SOLEiL

“I FINISHED! I FINISHED MY COLLEGE APPS, [NAME]!” Woonhak yelled ceremoniously over the line. Wincing from the sheer volume of your best friend’s voice, you pulled the phone away from your ear as he continued to yell about submitting his final college application.

“Couldn’t this wait until the morning?” You responded groggily, suppressing a yawn as you rubbed at your eyes. 

“No, no. We need to go out. Right now,” Woonhak’s voice sounded too bright, too excited for you to stay mad. “We need to celebrate!!”

“Maybe when it’s not ass o’clock? I’m tryna sleep, Woon.” 

“Nope, too late. Look outside.” As if on cue, you heard a quiet tap on your glass window. Clambering out of bed with your phone still pressed to the side of your face, you peeked outside to catch a glimpse of your best friend standing in your backyard, a wide grin playing on his lips.

“Are you insane? It’s–” You paused to pull the phone away from your face, checking the screen to read the time before pressing it back to your ear. “–it’s almost 4 am. What business do you have in my backyard at 4 in the morning?”

“Lot’s of business,” Woonhak flashed another bright smile and waved his hand aggressively at you through the window. “Come on, please?”

You leaned against the pane of your window with a huff, peering down at your best friend who offered his best pout. With your arms crossed over your chest, you finally gave in. “Fine. I’ll be out in ten.”

Woonhak pumped his fist in the air in excitement and you turned back to your dark room, scrambling to find some clothes.

Turns out, your local 24-hour diner wasn’t actually open 24 hours of the day and you had the luck of finding out the hard way.

“What the hell did you do?” You cried out as you sprinted back to the car with your best friend hot on your heels. The once dark diner was now lit up, lights brighter than the sky on the fourth of July as a loud burglar alarm wailed for the entire neighborhood to hear. “I told you to just check if it was open!”

“I don’t know, just run!” Woonhak grabbed your hand and tugged you along, pushing you into the passenger seat of the car before getting in and starting the engine. He began backing up at an alarming speed and you clutched the grab handle, adrenaline rushing through you as Woonhak swerved dangerously through the dark, empty parking lot.

The car screeched as Woonhak made a sharp turn onto the main road, his grip on the steering wheel tight enough to turn his knuckles white. You could barely catch your breath, your heart pounding so loudly it almost drowned out the fading wail of the diner’s alarm behind you. For a while, neither of you said anything, the silence filled only by the sound of the tires humming against the worn asphalt. 

Then, all at once, the sheer absurdity of what had just happened hit you. You slapped a hand over your mouth, trying to stifle a laugh, but it was useless. It escaped as a snort, and once it started, you couldn’t stop. 

Woonhak side-eyed you, his lips twitching. “What’s so funny?”

“You,” you said, turning to look at him, unable to hold back your laughter. “You’re the only person I know who could turn ‘checking if it’s open’ into a full-blown felony.”

“Felony?! It wasn’t a felony!” Woonhak gasped, feigning offense, but his voice cracked, and suddenly, he was laughing too. The kind of laugh that made his shoulders shake and his hands leave the wheel momentarily to cover his face.

“Admit it,” you said, pointing an accusatory finger at his face. “You panicked the second you heard that alarm and bolted. Didn’t even think about turning it off, did you?”

“Like you were any better!” Woonhak shot back, still laughing. “You screamed so loud I thought the cops were already there!”

You doubled over in laughter as the two of you volleyed accusations, each one more absurd than the last. Woonhak slapped the steering wheel, laughing so hard he had to blink away tears, and you clutched your stomach from the ache of too much laughing. “Okay, okay, but seriously,” he said, catching his breath. “How did we even get here? It was supposed to be a simple snack run.”

“I blame you entirely,” you quipped.

Both of you dissolved into laughter again, the adrenaline ebbing away to leave behind a giddy sort of euphoria. It felt like the kind of ridiculous moment that would be retold a hundred times, exaggerated every time.

After a while, the quiet settled in again. Woonhak let out a long sigh, still grinning. “So, now what? It’s not like we can go back to the diner for my celebratory feast.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” you said, wiping the tears of laughter from your eyes. “Let’s just go home before you do something to get us arrested.”

Woonhak glanced at you, then shook his head. “Nah, too boring. I’ve got a better idea.”

You raised a brow, suspicious. “What better idea?”

“Let’s go see the stars,” he said, his voice softening. The usual mischief in his tone was replaced with something calmer. “There’s this spot outside of town. You’ll love it.”

