Heartbeat

Nightmare's Truth

Yoongi looked nervous. For the first time since I have known him, he looked so red. This was understandable considering the way he fell asleep yesterday night. We had a rule among the three of us. Sunday breakfast was Jungkook's responsibility, lunch was Yoongi's, and dinner was mine. Jungkook greeted me with a plate of steaming pancakes, honey dripping on the sides, while Yoongi was halfway through his plate and gave me small smile.

For the entire day, we were either sitting in the living room talking about very random stuff, on the roof, or in the backyard, still talking about some very random stuff. All of this was on Yoongi's assistance that he wanted one free day with his brother and best friend (who had liked him for eight years straight). From board games to a game of tag, we literally played everything a group of 7-year-olds would play.

At one point, when Yoongi had gone inside to bring badminton rackets, Jungkook huddled near me and whispered, "Did he hit his head when he fell that day?" He was referring to the decoration tragedy.

I chuckled, "No! Why would you say that?"

"It's very unusual for hyung to be in physically exhausting activity, that too for so many hours. He would always want to sleep or sit alone if he has so much time."

Jungkook's confusion was legit because although I didn't let this out, Yoongi's sudden energetic behavior was surprising in a suspicious manner. The games we played weren't really exhausting, however, the more we looked at it, the more it felt that he was desperate for our company, doing anything to keep us near him.

Jungkook wasn't allowed to whisper further as his brother returned with the rackets from the stone age. Okay, that's obviously an exaggeration. They weren't that damaged but surely looked antique. I never really played with them since I lived alone and was way too uninterested.

After three rounds, Jungkook sprawled across the garden refusing to play any further. So we settled down on the ground, pulling out grass while chit-chatting, drank a few glasses of tangerine juice and the mild sunlight made it very cozy to sleep. Jungkook gave in to the temptation.

Yoongi was looking fondly at his brother and mumbled, "I'll miss him."

"It's not that you won't meet him ever again," I punched his arm, "Don't be so dramatic."

He smiled, still staring at his baby brother.

***

Jungkook had gone to bed, exhausted from playing with his brother all day. Yoongi and I were sitting on the balcony, on our designated wooden chairs, he to my left, slurping up the now melting ice cream. I had been looking at him when he wasn't looking at me. I knew there was something on his mind.

"What's wrong, Yoongi?" I finally said.

"Huh?" He looked up and mumbled, "Nothing."

"See, I know, you have been meaning to say something for many days now." I turned and sat cross-legged, completely facing him. "Your highly unusual behavior did not escape our notice. I remember back in school you used to take a step back whenever someone came nearer to you than half a meter. And here you are hugging me and resting your head on my shoulder. Not that I am complaining (I earned a smirk from him), but I would love to know the reason apart from that you would go back soon." I put air quotes around go back soon.

Yoongi scrutinized me for a moment and then said, "Wait a minute, I'll be back."

He went back inside, the light to his room flicked on and off in a minute and he was back holding a brown velvet folder which he placed on the little stool we were using as a table.

"Before I tell you what this is, you have to promise me one thing," He said and waited until I hummed in response. "You'll answer my question honestly giving me the details of whatever I ask you."

"After you tell me what is in this folder?"

"Yes."

"And I can't put forth a condition like I'll decide after I hear your question or something like that?"

"No."

"Okay. I trust you that you won't ask anything that would make me uncomfortable." I shrugged.

"You need to think before you trust," He mumbled almost incomprehensibly and clapped his hand together having finished his ice cream, "What do you remember or know about The Air Project?"

I furrowed my eyebrows, genuinely confused, how was this supposed to be relevant between the two of us?

"It was a collaborative project between your and my government to strengthen the social and cultural relations between the two countries. But mostly it increases the ease of transportation between the two countries, with that special flight contract jointly agreed upon by ROK Airs and Indian Airs." I recited.

"And I am sure you know that the flight was supposed to be thrice a week only between the two countries carrying only passengers of the two nationalities, having only one stop during the entire flight?" He continued. His gaze pierced through me. This was going to be something bigger. Besides, my professional life was upturned as soon as it started, The Air Project playing a huge role in it.

"Yeah, I know," I mumbled looking at the folder.

"This plan stood suspended for three months owing to the crash between a test jet, a research project by AeroDy, and the passenger flight that was supposed to land in Banglore, some three years ago."

"What has this got to do with that?" I asked still staring at the folder, the unpleasant memories of that day and countless nightmares that followed, streamed through my head.

"Everything," He said and opened the folder for me to read, "An individual investigation committee was set up by the Korean government to look into the matter and their report is shockingly different from that presented by your company's committee. I hope you know the difference between a fault member and a faulty member."

I went through the report pages, eyes widening further with every page I turned. The five-page report was the best and the worst thing that happened to me in the three years of my job. I looked up at him, still shocked.

"Yeah, you are right in thinking that," Yoongi said, "The jet's structural design had nothing to do with its imbalance and subsequent crash. The material used in the tail of the jet was supposed to be a reinforcement of steel with other metals. However, the members used in the tail were made only of steel. Pure steel. This was the reason the tail could not withstand the sudden reaction from thrust force and it blasted off rendering the jet uncontrolled and it crashed into the plane flying well below in the sky." Yoongi recited the report as if he himself was a part of the committee.

"You mean, that was the fault of the material design department?" I exclaimed in shock, "But our report put the entire blame on our team suspending us for a month!"

"If you turn to the last page, you'll understand how things took that turn." He replied.

I turned to the last page. It was an account of money transactions between the higher committee members appointed by AeroDy and senior members of the material design team, one of which was Aniket Acharya.

"They bribed them?!" I yelled.

"Looks like it," Yoongi replied calmly, "Obviously, who would want to accept the responsibility of 200 deaths?"

"How do you have these papers?" I asked him curiously, "Where did you get these from?"

"That, I am not supposed to answer," He replied, taking those papers from my hands and readjusting them in the folder.

"And now, as you promised, you'll answer me honestly," He sat up, his face resting on his palm and the elbow connected to that palm digging in his thighs.

***

A/n: Hey everyone! What do you think Yoongi wants to know?

I would like to emphasize again that the names of all companies and airlines used in the story are fictional and have got nothing to do with the real world.

Well, this part marks the beginning of the end. I hope you are liking the story. Please vote and share with your friends. And don't forget to comment.

Stay safe, healthy, and happy. Hoping for better days to come.

Love you all!