❝ Find me when I was pure; I can't be free from this lie. ❞

― BTS, Lie.

* * *

The seemingly endless corridors on both sides with no sign of people ― quiet, an eerie type of quiet. A monitor that showed Kim Taehyung's name, meaning that he was currently laying on the operation table, fighting for his life along with the surgeon and his team.

The tension was tangible. Only the sound of the clock could be heard. Her stomach constantly churn at the thoughts that have been erupting in her head. She had stopped crying, simply because there was nothing left to cry. Her eyes felt heavy but the fact that her lover was fighting inside the operation room reeled her awake.

Jimin covered her shivering body with a blanket, placing his arms over her shoulders and scooted her closer so they could share his body heat.

"I believe you owe me an explanation, Park Jimin. It's very outrageous to see my supposedly dead boyfriend fighting inside the operating room right now," Chaerin finally started a conversation, her voice was stern.

Their gazed locked, and Jimin could see the mixture of emotions that he had never seen in a Chaerin before ― a flare of anger fused with sadness.

"If I tell you truth, will you hate me?"

"It depends, Jimin."

No. He had expected her to say no. Jimin knew he did not deserve to be forgiven for what he had done, he was scared. Her voice did not waver and that rendered him with anxiety. Out of all people, he really did not want Chaerin to hate him.

But he knew Chaerin deserved to know the truth.

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flashback | hospital after accident.

Both Taehyung and Jimin sat in front of the operation room. Her condition was the worst; the paramedics had told them that. Apparently, the crash gave serious damages to her internal organs, and also caused bleeding which would be a miracle if she would ever open her eyes again.

Kim Taehyung knew it was his fault. His girl would not have to fight for her life on the operation table if he had been more careful, she should not have became a shield for him.

Not only Taehyung, Jimin was also frustrated that he could not help Chaerin, even thought he was there with them. The only thing that he could do was to watch the scene played in front of his own pair of eyes, watching everything burns, crash, and dying.

'This is all my fault. I hate myself I hate myself.' Taehyung showed his phone to Jimin as his eyes began to water.

"Yes. It's your fault! Out of all people, why it had to be her?!" A few tears had escaped Jimin's eyes as he clutched Taehyung's collars, yelling through gritted teeth.

Deep down he knew he just wanted to let his feeling to subside. And he had blamed Taehyung for everything so he could feel the relief. He was lost and blinded. Everything seemed so wrong, he, himself, was wrong.

'I'm sorry I'm so sorry. I should not exist.' Taehyung cried.

The message caused Jimin to regain his senses once again as he showed his compassion by releasing the grip slowly. His breathing became very unstable, pupils dilated once he realized what he had done. He was selfish.

"I'm sorry, Tae. I know I was wrong too. I should have helped both of you but I just―" he paused, clenching his fists while reminiscing the crash. "I just stayed there, frozen, and did not do anything." Averting his gaze aside, a few tears rolled down to his cheeks.

'Jimin.' Taehyung poked his shoulder which earned his full attention.

"Yes?"

'Do you love Chaerin?'

Jimin's breath hitched at the question and he clearly did not see that coming from Taehyung. He gazed at Taehyung's eyes and saw the seriousness in it; his pupils were begging for an answer. He hesitated for a few moments before answering, "I do. Yes, I love Kwon Chaerin." Jimin stared at him straight to the eyes, his voice was firm.

He thought his answer would make Taehyung upset or mad, but no, he smiled. 'Then please take care of her, Jimin. Once she woke up, please tell her that I'm dead and please stay by her side. I'm such bad fortunes for her and I could no longer bear seeing how she's mocked, how she has to pretend that she was okay with all the stuffs the neighbourhood housewives threw at her. But with you, I believe you are better than me. So please, Jimin. She's very precious for me, she's my whole universe. I trust my life to you, Park Jimin.'

It would be a lie if his words did not weigh Jimin. His chest felt heavy and as if the time had stopped for a few seconds, his lungs had stopped working for a few seconds and his brain felt clouded.

"A― Are you serious? You're really leaving her to me? But Tae, we don't know if she's going to wake up."

'She will. I know she will open her eyes again, I have faith in her. So will you take my request?' Taehyung's eyes glimmer with hope.

Jimin took a moment to ponder and finally agreed. "Alright then, I will help you. But Kim Taehyung, what we are about to do is feigning a death, are you really sure you want to do this?"

Taehyung bobbed his head and grinned. 'Tell her that I love her so much.' And then, he left.

─────

present | hospital.

The story finished after that. Silence lingered them as both of them exchanged gazes, an unreadable one. However, Jimin had omitted the part where he confessed his feelings about Chaerin for the sake of their friendship.

"I can't believe it. Out of all people, you are the one, Park Jimin."

He felt guilty. He just wanted to run away and left all the things behind.

"I am sorry I lied. I am sorry, Chaerin. I really do. Please forgive me." Jimin lowered his head and shut his eyes.

Instead of receiving more comments, Jimin felt a soft ruffle on his hair, causing his eyes to shoot open. "Thank you for telling the truth, Jiminnie," she said in a very soft tone.

After the truth had been unfolded and hours of waiting, the doctor and nurses finally came out from the operation room with lethargic looks painted on their faces. They main surgeon heaved a sigh as he approached Chaerin.

"How was the operation, doctor?" She asked and the doctor remained for a while.

"Patient Kim Taehyung, died due to excessive bleeding during operation."

She crumpled onto the floor.

"Time of death, 04:00 A.M."

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A/N:
Next chapter will be the last one.