SPELLED

CHAPTER 2 - For a long time

Years ago...

"Irene! Get the hell out of there!" Her aunt shouted from outside. She hugged her knees tightly; afraid of the possibilities she will be dealing with if she went outside her safe zone, her room. She can be beaten, slapped, enslaved or harassed. Her second degree family is one of the worst things she wished had never happened. Ever since her custody was passed on the shoulder of her mother's sister, she had no choice but to live with them. It was only at the start when everything seemed fine, until her aunt decided not to be anymore.

"Get out this instant or don't eat at all. Just die, for all I care." Her aunt blurted out while hardly hitting the door of her room. No she didn't mean that, Irene thought. Her aunt knows her capabilities; she's a huge 'blessing' in this family she knew that. Even she knows she will be hurt, she put up all the courage she have, stood up and open her door.

She remembered what her mother told her before she died, "Never return hate with hate. Love them even if you know it hurts."

※※※

She had no idea where to go, she doesn't have close friends, or a place she knows she can stay over. At the back of her mind she regretted the idea of leaving Sehun's mansion. But then she didn't want to be a freeloader, that's reasonable. Looking at how things were working now, she found herself in the same situation as she was days ago. The only difference now is that, no one's after her and the place is not likely to be explored thoroughly by people from bucolic places. She finds herself lost on her way; she didn't exactly know where she is since she's not from this place. Even her protesting stomach isn't helping at all. She wasn't able to finish eating back at the mansion because of the urge to bolt out of Sehun's place.

"Miss..." a female voice said along with a slight tap on her shoulder. She looked around, assuring that she's the one being referred. Then she saw a smiling girl who looked like she's just the same age as she is. She's beautiful and preppy looking.

"Me?" She asked, foolishly pointing at herself. The girl smiled at her, her eyes iridescent.

"Yes miss. You look like you're searching for something... I thought I might help you." The girl said with a kind gesture but she is contemplating if she should trust her but she seemed kind.

"What?" The only thing Irene could say.

The girl looked at her, studying her from head to toe—stopping her sight at her bruised bare feet. She took a step towards her and extended her hand for a hand shake, thinking that introducing oneself is the best way to establish rapport.

"I'm Seulgi. And you are?" She introduced herself kindly and Irene looked at her apprehensively.

"I'm...no one."

※※※

Sehun didn't work progressively that day. The mere image of Irene flashes randomly in his head whenever he's taking a minute break after reading too much contract papers which, most of the time results to long moments of daydreaming. He was constantly asking himself why the hell he would care for that ungrateful woman... and why the heck can't he get her out of his damn head. He scratched his head harshly, thus making his style of the day ruined.

"Coffee, Sir?" Krystal, his secretary appeared in front of him, placing the Cappuccino on his table. "Looks like you're having a bad day, as I can see."

"Thanks. No, not really just something small happened." Sehun said, smelling the aroma of the coffee before sipping.

"Well, you shouldn't let small things get you. Sometimes small things make large significances in our lives, bad or good? It depends on how you deal with it." She said smiling, leaning on the door frame. "You need anything else?"