Magic Shop

AN: Do you know what this is? Anxiety-induced insomnia, And! I've been editing with the speed of light, although, a mistake or two might've escaped me. So...find it and drown it for me. Thanks.

One chapter per day it's...not sustainable. But my 'ninety percent-finished chapters supply' will run out soon and the editing will start to take longer because I actually have to add scenes and stuff in a few chapters.

Anyways. That aside. Yes, here's another chapter for you. Thanks for reading it:

One foot in front of the other.

Acutely aware that I should feel proud because I didn't lash out. Unsure if I handled it well by walking out without saying a word.

'But what are the chances that he got his fix from the dealer and then decided to cut himself up on the way back? Or that he's been walking around with a big bag of weed inside his jacket for hours?'

One foot in front of the other and then, a door prevented that.

I knocked.

"Not again!"

"Coming!" A female voice shouted and then whispered, "I swear I'll make it up to you."

"Does it involve getting my own room? Cause I just want to sleep in a bed by myself"

"Please!"

"God, I hate your…"

The door was opened by Sandra's roommate, Mi Cha. And her angry-looking face.

"Boyfriend."

She finished with a disgusted tone.

"I'm not her boyfriend."

"Whatever. Go jump her bones, I don't care anymore."

She walked right past me, stomping her shoes. Not bothering to answer an exclaimed "Thank you!" from her roommate.

Sandra stepped aside to let me in, hands playing anxiously with one another.

"Close the door."

"…yes." She did so nervously. And then turned to look at me, wide-eyed.

"And lock it."

"Yes…silly me." She lightly slapped herself across the cheek and then complied in a hurry.

I sat in her chair after taking my shoes off and I was paying attention to how soft the floor carpet was.

Waiting.

Back turned against the door, she froze.

"What are you doing?" I asked. Impatient.

"I…a…thought we could talk …a…first…before…."

"About?"

"How you…a…how we…aa..."

She fixated her gaze on the carpet and kept herself at the furthest point of the room.

I sighed.

She flinched.

"If you want to talk then you should sit down and tell me what's bothering you."

She peeked up briefly and slowly, carefully walking by me before sitting down on her bed.

"Talk." I demanded softly, elbow on the armrest, head held up by a fist. Rotating slightly in the wheeled chair.

"You know how you…a…you've been a bit too…." She said.

'Jungkook's cut himself.' I thought.

"I mean, I like it…it's just that it kind of hurts when you go too deep. And after the last time, I lost my voice for about a week..."

'Or someone else's cut him. And I don't even know which one is worse.'

"And since it takes you a while, I…I was wondering if we could do it less often since I …can't sleep for the rest of the day since I have class, but then I'm too tired to do anything. It's so funny that it's even a problem. But I'm in no shape or form telling you what to do, I just…feel like…"

'How do I make him talk without pushing him away? How do I make him confess? He won't tell V since he knows he'll tell me. Fuck. He was supposed to be Jungkook's friend…not mine. Friend? What am I thinking? Or maybe! Maybe V knows and he won't tell me since he's already made some pact with Jungkook!'

"…like we should try to do it a bit slower. Just a teensy bit. And the biting…a…I like it when you do it lightly, but you seem to like biting until blood comes out. And hey, if that's your thing. That's briliant. More power to you. But the marks and the…"

'But he was just as surprised as I was! And he thought that I've done it. It was written all over his face. No…there's no way he knows something more, unless…'

"And I wanted to ask if you don't like the way I kiss. Cause you've stopped kissing me after my first time and…Namjoon? Please don't get mad. I don't want to make you mad. But maybe we can find a consensus on…the way we interact in bed. You won't let me touch you…and if you've got some trauma around being touched, I totally understand. But I'd like to…you look mad. Did I make you mad?"

'No. There's no way. Jungkook wouldn't have told him that the guy has a slicing fetish anyway. But maybe he didn't have enough money? Is that it?'

"Namjoon...will you please look at me?"

'But I saw them give him money! Fuck. I gave him money! Everyone gave him so much damn money! Then what the fuck's the issue?!'

"Namjoon?"

A hand reached out towards my knee and I caught the wrist.

She swallowed and looked down immediately. Tried to retract it, but failed.

I brought her fingers up to my lips and sucked on them one by one.

Her hand started slightly shaking while her knees touched.

"Stretch yourself out," I told her.

She nodded. And started taking off her clothes.

'Did he just go suicidal for a minute and then changed his mind?! And what the fuck do I do if he wanted to kill himself?!... but it makes no sense. Why after he got the weed and the pills too? What kind of junkie doesn't kill themselves by overdose if they've got access to the stuff?! Or at least when they're about to run out?'

She spread her legs and inserted a shaky, saliva-coated finger.

"On your knees." I went on.

"Oh, ok."

