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It was night time so the apartment was dark. But it was always dark. Even through the day. The only light guiding me through the cluttered filth were the street lights streaming through the window. And the blueish light beaming from the living room TV.
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As always it was left playing for no one but the passed out woman sprawled out on the sofa, her stringy black hair masking her face. An empty glass bottle lay on the floor next to her hand which hung off the edge.
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Before heading to the door, I stopped next to her and peeled off the wrapper of a blue lollipop. After tossing the candy in my mouth I crumpled up the rubbish and threw it on, what was in my opinion, the biggest pile of trash in the house.
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My worthless mother.
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The paper got stuck in her hair.
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"Pathetic." I mumbled.
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I exited into a small quiet street. It housed mostly elderly people. None of them liked being outside at this time of night due to the night life that took place in the adjacent street. Every now and then, a few drunken people would wander in and make a fuss. The chaos was unsettling for the neighbors.
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I thought differently.
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Turning onto the adjacent street, the energy changed instantly. The side walks were alive with people. Many just innocently having drinks with friends or talking. Some were foreigners typically club hopping. The population was denser where the club was. I weaved through crowds of people and settled beside a corn dog stand near it. I ordered two bottles of soju and a some cheesy corn dogs before taking a seat.
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One of the many good things about this street was, venders assumed everyone looking for a good time here were of age. Either that or they didn't care as long as they were getting business.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjQjv9gEbV
A commotion arose outside the club. I looked towards it, twisting the lollipop in my mouth with delight. What would it be tonight?
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Two women were each being held by guys who were gradually leading them away from the entrance. Both females were clad in unsurprisingly slutty clothes, looking to throw fists at the other.
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I popped open a bottle of soju.
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Girl fights weren't nearly as interesting to watch, but they sure were hilarious. It was like they were suddenly possessed by petty toddlers. Get people drunk enough and they'll gladly unleash their true, loathsome natures. Once sober the fear of judgement kicks in and they return to their phony, respectable selves.
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Humans... I shook my head. So desperate to be what they're not.
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One of the women was convinced to walk away. While the other turned on her own boyfriend. The woman didn't seem to appreciate his amusement at her expense. She slapped him hard and proceeded to push him around. I cracked a small smile. The scene gave a sense of nostalgia.
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Memories of the people I'm supposed to call parents played in my head. My earliest memory was of my mother thrashing my dad around by his hair. Those were the days before he fought back. Before he was forced to break out his true self. I cried then. But eventually I realized crying wasn't going to stop them. Crying did nothing, had no use. So I watched them fight.
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At least until my father left, ridding himself of the ball and chain that threatened his good standing and his job--me and my mother.
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My friends claim I hate my parents. They're not wrong. But I still find that I was lucky to have learned what I know now at an early age. Those two taught me about the world before I set foot out into it. Without them I wouldn't have discovered my purpose, which was to free people from their cages of false civility and forced decency.
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My mom was always a useless alcoholic. Her marriage simply drained her of the energy she put into hiding it. Now she was free. Whether she was happy with what she was didn't matter. It was her true nature and it was honest.
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The seat next me dragged backwards.
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Jungkook sat. A couple new marks in his face. I nudged the second bottle of soju and the corn dogs toward him. He reached for them without hesitation. Blood smeared over his knuckles.
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"I hope that's Yoongi's blood." I said.
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The muscular guy took three big gulps and bit into a corndog. "It's not," he admitted with irritation.
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Jungkook insisted on following Yoongi tonight to find where he lived. If there was anything he was good at, it was keeping things about himself private. But he turned up at a Spa in the mountains, which Jungkook theorized to be intentional in order to throw him off. He further explained that he would've kidnapped the girl, Yurim, if Yoongi hadn't intervened. And he retreated when the owner of the Spa threatened to call the police.
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"A spa..." I rubbed my chin. "Didn't you find something about that in her records or something?"
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"It was on the list of emergency numbers. But I don't remember the number."
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"That's fine. It tells us enough. Not only does she work there, but she's close enough with that place that its an emergency contact. I'll bet her parents own it." A snap came from chewing my nails.
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Jungkook stuffed the last of his food into his mouth. "And?"
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"We'll wait a bit. Let them have a couple of days of peace before..."
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"Before what?"
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"Before we start the real fun."
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Sirens wailed down the street to some unknown conflict. The angry woman from earlier was still yelling at her boyfriend in front of spectators. Men on the side barked at the guy to tame his girl. The muffled music from the club pulsed through its walls. I let each sound reverb in my brain until they all blended into chaotic bliss.
