded in earnest with wide eyes and Taehyung laughed, walking backward with his hand still holding Jungkook's as they neared the door.

- Why do you look so surprised at that? -

Jungkook chuckled with him and then answered.

- Because I've never met anybody who could keep up with me without ever wanting or needing a break. - He chuckled again, but he did it alone. Taehyung softly turned him around as they stood before the door, hand in hand, and Jungkook looked up at the frown on his forehead.

- I never want to be away from you, not even for a second. - The honesty in his words and his eyes disarmed him.

Jungkook gave him a soft smile and stepped on his tiptoes so he could leave a kiss on his forehead, smoothing his frown.

- I feel the same way. - Taehyung smiled once more and then left a kiss on his lips, then he took a step back from him, and kissed the back of his hand before letting go and opening the door to head towards the reception desk for the car keys and then the Professors' parking lot, which was behind the Professors' Living Area.

As Emily got to the third floor of the cafeteria with her tray of food, she realized Leo wasn't at their table. With a disappointed little frown, she walked straight to her chair, avoiding people here and there; at one point she even had to smile because a classmate of hers greeted her from afar, but once she got to the far corner where their table was, she was finally able to breathe.

She sat down, placed her tray on the table, and leaned back on her chair to look out the window beside her. Then her eyes trailed down towards Jungkook's empty chair between her and the tall window, and she sighed greatly.

She wasn't sure if he wasn't going to come but... some ache inside her was telling her that he wouldn't.

Last night was such a fiasco. The only thing she had ever wanted to do was to be a good friend to them, give them the comfort they needed, give them the kindness they lacked, and give them the love they deserved. She couldn't understand where she went wrong.

Her mother had always taught her how to be a proper woman, a gentle creature meant to love, comfort, nurture, and protect with fondness; she had been teaching her since her little brother was born. Since then, she has been the perfect little girl, the perfect woman, and ready to be the perfect girlfriend, wife, and mother, all because of the way she has been brought up. Not only by her mother but also by her father, telling her how the male mind works and what to do should she see any specific sign. Also, her school. Society was her final and greatest teacher in life, and she has become as perfect as they all say she should be.

Then, if she's gentle and kind, how was she able to commit such atrocities without even knowing?

Emily placed a palm against her face and frowned when that phrase came to her mind. The phrase she always reminded Jungkook and Leo, the phrase that she believed in so much: "Remember, communication is key."

They knew this. Jungkook knew this and still, he remained quiet for so long. Could that then really be all her fault? She might've said a lot of things about not wanting to hear her loved ones being sad, but had that been the sole reason they would bottle everything up?

Because how else would she have made anything different? She did everything she was supposed to do and did it perfectly, the only thing she never took into account was to think that they would ever "bottle everything up" because they have all been taught that men can avoid feelings, make them go away, or obliterate them all together unlike women.

Was she the wrong one for not thinking that their feelings could eat them alive, or were they the wrong ones for allowing their feelings to do so? If society said she was right, then they were the wrong ones. But, if she felt so bad for doing this to them, would society be right in thinking she was correct or was she still too soft to be the perfect woman? If the answer was the latter, then it all pointed to one resolution: Jungkook and Leo were the wrong ones.

Her stomach felt queasy. She couldn't believe she would ever think that of them. Those who have been her friends since they were toddlers, whom she loved greatly, were the reason why she decided to study psychology. Because it was the best career choice if she wanted to be a sentimental comfort and guide for males that could hurt themselves or others by not knowing how to ignore their feelings.

She was majoring in this career because she thought exactly that. That they would need to be reminded of feelings once in a while as her mother did to her father, she never thought they would ever need to talk their feelings out of their chest. That's what women do, only women, never males.

What is going on with her friends?

- I'm so sorry. -

She jolted terribly and her head snapped up.

It was Leo and Finn. Panting a little as they placed their trays onto the table. She frowned when she noticed Leo limping, and then frowned even more when she saw him sitting down very slowly as if his left leg was hurting terribly.

