CHAOS IN YOU || RYEJI

64.

(author's note: initially the plan was to end it at the previous chapter. having the readers imagine what the truth was and what happened. but some might not like that and want to know what i say happened so here's my take.

If you like open endings you're free to presume chapter 63 was the end as was the original plan.

if not, this is what i always thought happened)

"Little Hwang."

Two words.

Two simple words.

Yet they left her frozen in place. Eyes closed tightly.

Yeji didn't want to open them. Didn't dare to do so.

A scent.

A voice.

Yet she was scared.

Afraid that once she opened her eyes, the other wouldn't be there.

That it was nothing but her imagination playing tricks on her.

Ryujin had died two years before.

Her ashes were placed next to her father's.

Yeji knew this because she visited them sometimes.

"Yeji." a whisper.

So tempting.

So inviting.

Yeji wanted to give into it.

She wanted to open her eyes.

But she was afraid.

Afraid of seeing nothing but an empty backyard.

A step.

She could hear it.

She could smell it.

Cigarettes and strawberry.

Another step.

And then warmth.

Warmth.

Warm arms surrounding her body. Embracing her into a tight hug. Holding her as if letting go wasn't an option. As if she could disappear at any moment.

She felt it.

She smelled it.

Warm was the air breathed against her neck.

Goosebumps.

It was real.

Wasn't it?

Or had she gone crazy?

A hand. Gentle. Soft.

A thumb wiping away the tears she hadn't noticed to be falling. Rolling down her cheeks as if they were racing.

So gentle.

As if Yeji could break.

So warm.

A contrast to the snow falling on a Winter night.

"I'm here." Another whisper. Warm air against her skin. A mouth close to it. A nose grazing her cheek.

"I'm real."

Yeji opened her eyes, gaze meeting reality waiting for her.

(author's note: i'm sad to see this story end because these two are by far my favorite characters i've written but we still have one or two chapters left)