Newjeans on stage ð¥ºð¥º cause I'm so happy right now, double update for this day!
Anyway, I have been updating this story, like 3-4 chapters a week (?), but next week I have a business trip, so I will try to update at least twice a week.
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On one of these restless nights, Y/n lay awake in Minji's bed, staring into the dark, her breathing was ragged after another haunting nightmare. Without a word, Minji, who had felt Y/n's tense movements beside her, reached out and gently pulled her closer, one arm wrapping securely around Y/n's shoulders. She whispered softly, "You're safe here, Y/n."
"Sometimes I don't even know if I'm really here, or if I'll wake up to something worse." Y/n finally spoke, her voice barely audible.
Minji's fingers stilled for a moment before she gave Y/n a comforting squeeze. "You're here with me. I won't let anything take you away." Her voice was gentle, "If you're ever in danger, call my name, and I'll be right there beside you."
Y/n took in a deep breath, pressing closer to Minji, "I don't know why... but it's like these dreams are pushing me, or warning me. It's confusing. But sometimes..." Y/n decided to confess, "...I dream about someone else. About Hanni."
Minji's hand paused again, but she urged Y/n to continue. "It's not the same as the nightmares," Y/n continued, "It feels so real, like we're just... meeting. In one of them, she was there, cupping my face and telling me I had a place with her, that we'd live together." Y/n's voice grew quieter, her eyes not looking at Minji's. "I can't shake it. I know they are just dreams, but they feel so real."
Minji was listening to Y/n intently. After a moment, she rested her forehead against Y/n's, drawing her back into the present. "Maybe these dreams are trying to tell you something, but they don't change the fact that you're here now, with me. And it's up to you if you want to think of those dreams as a part of yourself"
"Thank you," Y/n whispered, her fears felt a little lighter because of Minji, she truly appreciated that.
Before drifting off, Y/n finally looked into Minji's eyes, her gaze filled worried if Minji was hurt because of her confession of her dreams. She reached up, her thumb brushing gently over Minji's cheek. "But you know it's you that I love, right? No one else. Not anyone from my past, not anyone from my dream, not anyone else... just you." Y/n made sure to convey the sincerity in her words, leaving no room for doubt.
Minji's lips curved into a soft smile, her hand coming up to cover Y/n's. "I know. And I love you too," she replied, a mixture of relief and happiness shining in her eyes. And Y/n could never be more relieved than that, Y/n exhaled. She nestled closer, finding peace in the comfort of Minji's embrace. As Minji gently brushed her fingers through Y/n's hair, they slept that way.
-
Right before the sun soared above the ground, Y/n quietly slipped out of Minji's room, easing the door shut behind her to avoid waking anyone. She moved quickly, footsteps light as she made her way out to the training ground just outside their home. Once there, she started with some basic stretches, loosening her muscles and warming up.
Taking a deep breath, Y/n closed her eyes, focusing as she summoned her flame, this time a flickering, intense yellow. She felt the warmth rise in her hand, radiating a heat that grew stronger with every moment. She picked up a rough, cold stone, feeling its weight before bringing it close to her palm. Slowly, she allowed the flame to build, feeding it with focus and energy until its heat became palpable, radiating against her skin. She pressed the stone to the center of her palm, letting her magic surge. Then the rock began to glow, soften, and finally it melted, dripping through her fingers like liquid light. She couldn't help but feel a small thrill, like she was controlling the intensity.
Without hesitation, she grabbed another stone and repeated the process, determined to build consistency in her magic power.
But as she continued, the sound of movement from inside the house caught her attention. Y/n paused, glancing back toward the house with a faint smile. The sounds of her friends waking up, their morning laughter, filled the air. It was a comforting sound for her, a reminder of how she wasn't alone.
Then, without warning, she felt a strange sensation wash over her. Her eyes lost focus, and the scene before her began to fade into something else entirely. Y/n blinked, the world shifting around her as her vision blurred.
It was as if time had turned back. Or not? Maybe an imagination? But she was no longer alone anymore. She could see Hanni, soaked by rain yet dancing joyfully. Y/n could feel it as if she were standing there herself, watching the droplets shimmer as Hanni spun in the downpour, her laughter echoing through space. The memory was so vivid that she could almost feel the damp earth beneath her feet, the cool drizzle grazing her skin. Y/n outstretched her hand as if she could catch the rain, only to find nothing but empty space. The vision faded, and she was left alone, standing on the damp ground as reality returned.
