#Dubchaeng | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

judjira · 2 years ago

Text

sleepless

AN: so i may have gone a little overboard with this one, but i think thats ayt considering this is the first dahyun pov of apartment au that we get, and she's basically the main character so, enjoy !!

pairing: dahyun/everyone, mentions of najeongtzu, michaeng, samo apartment au wc: 11820

A sigh. Weary as it is, with exhaustion seeping through, it’s nothing new, unfortunately. Just the product of another late night.

The flash of the red alarm clock by her desk is enough to take her attention away from her current task.

2:47 am.

Again, nothing new. She often finds herself awake at these kinds of hours, toiling over some research paper or some case study that needs to be finished soon.

Tonight, it’s a project proposal regarding a gallery exhibit that’s aimed to target the masses through pieces on sociopolitical awareness.

Tomorrow, it’s a paper on color semantics and their effect on people when used for educational means.

And the day after that, it’s a case study that explores the exposure of a certain community near their area to visual and performance art.

Then after that…well, Dahyun doesn’t keep track of things that far ahead.

With another glance at her laptop, the blinking text cursor stares at her, almost tauntingly, as she rechecks the required word count for this paper.

2000 words. And she’s got around 1500 already done.

That merits some kind of reward, right?

With her skin itching and her teeth chewing on nothing, she puts her laptop on sleep.

Thankfully, there’s no one in her bed tonight to be disturbed. They probably all got the hint when Dahyun came home earlier in the night, alone and silent.

Her door creaks open, and the hallways of the apartment, her apartment, are only lit by the moonlight that twinkles through the windows.

Most of her tenants are nightly creatures, but in an effort to provide their landlord with the peace she needs at this hour, they refrain from making any noise. It’s something she’s grateful for, but it doesn’t really help, not when most nights she’s awake, and little can put her to sleep.

Her psych says it’s the insomnia.

Dahyun thinks it’s just the way the world works nowadays. That, and sleeping pills put a sour taste in her mouth. Literally and figuratively.

Slipping on a pair of shoes and sliding on a coat over her university hoodie and sweatpants, she steps out into the night, not really sure of where she’s headed, but hoping that the walk will be enough to take the energy out of her.

This is what happens most nights for Kim Dahyun, the Lady of the Sanctuary, as she struggles to get a good night’s rest.

And like most nights that this happens, a tenant slips out of their room, if only to wander after their wayward landlord.

Fallen (But not Alone)

Near the apartment, a few blocks away, there’s another apartment complex. It’s abandoned, with ruined rooms and decaying paint, but it’s still structurally sound.

Enough for children to wander into and play out their childhood fantasies in an urban wasteland. Enough for teens to claim a few empty rooms on their own, tagging the walls with graffiti and living it up with their friends. Enough for young adults to stay and take a breather when they need a break from it all.

Which is what Dahyun’s doing.

She’s midway up the stairs to the rooftop when she hears the ever subtle flapping of wings.

Given that there are three beings in the apartment with the capability of supernatural flight, Dahyun’s learned to tell them apart.

This one comes gently, like the falling of feathers onto skin, caring and nurturing. The sound her wings make are barely a sound, if only to let Dahyun know that she is near.

Dahyun says nothing when she hears a second pair of footsteps follow her, up until she opens the door to the roof.

Out here, in the city, the night sky is but a pale image of what it is meant to be, with the light pollution blotting out the stars in the sky, and the clouds of smog that dot the horizon.

Her hand slides into her pocket, pulling out a box of cigarettes and a lighter.

It is only then that the voice speaks.

“Think I could bum one off you?”

Dahyun doesn’t try to stifle the chuckle that leaves her throat.

“Fallen angels don’t have a predisposition to cancer?”

Jeongyeon sidles up to her, stepping next to where Dahyun’s postured herself, in front of the barrier that overlooks the edge of the building.

As always, the fallen angel has elected to dress simply. Almost like a college student, she’s wearing a simple hoodie folded up to the elbows, comfy pajama pants, and soft sandals. Her short hair rests comfortably on her neck as she smiles at Dahyun.

“Nah. Part of the whole ancient divinity kind of deal.”

Her fingers swipe a cigarette from the open box, as Dahyun flicks on the lighter. The small flame comes up to the stick in Dahyun’s mouth, as she puffs out a cloud of smoke.

With a smooth inhale, the end of Jeongyeon’s cigarette ignites on its own.

“Kind of takes the thrill out of it, doesn’t it?”

Jeongyeon shrugs.

“A little bit. But when you get to my age, there’s little thrill in anything.”

Dahyun’s eyes regard the stars, twinkling despite their distance. Jeongyeon merely follows the movement.

She was the first one Dahyun met, when she originally claimed the apartment. Jeongyeon had been there since the beginning, after all. Many of the ancient wards and glyphs that protected the building we crafted by her own hands.

It’s only been two years since then, since the deed to the apartment had been put in Dahyun’s name, since she moved to the city and found herself in charge of a supernatural sanctuary. It feels longer, like time stretched through syrup, waning and waxing slowly, almost painfully.

But thankfully, Jeongyeon’s been there through it all.

She’ll likely be there after it all too, when the apartment is passed onto another soul.

That’s years from now for Dahyun. But for Jeongyeon, it’s probably the blink of an eye.

“They called me the Angel of the Stars, y’know. Back when I was up there.”

Dahyun turns to her, flicking cigarette ash off the building.

“Well, I’m pretty sure that’s still what they call me. But back then, it meant a lot more.”

She rarely speaks of a time when her wings were as pure as the brightest day, before she had touched upon the earth, and before she had been bound to it. Dahyun listens.

“When I came into existence, I knew about them. Those countless constellations that dot the sky like holes in paper. They’re magnificent. Countless. Immeasurable. And yet, so far out of reach.”

She extends a hand to the sky, and for a moment, the clouds, the smog, the light, everything that hides the stars away from the world, vanishes.

And for a moment, Dahyun can see them all.

Glittering, sparkling, twinkling.

Light shines from even the farthest of them.

Thousands and upon thousands of stars.

All unique, no two alike.

It’s beautiful.

But it is only for a moment, and the darkness in the sky seeps back in as Jeongyeon chuckles.

“Funny that Father decided to put so much effort into such a vast universe, but decided to center his sights on this planet, no?”

Dahyun agrees.

Why this planet? Why this silly little rock in space, with the prevalent creature being a misshapen, angry, chaotic creature that laid waste to everything in sight? What was so special about humans that God decided to favor them so?

“I questioned it too, once. ‘Why them, Father?’ I asked. ‘What makes them so special?’ And as always, His answer was as cryptic as it is.”

Dahyun turns to Jeongyeon, only to see her already staring at her, a creature so small and insignificant, she could burn in Jeongyeon’s light if she willed it.

But instead, her eyes twinkled, like those faraway stars.

“See for yourself, He said. So I did. Willingly watched as my wings turned black for descending to Earth, and I watched. The Grigori, they called us. Watchers of Mankind.”

Jeongyeon’s hand dances along Dahyun’s wrist, before grasping softly.

“And He was right. There’s no one, nothing out there like you.”

She pulls it up, pressing her lips softly to the back of Dahyun’s palm. In an instant, her weary shoulders feel freer, and her body lifts with a natural energy to it, as if the restraints that shackled her down have been disposed of.

“No one out there like you, Dahyun.” Jeongyeon repeats.

Dahyun says nothing. Because she can say nothing. No words can amount to the wonder, affection, and confusion that Dahyun feels, knowing that such an ancient, divine, and powerful being has fallen at her knees and professed their most ardent of affection towards her.

Jeongyeon is the Angel of Stars, the Burning Light, Kokabiel. A being that willingly fell from heaven, if only to protect and nurture humanity from what darkness lies in the corners of the earth. Her kindness knows no bounds. Her care extends to all. Her love is unadulterated and pure. There is no other being like her in existence.

While she is just Kim Dahyun. A struggling college senior, trying to make it day by day. One amongst many. A dot in a sea of faceless names and nameless faces. What makes her so special? There is nothing unique about Kim Dahyun.

Yet, the way Jeongyeon looks at her, as if every secret known to man is inside her eyes, tells her otherwise.

And if Jeongyeon can see it somehow, maybe that just means Dahyun hasn’t looked hard enough.

Jeongyeon leans forward, and her lips press against Dahyun’s cheek ever so slowly. Her other hand caresses against Dahyun’s face, with so much care and affection.

When she moves away, Dahyun’s breath is stolen away, her lips curving into a helpless smile.

“Let’s go back home.”

Jeongyeon bows, disposing of her cigarette. Their hands don’t separate, all the way down the stairs of the building, to the apartment door.

When they arrive at the apartment, Jeongyeon pulls the sheets away, sinking into Dahyun’s bed, next to her.

They tuck each other in, fond smiles on each other’s faces.

“Good night, Dahyun. I love you.”

Dahyun’s smile twinkles, like a star.

“I love you too, Jeong.”

Wandering (But not Lost)

The park near the apartment is always open. The gates are never locked, and the guard post at the entrance is almost always void of any personnel.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not well taken care of. As far as Dahyun knows, there’s a caretaker here, who cares for the trees, the shrubs, the pathways, the grass, all to make sure that at least a corner of their community is inviting and pleasant.

It’s a small park, but in the morning and the afternoons, there are always people to find here. Active folk that jog around the paths. Elderly that stroll pleasantly amongst the flowers. Young lovers that hide away amongst the bushes.

Dahyun’s seen it all.

Tonight, it is quiet, which Dahyun is thankful for.

She begins her walk, and breathes in the nature around her.

Not too soon after, she hears the padding of paws against grass, and the soft panting of a wolf.

It is distinct to her, how every treading of paws is quiet, how every pant is subtle, how every movement is stealthed.

As if she does not want to be perceived.

Regardless, Dahyun’s hand outstretches next to her, and it’s only a few moments before fur tickles her palm.

��Hi, Momoring.”

There’s a small yip of acknowledgment from the black wolf.

In this form, Momo’s back reaches Dahyun’s chest, and if she cranes her neck upwards, she can lick Dahyun’s face with ease. With a sleek, yet long and muscular body, Dahyun could easily ride Momo’s back. Not that Momo would want her to.

“Couldn’t sleep?”

Momo snorts, nudging her snout into Dahyun’s stomach.

“Hah…yeah, a little hypocritical of me.”

Her head tilts, looking up into Dahyun’s eyes.

“It’s the usual. I don’t…”

Dahyun pauses, and sighs.

“…I don’t wanna take the sleeping pills.”

There’s a quiet moment of understanding, where Momo acquiesces and continues to tread alongside her.

Momo has never rejected her. Not once. Through Dahyun’s worst moments since she’s started taking care of the apartment, Momo’s always just been at her side. Quiet, unmoving, but a comfort to behold.

She’s been like that since before Dahyun’s moved in.

“Momoring?”

Momo tilts her head to look back up at Dahyun.

“Can I hold your hand?”

If it were anyone else, Momo would whine quietly, tuck her tail between her legs, refuse by padding away.

But Dahyun rarely asks anything of her.

Momo pauses, only briefly, before her body begins to shift.

The transformation looks and sounds painful. Bones crack to reform, skin stretches and rips to reshape, organs shift and shrink to resize. It’s a gruesome process, one that shouldn’t be witnessed, but it happens in less than five seconds.

In five seconds, Momo stands before Dahyun, her human form still taller than Dahyun’s by a good few inches, messy and ruffled black hair down to her shoulders with bangs that almost cover her eyes. She’s always dressed the same when she shifts, a simple grey tanktop and black shorts. Scars litter her body, rippling whenever she flexes her muscles.

With gleaming silver eyes, Momo takes Dahyun’s hand.

“Is…is this okay?”

Her voice is never hoarse of lack of use, but it is always soft, barely heard over the din of the modern world.

But Dahyun makes the extra effort to hear it.

“Yeah. This is okay.”

A small smile comes to Momo’s face as her fingers swipe across Dahyun’s palm, as if trying to memorize the lines and calluses.

Together, they walk.

Momo keeps many of her lupine tendencies in human form, Dahyun’s realized. Her ears twitch at the slightest of sounds. Her nose perks up at any whisper of a scent. Her eyes track and follow any movement that comes across her attention.

With nothing else to focus on, and nothing else she’d rather focus on, Dahyun looks at Momo, the second longest staying resident of the Sanctuary.

“What was it like?”

Momo’s ear twitches in response, and her eyes turn to Dahyun’s, waiting for elaboration.

“Back then. Before…before everything.”

Momo has always been quiet. Never one to share, never one to open. Of the past two years, Dahyun has only ever learned of one thing from Momo’s past.

Before everything, before the Sanctuary, Momo had no name. She was simple referred to as Lupa, the she-wolf.

“It’s hard…to talk about.”

Momo strains. Her voice, already quiet, drops a decibel lower, barely able to be heard.

“I don’t want to force you.” Dahyun whispers back, as if trying to emulate her tenant. “You can tell me only if you want to.”

Momo’s eyes dart across the park, as if she’s seeing ghosts, shadows, trembles of a time long past, a time that has never been mentioned.

Dahyun is curious. But she would never let that get in the way of Momo’s pain.

“…before, I had a pack.”

She struggles to remember. Not because her memory has failed her, but because she has actively tried to forget.

“Two of them…I had two…pups. Then, they had pups. Many.”

They’ve long since stopped walking. They stand now on the tallest hill in the park, overlooking the rest of its green splendor basked in moonlight.

“Then…”

Flickers of a flame spark in Momo’s eyes, as if seeing something she shouldn’t be seeing. Not again.

“I lost them. All of them.”

With those simple words, uttered so quietly even the wind seemed to yell louder, Dahyun understands.

“I…left. And I—I searched. For something. Anything.”

In Dahyun’s eyes, Momo is still searching. Her eyes dart across the horizon constantly, and her body is always at unease, ready to move at the slightest hint of anything unsavory.

“Then you found Jeongyeon.”

Dahyun finishes, and it takes a moment of stunning silence before Momo nods.

There is more to it. But Dahyun has pushed enough tonight.

“Thank you, Momo.”

Momo doesn’t respond, but Dahyun isn’t expecting her to. She’s already gotten so much from her already, it wouldn’t be right to ask for more. Not when it caused her so much pain.

There are many things that Dahyun doesn’t know about Momo.

But the one thing that she does know is that Momo is her tenant.

And that means she needs to be protected.

Dahyun squeezes her hand.

“Home?”

Momo only nods.

They walk back, treading quietly through the park, back the way they came. Above them, the silvery moon hangs precariously in the sky, motes of light only barely managing to reach them amidst the clouds of the city.

When they get to the gate, Momo stops.

Dahyun turns back to look at her.

Behind Momo, the moon glows almost impossibly, casting a highlight to Momo’s form, making her presence much more ethereal, yet still as silent and as calm as the werewolf usually is.

“I am…okay now.”

The smile that barely protrudes on Momo’s face is telling, and Dahyun can’t help but smile back.

Momo’s hand travels from her side, haltingly, up to Dahyun’s face. Her fingers, scarred and callused, tread so gently across her skin, and Dahyun leans into the touch.

“…mi vita.”

She pulls forward, and Dahyun closes her eyes.

Lips press against her forehead, soft and radiant, like moonlight spilling out against a surface.

When Momo pulls away, it is with the utmost care and reverence, one that Dahyun is honored to receive and return in kind.

“Let’s get some sleep.”