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"You hear that, Jungkook-ah?"
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The serious guy sucked his teeth as he shrugged.
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"Music."
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YURIM
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Even on crutches, I couldn't keep the pep from my steps. The pass few days have felt absolutely euphoric. There hadn't been any encounters with Namjoon and his friends. I even dared to consider that they've finally grown bored of me. Seokjin, or Jin as he now insists I call him, votes on staying vigilant. He's been so sweet during my injury and definitely a lot more close.
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Butterflies still danced in my stomach when I thought back on that kiss. Did I mention the week felt euphoric?
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However, tonight was purely dedicated to quality time with Hoseok.
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Ever since his classes changed, we've seen less of each other. It was as though Jin saw him more than I did. That's another reason why I was so happy today. We were hanging out like the good old days before anyone else ever entered our lives. Not that I wasn't grateful for the added company. It was just a universal rule that one's best friend gets dibs on one's undivided attention.
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We had just finished shopping for Minju's birthday presents from me and my parents. I went a little past my budget but the Hot Springs have been doing pretty well. Even my parents felt comfortable enough to stretch their budgets a little. Hoseok held the bags, keeping pace with me as we headed over to the food court, his jubilant grin beaming.
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After ordering food, we sat with our meals and packages. Hoseok sweetly opened my plate and broke my chopsticks for me. As grateful as I am for his good nature, I wish he allowed me to take care of him every once in a while.
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"Eat a lot." He said.
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"I intend to." I smiled, breaking into my plate of warm, savory bulgogi. Hoseok got his favorite, Samgyeopsal and wrap. A side of dumplings sat in between us to share. The first bite set off an explosion of incandescent bliss, triggering a spiritual thumbs up. "Yum."
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Hoseok chuckled watching me. "Good?"
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"Mhm." I inhaled a whole dumpling and a pinch of kimchi. "Shopping made me hungry."
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The boy across from me pointed at my face. "Your cheeks look like you got stung by bees!" He laughed before stuffing his own mouth. I stifled a laugh in order to keep myself from spitting my food out.
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"If you don't look ugly while eating, you're not really enjoying your food."
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Hoseok suddenly made a shocked look at something behind me. I stopped chewing, looking at him with anticipation. "Oh, Seokjin, what brings you here?"
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Panic shook my body. I quickly gulped my food and wiped my mouth before turning.
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No one was there.
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I gave a confused look at my friend who let out a high pitched laugh. His mouth of chewed meat and leaves looked like a pile of something I didn't want to think about while eating. I cringed. Annoyed, I sent him a sour look.
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"Why did you clean yourself up? I'm sure he would've appreciated you enjoying your food." He teased.
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"Waa~ so even you can be mean. To think I defended you from Minju." A moment passed where only our chewing and the hum of chatter in the food court could be heard.
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"What's so bad about being a little harsh anyways? Even you tame your sister by being stern. It keeps people in line."
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I shrugged. "Nothing's wrong with it. I just know that's not you."
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"It could be..."
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"What are you talking about? It's literally impossible. You're too sweet!" I ruffled his brown curls before taking another bite of meat. Another explosion of flavor sent my head in the clouds. "Seriously, this taste better than usual. Here, try some." Picking a piece of meat up, I held it in front of his mouth. But the look on his face was strange. At first was a fleeting moment of normalcy in which he looked ready to take the offering. Then he hesitated. He then looked at me, a hint of wariness behind his eyes. A slight ache rippled through me but I pushed it away. "W-what's wrong?" I asked with an awkward smile. "You don't want any?"
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Two long seconds passed before he replied, "shouldn't I get a bigger sample?"
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"Ahh~" I sighed. A flood of relief filled my conscience. "You rascal, I thought you were mad at me for some reason!" I shook my head as I fished for more bulgogi and offered it to him. His teeth accepted it gladly.
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"Mm! Delicious!" He grinned. To return the favor, he made a wrap and fed it to me. The lines at the corner of his eyes returned. His bright smile and goofy laugh dusted away the silly doubts that had crept in just now.
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Of course he wouldn't be mad. I can be so gullible sometimes, I thought regrettably. I'll get him back.
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"Oh!" Hoseok pointed at something behind me and waved. "Yoongi! What a coincidence!"
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I snorted a laugh. "Stop already! Why are you so obsessed with tricking me today!"
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My friend smiled at me and continued his charade. "What brings you here?"
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I opened my mouth to respond-
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"Errands." A deep, buttery voice behind me answered first. My smile dropped. "For my grandma. I just picked up dessert to reward myself." I heard a package crinkle. In small movements, I grabbed a napkin and thoroughly wiped my mouth.
