CHAPTER TWO
That's right, as always |
그렇죠 늘 그렇듯

⚘( ၴႅၴ

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. She was trained by him, after all. 

"Are you kidding me?"

She gave a quirk of a brow while she drank her coffee and organized her papers. She gave a side-eye to the sadistic gangster who was leaning on her doorway.

Gun crossed his arms and turned his head away. "I gave enough strength, while the maniacs or less down there exhibit a weaker disposition."

"I thought you would have cared more."

"Don't pretend that I don't just because I don't give you your usual princess treatment." He scoffed.

She sighed, she didn't know why her father even wanted her to do this, but for some reason she was drawn to the forest. It felt like a lullaby was being given to her, causing her muscles to relax and stress to dissipate.

Because of that, she stepped into the forest.

It had been years since she had been adopted. And in the planks of the trees her hands grazed and the bumps of it poked at her skin in a soothing manner, the earthy smell of rain and mud wafted through her nostrils and she could feel the calming lullaby she had felt before had taken its significance.

Lullaby?

She turned her head when she caught a feint, but sharp tones of piano, and a voice that was near them.

Without thinking, she stepped closer to the voice. And she could almost hear it now. It was a soft lullaby like what her brain was trying to tell her earlier, and the bass sound just mixed with her slightly smooth and full voice. 

"If I'll be somebody, I'll never let my skin decide it for me...

"I never had the world, so why change for it?"

Complete velvet. 

The sound was smooth, but she could hear the rasp in her voice that conveyed every note. If this was a siren under the water to lure her into submission just to take her soul, it would have caught her instantly.

 Because with every unconscious step of her feet, surprise flickered in her eyes as a glimpse of a girl with long locks wearing red and dark gray turtleneck sweater. Crystal was enamored by the silvery tone of the voice, given so much emotion and little details that fits the song so much.

"Giving in to the love... Giving into the love...

"Giving in to the love, the love, the love, the love..."

When the person turned in Crystal's direction, her whole body just froze. The color of her eyes, there was a light that shined for a minute at the first glance. And her heart beats. It felt something familiar. With the warmth of her presence it was still cold. Precious ice. 

Yet, beneath the surface, a tremor, a yearning for a flicker of that warmth. The other's smile, a sunrise chasing away the cool shadows, held a secret allure. 

 An unconscious tug, a whispered desire for a touch that thawed the edges of her solitude.

And the waterworks came falling down. She would break the moment anything moved and her walls came falling down before you could say hello.

"Y/n--"

"GAH-!" She almost drops her bass at the sound and clutched it to her chest as tightly as she could, as if keeping it with her. She spun her head. "Who's-!"

-

Your eyes landed on Crystal. Your mouth shut open, and you dropped your bass even, which looked like you were very keen on protecting before.

It was a few moments, eye to eye. There were porcelain tears dripping from her cheeks. The person in front of her, looking like the girl that left her that day, looking broken and clutching her own hands over her heart.

You blinked. Once. Twice. 

Crystal sniffles. Her mouth opens and closes, her body was moving closer and yet it felt like it was so unnatural, not having a barrier in front of them. That invisible barrier that divided them for years. 

Yet walls come tumbling down with another second of her heartbeat.

"C-... Cushy—?" She almost choked out.

"Y/n!" She screamed. 

Crystal finally found it in her to scream her name. And you were still in the middle of processing it. Warmth envelop you. That warmth that you so desperately have craved. And with all ice on her body, it all flew out of your body as you clutch back. burying your face on her shoulder. 

Lavender.

You shut your eyes.

Lav... Lavender--!

You didn't even have the strength to hug her this was going on all at once, and it was too much for you to handle.

You were in no better condition than she was.

--

"Coincidence, huh?"

You both chatted after a while, surrounded by a moist blue tinge of the woodland. You piece by piece knew about the things that reason why she had to go. A frown crawled to your face as you leaned against a tree. 

It didn't leave a feeling of comfort at all in Crystal's safety when she said she was adopted by that man who you saw at the adoption nursery. The feeling that man had given her, the stare and those curious dark eyes. 

