⫣17⫦ Forbidden

Hwasa waves a goodbye, telling us she has another appointment before she'll meet us at the party.

I take one last look at the stunning woman and smile at the thought of what she has planned for tonight. Nothing good, I'm sure.

She gifts me a little wink too and I can't wait to see her again tonight.

I follow the boys downstairs, well aware that Taehyung is like a shadow behind me, his closeness making the hair on the back of my neck tingle and rise.

"You look damn hot, Lian." Jimin says on the way to the car and gives me one of those sexy, lopsided grins, putting a hand on my hips in a provocative gesture.

"So do you." I answer him honestly and with a smile of my own. Without wanting to, I glance at Jungkook who's already at the car but turned back around and was staring at the place where Jimin's hand is resting on my hips.

A shadow crosses over his features and he quickly looks away- too quickly. Even if Hwasa hadn't mentioned anything, I would have known something was up.

I wish there's something I can do to help them, but Hwasa was probably right: they need to figure this out themselves.

So I just turn to Jimin with a smile and then on a wild instinct, reach out and ruffle that fluffy, white hair. I see his surprised face, but I only stick out my tongue at him and wriggle out of his side-embrace.

His answering chuckle sounds like sunlight and happiness.

Then suddenly there is a shadow behind me and I know it's Taehyung by the smell that always seems to follows him- dark, musky and spicy, wrapping around me.

"If anyone other than us ever touches you like that, it's not going to end well," he grinds out and my body reacts to the words with a shiver, heating the place between my legs.

I turn to Taehyung with a sweet, innocent smile and purse my lips. I am done with being the shy, well-spoken girl he met. Not when I am dressed like this and feel so... powerful.

"Who I touch and let me touch is my decision."

If I expected some humored grin or chuckle, I don't get it.

He just keeps staring at me, his eyes dipping down to my mouth. Without another word, he turns me, grabs my waist tightly and then lifts me up into the trunk as if I weighed nothing more than a feather. He jumps in after me and pulls me down.

Before I know it, his arms have come around my middle in a tight lock and I am cradled in his lap. Only then he lowers his head to my neck, his voice raspy and low.

"Try me, and you'll find out," he simply says and then settles back against the railing without removing his hands.

I blush a deep red but just keep still as we finally start driving. The others seem to pay no attention to Taehyung's odd behavior or comment on my place between his legs.Jin is in the drivers seat again, Suga next to him while the rest of the boys sit in the open trunk with us.

Jungkook looks a bit sullen, as if he hadn't been able to get the picture of me and Jimin out of his head, while the slight boy played on his phone- like he hadn't noticed anything.

I narrow my eyes, watching him with doubt in my heart. No. Jimin is not the kind of person who would miss something like that. He's most likely pretending.

"So, how was your time with Hwasa?" RM asks me suddenly and I whip my head to him.

"Instructive," I only answer with pursed lips and when he raises his eyebrows in question, I just shrug with my shoulders.

"Oh you know, we talked about this and that. Her job, our families oh, and the fact that she slept with all of you."

All their heads snap towards me in surprise, but I only wink at Jimin.

"Well, all but one."

Two- but it's really not my place to say that.

Jimin throws his head back and laughs.

"Wow, Hwasa really can't keep her mouth shut, but I guess we should have known before we brought you to her. Sorry it won't work out between us, baby girl."

I look at him in faked horror, a hand in front of my mouth.

"Jimin! How could you lead me on like that then? I will never get over the heartbreak."

There's a heartbeat of silence, and then J-Hope is the first to break into a massive fit of laughter, even hitting the floor of the trunk in exhilaration.

The others join shortly after, even Taehyung, who thankfully doesn't seem jealous anymore- at least not of Jimin.

Jungkook is the first to regain some control and lights a cigarette with a soft smile on his face, as if the laughter has driven away the dark thoughts. I watch him take a long drag before he releases the white cloud through his nose, head raised to the sky as though it took some of that tension from him.For some reason, I cannot stop watching him as another spontaneous thought forms in my head, reaching my mouth before I can think it through.

"Can I have that?"

Jungkook glances down to the cigarette and then back at me, eyebrows furrowed in slight confusion.

"You sure?", he asks with a goofy grin and before I can chicken out, I nod.

I decided the moment I saw myself in that mirror, that I would no longer be afraid to show my curiosity. And these days I seem to be curious about everything.

