⋆ ☄︎. · ̊ * 🔭
chapter forty-four

"She's been ditching school for a whole week now. Why does she even bother to come?"

"I know, right?" She's such a failure. I wonder how her future will look like..."

"Probably not good, considering that she never studies and hangs around with those thugs!"

Her classmates were gossiping their way into adolescence - literally and figuratively.

"I heard that she has a thing with one of them! Beomseok saw them kissing in front of our school!"

"Oh, my God! I heard that she even did the dirty with him in their garage!"

The kids threw the rumors out like lit matches, to see what would catch. Ahri stayed silent while walking down the hallway, listening to the fizz and spark of their words, pretending she was water, putting them out.

"Why can't that foreigner just go back home? What is she even doing her, wasting her time with that rebellious behavior..."

It did nothing to her, really. Her heart became immune to words that wanted to hit her like darts. She decided to put a wall in front of their aiming - the darts rather hitting against it than actually going through.

Casually, Yona walked down the corridor with void eyes, while her classmates have eyes for only her.

Ahri's stare wasn't intentionally cold, her face somehow lacked the mobility others had. Her eyes would rest on a point, even a person, and she'd stay like longer than the average person would.

Others would alter their paths not to cross her and stand further back than was customary. It was like the elongated eye contact demanded a greater degree of physical separation.

"I heard that her father's a total psychopath."

Ahri halted in her steps.

The whole hallway turned silent. Slowly, her head turned to the direction of the voice, and that person could feel their blood run cold just by her strong stare.

She lunged herself at him - grabbing his collars and harshly pushing him into the wall. He shrieked away, eyes ripping open in shock and fear, while loud groans left the crook of his neck.

Rumor was information distilled so finely that it could filter through anything. It did not need doors and windows - sometimes it did not need people. It could exist free and wild, running from ear to ear without ever touching lips.

The way her eyes squinted when she glared at him reminded him of a pit viper's slit-like pupils. He gulped nervously. A burning animosity was developing in her onyx orbs, and he could tell he was likely the root cause of the problem.

"What did you just say?" Ahri's voice was deadly dangerous and quiet - so that only that one specific boy could hear her.

There was no life behind those eyes. Her eyes flashed with indignance and anger, much like lightning on a pitch black night. He stayed silent, panting and gulping in fear.

Everyone was silently watching as Ahri, white-knuckled, pushed him deeper into the wall. "I asked what the hell you just said."

All he did was avoid her venomous stare while praying for someone to save him.

"Yona!"

A high voice shrieked in shock as she observed the scene. Immediately, she rushed toward the duo and put her warm hand on Ahri's ice-cold arm.

"Stop that, Yona..."

Her warm voice caused Yona to loosen her grip lightly, but not enough for the boy to run away from her.

Just as she glanced at those warm eyes for one single time, her look stayed keen to them. The unmoving gaze was accompanied by deliberate slow breathing, like she was fighting something back and losing.

"Let's go home."

With that, she took Yona's hand in hers and lead her outside the school and further into the sunny day.

But before they could do that, the dark-haired girl stopped dead in her tracks and took confident, slow steps toward the big crowd again.

"Oh, and if you release any more of your disgusting slanders against my family, I'll make sure that you won't be able to say anything anymore."

And then, there was a sickeningly sweet smile.

END OF FLASHBACK

"What a fucking year this week has been..."

Almost immediately, her eyes widen while whipping her head to Seokjin, who's already staring at her with a stern gaze. "I—"

"I made a swear-jar." Seokjin stands up and shoves the glass into her hands. "And the first penny will be thrown into it right now."

With a pout, Ahri childishly shakes her head while pushing it away. "You can't get mad at me for swearing when you're the one who's making me swear."

"I — What?" Seokjin's voice goes many octaves higher. "When do I even? I always treat you right—"

But as he notices Ahri's evil giggle, he stops himself. Seokjin sighs. "Your language has gotten better over time, but I still think that it's significant to add this system into our household."

"Okay, but then you have to add money into it, too. You swear a lot as well," says Ahri as a matter of fact, shrugging.

"Deal."

After that, he's ready to leave, but Yona holds him up by captivating his wrist in her hand. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course," responds Seokjin softly. He sits down in front of her, listening intently.

Yona pauses. Her eyebrows are furrowed slightly, as she asks, "Have you ever felt like you're a completely different person anytime the cameras are on?"

Understandingly, Seokjin nods. "Every time, to be honest." Yona is caught off-guard slightly, tilting her head to the side to motion for him to continue. "PD-nim told me always act cool and cold because I'm the 'visual.' I wasn't able to show other people my true self up until a few weeks ago."

"I didn't know that..." whispers Ahri, feeling quite saddened.

Seokjin chuckles lightly, ruffling her hair. "You don't know a lot of things, Yonnie."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" She asks in curiosity and despair, sighing loudly.

