Through the Looking Glass (TXT x Itzy)

Fifteen

Her body clock woke her up at 6 o'clock, like she had trained to. Jerking up in panic, considering the hard ground she was sleeping on, she took a few seconds to process her surroundings. Right. It wasn't a dream.
She really was in another world.
A hasty laugh was all she managed, while she took in the sight of her dirty clothes and trembling fingers. She had never been scared before. Not like this, so it was...new. First things first, she needed fresh clothes. She smelled like she had spent all night in the arena.
Perhaps Chaeryeong could offer her some clean ones, though she guessed it would be impolite to rummage through the girl's wardrobe. So she sat, waiting patiently for the girl to wake.
It appeared that Chaeryeong was not an early riser.
The sun was almost at its peak in the sky, which meant it was near noon. And the sleeping beauty snored on.
Unable to hold back a sigh, Ryujin internally lamented how this would never happen back home, but got up and cracked open the door.
The two boys were up, presumably, talking in hushed voices, as if afraid to wake the supposedly snoozing girls.
"Come with me to the pawn shop," Taehyun said, stating it as a request but sounding more like a demand. Beomgyu sighed, dark eyebags outlines beneath his dim eyes, "Really? You don't need me. Also, I have training in an hour, and I'm already really tired-"
"I need you to back me up in case they think I stole the earrings-"
"You really think they're worth much?"
"Oh, maybe?"
"If it is you better give me some allowance, I brought the mystery girl to you."
"Ugh fine."
They took their time to get ready, but just before they pushed open the front door Beomgyu caught sight of Ryujin.
"Oh, you're up," He said in a neutral tone, which hinted that while he didn't detest her existence, he wasn't fantastically happy to have her here either. "You should change," Taehyun suggested, "I can smell you from over here. Yuck."
Beomgyu gently waved a hand over his nose, then added, "I have some clothes on my bed, you could take them, they're not really that clean but better than nothing anyways."
Taehyun stared at him like he was insane, then sighed and muttered a "whatever" before he slipped out the door.
"You can shower too, I guess," Beomgyu grimaced lightly, then followed Taehyun before the door clicked shut.
Another long sigh escaped her lips, before a cold tongue startled her. She didn't realise that Dallie was curled around her arm, so she coaxed the red snake off and promised to be back.
The cold water felt like dull knives slicing at her, but she reckoned hot water was not an option. But it did wake her up a little more, and her thoughts were a lot clearer.
"I have to go back," Ryujin said out loud, "My family needs me."
But this was the only chance of freedom she'll ever get.
"Maybe I'll stay here a little longer."