I LOVE YOU SO
Chapter Five
❛ Trapped inside a fever dream. ❜

DRYING HER FACE off with the bottom of her sleeve, Aera took in the dark bags that was engraved under her eyes, the old tears that stained her cheeks in the grimy mirror before her. Letting out a shaky exhale, it left a temporary mark on the mirror, she watched as the condensation faded away slowly. She sighed again, "where are you In-ho?" She desperately whispered, it'd only been half a day, and already, she wanted to go home.

But, she wasn't going to ditch the plan now, not when In-ho could be stuck, helpless, in this cruel facility. Nothing would be the same again if her brothers found out she left.

Thus, Aera was determined to continue. For her family. "I'm staying, for In-ho and Jun-ho," inclining her head, with confidence, she gripped the sink tighter, a broad grin illustrated on her face. Staring at her reflection a little longer until she was calm again, her shoulders still trembled as she dried her hands on her trousers, making them impermanently damp.

Leaning against a cubicle, after pacing around the room a few times, 067 pulled a concentrated face and fiddled with the hair tie on her wrist. It took a lot to ignore the sniffles that came from the left of her, even though Aera was quiet about it, it felt like the volume heightened each time, as if her head was begging her to talk to Aera.

Craning her neck around to face the upset girl, she shut her eyes for a few seconds, before taking a tiny step forward and pushing some strands of hair away from her eyes. 067 stopped short. What do you say to someone when they're crying? Fuck. "Do you want to help me with something?"

As if this pulled Aera away from her tiresome thoughts, her pulse hastened as she turned her head around as her damp hair created some miniature puddles on the floor, "yeah," it came out croakily, her throat running dry, blinking a few times, she coughed awkwardly, trying to avoid 067's harsh stare, "um, yeah sure, what do you need help with?"

What puzzled 067 was the fact that Aera seemed unaffected when they were in their dorm room, hell she even laughed cheerfully. A laugh she didn't realise she missed, as much as she hated admitting it, it made her chest feel warm, like seeing a streak of sunshine through rainy clouds on a dull day.

Whereas in contrast to when they stood a good few feet apart in the bathroom, Aera wasn't cheerful at all. 067 observed Aera's moist eyes and how the corners of her mouth were down-turned, her cheeks sullen- a sign of stress.

Am I being too harsh? 067 had a collection of thoughts that piled up on itself, she wanted nothing to do with Aera, yet somehow, something, kept drawing them together.

Grimacing, 067 scanned the pastel pink stalls awkwardly, out of anything she could have said, anything she could've done to console Aera, she gave away her plan and she mentally scorned herself for it. Sighing massively, 067 tucked both sides of her hair behind her ears, ready to get on with her plan.

"Follow me," 067 stated distantly, never once placing her eyes on Aera's own puffy ones, not after that interaction.

Obeying with a small nod, Aera tried to push her eyelids open. But from her weeping, they sat heavily on her pupils, making them look puffy. Nearing a cubicle, a strong stench floated around the air, holding her breath, Aera bit back a complaint, "so- so what exactly are we doing?"

Slam! 067 thrusted the tip of her foot against the door, making it wobble open as it banged against the side of the tiled wall. Peeking behind 067's shoulder, a bewildered gaze began to flood across Aera's features, "well that was a bit dramatic," fiddling with her jacket zipper, she nervously stood on the side, shrugging timidly when Mi-nyeo gave her a pointed look.

On the other side of the door, Mi-nyeo whimpered, almost screaming aloud, "don't scare me like that!" Sucking in another round from her spliff when 067 answered her with nothing, she began to grow agitated, clearly wanting to be left alone, "what?"

Examining the raven haired girl cautiously, Aera's eyes met with a weapon that sat all too comfortably in 067's palm, "we're not murdering her are we?"

Gripping onto the side of the cold toilet, Mi-nyeo spluttered, "shit-"

Aera threw her palm onto 067's shoulder, her voice filled with pure terror, with her eyes following 067's hand, the blade popped out, threateningly, "I get that this woman is infuriating, but do we really have to kill her?"

Shooting Aera a glare, "I am not infuriating, you're the infuriating one, you infuriating little bastard," Mi-nyeo scoffed when she threw her palms up.

Aera stepped forwards with fire igniting in her eyes, ready to give her a piece of her mind. A hand pulled her away before she could react. Dashing her eyes away from the infuriating Mi-nyeo, Aera's eyes landed on 067's earnest face, then down to the pocket knife that was, still, obtained in 067's hand.

