45th-day

[45th-day]

draft 1.5

"we're not going with your scooter today?"

jaehyun locking the apartment door as chaeyoung looks at him in betrayal. she wants to ride the scooter. she never rides one before two days ago when she had her changed and she loves it.

the guy looking at her for two seconds then evert it because damn that jet black eyes. he put the apartment keys inside his pocket as he says, "like i said, i want to get some fresh air."

"yes, i get it but you can always get fresh air from riding your scooter?" chaeyoung banter.

but jaehyun just shrugs and replied with i feel like to ride with public transportation. sure, public transportation sounds fun in chaeyoung's mind— run for bus or grab some taxi. but riding scooter is another thing.

chaeyoung following behind him as they are walking down the stairs with jisung’s skinny jeans (which not fit on him anymore) and also his oversize long sleeve shirt.

"jaehyun ssi, i'm going to be very honest with you."

jaehyun just nods nonetheless and she annoys. and she knows it isn't really her place to act like this but, she wants to ride a scooter. jaehyun can does his mysterious agenda for she cares— "i never ride on a scooter for my whole life before!"

"you did, the time we first met." he deadpans as he keeps walking down the stairs. Jaehyun presses a threatening smile on his face.

they just passed third floor as chaeyoung making a face when he just shut her up. and she knows, jaehyun that kind of guy who probably never wrong in any argument. knowing she has no chance to argue with him, chaeyoung doesn't say anything.

she just following jaehyun from behind to the bus stop and sit beside him, and make sure there always space between them, and just wait.

"you told us that you never experienced public transportation." chaeyoung snaps her head and surprise how jaehyun actually talking to her without her nag or she volunteer to make conversation first with him. she nods rapidly, getting little bit of excitement of the thought.

two days with the brothers, chaeyoung can tell jisung is easy to approach as long as they have same mindset with him. after all, jisung is still a high schooler, everything about new thing is exciting to him. and chaeyoung's childhood living in australia story somehow excited to him. but jaehyun is another case. chaeyoung realizes he actually hard to approach but at the same time he nothing but a gentleman.

if it wasn't because of her own craziness act two days ago in the middle of night and his gentleman trait, she doesn't think she could be this close with him. sit at bus station, let along sleep on his couch two nights in the row.

"chaeyoung ssi." jaehyun calls her, chaeyoung snaps at her train of thought and hum back to him, "i—" then he sighs, before resting his head to the station banner behind him. "never mind."

"no!" chaeyoung quickly clears her throat when she realizes that was way too fast to answer. "i, i'm sorry. you're saying?"

jaehyun side eyes her as he presses his lips to a thin line, showing his deep dimples. "i’m just saying, you told us this morning you never experienced public transportation."

"ah... yes, i am. until recently." chaeyoung replies.

"bus?" she nods, "so you never take an underground train?" he asks again.

"there is underground train here? in south korea?" there is a pure shock hint in her voice.

"yes..." jaehyun startles by her sudden excitement. then carefully he offers her if she wants to take underground train instead waiting for the bus.

"please!" and her tip of her lips rolling up and a smile play on her face. beaming.

jaehyun nods his head and asks her to follow him to the underground train station.

now jaehyun confused. from what she confessed to them— well, jisung actually. he just sit there, drinking his instant black coffee while reading all the spam messages from johnny's about his annoyance toward their professor but he can't help but listen to it— she is a south korean decent, living in australia for her childhood and came back to korea because unfortunate event five years ago. and to the brothers’ surprise, she never really steps out from her place. that is why she wishes for freedom.

which bring him to a question.

she literally a wanted person because she escaped from her home and people looking for her but at the same time, she is the version of modern disney princess— rapunzel. so, who is the witch mother and the fylnn rider in her story? and we probably that two scares stabbingtons. he thought simply.

> 

jaehyun bewilders when they arrived at the train station. the place is crowded, he looks behind him and an urge of relief showing on his face. chaeyoung right behind him looking like a child who is about taken to the amusement park.

"there so many people." her comments after they take a seat on an empty bench little bit far away from the crowded.

"yeah, you really never know the busy hours in a train station." jaehyun replies as he leans on the wall and closing his eyes. the train will arrive in five minutes.

chaeyoung feeling too excited for her own liking, well, she never really saw so many people like this, in this short distance. looking at them in work suit, a mother and his five years old son, bunch of college students— she loves it. it's a new scene for her and not just ryujin and her other housekeepers.

"oh my god ryujin!" her eyes flicker in nervous as jaehyun snap his eyes open by the sudden surprise.

"what? why? you recognize someone?" jaehyun asks in his baritone voice. but chaeyoung quickly shake her head and look at him with her jet-black eyes, "what?"

"ryujin is my maid. um-" she doesn't know how to put it right but, "she helped me to escape that night but i never send her a message that i'm fine here."

jaehyun knows where this conversation goes and lazily take his phone from his pocket and hand it to her, chaeyoung looking more confused than ever, "to let your maid know."

"i don't remember her phone number."

the guy finds that little bit funny as he presses his lip into a thin line, he doesn't want to offend or anything and shove his phone back down the pocket and mutter an okay for her.

just right on time, the train is here too.

"come on, the train is...” his voice what the fuck," jaehyun can't believe how the train so packed inside, "people decided to go out from their house in thursday, i guess."

chaeyoung doesn't know how the underground train works but she surely knows she doesn't think she could get out from there alive. "jaehyun ssi, do we have to get inside this train..."

"unfortunately, yes, except you want to wait for another thirty minutes." he sounds as nervous as she is.

