collateral damage 🔞 - COMPLETE

•seventy-one•

Four months

~~~~~Haerin

The sun is shining, and I'm walking in the garden trying to find beauty in my surroundings. I'm told that the integration has been successful, but I feel empty. Is it ever going to be the same when I leave this place? Last month I got a message from Naeun Unnie to check a link on YouTube. When I did, it was Jeongguk singing a cover of "All of my life" and I cried for hours. Did he choose that song for me? Does he miss me? Unnie has contacted me, but noone else has, so I figured that they were relieved I am not around...

"Haerin-ah!!"

I spin towards the voice, and see Naeun Unnie running to me. I open my arms and we hug each other tightly.

"What are you doing here Unnie? Is everything alright?"

"I just missed you... Everyone is worried because you never call."

"Huh?"

"Dr. Kang said you would be allowed to call after a couple weeks, but it's been months Haerin-ah... Jeongguk is very hurt."

"I don't know Unnie... At first it was that I didn't have the strength to hear his voice... Now, I figure he must realize he's better off without me."

"What have they done to you here? How could you have this crazy thought? He misses you liked mad, and is driving everyone nuts!"

"He never called me either Unnie... He didn't write... I think he's probably relieved."

"You know Jeongguk... If he was told you would call, then he'll wait for that. He was told you couldn't have visitors, and so he didn't try to come... Didn't you watch the YouTube video?"

"I did... His voice is so beautiful..."

"Haerin... He was singing to you! It was his 'phone call'... Now get off your ass and reach out to him!"

"Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden to him anymore..."

"Hae... He misses you... He loves you so much... Please call him."

"Alright... I'll call him..."

~~~~~Jeongguk

4 months... 112 days... 161,280 minutes... 9,676,800 seconds... I've tried everything to forget that I still have 2 more months to wait, but it doesn't work. No phone call yet... No letter...

I filmed a cover on YouTube last month, and hoped that she would see it. If she did, why didn't she reach out? It was all for her, and even the people that commented on it, knew that. I tried to get ahold of Dr. Kang to find out if there was a problem, but she didn't take my call. I just don't know what to do anymore. My heart is in pain constantly, and I feel scared that she's never coming back.

A light knock on the door has me moving to answer it. When I open it, a sad Jimin stands looking at the floor. I open the door wider so he can enter, and follow him to the living room.

"Jimin? What's wrong?"

"Are we being punished? Is she not calling to show us what she felt back then?"

I sigh as he voices out my own thoughts. I wish I could tell him it's not that, but I honestly don't know anymore. I see his glossy eyes, and I reach out to squeeze his hand.

"I don't know Jimin-ssi... I wish she would call, but I haven't heard anything either."

The sound of my phone ringing, makes me move to my room where I left it. I pick it up, and freeze at the contact...