collateral damage 🔞 - COMPLETE

•eight• later

Walking in to the small apartment after the long day, she strips off her coat and discards her shoes. The encounter with Jimin running through her head on repeat. She's been living in Seoul for more than 6 months, and had never run across either one of the ghosts from her past. She's seen every billboard, and the pictures almost everywhere she goes, but never in person. Her heart is still beating uncontrollably in her chest, and she sits on the chair at the table to catch her breath.

"Miss Haerin, you're back!"

Haerin looks up to see her Unnie walking through the door, smiling. She gives a weak smile back to her, but quickly looks away.

"Naeun unnie... How many times do I have to tell you to just call me Haerin? We're not in my parents house anymore, and there is no need to be so formal with me."

"Sorry... Old habits. How was your day? You look exhausted."

"Gee... Thanks!"

Haerin is joking, but her mood is crappy, so it comes out like she's mad.

"I didn't mean anything bad Haerin. You seem in a foul mood. Do you want to talk about it?"

Remembering what had happened not long ago, Haerin sighed. Her heart which had finally started to heal, was now oozing blood as the scab was disturbed.

"I ran into Jimin..."

Naeun knew not to say anything. She'd been there when Haerin had fallen apart after they left. She had watched as Haerin's parents had tried to force her to marry a pervert, and go to business school. Worst of all, she was witness to the day that her own mother threw her down the stairs trying 'teach her a lesson'...

"Unnie?"

"Oh, sorry... How is Jimin?"

"I don't know... I ran away as soon as possible... I don't know if I can ever forgive him... He lied to me Unnie."

"You know Haerin... Maybe he didn't... You won't know unless you speak to him..."

"What's he going to say? Sorry I got everything I ever wanted! If he had wanted to stay in touch, he would have. There's no point in opening that door again."

"Was it just him? Jeongguk wasn't"

"No! Thank God! I hope to never see him again."

Naeun didn't comment further. Not only does she know how heart broken Haerin was, but how much she still loves him to this day. Naeun thought that if it would help, she'd find a way to talk to both those idiotic boys.

"Enough about the ones who left Unnie... How was your day? How are they?"

"They're good. I'll be going to pick them up in a little while. Did you want to come with?"

"I think I'll pass today. I need a bath, and maybe a drink... I'll see them when you come back."

When Haerin is alone again, she goes to the refrigerator and grabs a couple bottles of soju. Bringing them with her to the bathroom, she turns on the tap to run a warm bath. While the tub fills, she opens, and drinks deeply from the first bottle. This is her habit when she's upset. Chugging down a bottle of soju, or a couple glasses of wine in a short amount of time. It gives her a nice buzz and smooths out her rough edges. The numbing effect is something she needs.

When the tub is filled, she throws in a couple bath bombs and strips out of her clothes. She finishes the first bottle of drink, and opens the second. Taking it with her, she sinks into the fragrant water, sighing as her muscles start to relax. Sipping on the alcohol, she lets her mind wander. Thoughts she doesn't want, come unbidden though, and tears roll down her cheeks. She didn't let Jimin see her cry, but she can't hold them in anymore. It may have been 5 years, but seeing him in front of her, made it feel like yesterday... It was supposed to be 3 days without them... What a joke...