TW: Mention of non-consensual drug use, if that's how you call it.

Sorry for any mistakes. I feel like I really milked it with this chapter and if it's not appealing anymore then I'm sorry. But please enjoy!

Chapter 8: In The Absence Of Everything, I Promise To Keep You Warm

After being forced to rest for a whole day, Chaeyoung regained her strength and felt very restless. The three friends asked if they could meet with Nayeon, Sana, Jihyo and Dahyun so they can tell them the whole story. Though it made Chaeyoung even more restless that she wasn’t allowed to go out because she was desperate to see Mina already. Jeongyeon threatened her and said she'll tie her to her bed if she goes out with them, after gently wrestling Chaeyoung out of her jacket. Momo and Tzuyu promised her that they’ll update her immediately so that she could finally accept defeat and stay in her room.

The girls were quick to respond and they, including Mina, were able to meet and find out what happened to Chaeyoung.

What mattered was that Mina knows, and she’ll be protected if the guy does show up. Luckily, the fact that he was the one who gave her that drink the other time was a great clue, so Mina knew who he was exactly.

But even with the success of their first plan, Chaeyoung couldn’t help but feel the need to accomplish her next task. After a few days, she decided to sneak out from her dorm room to put her plans in action. She needed to at least thank Mincheol for his help first and then go to Mina at her apartment.

Though, she would constantly get messages from her friends asking her if she replaced her ice pack, which she irresponsibly just took one from her freezer and brought it along with her while she’s out. Knowing it was just going to melt if she keeps it with her in a plastic bag. But occasionally, she would bring up the ice pack and press it on her face during her train ride to the shop.

The bruises were still fresh, the cut on her lip had closed up but the blood clot was visible, so it really looked like she got beaten up. She tried adding band aids over the bruises and cuts, but that didn’t help at all. Before she left, she decided on the last minute to just use her cap to help cover it up. Maybe she’ll look less of a mess if she has something to temporarily hide her injuries.

Chaeyoung gets off the train the moment it reaches her stop and walks towards the shop. It was an hour before closing, so she could drop by to say her thanks and then rush to Mina’s apartment.

She opens the door to see Mincheol and Mr. Won by the counter fixing something. Mincheol looked up and was so shocked to see Chaeyoung by the door.

“Shorty? What the hell are you doing here?” He says, as his father looks up to see Chaeyoung by the door and the old man didn’t hesitate to walk over and bring her in for a big hug

“You scared me, kid.” He said in their hug. She gently hugs back and ducks her head on his shoulder. The feeling of this kind of hug made her feel emotional, as if she was hugging her dad again. “Never do that again, please.”

Chaeyoung couldn’t say anything, just nodding at his words. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she looks up to see Mincheol there, smiling at her. She breaks her hug with Mr. Won and grabs Mincheol, now hugging both father and son. “Thank you, Minchy.” She says burying her head on his chest, the tall man was hesitant to hug back but he lets out a chuckle and pats her head.

“Anything for you, Shorty.”

She breaks the hug and smiles at the two. “I really want to thank you guys. I wouldn’t know what to do if you guys hadn't protected me and called my friends for help.”

Mr. Won simply smiles back at her and pats her shoulder. “You’re part of this family, we will always look after you. “ His eyes fixated on the scattered band-aids and the cut on her lip then started walking to the back of the store. “But you should not work tonight. You can stay for tea though and maybe we can get you medicine for your injuries.

She felt like she couldn’t argue with Mr. Won’s offer, so she simply nodded and walks with Mr. Won to the back as well. She can rush to Mina’s apartment after tea.

Chaeyoung watches the old man grab the teapot from his cupboards and then pour water into a pot to heat up. He gestures her to sit on the table to wait and she obliged.

It felt nice to be with a family again, suddenly missing her mom and brother. Maybe she should have gone home, but at the same time, if she didn’t then she wouldn’t have known that there was a threat lurking around.

Chaeyoung wasn’t entirely sure if she was ready to see Mina. For one, she has nothing to prepare her. She thought that spontaneity would be on her side and wing it if she had to make a big speech about how much Mina meant to her and that Chaeyoung was ready to fight for them. But she would constantly ask herself if Mina was actually going to be there at her apartment. What was going to be her back up plan? She’s thought about calling her if she really wasn’t there or if by her misfortune, Mina took a plane to Japan, then maybe Chaeyoung could spare what’s left of her money to book herself a ticket and fly there.

At least she could already meet the parents. If she was suicidal enough, she’ll ask for their blessing. If it turns out her dad is a psychopath and salvages her body, then she can quickly send a message to her mother and Jeongyeon. Though, she keeps forgetting the most important part of it all; finding out if Mina really felt the same way. What if after all these huge gestures of love, Mina ended up rejecting her and then it will all be for naught. It was ridiculous, she was overthinking things obviously, but she at least she had a plan. Made on the last minute, that is.

Chaeyoung’s thoughts were interrupted with the aromatic tea that was placed in front of her. She says thank you quietly and takes a quick sip from the hot beverage.

“Have you talked to your Japanese girl yet?” Mr. Won suddenly asked, taking the seat in front of her.

She almost choked on her drink and swallows harshly, feeling the pain of the hot drink in . She clears it and blinks her eyes quickly. It’s like he was reading her mind. “No, not yet Mr. Won.” Chaeyoung responds, looking down at her cup.

