...

"Dad!" Jihan called, "let's that one!" He pointed at the top of the menu imprinted on the wall of the ice cream parlour. Jimin nodded and ordered one for him.

"And for you?" He asked Zia, who was standing with her hands placed on her hip and a slight pout on her lips.

"I can't decide." She mumbled and continued to stare at the flavours having a mental war. Jimin chuckled and hugged her sideways.

"How do you manage to be so cute and beautiful everyday?" He asked, smiling as he kissed her cheek.

"Stop" she said with a straight face, "I'm concentrating." Jimin sighed and turned back to the worker who stood behind the counter, preventing himself from from laughing.

"Two cookies and creme please" he said. Zia gasped and looked at him. Jimin realised and gestured the worker to hurry up.

"I told you I'm dec-"

"Sir, your order." The worker said. He gave Jimin a smile 'you-two-are-so-cute'. Jimin smiled and took the cups.

"Let's go." He said, "Champ, C'mon."

....

"And vanilla is always the best, it goes with everything." Zia said as she dug into her ice cream. She was in one of her best moods, in which she'd talk endlessly about almost anything in the world. And today the topic happens to be ice cream. Jimin would occasionally nod and hummed in response listening to every word that left her mouth.

Jihan was too busy with his own ice cream to even focus on what his parents were talking about. He was sitting on his dad's lap, where he ate his cold treat and Jimin would feed him a little from his once in a while.

Zia stopped speaking when she felt something touching her face. She looked to her side, Jimin's hand made its way to her face. His thumb gently rubbed along the side for her lips, almost the the lower one. By the time her brain even processed anything, Jimin had pulled his hand back and licked his thumb. Zia blinked a few times before snapping out of it.

"W-wha- why did you..?"

He chuckled and licked his lips, "There was ice cream. I didn't wanted to waste it."

Zia looked away trying to hide the fact that her face was dangerously heating. Jimin laughed, forgetting to bring the spoon with ice cream closer to his son's mouth, who was waiting for Jimin to feed him.

"What happened?" Jihan asked looking up at his Dad.

"Uh nothing." Jimin said.

"Then why you took the spoon away?" The boy asked.

"Oh sorry. Here." He said, laughing again Zia gave him a look.

They stood up and walked towards their car when Jihan was finally done with his ice cream. Jimin felt something tug on the hem of his shirt, he looked down to see Jihan pouting. On asking him what the matter was, he came to know that the boy wanted to go the toilet.

"I'll wait for you two." Zia said, and walked up to the car. She stood leaning her back on the car as she used her phone.

"Z-Zia?"

She averted her gaze from her phone, looking forward. And she regretted it immediately. A frown crept between her eyebrows and eyes widened.

"Zia" the man said and walked upto her. He had smile and his gaze was soft as spoke, "Finally. I missed you so much."

He stepped forward, opening his arms for a hug, but Zia was quick enough to move aside. The man looked at her confused. A little hurt evident in his expression. But Zia didn't seem to care.

"Go away" she said. Her voice barely came out. She stepped back maintaining a distance between him and the man.

"Zia please, I'm sorry. I-"

"Go away!" She shouted, pushing him harshly.

"Please just listen to me once. I won't bo-"

"No!!" She shouted, pressing her calms either side of her face as she covered her ears. "Stay away from me!"

"Zia I..."

"Go!!!"

"Okay fine, I'm going. But I'll come back and you have to here me out. Please.." He said. His eyes were having tears brimming in them. "I love you.." and he walked away, not wanting to cause any more pain for her.

Zia breathed heavily, rubbing her eyes. The tears were making her vision blurry. She wanted to calm down, but something didn't let her. Her mind recalled how Jimin used to help her. She needs to do the same.

"Its okay." She whispered to herself.

"B-breath in." and she inhaled.

"Breath out" she exhaled.

"Breath... in"

After a few repetitions Zia had managed to control herself. Good. She wiped the sweat that trickled on the forehead and her neck. Her breathing was still fast, but it was better than before.

"Mom! Look!" She turned, forcing a smile as Jihan ran to her. He held a bag in his hand. "I got a new car!"

"That's nice." Zia replied. Jimin just smiled at the four year old being happy and jumping around with his new toy. "Uh let's go now." She said.

Jimin nodded and they hopped in the car. The ride was full of giggles and cackles as Jihan kept talking about random things. Jimin smiled along with his son, frequently conversing back with the child. He parked the car as they reached the building.

"Dad let's race!" Jihan suggested cheerfully.

"Okay!" Jimin said, as he stood ready run, "Let's go!"

"Noo!!" Jihan stomped his foot on the ground when his Dad didn't count. Jimin laughed and picked him up. The boy giggled and said, "let's go!!"

--------------

The sky has always been something captivating for Zia. The sky appeared on its darkest, as what she would explain. No moon, just a few dotted stars amidst the dark. And because there was no moon tonight, she felt a different kind of anger inside her. She was in her own different world, listening to the tale of sky and moon. Their screams and tears tore her apart. She's a miracle in a living form.

The sky is alone, grieving for its saviour to come and end the misery. The moon, didn't show up, despite of the cries and pleadings of the sky. Soon clouds took over, as if the sky had stopped wishing for a miracle to happen and letting the clouds embrace it in the darkness. Zia didn't realise when her soft gaze had turned into a glare.

"What are you doing?"

Zia flinched and hastily stepped away from the pair of arms that had just encircled her waist.

"Hey, what happened?" Jimin asked worriedly. She never reacted to her touch that way. Well, except if there's something consuming her mind.

"Uh Nothing.." she said, breathing slower than before.