That night, when Dahyun curls into her bed, arms scoop around her middle as a warm, human, body presses against her, the soft rumblings of a she-wolf lulling her to slumber.

Scarred (but not Wounded)

There is a canal that travels near the apartment. The water isn’t dirty by any means, but it would be inadvisable to drink it. By the sides of it are raised narrow walkways, allowing one to peer down into the canal that leads further down the borough.

It’s a shortcut that Dahyun passes through on the regular, on the way to school. It leads directly to a street that has an entrance to the subway system, so Dahyun usually ends up passing through either on the way to school or going back home.

She’s even almost fallen into the canal a few times, too sleepy to even walk properly.

That’s not the case now, as she gently treads on the walkway, no railings to guide her step, only the back walls of the building that close in on this little canal.

Sleep evades her, and for good reason. She’s been struggling with it, as of late. Mustering the energy to get up and work has been quite the feat, if only because of the extra work she’s had to put in because of college.

Now, no matter how much sleep she gets, she always wakes up tired and ready to go back to dreamland.

“My Lady?”

Effortless in her stealth, and perhaps one of two people in the apartment that is able to sneak up on Dahyun, the voice that comes from behind is regal in its chime, noble in its tone.

“Hiya, Satang.”

When she turns around, Sana curtsies, lifting the ends of her dress to announce her arrival. Her dress, more of a nightgown really, is laced with frills, crimson red highlights against a black fabric. Her hair is brushed immaculately, only serving to shine the gorgeous features of this creature of the night.

“It is beyond the hour of rest, my Lady. You should be in bed.”

Sana’s voice, ever so prim and proper, still manages to show the utmost of concern for Dahyun’s wellbeing.

“I know. I just can’t sleep. And the sleeping pills don’t help. I mean, I do fall asleep, but…”

Dahyun closes her eyes, and all she can recall are the flashes of lightning and thunder.

“…I get really bad dreams when I do.”

In an instant a hand is on hers. Grasping tenderly with a feather-like touch. Dahyun barely would have noticed it if she wasn’t so attuned to the care Sana placed into every touch of their skin.

“Then, my Lady, would it be too much to to ask you if I may accompany you on your stroll?”

Dahyun clenches on Sana’s hand, feeling the slight jump in Sana’s skin when she does.

“You don’t need to ask, Satang. It’s never too much from you.”

Sana hesitates, for just the slightest of moments. Then she inclines her head.

“Then I shall trouble you for tonight with my company.”

Dahyun has to chuckle at the stiff formality that always accompanies Sana’s speech.

It’s no surprise, considering it was how people spoke during Sana’s time. And as someone who used to be a noble of that time, a Countess, Sana’s probably never let go of the habit. Not that Dahyun would want her to. It’s one of her endearing traits.

“May I ask, my Lady?”

With Sana’s hand so daintily grasping hers, Dahyun turns to the vampire as they stroll down the canal’s walkways, with Sana on the side by the edge.

“What’s up?”

“What…troubles you in these dreams?”

Dahyun winces at the recollection. They are no ordinary dreams. They’re dreams that don’t make sense, don’t fit in with her current perception of the world.

“It’s different, a lot of the time. But…I always end up dying, somehow.”

It is then that Sana freezes, and with her skin already cool to the touch, it only chills Dahyun more when Sana looks, almost hauntingly at her.

“Your dreams…deal in death, my Lady?”

When Dahyun nods, Sana exhales a shaky sigh, and her grip on Dahyun’s hand loosens just the slightest bit.

“Different kinds. Sometimes, it’s a…a stab wound, or something. Sometimes, I’m burning. Sometimes, I’m poisoned. Other times, I’m…”

Dahyun kicks a pebble into the canal.

“…drowning.”

Sana stops in her tracks.

“Drowning?”

Dahyun doesn’t realize her breaths are just as shaky as Sana’s until she sighs.

“Yeah.”

When she looks up, Sana is staring, silently, into the canal.

“Are you okay?”

Sana immediately shakes her head.

“No, my Lady, I believe it is I that should be asking you that question.”

The one thing that Dahyun doesn’t like to do when it comes to her tenants is to assign stereotypes. But when it comes to Sana , one thing is for certain.

Just like the myths of the old vampires, Sana is absolutely terrified of treading into running water.

“It is…not a fate I would wish upon anyone.”

Dahyun comes to the conclusion immediately.

“You mean you…”

The silence that follows is deafening.

Sana exhales once more, eyes and fingers trembling at the gentle current that runs through the canal.

Dahyun had barely heard of Sana’s past life, before the apartment, but what she did know is that before everything, Sana had died. The life had left her body as cold as it was now.

As for how many times she died, that was another story entirely.

“It was terrifying, my Lady. The water would not stop running, and the current of the river was too strong for my body to resist. I could only be taken by the flow.”

Sana lets go of Dahyun’s hands, and she takes a slow, hesitant step towards the edge of the path, towards the canal.

“They had…they had tied weights to my ankles and wrists. Light enough to not sink me down to the bottom, but…heavy enough that I could not resurface. Iron shackles that…that tore at my skin. Blessed, I believe.”

Sana hugs her arms close to her chest, and despite all of her strength, her power, her impossible constitution, Dahyun can see nothing but a lost, scared young woman.

“I…I do not know how many times I…I passed in that river. Only that every time I awoke, the water would fill my lungs once more, and my end would come even quicker than before.”

Dahyun immediately rushes by Sana’s side, grasping her hand. The pain that suffuses Sana’s being almost courses through the connection of their skin.

“Sana, I…that’s awful.”

Perhaps, if Sana were younger, there would be tears at the recollection of such a brutal memory. But now, hardened by age and time, she can only smile wearily.

“What has happened to me has happened already. There is no turning back time and going back to such a dreadful memory. I can only be glad that I am where I am now.”

Sana turns to her, and in her eyes, Dahyun can see a fraction of that noblewoman who once stood before, before the horrifying fate she was forced to endure.

They called her Countess Carmilla, the first Vampire. But for such an honorable name, the things she had gone through because of it were close to inhumane.

And yet, despite it all, Sana smiles.

“I can only hope that by being by your side, your pain is relieved, my Lady. That you do not even dare to dream of the pain that I have gone through.”

Dahyun has to marvel at how a vampire, who by all rights is stronger, smarter, and more powerful than any other human, bows to her, her adoration for her Lady far exceeding that of anything she’s ever experienced.

“I can only hope my presence is enough for your weariness to subside.”

Dahyun brings her hands up to Sana’s cheeks, caressing them with a vivid disbelief that despite everything that has been done to her, Sana would still willingly choose to live amongst humans, if only to be with the one that she loved.

“It’s enough, Sana. More than enough.”

Sana faintly smiles, hand reaching up to hold Dahyun’s by her cheek.

“I am glad. It is all I can offer.”

“And it’s all I’m going to ask of you.”

Sana leans in, closing her eyes and pressing her lips against Dahyun’s.

Despite the chill of her skin, Dahyun has never felt so warm being in another’s presence like this. And when she pulls away, Dahyun almost chases after that warmth, the warmth that only Sana can provide.

“Shall we retire to our abode?”

Dahyun sighs, before nodding.

In one fell swoop, Sana’s arms scoop Dahyun up, the Lady of the Sanctuary letting out a small shriek of surprise as her hands hook around Sana’s neck.

“Sana! What’re you—”

“Hush, my Lady. Rest your body. I shall lay you to bed.”

Dahyun grumbles, but only for a little bit. It’s not too bad, being pampered by a vampire.

So, as she closes her eyes, she can distantly hear Sana humming a soft tune, one that sings of love and all of its hardships. And then, a soft whisper by the edge of her ear.

“My heart beats for you, my Lady.”

She goes to sleep dreamless.

Invisible (But not Forgotten)

The streets of the neighborhood Dahyun lives in are quite narrow. In the middle of the city, it’s in a nebulous area that’s urbanized enough to be quite populated and crowded, but not quite developed enough to be too heavily gentrified.

As a consequence of that, the buildings that surround the streets are only one to two storeys tall, a mix of apartment buildings and home businesses and restaurants that give the neighborhood a fairly simple feel, like an escape from the modern world while not treading too far from the conveniences of today.

It’s quiet as she walks along the roadside, air still faintly humid from this morning’s rainfall. There are still raindrops that coat the windows of cars parked on the curb, the faint smell of petrichor that lingers in the air, and the puddles that verge on every pothole in the road.

Dahyun stops in front of one such puddle on the sidewalk, a pricking feeling in her neck that raises a suspicion in her.

Her suspicion is confirmed when she catches a glimpse of a pure white dress, stained crimson, in the reflection of the puddle.

“Have you been following me this whole time, Minari?” Dahyun chuckles.

Mina only smiles, a beautiful one, as she walks closer to Dahyun in the reflection.

“You are not quite as sneaky as you believe you are, Lady Dahyun.”

When the apparition speaks, Dahyun can hear her voice, disembodied and echoey, from next to her ear. She turns, on pure habit, to greet her properly, only to see nothing there.

Still, she knows that Mina is with her. And that is enough for her.

“Walk with me?”

Dahyun glances back to the puddle, in time to see Mina bow her head.

“There is nothing I’d rather occupy my time with, Lady Dahyun.”

And with that, Dahyun continues walking forward.

It is an odd request, to ask a ghost to walk with you. Especially considering you wouldn’t be able to perceive their presence, beyond that of a cold chill down your spine and goosebumps rising on your skin.

But it is Mina, and Mina is always there, even if it doesn’t seem like it.

Dahyun catches glimpses of her as she walks down the street. In the mirrors of parked cars, the glass of building windows, the shine of metal streetlamps. It’s a great comfort to her, to know that she is not alone.

“Today seemed difficult, Lady Dahyun. You were working more than usual.”

It’s the truth. Today was definitely more tiring than most, and Dahyun would be lying if she said it didn’t weigh her down especially today.

“Tell me about it. Barely knew what I was doing today.”

Mina, in the reflection of a bicycle’s side mirror, tilts her head in confusion.

“How so?”

How? Can Dahyun really explain that in a way that someone else will understand? Still, it’s Mina, and she tries.

“It’s like…okay, imagine your mind has a lot of buttons and levers all over the walls.”

Mina nods, following along through the gleam of a bookstore window.

“Aaaand, each button or lever is a certain thing you need to do. Like, one button is you gotta take a proper shower, or another is you have to head to school to go to class, or…you gotta remember to pull on a lever to actually be able to physically socialize with someone.”

They come across a street crossing, and Dahyun unconsciously holds her hand out for Mina, even though there are no cars at this time of night, and Mina can’t even hold her hand properly.

When Dahyun feels a cold chill around her hand, only then does she cross the street.

“But sometimes, you don’t have the energy for all the buttons and switches and levers. Sometimes you can’t reach the buttons that have to do with work. Or, you forget to pull on the levers that are for eating meals. Or, you can’t find the switches that are for talking to the people you love.”

They reach the other end of the street, and Dahyun sighs, clenching her hand around nothing. The cold feeling intensifies, and she’s reminded she’s not alone.

“And then, there are those days you can’t. The buttons are stuck and won’t go down. The levers are too heavy to pull. The switches don’t do anything.”

She stops, in front of a car’s window, where Mina is standing next to her, hand enclasped around hers and eyes staring intently into her own.

“It’s…it’s like that.”

There’s a moment of silence, a moment where Dahyun is afraid she’s word-vomited too much and Mina doesn’t understand.

“Then…how was today, Lady Dahyun?”

A brief recollection of the day’s events has Dahyun scratching her head.

“Well, it was okay? The buttons and stuff…I could push them and switch them, but it took lots of energy to do. Enough that I was so absorbed in the fact of pushing the button down that I forgot to understand what it was I was pressing.”

It’s then that she realizes that what she’s saying makes absolutely no sense.

“Sorry, this is stupid. Probably makes no sense to you.”

Mina only smiles in the car window.

“It is not what it does for me that matters, Lady Dahyun. If explaining it in such a way that makes sense to you relieves some of the pressure that you experience, I would willingly listen.”

Dahyun’s side gets colder, as Mina steps closer to her, gently hooking her arm through hers.

“Even if I do not completely understand it.”

A chuckle leaves Dahyun’s lips, gratitude rising through her smile.

When she first moved into the apartment, the thought of living with a ghost, unseen unless caught in reflections, she was initially conscious of her surroundings, maybe a tad bit frightened.

But now, she can’t imagine the apartment without her.

“And if ever it should bother you that you may be burdening me with your words, there is nothing to be worried about, Lady Dahyun. I love hearing your voice.”

Mina is quiet. Not because she chooses to be, but because there is much she does not understand, and thus, not much to say.

Of all the tenants of the apartment, Mina is the only one that has no memory of her past.

Mina is Mina. That is all Dahyun, and the other tenants, are sure of.

“It…means a lot to me, Mina. Thank you.”

In the reflection, Mina’s gentle hand reaches out to tuck Dahyun’s hair back. It looks as if the air is moving her hair on its own, but Dahyun can only giggle.

Mina smiles, and presses her lips behind Dahyun’s ear.

It’s cold to the senses, but warm to the heart.

“I shall always listen to you, Lady Dahyun.”

With those words that are barely a whisper, Dahyun sighs, and with her sigh, expels a great amount of weight on her shoulders.

“Let’s go home, then. My legs are tired.”

Dahyun walks the rest of the way home, a lone girl strolling across the streets, with naught but a cold wind blowing after her.

Heavenly (But not Distant)

“Here’s your change.”

Dahyun forces a smile to the clerk behind the counter, probably an overworked and underpaid college student like her, judging by the youthful looks that are marred by eyebags and a grimace.

The bells of the convenience store jingle as she leaves. Outside, the more awake part of her neighborhood bustles, as quietly as it can. The main road crosses through here, and as such, the surrounding street’s littered with a number of 24/7 establishments that never cease to be awake.

Neon lights and brightly lit signs coat the surroundings, even though a car only comes passing through every few minutes. People that cross through here at this time, if they even do, are brisk and focused on their own business.

Despite everything, it’s still quiet, relatively.

She sits down on the curb, thankfully dry and clean, relatively.

As she’s opening a bag of chips, she hears the flapping of wings.

These wings are loud, uncaring of any passersby, and magnificent in their tone, like the thundering of an eagle’s feathers.

“Kim Dahyun.”

The accompanied voice is equally as magnificent.

Dahyun sighs, with exasperation, anticipating the lecture she’s about to receive.

“Hi, Tzu.”

“You are meant to be slumbering at this time.”

Dahyun turns, and there she is, Tzuyu, in all her glory.

A tight and high ponytail secures her long brown hair, her hardened features only enhancing her stoic beauty. As always, she’s dressed like an office worker, with a neat white button down, paired with a black tie, blazer, and pencil skirt. It doesn’t help that the already tall angel is wearing office heels that add a few centimeters.

“I know, I know.”

“That is not a healthy source of substance.”

The attention is directed to the bag of chips in Dahyun’s lap, as well as the bottle of soda next to her.

“…no, no, it’s not.”

“I shall dispose of them immediately.”

“Hold on—”

Before Dahyun can say anything, a blinding light surrounds her snack and her drink, and with a snapping noise that pops her ears, they vanish.

“…great,” Dahyun grumbles. “There goes my money.”

Tzuyu can only blink at the perceived negativity in her tone.

“You are…upset?”

“…y’know what? Yeah, Tzuyu. I am upset.”

