#seokkyung

[theconfissoestravelerblog]

Elas eram irmãs gêmeas 😔💔

[curi0us-gh0st]

Mama's Girl Pt.2 (Shim Suryeon)

pairings: Shim Suryeon x Fem!Reader, Joo Seok Kyung x Fem!Reader.

word count: ± 3k

genre: angst, fluffy.

summary: you don't have to do anything to make them fall into their own pits of problems.

warnings: abuse of power, revenge, anger, use of weapons, sadness, crying, suggestive of murder and suicide (?), mention of life after death (?).

a/n: some scenes inspired by the drama.

Family Line; 1 / 2

We all know the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression. Therefore, always at a stage as forgotten as it is most often invalid. Revenge. Everyone who has ever felt the thirst to avenge both their dignity and the desire to kill that feeling.

Knowing that actions due to this thirst and feeling would bring consequences to yourself, although everything pointed to this, that karma would also affect you, you didn't care, you didn't wait for karma to do it on its own. So when you infiltrated the Palace hotel, that's how it all began, your own revenge was beginning, your own quest to avenge your daughter on the vermin that lived in that penthouse.

It was so easy to get in that I thought it would be quick, but it wasn't. Revenge is a dish best eaten cold and slowly, it took about two months to plan everything, leaving nothing missing, every detail thought out in detail, no one would be left out. Nobody.

Invitations were posted to each family member involved, placed on their desks, closets, bags, and mails, where they would find them quickly. The day was set, arriving like a storm, the atmosphere tense among the members, all suspicious and anxious, even suspecting their own shadow.

Only one person was strangely different from the others, the pain in his eyes, the inner fight that he was slowly losing, the bitter and killing feeling gnawing at his being, thoughts not so different from when he saw you in the hospital, the guilt slowly killing him , slowly dying. Why Shim Suryeon?

Excluding Shim Suryeon's depressed and silent being, other people caught his attention while in the luxurious penthouse. The tearful and muffled requests from the other side, making your heart tighten in your chest, intrusive thoughts, how could someone be so cruel?

His eyes searching for someone else in the large room, silence to the requests, his body moving towards the clamor. The metal door, the hand going to the lever and opening it, the girl fell to her knees in front of her, crying louder as she asked for forgiveness several times, her chest hurt, her maternal side pushing her body to kneel in front of the girl , hold your face in your hands and pull out a few strands of your hair.

Her eyes met, her face full of tears, her cheeks and the tip of her nose red, sniffling realizing that it wasn't the person who trapped her. Your expression went from something empathetic to amazed, looking at the girl's features, your heart racing, a nervous feeling running down your spine, the world stopping for you. It looked like her, so almost like her, but it wasn't her, Min Seol Ah.

"W-who are you?" She asked with a blurry voice, almost voiceless from asking to be released.

Her brain stopped at the question, you quickly let go of her face and stood up as if you had just seen a ghost. She wasn't much different, getting up soon after, wiping her face with the back of her hand, waiting for his answer.

"I… I'm the cleaning lady!" She lied. "I heard you and came to see what was going on. In fact, look at the dirt!"

She ran to the cart pretending to be cleaning something, the girl was surprised, not wanting to continue with that stranger, she left, leaving her alone in the room, a sigh of relief leaving her lips until she left that place, leaving no trace.

𖤐⭒๋࣭ ⭑⋆·˚ ༘ *

The night came like any other, she sat on the bed, facing the door, the time was getting later and later, seeming to wait for someone who would never come through it. Missing, anguish, pain. A mixture that made your stomach turn and turn, the hope of waking up from this nightmare was lost when calls were not answered, messages were not answered, when the entrance did not open to reveal the smile that lit up your life.

The noise of her cell phone interrupted her moment, calling and seeing another of Suryeon's many messages, eager for a response, for attention, for love, wanting to share the same pain that was caged in her chest, in the darkest and gloomiest place.

“Hello, Y/N.

How are you?

I'm sorry, I should have known you weren't okay.

In fact, nothing is.

I paid the hospital bill.

I don't want to redeem myself with this, I know you're not that type.

I... Well, I don't know.

Sorry."

4:00 am

“Y/N.

Can we meet?

I want to talk.

Please.

I want to see you.

I want to know if you're okay.

Can you answer me?

Am I bothering you?

Sorry, I'm sorry.

It's not my intention.

I really need you right now."

7:00 am

"What you been doing?

Have you changed your number?

Did you leave Seoul?

Where are you?

I can go?

I want to be with you.

There are things I need to talk about in person.

Y/N, Min Seol Oh, she…

Was she happy?

How small was she?

Did she look like you?

What did she like?

Forgive me, I don't know what I'm doing..."

10:00 am

"I bought some flowers and placed them on her grave.

I didn't know what color she liked So I bought one of each.

I talked to a friend today.

He said you can see the messages.

I think you are seeing them and reading them.

Answer me.

No.

I accept your silence."

15:00 pm

"I think I owe you a lot.

I won't be able to pay in this life.

Maybe next time."

23:50 pm

"In the next life.

Where we can be happy."

23:55 pm

*message deleted*

"In the next life,

I will pay for every wrong I did to you.

I know.

I look like a teenager.

So I love being the best of everything,

Imagine when it hurts to be so mean to you...

The pain of being so insufficient.

Your forever ended after meeting me.

I healed old wounds and ended up creating new ones.

I'm sorry, Min Y/N.

It hurts too much to admit that love alone is not enough and does not solve everything.

Hurt so much. I wanted so much,

I still managed to pretend I didn't love you."

00:10 am

The dawn followed like any other, bottles of soju next to the bed, the cell phone vibrating with each message arriving. You didn't think about how she was saying that, but you know, loving is good, therefore, forgetting too, living with and living without, you can say that it healed and there was no aftereffect.

In the morning at the penthouse, that smile appeared on Shim Suryeon's beautiful face, but it no longer affected you, it no longer despaired you. You barely remember your phone number, you don't know when you met, whether it was in winter or autumn, or whether you broke up in summer, you no longer know your favorite color, the wound that formed has healed and you are no longer afraid. of farewell. She no longer dreams or has nightmares, she no longer hates or desires, her eyes no longer fill with water, she no longer feels drowned, reading her messages or letters.

It doesn't matter whoever made the mistake was left behind. It doesn't matter if there's someone else, or if he's going to give her back, if he shows up in front of her house, he'll pretend he's not there, a way of saying he doesn't want to see her or talk to her, the most polite way he's found to deal with her. Looking at her face, and not remembering the beginning, you don't know her anymore, did she really exist or was it just something you invented? How much did she feel? How much did you give yourself? When did she lose you? When did she not see? The fact is that she gave up, she didn't go after it or look for it, she didn't lose her hunger or sleep, but she didn't care who she was with or where you were, she even smiled when they asked about her love and she almost forgot your name, she didn't remember your perfume, your birthday. Stuffing her face like anyone else who just lost their love, she pretending she didn't know you when she saw you walking with Seol Ah, years ago.

𖤐⭒๋࣭ ⭑⋆·˚ ༘ *

Her heart grew cold, her fists clenched and she reminded herself why she was here. Wanting to see the pain and suffering of those people, to make her feel what her daughter felt, alone.

Everyone invented an excuse to leave the house at dusk, everyone inventing an excuse to find you, in that abandoned dump, far from the city, an inappropriate place for those who didn't see where their trash was dumped. The first to arrive behind someone, entering their cage, one by one, getting scared by the presence that arrived as they went along, trying to find the reason why everyone was there.

