Far Away From Me

"That farewell kiss which resembles greeting, that last glance of love which becomes the sharpest pang of sorrow." -George Eliot

"Rise and shine, Mia!!!" the loud shrill voice echoed throughout the room, lit by the morning sun.

I groaned and shifted in my sleep already deciding to go back to sleep. But the mere thought of entrance exam day caused me to shoot upward like a rocket, squinting to the bright sunshine oozing through the window panes. I raised my hand to block the light but was caught by a soft hand. I opened my eyes to witness the angelic smile of my soulmate.

"It's a BIG day!!!" he squealed energetically.

It was as if a part of his energy was diffused into me. I smiled widely at him and jumped off the bed to remove the remaining curtains from the window for the luminous rays to race into the room without any veil. I exhaled a big breathe and took in the sight in front of me. I felt Jimin standing beside me and pull me towards him by my waist.

"Isn't it beautiful?" I asked still entranced by the morning glory.

"Yeah...it sure is" I heard his whisper.

I sighed closing my eyes humming. I just pulled out all my confidence to crack the exam diligently. I've practiced so hard and really hoped the hard work plus my perseverance would pay off. I nodded to myself giving a slight pat on my shoulder.

I turned my head to look at him and caught him staring at me red-handed. The funniest thing's that he didn't even look away, he kept staring at me with a grieved expression, which by the way alarmed me and I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Jimin..." I waved my hand in front of his blinking face. "Are you alright?"

"What?" he frowned then widened his eyes. "Y-Yeah, I'm f-fine"

My eyebrows knitted together at his stutter.

And he saw that.

"I'm fine, Mia" he smiled reassuringly. "Go get ready. You don't want to get late" he changed the subject. I raised my eyebrows trying to figure out what's wrong with him. I shrugged it off not getting any reasonable explanation after everything was settled last night. Or I thought so.

"Okay," I walked towards the bathroom with his eyes following me.

"How do I look?" I asked turning away from the mirror after fixing my hair.

Jimin looked at me with much adoration and love that I melted under his warm gaze. He flashed a smile coming towards me and reached out to brush off a stray fringe from my cheek before cupping both of my cheeks. His gaze held something else which I couldn't figure out, it seems...complicated, but what? He leaned in and kissed my forehead letting his lips linger there a couple of seconds longer.

I panicked seeing tears welling up in his twinkling small eyes when he retraced. I swear his eyes flashed immense grief for a mere second before he started caressing my cheeks with his thumbs.

What...?

"Jimin..." I trailed off not knowing why he was crying all of a sudden.

"You've grown so big," he mumbled smiling while tears finally dripped down. "I can't believe this Mia was the cute little toddler I saw years ago. You're still cute though," he winked sniffling.

I wiped his tears silently, staring into his intriguing orbs.

"Do you remember one time when I told you 'I love you' when we were sitting on the beach?" he smiled dreamily, tracing circles on my arms with his thumb, "You didn't understand and asked your grandpa what it meant. When you got to know its meaning, you raced to my house in the middle of the night to say it back. I was so happy when you hugged me and left pecking on my cheek"

I smiled at the vivid memory.

"Yeah, I even remember your face becoming tomato" I teased.

"Yah! It was embarrassing. You kissed me in front of my whole family," he playfully hit my arm. "They tease me even today" I chuckled at his pout.

"So what? You got to meet me, again" I cupped his chubby cheeks. "More like fate lead us to meet again in the most improbable way" I chuckled again remembering how I panicked when I saw him first on the field.

"I got to be your companion to a friend to soulmate to childhood best friend and finally to your boyfriend" he smiled. "It was a long transition, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," I wrapped my hands around his neck while he snaked his arms around my waist to pull me flush against him. "But it all started with you being my companion, idol companion to be precise"

He smiled broadly gazing deep into my eyes which were already lost in his.

"Mia?" he whispered.

I hummed.

"I love you. Always remember that, hm? You're everything I never knew I wanted and I want to stay with you forever, till the end of time. I'm so lucky to be able to get your love and care, I want to frame every single moment with you. Aish! I'm running out of cheesy lines" he ruffled his hair frustrated while I laughed at his cuteness.

"We'll meet again, right?" he asked to which I raised an eyebrow. "I mean, if and when we part?"

I sighed and brought his head closer to mine, and kissed his forehead as he did to mine. I looked into his already tearing eyes and smiled sweetly.

"Fate has bought us together two times already," I said. "I'm sure it'll bring us a third time too. And trust me, next time I'm not letting you go"

He sniffled and held my hands in his, kissing both of them.

"Promise me you'll wait for me?" he extended his tiny pinky finger.

I laughed seeing it immediately comparing it to Taehyung's long ones.

"I promise" I smiled locking it with mine.

