REMINISCENCE

CHAPTER 11

GOALS

JIN'S POV

I locked the door and jumped towards my bed. The soft mattress was very comfortable. We moved here last week. Kris turned Luhan's apartment upside down so there's nothing left to use back there. I closed my eyes to relax. Being Luna was like a faded dream. I feel like I was one of them but at the end of the day, I will never want to be.

I rolled to my left side, opened my eyes and saw a frame with two kids facing each other with smiles on their faces like they don't care anything about the world but themselves then she realized, the kids in the photo was her and Luhan.

She smiled to herself. They are very happy at that moment. That was when Luhan came back from his first hunt. At his very young age, he was able to catch a fully grown deer. He was really a very skilled person. At that moment, I knew he could protect me that is why I never left his side. I rely on him too much but he was never bothered by it, instead, he continued to help me, to enlighten me… that was the time I realized I wanted to be with him, I really like him… no… I love him.

Something white outside the window caught my attention.

Snow.

I stood up and parade towards the window and placed my hand over the sill. Everything outside started to turn white. The view reminded me of my hometown, Xylzonia.

Back at Xylzonia, everything is also covered with snow. We never experienced summer or spring there, only an eternal winter. The sun never smiled at our land that is why no flowers or trees can be seen, only dead barks and poisonous shrubs. Life is hard there and only our kind can survive such weather.

Because we are powerful beings.

Only death waits who dare to trespass in our land.

One may think our land is dead, but for me, it was paradise. I was happy back there because I have my best friend, who eventually went away, that is why I'm here. If I want to be happy again, I have to bring him back with me.

Because he is the only one I got.

I look back at the frame above the table and focused my attention to my young self.

"When will I be able to smile like that again?" I thought to myself. I took the said frame and touched Luhan's face. Something wet fell to my arm and I look up to see if there's a leak on the ceiling, then I realize it was my tears. I was crying. He was really my weakness. I placed the frame back to where I took it and slowly bent down and hugged myself.

"Why did you have to go away…?" I buried my face to my knees and cried.

NORMAL POV

Kris was standing outside Jin's door and could hear her faint sobs. He understood very well why. He rested his forehead on the door and closes his eyes. If only he can cry, if only he can show weakness. Then again, he can't. Male of his kind are not allowed to shed tears. He slowly walked away from her door and started to go to his room. She needs to be alone for a while. He'll just talk to her when she's ready.

The weather really suits them: Gloomy.

Jin crawled back to bed and closed her eyes tightly. If she wanted to take him back then she should start moving as soon as possible. She didn't come here to waste time.

She came to take what is rightfully hers.

SU EUN'S POV

Everybody at school is wearing fur coats and thick jackets. The weather is undeniably cold. It's freezing! I walk towards the building entrance as quick as possible and was greeted by Luna who was standing at the door. I stop my track and look at her, she did the same. She slowly walked towards me and stops when she was three steps away. I noticed that unlike the others, she wasn't wearing any coat to protect her from the cold. She doesn't even look like she feels the freezing wind. She stood tall and firm.

"Nice to see you again…" she told me. I shifted my gaze to avoid eye contact.

"What do you want?" I asked. She gave out a soulless laugh and it made me look at her.

"Don't start with me Su Eun. I'll just REMIND you about the deal we had last week." She said and walked closer to me until her lips was so close to my ear that I can already hear her breathing. "You said that you'll do anything I say, remember?" I wanted to push her but I can't move. My legs are shaking. The she moved her head until our eyes level. "Make So Hee hate Luhan then Chanyeol will be safe, okay?" then she smiled at me and whispered against my ear, "I'm watching you…" then she walked back inside the building.

I was left rooted at my position. The wind is blowing strong but I didn't budge. My head started to feel light and I feel I was about to faint when somebody supported my back and helped me stand up properly.

"Su Eun! Are you alright?" I turned my head to see who helped me but only managed to see So Hee's worried face. When our eyes locked, tears started to fall off my eyes and I hugged her tightly.

"Su Eun what's the matter?" I didn't reply to her because all my mouth produces are sobs. I buried my face to her neck and continued weeping. So Hee patted my back softly trying to calm me down. "It's okay… I'm here… just let it all out…" after she said those words, I started to cry harder. How can I possibly hurt a very kind person like her? She held my cheeks and made me look at her. She took her handkerchief from her pocket and wipes the remnants of my tears.

