Blood Water // Park Sunghoon

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝔀𝓮𝓷𝓽𝔂-𝓣𝔀𝓸

A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry for the late post, I know it's been a while, I've been a bit busy <3!

Sunghoon's P.O.V    *June 1916 - 12yrs old*

"What are you up to, Hoon-ah?" Aura inquires with curiosity as she joins me near the tree line behind the orphanage. She crouches down beside me to observe what I'm etching into the tree trunk.

"It's our initials," I respond with a gentle smile, my hand gripping a sharp rock. I can see excitement bubble inside her as she watches the A + S taking shape on the bark, and a soft chuckle escapes my lips. "Just like our friendship, this mark will last forever," I murmur, concluding the carving of our intertwined initials.

"You promise we'll be friends forever?" She asks me tenderly as I turn my head to meet her eyes and I smile warmly as my heart surges and I reach over with my hand, holding out my pinky. 

"I swear," I speak with confidence as I wrap my finger with hers, both our eyes lighting up as we gaze at each other.

I can hardly recall the day I met Aura. We were very young when we first arrived at the orphanage, but she has been an inseparable part of my life ever since. She is not just my best friend, but also my family, we grew up together, and my pledge to stand by her side will endure even beyond my last breath.

"Check it out, Sunghoon and his pretty little girlfriend, all alone" a grating voice jeers, causing our smiles to fade abruptly. We turn our heads to find an all too familiar group of boys drawing near, fellow orphans. The tallest among them stands at the center, their ringleader.

Aura and I stand in sync, and I nervously move to stand in front of her. The leader of this group draws nearer, he was a few years our senior, casting a shadow over both Aura and me.

"Just go away, Daebin," I retort, and Daebin chuckles as he halts right in front of us. Daebin arrived at the orphanage just under a year ago. He exudes a harsh and bitter demeanor, and it was evident that he held somewhat of a crush on Aura. His animosity towards me stemmed from my close bond with her. If only he hadn't towered over me, perhaps I'd have an easier time confronting him. However, whenever our previous clashes persisted in the past, without Heeseung's interventions, the outcomes could have been very bad for me.

"I notice Heeseung's not around today. He's always poking his nose in our business," Daebin smirks, disregarding my words as he folds his arms confidently. His gaze shifts past me to Aura, a growing smirk playing on his lips. "Still sticking around with this loser when you could be hanging with us?" he taunts her, and my eyes narrow as I shoot him a fierce glare.

"I'd sooner pour bleach in my eyes than spend time with you," she spat at him, a small smirk tugging at the corners of my lips. Daebin's expression contorted in displeasure as he advanced towards us, prompting me to swiftly move to shield Aura more. His reaction was swift as he seized my shirt, clutching it tightly in his fists.

"Think it's funny, do you?" He growls at me, but I hold my gaze steady as I stare up at him coldly. The chances of him beating the crap out of me right now were very high. But I'd take a beating from him any day if it meant I was protecting Aura and would keep her by my side. 

Suddenly, Aura emerged between us, her eyes filled with anger as she grasped his wrist tightly. "Let go of him!" she spat at Daebin, attempting to free my shirt from his grip. I watched in shock as he pushed her back forcefully, causing her to stumble and fall onto her knees.

"Keep your hands off her!" I yelled at him, driven by impulse as my fist connected with his face. It wasn't the strongest blow, but it was enough to send him staggering in surprise. However, his expression shifted quickly, and he retaliated in anger, throwing a punch towards my face as well.