chapter six

"did something happen while i was away?" jimin asked, taking a seat on the swing beside me. "i know i said it was alright not to tell me but i'm just worried."

"something will happen while you're away, not now but maybe later or tomorrow, i don't really know when." i answered, my eyes staring from a far.

i turned to look at jimin, his eyes filled with colors while he stared back. i wanted to ask him if what he could see in my eyes? was there a glint of happiness?

or was it filled with warmth yet at the same time seemed as careless as hell?

"do you know what my mom used to tell me?" jimin smiled as his eyes never left mine, "she said that eyes are like windows, sometimes open and sometimes closed but if you look closely and precisely, you might see something. do you want to know what i see in your eyes, hanbyeol?" he asked me.

i nodded.

"pain and gentleness at the same time." he stopped before flashing me a smile, "but i still find them beautiful and i want you to believe me."

"i do, i believe in you." i nodded, my voice not louder than a whisper.

we both talked, exchanging stories while we let the time pass. for a moment, i forgot about dad. i forgot the thoughts of him beating me up once he knows that i failed my test.

the sun setting was like a fire in the sky, the night and day in the middle of the battlefield. the moon would soon rise, its stars displaying the success from winning.

"my mom believes that the stars that you would see right after the sun sets are the loved ones who are guiding you." jimin told me, stopping and standing beside me as we reached my house.

and for the first time, i wasn't scared as much as i was before.

"me and my brother believes that all universes sees the same sky, the same stars and the same moon. don't forget me when you're there, remember me as hanbyeol, the star that would be one of the first stars that would come out of the sky for you." i told him before heading inside.

i got in, going straight to my bedroom. opening it, i saw my dad who silently seated on my chair next to the study table.

"you're home. come here, let's talk." he motioned me to come near and because of fear i did. i watched him stand before making me seat on the chair.

he bent down, his eyes meeting mine.

"i heard about something and i'm not happy about it." he smiled before becoming serious again, "why didn't you know about the test, daughter?" he asked me.

"i'm sorry, taehyung said someone told in the group chat but then i wasn't a member of it." i mumbled fast, my head down low.

he grabbed my cheeks, tightening it as he bopped my head back in forth. i saw anger in his eyes, his face was turning red and he kept on cussing.

"why? even if you didn't know, you should've studied!" he shouted, my body trembled in fear as he pushed me to the floor.

he grabbed me by the collar, making me focus in his furious eyes. dad was about to hit me when continous knocks on the door was heard.

"dad! don't hurt her, please!" i heard seojun's desperate calls, his fists was slamming on the door.

"fuck you dad! don't hurt her! open this fucking door and let's talk! dad!" hyunjun cussed continuously, his voice shattering every time he spoke. "hanbyeol! are you alright? stupid, why am i asking that?" his voice sounded frantic.

"dad, please listen to them. i'll study much harder this time. please, you're hurting me." i cried, tears finally falling as if begging for me as well.

"listen to them? and what? so you can all rebel against me and i'll be left dealing with your bullshits?" he gritted his teeth before slapping me.

i shuddered in pain, my hand went to my cheek. caressing it as i tried to forget the impact my dad did.

"i know you're lying to me, i know everything." he grabbed me before giving a loud slap on my other cheek.

i licked my lips, feeling blood on the corner of my lips. i started loosing hope, this thing will go on and on.

dad was about to hit me once more when the door opened which revealed my brothers who seemed furious. they both meddled, hyunjin being the eldest to deal with our dad.

"wh-what are the both of you doing here? yo-you'll get in trouble and he might hit you guys as well. please go, i can handle this and i'll be fine." i stuttered while seojun wiped the tears of my cheeks.

"don't ever get near my sister ever again, i can't believe we were so damn cowards before to do this." hyunjun's voice echoed throughout my room, "touch her and i'm telling you dad, you'll loose all of us." he spat out before heading towards me.

"the both of you go back to your room before i do something to the both of you!" dad shouted louder than ever.

"and what? so that you could make hanbyeol as your punching bag again? you want your children to be doctors, for what? so we can treat the wounds that you made? so that we can treat the bruises that you create on your own daughter?" hyunjun's voice shattered as he speaks, pain visible as he spoke.

"that's enough for today, dad please." seojun stood up next to our eldest brother, "we know there's nothing we can do to change your mind but please even just for today, leaver her alone." he pleaded.

dad's face held a serious expression, "go ahead, treat her and make sure she's in the right mind to go back to studying right after you mend her wounds and bruises." he said before leaving me and my brothers alone in the room.

they both helped me to bed, my brothers were rushing to get the first aid kit. seojun treated my wounds while hyunjun was holding my hand.

"we're sorry we were late, i knew something wrong would happen the moment he called me to ask where were you." hyunjun apologized, his thumb caressing my hand.

"we're sorry that your brothers are fucking cowards and can't protect you." seojun let out a bitter chuckle.

"go rest, don't even think about studying. and if you're thinking about dad, we promise we won't let him in your room. we'll take turns in guarding your door." hyunjun smiled, kissing my forehead gently.

"hyung, i thought you said you will do it by yourself? why are you suddenly dragging me into your stunts?" seojun rolled his eyes as he glared at hyunjun.