'Why…why…WHY!? I can't figure it out if he won't tell me? I can figure out what drug dealers and other addicts are thinking but not Jungkook! And I usually can, somewhat. Am I getting paranoid again? No…I'm just missing information. Someone needs to know. Someone else must be buying from this guy. Someone else…I need to find someone else…"

"Aa…" The tip of two fingers went in the already red, stretched-out hole.

"On the floor."

She obeyed seamlessly.

The bruises on her body showed better in the light of her desk lamp.

I watched as the fingers went in and out and then stretched the inside. She kept going until she tried to force the fifth one and couldn't.

"Make a fist."

She froze for a few seconds before complying.

Head straight, fixated on the wall before me. Swayingl in the wheeled chair.

'I can't go around asking anyone who smells like weed or looks like they've had a pill or two about their dealer. They won't say shit! And if I'll start beating people up, I'll either get kicked out or it'll make Jungkook hate me again. Fuck. I guess I have no choice.'

And when the fist made it almost entirely inside and her pained low grunts turned into nothing but heavy breathing, I reached out and trailed my fingers from her lower back to her ass.

She started shaking more under my touch.

And the fist stopped moving.

"All in." I demanded.

She struggled, but managed to get half her fist in.

I caressed her bruised ass. Back and forth. In tandem with her fist.

And when she stopped, I slapped so hard that her whole body reacted.

A choking sound left her mouth. But she kept her head one with the carpet and the fist inside.

Knowing better than to do otherwise.

But the uncontrollable trembling didn't have any breaks now.

The hand went inside her pussy and out her pussy.

I kept caressing.

And then, she did it. Her fist was all in.

She audibly smiled with relief.

"See? All in."

I spanked.

She huffed. As her body was tilted forwards.

"Now your ass."

'I have to blackmail him. That's the only way. With something harmless, but not harmless enough that he doesn't care. Something that will keep him as my friend. Something…anything. Fuck. But I don't want to. Why won't he just fucking tell me? If he's my friend…What the hell am I thinking. I don't want to be only friends…I want to…'

"But…I told you that hurts too much. And I can't…"

Another spank.

And the ass was burning red with the shape of my hand.

"Please…Namjoon…"

And I kept spanking until she sank to the floor. But I kept spanking and when she covered her ass cheek, I pinned that hand against her lower back.

"I'll try! I'll try!" She shouted.

But I kept spanking until the free hand went towards her ass and shoved the tip of the finger in.

I sat back in the chair.

"Up." I said.

She was back in the doggy position.

And I was back to caressing.

'Maybe he doesn't think it's safe to tell me. But I didn't do anything after he told me he's cut himself. I acted as any normal caring person would. Right? I didn't do anything.'

"It hurts."

I looked down at the three fingers. And slapped the less red ass cheek.

A very faint crying sound came from the floor while a fourth finger went in.

'Did I overreact? V didn't scream at him when he found out!'

The little finger wouldn't go in.

I smacked. Once, twice, thrice, and then she forced it inside. Heaving, saliva dripping from her mouth.

Incrementally, she started moving them. Forcing them just a bit deeper each time.

'But he was more surprised than I was. And tired. And…fuck. I should've been calm about it. But how the fuck was I supposed to be calm in that situation?! I thought someone's tried to murder him! What insane person would've calmly assessed that kind of situation?'

"Can I get the lube? Please?"

"Yes."

She started again and not long after, I heard:

"Namjoon?"

"Hm?"

"Please, don't get mad. But it just doesn't work. There's no space…and it hurts. Please, don't punish me too badly. Please, I am really trying," And the waterworks began.

"Shh…"

I kneeled beside her and caressed the back of her head.

"It's fine. I'll help you."

She swallowed.

I took a hold of her wrist and pushed it further in.

"That…aw…"

"Bend your fingers."

"They're bent! No…Aw…"

The sobbing was back in full force, but her fist was also wrist deep in her ass.

"There. You did it."

"I did it?" She asked with joyous relief.

"Yes."

"I did it!" She chuckled, tears running down her face with ecstatic happiness apparent on her face.

"Now move it."

"But…"

And before my hand made it onto hers, she started to do it slower than I would've liked to.

"Good."

I patted her ass and then stood up to undress.

Her whole body started shaking violently with every piece of clothing she saw falling besides her head.

"Namjoon, are you mad about what I've said?"

"No."

"Really?"

"Mhm." I absently assured her.

"So, you agree?"

"Absolutely."

She once again smiled, face beaming with relief. But her fist didn't stop from going in and out slowly.

"Take it out." She obeyed gladly, holding herself up with both arms. And looking behind just to see my hand reaching out for the long ponytail. I wrapped it around my hand and then pulled on it so her ass would go straight into my half-hard erection.

She tried to turn when I violently started pounding into her without a care in the world.

