Once everyone had eaten their fill and the alcohol had begun to take effect, the guys returned to the pool to continue the fun.
Yoona and SeoWoo sat on the pool's edge, dipping their feet in the water and drawing circles on its surface. They held glasses of wine in their hands and chatted peacefully, taking small sips. They looked up at the starry sky, which was completely visible.
"Do you remember anything?" SeoWoo asked, looking at her friend anxiously.
"No. Only images flash before my eyes from time to time," Yoona replied, taking a sip.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you."
"No, I'm sorry you got into trouble because of me. I couldn't have imagined how it would turn out."
"You're lucky those guys were there. If Jungkook hadn't found me, we would've been in more trouble. I would never have known what my brother was really like."
"And what is he like?"
"He's a real man." She glanced contentedly at Jungkook, who was enjoying himself with the hyungs in the pool. "He's no longer that timid boy who hid behind my back even though he was a head taller than me. He's grown up. He's ready to take responsibility for his actions."
"Well, at least something good happened today," Yoona said, smiling as she finished her wine. "Speaking of men, someone here hasn't taken his eyes off you for an hour." She glanced at Yoongi, who was silently devouring her with his eyes. "Either he's in love, or he's planning to kill you."
"Hey, Yoona..." She nudged her friend with her elbow.
"What? You never know what to expect from him." She glanced at him, causing him to grimace. "He's annoying..." She hissed so that he could hear.
"Girls, come join us," Tae called from the other end of the pool.
"Should I go?" Yoona asked her friend.
"Yes, go. Have fun," SeoWoo smiled, watching Yoona jump up and run to the boys.
The girl jumped into the water without taking off her clothes, eliciting applause and admiration from the boys. SeoWoo remained sitting on the edge of the pool. She couldn't swim. Although she was born in a town overlooking the ocean, she had never swum there. She had only wandered alone on the empty beach and enjoyed the sunset.
After the pool fun, the party smoothly moved indoors. Hoseok sat at his laptop, switching songs. The perpetually hungry maknae Tae and Jungkook ate fruit while watching the fish in the huge aquarium and poking their fingers at the glass, smiling silly smiles. Jin was tired and lying on the sofa, almost asleep. Jimin didn't let go of his phone. He scrolled through photos he had taken in the winter of him, his sister, and Hoseok playing snowball fights and building a snowman. He broke into a happy smile. Yoona couldn't pass up such cuteness. She sat down next to him and looked at the photos with interest.
"Hey, what are you doing?" he exclaimed, putting his phone in his pocket.
"I'm just curious why you're smiling like that," Yoona replied, pouting.
"It's personal. I don't like showing my photos to just anyone."
"I know. You're naked there..."
"What?!" the guy cried out, blushing.
"Yes, definitely. Look how red you are. You're like a tomato," she teased.
"I'm not naked there."
"Then show me."
"I don't want to."
"Show me." She reached into his pocket and took out his phone. Then, she jumped off the couch and ran to the kitchen.
"Hey, give me back my phone! Who gave you permission?" He ran after her.
They played tag for a long time. Jimin shouted at the top of his lungs, but Yoona didn't stop for a second. She ran in circles while looking at photos on her phone. Then, she suddenly froze in place. A photo of a little girl in a hospital bed was displayed on the screen.
"Give it to me," he said, snatched the phone from her hands.
"Who is she? The girl in the photo?" Yoona asked quietly, looking at him.
"None of your business," he replied.
"Is she your sister? Is she sick? Is it serious?" she asked, bombarding him with questions. "Then why did you steal?" Did you want to leave your sick sister without her older brother? She needs you now more than ever. Do you understand that this is no joke? You could go to jail."
"I know," he shouted, silencing Yoona. "I understand everything. I did it for her."
"What?" The girl blinked in surprise.
"She needs surgery, and we don't have that kind of money. Hoseok doesn't earn enough. I'm still studying, too." Yoongi dropped out of school to help us, too. He sells drugs to earn as much money as possible, and the guys and I help him. We don't do this of our own free will. My sister is getting worse every day, so I decided to commit a crime to save her. To save her. I got the guys involved, too. Because of me, we're in big trouble now. If we get caught, I'll be the only one to answer for it. They're not involved in any of this. "
While Jimin was talking, Yoona stood silently and looked at the boy.
A painful lump formed in her throat, and her chest felt tight.
The boy was barely holding back his tears.
"I'm sorry," said Yoona, hiding her gaze behind her bangs. She bit her lip until it bled. She could taste the metallic flavor in her mouth.
"For what?" asked Jimin, wiping away the tears that had appeared.
"For this conversation. I shouldn't have done that."
"It's okay," he sighed. "It's late. We should go to bed." He headed over to the guys to wrap up the party. Yoona stood alone for five minutes, then went to her room, too. But a strange feeling of guilt and pain kept her awake.
While everyone else was enjoying themselves inside, SeoWoo stayed behind to clean up by the pool, unaware that she was being watched closely.
Still unaware of Yoongi, she continued collecting empty glasses and plates from the table when suddenly...
