The Girl Aria (A Stray Kids Fanfiction)

Chapter 8

Again I awoke, but this time to a softer lighting. There was so sickly hospital smell anymore. In fact, all I smelled was the relaxing scent of freshly washed linen. I opened my eyelids, which felt extremely heavy, and I took a look around me. Just a normal dorm bedroom. The morning sunlight streamed onto the bed, almost blinding me from how bright it had become. There was dead silence, not the eerie kind, but the type that felt warm, thick and comforting. The kind that was just as relaxing as it was peaceful. Faintly, I could hear the sounds of people awaking, and the slight commotion of someone beginning to prepare breakfast for that morning.

Even though there were these comforting sounds, I still had that fear of the unknown. It was like a thick fog that would not allow the sunlight to shine through or see what lay ahead of me. Where would I go from here. Surely I couldn't stay with whoever these people were for the rest of my life. But I could say the same thing about going back outside by myself again. There were not a lot of options for me. I would have to decide on what to do in the very near future.

Just at that thought, the door to the room opened, and another male entered the room. It wasn't the one from before, but a different one. He had an annoyed and intimidating resting face, which made me feel uncomfortable. If I had to guess his height I would probably say 5'8' or something like that. Compared to me, he was a good amount taller. He had a sharper nose and thinner lips, with a dark grey silver kind of hair color. His clothes weren't that unusual either. Just a oversized striped sweater and dark jeans. He carried a shallow bowl with food and a glass of water, but I hardly took notice of it. I didn't study him much after that. He came just in front of me and placed the food just on the bedside table. I saw him point to it, then me, not even saying a word. But neither did I, so I guess we were even. He looked annoyed still, almost as if he was about to roll his eyes. I assumed I looked the same. Again, we were even. I almost felt like I was competing with him or something. I laughed at my thought on the inside and brushed that thought away. He didn't stay for any longer, he left the room right after that. The door shut, and I stared warily at the food by bedside. It was ridiculous that I thought something might be wrong with it. They had come to this much trouble to help me, so it wouldn't make much sense if they now tried to do the opposite. But you never knew in this world.

I was hungry, of course, but I told myself I didn't deserve to eat. "They" had already done so much for me, and what had I done for them? Absolutely nothing at all. In fact, I had become more of a burden for them. Part of me was also a bit prideful. I wanted to prove that I didn't need their help, that I could manage on my own without the aid of anyone or anything. Should I have known better, I would have realized that was false. So, being the idiot that I am, I pushed away the food, turning my back to it to stare out the window instead. It was tempting to eat it. I was hungry, and the appetizing smell didn't help, but only made the temptation much more intense. I clamped my teeth, and refused the urge. I would not give in. I would prove to myself and them how strong I was. This is stupid. That thought lay in the back of my mind. It was barely a thought, but it was there. Just ever so slightly, but it was there. I would starve myself if I had to prove it, and no one was going to convince me otherwise.....

* * *

An hour or two later, the same man that came with the food entered the room again, the same expression held upon his gaze. He glanced down at the full plate of food that had been untouched. He sighed, approaching me stiffly and taking the plate. He held out his hand and spoke to me for the first time since we met.

"Come." Was simply all he said. He had a noticeable Korean accent, but the way he spoke English almost made me smile. It was cute. I quickly disregarded it, remembering that I was not to trust anyone in this household. I found myself fighting between my mixed emotions. I continued to sit, just staring back at him. My curiosity told me to follow him, but my stubbornness told me the opposite. My mind was split in two. Did I really want to be like this? I considered it for a moment or two, then I made my decision. I folded my arms across my chest and refused to move.