Days Thereafter

The flight was the usual, boring and tiring. We arrived home to a bunch of happy faces. I thought J-Hope and V were going to die of happiness, their faces stayed stretched into gigantic smiles the entire time. They asked about the service, which I feel a little better talking about. They asked about the rest of the time and we told them.

I can tell they’re being careful around me, it’s sweet, but not necessary.

“Guys, I’m going to be okay. I know that we don’t get to spend eternity here on this earth and that some people leave earlier than others. I don’t like that my best friend was one of them, but I’m not going to live my life in a shell of worry and sadness. I’m going to live for me and take time to enjoy the people I have in my life.” I finish my speech.

V throws his arms around me, hugging me tight.

“I’m so happy that you’re not sad anymore!” He crows in my ear.

“Yah!” Jimin moves forward, prying V from me. V just gives him a cheesy smile and a small giggle. The others converse with Jimin while I bring my luggage into the room. I start unpacking and putting my clothes away when I feel a pressure at my back. I stand up straight and turn to see Jin standing right behind me.

“Is everything okay?” I ask

“Yeah, yeah, I just wanted to see how you were doing. Are you okay?”Jin spits out

“Yeah, I’m okay. I will be okay. So don’t worry too much okay?” I put my hand on his arm, trying to be reassuring, but he pulls away from me.

“Do you think… If I did something… If…” Jin keeps getting lost with his words.

“What’s wrong?” I venture.

He definitely has something to say...

“Can we sit for a second?” He asks, wiping his forehead with the palm of his head. I look at him and see sweat dripping down the sides of his face.

Something is definitely wrong! He looks so sick! Maybe the flu? I take one of my shirts from beside me and with the other hand grab hold of his jaw. This shocks him. His eyes go wide and he tries to move out of my grasp.

“Kim Seok Jin, you will be still right now. There is no way you are okay, you’re dripping in sweat!” I hiss at him. He behaves and lets me dab at the sweat on his face. After that’s done I start wiping down his neck, and at the back of it. He gently grabs my hand and pulls it down into his lap.

We both stare into his lap for several quiet moments. Pieces of conversation from the living room float to us, we hear Jungkook and Rap Monster’s laughing, and an occasional sentence from Suga.

“What if I did something awful that caused people a lot of pain and isn’t forgivable?” Jin cuts into the quiet murmurs.

“It depends on the person, honestly. For me… I think I can always try and forgive a person, but it just depends. I doubt there was anything you could do that was totally unforgivable.” I try to lift his spirits. He takes the damp shirt from my hands and drops it onto the bed. He inches his fingers between mine till our hands our fitted together.

“I wish I had someone like you in my life. Maybe then I wouldn’t be such a bad person.”

“Do, you want to talk about it?” I try and inch my way to the heart of the problem. He looks away from our hands to the wall.

“If… If I told you… you would hate me, you would think I was a monster. Because I am.” He swings his head around so that our faces are inches apart, I can feel his breath on my cheek.

I keep as still as possible, not being intimidated by his words, but not initiating anything either.

He leans forward till his lips meet with my cheek. He moves back and lets go of my fingers, sadness filling his eyes to the rim.

“Soon, you’ll know everything. And when you do I won’t be able to apologize enough for it.” He stands and leaves the room, leaving me alone, confused, and for some odd reason, hurt.
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Since fall break is over, that means classes start up again. It seems like torture, listening to a bunch of professors and taking notes all day, missing out on time with Jimin, not that I would have it anyway. Since we’ve been home all he’s done is practice choreography, then go over lyrics and practice his high notes or matching pitch, then going back to practice more on choreography. By the time he comes into bed, he’s exhausted. I’m not sure how he even manages a shower.

To keep myself distracted, I got a job at the library close to Yonsei. It’s easy and keeps me occupied and I get to meet some new people.
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Jin’s P.O.V.

Seeing her come back, it was too hard. I wanted to say everything and nothing. I wanted to come clean and hide myself away forever.

