EIGHTEEN

       Tension floated around the room. The sound of the utensils hitting the plates was the only thing heard in the dining room. It was turning into an awkward dinner. You could throw a pin on the floor and it could be heard clearly.

"You look beautiful, Nari." Chae-ha told her.

"Thank you." she smiled.

Jimin didn't even stare at her, he just kept moving his food. Nari guessed that he was feeling uncomfortable by Ara's stare's.

Her mother cleared her throat, "You guys were so close, you even slept on the same bed."

She averted her eyes to her food. She was blushing again. There was no need for her to bring that up once more.

      They both kept bringing up stuff that they did. The only thing she remembered was that one boy kept messing with her when she was in pre-school.

Chae-ha took her phone out and showed all of them a picture.

"This was one of the times that we stayed at your house back in Incheon." she answered.

On the picture there was two toddlers holding onto each other tightly. The little boy held onto the little girl as if she was his only source of comfort. The little girl smiled in content as she snuggled to him.

"I remember!" her mother exclaimed as she continued to eat her ramen.

       Ara had been staring at Jimin the whole dinner. No one could tear her eyes away from him. Nari kicked her under the table trying to stop her from staring creepily at him.

    Jimin and Chae-ha were seated in front of them. That made things even more awkward.

      "So you guys are close friends in school?" Chae-ha asked Jimin.

       Nari was about to answer but he cut her to it, "Yeah."

       Are you kidding me, Park Jimin?

She out of all people knew that they weren't close at all. They bickered all the time. Another lie to add to the list.

"How did you meet dad?" Nari asked out of curiosity.

        She didn't want to see her dad in person. She still wanted to hear stories of how he was.

      Chae-ha almost choked on her ramen, "Uh–your father and I were friends in college."

Nari nodded.

Her mind replayed her days where she saw other children with her fathers. She always asked why she didn't have a father, where was he?

"Did he leave you too?" she mumbled.

Her eyes were filled with tears. He left them, without saying goodbye.

They all stared at her wide eyed. No one expected her to ask that question.

"Nari–" her mother asked but she had left the dinning table before she even finished.

She ran to the door and swung it open. Nari sat on the curb and put her hands on her face.

Her muffled crying turned into loud sobs.

She hated him, but she also missed him.

He's her father after all.

She heard steps getting closer until someone sat down next to her. She turned her head and found Jimin who was staring at her with sorrow.

"I'm sorry." he placed a hand on her shoulder.

She shook her head and wiped her tears, "It's my fault for overreacting," she intertwined her hands, "I'm sorry."

"No, don't be," he scooted closer to her as he placed his hand around her shoulder, "maybe he left for your own good, to protect you guys."

Protect us?

Who would leave their family just to protect them? Why would he leave?

"I'm pretty sure that's not the reason why he left, Jimin." she responded.

"You never know if that was the real reason." he mumbled.

      They both stared at the stars. Silence surrounded them, she didn't know what to say next.

     "So, childhood best friends?" he joked.

     She chuckled sniffing, "Another surprise to add to the list."

    She saw him stare at the stars again. In a moment his eyes widened.

    He turned to her, his hand  left her shoulder, "Were you the girl who I used to mess around with?"

    "Yes, you tried to ask me out several times, right?" she asked.

    All the small glimpses that her memory gave her came to her mind. She had indeed remembered a few times when he sent her hearts and letters during primary school.

     He was still the flirt.

"I did." he winked at her.

She slapped him on the shoulder, "Don't get too confident, I'm not dating you."

"Because you like Jungkook." he teased.

She turned red, "What? I–I d–"

"You do!" he exclaimed as he put his hands up.

"I don't!" she replied.

Do I?

She put her hands on her chest and whined.

"Then why did you stutter?" his eyebrows furrowed.

The girl scoffed and started to stand up, "I'm going back inside–"

"You like him!" he teased her as they ran inside.

Maybe I do...

Both teens chuckled as they entered. They had finished eating when they arrived. Chae-ha was chatting with Nari's mom and Ara was on her phone until her eyes were set on Jimin.

Nari noticed that she lowered her head so that she still wasn't looking at Jimin.

Nari approached Chae-ha, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Park–"

"It's alright, darling," she nodded, "Jimin, why don't you take Nari and Ara to our house and hang out for a little while?" she told her son.

     "What about you?" he asked her mother.

      "I'll stay here with Ji-woo." Chae-ha tossed the car keys to Jimin.

      He nodded and led the girls out.

      Ara sat at the back while Jimin told Nari to sit in the front. They buckled their seat belts and waited for him to start the car.

     Ara was shocked, Nari loved her face of surprise.

      She just gave him permission to drive but he's underaged?

     "I can drive, Nari." he retorted.

     She furrowed her eyebrows, "But–"

     He put his hand on her mouth, "Shut up."

     Rolling her eyes, she nodded and let him start driving.

     In a flash he had started the car and they sped through the night sky.

-

      She recognized this neighborhood. This is the same neighborhood where Jungkook lived. Did they all live here or something?

     She stepped out and closed her door. Meanwhile, Jimin opened Ara's door and waited for her to get off before closing it.

     "Thank you." she mumbled.

     Nari saw how they both stood a little closer than usual.

     He smiled, "You're welcome."

     She took Ara's hand and dragged her to her side. Jimin took this as a sign and started walking to the porch, opening the door.

     The girls stepped inside and, to her surprise, she found the seven boys playing video games. The bottles of beer were stacked to one side, they still haven't opened them.

