Chapter Text
Not long after the heart-twisting sight of Yeri breaking down from the fear, they decided that it was time to go. Even though Kyung tried to resist, it had no avail.
If Yeri set her mind to something, she was relentless, and she knew that.
Resigned, Kyung went first and got her shoes on, waiting for the others in heavy silence, showing that she was not agreeing with this, but chose to cooperate instead. She was definitely sour about the whole situation, since rationality never came to her mind ever since she and Yeri became friends.
Jaeyi looked between Kyung and Yeri – Kyung got her shoes on, and without looking at them, went out of the door and started taking the stairs instead the elevator, wanting some space. Yeri looked after her, eyes still wet with the tears she just shed.
Seulgi glanced at her girlfriend, and upon seeing her worried face, she reached out and squeezed her hand, trying to ease the emotions stirring inside her chest. She tried to remind her, that at the end of the day, it was Kyung and Yeri, and they never went to sleep angry with each other. Like they were married and the couple's therapist taught them that. Jaeyi however remained skeptical, as they followed after Yeri.
The car ride to Yeri’s apartment stayed just as silent and heavy as it was back at Kyung’s. Jaeyi drove calmly, while Seulgi sat in the passenger seat, trying to not reach and hold Jaeyi’s hand over the stick, like she always does.
Kyung and Yeri sat in the backseats. Kyung tried to look out the window, but clearly failed, as she saw Yeri’s reflection in the glass, as she tried to wipe the remnants of her tears from earlier. The tension was so thick, even with the seat between them, the proximity felt too close to enjoy. And this time it wasn’t anger. It was the worry, the bitter truth, that one saw and the other preferred to be blind to, it wasn’t easy.
Luckily, the awkward ride came to an end, as Jaeyi steered her sleek car into the underground parking garage, and killed the engine.
Without a word, the girls practically jumped out, each going their own way, while Jaeyi and Seulgi just looked at them in the wing mirrors, as they walked towards the elevator with the same tension and just more distance between them.
“I swear to God, if they don’t admit that they’re in love, I’m going to go insane.” Jaeyi muttered incredulously, scoffing at their attitudes. It was bright as the day, that those dumbasses were deeply and helplessly in love.
“Wanna bet, Jagiya?” Seulgi winked at Jaeyi, flirting shamelessly even in the tensest situation, but it always managed the ease the tension in Jaeyi’s shoulders.
“Woo Seulgi” Jaeyi turned to her girlfriend, a conspiring smile on her face.
“Are you suggesting a bet on our friends’ relationship?” She tilted her girlfriend’s jaw up to make her look in the eyes. “Just so you know, I never lost a bet.” She pointed out, slapping her jaw playfully.
“And I don’t mind losing to you.” Seulgi pressed a chaste kiss on her girlfriend’s cheek, fleeing the car instantly, running after their friends to stand between them, whom were trying to not look at each other, but clearly failed as their cheeks were painted red likely from embarrassment or turmoil they harbored inside their bodies.
The elevator ride up was filled with more unease.
Kyung fought her personal demons inside, while Yeri was calculating every possible outcome of involving her friends further in this mess: she knew her mother and what she was capable of and then if everything Seulgi told her, and her experience of Nam Byeongjin was right, they were in deep shit.
The elevator doors opened right into the apartment, making the girls stop in their tracks, looking around the luxurious apartment.
The apartment was pristine. Pristine meaning that not a home. Nothing that could differentiate this apartment from all the other ones in the building. No family photos, no magnets on the fridge, it looked like the day it was rented out. A place just for show if Yeri’s mother ever wanted to bring someone home and impress them. And Yeri kept the girls away from the apartment for this exact reason. She didn’t want to paint this luxurious picture of herself in her true friends' eyes. She knew she didn’t quite fit in with it, she knew they’d see right through the act, and didn’t want them to see her suffer in this lifeless place.
When she was home, she was just a ghost. She learnt that early on that clinging onto things was never an option for her. When money was tight, her mom would send her to a shoebox apartment, then when she found a new boyfriend, she would rent out a luxury penthouse just for show. Just like this one.
