The Flood

"The flood is coming, Jihyun..."

"The flood?"

"...I have to be the barricade to stop this flood."

The director's words were laced with an indescribable tone of resolved determination, tinged with a hint of faltering fear as he spoke.

Vulnerability was a word scarcely used to describe Jumin, for his inner turmoil was sealed beneath a logical and mature outer demeanour. Seldom it was, that anyone would look deeper, deep enough to find a boy, desperately searching for a way to untangle the convoluted threads that frayed the several parts of his life.

As well as the eminent fear of losing the only close friend that stuck by his side throughout all these years.

"Let's brace ourselves for the flood. I will stand beside you—no... I'd rather have you stand behind me."

It was as if a sudden, saddening realisation had dawned upon the two of them. Just how long ago was it that they had frolicked so care-freely and easily as they did on this day? Was it the stirring, complicated conflict that bubbled within the RFA that had left such a pleasant past-time so far back in the past? Or was it the disobedience of time itself that had changed things to be so spontaneously out of their control?

It seemed so, so long ago that they had laughed and smiled together in the light of their childhood, not giving a care in the world about how others felt about their complex conversations that would fly by long hours on end.

"Jumin... We've endured many years of time. Let's have faith that we won't be knocked down so easily."

A subtle sigh escaped from the black-haired man.

"Jihyun... let's have a glass of wine together the next time we meet."

"...Yes, I would love that. It's been too long."

"Will you promise me that we will?"

"I promise."

-

A chilled, gust of wind blew through the windows of Jumin's penthouse, as a myriad of distant stars scattered across the deep night sky.

"Wine... is a symbol of your company. I wish that I could share this bottle with you."

The director's eyes slowly opened as he momentarily exited his thoughts, gazing out towards the stars.

"Jihyun... Will I ever have a glass of wine again?"