♡˗ˏ✎*ೃ˚ :Chapter seventeen: :;

"They are more than friends,
they are family"

Binna exhibited remarkable agility as she skillfully maneuvered the pencil, creating exact lines on the sturdy yet flexible paper. Se-kyung sat across from her, deeply immersed in her own artistic endeavors within her sketchbook. Binna eventually looked up at her friend, who had managed to catch her attention by lightly tapping on her sketchbook.

"Should we swap and have a look now?" inquired Se-kyung with a smile "I'm excited" They then swapped their sketchbooks. Se-kyung chuckled as she noticed Yi-Chan standing out prominently in the drawing, distinct among the others "Wow. Isn't Yi-chan too flashy on his own? Okay. Let's go with this"

Binna beamed with enthusiasm and joy, nodding in approval. She hesitantly opened her mouth to speak, but paused when she observed Se-kyung holding up her drawing with a wide grin, admiring it.

"Wow. Eun-gyeol's mom is talented. I heard the '90s aesthetic is trendy these days. This would work in 2023, too" Se-kyung commented with a smile "How cute. Huh?"

Why has there been a recent surge in speculation regarding the possibility of Binna being Eun-gyeol's mother?

Binna watched Se-kyung with intrigue as she presented the information with unwavering confidence and gravity, giving it an almost tangible quality. Consequently, Binna found herself reminiscing about previous encounters with Eun-gyeol and Se-kyung. Their peculiar behavior had left her pondering whether they possessed knowledge or abilities beyond their time, though she deemed such notions too far-fetched to entertain seriously. Nevertheless, their actions continued to puzzle her, prompting her to consider the unlikely possibility that they were indeed from the future.

"I've been curious. When did you learn sign languages?"Binna asked with curiosity, making an effort to dispel those unusual thoughts from her mind

"I met a deaf person at the hospital when I briefly had a hearing issue. He taught me"Se-kyung explained, setting the sketchbook on the table "I learned quickly because he was handsome and fun" she added with a reminiscent smile and dreamy gaze while remembering the charming young man

"Was he more handsome than Eun-gyeol?"Binna asked with a playful tone, subtly gesturing towards the boy a short distance away

"Gosh, hey. You can't even compare them. Of course, Eun-gyeol is more..." Se-kyung placed a hand over her mouth after speaking too loudly, causing Binna to smile playfully "By the way, do you think they could finish writing a song overnight?"

Binna raised her shoulders in a gesture of uncertainty, observing as both girls turned back to the band, who continued to work diligently on their music. Binna acknowledged the band's commitment to their craft, reaffirming her confidence in their eventual success.

The next day, Binna and Se-kyung were welcomed with the boys' latest musical composition. They proceeded to enjoy a day at the seaside, reveling in the carefree pleasures characteristic of adolescence, followed by a scrumptious meal accompanied by capturing moments through photography. It was an idyllic day, and Binna relished every moment, contemplating wistfully the absence of Cheong-ah and yearning for her presence to temporarily alleviate the personal problems plaguing her at home.

As the band said their goodbyes and the sun began to dip below the horizon, the train station grew quieter. Binna couldn't help but smile as Eun-gyeol kindly took her bag from her shoulder, a gesture that had become familiar to her. She felt a deep attachment to him, almost as if he were her own son from a different time. Despite the potential accusations of lunacy, Binna was beginning to entertain the idea that Eun-gyeol and Se-kyung were truly visitors from the future.

Eun-gyeol suggested, "Let's go, Binna" to which Binna firmly nodded with a smile

"Huh? No" Se-kyung abruptly interjected in a firm voice, seizing the bag from her boyfriend's grasp and handing it smoothly to Yi-chan, who skillfully caught it in flight. Se-kyung then proceeded to grip Eun-gyeol's shoulders and practically pulled him along as they moved

Binna observed them with a quizzical expression as they moved away, however, Yi-Chan did not register this subtle gesture, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. Consequently, Binna nonchalantly shrugged, pretending as though it was just a routine occurrence.

"Should we have an after party, then?" Si-guk with a captivating smile approached Binna, maintaining eye contact until Majoo abruptly intervened and escorted him away

"Shall we?" Yi-chan asked Binna, who replied with a grin as they left the train station

- -

The trip back was tranquil, calm, and surprisingly quick, and before they realized it, they had arrived outside Binna's residence. Yi-chan passed her bag to her with a gentle touch, though there was a tinge of regret in having to part ways so soon.

"Go in now" Yi-chan instructed, followed by a stern warning "If someone bothers you again, contact me immediately" with which Binna nodded, moved by his concern "Go in. I'll get going" However, before Binna could depart, Yi-chan grasped her hand and began demonstrating a pattern of tapping on it gently "If there's only a pay phone around, tap on the receiver like this"  He held her hand delicately, "Twice. Three times. Twice. Can you do it? Try it then" He extended his hand, and Binna tentatively followed his guidance "Good Job. I'll really go now. Bye"

Ji-mi's vehicle came to a sudden stop in front of the residence. Binna clutched the handles of her bag tightly, cognizant of the potential repercussions of skipping her educational commitments to socialize with friends instead of focusing on her studies, a reality she was acutely conscious of yet no longer felt apprehensive about.

