Rise Up (Stray Kids Seo Changbin)

3

Perched on a seat on the balcony, Lauren watched the setting sun disappear behind the horizon, painting the sky peach, coral, and power pink as it did so. Illuminated by neon lights, the streets below sparked to life. Music screeched through the wind along with the soothing song of waves crashing into the shore, the sound finally landing in front of her.

As inviting and delightful as the sounds were, they did nothing but remind her how alone and bored she was.

Glancing back into the hotel room, she watched the girl busy at her laptop, hacking a website. She had barely said a word to her all week. Although she understood how demanding her job could be, Lauren often wished Cassidy knew how to balance her time. Because of her, their honeymoon had turned into them being locked up in a hotel room while Lauren watched everyone else enjoy themselves.

"Cass," She called out but wasn't even met with a sound. "Cass, honey," she tried again, leaving her spot on the balcony to talk to her wife.

"Mmh," the latter hummed in response.

"We have two more days of our honeymoon before we have to go back," she kissed the top of Cassidy's head. "Can we go out and do something worthwhile? Maybe enjoy ourselves and forget about work?"

Cassidy cocked an eyebrow and gave Lauren her attention.

"Forget about work?" She repeated with a scoff. "I can't. This isn't just work, it's a life or death situation. If I leave this, I could lose everything."

"Get someone else to do it. Who's that girl that visited us not long ago? Kyla, was it? Get her to do it."

"Lauren, I love you and all but you don't know anything about my work. Stop trying to solve my problems, yeah? It's getting irritating. And for your information, Kyla wants to kill me. She's an enemy."

"Well, how am I supposed to know anything if you don't tell me?" She shouted. "Were married now, Cass, we aren't supposed to keep secrets fro each other. You promised in your vow!"

"Everyone knows vows are just exaggerations. No one actually keeps to them. They are just there to satisfy the other for their wedding day. Just like how you said you'd die for me. We all know it was just an exaggeration."

Lauren's eyes widened, offended.

"Exaggeration? I poured out my whole heart and soul with my vows. I said everything I've ever wanted you to know and I meant it down to the very last syllable! I would die for you. I meant it! I meant all of it! And yours was all just an exaggeration? I thought you meant it all. I thought you actually cared."

"I do. I just... Have things I can't tell you about. They'll get you killed."

"Did you not just hear me? I said I would die for you! What about that do you not get? Should I repeat it for you? I. Would. Die. For. You. Get that through your head, alright? Now tell me what the heck you are doing with that laptop, Cassidy Thompson! I'm done playing your games!"

Cassidy stood up and glared at her wife.

"Don't act so tough, sweetheart. Don't forget about what I've done to people."

"You wouldn't do that to me," Lauren shook her head although, with the glare cast upon her, she wasn't entirely certain.

Her immediately dropped when Cassidy failed to answer.

"Would you?" She asked shakily, taking a small step backwards.

"I mean," she sighed, turning around and heading for the door. "You wouldn't be the first person that meant something to me I've hurt."

In shock, Lauren watched her grab her coat and put on her shoes.

"Where are you going?" Lauren stammered.

"Out. Something came up."

"Can I come too? I mean, what's the use of coming to the Bahamas if all I do is stay indoors the whole time?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I have work to do and the last thing I need is you bothering me the whole time. You stay here and order room service if you get hunger. But whatever you do, do not leave."

And with that, Cassidy left.