tresor /tʀezɔʀ / noun.
in english : treasure
meaning :  a quantity of precious metals, gems, or other valuable objects.

It's day 56 of Seokjin's agonizing wait for his sleeping beauty to stir from her deep slumber, wake up with those hopeful, glorious eyes again, and then maybe, just maybe, he'd be able to peck her on the cheek. Weeks and days and hours and minutes and seconds passed. The sun and the moon still exchange places, the earth still rotated, the cars still drove, the people still walked and everything still moved. But he didn't. And if he did, it was just within vicinity of minseo's hospital ward.

The heart monitor's constant beeping was a metallic claw that incessantly knawed at his fragile heart. He didn't know which was worst to be honest. The pure misery of boredom, or, the searing ache of missing someone. 

Occasionally he'd kneel down on the floor beside her resting figure and caress her soft skin. Simple gestures like holding her cold hand, caressing her warm cheek, brushing through her disheveled hair and pressing gentle kisses against her chapped lips were enough to sustain him from the torment of being alone. Nights were perfect for him to ponder and sob. Tears were wept hollow from his sunken eyes, he bit his lips so hard sometimes that he swore he'd be able to draw out blood if he weren't dead. 

But day 57 was going to be different. Day 57 fell on 24 January 2019, Minseo's  26th birthday. Seokjin was still holding on to the futile hope that the universe would pity them. Day 57 was a special day and perhaps the fates will take this into consideration, turn the universe around, reshuffle the odds, untangle their tangled threads and hopefully, their constellations will somehow align. 

Perhaps their constellations will intertwine.

******

Day 56 22:27

Seokjin's gaze was fixated on the moonlit streets, and he was hypnotized by the enigmatic stars in the murky sky. It was quite cloudy tonight, but no veil could mask those entrancing gems. In fact, he was so engrossed that he didn't notice the 60 year-old ghost walking in.

Footsteps echoed, followed by a loud yet forced cough, now that got Seokjin's attention.

Seokjin whipped his head back to be faced with Minseo's dad. He was a short, bulky, overclad man in a huge beige jacket,  nearly engulfing his entire frame. The corners of his lips twitched up and he nodded towards Seokjin, signalling his acknowledgement. At that moment, Seokjin was reminded of Minseo's delicate smile, they both had the same soft dimples at the corners of their chin, just below the bottom lip. Adorable.

"Hi, Seokjin. mind if we talk for a while?"

******

"So, how long have you and my daughter been an item?"

"Um well sir, I honestly wouldn't call us an item," Minseo's dad raised an eyebrow and stared at Seokjin, obviously not believing his statement.

"Okfineit'sbeensixmonths."

"Ah, that's long."

"Yeah, but she's spent the majority of the time sleeping. And I'm afraid she might not wake up ever again."

"Oh don't worry, son. she will," Mr Lee said nonchalantly, as if he was so sure about the future.

"Really?"

"The fates aren't that merciless," he said calmly while looking at the clock on the wall, as if he was waiting for something. "Seokjin, I know you've fallen in love with my daughter. And its a miracle that she's able to see you."

"I'm sensing a 'but'," Seokjin muttered to himself.

"In another setting, in another universe, I'd marry my Minseo off to you without an ounce of doubt. But i'm afraid it wouldn't do good for you to continue seeing her especially if you're dead."

"No offense sir, but what if she dies?"

"Do you want her to die?" Mr Lee stared at him solemnly. His words were laced with wisdom that made Seokjin think for a moment. But then again, what's there to deliberate on?

"No, of course I want her to live," he affirmed.

"It's her choice, you know? If she wants to live, she will live. If she wants to die, she will die. It's up to her."

"Then...what is she doing now?"

"Her body is preparing. She is going to wake up soon. Whether she wants to or not, that will eventually be her choice." 

Silence set in and Seokjin, with utter shock, gave himself and his brain time to work the logic of this entire scenario out. 

"Did you choose to die then, sir?"

"Sometimes Seokjin, just like you and me, we have no choice but the succumb to death's malicious hands. But Minseo will have a choice, I know it."

"Oh," relief filled Seokjin's soul, Minseo would be able to continue living and enjoy the virtues that life will bring her. She'd be able to taste the sweet rain, feel the sun's blazing gaze, kiss another lover's lips and embark on many, many more perilous adventures. Seokjin was happy, At least he should be, right?

"I need you to promise me one thing Seokjin," Mr Lee said, and Seokjin was all ears at this point. "No matter what she wants, no matter what she chooses, you have to make sure she lives."

"But...how? Its her choice right? How can I choose for her? How can I make her choose to live?"

"You will know how to do that, when the time is right. Trust me, Seokjin."

"What if I fail?"

"It won't be simple, but it won't be hard either. Don't worry, I believe you."

"Will I be able to see her again, when she comes back to life I mean?"

"Yes. But you can't deny the fact that she won't be able to live the normal life she originally had before you stepped in. You'll be a burden in her life and drag her down like an anchor. I'm not blaming you Seokjin, and I'm grateful that you've been able to make my daughter so happy. I've never seen her more joyful in my life. But as a benevolent father, I want the best for my child. And a ghost as a lover just isn't it."

Mr Lee's words were daggers that pierced through Seokjin's heart. The bitter truth of reality lodged itself into Seokjin's mind that happiness for him and Minseo could never happen.

I didn't need reminding.

"She will still be able to see you, Seokjin. So I'm begging you to hide from her. No matter how hard it will be, whether its seeing her hurt, seeing her cry and longing for your company, or hearing her scream your name with so much vehemence, promise me that you won't show yourself to her. Promise me you'll continue keeping close to the shadows and just watch over her from afar. Promise me you'll try to let go and see the light."

A tear fell from Seokjin's eye, and he brushed it away in tremor, turning his head to the other side because he really didn't want to show any sign of vulnerability in front of his lover's father. 

"Perhaps I've been too harsh on you. But I trust that you're a strong man that loves minseo as much as I do. I believe that you'd want the best for her, and that is the best for her."

Seokjin bit his tongue in fervour and pinched his hands to fight back the tears. But no amount of strength could mask his despair. With tearful eyes, he locked gazes with Mr Lee, each sharing their understandings towards each other just through their eyes, no words needed to be said. The truth was more translucent than the glass window that had started to fog up. As the palpable silence sinked in and things started to feel unbearable, Seokjin looked down and answered

"I promise."

Author's Note
Confession : I'm starting to get depressed writing this story .

Shameless promo 1.0 :

📣🎉ATTENTION!!!🎆NUGGETS!!!🎆REPTILES!!!🎆JOON'S CRABS!!!🎉📣

that got ur attention

my bEEtlEs 👑

intertwined ; knj is out with 3 new parts (a prologue, an intro and the 1st chapter).
yes, the intro is not the prologue.

now i don't like making promises but i sWEAR TO GOD that this will be EVEN SADDER.
kidding KIDDING. it won't it's going to have some humour in it (or not, i might not be as funny as i think i am) BUT JUST-
anyway its about namjoon trying to search for his dad's identity and ends up falling for this girl (who got adopted by his dad btw) IM STILL NOT SURE IF THIS IS INCEST BUT-
they're not biologically related...so its technically not...(?)

can't promise that but i can say that its less sad compared to this paranormal soap opera with this clingy ass mortal and a caring-to-the-point-its-annoying ghost.

smh. annoying.

is the semi-incest part a spoiler for the book? hell yeah and it isn't even in the PROLOGUE. but i adore you guys so-

give it a chance if you may. I PROMISE IT ISN'T SHITTY.

till then hoes! ; )

blessing you with your daily dosage of daddy jin.