Under the sky in room 553 I discovered you and I

Part 7

Just then, two arms snaked around her waist, pulling her back with a force that was way stronger-or was it more desperate? -than the last. Jimin's nose was buried in the crook of her neck, and she could feel the older deeply inhale; taking in her scent. She let the girl hold her, and she didn't move. Neither of them spoke.

If she'd just blinked, focused on something else, or let her mind drift elsewhere, she would have missed it entirely; the feeling of Jimin's lip hovering just above the skin of her neck, pressing a ghost of a kiss-so gentle, it was almost like it never happened. But she was paying attention, and unfortunately for shis poor, confused heart, she didn't miss it for the world.

"You'll always have me." The words were whispered right against her neck, like she was inking them onto her skin-tattooed and forever to be etched onto her; body, mind, and soul. The younger girl sighed, leaning back into her embrace.

Minjeong would not ask for anything more.

一

"You know I'm old enough to walk home by myself, right? It's not like I won't survive without you, unnie!"

"Okay, but if that's the case then the relatives gathering can also wait. I want to walk you home first." Argued the older girl, brows furrowed. They were already making their way back to the entrance of the park, bickering over nothing as usual. It had become a habit for them to take the least crowded exit, savouring whatever sense of privacy they could earn.

"unnie,," she whined, aggressively shaking their intertwined hands to express her annoyance. "Minjeong will be fine." She used her baby talk advantage whilst throwing on top a pair of pleading eyes for good measure. And she could tell that it worked to a degree, because instantaneously, Jimin's expression softened.

Yet her jaw was still tightly clamped, so she tried harder. "What if you go home late, get scolded by your mum and then next time she won't let you hang out with me anymore? We don't want that to happen, right?" Her voice had an exaggerated tone to it now, trying so hard to sound convincing that it ended up making Jimin flinch.

They stopped in their tracks, now arriving at the exit. Jimin would have to take the route to their right for her home, and Minjeong would have to take the left across the street.

"unnie, I'm fifteen! I can cross the street by myself! When I'm home, I'll text you.Promise." Minjeong flashed her a reassuring grin, lifting up a pinky. It took a moment of Jimin staring at her skeptically before she finally gave in with a resigned huff, interlocking her pink with the younger's. "You better."

The latter giggled, finally letting go of their hands. She even did a little jump. "Now go enjoy your family gathering and help your mum set up the table or else she will whoop your butt."

"You don't sound empathetic about that, Kim Minjeong." The older girl rolled her eyes, tucking her now empty hands into the pockets of her hoodie. The pavement was clear and void of any passerbys, and the sun had already begun to set. "Hurry up now, unnie! Tik tok!"

"Ah, this brat just wants to get rid of me." With a groan she pulled Minjeongback in with a headlock, which resulted in the younger screaming maniacally. Jimin would have let her go, and they would have parted ways then, if only a sense of courage hadn't strangely overcome her to enable one of the stupidest decisions of Jimin's short-lived life.

With both hands cupping Minjeong's face, he pulled her in for a kiss. There were no fireworks nor did it feel like time stopped, it was just a long press of Minjeong's lips against her-like the younger was a meal, and she was having the feast of her life.

What felt like minutes were mere seconds when Jimin finally let her go. It could be the golden cast of the sunset playing trick with her eyes, or it could be the fact that her best friend just kissed her again for the second time; much so without either of them asking-but she could have sworn that Jimin's cheeks were dusted with crimson.

"Text me when you get home, okay?" She whispered, sounding somehow out of breath.Minjeong could only muster up a nod, and a weak "okay."

With a flick of herhand, Jimin took a glance at her digital wristwatch. It was 5:53pm.

"I'm going now." She took her first retreating step backwards, a satisfied smile on her face.The younger gave her a small wave, which she returned with enthusiasm. Then, she turned his back and headed the other direction.

Minjeong, too, turned around. It felt weird going home alone without a hand in hers and a bickering voice by her side, but she tried to cheer herself up-they were growing older, and things were changing. This should be the new normal. It'll be fine. You're not a baby anymore. Get used to it.

Sighing, she pulled her earphones out of her pocket and plugged them in. With a few punches into her screen, Paper Hearts began to play as she walked down the barren street. Her favourite.

She arrived by the crosswalk, silently humming the melody to herself. The feeling of Jimin's lips pressed against hers still burned like wildfire at the back of her mind, the sensation still fresh on her lips like she hadn't pulled away.

She did that. She really kissed me again. Smiling, she reached up to touch her lips as she got onto the crosswalk.

Was the light green? Or was it red? Either way, it made no difference, since there was not even a single biker on the street.

Paper hearts, and I'll hold a piece of yours,

Giddily, she smiled to herself, like a smitten schoolgirl thinking about her crush. The music was the only thing she was able to hear, and the horizontal white lines of the crosswalk were the only thing she was able to see. Yet, to Minjeong,, she could not see-nor could she hear or focus on anything else when the only thing occupying her mind was Yu Jimin.

Not even the crosswalk light blaring a bright red. Not even the deafening honk of a medium pickup van coming at her in full speed, unable to push the brakes in time.

And by the time Yu Jimin wasn't the only thing occupying her mind anymore-by the time Minjeong was looking up at the source of the noise, the look of fright and dread on her face had signalled her that it was already too late.

Don't think I would just forget about it.

Shee failed to realise then, but little did she know that the last thing Minjeong would ever see again for the rest of her ife were a white pair of bright LED headlights. If she had screamed, she herself did not hear it.

It all happened too quick, too sudden for anyone to realise just what the impact was truly like until it had already passed. The slightest variable would have prevented it all from happening, and if Minjeong did just one thing differently-he couldn't help but question-she might still be on the other side of the sidewalk. If only had she looked at the traffic light before crossing. If only she didn't put on his earphones. If only she was paying attention. If only she agreed on letting Jimin walk her home.

Jimin. If only she didn't let her go.

Minjeong felt only the slightest bit of affliction—that split second where it felt like the entire force of the universe had conjoined on either side of her hands, tearing her body apart in a cruel tug-of-war until she'd snap in two.

And snap Minjeong did. After that harrowing split second had passed, what she felt next was a jarring combination of everything and nothing at once. Her life didn't even flash before her eyes.

Hoping that you won't forget.

On the other side of the block, Jimin was frantically anticipating a text amidst running laps from the kitchen to the dining table, greeting her cousins along the way as she set up the plates. In her jean pocket laid her phone, still and silent; waiting for a vibration that would be the indication of a message.

The text never came.

At fifteen, Minjeong should have been more adept to walking home alone.