Save Me (Kim Namjoon X Readers)

Chapter 12

"Why are you crying?" Namjoon asked. You cupped your mouth quickly as to not let out a shriek of surprise and utter happiness.

"You're alive!" you cried. Hana would have scolded you for using such a loud voice but in the moment, you forgot all about it. You only cared about the fact that he was alive and he was here. "I was so worried about your. I thought..."

Namjoon remained disturbingly and dreadfully quiet. His eye stared at something behind you. You gut told you that right now, he wasn't doing it out of his typical shyness around you, but out of spite towards you. Timidly, you took a step towards him, but that was much easier on land. Your foot was caught on something and you fumbled forward. But before you hit the boat or the water, his arm caught yours. When you looked up at him, you could almost see the old Namjoon. One that was curious and courageous. Then it faded and his eyes became a stranger's again.

"Thanks." you said quietly. There was something off about him, aside from the fact that he suddenly appeared out of the molecules of the air. It took you by surprise to think of all the things you noticed about him. He was much lankier than the other men in her life, her father or Seokjin. His skin, too, was much darker than them. His hands were rougher with more calluses and scars. You held back the urge to touch them along with your irrational impulse to tuck his disheveled hair back. He had the same attire on as that day.

He released your arm. No man had ever touched you like that before. Even Seokjin refrained from hugging you. "I wanted to see you the other day, but Hana said you left."

Namjoon scoffed. "Why? You made it clear you never wanted to see me again." His words were thorns, but there was a hint of anxiety. The apologies in your throat faded when you saw the sheer fear in his eyes.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" you asked.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." he shrugged.

"Try me. I'm sure nothing will astound me anymore." You studied his face, along with the rest of his body. Something was different, like the shimmer in the darkness, but that could easily be the moon light tricking you. "Maybe I can help."

It seems that Namjoon finally registered he was back in the Southern water town, and behind your house. He looked around with a lost expression. "Why did I come back here? I thought she was sending me up north."

"Who?" you asked.

"The river witch." he answered sternly, as if he had expected you to guess. The old Namjoon would have apologized for raising his voice at you, but this one remained cold. You pursed your lips, unsure of what to say. "I knew you wouldn't believe me." he shook his head. "And to have you of all people find me like this." he whispered.

"Was is that supposed to mean? I haven't said anything." you argued. It shouldn't have gotten to you, but it did.

"You didn't have to. It was clear on your face. You think I'm insane."

"Do not put words in my mouth. Tell me what happened."

Namjoon bit his cheek, in the end, he told you everything. "I wanted to row somewhere north, to begin a new life. In my heart, I joked that I would find the River Witch and have her erase all my memories."

"All?"

"Not all, just the painful part." He didn't need to explain further, it was clear he was talking about you. "I didn't think she was real, but then I stumbled upon her house and she cursed me."

"She cursed you? For what? Finding her?" you asked. It was far past the point of asking if it was real or not because Namjoon would never lie, not about this. Right now, you were more worried if he was okay.

Namjoon sighed before proceeding. "She claims that she was my aunt, she said she recognized my eyes. "She was furious that I showed up, believing that my mother sent me to spy on her. And to punish the both of us, she cast this spell on me. My whole body disappeared, like smoke. I felt all of that." He looked at the pouch in your hands. "I am connected to that thing. If I part with it, I will die."

You gasped, covering your mouth again and this time, he saw that you were bleeding. His heart ached without his permission and he cursed himself for him. "How did you come back?" you asked.

Namjoon didn't have to wonder about it, remembering the words of the witch. "The person you love must bring you back with a touch. But doing so will cost them, and tie them to the curse." he recited.

"Tie them? What does that mean?"

"Look at me." he told you. The words he wanted to say for so long. So you did, and like before his body was still shimmering. When you focused your eyes, you swore you could see the shape of the seat underneath him.

"Oh my god, Namjoon. What's happening to you?" you whispered. The panic on your face mirrored his, he hadn't realized how bad it was.

"The witch said my mother could fix this, if she tells me she loves me."

"Your mother is alive?"

Namjoon nodded, "Somewhere in Silver Stone." he answered hesitantly. "But she never came looking for me. Surely that means there's no love for me, so it's hopeless."

"Don't think like that." you urged him. "How long do you have?"

"Until the next full moon. If I try my best, I might be able to make it there on time and to ask my mother to fix this. But the witch could be lying about my mother's whereabouts, or the fact that she's even alive or not." He pinched his forehead, there was contact. It gave you an idea.

Carefully, you reached your hand out. Namjoon didn't move as he observed what you were doing, already feeling that it was useless. Your hand laid on what was supposed to be his chest, it wasn't quite solid yet, just a bubble of air. It was freezing, like the dead winter. Then a shift happened. You felt his muscles tensing under your touch and the coldness was gone. His heart beat was gaining momentum. Your eyes locked as his chest rose and fell beneath your bare palm.