I played Jin's words in my brain all day, as I sat in college.

How could I even reintroduce myself? I knew everything about them! And they came out pretty hostile, could I risk getting anywhere near Leena's fangs and Jungkook's claws?

Jin dropped me very early in the morning, just because he had to be somewhere.

I was expecting to run into Jungkook, but I was taken by surprise when I was met by the eyes of a very surprised IU.

"Umm.. Y/n? Are you okay? You seem.." she sat down next to me and I hid my face behind my book as I nodded quickly.

"I'm fine! How are you?" That came out a little too strong than I intended.

"You don't seem fine. Is something wrong? What were you and Jungkook up to day before yesterday? He sounded panicky." Wow, it's been just 3 days? Sounds like an entire year.

I miss Leena. I miss SanJi. Aunt Ara would come and pick SanJi up today. But, turns out she hadn't left for Japan. She was still home and probably messed up. How were her nails?

I winced at the memory.

"Things had gotten messed up." I admitted as I looked up and finally mustered the courage to look into her eyes.

She was not a bitch.

I had to remind myself that. She was a nice human being.

I managed to smile at her and she nodded.

"No class?"

"Nah, studying for exams." I had to borrow books from library. I was still trying to hack a plan to get into the apartment and at least get my stupid stuff.

How would I do that..?

IU was being really sweet.

Okay, class time!
So if a girl is suddenly kind to another girl.. she's definitely plotting something bitchy!

Not.

"I'm in trouble, Ji-eun." I told her. She was a senior, but I didn't want to start on that. She did make a face at my informal speech, but placed a hand at my back.

"I can see that. You can talk to me."

"But why?" I mused aloud. Why the hell would she offer to listen to my sad tale!

She simply shrugged as her eyes scanned my face carefully.

"Okay. Here goes." I had to vent, okay?! I had to get it out of my system. I was exploding.

*

"Wow..." She whispered as she simply covered her mouth with her delicate hand and stared back at me dubiously.

"Is this for real? Is that really what happened?" It had taken me 2 hours to tell her everything.

I didn't hide a single thing. Because, I simply didn't have the energy to.

"Ask your father to help his juniors get the dosage and fix them all."

"How the hell will I do that? My dad won't come to the phone apparently, the research papers are gone and I can't happen to find a trace of friendship or affection in Leena, Sanji or Jungkook."

"I can't believe this is for real. To disappear as an entire memory from somebody else's life.. that's horrific. Also about that.. that Jimin? You haven't heard about him? A thing? He is usually in the news-"

I shook my head and she went silent.

"So, I am not promising anything aside from good outfits for you. I live in a dorm where there are a lot of girls and they are not so good in opinion about you. I'm sorry. They had a massive crush on Jungkook and they are probably still salty about you and him. But, I can help you get your books and other stuff back from Leena."

"She-"

"Yeah, she never liked me. I can ask Jungkook to do it though." She added.

I looked down at my hands and swallowed hard. This sounded all so messed up. I nodded slowly. That was already too much she was helping me with.

"I'll send the girls out on some party, you can come with me then." She assured me as she got up. She took my phone and added her contact.

"Hya~ Y/n." She called. I looked up, my face was crestfallen.

"Cheer up. You'll get them all back." She smiled and I don't know why, but even when my face felt numb..

Slow tears had started rolling down my cheeks. The tears dripped down at the page that was open on the desk and I tried to stop my lips from trembling. I had to return the book in good shape.

She bent down and wiped my cheeks with both her thumbs, cupping my face.

"Be strong. You are strong. Everybody knows that." She patted my shoulder and I wanted to hold her hand and beg her to hug me.

Why was she so kind? It was painful.

She walked away and I got back to my text book.

Yeah, I could get them back.

How long would this go on? What were the heavens waiting for?

To break me? How much?

My eyes fell on a book in front of me, sitting innocently on the shelf. A quote on its cover caught my sight.

Strong Souls Don't Break Just Because They Are In A Weak Body.

"How would you know you had powers if you were never put in a situation where you had to use them?"

I walked over and picked that book. I signed up an issue for it and left with it tucked into my satchel that originally belonged to Dr. Jin.

~

"I need a job." I told Jin as we sat eating dinner in a long harmonious silence.

"Okay." He shrugged.

"Soon. I have to pay for-"

"Did you notice, now you have literally nothing to pay for?" He pointed his chopstick at me.

I swallowed hard. That's true, but I wanted to.

"I'm not letting you adopt me."

"I'm not adopting you." He laughed.

"I have to find Kai. I need sources for that. I have arranged a date with a guy who will help me. But, unlike last time he simply wants money."

"Who's this guy?" Jin's eyes went wide as he snapped his head to me.

I chewed in silence. Now that I had his attention, I could simply torment him.

"Tell me?" He demanded.

"I have a request to make." I smiled slyly at him.

He looked at me with narrowed eyes.
"I don't trust you. You're unlike your father, very.. conniving."

I giggled as I looked down at my food. I liked Jin.