"thirty minutes!?" she shocks by the fact and just slumber her shoulders in surrender, waiting for the train stop and open the door.

jaehyun turns to chaeyoung absurdly and he looks down at her before clearing his throat, "chaeyoung ssi do you trust me?"

the girl raises her eyebrow, "yes..."

"um, it will be crowded inside, so—" he hands the tip of his oversized plaid and give it to chaeyoung, "hold on to this, to make sure."

chaeyoung wants to protest since she believes she can catch up with him, but she can't because train is stop and the door is open.

bunch of people bursting out from the train but the amount of people who gets in the train also as equals as the one who getting out. chaeyoung gets little bit panic and grab on jaehyun's oversized plaid without thinking. jaehyun who watching her just find it little bit endearing. she surely doesn't take train before.

it is packed, chaeyoung still holding on jaehyun's plaid as the guy looking for empty to sit but there is none, so they just stand there, in front of people who sit and hanging on the handle grip as people keep pushing in.

as brief second passed by and the train door is closing. it crowded than jaehyun thought, as chaeyoung eyes keep flickering here and there, trying to adjust.

"you okay?" he concerns somehow because what if she has claustrophobic but chaeyoung shove it away as she nods her head rapidly and look down at her hand still holding on his plaid, slowly she takes off the grip and just stare down.

jaehyun doesn't know since when he is spacing out because let's face it, he doesn't know how to make a conversation inside a moving train, especially with a girl who clearly never use one before. but he snaps out from his train of thoughts when they arrive at the next station. chaeyoung amazes how people shifting here and there, trying to get out from the train or just take the empty seat from people who get out in this station.

then there is a wasted man get inside the train and everyone is gusting him and close their nose as he walks clumsily in the hall train. for jaehyun and chaeyoung unfortune, the wasted man decides to stand behind the two of them. chaeyoung wants to puke from the reek of alcohol as jaehyun unconsciously ghosting his arm to let chaeyoung backing him and just stare at pitch black underground.

jaehyun swears the train door somehow feel so long to close and move to next station and

and it maybe because the smell of reek of alcohol as an old woman sit in front of chaeyoung, probably in her sixtysometing, snaps out from her sleep and look around then she looks up to jaehyun and chaeyoung, “excuse me, is this myeongdong?”

jaehyun nods and the old woman mutters a thank you before stands up from her seat and shift to get out from the train. they watch her until she makes it to get out from the train.

“you can sit.” jaehyun informs her calmly and chaeyoung gladly want to take it but she wasn’t fast enough when the wasted man holds chaeyoung’s shoulder and come closer just to make the girl nauseous from the reek.

“i saw the empty seat first, young lady.”

chaeyoung shivers. not because he talks to her, but the fact he uses young lady to her reminds her the palace. she tries to find an excuse but jaehyun beats her first as he takes her arm and shove her to sit on the empty chair, of course he makes sure he doesn’t harm the girl.

she surprises by jaehyun’s action and just look up at him in concern, he did not just pick a fight with a wasted man! she thinks.

the wasted man glaring at jaehyun who side eyes him as his hand grabbing something the pocket just to reveal his phone and his air pods from taeyong’s gift for his last year birthday along with the phone, still give the wasted man a cold shoulder, he bend down a bit to reach chaeyoung’s ears (thank god she decided to ponytail her hairs this morning) and plug in the air pods without say anything.

again, chaeyoung’s surprises by his action and about to ask what is he doing but instead he says in hush tone to stay still and he throw a small smile that chaeyoung barely could catch, and seconds later the last song jaehyun paused is playing again on the air pods. she freezes as she familiar with the song that is playing, he listening to folklore. after making sure chaeyoung comfortable with it and to make sure she doesn’t hear anything except the music in her ears.

jaehyun knows what will happen in next two seconds as he turns to the wasted man who still glaring at him.

“what do you want?” jaehyun says in his undertone and raise his eyebrows which pissing the wasted man. “never use a train before?”

“ya, how can you talk to me like that? i’m much older than you, show some respect, you brat. and your girlfriend took the seat i saw first.”

“so?”

“she shouldn’t seat on it.” his eyes grow wider, anger boil on his eyes and about to take chaeyoung’s hand but jaehyun block it easily. the latter face still unamused. it’s too early to facing a wasted person like this.

“don’t touch her.” he warns him in hush tone. despite the awful smell of reek alcohol, jaehyun leans in and face to face with the man, “she also a woman, have some pride to hold and let her sit. you embarrassed yourself.”

maybe it because of the alcohol but the man unwilling to get embarrassed by a young man like jaehyun, he about to throw another complain but the man beside chaeyoung rolling his eyes and speak up, “loose the scotch dude, it’s barely afternoon.”

“and the young lady stand right in front of the old woman early, it’s her rights to sit here.” the woman on other side also chirp in since she also can’t stand the reek smell.

thinking the wasted man probably get embarrass by the complaint and he walks away. jaehyun thought the problem is solved and turn his back and facing with chaeyoung who keeps staring at him. jaehyun raises his eyebrows, presses his lips into a thin line, the girl been watching them but since she wears the air pods, she couldn’t hear anything, even the mouth movement chaeyoung couldn’t catch it.

so, she just shakes her head and hang low her head, listening to the last great american dynasty.

