??? : (-looking at me-) Who are you?

Widened eyes, I saw Ji hae-ssi, standing in a beautiful soft and pastel white breezy dress. Small bids of floral embroidery bordered its V-neck and creeped down randomly till the waist half. It fell just rightly an inch below her knees with the chiffon three-quarter layered sleeves lazily wrapping her sleeky arms.

Almost stumbled on my feet, I managed to disguise my imbalance and unfolded to my actual height as I attempted to speak– her finely lined eyes following up my bestir.

But, Taehyung-ssi snapped, and answered her as he stirred his stumps to stand.

TH : (-cold voice-) She came with me.

She, with a slight eye-roll, diverted her shooting gaze to him on my right.

His conduct with her sure aggrieved my conscience making my temples intensify in displeasure but I found myself at no place to debate.

TH : (-same coldness-) Do you min-

I didn't realize my face was turned to him with a indignant stare until he stopped on his words and stole a glance at me.

With a quick reflex, I whipped elsewhere trying to suppress my umbrage.

TH : (-in his typical deep voice but softer-) I mean, she is our Tourist guide. Jae hyung wanted her to come so, I invited her.

The bright change in her mien was unduly readable and eleborate. Her forgiving smile and smooth features further complimented her modesty.

JI HAE : (-smiles-) Oh hi! I am Jeong Ji hae, his wif-

Taehyung-ssi immediately cut her off as he looked at me with a smile.

TH : She is Jae Hyung's mom.

ME : (-smiles back-) Ah, Ye. 

She wore a sweet smile showing not the slightest bother to her Husband's unfair attitude of cutting her words.

Seeing her lenient nature and demure, I couldn't but admire her compassion. It wouldn't be a lie if I pronounced her as my girl crush despite my assured sexuality being straight.

Having met her in real life was no less than a magical moment for my just discovered admiration for her.

As shortly, I found her about to speak, Taehyung-ssi went close and whispered something in her ears. 

Her smile dropped half-way causing mine to fade as well. She didn't meet my eyes– her lids softly closing as Taehyung-ssi made his way to the other members of BTS.

I was prompted to ask if she was okay, but once again, she looked up at me afresh with a guise– completely recovering from the feeling she had been fighting under her shut eyes.

JI HAE : (-smiling-) Come with me, I got lots to ask you. What did you do to get Jae hyung like you so much? (-jokingly-) He is all about you.

Her lively tone of speech would deceive anyone. So it, invariably, did to me as I walked further along with a smile. She continued to converse like a princess– a royal scent castling her ritzy aura.

TAEHYUNG's POV 

*Back in the set*

Wanting to give others a heads up about the entirety of the situation, I headed towards the room they were waiting for my shoot to end in.

With a deep inhale, I knocked and walked inside feeling all eyes on me.

NJ : Onh, are you done? 

I, with a small sigh, took their blank visages before deciding to speak.

ME : Hyung, Jiminie and Jungkookie.

J : What's with that face? Aren't we getting late for Jae Hyung's party? 

ME : Neh, hyung. But, I have something really important to tell you before we leave.

They got a tensed expression, connecting my words with my expressions and paid attention to the ones that followed after.

ME : It might surprise you, but. . . Jae Ra is alive. (-halts to let them digest it-)

JM : WHAT?! (-shocked-) Taehyung-ah, what are you talking about?

ME : (-nods-) Turns out she never really di.. never really left us.

Everyone had their eyes widen and jaw drop in flabbergast, to say a little exaggerated. However, it rightly emphasized the extent of their fluster.

J : What had happened then?

ME : I don't know. I was so flustered, I couldn't really decide what to ask first. How or why did they ever say that, what was the purpose behind it, who are all the faces that teamed up to conspire this mess. I know nothing.

As much as they felt spaced out with the news and the questions I was adding, I could understand their needs of time to grasp on it entirely.

ME : Right now, I just know and want to focus on the fact, that JaeRa is out there, healthy and living. That's all I had asked for all these years and that's all that matters at this moment.

NJ : You're right. Let's just cherish the present that she is here.. with us.

ME : And. . . is waiting for us outside. 

HS : What?!

YG : How come?

I took them to a quick ride to yesterday about everything that I learnt of her. Except, that she was getting married which I was unable to comprehend myself.

JK : So, she will be with you all the time, unaware of your past relationship with her?

ME : (-nodding weakly-) Apparently. And I want you all to pretend unaccquaintance with JaeRa for her better health. (-low voice-) I don't want to hurt her in any way. 

J : (-sympathizing-) Don't worry, we are always with you. Jae Ra-ssi won't be hurt. We will be carefull.

Everyone readily agreed to Jin Hyung's words as they cheered in for it.
They came to accept the fantasy-like reality just learnt, quite easily. Selfless them, didn't realize I could see through their effort to make it less hard for me.
Some words were understood without its conveyance between us.

A small smile crept up my lips, receiving their never ending support from the day one. Be it after Kimchi's accident or be it from our trainee days.

It was the unparalleled bond that we shared, I had respect beyond any possible bounds.

ME : Let's go! She must be waiting.

I changed into my casual clothes and headed out with everyone.

