#daybreakxchallenge

“Pardon?”

“Something the matter, love?” asked Seonghwa, brows slightly furrowing at your sudden question.

“Oh, I thought you said something just then.”

Spinning out and coming back in to Seonghwa’s arms, the skirt of your gown billowing effortlessly as it followed your movement. You tilted your head slightly as you looked up to Seonghwa, awaiting for a reply.

“Are you sure you weren’t eavesdropping on our guests?”

“How dare-!”

Another spin and with a careful dip, he bent forward to kiss on the hollow of your neck. “I know, I was jesting.”     

You shivered with delight and brought a hand up to caress the side of his face. Naturally, Seonghwa turned towards your touch. Eyes closing with content and letting a subtle nuzzle into the palm of your hand. Not minding one bit that his arms’ strength was being tested for holding you securely in that dip.

“You are awfully affectionate tonight,” you said in a hushed tone.

“Can’t a prince openly cherish his beloved in front of others?”

When he brought you back up, your hand reached up further to brush his dark fringe out of his eyes. Smiling tenderly back at him, you continued on with the dance.

It wasn’t until your priority shifted to those decadent couverture truffles sitting so innocently on one of many banquet stands that you managed to convince Seonghwa to take a break.   

You could hear him chuckling behind as you hurriedly led him over, not wanting to miss out on your favourite treats.

“I’ll be right back, there’s been talk that the new batch of spring wine goes exceptionally well with sweets. Please try to save some for me!” he said giving your hand a light squeeze before walking off.

“No promises!”      

Making sure that you picked a few of the strawberry truffles, just for him, you couldn’t help but sneak a bite first. What you didn’t expect was the harsh taste of ash to hit the back of your throat. It drew out a coughing fit, causing you to drop the plate.

The scent from before wafted back with vengeance. Smoke. That was what clashed with the comforting florals and now, it stung overwhelmingly.  

You desperately tried to speak but the coughs were relentless. Did any of the guests nearby even notice your distress?

Seonghwa, you needed him.   

Come back, come back.

Trying not to fall into further panic, you blindingly reached out to grab onto anything to help get your bearings. Your arms painfully knocked against cold marble. Turning to look, you were faced with one of the exquisite torchère. It wasn’t the sculptured maiden that your eyes were drawn to, but rather the candles she held up.

The air around you started to feel suffocating and the candles’ flickering flames beckoned an uneasiness from the depths of your mind. A sudden flash came across your vision, causing you to wince and shut your eyes tight.

Your Highness, you can’t–    

Let me go through!

That voice, you know that voice. But why does he sound like that?  

–it’s too dangerous! You’d suffocate from the smoke…

A searing pain cut through your entire being.   

I will not abandon–

–still in there! I have to save–

The fire would’ve kil–

Anguish. Pure raw anguish. It hurt, to hear Seonghwa screaming your name over and over with such hopelessness. You forced your eyes to open with a gasp, acutely aware of how hot your surroundings had become. What had been small flames before, now was an inferno blazing all around. The stairs were burnt ruins and the flowers were no more.

A nightmare – this all had to be a nightmare. “Seonghwa!” your voice cracking as you called out for him, feet stumbling away from the scorching heat.

“Seonghwa, where are y– “ 

Arms encircled and turned you around with haste. “Look at me, I’m right here, look…” fingers brushing away tears that you didn’t know were falling until now.

“W-What’s happening? Why…I don’t understand”

Seonghwa’s presence have always been a safe haven, a constant calm. The moment he held your trembling frame close, it eased the chaos both inside and out that little bit more. You could still feel the firestorm against your back but he didn’t allow your eyes to waver from him. There were conflicting emotions running across him as he looked right at you; as if you would disappear if he were to even blink.

The way he spoke your name next crushed your heart. Your head was tucked into the crook of his neck and all you could hear was the same repeated phrase against your ear.

“Sorry, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”

You tried to move your arms to wrap around him, wanting nothing more than to comfort your dearest prince and cry out that there was nothing to forgive him about. So many questions left unanswered.

“Seonghwa, my dear Seonghwa, what is going on?”

His grip tightened around you, a deep breath drawn in and then exhaled. Holding your face with his hands, he pressed his forehead against yours just like before. “Always remember…” he said so softly, for these words were only for you to hear.

“…no matter how many lifetimes we have, even if they were short-lived, I will love you and will never stop loving you.”

Coldness came, spreading throughout from the inside. Your mind coming unhinged as fractured memories poured in all at once. Memories that weren’t meant to be remembered, for now you know that Seonghwa had lost you before. To burning smoke and ash.