Y/n shook her head, trying to ground herself, but the remnants of the vision stayed heavy in her chest. The stones she had melted lay forgotten beside her as she stood there, her heart pounding in her ears, a question gnawing at her mind. Why was this happening now? She had been feeling this way since the appearance of the hooded figure. If only she was stronger back then, could she get the truth out of that person? She clenched her fists, trying to push down the feelings stirred by the memory, focusing instead on what she's doing.
She was about to go back practicing when she heard s a faint sound of footsteps crunched the leaves behind her. She turned, immediately tensing, and her pulse quickened at the sight of a hooded figure showed up from the shadows of the trees. For a brief, terrifying moment, memories of her last encounter with the hooded figure surged up. But then the figure pulled back their hood.
It was Yujin.
"Hey, you look like you've seen a ghost," Yujin said with a teasing smile.
"Yujin..." Y/n let out a breath, she was beyond relieved. "How... how did you get here?" She immediately composed herself.
Yujin stretched her arms casually, looking around the field. "Minji told me. She thought it might be helpful if you had a sparring partner, and, well, I figured I'd give it a shot. Didn't expect to see you out here melting rocks, though," she said with a light chuckle.
Y/n felt a small laugh came out of her mouth, appreciating the gesture obviously. "It's... I really appreciate it, Yujin. Thanks." She cleared her throat, "I didn't think Minji would notice I was out here so early."
Yujin tilted her head, "Yeah, well, she notices a lot more than you think. Anyway..." She paused, her expression softening as she took in Y/n's worn-out appearance, the faint shadows under her eyes. "How are you holding up? I mean, really. Minji said you were attacked, but... I can't imagine what that's been like. Are you healing okay?"
"Yeah, I think I'm okay. It's sore sometimes, and moving too much hurts. But I'm getting used to it." She glanced down at her bandaged neck. "The burns are healing, but they're going to leave a mark." Her hand touched the bandage on her neck unconsciously. "But I'm not that weak, you know?" Y/n offered a faint smile.
Yujin nodded slowly, but her gaze stayed on Y/n, "And... what about in here?" She tapped her temple. "How's your head, your mind?"
Y/n looked down, the question was too heavy for her. She thought of the sleepless nights, the recurring nightmares, the feeling of being cornered in her own thoughts. "That... I'm not getting over it as easily," she admitted softly. A slight laugh escaped her, feeling bitter, but kind of hopeful if it could happen. "I keep thinking, if only that person was on our side, she'd be a lot of help against that beast. She was strong, really strong." Y/n admitted, emphasizing the word "strong".
"Really?" Yujin raised an eyebrow, "Did you notice anything about her that might help us find her?"
Y/n paused, now thinking back to the encounter. "Yeah, actually," she said. "She had scars, burns, almost identical to mine. I saw it for just a second, but... it's there."
"Wait, so... you're telling me you two basically left matching scars on each other's throats? That's almost romantic, don't you think?" She waggled her eyebrows playfully, crossing her arms. "Burned each other's throats in a mysterious night encounter..."
"Very funny, Yujin. But it wasn't like that at all." Y/n snorted, rolling her eyes.
"I didn't even do anything to her. She was the one who burned me. And... well, it was weird. The moment I felt the burn, her neck burned too, actually a scar just... appeared. It wasn't fresh like mine, but it was the same mark. She didn't seem surprised, either, like she knew it would happen."
Yujin's smile faded, her brow furrowing again for thousand times already. "That's... unsettling," she said, "It's like she shares something with you that even you don't understand."
Y/n nodded, feeling a chill at the thought. "That's what I keep thinking. Like she's already been down this path, and she's... trying to push me onto it too. It's like a twisted reflection."
"Well, we're going to figure this out. And if this scar is something you're supposed to understand... make sure it doesn't distract you, okay? Our preparation is limited here"
Y/n nodded slowly. Right, in less than a week, the plan would be commenced, an all-out battle to stop the black-market.
Yujin patted Y/n on the shoulder. "Anyway, are you ready to see if that flame of yours can handle a real challenge? I'm not as easy to melt as those rocks, you know."
A laugh escaped Y/n, surprising her. It's a genuine laugh after all.
"Sure"