─────── 𝐂 𝐇 𝐀 𝐏 𝐓 𝐄 𝐑    𝟏𝟕 ───────

[21 | 02 | 23 , 00:00]

The 21st of February was going to be a bittersweet day for many years to come.

It signified the birth day of Huang Dana but also the remembrance day for her passing. Her best friend Min Aera bought a cupcake from a nearby convenience store, sticking a candle in the middle, lighting it and then waiting until the clock hit midnight when she finally blew it out.

She took the cupcake in her hands, like it was a delicate hummingbird and placed it on her windowsill in front of an open window.

"Happy birthday," Aera smiled at nothing.

She left it there until the morning when she woke up to find it not there anymore.

[4:14am]

"When are you guys leaving?" Ahyeun asked into her phone that was left on speaker as she was tying up her hair.

"I don't know," Heeseung sighed, irritated at something. "Whenever that son of a bitch decides to calm down."

Ahyeun's hands stopped around her hair for a second. "He's at it again?"

"Like always."

Ahyeun always felt bad for Heeseung because he had a father much the opposite of hers. The two were close, having been friends for years now and she remembers every single occasion when Heeseung would speak to her about what was going on at home, rant endlessly, curse his dad out or even cry into her arms.

It was all the way back in junior year when she first ever found out.

*flashback*

"Heeseung-ah?" Ahyeun called out to the boy huddled to himself by the back gates of the school.

She crouched down next to him, slightly shaking his shoulder. "Heeseung? What's wrong?"

Ahyeun's expression widened when she saw Heeseung's bloodshot eyes that looked up at her when he raised his head.

"Oh-," she gasped. "Heeseung.. W-why are you crying?!"

"I can't say-" he said, his voice breaking down.

"Ahh," Ahyeun looked at the boy in sympathy. She'd never seen him this weak and emotional. "It's ok, you don't have to tell me."

She stayed with him until he calmed down, patted his back, wiped his tears and gave him words of encouragement. So when he finally stopped crying and was ready to speak, he found himself telling her everything.

"Your dad h-hits you mom?"

"Mhmm, sometimes so bad that she has to go to the hospital. But they just tell the doctors she fell from the stairs or bumped into a wall or something."

"Oh no," Ahyeun felt her eyes prick with tears. "That's so cruel. How long has he been doing that?"

"For as long as I can remember."

*end of flashback*

Ahyeun felt herself back in that moment, and her vision blurred. She quickly grabbed a tissue, patting it gently onto her waterline. "What if you try to leave early? We could meet up at the place?"

"I'm not sure yet, I'll see what I feel like."

"Ok, take care," Ahyeun said, nervously picking her nails.

"Yeah, yeah," Heeseung said, dismissing her tone or worry. "See you there."

"Bye."

The flat line of the connection rang in Ahyeun's ears before she ended the call on her side.

Sighing she picked up her straightener, grabbing a thick strand of hair. She almost burned herself multiple times, but the troubling thoughts never seemed to want to leave her.

[5:32pm]

"Wow, they decorated the place nicely," Yeram exclaimed, looking at the flower garland by the coffin.

"It stinks of lilies," Hari complained, turning up her nose.

"Hey!" Yeram tsked, slapping her friend's arm. "It smells nice. Be respectful."

"Fuck you," Hari said in a hushed voice when she saw an elderly couple walk past.

"Whatever, let's go and find our friends. I don't want to be sitting next to some crusty old people," Yeram ushered for Hari to follow her.

"And you scold me about being respectful?!"

Yeram ignored her words, spotting someone familiar nearby. "Hey, there's Jungwon and Riki. Jungwon!"

The two girls rushed over to the boys who seemed to be having some drinks.

"Ooo, is that alcohol? And also aren't you two still underage?" Hari raised her eyebrows.

"Calm down, some ajumma gave it to us and insisted we take it," Jungwon explained. "I don't even like it."

"More for me then," Hari shrugged, grabbing the wine glass out of his hands and drinking it.

Jungwon grimaced, "Drink slowly, don't want you choking and dying."

The girl shook her head from the taste, having a hard time gulping it down. "Chill out leader-nim, I'm good when it comes to alcohol."

"Yeah, she's been drinking since 4. She'll be fine hyung," Riki stated sarcastically, making Hari frown at him.

"Did I hear drinking?" A voice behind them said.

Jongseong appeared in between the two girls, placing each of his arms around their shoulders. "Hey ladies, how are we?"

"You're in a good mood," Yeram said, finding his cheery presence surprising.

"Well, I've had a rather pleasant morning," he explained, smirking.