     "Jimin!" Taehyung shouted before running up to hug him.

     Jimin patted his back. He still hadn't seen Nari and Ara.

     Taehyung turned and saw both girls, "Nari!" he exclaimed and hugged her too.

     "He had a few drinks already." Yoongi explained so only she could hear when Nari looked at him confused.

     She nodded. Again with the underaged drinking.

     "What are you doing here?" Hoseok asked her as he paused the game.

     Jimin cleared his throat, "Meet my childhood best friend." he told them.

     All of them stared agape at them.

     Jungkook choked on his chips and had to receive some slaps on the back from Jin. He had a black stussy shirt with ripped jeans and black shoes. His hair was messy but it still looked okay.

  He looks cute.

     Wait, what?

     Stop Nari.

     "For real?" Namjoon asked.

      Jimin nodded.

      "This is my sister, Ara." Nari said as she introduced her to the boys.

      One by one they said their names until they had finished. Jimin told them to sit down on the couch. They sat down and stared at the tv screen that showed different characters.

     "Stop." Namjoon said, "Let's play truth or dare." he replied.

     "Yes." Jin said as he turned off the tv and they all sat down in a circle.

In this moment they didn't seem like the most ruthless people in Korea. The seven boys seemed like teenagers who had no care in the world.

   Ara sighed, "I don't want to play."

     "What? Why?" Jimin asked.

      All of them stared at her, anticipating her response.

     "I think I'm just going to watch." she answered.

      Taehyung whined, "Play with us," he pouted, "please."

      Nari turned to her, "It's okay if you don't want to."

     "Let's do it." she answered earning claps from the boys.

     Here goes nothing.

                             -

       "I need you girl. Wae honja saranghago honjaseoman ibyeolhae" he took off his shirt while dancing crazily.

     The boys whistled while Nari and Ara tried not to laugh.

     "Hoseok!" Jimin laughed loudly as he clapped for his friend.

     They had been playing for an hour. All of them, the boys, had chosen dare. Jungkook's turn was after Hoseok's. The girl's turn still hasn't arrived yet. The dares were crazy.

    Miraculously, they hid the cans of beer before Ara could see them. They now had soda.

     Hoseok had to watch a horror clip which ended up with him screaming for his life. Jin had to eat ramen in less than fifteen seconds, he did it perfectly. Among other freaky dares.

   No one would guess that they were part of a gang. They were just being normal teenagers without any boundaries, it was just them.

     "Jungkook!" Yoongi exclaimed, "Truth or dare?" all eyes were on him now.

      He took a sip of the red cup, "Dare."

      Yoongi whispered to Jimin and later he did to Namjoon. Another secret to add on her list.

     "Seven minutes in heaven with Nari." Yoongi said.

     Jungkook stood up as fast as he could. Without listening to her complaints, he carried her on his shoulders.

    Nari began screaming for him to let her go but he refused.

     "Go to the bathroom!" Jimin exclaimed as he ran behind them.

     "No, I'm not doing thi–"

      He let her down and closed the door. Jimin locked it from the other side, she had heard the click.

     Rolling her eyes, she let her head down without looking at him.

    His hands went up to her cheek, he lifted her head up, "I missed you so much, you have no idea." he mumbled.

   His eyes trailed from her eyes to her lips. She gulped and looked straight into his eyes.

    "How's your wound?" she responded.

    He lifted his shirt a little so she could see the wound. It was perfectly fine. Just a few drops of dried blood stained the area but it looked better than last night.

     "Better, I guess." he told her.

     Their bodies molded perfectly together. Two heartbeats joined as one. No, they weren't kissing. They just stared into their eyes as if both of them could communicate with one glance.

      "Why did you get stabbed?" she whispered.

      "We all got in a fight." his hand was back on her cheek.

      She furrowed her eyebrows, "What for?"

     He took a deep breath, "You."

     A knock on the door startled them, "Less chatting more kissing!" Hoseok exclaimed.

    They got in a fight because of her. He got stabbed because of her. If she hadn't agreed to go to that club, none of this would've happened.

     "I'm sorry, this is all my fault." a tear fell down from her eyes and he wiped it with his thumb.

      "No, this isn't your fault–"

      "Yes it is. You both got stabbed because of me. This is all because of me–" she got interrupted when she felt a pair of soft lips upon hers.

He was kissing her.

Jungkook was kissing her.

The kiss was soft and gentle. He moved his lips with hers slowly, as if he wanted to live the moment. She did the same, her tears had disappeared and her body was tingling with the sensation of his lips on hers.

He gripped her tighter and closer to him, she was leaning on the sink. Her hands messed up his hair.

    Both teens were in a trance, their only focus was the way that the touch of their lips made them crazy.

They drifted apart slowly, foreheads pressed against each other.

"It isn't your fault." his breath hit her face and she closed her eyes once more.

He got her wrapped around his finger just like she has got him wrapped around hers.

Just as she was about to answer, the door swung open.

Both of them had separated abruptly. Jimin stood by the door with a smile on his face.

"I guess you kids had fun." he smirked.

      Nari couldn't take it anymore, she took Jimin's wrist, dragging him to the living room. She had left Jungkook alone with the other boys as they snickered at both of them. Ara sat on the couch and Nari called her.

They got inside the car, "L-Let's go."

And just like that, they had both confirmed their feelings for each other. Just like that, she realized that he had her. She realized that she had fallen for his trap.

She realized that she was beginning to fall for him.