With a quivering palm in front of her, begging 067 for some mercy, Mi-nyeo offered her used cigarette, "wanna smoke," the yellow hues glowed on top of the spliff, it glimmered menacingly in Aera's eyes.

Stuttering, Aera shook head profusely, "uh no thank you," crossing her hands together, she darted her eyes away from her, in case Mi-nyeo asked some more.

Anything to do with smoking freaked Aera out. The way it can gradually take authority over your life, how it darkens your path to living a full life, and how abruptly life could be taken away from you.

Tearing her puncturing stare away from the floor, she felt a nudge on her arm, 067 was scanning her face with arched eyebrows, concern hidden within her pupils. Aera shrugged it off with a weak smile, she lowered her neck again and stared dully at the floor, trying to get rid of the bad feelings that crawled onto her back.

Raising her eyebrows, Mi-nyeo shimmied on the seat, "your loss," she mumbled as she locked the burning spliff between her lips.

"You can stay put on the bowl and smoke some more," still gripping tightly on the handle of the knife, with a tight lipped stare on 067's lightly freckled face, she watched as the fumes of smoke drifted through the air. Striding towards Mi-nyeo, she placed her foot on the side of the toilet, using the sides of the walls for support, she extended her arm and stuck the tip of her blade on the screw that's fixed in place.

"What are you doing?" Cowering against the wall, nearly choking on her spliff again, panic coursed through Mi-nyeo's veins, "are you going to go in there?"

Squinting at 067's actions, the vent popped open, revealing a large gaping hole. Trapping her bottom lip in-between her front teeth, Aera ran a hand across her face, did she really want to participate in this? Feeling beads of sweat form on her back, she fiddled with her earring, watching as 067 stared into the open space.

"I want to see what's up there," 067 answered Mi-nyeo's concerns truthfully, peering towards Aera with a little nod as if to encourage her. Then hastily, 067 looked away again, it was almost impossible to keep her eyes trained on Aera.

"I'll tell you what, there's probably mice and hi-tech traps," Aera began as she shivered at her own words. Leaning forwards and whispering in an undertone, "have you seen those guards, they have eyes everywhere," using her two pointer fingers to gesture towards her eyes and around the room, Aera portrayed her nervous state through her rambles.

"We'll be fine," that was one positive thing 067 muttered in the last six or so hours, she ignored Aera's soft grin that faintly etched its way across her, still, flushed face. "You," gaining Mi-nyeo's attention, "buy me some time. Then I'll tell you if I find anything," 067 ordered as she combed through her hair and gathered it into a small, disorderly ponytail.

Liking the sound of her plan, the vent rattled as 067 struggled to climb on top of it, "deal. Step up here," Mi-nyeo patted her shoulder and gingerly bit on to her spliff again. Clutching the wall, a suppressed groan escaped from Mi-nyeo's gritted teeth as 067 used her shoulder as a lift.

067 grunted as she hoisted herself up, her fingers managed to cling tightly on to the surface of the warm vents, finding a strong balance on her foot, she gave one last push and heaved herself into the vent. Deciding to stay on the right side, she stuck her head through the gap again, "are you ready?" With a small smile, she extended her hand, waving it a little to encourage Aera.

"Well . . ." Feeling her toes grow cold from fear, Aera tucked her hands into her pockets, they were trembling slightly from idea of the plan and how dangerous it was. She hesitated.

"Not you too," scrunching her face up, massaging the area 067 stepped on, "you two brats better repay me. Big time for this," lowering her opposing shoulder, Mi-nyeo grumbled incoherently.

"Actually I'm gonna-" Gazing into the direction of where the vent led to, Aera sighed heavily and pointed towards the exit with her thumb, "I might just you know . . . go back-"

067 fixated eyes on Aera's strained expression and interrupted her muddled rambling, "we'll repay you," her cheeks warmed when Aera's brown eyes broadened and connected with her own darker ones.

"But-"

"You said you'd help."

Still sucking her spliff, a moment of bafflement and apprehension tumbled into Mi-nyeo's emotions, making the toilet seat wobble. She shifted from Aera's face to 067's, "just make up your damn mind Aera. That triangular masked bastard will come knocking down our door at this point!"

"Okay, okay," having both sides of her head within her palms, Aera marched around within the small cubicle. Weirdly enough, she could feel her pulse pounding within her head, "fine! Fine, I'm gonna go," stretching her leg so her foot sat on top of Mi-nyeo's shoulder, she lifted herself up. "Fine, fine, fine," pushing hard so she had a good grip, she sucked in a breath at the sound of Mi-nyeo's pained cry, "I'm sorry," she apologised repeatedly.