- We were in the rooms and then... we had to take a, umm... a detour. And the line downstairs was quite long, so... yeah. - Once he leaned back on his chair, he looked at her.

- What happened to your leg? - Her voice was a line of sound as she looked at him intently.

He blinked and frowned slightly before answering.

- I... fell. -

Emily could see it, right there on his face. He was lying to her.

She nodded and grabbed her fork, they mimicked the movement, and they all started eating.

- Do you know where Kooky is? - She asked them.

Once Leo answered, his voice was low and pensive.

- With Taehyung. -

She looked up at him. It surprised him that Leo would have let him go, or that he would even call that professor by his name after everything that happened, or that he would even say it without sounding hateful.

Leo looked up and caught her staring.

- What? -

She averted her eyes back to her plate.

- Nothing. Did you guys finish studying? -

- No, he left after you did. But it didn't matter, I had already finished reading what we had for Monday. -

- That's a good thing then. -

He hadn't even commented on how she had left the room in tears when he would usually be the first one to ask her if she was alright, he had lied to her about whatever had happened to his leg, and he seemed so unfocused right now, just looking at his food and eating, talking monotonically like his head was filled with other things.

With a clank, she dropped her fork onto her plate.

- What is going on? - She asked them both and, at once, they snapped their stares at her.

Finn looked at Leo, and the latter frowned at her, concerned.

- Nothing. -

It was like the air had been punched out of her.

- Nothing? Nothing? Do you really think that I would be able to drop it just because you said that nothing was happening right after what Jungkook said this morning? -

His eyes went wide and he clasped a hand onto his forehead, but not like he had remembered something. Like this was just too much to take in.

- Em... I don't know what to tell you, alright? Nothing's going on. -

He was lying through his teeth. He knew she knew he was lying. He knew it was painfully obvious on his face.

She rounded on Finn.

- What happened this morning? -

He looked alarmingly from Leo to her before he shook his head.

- What'd you mean? -

She opened her eyes wide. She was offended, confused, worried, and she... she....

- Why did you run out when Jimin wouldn't answer? - She's desperate for any kind of answer they could give her now.

But Leo frowned and placed a hand in the air between them both like Emily was intruding upon something, and he was actually frowning at her when she looked at him like she had gone too far.

- Why would you ask something like that? -

Oh, now she was the rude one? Not the ones who are keeping things from her and lying right in her face?

- What happened to your leg? - Her voice broke. Why were they being so mean? Why were they keeping things from her? Hasn't she been the perfect female friend everyone wanted? Hadn't she been lovely? Why? Why was this happening?

Leo shook his head.

- I fell. -

A lie.

She stood up, grabbed her bag, and left. Leaving her unfinished plate and two of his so-called "friends" on that table. And though she knew Finn was more of Leo's friend than she was, she had believed that she was more Leo's friend than he would ever be, but Leo had stood up for him, and he lied to her.

- Why... Why in hell would you need such monstrosity? - Jungkook exclaimed for the amusement of his companion.

They were in the Professors' parking lot. Away from the school, closer to the east gates that would take them to the road, and alone unless from the few people who walked here and there to and from distant cars.

Taehyung started laughing with a fist over his mouth to muffle it as he took out his new car keys that were left for him at the reception desk while Jungkook just kept ogling at the car in front of them. But who could blame him? It was a BMW SUV, why would he need such a thing when it's just him living here on his own?

Jungkook looked back at Taehyung, wishing for him to explain. And once he stopped chuckling, he was able to do so.

- She chose it, it wasn't me. - He shrugged, as though he was trying to say that he was blameless.

Jungkook only huffed a bitter laugh and rolled his eyes in answer.

- Are you sure I can get inside, then? Wouldn't she have placed some... hidden camera or something to make sure you were always alone? Or maybe she has an app on her phone that would tell her when there are two heat signals instead of one? - He was rambling, pissed at her, as he crossed his arms over his chest. Truthfully, though, what he had just said as a joke scared him a little, because, what if she had?