I almost wanted to ask what she was looking at. But choose to pull her head back by her head instead, until her back and neck were curved and my hand was gripping it tightly.

She tried to keep herself from screaming, but it was hard since the deeper I pushed myself inside, the tighter her asshole tried to push me out.

'Maybe the other guys know something? I can use the wound as an excuse…and…'

And she was crying again.

The female sobs intensified to the point that it was all I could hear.

"Why do you always cry when you feel good and bad?! I never know which one is it!"

I shoved it all in as punishment and choked her until she was gasping for air.

And just like I thought she would, she orgasmed from her ass despite the emotional outbursts.

The whole body twitched uncontrollably while the asshole contrasted and released. Hence, I let go of her neck and lightly tapped her ass.

"Who told you that you can come?"

"I'm…" Cough, "Sorry."

"Are you now?" I ironically asked.

"Yes. I am really sorry."

"I don't believe you."

Grabbed hold of the fat surrounding the waist and used it to shove her into me. She cried out every time. Like a howling cat being moved back and forwards. She trembled and curled her toes when I stood still, fully buried inside her.

"Did that hurt?" I asked.

"Yes." She replied in a small voice.

Hand on her face, shoved my fingers inside her mouth until her back was glued to my chest. And fucked her with no distance between us. She sucked on my fingers, but kept making pained sounds between thrusts. Pushed fingers down her throat. And she took them without gagging.

When I got no reaction, I pushed her down, flipped her, and pulled her closer to me by the leg.

Mascara was all over her face, hairs coming out the ponytail, and eyes gawked at the ceiling while I inserted the saliva-soaked fingers into her pussy. Since I kept screwing her ass, I could feel the shape of my dick as I moved my fingers inside her vagina.

She held herself still. Fingers clutching at the blue carpet hairs.

Moaning shyly. Knowing she's not allowed to moan any louder.

"Open your mouth wider."

She shook her head, lips quivering.

"Open!" I screamed.

And there it was. The slight resemblance with Jungkook.

The one that always had me fucking her harder. Forgetting all common sense as I pounded her walls until she held onto her tits because she said she didn't like how it hurt when they moved up and down violently for too long.

'I wonder what he's doing…I wonder if he liked having my arm around his shoulders…his…slender...soft…shoulders…'

Pulled out and dragged her under me by the leg.

She let out the smallest "No."

I sat on her face and watched her lick my balls and suck on them as best as she could.

'His hair is getting too long. He looks more like a stoner than ever. He needs to get it cut. Maybe…he'll go with me. Maybe, he'll tell me if…'

She kept sucking and licking. Not being able to do anything else with her arms immobilized by me sitting on her.

Moved a bit further and let her lick my ass as punishment for that 'no.'

'Fuck, why did Jungkook like it when I did this to him? I'll never understand. Unless it's a power thing. I mean…that I enjoy. It's degrading. But who knows? Maybe he thought it's a power thing too? Wish I could ask. Do friends ask why other friends if they like their asshole rimmed or if they enjoy humiliating the other person by forcing them to do it? I doubt it.'

"Ca…h…br..th.."

"Hm?"

I scooted back to see a heaving Sandra.

"Couldn't breathe well."

Nodded and shoved my cock inside her open mouth after pinching her nose to make sure she didn't forget to hold her breath.

When she didn't choke. I let it go and started thrusting.

The back of her head lightly hit the floor with every thrust.

'Do friends talk about sex at all? Or is it because we used to have sex that we shouldn't? But maybe that's a step that we should take after I…fuck, why did I kiss his head? I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have side-hugged him either. But I was so glad that he was alive. So glad he was next to me…So…'

I kept thrusting. The walls of her neck must've hurt since she didn't tremble anymore, but seemed to try her best to withstand it.

The choking on my dick and her saliva distracted me for a second.

"Fine."

I got up and let her cough herself to normal.

Sat on the chair and waited for her to crawl towards me. Which she did.

Lips, now swollen, eyes red and watery.

She started sucking me off. The wounds by her lips gashing red open again.

I grabbed her hair and pushed her head up and down as I saw fit while her throat made various sounds.

'If he tells me he's slept with another guy though. I'll lose it. With a girl… I don't care. It's not like she's going to fuck him. But if it's a guy…and a dealer…Nah, any guy…I don't know how I will be able to hold back. I don't think I will be able to walk out. But I can't hurt him either. I couldn't even take the pained expression he's made when I showed him his forearm. I wish he'd be happy all the time. I wish I could make him smile and laugh and…'

"Nam…ahaph…a…"

Some hairs ripped off her scalp. I could feel it, but the pace was fast enough for me. Perhaps, a bit too fast for her.

She tried to keep me still for one second by digging her nails into the chair but that didn't achieve anything.

