"Walk me home? Why?"

"Why not?"

I gulp slowly, the realization of having my secret boyfriend revealed to a third person hitting me with a huge force of impact on the back of my head. 

"I...I don't know, actually. I-" 

He cuts me off. "Oh, don't worry. If you're not okay with it I'll just leave it here, then..." And he trails off, leaving his words hanging in the air, contributing to the already building tension in between us. 

I look down onto the ground, and get suddenly hit by an inspiration. 

"I'm coming with you." I breathe out, forcing a smile onto my lips. 

Yoongi P.O.V. 

"Yoongi hyung!" Jungkook pokes his head into the shop restroom.

"Hmmm...?" I barely look up from my checkbook. 

"I have noticed something."

"What have you noticed?" I look into his brown eyes.

"Y/N resembles her, doesn't she?" 

"Her who?" I ask, slightly irritated at all the suspense he has managed to build up. 

"Your ex, hyung." 

I turn my eyes away from the looking glass, cease setting my hair and face him. "Gguk, I don't want to talk about that-"

"Sorry, hyung, if this mention stirred up painful memories." His voice is laced with guilt, matching the expression on his face. His apology seems sincere. 

"It's okay." I begin splashing my face with handfuls of water from the sink. Then I turn to smile reassuringly at him, unfolding the creases of a paper towel. He smiles back.

I don't know why I gave him a smile of reassurance when I think I need consolation more than he needs it, at least now, that the forbidden chapter has come up. Now that the old wounds have been reopened, letting out lots and lots of blood. Dark, painful and unceasing. 

Car accident. 

A fucking car accident that took her life. 

Two tear droplets fall from the corners of my eyes. I loved you, honey, and I promise I won't break my new love's heart. Ever, in remembrance of the selfless love we shared. The pain of loss is forever too much to bear. 

Y/N P.O.V.

We walk past the flower shop together, my heart beating fast in my chest as I think about the consequences of not going to meet Yoongi today. 

He would be pissed, for one. Like, a lot.

Namjoon's voice cuts through the air, ripping straight through my thoughts. 

"You seem to be a believer in the philosophy of self-loath." 

Not judgmental, just a passing remark. Not meant to be cutting in nature, or sarcastic or offensive. Just an observation. My head gets muddled up as I think of a response. 

"What makes you say so?"

Pat comes the reply. "You seem always too low on confidence, and you almost never volunteer to solve a single problem on the blackboard, despite knowing the answer."

"Wow...I didn't know people notice a boring person like me." I am in genuine amazement. 

"You're not boring. Plus everyone notices you. Just because you think you go unnoticed doesn't mean that you go unnoticed. And you excel in your studies, don't you?"

"I suck at math. And look who's talking." I roll my eyes. It is a truth universally acknowledged that Namjoon is a genius. 

Namjoon smiles. A dimply one. "That might be true..."

"So humble." I snap.

His grin is wider than that of a Cheshire cat now. "That's me!"

We laugh. And I exhale with relief once we pass the flower shop. Thankfully Yoongi didn't see us together. 

"You didn't tell me." He goes again.

"What did I not tell you?" I look at him.

"Why you seem so muddled in the head lately-"

"Oh, that." I lick my lips nervously.

"Yes, that." He frowns, sensing I am hiding something from him.

"Nothing, it's just...I miss my parents." My voice cracks as I decide to go with the truth anyway.

Namjoon's lips press tightly together in a straight line. "I am so sorry..."

"No, it's okay. Most people don't know." I shrug, looking away to hide the tears that have formed at the corners of my orbs. A drop spills down my cheek. And just at that moment, he stops walking ahead. I had failed to notice he was all eyes for me.

"Y/N, please don't cry." In a surprise move, he wipes the tear off of my face as I stand there, feeling his calloused palms rub against my softer cheeks. I don't notice that I have held my breath until he removes his hand from my face. 

"I understand your loss. I don't have a mother either." He squeezes my hands after taking them in his.

"I am sorry...I shouldn't have said that."

"No, it's fine. I asked for it."

He lets go of my hand as we walk in silence for a while.