Asclepsius

Chapter 7: The Face That Changed Everything

AM's POV

I stared at myself in the mirror while fixing the last few strands of my hair.

Today was different.

Today, I wasn't just Jungkook's personal makeup artist.

I was officially the personal makeup artist for all seven members of BTS.

The thought alone made my heart race.

I was unbelievably happy.

But beneath that happiness was a nervousness I couldn't shake.

I knew how much fans cared about the members' appearance.

Makeup wasn't simply makeup when it came to performers.

Every look represented something.

Their personalities.

Their concepts.

Their emotions.

Their entire image.

I couldn't disappoint them.

I couldn't disappoint the members.

And most importantly...

I couldn't disappoint the people who supported them.

I took a deep breath.

"Okay, Am."

I smiled at my reflection.

"You've got this."

Author's POV

Amungi kept her own makeup simple that morning.

Nothing dramatic.

Just soft, elegant, and polished.

She grabbed her bag, checked that her makeup kit was packed, and headed toward the bus stop.

After roughly ten minutes on the bus, she arrived at HYBE.

She immediately made her way toward the thirteenth floor.

The familiar purple surroundings greeted her.

But today, she wasn't a nervous newcomer.

Today, she had a job to do.

She reached the styling room and walked inside.

"Good morning!"

The members looked up.

"Good morning, Am!"

Amungi smiled and greeted each of them.

She bowed automatically.

"Good morning."

"Am!"

J-Hope immediately pointed at her.

"Stop bowing!"

Am blinked.

"What?"

Jin laughed.

"We've told you so many times. You don't need to bow to us every time you see us."

Taehyung nodded.

"We're practically friends now."

Am gave an embarrassed smile.

"Okay, okay. I'll try my best to stop bowing to you guys."

"You should," Hoseok said.

"Okay."

Everyone laughed.

Namjoon looked toward her makeup kit.

"So, whose makeup are you doing first?"

Am thought for a moment.

"Hmm..."

She smiled.

"Can I start with the comfortable face?"

Namjoon raised an eyebrow.

"You mean Jungkook?"

"Yeahhhh?"

Everyone laughed.

"Okay. Go on."

Jungkook walked toward the makeup chair.

The Styling Session

Ten minutes later, Jungkook's makeup was complete.

Am had kept it soft and natural.

Nothing too heavy.

Just enough to enhance his features while keeping his face fresh.

Jungkook looked into the mirror.

"Nice."

Am smiled.

"Glad you like it."

Next came Taehyung.

Seventeen minutes later, his makeup was finished.

Again, light.

Clean.

Elegant.

The rest of the members followed.

Within roughly thirty minutes, Am had completed everyone's makeup except Jimin's.

Every look was soft and natural.

The members seemed pleased.

Am looked around.

"So..."

She smiled.

"Are you guys satisfied with your looks?"

"YUP!"

The answer came from almost everyone at once.

Am laughed.

"Okay. Whose next?"

"Me!"

Jimin's voice came from behind her.

Am paused.

She looked up.

"Oh."

She avoided making direct eye contact.

"Okay. Please have a seat."

Jimin quietly sat down.

Jimin's POV

She wouldn't look at me.

I noticed immediately.

Maybe she was simply focused on her work.

Maybe it didn't mean anything.

Still...

Something about sitting this close to her felt strange.

I watched her prepare her brushes.

She looked completely professional.

Calm.

Focused.

As if my presence didn't affect her at all.

I wondered why that bothered me.

Then she began.

Author's POV

Amungi started working.

Her original plan was simple.

She wanted Jimin's makeup to match the others.

Soft.

Natural.

Light.

Nothing dramatic.

But somewhere along the way...

Something changed.

She couldn't explain it.

Her hands seemed to move almost instinctively.

She became completely absorbed in the work.

The brushes moved across Jimin's face with effortless precision.

She wasn't thinking.

She was simply creating.

Then suddenly...

