|| 42 ||

I took a deep breath as jungkook parked the car. He flashed me a tight lipped smile before getting off the car. He rounded and opened the door for me before I could. Doe eyes looked at me with calmness as he offered me his hand which I gladly took.

My heart drummed in my chest as I neared the sea shore whilst holding jungkook's clammy hands.

We walked further, the chilly winds pushing us back like storms. It's daytime but there's no daylight, it looks so dim and devoid of colours.My breathing again went irregular.

Finally giving up on pretending that he didn't notice my apprehensive self, he turned sideways to face me. Jungkook firmly held my shoulders and let out a small sigh.

" I can literally hear your heartbeats, Princess " He acknowledged, slightly grinning to lighten up the mood. But I gawked at him, standing like a corpse with no life in my eyes.

He frowned, scrunching his nose.

" It's just nothing. Don't stress yourself too much...yeah?" His silky voice seeping into my ears like melodies. His hand elevated from my shoulder to gently stroke my hair, ever so gently. I wanted to believe his consoling words but that's far from reality .

After a long moment of silence I gazed up to his calm face only to find him immediately flash a vague grin and waver his glassy eyes away.

" How much time, jungkook?" I said in dim voice. He blinked his eyes commanding the holy cath to slip out from his pocket and float in the air. " It's t-twenty minutes...princess"He whispered with such struggle, his voice seemed to clog and lips quivered slightly.

Just twenty minutes and I would be alone. Deprived of my home and happiness.

I stepped closer to him, reflecting the same gloominess in my eyes." Bunny, can this not be just a sad dream? I-I'll just wake up and everything will be fine." I mumbled mindlessly, the lump in my throat turning painful.

He sucked in a harsh breath and just kept gawking at me, disappointed with himself that he didn't have anything to say.

He opened his mouth to say something but, " Jungkookie!" We snapped our heads back to find Jimin and Taehyung pacing towards us.

" Jimin hyung! "Jungkook mustered his fullest to give his friend the brightest smile that he could. I watched them loosely hugging each other.

My lazy eyes darted to taehyung who patiently made his way to me. " How are...* sighs * it's clearly scribbled on your face... Come on don't be so sad." Taehyung remarked with difficulties and patted my head. I could just sigh.

Jungkook now looked at taehyung and quickly held his hand out for a handshake. " Hello, hyung. I'm glad t-that yo-ou came." He smiled wider at him, still vague but he tried despite his trembling lips begging to break.

Taehyung's blank gaze flickered from jungkook's hand to his face.

I swear I'll kill him right now if he doesn't shake his hands with jungkook.

Just when I was about to step in, I halted, stunned, as taehyung grinned, flashing his heart melting boxy smile and pulled the latter in a hug.

Jungkook seemed to froze on his stop, his eyes slightly widened in surprise.

Taehyung patted his back. " Hi Satan, I wanted too." He stated leaving all the three of us dazed.

" That's so unexpected, taehyungah"Jimin chuckled lightly and I vaguely nodded in agreement.

" It's not unexpected, jiminie...." Taehyung trailed off and sighed before looking back at jungkook." Satan, I forgive you for your past deeds."  Taehyung patted jungkook's shoulder and subtly smiled.

Jungkook blinked, trying to believe what he heard. And when he realised he was already hugging taehyung again. " Hyung, I didn't expect your for forgiveness but...I'm grateful...really! That you did."

Taehyung nodded. " I judged you jungkook, I'm at fault too. I never liked the idea of shijin being with you, but you know, ever since the day in hospital, I still remember your promise and you kept it too.

That day, I realised that shijin had actually found the shiniest diamond among all. You're the perfect man for my friend, jungkook."

Jungkook grinned broadly, tears of happiness brimming in his eyes. His chest puffing a little at the compliment. His nose twitched and doe eyes reddened from holding tears.

" Ah-u t-thank you for having faith in me and forgiving me, hyung." He stumbled upon his words meanwhile Jimin greeted me and tried to comfort me.

" Jungkookie, just ten minutes, come here to hyung." Jimin peeked at the remote. Jungkook now moved towards Jimin's spread arms. As asked, he embraced his hyung." Stay strong, whatever you're doing will not go in vain. I'm proud of you jungkookie, really really proud. " Jimin praised. I comprehend the reason instantly but I realised.

Jungkook has sacrificed for me. To save me from dying.

" I just did what any immortal would do, hyung. So refering me as someone great. We live for our soulmate, then how could I let her die?" Jungkook smiled back.

