Meanwhile, in BigHit Entertainment

It was any ordinary evening, specifically on a recess that followed the continuation of the daily practice. Wherein, the boys undertook their personal appointments and schedules.

In their dance studio, Taehyung, having an inconspicuous tab on Jimin, noticed his relaxed and composed movements this eve. Very unlike the hurried ones he projected since the last few months every weekend, Taehyung noted.

No longer desiring to be in shade, he approached Jimin across the room.

TH : Hey, Jimin! No schedules?

Jimin, closing the lid of the water bottle he took a gulp from seconds ago, looked at the speaker.

JM : Im. None. What about you?

TH : Same.

He halted for a second to pose a suggestion.

TH : Hey, how about we have a little talk over some coffee?

Jimin now bent down to tie his loosened shoe lace as he responded with an amused grin.

JM : Why do you sound so weird?

He folded back to his height before continuing while Taehyung patiently stood through the wait.

JM : TaeTae, what did you do?

Taehyung straightened his back to answer.

TH : Father Jimin, I seek for redemption for I have sinned.

Jimin, holding back his laughter, wrapped his arm around Taehyung's shoulder and led him out.

JM : Let's cleanse your soul, child.

The friends with goofy smiles walked together through the corridors, playing along with the act. Few scenes later, the focus panned on their coffee servings rested on the table.

Much like he would expect, numerous attempts of Taehyung were dismissed in zilch. He could not corner Jimin enough to make him confess about his trials. The latter effortlessly made the conversation about Taehyung. And diverted the emphasis from himself.

The younger of the two defeatedly sighed being hugged by the older in the restricted BTS lounge. Once again, Taehyung found himself holding the receiving end, as Jimin solaced him with gentle dabs on his back.

JM : It's all right, Taehyung-ah. I know things are not very bright right now. But, Army's smile and satisfaction will be worth every ounce of exhaustion.

Taehyung's soft grip on Jimin's flannel shirt loosened as they moved out of the brief embrace.

TH : What about you? Are you doing okay?

At this point, Taehyung went blunt with no expectations from Jimin to speak his heart. He simply wished the latter was at least honest with himself.

On the flip side, Jimin knew Taehyung too well. The latter's discreet attempts did not go unnoticed by him. However, he did not want Taehyung to worry for him on top of his own. He wanted to be utmost lowkey about his consultation with a psychiatrist since the past few months.

JM : To be honest, no. I am exhausted too.

However, the unexpected response made Taehyung to lightly snap his sight at him, showing his ardent attention and curiosity. Jimin smiled observing his reactions and continued.

JM : But, you know, just an hour back during the practice...something occured to me. We analyze ourselves-the moves and expressions-in the mirrors, right? I took a moment and looked over you all in the middle of the choreography today.

Taehyung obediently remained silent and invested all his interest in the other's company.

JM : Jin hyung, Yoongi hyung, Hobi hyung, Namjoon hyung, you, Jeongguk-ie. Every single one of you looked fatigued. Everyone was sweating, strained and extremely tired to drop down the moment the beat concluded. Yet, all of you were focused and continued on without any complaints.

Half of their perseverance accounted on their hard working spirit to perfect their performance, the other half was invested towards the alertness not to mess up. Just so they were not an inconvenience for the others.

JM : And the flash of relief after the practice ended was too readable. Even though the duration of it was heavily taxing, the after-relief gave me a certain strength to push myself. And the fact that, I am not the only one having it hard makes it a little bit easier too.

Even though, he had no appointments to the psychiatrist for the week, Jimin observed it as a self-assessment to his personal growth. He learned that it does not have to be Doctor Ban who enlightened him always. Sometimes, he could derive some insights on his own by taking a keen observation of his surroundings.

Earlier, having no rush in his head, Jimin could watch the members with a laid-back mind. Which, resulted him to accept his inner conundrum better than he did before. His vision of the boys' physical exhaustion formed an analogous imagery of persistence and shouldered his shaky beliefs.

In conclusion, the abyss of self doubt and murk did not seem the toughest of all, that he wouldn't be able to conquer victory over.

Skies apart, hosted by the same evening in the countryside, Dan Hwa's beliefs were all over the place from the collapse of her vulnerable poles supporting them. She lacked any strength to drive out her way from the old lady's restaurant.

The visit to the memory lanes have tired her into the vulnerability that was shrouded all along. She despised to manifest it. Thus, she owned up to a heavy contrasting facade to hide her weaknesses over time.