> 

they arrive at the youngdeungpo-gu, times square mall. after all the fuss and the crowded. the mall is so big and jaehyun thought, she could find everything she needs here. jaehyun barely can step a foot on this mall except if taeyong asks for company him to find some suit or other expensive things.

as the girl keep astonishes by the place as she keeps wondering why she never come here before? even with a security, she really doesn’t mind. and as they walk inside the mall, a refresh smell and cold air from the air conditioning greeting them.

“now what?” she asks.

jaehyun chuckles, “you shop, chaeyoung ssi.”

[45th-day]

draft 1.3

“i swear i did the most random thing i ever can come up with. like seriously, last night, i wasn’t even think when i took her in.” jaehyun starts with his second cup of americano on hand as he and johnny, his fellow classmate, walking head to their next class, his last class for today. “i thought i was drunk but i don’t even drink last night. so, tell me, how, how in the name of god i did what i did, john?”

johnny who has been listening to jaehyun random story about his oh-weird-night to take a random girl into his place just laughing, for second time. “is she that pretty that you don’t stop talking about her?” jaehyun glares at him but johnny doesn’t scare of it, “you even dare to let her sleep on your couch last night, she must be that breath-taking huh?”

jaehyun groans as he push the lift button to upstairs, then he leaning on the wall with eyes closes, “no, i mean she,” jaehyun pauses, ok, what the right words to put and dodge the tease from johnny because apparently, jaehyun can’t handle it, not today.

“what?” johnny push him, smirk applied on his face.

“i can tell she came from an upper side; from the way she dressed, she spoke, and even jisung can tell she couldn’t hurt a fly.”

“so, she is pretty?”

“i didn’t say that!” jaehyun exclaims a little too loud that the other students who waiting for the lift side eyes him. jaehyun wants to kill himself. “she decent.”

johnny just laughs at it and just in time, the lift door is open. they decide to stand at the back of the lift since their class on 19th floor. they go to the university that has 22nd floors and every day is a struggle in front of the lifts. it’s three in afternoon so there are not many students still hanging at campus and start disappearing.

“let me get this straight, you are telling me, she is someone who related to some kind high society and you tell me she just decent?” johnny emphasis. jaehyun rolls his eyes as his friend chuckles and sip his coffee too, “so where is she now?”

jaehyun shrugs and look down at his coffee, playing with hi straw, “i don’t know, she said she will take a bus and one second later she bid her goodbye.”

johnny smiles and look at jaehyun, “aw look at you, disappointed that she didn’t tell you? are you getting attach already?”

the lift let out a ding, telling that the lift will open the door and it’s already at 19th floor. jaehyun just walk pass his friend and not replying any of johnny tease. the latter finally drop the subject and get into their last class for today.

> 

breathe.

chaeyoung heart can’t stop beating like crazy that if anyone near her, they probably can hear it. she takes a deep breath, hand gripping on the white lilies bouquet and climb up to the cliff where her mother’s gravestone is.

she nervous, because after all this time, for these past five years she never gets a change to visit her mother. god knows her father forbid that with same old reason that her mother knows the reason well. chaeyoung agreed, her mother is the one who suggest her to study aboard ever since she elementary school that sometimes chaeyoung thinks she lives overseas since she was born. but at the same time, she didn’t agree, no daughter who doesn’t miss the mother. even chaeyoung.

so, when she sure one hundred percent that this is her mother gravestone, she greets her with the lilies on her hands.

“hey mother,” she let herself sit on the grass field and give the lilies to her, “here’s your favorite. white lilies.”

then she just starts talking; how she gets out from the palace with ryujin helps, how she well prepared this time and the fact she made it to here with a cashbee and a bus map is making herself laugh. then she starts talking how she graduate from college without attending classes, her father enrolled her to some kind online global class and funnily she through it. the girl has degree, expensive clothes, delicious foods and fine wines but freedom.

now she is getting frustrate in front of her mother. “i don’t get it, i finished school, i do everything what father said but he hasn’t let me out? i mean is he really meant it when he said he will let me go after i agree to take over the neo?”

she sighs then look down to her mother’s gravestone, “i just want to go out without being followed, or if i want to go to shopping not them just bought everything so i could choose it at home.”

“there is no fun in it mother,” she says as she is caressing the gravestone, “i just wants father tell me the real reason why you and him kept me in all these years, so maybe i could understand and try to help. i’m part of the family, aren’t we supposed to share our complication?”

chaeyoung doesn’t get her answer right now. she knows she can get the answer in short time. but sitting on the wide grass field accompanying her mother is enough. the girl doesn’t bring her phone so she couldn’t really know what time it is. however, she has to get going. she needs to find shelter or whatever and obviously there is pea beans change that she will bump into someone like jaehyun who takes her in for the shelter like last night.

“i’ve to go, find some delicious slice cake to blow candle with and i need to find some place to sleep tonight. it’s not like there is another jaehyun ssi.” she chuckles as she is helping herself to get up. she looks down to her mother gravestone one last time, “i’ll tell you later who is this jaehyun guy, i owe him. well then, see you later mother. chae loves you.”

and after one last look, she walks away.

> 

jisung is a high schooler that happened attend a school only few blocks from where he lives. every weekday he will go to school as he should, walks with his friends and take the last turn alone. there is no exception today although today is more chaotic than the other day.

they about to get some jjigae, a warm stew, various one because donghyuck, one of his friends loves kimchi jjigae more than anything. and of course, it because the weather is little bit chill in february.

“so, who telling who?” mark still pester the new couple with playful smirk, the new couple just chuckles and keep walking.

