Bulletproof ain't my type

Office Hours

Life goes on as it always does. The maknaes always find some new way to pull our legs. Namjoon has been the target as of late. And I have to say, Tae's photoshop skills have improved quite a bit. 

Namjoon is just as lovesick, if not more.

It is on one fine morning that we decide to get breakfast together. The seven of us at this new deli Jin's brother opened near to work. Which is the only reason we could eat there at all. Sure, the good man had to throw out one overly brave young woman but that was about it. It's a safe place and not just for us. He had this whole policy regarding idols' privacy and human rights. All applicable by law and hanging on the walls as warning.

Good place.

We walked the short distance. A lot of things had gotten lenient with time. And even though some people are complete assholes, we're allowed to move around freely without getting mobbed. We were walking back to the building by now. Joking and chatting among ourselves as we turned the corner.

"Who's that?", Taehyung suddenly asked. He and I were bringing up the tail end and so far my eyes had been on the pavement.

"Huh?", I lifted my head, turning around to see where he was pointing.

A rather smart looking fellow had just passed us by. dressed formally, grey blazer draped over one arm and sleeves rolled up.

Who walks around like that in a place like this?

I shrugged and kept on walking. Taehyung hummed.

We had barely made it to the building when a smiling Lizzy Kim strutted up with trays of drinks.

"Kang Chaerin!"

What happened next was a blur.

The acts themselves were loud and pronounced, but the whole thing together filled my head like white noise. I stood still as a stone, mentally counting the number of heads and coming one short. My breathing grew laboured as my mind strained with possibilities. Who? Whose not here?

 I saw Namjoon pushing Jungkook behind him, slow and careful. He had one long arm stretched till Jin's  sleeve. Like some protective barricade while he himself stood front and bare. If I could clap for him, I would. There was a tug on my  jacket which felt like Jimin steeling himself. 

Who's missing?

I was looking at the men, I was looking at Lizzy- but I wasn't.

Jin looked like he might faint. White noise crackled in my ears. If I could just reach out...

Namjoon's lean fingers grazed lightly over porcelain skin. Unintentional, like a sixth sense. It started as a tap, but then he curled his fingers around the owner's wrist. The strange intuition that only he, as a leader, possessed to find the weakest and transfer strength. He didn't even have to look. Jin blinked, as if his soul was coming back into his body; brain restarting.

She shot the camera.

Just like that.

And to think I would only ever have associated Fa with such an act.

They're all loony. The whole lot of them.

What was Bang pd thinking?

"Where's Taehyung?"

Taehyung.

That idiot.

When Jin said he would get the coffee and started hastily walking back, I followed.

"Hyung"

Right beside him and he didn't hear me.

His eyes were unfocused and glassy. The kind when you're doped beyond reason. So unless he took a shot when he excused himself to the restroom, something is undeniably wrong here. I let him be, watching the traffic when he started crossing the road in his trance. We approached the cafe just as the same fellow from before exited it. His eyes moved on from me but did a double take when he saw Jin.