Nightmare, again.

I sighed.

Looking straight at the old man in front me, I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. "We haven't meet for years. Why you suddenly decided to see me? Did your sons dead? " I scoffed in disguise.

He was pissed off when I mentioned his sons. But he couldn't do anything except staying quiet. Maybe he needed something from me.

"Jimin " he said my name.

I turned to him and set my pen down on my desk and stood up. "Don't call me by my name. You have no rights " I stated and walked a few steps closer to him. Nervously, he looked up at me with desperate eyes. They looked so desperate.

"I knew it already. You want to ask for a help from me, right? " I asked but at the same time, I didn't even want to know about his problems.

He stopped but his eyes were wilding. He looked like he was going to do something but he was doubting about his decisions. Didn't want to waste my time, I looked at my watch and said "I've meeting to attend after this. You better hurry or I'll call the guards to drag you out from here. " I demanded in a stern tone.

He gasped and shook his head. "No. Please, I need your help " he said. His crinkled face seemed worried. I raised an eyebrow and asked "What is it? "

He gulped and rubbed his arm. "I come here for my son, Taehyung. " he told me his reason.

Feeling uninterested after hearing his name, I rolled my eyes. "Why? What's wrong with him? Isn't he's still at the hospital? " I asked with my hands inside my pockets.

"No. He's home but.. " he stopped.

"Then what's the problem? Isn't it's good enough that he's home? Just take care of him. " I said.

"No. Doesn't mean he's home, he's getting well. He never gets any better. Instead, he gets even worse " the old man said and I turned to look at him again. I saw fear in his eyes. His heart was seeking for help. He was afraid to lose his son.

"What do you mean he's getting worse? " I asked.

He sighed, trying to find a way on how to explain his condition to me. "I don't know how to say it. But, he's fighting for his life now. He's dying on the bed. Lifeless. " his heart broke when he said the last word.

"Then why you come here? I can do nothing to help him. Find anyone else " I said and walked to the side of my office. There, I looked at my picture and Aera's that was hung up on the wall. But then, I looked back at him after I heard a sniffling sound.

"But the girl in the picture can help to give him his life back. Please, let the girl go to him. " the old man begged me to give Aera to his son. I shook my head in disbelief, "Are you serious? Do you think she's a toy to hand over like that? She's a human with heart. Besides, she's mine so I'll never give her to anyone. Never. Mark my words " I warned him.

"But Taehyung loves her. He's also a human who has heart. When you weren't around, Taehyung was the one who took care of her. You once gave her to my son " he said which make my heart burns.

"I never gave her to anyone! I left her for her own goods. I went somewhere to heal myself after the incident and now, I came back to protect her. Stop talking like you know everything. " I growled.

Tears started falling down from his eyes. He knew that I'll never grant his impossible wish. He wanted me to give Aera to Taehyung. No way.

He walked towards me and kneeled down. Then, he put his head on my feet.

"Please, I'm begging you. Give back my son's life. I don't want to lose him. " he cried on my feet. He was desperate. I can't deny that I could feel how hurt he felt. I knew how it feels. But I can't help him.

I pulled my feet off from him and turned away. "No, I can't do that for you. Now you can get out from my office or I'll call the guards. Go, now. " I said with a heavy heart. It was hard for me.

Knowing that I really mean what I said, he forcefully got up and wiped his tears. He sniffled and looked at me. "I hope one day you'll change your mind. " he said and made his way out from my office.

After the door was closed, I said something to myself. "I'll never change my mind. She'll always belong to me. "

I was in the kitchen when Jimin arrived. I grinned as I looked out the window. "He's home " I cheered up and rushed to the main door to approach him.

"Welcome home, Jimin! " I smiled sweetly and he did the same. But this time, the smile he gave me was a weak one. Probably because he was tired from work.

"You look exhausted. Want some dessert? I made your favourite peanut mochi " I clapped my hands. I was the one who excited actually.

Feeling too tired, he looked at me with weak eyes. "Yes, maybe having some sweet foods will make me feel better. " he played along. He was already full actually but he didn't want to disappoint me by saying no like he used to do before.

He put his bag on the couch and followed me to the living room. "Where's my mochi? " he asked, his eyes were searching for them. I giggled and opened the food cover just to show him all the mochis I made for him.

"Look! Aren't they cute? " I asked, admiring my own cook. He chuckled softly and nodded his head. "Yes. They kinda look like my cheeks " he commented

"Yes, that's right. I imagined your cheeks whole making them. That's why they look like your chubby cheeks " I joked and he laughed playfully.

"But I still look handsome with these cheeks, right? " he asked and I nodded rapidly.

"Of course you are. Sometimes, I have no idea how can you still have a sharp jawline when you've such a chubby cheeks. It's so unfair " I complained.

"Why is with that face? You look pretty too even you ain't have cute cheeks " he said which triggering my anger. "What did you say? I don't have cute cheeks? " I pinched his arm playfully.

"Hear me first. I didn't say you're not cute. I mean, you're cute even without fluffy cheeks " he winked at me. I rolled my eyes, acting like I didn't fall for his words.