"You know how our fans and everyone else thinks that you're the purest and most innocent person they've ever seen?" He lays his head on his hand, staring at her intensely. "They even call you an angel, or even better - the Porcelain-Doll."

She starts laughing loudly. "Me? Most innocent?" As she notices that he isn't laughing along, her chuckles fade. "Wait, you're serious."

"But... I'm not." Ahri shrugs. "I've literally never heard anyone call me innocent or pure. It was always the complete opposite, to be exact."

"That's the thing with being an Idol," says the eldest now. "The only image you're allowed to have is being the innocent bean, who's never done anything bad in their entire life. That's why PD-nim is always so concerned about what you do. He doesn't want your perfect image to get damaged."

Each of her thoughts turn confused, a big frown adorning her striking features. Before she could release anything unintelligent out of her mouth, Seokjin interferes and states, "The only time that people saw how you tend to act was at American's-Hustle-Life."

"Who is this?" Ahri asked while being squished in between Hoseok and Namjoon, eyes widening immensely as the men dressed in black enter their car without consent.

Ahri's heartbeat increased as she saw Jeongguk being cornered by them. Her mouth was dry and she felt like a corset was wrapped around her throat - simply unable to say anything.

Hoseok was quick to pat Yona's hand many times as he noticed her frozen figure. He whispered, "It's okay, it's okay," over and over again, but it didn't assure her at all.

Yet she was pulled back into reality as she took in her surroundings. A void in her chest was beginning to be filled up with acid-like anger. She clenched her hands tightly to compose herself, but it seemed incredibly hard to do so.

"Who are you?" She asked loudly in English. Namjoon looked at her as if she had turned crazy and tried holding her back.

"The people who will bring you to your hotel," the guy, who sat next to Jeongguk and so in front of Ahri, responded while prolonging every word. "Did you not just hear what I said?"

"Oh, I did." The anger was taking over and over, and Yona's patience kept on fading and fading into nothingness. She leaned toward the guy, an impure smile on her lips. "But I don't think your dumb-ass understood that our hotel is literally the other way."

He clenched his jaw in irritation. "You better sit your ass back down on that seat and stay silent."

"Or what? Are you gonna tell my mama?" Ahri started speaking in a babyish voice just to irritate him, pouting and wiping away her non-existent tears.

"Sir, please don't..." Her tone dropped deadly as she added, "Because my mama couldn't care any fucking less, you brainless moron."

"I swear to God, if you don't control you girl right now!" He shouted loudly, pointing at Namjoon accusingly.

One by one, her emotions got watered down by pure anger. "What are you planning to do? Kill me? If so, please do it now. Your mama must be proud of you for raising such a great son, who fucking likes to kidnap, insult, and do god-knows-what to innocent people with your stupid, little friends."

"Don't you fucking include my mama into this—"

"Shut your loud ass up!" said the driver in anger now, but it didn't result in Ahri to obey, though.

"Who are you to tell me what to do? Do you seriously believe that I'd listen to some random ass people who decided to kidnap me and my boys? Your brain must've lost a lot of cells while thinking of this brilliant idea. Seriously, if you plan to do hostage or shit like that, you have to take someone down one by one, not a whole group, you mediocres—"

Seokjin was silent all along, but yelled loudly as all of the guys were staring at Yona in anger, "Ahri, shut up and sit down!"

And she did so.

Whilst she noticed the guys relaxing, she added as a fact, "Don't you think that I silenced because of your dumb-asses." Her arms were childishly crossed over her chest, pouting slightly. "I only did this for my brother. And just so you know, this is illegal."

With deeply clenched fists, Ahri entered a house alongside her members.

"Wouldn't you like to sit down as well, Miss Know-It-All?" asked one of them as they noticed everyone sitting down except for Ahri.

"Nah, not really—" She began in a sarcastic, bored tone, but then Jeongguk cut her off - captivating her hand and shoving her beside him harshly.

While they were all silent, the guy ordered around, "Look straight, look straight. Let's all look straight."

Jeongguk didn't understand their words and looked around in fear.

The tall guy whipped his head in his direction, threatening, "Do you want to get into a fight, man? Look straight, fool!"

Releasing an angered exhale, Ahri's dead-like eyes lay on him. "Don't you call my boy a fool, you bareheaded moron."

"And your ass better shuts the hell up before you'll face the consequences!" He pointed his finger in her direction and stares at her with widely-brimmed eyes.

"Take your hats off, it's disrespectful," demanded another guy.

"Oh, so it's respectful to kidnap other people? Oh, okay, that's good to know, because—"

One of them slapped Ahri's hat away, not hurting her, though, while yelling, "I said shut the fuck up!"

