The arbitrary influx of light into the car made Jimin squint his eyes to be able to adjust to the brightness. After two prolonged hours inside a tunnel with minimal yellow lighting, the aftereffect of the sudden blaze was justified.

He was travelling to the other side of the city for a lead to the mystery. The town was located in the farther end of the city, so it was a long journey considering he was travelling by car.

After Namjoon's call for signal last night, he took a day off from the hospital and immediately went off towards the destination. He wanted to put an end to this story as soon as possible. Each and every day is more excruciating than the other. The catastrophic incident which took place almost a decade ago, shattering every cell of his body away from him. The building blocks which he held on to for survival. Now he felt like just a mere flesh of the person he was a decade ago, trying to hold onto the crumbled pieces of existence.

An exasperated sigh left his plump lips with his fingers travelling towards his forehead slightly massaging it. The ringing of the phone caught his attention which he expected to be a call from work that he had picked up without noticing the identity.

JM: Hello?

°°: Hey, you sound vexed. Should I call later?

Just the voice alone of the hazel-eyed beauty on the other side caused all the worrying thoughts to vanish in thin air. The piece he held onto for support throughout his life filled with endless misery.

JM: Well Ms Y/N! No matter what going on you are well aware that I am always here to attend your call

Jimin spoke in a comical tone.

Y/N: You're cheesy comments just don't know an end do they?

JM: Nope! How can they? I'll lose my main job then!

A dramatic tone was evident through his voice as he spoke to Y/N who rolled her eyes on the other side with a small smile painting her face.

Y/N: Where are you though?

Y/N asked with a voice mixed with worry and curiosity, making Jimin's heart flutter. It felt like home as she asked the questions.

JM: Going to the countryside town for some personal work

Y/N: Ohh personal Huh

Y/N teased the golden blond male hoping he would reveal his destination without her curiosity being obvious but unfortunately that never came as he diverted the topic with a nonchalant chuckle.

JM: Yes. So miss Y/N don't miss me too much, I'll be back by tomorrow. And do take your food properly though. You don't want to faint in the middle of your operation.

Y/N: Yeah yeah whatever

Y/N replied rolling her eyes making Jimin smile from her tone of annoyance.

JM: Okay I'll be hanging up. Go take a rest, you have an operation tomorrow.

Y/N: Hmm. Safe journey. Text me when you reach

JM: Will do. Bye

Jimin bid his farewell with a smile, a small tug in his heart which opposed his decision of hanging up so soon. But he needed time to himself for a while. The situation which is about to come up isn't a day trip but a miserable journey of years. His phone rang again making him flinch. Assuming it was Y/N again he picked up the call without notice.

JM: Miss me so much calling me again Dr L/N?

His voice teasing her, hoping to get another vexed expression out of it. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end as he heard a different yet familiar voice on the other side.

°°: Jimin it's me, Mabel.

JM: Oh Mabel

His expression morphed into that of mortification as he has said something bizarre in front of his not so close friend.

JM: Needed something?

MB: Yeah where are you?

JM: I am going out of the city for some work

MB: Where are you going and why?

JM: Out of city

Jimin bluntly answered in no mood for a conversation with the female who was dying for his attention without him knowing. The moment he spat Y/N's name when he picked up her call was enough to make her burn in the pit of jealousy. She was never that close to him, but she tried. However, he always seemed to establish a boundary that she could never cross. Jimin was way too private and treated her like a general friend.

He treated Y/N differently. The gaze, the posture, the attitude. Everything he did when he was with her or around her, screamed his attraction towards her. Even when he picked up the phone today, the tone of his voice initially differed from the one he spoke to her with. It seemed as if his world revolves around her, and it ate Mabel alive.

MB: No that's not what I meant- Anyways why are you going?

JM: I have some personal work to get done.

MB: Oh... I was wondering if you'd like to hang out once you come back? I'll be leaving soon

JM: Not sure but I'll try

The reply was a straight-ahead polite denial that any wise person could interpret. Mabel could too. She didn't want to push further and simply replied.

MB: Oh I see. Safe journey then yeah

JM: Thanks. Good day

Jimin replied hanging up not giving her the chance to stretch the conversation any further. Seemed like being a model was not enough to win someone's heart as it stereotypically was. Mabel's eyes saddened as she stared right out of the window, despite her profession which is described as the ideal one for women by the judgemental society, she could not win the one she yearned for the most. At the end of the day, she was just a mannequin who got paid to showcase the fashionable clothes, no one to care for her feelings. Just her beauty and grace.

What a capricious world we lived in. The stereotypes make people judge others but no one goes by their rules. Everything is a facade that gets more and more twisted to understand. The passing days go good, the coming days arrive badly.

Life never gets easier.

***

Jimin's heart raced faster as he neared the supposed station of arrival. His eyes lingered over the town painted red, with bricks holding together the home of the thousands of people. The very town that wrecked his home. His solace.

The town was still simple compared to the extravagant city which was only a few hours away. Concrete roads and shops of classical design, sending back everyone to the memories of a Victorian era. Lush green trees and fresh trunks providing an invigorating feeling amongst the youngsters who came here to get their education in nature or someone desperately searching for serenity. The vibrant red coloured houses looking sumptuous in their systematic style. Unfortunately, nothing seemed to attract Jimin anymore.

The car arbitrarily halted before a similar house, with rusty walls resonating how ancient it was. A lump formed in Jimin's throat as he fell into a reminiscence of the incident from nine years ago in this very house.

When she was twenty-two and he was twenty-four. In this red concrete structure, they resided with peace and love until the world decided to wear away the soil under their feet and detach them in the flood of absolute unfamiliarity and distance.

The day he realised it was too late to protect the love of his life.

The day he lost his Y/N.

Hi? I am alive.
Very abrupt I know but couldn't find any other way.
Hope you enjoyed it!