L waves the blue ten dollar note in front of her face, tempting the princess with the prize the beast has to offer. “We can have pizza tonight, though.”

She gives him a stern look that could scare anyone, except for him. “L, I like pizza,” he grins triumphantly and thinks he has won, “but I don’t like pizza brought from stolen money.”

He waves the blue prize in front of the princess’ face, unaware that she has so many blue prizes she wants to get rid of them. “Come on, be a little rebellious.” He is a beast (but she doesn’t know that). For now, he is just charming and mysterious L, who she and Krystal share apartments with - and he has a devastatingly charming smile on his face.

Her heart wavers. Damn. He could be a model.

Should she? (She doesn’t know it yet but her heart has already left her sleeve to be devoured by the beast cowering beneath charms and looks.)

But her eyes narrow. Her conscience does not waver. “Go put the money back,” she tells him sternly. (But the beast obeys no one, let alone a mere princess.)

When he doesn’t make a move, she shoves him in the direction of the cash register. He gives the money to Krystal (because if the beast did obey anyone, it would be the flawed beauty) so that she can count all the earnings for the day. She looks at it, then him, and gives him a discreet nod which slips through the princess’ vision.

The flawed beauty plasters a perfect smile on her face, hiding all the imperfections, as she turns towards Suzy, “Come on, Suzy, where’s your sense of adventure?” She teases as she moves towards the cash register, her imperfect hands mixing with filthy cash.

The princess doesn't say anything but there's a hint of a smile on her lips. She ignores them and keeps wiping the tables down like the pauper she is pretending to be. 

(But L and Krystal wouldn’t be L and Krystal if they put everything back where it belonged.)

“I think I like someone,” the princess confesses innocently. Krystal raises an eyebrow, asking the question the naïve Suzy saw coming: Who?

She hesitates, “…L.”

Krystal lifts a sceptical eyebrow as to say ‘Really?’, but all she says is “Go for it!”

Suzy gives her an uncertain look, communicating an unspoken message. The flawed beauty stares back at the princess, not understanding. “No, definitely not.” She laughs (really laughs).

Her laugh is flawed, yet contagious. The princess cracks a relieved smile and laughs as well.

"Don't worry," Krystal reassures her as she scrunches her nose, "L and I are not a thing." She encourages the princess to go after her Prince Charming (but he's not Prince Charming - he's a beast).

She lurks within the shadows, not wanting to be seen. All she catches are signs and glimpses - nothing more. She doesn’t see anything in its full magnificence. The only thing that she does see fully is the beast (maybe because he has already claimed her heart for himself.) He sends white wisps of stressed clouds in the air, staining the sunset with its filth and poison.

A scholar passes by him, blinded by everything he is oblivious to. Blinded by sight, he accidentally shoves the beast lightly. (But everyone knows you never shove a beast.)

L turns him around, his eyes seeking vengeance. But the scholar is blinded by everything he is oblivious to. Blinded by arrogance, he snaps back at the beast, “What?” His eyes travel up to the beast’s menacing clutch, oblivious to the blinding rage that the beast conceals.

To this, the beast gives him a punishment – a finger, a string of curse words, and a bleeding nose.

She sees it all. Suzy stands in the shadows, camouflaged before mixing herself with the black smog and angry demons. Whatthe.

L, through blurred eyes, catches wisps of black blowing in the breeze between his fingertips.

Their scenes of public displays of affection passes by unnoticed by many but to Krystal and Suzy, they notice. He promises to protect her forever. How sweet if it is a fairy tale. It is nothing but a fairy tale. Fairy tales do not end, nor start like this. For Krystal and Suzy, it is déjà vu all over again; history repeating itself.

They see this all from their restaurant - a womaniser getting the most out of his Ground Hogs Day.

To the innocent princess, she cannot imagine why anyone would want to repeat everything – only in different circumstances and to different people. The flawed beauty cannot even begin to describe her growing hatred. Her hatred grows to the point that the flawed beauty lets all her imperfections appear on the b surface (and everyone knows that no matter how flawed the beauty is, she never lets her imperfections see the light of day). 

The third time déjà vu happens again, Suzy cannot even see what is happening before it happens. Some scream, some run, one notifies justice but amidst the chaos, Suzy stands in shock. Her limps are unable to move and her mind unable to believe what she is seeing.