"Whatever, just eat the mochis. I spent 1 hour in the kitchen just to make this for you." I said as I handed him the plate that was full with mochis.

He grinned and took a smell of the mochis. "They smell so good. I bet the taste is as good as the smell " he licked his lips.

"Of course they are " I laughed after giving myself a compliment.

After they finished all the foods that were cooked by Aera, they went to their rooms. They walked together, side to side but they didn't say a thing. They just walked.

When they reached their rooms, they looked at each other and ready to separate their ways. "I'm going to sleep. Bye " Aera said awkwardly.

Jimin raised his brows and nodded. "Yeah, me too. Goodnight " he said. Actually, Jimin was waiting for Aera to ask him to sleep together with her. But she didn't because she was shy.

So it was an awkward moment until Aera decided to get into her room. "Okay then, night. " she said and got into her room. Jimin sighed and walked to his room.

Aera felt like her body was burning from the inside. She felt her surrounding was so hot and terrible.

"Go away! " she yelled as she woke up from the nightmare. Her forehead was full of sweat and her throat was dry. She shook her head and inhaled for some oxygen.

"What kind of dream was that? " she asked herself and held her chest. It had been awhile since the last time she had a nightmare. But it came back all of the sudden. She didn't know what was the reason. She hates the nightmare before it always gives her images and places that she doesn't know. But those places and images seem familiar to her.

Yet, she couldn't remember any of them. "What did the dream tries to tell me? Why do I always have nightmares? " she asked as a the terrifying moments in the dream flashed back in her mind.

"Argh! " she yelled as slapped her face hardly. "Stop giving me headaches!! " she groaned and got up from the bed. Then, she made her way down to the kitchen.

She went down, thinking that it's going to be her alone. But no. There was Jimin in the kitchen, taking a sip of his black coffee. She stopped and glanced at the clock that was hung at the wall.

"It's late already. What he's doing at this hour? " she mumbled and continued walking into the kitchen.

"Aren't you supposed to be at your room, Jimin? " Aera asked and sat beside him. Jimin was drown in his own thoughts so he didn't notice that Aera was beside him.

"Jimin? Are you listening me? " she repeated as she clapped her hands right in front his face. Finally, he blinked his eyes and looked at Aera who was already beside him.

"Aera " He spoke.

"What are you doing alone here? It's already late " she said. He didn't answer her at first because he was still thinking about something. But then, he backed to the reality again.

"You had a nightmare, right? That's why you're here. " Jimin asked as if he already knew it would happen. Aera was surprised when Jimin knew about her nightmare before she could tell him. It was weird.

"How did you know? I didn't tell you " she asked curiously. After hearing her question, Jimin smiled all of the sudden.

"Because I have the same dream too " he told her. Feeling that there was something wrong, Aera furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Wait. I don't understand. What's going on actually? Why do we have nightmares? " she asked.

She started to remember that before this, when she got a nightmare, Jimin will get a nightmare too. And they'll meet each other at the kitchen. So there's a big possibility that they had the same dream.

"I went down to the kitchen because I know you'll be wanting to grab a hot coffee. So I've make one for you. " Jimin didn't answer her question. Then, he handed her a cup of coffee. It was still hot.

She looked down at the cup and sighed. "Why don't you just explain to me? What's happening? " she asked.

"Nothing, Aera. There's nothing happening. It's just— we have the same nightmare. " Jimin answered, relaxed.

Aera sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "Alright then. I hope you're telling me the truth. " she mumbled.

"Of course. I only tell you the truth. " Jimin added.

A few moment later, after they were done talking to each other. Jimin noticed that Aera wasn't ready to go to sleep. She was still scared of the nightmare.

"Hey, Aera " he stopped her from going into her room.

"Hm? " Aera asked weakly. She was sleepy but she didn't want to sleep because she worried the nightmare will still hunt her.

Jimin sighed. "Do you think I'm going to let you sleep in fear? " he asked, crossing his arms. Aera looked at him and squinted her eyes. She was still blur.

Jimin chuckled at her cuteness and opened his arms widely. "Come here, let me hug you " he said and Aera went to him. In a blink, she was already in his embrace.

"Wanna sleep in my room today? I promise I'll protect you from the bad dreams " he said with a soft voice. Aera closed her eyes and nodded slowly. "Sure "

I woke up in the morning just to see a beautiful girl was sleeping in my arm. Kim Aera.

She looked so cute even when sleeping. Gently, I pulled off my arm from her and glanced at my phone to see what hour was it.

Oh, it was still early.

I yawned and was about to continue my sleep. But I stopped when I noticed a big wound on my left arm. I gasped and looked closer. It was a real wound.

What happened? I didn't do anything last night. It wasn't a scratch or anything. But it was a weird wound.

The wound still had blood on it. So it was still fresh. What the fuck happened to me? I sighed and shook my head. "No one can know about this. "

I went out from the house very early. I didn't inform to anyone that I was gone. Including Uncle Seon.

I didn't want anybody to know that I was out to somewhere. Even Aera. Because I was going to a place that I hadn't visit for a long time. Since I was 13.

It was the last time I went there.

