Where We Begin & End II K.N.J II

Chapter 1 - The Storm

A/N: The progression of the story will be a bit slow in terms of events, because I will be going into depth of the characters' mind processes, so please bear with me.  Please ignore any grammar, punctuation errors :3 I will edit once I finish. I hope you enjoy!

----------------------- Namjoon's POV------------------------

"Shit."

Where the fuck is he?!

I glanced down at my well-worn leather wristwatch before raising my head back up towards the thundering sky. It's been a while since a storm like this had visited the city, I mused. And it couldn't have chosen a worse timing.

I couldn't help but pace back and forth in front of my apartment building in agitation. I didn't miss the static energy in the air that raised goosebumps on my skin even underneath my jacket over the sweater I'd thrown on in a hurry just a few minutes ago. I knew what it meant and it only served to annoy me even further. The weather forecast had been going on about this particular storm for days now and even I, as detached as I am from worldly news, had been aware of it.

The bigger concern for me was something else, though. Sighing for the nth time in irritation, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number before placing it up by my ear.

"Namjoon-ah?"

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply before my impatience could show. "Where the hell are you, man? The meeting is in less than half an hour. You know I can't miss this."

"I know. Man, I really am so sorry. My mother forced me to pick up my sister from work because of the stupid storm. I thought I'd be able to make it in time for you but it doesn't seem to look like it now. Do you want me to call you a cab?"

"Hobi, there are no cabs that would take me all the way to the next town at this hour, especially with all the weather warnings. No way I'd be able to find one in time." I was trying my best not to let the increasing panic seep into my tone. I knew my friend, and I knew how susceptible he was to crushing guilt, but I was helpless.

There was a brief silence on the other end and I could practically hear him stewing in remorse. Pinching the bridge of my nose with my free hand, I sighed again. "You know what, I'll just take the bike."

Hobi made what sounded like a choking sound, "Are you fucking crazy, bro?! I- hold on, let me try Jin-hyung, he's in the city for the week, isn't he?"

My patience was quickly wearing thin, "His car's gonna be in the shop for the next three days. And no, Jungkookie isn't free either. We've discussed all this when I asked you to drop me off, Hobi."

"There must be another way! Taking the bike would be too dangerous and it's a town over, will you even make it on that thing?"

"I don't really have the luxury of choosing otherwise right now. I'll call you later, man. I gotta dash." I quickly hang up the line before he could protest.

Looking up at the pitch black sky once again, I pulled my jacket tighter around me. The stars that I so lovingly gazed up at so many nights were nowhere to be seen now, their light swallowed by menacing clouds that threatened to open up and spill any minute.

There was an unfamiliar cold wafting through the air, mingled with the tension of anticipation. Like the world was holding its breath for something that was about to happen, but no one knew what. I could almost taste it on my tongue with every breath I took. I told myself the knots I felt tightening in my abdomen was my stress over this meeting, and not the strange sense of expectancy.

Shaking my head in an attempt to stop myself from getting lost in my musings again, I hurried back into the building.

Finally finding what I'd been looking for in the garage, I dragged it out and paused when I reached the street. It was unusually quiet, the usual drone of vehicles absent, replaced by an unsettling silence occasionally broken by the faint sounds of TV from the nearby tenants.