"Lemme think.. you got laid?" Hari guessed.

Jongseong rolled his eyes, "No. I found out I'm going to Cyprus this weekend."

"For what?" Riki asked.

"No clue actually, Dad's going for some business and he said I can do whatever," he shrugged. "It's gonna be fucking amazing."

"Stop being so desensitised Jongseong," Jungwon warned him. "We're at a funeral. For our friend."

Jongseong's smile immediately dropped, and he grabbed a drink from the side. "Whatever."

Yeram looked at Jungwon who's gaze only exerted disappointment. She walked over to him, pulling him to the side a bit. "Hey, look Jungwon.. I know it's exactly not easy handling a bunch like ours but please just try and relax," she told him. "It'll be fine."

"Yeram, you know sometimes you're the only sane one I can depend on but I'm just stressed. Our reputation is already tarnished and if we keep going like this people will only say more things."

"So what? Fuck what people think or say. All that matters is that none of us did it and we know that. No one has proof that we did, it's all tale and tell. They'll forget about Dana in a couple of months but we won't. That's the difference between us and them."

Jungwon wasn't so sure. "Ugh, let's just leave this."

Yeram sighed, nodding.

"Guys, we're going over to the rest of the gang, wanna come?" Riki called out to the two.

Yeram turned around, nodding. "Yeah sure, coming."

She grabbed Jungwon's arm, "Let's go." She smiled, dragging him away to join the others.

[5:39pm]

"Oh my God, is that Jake?" Jiu nudged Aera's arm.

She had joined the group after Aera spotted her hanging by herself at the pews.

"It is-" Aera's eyes widened before she announced it to everyone else. "Guys, look it's Jake."

All their eyes trailed to where she was pointing, and they saw the Sim family walking in dressed with their formal attires.

"Jake! Jake hyung!" Riki called out, getting his attention. Jake excused himself from his family before walking over to them.

They all got up, taking turns to greet him.

"Jake, it's lovely to see you here. We thought you wouldn't come," Hari gave him a short hug.

"Neither did I. But here we are," he chuckled.

"Jake man, I haven't seen you since yesterday," Sunghoon said, the two bumping their fists.

"Yeah, well I did get excluded," Jake awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.

"Well done for that," Jungwon sarcastically applauded making the volleyballer bow his head down in shame.

"Sorry."

"Speaking of, what did Jiwoong even say for you to get so pissed?" Sunoo asked the question that was on everyone's mind.

Jake's eyes darkened, his jaws clenching at the sound of that bastard's name. "Just some shit about Ayeong. Sexualising her and stuff."

"He definitely deserved that beating then," Jongseong stifled in a laugh.

"Oh, grow up, Jongseong. It's not funny." Hari rolled her eyes.

"I would've killed him if it wasn't for the teacher," Jake darkly stated.

"We're just glad you're ok," Yeram rubbed his arm, trying to lighten the mood.

"Hmm," he shrugged, not thinking much about what she said. "And also hi Jiu."

Jiu, who remained awfully silent this whole time, forced out a laugh. "Oh, hi Jake. Uhm- how are you?"

"Good, thanks," he replied, before looking around again. "Where's Heeseung?"

Ahyeun looked around to see if anyone else knew, but upon seeing their equally baffled faces, she decided not to say anything. "We don't know."

[5:53pm]

The ceremony was going to start at 6pm on the dot and everyone was already there and seated in their places.

Except the Lee family.

"Fuck, when are they coming?" Ahyeun bit her lip in anticipation.

She was checking the time on her phone every second, wishing she could stop the world and give Heeseung more time to get here.

It hit 5:56 and they still weren't here.

The funeral cards with the date stamp and photo of Dana were given out to all guests and they still hadn't arrived.

The introduction, reading, hymns, prayers and eulogies went by and still no sign of them.

Until finally in the middle of personal tributes, the doors of the church hall quietly creaked open and the mayoral family was silently guided to their places by a member of staff.

The Lee's were sitting right next to Ahyeun and Heeseung was quick to notice and hurried before his parents and brother to sit next to her.

"Hey," Ahyeun discreetly greeted him, leaning closer to his side to make sure she was being as quiet as possible.

"Hi," Heeseung kept his face facing the front.

Ahyeun straightened herself again, concluding there was no point in trying to talk to him since he didn't seem in the mood.

Soon after the heartfelt speeches of Dana's parents and close blood relatives, it was time for her friends. And the first to be called up was Aera, titled 'Dana's soul sister and other half'.

"Oh, bless her," Yeram said to Hari, pouting. "She looks so nervous."

