Stay With Me

There were quite a few things Jimin had noticed in his brief but, well, pretty intimate meeting with the girl who stood in front of him. Firstly, she was the source of the reek. Obviously they didn’t implement the importance of good hygiene skills wherever it was she had gone to school.

She was wrapped up in her conversation so he allowed himself a brief once over of her figure. She was a good few centimeters shorter than him, and he couldn’t lie that the fact made him feel pretty good. From what he could gather she had be allergic to the sun as well as her skin had no color, a cool ivory which contrasted greatly against her long ebony hair.

Speaking of hair, did she not own a brush? Surely her father could afford one in between his shopping trips at Armani. It was everywhere.

Her figure started to tremble which caused him to stop mid appraisal to glance at her face. Was she crying? Even though she was already pale her tear stained cheeks started to become ghostly.

“Hey … crazy… you don’t look so good.”

The phone slipped from her hand and the dog started to yelp as her knees seemed to give out, sending her falling in his direction.

“Hey!”

Jimin stepped forward quickly and wrapped his arms around the girl’s waist, pulling her against his chest to keep them both from toppling onto the floor for what seemed like the billionth time in the thirty minutes he’d known her. A muffled voice yelled out from her phone as he did his best to secure the girl with one arm and using his other hand to pat her face. “Hey… hey wake up. Come on!” He shook her a little bit but her body was completely lax.

The screaming phone on the floor had the word ‘Dad’ across the screen with a green telephone sign underneath that signified the call was still in progress. Mr. Clark obviously wasn’t as cool and collected as he let on when it came to his daughter. From the sounds coming from the speaker it was easy to tell that the executive was scared shitless.

He wasn’t supposed to know English and he didn’t want to be in this situation. The girl’s head rolled on his shoulder and came to rest on his neck. What the hell was he supposed to do?

He couldn’t carry her to the hospital because it was too far and he’d obviously be seen. The headlines could wreck his entire career.

Wow – I’m a prick, he thought to himself.

Even so he couldn’t jeopardize the members too. She had to be okay, she was going to be just fine. Her body seemed to tell a different story however as her skin was ice cold.

The phone below continued to yell at him.

Thinking fast he moved her arms, first one and then the other around his neck before grabbing her thighs and hoisting what felt like large sack of rice into his arms. Holding her tightly against him he made his way to the showers as quickly as he could, being careful not to trip over the insane dog that was spinning around in freakishly fast circles.

“Wake up crazy, come on..” He pleaded into her hair.

Turning on the water in one of the stalls on full blast Jimin tried to prop the girl against the wall but she just kept slipping against the tile like a wet noodle. The spray from the shower was soaking both of them at this point and it just didn’t matter anymore. He sat down and cradled her in his arms, pulling her against him under the pulse of water which penetrated both of them to the core.

She was still like ice. He reached from his spot quickly to turn up the waters heat, trying to catch his own breath as he did his best to brush the strands of hair off her face to give her cheeks a few pats.

“Can you hear me? You’re gonna be fine. You know that right?”

Bracing the back of her head tried he brought his ear down by her mouth in an attempt to find any evidence of breathing. It was barely there. Oh man. “You gotta breathe for me, girl.”

Without a second thought he pushed apart her lips with his thumb and closed his own over them, blowing into her mouth. It went right through her nose.

This shit looked easier in the movies.

Shifting and laying her on the floor he went to work. Pinching her nose with one hand and placing the other on her chest he blew into her mouth again. He had to make sure the air went into the right place. Her chest rose and fell in unison with his breathing.

Her skin getting pinker.

He rubbed her arms vigorously for a moment as water continued to pound over his back and spill over onto her body, “That’s right,” he panted, “come back to me.”

Pearls of water seemed to mold their mouths together as he kept doing his best to give her more air. He braced her jaw to keep her airway open.

Boom boom, boom boom.

Another breath.

Boom boom, boom boom.

