The Eight of Us We were eight best friends who had known each other for years. Haerin Namjoon Jin Yoongi Hoseok Jimin Taehyung Jungkook. They were a popular boy group bts I wasn’t in it with them. I wasn’t interested in singing and dancing but I always went to their concerts for them. We were a chaotic friend group that somehow managed to spend almost every day together. Movie nights late night walks game nights inside jokes and endless teasing it was normal. Until it wasnt. Namjoon was the responsible one. Whenever the group argued he was the first to step in and calm everyone down. Jin was loud dramatic and somehow always managed to make everyone laugh even when nobody wanted to. Yoongi rarely spoke unless he had something worth saying. He looked uninterested most of the time, but he noticed everything. Jimin trusted him more than anyone he was secretly gay for jimin. Hoseok was the sunshine of the group. He could brighten any room with his energy. Taehyung was unpredictable. One minute he was saying something completely random the next he was surprisingly thoughtful. Then there was Jimin. To everyone else Jimin was sweetness itself. He remembered birthdays. He checked if everyone got home safely. He always asked if Haerin had eaten. He smiled so warmly that nobody could imagine him being anything but kind. But there was one person who knew the truth. Yoongi. Late at night after everyone else had gone home Jimin would tell Yoongi everything. “I hate it when people get too close to her.” “I can’t stand seeing someone else make her laugh.” “They don’t deserve to be around her.” Yoongi never encouraged him. He simply listened knowing Jimin’s feelings had become darker than anyone realized. Jimin hid it perfectly. No one not even Haerin suspected a thing. Then there was Jungkook. Jungkook drove Haerin crazy. He stole her phone just to make her chase him. He took her things without asking. He teased her whenever she made a mistake always wearing that smug grin. “Too slow.” “You call that a throw?” “Come on, Haerin. You can do better than that.” Everyone laughed. Including him. But behind every joke His attention never left her. He noticed when she looked tired. He remembered the smallest things she forgot. If she disappeared from the group for too long, he’d be the first one to go looking. His feelings had grown into an obsession he couldn’t explain. Not because he wanted to hurt her. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. The problem? Haerin couldn’t stand his constant teasing. She thought he was impossible. If she had to choose between him and Jimin She would’ve chosen Jimin without hesitation. Friday afternoon after everyone had finished hanging out together Jimin took a deep breath. “Haerin…” She looked at him. “Would you go on a date with me this weekend?” A small smile appeared on her face. “I’d like that.” Across the room Jungkook froze for the briefest moment before forcing his usual teasing smile back onto his face. The next morning, Haerin remembered she had accidentally left her favorite jacket at Jungkook’s house after the group gathering the night before. She sent him a quick text. Haerin: I’m coming over to grab the stuff I forgot. A few seconds later, his reply came. Jungkook: Door’s open. Don’t take forever.