Dahyun sees no reason to hide it. Not that she has to. Unfortunately as an angel of the heavens, Tzuyu has no concept of human grievances.

“It is dangerous, Kim Dahyun. If you ingest enough of this type of sustenance, then—”

That only makes Dahyun snap.

“I know, Tzu! I know! I know it’s unhealthy, that’s why I bought it! So that I can sit down, ignore all my problems, and stew in my own misery! So, can you get off my fucking back for once!?”

Dahyun breathes, heavily, as she recollects her breath. She only realizes then that she’s raised her voice, quickly glancing at Tzuyu.

The angel’s eyes are wide, taken aback, mouth slightly open, and she’s taken a step back.

“…God, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—fuck…”

Resisting the urge to scream, Dahyun simply curses to herself.

“…I…I apologize.”

Tzuyu looks like a kicked puppy, standing the way she does, head bowed down, and lip quivering. It only punches Dahyun in the gut with a load of guilt.

“No, I…ugh, it’s my fault. I’m sorry, Tzu, I didn’t mean to yell.”

How stupid of her to let loose at Tzuyu, of all people, the one tenant in her apartment that’s more akin to a child than anyone else.

“Can you sit down with me, sweetie?”

Extending an olive branch, Dahyun pats the curb next to her, voice low and soothing.

When she does, she realizes that the bag of chips and the soda have silently appeared back where they used to be. It only makes Dahyun feel guiltier.

Tzuyu hesitates for a moment, a moment that makes Dahyun falter, but eventually she carefully sits down next to Dahyun.

The angel’s staring straight at her, wide, confused eyes that pinch at Dahyun’s heart. Eventually, she can’t take it, and turns her attention back to the snack.

“I was…not aware this was something humans did.”

“…no, it’s…well, maybe other people do it. I know I do it a lot."

Tzuyu tilts her head questioningly.

“You are miserable often?”

The innocent tone of Tzuyu’s voice makes Dahyun stop herself in her tracks. Really, of all people to let know about her anxieties, it had to be the one that didn’t understand the plight of existence.

“I…”

In that moment, she decides not to lie to Tzuyu.

“…yeah, I am, Tzuyu. I’m a pretty miserable person.”

“Why?”

She huffs a sigh.

“Why am I miserable? Geez, that’s a hard question to answer.”

There’s a way that Tzuyu’s questions are posed, so gently innocent and curious, that opens Dahyun up, and makes her want to actually tell the angel about her woes.

“You are the subject of many people’s affections. Your work is produced aptly and satisfactorily. You are not subjected to any sort of poverty. How are you miserable?”

Although, she shouldn’t be surprised. As far as Dahyun remembers, this is Tzuyu’s first time back on earth after centuries of staying in Heaven. Perhaps her definition of what a guardian angel is is a little outdated.

“Well…sometimes, I just am, Tzu. Like, my brain doesn’t work the way I want it to, sometimes. I get really sad all of a sudden. Or, I get really angry. And then it’s hard for me to do things properly. I don’t like that.”

Dahyun sighs. Who knew she’d have to spend her night explaining depression to a cosmic being that could snap her out of existence?

“Yeah, I know I have all of these things. And don’t get me wrong, I love all of that. I love all of you. Which is why I get frustrated when I’m sad, because there’s no reason for me to be sad. I just am.”

Tzuyu stays silent for a moment. A long moment, where Dahyun fears she’s overloaded the angel’s brain.

“So…eating unhealthy food relieves this misery?”

That’s a funny way of putting it, though not entirely untrue.

“Kind of? It’s more of…indulging myself in something I like relieves my mind. Keeps me calmer and stuff.”

Tzuyu nods in understanding, somehow.

“I understand. Then is there anything I would be able to assist you in indulging that would keep you calm?”

Of course. Even though Dahyun is in the worst mood tonight, and she just shouted at her, Tzuyu still has her at the top of her priorities.

When Tzuyu first descended from Heaven itself to declare herself as Dahyun’s guardian angel, she could scarcely believe it. She still remembers how it happened, too.

The ceiling of her apartment had broken in a burst of divine light, and Tzuyu, in her true form, had revealed herself, speaking in tongues that she couldn’t understand.

After yelling and cursing, she had finally reverted to a mortal form, and spoke a language she understood.

Barachiel, she said her name was. The Archangel of Blessings, and the Chief of Guardian Angels herself. Come to protect little ol’ Dahyun, who hurt herself on a daily basis tripping on nothing.

Recalling the memory, Dahyun only smiles.

“…you can indulge me with your presence, Tzu.”

Tzuyu blinks, and it looks as if she’s unaware that that’s an option.

“But you said you needed to indulge in something you like."

“Yeah, and I like you, dummy. Come here.”

Thankfully, Tzuyu obediently scootches closer to Dahyun, like a meek lamb. Dahyun intertwines her fingers with the angel.

“I’m sorry for yelling at you, sweetie.”

Getting mad at Tzuyu is like yelling at a puppy, Dahyun’s realized, and she’d never want to do it again.

“No. I must take accountability for my mistakes. I was unaware of your needs and did not take your emotions into account. Your anger is justified.”

Dahyun sighs, leaning her head onto Tzuyu’s shoulder.

“That’s okay. You didn’t know. You were only worried about me.”

“Yes, but still—”

“Tzu, we’re going to be here all night if we keep apologizing to each other. Let’s just enjoy the quiet, okay?”

“…”

Dahyun hums, taking a chip out of the bag and chewing on it slowly.

Having a guardian angel was definitely not on her list of things she thought she’d be doing, but it’s happened, and she’s blessed that of all the angels in Heaven, it was Tzuyu that came down to her.

Another hand closes on top of hers.

“I…care about you very much, Kim Dahyun.”

Tzuyu’s voice is soft, almost as if she’s afraid of Heaven itself hearing it. She strokes Dahyun’s fingers, so gentle and fond, and Dahyun’s heart bursts with emotion.

“I care about you too, Tzu.”

The rest of the night is spent in silence on the curb, city lights illuminating the streets that surround the pair.

The next morning, Dahyun wakes up to a numerous amount of bags in her room, all containing the same chips she ate the night before.

Guilty (But not Irredeemable)

In the neighborhood Dahyun lives in, there is a church.

It’s honestly more of a chapel, really. Small and quaint and quite old, as far as Dahyun knows, there’s no designated minister or clergy that serves in the chapel. In fact, it’s pretty much abandoned, were it not for the few people that pass by every Sunday to pay their respects.

Dahyun herself isn’t religious. Which is a little ironic, because about two years ago, she just confirmed the existence of Heaven, Hell, God, and just about every other religion that existed. A little odd how they managed to coexist, but she doesn’t think too much about it.

Still, the chapel serves as a quiet and calm place to gather her thoughts and calm herself down.

When she enters, the only sources of light are a dull flickering lightbulb by the ceiling, and more than a few candles that are lit against the stone walls of the chapel.

Dahyun takes a seat, admiring the simple carving of Mother Mary into one of the recessions in the wall. Behind the simple altar, a plain wooden cross hangs from the wall.

At least here, she can get some semblance of peace.

Until she hears the flapping of wings. Batlike and eerie, echoing in the small chapel.

“Gotta hand it to you, babe. You pick the weirdest places to hang out.”

Suddenly an arm is around her shoulder, like an obnoxious boyfriend at the movies.

Dahyun rolls her eyes, but still curls up into the arm of the devil.

“Got tired of waiting around the apartment, Nayeonnie?”

Nayeon, the devil herself (or one of them, at least), shrugs. She’s always had a rather odd sense of fashion, with a loose grey sleeveless shirt, and black sweatpants that look comfy and casual. Her blonde hair’s loosely tied into a low ponytail, but strands of her bangs still get in the way of her face, of which the lower half is covered by a face mask.

“Jeong told us to give it a few hours, but I got impatient.”

“Of course, you did.”

Dahyun chuckles. It comes as no surprise to her that the tenants are worried about her. Hell, no matter what she does, they’ll be worried. A warmth in her chest rises when she thinks about them, and she smiles.

“So, what’s up? Why’re you in this arguably tasteless place?”

“I should be asking you that. How are you in here without getting hurt?”

“Babe, look at the state of this place. You really think someone’s in here maintaining the wards?”

Dahyun takes a look around. The pews are dusty, the floor is cracked, and the walls are barely keeping out the nighttime chill.

“Fair point.”

Nayeon only hums, not commenting on the fact that Dahyun’s avoiding the question, much to Dahyun’s gratitude.

“If you were to go back to the start of your day today, would you do anything differently?”

The question makes Dahyun blink. And think. Her day today was rather…uneventful, if you could call it that.

“Uh…I dunno. I didn’t…make any big decisions or anything, so I guess I’d do it the same way.”

Nayeon rolls her eyes, leaning back onto the pew.

“Really. Not a single thing you’d do differently?”

There’s a certain lackadaisical energy that Nayeon carries herself with, one that somehow makes Dahyun relax and feel more at home with herself. It’s comforting having Nayeon around, if she’s not too busy bickering with the two angels that also inhabit the apartment.

“Well, there’s no point in thinking about what you’d do differently when the day is over. I mean, it’s already over. What’re you gonna do?”

Nayeon’s body rumbles with a laugh.

“That’s true.”

Then she quiets down, eerily so.

“…yeah, that’s true.”

A brief moment of silence before she talks again.

“Fuck, I’m really bad at this whole comforting thing.”

Dahyun eyes her questioningly.

“Ugh, Jeong just mentioned you had a hard day, and I thought…well, maybe I can, y’know, comfort you or something, make you feel better. I don’t do anything around the apartment, so I might as well do this, right?”

At that, amusement rises to Dahyun’s cheeks as Nayeon turns her head away, clearly embarrassed. When their eyes meet, Nayeon scowls.

“Don’t give me that.” She warns. But Dahyun is too amused.

“Big bad devil worried about lil ol’ me?”

Red fills Nayeon’s cheeks at the tease as her scowl deepens.

“Knock it off. You’re lucky I’m even here.”

Dahyun understands the words as Nayeon doesn’t say them. She’s always been one of the most concerned about Dahyun’s wellbeing, even if she had trouble showing it. And Dahyun didn’t want to shame her for her shows of vulnerability.

Biting her tongue to stop herself from teasing further, Dahyun simply leans in closer.

“Yeah, I’m very lucky. Thank you, Nayeonnie.”

If possible, Nayeon’s face gets warmer.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

Despite the callous tone to her voice, Nayeon leans in as well, closing her arms further around Dahyun and leaning her head on hers.

“Y’know…” Nayeon starts. “I could…I could do that for you, if you needed it. Restart the day? Make it so that…I don’t know, your day is better?”

Eager to please would be one of Nayeon’s main traits, even if she didn’t show it often. And Dahyun’s not surprised by it. In fact, it only reinforces the belief that Nayeon belongs in the apartment.

Even after everything she’s done.

“But then, we wouldn’t be here. Together.”

Nayeon tenses.

“Sometimes, there’s no easy fix to things. If something wrong happens, we just gotta truck through it and take responsibility for it.”

Of all of the inhabitants of the apartment, Nayeon’s probably one of the only ones that desperately needs to stay there, for her own protection.

Hell doesn’t take too kindly to runaway devils, after all.

“Stop saying things that make you seem wiser than me.”

Despite Nayeon rolling her eyes, Dahyun only senses the slight quiver to Nayeon’s arms.

Devils were born out of malice, hatred, and anger. The deepest pits of humanity’s dark side. But remembering how Nayeon looked when she found the apartment, wounded, scarred, and scared for her life, evil is not the first thing that came into Dahyun’s mind. Even when Tzuyu had declared her true identity.

Mephistopheles. The King of the Crossroads herself. The reason why so many humans had fallen to Hell. A devil that dealt in bargains in exchange for people’s souls. And not just any devil. The one deemed the best at damning souls to hell.

And despite that, Dahyun had welcomed her with open arms.

“Well, would you deny that I am?”

“Babe, I can gift people with the power of foresight. I don’t think you’re wiser than me.”

Dahyun chuckles, only snuggling further into Nayeon’s body.

“Plus, you let a devil come into your own apartment and live there. How smart can you be for that?”

And for a moment, Dahyun hears a sliver of it, hidden behind a facade of humor. Just a tiny bit of self-loathing.

“Would you rather I didn’t?”

Nayeon says nothing for a bit.

Until she reaches out, placing her hands on both of Dahyun’s cheeks, warm as they are.

Her lips press against the tip of Dahyun’s nose, gentle as if she’ll hurt her if she applies too much pressure.

“…no, I’m…I’m glad you did.”

Dahyun beams when Nayeon pulls away, a fond smile on her face.

“There you go. I’m wiser.”

Nayeon can only roll her eyes, but doesn’t deny anything.

“And you’re wrong, by the way. I think you’re great at comforting.”

It’s only a heartbeat of a moment, but Nayeon’s face stretches into wonder, amazement, and gratitude. Showing for a second the Nayeon that Dahyun knows is lying hidden under all the sarcasm, temperament, and guilt.

“Well, of course I am. Did you expect anything less?”

Then it’s back to regular old infuriating Nayeon.

“Of course you are, Nayeon.”

Dahyun chuckles.

“Let’s go home.”

“If that’s what you want, babe.”

When they head to bed later that night, Dahyun might be imagining it, but Nayeon’s arms cling to her a little tighter than usual.

Cunning (But not Evil)

Of all the places to head to in the middle of the night, a library was the last place Dahyun thought she’d end up in.

The library in their neighborhood was underfunded, underappreciated, and underrated. While they did have a great amount of books that were rare and hard to find, it didn’t mean that people went out of their way to look for the library.

Still, that doesn’t stop Dahyun from opening the doors to the library, thankfully open 24/7.

The librarian barely greets her, half-awake at the counter, as she strides past to her corner of the library.

Her corner of the library is a nook at the very corner of the building, where two bookshelves barely meet, and she can easily slide her small body into the space in between the two shelves. Lowering herself down to the ground, she pulls a random book from the shelf.

It honestly doesn’t really matter what book she reads, because she’s not reading them for the contents. Something to focus her attention on, something that’s not related at all to work, is exactly what she needs right now.

“Pssst.”

There’s a murmur of a voice from next to her.

When she turns to look, there’s a pure white mouse on the bookshelf, peering over to look at the book.

“Whatcha reading?”

Dahyun sighs, before closing the book and looking at the title.

“The Biology of Genies.”

The mouse skitters.

“Genies! Bleh. A bunch of scammers, really. You’re not allowed to ask for more wishes? Lame.”

Dahyun side-eyes the mouse.

“And you’d know a lot about scamming, wouldn’t you, Chaeng?”

The mouse leaps off the shelf, and in a whirlwind of a silhouette forming, Chaeyoung appears in the space the mouse used to be in.

Dressed in a pair of shorts, a simple print tee, and an unzipped jacket, the shapeshifter’s hair is flattened by a baseball cap, blonde hair drifting down her shoulders as she grins.

“Of course! I perfected the art!”

Grinning down at Dahyun, the shapeshifter puffs out her chest. It’s endearing, and Dahyun reaches out to pull Chaeyoung down to the ground. She acquiesces, sitting in front of Dahyun and smiling eagerly.

“So! Mind telling me what you’re doing in this boring place?”

Dahyun tucks the book away, knowing she’s not going to need it to be distracted.

“Oh, I don’t know.” She sighs. “Getting away from it all, I guess.”

Chaeyoung nods in understanding.