The discourse of the old spellbinder in the auditorium earlier. And the very personal resemblance of her fragility in the grandmother of the restaurant further aided it. As if the universe had planned to resurface that buried self for Dan Hwa to reflect on her inquity, that lately she has been ignoring. Or perhaps it was being neglected by her distracted attention basking in the positive light coming from her psychiatrist.

The sense of relief and peace that Dan Hwa had completely evicted out of her life as a vengeance out of self guilt. She was confronted to the realization that the guards thwarting those have been let loose. And that, she was not humbling herself against her greed lately.

A poignant tear choked up her throat, but Dan Hwa suppressed it back, feeling undeserving to liberate herself from the affliction. They say crying helps ease one's pain. If that statement held any truth, Dan Hwa feared the tears might water her wounds : the remedy, she was deliberately ruling away to be her medicine.

Soon traveled a message nudging her thoughts. It was from her cousin, Baek Chan Heo, she noticed. In the flashed chat room, the text read, "You remember the date today, right? Her memorial will always be incomplete without you. Hope you change your mind this year. We will be waiting."

She yanked her phone in the adjacent seat without caring to reply, and a nameless energy charged her up to finally start the vehicle.

Dan Hwa put astronomical efforts into casting her vulnerable mind aside, and drive back to Seoul with a straight face.

But suppressing one aspect often led to the ooze of another, as the attention assimilate to a singular direction. The same resulted with Dan Hwa during her rash and hasty driving. The prejudicial and detrimental voices residing in her Erstwhile Inn : the dwellings of the past, cared to pay her an undue visit just then.

"Such an irresponsible daughter!"

"Child is a blessing, they said. She must be a curse!"

"She might as well be a psychotic monster! Look at her emotionless face."

Dan Hwa blasted the music player in the highest volume and slammed on the accelerator, breathing heavily. As if those reckless actions would mute or muffle these intrusive voices to any extent. Only thing it did, was to put her life at stake then.

Her car did not decelerate from the high speed even for a moment and maneuvered straight on the highway. For an evening so scenic and calm—hosting a few racing cars on the roads, her insides were in an unbearable chaos and unsettlement. With the demeaning exclaims fueling her turmoil, Dan Hwa drove the long distance in a consistently deteriorating state.

It appeared as if she was completely heedless of her safety.  As if the tamed suicidal thoughts were lured back to command by the same.

"Heartless wench!"

"How could she not shed a single tear for her deceased mother!"

In sync, the abrupt crack of a loud crash darkened her sight and benumbed her hearing senses. Dan Hwa's trunk jolted forward with inertia at the heavy and rough break, she enacted on instantly.

The music continued to bounce behind the closed doors and windows. She paused it, brushing her hair back as she regained her perception of her surroundings. Dan Hwa cognized that the car stood normal and there were no physical damage to anyone.

Everything stood severely still. The roads were extremely deserted. Neither a faint chirp was heard around, nor a single person was in sight.

The sounds of the catastrophe in her head haunted her soul, and unlike she thought, it still had the same crippling affects on her.
The one that she had harked from the closest. The accident that robbed Dan Hwa of every little ray of affection from her life.

To her unawareness, she had driven to the place she feared to ever visit. The columbarium : the house that sheltered the treasured remains of the deceased. In her case, her mother's.

Moments later, she could be seen in the poorly lit room, staring deeply at her mother's niche with a frozen sight.

Dan Hwa : Eomma...

There was a lump in her throat that restricted her words to come out freely. She intently looked at her mother's picture frames beside her urns. Not a moment had passed, tears dripped out from her wistful eyes. There was visible strains on her red face to resist them, some veins bulging out from her tightened neck.

Dan Hwa : If only I had waited for you to come home that day... I... I am sorry...

Dan Hwa closed her eyes looking away and sniffled the uncontrollable emotions from pouring out her eyes.

"No... you can't cry... you don't deserve it..." She reminded herself in mumbles while roughly wiping her eyes. She practiced a few deep breaths to even down her overwhelmed self.

It was like a mental penance that she still remembered every single detail of 'that' day. For her, the same was supposed to be the most jubilant day of her life. But, maybe the celestial land had a different plan for her. That those prime hours turned out to be the most horrendous and afflicting day of her life instead.

