𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐀𝐘 | nct

𝐔𝐍𝐎

❶

        WIND TUGGED AT HER COFFEE TRESSES, as Jang Ryeon began to jog her way through the streets.

It was in the fairly early hours of the morning, or perhaps the very late hours of the night. The sun had began to rise, but hints of the moon still remained in the sky, in the delicate littering of stars.

This was a usual thing for Ryeon. Running at ungodly hours, where no other creature or being dared to utter a single word. That's what was so special about these fleeting moments. When she ran, the world around her was tranquil. Serene, even. It was as if for the few hours she was out, everything just stopped. That was how peaceful it felt, in her opinion. That was how Jang Ryeon wished the rest of her life was. Peaceful and calm.

Yet, it was more the opposite.

Her father was an accountant on the eastern side of the city, and although he earned a nice amount of money, it didn't make up for his neglectful position within her life.

Although she was painfully aware that he worked hard for her and the rest of their family, she did think that he was pitiful.

Ryeon was aware of her father's many secret affairs, having witnessed firsthand her father tongue-tied with a younger female, who definitely was not her mother. Yet, she understood that he played an important part of the family, earning their weekly income singlehandedly.

Her mother, on the other hand, was a housewife. She had struggled with bipolar depression for most of her life, which had impacted Ryeon and her brother severely.

Ryeon could still remember the time she had come back from school, only to find her mother collapsed by the bottom of the staircase, blood seeping down her wrists.

It had scarred her heart, her mind, and her youth.

Her older brother was worse off, though. As he was the one to trail her limp body into the back of an ambulance, attempting to fight off the trembles and tears, but with no success.

The incident had caused him to become withdrawn. He voluntarily quit his job, and barely ever exited from his room now; the only exceptions would be to go to the toilet, or to get food from down stairs. Otherwise, it was rare to see him up and about.

Ryeon often felt like she was the responsible one in the family. She had to comfort her mother when she was feeling blue, and she frequently had to tidy up after her brother by bringing his plates and bowl to the kitchen.

That's exactly why she ran. To escape from the hectic and chaotic life back home.

--

IT TOOK RYEON A WHILE to realise that she'd stopped running. Her lungs felt as if they were burning, tearing at the seams. And she hadn't noticed the build up of tears clogging her vision.

With a heavy sigh, the girl stopped all together, deciding to rest at a rickety little bench overlooking an empty road.

She felt fatigue crawl upon her very shoulders, as her hands rose to scrunch up her brows. Maybe it would be best for her to return back home. She had ashamedly been out for much longer than intended, and she had promised to make breakfast this morning. But, she honestly couldn't be bothered with the constant worrying of her mother, or the bickering of her father as he scrolled through the newspapers in hope of spotting a hot model within the pages.
It was exhausting.

Ryeon decided against going home. She still needed to let loose, to burn her frustration out on the asphalt. So, she waited to gain her breath back, before she hauled her aching limbs from the wooden bench.

As she was about to start off at a slow jog again, Ryeon could've sworn that she'd heard a merciful yell nearby.

She perked a brow, peeling her earphones out from within her ears. The girl halted in her movements, waiting to see whether it was a shout, or whether her mind was playing cruel tricks on her.

That was it. Another pained sound escaped from an alleyway close-by.
Ryeon hesitated, perspiration trickling down the side of her face as she remained in an inward battle for a few moments, before deciding to check the scene out.

--

SHE MADE FAST, YET ELOQUENT MOVEMENTS across the concrete pavement, not wanting to give away her position. After all, by the sounds that were echoing through the alley, she could tell that something violent was going on. And as much as she wanted to investigate, she sure as hell didn't want to get involved in the beating up.

Ryeon curiously poked her head around the corner, scoping out the scene before her.

There were two boys. One was noticeably more muscular than the other, and it was obvious that he was taking advantage of that. His stocky build blocked most her gaze, but Ryeon was certain that there was a battered body in front of him.

She desperately wanted to find out more, but as soon as she took a step forwards to figure out more, the sturdier boy darted away; tossing cackle back into the direction of the other.

Now was the time Ryeon saw an opportunity to discover more. So, she did.

The girl strode towards the thin figure on the ground, their back turned to her. She was still a little wary of her surroundings, however she was more concerned with the condition of the person before her.

Within a minute, she had reached the boy. Her hand landed upon his shoulder, and she forced him to face her with all the will-power she could muster.

He blinked owlishly as his eyes met her own, but Ryeon seemingly ignored it.

She was too busy trailing her eyes over the forming bruises on his cheeks, and his busted lip that seemed to be soaking his chin in crimson.

Ryeon couldn't help the worried gasp that escaped from her lips, as she slowly traced her pale hands against his marbled cheeks. Purple, green, yellow. The colours had already began to streak against his face.

She may not have looked it, but Ryeon was actually pretty street smart. She was aware of the goings-on around these parts, and that's why she felt a weight placed onto her shoulders as she cautiously let a question fall from her lips.

"Will you let me help you?" The brunette queried, an arch forming in her brows as she quickly added: "I can't possibly leave you like this, no matter what the consequences may be. It wouldn't be right."