My Sleeping Partner | P. JM

Black and White

Jimin's composure shatters.

His eyes widen as he stares blankly at the announcer, his body frozen to the ground with shock. My eyes immediately turn towards Im Jisung, who's smirking in Jimin's direction.

"A dual act?" He mumbles emptily, seeming to address no one in particular. "When— how...?"

"What's wrong?" Jungkook speaks up, his quiet voice barely audible between the murmurs rousing up in the crowd of people. "Is he okay?"

His eyes blink green.

"He isn't okay." He answers himself, turning to me for explanation. "What's wrong, Minah? Please tell me."

"I—I don't understand." I whisper as my hands curl by my sides. "They never said anything about this... I don't—"

"I understand." Jungkook's sudden claim startles me, and I look to him in surprise as he marches over to Jimin. He then grips his wrist and begins to drag him towards back stage where they're starting to call numbers.

I can't go backstage— and neither can Jungkook. What is he thinking?

"Don't worry about him." He calls back, giving me a light smile as he half-drags Jimin's sluggish form.

"I'll make sure he wins this competition."

_________________________

After forcing myself to sit through the first few routines, I finally scramble off my seat and head backstage. I had to know what the two were planning— it was killing me not to know.

But as soon as I try to slip in through the door, I realize it's locked. Cursing quietly, I shut out the deafening music in the background as I twist the knob again.

"Students aren't allowed here." A sudden voice says, and I look up guiltily to see a man who seems to be something like security.

"I-I'm a friend of one of the participants." I plead, trying to make my eyes as believable as possible. "He forgot something important for his performance— I have to go give it to him."

"Then it's his fault for being careless." The man shrugs, and I stick a tongue at his back when he's not looking as I trudge back to my seat.

I'm still sulking on my seat when a sudden murmurs spread throughout the crowd, and I don't have a choice but to look up.

Instead of the AIs I'd been hoping to see, I see Im Jisung. My brows furrow in distaste as soon as I see him taking over the spotlight, his partner forgotten in the darkness.

What a stupid jerk.

Even though he makes me grimace, I have to admit that he'd improved even further from before. My lips purse when he runs through one difficult move after another, his technique flawless.

And when I hear the crowd explode into roars and applause after his performance, I begin to worry.

________________________

I recognize Jimin the moment I see him, along with the excited mumbles that I hear everywhere.

He's wearing a pale mask, the color matching the tight white jeans that hug his slender legs as he walks out into the silver spotlight. His hands are trembling so violently I think I can see it from here.

A mask?

Worry instantly grows in my heart as I sneak a glance at the panel of judges, their faces stony and condemning as they gaze at the masked boy on the stage.