Considering she was disabled, having no experience with long distance long-running, and navigating her way through the streets by whacking away at things in every direction, Nayeon was making sufficient time. Bustling masses of people scurried out of her way when they saw her whacking her way through metals chairs and poles. Many were bewildered with what this crazy girl was doing, not suspecting that she was blind. Out of a rush, Nayeon forgot to wear her protective sunglasses. She pretty much lost the care for any of her priorities the moment she ran out of the auditorium. Inexplicable emotions of all sorts came crashing on her. Running for a long period of time wasn't good for her joints. Soon, she arrived at the park and was out of breath.

It dawned on her that from the absence of any other voices other than the tweeting of birds or chipmunks or leaves crunching, Nayeon was the only human in the park. By the time she got her hands off her knees, she had the energy to stand up and strike more obscurities. The rough sounds of whipping in the air sent the animals running away. Nayeon inhaled deeply, cool crisp air flowing through her nostrils. It was one of the rarest autumn of her life that made her feel truly alive. She missed that feeling of not being caged in her room all day with nothing but audiobooks to keep her company. That was prior to meeting Jeongyeon; "The Dark Years," as Nayeon would label them. 

Nayeon wished that Jeongyeon could see this view and experience this sense of independency; Nayeon wanted nothing more than to be able to witness this moment and capture the memory to be locked away in the safe corners of her mind. The swishing leaves briskly performed a dance with the wind, cool air spiraling through the fields of grass that lay all around her. Temperate whispers of air passed through Nayeon's clothing without saying a word, leaving nothing but a trail of goosebumps on her arms.

Deprived of witnessing any of this, Nayeon grew infuriated. She was crossed with herself for being disadvantaged. But the sultry kiss Mother Sun gave to her child instantly elevated her mood; telling Nayeon that was understandable for her to be angry but that doesn't mean she needed eyes to be able to feel beauty around her. In that very essence in time, Nayeon released all of her pain, giving it to the sunset. Mother Sun told Nayeon that she would be just fine and that whatever she was going through, Nayeon would be able to make it work; she's always had.

When the gloaming start lowering further into the trees and Nayeon felt chillier than warm, she set foot again, smacking the dirt to lead her way. There was a particular spot she went with Jeongyeon one time where they went since Jeongyeon forced her to skip one class, just one class. Nayeon insisted that they only be gone for that one class but they ended up not going back and spending the rest of the day at the park.

Where was that again? Am I even going in the right direction? Nayeon continued to smack the ground with her walking stick, hitting away big rocks and stabbing at fallen leaves.

If the ducks were still hear then their quacking could lead me t-- She had missed only one stone that was burrowed into the ground. The giant rock caught a hold of her bed, sending her flying forward and into the pond. With a hearty squeal, Nayeon fell face first into the murky waters, alarming two swans that were peacefully taking a wade.

"Great."

Nayeon laughed scornfully at her clumsiness. 

"Just what the doctor ordered; I'm blind AND I'm gonna catch a cold. Can this day get ANY worse?"

As if the heavens have answered her sarcastic plea, her phone buzzed in her back pocket. 

"Nabugs, you have one text message from Momoring: Where r you? Sent 1 minute ago."

"I'm not gonna answer that. I just want to be alone for once." Nayeon had the aching urge to roll her eyes but couldn't. She got off her knees, hoisting herself up with her cane. Squeezing some pond water from her hair, Nayeon took her phone from her back pocket and tapped on the top screen. 

"Time is 5:54 PM. November 12, Saturday."

Nayeon sighed, tilting her head down. Taking about five minutes, she came up with an elaborate response to Momo's text. She never left anyone on read no matter what.

"Alexa, reply to Momo with: Leave me alone."

The couple arrived at Dahyun's house. Momo parked her car in her girlfriend's driveway, outside of the closed garage. She rushed out of the car and went to Dahyun's side, opening the door like the gentlewoman she was. Dahyun stole a shy glance, small tints of pink on her cheeks as she got out of the car. Momo was pleased with herself once again, closing the door behind her. She walked Dahyun to her doorstep and smiled down at her as soon as they both stopped walking.