"i did say that but since you care and love hanbyeol as much as i do, you wouldn't mind doing it as well." hyunjun patted seojun's shoulder and smiled.

"things that i can do for you, sleep tight. love you, hanbyeol." seojun whispered before hugging me, making sure that it wasn't too tight.

they both got out of the room.

"why did you let him treat you like that, hanbyeol?" a weak and sad voice came out of nowhere. i roamed my eyes around the room and saw jimin standing by the door.

"how? when? why are you here?" i asked, my mind started to be clouded by thoughts of why he was suddenly in my room.

"when we separated ways, i don't know why but i felt like i needed to be with you. i don't know if i should be glad that now i know what's happening with you or if i should be mad at myself for not noticing it sooner." he took a few steps towards me, keeping a few distance as if suddenly he was afraid.

"did you teleport here? how can you do that?" i tried to flash him my most deceiving smile ever, similar to the ones i would show to taehyung and the others.

"i sort of did because of you i think, it was out of my will. like i said it just sort of happened." he stopped before furrowing his eyebrows and pouting his lips lightly, "stop changing the topic, why didn't you tell me?" he asked.

"you said it was alright even if i don't tell you." i answered him. jimin went closer, taking a seat at the end of my bed.

"well i guess i did say that but still. even though i can't really do anything, i could've knocked your father out." he complained, laying his body down.

"now that i've seen that, you're giving me more reasons to keep on going back here." he told me, his cheeks tinted red while he bit his lips.

"you're still not back in your world, aren't you worried?" i asked him but he shook his head no.

"hanbyeol, i wouldn't mind staying here for a while to guard you from your father." he shrugged.

"but still, you shouldn't be here." i told him.

"you told me that even if were far away from each other, we would see the same stars. but wouldn't it be better to see them together?" he asks, turning his head slightly to face me.

"let's go to sleep, i have school tomorrow." i changed the topic, giving him one of my pillows.

he nodded and headed to my couch, he'll disappear suddenly tonight. i told myself, recalling what happened days prior.

i closed my eyes and drifted to sleep, waiting for darkness to take control of me.

"even if your dad forbids, i'll ask my parents to excuse you from him so please come with me." taehyung kept on begging as we walked our way to class.

"taehyung-ssi, please stop." i told him before taking a seat on my chair.

"but it's just for a few hours, come with me." he looked at me with his soft brown eyes, "okay tomorrow, i'll go straight to your dad to ask him." he clapped his hands before smiling widely.

"aren't you afraid? i mean, you know my dad." i said.

"he hates me, i know. he doesn't say it but he makes it obvious with the way he looks at me everytime i talk to you." he rolled his eyes.

classes started and i felt a cold presence near me. turning my head around, i then saw jimin standing few inches away from me while staring outside the window.

so it's true, he gets to be around me the whole time he's here. i turned away when i saw him look at me.

"why are your cheeks red? are you blushing?" taehyung leaned near me, his finger poking my heated cheeks.

"stop that, we might get in trouble because of you." i slapped his hand away and focused back on the lesson.

we both waited for classes to finish, i arranged my things. i then slowly stopped when i felt someone's gaze on me, turning my head i saw jimin gone from his place.

i looked at taehyung, "you caught me, i'm sorry." he apologized before dashing out of the room, barely slipping on his backpack.

i smiled.

"he looks nice." jimin appeared next to me, making me flinch in surprise. "did i scare you? sorry, i didn't mean to." he smiled.

we both headed to our spot, taking a seat while we leaned against the tree. it felt nice being in peace, no noise, just silence.

"do want some? i got some extra because i thought you would be hungry, here." i reached out a sandwich and a banana milk.

he took it from my hands and immediately started eating the sandwich, i should feed him some proper meal later.

"is there something on my face?" jimin asked, his eyes looking lost as he looked at me.

i shook my head no and giggled, "no, keep on eating. my classes will start in a few minutes." i told him and motioned him to continue eating before someone spots a floating sandwich.

wait, does it really appear floating?

"things become invisible when i hold onto them. i forgot to tell you didn't i? i thought i was about to get caught by your maids yesterday since i was holding a a juice pack, but they didn't." he said as if he read my mind, his eyes gleaming in excitement.

"you went through our refrigerator?" i asked.

"well, i was hungry. i'm a growing man, i need food." he suddenly pouted before going back in munching his sandwich.

the bell rung and i stood up, dusting myself off and slinging my backpack.

"why don't you go with taehyung? i heard he's inviting you somewhere, go with him. have some fun and besides he said he'll ask permission from your dad." he said as he walked beside me.

"do you think i should?" i asked, keeping my voice low since i was afraid that someone would hear me.

"yeah, i think you should." he smiled at me.

i nodded, "i guess i should just agree, he won't stop bugging me anyways." i waved lightly at him, it was late when i realized what i did was wrong since a guy on my opposite direction waved back at me.

"you should be careful with what you do around me." jimin laughed before walking away, turning around and shouting my name.

"i'll come with you." i told taehyung, his eyes immediately glittering with happiness as he stared at me with shock.