"Falling autumn, expose your soul
Now I know, now I know
That when the city beats too loud
And I just can't drown it out
You bring me clarity
So won't you stay till the morning, and treat me good"
Falling Autumn-Alayna

AUTUMN

It had been a month since Celine had fallen apart.

It had taken an entire month to build herself up again.

And yet she completely felt empty inside. A shell of a person. Even more cut open and bruised than ever before.

Because now she was alone.

Everyone and everything she loved was taken away in one single swoop.

She had gotten her own apartment. The brunette had decorated it white and pink.

Made herself a comfy bed, some picture of Mia and her old group of friends littering the place. Every sad memory right in front of her face.

Received more commissions from her art than ever before.

Articles were written about her sudden success.

Everyone wanted to know who she was.

When she didn't even know herself.

The autumn brisk left her filling a little cold. Her body much colder than normal, as she wrapped her frail arms around her body. The jeans, cardigan, and scarf were still not enough to keep the chill away.

The air smelt of cinnamon, shops now decorated with orange leaves and pumpkins. Everything was spiced and supposed to be soft and warm. People laughed all around her, covered in long jackets and boots.

She had changed with the season.

In the summer everything had been sweeter than honey. Hazy days, lying around like everything was a okay. A midnight fantasy and fireflies, stars, and no worries.

But the flowers died.

The air became colder.

The sun had darkened.

Decay, slowly making its way around her. Heart crumbled like the leaves that lay broken beneath her feet.

Her chest was hollow.

Her heart, some cold dead thing placed inside.

So tiny, so ignored.

Like she could be swallowed up into the earth without a second thought.

She walked down the city sidewalk.

Flinching every time a car passed by her.

The person who had killed her sister, used to be anonymous.

Celine hated that person with every fiber of her being. Wanted them found and killed. Wanted justice, for being so fucking careless and harming another human being. They were demonized in her brain, made to look like shadow entity with red eyes. That the person who had done it was inherently evil.

That unknown person, now had a angelic face and pretty name. A soft voice, and what seemed like a kind heart.

But it was a lie.

All of it.

The way he cared for her endlessly. The look of awe when he gazed upon her.

The words I love you.

After the girl found out, she had cried for days. In the shower, scrubbing her skin till it was red and raw. Trying to wash away the scent of him, the feel of him.

Why? Why did it have to be him?

She felt like she had hurt her sister too.

They had talked about her death. He had cried along with her. They visited her grave together.

Celine stopped walking, feeling her throat tighten, her stomach aching with bile. Some person bumped into her, told her to watch out, but she didn't pay any attention. She couldn't hold back the bitter tears that seemed to prick at her eyes whenever she thought about it.

Fraternizing with the person who maimed her.

The thing she had hated the most, she had loved just as fervently.

The girl was human too.

And she couldn't help but miss him.

No one had contacted her. They couldn't. She had made herself a ghost to the life she had fallen in love with.

The people she had found a home in.

Celine had never hated herself more.

The girl shook her head, attempting to walk into Starbucks. The warm air and smell of coffee was almost too inviting. The little bell rung, indicating her arrival when she saw familiar orangey brown hair.

The girl immediately turned to walk out, forgetting her caramel macchiato. She turned her head hoping the man wouldn't see her.

Unlucky for her, in that moment he decided to look up and see her through the glass window.

The man's eyes widened to two golf balls, his mouth in a shocked 'o'. Celine quickly picked up her pace, trying to get away from him as soon as possible.

No matter how much she wanted to run back to him. To the life that she had, before everything went to shit. He was like a little piece of the proverbial family she had created. They had created for her.

Don't fall for it.

Not again. Her life couldn't be ripped from her once more. Or she would wither away.

"Celine!" Hoseok yelled from behind her.

The girl flinched, not looking back. Kept walking.

"Celine come back here." This time the voice was much closer, and she felt a hand gently hold onto her arm.

She angrily whipped around, turning to look at the older man. He was slightly out of breath, hands on his hips and eyes narrowed.

Her voice shook as she spoke, filtering through gritted teeth.

"I don't want to talk Hoseok."

