Nirvana | j.hs

Chapter 11 : Cinderella Hours

Thanks to Yoongi, Hope was now free from her cell which used to be her room. It sucks to realize that her parents will forever listen to others about her but not hear their own daughter.

For now, she could roam around their lawn and of course, inside their house, unlike before when she was always confined inside her room. She still can't afford to go outside at night because she doesn't want another war to resurface in her family. Mr. Villan is slowly opening up again to her, but not exactly how it used to. It's not like that behavior bothers Hope, she knows that one day, everything will go back to the way it was.

Just not now.

As a matter of fact, she took up a huge amount of courage to finally take down the Red Knight. It hurts to finally let go of something she used to enjoy doing. She didn't know who to blame, should it be herself? Her parents? Or was it really Hoseok who brought this all up?

Speaking of Hoseok, she still can't forget how she almost fell for his scripted atonement. Every time she remembers, she would always take a deep breath to remain calm.

Her beloved cousin was also astounded by his friend's tricks. Yoongi never thought that Hoseok will go to that level. Even after knowing that Hope is his cousin, he really went on with his playboy instincts and there he knew that he had to step up.

Yoongi wanted to confront Hoseok and he told his plan to Hope. But Hope doesn't want him to go alone, she wants Hoseok to get a taste of his own medicine directly from her. So tonight, Yoongi successfully convinced the Villans to allow her to go out for the night. Of course, they allowed her all courtesy to Yoongi again and because she's accompanied by their most trusted nephew.

"How are you feeling?" she asked him.

"Aren't I supposed to be the one who should ask you that?" he frowned.

"Well, he's your friend and he's trying to hit on your most precious cousin," she shrugged with a sly smile beneath her mask (she's still not comfortable about showing her face, not after that Red Knight article).

"I'm not sure about the most precious part but yeah, I'm pissed off. I think he's actually avoiding me," he huffed a puff of air. "How about you? Can you do it?"

"Of course, I can!" she exclaimed. "After all his taunting, he'll get what he deserves."

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"Don't you guys like have classes tomorrow morning or something?" she asked her cousin upon seeing a group of college students partying themselves on a Tuesday night. It's a different and much spacious location for just a party. In all honesty, she really doesn't understand why there are always parties involved in college.

"If you study at one, you'll understand why," he breathed.

"I guess I'll never understand," she mumbled to herself.

"Asshole incoming," Yoongi whispered next to her and she started looking in the same direction where her cousin is staring at.

There she saw Hoseok calmly walking towards their spot. "Hey, you brought a guest," he innocently greeted the two of them. "Would you like some drinks?"

"No, we're fine," Hope stopped her cousin from letting his friend flee because of an offer. She desperately wants to finish it off at this moment. "Actually, I came here to talk to you," she said. "Privately."

Yoongi was taken aback by Hope's words. That was not what they agreed to do. He glared at his cousin who's attention is all poured down to his beloved friend.

"Well, pleasure's all mine," Hoseok gestured for her to follow him towards a certain direction. Yoongi on the other hand, gently gripped her shoulder to stop her.

"What are you doing?" Yoongi whisper-yelled.

Hope wanted to prove to herself that she can handle things on her own. Things except for her parents' issues. It seems like Yoongi is always to the rescue and she shouldn't get used to it. She thought she needed to stand on her own feet and perhaps, tonight will be the test for that.

"I'm fine, just wait here," she playfully winked at her puzzled company before following Hoseok. As expected, Yoongi let her go as he has faith in his own cousin with things like this.

Later on, Hoseok and Hope arrived in a cozy room, which is thankfully not too bright. Still, she wouldn't take off her shades because the environment she's in is unfamiliar— she can't risk having a panic attack here. "I wanted to see you," she started as she moved closer to him.

Hope got a good view of his neck tattoos. Every skin on his neck is covered in black ink. It's actually fascinating for her. Knowing her parents, they will probably faint if she even tried to get a tiny smiley face tattoo. "Why did you lie to me?" she looked down. "I almost believed that you were sincere about your apologies."

To Hoseok, she might be avoiding eye contact because he can't see through her black shades, but to Hope, she can clearly see how confused Hoseok was. "You, ah, what?"

"I thought there's kindness left in you," she sighed. Seeing how speechless Hoseok was, she smirked under her mask. She knew he was expecting an aggressive Hope tonight but she showed him otherwise. In fact, she didn't believe guilt-tripping him would actually work.

As she looked up to him, "But I was wrong." Hope placed her hands on each side of his shoulder before throwing a blow on his groin using her knee. In a swift movement, she pinned him on the ground as he tried so hard to protect his manhood from her. Within seconds, Hope got back on her feet but then a hand grabbed her right ankle and pulled it.

Realizing what might happen if she let Hoseok pull him completely, she sacrificed her right knee as it hit the hard floor. The pain started to ache from her leg, but considering what might happen worse if she didn't, she thought it's better this way.

Freeing her ankle from Hoseok's touch was a challenge she was able to overcome. The idiot actually had the audacity to remove her shoe and throw it somewhere she didn't see. As soon as she got back on track, she noticed how her knee is almost swelling and she felt like limping in pain.

Once she got out of the room, Yoongi was waiting outside and the shock written on his face was indescribable. "What happened? Where's—"

"Don't," she breathed. The look on her cousin's face meant that he was about to beat him up. "I already did it," she proudly grinned.

"But—"

"Hush, I'm tired. Can we go home now?" she smiled sweetly as if she's not agonizing in discomfort deep inside.

"Yeah, sure, but where's your shoe?" he looked down on Hope's naked foot.

"It was collateral damage," was all she said as she can't think of an explanation about it anymore. "Let's go."

Without waiting for Yoongi's response, Hope ventured outside the location with her leg limping and her foot being stepped on rocky ground.