Jumping in fright as they were about to give up when the door of the old bus closed and the fire spread around them, fear and nervousness forming a tense and agonizing atmosphere. The masked person holding a shotgun, making the rich tremble at just the sight, but that doesn't mean that even though they were nervous, they didn't feel superior. Banging against the fence, asking to leave, asking who that person was, what the hell they were doing there.

"What the hell- Who are you?!" One of the men shouted, the feeling of knowing that voice, a familiar feeling.

"Release us, now!" One of the women shouted as if bossing you, what is she thinking?

Raising the shotgun towards them who ducked for cover, a Latin smile overshadowed by the mask.

“Min Seol Ah.”

They looked at each other, now I understand what it was about, murmurs being heard in the distance. An ignorant laugh that made his hands grip the gun more firmly, determined to do his worst.

"What are you? Some kind of avenger? Is that it? An avenger for that bastard girl?" The arrogant speech making anger course through the veins.

"Shut up! You don't know what the fuck you're talking about, you didn't even know her, you little shits!" The scream was thunderous, chills running down the spines of some present.

"You wouldn't have the courage to do that, of course."

What the hell is that woman thinking? Who does she think she is to say such a thing? Damn it, her body will rot with maggots tonight. A tightening of the jaw, the weapon being positioned, aiming at its target, hatred, rancidity, making soup in your stomach.

"That's what we'll see." They stopped quickly with the speech and positioning of the masked shooter.

A noise right next to him made him look away and a pistol was aimed at the unexpected guest. The eyes behind the mask being met with frightened eyes, standing a distance away.

"Shim Suryeon!" "Are you behind all this?!" The screams and accusations were heard from a long distance now, just staring at the woman standing still, her eyes red and her breathing unsteady.

"Hey…" Her voice, low and shaky. "I need you to control yourself." Her soft tone sounded not far from where she stood, eyes inspecting the inmates and returning to her.

“I know what you’re feeling right now, Y/N…” She said your name quietly. "The anger and the pain and the hate in your chest, I know you want revenge, you want to see them pay for it. But, it's not worth it. You know." Comprehensive.

"This won't make Min Seol Ah come back, much less make her pain go away…" The head lolling to the side, trying to find some lie in the strangely familiar eyes. "I'll let them go, please, darling…"

A huff left her lips, irritated. If she were without her mask, she could see his eyes rolling at his rather famous speech. The pistol lowered, turning to those trapped people, muttering and speculating Suryeon's unexpected appearance.

"Screw this." The voice cursed, before quickly disappearing from that place, leaving them trapped, screaming for freedom. Suryeon determined to go after you, I let go once again.

𖤐⭒๋࣭ ⭑⋆·˚ ༘ *

“So, Madam Oh..” The voice sounded so calm in such a desperate moment. "How it was?"

“Oh! What the hell are you talking about? What do you want?" She screamed as fear spread through her tiny body as she struggled to stop the other woman.

An almost devilish smile appeared on the lips of the woman in front of the car, she pushed some more as the woman screamed to stop.

“What was it like letting my daughter fall off that damn penthouse, huh?” The question made the woman's body stop instantly.

"No. I don’t… That’s not… How do you know?” Her eyes glazed over, fear radiating from her body.

Reaching inside his coat and taking out an apple necklace, burnt and half destroyed.

“All this for what? What should I do with you? Let me see…” A silence appeared in the air being replaced by thunder. “Maybe, I should kill your daughter? What do you think?"

The eyebrows raised, suggestive and almost funny, a dark tone hovering between the speech.

"No!" She screamed.

“Hey, why not? Isn't that what you did to Seol Ah? Pushing from the balcony?”

"No! No! No! You are crazy! That is not what happened! You crazy!"

She continued screaming, a small alarm on her cell phone waking her up at the moment.

“That’s what we’ll see, Madam Oh.”

“Yoonhee.

Was you?"

03:33 am

"No."

03:34 am

𖤐⭒๋࣭ ⭑⋆·˚ ༘ *

The man found himself in the room seeing the girl behind bars, her face a little bruised, short hair different from before she was admitted, anger flowing through her veins.

"What are you doing here?" She muttered staring at the man in the suit.

"One moment." He replied, picking up a phone as he talked to someone else on the line, the girl approaching the bar.

“What the hell are you doing here?!” She screamed and the voice on the other end of the line caught her attention, her mother's voice.

"She does not know? Why don’t you tell the truth, Shim Suryeon?” He gave his smug smile as he stared at the girl.

"What I do not know?!" She screamed again. "Mother!"

“That Min Seol Ah was your twin sister.” He said amid protests on the other end of the line, looking the girl in the eyes.

“That’s not true… That’s a lie… That’s not…” The girl muttered.

She quickly grabbed the man's tie pulling him against the bars, hurting him, the doctors quickly got him out of there while the girl screamed curses and her own thoughts.

A long moment as he processed the new information, all these years of hurting a single person to alleviate his internal problems, his wounded heart dying as time passed, Seok Kyung didn't even notice when the nurse entered the room, approaching to take care of him. your injuries.

“Hello, Miss Joo, I came to take care of your injuries.” The voice was calm, as if speaking to a small child. "Do not worry about a thing."

The woman approaches the girl who looked like a dog after being beaten, cowering in the corner of the room. She lifted a small cotton ball, placing it on the girl's cut mouth, who moaned from the sting, cleaning the blood and applying medicine immediately afterwards.

She got down on her knees, holding the side of her face and brushing away the strands of hair, taking another piece of cotton to clean the wound on her head, the girl fighting back in pain. The eyes focusing on the things the nurse brought, then focusing on the eyes, those eyes... A feeling of familiarity being prevented by the mask, Seok Kyung raising his hand to take it off and the nurse walking away.

"Ready. You look brand new.” Her eyes closing, smiling behind her mask. “Be careful not to take off the Band-Aids.”

“Wait…” The girl said holding the nurse’s wrist. “Do I… Do I know you?” The voice gradually disappears, the woman leaving, leaving the girl alone behind bars.

“I always wondered what Min Seol Ah would look like with short hair.” The woman said before leaving the room, leaving a distraught Seok Kyung behind.

𖤐⭒๋࣭ ⭑⋆·˚ ༘ *

“I never thought we would be here…” The woman said with bright eyes and a pained smile on her lips.

“Maybe, I always thought about that…” The other replied looking ahead at the woman in front of her.

The car stopped on the cliff, the dark forest being illuminated by the moonlight that hit the side below, a silence filled with pain, sadness and regret.

"Forgive me for…"

"No. You don’t have to do this, I promise.”

The arms around the body tightening a little more, the desire to merge and live together, this time, happily.

“I don't blame you and I don't want your excuses, just like I don't want to give you mine which would just be lies to ease your pain and my pain now... So, life makes crazy things happen, but don't blame yourself completely for that."

Her eyes filling with tears, her heart breaking into millions of pieces, the desire to go back in time and change everything wrong.

“In the end, you will always come back to me… Just as I will come back to you. Thank you, Shim Suryeon.”

A smile in the midst of sadness appearing on the lips, a mutual feeling, the past coming together one last time, maybe it's not so bad.

“Thank you, Y/N… I love you. I always loved you."

Lips meeting one last time, a single desire, a single feeling, a bittersweet feeling, awakened since the day one of them left and only one loved nothing, a last whisper of love echoing in their lives now, without meaning. One step closer to the tip, arms around each other, as the moon witnesses the last moment of togetherness, the last moment of love, the last breath of this life.

Maybe in another life...

𖤐⭒๋࣭ ⭑⋆·˚ ༘ *

I'm so good at telling lies.

This came from my mother's side,

She told a million to survive.

God, I have my mother's eyes

But it's my sister's when I cry.

I can run, but I can't hide

From my family lineage.

“Hey Seok Kyung, come quickly!”

