Chapter Text
In just one day, I said the wrong thing.
Rika shrieked, anger that I had never seen, and before I knew it, I felt unbearable pain. She screamed of how I betrayed her and her dreams to save the world.
Was this blood?
My left… She had attacked my eye.
I could still see with my right eye. I saw her run away and I tried to reach out but I stopped myself.
It was no use. She was forever gone.
Was this…the end?
I lied to the five of them. I couldn’t let them know what Rika had done to me. Her death and funeral were to erase any doubts for their own good.
I didn’t want them to know that the Rika they knew would harm someone after one harmless comment.
I couldn’t let them feel the same as I did. To make sure I didn’t say something by mistake again, I didn’t go to the chat often. They would quickly see that I wouldn’t be the same and ask questions.
It was better to make them worry than to have them realize the truth.
Traveling to take photos was difficult at first. It was a little hard at first but I didn’t want to give it up.
I couldn’t let it go away. It felt like a test from above to see if I would give up. I almost did give up if it weren’t for the RFA members.
I wasn’t going to fail anyone else.. …Is what what I told myself.
She came out of no where with the code for Rika’s apartment. I knew what was going on when Luciel called me about it. I let them believe that this was Rika’s doing in a symbolized way. Another lie, another way to not make them suspicious.
That’s what I thought.
They started to ask questions after I entered the chatroom again when the hacker came back.
Just who was…. No. It couldn’t be.
Luciel mentioned two words that sent chills. The trauma made me freeze, leading to Luciel to ask if I was there.
I told him to give me the location. He kept asking if I knew them. I told him that I would tell him everything on the way. Luciel’s reaction was exactly what I figured it would be, but I didn’t regret it. He had every right to know the truth now.
When we finally arrived at the location that Luciel tracked down, I almost Luciel to stay back but I would need his help.
I hadn’t expect to see what he also saw. His brother…so different from now and Rika… Rika she was the one who was most different now. It was if she thought she was a deity herself. The so called Savior for the group.
Luciel was frozen in place.
I couldn’t even see Rika and I honestly didn’t want to see her like this. I wanted to remember the times before she attacked me. Me…she claimed to love.
She laughed at me and Luciel, saying that she was going to destroy RFA. She said it had been a failure that needed to be cleansed.
I told her to stop. More like begged…
Had she always been this way? Was I the one at fault?
I don’t want anyone else to become like this, to lose themselves to the point of insanity.
I wasn’t going to get close to anyone ever -
“…?”
…
“V?” called out a gentle voice.
“Huh?” I blinked, the party noises came back full force as the memory was quickly pushed away. I moved my head to see who called out to me.
“V, you don’t look well.” Such a soothing voice…
I stared at her.
Luciel introduced me to the one who had invited the guests. Oh, right, it was her that made this all possible. She had done it with no problem after she was brought to RFA by RIka’s -
I shoved the thought away and forced a smile.
“You did great inviting this many guests,” I told her.
Her eyes seemed to try to find mine. My very dark sunglasses were blocking her, keeping her away - as if to keep her from getting too close. What I had done to Rika I didn’t want to happen to anyone else.
“Are your eyes really okay?”
My breath caught in my throat that I almost choked. I had to open my mouth for air as I looked at her in shock. She had…seen right through me regardless.
“Yeah…I can still see.” I felt the need to really see her. A wish for my left eye to become healed to see who she was entirely.
Why though? Had I done enough to someone who I loved with all my being that I destroyed her? I don’t want to destroy anyone else, especially the woman before me.
Was I so desperate to see her?
My right eye kept following her throughout the party, watching her greet guests. Even if I tried to focus on another, they kept going back to her.
…What is wrong with me? I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want this. I don’t understand. Why, why is this happening?
“Hey, V?”
Luciel was looking at me and I noticed that I was covering my eyes.
“Just too much light. I’ll be fine, Luciel.”
The auction for my photography seemed to be doing fine. Yet there she was at the corner of my right eye. No, no. I have to move away entirely. There was too much light radiating from her. I walked over to the side wall of the grand room.
“V? What’s wrong?”
I smiled at Luciel, “I actually need a break.” He looked worried, but I didn’t try and tell him I was fine.
Now I couldn’t see her. This was good. I could focus on the party as a whole. All of the talking, laughing, it felt the same yet also…different. It felt more lively. More genuine.
