THE DATE WITH PENELOPE!

songs!
verbatim......... mother mother
new york state of mind......... billie joel
domodachi..... rm (ft. lil simz)

🖤🩶🤍❤️

"Fuck..."

Jungkook and Lola could only keep their secret for seven days. Not less, not more. It was out. They were exposed. They were killers, and their friends knew.

Eyes wide, throat in a knot, tongue tied. Jin gripped the door handle as he watched the two quiver. Behind him, the rest of their friends, just as clueless, just as scared, just as shocked. "You two... killed Charlie?"

"Jin hyung-"

Jungkook's words were cut off right there, by Jin stepping into the room, hands on either side of his tattooed friend's face. "Did. You. Kill. Charlie?"

The room filled with a plethora of gasps when Jungkook nodded. "It was an accident!" He pleaded while the others stood frozen. Disappointment clear in Jin's eyes, Jungkook couldn't even look into them for longer than a second. His gaze kept falling on Lola beside him. She stood frozen, just like the rest. Only, her eyes were filled with tears, and nothing else.

Over the threshold, Hoseok covered his gaping mouth. His breath hitched as he took steady steps towards the entrance door. "Murderers!" He yelled, fastening his pace. "Murderers!"

"Hobi hyung!" Jungkook barged through the room, smacking his hand over Hoseok's mouth, pulling him back while the others watched. Panic ensued. Taehyung ran for the door to lock it, and Jin helped Jungkook with calming Hoseok down. "Stop yellin'! Goddamn!"

His muffled yelps echoed in their dorm living room. "Let me go!" Hoseok groaned through the cracks in Jungkook's shoulder, but they weren't letting him go.

"Hobi!" Namjoon held him down on the couch by his shoulders, and Jin held his arms. "Shut the fuck up!"

"Gimmie something I can tie him with!" Jin told Jimin, who then ran into their room, quickly running back out with a collection of Jungkook's sweatpants. They used the legs to tie Hoseok's arms and legs.

Hoseok wasn't a snitch, but he was scared easily, and the boys were well aware of this. To prevent mistakes, they had to duck tape his mouth shut. Yoongi took on the job, struggling to layer two strips of tape across his face. "Stop moving!"

While Taehyung and the girls did their best to calm Hoseok down, Jin turned to Jungkook and Lola, "What about the others....?"

Jungkook's chest heaved with worry.

"The other ones..." Jin repeated. "The other girls, Anna Van Der Walsh, Cynthia-"

"We didn't kill them?!" Lola stepped in, brows knitted, she stood in front of Jungkook. "We didn't kill them! It was just Charlie, and it was an accident!"

Her bellow was followed with a deafening silence. The group watched in utter shock.

Eventually, with his hands crossed in front of his chest, "Tell me. All of it." Jin sighed.

❤️

Lola began to tell them all of it. From her brother, to Charlie, to the night of Halloween. All of it. She tried beating around the bush with her brother, but it made no sense to hide it any longer. "I watched him kill her with a hammer." She sat with her face buried in her palms. "Then I had to help him bury her.... but I couldn't live with it. I told my parents, and they told the police. My brother was locked up, and he told me he'd get his revenge. This is how he's doing it, I guess. By scaring me, and threatening us with the video of us killing Charlie..."

Their jaws hung open. Hoseok, sitting tied up with Jungkook's sweatpants, breathed heavily in and out of his nose. He was on the verge of fainting when he signaled Yoongi to peel the tape off his face. "You won't scream." Yoongi warned, to which he nodded.

A deep breath, "Jesus fucking christ!" Hoseok exclaimed, eyes locked on Lola. "Are you trying to tell us the killer's your brother?"

"Indirectly." Jungkook confirmed. "Basically, Carlos killed all them girls 'cause Dominick told him to, and that girl he was talkin' to on the phone helped."

"Penelope." Destiny and Giselle said in sync. They remembered Halloween. The phone call Carlos made with a girl named Penelope, and how they weren't sure if it was the Penelope Harrow, or just some girl named Penelope. "Fuck." Destiny sighed into her hands.

Jin listened intently, to everything. His leg thrown over the other, he was zoned out on the wall. "Why are they helping your brother?"

"Carlos and my brother go way back." Lola said. "They were best friends. I thought they weren't talking anymore, after... Y'know? But I guess they are. There must be something in it for Carlos, though. Maybe my brother offered him money..."

