In the dark

14

"Your invisible!" Jin called out. Since their conversation began, it was probably the third or fourth time he had said it to Peri. They were alone in Jin and Namjoon's shared bedroom. Amid the chaos of the boys getting ready for their movie night, Jin and Peri quietly walked into Jin's room to talk.

"We've established that already," she replied

"And Yoongi knows!"

"Yes. You and he were there when all seven of you came in." Peri was trying to be understanding of Jin's deduction, but she was losing patience. It seemed like they were going around in circles. 

"And no one can see you except for him and me?" 

"Yes." Peri puts her hand to her face and begins to rub her forehead slowly, the pressure building to a headache.

"Are you dead?" Peri's head popped up. A new question is finally being asked.

"No." 'No? NO! NOT dead, Peri,' she told herself.

"How do I know that? No one can see ghosts, but they are there!" Jin raised his voice.

"Keep your voice down, or they will think you are in here yelling at yourself! No, I am not dead. We had lunch together! You saw me eat! I am wearing your clothes!" Peri's scolding turned into shouting. Now she was doing it too. She had the luxury of not being heard; Jin did not. 

Peri took a deep breath and tried to relax. She looked over at Jin, who was still staring at her with his eyebrows squeezed tightly together, making the bridge of his nose wrinkle. He was thinking about what to say or do next. Peri wanted to have the power to read minds instead of this invisibility curse she was under. 

Just as she finished her thoughts, she saw Jin raise his index finger in the air and point to Peri. Peri looked down to see what he was pointing to. When she looked back up, she saw his finger inching closer to her shoulder. Peri did the calculation in her head and raised her hand to stop him. She stepped back and bumped her hip up against his desk. 

"Don't touch me." her voice was stern. Jin retracted his hands immediately. "I don't know what happens when I touch another person, and I don't want to find out. You don't need to be cursed like me, too." her voice stayed strong. She meant it, and Jin could feel the fear radiating from her body. 

"I'm sorry," trying to sound as apologetic as possible.

"No need," she said, settling her nerves. "You can't be sorry for something you didn't know about. Just be careful and keep your distance. I will do the same."

"Is that why you stepped back from Tae so quickly?" he asked gently. He could still see the reservation in her eyes. She was still coming down from her panic. She nodded. "Must be awfully lonely. To not be able to talk or touch someone."

"Never noticed before," she told him. Her words made Jin want to hug her, but he knew he couldn't, which made him feel worse. She was all alone in the world. Jin looked at her closely, and he could see the sadness in her eyes. She felt alone, whether she wanted to admit it or not. He didn't want her to feel like that anymore, and she didn't have to. She now had himself and Yoongi.

He wanted her to smile again. He came up with an idea but was unsure if it was going to work. "Are you sure you're not a ghost?" Peri looked at him, annoyed for a second, then cracked a smile. A laugh followed the smile. Her laughing set Jin's laughter into motion. The two of them stood in the middle of the room, just laughing at the insanity that they were just in.

"No. This is just an elaborate prank the BTS members decided to pull on you!" she said flatly.

"Sarcasm. Either Yoongi is starting to rub off on you, or you have ability all on your own."