The inside of her neck was warm and wide enough for it to go almost all in. Or at least…I made it wide enough.

To meet her in the middle. I pushed her head down and kept it there.

Watching her squirm and tremble. Trying to push her head up, against my hand.

I sighed, thinking: 'I should make her cum too.'

She shot up the second I removed my hand.

She sounded as if she was about to throw up when she wasn't coughing.

"Too much?"

She swiftly turned to look at me, defiantly asking:

"What do you think?!"

I stared back with an arched brow.

She let go of the bin and backed away on two scrapped knees until her back hit the side of the bed.

"I'm sorry. I should've worded it differently. I'm really…" The raspy voice was letting me know she won't be able to scream too loudly now.

"It's fine." Was all I said.

"No, I'll be better." Cough, "Please don't be mad."

"Why would I be mad? You thought I went too far and you're right. Be honest with me. This won't work otherwise."

She nervously smiled when I motioned her to come to me.

Sandra crawled, shaking from every nook and cranny.

I pulled her by the hair.

"Up."

She stood up and didn't move a muscle afterward.

"On me."

"W-What?"

Her confusion was cute since it involved opening her mouth wide.

"Sit on me. On the chair. No. Maybe the bed would be better."

I got up and sat down. Back against the wall.

This room was smaller than Jungkook's and V's but the layout was the same and that made me caress the sheets that weren't his.

"What are you waiting for?"

"You want me to…sit on you?"

She pointed at my lap. While she secured the other hand around her neck.

"You don't want to?" I asked.

"I do! It's just…you've never let me before...anything like… Never mind."

She ran to the bed the second I clenched my teeth.

And clumsily positioned herself on top of me. Not assuming the hole that I wanted to fill now. And to her relief, I started rubbing the tip against her pussy. She sat down slowly. And I didn't force her down faster.

She didn't hide her disbelief, nor pleasure when she only went in as far as it was comfortable for her. Moving up and down while holding onto my shoulders for support.

It was boring for me, to say the least.

This is why I've shut my eyes and imagined it was Jungkook doing it.

"Ah…" She moaned loudly in my ear.

And I covered her mouth immediately.

She nodded her head, telling me she's forgotten.

Sandra didn't moan loudly again. Even though some little moans did escape here and there.

I shut them all out. And thought of Jungkook's slim waist, small fingers, dark hair, big eyes, and pink cock. All shaking with pleasure as I went in and out of him.

'His voice. His lips. His smell. His fingers. His bloody arm…'

My hand traveled from her lips to her neck and squeezed.

"Mhph."

'His back. His ass. His legs. And his bloody arm…"

Manicured fingers clawed at my hand. My body went stiff while I kept thrusting upwards.

'The way he walks so cutely. The way he grins like a child. The way his lips were trying to wrap around my cock. AND HIS BLOODY FUCKING ARM!'

"N…n…mph."

Manicured fingers let go and pussy walls relaxed into my pounding before they tightened with a vice grip. Trying to hold my moving penis still. But I kept going until she orgasmed, blue-faced.

I had to release her neck now.

And I did, after the image of Jungkook showing V and I, the weed bag with the most innocent expression popped up and fizzled out.

She let herself fall face-first into my shoulder, coughing violently while the insides of her pussy still pulsated.

'The way he puckers his lips when he exhales smoke. The way he takes small bites out of chocolate and lets them melt on his tongue. The way the water makes his skin glow when he showers. The way he sits on the edge of every chair. And the way he's cut his fucking arm to get rid of me and everyone he ever knows…'

When I felt like I was about to cry from the pain that was leaking through the hole from my chest and engulfed the rest of my body, I pushed her off and onto the bed. Head hitting the pillow dead on. And then I kept fucking her until she was begging for me to cum. Until I was too tired to think. Until she came from the friction alone. Until she was laying lifeless from the exhaustion,continuing to restlessly beg with a raspy, strained voice. Until she almost fell asleep, but I went balls deep, pulled on her nipples, and slapped her boobs until she jolted awake. Until the sun came up and I was ready to go see Jungkook since I was too tired to yell, too tired to come onto him, and way too tired to go beat up the guy, in case, by some miracle, he were to confess that someone else had done it.

I covered Sandra's naked body with a blanket and cleaned some of the stuff off her face with wet wipes before I walked out and leg butted her still, ever so angry, roommate.

"You must be joking, right now?!" She shouted with no restraint.

"Hm?"

"You sleep here too now?"

"No."

"You've finished just…now?" The voice died at the end.

"She's all yours."

When Mi Cha didn't move, I pushed her aside gently but then felt her hand on the back of my jacket.

"Did you hurt her?"

"Excuse me?"

"She has bruises on her legs."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I quickly mumbled.

"Don't play dumb."

I faced her, sighed, and leaned forwards.

She took a step back.

