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╭┈─────── ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ-
❝ halcyon days pt iii❞
When you get home to your apartment later that night, you stiffen with your fingers still on the doorknob. There's someone inside.
You don't know how exactly you know, it's practically instinct at this point. Situational awareness and all that. Movement out of the corner of your periphery, maybe? You're not certain, so you straighten up, trying to seem as casual as possible when you open the door. Oh, yes, don't mind me, I'm just a normal teenager.
You roll your shoulders, kneeling down to put your bag in the cubby under the table. At the same time, you slowly slide your hand up the side of the drawer, feeling for the knife you taped there earlier.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," the figure warns. You draw back your hand, careful to keep the movements slow. Nonthreatening. Warning bells go off in your head. Danger. Danger. Danger.
You get up, taking measured steps towards the sofa the figure is reclining on. "What are you doing here?" Your fingers flex, once. Twice. You feel the steel pressed into your sleeve. Okay. This is fine. This is fine. Okay. Okay. Okay.
"Why, I'm hurt." Adjust your grip carefully so the hilt fits nicely in the palm of your hand. The blade is light, easily held.
You move, swiftly. Aim for the jugular, or the carotid, which causes blood loss, equating to near-instantaneous death. 3 to 5 minutes to be fatal. He just flicks the knife out of your grip. It lands with a clatter on the floor and he scoops it up, twirling it between his fingers. "Do you not want me here, [y/n]-ah?"
"Sorry, ahjussi-nim," you mumble. It's fine. It's fine. "Just had to make sure." You sink into the plush chair. "Is something wrong?"
"No." Ahjussi-nim shakes his head. "I just wanted to check in on [y/n]-ah. How are you? How are your accommodations? How's school? Making friends?"
You pause. An interrogation. . .? But why not just say it outright? "Ahjussi-nim, are you asking for a report?"
"Ah. . .no. I am asking how [y/n]-ah has been. Not a report. Just casual conversation. Also, I brought chocolate!" He holds up a large packet of those expensive chocolates wrapped in gold foil that you see on TV. He tosses it over to you. 95000 won, the label reads. When he catches your stare, ahjussi-nim laughs. "Only the best for [y/n]-ah!"
Okay. . . you shrug. "I've been fine. The accommodations are fine. School is. . .fine." You hesitate for a minuscule amount of time. Do you talk about Sung Jinwoo? Would that constitute as small talk? Of course, ahjussi-nim is very perceptive and catches your moment of weakness.
"Oh~? Something happened? [y/n]-ah doesn't like the school? [y/n]-ah thinks the teachers are useless? Or maybe. . .[y/n]-ah has a crush~?" He wiggles his eyebrows at you. You roll your eyes and sniff the chocolate carefully. It doesn't seem to be poisoned but. . .you never know.
"Ahjussi-nim, no. Why are you here, really?"
Ahjussi-nim sighs. "As expected, nothing gets past [y/n]-ah. So smart, ah. . ." He wipes away fake tears. Ahjussi-nim is so dramatic, honestly. . . Then he straightens up and it's like a switch has been flipped. His eyes, which had been filled with warmth previously, become cool and inscrutable. "Now. I'm sure [y/n]-ah knows the deal?"
You nod.
"Good. But sadly, my schedule has filled up. I will no longer be able to check in on [y/n]-ah until two years have passed." Silently, you wonder. Why does ahjussi-nim sound so strange? You're more than capable of taking care of yourself. You know the basics of cooking simple foods like rice and kimchi. . .sort of. And even if it doesn't end up too well, you can just buy instant foods from a convenience store.
God bless convenience stores.
Seriously.
You know how to clean. You know how to heavily incapacitate and-slash-or kill a person 12 different ways with a pair of chopsticks. You'd've been fine on your own. Ahjussi-nim keeps talking, and you snap back to reality.
"This ahjussi begs for [y/n]-ah's forgiveness. As penance, this ahjussi will give [y/n]-ah many, many chocolates. So many chocolates! And also an emergency contact to call in times of need. This contact will watch you and keep you safe." Like a handler, then? You've had a few of those before. None of them had lasted too long though. . . "I have taken great pains in finding a great one. They must be a good Hunter. Strong, but kind. And good with children. So I have decided. Your emergency contact will be S-Rank Hunter Sung Ilhwan!"
You blanch. S-Rank Hunter? Isn't that going a bit too far? Besides, if worst comes to worst you definitely won't be able to beat an S-Rank Hunter in a fight. This little side project will not turn out in your favor. . .
Ahjussi-nim smiles widely at you. "Please take care, [y/n]-ah! He will come over sometime tomorrow for a quick check-in. And if Sung Ilhwan is not treating you right, you can tell me and I will set him straight." Ahjussi-nim cracks his knuckles menacingly. You sigh, inwardly. Okay. Okay. Cool.
Ahjussi-nim stands up suddenly. "Well! I must be off. Please forgive this ahjussi, [y/n]-ah. And before I forget." He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a handful of letters. "The children say hello and send all their love!"
You regard ahjussi-nim cooly, though your brain is screaming at you to grab the letters and run back to your room. But you force yourself to stay seated until you hear the door click shut behind him. No weakness, no fear. Anything you say or do can and will be used against you. Keep your wits about you.
When you're certain ahjussi-nim has left, you let out a huff. Okay. Okay.
You eagerly tear into the envelopes. Most of it contains the children back at the orphanage detailing things that happened in their lives. Messages like:
"[y/n]-sunbae, today I c̶o̶t̶ ̶c̶o̶g̶h̶t̶ caught a fish..."
"Sunbae, I miss you! Cheok-ssi is so mean, did you know what..."
"Hi sunbae :) this is Sookyoung :) I ate hotteok for breakfast..."
Or something similar. As you immerse yourself in the stories of the children, you find yourself relaxing. They're safe. They're okay. Okay. Okay. You haven't failed them, not yet.
By the time you've finished reading through the letters, it's nearing midnight, but your work isn't done yet. You crack your neck. Time to see what you can dig up on Sung Ilhwan.
Not so far away, Sung Ilhwan shivers violently as a feeling of dread comes over him. He sneezes. I'm doomed. . . he thinks mournfully. Aigoo. . .I just wanted some peace and quiet. . .
