"Help?"

He rubs his eyes sleepily. "Yeah. You can't sleep without someone touching you?"

I snap my head up.

"Where'd you hear that from?"

"Hyung-ah." He replies matter-of-factly, only one eye still open. Then he suddenly crashes into the bed, mumbling as he just goes back to sleep.

"Anyways, I'll be right here."

I glance at the clock, my mind still stunned by his sudden entrance. It reads almost eleven, and I groan inwardly as I lie back down.

It's just Jungkook.

But I can't help but wish for Jimin's soft silver hair and his adorable half-smile as I carefully place my hand over Jungkook's.

When I try to lie back down, my feet hit something firm.

"Oh my gosh, Jungkook!" I mumble under my breath as I try to push at his fast-asleep form. He's splayed out directly diagonal across the bed, leaving me just enough space for sitting.

I really don't want to spend the night trying to move him, but he's not waking up.

Finally, I just decide to stretch my poor legs over him.

By the time I make that decision, it's already midnight. And I had school tomorrow, and my instructor would probably murder me if I feel asleep during routine again.

Good thing I have Jungkook at least.

Taking a deep breath and trying to ignore his legs under mine, I close my eyes and wait for sleep to come.

It's probably night too, where Jimin is.

Slitting my eyes open, I look out at the half-moon outside my window. I missed his cute face and his sweet voice already.

I couldn't call him at this point— he would be sleeping, and I didn't want to wake him up. And like an idiot, I'd slept through the day when he'd be awake.

Breathing out a pitiful sigh, I roll over on my back.

I'd call him first thing in the morning.

_______________________

JIMIN

"Is that the one from Busan?"

I'd been hearing that ever since I'd stepped into the hotel assigned strictly to the participants.

Everyone looked so intimidating, and they were all too busy analyzing each other and sizing them up. I wanted to see Minah's kind, teasing face.

I wanted to listen to her voice.

But she still hasn't called me?

I'm starting to get agitated, pacing back and forth. I forget all about the exhaustion in my body, too busy worrying and imagining.

Was she asleep?

Finally I get into bed, slipping underneath the covers. I'm still clutching the phone in both hands, waiting hopelessly.

Not even a text?

Stop thinking like a baby. I tell myself, putting the phone face down next to my pillow. Acting like this just because she won't give you a call. So pathetic.

Flipping over on my backside, I look straight up into the dim ceiling. The bed feels unfamiliar, and too cold.

Then my phone buzzes, and I instantly snatch for it, looking excitedly at the screen.

My hopes are dashed when I realize it's just a notification from settings.

You are so pathetic.

________________________

Minah

I wake up during the night.

I'd gotten roughly an hour of sleep, and first I think nothing of it. I just sling my arm around Jungkook's asleep back, groaning protestingly as I push at his legs with my feet.

Then I close my eyes, but I just keep getting more awake.

Something isn't right.

Something just doesn't feel right. I sit up on the bed, my eyes blinking open fully. Jungkook's still fast asleep, stretched out on the bed.

And then I nearly scream as he blinks open an eye.

"What the heck, Jungkook?!"

"I kind of expected this would happen."
He says, sitting up and rubbing at his eyes. "Of course. There's the thing with getting used to and stuff, you know."

"What?"

"This." He waves at my wide-awake face, smiling slightly. "You need Jimin hyung. And him only."

I blush with my face still blank.

"I suggest we go to him." He pumps a fist, an excited look in his eyes. "I suggest we go to Seoul right now, take a train or something—"

"Jungkook, he's competing." I sigh, leaning back on the headboard. "I can't bother him— he's worked so hard for this."

"No." He shakes his head, before raising an accusing eyebrow.

"Did you call him yet?"

"I was planning to call in the morning."

"Poor Jimin hyung." Jungkook sighs, and I cross my arms defensively. "Don't you know AIs need a lot of attention and care?"

"But I can't call him now." I protest, feeling a bit guilty. "He must be sleeping for sure. And I can't just wake him like that."

"That's why we're going."

His determined words make me blink a second or two in surprise. "We— We're going? Right now? To Seoul?"

He nods, as if that can be done in a snap of a finger. This was Seoul we were talking about— more than three hundred kilometers across Korea.

"Jungkook, you're serious?"

"I'm a really straightforward person, Noona. I don't say things I don't mean." He says, smiling as he pushes off the bed.

"I can tell that you wanna go too."

My wide-awake head racks up any possible things that could go wrong. Would it hurt to see him for just a bit? A quick visitor couldn't be anything bad, right?

He wouldn't get disqualified if I see him for just a little.

I couldn't believe I was doing this right now. My fingers reach out to pull a jacket over my shoulder, and I scroll through my phone for the nearest train time.

My expression sinks in disappointment.

"Last train leaves in ten minutes." I whisper, biting my lip. The train station was fifteen minutes away— by car. There was just no way we were going to make it in time.

"Ten minutes?" Jungkook suddenly pipes up, his eyes flickering to my phone. "That's more than enough time. Let's go."

I give him a look. "Jungkook, station's fifteen minutes away. We won't make it."

Then he suddenly smiles sheepishly at me, ruffling his hair with his hand.

"Noona, did I ever tell you that every AI comes with a gift?"

I think of Jimin, and his gift with dancing. "Well, no— but I know about it. Jimin's talent was dance."

"My talent's not that." He says, shifting his weight on his feet. "Dance is something I've just been doing for a long time."

"My actual talent is running."

_______________________

Jimin

I can't sleep.

Why can't I sleep?

I curl up on the too-big mattress, feeling cold underneath the covers. I'm covered from head to toe, but it's still freezing.

The warmth I'm used to feeling is gone, and I just can't be comfortable. It's like I'm becoming her— not being able to sleep without holding onto her warm and breathing body.

I'd moved my phone even closer to me, but there's still nothing. It's silent— couldn't be more silent than this.

And I hate it.

I wish she was here. She was always so perfect, her warmth soothing against my body, her curves like puzzle pieces. Everything just felt so wrong without her next to me.

I've never wished anything so bad before as this.