⋆ ☄︎. · ̊ * 🔭
chapter twenty-two

After Jimin comforted me, we practice for some more hours until it's early in the morning.

Suddenly his phone rings. He turns the music off and heads to the other side of the room to pick his cellphone up.

Looking down at it, I can see him physically gulping. He holds his phone up, a panicked expression on his face.

"It's Yoongi hyung," he mumbles, his eyes wide.

My pupils enlarge and I quickly jog towards him. "I wouldn't answer it," I swiftly shake my head in refusal.

"What? Why not? Do you want me dead?" He panics while moving around.

"No, you'll be safe if you don't answer now. I mean, they may yell at me, but not that much since I'm the youngest," I smirk while shrugging, "but you're most definitely not going to see tomorrow's light."

Jimin slaps the back of my head. "You're not helping, Ahri-ah!" He complains.

"I'm just telling the truth," I state, putting my hands on my hips.

"It's not even my fault! You decided to come here!" Jimin whines, walking around as he decides what to do to not end up with his bones broken.

"True though," I agree, putting a thoughtful hand under my chin.

"What should I do?" His panic seems to grow, "I could move to Mexico and change my name to Jesus Juan Alejandro Flores."

I start to laugh hysterically, falling on the ground. "I'll call you like that from now on," I state between many waves of laughter.

"Or maybe grow a beard and move to the Middle East to call myself Muhammad Omar Yousef Ahmad Ali?" He asks himself, completely ignoring my presence.

Literally dying of laughter, I soon start to choke. "Oh my god, stop. This is too much," I burst out, clutching my aching chest from all the pain because of my laughs.

He squats down and firmly holds my shoulders, staring at me seriously while I'm still chuckling. "Ahri!" He raises his voice as he shakes my shoulders, "what should I do? I'm too young to die!"

"You and your dramatic ass," I mutter while rolling my eyes, "just say that it's my fault. Yoongi hyung will most likely argue with me than you."

He nods his head, a smile building on his beautiful features. "True," he states and releases his hold on me, making me fall down.

"Damn, thanks," I mumble as I stand up, rubbing my butt because I fell on it.

"I'm so soaked, I could fill up a whole bath with my sweat," I admit while patting my body with a towel.

Gazing at Jimin, I notice him staring at me with the look. His eyebrows are raised and he has a big smirk on his face.

"Wow, I never thought I'd meet someone as dirty-minded as me," I nod my head in approval.

"We're on the same boat, sis," he states confidently, making me chuckle.

"My legs and arms will literally fall out," I shake my weak bones since they feel like jello.

Suddenly, the door opens and Yoongi immediately strides towards us.

"Hyung, run!" I scream at Jimin, whose eyes are already wide.

Both of us run in a fit, but Hoseok soon grabs me by my waist. "Nuh-uh," he whispers in my ear while I'm still trying to run away from his hold.

"Hyung, no! Don't let me die!" I yell at Hoseok, "my life's pathetic, but that doesn't mean that I want to die!"

He chuckles and releases his hold on me. Smiling widely, I try to rush away, but someone holds me up by laying a firm hand on my shoulder.

Turning around slowly, I stare at dark brown eyes. "Hey, hyung," I wave a small hand at Yoongi.

"Ew," he pulls his hand away, "were you showering or why the hell are you so wet?"

Trying to maintain my laugh because of the inappropriate thoughts in my head, I quickly gaze at Jimin, whose already looking at me with his dirty face.

"Nope, it's all sweat," I state confidently.

"Ew," all of the boys, except for Jimin, exclaim.

"Were you guys really practicing the whole time?" Jin asks us worriedly, looking between me and Jimin.

"Yep," I affirm while both of us nod our heads.

"Aren't you guys like exhausted?" It's Jeongguk's turn to ask.

"Well, yeah, my body might collapse," I shrug my shoulders, "but other than that, it was pretty fun with Jimin hyung. I laughed a lot."

Yoongi smiles as our eyes meet. "I'm glad," he admits.

"Huh?" I blurt out, staring at him with an utterly confused face.

"At least you guys had fun," Yoongi shrugs his shoulders, taking off his jacket and going to his position for the dance.

Staring at the other boys in perplexity, they simply shrug their shoulders and join Yoongi.

"Komische Leute," I mumble, shaking my head.

After some hours, the door suddenly opens and Bang Si-Hyuk enters the practice room.

"Good-morning, guys!" He smiles and takes many strides towards us while I turn the music off.

"Hello~" We greet him back while bowing our heads.

"I hope you practiced hard for your debut in two days," our manager smiles at us and we quickly nod our heads.

"Some people already know you because of Twitter, but they don't know Ahri yet since she just joined the group," he looks at me as I nod my head swiftly.

