Hold Me

Sixteen

It has been two weeks since Charlie and Jimin returned to Korea. Charlie had hoped that the bad news and reports about her past would stop with time. However, every morning, more and more people spread rumors about her, her past, and her motive for loving Jimin. And even if I-Army had shown their support, the Koreans were far from letting this topic off.
"Are you leaving for work?" Charlie inquired, pouting as Jimin rolled out of bed.
"Yes, my love. But me be back soon." Jimin leaned back on the bed and gently kissed his girlfriend. "You not work today?"
"I don't have classes today. So, I will just stay in." Charlie reported to Jimin.
"No, I not like you home all the time. Why you not go out? Shopping?"
"No, Jimin. I ... prefer being here!" She said as she got up to prepare a light breakfast for both.
"Charlie, no Twitter, no Facebook, no ..." Jimin told her as he brought his arms around her middle.
"I know! Don't worry. I am a big girl, Jimin." Charlie tried to assure her boyfriend with a soft smile.

These last days, Jimin had been at the company more often as BTS prepared for a comeback the next month. Which left Charlie with a lot of time alone.
As she lay on the couch and switched on the TV, she came across one of Korea's most famous talk shows. Even if her Korean improved, she still could not follow a conversation from start to end, so she was happy to see that the show would be subtitled in English.
With a coffee in hand, Charlie leaned back. She shrieked and burned her hand while spilling the hot content of her cup as she read the subtitle for the show's topic.
"How will Park Jimin's relationship with a discourteous woman affect his and BTS's career!"
Even if she knew that it would hurt her, Charlie could not turn it off, and after the one-hour show, she was certain that there was only one way this should go.

Hoseok returned early after he hurt his knee during dance practice for a new song. The managers insisted on him leaving even if he told them he felt okay. As he took a seat in the living room, his eyes drifted over the backyard where the stairs to the loft were visible.
"Running away?" He said, making Charlie jump and her suitcase tumble down the staircase.
"What are you doing here, Hoseok?" Charlie exclaimed, surprised to see the dancer.
Hoseok picked up the suitcase, and without saying another word, he walked back into the dorm.
Charlie was left dumbfounded and shocked at his action. Knowing she needed that suitcase to pursue her plan, she followed the dancer.
As she pointed at the luggage beside the singer, Charlie asserted sternly: "Hoseok, I need that suitcase!"

"Answer question?" Hoseok insisted as he put his hand protectively over the suitcase.
"What do you want me to say? You already caught me in the act!" Charlie huffed as she sat on the couch opposite the dancer.
"Why?"
"Because I am bad for you, all of you. You should not be associated with someone like me." Charlie looked away, knowing that seeing Hoseok's expression would make her weak.
"Someone like you?" Hoseok repeated her exclamation. "But you are great! Why ..."
"No one thinks that I am great. I am a burden, a bitch, if you want to use the hashtag people gave me on Twitter... #JiminsWorthlessBitch!" Charlie was close to tears when all the comments about her came to her mind.
"Charlie! Look at me! You not bitch! People dumb! Don't go!" Hoseok tried to comfort his friend. He knew that the media was harsh and that no matter who their companion in the future would be, they would have a hard time with the press.
"Please, Hoseok! I don't want to hurt you, any of you!"
"You go... you hurt Jimin ... and BTS!" Hoseok exclaimed as he leaned on his elbows to look at Charlie.
"What do you mean? You will get hurt if I stay, the media...."
"Shhh, fuck the media!"
Charlie's eyes went big when she heard the dancer curse, making both chuckle as he covered his foul mouth with his hands.
"Jimin and BTS more hurt if you go!" Hoseok declared as she came to her side to hug her. "You stay!"
"But ..."
"No, but... We fight! Jimin and you perfect. Jimin loves you!" Hoseok held Charlie at arm's length, looking into her eyes to make his point clear that there was no way he would let her run away from them.
"Thank you. Yet I don't know what to do. Every day at school, the kids blame me for being with Jimin, and teachers avoid me because I am a disgrace to BTS. I don't know if I can take it any longer." Tears ran down Charlie's face, and Hoseok felt terrible for what was happening to the couple.