“I feel you. Sometimes, you need to get away from it all, y’know? Life’s too short to spend on stressful things!”

Dahyun raises an eyebrow.

“Aren’t you immortal?”

“That’s besides the point! The sentiment is the same. We should do something fun!”

The gleam in Chaeyoung’s eye is enough for Dahyun to immediately decline.

“Chaeyoung, your idea of fun is setting something on fire to scare the locals.”

“But that is fun! No one gets hurt too, it’s magic fire!”

A mischievous woman, Chaeyoung always was the source of some weird happenings in the neighborhood.

“Oh, like the time you made it so that that dude’s face was on the back of his head, just because he didn’t open the door for you?”

“It was temporary!”

“He had an inverted head for six months, Chaeng.”

“Like I said, temporary!”

Dahyun’s just chalked it up to Chaeyoung being out of her environment. She might be one of the most well-adjusted to modern society in the apartment, but that doesn’t mean she necessarily has human sensibilities.

“And what about the time you tried to curse someone’s car to make human-like noises?”

“Dude, that was hilarious!”

“You gave the car sentience on accident!"

“Still hilarious!”

“It drove away from the neighborhood screaming!”

“Okay, that was kinda creepy, I’ll admit. But still funny!”

Then again, considering where Chaeyoung had come from and her true nature, Dahyun shouldn’t be surprised. A god of mischief is bound to get into trouble no matter where she goes.

“Seriously, you need to keep a lower profile. You’re attracting attention to yourself.”

“Oh, I can handle it.”

“Really? And if your family comes looking for you?”

“They can’t do anything! I’m in the Sanctuary!”

“Still, Chaeyoung, you need to be more careful.”

“Ugh, stop nagging on me. You sound like my brother.”

With that, Chaeyoung crosses her arms and turns away, disgruntled and grumbling.

Stubborn and mischievous. A bad combo, especially when it came to Chaeyoung.

When a shapeshifter had shown up on her doorstep, looking for safety, she thought nothing of it.

When it was revealed that that shapeshifter was actually Loki, of the Norse pantheon, that’s when Dahyun had to actually pay attention.

Escaped from her prison and desperately seeking sanctuary, Chaeyoung had run away from her family, after everything they’d done to her. At first, Dahyun thought everything would be fine, but when Chaeyoung had shown her more…difficult tendencies, Dahyun had to adjust.

“Chaeng, you know I’m just worried about you, right?”

Chaeyoung refuses to answer, still turned away.

“It’s just dangerous for you to be putting yourself out there too much. Your family’s still looking for you, and if they were to find the Sanctuary, I’m not sure what I’d be able to do to protect you.”

Finally turning to her, Chaeyoung scowls.

“I don’t need protecting, Dahyun. I’m a god, for crying out loud.”

“And yet, you came to me when you were looking for help.”

There’s nothing Chaeyoung can say to that, so she doesn’t.

“It’s up to you. But I’d hate to see you in danger.”

Dahyun sighs. Chaeyoung is a hard person to deal with, but she would never wish harm on her.

“…ugh, fine.”

Chaeyoung crosses her arms, pouting.

“I’ll keep a low profile. There, are you happy?”

“Yes. Thank you, Chaeyoung.”

Dahyun smiles at the compromise, and leans in to kiss Chaeyoung, at the corner of her lips.

“Good. Because I told Jeongyeon this would only take a few minutes before I brought you back home.”

Chaeyoung stands, and it’s only then that Dahyun realizes.

“Wait…did you bait me into that conversation?”

The trickster god shrugs.

“I knew you’d never want to do anything fun. I figured if you were too busy worrying about me, it would take your mind off of whatever you’re worried about.”

What an underhanded tactic. Yet, it worked, and Dahyun can’t help but be both irritated and thankful at the same time.

“I guess I should know better than to try and argue with a god of mischief.”

Living up to her name, Chaeyoung smiles mischievously, with no small amount of warmth.

“You love me, though.”

She says it so arrogantly, so truthfully, and with such smugness that Dahyun can’t help but roll her eyes, take Chaeyoung’s outstretched hand, and stand up.

“Yes, I do, unfortunately. Let’s head back.”

“Wait, unfortunately?! The hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means what you think it means, Chaeng. Now stop fussing and let’s go.”

Thankfully, when they get home, Chaeyoung’s too lazy to keep the argument up, and they wind up sleeping in the lounge, a blanket tucked over their resting bodies on the couch.

Cynical (But not Hopeless)

There was a time when Dahyun was just a child, eager to visit her grandmother in the city.

Her grandmother who was the landlord of an apartment, in the middle of a curious neighborhood of the city.

An apartment that seemed to be home to all sorts of people, weird people. They all had their own eccentricities back then, and Dahyun was too young to judge them as anything but odd.

Her grandmother would always tell her to treat them with respect. The groundskeeper of the apartment, a young woman who seemed to perpetually have a broom in hand and a kindly smile. The larger-than-life black dog that never seemed to like her, always growling when she got near. The odd woman who always wore red dresses, sang beautifully, and only seemed to come out when the sun was gone. And many others.

At the time, she thought nothing of it.

Now, though, knowing everything, it seems as though her grandmother had known that the apartment was going to go to her.

When her grandmother had passed, her wish was to be buried in the graveyard in the neighborhood, a small detachment of the park that always seemed to be cared for, despite having no caretaker.

“Hey gramma.”

Which is where Dahyun’s found herself now.

The graveyard’s quiet, as graveyards usually are.

Dahyun comes here often, when there’s too much on her mind, and nothing to distract her.

She puts her hands together, and bows. She’s already exhausted everything she could say to her grandmother, and she was never really one to spend too much time talking about her day.

So, she merely pays her respects, whispers a faint ‘I love you’ and stands quietly.

Then she hears the footsteps behind her. Footsteps that are normally silent, but made obvious enough for her to notice.

“Ji?”

The footsteps come to a halt next to her, and with her body almost materializing out of the shadow, Jihyo stands solemnly.

“It is dangerous this time of night, my love.”

With a red tipped spear in hand, old and worn out but tight fitting leathers, and black hair braided down, Jihyo looks intimidating in the night.

But to Dahyun, Jihyo, with her soft features, round and shining eyes, lips curved into a frown, looks beautiful.

“Hi.”

At Dahyun’s voice, Jihyo sheathes her spear on her back, stepping closer.

“A burial ground is no safe place to be. A necromancer may give rise to the dead that rest here.”

Dahyun shakes her head.

“No, Jeongyeon keeps the wards up around this cemetery. It’s safe.”

Jihyo looks around, with more than a little suspicion, but bows her head in acquiescence.

“As thou wishest.”

Jihyo is from a different time, as they all are, and the question comes to Dahyun a little reluctantly.

“Ji, can I ask you something?"

Jihyo perks up.

“Anything, my love.”

“Well, this is a little sensitive…so I’d understand if you didn’t want to answer, but…”

There’s a moment of hesitation, but Dahyun ends up asking anyway.

“You knew me…like, in a previous life. Right?”

She can’t quite see Jihyo clearly in the darkness of the night, but what little moonlight does illuminate the graveyard shows how Jihyo’s body tenses momentarily.

“…that is correct. I knew thee in all thy lives.”

The concept of reincarnation is still something difficult to grasp for Dahyun, but she accepts anyway.

“What was…I…like?”

Jihyo inhales shakily, and Dahyun doesn’t hesitate to grab her hand.

“No need to answer if it’s difficult. I was just…curious, y’know?”

Jihyo’s eyes drift to the ground, and Dahyun thinks for a moment that she won’t answer.

“…thou wert always a hero.”

A hero?

“In thy first life…the life I first met, thy name was Cu Chulainn.”

The Hero of the Ulster Cycle. Dahyun doesn’t know much about Irish mythology, but the name does ring a bell.

“Thou wert…strong, compassionate, and loving. Thou wouldst fight for all that thou caredst for with everything thou hadst.”

That doesn’t sound like her at all. Now, Dahyun is just a little mouse that runs away from all her problems.

“And then…thou passed from this world fighting.”

Jihyo takes a moment, before looking up at her, eyes shining with unshed tears.

“And thou wouldst continue to do so, for every life that I had met.”

There is such sadness in her voice that it makes Dahyun ache.

“…I’m sorry.”

Jihyo shakes her head.

“No. Thou fought for what thou believedst in. I could never take that from thee.”

Her hand squeezes Jihyo’s.

“Mine only wish…is that I had known thee sooner.”

The amount of dedication that Jihyo has to her is amazing, when in reality Dahyun has done nothing to deserve it. Her previous lives may have been heroes, but the Dahyun of now is no hero.

“Dunno if I can live up to Cu Chulainn of all people. I can barely get through a school day.”

Jihyo suddenly grabs her other hand, startling her.

“No, my love. In this life, thou art the strongest, most compassionate, and most loving that I have ever known thee.”

Her eyes stare into Dahyun’s with such fiery truth that Dahyun has a hard time looking into them. Her chest warms, but her voice cracks.

“But Ji…I’m just…I’m just me.”

It’s then that Jihyo smiles, a rare gift that Dahyun receives.

“Perhaps that is what makes thee strong.”

Then Jihyo leans in, and Dahyun closes her eyes, feeling the spark of electricity that courses through her entire body as their lips meet, spreading warmth from her fingertips down to her toes.

Jihyo pulls away.

“Thy strength always comes from others, my love.”

Then, she kneels, head bowing down in respect and love.

“And if thou ever havest need of mine, thou only needst say the word. Now, and forever.”

Dahyun is stunned, and how could she not be? An immortal witch, basically proposing to her, offering up her strength for hers.

Scáthach may have been a legendary figure in mythology, but to Dahyun, she was just another woman that had her heart.

“God, you have no shame at all. Come on, get up.”

Jihyo stands, albeit reluctantly, looking up at Dahyun with expectation.

“Thanks, Ji. That makes me feel a bit better.”

“I am glad.”

Dahyun takes the hand of an immortal warrior, and smiles at her.

“Let’s head home.”

Tired (But not Resigned)

In all those other nights, Dahyun is accompanied by one of her tenants. Through stories, jokes, and love, she is comforted and kept warm.

This night, however, she is alone.

She passes by the abandoned apartment complex first. The rooftop is nice and peaceful, and the sky is clear, clear enough for her to catch a glimpse of a meteor shower in the far distance. The cigarette in her mouth calms her down, and the smoke is gentle and soothing.

The park is quiet, too. No one strolls along its paths except for her, and she catches a glimpse of a stray dog dozing off under a bush. She smiles, and continues her walk.

The canal’s stream is continuous, and pleasant white noise to her ears. Kicking pebbles into its stream, she squeals in delight when a particularly rapid current splashes her. It’s cool and awakening to the senses.

Strolling by the sidewalk, the streets are filled with a liminal feeling that secures her to the ground, as she runs through the roads with a certain carefree feeling rushing through her veins.

As she gets peckish, chips at the local convenience store are enough for her to sit down by the curb, and watch the neon lights buzz. Cars pass by with their gleaming headlights, and Dahyun takes a few pictures.

When she needs to rest, she does so at the chapel. She takes her time at each image of a saintly figure, lighting candles and wiping away grime and dirt with respect.

The library, open as always, is welcome to her, and she spends her time leafing through page after page of obscure, supernatural information that opens her mind to new possibilities.

At the graveyard, Dahyun lies down next to her grandmother’s grave. She talks, unlike before, to her grandmother, of her tiring day and her stressful work. It takes a while, but at the end of it all she’s more than a little relieved.

Then, when the sun is about to rise, Dahyun heads home.

A fulfilling night, one that’s successfully taken her mind off of everything.

But, a little empty.

Like something’s missing.

She sighs as she fits the key into the apartment door. When she twists it open, she’s greeted by a tall, imposing figure.

“Kim Dahyun.” It rumbles.

Dahyun smiles fondly. “Hi, Tzu.”

“Jeez, Tzu, you’re gonna scare the poor girl.”

Jeongyeon comes closing in, apron tied around her usual ensemble, eyebrows furrowed as she pulls Tzuyu away.

“She was gone for an extended amount of time.”

“Yes, yes, we were all worried.”

Jeongyeon smiles at Dahyun, from where she’s ushering Tzuyu off to the side.

“I made you some soup if you’re hungry. Healthy soup, by the way, not like those chips you ate.”

Dahyun has the dignity to be embarrassed, scratching the back of her head.

“Hey, let her live a little. Nothing wrong with pigging out every now and then.”

Nayeon, relaxing on one of the couches in the entry room of the apartment, winks at her.

“If you had your way, Nayeon, she’d always be eating unhealthily.”

“I mean, I could always just gift her with eternal youth, so it wouldn’t matter anyway.”

“Nay!”

“Okay, okay, I won’t.”

Dahyun feels the smile in her heart before it grows on her face.

She spends some time eating Jeongyeon’s soup, trying to fend off Tzuyu’s overbearing questions, and rolling her eyes at Nayeon’s sardonic humor.

As she’s stepping up the stairs, a ghostly white visage appears in one of the mirrors she’s strategically placed throughout the apartment.

“Lady Dahyun.”

There is an exasperated look on her face, and it’s one Dahyun is used to.

“Did Chaeyoung do something again?”

The ghost nods wearily.

A few moments later, Dahyun has a guinea pig in her hands, moving away from one of the apartment rooms.

“Hey! This is assault! Get your hands off my soft, pudgy, body!”

Mina sighs from wherever she is.

“You can always change back whenever you deem fit, Lady Chaeyoung.”

“Well, I like this form! And I like it when Dahyun carries me!”

“Then why are you complaining?”

After putting a reluctant Chaeyoung in Mina’s room, Dahyun strides through the hall, until the murmur of a soft song catches her attention.

Peering into one of the rooms, she smiles.

A large wolf’s head is perched upon a pale lady’s lap, the vampire humming softly as she gently drags her fingers through the wolf’s fur. The wolf rumbles in pleasure.

Sana looks up, pausing momentarily in her song. She smiles at Dahyun.

“Good evening, my lady.”

Momo opens one lazy eye, before exhaling through her nostrils in acknowledgment.

“I hope you had a lovely stroll.” Sana greets.

Dahyun smiles in return.

“I did, thank you, Satang.”

Momo lets out a whine of disappointment.

“Alright, alright.”

Sana chuckles, then continues to stroke through her fur, continuing her song.

When Dahyun gets up to her room, the shadows tremble slightly as a figure materializes in the corner of her bedroom.

“Was thine evening walk pleasant, my love?”

“…it was okay. A little empty.”

“Empty?”

“Something was missing.”

“Whatever could that be?”

Dahyun looks around her room, spotting the closed laptop and the papers strewn about her desk. From around the apartment, voices filter through faintly.

“Tzu, it’s just soup, it can’t hurt you!”

“It was of a heat that is dangerous to a mortal body.”

“Didn’t know you made your soup with hellfire, Jeong.”

“Mina, I swear, you’re such a buzzkill!”

“…if you get trapped in another divine seal, I’m not helping you.”

“Wait, I was kidding!”

“Lady Momo, I apologize, but would you be able to adjust your head? I cannot feel my legs.”

“Woof!”

Then, she smiles.

“Nah, it’s nothing. Let’s go to bed, Ji.”

Dahyun closes her eyes with Jihyo’s arms around her, and as consciousness fades, she idly wonders why she’s no longer tired.

