Chapter Text
Songhwa met with her friends the next day at town square, which serves like a mini park in their town. Minha had been bugging her for an update, so she had no choice but to tell them what happened.
"In short, he's on the rebound and raging family issues." She concluded and gave them a tight smile.
"That sucks." Gyeoul said while munching her chips. She doesn't even feel that she's sincere about it as if she already expected this.
"Wait, so you're telling me you've met his brother?? The other Lee?? I thought they lost contact?" Minha asked while shaking her arms.
That's all that she gets after telling them?
She incredulously looked at them which made them pouted.
But before they can even explain themselves, Jinseok shyly approached them and looked at her apologetically.
"Hello ladies, uhm can I talk to Songhwa for a second?" Then he seeks permission from the two.
Her friends looked at her and stood up, leaving only the two of them. She did not look at them nor at Jinseok, she was just playing with the grass where they were sitting.
"I'm sorry about yesterday, I wasn't myself."
He said then sat beside her.
"You seem to spend a lot of time apologizing."
"Well, I have a lot to apologize for." Then he tried to hold her hand which was busy playing with the grass. "Yesterday wasn't about you, okay?" Then he held her chin so she could face him.
"You told me that you weren't in contact for years." She whispered but still not looking back at him.
He sighed then let her be. He is giving her space, she knows that and she's thankful.
"We do, or we did." He quoted then he looked at her again. "I was also surprised when he came back home few weeks ago."
He also started playing with the grass but she couldn't care less for that.
There's something that has been bugging her since yesterday and she knows she needs to ask him about it.
"He told me about your ex, you know, Jung Chanyoung? The one you asked me about the first time we met." She said after sharing a few seconds of silence.
She saw him stopped and his hand froze. He did not expect what he heard from her, Songhwa noted
"What did he say?" His voice sounded so cold, and so distant. That's when she decided to look at him.
When their eyes met, she saw how furious he was. His facial expression hardened and there were unshed tears in his eyes.
"That she broke your heart and ruined your life?"
He blinked then looked away. Songhwa then tried to gauge what she felt with his reaction. She knew there's more. But she also knew that she doesn't have the right to question him.
They are not even together.
"That was a long time ago." He said dryly without even glancing at her, and by that time, Songhwa notices how much he sounds soulless and how much he looks so lifeless, after hearing her name, once again.
She looked at him intently for a little longer. Jinseok must have felt her intense stare and whipped his head to her direction. Their eyes met and Songhwa was shocked to see his face.
"Are you okay? Y--your eyes--" She asked while being lost.
The color of his eyes changed, she's not even sure if she's just seeing things or not.
"Huh? What so you mea-- Oohh..." Then he closed his eyes then used his hand to massage his eyes. He moved away and he turned around a little bit.
And that's when she saw it, his ring. The shining blue stone that mesmerized her. It's so beautiful despite it not looking fancy and out of place.
She didn't know he's into those things.
"Yeah, I'm okay, sorry."
"Are you sure?" She asked after she tear her eyes away from his ring.
"Yess, it's just that-- I wasn't able to sleep well last night, and I'm so tired and sleepy, Songhwa-ya.."
She knows he is tired, but not for whatever reason he said.
"Nice ring, by the way." She said trying to alleviate the awkward silence after he uttered his lame excuse.
Jinseok is also aware that he's doomed and that what he said didn't help them in any way.
"Yeah, thank you." Then he coughed lightly and let out a small smile. "This is a---this is a family heirloom that had been passed down from generations to generations." He said while he played with the ring.
"May I see it?" Songhwa asked and tried to reach out by offering him her palm in anticipation.
Jinseok instantly pulled away and hid his hand where his ring was and put it behind his body—away from her reach.
Shock is an understatement to what she felt after she saw Jinseok's reaction. She also felt offended.
"I--- I'm sorry, I didn't---I didn't mean to---" He stuttered while trying explain himself.
