Elixir

Chapter 14

29th October 2017

BTS Dormitory, practice room

1:25 pm

"She's back" Namjoon announced to the Bangtan boys. Taehyung jumped up a little, and Jin immediately caught his eye.

"She looks strangely calm though" the leader added, "We shouldn't disturb her. Let's just invite her for the lunch after 30 minutes."

Everyone nodded and Jhope turned on the volume again. 'DNA' played through the room and the boys took their positions. "Five, six, seven, eight!"

It was almost 2 pm and the boys looked exhausted.

"Okay then, that's enough for today!" the choreographer declared and saw everyone smiled in relief. It was lunch time, and Tae couldn't wait to see Helena. The boys wrapped up and closed the practice room.

It was Namjoon that took the lead to call her out. He knocked softly on her door. After a few seconds, he heard footsteps nearing in and the door opened to reveal the tired spy in her jumpsuit.

"Hello." She spoke, trying to contain her fatigue, "I was just going to come out."

"We were going to have lunch, wondered if you would like to join?"

She simply tilted her head and smiled.

"Shall I take it as a yes?" Namjoon asked with raise eyebrows. Helena nodded and he went to the kitchen. The cook had prepared the meal already. Eight drained out bodies circled around the table in the common room and looked at the cook with sick eyes as she served them. Helena spoke nothing, looked at no one. The fact that she was sitting with BTS for lunch didn't make her conscious. She was engaged, finding the anti was the only thing that was on her mind. She ate up whatever was served with an appreciable speed and neatly placed her chopsticks on the bowl. The members were still chewing on the last portion of rice. She folded her hands, her eyes, full of thoughts were fixed at the empty bowl.

"Are you alright?" Jin asked her

"Oh, yes... yes. I was just- lost in thoughts."

"Is everything fine? Did something happen when you went to complete your task?"

Helena fell silent for a few seconds, then said in a calm voice, "Everything is fine. We might soon find the culprit behind this case. Anyways, how are you guys?"

"We're good" Suga murmured sarcastically. He striked a harsh glance at Taehyung. They had a fight the previous night. 'you are getting obsessed over her' the rapper spoke sharply, 'this is going to affect your performance and ultimately everyone's performance.' Taehyung talked back to him with disrespect and then the words clashed, the two of them were too reluctant to understand what they meant. Taehyung thought that Suga had an eye on Helena, whereas Suga was overly concerned about the Bangtan boy's performances. None of them listened and a feud rose. It was Jin who finally got in the fight and stopped it at its verbal stage. 'Mianhae hyung' tae muttered after a while but Agust D shrugged and went to sleep.

"You all look exerted" Helena said eyeing everyone, "What's on the schedule tomorrow? 'Please take care of my refrigerator', right?'

The boys nodded and the leader blurted, "Jin and Jimin are going for it tomorrow. I have to go to the head office with Jhope. Will you be here tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"That's good." Taehyung said and smiled at her. She clearly saw the reason behind his smiling.

The next day, Namjoon left early with Jin and Jimin. Suga apparently was calmed down and he settled the unnecessary dispute with Taehyung. Jhope and Jungkook were in the practice room since early morning, deciding on the upcoming choreography. Helena mooched around in the lobby. She couldn't concentrate in her room- the cozy plain four walls suffocated her and her insane love for V swarmed in every time she sat on her bed. She decided to work in the lobby instead.

"Good morning, Kim Bora" Taehyung's hollow voice echoed from behind.

She quickly turned around and saw him walking towards her. Her heart raced with his footsteps that ran in her direction.

"Hello Taehyung" she said glancing at him uneasily. She eyes naturally travelled down his eyes to his chin- The feel of his lips on hers made her shiver.

"You don't look fine"

"I- I... maybe because of work- "

"It will be alright" he held her hand in his wide palms and caressed it, "But tell me one thing first. Did what we did that day bother you?"

"What?" she faked uncertainty though she knew what he was talking about.

"You know, the sweet act we did in my room- " he blushed

"I don't know what to say Tae... it's too much to take in at this moment-"

"Do you like me?"

She was stunned at the sudden question. Her hands were still in his grasp. Her strained mind relaxed as she stared at his heavenly face and she thoughtlessly nodded.

"Don't you want to take this forward?"

"I don't understand what to do Tae! I'm too loaded currently, I can't focus on my work but I can't get you out of my head."

"It's because you haven't entrusted yourself completely into me. You still have doubts about us. This can work out, we won't let anyone outside BTS know about this, just believe in me. It's going to be rough but it will be worse if you don't give it a chance."

Helena fell silent and just peered into his beautiful eyes staring back in hers. He was so genuine that she couldn't help but agree to whatever he said. He couldn't concentrate without her, but neither could she. All she had to do was nod and accept his proposal.

She nodded.

He smiled lovingly and pulled her in his arms for a warm hug. Her brain felt empty, as if all her pain has drained out, all her worries flowed away as she rested her head on his chest. She heard his heart beating softly and his arms wrapped affectionately around her back. Love. She felt it for the first time. She shed the tears of happiness as she realized her first love holding her tight in his arms- Someone she's only dreamt of, someone she'd only caressed in the posters, was now enveloping her dearly, it was no less than a miracle, it all seemed unreal.