Jungkook sat himself next to Lola, throwing an arm around her back, lips pressed together. He spread his legs, and tapped his Dunks on the floor. "We tried following him around, to try 'n get evidence, but that bitch knew 'bout it. Filmed us with a camera on his truck."

"What about Charlie...?" Yoongi asked after a short minute of silence. "Why'd you... Why'd you kill him?"

Jungkook and Lola's eyes faltered. The sounds of traffic drowning out the racing beat of their hearts, they looked anywhere but at their friends. A sense of guilt took over, something that had been eating them alive for the past seven days. Jungkook cleared his throat, "Told y'all. It was an accident." he told them. "He was tryna ra-"

"He attacked me." Lola cut him off. Her insides burned, her stomach curdling at the thought of it. She didn't want to hear it, nor did she want anyone to know. The recollections were enough torture. "And- and then Jungkook came and he just- he hit him with a rock."

"I broke his skull." Jungkook nodded. His chest somehow puffed, a sudden influx of confidence to his tone, he confirmed. "Couldn't control myself. Smashed his ugly fuckin' face in with a rock."

"My man!" Taehyung raised his hand for a dap up, but quickly sat back down upon Jin's deadly glare at him.

He took a deep breath, chest growing with stress. Jin rubbed his face down with his palms, before brushing his fingers through his hair. "Jesus christ."

They say around for a long while, silence encompassing their dorm, apart from the car engines and honks coming through the ajar windows. What now? It was the question running through Jungkook and Lola's mind. They weren't sure. Not at all.

"Hyung?" Jungkook began, hesitance lacing his tone as he lifted his brows carefully. "Y'all not gon' tell nobody, right?"

From the moment his question was asked, to the moment they shook their heads softly, Jungkook died inside. So did Lola. It was relief that came after total disaster. The group hadn't given them any coherent answer. It was clear on their faces, they weren't sure either. Hoseok leaned back, arms tied to his sides, and blew raspberries. So did Yoongi and Jimin next to him.

It was Taehyung, who eventually broke the silence. "So... What we do now?"

"I need to hear this story again." Jin shook his head, mainly to shake off the confusion. There was something meddling with his mind. He thought back to Halloween. The Ghostbusters costume, the victim. It was a blurry mess in his brain, so Lola started over again.

❤️

"Our plan was to destroy my brother's sources. He's locked up, and without Carlos and that Penelope girl, he can't do anything." She explained lastly.

Nodding, "Well, we can't destroy the sources without knowing who they are, can we?" Jin questioned, rising to his feet. He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "First thing we need to do is find out if Penelope is the Penelope we know, or just some girl with the same name."

"How we do that?" Destiny asked.

Namjoon's scoff made everyone turn to him. "We just ask her."

"Fo' sho!" Taehyung clapped his hands together. "Let's just ask the bitch if she a killer or nah!" And followed it with a sarcastic laugh.

Though Lola could see it. The gears turning in Namjoon's head. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and jutted his chin at Jungkook. "Take her on a date."

"What?!" Lola rose out of her seat, brows pulled together. "Wait, why?"

Jungkook held her hand, caressing the inside of her palm with his thumb while Namjoon explained. "We all know Penny's down bad for JK. If they go on a date, he can get info outta her."

"He's right." Lola's protests were cut short with Jin's words. "Jungkook, you could interrogate her without her knowing."

The group agreed, except for one name...

Lola looked down at Jungkook, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. It was ridiculous. The thought of it made her want to kill. Lola hated just how easy it seemed now. To kill. She cleared her throat and sat back down. Beside her, Jungkook watched. He waited for some kind of signal. Waited for her to say something. "Thats-" she stuttered. "that's like- there has to be another way? Like we could-"

"Girl, stop bein' a fuckin' baby. It ain't the time to be jealous, we all here to help y'all." Namjoon snapped at once, and earned multiple glares.

One from Jungkook. "Hyung... Don't talk to her like that."

Namjoon rolled his eyes and leaned back. "Mane, it's always sum bullshit witchu. If y'all can come up with a better idea, go the fuck ahead."

He was right, and Jungkook was aware. He turned to look at Lola again. Eyes trailing down to her quivering lips. He leaned in, "Just one fake date." emphasizing his words, he whispered. "Then I'm all yours."

Nine pairs of eyes lingering on her. Waiting for her mouth to open. Lola groaned deeply. She had to put her feelings aside, if she wanted to fix this. "Fine."

