In a blink of an eye, the people in front of her vanished. Chaewon thinks it's okay.
She wanted this anyway.
She chose this.
There is no backing down.
Seeing the mob of enemies rushing to her, she starts to run away. Chaewon knows what she's doing yet she can't help but be afraid. There is a huge possibility of her dying in this place after all.
The thought of her not seeing Minjoo and the rest ever again scares her.
But what can she do? She had a responsibility to fulfill the moment she saw it. The moment she saw them.
She immediately hides in a dark place and sits down. Chaewon realized that she's trembling.
A low (almost whisper) chuckle escaped from her lips. Almost lifeless. Then she leans on the concrete wall to rethink her life decisions.
She really has no choice. She has already made up her mind.
Chaewon ran towards the opposite direction of this place. The place where she saw them.
An image of those poor oneirians seemingly waiting for their death inside the cell breaks her heart.
Although some of them are still strong enough for the next couple of months, she knows deep inside her heart she has to do something.
She has to help them.
"Shit." Chaewon muttered under her breath as soon as she saw a fenrir in front. She decides to move stealthily, and knocking him out next.
When she finally arrived, her eyes explored the entire prison cells. She wasted no time and did the lock picking. Chaewon didn't expect this skill will be put to a good use. She was happy.
She quickly approached a poor oneirian and grabbed the shackles. The latter flinched. Chaewon felt that he was scared of what she did.
"Shhh... Hindi kita sasaktan." Chaewon tries to put him at ease and she succeeds. "Tutulungan kitang makaalis dito."
And so she did do everything to help them escape this one hell of a place. She earned a series of thank yous from them. Showering her with much gratitude.
Some are weak, skinny, afraid, angry, Chaewon saw different kinds and states of oneirians in there. She also learned that a large number of them are royal guards who are loyal to Princess Amora. Unfortunately, some of the royal guards died because of torture.
"Maraming salamat sa'yo." An old woman wagged her tail for Chaewon to see. The young woman thinks it's cute.
I wonder how Minjoo will look like if she's also like them?
Chaewon quickly shaking her head to erase the thoughts in her mind.
"Umalis na tayo dito." And then they headed off. The oneirians promised to protect her in exchange for saving them. Both sides promised to remember this precious memory forever.
A loud thud.
All of them became alert after hearing the sound.
Chaewon and the rest ran to its direction.
Only to see a certain someone fighting (she's trying hard) multiple fenrirs.
"Haa! May black belt ako! Isa akong karate kid!"
Chaewon gasps.
"Yena!?!?!"
The poor girl was trying to make this annoying fenrir get off her. Her back is aching from the impact please!
"Hoy Chaewon kamusta!"
"What the heck are you doing here!?"
Fighting sounds at the background.
Yena went towards her.
"Hindi ko pwedeng iwan ang kaibigan ko."
Chaewon went silent. The fenrirs and the oneirians fighting all forgotten.
"Pumasok tayo sa mundong ito nang magkakasama." Perhaps this was the most serious Choi Yena she ever saw.
"Uuwi tayo nang kumpleto, maliwanag?"
Chaewon didn't realize she was holding her breath until the last sentence.
"I..."
"Ibabalik pa natin si Yujin, si Wonwon, tsaka si Tita Panini. Kaya hindi pwedeng wala ka. Paano nalang kami? Si Minjoo? Tangina nakaalitan ko pa si Yuri maylabs dahil sayo."
Speechless. A speechless mess that is Kim Chaewon.
"T-thank you." Tears slowly cascaded down her cheeks.
She has friends.
She's thankful to have friends like them.
Yena beamed. Giving Chaewon a light feeling.
Relieved.
"Wala yun. Magkakaibigan tayo, hindi ba?"
Chaewon happily nods. Not caring about her tears falling at all. Instead, she also smiled back to her duck friend.
"Let's go. They are waiting. And are probably worried for the two of us."
..........
"Where are you going woman?"
"Hindi natin pwedeng iwan si Chaewon!"
"Do I look like I don't know that?"
"Bitiwan mo ako. Bitaw!"
"Choi Yena."
"I'm sorry. Hindi ko kayang iwan ang mga kaibigan ko."
"What about you then? Aren't you worried about me at all!? What if something happens to you?"
"Hindi ka rin ba nag-aalala para sa kaniya!?"
"I—"
"I love you, Yuri." She forcibly removed the hand that had clung to her arm and stepped out of the circle.
As soon as she did it, they vanished.
"Wala nang atrasan 'to." She said to herself and ran to follow her friend.
..........
"This woman seriously." She bit her lower lip. She realizes her mistake all thanks to her girlfriend. She sucks in being a friend that's for sure.
She's so full of surprises.
"At least come back to me safely, you foolish woman."