2018

As the sun is setting in Busan, you fiddle with your keys in your duffleback, locking yourself inside your apartment in the middle of the busy city.

You try to balance the grocery bags inside the cosy place as fast as possible, the grip on both of them tight, as you kick off your sneakers in the small hallway.

You reach inside your kitchen, the bags dropping to the floor with a small clonk.
You blow away the dark hair hanging down in your eyes, before taking the elastic band from your wrist and tie it up in a messy bun.

A small shuffle makes your ears peak up, little noises coming from behind. You turn around, a smile curving your lips upwards.

"Hi baby." You say in a high-pitched voice, bowing down and pick up your trusty companion in form of Yuri, the stray cat you found outside your apartment as you moved in. She's been living with you since then, making your everyday life a tiny bit more exciting. Having someone to come home to.

Mioo had left to study in the US, so now you were feeling quite lonely once again — something was missing. But it wasn't Mioo.

You just couldn't put your finger on it.

After unpacking the groceries, you pack your backpack once more, filling it with studies from university, the exam next week filling up most of your time outside of campus.

You sigh as you lock your apartment door once more, running down the stairs before reaching the-now darkened streets of Busan.

Walking for a bit, you're now sitting at your favorite café. The interior of the café was warm and cheery, with bright lights and colorful walls. Green plants filled the room the same way that the calming smell of roasted beans and warm scones did so.

With your laptop on the desk in front of you and a soothing mocha next to it, you typed away, not noticing how time flew by, the night sky shining outside of the café.

The younger barista stealing a few glances at you once in a while, wondering what can possibly occupy the beautiful girl, and now the only customer, for hours.

His attention is brought back, as the door swings open, the familiar ding noise shaking him out of his trance, surprised another customer showing up this close to closing-hours.

You blink hearing the door open, not removing your eyes from your screen, scratching the back of your neck, before cracking it fast, shuddering at your bad habit. You take a sip of your almost cold mocha, not noticing the piercing stare that's suddenly on your back.

"Gem ..."

You freeze, the mocha still in your hand that suddenly turns warm and sweaty.
You swallow hearing the voice behind you.
Placing the cup next to your laptop, you slowly turn around on the comfy chair, seeing the owner of the only nickname you ever liked.

Jimin is standing a few meters behind you, his body still.

He's wearing black jeans and a big over-sized grey hoodie, his ice-blonde hair hidden behind the hood that's thrown over his head. A black mask is placed firmly over his mouth, the only visible thing his dark brown eyes, that almost looks glossy from where you're sitting.

You can tell he's unsure of himself, as he takes the mask down, his plump, pink lips glowing in the dimmed lights.

You open your mouth, wanting to speak, but no words come out. You have no idea what to say to the man that were your best friend for years, the most true relationship you'd ever had. He seems so unfamiliar, the way his posture is, the way his body has lost weight, his eyes not shining as bright as they used to. His glowing aura gone.

Something's missing.

"I'm so sorry for—" Jimin breaks the silence, but stutters, making you open your mouth.

"Stop it, Jimin."

His eyes dart from his black chelsea-boots and up to yours, a trace of plead behind the glossy windows of them. He awaits your voice once more, wanting to hear what's on your chest.

"You can't do this. You can't just come back after years, bumping into me randomly, and then expect to apologize. Not like this." Your voice raising, you shake your head in disbelief that he's actually in front of you.

"Gem, I never meant to—"

"That's the thing Jimin. You did. All of a sudden you just ignored me, like I was never in your life to begin with! You just faded away. I don't even recognize you anymore ..."

The words fall so easily from your lips, the sight of your best friend blurring due to the welling tears in your blue eyes.

Cold, harsh words hitting Jimin like a dagger in the chest, he looks to the ground once more, his hand catching ahold of his face.

You wince your eyes together, not wanting to break down in front of him. If everything was like it used to, you would've ran to him, hold him tight and comforted him until he stopped crying. You would stroke his soft hair, peck his ear and say that everything would be okay.

But now all you could do was watch the broken man in front of you sob, as you grabbed your things from the table, before rushing past his fragile body, brushing his shoulder. So light, but the touch from his still managed to make your heart skip a beat, which frustrated you even more.

You grab the doorknob and clench your jaw, turning your head to take a look at Jimin once more. He's looking at you, his not so puffy cheeks any longer, wet from the salty tears leaking from his still beautiful brown eyes.

"Please don't leave me." He almost silently mouths, his arms hanging down his sides as his eyes begs for you to stay.

"I'm sorry, Jimin." You say before leaving you and Jimin's favorite café.