The flawed beauty has let her flaws bubble to the surface and take control. Her weapons clash with his. But he is easily overpowered and the beauty reigns in her new-found victory with excessive rampages because in that moment, when she lets all her defences slip between her fingertips, she unveils to the world what she has been hiding beneath a misleadingly beautiful façade.

The chaos causes the beast to rise from his slumber as he threatens to destroy the source of the disturbance. He stumbles past the innocent princess and shoves her out of the way, letting her fall to the ground with no Prince Charming to catch her. He runs to the flawed beauty (because Suzy knows that if he ever cared about anyone, it would be Krystal) with open arms. He holds her, restrains her and ties her to invisible chains – in the true nature of beasts capturing unwilling lovers. He whispers in her ears, reassuring her that everything is going to be okay when it clearly is never going to be that way.

Krystal slowly relaxes her shoulders and drops her weapons to the ground, leaning into the beast’s embrace. (She doesn’t want the beast, doesn’t love the beast, and will never need the beast but for now, all she needs is somewhere to lean on so she can wear her mask of perfection again and hide all her flaws deep down inside.)

The princess can see the evil gleam in Krystal's eyes. And no matter how hard L tries, it is still alive.

She can see it happening and for a moment, she can believe it too. The beast and the flawed beauty are draining someone and separating their soul. Their eyes are full of burning evil and smouldering vengeance. They are merciless and cruel; but she is a princess who has been trained all her life to see the beauty in everything, including them. They are imperfect with so many flaws hidden just beneath the surface.

But together, standing tall, they are one and united. They are perfect.

The princess wakes up before she sees anything more. To them, she misses the best part – the part where they separate the soul and only a shell of the skin is left. It is a bitter dream; a sweet nightmare. (But dreams are meant to come true and nightmares aren’t and she doesn’t know what to call it anymore.)

Suzy gets up out of bed, desperate to calm herself with a refreshing glass of water. On the way, she passes by the beast’s cavern. Standing by the entrance, she can make out voices: the beast and the beauty. The voices are hushed, angry, and slightly threatening with a sharp and deadly edge.

“We should tell Suzy, Krystal,” she can make out the beast’s voice because her heart makes her mind and all her other senses recognise it.

“No, she doesn’t need to find out,” Krystal whispers relentlessly. She still wants to be perfect, even if her imperfections have already reached the surface.

As they keep whispering in muttered voices coated with heat, threats and aggression, Suzy’s eyes widen when she hears the satisfying smack of flesh against flesh, bed creaking, paraphernalia falling on the floor and L begging Krystal to stop.

The princess can just imagine it all – somewhere the voices coated in heat, threats, menace and aggression turn into muted voices and words lingering on lips. The beast almost begs the flawed beauty to stop using him and not everything has to be this way. But among her many imperfections, Krystal is relentless and ignores his desperate pleas. (And as Suzy listens, her heart is being chewed by the beast’s powerful teeth, leaving her heart no mercy.)

(But is that really what happened?)

L tells Suzy about Krystal and her many imperfections. He expects her to understand. She does; only to a certain degree and only in a particular situation.

“She has a mental disorder,” she nods. She suspects that was the case, “It causes major mood swings and anger.” He tells her quietly behind the flawed beauty’s back.

Krystal still wants to be perfect, even if her imperfections have already reached the surface. 

The flawed beauty kisses the beast with all her heart, even though through casual lunches with the princess, she claims otherwise. She doesn’t want the beast, doesn’t love the beast and doesn’t need the beast. But she knows Suzy wants the beast, loves the beast and needs the beast.

(The innocent princess is usually very forgiving; but this time, she cannot find it in her already-devoured heart to forgive.)

The flawed beauty is beautiful. She has many admirers.

She rejects them all. Some give up straight away. Others are persistent. But none are persistent as luck is. The fourth time he asks, rejection is inevitable. Kai is defeated again and walks away with pity.

The princess watches the beauty bite her bottom lip – a fake act of guilt (because her eyes have that evil gleam). She calls for Kai and shyly accepts him. His smile dazzles and the gleam only becomes more dominant.

(The princess doesn’t want to know what is going on in Krystal’s mind.)

