thought i disappeared? nah bitches
*****

pardon /paʀdɔ̃ / noun.
in english : sorry
meaning :  feeling regret or penitenc

"Jimin...how could you murder your own friend?" Minseo asked in disbelief after a few silent minutes that were necessary for her and Seokjin to process everything.

"I'm- I'm sorry. I really am. I didn't mean to I-" the poor boy sighed in defeat. Face etched with remorse and shame. He did this to his friend. He's a murderer.

"Why...why would you kill me? what did i do?" Seokjin gulped, still not believing his ears. Have you ever been hit by the impact of a bomb? Or felt the blast of a bullet? multiply that by ten thousand, that's how Seokjin felt. Seokjin ears went red and his eyes were wide, he didn't know if he was more surprised than angry or the other way around.

"Jimin why did you kill him?" Minseo asked for Seokjin.

"Can we...talk in there?" Jimin asked.

"Sure, come on Jimin," Namjoon slighty pushed him with his hand placed on the small of his back, a gentle comfort, a surge of support for Jimin.

*****

"I...I don't know how to start this," Jimin shakily said.

"From the very beginning perhaps."

"Okay well...you know how Seokjin had a girlfriend named Yeesoo? And they broke up because she had to leave for university in the states?"

"Yeah....?"

"Well that wasn't really the case."

*****

"Jimin oppa, its nothing-" Yeesoo tried to calm him down but to no avail.

"What do you mean its nothing?! you have bruises all over you!"  Jimin expressed his concern towards her skin. Seeing her skin painted black and blue plus the hickeys on her skin made him very worried over his precious yeesoo.

"They will heal in time."

"Did Seokjin do this to you? Did he rape you?"

"Jimin please, you can't tell anyone!" she pleaded desperately with fear in her eyes.

"How could he?! He doesn't deserve to live!"

*****

"I did NOT rape Yeesoo!" Seokjin screamed furiously.

"Jimin, are you claiming that Seokjin raped her?"

Jimin looked down at his intertwined fingers that were profusely rubbing eachother, trying to calm down his hammering heartbeats.

"Seokjin didn't rape Yeesoo. I was wrong. I thought he did. I thought he did harm to such a fragile girl. I loved yeesoo, but she didn't reciprocate my feelings ," Jimin guiltily said. "After I murdered seokjin, I called her to tell her that it was safe for her already."

*****

"Yeesoo, he's gone now. he can't hurt you anymore,"  Jimin said right after climbing down from the tree and brushing off his hands.

A few brushes of skin won't wash away your sin, dear.

"What are you talking about?"

"I...I killed him," Jimin said, still sobbing and guilty towards what he just did.

"Park Jimin! what did you do?"

"Yeesoo...I love you. I want you to feel safe, i want you to feel loved. I'll keep you happy from now on."

"Jimin oppa..... I don't like you that way. And how could you kill your friend?!"

"He's not my friend, Yeesoo! Don't you get it? he raped you!"

"Jimin-ahh, Seokjin....Seokjin didn't rape me...it was my dad..."

Jimin couldn't believe what he was hearing at this moment. His breath instantly stopped. It was like being hit by a tsunami, a thousand waves, a million slaps. All of the sudden the moon had disappeared, replaced by the bright shining sun. Sombre night sky transitioned into a thousand warm hues, painting the scene infront of him. But at the same time, reminding him that its time, to run. 

Jimin hung up his phone, gathered his belongings and dashed out of the forests. the crunch of his steps on the dry withered leaves felt like a timer, a stopwatch. It echoed behind his ears, a constant reminder that he is a murderer. Pure hearted park jimin was long gone. 

The scintillating sun rose gradually, and honestly, it felt like it was watching him. It was watching him race away into the dark embrace of the woods, to hide beneath the shield of the green leaves. but millions of rays still penetrated through the gaps like a camera- a spy. Reminding him that he's doomed.

You can run, but you will never escape.

Sweat trickled down Jimin's back, icily knawing into his bones. The feeling of guilt. even his own body was betraying him. 

When he reached home, he immediately got into his room, slammed the door, and broke down with the cold wall against his back supporting him. He cried, he sobbed, he mourned. He mourned not only for his lost friend, but for his lost of innocence. Even if he gets away, this sin will forever haunt him in his dreams and moments of consciousness. 

