After Hoseok dropped the news that they were going to play drunk dodgeball, Y/n found herself standing in front of the makeshift bar Jen and her staff put together. It was outside by the pool, lights strapped around the edges of the wood to make it appear more "aesthetic". Truthfully, it worked. The bar looked fantastic for something set up in less than an hour. As the night sky poured in, the lights caused the bar to look more like a fancy new hangout spot for the boys to share. However, none of the boys were there. They were too busy catching up with Hoseok and Yoongi. Y/n was alone, drinking her sorrows away.

Or, she was until a weight plopped down next to her. It was Jungkook, Y/n sipping on her glass while the bartender (who probably didn't get paid enough) backed away to give them some privacy. It was a small bar as expected, only a few rows of bottles lined up on the shelves they built there. More lights were strapped around the shelves, causing the bottles to shine.

"Drinking away your problems?" Jungkook asked, Y/n snorting.

"If drinking could do that, I'd be doing it all the time." She paused, taking another sip before offering him the glass. He took it, whiffing it before shrugging and giving it a try. He winced when he pulled away.

"This tastes like dog piss," he said.

"You know what that tastes like?"

"Well, yeah. I've licked Jimin before."

"On his behalf, I'm offended. How da- wait, where exactly have you licked him?"

"Hey shut up," Jungkook replied, calling over the bartender so he could get a drink that better fit his tastes. When he got one, he drank it, throwing it back like there was no tomorrow. "You ready for drunk dodgeball?"

"I'm not drunk enough yet." She turned back and looked at the other boys. Hoseok was twerking for some reason, hooping and hollering as he danced for the very very drunk boys. Yoongi was a ball of joy, him doing little spanking movements with his hand whenever Hoseok came by him. "They are."

"Give it five minutes, Hoseok will crash. Yoongi and him switch personalities when they're drunk," Jungkook said, snickering afterwards.

She didn't disagree. Y/n kept her eyes on the boys as they partied with each other. Namjoon was surprisingly in the center of it, but he seemed like he was soft, not necessarily excited. He was taking turns hugging each boy, a bright smile on his face. Jimin was trying to flirt with Tae, but he got shot down. And Jin? Well, he was looking at his phone. More specifically, the mirror app.

Jungkook was right: five minutes later, Hoseok died. He sat down and stared off into space while Yoongi and Namjoon kept the energy up. Namjoon kept giving hugs and patting their shoulders, Yoongi twerking since Hoseok had stopped. Y/n watched her jaw on the ground, Jungkook laughing at her expense.

"Go join," he said. The cameras were focused on the partying group, which meant Jungkook couldn't go if she did. She gave him a frown, but he shook her off. "I made my choice. Go have fun. The challenge is gonna start soon anyway." Before she moved, Jungkook kissed her forehead, stroking her hair and chuckling. "Just come find me later, okay?"

"I bet you just want me to leave so you can watch Namjoon."

"Shut up."

Y/n laughed and pecked his lips, sliding off the barstool and leaving her drink behind. Jungkook finished it for her, Y/n giving him a salute of thanks as she waddled her way over to the group of boys. Hoseok was dead on the inside, his eyes on the grassy ground. He was sitting on the edge of one of the beach chairs.

"Hobi?" she asked as she went over, the man slowly looking up. She laughed. "You okay buddy?"

"Yoongi has a fat ass."

"Well, that didn't answer my question, but okay." She sat by him, Hoseok keeping his dazed eyes on Yoongi. Yoongi was twerking to the music blasting on the speaker set off to the side. All of the boys were pretending to slap his ass. Y/n wondered why Hoseok of all people wasn't front and center. Sure, Jimin, Namjoon, and Taehyung were in love with Y/n, but Hoseok and Yoongi had a stronger love than anyone here. That wasn't an exaggeration. It was fact.

"Alright, get ready for drunk dodgeball. If you aren't drunk, please chug something. I don't care what at this point," Jen said, directing the camera crew to get the best angles.

Y/n wasn't drunk, but she didn't want to be. She opted to pretend. She wanted to be in her right mind for the rest of the night since she had a huge decision to make. She'd get wasted after elimination. Probably for a full week after elimination. Each elimination was getting increasingly difficult. There was only so much time left until she had to make her final decision. That was terrifying, and she had no clue where to start.

