A World of our Own | K.TH *COMPLETED*

Deals

"How are your cuts and bruises already gone?! It's literally been two days since that beating that almost killed the life out of you and scared the living daylights out out of mine!"

He tilts his head back as his eyes search the bright, iridescent lighting stringed onto the ceiling. "It's been three," he says, voice so detached I'm wondering if the person he's talking to is still me. "I told you, I heal fast."

"You've got to be some kind of superhuman to heal that fast." When he hears me grumble, his eyes light up with amusement. Then he reaches for something in the deep pocket in his sweatshirt, and proceeds to pass me my black brace.

"I meant to return that to you sometime," he says, unclasping the brace and folding my fingers over the thick material. "Things have just been hectic lately."

When I glance at his own wrist, the skin is smooth, clear of the gigantic bruise that had adorned it a few days earlier. It had healed already— but how? How could that be possible?

"But you're not me," Tae whispers, voice anxious but firm. "So you can't go around getting yourself hurt, okay? Don't go searching for trouble— or things that might get you in trouble."

Fingers still caressing the brace, I look up. My voice is tinted with playfulness as I stretch out on my bed. "So are you saying I can if I'm like you? You know, with all the healing powers and things like that."

"No!"

His voice is surprisingly loud and unexpectedly tentative as he slams his hand forcefully into the bed. The worry in his face is so apparent I explode into a heap of giggles— which hurt, but was totally worth the pain.

Then suddenly, the sound of a doorbell rings throughout the entire complex of the apartment. Both me and Tae freeze up in an instant, but I immediately know who it is.

Terror makes my face go ashen pale as I convince myself it can't possibly be them. They didn't care enough— or did they want something? Were they here to take me back?

When Tae gets up to check, I grab his sleeve. His eyes go wide when he sees me shake my head firmly, fear and panic carved deep into the green and blue of my eyes.

No.

"Are you alright?" He whispers quietly, so soft that I barely catch the concerned words. The doorbell comes again, and I tense up even further when the pounding of fists echo from the hard surface of the door— the only thing keeping me and Tae apart from the devils themselves.

No—

No, no, no.

I don't speak with the worry they'll hear. Quickly and firmly, I shake my head as the pounding seems to drown out everything else in my mind. At my reaction and the unwanted visitors outside, Tae's face goes grim as he eases my grip off of his shirt.

No!

"Stay here," he assures me as tears threaten to spill from my watery eyes. "I'll take care of this."

"No, you can't. Stop, Tae!"

He doesn't listen to me as he throws open the door, and I shut my eyes tightly at the possible events that might happen next.

"Who the hell are you doing in our daughter's house?"

My father's voice is slightly higher than usual, clearly intimidated by the young man standing in front of him. I remember seeing V the first time— a menacing figure that towered over me like a stone faced statue.

"Don't come here anymore."

Then Tae slams the door in my father's face— probably accompanied by my devil stepmother as well. She'd possibly been quiet for all this time— too stunned by this mysterious person who'd answered the door instead of her fake daughter.

"Tae..." My voice trembles, even though I'd tried so hard to keep it steady. "You shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't have."

His voice sounds confused as he approaches me, taking my face in his warm, gentle hands. "That wasn't the woman I saw in the picture. Really, who are they?"

"That was my real mom." My thoughts drift back to my mother's picture, her liveliness and her beautiful smile captured in eternal stillness. "The one you just saw now is the fake one, and the man beside him was my father."

His eyes narrow, clearly realizing what the was in my sentences meant. But he also senses the hatred I have in my voice, and his face is furrowed— attempting to figure this new mystery I've presented him.

"My mother died in a car crash. And for them..." My voice trails off, and I simply refuse to cry. This was old news now, and I shouldn't be like this. I couldn't be like this.

"I don't like them very much."

But Tae is smart. Too smart, too clever for his own good. Too experienced to be ignorant to this kind of thing. He was an expert at it himself, after all.

I can practically hear his teeth grit against one another as he hisses lowly. Dark, stormy fury rages in his body, his muscles rippling like waves before a thunderstorm.

"They abuse you?"

Bingo.

My silence seems to answer everything for him as he leans in. Whispers, his breath warm and gentle against the lobe of my ear.

"How much?

An awkward laughter escapes my lips as I wave the two of my hands. I try my very best to conceal the growing discomfort with my wild gestures and extreme expressions, but somehow he manages to see through my facade like clear glass.

"I promise you— I will not let you go until you've told me every single thing about your past."

At his firm tone, I challenge defiantly. Normally I'd just give in, but the topic that he's forcing me to talk about is way too sensitive, way too emotional. I will not give up my story for nothing— I will at least get something in return.

"Fine."

"Deal."