TWENTY-ONE

"Stay still." Hye whispered to her as she squirmed due to the screams of the people next to her.

They had been there for an hour watching the fight. Jungkook was keeping an eye on her as he was beside her. She felt, once more, his stare on her.

Nari sighed as she wished to be home at this very instant.

"Are you okay?" Yoongi asked from behind her as he patted her head.

"Yeah, I'm not used to this." she confessed.

      The place was crowded and it smelled horrible. All nine teens were huddled together with Namjoon hiding the package, ammunition, on his backpack. Her arm often touched with Jungkook's arm due to their proximity. She tried to not think about it too much but it lingered in her mind.

     "It's not that bad." Yoongi responded.

     Just as she was about to answer, she felt that Jimin was pushed from her side and heard his fist clash with skin.

    "That's what you get for pushing me, you–"

    "Calm down, we're sorry sir." Namjoon brought him to his side before bowing to the man.

    Nari looked at Yoongi, "Yeah, it's not that bad." she said sarcastically.

     Yoongi chuckled.

     The place had a rustic feel to it. It was dark, the only light was illuminating the ring. She had learned that their friend was named Donovan. He was an American who had recently moved to Busan to extend his deals.

    Just as she expected, he was part of another gang that was close with Bangtan. Until now, none of the teens knew which gang he belonged to since Donovan liked to keep it a secret.

     As they tried to stop Jimin from going further, the fight had ended. They waited for everyone to leave. It took a few minutes before they were able to conduct the plan.

Hye, Namjoon and Jin would go deliver the package. Meanwhile, Jimin and Hoseok would stand close in case anything happened. Taehyung and Yoongi would be in the exit. Jungkook, he'd stay inside the car with Nari.

Just what she wanted. Not really.

"Come on." he took her wrist and walked outside with her.

They stood in front of the car, he opened the passenger seat for her. Nari got settled before seeing him sit on the driver's seat.

      "You came," he responded, "after I told you to stay home where you'd be safe." his hands gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles turned white.

    Not again.

    "I had to, those were Namjoon's orders." she kept looking at her window, once again she couldn't look at him.

    "Namjoon's orders, right," he scoffed, "right now I'm stuck here, babysitting you while they are inside. I should be there–"

    "Then go! Be my guest!" Nari shouted, she has had enough of his mood swings.

    Jungkook chuckled, "Really?"

    "Yeah! Leave, that's what you want to do, huh? Go, I'm a grown woman so I can defend myself." she had her hands up in anger.

    One minute he was nice with her, while the other he was cold and distant with her.

    Without no other words he had left her alone inside the car. The slam of car door startled Nari as she sighed. A small tear fell from her eye.

Quickly, she wiped it and started playing with her phone. Her sister had asked her if she had finished her project.

To: baby sis
       not yet. I'll be there in a few minutes.

   Once she had locked her phone she leaned her head back. As she closed her eyes she felt her phone vibrate.

     Another text message.

     From: Unknown
    Get out of the car and go to the nearest alley. NOW!

     She furrowed her eyebrows and looked around, whoever was texting her was here. They were watching her.

     To: Unknown
       Why?

   The answer took a few minutes for it to deliver. Her heart was thumping louder and louder.

      From: Unknown
     Just get out before it's too late.

     From: Unknown
     1...

     2

     3, too late now.

   Just as she finished reading those words, she heard a gunshot break through one of the windows. Instantly she crouched down to the bottom of the seat. Her hands were on her head, she tried to protect herself.

Nari!

She kept hearing the boy's screams through her ear piece. All she could let out was a small 'I'm okay.'

The gunshots were still going. She was still crouched down with her trembling hands on her head. Small sobs were what she let out as she wished for this to be over.

Yoongi, Taehyung, shoot them!

We are, boss!

Their screams kept startling her. Her face was red of all the tears she was letting out. The beads of sweat were trickling down her back.

      All she could feel was her heart thumping and her hands as they kept trembling.

     In an instant, the gunshots had stopped. The shattering of the windows had faded.

Stay inside the car, Nari!

Namjoon told her from her ear piece. She obeyed and stayed crouched down. Her breathing was uneven.

She could've died after those few minutes. Nari had been on the brink of death, if only she had obeyed.