That’s why she was extra grateful that Jaeyi and Jaena always dragged her to sleepovers at their house, or when Kyung offered weekend-long study marathons, that always ended up in movie marathons instead.
Yeri was used to moving all the time. She learnt to not have many precious things, since precious things break easily in boxes. She learnt to adapt, but never settle. She associated settling with people that had stability, people not like her.
The only thing she stubbornly carried everywhere from her past was her childhood teddy bear, Uyu. She was the only piece from her past that stayed with her in good and in bad. It carried the memories she wasn’t ready let go of yet: those nights filled with nightmares from being left alone, the nice afternoons when she was able to go to the playground and play like everything was fine and the quiet moments when no one bothered her.
People around her constantly changed, so her clinging to a teddy bear that never asked for anything, just made sense.
The girls followed Yeri in, taking it in.
“Welcome, here.” Yeri sighed weakly, as she kicked off her shoes, and walked towards her room, leaving the girls behind for a second.
Jaeyi and Seulgi curiously glanced around the soulless penthouse. Jaeyi was calm, since she saw penthouses before, but was also worried, since it looked like a page from those Architectural Digest magazines, which, knowing Yeri didn't care about. Seulgi on the other hand looked more carefully, genuinely invested what a penthouse was, because she never saw one in real life.
Kyung though was stuck in her head. She had already been here once, and that was when she met Yeri’s mom three weeks ago. She didn’t know, that she was the only one that Yeri ever let in her apartment.
When Yeri came back, Seulgi immediately started complimenting the apartment, which she thanked and smiled through her teeth, trying not to destroy Seulgi’s naïve image of living in a penthouse alone.
While Yeri was busy with Seulgi pointing to things excitedly, Jaeyi turned to Kyung who just looked at Yeri with worry and care that transcended every word that could’ve been said in this situation.
“You ok?” Jaeyi gently put a hand on her shoulder but instead startled Kyung, who shrugged off the hand, her anger overflowing and went to sit at the couch instead. Jaeyi rolled her eyes, Kyung was definitely in denial and acting like a hysterical child right now.
Jaeyi sat down too, trying to calm herself down, and not blow up at Kyung’s childish antics. She instead followed Yeri and Seulgi, who was trying out all the fancy kitchen supplies Yeri handed her smiling, but she knew Yeri was hiding her dread of this place behind that smile for Seulgi’s sake. But after the list of kitchen supplies and appliances ended, eventually they came back to the couch.
Yeri didn't sit down, and stood still, visibly anxious of what was coming next, but in order to overcome this situation, it needed to be done.
“I’m not staying with you Kyung.” Yeri said sternly, with all the power she had. Kyung was ready to practically beg and try to convince her otherwise, but Seulgi pulled her back down to the couch.
“C’mon Kyung, let her talk.” Seulgi said, looking between the two concernedly. Yeri shot her a grateful look, and passed it back onto Kyung, who was visibly miserable. Her heart broke seeing it, but putting Kyung in danger again was something she would never forgive herself for. She instead squatted in front of the sitting girl, whose face was in buried in her own palms. She reached out to pull those hands in her own, stroking it comforting.
“It’s for the best. And it’s not like we won’t be able to see each other.” Yeri said, trying to caress Kyung’s arm to reassure her that she won’t go anywhere, but Kyung pulled her arm away, as guilt finally overspilled and a sob burst up.
“But it is!!” She desperately erupted, surprising everyone, including herself.
Yeri leaned back on her knees, looking really confused, Jaeyi’s eyebrows shut up at the sudden outburst. They all looked at their most composed friend falling apart in front of their very eyes. And it was really scary. “What do you mean?” Yeri whispered out of fear, looking at the girl with expecting eyes. Hoping instead of worsening the situation, it'd get better.
