134340 |JJK FF|

Chapter 19

Yumi turned the flower over her fingers again.

It had been more than a week since Jeongguk had plucked it, yet it still hadn't wilted. Yumi knew next to nothing about flowers, she didn't even know this one's name. She had read about them, of course. She had seen artificial recreates. But holding a real, alive one between her fingers was a whole other thing.

That was the most intriguing part, the flower still did not die. The most a flower could live after being plucked was a day. Two if you are lucky. It had been more than a week and Jeongguk's flower still looked alive.

He had mentioned it being about genetic engineering. They could interfere and force the species to evolve, to grow more handy characteristics. As long as the air around them was moist, Jeongguk had said, the flower could last for about two or three weeks. And the air was plenty moist in the sea.

She didn't know what it was in her that she didn't get rid of the flower already. Only that it felt like life and hope for life.

As long as the red in it was still alive, she felt like she could last until then.

She shoved the boxed flower back into her pocket as Namjoon slammed his way into the sleep chambers with Hara.

"O-Oh..." he stuttered when Yumi frowned at his loud entrance, "I didn't think you'd be here,"

"It's pretty late now, anyway." Yumi said wryly, "Why wouldn't I be here?" even as she said it, she knew what he meant.

"The late hours never mattered to you before," Hara remarked unabashedly, "We don't really see you with us,"

Yumi sighed, "Sorry. Have I been ignoring you guys?"

"No, no," Namjoon said hastily, "It's just--we don't know what to do with ourselves now,"

Yumi nodded slightly, not knowing what else to do. Hara bit her lip, "We can't find anything we can do to help. I've never felt more useless in my life,"

"Hey, don't say that. You're as important as anyone here,"

"Thanks." Hara said, obviously not convinced, "I'm going to bed,"

Namjoon gazed between the two girls as Hara fell into her bed. His eyes trailed from Yumi to Hara to Jimin's unoccupied bed. He rubbed his eyes, "Good night, then, Yumi."

He climbed into his bed and Yumi couldn't help but feel slightly condemnable for them both. She fell into her pillows thinking about ways to make them feel included too.

___________

Jeongguk worried his lip, biting it with nervousness. His fingers grazed over the surface of his wristband, his mind reeling with questions.

'What am I doing?' he asked himself as his index finger chanced its way to the contacts, before losing its moment of bravery and falling back to his side.

Two hundred and nine.

Two hundred and nine missed calls he had received, from Seokjin and Hoseok and even the Head of the rabbit clan. He could see some of his other friends from the Rabbit clan on the list. Some were from strangers. He had received a hundred more texts, from his friends and foes alike, ranging from Where the heck are you? to You filthy traitor!

He had nothing more to do other than just stare at them and blink. Add this to the list of things Jeongguk had underestimated. What he was in public's eye now.

His fingers almost involuntarily swiped, getting rid of those messages from his sight. He did not need to see them, did not need them breaking his spirit. He was back to staring at his contacts, fingers inches away from his chance of communication.