Rainbow After The Storm | NoMin

seven

6.00 a.m.
I woke up feeling dirty. My eyes turned wide remembering what we did last night. Quickly, I got up and took a shower. Wore my casual clothing for work and decided I could work on some morning pancakes. "He's still sleeping," I said quietly. Hand on the pan and a newspaper by the front door. I immediately took it after cooking the pancakes and read it.

Nothing new I see. Just some random designer got caught pirating ideas from a band for his works. "Hey, babe. It's still so early," I watched in amusement as he wiped his eyes and walked to the sink.

"Where's the maple syrup?" He asked as he rumbled through cabinets. "Oh, forgot to say this but it was gone for two weeks and nobody noticed. Maybe we finished it but never realised," I bit into my spoon. Damn, ice cream in the sunrise hits different.

He sighed aloud and sat in front of me. "It's already weekend. And Christmas is almost here. I guess we should start decorating the cafe," I gave a hopeful look to him.

"Yeah, sure. I'll be in my office to search for stuff later. Come on, twenty minutes till we open. Let's go," he got up.

-*-

"Wait. What are you guys doing here?" I looked at the counter. Mark, Yangyang, Chenle and Jisung were all wearing aprons and doing some sortings.

"Uhm, hyung? I think I forgot to ask you this but yeah. I and Jisung felt like we can take this part-time job before finishing the senior year. So...?" Chenle had the hopeful puppy eyes on his face.

Jeno just nodded his head and told them to continue doing what they had to do. He seemed off.

"Hey, babe. You okay?" I asked. My level of concern was high enough for it to be visually seen. He shook his head. "I don't like this. I don't like seeing that medicine in our bathroom cabinet. You tried to hide it but forgot to keep it away this morning. Why, Jaemin? Who hurt you?"

I tried to hold back tears as I watched his eyebrows frowned upon my answer. "You,"

He looked at me in utter disbelief. "Wait what do you mean?"
"Have you forgotten? Before we were a thing. When I first got here, I couldn't make the coffees right and you would always make fun of me to the usual customer. And you also fired Felix because of something he didn't do. He wasn't the one who spilt the cream all over the customer. The customer did it. Because they were his enemies,"

"Jaemin-"

"And you also almost fired me because I forgot to smile. That was the day my mom left me. That was the day I found out my family will not take care of me. No one knew. You were so harsh on so little things. I have been hurting myself since then. I liked you since I got here. But you treated me in a way that even the most fierce wouldn't handle. You broke me," I broke into tears and sat down on the chair.

"I'm taking today's leave," I continued and immediately left before he could catch up on me. Everyone in the cafe was confused about seeing my bloodshot eyes.

I made my way to the place where no one had been. An abandoned shop just on the other side of our neighbourhood. There was certainly no way he would know this place. I walked to the second floor and turned on the light I fixed. It wasn't much but it was worth it.

I sat on the broken sofa in the room. My eyes roamed around for a while as they got too heavy, I went into a deep trance.

-*-

Look me in my eyes,
Tell me everything's not fine,
Oh, the people ain't happy,
And the river has run dry.

"Where am I?"

The familiar white room got me conscious. "What you gon' do when there's blood in the water?"

My vision was filled with blood. The dead bodies of unknown victims of someone could be seen laying around.

"You took the knife. Now the blame is yours," the voice said.

I couldn't take it anymore.

-*-

Ring ring
"Oh my god. Hello?"
I answered. "Jaemin, tell me you're safe. It's past 7 pm and you are not home," Jeno said on the other side. I could hear his concern.

"I'm fine," I said, ending the call. I grabbed my stuff and looked into the mirror which had broken pieces on the corner. "You're the messenger. Find the killer," the voice whispered.

I knew clearly who whispered. This shop had the soul of the dead bodies I saw earlier. The killer killed the family that handled the restaurant below. Their spirits still lie here, finding for an answer.

I grabbed the dusty hoodie. It has been months since I left this here.
I

searched the pockets and was greeted with some bugs. Nothing? I walked into the bathroom.

The mirror showed me their faces. "Jonghyun? Is that really you?" It disappeared. I probably should get going. But I have no clues whatsoever. I turned off the light and was greeted with a pair of glowing eyes. It moved to the drawer and I followed it.

I opened the drawer and found a notebook. Seemed to be a journal of some sort. I took it with me and walked home.

-*-

I took a step inside. The aroma of lavender-scented candles took me to my self back. "You're home. I missed you," he hugged me from behind. His lips pressed against my neck. "No, Jeno stop." But he didn't. "I said stop!" I turned to him and dropped the notebook. My eyes widen as I look at the person behind me. His eyes were red. His skin has a glint of red.

"Never told you this. You took my book. Thank you for saving our family," he said in a weird accent before passing out. I lifted him onto our bed and let him like that.

I involved him. This should be my job. I was sent to save. Not to destroy. I'm sorry Jeno. It's too late now. But at least you are the bridge. For now, just rest.

"May peace be upon you. Wake up if you feel like it. Just know that you are safe under me.

Dear God, I as the angel sent down to Earth, am willing to take care of this soul. If I had finished my job on the Kim family, let me stay with him until his last breath and take him to heaven where he belongs. I am willing to do everything for this soul. He deserves an angel. And I will be the one.

Oh god. Let this soul in your highest garden. He is under my wings at all time,"

-*-

Quite a late update but what do we have here? Oh, a fallen angel?