Bittersweet

39: For Old Time's Sake

The ringer was going on. Ring.... Ring... Ring... So was Jisoo's heart. It was beating two times faster than usual. She felt the air getting heavier around her. She could almost taste the tears forming knots at the very back of her throat.
"Hello, this is Kim Ji-Yoo. Who's this?"
Jisoo's world stopped. It was the most familiar voice she heard. She could forget her own existence but not this voice. Her heart suddenly stopped. Tears made way through her right eye. She bit her lips. The voice on the other side again said,
"Hello? Who is speaking?"
A small feeling of happiness sparked inside her heart. She pressed her chest, with more pressure. Her palms as sweaty as her forehead. Tears coming out of her eyes as her lips curved into a heart smile. She looked majestic.
"Aish... These Punks..."
Jisoo chuckled hearing her mother scold her. The call ended with her mother giving her a ticket to memory lane. It was the same scolding she would get when she played a prank. It was the same scolding she would get when she surprised her mother while cooking by hugging her tight.

The phone buzzed in Jisoo's hands. She glanced at Yoongi with her eyes as big as marbles. Yoongi just smiled,
"A mother can identify her daughyer from the smallest of hints. Pick up Soo."
Her hands shaking, so did her voice. She put the call on loud speaker. She didn't have it in her to listen to her mother alone. After do many years.
"Jisoo, is that you? Jisoo, you are alive! I knew it! I always knew my daughter can't die!"
The woman sobbed. Almost howled. Jisoo cried silently,
"Eomma, it's me Jisoo. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I hid from you guys. I'm sorry Eomma. I'm sorry Appa."

"Jisoo-ssi, may I come in?"
Jisoo patted her tears off and smiled at the tall, well built figurine.
"Of course Sunbaenim!"
Namjoon smiled at her,
"You know, we can try to be like the old times again. I can again call you ChiChi, you can call me Oppa."
Old times. Yeah. It felt great to get back to the old times and rewrite the story. She smiled,
"Namjoon Oppa, my parents... Our parents. They are innocent. Here, look!"
Jisoo handed him the missing report. Namjoon scanned it. His eyes went up and down multiple times. At one point his fingers became unsteady,
"K. D?"
Jisoo hummed and smiled,
"You should meet him Oppa. You should."
"Thanks ChiChi."

"Hey, leader-nim."
Yoongi smirked as he saw, Namjoon throw the door open. Namjoon walked towards him, his hands tucked inside his pockets,
"Hey ya, Suga Hyung."
And without a further do, he jumped on Yoongi and wrapped his arms around him tightly. Yoongi kept whining,
"Don't! Don't!"
Of course both of them were being playful. After all, two long lost brothers were finally in each other's arms.

"Yoongi Hyung, are you really into Jisoo-ssi?"
"Weren't you into her as well?"
Yoongi smirked making Namjoon's dragon eyes wide. He choked on his breath. He gasped,
"Is it that obvious?"
"No, it isn't. It's just that, our maknae was here to witness it."
Namjoon broke into a laughter. Kiera. Their Maknae.

Of course he was connected to Kiera. He adored her. He adored the nameless girl who never thought much. He adored the maknae who was quite mature for her age. He adored the girl who had the courage to stand up. A Queen.

"Kiera has grown up a lot."
Namjoon sighed. It felt as if it was just yesterday. Kiera joined them. Just yesterday, she walked inside, hand in hand with Jungkook. Frightened, yet smiling at everyone. Speaking, her tone confident and unbruised.
"Yeah, she has grown up beautifully. But, she's been through a lot Namjoon-ah."
Yoongi said as memories flashed in front of his eyes. He had witness Kiera fall in love. He had seen how Jungkook felt for Kiera. He knew how Jungkook always hid tricks under his sleeves, just incase Kiera felt down. He himself, had lended money to Jungkook because Kim Su-Bong had thrown away a rose Kiera liked. Again, he had seen Kiera prepare small surprises for his happiness. He had also seen Kiera whisper with Jennie before Jungkook's every birthday. And just on his birthday, he would have small, rugged gifts all around him.
"What's up with her and Mr. Goody two shoes?"
"You mean Taehyung?"
"Whatever!"
"Taehyung loved her, but she asked him to quit his world and join you guys. Taehyung denied it. End of story."
"That easily? It wasn't love then!"
"Taehyung is right on his place. Kiera is right on hers. It's their life. Not ours."
And it was silence! Pin drop silence. Bitter, but true. It wasn't their lives to begin with. Why think about it so much then? Yoongi huffed,
"What do our girls see in these damn officers? Kiera-Taehyung. You bagged our little Nini. And then that kiddo with Roseanne."
"Kiddo? You mean Jimin?"
Namjoon laughed till it struck his mind. Rosé and Jimin were on two very different pages now. His voice hoarse,
"You mean Jimin? They broke up."
"Another break up? Weren't they damn lovey dovey all the time?"

Yeah, they were. But can you feel the weight of the word "were"? Can you believe it? The Jimin who climbed up his girlfriend's window just because she felt cold and wanted some cuddles? The Rosé who was starting to fight her illness for the sake of his smile? They are now fighting against each other. They are now running in opposite directions.

"Hyung, I don't know what's going on. I've started to fear what would happen to me and Jennie. I love her. But mayne I'm not enough for her."
Namjoon walked to the window. His heart would stop the moment she walks away. He would shatter into thousand pieces.
"Well, I can't say there isn't a possibility. People fall out of love. But that doesn't mean you would let fear get you. Just love her, in your way. Just listen to your heart. Okay?"
Namjoon nodded. His Hyung didn't know how to lie. Would it be too much to adk if he wanted a beautiful lie? A lie which would assure him that he would never have to decide a separate path away from Jennie? Would it be too much?