You stared at him for a moment, surprised by the sudden shift in mood. Then you leaned back in your seat, a small smile tugging at your lips. “Alright, lead the way. But if we get arrested for trespassing again, you’re the one who’s doing all the explaining to the cops.”

“Deal.” Woonhak said with a grin, and he turned the car toward an open road, your laughter fading but the warmth of it lingering as the night stretched out ahead of you. 

The road grew darker the farther you drove from town. Streetlights gave way to open fields, and the hum of the engine seemed louder against the stillness of the countryside. The stars above you became sharper, brother, dotting the night sky like scattered pinpricks of light.

“Almost there,” Woonhak said, his voice softer now.

You glanced at him, his expression relaxed, the earlier chaos replaced by an easy calm. “How’d you even find this place?” You asked.

He grinned, tapping his temple. “A guy’s gotta have his secret spots. You’ll see.”

The car eventually pulled onto a gravel pathway, the crunch of stones and pebbles under the tires the only sound as Woonhak eased the car to a slow stop. He killed the engine, and for a moment, the silence felt overwhelming.

“Come on,” he said. He hopped out and grabbed a blanket from the trunk before opening your door. 

You followed him, shivering slightly as the cool night air nipped at your skin. Woonhak spread the blanket on the ground in the middle of a field, far from any trees or light pollution. He flopped down and patted the empty space next to him.

“Not too shabby, right?” he said, tilting his head toward the sky.

You laid down next to him and froze when you saw the sight above you. “Woah.”

The stars stretched endlessly above, a glittering tapestry that seemed to go on forever. You could see the Milky Way faintly streaking across the darkness, its soft glow breathtaking. It was nothing like the view back in town, where the lights always dimmed the night sky.

“Told you,” Woonhak said, his voice smug but gentle. 

You glanced at him, his face illuminated by the glowing starlight. He looked peaceful, his usual energy tempered by the quiet of the moment. 

“See that?” Woonhak pointed upward. “That’s Orion’s Belt. And over there, that’s the Big Dipper. Do you know how to find the North Star?”

“Nope. Enlighten me, O wise one.”

He laughed, but he started pointing out constellations anyway, his voice a soothing backdrop to the stillness around you. At some point, you stopped focusing on his words and simply watched the stars, your mind becoming a blissfully blank slate.

“This is nice,” you said after a while, your voice barely above a whisper. 

“Yeah,” Woonhak agreed, leaning back on his elbows. “Way better than getting arrested for breaking and entering, huh?”

You chuckled. “So much better.”

You turned your attention back to the stars, your eyes tracing the patterns Woonhak had pointed out earlier. The Milky Way cut through the sky like a misty river, and you found yourself lost in the beauty of it all.

Woonhak, however, wasn’t looking at the stars anymore. His gaze had shifted towards you. The way your eyes lit up as you took it all in, the slight smile tugging at your lips, the way you seemed so at peace–it was mesmerizing. He tried to look away, but his eyes refused to obey. 

He didn’t mean to say it, didn’t even realize the words had formed in his mind until they slipped out. “You’re beautiful.”

The words hung in the air for a moment, soft but unmistakable. 

Your head whipped towards him, your brows shooting up as you did. “What?”

Woonhak blinked, his face going pale before heating up and flushing a deep shade of red. He sat up abruptly, as if realization had struck him like a bolt of lightning. “Oh shit, was that out loud?” he stammered, running a hand through his hair. “I–I didn’t mean–uh, I mean, I didn’t not mean it, but–oh god.”

You blinked, stunned at what just happened as Woonhak continued to stumble over his words. He looked like he wanted to dig a hole and disappear into it and his usual confident demeanor was unraveling at record speed.

“Woonhak,” you said, sitting up.

“I swear, it just slipped out!” he said, his voice a pitch higher than it usually was. “I wasn’t trying to ruin the vibe or anything, I just–”

“Woonhak,” you spoke again, cutting him off.

He froze, his eyes darting to yours nervously.

“You… you meant it?” you asked, voice soft.

Woonhak hesitated, his shoulders sagging as he sighed. “I–yeah,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I meant it. I mean, how could I not? You’re–you’re so…” He trailed off as he gestured vaguely in your direction, his cheeks still bright red. 

For a moment, the only sound you could hear was the distant rustle of leaves in the breeze. Then you smiled, and Woonhak swore the stars above grew a little brighter.

“I think you’re beautiful too,” you said quietly.

Woonhak blinked, his panic melting into something more soft, more vulnerable as he processed your words.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously,” you said, chuckling at his dumbfounded expression. “But don’t let it get to your head, okay?”