“Well, I think you need to say something soon before it’s too late.” He simply said, taking a sip from his cup too. He looks up at her, observing her reaction.

“I know, I’m actually going to see her after this.” She confesses. “I told her I liked her before but now I want to tell her that I love her, and I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do.”

Mr. Won chuckles. “There’s always a perfect time for things. If you feel like it is, then let your heart take you there.”

Before Chaeyoung could even think of what to say, she feels a sudden vibration from her pocket. She takes out her phone and her heart almost stops when she sees who was calling her.

She answers it immediately. “Mina?” Her heart swells at the sound of her name. “What’s wrong?”

“C-Chaeyoung.” She managed to whisper; her voice was shaky. “I’m at the bar near my apartment. The guy found me and laced my drink. I’m not feeling so well.”

“Oh .” Chaeyoung immediately knew who the guy was, and she stands up abruptly, making Mr. Won worried. “Where are you? In the bathroom?” A sudden rush of regret fills her chest, knowing that she should have gone to see Mina to warn her first instead of going to the shop.

She can hear Mina’s breathing grow faster. “Yeah I’ve been here for a while, and I’m scared to go out.”

Chaeyoung couldn’t hold in the anger that was simmering inside her. She pushes her glasses on her nose and looks at Mr. Won, she couldn’t delay any longer. “Okay I’m going to you now.” She said as she quickly whispers to Mr. Won that she needed to leave because Mina needed her, he waves her off and tells her to go. “Did he touch you?”

“No.” She whispers. “Just placed his hands on my waist and all that. But I brushed it off. I didn’t like it.” Her words were getting slurred, her breathing was heavier than earlier.

Now Chaeyoung was angry. She rushes out from the back and waves at Mincheol, who was confused at why she was in such a hurry. Chaeyoung exits the store, she runs to the sidewalk and tries to catch the first cab that would stop for her. “Stay on the phone okay? I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Okay.” Her voice was getting softer by the second. “Hurry please. The Luxor Bar. First stall”

That was all Chaeyoung needed to know. She rushed inside the first available cab that pulled over, told the driver the location and to drive as fast as he could, shoving a large bill on his shoulder. Which he obliged.

Chaeyoung’s senses were sharper than before, she listened carefully to Mina’s line and made an effort to constantly talk to her in order to get her back in her senses. Roofies are hard to fight, but she was lucky enough to notice it before it was too late.
“I’m coming for you Mina.”

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As the cab pulled up in front of the bar, Chaeyoung shoved another big bill at the driver to wait for her while she fetched her friend. She quickly explained to the driver what happened, and he was more than willing to help them out and said he’ll wait at the same spot. Even telling her to flash her phone if they were outside already, she thanked him profusely and ran inside the building.

It was as if time has repeated itself again. This was like the time Mina called her when someone got her too drunk. But this was more serious, someone was there to take advantage of her and Chaeyoung needed to rescue her before it was too late.

As she rushes inside the bar, the amount of people made it difficult for Chaeyoung to navigate herself to the bathroom. This wasn’t the Pine, so she had no idea what the floor plan of the building was. After finding a waiter she asks him where the women’s restroom was and pointed towards the end of the hall. She thanked him and rushed there.

Chaeyoung stopped on her tracks when she spotted a familiar tall man standing there, it was the one who beat her up at the alley. She knows that if she showed her face in front of him, he would have recognized her in a second and would have done something to prevent Chaeyoung from getting to Mina. She had to think quickly, she needed to sneak past him, but the hall was too small for her to go through without getting noticed. An idea pops into her head, she looks for the same waiter and she explains to him what was happening, handing him a good amount of money to get him to drag the man out of the hallway so she could escape with Mina safely.

This was not looking good for her savings at this point. But she had to do this in order to get Mina safe. By now, Mina is probably passed out in the bathroom stall. Chaeyoung can only hope that she didn’t so they could still walk towards the exit.

She waits patiently behind a pillar and watches as the waiter walks to the man and attempts to usher him back into the main floor. The man looked confused and was about to argue with the waiter, the moment he raised his voice a bouncer showed up and forced him to leave the area. Maybe the waiter notified him what was happening and asked for his help. Which was smart, at least this makes things easier with the bouncer around.

The moment the man was gone, the waiter signals Chaeyoung and she ran inside the bathroom, ignoring the stares she was getting from the women inside and found the stall Mina was in. Chaeyoung realizes that she left her hat with Mr. Won, so all the injuries on her face were exposed. But she couldn’t care less about that at this point.

“Mina.” She calls gently, crouching down and felt relieved to see that she was still sitting on the toilet. “Mina, it’s Chaeyoung. Can you open the door?”

“Chaengie. You’re here.” Mina said with a breathy voice. “One sec.”

She can hear Mina struggle to unlock the door and the moment she managed to; she fell on the floor. Chaeyoung rushed to pick her up, she smelled like alcohol and cigarette smoke. Her body was slender, and she knows it’s light, but because of the substance inside her, the weight of her body was difficult for Chaeyoung to manoeuvre with. She grabs Mina’s arm and wraps it over her neck and gently pulls her to stand up. She checks her face quickly and can see that Mina was struggling to keep awake.

The women in the bathroom realized what was happening and opened the door for Chaeyoung, which she thanked before finally leaving the bathroom. The waiter and the bouncer were waiting at the end of the hall and quietl