Bringing his hands together, "Okay!" Jin nodded. He pointed at Jungkook, "You call Penelope, ask her out for tonight-" and then turned to Taehyung. "and you call a fancy restaurant to make a reservation for them."

Taehyung nodded and left the room to make a reservation, while Jungkook held his phone against his ear. Lola hated it. How fast he had called her. She hoped he'd at least need to unblock her first. "Yo." Jungkook said, waiting for her to speak on the other end.

"Jungkook?"

"Penn, you wanna go on a date with me?" He asked, eyes glancing at Lola to make sure she was fine.

"A date?!"

He hummed, clearing his throat. "I know this dope place, could go for dinner. Watchu think?"

"Oh my god of course! I'll be ready in ten!"

"Aight." Jungkook placed a hand on Lola's thigh, caressing, as he licked his lips, "See ya." and ended the call. "Done." He confirmed.

Soon after, Taehyung walked back in. "Aight. Got a table reserved." He jutted his chin at Jungkook. "Imma send you the location."

"Alright!" Jin nodded.

It was then, that Jimin stood up and started rummaging through Jungkook's closet, while Yoongi finally untied Hoseok. The blonde boy came back with a striped black suit, "Jungkookie, where're your ties?" he questioned from the room.

Jungkook gave Lola a kiss on the lips before disappearing into his room. "Ion got no ties, the fuck?"

They ran back and forth in the dorm, everyone getting Jungkook ready for the date with Penelope, while Lola sat alone on the couch. She chewed on the inside of her cheek, peeling the chapped skin on her lips.

Destiny and Giselle had their phones out, notes app on their screens, they tried coming up with questions Jungkook could ask Penelope. Just to make it easier for him to get information out of her.

Jungkook then came into the dorm living room. His black suit, fine stripes down the fabric, a simple white shirt under it, and matched with his leather dress shoes. "How I look?" He asked the rest.

They praised him for his small waist and broad shoulders, which put a smile on his face... until he gaze fell on Lola. A sense of guilt ran down his spine. "Lo?" He beamed. "Do I look sexy?"

Lola nodded, forcing a smile.

It was a mess in their dorm. Clothes thrown all over the floor. He walked through it and approached her on the couch, hands immediately finding her face. "Lo..." He whispered. "C'mon, this ain't a real date. I'm doin' this for us. I promise Imma do my best to find out if it's her, and then it's over. No dates again, yeah?"

Lola sighed and nodded. She held his tattooed hand, planting a kiss on his fingers, before leaning in to whisper: "Body language. It's almost more important than what she tells you. Look for anything suspicious, like her eyes faltering, or her acting nervous. Stuff like that."

Pearly whites on full display, he pulled her in for a kiss, humming. "I will. I love you." The emphasis on 'you' was important, and Jungkook knew this.

"I love you too." She whispered back.

From across the room, "Aight, JK you gotta listen good." Destiny snapped her fingers, grabbing his attention. "I feel like if you ask her 'bout the coffee shop, you could get some info outta her. So just be like: "You been at that coffee shop 'fore?" and then when she says yes, you can ask her 'bout Carlos."

"Yeah!" Giselle chimed, pulling her notes out as well. "You can ask her if she knows the owner. Or if she's ever seen him before. She'll totally give it away with her body language, trust me."

"What if she says she don't know Carlos, though?" Jungkook questioned, tilting his head a little to the side for Jimin, who came in with a tub of hair gel and a comb, to try and style his hair for the date.

"She probably will say that." Lola mumbled. "It's not like she's just gonna confess to being a killer."

Jungkook let out a chuckle, though Jimin didn't let him turn his head, hit him with the comb when he did. "You cute as fuck when you jealous." Jungkook said, eyes locked in whatever direction Jimin kept his head in.

"I'm not jealous." Lola scorned, smacking his shoulder.

Jin, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, watched everyone work together for their plan, and thought deeply about everything. It still hadn't sunk that Jungkook was a killer, though he couldn't be mad at the reason. He thought of telling his father. If there was one thing he learned from an early age, it was the fact that money fixed everything. Although, Jin didn't want to ask his dad for help again.

They could do this on their own...

Hopefully.

"Ready?" He questioned Jungkook, who fixed his suit in the mirror. "Jungkook, don't forget it. You need to learn if she's the Penelope Carlos was talking to on the phone."

Nodding, "I got it, hyung." Jungkook turned to him. He neared the door, but not before glancing at Lola one last time to blow an airy kiss. "I'm out."

