The Butterfly Code

28

His breathing hitched in his throat, caught off guard by the text. He reread It once. Twice. Three times. Then it processed. With shaky fingers, he typed,
"네" and hit send.

He lowered his phone down as a fan called for him, Jin looking up confused. She repeated her request and Jin did the best aegyo he could manage.

"Sorry, that was a bad one, " Jin laughed at himself.

"Noooooo!!" the fans whined.

"It was good!"

Jin smiled before it dropped as his phone buzzed again. Pulling open the chat, he took a deep breath. Slowly, he clicked the image, his heart-stopping.

His mother was laid down on the gurney various machines hooked up to her. Her left arm was in a cast while her head was wrapped in a large bandage. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was covered by an oxygen mask. Even from the picture, he noticed the bruises and small cuts on her right arm and cheek.

His mother, his beautiful mother with beautiful black hair and bright brown eyes the glittered with a warmth. A warmth that made Jin forget everything bad. A warmth he missed so dearly. He missed those beautiful eyes, her loving smile, and her enchanted voice that told him the things he needed to hear.

He missed his mother more than he missed his old life.

Tears began to swell in his eyes, chest rising and falling at an uneven yet fast pace. Putting the phone down, Jin closed his eyes, bending over. He pretended to reach for something, while instead, he tried to calm himself down.

"I...I can do this..." Jin muttered holding back a small sob.

That image was printed in his mind. Every time he closed his eyes he saw her. Lying there. Helpless. Hurt. Without him.

"Jin hyung..." Namjoon asked, placing a hand on the boys back.

Jin sat up again, nodding yet breathing heavily. Namjoon noticed right away. The leader turned to look at him, "Do you want to g-"

Jin shook his head, "I'm fine...im fine. I can do this.."

He glanced up seeing Namjoon's concern and sad expression. It only made the older feel worse. Biting his lip, Jin swallowed down a sob, coughing in its place.

"You aren't-"

"I'm fine, " Jin refused to listen, turning to look at fans, "I have to be fine,"

"Damn it hyung, " Namjoon sighed and Jin knew he had called the staff.

Jin closed his eyes, only turning when Sejin had crouched beside him, "Seokjin-"

"I'm fine. I'm okay. I can do this...its not much longer.."

He wasn't sure if he was assuring himself or his manager. But whoever it was, he knew he had failed.

He was not alright.

"Seokjin, listen to me. You've gone pale, I can see the pain in your eyes. You are breathing harder and heavier. Seokjin, they'll understand..." Sejin spoke calmly.

Jin hung his head, "I can do this...I can do this..."

"Seokjin, take a break. The drinks just arrived, you can-"

"SEOKJINNIE OPPA!!! Why are you ignoring us?!!?" a fan yelled and Jin snapped his head up.

ignoring us

He gulped and opened his mouth, but he could barely speak. He was caught off guard. And frankly, those words hurt him.

"Jin oppa!!!!! Talk to us!! We want to hear your voice!!!"