The girl attempted to turn away from him again before he stopped her.

Please stop me. I miss you. I miss everyone.

If you keep trying, I won't be able to turn you away. Like I should.

"Everyone knew"

The man was determined to not let her get away this time. He wouldn't give up. Watching his whole friend group fall apart was the most devastating thing he had ever witnessed.

Hoseok needed to do something. Not just for himself, but for everyone else.

"I don't care that you don't want to talk. I've been trying to get ahold of you for weeks now. Everyone has. You need to know the truth." He said, slightly raising his voice.

She was slightly shocked, never hearing him sound so peeved or serious. But she shook her head, not knowing what to believe anymore.

The brunette didn't want to open up again, just to get hurt a second time. The 19 year old shouldn't have even been giving him the time of day right then.

Everyone reminds me of him. Reminds me of the time I was happy and stupid.

God it felt like forever ago.

"I already know it."

"No, you really don't."

The girl could feel the familiar lump in her throat, so she attempted to turn away before she could embarrass herself.

She walked two feet before Hoseok was right in front of her, face now filled with frustration.

"You're not going to give anyone a chance to explain? Did our friendship mean nothing to you? You left without a fucking word."

"For a good reason."

His orange hair wavered in the sunlight, looking as smooth as the leaves that danced around them. His eyes were sad, as he looked down at the girl.

I hurt him too, didn't I?

"So you fucked off, and then completely cut everyone out for a good reason?" The words were harsh, grated against her ears.

She recoiled, almost forgetting why she even did it in the first place.

"You all lied to me." The words sounded weak even to her own ears.

But Hoseok heard her, his heart shaped lips turning into a triangle.

"What?" He asked in confusion.

"You all knew, what Jimin did and yet you didn't say anything. That's what...what I was told." She said, stopping before she said Namjoon's name.

He raised his eyebrows, as if he knew the girl was hiding something. But after some scrutiny, let it go.

"By who? Jeongguk? The one that lied to you in the first place? Just give me a chance Celine. If I meant anything to you. If everyone else meant anything to you." Hoseok said, in a more gentle voice than before.

This was his last chance, to make things right with Celine.

He missed her. She was like a little sister. And he couldn't let her live with misconceptions in her heart, and guilt in her mind.

And he couldn't let Jimin whither away into nothing like autumn leaves.

Knowing it went against every bone in her body's warning.

And she was intrigued by his words.

Please give me good news.

"Fine."

The man smiled, tiny dimples appearing by the side of his mouth. She couldn't deny that her spirits slightly lifted because of it.

They walked together, back to the Starbucks. Hoseok offered to buy her coffee and a croissant, and she didn't have the energy to deny it.

She thanked him quietly, as he brought over her order and sat down right across from her.

The man looked at her, and new he couldn't be angry. No matter how much he wanted to be.

She wasn't there, when Jimin freaked out.

After he beat the shit out of Jeongguk.

No matter how much he felt his younger friend deserved it, Jimin just kept staring at his hands like they weren't his.

He repeated Celine's name for hours on end. Jin just let him cry, rubbing his shoulders and telling him to just sleep.

Hoseok sat on the sidelines, trying to call Jeongguk. Trying to call Celine.

No one answered.

Namjoon walked in the door. Hoseok met him.

"What did you say to Celine?"

"What needed to be said." Answered back, sounding rude for the first time since they'd met.

The orange haired man was appalled, but he blamed it on the tense situation.

"And you were the one to decide that?" He said, trying not to sound to suspicious.

Namjoon smiled, patting him on the shoulder.

"Don't worry about it Harold."

The man scoffed, knowing fully well the other knew his goddamn name.

"It's Hoseok."

"Whatever."

Hoseok shook his head, knowing that the man probably had a hand in keeping Celine away. But he didn't want to tell Jin, afraid it would make him feel worse.

From the way Celine looked, he knew she wasn't at fault. She was just as confused and hurt as everyone else. The girl was almost gray, pretty face pallid. She'd lost a lot of weight, her cheeks hollowed out. Her elegant shoulders now caved in like broken wings. Her usually golden eyes were a dull brass as they gazed upon him.

He needed to be gentle.

