It was hard.

It was hard going to school where eyes were on you at all points. Whispers, yelling and screaming when people recognized you. Some words were degrading and made you want to attack, while others were just plain on sad.

So, yes. It was hard.

But wearing your blue cap made it easier. It calmed you since it made you feel like you were invisible underneath the shade that it casted onto your upper face.

You could barely last the first period of class because even then professor in front seemed to give you an awkward glance. Sighing to yourself, you tried to ignore the feeling of always being watched as you took a hold of your things and finally left the lecture hall.

Mom had said this blowing over will take time, you thought internally, sighing, I just wish it could blow over faster...

Moving down the quiet hallway, you didn't pay attention to much other than the colours on the walls. Through all the mess that was this scandal you were involved in; nothing was more refreshing than coming back to school. Shocker, I know. Who would possibly miss school? You did. You missed the walls that used to be so suffocated before all this extreme drama took place...now, the school's walls seemed to be nothing compared to the walls of your bedroom you were trapped in for days.

Just stepping out of the house lately felt like a new breath of air circulating within you. It was an amazing feeling. Were you thankful? Yes. Have you thanked any of the boys yet? No. Sadly, looking over at all the conspiracies and fan-based drama spreading online, you didn't know if it was smart of you to go over and try to speak to the boys. The last thing I want is to have a picture taken of me outside of the BigHit building.

Your phone rang causing you to jump out of your thoughts as you slowly dragged your feet on the tiles of the school floor.

"Hello?" you said softly into the phone.

You smiled for the first time in forever when hearing the voice on the other end. The voice of the woman that had been taking care of you a lot the past few days.

"Hi," you popped out, a stroking of relief moving through your once frustrated body.

"How's school so far?" the voice asked, chuckling over the overly-excited tone that escaped from you.

"Okay," you lied, wanting to change the subject as fast as possible, "...but what about you? You finally move all your stuff back into the building?"

"No, I got lazy with half the belongings," the woman laughed out, seeming to be moving around while speaking to you on the phone. "I'll probably just get one of the boys to help move me back in...I'm just glad I'm not permanently fired."

You smiled, "Lia, it was a misunderstanding. Plus, I'm sure they'd regret not having you on the team if they kept you away for too long."

Lia sighed.

You knew what the woman was going to probably say next. This was about the jackets going missing, and how even you said "it was a misunderstanding". Now that everyone at the building knew that, you were told by Lia that many staff started to feel bad about it as well. The same staff that used to give you looks of judgement months back. Sure, you had felt saddened that so many people were upset at the building because of the fact, but did that make you want to go and visit? No. No it didn't.

"It was a misunderstanding that led Jungkook and Namjoon to behave the way they did," Lia tried softly.

You rolled your eyes.

"I don't blame them for doubting me," you said back, knowing Lia was tense when talking about this entire thing, "I stole from them before so I'd be the perfect suspect. I get that bit...so I'm not angry at Namjoon."

"But you're angry at Jungkook," Lia finished for you.

You pursed your lips at the mention of the maknae. Swearing internally as you tried not to think all about the boy and everything that had occurred with him and your closet, you felt your face grow red. "N-No, I'm not mad at him."

Lia smiled a little.

"You're disappointed."

"It's just he said a few things that I can't unhear," you softly explained, growing more and more uncomfortable.

Even your feet started to walk zombie-like at this point, barely making large steps in the hallway at all.

"I understand," Lia said gently. You could hear the slight smile in her voice.

"...But uh," you tried to regain your excited tone again, trying to change the topic a second-time, "If anything, I'll come help you out with your things tonight as well."

"You sure? Jin might be here...and I can't guarantee if others show up with him," Lia said, not wanting you to walk in on something you weren't comfortable with.

Walking around a corner of a hallway, you managed to slowly move outside towards the exit. A sudden grin plastered your face at the mention of Jin.

"Ooo, Jin's coming?" you teased, hearing the woman tell you to lightly shut up over the other end.

