Save Me Break Me || MYG

The Memories Seventy - Pink and Blue

I absent-mindedly attached pink ribbons on the garland instead of baby blue ones, earning a smack from Hoseok as he exasperatedly tried to repair the damage I've done to the last packet of twisty ties to reuse them, but they were completely worn. Now they have to purchase more from the hardware store.

Last night's conversation with Mia's dad still lingers in my head. Yet again, she had me falling even deeper than the deepest fall I've ever been. God... She must be the strongest soul I've met in my lifetime, at the same time she must have been exhausted...

~~~~^~~~~

The conversation.

"For so many years, I convinced myself that she needed to be kept from the world, that secrets must be kept from her, but for sure one day, she'll want to break free. She was meant to be happy. But the world was cruel to her. Her face always the source of envy and jealousy, resulting to violence towards her."

Mr. Emmette poured me some tea after filling his own cup. Just a few steps from Mia's room was a balcony, overlooking the beautiful seaside.

"Other children would hurt her for her looks alone. She would come home from the playground all dirty and covered in bruises, her eyes red and puffy, but when asked what happened, she just smiles widely, saying she fell many times and run around too much. But one day, Trace, her cousin, discovered that other girls hit and push her and doesn't want to play with her, and the boys would play with her clothes, lifting and ripping parts of her skirt. She was only four. That's when my wife and I decided not to let her out the house, have her home schooled instead. It was too much to bear, and slowly Miranda, her mom, began to fall into despair.

"It's a whole different story with my wife's family. They want to control her for the gift she possesses, as they did to my wife and her sisters. The old ladies were possessive, abusive to the young ones, especially with the sisters because it was the first time in a hundred years that a seer was born in the family. Of course, Miranda was under the clutches of the elderly. So when we met, she was more than willing to come with me, and I took them far away from the Keens after Mia was born, far from those who will only use them."

I took a sip of my tea. Hearing the whole story from her dad was a whole different experience. I felt his sufferings, yet not an ounce of hatred leaked from his voice.

"I wanted to fight, but what will happen to her if I'm gone? Who will look after her? So yes. I hid, I stayed in the shadows, I fled from battles I know I could've won. It was the only way I can make myself useful because I am a coward. I failed, not just as a father, but as a person. Both my daughters suffered because of my decision to keep running. I couldn't take Emily with me, because in all honesty, her step-father did love her like his own child. My mind was filled with questions, indecisions. In the end, I still ran away from the problems."

"Sir, I don't think it's cowardice to only want to keep your daughter safe..." I said reassuringly.

He chuckled, "It's ok. I've accepted it long ago."

I struggled to keep my eyes open, but somehow exhaustion took over. I wanted to continue the conversation, but I noticed he was dead tired as well.

"Yoongi, I wanted to tell more, but you still have classes in the morning, and tomorrow's the party at your school, right?"

"Yes, Sir. I should get going. Thank you for the tea-"

He stood and waved his hand. "You can spend the night here, and you may sleep in her room, but not on her bed, alright? She has extra blankets you could use."

I chuckled nervously, "I'll sleep on the floor, Sir. Uh, thank you for letting me stay."

His sigh was heavy, shaky. "I owe you, young man. For making my Mia happy. She's my entire world."

I just smiled and shook my head in response. As far as I know, I've only caused her much pain. I was a disappointment. I was about to leave the area when he grabbed me by the shoulder.

"Also, for taking good care of Emily when she was still alive. I can't express my gratitude enough."

I was stupefied. "You knew, Sir?"

"Yes. Matt kept me updated about Emily in the Hunter household. There's a lot of things I know about you. As to how or why, I'll let you discover them yourself. All I could say at the moment is that I'm so thankful. I only wish we could find the one who killed her... Now go, we all need some sleep."

Perplexed, I could only bow and reply, "Thank you, Sir. Uh, goodnight."

I tried to open my mouth, to tell him who the murderer was, but he looked terribly exhausted.

Maybe one day...

~~~~^~~~~

"Yoongi! Hello!"

A hard smack on my shoulder made me jump and snapped me from my reverie, annoyed at the moron who guffawed at my startled state.

"You jerk..." I placed my hand over my rampaging heart, "You wanna kill me?"

"I've been calling for you for a minute, but you were clearly running around in your own little world," Jin dramatically poked me on the forehead, "What's going on?"

"Just excited for tonight. I personally picked the dress for Mia, so......."

He stared at me with a stupid smirk.

"What?"

"It's as serious as a pending lawsuit, isn't it?" Jin teased, knowing I was in too deep.

"I don't know, should I feel bad? I mean, after finding out the truth, I was scared that my feelings for Mia would somehow diminish. Don't judge me, I did love Emily. I should be mourning for her and the baby, but I keep seeing Mia. Just her. I can't explain it."

He sat upright, "Because it's over. You found the murderer. You even got rid of him. Technically the whole case is solved. So, with that in mind, your burden has been lifted. Besides, Em would be devastated if you grow old single and miserable."

"I just feel guilty," I confessed.

His half-hearted chuckle suggested his sympathy, "You know, you really have nothing to feel bad about. I witnessed how beautiful your relationship with Emily was, and she was truly happy. And yeah, I hate to admit this but you're the best guy a girl could ever have, as evidenced by the numerous ladies running after your dick and crying over you- ouch!!!"

I hit him hard on the shoulder.

"I'm serious!" He insisted.

I shrugged, and proceeded to find Mia in the crowd of bustling students, their hands full of decorative materials and paint as they get the great hall ready for tonight's party. As soon as my eyes landed on her, I felt the corner of my lips jutting upward. It's funny how she even managed to wrap the fairy lights around her, clueless even as to how to get out of them. So clumsy.

"I just can't understand why your charms won't work on her," he noticed me smiling like an idiot, nudged at my ribs and pointed to where Mia was.

"Shut up, Jin," I threw a punch at him, making him stagger backwards.

He laughed wickedly, "But seriously, I'm astounded. She needs to give lessons on how to resist temptation."

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Just between us, I'm kinda embarrassed to admit this. Mia just makes me docile. She drains all my confidence. Yeah right, I could act all tough and the likes when I want to intimidate her, but once she holds me in this inexplainable gaze, I'm immobilized, my mind doesn't work properly. She can control me and I just curl into submission... And it's got nothing to do with her past. I- urgh... I don't know. All I want is to make her feel safe. That's all."

My forehead hit the table top pretty hard as I let my head fall onto it out of frustration and shame. "Ugh... I haven't even kissed her cheek yet."

Even I heard the bitter tone in my own voice, the sulking was undeniable.

Jin's boisterous laughter made some heads turned, and he simply brushed off the attention. He propped his chin onto his palm, his eyes sparkling and his smirk mocking me. "Yeah. You're in too deep. Cupid must have hit you right in the heart and in the head this time."