Epiphany || ksj || ✓

twenty-three

✵

'It's not your fault,' Sophia rested her hand atop of mine, her soft skin sending a feeling of reassurance through my body.
'Suga is going to be okay,' she continued to speak as Taehyung drove ahead. 'He's a grown man and he's responsible, he will turn up soon.'
I stared down at our intertwined hands, not remembering how exactly we ended up this way, her fingers locked with mine. But it was reassuring and kept me stable.
    It wasn't awkward, or forced. It was just me. And her.
    Past events seemed to have been forgotten as we sat in the back seat of Taehyungs car, and the feeling of having her with me while I searched for my best friend, my family, my brother, only assured me of one thing.
    My feelings for the girl with the dark hair.
     I felt almost guilty for accepting my emotions at a time like this. With my best friend missing and the revelation of my past coming back to me, it felt wrong to even feel an inch of happiness until everything was solved.
    Taehyungs phone began to ring, the ringtone pulling me out of my thoughts.
He brought his phone to his ear, eyes still strained on the road ahead.
He had his brows furrowed, his lips set in a straight line as he spoke on the phone, the other end inaudible.
'What do you mean?' He asked, raising his voice slightly. 'Is he there or not?'
Sophia glanced at me quickly, mouthing, what happened?
I shrugged in response, letting my eyes drift back to the driver.
'Okay,' Taehyung sighed, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel. 'We'll be there as soon as we can.'
      He threw his phone into the empty seat beside him, exhaling deeply.
    'Taehyung,' Sophia began, a worried expression on her voice.  'Is everything alright?'
    Taehyungs dark eyes met my own through the rear view mirror. 'Suga is in Busan.'
     My whole body had froze.
'With Jimin.'

✵

'Three tickets to Busan, please,' Taehyung spoke smoothly to the lady behind the desk.
   After Taehyung ended his call and informed us of Suga's whereabouts, I did not hesitate to tell Taehyung to take us to the train station. I was going to get my best friend back, even if I had to fly across the word, I'd do it for him.
I was grateful that we knew where he was and that he was safe, with Jimin.
Jimin.
After three years, I would finally bring see him again. That's what scared me the most. I knew that he hated me for what happened, what almost happened. For not seeing him after three years since. I hated me too.
We found our selves a booth in the train cart, Taehyung sitting opposite Sophia and I.
Taehyung had his elbows leaned against his knees, his face in his palms.
Sophia hummed lowly to herself beside me, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her skirt as the train lulled on.
I chewed my bottom lip, leaning my head against the cold glass of the window, watching the trees blur by as we made our way to Busan.
I was anxious, scared, furiously biting down on my lip, all types of thoughts milling through my brain about how Suga was going to react. How Jimin was going to react.
'Seokjin,' Sophia's soft voice obscured my thoughts. She gently turned my face towards her, her light fingers on my jaw as she lifted a tissue to my lips, blotting at them. When she pulled away, blood was shown.
I lifted my hand to touch my lips, not realising that I had bitten down so hard, it had started to bleed.
    'Be careful,' she whispered, caressing my lip with her thumb, her soft skin brushing against the metal pierced through my lip.
    I parted my sore lips, wanting to say something, but it was like it had gotten stuck in my throat, blocking's my airways.
    Sophia sent a warm smile, one that automatically made me smile. A small yet wholesome gesture that sent feelings of euphoria through me.
    Taehyung coughed, catching both of our attentions.
     'Sorry to interrupt,' he mumbled, clearing his throat, 'but I think it's best to save the canoodling for another time. We're nearly in Busan.'
     I sat up in my seat. 'Already?'
     Had time gone by that fast? Had I been overthinking and putting myself down that entire time?
     'Mm,' he nodded once, his dark brows knitted together. 'Do you think you can do it?'
     I swallowed, already knowing what he meant. 'Do what?'
     Sophia slowly snaked her fingers through my own, locking them together.
    His eyes showed nothing but sadness and utter seriousness. 'Do you think you can face Jimin again?'

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