- Don't worry about that. - Taehyung reassured him, stepping closer to him but remaining far. They were outside, after all. And when Jungkook looked back at him, he saw that his words had affected him, and regretted what he'd said. - She wouldn't... - He looked sideways towards the car and sighed. - She wouldn't do anything like that without telling me first. The fact that she had a copy of my phone was something I knew from the start and allowed it to happen. Not that I had too much said in it but... still. And also, - He looked back at Jungkook, and the latter saw some mischief in his eyes. - my record is clean, so why would she ever suspect I would bring anyone for a ride? -

No one deserves to be cheated on like this, but Jungkook grinned with him because he knew this couldn't be called cheating, not when there had never been love between the two of them, not when she was so controlling as if Taehyung was her dog. So he was free of any guilt as he opened the door and sat on the co-pilot's seat on Taehyung's left side. And he might've marveled a little at how nice the car was. Just a little.

- Do you know how to drive? - Asked Taehyung as they neared the east gates slowly, his eyes on the road ahead.

- No, never had classes. The only one of the three that knows how to drive is Leo. Emily's parents are quite protective of her so they never paid for her classes either, and my parents... Well, let's just say that the presence of my siblings when that conversation was brought up made everything into a joke so... never asked them again. -

For a moment there was silence as he looked out the window. This side of the university was new to him and he was taking in the colors of the little flowers here and there until Taehyung spoke again, tentatively.

- Would you like me to teach you? -

A slow smile spread on Jungkook's lips.

- Wouldn't that be so convenient? For you to do all the things my father never did for me and rub it on his face as you say "I've been talking to him and I think these are just old wounds and he's not actually that bad. I'm gonna try and help him with those, so he could grow as I said before"...what'd you think, wouldn't that be funny? - He turned his head to look at him right when the car stopped behind another one waiting to get out. And he was met with Taehyung's half-smiling face.

- Yes, I think it would be. -

No, he doesn't. As the car resumed its movement, Jungkook knew Taehyung had seen right through him. Right thru the facade of laughing at his pain when in reality it hurt him deeply, the fact that Taehyung would indeed heal old wounds by being there much more than his father ever was, hurt badly to admit, so, instead, he laughed about it and just looked out the window once more as they passed security on the gates and finally went outside.

Something like relief washed over him at the thought of not being in his parents' territory anymore, and he took a deep breath as he finally got comfortable in the chair. He looked around at him and stared for a while, at the perfect and beautiful profile of Taehyung's face. Jungkook rested his elbow on his door and the back of his head in his hand as he kept on staring at how the dark blue suit held his body in a perfect fit. Though he didn't much like suits, Jungkook couldn't help admitting that they looked really fine on him, if only because he wears them better than anyone he'd ever seen. He kept on looking at how his strong hands held the steering wheel, and then his left would occasionally go down to the gearstick. He simply couldn't stop looking at him and feeling warmer by the second, and only when there was a stop sign and a truck had to pass through did Taehyung look back at him.

- What? - He asked gently with a shy smile. And Jungkook smirked.

- Nothing, you're just irresistible. -

Taehyung started laughing right when the car behind them honked and he accelerated once more. But for Jungkook, this was such a great moment, just the two of them, unsuspected and alone in this car, hidden yet still on the outside, seeing new sceneries together, breathing new air together, being together doing something different, it felt so amazing that Jungkook couldn't help but feel happy and fulfilled. And a little daring too.

He sighed dramatically as he kept on staring at Taehyung's smiling face.

- I just can't stop looking at you and thinking of putting the tinted windows to the test. -

Taehyung's eyebrows raised as he laughed open-mouthed. And then he groaned.

- Oh, no, first of all, don't put those images in my mind right now, you'll put us at risk, and second of all... - Jungkook chuckled, making him chuckle as they passed green scenery and gray skies on either side. - Second of all, I don't think I could be comfortable outdoors, I've told you before in the library. -

- Mhm, was that before or after we were on the verge of tearing our clothes off? I don't quite remember. -

They both laughed at that, one shyly, the other with mischief. Then Taehyung slapped his left hand gently over Jungkook's thigh and squeezed, making Jungkook laugh louder as he twitched.

