She Said, You Can Ruin Me

You Can Ruin Me

Christmas Eve, 24th December 2022

Exy stirred awake from a sniffling sound.

The first thing Exy's sleepy mind noticed was how the bed shook slightly.

In fear of an earthquake, Exy was suddenly wide awake.

The second thing she noticed was the sky from the windows. It's dark outside, but the slight ray of sunshine made itself known. With little effort, Exy saw the clock on the wall. It was 7 in the morning. It's barely sunrise.

What the hell was happening?

Exy sat up and was instantly alarmed.

"Unnie.." She called hoarsely.

Moonbyul was crying her eyes out. Her whole body shooked. Both of her hands curled into fists tensely, covering her eyes. She looked so small in this state, naked, curled up facing Exy, and sobbing into her hand.

Exy touched her shoulder and called again, "Unnie.. what happened?"

Moonbyul only sobbed harder. She made a wailing sound that felt like a stab straight into Exy's heart.

"What's wrong, unnie?" Exy hugged her, she stroked Moonbyul's hair and made soothing sounds.

Moonbyul was inconsolable.

She cried so hard, it made Exy's tears trickle too.

"Are you ill? Where is it hurting?" She asked desperately. Exy was confused as she was afraid. She has never seen Moonbyul in this state before. She only ever encountered the confident, happy, all-around Moonbyul. The charismatic, winner Moonbyul. And well, the angry one from last night.

She has not yet met this vulnerable, choked-by-tears, and muted version of Moonbyul.

"Sshh.. I'm here.." Exy caressed her back and tightened her embrace, "I'm here for you.. you can cry all you want and tell me what's wrong later." She decided on a change in strategy.

Moonbyul wept for the longest time.

The intensity of her crying did not dissipate for another hour.

Exy nearly fell back asleep if not for the sunlight that fell annoyingly straight into her eyes.

"I'm going to sing now," Exy tried to lighten the mood, she hoped with the brightness illuminating the room, Moonbyul's mood would get brightened as well, "My throat is super dry from moaning last night, so you better not tease me, okay?" She said jokingly.

She was still hugging Moonbyul, whose hands still covering her face.

겨울에 태어난 아름다운 당신은, 눈처럼 깨끗한 나만의 당신

Born in the winter, you who is beautiful. Clean like snow, you who belongs to me.

겨울에 태어난 사랑스런 당신은, 눈처럼 맑은 나만의 당신

Born in the winter, you who is lovely. Clear as snow, you who belongs to me.

하지만 봄, 여름과 가을, 겨울, 언제나 맑고 깨끗해

Doesn't matter if it's spring, summer, autumn and winter. You are always clean and clear.

Exy was in the mood for a children's song. She picked one, it's called Winter Child. It was the only song she thought resembled Moonbyul somehow. Its melody was calm and soothing. At the end of the song, she sang the happy birthday part with sneaky kisses on top of Moonbyul's head.