FIGMENT. renjun

六。

❝I can't show you my weakness
So I'm putting on a mask to go see you❞
ーthe truth untold.

eun.

"thank you, young lady" the middle aged woman squeaks with a smile, softly patting my hands repeatedly as we shakes our hands for the last time before pulling from the grip and ending with a proper bow.

Despite her daughter, chaeri found herself lost in the streets and coincidentally meeting up at the candy store as she continuously stares at the cotton candy being hung on the decorated tree. I couldn't resist her request as she asks to treat her one with puppy eyes.

"eonnie!" chaeri called out, waving her hand whilst jumping to grab my attention.

i gave out a smile as my attention was focused to her, "let's meet up again later! and get some more candy" she exclaimed, face lit up excitingly whilst doing small hops.

a soft chuckle came out as i lowered my body a bit to her level, "what do you want to have next time?"

"mmhh.." she sarcastically hums the sound out with her finger softly tapping her chin, looking at the side area to think. "ice cream!"

we all broke into giggles with her cute behavior. "alright. next time i'll treat you as well"

"promise?" she mumbled, holding out her pinky.

"promise."

"alright, let's go home chaeri-ah" her mom quacked, pulling chaeri's hand gently as she took a sep backwards. Bidding our goodbyes as we part ways, waving happily at each other and ending with a proper bow. "bye!"

"bye, eonnie!" chaeri shouted for the last time before she turned her back around and disappears through the streets.

a sigh came out as dusk occurs fast, the once clear blue sky turned dark navy in just seconds away. Dropping by the convenient store first before heading home to buy some private stuff and food too.

***

twisting the doorknob slowly as i entered the house, closing the door behind me before walking towards the switches. Switching on the lamps to the living room, glitching a little at the beginning and i flinched as i witness my mom waiting by the sofa, looking rather furious.

standing up as she sees my presences, " where were you?!" she howled loudly, giving off a glare on her cold yet furious face with her arms crossed together. Flinching, as i took a step backwards, scared by the new side of her.

"i- i was at the p- park" i responded, stuttering in between my words.

"don't you know you have a curfew?!" she scolded, forehead creased. Despite it was not intentional to pass the curfew but as i spend time with chaeri, time flew fast. " we made rules for you to obey. For your safety, your own good" she continued.

giving off a scoff, "my own good?"

"well, for my own good. I want to be free... free to do what i want and whenever i wants to" i spoke up, talking as brave as i ever be to talk back for the first. "i want to be like all those normal girls out there"

"you are like all those normal girls"

"NO!" i hissed. "i'm definitely ... not like those girls" i paused a bit as my breaths starts to get heavy.

"they all have friends, good friends to cherish together ... they can go out shopping ... they have boyfriends to go on sweet dates" i cooed, stuttering in between my words as i tried calming the heavy breathing.

"you do have friends-" her words were cutted off by me.

"mom. do you know what's the most interesting things about them out there..." i gestured, speaking off like a question, pausing my phrase. "the most interesting thing is that they don't even have good grades ... yet, they still have everything-"

a slap came to her pale-like face, hoping it would get back her daughter's senses but a sense of terror came rushing through the body as she noticed what she just did to her daughter.

huffing out a scoff, "why did you even accepted me?"

with those last words, i ran upstairs as my face was raining with tears flowing and sobs started getting harder to control.

turning the doorknob, pushing towards the front as i stepped inside and locking as i close it, leaning my head against the door as the tears came bursting.

"eun-ah" someone called from behind, somewhat a familiar voice ringing.

turning on the shoulders, a little shock to see renjun's sudden presence here. Without thinking twice, she speeds up her steps and jumped an embrace to renjun as her sobs got harder. He gripped her tightly in his arms, softly patting with hopes of calming her down.

"are you okay?" he squeaks softly.

"i-i'm such a b-bad daughter" she managed to responded, stuttering in between her sobs. "h-how could i-i say those h-harsh words"

"shhh now, calm yourself down first" he huffed, gently making the 'shh' sounds, and continues to pat her slowly.

after a few while of managing to calm herself down, she spoke out the most wanted question that has been lingering inside her thoughts for a few while now "renjun-ah, what are you doing here?" she uttered, holding up her head, facing towards renjun's face.

"i just wanted to pay a visit" he repiled shortly, wiping away the tears and held the cheeks which were slapped earlier.

"are you okay now?" he asked, gazing deeply through her eyes as he gently rubs the cheeks that were slapped. Giving off a nod in response as she noticed their faces were just a few meters away, like really really close.

"but, my mom. she knows you're here" i mentioned, worried with his presence here. Despite of not being allowed to bring over a stranger. Well, actually i never invited anyone to the house.

he shooks in denial, "she doesn't"

"but, you were in the house before me. That means, she let you it" i shrugged.

"i'm sneaky, really" he gave off a small smile.

"i felt that you need me that's why i'm here" he paused. "i'll always be here as long as you need me."