𝓚𝓲𝓶 𝓣𝓪𝓮𝓱𝔂𝓾𝓷𝓰

ɪ sᴛᴇᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ғʀᴇsʜ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴛʜʀᴏᴏᴍ, still thinking about my missing phone that had disappeared mysteriously. I couldn't think of anything, until I remembered that one night where a random guy bumped into my shoulder at the convenience store. It was only a brief moment. He said sorry over his covered features as he was wearing a black hat.

An unfamiliar ringtone rang over my ears and stopped my brain from thinking any further. I approached the new phone on the night stand and picked up the call.

"Hello?" I asked, because it was an unknown number.

"Taehyung, it's me, Rapmon."

"Oh, Namjoon hyung. What's wrong?" I used my shoulder to press the phone against my ear and went over to my closet to grab some casual shirt to wear.

"It's about your missing phone. I've asked my friend to detect it.. and you won't believe who's the culprit.." I heard Namjoon sighed over the phone, making my whole movement halted as the curiosity was getting the best out of me.

"Who was it?"

Namjoon let out another sigh, before he spilled, "Goo Hara."

I was surprised by the mention of that name, because I was expecting for a guy, but it turned out to be Goo Hara, the only girl who would always find ways to hurt Jinhee. I didn't even know what was her actual problem. I knew she had feelings for me, same goes for the other girls, but sometimes they tend to cross the line that it became too absurd to accept their sincerity.

I said a quick thanks to Namjoon before I ended the call. Slowly, I felt anger started to seep into my system when I recalled that one time when I overheard Hara's plan on hurting the girl I loved. And also the fresh scene of she and her minions ganged up on Jinhee behind the school's building.

I threw the new phone over the bed and gritted my teeth in annoyance. I mean, why the fuck did she need to steal my phone for? Just don't tell me she had something to do with the recent incident involving Jinhee almost freezing to death at the rooftop.

Did she..? My phone disappeared on the day Jinhee went missing in school too. Was it just a pure coincidence?

...or maybe not.

I closed my eyes as I wrapped my face with my hand a few times, trying to calm my raging heart from boiling any further. I shifted around my room uncomfortable, just imagining that Hara was the one who tried to kill Jinhee sent an unpleasant wave inside me. I just couldn't bring myself to believe it. I couldn't believe that she would go to that extent.

I recalled back what Jinhee had told me about her falling asleep on the rooftop and ended up locking herself up there. Why does it sound so ridiculous now? I rolled my eyes and growled, knowing how Jinhee loved to handle her problems by herself, and the fact that she lied to me again.

I let out a heavy sigh, decided that I had to do something about this. And just as I was about to deal with this Hara girl, a message blinked onto my screen phone.

Unknown wrote:
9.15pm

I've something to tell you. Come to the Starbucks near your apartment. Don't worry, I'll make this meeting worth your time.

Goo Hara

Speaking of the devil... I scoffed away and quickly dressed up before grabbing my snapback and went out of my apartment.

✿ ✿ ✿

"So, what's your deal?" I asked quickly as soon as I took the seat in front of this Hara girl. My eyes looking directly at her, which caused her to fidget uncomfortably in her chair.

But strangely, that night she looked different. Her fashion was not as bold as it used to be, because she would usually overdressed in school. Her face freed from any stroke of makeup, and her usual confident self was not there.

"I just want to tell you about two things.." She stated softly as she bowed her head as low as she could. The way she acted right now only proven more to me, that she had done something that she shouldn't have, and it was damn serious.

"Yeah, go on, I'm listening." I feigned a calm look, still staring at her, wondering if she was going to confess everything, and if I had hit the home run. Because I was scared that I couldn't control my temper by then.

"Do you remember.. there was this n-nerdie f-fatty girl trying to commit s-suicide on the rooftop?" She stuttered. She looked so nervous as she gnawed on her lip so hard.

I looked at her with eyes widened to the fullest. And upon hearing her words, that particular memory suddenly came back, replaying in my mind.

Flashback

** Four years ago **

I opened my eyes as I had just woken from my nap on the wooden bench, but I decided to close my eyes again, and spent a few minutes there, enjoying the peaceful moment on the rooftop.

After a couple of minutes, I fluttered my eyes open, and was left speechless when a pink pastel color panty with strawberry design welcomed my view.

"Wow. Nice color, and looks delicious too." I commented absent-mindedly while yawning a little.

"Omo!"

I looked up to the squirmed voice, only to learn that it was a panty wore by a chubby girl, standing on the railing, and now her face had completely turned into a color of tomato behind her thick glasses as she tried her best to cover her school skirt.

In my groggy state, I sat up from the bench and just stared at her in wonder, while she suddenly turned panic, as if she was caught in a crime. I stood up and decided to approach her.

"What're you doing there? You can get hurt." I told her and gently pulled her down so that she would step down from the railing. Gladly, she did not resist or anything.

But the next thing I knew, she started bawling out loudly and that totally had me woken up. I looked around the rooftop, trying to put everything into pieces, and slowly my face darkened when I had figured out what this girl was trying to attempt on.

Without thinking twice, I pulled her into my embrace and patted her back gently, whispering, "Hey, it's okay.. Everything's going to be okay.."

End of flashback

"Yeah, something like that did happen in 2012, I guess?" I tilted my head, trying to remember, and when I caught on her lips smiling a little, it finally dawned on me.

"Oh." I blinked at Hara a few times. If she was asking that question, it could only mean one thing..

"That was.. you?" I asked carefully as I looked straight at her in mild surprise. There was a moment of hesitation before she slightly peeked over her lashes and nodded shyly.

Another moment of silence passed as I tried to register everything into my brain. I just couldn't picture Hara as the chubby girl that I met years ago. And I wondered what motivated her to change so much into the her right now.

"You look so different now.." I stated as I leaned back against the chair.

"I know.." She replied unenthusiastically. She then looked up at me, and without realizing, I let out a soft smile.

"It was funny though." I chuckled and slightly fixed my snapback.

"Huh?" Hara asked, looking puzzled.

"Because I thought it was a cute bunny trying to practice jumping down the building, and I was afraid that she could get hurt and yeah, I'm glad that I'd saved her." I voiced out my inner thoughts and smiled at her meaningfully.

A few seconds later, I noticed Hara's eyes were getting teary, and I instantly dropped my smile and turned panic inside. Did I say something that offended her?

I frowned as I just stared at her, not knowing what to do. If it was Jinhee, I could just pull her into a warm hug and console her, but other girls, I just found myself couldn't do anything.

She quickly wiped her tears away with the sleeve of her sweater. After huffing out a steady breath, she tried to look at me in the eye, but it only held for five seconds, and she looked down at the wooden table again.

"I've always wanted to properly say thank you to you, for saving me back then." She said and sniffed a little. "But, I don't want you to know the ugly side of my past, so I just keep it to myself."

"I don't judge people, Hara." I said earnestly. "You've become a strong girl now, you're confident, and it's a good thing." I added, and by now I could see her cheeks turned crimson at the amount of compliments I gave.

"I..." She tried to say something, but she held back for a couple of minutes as she looked over at me hesitantly. I raised a brow at her, waiting for her to speak again.

"I love you, Taehyung."

I blinked at her in surprise, and with my gaze glued on her, her cheeks turned into a violent shade of red. There was a moment of silence again, before I uttered the sentence that I used many times in front of nervous girls.

"Thank you, Hara. I really appreciate that feeling of yours." I spoke calmly and smiled a little at her. But she was looking at me so long, as if expecting something in return.

"Do you.. not love me back?" She asked, and I almost dropped my jaw at her question. But after a brief moment, I chuckled, though there was no hint of amusement in them.

"I think everyone pretty much knew that I only love Kim Jinhee." I confessed and let out a smirk at her.

Hara lowered her gaze as she had this unhappy look on her face. It wasn't hatred, but it was something like the mix of frustration and discontent. Then, I heard she mumbled incoherent words under her breath, and if I heard it right, it sounded similar to 'It's so not fair.'

A few seconds later, Hara braved herself to look up at me, and her expression immediately caught my attention. It was as if she tried to say she knew something, and I was suddenly alarmed on my spot.

"Why.. is it her?" She asked slowly as she eyed me skeptically, that for some reason, I feared of what was coming next.

"Why must it be her?" She asked again, her eyes remained intact on mine, as if telling me she wasn't going to back down until I tell that one truth.

"Is it because she looks–"

"Shut up." I cut her off with a smack on the coffee table, because I did not want to hear the rest of her theory.

Hara was startled a little as she placed a palm over her chest, and people around the café started to give weird stares at us. But I couldn't care less of those attentions.

I leaned closer to her and uttered in a low voice, almost threatening. "I love her, because she's Kim Jinhee, nothing else."

Hara rolled her eyes a little as she backed away from close intimacy. Then, she took something out from her purse and put it on the table. I looked at the object, and it only took me a whole second to notice that...

It was my old phone.

I furrowed my eyebrows as my sharp eyes quickly flickered towards her, knowing the whole meaning of this. "So, it was really you?" I growled as I clenched my fists in suppressing anger.

Hara looked away as she hugged her arms as some sort of protection. Her face holding onto this apologetic look.

"I'm sorry. I know I've gone overboard this time. I don't even know myself anymore." She let out a long regretful sigh. Her eyes were starting to get teary again.

"Report to the school, report to the police, whatever you want to do, I'm fine with it. I guess I pretty much deserved it." She couldn't even lift her head to look at me anymore. She just kept sobbing and sniffing, the tears just wouldn't stop overflow and it was annoying that people started to give me an accusing look.

I inhaled and exhaled out deeply. I swore I was never this calm in my entire life. But knowing that I was now in public, I tried my best to gather my thoughts and my self-equilibrium.

"Whatever." That was what I said from the product of my anger and annoyance.

"Please, just leave Jinhee alone after this." I emphasized my words clearly, hoping that she would understand that I wouldn't let her off that easily next time. And gladly, from the corner of my eyes, I saw she nodded, finally willing to comply.

"Hara-ssi," I called her as I leaned closer to her again. Hara was surprised by the sudden formality, but then, she just kept silent as she waited for me to speak.

"Just as a piece of advice, don't pull this kind of stupid stunt anymore. Believe me, it wasn't fun having people to call you as a murderer."

Hara had her eyes widened at my choice of word, and ever so slowly, she covered her face because she couldn't control the gush of tears anymore. I gave her one last dark look before I made my way out from the café.

I shoved my hands into my jacket and huffed out a breath. I felt guilty to witness such a sorrow reaction like that. But I wasn't trying to be mean, I just wanted to make it stop before anything serious could happen, hoping Hara would realize her biggest blunder in her life.

✿ ✿ ✿

"Taehyung.. you've to tell Jinhee.."

I looked around my dark surroundings, but what I could see was only my own reflections through the countless long mirrors around me. Feeling panicked, I approached one of those mirrors and put my palm on it, trying to find a way out.

"Get me out of here!" I shouted as I ran and ran, circling around the gloomy place, hoping there would be at least one way out. It was as if I was trapped inside, and it was disconcerting that I could only see my own panicked and anxious face.

"You have to tell her, Taehyung..." The same sweet voice whispered again.

I quickly turned around when I saw a shadow was approaching me from behind. Slowly, I took in the figure before me, and by instinct, I took a step back as my eyes dilated in horror. I definitely recognized that sincere cerulean eyes.

"Mia..." I whispered breathlessly. She had been just like how she appeared to be. Her brown hair tied up with a blue ribbon, the one she'd always loved and cherish, while her figure wearing our school uniform, like the old times.

She smiled when she heard me calling her name. She then took a few steps to me, and reached for my hands gently. "Jinhee's waiting for you... Tell her about us."

"Mia, what are you talking about?" I looked at her confused. But then she just smiled warmly at me.

"The time is ticking, Taehyung. It'll be over even before you realized about it." She muttered softly and mysteriously.

I was about to ask her again, but the next thing I knew, she walked passed through one of the mirrors and disappeared behind it.

"Wakie wakie!"

I opened my eyes wide as I instinctively sat up from my bed and inhaled a sharp intake of breath from the aftermath of the intense nightmare. Before I knew, my chest was heaving up and down uncontrollably as I had a hard time to even out my breathing rate. I could even hear my own heartbeat hammering so hard against my rib cage.

"Ouch..."

I looked to my left side, only to see that Sohyun was rubbing her small bum while whining out in pain.

"Baby Sohyun, what happened to you?" I asked, truly curious of what was happening to my little sister early in the morning.

"I was sitting on top of your chest just now, oppa.. Then you suddenly woke up and made me flip to the side." She frowned a little, while I chuckled at her. Since she was really light-weighted, I guess that could happen.

Seeing that she was still upset, I playfully lifted her up and made her sit on top of my stomach, while I fixed my lying position as I leaned against the bedhead.

"Oppa, gwenchana?" Sohyun asked, her big shining eyes grew worried as she reached for my face, slightly wiping off the cold sweats formed on my forehead.

Slowly, a pleasant smile formed across my lips. It wasn't that bad to see my cute little sister welcoming my view after waking up from a nightmare.

A nightmare? Since when Mia's become a nightmare to me? And now that I think about it, it's been a while since I last dreamed about Mia..

"Aigoo, my cutiepie. Good morning." I grew my arms around Sohyun and pulled her down, squeezing her into my embrace.

At first, she gasped out of surprise, but now she was just laughing and trying to wiggle out from my strong arms. "Yah oppa, let me go, I can't breathe. Eomma help me!"

"Give oppa a good morning kiss first, only then I'll let you go." I teased her as she kept pinching my arms, asking me to let her go.

"No! You haven't brushed your teeth yet, oppa. Ew." She scrunched her nose cutely, and I let out an amused laugh.

"Okay, okay. How about you tell me what's the secret that Angel unnie told you?" I tried for another attempt.

Sohyun suddenly held onto a wide smile upon hearing my negotiation. Then she placed her small index finger onto her chin. "Hmm, what to do, oppa.. I can't really remember.."

I gave her a skeptical look when her smile now turned into a teasing one. I took another desperate measure of tickling her at her weakest spots.

"Oppa, stop. Hahaha. Okay, I'll tell! White flag!" She finally surrendered as her eyes now filled with happy tears. Sohyun huffed out a few tired breaths, and when her breathing rate had turned normal, she sent me a cute glare of hers.

"C'mon, baby Sohyun. I wanna know." I urged her and pouted, acting like I was sulking. This had her entertained as she let out another laugh again. She sat up and cleared her throats, finally letting the cat out of the bag.

"Angel unnie said, she loves oppa so much, that she's willing to wait for you forever."

✿ ✿ ✿

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it! You're a fucking idiot, Kim Taehyung!

The entire ride in the back seat of the taxi, I kept cursing inside as I was incredibly angry at myself. I found myself kept biting my nail out of frustration while my hair stuck out in different directions because of the constant pushing from my restless hands. I just couldn't stay still in my seat as I had my legs bounced with no rhythm. Every each second that passed made me grow anxious.

At that moment, Jinhee was the only one that I could think of. The images of her continuously preoccupied in my mind. I just wanted to meet her and see her face, and know that she was still there for me.

"Fuck!" I couldn't help to curse out loud at the sudden heavy traffic which made the taxi stopped. The elder driver was startled by my sudden outburst as he looked at me in the rearview mirror with surprise.

I dropped my head helplessly, suddenly embarrassed and felt guilty to act like that in front of an elder. Having no choice, I took out the money and paid the elder. "I'm sorry ahjussi, thank you for the ride." I said and stepped out of the vehicle.

I seriously couldn't waste any more second. I really need to see Jinhee. So, I walked to the roadside and started running at my fullest speed, even desperately pushing every tendon in my body so that I could run faster.

How can I be so fucking oblivious of not noticing that Jinhee's been waiting for me ever since Jiwoo noona had woken up from her coma? She fucking told me she will wait for me, just like how Hoseok had been waiting for Jiwoo noona. I fucking promised her that I will tell her about Kwon Mia.

Suddenly, I was reminded of the past few weeks, of how Jinhee kept ignoring me before, of how she could not look at me in the eye, and when she asked for a break at the hospital.. Was she disappointed in me? Was she tired of waiting for me? The tears in her eyes that night, was it because of me?

I stopped running when something hit me with realization. My mind decided to travel to the moment when Jinhee remained silent the whole time when I confronted her. Was it because she couldn't speak of Mia? She knew I could be sensitive at the mention of Mia, so she chose to keep her silence...

I felt my legs start to give away as the thoughts of Jinhee's hurtful expressions kept haunting me, as if this whole journey of wanting to meet her was a guilt trip for me. For a moment, I squatted down as I tried to replace all the oxygen in my lungs.

A few seconds later, I let out a hiss when I felt my phone vibrated again. It had been annoyingly vibrating ever since I left my house in Gangnam Village. I took it and saw that the caller was Park Jimin.

"What do you want? Just so you know, I'm not in the mood for any stupid jokes," I warned him, never bother to hide my annoyance.

"Whatt. Chill dude. I'm just asking if you're going to come over here." Jimin asked over the phone as I heard a few splashing sounds and laughter in the background. Don't tell me...

"We are at the swimming pool, the one in your apartment building."

"Park Jimin, you know I fucking hate swimming pool. So I'm not going." I growled, and almost ended the call, but not until I heard the offended voice of Jimin replied.

"Okay then. Jinhee's here. If you don't mind, we're all gonna have fun without you. Bye."

An half of hour later, I reached at the entrance of the swimming pool located on the first floor of my apartment building. My step halted exactly in front of the entrance, as if there was a barrier repelling me from entering. Just by the sound of the waves and the smell of the swimming pool, made me sick at heart.

The longer I stood there, the weaker I have become as now I placed a palm on the side wall, supporting my weakened state. I grabbed my head out of consternation as I hated myself for acting out like this. I hated by the fact that my weakness was almost ridiculous and pathetic.

"Oh, Taehyung. I thought you weren't coming?" I heard Jin asked from behind.

Standing beside him was Namjoon, and when he saw my fragile stance, worries started to cover his eyes. "You alright?" He asked.

"I'm just fine." I quickly stood up straight and pretended that this whole thing didn't affect me at all. They nodded and stepped inside the swimming pool casually.

That's the problem. I couldn't just go in casually like them.

Exhaling out one last breath, I braved myself to step inside until I reached the heart of the swimming pool. With every each step that I took, it increased the weight in my heart, making every second a torture for me, making my vision blurry that I was afraid darkness would come after.

Everything was going well as I just took small cautious steps towards the swimming pool. However, the moment I saw Jinhee hung onto the side of the swimming pool with a happy smile, suddenly I felt all my energy drained away, and just like that, I felt my legs became anemic.

But Jimin suddenly appeared beside me and held onto my arm strongly before I could fall to the ground. I turned around and saw the other boys were giving me a concerned look. Their faces were a canvas of worries and a little darkness, because they also knew.

"Why did you guys come here?" I asked Jimin, whispering, so that our conversation would be out of Jinhee's zone.

Jimin let out a small sigh before he whispered back, "Jinhee's the one who wanted to come and she invited all of us."

I looked at him, shocked. Then, he added as pursed his lips. "I think she knew..."

I just stared at Jimin in disbelief. Slowly, I turned around to see Jinhee again, and this time, I saw her looking at me with her innocent brown eyes.

"Oh, Taehyung, you are here!" She exclaimed excitedly and waved one of her hands up, but that only caused her to wobble in her spot, so I quickly ran over to her and grabbed her hand.

"Thanks," She said after she had balanced herself up. Then, she giggled with happiness.

"Jimin said you weren't coming? What make you change your mind?" She asked as she just attached herself at the side of the pool and flapping her legs in the water.

You. I came here to see you, Jinhee...

I didn't answer her. I just looked at her darkly and let out another heavy sigh. "I thought you can't swim, why did you come here for?" I asked her, with no tone of excitement or whatsoever.

"I just feel like coming here. Isn't that why you are here? To teach me how to swim?" She asked as she sent me a teasing smile.

Isn't it because you wanted me to tell about Mia? Knowing that swimming pool was one of my trauma and it had something to do with Mia.

I dropped my head in helplessness without giving her any response again.

"Are you okay, Tae? It's okay if you don't feel like swimming, I'll be alright by myself. Jimin's here to help me." She tried to assure me as she pulled away her hand.

Why do you have to do this, Jinhee... You see, I'm not strong to face all this yet. I'm not ready to get over my past. It isn't that easy.

"Get out, Jinhee. You'll just drown yourself..." I found myself saying as my voice deepened with a hint of sorrow.

"I know how to swim a little, Tae. I'm–"

"I said, get out! Immediately!" I yelled out in frustration and literally bombed the peaceful silence in the swimming pool and had everyone awestruck in their spot.

My chest heaved up and down as I kept huffing out heavy breaths after my outburst, while Jinhee looked so surprised and scared of me. There was a moment of dreading silence as the boys shook their heads at me, as if disapproving of my action.

I grabbed my throbbing head, knowing that I should not act so emotional at this kind of situation, but before I knew, Jinhee quickly helped herself out from the swimming pool, grabbing a towel and was about to walk away to the entrance, but I was fast enough to grab her wrist.

"Jinhee wait," I pleaded, but she turned around and pulled her hand away roughly.

"I'll get out from here. And I'll even get out from your life, if that's what you want." She said grimly. Her eyes didn't shine like usual, it was just a pure blank of darkness, as though there was no hope left in her.

I suddenly felt anxious as her dimmed expression reminded me of the dream about Mia, and what Sohyun had told me. It was as if the fate was trying to warn me that something bad was going to happen.

But unfortunately, I have come to realize that I was too late now because Jinhee held onto this one look that showed she had finally reached her limit.

"Jinhee, I'm–"

"Stop!" She shouted out defensively and took a step back when I was about to approach her again.

I looked at her in appalled as her voice echoed through the closed space of swimming pool. When I saw the visible pain across her eyes again, I felt my heart tugged with so much guilt.

"I'm tired, Taehyung. You are only hurting me..." She said out of frustration as her voice broke at the end of her sentence. Her glistening eyes looking straight at me, almost begging me to just stop all this.

I felt my chest being painfully gripped. I wanted to do something, but I couldn't. I tried to say something, but I hesitated. Because I wasn't even sure myself if I could tell her everything. And because of that, I knew I was just going to hurt her even more.

"For four months, I have been waiting for you, Taehyung... But now, it's too much. I don't think I can hold it any longer..." She whispered so sadly as tears started to brim around her eyes. She then covered her face in helplessness, and I could just watch her as I didn't dare to take any step closer, because it seemed that she clearly wanted me to stay away.

"Jinhee, I'm so sorry... I promise I'll tell about Mia, but not now... I still need some time..." I said, almost begging her. And very timely, suddenly Mia's words decided to interrupt my mind.

'The time is ticking, Taehyung. It'll be over even before you realized about it.'

I watched Jinhee from the distance that I kept, and she was still sobbing with tears. In that long moment of silence, she wiped away all her tears and tried to calm herself down. Then she looked up straight at me, and I noticed a sudden flicker of determination across her eyes.

"Take all the time that you need," She spoke out, suddenly looking genuinely calm with her face still red from the outburst.

"Huh? Jinhee, wh–"

"Because like I said, it's over, Taehyung. I'm not going to wait for you anymore."

»»————　A/N　————««

Had enough of Kwon Mia?

Hold your hearts tight, because the curiosity will end pretty soon :)

Thank you for reading 🌹

Much love,
lynie

♡━━━━━━━━━━━━♡

𝓣𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮𝓻

"Since then, I can never smile again.. because I feel guilty of my past, tainted by the images of her.. with full of blood."