The orange haired man sighed, taking one of her small hands into his.

"I might as well just get to the point. Two years ago, Jeongguk wanted to go to the club. He drove to Jimin's house and asked him to come. Jimin said no, he told the younger to leave not realizing he was already buzzed. Jeongguk got back into the car, throwing back beer after beer. He was annoyed, that no one else wanted to have fun. So annoyed, that he blew past a red light. Hitting a small car. He had blacked out while driving."

Celine gasped, her eyes filling with tears again. They were wide, her mouth open in shock.

Hearing who murdered her sister again.

He winced, squeezing her hand a little tighter. He couldn't even imagine how overwhelming it was.

The man thought it was fake, when Jimin explained what happened.

That Jeongguk had killed Mia. The sister Hoseok had no clue about.

It was shocking, when he learned his friend killed someone. But to have it be someone that had a been such a huge part of Celine.

It made death more real, and a lot darker for everyone.

It was insanity.

How everything was connected.

"The only thing he remembered was waking up. His parents wouldn't tell him the name of the person he killed. They thought it would make him worse. He cried every night, scared. His parents brought Jimin in, asked him to take the blame for their son. They said he was too young for his life to be ruined. Jimin didn't know what to do. Talked to Jin. And than did something no one expected. He let them blame the drunk driving incident on him. The man turned himself in for a crime he didn't commit to protect Jeongguk. It made sense then, before they saw his true colors. His lack of remorse."

The girl wasn't looking at him at this point, her face was red as she stared at the table. The coffee getting cold in her hands.

"No one knew it was Mia. Not even Jeongguk knew until he looked up the records himself. Jimin definitely didnt know. If any of us knew, we wouldn't have protected Jeongguk anymore. We shouldn't have even if it wasn't Mia. When I heard what happened, I couldn't hold my tongue. He was never meant to make that sacrifice. And he shouldn't be condemned for being the most fucking caring person in existence. He didn't deserve Jeongguk. And he sure as hell didn't need you abandoning him as well. I see why you did though, I would have too."

She looked up, a painful guilt in her eye. Hoseok apologized, not wanting to make her feel any worse. She said it was okay, and he continued.

"Jimin almost killed him, Jeongguk after he found out. He said that's all he could focus on when you told him. How you and your sister were in so much pain because of him. He read the list of injuries, he rereads them every night and gets sick. How you were left unconscious for an hour. How she was so badly messed up."

"Prove it." Celine said, interrupting him. Her voice was thick with tears, but more dead than he'd heard a person alive.

He was slightly shocked, amazed by her cynicism. But when the world pushed you down this many times, it was hard to get up.

"Prove that it wasn't Jimin." She said, a tear falling down her face.

Prove that he wouldn't still protect a murderer over her sister. That's what she really wanted to ask. But the words wouldn't leave her lips.

It hurt her to even ask. She wanted to believe in her heart. Drop everything to run to him. But she couldn't so easily, after messing up the first time.

"Celine, you've been with both of them. Who had the drinking problem? Who do you really think had the capacity to do that? And then to lie about it?" The man replied, as understanding as possible.

"I know but, I-" She said, a little doubt still creeping on her.

"Jimin loved Mia too." Hoseok interrupted, quietly with a smile.

Again, a knife in her chest seemed to twist. But then the pain subsided.

In that moment, she knew it was the truth. She could see the sincerity in his eyes.

The girl wasn't sure she would have believed anyone else.

The girl covered her mouth with her hand, feeling a laugh and a cry bubble out. She knew that was true, she knew it. Deep down. She could feel it was right.

Her heart fucking soared.

All while her stomach sank to the ground.

"So Jeongguk really lied? It was him who did it, not Jimin?"

Jimin was innocent. And she could love him without worry or guilt, for she had never stopped loving him.

Celine needed to fix it, she couldn't let Jimin slip away. She felt more sorry now that he felt like he couldn't say anything to her, even when he wanted to love her.

Yet she had to deal with the man that put them through so much pain first.

But Jeongguk, Jeongguk.

A fucking monster.

He had hurt so many fucking people.

He still did this to Jimin, despite him taking the fucking blame.