Chuckling, it felt great to be genuine about a laugh as you let the slightly chilly air hit your cheek.

"I work for him, that is all," Lia said lightly, her voice barely above a whisper.

You giggled at that, prancing down the rest of the steps as you moved onto the sidewalk that stretched in the direction of the upcoming parking lot. It was all pretty silent. All you heard was Lia's scolding tone over the phone.

"Just come by later you trouble maker," Lia chimed out.

You giggled again, smiling as you hummed out a "mhm" and had your gaze bounce away from the ground while walking past the parking lot and towards the bus stops.

Saying your goodbyes, you sighed before placing the phone back into your pocket. Focused ahead, you moved a strand of your hair behind your ear, fixed your hat, and continued to walk.

"Get in."

Jumping, you almost choked on spit when gawking over at the sudden voice that spoke out from next to you. Eyes narrowing when spotting Vee, you stood in your spot for a moment. "What is up with you and scaring the fuck out of me when I'm at school?" you chimed out, seeing the woman having her arm rested coolly onto the window's opening.

"You're technically not at school anymore," Vee corrected, grinning when you rolled your eyes and started to walk down the sidewalk again.

Vee sighed, moving the car so that she was at the same speed as how you walked. Face tired, the woman tried her hardest not to act like she was begging you to come into the car. Instead, she focused on the task at hand...

"I'm not going to lie to you anymore because you're my friend," Vee started, watching as you started to slow down in curiosity at that, "the real reason I'm here is because I have to take you somewhere."

You stopped at that. Brows knitted, you looked over at the beautiful woman in confusion.

"Where?"

Vee's nose scrunched.

"Promise me you won't run away if I tell you?"

You let the curiosity get the best of you before facing the car completely.

"I might run?"

"Yup," Vee sighed out, lamely scratching at her head of hair, "...'cause you're not going to like where I'm about to take you."

-

"You were right, I really don't like where you've brought me," you said through your teeth, trying your hardest not to wrongfully snap over at the woman that was simply doing her job at this point.

Vee smiled painfully over at you before tapping lightly at your hand, her pinky reassuringly squeezed with yours before she moved behind you, disappearing into the hall so she could leave the sketchy area herself.

"I'll wait in the car for ya," Vee said softly, debating whether she should disobey rules and simply stay with you.

She decided against it when you reassured that you'd be alright. Were you lying? Possibly yes. But you didn't want her to suffer more than Vee already was for her family. I understand her position since I've been in it, you mentally noted, so I'm not about making her life harder.

Knocking over at the door in front of you, it was a foreign movement since evetime you used to be here, you'd walk right in without question. But now, today, you knocked and waited until a confused and sleepy face came to open at it.

Watching as the half-asleep face seemed to squint open one eye to see you outside his door, you felt your jaw clench when he smiled lightly, nodding for you to come in after him.

Stepping into the place that you had entered millions of times before, you felt uncomfortable for the first time in a long time. Normally, you were just tired and exhausted with the presence of the boy, but never in a million years did you think you'd be intimidated by him.

"What do you want Jae?" you snapped out, hating that the only way he could get you here was by forcing and threatening Vee.

It's surprising how powerless and under-the-shadow's lifestyle he lives, yet, Jae has many people he could easily twirl around his finger if he wanted to. Many people including you. Behind all your smart-ass remarks and comebacks, you still struggle with getting rid of the man.

"Good morning to you too," Jae said, chuckling lightly as he moved towards the messy table that sat far across from his un-made bed.

You forced your eyes away from his toned back and over to the table that he seemed to be walking towards. Uncomfortable, you were confused when watching him pick up at a few bundles of cash, only to slowly walk over to you.

"I sent Vee to fetch you for this," Jae said lowly, extending the hundreds that probably sat in his hands, "It's extra money from the pictures that you made public. You owe me nothing at this point, but there's a remainder that it's rightfully mine so..." He arched the money forward, wiggling over at it for your shocked form to take.

"No thank you," you said lowly, barely looking the man in the eye as you stepped back.

