THE CONSPIRACY-BANGTAN MAFIA FF ➡️

SEVENTY-TWO

Day after day, Namjoon was just so lost. He was breathing, but lifeless. He kept blaming himself for causing her death.  Everything in the house reminded him of her, and it made him suffocate and want to die.

"If only I could turn back time, I would protect you with everything I have," he repeated regretfully.

To heal his broken heart, he visited her grave daily, bringing the same flowers, spending all day speaking to her, hoping wherever she was, she listened to him.

One day, he decided to leave everything behind and travel anywhere his heart led him. He brought the last flower to the grave, hoping she loved it.

"I know you love daisies, but today I brought roses for you," he said with a smile, placing the bouquet on the grave. His hand grazed over the grass that now grew on the grave.

"I miss you, baby. I do miss you every day. I don't know how I will live without you; everything seems wrong. I'm lost without you." Tears brimmed in his eyes even though he tried hard to hold them back. He took a deep breath before continuing, "Today is the last day I come here to visit you. I decided to leave Korea for a while. I will be back, but I can't promise you when."

 "I will never forget you, Aera. You will always be in my heart because loving you was a privilege."

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Namjoon woke up after sleeping the whole night after arriving in the city. When his stomach grumbled in protest, he realized he had not eaten since the previous day. He sat up to look at the watch; it was still early in the morning. He thought the restaurant would not be open until 8 a.m. He snuggled back into the bed before glancing at the tattoo engraved on his left arm. Han Aera—the name was permanently written on it. The memory quickly flashed in his mind. 

"I wrote it here, so you won't forget me no matter what."

That's when it hit him.

It took Namjoon years to get used to her death. Although Aera passed away three years ago, his love for her never changed. She was his first and last love, and no other woman could replace her. 

He checked his phone after a shower. Taehyung had sent him a few messages. He smiled as he read through the messages. He knew Taehyung was doing his best to make him happy. Afterwards, his phone rang, and he immediately answered the call.

"Hyung!" It was a call from Taehyung. "You're always like that. You never reply to my messages."

"I thought you were asleep."

"How are you, hyung? When will you come home?" Taehyung bombarded him with the same questions every time they were on a phone call. He did not answer but just laughed, and Taehyung whined in protest. 

"Do you know that Seokjin hyung is torturing me with a lot of work at the office?" Namjoon could already imagine his reaction as he questioned him.  Taehyung made a big sacrifice by resigning from his current job to take over the company. And he was grateful to have such good friends as Seokjin and Yoongi to guide Taehyung in his position.

"I know I can rely on you, Taehyung-ah," he giggled.

"I'm doing my best, you know? But still, I want you to come back home." Taehyung said with a pout, and Namjoon sighed, "I don't feel like I want to go home."

"The house feels empty without you, hyung. And our team needs you," Taehyung persuaded.

"The house is not a home without my baby." Taehyung expected that to be his answer, but nobody could convince him to return home.

"I'll be waiting for you, hyung. The door is always open for you when you are ready."

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After breakfast, Namjoon spent most of his time in his hotel room, reviewing several documents Seokjin had emailed him. Seokjin disclosed that their company was invited to an event in Paris and asked to be one of the sponsors. Hence, Namjoon accepted the invitation and sent Yoongi on his behalf. After completing his work, he decided to walk around the city. Sparks Street remained crowded even as the sun set. Some people enjoyed walking down the street, while others gathered with family and friends at outdoor restaurants. In the middle of the streets, he saw a bunch of buskers showcasing their art to tourists and locals. He was drooling over the performance until he saw a woman walking through the crowd. His heart was racing as he froze. He tried calling her name, but his tongue was tied. He could only watch her disappear from his sight. His mind whirled as he couldn't believe what he had seen. He couldn't tell whether it was real or just a dream. 

Meanwhile, a man in a Range Rover waited for his passenger. When he saw the person he had been waiting for, he climbed out of the car and smiled warmly at her. However, the girl kept a straight face and climbed into the car as soon as the man opened the door for her.

"Everything okay, sweetheart?" he inquired. 

"Yeah," she replied, her expression unhappy, and he noticed it. 

"What's wrong?" he asked, taking her hand in his. 

"Just tired, and I missed Jae. Do you know when he will return?" she asked again. 

"Anytime soon, sweetheart." 

"Why doesn't he let someone else handle his business in Korea? Why doesn't he want me to go with him?"

"I don't have answers to your questions. But whatever he decides is for your own good and safety."

 "But sending me to Paris to attend an event is not a good decision." She grumbled. 

"You know him. Business is business. But don't worry, I'll go with you. You should think about this as a vacation gateway."