HELIOTROPE ↻ NCT DREAM

twenty

After countless subway transfers, Ayeon finally stepped foot out of the station still carrying her backpack. With only a few meters away from the bus stop, she lazily walked towards it with her half lidded eyes, feeling drowsy as she had to wake up around 5 am just to make it at home before 9 am.

It was extremely chilly, her mind was blank as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other and hugged herself tight while waiting for the next bus to arrive.

If a stranger had seen Ayeon’s face, it wouldn't look as though she was excited, but inside, she certainly was. She couldn't wait to hug her parents and her one and only dog. Not only that, but the comfort of her soft double bed as well of course. It basically took up half of her mind, couldn't wait but to jump right on it and sleep peacefully. While the other part of her was excited to catch up with her family, to talk about how they were, and just tell them stories about her university life. Although, she was anxious. She was anxious because she wouldn’t know how to explain about her flower tattoo. She wouldn't know how to explain that she gained a boyfriend over the past few months. She was anxious about how they would react.

The young woman stood up from her seat upon noticing the nearing bus. She tightened her grip on the strap of her backpack and held her tote bag tightly as she entered the vehicle upon it coming to a full stop. Much to her luck, the bus wasn’t fully packed yet and that there were still numerous vacant seats available. Perhaps, it’s because the day was only starting.

The phone in her coat vibrated. It was a text notification from her boyfriend. A good morning, and have a safe trip type of text to be exact. 

Ayeon’s heart swelled remembering the fact that Donghyuck wasn’t the type to wake up early when there are no classes. But still, surprising her, he managed to do so and shot her a text.

“Call me after 8 or 10 minutes. I’ll take a quick power nap,” Ayeon typed in response.

Within the minute, an okay from Hyuck was received. To that, the drowsy freshman student made herself comfortable on the chilly bus and rested her head on its glass windows.

Vibrant red petals. Vibrant red petals had fallen onto Ayeon’s hands out of nowhere. And she smiled to herself, admiring the beauty of each one despite the difference in shape and in size. 

The young lady was so fascinated by it’s lively color that she didn't mind where it came from. All she knew was that she couldn’t tear her eyes off it. However, the more her gaze pierce onto the fiery red petals, the more her gut started to flip and her heart sank. It felt like the pounding on her heart became more harsher and harsher by the second. It was causing her breath to hitch as though she was drowning, trying to gasp for more air — for oxygen. And thus, her view blurred as pools of tears filled her eyes and slowly ran down her glassy cheeks.

What's happening? Someone help! Please.

It was getting harder and harder for Ayeon to breathe. She roamed her eyes over the bus, spotting the other few passengers. However, not one did even look her way and or even noticed how much she was having a difficult time.

With each moment, she was becoming more and more desperate, but she couldn’t even yell. There was no sound escaping her lips no matter how hard she tried. Rather, the vibrant red petals continued to flood her hands. And eventually, she just let it fall and scatter over on the cold metal floor of the bus. She clenched her right hand and pounded over her left chest, trying to fight the pain. Again and again, she did so. Unfortunately, it wasn’t making much. Instead, it doubled the pain.

“Buzz, buzz.” 

Tears burst forth, rolling down her cheeks. Ayeon couldn't do much with the throbbing pain in her heart and only continued to shake her head, shutting her eyes tight. She was trembling. 

In that moment, all she wanted was for the pain to disappear.
 
“Buzz, buzz.”

Finally, the young woman jolted up from her nap, taking in a sharp breath, still trembling and alarmed. Her vision was blurry and it was then that she realized she had been crying in her nap.

With the back of her hand, Ayeon wiped down the track of glass beads that flowed down her cheeks. She blinked her eyes owlishly, in an attempt of taking in her surroundings. Upon recognizing the familiar setting of the bus that she had boarded, Ayeon slumped back against the seat in relief.

It was all just a dream.

"Buzz, buzz."

To that, the still drowsy Ayeon came to her senses that the vibration was coming from her coat.

It was Donghyuck.

A faint smile appeared on her face and declined the call.

“Thanks for being my alarm. I’ll get off the bus in a few. bye bye. I love u.” She happily wrote, before preparing herself to make sure she still had her backpack and tote bag with her, that she hadn’t forgotten anything.

The bus finally came to a full halt on her stop.

Upon exiting the public vehicle, Ayeon couldn’t stop herself from inhaling the sweet scent of the nostalgic atmosphere of the neighborhood she grew up to. Her mind wandered over the memories and so did her feet to the place she missed so much, not wanting to waste more time.

The familiar neighborhood that she grew up to was still there despite the few series of changes that happened over the past few months of her absence. 

The soft sounds of the tingling chimes that hung over the side of their glass windows rang in her ears, a sense of familiarity and wistfulness spread through her. After 4 hours of traveling, Ayeon finally reached her destination. She was finally home.

Curling her fingers, she let her hand meet the cold wooden door, knocking softly. She repeated a few more times until she heard a shuffling of steps on the other side to get the door. It slowly opened and she was met with her mother's warm and excited smile. And within a heartbeat, she embraced her tight, suddenly feeling the wave of how much she missed her. Soon after, Ayeon did the same with her father.

She settled inside and dropped her stuff by the living room. With the warm temperature, thanks to the heater, Ayeon took off the excess layer of clothing she had worn, including her wool scarf. And suddenly there was a sharp gasp. Turning around, Ayeon spotted her mother eyeing the ambrosia tattoo on her neck.