apology

sixteen

December 21, 2015, 11 a.m.

"MINRAE-AH!" 

"OH MY GOD!"

I jolt awake at Taehyung's yelling, bolting upright from under the sheets and rubbing my eyes while trying to adapt to the sudden light filtering in from the windows.

"What do you want?" I complain, nudging the forehead of my elder brother who's standing by my bed.

"Happy birthday!!" he exclaims, pulling me into a tight bear hug and ruffling my hair as I lay confused in his embrace.

"What?"

"It's your birthday today!" Taehyung laughs, releasing me and cupping my cheeks in his hands. "It's December 21st! How could you forget?"

My eyes widen. "Oh."

"Shall we go and celebrate?" he suggests excitedly, letting go of my face before taking my hands into his. "Let's go watch a movie! Lee Minho-"

His state of excitement is interrupted when his phone suddenly bleeps to life on the bedside table. He picks it up to check the notification, face immediately falling as he reads the text sent to him.

Taehyung's face scrunches in apology as he looks up at me. "I-"

"Yeah," I cut him off, looking away. "I get it. You have to go."

"I'll... get the rest to celebrate with you?" he offers, trying to make it up to me, but I reject.

"It's okay. Just go," I force a smile at my brother, reassuring him. Not like I didn't see this coming.

Taehyung sighs, sensing my reluctance. "I'll make it up to you, alright?" he beams at me, before quickly leaving the room and heading towards the bathroom to wash up.

I sigh, falling back onto my pillows as I think about how I'm going to spend the day.

As if on cue, my phone bleeps, notifying me that I've received a text.

I roll over onto my side, snatching my phone from the nightstand.

Message from Park Jimin

I roll my eyes, a small smile somehow forming on my lips. What does he want now?

From: Park Jimin

Meet me at the park near your place at 7 p.m. tonight.

For what?
Sent at 10.10 a.m.

No questions. You'll see.
Received at 10.10 a.m.

It's not as if I can say 'no', can I?

***

That evening, I make my way over to the park in just a plain grey T-shirt and jeans, my hair swept up into a high ponytail.