With a wide smile and gleaming eyes that speak of a silent challenge, Jungkook hands me the cigarette.

"You're gonna hate it though. Everyone hates it at the beginning."

"Then why do you do it?" I ask while I already take it from him, staring at the burning stick in curiosity.

RM laughs and shoots me an amused look.

"It's not just the nicotine that gets you addicted- it's the feeling that comes with it. The feeling of doing something you know you shouldn't. You know it's bad for you and yet you do it as a way of saying: Fuck you, I'll do what I want no matter the consequences."

They all look at me now, including Jimin and J-Hope who are still shaking with the aftermath of their laughter. I look down at the burning bar between my fingers, realizing that RM's words are exactly how I feel.

Smoking is bad- that's what every decent person tells you, even those who smoke themselves. That's what my parents always tell me.

And exactly because of that, I put the cigarette up to my lips and take a long drag- and then break out into a violent cough as the smoke burns my throat.

The boys fall onto another frenzy of laughter as they half roll on the floor and I feel the vibration of Taehyung's chuckle against my back.

"That's absolutely awful," I screech out, which only makes them laugh more. The sound of it warms my heart and I nestle in closer against Taehyung.

He is the first to get it together. "So, are you going to try again?"I turn my head to look at his face, too close to properly breath. I break out into a wide grin.

"Hell yeah." I tell him and take another drag. It makes me cough and cough again, but it gets better towards then end.

My head suddenly feels dizzy, almost like I'm floating on a raft in the middle of the sea and the world zooms in and out of focus. It's both a rush and utterly alien.

I already know it won't be the last one I try and the feeling of being rebellious makes me downright giddy with energy.

"So, where are we going?", I finally ask some time later, the dizziness already slowly dissolving. I kinda miss it already.

Their answering smiles are filled with such dark glee, I already know it can't mean anything good.

"We're gonna get some booze of course," Jimin finally announces, beaming from one ear to the other.

I raise my eyebrows as I feel the car slow down and take a turn left, entering the parking lot of a gas station, no other cars to be seen and the building already showing signs of decay, the walls grubby and the once green color bleached, making the entire façade look sick.

Suga and Jin get out of the drivers seat and join us in the back, leaning against the trunk we are still sitting in. Taehyung then turns me and lifts up my chin, making me stare directly into his eyes.

"Are you ready to do something really bad now?"

The way he says it should send me running, but I only look up with an excited nod, though in my stomach it feels as if butterflies have been set loose.

"What?"

He smiles happily and points at the gas station.

"It's pretty simple. You just need to be a distraction."

My eyes widen. "A distraction for what?"

Suga laughs and answers with that raspy voice of his. "We told you we were getting booze- we never said we're gonna buy it."

I go over the words and breath in sharply as I get his meaning.

"You want me to help you steal alcohol?"

Apparently I sounded pretty shocked, because they all chuckled at me in response. Jungkook looks at me with a smirk, bad boy in persona. "We actually only meant for you to watch us do it, with you being so new to all of this."

"But now that we see how you look- trust me, there is no better distraction than you," Jin continues.

"What if we get caught?" I breath out.

It's goofy J-Hope who answers me with a wide grin that shows the reckless, young trouble maker beneath. "Then we run like hell."

I let out a mixture between a snort and a laugh.

"This is crazy." I say more to myself, but Taehyung nods with an evil smirk: "Welcome to our world."

I look at the gas station. It's small and no one seems to be in. It's only me and the seven boys currently awaiting my response. I know this will be different than all the other things they have introduced me to. This will change something in me, more than they already have.This is actually illegal!Career threatening illegal.

This can have serious consequences and get me into a shit ton of trouble, not just with my parents, but the police- the law itself!Never in my life have I seen myself get involved in any of this stuff.

Yet here I am. And not at all turned off.

"So, are you in?" Suga asks, drawing my attention back to them.

I look into all of their faces and realize something. They aren't going to force me. If I say no, they will accept it and just go in by themselves, no judgment. The thought of being left behind- of sitting back while they go into that gas station alone finally makes me make a decision.

"Fuck it," I whisper and jump out of the car. They all hoot and jump up in joy and the fact that I am the reason for it makes me smile big and wide even as the reality slowly sinks in.

I'm actually gonna do this.I am really going to help them steal.

