The Red Cosmos

Peonies

That night, Da Hye isn't able to sleep. Every time she closes her eyes she sees him.

The man she once loved in her old town. He's laughing, pointing his finger as he mocks her.

The eyes she once loved are narrowed, pure hatred in them. Laughing at her pain. She curls into a ball, tears spilling as they roll down her cheeks, staining the bedsheets.

It hurt so much, to feel the rejection all over again. She was so sure this time, sure that Seokjin felt the same, sure that he would be hers.

Sniffing as she pulls herself off the bed she glances at the wall clock, it read one AM. The thought of Mina in his arms pulls at her heart. If only... If only it were her.

Unable to handle the pain in her heart, she decides to take a walk. Despite it being a bad idea what with a serial killer on the loose and her suspicion secret admirer somewhere out there she finds that she doesn't care at the moment.

Tugging on a sweater she pockets her phone before slipping out the front door. The air is chilly, she shivers the moment it hits her. The full moon is out tonight, shining brightly. She wonders if the moon ever feels lonely in the sky. Why would it? Everyone loved the moon, even the stars she thinks glancing up again. They would always be by its side.

Unlike me, she thinks bitterly, everyone leaves her. Emptier than before each time.

She's about to step off her porch when the sound of a door swinging open startles her. It's Hoseok, he's frantically leaving his home. Carelessly throwing on a jacket he starts his car, before he gets in he stops abruptly glancing over at her house.

She panics, pressing herself to the farthest corner of the porch she can, hoping the shadows of the trees will hide her. It seems to work as he doesn't notice her but her relief is short-lived as he's staring rather intensely at what could only be her bedroom window. It scares her, she's never seen that expression on his face before. Where was he going at one in the morning?

He quickly looks away and climbs into the vehicle before speeding off to who knows where. Taehyung's words about him snooping around her house resonate in her head.

A vibration from her phone startles her, looking down it's a text from Taehyung.

Why is he up at one AM? Is everyone just awake now??

From TaeTae🐻
1:09AM
Hye Hye!
I know ur asleep but I just wanted u to know that I'm here for you always and I know the whole thing with Jin sucks but I know u, ur strong and u will be okay! Love hurts but that doesn't mean we should give up!
Okay I'm done now!! Gn!
Actually morning lol

The message warms her heart, he truly is the sweetest and she's beyond grateful that they remained friends.
He's right! She thinks as she hops off her porch cheerfully, love hurts but it doesn't mean the world is going to end! Life goes on!

🌹

By the time she gets home from her walk the sun has begun rising, she can see the faintest color of pink decorating the sky. Her limbs are exhausted and sleep is finally tugging at her eyelids but despite it all she feels accomplished!
Everything would be alright! It would all work out in the end.

❣️

Da Hye admits she had been avoiding the bakery lately but it's not only because of a certain pretty pastry chef, she had begun working on a big project for the flower shop. One that kept her at work late at night.
She recalls passing by the bakery on those late night walks home and spotting the faintest light coming from inside.
She wondered what he could be doing in there so late but immediately cuts it from her mind as she remembers Mina.
She won't deny she does feel guilty for avoiding the man on several occasions. Like that one morning when she spotted him standing outside the bakery fixing a sign, she panicked and crossed the street praying he didn't notice her. Or that one time he spotted her coming out of the local grocery store, he had called out to her and she pretended not to hear. Merely speed walking away. She went as far as ignoring one of his texts.
But after Taehyungs encouraging words and a few relaxing days off of work she feels confident that everything would be okay and she'd be able to look the man in the face without vomiting tears of heartbreak.

🌹

Her cheerful demeanor is short lived the moment the bakery comes into view.
There are police cars parked sloppily in front of the shop and cops littered around the area.
Among them she spots Jin speaking to one of the cops. His eyes are swollen, bloodshot and he's frantic as he speaks.
She can't make out what he's saying only that it's in rushed, jumbled words.
Her stomach churns anxiously, what's going on?
The cop steps away leaving him on his own, he runs his hand through his hair roughly.

"Jin?" Comes her voice, afraid, small as she takes a hesitant step forward.

His head snaps in her direction and the look he gives her is utterly heartbreaking.
"Hye" he sobs rushing forth and gathering her into a crushing hug. Her stomach flips at the sudden movement, his body is warm against hers as he holds her tightly.
His shoulders are shaking and she realizes he's crying into her shoulder.
"Jin, what's wrong?! Why are all these cops here?" She says rubbing his back soothingly.
He takes a moment to regain himself before pulling away and looking into her eyes. She wants so much to kiss those tears away.

"Hye... Mina's missing"

Her stomach sinks.

"What??"

He sniffs "She's been missing for days. When she didn't reply to my texts I figured she was just busy with work. The cops think she's been kidnapped, her apartment was ravaged and there was blood all over" he says as a new set of tears pool forth.

She's too shocked to respond merely pulling him into another embrace. A nagging sensation at the back of her head.