"Oh my- Hell! Oh! This repayment better be big!"

"I am so, so sorry!"

"You better be- arg!"

Taking her abashed gaze away from Mi-nyeo's suffering face, she was met by a pair of gentle eyes, they blinked expectantly as 067 motioned towards her with an extended palm, she closed and opened her fingers. Aera tilted her head, she felt her cheeks grow exceedingly hot as she hesitantly lifted her own palm up. Her fingers grazed along the side of 067's hand, before securing them together, their fingers interlocking loosely.

A burning sensation flittered up Aera's arm at the contact.

Using her elbows to drag herself up, half of the effort was from 067, which made it easier for Aera to get into the vent. "Thank you," Aera spoke breathlessly from the exertion.

Starting sit upright, on the side, 067 faced the opposite direction so that her expression would go unseen. Her eyes fluttered slightly as a vague smile appeared on her lips, "it's nothing," turning to face Aera who was now crawling beside her, "we've got to get going, I don't think that bitch can keep the guard away for that long."

Chuckling quietly, "I agree with that on a whole new level," rolling her eyes with a widened smile at that joke, some part of Aera was glad that she was hidden in the vents with 067 and not back in the dorm with a bunch of strangers.

They neared a divide in the vents, one going to the left and one to the right. The both of them shared a questioning look, both thinking of the same thing.

"You smell that, don't you," 067 mouthed the words as she inhaled largely.

Aera pointed her nose into the air, fumes of sickly sweet aromas stained the air, it touched upon her senses. It was so strong that Aera could almost taste it on her tongue, "yeah I do . . . it's weird because, I think I recognise this smell," blinking slowly and gazing around the vents, she sniffed some more.

"If you know what it is, be sure to tell me," grunting whilst clambering towards the right, a hopeful grin plastered on 067's lips when she turned around to see Aera nodding enthusiastically.

Coming closer to another secured vent, the hollow tunnel wobbled slightly when they paused over the metal barred vent. Trying to catch up, Aera kept her focus downwards, she could see 067's faded fingerprints on the surface as she placed her own hands down onto the metal.

Dropping her gaze on the scene below, she almost let out a loud gasp in realisation, a nostalgic grin painted across Aera's face. More supervisors were attired in bright pink, almost like onesies, they appeared powerless from birds-eye view. Each and every one of them were throwing heavy sacks of sugar into an enormously sized, stainless steel, stock pan.

". . .Hurry the hell up! We're in a rush, okay?" Indistinctly, Mi-nyeo's screeching voice rebounded off the walls and through the vents desperately.

"You know what it is, don't you?" 067 whispered softly, she saw how the corners of Aera's pink lips were pulled into a reminiscent smile. She could almost hear the cogs within Aera's mind turn as an idea slowly clicked in place. Clasping, a hand on Aera's shoulder, 067 calmly awaited for Aera's answer.

"Yeah, I do," a thin layer of tears began to glass over Aera's eyes at the recollection of memories, "they're making . . ."

Squeak!

Skin turning cold, it grew pale as Aera shuddered. Pointing towards 067's back with a wobbly finger, a minute mouse with wild short hair, scrambled and pattered its feet along her back, leaving microscopic footprints on 067's, already dusty, jacket.

Letting out a muffled cry, 067 threw it off by jerking her arm. Squeak, squeak, it landed on all four of its paws, right on the side of Aera's lap. Absolutely startled, she felt her heart do a tumble, her eyes bulged with great terror as she tried flinging it off without touching it.

"AH-" Before Aera could yowl her lungs out, a palm clamped on to her lips, stopping her from yapping on about how she knew there were mice living, breathing, roaming around the unsafe vents.

067 shook her head firmly and slowly with a solemn daze, she delicately removed her dusty palm away from Aera's warm lips, she watched as Aera's eyes widened ever so, "we have to head back," gesturing towards the exit, "now."

The vents thundered as the two of them raced against the time they were given, the humidity within the vents was minor, though it was enough to cause their sweat to soak their clothes, their palms clammy. Reaching the exit again, nothing felt more achieving. Adrenaline boiled through their veins as they pushed forwards, sliding their legs into the mouth of the exit, they leaped down, landing on both their feet.

"About time," flaring her nostrils in annoyance, though feeling an immense amount of appreciation for her strong lungs and loud voice, Mi-nyeo settled on top of the toilet bowl once again. "Damn it! There's no toilet paper here either," catching a glimpse of the door rattling open, she hastily sat back down.