I feel that feeling in my stomach again- the same one I felt on top of that cliff. Adrenaline rushes through my body, turning everything more intense. Brighter and more alive. This time though, I don't give the fear much attention. I only let the excitement and the rush flow through my body, making me feel alive. I feel every cell in my body tingle with it.

"So, what do I have to do?" I ask, my breath already coming out faster.

RM, who also jumped out of the trunk smiles and then turns all business.

"All right: Jin and I will be staying in the car as lookouts and to get ready to drive if anything happens. Suga, you get on your tablet and make sure those CCTV's just so happen to have poor connection. J-Hope, you'll be at the phone with me and let me know what's going on inside while you, Jimin, actually buy a coke or something. Jungkook and Taehyung- you two get the booze "

I blink, realizing this is far from the first time they've done this. And they are also far more organised. Then I turn to Suga in surprise.

"Wait, you know how disable security camera's?"

He snorts and heaves himself into the trunk with a duffel back I haven't noticed. I watch as he lights a cigarette and takes out a sleek, black tablet.He sits crossed legged, leaning against the drivers lodge and takes a long drag of his cigarette- like all he's going to do is play a video game.

"I'll try my best to get them down."

Someone bumps my arm and I look sideways at a smiling RM.

"Don't worry, Lian. He's just being modest. Suga is actually one of the best hackers in all of Seoul."

My eyes nearly bulged out of my sockets.

"And you're telling me this now? Is there anything else I should know?"

He glances down at me and I could have sworn I saw a flicker of a shadow cross his feature. But it's gone so fast I m not sure it even happened. He smiles against the setting sun.

"I might have a mind for strategy and Jin might have learned a lesson or two after trashing his fathers car. No one can keep up with him if he doesn't want them too- not even the police."

He points at J-Hope with his head.

"To say that Hoseok's parent's are rich is a bit of an understatement. If we need something we can't steal, he's our man- and our sunshine of course. And our three maknae's here are the doers."

It's Jungkook who grins the widest.

"Strongest," he says, pointing at himself. "Stealthiest," he continues and points at Jimin. "And most reckless" he finishes, with a nod in Taehyung's direction.

The information is so unexpected that for a moment I can only stare with an open mouth. Then a loud snort escapes me when I can no longer hold it together.

"Oh, I've gotten myself in some deep shit, haven't I?"

Anyone else but them, and that comment would have earned me concerned looks and an appointment at a psychiatrist. But not with them. Never with them.

"So if you already have your jobs, what is mine going to be?"

RM stands to his full height and smiles down at me- and I can't help but feel like he's proud of me.

"All you need to do is get the cashier into a conversation and make sure his eyes are on you- only on you. But don't worry.I'm sure you won't have to do much for that."

I want to tell him that I have no fucking clue how to flirt or hold a man's attention, but Taehyung is faster. He must have read my expression and I'm beginning to feel like he's starting to know what goes on inside my head before even I know.

He comes close enough for his shadow to shield me from the sun. I blink up at him as he smiles sweetly down at me and like only a whisper of a touch he strokes my cheeks. I might have felt embarrassed, knowing the others are watching, but my thoughts had emptied out.

"Don't just think that you are stunning- Know it. Own it."

Then he leans closer and whispers in my ear, thankfully quiet enough so that the others can't hear.

"You should know that if I were alone with you right now, I would make sure you would know exactly just how much you turn me on."

I swear to god, I almost let out a moan right then and there, not giving a shit who hears it. But Taehyung only draws back with a cheeky smile, as if he knows exactly what effect he has on me and it gave him the greatest thrill of all.

"So, will you be able to do it?"

I nod and take a deep breath.

I can do this, I tell myself as I turn towards the entrance, J-Hope, Jimin, Jungkook and Taehyung a few steps behind me.

"And get some Malboro's for me." Jin yells after us.

"Oh, and some chewing gum too- the spicy once, not the berry shit that J-Hope always takes."

I hear RM's muffled response.Something along the line of: "Only booze today."

I draw closer, the boys lazily walking behind me like they are just a bunch of normal, although very handsome young adults.

I can do this, I tell myself again.

My stomach fells floaty and my skin prickles.

The door swishes open and cool air greets me.

I can do this, I repeat in my head one more time, before stepping into the air conditioned gas station.

________________________________Guys: don't start smoking! (not me being a hypocrite cause I do... but it's a bad habit...)