Serendipity: The Amazing Journey Of A Soulmate

65. Hurricane season

INNA

There is one thing I like about summer: its wild storms during the night. They scare me, yet I can't seem to tear my eyes away from the majestic display of strength. The way the lighting strikes and sets the whole sky on fire. The way the thunder so brutally rages to the world, its echo filling my ear and making my heart beat in unison with it. Thump. Thump. Thump. Slow and steady, but fierce and strong. I'm standing in front of Namjoon's house, watching the storm unleashing itself over the city of Seoul, beautiful and wild. The thunder booms once again in the distance, making me flinch, but I chose to stay. It will be difficult to catch a cab in this weather and I didn't bring my car either. I didn't expect the night to turn out this way. It was supposed to be a relaxing night, spent with the people I hold dear since their departure is so close. Yet here I am, caught in a hurricane, both in real life and internally. I didn't want to leave Namjoon, but I know how he may feel. It's better to give him some time to process all this information. I pull out my phone, getting on the app to call a cab. I try several times, but no driver picks up my ride.

"Damn it!" I mumble, hitting the refresh button in hope someone will pick up the call. A honk pulls me off my phone and I raise my gaze only to find a car a few meters away. I narrow my eyes, the rain making it difficult to recognize immediately who it is. Jimin.

"Inna, come on. I'll give you a ride," he says, pulling down the window. I look at the heavy rain pouring from the sky and with one long breath, I rush to the other side of the car, the rain cold immediately soaking my clothes. I jump into the passenger seat, placing my bag between me and Jimin and buckling up.

"Thank you," I say, showing him a small smile. "I was actually in trouble because I couldn't find any cabs available." He starts driving away, leaving the rich neighborhood behind us.

"I called after you to let you know I'll drive you, but you left in such a hurry, I barely had time to register what you're doing," he says, carefully looking in the rearview mirror and changing traffic lines, ready to hit the boulevard. "What happened there?" he asks, glancing at me, but mainly keeping his eyes on the road. He got his license recently, just like Namjoon, and he is more stressed than the others while driving. And more cautious. I shift uncomfortably in my seat, not knowing what to answer to that. It's a good question, isn't it? I screwed up and then Jonathan made things even worse and I have no idea how to fix that.

"Namjoon is pissed," I say simply and he snorts.

"That I could tell. Me and everyone at the dinner table. He rarely behaves like that," he says. Well, I guess I'm the only one able to piss him off at this level more often than anyone else. "Want to talk about it?" I don't know, do I want to? I can't tell him the whole story because no matter how close we are, Jimin will immediately snitch me to Joon. So I do what I know best: lie.

"I kind of fucked up. Some guy I used to date a few years ago moved to South Korea and somehow he ended up choosing our company to assist him in a case. I've been assigned to take charge of his case, I didn't tell Namjoon and now he found out," I explain, telling him the same half true story I told Namjoon.

"How did he find out?" he asks, speeding on the boulevard. Despite the pouring rain, there is still traffic at this hour.

"He accidentally met the guy earlier," I shrug, looking out the window and following a small stream of water sliding down the glass.

"Pffft! So he's jealous, huh?" he chuckles but I don't feel like laughing. If only was just that!

"It's more than that, Jimin. This guy caused a lot of trouble in the past and Namjoon knows it. He's- He's the reason why I am...was, so scared to let other people reach me. Not telling Namjoon about his return, when he's the one who tended to my invisible wounds the other guy inflicted, must feel like a betrayal to him," I explain, still not looking at him. I guess I'm too ashamed of myself. And I know the reason behind my actions is more honorable than it seems and I shouldn't be so harsh on myself, but...it's not right either. But I was never righteous. I was never perfect. It takes bravery to stand tall in front of a situation like this and deal with its consequences. I will endure it all. I hear Jimin sighing beside me and there is a moment of silence in the car before he speaks again.