The General

Five

(It is currently Jin's birthday as I write this but will be long over by the time you read it. 🤷🏻‍♀️)
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The reaper is walking along and he passes a young woman selling various trinkets and second hand jewelry.

When she sees him she asks him, "Mister, would you like to buy a beautiful hair clip?"

He stops and says, "I don't wear them, so no."

"Well, maybe your lover will like one."

"I don't have one of those either."

"Well, take a look around. I'm sure you will find something that you will like." As she says that, she waves a hand mirror around and catches the sun, temporarily blinding him.

She apologizes and aims the mirror down and it flashes onto a jade ring. As soon as he sees it, he gets a sense of fondness and reaches out for it.

But just as he was about to grab it, someone else gets it before him. He then looks up and sees Jimin admiring it.

He is asking the young woman how much it costs. And while they are talking, the reaper feels a strong pang of regret and affection for him. And doesn't understand why. He even begins to cry when he sees him.

Jimin turned to look at him and saw him crying. So he tells him, "I grabbed it first mister. Are you really crying because of it?"

The reaper doesn't respond, feeling overwhelmed with pain and sorrow upon seeing Jimin's face.

Jimin looks at the young woman selling the jewelry as if asking 'what's with him?' But she just shrugs her shoulders.

"Do you really want it that badly?" Jimin asks him.

"Yes please." The reaper replies. He then wipes his tears away, not understanding why he's cried.

"I don't know. I think it looks good on me." He then looks at the reaper up and down. Then with a defiant smile says, "Why don't you tell me your name first and I might give it to you. Or let's exchange phone numbers."

The reaper tells him, "I don't have a phone."

Jimin looks at him like he's crazy and asks, "You don't have a cell phone? Are you poor?"

"I don't have a need for a phone."

"Are you sure you're not just saying that to avoid getting to know me? If that's the case, you don't need to do all that. Either way, I will give you my number. You can call me when you're ready."

He writes his name and number on a small notebook, then hands the ring over to him along with the note.

Without another word, he begins to walk away.

The reaper watches him as he walks away, and places his hand over his heart. A dull, aching pain stinging from within.

A couple of days later, Jin is cleaning the windows inside the restaurant and Jimin sits at a table behind him. He keeps staring at his phone, growing angrier by the minute.

He then screams startling Jin, who rushes over to check on him. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Why hasn't he called yet?! I gave him my number days ago. Do you think... is it possible he didn't like me?"

Jin says, "I'm sure that's not it. Maybe it's like he told you and really doesn't own a phone. Just don't sit and wait for his call. Come on.. you're much too cool for that."

Jimin laughs and says, "You're right. I mean, he cried when he saw me. I must've affected him somehow."

He then feels better about it and tells Jin he can go home early. Jin decides to bring home some fried chicken for dinner.