"Sex is a physical exercise. You have to stay on your knees for a long time, move around, and you can bump into stuff when you change positions. As you, probably already know."

Her pink cheeks had me smiling and patting her head.

'Or don't know.' I thought.

Then swiftly turned in the direction of the exit once more. When she asked:

"And her neck?"

"What about it?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"She likes being strangled to death or is that more of a 'you thing'?"

I threw a quick look behind her with only one eye. Making sure no one else was hearing this.

One cold eye.

"Why don't you ask her?"

"She doesn't want to talk about you."

'Good.' I thought.

"Then why don't you respect her privacy?" I said.

"Because she can barely talk or walk after you come over. It's like you …beat her up or something."

"The fuck?" I frowned, stepping back. "Why would I beat her up?"

"I don't know."

"Look," I put my hands up and started explaining, "she screams a lot so her voice…"

"So hard that the edges of her mouth are split?"

"Look, kiddo." She immediately took offense at the fed up tone and puffed up her chest at me despite not being tall enough to reach my chest. "Whatever I do to her is none of your business. And besides, we have an agreement. The second she wants to stop. I'll stop. No consequences. No hard feelings."

Mi Cha crossed her arms.

"I mean it. She's a free woman." I insisted.

'I wish she'd call it quits already, to be honest. I don't even know why she puts up with me. It's seriously starting to freak me out.'

"But you were her first. It's harder to break it off with your first…"

"I wish you were right."

'Nonetheless, Jungkook still did it.' I looked up at the ceiling, wishing the hole would swallow me up already or get numb again.

"What about you?"

I looked down, reminded that she was still here. And asked:

"You're really chatty today, aren't you?"

"You can break off the agreement too, right?"

"Yeah? Why?"

"Then break it off."

I crossed my arms too.

She went on. "She eats only junk food ever since you've shown up. Sleeps all day. She's behind on her studies and I don't think you're that in love with her."

"How do you know?"

"I can feel it in every bone of my body."

She looked straight into my eyes, filled with reproach.

"Hmm…maybe some other time." I promised with a shrug.

"You really don't give two fucks about her, don't you?"

"I do. I try to treat her …better than I would've treated someone like her."

"Someone like her?" She kept repeating that until she started screaming,"She's a smart girl! A woman with a bright future ahead of her! Her family is rich and..."

'I know...that's what I am saying, I am not a big fan of rich brats, and still...' I thought this, but didn't get to say it since she went on and on about how great Sandra and her family were.

A guy came out of his room a bit further down the hallway. I saw him looking at the tiny screaming girl and then up at me.

So, I quickly interrupted her by placing a hand on her head. I could pick her up by the head and move her inside, but I choose to talk instead:

"Good for her. Now, if you can convince her to break it off. Go ahead. Tell her what she already knows. She won't see me again the second she doesn't want to. Got it?"

Her arms fell on each side of her body, all limp. I took that as a sign of defeat.

"Please, break it off with her." The pleading tone had both my eyebrows up. "She probably won't."

"I will." I assured her and then added, "But not today."

"Why not? If it makes no difference to you?! It makes a big difference for her future if…"

"If she cared about her future as much as you do then she would've already called it off. Don't you understand? She's doing it out of her free will."

"But you're abusi…"

I covered her mouth and looked down the hallway to check if the guy was still there.

Leaned forwards and whispered:

"Is it that hard to believe that she wants me to be rough?"

She nodded, glaring.

I exhaled with a whining sound that I'd unconsciously picked up from Jimin without meaning to. Pulled her into their shared dorm room and shook Sandra awake.

She rubbed her eyes and covered her chest with the blanket when she saw her roommate by the door.

"What's wrong?" She questioned both of us. Sleepy, but alarmed.

"She doesn't believe me. And frankly, I'm starting to suspect we might not be speaking the same language."

"Doesn't believe what?"

"Look at her!" The tiny girl pointed at Sandra, glaring at me. "I'm sorry Sandra, but you look like shit, your voice, your neck and…"

"Oh. Don't worry about it." Sandra assured her, smiling.

And her roommate stepped back as if she had just been slapped.

"How could I not? He's brainwashed you or something?!"

"No. I don't think so. Did you?"

I shrugged.

"He told me you're free to break it off with him anytime. Do You believe that?"

"Yes. He promised and he keeps his promises."

She softly explained. And then sent me a look, showing that she was proud of that quality.

"What the fuck?!" Mi Cha screamed with both confusion and rage.

The submission was nowhere to be seen. Like a shirt that she could put on and take off at will.

Or it was the fact that she knew I wasn't going to fuck her right now that allowed her to look up at me without agitation. The time I was angry and went overboard still weighed heavily on her mind, but there wasn't much I could do about it but show her it wouldn't happen again with time.