- I told you not to, you bad boy. Now stop that if you want me to buy you lunch. -

Jungkook grabbed Taehyung's hand and intertwined their fingers.

- You'll have to buy my lunch anyway since you're the only one with a wallet, Professor. -

They chuckled and Taehyung released his hand once they neared the first traffic light, signaling their arrival at the nearest city (nearer than Jungkook's house). But instead of taking the gear stick by himself, he placed Jungkook's hand over it and then his own hand over his so both would be changing gears together.

Jungkook smiled and felt butterflies going off all over before Taehyung grinned and spoke once more.

- I'm curious about something... - His voice had turned mischief quizzical all of a sudden so Jungkook turned to look at him with a curious smile as he went on. - You seem to like calling me "Professor", is that--...? -

- No, no, nope, not at all. - Jungkook stopped him right then as he shook his head harshly making Taehyung laugh loudly. - It's just a joke, I promise you. - He was sure Taehyung was starting to think it was a "bedroom name", but it wasn't, it really wasn't.

- Are you sure? Cause it really sounds like... -

Taehyung laughed again but Jungkook groaned in dislike.

- Do you want me to kill the mood? -

- What do you mean? -

- My dad is a professor. -

- Ouuuuuu... right... -

A tense silence formed in the car... But for some reason, the silence was even funnier. Just one glance was all it took for them to explode in laughter once more. Jungkook fell to the side to rest his head on Taehyung's shoulder as he laughed and Taehyung squeezed his hand.

It took slightly longer than it should've to get to the mall given how they got slightly lost and Jungkook had to use Taehyung's phone to use google maps, but even with that confusion, they had a really good time in the car, laughing and smiling, talking about how pretty everything looked and how spacious everything felt like. Not even the cold weather could put a damper on their current mood, they were so happy to be together and doing something as common as going to the mall to buy things that Jungkook didn't even mind that the shirt he was wearing could barely warm him up, not when he was so happy and felt so free. Even with their limitations and how they couldn't be too close outside the car, even then they still felt happy. Just being together was enough to make them happy.

Once they parked the car, it started to drizzle, so they hurried to get inside the building. When they did, Jungkook felt the mad urge to hold onto Taehyung's arm at the sight of other people. Only then, when they looked at each other and both knew they couldn't, was when they felt the reality of being on the outside. But even then, they wouldn't let the darkness creep in.

The first thing they did was sit down on one of the metal desks for one of the many restaurants and make a rough list of what they would do. Jungkook made the list, on a ripped piece of paper from Taehyung's notebook that was on his briefcase and with his ballpoint pen. On the list, it was: First, lunch. Then, buying things for the apartment. And in the second one there unfolded another list: First, important things (like curtains and kitchen stuff), and then food. They had to make it in sections, they both decided since they couldn't leave the food in the back of the car for too long, most of all if there were things that needed to be in the freezer. And once that was settled, they headed to find where they would like to eat.

As they strolled around, they kept on talking within themselves, low enough to feel comfortable even if they were talking about the time Jungkook got lost in a mall and a mad old woman with fiery red hair believed he was her friend, saying over and over again that it was impossible that he was a child again and looking at him like she knew him. The woman kept on and on looking at him and calling him by a name that he couldn't remember but that he knew wasn't his, and it got so bad that he started to scream for help because the woman tried to grab his arm. Once security got involved, they took him to a reception desk where later his siblings found him, and all the way home they were scolding him for such stupid things that he wasn't even paying attention. The spooky thing about the story was that, to this day, he feels like he should've recognized that old lady. It was almost as if he knew her but didn't, as if he could recognize her but didn't know from where or when, or even how.

