Torn Between The Stars (Seventeen Fanfic)

Chapter 19: Unsaid words

SOONYOUNG'S P.O.V.

I stared at her petite shivering body, wrapped in white blankets. Her hair was drenched, with water still dripping down from the ends of her strands. It stuck against her pale white skin, that contrasted to the horrendous red marks around her neck.

What did they do to her?

Why where they hurting such an innocent girl like Chorim? And why, was Aeri participating in all of this?

I felt the disappointment sink in further. I thought she was different from them.

I remembered the determined gaze in her eyes that told me 'sorry', but I couldn't find any regret inside them. Was this the real Aeri?

I needed answers. And if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to let them go on. I would have to report them immediately.

Unconsciously, I already stood up, surprising Chorim with my sudden action.

"You're leaving already?" Her voice was fragile, at the point of shattering and turning non-existent, worry plastered over her bruised face. She held onto the tip of my sleeve, not letting go in desperation.

I softly nodded and heard footsteps coming nearby. My eyes then shifted to the doorway of the infirmary, where a figure hesitantly stood in between. His golden brown locks partly covered his concerned eyes that soon met mine. "Don't worry," I told her as I gently moved her hand away from my sleeve. "I think you already have someone else to keep you safe."

"Chorim?" I saw him rush towards her as tears welled up in her eyes. His arms then wrapped around her weak frame and pulled her into a warm hug.

I heard her sob against his chest and cling onto him tighter.

I tore my gaze away from them and decided to leave the room, giving the two their moment to give each other comfort.

Exiting the room, I saw a girl, hiding at the other side of the wall that separated her from the room where it all happened. Her eyes stared at the ground, a pained expression painted her face. Her fingers fiddled with her red checkered skirt in insecurity, little cuts were visible on them.

Yet, her expression changed completely when she looked up and faced me. The hidden weakness inside her quickly evaporated and instead, a strong facade appeared before her. She let go of her skirt and stared me straight in the eyes before uttering the next words with confidence.

"I hope you remain silent about what happened." Her voice was stone-cold, enough to make me shiver from the sudden change in tone.

I scoffed in response. "Why should I? Should I just ignore it all and let you go on like before?" I didn't understand how she still had the guts to confront me and not admit her wrongdoing. "What you did to her, is enough to get you all expelled."

I saw her remain unaffected and sigh. "She deserved it." I heard her mumble to herself in full despise. Her eyes contained a pained emotion mixed with sadness. She then messed her hair in frustration and sighed again, making her voice softer than the sharpness she showed earlier. "At least do it for Aeri."

My heart felt a strong clench upon the mentioning of her name, it made me uncomfortable and almost made me give in already.

"We can all take the blow, but Aeri can't. She's the one who will be affected the most." Seolji continued, with her expression remaining serious.

"And why is that?"

"That...is something you should ask her yourself." She remained vague, which started to annoy me. But, she was right.

I should ask her myself.

"Where is she?"

"At our hideout. You probably still know the way." She told me, answering it nonchalantly.

I nodded, starting to walk away until she suddenly stopped me. "I hope you make the right choice." She stated, almost with a pleading tone.

I didn't answer and walked past her, with her words haunting me from behind.

Seolji knew.

That Aeri had already captured my heart.

***

TAEHYUNG'S P.O.V.

"Chorim...what happened to you?" I asked as I gently brushed the strands of hair away from her eyes. I saw the bruises on her wrists, the red marks on her necks and felt her wet hair sticking to my body. She looked abused.

How did you end up like this?

Chorim had calmed down a little, her eyes were bloodshot red as result from crying and her cold hands still held onto mine. "Seolji..." She mentioned her name, but didn't continue. Cries left her mouth again, repeatedly mumbling her name through the sound of sobs. 

My heart clenched upon the mentioning of her name. Seolji...it was her again. My stomach slowly sunk, and my disappointment slowly grew. I felt distracted for a while before shifting my attention back to her.

"Why would Seolji do this to you." She wasn't like this before.

I saw Chorim wipe her tears, revealing her puffy eyes, and slowly calm her irregular breathing.

"Because she hates me. She's jealous that you moved on and is directing it all towards me." She inhaled deeply before continuing. "I think she still expects you to come back to her, even after she cheated on you."

I felt a stab in my heart upon hearing the word 'cheated', it made me remember it all again. The pain was still fresh in my memory. My heart felt a small short-lasted tug which I chose to ignore. Quickly, I moved the painful thoughts away and looked at her again.

"I'm scared, Taehyung. I'm scared of what Seolji will do to me again." She cried helplessly, her hands trembling in fear just by the thought. I felt a growing pity for her. She looked so weak, so fearful. I pulled her tighter against me, giving the comfort she needed.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you." I assured her, full of sincerity. At the same time, my eyes shifted to the door, catching a glimpse of her. She had been standing there for a while.

Our eyes met shortly.

As her hands clamped to the edge of the door, I noticed her fragile figure and the insecurity in her eyes. Her confident posture had faded away and was replaced with a look of 'sorry'. Yet, she wasn't apologetic towards Chorim, she was to me.

Her eyes then hardened, her fists balded into a fist. She shook her head, shot me one last glance and left.

Her presence in the room was gone, but I still remembered the glassy look in her eyes, and the lone tear that rolled down her cheek.

***
Next two chapters will be more about their past, so no seventeen for 2 chaps...😅 Instead more scenes with V. Do you actually find the story between Seolji and V interesting?? 

If you're wondering what happened before this scene, you can read the prologue which I rewrote, reading it all again made me realize how cringy everything is...well its still cringy now but oh well...