𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡𝒉𝑖𝑛𝑒 // 𝐿𝑒𝑒 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝒉𝑜

twenty one.

     "You want me to do what?"

     Hyunjin abruptly cut her off, his voice pleading through the phone. "He would never have to know, I promise. Just say you're out with us, it's not a complete lie."

     A headache threatened to creep into her skull, and Haneul reached for her water bottle in resignation. Several days had passed since her illness, but the recovery was still ongoing. "Do you realize how closely he keeps an eye on me? No way he wouldn't figure it out, he's too smart."

     "Don't give him too much credit," Hyunjin mused on the other end. "If you word it right, he'll be too jealous to think about it objectively until after it's over."

     A snort left Haneul's nose, her phone switching hands as she took a swig from the bottle. "Jealous? Are you serious?"

     "I don't think you understand the power you hold over him, Haneul. Even with angels, guardians feel possessive over their wards. I'm sure with him it's different; as a demon he definitely inherited a darker side of the guardianship."

     Hyunjin shivered as he imagined what Haneul must have been going through. "He hates both me and Jisung, if you tell him that you'll be with us and that we will keep you safe for a while, the demon will go and sulk until we're finished."

     It was definitely a gamble. Haneul worriedly chewed on a nail and peeked out of her door, glimpsing Minho snoozing in the living room. "I really don't know, Hyunjin... "

     "Don't say no, just think about it, okay?"

     Humming her agreement, Haneul closed the door, sprawling out on her bed. "I will."

     "And Haneul? Be safe."

     A blunt click from Hyunjin's end closed the phone call, and Haneul somberly tossed the device to her blankets. Fingers drumming, she genuinely pondered his idea.

     Leave her apartment and Minho behind for a few hours, and rendezvous with angels who wanted to meet and study her.

     He would undoubtedly distrust her if he found out; Haneul obviously knew it. Regardless of his idiotic mindset towards halflings, Haneul could understand hating angels. They were literally the arch nemesis of his kind.

     But... she was curious. Curious to figure out why this was happening to her, and curious to figure out why Minho had been cursed with his fate. The idea of digging up his past in secret made her face burn with shame, and Haneul banished the thought.

     It would have been nice to have solid answers for once, though. Minho never tried to converse with her about himself beyond surface level, or explain to her exactly why she could see divine beings. Or why they desired to kill her so desperately.

     Maybe the angels were a good idea.

     And if they could not only give her clarity, but offer a solution for her to live a normal life once again...

     Haneul didn't need to think anymore. She reached for her phone.

-

     An hour later, she was standing with arms crossed in front of a skeptical Minho. His lips puckered distastefully as she spoke.

     "It's still light outside, and I'll be with Jisung and Hyunjin the entire time. We're just going to some of our favorite spots in the city. Trust me, they'll offer plenty of protection."

     Haneul made sure to inject a palpable level of smugness into her tone, watching as Minho's gaze clouded with agitation. Before she could go on, he waved a dismissive hand.