Love Yourself First | BTS FF

16 - accidental eavesdrop

Your trip back home is one you'd soon like to forget.

Running out the store exit, hurriedly calling your driver that you're cutting your trip 3 hours short, you pass by multiple store windows. There was no way you could've shielded yourself from seeing what you looked like.

Your leggings hugging every curve of your thighs, your confidence in wearing them promptly vanishing. Not to mention the blotches of blue peaking out your shirt, the liquid making the cloth stick to you skin, almost turning translucent. You waste no time in averting your eyes, though the memory of your appearance is no doubt burned into your skull.

Humiliated and ashamed, you run past whispering bystanders and rush into your car, refusing to answer your driver's curious questions about what happened. He leaves you alone upon seeing how distraught you are, and the rest of the drive home is silent as you hug your knees and try not to let the cold stickiness of your skin bother you.

You refuse to answer any of Seulgi's messages about what happened, putting her on mute. You abstain from leaving your room only unless it was to eat or pay a visit to the gym, because you're quite certain Yoongi doesn't work on weekends.

Joe was the only one you could talk to about this. Although he was studying abroad when it happened, you knew you couldn't turn to your parents or friends. He was someone you could always trust.

On Sunday night, you muster up all your energy and knock on his door. You end up sobbing to him about what you did years ago and how the past has come back to haunt you. Since he wasn't home when you got back on Saturday, you avoid telling him about the slushie altogether. You explain to him why there's no way you can show your face at school now, and the caring brother that he is, he consoles you and eventually agrees to back you up when you tell your mom the lie that you're sick on Monday.

The next morning you wake up dizzy. Your throat itches and your body aches. From the cold of the slushie and the added AC that blew on your back the day before, it wasn't hard for you to put two and two together and realize you didn't actually have to lie about being sick.

You force yourself out of bed and cover your back with a blanket. You make your way out to the kitchen where Joe is already seated, glancing nervously at your mom.

"Mom, I'm sick I can't go today." You say, knowing full well she'll be asking for evidence. "Sick?? You don't look sick. Are you faking?" Her shrill disapproval rings in your already aching head.

You sense your brother straighten his back extra hard. "I think she is." Your mom glances back at Joe from where she's stationed at in front of the stove. "I mean! I think she's sick, not that she's faking it." Joe stutters.

Your mom looks from Joe to you, unconvinced. She opens a nearby cabinet and pulls out a thermometer. "Here." She hands it to you forcefully. "If you don't have a fever you're going to school."

"Um! I don't think that's necessary, just look at her she's obviously sick she needs to rest let her rest!" Your brother spits out almost all in one breath. You put up a small hand to signal him to dial it down, showing him not to worry. "Eat your food and sit down." Your mom yaps at Joe.

Confident with the result, you slip the thermometer under your tongue and take a seat at the kitchen table. When it beeps you take it out and lo and behold, it reads 38.2 °C. You hand the thermometer to your mom, arms feeling heavier than usual. She yanks it from your hand and her eyes slightly widen at the number.

"Hm..." You hear your mom contemplate. Joe mouths really sick? at you while your mom's distracted. You nod at him.

"Fine. You can stay home today. Don't think you're getting off easy on school though. Joe, you're bringing back all of her work. Bring your phone and record the classes for her, she can listen to them later."