Jen and Carson took them away from the pool, going to the large grass clearing on the other side of the front yard. It was where Hoseok liked to dance, but he was in no mood to dance at the moment. The crew set up a pole on both sides, showing the arena they had to play in and what line they couldn't cross. The six boys and one girl took their places, four balls getting placed by the midsection, AKA the line they couldn't cross.

"We rolling?" A camera man nodded. "Good. Welcome back to the show. Today, we're doing drunk dodgeball where the winning team can split twenty-thousand dollars between themselves. We'll have team leaders. Namjoon, you're one leader," Jen said, looking over the boys. "Yoongi, you're the other. Since there's an uneven number, Carson will be joining you."

"Carson?!" Jin asked, his eyes bulging. "That's like when the gym teacher joins the losing sides' team in middle school! No fair!"

"Deal with it. Namjoon, pick first."

Namjoon grinned. "Carson."

"Fuck you!" Jin said in a hiss.

"You seem to want to."

"My turn," Yoongi said, interrupting them. He glanced over the group of players he could choose from. Inevitably, his eyes landed on Hoseok. "Hobi. That's it. The other players can go to Namjoon's team. All I need is Hobi."

"You're hilarious," Namjoon said, clearing his throat. "Jin."

"I hate you."

Namjoon kept his smile as Jin trotted his way over to Namjoon's side behind Carson. Meanwhile, Hoseok was behind Yoongi, who was stroking his chin. "Y/n, come over here. You look agile."

"The only place I'm agile is in the bedroom."

"Never mind. Taehyung."

Taehyung skipped his way to Yoongi's side, Y/n snickering. "Y/n, you can come over here. We accept your kind here," Namjoon said, Y/n giggling and going over. That meant Namjoon's team was Namjoon, Jin, Carson, and Y/n. Yoongi's was Yoongi, Hoseok, Taehyung, and Jimin. Part of Y/n was glad Jungkook wasn't playing. A) he was competitive and B) he hated losing. She had a feeling they'd be screwed if Jungkook was involved.

"Take your places," Jen said, the teams choosing their sides. Y/n was on the left side, Yoongi's team on the right. There were staff watching them to monitor how they played the game. The only rules were don't cross the line. Otherwise, typical dodgeball rules applied. "Ready, set, go!"

The teams ran for the balls planted before them. Jimin tripped and face-planted, Yoongi pausing so he could spank Jimin's ass. Namjoon got all the balls thanks to the size of his arms. That gave their team the advantage, Y/n taking one of the balls and throwing it at Taehyung just to be petty. Taehyung dodged and flipped her off, her returning the favor. Carson whipped one at Jimin. It hit his ass. He cried and plopped down, sobbing in the middle of the field.

"My precious cheeks! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Jimin's drunk self cried, sniffling.

"How dare you!" Hoseok said in a gasp, taking the ball that hit Jimin and attempting to chuck it at Carson. Hoseok fell, the ball bouncing back to their side.

Jin, probably the most logical of the team, hid behind Namjoon and used the Namtiddies as a shield. Namjoon, surprisingly, didn't seem to mind. Y/n face-palmed and watched the chaos. Taehyung returned her favor by throwing a ball at her. She caught it, causing Taehyung to pout as he sat on the sidelines. That left Hoseok and Yoongi as the sole survivors. Both of them were terrified. Jimin still had his fat ass plopped in the middle of the field, sobbing about his throbbing cheeks. Just to be petty, Jin threw a ball at Jimin's face. He cried harder. Jin laughed and sounded like a windshield wiper.

Yoongi was about to "protect" Hoseok, but Carson hit him in the no-no area with a giant dodgeball, Yoongi falling to the ground and Hoseok gasping. Hoseok fell to his knees, Yoongi groaning.

"Yoons! Stay with me brother!" Hoseok called, taking Yoongi's hand and looking down. "Are you okay?"

"I'm... fine."

