Asclepsius

Chapter 5: The First Day

AM's POV

The morning had already descended into chaos at the HYBE building.

Everyone had arrived early.

Everyone except me.

The members were rushing around, preparing for their mini-concert. Staff members were moving back and forth through the corridors, carrying clothes, makeup kits, microphones and countless other things needed for the show.

Meanwhile, I was on my way there, trying not to panic.

Last night, after leaving the company, I had contacted Jungkook to ask what time I should arrive.

He had told me to come at 11:45 AM.

Their concert started at 1:00 PM.

It was currently 11:00 AM.

Plenty of time.

At least...

That's what I kept telling myself.

I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the thirteenth floor.

"Okay, Am."

I took a deep breath.

"This is your first day at work."

I looked at my reflection in the elevator mirror.

"You can do this."

I smiled at myself.

"Think of it like painting."

I raised my hands slightly as if I were holding an imaginary brush.

"You have a smooth canvas in front of you. All you have to do is turn it into something beautiful."

The elevator continued moving upward.

Then...

Ding.

The doors opened.

I stepped out.

And immediately stopped.

My eyes widened.

The entire floor was purple.

Purple walls.

Purple decorations.

Purple lights.

Even the atmosphere somehow felt purple.

I had heard staff members refer to this as the "Bangtan Butterfly Floor," but seeing it for myself was completely different.

"Wow..."

Yesterday, I had visited the seventeenth floor when I met PD-nim.

I hadn't come anywhere near this floor.

Now I understood why everyone talked about it.

It was beautiful.

I looked around, trying to figure out where I was supposed to go.

After asking several staff members for directions, I finally found the room I was looking for.

A sign on the door read:

BANGTAN STYLE

I smiled.

This has to be the styling room.

I knocked lightly.

No response.

I slowly opened the door.

And froze.

Seven familiar faces were inside.

The members were getting ready for the concert, most of them already seated in front of mirrors while their makeup was being done.

Except for Jungkook.

He was sitting quietly, completely absorbed in whatever was happening on his phone.

I walked inside.

Then I approached him.

He didn't notice me.

Not even slightly.

I stood right in front of him.

Still nothing.

The other members noticed me through their mirrors.

Taehyung looked at Jungkook.

"Jungkook-ah?"

"Hmm?"

"At least once in your life, look to your side."

Jungkook finally looked up.

"Why?"

Then his eyes landed on me.

His expression changed instantly.

"Amungi!"

He looked at the clock.

"I thought I told you to come at 11:45!"

He checked the time again.

"It's only 11:05!"

I gave him an embarrassed smile.

"I was just really excited."

I shrugged.

"So I came early. Sorry."

Jungkook laughed.

"It's okay."

He looked toward the makeup station.

"Can we start now?"

"Of course."

I opened my makeup kit.

"Let's do this."

11:06 AM

I began working.

The room was filled with conversation and the occasional laughter of the members.

But once I started, I focused entirely on my work.

The face in front of me was my canvas.

I carefully worked around the eyes, making sure everything looked balanced under the stage lighting.

Jungkook had striking eyes, so I decided to make them the focus.

Every movement was precise.

Every detail had a purpose.

I didn't want the makeup to hide his features.

I wanted it to enhance them.

Time passed quickly.

And before I realized it...

11:45 AM

I stepped back.

"Done."

Jungkook looked at himself in the mirror.

For a few seconds, he didn't say anything.

Then his eyes widened.

"Oh my Lord."

I laughed.

"Is that a good reaction?"

"Amungi, this is amazing!"

He turned toward me.

"No wonder your university recommended you out of all the students."

He looked back at the mirror.

"I'm genuinely impressed. Thank you for doing such a great job."

I smiled.

"Actually, I should thank you."

He looked confused.

"For what?"

"For taking care of your skin so well and trusting me with your makeup."

Jungkook smiled proudly.

The other members looked toward him through their mirrors.

A few of them exchanged amused glances.

They had to admit it.

She had done a very good job.

And perhaps someone in the room wasn't particularly thrilled about how much attention Jungkook was getting.

But nobody said anything.

Later That Evening

The concert was over.

Four and a half hours of performances, rehearsals, lights and endless energy had left everyone completely exhausted.

