Jimin POV

Before the incident

"You should have seen his face when croaked in front of the girl, I've never seen him like that before. His ears were so red I thought they'd fall off," a very happy Jin related the story about Yoongi's first attempt to talk to the new girl.

I was reluctant to do away with the plan, agreeing with Jungkook that it could be a bad idea. But hearing Yoongi's continuous failure, we come to an accord that it has to be done before he loses his confidence.

I knew Yoongi the most. He was the first one I met in our neighborhood when we were kids. And he was the one closest to me.

Once he sees there's no point in trying, he will let go.

And I don't want him to let Mia slip away that easily.

Was I desperate? Yes. We need the old Yoongi back.

Taehyung whispered, "I know what to do, leave it to me."

"We just have to get Yoongi to 'protect' her. But don't go overboard okay?"

"Yeah, I got this. I know exactly what to do. Just watch."

~~~~^~~~~

Present time

Was it worth it risking everything for Yoongi?

I was half annoyed, half sympathetic to Taehyung. It seemed like his spontaneous mind did not cooperate when we needed it the most. Or maybe I should have thought of a different, more efficient method. Urgh, I don't know.

Now our friends are experiencing such turmoil, and it's all my fault.

"Hey, why did you not tell us about Emily's-" Taehyung does not know how to end his question.

"He wanted to keep it. Even in death, all he wanted to do was protect Emily, knowing well how people would react if they knew about it."

"This is so messed up. Jimin, I'm sorry, I should have not done that."

I put a reassuring arm around him. "Sometimes your mind does not work when we need it to. It's ok. I'll just figure out a way to fix this."

I assured everyone that I will fix everything, since I was the mastermind. And it will be done.

I need to find Mia and apologize, then deal with Yoongi's wrath.

~~~~^~~~~

Flashback 1 year ago

Yoongi and I stood by the door of the morgue. In his hands were pink roses, the thorns digging into his slender fingers as he clutched on them tightly, the veins on his arms popping out.

I accompanied Yoongi to get these flowers for Emily, for their family dinner. But now, they serve a different purpose.

His face was completely blank and pale. His lips trembled, and his eyes dead. I do not know how to comfort him, so I stayed silent, waiting for the doctors and investigators to allow us inside.

Once we were given the go signal, Yoongi stood still for a minute, before pushing through the swinging doors, and into the cold chamber.

A body sheathed in white blanket lay there, waiting. Yoongi gulped hard after coming to a halt right next to it. With his free hand, he slipped the sheet off slowly up until the shoulders.

There lay our dearest friend Emily Hunter, white as ash, cold and lifeless.

I thought my heart was going to explode. Tears fell uncontrollably from my eyes as I covered my mouth with my hand. I couldn't believe what just happened.

Yoongi stood there silently, as if his soul left his body the moment he opened the blanket. He leaned closer to her, his shaky hand hovered above her head for a moment before stroking the hair of his beloved girl.

"Emily, I'm here now. Please wake up. Baby, wake up. Baby, please... Open your eyes..."

His lips on her forehead, tears crashing around Emily's face, his shoulders violently shaking. The roses for her fell on the ground, wilting.

~~~~^~~~~

The air in the crematorium felt heavy. The grieving faces fell silent as we all waited for her body to burn into ashes. Emily's mom kept looking over to where Yoongi was, but her husband never spared him a glance. In Mrs. Hunter's eyes, Yoongi was not to be blamed, and she did love him like her own son. She was grateful for him, for making the remainder of her daughter's life beautiful.

But Mr. Hunter was livid. He trusted Yoongi to protect Emily. But it proved to him his judgement was wrong, which was utterly unfair for Yoongi.

But he took the blame, he beat himself each day for not answering that call from Emily. He said if only he had answered, we could have saved her.

But no, he claimed. He was busy buying roses. He turned his phone on silent mode. He did not pay attention. He found so many excuses to blame himself even more. And as his brothers, it hurt us seeing him suffer even more.

Once the urn was handed to the Hunters, families and friends had sent their condolences and went home.

Mrs. Hunter came to where the seven of us sat, stood infront of Yoongi and said, "We'll be taking her to my parents home now. I know it will be difficult, but please, don't be too hard on yourself, son. Here. Take this locket. So you will always remember her."

Mrs. Hunter took Yoongi's hand and placed an oval locket in his palm.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Hunter. I couldn't protect her."

Instead of answering, she pulled him into her tight embrace.

"Thank you for making her so happy, Min Yoongi. Please, think about her at times, and take care of yourself."

With that, she thanked us all, turned to take the remains of Emily Hunter from her husband's hands, and exited the room.

Mr. Hunter followed his wife without saying a word, only staring down at Yoongi with pure hatred.

We never heard from them after that.

As for Yoongi, he was slowly dying. He didn't go to school, stayed away from people, locked himself away. He wasn't eating, and his parents were worried sick.

He would hurt himself, slicing his torso, hitting his head against walls or with his fists.

We almost lost him once.

When one day he decided to put a noose around his neck.

We got there on time. Yoongi was about to push the chair away, ready for his neck to take the impact and cut off his breathing.

I still thank Jungkook for forcing me to come with him to check on Yoongi. If we had not, he would have done it, he would not be here with us now.