[FF] THE BEAST'S SKY: Under Arrest

Haneul sat beside Hyunseung who was driving calmly. She didn’t dare to ask any question although all words had already been in the tip of her tongue. For a second she looked at the beautiful boy and looked away through the window. The car walked smoothly on the road of Gangnam.

“What is it, Haneul ssi?” Suddenly Hyunseung asked Haneul out of his curiosity. He must know that Haneul had stared at him just now. “Is there something you want to ask?”

Haneul gazed him with a strong gaze. Hyunseung smiled and turned on the radio. “Wanna listen to some good songs?” Haneul knew the boy just tried to make everything easy for her, and him –both of them.

“You know, Hyunseung ssi, this is pretty awful that you turn on the radio to let me hear some good songs when I practically never get interested into music to melt down this awkward moment. So, just elaborate this situation, period.” Haneul frowned which made Hyunseung couldn’t hold back his laughter. “What?” Haneul crossed her hands in front of her chest.

“You are beyond adorable.” He whispered, Haneul felt that she blushed a little.

“I am… not.” She hissed. “But, if you really mean it, thank you.”

“Ha-ha-ha…,” Hyunseng laughed before taking the brake because of the traffic. “I know pretty well about Dujun. But, I don’t know that you are actually as interesting as him.” He closed his lips, trying to not laugh again, but failed. “I am sorry.” He sighed. “I just can’t…. So, you don’t like music?” He asked, in a funny way. “Pretty weird and nice…. Books maybe?”

Haneul looked at him in a daze. Books maybe? Of course I love books! “Can’t we just into the point, Hyunseung ssi? What are you doing here driving me to some place that I don’t know because this road doesn’t take me to my home?” Haneul still demanded an explanation of the weird today.

“Why? You don’t like to hang out with me?” He chuckled. “I am a quite good companion though.” He added. “I can even keep your secret.”

“Yeah, it is because you don’t talk a lot.” Haneul said in a fully sarcasm. “Do you?”

“Yeah,” He smiled. How many times have this guy smiled to me? Haneul rolled her eyes, something fishy happened here. “Because I don’t like to talk a lot, how bout we get to the more real stuff?” He let another smile form in his lips.

The car had stopped.

“Where is it?” Haneul looked to the shop in front of the parking lot where Hyunseung parked his car. “What is it about?” She asked the boy who supposed to sit still on his seat but he’s gone. “Huh, Hyunseung ssi?”

“Knock knock.” Someone knocked the window, and it was Hyunseung. “Come on. Let me show you something real.” And he opened the door for her. Haneul didn’t have any choice so she just got out from the car anyway.

She followed Hyunseung who walked fast to the shop. It was a clothes shop. Haneul still tried to connect the dots, when she saw them.

“What are you guys doing here?” Her jaw dropped.

“Unnie!” A girl with chubby cheeks and hair in bun hugged Haneul tightly. “I have missed you…, how are you?” She was Sohyun.

“Hi, unnie!” now it was Jihyun’s turn to hug me.

“Unnie!” And Jiyoon too.

“Yo!” Gayoon was as disrespect as ever. But then both of them smiled and hugged each other. “It’s been awhile. Everything’s okay, nuts?”

“Call me what?” Haneul pushed her. “Nuts?”

“And berries!” Jihyun pointed to Gayoon. And five of them laughed together.

“What are you guys doing here?” Suddenly reality snapped Haneul back and she recalled that these girls were too out of place being here with her and Hyunseung.

“Help you, nuts.” Gayoon said while hugging my shoulder. “Let choose some beautiful dresses for you.”

“For what?” Haneul asked, didn’t really know what was going on here and started to believe that there was no function of even trying to connect the dots. There was no even a dot here. It was completely a dark hole. She was completely lost.

“You will see later, unnie!” Sohyun smiled. “Just choose some you like…, ahh, I miss you a lot.” Haneul always couldn’t resist her sweet tone and the scent of strawberries which so much different with Haneul’s boring perfume scent.

