'God will forgive you.'- that's what they told them. 'God doesn't exist.'- that's what Seulgi believed. But nobody cared what Seulgi believed in. She was the sinner- so she had to obey. That were the principles her school followed.
The Lakeland Girl...
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1 day before
(This needs to be read with Aurora by Hans Zimmer)
Irene's POV:
The long shadows of the windows danced with her own, creating a mesmerizing scenario on the floor. The orange light illuminated the long corridors and the precious pictures at the wall.
Irene was walking around, not minding where she would end up. It was her last evening here. The last time she was walking through this school like a normal student. Tomorrow, she wouldn't be a student anymore. Tomorrow, she would feel like a queen, having the right to decide over her own life.
Tomorrow, everything would be different. She would finally face the unknown. But she wouldn't be alone...
Everything they have reached so far, everything they had overcome... it had been Seulgi's creation. Her plan, her intelligence and cleverness had brought them so far.
Irene stopped at one of the windows. The sky... it hadn't been this clear for months. And the air... it was warm and comfortable. She inhaled deeply and enjoyed the soft breeze that hit her softly. It was beautiful.
Her feet brought her to the music room on the first floor. Now, all corridors were empty since it was already 7pm. The students either visited the additional Healing process in the chapel or went already on their dorms.
The grand piano stood in the middle of the room, enlightened by an orange ray of light. There was a thin dust layer in the air since the windows were closed. She leaned against the door frame and just watched.
Her first encounter with Dahyun. The girl had already given her some tips in the first Recreation.
Her first mini-concert with Chaeryoung. It had been so funny.
A smile crawled up to her lips as she remembered all these little moments. It had been a gift that she could use this room. All her creativity and passion... a part of it was stored at this place.
She left the music room and walked down the corridor to the east wing. She took a look into the artistic classes, seeing some easels and pictures at the back. Her gaze wandered over the paintings, some were drawn on canvas, some on simple paper.
There was a picture of a foxglove. She smiled. Nobody else could draw this accurate and perfectly as Kang Seulgi. The lines, the colour... a perfect match. And all this just for one reason.
For her.
She felt the sudden urge to see it again. Just for a last time. Although it also meant pain, frustration and anxiety.
Irene rapidly exited the classrooms and walked around the corner. The doors looked all the same. But she exactly knew where the black spot of the cameras had been.
She opened the inconspicuous wooden door and entered the hidden room before somebody could see her. Then she exhaled and leaned against the door.
The cubbyhole still looked the same. After all the years... The metallic shelf at the wall, the water and gas pipes to her left, the small trash can behind her. Seulgi and her have never changed something.
She shuffled to the long pipes at the wall, sat down and leaned against them, like she would always do it. Just without Seulgi's comfortable body behind her.
Her confused but curious gaze. It was the most present memory of the first time she had met Seulgi. Here. In this old, rusty cubbyhole. The fact that Seulgi had stayed, although every single principle she had followed forbid that. Seulgi had stayed with Irene, not knowing anything about her.
She had comforted her as Irene had cried. Winter had caused the pain- and Seulgi had healed the wound. Not immediately- but gradually. And they bond got stronger and stronger every time she had tried.
Irene closed her eyes and listened to the silent sound of the pipes behind her. This room meant so much to her. It was probably the most similar thing to home. She had her first kiss in this room. It would remain special for her.
Irene stayed here for a moment and relaxed, reflecting on important moments and memories in this room. Some were bad and filled with pain, some were joyful and lively. It had been her heart that was stored in this place. And now she would take it with her, looking for a new place in the world...
She exited the building and stepped on the big yard. Brown leaves covered parts of the grass, especially under the trees at the back. The autumn could be so wonderful.
She walked down the small path to the back of the yard, passing the chapel and the greenhouse. The Sun almost disappeared behind the tree tops, covering the gran plaza and the yard into orange light.
It was a beautiful evening. She sat down in front of a small tree and leaned back. The grass under her didn't bother her at all.
Irene just watched the school for a while, how the little turrets gradually disappeared in the sunlight and how the darkness spread. Some birds were chirping in the background and the leaves of the tree rustled. Everything seemed so peaceful.
As she had entered this school, she would have never compared it to hell. She had even been lucky to live her... The contact with God... It had been a temptation. Her mother signed her in, hoping to change Irene.
Now she forgot about her earlier self. After the three years, she forgot about her own mother. She had stopped caring.
Would she ever see her again?
Irene sighed and plucked a bunch of grass. Suddenly, a person appeared next to her. She looked up, seeing two dark brown eyes staring at her.
"It's a lovely evening, right?", Seulgi said and observed the sunset.
"It is", Irene answered absent-mindedly. Seulgi lowered herself and sat down beside her. Now both girls were facing the school's backside. Behind them the high fence that separated them from the forest.
"Are you nervous?", Seulgi asked, not facing her.
"A bit", she replied. Silence followed.
"You are strong, Joohyun."
"But skittishness can be our worst enemy, Seulgi."
"Just trust me a last time", Seulgi whispered. "We will succeed."
Irene stayed silent, watching some birds building a nest on top of the turrets. Then she moved a bit closer to Seulgi. "I've always trusted you. There was no day I've doubted about that."
Seulgi smiled and faced her. Her eyes were filled with love and affection. She placed her fingers on top of Seulgi's, hiding them with their bodies.
"Stay with me, Irene", Seulgi pleaded and kissed her knuckles. "Always and forever."
