"I'll be fine."

Well, turns out that's not really true at all.

Everything had been completely normal, even when I'd convinced Jungkook to go to sleep. And now I was lying in my bed, eyes wide open.

I smack my face with my hand, and sigh as loudly as I can.

Doing another 360, I bury my face in the cool blankets. I shut my eyes, trying to force sleep to take me away.

It's like being back to square one.

I lay there like that— for a straight thirty minutes before I finally kick off the blankets and sit up. My head still feels clear, and I turn to look at the clock.

I had exactly seven hours to fall asleep.

Clutching the big pile of blankets to my chest, I blink at the ceiling. Maybe I should do something— read a book or whatever.

But I knew that wouldn't work.

I'd tried it many times before Jimin— reading, playing on my phone until my eyes burned, drinking thirteen mugs of sleeping tea.

I'd always grow sleepy, but as soon as I laid down to actually fall asleep—

Gone.

And then I'd be wide awake again.

_______________________

The sunlight shines on my dark circles.

Sliding off from my bed, I glance at myself in the mirror and nearly faint. Messy hair from tossing and turning all night— hollow, exhausted eyes.

And my new part time job began today.

Splashing some water on my face, I tug a brush through my hair and pull it up into a ponytail. Nearly half-dead, I drag myself to the kitchen.

For Jungkook, I make a breakfast omelet and set it up with hot rice and a bottle of ketchup on the table.

And then like it was planned from the start, I hear the door creak open. Jungkook walks out into the living room rubbing at his eyes, his feet dragging on the floor.

"Good morning!" I really try. Widening my eyes, I try to make myself seem like I'd just slept the most wonderful sleep. "Breakfast is right here, okay? And if you're still feeling sick, medicine's on the counter. I have to go to work."

"Work?"

"Can't live off on Taehyung's money forever." I laugh under my breath, and his confused eyes flicker over to me. "I'll be back in like five hours."

"Five hours....." He repeats after me, clearly still not awake. "Where?"

"Just the cafe down the street."

I'm reaching for my shoes when my legs suddenly just give out under me. Sleep pours through my eyelids, and I fall asleep— just like that.

Until Jungkook's panicked voice wakes me up.

"Noona!"

My head flips up, and I dazedly smile as I slur out words. "Oh— I'm fine. Just sleepy. Don't worry about it."

"Jimin hyung told me about this." He says, and I look up in surprise at his stern face. "That you have insomnia— something like that. That you can't sleep during the night."

I laugh awkwardly, and he narrows green eyes at me.

"You're going to have to stay home, Noona."

"Very cute." Giggling, I pat the top of his head and try to get my feet into one of the shoes. "But I can't just sleep the day off."

Then I glance up as he suddenly drops in front of me, pulling the shoes back off my feet.

"He told me if this happened, I'm not supposed to let you leave. He said that you might fall asleep in the street and get hit by a car."

He crosses his arms.

"Jungkook, I have work. And you know what happens to people who don't show up on their first day?"

I cross my arms firmly back.

"They get laid off."

He stares at me for a second, before shrugging nonchalantly. "If it's that important, I'll do it for you. But no leaving."

"What? But you're sick!"

He slaps a hand on his forehead, pauses for a moment. Then he shakes his head, and mutters that he's completely fine now.

"You can't take my place." I argue at his green eyes. "You don't even know how to make coffee! Or drinks! I specifically told the manager I already had experience— that's why he hired me in the first place!"

"I'm an AI, Noona. I learn ten times faster than normal humans."

"Besides," He murmurs, straightening my shoes back in the drawer. "I can tell that you want to sleep, anyways."

Couldn't argue with that.

"I can't let you leave." I finally say, my last defense. "I'm not risking you getting kidnapped. You just escaped yesterday— she'd going to be searching for you, Jungkook!"

He shrugs.

"They won't catch me. Not anymore."

"Tungsten?" I remind him, and he presses his lips together. "It's fine, you know. But really, thanks for—"

Then my switch turns off.

_______________________

I wake up to the sound of a door opening.

My head is completely fuzzy, and I struggle to sit up in the blankets covering me like a cocoon.

"......Jungkook?"

"I went to that cafe." He says, and I blink slowly at the uniform he's wearing. "They gave me this— and money too."

With a proud smile, he puts down a white envelope on the table.

"What time..." I mutter, still not awake as I search blindly for the time. He hands me something cool and firm, and I realize he's given me the entire clock.

"Jungkook, it's not plugged in."

Flushing pink, he mutters something quickly as he plugs the cord in. The time flashes, and I sigh depressingly.

It's almost night.

"I can't believe I slept for twelve hours." Then I look up, eyes wide. "Jungkook! Aren't you tired? How was it— did anything—"

"It was fine." He says, but with a sudden wince. "Except they all stared at me so much. And they asked me for a number— am I supposed to have one?"

I growl.

Those wolves.

"Gosh, I knew it." I mutter under my breath, frustrated with myself. Imagining all those people just staring at him— he must've felt so uncomfortable.

"Knew what?"

"Nothing." I say with a sudden smile, and he blinks at me like I have three heads.

"Oh my gosh! Dinner!"

Jumping out of the bed, I rush to the kitchen to fix him some food. But then he suddenly shouts after me, shaking his head.

"I already ate."

"What? Where?"

"At the café..." He starts, running his fingers through his bangs. "I'm sorry if I wasn't supposed to do that. She just gave me— and it was actually so good."

"Don't worry about it."

He blinks sleepily at me, and I quickly lead him towards his room. Rubbing furiously at his eyes, he nods goodnight at me and crashes in bed.

He must've been tired a lot.

Looking still at the clock, which reads just eight at night, I lean into the living room couch. I'm about to catch up on shows when I bite my lip and turn the television back off.

I had to go to bed.

I had to at least try and get some more sleep— so I had enough energy to go to work tomorrow. Jungkook doing it for me couldn't last forever— and he'd already done so much by replacing me today.

Sighing, I put the remote down and drag my feet back to the bedroom I'd just come out from.

________________________

It's so painful.

My eyes are still wide awake after three straight hours of tossing and turning, and I want to rip my hair out in frustration.

A soft growl escapes my clenched teeth.

Just fall asleep.

Kicking the blankets off into a messy pile, I splay my body out on the bed and stare up at the ceiling.

It's hot in here.

Trying to imagine sheep, I slowly close my eyes. But they shoot back open just five minutes later, feeling more awake than ever.

"Dammit—"

Then the door suddenly creaks open, and I clap two hands over my lips as I look over with wide eyes.

Jungkook's half-unconscious head pokes out from between the doorway.

"Noona." He says dazedly. "You're still awake?"

One of his eyes open sleepily, and I'm cursing myself for being too loud when he tilts his head at me.

"Do you need help?"