"I mean I wish he wouldn't leave so many trances so I wouldn't have to use so much makeup. And sometimes he exaggerates with…aa…. doesn't matter. But I am fine with the rest."

"Sandra! Sandra...this is the last year! You don't have time to hide your …sex wounds from the world! You should be studying every second you've got!"

"But I hate it." She confessed in a mousy voice.

"You hate what? Him? I knew it!"

The tiny girl raised a finger that she put down the second her ears heard what came out of her friend's mouth:

"I hate this place and math in general. I was actually thinking of dropping out, but it'll be hard to see Namjoon if I do that so I might as well just graduate."

"Drop….out…" Mi Cha seemed like she was about to faint. Mumbling to herself now, more so than to Sandra: "But your family, they…"

"They're such controlling assholes. They don't care about what I want to do." She fixated on a corner with angry eyes, crossing her arms, "And they never will. I really…hate them from the bottom of my heart."

I clapped once, to get their attention before saying: "I am glad you two talked it over. But I have to go."

Mi Cha blocked my path.

"You did something to her, didn't you? You…abuser, you…"

"Stop calling him that. I like that he…uses me."

"You've lost your mind!" She screamed, bringing her little hands up to her head.

"You don't get it. I don't have to do anything for once! I just get to space out and feel stuff. I …am not in control. And even when it hurts, it hurts so good to not control how much it hurts. It's so freeing." She finished with a small grin and a light in her eyes. "You know?"

"Now if you two will excuse me." I sidestepped and waved on my way out to the little woman watching her friend with nothing but disbelief and incredulity.

"But your future job...the money and esteem…but…"

The hallway was buzzing with a few people by now so I put on the hood, walked down the stairs, and out of the building.

The grass was greener than it was before and the breeze was not as cold for once. But then it all got shattered when I got caught by one of the professors that recognized me on the way to the store.

"I thought you had a sleeping-until-late-problem, Kim."

I shrugged. And accepted to talk to her despite her crossed arms and almighty attitude.

'Everyone's crossing her arms at me today,' I noticed with a sigh.

"Sometimes I get insomnia. It's a hard battle between the two."

"Are you coming to class today?" She asked while I stared at the flower decorated hair clip, holding the right side of her hair, as if it was insulting me..

"Didn't I already hand in my paper?" I asked, getting genuinely worried I might've forgotten.

"You did."

"Was it fine?"

"Very."

"Then what's the problem?"

"It'd be nice if you would attend as well." She let me know with a sigh of her own.

"Why? I've already asked and I won't get kicked out since my grades are high. In fact, I am at the top of the whatever lists. And my homework is mostly on time."

"I'm talking about the experience."

I frowned at the opened arms and breathy, hopeful tone. And this is when I would've liked to walk away, but since she was a teacher, I only watched her hair clip hang on for dear life with mild irritation.

"Hear me out, Kim. It's about having the experience of going to class, getting along with your classmates Look, I know they are unwilling to treat you as one of their own now since you've missed out on sharing the one experience that you all have in common."

"I already have friends, Mrs. Lee. I went to classes plenty in this lifetime. And there's nothing I can't study on my own. But thank you for your concern. I apologize for being rude, but I'd like to have some coffee, so I will be going…"

She cut me off with a hand cupping her chin.

"Does coffee help your insomnia?"

"Like a charm."

I forced the corners of my lips up and then let them go down as soon as I passed her by.

The store had more people than it usually did. But I somehow got the last bottle of black coffee and made it to the line before a few more people joined it.

"Cash or credit?" The cashier asked.

"Card."

I took it out and swiped it. Took a few steps towards the door only to hear her saying: "Insufficient funds."

I sighed and tried again. And again. Until I heard some grunts from the forming line.

"Do you have any other card you can try?"

"No."

"Cash?"

"No. Keep the coffee."

I tried to call the bank, but I hadn't paid the phone bill either. Hence, all I got was a prerecorded message.

Jungkook and V were in front of their building when I got there. V was texting so Jungkook was the only one answering me.

"What are you two doing?"

"Going to class." He replied in a matter-of-fact tone even though he's been skipping classes regularly.

"By standing here?" I asked with an arched eyebrow.

"We're waiting for Malek." V let me know.

"Aa, of course."

"You're heading to class too?" Jungkook asked. And I nodded.

"How's your arm?"

"It's good. But can you bandage it again later? I tried to this morning and I couldn't get it as tight and V's almost cut my hand with the scissors."

"It didn't!" V argued.

"I said, almost."

"Yeah, about yesterday. Sorry for walking out on you, but I had something to do."

"That's why you look so tired?" Jungkook eyed me from up close and I almost shriveled from the intense gaze. "Didn't you sleep?"

"Not much."

"You don't sleep much when you're not with me…" V side-hugged me. I pushed his hands away immediately. But he put them right back. "Admit it. You can't sleep without me anymore."

