freckles

* chapter seventy eight *

"I now understand what Bang means when he tells me I give him gray hair." Jin sighed and ran a hand through his hair, all of them sat around in the chairs, nodding in agreement. "She worries me."

"I just wish she would've told us." Namjoon's foot tapped on the ground. "We could've avoided all of this."

"She didn't want to worry us." Yoongi defended Claudette, everyone's minds ticking, processing this in their own way.

"But if she told us when it happened, we would've been able to help and freak out less." Hoseok crossed his legs, pressing his lips together.

"I'd rather be told she was bleeding than seeing it and getting scared shitless." Jungkook blew air out of his mouth, Taehyung mumbling an agreement.

"Okay, but I think I know how she feels." Taehyung raised his eyes, his foot tapping faster than Namjoon's. "She wants to be treated like a normal person. She wants to be treated like she doesn't pass out or seize. She just wants to, feel human."

"Baby." Jungkook spoke sadly, putting his head on Taehyung's shoulder, knowing they were safe in the hospital.

"I think that's how she feels." Yoongi nodded at Taehyung, Taehyung swallowing and leaning his head against Jungkook's.

"Well now we can't trust her to be alone." Namjoon crossed his arms, Hoseok narrowing his eyes.

"Yes we can."

"No, we can't." Namjoon scoffed softly. "If she can't take care of herself then she can't be away from us."

"No, Namjoon." Jin intervened, hating Namjoon's words. "She is her own person. We just need to tell her our concerns and see if we can work something out."

"Or she can come to BigHit with us and stay in sight." Namjoon rolled a marble between his fingers, a little fidget object he carries around with him. "It would be much easier and we can be around her more."

"She needs her own space, first of all." Yoongi kept his eyes on the ground, holding up one finger. "And two, you sound like an idiot when you talk like that so shut up."

"I'm just trying to protect her!" Namjoon laughed in disbelief. "Do none of you see where I'm coming from?"

Hoseok sighed and raised his hand. "Namjoon, buddy, I know you love her very much."

"Yes," Namjoon nodded, relieved he understood. "I do."

"And I know you mean well, but let her have her independence. Up until she met us, she was alone, fending for herself. She probably didn't want to worry us either. We just need to talk, okay? We'll figure something out and she will be safe." Hoseok explained, keeping eye contact with him. Namjoon sighed and nodded, understanding the older one. "We love her too and we all mean best. Let's just wait for her so we can talk, okay?"

"Okay." Namjoon nodded, rubbing his forehead. "I'm sorry guys. I guess I'm just tired, and stressed."

"No need to apologize to Hyung." Taehyung smiled reassuringly. "I just don't want you making the same mistake I did."

Namjoon smiled a thank you just as the door opened, Claudette and Jimin walking out.

"Can we all talk please?" Claudette pulled at her fingers, everyone stood around her. "Outside?"

"Of course." Jimin smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Let's go guys." He dared them with his eyes to say no.

And no one dared.

"I need to apologize, first of all." Claudette took a deep breath and faced her seven boyfriends. "I should've told you guys right away, but I thought I handled it. And I apologize. It was a long day for me, and I just thought I could make one thing go right today."