"So Hee please don't hate me…" I said between my sobs. She looked at me with confusion.

"And why will I hate you?" she answered while still wiping my face.

"Whatever I do, you know I have reasons… okay?" I told her. She was still giving me that confuse look but then smiled.

"Everything has reasons silly, of course! I will never judge you…" she answered and I hugged her once again. i don't know whether I'll be happy or not with her answer. If only I can tell her. Well I guess it's a good thing to tell her that whatever I'll does have reasons so that I can easily explain in the future. We walked hand in hand towards the building. Holding her hand like this made me feel relax.

"I promise I'll do something to protect everybody…" I thought to myself but for the meantime, I have to follow her orders.

NORMAL POV

Luhan was standing outside the classroom. He was waiting for So Hee to arrive. She called him yesterday saying that she needed help on one of her math problem set so they decided to go to school early and meet at the classroom. While searching the area for So Hee, he saw Luna sitting alone under the old weeping willow tree. She was looking at the tree with wondering eyes. Seeing that So Hee might come late, he made his way towards Luna who seems to be surprise by his sudden approach.

"Hey!" Luhan said while raising his right hand. Luna was still in shock and only nods in return. "You'll catch a cold for staying outside with weather like this, especially that you aren't wearing anything thick to protect you from the cold." Luna didn't know what to say so she just lowered her head. Luhan smiled and took off his scarf and drape it around her neck gently. Luna started to blush. "You're early…" he continued. Luna finally came back to her senses and smiled.

"I came early to meet with someone… by the way, thanks for the scarf…" she replied without looking at Luhan's face.

"Boyfriend?" he asked. Luna almost jumped because of what he says and Luhan laughed at her reaction.

"N-no… I don't have any…" she answered shyly. Luhan smiled at this.

"You are really interesting you know…" Luhan said and at this, Luna finally turned her gaze to him."

"R-really?"

"Yeah… I never thought that you are shy like this… it kinda remind me of myself when I first came here…" Luhan answered while looking at the sky and smiling.

"Why did you come here?" Luna asked. Luhan looked at her and smiled.

"I'm not sure… I just came here and decided to stay…"

"Are you happy here?" Luna asked and Luhan swear he could feel sadness in her tone.

"I am. I never had been this happy all my life. It was like a dream and if it is, I will never want to wake up!" he said dreamily. "Do I sound crazy to you?" Luhan asked while laughing lowly.

"N-no… not at all…" she answered. Luhan could feel that she seems to be disturbed by something.

"Are you okay?" Luna looks back at him and nods her head for agreeing. Luhan could see that there was really something that bothers her so he just changed the topic thinking that it may lighten her mood. "You know what, you remind me of someone." It seems like he caught her full attention because she immediately turned her head to him after he spoke.

"I do?" she asked.

"Yeah, actually you really look like her, well, except for the hair and eyes and others but the moment you came inside the class, I thought she was you…" Luhan answered.

"Is she… a friend of yours?"

"Actually she was my best friend. She was very kind and sweet and she is very dear to me. Now that I remember her, I feel really sad because I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye to her, I really hope she don't hate me because of that but… I really wanted to tell her that I'm happy and contented here and that I really want to stay..." after saying this, Luhan turned his gaze to her and saw that she was flabbergasted. Her eyes started to get moist. "Luna?"

Luna immediately fixed her things and stuffs them messily inside her bag. Luhan was confuse on her sudden action and decided to help but she pushed his hands gently away from her things.

"I-I think I need to go to the clinic, I suddenly felt dizzy…" she said while standing and Luhan stood up as well.

"I'll take you there."

"No… I can do it on my own. Thank you for the talk, till next time." Then she rushed off towards the building entrance. Before Luhan could protest, Luna was gone from sight. Suddenly, it started to snow again so he made his way back to the building too. He still couldn't find out why Luna's mood suddenly changed. It must be because of the weather. Then, he stopped.

"If I told Jin the same, will she react like that too?" he thought. He put his hand inside his pocket and continued walking. He was certain that Jin may feel bad about him not returning home but what can he do if this is the place he treat as his new home already?