“we all can see the sexual tension but, seriously who confess to who!?” donghyuck chirp in.

chenle can’t stop letting out his loud dolphin because it’s really about time for them to admit as jisung trying to cover his friend mouth because for pete sake they on the side road. then renjun block the couple way and pouting, jaemin and jeno just staring at him with knowing look.

oh, they just know what he will say, “now you two get together, is that mean you two will ditch me?” he gives them a glare but jaemin and jeno only chuckles, “we are the trio that is inseparable, everyone knows that!”

jaemin cooing along with jeno as they assure him that there is no way relationship come between the three of them. then chenle just run to renjun and crash him and embrace the older on the shoulder while telling him that it is okay because he will be there with donghyuck and jisung, the single groupie and mark absolutely protest since he technically also a single but everyone knows mark is heartthrob in school, everyone willing to kill just to go on date with him.

rumour said, the canadian boy doesn’t do date. but seven of them knows that mark is waiting for someone to feel the same. and in what jaemin always said, it is romantic.

while walking down the side road to the small restaurant where they love to eat jjigae, they keep annoy jaemin and jeno who keep their mouth sealed. until jisung recognize a figure, a girl, sit alone inside a dessert café lighting up the candle on a slice cake before closing her eyes and make a wish.

“do you know her sungie?” chenle surprise him and jisung turn to him looking confuse, then his friend just jerks his head to the girl’s direction and jisung doesn’t realize that he been staring to her. too long that his friends notice he doesn’t follow them.

jisung then just hum and back watching the girl, she already finishes make a wish and wipe her cheeks before blow the candle, smiling at the cake. the youngest furrow his eyebrows in confused, “why she looks sad and lonely like that…”

then he just starts walking to the dessert café before he knows it, his friends keep calling him until jaemin takes jisung’s hand to stop him, “ya, sungie what are you doing? i thought we going to eat some jjigae?”

jisung snaps from his daydream and look down to jaemin’s grip on his wrist, then he gives an apologize look to the rest of them behind the latter, “i’ve to go. you guys can eat without me, i-“

you what jisung? you don’t even know her! she just the girl who sleep on your and jae hyung couch! jisung fighting with his inner self but then he saw that face, the face whenever jaehyun hyung having his own birthday, blowing the candle like that. like he always wishes for something that will never be grant. he surely knows what his big brother wishes for but what is her deal?

then he just smiles at jaemin, guilty to ditch them, before removing his grip, “you can eat without me today, i’ll make it up on jaehyun hyung birthday? he told me before that you guys invited to eat at our place. his and taeyong cook, obviously.”

donghyuck and renjun childishly cranky about it as mark rolls his eyes because he can’t stand any aegyo as chenle just shake his head, sometime he just done with his friends, then the latter turn his sight to jisung, “we will see you tomorrow at school?”

jisung knows he can count on chenle. he nods his head and that his cue to drag renjun and donghyuck by their collar as jeno takes jaemin hand before leaving jisung and bid a goodbye. mark however just stand there, looking at jisung.

“you know her?” he asks with a smirk on his face.

the youngest sighs and nod, “unfortunately yes.”

then mark chuckles before wave at him, “she looks like need some company. be careful on the way home sungie.”

after watching his friends off, he turns to the girl who now enjoying her cake and a glass of latte. i might be crazy just like my brother. and get inside the dessert café.

chaeyoung surprises when she sees a student in uniform standing right in front of her, until their eyes meet, she gasps and jisung avert his eyes from her. she points her finger, “you!”

“yeah, it’s me.” jisung mutters under his breath. okay, maybe this is a bad idea.

then chaeyoung look confuse, “what are you doing here? is this your usual place?”

“no, it’s not.”

“then?”

“i, um i just happened to see you from the glass wall and,” jisung suck in the air before meeting his eyes to the girl one. “you look pathetic blowing a candle alone like that.”

not second later jisung realizes his words offended and mutter a sorry and she catch it, saying it is okay and he can seat with her. hesitate at first but jisung give in anyway, second later she calls the waiter and ask jisung what he wants to eat, at first jisung refuse the offer but chaeyoung being persistent and he ordered a  green apple green tea and milk cake just like what chaeyoung ordered before.

they stay in silence for brief moment and the girl keeps smiling at him then she looks down to coffee, playing with her straw. decided to continue their conversation.

“i kinda look pathetic am i?” she asks and jisung swear he shouldn’t point it like that in first place. “you see, jisung right?” jisung nod, keep his figure straight and eyes glued to her but his finger fidgeting like crazy under the table. “well, as you can see, i am alone.”

“why? you look like the girl who can make friends and probably one of those socialites.” he says before thinking. chaeyoung chuckles.

“oh, i wish. but my position is kind of complicate here so no, i don’t really have friend.”

jisung just stay in silence and chaeyoung respect that, after all, she couldn’t ask more. having someone sit with you, even though he is a high schooler, still uniform. may, people might think it wrong! chaeyoung gets chill by her own absurd thought.

they stay like that even after the waiter bring jisung’s order and he mutters thanks for the cake and drink to chaeyoung. until his sight drop to the used candle, he can’t help but asks, “you are celebrating your birthday?”

“i’ve kinda in run, jisung. so, i have no one to celebrate my birthday with to.”

“you in run away?! from who?!” jisung freaks out that he didn’t listen the rest of her words. chaeyoung laughs at the change of his face. he amuses her and that’s good. “you’re not bad person, right? chaeyoung ssi?”

