Veiled | JHS | ✓

A Weirdo and her deal

Jung Hoseok stared down at the anonymous note that was stuck to his locker yesterday. Hoseok had a pretty good guess about who it might have been from.

I have a plan. Meet me tomorrow by the park benches @ 1:20 pm.

When the afternoon rolled closer, he made his way to the venue mentioned in the note but unfortunately for him, he spotted a certain girl at the distance making her way towards his direction. Hoseok didn't wait to think. He quickly made a dive for the nearby bushes and hid behind the leaves. By the time he looked back, the girl had vanished from there. He heaved a sigh of relief. 

"Thank god, she's gone."

"Who?"

"That crazy person," Hoseok replied with contempt.

"Ah~ So you're hiding from that crazy person?"

Hoseok nodded his head firmly, his eyes still trained at the spot where he had spotted her before just to be sure that she was gone. "Yes, I must avoid her at all costs."

The voice beside him laughed. "Hahaha... why?"

"You're asking me way too many questions. Who even are y--Aargh!" Hoseok screeched when he found the very person he was trying to avoid standing beside him.

Sia Winters stood towering over him, a curious expression on her face and an amused grin tugging at her lips. A little wind brushed past, making her featherweight hair flow in the wind and he could barely make out the white strands of her peekaboo highlights peeking out. Something about the way it danced in the wind reminded him of a lion's mane. Her entire stance reminded him of a predatory lioness. He inched a few inches back, momentarily forgetting that he had an advantage of height over her and that he probably wouldn't feel that intimidated if he just stood up. Sia seemed to be enjoying herself. He cleared his throat, averting his eyes. "Why are you here?"

"I was told to come here." She replied casually, "But why were you hiding from me, assuming that the 'crazy person' you mentioned was me?"

"Nevermind that," Hoseok replied easily, trying to gain his composure.

"Well, you would have failed anyway because you see ? I can find you. Wherever you are."

The statement irked him more than it should have. "W-why are you talking like that? What do you even mean by that? Even on that day... what are you trying to say?"

Sia frowned, seemingly confused. He tsked frustratedly. "You know that day when you were holding my hand and you said-- ugh, the thing you said!"

She made an 'o' with her mouth as the realization dawned on her. "Oh, that? I forgot about it."

"Y-you forgot?!"

Sia waved a hand. "Don't worry about it. It was a slip of tongue. I didn't mean to say that out loud."

Hoseok was on the verge of feeling a little relieved when he backtracked a little bit. Didn't mean to say that out loud?

"I completely meant it though." He choked on air. It was at that time, a jovial voice interrupted them. "I see you both received my notes just fine. Both of you are here. Good. Now Hoseok, I have good news for you."

NJ clasped his hands together, turning to Hoseok who was still on the ground. Hoseok cleared his throat again before he finally realized that he had legs and stood up. "Ah, yes. What is it?"

Nj beamed delightedly. "An angel of Time has agreed to help you and me. He has proposed a plan."

Hoseok perked up from his place and Sia watched them both, intently listening. "An angel of Time?" She asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

"An angel who has the power to look into the past, present, and variables of future." He explained kindly for her sake. "So Jimin has proposed a plan according to one of the potential positive future variables he saw. He reckons that you might have to seek out the help of another wizard that's known to exist in this timeline. The Great Sorcerer V." 

"There's another wizard?" Hoseok asked curiously.

"Yep. Only one other than you, I mean, Vile One." He explained.

"So... how do I find him?"

NJ told the both of them to huddle closer and they were too intrigued to deny him. "We can't usually know where a defier of fate is. They're too powerful and lie out of our jurisdiction but Time angels can. Jimin reckons that he should be somewhere in Fairy town right now. But for some reason, he wouldn't tell me the exact location. He insists you find him yourself. Time Angels are so frustrating, I tell you. They never give you a straight answer..."

Hoseok pursed his lips as he thought about it. It didn't sound like a bad idea. He didn't have a problem with taking a few days off university to go and explore the little tourist town famous for its legend about having mythical creatures in it. After all, if it meant that he could become a normal human being, it was the least he could do. He took a deep breath. "Alright, I will do it."

"Good, but here's the thing," NJ interrupted him. "You will have to take Sia and have her with you at all times."

It was the second time Hoseok choked on plain air that day. "Wait, what? Why?" He protested as Sia's eyes lit up at the prospect.

"It was one of the angel's demands. Besides, I think you've already figured out part of it, Sia," he turned to her with a little grin, "but you can't stay away from this guy even if you want to, am I right? If he gets too out of your range, you experience weird impulses and if he uses excess power, you get summoned. "

"Right!" Sia cried, feeling relieved that at least someone was able to finally understand her and possibly give her an explanation. "I forking hate that feeling!"

"No swearing, please." NJ chided, playfully. "Yes. It's a part of your power, Sia. You were appointed as a messenger by Queen Yama, though I think tamer would be a more appropriate name for your role." He added with a little grin.

"So you mean to say that this weirdo has been harassing me from day one for a reason?" Hoseok asked, pointing a finger at Sia who bristled at the 'weirdo' comment.

Amused, NJ explained. "Yes. So that's her power. It is associated with physical touch. The messenger's touch can break the connection between the parasite soul and the host soul in the body. It's the reason why you experienced a loss of power when she touched your shoulder that day, Hoseok. It's the Queen's way of making sure that you won't be a threat to others when you lose your control."

Hoseok's eyebrows shot way past his forehead at the newfound revelation. He didn't realize there was a bigger reason for everything he was going through. Hoseok didn't know what to think about Sia anymore; however, it still didn't explain why she was suddenly being chummy with him. He had seen many people in his entire life. People never changed overnight. That was unusual and the people who did change almost always had an ulterior motive.

Whatever was her deal, Hoseok wasn't going to fall into it. Not after everything he has been through.

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A/N: OOh someone's got severe trust issues, but can we blame him?