Few walks away, Doctor Ban silently listened to the words of her core. That little information surely granted him a better vision of Dan Hwa's conflicts. But the same had also confirmed his doubts further. And it dominated his professional role, stewing the dish of ire and pure frustration.

Before the fire of his resent was fed to a big flare, he simply decided to leave the columbarium and come back later.

Meanwhile, Dan Hwa felt she wouldn't be able to thwart herself from breaking down if she stayed there any longer. The atmosphere in the room, somehow had a pressing impact on her. Without matching her eyes with the pictures of her mother anymore, Dan Hwa rushed her steps out of the room.

It appeared to her as if, with each step she took away, the strangling air bid her farewell and she felt lighter bar by bar.

However, before she exited the building completely, a thought crossed her slightly stable mind. It diverted her attention to the counter.

She made her way to the person on duty that hour, and asked for the register of the deceased entries in their columbarium. Specifically, the logs from five years ago, she later added.

Transparent boredom reflected from his face, as he rested his cell phone : the only thing that kept him busy during his entire shift. He, then, walked upto a massive cupboard to take out the specified register.

Dan Hwa patiently waited through the languid movements of the man. In a few minutes, she ultimately got hold of it, and began scrutinizing through its heavy pages.

There were pictures of the deceased along with their names, date of deaths, and the exact location of their funeral urns in the barium.

No time later, her sight finally fell over the one that she has been looking for.
Slipped from Doctor Ban's notice in the restaurant earlier, there were picture frames hung on the walls too. Which, Dan Hwa's keen observation of the architects happened to grab a glance of. And even to her, Mr.Yoo had a familiar ring. Hence, her doubts.

From the register, she affirmed that the old lady's son had also died in the same accident as her mother's. If not so, on the same day for certain. However, she was more inclined to believe the former.

Her heart sank at the verification, her limbs taking a step back. And in jitters, Dan Hwa exited the barium without the heed to greet the man.

As if an automatic response, Dan Hwa began to feel apologetic towards the old lady to a sublime degree. She believed if Mr.Yoo was also a victim of the malicious accident five years ago, she might as well be equally culpable for his death too.

This day, was simply not a good one for her. More than the tedious drives, mental exhaustion was wearing her off with increasing time.

Further, the increment of remorse weighed her down with its ever so heavy load. Being a participant in the tale of the old lady's past of her son, learning how miserable those little children were held by fate after their father's sudden demise. One by one, every other detail came rushing to her sight.

She practically crumbled from inside, encased by her rigid sculpture-like body, standing in the front porch of the building.

Tears once again had already formed in her paralyzed facade beyond her consciousness. Seconds apart, a ringtone from the vicinity shook her up however. She grew alert of her state and tried to compose herself quick enough to sniff the tears back in.

Dan Hwa took that distraction as a helping shoulder, and found Doctor Ban few steps away.

He received a call from the psychiatric ward for an emergency with an old in-patient, who had spiraled out of control. The psychiatrist, in a frantic tone, advised the other side to attempt dosing the turbulent patient with a tranquilizer. And further agreed to follow there in the soonest moment possible, even on his day off.

Dan Hwa, from her earlier position not budged a step, observed the gradual tension growing in the psychiatrist's mien.
The latter, right after the call, looked at her hurriedly, who have been noting her strange bearing all along from the distance.

Dr.Ban : Dan Hwa-ssi, are you feeling okay?

She could not make much sense out of his presence there, or his words in that moment. And simply felt the urge to set him off as soon as she could.
Thus, Dan Hwa projected him a strong nod of approval and gestured him to hurry where he was headed.

Seeing through the lies of his patients was one of the very valued traits that highlighted Doctor Ban's credentials. However, he did not stubbornly debate Dan Hwa's condition with her in that instant, rather, he simply showed his faith in her. And believed that she might need some time to retrospect and self-analyze her thoughts.

Dr.Ban : All right. Just give me a call if you need, okay?

A simple assurance it was. But it alleviated her symptoms just enough, knowing that there was someone she could count on.

It was a new tingle of experience to have someone she could call, without any fears or judgments.

Dan Hwa nodded again.

This time, more confident and positive. Therefore, Dr.Ban carried himself in his vehicle and zoomed out of the place relying on his acumen.

Although, she was mobile once again, Dan Hwa could physically feel her heart getting heavier, as she attempted to walk to her car.

Reaching home straight was the only thought that got her maneuvering. None of the times driving back to her apartment was so struggling than the current.

