The Red Cosmos

Iris

Park Jimin was the brightest star in her galaxy. Her sun, her warmth on a cold winter day. The ray of light that kept her petals nourished and flourishing with happiness.

One could not go on without its sun. Without him she felt alone, surrounded by endless darkness.

She met him at the age of seven years old, he was eight. His family had moved next door to hers and her mother being the friendly woman she was had encouraged her to befriend the boy with the chubby cheeks and shy smile.

She was instantly attached to him, he took care of her, protected her from the bullies, and tended to her wounds. How could she not love him?

They attended the same schools growing up and through it all he was there for her. She watched him bloom into a beautiful flower before her eyes. His once chubby features, sculpting into a structured jawline with sharp cheekbones and a high forehead, his plush lips ever so red pulled into a dazzling smile the moment his doe-eyes land upon her. He was perfect, a piece of art befitting for a museum.

With Park Jimin by her side, she needed no one else.

That was until she came into the picture.

With her long, silky, black hair and taunting eyes that followed his every move. Lee Hae Ri was everything she was not. Confident and beautiful.

Jimin was instantly smitten with her, drawn to her like a foolish moth towards a flame. It hurt, to see the love she desired so desperately, given to someone else. A complete stranger.

Then came the changes, the excuses he made to skip out on their usual hangouts, the attention he paid to his phone whilst she chattered away about things he clearly wasn't listening to. The shy glances he would exchange with the other woman as they passed each other by in the hallways. She noticed it all, and slowly,  she watches as her petals crumble to ash, for her sun had been stolen away. Snatched from her hands all too easily.

Da Hye became the third wheel in their relationship, she watched painstakingly as all the love she had hoped to see in his eyes for herself, is showered upon the other woman.

It hurt, crushed her heart to see his smiles and kisses reserved for another.

The pain drove her mad with envy, anger, hurt. How could he do this to her? How could he abandon her when she'd been with him much longer than her. Why couldn't he see her love for him?

Their relationship continued after high school where they attended the same university. By then her resentment towards Hae Ri had only grown.

The final blow to her fragile heart comes when Jimin pulls her aside one day, his eyes are bright with happiness and his hands that grip her own tightly makes her heart flutter.

"Hye! I need help with something".

She wants to tell him that she would pull the stars from the sky for him, gather every flower in the world if asked, give him her heart entirely if he merely said the word.

She settles for a smile "what do you need help with?".

"I'm.. I'm going to ask Hae Ri to marry me" he says a deep blush coloring his pretty face.

Her heart sinks to the pits of her stomach.

"I need you to take her over to my place later, I decorated already I just need to pick up the cake okay?" he says squeezing her hands encouragingly.

She doesn't remember answering him, merely nodding. He breaks into a breathtaking smile "thank you Hye, you've always been there for me. You don't know how much this means to me".

By the time he lets go, she's stuck, standing in one place. Watching his retreating figure until it's out of sight. The tears that follow are painful, she can't breathe. He knees are weak and she slumps to the floor in her barely contained grief.

It wasn't fair, why couldn't it be her? Why Hae Ri!?

The anger boils over, the rage comes in the form of a calm façade. Wiping her tears she composes herself before pulling out her phone and dialing the number of the woman who stole the most precious thing in her life.

"Hello?" comes the staticky voice on the other end.

"Hae Ri! I was wondering if you'd accompany me to Jimin's place today, I need help preparing a surprise for him you know considering he'll be graduating soon. I thought it'd be fun to celebrate early!"

"Of course I'll help! I'll meet you at the gates later after class okay?" comes her obnoxiously high voice.

"Sure" she grins, anticipation creeping over her.

🥀

It was difficult at first, what with all the screaming and thrashing about. She had a few scratches here and there but when it finally died down she couldn't stop the grin that spread across her lips. She had to admit she had never seen Hae Ri look as beautiful as she did now.

Maybe now Jimin would love her, finally, she assumes scrubbing away at the red that stained her hands. She hadn't felt this calm and collected since she and Jimin were kids. Blushing at the thought of him, she hears the tell-tale sign of his keys unlocking the door.

Smoothing out the invisible wrinkles upon her dress, she waits for him to see the surprise she prepared. He'll love her for sure she encourages herself.

"Da Hye" comes his sweet voice humming like a melody in her ears.
He rushes into the living room, disheveled but gleeful as he meets her gaze.
Only for the smile to drop from his lips.

He's beautiful she thinks as the cake in his hands slips from his grip.

He's all mine she sighs as the tears flood his eyes.

All mine she smiles when he levels her with a look of horror.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" He all but screams.

Confused, she walks over to him spilling forth confessions of her love. From their childhood until now she pours her heart out to him.
All the while he's sitting in one place eyes glued to the body splattered in crimson, lying across the couch.
His hands are shaking, she leans forth reaching out to brush the hair from his eyes when he shoves her back harshly. Leveling her with a look of disgust.

Hurt flashes across her face and like a cauldron of unstable potions spilling forth, the pain in her heart unravels into words of anger and feelings she's held in for so long.

There's disbelief in his eyes, rage, sadness but not a single drop of love.

The pain is overwhelming, it swells in her chest screaming to break free. Even as he rushes forth reaching out to grab the discarded corpse of Hae Ri, why? Even though she's no longer alive, why do you still love her??!!

"WHY CAN'T IT BE ME!!" She hollers, tears pooling down her face. Ignoring the fear in his eyes, the screams, the begging to please stop, until it all falls silent.

Finally

Blissful silence.

🥀

"You killed him", come Hoseok's voice laced with disgust.

Snapping her head towards his direction she has tears in her eyes.

"In a fit of rage, you killed Park Jimin and his lover, for rejecting your love. The police caught wind of it but by then you had been long gone. Escaped to this small town where you thought you could get away with it. And now here you are repeating the sick, twisted cycle of what you consider love". he says regarding Mina sadly.

Seokjin watches them both with wide, fearful eyes.

Taehyung merely smiles.

"Da Hye, you are under arrest for the murders of Park Jimin, Lee Hae Ri, and Kwon Mina".