⠀⠀⠀taehyung's house

@taehyung kim. one yawn was all soojin needed to be able to disobey her gang and rot herself for a lifetime in her apartment. it seemed that the angels - or demons, whatever it should be addressed - of sleepiness have never visited her quarters again. the group had their luck of scaring them away with their slap; and, heck, it still hurt. it's probably time to call for a doctor and have her cheek checked; rubbing her phone on it didn't help much, either.

days, that seemed to be like hours, of endless shoots and promotions and collaborations, followed with hopping from one bar to the other to be able to participate with celebratory nightouts and drinks by the stockholders and partners - even if they are extremely greedy over money and not caring of the figure herself - maybe it could be a night wherein she could enjoy some peace and quite. after almost getting blind with the floods of the whitelight and getting too intoxicated with alcohol it felt like the weirdest and the strongest cocktail sitting by her stomach, the manager had finally told her - told elia - to rest. soojin was more than happy to hear the news of a week break alloted to her by the company itself; it sure was a pretty long time since she had the sleep she always wanted, promising herself to be able to live the upcoming week of her life full of blankets and pillows and her feline - moon - to lock her down on her bed.

old habits die hard, as what she heard humans say before. it wasn't as disappointing to receive no mail from her missing father like it was years ago; yet it wasn't as confusing as to why shae - the "leader" of the group she was "part" with - had her phone dead for days with her never-ending texts and phone calls. latest texts said that they partially wanted her to come over and mostly nagged about running out of cigar and alcohol, plus they're quite lazy to get out of the mansion; might as well for soojin to grab a bag or two on the way, said the final text received - along with a kissy emoji. it made her cringe, and it helped to finally dump what has to be by the sink.

one, dumb demon in her head told her to let the texts be and have her me-time instead. she had practically peeled her makeup off and disregarded her tight, sparkling red dress and knee-high boots for a cuddly and comfortably thick pajama set - ready to have the slumber she wanted and personally felt like she deserved - while hovering over the messages. as if that they really cared having her sticking in the group and not because she made it easier to buy grandeur things and charm men they obsessed over just to be able to make them agree over one night stands - all for them. despite of whatever they have said and treated her, they are the remaining demons whom she practically spend time with outside of work - the group that had soojin living despite of elia eating almost the life out of her. they were friends - no, family - and it's quite enough basis to at least get to hang out and talk. even if the uneasiness and the tension being around with them was a hard pill to swallow, she was left with no more choice to pick.

almost stumbling on the dirt with a stone she unnoticably stepped onto, her phone almost slipping off her palm, soojin remembered how much the group tried to sound genuine and nice towards her once she have reached the manor; their hugs cold and quick, and were more excited to see the goods she have brought to them on the way that aria - the closest member to shae - practically peeled the bags off of soojin's palms quicker than lightning. shae didn't even bother to acknowledge her presence, as usual. their 'thank you's were drier than sahara, attention then focused on the drinks and the cigar and of the messages they gossiped over from their boy toys in a matter of a heartbeat.

as soon soojin was about to take her seat - a couch fathest from the others - then shae have noticed her, her grin obviously fake after she called her with the slick and disgustingly caramel dipped voice of hers, immediately throwing her petite arms around the youngest's waist. when it seemed like soojin have grown two heads the more she examined her, she pulled away - her stare confused. "okay, but, where the is my book? haven't you read my messages?"

"i only read the latest ones and you sent almost a million. why?" was soojin's quick response that had shae fuming in disbelief, quickening her pace back to her spot on the long sofa - joining aira and britney, the owner of the mansion - the expression on her face as if she had worms and bugs all over her body whilst grooming herself.

"oh, elia, you're such a dissapointment," soojin could still hear the heavy blades in desiree's coo, the latter's head shook sideways with a tsk. "aria was expecting you to get it quickly for her - even thought you had it already since you never bothered to text back and never showed up for days."

"i was busy with work, and my phone died with how much you guys called and texted. what's with the book, anyways? and everyone's aware that shae isn't fond of books," soojin's words were straightforward - oh, how she was proud of herself at such moment to be able to speak up for once - silence deafening that everyone could hear a pin drop. aria breathlessly chuckled, fury dripped on it, and everyone followed afterwards. "i wouldn't know unless you guys tell me."

pepper, the self-proclaimed stalker of the group, then jumped in. she informed that there was this house - or another mansion, she wasn't really paying attention - not too far from britney's, full of witchcraft and magic, and that a creature was living in there; she somewhat called it as a guardian, it was funny enough to bring a chuckle or two from soojin remembering it. being the lookout she was, and exaggerating as it sounded, ms. stalker camped out of said house for days to inform that the "guardian" was twice larger than soojin - even thrice - probably because of the spells and the magic they have possessed; said guardian's identity was still a puzzle, which - according to pepper - was pretty scary. no one else was in that manor, and the book was kept somewhere in the house, it could be carried around, unsure where they have placed it yet sure enough it's away from prying eyes. the youngest could barge in by the windows and steal the book in no time. not even the guardian could suspect her coming in and out.

that had her mind drive to its brink of sanity. steal?

"it's important that you'll give it to me as soon as possible. consider it as an initiation rite as well," shae interrupted as soojin took a deep breath in. it was questionable enough of shae to have soojin steal the book for her. everyone could even tell that pepper is smaller compared to her and pepper herself can barge in and out a lot easier. and: she already passed their initiation years ago!

because of their arrogance, soojin didn't have the guts to hold back anymore - talking back tasted like sugar on her tongue, and it was addicting. it took her a scoff and a chuckle covered in sarcasm - so thick that knife couldn't cut it - to add fuel to the fire. "oh great fos and whatever is above there, stealing is so ing childish to be considered as a serious matter."

long story short, aria slapped her for "disrespecting shae right in front of her salad", followed by shae herself for the same, childish reason. britney was against of slapping soojin, but shae made her so, threatening to kill her or something - as if she can - and pepper as well. desiree didn't lay a finger on the youngest, yet warned her about kicking her out of the group and spreading her secrets to the public so "she could die in shame and never show her face in sko again". it was worth a laugh, free palm dusting her pajamas as she took careful steps closer to the manor, as the address said so. their threats are empty; heck, they even don't know soojin's full name, let alone know that her real name is soojin than elia! it proved that keeping her secrets to herself was all worthwhile.

being their getaway puppy as she always was, soojin then fled the mansion - was forced to, by aria's endless and nonsense nagging - and decided to get the book herself. shae must have felt her ego skyrocketed once she took her steps outside, practically staring at soojin as if she was kissing her feet once again, it was disgusting. curiosity was starting to take its toll on her with the book and had no intention to bring it to them, it would be no wonder if shae will use it for her own good. whatever childish reasons she have in mind. checking the address, it seemed like she have reached the house pepper was talking about - it wasn't as scary as she thought it will be as she was on the way; fascinating could be the perfect way to describe it, even if she wasn't fond of gothic styles and architectures. it was a wonder how far did pepper ever investigate the said place, the fact that thorns covered the whole area makes it amusing.

with the soles of her feet now sore and numb by the endless walking, she have then realized that flying was a better option - however, she could be easily suspected if she will take flight now. disregarding her shoes in a small hole she dug herself - somewhat a way to have her steps a little silent as she will find her way - soojin prepares to what will happen past the thorns of beautiful metallic blood roses that mirrored her life.

few crunches of dead leaves and dead vines rotten on the hard soil with every step she take was leap of faith was all she needed, even if it was non-existent in the underworld.

[ + i'm sorry it took a while, love T T and you can take time with replying. i hope you had a good day today! ]