#apartment au #dajeong #dahyun x jeongyeon #dahmo #dahyun x momo #saida #dahyun x sana #mihyun #dahyun x mina #datzu #dahyun x tzuyu #dayeon #dahyun x nayeon #dubchaeng #dahyun x chaeyoung #dahyo #dahyun x jihyo #twice fic #twice fanfic

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knightyoomyoui · 2 years ago

Text

DubChaeng (Dahyun x Chaeyoung) - “Worlds Apart”

My longest one-shot so far! Sorry for quite a long delay. Man, I'm definitely feeling the consequences of having a college life. I'm lacking on available time to do things that I want, such as writing stories like this. Enjoy reading!

Dahyun was on her way through the lockers beside the hallway after entering the school more than half an hour remaining before the classes start, where she had a scheduled meetup with her friend from another section named Irene.

Searching for her keys inside her wallet as she continue walking, she did find it right at the time where she had to raise her head up; meeting an unfavorable sight that quickly annoyed her mood this morning. Great, she thought. Her day is just beginning yet she has to contain herself facing this situation again.

With her own eyes, she's clearly seeing Irene who is standing while forcefully making herself look unbothered being in between this group of male and female delinquent students circling her.

Dahyun knew that Irene knows who these people are, and Dahyun certainly does sure that she's thinking what she's thinking too.

She knows these trash, pathetic teens are insufferable as always. She didn't expected it though that there will be a time where Irene would eventually take their attention, and that is happening right now.

She paused on her tracks as she stood just few steps away from the group who is unable to notice her presence being close yet, occupied with dealing on Irene who instead already caught her watching them.

A helpless expression suddenly became visible on Irene's face that shouts a desperate need of help right now from Dahyun, and the pale clever girl clearly understands it.

"Just try it out or something, we'll have fun I promise you that.", the leader of the notorious ruthless gang that preys on the weak students around the campus named Chanyeol once again pulls out another plead he has in store in him.

"And why should I listen to you? Why me anyways?", Irene looked up fiercely at Chanyeol. "Do you guys have nothing to do again that you two just randomly picked me and belong to your list of bullied victims, huh?"

Chanyeol only smirked, the rest of his members just stiffled a laugh. "Wanna know why?"

He quickly went forward, narrow his gap even closer to Irene who ended up colliding with the wall and completely trapped in front of Chanyeol.

Dahyun gaped her mouth, became even more worried for Irene on facing them alone.

"I have my eyes on you ever since you guaranteed to got my attention and I could say... well damn they ain't lying that you are indeed beautiful, Bae Irene.", Chanyeol grinned as his hand on the wall placed beside Irene's head.

Dahyun found Irene's body starts to shaken. She's definitely sure that the poor girl must be nervous and terrified of whatever Chanyeol is planning to her.

She gulped as her fists clenched tight, mustering up her courage to stop this and help her friend who is in danger.

"You had me having interests with you. Those bastards I see being with you like stupid dogs following around you, I admit... I get jealous many times.", Chanyeol said while gritting his teeth at how irritating it made him felt speaking up that experience he had.

"So I can't take it anymore. I have to move and make you mine, so why don't you just take it a shot, Irene. Who knows? We might be fitting, we can take over the entire campus as the leading couple around.", Chanyeol spreaded his arms and roamed it around to elaborate what he's saying along with his dreamy look.

"Do you want it? Would you get out together with me?"

Irene just stared at Chanyeol, speechless of what she is going to respond to the leader's proposal. She clearly does not want anything involved with a heartless guy like him but the problem is that she just don't know how will she say it.

She can tell it right away that if she declines, she'll get hurt.

Before Chanyeol gets more impatient from waiting on the answer...

"Irene-ssi! There you are! Sorry I'm late!", Dahyun just casually appeared and pretends to walk hurriedly towards Irene. Chanyeol and the rest of his gangmates just looked at her weirdly and confused.

"D-dahyun...", Irene muttered.

Dahyun looked aside and saw the gang's crumpled foreheads and eyebrows squinting at her. "Oh sorry, I didn't know you're talking with them. Did I interrupt something important?"

"You do, now can you please do me a favor and leave us both alone for a while you idiot.", Chanyeol looked at Dahyun seriously and spoke to her with angst. The girl just widened her eyes, portraying that she didn't saw that curse coming.

"E-eh... Oh sorry. I'm about to excuse her but I guess I'll be just waiti-", Dahyun's about to finish her words when Irene interjects and threw a dagger of stare at Chanyeol.

"N-No, Dahyun, nothing's wrong now. We're done now anyways so let me join you.", Irene joined your fake approach as she tried to escape Chanyeol's trap but the leader tugged her arm and gripped it harshly.

"Where are you going? Who said you can leave ready?", Chanyeol said after Irene rotates her body to face him.

"I don't like you Chanyeol okay? You want an answer? Leave me alone please, stop disturbing me because I have no desire to hang out with the likes of you.,", Irene said sharply, leaning her face closer to make him hear it clearly as she forcefully sweep his hands away from her skin.

Chanyeol reacted with a twitch of anger in his lips, pent up anger building up in him.

"GRAAAHHH!!"

He pushed Irene with frustration, causing the elegant schoolgirl to nearly crash into the ground but thanks to Dahyun, she quickly catch her and prevent her from falling.

"IRENE!"

"That's a huge loss you had there, Irene. I was giving you an opportunity already. Ain't no man can satisfy you much as I can do for you.", Chanyeol retorted. "But instead you had the dare to cancel me and rather what? talk to this nerd?"

"Chanyeol!", Irene scolded him with a shout of his name as she didn't liked what he used to call Dahyun.

"Stop and leave her alone okay? Irene said no already, so stay away from her!"

"Shut up nerd, don't command me like that.", Chanyeol then pointed his finger warningly at Dahyun who became anxious. "I don't even know who the hell you are so don't tell me what I shall must not do.

He then stepped forward and squats in front of Dahyun and Irene who both look unimpressed to match their level.

"But you know what... you have guts, huh. I'll remember you for that.", Chanyeol stared intently at Dahyun who repayed him the same manner and just listened at his comment that either she felt being warned or complimented at the same time.

As no one ever dared to speak up after that. Irene thought that this is the time where they had to leave and not waste any more time with this irrelevant moment.

"Let's go, Dahyun." Irene insisted.

Dahyun helped her slowly stand up on her both feet again before leaving one last annoyed glance at Chanyeol who is still crouching while sniggering devilishly at them.

They made a few steps away only to halt when Dahyun crossed paths with somebody that she used to know before who just arrived at the scene, clueless about what happened but immediately guessed how it occurred.

Dahyun's grimace got deepened at the sight of her while Irene just looked worriedly at Dahyun as she recognized the woman in front of them.

"You shouldn't have get in the way."

Dahyun scoffed and ridiculous rolled her eyes on this person who was once a special person to her life, now turned into a forgotten past.

"I did what I had to do, it's my friend. I chose to save her.", Dahyun replied. "Most importantly, I chose to follow the person who cares about me... so don't tell me that as if you can even do it."

Dahyun gave one last offended glare at her before proceeding to walk away pulling Irene by her arm.

The girl on the other hand just hurtfully watched her disappear after unable to dodge the painful facts that Dahyun just made her realize again.

--------------

Later during recess, the campus gang smokes cigarette in their favorite area in the campus: behind one of the senior high school buildings where they did some many troublesome things discreetly from the officials for them to get caught.

Chanyeol who is currently savoring the taste of his bubblegum flavored vape remains silent as he replayed what happened earlier when his gangmates began talking about it.

"Then that weird girl just interrupted our business like as if she didn't know who she just messed with."

"Imagine disrupting a conversation with the famous gang leader and king of the campus Chanyeol being involved. Does she really even know how fucked up what she did."

"Heh, I bet she doesn't. Say, what if she made her realize the consequence of doing it?"

That suggestion coming from his fellow gangmate made Chanyeol to woke up his senses back as it reminded him of what he just said to Dahyun before leaving.

"You know... I like your guts, huh. I'll remember that."

He puffed one more bubblegum smelled smoke in his mouth before playing the vape on his hands and avoid looking at his followers as he gather all the question popping in to his mind.

"That girl... her name was Dahyun, isn't it? Irene called her that earlier if I'm not mistaken.", Chanyeol curiously asked.

"Yes, boss.", one of his sidemen named Sehun answered.

"I'll give it to her, she may look weak but she's courage enough to step in to my business.", Chanyeol tilted his head. "But then again, I'm sure all of you know what is one of the things I hated the most."

All of the gangmates went silent, seemingly knowing where is their leader's point going ahead into.

"Meddling with me especially if you're a nobody.", Chanyeol clenched his fist. "And what she did earlier made her prove what does a person like that I despise."

"You all must've heard what I told her before we let them go. I admire her guts, and I really do. Because nobody has ever done it like that to me.", Chanyeol finally revolved his sight around his gangmates.

"I told her that her deed was remarkable, and she might have no idea how it's actually offensive in my part."

"We let them go, but that doesn't mean we're setting them free... especially her."

"However though, there's something I pointed out earlier that seems... fascinating to me.", Chanyeol caressed his chin.

"Anyone including me has no idea who she is.", Chanyeol looked at the rest who agreed as they nodded their heads, except for someone.

"But... there's this one of us who doesn't seem like it."

All their gazes went directly to the only woman in their group who is sipping her strawberry lollipop. She also looked back to her friends with guilt, understandably knowing the meaning behind their looks.

"Chaeyoung. Come here.", Chanyeol did a 'come hither' hand gesture to Chaeyoung who followed right away, stepping closely beside him.

"Based from what I saw a while ago, have you... and Dahyun know each other?"

Chaeyoung took out the lollipop in her mouth to allow her to respond. "Yes."

The members listened attentively more to their conversation as their curiosity risen also.

"Were you and Dahyun... close?", Chanyeol asked, squinting his eyes.

"O-once." Chaeyoung solemnly answered, slightly stuttered at the word. "We were close before."

"Mmmhmm. So, are you two what?"

"B-bestfriends. She was my bestfriend."

Chanyeol nodded, pursing his lower lip interestingly. He glanced at Chaeyoung, turning his head to the side.

"Do you still consider her as one until now?"

Chaeyoung matched Chanyeol's anticipating stare.

"Like I said. WAS. That was before. We were no longer like that in the present, so as I am to her."

"Good to know then. So... you won't mind that we'll target her next and your side will remain with us, right?"

Chaeyoung gulped and blinked her eyes rapidly when he said that.

"R-rest assured, Chanyeol."

Chanyeol nodded, patting her on the shoulder before urging her to lean her face closer, giving Chaeyoung a kiss on her cheek which sent a red fuming blush in react for the girl.

The bell then rang, alarming everyone to return back to their respective classes now that the recess is over.

"Goddamnit, I hate it when break passes fast.", Chanyeol grunted in annoyance.

"That boring ass Math subject is coming up next, let's slack off and avoid boring ourselves to that wack class Mr. Shin has."

----------------

Dahyun and Chaeyoung's friendship before can be described as joyful and strong. They were unseperable. Two different personalities, but each share the same preferred way to make theirselves entertained.

They were buddies, always together whenever they want to do so many things that will assure them happiness. Everyone who sees them probably thinking that this two are just so perfect for each other that other would began to think and see them differently being actual sisters rather.

That wholesome connection they built between each other because of the friendship they had for each other made them wish it would never end, especially for Dahyun who already sees Chaeyoung as a special person. A loved one and a family.

That is... until one day, something happened that changed everything drastically, which would lead to the start of their fallout.

Dahyun haven't met Chaeyoung for two days now, after swearing that they'll have a scheduled stroll in the mall on weekends; but it didn't happened because Chaeyoung didn't appeared or so.

What she did doesn't make her angry. Instead, she was worried.

When she decided to come to Chaeyoung's house, she was greeted by her mother Mrs. Son who looks devastated as the evident cries in her face was presented to the youngster. She may not be shedding tears anymore but she can call that it does looked like she did.

"Why are you crying, Mrs. Son?", Dahyun thoughtfully asked the mother.

"U-uh... this? W-we just had a fight with my husband..."

"And Chaeyoung? How is she? Is she there?"

Mrs. Son remained silent.

"Dubu... that's what I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?", Dahyun furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"I know she's not okay after hearing and seeing what happened in our family but... I don't know what she's doing right now about it.

"She... just walked out of the house. Didn't she came to you?"

Dahyun shook her head, with fear and concern in her face. She began thinking of Chaeyoung immediately. "N-no, she didn't."

"Oh god... I hope she comes back soon.", Mrs. Son began crying again, enough for Dahyun to quickly comfort the poor woman.

"It's okay, Mrs. Son. I'll help you find her. She will be alright. Nothing wrong's gonna happen to her."

Dahyun excused herself to began looking for her in the middle of the night. Her search didn't last long though when she saw Chaeyoung walking slowly alone in the sidewalk, her head bowed down in sadness.

"CHAE!"

The girl heard that familiar voice. Lifting up her head, she met Dahyun's sight of her running closer to her before engulfing her in a tight, warm hug.

"D-Dahyun...", Chaeyoung's tears fell at her friend's touch.

"Sshhh... it's okay. I'm here. Where did you go? I heard what happened, so I came to look out for you."

"I- I just strolled around for a while. Took some fresh air to calm myself down."

"You got me worried about you Chaeng. Don't leave alone next time okay? Wherever you go, I'll either join you or find you when you need help."

Chaeyoung can't help but to just nod, speechless enough for Dahyun's easing words.

She just deepened her hug onto her friend. "T-thank you, Dahyun."

"Always welcome, bro. Come on, let's get you home."

After that, they talked about what happened. Chaeyoung shared that it's a family matter regarding her father and mother's relationship. She learned that her mother got mad of her father for acting cold and uninterested these days whenever he'll come home or he is indeed in the house.

Her father didn't like hearing those accusations, so he began spitting out some hateful remarks and turned mad for his wife on blaming him for lies. That's where the altercation began and Chaeyoung was just only there, begging for them to stop as she watches them fight in the living room while sobbing in the stairs.

The couple stopped when Chaeyoung who can't contain this anymore, had to left the house for a while to let them know the damage they've done as parents. She didn't knew that the father then locked himself up in the bedroom after what happened, and her mother got even more mad that her husband didn't even bother to look for her daughter who just walked out in the middle of the night.

Dahyun sends some assuring and comforting messages for her friend to keep her positive. That didn't last long when two days later, Dahyun found out that Chaeyoung's fear came true.

Her parents broke up and her father left them alone after admitting that he was indeed cheating on his wife.

Now having a broken family, that made Dahyun concerned more for Chaeyoung, especially when she joins her everyday after the news was received; she noticed that Chaeyoung's mood got worsened. She looked gloomy, pale and weak everyday.

She didn't know that as days passes by, not only her mood changed entirely... but also her personality.

Dahyun noticed and figured out that it all started when she caught Chaeyoung meeting with some students who are famous for being delinquents and troublesome around the campus. They are a gang led by Park Chanyeol and all that Dahyun knew one thing about this is that... this doesn't look right at all.

Knowing how great Chaeyoung is as a person compared to these people and now that the opposites are meeting together, it became alarming for her.

It continued. Dahyun got to witness subtle changes on Chaeyoung. Her attitude and ego went bigger, she started using some curse words, she barely meets up with her and if she does, she looks forced and uninterested. She even got to do some tattoos around her skin which shocked Dahyun more, knowing that Chaeyoung used to despise these.