"It's--it's okay.. I'm sorry for imposing. I'm sorry fo---" She replied while her voice sounds a little shaky.
"No!!" He frustratedly shouted which startled both of them. "No you didn't of course it's okay b--but---but--" Then he pulled his hair in frustration.
He don't know how to explain it to her, not to mention that he's so nervous around her right now knowing he's been doing a lot of mistakes lately.
He doesn't even know how to act around her right now.
"Hey, it's totally fine. I get it." Songhwa then said with her soft voice laced with understanding.
She believes that this is about Jung Chanyoung—his ex, and that he is still affected about her up to this day.
"You know what, when you lose someone, it stays with you. Always reminding you of how easy it is to get hurt."
Then she looked at him and gave him a sad smile.
"Songhwa-ya---"
"It's okay, Jinseok-ah. I get it. You have no idea how much I get it. Complicated brother? Check. Complicated ex? Check. Too complicated to even contemplate dating? Double check."
Then she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply before she opens them and stare at him.
"It's okay. We met, we talked, and it was epic but then the sun came up, and reality set in."
She then tapped his shoulder, kissed his cheek, and stood up.
"That's just it. Back to our real messy lives."
And she left.
While most of the people are spending their time at the town square for this Saturday night, Ikjun on the other hand is spending his night at the Moraeal's Grill and drinking his favorite drink.
He was enjoying his alone time with his bourbon when a woman suddenly interrupted his quiet chill night and approached him.
"I know you." She said but looks lost at the same time, like she was not even sure on what she's saying.
He looked at her then smirked. This is interesting.
"Well, that's unfortunate." He said then drank from his glass.
'You're doomed, Lee Jinseok.' He said in his mind.
"I don't know how, but your face looks so familiar, like I have already seen you." She uttered while in deep thinking and as if she was talking to herself.
She's thinking hard, but no matter how hard she tries, she can't remember. Her head started hurting and she felt dizzy, so she excused herself.
"I'm sorry, please excuse me. Enjoy your night." Then she hurriedly left and went straight to the comfort room.
Ikjun was just watching her in astonishment while still drinking on his glass. Then a dangerous and evil idea was plotted in his head which made him chuckle.
When Jehee went inside the comfort room, she locked the door and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was confused herself on why she approached that man or why she's feeling that way around him. She's terrified even though he looks harmless and is not doing anything bad to her.
She calmed herself then washed her face to help herself come back to her senses. She then pulls out a small bottle and drank two pills. She drank water from the faucet using her hand, so she had to bend down her body a little.
And when she looked at the mirror again, she saw the man's face and bit her neck. Everything was so fast, but before everything went black, she still caught a glimpse on how his face changed, the color of his eyes changed, and how his teeth became fangs.
"Have anyone seen Jehee?" Junwan worriedly asked the moment he reached their table.
"Well maybe she already found someone she'll be with. I guess you have been replaced, pill pusher." Jehee's current jerk of a boyfriend answered who is standing near their table.
"What's with the pill pusher?" Songhwa suddenly asked with her raised eyebrows.
"Why don't you ask your brother?" He answered provokingly which infuriated Junwan.
"Do you really want to do this right now?" He asked and unintentionally raised his voice in frustration.
"Are you dealing?" Songhwa angrily asked but Junwan did not even spare her a glance.
"She's never gonna go for you." Another provocation, again.
"She already did, over and over and over again!" He shouted while pointing his index finger to him.
"You were together with Jehee!?" Minha shouted. "You mean to say Ahn Jehee dated you?!"
"No way!!" The jerk of a boyfriend strongly denied.
"I didn't even have to beg her because she likes me too!" He shouted. The other one nearly plunged at him if only Jeongwon didn't stopped him and pushed him away.
"All of you, just shut the fuck up and help me find my sister!!" He angrily shouted before he looked threateningly to the two men who were arguing over his sister.