“Is 4Minute doing well?” Haneul asked. Sohyun nodded and whispered something to her ear. “Really?” Then She looked at Jihyun.

“What?” She asked.

“Maknae said you have boyfriend now. Really?” Haneul asked in disbelief. “That guy from ZE:A? Hya…, congratulation!” Haneul laughed. “Any other with hot news?” She looked to the rest of the girls.

“I have.” Gayoon replied. “You.” She pointed to Haneul.

“Me?” She asked.

“You with the dress are the hot news. And it must be done in just an hour from now.” She read her wrist watch. “Wanna kind of help us, nuts?”

“Wha—” Haneul asked but ... “Don’t ask anymore!” Hyunseung yelped. “Help her out, girls!” With that the girls had taken Haneul to the world of clothes and dresses and stuffs, she couldn’t even breathe, and ask. She had been like a prisoner under arrest.

to be cont

previous

[FF] THE BEAST'S SKY: A Weird Day

Haneul loved any kind of movies, no exception whether it was drama or horror or action or anything else. But, this time Haneul couldn’t enjoy it. Why? The reason was… he watched the movie with a popular guy, called Lee Gikwang –freaking Lee Gikwang, the member of BEAST. It was not like she didn’t know and like him, but she felt the pressure of should have walked along with him. Haneul felt that she must help him to stay save that no one of his fan girls would recognize him. If he was Dujun, Haneul would never feel that way because you know, Dujun seldom asked her to go to cinema. If he really wanted to watch movie he would bring her the DVDs and watch it at home. Bored, yeah, but safe!

After two hours of watching the movie with masks on and sitting side by side, Haneul could finally feel the oxygen –ffuh, time is up, time to go!

“Gikwang ssi…,” Haneul looked at the guy who seemed in a daze, “Are… are… you okay?” Haneul asked when she realized Gikwang’s facial expression.

“Ah, yes, ah, I am okay –it’s just that the movie is… good.” He combed his hair with his fingers. “What is it, Haneul ssi?” Now he looked at Haneul who eyed him. “I know you want to say something. Go ahead…”

“Ehm… the movie had finished… now, may I go home?” Haneul asked.

“Uh, well, aren’t you… alit bit hungry, Haneul ssi?” Gikwang asked while arching one his eyebrows. Haneul looked at him in disbelief –what the heck?

---

I thought Gikwang will bring me to a restaurant, or something like that, but what is it with amusement park in the middle of the day? It’s hot by the way –Haneul sat on a bench while waiting Gikwang who said that he needed to go to the toilet before buying the tickets to enter amusement park. She held a beef burger in her hands. She didn’t expect that Gikwang just merely wanted to buy her a set of beef burger when he asked ‘aren’t you… alit bit hungry, Haneul ssi?’ buhuuuu –my stomach growls, you know!

“Haneul ssi!!!”

Haneul heard voices called her name. She looked around to find the sources. There stood two boys, one was a bit shorter than the other one. “So there you are! Hi hi- annyeong!” the shorter one ran toward Haneul.

“Who are you?” Haneul couldn’t see the face because this guy was just like Gikwang wearing mask to cover his face. The other one did the same thing too. “Do I know you?” Haneul started to get frantic.

“It’s me, Yoseob.” The guy who claimed himself as Yoseob lowered his mask a little, “see?” and put it on again in lightening speed. “And me,” the other one opened his mask a second, “Junhyung-ie.” He chuckled seeing Haneul whose eyes opened widely.

“Guys! What the hell are you both doing here?” Haneul’s eyes started to search for Gikwang. “Where is Gikwang?” She asked. “He said… he wanted to…,”

“There is no Gikwang anymore! It’s now ours!” Junhyung said while embraced Haneul’s shoulder. “Kajaaa!” He screamed. Yoseob led in the front, walked lightly like a little kid.

“Wait –wait… what is it actually?” Haneul whispered to Junhyung. “What you guys trying to do, huh?” There was no an answer from Junhyung, he just completely ignored Haneul.