He was easy to banter with.

"Tell me?!" He demanded as I said nothing.

"What?" I asked as I stuck my tongue out and rice fell out of my mouth. He made a disgusted face at me and cringed hard.

"Manners." He said warningly.

"Manners." I repeated, jokingly. He narrowed his eyes at me again.

"Do you think you're funny?"

"I think I am."

"Fine! What's your request?"

"I know this is a big deal and too much to ask for. But, could you help me pass my exams without me actually attending them? I've lost my motivation temporarily."

"No." He instantly shook his head and grabbed my head, bending it down to my bowl of rice.

"You're gonna study diligently and look forward to your future like a good girl and not try to make me abuse my power."

"I'll give you my blood."

"Actually," He set down his chopsticks and smiled at me challengingly, "We are actually working on finding a substitute for that."

"What?"

"Like how it worked on your mother. Of course, we can't keep draining you of your blood each time we need to create a dosage. Sorry, kid."

"Jin!"

"Don't get informal with me, otherwise no food for you."

He picked up his plate and went to the sink. I followed with my plate.

"What would you take in return?"

"Nothing. Don't try anything funny."

"Fine!" I was about to stomp off when he pinched my ear and brought me back to the sink. "Do your own dishes. I cooked for you. Mannerless brat."

"Will you do it at least for the exam I skipped?" I pleaded.

He handed me the scrub and I took it and made a puppy dog face at him. He stared at me for a long time, till my eyebrows were tired of doing the aegyo.

"Fine! But only this once!" He gave up as he went and sat down on the table.

I did a small gleeful dance as I washed his dishes too and thanked him and ran off to bed.

Tomorrow IU would help me get my stuff back.

Soon, I will get my people back.

I will find Park Jimin.

I will win Jungkook back.

I will keep my promise to Irene.

I will get my best friend back.

I will heal my little brother.

I will get my hyung Namjoon back. Even though he hated it when I called him hyung. I wanted to fight with him again.

I wanted Jungkook to fight with Jimin over me again.

I wanted Jimin to sneak out and meet me again.

I wanted Leena to bitch with me about other people again. To support me wholeheartedly again.

I wanted Jungkook to be possessive over me again.

I wanted Jhope to take me back in and respect me again. Give me that special concession.

I wanted to be friends with Jisoo.

I wanted so much..

I would not back down from it.

Especially, not from gluing back Dr. Kim Taehyung's heart.

*

"So, pick whatever you like. I buy new dresses every week." She said casually as she took me to a massive bright room that was literally her closet. It was littered with thousands of outfits on hangers that seemed like they were right from a billionaire's auction.

"I don't think this is nice of me-"

"Just do it. I'm bored of most of these. I haven't worn most of them ever, anyway. I just want them gone so I can get myself new clothes."

I felt guilty because I loved her dressing sense.

She had a great sense of fashion. I loved pajamas, but her dresses were princess pajamas. I wanted them so bad.

"I can see you like them. Don't hesitate, Y/n. We have to hurry." She rolled her eyes.

I picked like a bunch of clothes. From pajamas, t-shirts, shirts, jeans, night gowns and she insisted for me to take the inner wears too. Insisted that they were loose on her. I cringed and she assured me that she hadn't touched them ever since they had come in.

After, my suitcase was full. She took me to her other part of the closet where she kept her routine care stuff.

"You can take some of my skin care routine stuff too. I can see you're breaking out." She was requesting me. Practically begging me.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" I asked.

"I'm bored. I like doing nice things." She shrugged disinterestedly as she threw a packet of face mask at me. I sat down on the small stool and looked around.

"Like the time you went out with Jungkook?"

She turned and laughed as she locked eyes with me, "How did you know?!"

Wow. Okay.

Poor Jungkook.

~

We stood under my ex-apartment complex with my suitcase.

"Just your books for today, huh?" She asked. I nodded silently. I couldn't get greedy.

"So here's the plan." She smiled wickedly at me and took my hand as she dragged me to the corner.

"We just have to get Jungkook to go to Leena's apartment and distract her. Or the other way round. Which would be safer?"

"I think, both are dangerous. Jungkook is alone. But at Leena's, there are possibly two more people who are hostile towards me and don't remember me."

"We'll deal with it." She dismissed my hesitant musings.

~

She rang Jungkook's doorbell as I stood behind the partition of the corridor far away and watched her.

"Hi!" She greeted him.

"IU. What do you want?" He asked. He placed his hands in his pockets and stared her up and down.

"There's a meeting downstairs. It's about this apartment's... phalange. It could get really serious and the residents want to discuss about it."

What utter load of crap?

I couldn't help but snort really loud and I had to pinch myself to quieten down.

"Phalange? What's that?" He asked as his stance loosened and he was now listening with worry splattered across his features.

"It's in the south side of the apartment, the doncortion part is collapsing under the phalange and in no time the whole rabbuchié could-"

"Hold up, I don't get a thing. I didn't even know there's a doncortion in the south side of the apartment." He frowned deeply.

