[ 2/5 ]
TENTH CHAPTER
2014

"what a plot twist you were."

//

Sahar and Jimin leave their hotel, ready to go on their day out.

the tanned boy who's head is covered with a straw hat grabs Sahar's hand, intertwining their fingers together. "we're going to have so much fun today." Jimin squeezes, smiling a broad smile.

Sahar has no choice but to hold his hand too. he's bearable but god, as a boyfriend? she's pretty sure she's only using him for the benevolent hand holds- him oblivious to her actual emotions.

as they walk down the sandy, tight steps, Sahar presses her free hand on the hat she stole from Jimin- not wanting it to blow away due to the slight breeze. it's a change from the stuffy weather. her tired eyes glance over the blue water, the minitaure buildings and the peaceful atmosphere of the people of Malta.

she didn't know Min Yoongi was one of those people.

he's stood outside of their hotel, selling fish.

Jimin is too busy tucking in his striped shirt, pulling buttons accidentally as he lets go of Sahar's hand unintentionally- bad idea, she thinks mischievously. "i'll be back." she rushes away- it's time to talk to her neighbour.

Sahar controls her urge to hug Yoongi. he's trying to grab peoples attention but the smell of fish puts everyone off. he's dressed in orderly clothes, hair tucked away in a hat matching Jimin's. "Yoongi! hi, i've missed you." Sahar can't help but hope he'll know her.

what was she expecting honestly?

Yoongi stares back at her, startled by her sudden presence. he holds his fish protectively and Sahar's nose scrunches. "what do you want crazy lady? i don't know you." he ruptures.

Sahar laughs naturally. "gosh, your attitude never changes does it?"

Yoongi examines Sahar with careful, chocolate and beady eyes. "have we met though?" he urges, keeping his distance- both physically and emotionally.

Sahar wants to scream yes. "we might have in another life."

Yoongi ignores her. "do you want to buy fish?"

Jimin appears by Sahar's side, swinging his arm around her. "maybe later." and he takes her away from Yoongi.

Sahar doesn't bother to say goodbye or take another look at Yoongi. what's the point? he doesn't know her either. damn it, no one knows her!

Sahar just misses Taehyung.

Sahar's side knocks into Jimin's- to the people around them, they look like a normal couple ... if only they knew. "so what are our plans for today?"

Jimin is so glad Sahar asked- he's been feeling like her presence hasn't been entirely with him. "shopping." he beams, sending her a wide grin.

Sahar groans in annoyance. "i hate shopping." just thinking about the countless stores with all the good clothes sold out, the suffocating heat, the unruly people and the constant walking already makes her want to run away.

"oh come on babe, you'll enjoy it." his positivity is something Sahar admires. she's never noticed such favourable and happy traits of the boy before.

then Sahar chokes on her gum when she realises. babe?

"woah woah woah babe!" Jimin exaggerates in worry, hands grabbing onto her gently. he makes sure she's okay and asks if he can do anything to help. Sahar can't help but be her mean self- the word babe isn't helping and he isn't either.

"don't call me that."

"oh okay." Jimin shuts up for a while before he adds. "are you okay?"

"yes i'm fine."

Sahar has been in Malta for only a day but she's had enough of people asking the same question because she's obviously not okay. she knows it's not their fault they don't know her but it's frustrating, she's lost in her own damn life.

Jimin decides to ease the build up of perplexing tension. "we're meeting with the tour guide again. he'll be taking us to a few things we missed yesterday since you got lost." he explains, taking out a red, crinkled leaflet.

"Namjoon?" Sahar almost exclaims in delight. she has to talk to him, she has to try with the people that hold familiarity. there must be something she can work with- what if he's good at advice?

"yeah how do you know his name?"

Sahar appears unbothered, brushing off the tenseness she almost showed to her heedless boyfriend. "he didn't tell everyone?"

"damn babe, your memory must be bad." Sahar playfully hits Jimin before rolling her eyes and walking ahead, sarcasm leaving her naturally.

//

Sahar persuaded Jimin to take a break from shopping and visit a museum.

they stand in the extensive queue to go inside the artful building. Sahar isn't interested in touring Malta, especially with Jimin, visiting a museum or shopping. she needs to find pink haired, starry eyed, busker Jungkook and make sure the messy plan works- that's all that matters.

what plan? Sahar has no idea.

her olive eyes spot Yoongi and Hoseok together. she's baffled, astounded but also excited to see them.

she does a double take when noticing them holding hands.

Sahar walks away from Jimin, making up an excuse about the toilet before she makes her  way to the familiar, tanned boys that don't know who she is. "hi, i'm trying to find someone-"

Yoongi notices her! "oh it's you, the crazy lady."

Sahar rolls her eyes instinctually. "you better stop calling me that-" she starts to think that if Yoongi wasn't her neighbour, there's no way she would approach him and be his friend.

Hoseok examines Sahar before his eyes light up with recognition. "wait, you know her too?" he glances at Yoongi before two pairs of bronze orbs look back at her- making her very uneasy.