"Ah, you scared me!" she cried out in surprise. Yoongi was standing in front of her with a lighter.
"Can I help you?" he asked, putting the lighter in the pocket of his leather jacket.
"No, don't worry about it. I'll do it myself..." She didn't have time to finish her sentence before the guy took the plates from her.
"Where should I take them?"
"Umm..." She stared at him. "To the kitchen. Just follow me." She walked toward the stairs.
Yoongi followed behind her, enjoying the view and biting his lip with excitement.
She was so small and delicate. She had a slim waist, thin white legs, and long hair that fell in curls onto her chest.
She was his ideal type of girl: Beautiful and sharp-tongued. She wasn't the type to obey orders. She would make you do as she said and nothing else. But right now, she was too sleepy to argue with Yoongi.
They silently gathered the leftover food and dishes from the table.
It was almost dawn, and SeoWoo could barely stand. Fatigue was overtaking her. She wanted to join the others and sleep in her bed, but Yoongi had other plans.
She was about to leave when she suddenly felt a cold touch on her wrist. She looked at the boy. He stared at her with hungry eyes, like a predator who had just caught its prey and was ready to devour it. Yoona's words flashed through SeoWoo's mind: "Either he's in love with you, or he's planning to kill you."
"Does he really want to kill me?" she asked herself, preparing to run.
"SeoWoo... Let's go swimming," he said suddenly.
"What?" she asked, gathering her thoughts.
"I want to go swimming. Just once..."
"No, I won't," SeoWoo smiled, realizing that he wasn't going to kill her after all.
"All right... As you wish." With that, Yoongi took off his jacket and shoes and jumped into the water.
"You're out of your mind," she said, smiling at his actions.
"I do what I want," said the boy as he spread himself out on the surface of the water. "Come to me," he said, suggesting again that the girl take a dip.
"I can't swim."
"I'll teach you," he assured her, smiling broadly.
Strangely enough, she trusted him. Without undressing, she slowly entered the water, carefully stepping on the slippery steps. Yoongi swam closer, took her hands, and pulled her toward him. Fear was evident in the girl's eyes. She smiled, but it was difficult for her to breathe.
She clung to Yoongi's hands, afraid to let go. When she no longer felt solid ground beneath her feet, she panicked but tried not to show it. Yoon noticed her trembling lips, gently embraced her waist, and pulled her closer. She immediately wrapped her thin arms around his shoulders and pressed herself against his chest.
"Don't let me go..." SeoWoo said in a trembling voice.
"I won't. I promise," Yoongi replied with a childish smile.
"Why are you smiling like that? Are you planning to drown me?" SeoWoo asked seriously, not taking her eyes off him.
"Yes! I am. But you're clinging to me with a death grip. I'm afraid you'll drag me down with you," the boy replied, his expression equally serious.
"Don't joke like that, okay? I don't like jokes like that."
"Then don't provoke me."
"Okay, I won't." She looked into his eyes, saw the spark of emotion igniting there, and realized that something was not right. "Yoongi, do you like me?" she asked directly.
"No..." he replied, a pink hue suddenly appearing on his powder-white cheeks.
"Okay. I don't like you either," she lied.
She lied to herself as she suddenly felt the distance between them grow and the boy loosen his embrace. Panicking, she grabbed Yoongi by the neck, trying to stay afloat. He also held the girl tightly against him.
The ends of her hair float smoothly on the water's surface. Fear fills her eyes and chaos fills her mind.
SeoWoo is so beautiful and so close right now. Their lips are almost touching. She feels his breath on her skin, which makes her head spin and gives her a pleasant feeling of weightlessness. Yoongi no longer looks into SeoWoo's eyes. He stares at her pink, plump lips, trembling with fear.
Taking a chance, Yoongi risks it and kisses her, expecting a slap or screams in response. But no. She responds to the kiss, pressing closer. Pleased, Yoongi kisses her passionately, biting her lower lip slightly. Suddenly, she breaks the kiss and pulls away.
"I'm sorry. I'm tired," she says. Breaking away from Yoongi, she swims to the edge of the pool.
"SeoWoo, wait. What's wrong?" the boy asks. But the girl quickly gets out of the water, wraps herself in a warm blanket, and runs to the exit without explaining anything.
She tried to calm down in her room. But it was useless because the memories were still fresh: Memories of a past love who had appeared suddenly and disappeared forever. That kiss reminded her of someone who had lived in her heart until recently. That's why she ran away, afraid that it would happen again.
"No, I don't want to. I don't want to love anymore. It hurts too much. I'd rather be alone. I won't let anyone break my heart again," she repeated to herself as she sat in her wet clothes on the white bed. Her heart pounded wildly, and she could still taste Yoongi's lips on hers: Sweet, with a hint of mint. He's devilishly attractive. He's a devil in human form. But she's ready to give herself completely to this devil. Even if it hurts later and her skin is burned by his hellish flames, it's worth suffering for eternity.
5:22
The devil is named Min Yoongi.