While they waited for their pasta to arrive at their table, they got momentarily silent after the whole story. Jungkook thought that was because Taehyung got somehow worried or concerned as he always did whenever he told about his past, however, as he took a sip of his water, Taehyung looked up and started telling him about how that used to happen to him a lot back in Korea. That, whenever he would go to the city, something always had to happen that delayed him, either he would get caught up looking at a certain place or building as if he should be inside of it when he shouldn't or he would come across a face that he feels he knows or knew. He went on explaining a moment when he bumped into a woman and he felt as if he knew her when she had been younger when in reality that couldn't have happened because the woman in question was way older than him.

Jungkook listened intently about how repetitive the feeling got and with all kinds of people, old, young, male, female, even with things like buildings or places. Once, he had gone for an errand and for some reason he got lost, he found somebody and asked them if they had seen a building that he started describing, since he was sure that had been the building he was supposed to be in, feeling as though his mother had been the one who had described it to him, but it turned out that the same building he had been describing had been demolished years ago, way before he was born. After remembering that his mother had given him a piece of paper as always, he realized that he was far from where she had sent him, so he did what he had to and went back home, but once he asked his mother why she had sent him to a demolished building, she told him with concern that she hadn't.

The reason why his parents would always give him papers describing in detail what he had to do whenever he went to the city was because he had told them all of these stories right after they had happened, so they were concerned he would get dangerously lost one day.

Taehyung looked serious as they received their plates. Pensive. So Jungkook asked him about it once they were alone again and they continued with their whispering conversation. Apparently, all this time, Taehyung believed it to be something he should never talk about given how his parents always reacted as though it should be a family secret. Not something bad or something to be ashamed of, just something that he shouldn't say to anyone else in fear that they might react badly.

The first time something like that ever happened to him was when he was five and his parents and brother took him on his first walk through the woods, and, right then, he said "oh, yeah, I remember." and started telling them the layout or the things he remembered like "over there, there's a very big tree with its second branch broken. Back there, there's the river, and up there there are three massive rocks. I like to call them The Three Brothers".

He believed it was a superpower, mostly because of how marveled his family was (his grandfather believed it to be wonderful and asked him about everything his little mind could remember), however, as time went on and he started going to the city, it became both dangerous and disturbing, and, slowly, he stopped wearing a smile whenever he would tell his parents the new weird thing that happened in the city. For a time, he thought there was something mentally wrong with him -at the same time he started looking at his male friend with different eyes- but his family reassured him that it was something way beyond anything they were and that there was nothing wrong with it.

Throughout lunch, Jungkook was in awe. He knew. He had always known there was something different about Taehyung. From the moment he saw him on that corridor and the light seemed to be shining off him; since the moment he saw the moonlight make his skin seem unreal; since the moment he heard his gratitude or his love and something about his voice reverberated so deep inside of him that he could do nothing but believe him; since the moment he looked into his dark eyes and saw stars in them, he knew, Taehyung was way more special than any other mundane thing in the world. Maybe he was an angel and that's why he was saving him from his own life right now, or maybe he was something else, but Jungkook was sure he was more than human. And even if he never had a religion, he did believe in miracles.

Once they finished eating, they headed to a shop where they could buy curtains, and they were in silence. Jungkook had both of his hands in his pockets while Taehyung had just one as the other held his briefcase. And, only when it was safe enough, only when they were far from anyone else all around did Jungkook dare to whisper to him.

- You just told me so many unbelievable things... - Taehyung looked around to look straight at him, taken aback by the thought that Jungkook hadn't believed him. When Jungkook grinned at him and said, - But the most unbelievable thing of all is that I have this marvelous person wrapped around my little finger. -

Taehyung lost a laugh that he then tried to conceal behind a fist as he looked around, and Jungkook chuckled as he saw him unable to keep a straight face. But then Taehyung turned his head to him and said even lower.

- You're goddamn right. -

That was Jungkook's undoing.

The only thing they could do was to pretend there weren't people grimacing at their attempt at muffling their laughter as they kept on walking.            

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🌼Thank you for reading Chapter 43 <3<3<3

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