Haneul couldn’t stop these guys. She felt like she had tried all objects in this amusement park. Yoseob and Junhyung always had full energy –jumped from one place to another one. She could only follow both of them. “You know we have no schedule today, and because it is not in a holiday or weekend this amusement park rather quite, and it feels good, doesn’t it, Junhyung-ie?” Yoseob who suggested to ride another object with a trampoline and net and ropes and… –Haneul couldn’t even define them – linked his arms on her and Junhyung’s shoulders. “Are you ready for the next fun stuff?” He gazed both of his friends.

“I –I… can’t we…,” Haneul tried to whisper something.

“No... no… no… we are not stopping yet…,” Yoseob shook his head.

Haneul looked at Junhyung, wanting some helps, but the boy just shrugged his shoulders, “Sorry. I can’t help it.” Then he followed Yoseob who had already been ready to ride the next object. Haneul frowned and left a sigh.

Ugh. Haneul swept the sweats from her forehead, watching Yoseob and Junhyung playing with balloons. What happened today, seriously? Why these boys appeared before her nose one by one today? She knew that today they had a day off. But, this was not something to be expected if there really were something to expect though. If today were the day off of them, she should be with Dujun instead. Not with these freak guys. Oh yeah, she forgot. She had set the boundary with Dujun. She sighed. “Hi, guys, if you want to still play here and you don’t need me anymore, may I just go home?” Haneul asked in a loud voice made the boys ran towards her.

“Why? Do you have something to do at home? Busy of doing something?” Yoseob sat beside her.

Oh no! I don’t have anything to do. “Of course I do.” Haneul replied. “So, may I?” she asked.

“What business? We can help.” Cut Junhyung.

Oh no! Thank you! I have been busy handling you guys today. “Oh,” Haneul looked taken a back, stared at Junhyung, “Really? You wanna help me?” she stopped, watching Junhyung and Yoseob nodded in sync. “Help me serving my mom and sister at home…,” Haneul crossed her hands in front of her neck, “like a slave…. Oh really, guys? Do not kid me.” She then patted the boys’ hands.

Yoseob and Junhyung looked into each other faces. “Oh.” They hesitated. “We better back off.” Junhyung said while ignoring Haneul’s gaze. Haneul left a mocking smile.

“Well then, let someone take you home.” Yoseob smiled.

“Who?” Haneul asked. Is there another thing they plotting now?

“You will see once we get into the parking lot. Let’s go!” Junhyung and Yoseob dragged Haneul to the parking lot. The girl just couldn’t help but surrender. She got so much shocked when she knew who the ‘you’ that should take her home. He stood there in front of his car. Jang Hyunseung.

Oh, what a weird day!

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Darkness Becomes You

1

I wake up to the sound of dog barking. I don’t really know it is the real dog which is barking or just me hearing it inside my unconscious mind during my slumber. I see the ceiling of my very room. This is white. I sweep my sweats away from my forehead and try to sit, panting and breathing fast. The clock reads twelve midnight.

As always.

I grab a bottle of mineral on the table beside my bed and gulp it down until I feel my throat is not dry anymore. I hear the rhythmical voice of my roommate’s breathing. She is in deep sleeping, I guess. I look at her in jealousy. I hope I can sleep at least as sound as her. Two hours are good enough. I just drifted off like thirty minutes ago and now already wake up. This is crazy. This thing always happens to me.

As always.

“Chloe…,” I hear the voice of my roommate.  She is eyeing me while pulling her blanket. “Are you okay?” She turns on the lamp by clapping his hands. “Is it another nightmare?” She continues, “Do you want me to pat you while sleeping?” She offers me some helps like always.

But, I just shake my head weakly. “No. Thank you, Mill.” I say while kicking my blanket away. “I’ll just go to the kitchen dorm to get some coffee. You go back to sleep.” I smile while crossing the room and leave Mill alone, to make sure I don’t disturb her nap. It has been bad after the attack and she needs to get some peaceful sleep before facing a new day tomorrow.

