Chapter 16

The afternoon light peeks through the shaded tree. The blue sky turning into gradient orange of the the closing sun. Chaeyoung stirred from her sleep. Slowly opening her lids, she was met by a blinding light. She winced and close it again. She open it once more but covering her eyes from the sun this time. A beautiful afternoon. That's how she wants to describe the view in front of her. A sleeping beauty indeed. Ah why did I thought about so much. The answer is already clear. I waited and finally found her. She smiled in content.

A lone tear escaped from the mixed emotions. Happiness? regret? relief? fear? She don't know which of those she's feeling at the moment. Happiness that she found her, regret for not knowing sooner, relief that she's fine, fear for the unknown. Fear, ah am I really scared to be killed by the one I love? She chuckled to herself.

Those eyes, her moles, those gummy smiles.. It is really her but something is off. Something doesn't add on. Why and how did I forgot about those important details? I mean I remember the necklace but now that I look back.. I don't remember the last time we saw each other. The last day... when was it? and why does it seems like she don't know me?

"Did you gone crazy?" Mina asked while still has her eyes closed. She felt the intense stare from the woman.

Well let's think about that later.

"Ani I just realized how beautiful you are" She beamed. Mina's brows twitched. She slowly open her eyes and met the stare of Chaeyoung.

"Is the sun too much for your eyes?" She frowns.

"Yah I am being sincere here. You're really beautiful Minari." Chaeyoung giggled and Mina has to ransack her brain to see any reason for the woman's change of behavior. Just two hours ago she's so silent and down but then now she looks like a girl in her teenage self.

"What's happening? Did your fever came back?" She check her forehead. "You're fine. Why a sudden compliment?" She asked. Chaeyoung shook her head and chuckled.

"Can't I compliment you? Besides get used to it starting today." She sat up and winked before standing up. That made Mina even more weirded by the girl and maybe to herself too.

"Why would I get used to that?" She asked. Chaeyoung tried to straighten her crumpled shirt.

"Because I want you to. Let's go. Seulgi unnie is waiting I have three missed calls from her" She showed her phone where the notification of the missed calls shows. Chaeyoung then offered a hand for Mina to take. Even confused by the woman's behavior, Mina took her hand.

"It's my turn to drive." She smiled and took the car key from Mina.

"Are you sure you are fine?" Mina did not know what happened but something is really up.

"Hai hai" She saluted and proceed to fold the blanket they used.

Mina wanted to know what made her like that but she also has that part of her where she wouldn't like to give a fuck. The girl had already mess with her thoughts, she don't know what more could her effect will be if she's going to dig deeper.

...

Codes flashes on different monitors as Dahyun continued to type in insane pace. She is eating a lollipop made by Momo that could help her ability to further work. Dahyun has a weak body. Everytime she uses her ability her energy will be sucked up and in order to prevent that, Momo made her a special candy. Her eyes is glowing in intense blue while looking at the monitors.

"How long do you think she can locate them?" Momo asked besides Sana.

"Hmm I think she's almost done" She smiled.

"What are you sayi-"

"Done!" Dahyun raised her two hands in glee. Sana tapped Momo's shoulder and winked as if saying 'told you'.

"I got their location. We just need to tell captain unnie." she stretched her arms and approach her two unnie. Sana happily hug her and Momo clapped too.

"You're amazing Dahyunie" Momo complimented while proudly smiling.

"Tsk we all are Momo unnie" she chuckled. Well Momo can't agree more on that.

"Let's call Nayeon unnie, Tzuyu and captain for a meeting." Sana suggested and the three of them exited the control room.

"So can you tell us in advance?" Momo adjusted her glasses and put her hands on her lab coat pockets. They're on their way to their captain's office.

"I located a total of five. It's hard to see on who is who so we need to see it by ourselves." Dahyun answered.

"We're going to fight again huh." Sana sigh. She hates to do it, the killing.

"Well technically it's you, Nayeon, captain and Mina. We can't come or we'll be a dead meat. Even if I can regenerate fast, It'll be too late." -Momo.

"Yeah you should be careful Sana unnie." Dahyun worriedly looked at her as she intertwine their hands. Sana smiled and nodded. Momo on the other hand wasn't even looking at the two and has her thought going through any possibilities.

"Hey it's been a decade. I wonder if the organization made another experiment for the next generation?" Momo asked. More like to herself.

"That won't be impossible but the idea is a big disaster. As far as I know every files about the research got burned and only ashes remains. Mina unnie is their only chance. " -Dahyun

"You really think so?" Momo smirked.

"What? You know something Momoring?" Sana gave her a confused look.

"I have a theory that the organization created something more evil since they are really brave to hunt us knowing we have Mina." -Momo. What she said made the two thinking. Dahyun's eyes glows in blue.

"You have a point. Where did the organization got their bold actions? After two years they already started chasing us. Those professors are smart enough not to corner a desperate army on a run. That's a basic knowledge but- they can't be..." Momo and Dahyun shared a look their blue irises reflecting each other. Sana look at the two not really getting what they mean. Ugh I can't understanding do they have some kind of telepathy?

"Fuck so that's it." Dahyun has stop on her tracks which made the two stop too.