" Sure you cannot. I'll miss you, Jungkookie." Jimin ruffled jungkook's brown hair.

" We'll be there by the car." Taehyung shortly informed, realising that I needed a little private time. Tears in Jimin's eyes and he patted the younger'd head." Take care jungkook. Bayee."

Jungkook sincerely nodded. " I'll miss you all a lot. " Jungkook chuckled, his broken heart could be heard through his voice. He waved at both of them until their waving figures shrank.

He took a deep breath and sighed. He strode to my frozen figure. Watery, brown doe eyes shone with a bright shade of yellow or sorrow.He raised his hands up to my face and cupped it in between his palm.

" My pretty pretty princess, look at me." He pleaded, inching his face closer to mine. I lifted my eyelashes up to look into his eyes, and when I did, my chest hurt.

" Princess, I'm sorry for leaving you alone. I'm sorry, I broke my promise. I'm sorry I-"

" Shh... don't apologize, please." I cut him by joining my forehead with his. He looked at me with those affectionate and loving eyes.

" listen to me carefully hmm ?" Jungkook breathed, wrapping his hands around my waist to pull me closer to his body. " Princess, never think that any of it happened because of you, please, I beg you to not. " He whispered weakly and kissed my forehead.

My heart clenched.

" Don't be so upset, I'm unable to stand those tears and everytime you shed them for me, I'll feel like the worst man ever to make you cry. " He planted a brief kiss on my forehead again.

Tears shed down to my cheeks like unending streams of water.

" I'll always be with you." This made me snap my eyes to his again. " You will?" I whispered questioningly, tracing his face down with my fingertips.

He nodded undoubtedly. " I told you , didn't I? We'll always be together and complete...." He sniffed and a tear rolled down his mellow cheek. He placed my hand on his chest, " here...and" he rested his palm on my heart. " Here."

I sobbed harder, clutching his shirt then hopelessly throwing my arms around his neck to engulf him in a tight hug. A harsh cry tore from my chest, leaving me struggling for breaths, I almost suffocated his neck with my iron grip.

" Don't leave...ju-ungkook don't- I.. please I b-beg you" I whimpered vulnerably, inhaling deep breaths whilst burying my face in his neck.

Jungkook protectively locked his arms around my panicked form, rubbing my back soothingly. " Princess, don't cry..please" he whispered, pecking my hair and silent tears soaked his cheeks.

" You-u won't come back. I'll not let you go." I shuddered in his grip feeling my knees weak, tightening my grasp to not even let the air pass through between our bodies.

" princess, calm down, you're panicking. Breathe." Jungkook calmly said, rubbing my back and stroking my hair.

He's avoiding it again.

No. I won't let him.

I swiftly detached myself from him, stepped two steps back and wiped my red and wet face with my palm." Jungkook you will return, just as you told me you will." I announced firmly looking straight into his red and puffy doe eyes.

" Two weeks, three weeks or a whole damn month, I don't mind.

I will wait for you as long as you want, just come back to me."

My voice cracked again, my breaths turned shallow and unsteady, making me gasp for breaths.

He didn't say anything, just stared at me, unwavering, with his galaxy like doe eyes holding thousands of emotions in them.

" Princess " he stepped closer to me, forwarding his hand to cup my cheeks but I cut him sternly." No! Answer me first. When will you come back, jungkook ?!"

Suddenly, a high tide erupted from the core of the sea, historically, mounting on the water like a hill." Listen to me, plea-" jungkook stopped in between, noticing my dazed eyes stuck behind him from over his shoulder.

He followed my gaze and turned around. A flash beamed out from the deep blue water, tearing the steady tide into two halves. Scattering the eye blindingly shiny light, the water stretched apart and a white nothing came into the view.

Edged with crystalline silver border, the parted water rose up higher to form a rectangular shape.Beyond the white gate was nothing but a bright white light.

Realisation hit me.

" Is it.....is it th-e"

" Infinity portal." He completed, eyes on the said portal.

Jungkook swiftly turned to me, fresh salty tears brimming the corners of his eyes. He stepped in closer to me but and invisible force pulled him two steps backwards.

Just like in my dream.

My eyes widened with a frown and I walked to him again." Jungkook, wh-at is happ-ening?" I looked at him with fearful eyes.

I panicked when he was pulled further backwards. His yellow eyes, full of melancholy, hurtfully gaze back at me. I cried harder, trying to reach him with my trembling hands.

He bit his lips and then suddenly broke into harder sobs. Jungkook sniffed and wiped his tears with his sleeves. He closed his eyes as if mustering courage to fight the force pulling him towards the infinity portal.

