Chapter 10: "Medical Leave"
Summary
A digital lockdown begins as Namjoon confiscates Y/Nâs phone and updates the dorm's security locks, severing her final ties to the outside world. Under the new schedule, Monday belongs to Jin.
Content Warnings:Â
Intense competition & high pressure, verbal & emotional manipulation, psychological stress & anxiety, favoritism & corruption, Strong language, detailed smut, y/n is 18+, drugging
The air in the HYBE dorm didnât just feel still; it felt stagnant, like a tomb made of silk and expensive candles.
You woke up with a dull, throbbing ache behind your eyesâa lingering souvenir from the "sleep enhancers" Namjoon had insisted you take after the debut interview. For a moment, you stayed beneath the lace-trimmed sheets of your perfect bed, staring at the soft pink ceiling. You were a soloist. You had performed on Inkigayo. You were supposed to be the happiest girl in Seoul.
But as you reached for your nightstand, your fingers met only cold, empty marble.
Your heart gave a sharp, erratic kick against your ribs. Your phoneâyour only connection to your parents in Canada, your old trainee friends, the real worldâwas gone. You checked the floor, the drawers, even under the bed, your breath hitching into a panicked rhythm. It wasn't there.
When you pushed open your bedroom door, the hallway felt longer than usual. The silence was broken only by the low, melodic clinking of silverware from the kitchen.
As you rounded the corner, you stopped dead.
The seven of them were already there. It looked like a promotional shoot for a luxury lifestyle magazine: Namjoon at the head of the table with a tablet, Yoongi leaning against the far counter with a cup of black coffee, and Jin meticulously plating breakfast. But the atmosphere was toxic. The air was so thick with unspoken vitriol that it felt hard to swallow.
"Where is my phone?" You voiced, confusion making your voice sound far younger than eighteen.
Namjoon didn't look up from his screen. His glasses caught the morning light, masking his eyes. "Itâs being 'cleaned,' doll. There was a security breach on the HYBE servers last night. We canât risk any unauthorized access to your private data. Not now."
"A security breach?" You walked toward the table, your hands trembling. "I need to call my mom. She was going to call me after she watched the broadcast."
"I've already handled it," Namjoon said, his voice smooth and clinical. "I sent a message from your account explaining that youâre on a strict digital detox for your mental health. She understands."
"You did what?"
"He did what was necessary," Yoongi interjected, his voice like gravel. He moved from the counter, his slender, cat-like eyes narrowing as they raked over your pajama clad form. He looked at you with a hunger that made your skin hot, but then his gaze snapped to Namjoon, turning razor-sharp. "Though, some of us think Namjoon is getting a little too comfortable playing God with your schedule."
Namjoon finally looked up. The "Leader" facade was firmly in place. Cold, logical, and immovable. "I am managing a crisis, Yoongi. If the fans find out anymore about the... tension... in this house, her career is over before it begins."
"Is that what we're calling it now?" Jinâs voice was sweet, but there was a serrated edge to it. He set a plate of perfectly poached eggs in front of you, his fingers lingering on the table just inches from yours. "A crisis? I thought we were calling it 'protecting our investment.'"
Jin leaned in, his shoulder brushing yours as he whispered, "Don't mind the namjoon. He thinks big words make up for the fact that he has to drug his artists to get them to stay in his studio."
You felt the blood drain from your face. "Drugged?"
Yoongi let out a dry, humorless laugh, stepping into Namjoonâs personal space. "Oh, he didn't tell you? Our brilliant leader thought a little sedative in your tea would be better than letting you walk home alone at midnight. He wanted to be the one to carry his 'precious doll' back to bed."
Namjoonâs jaw tightened, his knuckles whitening as he gripped his tablet. "I did what I had to do to ensure she didn't collapse from exhaustion. Unlike you, Yoongi, who seems content to watch her break as long as sheâs singing your lyrics."
The tension was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Jimin and Taehyung entered, followed by a silent, brooding Jungkook. Jimin immediately slid into the chair next to you, his thigh pressing firmly against yours.
"Good morning, princess," Jimin purred, his hand finding your wrist and squeezing gently. "You look pale. Did you have bad dreams?"
"I want to go to the company," you whispered, looking at Jimin with desperation. "I want to speak to the CEO. I want my phone back Namjoon."