“You are my eternity.”

He brought your lips together and all you felt was the touch of his sweet warmth before the darkness claimed you in the inevitable fall.

Each step you took echoed the hallways, your velvet slipper-clad feet sprinted across the granite marble floor whilst you fiddled to secure the blue sapphire on your finger. Cursing under your breath, thankfully your mother wasn’t around to tell you off, for waking up late. You had plans with your betrothed today, starting with your morning garden walk that you’ve never once missed. It was a special routine between you both, before duty called.  

As you rushed down the first flight of the Grand Staircase, you almost missed the figure standing in the middle of the landing. Dressed in your favourite colour shade, he was faced in the opposite direction. From your viewpoint you couldn’t really see what he was doing or whether he was simply awaiting for your arrival and checking his watch.

“Seonghwa, I’m so sorry for my tardiness, my prince!” your heart beating a tad faster as you approached him.

Had you paid closer attention, you might have noticed how rigid his body went for a split second upon hearing your voice or how swiftly he brought his hand up to wipe away stray tears from his eyes. In blissful ignorance, you knew not of the way he clutched the pieces of himself together. Silently begging that perhaps this time, you will remain for a while longer in this sanctuary that he’s created for you.

The mark that engraved over where his heart was, a symbol of what he willingly gave just so your soul wouldn’t have to drift through limbo alone, stayed hidden. 

Turning around to greet you with a genuine smile and adoration, he held out his hands for you to take so he could once again guide you down those same stairs.

As you sat across your ex-lover in the same café the both of you used to frequent on dates, you were finally sure that you no longer harboured any romantic feelings towards him. It's been three years since the two of you had come to a mutual decision to split, both of you wanting to chase your own dreams without holding the other back. In the three years, you had maybe thought that the next time you met him, the two of you could start all over again. After all, the both of you were once deeply in love.

"I see you still prefer a frappuccino with extra whipped cream over an iced americano," you stifled an amused giggle as you lean down to sip on your drink.

"Well, I'm a little more famous than before but for the most part, I'm still the same," Seonghwa nodded before shooting you a small smile. "You haven't changed much either. It's nice."

Love is such a strange concept. If someone were to ask you whether you love Seonghwa, you wouldn't hesitate to agree. You loved him back then, loved him through the years apart, and you will continue to love him in the years to come. But if someone were to ask you if you would ever date Seonghwa again, you would most likely refuse. Funnily enough, you could tell simply by the look in the raven haired boy's eyes that he felt the same. There was no one else you knew better, and no one else who knew you better. Love…...you do love each other a lot, just not in the romantic way.

"Remember what I told you that night?"

"Mhmhmm."

"I still mean it. That you have a place in my heart that nobody can ever touch; that you will always be the person I would trust my life with; that I will love you forever even if you're not mine." You didn't even need him to remind you because you trusted him that much too; that he would stand by his words.

The two of you started off as childhood friends; having fun and finding comfort in each other; growing up and facing hardships together; falling in love and giving each other the world. And after all that, here the both of you finally are, with a bond stronger than blood, and a love that transcends sheer romance.

Maybe people would never understand why two people so in love with each other would go two separate ways, but you wouldn't want it any other way. The both of you were walking on two different paths in life with different goals and ambitions anyways. And sometimes loving someone means letting them go so they can find someone that can complete them and make them feel like a whole.

"I know, hwa. I love you too, and very much at that." You emphasised, gazing deep into his warm loving brown eyes.

Whoever Seonghwa loves would be one lucky soul, you thought. You sure damn well are lucky, but no- you just feel so happy for his future lover. You already know he would always shower them in love, affection and kindness. That was the kind of person Seong- no, your soulmate was.

"But also, if you really, really love me...you know what to do," you batted your eyelashes at him, knowing that he knew exactly what you wanted from him, which may or may not have been the main motive of this meeting.

"Love, you know I gladly would," he snorted as he reached out to pat your hair half lovingly and half teasing.

.

     Standing in the kitchen, you did your best to quietly cook in the hopes that Jaemin would be able to sleep in. He had come home late again and you were hoping to make him something special for when he woke up.

You had made eggs and just started cooking the bacon while you debated between waffles or pancakes when you felt a presence behind you.

“You didn’t tell me you were going to cook today~” Jaemin hummed in your ear as he rested his chin on your shoulder, arms snaking around you waist as he pulled you close to him. 

“You are supposed to be sleeping.” You huffed. He chuckled, the feeling sending chills through your body from how close he was.