“Those stupid investigators didn’t wait; they already submitted the arrest requests.” Kyung murmured weakly, the truth spilling out. The guilt in her voice, the resentment that she felt towards herself, made the once impenetrable walls crumble down, leaving her vulnerable and miserable.
“And.. what does that mean?” Seulgi asked confused, already fearing the answer.
“The arrest of Nam Byeongjin, his gang and Juyoung Han.. they’re looking for them right now.” Kyung choked out hard. “It was submitted anonymously, but it’s not hard to-“ She tried to say, but was ultimately interrupted, when Jaeyi grabbed her.
“WHAT?” Jaeyi jumped up, and before her girlfriend could hold her back, she grabbed Kyung’s collar, yanking her up from the couch forcing her to face her. “AND YOU’RE SAYING THIS ONLY NOW??” She yelled it in her face, as she shoved her back down, choosing to step further away before she did something worse.
Kyung stayed silent, the guilt eating her alive, as she slid down to the carpet in front of a concerned Yeri, her eyes closed, waiting for Jaeyi’s wrath willingly.
Seulgi immediately bolted to hug her girlfriend’s body closer, stopping her from any further damage that she could do. She knew that her fury was something that Jaeyi always regretted after.
“Do you ever think about anyone else other than yourself?!” Jaeyi erupted. “Asking her to stay with you, while you perfectly know that the people you’re about to arrest are murderers and closely related to her???” She said harshly, the emotions stirring inside finally bubbling up. “Did you lose your goddamn mind, Kyung?” Jaeyi threw at her weakly, which really just broke the last latch that was holding back Kyung’s absolute breakdown.
“I DON’T WANT TO LOSE HER.” Kyung cried out desperately, her sobs heartbreakingly honest and painful. She couldn’t even look at Yeri, as she was immediately pulled into a bone crushing hug. She hugged her close, making Kyung sob louder and cling to her like her life depended on it.
Kyung really wasn’t the type to cry. And Yeri knew that. Yeri also knew that the plan that Kyung was about execute would just put both of them into more danger. But knowing all this was one thing, how she felt about this was an entire other thing.
She had to stay realistic. She knew her mother immediately dropped her when something benefitted her without her. She survived her mother’s boyfriends’ wrath more times than she can remember. This wasn’t something she wasn’t used to. All she had to do was to just keep it low, keep it dumb and her mother would be caught without her suspecting that her daughter cooperated.
But it came with the price that she’d have to pay: stay away from her Kyungie, and broke her. With no more tears left to cry, she just held her as close as she could, before the reality of the situation separated them, hopefully for a few weeks, not forever.
The realization earlier in Kyung’s eyes weren’t inaccurate: they both knew if she stays in touch with Kyung over the phone or meets her, she puts both of them in danger. God forbid, her staying with Kyung. She saw what Nam’s henchmen were capable of.. It couldn’t be risked.
The girls clinging to each other on the floor oh so desperately made Seulgi’s heart break completely. She couldn’t do anything, but hold the devasted Jaeyi in her arms, caressing the back of her girlfriend’s nape. Solutions running through her mind, but all ending in dead ends. Jaeyi naturally regretted her harsh outburst. As she settled down in Seulgi’s arms. She knew that it was really unfair to judge, when she’d do the same thing if she was in Kyung’s shoes. Love makes people go crazy, losing all sense of rationality and common sense was just a type of blinding love.
After 10 painful minutes of silence, occasionally broke by weak sniffs and sobs, they all found themselves sitting on the couch again.
“I’m sorry Kyung.” Jaeyi said sincerely. “It was really unfair from my side.. If I were in your shoes, I’d do the same thing for Seulgi.” She said, squeezing Seulgi’s hand.
“I know- I shouldn’t have waited so long to tell you guys what was going on…” Kyung said weakly. “I just didn’t know what was going on. My parents told me yesterday about the arrests.. Just before they left.” Then Kyung looked at Yeri. “That’s why I reached out too.. Hoping to keep you safe from everything.” Kyung sighed guiltily, another tear threatening to escape.
