ACATALEPSY I BTS AU

CHAPTER 1 - Connections in the chaos

**Sunday evening.** 

Jimin stormed out of his father's office, his mood darkened by the all-too-familiar conversation. For what felt like the millionth time, his father had insisted he couldn't break off the engagement to Suzy Bae, the actress everyone seemed to think was perfect for him. 

Desperate to shake off the weight of responsibilities hanging over him, he decided to round up his friends for a night out, hoping to distract himself, at least for a little while.

 "Where should we go?" Jimin asked, running a hand through his hair as he and his friends squeezed into a taxi. One of them suggested a neighbourhood known for its vibrant nightlife, full of exclusive clubs and buzzing with university students. 

His best friend Tae had been itching for a night out, hoping to meet someone new after a brutal breakup from a relationship that had lasted over four years. 

Several hours later, the night was wearing thin, and Jimin's patience had worn out. He wasn't the biggest fan of clubs, and although he usually enjoyed dancing with friends, tonight had been different. 

Several people had "spotted" him and, in their drunken stupor, repeatedly tried to cozy up to him, using his inebriation as an excuse to invade his personal space. He was no stranger to these interactions—men and women alike targeting his wealth and fame, some even attempting to trap him with false promises, hoping for a payday.

 "Hey, Jimin," came a voice from the side as a woman grabbed his arm, interrupting his momentary escape to the bar. He sighed, brushing her off. Then, another woman appeared, her botoxed lips curling into a seductive smile.

 "Dance with me, Mr. Park," she purred, grabbing his other arm. Jimin, now fed up, tore away from them both. 

"Leave me the f*** alone," he snapped, his voice sharp enough to cut through the noise of the club. 

The women finally relented, and he pushed his way through the crowd, searching for an escape. Eventually, he spotted Tae in a quieter corner, flirting with a girl.

"Tae, I'm done," Jimin muttered, tapping his friend on the shoulder. 

"Alright," Tae replied, unfazed, and leaned in to kiss the girl before whispering something in her ear. 

"Call me later, sweetie." With that, the two friends left the club, the cool night air hitting them as they walked toward Tae's condo, just ten minutes away. They meandered through the city streets, soaking in the peacefulness that nightfall brought, the neon lights reflecting off the pavement. 

After a while, Jimin suddenly stopped, drawn to a nearby bakery window like a moth to a flame. The pastries inside looked heavenly, and his stomach rumbled in response. 

"It's closed, idiot," Tae laughed, tugging him away, but Jimin broke free, pressing his face against the glass, his breath fogging up the display. 

"We'll come back tomorrow, okay? Let's get some sleep first."

 "Fine," Jimin grumbled, letting Tae pull him away. 

 **Monday morning.** 

Jimin was rudely awoken by the blaring sound of his phone. Rolling over, he glanced at the screen and groaned when he saw who was calling—his father. 

Not in the mood to deal with the man, especially after last night, he switched his phone to silent and buried his head in his pillow. After a few minutes of internal debate, he finally checked his notifications, sighing in frustration as he read the text: