[ 2/5 ]
ELEVENTH CHAPTER
2014

"you steady me and stir me all at once."

//

Sahar arrives back to the hotel room, hand opening the door.

the disputed girl feels better after spending time with Jungkook. she let out her thrills that he welcomed with open arms and a ravishing smile that told her everything is going to work out.

but as soon as she steps into her shared room, Jimin is stood with crossed arms and a scary scowl .. maybe everything isn't going to work out.

"where the hell were you?" Jimin raises his voice, waiting for his girlfriend to close the door. Sahar may not know the boy well but she's sure he can't be someone so angry and suspecting.

Sahar has nothing to hide, she doesn't need to explain herself to her fake boyfriend. "i was out." she replies, closing the door with a swift push.

Jimin isn't satisfied with her answer. he stays glued to the middle of the room, eyes glaring as his lips stay turned downwards- Sahar already misses his joyful, gifted smile. "but where?" he asks, suspicion flooding his view. "you can't just leave whenever you want."

"and why can't i?" Sahar scoffs- his attitude is pissing her off. "it's not my fault you were sleeping! do i have to do everything with you?" this is exactly what she wouldn't want in a relationship.

he clearly doesn't trust her. isn't she supposed to be his girlfriend? Sahar can't believe how real her life is becoming- it's a fucking mess.

Jimin sighs. "you've never had a problem with that before. what's so wrong about it? what was so important? is it something you can't do without me?" the multiple questions hurt Sahar's head and she sighs in unison. yes obviously it was something i can't do with you!

"maybe it is." Sahar storms out.

she leaves the isolated hotel full of sleeping people, for the second time that night but this time, her feet bring her to the restaurant where Hoseok works.

Sahar cannot be bothered with Jimin.

the girl finds Hoseok, finishing his shift for the day. he takes off his apron, swinging it over his shoulders as he nods farewell to one of the last customers. the difficulty of being a hard working waiter that serves tourists everyday, all year round- in the scorching sun shows on young Hoseok's downbeat face and sleepy posture.

Sahar strolls up to him, waving her hand. she doesn't care if he's not happy to see her- she needs a distraction. "Hoseok hi." she greets merrily.

the lengthy boy turns around to look at her. when he notices Sahar, his eyes flash with recognition as he folds his arms over his chest. "oh it's you." he addresses, dismissing her casually.

"i'm your biggest fan."

Hoseok can't help but laugh. he finds Sahar, the stranger admirable. "you're my only fan then." he shrugs, going along with the amusing scenario of a stranger he's never met .. being his fan. he feels like he's met her before somehow.

Sahar smiles. "i'm sure that's not true." she trails off into her imagination. "what if i told you, in another life, you're known as everyone's hope and sunshine and you have a huge army of fans that chant out your name." Hoseok might be made for the spotlight.

Hoseok is surprised by the image Sahar has created in his head. it ignites a mighty feeling in his bones- it's strange. "i hope Hoseok is thankful then." he admits, not sure how he'd be able to handle being that famous. he's never given it much thought until now.

"i'm sure he is."

Hoseok looks at Sahar with inquisitive yet calm eyes. she immediately feels better under his friendly gaze. "you're a fun stranger." he tells her, meaning what he admitted.

Sahar chuckles, looking away. "thanks ... i don't get that a lot."

"no?"

Sahar shakes her head and she focuses her jade eyes on Hoseok- his collared shirt, sweaty face and tanned legs. he doesn't seem to be in a rush to leave. "nope. so i have a question." she mentions, not giving him a chance to reply due to her fast way of speaking. "are you best friends with a boy called Jungkook?" she asks, excited for the boys reply.

"nope."

Sahar saddens, both physically and emotionally. "that's sad." she mumbles under her breath. he doesn't have his best friend and she doesn't have hers- Taehyungie.

"why's it sad?" Hoseok asks.

Sahar waves her hand, no longer looking at the waiter. her mood has shifted from being comfortable to wanting to sleep. "never mind, okay i'll see you." she calls out and is ready to leave.

Hoseok stops her. "here, stay for a drink? since you're my biggest fan."

Sahar is surprised by his suggestion. he wants her to stay? she's a weird stranger that claims she knows him, she wouldn't trust herself. "since you insist." she beams, hands clapping as she takes a seat at the dining table. "i'm surprised you don't want to get rid of me."

Hoseok doesn't answer and retrieves two cool drinks for them to enjoy on a hot summer night. they're drinking together, near the ocean coast- the restaurant he works at by the sea. it's a scene so alluring and sedative.

Sahar gets drunk.

"so basically i'm on my second life!" Sahar laughs, throwing her glass in the air as Hoseok watches her with tipsy yet careful eyes. "i knew you in my first. you were my friend." she smiles, thinking about the splendid, old times.

"we went to high school together." Sahar has a flashback of meeting Hoseok at the lockers, him greeting her and their good, friendly chatter. but the Hoseok in Malta has no remembrance of her- it makes her want to cry again.

"so me and this guy called Jungkook fell in love together." Sahar continues to tell her story. although her and Jungkook never said the word out loud- she's certain they both felt it. their long term, powerful feelings were enough to confirm the concept they had fallen into. "he's a coconut, a really clever student but he's also good looking as fuck." she sighs.

Hoseok rolls his eyes, laughing as he says his next words. "i get it." he notices the glimmer in Sahar's eyes when she talks about this Jungkook- he must be a keeper. "was i good looking in that life too?" he asks, waiting for a quick yes.

"sure yeah, you were." Sahar shrugs, thinking about Hoseok's blonde bangs, slim frame and jovial smile. "but yeah, anyway let me continue."

"please do your majesty."

Sahar grins, matching Hoseok's facial expression. how can she not be his fan? "oh god Hoseok, are you becoming my fan now?" she seeks, flattered.

"don't get ahead of yourself." Hoseok pushes her shoulder.

Sahar leans her head on the palm of her hand- tiredness flooding her eyes as she starts to slur. "so we fell in love and we couldn't make time for each other." she explains- missing Jungkook dearly. she feels so safe with him.

"why's that?" Hoseok asks curiously. he seems concerned as his brows furrow and lips turn into a frown. "you couldn't fulfill his satisfaction?"

Sahar face palms herself. "shut up no!" she protests. they were fine in terms of that. "we had exams so we were busy." she remembers the two of them studying so hard for exams they'll forget in the coming long years.

Hoseok nods. "ah i see. wait, so you don't remember doing your exams?" him and Sahar are both befuddled- her scenario isn't normal at all.

"oh my god, no ... i don't even know if i did them!" Sahar gasps.

Sahar takes another swig of her drink, words falling out of her mouth. Hoseok probably think she's crazy. "anyway, he accidentally said he wish he never met me." she continues, satisfied by Hoseok's slow but listening nods. "and everything went black. isn't that weird?" it's an out of this world experience- she doesn't know what's happening to her. she needs answers from this voice.

"so weird." Hoseok agrees, munching on snacks he suddenly had. Sahar immediately reaches over with a give me.

Sahar grins at Hoseok. "you're a good listener. your reactions are golden." she gestures and presses a kiss to her fingers.

"yours are, oh my god." Hoseok claps, almost dropping the precious snacks. "i think i am your fan."

"high five." Sahar reaches over and Hoseok ends up pressing his fist against her palm- their own version of a high five.

Sahar shakes her shoulders, trying to relieve some of the tension. she's glad Hoseok asked her for a drink because a distraction is exactly what she needs. "so my mission is to make him say that in every life, on purpose." she says. "to get to keep him in my last life." she finishes.

"you think it'll be that easy?"

Sahar glares. "bitch who said it's going to be easy?" then she realises something. "wait, what year is it?"

"it's 2014."

Sahar isn't 16 anymore. she's 20.

//

Sahar walks out of the restaurant by the sea and spots Jin.

"oi you!" she shouts, making him jump in the dark street. it makes her grin in delight- it's what he deserves. "get over here Jin." Sahar raises her voice louder, wanting to scare him on purpose.

Jin is startled by Sahar's presence. he continues to walk, quickening his steps as he watches her with heedful, terror filled eyes. "oh my god! please don't hit me. i'm sorry for what i did last time." he recalls, begging for mercy.

Sahar approaches him. "you better be fucking sorry." you're lucky you're a familiar face you fucker.

Jin is amazed by Sahar standing beside him and asking him a casual question. "so where are you off to?" she asks, looking around the empty streets.

"to get drunk." Jin replies.

"i'll join you."

Jin is hesitant to walk with Sahar. "this is fucking weird."

Sahar can only think of one good enough response. "your face is." and she thinks about the lie she's told when staring at the unique beauty of her once teacher. brown, sharp eyes, a hard jawline, long nose, glowing cheekbones, slim figure, thin waist and just, wow.

Jin gasps in shock. "no it's not bitch. i'm the most handsome man alive."

Sahar sighs. "i can't even argue with that."

they walk together for a while, in silence where they eye each other wearily. eventually, through the riotous crowds of fresh tourists and drunk people, they lose each other.

and Sahar blames destiny when she finds Jungkook busking.

she stands until he's finished, wanting to show her support. Sahar watches the way his fingers strung against the strings of the guitar, the way his eyes light up when seeing her and the way his voice sends shivers down her spine- making all the angels run away in envy.

Sahar places some money inside his guitar case along with other people. she's about to walk after him to greet him, compliment his busking but there's too many people around.

so she follows him, noticing how Jungkook is in a rush. Sahar spots a mop of blonde hair waiting in the alley- the man Jungkook approaches.

the stranger is someone Jungkook knows. Sahar follows, eyes watching- she can't see who the person is.

then the mysterious man turns to his side, showing his side profile and Sahar's heart falls out of her ass. Taehyung. oh my god Taehyung!- she wants to scream but nothing comes out.

Sahar continues to watch with a heavy heart. so in this life, Taehyung and Jungkook know each other?

she watches how silent Jungkook goes up to waiting Taehyung in the alley. they greet each other with a knowing smile. Taehyung's large arms wrap around the younger and they lean in for a kiss. Sahar can't believe what's happening- she's panicking.

"STOP." and Sahar faints.

//

bonus:

here we have... a kitten

how to: look this good

soulmate culture

prettiest baby boy

hope you enjoyed the chapter because.. oop we have a complication-