Yeonjun
*The next evening*
I saw the video of Minji getting stabbed… almost as if it was on a loop. I could not hear anything but I could imagine her scream. I could feel the pain inside my heart. I felt trapped like I could not stop seeing that picture and then blank – there was only white.
The white darkened and I was at the garage, surrounded by five men. I could hear the laughter while every part of my body hurt. I could almost feel the kicks and punches and the blinding pain in my stomach and leg.
I could hear the sound of the door banging open. I could hear muffled discourse but Eric had let me go. I felt myself drop to the ground.
Then I saw her – my sister. I saw her blurred and unclear but I saw her move as swiftly as a dancer. She reminded me of a black swan…or an ancient warrior.
What was the name of that cartoon we used to like as kids? Moana? No, Mulan. Yes, that was it. Hmm she did resemble her.
The image became blurry and instead I heard muffled noises… talking which turned to sobbing. Was someone crying? Why? Am I dead? No, I don’t think so.
I opened my eyes only to close them again because of the blinding lights. ‘Yeonjun! You’re finally awake!’ I heard a familiar voice cry out.
I felt soft hands reaching for mine and fingers intertwining with mine. I struggled to open my eyes again. My vision was blurry until they fell on a warm pair of eyes – Minji’s eyes.
‘Mi—Minji?’ I asked, my voice coming out croaky and weird. I saw her nod as she caressed my cheeks.
‘Yes, it’s me,’ she said as I saw some tears roll down her cheek. ‘You had me, all of us so worried,’ she said.
‘I’m sorry,’ I said with a smile until I remembered why Minji was at the hospital in the first place. ‘Minij, you should be resting,’ I said as I tried to sit up. An immense amount of pain hit around my stomach and I could not help but wince loudly. My hand flew to my stitched up area as I hitched on my breath.
‘Hey easy, you got shot in your stomach,’ she scolded as she went to help me. I saw her struggle a bit, trying to hide her own pain.
‘Be careful Minji. You’re injured too,’ I said as I reached for her arm to stop her. She nodded before she sat down on the bed and took my hand back in hers.
‘What the hell were you thinking huh?’ she asked, yelling a bit. I stared at her, confused…and unable to answer. ‘Why did you go after him on your own?’ she scolded as she hit me on my chest.
‘Ow that hurts,’ I said, trying to joke so I can lighten up the mood, but it was not working. I saw her ready to start crying. ‘Hey I’m okay. You don’t have to feel upset,’ I said as I squeezed her hand.
‘You could have died!’ She yelled. ‘And for what huh? Why? Because you wanted to avenge me? Because you…’ she said, crying, tears falling uncontrollably. I leaned forward and crashed my lips against hers.
I felt her surprise but soon enough she kissed back. I felt her raise her hand to hold my cheek as we continued to kiss until we both pulled away and stared at each other.
‘Wh—what just happened?’ she asked, her cheeks red.
‘You asked me why,’ I said and she nodded. ‘Because, I loved you for a long time and no matter how much I tried to ignore it when you went to Japan, I still had feelings for you. When I found out what happened, I, I lost it. I wanted to hurt the * who dared to hurt the most precious soul,’ I explained.
‘Oh Yeonjun,’ she whispered as she rested her head on my forehead. I heard her sniff as I hugged her carefully. ‘If only you knew,’ she whispered.
‘If only I knew what?’ I asked.
‘That the reason I got with Eric was to try and forget about my feelings for you,’ she said, forcing me to pull back.
‘What?’ I asked, surprised. I felt my heart race so fast and the beeping on the machine was beeping even louder, almost as if in warning.
‘I’m sorry Yeonjun. I… I never knew you liked me too. I thought… I thought you just saw me as your best friend and that’s why I accepted to go to Japan. If I knew, I would have stayed, no matter what Jimin Oppa would have said,’ she said.
‘We’re such *s,’ I said chuckling. ‘But your brother… I don’t know if he would accept me,’ I said.
‘I would,’ I heard a familiar voice say, making me jump a little. Minji pulled away from me as she turned around. We saw Jimin by the door, arms crossed and a smile on his face.
He walked closer to us as he sat on the chair. ‘O—oppa?’ Minji asked, her voice suddenly quiet.
‘It’s okay my little angel, I am not mad,’ he said and she nodded. ‘I wish I knew you both had feelings for each other before. I would have done things so differently,’ he said, sounding almost sad and guilty.
‘Hyung,’ I called out, making Jimin look at me. ‘I…Minji deserves better than someone like me. I… I am just,’ I said.
‘Shut up!’ I heard Minji say, rather loudly, making me surprised. ‘Don’t talk about yourself like that,’ she mumbled making me smile.
‘She’s right Yeonjun. Soobin told me you were scared I would not accept you because she is my little sister and because of your rank but I don’t care about rank. You’re someone Bangtan trusts a lot, someone I trust a lot. You said my sister deserves better than you? You’re right, she deserves the best and no one will be enough for her but you’re pretty damned close. You’re someone who fought for her and for her honour. You’re someone who felt as hurt as I did. Don’t bring yourself down Yeonjun,’ he said.
‘So you would accept us oppa? You won’t have a problem with us?’ Minji asked sounding hopeful.
‘I won’t but I do want you to take it slow. I don’t want either of you to get hurt and you, my precious angel have gone through something horrible. Let him heal you,’ Jimin said as he reached for her hand.
‘I will take good care of her hyung, I promise,’ I said, earning a smile from Jimin.
‘I know you will but after you get healed. I want you to rest, got it?’ he asked and I nodded.
‘Yes, hyung,’ I said with a smile of my own. ‘Hyung, where’s my noona? Is she okay?’ I asked and Jimin nods but there’s something in his eyes that doesn’t quite convince me. ‘What’s wrong?’ I asked.
‘She’s okay, physically at least,’ he said followed by another sigh. ‘When we found you, you had been shot and losing blood. I, she went into that Domina Umbra space,’ he explained.
‘I see,’ I said, knowing how much she hated that part of her even if she embraced it when she needed it. ‘Where is she now? She’s not alone, right?’ I asked.
‘She spent the day here with you Yeonjun, but she went to leave a few minutes before you woke up. I’m sorry I didn’t stop her,’ Minji said but I shook my head.
‘No, it’s okay. You don’t know how stubborn she can be,’ I said before I looked back at Jimin.
‘Don’t worry. She’s with Hoseok. Those two… they found pillars in each other,’ he said with a small smile to which I nodded. ‘She gives him strength and he gives that to her too, helps her to not see herself as a killing machine or monster,’ he said.
‘I wish she could see herself from our eyes,’ I mumbled and he nodded.