You killed your innocent friend.

                                                                                                                Murderer

                                               Murderer

      Murderer

          Murderer

mURDERER.

"What have i done."

*****

Seokjin was crying at this point, mouth ajar, clearly lost for words. He was killed for nothing. And what's worse is that it was one of his best friends who killed him. 

Jimin cried violently, memories of that haunting night came in flashes and having to conduct sentences under all that weight really killed him. It killed him.

"How did you do it?"

"We climbed up that tree together that night, and I offered him a drink when we got onto that branch. It...it was drugged with halcion. Then when he dozed off I...I hung him. With a rope."

"Jimin, I wanted to protect you..." Namjoon started off,  holding back tears, something he's found himself to be very skilled at throughout the years.

"No namjoon, you're a great friend, you're my best friend. But you can't hide this for me anymore. I deserve to be in jail. I killed our hyung, I'm so sorry hyung....." he shakily said, vulnerability laced in his words.

"Ask him where's Yeesoo now?" Seokjin said quietly to Minseo with tears still running down his eyes.

"Jimin, do you know where's yeesoo now?"

"Yeesoo...that pretty girl. She's in the states hiding from her dad. At least that's what she told me last week."

"Ah."

At this moment, Namjoon stood up and gathered himself. "I guess we can say this case is closed," he slowly went behind Jimin and cuffed his two small hands together, squeezing them gently as it would probably be the last time for him to ever touch them again. 

"Minseo, tell Jimin I forgive him, and that I love him, please."

"Really?" she asked, stunned that he forgave him that fast.

"Yes," Seokjin affirmed with a reassuring smile. He knew his friend made a mistake, but he wouldn't want his brother to be haunted by this forever.

"Jimin," Jimin whipped his head back. "Seokjin says that he forgives you, and that he'll always love you as a brother," Minseo said with a smile.

"Re-really..?" Minseo nodded to his question and Jimin started tearing up all over again. 

"I...I love you too, hyung."

*****

"You really forgave him, huh?"

"Haha. Jimin, he'll forever be my brother and my dear friend. He's cared for me so much throughout the years. And yes he made a mistake that cost me my life, but i don't want to think its entirely his fault. He just made a mistake. I really don't want him to live with that guilt."

"Wow, I really admire the bond you have with your friends."

"Yeah, I'll miss them."

Minseo and Seokjin walked down the busy streets together. The traffic and the bustling cars made it hard for them to talk but it didn't matter as long as they were together.

"Remember that deal we made?" Seokjin quipped up.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I'm well, supposed to leave you after the case is solved."

"And you're really gonna stick to that rule?"

After pondering for a few moments, Seokjin finally answered.

"Yes. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. this thing we have isn't real Minseo, its unhealthy."

Minseo's heart dropped to her stomach. It was as if someone smashed a glass to her head, slamming her back to the reality that Seokjin isn't reality. And this ghost will not relent. Her true love was going to leave her. She was going to be left with nothing except a broken heart.

"I thought you would change your mind. You think about others too much. Do you know how annoying that is?" Hot tears spilled out of her eyes as she cursed him internally.

"Its the best for you, Minseo....I'm sorry I really am. I love you, I love you so much and I can't bear to see you not being able to lead a normal love life because of me. Which is why I have to let you go."

Minseo's heart stopped when she heard him say those 3 words.

"You love...you love me?" she whispered, not making eye contact with him.

"Yes, I do."

"Well then you would've given us a chance!" Minseo cried out, disbelief etched in her eyes as she stared at the handsome ghost's face. "Goodbye, Seokjin." She turned around and ran across the street, wiping her tears like the sobbing mess she is.

"Minseo- wait i'm sorr- Minseo watch out!"

Minseo turned her head to the bright headlights that were coming in her way, only a few feet apart from her. And before her brain could process what was happening, she was hit by the sudden impact that felt like 2000 bricks slamming into her bones. 

The girl laid unmoving on the cold rough ground. Her body screamed with pain , shattered pieces of glass on the floor pricked against her skin. And the last thing she heard before she became sleeping beauty, was the honking sound of the car, fading into the darkness along with Seokjin's shouts. 

Author's Note

I AM SO SO SO SO SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE. Been caught up with work and schoolwork lately. Here's a longer chapter to make up for my absence (?)