After the concert, the members returned to the house they often stayed at together.

Even though they had separate homes, they frequently gathered there.

Before leaving the building, however, they invited Am to dinner.

She refused.

Then refused again.

And again.

Eventually, after several attempts from all seven members, she finally gave up.

"Fine."

She sighed.

"I'll come."

The dinner was luxurious, warm and surprisingly relaxed.

Once everyone had eaten, the conversation naturally shifted toward getting to know Am better.

Namjoon looked at her curiously.

"You're Indian, right?"

"Yes."

She smiled.

"Born Indian. My parents are Indian too."

She thought for a moment.

"But I grew up in the Middle East, then moved to Canada and studied there for a while. Eventually, I became Canadian."

She laughed.

"And then I came to South Korea for university."

She looked around the table.

"And somehow, here I am, having dinner with the world-famous BTS."

She giggled.

"Life is strange."

Namjoon laughed.

"You're really funny."

"Really? Thanks!"

Jin leaned forward.

"So, what else do you do?"

"Like what?"

"Besides makeup."

He thought for a moment.

"Singing, maybe?"

Am smiled.

"I'm a professional contemporary dancer and singer."

J-Hope immediately looked interested.

"You're a contemporary dancer?"

"Yeah."

His eyes widened.

"Wow!"

He pointed toward Jimin.

"We have a contemporary dancer too."

Am looked toward Jimin.

"Oh, I know."

She smiled.

"Jimin, right?"

J-Hope raised an eyebrow.

"Are you an ARMY?"

Am laughed.

"I mean..."

She shrugged.

"Yes, I guess."

"Oh!"

J-Hope grinned.

"Then who's your bias?"

Am looked around the table.

"I don't have one."

The members immediately looked at her.

"Really?"

She nodded.

"I like each of you."

She smiled.

"You all have completely different strengths. I don't think I could choose just one."

A few of the members smiled.

"That's a diplomatic answer," Namjoon said.

Everyone laughed.

A little while later, the conversation continued.

Then, without warning...

Am looked up.

At the exact same moment, Jimin looked across the table.

Their eyes met.

For a brief second, everything seemed to go strangely quiet.

Then a sharp sting suddenly shot through Am's back shoulder.

She flinched.

At almost the same moment, Jimin's hand instinctively moved toward the back of his neck.

He frowned.

Suga noticed Am's reaction.

"Amungi, what's wrong?"

Am quickly straightened.

"Nothing."

"You don't look okay."

"I'm fine."

Across the table, J-Hope noticed Jimin.

"What's wrong with you, Jimin-ah?"

Jimin shook his head.

"Nothing, hyung."

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Just feeling tired."

J-Hope frowned.

"Hmm..."

Jimin stood up.

"I'm going to use the restroom."

The others nodded.

"Okay."

Four Minutes Later

Jimin still hadn't returned.

The members began exchanging concerned glances.

J-Hope finally stood.

"I'll check on him."

He walked toward the restroom.

"Jimin?"

No response.

He knocked again.

"Jimin, what's wrong?"

"I'm here, hyung."

J-Hope opened the door.

Jimin was standing near the sink, one hand resting against the back of his neck.

"My nape hurts."

"How badly?"

Jimin frowned.

"It feels like someone is pressing something sharp against it."

J-Hope's expression changed.

"Really? Let me see."

Jimin turned around.

J-Hope examined the area.

"It's a little red."

He sighed.

"We'll put some ice on it when we get home."

Jimin nodded.

"Hmm."

They returned to the dining area together.

Everyone immediately asked if he was okay.

"I'm fine," Jimin assured them.

The conversation slowly returned to normal.

Then Jungkook looked around.

"Wait."

He frowned.

"Where's Amungi?"

Everyone looked around.

She wasn't there.

Jungkook remembered her mentioning something before leaving.

"She said she was having really bad pain in her back shoulder."

He paused.

"So she decided to leave."

J-Hope nodded.

"Oh."

The members eventually finished dinner and left.

Everyone was tired.

Everyone had a long day behind them.

But as Jimin sat quietly on the way home, one thought refused to leave his mind.

The strange pain.

The timing.

And the brief moment when his eyes had met Am's.

He didn't understand what had happened.

And somehow...

He couldn't stop thinking about it.