One day, Dahyun finally had enough of this; watching her friend slowly losing the version of her friend she mostly liked being around with.

She knew exactly where Chaeyoung's location might be and she was right. She located at one of the favorite spots of the gang, that one bench under the tree that they self-proclaimed own.

She might be waiting for the others who belong to the gang managed by Chanyeol. But she didn't care. She has to confront Chaeyoung and end this now.

"Chaeyoung."

Her friend looked at her.

"Oh, Dahyun? Wassup."

"Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Uhh sure? But go faster please, they are coming soon."

"Who? Them? I don't care."

Chaeyoung raised her eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"I have to talk to you, Chae. Right now."

"About what is it then? If that won't be worth my time then-"

"It's about you, Chae. And really, you don't really care that much now at what goes on with us?"

"It's not like that, okay? I'm telling you that they're coming and I don't want to get in trouble."

"So you prioritize being with them much than to sincerely lend atleast just a minute to talk with me, is this what you really are now Chaeng?", Dahyun complained. "And I don't need you to warn me. I'm already in trouble now, Chaeng. Ever since you got to get close with them you just started to become... different."

"Dahyun, what are you saying? I'm still your friend and I'm still here."

"That's not what I'm talking about Chaeng. The version I've known of you. There. That's the one who... went gone. I couldn't even believe I'm seeing you like this."

Chaeyoung remained silent.

"Wearing tighter uniform, drinking beers, smoking cigarettes, curses and attitude, even that tattoos that are imprinted in your body. That's not that Chaeyoung I've known once.", Dahyun enumerated.

"And that all started when you let yourself hang around with them which I don't even know how did it started.", Dahyun continued. "But this isn't right. I know it, and I can see it on you, Chae. They are a bad influnce. They changed you for the worse when you were broken."

In Dahyun's surprise, Chaeyoung reacted with a laughter.

"Really? That's how you see it? That's bad, we are not alike. I am enjoying it though."

"You like what they're doing to you?!", Dahyun unbelievably reacted. "No, Chae. This isn't right, you don't know what's happening to you. They've turned you into someone I didn't want you to be."

Dahyun grasped Chaeyoung's shoulders and looked at her deeply.

"Chaeyoung, you must stop meeting and hanging around with them. Think about how it affects us, me as your friend, your mom who only has you left in her. Don't let them change you for something you aren't."

Chaeyoung stared at Dahyun for a second. Her silence made Dahyun keep her hopes up that her words somehow made her friend reconsider things and choose the right decision.

That didn't worked well however, as Chaeyoung started to slip Dahyun's hands away from touching her shoulders and turn her body around, her back now facing Dahyun.

Dahyun observed that Chaeyoung was shaking her head.

"No... you're wrong. I became better. They're not as bad as you think they are. They helped me feel better when I was down."

"Chaeyoung, really?! I WAS THE ONE WHO WAS THERE BY YOUR SIDE RIGHT FROM THE START!"

"YEAH, AND YOUR COMPANY WASN'T EVEN HELPFUL!", Chaeyoung turned around again just to shout directly at Dahyun. The latter got taken aback, astounded at her sudden outrage and her... offensive words.

"You may be the one who came to me at that night, but all the words you said to me was nothing but what ifs, false hopes and lies. Everything you said didn't came true like you and I wanted to be. But do you know what differs you from them?"

Chaeyoung placed her hands on her waist as she looks fiercely at Dahyun who is listening to her.

"You failed to put me back together, but they weren't. They showed me different, new things to try... and I never known it would be so much better than the ones I'm having with you."

Dahyun got hurt at Chaeyoung's words more.

"Now go away before I finally change my mind. Don't make this worse, Dahyun."

She turned her body around again to return back to the bench but to Dahyun's side, she won't let it end this way anymore. She has to make her stop.

"No I won't leave unless you have to listen to me. Please, Chaeyoung stay away from them. I'm doing this to-"

"SHUT UPPPPP!!!!"

She haven't got to finish her words when she didn't expected what happened to her afterwards.

Chaeyoung slapped her hard right in the face, causing her to lean away and grasp her stinging cheek.

The hand Chaeyoung used remained raised and upright, shivering as she halted in shock as she just realized that she just slapped her friend.

She hurted her bestfriend physically for the first time.

"D-Dahyun?"

Dahyun slowly turned to her, Chaeyoung got shocked at her eyes forming pool of tears begging to get released while still caressing her assaulted cheek.

"O-oh my God. I-I'm sorry... I-"

She was about to touch Dahyun to help and apologize more but she got prevented when Dahyun stepped back and dodged away from her.

"N-no... don't come close to me..."

"Dahyun..."

"I finally understood all along. You are not her. You are not the real one I met and cherished. You chose others than me who cares more for you.

Chaeyoung, you were no longer a friend of mine I used to have."

Chaeyoung became speechless at what Dahyun just said. A teardrop finally fell straight to the cheek she just slapped with and that was the last thing she saw before she leaves.

The two never talked about what happened, Chaeyoung didn't wanted or dared to beg for forgiveness again to Dahyun anymore, since her bestfriend who now turned to become a former never wanted to associate things with her again, finding ways to ignore her completely whenever she tries to find her.

That one slap made Chaeyoung to lose Dahyun, and Dahyun accepted the fact that her friend was now truly gone.

---------------

THE NEXT DAY

"Let's continue later, okay?" Irene respectfully paused their topic they were discussing while they are walking away from school as they've already reached the roads where they have to seperate ways on their way home.

Dahyun realized ahead that this is the part where they have to bid each other goodbye for today after Irene mentioned it. "Yeah sure unnie. Bye! Be safe!"

"You too, Dahyunnie!". They waved hands at one another with a smile. Irene initially continued to walk and make a turn to another street while Dahyun waited for the cars to allow space for her to cross the road.

The cars passing through get lessened and Dahyun finally was able to cross through the pedestrian lane properly and step onto another sidewalk of another street.

She walked alone, silent, mind usually filled again with thoughts regarding the lessons they've learned hours ago and brand new activities that were assigned to them; being the brilliant and responsible student like she always is.

However, her taking of notes mentally had to stop temporarily when all of a sudden she was about to pass an alleyway, a group of fellow familiar students of hers from the same school blocked her way.

Dahyun paused her tracks and traced all of their faces. Her smile faded rapidly as her eyes landed to Chanyeol's devilish smirk.

"W-what do you all want from me?", Dahyun cautiously asked them, one foot went backward like she's ready to defend herself from them after sensing an impending danger brought by them.

"Easy there, ghost. This won't take long, as long as you'll cooperate.", Chanyeol said. "Take one more step back and we'll make sure you won't go away until we settle things off. Although, if you do want to go home with a broken feet."

Dahyun gulped in fear. Sweat starts to form and emerge in her skin, dripping in terror at what these hotheads want to deal with her.

She looked next at Chaeyoung who is the next person she immediately noticed. Standing beside them, only looking at her with a blank and unbothered demeanor.

"I won't run off, I just want to know what are you all doing here. Did you all just hide and waited for me?"

"Thanks for stating the obvious, nerd.", Chanyeol replied, making his members laugh but Chaeyoung remained expressionless. "Well, you're right. Now that you're wondering why, well we'll go straightforward and not waste any more time."

"What is it?"

"Apologize.", Chanyeol sternly said.

"For what? Yesterday?", Dahyun asked. "You were the ones who started it. You cornered Irene and forcefully asked her to go out with you even though she doesn't want it. My friend was frightened and alone. I just came there to help her, and now you want me to apologize when you are the one to blame?"

"No. I think you're mistaken. YOU are the one who should apologize, Chanyeol; especially to Irene.", Dahyun pointed her finger at him bravely.

Chanyeol chuckled and looked aside to his friends. "Look at this bitch. She wants me to say sorry." The rest just shook their head disapprovingly.

"Like I said, I admire your guts; but I won't let it pass when I'm the one you're opposing with."

"AAAAGGGHHH!!"

Chanyeol quickly grabbed Dahyun's hair and pulled it tight. The schoolgirl just shrieked in pain.

"Nobody tells me to apologize, do you hear me? I'M ALL OUT OF MERCY. I call things around here!", the volume of his voice began increasing as well as the level of her grip to her smooth long black hair. As expected, Chaeyoung was still watching her without doing anything.

"AWWWWWW L-LET ME GO PLEASE!"

"Then apologize! I told you already that this will be quick if you just cooperate, now look at you pathetic bitch. How long will your courage last now, huh?"

Dahyun didn't said anything. Chanyeol's impatience intensifies so what he did next is that he laid Dahyun's face on the concrete surface of the road and presses his knuckles on the side of her head.

The girl exclaim awfully, can't take the abuse of this cruel guy threatening her just to say sorry for something she's not even the one at fault.

"APOLOGIZE!!!"

"O-okay! Okay!!! I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Just, let go off me!", Dahyun's pleads finally urged her to do something without no more other choice but to say the words this bully wants to hear from her.

Her breaths became heavy as Chanyeol finally lets go of her hair and head, allowing her to clutch herself in pain.

She kneeled. Chanyeol raised up her face by cupping her in the chin, making her to equally measure the level of their faces staring at each other.

"See, that wasn't hard to do; you're just too hardheaded that you didn't want it instead.", Chanyeol once again smirked. "You did said sorry, but... you know me; I'm not an easy person."

Dahyun just gritted her teeth, still enduring the stinging sensation of her head and scalp from the pressure Chanyeol just put in her.

"To show that you mean it and to teach you a lesson that you must know the person you're messing with, I'm giving you a mission to do for us."

Dahyun sighed, unbelievably looked at Chanyeol. She thought this was over and one sorry was enough but how dumb is she to forgot that Chanyeol is a bad person.

"Starting tomorrow, you'll be the one who'll do the homeworks for us for the whole month. We have an assignment tomorrow in English. Reaction paper about The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. Make one for all of us."

Dahyun's eyes widened in shock. This is just so mean, she thought. She doesn't deserve this at all, it is simply injustice to be the one who'll get a punishment when she's the victim and the defendant here at the same time.

"If you won't and we ended up incomplete or late; I'm going to make you regret disrespecting me more. Do you understand?"

Dahyun was silent, still couldn't believe about what's happening to her.

Her silence didn't last lomg when the impatient Chanyeol hit his palm again on her head, causing a small ouch sound out of Dahyun's mouth.

"I- I'll do it."

"Good. You can go home. One more thing, don't you dare report this to anyone.", Chanyeol gave her one last warning before walking away with her friends including Chaeyoung who just watched her former bestfriend get hurt like it was no effect from her. "Let's go, there's a vape shop near here. We'll take a visit."

As they left, the abused Dahyun couldn't hold her tears anymore as she started crying due to Chanyeol's unfairness and heartless actions while the person who was the one who doesn't want to see her torn apart before can now endure seeing her like that.

Like she always thought, she's just a forgotten past of Chaeyoung's memories.

---------------

As they were now meters away from Dahyun, Chaeyoung finally drops her cool and disguise as she kept on hearing Chanyeol brags about how Dahyun looked horrible on being in his control, resulting in her forced surrender.

"What the hell was that, Chanyeol?!" Chaeyoung interrogates Chanyeol, stopping him from mocking and teasing Dahyun's pity state at what happened a while ago. All of their eyes landed on her.

"I thought we agreed not to put your hands on her?!"

"I can't help it." Chanyeol said faking nonchalantly. "She doesn't understand the situation. She doesn't know how fucked up she is by opposing us. That's why I have to show and remind her how me and our gang are the most fearsome individuals around the campus."

"But still, you don't have to do it. We talked about it, right? You could've let me handle it." Chaeyoung objected.

Chanyeol chuckled, squinting her eyes at Chaeyoung with a wide grin plastered in his face. "You, huh? Why? You going to go easy on her instead?"

Chanyeol walked towards Chaeyoung, his towering figure and serious demeanor intimidates the short and sassy girl.

"W-what?"

"You can't take how your friend looked and sound defenseless, don't you?", Chanyeol said. "Does she still affects your soft spot in your heart? Do you... wanted to help her in that instance rather?"

Chanyeol leaned his face closer at Chaeyoung who backs away, gulping and throbbing nervously at how scary his aura has shifted.

"N-no. I just want her not to become a burden for you to manage, Chanyeol. I know her, you don't have to go that far. You have many other things to focus on, lend her to me and I'll be the one who'll do the first move."

"What makes you so sure?", Chanyeol crossed his arms and looked at her interrogatively.

"Because I'm her weakness.", Chaeyoung confidently daid. "I am her wound, and the one way to heal it is for her to aid it is by dealing with me."

Chanyeol stared at her Chaeyoung for a second before her lips curved into a smile. "Hmm at the very least, I appreciate the thoughtfulness.", he hummed.

"Fine. I'm sorry." Chaeyoung softened Chanyeol in a rare occasion. "Next time: I'll give you the gun of opportunity. I'll let you be the one to pull the trigger."

He poked Chaeyoung's tip of the nose before nodding in agreement. He walked again along with the other members who are just listening at watching them talk, while Chaeyoung tailed behind them; the glimpse of her discreet manipulation disturbs her.

5 DAYS LATER

"Finally." Dahyun muttered in a huge sight of relief as she adored the sight of all scattered papers in her table, all filled with contents produced from her own handwriting but not intended for her.

She finally completed and finished all the reaction papers assigned by Chanyeol to her that she will give later to them.

All set to be delivered, Dahyun fixed her things before leaving the library. Just as when she was about to exit, she encountered Chaeyoung who appeared very close in front of her, nearly colliding at one another.

The two stared to reprocess before both returns to full consciousness, Dahyun squinted her eyes filled with hatred, lips straightened, and mood slightly got shakened at the sight of Chaeyoung who just like the same as the rest of the days whenever they meet, empty and unmovable.

She noticed the papers labeled as reaction papers held by Dahyun on her arms. She sniggered before stating bluntly again. "You did it."

"Should I suppose to be happy hearing that?", Dahyun raised her eyebrow full of arrogance. "I may be allowing this just because I'm outnumbered and threatened but I promise to all of you, this will be the last time you'll be doing so. Karma will hit all of you soon."

Chaeyoung scoffed. "Just be grateful they didn't went extreme to you already. You should learn by now, so be still."

Dahyun elicited a small smile and a shake of her head. "Looks like you are also." Chaeypung just crunched her eyebrows, clueless what she's pointing at.

"What does it even mean?"

"You really are indeed hopeless, old friend." Dahyun only said before walking right past to her, leaving Chaeyoung both in perplexion and curiousity.

As Dahyun goes next to her classroom, she noticed that some of the members in the gang were casually talking together near the storage room.

She pursed her ears further, trying to eavesdrop their conversation.

"Boss Chanyeol has the right to become suspicious of her okay?"

"Yeah I know, until now even me doesn't fully accept and welcome her on being part of the group. The first thing I sense of her is that she will just turn out to be a bad charm to us."

"You're right. That's why if she failed someday, I hope boss won't hesitate to finally kick her out. I can't stand her anymore honestly."

"Oh I can't wait for that to happen. It will be be so satisfying to watch."

"Hahahaha that princess tigress will be tamed by her owner."

As they've gone complete silent, Dahyun thinks that this is the time for her to leave. As she does so though, her eyes are sprung up, mind gone crazy and gooesbumps all over her body as she heard about all of their evil schemes prepared for her former bestfriend once it backfires.

For the first time in years, Dahyun has never felt so heavily worried and afraid for her former bestfriend despite being betrayed and abandoned.

