pretty flower | 강새벽

028

"Sun-Hi, come say hi to your baby brother." My mother smiles as I walk closer to her, watching the small infant in her arms. The baby was small and delicate, and whilst asleep looked angelic. 

"My brother?" I asked with a smile on my face, loving the idea of being an older sister. Loving the idea of being able to protect someone. 

My mother nods her head and I smile even bigger. I step closer to her and lay a gentle kiss on the baby's forehead, trying not to wake it. He stirs slightly in his sleep, cooing at my touch. 

I smile once more before looking at my father, who had cold eyes as he laid eye on the baby. 

"Papa! Look! I'm a big sister!" I tug onto his shirt excitedly. Instead of picking me up and laughing, as he would normally do, he swatted me away from him, walking towards my mother and the baby instead. 

I pout unintentionally, stepping over to my uncle, who sat at the back of the room.

"Don't pout. It'll ruin your face." My uncle pinches my cheeks slightly and I scrunch my face up playfully. My father looks back at us and glares, causing my uncle to let go of me and sit up straight again. 

I cross my arms and sit next to him, my legs sticking off the edge of the chair. I fiddle with my dress, the baby one that only came to my knees, feeling the soft material. 

"Let's go, Sun-Hi." My father spoke sternly, causing me to jump out of the chair. My father grabs my hand quickly, pulling me out of the hospital room before I could say goodbye to my mother or uncle.

"Papa? Where are we going?" I ask but my father didn't answer. Instead, he tightened his grip around my wrist. 

"Papa, you're hurting me." Tears start forming in my eyes. 

"Stay silent." His tone was cold and harsh, and also something I had only heard he use with my mother. I nod my head obediently,  trying not to anger him. 

He pulled me to the car, letting go of my hand to shove me inside. He closes the door before helping me with my seatbelt. 

"Put it on." He glares, pointing to the seat belt. 

I grab the seatbelt and try to clip it into the small slot until it clicked, just like I'd seem my father do. I tried over and over again, but each time failed, not being able to do it. 

"I said put your seatbelt on you brat!" he yells, causing me to flinch and the tears to find their way back up to my eyes. 

"I-I can't." I cry, still trying to do it.

"You're just as useless as your mother." He scowls, slapping my face. 

I cry as pain sears through my face. He grabs the seatbelt and buckles it up before then turning back around and starting to drive.

"Sun-Hi. Get up." a voice called out to me, and my eyes fluttered open. Standing over top of me was the frontman, his mask on his face and his voice still monotone and boring. 

"Either kill me or let me go. Make up your fucking mind." I groan, my stomach hurting as I attempt to sit up. 

"Take it easy." 

"Why do you suddenly care?" 

The masked man doesn't say anything else, instead, he fiddles with the black mask. Some boss he is.

"Just put me back with the other players," I demand, crossing my arms. 

"I can't do that." 

"Why not?" 

"Because you know too much."

"I don't know what the next games are. I don't know who you are. I don't know anything. I know the same amount as I did before." 

He stands there, not saying anything, just staring at me. "The same?" he asks with a chuckle.

I nod my head as he steps closer, gulping as I respond "Even if did know stuff, I wouldn't say anything." 

He doesn't move from his position, keeping his covered face near mine. He only moves enough to pinch my cheeks slightly. 

"What are you doing?" I scowl, pushing him away from me. 

"I guess you'll always be the same. Cold, just like your father." he turns away from me.

"I am nothing like my father."

"You keep telling yourself that." He laughs before snapping his fingers and two guards grab me by each arm, dragging me out of the room. 

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Word count: 747