A Night-Long Lament

time flies

(Your POV)

It's been 1 month and 19 days. You still think about them all the time. They're never off your mind. In this time, you've started up a gardening store and reconnected with an old friend from junior high.

"Hey, Y/N, I've brought in the goldfish plants from the sill. Anything else you need me to do before this storm hits?" His warm voice comes from behind you.

You turn to look at Minhyuk's smile and a smile grows onto your face as well. "No, it's alright. I'll handle everything from here, thanks." As you begin to pick up the fertilizers, he rushes up behind you and wraps his arms around your waist.

"I can't let my lovely girlfriend do all of the work can I?" He kisses your cheek and releases you. As both of you lift up the heavy bag, you gaze into his dark brown eyes.

A flash of Jin hides in his pupil. You drop the bag and flinch away. "Y/N? Are you ok? Was it those flashes again?" Minhyuk consoles you as he holds you in his arms.

"Yea, I think I'm alright. I'm... gonna go take a seat if that's ok." You grip your temples as you slowly make your way to the wooden bench outside. Your gaze lands on the castle in the distance.

I never heard of any weddings yet. Maybe they're still planning.

"Y/N here's some water, I hope you feel better." He leans his head on your shoulder and closes his eyes.

"Thanks, Minhyuk."

~~~~~~~~

"A special order of flowers for the castle has been sent in, Y/N." Your father's voice calls from the living room as you arrange a meal for the three of you.

You freeze.

"The... Castle?" You stutter.

"If you want me to deliver it, it's fine by me," Minhyuk calls from another room.

Y/N sucks in a deep breath and thinks.

Get over it Y/N. No one is gonna hurt you there ever again.

You touch your side gingerly and feel rough, torn skin. "I can do it."

Your father runs in from the other room and stares at you. He knew exactly what you were thinking, but didn't like the sound of it. "Y/N, are you sure? I know you..." He trails off as he composes himself.

You straighten your back. "I can do it." Determined, you run over to your store and snatch the bouquet of flowers off the shelf. "I can do this. I can do this."

Stomping over to the pathway to the castle, you retrace the exact steps from when you were running away with Jimin. Turning away, you push down that memory and trudge through. Soon enough, you pass the town square where Jin found you. Then the street where Taehyung took you to visit your parents.

Memories come flooding back at an alarming rate. Tears flood your eyes. "Hey... Are you ok?" Minhyuk's soft voice approaches you from behind and you stumble backward at the sound. "Whoa, whoa, it's just me!" He catches you and hugs you. "I'll come along if you want."

Nodding your head into his chest, you hold his hand on the remainder of the path. The memories fade once Minhyuk arrives, and you finally feel safe. As the stone steps of the castle feel your feet, you can feel your hands grow shaky.

"It's gonna be alright." He clasps his hand around yours and squeezes. "I'm here." He smiles as you enter the gates of the place where you once thrived.

Getting through the guards was a hassle, but once you made it to the grand doors, that when the real memories started the flood.

The blood, the fear, the anticipation.

It scared you half to death.

"Welcome back, Ma'am." Your old maid grasps your shoulder and smiles. "Come this way." She leads you to the lobby where you feel a warm breeze enter through the french doors.

"Hello, we've ordered a bouquet of lilies, we will pay you promptly--" He looks up from his clipboard and meets your eyes.

The man that cared for you so much. Who was there for you in the end. Who was so kind. Seokjin.

He drops his clipboard and stumbles back into the room he came from. Shooting up from your seat you peek into the room from afar.

Jin regains his composure and comes back out. Minhyuk stands behind you holding your hand tightly. "Is this...?"

"Yes. It's Prince Seokjin." You breathe as you finally utter his name.

"Y/N... I-- How come-- Why--" He grabs the back of his neck and smiles awkwardly. "Sorry, uhm, thank you for bringing the lilies."

Minhyuk stands in front of you and hands him the lilies. "Anytime, Prince." Minhyuk smiles.

"Uh-- Oh yes, you can go into the room on your right to drop off the lilies and get your pay." Jin ushers towards a room to his right and Minhyuk starts to follow as do you.

Jin lightly grabs your wrist bringing you to a halt. He quickly let's go as you turn around to face him. "Is there anything else you need?" You say.

"I... I just wanted to say I... We missed you Y/N. Shortly after you left, Namjoon never left the west wing and Jungkook hasn't spoken to him or Hoseok in forever." He looks down. "Things never fixed itself around here. We've just been stuck in time."

"I..."

I've missed you too.

"I have to go." You stumble backward and turn around, only to bump into someone else. "S-Sorry!"

"Y/N?" A deep voice comes from your left. "Y/N? You're back?" His voice cracks as you realize it's Taehyung.

"I've only come to drop off some flowers." You smile nervously.

Sadness enters his expression. "I've missed you. So has everyone else." He gestures.

"Taehyung, I--"

Minhyuk pops out from behind you and pulls you close. "We better get going. Thanks for your order!" He smiles and tries to leaves, but a strike of lightning makes him jump. Minhyuk turns your way. "Has the storm already hit?"

You run over to the window sill and look up at the sad, heavy clouds. "It looks like it. The pathway home is already flooding." You slump down in disappointment.

Jin springs up from behind the door and says, "You can stay here!"

Taehyung vigorously nods. "I agree."

Minhyuk gives you a sideways glance. "I don't think we have a choice. I'm sorry things had to be this way." He looks at you encouragingly and kisses you. This action made it seem like he was trying to make it a point to Taehyung and Jin that you were his.

But once Jin and Taehyung saw this, a heavy atmosphere fell over the room. Kissing him back he releases and immediately turns to Jin and Taehyung.

Jealously clouding their eyes, Jin composes himself as Taehyung leaves the room in a hurry.

"I... I guess the two of you can share your old room Y/N." He laughs awkwardly and takes his leave.