“do i look like a bad person?” she challenges him back and jisung hesitate to shake his head.

well, she came from nowhere, sleeping on his couch and using his tshirt and sit along inside a dessert café. sure, maybe she is not a bad guy, but extremely questionable girl. chaeyoung hisses, “wah this brat… i’m not! i’m a princess to my family you know!”

“everyone is a prince and a princess to their parents chaeyoung ssi.” jisung banter. obviously, he doesn’t want to lose to this girl.

“but i’m literally a princess! living inside a palace wall, have many cute clothes, a maid that loves me and eat delicious food! you don’t believe me?!” she insisted as jisung trying so hard not to crack a smile.

this girl is so weird, and it scares jisung because it makes him like her, a little bit.

since chaeyoung see jisung doesn’t continue their banter, she is leaning on her chair and take her glass of latte, sipping on it while glaring at the youngest.

“why don’t you eat seaweed soup? my brother always makes that for me when i had my birthday.”

chaeyoung freeze and jisung notice the drop on their atmosphere. “sorry, i-“

“my mother used to cook me that for my birthday.” she says under her breath, then she shakes her head before locking eyes with jisung’s apology eyes, “and as you can see, i have no one to cook me that right now. it sounds sad isn’t it?”

jisung nods then looking at his phone, and just like that it strikes in. he stands up absurdly that chaeyoung get startled by it, her eyes wide open and look at him confuse.

“leaving already?”

“i’ll make you one.” he states.

chaeyoung getting more and more confuse by that. and jisung can sense that, “come on, before i change my mind.” he says lazily, “but we should buy the ingredients though. meat is kinda expensive so i might just switch it to chicken, is that okay?”

the youngest already ready to go and take his half full drink with him. without waiting for chaeyoung he just let out himself from the dessert café and start walking to the market. it takes few second to digest what that high schooler just says and a smile spread on her face, ear to ear. quickly she gets up and put some money on the table and catch up with jisung who already standing at the bus station not far from the shop.

the girl arrives beside him in time as the bus also arrives. he asks her if she has cashbee and proudly say she has. then she also adds that she will pay for everything that he needs to make the seaweed soup. jisung rolls his eyes without answering her statement and take a seat, chaeyoung takes sit beside him with a huge smile that never really left.

she feels excited and she will eat seaweed soup for her birthday.

[45th-day]

draft 1.2

jaehyun has no idea what get into him but standing in front of his front door with a girl who so fascinating by the landscape of night sky from the fifth floor, questioning his sanity.

i mean, come on, why am i doing this? she could do whatever she wants! jaehyun argues again with his inner self. but at the same time, jaehyun has no heart to leave the girl by herself on the street. by the way she looks and her appearance, people might harm her. i’m simply just a good kid and my parents raised me right. that’s all. jaehyun thought, find some defend for himself. it looks like chaeyoung finally satisfied from her fascination, turning back to jaehyun who just stand there like a stone in front of his apartment.

chaeyoung tap on his shoulder gently, “jaehyun ssi?”

jaehyun hums and turn his eyes to her at, “wh- what?”

“is this your place?” jaehyun nods, “then why you didn’t get inside?”

“i don’t know how to explain it but there is someone inside and he might want to get some explanation for bringing someone to our place…”

chaeyoung sighs, she might understand why he hesitates to let her get inside even though he said, she could sleep on the couch for tonight and think what she should do in the morning. chaeyoung gets it, so she nods her head, made up her mind to just rooming around till morning or go to a sauna place, whatever fits the shoe.

“i get it, i can go, it’s not like it is your responsible to take care of me and you live together with your boyfriend and i completely understand that.” she states it too quickly for jaehyun liking and bow downs, “well then—”

“i don’t’ have a boyfriend.” he blurts it out and chaeyoung snap her head up as eyes growing wider in surprise, “it’s my brother. stop talking and jump to conclusion”

“why this girl still has so much energy, it’s fucking midnight.” he mutters under his breath but chaeyoung catch it anyway. jaehyun closes his eyes, he so tired and just want to sleep.

she pouts, “rude.”

jaehyun side eyes her then takes the spare key from her denim-jacket pocket and open the door. chaeyoung bite her lower lips and cautiously follow him behind.

come to think, this equals scary as if she wanders around the street. what if he is that kind of psycho or what if turns out he going to kill me? but—

“are you coming or not?” jaehyun interrupts her thought and she shakes it before getting into his place.

the place is dark, but once jaehyun turn on the light, she finally can see the place and it’s not bad. it’s clean and plain white. nothing wrong about it, a place when you open the door you meet with a kitchen, then in the middle is the living room with a television that face to face with a grey couch that been separated by a wooden coffee table. then there is only one room.

“please don’t get too loud, my brother is sleeping.” he says as he put his helmet and backpack on the counter. chaeyoung just nods and observing the place again. the place is nice, she thinks they are so cool living alone like this.

then she turns to jaehyun, a smile playing on her face, “you sleep with your brother?”

jaehyun didn’t get the tease so he just raises his eyebrows and nod. “why?”

chaeyoung just smile and shakes her head, “nothing. it just cute.”

jaehyun drop the subject and tell chaeyoung to sit on the couch as he gets inside the bedroom. she does what she been told and cutely sit on the couch with hands on her lap, pouting and tapping her shoes on the wooden floor. again, she judges the room. for a guy living with a brother, they considered as clean people.

brief moment pass, then jaehyun get out from the bedroom again, this time holding white t-shirt, fennel pants, pillow and a thin blanket. chaeyoung quickly stand up and take the white t-shirt and fennel pants that jaehyun handed then he put the pillow and the blanket on the couch.