Taehyung, who was leaning against the doorframe, tilted his head. His eyes were dark, unreadable. "The company is closed to you for the next three days, Y/N. Pre-recorded content is being rolled out. Youâre on 'medical leave.'"
"I'm not sick!" you shouted, standing up so abruptly your chair scraped harshly against the floor, tears brimming.
Jungkook moved then, faster than you could react. He was behind you in an instant, his large hands resting heavily on your shoulders, pinning you back toward the chair. "Sit down," he murmured. It wasn't a request. "You need to eat. We have a lot to discuss regarding the new house rules."
"Rules?" You looked around the table. They weren't looking at each other anymore. They were all looking at you.
"For the sake of harmony," Namjoon began, "weâve realized that leaving your care to chance isn't working. The infighting is... counterproductive. So, starting today, your time will be divided. One day for each of us. No interruptions. No interference."
"Youâre talking about me like Iâm a piece of equipment," you breathed, a tear finally escaping and tracking down your cheek.
Yoongi stepped forward, his thumb reaching out to catch the tear, his touch surprisingly soft but possessive. "Weâre talking about you like youâre the most valuable thing we own," he corrected. "And I don't like sharing my things, Y/N. Especially with people who don't know how to handle them."
He shot a pointed look at Hoseok, who had been sitting silently in the corner, nursing a glass of orange juice. Hoseokâs expression was the scariest of all. Blank, focused, and utterly devoid of his "Sunshine" persona.
"Sheâs scheduled for dance review at 2 PM," Hoseok said, his voice monotone. "I don't care whose 'day' it is. Her technique was sloppy on the second chorus of the Inkigayo stage. She stays with me until itâs perfect."
"Not today, Hoseok-ah," Jin said, his voice airy. "Today is Monday. And according to the rotation... Monday belongs to me. If we want her to be as well rounded as possible, we have to follow the schedule. That is what we discussed⌠isn't it?â
Jin smiled at you, a wide, handsome smile that barely reached his eyes. "And I have so many things planned for us, doll. No dancing. Just us, and some fun."
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The breakfast ended in a heavy, suffocating silence. One by one, the others filed out, each leaving a sense of their presence. A hand ruffeling your hair, a squeeze of your arm, as if reassuring you before yielding the floor to Jin. But really, their fleeting presence was a blessing to you.
Namjoon was the last to leave. He paused at the doorway, his back to you.
"The locks on the main doors have been updated, Y/N," he said calmly. "Your fingerprint won't work anymore. Only ours. Itâs a safety precaution. There was a sasaeng spotted near the perimeter this morning."
You didn't believe him. You knew there was no sasaeng.
As the front door clicked shut with a heavy, final sound, you realized the "Digital Blackout" wasn't just about your phone. It was about your voice. And there was nothing you could do about it.Â
Jin turned to you, his expression softening into that terrifyingly kind mask. He reached out, tucking a stray hair behind your ear. "Finally," he whispered. "Theyâre gone. Now, why don't we go back to your room and pick out something pretty for you to wear? I bought you a new dress. Itâs white. Very cute. Just like you."
You looked at the door, then back at Jin. The realization hit you with the force of a tidal wave: the "Final Evaluation" hadn't ended on that day.
It was happening right now. And you were failing.
he silence following the members' departure was heavy, vibrating with the ghost of their possessive energy. Jin stood by the sink, his back to you for a moment as he adjusted his cuffs. When he turned, the sunlight hit his face, making him look devastatingly handsomeâand utterly terrifying. The "Worldwide Handsome" smile was there, but it was brittle, like glass that would cut you if you leaned too close.
âYouâve barely touched your eggs, doll,â he said, his voice a melodic coo that made your hair stand on end. âI made them just the way you like. You need your strength. Today is going to be quite long.â
âJin, please,â you whispered, your voice trembling. âJust give me my phone for five minutes. Iâll tell my mom Iâm fine, Iâll tell the company Iâm ready to workâjust let me talk to someone who isn't... this.â
Jinâs smile didn't waver, but his eyes darkened. He walked toward you with a slow, rhythmic gait, the heels of his loafers clicking against the tile. He stopped right in front of your chair, leaning down until his face was level with yours. He smelled like expensive cologne and Earl Grey tea.