He waves with his arms around while explaining. "So, you would need to post a few pictures or at least say who you are," he explains.

My eyes widen. "Really? Wouldn't it be better if people see me for the first time at our performance?"

He's quick to shake his head. "No, no. They should at least know your name and you'll bring in male viewers since you're a girl."

Cringing at his remark, I scrunch my face up slightly. "Okay," I agree nevertheless since I can't disobey against my manager's sayings.

"Yonnie doesn't have a phone, though," Hoseok speaks up while pointing at me.

"You don't?" Our manager asks while gazing at me.

I shake my head softly, making him sigh. "I'll get you one today," he informs me.

Eyes widening, I'm quick to disagree. "No, I don't need a phone."

"Ahri, you do need one," he states.

"Even if I do, I'll buy it myself," I continue to disagree with him.

"You're only 15, I doubt that you can buy a phone," our manager shakes his head, being impatient and annoyed that I talk back to him.

Taehyung tugs on my hand, making me look at him. He shakes his head softly. "Just say yes," he mumbles, sending me a small but encouraging smile.

Sighing loudly, I slowly nod my head while gazing at my manager.

"Good," Bang PD-nim smiles and walks out after wishing us a good day.

"I don't want him to buy me a brand new phone," I murmur with slumped shoulders.

"Why not? Other kids would enjoy it if someone gives them something for free," Jin states while shrugging his shoulders.

"But a phone is so expensive," I whine, "I'd be in his debt."

"See it as your loan," Jimin chimes in while shrugging his shoulders.

Thinking about it for some time, I sigh loudly. "I can't do anything against it anyway," I mumble.

"Let's practice now!" Hoseok yells and all of us go to our positions.

Many hours pass and it's time to rehearse our singing and rapping parts like every other day.

We divide into groups and I'm at a corner with Namjoon, Yoongi, Jeongguk, and Hoseok while the others are at the end of the other corner.

"Okay, we'll just rehearse this like every other time and then do it all together," Namjoon declares while we nod our heads.

"What time is it?" I murmur as I vainly try to stand up straight after many hours of practice.

"3:56 pm," Taehyung mumbles from beside me while his eyes are glued on the lyrics.

Sighing loudly, I fall on the ground and lay down tiredly. "Can someone call Jaehyun?" I ask around.

"I'll do it," Yoongi volunteers and goes outside to have a call with my friend.

"Thanks," I mumble before he leaves the room.

two days later

The days pass by quickly and all I do is practice with the boys. I couldn't even attend work since we had to rehearse all the time.

I feel mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted. I try not to show it though, so the boys won't get too worried.

"Today is the day everything changes," Jimin mumbles while we sit in our practice room like every other day.

"Everything will change," Namjoon speaks up encouragingly, "but we won't, we'll always stay BTS!"

"Always together, and not without one member missing," Jin smiles at us.

They really have to be wise all the time, huh?

We get together and hug each other tightly. "This is it," Namjoon smiles, which we gratefully return.

"Ew," I pull away quickly, "all of us stink. Let's get home and take a shower real quick."

"Yeah, let's eat something at home too," Hoseok agrees and we soon head back to our dorm.

Yoongi opens the door with his key and we step foot into our home. "Oldest to youngest," Seokjin yells confidently while striding into the bathroom to take a shower.

"Being a maknae sucks sometimes," I mumble to Jeongguk with slumped shoulders.

"Agreed," Jeongguk sighs and both of us sprawl our bodies on the couch in the living room.

"Do you think they will like us?" He speaks up quietly while gazing at the ceiling.

"Who?" I ask and face him.

"I don't know," he shrugs his shoulders, "the media, people, locals, other groups."

Before answering his question, my mind wanders off to what other people will really think of us.

"I always try to stay positive," I answer after some time, "not everybody will like us and that's okay. They're wrong, though."

A melodic chuckle leaves his mouth. "You always joke around, why?"

Shrugging my shoulders, I reply, "sarcasm and jokes are a great way to cope with stress. Besides sleeping."

He laughs lightly while boringly playing with his hair.

"Get to the kitchen, we're eating!" Taehyung yells and we quickly stride to the cooking area.

Sitting down beside Jimin, I quickly put some eggs and bread on his plate.

"Nope," he replies while pushing the plate away from him.

"Yes," I argue and push it back to him.

"No," he disagrees and pushes it away once again.

Scoffing loudly, we argue like that for a few times before I raise my voice, "eat!"

"I'm not hungry!" He complains while throwing his head back.

"If you don't eat, I'll tell Yoongi hyung that you dropped his toothbrush into the toilet and didn't even wash it afterward," I whisper to him, raising my brows while a big smirk is planted on my face.

