Shadow Dancing | K.TH

Distractions

V had been acting strange for the rest of the afternoon— I knew that he was generally strange, but something seemed off this time. Like there was something else I was missing.

First and foremost, he'd locked himself up in his room for the past hour. Once Jimin threatened to break down the door, he'd threatened back that if he did, he'd break the boy himself.

After hearing that, Jimin backed off without further arguing.

And he'd left the job up to me. A girl that was barely half his size— but apparently twice his courage.

"Hey!" I shout, pounding on the door like my life depended on it. "Are you okay? What's up with you?"

"Leave me alone," A muffled voice echoes from the other side, and I internally groan. He was acting like a teenager going through mood swings— when he was twenty.

Wasn't that an age well over adulthood?

"What's wrong? Unless you tell me, me and Jimin are going to go dive off the nearest cliff."

I ignore the weirded out look that comes my way when I say that. To be honest, I was fully expecting the next answer he sourly mutters.

"Be my guest."

Jimin sighs. "Stubborn as hell— you're not getting him out, Tzuyu. It is what it is— especially when we're talking about Kim Taehyung."

"Shut up, Jimin." V's annoyed voice is sharp enough to go through the door, and I roll my eyes at the sight of two fully capable adults acting like first graders over a lollipop.

"Jimin," I whisper, my voice suddenly hushed so that V couldn't overhear. "Act like I'm dying."

"What?"

"Just do it!"

A doubtful expression crosses his face, reflecting mine exactly. I really doubt that V would actually fall for this— he was just very difficult to trick.

Trying to determine the best way to go, I recall my usual reaction to a panic attack. Shaking— breathing hard— check.

To help my acting, I gaze at my blunted tips— which works so efficiently that I nearly do have an actual attack. I force myself to think bad things as I start hyperventilating, my breaths violent and rough against the surface of my lips.

Widening my eyes, I fall back against the wall— creating a convincing thump. A shiver crawls up my spine when the hollow sound reminds me of a body, thudding onto the ground after mangled lifeless.

"Tzuyu, are you okay?"

Wow.

Jimin is an amazing actor.

Not even a second passes before I hear the sound of a lock sliding open, followed by a soft click as the door swings ajar. I feel a pair of worried eyes as a figure shadows over my hunched form.

A horrible sort of guilt twists up my throat as V stares at me, and I instantly look up with an expression of apology.

He seems stunned at my sudden "recovery", and realization crosses his face as soon as the relief fades away. I hear Jimin giggling uncontrollably in the background as my eyes meet with his, slanted with disappointment.

Somehow that's a thousand times worse than annoyance or anger, and I leap up to embrace him in a heartfelt apology.

"I'm sorry, V." I say quietly, looking at his solemn face as my arms tighten around his shoulders. "But I was worried that something had happened."