"That should teach you to unwind a little more," Momo teased, winking at her girlfriend.

"Momooo." The pink color quickly returned to Dahyun's face, becoming flustered as she impatiently tapped her foot on the floor.

Momo fell awe at the sight of the sheepish look on Dahyun's lovely face. "I'm just kidding, my little tofu." She chuckled, pinching Dahyun's soft sheeks.

"I'm gonna go find Nayeon." Momo nudged her head over her shoudler, indicating she was going to leave soon. "She's probably not home."

"How do you know?" Curiously, Dahyun tilted her head to the side without knowing.

"I just know, buttercup." Momo had a natural cocky face to her, smirking naturally. 

Dahyun rolled her eyes, looking off to the side and then back to face Momo. "Riiight, because apparently you know everything."

"Not really. Unlike my genius and hardworking girlfwend over here." Momo couln't resist but pinch Dahyun's soft cheeks, making gooey noises at her. 

Shaking her head and swatting Momo's hand away, Dahyun started to get annoyed. "Aiish. Okii OKII." She held her hand up to her left cheek, the other arm holding her books upright. Stinging sensations made their way up to recover to pause of blood flow in her cheeks. 

"Now go inside so I know you're safe."

"Yes, ma'am. Text me if anything."

Momo hummed a response, giving Dahyun a quick goodbye kiss. She watched Dahyun walk into her house, hearing her mom say something in the distance. The two shared a smile before Dahyun lightly closed the door on her. Momo walked down the porch stairs, heading back to her car. She sat in her seat for a few minutes, sending a text to Nayeon. 

Where r you?

It was a straightforward question. Alexa would be able to pick it up quickly. Knowing Nayeon, she would reply to Momo regardless. After five minutes or so, Momo got a response back.

Leave me alone

"Well isn't that mature of her." Momo snorted. Putting down her phone, she started up her car and left Dahyun's driveway. She already had a thought of where Nayeon could possibly be. There weren't many places she had gone to that were walking distance. 

Investigating the multiple ripples of water and frustrated grunts, Momo realized that Nayeon was skipping stones by the pond. With nobody else in the entire park, she thought that Nayeon couldn't be here. She was about to turn back when she heard the sudden racket. At first, it was quiet, thinking that it was just a snap of a twig and that she was mistaken. The noise came back and continued on; more angry groans coming from within the park. Momo had to push pass several bushes to get there. The sight of Nayeon groveling over the ground trying to pick up rocks to throw caused Momo to double over and laugh.

Nayeon didn't have to second-guess who the laugh belonged to. Her ears perked up, twitching slightly. She couldn't believe how Momo was able to find her in such quick notice and without any hint of her whereabouts. Staring up at the sky, she muttered a sneering 'really?'

"What are you doing here, Momo?"

"I should be asking you the same thing, Nayeon." With a cheeky grin on her face, Momo did a funny walk on her way over to greet her friend. 

"Why are you wet?" Momo paused. "Wait. Did you fall into the water?" She tried to hold back another incoming laugh.

Nayeon sighed, dropping her head. "Is it not obvious from my wet clothes that are now slowly drying?" Motioning her hands up and down, gesturing at her soggy frame. Even if she tried to push Momo away, she wouldn't budge. Although Nayeon is stubborn, Momo's been determined to get what she wanted and that was to fix more of Jeongyeon and Nayeon's problems.

Momo released an exasperated sigh as she took her place besides a dropping Nayeon.

"Just messing with ya, kid. It's obvious; just like your feelings for Jeong." There she went dropping bombs on her again. Nayeon took another realistic blow; staring off into the distance.

Joking aside, Momo gazed at her worried friend. She didn't want to witness the aggrieved expression imprinted on her face. Nayeon looked lost with a concentrated stare that expanded beyond the tan skyline, listening to the combination of her slow heartbeat and swishing of the wind through the grass as their rhythmic footsteps joined together in a showdown. Even though utter darkness was in her vision, Mother Sun's warmth on her face remained, tickling her face as a reminder that she was present. The two shared an unspoken