And she remembered how she stared back at him... and didn't gave him the pleasure of treating her down. 

"Yeah, and do you go to this forest every day?" Crystal asked sitting on the wispy grass, darker than lime.

"No not really. Honestly I haven't been to this forest since three months ago, but since I'm moving to places for a school then, I needed to get a breather. My dad is crazy about my reputation." Her eyes turned half-lidded, reminiscing. 

Crystal was observing her features a twinkle of curiosity in her eyes. Crystal told her about her father's behaviours, how he's always trying to make her the rightful heir, controlling her, being strict about her schedules.  

You smiled, listening to Crystal rant on and on about how her adopted father would let his guards check up on her if she was up past her bedtime. 

"NOOO! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! STOP...!"

Your smile dropped.

"It wasn't their fault! It wasn't their fault... It wasn't their fault--"

Saliva from your gritting mouth was mixing with the blood that came dripping from your nose. Your world shook as illusions of dead people crowded your vision. 

You tried to catch your breath but even their voices clogged your ears. 

Needles pricked your stomach, something want out. your voice hoarse from the screaming as well as your eyes trying to find real light from how your brain is hitting inside your skull with a migraine.

Out. Out. Out.

Quick!

"You son of a bitch..." Distorted voice breathing right next to your ear. "But this was all part of the plan... right Y/n?"

"Right, Y/n?"

You screamed gripping as your head felt like it was getting carved. 

"You finally saved us, Y/n..."

"Y/n..."

"N-No..."

"Y/n..."

"Y/n..."

"Y/n..?"

"Y/n?"

"Yeah... I have the same dad too." You sighed.

Crystal's eyes widened, "Aww really??"

"Yes, really—! Augh!" You leaned against a tree, felt its bark and climbed up on it, fiddling with a leaf on a higher branch. "We two have the same shit in common."

Crystal looked up at you and sneaked a cheeky grin on her face. "Except I don't dress like there's a funeral every day."

"That's so unethical and so unprofessional. And cliché." You said with a matter of fact voice and closed eyes like a mother teaching her child.

"Kiss my ass." She said with her tongue out.

You gasped and jumped down. "Crystal! Crystal baby, what's with the attitude!"

Crystal laughed and took the leaf that was in your hands, pocketing it.

"Okay, enough with this glib glob, I have to get going to my drive must've been here already."

"I am."

You two jumped and it left a distaste in your mouth with your face scrunched up meanwhile Crystal had her hand on her chest as she turned her back to you and faced Gun who was standing like he is: straight, and expressionless –like with the glasses on his face.

Crystal gasped. "Gun!"

"You were in a forest and the only thought I had was maybe you were kidnapped." He spoke like his voice scratched something at the back of your brain. 

His head slowly turning to the you, his gaze slightly lingering towards you. Crystal might not see it but your eyes narrowed with a slight tilt of your head. 

"But I stand corrected."

"Don't worry dude. She was kidnapped." 

You wrapped your arm around her shoulders with a wink.

Crystal turned to you. "It's really nice to meet you again, Y/n, we could plan and chat by sometime sat a local, but I really don't have much time. See you around?"

"Oh—" you shrugged with your hands in your pockets, "—you will."

"Okay, then," she waved and walked by to Gun's side. She was already to his shoulders. This man was a brute. "See you!"

Crystal leaded by Gun traveled back to their car. While the travel, Crystal was left in thought of the girl she have met before. It was a small meeting, but yes, the time felt like it slowed while they were alone, she didn't even noticed how its been three hours as Gun told him he would be here at that time.

You changed.

What was she doing in the forest alone this time? Did she say she hot adopted by someone crazy? She's gotten taller and a lot paler the last time I saw her. But her style didn't change much, she still laugh like a deranged aunt and wear the same colors.

"If you don't mind me being curious. Who was that girl, Ms. Choi?"

They got inside of the car and put on their seatbelts. She held onto the leaf that you gave her that seem to make Gun ask that question.

