HER || [Chaerji]

{15}

Chaeryeong was then left alone, again, by Yeji. She pursed her lips into one thin line looking at the door, lightly scratching her nape, then she faced back to the front.

She had no idea where she is right now, it was just a huge, plain grass field. The base she was in earlier is located underground, and above the base is a garage, where Yeji and Ryujin park their vehicles and store some things in. It has a doorway that leads downstairs.

The place was surrounded by trees, lots of them. Maybe they are in the centre of a jungle, she guessed. Honestly, she had no clue about the current location since she fell asleep in the car when Yeji and Ryujin drove her there.

Is she anywhere near her mansion? Or is she in another state/city?

Is the mansion blown up completely? She didn't get the chance to take a last look at it before she left.

It's not like she's sad about the valuables she had lost in the building. The only thing she's upset about was the things her father gave her as gifts.

Besides that, Seonju came to her mind. Of course, Jisu as well. Is she still alive? Chaeryeong couldn't see her condition clearly during the fight, she only knew the older girl got knocked off. Lifting her head she looked at the sky, there were no stars. It looks gloomy.

"Seonju..." she muttered softly, tears forming little by little, she felt a lump in her throat and she tried holding back her cries. "I'm so sorry..."

It was like the butler's soul heard her call, a star appeared in the sky that caught the girl's attention. It was shining, it was blinking. Chaeryeong felt the comfort and smiled bitterly, a tear slipped from her eye. Parting her lips she wanted to speak, so she—

"Bread." a voice interrupted her. Chaeryeong jolted in surprise and she wiped her tears off quickly while mumbling, "Do you have to always surprise me like that?"

"...I wasn't trying to surprise you."

"But you did, e-everytime! It's scary!"

"Okay."

"O-Okay? It's not okay!" the girl turned around to face her.

Yeji was taken aback by the way she looked. Her eyes were watery it started sparkling, her brows furrowed and her lips pouting like how kids do when they sulk. The tall girl blinked a few times staring at her, gritting her teeth behind her closed lips.

Was she flustered by the expression? Did her heart just skip a beat? No. How can it be? It's most likely impossible.

She snapped herself out of staring and cleared her throat before asking, "Do you want the bread or not?"

Chaeryeong pursed her lips in annoyance and nodded her head, she took her hand out asking for the bread. Yeji only looked at her unemotionally and gave her the bread. The tall girl sat down beside her after that, taking out a can of beer from the kangaroo pocket of the black hoodie she was wearing.

The atmosphere was filled with silence. Chaeryeong was looking at the sky as she eats the bread whilst Yeji just stare blankly at the field, drinking the beer time by time, enjoying the bitter taste of alcohol.

"What's so good to look at? It's just a plain sky."

"Seonju didn't manage to escape in the fight."

"..."

"That one star shining up there, I know it's him. Since you're here, why not have a look at it?" Yeji halted at her sentence. She gulped, then she looked at the younger facing her, eyes hoping the older to look up.

"Oh— *sighs* It's not shining anymore. I guess you're really not likeable..." Chaeryeong chuckled at her own joke. "......" The no response and the lack of emotions from the older made the latter awkward, again. „Is her face muscles all dead?‟ she thought.

The silence crept up around them the second time. Well, not until Yeji started speaking up, "*clears throat* You might not be able to leave here for now."

"Why?" Chaeryeong looked at her, confused. The older took seconds to think of an answer and drank a few sips of beer. "Dangerous."

"Oh, it's fine. I like it here anyway." she smiled lightly.

"We don't live in mansions here. You would have to bear with the food, the environ—"

"I prefer living like this, it's what I dreamed of. People may be envious of me, but I don't like it. My life was too exposed, I dislike being the centre of attention."

"But it's not safe here either," Yeji said as if she was pushing the girl away to leave this place, despite being the one who wants her to stay there. But what she said was true, the weapons kept in the base are enough to point out that this isn't a safe place. However, even if there are no weapons, it won't be.

Because as long as there's a presence of Hwang Yeji, then it will never be.

"I have you."

The three words stunned Yeji. The pair of eyes that were on hers, the sparkling ones, as if the older is her hope.

Yeji clenched her jaw tightly and swallowed a lump in her throat. Why is her heart beating faster than usual? The atmosphere around them changed, it was no longer calm and quiet anymore. For the older, it felt tense. Her eyes were slightly widened, her breathing shakes, and her body stiffed. She felt nervous, yet still, she tried to hide her emotions.

Chaeryeong chuckles softly seeing how the older reacted. "You saved me four times this month, and I'm more than just grateful, Yejun."

"I..."

"I know you'll protect me." the latter flashed a sweet smile.

Was her heart beating louder?

The eye contact was becoming deeper, it felt like there was some kind of force trying to pull them into each other. Maybe it was too intense for Yeji, she suddenly coughed out air, turning her head away, avoiding the girl's gaze.

"It's Yeji, by the way. My name."

"Hmm? I thought you—"

"I faked it. Didn't want too many people to know me."

"I see..." Chaeryeong muttered. "This name sounds nicer."

"Well thank you, Yeji. For saving me."

"Mm." the older simply replied, drinking off the last sip of the beer left in the can.