Wednesday the 7th, Nov 2018.

Wednesdays were crisp, and fast moving; having classes begin later in the morning- at 11am, and end earlier at noon- by 3pm; so the remaining hours of the day waited freely for assignation; heading happenings that were completely based upon choice, spontaneity, or compulsion.

Lunch was one of those. Gaming at a friend's place was the other. But they always followed each other respectively on Wednesdays, that they were almost becoming routine. Nevertheless, they were those kinds of routined events that felt of choice; where one may, or may not participate in order; and that gave way to a feeling of freewill.

So there sat the Kim friends in the first "routine" as mentioned, after classes for the day, in their custom restaurant, refuelling for a long night of the second "routine" ahead.

Game night with Hoseok had been a thing since the year before; after their second year in college had begun; where it was just him and Taehyung, because Namjoon and Seokjin possessed little gaming inclination. Sometimes a few friends from Hoseok's side joined, but that was once in a blue moon.

Namjoon had joined later in the week before, because Yoongi's skills were worth bragging about, and Jin was going to give it a try for the first time, because why not spend the evening too with the same friends the earlier part of the day was exhausted with?

Yoongi was coming too, again, and from what he displayed through the consoles last week, Namjoon's boasts weren't empty; he was indeed a pro; and they were all looking forward to what more he had under his belt.

And so they sat in that restaurant, waiting for the latter mentioned as they munched on savoury fast-food, knowing he didn't end for the day till 6'oclock on Wednesdays.

Yoongi appeared soon after 6pm and walked through the door, sweat pants enveloping his legs and a beanie on his head, his eyes searching for his friend's table.

But he wasn't alone, for a blond man his height strolled in with him, also in sweat pants, and a black turtle neck underneath a white sweat shirt, eyebrows set evenly straight over dark calm eyes.

Joon got up with his hands raised and ready to be waved, but stopped when he saw the other man, and his mouth slung open.

Yoongi and the other boy were at the table in no time, and he had to bring another chair for his friend because there wasn't any set up in preparation for him.

Namjoon remained in a daze even as he sat, and Taehyung stared at his lips, waiting for them to move and spill the reason behind his shock.

Jin stared at the new guy in subtle curiosity.

'Hey', Yoongi began when he was sat, raising up a hand in greeting. 'This is my friend-'

'You brought Jimin for what?' Namjoon groused, his hands stretched out at the new guy, eyes hot on Yoongi.

'Ah... So this is Jimin,' mused Taehyung, his eyes widening in realisation, head bopping in understanding.

Jin looked from Jimin to Namjoon, and in knowledge, nodded too.

Yoongi shrugged and picked a fry from Joon's packet, ignoring the glare on him that grew even hotter. 'There you have it. You all know him now. Less spittle wastage for me.'

Namjoon snatched the fry from Yoongi's fingers.

Yoongi groaned and sunk into his chair.

Taehyung and Jin turned to the Jimin guy expectantly, and he sighed before bringing a hand to himself. He had this blasé yet approachable expression; like he would rather be somewhere else, but he had consented willingly to being there either way.

'Hello, I'm Park Jimin. I'm twenty-two years old, and I study Computer Engineering-'

'You mean hack art, if anything', Namjoon cut in, his lips set as though he were about to spit on the blond's face.

Jimin looked at him, the faintest smile dragging the left corner of his lips. 'More or less, yes. You could say that. I really enjoy doing it, and it's what I want to do when I get out too. Work for a company as its security system, or something like that.' His smile on Namjoon grew. 'Anything that can legally let me go through people's privacy'. Then he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. 'I'm Yoongi's senior.'

Yoongi rolled his eyes.

Taehyung hesitated, but then he stretched an arm to meet Jimin's, and the other took it, well willed. 'I'm Kim Taehyung. Twenty-one year old Film major. Music minor. I like chocolate.' He unclasped his hand from Jimin's and began to lean back, but jerked forward again and his lips slit open in a wide mouthed grin. 'Oh you're Hoseok's age. He's a senior like you.'

Jimin cocktailed the tiniest smile with a small nod.

Jin perked up from his chair and waved. 'Hello, I'm-'

'Blah blah blah, none of your business.'

The rest looked at Namjoon.

Namjoon shrugged. 'At least there's one of my friends you won't know enough to dig info about.'

Yoongi's eyes narrowed until they were merely slits.

Jimin raised an eyebrow.

Jin looked relieved for some reason, rather than offended.

Taehyung took his phone out his pocket, and with a quick on and off action, he slipped it back in.

'Alright it's 6:44 now. Hoseok must be waiting.'

Namjoon got up first and began to pack his things, and Jin did the same. Taehyung sucked quick on a straw to drain the remaining contents of his shake before getting up too, and the last two followed afterwards.