The others contemplated following after, which Lola loved the idea of, though they decided against it. They were with too many, and Jin didn't want to ruin the plan. Thus, Lola's hopes were crushed once again. They sat down after Jungkook left, and the wait had started. All they could think of was the date now. Destiny and Giselle sat on either side of Lola, capturing her in a hug. "Lols, why didn't you tell us before?"

"How?" Lola shook her head. The rest of the boys listened to her, certain looks of pity. "I was scared. I couldn't just tell you we killed Charlie."

"Y'all are braver than me." Hoseok claimed. "Cause I would've probably died of fear if that happened."

"That's 'cause you's a pussy." Taehyung tapped him on the shoulder. "Me personally, I woulda tore his white ass up."

Jin rolled his eyes at his friends. Once again, no one was taking anything really seriously.

❤️

"I heard they do amazing Penne alla Vodka here." Penelope smiled devilishly. She had thrown her long black hair over one shoulder, tilted her head slightly, and ate him with her eyes. She had worn her sexiest dress, tight, like a second skin, and completely black. The cleavage dipped down, etched with lace, which matched the details on her stilettos. Penelope looked like the devil. Or at least Jungkook thought she did.

Nodding, "Mhm." Jungkook leaned back in his chair. The place reminded him of his and Lola's first date. It was a similar restaurant, walls brought to live with baroque paintings, carved with gold around the edges. A red carpet under their feet, silk decorating each table, and large diamond chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. When the waiter brought them their menus, Jungkook jutted his chin at her. "That watchu gon' get?"

"I think so." She hummed and leaned forward. Elbows on the table, and her chin on her fingers. "What're you gonna get?"

Jungkook shook his head, searching the menu for something light, as he wasn't feeling it. If it wasn't for the plan, he wouldn't be caught dead eating with Penelope. She gave him the ick. Stripped him from his appetite. The waiter returned, ready to take their order.

"I'll get a Penne alla Vodka." She told him.

The waiter turned to Jungkook. He shut his menu and dropped it on the table nonchalantly. "Yeah, same." And leaned back in his chair.

Penelope's eyes were locked on him. Jungkook felt them on him. Sticky, all nasty and dirty. Those were usually his favorite things, though when with Lola. Any other girl started making him gag lately.

"So." She put her teeth on display. Those looked like they could sink into anyone's flesh, and tear skin. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Clearing his throat, "Nothin'." Jungkook shrugged. "Just wanted to take you out."

Penelope played with the ring around her finger, as her tongue poked the inside of her cheek. Her brows were raised suggestively. "That's all?"

"Mhm. What? Can't ask you out no more?"

She let out a high-pitched chuckle. "Just wondering about Lola..."

"What about her?" Jungkook clenched his jaw.

She shrugged. "Thought you two were together." Penelope placed her hands on the table, her sharp nails scratching against the silk tablecloth. "Why the sudden change? What made you ask me out?"

He gulped. Jungkook wanted to tell her about his relationship with Lola. How well it was going. How much they love each other, but for the sake of the plan, "We fought." he sighed. "Just- we on a break."

"So you came to me?" She arched a brow. Penelope wasn't a dumb girl. In fact, she was smarter than most. Her mind was a pandemonium that kept working. Turning gears. She was an interrogator by heart. "I was starting to think you didn't really like me."

"People change." Jungkook stated. He knew that in order to win this game, he had to be the manipulator. If Penelope was at an eleven, he had to be at a twenty. Leaning forward, he placed his hand on hers. "Maybe I realized my loss."

She blushed.

Bingo!

Jungkook was on the right track. He gave her a wink before pulling his hand away, which by then the waiter had already brought their food. "Can you bring me y'alls most expensive wine?" He asked the waiter, smiling. Jin had given him his card for this dinner, just to impress Penelope so the plan went smoothly. Of course, Jungkook was going to use this to his advantage.

"Fancy." Penelope sneered. "Started dealing again or robbed a bank?"

Jungkook chuckled. "Let's just say I know a guy." Doe eyes locked on her devilish ones, he stabbed his fork into the pasta.

❤️

Lola had been chewing on her nails.

They were at the boys' dorm, all of them. Well, except for Jungkook. Of course. Taehyung sighed as he paced back and forth. "Should we call him?"

"No." Jin warned, a book in his hand, one leg thrown over the other. He looked up at his impatient friend. "We're not gonna disturb their date."

"Uhm, Jin...?" Giselle whispered, pointing over at Lola who had been stressed the entire time. "Maybe don't call it a date, y'know?"