That was her heart, right? He pressed a slightly harder against her chest – but the pounding was coming from him.

Boom boom, boom boom.

His lips slid over hers as he gave her another breath, slower this time.

There was movement. Parting from her lips he watched as her body shifted and she gasped for air on her own. Finally dark lashes rose to expose a hazy green stare that seemed distant at best. Jimin sighed in relief as he pulled her upward again. Ever so carefully he pushed some wet hair off of her forehead and away from her face.

“Can you hear me?”

-

If peace could be measured it was a thousand miles in this moment.

I had always been nervous to be completely in the dark. After she left me, us… having a light was a tether to consciousness. I couldn’t sleep without it. What if he needed me too?

The way she needed me that night.

This darkness was all encompassing and I found rest I hadn’t had in years. It was weightless, I was weightless.

Dad, please take care of yourself. Okay? You need to.

Suddenly water spilled fourth from the darkness in thick droplets. Did it rain in the afterlife? Is this even the afterlife?

“Jenna… I’m going to take a bath.”

Mom?

“Okay.”

No Mom, don’t!

“There’s some pasta on the stove, I made it fresh.”

Please. I was running and my chest started to get heavy. Where did the peace go? Is this hell?

“I’m not hungry.”

No. You’re hungry. Tell her to eat with you! What are you doing? You can’t do this twice.

“I love you, Jenna.”

My throat burned. Say it.. Jenna just say it.

“Me too.”

GET UP. GO AFTER HER.

“Can you hear me? You’re gonna be fine. You know that right?”

That voice didn’t belong here. All I could see was black. I was alone here. Wasn’t I?

MOM! MOM…. PLEASE?! I’LL DO BETTER! JUST GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE!

My throat was raw as I screamed into the darkness. There was a flash of light, like .. like lightening. It brightened the space of nothing as water started to flood up to my waist. A current started pulling me backwards from the direction I was trying to run to.

The door to her bathroom wouldn’t be locked. I knew that. She couldn’t leave me twice. I needed her to survive. We both did.

“You gotta breathe for me girl.”

Please, don’t do it.

The water turned red and my legs gave way. I took a deep breath as my entire self was submerged into a depth that had no ending.

“That’s right, come back to me.”

But she needed me here! I kicked with every ounce of strength I had reaching for the surface. My fingers found no purchase.

The water was getting hotter and I felt dizzy, almost paralyzed. I had nothing to hang onto, I was completely powerless. Just like before, just like when I let her go.

Suddenly I wasn’t alone. I turned trying to find a face but I couldn’t see anything.

Please. Save her.

But I was the one being held.

No, not me. I don’t deserve this. We have to go back. Please, give her back to me!

A gentle warmth slid over my face and the water became clearer. I squinted past the brightness as someone caressed my cheeks.

-

“Can you hear me?”

Who the…?

I blinked, coughing up water and trying to find something familiar. All I was met with were warm brown eyes and a concerned looking stranger. I tried to lift my head.

“Woah… easy crazy, not too fast.”

Crazy? Who was crazy?

Finally able to see clearly I took in my surroundings slowly. I was in a shower in the arms of a man I hadn’t met before. His clothing stuck to his body much like the mass of brown hair to his forehead, droplets of water slipping down the curve of his jaw.

Naked guy?

Naked guy!

The warning he gave all but flew out the window as I quickly tried to create some space between us. I only succeeded in getting a whole lot dizzier and slipping into the shower wall with a thud.

The boy stood and shut off the water. Was he laughing? I think I heard him laugh. I looked up to be sure.

I caught the tail end of a smirk while he offered me his hand. I didn’t take it.

“Are you planning on hanging out here for the rest of the night or did you want to stop your father from having a heart attack?”

Dad? Dad!

I pushed myself up off the floor and ran past him, leaving a mess of water behind me.

“Babo...”

