𝐀𝐋𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 ‣ jjk

二十七 ; don't fall away

day 10
10.12 am
lee haru

don't fall away

the next morning i wake up to the bright lights
shining through the splits between the curtains
not realising that there's a dumb smile
plastered on my face

i lift myself off the bed with a heavy sigh
and reach for my backpack on the floor
i take out my bucketlist
studying it carefully

so far i've only completed 3 things
leaving 12 left to check off

it's been more than a week already
i have 3 more until the lantern festival in busan

i push the bucketlist back into my bag
and tiptoe out of the room
heading towards the kitchen
the moment i smell something delicious

the old lady there greets me with a smile
before telling me to eat up
it's rice porridge with the aroma of chicken
something i used to eat a lot back at home

our housekeeper would usually
prepare it for me whenever i didn't have
the time to make my own meals
my parents used to eat outside a lot
and occasions where we'd end up
sitting together at the same table
like a proper family
are as rare as the blue moon

i swallow down the bowl
in an instant with zero shame
as i can't ignore the grumbling
of my empty stomach
i do remember eating a lot yesterday
but it seems like i'm often hungry these days

after the meal, i thank the kind lady
and look around for any signs of jeongguk

she says he went out before i woke up
and suggested that i go find him
she doesn't know where he went though
but i head up to my room to take a quick shower

the water is cold against my skin
and goosebumps rise up my spine
the shampoo smells like peach
it reminds me of the one i always used
everything seems to remind me of seoul
but for some reason
i don't miss it at all

i put on a new set of clean clothes
before going out into the streets
with a mask over my face

now, where could that boy be?

i walk along the sidewalk for awhile
sucking in the fresh morning air
after the rain, everything feels refreshing
birds are singing in the trees
and the wind is now cold
beating against my hair
the first snow will be here any time now
and i want to be outside when it happens

i finally stop in front of an antique shop
and glance into the window curiously
the shop looks dark and quiet
the lights look like they're off though
i test the door, it's unlocked
which means that the store is probably open

without thinking much, i step inside
through the dim lighting
there are old artifacts, frames
sculptures, jewellery
all covered in dust and dirt worth years
and they're all sitting on the shelves

there is no one else inside except for me
i look around for the owner
but he is nowhere in sight
i bite on the inside of my cheek
and admire the displays on the shelves

i've never been in a store like this before
so this is all new to me

i spot the sculpture of a ballerina
and gently caress it's dress
smiling because of how soft it feels
i must look like a child right now

and then a sudden reminder pops into my head
i always wanted to be a dancer
but it was going against my parents' wishes

that simple thought drifted away
replaced by the same anxious feeling

going back meant abandoning my freedom
giving up on my dream

and i can't bring myself to do that

but the dreaded time will come anyway

as soon as i think i'm safe here
the door to the store opens
and in walk two men in formal uniforms
they almost looked like...

the police

i duck behind some shelves
and they begin to search the store

that is when my luck fell to the gutter
an object drops on the ground
near my hiding spot
and i purse my lips
hoping they hadn't suspected anything
but i'm wrong

with the little chance i have left
i dash out of the door while
they have their backs turned
but i'm a little too late

they've seen me

i run
faster, faster
and i don't stop until i reach a bus stop
slumping against the bench
to catch my breathe

the police are getting closer
i can hear them shouting at me to stop
but i keep on running

until i bump into a figure
and turn back to apologise
when he grabs me
by both my shoulders
forcing me to look up at his face

"l-let me go!
i...i can't stay here
i can't let them get me—"

"pinky?
hey! stop that
why on earth are you running away?"
my body relaxes at jeongguk's voice
"what are you so afraid of?"

"i don't want to go back
i dont have a home
and i'm going anywhere but there
just please
don't let them find me"
i curl my fingers into his shirt
it trembles so much in fear, in desperation

i have never felt so desperate in my life

jeongguk's expressing softens
and he pulls me into an embracing hug
"then let me help you"
a hand on the back of my head
shushing me as i sob quietly

"let's" he begins
"let's run away, alright?
together, just you and me"