"I can check if you want!" Hoseok's free hand went to undo Yoongi's pants, but Carson hit him in the face before that could happen. Hoseok accepted his fate, his entire body going limp and falling over. It wasn't until he didn't move after ten seconds that they realized he fell asleep. Namjoon's team was victorious. Carson probably wouldn't take the money, meaning they had to split it three-ways. Y/n mentally decided to take half of her winnings then take the other fifty percent and split it between Jimin and Taehyung. Regardless of her thoughts, Jen cleared her throat.

"Well," Jen said, blinking. "We're never doing that again."

~~~

Two hours after filming drunk dodgeball, Y/n was finishing up yet another scene with Yoongi and Hoseok. They spent the past two hours together, filming scenes while both of them appealed to her. She had to choose one to take back on the show by replacing one of the current contestants with Hoseok or Yoongi. But who would she replace? Y/n had become comfortable with her small group of boys. Not that there was anything wrong with Hoseok and Yoongi, but the show moved on from them a while back. Who was she supposed to choose to take back? Who would offer more to the show and to her? And, more importantly, who did she eliminate in their place? Taehyung, Jin, or Namjoon? She didn't have the heart to eliminate Jimin since his parents were here. She'd spare him the pain. The last thing he needed was more suffering.

The other contestants were outside where the elimination normally happened. However, her eyes were on Yoongi and Hoseok as the cameras moved out of the room. They were quiet until the crew left, focusing on the outside shot. They got establishing shots, Jen doing a narration about the state of the mansion and what would happen. Unlike previous eliminations, this episode wouldn't end with the elimination. The elimination was the midway point of the episode. The aftermath would make up the rest of the episode. It'd be strange filming with one of the old members. Y/n chose not to think about it. She still had five minutes or so.

"Hey, no matter what, it's been fun," Hoseok said, grinning.

"I wish we had more time with you. It feels like you came back for a few minutes, now one of you is leaving again. It sucks," Y/n said, slumping back in her chair. The kitchen was lonely, as was the kitchen table. There were no decorations around, only silence and a dull color scheme surrounding her.

"It's okay, Y/n. Really. Don't feel bad about your decisions. At the end of the day, this is your life. Why should we dictate that? Do whatever makes you happy. Don't worry about what everyone else thinks, okay?"

"I wish I could think like you, Hobi. How are you always so positive?"

"I'm not," Hoseok said, shrugging. "I'm always tired. Life is exhausting, but that's okay too. I know it isn't always supposed to be good and bright and happy, so I get tired often. Sometimes I don't have the energy to hide it behind a smile, but most days I do."

"Why would you hide your true feelings?"

"It's not that I don't want to show them, it's just that I don't think it's worth it. We all have hard days. We all have our struggles and issues. I just want to do my thing and handle my stress in my own way. My way is smiling and working harder. If I get caught up in my mind, I won't be able to do what I want to do. I need to stay strong. For both myself and everyone around me. Maybe by being a source of hope, I can inspire others. Maybe I can inspire the world."

"You do," Yoongi was quick to say, Hoseok keeping his smile. "You already do. Don't stop. Please don't."

"I won't, I promise." Yoongi and Hoseok grinned at each other, Y/n finding herself doing the same. Their moment was ruined when Carson came in looking for them, Y/n sighing and placing her hands over Yoongi and Hoseok's. They returned the gesture, and after giving each other comforting squeezes, they rose from their seats and departed the kitchen.

The outdoor area was the same as always. "Aesthetic" lighting and cameras covering every possible angle. Jungkook wasn't around, but she was sure he was watching through a window. After all, the results impacted him too. She was sure the eliminated contestants would stay for a handful of days so they could say their proper goodbyes.

Y/n took her place in front of the group of boys. Yoongi and Hoseok stood off to the side but still in frame. She had to choose between them first. Her eyes darted between their two faces, taking deep breaths to prepare herself for the decision she was about to make. It hurt her brain and her heart at the same time. Tears pricked at her eyes, but she managed to hold them back.

