Two remaining scraps of teal colorant was gradually leaving its place on Scarlet's nails. The nail polish resembled as a time-lapse of her life prior a month ago until now. In those events, she was granted with the life she wished for: to live it alongside with a boy she loved.
The love she earned was the source of her euphoria but also the dawning of many atrocious nights. Even the rumbling of rain couldn't quite conceal the outbursts of her sobs when the clock struck twelve.
Because where the road leads to self-love, Scarlet is lost.
Her past lover's finding in his correct path only resulted in heartbreak and abandonment. Yes, she's happy for him but her presumption of needing his guidance was silly now that she thinks of it.
It's up to Scarlet to find the unerring path to her self-acceptance. After that is accomplished, the readiness to mold her heart with someone else's would bloom.
But not yet.
. . .
Not yet has she been able to escape from the lap of the man whose mouth curved up into a teasing smirk. His eyes glistened with mischief as a hand rested on her hips comfortably.
"So tell Santa, what do you want for Christmas?"
Christmas surely came early for her this year.
With both arms looped around Jungkook's neck, she leaned in close enough to see the scar etched on his left cheek. Scarlet unconsciously let her fingers graze over it, the mark igniting a series of questions she wanted to blurt out.
It matched the one opposite to her own.
She retreated her fingers as quickly as it had reached up to trace the scar, embarrassed when Jungkook's smirk only widened at her slip-up. Scarlet persisted with her scheme as she allowed her chin to rest perfectly into the crook of his neck.
Her hands moved down to caress the soft skin beneath his shirt before answering.
"A Kiss."
"Bold of you to a—"
She placed an index finger against Jungkook's lips, shutting him up from any quirky remarks and smiled. "The chocolate ones."
He pushed her finger away with a glare.
A soft ding echoed throughout the dimly lit plane, indicating the seatbelt sign was now off.
"Accompany me, will you?" Scarlet inquired, face close to his own.
No response was given.
She shifted carefully on Jungkook's lap to get off, hoping she wouldn't excite something unnecessary.
"Wouldn't do that if I were you."
Like déjà vu, Scarlet stiffly stilled at his comment, finding the warmth spreading rather rapidly to her cheeks. She sighed in disbelief at her reaction and moved away from the living seat – perhaps too eagerly that vertigo invaded her vision.
She seized onto Jungkook's seat until the swarming stars vanished and grinned down at the boy. "Don't get your panties in a twist once you find me dismembered."
"Doesn't sound too bad after the many stunts you pulled."
"I forgot. Being dead makes your job easier."
Jungkook hummed in reply.
Scarlet headed towards a restroom at the back of the plane, figure being followed by two pairs of contemplating eyes.
With the momentarily absence of Scarlet, Jungkook was left alone to fumble with the suspicious letter he found earlier.
"From Jiwook," a sour smile danced upon his lips. "We meet again."
. . .
Scarlet, though not entirely sure what category of a criminal Jungkook is listed under, surmise that he's nowhere near similar to ones who rob convenience stores with their legendary phrase of, "Give me your money!"
No, he's a lot worse.
So, indeed, she's very grateful he has yet to skin her alive with the knife that always accompanied his back pocket.
Although all confidence drained itself from her when she successfully stole that precious knife from the big bad wolf. (With all the touchiness she had to do, she concluded she will never, ever do that again.)
This time, Scarlet could only fake the certainty of dealing with whoever was after her by herself.
The stranger's stare bore the same perturbed feeling she sensed back home and now, the same man was here, on this very plane. She recognized him almost immediately.
Her grip on the knife loosened due to the amount of sweat Scarlet's hands produced, and the thumping of her heartbeat distracted her from the footsteps approaching.
Scarlet's heart accelerated as the restroom door still emitted the occupied sign with every second that went by.
It was time.
A cold arm draped around her neck in a hold that would surely choke her if he chose to do so.
"Scarlet." One word.
And the soft Christmas tunes went unheard to her ears as the voice of the stranger invaded one of her five vital senses.
Fortunately for him, all melodies he perceives are muted. They're nothing.
Because even Jiwook could not hear the bitterness of his own voice or the drop of Scarlet's heartbeat.
. . .
Jungkook knew something was wrong.
His head snapped to the back as he spotted the unfamiliar, but oh-so-familiar, man with Scarlet.
He cursed.
Jungkook tossed the letter to the side before striding his way down the aisle, praying the girl is smart enough to deal with it on her own until his friends are alerted.
. . .
╔════════════════╗
FROM: LEE JIWOOK
TO: SCARLET NGUYEN
╚════════════════╝
► Must I say, Jungkook chooses his women very wisely. If not for him, I would definitely have you first. I apologize that our first meeting would be under such horrible circumstances but please know I have no intentions of causing further conflict — that is if you're good at following directions.
I, as well, have the answers to your many questions. I would not hesitate to share them with you once you choose a side. There's only one correct answer, Scarlet.
Your mother is waiting for you back home and she's not too happy about this. It seems you've also invited another rivalry against you and Jungkook.
How fun. ◄
━━━━━━
Chapter 5 will be unlocked once this chapter has at least 20 votes. Thank you. (๑･̑◡･̑๑)
An explanation for any confusion:
The unknown man that's after Scarlet had left her a letter when she was asleep and when Jungkook had wandered off somewhere (chapter 2). However, Jungkook had found it and kept it to himself instead. Scarlet doesn't know of the letter but she can sense someone is watching her.
The unknown man is revealed as Jiwook.