Chapter 3 ~ Kim Hyuna (1/1)

The next morning you race down stairs to find Miryo at breakfast with father and mother. It’s been awhile since they were actually able to have a meal with you and your sister and you’re a little stunned. You father looks up from his paper and smiles.“Good morning.” He says kindly. “Come eat breakfast before school.”Mother looks up and smiles warmly as well as she sips at her coffee.“When did you guys get home?” you ask as you sit by Miryo who’s busy stuffing her face with the breakfast delicacies. When mother and father were away on business a lot of the house staff also leave but when they’re home, the house seems full and busy.“Early this morning.” You mother replies with a smile. “What did you girls do last night?”Miryo shoots you a panicked look. The kid was incapable of keeping herself together under pressure.“Well, to be honest Miryo and I got in a little argument last night and when we got home we sort of separated to our own rooms.” Not technically a lie.“An argument about what?” mother asks worriedly.“Oh, just some stupid thing. You wouldn’t want to hear about it.” You answer. Still not technically a lie.Miryo’s shoulders relax as she goes back to her meal. You look at the clock to see that its 7:45am!

“Miryo, let’s go!” you say as you stuff bacon into your mouth and jump up. A maid hands you and Miryo your bags and you rush towards the front door. You turn before leaving. “Will you guys still be here after school?” you ask your parents.Both look at you quietly. Your mother has a sweet but sad smile and father looks a little uneasy. He smiles but shakes his head no. You nod and leave.After speeding to school you and Miryo manage to make it to your own classrooms in time for the 8:00am bell. You join up with CL who shares your classes and the day goes by normally. You can’t help but to think of JunHyung and the Beast boys but you haven’t really seen them much. You’re excited for 9thperiod because all six of them are in your Music Theory class. Today is your day to present your song and you feel a little nervous. The class is loud but the teacher quiets everyone down in order for you to perform. You’re about to start when more students enter from the back to take their seat. They sit behind the KARA girls who are also in the class. It’s the Beast boys. Each glance at you as they enter but it’s JunHyung who catches your gaze and holds it. His eyes seem to be smiling and you become more nervous for your song.You take a deep breath and play out the beautiful slow song you’d written the other night. It wasn’t bad. You get the class to clap for you a good amount and you feel like you may blush so you hurry to your seat next to CL. She smiles and pats your hands which are fists of nerves.“All right that’s all the projects for today.” The teacher announces. “Enjoy the weekend but the two that still need to present on Monday should be working hard. JunHyung, that means you.” The teacher singles out JunHyung since he tends to skip class a lot.“I’m on it.” JunHyung replies casually and the class giggles at his chicness. The KARA girls laugh a little too much but you ignore it. You and CL leave first from the room after the bell and make your way to your cars.“I wanted to apologize about last night.” CL says shyly.“Apologize? For what? I should be apologizing to YOU.” You reply in shock.“No, I mean I should have helped you more. I was a bad friend. I just… I couldn’t think. I didn’t know what to do. But you… you jumped onto that guy yourself. I was no help at all.” She looks down embarrassed.“No, you really were! I’m glad you were there for Miryo! You got her out and that’s exactly what I wanted. And you kept her calm. I wouldn’t want her trying to jump in.” you reassure her.“really?”“Really.”You both smile and she seems to feel better.

“Well, I’m the other one that goes on Monday. You gave me great ideas last night, so I think I’m going to go home and work on it now while it’s still sort of fresh.” CL laughs. “And your song was seriously so pretty!”

“Thanks, girl!” you call as she walks to her car.You smile to yourself, happy to have such a great friend in such a shallow school.“How are you?” a lower voice asks.You look to the side to see JunHyung casually walking by your side looking straight ahead. Your eyes open and you quickly look forward.“Uh… what?” you ask.“How are you feeling? Last night… must have seemed pretty scary. Are you feeling shaken up at all?” He sound genuinely concerned. JunHyung. One of the six most popular boys as school. JunHyung who supposedly has had more girlfriends that can be counted. He wants to know how you’re doing.“Oh, that.” You swallow. “I’m okay I guess. Thank you! Thank you… for helping us last night.”

“No problem.” The sound of arrogance comes back to his voice and you reach your car.You stop and turn to face him since he won’t seem to leave yet.“So, I’ve been thinking, and I think I know how you can repay me for my services.” He smiles, looking at your eyes.“Oh, right.” You say quietly.He takes just a couple steps but soon you’ve found yourself backed up against your car with him only inches from your face. He’s a little taller than you and you look up into his eyes. He looks at you as if he has a plan for something and you bashfully look away.“Oh, yes. I’m sure I’ve found a way.” He breathes and his warm breath tickles your forehead. For some reason, your heart beat seems louder than usual and your hand instinctively goes up to your side to feel it. “You’re very good with music.” JunHyung continues and you wonder where this is going. “And so, I was thinking you could help me compose my song for Monday’s project.” The entire atmosphere you thought you were feeling was suddenly gone as he backs up to look at you with a smile.Your face scowls slightly and you look away to hide your… disappointment?“What were you thinking?” he asks with a smirk.“I was just about to ask you the same thing.” You reply quickly. “What did you have in mind for the project.” You take his bait.“I want to compose a rap. I have a basic idea. Come to coffee with me and we can discuss it?” he asks.Suddenly you spot Miryo out of the corner of your eye as she skips towards your car. She stops a little ways away and her mouth drops open at the sight of you with JunHyung. Then she smiles and runs to you.“I have to take my sister home.” You reply.“No problem. I’ll pick you up at your place in about thirty minutes.” JunHyung urges on.Before you can decline, he turns and walks away towards his own car.“Unnie what did he want?” Miryo squeals with excitement.“It’s nothing. He needs… tutoring. You know, since you caused so much trouble last night.”