The girl ran to catch up with the rest of the family, holding her twin sister's hand, as a small red line passed between them, connecting them.

The looks and smiles on their faces as they ran across the large field, the smell of nature and the warm feeling that warmed their hearts, family.

“I love you, Shim Suryeon.”

“I love you too, Min Y/N.”

“We love you too, mommies!”

[riecurrents]

THROUGH THE CRACKS | CHAPTER 2

HA EUNBYEOL x JOO SEOKKYUNG

SYNOPSIS: Two wounded souls, bound and haunted by their past mistakes, meet again while embarking on a journey of remolding and forgiveness. How do they make each other realize that correcting their mistakes also involves the need to forgive themselves? Read on AO3

TAGS: post-canon, hurt/comfort, feel-good, slow burn, eventual romance, mental health issues (mostly on eunbyeol's part), trauma, angst, fluff, cohabitation, additional tags to come

READ CHAPTER 1 HERE

Since then, Eunbyeol and Seokkyung have stayed in contact. They have lots to talk about this time, after all.

“Giving me a daffodil to earn my forgiveness? What a fool, you think I’m that easy?” “Come on, the florist plucked it out for me with lots of love!” “She might as well give you money then! Money is the greatest form of love!” “Shut that, Joo Seokkyung! You sound like an evil man wanting to take over mankind out of money.” “You mean like my father?” “Oh god, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—” and all shenanigans Seokkyung says to tease Eunbyeol of her so-called seeking forgiveness agenda.

Deep inside, Seokkyung knows more than anyone that Eunbyeol owes her nothing. There’s nothing that Seokkyung needs to forgive Eunbyeol for because all the things she had done were not just her fault. The bullying? The two of them instigated it with their own free will. Her mother’s death? Eunbyeol was merely shackled by Cheon Seojin. If that were her mom, she would’ve done worse. She knows it herself. 

“I’ve been taking a walk around the church compound, something I’ve never done since I got there.”

“Wow, you’re a hermit in the making,” Seokkyung fakes a gasp. “What made you touch grass then?”

“Well, you said you’re trying to find more side jobs. So I went through asking around if there’s one available,” then Eunbyeol enthusiastically hands her a couple of crumpled pamphlets. “And I’ve seen these plastered at the post lights.” Then she proceeds to scatter the postings one by one in front of the befuddled Seokkyung. “Waitress, homeschool tutor, and, uh… Janitress at the Mookwon building—but I hope you don’t accept this because I visited that place after seeing the job posting. It’s so big you might end up straining your body.”

“You must be kidding me,” Seokkyung’s mouth hangs open and it’s all she has managed to say.

“O-oh, why?” And now Eunbyeol seems flustered. “Did I go too far? I’m sorr—”

“I forgive you for your sins,” Seokkyung cuts her off, nodding, still wide-eyed at the pamphlets she’s reading one by one this time around. “Who knows you could be an angel if you tried?”

“Oh stop, you!” Eunbyeol reddens. For some reason, she still couldn’t get used to Seokkyung’s sharp mouth. If she had the gall to point it out, she wants the girl to stop being snarky and teasing all the time. It never fails to fluster her! “A-anyway, I didn’t do that for free, okay? You promised me you’d visit the church someday.”

“Oh…” Seokkyung seems to have totally forgotten about it, making Eunbyeol’s pout more apparent. “Heh, just kidding! Didn’t I tell you I’d do that in exchange for you visiting my class one of these days? Look at you being here at my table! Seriously, you don’t need to do this much for me.”

Eunbyeol could only smile. Well, she seems like she'd gone too far after all. It’s just that the thought of Seokkyung working near her residence fills her with warmth for some reason. Maybe Seokkyung’s right that fateful day they met at the cafe. Maybe she really has no friends to hang out with.

“But I’ll be sure to check these out,” Seokkyung beams at her, that bunny-like smile brightening Eunbyeol’s features. “I’ll pay you back with this effort one of these days, okay?”

There’s no need, really. Eunbyeol thinks to herself. Her presence is more than enough to keep her at ease. Who would’ve thought? The past Eunbyeol could never imagine clinging to Seokkyung subtly this way.

Seokkyung’s class comes, but not before she tours Eunbyeol all over the school first. The tiny art school was far from the grandeur of Cheong-Ah, but Seokkyung seems surprisingly at home in it. Watching her in action—pointing here and there, scolding running children in the hallway, glaring at the couple doing a public display of affection at a secluded spot, among others—is actually entertaining.

Now, Eunbyeol is seated at the back of the room, watching Seokkyung conduct the students. They abruptly halt when Seokkyung hisses sharply, immediately intimidated by the short gesture.

“Alright, kids, that was…” Seokkyung’s eyes narrow, taking a long, dramatic pause, then sighs. “Utterly despicable. Are you guys listening to yourselves? You can't be serious!” she groans, disappointment palpable.

Eunbyeol shakes her head in dismay all the while stifling her laugh. What a temper this teacher has. She just knows the students talk about her badly after class.

“But! Thank me because I’m your ever-so-passionate teacher and I’m sooo thrilled to watch you improve from sick frogs into actual loving singers!” The shift in demeanor made the students flinch. Some things never change, Eunbyeol could only say to herself. “Here’s my friend who used to be one of the pioneers in Cheong Ah Arts, Ha Eunbyeol! Come on, Eunbyeol, give them a piece.”

The students start whispering to each other upon hearing the familiar name. Eunbyeol hears them mentioning Cheon Seojin at one point while she makes her way to the front of the room—not that it surprised her, it’s indeed a controversial name known by aspiring singers and the like. That’s why Eunbyeol is so thankful Seokkyung didn’t introduce her as the then primadonna’s child. It’s as though she understands what it takes to separate oneself from a parent who has been your extension for so long.

Seokkyung doesn’t need to hush them to acquire silence, because as soon as Eunbyeol starts singing, all of them are quickly in awe. Well, Seokkyung isn’t excluded from the charm of her voice. Not only has it been a very long time since Eunbyeol sang in front of her, but she's also singing a song that has been the trademark of Bae Rona, Lascia ch'io pianga.

Rona, the girl whom Eunbyeol had deeply wronged.

Let me weep my cruel fate,

Seokkyung can only watch in silence. Eunbyeol sounds different than her usual strong croons. There’s a charming lilt to her voice, one more liberated contrary to the then Eunbyeol onstage guided by the then primadonna.

So that I may sigh at my lost freedom.

Seokkyung could notice the limitations brought by the slash Eunbyeol had inflicted on her own neck that fateful day in the trial court, but it never made it less beautiful. It lacks the pressure, the conscious gazing, the anxiety lurking underneath the big smile as she hits a falsetto.

Let me weep my cruel fate, so that I may sigh at my lost freedom.

If one would squint, unaware of the facet of whatever Eunbyeol is trying to reclaim, they would see it clearly while she sings. When Seokkyung heard Rona sing it at the big stadium for the first time, she wept, remembering all that’s lost and those they’re trying to live on. If not for her students watching right now, she would’ve cried too. But this time with Eunbyeol, she chooses to smile—proudly so—for the kindness crooning out of Eunbyeol’s once shattered and rotten heart.

Grief may shatter the bonds of my sufferings out of pity alone

Eunbyeol has already come so far, maybe even farther than Seokkyung could ever go—she knows it herself. If there’s someone in this sinful world who would deserve most redemption and forgiveness—as much as she wants it to be her—it would be no other than the girl singing in front of her. Eunbyeol whom she thinks never got the privilege of a mom as kind as Suryeon’s, and yet is trying her best to live with it and atone for being Seojin’s daughter.

She owns herself the same way she owns her and her mother’s sin.

And not everyone in this world could go that far.

