Jungkook's P.O.V

As I walked through the noisy park, I just couldn't stop thinking about what had happened the day before. Much to my great annoyance. And honestly, confusion. As much as I hated it, I was confused. I had experienced a foreign emotion for the first time because of some teenager. I knew immediately that it was dangerous. Feeling was dangerous. The most obvious choice was to avoid Yugyeom, no matter what. I would simply go back to alienating myself from him and everyone.

With a firm nod, I kept walking. I walked, trying to keep my mind blank, until I came upon what I was looking for. The two laid on the grass, gazing up at the sky. I scoffed and leaned against a tree, waiting for Jimin to feel my presence. But all they did was stare up, looking like fools, until Jimin began to speak quietly. I frowned at the fact that he still hadn't noticed me. Was he really so infatuated that he couldn't even see me physically? I crossed my arms and waited, watching carefully.

But when the girl suddenly smiled, I felt my eyes widen and my heart speed up. All I could think about suddenly was the day before. With a gasp, I turned and slammed my back against the tree, hidden from sight. It seemed any genuine emotion reminded me of the emotion I'd felt. Because it was genuine. I cursed as my breathing calmed, trying to decide whether or not I should just leave. Shaking my head, I forced my frozen feet to move, and I began to hurry away from the Jimin and Aera.

I found myself suddenly wondering if this was how Jimin had felt. Had he been confused and frustrated with his emotions? Had he tried to suppress them? Or being the fool he was, had he let them in? I scowled and clenched and unclenched my fists. All of this was Yugyeom's fault. Everything happening to me was because he wasn't put off by my coldness. Why was he so oblivious? Anger coursed through me. Everything was falling apart because of Yugyeom.

I stopped in my tracks when I realized there was only one solution at this point. Yugyeom had to be removed.

Aera's P.O.V

"Why do you keep looking at that guy?" Jackson suddenly hissed at me.

I jumped in surprise and glanced at him.

"What are you talking about?"

He nodded his head to the student who sat a few rows in front of us.

"Him, with the black," Jackson said. "You've been staring at him for the past twenty minutes."

"No, I haven't," I told him quickly.

"Yeah, you have." Jackson looked at him again. "Is the back of him really that attractive?"

"I don't find him attractive!" I snapped, gaining a few stares from the students closest to us. "I don't."

"Well then why do you keep watching him?"

Honestly, this was how it went every time I had class with Jackson and Jungkook. I would try not to, but I couldn't help but keep an eye on Jungkook out of wariness and anxiety. I knew he wouldn't try anything in front of everyone, but I was still scared.

"Jackson...do you think there's something off about him?" I decided to ask.

"I mean no. He's Yugyeom's friend," Jackson replied, watching Jungkook with me.

"So?"

"So I can't think bad about him."

"Okay, then, honestly, without Yugyeom knowing, do you find anything about Jun-Jungkook to be sort of...dark?" I tried again.

Jackson watched him for a second before looking back to me.

"Yeah. His clothes," Jackson said seriously, before cracking a grin.

I wanted to be annoyed, yet I couldn't help but smile slightly, rolling my eyes as well. Inside, though, I was a bit disappointed. I just wanted someone to see Jungkook the way I did when I first saw him. I knew from the moment he spoke that he wasn't good in any way. So why could no one else see that?

"Why, do you think he is?" Jackson was asking.

I blinked as my thoughts came to a halt.

"Oh. I mean...I don't know," I said quietly, turning my eyes to Jungkook again.

I could feel Jackson's suspicious eyes on me, but he didn't say anything else. So I just continued to silently keep watch.

••••••

"It feels like I haven't seen you in forever," Yugyeom had texted.

I smiled softly at that before replying.

"Well when are you free?"

I turned off my phone and stuck it back in my pocket, continuing on my way to the park. It didn't buzz again until I was sitting at the bench, waiting for Jimin.

"Tonight! Are you free tonight?" Yugyeom had asked.

I paused before responding.

"Yeah. What time?"

We made plans to meet in front of the girl's dorm building at seven. I smiled at the thought of seeing him, but Jungkook's words slithered through my head suddenly. "Almost seems like you've found a replacement..." I winced and shook my head. No, Yugyeom was just my friend. But deep inside the back of my mind, I wondered if maybe I really was trying to replace Jimin?

Maybe I had been, when I was in that dark place. But now I knew he was only a good friend, and Jimin was Jimin.

••••

"Hey you," I said as Yugyeom's tall figure came into view.

He grinned and jogged up to me.

"Hi, noona," he replied. "It's been too long."

I nodded in agreement.

"So where are we gonna eat?" I asked.

He was silent for a second.

"I was thinking we could just eat at my place. My parents aren't home so it won't be awkward or anything," Yugyeom told me.

"That's fine," I said, starting to walk away from the dorm. "But why did you come all the way here?"

"Oh. I don't know. It was dark, so I didn't want you to walk alone..." he trailed off sheepishly.

"Thanks, Yugyeom," I said, smiling up at him. "But next time, you don't have to go to so much trouble."

"It's fine," he replied.

We continued to walk towards the edge of campus; I followed Yugyeom's lead, since I'd never been to or seen his house. Honestly, I was glad he'd come to walk with me. I hated the dark now, after everything that'd happened in it. But I felt bad that he thought it was necessary to come all the way.

"What've you been up to lately?" He asked suddenly.

"College stuff. And hanging out with..." I trailed off, realizing Yugyeom didn't even know Jimin existed.

He looked at me expectantly.

"Friends...sorry. What about you?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"Same here. I went bowling with Jungkook, the other day actually," he said, smiling to himself.

But I felt my body come to a complete stop. Yugyeom did the same when he noticed I wasn't beside him anymore. He turned to look at me in confusion.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"You went bowling...with Jungkook?" I asked slowly.

I suddenly recalled his fake exterior when I'd first seen him at the mall. How friendly he was with Yugyeom. How genuine he'd been. But I had soon found out that it had all been a mask. So why was he still hanging around Yugyeom? Was he still trying to hurt the people close to me? Or did Jungkook actually enjoy being with Yugyeom? But that's not possible...it's too...human. And Jungkook was far from human. He'd made that pretty clear.

"Aera, what's wrong?" Yugyeom asked again, starting to sound worried.

"Nothing. Just zoning out, sorry," I said quickly. "I need more sleep."

I gave him a half smile and continued, but inside, I was hyperventilating. How was I supposed to tell Yugyeom his friend wasn't even human?