Midnight Tales | ✔

35

Jaehyun

It took weeks before Soyoung became okay. Though the house feels empty without Lola now. There were no more of her frequent meows or her annoying wake-up calls. Soyoung spends more time in the garden now, reading or doing something else.

I walked over to her as I found her on the nearby table holding a pen and facing a paper.

"What are you doing?" I asked her as I sat on the chair opposite hers. Soyoung shrugged.

"I want to try writing I guess"

"What do you want to write?"

She smiled. "I still don't know yet, but let me see...oh how about your friends?"

"My friends?"

She nodded. "I want to write about them. Tell me more"

I chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Okay. Um, they're loud? They're all competitive as hell"

Soyoung laughed. "Haechan's the most devious one. He'd pull pranks on everybody, he just goes around and plays tricks on anyone. Jungwoo and Doyoung, those two are like Tom and Jerry-"

I stopped when I notice Soyoung staring at me. Her eyes were filled with sadness, just like the time during that one day in the kitchen.

"Why? What's wrong?"

She shook her head "Nothing. I just wish I wish I could meet them"

I turned to the paper and borrowed her pen. I tried to draw their faces. "They'd look like these. I think you and Taeyong Hyung would get along well because you both like-"

I froze when I turned and faced an empty chair before me. I looked around and saw that the lawn has suddenly changed. Instead of the lush garden, it was now all plain grass. I immediately stood up.

"No..."

I looked around.

"Soyoung!"

No no no no no.

"KIM SOYOUNG!"

I ran over to the back porch, to the kitchen, and towards the living area. Instead of Soyoung, there on the chairs were Mr. Kang and Taeyong Hyung talking with each other. I stumbled back and knocked off a chair. The two immediately turned to me and stood up.

"Jaehyun" Taeyong called.

I don't want to come back anymore. I was happy to stay. Why?

Mr. Kang walked over to me. "Jaehyun..."

I shook my head. "No! I need to go back! She needs me there! She's alone there!"

"Jaehyun, you need to calm down"

No. I can't, knowing Soyoung is losing time. Left, all alone by herself.

"If Min Seok was right, then her time there has probably started moving again now that you're gone"

I cried as I reached for Mr. Kang's shoulders.

"Please, I need to save her"

"You can't go back now Jaehyun. That reality is slowly disappearing now as we speak"

Do you miss your reality Jaehyun?

"I MADE A PROMISE I'D STAY! I NEED TO GO BACK!"

Tears now filled my vision. Soyoung was left there alone as her reality disappears with her. All the things that she loved, the moments she had cherished. And Soyoung...

Mr. Kang pulled me into an embrace, as I cried in defeat. Taeyong Hyung watching us in dread. I turned to him.

"I promised her Hyung" I breathed. "I promised her I'd stay"