"And I said that your mama won't be proud of you, but you never listen, do you? I swear to God, when I get out of here, I will search your name up, get your location, and then tell your mama about everything you've done—"

Taehyung firmly put his hand over Yona's mouth, locking away her arms - in case she accidentally hit someone - with his free hand in the process.

"That's how it should be," they said, chuckling. "You just need a boy to show you how, right?"

"You motherfucking bitch—"

"Oh, that..." mumbles Ahri in shame, scratching her head while chuckling coyly. "I was really rude there, wasn't I?"

"I mean... kind of. But then again, we were kidnapped." Seokjin shrugs. "Now that I think back to it, I feel stupid and like a coward because I didn't do anything against it."

Quickly, Yona shakes her head. "Don't say that. You were traumatized and scared, it's normal."

"How were you not scared, though? I bet they could hold a gun against your head, and you still wouldn't shut up about calling his mom." He chuckles lightly.

Thinking deeply, Yona purses her lips, and then shrugs her shoulders loosely. "I was really anxious at first, to be completely honest. But then I remember the words 'I can never fight for myself, but, for others, I can kill'."

"Who said that to you?" asks Seokjin in utter curiosity.

"My father always used to say that..." Her head is casted downward again, skimming the floor. "No to me, to himself."

Then, there's silence. Beside one sneeze of Ahri.

Seokjin analyzes her structures and has the need to say something - anything. But before that could happen, Yona cuts right in.

"Oh, and we need to start cleaning again. The floor's really dirty."

"You know." She changes the topic, smiling softly. "I think it's fine that people don't know who I am. It's better this way, really."

Sniffling, Ahri adds, "I mean, why would I want that, anyway? Yves and Yona are two different people. When I'm with you guys and my friends, I'm Yona, but when I'm in front of our fans and the cameras, I'm Yves. I like both. Yves is cool."

"And how is Yves like?" A soft and proud smile is on Seokjin's lips, gazing at her in adoration.

"Yves is..." She nibbles on her bottom lip thoughtfully, looking up at the ceiling. "Fearless, competitive, would probably risk her life for her members, which makes her a dumb-truck, but it's fine since she loves them and they love her."

Sneezing, she cringes at her own words. "Ew. I'm never speaking in third-person again. That was disgusting. Apologies."

"Chill, Yona," says Seokjin in between some waves of laugher, laying his hand on her shoulder. "This was the first time that I heard you talking about yourself."

"Oh..." His words cause her to think deeper about it. She whispers to herself, "Wait, that's true..."

All of a sudden, she feels dizzy again. Seokjin notices immediately, putting his hand on her heated forehead. "Yona, you're burning! Let me bring you to your bed again. Why did I even get you out of there..."

"I'm fine, hyung..." mumbles Yona, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.

Nevertheless, Seokjin carries Yona to her bed and tucks her in tightly. "Stay in here, sleep, and just yell someone's name if you want something. Do not move."

After he closes the door, Ahri mutters to herself, "Who needs parents when you have Jin..."

A tidal wave of relaxation washes over her as she closes her eyes, deciding to take a very needed nap.

Yet that plan is slightly disturbed as someone enters the room. "Oh..." says Kyungmi while looking at her. "I didn't know that you were here. I'll get out—"

"No, stay." She sits up swiftly. "I mean, if you want to, of course. I can't force you to do anything. You're your own person, an own individual, so you can do whatever you crave—"

Kyungmi chuckles lightly, resulting Ahri to shut up. "Thanks." Then, she sits down on the bed opposite hers.

An awkward silence creeps into the room and poisons their skins like a hungry snake rushing to its meal.

"Your necklace is really pretty," says Kyungmi, smiling softly. "I don't remember you having that. Did Seojun get that for you? Or no, don't tell me. I'm sorry. I'm too nosy again. I apologize—"

"It's fine." Looking down, Yona chuckles coyly. She touches the necklace while nibbling on her bottom lip. "Taehyung bought it a few months ago."

Gulping, Kyungmi silences. She clears her throat. "Look, Ahri, I'm..." Her mouth struggles to form a proper sentence, causing her to sigh in despair and look down. "I'm sorry. So, so sorry."

"For what?" questions Ahri in confusion.

"Everything." Kyungmi gazes you and locks her warm eyes with Yona's, lips curled downward. "For everything I've done. I don't want to use any excuses, really. I was stupid and immature back then, and I never had the chance to apologize or help you like a real c—"

Ahri's insides turn jagged at the mentioning of her past, clenching her fists. "It's fine," she cuts her off sharply. Exhaling deeply, she tries to let loose. "It's fine. It's in the past. It's gone. It's in the past," as she repeats those words over and over again, Kyungmi starts to get worried.

"Y-Yona—" She notices those hasty and swift breaths like the last time. But this time, Kyungmi rushes to Yona's side and is quick to wrap her arms around her, spooning the girl, and gifting her all the warmth and support she wasn't able to give.

"It's done..." whispers Yona.

