drown for you | jjk

18

You've met Jin before. Twice, actually. But it's never been just the two of you in a casual setting; you've always been accompanied by your mother and always at a business dinner or similar.

Speaking of your mother, she blatantly lied when she told you Jin needed a guide. In reality, he's well acquainted with the town. But what did you expect? Your mother has always been a special kind of person; headstrong and stubborn enough to run her own company, but emotionally... a little off the map. She rarely knows in what direction to take her feelings, and it's usually fifty-fifty if she'll over or under react. And you never know which it's going to be.

You met up with Jin at the local mall, originally planning to show him around there since it's a good tourist spot, but when he admits to already knowing about it, you decide to scratch those plans and just catch a movie instead.

To your surprise, the day doesn't pass painfully slow at all, and you honestly have a great time.

Jin is smart, handsome, and funny, making you laugh until you're on the edge of peeing yourself on multiple occasions. You both enjoy the action movie of your choice, and Jin improves the experience immensely by whispering his commentary and then watching you try to hold back your laughter.

After the credits roll, you take to strolling through the stores, doing more talking than shopping, but it's nice to have someone to talk about mothers with.

According to Jin, his own mother might not be on quite the same level as yours, but she's also a handful. It doesn't surprise you. To be a successful businesswoman, you might have to be a little crazy, otherwise, the men will walk right over you, you guess.

In conclusion; you're pleasantly surprised by Jin. Both women and men turn their heads when he walks beside you, and you're on the receiving end of quite a few jealous glances. With a face and body like his, it wouldn't have been too strange if he turned out to be an entitled asshole.

But he's far from.

He's gentle and considerate, just your type. Well, at least to ninety percent. Something's missing, those ten percent somehow incredibly important. Or maybe it's you—who's satisfied with your relationship remaining platonic—who's missing something?

"So what do you say? I think it could be a great opportunity? Plus, I wouldn't be so bored," Jin chuckles, holding the door open for you and following you out of the store.

You consider his proposal. He's right, joining him on a business trip for a total of four days would be a great opportunity, one that would very much please your mother. You've always known that you're going to follow in her footsteps and eventually take over the company. That's what she wants, that's what you're supposed to do.

You were upset and definitely opposed to it at first, mostly when you were younger. These days, you don't dislike the idea that much. Jin invited you to the trip after you mentioned that you felt you lack the experience to know if it's truly something for you.

'Maybe it won't answer all your questions, but you'd get a feel of how it can be.'

Very considerate of him.

"Yeah, I think so too. When did you say it was?"

"We'd be leaving in a week from today and be gone for four days. You could always return earlier if you want, and it's not too far away so that's a bonus."

You bite your lip and let your gaze fall to the ground. A week from now? Hoseok reckoned that Jeongguk would be ready to be released in around two weeks, and if you left in a week and were gone for four days, then you would return just before that two-week mark.

You wouldn't miss Jeongguk's release for anything in the world, and the mere thought of saying goodbye almost makes you tear up. But truth is, he'll leave, and you can't put your life on hold just because of that.

"I'll have to check with my boss if I can take the extra days off. He's pretty flexible, so I doubt it would be a problem. I really want to, so I'll talk with him and be in touch soon, is that okay?"

Jin smiles. "Of course."

---

When you unlock your door and kick off your shoes, it's around nine p.m. You're tired, and your feet are sore, but something else feels off. There's an ache that clings to your heart, squeezing it.

So instead of doing your nightly skincare routine and going to bed early, you're stuck in your hallway for a good twenty seconds before thinking 'screw it,' putting your shoes and coat back on, and dashing out the door. You miss him, and you want to see him. All the thoughts about him leaving have taken a toll on your heart, and you rush to the lab.

By the time you arrive, everyone else has gone home, and it's dark. You use your key to open the front doors to the building, and the lights flicker on as you move through section after section, guiding you through the facility.

'Shit,' you curse quietly to yourself as you stand outside the door to the room that houses Jeongguk.

You should've changed before leaving, but you're still wearing the expensive white cashmere shirt that your mother got you last Christmas. She'll skin you alive if it gets ruined. Luckily, you have some spare clothes in your locker, so you'll just have to take a detour before visiting the siren.

Changing goes quickly and with a boring, grey long-sleeve shirt, and still in the black jeans you wore during the date, you make your way back to the door that started it all. The jeans, you don't care all that much about anyway.

But as you stand there, hand gripping the key card and about to place it against the reader, you freeze.

What was that?

There was an unexpected and unfamiliar sound. You hold your breath, waiting, listening.

There it is again. A low, irregular... banging?

It's difficult to match a direction to the sound that echoes through the corridor, but as you turn your head to listen both ways, you think it originated from your right, farther down the hall you originally come from, and in the direction of the entrance and lunchroom.

When you arrived, you hadn't actually checked that you were the only one there, just walked past the lunchroom and headed for the tank. With it being so late, the lights off, and the doors locked, you'd just assumed no one was left.

The low unidentified sound can be heard on and off as you retrace your steps back towards the lunchroom before it goes silent.

You peak your head inside the lunchroom, but it's dark and empty.

Suddenly, it sounds again, but this time, it's much louder and coming from your right. The front doors.

Your heart rate speeds up as the black door rattles, and you hear people talking on the other side.

Someone's trying to break in.