"Do you want to know what we saw? And the gigantic mouse- Oh God it was humongous!-"

"Aera not now!"

"If you don't, I'll have to drag you out," the familiar muffled voice, that belonged to the supervisor that stood outside the pastel, shiny, pink door, could be heard from the other side.

Unrolling a fist full of toilet paper within her hands, an amount that probably deforested a third of a forest, "urg! She has diarrhea, it's so- disgusting!" Pinching her nose bridge, Aera tried to envision the mouse they saw in the vent, in hopes that it'd make her face look green, so it'd be more believable.

"I have to wipe myself, okay!" Still red in the face, Mi-nyeo let out a thrilled giggle over everything working out, satisfied over the fact that she wasn't going to die by faking a whole whacky scenario. Mi-nyeo came back to the facility to fight for a life supply of money, not to die lamely in a pastel lavatory. "Hey, aren't you supposed to check each stall for toilet paper? Get that square guy here!"

"I'm starting to like the square head guy better than you triangle man!"

Screaming on top of the running tap, Aera relished the sweet smell of thin air. She was still shaken up over the sight of the frightful mouse, the feeling of being out of the tight and confined vents was almost relaxing, freeing actually. Glancing over towards her left, she almost did a double-take at 067's hidden chuckles and how her eyes crinkled in the corners from laughing, her mouth hidden behind a whole loo roll.

"I need to file a complaint!"

Wham!

The cubicle door whipped open, revealing a rather perplexed supervisor, their shoulders fell at the scene, they definitely did not expect the scenario to be true.

"You bastard, what the hell?" Hovering above the toilet with eyes that were as wide as saucers, a victory grin began to sketch its way across Mi-nyeo's face when the guard shamefully sealed the door. "I can't believe this."

"You should be ashamed of yourself! Can't give a woman her privacy can you?" Aera added.

Throwing the pink door open, forcefully, "you little bastard," still the supervisor turned away from Mi-nyeo with a humiliated slouch, "hey, jerk-face. You, I said don't come in, didn't I? You harassed us in there, yeah?"

Unable to contain her laughter, Aera took her green jacket off and wrapped it around her torso, exhausted, her eyes followed 067's actions, the raven haired girl placed the loo roll back into its holder. Aera paused, not knowing if it was the right time to speak, sighing, she poked 067's arm with her free hand, "you alright? The mouse was traumatising honestly."

067's pulse had only just began to pace back into its regular beat, but at the feeling of her arm being nudged, it increased again, only slightly, "yeah, I'm fine."

Returning her gaze on to the squabble in front of her, she rubbed the soft grin away from her lips for a few moments, trying to focus on looking enraged at the supervisor. She was used to replacing her emotions in an instant, that was one clever strength 067 had improved over the years.

"That's great," Aera's features visibly relaxed, though she still kept her tough front on for the show they were putting on in front of the supervisor. But the sunny feeling in her chest never faded.

"Hey, the second I'm out of here, I'll sue your ass, okay?" Mi-nyeo continued glowering, threatening the supervisor's occupation, "is that clear asshole?" Driving her shoulder into the supervisor's hard arm, she stomped away, ending on that note.

Speedily, 067 sent them a brutal glare, scanning them from their toes to their shoulders with an elevated chin, she tramped towards the door, having enough of this act. Strolling slowly, she hesitated on each step, not knowing if she wanted to be in a hurry to head back to the dorm room.

Watching as 067 left her alone with the shameful supervisor, Aera decided to lead herself out. Awkwardly lifting her chin up, she trod on their toes, purposefully. Though, it didn't really do anything since their shoes were firm, and it hurt her feet when she slammed her foot down, so, in the end, she was more injured than the supervisor. Wanting to exit in style, Aera masked her pain with a tight lipped smile as she swaggered on her toes.

"Ow," hopping on one foot, she grimaced, turning on her side, she noticed that the supervisor was staring, almost apologetically. "I'm okay! I was meant to do that. I hope your foot hurts because- yeah!"

Spinning on her heel hurriedly, Aera sprinted away. Clutching her knees as she trekked through the corridors, trying to regain her normal heartbeat. Once she did, she slowly twirled on her left foot. Thousands of soft-hued stairs, ones that probably took days to paint, were lined up on the pale coloured walls. Below the set of stairs she was standing on, mirrored the ceiling, everything was the exact same. Everything was identical, everywhere she looked, if Aera was being frank, felt like being in a children's tv show.