That night, the flawed beauty invites luck inside the door and Suzy doesn’t want to think about what is going to happen. She hides behind scents and tastes so she is hopefully never tainted (but she will be). The beast comes out from his hiding spot and the beauty sees him. She gives him a discreet nod which slips through Kai’s vision, but is filtered by hers. L sighs and shakes his head.

Luck gives his all to the flawed beauty, giving her an opportunity to get rid of all her imperfections. He extends his hand, letting her be perfect even if her imperfections have already reached the surface. But among her many imperfections, Krystal is stubborn and doesn’t see a good opportunity when it is presented. She destroys it without hesitation. But she cannot destroy it alone.

She utilises her hesitation, unwillingness and pleading ways to manipulate the beast to her side. For a moment, Krystal looks uncomfortable to be clasped by a of more bad luck than good. The princess is almost convinced but isn’t; the evil gleam is still present, peering through the cracks of imperfection consuming her. Suzy is not convinced; but the beast is. (And that’s all that really matters.)

The princess watches through hushed tears and choked whispers. The beast destroys Kai until he is no longer luck but simply a shell of his body. The beast has separated his soul. Luck gazes hopelessly to the princess, hoping she can save him. Suzy, no matter how innocent or how much she wishes to stay innocent, doesn’t move and doesn’t let out a cry for help. (What horrifies the princess further is the realisation that the flawed beauty has led the hideous beast out of its hiding place, beneath charms and looks, where Suzy desperately wanted him to stay.)

The flawed beauty destroys his bodily remains and lets the blade split the of luck in half – both halves never able to find one another. The princess feels her heart overflow with blood; she is tainted and scarred for life.

The flawed beauty stands back to observe her masterpiece closely. She sees her artwork displayed cruelly before her.

The blade is a power-hungry weapon, wanting more bloodshed. The beauty is too focused on her masterpiece to move. And she slowly lets the blade let the imperfections appear and bubble over the b surface. The beast tries to stop the blade, but the blade is more powerful than he is. He tries to desperately pick the pieces of the flawed beauty, including all her unwanted imperfections. He gathers them and tries to mend her. (But the pieces don’t fit anymore.)

In all the hideous, the ugliness and the imperfection they bathe in; Suzy sees the beauty in it all. They are so imperfect, but perfect together. They are so ugly, but beautiful together. They are so perfectly cruel, but beautifully cruel together. L is a beast cowering underneath charms and looks but he decides to let his true colours flare. Krystal is the flawed beauty withering, weakening and crumbling away. The beast ravished luck like it was its lucky day. The flawed beauty lets herself wither away and crumble away. The innocent princess is trying so desperately to cling onto sanity (and her heart) but they have already long left her for the beauty and imperfections that consume the beast and his beauty. They have been taken away; ripped mercilessly from her.

(After all, L and Krystal wouldn’t be L and Krystal if they put everything back where it belonged.)

The princess moves with an elegance fit for a princess. She passes history and a layer of heart-felt memories attached with nostalgia as she glides past the confines of a place she calls home – has called home. She sees everything through red-stained eyelids. She glimpses everything but cannot digest anything.

She is a princess; other people digest it for her before she does.

She leaves with every piece of herself. She takes the history, the heart-felt memories and all the nostalgia with her so that no one can take it and rip it mercilessly away from her. She also takes all the unwanted and locks it in a casket that will never be opened. She takes extra precautions to make sure that it remains unopened forever. (It manages to open, anyway.)

She waits for the seconds to tick by; for time to pick up its pace like it always does. The princess does not why she is here again. She thinks she is better than this and smarter. Why is she waiting in the beast’s liar so she can be consumed by him again?

When L decides to finally come into view, her heart almost leaps for joy. But the casket is opened and her mind urges herto run away. Run as far from the dangerous beast as fast as you can. (Her heart has already been consumed by the beast and therefore, her body will never listen to her mind. It will only listen to her heart and nothing else.)

“Will you tell anyone?” L asks her, cautiously. She shakes her head immediately. The innocent princess should tell someone, let out a cry for help. (But she doesn’t because her heart has already been consumed by the beast and slowly, her mind is following it.)

He manages a smile (and despite everything that’s happened, Suzy manages a smile as well.)

