ʟᴜʟʟᴀʙʏ ♪ ʟᴇᴇ ᴅᴏɴɢʜʏᴜᴄᴋ

[63]

The heavy rain poured down like meteorites, pounding on the concrete streets and the dimly lit street lights. It contrasted well with the row of monotone grey industrial buildings neatly piled one after another for as far as the eye could see. A dense, milky fog hid the wonders as well as the failures of the neighborhood, making it seem ominous and secretive.

As the color of the barely visible traffic light turned green, two shadowy figures sped across the street. Their light-weighted walk was the only movement visible, as there was not even a car in sight. Just the booming, thunderous rain. 

After just a minute, they stopped in front of one of the uniform houses, only recognizing it by the dry and rusty number that identified it. Hastily stepping up to the veranda, they both released a sigh of relief as they escaped the unbearable shower as there was now a roof over their head.

The first figure didn't even hesitate as it raised a finger, landing it on the red button that indicated the doorbell. It rang.

Just a half a minute passed when the pale red door creaked open. In the doorframe stood a short, aged woman. Her pitch black hair was neatly tied back into a bun that rested at the name of her neck, soul-less dark eyes surrounded by deep wrinkles. She wore a pale yellow turtleneck sweater, accompanied by a knee-length navy green skirt and fluffy white slippers. The look was completed with a baby-pink apron that she had tied around herself.

Upon seeing the familiar figure in the doorway, the woman couldn't help but feel weak to her feet, stumbling to hold onto the door tightly as to not fall over.

"D-Donghyuck?" Her cracking voice was barely above a whisper, almost impossible to hear over the thrashing rain.

But her shock only got greater as her eyes shifted to the person behind him.

♫ 

The standing wooden clock ticked and ticked with each passing second.

The living room was ghostly quiet, the only sound being the pouring rain drizzling against the window.

It was decorated by two gray couches, as well as a small coffee table and old TV. Nearby stood a glass cabinet, containing some finer porcelain and frames with washed-out pictures in them. Otherwise, there was nothing too interesting to look at.

Donghyuck's leg was bouncing up and down nervously as his eyes darted around, the living room bringing back so many lost memories. His cold, wet hand clutched into a tight fist and he gritted his teeth, unable to bear the pressure weighing down on his conscience. Being here didn't feel right.

But then, he felt the small, equally cold hand slip on top of his and he turned to find the girl giving him a small but comforting smile.

He hated this place with all his heart. The house, the memories, the woman inhabiting it- everything. But somehow she managed to make it a little better.

As they made comfortable eye contact, it was interrupted by the sound of ushered footsteps. As they looked towards the doorway, in came the old woman with a tray in her hands. Reaching the coffee table, she put down the white teapot and two matching cups. Then, she proceeded to pour some of the boiling liquid into them, soon after sitting down onto the opposite couch.

"I am... glad to see you." She muttered, clearly unable to find the right words to say.

"I can't say I feel the same, Ms.Song." Donghyuck growled back, soon after feeling Soomin's hand tighten around his own.

Ms.Song swallowed down the dryness in her throat, hand trembling under the immense pressure she felt. She couldn't help but notice the teens' sweet and heartfelt interaction, pulsing her lips together as she did so.

"You've changed." She stated firmly, looking up to stare Donghyuck in the eye.

The boy narrowed his eyes at her, realizing what she meant but did nothing to remove his hand from Soomin's. "And you. Are you the same?"

"Please, let's not do this today. I have a headache already." Ms.Song asked in a pleading tone.

"I heard your husband passed away recently." 

"Donghyuck!" Soomin whisper-yelled at him, scolding him for how ruthless he acted towards the old lady.

As the girl turned to look at Ms.Song, the old woman had shut her eyes tightly whilst breathing heavily. She was clearly distressed, and somehow angered, but decided to not lash out and instead change the topic.

She turned to Soomin, with a small smile on her face. "You're Soomin. Park Soomin."

"How did you know?"
"Your face is on every news site in Korea." The woman laughed bitterly. "The entire nation knows who you are." 

Soomin bit her lip, only now realizing that she had put herself at the risk of discovery. She hadn't expected that the woman would know her.

"Granted, I didn't expect you to show up anywhere with... him." Ms.Song smacked her lips, eyes looking slightly hostile as she turned to meet Donghyuck's glare. 

"I think you know Soomin from elsewhere, don't you think?"

The girl was again astonished by how forwardly rude he was with the elderly woman, thought Ms.Song didn't seem to react negatively at what he had said. Rather at him as a whole.

The woman seemed a little bit taken aback by the question, sitting in silent for a couple of seconds before responding in a dry tone. "No I do not." 

"Do you think we're stupid?" Donghyuck's voice began gaining more and more hostility. "You can see the resemblance too. Two people looking almost the same, as well as being born merely days apart can't be a coincidence."

Ms.Song pulsed her lips together strictly again, but you could see that she was slowly breaking under the pressure he was putting her under.

"So although I don't like you at all, I'm gonna have to ask you to talk."

im gonna try to speed up since this ff has been going on for forever holy shit