LAPSED

⚠ 𝑾𝑨𝑹𝑴𝑻𝑯 ⚠

"ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏꜱᴛ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪꜰᴜʟ ᴛʜɪɴɢꜱ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ꜱᴇᴇɴ ᴏʀ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜᴇᴅ - ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴍᴜꜱᴛ ʙᴇ ꜰᴇʟᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ."
— 𝕳𝖊𝖑𝖊𝖓 𝕶𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖊𝖗

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

THE first rays of the morning sun tiptoed through the curtains, casting a warm golden glow upon the room. The gentle symphony of nature greeted Dahyun's awakening, as the melodious chirping of birds harmonized with the soothing rhythm of waves caressing the shore. Gradually, her consciousness emerged from the realm of dreams, and she blinked her eyes open, the remnants of slumber clinging to her lashes. A contented smile curved Dahyun's lips as she embraced the tranquility that enveloped her being. With each inhale, she absorbed the serenity of the moment, exhaling any remnants of sleepiness that lingered within her.

Leisurely, she untangled herself from the embrace of her cozy cocoon, feeling the softness of the mattress beneath her fingertips. Sitting at the edge of the bed, she allowed her thoughts to meander, like the gentle waves lapping against the shore. The morning light illuminated the room, casting a halo around her silhouette, as if nature itself was blessing her awakening. Her gaze wandered to the view beyond the space between the curtains.

A serene "good morning" escaped her lips, a whisper of gratitude for the gift of a new day. The words floated in the air, carrying with them a sense of appreciation for the simple joys that lay before her. The tranquility of the morning seeped into her very being, infusing her with a sense of calm and readiness to embrace whatever lay ahead. With purposeful grace, Dahyun rose from the bed, her body awakening fully to the rhythm of the day. She stretched her limbs, feeling the gentle pull of muscles.

The soft caress of the morning light bathed Dahyun's features, casting a gentle glow upon her face as she approached the glass door leading to the balcony. With a graceful sweep of her hand, she slid the door open, inviting the fresh coastal breeze to dance through the room and envelop her senses. Closing her eyes, she savored the familiar and comforting aroma of the shore, carried on the wings of the wind. It was a scent that spoke of tranquility and familiarity, momentarily transporting her thoughts to the bustling streets of Gyeonggi-do or Seoul.

A wistful sigh escaped her lips as she leaned her head against the cool metal frame of the door, her mind filled with a mixture of longing and resignation. "It's beautiful here," she murmured, her voice carrying a hint of melancholy. "But I'd rather be stuck in Gyeonggi-do or Seoul, without worrying about our safety from those monsters..." Her words trailed off, carried away by the breeze that whispered through the balcony. It was a bittersweet reflection, tinged with the weight of their current circumstances and the yearning for the comforts of home.

A bitter chuckle escaped her throat, the sound echoing with a tinge of sarcasm. The somberness of her musings had quickly snuffed out the initial serenity that had enveloped her. It was a moment of self-awareness, a recognition of how her reflexive emotions had momentarily dampened the mood that had embraced her just moments before.

As Dahyun's eyes slowly fluttered open, they were greeted by the sight of Jungkook, standing at the edge of the beach house, bathed in the soft morning light. In his hands, he held a gleaming axe, filling Dahyun with curiosity as she observed his movements.

With deliberate steps, Jungkook made his way towards the scattered woods that adorned the ground nearby. He gently placed the axe down, temporarily relinquishing its hold. Dahyun's eyes followed his every motion as he carefully gathered the fallen branches, one by one, creating a neat pile in a designated spot. As if vanishing into the hidden corners of the beach house, Jungkook momentarily disappeared from Dahyun's line of sight. Her curiosity piqued, she eagerly anticipated his return, wondering what awaited her gaze. And soon enough, he emerged, a figure shrouded in strength, rolling a massive piece of wood towards the chopping area.