But Then I Fell in Love

Chapter Three

Namjoon stood in front of Yoongi's apartment door, horrified.

"Why the fuck wouldn't you go to class?!"

"I-I wasn't feeling well. My stomach – "

"You had a tummy ache?" Chul said with a sneer.

"I think when you kicked – "

"You're making people suspicious!" Chul interrupted with a roar. "One of your little friends called. What do you expect me to tell them?"

"Um, that I'm not feeling well?"

"Don't you mock me!"

"I wasn't! I – "

Smack

Namjoon jumped back from the door.

"Please," Yoongi begged. "Please, I'm sorry!"

Smack

"Shut up! Just shut the fuck up! If this gets out of hand, and your little friends keep coming around asking about you, you're going to regret it!"

Tears sprang to Namjoon's eyes. He wanted so desperately to knock down the door, grab Yoongi, and get him out of the situation. But he couldn't be sure how Chul would react. Well, he had a pretty good idea. And their apartment was full of potential weapons. Namjoon was unarmed and alone.

Against everything he believed in and desperately wanted to do, Namjoon turned around and walked away. He waited until he was out of earshot of the door, leaned against a wall and slid down it, sobbing.

-

To Jimin's great relief, Yoongi showed up to class the next day. His relief was soon replaced with dread, however, when he noticed the purple and blue bruise that was spread across Yoongi's cheekbone.

"Hey, Hyung."

Yoongi simply nodded at Jimin, but said nothing.

"Everything okay?"

Another nod.

"What, uh... What happened?" Jimin gestured at Yoongi's cheek.

Yoongi shrugged and still said nothing.

"Yoongi, I – "

But the professor starting class interrupted him. Jimin impatiently waited for the end of class to continue talking to Yoongi, but as soon as the professor stopped talking, Yoongi was immediately on his feet and almost out the door.

"Yoongi! Wait!"

Jimin shoved his things into his bag and hurried after Yoongi, but by the time he got to the door, Yoongi had disappeared into the crowd.

Namjoon suddenly appeared next to Jimin. "Where is he?"

"I don't know," Jimin said with frustration. "He ran before I could say anything."

Namjoon sighed. "We're just going to have to wait outside of his classes."

"But Hyung, you have a final today."

Namjoon paused. "I know, but Yoongs is more important. I'll email the professor later and explain as best I can."

And that's how Namjoon and Jimin found themselves standing outside of Yoongi's third class of the day, waiting to stop him ("With force, if necessary," Namjoon insisted) as he exited the class. And they did. And they did have to use force. Namjoon held him, tightly but gently, as they dragged him away to the cafe.

"Please, let me go," Yoongi begged as he looked wildly around. The other two assumed he was looking out for Chul.

"We can go somewhere more private, if you'd prefer."