Yeri pulled her into her side, took off Kyung’s freshly cleaned glasses to not fog up again. “Oh, Kyung…” as she brushed a strand of hair out of her face, still wet with tears.
“I’m so sorry for reacting so harshly…” Jaeyi said with shame, looking down at the carpet.
“But Kyung, you know that you have to do what’s right.” Seulgi interrupts the moment with the painful truth. Yeri looks at Seulgi, and nods.
“It’s better that way.” Yeri agrees gathering power to make herself believe that. Both Jaeyi and Kyung stay silent.
Yeri thinks that it’s not the end of the world, she went through worse. It’s just some weeks apart. It’s not like they won’t be able to see each other in school. Just maybe they won’t interact.
Who is she kidding.. It’ll hurt like hell, but if it’s what she has to do, she’d do it. She won’t let Kyung to go through that night all over again.
Especially now knowing the context of what her mother said back in Jeju..
The day before of the kidnapping – 11th Grade (TW: Gun, Attempted Self-Harm)
Yeri just came home from school, and was waiting for her tutor to come and start their harp session. She was admittedly giddy, knowing that tomorrow was the highly anticipated event she was invited to personally: the meet with Kyung and her team.
She made sure to promote it on her socials, encouraging everyone to join them and learn about the ways of making the school safer for everyone, and just have fun.
She already picked her outfit for tomorrow, hoping to impress a certain someone: she found these grey, wide-legged and pleated trousers, that gave off serious business vibes, and she chose a white knitted tank top with a turtleneck to still appear a bit casual, while radiating confidence.
She was really excited. She also texted Jaena to thank her for giving her number to Kyung. Of course she got teased for it, but whatever.
The unusual serenity in her apartment however was broken, as her mother barged in without any fanfare or prior anouncement. She wore a huge pair of sunglasses, and was dressed in other Italian luxury brands as she glanced at her daughter.
“Yeri pack up. We’re going to Jeju, baby.” Her mother shouted as she burst through the front door of the penthouse they were renting. Yeri was sitting at the harp, practicing for her next competition, when her mother decided to completely ruin her mood.
“How so? You JUST got back from Italy. And you didn't call for weeks.” Yeri stood up, inspecting her mother’s frantic movements throughout the apartment. “Also, I can’t. I have plans already.” Yeri crossed her arms, not making a step towards her room to do what her mother said.
“Nonsense.” Juyoung scoffed. “A friend of mine invited us to his resort. We could really spend time some girl time together there. You’re just so.. big now. I want to have a bigger role in your life, with my schedule being so… rigid.” She threw the excuses, like she always did, but Yeri saw right through her by now.
“No thanks. I’d rather spend time with my friends.” She went back to her harp.
“Yeri-ah..” Juyoung said with a warning tone. “It wasn’t an ask.”
“And I don’t give a fuck about that. I made plans earlier with my friends, and you just showed up without a call for weeks.” Yeri countered, standing her ground.
“Oh shush.. You exactly know how it is with.. men.” Juyoung said with a low voice. “They’re extremely… demanding” She added, her tone way too sultry to be okay for her daughter.
“EW.” Yeri was disgusted by her mother. What a low-life bitch her mother was.. and the way she would've forgiven her a few years ago. She really was naive.
“And I still called. I still reached out to you… while you- You know what, you can go alone. After I turn 18, We’re done.“ Yeri turned on her heel and went her own way, not being able to breathe the same air as this bitch.
Yeri stormed in her room, slamming and locking the door, sending a text to the instructor that she’ll have to cancel. She can’t believe her mother. Leaving for months, and not answering her phone for weeks.. Oh, but she can. All she ever did was leaving her alone.
She went to her first school day alone on her very first day.
She will go to her very last day of school alone.
When she got her period? She went and bought pads cluelessly alone.
Was that an okay way to grow up according to her mom? She will never know.
She thought she made peace with it already, but as soon as she heard the distinct click of her mother’s compact handgun’s safety, she shot up from her bed.