When a passer-by asks what they would like, he steers the reins. She doesn’t say a word but is impressed and surprised. In that moment, a heartstring pulls and she knows that her heart which has already been devoured by the beast has no intentions of returning back to her sleeve, where it belongs.

(Because L wouldn’t be L if he put everything back where it belonged.)

The beast is dangerous. Suzy knows this.

The beast knows where you live. Suzy knows this.

The beast could kill you. Suzy knows this.

But she doesn’t take extra precautions to make sure her haven is safe from the beast. Because she doesn’t, she is the victim of a beast trespassing into her property.

From the moment he talks to her, she knows that he is slowly wasting and crumbling away into ash (falling into the steps the flawed beauty has already carved for him to take). But he doesn’t come here for a merry chat. He comes to destroy her.

The innocent princess stares at him with wide eyes as he says something that her already-ripped heart cannot take. Her heart is fragile; it cannot endure all the obstacles the beast provided. He says four words and tears blur her vision as she chokes on blood: ‘I don’t trust you.”

(We’re friends, aren’t we? Why can’t you trust me?)

(What does it take for you to trust me then?)

She adorns white armour, the only protection she has against him. She has a shield and has wielded a sword but both are useless against his weapons and defences. He has already consumed her heart and no matter how hard she tries, she knows it will never come back. It would rather put itself through hours of endless torture, then return to the safety and comfort of her sleeve.

(“What does it take for you to trust me, then?”

“Everything, Suzy, everything." The words are left unspoken, dangling in the air between them but she knows what he means.

Then so be it.)

She waits for the beast to ravish the of luck like it was his lucky day. She waits for luck to plead to the princess to save it from the clutches of cruelty and imperfections that are slowly wrapping its invisible hands and choking it. She waits for the blade to split the of luck in half; both halves never able to find one another. She waits for her heart to overflow with blood. She waits for the flawed beauty to let the imperfections appear and bubble over the surface. She waits for the beast to pick up the pieces and try to glue them together only to realise that the pieces don’t fit – not anymore. She waits to see the beauty that shines in the ugliness and imperfections they bathe in – a beauty that catches no one else’s but her eyes alone. They are so imperfect; but perfect together. They are so ugly; but beautiful together. They are so perfectly cruel; but beautifully cruel together.

She waits; she wasn’t supposed to wait at all.

Now she knows the casket was never closed properly to begin with. This time, she will lock it forever and throw it into the ocean where no one can ever touch it.

The beast burns his eyes into her soul, taking parts of it with him as well. He always takes and never gives anything back.

(“Why did you tell?”

“Because I couldn’t live with myself otherwise.”)

He finally speaks to her and when he does, it is almost pleading. “But I love you.”

She burns her eyes into his soul, hoping that she can take parts with her as well. (But they both know she can’t do it, especially when he doesn’t have one.)

“But you always truly loved Krystal.”

His eyes narrow dangerously, just like the beast he is. For a moment, she withdraws in fear - then stops. (They both know that she’s won this round.) It is a wild guess, more educated than not. His eyes narrowing are all the confirmation she needs to know it’s true. (A dull ache resonates through her chest and she’s not so sure who the winner is anymore.)

He pretends she never spoke, "And I’m your husband.”

And she pretends he never spoke, “And I love you, too.” (In that moment, he decides to give her back all the shattered pieces of her heart.)

(L wouldn’t be L if he put everything back where it belonged. He is no longer L; he is simply Myungsoo.

Was she the redemption he needed?)

When they take him away to the ugliness and filth of caverns fit for beasts (but he’s not a beast anymore), she knows that she has locked the casket properly this time.

It manages to open, anyway – the casket. She has locked it forever and destroyed the keys but she has yet to toss it into the ocean where no one would ever be able to reach it or touch it. Someone has managed to touch it, unlock it, and tamper with it.

She likes to think that maybe it was the Devil’s fault but she knows deep down that it is all L’s fault. It is all Myungsoo’s fault. It is all the beast’s fault. (She doesn’t want to blame the beast for everything because he is no longer a beast.)

She kicks herself whenever she remembers she didn’t take extra precautions. A thorn rips through her almost-mended heart as she lets another imperfection be shown to the world – another beast growing, and running amok about the streets.