Pablo? So I was crazy and Mexican? Whatever. I searched my soaking wet pockets. No phone. Shit.

I spun around, looking high and low to find it. As I turned he was standing there and I hadn’t expected it.

His hands steadied me before I fell. “First things first… calm down.”

I hadn’t seen the towel before it was already wrapped around me.

“You seem a bit out of it so allow me to fill you in on what just happened. You fainted. I went above and beyond common courtesy and brought you back to life.” Suddenly there was a towel over my head.

“You’re welcome, by the way.”

I pulled the towel off so I could see his smug face again.

“To keep you in the land of the living I suggest you chill out, dry off and go home. By the way, you don’t know me. Let’s keep it that way, yeah?”

He turned around, peeling off his wet shirt and throwing it to the side.

“Your phone is on the floor by the door.”

I stood there, dripping from every inch of my being while I watched him walk away completely beside myself – my mouth hanging open. Were all guys this douchey in Korea or was he just a special breed?

Either a marching band or the CIA seemed to be charging down the hallway outside.

“JENNA!? JENNA CLARK!?”

The boy stopped and turned back toward me, I followed his eyes to the door.

“Oh shit…” He breathed just as the doors swung open and a group of security followed by my out of breath Father barreled into the room.

“Jenna?!”

Well.. this didn’t look good. “Dad.. I can explain…”

My father, suit and tie, had me in his arms before I could finish my sentence. He was never one for public displays affection and I inherited much of that trait from him – but as soon as he held me I allowed myself to lean into his embrace.

“You scared me half to death…”

I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of his heartbeat, forgetting momentarily about our audience. “I’m sorry, Dad.” I said softly against his chest.

“Park Jimin?”

Naked guy.

I opened one eye to see a smiley and equally soaked smart ass give a little wave. “Ahh… anyong!” He rubbed the back of his head, giving a quick awkward laugh while his eyes turned into half-moons from his grin.

My father let me go and walked around me. I could feel the testosterone levels in the room start to rise while he looked at the, yet again, half naked guy behind me. He was going into protective mode and I’d seen it a hundred times. This time was probably understandable, but it wasn’t merited. I wanted nothing to do with the smart ass. “Dad..”

“What did you….”

Suddenly everyone was bowing up a storm. “Oh.. Mr. Clark. Please excuse our Jimin, he..”

“He saved my life….”

Everyone turned, even Jimin moved to peak at me from behind my father – a bit of surprise on his features.

“I was so worried, I haven’t eaten and I’ve had a hel…..heck of a day. Jet lag and, well. I fainted. Pretty sure I wasn’t breathing and… this guy saved me.”

The aura of defense seemed to fade a little as my father turned back to the hero of the moment.

Jimin let out a quiet ‘heh’ as he smiled, lifting a hand. “Sorry… no English.”

Say whaaat? I blinked.

My father took Jimins hand and gave him what looked like a good shake, resting his other hand on his shoulder. My father was only 6’ but he looked like the jolly green giant compared to this guy.

“Comsamnedah.” My father said, bowing a bit himself.

In my peripheral vision I could see the looks of astonishment as the other guards and managers gave quiet exchanges to each other. My father was held in high esteem everywhere he went and barely ever did things like this. I crossed my arms over my chest staring at Jimin. No English, huh?

“We should get you to the hospital immediately Miss. Clark.” A man said coming forward, breaking the silence.

My father turned back towards me, coming back to my side. “Yes… yes of course.”

“No dad.. I just want some food and to get some sleep.”

Jams seemed to come out of nowhere, growling at one of the guards as he skittered to my side between me and my father. I picked him up before sparing a glance at Jimin then back to my Father.

I think my father was reading into the look I gave my ‘savior’ more than necessary. “Of course, you have to let me buy you a meal as a thank you for helping my daughter.”

A meal? With him? I looked back at Jimin, my eyes wide. He was still doing that stupid nervous smile as he waved a hand toward my father. “Sorry… no Eng..”

