Snow Blossom || Hwang Hyunjin FF

Chapter 6

"Put me down! I don't want to go! I'd rather die!"

The lashing and pulling won't stop. I cover my face to protect my eyes that are streaming with tears. I try curling into a ball but it's almost like something is holding me open like a sheet of paper. I release a guttural scream and swing my right arm to punch whoever is holding me. I hear my name being called down a tunnel, and it's getting louder.

"Rose! Rose answer me!"

I shake my head and cover my eyes while sobbing.

"Don't hurt me anymore! Please..."

I whimper out the word, and feel arms wrapping around me. I flinch and try to pull away, too scared to open my eyes... what if dad hits me again?

"Beautiful flower, please open your eyes and look into mine. I promise you, I will not harm you. You are strong and amazing, someone such as you shall always be protected by me. I promise, in time I will explain everything to you, but for now, please take a deep breath and relax. Even for just a moment."

The yelling continues but it's closer, and now I can feel the many eyes on me that aren't burning and painful like mom and dad's. I recognize that voice but... he wasn't there, he wasn't... he's hear, right now, not then, what time is it? I need to clear my head... I know now, I'm panicking... I'm hurting, but what for? A memory can't hurt me... I'm stronger than that... Hyunjin... He's here, next to me, he's here to help me. The rest, are they here too? Where's here actually? Am I still at the studio? Or did someone move me? Are the girls okay?

I will myself to open my eyes even if it's only a little, and meet Hyunjin's dark brown eyes filled with worry. He gasps and hugs me, and without thinking I hug him back. I squeeze my eyes shut and let myself cry on his shoulder, letting all of the pain I felt out so I never have to have another day like today again. He holds me and let's me cry, not saying a word, not moving, just being there and letting me do this... I have no trust in this boy, but I have to admit that he's done everything right, and wrong... He's pushed his way into my life, made himself right at home as if he belongs here when I barely know him. I need to get away from him, and I think Chan knew this all along... I'm falling for him and I don't like this feeling.

I feel burning eyes like my brother's and I just accept that this is my fate for now. I know soon Chan will lose his temper and I'll end up not seeing him ever again. Even so, maybe not never again. But that doesn't matter... what's going on with me??? Do I like him or something? I don't know him well enough to make that kind of decision... I guess I'd only know for sure once he's gone and honestly... maybe he shouldn't go at that point. I'm afraid of finding out that I do, because then my heart would hurt again. I'd rather him stay and never find out what I feel for him, because then I can't be hurt if I do feel something for this strange boy. I take a deep breath and try to stop the flow of tears so I can think straight. The ringing has stopped and I've finally zeroed in on the source of the yelling. It's my friends and brother trying to make sure other people stay away from me while I calm down... saying that I may unintentionally harm myself if they try to do anything.

Chan turns his attention to me and Hyunjin, making it clear that he's not happy with the situation but not saying anything because if he does it may cause an even bigger issue than needs to be. It takes every fiber of what's left of my being to make sure that I don't break down again, to allow myself to stop and rest even though it's not the best feeling in the world to be in the moment... though I think I'd rather be here than back there again. I try to breathe in again and calm my racing heart only to find that now my heart is racing without the anxiety, and my cheeks are burning. I realized that a handsome guy was holding me incredibly close to him and tightly too, which I guess makes me the fool for thinking anything less would happen, the only thing is I'm used to the dance guys doing dogpiles on me and my brother so why does this feel almost different?

I reach my arms up to my face from under his arms and wipe my eyes to clear my vision, which didn't help much because they are so insanely puffy right now, but it helped a little and that's what matters. I see a flash across my vision and almost feel like I'm being turned from human to another creature of some kind. Then Hyunjin pulls me away from him and looks at me in the face, holding both of my cheeks in his palms to look me in the eyes with that same worry he's shown me all day. I try to shake him off before he can see the red in my cheeks but he pulls my face closer to his and wipes a stray tear from my cheek. Looking into his eyes, it's almost like a thousand worlds and years were behind them, a thousand lifetimes, and then I remember something he said to me earlier... That he's not from here... is he by chance from the same place Jisung and Jeongin are from? Now that I think about it those two just appeared one day and go everywhere together just like he did...

"Rose, are you alright? I am so very sorry that I could not help you sooner, your protective brother would not let me near to you for fear that I may make things worse. Let me be here to help you from now on, I will not let a soul harm you ever again."

"Excuse me!?! Who the hell do you think you are? Get away from my sister right now!"

Chan grabs Hyunjin by the shoulder and throws a heavy right hook right into his jaw, sending him flying back and he holds his mouth before looking to me with a sorry look. I knew this would happen at some point but I didn't think it would be literally the next day. Chan flies at Hyunjin and starts swinging wildly at him yelling strong profanities and making it clear he wants him to leave and not come back. Hyunjin finally gets sick of it and throws one punch and knocks my brother down with the force of a horse, knocking him out entirely. Then he walks over to me.

"Beautiful flower, it appears I must go now. I am so sorry I could not stay longer, I was meant to be here long enough for you to remember me, but I see now that will not be a possibility, so let me leave you with this."

He hands me a violet rose, and kisses my cheek before standing me up and handing me over to Jasmine who looks sad. I'm stunned and unsure what to do, my brother is knocked up laying against a wall, I'm holding a purple flower that shouldn't exist but is clearly real, and a boy I hardly know just kissed me and left me here to wonder what I'm supposed to "remember" as he said it... What in the world is going on?

As he disappears into the distance and out of sight I feel a pang in my chest and drop to my knees holding me chest. It's a sharp pain. Like someone just stabbed me with a blunt wooden stake and left it there. I take a deep, painstaking breath and get back to my feet. I don't know what that was, I don't want to. I want to move on and forget his ever existing, I'll turn this rose into a necklace but otherwise, his memory will leave me for good. I walk over to Chan and shake him awake, look him over, make sure he's not concussed, and then we cancel dance today and all go home, where we need to be.

The walk feels like forever but Jasmine comes to the room we share and sits on the bed with me. She drapes her arm over my shoulders and looks at the purple rose in my hand.

"Is that real?"

I nod.

"I have no idea how though, purple roses don't exist."

"It's because of who he is. I'm sorry to say this but it's about time I secretly teach you you're history and who you are, you'll never remember on your own, and if Chan catches me I'm dead."

"Why does Chan care so much?"

"Because, he doesn't you, his sister, to end up the same way you did before, he's caring and protecting you, but sadly his protecting you will only hurt you more. Ironically, you need that boy, even if you don't know it yet."