Soon they were out the restaurant and unto the streets, the chilly air of the night immediately throwing its arms out and wrapping them in a tight hug.

It was a simple pre late night feel, where the gentle blue and grey colours drew around the atmosphere as would with a computer's air brush tool. The lights from stores and streets were beginning to come on, and even though would be unnecessary to aiding sight for the next few minutes, did more adding to the evening view than less.

Buses and cars whisked by them from where they stood, and the lights from them flashed about in a chaotic blur.

Yoongi sighed, and a cloud of smoke flew out his nose as would from a cup housing hot beverage. He sniffed.

Namjoon eyed him. 'You still got that cold?'

Yoongi's eyes flailed about Joon's face, as though he were confused. He shook his head. 'No, it's all gone now. Sanha and I visited the hospital, and we took some medicine...' He shook his head again. 'I have no idea why I sniffed. That was involuntary'.

Namjoon approvingly pat the blond on the back.

Yoongi shrugged, then looked over at Taehyung. 'Are we walking all the way?'

'Yes', replied the raven haired, and nodded. 'We're kinda a whole group, so it'd be nice if we just walked rather than take the bus.'

Yoongi slipped his hands into his pockets and sighed. 'I'm cold.'

Joon raised his hand and brought his knuckles down on Yoongi's head.

Jimin snickered.

Jin walked silently, gaze sliding from one boy to the other. He watched Jimin. He noticed how his steps were brisk, in contrast to Yoongi's gliding, and through the fabric of his sweatpants how his fingers curled and uncurled in his pockets—

'So what's your name?' Jimin asked, and Jin's eyes flew up to meet his. His lips stretched into a kid-like smile before making a small head jut at Namjoon.

'He'd rather not have me tell you, sorry. Joon can be rather scary.'

Namjoon swiped a glare at Jimin. Jimin scoffed.

'I know this is low, but I could hack your phone. Again.'

Namjoon threw his hands up and swivelled around, glancing at no one in particular. 'You see! That's why I don't like him! He can hack! He's dangerous!'

Taehyung let out a loud guffaw. 'Don't make me start about you, Namjoon.'

'You could, if you're in the mood for something dark tonight', retorted the brunet, eyes steadily spewing threats his friend seemed to be well versed in deciphering.

Taehyung recoiled and slipped his hands into his pockets.

Jin turned to Jimin, and Jimin returned the gaze with a slight angling of his lips.

'I see what you mean', he said, and fully smiled. Jin smiled back.

Yoongi yawned, and his breath left another cloud puff.

The sky was starting to get dark, and the lights on the street were becoming useful. Vehicles began to double in number as they zoomed past the pedestrian walk, and the lights from them lit up the road in a pretty array of haphazard orange.

'How did you and Namjoon meet again?' asked Jin, looking at Yoongi as he fisted the rim of his pullover in his palms. His undershirt made a short cameo over the top of it.

Joon spun Jin a look. 'You don't remember?'

Jin shrugged.

'How come you don't remember?'

Jin shrugged again. 'You're not that important.'

Namjoon's eyebrows disappeared behind his bangs.

Jin's mouth spread open in a gentle, mocking smile. 'Just pulling your legs'. He brought his right hand up to scratch his head. 'I just can't remember'.

Namjoon was confused, but decided to shut up anyway.

'We met at a Lee Jieun concert', Yoongi began, and slipped his hands into his pockets. Jimin watched him as he spoke. 'Our seats were right beside each other, and we clicked so much that we got dinner together after.'

Namjoon nodded, his mouth splitting into a dimpled grin. 'And he showed me some of the many nature photos he shot.'

'He's a Manchester City fan', Yoongi continued.

'Hotel, trivago', Namjoon finished.

Taehyung palmed his forehead.

Joon slid his tongue out and crossed his eyes.

Jin's gaze danced from face to face.
'And how did you meet Jimin?'

Jimin's eyes met Jin's, then turned upward at the sky. The tiniest sparks lit his eyes, before they formed hearty crescents.

'Lee Jieun guerrilla date'.

Namjoon's eyes grew as big as the backlights of the cars that were zooming on the road.

'No way'.

'Yes way,' nodded Yoongi, his lips twitching into a small smile.

Taehyung cupped his face in his hands, his breath puffing from his crinkled nose.

Jin chuckled dryly.

'Lee Jieun had a guerrilla? And I missed it?' Joon breathed, his eyes drawing from off Yoongi's and focusing unto the gravel below them. His fingers flew up and sank themselves betwixt his roots.

Yoongi smiled, pulling his beanie closer to his forehead. 'It was so close to our school. And I couldn't think of you with her right there in front of me.'

Namjoon's gaze shifted to another patch of ground as he plucked his fingers from off his hair, his head nodding slowly in understanding. Then he turned to Jimin. 'You like Lee Jieun too?'