Jin pressed his lips into a thin line when he noticed Lola. She tapped her foot, zoned out on the carpet. "My bad."

"Wonder what they're doing right now." Jimin thought, yawning through his words.

Namjoon wanted to lighten them up. And by them, he meant Lola. "Penny's prolly yappin'." He laughed.

So did most of them. Lola wasn't even listen to the conversation, though. Her mind was on whatever could've been happening between Jungkook and Penelope right now. She felt bad about it. Did she not trust Jungkook? Or maybe she just didn't trust Penelope.

"I believe in JK though." Yoongi said, eyes half-lidded. He'd been sleeping on Jimin's shoulder up until now. He stretched his arms and yawned. "He's probably asking her all the questions now."

❤️

"You know the coffee shop that opened down on sixth street?" He cut off Penelope's enthusiastic tone. She had been talking and talking and talking about how much she loves this one movie. Jungkook wasn't listening to her. Didn't care. He looked up at her, taking a sip of his wine as he waited for an answer.

Taken aback, "Uhm..." Penelope cleared her throat. "Yeah. I-I've seen it. Haven't had the chance to go, though."

Jungkook nodded. He remembered what Lola said. Body language. It's almost more important that the things she tells you. He watched her intently. Noticed her eyes faltering all around the restaurant. He hummed.

"Why?" She asked.

He shrugged. "Just curious. We should go together sometime." He smirked, but wasn't looking at her. He took another bite of his food, wiping his mouth with a napkin after. "Wanted to see the place, I know the owner. Maybe you know him too. His name's Carlos Gonzales."

"Carlos Gonzales?" Penelope repeated in a question. "Hm, no. I don't think I've met any Carloses."

He nodded again. Brows raised. "You sure? He been my friend for a long time. I thought you woulda known."

"I'm sure." She stated sternly.

Her behaviour told Jungkook more than he needed. She was nervous. Gulping, fidgeting in her seat, eyes faltering. Just like Lola warned. It wasn't confirmed, but Jungkook knew something was wrong. He glared at her, intimidatingly. He leaned back in his chair, wine glass in hand, and kept his gaze on her. He watched her melt. Watched her sweat. "Watchu been up to, Penn?"

"What do you mean?" She whispered.

Jungkook shrugged. A smug smile finding his face. "It means what it means. Watchu been up to? What been goin' on in your life? Anything... different? Any new friends?"

Penelope shook her head, clearing her throat. "I n-need to, I need to go to the bathroom." She grabbed her bag and quickly left.

Jungkook, taking one last sip from his wine, placed his glass on the table. "Body language." He nodded.

❤️

Giselle's phone rang. She rolled her eyes at the name written across. "Yeah?"

"Why'd Jungkook take Penny out on a date?"

Emma's question made Giselle cough. "Uhm-" she cleared her throat, as the others watched her with confused expressions. She mouthed her twin sister's name at them, upon which they all panicked. "why wouldn't he?"

It took Emma a couple seconds.

"What do you mean? I thought him and Lola were dating... Why's he suddenly back to Penny?"

"Him and Lola broke up." She lied.

Wide-eyed, Lola turned to her. Offended, and defeated over the idea of it, she lightly shoved Giselle and stormed into the bathroom. Giselle threw her head back, sighing.

"What?"

"Yeah." Giselle told her sister. "I gotta go though, studying."

"When have you ever studied-"

Emma's static question was cut short with Giselle ending the call. She ran to the bathroom after Lola, though the door was locked. "Lols, I'm sorry. I had to lie!"

"Leave her alone." Destiny told Giselle, who had already made her way back to the couch, defeated. "She needa let it out."

"Ion get girls." Namjoon scoffed. The others glared at him, including the boys. Especially Jimin, who kicked his side lightly. "What? She accin' like that shit's for real."

"Nah, she not wrong for bein' jealous, ain't gon' lie." Taehyung voiced his opinion.

To which Lola yelled: "I'm not jealous!" from the bathroom.

"Mhm. Sure." Taehyung mumbled back.

"Leave the girl alone. All of you." Jin ordered finally. His eyes locked on the pages of his book. "She's got enough on her plate."

By the window, "They're here!" Hoseok chimed. The others immediately gathered around him, including Lola, who stormed back out of the bathroom upon hearing it. Jungkook stepped out of his parked car and opened the door for Penelope. It was peachy, until Penelope pulled him in a hug. "Oh god." Hoseok whispered.