The next day, Dahyun gives another set of completed homeworks to the gang that was sent to her yesterday. As expected they are satisfied and impressed.

She was about to leave their secret spot quickly when Chanyeol called her one more time.

"Before you go, remind yourself to meet us at the base later at 6:30 PM. I will tell you the activity you'll do for us. Don't be late. Are we clear?"

Dahyun looked around at them first before answering. "Yes."

Chanyeol then gave her a nod gesture as a signal for her to finally leave. As she vanished, Chanyeol and the rest of the group wore a mischievous smirk.

"See you later."

Dahyun walks swiftly on her feet, frantically looking around back and forth at everything she passes through as she wants to track the sole person she wants to meet as soon as possible.

She couldn't believe she has to do this but something feels odd in her that she must have to.

At last, her series of wandering throughout the areas of the campus came into a stop when she finally saw someone she has to meet urgently.

She walked even faster and when she is now inches away from her, she waited for her presence to be acknowledged.

She side glanced, that's where Dahyun took the signal.

"Chaeyoung."

The girl faced away from tracing the bulletin board while holding her paint tools and a canva. She spun around, meeting the person who called her by her name for quite a long time now.

"Dahyun? What are you doing here?"

"I know we are destined to hate each other forever, but I just have to ask you this.", she coldly said and paused before gliding back to her words. "Do you... really trust your friends in the gang a lot?"

"Isn't it obvious? ofcourse. I do. What are you implying at?", she answered, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Then it means you... haven't ever thought of a possibility that someday they might... turn on you and cause you to get ejected from them?"

Chaeyoung eyes blinked puzzedly in a moment, her lips plopped as if she was about to say something back but that statement coming from Dahyun seemed like it got her otherwise.

"Checkmate."

"S-shut up.", Chaeyoung rudely denied. "Did you really just came to meet me here and have this type of talk again, Dahyun?"

"Why couldn't you just answer my question?"

"Damn it, fine! You're so insufferable.", Chaeyoung huffed and rolled her eyes. They would never do that to me. Why would they, huh? I got their trust and they have mine. I belong to their group now. Isn't it enough?"

Dahyun nodded and acted satisfied and convinced with Chaeyoung's response. "Okay. If you say so.", she shrugged.

"Whatever. You don't even know what you're talking about."

Dahyun stood beside Chaeyoung and pushed her face closer to hers, wanting her to listen carefully at every bit of words out of her mouth.

"Beware though, you might eat your words very soon. If I were you, I won't let them out of my zone. You wouldn't know, maybe they're plotting already to get you lost."

Chaeyoung sarcastically chuckled at Dahyun. "What is this? Now you're concerned for me?"

"Don't be misintepret Chaeyoung. I didn't do it to be friends with you again. You can forget about it happening."

Her whole composure nearly gave up as her heart felt like it skipped some beats and her energy felt loosened after what she heard.

"I'm just doing this to open your eyes and stop fooling yourself. We both know you're better than that."

"You're completely delusional, aren't you?", Chaeyoung pushed Dahyun on her shoulder with a jab of her palm. "I don't know what are you exactly trying to do with all these nonsense-"

"Yeah, nonsense? Alright, say whatever excuses you got Chaeyoung but let me tell you this.", Dahyun interrupted Chaeyoung as her voice gone aggressive.

"You will never be one of them. You don't belong in that group because you are way beyond than them... and that would make them care less about you."

Dahyun finally gave Chaeyoung some space to take all of those words and reconsider things in her mind.

The possibilities and imaginations about it occuring had Chaeyoung uncomfortable thinking about all of it at once, fondling her fingers and lip bites to catch the adrenaline of concerns for herself.

4 HOURS LATER

Chaeyoung was just eating chips along with her gangmates on their base when one of their members who left after being commanded by Chanyeol returned with some filled plastic bags on both of his hands.

He placed it all on the table. Chanyeol stood up and checked all the contents. Chaeyoung got confused at what she saw.

They bought some bottles of strong beer and some snacks. "And the other one?", Chanyeol asked Lai, the accomplice that he tasked on this.

"It's here, boss." Lai reached for the pocket of her jacket and pulled out the thing inside to give to Chanyeol.

The rest became more interested as they saw what's placed in Chanyeol's hand.

"Boss, is that... a-are we doing drugs?" Sehun said, referring to some white pills wrapped in a plastic.

"We are." That sounded controversial, exchanges of looks was thrown by the members at each other including Chaeyoung who had the slight look of objection in her eyes.

"... but this isn't for us.", Chanyeol caressed it with his fingers. "We're going to give this to someone else."

"I invited Dahyun earlier to come here, right? She agreed which obviously she has to.", Chanyeol added . "She's gonna be here soon, and she doesn't know completely the plans I do have in mind for her tonight."

"Mind if you tell us, boss?"

Chaeyoung also listened more intently.

"Well, I just want to give her some appreciation for everything that she's done for us. ", Chanyeol confidently said. His head fell, eyes returned to the view of the pills again. "But... there's something more I would like her to do for us, and I won't be letting her even say yes or no for it."

"Dahyun... is indeed a very attractive woman. Such a shame nobody's interested at her just because of being a nerd overshadows her beauty.", Chanyeol frowned. The members agreed, nodding quickly while Chaeyoung's brows knitted at how suspicious he's getting.

"But I'm an observant one... and I would like to be one to try how good does she really is when she's out of her shell."

"So here's my plan. We're going to make her join us to drink and then, when she gets drunk... this pill inside of this plastic; would boost her sexual desires...."

"Oh shit! Boss, are you saying... we're going to have a taste of her too?"

"Exactly. Let's see how gorgeous she really is if we discard her innocent and smarty self."

Chaeyoung's widened as it finally sinked in what does Chanyeol is probably wanting to do to Dahyun.

She remembered what Dahyun told her a while ago, and it kept getting repetitive and louder inside her head like it does warns her of an impending bad situation she's going to regret if she won't prevent it.

"Damn! Man, I always wanted to spank and eat that meaty ass she got. Finally, the wait will be over later."

Chaeyoung heard that disgusting and vile comment coming from Sehun. She wasn't even aware that her glare got even intense and venomous as it directed to him after saying that. It sounded so wrong and illegal to her.

"Now let's just wait for her to come and begin. We're going to have fun tonight." All of them cheered like idiots. Chaeyoung just roamed her eyes at them, pissed and frustrated at how far they've gone through.

Dahyun was her former bestfriend, but deep inside she knows and she admits that Dahyun will forever be the one that will make her succumb and retreat in case something bad happens to her.

She just can't do it, hiding it behind her mask of her new self. She doesn't know, but at this situation going on... it seems that this is very inappopriate already and a huge cross out to her that she shouldn't be able to let this one pass this time.

For the first time, Chaeyoung would pick the right choice.

"No."

Chanyeol and the rest looked at her. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. I said no."

"Do you have any more to say, Chaeyoung?"

"I am. I want you all to leave her alone. Stop this. Let her now go.", Chaeyoung stood up from sitting at one of the empty boxes stored near the wall. "Like you said, she did what you tasked her to do. The deal was done, isn't it enough?"

Chanyeol squinted his eyes. "So you're saying..."

"Please, don't do anything to Dahyun. I told you, I'll handle her on my own. Leave her alone. We can just move on and target new ones but not her.", Chaeyoung's voice softened in plead. It's been a while since she has that tone when it regards to Dahyun.

"Now you're siding with her? What's with the change of heart, Chaeyoung? You can't pull the trigger anymore?"

Chanyeol stood up, walks and faces the troubled and guilty Chaeyoung.

"Too bad, I'm the one in charge here. I make the decisions around here and all you have to do, is to fall in line with us."

Chaeyoung looked up at Chanyeol and stares at him with angst.

"Fuck that. I'm done with this. I'm a nobody's bitch."

She slapped Chanyeol hard in the face reminiscence of what she did to Dahyun before. That was her symbol of answer, a choice, a loyalty... and a side to stand with.

"This doesn't have to be this way, Chaeyoung... but you left me no other choice. I'll do the honors for you instead."

In a snap, Chaeyoung bended her body and grasped her stomach in pain as Chanyeol heavily punched it.

"I knew you couldn't do it. You never changed. You will always be just like your friend and anyone we dominate in here: weak and pathetic."

"But you're even worse than them. You're a traitor."

One kick goes right to Chaeyoung's arm, she groaned in pain as her body fell to the ground.

"You used me to put you back together..."

Another kick but it connected to the leg this time. A teardrop escaped on Chaeyoung's poor eyes.

"I gave you what you wanted, a better company, welcomed you in when you felt alone and this is what you do to me in return!!!"

A slap fired through Chaeyoung's face, her cheeks reddened and stinged at the impact. The hit was so loud that even the members began to wince at how Chanyeol visibly looks even more outraged.

Chanyeol pulls her hair and tugged it upward, facing Chaeyoung who is now crying horribly in front of him.

"Remember this, from now on.... you just made the worst mistake of your life. Starting today, you and your ghostfreak friend, you both caused me a lot of problems, now I will make your highschool life a living hell.

"Boss, that's enough. You made her fear you now." Sehun went behind Chanyeol, putting his hand on top of his shoulder.

Chanyeol infuriatedly drops Chaeyoung's messy hair, falling back into the ground again and curl her body to ease all of the pain she's feeling somehow while she hurtfully cries at the abuse.

"She should've been that at the very start. Now I know she just treats me like a joke, I'm even more motivated to ruin their smiles.", Chanyeol snagged before spitting a saliva that went to Chaeyoung's sleeve due to lack of aim.

"Let's go somewhere to drink. I can't stand to see ghostfreak and this traitor all at once for now, we'll deal with them tomorrow."

They all brought their belongings with them as they left their dugout, leaving the recently evicted Chaeyoung in the ground; once again all alone by herself but this time, she did it for a great decision.

Few minutes later after the departure of the gang, Dahyun appeared at the scene wearing a simple casual attire. From the distance of the corridor, her eyes widened and face expanded in astoundment as she saw Chaeyoung wailing on the floor.

"Chaeyoung?"

She didn't reacted.

Dahyun made couple more steps forward to lure herself closer to her ex-friend.

"Chae- CHAEYOUNG!"

Now she ran and kneeled beside Chaeyoung. She assisted her to get up and there her features were presented to Dahyun, she sees nothing but disdain, destruction and shattered soul.

"What happened to you?!" Dahyun hastily asked Chaeyoung who is still heavily crying on her arms.

She still didn't speak. Dahyun made the adjustment instead by checking Chaeyoung's body. There, her heart cracked when she saw some bruises and wounds on her arm and legs, including a red spot in her cheek.

"THEY DID THIS TO YOU?!", Dahyun shouted. Chaeyoung just nodded.

"WHY?!"

"I... I-... I left their group."

"Y-you did w-what...?"

"I left their group... f-for you."

Chaeyoung didn't followed up more as she just snapped out from her consciousness, probably got tired out too much from what she suffered. She fell into slumber right on Dahyun who was only left confused at the last word she said.

"For me?" She repeated. She looked again at the resting Chaeyoung with eagerness to obtain the reason why.

------------------

"How did I-" Chaeyoung paused after lingering her eyes around her bedroom, lying down on her own personal bed.

"Dahyun?" She called the name of the girl sitting on the chair beside her closet, watching her freshly woke up from resting.

"You got hit pretty bad that you had to sleep for 5 hours." Dahyun nonchalantly asid, crossing her arms and legs while sitting.

She looked around the familiar interior of the room she's sharing with the person she used to know before too. "I thought even the designs of your room would change just like you, but I'm surprised you left it untouchable. It's been a long time since I can freely enter here whenever I want."

Chaeyoung went silent, revisiting those blocked memories she used to have with her in their childhood days. "H-how did you bring me here?"

"I carried you, you're still a lightweight.", Dahyun boastfully said. "What happened to you back there? Did you got all of those from them?"

Chaeyoung covered her body with her blanket more, feeling embarassed to reveal it at the person who was the one trying to warn her all along from having this happen. It's funny how the karma became reality just in a few hours following.

"N-no... only Chanyeol."

"What did you do to make him hurt you like that? I suppose that's the first time you. both had a physical altercation.", Dahyun guessed. "What did you mean... you left their group because you did it for me?"

Chaeyoung gulped, looking away from Dahyun. "I said t-that?"

"You did, not until you passed out from low energy." Dahyun replied. "So I'm asking you again and clarify it to me... what have you've done?"

Chaeyoung sighed and looked at Dahyun with her droopy eyes. "Earlier they... they were talking about you. Chanyeol wanted to do something on you."

"At our meetup?"

She nodded. "He instructed one of us to bought beers. He was suppose to invite you to drink with them and you have to accept it. I didn't even expected that they're something more that I never liked to discover."

"What do they want from me?", Dahyun continues to become authorative on her questions.

"They wanted to drug you, okay?! As you drink more and more, they want you to be sexually driven and... you know what's gonna happen next."

"Oh god..." Dahyun gasped. "W-what? They tried t-to take advantage-"

"They were also lusting about you like the perverts they were. I know we don't like each other but... hearing somebody about to get raped and me as a w-woman... did nothing about it, even f-for you... it just feels so wrong.", Chaeyoung bowed down her head.

Dahyun was speechless, still shocked and in disbelief that she almost put herself in that nightmare and trauma, but all thanks to Chaeyoung, her former friend; unexpectedly sacrificed her allegiance to backstab her entire gang just to save her.

Her lost in her thoughts ended instantly when all of a sudden, Dahyun heard a sniff and small soft cries coming from Chaeyoung.

She was covering her face, burying it on her palm.

"I don't understand... w-why did you have to help me. You shouldn't be doing this after everything I've done from you. I betrayed you. I left my only true friend and labeled her useless and unreliable. Why, Dahyun? Why did you have to heal me?!" Chaeyoung's anger, guilt and conflicted questions that she fired all at once at Dahyun made the volume of her tone increase in intensity.

Dahyun watched Chaeyoung finally took accountable of her wrongdoings. It felt nice to finally see herself at fault here, but it was still unfair for her on the other hand knowing and believing she does still have a part of mistakes here also.

"You're speaking as if you didn't do the same for me Chaeyoung." , Dahyun retorted. "If you want to know why... I'm actually not so sure either.", she shrugged.

"I couldn't help it. It was like an urge of redemption that I have to do. It felt like I was now finally proving myself that I can heal you it's just... I could've done it a lot better earlier. I could've been a better friend you're expecting me to be.", Dahyun clenches her fist, admitting her own fault also.

"No, you're not Dahyun.", Chaeyoung corrected. Dahyun looked at her in curiosity. "It was all me. I'm the one who looked at you falsely. You didn't have to pressure herself like that to improve for me, I could've done better also to make you feel that you are doing your role well.", she said while wiping the tears flowing from her eyes and cheeks.

"I didn't wanted to hurt your feelings and break your trust, Dahyun. Trust me, I wanted to approach you and fix my mistake many times... but I understand that you wouldn't want to see me."

"In my heart... y-you're still a friend to me. I saved you because after all this time... I still think about you. I'm concerned about you. You were right, i'm not suitable to be with them... and I couldn't believe I left the right one who can provide me the true meaning of what a real friendship should be."

Dahyun couldn't take it anymore. It was too much to contain, too much to resist, too much to act tough. Chaeyoung's words of regret, guilt and apology got her retreat on her emotions. Tears of her own began escaping also from her eyes.

