𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗽𝗶𝘁𝘆 || 𝒌𝒑𝒐𝒑 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒕 ᴮᵒᵒᵏ ¹ [EDITING]

❝𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗲?❞

[ 2013]

⎯⎯ ୨ THIRD PERSON'S ୧ ⎯⎯

The clock on Kala's bedside table blinked a harsh 2:37 AM in the cold, sterile blue light. She winced as a throbbing pain shot up her shin – another souvenir from the relentless taunts and shoves in the hallway that afternoon. Bruises, both new and old, mapped themselves across her pale skin: a purple constellation on her arm, a fading yellow blooming on her cheek.  Hence why she can barely have a peaceful sleep these days.

Kala sighed, a sound that seemed to carry the weight of the world. Here, in the quiet sanctuary of her bedroom, under the familiar, soft glow of the Busan moon peeking through her window, the facade she wore for everyone else crumbled. The vibrant, ever-smiling performer, the prodigy athlete, the Leialoha Aurora Kala Park the world adored – all of it melted away, leaving behind a scared, lonely girl named Kala.

Pulling a first-aid kit from her desk drawer, she set to work with practiced efficiency. Disinfectant stung on open scrapes, cool gauze felt soothing against throbbing flesh. Each touch ignited a fresh wave of anger – anger at the girls who seemed to delight in tormenting her, anger at herself for not fighting back, at the suffocating feeling of being trapped.

A shrill ringtone shattered the fragile silence. Glancing at her phone, she saw her eldest brother's name flash on the screen – Jimin. A flicker of warmth ignited within her. Jimin, her anchor, her confidant, the one person she could always be herself with. With a shaky breath, she answered.

"Hey, princess. Why are you still awake at this wee hour?" Jimin's voice, familiar and comforting, washed over her. "You have a flight to catch up in about two hours from now, princess"

"I just woke up, oppa. I'm currently doing last minute packing to make sure I won't inconvenient anyone" She said to her brother to not make him worry.

"Oh alright, but did you actually get some rest? Momma told me you came home late from your schedule yesterday" Jimin's voice laced with concern as he asked his baby sister.