The rooftop, a secret haven above the cacophony of the school, cradled Arisa and Gorya in its solitude. The air hung heavy with the remnants of the incident, and the distant echoes of laughter and mockery reached their ears as students walked by the entrance of the rooftop like haunting melodies.
Gorya, her expression etched with concern, gently suggested, "Maybe you should lay low here for a while, Arisa. Let the storm finish."
Amid their whispered conversation, the rhythmic sound of footsteps approached. Arisa's heartbeat quickened, and Gorya's eyes widened with shared anticipation. Someone was ascending to their refuge. In a silent agreement, Arisa ushered Gorya to the side, creating a makeshift barricade with old desk tables.
Ren emerged, his silhouette gleamed against the backdrop of the school's skyline. His voice, detached yet carrying an undertone of determination, broke the rooftop's stillness. "I know you're here. Come out. I won't spill your secret." He spoke without turning, as if his mere presence could detect them on the rooftop.
Arisa and Gorya exchanged hesitant glances before Arisa cautiously stepped into view. However, just as they emerged, the stairwell door burst open, and a group of girls spilled onto the rooftop, their voices carrying an air of theatrical bravado. "Come out, come out, wherever you are!"
Reacting swiftly, Gorya pushed Arisa back behind the pile of desks. Arisa crouched down, her world confined to the hidden space. Ren, seemingly undisturbed, confronted the incoming storm of girls, with nonchalance written all over his face. Arisa thought, how could someone keep themselves so collected all the time?
"No hidden secrets here. You can go now," Ren declared calmly, his eyes avoiding direct contact with the intruders. Without questioning the authority of another F4 member, the girls, begrudgingly accepted defeat, retreated from the rooftop, leaving behind a lingering tension.
As the echoes of their retreating footsteps faded, Arisa emerged from her hiding place. A wave of relief took over and gratitude rested on the tip of her tongue, but before she could express it, Ren spoke with an air of quiet authority. His gaze, grazing over Gorya, carried a quiet intensity. "It'll be even easier to find Arisa now that Gorya's been seen here. They'll come back if they don't see you in school. So, I suggest that for the time being, Arisa should hide here alone.''
ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚
The rooftop, a desolate expanse in the grip of a wintry chill, echoed with the late-afternoon silence. Arisa, huddled on the frigid ground, clung to her knees as an icy breeze swept through the isolated sanctuary. The once comforting solitude had transformed into a lonely isle, surrounded by the biting cold.
As the school day waned, the temperature plummeted, each breath forming a ghostly mist in the crisp air. Arisa's figure, against the backdrop of a descending sun, felt the chill seeping into her bones everywhere, a stark contrast to the warmth she once found in this haven with Gorya.
With the final bell's resounding toll, Arisa stirred from her thoughts, her senses alert to the biting cold that clung to the rooftop. The ambient noise of students gradually increased as they made their way out of class.
A sudden notification pierced the frigid air. The immediate chime echoed in Arisa's ears, jolting her from the contemplative silence. Fear gripped her heart like an icy vice, the thought of someone running through the doors froze her in place. Trembling fingers reached for her phone, unlocking the device with hesitant uncertainty.
A sigh of utter relief escaped her lips as the screen illuminated with Gorya's message.
Arisa, are you okkkk?
if you don't take in account the extreme cold weather, I'm alright
Just hold out a bit longer until everyone leaves
I'm waiting outside
Okay, I'll wait, but you should go on ahead
It's pretty cold and your mum will start to worry
I'll leave as soon as possible and text you
Are you sure?
Yep, go on Gorya, don't worry OK
If you say so and take care! MAKE SURE TO TEXT
OF COURSE
Gorya seemed like a lifeline in the midst of the cold isolation. Arisa's eyes devoured the words, each one a flicker of warmth against the numbing cold. In the frozen expanse of her solitude, the message held the promise of connection, a glimmer of light in the encroaching darkness that sought to engulf her.
ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚
Arisa cautiously descended from the rooftop, her eyes scanning the deserted corridor for any lingering threats. The chilling wind bit at her exposed skin, and she shivered, pulling her jacket tighter around her. Her steps echoed through the empty halls as she made her way toward the school's exit.
As Arisa turned a corner, the same group of boys from earlier emerged, blocking her path. Their menacing grins sent a shiver down her spine, and she instinctively started to back away. The lead tormentor, a smug expression plastered on his face, sneered, "Going somewhere, goody two shoes?"
Without much thought, Arisa's heart raced as she broke into a run, her legs carrying her as fast as they could. The boys chased after her, their mocking laughter echoing through the corridor. With every step, exhaustion crept into her limbs, but she pushed herself harder, desperation fuelling her escape.
Just as one of the boys caught up, he grabbed her arm, yanking her to the side. He gave her a venomous smile as he dragged her into the school's dimly lit basement, Arisa's cries for help echoed off the cold, concrete walls, her cries growing louder but to no avail. The torment intensified as they began pulling at her clothes and hair, their phones capturing every humiliating moment.
Arisa, overwhelmed by fear and fright, screamed for help, her tears blending with the tormentors' laughter. The world blurred around her as the nightmare unfolded.
Suddenly, a voice sliced through the torture, "That's enough."
It was as if time seemed to stop. Arisa glanced up through teary eyes at the figure who emerged through the door.
Thyme stepped into the dimly lit basement, his presence commanding attention. The tormentors, momentarily caught off guard, hesitated. Thyme wasted no time – with swift, precise movements, he disarmed the boys, freeing Arisa from their clutches. His actions were fluid and unexpected, a stark contrast to the chaos that had moments ago consumed the basement.
