A Wind Of Change [1] || EXO ✓

038: Illicit Night

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"That looks perfect on you Ma'am," the lady at the counter commented.

"You think so?" She pressed her lips together, smudging the shade of burgundy and pouting at her reflection on the large round mirror. Shades of various coloured lip tint were scattered over the marble counter top and the lady's patience began to wear off as Hazel took more than half an hour. And she was still contemplating on the 'perfect' lip colour.

She threw the last item of what was left on the list of the late night shopping spree into her backpack. Once she stepped out of the shop, the cold wind raked through her hair and she pulled up her black hoodie over her head. Shoving her hands into the pant pockets, she walked with one clear destination in mind. Home.

The shop Forever Young, was selling items at half its price only for today. If anything, money was not the concern at all. She was filthy rich to be risking a night to get discounted items. She could've warmed up under covers and called it a night if it wasn't for her mother.

During dinner, her mother remarked on her indiscipline that was growing day by day, compared her to Kyungsoo; her overachieving neighbour. It pained a lot especially when she put in her best efforts to score well and maintain a good behavior. Sighing, she was about to devour the piece of chicken when her mother muttered, "Keep a watch on your diet". If it weren't for her desire to keep up her good girl image, she would have flung the plate. Instead, she chose not to eat and got up from the seat teary eyed. The last string of her patience snapped when Bianca warned, "Come late again and you're grounded. Forever"

It was already half past ten when she had jumped from the compound wall of her house. This was her second time sneaking out of her large bedroom window and escaping into the streets late night. That was her way of secret rebellion against her mother and the desire to be let free. After walking a few blocks, she found herself down the side of a dark road.

She heard a rumbling sound and nervously glanced over her shoulder to scan the surroundings. It was only a black cat. She tightened the strap of her backpack over her shoulder and her heart was racing hard. But she brushed it off, her hallucinations were acting up yet again. Probably because the streets were empty. She passed by a bakery, another shop which was closed and under a flickering street light. Her heart jumped out of her chest when her phone started buzzing. It read KAI.

"Hello," she spoke over the call.

No reply.

"Did you call me by mistake once again?" she scoffed.

There was long pause. "Keep walking straight and don't turn back."

"What? Are you here somewhere-," she was about to turn.

"Keep walking and don't turn back." Kai repeated louder this time making her pace quicken. She gulped down her fears and it wasn't until she passed under another street lamp that the realization struck her. She was being stalked.