Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"hyejoo look, her body is vanishing."
she looked up from the letter, and yerim was right. chaewon's body was disappearing into thin air.
i'm an idiot, i thought it was over for her.
hyejoo laughed quietly, tears still pouring down her cheeks.
"i'm glad i was able to help someone with their task," yerim smiled. "i should move on to the next soon."
"uh, i-" jungeun hung her head low. "i'll be nearby. you know, to give you some privacy." she took a final look at hyejoo and walked off with yerim.
now she was alone, weeping silently and thanking the lords for once like chaewon would've done in that exact situation. she read that letter over and over again. her gut feeling told her to flip the paper over as if it were reminding her that it wasn't finished.
and it was right.
❝ hi, olivia. if you're reading this, i'm probably already gone. remember to thank yerim after reading this, you meanie.
i've just recalled that i haven't been very detailed with my dreams. i'm just going to say, we were friends. every dream i had within this realm was about you.
it's almost like i've got a crush on you or something, haha.
while every dream of yours seemed to be sad ones, mine were all normal.
i just didn't want you to get mad if i told you about my dreams, so i didn't. there's that, heh.
i'm guessing you're about to sleep soon, so i'll just end the letter at the backside :)❞
hyejoo smiled.
i'm going back to tell you how bad your writing is.
i guarantee you, chaewon.
---
"you've come," jungeun said as she saw hyejoo approach her. "are you... feeling alright?"
"no, and i won't be unless i've smashed san's skull in."
"you've become more determined, olivia."
"and jungeun," hyejoo added. "i'd also like to punch you in the face."
"what, are you saying chaewon's departure was the result of me not being a skilled fighter?" jungeun widened her eyes at hyejoo's statement. "you're letting your anger affect your judgment."
"you know you're the opposite of an unskilled fighter, jungeun." hyejoo glared at her. "it's not the first time you've let san get away. you know it."
"you're putting me in an uncomfortable situation, olivia. now that chaewon isn't here, i'll be needing you even more."
"you have yerim," hyejoo pointed out. yerim looked at both of them, torn between the two sides.
"if you really decide to split, i'll be following olivia," she said tersely. "i mean, only because she's more determined to finish her task. jungeun, you haven't even told me about yours yet."
"or me," hyejoo interjected. "i've been with you since the first day."
jungeun looked shaken. she really didn't think she'd have to get accused like this. "i do see why you'd hate me at this moment."
"also, there's something i'd like to ask you jungeun," hyejoo remembered what san had said after taking chaewon out. how he pointed out that she had held back killing him this whole time. "tell me what your task is."
yerim shifted her eyes onto jungeun as well. "i want to know, too. that way i could try to help you as much as i can."
jungeun stalled for a couple of seconds. "you two leave me no choice," she sighed. "honestly i'm not sure whether i should proceed with my task or not. it's why i was hesitant to kill san."
so it has something to do with him? or maybe i should stop jumping to conclusions. "what can't you make up your mind with?" hyejoo tried her best to remain patient with jungeun's answer.
"sorry but i can't tell you yet."
"jungeun. i'm tired of tiptoeing around this test. i have to meet the people i loved. i don't think i can continue working with you if i don't know what you're after."
"i understand," jungeun muttered. "i'll make my decision by tomorrow. for now i say we follow your compass before it starts moving again. i think it's getting pretty late."
the three walked into the horizon with hyejoo in the lead, holding her compass as they went.
they passed by a line of old shops, where some of them were closed with metal shutter gates. the gates had graffiti sprayed onto them. one read 'everything's so tense and gloom' in bold, black font. it matched the place, that was for sure. eminem, hyejoo quickly recognized. wonder what he's up to right now.
it was strange without chaewon there to bring something up that she wanted to ask about. none of them were used to her not being here yet.
just you wait, chae. i promise i'll make it and go find you.