"We'll check her on the comfort room." Gyeoul informed him and Jeongwon gratefully nodded at her. She grabbed Minha and they left.
"I'll look for her at the town square." Jeongwon said and Seokhyeong followed him.
"I'll come with you guys." Junwan said but was halted by his twin.
"Oh, no. Na-uhh.. You are coming with me." Songhwa said then held his arm and pulled him in the corner. "So that's your game now, huh? Dealing? Really, Junwan-ah?"
"No, I'm not dealing, okay? Look, it was all a misunderstanding. And I'm clean, contrary to what you claim." He said frustratingly.
He never used drugs. Sure, he had some with him because he wanted to try them. Jehee told him it helps her to ease her pain and makes her forget the reality she's in. He just wanted to escape and stop feeling the pain.
But he can't. He can't and he won't. He doesn't have the heart to do that to his twin sister and to their Auntie who never gave up on them, especially him.
"I'm sick of this, Junwan-ah! I'm still older than you. When will you grow up?"
Both of them never listens, and he knows that his sister is also having a hard time just like him.
And both of them also has different ways of coping up.
"Well, what do I expect? You and Mijo Gomo never believed me, anyway. I'm also sick of this. I'm through with the two of yo--"
"We could stop if you want, Junwan-ie. You can choose whether we send you to a therapist where you will be forced to deal with it. Or you go to a rehab where you will sit with strangers and tell your sob story to them about how you let your life fall apart." Songhwa frustratingly uttered those words not thinking how it will affect him.
"Or you could just talk to me." Her face and voice soften.
"I vote for none of the above." Then he gave her a sharp cold stare and Songhwa felt the chills all over her body.
Then he left her alone. Songhwa can only look at her brother with tears in her eyes. She's getting tired for real.
Jeongwon and Seokhyeong run to the town square and looked for Jehee. When they reached the town square—which is actually not far from the grill, Seokhyeong decided that they should split to look for Jehee faster and Jeongwon agreed.
He then coincidentally met Jinseok while searching for Jehee.
"Hey, have you seen my sister?"
Even though he was not comfortable with him, but for his sister, he can swallow his pride for her.
"No, sorry." He replied awkwardly.
"Ohh, we can't find her. She's missing."
"I uhh I'll keep an eye out for her." He said then he was about to leave when Jeongwon stopped him.
"By the way, I saw you at the hospital yesterday."
Jeongwon saw how his expression changed, despite it being brief. He caught him by surprise, he's sure of that.
"You did?" He asked as he swallowed.
"What were you doing there?" He asked suspiciously.
"Visiting." He answered in a heartbeat.
"Visiting?" His voice full of doubt.
"Songhwa and I---we've been together even before we were born, and I've known her since forever. We might not be together right now, but I look out for her, and I will always look out for her.I'm just letting you know."
Jinseok knows this, and he was about to say something when he heard cries for help from a distance.
"Help me, oh my god, no! No, please---"
"You really have to stop screaming, Jehee-ssi."
"Stop, please. Don't hurt me, don't hurt me, please, I'm begging you."
"Shhh.. I've got you, okay?"
Jeongwon watched him feeling a little annoyed after seeing him not taking his words seriously.
"Excuse me."
Then he left Jeongwon before he can even say something and followed Jehee's voice. He saw them at the rooftop. Ikjun and Jehee are both standing at the edge while Ikjun was holding her arm. She is shaking so bad because of too much nervousness.
"Oh please, no. Please, don't. Stop this please." Jehee cried helplessly.
"I got you, I'm not going to drop you, hmm?" Then Ikjun chuckled.
Jinseok jumped and reached the rooftop where they were in no time. Jehee was surprised while Ikjun just looked at him in amazement.
"Hmm, not bad, brother. Have you been drinking from the bunnies?" He asked in a teasing manner.
"Let her go." Jinseok said in gritted teeth.
