Vampire In The City
New Directions

Jimin sat in the dining room, watching his mother cooking. Since the basement incident and her mother's memories of vampires were erased, her mother spent more time cooking and reading books, sometimes writing journals. His mother had worried about Jimin's health several times because she knew that he had a disease, but Jimin repeatedly assured his mother that Jimin was cured and no longer sick, of course Jimin went through the part where he was cured because he got another vampire blood transfusion.

“Eomma..” call Jimin finally.

His mother looked up and gave a sweet smile. “Ne, Jimin-ah.

Jimin frowned, hoping that this discussion could go well. “Did anyone ever come here and ask you something that Eomma didn't understand?”

The woman was confused by her own son's question. He turned off the stove and turned to face Jimin. “What do you mean?”

“Did anyone ever come here?” Jimin chose to simplify his words.

“Gasher and food delivery only, Jimin-ah..” says to his mother.

“A-wouldn't any friend Eomma who is a doctor come here?”

His mother scrunched her forehead. He approached Jimin and sat down next to his son, feeling his expression was too serious and tense. “Nothing. What's up, Jimin-ah? What's bothering you?”

Jimin bit his lip, how should he explain it to his mother? He just didn't want to make the situation worse. Her mother remembers nothing about vampires providing calm and relief for Jimin but her previous words make her anxious as well. What if someone from the syndicate asked about the vampires that used to be in the basement of this house? How will his mother answer?

“Jimin...” murmured his mother worried and held her son's hand, “Tell Eomma, what's up?”

Jimin swallowed deeply. “I'll tell you something that Eomma won't remember.. because. because Eomma sort of got amnesia.”.

The woman still looked at Jimin seriously, not thinking Jimin was making things up at all.

“Eomma knows that I have a blood disease and actually Eomma hid it from me,” said Jimin, “But Eomma was trying to find a way so that I could survive and be able to move normally.”

Jimin's mother held a tense breath, listening to her son's words.

“I don't know what the details are like,” continued Jimin, “But Eomma uses vampire blood to make my body better. I have to get vampire blood transfusions on a regular basis.” Jimin is worried that his words will make his mother think that he is crazy. “Maybe Eomma thinks I'm slashing but this is real.”

“Arra, Jimin-ah.” says his mother with a thin smile, “Continue.”

“Eomma ordered the vampire illegally and locked her up in the basement of our house and Eomma took the vampire's blood to transfuse it into my body. Of course Eomma drugged me so that I knew nothing. But one of my friends saw what Eomma was doing. In short, the vampire in the basement has been removed but Eomma has amnesia.”

Jimin looked at his mother doubtfully. His mother showed no signs of disbelief, only looking at him earnestly.

“What does Eomma believe in my story?” jimin asked as he gulped. Oh man. he felt tense once, sweat already flowing profusely on his back.

The woman gave a faint smile. “So so yes..Emptly Eomma felt confused when looking at the journal that Eomma wrote.”

“M-mwo?” Jimin was confused to hear his mother's words.

“Eomma thought Eomma wrote a fantasy story in the journal Eomma..” The woman instead gave a small, very relaxed ruckus, in contrast to the tension her son was experiencing. “Eomma saw in Eomma's writing there was the word vampire blood but Eomma did not remember ever writing it.”

Jimin did not expect that his mother's reaction could be this calm. It was much easier than he had imagined.

“And Eomma also wanted to show you something.” The woman pulled her son's hand. They stood up and his mother led Jimin to his mother's office. Jimin's mother pulled out a journal from the desk drawer. He showed me a few pages in the book that read about the efficacy of vampire blood.

Jimin's eyes widened. In the journal it was written that there has been research that found that vampire blood can make humans ageless, not aging. Efficacy is greater than vitamins or skincare on the market, just that vampire blood must be consumed periodically if you want to get satisfactory results. Similarly, it was written in the journal that vampire blood can cure various blood diseases.

