collateral damage 🔞 - COMPLETE

•twenty-eight• later

~~~~~Haerin

I feel the bed shift, and I think the kids must be restless. Turning onto my side to see them first thing, I open my eyes. My eyes meet a tired looking Jeongguk just staring at me. I close my eyes again and rub them aggressively before opening them to find he's still there. He's laying on his stomach, chin on his curled hand, and looking at me with an unreadable expression.

Wait... How is he here? I don't remember alot from the last days... Jimin was at Rush... Jeongguk was kissing Somi... This can't be real... I'm really losing what's left of my mind. I study the apparition in front of me and take in how much he's changed. He's so beautiful, and I wish he was real.

I close my eyes and turn onto my back, trying to clear my cluttered mind. Suddenly I sit up with a gasp... Where are the kids? I see Jeongguk move to a seated position, and I jump up from the bed frightened that I'm hallucinating this badly.

"Haerin... What's wrong?"

"AAAAHHHH!!! What is happening to me?!?"

"Hae... Calm down... Please baby..."

"Why is this happening???"

"Haerin-ah? What's going on?"

"Oh thank God you're here Unnie... I'm seriously going crazy... Please help me... I can't take it anymore!!! Please make it stop..."

I collapse to the floor sobbing. Naeun comes to me and brings me into her arms. She runs her hand on my back, trying to soothe me. I squeeze my eyes tightly, not wanting to see things that aren't real anymore.

"Haerin... Breathe... What happened?"

With my eye shut tight, I take some deep breaths, and try to speak...

"I-I do-don't kno-know what's wro-wrong with m- me U-Unnie... I-I am see-seeing thi-things..."

"What are you seeing Haerin?"

"Jeong-Jeongguk... Ple-please he-help me...."

"Haerin... Look at me... Come on... Open your eyes..."

I crack my eyes to see Naeun Unnie smiling at me. She runs a hand over my head and I notice her eyes flick behind me. I start to turn around but she holds me and tells me not to. When she thinks I'm okay she takes both my hands in hers.

"Haerin-ah... You're not crazy..."

"But.. I"

"You saw Jeongguk"

"Yes..."

"Haerin... It's not a hallucination... Jeongguk is real, and he's behind you..."

"Why? What about Somi? I..."

"Ask him Haerin... Talk to him."

I turn slowly and see him sitting on his knees behind me. His fingers are worrying at the hem of his shirt while he looks at me with concern. I suddenly have no idea what to say. How is he here? Most importantly... Where are my kids? Maybe that's the dream? Are my kids the illusion?

"Hae... Are you alright?"

"i don't know... i'm really confused..."

My voice comes out as a whisper, and I feel my heart throbbing in my chest.

"Ok... It's alright. Just tell me what I can do to help you. I'll do anything."

"i... what day is this?"

"It's Tuesday."

"mmmm... what time is it?"

"Around 3 o'clock in the afternoon."