In Na could still see the hurt look on Jin's face when she rejected the key to the hangout, but it was Monday now which gave her hope that it had worked this time. All she could think about as she walked to school was how she would live her life differently from the four long years she knew. Would she have to go to a different university? What if she ran into Jin on campus? There were so many things she would have to avoid now.
Sitting at her desk In Na mentally groaned at having to retake high school classes, yet she was ready to have to go through the trouble.
"Jang In Na?" a cranky voice called.
Blinking several times In Na spun around in her seat to see a black haired Suga heading her way from the classroom door.
This is new, she thought.
"Yes," she answered.
Their classmates stared at her as she stood while Suga marched over to her. He looked exhausted with bags under his eyes and the right side of his face creased with sleeping scars.
"Come with me," he said.
"Why?" she questioned.
His tired gaze narrowed at her as he said, "Because you owe me."
"N-. . . Oh right," she nodded.
Spinning sharply on his heel Suga gestured for her to follow as he left the room. Sighing In Na trailed after him with slumped shoulders as she tried to remember what it was Suga wanted as compensation for "fouling" his spot. She couldn't recall if he ever made her pay that forward in the past.
Things are gonna be different now, In Na reminded herself.
She followed Suga to the music room which was a bit surprising, but when she entered she wanted to immediately leave. The worse surprise was sitting at the window chatting with Rap Monster. The girl hovered in the doorway while Suga flopped onto the piano bench just inside the room.
"Why are we here?" she questioned.
"In Na-ya," Jin greeted with a smile.
"Keep guard while we skip class," Suga replied. "If anyone comes knock twice."
"Then what?" she asked.
"We'll escape and you'll take the fall," he yawned.
In Na's face scrunched up as she stared at her classmate, ignoring the other two across the room as best she could. This definitely didn't happen in the past.
"I'm no scapegoat," she said.
"Sure you are. You owe me," Suga said proudly.
"Don't worry In Na-ya, no one ever comes near here for the first two periods," Rap Monster said.
"Hey! Don't go telling her," Suga barked. "What's the point of a guard if you just go spilling the fun part to her?"
Chuckling at his friend Jin motioned to In Na to enter all the way. She did, slowly and hesitantly, closing the door slightly behind her.
"Normally we make our other friend do it as a precaution, but he has a quiz today," Jin said.
"Don't slack," Suga warned.
She crouched next to the door peeking out the gap she left open to check if any teachers were coming. If she just did what Suga wanted then she wouldn't owe him anymore then she would have no connection to the guys and to Jin. They would go their separate ways and he would live.
As In Na stayed by the door a thought occurred to her that made her brows furrow. Glancing over her shoulder at the boys chilling about the room she asked, "You're in the same class as J-Hope, so why are you here Rap Monster?"
"Because it's English and one quiz won't change anything," he replied without a second thought.
There was a pause before Suga sat up on the bench and eyed In Na suspiciously. "How do you know we were talking about J-Hope?" he questioned.
"Yeah," Rap Monster agreed. "And that we're in the same class?"
"Ah," In Na stammered. "Overheard it in passing," she lied.
"Doubt it," Suga said.
"It's because she likes J-Hope," Rap Monster suggested.
Shooting straight up In Na blurted out, "What? No way!"
Rap Monster and Jin laughed while Suga just waved off the questioning. Groaning In Na looked away from the boys and back to the hall.
The rest of homeroom and first period passed by without anymore major incidents. The guys napped, flipped through comics, discussed music and teased one another. It was nostalgic for In Na to listen to, reminiscent of the days when Jin brought her along to gatherings and she would just watch the boys together like a sit-com. It was at those times Jin looked happiest.
Now as In Na sat crouched at the door she wanted to see that look on his face again just once more. So she dared to peek over her shoulder, but what she least expected to find was there with a friendly smile that didn't go along with his word.
Jin was leaning down over In Na and as their eyes met he said, "Boo."
Startled In Na fell forward into the door that slid open causing her to sprawl into the hall with a partially muffled squeal.
Down the hall In Na heard a familiar voice of authority say, "Ms. Jang," while from behind she heard Jin snicker an, "Oops."
Though mortified In Na knocked against the floor twice like Suga said to, and everything kicked off.
"Way to go Jin," Rap Monster huffed.
"Shut up and go," Suga groaned.
In Na's arm was grabbed, she was hauled to her feet and before she could fight she was dragged to the window by Jin. He hopped out first then looked up at her with that smile she knew too well.
"Come on In Na-ya," he called up to her.
"Op-," she began but stopped.
Biting her tongue she shook her head.
"Don't worry. You won't get hurt, I'm here," he said.
"That's my line," In Na breathed.
"Huh?"
Shaking her head again In Na turned away from the window as the memory of Jin outside her car window under the river flashed through her mind. Swallowing the rush of emotions inside her she moved back across the room to face the teacher that had come storming in.
"Where are the others?" he demanded.
"What others? It was just me," she replied.
In Na was brought to the staff room, but as she stepped inside she found herself back at the white room with the annoying hooded figure.
"I know," she said before they could speak.
"You leave quite the impression on that boy," they commented.
"Shut up," In Na deadpanned.
How was nothing working? Things weren't suppose to be this difficult. Emotionally maybe for In Na, but avoiding Jin shouldn't have been.
"What's next on the list?" they inquired.
"I won't be going to the hangout at all," she said.
They snickered, "This one won't take long."
Then they clapped.
•••
YOU ARE READING
Their Guardian (a story based off of the trilogy theory)
Fanfiction"Take care of them," his voice echoed in her mind. In Na sniffled as she wiped at her face. She had to stay strong, and not for herself. If Jungkook, the youngest looked like that, how were the others keeping it together? "Take care of them." •••• ...
