pellucid. + jhs.

ershiqi

"jae what's wrong?"

—seokjin sits down next
to his silent sister.
—their mother is sitting
across them, cutting
vegetables.
—she eyes them.

"i.. well."

—jae fidgets with her
hands.

"hoseok and
i had sex..."

—seokjin's eyes widen.
—the sound of chopping
vegetables suddenly stops.

"—and since then
he's been paranoid
and continuously telling me
about how he exists,
a–and yesterday we
got into an argument
because i–i told him i get
it, and he yelled at me
because it seemed like
i was doubting him and–oh
seokjin, mom– he's really
in so much pain and stress,
because people won't believe he
is real, but he is! he is!"

—seokjin holds jae's hands
tightly.

"y–you had sex with...
hoseok?"

—jae's eyes observe
how her mom is now
by her side, face completely
drained of color.
—seokjin won't stop
squeezing her hands.

"yes...
i think that's
what i said..."

"jae.. did it hurt?
did he hurt you? when
you had sex with him?"

—seokjin's expression
turned more worried when
he asked.

"a little, but
i didn't notice it
when i did, y'know?
it was hard to walk though
afterwards, truthfully."

—both of her family
members engulfed her into
a hug.

"oh, jae! jae, i'm
so sorry."

—jae's eyebrows furrowed.
—why is she sorry?
—is sex supposed to be bad?

"hm?"

"it's okay dongsaeng,
you're safe now."

—jae sits on her chair,
appalled and absolutely
perplexed.
—was she not supposed
to enjoy it?

"no one can hurt you anymore.
we're here to protect you."

—seokjin softly combs jae's
hair.