“Dad he doesn’t want to..” I cut him off. What the hell was this dudes problem? He spoke English perfectly fine – sass and all.

“Of course he does! He would be rude not too.” A man on the other side of my father gave him an apologetic smile before throwing a look full of daggers towards Jimin. “Yah… ohtokay!?”

Jimins face seemed to slowly go back to normal. It was easy to see, at least to me, that he was processing the situation. I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea of sharing a meal with the guy, but I had run out of ‘buts’ in the situation and there was only so much more I could say. The balls in your court, dude.

“Ahhh… food? Nay… food.. Comsahmnedah.” Jimin bowed a perfect one hundred and eighty degrees.

I raised a brow. Reallllllllly…..

“Tomorrow then, we’ll have lunch.” My father wrapped an arm around me and started to lead me out the door. I craned my neck to look back at Jimin whose eyes seemed to grow a bit darker as he stared back at me. Every bit of that look screamed for me to get him out of this, but I didn’t know how.

‘Sorry’ I mouthed as we walked out the door.

-

“Of all the disrespectful things you could have done. Do you have no shame?!”

Lunch? With Mr. Suit and the crazy chick? That was supposed to be rewarding?”

“Look at me when I speak to you!”

Jimin heard the whiz of his hand before he felt it collide with the side of his head. Finally he looked up at his manager – the man’s face was like a tomato. Red and kind of fat.

“I’m sorry.”

He wasn’t.

“Get changed and get back to the dorm. Now, Jimin.”

The group of security and managers filed out of the locker room leaving him there alone. Suddenly he was pretty exhausted, this whole day sucked. He needed to find dry clothes and get home. The guys probably had already finished eating and were waiting for him before they turned in for the night.

He had just finished going through his first locker on the hunt for something to wear when he noticed Jenna’s phone lying on the floor. The father forgets pills and the daughter forgets what’s supposed to be the most important device in a teen’s life. That spoke volumes.

Picking up the phone he swept his thumb over the screen expecting to find the lock screen. There was none. This girl was filled with wisdom apparently.

He shoved it in his pocket, he’d give it to her tomorrow on their ‘date’. How the hell was he going to get out of that?

-

“Did you get lost?”

Jimin sighed inwardly as he kicked off his boots by the door and stepped into his slippers. “Yes.”

“Really?” Jungkook raised his eyebrows and peered up over his laptop. He was laying on the couch, the only one still awake it seemed. The rest of the house was quiet. Gullible child.

“No, I got tied up. Everyone asleep?”

“Yeah.. I’m about to go to bed too.”

Jimin nodded as he made his way toward the kitchen. He opened the fridge and nothing looked appetizing but he still stared, waiting for something to maybe magically appear. “Someone needs to go shopping, and it’s not me.”

Bzzzzzzzzzzz

His pants were vibrating. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out Jennas phone. A slow smile spread across his face as he read an unprogrammed number on the screen. Crazy girl, is that you?

Jimin slid his thumb over the green icon to accept the call. “This is Jesus, saving lives and turning water into wine all before dinner time – how can I service you?”

“Uh….Hello?”

He smirked. “What.. were you really expecting Jesus?”

“You have my phone…”

“And you are just the smartest little thing.”

“I need it.”

“Then you probbbbbably shouldn’t have left it, dontchathink?”

She sighed. “Bring it tomorrow.”

“I don’t know…. This could give me a whole bunch of interesting things to read and see.”

“Don’t you even think about it..”

“Do they not believe in password protecting their phones in America?”

“What do you want?”

What did he want? Truth be told he was getting a broad sense of enjoyment out of this whole scenario.

Ah, English.

“I don’t speak English.”

“Huh? You seem to be doing an annoyingly good job right now..”

“As far as your Father is concerned I don’t. There was not a lick of English exchanged between us. I’m extremely good at reading body language and that’s how we communicated.”

