𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐲 | 𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐨

45

"Don't leave my side, Mirae. Whatever happens, stay beside me." I watch Yoshinori load his guns with bullets. His face is painted with calmness. It's as if he is not bothered by the fact that the moment we leave this room, our lives will be put in line. That calmness, although seems out of place in this kind of situation, brings peace to me. It is enough to make me feel at ease. It reminds me that I am not alone and he will never leave my side. 

After loading the final bullet, he held out his right hand to me. For a moment, I only stared at it. It was like the world suddenly stopped. It is just me and him, the world outside the door non-existent. For a long time, I didn't have anyone reach out their hands to me. For years, I held out my hands to others only to have them fall back to my sides. Now, I have someone who is reaching out their hand to me.

I looked at his hand again then finally reached out to hold it. I hold on to his hand, tight and never letting go. If at the beginning, it was him and it was me, now it's him and me.

I felt him squeeze my hand, tightening his grip on mine. It was tight but not overbearing. It wasn't the painful kind of tight but it was reassuring. He looked at me, a smile now gracing his beautiful face.

"Ready?" He asked. I took at deep breath and smiled back at him.

"Yes, I'm ready."

---

Yoshinori opened the door, quietly and carefully. We took refuge behind the the table that was flipped over in the living room. It was silent, so silent to the point that I can hear our own breathing. Yoshinori's was steady, calm, and normal. Mine's a little ragged. The adrenaline mixed with anxiety eating me up.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm here. I'm here." I heard Yoshinori whisper. I turned my face to him. His eyes were reassuring. He ran his fingers through my hair and gave me a little peck on my head.

I closed my eyes and took in his comforting presence. My breathing seemed to have gone normal. Sure, I was still scared but now, I'm less scared. It may seem like there's no difference but for me, it makes all the difference.

Sitting behind the table with our hands together felt like years. Yoshinori is calculating all his moves. He's not rushing things. It's as if he's just waiting for the enemies to strike first before he make his move.

Moments later, we heard murmurs. My heartbeat began to race fast again. I was holding my breath in, trying not to create any sound. Footsteps were heard and each second, I feel like they're getting closer. I tightly grasped Yoshinori's left hand. I breathed in and out. Then, there was silence. So eerie, so suffocating.

One.

Two.

Three.

Yoshinori quickly made himself visible to whoever is outside our made-up refuge. He has his gun up, ready to fire. He was ready, I was not. I braced for the sound of gunshots but there was none. Confusion began to settle in.

"What the! You could've killed me." Relief flooded me when I heard a familiar voice.

"You could've killed me as well." Yoshinori said, his tone accusing... and playful? How could he sound so playful in moments like this when I'm here trying my best not to have a panic and heart attack.

"You're alone?" Yoshinori asked. Jihoon appeared from the side and a look of surprise graced his face.

"Mirae, look at you. You're alive!" The way he said that didn't make me happy nor relieved. It felt like he kinda expected me to be gone, to not make it. But of course, it is Jihoon. He always try to make situations lighter. It doesn't always work, but he does try.