"It's fine, Ahri," says the middle-aged woman. A stern expression is on her pale face, brushing the blonde strands out of her face while keeping that strict yet warm glint in her blue eyes. "We only need your point of view, and then it's done."

The small girl shakes her head, looking down while sniffling. "N-No..." Her fingers are trembling as she picks on the skin of them.

A sigh escapes the blonde woman. "Ahri, you've been in therapy for over a month, yet haven't said anything. If you want it or not, I have to report this information to the police. Not only that, I also want to help you. But I can't do that if you won't tell me anything about the incidents in your house."

Stubbornly, Ahri continues on shaking her head. "No. You don't want to help me, and I don't need it anyway."

"And how are you so sure of that?"

"Because it's done..." mutters Yona. "It's fine. It's done."

"I will never forgive myself, Yona," whispers Kyungmi. She's patting her softly, squishing her tighter. "I'm aware of everything I've done."

Yona's heartbeat normalizes with time passing on, listening to Kyungmi's feathery voice. "I know what you think of me. I know that you think how I have bad intentions, but I don't. Seriously, I don't. And you don't have to believe me, because I wouldn't either if I would've gone through the same things as you did."

"In today's meeting, we will discuss your upcoming schedules, tours, and news." Si-Hyuk glances in between everyone. "But I'd like to congratulate you on your latest comeback first!"

The staff and the group itself begin to clap enthusiastically, each of their faces smiling - both in relief and in joy. "This comeback has a lot of success already, and I know that it will get even bigger!"

Si-Hyuk keeps on babbling after that. "I'd also like to add that Kyungmi will not join the group. There's various reasons why, but the most important one is that she's against it herself. Secondly, you guys work better this way, and I know that a lot of things would get messed up."

"What? Why?" asks Yona swiftly, catching everyone off-guard. "Where is she?"

"She's still in your dorm at the moment, but will move out tonight." As he notices the shocked faces, their manager asks, "Did she not tell you that? It's been planned for weeks that she won't be joining."

"Oh..."

However, Yona isn't feeling any tints of happiness at all. She's rather confused about her own emotion, which is regret.

( TWITTER UPDATE ! )

방탄소년단 @/BTS_twt
Seokjin hyung said that I look like his grandma. I'm 17 ㅠㅠ

💬 34,281 🔃 42,926 ♥️ 151,728

@/queenyvette girl i love you but,,, you do look like a grandma 😭😭 it's chill tho you're still cute ✌🏼
@/BTS_twt ^ Well... Hyungie's grandma is pretty so it's all good!!
@/bestyonjin chill sis he's only saying that to make you legal for him

@/yonkooksoulmates can you guys imagine that this is the same person... and only like a few months apart...

@/smyoureapieceofshit I refuse to believe that
@/iluvnamjoon now i call THAT duality...
@/ninibear And then she has the AUDACITY to say that she has no duality,,, all girls do is lie

( INCORRECT QUOTES ! )

[ American's Hustle Life ]
tony: we have your member
hoseok: which one?
tony: yves
hoseok, chuckling: nah you don't have her
tony: wh—
hoseok, whispering: she has you.

ahri: don't 'awwwww' me. i'm fuckin' gangsta
yoongi, booping ahri's nose: :]
ahri: uwu ok fuck

jimin: hey hyung, nice top!
seokjin: oh, this old thing? thanks!
ahri: i have a name.
jimin:
seokjin:
ahri:

namjoon: i want to hear those three little words
ahri: i love you
namjoon: that's sweet, but try again.
ahri: fine. i will behave.

ahri: can you help me get my frisbee?
taehyung: where is it?
ahri: it's on the roof
taehyung: how did it even get there?
ahri: i was playing up there but fell off
taehyung:

ahri: yo this party is so dead
hoseok: we're at a funeral

ahri: i'm a moderate, peaceful woman
jungkook: YOU THREW A CHAIR AT TAEHYUNG!
ahri: which was a moderate, peaceful compromise of the table i wanted to throw instead.

jimin: what's 'yoink'
ahri: it's the opposite of of yeet, but just as fast
jungkook: the lord yeetith and the lord yoinkith away
yoongi: what the fuck are they doing
namjoon: communicating.

bang pd: why were you guys at the police station?
bang pd, looking at her immediately: ahri...
ahri: we don't know.
bang pd:
ahri: fine. we got pulled over and when the officer said 'papers', jungkook yelled 'scissors', then i drove off fast
jungkook: we won fair and square! the officer was just a sore loser!

( NOTES ! )
hey y'all! c: i would really appreciate it if you
guys checked out my Haikyuu book (Putain de Lâche) and my My Hero Academia story (Azurno)!!

i know that the american hustle life scene
was kinda cringy (then again the whole show
was LMAO) but i just wanted to show that ahri
is annoying as hell😟😁