It had been chaotic.

At points, you found yourself shaking, overwhelmed, and uninterested in the numbing screeching from all the hungry reporters around you. It was one thing to sit and have Jungkook answer questions to openly express your stand as a "criminal" in front of all without your opinion, but to actually have PD Nim guide you out safely was a whole new topic.

All you remembered as you were being escorted out from the back route, was the thought of Jungkook struggling with all the media attention...on top of that, Yoongi had seemed to disappear out of sight the minute he had allowed the shameless photographer to protrude your personal space.

You felt your stomach sink. Now everyone will know my face...I wonder if Kim K. felt like this when the sex tape was released. (a/n: lmao jk, I'm an idiot that clearly finds sex tapes hilarious)

"You were brave in there today," PD Nim said softly by your ear before escorting you towards the car that BigHit was providing for you to take back to your home.

"Jungkook was brave."

"...and stupid."

You grinned a little at that. Surprised there was at least one individual that had showed you some kindness throughout this entire mess, it made you think highly of PD Nim. Even after all the bullshit you did, he seemed to keep an open mind and treat you like a human being. Because I am one at the end of the day...criminal or not, if someone cuts me I still bleed.

"I'll see you tomorrow," you said lightly, having that bit go straight through your teeth.

PD Nim nodded, closing the car door behind you when you successfully hoped in.

[now, you may wondering what I mean by that. No, PD Nim and I aren't a thing – I wish honey, but no. I was asked to work for Bangtan to...oh shit, I missed that part of the story to share, didn't I?? Oops, here, it'll all be clear in a moment.]

Sitting in the back of the car, you smiled at the driver that had no expression. It was slightly off-putting to know that this man knew exactly where you lived, while also, knew exactly how to get you there with secret routes.

Staring out the tinted glass, you moved past the reporters in the distance that were still lingering around the building. Probably all waiting to see if they could get a glance of me. Too late, Suga's photographer bitch beat you all.

...and now I'm stuck probably seeing them every day.

.

"It's still crowded out there," Jungkook said lowly, leaning against the dressing room's wall as he eyed you carefully by the couch's, "we'll get you home soon."

You were changed back into your clothing, hat on and ready to jet out. You felt safe with your hat on; it hid your beautiful eyes away from Jungkook's narrowed and testing ones.

"Okay."

"Thanks for helping me come clean out there," Jungkook said with difficulty, growing awkward as the minutes strolled by, "I caught everyone off guard by somewhat throwing you under the bus."

"Somewhat?" you questioned in disbelief.

Jungkook grinned a little at that, awkwardly rubbing his hand at his neck as he glanced around the racks of clothing.

"Whatever," you mumbled, ready to slump onto your couch next to your mother, "just get me home without having some other photographer catch a picture of me."

Jungkook's brows knitted and you rolled your eyes internally. You weren't planning on telling him what his older friend did to you during the conference, but you weren't planning on keeping the actual act a secret either.

"A photographer got a pic of me," you said lowly, boredom laced in your words as you stood up and started to fix your hat on your head.

Jungkook grew shocked, eyes wide. "What?" he asked breathless, not knowing why his stomach clenched in worry for you.

"Don't let your panties ride up your crack," you piped, moving your palm out in a "stop" gesture to show Jungkook his need for a relaxed state.

"Who, wha-"

"What, where, when, and how?" you joked, grinning a little before having your hands fall from your hat and land over onto your hips.

Jungkook's face remained. It was serious.

"I'll take care of myself," you said lowly, thinking about ways you can have that picture removed and never facing the public eye, "I know how to handle this."

"My boss," you said gently, finding it awkward to mention Jae in that light, "I'll tell him to help me out."

Jungkook's eyes now grew curious. He didn't know anything about what exactly sort of business you were mixed in. To him, you were a mystery: an annoying, teeth chattering, unamusing-joke-cracking mystery.

"...your boss."

"Yes."

"You sure he or she will help you outta this one?" he asked, skeptical.

"He probably won't," you thought out loud, forced smile peering onto your lips, "but I can beg and beg – OH wait, maybe I'll do what you think I do so easily and toss my body at him in hopes that he'll help me out." You grumbled the last bit, rolling your eyes before starting to gently pace in you're the perimeter near your resting spot.

Jungkook licked his bottom lip slowly at that.

"You're offended."

"No-duh," you mumbled lowly, moving to play around with the objects that sat at the dresser by the long mirrors in the room.

"If he doesn't help, I can try an-"

"I don't need your help," you said softly, smiling a little before looking at Jungkook through the mirror in front of you, "I've got a woman I can go to..." you thought of Vee, "I'll hope for the best. If not, I'll just hide away from all and every fan."

Jungkook bit at his lip.

It was silent for a long while.

All you kept thinking about was how the stress that clouded your body in that moment made you want to use the washroom's urgently. If you know what I mean, you piped internally, feeling your butt cheek's clench.

"I..."

You looked up at Jungkook through the mirror again. He seemed hesitant, instead of snapping over a remark at him, you simply remained quiet – waiting.

"I know about the jackets you stole the first time we caught you," Jungkook let out, breathing it out slowly so the shock and uncomfortable atmosphere could hit you slowly.

"Oh," you popped.

"Yes," he said gently, nodding a little as he second-guessed what he was about to propose.

"I can't get them back for you," you truthfully admitted.

"I know."

"Cool."

"It's just," Jungkook licked his bottom lip a little, "I've got an offer for you."

"Offer?"

Jungkook didn't know why, but he wanted to help you. He wanted to help your family and your living circumstances – for as, in his eyes, you were struggling with money and were forced to be in such criminal-like situations. He knew what it was like to have a mother and father, and he could only imagine what certain conditions you might be in...I'll help anyway I can.

"Work for Bangtan...work with Lia and that way you'll get paid legally without getting mixed in with such businesses," Jungkook said lowly, voicing what PD Nim had talked to him about earlier.

You dropped the comb that you picked up playfully from before the mirror.

It landed on to the ground by your feet – loud and obnoxious it was.

.

And that's what happened behind the scenes. He offered you a job, you refused it. But then he went on to mumble money prices and all you could think of was the debt you owed Jae. Sure, stealing and working for him this way was making the money grow faster. But, it also made you feel terrible every time you were to do such a thing.

So you eventually agreed and said yes. Yes, you were going to work for BigHit.

This way, you could slowly pay off all the money you owe Bangtan and BigHit as a whole, all while easing into paying off Jae as well. It will take longer than stealing, but at least, at this rate, you didn't feel completely terrible while doing it.

Slow and steady wins the race, no?

You sighed. Eyes shutting shut as you lightly let your forehead rest against the window's glass.

You let sleep find your stressful self.

Everything will be okay.

Everything will be okay.

Everything will be horrible, who am I kidding?

...having to see staff that hates the sight of me, every day? Lia? Yoongi?

Heck, even Jin seemed to give me the stink eye.

I am doomed.

But if I die this way, at least it will be done in more of a moral light...maybe I won't have to feel like a butt-plug every time I pay Jae.

You find your mind wander. You were going to be okay. You were going to be strong.

You weren't going to let Jungkook's kindness, slash, pity-party go to waste.

Let's not be a criminal for once, you lowly sighed to yourself, smiling a little to trick your body into being more optimistic in the car.

[and as of this point my fellow audience, is where your life changed forever.]