CHAPTER TWELVE
Sleeping Through Her Fingers | 그녀의 손가락 사이로 빠져나가는

⚘( ၴႅၴ

–

She went out to chase Crystal, her heart pounding in her chest. The need to find her was overwhelming, each beat a reminder of the tension and fear that coiled in her gut. She wasn't about to let anything or anyone stand in her way. Her steps echoed in the quiet hallway as she rushed through the door, her mind frantically racing with worry and the weight of everything left unsaid between them. The silence outside seemed endless, each second slipping further into uncertainty. Without thinking, she darted outside, eyes scanning the area for any sign of Crystal, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, just enough to breathe again.

"Sir, did you see a beautiful woman leave?" (Your name) called out, trying to sound calm, but the panic she was trying to hide crept into her voice.

The man gave her a narrow-eyed glance, then shook his head, his voice flat. "No."

"Shit," (Your name) muttered, frustration building inside her as she checked her phone. There was nothing—no missed calls, no texts, no signs of Crystal. The silence on her screen felt like a heavy weight. Every moment that passed felt like a missed opportunity, and the clock seemed to tick faster the more she lingered in the uncertainty.

"Shit," she cursed again, gripping the phone tightly in her hand. Her thoughts were in disarray, but she couldn't afford to waste time. Without thinking, she shoved the phone into her pocket and hurried toward her motorcycle. The roar of the engine echoed as it came to life, almost in sync with the racing of her heart. Time was slipping through her fingers. She sped off toward Gun's place, praying that he might have the information she desperately needed.

"Goo, do you know where Crystal is—" (Your name) 's voice crackled through the phone, but she was quickly cut off by Goo's steady, grounding voice.

"(Your name)," Goo's tone was firm, like a tether to reality. "Stay calm."

"Charles..." (Your name) 's voice faltered slightly. 

"Crystal said you agreed to be part of the geniuses."

The words caught (Your name) off guard. Her mind whirled as she tried to piece everything together, but she forced herself to remain focused. "Yes, but I need to talk to Crystal. Where is she?" Her voice was a mixture of impatience and worry, each word coming out like a plea.

Charles, who had been silent until now, responded, his voice surprisingly blunt. "I don't control my daughter. If she's with Gun, I have no problem with it."

(Your name) 's brow furrowed in confusion. "Hmm?" she muttered under her breath. Something didn't sit right with her about this exchange. "It looks like our friend here isn't in good condition," she murmured, mostly to herself.

"CONGRATS! YOU'RE WITH US NOW, BESTIE!" Goo's voice rang out through the phone, sharp and jarring against the tension in her chest.

"Not now, Goo," (Your name) snapped, irritation flooding her veins as she gripped the handlebars tighter. The road blurred as her focus zeroed in on one thing—finding Crystal. There was no room for distractions.

"Not to disrespect, sir, but I really need to find Crystal," (Your name) said with more assertiveness this time, the urgency in her voice cutting through the otherwise heavy silence.

Charles gave a slight nod, understanding in his eyes. "I understand," he muttered before the line fell silent.

(Your name) didn't notice the increase in speed as her mind was entirely fixated on Crystal. Her hands tightened around the handlebars, and she leaned into the sharp turns with an intensity that mirrored the desperation in her chest. The wind rushed past her as she accelerated, barely registering anything around her except the promise she had made to herself—she would find Crystal.

She pulled out her phone again and dialed Mira's number, her fingers trembling slightly as she held the device to her ear.

"Mira, does Jace have any information?" (Your name) asked, her voice tight, but she tried to remain steady.

"Marcy! What happened?" Mira's voice crackled through the phone, clearly laced with concern.

"I'm fine, but I'm looking for Crystal," (Your name) said quickly, not wanting to waste any time explaining. Every second counted, and she didn't have the luxury to elaborate.

"Crystal? Do you know her?" Mira asked, her voice tinged with confusion, still not understanding the urgency behind Marcy's frantic tone.

"Yeah, long story short, we're friends, and I need to find her," (Your name) said, almost stumbling over the words. "I'll explain later. I just need to call Jace."

"(Your name)?" Mira repeated, her concern evident.

"Jace, she's not there. I don't know where to go now," (Your name) admitted, frustration edging her voice as she pushed harder on the gas. Her mind was a storm, and the road ahead felt like an endless stretch of uncertainty.

"Don't worry, we're here with the other gang, and this guy too," Mira reassured her, trying to offer a sense of calm in the chaos.

"I'll help you guys, why are you all like this with me!" (Your name) 's voice cracked slightly, and she felt the weight of gratitude and disbelief wash over her. These people, people she barely knew, were all offering their help. It was overwhelming in the best way.

"I think I know who this is," Mira said thoughtfully, piecing together the situation in a way (Your name) hadn't fully understood herself.

"Okay, I'm coming there," (Your name) said, the urgency in her voice taking over as she revved the engine and sped off toward the meeting spot.

When she arrived, the scene was quieter than expected. Joy and Jace had already left, and Daniel was nowhere to be found. The emptiness hit her harder than she anticipated. She paused for a moment, the sadness that crept into her chest threatening to slow her down. But she quickly pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

To her surprise, Zoe and Jiho were still there. She had only just met Jiho, but there was a strange comfort in his presence. It was like they were all connected in some way, bound by something bigger than them.

"Who's this?" one of the people in the group asked, eyeing (Your name) with suspicion.

"Who are you?" another voice added, equally wary.

"She's the reason why we're here," Mira answered, her voice calm yet firm. "She's the one looking for Crystal."

