INEVITABLE; taehyung [✓]

1;

the painfully cold winter air brushed against my face, feeling like thousands of miniature needlepoints penetrating my skin. i clutched tightly onto the freezing metal fence of my balcony, my knuckles beginning to turn white and the cold burning my palms.

i stared out into the dark abyss that is the night sky, the north star twinkling beautifully as the other dim stars surrounded it.

the constellations were crafted beautifully, and i recalled once i had witnessed the little dipper. it was a while ago, though, i was just a young girl with a fascination for astronomy. i kept those memories close, because they were the only memories i had with my family together.

we had the picture perfect family- a loving mother and a breadwinner father. we got along perfectly, not an argument dimmed our love for each other.

until, my father went out on my mother. our once picture perfect family that everyone envied became a broken family, and my mother and i moved out of my fathers abode and took a flight to chicago. so, now, i live out my post-graduation days standing on my balcony, drinking coffee, listening to music, and looking at flights to distant places.

i sought after traveling. i'd always wanted to leave the comfort of my mothers home and hop on a plane, taking a trip around the world with my camera in one hand and a journal in the other. i'd always dreamt of watching the sunrises and sunsets in Perth, or seeing the northern lights in Norway, or trying the cuisine in South Korea.

but, instead, i stay in chicago, doing nothing with my life. although chicago seemed like a rush when we first moved here, it's grown boring. i've discovered all i've needed to discover here, so chicago has become bland and boring. just another big city crowded with people.

"jenna, come it dearie. it's almost midnight." my mother tugged on my sleeve. i hadn't realized she was there.

i sighed, my cold breath showcasing itself in the form of a small cloud escaping my
mouth. "i will soon, momma."

my mother let her grip loosen on my sleeve, soon letting her arm fall limp by her side. "you need to get out of the house."

"i know." i sighed once more, tightening my grip on the freezing fence. my knuckles turned completely pale, and if i gripped any tighter, i thought my knuckles would tear through the skin. "just.. give me time."

"jenna," my mother stepped in front of me, leaning her back against the fence. i quickly removed my hand, surprised that my skin hadn't frozen to the metal. i shoved it quickly into my pocket, averting my gaze away from my disapproving mother. "you've had enough time. we moved here 4 months ago."

"momma, you know i don't do well-"

"in public places, i know, i know," my mother interrupted me, waving her hands as she repeated herself twice. "you have friends to go out with."

"like who, miyoung?" i shouted, catching my mother off guard. she jumped at my sudden outburst. i didn't burst often, i mainly kept to myself, so my mother wasn't prepared for it. "she barely speaks english well, and she's all involved with that South Korean band."

"she's invited you to things." my mother disapprovingly crossed her arms, and out of the corner of my eye, i saw her narrow her eyes. "she invited you to that meeting thing tomorrow. she really wanted you to go."

"i don't like her bands," i scratched the back of my arm awkwardly, a habit i've formed. i usually scratch the back of my arm when i'm uncomfortable, it's a type of coping mechanism. "i don't understand their language. and, she's not the best translator." i chuckled mockingly.

"c'mon," my mother took a small, rectangular piece of paper out of her robe pocket, as if she had been saving it for this very moment. knowing my mother, she probably was. "miyoung dropped this off today. she wanted me to give it to you, just in case." she extended the piece of paper, which i assumed was a ticket, out towards me. i stared at it for a moment, before extending my free hand out towards the ticket and grabbing it.