"Please give me a remedy, a remedy that will make my heart beat again. What should I do now? Please save me, please give me another chance."

0:00 |───────── 3:47

|◁              II             ▷|

Rein stared at her phone, trying to calm her silent yet warring mind. Today was the day she would talk to her mom in what seemed like months. Maybe because it had been months.

She recognized that she hadn't shown enough decency in that regard, sending a few word texts here and there to avoid a conflict, an inescapable argument. When she went about it logically, it was necessary to tell her about the work that she had done for months now, but it was difficult nonetheless.

It wasn't as if Rein's mother wasn't supportive. She was as supportive as any other mother could be in a situation like this. But it never felt like she got the big picture of having a career in music; the touring, the sleepless nights, the holidays missed because of rigid producers. And Rein knew herself to be hot-tempered when it came to her mother, (especially when it came to her music) which lead to much-unneeded conflict.

And now, it would be far better to hear about the addition to her contract, stating she would stay for longer than the allotted time, from her own mouth, rather than her manager, who did not have a flare for softening blows.

Rein picked up the phone and, surely but slowly, found her mother's contact. Then, before she could question her decision, pressed the call button.

It rang five times before someone picked up.

"Hello?" the voice said, tone thick with exhaustion. Rein's eyes widened as she checked her watch.

It read 2 PM, which meant her mom would be answering the phone at 5 AM back in Austin.

"Oh, shit, I forgot what time it was there!" she exclaimed. "Go back to bed, mom. I'll call you back later."

"No, no, it's alright. I was gonna get up for an early morning jog, anyway," her mother said with a yawn.

"You've taken up jogging now, have you?"

"I may be getting old, but I'm not letting my looks go to waste yet." It was so mundane, so normal to talk like this as if everything was forgotten. It was as if Rein had really left on good terms.

"So, why have you called after so long?" her mother asked, a bitterness in her voice that was not there before.

"I, um, have to tell you something," Rein said, "and you're not going to like it." A pause, then a sigh, one that got across the feeling of dissatisfaction better than a thousand words could.

"As long as you're coming home for Christmas dinner, I'm okay with whatever you throw at me," she teased.

Well, shit.

"Yeah, that's the thing. I don't think I can make it," she said, then bit her lip in anticipation. After all, it was now the calm before the storm.

"You... WHAT?" her mother whisper-yelled. Rein heard bed sheets rustling and the sound of her footsteps against the wooden floor.

"I really didn't know-"

"You're not going to be home for Christmas, the one time a year you even bother to see me anymore? Your manager, who, by the way, who has been calling me much more than you have been, informed me that you were to come back at the beginning of December, which didn't really happen, did it?" her mother spat, the venom in her voice potent.

"Wait, hold on-"

"No. In fact, you were supposed to be back a month ago. Easily. You were supposed to sing your part with that little boy band of yours and come back in time to see the people that really matter. Your family."

"Mom, you have to understand that Koreans don't value Christmas as much as we do. They won't give me time off for a western holiday." Rein could already feel herself losing the uphill battle.

"A western holiday, my ass. All you know is work. I supported you through your move to LA. I gave you money to support yourself when rent got to be too much for you. And this is how you treat me in return? Not even a single phone call from you? Two-word texts on a good day? You think I don't want to hear from you once in awhile?"

"Mom, if you can just-"

"I get it. You're a busy woman. But at least spare me a thought in the two months you've been there."

"You think I haven't wanted to talk to you this whole time?" Rein shot back. "I didn't leave on the best of terms, and I get that I've been acting real shitty the past few months, but you're turning this whole argument on me, and about something that I can't even control!"

"You can't even sympathize with me a little, can you? Think about how I feel. That's right, you can't, because all you can think about is yourself. Well, let me tell you something. I don't stop becoming your mother just because you become a popstar, you..." She trailed off as she tried to think of the right word. "You're just selfish."

"Don't call me that," Rein murmured, trying to shake the thoughts of the countless amount of fights they had, the arguments that ended with her feeling guilty with no reason why.

"Why not? That's what you're being right now. An immature, selfish little brat."

Rein paused before replying, swallowing the biting retorts she thought of in her head.

"All I wanted to say was I won't be back for Christmas, and I'm sorry for that. I'll be back as soon as possible. Please try to understand." Her mother scoffed again.

"I don't. I don't even understand you," she said, and Rein swore her voice broke. "You've always chosen your work over me. I've been supportive, but it doesn't feel good to be at the other end. I think you should reconsider your priorities."

"Mom, I'm so sorry-"

"I wish you the best." Click.

Rein wiped away the angry tears that had accumulated during the fight and stared at the now blank screen of her phone in disbelief.

Did she really just hang up on me? It was unlike her mother to be so cold like this, though there never was a situation quite like this before, was there?

She just wanted everything to end. The fighting, the ache.

She picked up the phone again, this time with a different purpose. Her fingers flew faster than her mind could evaluate how good of an idea this really was, and she ended up dialing Namjoon's number in a stupor.

"Hello?" Namjoon said, and a wave of relief washed over her.

"Hey, this is Rein. Wanna meet up?" Rein asked, the desperation barely masked. Tears still enveloped her voice.

"I have a bit of work to do..." Namjoon trailed off. "Are you okay? You sound... Unwell."

Flopping onto her bed, she exclaimed in the best excited voice she could muster, "Oh, probably just a cold. Let's go out for some day drinking!"

"I don't think that's a good idea, Ms. Jones," he said.

"Well, I think it's a good idea. You should bring Yoongi oppa, too. He's fun when he's buzzed." Namjoon let out a slow sigh.

"Remember the last time you drank? You- Wait a minute. Did you just call him oppa?" he said with a laugh.

"Yeah. You jealous?" she said, smiling. "'Cause I can call you oppa, too, if you want." He cleared his throat, and she could imagine his face growing redder by the second.

"Uh..."

"You know I'm just messing with you, oppa. So, what do you say? Please?"

"It'll be hard to get Yoongi out of his chair... Hold on..." Rein heard a chair squeak and some muffled talking.

"Rein invited us for a bit of 'day drinking'. Wanna go?" she heard Namjoon say, though his voice was muffled. There was a few seconds where she didn't hear anything, then another shuffle as he came back to the phone.

"He agreed. Let's meet at the bar nearest to the Bighit headquarters. I'll see you in twenty minutes."

"Alright. See you then."

"And one more thing," Namjoon said, "make sure to use your paparazzi-proofing skills, Ms. Jones. We don't want a scandal on our hands, as if there isn't one already."

Click.

Rein held the phone to her chest, smiling to herself at the prospect of getting one of her two favorite people together, especially in a casual setting.

The argument left her mind like a nostalgic whisper, and all that was left was the growing feeling of giddiness and lovesick thoughts.

▁ ▂ ▃ ▄ ▅ ▆ █ 100 %

A/N: Wow you guys! In one week I got almost 200 reads on euphoria which is the most I've ever gotten! Thank you so much for the love. I'm so grateful for 1K of you!

QOTD: What is your favorite BTS song from Map of the Soul: Persona?

AOTD: Mine is hands-down HOME, but a close second would have to be Intro: Persona. HOME steals first place though because it's um literally perfect. Comment your fav song answer below!