Seokkyung hid her face from the students to wipe a tear.

When the students are dismissed and Seokkyung busies herself fixing the chairs, Eunbyeol approaches with a teasing glint in her eyes. “So, how was it? Not so pioneer Cheong-Ah student now, am I?”

Seokkyung looks at her, eyebrows arched. “Who would’ve known Ha Eunbyeol’s most captivating performance would not be onstage, but in a measly classroom five times smaller than Cheong Ah’s? Not so pioneer indeed, how are you hide that from the school that brought you up?!”

Eunbyeol’s laugh echoes all over the room, pleasuring Seokkyung’s ear unknowingly. “But speak of, I pity your kids! My goodness, Seokkyung, don’t you think that was a bit harsh? They’re not from Cheong-Ah.”

Seokkyung rolls her eyes, arms crossed. “Come on, they deserve it! Have you ever heard them sing? If that performance were an audition, they wouldn’t even make it into a karaoke bar!”

Eunbyeol tsks, shaking her head. “Maybe have a little patience? You know, encouragement goes a long way. Not every student can be scolded into greatness like we were back then.”

“Oh, believe me, I’ve tried encouragement,” Seokkyung lets out an exasperated sigh. “They need something stronger—like divine intervention.” But her expression softens just a bit when her gaze lands at Eunbyeol. “Oh well, you should’ve seen their faces when you sang for them—they looked positively hopeless.”

At this, Eunbyeol’s cheeks flushed a soft pink. She looks down, fumbling with the strap of her bag. If this remark comes from someone like Seokkyung, it is indeed praise worth noting. It makes it even harder for her to believe. She touches the scar on her neck, the very scar that has ruined her singing for good. “You’re… being nice. You don’t have to say that just because we’re friends.”

But then, Seokkyung seems to know that for a fact. She raises an eyebrow, her gaze unwavering as she snarks, “Haven’t you figured out that I don’t sugarcoat things?”

And so the latter could only smile shyly, the compliment settling in her chest like a pleasant warmth. Her elderly choirmates have always praised her, but now, for some reason, it sounds different with Seokkyung. This time, her praises are holding weight, something about it that makes her feel flustered in a way she couldn’t quite explain.

Actually, the fluster has been happening more often than she cares to admit.

“Alright, alright,” Eunbyeol manages to say, clearing her throat as she gathers herself. “Well, I’m flattered… I think.” Then a small laugh follows suit as she looks away. “But you could still go a little easier on them. I’m sure they’re doing their best.”

Seokkyung rolls her eyes, a glimmer of playful mischief in it. After all, lately, she seems to have a hard time denying Eunbyeol. “Fine, fine. I’ll try to be nicer. Just don’t expect me to start handing out hugs and compliments every time they sing in tune.”

“Oh god. Wouldn’t want you to break character, don’t worry.” The latter shudders at the thought of it, though it doesn’t seem that bad if Eunbyeol thinks about it. “I think they’d be too scared if you suddenly got all sweet on them.”

The warmth lingers for the rest of the afternoon especially whenever she thinks of Seokkyung’s words. Her honesty—although unfiltered most of the time—makes Eunbyeol admire her in a manner she hasn’t felt before, not in a long time at least. They part ways when evening comes, leaving Eunbyeol with a bubbling warmth in her chest.

Much to her oblivion, however, Seokkyung would feel the exact way weeks after, when she finally visits Eunbyeol’s choir practice.

At first, she finds herself sitting at the back of the church, croons of the elderly voices surrounding her as they rehearse. Eunbyeol seems to lead them, completely in her element, voice soft but commanding, as though she was born to do just that—to nurture the singing voices of people whose caliber might never even meet hers. Seokkyung watches, in awe, as she witnesses a Cheon Seojin if she instead became a teacher more passionate and gentler, merely smiling and chuckling at the mistakes her students commit, and having them really hung on to her every instruction. She can't tear her eyes away from Eunbyeol as she gently corrects the altos and nods in approval whenever her sopranos hit the right note. Eunbyeol is loved here, respected, and it’s clear she deserves it after everything she has gone through.

As much as Seokkyung doesn’t want to admit, this way of teaching bears fruit at the end of the practice because they have sung surprisingly well. A bunch of amateurs have managed to tickle Seokkyung’s ears, all because of Eunbyeol’s gentle teaching. What a day worth noting.

But most importantly, she’s afraid Eunbyeol might be wrong. These people are more than just choir members or friends as she claims so—they are like family to her, doting on her with affection that reminded Seokkyung of a time long past, a time when things were simpler when Eunbyeol was just a snarky little teenager who lives off people’s praises.

“Seokkyung!” Eunbyeol calls her out in surprise, her yelp snapping her back from the ponders. Seems like she had spotted Seokkyung in the back corner where she’d been sitting silently for the last hour, and now Eunbyeol’s face is full of worry. “How long have you been here?”

Seokkyung looks up, startled. She hadn’t realized how much time had passed, the last few hours seemingly vanishing like sand through her fingers. When she glanced around, she could see the evening light fading outside, and to her surprise, it was already past dinner time. She never expected to just sit there throughout the whole practice. Hell, she was supposed to introduce herself to Eunbyeol’s choirmates! But there’s something about the atmosphere that made her forget the ticking clock and the encroaching worries of her own feelings. 

“Oh, I just got here,” she lies, not wanting to admit she’d been sitting there far longer than she intended. “You’re busy. I didn’t want to interrupt your practice.”

Eunbyeol, still frowning, doesn’t seem convinced, but since Seokkyung looks out of it, she just softly nudges. “You must be starving then. Come on, let’s go grab dinner. You’re gonna come back here next practice and I’m gonna introduce you to them, okay?”

At dinner, they settle into a quiet corner of a small, local restaurant, with the warm scent of kimchi filling the air. Seokkyung took a sip of water before saying the thing on her mind while observing the girl. “Your choir mates seem... really kind.” 

Eunbyeol’s face lights up. “They are! They’re doting in a manner that could be quite concerning, but I like it more than I can imagine. Sometimes I feel like I’m their honorary child.” Then all of a sudden, she sounds and looks like a kid all giddy and nice with her storytelling, her voice full of warmth. “ They always ask about me, make sure I’m okay... especially the mothers. Did I mention the time when I wasn’t in the mood to eat until one of them pulled out a huge casserole of seaweed soup for everyone to share? They did it just to fill my stomach because they don’t want to see me losing weight!”

Seokkyung laughs, the sound surprisingly light. “I can see why you enjoy it here. You’re the baby of the group now, huh?”

“I love it!” Eunbyeol grins, a little sheepish. “They worry about me a lot, but... it’s kind of nice. To have people worry about someone like me, as much as I don’t deserve it.”

Seokkyung almost counters her statement quickly, but then she realizes it’s not the time for that. Not yet. “Must be nice. You seem to be equally worried about them. Doing your best to improve their singing and all that.” She stares down at her food, unsure why she suddenly feels a pang of something unfamiliar in her chest.

“Next time you come, I’ll introduce you to them! They’ve been asking about you too, you know.” Eunbyeol says enthusiastically. “They’re all curious why I’ve been hanging out with a teacher from the small art school. They think it’s adorable that I have someone my age to talk to.”

Seokkyung can’t help but laugh at the thought. “They want to set me up with someone, huh?”

“No!” Eunbyeol chuckles, shaking her head. “It’s not like that. I’d be mad if they do that.”

"Well, next time we will. I’ll have to check my schedule though. I’ve been so busy that I barely have time for anything else. The school’s been quite... well, difficult.”

Eunbyeol leans forward, concern flashing in her eyes. “What happened?”