A slow grin spread across Woonhak’s face, one that was bright and unrestrained. “No promises,” he paused for a moment before speaking up again. “But, uh, I guess that’s not the worst thing I’ve ever accidentally blurted out.”

You laughed as you shook your head. “Not even close.”

The two of you laid back down, your shoulders brushing as the silence returned, but it was far from awkward. It was electric, charged with unspoken emotions and the quiet hum of something new and exciting. The stars twinkled above, but it felt less like they were telling ancient stories of the universe, but rather they were writing a new one, just for the two of you. A story about a connection as vast and infinite as the night sky. 

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@flwrstqr :: danielle / jennie

@fleuryuns :: jongseong

@lovscb97 :: channie 🦘/🐺

You wait until your father is out of sight, walking through the thick vines that separate you from the real world, before you rush to the main window and slide the key down. Leaning over the ledge, you watch the silver key shine with the sunlight all the way down, before it lands with a ting! onto the rocks below.

Without a word, the guard bends down to pick up what fell at his feet, not looking up, or making a face that tells what he’s thinking. Then, he turns and heads to the front door.

Hearing the door unlock and open downstairs, you decide to wait for him on the couch, anxiously fiddling with your hands as you listen to his footsteps coming up.

Your father delivered the news as soon as he came home from his overnight hunt. He’s found someone for you—You’ll be married off in two moons.

To be married off means to be taken away from the tower, only to be locked in a legally binding prison with a man you know nothing about. You’ve had enough and need to get out of here.

Jay has worked for your father since his own parents passed away. It’s his only way of making a living in these harsh times, he can’t even protest the grotesqueness of his position. As a guard, he stands post at the bottom of the tower to assure no one comes in and no one comes out. Nobody even knows of the tower’s existence, let alone of the heiress that lives in it, so it isn’t a difficult task. Though, it is daunting.

Within the first week, you tried to escape twice before accepting that this new guard will take his job just as seriously as the previous worker. You frowned. He did too.

After another week, you decided to start sending him letters through paper cranes you’d throw out the window. There’s no reason for you to try not to at least make a friend—He was much younger than any of the other guards, so this was your chance. It took him four days before he bent down and read one.

“What’s your name?” That was the first thing he asked you.

Looking over to make sure your father wasn’t around to hear the interaction go through, you leaned over the window’s edge and yelled a reply. “Y/N, I’m D/N’s daughter.”

He didn’t respond, simply nodded and went back to staring off at the big vines, waiting for his employer to come back from his hunts.

After a month of these exchanges, growing lengthier by the day, you pushed the key off the ledge for the first time.

“What’s this,” Jay had asked, examining it under the light.

You watched the light refracture off of it from the window. “The key to the front door. It only works from the outside.”

“I hope you’re not asking me to let you out.” His voice was stern. “That’s asking for both of our heads to end up on sticks, if not worse.”

You grimaced at the visual. “No… My father will be out for another few hours. That’s his spare key which only works from the outside. Do with it what you will.” Keeping it vague and leaving it at that, you stepped away from the window, hoping he received your unspoken message.

It took him two other days to figure it out.

From then on, while your father was away, Jay would come up the tower and spend a few hours with you. You’ve never done something so scandalous, but it felt so freeing.

You would do whatever you could in here. Although the space was limited, and there really wasn’t much to actually do, you managed to get creative, inspired by the new friend you’ve made.

Sometimes he would teach you to cook new meals.

(Your father would ask how you learned to cook like this, you would reply it was all from your head.)

Sometimes he’d teach you to play the guitar, using crafting strings you’d attach to the chairs to create faux-guitar strings.

Other times, you would teach him how to draw.

(”Did you make this?” your father asked one night. You simply hummed.)

Once, you even taught him about the constellations, the first time your father’s hunt went through the night. You were sitting by the ledge, pointing at the stars.

Your father came back to the tower unexpectedly that night. Jay had to cling down the tower from the outside. His employer was rushing up the steps below completely unaware of their visitor. When he found you leaning against the window, he grumbled something about you failing to escape it by jumping off. Coward, he called you. You told him you were going to bed early.

Even though you’ve still been bound to these achingly familiar walls, spending time with Jay felt like you were in a new world. His jokes made you laugh out loud like you were the only girl in the world, and you might’ve been. He’d look into your eyes as if they were brighter than every constellation in the sky, but you knew that couldn’t be true because his eyes held the brightest stars.