"Are you sure? Okay, if you say so." Then he was about to let her go and push her when both Jehee and Jinseok shouted at the same time.
"No, please, no!"
"Stop it, Lee Ikjun!!!"
Ikjun laughed at them and looked at his brother. Then he pushed Jehee on the floor.
"Relax, brother." And gave him a smirk while still having that smile on his face as if he was mocking him.
"What's happening?" Jehee asked while crying.
"I don't need her to be dead, but you might."
Jinseok knows that it was a threat. Then Ikjun moved his attention to the girl who's been silently crying while she's on the floor after being pushed hard.
He crouched in front of her and held her shoulder. He was staring directly at her eyes.
"What attacked you that night?" His tone laced with danger.
"I don't know." She shook her head hen looked around as if she was waiting for an answer. "An animal." Jehee replied unsurely while crying.
"Are you sure about that?" He asked then looked at Jinseok.
He saw him gulp so he looked at Jehee once again and move closer.
"Come on, darling, think! Think about it. Think really~ hard. What attacked you?"
Then he held her chin roughly so he can see her eyes.
Jehee was crying but the more she stares at his eyes, the more fear crawled in her system until a sudden realization hit her.
"Vampire." She said in disbelief.
"Who did this to you?"
"You did!!" She shouted angrily while pointing at him.
"Wrong answer, darling! It's Lee Jinseok." He said while smirking but did not glance to his brother.
"Don't." Jinseok said almost pleading.
"I warned you, my dear brother, didn't I?" He said but still not facing him. "Look at me, darling." Ikjun said then cupped both of Jehee's cheeks.
"Lee Jinseok did this to you. He's a vampire. A vicious, dangerous, murderous monster."
"Please, Ikjun Hyung, don't do this."
"Lee Jinseok did this to me-- He's a vampire-- He's a monster--" Jehee repeated in trance and Ikjun triumphantly let her go.
"You couldn't fix it before. I don't know what you are going to do now." Then he removed the bandage of Jehee's wounds. Once both of them are standing, he then bit her again in between her neck and shoulder, and blood started to flow on her neck.
Then Ikjun pushed her to Jisneok so he doesn't have a choice but to catch her no matter how hard it was for him to get closer to the wounded Jehee.
His eyes instantly changed in color and his fangs were visible. He is trying so hard to control himself in drinking her blood. He gulped countless times while darkly staring at the blood oozing out of Jehee's wound.
Her scent, her cries, her blood in his hand, everything is making it hard for him to keep his sanity and keep himself in check.
'Come on, Lee Jinseok! You can't---you can't go back there.' He chanted in his head while fighting so hard the urge to drink human blood again.
"Your choice of lifestyle has made you weak. Couple of vampire tricks, is nothing compared to the power you could have. That you now need." Jinseok's eyes are starting to get bloody black, and his veins are also showing. "But you can change that. If only you feed properly and drink human blood again. Embrace who you are, Jinseok-ah."
Ikjun may be mocking him but it's what he really wants for his brother.
"No." He said hardly controlling himself. He's catching his breath while moving his head away from Jehee's neck.
"You have two choices. You can feed on her and make her forget, or you can let her go and let her run away screaming, 'Vampire!' through the town square."
Ikjun even raised both of his and acted like a little child who is excited to be outside the house to play for the first time.
Then Jinseok pushed Jehee on the floor again while grunting as if he's in pain.
"So, that's what this is about? You want to expose me?" He asked while still catching his breath, but his face has now gone back to normal.
"No!" Ikjun strongly denied. "I just want you to remember who you are!" He frustratingly shouted and went near him.
"Why? For what? So, I'll feed? So, I'll kill? So that I'll remember what it's like to be brothers again?" He exclaimed full of anger.
"You know what? Let her go. Let her tell everyone that vampires have returned to Yulje. Let them catch me, then chain me up, and let them drive a stake through my heart. Because at least with that, I'll be free of you." He shouted then he slumped to the floor weakly.