“Unnie, I said I was sorry!” Miryo pouts.“I know. Let’s go.” You say.“Unnie, did you see Hara and those KARA girls? They saw you and JunHyung at the same time that I did! I think Hara is jealous!” Miryo chirps on the way home.“Why would you think that?” you ask.“Because! JunHyung and Hara have dated on and off before. She’s probably still crazy about him! Who wouldn’t be? And it’s MY sister that’s dating him now! How wonderful! In that case, I forgive you for dying your hair just so that you won’t look like me.” She blabbers.You’re quiet for a moment in thought. JunHyung and Hara had been a couple? Since when? For how long? Any feelings you thought you had just had for JunHyung seemed to have disappeared with the realization that he had once dated Hara. You’d never follow up that skank and you never wanted any man that was stupid enough to fall for her.“Like I said, he only needs help with Music Theory.” You say half heartedly.“Whatever you say, unnie.” Miryo says sarcastically.Once you get home the house seems quiet again as your parents and most of the staff have left once again. You got to your room and change clothes quickly. Miryo sits at the table in the kitchen and goes between channels on the television.

“You’re going to be okay here alone, right?” you ask her suspiciously.“Sure!” she says without looking.“No leaving.” You add as you hear the doorbell ring.You go to answer it and see JunHyung on your porch. He’s smiling. He’s wearing nice jeans and a casual t-shirt under a black hoodie.

“Ready?” he asks you as you come out and shut the door behind you. You use your house key to lock it up, paranoid.“Sure.” You answer, remembering Hara.“Cool.” He replies as you two go to his black Bentley. He opens the passenger door for you and you get in.He goes to the other side and drives you two to a small café at the corner of the main street in the city. You both order something to drink and sit at a small table to work. He pulls out a folder filled with sheet music. You’re surprised. You thought he slept through all his classes and he barely even came to Music Theory. He catches your gaze again.“What?” he asks.“Nothing.” You answer. “You seem very… efficient.” You smile to yourself. He’s quite organized. You look at some different songs as he pulls out another sheet. He hands it to you and takes the others to put back. The song seems angry. A rap. A break up song.“Hm.” You think to yourself.“You don’t like it?” he asks and you look up to see his face full of concern. You smile in encouragement and his quickly changes to normal.“No, I do. But, maybe you can do a song that isn’t just all rap, you know? With your type of voice, it would sound unique to have slow parts as well.”

“I don’t think I can. I’m only good in rap.”“Well, you never know. I think it could sound nice.” You say as you hand him the music back. He looks at it and then a smile creeps onto his face. You stare at him, wondering what he’s thinking. He looks up and catches you yet again.“What?” he asks.“What are you thinking?” you ask and then regret it. You’ve always been open and honest with people. You’re used to saying whatever’s on your mind. When you look back up you see him smiling at you. A real smile, not a smirk. This time he looks down.“It’s nothing. I’ve kind of always wanted to sing some slower songs but other people tell me not to.” He seems lost in thought for a moment as if remembering something. His face twists to anger and then he smirks. “Actually, let’s do it. I think it will be perfect for this song.” He nods.You smile. “I think so too.”You two work on calming parts of the rap so that it has emotion. It has sadness behind the words of anger which give it more feeling. Soon you notice that both your drinks are gone and it’s getting dark.“I think I should go now.” You say unwillingly, thinking of what type of trouble Miryo could have possibly gotten into in your absence.“oh, right.” He says as you both get up. He walks you to his car and helps you in again. You two drive back to your home in a comfortable silence.“Thanks for the ride.” You smile as you get out.“Thanks for your help!” he calls back.

You turn back before going up the steps. “I guess we’re even now right?” you call out and then regret it immediately as you wish things weren’t even yet. You wanted to help more. You wanted more time.He seems to think about it for a moment before answering. “I suppose so.” He doesn’t sound completely convinced and that gives you hope. You go inside and lock the front door and then go up to your room to find Miryo. You can’t help but smile as you think about him. The day went by so easily. He was so kind and different from his usual arrogant self at school. He was actually normal. You liked it. He seemed like perhaps he could be sweet.You pass your room and go to the next one to find Miryo on her bed with her headphones in and her face engrossed in her laptop. You smile and wave and she waves back. You just wanted to let her know you were home.You go back to your room. You open the door still smiling and all of a sudden everything is different. You stare ahead at a figure crouched just behind your bed. A pair of eyes locks onto you. The window behind the figure is open leading out to a tree in the back yard. The figure wears a black hoodie with a mask covering their mouth and nose. Their eyes are open wide as if not expecting you either. Those eyes. Those eyes.“AH!” you scream high pitched so that the whole house seems to echo with your voice. The stranger’s eyes open wider in bewilderment at the power of your voice. You spin and slam the door hard before sprinting to Miryo’s room. You stop in her doorway. She’s off her bed and coming to you with panic in her eyes. You push her back inside with a force that sends her to the ground.

