Chapter Text
Soul, September 2nd 1953
There was only one apartment that was burned almost to pieces. A young man was waiting outside of the building and staring at the ambulance parked there. It was raining and he was holding an umbrella. He was waiting outside for news. Maybe he was not too late. Maybe he was here on time and that person was not in their room. But then… he saw the paramedics walking out of the building with a stretcher. There, on the stretcher was lying unmoving body of a man. The young man’s throat clenched and he rushed to stop the people. He had to be sure.
“Hey, young man!” One of the men almost screamed at him when he pulled the cover out of the person’s face and then… he gasped. “Did you know that guy?”
The younger nodded and his eyes went glossy. “Yoongi,” he uttered. “His name is… Min Yoongi.”
It was strange really, how the flames had not even touched his skin. Yoongi looked like he was sleeping peacefully. But the boy knew that was a lie. He would never be able to watch how Yoongi was sleeping again. It was over. Then his look fell down, over Yoongi’s hands. He saw them clenched in fists over his body. There was a tiny piece of paper, showing from one of them. The boy reached out and pull the paper out of Yoongi’s fists. Then he leaned over and planted a gentle kiss over Yoongi’s forehead. It was still cold.
“Are you going to pay for the funeral?” One of the men in white asked and the boy nodded.
“I’ll send the money to the hospital under his name,” his eyes looked empty when he stared at the guy who had asked him. “My name is Jimin by the way. Park Jimin.”
The paramedic nodded and pushed him away. Even if he had recognized his last name, he kept quiet. The ambulance was long gone when Jimin was finally able to look at the paper.
You'll fly free now...
Jimin smiled sadly.
Two days later he was found dead in the bathtub of his own house, drowned himself. There was a note, placed right next to Yoongi’s on his nightstand. His mother was the first to read it.
I’ll fly with you...
+++
Soul, September 2nd, 2019
Jimin woke up with a start. His work at the hospital was not done yet and he rubbed his eyes tiredly. That was a strange dream, he thought. He was working at the ER and he was a night shift that day. The young man had only two more hours until he was going to go back home. It was six in the morning and the Sun was not up yet. Jimin yawned and hurried to join to his co-workers, because there was a new case that had arrived.
“Okay,” Jimin was first to meet the car on the exit. He did not even wait for the paramedic to jump out of the ambulance. “Tell me the story.”
“Min Yoongi, 30. His brother found him just on time and pulled him out of a burning building,” they all rushed into the hospital. Jimin called few more nurses on their way. “The blood pressure is 80/50. The patient could not breathe and we had to intubate him. He inhaled too much smoke and his brother told us that he suffers asthma.”
“Good, thank you!” Jimin used his professional voice. “We'll take it from here.” The paramedics moved the patient’s body over the medical table and left. “Now…” Jimin took a deep breath and started his job, giving orders here and there. Asking for instruments and checking Min Yoongi’s situation throughout the whole time. He never even stopped his look over the patient's face. It was easier that way, he had learned with his practice. When he was ready, Jimin insisted to be taken to the intensive care. Things did not look serious, but better be safe than sorry.
When Jimin finally went out of the ER, he was met with a very worried black-haired young man. “How’s my brother?” He asked with fear in his eyes. Jimin sighed.
“Your brother is getting better,” the doctor said. “The guys said that you pulled him out?” The boy nodded and Jimin smiled. “You did a good job and it was just on time. He’s currently at the ICU, but he would be placed in a single room by the evening.”
“Thank you!” The boy reached out and grabbed Jimin’s arm, shaking his hand firmly. “Thank you doctor…”
“Jimin. My name is Park Jimin,” the doctor smiled.
“Thank you Doctor Park,” the boy said. “My name is Jeon Jungkook,” he said. “My brother and I share same mother, but different fathers.”
Jimin nodded. “Okay, now if you excuse me, my shift is over.”
The guy nodded and moved out of his way. Park Jimin was not into the personal contacts with the patients he was treating and their relatives. He did not think that was necessary. He was not a surgeon or any other kind of a doctor. He was not obligated to be there when there was some news, regarding the patient. He was only there to make sure that the patient is alive and ready to be taken care of his colleagues. That was it.
+++
Later on, when he was finally resting on his own bed, he let himself to relax. Nothing was better than home now. Jimin turned on the TV just when it was time for the news.
“… the early hours of the day. The building, where are the company’s offices was set on fire. One of the owners, Min Yoongi was there at the time of the fire. Luckily for him, his brother was there to save him. We don’t know any more details, but a source, close to the family said that it was probably intentional. Min&Jeon’s architecture, currently holds the first place at this business. The company just accepted a project to renovate an old building in one of the poorest sides of Seoul. They won the project against three more companies in the matter. The Police said that the arson is under investigation. Now more news…”
Jimin tilted his head, staring at the screen. The building was not suffered that bad from the fire. There was only a floor, probably where Min Yoongi was. He blinked with confusion. That looked so familiar in his head, but he could not just pinpoint the correct thing. The doctor just shook his head and turned the TV off. He yawned and lay back in his bed, snuggling into the covers. He needed some good sleep and relax. The hospital policy was allowing him to have the next day free, so he would be able to recover from his night shift and get back to work refreshed and fully functional.
