"Just friends don't do we do."

~A.M

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Heavens of eons-old glare down at its subjects in ashen resentment, showing their discontentment through the swaying palm trees littered about the property. As the dragon sits on a throne of mist, its under belly swells and stews in white-hot lightning that crackles to the touch.

The storm is very close now. I can feel it in my bones, smell it in the air. Yet here I am watching you, just asking for Zeus to strike me down.

You forewent the dress for a strappy, black bikini that lets everyone know how well-endowed you are. Milky breasts are trapped in criss-cross strips of fabric that beg anyone passing by to gawk for more than a second, and you don't necessarily dislike the attention.

You're used to male and female gazes alike, but there's something different in your eyes when your gaze slips down to my chest and abs. I'm glad the darkness hides the puckered scars.

You've been going easy on the alcohol ever since you entered the pool, and the intense red is slowly beginning to fade from your cheeks. You don't have a glassy-eyed stare like Lily does, and your regular, bright-eyed clarity has returned.

On the flip side, my 3rd shot of the night goes down my throat like fire. Blending in is just as important as keeping an eye on you, after all, and I strategically placed them throughout the hours so I would only feel the happy buzz that comes with the good side of alcohol, and not the heavy-hitting drunkenness that feels like a 15-ton truck slamming into my body. A part of me is relieved that Yoongi already left so I don't have to keep Jimin from his clutches on top of worrying about you. 

I scored the big kid's table, lounging in the corner of the vast, cerulean pool with you as well as the host himself, Jungkook, and Lily. Others stare longingly at us, but I choose to ignore them as I talk the night away, almost fooling myself into believing I'm normal. I realize I've infiltrated the same type of people I loathed in high school—Hoseok the Queen Bee along with you by his side, Lily your lackey, Jungkook the trophy boyfriend—and I realize that I like it.

After about half an hour, a lull in the conversation opens up room for Lily to get everyone's attention.

"Wanna play Never Have I Ever?" she asks, looking around the group deviously. You and Hoseok perk up, while Jungkook crinkles his nose.

"That's for kids, though. We should play something more... grown-up, don't you think?" he asks.

"It's tradition! We can't break tradition now, especially at my 20th house party. And, besides, it'll be fun for the newbie! Maybe we'll learn something about him," Hoseok replies, looking at me, and I try my best to smile back.

The day they learn something substantial about me is a day they don't want to stick around for.

"Alright, fine. Who's going first?"

"Guess I'll go," Hoseok says with a shrug, then smiles wickedly at Jungkook.

Uh oh.

"Never have I ever taken a shit in my mom's rose garden after my 5th vodka shot during graduation night." He stops to think a little more. "And then blamed it on the dog you didn't have." Everyone roars with laughter as they realize who it is, and even I can't help but laugh among them as Jungkook's face turns tomato-red.

"Starting hot, huh?" Lily snickers.

Ignoring her, Jungkook yells, "Oh, fuck you! That was, like, one time!"

Hoseok wags his finger. "One time too many, Kookie. My maid had to clean up after you. Or, I guess, Fido."

"And you waited to spring this on the group tonight," the raven-haired boy huffs, motioning to me, "when there's a guest here?"

"Hey, I'm staying out of this!" I say with a laugh.

You elbow him in the ribs and giggle, "Sounds like you really wanna blow him later from how badly you're trying impress him!"

"Shut up! Okay, you know what? It's my turn."

"Go ahead, big guy," Hoseok says.

"Never have I ever had a gang bang with 3 guys while my parents were gone," Jungkook says smugly. Everyone crinkles their nose and puts their finger down, then gawks at the host.

"Fine, I deserved that," he says reluctantly as he also puts down a finger, then looks toward me with his eyebrow cocked. "Hm. Finger still up, huh?"

"Did you expect something different?" I ask, incredulous. Unfortunately for him, gang bangs aren't really my scene.

He smirks, then looks me up and down slowly, lingering in the places that give me slight pause.

"Would it be bad if I said yes?"

I feel myself redden, but I'm not even close to thinking up a suitable answer when Lily asks, "Hey, did anyone else feel that?"

You look up at the sky, and your eyes darken at the clouds brewing over us. I feel a drop on my nose, then my hand. It's not long before a light shower comes to grace the world below, coating everyone in a haze of diluted silver. It hangs like death over the crowd.

"You better tell everyone to get out, Hobi," you say disappointedly.

"Ugh, damn it!" Hoseok clambers out, snatches his damp towel, and heads toward a storage container next to the door. After rummaging through it for a bit, he takes out a megaphone—how random yet appropriate—and switches it on.

"Everyone!" he shouts, cutting the conversations around the property short. Everyone's attention gravitates toward him like bees to a hive. "I didn't wanna do this, but my ass ain't about to be sued because one of y'all gets hit by lightning! Pool's off-limits until further notice!"

There's grumbling and the occasional booing, but the guests eventually get out of the pool as rain starts to pour around us. You, Lily and Jungkook make it inside just in time before a sizeable crowd begins to form at the door, all wanting to get dry.

It reminds me of a video Seokjin showed me once. I couldn't tell you where he got it, but it depicted a group of people trapped in a burning building with no way to get out, inhaling the smoke as they screamed for help, for a mercy that would never be provided. I saw them die in front of me, and Seokjin didn't shut it off until the last one collapsed.

I shake my head to clear the thought away. No need to think about my brother right now.

Hoseok and I go in together, and I see that you're drying yourself off by a column right next to the doorway.

And much too close to you is Jungkook, watching with piqued interest.

Even after all I've done to get closer to you, this is how you repay me. I can only take so much before the cracks begin to show, and through them, you might see something you never wanted for yourself.

