with you × 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗺𝗶𝗻

- two

two | aera river

jaemin drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, the red glow of brake lights stretching endlessly ahead. stuck in traffic again. he sighed, glancing at the dashboard clock. he was going to be late to this party.

he sighed, leaning back in his seat as he reached for the radio. music might drown out the noise in his head. but as the first song started, he immediately switched it off. it didn’t help.

outside, the sky was already dark. it got dark so early in winter. he stared out the window, watching the snowflakes drift down lazily, covering the world in a soft white blanket.

his eyes wandered, scanning the side of the road. nothing out of the ordinary. just trees, cars, the river—

he blinked.

there, near the riverbank, was something—someone.

jaemin squinted, leaning forward as if that would help him see better. it was definitely a person. standing too close to the edge. way too close.

his heart picked up speed, dread slowly risin in his stomach. he narrowed his eyes, hoping he was wrong, but the longer he looked, the more it felt wrong.

"no way..." he muttered under his breath, shaking his head, but his mind immediately jumped to the worst.

he glanced around, spotting a clear lane. he pulled out and swerved into the free lane. his hands tightened on the wheel as he found a place to pull over, stopping by a small convenience store a little down the road.

his heart was racing now, the cold hitting at his skin as he stepped out of the car and started jogging toward the river. the snow crunched beneath his shoes.

the closer he got, the more his pulse quickened. the figure stood still, too still, and jaemin’s chest tightened.

he pushed himself harder, feet sinking into the fresh snow as he neared the bank. his breaths came out in harsh, quick puffs, loud against the winter silence.

and then, suddenly, the boy turned around.

jaemin froze, his breath catching in his throat.