through the static audio, jimin could hear a single word uttered out by a soft voice on the opposite end of the line. "jimin?"
jimin immediately stopped in his tracks, freezing on the second step of the stairwell at the familiar voice. "jiyeon?" he asked, his voice immediately hardening, his limbs freezing up as if casked in ice. "why are you calling me?"
jiyeon sniffled slightly on the other side of the call. "jimin," she repeated like a broken record player; she seemed to be at a loss for words. "i'm sorry."
jimin wrinkled his nose, taking a deep breath. "great, now that you've apologized, let's frolic in fields of love and friendship," he snorted, though his sister didn't seem to catch up on the sarcasm.
"really?" she breathed out, her voice hitching slightly as she let out something between a chuckle and a sob. "you forgive me?"
"no," he deadpanned. "do you really expect me to just forgive and forget after you left me hanging like that? do you have any idea how much pain i was in?"
jiyeon stifled a heavy sigh. "i know, i-"
jimin quickly cut his sister off, aggression evident in his harsh voice. "no. you were a coward. why do you call me now, out of all times? when i'm trying to forget my past?" jiyeon attempted to murmur something else, but jimin rapidly shot her down again. "save your apologies for someone who actually wants to hear them."
with a satisfied smirk, jimin held out his phone in front of him and tapped the red button, ending the call which lasted for mere seconds. still, his heart now felt heavy as it swirled with apprehension.
he shoved his phone into his backpack. jimin ran his hair nervously through his fire colored hair, quickening his steps as he ran down the stairs, out into the cold, night air.
crickets sang their hearts out into the clear night; the full moon shone brightly, casting shadows around the silent neighborhood, which was only disturbed by jimin's quick and urgent steps against the broken asphalt.
the stars seemed to dance and twirl against the pitch black of the night. he glanced at his phone, making sure that he was on the right path to taehyung's house.
after a few minutes of walking through relative silence, he arrived at the small brick building which taehyung had described. jimin stepped up the small steps which lead to the entrance. tentatively, he pushed open the glass door, stepping inside quietly.
after searching around for a little bit, he found the measly and rackety elevator and rode up to the roof; taehyung was already standing there, faintly outlined by the bright city lights. buildings and skyscrapers rose up around them, shooting up into the sky like fireworks.
taehyung turned around upon hearing jimin's soft footsteps. "oh, you came." he smiled, pleasantly surprised. "i wasn't sure if you were joking or not."
jimin merely shrugged, silently walking over to stand next to taehyung; he kept his gaze on the dim horizon line.
"what's wrong?" taehyung's brows creased together in worry as him and jimin leaned on the rusty railing which kept them from falling into empty air, noticing jimin's subdued and lackluster face.
"it's nothing," jimin replied monotonously, not bothering to elaborate about his somber mood. he trailed his gaze across the exquisite scenery of lit up skyscrapers; they casted dancing shadows across the dark streets and alleys of the city.
taehyung sighed, leaning further onto the railing, jimin's muted mood ruining his as well. "okay, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
jimin nodded dully as both boys fell into a deep silence, only intercepted by slow breathing and the occasional honk of a car. the stars continued to twinkle like crystals, cloaked in the black sky. the two boys simply stood there, enjoying each other's presence.
