Blog

She awoke to a blazing sun rising in the east.  Or so it seemed before she opened her eyes.  That bright light had penetrated her eyelids to cast red shadows upon her vision.  But when Nani opened her eyes a moment later, she realized it wasn’t the sun causing those crimson shadows.  It was the gentle glow of a lantern.  The kind that had been used for illumination several hundred years ago.

But before she could focus on that light, a soft voice sounded in her ear, and she slowly lifted her eyelids all the way as she turned her gaze to the left.  Into a gorgeous pair of luminously dark eyes.

“Are you all right, miss?”

Other voices, more urgent, reverberated around them as Nani lost herself in that magnificent chocolate gaze.  But even before she recognized their sentiments, she acknowledged the only one floating around in her own head.  It was just one word.

Jimin.

But then the others crashed in on her.

“Is she dead?”

“Can you wake her up?”

“Where’d she come from?”

“Why is she wearing such strange clothes?”

Nani frowned.  She wasn’t wearing strange clothes.  She’d gone to bed last night in her favorite green sweatshirt.  The one with the large hood that would hide her face when she wished to shield it from the cold world.  And those catty girls in her English class.  That hood had rescued her from several battles.  And prevented so many more.

“She’s cute.”

That was more like it.  Whichever wonderful boy that was, he’d had the kindness to compliment her instead of making fun of her clothes.

A hopeful tone sounded.  “What’s she holding in her hands?  Is that a…chocolate cake?”

Nani giggled then.  She’d recognized that last voice.  She’d know that soft purr anywhere, mostly because of its subject – cake.  It was Jungkook’s sweet voice.

Jimin’s eyes grew wide as he continued to stare down at her.  “I think she’s all right,” he responded to his friends.  “She just laughed.”

“Is Jungkook hungry,” Nani’s first words slipped from her lips, “again?”

“Jungkook is always hungry,” Namjoon responded dryly.  “Or crying.  At least, you didn’t make him cry.  But…how do you know Jungkook?”

“Of course, she didn’t make him cry.  She’s not dead.”  That was Yoongi’s voice.

“Thank God,” Jin breathed.

“You can say that again,” Hobi added, clearly relieved that she was all right.

Tae was the only one who hadn’t spoken.  But then she realized he had.  His deep rumble had sounded before.  He’d been the one to mention her clothes. 

Look here now, Gucci Boy, I know you’re a fashion plate, but what’s wrong with a comfortable pair of sweatpants and a gloriously large sweatshirt? 

Nani knew for certain Jungkook would love her shirt.  Of course, it wasn’t as huge as the ones he wore, but if she tried to don something that big, it would probably fall off of her.

“Miss?  Are you all right?”  Concern etched in his gaze, Jimin was still hovering over her.  Bless his sweet heart.

She blinked and realized they were surrounded by darkness.  And she was lying flat on her back.  On the cold ground.  In fact, despite her wonderful sweatshirt, she was growing quite chilly.  She shivered.

“See?  I told you.  She needs different clothes,” Tae did speak up again then.  “She’s clearly frozen.”  He reached down and shoved gently at her shoulder, encouraging her to sit up.

So she did.  Then she glanced in shock from one boy to the next until her gaze had flown around the group. 

“Have you been filming a video?  Or an episode of Run BTS?” she asked as she stared at their clothes. 

They were wearing several layers.  The top layer was a long coat over a pair of pants.  They were, however, less than glorious.  Not the white, blue, indigo, and deep purple she would have expected.  And not hanboks.  Not exactly.  They didn’t appear to be made of silk either.  All of them were the same tepid color.  Like sand.  An unattractive tan. 

Of course, Jimin was still gorgeous.  Even in those clothes that were clearly unworthy of him.  Didn’t whoever had dressed him – and the rest of them – recognize that they were kings of the music world?  Deserving to be dressed as royalty in bright colors and soft silks?

“What’s a video?”

“What’s filming?”

“What’s an episode?

“What’s Run BTS?”

Four voices all dueled with each other.  But Jimin paid them no mind.  He was too busy shrugging out of his outer coat.  A moment later, he draped it around her shoulders.  “Here.  Wear this.”

She smiled at him and accepted his gift gratefully, sliding her arms into its sleeves, but that last question was buzzing in her ears still.  “What’s Run BTS?” she echoed.  “You know what Run BTS is.  Your show.  You know, the one ARMY loves.”

Namjoon looked alarmed then.  He glanced around.  “You’ve seen the enemy army?  Where?”

Her brow puckered.  “Enemy ARMY?  What’s that?”  Her forehead cleared a moment later as she glanced at Jimin.  She giggled.  “Oh, you must mean those horrid anti-ARMYs, right?  The ones who pretend to love you but then show their true colors when they start stalking your fanbase?”

“Fanbase?” queried Jin.  “What’s this girl talking about?  Is she speaking some foreign language?”

Again, Jimin seemed oblivious to the rest of them.  “Here.  Can I help you stand up?”

“Wait!” gasped Jungkook as he rushed forward.  “Please.  Let me help you.”  He reached for the cake.  “I’ll hold the cake for you.”

Nani peered down at her hands in surprise.  She was still clutching the cake her aunt had given her.  But…how had it arrived here?  How had she? 

Blinking, she lifted her gaze to meet Jungkook’s.  “Uh, okay.  Thank you, Jungkook.”

Again, Namjoon frowned.  “You never did explain how you know Jungkook.”  He turned towards the younger man.  “Jungkook, do you know this girl?”

Her cake-carrier shook his head.  “I’ve never seen her – or her clothes – anywhere in my whole life.  Though,” he eyed her speculatively, “that shirt does look terribly comfortable.  Much more comfortable than this restricting thing.”  He slid his fingers underneath the collar of his undershirt.  One of several if Nani was judging correctly.

“Where did you get these strange clothes?” Namjoon quizzed her again.

“Strange clothes?” she echoed.  “My clothes aren’t strange.  But yours are.  Why are you wearing these?  Are you shooting a music video?”  Alarm flew across her face.  “Oh!  You’re not filming now, are you?” 

She reached up nervously to drag a hair out of her eye.  Then she smoothed her hair back behind her ear.  Wondering if she even looked presentable.  If she was going to be featured in a BTS music video, she wanted to look her best.  Truly, she’d rather crawl under a rock and hide.  But that didn’t seem to be much of an option now that all seven of them had noticed her. 

Besides, Jimin was still gazing at her in concern.  And now he was squeezing her hand.  She didn’t want to let go of him.  Not for anything in the whole world.

Suddenly, something whizzed by her head.  Making a bizarre whistling sound.  And an even odder noise followed as that something lodged itself into a tree behind her. 

“What was that?” she breathed as she glanced over her shoulder to see a long thin shaft dancing back and forth after burying itself within the trunk of a tree.

“Arrow!” cried Jimin.