"Can I get the Naked Smoky palette?"

The staff member looked surprised.

"But didn't you say you wanted to keep his makeup light?"

Am paused.

"I know."

She looked at the palette selection.

"Just give me the Naked palette."

"Okay."

She continued working.

Namjoon glanced at the time.

"How much time do we have before the program?"

"About two and a half hours," he answered himself after checking the schedule.

Am nodded.

"Hmm."

She returned to her work.

One Hour Later

"Done."

Am finally stepped back.

She carefully placed her brushes aside.

The room was unusually quiet.

Jungkook stared at Jimin.

Taehyung stared at Jimin.

Jin stared at Jimin.

Hoseok stared at Jimin.

Namjoon stared at Jimin.

Even Yoongi looked up.

Jungkook's mouth fell open.

"Am..."

He pointed toward Jimin.

"His makeup!"

He laughed.

"Damn!"

Taehyung pouted.

"Now I'm jealous."

He looked at his own reflection.

"And unsatisfied with mine."

Everyone laughed.

Am looked up from arranging her brushes.

"What?"

She looked at Jungkook.

Then Taehyung.

Then the others.

She frowned.

"I did everyone's makeup the same way."

Why were they all staring at Jimin?

She slowly turned around.

And finally saw him.

She froze.

Her eyes widened.

"...What the—"

She immediately covered her mouth.

The makeup wasn't dramatic.

But somehow...

Jimin looked completely different.

The soft smoky eyes had intensified his gaze.

His features appeared sharper.

Elegant.

Almost dangerously captivating.

Am stared for several seconds.

"How did I..."

She suddenly felt a sharp pain shoot through her back shoulder.

"Ow!"

She grabbed her shoulder.

Jungkook immediately stood.

"Am! Are you okay?"

"It..."

She winced.

"It stings."

Namjoon stood up.

"Call the medic!"

"No!"

Am shook her head.

"It's okay."

She tried to straighten herself.

"I'm done with my work."

She grabbed her bag.

"I'm just going home."

"But Am..."

"It's okay."

She smiled weakly.

"All the best, guys."

She looked around the room.

"Perform well."

Another sharp sting made her wince.

"Bye."

And before anyone could stop her, she hurried out.

Later That Day

The concert had gone well.

The members returned to the house exhausted but satisfied.

Jin stretched.

"That was a good day."

Namjoon nodded.

"Yeah."

Jin suddenly looked at him.

"Did you call Am and check on her?"

Namjoon froze.

"Oh."

He slapped his forehead.

"I completely forgot."

He immediately reached for his phone.

"I'll call her now."

Phone Call

Ring...

Ring...

"Hello?"

Am's voice sounded cheerful.

"Hyung! How are you?"

Namjoon smiled.

"I should be asking you that."

Am laughed.

"I'm fine, hyung. What's wrong with me?"

"You weren't looking good when you left."

There was a short silence.

Then Am sighed.

"Actually..."

She hesitated.

"Whenever I'm there, I suddenly get this unbearable sting in my back shoulder."

Namjoon frowned.

"But?"

"On the way home, it just disappears."

She sounded confused.

"Completely."

"Like nothing ever happened."

Namjoon became quiet.

"That's strange."

"I know."

He paused.

"Are you okay now?"

"Yeah, hyung."

"Okay. Then take care of yourself."

"I will."

"Bye."

"Bye, hyung!"

The call ended.

Namjoon stared at his phone.

Something about this didn't feel normal.

Jimin's POV

The house was quiet.

Everyone had gone about their usual evening routines.

But I couldn't stop thinking.

I sat alone, staring at nothing.

There was an unfamiliar sensation in my chest.

It happened whenever she was around.

A strange tingling.

A pull.

Like my body recognized something my mind didn't.

I closed my eyes.

Her face appeared immediately.

Am.

I sighed.

"What are you doing to me, Am?"

I had no answer.

And somewhere deep inside me...

Something ancient had begun to wake up.