Slowly and Painfully- 방탄

•Rosette's POV•

"You're humming that tune again."

I whirled my head towards the voice of my mom coming from behind me. The boiling water I prepared was ready for the meat and vegetables she had sliced.

"I never thought you'd notice, especially since you're so busy with work." I responded. Her soft chuckle filled the warm air around us.

"Oh no, sweetie. Ever since you were a little girl, you'd always hum that tune, so often that I'd notice it most of the time." She said as she gathered the ingredients to put in the pot.

"I somehow really like the tune. But I can't remember how I know about that song. I mean, I don't even know the title, even the next line." I replied. "Googling it isn't really helping either."

My mother leaned against the wall as she watched me warily stay away from the knife she used for slicing. A heavy exhale escaped her mouth.

"Well, I never taught you that. Your father might know." She shrugged. "Just give it up. Your curiosity always gets the best of you."

I ignored her nags. Being curious is supposedly my coolest character trait!

My father looked at us from the living room but went back to focus on the news. "Sounds like one of those classical musical pieces I'd hear in movies. Maybe you watched a movie and you liked the song, so it unknowingly barged itself into your head."

Perhaps... He does have a point.

"But you know what, back then I asked you about where you learned that song, and little Rosette told me the strangest thing I'd ever hear from a 6-year-old." My mom interjected, a finger to her chin.

"What? What did I say?" I prompted.

"You answered with I didn't learn it. I remembered it." My mom recalled, imitating my actions when I was a child.

Huh. That is pretty strange.

"But I've always been a weird kid. It was probably nonsense."

"You were serious at that time though. It felt like you really meant it." My mom specified.

"Nah, you're overthinking it, mom. Come on, the soup's ready." I waved it off as both my parents sat at the dining table. Their schedules were always hectic, so while ephemeral moments like this occur, I take it all in and cherish every second of seeing them together.

~•~

"Ah, I'm humming it again."

"It's not much of a surprise to me anymore. You'd hum that tune in a loop for almost every chance you get." My best friend since middle school, Lisa, rested her chin onto her palm while she stared at me.

"It's such a mystery, I wonder where that came from?"

"No time for mystery solving. Hurry up and eat your meal, we still have an exam to study." I pressed as I fasten my pace in eating. My phone vibrated across the cafeteria table and notified me about the time. I swiftly picked it up and turned it off, catching a glimpse of my stuffed cheeks being reflected by the black screen.

"Ugh, I hate exams." She groaned, picking at her lunch sloppily.

As Lisa continued to grumble through her food, it took me a while to realize that I was singing the same tune again. The piece sounded so nostalgic, like it's trying to pull me into another world, another world where I might belong in.

I wonder what melody comes next.

~•~

Help. I'm here again.

The floor upstairs appeared to be as if it were completely abandoned. The tiles and ceilings could use a bit of fixing. Maybe because of this and many other reasons, most of the students avoid this part of the school.

Heck, they even make up scary stories about ghosts that go bump in the night. How far their stupidity grows, I have no idea. I bet they didn't know that there's a club room here which remains active throughout the school year.

I actually discovered it back when I was a new student exploring every corner of the academic buildings. I asked the staff about the Music Club and Art Club locations for I was still pinpointing on where I should join. But Lisa invited me to join her club, which was Art.

I gave in. I was an art geek after all.

During the past few weeks, alas, the nightmare I've been dreaming about since I was a child seemed to come more often in my sleep. I kept on reading books of the school library to try and figure it out. But to no avail.

That's when Lisa suggested that I should check out the other library. One that is located on the upper floors, seemingly abandoned. I was immediately curious, so I decided to go ahead and check it out.

I'm glad I did.

Because then and there, I discovered the Music Club room. After that happened, I would come to this place during early mornings and late afternoons, when the club members aren't present.

It felt like I discovered a secret all to myself, like a pirate guarding a lost treasure under the deepest and coldest part of the sea.

Okay, Rosette, before Mom starts worrying why you're not home yet, let's hurry up and get inside.

The door creaked open as I turned the knob, grinning, "Ah~ Alone at last with you all to myself."

It may seem strange for this room to look so grand and lovely considering the floor it belongs to, but perhaps the club members cherish it so dearly that they wanted the school to recreate it like the other clubrooms. Like the jewel in the mud? Or was it the diamond in the rough? I'm bad at expressions.

"It's a good thing the club members don't lock this up when they leave. They must've believed that they didn't need to since students avoid this place like the plague." I chuckled to myself.

I took calm and light steps towards the grand piano next to the wide windows that show a beautiful cityscape. I sat down and stroked the keys, gently hovering my fingers above them before I start to play.

I play it slowly, each tap with a tremble of hesitation. I knew how to play the melody of an unknown piece, but only the first part, the first few notes of the melody stored in my memory. Before I realized it, my fingers stopped, for it doesn't know what comes next.

Why do I have this agonizing feeling that won't go away whenever I play this piece? Have I forgotten something important? What would that be?

I deeply inhaled. The silence surrounded me.