Ikjun was speechless. He just blinks his eyes then turn away—his back facing them. They were silent for a few seconds except for Jehee's grunts from time to time.
"Come here, darling."
"N--no, please--"
"It's okay, hmm?"
Ikjun turn around again and went to where Jehee was and helped her stand. He cradled her head, stare at her eyes, then whispered something before he lets her go.
"What happened? Where am I?" Jehee asked after Ikjun moved away from her.
Then she held her neck and saw her own blood from her hand. "Damn, I ripped my stitches open. Ugh!"
"Are you okay?" Jinseok asked.
"I took some pills, so yeah, I'm good." She answered then chuckled at how silly she must be right now. "I have to go."
Jehee then turn around and left the two of them at the rooftop.
"It's good to be home!" Ikjun shouted then clapped his hands. "I think I might stay a while. This town could use a bit of wake-up call, don't you think?" He exclaimed then smirked.
"What are you up to, Lee Ikjun?"
"That's for me to know, and for you to find out." He then walked closer to him and gave him a pat on his shoulder. "Give Songhwa-ssi my best."
And *poof*, he's gone.
Jinseok was left alone at the rooftop while still racking his brain for a reason why his brother is back. He stayed there for a few more minutes before he decided to go home, hoping that Ikjun was gone.
He was about to close the door when a small hand reached out to hold his arm.
"Hey.." Songhwa softly said which left him in awe.
"Would you like to come in?" He asked then showed her a smile while he opened the door.
But Songhwa just shook her head.
"Sorry for barging in. Especially, after all the things I've said earlier."
"No, no. I'm glad you're here. I really didn't like how things were left of before you left me alone."
Then he moved closer to her and pulled her at the balcony.
"So, the thing is, I got home tonight planning on doing what I always do—writing in my diary, I mean." Then she coughed lightly before she continued. "And I realized that instead of writing it, it would be better if you will hear it directly from me."
"What were you supposed to write?" He asked while staring at her with his hopeful gaze.
"Today, I convinced myself that it's okay to give up. Not to take risks so there will be no drama. Now is just not the right time, and I have a lot on my plate at the moment. I'm currently a mess." Then she shrugged her shoulders.
"But my reasons aren't reasons, they are just excuses. All I'm doing is hiding from the truth and from my feelings. And the truth is that, I'm scared, Jinseok-ah. I'm so scared that if I let myself be happy for even one moment---that---that the world's just going to come crashing down and---and I don't know if I can survive that--I don't know if I can survive another heartbreak and changes in my life."
She said almost in tears, Jinseok moved closer, held her cheeks and wiped those tears that escaped and fell down on her cheeks.
"You know what I'll write in mine?" He asked softly and Songhwa only shook her head. "I met a girl, and we talked. It was epic. Then the sun came up and reality set in." And Songhwa smiled. "Well, this is the reality, Songhwa-ya.. Right here."
Then he cupped both of her cheeks. Songhwa knew what was coming, she knew she wanted this but when she closed her eyes, she felt like someone was whispering in her ears. She pushed him and tried to catch her breath.
Jinseok was surprised when she pushed him and instantly opened his eyes. He saw her having a hard time breathing while clutching her chest. He went beside her and gently patted her back. When she calmed down, he hugged her and Songhwa hugged him back tightly.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
"Hey, hey. It's fine, hmm? Do you feel fine now?" He asked worriedly then he cupped her cheeks again.
Songhwa only nodded so Jinseok hugged her again.
Songhwa's phone rang which forced them to separate.
"It's Gyeoullie.."
She looked at him first before she answered Gyeoul's call.
"Eo, Gyeoul-ah.."
What she heard next from the other line froze her on the spot. The feeling she felt when Jinseok was about to kissed her came back, only this time, she felt how it was harder to breathe.
Her tears started falling and before Jinseok can even react, Songhwa already started running without looking back.