“i, i don’t have to change my clothes though.” chaeyoung mumbles under her breath as she looks down to the clothes on her hand.

“and sleep with that?” jaehyun emphasis her looking nothing but too expensive clothes, chaeyoung gives him a look. then he sighs, “just, get change chaeyoung ssi, you have to wear that clothes again in the morning and think what you want to do.”

jaehyun slightly bow to her, as his eyes barely open. “well then, good night chaeyoung ssi.”

chaeyoung returns the bow and watch jaehyun disappear to the bedroom. she sighs and looking back down to the clothes on her hands, “good night, jaehyun ssi.”

>

 jisung think his heart just drop when he opens the bedroom door and see a girl on his brother age, sleeping on their couch. looking nothing but beautiful under that blanket, like a sleeping beauty.

he confused, like a lot. because last time jisung check, his big brother is a part timer on some coffee shop, sometimes doing a live music with his friends but not a part timer of some sort scouts a beautiful girl who he brings to home.

jaehyun never bring a girl to home, his brother has no time for girls and suddenly he has? and it hits jisung hard how odd it sounds and demand for some explanation. right now.

quickly jisung drop his body beside sleeping jaehyun and rock his brother body harshly, “wake up! hyung! there is a girl! in our living room!”

jaehyun who still sleepy and need five more minutes just groans and slap away jisung’s hand before turn to his side, backing jisung. the young brother’s jaw drops and looking back to the bedroom door, then back to his brother.

jisung tries to wake him up but his brother didn’t budge at all. getting to his nerve, jisung leans in to jaehyun’s ear and shout, really loud, “hyuuuung!! wake up!”

and it works. jaehyun jumps on the bed and his eyes open wide. he looks right and left dumbfounded, then it takes exact five seconds for jaehyun to get into his sense and give jisung an annoying look as the latter returns him with a judgment look.

“what was that?” jaehyun asks in his deep voice, looking down on his younger brother. but jisung didn’t care.

he points out to the bedroom door, “the girl—”

jaehyun eyes grow wider, quickly jump out from their bed and put his grey sweater, jisung who watch him getting more and more confused. he did say nothing and jaehyun is so worked up?

“what happened? is she left?” jaehyun asks, panicking, “is she take something from our home? is she take my scooter?”

but jisung couldn’t even say a single word as jaehyun open the bedroom door just to get startled by the girl, standing in front of his room. jaehyun put his palm on his heart, people need to stop surprise him like this. it’s still morning.

chaeyoung also get startled, and stuttering because apparently, she doesn’t know how to act in front of a guy, probably on her age just woke up. “i, i heard someone scream from here.”

jaehyun rub his face and reveal jisung who playing with his hands then eyes grow wider when he realizes she wears his clothes. chaeyoung who just happened witness that take it as her cue to introduce herself.

offering a handshake, she smiles, “hi i’m chaeyoung.”

jisung didn’t budge instead he asks, “who are you?”

chaeyoung who confuses by his question just flick her eyes to jaehyun who still half-asleep and leaning on the door (pretty sure he doesn’t aware what is happening right now) then the girl takes her hand back and point herself, still smiling, “i’m chaeyoung.”

“no i mean, who. are. you?”

now she totally lost, she just said it. what didn’t click to the younger’s head? again she says with a lot slow tone. “i, am, chae, young.”

jisung gives a judge look and then he looks up at his brother. slapping his side, jaehyun groans and open his eyes and glare at jisung. the latter pointing at chaeyoung, “explain?”

“she told you her name, she’s chaeyoung?” jaehyun says nonsense. then he averts his eyes to the girl, “he’s jisung. my annoying brother.”

jisung can’t stand it anymore so he just blurts it out, “hyung, did you just pick up a random girl to home because i swear to god this isn’t how mother raise us—”

“it’s literally—” chaeyoung mutters under her breath.

“i’m sorry chaeyoung ssi, but i’m talking with my brother.” jisung cuts it and slap his brother side again. jaehyun let out a pain groan, this kid knows how to slap and hurt. “and you gave my clothes?!”

chaeyoung snaps and look down to the white t-shirt, “this is yours?! it’s plain white t-shirt, how did—”

“my hyung doesn’t wear anything but black t-shirt.”

jaehyun palm his face then let out a heavy sigh, “my class won’t start before eleven, please both of you, can you not disturb me and do whatever you guys had to do?”

jisung then avert his eyes to see the time on the clock, six-thirty, yeah, he has to go. then he looks at his brother who is indeed still half-asleep, so he thinks, maybe he could ask it later when he finally sober and the girl has gone or whatever.

“fine, i’m taking shower.” jisung says.

the older brother gives jisung a small sleepy smile then ruffles the latter hairs, before dragging himself to the bed and throw his face on it. “close the door, sungie. and chaeyoung ssi if you already decide where you want to go, just leave a message or something and don’t take my scooter.”

chaeyoung who witness that just gives a weird look, then her eyes met the younger brother. but funnily, he doesn’t say anything, instead he just looks down, closing the door just like his brother said so and walk pass her while mumbling excuse him. what a weird brother they are, she thinks. but it makes her smile, maybe it wasn’t a bad idea to get into that coffee shop last night.

>

 when jaehyun open his eyes for the second time this morning, he hears nothing. his place is quiet and that only meaning jisung already went to school and chaeyoung already gone too. reaching for his phone, it says eight forty, he still has time before going to college. maybe some breakfast although he knows perfectly his younger brother won’t bother to make breakfast for him.

that kid always just takes a slice of bread and run off to school.

forcing his body to get out from the bed, jaehyun takes his phone with him and get out from the bedroom.