Yoongi nods, glaring at Sahar who's a stranger but she smiles massively anyway. "she asked if she knew me." he explains and Hoseok replies with- "she asked me the same thing."

is she really being known as that girl now?

Hoseok is a kind person at heart. "who are you looking for?"

Sahar is thankful they're going to try and help. Jungkook is hard to find. "a boy with pink hair and brown eyes." she begins to describe Jungkook- realising a lot of people must look like him.

"you're going to have to be more specific." Hoseok chuckles.

Sahar looks between the two- Yoongi's bleached hair and Hoseok's red hair. she's surprised by how well the opposite colours look. "wait are you two together?" she asks, feeding her curiosity.

Yoongi is annoyed by Sahar's question. "is that any of your business?" he asks, stern expression as his lips form into a frown for the female.

Sahar shakes her head, smiling- yep he hasn't changed at all.

Yoongi is disjointed by Sahar's smile. "how do you even know my name-"

Sahar then spots Jungkook with his guitar case, walking past stalls and restaurants- oblivious to the world around him. it's as if Malta is his new Seoul. Sahar didn't realise just how well she knew the boy, she's picked up little things about him that no one else noticed.

Sahar runs off, again, leaving behind the confused boys. she hears Hoseok's laugh and Yoongi's scoff when she leaves. they may not know her but that isn't going to get in her way!

the determined young girl strolls up to Jungkook, appearing beside him and making him jump. "hi guitar boy." she grins, happy to see him.

Jungkook seems happy to see her too. he returns the smile, knocking his side into hers. "hi girl i wish i had never met." he jokes with teasing lips.

Sahar feels her heart ache. she hates hearing that, she can't believe he has to say it for her life to get back together. "you don't mean that do you?"

Jungkook laughs, changing his hold on his guitar case. today he's dressed in a yellow shirt, baggy over his black pants. he looks smart but belonging in a hot country like this. "you're so strange." he states, eyes looking at Sahar with feelings she can't read. "isn't that what you wanted me to say last night?"

"yeah but-"

happy Jungkook cuts her off. "can i treat you today?" he asks.

"why not?" Sahar accepts his offer, forgetting how she's left pure Jimin looking for her ... again.

//

Sahar's eyesight worries her.

she's never had the best eyesight. at times, she'd worry, beg her parents to take her to the eye doctor and make them fix her eyes. the young girl wanted to see things with clarity, that's all.

Sahar ended up having to get permanent glasses for terrible sightedness- it made sense since she couldn't see long distances, like the board at school or the screen at the movies. it bothered her when the stars in the sky, traffic lights on the street and people became blurry.

now her entire life feels blurry.

a faultless scene rolls in front of her and Jungkook. they're watching the blurry stars together, seated on top of a balcony- away from the engaged crowds. they're high up, silence surrounding them as they relish in the solace.

the two take glances at each other every now and then, a hint of a smile gracing their pretty lips. the sincerity of the moment makes them enjoy each other's company more. they look back at the stars, folded into a dusky blanket.

Sahar's heart feels heavy with tautness when she stares at Jungkook- cherry hair poking out of his hat (she wishes he'd take it off), brown eyes gazing longingly at the top of Malta as if it's his first time, silver hooped earrings and delicate, careful fingers strumming along his guitar strings as well as Sahar's heart strings.

she forces herself to tear her gaze away. Sahar's overthinking thoughts are overwhelming her and it's building fear in her body. she has to make Jungkook fall in love with her just for him to say those hurtful words to her? what did she do that was so bad? where is Elio and her parents? why is this happening?

Sahar still manages to look gorgeous as tears start to stream down her face- warm, intense liquid sliding past fading freckles as they fall off her chin. she cries due to the frustration she feels at unfair life as she wipes her hands over her face, scared of being vulnerable.

that's when she remembers Taehyung once telling her that crying is not a weakness. if you need to cry, you should. being vulnerable shows your strength, ability and your humanistic side. it is a part of you, you should accept.

Jungkook is surprised by Sahar's weeping outburst. he lifts his hands in the air- unsure of what to do, how to hold her or talk to her. he decides to play safe by keeping his physical distance and speaking softly. "hey what's wrong?"

Sahar shakes her head, not wanting to bother Jungkook and explain the situation because first of all, it's him. secondly, he won't believe her.

Jungkook stays silent for a while and Sahar knows he'd find it hard to say the right things to her, but he surprises her when he does. "i don't know what's wrong Sahar." he admits, pressing softly and moving closer to her. "and i'm just a stranger who doesn't need to know."

you're not a stranger.

Jungkook offers a compassioate smile that makes his shiny cheeks lift and the stars reflect into the cocoa, obscure pupils that Sahar wants to evade. "but i'm here." and you don't know me.

Sahar nods, thanking him before she decides to be bold and ask herself what she wants right now. "can you just hold me?" she asks, waiting for an answer patiently and he nods.

and as Sahar leans into Jungkook's strong arms, wrapping around her as they share their physical and emotional warmth- Sahar feels close enough to what feels like home in his arms only.

//

bonus:

since this chapter is ten i just want to say i miss and love Ten bye