The intrusive voices in her head were quiet now. Her car wheeled in a normal pace and so the volume of the music player.

Yet, the harm was already made and it had whipped open all the stitched wounds of her soul.

It was in pain.

It whimpered with fear to be scarred more. The fragile and dewy soul was cold from its chilly residence that the lack of warmth in Dan Hwa's life has brought to it.

No earthly ointments, no human doctor had the practical ability to mend those scars, to allay those fears. And ease the soul. None but Dan Hwa, herself, held that sovereign power to heal it.

A celestial element it was, that enlivened the human body of Dan Hwa. Inturn, she was its formal custodian. The guardian angel, who had an ought to protect it from the evils and afflictions of the human realm.

Her indifference and negligence to its ache and sufferings. Her resilience to seek help all these years, left those wounds and fears ever fresh and unattended. The once pristine soul was now layered beneath the stains of colossal blues and greys.

In her solitary apartment, Dan Hwa loosened her entire body into the water of the bathtub. Her hair film floating atop, Dan Hwa closed her eyes. The water seemed to soak heat from her body and not the other way around.

Gradually, with a calm heart, she drowned her face into the water. She was completely underwater. And it had a sickening muffle of daily sounds. But she held herself soaked in without any signs of struggle.

Very strangely, a distant turmoil seemed to volume in her head. She could listen to them ever so distinctly.

.

.

.

Some time later, in the same room of the barium, the closed walls echoed a birthday jingle. Doctor Ban, holding the cake to the pictures in the designated spot, sang for his three-year-old daughter.

Dr.Ban : Happy birthday, my baby Mi So-ya! The literal reason of my smile.

It must have been painful and frightening for the little one to have taken her last breaths on her birthday. Dr.Ban seemed to realize it and wished to preserve the date as her special day. He would always visit the cremations only the day next to pay his memorial tributes.

Dr.Ban : Appa is too late today, isn't he? But look, we still have a few hours till midnight. And I got your favorite cake!

Every single time, his little one's smiling face in his wife's hold would choke him up with his remorse and pressed feelings.

Dr.Ban : I should've picked you both that day... if only...

He looked away for a moment to compose himself as he rested the box of cake on the floor.

This time, his attention caught on the recess adjacent to his wife and daughter's common urn compartment. It was Dan Hwa's mother's. They just so happened to be placed in niches abutting to each other.

Dr.Ban : Honey... did you see who came earlier?

Hearing Dan Hwa's address to her mother, he arrived to the conclusion that he had been trying to devise out since ages.

Dr.Ban : I can't believe, I was looking for her for so long and here she was so close to my eyes.

But, maybe somewhere he was reluctant to connect the dots and complete the painful image. Tricked by the cruel game of destiny, he craved for oblivion now.

Dr.Ban : Why does fate have to play with me like this though? That, no one but I rescued the children of Mr.Yoo.

Mr.Yoo had been the chauffeur escorting Dr.Ban's family to their desired destination that day. The coincidence was too synchronized and gruesome, especially considering Mr.Yoo's uncertain innocence in the accident.

Dr.Ban : And that, out of all the psychiatrists in Korea, I happened to be the one treating Dan Hwa-ssi.

In the funeral home that day, as his memories gained more distinct forms and shapes, he recalled people around Dan Hwa's family spitting curses at her. So much so,  that even in the distraction of his own grief, his sight caught a glance of her. A black Hanbok she had on, her hair tied in a low pony and a specific white bow hairclip completed the mourning garb.

What made him differ from the brutal comments of the people was her still facade. He saw a petrified and severely wounded Dan Hwa, encapsulated beneath her stony demeanor.

Blaming someone innocent for one's own sake was nowhere in his principles. Henceforth, Doctor Ban decided not to make his peace with the announcement of the calamity being a mere accident : a coincidental road mishap. Rather, he desired to dig to the very roots of the cause behind it. He wanted to know if those harsh comments held any truth, which was in fact the stem of his doubts.

Dr.Ban : I am sorry, honey. Appa is sorry, Mi So-ya. But, you do know, right? Neither Dan Hwa-ssi, nor Mr.Yoo's children-none of them are at fault. They are innocent. And as a man with conscience, I have to help them get out of their prison.

With a tightened fist, he fought his emotions back and tried to sustain his bold stance of strength and determination.