“oh my god,” jaehyun startles when his eyes land on the girl, sit on the counter chair, reading a book with a toast and blueberry jam and tea.

chaeyoung who hear jaehyun’s voice jump off the chair and smile at him, “you awake.”

“and you still here,” jaehyun banter as he walks into the kitchen and grab another mug before getting some water to drink.

“i am.” she starts as she let herself sit on the counter chair again, eyes on him, “i was about to flee but i thought it might be rude if i go just like that.”

jaehyun nods lazily as he is turning on the stove to warm up the water in the kettle, maybe a black coffee will wake him up. especially when he has six hours classes today. chaeyoung showing off the book on her hand and jaehyun recognize it immediately.

“i hope you don’t mind,” jaehyun just hum as he dumps two spoon of instant black coffee and pour in a warm water. chaeyoung realizes he just stand in front of her, separate by the counter, then she slides the plate that still has two toast on it, “breakfast? toast?”

he hesitates but second later he gives in and takes the toast, after he takes bite, he just stares at the girl who still busy reading his book, “do you already know where to go?”

chaeyoung nods, turning to him with a smile. she closes the book and put it on the counter. jump off from the chair again, this time she just stands there and look at him. second later jaehyun knows, she bows deep at him. “thank you jaehyun for the hospitality. i was waiting for you and now you awake, i’ll get going.”

“now?”

“yes, now if i want to catch the bus.”

jaehyun furrows his eyebrows, “a bus? where are you heading?”

she simply just smiling at him then he knows, it really isn’t his place to ask that. so, he nods reluctantly and following chaeyoung who already approaching the step door. jaehyun just watching her wearing her white sneakers and when she about to open the door, she turns her face back to him one last time and mouthing another thank you and finally leave the place for good.

[45th-day]

draft 1.1

it's less than fifteen minutes before midnight when chaeyoung takes a peak from the back of her bedroom door and carefully open it, though she knows how empty her hallway is. but god knows how some housekeeper still stay up until at this hour and how she grateful that there are no cctv inside the mansion.

tiptoeing, chaeyoung walks down the stairs, still cautious with surround her. then once she decides there is no one, she smiling and run as fast as she could to the front door.

"young lady."

chaeyoung almost fall on her face but a grip prevent that happened. she turning her head so fast just to find her maid already looking at her with knowing look. chaeyoung huffs her hairs strands and looking at her maid annoyingly.

"seriously young lady?"

"seriously, ryujin?" chaeyoung says it back in same tones as her maid that named ryujin, the latter just raises her eyebrow, "every fucking time!"

ryujin chuckles, "it's your own fault too, sneaking out at the same time, every year! like a clock work!" she exclaims, "and watch your word, young lady. your father doesn't please if he hears that."

chaeyoung groans, "my father will hear it if you didn't ruin my plan."

but ryujin doesn't budge at all and chaeyoung knows, like other years of attempted, she failed to runaway from this big palace that no one but herself and her father stay in it. thanks to many housekeepers and security at least this place is less scary and empty.

then chaeyoung letting out a surrender sigh, like always. "fine. you caught me, i'll just let myself—"

ryujin reveals a white sneakers from her back and hand it to chaeyoung who looks noting but confused.

"if you want to runaway, at least wear a proper footwear, unnie." ryunjin says as she bend down and put the shoes right in front of chaeyoung's bare foot. "you don't even use your sleep-slipper. are you trying to hurt yourself or what?"

"who are you? what is this? why are you helping me? ryujin ah, are you sick?" chaeyoung come forward and put her palm on ryujin's forehead. the latter rolling her eyes and take chaeyoung's hand off her. "i'm scared. if this how you try to intimidate me, i swear it works."

ryujin chuckles, "i'm not sick and i'm not trying to intimidate you, god forbid that." she starts as a smile playing on her , "i'm just saying, if you want to runaway, at least wear a proper footwear. and let's say, i'm not here and five minutes later i'll go to young lady's room to surprise her but she already long gone."

then it just click. ryunjin helping her. a big wide grin slowly appearing on her face but the maid stop it with her hand, "but i'm not helping you to hide or whatever, if you get caught. it's your own fault. deal?"

"hell yeah!" chaeyoung excitedly crunch her nose and quickly take her sneakers to wear.

"did you bring anything with you, unnie?" ryujin asks as she watching chaeyoung wearing her shoe.

ryujin scanning the young lady from top to bottom. the latter only wearing a white long sleeve that top with knitted grey sweater, with her navy tulle skirt hanging before reach her ankle.

chaeyoung nods, "yeah, i bring my wallet but i didn't bring my phone so they couldn't find me easily this time, that's enough right?"

"you well prepared." ryujin replies with a smile ghosting on her face as chaeyoung finished wearing her sneakers and smiling at the maid again.

"i tried to runaway from this place for years, ryujin. but thanks to someone, i always failed—" then she looking at her maid with judgment eyes, "come to think... why this year different?"

"i forgot to buy you a present. so consider this as my present." ryujin says quickly as if she knows chaeyoung will ask that soon or later.

chaeyoung quietly shrieks and pull ryujin into a hug, "you. are. the. best. sister."

ryujin didn't say anything but returning the hug. for years serving chaeyoung in this mansion, never once chaeyoung look down to her, always think of ryujin, the daughter of head housekeeper of this place as an equal and she loves and care the young lady so much. but of course, the maid would never say it or else chaeyoung will tease her to death.