But what made her run out of her room wasn't Juyoung calling her, it was the metal sliding the to load the bullet from the magazine, finger on the trigger as she still called her in that honeyed voice that made goosebumps appear on her body from the repulsiveness she was able to bring out of her.
She sprinted out, walking right into the trap she set especially for her.
Knowing her mother, this was another way to threaten her and make her do whatever she wanted and desired.
But still.. Knowing isn't quite the same as the reality of a situation. Knowing isn't enough when your heart drops as the silver of the gun's barrel glisten against the early afternoon's sun, and that gun is held against your own mother's head. And when Yeri saw it, her face lost all its color.
Her mother sitting on the couch, looking at her daughter with a sinister smile, spinning the gun carelessly as it was already loaded..
“What, now you care about your mother, Yeri-ah?” Juyoung laughed, pointing it to her head, like it was normal and okay. Like it was a hairdryer.
“You know…” Yeri hissed. “I really should let you kill yourself..” Yeri said through her teeth, looking at the gun, loaded and ready. Fear already growing in her gut. No amount of acknowledgement can erase that feeling.
“But then who would take care of you.. You have no one beside you. Don’t forget who birthed you, ddal” Juyoung said sinisterly, pushing the nuzzle to her head.
Yeri felt cornered, and Juyoung loved to corner her daughter.
“What do you want from me? Haven’t I given enough?” Yeri choked out weakly, looking at the gun, as its reality hit. It was there, and one wrong move, she'd actually kill herself.
“Go and pack. We’re going to Jeju. And leave your phone here.” She put the loaded handgun on the coffee table with a sharp click, leaving her daughter no choice, but follow the instruction. And with that, Yeri reluctantly put her phone next to the gun, and left to pack.
They left, got on a plane in Incheon, and 2 hours later she was sprawled on the king-sized bed of their villa. Yeri went to get her swimsuit on, while her mother suddenly disappeared to the kitchen, looking really stressed talking on the phone.
“No, Jinnie. I told you it’s the- the one with that- really “aura”. And with those fuckass glasses. She has a RBF constantly on her face. Make sure she’ll be PROPERLY taken care of, you know what I mean.“ Juyoung said clearly, while she didn’t know Yeri was eavesdropping. On other side of the phone, it was her shitty boyfriend probably, Nam Byeongjin judging from how her mother was talking like she got a stroke. That man was dumb as hell in Yeri's eyes.
However, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, as her mother worked with people, models, actresses. Harshness came in the job description. She hadn’t paid much attention to it, since she was used to being like this.
Yeri expected the trip to be like this, and sighing she left her there, looking forward to tan by the pool, since her phone was left in Seoul, along with the meet she was attend.
An hour later, her mother joined her beside the pool, pretending like she was looking forward to spending time together.
“Yeri-ah. Let’s have a good time, okay?” She settled her beach bag beside her daughter’s, getting on the oversized sunbed.
And all this was enough to distract the Queen Bee for the whole weekend, while at home, Kyung and others were captured and taken advantage of.
“I can’t convince you to come home with me, right?” Kyung interrupted her train of thoughts, and looked up at Yeri weakly, who just remembered what her mother was capable of.
“Absolutely not. I’m a bigger girl than you think I am. I’ll be just fine.” Yeri stroked Kyung’s face affectionally, while trying to mask how scared she really was.
Then silence settled over them. No one said anything, the reality of Yeri and Kyung separating hung over their heads, and it made everything feel like something was seriously ending. They let themselves sink into the couch, as they held each other, hoping this was only a “see you later” not a “never see you again”. Yeri held tightly onto her Kyungie, trying to inhale a part of her soul to keep with her while she’s hugging Uyu at night.
“I’ll miss you like crazy.” Kyung murmured into Yeri’s shoulder, also trying to memorize how Yeri fit in her arms, how she inhaled her air, how she smelled after waking up together, not being slathered in her weirdly particular vanilla scented perfume. She never smelled something quite like it, but that just made her even more special to her.
