CHAPTER ONE
Lines intersect | 선이 교차한다

⚘( ၴႅၴ

The sting of the rose echoed a familiar lesson: impermanence.

Like a forgotten nursery, my past was a hazy blur. Friendship felt like a foreign language.

Yet, across the room, a girl with impossibly long hair and twinkling eyes, Carried an old soul within her young body. Her glasses, a marvel in itself considering my own hair remained stubbornly short, "too difficult to comb" my mother claimed. But truths, like secrets, were things she excelled at hiding.

All I had were fractured memories: a day of pain, another of drunken laughter, both lost in the white noise of rain and screeching tires. And then, fire.

A constant shadow, a day etched in darkness, mirroring the flickering streetlights that seemed to blink in time with my terrified eyes. The crash. The blood. Everything leading to this very moment.

Stuck in my seat, the world felt a bit too big. The only company I had were the teacups and their drawn-on smiles, a collection of imaginary friends. While the other children grew comfortable with each other, my social life remained stuck. We were all the same age, but after arriving just days ago, something kept me silent, making me retreat into myself.

There was another girl, seemingly my age. Maybe the way she carried herself, hindered by her weight, made her withdraw too. But there was a grace in the way she cuddled her stuffed animal, a childlike elegance that mesmerized me. Perhaps that's why, despite the silence that had become my companion these past few days, I found myself reaching for a connection.

My voice, rough from disuse, rasped out a weak, "I-I'm Y/n..."

She turned towards me, a small smile blooming on her face, crinkling the corners of her eyes. "Nice to meet you," she replied, her voice warm. "My name's Crystal." Though she didn't take my outstretched hand, the spark in her eyes was all the greeting I needed.

"Don't you have a last name?" I asked, glancing at her stuffed bunny.

"I don't remember it." She replied fixing its ears.

"Oh—well..." I shrugged sheepishly. "Can't you just make your own?"

"My..." she tilted her head. "Own...?"

I tilted your my head again. "Then I'll have a different name for you!"

Crystal didn't say anything as you put your hands on her hips and the other on her chin while thinking. "Silly that's not how name works."

"I'll name you Cushy!" I exclaimed, a proud look on my face.

Crystal was beyond confused. "Cushy? Is that a real word?"

"I don't know," I said, shrugging my shoulders and sitting beside you in front of the corner. "Sometimes I just hear things from grown up, and I'm the one who makes my own defishon."

"Wow, you're so smart." Crystal smiled.

I let out the biggest smile you've had in a while. Her cheeks warmed up like the summer skies on a windy evening.

"Thanks!"

From the smile on both of our faces, hands held together in a soft shake. I thought you made a friend. And honestly for a little girl like me, it was more than I could ever ask for.

-

"So how did you get in the orphanage, Cushy?" You asked her while you were playing with a toy xylophone and her, a pink rabbit. It was past lunchtime and the woman in an apron who was their caretaker was one of the few people who talk to them. She was kind and absolutely scary when mad. That's why the two of them would become the total people pleaser once she was in the picture.

"I don't know..." In fact Crystal did know. And Crystal knew a lot of things you didn't. Like the face that the reason for you being an orphan was because of the fire that started mid-June. And she knew she was only eight. And you didn't know she actually has a second body. And it was sleeping on the opposite corner of the nursery.

The body is left undisturbed by some of the children because of how cute and popular she was.

It was like a golden ray of blessing was bestowed on her other body from how different it was. After all, it was a different kind of magic on how she has two. But there was always this luck that her original body is jealous not to have.

"I remember mine was a fire ashiddent, it was pretty blurry in my mind. But I still miss them... I miss mom and dad—" You rambled on every syllable of your words tuned nicely to the beat of her xylophone. Crystal found comfort in your music as she closed her eyes for a second for the oddly in tune notes.

The caretaker, Yuna, probably out-heard them as she turned her head to them as she was washing the dishes with a small nervous chuckle. "Maybe you two should talk about something else! The author is already getting tired of you two go on and on, and she doesn't know how to keep the story progressing at this point! And it's only the first chapter!"

The two of you stared at the woman in question and just agreed to what she said. You guys droned on and on about how one knew more words than the other, some laughing at a joke they made about how money is just paper, and somehow it was funny to kindergarten students.

Crystal was about to open her mouth but a student who had the most incredibly frightening hair, who was tied up and added more height to her person, stepped on Crystal's bunny with her black school shoe.

"That! You deserve this!"

"Minsoo!" Both of your eyes widened at the action of another person in front of them.

You, much so. Crystal, she was just surprised that a girl like her. She had been bullied by her before because she arrived earlier than you in the orphanage) would even accept the act of violence rather than her words. Crystal's also surprised she could spit properly with the missing tooth of the girl in her left front.

You stood up abruptly.

