Date. 08/07/2014
 

She sat down on her bed, one hand hugging her teddy bear to herself and her knees folded up to her chest. Warmth emanate from the body whose arms were wrapped around her, as if trying to protect her that way.

“We’ll be okay, don’t worry,” her sister tried to reassure her that everything was alright, but she could hear the tremble in her voice and feel the tightening of the arms around her.

Everything was silent for a moment, and that was probably why the first bang of their house’s front door, even though they were in another room, sounded so loud to them. Both of their heads turned towards the door, their eyes widening with a mixed of fear, curiosity and just generally confusion.

She felt her sister moving to get up from behind her. Instantly, she let go of the teddy and reached out to hold onto the other’s arms. Instinctively, she didn’t want to be left behind alone and it would probably be safer for her to stick to her older sister right? She was chewing on her bottom lip by now, out of habit. The two of them went to the back of the door, the elder’s ears pressed to it, trying to figure out what was the commotion behind it.

That was the last silent moment she could remember from that day.

A loud bang from the outside caused the both of them to fall backwards onto the floor. The door flung open, revealing their mother with messed up hair, tears falling down her face endlessly and blood all over her nightgown. Her mother had hurried in then closed up the door again, using her petite body frame and pushing against it while frantic poundings came from the other side.

She had no idea what was going on as she grabbed on to her mother’s leg, confusion etched all over her face. Looking at her own mother crying, she couldn’t help the sobs escaping her lips and tears welling up in her eyes even as her mother tried to hush her up.

“Grab your sister and run out through the other door, run as far as you can, and make sure you protect your little sister,” Her mother hurriedly whispered the words to her older sister and she could only vaguely make out a few more words. After two rushed kisses onto their head, she felt her sister yanking her away from her mother. Her tears were falling down faster, her screams and wails so loud she felt her sister covering up as she was carried off the ground in her arms. As she went out of the room, she could see the last faint smile of her mother and feel the grip that was so tight it was hurting.

The two girls ran as fast as they could down the hallway of the house once they were out of the back door, though she stumbled over her own feet several times and ended up causing them to slow down here and there. She could hear several footsteps behind her, getting closer and closer, as she stood up again and again at her sister’s urging. But they were just two girls.

There were voices behind them. And laughter, maniacal laughter that felt so close, like it was directly against her ears. Her sister glanced behind them with fear bright in her eyes before suddenly shoving her to the side just as she was yanked back. She landed against the wall and pain bloomed down her side as she quickly crawled towards the nearest corner of the hallway.

Fear immobilized her as she could only watch her sister’s feeble attempts in keeping the attackers away. Bites and kicks that barely seemed to cause any damage as her sister got kicked and even punched and beaten up, yet not giving up. Tears flowed down freely on her face and sobs escaped her lips, as she could only hug her knees to her chest, her eyes darting around frantically and unable to focus on anything. Her ears filled with the attacker’s mocking laughters and her sister’s cries that echoed through the house.

It was also only during then that her eyes met his. He, who looked too young to be there and barely reached the height of the men that were attacking her sister. And that widened eyes that seemed surprised at seeing her. Still scared and confused and lost, all sorts of jumbled up emotions inside of her, the boy seemed to disappear from where he was standing.

And the next moment, she could feel him taking her hands into his, pulling her up.
 

- x -
 

Minah sighed softly as her hands absentmindedly reached to her neck, caressing the pendant of her necklace as she tried to collect back her thoughts. “How long has it been,” she whispered softly to herself as a small wistful smile appeared on her lips. “Are you blaming me, I wonder,” her face scrunched up almost in pain.

Her hands moved on lazily to her stomach as more thoughts invaded her mind. “How am I supposed to tell him,” she sighed, biting on her bottom lip.

She could feel herself slipping back into her memories and thoughts, that was until she felt the two familiar arms wrapping around her waist and someone nuzzling their nose against her neck. “Hey.” And that familiar voice that never failed to soothe her yet excite her at the same time.

“Hey,” she greeted, not bothering to turn around to even look at him as she feared that there might still be remnants of tears on her cheeks or even her eyes. Pressing back against his warmth, she bit on her lip harder, trying her best to form words. She worried about his reaction because the last thing she could ever want was for him to not want her anymore. But before she could properly gather her thoughts, he was already talking.

“Sunggyu told me to inform you that he needs to go somewhere, so you’re taking over his martial arts class that he was supposed to teach in…” the voice droned off as she raised an eyebrow. Now turning her head to look at him, she gently nudged her elbow against his toned stomach.

“In?”

“10 minutes actually,” a cheeky grin spread across his face as he stood up straight this time, his hands still placed loosely on her waist.

“What?!” Her eyes widened, all fear of tears and such being seen forgotten as she instantly straightened herself up and a frown took over her face. “And you only tell me now?!”

“What?” the other was still only looking at him while grinning sheepishly.

“Yah, Nam Woohyun!” she shouted again this time, sighing heavily before pushing the guy away and hurriedly heading off towards her room to collect her gear. “If I get scolded or punished this time, I’m telling them its your fault!”

He stood there watching as she stormed off, a smile still on his lips nonetheless. “At least you’re not being sad anymore.”
 

- x -
 

Miseul had been trying to focus on the book in her hands for the last half an hour, but her thoughts refused to focus on the contents. Huffing softly to herself, she closed up the thick book (some random book that one of her classmate had offered her to read, saying it’s really nice) and threw it onto the floor beside her bed. With a loud sigh, she thrashed around her bed and kicked her blankets out of frustration.

It’s always this day of the year that got her all riled up and frustrated and just nice, her roommate whom usually acts as a distraction was out. How convenient. She frowned as she stood up from her bed and headed towards the small kitchen in their dorm room. She took out her secret stash of hot chocolate powder from a hidden area and her cup.

As she waited for the water to heat up on the small stove, she pulled out her phone and scrolled to her favorite playlist. The music soon filled up the dorm room. Music had a certain soothing quality that eased the tension out of her. Miseul placed her phone down on the counter and shimmied her way back to the stove as the water began to boil.

Her hips moved to the rhythm of the song. She poured the water into her cup, stirring while the aroma of her hot chocolate filled the room. Lifting the cup slowly, she blew on it and took a cautious sip. The combined warmth of the hot chocolate and the music playing in the background was like an orchestrated symphony that catered to relaxing her in maybe the best possible way.

The pendant on her necklace bounced lightly against her chest as she walked back to her bed. She slid in under her blankets, careful not to spill her hot chocolate. As she settled back in bed, calmer than before, her thoughts drifted back to her trainer and an upcoming mission that piqued her interest.

“Scorpia,” the name rolled off her tongue, leaving a bad taste behind. The name that had been in her thoughts. Perhaps it’s time for her to face her demons again. .