When all they wanted was a simple trip and a proper goodbye, Rona and the other Hera Palace kids ended up in an endless maze where they faced a blur ending. And all it took was one call which led them to one conclusion.
"To kill is not the only opt...
If she could list one of the things she never wanted to encounter, that would be putting her life in the present and restarting it all over again.
In the past, the one real thing she has done the most was packing. Due to her family condition, when her mother was still with her and accused of being a killer, she'd had to move a lot. No one would accept her, not even as a monthly tenant. Housing price was all they care about, and so she eventually used to the treatment. The moving habit, included.
But when Jenny asked, at one moment.
"So, is it final?"
"What is?"
"Your leave."
She remembered about her mother's grave, the father she abandoned, and her caring best friend.
She remembered the will and hope she built in the country. She remembered all seasons gathering her in ups and downs of life. Foremost, she remembered the memories of living in Hera Palace, particularly residing on the 45th floor, which led her to recall him too. A man who was now sitting in the front seat of Minhyuk's car.
The one who constantly appeared on her mind and heart, filling it full until the brim of that space couldn't longer be seen.
Another thing she hated most aside from moving around, that she should probably add to the list later, was leaving him unspoken. No sharing in thoughts, words, nor encouragement which used to be their love language when they were together. When they were together.
Now that this trip was supposed to be their last with her gone far and Minhyuk to the military, Rona might be hoping they could say goodbye properly. After all, regret was one emotion humans always stumbled upon. And she learnt that perhaps, when it was the right time, regret wouldn't be in the way.
That's what she hoped would be left between them.
"Is it bad that I kind of think about Eunbyeol being here right now?"
Rona strayed away from the window as Jenny whispered her back to reality. Her attention shifted to the bob girl, eyebrows arched in question. "Sorry, did you say something, Jen?"
"She said she wished Eunbyeol was here with us," Seokkyung answered instead. Watching Jenny with her sharp eyes, she continued, "Which I should remind you, she rudely turned down Rona's invitation. So, her loss."
"It just feels weird going on a trip like this without her. We used to get away from our parents and had fun," Jenny said.
"Yeah, used to. Memories I would rather forget rather than talk about," Seokkyung mumbled. She rested her head back with a sigh, carrying her vision outside and not minding to continue again. Leaving everyone with their own occupied mind.
Summer was still with them as the road glistened in sunlight. Yet, the way things ended there oddly brought the feeling of winter faster. And Rona couldn't help but be reminded over and over by her soon new life abroad at the end of the trip. A dream which seemed to keep on staying as a dream because she wouldn't believe it was real. Another thought aside from leaving behind everything.
Life at the start of her high school until the end had been like that. A roller coaster which gave her euphoria the moment she rode it, then left her thrills of numbness and pain right when it was over. Lately, she felt it more than anything. Happy with how it turned out with Juilliard as well as hurt with how empty the spot of her forever supporter in life. Her mom.
Therefore, she'd called all of the past events till today a dream which seemed to keep on staying as a dream. Because that's how clashed her reality since.
Catching the room temperature, Minhyuk tried to brighten it with music from the radio. He lightly drummed his finger to the beat, then hummed along with it. He said, "Guys, why do all of you look so down? Today is a happy day. Your mom finally got engaged with Logan, Seokkyung. Right, Seokhoon?"
Rona watched as Sokhoon solely gazed sideways without bothering to respond back. From the corner of her eye, she also could see Seokkyung instantly sitting straight on her seat. She didn't know what made them so uneasy long before they departed. Whether they still couldn't believe their mother will get married again one day, now with a promising partner who truly cherished her with his own life, or they just couldn't accept that yet.
"Great job, Minhyuk," Jenny muttered in time Minhyuk grimaced at his own attempt to cheer them all. He mouthed back 'sorry' to her which didn't get any answer from Jenny. She just stole glances to Seokkyung's direction, then to her unusually quiet phone back-and-forth. Waiting for news from her mother.
She is acting strange too, Rona thought. All of them are.
One thing for certain, the air within them worsened like they suddenly realized there was something amiss with the trip. A trip that was an arrangement from Jenny's mother two days before engagement day. Things she insisted had to be done on the eventful day, even though she fully knew they were no longer on good terms.
Yet, she still pushed the agenda. As if she wanted them to go far away. Far from unknown danger.
From what exactly? Rona racked her mind as she searched for what's missing recently. Only one name flashed in her at that moment.
Joo Dantae. They lost him at harbour.
And like on cue, Seokhoon's voice abruptly destroyed the silence.
"Stop the car," he whispered. His eyes locked on the screen of his phone and his hands slightly shook. Rona immediately knew from behind, at the way his broad shoulders tensed, her concern seconds ago surfaced in real form. Their concern.
Minhyuk glanced at him in confusion. "What?"
Gritting through his teeth, Seokhoon stared back. Anger reflected on his stars with each word he stretched, "I. said. stop. the. damn. car."
"But why?" Minhyuk asked, feeling scared and clueless at the same time.
Before Seokhoon could steer the wheel to the side in rage and put them all in accident, Jenny, who had clutched her phone without Rona's knowing, answered, "My mom. It's my mom. Yours too, Seokkyung.
"They're all in danger."
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Well, it's not me if I don't start anything new even before I finish Treacherous (still working on two parts to publish same time). Let's just hope this novel doesn't end up being deleted like Therefore, We.