“One of my part-time jobs didn’t pay me on time. It made me miss my rent. I’m trying to make up for it, but now the landlord’s really pushing me. I have to find a way to come up with the rent soon, really.”

Eunbyeol’s expression falters, her heart aching for Seokkyung. “You should ask Seokhoon for help. He’s doing well now, right? A successful pianist and all...”

But then, mentioning Seokhoon abruptly brings a pang of guilt in Eunbyeol’s chest. The last time she saw him, he had been nothing but kind to her. He’s the only one who had visited her at the hospital to thank her for what she had done, and to apologize for what happened to her Mom.

And Bae Rona, the person she’s been trying to rid of her head for so long.

She hadn’t seen them in years, but the thought of their successful lives made her feel like an outsider. She hurt them both so much back then, and she still feels the weight of her sins.

What cuts her ruminations off is Seokkyung shaking her head vehemently. “No! I’d rather die than ask him for help. He’s... he’s not someone I can depend on, not after everything.”

Eunbyeol falls silent. What a stubborn girl, she almost chuckles. She could see the deep pride in Seokkyung, the same pride that had driven her to such extremes in the past. It’s clear that no matter how much Seokkyung is struggling, she would rather endure it all than seek help from the people who love her.

“That’s going to kill you one day.”

Seokkyung scoffs, her eyes bitter. “Maybe it should. It’s what I deserve.”

There, Eunbyeol is rendered into silence. Seems like she’s not the only one who deems so lowly of herself. The things she had done, the people she had hurt, all that darkness still lingered in her, clouding her self-worth.

Eunbyeol bites her lip, thinking for a moment before she blurts out an unexpected offer.

“Live with me, then.”

“W-what?”

“It’s hard managing the house all on my own. It gets lonely, you know,” Eunbyeol continues, her voice more confident now. “My dad’s old place has an extra room. We don’t have to worry about rent—it’s part of a small complex he owned and rented for others before he passed away.”

Seokkyung stares at her, speechless for a long moment. “But... I can’t repay you immediately.”

Eunbyeol smiles softly, gaze steady. “In exchange, help me find a pet. That place has always been so empty since I moved in. I think a cat would bring life to it, no? How about a dog? The thought of someone waiting for me at home kind of excites me!”

Seokkyung hesitates, her mind spinning. The offer seems too good to be true. She had been downplaying the situation with her landlord, but now it seemed like this might be the lifeline she needed.

Finally, she nods meekly, so unlikely of the prideful Joo Seokkyung. “O-okay. I’ll think about it.”

They share a quiet moment sitting across from each other, both tentative yet hopeful. They both have their burdens, but for the first time in a long time, they’re not carrying them alone.

<<< prev

[seoul-bros]

Willow Drum Oriole

RM posting more photos from the Suki Seokkyung Kang exhibition as well as a thank you to Bottega Veneta for their support for the event. Art appreciating art.

IG Post

Post Date: 08/09/2023

[mikorens]

gong yuanzhi and joo seokkyung being possibly the same age is so dear to me, if it isn't poisonous public enemy #1 and threat to human civilization brat

[softseeun]

🐑🦁☘

[ivecardan]

"no matter what name is on the paper, just say joo seokkyung"

like or reblog if you saved.

[girlsdit]

like or reblog

[heekiz]

૮₍´｡ゝ﹏・ ｡`₎ა ✏️ 愛する han jihyun 📚 / 私の天使 🧠 ＞﹏＜ <3 layouts ! ᨀ    ᤻#💢✌🏻

君がいた場所に 🦉(>__<)/ 花は咲き始めた like/reblog 零れた涙で 芽は育つのさ if u use! 📖 願いを込めて君に 歌を歌うから聞いて!

[akkaiito]

the penthouse 2 | joo seok-kyung icons

[tempobaekh]

Rating Penthouse: War In Life characters

I asked my followers on Instagram to give me Penthouse characters to rate and my thoughts about them so I thought to post it here as well. Now this is my personal opinion about how I feel about the characters and how much I will rate them

⚠️⚠️THIS CONTAINS A FEW SPOILERS⚠️⚠️

My Instagram: Tempobaek

Logan Lee

10/10

Lemme just say I love him SO MUCH

LOGAN LEE BEST BOY

I absolutely loved his character and the fact that he was one of the few people who wants justice and is honest made me love him even more

Him playing Go Hu Dong was amazing as well and I didn't recognize him at all at first like he played it so well with the accent, costume and wig and everything

His accent and language switch in between English and the Busan accent Korean was so fucking sexy🥵

✨Mr. Joo✨

My man was also smart with his revenge

He was also serving amazing LOOKS every episode in the two seasons and I loved every single one of them

And I'm going to be honest here, after watching the preview for S2 ep13 his laugh was creepy in one of the clips and after reading a few theories I lowkey thought that he would be the next villian

I regret suspecting him now

But instead of that they gave us a bigger plot twist and blew up our man with a bomb😩

He literally went ✨LiGhT iT Up LiKe DyNaMiTe✨ (I'm so sorry)

I would've rather have him be a villian than die in the bomb

I MISS HIM ALREADY AND LOVE HIM SO MUCH😭

DID I MENTION THAT I LOVE HIM

Joo Seok Kyung

7/10

Another one that annoyed me angered me so much🙄

Like she was ruthless and had no mercy when it came to bullying and putting people down that she thought were a rival or putting people down in general

She didn't change even when Rona died

She also went as far as to like cheat her way to win the Cheong Ah Art High School trophy and blackmailed Cheon Seojin to win the trophy

But there were times where she would show emotions and those would be often her break down and weak moments

And those moments would really show how she is broken inside and puts up a careless and brave image, she is someone who needs healing even though healing takes time

I also saw someone saying like 'oh Seok Kyung hates her mom so much'

Yeah she hated her mom but she didn't hate her to death like she didn't wish death upon her

Seok Kyung was heart broken when she heard Suryeon's death and that showed that she still loved her mom even though Suryeon didn't give birth to them

I was heart broken when I saw that she cut her hair because here was no one there to tie it for her bc Suryeon loved Seok Kyungs long hair and that's why she didn't cut it but after he mothers death no one was there to tie her hair for her

I started seeing her in a different light after a while bc again it showed that he character was very broken emotionally and needed healing

I'm interested about seeing more of her character development after the last ep where she defended Rona

Also my girl is so hot, another one that was serving amazing looks

Joo Seok Hoon

8/10

He was lowkey annoying at first ngl

Like my man was just🧍🏻‍♂️

It annoyed me so much how he defended his sister so much, fell for her tricks, covered up for her and did anything she said EVEN though its wrong

But after some time I understood that he cared for and that she was the only family left to him

I mean Seok Hoon hate Joo Dan Tae so he doesn't counts and Suryeon was dead at the moment

I will still not forgive him for bullying Seol A even though he regrets it

It also annoyed me how he didn't stood up for Rona at all in the first season even though he liked her

By he got so much better in S2, he was even part in the revenge plan

He is literally the human CCTV camera in Hera Palace like he knows more than even the viewers know

The way he was protective of Rona when he found out she was alive was so aDORABLE

And my man was amazing in the last episodes

I love him

Cheon Seo Jin

4/10

THIS WOMAN MAKES MY BLOOD FUCKING BOIL

Like I sometimes just was to 🤜🏻👩🏻

But sometimes I wanna hug her😩

Idk I feel like she became a horrible person bc of greed and that he father and mother placed too high expectations for her

Instead of praising her for her accomplishments her parents wanted her to do more

Maybe that's why she was desperate for love and affection and found that in Joo Dan Tae even though he pretended to like her

But that definitely does not dismiss her horrible actions

But also the harsh past made her the could hearted person, like she left her father to die

She felt more care towards her daughter after she almost lost her because Eunbyeol tried to commit suicide