Right, when he pulled me for a kiss my mom shouted from downstairs to get down. This time I groaned while Jimin gave a sympathetic smile. I pouted and flung the bag on my shoulder to face an overly elated Jimin, but I could see a pained expression under it.

"Guess I've to go. You'll be teleporting there, right?" I asked to which he nodded a little too fast. "Then, see you?"

He pulled me into an abrupt tight hug and I let him soak me in his unusual warmth. The weirdest thing is that I couldn't feel him being much solid, he was a little...what do I say? Brittle? His warmth was a little too much and his heartbeat was literally thumbing against my own.

He patted my head, "All the best, my star. Go get it, girl"

"Thanks, I will" I broke away while he held my hand almost like he doesn't want to let go of me.

I stepped away from him hearing my mother calling again. He refused to let go of my hand while a weird feeling grew in the pit of my stomach seeing his unusual pained expression. Finally, our hands detached from themselves and I walked towards my door, opening it.

"Mia!" I halt hearing his call and turned around.

"I love you" he whispered his eyes glistening and kinda desperate.

"Aish! Jimin, it's as if you're sending me off to war," I huffed stomping my feet. "Cut it out, will you?" I heard my mom calling again and this time threatening to go without me, "YEAH!! I'M COMING!" I turned to Jimin again, "Okay, I'm going. Love you too"

With that, I closed the door.

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'Why isn't he here yet' I thought as I looked up from my short notes again.

We'd reached the exam center almost 40 minutes ago and I was standing outside my given classroom but still no sign of Jimin. I was starting to panic but was trying my level best not to let it take a toll on my exam. This was not the time for this, he was supposed to be here.

Maybe he got lost?

I concluded thus and went back to studying bringing my determination back.

My phone suddenly vibrated three times against my jeans pocket signaling that I got three messages. Right at the moment I took it out of my pocket and glanced at the home screen to know it was from Taehyung, the main bell rang signaling students to get inside. I'd told him that I've got an important exam today and he'd already wished me luck, what's the reason for him to message me again? I mentally debated whether to check it but decided against it when my mom came towards me to take my bag and phone along with her. I sighed and gave my phone to her, grabbing my hall ticket and pen, I went inside the examination hall.

You can do it, my star

Jimin's encouraging words rang in my ears and I inhaled a confident breath.

I won't let you down.

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The exam was comparatively easy and I'd great hope that I'll get the required rank to enter my dream university. After the exam, we'd a little get-together with my classmates at a restaurant. My mom dropped me there and I was so indulged in talks that I totally forgot about Jimin's disappearance and Taehyung's messages. It was almost 3 in the evening when I got home. I suddenly remembered a possibly lost Jimin and raced to my room to tell him about the exam.

I hastily opened the door to my room but was greeted by silence. Sunhee was playing with a woolen ball on the floor a little gloomy. I tilted my head in confusion and walked inside, dumping my bag on my bed.

"Jimin?" I called but only Sunhee looked up. "Do you know where he is?" I asked realizing how crazy I might have looked talking to a cat. But she just watched me with a face filled with pity...I think?

Where did he go? Ah, he might've got bored. Yeah...I should look at the dance room.

Before I turned around and was about to walk out in search of him, a blue folded note on my study table got my attention. I slowly crept up towards it with curiosity smiling a little inside thinking that it was Jimin's surprise or something. He always set up dates and his arrangement include posting notes and leading me towards his surprises.

Internally squealing I picked it up smiling ear to ear. I unfolded the blue parchment and my smile dropped immediately seeing the...long letter.

***

Hey Mia!

How was the exam? Yeah, I know you'll jump into my arms saying with a shrug that it was easy-peasy. I know my girl, don't I? Anyway, I know you'll definitely get into that dream university of yours. I can already imagine you as a sassy college girl who'll slam punch every single bad guy. You're very brave, Mia. I should give it to you at that.

Okay, I don't know how or where to start. I know you don't like beating around the bush so I'm gonna say it straight without any delay. Mia, I think I'm gonna have to leave you...at least my soul? I'm sure when you're reading this I'm not with you. It's true, right? I knew this almost a week ago. I could feel the changes happening to me. I was becoming transparent and less solid, my body temperature was warming up and my heartbeat was more rapid than before. I don't know whether I'm gonna live but whether I live or not, I want you to know how much I enjoyed your company for the past 4 months. You gave me everything I ever wanted. I'd always thought about my love being magical and out of ordinary, looks like someone heard my silly dream. I have lived for a long time, responsible for and dependent upon no one, answering to no one, and committed to no one except myself. During this period of my life, I considered the world mine for the taking and truly believed that I was living life to the fullest. Then you came into the picture and, all of a sudden, I realized that I was deceiving myself.

