^^ if you want to get the feel then do play the playlist above !! warning! the first song is dear dream, so proceed with caution. also, didn't proofread this chapter so sorry for any typos!!

━━━ ( 💌 ) chapter twelve...

na jangmi found herself on a gloomy sunday-when the scorching sun shielded itself completely behind the dark grey clouds. under the safety of an umbrella-protected from the descending raindrops, her legs walked the long wet path to the cafe. amidst all the unwanted droplets, there was one thing she scretly loved and could relate to. the unwelcoming weather suited the story of her life, just like the sun who was slowly drifting away-slowly transforming to the overcast darkness. so did the course of her life, there were days where happiness drifted away from her grasp, times where her life turned into the overcast darkness.

born and raised in the wealthiest family in town, ended up having to struggle with financial problems. she was only sixteen, when her parents left to a business trip with her uncle. she turned seventeen the next day, but their figures never returned to blow the candles with her.

the next years were nothing but grueling and exhausting for jangmi, her family's wealth vanished in the hands of her corrupted maid. she was kicked out from her own house with jaemin sobbing in her arms especially after being hit by the sad news of his brother and parent's death. the two had no where to go, the dark streets being the only thing welcoming them. as if it wasn't difficult enough, jaemin's disease worsened, she could only watch as her beloved cousin fought his own battle and this time she was the one sobbing-only able to pray and have a glimmer of hope.

education wasn't her priority anymore, she couldn't afford it and there were many other things she had to consider. so she had no choice, but to drop out and neglect her promising future. her main priority was jaemin, she didn't want to be left alone stranded in this horrifying world-it has taken everything, everyone she loved and ever cherished. if the world was going to take jaemin too, then jangmi would be left with no one, and living would be meaningless if she would have to walk her exhausting path alone.

she genuinely thanked her younger self for still putting up a fight, despite the weight she had to carry. part time jobs after part time jobs-working felt like the only thing she was doing. thankfully people still pitied her and willingly offered her multiple jobs. slowly but surely, with her efforts jaemin was able to receive his much needed medication from the hospital.

jangmi thought that hope had saved her, and it really did. it just didn't work the same for jaemin, whose hope started dimming.

his cousin confessed that he had done something dreadful, something unforgivable to his best friend and kyungmin. that night, jaemin spilled all about his twisted words, all the suffering he had created for jeno and the lies he casted to kyungmin. he told jangmi, that he wanted to mend his mistakes, but his words never came to reality because of jangmi who told him to focus on his health. once it had gotten better then jangmi promised, she would help him.

it took almost four long years of constant treatment for jaemin, jangmi didn't know why but apparently the treatment wasn't enough to restore his healthy physique instead it only weakened his body. in the last year, jaemin started sending letters to jeno in which jangmi took the role to send those letters but suddenly the doctor informed her about jaemin's failing heart and that they could only hope that time was in their side, jangmi didn't want to believe their words.

they had fought with all they possibly had, how was it not enough? was it really the end of the road for jaemin? jangmi didn't want to even question herself about that, her heart pained even more when hearing that jaemin lost all his hope, that he didn't want to fight anymore.

jangmi knew he was drained, but he reminded her about jeno, kyungmin, about all the people who still wanted him to live. it seemed to lifted his mood, and it definitely brought happiness to her.

whilst recalling her past with jaemin, jangmi noticed how the cafe was already at sight. she received a phone call in the morning from a surprising someone, it was jeno-requesting for a meeting at cafe dream. finally, she was going to have a heart to heart talk, with the man in all her cousin's stories.

- 💌 -

jeno fiddled with his fingers, starring at the two cups of coffee and a plate of fresh croissant placed on the table. once in awhile throwing a short glance at his watch, clicking his tongue as the time drifted by, still no sign of the female's presence.

he had thought about it all night, it even kept him awake. it was indeed kyungmin's voice, he had played the clip thousands and thousand of times, rewinding it again and again. there wasn't a flaw in his hearings, it was him. and if it was really kyungmin's voice, then he must be alive. where was he? why didn't he tell jeno? who was the person behind the letter then?

a 'ding' resonated from the cafe's bell, and it quickly drove jeno's attention to the door and just as he expected. it was jangmi, dressed in a cream coat with white sweater underneath (an outfit that's finally not black in color) she sent jeno a small smile before approaching his seat.

" hi, i'm so sorry for making you wait for such a long time," jangmi apologized pulling the chair and taking her seat in front of the younger.

jeno showed his signature smile and replied," it's totally fine, here have some coffee."

