The electrode pads rip off, and Jungkook's shoulder crashes against the floor. His head lolls to one side. Stunned silence and gasps make way for marching orders from Kristine. She directs two bodyguards to carry Jungkook. "To the nurse's office," she says. "Immediately."

I follow without thinking, Nabi and Jesstina on my tail. "Stay here, you two," I say. "I won't be long."

I think Jesstina wants to protest, but in the end they stay with Heart Seonsaengnim.

The elevator ride is mostly quiet as Jungkook struggles to remain on his feet, trying to breathe steadily. I place a hand on his shoulder, ready to catch him just in case—even though there are two strong men beside him.

"Did it really hurt that bad?" I ask, as we trudge our way through a lower floor.

"It hurt, but I don't know why I collapsed." He coughs as I make myself useful by opening the door to the nurse's office. The guards carry him in, setting them down on a chair in the lobby.

"You guys can leave," I tell them. "I can handle it from here."

They exchange a look of understanding, leaving me alone with Jungkook. Until the nurse rounds the corner, holding a clipboard. "Jungkook? Are you unwell?"

I let Jungkook drape an arm around my shoulder, as the nurse supports his other side. Together, we lead him into the exam room. Jungkook lets out a heavy sigh as he sits on the treatment chair, laying all the way back without being prompted.

"Let's test some of your vitals, but I think I know the issue here," the nurse says. She's a kindly lady, in her mid thirties, with spectacles round like a perfect circle. She almost drowns in her white coat, but she moves quickly enough for it not to be a problem.

"There's a recurring issue?" I say, fearing for the worst. Could Jungkook be struggling with some terminal illness that I'm unaware of?

Jungkook groans, leaning back against the headrest. He doesn't look particularly saddened by whatever illness I don't know about—more annoyed than anything.

"Dehydration," the nurse says. "Jungkook is known not to drink enough water."

I let out a sigh, relieved enough to take a seat on one of the medical stools. Just dehydration. Why did my heart pick up so much, racing like I was the one in the treatment chair?

"I drink enough every morning," Jungkook says, leaning so far back that his face is almost parallel to the ceiling.

"Energy drinks, right?" The nurse clicks her tongue. "Those can be dehydrating if you drink too much. Water is the best." She takes his vitals swiftly. Then, she writes something on her clipboard, heading toward the doorway. "I'm going to fetch you something hydrating. I'm heading to the storeroom, since we ran out from the last time you ended up here."

When she leaves, I close my eyes, trying hard to process the feelings rushing through me—the most intense worry, along with cool relief. I don't know why my heart felt like it was going to combust when Jungkook collapsed. It's not like I'm a stranger to ailments. Jesstina, Nabi, Yuna, and I have all fainted, or at least collapsed, because of the harsh training and schedules.

Maybe it's because of what Namjoon said to me—watching out for Jungkook. For all this time, I thought he wouldn't at all need any aid from me. But I'm the leader of the Fates, and that places him under my protection in some way....

"This must be stupid to you," Jungkook says, voice turning softer now that we're alone. The window next to the treatment chair lets in a healthy dose of sunlight, and the cityscape of Yongsan sprawls before us. Illuminated, Jungkook doesn't appear like a normal human being. His angelic quality makes it hard for me to respond normally.

But I try. "Why is it stupid? I mean, I guess it is when you've been here multiple times and still don't drink enough water."

He cracks a knuckle, sighing with enough force to probably move a small rock. "I'm sorry for making you worry."

I'm sorry for not looking out for you, when I told your leader that I would. But I don't say that out loud. I swallow, not knowing how to properly convey my emotions. With the girls, I let my emotions out with more ease—although it's hard to share everything, and I still keep some things to myself. Like my transformation on how I see Jungkook. I didn't share with the girls how he is becoming important to me, in not just a role model sense—but as a person I want to share life with. I want to invest in him, now seeing that he took a chance on me and my group. And the romantic angle of everything—that's something I don't even admit to myself, let alone process with someone else.

"It's my job to worry," I end up saying, after several beats of silence. I dig my fingers into the cushion of my stool, planting my feet down on the linoleum, like I'm a tree setting down my roots.

"Why didn't you accept me at first?" Jungkook asks, drawing me to the elephant in the dorm room.

"I...." I consider lying, but I've never been a good liar. And I think Jungkook deserves to know, although I won't recall everything. "It started back in high school, maybe middle school." And then I spill the main details, about the group of boys that made me feel like nothing, like I was so far below someone who deserved love. I tell Jungkook that I couldn't let those prejudices go when I was asked whether he should join the Fates.

"That makes sense," he ends up saying, staring at the calluses on his palms. "I'm sorry that happened to you."

A new sort of relief catapults into my chest. Jungkook knows now—at least a semblance of my past, not all of the details, but enough to understand why I couldn't let him into my circle immediately. He knows, and he doesn't judge me. In fact, it seems that he wants to understand more.

"When the time is right, I'll share more," I say, finding that my spine has straightened. "I also want to talk to you about my time in Chicago, besides how high school was. It was pretty uneventful, but I think you'd like my parents."

Jungkook's brow furrows, and it's like I can read his mind. Why didn't your parents do something about the bullies? In the end, the muscles of his brow relax. He says, "I would love to know more about you, Karma."

I hum, thinking about my next words very carefully. "Half of your life was in the spotlight," I say. "So it feels like I know a lot about you. At the same time, I know nothing because it's only been more than a month since you've been in my group."

Jungkook grins and taps the armrest of his chair with his left fist. "We have so much time, Karma. I'll answer any question you have, as long as you ask me nicely."

I smile back. As the nurse arrives with the drink, I lean back and allow myself to breathe normally. We're getting somewhere. I don't know if I'll be able to a hundred percent trust Jungkook, or allow myself to fall for him without pulling myself back with my metaphorical rope.

But knowing that he saw a fragment of my past and doesn't judge me for it, I can rest.

"Do you like surprises, Karma?" Jungkook asks, once he's had enough liquid and feels strong enough to stand up.

I cock a brow. "No. Why?"

Jungkook shrugs. "We're having our first group Live soon. It's always a surprise what comes from those, being that it's not scripted or anything."

"Right...." I thank the nurse and hold onto Jungkook's elbow in case he falls again. We make it back to the rooftop floor well enough, and Jesstina, Nabi, and Heart Seonsaengnim bellow with praise when we make our appearance.

"Are you okay, oppa?" Nabi says, drawing close. The period pain simulator is long gone.

"I hope you threw that thing out the window," I say, eyeing the directors to see if anyone is showing at least some remorse.

"I'm fine, just needed some water," Jungkook tells Nabi.

"Well, we're on schedule to start our first main activity." Heart Seonsaengnim clasps her hands, showing her pearly teeth. "Group karaoke!"

A bit of dread settles into my stomach. All in all, I'm more shy like Jungkook. The idea of singing badly and dancing around for a national audience gives me more nerves than a showcase does. Still, I want to prove myself wrong. Maybe I do like a bit of surprise.

A/N: We have Karma opening up to Jungkook a bit! It took Jungkook collapsing, but it happened. 

I like writing their bickering, but I figure they can't be doing that all the time. Do you have any predictions about what will happen during the Fates' first group Live?