I find that my life is not all that I thought it was. In fact, it is terribly lacking in many things, the foremost being love. Now, through some great fortune, I have found that love and, along with it, the one person who can make my life truly complete. You are that person, and I have fallen in love with you, hard. To be honest, I never thought I would ever utter those words, but now they come forth effortlessly and with great sincerity. I'll be forever grateful to you for showing me just how shallow my life was. At last, I have a chance now to give it depth and purpose. Until I hear from you, I remain totally yours in thought and spirit. I was sent down to earth on a mission, a mission to find someone that would complete me. I never thought that my task would be fulfilled till the very moment that I met you. That's when I finally found the perfection that I had been seeking all my life. At that very moment, I didn't believe my eyes as the girl that I had thought only existed in a fairytale was now mine.

My love for you will only grow each and every day. I am totally addicted to you, and you are the only drug that keeps me functioning now. When I look into your eyes, I see the real me, a person that lives for a goal and a purpose now. I pray fervently each day that you and I can be in a relationship that will bind us together. I'd like you to know that I love you so much, more than I have ever loved anyone. I just want to stay with you while I can for as long as you'll let me. But fate has intervened in our supposed to be a happy life, but it's alright. As long as you're there for me, be it your words or presence I'm more than willing to live, for you.

I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it. I deeply apologize for not even giving you a kiss at the very last moment, I really wanted to but couldn't. Please wait for me, my star. I promise I'll come for you, I'll make you mine, permanently. Until then, I'm gonna sign off my position as your companion. Oops, sorry...Idol companion. Please wait for me.

I love you, Mia.

And I always will. Don't ever forget that.

Love,

Your Chim

***

My lips trembled along with my hands as a tear dropped down from my cheek. I inhaled deeply and read the letter again and again, but nothing changed. Jimin has gone, far away from me. Tears were dropping into the letter staining the paper, stinking the blue ink. My nostrils dilated and my heart caved inside my chest.

Something hairy rubbing against my feet caused me to snap my head downwards. Sunhee was looking up at me with her same expression...pity and grief. I bitterly chuckled wiping my tears with the back of my hand still tightly clutching the letter in my hand, afraid that it'll disappear too.

"H-He isn't g-gone, r-right?" I stumbled upon my words looking around to prevent tears from falling down, "H-He's just j-joking around, r-right?" I swiftly tried to walk towards the door mumbling to myself, "J-Jimin w-will appear right n-now. H-He's j-just j-joking around"

But a notification on my phone stopped me.

With one hand still on the doorknob, I fished my phone out of my pocket gingerly. I unlocked it to see that the notification was from a k pop website I'd subscribed to two months ago. My fingers brushed against the screen to click on it and my heart suddenly dropped to my stomach seeing the headline.

BTS's Park Jimin Awoke from Coma after 4 Months

My knees gave away before I could even stop myself from falling. My eyes were still on the blue screen even after I slid down the wall, slumping down on the floor. My heart raced a million miles per second when I read the article carefully with a big relieved expression forming on my face. I broke out into small sobs smiling broadly knowing that my love, Jimin, was indeed alive and is alright.

"He's alive...he's alive" I chanted relieved, closing my eyes and leaning against the door with the phone and the blue parchment still clutched tightly in my hands.

'...Park Jimin waking up from his 4-month long coma is considered a great miracle. The doctors are surprised with the predicament but his fellow band members and the whole ARMY population are happy for the idol's well-being. The whole world is celebrating now...'

I opened my eyes remembering something. I swiftly opened the Messenger and taped on Taehyung's messages. I regretted reading the messages when I broke down again, the phone hitting the floor. I cried inhumanly, clutching the letter close to my chest whimpering due to the pain that shot through my chest when I reminded myself that Jimin won't be with me anymore. I won't be able to receive any of his hugs or kisses or cuddles anymore. I miss his warm smile already. How was I going to survive without him after being in his company for months? How can I survive without his love?

Sunhee crawled into my lap and clutched me tightly. Was she giving me a hug? I sobbed loudly inhaling his scent in her fur causing me to pull her into my chest. Everything in this room gave away his comforting yet addicting scent which I've grown to love. His smiling face flashed everywhere when I traced my gaze around the room.

I miss him.

At least he's alive, Mia. He promised he'll come to you. You just have to wait. You have to wait for him...his love.

"I have to wait," I sniffled, tears still falling down in streams down my bloated cheeks. "He'll come for me" I nodded to myself wiping my tears away hurriedly but weak at heart to even get up from the cold floor. "I'm gonna wait for him..."

"I love you too, Jimin" I whispered eyeing the letter with a small smile amidst the tears.

There laid the phone, blue light illuminating from its screen as if it was wailing by pulling on the chains of our concentration to look at it displaying the three messages Taehyung had sent.

'Mia, Jimin woke up! He woke up!!!'

'I really can't believe this but they say it's a miracle!'

'But the weirdest thing is that the first thing he asked when he woke up was about you...'