15 | The Mortal Cup

 

 

***

 

 

"I... I thought it's only me." Yoona speaks after she hangs up on Taeyeon.

 

"What... Do you mean?" Seohyun confusedly asks looking at her girlfriend with her eyebrows rising.

 

Pulling up her sleeve to show the tattoo of Seohyun's name, Yoona confessed. "I think we're indeed the same. Ever since I turned legal age, I started to develop something a shadow hunter have and doesn't have. That fire ball my hands, that turning any downworlder into ashes if I choke them, but they are just normal for a shadow hunter. The new strength that could kill any downworlder in one punch is something new that I decided to hide it and never used it with Taeyeon's help. Reason, it might threaten the other shadow hunters. They might think I'm not one of them. Not even my father is aware of this... And I don't want any good downworlder to be afraid of me to approach us, knowing my ability. Now, to learn that you are the same as me, I think you need to hide it too. It's the best for you. It's the best for your clan and for the shadow world. Taeyeon, she can help you with this."

 

"Why is this happening, Yoona?" Seohyun worriedly responded. She took her hand and hold it tightly without breaking their gazes. It's just making it hard for them.

 

"The prophecy. We have to know more about it. I don't think this is just about immortality from the mortal cup. There's something more of this... And I feel like, it got something with our past. I mean, how are we the chosen out of all downworlder and shadow hunters? I know there's a nephilim who married a fairy back then. But there were normal." Yoona shared feeling confused.

 

"We just have to investigate then if our families can't explain it to us." Seohyun sighs as she looked down to their hands and can see their tattoos. "Taeyeon Unnie, is she back from the shadow world?"

 

"Yes, she's going to see us later. She has some news for us." Yoona said as she briefly smiled before staring down to their hands, on top of the table. But Seohyun suddenly let go of her hand when she heard her phone rings.

 

"Shshshshs." Seohyun hushed the doe-eyed upon checking the caller ID. "Father." And she mentioned before tapping the answer button. "Appa."

 

Yoona stayed quiet while she listens attentively.

 

"Yes, I'm with a friend. I'm coming home in an hour." Seohyun said when she was asked by her father.

 

[Be careful. You know shadow hunters are just around there especially at night.] Mr. Seo replied in concern.

 

"I know. I'll see you later." With that said, she hang up and turned her attention to the doe-eyed.

 

"That fast?" Yoona chuckled in amusement.

 

"Wae? You want me to talk with him more than you?"

 

"I'm just saying it was too fast. Anyway, you should hurry up and finish your veggies. I'm coming back inside the headquarters."

 

"So, you're not going-"

 

"I have to investigate more on what really happened."

 

Seohyun sighs as she pouted cutely. "At least an hour though. I want to spend the night more with you." She couldn't hold back and share her thoughts.

 

"We still have more time tomorrow. It's Saturday either way." Yoona said as a matter of fact.

 

"But we're not dating publicly, aren't we?" Seohyun reminded and look around their private room in a restaurant. "We can't even eat in an open space."

 

Yoona sighs. "Fine."

 

"Chincha?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Yay!" Seohyun clasps her hands and she hurriedly took her face mask from her bag and put it on.

 

"What are you doing?"

 

"Aren't we leaving now?"

 

"Aren't you finishing your meal first?" Yoona asks back in confusion.

 

"Aish! I just said it, come on." Getting up, Seohyun pulled her girlfriend up and the latter chuckles in amusement as they left the restaurant casually.

 

 

:::

 

 

Unlike normal couple, the two went for a walk only around a park and enjoy the night with each other's presence. Sometimes they would kiss and hug if the park will be empty. But most of the time, they will walk side by side and talk anything they like to. They end up going back to the parking lot where their car and scooter was waiting.

 

"Wait." Seohyun hold Yoona's hand just as she was about to mount on her scooter.

 

"Hmm?" Yoona just raises her eyebrows. She was surprised when the young vampire grabs her head and pulled her for a deep kiss that almost took her breath away if she didn't pull back right away.

 

"See you later." Seohyun wink as she giggles and did not wait for her response as she stepped inside her car.

 

Yoona was speechless yet felt so giddy inside as her smile is from ear to ear while she's watching the younger girl carefully drives off. She casually stepped into her scooter as well and followed her on the road. The headquarter is just nearby while her apartment will take 30 minutes of drive. Seohyun is going to her apartment to wait for her and Taeyeon while she heads to the headquarters.

 

:::

 

 

Stepping out of the lift with big smile on her face, Seohyun bowed a couple of mundane that entered the lift. She then started scanning the doors. Yoona told her the number of her apartment before separating ways with her. She stopped at the door 628 and excitedly pressed the doorbell knowing Yuri is living with her. She waited only a minute as Yuri opened it with a surprise look on her face.

 

"Omo, how'd you know this place?" Yuri just raises her voice but she had to make a way when the wolf runs towards Seohyun that instant.

 

"Oh my, Roxy?" Seohyun just automatically lowered herself and hug her old friend. "It's been a while, Roxy. How'd you get her?" She keeps rubbing his back and his head and kiss him around his face. "Aww, I miss you so much." she said when the latter her face. She giggles and kiss him some more.

 

"We found him on the road. Yoona didn't mentioned?" Ask Yuri.

 

"Yes. She didn't. Aigoo, look at you. You look so healthy." Seohyun gently shakes Roxy's head and giggles. "You're eating well?"

 

"We're feeding him well." Yuri proudly says, crossing her arms and chin up.

 

"That's good because he might eat you." Seohyun jokes, getting up and casually walked inside with Roxy.