"Why? What's your connection to Crystal?" came the skeptical response.

"We're... close," (Your name) said, her voice faltering for a brief moment. Her words didn't quite feel enough to explain the depth of her feelings, but she pressed on. "And..." She paused, casting her eyes downward, struggling to find the right words. "I did something I regret. I need to talk to her before it's too late."

"Okayyy, no need to speak. It was just a simple question..." Jiho muttered, his tone a mixture of annoyance and curiosity.

Jiho stood off to the side, arms crossed, his mind clearly elsewhere. He couldn't quite understand why Marcy was so fixated on Crystal. There was a bitterness growing inside him, a mix of jealousy and confusion. Why wasn't Marcy concerned about him? After all, they had more of a history together.

"Ah, I've tracked her phone," someone finally spoke up, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen over the group.

(Your name) 's attention snapped to the person who had spoken. Her heart quickened in her chest. "Are you part of the Ten Geniuses?" she asked, her voice now tinged with hope.

"That's what we're called? Well, yeah," the person replied casually. "But you can call me ___ though." They winked, a playful tone in their voice, though the situation wasn't exactly lighthearted.

"On it, shorty," Zack said with a laugh, though the tone sounded more like a threat than a joke.

"Okay, geez," the other person muttered, clearly frustrated. "She's in the forest."

Without another word, (Your name) grabbed her helmet and revved the engine. Crystal was out there somewhere, and Marcy was determined to find her. She had no time to waste.

"(Your name)'s!" Jace and Zoe shouted, running after her as she sped off, the wind rushing past her face.

"Thank you," Mira said, bowing deeply in gratitude.

The group followed her at a distance, each person now invested in her mission. They had witnessed the desperation in her eyes, and they weren't about to let her go alone.

"Is it really necessary to run?" Jiho asked, clearly growing tired from the constant rushing.

Before (Your name) climbed onto her bike, she turned back to the group, her expression sincere. She bowed to them, holding out a card in her hand.

"Thank you so much for everything you did for me. I don't know how I can repay you," she said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude.

"We won't take this. I don't know about you, but kindness doesn't need a payment," one of them replied with a warm smile.

"You guys are really different, but I'm glad I found you," (Your name) said, her voice soft with appreciation. "I hope we meet again in the future."

What did she mean by that? She wasn't sure, but the words came from her heart, and they felt right.

"(Your name) ..."

"Bye, guys," she called over her shoulder, determination flashing in her eyes. "This is what I'll do to protect you, even if I don't know you that well. It's like we met in another universe."

The forest loomed ahead, the shadows of the trees stretching out like fingers reaching for the sky. (Your name) 's heart raced as she saw Crystal standing in the distance, alone, her figure illuminated by the fading light.

"Hey..." (Your name) called softly, her voice full of emotion.

"Ah!" Crystal gasped, clearly startled by (Your name) 's sudden appearance.

"Woah," (Your name) said, her eyes scanning Crystal. She felt a rush of admiration for how strong Crystal appeared. "You pack a punch, Crystal. Who taught you?"

"(Your name)! What the fuck?" Crystal shouted, her voice a mix of surprise and frustration.

"I'm sorry," (Your name) said sincerely, stepping closer. "I just had to follow you. I want to apologize for what happened. I didn't know what came over me, and I promise I won't do it again..."

"Promises are hard to keep, (Your name)," Crystal said, her voice sharp, but there was something softer hidden in her words.

"No, this time..." (Your name) paused, the weight of her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. "You know what? It's up to you to forgive me or not. I'm not going to force a friendship that's been cut off for so long. I just want you to know that I value our friendship a lot and..."

"Crystal, I like you."

"...What?" Crystal's voice was filled with shock. Her eyes widened, unable to process (Your name) 's words.

"I like you, Crystal," (Your name) repeated, her voice trembling with vulnerability. "You make me feel warm when the world is cold. You were the only thing that made sense in this hellhole. I never really found a home in the orphanage, with my parents, or even now..." She paused, the tears welling in her eyes. "I've been crying since the moment I was born, and I guess... I still am. My whole being is crying for you, Crystal."

"I..." Crystal turned away, her emotions clearly at war within her. She took a deep breath, struggling to process everything that had just happened.

"(Your name)..." Crystal finally whispered, her voice filled with something she couldn't put into words.

"I—I can't..." (Your name) felt the words choke in her throat, and with that, she broke down. Her shoulders shook as tears flowed freely. She had tried so hard to hold it together, but it felt like everything was slipping through her fingers.

"I can't understand you..." Crystal laughed softly, but there was no bitterness in it. It was a laugh full of understanding. "I forgive you."

"You do?" (Your name)'s voice trembled with disbelief, hope rising like a flame in her chest.

"Yes. You weirdo," Crystal said with a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "How did you find me?"

"I asked your friend Kouji for help," (Your name) admitted, her heart lightening with relief.

"How did you know Kouji?"

"Well, my friends helped too."

"I guess I'm thankful we have these people to bring us together again," (Your name) said softly, the weight of the moment settling on her chest.

"Yeah, I have so many things to thank them for," Crystal replied, her voice tender with gratitude.

"And you've been here for... what... only a week?" (Your name) asked, disbelief creeping into her tone.

"Yeah, just a week. What will happen in a month? In years?" Crystal mused, her eyes filled with a sense of wonder.

(Your name) smiled, her heart full. "All I know is that I'll spend my hours with you."

"About that..."

"What?"

"I actually agreed in front of your father to join the Ten Geniuses." (Your name)'s words hung heavily in the air, each syllable weighted with the gravity of her decision.