“My baby is up, how am I supposed to sleep through that?” He kissed your cheek before pulling away.

You watched him grab the ground coffee out of the cabinet and pour several scoops into the coffee machines filter. Not long after the rumbling of the pot, the smell of earthy coffee filled your apartment and Jaemin sighed in content.

He winked at you before wandering through the kitchen, occassionally grabbing a bowl or ingredients for something. When he finally grabbed the waffle mixture you smiled as you realized what he was doing, it wasn’t often the two of you cooked together.

.

     Everything was fine at first, until Jaemin couldn’t stop laughing when looking at you. 

“What? What’s wrong?” When he simply responded with more laughter, you pouted suddenly feeling very self-conscious. 

“You managed to get the baking powder on your face, love.” He pulled you closer to him, smiling as he reached up to wipe it off your cheek for you.

You smiled, closing your eyes and leaning closer to him for better access when you felt a wet sticky substance smeared over your face. Your smile morphed into one of disgust as you quickly pushed Jaemin away and wiped your face, finding it was the waffle mixture.

Jaemin bent over laughing at the ordeal before running away screaming after seeing you dip your hand in the bowl and chase him.

He ran behind the counter, quickly turning to grab your hands after realizing he was trapped. You laughed, struggling to wipe your hand off on him.

He pulled your hands down, and kissed you. “Ah, you shouldn’t be wasting the food like this~” 

Pushing you away, he quickly ran back into the kitchen and grabbed the bowl. When you ran after him, he held up the spoon you had been using with the mixture slowly sliding off. 

“Just put the spoon down, we can talk about this.” You held up your hands in surrender, admiring the way his tired eyes still shined.

“NEVER SURRENDER!” The warm substance landed on your hair and slid down onto your face. You could hear Jaemin laughing as he ran past you once again.

.

     By the time you finished your food fight, both of you were laughing. The once full bowl was now half empty and the waffle mixture was everywhere.

“Why don’t you go clean up and I’ll finish breakfast?” Jaemin smiled as he wiped some off your lips for you. 

.

     After eating and cleaning up the kitchen Jaemin had to leave and you went to the library to study. 

The session was over one of your worst topics and you nearly broke down several times with how frustrating it was. 

Jaemin had been texting you occassionally, reminding you to eat and take breaks but you told him you were fine, not wanting to worry him any more than he probably was.

Getting absorbed into your studies you forgot to check the time, finding yourself sprinting home in the middle of the night. Jaemin had been the one to pull you out of your focus, asking where you were when he came home at 11 pm to find you nowhere in sight.

Panting, you struggled through the front door and prepared yourself for Jaemin to scold you. When you made it into the living room, Jaemin was waiting for you while sitting on the couch.

“Y/N~ You shouldn’t stay out so late without telling me~” Jaemin quickly got up and walked over to you, he sounded playful but you could tell he was upset.

You mumbled an apology as he gently took your jacket off for you. “I thought I would have to sleep in the library with you” He smiled, grabbing your hand and walking down the hall.

He pulled you ahead of him, holding your back as you waddled down the hall together. “Turn to the right.”

When you turned into the restroom, you pulled away from him. He had made a bath, the dark room dimly lit with scented candles decorating the counter and floor. Upon further inspection you found your favorite flower petals gently scattered across the water and tub.

You were about to turn around and ask him what the setup was all about when you heard the door close behind you. 

“Enjoy your bath and come out whenever your ready~” You listened to the sound of his footsteps as he walked away, slowly turning back to the bath with a small smile.

.

     When you finished your bath and walked into the living room you found Jaemin sitting on the couch, hunched over something in his lap.

“What’cha looking at?” You hummed as you walked over to him, sliding your arms around his shoulders. You could feel him shiver slightly as your wet hair fell over him, despite this he leaned closer into your touch.

The new angle giving you access to what layed in his lap. The photobook wasn’t very big, but the pictures held memories of your time over the years with little notes and decorations over them.

“I made something for us, look!” He opened his arms and you moved around the couch, sitting between his legs as he lifted the book and set it in your lap.

“We don’t have a lot of pictures developed but I figured we could have a photobook of us over time.” He smiled proudly at you, waiting for your response.

“What do you think of Class B’s Lee Keonhee?”

You glanced at the noisiest table in the cafeteria. The people around them weren’t bothered. In fact, it seemed like they are enjoying whatever that table’s topic too. However, unlike them, you loved moments of peace and calmness. You dislike noise and anything loud.