Their eyes glued on Lola. She pressed her lips into a line and shut her eyes tight, breathing deeply.

"It's for the plan." Destiny reminded, placing a hand on her jealous friend's shoulder.

Waiting for Jungkook to come up, she stood by the front door. The others on the couch. When the door opened, revealing Jungkook, she stepped forward.

"Finally!" Namjoon groaned, nearly bending backwards over the couch. "Why'd it take so long? Y'all fucked or what?"

Lola gunned him an angry glare, before turning to her boyfriend again. "How'd it go?"

"Yeah." Jin added. "Found anything?"

Jungkook took a seat, dragging Lola with him. Legs spread, hair falling on his forehead, he ripped his jacket off and threw it across the couch. His eyes faltered around the room, he licked his lips. "Not really." His statement was followed with the collective shut of eyes, and muffled sighs. "But-" he raised a finger, getting their hopes up. "she was accin' real weird when I asked her 'bout Carlos. Like she was nervous or sum."

Gasping, "Okay!" Lola pointed. "That's good enough!"

"No it's not...?" Jin leaned forward. He knew Lola wanted to get it over with immediately, but it wasn't enough. "It's not enough proof."

"Yeah." Namjoon nodded. The others did too. "We need actual evidence that she workin' with Carlos. Not just some bullshit body language."

The room fell silent. Lola plopped back defeatedly. She blew raspberries while everyone else thought deeply about another way they could find out. Just then-

"Jungkookie?" Jimin raised his brows. He squinted his eyes at a red piece of paper sticking out from under Jungkook's shoe. "What's that?"

The tattooed boy loosened his collar and looked down. With his foot lifted, he peeled it off the sole, eyes widening at the rest of it.

It was an envelope.

Lola rose to her feet. "Fuck." She groaned.

She knew it all too well. What envelopes meant nowadays. It was death, every single time.

Everyone watched intently as Jungkook opened the envelope, pulling out a folded card with the picture of a gingerbread cookie on it. Opening it, he found coupons for free Gingersnap cakes and ginger coffee at Carlos' coffee shop. "The fuck's this?"

Lola ripped it out of his hands. "He's fucking with me." She rolled her eyes. Gingersnap. It was Dominick's nickname for her, and Carlos knew this.

She dropped the envelope on the table and ripped her glasses off her face. It was Taehyung who then got a hold of it. The pictures of cakes on the coupons made his stomach rumble. "Damn. He got the stamp on it and everything." He analysed the envelope further, while the rest sat hopelessly in their seats. "If he was here, like on campus, he coulda just left it in front o' the door. Ain't gotta send it with a whole stamp." He threw the envelope back on the table, sighing. "Whatever. I'm hungry."

Still on her feet, Lola froze. She pushed her glasses back up her nose and turned to Taehyung. "What did you just say?"

"I'm hungry...?" Taehyung replied.

"No, before that!"

Just as confused as the rest, "Just sayin' he sent the letter with a stamp. Like, if he was closer he coulda just been leavin' these at the door." Taehyung then answered.

The gears were turning again.

Lola stormed out of the boys' dorm on a whim. Everyone else's gaze fell on each other, before they followed with baffled steps. "Lo, what's wrong?!" Jungkook ran after her.

They chased her down the hall, until they were at the girls' dorm. Lola unlocked the door and bursted in, immediately reaching for the drawers of the desk. She pulled out a bunch of them. Envelopes. The ones from her brother. One by one, she went through them all. "No stamp." She mumbled to herself. "No stamp. No stamp, no stamp." She placed the last envelope on the desk, before turning to her friends behind her.

"Girl, what's goin' on?" Destiny asked.

Lola, with sparks in her eyes, "These are from my brother, but none of them have stamps on it." stated. "The ones from Carlos have stamps because he has to send them, but these ones don't..."

Gasps erupted from the group.

Except from Taehyung. He clicked his tongue. "Y'all gaspin' like y'all understood."

"We did, Tae." Jin rolled his eyes. "You're just slow."

"These don't have stamps because they weren't actually sent here!" She held the letters from her brother in her hand. "They were just left... By someone who's already here."

It was then, that Taehyung's eyes grew in size. He took it in, and "Penelope." he finally breathed.

Lola nodded. "Penelope's been carrying letters from my brother, and leaving them at the door. She doesn't need a stamp because she doesn't need to actually send them. We were right! Penelope's the Penelope! She's the one helping my brother!"

🖤🩶🤍❤️