As Thyme stood between Arisa and her tormentors, his piercing gaze warned them against further aggression. The boys, realising they were outmatched, skulked away, leaving the basement in a heavy silence.
Still trembling Arisa stared at Thyme with a mixture of surprise and disbelief. His presence, though surprising, had rescued her from a dire situation. Thyme's gaze met hers, his expression unreadable.
ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚
The basement air hung heavy with the remnants of fear, the dim light casting long shadows that danced across the cold, concrete walls. Arisa, still trembling from the recent torment, found an unexpected solace in the presence of Thyme. His silent vigil spoke louder than any words could, offering an unspoken reassurance that she desperately craved.
Thyme stood nearby, his usually composed demeanour faltering as he observed Arisa's vulnerability. The weight of the recent events lingered in the silence between them. Arisa's tear-streaked face looked up at Thyme, her eyes a tumult of emotions. Despite her reluctance, she found herself inching closer to him, seeking refuge in the enigmatic figure she both loathed and, in this moment, oddly trusted.
The tears, once restrained, flowed freely now. Arisa's arms found an unconscious refuge around Thyme, her fingers gripping the fabric of his jacket as if holding onto an anchor in a stormy sea. Thyme, caught off guard by the sudden closeness, hesitated momentarily. The boundaries between them blurred in this vulnerable space, a silent understanding weaving itself between two individuals.
Arisa's sobs echoed in the dimly lit basement, the pain of the recent ordeal manifesting in each quiver of her body. Thyme's internal struggle mirrored the turmoil around them in that moment of shared vulnerability.
Just as the stillness threatened to engulf them entirely, the basement door creaked open, and Hana's figure loomed in the entrance. Her eyes widened at the sight before her – Arisa, clinging desperately to Thyme, both caught in a fragile moment of shared pain. Thyme's thoughts clouded as he raised his hands; the idea of comforting the poor girl floated in his head until he thought better of it. He couldn't let someone who had been a thorn on his side sway him to any type of emotion. This was not who he was. Thyme's arms, frozen in indecision, fell back to his sides, a sudden tension seizing the air.
The door of the basement slowly opened, Hana's gaze shifted between them, her expression a mixture of curiosity and something else – a flicker of possessiveness that didn't go unnoticed. Arisa, oblivious to the unspoken dynamics, continued to lean on Thyme, her tear-stained face partially hidden behind his figure who seemed to show no reaction.
"What's going on here?" Hana's voice cut through the heavy atmosphere, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the scene before her. Thyme, collecting himself, shot a glance at Arisa before responding.
"I found Arisa here,'' Thyme's tone was measured, devoid of the usual arrogance until he spoke again, ''Looks like the role of the superhero has switched.'' Hana's eyes, however, remained fixated on the scene before her.
Arisa, aware of Hana's gaze, slowly untangled herself from Thyme, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and lingering fear. Hana's expression shifted, a subtle smirk playing on her lips as she observed the aftermath of the basement encounter.
"Looks like our ice queen has found an unlikely savoir," Hana mused, her eyes narrowing with a knowing gleam. Arisa, caught off guard, struggled to find words. Something flickered through Hana as she realised what she said. Her demeanour changed ever so quickly, it seemed impossible to think of the remark she displayed mere minutes ago.
As Hana stepped further into the basement, the air replaced itself with a different aura than it began with.
"Oh, Arisa," Hana's voice softened, a facade of worry replacing the previous malice. "Gorya told me you were still in school, so I rushed over to make sure you were okay. I had no idea you'd be down here... like this."
Arisa, still reeling from the encounter, eyed Hana with suspicion. Thyme, ever perceptive, raised an eyebrow but remained silent. Hana's sudden change in demeanour left an uneasy tension hanging in the air.
"Oh, yeah," Hana continued, her words carefully chosen to paint a picture of innocence. "I didn't mean to intrude on your, um, moment. But, you know, with all that's been happening, I just wanted to make sure you're alright."
Arisa's expression remained guarded, her trust in Hana shaken by the earlier confrontation. Thyme, however, maintained a stoic exterior, watching the exchange with a hint of scepticism.
"Thank you, Hana," Arisa replied, her voice tinged with hesitation. "I appreciate your concern."
Hana nodded, her eyes betraying a flicker of triumph that went unnoticed by Arisa. "Of course! Friends should look out for each other, right? If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
In a surprising turn of events, Hana approached Arisa, arms outstretched as if offering solace. "Oh, Arisa," she cooed, "I'm so glad you're okay. Come here." Without waiting for a response, Hana enveloped Arisa in a tight hug, catching her off guard.
Arisa, still vulnerable from the recent ordeal, hesitated but didn't resist Hana's embrace. The unexpected console felt both comforting and strange. "Thanks, Hana," Arisa mumbled, her voice muffled against Hana's shoulder.
Thyme, observing the scene, felt an uneasy tension settle within him. He watched as Hana led Arisa away, the two disappearing from the basement. As they moved out of sight, Arisa cast a fleeting glance back at Thyme, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. His conflicted gaze met Arisa's, and for a moment, he seemed on the verge of saying something. His lips parted as if to call out her name, but a subtle shake of his head and a quick glance away replaced the words.
As Hana led Arisa away, the basement's dimness swallowed the echoes of unspoken emotions, leaving Thyme alone with the weight of tangled feelings.
ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚
Hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the last few!
A new turn of events- who knew!
Well, let me know your thoughts on how you felt reading through.
Thank you for reading!!
Bye!
ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