Lost & Found

11 Months Earlier

11 Months Earlier
21-Years-Old

"No!"

Yoongi sat shot up in bed at the sound of Aera's voice. She was sobbing, and though she'd cried out, she didn't any further as Yoongi attempted to right himself and pull himself out of bed.

"A," he whispered as he made his way into her room. "What's wrong?"

"Hye," she moaned as Yoongi made his way to her side. "Hye, why?"

Yoongi closed his eyes, fighting back tears on behalf of her. "A," he said softly as he rubbed her back. "Hye's not here."

"Why?" she lamented in her sleep.

"It's okay, A," Yoongi continued. "I'm here."

"Yoongs?"

"Yeah. It's me, A. You're okay."

She relaxed under his touch, but said nothing more. Yoongi quietly made his way to the opposite side of the bed. He slowly made his way under the covers as Aera thrashed around a bit.

"A," Yoongi whispered. "Calm down. Let me hold you."

And she did calm down, relaxing further as he wrapped his arms around her. "Hye..."

"No, it's me, A. It's – "

"Yoongs," she sighed as she finally gave in and let her entire body fall into his embrace.

"It's me, A." Yoongi gently tilted her head onto his chest.

"Yoongs," she moaned. "My Yoongs."

"Yeah," he whispered. "I'm yours."

-

The next day, Yoongi and Aera were cuddled up on the couch, watching a movie, when both of their stomachs began to rumble. Yoongi chuckled slightly. "I'll make some dinner," he said as he disentangled himself from Aera's embrace.

A few minutes after Yoongi had entered the kitchen, after he'd gathered all the ingredients he needed for dinner, Aera appeared.

"What's up?" Yoongi asked. "You okay?"

"Not really," Aera replied, pulling a chair from the dining room table and sitting down across from Yoongi. "But I guess it'll get better?"

"Eventually," Yoongi assured.

"Yoongs," Aera said quietly.

"Yeah?"

"Why me? Why did this have to happen to me? I thought I did everything right."

"You did," Yoongi replied immediately. "It was not your fault."

"But – "

"It was not your fault," Yoongi emphasized again.

"He said that, too," she replied. "But..."

"But?"

"It doesn't make me feel any better."

"Well, at least he's smart enough to recognize he's the idiot," Yoongi said. "But that's about the only thing he's smart about." he muttered.

"I loved him," Aera said. "So much."

"I know."

"Am I stupid for still loving him? Even after everything?"

"No," Yoongi replied. "I think, and I'm so sorry, but I think you'll feel this way for a long time. It's got to be hard to get over your first love. But I'll do everything I can to help you remember that you're better than him. You're better than this. And it'll be okay."

"Thanks," she said after a few long moments. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'd probably just learn to be self sufficient," Yoongi replied teasingly. "I spoil you, you know."

Aera chuckled softly. "But I appreciate it."

"I love you, A."

"I love you, too, Yoongs."

Yoongi then turned to stir the rice. Aera watched him, not feeling entirely better, but at least feeling somewhat comforted. She'd meant what she'd said. She didn't know what she'd do without her best friend. He was simply the best in her eyes. She continued to watch his back as he cooked.

"Yoongs?" she eventually said softly.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think it'll ever stop?"

Yoongi turned away from the pot he was stirring. "What?" he asked, but knowing full well what she meant.

"The nightmares," she whispered.

"Of course it'll stop. But until it does, I'll be there to wake you up."