Almost as if she was trapped in a fever dream.

Gliding her finger along one of the smoothly painted walls, a wave of realisation flooded through Aera's mind. How on earth, was she going to escape? How on earth, was she going to meet up with Jun-ho? How on earth, was Hwang Aera going to finish the plan. She didn't know the ins and outs of the place. It was worse than a maze. Who knew where the doors led to, it could lead to her inevitable death or nothing. She desperately hoped that the doors led to anything but nothing.

Still keeping her eyes on the walls, she noticed the immediate change of lighting, everything became shady as Aera stepped back into the crowded dorm room.

". . .Come on, what did you see?" Mi-nyeo's usual whiny voice boomed around the walls, her hands were clasped together, they shook, pleading for an answer.

Catching up to them, Aera watched as 067 brushed Mi-nyeo's palm off her shoulder, "I'll tell you tomorrow," she replied bluntly.

"Why tomorrow? Just tell me now!" Sensing Aera's presence, a pinched expression was illustrated on Mi-nyeo's worn out face, her muscles were still tired from yelling in the bathroom, "hey, hey- you promised for a repayment, well here's your chance, tell me," with an exaggerated gleeful grin, Mi-nyeo tried threatening Aera for an answer.

"I- I don't know," faltering when 067 stopped in her tracks and gave Aera a sharp stare. From the darkness, Aera could see her discreetly she shake her head. Standing up straighter, rolling back her shoulders, "nothing important," Aera answered in a confident mutter.

"You must have seen something! You two were up there for so long! Come on-" Growing agitated, "urgh you two better tell me tomorrow, and it better be good," the curly haired woman threw her palms to her side. Mi-nyeo mumbled a few insults before disappearing into the obscure lighting, presumably walking back to her bed.

Letting out a large exhale, one Aera's lungs begged to let out ever since she entered the toilets, "finally some peace and quiet," meandering through the tight space between each bed, she wondered why some were empty. Shrugging, she assumed that some were there for more innocent people, her heart sunk at the thought.

Tearing her gaze away from her side, they landed on 067's back, quite faintly she could make out the large numbers that were embroidered on to 067's, now dirtied, jacket. Picking up some speed, some duvets brushed against her legs as she tried to catch up with 067. Smiling triumphantly, Aera rushed, "well that was quite eventful. Are you alright? That mouse was huge-"

"You've already asked me that," still walking, the tender smile 067 had was now cloaked behind tough exterior and her shoulders were more uptight. Every one of her features returned to its emotionless state, as if the past scenarios did not occur, as if it did not phase her, "I said I'm fine."

Cheeks burning, Aera gulped, "oh yeah, I forgot sorry," sighing once again, "well . . . goodnight?"

"Goodnight," 067 answered wryly.

"Goodnight . . ." Aera repeated as she stood uneasily on both her feet, "you still haven't told me your name though," inching closer, she tried to keep her gaze on 067, but it was hard when the tall raven haired girl kept walking away, "hello? I'm talking to you, it'd be a lot easier if you actually looked at me, because every time I talk to you, it's like you-"

"Isn't it obvious?" With a clenched jaw, she faced the wall, she could imagine Aera's buoyant expression fall. Shoving her fists into her trouser pockets, they paled as she struggled to contain her sentimental emotions, "I'm not in the mood to talk to you."

Swallowing dryly, "okay. Well, that makes sense now actually-"

"We're not friends, so stop acting like we are, got it?"

"Fine, if that's what you want," crossing her arms together tightly, Aera stared at her harshly, half-expecting 067 to turn around. Scoffing when she found that 067 wasn't going to budge, not even the slightest, her light footsteps echoed across the room until it couldn't be heard at all.

"Yeah, it is," 067 bit on her tongue at the lie.

At that, she trudged over towards her bed and collapsed into her duvet. Pulling it over her shoulders, a rush of harrowing tears flowed angrily down her cheeks. Though 067 still smiled softly as she recalled the last few events- it was all so thrilling. It felt like the old times again, when they'd do everything together.

She blinked again, and in a second, 067 remembered the hurt she felt over the years and how they could never go back to that time.

Brushing the side of her hands across her warm cheeks, she thought of how she was going to spend the next few days, within this confined facility, with Aera.

It was going to be hell.

( 4479 words )

DEAR ALL,

I was listening to rolling in the deep by adele whilst writing the last Sae and Aera interaction😞🤞🏻

See you guys in the next chapter🫂

WITH LOVE, SYLVIA