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"Oh, so you're done." Hoseok spoke in a tone that said he had just come up with an idea. I looked at him with leeriness. "You might as well eat with us." My face scrunched with reluctance, showing my friend I didn't approve of his invitation. He saw me clearly, he just ignored my suffering and gave an insubordinate grin.
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Yoongi moved closer to my side. I relaxed my face back to normal, feigning indifference.
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"Is it...really okay?" The second boy asked. I'd resorted to awkwardly stirring my food around, not meeting his eyes. That is, until I felt a little kick against my leg. I snapped my gaze up at Hoseok who looked at me expectantly. I then looked up at Yoongi who looked...different. Who also looked at me expectantly.
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He's asking me?
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I contemplated it for a second, not wanting to approve nor deny him. Either option seemed like a defeat. "Whatever you want," I shrugged.
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Yoongi circled around next to Hoseok since some packages were placed beside me. Thank goodness! A hint of uncertainty seemed to show in his walk. Like he was unsure he was wanted. Evidently, it didn't bother him enough to reconsider joining us. My eyes did a quick once over as he sat down before returning to my meal.
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Again, he looked exactly the same but different somehow. I didn't understand why. I suppose, his face looked more relaxed. Not so serious or tense. Interestingly, his eyes looked bigger, ready for new information. Similar to a child curiously watching a hatching butterfly. The outfit he wore also made him look like a normal guy. Comfortable and low key but still casually stylish.
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I mean, I guess it was stylish...for him.
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Just like when he showed up at my parent's Spa, his eyes sat under the shadow of a ball cap. Dark bangs pressed against his forehead.
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"Yurim-ah." Hoseok called.
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I flinched, "hm?"
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"We were just talking about the Summer Carnival."
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"You were talking about the Summer Carnival." Yoongi corrected. A slight smile shone as he took in a few pieces of his newly bought dessert.
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Smiling. Conversing. Since when did these two become so comfortable with each other?
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"I was saying he should go."
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"I'm betting it's not as great as it sounds." They continued on as though they'd known each other forever.
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Hoseok clicked his tongue. "Aigoo~. You're still doing the 'too cool' act? I thought you matured."
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"If he doesn't want to, he doesn't want to." I cut in. I may have done so a little too quickly. The two boys stared at me. Evidently, they thought so too.
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"Well, I mean...I didn't say I didn't want to." Yoongi added gently. I considered what he said and came to the conclusion that he didn't know who else was going to be there. Surely if he knew, he wouldn't have any interest.
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"Jin and Jimin are going. Don't they bug you?"
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The boy scoffed. "People in general bug me. It doesn't stop me from going to school or leaving my house."
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Something inside me deflated with defeat. I wasn't totally sure why I wanted him to avoid the carnival. Or rather, why I wanted to avoid him. And after his and Seokjin's encounter last weekend, I dread to think what another outing with those two would be like.
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A muffled tune came from my bag. I pulled out my phone and answered. "Minju-ya, I'll be home soon-"
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"Eonni! Did mom and dad call you?" Minju asked. Her voice was thick with worry.
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"Huh? No, they didn't. Why, what's wrong?"
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"One of my classmates is at the Hot Springs. She just texted me that there's a commotion in the main building. And the fire alarms went off!" Her voice shook. "I tried calling mom and dad but they won't pick up!"
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"W-what? A fire?" I pressed my stomach, trying to ignore the nausea creeping in. My whole body was buzzing with anxiety. "Okay, just stay at home. I'll go over now and see what's happening."
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When I hung up, Hoseok already began scooping up the shopping bags.
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"Something about a fire and commotion at the Spa." I stood and quickly took my father's crutches up again. At the back of my mind I barely registered the wary look Yoongi and Hoseok shared. But I was desperate to start moving. "I have to go and see what's happening."
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I started toward the parking lot where Hoseok parked his uncle's second car. Since turning eighteen, he's been devoted to earning his license. Tonight was the few nights he was allowed to take the car. I uttered words of gratitude for that.
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When we reached the vehicle, Hoseok quickly loaded everything in the trunk while I breathlessly hopped into the back seat. The muscles in my arms were burning but I couldn't think about it right now. As we pulled out of the stall, I realized it was just us two again. The thought should've made me feel at least a fraction of relief, even in this situation.
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It didn't. Which was a worrisome thing in and of itself.
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With a deep, determined breath I filtered my thoughts to only focus on my parents and their safety. Please, please be okay...
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