The Hunt

33

"It is a school night," Jimin nodded and fought back the smile that was threatening to spread across his face. "But that's okay. We won't have to go far. The Kim's own the woods behind this house. We go out there all the time."

"That's convenient," I sighed.

"Also, you're not in school, so..." Jimin gave my hands a reassuring squeeze. "I know you're nervous, but it will definitely help with finding the hunter."

In one fluid motion Jimin set my hands in my lap and stood up. He pushed the desk chair in and pulled his phone out of his pants pocket, checking the screen.

"You know how I told your brother that I haven't told my family about you yet?"

"Yeah."

"I wasn't being honest. I met with my dad and my uncle yesterday and told them that we've met." Jimin slipped the phone back in his pocket. "With everything that's happened, I felt it was best to let them know right away."

"That makes sense," I agreed and lowered my eyes to the rug on the floor. I was having a hard time not staring at Jimin's chest. It was eye-level. "It would look suspicious if you didn't tell them and they found out another way."

"Exactly." Jimin checked his phone again. "Hey, I'm gonna take a shower now. Tae should be home any minute if you want to wait upstairs."

"Okay."

I stood up from the bed and started gathering up the shopping bag and spare t-shirt Jimin had lent me.

"Hey," Jimin paused just outside the bathroom door. His expression was serious but hopeful. "Everything is going to work out."

***

Taehyung helped me dye my hair a medium brown color with red undertones. I was sad to see my blonde hair go, but change was necessary.

Because we had turned the kitchen into our makeshift hair salon, the guys decided to order pizza for dinner.

"I think you'll be good for Jimin," Taehyung said after he finished rinsing my hair out in the kitchen sink. I wasn't exactly used to his random statements, but they were becoming less and less shocking to me.

I rung out my hair and accepted the towel Taehyung offered me. I scrunched my hair a few times with the towel to get the moisture out, before twisting it up on top of my head.

"Why are you pushing this so hard?" I tried to keep my tone light. I wasn't annoyed, just curious.

He smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "Jimin is my best friend. I want to make sure he's happy."

I scoffed, "And you think I'll make him happy? We've only known each other for three days."

Taehyung motioned me to sit next to him at the counter.

"Look, Waffles, being part dog, I'm a very good judge of character." Taehyung's expression turned serious. "Jimin needs someone who challenges him, but also supports him. Sometimes he gets so stuck in his own head that he needs someone who can pull him back out. He's been a wreck since he found out about JiHoon. They were practically brothers. None of us have been able to get through to him. But since he met you a few days ago, he's started to act more like himself. He's still stressed out, but he's not as much of a mess. He's been more focused and slightly more reasonable."

"Don't you think it's just part of the grieving process? Maybe he's moved on to acceptance?"

"No, he's still on anger." Taehyung perked up a little at the sound of voices approaching the backdoor. "I just wanted to say that you shouldn't write him off entirely because you're opposed to arranged marriage. He's a good guy, and I think you two would really like each other had you met under different circumstances."

The back door opened and Jin and Namjoon entered the kitchen, each man holding three pizza boxes.

"Six pizzas should be enough, right?" Jin asked setting the boxes on the counter.

"Five pizzas for seven people, and one for Jungkook?" Namjoon replied as he stacked his boxes on top of Jin's. "Yeah, that should be fine."