I wasn't sure whether I'm doing a right thing or not. I rarely doubting my own decision. But this time, I did.

I stopped my car right in front the place and stared out of my car to see the place. It still looks the same like years ago. Not much changes happened here. They just added some trees and there was more unnecessary bushes.

I sighed and got out from my car. Slowly, I shut the door closed and walked into the place. No, it wasn't a place. It was a cemetery. The place that all dead people got buried.

I wanted to visit my mom's grave. It had been years after the last time I did. Such a bad son I am.

I'm not sure whether I still remember her grave. But the only thing that I remember about her grave was; it has a cherry tree beside it. So I tried to find it. Until my eyes caught a grave with a bold stone on it that was wrote Kim Runa.

Yes, it's my mom's real name. Kim Runa. But after she married my dad, she's Park Runa. You guys must be wondering why the stone wasn't wrote Park Runa on it, right?

Actually, I was the one who changed it. I hate my dad for neglecting her. He doesn't deserve to have a good wife like my mom. His name has no right to be written on my mom's stone. I hate him that much.

I smiled and sat on the ground. "Hey mom, I visit you. Finally " I spoke while hoping that she'd hear me from up there. I smiled and touched her grave. "Sorry for not visiting you. I was busy. Running away from my own life " I said.

"You must hate me right? Because I'm not a good son. "

"But just to make you know, I never forget you. Even for a second. You're always in my heart, mom. Always. I love you so much that I cried almost everyday when I remember about you. " I said, starting to sob.

"Forgive me. I failed as a son to you. I failed as a human, a son and I failed to be myself. I've sinned a lot. " I confessed.

"I hope you're doing well there. I'll always pray for your happiness. Thank you for everything, mom. I love you. " it was the last thing I said to her before heading out. It was hard for me. It wasn't easy as it seemed to be. It was hurt. So much. I felt so much pain at one time.

I didn't want to leave her grave. But I couldn't stay longer. Because if I do, I'll never be able to go home. I missed my mom so much. Very much.

I wiped the tears that started to roll down my cheeks. I took out a tissue from my jacket but then I stopped when I heard something. A talking sound.

It was still early in the morning. What do people do here at this time? I wiped my tears with the tissue and decided to follow the sound. I just wanted to know.

I kept walking, following the sound. Then, I stopped when I saw an old man who was cleaning up a grave. Probably it was his wife's grave. I hid behind the tree and eavesdrop their conversation silently.

"Sorry for not being able to visit you often like I used to do. I'm getting old. I'm not as strong as I used to be. I couldn't come to meet you everyday " he apologized to his wife while rubbing the stone. Then, a small smile showed up on his face.

"I'm old. Very old to be alive. My death time is coming soon. I'm not afraid to die. Because I can't wait to meet you in the heaven. You've been waiting for too long. " the old man said which really touched my heart. He willed to die just to meet his late wife.

"Even you're not here, people keep saying your names. They still remember you. I'm so happy for that. I hope they'll still remember me like they remember you when I'm dead. Being remembered by other people even you're dead is a big pleasure. " he said, smiling at his wife's grave.

Yes, he's true. I didn't want to be remembered by everyone. I just want my beloved ones to remember me. Even when I'm not around.

As I was busy with my thoughts, I saw the old man stood up and waved to the grave. "I need to get going now. Our puppies are waiting for me to feed them. See you next time. I promise " he said and started to walk away.

He walked slowly as he was old.

Seeing him walking away, I felt like I can't let him go. So I chased him.

"Grandpa " I called him several times until he finally noticed that I was calling him. He stopped on his spot and turned to face me. "Yes, young boy? What do you want from me? " he asked, looking at me.

I had something to ask him. Something that I had been keeping for a long time. I didn't know who's the right person to ask this question. But I'm confident this old man could give an answer to my question.

I inhaled a deep breath and started talking. "I know my question is weird. But, " I looked down into his eyes and gulped.

"How to be remembered by people? " I asked in one breath. He raised his eyebrows at me.

"That's your question? " he asked me back. I nodded with no doubts. "Yes. I want to know how to be remembered by people. I'm curious. People usually don't appreciate us. They won't remember us. But I believe. There must be a way to make them remember us. Even when we're not around." I said

"What do you mean by we're not around? " he asked. He kept asking me back instead of answering me.

I shrugged, "Anything. Maybe we're far. Maybe we're sick, disappear or— dead. " I answered. And finally, the suspicious look on his face disappeared. He sighed in relief.

"Yes, people will forget us so easily. Especially when we're someone with nothing. Not rich, no power and else. " he spoke.

"But there's something that make people remember you forever. Even when you're not around. " he said

"What is it? "

"You need to be something. Something significant. " he said

"Like what? Should I be powerful? Rich? Or should I do something no one could do? " I asked in curiosity. I really wanted to know.

He chuckled at my answers. "No young man, you're wrong " he shook his head.

"Then what should I do? " I asked.

With a glance, he answered my question. "You should be kind. That's the only way to make people remember you. Trust me. It works. Kindness is more powerful than it looks. " he finally answered my question. So that's the key.

Kindness.

•••

Be kind. Always.