It popped her out of her own bubble of thoughts,

"Oh, my childhood friend, she was with me before I was even adopted my dad."

"The forest seems to be a weird location for you two to hang out, don't you think? And in this temperature nonetheless."

Thanks for pointing that out Gun, totally wasn't trying to ignore it.

The trees would be giving much more air, and it would be a torture chamber there. I'm surprised she could handle that much air in just a small amount of time.

"I can feel your questions from here."

"Please amuse it."

As she looked out the window, they were already out of the gates of the forrest. You have always loved nature. It was the call to adventure that pleasures the dreams and thoughts about haing the bird eye's view from atop of a hill, feeling the cold air just between the shore and the lush of trees.

"Oh... well... I had already known her, she is a bit spontaneous and sassy. Sometimes she's just chill... she's not like those other attractive people that I don't know about. I'm less cynical of her than anyone else."

Gun hummed in understanding.

"Here we are."

--

Indigo shadows clung to the city as You stirred awake. Even for an early riser, pre-dawn was a familiar greeting. Your hair, always a stark contrast to pale skin, seemed to absorb the darkness of the room. With a sigh that ruffled the raven tattoo on her arm, she rose, a silent figure against the inky backdrop.

The city, normally a cacophony of honks and sirens, was still wrapped in a slumbering quiet. You reveled in it. It was your own personal time capsule, a world suspended before the day ignited its chaos. You donned a well-worn leather jacket, the weight of it a comforting presence, and slipped out into the cool air.

Your steps were light on the deserted sidewalks, your destination a constant pull. The city twisted and turned, a maze of concrete and steel you knew by heart. Yet, your path always led to the edge, where the city met the wild. A sprawling forest, ancient and whispering secrets, hugged the edge of the restless ocean.

Tonight, it was your bass guitar slung across your back, a dark mirror to the ebony sky. The forest greeted your with a familiar embrace – the rustle of leaves, the damp scent of earth, the symphony of nocturnal creatures. Reaching a clearing bathed in moonlight, Raven settled on a moss-covered rock. Your fingers, calloused but nimble, met the worn strings of her instrument.

The first notes throbbed through the air, a low rumble mirroring the ocean's distant roar. It was a language all your own, a conversation with the shadows, a melody woven from the quiet loneliness of the early hours. As the music swelled, emotions you couldn't quite express in words poured out. The longing for something you couldn't define, the weight of a past veiled in darkness, the bittersweet beauty of solitude – all found voice in the bass's deep song.

The forest listened, the ocean sang along in its crashing waves. The city, slowly awakening behind you, remained oblivious. But in this stolen space, bathed in moonlight and serenaded by your music, You found a fragile peace, a temporary solace until the sun chased away the shadows and the world demanded you to face another day.

You had rarely been seen but one time you had to beat up a man who tried to lure little kids to rape.

The midday sun beat down on the cracked pavement, turning the air thick and shimmering. You slouched against the brick wall, sketchbook clutched under your arm. Across the street, a group of three guys loitered by the corner store, their laughter harsh and grating.

One of them, a lanky boy with a shaved head and a gold grill, spotted you. He nudged the others, a predatory gleam in his eyes. They swaggered across the street, their movements practiced intimidation.

"Hey, goth chick," the leader sneered. His name was Tony, and he was notorious for his "compliments" that were anything but.

You barely looked up, the charcoal in your hand continuing its slow dance across the page. "Busy day, harassing schoolgirls?" you drawled, injecting just the right amount of boredom into your voice.

Tony's face contorted. "Come on, don't be like that. Just giving you some attention, you know, brighten your day."

One of the others, a scrawny kid with a nervous twitch, snickered. You slammed your sketchbook shut and met his gaze, a cold glint in your eyes. The snicker died in his throat.

"My day is plenty bright, thanks," you said, your voice devoid of warmth. "Unlike you guys."

Tony bristled, a vein throbbing in his temple. He took a menacing step forward, but you didn't flinch. You weren't the biggest girl, but there was a steely quality to her that belied her size.

