Save Me (Kim Namjoon X Readers)

Chapter 13

You both pulled back hastily. "I didn't think that would work. But how?" you asked yourself. "You said it was only someone you love who could bring you back.... oh." The blood rushed to both your cheeks. "I thought you would hate me."

He said nothing and looked away scornfully.

"Namjoon. I know you don't believe me but I am so sorry for the things I said to you. It was out of anger and hurt, and it was meant for someone else but I took it out on you. I regret it all."

"I didn't know the wealthy was capable of regrets. But what do I know, I'm just a poor orphan." The words cut your heart in ways you never could have imagined. But you were more focused on the anguish you heard, the one that you had caused him. You reached out for his hand, but this time, he flinched away. "Please," Namjoon said, his voice strangled in his throat. "Don't touch me, Lady Song."

What hurt most wasn't his rejection of your touch, but the strangeness of your name rolling off his tongue. Namjoon had always treasured your name and said it with extreme gentleness and loyalty. Certainly he must have forgotten about those days.

"I cannot take back the words I said or undo the mess I have made. But I am here to try and apologize. I am so utterly sorry."

"I know you are." Namjoon said, but he still didn't look at you. "But you're only apologizing to make yourself feel better."
"Excuse me?"

"The guilt in your heart is eating you alive. It's a feeling you are not used to. It's uncomfortable, you can't live with it. You only want to apologize so that you can sleep easier and go back to your lavish life. Once you walk away right now, you'll never have to worry about me again. So spare me your pity right now."

"So all the years you have known me for, all I ever was to you was some rich clueless girl?"

"That is the truth I saw." he answered confidently.

"The truth?"

"You were perfect in my eyes. You were the standard to everything. I told myself that if I ever had the chance to marry, no one would compare to you. But that all changed that day. I saw the real you."

The guilt and shame came back, chilling you like the cold water you were standing in. Though that numbness felt better than his words. "You have no idea what the real me is." you murmured. "You were the one that claimed I was perfect. You put me on this pedestal and worshipped me, creating this magnificent version that I am not and will never be."

"You did that with Seokjin, it's not different." Hearing his name again opened up a wound you tried hard to hide.

"You're right, it's not different. I won't try to understand how you feel but I hope you could at least sympathize that I was hurting too and you're not the only one with a broken heart."

Namjoon gulped, he wished his heart didn't tug but it did. He had been so caught up with his own feelings that he didn't stop to think about anyone else.

You exhaled, "I am not perfect and I will never claim to be. I'm made mistakes and I am here to make things right again between us."

"How?"

"I'm coming with you." you answered. It came too quick for you to reconsider any other options. But the braveness made your skin tingle. "I'll help you find your mother in Silver Stone, or wherever she is in this world. You shouldn't be alone in this. I will be there with you until the spell is broken. I promise."

Namjoon shook his head furiously. "No, you cannot. I cannot ask you to do this. It's absurd."

"Namjoon, you don't have any other options. I know what I'm offering might be a burden but it is my way of apologizing."

"That is twisted," he exclaimed. "Why would you risk your life for an apology?"

"It is not a risk," you answered calmly. "I trust that you will keep me safe."

"I-," he choked. Every since he learned how to fight, it was his dream to protect you, even if it meant he would lay his life down on the line. He didn't think fate would be such a funny thing.

"Besides, I am bound to you, remember?"

Namjoon felt dumbfounded, the words of the witch haunting him. He should have stopped you from touching him, he should have let his body disappear gradually. But now it was too late and you were smiling, that damn smile that was burned into his mind.

"Your parents would never allow you to venture beyond the town, especially not with me. They might even think I kidnapped you."

He had a point. "I will leave them a note, saying that I am leaving on my own free will. They won't blame you, they know I am stubborn and will not do anything I don't want to do." Despite that reassurance, Namjoon's stomach was still in a knot. You waited. "I can also keep you from disappearing. You can't find your mother as a ghost." you added, hoping that fact would persuade him.

"That is exactly what I am worried about. You are tied to me and we don't know what the implications of that are. I don't...want anything to happen to you." he said quietly. Your heart leaped foolishly again.

"That is for me to worry about."

"Alright, I accept your help. Thank you." It was the first positive thing he said to you all night, and he had meant it.

"I'm going to go change, and grab some food for the road." It only now dawned on Namjoon that you had been standing in the cold water this whole time. And you had endured it for his sake. He watched as you moved effortlessly back to land and back into your house. The second you were out of his sight, his chest felt tight again, like the fire was still there. He really couldn't be apart from you now.

Back in the house, you moved swiftly and quietly to change into something dry and humble. Your nerves were making you excited as you searched for food. If only your grandmother could see you now. I'm finally living, Grandma, I am alive.