YOUMIN

I don't know when I fell asleep.

But when I wake up, I'm in something warm— and so soft I just want to go back to sleep and forget.

Someone jerks me back.

"Youmin, I don't know what the hell you were thinking."

And now I'm really awake.

I instantly sit up, blinking stupidly into Taehyung's gaze as he stares at me in red. His jaw is flexed with anger, like he'd had enough of me.

Then I remember.

"The people."

I quickly turn back to the direction of the doorway. The door's closed— and it's morning, with the light coming in from the windows.

He frowns. "What?"

"The people that was— that was in my room." I say dazedly, scrunching the covers under my fingers. "Yeah."

"Last night?"

I nod. There's a long silence, and I look up to see Taehyung's face— completely frozen.

"People. In your room."

I nod again, taking my hands off the blankets. "I got— I got really scared, so I ran here. I'm sorry."

"Stay here."

He stands up from the bed, and I quickly look towards his direction when he walks to the door.

"W-Wait! Where are you—"

"I'm checking your room. Just stay here and don't move." His dark eyes sweep to mine. "Understand? You can go back to sleep, I don't mind. Just don't leave this place."

And before I can even give another shaky nod, he leaves.

__________________________

TAEHYUNG

The room looks untouched at first glance.

My blood is still cold from what Youmin had told me— strangers, in her room at night. That explained the tear tracks on her face when I'd found her curled up in the corner of my room.

I had no doubt it was him.

Fist curling, I sweep my eyes over the lines of the wall— the edges. Then I see a dark glint, attached to the bottom of her bed frame.

Of course.

Crouching, I rip the small hidden camera from the wooden frame. Then I crush it between my fingers, eyes searching again.

I find five in total.

They're hidden exceptionally— the one on the door I had nearly missed. They'd been placed so well that they could've been able to watch her every move.

But the bathroom, as well.

Lowly bastards.

My blood burns when I throw the broken remains of the cameras into the trash. Then I hurry back to Youmin, knowing that my room might not be safe for long either.

I couldn't leave her alone.

And for the cameras—

I couldn't ever let her know.

She was already affected enough.

___________________________

YOUMIN

My face brightens when I see Taehyung come back in the door. I'd been counting the minutes— a total of ten, and I'd been hoping he'd come soon.

"Is, um, anything there?"

He shakes his head.

"Nothing."

I blink. So they hadn't touched anything— just waiting for me to come back. It was by pure luck I'd overheard them.

"O-Oh."

"I saw your friends." He suddenly says, and my eyes snap up in surprise. Taehyung's not facing me, gaze fixed on something else.

"Friends?"

"Yoongi hyu— Instructor Yoongi and Namjoon's apprentices."

I blink.

Then my eyes go wide, and I hurriedly scramble out of his bed with a shocked look.

"Instructor Yoongi's apprentice—"

Was Jungkook.

"Yes. Jeon Jungkook." He says flatly, pushing back his dark hair with his bandanna.

"And Kim Seokjin. Instructor Namjoon took him in as his apprentice."

My mouth drops open.

What in the world...?

Sighing, Taehyung motions for me out the door. And I follow, still shocked out of my mind that the only two friends I'd made back as a trainee had become apprentices.

And I hear them, even before I see them.

"Hyung, stop messing with my hair before I kill you!"

"Excuse me? Do you want me to rip your rabbit ears off?"

I bite down a smile.

"Ten minutes." Taehyung says, and I nod excitedly. "And then we have training."

"Okay."

The moment I poke my head out from the doorway, Jungkook notices me. He shoves Jin off, glaring at the older before running to me.

"Noona!"

"Ow." Jin whines, shooting a glare right back at Jungkook. "That hurt."

"He's bothering me." Jungkook complains, sticking out his tongue as he presses to my side. "Hyung, if you can't even take that then you're a little baby."

"What did you—"

"Okay, okay!" I laugh, my eyes flicking over to V. But then I realize he's gone, and blink in confusion.

I turn back to them.

"So tell me how it's been. How are you guys here?"

Jungkook puffs out his chest a bit. He's even more muscled than before— probably the results of hard training. V had completely changed my body in a few weeks as well.

"I got promoted."

"Really?"

I burst into a smile. I'd honestly missed the two so much— and I knew that even though they fought every single second they were awake, they wouldn't want to be apart.

And they go at each other again.

"Yoongi hyung promoted me because he said I was a great fighter." He says proudly, aiming his smug smirk at Jin.

The older tucks his hair daintily behind his ear.

"You know what they say. He's all brawn and no brains. Guess who the brains are— I'm the brains."

"Joonie is teaching me hacking, and he says I'm a very fantastic student."

My mouth falls open.

"Hacking? That's so cool!"

And the tenth minute passes.

__________________________

He's gone.

My heart crashes to the bottom of my chest as I break into a run towards the shooting range. I was late— late by twenty minutes.

I'd completely lost track of time talking to them, and now V was going to be angry at me.

"Taehyung!"

I shove the door open. But the range is empty, and I stand there stunned.

Not here?

I feel like tearing my hair out.

Twisting on my feet, I rush back and go to the training room this time. Now I was twenty five minutes late.

He's there.

"I'm so sor—"

But he doesn't even let me apologize. A roll of thick bandage is tossed in my direction, and I avoid his eyes as I quickly wrap it around my fists and hands.

"Stance."

I swallow. He usually had me warm up before sparring— but he was throwing me straight in this time.

Of course. I'd made him mad.

"Feet back. Eyes forward, Youmin. Or have I not taught you to own up to consequences?"

I take a quick breath before meeting his steel gaze.

"I'm sorry."

"I don't need your apology."

My eyes sting a bit. But I should've expected this already— and it was my fault.

"Guard up."

I pull my elbows to my chest level. The first attack comes out of nowhere, and I barely avoid it as I stumble backwards.

He clicks his tongue harshly.

"Did you forget everything I've taught you already? The mission is tomorrow."

"I-I know."

"Then pay attention."

With sheer concentration, I manage to counter the second blow. The third I parry, but the fourth is where everything falls apart.

He looks dissatisfied as I scramble up dazedly from the mat.

He'd hit so hard.

"You should've been able to counter that." He says coldly, and I nod— the tears pricking again.

No, no, no.

I can't cry.

But I keep failing, and his expression only gets darker every time I end up down on the mat.

"You're not ready."

"N-No, I am." I say frantically as I scramble back to my feet again. "I promise. It's just that—"

"Don't give me excuses. You know what I want from you."

I bite down on my lip. The next time he lashes out, I step to my side and draw back my fist for a counter.

This time, it actually works out.

Even though he brushes my blow, he nods at me. I should be happy, but somehow that just makes the tears thicker.

I tilt my head a little bit downwards.

I'm biting down so hard that I taste blood now.

You need to stop, Youmin.

I'm in the middle of my next strike when a tear escapes my eyes. It falls down my cheek before landing on the ground.

And he sees it.

How can he not.

Taking three hurried steps back, I rub furiously at my eyes and blink them before taking stance again.

My cheeks are flushed with embarrassment, and now my eyes are probably red from irritation.

And I just turn a deeper color when I see him watching me.

Then he come closer.

I instinctively push my head down to avoid looking at him, bracing myself when he touches the top of my head.

My body tenses.

Then Taehyung breathes softly, his voice even softer.

"You did well. Don't cry."

And I start crying all over again.