[✓] Solace | JAEMIN

⇝4.4

Ara sat at her couch, staring into space without much thought. She was clearly still too shocked but Jaemin noticed something else.

She was unusually pale and she didn't seem to notice that she was rubbing her chest.

Jaemin: Is your chest hurting?

Ara: H-Huh? I... yeah. I think my heart rate spiked. Not good.

Jaemin: Where are your meds?

He asked while getting up but she just pulled him back onto the couch.

Ara: I'll get it. You must be exhausted.

He chuckled, confused by her sudden concern.

Jaemin: I'm fine. It was only a moment of exhaustion.

Ara: Still. You rest.

She got up and went to her room. Jaemin heard her move around the room a little before she came back out with her pill. He watched as she swallowed it down with water and honestly he could tell that she was distracted.

Jaemin: Ara are you okay? Did the Deathbell scare you too much?

Ara: That's what it's called?

She had her back to him and her voice was low with concern.

Jaemin: Yeah- you're worrying me. Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital-

Ara: No... I am fine.

She turned to him with a small smile. Ara came to sit next to him again, but this time she faced him.

Ara: So... how often do these...

Jaemin: Deathbells.

Ara: Yes. How often do they visit? And are they trying to kill me?

Jaemin: I'm not sure how often they'll be here. But it will be more often as you reach your... due-date. And yes. They are here to try and kill you.

Ara: Ah... and what happens if they do?

He stared at her for a minute and she raised her eyebrow.

Jaemin: Well... they-

Thunder rumbled outside and he looked up.

Jaemin: Fuck it.

He muttered under his breath.

Jaemin: I will be banished and you will become a lost soul, left to haunt the world.

He couldn't tell her that she would be perished as well if he fails... he just couldn't.

Thunder rumbled again but Ara didn't show much of a reaction.

Ara: well we can't have you banished so... just stay by my side.

Jaemin chuckled and nodded. She nodded too, her small smile melting away and Ara fell back into her deep thoughts.

He watched her for a while. All he could do was think about how long he had waited for the end. But now it only worried him. Jaemin was sure he reacted similarly all those years back. And only if he had experienced this earlier he would have spared Ara all the questions. It would all have been different... if only that stupid glitch didn't happen-

Ara: How long do I have left?

Jaemin: Five days.

Ara: Yeah... that's enough.

Jaemin: Enough for what?

She decided not to answer. Jaemin couldn't help but think to himself, Death or human, Ara is still reserved.

Ara stood up and turned to him giving him a nervous smile.

Ara: Do you know how to dance?

Jaemin: What?

Ara: You know... like dance. I have this charity event in four days. And I can't dance for the love of god.

Jaemin stared at her. The longer he did, the longer he remembered the night he last danced with Ara, the last night before he died.

Jaemin: Yeah... yeah I know how to dance.