#a:nov

inspiration for prompt

◜   ┅━ › Okay, I can do this…. I’m going to eat outside, in a restaurant, by myself. I will go outside and not be embarrassed or get flustered when the ahjumma asks me for my order, I can do this. I will treat myself nicely today! Right before I walked from the shop to my favorite restaurant around here, I patted my purse open to confirm I still had my cash in there for the enormous meal I was preparing to have. I proudly walked down the street and held the piece of paper of my order if I ever forget what I want when they ask me.

It was a normal day, nothing special, no holiday. Just a normal Saturday where adults already rushed to work and students were pressured in school. I found myself completely dazed in the normal life that surrounded me. Everyone around here was normal and they all had their own simple lives that they had to carry on. After walking a few blocks, my phone vibrated in my jeans. Shit– did uncle need me? Did I forget to do something for him? I saw the caller id and there was my doctor’s office number– alright that means no harm is in way. I stopped at the corner of the block and pressed answer on the phone. I really didn’t want to walk and talk because I’d probably get lost and… I’d get hit by a car. Which is very common– so, the corner it is.

Only a few seconds into my phone call, I was nodding at the confirmation for my uncle’s appointment later. But soon, the voice was blocked out by my senses when a man approached me. His hand was reached in front of him, almost offering me something. My brows furrowed in question at the strange sight until I saw what was in his hand– a nicely folded amount of money.

                      Is this guy offering money to a stranger on a street?

I couldn’t comprehend it fast enough mostly because I was so bewildered that this was happening. Does… he want favors for that money? I forgot what he said while trying to give it to me since my thoughts completely blocked all my senses– but I’m sure he only wanted one thing.Before I could do anything else, I ended up screaming with all that I could. In fear, in desperation for help– a bunch more of emotions… I just felt completely violated.

               » — ❛ YAH!         BYUNTAE!                I AM GOING TO KICK YOU!                DON’T GET CLOSE TO ME.

Tears almost came out of my eyes as I warned him. I threw my shoe at him after slipping it off my foot– almost my phone too but I was sane enough to keep holding that. He dodged each item before screaming above my own volume saying he was just trying to return what I dropped. What a great lie… I couldn’t help but scream even more– to the point where a police officer had to race over to examine the situation for himself.

I ran over to him at first sight and hooked onto his arm. He looked like a nice uncle type of police. He will protect me! I know it! I started telling (border-line slightly screaming at) him the events that just unfolded and the guy stood there, shaking both hands as if he was innocent.

( bang minah ) + ( lee seunghyun ) + ( park sojin )

◜   ┅━ › This isn’t a good idea. This is a bad idea. This is a horrible idea. This is... ugh. Why did I let Sojin beg her way into this meeting? I’m surprised he even agreed and invited us over to his house-- which, may I add, has an excessive amount of alcoholic drinks. I can predict this ending badly if any drinks are involved. 

    However, through all the doubts I had, I followed the famous T.O.P. and my unnie to our night’s stay. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I felt more nervous than normal. Two older people under the influence never ends well. And, that’s the reason I kept convincing myself to come. I needed to supervise and let these two have their very safe fun. Every jerk of the hand made me halt my breath. Every movement at all made my adrenaline pump. Before I knew it, my lip gloss was completely gone by the nervous habit of lip biting. 

   Due to my age, I was always the one pouring the drinks which meant I could throw my shots away instead of wasting myself. I can also control how much they are intaking. This suddenly sounds more like a babysitting gig rather than a meeting-- actually an adultsitting gig. I know I can trust both of them but not under the influence. No one can be trusted under that. 

   With the clinks of all the shots glasses, wine glasses, the actually drinks being settled upon the table, it signaled the start of the fun. I picked up the prettiest looking soju bottle there, popped it open, and started pouring. 

Wonho’s phone read 3:17 A.M when suddenly lighting up, buzzing on the bedside. Confused, he of course woke up — instinctively reaching for the device; a raspy voice answering it with a weak hello, before being able to distinct a female on the other side of the line, and he immediately realized who it was, even if her tone was unrecognizable. Was it because she sounded afraid? “Of course I’ll come. What happened?” He announced, sounding oddly calm merely because he didn’t want to make it any worse, even if worry filled him. In the middle of night, the male tiptoed out of their dorm, making sure not to wake any of the members up as searching through the darkness for house keys, wallet and a coat after somehow being able to find his clothes in the mess. All this, while still holding onto the phone, until he got to his car. “Where are you? Which hospital?” This time, his voice didn’t sound so much sleepy, nor was he able to hide the concern he felt. Minah had rarely asked him for help or support, so this had to mean something was wrong.

    ◈⋯— My body shivered in cold sweat from fear mixed in my boiling blood. I sat in the hospital bed with my knees close to my chest. I rarely rose my head to exchange glances with the nurses and doctors whom attempted to communicate with me. I passed the stage of panic, I only wanted to go back to my dorm and pretended that this night never happened. Now, I landed myself in this situation after running into intersection at midnight. Car accidents were common here but they usually didn’t include an idol running into traffic to get away from someone. I could have sworn I saw my father. The one that abused me for a decade before i escaped. Of course, my first instinct was to run without looking back, or even looking forward for that matter. Instead of a car running into me, I ran into the car (kinda embarrassing), fell and found my body on the cement.      ⋯— I didn’t black out but they insisted on bring me into the hospital for a check up; I’m assuming both physical and mental. I’m not sure if anyone recognized me as I entered but I tried my best to hide from curious eyes. When it was time to leave, I didn’t know who to call. I needed someone with a car, someone who didn’t ask questions... and my contacts were already limited. I didn’t need the company or my members worrying and putting on me on suicide watch so my fingers naturally found another name on the list. They hesitated a bit but proceeded to swipe and wait with the ring. I hope he doesn’t hate me for doing this. If what I saw was true, father will be trailing me to this hospital at any moment to find and to drag me home. He’s probably inching to make up for the 6 years of bruises he missed out on. Wonho didn’t even laugh or ask if it was a joke, he came to save me like a prince in his shining armor. And for the first time in the past few hours, I felt a small grin.   

