When Saeron came in from class, she trailed up to her bedroom. Kahi demanded to know where she was going, but Baekho pointed out that Saeron was obviously sick and needed rest. Saeron, for her part, hadn't answered.
She closed her bedroom door. It was Homecoming tonight, and she needed to get ready.
Instead, she crawled into bed.
Two hours later, she woke up with a pounding headache, and headed downstairs to get a drink of water. She poured it from the tap, and Kahi frowned at her. "Saeron, don't drink tap water," she said. "It's bad for your health."
"It's no different from bottled water," Saeron mumbled back. She filled a cup. "Just better for the environment."
"I wasn't aware I'd employed a hippie," Kahi muttered. She pressed a hand to Saeron's forehead. "You really are sick, hm? Just like the flowers."
"What?"
"Didn't you know?" Kahi gestured out the kitchen door, to the store. "Our flowers are dying. I don't know why, but I think Yeon's behind it."
Saeron blinked slowly. She knew Raven's Day had threatened to run them out of business, but they wouldn't actually sabotage the shop, would they?
"I haven't found any proof yet, but I will," Kahi shrugged. "In the meantime, get better. We really need extra hands around here."
"Yes, Kahi," Saeron murmured, but her mind was moving wildly.
Raven's Day, Yeon threats, the dying flowflowersㅡSaeron was the only person living under this roof that drank water out of the taps.
Abruptly, she walked out of the kitchen. Fighting off the headache – it would have to wait until later – she snatched her coat from behind the counter and made for the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Kahi demanded.
"I have to do something, I'll be back later," she threw over her shoulder. Kahi started to answer back, but Saeron was already out the door.
She stormed her way down the streets, marching like a soldier, her feet hitting the sidewalk in time with the throbbing in her head.
It wouldn't take her that long to get to Raven's Day's shop; twenty minutes, maybe? She wondered if she could get back in time to fix whatever was wrong with their water and still be ready in time for Homecoming. She should call Mark and warn him.
Raven's Day was located on what Saeron thought of as the bad side of town. There were thorn bushes lining the cracked sidewalks, and they were always overgrown.
Saeron stumbled over a dent in the pavement, and fell sideways. The thorns scratched through her jeans, and dug into her palms. She winced in pain.
She was only a block away. Saeron knew she could do this.
Bracing hands on her knees, Saeron tried to push herself up. Something odd happened; all the blood rushed from her head and she fell over backwards, into the overgrown bushes and almost completely out of view from the sidewalk.
For a brief second her vision swam, and Saeron realised this must be what it was like to fall unconscious.
Then everything went black.
"Hyck?"
Mr.Lee was knocking on his door again. Donghyuck ignored him.
"Donghyuck, if you don't quit acting like a bratty teenager, I am going to kick this door down!" Mr.Lee raised his voice an octave. Donghyuck snatched the Nerf gun from his floor and shot a few darts. They landed on the door, right where Mr.Lee head would have been if it was open.
