Track 6. LURK by The Neighbourhood | ♩

Broken crayons still color. 

Rara stared at the sappy, motivational quote she came across on Facebook. She had just messaged Shinae and Kyung Mi, lying that the painting worked and that Baekhyun was back, telling them that Baekhyun has no recollection of what had happened but she was just glad that he was back in one piece and that she was going to return the painting to Hyerin. She found it a hassle to explain the current situation to them. She could minimize the gravity of the problem by keeping a lid on the truth. She also told Hyerin the same lie she told her best friends, and Hyerin told her to just keep the painting in her possession in the meantime, until she can return it at a time that would suit Rara, not wanting to burden her. She was just thankful that Rara ‘got’ Baekhyun back.

She thought about wishing for something more specific, like getting Baekhyun back as a whole, flaws and all, but seeing that the painting didn’t function the way she wanted it, she didn’t want to risk any more disaster. 

Sighing, she continued browsing on her phone, sitting in the front seat of her car, while the Other Baekhyun drove. It was almost 5 in the afternoon, and the twins were probably done with their activities at school. So they have to pick them up, then Rara can go to the hospital for her night shift. 

Broken crayons still color. The words rang inside her head. It was meant for damaged people; people who feel discouraged to do anything because of their imperfections. However, Rara looked at it from a different perspective. If Baekhyun was one whole crayon, say silver, like his fur, if she broke him into two pieces, the color of the crayon wouldn’t change. 

She stole a quick glance at the person behind the steering wheel. He’s still Baekhyun. She thought. But not entirely. With that kind of statement, Rara considered two things: to completely disregard the idea that the Other Baekhyun is a totally different entity from her partner, and two, despite number one, she should completely abolish all good things she thought of Baekhyun; that way, she wouldn’t be gullible and naive. God knows the adjustments and lengths she would go through just for Baekhyun, and the universe doesn’t really play fair.

Unlike a broken crayon, in which both pieces would probably still color the same, a splintered Baekhyun had one piece who did good, while the other did bad. And as told by the Other Baekhyun himself, she had, unfortunately, got the bad piece. That alone should prove the playful yet unpleasant ways of the universe. 

“Dad?! You did not just dye your hair like that!!” Rara felt all kinds of emotions as soon as Bomi reacted to Baekhyun’s supposedly sudden change in appearance, when in reality, this isn’t her father. 

“Yeah? Do you like it?” The Other Baekhyun replied excitedly. “Wanna head straight to the hair salon and dye your hair, too?” 

“Yes!!” “No!!”

Rara gave the Other Baekhyun a death glare; unfazed, he just grinned at her in amusement and continued driving. How can this guy act like an adult to the twins? Who knows what kind of things he’ll permit them to do in my absence!

“But Mum—”

“Bomi, you’re still in high school.” Rara said firmly. “And the school wouldn’t allow such wild hair colors.”

“Fine.” Bomi grumbled, slumping in the back seat.

“But doesn’t your office prohibit flashy hair colors too, Dad?” Rin asked in a suspicious undertone. 

The twins, despite their habitual arguments and differences, managed to work together. Rin’s question was like a rebuttal for Rara. However, Rara knew better—Rin was most likely dubious about why his father had suddenly changed from black to platinum silver, colors that were on the opposite ends of the spectrum.

“It does, but I think you forget that I run the office, buddy.” 

Taken aback by the Other Baekhyun’s smug reply, Rin said, “That’s abuse of power, Da—”

“Rin, it’s um, it’s a—” Think. Think. “It’s uh, a dare.” Rara said. “Your dad and I, when we reunited earlier, we, uh, bantered and resorted to having this, um, bet. Loser dyes his or her hair with a blinding color, so, um, yeah. It’s kind of um, on me.” Out of t