Golden ◂ NCT Jaemin

2 ◂ Before

◂ 2 ▸

Jie's lips quivered before she pushed out a small sob. Her eyes were bloodshot, her lips swollen, cheeks red. 

The officer in charge of taking her statement held nothing but sympathy in his eyes. She seemed so scared, terrified by what had happened. He couldn't help but feel bad for the innocent girl.

"Is someone picking you up?" he asked, running his hand up and down the girl's back soothingly. She nodded.

"My brother," Jie answered quietly. "He is waiting outside."

The officer nodded and smiled understandingly. "Do you want me to bring you to him?"

Jie quickly shook her head. She appreciated it, yet made her refusal obvious by taking a step back and bowing politely. 

"He is right outside," she reassured and ran the back of her hand over her cheek, wiping away a tear. "Am I allowed to leave?"

"Of course!" the officer was quick to respond. "Get home safely." 

Another polite bow and a few steps more of silent sobbing and Jie finally stepped out into the cold night. She took a deep breath, pulled her hair up. 

Looking around, she sighed. 

Where was he? 

She took out her phone and called Yangyang - who didn't pick up. So she called Hendery instead. 

She turned to walk left, away from the entrance to the police station. The phone rang twice before Hendery's voice pushed through the speakers loudly. 

"Jie! Are you done?" he shouted. Jie frowned, held the phone a little further away from her ear. 

She couldn't quite match his worry nor his energy, so she just hummed.
"Yeah, I'm done. Where's Yangyang?" 

"Isn't he there?" Hendery asked, not expecting a reply. "He's probably on the toilet then. He had to pee since we left the house. Just wait for him." 

"Sure," she agreed. She perked her head up. At the front of the police station was a small parking lot. It was empty, quiet, dark. She stood there, lonely. "Are you parking somewhere else?" 

"In an alley close by. That's why I want you to wait for Yangyang, don't just go alone," he ordered strictly. 

Jie smiled at how worried he sounded. It could be bothersome at times but quite frankly she enjoyed having someone around that cared for her. 

"Alright. I'll wait." She didn't bother saying goodbye because she would see him again in a few minutes anyway. So she just hung up. 

Taking another step, she leaned against the wall left to the police station's entrance. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. 

Inhaling deeply, breath after breath of fresh air, she felt her fingertips run cold. Numb. 

It was quiet. It was calm. As if she wasn't even where she was. As if she wasn't there at all. 

But she was. She stood there all alone when footsteps came closer. They didn't come from the station, so it wasn't Yangyang. 

She opened her eyes slowly. Once she saw him, she smiled. 

"Bold of you to come here." 

"You don't seem surprised though," Jaemin replied. 

Jie shrugged. She glimpsed to the side to check if anyone was around or if she could talk freely.