𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝓰𝓪𝓲𝓷

Ambivalent

The chilly air turns warm once Jimin steps into the barn's office. Recognizing the weary back of someone at the counter, he calls sweetly, "Granny Yang."

The old lady turns around upon hearing a dreamy voice. "Jimin-ah? It's really you..." Seeing that familiar, youthful face, tears begin to swell in her eyes. Granny Yang opens her arms and scurries around the counter to embrace the young man. "Where have you been? I thought I'll never see you again."

Jimin cherishes the moment quietly, returning her embrace. "Well... I'm here." His eyes smile gladly for the warm welcome. "And I won't be leaving for some time."

She lets go of the dear child and cheers, "Oh gracious! That's even better!" Upon seeing his face up close, she exclaims, "Your face is bruised!"

"It's a little accident." And without further delay, he asks, "Granny Yang, is Uncle Li here? I would like to speak with him."

The old woman's wrinkled eyebrows narrow into deep thoughts. "Didn't you receive the news? My Young Master passed away over a year ago."

"Did he really?" Jimin questions while his face says that he knows more than what she is leading on.

Cha Jiwon wasn't convinced when the news about Li Yan's death came out. Jimin, on the contrary, just didn't want to hear from this place or the Li Family.

Gently, he pushes forward, "I have some news for Uncle Li. Please tell him I'm here."

Considering that it is Jimin, not anyone else, Granny Yang assumes that it's safe to tell. "Alright, let me inform him first."

The old lady disappears from the barn's office while Jimin sits on a chair, waiting. After a while, the bubbly granny returns and tells him, "Your Uncle Li is pleased to see you."

Jimin gestures for her to lead him to Li Yan. As they walk on a trail to a residence Jimin is unfamiliar with, he examines the surroundings. Other than the fact that it is nearing the end of winter, everything here isn't much different from five years ago.

Upon arrival, Granny Yang tells him, "You can go right in. After you're done, come see me in the office. I'll cook you a meal."

"Mnn," he smiles.

As Granny Yang goes on her way, Jimin opens the door and walks in.

The residence is quite small. A kitchen is visible to the eyes upon entrance. He sees a set of stairs, and heads toward it. He walks up into a clean, vacant bedroom.

At the corner, sits an aged man on a bed with the blanket covered up to his chest.

Li Yan looks up at him and smiles pleasantly. "Jimin, you're back. I've been waiting." Noticing something odd, he asks, "What happened to your face?"

Across the room to Jimin's left, there's a desk with a chair. He walks to it and grabs the chair, dragging it to the center of the room and places it there. He sits a good distance from the older man in the room.

"You're playing dead these days," Jimin comments, not answering the question posed.

"This old man is sick and tired of being bothered by the outside world," he replies. "Why are you here?"

"Uncle passed away."

Li Yan is struck with melancholy before he sighs heavily. "Seems like I outlive my adversaries and even my good friend."

Jimin looks out the window to the left. The sky is morose as night will soon take over.

"I waited at my funeral for Jiwon and you, but not even a shadow showed up," Li Yan says. "I'm dead and you didn't even think to return."