Conundrum ⤐ Na Jaemin

Chapter - 7 - Complicated

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The boys took off after they had a good time. The house was completely messy. It took almost an hour for her to clean it up. Them hanging around made her think about the past.

"Come on, Hana, let's play hide & seek." The boy has been bothering her for the last few minutes.
"Chan, I have to complete this. Mom will ask me." She mentioned coloring the images in the coloring book.
"We can do it after we play." He started shaking her.
"Chan.... You're ruining it." She sulked.
"Please Hana... it took a lot of effort to get them to join." He pointed out the other friends watching them.
"Okay, Only once." She said, standing up. He jumped and yelled with joy.

"1...2...3......" Haechan was the seeker. They elected him unanimously. They all started hiding.

Hana walked towards the kitchen that was far from Haechan. She opened the closet so she could hide inside. Hana's mother came into the kitchen when she saw Hana open the cabinet.
"What are you doing in the closet Hana?" Her mom asked.

"Shh." she said, holding her index finger to her lips.
"What happened?" her mother murmured as she walked slowly toward her.
"Come here," she pulled her mom into the closet and closed the door.

"We are playing hide and seek. The first person Chan finds will be bothered by him for weeks. We don't want to be caught." She whispered to her mother.
"Then let's not get caught." But why I'm hiding' with you?" She questioned.
"Now you're in this game." Hana sneered.

"Mom, you said you were getting a cat for me. When are you going to get me one? " She asked curiously looking at her mother with crescent eyes.
"I thought you'd like it for your birthday." She acted as though she was thinking.

"I will be looking forward to this birthday." She smiled at her mom.
"What should we name it?" Her Mom questioned. Hana thought for a couple of seconds. All of a sudden a smile appeared on his face.

"Tikki," she screamed, turning to her mother.
"It's a pretty name.So,her name is Tikki"

Suddenly, the cabinet door opened. Haechan stood there yelling, "I've found you." He giggled.
Disgruntled grew on her face.

"Don't tell me I'm the first person you found." She shone her head.
"You are.." He giggled again.
"How did you find me?" She questioned.
"I heard you murmuring ." he said making her sulk.

Her mother made her happy all the time. She always knew how to bring a smile on Hana's face. She even joined her for her pranks. Hana says she's the greatest mom in the world. She's even certain that her mom is always the best.

Memories are valuable and hazardous. Remembering her mother caused all her hidden emotions to come out. The way that kitten died on her birthday. The way her birthday was actually the worst day of her life, the whole thing turned her upside down.

The memories of that night started flashing before her eyes. The cries of the people who asked for their rescue. People were trying to escape, the kitten died before her eyes, but she could not save her. "Don't." she cried. Her breathing became rapid, she could feel the pain in her chest. She crouched down, closing her eyes and ears trying to keep all this horrible stuff from popping up again.

She sensed her phone ringing. Her throat felt dry. She opened her eyes and crawled towards the sofa, breathing profusely, attempting to return. She accepted the call... She was feeling nauseous and dizzy.

" Hana... " A familiar voice called out, but she couldn't reply.
Bae Nari could hear Hana gasping for air.
" Hana... Are you there?" Nari know what was happening. She panicked, she didn't know how to handle it.

"It's okay, Hana, I'm there for you, breathe slowly... slowly... everything's fine. You're home and you're fine. I'm right here. Breathe slowly. Take 60 breaths. Pay close attention to each breath you take." Hana listened to her. She started inhaling slowly. Slowly, she began to take hold of herself. She listened to her breathing out. She sensed her environment. Everything started to fade away.
" Hana.. " She called again.
" Narii.." she spoke, picking up her phone.
" Alright, now?" she questioned.
" Yeah."
" Drink some water." she added
"Okay, I'll call you later," said Hana, feeling heavy.
"Make sure to call me or at least text me. Bye." Hana disconnected the call. She arose slowly to fetch water.

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On the other side, Nari was panicky. There wasn't anyone around Hana to help her. Hana doesn't like when people know about it. She couldn't tell anyone except Jeno. She decided to let Jeno know even if she knows how Hana is going to react. Someone should be there around her.

"Jeno, this is Nari".
" I have saved your number. So, what is it?" Jeno questioned while eating his food made by Jaemin.

" Hana.. I want you to take care of her."
"What happened to Hana?" He gave up eating and got up panicking.
"Panic attack... It happened again. I called her to talk, but she was having a panic attack. She is alright now. I just wanted to inform you. No one is around her right now so.." She stated.

"Thanks Nari, don't worry, I will look after her." Jeno stopped eating and took his jacket and keys from key hanger immediately. Jaemin and Mark, who were having dinner with him, were curious as to what had happened.

"Where are you going? It's already late." Jaemin interrogated with concern.
"I'll spend a few days with Hana." said Jeno.

He didn't want to explain it further. He knew how much Hana hated people knowing about her life. She always had everything in storage. Even her best friend Nari had no idea why she'd have a panic attack. All she knew was that sometimes Hana gets panic attack, so she tried to calm her down. She learned to calm her down, she never questioned her, she knew that if she was ready to talk about it, she would certainly say so.

"What happened? Is she alright?" Mark looked into it because of the previous phone call.
"Yeah she's alright. Bye." he said leaving to his sister's house.

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Jeno entered Hana's apartment with her password. He hadn't informed Hana about his arrival. He found Hana on the sofa holding a novel in her hand. Her sofa was stuffed with chocolates. Hana felt somebody around her, and she found Jeno removing his shoes.

"What are you doing here?" She questioned, finding the guy who left a few hours ago back in her house.
"I'm going to be here for a few days. The boys are annoying." He jumped to the sofa.

"Nari told you, didn't she?" She noticed the unusual behavior of her brother.
"Why would she call me?" He picked up a candy bar and started eating it.
"So she did." She made a statement.

"Whatever I'll be here for a few days. You can't throw me away." He got up from the couch and went to the spare room in her house which he used.
Before entering the room he suddenly turned towards her "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, don't worry." she smiled at him.
"I'm going to kill her," she said to herself, frustrated by what Nari did.

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