"Look," You began, your voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "have you guys ever thought about starting your own fashion line? Skull and crossbones on wife-beaters? Might be a hit with the, uh, intellectually challenged clientele."

The jab hit its mark. The nervous kid choked back another laugh, and even Tony's tough facade cracked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he growled.

"Just a thought," You said, shrugging with a practiced nonchalance. "Maybe win you some awards. Like 'Most Likely to End Up in Community College.'"

The guys exchanged confused glances. Tony opened his mouth to retort, then seemed to think better of it. With a final, disgruntled mutter, they retreated back across the street.

You watched them go, a slow smile spreading across your face. It wasn't the first time you'd disarmed them with your sharp wit, and it wouldn't be the last. Sure, they might harass you, but they wouldn't touch you. They knew better.

Flipping open your sketchbook again, You started sketching, the encounter already fading into a funny anecdote for later. Your world wasn't about violence, but about outsmarting, about finding amusement in the chaos, about holding onto your own rhythm in a world that seemed to be constantly off-beat.

But in some days... you would go all about violence. It would cling to you like venom and courses through you veins and shedding light (hah, light!) to another layer to you.

But you never went to that school again, or any other schools. It was a bored misconception. Although familiar with the subjects, still zoning out and thing of another is frequently her hobby during class grounds, Never did she focused on anything other than outside of it,

You watched the retreating figures of the corner store thugs, a sardonic smile playing on your lips. They thought they were tough, lions of the asphalt jungle. But you knew the real predators – the silent figures that stalked the shadows, keeping a fragile peace in this concrete wilderness.

Sure, you walked the line sometimes, a dance between observer and participant. There were whispers about you, rumors that linked your name to the protectors, the unseen guardians of the night. Not entirely untrue, but not entirely accurate either.

A pang of something akin to worry flickered within you. It was a rare visitor, this concern. You pushed it down, the familiar numbness returning. Self-destruction wasn't your style. You were a survivor, a chameleon navigating a neon-lit maze.

Your father's infrequent visits were a blessing in disguise. His mismatched eyes – one blue, one a swirling brown – held a bottomless well of disappointment that could crack the strongest facade. Just a glimpse of that judgment and you felt like a child again, exposed and vulnerable.

No, that path was closed. Here, on these mean streets, you'd carved out a niche for herself. A life messy and complicated, but undeniably yours.

After your gigs you would come home early with your room unlit and cave-like, sleeping after scrolling through your phone, keeping up with the news of things, and you would in a cold slumber.

That's how your day would usually go, instead, you finds herself eye to eye with eyes that used to be framed by glasses. Hair flowing as well as your own. One was the inspiration from the other.

Her presence disrupted your daily cycle, maybe she wanted it to do so, maybe in all the times she had been day, night, heaven and hell, she was that human that made your world rattle.

Now you stood in front of the gates of another college. Your father's words still were oozy and menacing in your memories.

The world would see someone get burnt. Either her, or someone else's.

–

The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the worn cafeteria tables. Daniel sat hunched over, his lunch barely touched. Zack, arms folded across his chest, regarded him with a frown. "Dude, seriously? You haven't eaten a bite."

Daniel pushed the tray away with a sigh. "Can't eat. Stomach's in knots."

Zack raised an eyebrow. "Nervous about the upcoming exams? You aced the last one."

Daniel shook his head. "No, it's..." He hesitated, then blurted out, "Look, about Duke. What if he gets himself hurt again?"

Zack went through his phone like he wasn't listening. For some reason for Daniel, Zack always take him lightly.. "Duke? He's a walking bruise.. Besides, didn't we already talk about this? He can handle himself."

Yeah... no.

The memory of Duke, battered and bloody after a run-in with some thugs, flickered through Daniel's mind. "But what if he doesn't? What if he runs into someone who's actually dangerous?"

A mischievous glint appeared in Zack's eyes. "Relax, drama queen. We're looking out for him, remember? And I heard there's a new student today."

Daniel perked up slightly. "New? Who?"

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A / n : If there's any spelling mistakes let me know !