She was in alot of pain and you could see it in her cries and when she was on the phone with the person

Soyeon's acting was amazing in that scene

She started to care more about her ex husband and daughter when she saw how much Eunbyeol was suffering and she realized that she genuinely liked Ha Yoon Chul hwen she saw how horrible Joo Dan Tae was

I did feel bad for her sometimes but after seeing that she didn't change I really didn't feel any sympathy for her

She needs therapy

Girlie was shocked when the doctor said she is losing her voice like bestie you are screaming every episode

She was also serving amazing looks every episode

Ha Yoon Chul

5/10

The first male character I simped for

Like I am not going to deny it but he is hot🥵

But the first few episodes he was an absolute asshole and greedy

But I never expected him to be Yoonhee's ex boyfriend

I did like him a tiny bit when he saved Yoon Hee from Kyu Jin

His entrance in S2 with the helicopter was damn hot

And I WAS SO SHOCKED WHEN HE SAID MEET MY WIFE OH YOON HE

LIKE YAY MY SHIP IS SAILING

I spoke too soon

His character development and fighting skills were hot as well

He was ADORABLE with Rona and Yoonhee

I seriously thought that Rona was his daughter

BUT THAN AT THE CHEONG AH FESTIVLE OOF SIR I WANTED TO PUNCH HIM

I WAS SO MAD WHEN HE SABOTAGED RONA'S PERFORMANCE

I began hating him after that💀

Like he went 📈📉 with his character development

AND THEN HE CLEANED EUNBYEOL'S MEMORY FROM THAT NIGHT LIKE SIR SKSHSKSHKS SHE DID HAT TO YOUR DAUGHTER

I actually asked my dad what he thought about what Yoon Chul did and this was his reponse:

"If you look at it from a parents perspective they would want to do anything if they saw their child in pain like he did but I would've also scolded her and had a conversation with her about why she did it instead of wiping her memory from that night like he did. "

So that's that

I LOVED IT WHEN YOON HEE CAME WITH THAT BLOW AND TOLD HIM RONA WAS HER DAUGHTER

Jonghoon's acting was chef's kiss in that scene

I was going to rate him a 4 but I gave him that 5 when I saw how he was at court, he admitted to his wrong doings but also still had feelings for Yoon Hee

I wanna see his reaction in s3 to Rona now bc now that he got to know that is his daughter I wonder how he will be

Lee Kyu Jin

1/10

AN ASSHOLE

USELESS

WHY IS HE HERE

Like I have nothing to say about him rather than I hate him and that he useless just like his wife and son

HE IS LITERALLY NOTHING WITHOUT HIS MOM

I'm only giving him that one bc he was funny in the episodes

THATS THE ONLY REASON HE IS THERE JUST FOR COMEDY PURPOSES

Go Sang Ah

0.5/10

ANNOYING 2.0

USELESS 2.0

ALL SHE DOES IS SPEND HER HUSBAND AND MOTHER IN LAW'S MONEY

LIKE SHE AIN'T EVEN WORKS

UNLIKE KANG MARI

The only thing she does is gossip

And spills the tea☕

SHE IS LITERALLY NOTHING WITHPUT HER HUSBAND AND HIS FAMILY

Giving her a 0.5 bc she is kinda funny eh

Lee Minhyuk

0/10

ANNOYING 3.0

USELESS 3.0

ASSHOLE 2.0

Idk if it runs in the family but again he is useless

And a dumbass

He also nothing without his parents

Why is he there tho like you ain't even funny

All he can do is cause trouble

And bullied Jenny

His dumbass slipped and broke his own arm and blamed it on Rona smh🤦🏻‍♀️

Sometimes I just wanna 🤜🏻👦🏻

Also my dude was trying to sound all intimidating by saying

"Oh Jenny's father is a scary man, yOuR dEaD BaE rOnA"

Like dude worry about yourself bitch you are dead first for bullying Jenny

But like I hate the character but LOVE THE ACTOR HE IS SO HOT OMFG

Joo Dan Tae

0/10

ANOTHER ONE THAT PISSES ME OFF SO MUCH AND MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL

SOMETIMES I DONT WANNA 🤜🏻 I WANNA 🔪

LIKE I HATE HIM WITH A FUCKING PASSION

I DONT CARE ABOUT HIS PAST OR ANYTHING HE IS A GREASY, GREEDY, PSYCHO, OBSESSIVE MANIPULATIVE, POSSESSIVE PSYCHO

Like I legit thought he was nice in he first ep and then I saw him kiss Seojin and-

Me: 🤨😧😃🤮 MY EMOTIONS WENT LIKE THAT

LIKE HE IS SO FUCKING POSSESSIVE OVER SURYEON, AEGYO AND SEOJIN LIKE ITS DISGUSTING

I WAS GETTING YANDERE BEHAVIOUR FROM THAT OLD MAN

PURE TRASH

Bae Rona

9/10

I LOVE HER NOW

RONA BEST GIRL

She was also annoying at first and was very ungrateful

But over time she got better, still a tiny bit annoying sometimes but better

When she came back from the US I WAS LIKE GIRL NO YOU FINNA RUIN THE PLAN

I do feel bad for her bc she went through alot with bullying, her mom going to jail not only once but twice, her getting to know that Yoonchul who she started liking sabotaged her performance, and also literally almost dying

My girl has been through a lot

AND WHEN SHE RUNNED TOWARDS THE STAIRS OUTSIDE WHEN EUNBYEOL WAS CHASING HER I WAS LIKE GIRL RUN TO THE HALL YOU RUNNIN OUTSIDE

I am excited to see her reaction to getting to know that Yoon Chul is her dad

Part 2 is also posted!

[riecurrents]

THROUGH THE CRACKS | CHAPTER 1

HA EUNBYEOL x JOO SEOKKYUNG

SYNOPSIS: Two wounded souls, bound and haunted by their past mistakes, meet again while embarking on a journey of remolding and forgiveness. How do they make each other realize that correcting their mistakes also involves the need to forgive themselves? Read on AO3

TAGS: post-canon, hurt/comfort, feel-good, slow burn, eventual romance, mental health issues (mostly on eunbyeol's part), trauma, angst, fluff, cohabitation, additional tags to come

The flowers Eunbyeol has picked for today’s anniversary are yellow daffodils.

She smiles at the florist, appreciative of how she has decorated the two bouquets, “As usual, Auntie, you never disappoint.”

“How can I, when the one who requested it is my cutest customer?” the florist beams. “Who is it for this time? You hadn’t got two boyfriends, had you?”

Eunbyeol chuckles, raising a brow as she jokes back, “Do I look like I could score myself a boyfriend? Let alone two of them?”

“If it’s not for a boyfriend, then it's all good. My customers buy daffodils when they've done something wrong and need to apologize,” the florist shakes her head humorously. "You don’t look like someone who could wrong your lover, so I got a bit confused.”

“But I really bought these to seek forgiveness,” her smile softens this time around, albeit it's more gloomy—poignant, even, “I searched what daffodils mean before choosing it. I’m quite more knowledgeable about flowers now, don’t you think?”

“That so?” the florist ponders, examining her favorite customer’s expression first before she adds, “Then, here. Take this.”

“Another daffodil?” Confusion wraps Eunbyeol's face. The extra daffodil is wrapped simply in parchment paper and tied with a ribbon of the same shade and color underneath. “But I could only pay for these bouquets.”

“No, it’s for you. Take it for free,” the old woman states. “Seeking forgiveness from someone also includes forgiving yourself.”

Eunbyeol’s smile falters. The florist might not expound but the statement is already clear as day—much to her discomfort. Five years into Suryeon’s death anniversary and she still hasn’t forgiven herself. She doesn’t think she ever could. In this lifetime and even beyond.

