ᴛᴀᴇɴɴɪᴇ ʟɪꜱᴋᴏᴏᴋ | ᴏɴᴇꜱʜᴏᴛ

Best Friend's Sister

There are worse things than being stranded in the middle of nowhere during a rainstorm. For example, I could be running from a rapid bear intent on hauling me into the next century. Or I could be tied to a chair in a dark basement and forced to listen to Aqua's "Barbie Girl" on repeat until I'd rather gnaw off my arm than hear the song's eponymous phrase again.

But just because things could be worse didn't mean they didn't suck.

Stop. Think positive thoughts.

"A car will show up.. now." I stared at my phone, biting back my frustration when the app reassured me it was "finding my ride", the way it had been for the past half hour.

Normally, I'd be less stressed about the situation because hey, at least I had a working phone and a bus shelter to keep me mostly dry from the pounding rain. But Taehyung Oppa's farewell party was starting in an hour, I had yet to pick up his surprise cake from the bakery, and it would be dark soon. I may be a glass half full kinda gal, but I wasn't an idiot. No one-especially not a college girl with zero fighting skills to speak of- wants to find herself alonein the middle of nowhere after dark.

I should've taken those self-defense classes with Jennie unnie like she wanted. I mentally scrolled through my limited options. The bus that stopped at this location didn't run on the weekends, and most of my friends didn't own acar. Jisoo unnie had car service, but she was at an embassy event until seven. Uber wasn't working, and I hadn't seen a single car pass by since the rain started. Not that I would hitchhike, anyway-I've watched horror movies, thank you very much.

I only had one option left-one I really didn't want to take-but beggars couldn't be choosers.

I pulled up the contact in my phone, said a silent prayer, and pressed the call button.

One ring. Two rings. Three.
Come on, pick up. Or not. I wasn't sure which would be worse-getting murdered or dealing with my brother. Of course, there was always the chance said brother would murder me himself for putting myself in such a situation, but I'd deal with that later.

"What's wrong Lili?"
I scrunched my nose at his greeting. "Hello to you too, brother dearest. What makes you think something is wrong?"
Taehyung snorted. "Uh, you called me. You never call unless you're in trouble."

True. We preferred texting, and we lived next door to each other-not my idea, by the way-so we rarely had to message at all.
"I wouldn't say I'm in trouble," I hedged. "More like... stranded. I'm not near public transport, and I can't find an Uber."

"Christ, Lisa. Where are you?"
I told him. "What the hell are you doing there? That's an hour from campus!"

"Don't be dramatic. I had an engagement shoot, and it's a thirty-minute drive. Forty-five if there's traffic." Thunder boomed, shaking the branches of nearby trees. I winced and shrank farther back into the shelter, not that it did me much good. The rain slanted sideways, splattering me with water droplets so heavy and hard they stung when they hit my skin.

A rustling noise came from Taehyung's end, followed by a soft moan. I paused, sure I'd heard wrong, but nope, there it was again. Another moan, which sounded familiar. But, it couldn't be the person I've in my mind, cause.. Jennie unnie and Taehyung oppa never get along in the first place.

My eyes widened in horror. "Oppa, are you having sex right now?" I whisper-shouted, even though no one else was around. The sandwich I'd scarfed down before I left for my shoot threatened to make a reappearance. There was nothing-I repeat nothing-grosser than listening to a relative while they're mid-coitus. Just the thought made me gag.