The Echoes Of Autumn | Minseok

Chapter Twenty One

*Play EXO For Life attached in media! Ya'll don't kill me for the song choice okay!*

'Minseok..'I heard her soft voice call out to me causing me to jolt awake instantly.

I tumbled out the bed with nothing but a pair of sweats on trying to search for her, hoping that she was safe, wishing that I could hold her in my arms again.

But as I walked blindly in the darkness calling out her name I realised how foolish I was being, to even think she would be here in this apartment.

I sighed deeply trudging back to my room automatically heading for my phone to check the time but instead I noticed the date.

17th October 2015.

My eyes winded a fraction for a moment seeing that I had arrived in the past again.

Sumi had called me here again.

I should be happy that I'll be able to see her but it sent my heart aching just knowing what she had given up, what she had tried to do in order to save me.

How she had always planned to pass on her guardianship to me trusting me and hoping that I would one day find her.

I had found her but in a state where her mind was completely apart from her body that was being controlled like a puppet by Jongdae.

I, however, vowed to snap those strings and I intend to do that far sooner than what anyone predicted.

So I crawled back under the silk sheets, burying my head inside the pillow she would once always lie in and cried simply because I knew that no matter how much I begged for things to go back to normal, it never would.

***

The following morning I simply awoke to stinging eyes and a tear stained cheeks. I padded over to the bathroom looking in the mirror with complete shock.

It was like looking back at the Minseok I was the day Sumi had passed away, looking at the boy who had eye bags and red eyes along with red chapped lips etched along his features. I grazed my fingers across my cheeks feeling the rough stubble and dry tears against my skin.

I shook my head slightly trying to shake away the memories that were viciously coming back to me or even attempt to wash them away as the cold water hit my face. I simply completed my normal wash up routine and tugged on my clothes like it was just an ordinary day.

But it wasn't, not when I had a swarm of memories of her smile, her laugh and her soft hands that would always mend me back together again.

I had expected to feel his presence next to me after what we had discussed days before but instead I felt the strong clasp of his hand grip my shoulder. I spun on my heels turning towards him with a rather meek smile.

'Hello Shinwon..." I said quitely.

'Hello Kim Minseok...' His deep voice entered my mind.

"I love her..." Was all I could say at this moment.

'I know you do... I have seen love, experienced love to know just how much the feeling is able to consume you.'

There was a beat of silence for a moment before Shinown spoke again.

"Time may pass but love is eternal. It never wavers, never fades it and is never lost..."

My lips trembled slightly and my throat tightened as I tried hard to force my tears away and simply looked up to Shinwon smiling at the old man's features that Jumnyeon would look like one day. 'Handsome' that was how he would describe himself.