“It looks like Eomma wrote all this because he got the info from Eomma's friend..” said the woman, “But Eomma did not contact anyone to ask him because Eomma himself did not remember it. And..” The woman took out another object from her work drawer, a black card like an ATM card. “This may also have something to do..”

Jimin received the card his mother gave him. He saw VIP writing printed in thick gold on the card along with the number and barcode. Jimin frowned while reading the inscription : “Delicious Pasta”.

“The card seems to have something to do with vampire blood,” said his mother softly, “Because Eomma also saw the word ‘Delicious Pasta’ in the journal Eomma when explaining the efficacy of vampire blood.”

Jimin held his breath so tight. If he asked Kim's clan, the vampires would know about Delicious Pasta. Delicious Pasta could be the name of a vampire sales syndicate that Taehyung and his hyung have been looking for.

“Eomma...” said Jimin bitterly, “I heard there is a vampire sales syndicate, where people commit illegal acts and exploit vampires with heartlessness.

The woman's eyes grew bigger. He had expected that there would be mafia or syndicates. If research is successful in finding that vampire blood has many properties, it could have been misused and instead made to catch vampires and exploit them.

Jimin bit his lip, and he remembered Taehyung and the other vampires. It would be inappropriate for him if vampires were to be tortured and exploited like that. The sick Jimin and his dependence on vampire blood are assisted selflessly by Yoon-gi. The vampire was willing to help by giving his blood to Jimin. But what the syndicate does is beyond common sense, how they use hunters to catch vampires and exploit them without feeling, without thinking that vampires have the right to live as long as they do not disturb the human balance.

“Eomma, I strongly oppose the vampire sales syndicate. What they're doing is outrageous, Eomma. They treat vampires like animals.”

Jimin's mother looked at her son with sadness. What his son said was right. The woman did write in a journal about the efficacy of vampire blood but that does not mean she will support what the syndicate or mafia vampire trade. Vampire blood has amazing properties it is a fact but humans have no right to make it as an alternative to business and for personal gain.

“Eomma also agrees, Jimin-ah.” said the woman, “As a doctor, Eomma knows the limitations that no researcher or medical personnel should cross.”

“Eomma, trust me, I'll give this card to someone who can fight the vampire sales syndicate,”. He is increasingly eager to destroy the vampire sales syndicate and free the vampires who are detained. “And if anyone comes asking about the vampire in the basement, Eomma just say that the vampire managed to escape.”

The woman nodded and patted her son's head fondly. It doesn't feel like his son is this mature and very responsible. “Arasseo, Jimin-ah's. Eomma trusts you.”

Jimin was deeply moved and immediately hugged his mother. Had he and his mother been open from the beginning like this, discussing what each thought was, things would have ended up better. For now, Jimin will give this VIP card to Yoon-gi-hyung. That dhampir must know what to do with this card.

Jungkook waited in the car that morning, waiting for Taehyung to get out of his house. Like the previous days, Jungkook picked up Taehyung for them to go to campus together. The present Taehyung will not be left alone, not knowing what Dongwook can do when he finds Taehyung again.

Every night Jungkook could not sleep quietly, he kept thinking about the events when V was still there. How the vampire showed up to find out about the vampire sales syndicate, smoking cigars, going to the club. During this time V never told anyone about his purpose, let Jungkook misunderstand just like that and as if the vampire did not care about the opinions of others about him. V is not that bad. Although the aura he always carries is cold and unfriendly but Jungkook feels that V is not as evil as it seems. He... like most people's normal personalities, right? It's just that there are injuries and traumas that make sometimes V can't express himself better. Jungkook still regrets the past, regretting why he gave so many bitter memories to remember V.

Sometimes when alone, Jungkook tried to hear his own head, just in case there was a V sound that echoed in his head, saying something to him. But there's no. Or while sleeping, Jungkook hopes he gets a dream or telepathy again regarding the condition V. That doesn't exist either.

