venomous // loona

six

a/n: omggg chaejoo nation this one's for you!! 😤😤

"Is that so?" He said in the acidic tone he always speaks with. "You'll bring her to me..?" The room felt quieter than silent for the beat of a moment before he began laughing— no, cackling, at Hyejoo. How completely complaint she could be when threatened with her sister's life— it was like tempting a kitten with a toy mouse. She could act so tough, but when her sweet little fantasy ended and reality opened the door for her, she so suddenly was willing to do as much as to give her best friend away without a second thought. It was so, utterly pathetic.

Hyejoo felt belittled. She felt so small and unmoving underneath his evil glare, his glare that told her over and over again how absolutely crazy she's become. How his game was only now coming into play, while the past was barely their exposition; he hasn't even had any of his fun yet, anyway.

Hyejoo couldn't even fucking do anything but stand there— stand there and choke on her own tears at the monster she's watching herself become. She didn't even know when she started crying, but she couldn't stop, couldn't prevent each tear from its inevitable fall, causing the greatest downpour, all originating from her dying eyes, carrying all and no emotion at once. All she wanted was to save someone, who knew she'd be hurting herself along the way.

But she didn't want to linger on that thought, because it brought her mind to how much it must hurt Chaewon. For Hyejoo to so easily accept a betrayal on her behalf. And she doesn't even know. She doesn't even know.

"What are you waiting for?" he asked in a menacingly quiet voice. "Bring me the girl."

"H-Hyejoo," Yeojin began.

"No," Hyejoo stopped Yeojin. "I'll get you out of here. Family before friends, right?" She tried her most genuine smile even when she knew it would break. All she wanted was for Yeojin to not worry anymore. She's safe now, because her big sister is here, and she won't let her go again. She just wants her to know that.

Yeojin looked unsure. "You're positive?"

"Definitely." Hyejoo grabbed Yeojin's hand in her endlessly shaking one, trying to keep herself on her feet before her knees would give out. "Don't worry about a thing."

Yeojin smiled up at Hyejoo with tears eyes. She never doubted her sister. She knew she'd find her.

Her smile was the same youthful one as it was before, and Hyejoo realized that nothing had changed. For that small moment, she felt like it was just her and Yeojin again, sitting on her mattress and talking about anything at all, because that's the way Yeojin would smile. Even when she felt like the world could be against her, as long as Hyejoo was there, she could beat them all.

Hyejoo let go of her hand, brushed a strand of Yeojin's hair behind her ear, and, in slow-paced steps, walked towards the door. If she'd open it, she'd meet Chaewon right there. Hyejoo could explode right now, that's how tight her chest felt. Her hand rested atop the knob with a metal sound echoing through her bones, reminding her of the night Yeojin must have gotten stolen. The way she so carefully went to open her door before her mother saw her. If only things could have been different that night.

But was it selfish to say, in a way, she was almost glad for the past few days to have taken place? It was a terrible thought, she knew, but because of it she had reunited with Chaewon. Chaewon, who showed her the way to friendship and trust once again. Chaewon, who she'd now give up to the man to secure her sister's safety.

God-fucking-damnit. There was no escape. No matter what Hyejoo did now, she would suffer. Fuck.

"Go!" The man shouted when Hyejoo stood there for too long, unmoving.