How do you like Season 4?

😭80 K???!!! Thank you! 😭

There's also a quote at the end.

➰➰➰

"Layla bring her back by 10."
Layla turned to Taehyung with a look of disbelief. Taehyung met her with a more serious look.

"Seriously? A curfew...for her? What are you doing? You're acting like you're her father." Layla scoffed and she turned back to the boys who were watching them leave.

"Aww, leave him be Layla," Jimin snickered as he flung his arm over Taehyung's shoulder. "He just wants her back home safe and sound in his arms. Al~l so he could do dirty thing to her. What sly wolf..."

"Shut up Jimin. Mia, we have things we have left to do at home...come home before 10." Taehyung gave Mia a knowing look and Mia flinched as he mentioned coming back "home" to him. She had a feeling it would be more of her screaming his name.

"We'll be back by then." Mia nodded as she instinctively got closer to Layla—for other reasons.

"Come on Mia, let's get away from here. There's too much testosterone in the air." Layla mumbled as Mia chuckled lightly. Soon they began to gain some distance between the males and only when they would not be able to hear them or read their lips, Layla brought it up. "Mia...are you not going to tell me about it?"

"No...I will. It's just." Mia was walking with Layla back to Layla's car. "Can we go somewhere...just as long as we aren't here." Mia emphasized as she looked back at the campus. They were far from the boys but Mia was aware that it was not the boys she was afraid of, it was the campus that had him in it.

"Okay, lets go." Layla stepped into her cobalt blue car and waited for Mia to enter into the passenger seat. Once seated, Layla asked. "Is there anywhere specific?"

"No, anywhere is fine." Mia placed the seat belt securely and looked away from the side mirror. She had thought she had seen Mark. She ignored that because she was paranoid. Since she first saw him again, Mia had become too paranoid of Mark.

➰➰➰

They were at a club, in a private room, where quiet was given to them as sounds were blocked off to give the guests privacy. It was one of those hush-hush rooms.

"So..." Layla sipped her martini. Mia had her blue lagoon.

"I..."Mia had some alcohol in her and that made her feel more relaxed. "It's Mark."

"I know..." Layla did not mean to sound sassy. She was actually really nervous and that was not good news for her because Layla was never nervous. It was not in her blood. "I know, there's only two people you would avoid like the plague and it's Taehyung or Mark."

Mia stayed quiet, her fingerhbails tipping the skin off her lips.

"Stop that!" Layla frowned as she saw Mia rip too deep and her lips began to bleed.

"Sorry..." Mia apologized, it was a habit that only came to light she was really anxious.

"No need to be sorry to me, be sorry to your poor bleeding lips." Layla frowned as she saw the ruby colored blood flow from the plump lips.

"Mark...he recently...." Mia shuddered at the recollection of that night.

"Yes?" Layla pressed for her to continue. She wanted Mia to know that she was listening and that this was a safe place for her to speak about her worries.

"He came back...and I saw him. But that's not really the problem. He...doesn't stay away and he won't listen to me." Mia pressed her lips together before sighing finally. "Mark has changed."

Layla had heard from Jimin that Mark was back and it had been the sole reason for Taehyung's irk nowadays. Layla also did some digging and found that the Mark that she had been acquainted with had changed exponentially. She had almost not recognized him.

"Yeah, I noticed." There was a bitterness to Layla's tone. She didn't like him. From the gecko, she had not liked him.

"He's changed. And I'm not sure if it was for the better. He's changed so much that I feel like it was always him, that he had been like this from the beginning." Mia really did not like this changed Mark. He terrified her and when she looked at him, her body would be covered in chills. Mia felt as if being near hims stole all the warmth she had. "He's aggressive...a lot more aggressive than before."

"Taehyung's aggressive..." Layla stopped as she was trying to defend someone she didn't even know or cared about.

"Yes, but Layla...when Mark is being like this...I get scared."

"Mia, I think you should tell Taehyung." Layla's advice for her was contradictory to what Mia wanted and she knew that, but Layla also knew that there was no one who could really take a stand except Taehyung.

Mark was a formiddle foe and Layla was not sure completely sure who Mark was. And that was one thing Layla made sure she knew about her foe: who they were. Layla did not know who Mark was and if Mia did not either...

Mark was like a bridge high up in the mountains, connecting two ridges. He was like that but the problem was that the bridge was hidden by a heavy fog and because of the fog, those looking and hoping to cross the bridge can you not see the state of the bridge. That meant that they did not know if the bridge was new, old, sturdy, rackety with holes and broken pieces. And if all they see is the ropes or wire that the bridge begins...it was a risk for them.

And Layla herself and Taehyung never took risks that they could not handle because despite their youth and young age, the responsibilities they held was large.

But...that also meant that Mia would not, should not, be dealing with Mark by herself.

"No!" The last thing that Mia wanted was for Taehyung to find out all about Mark. "Layla, Taehyung can't know about this."

"Mia...he needs to know about this. He can help you..."

"I know..."

"You know Mia...we haven't been friends long but there's something more that you aren't telling me." Layla began, knowing this time was very confusing for her. "You're not scared just because Taehyung...or Mark is being aggressive. That doesn't make sense. I've gotten to know you well and you're not the type to just whither away in your shell just because some ex boyfriend came back with a new face and outfit."

"..." Mia looked at the pretty patterns on the glass in her hand.

"Mia, what are you hiding from Taehyung...what did Mark do to you?" Layla knew he did something.

"He...it's not that big of a deal." She bit her lips painfully.

"Mia...tell me." Layla watched as Mia kept her lips tightly sealed. She did not want to resort to do this, but she would have to. "Or I'll just tell Taehyung everything about your little secret." This one was something Layla really wanted to tell Taehyung.

"Layla! You promised!"

"I'm not going to keep it, if you're just going to wallow this up in yourself, I'm going to just tell Taehyung. It'll be easier to get rid of Mark..."

"Fine...a couple of days a go, when I came home..." Mia looked at Layla cautiously before continuing, "Mark was at my studio. And he tried to rekindle something...he didn't take it too well...when I didn't want it."

"What?" Layla screamed. "Mia...when you say rekindle—y-you don't mean..."

"I-I just don't feel safe..." Mia interjected not wanting to think about that night. It had not ended too badly. He had stopped his advances before anything. "With...him. Just don't tell Taehyung that Mark did that."

"Why not?"

"Taehyung...recently he has been in a good mood. He's not as angry anymore. And, I don't want him to..."

"Mad? Upset? At you?" Layla wondered something. Recently its been bothering her—mainly because she was just extremely curious of it. Another part of her though was because Taehyung was showing very good signs. She had heard. Layla had heard all about what Taehyung had told Jimin.

This was a pivotal moment for Taehyung—no, all of them.

Layla sighed.

It really was complicated. There was so much to consider with Mia's problem, Mark's problem and Taehyung's problem. In all honesty only Taehyung would be the highest but that was because for Layla, Taehyung would always be her top priority, then Mia.

Mark was not really anything to Layla. He was nothing to her. She only cared that Mark was an obstacle that stood between a completely free Mia and Taehyung.

Mia was hiding something. Just like Taehyung was. Their secrets though...would have to be delved further later. Layla would for now help with Mia in getting some clarity because the young woman needed it.

"Here's the thing Mia. To be frank—I think it's time you chose." Layla watched as Mia understood well.

She could guess that Mia had also been thinking about this. It had also been on her mind as well.

"Yes," Layla gave her a look—half serious, half hopeful with a tint of pity. "Mia...keep it simple. Taehyung or Mark..."

But Layla knew. It was never as simple as it should be.

➰➰➰

Like life, nothing is simple as it seems.