Hari blinked from the stage to Yeram. "Aera looks fine, Yeram, don't cry about it jesus."

The comment earned her a dirty look, "Oh, sorry for caring."

Aera looked at the piece of paper she wrote her recitation on, but in the moment she decided not to use it and put it on the podium. She cleared her throat, the mic catching the frequency and letting off an ear piercing shriek.

Aera's breathing quickened as she thought she saw the 'annoyed' faces in the crowd.

You're taking too long, she thought. Hurry up.

"Uhm.. good morning everyone," her voice was shaky at first, her palms becoming sweatier with every second passing. "So today, I'm here to t-talk about erm someone who.. i..wa..-is very special to my heart." She gulped, pausing to catch her breath that she lost out of nowhere.

Shit, you're fucking it up Aera. Concentrate.

"Huang Dana is my best friend of more than fifteen years. W-we've grown from wearing diapers and drinking from sippy cups to leaving elementary together, going to Seoul National Middle School and graduating and then finally entering our dream school as freshmans almost 5 years ago. Dana-"

Aera's voice got stuck.

It was the constant 'looks' she kept getting. 'Looks' that would just appear normal to anyone else. People's resting faces. Yet to Aera it felt as though they were judging into her entire soul with those boring eyes.

"Dana- she... uh-"

Aera looked around frantically, from face to face, the lights almost blinding her from her rapid blinking. In the midst of her silence, trails of whispers began erupting, causing her heart to start beating at an abnormal pace.

They're all looking at you.

You can't even do this right.

Her eyes stopped on Riki who was already looking at her worried.

"You can do it," he mouthed.

4 words of affirmation and Aera felt as though a giant weight was taken off her back. Her stuffy lungs seemed to be flowing clearer now and her breathing calmed.

No, he's right. You can do this.

Her hands began hitting at her thigh gently, keeping her in rhythm.

Aera took a deep breath, continuing from where she left off from. "Dana was an exceptionally bright person from the very beginning. Always optimistic. She never failed to cheer up people around her even when she herself might have been feeling down. I think that was one of her best qualities. But for me, the best was... her kindness and resolve to always be the best version she can be for herself and others. I loved Dana for who she was even though sometimes she could've been crazy and... a little bitchy, but then again isn't everyone? We all have a side to us that we never want other people to see, why? Because it's not the most pleasant attribute that we have. No one is perfect, but Dana taught me to love those imperfections. As she also did to many others out here today. A beautiful girl, inside and out, who's life was cut too short. We'll love you always. Thank you."

Aera ended her monologue with a little bow as the crowd clapped for her. As she walked down the stairs of the stage, she let out a sigh of relief.

She did it.

[8:48pm]

As Dana's funeral service was coming to a closure, the last event of the day was the committal service which was due at 9pm. But as the guests enjoyed themselves with the food and drinks that were passed around, the lights suddenly went out.

Panicked shouts spawned in the room, as bemused guests shuffled around.

"What the fuck?" Jungwon muttered, looking around at the darkness.

More people became panicked, bodies pushing at each other to try and find some sort of light. One of the official staff members spoke up, trying to calm the alarmed crowd. "Everyone, quieten down. We'll get the lights on in a second."

There was a loud crash of some sort, making everyone jump back in fear.

A man, in clear distress, began shouting at everyone. "Some turn on the goddamn lights!! You too good for nothing staff, how are the lights still not on?!"

This only added fuel to the fire, as now everyone began shouting at once. A couple of hazy minutes went by, before the lights were finally switched on.

At first it was a breath of relief, seeing the white walls of the church, but as soon everyone turned around, gasps filled the room.

The group of friends, who all found each other in the middle of chaos somehow, pushed themselves forwards to see what the commotion was about. Aera's hand fastened around her dangling mouth. Her whole body shook from fear as she stared at the sigh in front of her.

Riki held her up, supporting the weight of her body that was quivering.

"That is so... disgusting-" Hari breathed out, standing closer to Yeram.

Dana' coffin was forced open, the lifeless body of the girl hung up in the air by her throat on a rope attached to a metal rod on the ceiling. She was stripped off her white gowns. Bloody crosses were etched onto her leg, covering all the length of her thighs. Fresh blood was oozing from the symbol, dripping onto the hollow wood with faint patters.

Her eyes were bruised, black as though she'd been punched several times. Someone smudged her lipstick that was now sticking all around her lower face. Her hair was disheveled and all over the places, with some strands even looking as though they'd been just cut. And that wasn't even everything...

Indented on her forehead was the word 'karma'.

———

this was an exceptionally long chapter to write😔✊