It was fucking sick.

He's sick in the head. He has to be.

That was the only thought that had kept her from imploding.

"Yes, Celine. I'm sorry. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you."

"I really fucked up, didn't I?"

"Celine, I don't think anyone can blame you too harshly. What happened was beyond messed up. No one, not even a god, could think clearly in that moment."

A burning hatred filled her.

After everything she had been through, Jeongguk tried to ruin her. Hurt her beyond repair.

He murdered her sister.

And he wasn't going to get away from it. He had run for too long.

"Where's Jeongguk." She said, voice set in a hard edge.

Hoseok narrowed his eyes, looking out the window and onto the street.

"We don't know, we haven't talked to him in a while. Jimin and him finally split the business completely. The only person who he's been in contact is Taehyung. And barely."

"I need to find him. And then I need to get Jimin back." She said, voice full of conviction.

Hoseok smiled proudly.

"That's my Celine."

The girl smiled back, anger and happiness and regret flowing through her all at once .

"Hoseok I'm so sorry for not trusting all of you. I've missed my family so much."

The man squeezed her hand, showing her that no harm was done. At least none that couldn't be repaired.

"I've missed you too bud. But I'm not the person you need to really talk to."

She shook her head, eyes downcast. The girl looked scared, when she looked up at her friend.

"Is it too much to ask you to come with me? I don't want to put you in danger but I'm scared to face him alone. I'm not sure what he'll do."

He nodded his head, not knowing what Jeongguk was capable of anymore.

"Of course. Mind if I bring Yoongi?"

The girl shook her head, letting out a scoff.

"No not at all, we're going to need him."

******

"Are you ready to do this?" Hoseok asked, Celine as they stood outside Jeongguk's apartment door.

As soon as she texted the younger male, he answered. Telling her to meet him there .

And she was livid.

Scared.

Heart racing and blood rushing.

What would it be like to stare into his face? Would she see the car crash in his eyes? Would blood appear on his hands?

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

Hoseok hugged her. Yoongi gave her a thumbs up, saying he was ready for his cue. She thanked both of them, before walking into the place.

She had no time to prepare.

The man was right there, standing in the main living room.

Smiling at her.

This is my sister's killer.

Some dumb, arrogant boy. Who was not yet fully a man. Who was babied and coddled and never lifted a finger.

Who drank himself to sleep.

He wasn't evil when he was born. It wasn't inherent. He was raised to be soulless.

Her eyes flickered to the kitchen. Vision red. As she stared at the steam knives. Wondered whole long it would take to run and get one.

"I knew you'd be back." He said, walking towards her.

Stay the fuck away from me.

She backed away slightly, not wanting to be too obvious. His dark eyes were shining, raking up and down her figure. His once attractive features were now sinister.

I'm going to get sick.

"You did."

He stepped even closer. Cologne wafting towards her. She felt like prey backed into a corner.

But she was too angry to be prey.

"I'm glad you came to your senses. I'm sorry you had to find out that way. I'm sorry I let the anger get the best of me. I just couldn't let you walk away with that murderer." The man said, looking smug.

She wanted to cut the smile out of his face.

You're the killer.

You're the killer.

You're the killer.

"It must have taken a lot, to betray someone like that. To lie and say that they killed someone after they took the fault for you." Celine said, unable to hold her tongue.

She wanted him to know.

She wanted to see the realization on his eyes that he was caught.

But he was a blank canvas.

"I don't know what you're talking about.

"Oh really? You don't? Yoongi." She said, never looking away from the man as she said her friend's name louder.

Jeongguk narrowed his eyes, as the blonde friend walked in casually.

He stood right by Celine, hands in pockets as his expression was bored looking.

"Sup. Asshole." Said Yoongi, flipping off the younger man.

Jeongguk clenched his fists, a muscle twitching in his jaw.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

"To prevent Celine from killing you, big boy. And to tell the truth. It was you Jeongguk. Who did it. Jimin took the blame for you, and you were going to use that against him after you found out about their affair."

There it was.

The arrogant light faded from his obsidian eyes. It was like a rope snapping, that last bit of sanity falling apart inside of him.