"Why don't you come to the meeting and find out? I don't have time." She rolled her eyes exasperatedly.

"You don't even live here." He raised his eyebrows.

"Well, my friends do and they sent me because we went out on a date and they think I should do the informing because they are not comfortable."

Jungkook could be dumb at times.

Because, he nodded slowly and put on his shoes. He hurried with her.

"So how bad is the doncortion exactly?" He asked as the elevator doors closed.

I couldn't help but find myself giggling in incredulity as their elevator went down.

I ran down the staircase.

"Hi!" IU greeted a sleepy Namjoon.

My heart hurt. I wished I could meet him too.

"Oh-" pervert Namjoon exposed, "H-Hi!" He scratched the back of his neck and caught sight of Jungkook.

"Oh, hi Jungkook. What are you doing here? Do you guys want something?"

Jungkook crossed his arms over his chest.

"Apparently, there's something wrong in the condorction part of the apartment, the phalange is collapsing and soon the rabbuchié will break down." Jungkook explains and IU nods fervently. She had even forgotten the made-up words, but Jungkook's memory was good.

Thank God for that!

"Oh, my. That sounds serious. What the heck is that?!" He asked and I accidently laughed out loud and punch myself in the face to control myself. I see IU pinching her lips together to not burst out laughing too.

"I know. Didn't know we could have such issues in this apartment complex, she says they are holding a meeting downstairs." Jungkook explained as IU nodded again.

"Okay." Namjoon slipped his shoes on.

"They want signatures of all living residents in the apartments. If somebody else is there, bring them out too."

"Ugh.. my girlfriend-Leena.. she's sleeping."

"Would you rather her getting kicked out or her wake up and sign the papers?"

"Hyung, just listen to her. I gotta go game."

Namjoon nodded and went in and after 2 minutes he walked out with a groggy Leena.

"Anybody else home?"

"My little brother. He's sleeping." Leena yawns.

That is not your brother, BITCH!

I gritted my teeth at her angrily as IU made them both put on their shoes and brought them out.

I ran inside as soon as they were out of sight and grabbed whatever I could get my hands on.

Were they blind? Didn't they see my stuff and really believe I was part of this family too?

Seeing SanJi sleeping made my heart ache. I bent down and stroked his hair lightly. He stirred in his sleep and I quickly pulled away.

I didn't know my mood had changed so quickly. As I left my apartment with my stuff in my small suitcase, my eyes were welling up with tears.

I will walk back into this apartment once again and not by my choice.

Leena and Namjoon will beg me.

For now, I trusted Leena and Namjoon to be good parents to SanJi.

Technically, it wasn't that bad that she thought he was her brother. That way she would take good care of him.

I was satisfied.

I walked out with my two suitcases now and heard Jungkook and Namjoon arguing in the corridors. I quickly hid behind a shoe rack.

"She said there was a meeting!" Jungkook fired aggressively.

"Then where the hell did she go?" Leena demanded. "You ruined my Sunday morning sleep!"

"I don't know either. She was right here!"

"Maybe, she might be at the meeting. Let's go." Namjoon tried to appease them.

I jumped when a cold hand grabbed mine.

"Let's go." IU laughed. "Had a narrow escape. All stuff collected?"

I nodded, "How are you gonna face them the next time?"

"I don't have to." She laughed. "I am not afraid of anything. They'll probably think this was a dream. What proof do they have anyway?"

I didn't know what to say because I found myself laughing with her as we sneaked off to the elevator.

"I had fun today. Thanks Y/n. Should probably go on more adventures like this just for the heck of it. You know? Prank people." She said as we walk out of the elevator. She hired a cab for me.

I exhaled sadly, "I don't know how to thank you."

"See that doctor. And get therapy." She pushed me forward when the cab stopped in front of us.

"Make the most out of everything you have. I want you to have them back and only then can we be friends again. Today was the first and last day of our friendship."

I bit my bottom lip as my eyes welled up again. I yeeted them away Jungkook style as she shoved me into the cab. It felt like a dream.

"Go!"

"He will charge me this time." I argued back softly. Kim Taehyung no longer really remembered me.

"Here." She pulled out the credit card from her purse.

"Let this one come back to me when your dreams come true. It better not be any penny lesser. Work hard." She winked.

As the cab crawled away, I saw her throw her fist in the air. I read her lips.

"Fighting!" She smiled.

"Fighting, Y/n."

I opened the suitcase and found the phantom pen magically roll into my hand. The last thing Taehyung had given me for my protection.

Golden Black.

It was time to bring Dr. Kim Taehyung back, first. He needed it the most.

I will keep my promise made to you, Irene.

I will take care of Dr. Kim Taehyung.

***

Rabbuchié: pronounced :: Rab-boosh-ee
adjective : basically fancy rubbish lmao I just made that up

Sigh

Where can I get myself a friend like IU

Stay safe, happy and healthy everyone!

All the love.♥️

~TheAnonymousDude.