“Why?”

“That’s really not any of your business, but whatever business you have in your pictures and texts will be spread worldwide if you don’t help me out.”

Silence.

“It’s the least you could do for your savior.”

Still nothing.

Jimin looked at the phone. The call was still connected. “You faint again? I still have all my clothes on, you can breathe easy.”

“Fine.”

He smiled. “Good girl. Sleep tight and I’ll see you at lunch.”

Jimin hung up the phone and gave up on the idea of food for the night. Sure, he was being a bit of a snot – but if he was going to have any peace in the amount of time this image revamp took to occur he wanted any and all communication between him and Mr. Executive to be as little as possible.

Tossing the ransom onto his bed first he climbed into his bunk, making himself comfortable. What did she have in this thing anyway? Nudes?

He opened the phone, looking at the pictures. There were your typical selfies and some with friends. She didn’t seem to really smile in very many of these pictures.

A guy. He looked like an Americanized version of Jin. Jimin shot a look over at the sleeping figure of his roommate. Snoring, as usual.

She was in his lap, an arm casually wrapped around him. The guys smile seemed to light up his face as he held her close and hers didn’t seem to match his. Obviously he had something for her, as for her being into him – didn’t look like it.

There was nothing. Not even a bikini shot. He was getting kind of bored.

Jimin checked the notes. There were hundreds. Wow. How many lists of things to buy did one person need? He clicked on the first one.

Mom,

Dad tried to make your lasagna again. Of course the kitchen was up in smoke after just twenty minutes. He will keep trying though – you know him. If he can’t bring you up in conversation it’s the only way he can share your memory with me.

Memory?

He left your room just like you had it. All your stuff is still there in all the same places. I can still smell you. I still find myself going to ask you if you’ve seen my socks or if you were making dinner anytime soon. Do you think that will ever stop? Sometimes … I’m not so sure.

I hurt too Mom. I know I didn’t say it, but I wanted to. I didn’t want you to worry more than I wanted comfort so I kept it to myself. I miss him just as much.

I left you alone first I guess, trying to make it easy for you but I made it harder, didn’t I? That’s why you left us, right? But Mom, why did you go where I couldn’t follow? How can I ever apologize for causing you pain if you’re not here to listen?

No way. This stuff only happened in movies. Right? She didn’t..

I keep having the same dream of the night you left me. Did you know that I’d be the one to find you? I never thought you’d be that cruel, but maybe I was crueler to make you believe that I wouldn’t notice you were in the bathroom for over two hours.

I can’t say I haven’t thought about doing what you did, but if I did what would Dad do? Two kids and a wife lost. He’d have nothing to work for anymore and then where would he be?

I don’t know how to make the memory of you not hurt and it feels like I can’t breathe most days. Are you at peace? Are you happy, wherever you are?

Jimin placed the phone down on his chest, lacing his hands behind his head and stared up into the darkness

No one in his family had passed away. He had absolutely no idea what that was like and he never wanted to. But this girl didn’t just lose her mother to an accidental death. The lady obviously took her own life and left Jenna and her father behind.

Reading more was beyond wrong right? Right.

The clock on the wall ticked quietly and Jimin tapped his thumb against his head in time with the sound.

The phone was back in his hand again.

I don’t think happiness is in the cards for me anymore. I guess that’s just the way life is.

Definitely wrong and just, just cruel of him to read more.

I will do my best regardless because I know you’d have wanted that. I hate that I can’t change things and I hate that you didn’t stay.

Morals, Jimin. He groaned and shut the note app while he could stop himself. Her picture gallery was still up and before he could shut that in his quest for righteousness he noticed a picture that he couldn’t help but enlarge.

Green eyes stared back at him. They were like emeralds and shone brightly in the dark room. Guilt started to weigh heavy on him while he moved the pad of his thumb over her face.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered.

This time, he really was.

Notes

Enjoy <3