"I hate you." I mumbled.

"Aww, I love you too."

"What's up with him?" I questioned an unfazed Jungkook.

"He took a pill." He casually replied with a frown.

"Before class? Is he retarded?"

"The right amount."

My phone started ringing when V full-on smothered me.

And when he tried to kiss my cheek, I lost it.

"I swear to god, V! Fucking... V!"

"Hug me back, you mean, mean Monster!"

"Let me answer the damn phone!"

He pouted and ran over to an unsuspecting Jungkook. Who got completely covered by a face hug.

"Jungkook, he doesn't know to express his feelings!" V complained.

"He expresses…his displeasure just fine though."

I raised an eyebrow at that. Jungkook smiled sneakily. I reciprocated and slapped the phone to my ear without bothering to check the caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Good morning."

I walked away at once.

"Fred? What do you want?"

"Indisposed so early in the morning. Aren't we?"

Rubbed my eyes and then looked up at the sky. Wondering if I should start praying now or later.

"Sorry. Had a tough night."

"Partied too hard?"

"Something like that."

"Listen…I need you to…come over for a bit."

"I got class in half an hour."

"Can't you take a leave of absence? Tell them your pa is sick or something?"

"Do you have any documents that'll prove you're my adoptive pa?"

"No."

"Then no." I deadpanned.

And the voice coming out of the phone dropped a few decibels when he repeated, way darker:

"Kid. I need you to come here for a bit."

"Why?"

"I can't exactly tell you why now…"

I looked around and then confessed to my own problem:

"My card doesn't work."

"…why are you telling me that?"

"Do you have anything to do with it?"

A long sigh and an angry reply had me distancing the phone from the ear: "You used up all your money, you irresponsible punk! WHAT THE HELL DID I TELL YOU ABOUT NOT SPENDING LIKE AN IDIOT UNLESS YOU HAVE A PAYCHECK COMING?!"

I pondered about it while he kept shouting about how he's taught me to handle money from the first illegal paycheck.

'Who would've thought that keeping my Grandma alive through mountains of pills, paying a daily nurse for years on top of the house bills would be like a big hole that kept taking my money as soon as I've made them? Then there was Jungkook's weed, my food, and all that I ever needed until this day has finally caught up to me right now of all times. Not saying I could've spent less on drugs and ...as...I've fucked up. Haven't I?'

I mentally defended myself, but the person wasn't interested to hear any logical reasons. And when there was the slightest pause in his rant, I got to sneak in the conclusion that I've obtained after explaining myself in my own head:

"Fine! Fine! I'll get a job…geez. I was just asking. Don't get your panties in a bunch."

"Or…you can do me a favor. I pay like a good man," The grin was audible and was transmitted right through the phone.

"Na-Ah. I'm not working for you anymore."

"Kid, just give me a hand here. I'm dying."

A tap to the shoulder had me startled enough that I must've twisted something when I rotated. Jungkook was more amazed by my fast movement than I was.

'He touched me? Instead of calling my name for once? Did I wake up in a parallel universe? But I didn't sleep at all..."

"We have to go to class. Are you coming?"

"Is that Jungkook?"

I covered the phone and replied with a low voice:

"Go without me."

"See you later then."

"Later."

I waved to a sleepy Malek that was getting dragged by an energetic V. All behind a skinny black hoodie-wearing, wavy, long-haired Jungkook. The blue sky and the white clouds behind him made it look like a picture. A picture I took with my mind and that I hoped I will never forget. If only he wasn't going further away from me with every step.

"Namjoon! NAMJOON?!"

I looked down at the phone and put it back against the ear. Feeling the exhaustion catching up to me the more I stared at Jungkook.

"Yeah, Fred. What do you want?"

"Come here. Now!"

"Fine! But you're paying my weight in gold."

"You're still going to have to get a job at some point, kid."

"That too. But you're sponsoring my chicken addiction for the next two months."

"Deal."

"But what exactly kind of favor is it?"

"A paid one, apparently."

I smiled, irritated.

"You want me to travel back hours upon hours without any idea as to why? Even for you, that's a bit shady."

"You …need to clean up a bit…"

"No! I'm not cleaning shit!" I was spitting the words out and the students that were getting bothered by the sunlight still sent a mean look my way.

"Listen! It's not what you think."

"Really? You can't clean your own house now? Like dusting and shit? For real? Is that it?"

"Listen… it's …Mona."

I sighed. Doing a whole pirouette out of frustration.

"What about her?"

"I need you to clean up her house."

"What's in her…house?"

"…hospital stuff…"

'Hosp…syringes?'

I scratched the back of my head out of newfound frustration.

"And how did that happen? Hmmm?!"

"I have not one darn clue. And that's why I need you!"