When he woke up, it was already afternoon. He decided not to go out that day and called to his best friend. Tae was luckily free and they agreed to meet for a dinner at Jimin’s place. Since he was terrible at cooking, Jimin decided that a take out sounds good as an option. So, he ordered his and Tae’s favorite food. Then he went back to bed and decide to be lazy some more. No one would say a thing after all. Then he called to his mother, but as usual, she was too busy to pick up.
Jimin shrugged and went to prepare himself for dinner. Tae arrived just on time.
“Hey there, stranger,” he grumbled by the door, when Jimin opened. “I did not think that you would call me.”
Jimin rolled his eyes, but a smile appeared on his face. “You know I’m busy, Tae,” he made a room for the young man to enter and then closed the door behind his back. “I call you wherever I can.”
Tae simply waved his hand. “I never thought you are going to date with your job, Park Jimin.”
“It’s not like that and please don’t start again,” the doctor said quietly. “I don’t have time for this.”
“I just don’t get it,” his friend sighed dramatically when they sat around the kitchen table, ready to have some food in their stomachs. “You only dated what… one or two guys when we were at the Uni. They did not even get to third base with you, only because you decided that you are not interested.”
“Sex is not that important to me,” Jimin shrugged and started eating.
“Sex is important for your health,” Tae grinned and Jimin shook his head.
“Says who?”
“Your best friend in the world, who had a good time last night,” Tae grinned.
“Ew!” Jimin said mockingly. “I don’t want details.”
“He was so good that I passed out at one moment,” Taehyung continued as if Jimin had not said a word. “Too bad he had to leave in a hurry. Too bad we did not exchange our contacts. That was the best one night stand in my whole life…” His eyes looked dreamy.
“When is your next photoshoot?” Jimin decided to change the subject.
“Well,” his friend shrugged. “The next week I think. They will e-mail my agent for this. The good thing though is that it’s going to be here, in Seoul.”
“You love to travel, Tae,” Jimin chuckled.
“I’m so tired of the jetlag all the time,” his friend leaned back onto the chair and sighed. “I could use some break.”
Tae, or Kim Taehyung as the people knew him, were the most famous model in South Korea. Lots of brands wanted him as their face. Jimin was happy for him, because Tae was living his dream now. He wanted to become a model, although he graduated photography. He wanted to travel and see the world outside of Seoul. Now, he had that perfect opportunity. They were best friends ever since their first year in the University. They just clicked ever since from the start when they became roommates. Jimin loved his best friend, because he was so opposite of him.
While Tae was more open to the world, Jimin preferred to pay more attention to his study. Tae was outgoing and Jimin – too shy. Tae loved to date, while Jimin did not find that necessary. Tae loved to be the center of attention, while Jimin preferred to stay and watch from the outside. This was one of the reasons they clicked so well.
Even now, Jimin just let his friend do the talking. He listened to Tae’s story of his last photoshoot and how they almost damaged his hair. He laughed with him when Tae mentioned how he basically had thrown his drink over his latest hook up. His face was so red that Jimin just could not stay calm. When they both calmed down though, Jimin suggested to watch some TV. Tae agreed with a yawn.
“I’ve had the weirdest dream last night,” Jimin finally talked. “It’s like… I was at different place and time.”
“How was it?” Tae stared at him with interest.
“I just… I’ve watched a burning building… I mean, it was already burned. But it was not like it was burned to the bone. I mean, it was only one floor and it was raining,” Jimin licked his lips. “Then I saw a weird looking ambulance and two paramedics with old uniforms, carrying out a body…”
“Old?” His friend chuckled.
“Yeah,” Jimin shrugged. “Like they were from the 40’s or 50’s.. or something? And then I walked to them and said the person’s name and I asked to see him.”
“Him? So it was a guy?” Tae mumbled.
“Yeah,” Jimin nodded. “Then I found a note in his hand and… I took it and then… I saw something written on the paper, but I don’t remember now… Plus, then… the picture changed and I was watching myself from above. The me, from my dream, just drowned himself on his bathtub… and then I woke up.”
“Whoa!” Tae exclaimed. “That was a dream!”
“Yeah,” Jimin nodded slowly. “I wish I could remember something else though. Like… what was the guy’s name or what was written on the paper? It felt so real, as if… I was really there and that was really happening.”
“I’ve never had such a vivid dream, Chim,” his friend rubbed his chin pensively. “Maybe you should look somewhere what does it mean.”
“It means nothing,” it was just a dream. Jimin shrugged and leaned back on the sofa.
“But you said that you thought it was real?” Tae furrowed his eyebrows. “What if it was not just a dream?”
Jimin frowned. “Tae… no! We’re not going there!”
“What if has to do something with your previous life Chim?” His friend exclaimed and Jimin facepalmed himself. “You know that is a possibility, right?”
“Just because you believe in reincarnations, does not meant that I have to indulge in your fantasies. Life is simple – you’re born, you live, you die. There is nothing else, besides that, Tae. When are you going to learn?”
“Okay, that’s your doctor’s bullshit!” His friend scoffed.
They had that argument ever since they were friends. Taehyung believed that there was something beyond the life on the Earth. He believed in soulmates and life after death. He believed in such things as reincarnations and that every soul had few lives. Jimin on the other hand was down to Earth type of a guy. He was a doctor and as such, he believed in the science. He believed that every human was born to this world to live and then die. He did not think that there was a higher power above them. Therefore, he and Tae had argued numbers of times about the meaning of life. It was safe to say that nobody could win between them.
There was no such thing as a previous life and Jimin could bet on it.