Dr.Ban : Although, there wouldn't be a moment I am not reminded of you two the next time I see them-...

His unwavered voice cracked nevertheless just imagining how mentally taxing it would be to act out his words in practical situations.

Dr.Ban : No, I am scared actually. After learning the truth, I am afraid I would be able to help them unbiased. Or treat them the same.

He was scared, that it would raise question to his professionalism. To all his belief system and core principles. Even though, Doctor Ban actively acknowledged their innocence. He feared if he would be able to believe that against his mind, who would constantly try to put the blame on someone else.

Tossed around the culprit's uncertain identity, Doctor Ban often believed it would have been easier if he was the killer. Just so, he would have his answers loud and clear and have a direction to point his finger at and resent.

From his self effaced investigation, he has so far established the fact that the catastrophe was merely given the image of an unfortunate accident. The mastermind, to this date, functioned safely beyond the sight of everyone.

The suffocation of his dilemma and ambivalence for all the possible suspects ultimately broke him down. He landed on his knees, crouching forward in wails and wallowed in a kind of self-guilt.

Dr.Ban : If only...

He weeped weakly.

Quite surreal it was, he felt a warm hand on his shoulder no time later. Doctor Ban looked up with a reflex only to have the sight of his beautiful wife. There she was, not aged a second, the same soft features and warm smile that accentuated her elegance and unprejudiced beauty as vivid in his memories.

"Dan Hwa-ssi was it... Isn't she the one you had talked about every single time you came to visit us?" His wife calmly uttered.

The psychiatrist nodded, eyes forming visible sparkles of moisture in them. He casted aside all the absurdity of the scene playing before him and was more willing to simply live the moment.

"And you finally found her!" The wife exclaimed manifesting a genuine delight. "Honey, I understand that you feel sorry to us. But, if you say she is completely innocent, a victim here in fact, then I believe it. Because I believe in you."

The doctor sniffed, not having enough of the visuals he have been yearning to see once again. As if the wife could tell from his silence that she kept on without a delay.

"I have always known you as the cool guy who has one of the best words to guide wandering souls. Our Mi So has the same opinion too."

This time, the wife wiped his cheeks and lightly brushed his hair. It was so precise in feels, that it almost seemed like a hyper-realistic hologram of the heavens. He didn't complain however, fascination occupied his mind.

"Now, don't back away from something that makes you stand out among everyone else."

He nodded in approval, never wanting to upset and disregard her wishes.

"Save the ones you need to. Always." His wife's last piece of word echoed in the theater of his head as he witnessed her slowly dissolve into a white mist of glitters.

Coming to reality, Doctor Ban opened his eyes that he didn't realize were closed all along to see her with his inner vision. Maybe it was a cryptic charm of the souls only they had the ability to spell. Something beyond the comprehension of human beings, embodied in the mysteries of the Elysian empires.

The psychiatrist couldn't help smile with a relief and strengthened himself, as he wiped the corners of his eyes. He matched eyes with his late wife and daughter, once again confidently standing before them.

Dr.Ban : Although I haven't reached full success yet. But, I promise, I would bring you justice. No offender would be able to slip from their repentance.

He felt his wife's smile through the silence of the moonlit air that swirled around.

Dr.Ban : I will come again soon. Rest well, my angels.

The tears shed certainly elevated and relieved his nerves to some extent. And the much needed and divine conversation with his wife, further aided it.

Soon after he stepped out of the room, he received a call. His walk slowed down as the psychiatrist reached for his phone in his coat. The screen flashed Dan Hwa's name as the true caller's identity.

Doctor Ban took a deep breath of professionalism and answered, while casually exiting the columbarium.

Dr.Ban : Yes, Dan Hwa-ssi. I am here.

Having no response, the doctor grew a little concerned and rushed towards his car to prepare to reach to her rescue, if needed. He was apprehensive of something negative imminent in her silence over the line. And within no time, he seemed to regret letting her go unsupervised in the evening. Come to think of it, Dan Hwa projected an unpredictable state then, Doctor Ban mentally noted. Meaning, her steps had the highest probability to go downhill any moment.

Although, his voice had a noticeable frantic note, he tried to sound as calm as possible. While he carried his actions inside the car-to wrap his seatbelt and get on move in the soonest second-in literal flash of seconds.

Dr.Ban : Dan Hwa-ssi, do you hear me? Are you all right?

Dan Hwa : . . .

__________

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What do you think might've happened to her?