"Send someone else," I spoke curtly, distantly, "I'm not going to threaten Mona. Besides, that woman fears nothing."

"Who? Who can I send without putting her in future danger?! Tell me one goddamn name and I will call that motherfucker myself!"

"You. You do it!"

"I can't do it!"

"Why not?!"

"Because she won't listen to me!"

"And do you think she'll listen to me?!"

"She knows I can't hurt her, Namjoon…. But if your acting skills are good enough…."

"You're fucking shitting me right now?! You want me to travel to the other side of the country to scare your sister into fucking submission?!"

"If you'd be ever so kind…" The British accent revolted me.

"NO!"

"THEN WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!"

I shut my eyes and squatted down, rubbing my forehead.

'But then again, this comes with emotional debt as well. In case he ever wants to use Jungkook as leverage…'

I thought about it. Thought about it again. Looked at the building where Jungkook disappeared into, and then at the phone. The phone that was dead silent.

"Fine." I mumbled.

"Fine?"

"Fine."

"Swell. When are you coming?"

"After I steal some money for the five busses that I'll have to take." I tried to sound ironic in case someone from the FBI ever listened to the recording of this phone call, but Fred knew I meant it.

"No need. I've already sent someone over to get you."

I hung my head between my legs and exhaled, fingers gripping the phone tightly a few centimeters away from my head.

'You didn't think I'd say no for a second. Didn't you?' I thought with newfound pity for myself.

"She'll be there in about one hour. I think?"

"She?" I grunted, lazily.

"Roxy."

My eyes snapped open as I slapped my face from the force I used to glue the phone to my ear and then watched it fall to the ground.

I picked it up in a haze. And shouted as soon as it was by my lips:

"Why the hell did you send her?!"

"You don't like her? She said you're close…"

"Close my ass." I ironically stated, slapping my forehead.

"That bad?"

"I'll manage... But she's a bit..." I was biting on my thumbnail, saying, "into me or something."

"That's …quite obvious. But I'm quite amazed you are aware of it."

"You fucking knew?!"

"Not in so many words. But it's not like she's ever claimed she's close to anyone before…ever…Hence, naturally, anyone with more than two brain cells would've suspected that she…" Using his British accent, went on," fancies you."

I sat my ass down on the ground, not caring who saw. And rocked back and forth like I had gained a mental illness in a span of two minutes because of one cursed phone call.

"Firstly, stop watching British cooking shows! Secondly, why in the world did you tell her to come get me if you knew?!" I whined like an actual child, "Do you know how long the road back to you is? DO YOU?! IT'S HOURS! HOURS!" And screamed like a possessed one.

"Kid, she has to drive you to Mona's new address. And I don't trust her as much as I trust you, but since she likes you…"

"She wouldn't sell Mona's address to deter me away from her?"

"Bingo."

Through clenched teeth, I finally lowed my voice and started whispering, but not because of the students that were pointing at me.

"...........................you're one piece of motherfuck…"

"I got someone else calling me on the other line, kid. Go wait at the front. At the entrance? Or whatever it is. She'll be there soon."

"I want to do so many things to you right now…"

"See you soon, kid."

And he hanged up. And I hung my head so low that my spine was hurting

'Fuck. Shit. Fuck. Shit. Fuck. Shit. Fuck!'

I crawled up and headed towards the vine-covered entrance and then suddenly turned on my heel towards V's and Jungkook's dorm room. Looked under the matt and found the little key that I've used to open the door. But it was only after I went in and searched through every single drawer, inside every box, and under both mattresses until the memory of the inside pocket popped up.

Thankfully, it wasn't the jacket he was wearing minutes ago. And the one he had on when I caught him bleeding was hung on a hanger like it was waiting for me.

"Magic-fucking-shop." I took two pills and a bit of weed before sealing everything back up. Dawned one pill with water and rolled one out. I didn't get to smoke it since my phone started ringing.

'One for the road then.'

"Namjoon?"

"Hm?"

"I'm in front of your school. Or vine opening…fence… What's this called?"

"Good to know."

"…where are you?"

"On my way."

"I'll be waiting."

I hung up before the last letter left her mouth.

Burrowed the biggest jacket Jungkook owned since it had the deepest pockets and it somehow, fit.

'No wonder he never wears it. He probably bought it too big and didn't return it.'

Hid a beer, the joint, and the pill inside it to keep me awake. Stuck a post it on the inside pocket that read: Put it on my tab.

I didn't have it in me to tell him goodbye in case this was a trap and I was about to get killed by Fred's enemies or Fred himself.

It was the hope that I'd make it back that let me write that and nothing more.

I threw my jacket on his bed, since the pessimistic part of me wanted him to have something that I wore to remember me by in case I did in fact, die.

And then, after one quick glance at his bed, I slammed the door on my way out.