“You’re such a loser, Kyung.” Yeri joked, as if she wasn’t doing or feeling the same things.
“Your loser, bestie.” Kyung chuckled, but the word “bestie” hit weird now. She wasn’t sure what they were after this, but quite literally not just besties. She’d never be like this Jaena, Seulgi or Jaeyi.
“Keep it up then, I like it this way, bestie.” Yeri emphasized the word, which rolled off her tounge a bit bitter, but not enough to show.
While the dumbasses practically confessed their love for each other, hugging each other so close that nothing existed out of their intimate little world.. Seulgi had to physically restrain Jaeyi from headbutting these idiots.
However, the moment was broken when Yeri’s phone began to blare. Yeri froze, and pulled away from Kyung, who was also confused. Yeri looked at Jaeyi and Seulgi, who looked clueless as well, as she went and got her phone from the kitchen counter where she left it earlier.
Turns out.. the blaring sound was her mother’s ringtone. Something she hadn’t heard in so long, she just forgot about it.
“It’s mom..” Yeri looked at Kyung, not sure what to do, as the phone in her hand was blaring.
“Let it ring.” Jaeyi said, as she went and looked at the phone in question.
“But Jaeyi.. she never JUST calls me. This isn’t your mom.” Yeri said, looking at the still ringing phone, completely at a loss for a plan.
“Then answer it.” Seulgi said easily, and both Jaeyi and Kyung nodded.
Yeri reluctantly slid her thumb over the answer interface, just for her mom to disconnect.
“She disconnected.” Yeri said, as the security panel in front of the elevator started ringing.
They all looked towards the tablet that was mounted on the wall, worry overcoming their faces.
“She’s here.” Yeri said way too calmly, not even processing what is happening, before it dawned on her. “SHE’S HERE! GUYS, GO TO MY ROOM NOW.” Yeri panicked, and caught Jaeyi’s hand, dragging her as the others followed hastily after them.
As they stepped into her room, they saw how different it was from the rest of the apartment.
This was Yeri’s sanctuary: the bed wasn’t made, her clothes all over the floor, her notes spread on her table messily.
“Don’t look, I’m messy.” She said embarrassed. “Go, go, go. IN THE BATHROOM.” She ushered the girls in her, equally messy bathroom, as she shut the bathroom door, and caught her breath, before going out to face her mother.
The girls were shocked. Mostly Jaeyi and Seulgi. They never saw Yeri’s mother, but the way Yeri reacted, made them feel uneasy.
Kyung was hammered. She remembered their encounter two weeks ago, in this very apartment.
The way Juyoung spoke to them, not even sparing a glance at them, all of her was just repulsive. She never thought that she’d ever resent a woman in her life, let alone one who looked like the girl she was in love with, but she was just so disgusting with her every move. Her hands turned white as she put her fingers in a fist so tight, it hurt.
“Kyung..?” Jaeyi looked at the girl, who was furious and looked like was about to blow up this very second, but her expression changed as a voice was heard outside.
YERI’S POV
After collecting herself, Yeri took another deep breath and looked out of her room door. Her mom didn’t get in just yet, but it was just a matter of seconds.
She managed to ruffle her perfect hair, laying in her messy bed, making it look like she just woke up.
She looked at herself in the mirror opposite her bed. She for once, looked healthy.
Thank god she changed to her sweats, and cried a lot at Kyung’s, she was still puffy enough to sell it.
She didn’t have to wait for long for her mother to barge into the apartment.
“YERI, WHERE ARE YOU?” Juyoung yelled but the closed door muffled the noise a bit.
Yeri stayed silent, even holding her breah back, but she could only hope that the girls would do the same.
Juyoung footsteps rapidly rumbled on the way to her room, and abruptly stopped as she stormed in her room as loudly as possible.
Yeri was turned the opposite way in her bed, showing her back to her mother as she pretended to sleep through the commotion she was causing.
“Yeri, get up.” Her mother yanked off the duvet, making the “sleeping” Yeri’s eyes flutter awake.