His eyes flicked open again. The winds stopped blowing for a second. The tides froze in the air. A strange silence wrapped the environment.

He stopped the time.

I my slow breaths audible in my ear. I stared at him who gazed back at me,

Until,

Just like a storm, he dashed to me, swiftly cupped my face and clashed his lips with mine.

Flustered and stunned, I froze there like a rock until I felt his pillowy lips press flush against mine and simultaneously move, taking mine in their warmth.

It took me moment to kiss him back with the same intensity. I clutched the back of his shirt tightly in my fists.

A bit harsh at first but his lips now moved slowly, gently savoring every bit of taste from mine as if he longed for it and he would never get to taste them again. He angled my head to kiss me deeper, pouring all the affection and love in his heart. His helplessness and pain from his eyes, streamed down his face and tasted salty in my mouth. The kiss ever so sweet and beautiful that it imprinted deep into my heart.

A moment that seemed so short but will live forever in my mind, ended.

I wrapped my arms around him, clutching him to myself and he reciprocated identical emotions, holding me firm to his chest.

Jungkook rested his forehead on mine, cheeks red and eyes puffy whilst the tears haven't stopped.

My eyes suddenly flicked lower to his legs. His legs started to turn into numerous golden and black butterflies which slowly fluttered their wings and started flowing towards the portal.

" Jungk-ook your legs!" I shrieked looking down at his legs while his eyes fixed on mine, unbothered.

" Princess, listen to me." He calmly requested, cupping my face, his forehead resting on mine.

I sniffed, gazing at his eyes, tears streamed down from my unblinking eyes.

" Move on. If It takes me more than a month to return back to your arms,

Then forget about me. Erase me from your memories and move on."

" Wha-! Wh-at are y-ou sayin-"

He wiped my tears with his palm and knuckles and pecked my forehead. " Shh....don't argue. Forget about me, about us and start a new life with a new someone."

" Jung-" I cut myself when his waist turned disappeared, turning into butterflies and flapping towards the portal.

He dropped his forehead back onto mine.

" Always remember this, please."

" Jungkook your chest!" I shrieked, now wrapped my arms around his neck, quickly and as tightly as I could.

" Whether I return or not, Whether we are together or not, whether you love me or not, whether they lock me under the rivers or destroy my soul forever....."

His neck vanished and turned into butterflies.

" In my heart,

It'll be always you.

Always you.

Just you."

He disappeared in the thin air, the black and golden butterflies got sucked into the portal and the moment the last was entered it, it closed and vanished completely.

" Jungkook ! "

I scream tore out from your lungs. Adrenaline rushing through my nerves, my breaths got stuck in my chest, my chest ached so hard as if someone ripped my heart out and threw it into the vast sea. Unable to breath, I felt like something choked my throat, my vision turned blurry before it got covered with black dots, my legs felt numb.

He left me.........just like they did.

I'm lonely in this world. Again.

I'm an orphan with no family. Again.

And I collapsed with a thud.

•••

The white lights made me squeeze my closed eyes. It didn't seem to work and I forced to open my eyes.The bright creamy walls stung in my eyes. So much light.

Slowly I regained my consciousness and scanned around the room with my eyes.

Where am I? Where's jungkook??

The door infront of the bed opened revealing Jimin whose eyes turned into crescents when he noticed that I'm awake. He walked to the bed." Hey! Shijin. When did you wake up?" He said.

I sat up, rubbing my eyes for a clearer vision. " I just woke up. Where am I? Why am I here? And what about ju-"

" Relax pretty lady, cool. You fainted back then at the beach. And we're at the hospital, you had a panick attack." He explained and took a seat at the stool beside.

" Oh. Did I?" I mumbled, to which he nodded with a thin lipped smile." And about jungkook..... you know it." He added, voice lacing with pity.I went still, the flashbacks instantly on my mind. I sighed.

So it was not a dream.

" Are you okay?" He asked, concerned. I gave a slight nod.Silence wrapped the room. I didn't feel like speaking, rather I was zoned out, staring at nothing until the door opened and Taehyung entered with a packet in his hand.

" Oh, you awake, bish?" He exclaimed with fake excitement only to get a dull nod from me.

" These are meds. Panick attacks are scary." He handed me the bag of medicines.

" Is it your first time having a panick attack?" Jimin inquired.

" Yeah, as far as I know." Taehyung answered for me. I gave a curt nod in agreement.