It’s different for me. I just can’t sleep. That’s usual habit and I don’t think I can go back to sleep until tomorrow so I better get myself couple cups of coffee before sitting in hours by the window of dining room where some of us usually and casually will talk about many things that happen around in the city or the government and playing ping pong or chess or just throwing each other cans of beer which the boys steal it from the bar around college corner. Sometimes, we just simply laugh at the stupid and hilarious TV program. And for me, I just simply love to sit here, see the trees, the darkness, and hear the sounds of dog barking or just the wind sound, while smelling the coffee on my hands.

“Haven’t gone to bed, Chloe?” Someone’s voice from my back jerks me. I turn my head to the direction of the sound. I see this tall guy with hazelnut hair and some sweats on his forehead. His warm chocolate or hazelnut or even black eyes, maybe, I don’t know, look at my eyes straight. He is Shayne, my only friend since childhood. “Another bad dream, huh?” He asks casually while sitting on the seat beside me. “Mind to tell me?” He brushes some hairs on my forehead.

“Just the dogs were barking.” I say. “Want some coffee?” I ask, offer him my coffee. “No sugar.” I add.

“Thanks.” He takes the mug and sips it and hands it to me again. “Why you still prefer no sugar, Chloe?”

“I don’t see any different whether adding the coffee with sugar or not,” I sigh, as the trees on the yard whooshed by the wind, “I still can’t go to sleep.”

“You better take some tea, then.” He says, laughing, showing his white teeth and I just shrug my shoulder. “Coffee makes you stay all the night, doesn’t it?”

“Perhaps.” I answer. “But, it gives me the sanity.” I add.

“True.” Shayne nods as both of us slowly attach to the sound of the wind whooshes the trees as the darkness starts to climb to the dangerous night.

“Did you go practice just now?” I ask in order to break the silence between us. “I see you sweating a lot.” I point his forehead.

“Yeah,” he replies, “you get the sanity with that coffee, me with the practice. It helps me a lot.”

“I know.”   I say.  I don’t know this is the right thing to do or not, but I just touch his hand and intertwine his fingers with mine. “All things will be alright.” I say, looking straight to his hazelnut eyes which warmly look at me back.

“Thank you, Chloe.” He says while bending to my face and I can feel a slight kiss from him on my cheek. I stay still, don’t know what to do. “Thank you again.” He repeats. I just nod and pretend to not make big deal of that sudden kiss he did.

“How is your dad doing?” I ask. “The government is starting to go crazy. This is not your dad’s fault.” I take some breathe. “Your dad is forced by the party he is in.”

“I know, seriously.” He says while intertwine my fingers with a stronger force. I don’t dare to break the arrangement. “After the attack, everyone turns out to blame dad. But, I know he is just there to be the puppet of his party.”

I don’t dare to speak, not even blink my eyes. This is true after this noon attack, Shayne’s dad which is the president of this country starts to be blamed over it. No one knows the real motive of that attack except the president himself and the parties and the rebels. We all know this rebellion has been started for decades and nothing happens as the result. And I personally know the president himself almost these twenty years of my life as a good and wise man. I don’t think he will be cruel one. He is a good president who loves to save the starving kids and all. He is no mean. That’s what I believe.

“Today’s attack is the scariest ever in my life.” I say, after a long pause from Shayne which I think he won’t continue to talk. “I don’t ever see the Guard Men raise their guns to the citizens.”

“The rebels want some justice over the death of one of their leaders.” Shayne frowns. “I don’t know what actually they want from the government.” He looks at me. “Don’t you think the government has given them what they need?” He asks. I look at him, taken a back, I don’t know what the right words to say as still there are many kids and family and individuals out there starving. It’s not like the government on fault, but you know, the habit of this country makes me tingle when every year they want some of the kids of the country to show up on the Learning Hall to make a line to be ready to go to army. For the poor they make a life by making their kids work for them. That’s what actually make them angry and start to rebel. Although, I am supposed that those parents have to work hard themselves, instead of their children. But, the government also doesn’t do enough by forcing those kids to go to army when they should be on school to get some standard knowledge. It’s not the president’s fault. It is the party’s fault.

It is the fault of my dad.

~~~