Something within you was disappointed. He made Vee drive me here for this? You didn't know why it bothered you...maybe you wanted an apology, or even a slight look in the man's eyes so that you can come terms with the fact that he might feel guilty for all that he had done to you. But nope. Jae being Jae, I see.

Jae licked at his bottom lip at that. Watching as you failed to look over at him, he stared over at your attire. From your hat, to your sweater, to your jeans and shoes. His eyes lingered on your jeans for a moment. "I realize what I did to you that day—" he cut himself off when your eyes slowly narrowed in his direction.

Jae glanced at the hat a couple of times, his mind on your brother as he choked up on his pride and continued to say what he had been struggling to wrap in his twisted mind for a while now. "I shouldn't have tried to touch you in the way I did."

You tried not to cringe over how blunt the man was. Feeling your face grow red, you crossed your arms over your chest before awkwardly taking a step back from the man.

"You had no right to touch me. Period," you snapped out softly, glancing over at Jae who nodded slowly.

"I guess I'm not great with social ques," he said lightly, eyes staring over at your uncomfortable face.

"Or boundaries," you added, eyes a little harsh.

"If it helps," he tried, swallowing lightly, "I felt weird about the entire thing later myself...I've never really touched you in that way before and it was crazy to think about when getting home. Not that I'm trying to justify my actions...but uh, in my head I was angrily over the affect Jungkook had on you. But in your and everyone else's mind, what I did was probably very very humiliating and violating."

Your eyes narrowed at that. Remembering him trying to reach into your pants.

Jae grew uncomfortable, almost childishly gulping down a lump as he continued, "I-I was told this...a woman explained to me how my actions may not have been the best."

Your eyes narrowed further.

"What woman?"

"That doesn't matter," Jae said lowly, trying to get to his viewpoint and have you see from his mindset. But it was impossible. No one ever understood his mind. "What matters is that you understand that even I was shocked with myself and I realize now that it was a stupid move on my part."

You didn't say anything. You didn't understand him, and as of right now, you wanted to leave the one-storey place completely.

"What? It's true," Jae said, smiling a little at the clear expression on your face, "We barely even kissed when we were dating. So, you probably understand what I did was not out of sexual tendencies at all."

You moved your tongue towards your inner cheek. Feeling yourself growing red for different reasons now, there was a saddening pit within you at that mention. It was true. He barely touched you when the two of you had dated. But ouch, did that hurt or what?

"I know I wasn't good enough for you," you said softly, eyes harsh.

Jae's brows jumped, eyes narrowing a little himself as he tried to re-evaluate all that had been said. Wait, what? No, that's not what I meant.

You continued, "But that's exactly why what you did was and never will be okay Jae. You've never touched me. Never. And the first time you did, you caught me by surprise by manhandling me in front of Jungkook...you see what's wrong about that right?"

You watched as the man's face became unreadable.

"I'm sorry."

Your brows jumped a little at that.

Watching as he became uncomfortable as well, both of you knew he rarely ever apologized. So this, this was an incredible shock to the both of you.

"What?"

"What?" he breathed out too, eyes growing harsh while your turned soft.

"You just—"

"You want the money or not?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

You tried to catch yourself from going into complete awe. Blinking rapidly, you looked over at the money and shook your head. "I'd want to leave," you breathed out, voice slightly high in pitch when trying to still recover from the apology.

Jae nodded, moving towards the door as he opened it for you. Eyes on the ground and feet determined to rush out, you were so close to freedom. So close. Instead, when your nose was practically touching the flying door, you watched it close before you. Brows furrowing, it was hard for you to process what occurred next. All that was felt was a gentle tug at the hips and the sudden feeling of the back of your head resting against a surface.

Blinking rapidly, you moved awkwardly against the door that your form was suddenly pressed against. Breath getting caught in your throat, it took you another moment to process your cap tipping upwards when a head swooped down to gently near yours.

Lips met yours.