I decided to go halfway.

I can ask theoretically, then it won’t be so bad and I’ll get some kind of reaction.

When I saw her go into the room alone, I took the initiative and went for it. I watched her unpack for a little bit, then I decided to grow some balls.

Her answers definitely surprised me, but so does she in general. I realize I still have feelings for her, just a little. She let me hold her hand and give her a kiss on the cheek.

I wonder if she could hear my heart beating uncontrollably.

At least those are memories I can keep with me for a while.

“Jin! Time to go and get your makeup done!” Manager hyung yells. I walk by J-Hope and he pushes me hard with his shoulder. I stumble back and see a small smug smile on his face.

“Yah! Watch it you punk!” I chastise.

“What? Are you going to try and steal my girlfriend too?” Hobi barks at me, stepping towards me. A few of the staff turn their heads towards us. I bow an apology and pull Hobi away towards a quieter place.

“What the hell are you talking about Hoseok?!” I whisper furiously.

“I saw you make the moves on her the other night! Would you do that to all of us? Or is it because you’re jealous of Jimminie?”

“Wait! You got it all wrong! It wasn’t like that!”

“You can’t call a kiss nothing!”

“It wasn’t even that! I just kissed her cheek! She was taking care of me!” God dammit Hoseok! You just can’t keep your nose out of anything!

“Are you really a monster? Or is that what you like to tell them all?” Hobi storms away.
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Xie’s P.O.V.

I furiously pack everything into a bag, which isn’t much. I leave behind the suit that Ara always made me wear during “work” hours.

I carefully pack away all of the files that Ara had me copy and change. Whoever this “Kim Seok Jin” is, I sure don’t want to be him, whatever these files say, half of them had been changed to his name. I take one last look around and carefully pick up the delicate necklace that was my mothers, I put it in my pocket and then carefully make my way unnoticed towards Mie’s room. It’s so dark I have to use a flashlight to make sure I don’t trip over anything. I can see her sleeping figure, curled around a stuffed animal.

It’s sad to see her having to find comfort in some type of stuffed dog rather than me. I carefully shake her sides till she can half coherently hear me.

“Mie, we have to go, lets pack your stuff now and leave.” I set my bag down carefully and set the flashlight on the nightstand pointing at the ceiling, it helps illuminate some of the room.

“Oppa? What are you talking about? Where are we going?” She rubs the sleep out of her eyes.

“We’re going with your plan, but we’re leaving now, hurry and pack a bag.” My words make her more animated as she springs from the bed and makes a bag just as hurriedly as I did. It takes about five minutes and she’s ready with her things. We start heading towards the door.

“Wait.” I stop Mie. I carefully pull the delicate necklace from my pocket and pull Ju Mie closer.

“This was omma’s. I want you to have it and keep it safe for me.” I fasten it around her slender neck. After I take it and make sure the small gold heart pendant faces the right way.

“There, now you look just as pretty as omma.” I smile. Ju Mie’s eyes mist over and she hugs me hard.

“Thank you oppa.”

“Your welcome Mie. Okay, now it’s time to go.” She releases me and then we make our way as silently as possible to the back door. Once clear we get the black sudan from the driveway and push it down the street till we can start it without waking the others. Then we drive. We drive for hours. We drive to escape the hell that’s been our lives for too long. We drive to live.
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Xie and Ju Mie drive till they are able to take a ferry to Jejudo. By the time they arrive, the sun rises. Somewhere far away is the angry scream of Ara as she realizes that her two servants have stowed away in the night. Xie is able to contact an old friend that agrees to let them stay with them. Ara fumes and cries about the “injustice” done to her and how unloyal her family is.

Xie decides to let Ju Mie start her life over, but it’s too late for him. He knows he can’t unsee, can’t undo the things Ara has command in the past. He realizes he has to get even. He has to do something for the last time.

Notes

Woot! Next update! How are guys feeling?? As usual, I hope you enjoy this!