"Why did you do that!?"

Crystal's eyes widened.

As a melancholic girl, she was never approached or been talked to by a child her age before, let alone befriended.

When you walked into her life she was surprised she stayed for this long. It was only a moment in time that the others would bully her, and she would side with the others just like her previous friend who she trusted a lot.

"What, do you have a rabbit to that needs stomping on?" You said, the gap in the middle of her rows of teeth made her spat out.

"You're a meanie!" You exclaimed, hand in fists.

"No! I'm a princess with the largest kingdom in the whole world!" She raised her chin up in the air. "You should know that!"

Your anger was larger than your own body. In that body of yours you couldn't help but remember what this girl that she just met did with Crystal's body, and realize she can do the same to her...

"Kids! What's going on here!"

You snapped back to reality. Yuna was quickly wiping her hands with her apron and rushing towards them. She grabbed both of their shoulders. "What's going on? Why are you two fighting, I did not teach you that!"

She pointed at you. "She was saying mean things to me!"

"You ruined Crystal's bunny first!"

"I did not!" She crossed her arms and pouted.

Yuna glanced at Crystal who has been quiet most of the fight. "Crystal, is that true?"

She was confused. All this time she was as confused as you in the first place. But you handled that confusion and only saw your friend getting attacked and the only rock you decided to threw was out of anger.

She nodded head slowly and Yuna's eyes widened as so was Minsoo. Crystal have never stood up for herself. Never. So when Yuna faced Minsoo she already had tears on her eyes because it was also the first time she ever got told her whole life. And she cannot say anything about it.

When Yuna walked Minsoo to her office, Crystal glanced back at you, and you were holding her bunny and rubbing the dirt from its coat. You walked over to the sitting Crystal and extend the bunny to her. "Here's your bunny back."

"Why did you do that? You could've gotten hurt," she said.

You titled your head like a dog. "Hurt?"

"Yeah." She nodded, checking the arm of the bunny if it was torn or anything.

You look back to the door Yuna and Minsoo disappeared from. "Was she the one who has been bothering you for a lot of times?"

"Yeah."

"She's mean. And annoying, though she doesn't know how to say that yet. But I think your bunny is okay. That is what is important." You gave the brightest smile.

Crystal smiled with a blush on her cheeks. It was the bare minimum, You were just a normal child, and she experienced much more than she did. But how come Crystal found that kindness she gave that was just purely for common sense--overwhelming? It was surprising, it stood out, it was carved in her memory...

She was just being a decent human being. But how come did she stood out from the rest. Why is this, for once in her life, the only act of kindness that truly showed that they cared?

It was when Crystal knew how you were much more different than the other people. Maybe she hasn't found the right people yet, maybe she was just five and there could be more on the other side of the wall. She hugged her stuffed toy ever so closely.

-

Because of what happened, the other kids wanted to other befriend you or be afraid of you. Of course over the span of the years Minsoo created her own circle of friends that worshiped the very ground she waddled on.

And for the former, other kids started to introduce themselves to you, finding you to be either "pretty" or "cool" which in all honesty, boosted your ego because in all honesty, your parents aren't that giving with the compliments. Minsoo didn't talk that much either, and tried to apologize to you, even though it was kind of forced and pitiful.

Crystal frowned at the bunny she held in her arms, its eye was kind of falling apart, and she glanced back at her friend--

She stumbled back, as you were just now in front of her with your hands on your knees.

"What'cha playing?" You asked behind her.

"Y/n!" Crystal's body jumped from your voice.

"Hm?" she hummed in question. You sat beside her on the colorful rubber mattress. Again.

"You scared me..." she held a hand over her heart, her face scrunched up. You laughed.

"Oh, sorry..." You scratched your head sheepishly.

You noticed the bear clutched on her hand. It was brown in fur with white splotches on it.

"Are you going to name her?" You said.

"Who?" Crystal titled her head,

"Her!" You said with a laugh, pointing at her bear with a smile.

"My bunny?" She asked, glancing to what's in her hands.

"Yeah, I think she needs a name." You crawled in front of her, eyes still on it. Its eyes were like tapioca pearl and didn't have that creepy smile that usual barbie dolls have.

"But why?" Crystal glanced at her.

"Well..." You shrugged, tucking a strand of her hair by her ear. "You really like her, don't you?"

"Yeah..."

"Then name her!" She stood up, Crystal wonders how she has that much energy, even Crystal as a child was questioning if she drank anything that made her act like that. "I was thinking of Mimi or Gi!"

Crystal glanced down, her chubby cheeks hiding her mouth as she does so. "I... I think Gi sounds nice..."

"Really?" You relaxed. "I thought that was the least good one..."

