XI.

Jangmi wakes up, feeling uneasy as she hears sirens. She stretches her arms, her gray t-shirt engulfing her.

She steps down carefully, her hands on the railing as she takes notice of men in khaki coloured outfits. Jangmi walks over to her brother, Daejung, whom she notices was near the end of the stairs.

The uneasy feeling grew at the look on her brother's face. Eyes puffy and red, hair all messed up, his face fills with sorrow as he raises his head to look at her.

"What's happening?" She questions, touching his shoulder. Daejung wraps his arms around her, tightening his grip onto her as he speaks.

"M-Mimi, mom–" he lets out a heart wrenching sob, clinging onto her. The worry in Jangmi has reached its skyrocket when she notices a stretcher being taken out by some people.

Her eyebrows furrow as she peeks at who it is. Her frown deepens when she isn't able to catch a hold on who the person was.

"Daejung. What's happening?" Her voice wavers as she stumbles back when she notices red, sticky substance on one of the men's hands.

"Excuse me?" She calls out, walking out of Daejung's arms, who's eyes widen as he follows her, trying to get a hold on her arm so he can stop her.

"Yes?" The man turns to her.

"What's happening here?" She gestures around her living room which is wrapped with warning labels.

"Somebody named Minji was murdered here." He answers, he continues as he sees her expression, " did you know her?"

Know her? Jangmi scoffs, shaking her head as she steps back into Daejung who's standing behind her.

" You're lying." She says as she continues to shake her head, she turns to her brother, grabbing his arms, " he's lying, right? Is this one of your pranks?" Jangmi interrogates.

Daejung's lips quiver as he tries to speak but ends up shaking his head.

"No. No. Dae, where's mom?" Her attention shifts when someone else enters the room. She hurries towards her oldest sibling.

"Byungho. Where's mom? Where's dad? " She asks, faltering as he shakes his head.

"Mimi, mom–"

"Mom what?!" Byungho jumps as she raises her voice. She notes that before lowering her voice, "Byungho. Where is mom? "

"She was killed last night. At 10:55."

Jangmi's breathing quickens as she paces around, shaking her head as she mutters the same word.

"No. No. No. "

Tears well up in her eyes, sliding down from her cheeks as they slam on the ground.

"Liar." She pushes him, running out of the living room, searching for her mother.

"Mom! Mom! Mom!" The tears soon become sobs as she continues to look around, "Mom? Mom." She feels her knees get weaker as she falls onto the ground.

"Mom." Her sobs soon become wails. "Mom."

"MOM!"

───────────────────────────

Jangmi raises her head when she feels someone place a hand on her knee. Her messy black hair falls around her face.

"Hey." The familiar voice welcomes her tears again. She automatically reaches to wrap her around her lover.

"Seok, mom-" she struggles to speak but doesn't as she watches Minseok nod.

"I know. I know." He whispers, kissing her tears away. He places her head onto his chest, rocking them back and forth on her bed.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asks. She shakes her head, denying.

"I'll always be here for you, you know that right?" He holds her face, his hands on her cheeks. He watches as she nods, his heart wrenches when her lips quiver, warning him there'll be more tears upcoming.

"I'm sorry I can't make things better." He frowns, "remember, grief has no expiration date." He says.

Of course you'll say that, Minseok. He tells himself, jeering at himself mentally.