'Have, since the beginning', Jimin nodded, eyes warm.

Namjoon's mouth stayed open for a second or so as he stared at Jimin's calm face, before it fell shut.

Then it flew open again.

'What does he have that made you both click?'

Yoongi smiled. 'He skips through peoples' info times better than you would ten packs of spicy cheetos'. He sniffed, shoving his hands even deeper into his pockets. 'Better to be on the side of the powerful.'

Jimin blew a laugh.

Namjoon raised an eyebrow.

'And he plays the violin', finished Yoongi.

Jimin smiled till his irises disappeared.

Namjoon's mouth flew open, and he stared at Jimin, whose left hand raced the wind to his neck. 'You play the violin?'

Jimin kicked at the gravel. 'Have, since I was six.'

Namjoon spluttered like a fish for a second or two, before putting his mouth to rest in a shut.

Taehyung peeked through the windows of the shops alive to their left.

Jin pulled at the lint in his coat pockets as he trod, gaze buried in the tarred road.

The night was rolling in, inviting the stars and the moon for company. The path was beginning to tip up into a hill, and the block windows of residential homes stood at a welcoming distance.

'How much longer?' Jin asked Taehyung, his eyebrows wringing in question.

'His block follows this one'.

A few fifteen steps or so they were right outside Hoseok's apartment building, and more steps and an elevator ride after, Hoseok's door was waving a greeting right at their faces.

Taehyung rang the doorbell.

There was no response.

Confusion danced from face to face.

'Ring it again?' advised Namjoon, stepping closer.

Taehyung did, and silence met them once more through the thick oak.

Jin watched Jimin shift from one foot to the other. Yoongi puffed a cloud of air from his nose in another huge sigh of the evening.

Namjoon was not convinced. 'Call him? Maybe he's asleep'.

Taehyung scrunched his eyebrows disagreeably at "asleep", but he pulled his phone from out the pocket of his jeans either way.

Hoseok didn't pick up.

Jin drew closer to the Kims at the door and tried to peer at Tae's phone.

'What now?' sighed Yoongi, his fingers beginning to buzz with impatience. Jimin wore serene as contacts.

Taehyung dialled the number again, but with the same result of emptiness from the other end. He turned to face the others, a blend of embarrassment and disappointment swimming in his eyes.

'I guess today's a no show', he began, and the group split into grunts and sighs. 'He's not in, and he's not picking calls either'.

Namjoon sent him a knowing look. 'I hope he's not drinking again'.

Taehyung shook his head, his jaw unconsciously clenching. 'That wouldn't be nice', he mused, his eyes losing themselves to the anxiety in them. 'I really hope that's not the case'.

Joon nodded, and sent the stroking fingers of his right hand to his jaw.

Jin looked from boy to boy, marking their expressions.

'Alright', Jimin began, voice low but resolved, 'guess this is the universe telling me to get homework done tonight'. Namjoon raised a brow at him, but he spared him no glance. He turned to Yoongi. 'Maybe some other time... call me?' And he swivelled slowly on his heels and began walking down the hallway.

Yoongi turned to follow him a semibreve count after, leaving the rest nothing but a goodbye through a small wave and a sad pout.

'Wait', called Namjoon, causing Yoongi to halt and give him a questioning look. Jimin didn't hear, for he was much too far down the hallway. He disappeared behind a wall that led to the elevator.

'We'll come. We've got to get back too.'

Jin nodded.

Taehyung glanced at his phone again, before putting it back into his pocket. He sighed a soft one.

'I guess we'll see him next week.'

'Let's go,' Namjoon pushed, and pulled him away with a hand pressed on his back.

Jin sent a glance back at Hoseok's apartment.

The four created distance from Hoseok's door, going down the hallway until they disappeared behind the same wall Jimin had gone past.

But from within the walls of a compact bedroom with the lights out, was one Hoseok sat criss-cross on the bed, his phone gripped in one hand and his teeth chewing the nails of the other. His eyes ran over Taehyung's name in the call register over and over, face bathed in the eerie glow from the small device.

The room was barred from the cold the outside environment was shrouded in, thanks to the appliance that warmed the room, but it did not stop the shivers from caressing his back in relentless fashion. Not withstanding, the cold he felt did nothing to prevent the sweat that sat on his forehead, kissing the tips of his front brown curls.

Hoseok had heard the doorbell. He'd heard the voices. His phone had received Taehyung's calls smack in the palm of his right hand.

Instead he had remained; static, unmoving, frozen.

Willing, but unable.

He set the phone on the bedside table and turned to the other side, laying down and bringing a yellow blanket with dark wired flowers to rest over his body and past his head.

He closed his eyes, but he didn't sleep.

He couldn't sleep, not until his own sweat had covered him all over and put him out.

Blue devils danced atop the trunk- the trunk that kept appearing in his subconscious.