тнoѕe wιngѕ ‖ ĸтн·втѕ

49- The Angel Ring

Heidi

It is already 1am but my sister's table lamp is still on, forming a large shadow under a big round yellow light. After Taeyong has left her, she has become less cheerful than before.

Even one day, I heard her crying when she was alone in the bedroom. The fact that Taeyong chooses not to disturb her human life distresses her much, that she even skips meals and prefers to spend her time alone more with her phone. Yes, she has just chuckled towards her phone in the middle of the night, affecting me from having a goodnight sleep. "Ley, it's late. Go to sleep." I mumble while changing my sleeping position under the blanket.

Facing the closed window, I take a look at the stars glittering in the night sky before sinking back to my dreams. Thinking that I will be going back to study, a complex feeling rises up in my mind while I feel both excited and sad. Well, I feel sad because of the exam which will be held tomorrow as well. Yes, it's tomorrow and I need to pass it, or else I won't manage to proceed to my first campus year.

"Alright, Dee." Hurley switches off the lamp as she bids me goodnight. The rustling between cloths can be heard from behind me, indicating that my sister is squirming herself into the warmth of the blanket. I heave out a sigh and look out to the window again and there he is, perching by the window in the form of a canary.

"Taeyong-oppa..." I whisper while hopping down from my bed, heading towards him. He doesn't budge until I push the window and let him in. The purple bird flaps its wings to enter and as it reaches Hurley's bedside, it shifts. The shifter's human form is then revealed. He stands quietly beside my sister, watching her sleeping in her bad dream as her eyebrows furrow. "Why don't you wanna let her know?" To be honest, I've been keeping this question since the last 3 months. I believe my sister is having an extreme mental breakdown right now because of him, who keeps stopping me from telling my sister the truth.

**Flashback starts**

I remember the first day I discovered Taeyong's action. At that very night, there was no stars and moon. The sky was gloomy. I was reading my book in our bedroom while Hurley fell asleep after minutes of her silent cry. Not long after, it rained. The violent smash of the raindrops made the roof clatter, forming a loud ochestra of Nature.

After taking a last look at my sister, I sighed before closing my book and switching off the table lamp. As I was about to snuggle into my blanket, there came a rhythmic clatter drawing my attention towards the glass window. Indeed, it was done by that purple bird which glowed softly. Initially, I perfer to ignore. But, the longer time I ignore it, the more vigorous the pecking noise was. "Urgh, what do you want?" I whisper-shouted at the animal with my pissed-off face as I walked towards it.

Whilst I braced myself and looked at the bird into the eye, it tilted its head before an image of my sister lying in the hospital revealed in my head. And then the moment she cried as he flew away reminded me of Taeyong - that's him. Not going to hesitate, I open the window and let the tiny animal in. As it perched at the Hurley's headboard, Taeyong's form revealed and that was why I know. He stood there quietly as his knuckles touched Hurley's cheek. "She doesn't know that I love her so much..." Taeyong sighed while I look at him awkwardly. My brain was still processing for appropriate words to say.