You know your father doesn’t even have a hunch of your friendship with the guard, not a single suspicion—He’s not the brightest man on the block, and that’s saying something considering, before Jay, he was the only man you’ve ever known. And yet, he marched in this morning to tell you to prepare for the wedding.

Two moons. In two days, you’ll be a married woman.

You can’t have that.

Jay comes bursting through the door with a smile. “Good morning, M’Lady,” he greets.

“Hello, Jay,” you respond solemnly. You can’t find the strength to hide your disappointment.

“What’s wrong?” Of course, he sees right through you.

So, you motion him to the couch and waste no time in telling him the horrible news. Not missing out any details. The glint in your father’s eyes, indicating that he must be getting a fair sum of money out of this. The drop in your stomach when the words left his mouth. Your fear of not only leaving Jay, but being trapped once more and never being able to leave.

He understands, you see. His eyes look into yours comfortingly. “You want to leave?”

You nod. “Tonight,” you specify. “I’ll pack my bags right now. My father won’t return until the sunset, that gives me plenty of time. We’ll make some food to bring, as well, in case I don’t find somewhere to stay. Blankets, too. I’m not sure how long I’ll be away, where I’ll be, but—”

“Kiss me.”

“I want you to come with me.”

“Kiss me.”

You smile up at him.

He takes your hands in his. He repeats, “Kiss me.”

“Kiss me?”

Bashfully, Jay turns away, still keeping your hands locked in his comfortably. His cheeks redden, you notice. You can’t hide your smile.

You reach up to his face, holding his cheek in your hand and turning his head to face yours again.

His smile shies, but not away. “I love you, Y/N. I want to keep you safe, I want to help you see the world you’re missing out on. It’s so beautiful, Y/N, you’ll love it.”

Tears well up in your eyes and you’re not sure why. You see Jay’s eyes get teary as well and you let a giggle escape. “I want to see it with you,” you tell him in a whisper. “Show it to me.”

You spend the day running from corner to corner, wall to wall, pulling apart the only place you’ve ever known and stuffing your memories into a bag. You only take your happiest memories with you, leaving the living nightmares behind, shoving them under the bed to never see again.

Jay is in the kitchen for the most part. He puts together meals that don’t require being kept in a fridge, first, then adding in the refrigerated foods into bags, last. He tells you that the two of you will need to prioritize these foods. “I’ll take care of it.”

“We’ll take care of it together,” you assure him, closing the tupperware for him.

In total, you have two bags of your things and one of food. It’s heavy, but worth it. “We can take Hemi,” you say. Your father didn’t take the horse today, you noticed. He only does when the hunts are far. “He’ll carry my things.”

The two of you come up with a game plan. If your father isn’t too far out, that means that the most difficult part would be getting out of the city, but once you’re out, you’ll be free from him. Jay knows enough of the city, so he’s to take the lead and guide you through the hidden streets to not draw too much attention—Last thing either of you need is being spotted by a commoner who’s nosy enough to spread gossip that’ll reach your father.

With the bag on your shoulders, you say goodbye to this life. This life of misery, of suffocation. You say goodbye to the younger version of yourself; The version of yourself who had hope. The version that lost it. You’re proud to be the version that gained it once more.

You take a hold of Jay’s hand as you make your way down the spiral staircase. He opens the door for you, while you stand in awe at the light shining through it.

“Woah,” you whisper, taking your first steps outside. “It’s…”

“Beautiful,” Jay finishes, though you don’t notice his eyes are on you, instead of the scenery.

There’s a rose bush growing from where the vines come down to. You never knew they could smell so fragrant. The grass hasn’t been cut in a while, it reaches above your shoes, tickling your calves. You almost wish you weren’t wearing shoes to really feel it. You want to roll around in it for hours. 

You hum, closing your eyes. There’s a light breeze. You take a deep breath to take it all in. “All of this was underneath my nose all these years…”

You’ve always known your father was a cruel man, but knowing that he kept something, everything so heart wrenchingly beautiful just out of reach from you, taunting you without even knowing it. You frown.

“Let’s get out of here,” Jay suggests, feeling the shift in the air. He takes your hand once more and gestures toward the barn. Hemi snorts from the inside.

“Wait,” you say, pulling him back toward you. “Kiss me.”

He doesn’t need to be told twice.

Jay places his hands on your cheeks and leans down to meet your lips.

It’s magical, so much more than you expected. With your eyes shut, you feel a flush of something familiar running underneath your skin. You press your body against his through the kiss.

You realize, the worst thing your father kept from you has been in your hold this entire time.