village girl › nct 2018

62

        MIN JAEYOUNG。

my mind couldn't erase the events that happened yesterday. i felt dull and out of place. my body feeling sore, i trudged my way out the classroom. i finished my last examination, no more brain damages.

i could hear soft whispers as i walked down the hall. ever since the news break out about taeyong rushing up to me in a restaurant, people have been swarming up to me, asking me and pleading me to tell them what wrong did i do to him.

i did nothing. i absolutely know nothing.

after they brought me home, they left me after saying i should only stay where i was, that i shouldn't leave the house without company.

i didn't know what was happening, why can't they just tell me what's going on?

miyeon didn't come to school today, but she called me earlier saying that a car would come pick me up.

i reached the gates of school, seeing a black car waiting for me. i blinked a couple of time, surprised to see the butler. "joshua...?" my voice croaked out; mouth gaping in shock.

"good afternoon, lady jaeyoung." he bowed at me, "i'll take you to the palace–"

"wait– what?" i cut him off with a loud shriek, "i am not going there." i said sternly, stepping back.

joshua sighed, "jaeyoung, i know it's complicated–"

"it is complicated. but for a person who knows what's happening, you can't tell me that you know it's complicated for me. it's more than that. i know nothing, joshua."

joshua nodded curtly at my words, "i understand, miss jaeyoung. but we need to leave now. queen misun wants to see you."

and with that, i was left speechless. i had no choice but to obey and enter the car.

i found my self in the palace throne room. the queen stood there with mrs kang beside her. i bit my lip, "what's this...?"

"you look just like your mother." queen misun smiled sadly and approached me.

i squinted my eyes at her words, "what the– you know my mother?"

she nodded, "yes, jaeyoung."

"where is she?" i looked around, my voice hinted with anticipation. i longed for this moment, will they give it to me?

"she's... not here, jaeyoung." she mumbled and held out her hands to me.

eyeing them, i felt a bit suspicious.

"come with me?"

i nodded and grabbed her hands as she guided me out the throne room. we walked down the quiet hallways and entered a new section of palace. the place was dimly lit, walls were coated red as gold linings complimented them nicely.

we stopped in front of a painting, "i want you to take things very slowly, jaeyoung." lady misun told me softly, feeling her hands rake my hair. "i'll leave it up to you..." she looked up at the portrait in front of us, "...i hope you find who you truly are." she smiled before walking away.

"where are you going, lady misun?" i questioned as her hands slowly left mine.

"i know you want to be alone for now, jaeyoung." she said before walking away.

brows furrowed, i couldn't help but tug onto my hair in annoyance. "why is everyone so secretive!?" i sighed harshly as i gaze up at the portrait.

my heart stopped. i felt like time had stopped for me either.

my mind was a flurry of thoughts as i felt my eyes dipping closed.

i look like her.

i look like queen hayoon when she was my age.

is she my mother– no she can't be.

pain struck onto my head as i dropped to the floor. i heard noises inside my head. the sound of the thunder roaring made my heart beat fast. the image of thick dark water bursting into the carriage, i catch a glimpse of scared eyes.

"haera... i'm sorry..."

darkness swallowed me. faint sounds of crying slowly dispersed.

the longer i stared at the picture, the more my vision became clear.

"...princess? i don't like the sound of that."

—

this is like the shortest chapter out of all chapters in this book.

but this ain't real

-jibin