Her phone vibrated from the seat. She reached for it and unlocked it.

From: Unknown
This is what happens when you don't do what I say. I tried saving your life but you didn't listen.

       Nari let out an involuntary sob. Now, because she didn't do what they told her to do, the person might kill her friends.

    To: Unknown
      Please don't kill them.

  From: Unknown
    I won't. Consider this as your first warning. Now you know that you have to do as I say, that is, if you want your friends to live.

She threw her phone across the car in anger as she continued to cry. This time, she cried because of fear and anger.

Fear from losing her life.

Anger at Jungkook for leaving her alone, just like she told him to do.

The door opened quickly and she covered herself even more.

"It's us, don't worry." Hoseok's voice relieved her senses.

Faster than lightning, the girl had gotten out of the car and was received in Hoseok's arms.

"You're safe, it's okay." he patted her back.

As usual, Jungkook was not even comforting her. She felt someone move her to another embrace.

     "I almost thought you were dead." Jimin mumbled to her as he hugged her tightly.

    All she could do was hug him tightly.

     "I'm sorry." she sighed as she felt a cold substance on her shoulder.

     Jimin was crying.

     She got out of his embrace and saw that everyone, except Jungkook, was crying.

    Hye had held her hand tightly, "You're alive." she kept whispering to herself, Nari heard.

    She nodded.

    No words could be said, she was in shock.

    They stood there until they saw Yoongi jog up to Jungkook before throwing him on the ground.

   Oh no.

    "You left her!" he shouted as he threw another punch in the mix.

    Jungkook's face changed into a pained one as he struggled to stay put. The other boy dragged him up by his collar.

     "She was your responsibility!" he shouted, kicking him in the stomach.

     As the girl watched petrified with Hye by her side, the boys did nothing. They all had scowls on their faces.

    They were disappointed with Jungkook.

    "She told me to leave her, so I did!" he responded as he dodged Yoongi's punch.

    Yoongi scoffed, "You shouldn't have left her! She almost died because of your fault!" he pushed him.

    "Guys stop–" Jin tried but he was interrupted by Jungkook.

    "You think I don't know that?" he shouted sarcastically, "The guilt is killing me!" he had tears running down his face.

As soon as Nari heard those words she looked at Jungkook. He held their stare. His eyes reflected hurt, guilt, sorrow.

She just wanted to hug him and tell him that it was her fault for telling him to leave. Her gut told her to just stay quiet.

The other boy pushed him again, "You shouldn't have done it in the first place then," he turned to Nari, "come on, we're leaving."

He took her hand and started walking away from the group who stood there astonished.

"Hyung, she has to come with us." Jungkook mentioned from behind. His voice wavered.

"I'm calling a taxi to take her home." he said harshly.

Nari stayed quiet and left. She walked through the cold night air with Yoongi by her side.

"Don't worry, I'll take you home." he smiled at her before putting his hand on her shoulder.

                       -

    "I'll see you tomorrow." she said as she got out of the taxi.

    Yoongi nodded, "Stay safe, kid."

    Nari smiled at him before going inside.

    Once she was in her house she looked to see if anyone was awake. They were all asleep. Tomorrow was a school day and she couldn't sleep.

    Her phone had been receiving calls from Jungkook through the whole way. She hadn't answered him at all.

     She ran quietly up the stairs and went to her room. As she plopped on her bed, the sounds kept replaying inside her mind.

     Closing her eyes, she had tried to forget what happened. Nothing could make her forget.

   Once again, her phone started vibrating on her night table. She had decided to answer.

    She'd be cold and distant from now on.

    "Hello."

     "Nari, listen–"

     "I have to sleep because we have school tomorrow so–"

    "I'm sorry,"

    "Jungkook–"

    "I wasn't thinking, I was just mad that you actually came and put yourself in danger like that."

    "Oh, is this how it's going to be?"

    "No."

    "That's what I understood from what you said! After the kiss everything turned worse then?"

    "No, I–"

    "You know, I started  thinking that it was my fault because I told you to leave but I don't even know anymore–"

    "Just please listen to me."

    "No. Goodbye Jungkook."

   Her eyes watered as she hung up.

    She felt as if she had just lost a piece of her. There's no point of return now.