Jen did a rolling motion with her finger as she stepped in front of them, then, she smiled. "Welcome back to the Bachelors. This is the moment you've all been waiting for: the big elimination. Who will Y/n choose? Will she choose Yoongi or Hoseok, and who will she send home in their place?" She stepped aside, showing Y/n's face. "Y/n, who do you choose? Hoseok or Yoongi?"

She paused so the editors had time to make dramatic cuts in a natural manner. Her eyes flickered between the two. Who did she bring back and why? Deep down, she made her decision. It still had her heart cracking. She wanted them both. If she wanted to cause a huge upset, she could choose them both and send home two people in their place. Or, she could choose neither and save the other four. But she didn't want to do that. So, she spoke.

"I choose Yoongi. I want him back on the show," she said. Yoongi smirked.

"I get more free alcohol?" he asked.

"Can I take back my decision?"

The group chuckled, welcoming Yoongi back with open arms. Hoseok skipped over to her and gave her a hug, her laughing as she hugged back. She adored his enthusiasm. Then, he whispered words that had her widening her eyes.

"Don't worry, you'll see me again. You made the right decision."

Before she could ask what he meant, he backed away and dipped his head, his body almost bowing. He waved to the boys, who waved back and exchanged their goodbyes. After, he went inside so he could give his confessional. Y/n watched as the crew led him away, her eyes full of longing. That stung, but what he said had her heart racing. What did he mean when he said she'd see him again? Weren't the eliminated boys supposed to leave the mansion permanently?

"Now comes the moment you've all been waiting for," Jen said, motioning to the four boys who were pretending they weren't sweating profusely. "Y/n, it's time to choose who Yoongi will replace. Who are you eliminating today?"

She froze. Time slowed with her mind, her gaze flickering between each boy. Jimin, Jin, Namjoon, and Taehyung. There were no good decisions. But, there was one that was better than the other. Jungkook helped her and brought up a good point: one boy needed to leave to handle personal issues. After learning new information about him not long ago, she realized what she had to do. All that was left was saying it.

She parted her lips, but nothing came out. Dryness caked the exterior of her mouth until her tongue throbbed from the sensation. Her eyes kept watering as she thought of the name. Saying it took all her strength. It was a battle with herself. It took almost a full minute for her to say the answer.

"I..." She cleared her throat, her clammy hands distracting her. "I eliminate... Taehyung."

The man's eyes expanded. Actually, all of their eyes did. Y/n let out a breath after she said the name, her ribs aching from the pumping her heart was doing. Taehyung hesitated before stepping forward. Her eliminating him had nothing to do with his feelings for her. If anything, that made it harder, but Jungkook brought up a good point: if Tae was on the show to buy his grandmother's farm, he needed to focus on that since it was going on sale in two weeks. One episode could take two weeks of filming, so keeping him around would distract him from his overall goal. His purpose on the show was over. He came to make money, now he had to use it.

Taehyung went over to her with his heartbreak showing in his eyes. He hid it seconds later, swallowing and coming closer. It made her shiver. The proximity would never get old. The impact he had on her would never go away. Kim Taehyung was a gorgeous man she didn't want to eliminate, but it made the most sense. She was in love with Jimin and Namjoon, and Jin was amazing for ratings. As much as she cared for Taehyung, he was her only option.

"You know I don't want to do this," she whispered, Taehyung shaking her off.

"Y/n?" he asked, his lips threatening to break out into a smile. She raised a brow. "Shut up and kiss me."

She did as she was told, rubbing his cheek before kissing him. Despite the setting, it felt real. Her body exploded with ecstasy as he touched her lips with his. She pressed herself against him, the kiss deepening. Taehyung kept his arms wrapped around her as he pleasured her, the cameras capturing every moment.

They parted moments later, Taehyung stroking her cheek and giving her a smile that said "it's okay". She was grateful he wasn't furious even though he had every right to be. Taehyung whispered a goodbye to her, the whisper hitting her lips. When he backed away, she wanted to run after him. She decided against it, watching him go and join Hoseok inside the mansion.

She brought her eyes back to the others, seeing Yoongi join the crowd. There were four left, and the next elimination would eliminate two of them. Jimin, Yoongi, Namjoon, and Jin. They were the final four. Only a few episodes from now, she'd have to eliminate two of them and select the finalists. She took a deep breath.

Who the hell would she choose next?