His mouth is agape as he stares at me with big eyes. "You wouldn't!" He states.

"Watch me." I narrow my eyes.

He huffs and takes a fork in his hand, stuffing his mouth with eggs. "Got what you want?" He asks.

"Yep," I smile at him and begin to eat myself.

"Ahri-ah," Taehyung suddenly calls out, making me look at him, "why are you ignoring me?"

Eyes widening, I stare at him bluntly. "What?" I ask like an idiot.

"You're always with the others and do nothing with me anymore," he huffs, crossing his arms over his chest while pouting slightly.

"Oh my god, no!" I cry out and immediately rush to him.

Hugging him from behind, I tell him, "I'm not ignoring you!"

Taehyung has a satisfied smile on his face and Jimin shoots him a disapproving look. "You know damn well that she'll fall for it, you're using your powers. That's unfair!" The older one accuses, pointing a finger at his other 95' liner.

"Hey, that's not true!" Taehyung disagrees, pointing at Jimin as well.

Pulling away, I gaze at them confusingly. "What are y'all saying?" I ask them with furrowed brows.

"Everyone knows that you turn soft as soon as someone is sad," Jimin slumps in his seat while he crosses his arms, "he's using it for his own advantage!"

"What?" I let out a chuckle at their absurd accusation, "that's not true."

"Yes, it is," Jeongguk chimes in while eating his food happily.

"No!" I argue with them, sitting down on my chair again, a small pout on my lips.

"He's just jealous that you give me attention and not him," Jimin childishly sticks his tongue out at Taehyung.

"I'm not jealous," the more offended Taehyung gets, the higher his voice goes, "she likes me more than you anyway."

"Who was she practicing and laughing with the whole night?" Jimin asks, his eyebrows raising sassily. "Exactly," he states confidently as Taehyung doesn't reply and stays silent.

"She knows me way longer than you!" Taehyung points out, smirking in satisfaction.

"That doesn't count if she was annoyed with you all the time," Jimin rolls his eyes sassily.

"The shade is most definitely thrown," Jeongguk whispers in my ear from beside me, making me chuckle.

Yoongi enters the kitchen, a towel around his neck to dry his wet hair. "What are you guys fighting about?" He asks while picking out something to eat from the fridge.

"Hyung, who does Ahri like more? Me or Jimin?" Taehyung asks, smiling at Yoongi innocently.

"How should I know? Ask her," He's confused to say the least, sitting down opposite of me.

All eyes turn towards me as they wait for an answer. "I don't pick favorites," I state bluntly while shrugging my shoulders.

"Come on," Jimin smiles at me, doing cute stuff to convince me that I like him more.

"Hyung," I call Jimin out while disapprovingly shaking my head, "that doesn't work for me."

"Ugh, fine," he murmurs and continues to eat.

a few hours later

"Oh my god," I yell in an annoyed tone, "when is my turn? I'm bored and I need to take a shower!"

"Isn't Kookie in now?" Hoseok asks while both of us are sprawled on his bed.

"Yes!" I state exasperatedly, "he's been in for hours now and I need to use the toilet as well!"

My older member laughs at my tone and behavior, making me sigh loudly.

Suddenly, Jeongguk steps out of the bathroom and enters the bedroom, fully clothed and with dry hair.

Looking at him with a deadpanned face, I speak up in a dangerously low tone, "did you just spend hours to shower, putting on clothes, and drying your hair?"

Jeongguk looks at me with wide eyes, his frame glued on the floor. "Kind of?" He replies more like a question.

Huffing loudly, I stand up and make my way towards him. "You're lucky that you're not Yoongi hyung, or else I would've fought with you," I mumble as I pass by him, going into the bathroom to finally shower.

Taking my clothes off, I step foot into the cold ceramic floor. Turning the dial on, I let the warm water drip my whole body from head to toes.

After washing my body and hair, I put a towel around me and another one around my head.

Pupils enlarging, I notice that I forgot to bring any fresh clothes in here. I panic slightly as I try to think of an idea.

"This is pathetic," I mumble while face-palming myself.

This is going to be so damn awkward.

Taking in a few deep breaths, I step foot outside and silently tip-toe to the bedroom, desperately hoping that all the boys are in other rooms.

As I peek into the room, I, fortunately, don't notice someone and even hear fainted laughs from the living room.

I go inside our shared bedroom and close the door, sighing in relief while doing that.

Turning around, I startle when I see him and let out a scream.

"What the hell—"

( AUTHOR'S NOTE ! )
please note that the jokes about mexico
and the middle east are not meant to be
taken seriously. i apologize if i have offended
anyone, it was not my intention at all.