pretty flower | 강새벽

046

A gentle ripple of laughter filled the room as a singular pair of brown eyes caught everyone's attention. Sun-Hi, feeling a warm fuzziness in her head, took another sip from her second glass of wine. The girl with captivating eyes began walking towards Sun-Hi, a worried expression on her face. However, before she could approach any closer, a guard swiftly intervened, clasping his hand around her bicep, preventing her from advancing.

Despite the firm grasp on the girl's arm, Sae-Byeok's determination didn't waver. She glances at Sun-Hi, eyes pleading for understanding, before turning her attention back to the guard. "Let me go," she spoke, voice laced with an ominous edge that sent shivers down your spine. Each word, although short, dripped with an unsettling combination of venom and darkness, hitting at the malevolence lurking beneath the surface.

The guard's grip fluttered, hesitant to move, but still scared of the repercussions of the girl who would get to him before his boss would. He knew that if he didn't let Sae-Byeok go, he would face her wrath, and no matter what he did, she would get to the drunk girl that sat adjacent to them both. He knew that the girl wouldn't stop until she made it to the small girl, and wouldn't let anything get in her way. 

But he also knew that if he did let her go, he would be as good as dead. The second he lets go, his lifespan would be over. The Front-Man wouldn't hesitate to release his soul, by sending out the order to have him shot. He'd be dead before he even got to think about his actions.

Sae-Byeok's gaze shifted between Sun-Hi and the guard, her determination unwavering. Her voice lowered to a hushed whisper, ensuring their conversation remained private. "Let me go, and your life can be spared."

The guard's grip loosened slightly, allowing Sae-Byeok to slip out of his grasp. In a flash, she wraps her hand around the gun placed in it's pouch, pulling it out and pressing the gun against this hood. "All of you will leave now, if not, I will not hesitate to put a bullet in each and every single one of your skulls."

All the guards remain fixed in their spots, hands on their own guns as they watch the girl carefully, waiting for her next move.

'Shoot her' echoed through their ears, hesitation filling each of their bodies. The command hung heavy in the air, its weight heavy with the expectation of more violence. But as their fingers quivered on the triggers, something else drew their attention away. As if she'd heard the command herself, Sun-Hi stood up, drunkenly making her way over towards Sae-Byeok and the guard in her grasp. 

She stood in front of the guard, arms folding out as a smile grew on her face "Go on, shoot her." she giggled, eyes dragging across the room, relishing in the chaos she had sown. The tension thickened, uncertainty wrestling with the urge to obey.

Just as the guards prepared to act upon her chilling request, a commanding voice pierced through the air, cutting through the escalating unease. "Stand down!" boomed the voice of the boss, resonating with authority and familiarity.

A hush fell over the room as all eyes turned to the figure who had just entered, the Front-Man, dressed in his signature all black outfit and matching mask. His presence exuded power and control, his expression inscrutable as he surveyed the scene. The guards hesitated, caught between their loyalty to their boss and their previous orders.

The boss approached, his gaze unwavering as it locked onto the girl's defiant eyes. The room remained shrouded in tense silence, awaiting the boss's next move. His voice, firm and decisive, shattered the stillness.

"She's still to leave alive," he reminded, his words laced with a mix of protectiveness and an unspoken history. The guards exchanged nods, expecting the orders to be given as soon as the girl got up from her seat.

The girl's expression shifted, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before transforming into a smirk. "Looks like someone's got a soft spot," she pushed out, the glint of mischief in her eyes betraying a twisted understanding of the situation.

Although the mask covered his face, Sun-Hi pictured the man's steely gaze, watching her carefully as she stepped closer to him. The entire room now watched the girl as she inebriatedly made her in front of him. "You know, I expected more from you, considering how big and scary you are. But I guess, behind every rough exterior, there's and even uglier interior."

Sun-Hi stopped in front of the male, running her fingers down his chest, and back up again, index finger hooking onto the bottom of his mask before a hand closed onto her wrist. With a gesture of his free hand, he commanded his guards to step back, to lower their weapons and abandon their violent intentions.

The room, once teetering on the edge of chaos, began to regain a semblance of order. The girl, still smirking, slowly stepped back, her laughter fading into the shadows.

The boss's decision had been made, driven by a secret bond that only he and the girl shared. The reasons behind his protection remained shrouded in mystery, leaving the others to wonder and speculate. But one thing was certain — she would remain unharmed, for she held a key to the boss's world that none of them could comprehend.

Sae-Byeok's expression softened, relief sweeping across her features. She let go of the guard, throwing him to the side as she ran up to Sun-Hi, grasping onto her tightly. The room faded into the background as their focus turned toward each other, as though they were the only two people to exist in the universe.

"Sun-Hi," Sae-Byeok's voice barely made it past a whisper as the girl in her arms buried her face into her chest,  a quiet sob being released from Sun-Hi's lips as they held onto each other.

"I'm sorry." Sun-Hi let out, grabbing onto the girls shirt, pulling her closer to her body. 

"No, baby, I'm sorry for leaving you behind." her voice murmured as tender hands gently lifted the girl's face from her chest. With tear-streaked cheeks and puffy eyes, they locked gazes, creating an intimate connection that transcended words.

In that intense moment of eye contact, the weight of their shared emotions hung palpably in the air. The sincerity in their eyes spoke volumes, weaving a tapestry of regret, longing, and a profound desire for reconciliation. It was as if time stood still, allowing them to confront their past and find solace in the present.

With trembling lips, the one who had left reached out to caress the girl's cheek, his touch gentle and hesitant. A mixture of hope and fear painted his expression, mirroring the vulnerability reflected in her eyes. Every word unspoken was understood in the depths of their connection.

Tears welled up in her as she found her voice, whispering softly, "I never thought I would see you again. The pain of your absence has been unbearable." Her words trembled with a mixture of longing and uncertainty, yet her gaze held a glimmer of a second chance.

"I'm not letting you go again, ever."

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Word Count:1196

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