Perpetual Rain ✓

Ten Minutes

Your legs were freezing as the soles of your feet curved over the thick metal barrier you were standing on. Your sandals were forgotten in a puddle of water just a few feet away, they were doing you no good anyway. Your hands wrapped around the railing that stood about waist high, you were only granted about a foot more in height, but it allowed you to see just a little bit more as you looked out over the water of Hollow Lake. 

The clouds above were too thick to offer a reflection onto the water. All you could see was an abyss of black that dug down deeper than you would ever know. You could see the rolling hills in the distance, choked by the thick fog that blanketed them like silk. There was a sense of beauty in the dreariness of the day, the way the rain splashed against the lake and the clouds swirled in the sky like the words of a perfect Bob Ross painting. Though that man had always preferred happy little clouds. 

"You're not planning on jumping, are you?" A startling voice called out just a few feet behind you that nearly caused you to slip off the railing and take a painful tumble back down to the sidewalk. Your heart had done a quick jumping-jack from the surprise. 

You had grown so accustomed to the silence that you didn't expect to hear anyone there, though you only knew of one person it could have been, and your expression quickly mimicked your distaste for your wishes having been disregarded. 

"I thought I told you, I need time." You didn't bother to look behind you as you released a heavy breath from your nose like an angry bull. 

"Did you?" The voice questioned. You were now able to hear them a bit more clearly since the fright was gone. The voice was higher in pitch and smoother in its flow of words that dripped from their lips like sap from a tree. 

Quickly turning your head, you glanced over your shoulder to see a familiar face, though not the one you had expected. What was his name again? Right... Jimin. 

"I don't remember you ever telling me that." His pump lips spread into a sweet smile, taking a step forward toward you as you remained on the railing. He was dressed in light colors. A white collared short sleeve shirt buttoned up to the center of his chest, letting the curvature of his collarbone show. He had on a pair of light blue jeans that had a few artistic worn spots scattered about. A pair of immaculate white shoes that showed not a single speck of dirt. Despite the weather, he wore no jacket. 

"Did he send you here?" You let go of the railing and quickly jumped back down, letting your feet splash against the concrete that failed to absorb the water and spun around to face him. "I don't need a baby sitter." You pointed out as you stuffed your hands into the pockets of your trench coat.

"No." He said, shaking his head as his fluffy black hair that was parted slightly off center bounced. "I came of my own accord." His way of speaking seemed rather formal, not to mention his picturesque appearance put you on your guard. "Clearly you don't need a baby sitter if you're going to reject the assistance of a reaper." 

"What do you want?" A cold response that bit as much as the harsh wind. He had an inviting aura but you refused to be taken for a fool, no matter how hard he worked to maintain that pearly white smile that looked as though it could cure cancer itself. 

"I just wanted to talk." Taking a step forward, he moved further away from the street. He let himself get closer than you would have preferred, given how very little you knew about the stranger that had kept Taehyung from telling you what had happened to you all this time. Approaching the railing, he leaned over to rest his forearms against the metal and look out onto the same lake you had been gazing upon. "Think you could spare me a little bit of time?" He cast his gaze over his shoulder at you, flashing that doe eyed gaze that seemed fitting of a prince. 

This just smelled like a bad idea to you. What could he possibly say that would mean anything to you right now? You were just as mad at this stranger, if not angrier, than you were with Taehyung. It was much easier to display anger to someone you don't know over someone you had come to rely on. 

"I'd rather not." You abruptly replied as you turned to face him. "I've heard enough excuses, I don't need more." You let your eyes freeze on his carefree face, displaying your unwillingness to hear him out. You couldn't even be granted one day of solidarity given what you had just found out? 

"I'm not here to make excuses on Tae's behave. I just came to explain things." 

"Sounds like an excuse to me." 

"Give me ten minutes?" 

You offered no reply, letting your eyes burn a hole in the side of his face as you remained unapologetic for your hard stance against him and his 'friend'. This seemed like a waste of time, and though walking away seemed a liable option, at the same time you doubted he would just leave you be unless he got his point across clearly. 

"Just ten minutes, that's all I'm asking for." A request from a stranger, that sounded rather familiar. But his persistence was earning him no favors. You weren't so ignorant as to fall into the same trap that Taehyung had spun. His persistence only offered him a dead stare in your annoyance. 

"You reapers sure do ask for a lot, huh?" Cocking your head to the side, you stared into those deep pools of brown that mimicked that of his counterpart. Your brow twitched as your expression morphed into a scowl, letting your lips pinch tight and your brows hang low. 

"I guess so." He laughed in amusement, amusement that only he held at that moment. His smile remained carefree, acting as though he couldn't see the clear displeasure written across your face in big bold letters that spelled out 'leave me be'.  

"Give me one good reason why I should hear you out." You demanded, refusing to let his persuasion work on you so easily as you had let the other man's. You felt manipulated then, and now you could only take his actions at face value. It all felt like some shitty pyramid scheme they were trying to waltz you into with a blindfold on. 

"Because you want to understand. Part of you needs to understand." His smile dropped from his thick lips and he met your gaze with one of serious intent. He was looking at you, but it was as if he was looking into you, seeing past the tough girl charade that you tried to use to shield yourself from the manipulation he was trying too hard to feed to you. 

You were at a stalemate as the two of you simply stared into the silence, not breaking your eyes from one another as you attempted to weigh the pros and cons of this situation. He wasn't wrong though, the idea of not understanding your situation in full was weighing on you. You hated not knowing and being left clueless of your own standing only served to add to the madness that was your life now.

"Ten minutes." You muttered as you broke the long silence and caved to his desires. Inwardly, you hated that you were even giving him the time of day and felt defeated by his rationality, but you wanted to know, you needed to know, and talking to Taehyung left an even worse taste in your mouth that you couldn't stomach. 

"Ten minutes." He repeated in agreement, that sweet smile returning to his thick lips as he straightened out his posture and released the railing he leaned upon. "Take a walk with me?" He asked as he centered himself on the sidewalk and stepped to the side, facing you at an angle. He cocked his head, motioning for the two of you to head north if you'd take him up on his request. 

Begrudgingly, you leaned down to pick up your scandals and pushed yourself forward to walk along his side, not caring that you remained barefoot or the fact that you were still in your pajamas from that morning that were now soaked and the rim of your flowing bottoms were now splattered with mud. It didn't matter, nothing really mattered.