"Binna, what are you doing in front of the gate?" inquired Ji-mi with a facade of politeness, as Yi-chan bowed and presented himself. However, he was struck motionless upon realizing the identity of the person before him "You must recognize me, too. I only have unpleasant memories about you. Do we keep seeing each other here?" With a further bow, Yi-chan departed, his nerves and shame clearly evident

Binna recalled the event when Se-kyung's concert took place at her residence, during which Yi-Chan infiltrated the mansion to converse with Se-kyung. Binna and Cheong-ah observed the interaction from the attic window. Ji-mi had confined the girls in response to her own embarrassment over the possibility of others discovering that both the chairman's daughters were deaf.

Binna directed a contemptuous look at the woman in front of her before reluctantly making her way into the mansion. Despite her hesitation, her path was abruptly blocked by Ji-mi, who seized her by the arm and delivered a forceful slap to her cheek, seemingly having anticipated this moment. Binna held her hand to her throbbing cheek, feeling as though it were engulfed in flames, determined not to succumb to such manipulation easily.

"You skipped your lesson and didn't come home without telling me" Ji-mi articulated her frustration, clenching her teeth "You hang out with thugs and get into fights. And you chat in sign language so the whole neighborhood can see. What else do you have left? How else will you humiliate your family now?"

Binna responded with a wry smile and a subtle eye roll, seemingly finding amusement in the woman's words. However, her moment was swiftly interrupted as Ji-mi forcefully grasped her chin, her eyes ablaze with intense anger.

"Did you laugh? How dare you laugh at me?" Ji-mi countered, leading Binna to promptly retract her hand with a sudden movement, resulting in Ji-mi displaying a grimace of dissatisfaction from being treated in such a manner

In sign language, Binna conveyed the message, "Don't touch me," fully aware that such action would only exacerbate Ji-mi's irritation. With deliberate intent, Binna aimed to incite Ji-mi by harboring a profound animosity towards her. From the moment Ji-mi stepped into her dwelling, she had persistently made Binna's existence unbearable, prompting Binna to adamantly resist any further imposition of such distress

"I said not to use sign language!"

"I'm not longer alone" Binna asserted, defying her directives completely "You're the queen of this house and your slaves, whom you pay, will do what you want. But there's another world out there. And there are friends who listen to me and help me"

"Talk, talk, talk" Ji-mi expressed with a hint of exasperation, closing her eyes momentarily "I told you to talk!" Striking Binna's cheek in frustration, her hand made contact with force as Binna responded with an equally powerful slap fueled by anger, stunning the onlooking maids

"Touch me one more time. And you'll see your name in the newspaper" Binna warned, she then retrieved her bag from the floor and swiftly made her way up the staircase to her room

Binna's composure crumbled entirely as she faced a dire situation, fully aware of the impending consequences. Despite her emotional turmoil, her actions were driven by a deep-seated anger and fury. Letting out a nervous exhale, she hastily made her way into her room, swiftly securing the door behind her.

Her hands shook as she carefully inscribed her thoughts onto the paper using a black pen, feeling her breath hasten with anxiety.

"Yi-chan, help me. Come pick me up"

Afterward, she placed the document into the fax machine and started inputting the digits with shaking hands. She was taken aback when Ji-mi swiftly removed the paper from the machine, causing Binna to be left breathless. She wondered about Eun-gyeol's whereabouts during this crucial moment.

Binna was unexpectedly seized by the servants, who firmly took hold of her arms. She fought vigorously against their grasp and, upon freeing herself, witnessed Ji-mi forcefully hurling her fax machine to the ground, causing it to shatter. Startled by this destruction, Binna fled from her chamber in search of refuge, only to reluctantly retreat back to the familiar confines of the dimly-lit room where she was routinely confined as punishment for her transgressions.

"Bring the rope"Upon Ji-mi's instruction, Binna was reminded of the numerous occasions in which she had suffered mistreatment at Ji-mi's hands. The sight of the rope filled Binna with dread, causing her to crumble to the ground in fear. Ji-mi proceeded to throw the rope near her knees before departing the room, submerging her in complete darkness as she closed the door behind her

Binna drew her legs close to her chest, her breath quickening, as she found herself in the familiar yet dreaded confines of this dimly lit room, a secret nightmare she had endured since childhood. Each time, the ordeal would culminate in her being bound and confined within these walls for what felt like endless hours until Ji-mi eventually released her. Unbeknownst to her father, who was often absent, Binna and Cheong-ah had repeatedly tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to disclose the situation to him, only to be thwarted by Ji-mi's interference. However, now, the circumstances were set to change - Binna was no longer the same frightened child she once was, having matured and formed strong bonds with friends who would undoubtedly come searching for her.

There is no need to worry; Eun-gyeol will surely come for you...

Author's note;

I began editing this during my classes, so please excuse any errors in the text. I wanted to update it as soon as possible as I haven't done so in a month, and I feel remorseful for neglecting this story 😭