         ❛ Uh, got into an accident.... It’s Asan Medical Center.             And hey, thank you... so much. 

    ⋯— I felt like an idiot on the line. My lips quivered up and my words didn’t form sentences. I didn’t stutter but I might as well have from barely saying full sentences. I wanted to thank him, apologize for the timing, and say I would treat him to dinner, and breakfast, and lunch, pay for his next drinking adventure or whatever he wanted. I wanted to ask if it was far from his dorm, if it was any trouble. I wanted to sound like a normal human being not shaken up by the sight of her father. But nothing was said. I’m a horrible friend. 

                                                   ❝ I would only go if there was cake.

◤

◈ ⋯⋯ A snort comes out before anything else. A freaking snort in front of a cute guy. Though his reply was hilarious, I tried to pull out a pout but jutting out my lower lip. We both sat side by side staring out into the morning street of Seoul through a clear mirror of the convenient store. I have to admit that I enjoy sneaking out in the morning to avoid the chaotic members and to just get some yogurt. A pack of five yakurutos, to be exact. It was my thing, my little hide out for fifteen minutes in the morning.      ⋯ I didn’t mind when a male figure sat beside me and didn’t pay much attention as my eyes were still shut close. ( with probably a hundred eye boogers, gross. ) With my little straw, I cleaned the first two bottles of yogurt while scrolling on my phone. Let’s see what fans are saying about me this morning. I’ll admit it here, and here only, I like reading up on the comments. Netizens are ruthless but... I like reading it. What they’re thinking is all that I care about at times. Super unhealthy, but my career depends on their fondness of me.     ⋯ With an abundant amount of dislikes, my eyes drew to the comment as I read, ‘Throwing a party the day Bang Minah dies’. Ow? They shouldn’t be wishing on my death! My brows furrowed to the center, my nostrils flared, my eyes ran through the sentence a few more times. Taken back from the comment, I repeated it again but out loud this time. And this is when pretty boy replied to me with his comment.  

    ❛ You would go to my death party if there was cake?     Great! Now when I die, I can’t even have my own cake!     They’re probably going to have good cake too!     I mean.. it’s for me.     Would you not go if I give you a yogurt drink?     Pretty please?

She looked up from her laptop and frowned. In her efforts to be independent, Aria had decided to invest time in becoming a domestic goddess. However her efforts so far had all seemed to be in vain. This was the third complaint she had gotten about them since they were made. “Okay, they’re not the best but in my defence, I was never the best cook anyway.”

◈ ⋯⋯ I wasted no time trying to get the crumbs off my tongue. It wasn’t bad, but I don’t want that in my mouth, sorry dear friend. Maybe if I fake a smile and say it wasn’t so bad, she’ll feel better. I’m sure she tried her best for the batch. I tossed the cookie under a random napkin and shook my head, ready to redeem myself.

                                                                               ❝ Psst…noona !

◤

 ◈ ⋯⋯ Mcountdown, last show for this promotion-- don’t fall asleep, Minah. Don’t fall asleep. You can stay awake until they call you. Wait-- shit, someone’s calling you. Play it off like you were just checking your makeup!

    ❛ Huh? Wait, just.. fixing my eye shadow, hahaha...

◈ ⋯⋯ After ruffling my eyelashes a few times with my fingertips, I turned around in my chair to greet whoever called me. A figure I’ve seen more often than most, it was Junhoe, or does he prefer Junhwe? Whatever, I’ll just greet him as orange king again. Why is he here? Ahyoung isn’t anywhere close nor do I have anything to give him...

   ❛ Orange king! What brings you to the broadcasting station?    Are you here to wish me good luck and present oranges?

                                               ❝ Do you ever get to say 'no' ?

◤

   ❛ You mean if they’d consider my opinion? 

  ◈ ⋯⋯ One of my brows rose without me even knowing. These questions keep reminding me that from my choices, I just simply chose the less of two evils. Even though I’m trapped within rules and contact regulations, it’s better than the monster at home. My reply came out bitterly, which wasn’t what I hoped for but, it was true. I almost forgot when the Nation’s Girl Group’s beloved member was the one talking to me-- or how this even started but I shouldn’t pull a yewon at this moment. 

                                                ❝ Don’t you wish you were normal ? 

◤

❛ No-- no, never. 

   ◈ ⋯⋯ I had to suppress the bubbling laughter almost hearing that question. Ever since childhood, I wish I wasn’t normal, I wish I had something special so I could use it against him. To go against the enemy, I wish I had a leverage whether it was some mystical Harry Potter power or a mutant gene. So my answer was blurted out without a thought. I wish I wasn’t normal.

 ❛ Normal is too mundane, isn’t it?   Even if I’m the most interesting human, I could never compare to magic.