"Boo, all this thinking makes me hungry." I pouted, standing up from the piano seat and grabbing my bag. Food will forever be my source of comfort and I love my mother's cooking. "I wonder what's for dinner."

Soon enough, I was already saying goodbye to the lonely music club room.

Just give it up. Your curiosity always gets the best of you. I recalled my mother say.

I smiled.

Sorry, mom. Your curious child will never give it up.

•Third Person's POV•

After the girl happily skipped away and closed the door, someone else stepped in and went out from his hiding place behind the shelves. His footsteps echoed beneath the floorboards, and his fingers caressed the keys where she had marked with her warmth.

"That melody... Why does it sound so familiar...?" he sighed and grabbed the keys to the clubroom door. He knew if he'll start locking it up, the girl can no longer enter and exit as she pleases.

"Ugh, this is all Yoongi's fault. He's the one who comes in early and leaves late, so why does he assign me to lock up today?" he stood at the doorway, the lock and key clutched in his hand.

"He's being lazy as usual, I guess."

He should lock up now.

Yet his body doesn't move to do its task. He hesitated.

His mind wandered back to the girl breaking and entering in a club she wasn't part of. He recalled her gentle play, her melancholic expression. He clicked his tongue as he exited the clubroom, surprised with his final decision.

He made sure the door was closed, yes, but he left it unlocked.

"What the heck am I doing? Park Jimin, snap out of it."

He doesn't know why. He doesn't understand his actions. Yet he doesn't see it as a bad thing.

Now he'll keep an eye out for a peculiar girl that disturbed his peculiar heart.

•Rosette's POV•

I smacked my head against the cafeteria table, almost knocking out Lisa's meal.

"Hey, watch it Rosette." She warned, grabbing onto her tray protectively. I groaned, too tired to even reply.

"What's wrong? I'm sorry that I ordered my meal first without you if that's what's bugging you." Lisa said ruefully after observing me.

"No, that's not it." I shook my head. "I couldn't sleep much last night. The nightmare is reoccurring more frequently these days."

Lisa's expression turned solemn at my words. Before she could ask any further, we were interrupted with a chorus of gushing and screeching.

What on earth is happening?

I whipped my head to the noise. It turned out to be a bunch of schoolgirls following a group of handsome guys. They entered the cafeteria and the whole crowd gawked at their squad.

Uninterested, I fall back onto the table.

Lisa, however, welcomes their appearance with a smile. "Oh look, it's the seven members of the music club. Aren't they charming?"

THE WHAT—

My stares moved back at them again, this time with extreme interest. Lisa noticed this and curled her lips.

"During the past few months you never encountered them, right?"

I nodded. I hope she doesn't see the shame in my face. I hope she doesn't figure out my secret. Now that I am aware that the Music Club members are actually walking around the building plus active with their activities, I suddenly become less daring to barge in their room.

"It's understandable. They're a very mysterious group, but also very charming that way. Want me to tell you about them?" she suggested as she wiggled her eyebrows, anticipating my answer.

"Sure, I don't mind." I regained composure and casually rolled my shoulders aback, ready for a long discussion.

"Okay so, there are seven members, and no one dares try to join their circle. It's like a perfect amount for them." Lisa began. "The President is that guy over there, Kim Namjoon, although he likes the nickname RM. His mother wanted him to keep maintaining high grades, but he wanted to rap and produce songs."

"He's a junior? I could tell by the red necktie." I asked once I saw the color of his school tie. Despite the sharp eyes, he was squinting. Did he forget his glasses or something?

"Yup," Lisa bobbed her head up and down, "and the guy all giddy and happy next to him is a junior too. Name's Jung Hoseok, but people call him J-hope. A very hot dancer."

Oddly, I thought about fireflies. Was it because he was a redhead? Wait, what does a redhead have to do with fireflies? I'm being an idiot as usual.

Watching him from here, he does seem like a burst of sunshine giving rays of hope to people.

Unlike that dude.

Lisa detected that I was staring at the student behind the group. Cold and distant with raven hair and skin pale as sugar, he walked past us.

He caught my gaze. We exchanged long, quiet stares.

"People won't like it if you stared too hard at them." Pale-faced dude said, looking down at me.

One way or another, I simply snorted at his statement. "It's what eyes are for."

Lisa blinked twice at my sassy retort.

Pale-face didn't bother to respond. Instead, he just walked away nonchalantly.

I awkwardly shifted in my seat, realizing what I just did. Lisa looked at me, mouth agape while I waited for her to reprimand.

"That was a senior student, Rosette! Min Yoongi! Everyone knows him for his talent in music!" she jolted up, profusely batting her eyelashes.

"I don't know. It just came out from my mouth so suddenly...so naturally." I explained, trying to defend myself, yet still confused with my own actions.

Thankfully, Lisa wasn't actually angry. A teasing grin was plastered on her face. "That was cute, Rosette. He'll forget about it soon enough."

I hope he does.

