Jimin's composure shatters.

His eyes widen as he stares blankly at the announcer, his body frozen to the ground with shock. My eyes immediately turn towards Im Jisung, who's smirking in Jimin's direction.

"A dual act?" He mumbles emptily, seeming to address no one in particular. "When— how...?"

"What's wrong?" Jungkook speaks up, his quiet voice barely audible between the murmurs rousing up in the crowd of people. "Is he okay?"

His eyes blink green.

"He isn't okay." He answers himself, turning to me for explanation. "What's wrong, Minah? Please tell me."

"I—I don't understand." I whisper as my hands curl by my sides. "They never said anything about this... I don't—"

"I understand." Jungkook's sudden claim startles me, and I look to him in surprise as he marches over to Jimin. He then grips his wrist and begins to drag him towards back stage where they're starting to call numbers.

I can't go backstage— and neither can Jungkook. What is he thinking?

"Don't worry about him." He calls back, giving me a light smile as he half-drags Jimin's sluggish form.

"I'll make sure he wins this competition."

_________________________

After forcing myself to sit through the first few routines, I finally scramble off my seat and head backstage. I had to know what the two were planning— it was killing me not to know.

But as soon as I try to slip in through the door, I realize it's locked. Cursing quietly, I shut out the deafening music in the background as I twist the knob again.

"Students aren't allowed here." A sudden voice says, and I look up guiltily to see a man who seems to be something like security.

"I-I'm a friend of one of the participants." I plead, trying to make my eyes as believable as possible. "He forgot something important for his performance— I have to go give it to him."

"Then it's his fault for being careless." The man shrugs, and I stick a tongue at his back when he's not looking as I trudge back to my seat.

I'm still sulking on my seat when a sudden murmurs spread throughout the crowd, and I don't have a choice but to look up.

Instead of the AIs I'd been hoping to see, I see Im Jisung. My brows furrow in distaste as soon as I see him taking over the spotlight, his partner forgotten in the darkness.

What a stupid jerk.

Even though he makes me grimace, I have to admit that he'd improved even further from before. My lips purse when he runs through one difficult move after another, his technique flawless.

And when I hear the crowd explode into roars and applause after his performance, I begin to worry.

________________________

I recognize Jimin the moment I see him, along with the excited mumbles that I hear everywhere.

He's wearing a pale mask, the color matching the tight white jeans that hug his slender legs as he walks out into the silver spotlight. His hands are trembling so violently I think I can see it from here.

A mask?

Worry instantly grows in my heart as I sneak a glance at the panel of judges, their faces stony and condemning as they gaze at the masked boy on the stage.

Then soft music begins to flow out from the speakers, and shock twists my features when I see Jimin throw away the routine he'd practiced just like that.

And somehow, this impromptu he'd just created is hundreds more graceful, more elegant.

When Jimin stills after his dance, the silence hanging over the audience is so tense it's suffocating. I'm clenching my eyes together when a click of another spotlight sounds from the stage.

A boy dressed in black looks into the crowd, eyes sparkling behind a dark mask as he shifts to the side.

It's Jungkook.

Realization slowly dawns on me as music slices through the silence, nothing similar to the tranquil melody from before.

And then I know.

They're doing a contrast— and it's already clear when Jungkook showcases the power in his movement that I'd seen before in the practice room.

It's breathtaking, and I can feel that the others feel that too.

_________________________

1000 votes.

That had been the difference between the first and second places, a stunning range. Jimin still looks shocked as he nervously grips the gold-tinted award, shooting glances back to Im Jisung.

I've never seen him look so mad, even when he'd lost to me in Taekwondo a few years back.

"S-Should I be this happy?" Jimin says softly as he looks back from Jisung's fuming face, biting his lip. "I don't th—"

"Hyung." Jungkook says firmly, his stare steady. "Just because you're an AI doesn't mean you can't hate someone. It doesn't mean you won't turn rogue."

"You're allowed to be happy, you know."

When he says that, my eyes flicker to him at the sadness in his voice. His gaze is pinned down to the ground, and I can't help but worry at the forlorn look on his face.

But that expression is gone in a flash, and the green that had shone vibrantly abates so quickly that I almost think maybe I'd imagined it.

"11:56!" I exclaim, trying to lighten his features. "Do you want to get some food? I—"

"11:56?!" Jungkook suddenly says, his face turning pale as he looks at me with with an expression that almost looks... terrified.

"Jungkook...?"

"I-I need to go." He suddenly says, his voice so soft I barely hear the words as he turns back.

The back of my neck chills, and I see Jimin look at me with a worried expression as Jungkook quickly disappears among the crowd heading out the door.

We both share the same thought, but don't dare say it.

Should we follow him?

Jimin acts first, slipping the medal into his collar and running into the crowd towards the direction where Jungkook had gone. I soon follow, yelling I'm sorry and Excuse me for a million times as I trace Jimin's steps.

_________________________

Jimin pulls me behind a tree, his eyes intent as I gape at the huge mansion that Jungkook rushes inside. It's clear the person living inside it is stinking rich.

Was Jungkook their AI?

"Ah!" A small squeak escapes my lips when Jimin suddenly pushes my head down, his eyes widened as he gazes at the multiple cameras hung underneath the roof.

"Shh." He says softly, lips brushing against my ear. Even though his voice is steady, I feel his heart racing as I nod and slowly peek out again.

"There's a camera there— see it?" Jimin whispers as he turns my face towards the side of the building, his hands cupping my cheeks. "Be aware of it."

"Right." I say excitedly, feeling blood pump in my veins as I carefully follow his steps out of our spot behind the underbrush. This was just like a movie—

Then my head rings.

It's like a soft buzzing in my ear, which I deny at first. No way it could be. I'd been sleeping so well these past few weeks since Jimin had come, and there was absolutely no possible way—

Then I pause.

Last night.

Oh dammit.