Jimin didn't say anything. He took her hand in his, pulling her close to him. They stared at the sky together for a while. The story that Zia was experiencing from the night outside the window unfolded in her eyes again. She breathed a little harder. Jimin noticed, as she let out a shaky breath. He had noticed the change in her behaviour from the time they came back from the mall. She wasn't going near or talking to Jihan. And barely talked to him too.

"J-Jimin.." a soft airy voice left her mouth. He looked at her with a small frown, trying to figure what was wrong.

"Yes, I'm here. Its okay.." he said, cupping her face.

She shook her head and tears welled in her eyes. Her grip on his tightened slightly. She bit her lip harshly, the breathing rate increased. Her body trembled as her knees felt weak against the forces acting on her.

"Sa-save me..." She whispered. The salty tears had started flowing down her eyes. Jimin was supporting her to stand straight. He helped her reach the bed. This has happened after years.

"Shh its okay." He spoke, though Zia didn't seem to listen. She just whimpered louder. Jimin hated seeing her like this.

"Zi, look at me." he called, rubbing her arms with his palms. "Just focus on me okay?" He said.

She didn't hear it. She shook her head for something that Jimin couldn't understand. Her hands pressed on either side of her face, covering her ears tightly. He had seen breaking down, but this was after so many years. He thought she was being okay. If not okay, she was better than before.

"You're fine" he spoke slowly, "I'm here. No one's hurting you." He said gently removing her hands from her ears. Was she hearing something?

"G-go away..." She whispered between sobs and heavy breathing. Jimin got the message, but he knew the words weren't for him. He would never listen to her saying 'go away' no matter how much she cries, he knows she wants him there with her.

"Nobody's gonna hurt you." He said wiping her tears, "I'm here, look at me. Just focus on me."

Zia lifted her gaze. Her eyes locked with his for a while before she realised she was safe. She hugged him tight crying her heart out. Jimin rubbed her back gently.

"Mom?" She flinched. Jimin turned to look at the four year old standing near the door way, hugging his Winnie the Pooh plushie. "Why are you crying?"

"Ji, go to your room and sleep, okay?" Jimin said smiling a little.

"Dad," Jihan called softly, "Mama's tummy hurting?"

"Uh yeah, she didn't eat dinner that's why. N-"

"Go!" Zia said loudly, glaring at the child. Her voice made Jihan flinch. Warm tears began filling in his eyes, he glanced at his Dad with a pout.

Jimin looked at him with an apologetic expression. He hushed Zia and slowly got up from the bed, walking near Jihan. Although she wasn't ready to let go of him. She held onto his shirt tightly, her eyes begging him to stay.

"I'm sorry buddy. Mom didn't mean to shout at you." He said crouching down in front of the boy, blocking his vision of his mother in a messed state.

"Mom don't love Ji." Jihan spoke as tears rolled down his puffed cheeks. Jimin shook his head and wiped his son's tears.

"No, she loves you." He said. The boy hugged him, burrying his face in his Dad's shoulder as he sniffed. "Now go and sleep okay?"

Jihan shook his head, "come with me, I'm scared." He said with a pout.

"Champ, Mo-"

"Please Daddy.. I'll be a good boy."

Jimin sighed and nodded. He carried Jihan and walked to his room. He had glanced back Zia, she was staring at Jihan. Probably regretting shouting at him. The boy is not even 5, he barely knows anything and she had lashed out at him. Now one more thing that entered her head. Not a good mother. Was she?

She stood up and walked to the side of the room. A shelf, and drawer desk beneath it. She hurriedly opened the drawers, messing the things inside to find what she wanted. She has to calm down, one way or the other.

First drawer, she pulled open panting for air. Throwing the things randomly on the floor as she she didn't find the pills. Then the second drawer and then the third. But she didn't find it. A frustrated groan escaped her mouth, while she grabbed her hair. Her lips quivered and legs were shaking. Zia lost her balance and sat on the floor, leaning back on the cold wall.

The door opened a few moments later, Jimin rushed to her side. He tried carrying her to the bed but she shook her head in response.

"Zi, what happened? You have to tell me so that I can help you alright?"

"W-where's...th-"

"Pills?" He said, "I threw them away." Jimin was looking straight in eyes. "Taking those pain relievers and sleeping pills is not the solution Zia."

"Those...w-work." she said.

"Listen to me" he spoke carressing her face, she nodded and looked at him. "Breath"

She did as he said. Breath. Jimin held her hand, whispering soft words and thousands of pretty promises through out the process. He helped her stand up once was fine and conscious of her surroundings.

"You did a good job." Jimin said and hugged her. She shook her head and sad smile appeared.

"You...did a good job. I messed up. I brought up everything again...after y-years. I shouted at Jihan and messed up at being a good mom."

"It wasn't your fault. About Jihan, yes you shouldn't shouted at him. But don't worry he's fine. And now the most important thing. Don't say you're not nice, cuz you're nice. You're the nicest person I've met. And Jihan is lucky to have you as his mom."

His words made Zia chuckle. Jimin smiled contently that she was fine. He laid down on the bed and pulled Zia next to him. She snuggled close to him as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, removing any distance between their bodies.

"Do you wanna talk about what happened?" He asked softly, playing with her hair. Her smile fell at that question, but she nodded anyway.

She told him, about seeing Kim Taehyung. Jimin sure got worked up. And told her to tell him if he ever tries to contact her or talk to her. Zia smiled and kissed him. She slowly drifted to sleep, as Jimin admired her sleeping face.

I won't let you hurt her again, Kim Taehyung. You'll pay for what you did.

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