“He’s too loud,” you said, as your eyes remained at the tall boy who’s talking the most. He’s the one who starts a topic and the one who moves on to the next one too.

Your friend laughed. “Obviously! But isn’t he good-looking?”

You shrugged your shoulders and continued eating your lunch. “Sure he is.”

The sight of your favorite small restaurant a few streets away from your home comforted you. You looked around and saw a few people enjoying their meal. Some were chatting and laughing but all of their voices were lower than the calm music playing in the background.

You walked further in until you saw who you’re looking for. There, standing beside the booth at the corner, was a guy staring at you with a bright smile. He has his one hand in his back and the other waving at you.

You walked towards him. When you were only a few steps away, he gently pulled you into a hug. You laughed in his chest as he held you tighter when you tried to pull away. “Keonhee-ya!”

“Hi,” he said as he squeezed you once before letting you go.

He pulled a chair for you before taking a seat across you. He was smiling at you, a constant soft smile that he once said was reserved for the people he loved looking at.

You both ordered and after that, he went on asking about your work. You told him about how stressful it was and asked him how’s his day. No matter what you say, he was always eager to listen and enthusiastic to answer. When you first talked to him in your high school days, you thought he was simply being too friendly. But when you got to know him, be friends with him and fell in love with him, you realized so many things about him.

He’s loud—really really loud. But he’s soft, kindhearted, and a natural sweetheart.

Even right now, as you eat a simple dinner with him after work, you couldn’t help but notice the little things he does for you. He chose your favorite spot in any place—a corner seat, even though he finds it awkward to be too close to the walls. He honestly tells you he doesn’t like it but he would always end his words with a sweet line such as “but you’re with me so it doesn’t matter” with a wink that would always make you chuckle.

Aside from that, he really pays attention to the things you say. He memorized the things you like and dislike, and even the things you hated before and loved now. He sometimes sings you to sleep because he knew you have a hard time sleeping at night even though you only mentioned it once. He knows your favorite café drink, your favorite bus seat and even how to help you handle stress.

Although he knows a lot lf things about you, you constantly remind him of one thing.

“Keonhee-ya,” you called to him while he’s holding your hand in the pocket of his long coat, walking you home.

“Hmm?” He glanced down at you and tried to remove some dirt you didn’t know was in your hair.

You stared at him as he focused on your head. “I really really love you.”

His hand froze in your hair for a second before he looked back at you. You’ve told him that a couple of times already, ever since you unexpectedly started dating in college. He reacts differently each time. Most of the time he smiles. Sometimes he blushes. Other times he shuffles your hair. A few times he teased you.

But all the time, his eyes moisten a bit and say it back sincerely.

He smiled at you. The soft light from the lamppost reflected in his teary eyes. Lee Keonhee, he’s bright, handsome, loud, warm, soft, and loved by you.

  Those beasts were fast, brutal, hungry, and ruthless for human flesh. They called them wolfs. Why? Because they acted exactly like those canines. Forming packs with the uncompromising hierarchy between the members. They had intelligence and body of humans but strength, hunger, and lust like animals. Slowly by time, humans were becoming weaker and wolf stronger. They were spreading around much faster than humans, forcing them to hide to stay alive. Humans by this current time are living in closed places well-hidden from the beasts with razor-sharp teeth. But it did happen and now it is not important how you live but how to survive on destroyed earth with monsters breathing down your neck. 

  People were still communicating and exchanging goods between the safe spaces they were living but it was hard. The hiding places were quite far away from each other and on every inch, the “wolves” could cut your neck and eat you to the bones. 

  For these cases there existed groups of humans from every hidden place. They were called bloody hoods. Those members were the fastest, strongest, most skilled, and the bravest out of all. Bloody hoods could move goods and messages fast and effectively between the hidden places. Bloody hoods were the only one capable of fighting the wolves and the only one who is able to kill them. And you were one of them. 

  Today you and your group are supposed to bring weapons to other destinations. You were already on your way, your dark maroon hoods covering your faces and weapons hanging on your belt and consignment stored in a horse-drawn carriage. The journey was long because the load was heavy and too precious to be destroyed. 

The night was warm but dark, the pitch-black forest around you, and the only light was stars above you and your torches you all held. It was weird, it was too quiet to be true around this hour and this area. Even the air was pleasant the shivers run down your spine as if you could sense something walking around you in the shadows. Something rustled, probably grass or bushes, on your right side and the whole group immediately stopped, putting hands on their swords. 

  Your breath became heavy in second because you already knew this won’t be a bunny jumping around since they would probably already kill it. Summer breeze brought to your nose the familiar smell of blood and steel-like always but with a slight touch of mandarin smell, you never smelt before on your missions...