He was fucked. But he wouldn't show it. Like a captain, he had to sink with his ship.

Jeongguk laughed, laughed at absolutely nothing funny.

Celine and Yoongi looked on with disgust, the sound echoing around the apartment.

"Wow, Yoongi. I thought what I did was enough to shut you up."

The blonde rolled his eyes, anger finally shown. He never once raised his voice, but the boy was certainly able to bring that side out of him.

"I wasn't the one to tell her. But why not support he while she's here with your sadistic ass? I'm not going to let you lie your way out of this one. And I also never liked you."

Jeongguk completely ignored everything he said. He was only looking at Celine, who's face was blank as the waning moon.

"Celine I love you." He said, fake compassion filling his voice.

It was clear as day now, to her. The saccharine tone. The fake glare of moisture that would enter his eye. The almost smile that would appear as he tried to pout.

A façade of emotion for a person that could only feel anger and possession.

Yoongi places his arm on Celine's shoulder, pulling her behind him. Trying to protect her from Jeongguk's manic lies.

"No, stop with this bullshit. Do you know how fucked up that is to say? We're not here so you can manipulate her like you have been doing for months. She knows Jeongguk. It's fucking over. Your game is done, and you've lost."

Jeongguk looked around the room, his eyes flickering. The ghosts of his pass coming to haunt him.

No one had said it to him like that.

No one had the audacity to blame him.

Not even himself.

"I didn't fucking kill her. I-It was an accident. A simple accident." The man said, like he was still trying to convince himself. He shook his head, a grimace on his face.

For a second, Yoongi almost felt bad.

Key word was almost.

Celine cut in, voice as hard as diamond. Cold as ice.

"No Jeongguk. You killed her and I was blind. You're the murderer. And now you'll have to live with it because everyone knows. Or they will after I tell the media. They can't persecute you for the same crime twice, but they can ruin your reputation."

His eyes widened, as if he couldn't believe her words.

"Please, don't." The man said, as pitiful as ever. Like his reputation was he lost precious thing that could be taken from him.

When he had taken a fucking life.

It could have been anyone .

This could have happened more than once.

But it was Mia. Her sister. Her light.

A teen. A drunk teen. No consequences. Rich parents. Friends. Money. Success. Easy.

The girl couldn't hold back anymore.

Watching the pleading look appear in his eyes.

She fell apart.

He still didn't get it. That what he did tore her entire world apart. She was going to be strong, take the high road. Let her actions of ruining his life speak for themselves.

Finally saying all she wanted to say, to the person who killed her sister.

She wanted him to feel everything he felt. The impact.

The guilt.

The responsibility.

"You shouldn't have fucking drank. Fucking drove in the rain drunk! Why Jeongguk? Why? You fucking smashed her to pieces. Mia, there was so much blood and I never got to say goodbye. I never got to say how much I loved her because you drove into the side of us like we were a toy car set. She was fucking pulled apart. Have you ever seen a dead body, have you!? She died right next to me, how could you!? You piece of shit!"

Hoseok rushed in, hearing the loud screeches of the girl. The man held onto her arms, as she tried to rush at him. Celine gave up, falling forward and crying as the death played like a tape in her mind.

Yoongi looked at Jeongguk, who stared silently at the crying girl. Face pale, face set into a harsh line.

The man fell to the ground, just shaking his head. Eyes staring at nothing in particular. Facing the demons that had haunted him for so long, without the choice of running away.

"I wish-" she started, stopping herself as she clenched her fists and closed her blazing eyes.

But Jeongguk knew what she wanted to say.

"I wish it was you."

"Come on Celine, lets take you to Jimin." Yoongi said, ushering his other two friends out of the room.

Jeongguk knew the war was over, and he had lost.

There was nothing more dangerous than pushing a woman to not care.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>
(A/N): So she found out the truth....

💀💀🙃

What did y'all think?

Hoseok's purpose: He's that bîtch. He's the only one who thought to question Namjoon, because he never fully trusted him. He's the only one not too attached to any one person, that he was able to look at the situation critically.

He's that positive ray of sun that was able to shine the light on the truth.