After all, unlike any other deaths she had witnessed before, Suryeon’s death was something that would’ve been completely avoided had it not been for her stubbornness. And now as she hands the yellow daffodils to Suryeon’s and Yoonhee’s grave, there is nothing more stark in Eunbyeol’s head right now: she could never forgive herself for this—she never would.

“Ha Eunbyeol?”

Eunbyeol freezes on her spot at the familiar voice. The lump in her throat takes her a good minute or so to respond, “J-joo Seokkyung…”

“It’s been a while,” Seokkyung smiles. “Glad to see you’re doing fine.”

Her stance is casual contrary to Eunbyeol’s nervous one. Seokkyung then kneels on the graveyard to give her offerings: a parfait to Suryeon, and a flower offering to Yoonhee, which is—much to Eunbyeol’s surprise—also a daffodil. Seokkyung closes her eyes with a flat smile and Eunbyeol takes it as a signal to talk to the two departed souls in her mind, hoping nothing else but them hearing her forgiveness.

After a while, Seokkyung speaks out of nowhere, “Thank you… for making the hard decision during the trial day. It gave Mom the justice she very much deserved.”

Eunbyeol shifted uncomfortably, her gaze falling to the ground. “It was the bare minimum,” she murmured, guilt gnawing at her. To make it less apparent, she instead attempts to tease the latter, “So unlikely of you to commend someone for acting as they should, Joo Seokkyung.”

“Doing the right thing doesn’t make it less hard,” Seokkyung says as a matter of fact, “especially if we’re talking about turning your back on your parent.” 

Eunbyeol senses the undertone in Seokkyung’s statement. After all, if anyone in this world could understand how hard it is for her to turn her back on Cheon Seojin, it would be no other than Seokkyung who turned her back on Joo Dantae. 

“I’ll go now,” Eunbyeol stammers, hands shaking, deeply uncomfortable at the wounds resurfacing. 

But then, before she can take another step to leave, Seokkyung speaks again, her tone a little brighter this time. “Are you free today? There’s a restaurant I used to work at nearby. Let’s eat if you haven’t already. My treat.”

“No,” she quickly refuses, which immediately fills Eunbyeol’s guts with guilt. And so she tries to find an excuse. “I-I mean, I have lots to do for today. I’m not supposed to stay long.” Then she starts walking away as fast as she can, hoping Seokkyung will not press her again, hoping that this is the last time they’ll come across each other again.

Her words come back at her, though, because it doesn't take long for her legs to give up.

It’s been two days since she had last eaten.

And much unfortunate for her because Seokkyung comes running to her rescue, her voice urgent as she asks, “Eunbyeol! Are you okay?”

“All good... Don’t mind me. This happens a lot.”

“Come on, let me get you back up.” Left with no choice, she accepts Seokkyung’s hand to stand.

As she tries to stumble away again, however, her stomach grumbles. Oh dear god, Eunbyeol whispers to herself in sheer embarrassment. Please kill me now.

And it takes Seokkyung a strained chuckle to repeat her offer, “Come on. Let’s eat.”

“I said I’m good!” Eunbyeol voice rises, but quickly catches herself this time around—perhaps the age helped to keep her temper in check, unlike their high school, temperamental days. “S-sorry. I didn’t mean to shout.”

“You’re clearly not good.” Seokkyung—with her usual lack of patience—snatches Eunbyeol’s bag, making it her temporary hostage so the latter would have no choice but to follow her. “You see, Eunbyeol, there’s something Mom had told me before.”

“W-what…?”

“You have to eat to get the needed energy to fight and hate me.”

“But… I don’t hate you, Seokkyung… If anything—”

“Yeah?” Seokkyung’s teasing smile remarks that she has already won the conversation. “Go eat with me, then.”

The restaurant is a modest place downtown with warm lighting and the cozy smell of simmering broth. Seokkyung leads the way to a quiet booth, and they slip into their seats. A comfortable silence stars hanging between them, thick with unspoken things that only time could bring to the surface. But then, Eunbyeol is now genuinely confused; not just because Seokkyung asked her to eat with her, but also because the restaurant seems plain and old. This is not a place Eunbyeol would expect Seokkyung to work at all. Hell, she even has a greater question in mind.

"You... work?" The latter's words only sink into Eunbyeol at that moment. Joo Seokkyung, the Cheong-Ah Arts School's spoiled brat, used to work at a measly restaurant downtown? What a piece of news.

“A lot has changed since then. I guess I had to grow up too.” Seokkyung gives a small, half-smile, one that doesn’t reach her eyes but holds a quiet dignity nonetheless. “Come on and order up. I recommend their fried chicken. God, it’s just the best.”

Eunbyeol then takes in Seokkyung’s appearance—the once impeccably styled hair is now casually curled, cut short as if the mornings had no room for vanity. Her clothes are simple—a faded polo and jeans that spoke of practicality rather than the luxury of the past. A small squint and Eunbyeol would see a faint reflection of Min Seol Ah, the girl they had both wronged in ways that could never be undone.

As they wait for their food, Seokkyung glances up at the baffled Eunbyeol, her gaze direct yet unguarded in a way that also makes the latter’s heart flutter. “How are you doing, really? You say your feet collapsing happens a lot. Does it mean you also starve yourself a lot?”

“N-no, I was lying,” Eunbyeol takes a breath, collecting her thoughts. “I forgot to eat breakfast this morning.” Only to pile it up with another lie. The truth is, Eunbyeol becomes like this whenever it’s nearing Suryeon’s death anniversary. And because she lives alone in a small apartment Yoonchul had left for her, no one gets to scold her for her bad eating and mental health habits.

“But you look—” Seokkyung hesitates, perhaps she has also learned how to hold her tongue to people. “How are you doing lately? How’s your life since then?”

“I sing in the church choir now. It’s… peaceful,” Eunbyeol smiles almost shyly. “After everything that happened, I needed somewhere quiet, somewhere where I could find myself again.”

Seokkyung’s lips curve into a small smile too, deeming Eunbyeol’s shy one contagious. “I envy you for that—finding a place that way, I mean. For me, it’s been more about finding places that will hire me.”

“I still find it hard to believe that you now work,” Eunbyeol giggles. “You’re doing okay, though? Really?”

Seokkyung nods, “Teaching music is something I actually love. Even the part-time jobs… they’re humbling, but I think I needed that. To see what life is like for people who didn’t have what we did… back then.”

The food arrives, and they begin to eat in silence, each bite a quiet reunion of shared history and tentative new beginnings. Eunbyeol watches Seokkyung across the table, noticing the way her eyes crinkle a little when she sips her soup, and how she no longer seems weighed down by the bitterness and arrogance that once surrounded her. There’s a quiet strength to her now, a kindness that hadn’t been there before.

As they finished their meal, Eunbyeol gathered the courage to say, “You shouldn’t be this kind to me.”

“Yeah?” Much to Eunbyeol’s strange remark, Seokkyung just nonchalantly asks, “Why?”

“After all the things I’ve done—”

“Why? You think I was an angel back in the days?”

“No!” Eunbyeol snaps, then shuts her eyes tight at the slip of her temper yet again. She seems to be moody recently. She wonders if it’s because she’s been skipping meals. “You don’t understand. T-that day, when Aunt Suryeon died, I—”

“Stop.”

“Aunt Suryeon’s death could’ve been avoided had I not been a stubborn little—” but she couldn’t say it.

Had I not been a stubborn little prick and believed Aunt Suryeon the day my father died, she wouldn’t have to die in my mother’s hands. Had I not believed that my monster of a mother would ever change, then Seokkyung and Seokhoon would still have their—

“Eunbyeol,” Seokkyung lowly calls, the authority and command lacing her voice snaps Eunbyeol back from it. “Look at me.”