The two girls chatted for a bit. From the first time in her life you felt contented in this place. The nursery was in a good place for just this amount of time for the mean time. She layed back down the colorful puzzle mattress as she played tea party with Crystal and her stuffed toy.

When Crystal went to get some pretend sugar for the tea, you rolled off to the side.

There was a body next to you.

"GAH!"

You sat up, and just in time when crystal came back with the paper white cubes in her hand.

"What? Did you poop your pants again?"

"Who's that?" You pointed at the sleeping girl beside you before. She was sleeping in a fetal position, strands of beautiful ebony locks fell to her face like silky vines.

"Oh, that's my sister." Crystal's face dropped in that instant.

"You have a sister?" Your eyes sparkled when you turned your head to her.

"Mhm." She nodded and sat back down, putting the sugar cubes on it and poured the power, paper turning gray and sagged on the brown colored water (it was from brown paint, so it looked like hot chocolate instead of tea).

Why doesn't she wake up?" You poked her body.

Crystal's brows furrowed.

"We don't–"

The two were interrupted when the door of the entrance of the nursery rang the bell that hanged on top. It revealed a man who was missing an arm, a beard and, pink and gray hair. Yours and Crystal's eyes (And probably the whole batch of kids) won't stop looking at him.

"Oh, Mr. Choi!" Yuna stood up from her seat, eyes widened and nervous. "I thought you would come in much later sorry for the mess."

The man stood still and let Yuna walked towards him while adjusting his cuffs and pocketing one of his hands.

You squinted. This man was an epitome of scary.

"No it's fine. I'm planning to be quick." He said, looking down at the woman.

"Then I won't waste your time." She bowed politely.

When Yuna guided Mr. Choi the office, he spared a quick glance on both you and Crystal before looking straight forward, disappearing through the door.

-

It was too cold and dark outside to play on the playground.

After the meeting with Mr. Choi, Ms. Yena set up the air mattresses, so the kids would sleep on them. It was all the orphanage could afford for ages young to twelve. When you were aware of the age limits, that is the point where you were concerned with reaching that age. Deep inside, you wanted to be free. And it was a thought that you always shared with Crystal.

"Put Gi in between, so she will be protected." You said as Crystal took off her glasses and hairpins to let her hair breath from her braids, she placed the bunny in between you and her sleeping places since you two have close proximity, her sister being on the other side. "Okay, now it's nice and cozy!"

"But its freezing Y/n..." Her face softened.

"Gwenchana!" You exclaimed. With a 'XD' type of face.

"No talking to each other at this hour, okay? Go to sleep." Yuna said, giving the younger ones a kiss on the forehead before turning off the lights. "Alright kids, lights out!"

The outlined world turned into pitch black, for a minute, but you could then discern the truth. You eyelids began to feel heavy, and your vision gets blurry. You wanted to be awake. But not for long.

"Hey Y/n..." Crystal's voice caught her attention.

"Yeah?" She said groggily. "Shh... let's sleep... you do this all the time..."

You could hear Crystal's blanket ruffling, turning to you. "Yeah but I'm not sleepy."

"Okay..." You rubbed her eyes. "What is it?"

"Do you want to go out someday?" She whispered.

"Go out...? Like, an adventure?" You asked.

"Yeah..." She clutched her plushy tighter.

"I thought you don't like being tired." You sweatdropped.

"Yeah but..." She unclunched Gi, then laying down on her back. "I like being free... just like what you told me. Going to forests when we want to. Playing our own instruments. Buying more toys like Gi."

"If you do..." You blinked, laying on your back as well. "Would you do it with me?"

She smiled, head turning to you. "Of course. You're my best friend after all."

"Pinky promise?"

"Pinky promise."

-

"Ms. Yena, where's Crystal and her sister!? I can't find- I can't find her anywhere!"

Where was she? You went through every crack and cranny in the place, asking other children, going to places that was prohibited to go through as a child—and eventually was seen by Yuna.

She saw you trashing the story book section on the shelf, of course you knew she wasn't there, but there was this voice, this instinct to get rid of everything here, clear.

Yuna placed a hand on your shoulder. Tears were already trying to leave the corners of your eyes. It was different without her there, it tightened around your neck and revealed the hold she has on your life.

"Oh dear... I am so sorry honey..." She said slowly. And you listened—latched to every word. "But Crystal was adopted, just hours before you woke up."

Your whole world went back to the flames you once knew. And For some reason you wanted that gentle cold that you're used to—the so-called blisters and ice frost—but there's nothing else different from someone like Crystal.

You could only live for as long as you can to sink in the realization.

-

Crystal got out from the black brazen car and looked up at the massive trees that loomed over her figure. It wasn't that dark, and the fog was her only concern throughout, since Gun told her that there wasn't that many animals that would be a threat to her.

"Are you kidding me?"

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A / n - Just tell me if I have any grammatical mistakes guys, ty !