"It should've been you, Dahyun. I should've stayed. I'm not hoping for you to forgive me, I'm just begging for you to understand because... we do are destined to fight forever."

Dahyun stood up from her chair and positioned herself near at Chaeyoung who is still crying hard.

"You're right. And I did mean what I said before. You can forget about us being friends...

... because we're sisters, Chaeyoung."

Chaeyoung slowly released her face from her hands and look at Dahyun. In her surprise, Dahyun was smiling at her with tears also streaming on her face. She was in the dark ever since she changed, and it does felt refreshing and completely relieving that there's a light who is willing to rescue her again.

Without any further ado, Dahyun extended her arms; signalling Chaeyoung to do one simple thing to make things assured and settled like they both always wanted to finally happen.

Chaeyoung removed the blanket around her and raised herself up, extending her own arms too as she accepted Dahyun's welcoming body for a warm, longing and forgiving hug.

"I missed you so much Dahyun. I'm very sorry." Chaeyoung said as she buried her face on Dahyun's crook.

"It's okay now, Chaeng. I'm sorry too and yes... I missed this. I missed us being like this.", Dahyun smiled, shutting her eyes close to indulge the great feeling of finally recovering the special person she lost in her life. Meanwhile, Chaeyoung smiled and blushed as she heard her sister call her by her favorite nickname again.

"Now that we are back together, there's only one more thing that matters and our newly reformed bond is the key for it, Chaeng. We have both common enemies now, and all we have to do is to get back against them."

Dahyun heard Chaeyoung hummed in agreement and her head bobbed either. Feeling inspired, uplifted and confident, with the assistance of Chaeyoung this time, she is now ready to beat Chanyeol and his gang and stop them from targeting other innocent students and end up like them.

The only question remains is... how?

That until, Chaeyoung had a bright idea on what they are going to do.

-------------------

THE NEXT DAY

"So... this is them?"

"Yeah."

Dahyun asked Chaeyoung, pointing at all three students that are standing in line in front of them; clueless at what is the purpose of being in here.

"Alright. Everyone, before we start... I have to introduce myself first. I am Kim Dahyun from Grade 11 and-"

"We already know her."

One of the two out of three female students blurted as she stares deadly at Chaeyoung who noticed and avoids it with shame. "Aren't y-you... one of Chanyeol's slaves? W-what is this? What are you going to-"

"Everyone, please listen to us." Dahyun interjected, defending her friend who is too speechless from a state of shock and terror. "Her name is Chaeyoung and yes, she did became a member from them... but that was before. She's now gone, she chose to quit from that unsafe gang.", Dahyun explained to them sincerely.

The other three students began muttering at each other before the student once again spoke to communicate further.

"S-she really did?"

"Yes. If she wouldn't, she wouldn't be standing here with me and..."

"... a-and... ask for your cooperation.", Chaeyoung took the turn to speak. Dahyun lets her and the students faced her altogether, they paid attention to her even more.

"H-how could we even give that t-to you if you haven't d-done anything to s-save us before?", the only guy in them three had difficulty breathing saying those words as the memory of his suffering at the hands of those unruly, sinister, troublesome teenagers.

"Because I-I'm doing this to help you guys this time.", Chaeyoung replies. She began to slowly lower her body to the ground until she was only in her knees. The three students including Dahyun were surprised at her manners.

"E-eh? M-Miss..."

"P-please... I'm begging you all. I'm heavily sorry for everything. I'm just a victim of Chanyeol's manipulative and authorative control including her beatdown he gave to me after I did the right thing.", Chaeyoung begs on her knees, bowing down her body to the ground as she grasped the hem of the dress of the student while crying.

"I want to redeem myself for each one of you. This time, I want him to be taken down, but knowing him... he's got backups. I'm alone, but I need ones too on my back.", Chaeyoung pleads to the female student on the middle. She monitors and saw how she's desperate and needy she looks. Three of them started to have their faces filled with wince and worry.

"I hope all of you accept and agree with me. I promise, again... I'll give you all the help I should've done if I wasn't get stolen by Chanyeol t-to my friend Dahyun here.", Chaeyoung looked at Dahyun who just gave her a small smile.

"C-can you stand up f-first, Miss Chaeyoung?"

"C-call me Chae. It's shorter." Chaeyoung followed the order of the student.

"If you do meant it so much and we all have the same despise to only one person and taste the medicine of his karma, w-we'll take it."

Chaeyoung and Dahyun's smile beamed brighter at the great news.

"Thank you so much! We truly appreciate it."

"If you guys want to do it too... then what shall we have to do?"

---------------

Dahyun and Chaeyoung were currently standing at the entrance of the canteen where many students are gathered to eat or order foods of their own choosing.

Among in this crowded place was Chanyeol and his gang joining somebody who looks very weak and shy as they kept on teasing him about immature jokes.

"He's there." Dahyun said as she mentioned Chanyeol's positive trace in the area.

"I'll go near them first. You know what to do next, okay?"

"Yeah, be careful. Try not to make it messier with them." Dahyun advised.

"It will be the difference from them. They cause chaos always, Dubu." Chaeyoung and enters and sealed her eyes across the ridiculous view.

"Why do you even eat too much of these?" Chanyeol problematically asked the little anxious guy. "No wonder why do you end up being thin as fuck like these french fries." They all burst into laughter as Chanyeol threw a piece straight through the victim's face.

"Enough. Leave him in peace, Chanyeol."

All of the gang rotated their heads at the source of that voice. Chanyeol knitted his brows and mouth agaped quizzically at why in the world would be their biggest problem just stood at their table without even preparing herself not to be embarassed by them.

"Look who just showed up.", Chanyeol gritted his teeth. "Speaking of the devil, huh."

"Don't worry, I'll let him go this time." He then threw all of the french fries at the shy student before standing up, removing himself on the seat and slowly went across Chaeyoung. "I'll give it to him, he's free.

"But this isn't going to be the same as you, Chaeyoung. Since you're here, now I got to invade your peaceful interactions or none rather, and you owe me a nightmare for you to suffer."

"Don't bother. Being your ally was way worse than a nightmare. I consider it as a curse."

"Watch your mouth you backstabbing shark. The audacity of you, I still haven't forget what you've done to us, you little traitor.", Chanyeol grabbed Chaeyoung's face and aggresively sank his fingers beneath the latters' soft flesh of her face.

"Then do something, bitch.", Chaeyoung grabbed Chanyeol's thump at her chin and catched it with a huge bite, enabling to sprung out Chanyeol's hand away from the girl as he screamed in pain.

"You're testing me now, huh. You aren't taking this seriously. You think I'm just playing a game with you." He gave his thunb some twirls, puff of air and peck of kiss to settle down the amount of pain it received.

"Let's raise the stakes then, let's get physical." Chanyeol then almost gave Chaeyoung's a strong blow of his fist ahead of the side of her head when in a blink of an eye, everyone was in shock including Chanyeol when Chaeyoung just catched his fist just in time.

"W-what the-"

She threw it away before Chaeyoung stood even more fearlessly at him, tiptoeing just to nearly match his menacing stare.

"Come on, hit me if you want. I wouldn't care less anymore. I'll just end up striking back harder than you can give."

"You must've gone crazy, dipshit!" Chanyeol landed a knee to Chaeyoung's midsection, kneeling down on her former master's feet.

All of the students and canteen servers watched the brawl between Chaeyoung and Chanyeol as all of them chanted "oooh" sounds whenever each of them exchanges a better attack.

Chanyeol tugged her hair upwards but Chaeyoung spun around and holds his wrist, twisting it around which elicited a groan from him. She drags it down, colliding the bone of his arms to her shoulder blade.

"GET HER!!!"

Chanyeol infuriatedly initiated all of his sidemen as they rushed over at different spots with the same motive: block her off while they take the turn to inflict pain on Chaeyoung after.

In tight spot and outnunbered situation, Dahyun saw the male bullying victim of Chanyeol running in straight return back to her standing figure.

"Have you done it?" Dahyun asked him.

"Yes, Dahyun-noona." He nodded. He was about to give back a USB device to Dahyun when she ignored and pushed it in his chest instead.

"No, keep that with you for a moment. I'll go there and protect Chaeyoung."

Chaeyoung guarded the other three's actions as she quickly turns her head, only to be caught by distraction when Chanyeol kicked her between one of her knee, sending her to fall in the floor with her other one supporting the impact.

Chanyeol headlocked Chaeyoung, wrapping both of his arms around her neck. "WHAT? YOU CAN'T BREATHE? I CAN SHUT THE LIFE OUT OF YOU RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW IF I WANT."

"Hey."

One of the gang members who are grinning and watching Chaeyoung slowly get choked by their leader felt his back being poked.

He turned around, only to met by a brutal smack on the face by Dahyun using her shoe.

"D-Dahyun." She heard Chaeyoung's gurgled voice as she tries to break away from Chanyeol's trap.

Before she was about to help Chaeyoung, the rest charges to Dahyun but the latter avoided it with some dodges.

Chaeyoung was about to get knocked out from Chanyeol's headlock but she unleashes one last attempt at him, grabbing both of his eyes and forcefully scratches it as he screamed in pain.

Meanwhile, Dahyun received a blow to her back from Lai as she got finally caught after dealing first with the other one named Doyoung.

"EVERYONE OF YOU, STOP THE FIGHT!"

Sehun's about to slap her when his hand stopped mid-air just in time to look himself clearly the ones who are the suspects of this ruckus.

They just realized that it was such a bad timing and a screwed up moment from them. All of them were literally standing while Dahyun and Chaeyoung are on the floor, groaning in pain at the hits they took.

"PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE. NOW. ALL OF YOU WILL GET EXCUSED FROM YOUR CLASSES FOR THIS."

The principal shouted at all six of them who hesitatedly followed him as they walked by pair. Dahyun and Chaeyoung lets out one last glare at the gang especially Chanyeol who already look like he can commit a murder anytime.

The boy who ran to Dahyun and was about to lend back her USB device remained on his palm as he played it while watching them enter the office with anxiousness in his face as he joined by his two other fellow victims.

"Will they be okay?" The girl with the nametag that has Eunchae written on it asked.

"The truth always prevails." The boy named Jun said with his voice full of hope and assurance.

"Let's just wait and see what's gonna happen." The other one with them named Yujin said which Jun and Eunchae both nodded their heads.

Few minutes later, Dahyun and Chaeyoung exits the office first to avoid conflict in case they are plotting something to hurt each other again, especially as how they can tell from the losers based from the judgment created by the principal.

They both saw Jun, Eunchae and Yujin sitting at one of the benches outside the building.

"UNNIES!!!" They all stood up in sync. "What happened?!"

Dahyun and Chaeyoung looked at each other, a smile slowly appeared in their faces.

"We won."

All of them felt a huge relief and a breath of fresh air to inhale on their lungs as they finally managed to defeat those gangs that brings horror to this entire campus.

"Thanks to the USB that you sent Jun to the guidance office, they watched the video we made regarding your confessions about their bullying issues and even heard it personally from you guys... they considered it as an essential evidence." Chaeyoung explained.

In addition, it was proven immediately with no further investigation needed when Irene enters the principals office to interrupt the meeting and lets him watch the video she was recording.

Unbeknownst to Chanyeol and his gang, this is the first time that somebody dared to record their sinful acts when Irene records them bullying a guy before being interrupted by Chaeyoung.

As they left the principals office, they both thanked Irene as she excused herself to attend an organization meeting.

"It was reported immediately to the principal and there, including what he just witnessed at the cafeteria; they made up their mind even more to give them the worst punishment. They got expelled while us... well, we just have to go to a detention for 5 hours for being involved in the cafeteria fight." Dahyun chuckled and rubbed her nape.

"Wait... so does that mean we won't be able to s-see them ever again h-here?" Jun stutteredly said in bewilderment.

Dahyun nodded. The three felt like they are about to cry in joy.

All three of them ran at Dahyun and Chaeyoung and enveloped them in a group hug of appreciation.

"T-thank you... thank you unnies so much. We can finally go to school without being afraid by something we didn't deserve."

Dahyun and Chaeyoung hummed and expressed their willingness to help as they returned the pleasure of doing it.

As all of them left, Dahyun and Chaeyoung remained in their spot.

"So..."

"Yeah... hehe..."

They acted awkward at each other, struggling to compose theirselves at interacting together.

"We finally got what we wanted."

"Yeah, it's completely deserving of them. How do you feel?", Chaeyoung pondered.

"Me? It felt like... I'm available again. There's no one to stand in my way now on... bringing you back to me again." Dahyun said as she watched the other students strolling around the campus. "You?"

"I feel free and peaceful. I'm no longer jailed in his prison and... the alluring devilish voices of lies he kept on inserting in my head, it's all quiet now."

Dahyun nodded understandably. She looked at Chaeyoung, urging the latter to do the same for her.

"I know we had our own worlds apart in months. It made us think that we're destined to hate one another but... now I realized, we did started as something special."

"We are more than just bestfriends. We've had a sisterly bond that evolved throughout all of our childhood years. So, despite we got betrayed and be mad at ourselves; we are still fated that someday we will resolve our problems and our lives become related again..., we're sisters Chaeyoung. I can't leave you and so as you. At the end of the day, it will always just be you and me supporting each other through our toughest times."

"Forgiveness is anything and family is forever.", Chaeyoung said as she smiled with her dimples visible on her blushing cheeks. "It was indeed true, because I got to experience it with you Dahyun. Even after everything we'e gone through, we still end up looking for one another in the end."

Brought by their emotions and desire to reconcile to gain closure for their own, they hugged each other and at last, the feeling of happiness, thankfulness and lack of loneliness was one again had its strong presence revived that will only revolve between the both of them.

"I missed you so much, Chaeng. Welcome back." Dahyun said, clutching the back of her head as she pulled her closer on her more.

"I missed you too so much Dubu. I won't ever leave again, I only have one more chance remaining, I won't waste it anymore.", Chaeyoung sweared in return.

They stayed in others embrace for half a minute before they seperated as they hooked each other's head with their arms while they began to walk side by side.

"Hey, since we have 10 more minutes before detention; can we go to Building C for a while? I have a pineapple cake order to pick up from my Taiwanese friend that I just met few days ago.", Dahyun requested.

"Oh yeah sure, no problem. Wait, you said Taiwanese? She's an exchange student or what?"

"Nope, transferee. She's so nice and uhh... tall." Dahyun showed a silly grin. Chaeyoung saw that and half-lidded her eyes as she observes.

"Yah! Are you teasing me?"

"No! What are you saying, I didn't do it on purpose! I swear she's really tall. I even had to raise my head a bit just to make eye contact with her. Have you ever forgot I'm also short like you?" Dahyun chuckled. "Although... I'm just inches taller than you."

"Yah! We just got back together and you're being like this to me already." Chaeyoung pouted. Dahyun laughed and patted her baby beast on the shoulder.

"Stop sulking now, we'll go eat those cakes during detention hours. Sounds good?"

"Really?", Chaeyoung's face enlightened.

"Yup."

"Yayyy! Brooo!!!" the cub offered their classic handshake they made before which brought them back to another jolly parts of the memories they've created together before which couldn't ever be forgotten.

Dahyun high-fived her buddy back, gripped her hand and rattles it slightly before letting go with some explosive-like hand gesture. "Brooo!!!"

"I'll have you meet her. You two would get along, I promise." Dahyun smiled. They entered the building again and head through the stairs to climb up onto the next floor to search that foreign student together.

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