Rewrite the Rules

Missing Members: Part 63

The air crackled with a bittersweet energy as I hugged Daisy and Samina goodbye in our Las Vegas hotel room. Their laughter and vibrant personalities had filled the space for the past few days, and now, with their departure looming, a heavy silence threatened to settle in its wake.

"Promise you'll visit again soon?" I pleaded, my voice thick with emotion.

"Absolutely," Daisy squeezed her hand, mirroring the warmth in her eyes. "We'll have our next girls' getaway planned before you even know it."

A choked sob escaped Samina, and I pulled her into a hug. "Hey, no tears," I murmured, my own voice thick with emotion. "Think of it as a see you later, not a goodbye."

A watery smile flickered on her lips. "You're right," she sniffled. "Besides, you have your own adventure planned tonight, right?"

My cheeks flushed a light pink. The thought of a stolen night out with Namjoon and the boys, a night of laughter and (hopefully) decent singing, thrummed with excitement beneath the surface of my sadness.

A knock on the door startled us. J-Hope and Suga peeked in, their usual playful demeanor subdued by the impending farewell.

"We're here to take these two wild ones to the airport," J-Hope announced, a forced cheer in his voice.

Daisy and Samina squealed, launching themselves at the two rappers in a flurry of hugs and excited chatter. As I watched them, a pang of envy, quickly replaced by understanding, washed over me. These friendships, forged in the crucible of shared experiences, often held a unique intensity, a connection that burned brightly.

"We'll miss you guys," Suga mumbled, his voice gruff but his gaze lingering on Samina.

"We'll miss you too," Samina replied, her voice trembling slightly.

With a final round of hugs and promises to stay in touch, Daisy and Samina were ushered out the door by J-Hope and Suga. The silence that descended felt heavy, a stark contrast to the joyous chaos of minutes before.

But amidst the sadness, a spark of anticipation flickered to life. Today, with Namjoon and the guys, promised an entirely different kind of adventure, a chance to create new memories, new connections, in this ever-unfolding story of my life in Las Vegas.

--- A while later

Frustration etched on his face, he barked into his phone, "No idea. Last I heard they were at the airport doing a drop-off. Nope, definitely not here... Yeah, I'm flying into LA tonight. Sure, I can try asking her again." Glancing at me, he sighed.

I was hearing only his side of the conversation.

He hung up, then turned to me, his voice calmer, "So, have you heard from Daisy or Samina?"

I shook my head, dread pooling in my gut. "Nothing."

My voice trailed off as I read the messages – a frantic plea from Jimin about J-Hope and Suga missing their flight, and a cryptic message from Jungkook simply saying, "Everything is okay. Don't worry."

"J-Hope and Suga are missing?" I blurted out, the words tumbling from my lips.

I dialed Samina's number, Nmajoon's face etched with growing concern. The phone rang once, twice, then went straight to voicemail. The same fate awaited Daisy.

He sent a panicked group text, "Does anyone know where J-Hope and Suga are?!" The silence from the group chat was deafening.

We hurried back to the car, the normally bustling hotel lobby seeming strangely sterile and quiet. A few agonizing minutes later, my phone buzzed. Relief washed over me as I saw Samina's name on the screen.

Samina: All I can tell you is everyone is okay.

I showed the phone to Namjoon, a sliver of hope flickering within me.

"Maybe J-Hope went home with Samina, and Suga with Daisy?" I offered, grasping at straws.

Namjoon slumped into seat, disbelief etched on his face. "No, I don't believe it. They just met these girls this weekend."

"That explains why they're not in LA," I reasoned, trying to piece together the confusing puzzle. "Did you guys have any commitments this week?"

He shook his head, his expression unreadable. "Not really, not as a group. But I rented a studio..." His voice trailed off, his gaze flickering to me.

"Well, it looks like two of the members won't be in LA this week," I said.

"I don't want to go either, baby," Namjoon confessed, surprising me. He wrapped his arm around me, his touch sending a jolt through me. "But I already rented the studio, and my engineering friend is flying in..."

"It's completely fine if you go to LA," I reassured him, my voice softer now. "Honestly, I'm swamped this week – ten-hour days, you know the drill."

He tilted his head, his eyes searching mine. "Come to LA, Emma," he pleaded, a flicker of hope igniting in his gaze.

The weight of his unspoken desire settled on me. Did I want to go to LA with Namjoon, or did I want to stay here, whatever the reason for his sudden reluctance? With a mix of excitement and uncertainty, I met his gaze.

"Let me think about it," I mumbled, the decision hanging heavy in the air.