Her Hope | Jung Hoseok

3

Yoongi placed a comforting hand on Namjoon's shoulder to gain his attention, which he got. They have been sitting quietly in Officer Bang's cabin for thirty minutes now, still trying to digest the horrifying reality.

But they just can't accept it, how can they?

It was difficult enough to have a loved one missing, being not aware of their well-being, not knowing whether they are still alive or not, having all the evil thoughts concerning them, losing the hope of meeting them again with each passing day or trying to make yourself accept that they will never return.

But the most difficult was knowing about the ordeals your loved ones suffered through and how they were far worse and horrifying than you would have ever imagined.

Namjoon felt more guilty then ever in his whole life.

His sister was suffering, was getting tortured, raped, while he was enjoying food with his friends, sleeping, making music and running away from his home because he was afraid of loneliness!

'Did they even gave her proper food?'

Namjoon nodded at Yoongi and then Officer Bang led them out in the corridor, towards the room where his sister was.

The corridor was bustling with activities; officers and people moved passed them in hurry. Namjoon found the noise around him suffocating, there were so many crimes committed each day. How were this people able to handle it every day?

Wouldn't hearing about murder, death, rape, suicide kills a part of you each day until there's only a shell of human present that doesn't believe in humanity anymore?

Why would anyone be willing to turn into such shell?

Maybe to protect others from becoming one...

Namjoon could never forget the blank face of the police officer who gave the news of his parents dying in car accident. How his face holds no remorse, like he was used to it, maybe he was.

Nineteen years old Namjoon, who was about to make his debut into the music industry was beyond heartbroken on hearing the news but he had to stay strong for his younger sister.

That day Namjoon took a pledge before his parent dead bodies, that he would always protect Dahee. He won't let anything happen to her while he was still alive.

That was five years ago.

And now he has failed in it.

He failed his sister.

He failed his parents.

'I am sorry eomma, appa...'

They stopped in front of a door. Officer Bang turned towards him and smiled sympathetically at him.

"Stay strong for yourself but mostly for your sister. She needs a strong support right now."

Namjoon nodded at him and then Officer Bang opened the door and walked in, leaving him standing still infront of the open door.

Yoongi gently nudged him to move forward.

Namjoon took a deep breath and entered the room, Yoongi behind him.

Before he could register anything that is in the room, he heard Officer Bang's soft voice.

"Dahee, see who is here to meet you, your brother Namjoon..."

A girl curled in the corner on the farthest bed raised her head from her knees. Her eyes, hauntingly blank, moved from Officer Bang to the person standing behind him.

Namjoon froze in his steps, the girl before him was surely Dahee, she looked same but at the same time she didn't look like the Dahee he knew. She was his Dahee.

At that moment, Namjoon realized he wasn't getting his sister back but the shell of her former self.

He clenched his fist and took a hesitant step forward.

"Dahee..." He smiled gently.

It took a moment for Dahee to recognize her brother but when she did, she burst into tears. Tears run down her soft cheeks as she fisted the cloth around her knees. On pure impulse, Namjoon ran beside her and tried to hold her in his arms to comfort her. But to Namjoon's horror, she flinched away from him in fear.

The fear Namjoon saw in his sister's eyes was enough to crush his already broken heart.

His sister was afraid of him.

She thought he would hurt her the way other men did.

Namjoon felt like an icy cold hand has gripped his heart harshly, it hurts so much. He stepped away from her hurriedly and didn't even realize that he was also crying now.

He felt a comforting hand on his back.

"It's nature to be afraid of men after suffering through something like this, even if the men are family members. Just be patient." Officer Bang advised.

Namjoon looked into Officer's kind eyes and then at Yoongi, who stood beside closed door. He was watching whole interaction with distraught expression on his face, from a safe distance. He didn't wanted to make the situation more worse than it was already. They both locked eyes.

Namjoon turned towards Dahee and wiped his tears before attempting to smile weakly at her.

"Dahee your oppa is here. No one can hurt you now. Oppa won't let anyone to hurt you. I promise..."

The same promise that he failed to keep but now Namjoon have made up his mind. He won't let anything in this world to keep him from maintaining his promise now.

"I promise Dahee."

After hearing this Dahee slowly turned to look at her brother's determined face. Tears were still running down her face but she had stopped shaking now.

"Oppa..." Her voice came in a whisper.

"Take me home, Oppa..." Namjoon's heart clenched hearing her plead.

"Ofcourse Dahee, I'll take you home." Namjoon assured with a comforting smile.