"Anyways, the other senior in their group is Kim Seokjin a.k.a Jin. He's apparently like a mother figure to them and is very gifted in vocals along with acting." She told me, motioning to the tall boy that had hair dyed pink.

He exudes handsomeness, enough to be trending worldwide. I couldn't fully comprehend my feelings, for I desired to honor him and shower him with praise. I desired to bow.

Lisa then pointed at another member who was comparable to a sweet-eyed doe under the morning sunrise.

"Next to him is their beloved youngest member, Jeon Jungkook. He's a freshman like us. He's the cherry that fits on top of their cake. I guess that's why he's the last applicant they accepted."

Must be nice to be the last member to join the group. He had probably done many admirable things to deserve it.

After Lisa introduced Jungkook, she moved on to the last two remaining members. "The last two I have yet to mention are both sophomores. The adorable beautiful man over there is named Kim Taehyung, popular with stealing the hearts of many due to his deep-ass voice. The other one is-"

I barely even had time to breathe properly.

The moment I turned to look at him, I met his eyes. Lisa's ramblings sounded far and echoing. It was as though the world slowed down.

The guy was flustered, being caught in the act. He hastily whirled his head towards another direction.

He was staring at me.

"Rosette? Were you listening?" Lisa nudged me, bringing me back to reality. I could hear noise of the cafeteria attacking my ears all at once.

"I'm sorry, who was he again?" I asked, distracting myself from the rapid beating of my heart.

"Park Jimin, a very charming and beautifully gifted musician. Now can you hear me?"

"Loud and clear, Ma'am." I pouted, all while doing a shy salute.

My stomach rumbled eventually, pleading to be fed. Lisa eyed me with a gesturing signal.

"Right, I'll be going now. The limited side dish I wanted to eat for today might run out." I got out from my seat and went on my way towards the ladies handing out the meals.

Sadly, my involuntary hunch was right. There was no more of that limited side dish that I wanted.

The lady of the canteen gave me a pitying look. "I'm sorry, dear. Maybe we would whip up some more if there's extra supply left!"

"Oh no, it's okay! I can look for an alternative instea—"

Suddenly, I felt the weight of my tray became heavier as someone from my left placed their side dish onto mine. It was Jeon Jungkook, the youngest member of the Music Club.

"I was before you so the last limited side dish was handed out to me. You can have it." He spoke up.

I was internally screaming.

The Jeon Jungkook, a member of the music club, handing out his side dish f-for me...?

"I-It's okay, I didn't really c-crave for it that much anyway..." I mumbled, rejecting his friendly offer.

Stupid Rosette, you stutter when you lie, remember?

"Come on, I insist." He smiled, his bunny-like teeth showing.

With a bit of worry, my trembling hands slowly moved closer towards his tray so that he could finish his act of kindness.

"Thank you." I dipped my head, touched.

He grinned, also dipping his head as a response. "You're welcome."

When he left, I noticed the lady of the canteen cocking her eyebrows as she pursed her smiling lips, obviously teasing.

"No, it's not what you think it is." I denied, respiring deeply.

All of a sudden, an idea comes to mind.

I should buy him something as a token of gratitude. What a good idea, Rosette!

Eyeing the items they have, I finally found something I thought he might like. "Can I get a small bottle of banana milk, please?"

My steps were small and hesitant, but eventually, I found myself standing in front of the music club's table as they laughed at someone's dad joke.

They all stopped and stared. I began to quake in my boots.

"Here. A token of gratitude." I placed the carton of banana milk beside Jungkook's arm on the table. He blinked repeatedly as the situation sinks in.

"Oh, oh wow, t-thanks." He quietly exclaimed and he took the bottle. "I love banana milk."

I awkwardly drew a lopsided grin. "Thank goodness, I made the correct choice. So um, I guess I'm done here."

He politely nodded and I dashed back to our table, their gazes still latched onto me. I can feel my face heat up from the embarrassment. Once I returned, Lisa gave me a look.

"What was that all about?" she prodded, pointing at them with her thumb until I hurriedly placed it down before the boys could see it.

"Nothing much, r-really..."

"Liar. Now tell me."

It was useless to lie to your best friend who's known you for years. Lisa's already used to my habitual stuttering lies.

With a defeated sigh, I gave in.

"...Fine. Long story short, he offered me something I wanted so I simply paid him back." I crossed my arms, suddenly self-conscious.

"I see. You should feel lucky that you got so close to their circle."

"What do you mean?"

She groaned.

"They're quite the ambiguous bunch, remember? No one even knows where their club room is located. Students suggest they own a separate building they have all to themselves."

Oh, they do, alright, the abandoned one at the top floor. I commented, but only in my mind.

I can't help but grin. It seems so unreal that I'm the only one among many who barges into their club room as often as I liked.

"Hey, what's with the creepy grin?" Lisa furrowed her eyebrows together. I didn't answer her. I just continued to smile as she grabbed me by the shoulder so she could force me to tell her. Soon, I laughed at her cuteness for trying to convince me on spilling the bean.

Will everything stay like this for a long time? I wish it would.

Little did I know—

Things were going to change later on.