Although, they were trying their best to contain their amazement and nonplus to actually see her standing alive. They gave off obvious signs, making her a little conscious.

I, trying to ease everyone, spoke first and handled the situation.

At the party~

Seeing Kimchi beside me, I didn't want her to get the wrong idea.
So, I gave a nice explanation to Ji hae, which I usually never did since I rarely even conversed with her.

In order to warn against any misconduct, I stepped closer to Ji hae and whispered in her ear.

ME : (-coldly-) Be nice to her or things won't be very pleasant.

I could feel her slight tremble and shaky breath at our sudden vicinity that we never had before. And with my usual indifference towards her, I walked to the others, without waiting for her to speak.

During the whole time, my eyes were on Kimchi– taking a notice of every trivial detail of her. A crayola-indigo tinted high waist pants, paired with a white upper. The pastel beige summer coat covered most of the top and the same shade for the heels finished her look. I guessed it as her uniform, recalling the same attire she had from yesterday.

She stunned the formal clothes, looking elagantly beautiful as always. The short and vague numbers of hair crowned her translucent forehead, as people call it side bangs. The smooth wavy rest tied up in a mid-pony, moving swiflty as she giggled with Ji hae. Her bright smiles were still the same; effortless and visually pleasing.

I had a nostalgia of the times when her smiles used to be the rewards of nectar. To which, I was glad to be called even an insect.

I was lost in the reminiscence and treasuring her features when, Jae hyung brushed his ice cream-cone with my pants by accident.

I looked at it quickly, distracted.

ME : Jae hyung-ah, be careful! (-looking at that area-) 

JAE HYUNG : Sorry, appa. (-hiding behind Jungkook-) 

JM : (-looking at me trying to clean my pants with a tissue-) Yah, Don't scold him at this. It was just an accident. 

J : You better go and wash that part before it gets stained.

I, complying with hyung, headed to the washroom where sinks were common to all.

Busy trying to clean it off, the moment I entered unaware and careless, I found Kimchi drying her hands in the dryer. It was right next to the door.

She seemed a little startled by the door revealing me out of nowhere. The place was very small and there wasn't enough space for two people to go in and out simultaneously.

I stared deep into her brown blinking doe eyes, only to notice some changes in her facial expressions. Her eyelids expanded more with her incisors biting her lower lip as she anxiously took gulps, off and on.

Noticing her sling bag resting on the sink table, I guessed her next action would be taking the bag as soon as possible and run away.

Thoughtfully, to do it for her, I stretched out my hand to get her bag. But I guess I was a little late against the highly strung lady.

I reached her bag, poor timing, at the same second she did. And very naturally our hands had a brief skinship.

She, with a flinch, withdrew her hands as if my touch felt electric. However, as she did, she was about to fall when my right hand, quite professionally and more as an instant reflex, wrapped around her tiny waist with a quick movement.

Fortunately, I saved her from falling but there formed a dangerous closeness between us. Her fragile figure was pressed against the, although not well-built but, buff mine.

It had been years since I felt her warmth against my body. Since I held her in my arms. Since I hugged her. Since I kissed her, and that sinful moment wasn't helping my itch.
Everything just began to feel more real.

My heart raced as our nervous breaths collided at an angle. In the deadly yet peaceful ambience, all I could hear were my heartbeats and our heavy rythms of breath.

Her rosy red and gradiently tinted lips, parted half way looked too innocently vulnerable to resist.

JAE RA's POV 

A while ago<

Although, I wanted to pay no heed to my mild headache caused by the short recollection back in the workshop. Its growing bitterness, constantly hammered my conscious to feed against.

Excusing myself from Ji hae-ssi's company, that I so not willed to, I paved my way to the restroom.

In a while, after calming my pain down a little, I viewed my reflection in the mirror as I washed my hands. My eyes looked mesirably pathetic.

I went closer, wanting to see through myself, to discover the hidden. To percieve even a faint ray of light on my past.

Yet again, no hope departed out but the same defeated sigh like every other day followed by. I lowered my head unable to look at my very own face anymore.

Twisting the washer knob close and with an anguished eye roll from my reflection, I turned around to dry my hands.
Taehyung-ssi's sudden appearance then, had my heart almost sucked out.

His short touch left chills run all over my spine. A sense of awakening, alarmed my scarred and demoralized soul.

Not enough time to recover from the previous impact, had he reached my senses to the edge of their sanity with his attempt to save my lack of harmony. His hands belted around my waist.

My heart thumped in a certain fear. Just enough to explode any moment with the uncoordinated hormones rushing everywhere.

His hold, his arms, his wrap, made me feel safe and secured, ceasing my conscience to pull apart.

I breathed in, wanting to ease my anxiety –his familiar scent dizzing me with a soft sooth.
I looked up in wonder to see the man enchanting me without my conscious will.

But before my sight could percieve his glance, the foreign feel landing on my lips claimed instant dominance. Causing my eyes to squeeze shut, at the new perception.

His lips were on mine.

Tightening his grip on my waist, he crammed me further close. The sudden acquaintance and quietude inside me felt like a memory sprouting its harshly folded wings. His touch...

His touch had a memory.

____________

Things are heating up! ;) 

By the way, did you see this coming?