CHAPTER 7: KINDLE

SAVE ME

Jimin’s eyes landed on me. He smiled a little before looking back at mom. I stuff a sandwich at my mouth and started walking towards my room. Jimin and I aren’t even friends, and yet here he was at our place. Acting all familiar and all that. 

“I just stopped by to see if Jia really made it home” Jimin said politely to my mom. 

“I need to go now Mrs. Kim, see you at school tomorrow Jia.” I didn’t mind looking back to see him leave. My mom used to be Moon Mira-- then it changed to Jeon Mira-- and now it's Kim Mira. As soon as I entered the room, I quickly locked the door behind me. I tossed my bag aside as I continued chewing the sandwich on my mouth. I launched myself to my bed. 

As I settled in, I took my phone out. 

“Should I call Taehyung?” I said out loud. I dropped my phone at the pillow as I buried my face on the sheets. Jimin’s face surfaced as soon as I closed my eyes. I rolled over and took my phone again. 

I hate him, and the fact that mom seems to be so friendly around him—as if they’re plotting something behind my back. 

I opened my mobile web browser and typed in his name. Oh sht I forgot to put it into incognito. The moment it loaded, a lot of Park Jimin’s showed up—there’s even this 50 year old businessman—which isn’t him fo sho. I scrolled down until I saw his picture—he’s featured in a news article. I knew he was trouble all along. 

I sat up properly as the webpage loaded—and when it did, another picture came into view. And it’s not just any other picture. It was me and the guys. My hands began to tremble as I scrolled up to read the headlines. 

“This can’t be true.” 

It can’t be. It’s not possible. 

My hands were shaking as I closed the browser and hovered over my contacts. I tapped Taehyung’s name and it immediately began ringing. I went up to my feet and got my bag. I used my free hand to open the door as my other hand holds my phone close to my ear. Lumps formed in my throat. Taehyung’s phone is still ringing.

“Why won’t you pick up?” I said in panic. Mom was still in the kitchen talking at someone on her phone too—though she quickly put her phone away the moment she saw me. 

“Hey, what’s wrong?” She said as she began walking towards me. I’m almost at the door. 

“I—it can’t be true right?” I can’t stop shaking—and soon enough tears would find their way out of my eyes. Mom reached out to me and studied my face. 

“honey what’s wrong?” she said once again. I took her hand off 

“I-uhm-uh I’ll go to Jimin’s place” with that I stormed out of the house and began running. My heart clenches hard at the thought of jimin—of the boys—of all of us being entangled into this one big mess. 

I keep on running, and as I did tears began to run down my cheeks to0. It’s not possible—I won’t accept its reality even if it is. 

When I arrived at the bus stop, it was as if the universe was helping me—cause a bus to bangtan is miraculously waiting for me. I sat behind the driver and immediately called Taehyung once again. I had my other hand rest on my chest as I listen to the dial tone. 

Please pick the phone up

I tried several more times, but no one’s answering—maybe his girlfriend’s holding his phone? I bit my lower lip before calling him one more time—but before I did, an unknown number popped up on my screen. 

I answered the call and placed the phone near my ear. 

“H-hello?” I tried my best to stabilize my voice. 

“Where are you Jia?” I closed my eyes upon hearing his voice. Mom definitely knows now that I’m not with Jimin.

“Jin Ri was right about me hating you” I said as a tear escaped my eye. I dropped the call and put my phone in airplane mode. It will take a couple of hours before I arrive. I closed my eyes as I try to dream—because I’d rather have myself dream than face this dreadful reality.  

The moment I got down, I immediately saw Jungkook’s father sitting at one of the benches at the bus stop—as if he’s actually expecting me. Mom must’ve called him already. 

“Mr. Jeon” I said as I tried to muster up a smile. He walked closer towards me and engulfed me in an embrace. He’d always been a good father to Jungkook—he even extended his fatherly duties to the other boys and I. And to be frank, he’s been more of a father to me than my dad and my step dads did. He peeled himself off from me and patted my head. 

“I bet you haven’t eaten yet, it must’ve been a long ride” I just nodded as I followed him to the restaurant. We sat in one of the tables, and soon after our food was being brought upon us. 

“How are things in your new school?” He smiled as he began talking small. I just smiled a bit and told him that everything’s fine. As we were eating, my eyes wander to every student at the restaurant. I also don’t fail to notice every person coming in and out of the restaurant. I was almost done with my food when I decided to give Taehyung another call. 

I’m sure this time he’s going to pick up—maybe he wasn’t just able to pick his phone up earlier cause he was with the person he’s dating. Maybe now it’s just him and the boys—maybe they’re even on their way here to the restaurant. 

I bet they’ll be shocked to see that I’m here—would they be happy to see me? 

“I called you a cab, I think you should go after you finish eating… your mom’s worried about you” Mr. Jeon said as he smiled a bit. I hovered the phone in my ear as I listened to the dial tone. 

“I’ll go after I meet the guys Mr. Jeon.” He gave me an apologetic smile before he stood up. 

“Jia, you should go home…” my face hardens as I tried to fight back the tears. Defeat was slowly surging—but just as then, Taehyung answered. 

“Where are you?” I heard him say at the other line. Tears began to flow out and I laughed a little—I’m not crazy. Whatever I read online wasn’t real—some sick fcker must’ve put that up in order to upset me—my bet’s on Jin Ri since she’s so hellbent on making me steer clear away from Jimin. 

I’m such an idiot for believing that hoax—cause whatever what’s written there couldn’t have been true.

“I’ll go meet you guys at the freedom wall” I said before I dropped the call. Mr. Jeon sighed in defeat as he heard me talk. I thanked him for the meal and fixed my stuff before I strapped my bag at my back. 

“I need to go now Mr. Jeon” I said politely. Mr. Jeon smiled and ruffled my hair. 

“You’re always going to be welcome here… you know that right?” he said as a tear skid out of his right eye. He laughed a bit and told me that he hasn’t been sleeping properly. I said my final goodbye at him as I headed for the door. 

“Maybe it’s time for you to stop waiting for them, they’re not coming—”  before Mr. Jeon finished what he was about to say, I was already out of the restaurant. I didn’t dare look back and made my way to Bangtan High. The boys ruled this place and treated this as their own little kingdom—they acted like little kings as they deemed me to be their little princess that they had to protect at all cost. 

Thinking about it—it’s not just Bangtan High, even when we were still in middle school, they’ve always had this charm. Everyone follow them, everyone wants to be around them—even I wasn’t immune to them. And before I know it the 7 of us just clicked right away. Before It has always been me all alone—but everything change when those 6 dorks came charging into my life—since then it has always been me, Jungkook, RM, Taehyung, Jin, Ho Seok and Yoon Gi. And we managed to be happy—we were happy. 

As I walked, I can’t help but notice that there were no stars in sight—just the moon all alone in the vastness of the night sky. It’s light was illuminating despite its distance—it’s beauty still radiates despite not having her usual stars surround her. 

And I can’t help but wonder about that silly old piece of paper— What’s written on it fits this situation perfectly.

Today the moon shines brighter on the blank spot in my memories. The wind gets colder, as I try to remember and the void in my heart keeps getting bigger as the skies went somber.

I opened my phone and dialed Taehyung’s number once again. As I got near the freedom wall, I was able to see a form standing in front of it. His head was down while both of his hands were inside the pocket of his uniform trousers. The phone’s ringing went louder as I get closer. 

He finally took the phone out his pocket and answer the call. 

“Let’s get you home” 

It wasn’t Taehyung—and the boys aren’t around