This is very weird. When Taehyung who innocent that he hoped to have returned, Jungkook even felt that there was less, something was wrong.

Jungkook was still daydreaming, unaware the car door was opened and Taehyung entered. The vampire stared at the dreamy Jungkook in wonder. He also called him. “Jungkook?”

Jungkook gasp. He regained consciousness from his daydream and turned to the side looking at Taehyung. Until now every time he saw Taehyung in the morning, he dived into the depths of Taehyung's eyes, as if checking who was looking at him, Taehyung or V. Sometimes in his heart, hoping that this time it appears is…

“Kookie?” ask Taehyung again.

“Ah anni...” sahut Jungkook finally. He gave a smile and ruffled Taehyung's hair. “Are you ready with Chem test today?”

“Ughh...” grumbled Taehyung with pout. Today there is an Inorganic Chemistry quiz and Taehyung feels not ready even though Jungkook has accompanied him to study through video calls all night.

“Let’s focus, Kim Taehyung.” said Jungkook then started to start his car.

Taehyung gave a long smile. He was never wrong from the beginning that Jungkook was indeed his true friend. There is nothing happier than being able to feel true friendship.

After wearing the seat belt, Taehyung occasionally notices Jungkook. Jungkook's expression that was so cheerful now changed. His face looked like someone who was being piqued at the thought of something. Not once did Taehyung see Jungkook like that. Ever since Taehyung woke up and saw Jungkook in his room a few days ago, Jungkook had been like this several times. Taehyung had tried to ask his hyung what happened and why Jungkook was in his room at the time, but his hyungs only said that Jungkook came to visit because he was worried about Taehyung.

“Tae...” said Jungkook suddenly. Eyes are focused on the streets.

“Hmm?”

“I'm sorry for the mistake I made with you. I hurt you once, Tae... I'm sorry.” Jungkook said with his eyes turned soft.

“Jungkookie..” Taehyung feels bad, “Yesterday morning you already said the same thing.”

“I just want you to know that I'm sorry.” Jungkook said as he turned to look at Taehyung solemnly.

“And yesterday I said I have forgiven you.” Taehyung said and held Jungkook's hand free from the steering wheel.

“Ah ne..” sahut Jungkook grimacing. He himself did not know why it was like this. Jungkook only remembers that V remembers everything that happened to him or Taehyung. It should be right now that V saw and heard what Jungkook said right? Jungkook hopes V feels the sincerity of his apology for what Jungkook did that once hurt the vampire.

“I'm just really sorry..” continued Jungkook in a stifled voice, “Dan..

Yep, Jungkook really wants to help V. The past cut he saw about V. Jungkook just wanted to help V avenge him.

“Jungkook...” said Taehyung, not understanding the words of his friend. “Year you helped me learn a quiz today.”

Jungkook wants to scream loudly. For Chrissakes. It tormented his soul. Jungkook hoped that someone would say something in his head. There was a V who spoke his words.

But there's no.

“Y-yeah..” Jungkook can only laugh. Totally funny. Jungkook turned to Taehyung and gave as much as possible a smile as usual. “Okay..”

Taehyung furrowed his brows looking at Jungkook's expression. He increasingly felt that there was something Jungkook wanted to say but could not. What is troubling Jungkook's mind?

“Kook, are you happy with me now?” ask Taehyung just like that. He didn't know why he should ask such a question.

For a moment Jungkook was silent. He is of course happy to see Taehyung back, seeing his relationship with Taehyung as it used to be. He's certainly happy, isn't he?

“Yes.. yes, I am.” muttered Jungkook finally.

Taehyung smiled widely, giving his boxy smile. He turned his face to the window and his expression turned into a sad expression.

The question was asked directly by V through Taehyung.

🎃🎃

wew...

yes honestly, the author really enjoys playing with characters in his own author novel 😋

but yes actually nyesek anyway.

Don't forget to leave a trace of 🐾🐾