radiant | jung hoseok | ✓

chapter twenty | toasted white chocolate mocha

When Friday arrived, I didn't feel ready.

I lay in Hobi's bed, staring up at the ceiling of his room, and feel a wave of emotion pass over my body. A strange hesitation builds in my chest and makes everything feel off or like a forgotten memory that returned to the forefront of my mind. It's an unshakeable feeling of discomfort.

The Hallowed Grounds will be closing its doors. I am going to lose my job and in turn, lose my freedom as a hobbyist baker, and barista. I don't have the expensive equipment to continue my hobby at the level I want to. I am going to lose all of it today.

Deep down, I know there is hope for the future. I secured a job at Bangtan Chicken and Brewery, but I know it won't be the same. 

I sit up from the bed and linger there. The scent of the room has become familiar to me, or it smells like me. Hobi has been sleeping in Jimin's room all week and despite his reassurances and his tour of his blanket fort, I feel guilty that I've taken over his room.

My apartment isn't a bad place to live but now with Tyler there, I don't feel comfortable. Nobody feels okay with me living there. Namjoon brought it up the other day, and I told the others what had happened. I expected them to try helping me look for other apartments, but they quickly told me to stay at the apartment for the time being. 

"It would be best if you stayed here," Yoongi said. "Safer."

I drag myself out of bed and walk over to my suitcases of clothes. I kneel down and pick out an outfit for the day, already planning on visiting the Hallowed Grounds one last time. I choose skinny jeans with leather boots that reach my knees. I throw on a tight-fitting black shirt and a jean jacket and leave the front unbuttoned. I decide to wear earrings today, feeling like it's special enough for that.

I walk out of the bedroom and am met with silence. The Bangtan boys must still be fast asleep. I walk quietly down the hall, avoiding the floorboards that creak the loudest and walk downstairs to make myself some coffee.

When I reach the bottom of the steps, I overhear voices.

"She's known this whole time?" Taehyung whispers in shock.

Hoseok's voice replies but it's too quiet to understand.

I pause at the bottom of the steps and hesitate to walk into the living room. It doesn't feel right to eavesdrop, yet my curiosity gets the better of me.

"Sunday? She's known since Sunday?" Taehyung asks in disbelief.

Hobi's voice rises in volume and his voice is soft and reassuring. "Yes. She has."

"But... hyung," Taehyung's voice sounds strained with emotion, "nobody can know about us. It's--, it's too dangerous. Nobody is supposed to know."

"I know that Tae, but we can trust her. I trust Finley. She's kept our secret so well that the rest of the pack doesn't know she knows. I was surprised too, but she hasn't been affected by it at all. She isn't afraid of us, she doesn't seem to care either. Nothing's changed, and our secret is still safe."

He's right. I don't feel any different about the boys knowing they are werewolves. 

"It feels so fast," Taehyung comments. "I know we like Finley, and she is very nice to us... but how did you trust her so quickly? Why is she different than everybody else?"

Hoseok is quiet for a moment.

"Yoongi has a theory," he answers carefully. "It... it might not be true, but... he has some theories."

"Wait, why Yoongi? I'm asking about you, hyung. Why don't you know?"

"I have my own reasons. She's a kind person, hard-working, responsible, I'm attracted to her. She's the first woman I've ever considered in my future. However, Yoongi's theories aren't about that. His... are a bit fantastical."