Perilous

Chapter 8 - (She Is) A Lost Cause

Little five year old Taehyung tugged onto his hyung's sleeve.

"Jinnie hyung Jinnie hyung!!"

Seokjin, thirteen, smiled down at his little brother who's smile extended into a bright rectangle shape.

"Where has papa gone??"

"He is in his room working," Seokjin responded. "But don't worry, I will take care of you just as the old one did."

"The old one? Old what, Jinnie hyung?" Taehyung tilted his head to the side.

"Don't you remember?"

I don't remember.

Because I can't remember.

"Ugh, don't mess with him, Taehyung," his father appeared from out of the room, seeing the two boys and he gulped a bit nervously.

"He doesn't know any better, Seokjin. Do what you usually do."

"What do I usually do?" Seokjin asked.

Chaeah opened her eyes, seeing the bright sky above her eyes with puffy clouds drifting by in groups. She was lying in the grass in the courtyard, some students kicking around a soccer ball, eating a snack or doing their homework with friends. It was nice once school got out, because then it felt like some cool hangout spot with people who know exactly how you feel. To feel out of full control.

People don't come to this academy perfect, they come to control their abilities in an environment they can be understood, with people their age who understand. Hero or not, some people just come here to have family or feel welcomed. Because the outside world wasn't that way. Not at all.

Walking down the street you're either treated like a god or assumed to be one and is thrown at with curses and objects. Doing anything, even little things made people think you felt superior when in most cases it wasn't true. It was discriminate.

And then there are a few cases where, unfortunate things happen.

Chaeah soon felt a shadow over her eyes and she glanced up to see Jisoo staring down at her. "Hi Archangel."

Chaeah stood up, brushing the possible dirt off of her short summer dress. "Hello Red Swan."

"Just call me Jisoo. Can I call you Chaeah?"

"No."

Jisoo chuckled, "you are so feisty towards me."

"I'm kidding," Chaeah rolled her eyes a little. "You know I don't think I've ever seen you smile before," Jisoo commented.

Chaeah smiled for a second before it fell into an unamused expression. "There."

Jisoo laughed a little, "I meant an actual smile."

"Why do you care so much?" Chaeah asked curiously. "Compared to you I'm nothing but a rookie aren't I?"

"You are, but you are apart of Taehyung's recruitment."

"Ah I see, you want me to play wingman or something?" she asked but Jisoo scoffed. "No, I'm not interested in him—or men at all really."

There was a moment of quiet until Jisoo cleared her throat and stepped closer.

"I am interested in you because....I don't know exactly. You are the only girl of the group, and if the prophecy really is true you're going to be a role model to a lot of us. I just want to make sure I am your first fan," Jisoo explained and Chaeah tried to understand.