"go." ryujin loosening the hug and turning the young lady to look at the big, white double front door. "be careful, unnie. i hope you find everything you always want to know this time. and happy birthday."

>

chaeyoung breathing in the night air, smiling like a child as she walking down the street for god knows how long. she stops couple of times when she sees some of night restaurants still open and people drinking while eating some fries or chickens. it's nice to be out and she hopes this time it could be longer than five years ago.

it was two weeks after her mother memorial. and she was only seventeen when she decided to getaway from that empty place. it wasn't same place anymore for her. there is no warm in it even though she knew her father tried whatever he can so she felt comfortable. but nothing work.

enough of the emptiness, she decided to runaway. she successfully out from the palace but only for couple hours before they found her from tracking her phone. and every year, when she tried to getaway, ryujin always there busted her. the latter respect chaeyoung's father so much and used to be so scared of her mother, especially when her mother is head of the housekeep.

so when ryujin decided to help her this year, make her think. but on top of that, she feels like she owes the younger.

her steps stop when she see a familiar black sedan, parking not far from her. shit, ryujin didn't lie when she said chaeyoung's time only five minutes. then her eyes searching for someone she knows and there he is, talking to stranger while pointing his phone.

chaeyoung bite her lower lips and looking back and forth, something, anything, to hide her from her personal bodyguard who staying at the palace. while running away from the person she doesn't want to meet so bad, her eyes catch a shop that already closed but the light still on. betting on nothing she crosses the road and get inside the shop.

"hello?" chaeyoung calls out in the empty shop. "hi, anybody is here?"

then a guy appears from the staff room, with a backpack hanging on his shoulder. he looks surprise when his eyes landed on chaeyoung, "um, i'm sorry but we already close—"

"i know." chaeyoung deadpans, then she come forward quickly that the guy unconsciously takes a step back, "i'm not come here for buy coffee, i need to hide. can you hide me?"

"what?" he says dumbfound.

chaeyoung slightly rolls her eyes then turn back to see if the black sedan is near this shop, and why in the name of god this shop has glass walls! she complains. then she turning back again to the guy who she guessing an employee here.

"look, someone is looking for me but i don't want to be found and he might knock on that door any second!" she slightly freaks out. "please just let me hide in that staff room. you will understand once he's here and asking for me."

"are you—"

but the guy doesn't have change to ask because chaeyoung already shrieking and rushing to the staff room, pushing the guy aside and slam the door. chaeyoung hold the door with her palms after lock them and she panting like crazy. she doesn't want to go back, at least not yet.

on the other hand the guy finally snap out of his confusion and trying to open the staff room, but it's locked. "yah, are you crazy?!" he tries to open the door again, but he knows it is useless, "open the door or i'll call the police."

then he freeze.

he hear a sniff from the other side, "please," she pleads softly, "i don't want to come back to that place tonight." she says as she leans her forehead on the door, closing her eyes as tears silently rolling down her cheeks. "hide me."

just then a man with wide shoulder, black t-shirt and black pants knocking on the door makes the young man startles. he then grip on his backpack and walking to the front shop. opening the door, the man politely bow at him then the younger return it.

he stays in silence until the man says, "young man, good evening, sorry for disturbing you, but may i know your name?"

"jaehyun." he replies.

"jaehyun, can i ask you a question?" the latter nods his head nonetheless, then the guy assumed as someone who looking for the girl in the staff room, giving a phone that appearing a picture of a girl— that girl. "do you see this girl walking pass or maybe eat here before you close?"

and there is something inside the young man that makes him to shake his head awkwardly, "no, i'm sorry... i just closed the place right now."

the looking like a bodyguard letting out a sigh, "very well. um, young man if you see her, please call to this—" he handing a name card and hesitate the young man takes it. "she is missing and if you happen to find her, we will give you fortunes in return, young man."

jaehyun just nods his head. blaming his brain that can't think straight once it hit midnight like this. next thing he knows, the guy from earlier already left with his black sedan. then his eyes drop to the name card, neo technology corporation? that's where taeyong hyung work. even the bodyguard has his own card name. too luxurious. he thoughts.

the door suddenly get open and revealing the girl from before. her cheeks have tears stained, her eyes are wet and jaehyun snaps out from whatever that keeps him can't think straight.

"who are you?" he absurdly asks.

chaeyoung looks up to him, "chaeyoung. and you?"

"je- jaehyun." he stutters then closes his eyes, taking a deep breath. he really tired tonight the poor guy just want to go home, "he's gone. can you go now? i've to close the shop."

"i've nowhere to go."

jaehyun furrows his eyebrows, "what do you mean by that?"

chaeyoung shrugs, "don't you get it? i'm running away from my house. that person is my personal guard and i don't bring anything with me except everything on my body."

"then what? you're going to sleep on the street?" he raises his eyebrows, "just go back to your house, chaeyoung ssi."

"i don't want to." she deadpans. jaehyun narrows his eyes, "i, i don't want to go back there at least not yet."

"so where are you heading then?"

"i have no destination."

jaehyun closes his eyes and let out a heavy sigh, "is that mean you will wondering around the street until morning?"

chaeyoung nods, "if i have to."

jaehyun then fighting with his inner self. well, he can actually leave her be and let her does whatever she wants but at the same times, the street where jaehyun's work isn't the safest street in korea. things happened here after midnight. he fighting with his inner self for another brief moment until one of them surrendered.

then he looks down to the girl, "you don't scare to ride a scooter right?"