"about what?" Sana asked.

"The red project." Momo answered. That even made Sana more confused.

"Did captain knows about this?" -Dahyun.

"Yeah I think so. That woman is always ahead of us. She thinks like she can predict the future." Momo chuckled. Well their captain is still a wonder for her.

"Well that's our captain" Dahyun agreed and nodded.

"What's the red project?" Sana chirped.

"A prototype research on how to alter cells into something different. It will create monsters. Horrendous ones." Momo answered and Sana shivered by thought of really facing a monster.

"The fall of the cage made them desperate." Dahyun added. Momo agreed but there is something more. If her guess is right, the result could be one of the reason why they're chasing them desperately.

Those crazy psychos, still playing with people's lives.

...

Mina and Chaeyoung arrived at Seulgi's house just in time for the woman to finish making dinner. Their unnie doesn't look like she was rejected at all. She has the same bear smile from the first time they met.

"Yah I thought you two wouldn't come." -Seulgi.

"Something came up unnie mianhe" Chaeyoung apologized and Seulgi accepted it with ease. She's just worried that something bad might happened to the two.

"Let's eat then we can talk."

The three of them sat on the dining table and enjoyed the food Seulgi prepared.

"Here eat this Minari." Chaeyoung put a meat on her plate. Seulgi observe from her seat how the smaller woman is so caring towards Mina. She casually offers her food and even pours her a drink.

"If I didn't know better I would mistake you two as lovers." Seulgi snickered. Chaeyoung was caught off guard as she cough from embarrassment. Her face redden and her eyes giving way of what she really feels. Seulgi laughed seeing her dongsaeng in that state.

"Unnie we're not like that" she defended.

"Aigoo I know that face Chaeyoungie" She teased.

"She has a lover unnie. Even though I don't know what's got into her this morning." Mina who's silently eating joined them. Her statement surprised Seulgi but for Chaeyoung it's a different feeling.

"Really? You do?" She asked.

"uhm yeah but it's complicated." Because she don't recognize me.

"Oh so it's a no no for the two of you huh. That's a waste, I really thought you'll make a good match." She smiled. Chaeyoung just replied with a warm smile. She likes the idea too but their situation is not that ideal. Mina might kill her or remember her. Either of the two she's fine with it. The only thing she can do now.. Make memories with her and find out what happened.

"So how did it go?" Mina started another topic seeing that the atmosphere is silent again.

"Ah Irene.. She didn't listen in me at first but after you left she calmed down and I explained everything to her. That it wasn't Seungwan's fault and that she's not at fault too. She suffered you know. Blaming herself for not being good enough when I left." Seulgi smiled sadly. The image of a crying Irene is playing in her mind.

"It must be tough for you too unnie." Chaeyoung can't imagine fighting for her life without someone by her side.

"Yeah but the thought of seeing her again give me life." Seulgi said without even hint of regret. Guess we're same on that aspect unnie.

"So did she forgave you?" Mina asked. She's more interested if the Bae woman forgave her. It was her plan after all.

"She said to meet her tomorrow and to bring the two of you too." She smiled. Mina nodded, already got the message. So we can go back tomorrow and I can plan to kill her too.

"Chaeng if we manage to get the contract signed tomorrow, let's go back in the afternoon." She said while munching the samgyupsal.

"Why? Something came up?" Chaeyoung looked at her curiously.

"My sisters need me to go back we have an emergency at home." She reasoned which is actually true. Chaeyoung didn't disagree and just nodded. She wanted to have some time together but maybe they can do that next time.

The night continued with them talking about their lives. Mostly, it was only Seulgi and Chaeyoung. Mina doesn't talk that much. After some more time, the two decided to go back on their hotel. They bid their goodbyes and set off. Mina parked the car and they both got out at the same time.

"woah the sky is clear today." Chaeyoung smiled while looking at the sky in amazement. Mina followed and look above too.

"Yeah it's beautiful." She commented.

"Hey Minari." She called. Mina turns to her with a curious look.

"What?"

"I remember a quote about it.. 'The night is not dark, it's your inability to see the light'" She smiled looking so sincere at the sky full of hope.

"You're speaking in riddles now" Mina chuckled, trying to decipher the woman's words.

"Ani I think I can finally see it after a very long night lost in the dark." She answered feeling emotional. Mina stared at her for a good seconds before looking back the sky again.

"Looking up into the sky is looking into infinity. Distance is incomprehensible and therefore meaningless." She stated. Chaeyoung heard that quotes before too. It was something her unnie likes to say before she disappeared. Something that gave her hope. Ahh she's really here. Her tears is threatening to fall and so she blinked it many times to stop.

"The sky is our proof that we live on the same world. I know you miss her that's why you acted like that this morning right?" Mina keep staring at the sky. Something in her heart tugs when she said those words to the woman. Ah this again.

Chaeyoung's heart can't take it anymore as she have to turn her attention to the beautiful woman by her side. Silently admiring her side profile. Maybe getting killed by her wasn't so bad at all.

"I do miss her but I'm afraid that I have to leave her before she can even remember me"

...

Author's Note:

Yey I updated xD