ââThisâ?â he repeated, his voice dropping an octave. âYou mean your family? Your protectors? Namjoon is... difficult, I know. Heâs all logic and cold calculations. He sees you as a career to be managed. And Yoongi? He wants to turn your pain into a melody he can sell. But Iâm not like them, Y/N.â
He reached out, his long fingers trailing down the side of your neck, ghosting over the pulse point that was fluttering like a trapped moth.
âI want you to be happy. But you canât be happy out there. The fans... theyâre already turning on you. They call you a homewrecker, a distraction. If I let you go out there now, they would tear that pretty skin of yours right off your bones.â
He stood up straight, offering you his hand. âNow, no more tears. Itâs Monday. My day. And Iâve decided weâre going to start with a fresh look.â
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He led you back to your room, his hand firm on your elbow. It wasnât a painful grip, but it was absolute. When you entered your bedroom, you saw the garment bag hanging from the center of your wardrobe. It hadn't been there when you went to sleep.
Jin unzipped it with a flourish. Inside was a dress that looked like it belonged in a Victorian paintingâstark white silk, high-necked, with delicate lace trimming the hem and cuffs. It was beautiful, but it felt like a shroud.
âI had this commissioned the moment I saw your final evaluation,â Jin murmured, his eyes scanning the dress with an artistâs fervor. âThe blue skirt they made you wear for the photoshoot was... too much. It showed too much of you to the world. I prefer this. It makes you look like the angel I know you are.â
âIâm not an angel, Jin. Iâm a performer,â you said, trying to summon a spark of the fire that had gotten you through years of training.
Jinâs expression shifted instantly. He grabbed the dress and turned toward you, his height looming over you, blocking out the light from the window. âYou are whatever I say you are today,â he said, his voice flat and devoid of its previous warmth. âNow, change. Or Iâll have to help you, and I think we both know how much that would upset the others.â
You took the dress with shaking hands. He didn't leave. He simply sat on your bed, crossing his legs and watching you with an expectant tilt of his head. You turned your back to him, your face burning with shame and fear as you shed your pajamas and pulled the heavy silk over your head. The fabric felt like a weight, pulling you down.
When you turned back around, Jin was standing. He walked toward you, his hands moving to the back of the dress to zip it up. His fingers were cold against your spine.
âPerfect,â he whispered against your ear. âMy little dove.â
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The rest of the morning was a masterclass in psychological isolation. Jin took you to the living area, where he had set up a tea service. He spent hours talking to you about his childhood, about the groupâs early days, acting as if you were a loving couple on a quiet afternoon.
But every time you tried to steer the conversation toward the future, toward your career, or toward the locks on the doors, he would shut down. He would touch your cheek or adjust your hair, a silent reminder that your only function today was to be his audience.
âHoseok is going to be furious that you're keeping me from practice,â you said, hoping to spark the rivalry you had seen at breakfast. âHe said my technique was sloppy.â
Jin let out a soft, mocking laugh. âHoseok doesn't understand that a star needs to be rested, not broken. Heâs obsessed with perfection because heâs afraid of his own flaws. Heâll try to run you into the ground tomorrow, Y/N. Heâll make you dance until your toes bleed, just to feel like he has control over you.â
He leaned forward, taking your hand and bringing it to his lips, kissing your knuckles while his eyes remained locked on yours.
âThatâs why you should stay with me. Iâll protect you from his 'lessons.' Iâll protect you from Namjoonâs 'tea.' If youâre a good girl for me today, maybe Iâll talk to the others. Maybe Iâll convince them to give you a little more freedom.â
Was it a lie? You could see it in the way his grip tightened on your hand, a split second of possessiveness that leaked through the cracks of his mask. Maybe he wasn't different than the others; he was just the one holding the leash today.
âDo you like the dress, dove?â he asked, his voice returning to that terrifyingly sweet coo.
âYes, Jin,â you whispered, the words evoking a mixed feeling in you.
âGood,â he said, pulling you closer until you were tucked against his side on the sofa. He picked up a book and began to read aloud, his voice steady and calm, while outside, the world you had worked so hard to join continued on without you, unaware that its newest star was being systematically erased.
And as Jinâs hand settled on your thigh, pulling you firmly towards him, you realized that Monday was only just beginning.
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@misbangtan @knjkitten @mystica1whore @mageprincess7 @illnevertrustmyselfagain @princess-angele333













