𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐋 | 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐉𝐈𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐆

ch.21

season one | chapter twenty-one

now playing: wrapping up
2:32 ——◦———— -3:50
↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ

"Jisung put the cigarette down" the tanned male huffed in frustration— crossing his arms in front of his chest as he deadpanned the dirty blonde.

He just continued the inhale in the cigarette, later blowing out the cloudy smoke produced from the lit up narrow cylinder. "Why're you so upset? I thought-"

"Fine i'll stop." his fingertips loosened on the cylinder— throwing the cigarette near the closet trash bin. "Come on stop being a bitch and help us decorate." the youngest' chimed in behind the tanned male.

"Where's Aeri?" the two toned haired male asked as he set up a banner reading 'Happy Birthday'— on one side of the plain empty wall. "With her friends."

The mans body slumped under the cushioned couch, letting out a loud sigh that echoed through their apartment. It didn't bother him that she'd hang out with her friends he was just scared of what would happen to her, or if she'd lie about where she was going.

Some part of him also felt anger and jealousy thinking about the many scenarios of him and those teenaged boys he met the other day. It was all heavy weight to carry on his shoulder, it felt like any moment he would crumble.

His eyes felt heavy— all he wanted to do was sleep, he'd barely get any. Staying up countless nights watching over the girl to make sure she was safe— he was so overprotective over her, he didn't even care about himself or his physical state.

He was so deep into thought he didn't even notice the group of 5 teenagers all looking at him with dull eyes, waiting for a response out of the male.

"Come on Ji, we gotta set this up before Mark comes home."

Defeatedly, the males slumped body finally found strength to get up from the couch— straightening himself out he walked over to the box filled with supplies and got to work.

. . .

The raven haired girl ran between multiple stores, trying to find the perfect gift for her best friend. She hadn't known much about him so this was a difficult task.

Her leg muscles started to tighten as she kept running— her heart banging against her rib cage fastened, the beads of sweat forming on her forehead and now her collarbones that were exposed.

She didn't have much time till the afternoon so she had to be quick.

Until a little shop came across her peripheral vision. A guitar shop.

If she remembered correctly Mark had always talked about wanting a guitar, so without giving it much thought she rushed into the store.

As she opened the glass door, the little bell on top jingled— signaling everyone that she was here. "Hi welcome!!" the man at the cashier greeted the lady.

She mumbled a small 'hello', not clear to anyone else but herself. Her feet shuffled into the store— eyeing all the nice guitars. Until she saw one she liked and surely Mark would like it too.

She set her eyes on the price tag on the guitar, reading ₩299.99. It was a hefty price to pay, but anything for Mark.

"Uh sir Id like to buy this one" she called over the cashier— pointing at the guitar she wanted. The man nodded and went to the back to get the exact same one on display.

He came back with it and took it to the cashier, after she paid for it she got ahold of the case with the guitar inside and quickly exited the store.

Her head turned right to left and left to right, making sure she wasn't being followed. When the coast was clear— she walked the crosswalk to find a similar house across the other side.

The sound of a car horn snapped the girl out of her thoughts, making her fasten her steps when she finally got onto the pavement.

Eyeing the familiar house she once lived in, the corner of her lips frowned at the memories of previous events.

"Aeri we're kicking you out of the house" her heart felt like it shattered into a million pieces as she heard her mother's words slip out of her mouth.

"W-why?" she held her shaky hand against her chest, feeling the impact her words left her.

"We can't keep supporting you, financially" her mother explained— trying her best not to sob into the girls arms.

"Once you get home, pack your bags and I don't know find somewhere else to live" the older lady turned away not being able to face her daughter.

Her knees buckled, throwing herself on the floor she started sobbing; she didn't care if people from outside could hear, she was heartbroken and all she could feel was her life crumble apart.

The older couple glanced at their daughter as she sobbed into the palm of her hands.

Her sweater paws getting soaked by the clear liquid that escaped her tear glands— her eyes getting sore from all the crying and the tiny hiccups she'd let out in between sobs.

Raising her head from the floor she saw the couple not even sparing her a glance or a tear— they didn't care.

Wiping her sleeve of her sweater she stood up from the floor— turning around and running out of the hospital.

A few tears started building up in her eyes, even after all the heartache she still cared about her family and how they were doing.

Her hand got ahold of the phone in her back pocket, eyeing the lit up screen to see the time hit 1:27pm. Her eyes widened, putting the phone back in the pocket of her jeans— with the guitar case still in hand, she ran to where Jisung's house was.

She thought she'd stay there till it was time and she'd have enough time to write a letter to the older boy, maybe wrap his present. Either way she had to hurry to make it on time.