" My car?" I blurted out of nowhere." I parked it at your building." Jimin answered and I could just blankly nod, unbothered to thank him.

" Drop me at my apartment, taehyung. " I said which came more like a cold order. Taehyung stood stunned for a second.

Oh. I called him taehyung.

I realised, I've never called him with his name. But I'm just too exhausted and drained out. And I just can't breathe in these medicines in the room.

Understanding the state of my mind, he nodded. Jimin stood up. And I did too. The three of us made our way out of the hospital building.

" Shijin, are you sure you wanna go home? I mean you can come at ours, you still are not well." Jimin suggested, opening the door of the backseat for me.

" It's not home, Jiminshi. And I'm absolutely fine." I bluntly stated, not realising my that I looked so damn rude.

But Jimin just smiled brightly and patted my head. " As it pleases you." He shrugged and shut the door close. He rounded the car to sit beside taehyung at the front and Taehyung pulled the car out.

The car ride was rather silent, atleast for me. Jimin and Taehyung chatted throughout, even trying to involve me in their conversations but sat nonchalant, gazing out of the window.

Just an hour ago, he was right here in the car with me, holding my hands , laughing and talking to me like they are doing to eachother.

Dull and uncaring, I looked out of the window and kept looking until we reached the society and my building.

I stepped out of the car. " Shijin, are you sure you can be alone. We totally don't mind." Taehyung offered again.

" Yeah, and if you're unwilling to come at our apartment, we don't mind staying at yours." Jimin chirped with a comforting smile.

I shook my head. " I'm good. It's not like this is the first time, I'm living alone ever since I was born." I said with a poker face, concealing the pain behind it.

Taehyung let out a huge sigh." You won't listen, will ya? "

I kept mum.

" Fine! We're going, okay?!" Taehyung exclaimed faking annoyance. " If you need anything, do call us. Please take care." Jimin smiled and I nodded, vaguely turning around to enter the building despite them waving at me.

Lazy steps took me to elevator and then simultaneously to my apartment. I typed the passcode and was about to turn the knob, but I halted.

My breath hitched before in went uneasy. The wave of memories wahed over me. Everytime I came back from office exhausted, and every single time, he was there waiting for me. And when I entered, he would welcome me with those heart melting bunny smiles and later with kisses and hugs.

I was physically here, but mentally, I'm still there at the beach.

With great courage, I opened the door and entered, to be greeted by silence, darkness and loneliness.

My stupid, stupid eyes dumbly scanned the living area and kitchen, thinking that I could find him standing by the kitchen, stealing carrots or slouched down on the couch, giggling and shyly watching romantic dramas on the television.

Not bothering to switch the lights on, I made my way in the dark bedroom and sprawled down on the bed hopelessly.

The very moment, the familiar and sweet smell filled my nostrils, my eyes shone with tears.

Not so later, I was already draped in sheets and snuggling my nose in the pillows that smelled like him - my bunny.

Silent sobs leaving my parted lips and lone tears rolled down my temples to fall and soak the pillows.

" Just two days ago, at this exact time, we were so happy, standing infront of our new 'home'. We had dinner and talked so much.

You looked so happy.

We were so happy.

Then what happened to us, bunny?"

I murmured, weeping harder and curling myself more into a ball.

" Why did you go, my pretty bunn?"

I cried, sniffing and hiccuping for good two hours.

Suddenly, I remembered.

I jolted upright and gazed down at my neck, the magical necklace he gave me, through which we could conversate. A little smile of hope, stretched across my lips.

I remembered his words. Think about us and it'll activate.

I nodded to myself, roughly yet quickly wiping the tears from my swollen eyes.

I clutched the pendant in my fist and then to my heart. I closed my eyes, thinking about him, about us.

Two minutes turned into ten minutes but nothing happened.

" Bunn, yours is not activated perhaps? Ahh, are they even treating you nicely? Is this the reason you can't listen my call, they're torturing you, aren't they?" I mumbled to myself. My lips trembled and yet another set of tears gushed down me face.

But the hope is still there.

" It's okay. I'll try again after sometime and keep trying until it activates, okay lil bean?"

Silence was the only answer I got.

I dropped myself back on the bed.My eyes fixed at the ceiling and I hugged the same pillow to my chest.

Suddenly, A cry, broke out from my lips.

" Everything is so painful and lonely without you, bunny.

Come back please,I terribly miss you."

______________________________________

( A/n : I apologise for giving you the hardest spin of the story.

But there's no fun without twists and turns. Anyways, stay tuned ;))