But maybe not. Maybe you'll fall for the same trick again.

As the last of the crowd pushes past us, I grab Hoseok's arm and spin him around. His eyes widen at my sudden boldness, but I don't let it hinder me.

"Maybe we should have your idea of fun," I say.

"Fun... Like what?" he retorts, mouth slightly downturned, but the hopeful gleam in his eye is unmistakable.

I step closer, smirking.

"I think you know." His lips part, and he looks around, making sure no one's witnessing our hushed crime of night, but I know that just beyond the pillar that obscures his vision, you're lying in wait. You're listening, watching.

And that's just what I'm counting on.

Without another second of hesitation, his lips latch onto mine, hands plastered on my chest, and I taste the chlorine on him as I put my hand against the wall to trap his body between mine. He doesn't have the raw passion that you have behind his actions. It's more refined, mellowed and drawn-out, as if he has the luxury to savor every second. He lives solely for the moment, and it's easy to fall into his comforting embrace as he licks my bottom lip, asking for permission to let him in.

I open my eyes, then look beyond the column to see you staring at me, lips parted and cheeks flaming as you clutch at your towel with white knuckles. Your breaths come out in short little gasps. When you notice me looking back, you try to glance away, but I have you pinned right where I want you.

Anything could happen in this hallway with no one watching, yet here you are, unable to tear your eyes away from us. Is it jealousy or something more?

I deepen the kiss by pushing myself against Hoseok's bare chest with artificial fervor, and he's only too glad to relinquish control, letting out a stifled gasp when I buck my hips toward him. His hair is soft to the touch, but nothing like yours. Yours has a special scent that can't be replicated, something that makes me feel like I've run a marathon without even saying a word.

After some time, Hoseok breaks the kiss.

"Bi guys always know how to really please," he says, then giggles, "I think I need a drink. You coming?"

I'm about to reply when you break your silence. "Hey, I think I'm gonna head out!" Hoseok whirls around to see you for the first time, though the humiliation I expect on his face is nowhere to be found; he's more brazen than most.

"So soon, Nana? Why don't you stay a little longer?" he whines, but you're already folding the towel to throw on the counter.

"No. I'm done. Drink some water, Hobi," you advise. Your bitter gaze hardens as you look me up and down, then, without a second of hesitance, you turn on your heels and head toward what I can only assume is the front door.

I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. My plan didn't account for this type of backlash. I thought that you'd come back to me just like you did before, and certainly not opt to leave the party entirely. In the rain, no less.

Already, your form is disappearing into the crowd, and I rake my hands through my hair in frustration. Hoseok is nowhere to be seen, probably at the bar already. I'm left completely alone. Again.

I fucked up, didn't I?

"Naomi, wait!" I yell, my legs springing into action. I take the same path you did while trying my best to ignore glares from tipsy party-goers. The lights I found so dizzily satisfying before are now direct barriers to you. Pink clashes with red, yellow dominates blue. I hold my head as my eyes scan the crowd frantically. Where the hell are you?

Then, I see a bikini-clad girl with pink hair slamming the front door shut, and I pick up the pace to catch up. There's nothing in the world that is more important than getting to you right now.

You are the reason I exist. My life ceases to have purpose without you in the picture.

I throw open the door to gawk at the only thing I can see in front of me; I never knew it could rain this much. A simple night shower turned into a battle full of bullets, and unforgiving rain chills me to the bone as soon as I step outside. No matter how much I want to distract myself from it, I can't. It's a blanket of shocking reality, shattered truth.

Shit.

"Naomi!" I yell, but the rain absorbs almost any sound I make. "Naomi!" I wait for any sign of a response, but I get nothing but the sound of pitter-patter against the driveway. I'm about to call again when you step into the clearing, an angel to deliver me.

"Do you need something, Taehyung?" you ask. There's no malice in your voice, simply exhaustion. Strands of pink hair cling to your face, eyes divulging the wear and tear of a party well had.

So many things I can say to you right now. Hoseok was just a means to an end to get to you. I've kept an eye on you night and day, and this was just one of the instances of proving myself to you. I eliminated problems for you that you never even knew you had.

I love you more than you can possibly imagine. I love you, I love you, I love you.

"You're getting wet," I finally manage to choke out. A look of disappointment flashes across your face, but you compose yourself quickly, that mask of weariness slipping across your features once more.

"An Uber should pick me up in 5 minutes or so," you say. "You should have fun inside. It's cold as hell out here." You turn, and it feels all too familiar. The dark, the cold, how the shivers come so naturally to me. I can't go through it again.

The basement. The cold that permeates through my skin and into the soul to leave traces of frostbite in its wake.

"Please, I–" I stop to push my hair back. "It didn't mean anything."

You hesitate, then shake your head as you look down. "I know. You don't have to justify yourself, Taehyung. I understand. Better than anyone."

"I know, but I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry." I come closer to caresses your cheek, and it's hot even through the pouring rain. You close your eyes and lean into it as your eyelashes catch droplets of iridescent water.

Wrapping my arms around you, I continue gently, "Why don't you cancel the Uber? I'll get a new one. For my place."

Your eyes flutter open, and you stare up at me before cracking a smile. Warm and inviting, like summer.

"Yeah. I think I'll do that."

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안녕 여러분! I hope everyone liked this
chapter... For everyone who was shipping Tae and Hobi, here you go lmaooo

also things are gonna get reallll hEaTeD next chapter
so... ya know... stay tuned.

QOTD: Not really a question but: Compliment the person above you!

I've done this on my message board before, and I really loved seeing everyone be so positive. I don't see that a lot on Wattpad these days, so spread the love!

Until next time, happy reading!

Love,
Haneul