“Hide and be quiet!” you demand so fiercely that a tiger wouldn’t dare go against you. You slam her door shut and rush for the stairs. As you bound down the first flight you look over your shoulder to catch the dark figure from your room burst out your door and begin to run after you. You scream again and jump the next flight of steps resulting in you landed hard on your feet and then stumbling to the ground. You look back up to see the first figure coming down the stairs as two others that you hadn’t realized earlier peer down over the railing. You jump to your feet and sprint to the back of the house. You go straight through the kitchen and out the back door. The thundering sound of something big echoes in chase behind you making you sprint faster than you ever had before. Your adrenaline pushes you around the side of the house and down the driveway. The driveways isn’t straight but winds down to a gate at the end by the street. You run straight through the grass instead since you have no shoes anyways.You’re halfway to the gate that you really feel the presence of the stranger right on your heels. Before you even have a chance to glance at him a hard hand yanks your shoulder and you stumble as the figure crushes you to the ground. Both you and he grunt as the momentum flings him to his back as his arms lock grip around your waist. You throw an elbow hard into his chest and hear his gasp and then feel his grip loosen. You take advantage and manage to wrestle out and then run screaming to the gate.You burst out the gate and towards the street. Headlights eliminate the road and you scream as a car comes to a breaking halt right in front of you. Your hands land on the hood as it stops and you try to catch your breath. You open your eyes but can’t see into the car.You look back to find that the figure is no longer pursuing you. In just a matter of seconds you gather your options. 1) keep running. 2) get into the car with another stranger. 3) go back for Miryo… MIRYO! You left her!You break away from the car and sprint back to your house. Where’s my phone when I need it? You breathe to yourself as you race up the side of the house this time. You make it quickly to the side of the house and you stop outside to listen. You don’t hear anything. Perhaps the robbers have left already. You grab a key from a flower pot and unlock the side door. You slowly and quietly creep into the house. It seems even quieter in here. You tiptoe down the hall and through the kitchen. You grab a nice sized kitchen knife as a weapon and head for the lobby out front of the stairs and front door. You listen. It’s quiet. You ascend the steps. You stop at the second set and peer between the rail bars into your room. You don’t see or hear anyone. Your window still seems to be open. Maybe they’ve left. But what about Miryo?You crawl up the last steps and look to her room. The door is cracked open and her light is still on. You suddenly feel like you’re going to cry as your heart beats in your ears. You go quickly to her room and stop inside. You look around to see that nothing seems out of place but Miryo is not here. There doesn’t seem to have been any struggling. You go to her closet and fling the doors open. Nothing but clothes. You turn on your heels and go around her bed for her window. Something grabs a hold of your ankle and your squeal catches in your throat as you trip in a panic and kick the hand off your leg. The knife clatters to the floor and you scoot back to retrieve it. You grab it and point it at the hand under the bed.“Unnie?” the small voice whimpers.”“Mir…Miryo?” you gasp in a choked voice.

Miryo pops her head out from under her bed and she looks at you with wide, tear-filled eyes.“Oh, Miryo, you’re okay!” You exhale as you stand and drag her out from under her bed. She cries as she hugs you. “Let’s go.” You say as you take a hold of her wrist and quickly lead her out and down the stairs.“Hyuna.” A male voice calls up from the bottom of the steps. You stop for a second before recognizing the voice.

“JunHyung!” you practically scream with relief. He stands at the bottom and is looking up at you two with frightened eyes. “What are you doing here?” you demand as you and Miryo run down the stairs.“What do you mean? I practically just ran over you out there! Then you don’t even stop to apologize for putting your hands on my car but you run away from me?” he asked confused. He stops when he sees our terrified expressions. I can’t find my voice through my ragged breathing.“Oh, JunHyung!” Miryo says between sobs for me. “There were thieves here! They tried to hurt Hyuna and find me!”JunHyung’s eyes open with shock and he locks onto your face. He looks like he’s taking in every little detail about you and you feel as if you're going to break down now that your adrenaline is running out. Your eyes are overflowing with slow tears and your stomach feels as if you might be sick. Was someone tipping your world to the side?Then a small detail catches your eyes and pushes its way to the surface. Over JunHyung’s shoulder you stare at the front door.“JunHyung?” your voice cracks. “How… how did you get in here?”“The front door.” He says flatly.“But… I swear I locked it. How?”

“…It was open when I came in.” he answered.And then you are getting sick. Your holding my hand over your mouth as you run to the bathroom. The realization of the events has forced your body to its breaking point. The door was wide open for JunHyung to enter. It was definitely shut when you went upstairs to find Miryo. That meant that they were still there. They were there, under your feet, as you looked for Miryo upstairs. They could see you. Hear you. And then they had left.