" so, i bet you called me to talk about the letter? " jangmi made a wild guess, her hands reaching to drinking her favorite coffee.

jeno shook his head and bit his lip, " not only about the letter, i have a lot of things to have you so please do answer my questions honestly."

" woah i feel like i'm being interrogated by the police! " the female joked letting out a light giggle.

" then i need your full name, age, occupation and family relations to na kyungmin please," jeno played along and didn't hesitate to question her such lengthy question.

jangmi settled the cup of coffee back on the table, " my name is na jangmi, i'm twenty two years old and i'm-"

her words were pulled into a halt, stuck in her throat as she grew speechless squirming in her seat, but it was now or never for jangmi, she had to tell jeno about jaemin's lies before there was no more time spared for them.

" i'm kyungmin and jaemin's cousin, " she gathered her courage to meet jeno's stern gaze.

jeno raised his eyebrow at the unfamiliar name, " jaemin? "

jangmi continued with her words again responding to jeno's query," na jaemin is na kyungmin's twin. "

when the word twin reached jeno's ear, everything started falling to its place, the puzzle compiling the space of his mind started connecting. the information astounded him for a split second, but jeno reminded himself not to think to the furthest extent. he had found the sole answer, a piece of the truth he seeked for the longest time, but the piece of information jangmi had shared wasn't even close to the truth.

" jangmi are you the person behind the letter? " jeno noticed how the initials n.jm matched jangmi's.

again, she hesitated. though she silently hoped it was the perfect timing to reveal everything, " no. "

" then who wrote the letters? "

jangmi sighed knowing this one was going to be hard for jeno to swallow, " is there any other person with the initials? "

na jaemin, his mind whispered lightly to him and the answer could only increase his curiosity. just when he thought the problem was going to be answered so effortlessly, more questions rose to his mind.

jeno raised his shoulder, a habit when he felt curious, " how did he know everything, between me and kyungmin? "

this was the last straw, and jangmi knew it. after her next words, no other lie would be able to mask the real truth about the past, " think about it jeno, how else is he going to know if he isn't- "

" no! no way, i don't believe you! " jeno raised his voice to surpass the anxiousness building inside him, " kyungmin died, no this isn't true."

jangmi bit her lips and replied," it's true jeno. "

" kyungmin would never lie to me! especially about his identity and his death, he knows how important he is to me, he would never! " jeno kept on chanting the same thing in his head, the truth was indeed too much for him to comprehend. he still refused to believe such a lie, as he engulfed his head to his arms slamming his fist on the table.

" it's the truth jeno, jaemin had tried telling you this whole time through his letters and all the hints he has given you! " jangmi paused sensing everything was starting to go down hill, " but i beg you, please forgive his actions...jaemin has his own reasons, i promise that he can explain everything to you. "

no matter how guilty her cousin was, jangmi was going to continue defending him. the feeling of guilt drenched jangmi, especially after witnessing jeno's down fall. she could have taken all her words back and let jaemin explain it himself, but there was nothing she could possibly do.

jeno didn't reply to jangmi's sudden request, he was immersed in a feeling of confusion and disbelief. all the proof was evident, yet jeno didn't have the courage to face it. that his best friend and his first love had been the reason behind his suffering, that he had been caught and trapped in a lie, created by a person he trusted the most.

suddenly out of the blue, jangmi's phone which was still located in jeno's pocket prior his previous actions the other day started ringing and buzzering, signaling that someone was trying to engage a conversation with her. jeno shakily handed her the phone and jangmi quickly slid the answer button, moving the device to her ear.

" hello? "

jangmi's face turned pale, she had her mouth wide open and jeno swore he could notice the tears pooling up in her eye. her sudden condition worried jeno, and it made him even more curious. once the short call ended, jangmi's shaky hands grabbed jeno's arms whilst the liquid started pouring from her hazel orbs.

she started sobbing which confused the male even more," it's jaemin, please take me to the hospital jeno. "

⌨ ᶻᶻᶻ elena is typing ...

well that was a long ass ride 🤣🤣🤣 probably the longest chapter to ever exist in this book. i added a little background story for jangmi in the first part because her character plays an imporrant role in this story and i felt like i need to talk about her more. honestly i feel bad for jeno cause my man's probably overwhelmed at this point. also, i need you to vote, should i make this chapter the last one or another one to end it? though i can't promise you that there will be another chapter other than the epilogue cause i will be getting very busy these days so i can't be online and have much time to write but let's just hope for the best! have a nice day wherever you are, always stay happy and healthy （*＾3＾）/～♡