"I'll just check on her later…"

JIN'S POV

My heart is pounding so hard that I can feel it bursting out of my chest. It's so loud that I think my eardrums going to break. I walked as fast as I could towards the infirmary without even caring if I bumped into somebody. When I was already inside, Mrs. Kim, the school nurse rushed towards me and asked me why I came.

"I feel my chest tightening... it... it hurts..." I said. It was true, it really hurts. Mrs. Kim assisted me towards one of the rooms in the infirmary and asked me to lay down and relax as she get the medicine for me.

I don't need a medicine.

I'm not physically sick.

I'm just sick of living a life like this! Sick of running after a person who just keep on slipping away...

Mrs. Kim came back with a glass of water in her right hand and a capsule on the left.

"Drink this." She told me and I just complied. She told me to take a rest because maybe I'm just tired or maybe the sudden change of weather affected me. I just nodded and she makes her way towards the door and gently closed it.

I lay my head slowly and closed my eyes. Silent tears flow sinfully out of my eyes and it was burning my skin. How can I still bring him back if he is the one who said that he never wanted to return?

I can't breathe.

Why does he always make me feel... worthless? I sat down placed my hand over my face. I feel very weak.

But I can't stop now!

I promised myself that whatever happens I'll bring him back! I can't give up easily! I slowly slid my hand down my face when I felt a soft fabric around my neck, Luhan's scarf. I held it tightly.

"I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye to her..."

His words are repeating hard in my head like a deadly mantra.

"No Luhan... nobody is saying goodbye to anybody because whatever you say, I will definitely bring you back..." I said to myself and stood up, walked towards the door when it suddenly burst open and Suho came in.

SUHO'S POV

The students are all rushing inside the classrooms; the weather is really cold so no wonder they wanted to get inside because the heaters are turned on. I was walking in the corridors when I saw Luhan walking towards my direction.

"Luhan!" I called out. He turned his gaze to me and shyly smiled.

"Hello..." he answered. He looks like there was something that is bothering him.

"Is there any problem?"

"Can you ask Luna if I said something that offended her? You see, we were talking earlier then she suddenly ran away..." Luhan said with a tint of worry in his voice.

"Where did she go?"

"She said that she suddenly felt ill and ran towards the infirmary" after Luhan said that, I immediately left him and rushed towards the infirmary.

"Is she okay?" I asked myself. My heart was beating so fast and I was catching my breath. I don't know but I feel very worried about her.

I was a few steps away from the infirmary when I saw Mrs. Kim standing at the door.

"Mrs. Kim! Which room is Luna staying?" I asked while panting hard. Mrs. Kim looked flustered but still managed to answer.

"R-room 8... Miss Min is at room 8..." I bowed my head as a sign of courtesy to her and went inside the infirmary to find Room 8. When I already found it, I hurriedly turned the knob and burst open the door and was surprise to see Luna standing behind it with an astonished face but I wasted no time and hugged her.

"S-Suho?" she asked. I just tightened my hold to her and I was glad because she didn't push me away. She just let me hug her but she didn't hug back.

"I was very worried..." I said as I loosen my hold to her so that I could face her. Her eyes are puffy indicating that she cried. I can still see the tears stain in her cheeks. I took my handkerchief and wiped her delicate cheek slowly. "You don't have to cry... I know that the pain will eventually fade... you'll be alright, I'm just right here." I told her that and she smiled at me.

"Thank you. You are very kind to me, I'm really glad." I can't help but smile. I'm glad that she looks okay now. "How did you know I was here?"

"Ah, I bumped into Luhan earlier and he told me to ask you if he offended you or something..."

"He said that?"

"Trust me Luna, Luhan didn't mean anything to offend you. He is a very kind person" I told her and her smile faltered.

"N-no... He didn't do anything bad... I was just not feeling well. Actually he even let me borrow his scarf so I know that he is not a bad person..." she said that then smiled. I'm not an expert but I am very certain that right now, there is something bothering her. I wanted to do something for her, to help her.

I don't want to see her sad.

I don't want to see her cry.

Then it struck me. Why I care so much about her. Why her simple gestures caught my attention, why her smile is very precious to me.

I like her.

Wait, no... I don't like her...

I think I love her. I love Min Luna.

END OF CHAPTER 11