“Mom?” Yeri groaned, playing that she really just woke up. "What the heck are you doing here?" She asked as she tried to get back her duvet.
"Doesn't matter. Wake the fuck up." Her mother yanked back the duvet, letting it fall on the dirty floor. "Why do you look like you're a zombie? Girls like you should give more thought to their appearances." She scoffed.
“Get ready now. We’re going to meet a VERY important person in an hour.” Juyoung said, as she stepped to Yeri’s wardrobe, pulling out a dress that she deemed good enough.
“Wear this. Hope this still fits..” Her mother eyed her, like she was a piece of meat, as she got up from her bed.
“Go, go, go. We don’t have time to sleep. Don’t make me bring the gun..” She clapped her hands as she walked out of her room, leaving Yeri alone.
Yeri bolted to the bathroom where the girls hid, and had heard everything.
She immediately turned on the shower, mostly to muffle their voices, then turned to the mirror above the sink, combing her hair.
“No talking, listen to me.” Yeri commanded as she looked at the girls one by one through the mirror. “Jaeyi, put that tracker thing on my phone.” Yeri threw her phone to Jaeyi, who instantly started to tap away without a complaint. And no one questioned it.
“Look, we’re going to a.. something in an hour. I’ll leave the door open for you to leave and I’ll delete the camera footage from my phone as soon as you guys leave.” Yeri said, plugging in her hair straightener.
“Seulgi take care of these two idiots for me. They don’t know real trouble, and I’d like to keep it that way.” Yeri looked at Kyung with worry in her eyes, as she sat on the edge of the bathtub, as the water ran behind her.
“Gotcha. Don’t worry.” Seulgi nodded easily, knowing that it was easier said than done.
“Yeri.. you should change your PIN. You don’t want your mom lurking in there anymore.” Jaeyi said as she handed back her phone to her.
“I will, thank you Jaeyi. Please follow my location, and if you see something weird reach out. If I don’t reply in an hour, come and get me.” Yeri said sternly. Jaeyi nodded, reluctantly agreeing that she won't follow her friend everywhere, however close they were.
“Kyung.” Yeri turns to Kyung, taking her hands again to make her listen for sure. “PLEASE don’t do anything reckless and keep your distance with me, both physically and online. I’ll delete your contacts from my phone, and block you. DON’T TRY TO REACH ME. I’ll be in contact with Seulgi, because she is private and my mom can’t find out about you and Jaeyi more.” Yeri stated, looking at all three of them. Jaeyi and Seulgi nodded.
“You sure there’s no other way?” Kyung looked at her, her glasses slightly fogged up from the warm water behind her.
“I’ll be fine. And you’ll be fine. You’re gonna catch them, and we’ll see each other every day till the rest of our lives. And for that I need you safe. I promise you, bestie.” Yeri kissed Kyung’s hands, trying to reassure the skeptical girl.
Jaeyi rolled her eyes at them, but Seulgi elbowed her in the side, signaling that it really wasn’t the time to confess their love as Yeri’s mother sounded pretty insane and was on the other side of the door, and if they started to make out here.. God knows what would happen.
“I’m like 80% sure that my mom came home because the arrest and wanting to take care of it before she becomes a flight risk on the other side of the world. It was not ideal getting chased by the MI6 or INTERPOL. AGAIN.” Yeri explained, going back to straighten her hair.
“What do you mean again..?” Seulgi looked up instantly. But Yeri just waved it off.
“Not important. So, swear to me Seulgi, that you’ll make sure these two idiots don’t do anything reckless.” She looked at her, holding up the ultimate pact: the pinky promise.
“I swear on Jaeyi’s life.” Seulgi said putting her hand on her heart, as Jaeyi slapped her back. “Hey!” She said offended looking back at her angry girlfriend. “I won’t let you die, I swear on Kyung’s life.” Seulgi pointed at Kyung, who just shrugged, hammered by the news.
“SEULGI” Yeri hissed and also slapped her, as she pulled out the straightener from the outlet.