And so Eunbyeol does, albeit with the corner of her lips shaking.

“Live with it.”

“I—”

“Listen,” Seokkyung hand reaches her shaking one. She grips it, looking at her firmly as she adds, “We live with it. Everything. The sins we’ve done. The guilt for the people we’ve wronged. We live with it.”

“That’s why I’ve been saying you shouldn’t be this kind to me!” The tears prickling Eunbyeol’s eyes finally pours down and she couldn’t look Seokkyung in the eye. “I’m a wicked human being undeserving of all of this. Aunt Suryeon died because of me the same way Aunt Yoonhee did. All your pain from losing her, all the—”

“And then what are you gonna do? Let’s say you’ve really wronged me for not preventing my mom’s death. What then? Are you gonna keep running away from me? Gonna do everything to not cross with me or my brother? Because we remind you of your so-called sin?”

And finally, Eunbyeol can understand where Seokkyung is coming from. Seokkyung’s gaze is unrelenting, and her grip on her hand is hard, telling of how Seokkyung wants this conversation to go. Eunbyeol will not be standing up on that chair until her point is registered.

“If you really feel like you’ve wronged me, then ask for my forgiveness. And note that my forgiveness isn’t gained by shutting me off or running away from me.”

And, just as if it's the needed signal, Eunbyeol finally breaks down, her sob louder than the previous one, enough for the person seated next to them to turn his back. “I’m so sorry. Seokkyung, I’m so sorry.”

As her sobs tip higher with multiple utterances of “I’m sorry,” “Please,” “I’ve been wrong,” and “Forgive me,” Seokkyung stays still. Her hand is still holding Eunbyeol’s, her face as hard as steel.

“Yeah, that’s just right,” Seokkyung affirms, almost nonchalantly, but when Eunbyeol raises her head, she sees Seokkyung’s soft gaze—her eyes tearful. “There you go, Ha Eunbyeol. Much easier than walking away with a rumbling stomach, no?”

The snarky remark pulls a sudden chuckle out of tears and snot-riddled Eunbyeol. 

“Yes,” Eunbyeol could only shake her head, wiping her snot along the way. How ridiculous this situation is, really. “Much easier than what I did.”

Seokkyung’s face softens, a wistful sadness in her eyes. “There are lots of people I want to seek forgiveness for, but I can’t because they’re gone. If you see someone you’d like to apologize to, don’t run away from them. Beg them. Kneel if need be. And when they ask you to eat with them, appease them. If that’s what it’d take to gain their forgiveness.”

“Is this how I’m gonna earn your forgiveness? By eating with you? Your treat, no less?” Eunbyeol raises a brow after a while, eyes still red but now lighter in feeling.

“You wish,” Seokkyung scoffs. “Next time we go out, it will be your treat.”

Eunbyeol chuckles at first because when she realizes this, her smile falters. “Y-you’d like to keep in touch?”

“Well, I just wanna see if you’ve really changed,” Seokkyung weakly utters. “You want to earn my forgiveness, right?”

It doesn’t take long for Eunbyeol to deduce that Seokkyung is just reasoning out of thin air. Out of sheer concern, she asks, “You... You don’t have friends, do you?”

“Hey!” she snaps. “What about you? Do you even have friends? You look like you haven’t eaten for years!”

“I have!” Eunbyeon snaps back.

“Really?”

“Yes!” Her middle-aged choir members count as friends, right? “I could bring you to them sometime if you want.”

“Well—” Seokkyung’s eyes dart all over the place, seemingly coming up with something to say. She smirks when she’s found her words. “Have you become a friend Seol Ah would have deserved to have? That’s my standard.”

For a moment, neither of them speak, both lost in the heaviness of those memories. Seokkyung’s gaze, although still soft, is taunting, challenging Eunbyeol if she has something to say about that.

Eunbyeol feels a warmth rise in her chest, a hope she hasn’t allowed herself in years. This time, she’s the one to reach out her hand to Seokkyung’s. “Would you… come with me to choir sometime?” Eunbyeol whispers a small but heartfelt invitation.

Seokkyung’s eyes sparkle with a hint of that old mischief, “Why? Are you gonna exorcise me or something? I’ve been remolding, but I’m not very religious just yet, you know?”

“No!” Eunbyeol laughs. “If you want to see if I really changed, then have a glimpse of the life I’m having right now. Be the judge. What do you think?”

Seokkyung hums in ponder. Then she nods, yet with another teasing dare, “Only if you promise to visit my class. My students need to see what a real singer looks like.”

“Would I be allowed to see them?”

“Of course, you nitty-gritty soprano,” Seokkyung rolls her eyes. “Lower your standards, though. They sound nasty.”

Eunbyeol laughs even more, the sound like a release of all the burdens she’d carried. She had expected Seokkyung to be cold or bitter, maybe even resentful, but here she is—earnest, even welcoming. A part of Eunbyeol wants to say no, to keep her distance and push her away because she doesn’t think she deserves it. But another part of her—the one that still remembered the girl Seokkyung used to be—is holding her back.

They leave the restaurant together, walking side by side through the quiet streets, catching up as the late afternoon settles around them.

Each step feels like a path forward, not away from the past but towards a future they could build. Thus, just when they are about to part ways at the bus stop, Eunbyeol hands Seokkyung something from her bag.

“Here, take this,” Eunbyeol nudges.

“A flower? The one you’ve given my mom?!” Seokkyung scoffs. “Am I dead—”

“Come on, just take it!” Eunbyeol shoves it to Seokkyung just as her bus arrives. The latter had no choice but to receive it, albeit genuinely confused.

Before the bus door closes, Eunbyeol explains, “Daffodils. Search up what they mean.”

“Why don’t you just—”

“Bye!” she waves, and the door finally closes, leaving a baffled Seokkyung. 

“Tch, what a hassle,” and yet Seokkyung fiddles on her phone to search for it.

She ends up chuckling, rolling her eyes along the way.

“That fool. What a weird way to ask for my forgiveness.”

Lies. In fact, Seokkyung thinks it’s cute.

next >>>

[seoul-bros]

Namjoon's night of fashion and art

Frieze Seoul 2023 is in full swing in Seoul and Namjoon is having a very busy time. He attended the invitation only preview of the Bottega Veneta sponsored Willow Drum Oriole show which showcases the work of Seokkyung Kang.

Willow Drum Oriole show

This IG post from Dazed Korea allows us to appreciate more clearly the art on display.

"The willow becomes a thread, and the tail becomes a drum. In Seokkyung Kang's solo exhibition sponsored by Bottega Veneta, the willow, drum, and tail are repeatedly released or connected without boundaries, as if revisiting each word when reading a poem."

The Vogue Korea interview is also worth a watch although I still need to find a full translation. I have only seen snippets here and there.

Then he was seen at the ARTUE curated exhibition at the Korean Museum of Furniture.

Instagram Link, Instagram Link 2

Remember he did his photoshoot for Vogue there earlier in the year.

He also attended the after party. He was seen with JHope/Jikook's W Korea editor friend as well as Thai actor and model Metawin.

Taeyang was also there and provided the musical entertainment.

Instagram Link, Instagram Link 2

Colde is performing at Frieze Seoul on Friday night so you never know we may see RM again before the week is out.

Post Date: 07/09/2023

[iconsworld]

• icons the penthouse 2 seok kyung 

• like/reblog if you save or credits on twitter @throsestand

• don't copy or claim it as your own

[daebakoreandrama]

Seok Kyung being who she is... Just has to stir up trouble with her dad.

Penthouse 3 | Ep. 1