Was this her doing?
“Good evening,” began Jaehee on the mic. "Thank you everyone for coming here, and accepting invitations given by-“
My vision on my left eye became even more blurry before adjusting again. Why was this happening…?
"Please come up.” There was clapping and my right eye locked on her immediately as she walked up the steps to the stage.
“I want to say thanks to those who have come here to the RFA party. I had a great time inviting all of you since the rest of the members helping me greatly. I hope all of you are having an enjoyable time and hope that you continue to have one until the party ends. I…also hope that all of you leave with a smile.”
My eyes widened.
“Thank you,” she said with a bow before walking down the stage.
Before I knew it, I had already joined the rest of the RFA members.
Jumin was the first to notice me. "Oh, V, there you are.“
"Sorry, these lights are too bright for me.”
“We can lower them.” Before i could stop Jumin, he pointed to the light switch where an attendant was standing. The lights dimmed down a bit while the chandeliers glittered in the soft light. The guests reacted positively.
“Hello.”
There she was right beside me on my left. If…if I could just look there, I could probably see more of her.
“She really did a great job,” commented Jaehee.
“Yes,” agreed Jumin and Zen at the same time.
Yoosung laughed. "I’ve never seen this many people! It’s so exciting.“
"Just please don’t download anymore apps you don’t know, okay?” said Luciel in concern.
She responded to them with a smile matched with words that made the other members happy.
Maybe I could…feel happy again too?
“V.” she spoke up when the others left to talk with their guests.
“Yes?”
“You lied about the lights being too bright.”
She was much too observant. "I didn’t want to worry them.“
"Aren’t they your friends? You should trust them more.”
Oh I knew. It made it even harder to tell them. "I’ll talk to them afterward. They were looking forward to this party.“ I finally turned to look down at her. "Thank you for making this possible. I haven’t seen them happy this much since Rika passed.”
“But are you happy?”
Again. She saw through me again. I smiled down at her. "Please, don’t worry about me.“
"Hmm. That’s a very sad thing to say with a fake smile.”
She was…incredible. Did they know this and sent her because of it? Was it to destroy me?
I wouldn’t care either way. Even the sun died out eventually.
“V, can I show you something?”
My eyebrows rose. "What is it?“ Did she prepare something for me?
"Over here.” She began walking and looked back, noticing that I didn’t follow. "Come on.“
I followed after her without a second thought. I greeted guests quickly on the way while she ushered me towards a table covered with a large piece of black paper and white markers.
"Look, I had all of the guests sign and leave a message.”
I leaned down a little to read some of them with my right eye with ease.
-This party was fabulous~! So many wonderful men, I hope to come to it again!-
-I didn’t know the Chef also played LOLOL, I got his screen name and we’re gonna play later.-
-TYLENOL IS THE GREATEST DRUG AND CATS ARE THE GREATEST ANIMAL-
-Ohh~ I got so inspired for another book ^^ Will come again!-
-Hurrah~~ Party was great, some people wanted to hear tradition songs. Will stay in touch with you sweets~-
-I will set another appointment for our association to meet again,please leave us the date for the next one. And if I may: Jaehee is my role model!-
-Party so nice. Really good person. If need oil, will send quick. Got more business!-
“What do you think, V?”
“This is…”
I realized my mouth was hanging open and closed it. I looked over at her.
I wanted to see her.
I wanted to see the woman who came up with such a simple, yet powerful, way to show that everyone could get along no matter their differences.
I spoke her name for the first time.
“Yes, V?”
I was going to get that surgery done no matter what so I could see this incredible woman before me.
“Thank you.”
It had been a long time since I smiled so genuinely like this.
She smiled back at me. "I knew you would be happy seeing that. Ah, sorry, I don’t mean the pun.“
"No, it’s fine.”
I stayed around that table talking with her as the party died down and I got to see more and more messages being added.
Not one party guest walked passed it, each every one left a message.
“We should write one!” Yoosung had a sparkle in his eyes.
“We’re not even guests,” reprimanded Zen.
“No, no, do it anyway,” she told them.
“Okay, but don’t look until we leave!”
“I promise.”
One by one they left while I kept her busy, as was the so called plan.
Now it was just the two of us and some of the clean up staff.
“You leave one too, V.”
