Evanesce

(Chapter 17) My Lady

Minji POV
I felt as if I was floating in pitch black ice-water, my body felt stiff and sore and my throat raw. The pounding in my head was relentless, and every inch of flesh felt as if it was ignited. Then suddenly, it was as if the sun held me, enveloping me into it's warmth. Diminishing the pain and replacing it with peace, it continued as I was carried closer to the surface, I felt gentle warmth on my cheek and hands. Then the warmth moved to my mouth and I could finally breath again. As I reached out toward the source of this comfort, it yanked me out of the water in an instant. 

 My eyes fluttered open groggily to see a beautiful, tan- skinned angel of a man in front of me. My heart fluttered as I looked at Jongin, his eyes were filled with worry and guilt. Then the previous night's events came crashing into my memory. The lying, the deceit, the betrayal, all from the people I loved, from the man I loved and trusted. I stared at him for a long moment until the emotion burst out like a water balloon.

 "Why-"I sobbed out, not able to make any audible words. Jongin shushed me and held my shaking body impossibly close. My tears soaked his shirt as he attempted to soothe me, rubbing a gentle hand up and down my back.

 "I'm so sorry, Minji. I never should've kept that from you. I thought I was protecting you but I was just hurting and betraying you. I will never forgive myself for hurting you like this." Jongin whispered in my ear, choking on the last sentence. I couldn't tell but it seemed as if he had been emotional as well. I attempted to calm my cries as Jongin let me cling to him, trying desperately to comfort me. All the emotions were far too much for me to handle. 

Pain, betrayal, anger, fear, mixed with the longing, comfort, shame and guilt I felt.

  After a long time, the tears subsided to sniffles as they ran out. My body and head still ached but emotionally, I felt numb again. Jongin pulled back slightly to look at me, face riddled with negative emotions like concern, pain and fear. He leaned down slowly and pecked my forehead, removing himself instantly. Fear riddled his face as he carried me to stand on the hardwood, paranoid hands never leaving my body as I struggled to balance on my own again.

"Would you like to shower and change into dry clothes?" He asked so quietly I barely heard. I nodded, stretching my legs to wake them up. Jongin held my face in his hand, staring down at me, like he was trying to memorize my face before I disappeared. "Just- please don't leave the room." He begged solemnly, his deep sadness apparent on his face. I nodded briskly, grabbed the hand caressing my face and held it for his reassurance. 

Deciding to put my complicated feelings aside for now, it seems more beneficial to comply rather than shut them out. It also felt unnatural to turn Jongin away, I couldn't tell if it was a ploy to keep me close, but it was beginning to work as I felt safe with him. I began to walk toward the bathroom when he stopped me, spinning me around to kiss me on the cheek one last time.

"Text me when you're out." He mumbled before leaving me alone in the room. I took a long deep breath to avoid the continuously impending emotions, before entering the bathroom to shower. When I stepped into the steamy water, it immediately made my skin burn. I looked down and noticed cuts all along my legs and chest. My hands were scraped up and it felt as if my face was also sliced. I carefully scrubbed the wounds, keeping the water on any blood that possibly escaped, paranoid I may start a frenzy if I'm not cautious. The heels of my hands were probably the worst of it, large gashes from the sharp rocks littered the skin. Crimson liquid ran down the water stream, turning the shower floor a light red shade. I finished my shower and went back into my room, only in a towel, when I noticed a black piece of fabric folded neatly on the bed. I made sure the door was locked and changed, the fabric was a large T-shirt, most likely Jongins', with white letters across the top spelling out 'Kai'. I paired it with shorts and random socks before climbing into bed.