  “They are here...” you whispered and everyone slowly nodded not moving their bodies a slightly bit. 

  Suddenly a running body jumped on your horse, trying to obviously break his neck and his friends followed him immediately when you took out your swords. The human monsters jumped from trees and ran from the darkness at you all in inhumane speed, with eyes bloody red and locked upon your neck, hungry to separate your heads from your bodies. The torch fell out of your head as you started fighting back, kicking faces and stabbing hearts with your silver blade, covering your sword in deep red blood. 

  You kicked one to the ground, stood on her chest, and stabbed shove your weapon right between her eyes through her skull. Next moment you were on the ground another one showering above you trying to choke you to death. You kicked him and in the milisecond, he hesitated with his grip you grabbed him, turned him around, and twisted his neck making the dead body fall to the ground lifeless. You looked at others in distance and you couldn’t believe your eyes. Everyone was getting killed one by one... there were too many wolfs, you never saw so much of them at once. You felt scared for the first time in your life...

  “N-no...” you whispered, eyes filling with tears seeing your friends being killed. That’s not the way things were supposed to turn out. 

  “RUN! SAVE YOURSELF!” your captain screamed at you trying to beat up five monsters attacking him at once. You shook your head no and tried to run to him but his scream stopped you. 

  “Run! That’s an order!” you felt hot tears as you saw two of the beasts burying their teeth into Changbin's neck. You almost broke down when you saw the soul leaving your friend's body as his eyes became lifeless. 

  You gulped seeing no one is paying attention to you in the shadow. You couldn’t do this anymore. You couldn’t look how tens of them are tearing your friends’ bodies apart. You knew they don't have a chance...not even a bit. Not even with your help. You needed to run. Run to inform everyone back what happened so they won't send another group and end up the same.

You silently started backing off more into the shadows becoming part of them, trying to not let out any noise as you heard screams of your dying friends. Sometimes even bloody hoods weren't enough to win over so many monsters. When you knew they won't be able to hear you, you immediately turned on on your heel and started running with your whole power and speed.

You ran for minutes, hours... Far, far away from that damn cursed place. Every second of your run tears was falling down your face decorated with a couple of scars from other fights. They were all from their teeth and sharp nails. The same one's that just killed your best friends.

After a couple more minutes you stopped and leaned with your palms on the three, breathing heavily. Tears mixed with your sweat and the dried blood on your hands were sticking on the sticky liquid coming out from tree making you step back trying to clean them up.

Night breeze hit your face and you could smell the combination of steel and the slight touch of mandarine once again. You looked around but you couldn't see or hear anything. Quickly you made a fire so you could survive the night.

As you were trying to get something out of your backpack shivers ran through your spine and suddenly something harshly shoved you against the closest tree. You felt a warm body pressing yours and a strong hard hand grabbed your neck, cutting almost all air out of your lungs.

'It's one of them'., you thought and you were getting ready for the monster to kill you right away.

"Well, well, well... who we have here? The little girl thought she can run away, huh?" a deep, dark husky voice chuckled to your ear. It was a male voice. Right after that, you felt the wet tongue of that beast licking the side of your neck like if he was tasting you before he could completely consume you all.

You tried to fight back but his grip was too strong for you to move even a single inch. He buried his nose to your hair and took a deep breath and sighed in ecstasy.

"You smell different... It's so... Pure. Like cherry blossoms in bloom." he said. If you weren't scared you could even say his voice was attractive.

The smell... Then it hit you. You could smell the mandarine smell strongly now. It was him the whole time. He was there as well. You never knew this could be a beast's scent.

Strong hands turned you around so you could face him. But you didn't want to. You didn't want to see that monster.

"Don't be scared, little one, I won't hurt you." his voice said somehow sweet. The hand from your neck moved to your face and with the softness, you never expected from someone like him you felt him caressing your cheek almost lovingly.

"Show me your gorgeous eyes..." he said and for some reason, you did as you were said.

You couldn't believe what you were seeing. He was... He was... stunning. His skin looked healthy even tho it was deadly pale. His lips plump with a dark pinkish color. His jaw sharp and hair are more black than the night around. But his eyes were the most eye-catching feature. Sharp, red but for some reason calming.

"Yes..." he chuckled" exactly how I imagined them be when I saw them from far away." his second hand was holding your chin while his thumb curiously stroking your bottom lip.

"Finally... After months of looking at you I can finally have you." he chuckled and licked up your cheek making you whimper.