“I swear on my life that these two won’t do anything. And I’m a tough cookie. You know this Yeri.” Seulgi winked at her.
“I highly recommend it. Otherwise, I’ll have to be the one to take that precious life away.” She poked her in the shoulder playfully.
“NOW.” Yeri held out her arms, completely surrendering. “Come here, group-.”
She couldn’t even finish her sentence, Jaeyi bolted to hug her tightly, then followed Kyung, who cuddled her side, burying her face in her shoulder. Then Seulgi smiled an them, as she gave her a side hug, and three squeezes, to assure her that they’ll be all right.
“If.. even a hair on your head is missing.. Imma found who did it and kill them cold heartedly, chop them up, put them in a garbage bag and throw that into the Han River.” Kyung said, murmuring it to Yeri’s shoulder as she clung to her side.
“Okay..” Yeri nodded, inhaling Kyung’s scent.
“Get in the line, Kyungie.” Jaeyi said.
“Please don’t ruin it, jagiya.” Seulgi said, pulling from Yeri because if she’d stay more, she’ll never let her go.
“Don’t be like that, Seulgi-bear.” Jaeyi also pulled away, squeezing her girlfriend’s cheeks, babying her. “Like you won’t kill for either of us.”
“I didn’t say that.” Seulgi pulled her girlfriend in, giving her a peck.
“PLEASE DON’T MAKE OUT WHILE I’M HERE” Kyung dragged Yeri away, still hugging.
“And you.” Yeri also held up Kyung’s cheeks. “I’m not kidding. I beg, don’t do anything reckless. Promise to me, that you’ll be waiting for me after the trials.”
“But if-“
“No if. If they try to do something to me, I’ll handle it. If I need back up, Seulgi will know. Am I crystal clear?” Yeri asked sternly.
“Yes..” Kyung nodded, resigning from the attempts to keep her close. “You don’t even love me” Kyung said fake-hurtedly, fake-sobbing, but Yeri just slapped her back.
“Kyung.. I swear to God..” Yeri chuckled.
“Don’t swear too much, it’ll be hard to keep up with all the swears.” Kyung said playfully.
“You’re annoying.” Yeri rolled her eyes, poking Kyung’s belly making her step away.
“You’re infuriating.” Kyung poked her back, a smile playing on her face.
Yeri just looked at her, and she realized that this annoying, infuriating, dorky girl was her everything. Her most precious possesion.
A someone who became so precious, she’d put her in a bed for the next few weeks, wrapped in bubble wrap and at least three bulletproof vests for the safety measure. Don’t lose the hard cap and the construction boots.
“Kyung. Promise me you’ll wait for me.” Yeri took her hands, looked into her eyes, as if she was scared she’ll break her, and squeezed three times.
“I promise.” Kyung nodded, the play was done, all seriousness from now on.
“Okay.” Yeri sighed, and turned to the golden couple, whom of course, were making out just silently like it was an ordinary situation. “Lovebirds” Yeri said, as they immediately got off of each other.
“We.. weren’t making out” Seulgi assured, but her mouth was smudged with Jaeyi’s lipstick.
“I’ll miss you guys too.”
Yeri gave them both a hug, trying not to linger longer than necessary, because she knew that this next few weeks will be extremely hard without them by her side.
“Now look at me once more, properly. Do I look nice?” Yeri twirled, her freshly straightened hair suited her nicely.
“Nice enough to not turn heads. I like this.” Kyung said eyeing her.
“Gee, thanks.” Yeri chuckled.
“You look convincing.” Seulgi said diplomatically, not wanting to upset her girl.
“You’re smoking hot.” Jaeyi winked at Yeri, elbowing Seulgi, who just nodded and gave a like.
“Okay. I’ll see you guys later.” Yeri took a last glance at all three of them, turning to open the door. “I’ll send Seulgi a text when the air is clear.” Yeri said, not looking back, because she knew, if she did, she’d never leave.
“Okay” they said in unison.
And with that Yeri stepped out of the bathroom, leaving the girls alone.