“Me? I didn’t do anything compared to the rest of you.”
“You’re still a member though. You also took the photographs that was auctioned.”
She was like a bright new star.
“All right. Keep your promise to not read it until after I leave.”
She laughed at my repeat of Yoosung’s deal. “I promise.” She turned away and began helping the clean up staff, who only told her to not to worry.
It felt weird to write for the first time after my eye became damaged. Unlike typing on the phone, I had to keep in mind the height and width of the characters. Though thanks to the white markers on the large black paper, I could see it clearly with just my right eye.
With the message done, I announced my leave and walked out of the large doors. The sun shone still in the sky in the late afternoon.
My dark sunglasses managed to keep it from getting too bright compared to her light that managed to reach me with ease.
I wonder if she would smile seeing my message. I looked behind at the double doors that I had just walked through before taking my leave with help of the bodyguards that Jumin assigned.
When I was clear from the crowd, I took out my phone and went to the messages with Jumin. He had sent me info of a surgeon he highly recommended. All I had to do was press the call button.
Weeks, no, two years ago I would have hesitated.
Not anymore.
…
The familiar crowds as I walked to my destination were so clear. Had the world always been this vibrant?
The surgery had been a success and now, I was back. I hadn’t met with the other members yet since I had someone I wanted to meet with first.
I walked into a building and headed to the elevator area. I pressed the button and waited while pressing the home button my phone.
We stayed in touch with the message system in the app.
It was like a new beginning for me and she was my largest support. Somehow she would tell me exactly what I needed to hear. I never had a surgery before. My eyes were important in my line of work, but it wasn’t just because of my work that I had to get it done.
The elevator dinged before opening and I walked in, my shoes clacking against the title floor. I swiped my card and It closed before taking me up to the penthouse.
My phone buzzed, notifying me of a message and I looked down quickly.
-Can’t wait to see you!-
Such a simple text that held so much love behind it. My lips quirked up into a smile. The long way up felt like forever, but I would get there eventually. That’s what she taught me with her bright light that helped guide me back on my path.
The long awaited ding was the second noise music to my ears. With the doors opening, I stepped into the well lit room that welcomed immense yet comforting light in.
“Welcome home, V.”
Oh… She stepped into my line of sight and her eyes met mine with warmth.
Warmth…that was what was different. I never felt that before.
“You’re…beautiful,” I managed to breathe out.
She smiled with a blush and fidgeted. Cute. Then she noticed something. "V…your eyes…“
Your eyes are like the sky, V. Rika’s words when she first saw them echoed in my ears.
"Are they better now?” The echoing stopped. I hadn’t expected for her to ask of my well being. Usually people commented about my eyes first.
She really is incredible.
“Yes, I can see everything now. I can…finally see you.” I gently brushed her cheek with my right hand. She felt so warm. Feeling greedy, I embraced her, pulling her to me.
“Oh!” she let out in surprise.
“Thank you,” I said in her ear, my voice choking a bit. "Thank you…“
She hugged me tight without saying anything. I didn’t need or want words right now, I had all I needed and wanted with her arms around me.
Something wet slid down my cheeks. I knew it wasn’t blood. Nor was it just tears. It was happiness.
I finally found that happiness with her.
Even the sun needs a star to help brighten its dark days. Whether it made sense or not to anyone else, it didn’t matter.
"I love you,” I managed out while blinking back the tears. It wasn’t the first time I told her this. I told her this in the messages and on the phone. But in person…in my most vulnerable…I needed to tell her. "I treasure you. You’ve been my support ever since that party.“
"V..” She noticed that my hands were shaking a little.
“I’m…” I cleared my throat since it felt dry. 'I’m fine,’ I would’ve said months ago to hide it. I kept nothing from her. "I’m lost without you.“ She shifted in my arms to look up at me. Her cheeks were also wet from crying.
"I love you too, V.”
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“Huh?”
She was so cute when she was shocked like this while blushing. I took out the ring from the pocket of my jacket and held it for her - and me - to see. "I wish to marry you.“
Usually you only made wishes on stars, but…
She covered her mouth with her hands. "Oh….” She wiped her tears and looked up at me happily. "Yes, V.“ Then she added,"Wish granted,” she replied playfully. I loved that about her too.
With the ring slid on her ring finger, we met each other in a tear flavored kiss with a promise for a future together.