identity: renjun, jeno & jaemin [on hold]

thirty four; breaking point??

Lighting strikes and thunder rips. The clouds are black, ominous, and they rain bullets.

A stormy midnight.

Tick, tock, tick, tock.

The arms of the hanging clock point to 3:15am and instead of being comforted by the sheets of her bed, Nari stands at the doorway, staring at the other she had just opened the door for.

Him.

Soaked from his hair to his shoes, pooling the tiles in front of her apartment door as he waits for her invite with a smile on his gleaming face.

"May I come in? It's getting cold," Jaemin asks and her eyes trail down from his warm gaze to the cold, red-stained shirt of his school uniform.

It was pristine before.

The crimson seems fresh, seeing as how it managed to spread to dye the fabric.

Those neighboring students, Nari's mind whispers- hushed, even in her own head as if scares that he can hear her thoughts.

"Go ahead," is all she says and she stands aside to give him way.

Jaemin makes a beeline to the toilet and throws his blazer and wet tie into the tub. "Sorry about the water, Nari. I'll wipe them all for you later after a quick shower."

Nari locks the main door and nods without looking back at him. Yet, she can feel his stare drilling into the back of her head.

"...So don't touch them, okay?" He then, adds.

Click!

The bathroom door shuts after she gave him a spare of his own clothes he left before from sleeping over.

And once again, the sounds of those around her, occupy her ears- thunder, storm, the hot shower.

But one thing rings the loudest. Her head.

"I didn't know you were such a funny guy! Honestly, I thought you were gonna be mad at us for sitting with Nari," Geon said with a light chuckle.

  Hontae raised his hands in surrender. "We swear, we weren't trying to hit on her. We just felt bad seeing her sit alone and wanted to accompany."

  Jaemin shook his head. "I know you guys were just trying to help."

  The warm grin he presented calmed them further if that was even possible and their unexpected friendship bloomed, leading to a long chat and hangout.

  It wasn't until the tent snack shop had to close that they finally decide to go home.

  "Whoa, I've never been out this late. Thank goodness, my parents always sleep before I come home from my night academy. It was a great decision to skip today," Jayme sighed in relief and softly punched Jaemin's shoulder in a friendly manner.
"It was nice getting to know you, pal- and Nari too. Hope we get to meet you guys again soon."

  Hontae and Geon showed their agreements from their nods and took turns to fist bump with Nana.

  The latter laughed languidly, relaxed. "Yeah. I have a feeling that I'll be seeing you guys sooner than you think."

  "Oh? Better make it happen then," Geon laughed along with his friends before the two groups of students part ways.

  Then, Jaemin and Nari separated after he sent her off in front of her house.

  So why-

  The toilet door opens and exits a fresh Jaemin wearing dry clothes and his dark hair still soaked with one hand drying them in a repetitive motion with the towel- front, back, front, back.

  Is he back so suddenly? Nari's thoughts from her flashback continued upon seeing the guy.

  Jaemin still doesn't meet her eyes as he immediately swivels to wipe off the wet rain puddles across the floor and she monitors his every move from behind.

  Examining, pondering, wondering...

  "There! All cleaned up. Sorry about that, Nar...i..." Jaemin swivels as he talks and his voice trails off at the end when he sees his girlfriend sitting defensively on the bed with one hand raised beside her head, holding her phone with the dialer pressed on '112.'
"Nari, what are you—"

  "Did you kill them?" She cuts.

  He's taken aback, although his face remains still.

  A short but weighty silence follows before his lips part.

  "Nari... Just put the phone down and let's talk calmly, hm? Just you and I?" He persuades softly, his voice airy and slow.

  But her grip on the gadget only tightened as eyes start to pool.
"Geon! Hontae! Jayme! Where are they right now?"

  A second. Ten. Thirty.

  A minute. Five. Ten.

  No response.

  "ANSWER ME!" Nari shrieks, arm now trembling from both the fear and frustration.

  Jaemin's gaze lowers for a slight before they raise to her face- much darker, much more sinister and unfeeling.

  And with that inordinately indifferent mien of his, he replies,
"A lot of places."