 

Yuri scoffs and just let it slide. She closes the door and followed them to the living room. "What are you doing here, though? Where's Yoona? What happened to the mission?"

 

"It's done." Seohyun said as she looked around. "Where's Yoona's room?"

 

"The only bedroom, that." Yuri nonchalantly said pointing to the door. "Wait, so that means, my friend Jessica can..." she couldn't continue her words when Seohyun just passes on her to go straight to Yoona's bedroom. "Aigoo, let me prepare some drinks for you instead." she headed to the kitchen rather.

 

Meanwhile, Seohyun scanned the room of the doe-eyed. She can't help and remember her room on their previous dorm. They had a lot of memories including helping each other's home work. It looks different but the warm feeling is still there. She loves it. "She's still cleaning her room well." she softly said as she checks her desk and find books, she uses for studying and her note books. But what she noticed is an old diary note book she recognized. "She still uses this." And that makes her curious. She sat down on her leather chair and opened the said diary. Her lips curved into sweet smile to be welcomed by Yoona's baby picture. She still remembers how shy Yoona was when she found out her diary and she saw her picture.

 

Moving to the next page, a welcome note can be read as: If you are reading this, don't proceed if you're not me.

 

"I already read some of your entries." She chuckled even though she knew the note since then. She proceeds and keep on smiling as she re-reads the first entry of Yoona on her diary. It was during her grade school.

 

Today I woke up feeling good. Mom cooked breakfast and tutored me on my math subject. Even though we have studied last night, she still wanted me to review my notes. Hehe. She's worried though because I have my first low grades on the first exam. Me myself is worried but I know one day I can be good. I won't give up.

 

After mom dropped me to school, I was surprised because for the first time, I saw my crush as I walk in our school together with other students. Even though she's a bit far, I still feel like we are side by side. I just couldn't stop staring at her. I mean, she's really beautiful, she's smart and so friendly to everyone. I would really to be her friend too but I'm too shy to even approach her. Ahhh how I wish I could be as brave as my cousin. But I think I would never be her friend. Sigh. I'm contented like this anyway. Bae Joohyun my first crush. Hehehe.

 

"I still haven't asked her about this. Who is Bae Joohyun? I thought she only fall for one person? Or that was because it was just a crush and it doesn't consider as first love? Yeah, Crush and love are different." Seohyun chuckled as she realized she's talking to herself. She proceeds to reread more but skipped more pages until she stopped at the same date, she broke her heart.

 

I don't know what was wrong. I did all my best to protect our relationship and her. But she chooses to not trust my plans for us and broke up with me. I feel like it's the end of the world when she said we're over. I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like my love for her is not enough for us to stay in this relationship.

 

Well, I'm just a high schooler, what can I do?

 

Goodbye Seohyun.

 

I'm sorry if I failed you.

 

I'm so sorry.

 

Yoona.

 

Seohyun can't help and sigh, realizing how she really hurt the doe-eyed back then. It makes her determined however to keep their relationship secret so nothing like the last time will happen. She wanted to protect them with all her might.

 

Not planning to read the rest of the entries, she closes it and got up only to transfer to her bed and smile to see the picture frame of the Im family. "She's not living with them but she won't ever forget to put a picture of them." She casually lied down on her bed and close her eyes as her mind flashes back to their high school without erasing her wide smiles out on her face.

 

Roxy who had been watching her is glad to see her happy after all the years they never met.

 

'What's happening? Why is she here?' Yuri peek behind the door and couldn't understand the scene before her.

 

 

:::

 

 

"According to our medical team, her brain was damaged. Only a warlock can bring her to life. But of course, we can not do that anymore if she's obviously a criminal." Mr. Im explained to his daughter upon arriving in the headquarters and quickly he was asked by her about what happened. "You brought her here, dead." He added.

 

Yoona sighs as she bends down to have a close look on Shin Hye's face. There was indeed a bruise between her eyes which reminds her of Seohyun's punch on her Aunt. But looked normal to be even considered as the reason her brain was damaged. It looked like Seohyun only use her normal vampire strength. 'Why am I feeling strange about this?' She thought as she side eyed her father standing next to her.

 

"You should be going home now and rest. You've done enough." Mr. Im told his daughter.

 

Yoona straightened herself and faces her father. "I did not only come for this. I want to ask about the mortal cup."

 

"Haven't I mentioned-"

 

"That hill, it was the mortal cup that called me, wasn't it?" She interrupted her father with a serious tone and expression. "Why? I thought you said the mortal cup has nothing to do with the prophecy?"

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"You know what I mean, Appa."

 

Mr. Im shakes his head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

 

"It was you who even hurried me to leave the shadow world when you found out that hill is calling me. There's more than the mortal cup, wasn't it?" Yoona suspiciously looked at her father.

 

"You're just assuming things, Yoona."

 

"No, Taeyeon Unnie confirmed me that it was the mortal cup. Why would it call me even though things are now over? I know you haven't told me the entire truth Appa. So please, just tell me otherwise, I will be the one finding the truth." Yoona said almost yelling at her own father. She couldn't wait any longer and just want everything to be cleared with her.

 

Mr. Seo got annoyef with the way his daughter is talking to him. "You really wanted to know why the mortal cup knows you?"

 

"Yes. Please." Yoona begs one more time.

 

Mr. Im sighs heavily and he ushered his daughter to come with him. The latter followed him until they reached a room, that only few shadow hunters can enter.

 

Yoona was confused but she could see paintings including a girl that was standing with her chin up, and her eyes are red. She's holding a sword on her left and a cup on her right. Below her are downworlders, all bowing at her but so