What Lies Beneath ✅

Peal 11

I pulled away then stared at him. Loud thuds were heard around us and a few grunts as well. His eyes had gone back to normal and his dark orbs bore into my own.

"Was there a fight...?" Dongju asked as he looked around.

Did he not know what he had done?

"You don't remember?" I asked feeling uneasy.

It favored me slightly as he wouldn't remember what I had done. He looked at me then touched his lips. I froze. Did he know?

"Why do I feel warm...?" said Dongju as his cheeks started to gain color.

"Maybe because we're in the sunlight." I said, hoping he wouldn't reach a different conclusion.

His eyes lit up then met my eyes again. His face was different than before.

"You kissed me." he finally said.

I looked away then saw the other three pretending as if they weren't paying attention.

"Did not." I said with a straight face.

Dongju faced the others then asked them. I gestured for them to remain quiet from behind Dongju.

"Isn't this an A B conversation?" Keonhee said with his arms folded. "While you two solve this, we'll go check if anyone was in that house."

I felt my soul leave my body as now I was on my own.

"I know you did. I remember it. You were calling my name so close, but you sounded far...then you asked for forgiveness..." Dongju said, his voice getting quieter the more he spoke.

"I...I couldn't hug you in the position I was in okay!? I didn't want to kiss you!" I said in defeat.

He turned away from me in silence. Was he going to make a fuss about it? Complain about consent despite the situation being dire? Complain that I stole his first kiss?

"Thank you." Dongju said quietly.

"You're welcome....?" I replied a bit confused.

We stood in silence as we didn't know what to say to the other. I briefly touched my lips then shook the thought from my mind. I absolutely didn't like it and I absolutely didn't want to do it again.

"Hey, Geonhak..." Dongju said breaking the silence.

"What's up?" I asked intrigued.

"If I ever get like that again, could you...kiss me then?" he asked then met my eyes.

I soon became flustered and avoided looking at him.

"We're both guys. Isn't it weird? Wouldn't a hug just work?" I said, hoping to deter him.

"What if today happens again and you can't hug me?" Dongju said, obviously challenging me.

He had a point. I tried thinking of a way out of it, but ultimately gave up.

"Okay, but, try not to have episodes like this again so it doesn't get to that point." I answered weakly.

"I finally found you!" a voice said from above.

My face filled with horror as the familiar mint winged woman appeared. I grabbed Dongju's wrist and ran. He mumbled something under his breath that I couldn't hear. I felt Dongju leave my hold. I looked to my side and saw him trying to stand up from being thrown against a rock. I moved to check on him, but she had gotten there before me. She held his face by his chin while looking at me.

"If you come without putting up a fight, I'll let him go. If not, I can't guarantee his life." she said in a cheery voice.

I looked at Dongju who was being binded to the rock by brown roots. She let his face go then sat on the rock.

"So, what'll it be, handsome?" she asked, twirling her hair while sitting on the rock Dongju was restrained to. "Take your time. Just know the longer you take, the tighter his restraints get. He already looks like he's in pain."

Dongju shook his head as if telling me he was okay. His face said otherwise. My freedom wasn't worth more than Dongju's life.

"I'll go with you then." I said after making up my mind.

"Good choice." she said with a smile.

"You idiot, why wo-" Dongju started only for a brown root to cover his mouth.

She held out her hand for me to take. I looked at it then back at her.

"What? Were you expecting me to knock you out or something? I'm not barbaric like most out there." she said a bit offended.

"Let him go first." I said with my hand hovering over hers.

"Consider it done." she said before snapping.

The roots left Dongju's body and I then took her hand. I considered running away after she released him, but both of us could easily be caught. She hovered in the air, keeping me far from Dongju's reach.

"Thanks for being a great hostage, cutie!" she yelled down to Dongju.

Soon we were being brought back down to the ground at an amazing speed. My body ached from the impact. I felt myself being pulled away from her.

"I'm not letting him go again." Dongju said to her in a voice I had never heard before.

Again? Then the person I had seen running was him? I heard her try moving her wings, but failed. She then tried to move her limbs, but Dongju was stronger.

"You...what are you? You weren't this strong before." she hissed as she tried crawling over to us.

Dongju glared at her and soon her whole body was being pressed into the ground. I was less impressed and more scared as I didn't know what he was truly capable of at this point.

"Is there anything you want to say before I end your life?" Dongju said before moving me a farther distance.

I quietly watched as Dongju approached her. His aura was completely different.

"Hm. I regret...not making him...mine." she said while looking at me.

The wind gently blew as silence engulfed the area. Dongju walked away from her then squatted in front of me. He lifted my arms and checked the palms of my hand. He turned my face then checked my legs. I felt as if I was being undressed by his eyes as he moved back slightly. I shuddered at the thought.

"Is anything broken? That was a big impact..." Dongju said with hints of worry in his voice.

"Is she...?" I inquired, not really wanting to talk about my probably bruised tailbone.

"Dead? Yes. Clean cut." he said while making a decapitating motion.

I slowly stood up in order not to warrant the painful wrath of my hurt backside. Dongju must have noticed as he offered me his shoulder. I briefly glanced back at the woman as we walked away.