Let the world burn

9

The room was silent except for the soft rustling of the blanket as Ryujin's fingers gently caressed Yeji's hair. The girl's breathing was steady, her delicate features bathed in the soft glow of the nightlight. For a moment, Ryujin allowed herself to simply watch her, marveling at the quiet beauty of her angel. She leaned down slightly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Do you know, angel? It's my birthday today." She chuckled softly, her fingers tracing soothing patterns on Yeji's shoulder. "Could you give me a gift by telling me your name, please?"

Ryujin didn't expect a reply. She thought Yeji was fast asleep, her fragile body finally at ease. But then, a soft, stammering voice broke through the stillness.

"Y-y-ye... Yeji."

Ryujin froze, her heart skipping a beat. She pulled back slightly to look at Yeji, her wide eyes meeting the girl's trembling ones.

"Yeji," Ryujin repeated, her voice filled with awe and a gentle warmth. She smiled, her heart swelling. "That's such a beautiful name, angel."

She didn't push further, not wanting to overwhelm her. But inside, Ryujin felt a wave of joy unlike anything she had experienced in years. Hearing Yeji's voice—soft, hesitant, but so achingly sweet—was a gift she hadn't dared to hope for. She wanted to hear that voice again and again, to protect it, to ensure it was never silenced by fear or pain.

But then, as joy filled her chest, so did anger. Her hands trembled slightly as she clenched them into fists. Those bastards. They had hurt her angel so deeply that it had taken this long for her to say even her name. Ryujin's jaw tightened, fury bubbling beneath the surface. How dare they leave scars so deep that they silenced Yeji's voice and fractured her soul?

She shook her head, forcing herself to calm down. This wasn't the time for anger. Not now. She leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Yeji's forehead, whispering, "Thank you, Yeji. Thank you for trusting me."

Once Yeji had drifted back into sleep, Ryujin quietly slipped out of the room. She closed the door gently behind her and leaned against it for a moment, exhaling slowly. Then she pulled out her phone and dialed Rosé.

A few minutes later, Rosé knocked on the door. Ryujin opened it and stepped out, careful not to make a sound. She shut the door behind her, glancing back to ensure Yeji was undisturbed.

"Unnie," Ryujin began softly, her voice low. "Her name is Yeji."

Rosé's expression softened, a small smile forming on her lips. "Yeji. It suits her."

Ryujin nodded, her fingers fidgeting slightly. "Thank you for watching over her, but... why did you have to leave?"

Rosé's smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. "I'm sorry, Ryujin. I got a lead on Yeji's case. The CCTV footage from that place is still intact. The owner keeps cameras running to monitor events for security reasons. I had to act fast before someone else got to it."

Ryujin's face darkened. "Did you take the footage? Did you make sure there's no other trace of it anywhere?"

Rosé nodded, pulling a small pendrive from her pocket and handing it to Ryujin. "It's all here. I've made sure no one else can access it."

Ryujin clutched the pendrive tightly, her knuckles turning white. She would look at it later, but for now, there were more pressing matters.

As Rosé turned to leave, Ryujin called after her. "Unnie, are Mom and Dad here too?"

Rosé hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. They're here... along with Little Flower."

Ryujin's heart sank. Little Flower. She had promised to meet her, to spend time with her, and she had broken that promise. Guilt clawed at her. How could she have let this happen? Little Flower must be upset with her. The thought made Ryujin's chest ache.