virtuous deception || pjm (editing)

xiv

AUTHOR

six weeks later

43 days without her. Jimin had grown increasingly obsessive, drowning himself in work attempting to suppress his thoughts, yet they always regurgitated. He'd blamed himself, wondering if their relationship should've remained platonic, if he had scared her off or if, and most frightening, she didn't love him back.

The first days he'd almost mourned her absence, sleeping in her bed, only wearing the cologne she liked on him, wearing the suits she'd liked best. He'd sent countless detectives after her, and after that failed, even seeked the assistance of his Father, at the cost of joining him in his "business".  He hated being a source for drugs and weapons, but anything for his Hyejin.

His desperation was growing too much. He felt like a drug addict, craving the bitter sweet of his drug. So when a man - clad in all black with a single stripe of red, provided by his tie - spoke of an address where Hyejin had been seen, he fled within seconds. 

"HYEJIN!" Jimin bashed on the door with every ounce of energy in him.

"PLEASE HYEJIN, OPEN THE DOOR." His voice grew thick and strained as he leaned on the door, slowly slipping down the varnished wood. Brushing his hair back in frustration, he leaned his head back so it hit the door. And even when he thought he could not shed another tear, a single bitter droplet rolled down his cheek and onto the worn and stained carpets of the apartment complex.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, Hyejin sat in a similar position, letting the tears drop freely and silently as she thought of her situation, equally, if not more distressing than Jimin's.

HYEJIN

Leaving may have been the worst decision of my life.

But it was the right decision.

I think.

It had been 43 days since I left and each day had been torturous. Yet, with telling myself that he was better off without me, that thought alone made each day easier. 

After the train ride to Seoul, the kind family with the two sons drove me to Jimin's, the wife helping me pack without questions. For the first two days, I stayed with them, in their quaint little house on the western perimeter of Seoul. For some odd reason, those days I maintained my composure, only letting out a little emotion. But as soon as I arrived at Chae-Young's house, located in downtown Hongdae, I was a wreck. The tears gushed like waterfalls as I recited everything to Chae-Young - even the parts about my father and my real identity.

I'd stayed with Chae-Young since, helping around the house while she went to work. I missed working with her. Maybe I just missed the company. I definitely missed the company. I missed Jimin. I'd already been to countless interviews and had quite a few good replies yet for some reason, I was unable to take any job.

So now, I sit around the house, putting on excess weight, just watching rom-com after rom-com except none of them are funny now. I just cry more and more into the receding box of ice cream. 

And somehow, I made it these 43 days, ignoring the calls, the texts, the emails, the pounding on the door and the comments from Chae-Young about how sad Jimin is now. It pains me but, it won't change anything. Any girl would gladly date him and one of them must be better than me.

-

3 days ago, I fell ill with what I guessed to be food poisoning. I was tired and vomiting constantly, my head felt like it was continuously being bashed with a rock. So I took a shower, brushed my hair, dressed myself nicely and actually left the apartment to go to the hospital. Maybe I'm just lacking some good old Vitamin D.

-

Just walking around outside was making me anxious. I felt like everyone was looking at me, as if I was a monster. Were my eyes still red and puffy?  Perhaps I'm being paranoid.

The hospital worked very quickly, taking quick tests and checking my overall appearance. Taking my temperature, blood and oddly enough a urine test. Yet I never questioned it, the doctors knew best.

"Lee Hyejin?" A doctor called for me in the waiting room where I'd been sat for an hour. I got up and bowed, following him to his office.

"Good Afternoon, doctor." I greeted.

"Good afternoon Miss. Lee. Now, the majority of your samples came back clean. But-"

"But what? Is something wrong?"

"Your blood test did reveal something."

"Yes?"

"Miss.Lee, you-"

The doctor proceeded, telling me one word that made my heart sink, before stopping entirely. The room was spinning, the doctors face was blurred and I felt nothing. I couldn't cry, laugh, yell or respond even if I wanted to. The ringing in my ears grew every second until I could barely hear anymore.

"I know this is somewhat distressing news. But there are plenty of options. Speak to your family, your friends, your significant other. They will be your biggest support." I nodded and simply gave a small smile before exiting the room, wandering aimlessly like a zombie.

-

Now, in the present time, I'm sat, back to the door, listening to Jimin's soft cries as I restrain myself from opening the door. But instead, I wrapped my arms around my legs and waited till his sobs subsided before they completely stopped.

Somehow, I stayed there another hour, before a harsh knock echoed through the steel door, forcing me to get up. Chae-Young was due home by now and I guessed that she forgot her keys. Another, more impatient knock echoed and I rolled my eyes, reaching for the handle of the door, slowly opening it. I turned my back away, not even checking who was there because I already knew it would be Chae-Young.

"Chae-Young, I need to tell you something." I began before a heard a deep murmur and turned around. But as I did, all I could see was a blurred face and a rusted metal pipe being swung to meet my face.

***

This chapter is short and very typical. But oh well... anyway I ONLY HAVE ONE MORE CHAPTER TO WRITE! All the rest I have already written! But this chapter was very poorly written as it's more a filler than anything else. Next chapter will be better I promise!

I am very unhappy with this book so I may go back and change things. I also may unpublish Timeless for the time being as I don't have many ideas for it and want to get other books published and under way.

I've also decided to post both endings but you can skip whichever ending you don't want to read. Be warned if you read the sad before the happy, someone's identity will be ruined. So yeah...

Anyways... BYE.