You were shock, brows furrowing a little when feeling how the man kissed you. Softly trying to match the way his lips fit with yours, you were caught off guard when Jae deepened the kiss.

Squeaking, you pushed at his chest. Feeling his lips move off you, you awkwardly brought your hands off his muscular chest and over in the air.

"What the fuck?" you breathed out, feeling overwhelmed from the sudden ambush.

Jae licked at his lips for a moment, his eyes studying your expression before him.

"Like that, right?" he asked, eyes narrowing in curiosity.

"What?" you asked, wishing for your cheeks to cool down in temperature.

"That's what you meant by being uncomfortable and being caught off by surprise...you don't expect me to kiss you so me doing this is bad?"

You found yourself wanting to run out. The fact that the man was so close to you wasn't helping either. Confused over his questions, you swallowed harshly, forcing your eyes to meet his.

"Yes. Kissing me out of no where is bad."

"Just like how I'm not supposed to be touching your genitals out of no where...cause that's—"

"Bad," you squeaked out, hating how blunt he was being.

Jae nodded, almost as if he were memorizing the information given towards him.

"But what if I were to ask you?"

"Ask me what?"

"If I could kiss you? Asking would change things, right?"

You swallowed.

"Bitch," you said through your teeth, wanting to kick him in between your legs because he was confusing you to the max, "If you don't move your half-naked ass away from my face, I will not hold back when it comes to attacking you."

Jae grinned at that. It was smug.

Wanting your insides to curl over and rip apart, you found yourself to finally breath when he stepped away.

Before he could say anything, you ran out. You managed to instantly wipe at your lips as you did however, shivering as your eyes shut, you forced yourself not to awkwardly curl up into a ball from embarrassment before hopping into Vee's car.

"Did Jae talk to you about anything out of the ordinary? ...Like about me?" you asked, wondering if she was the woman Jae was referring to earlier.

Vee was slightly taken aback by the sudden voice from you. Seeing you get buckled into the car, Vee shook her head, confused beyond belief.

"Okay..." you said trailing off. Seeing as Vee was about to ask further, you beat her to it, forcing a smile on your red face, "Could you drop me off to Lia's?"

"You alright?" Vee asked in concern, ignoring you trying to suddenly change the topic from the confusing one you had brought up.

"Ask me in about five minutes," you said, slapping over at the driver's wheel as you practically begged for Vee to drive.

-

"Ask me in about five minutes," Jin piped irritated, brow cocking over towards Yoongi and the maknae that struggled with carrying out a few containers in their hands.

"I will," Lia chuckled out, staring away from the man that was pretending to be able to lift heavy-weighted objects for her and towards Yoongi and Jungkook instead.

"What about you guys? You alright?" she tried, sweetly moving to go check up on the others that were helping her out.

"We're fine," Yoongi said, moving past Lia.

"Yes," Jungkook said, chuckling as he softly smiled in Lia's direction, "We're just glad to finally have you in office again."

"I'm glad too," Lia said, smiling genuinely back at the maknae that always seemed to be the sweetest one towards her.

"Jungkook-ah, come on, no slacking now," Jin piped, moving towards them in an instant as he tried to pick over at a few racks that probably weighed more than him.

Jungkook chuckled, rolling his eyes before excusing himself and picking up about three racks all in one. Surprising and impressing Lia with the sudden challenge, Jin's eyes narrowed when Jungkook winked over at him and left for the hallway.

"He's really strong," Lia piped, smiling a little before she moved to carry for herself.

Jin moved cutely around her and got to the racks she was trying to pick up first. She was surprised and thanked him, slightly worried as he was forcing his shaking arms to be holding abut four racks all together now.

"Woah, okay, maybe you shouldn't hold all four..."

"No," he sang out, smiling over at Lia as charmingly as he could, "I offered to help you and that's what I'm doing."

Lia shyly laughed, moving a strand behind her ear for a moment as tried not to feel so uneasy over Jin hurting himself as he moved to follow the maknae out.

"You're strong too," she chimed out, trying to be playful.