Withered - Chapter 16: Chapter 16
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Mina walks slowly while her hands are on the wall, clasp onto it supporting her weak body. She falls after a few steps, can't stop her tears from forming and falling tracing her cheeks. Her body hurts a lot but it's nothing compared to how her heart feels, the pain it brings. She's completely broken, inside and outside.
She reaches her pocket, thankfully her phone still there. There's nine missed call from both her sister, four from her parents and eleven from Jeongyeon. Tons of unread messages from them. They are worried since she doesn't come home that night.
Ring
Ring
"U-unnie" Mina stutters, reaching for her sisters.
[YAH! MYOUI MINA! Where the heck are you?!]
"C-can you p-please come and g-get me"
[Are you crying, what's with your voice? Is everything alright?]
"Unnie plea---please"
[Alright, we'll pick you up. Where are you? ]
"I'm in front of Ch-----" Mina shuts her mouth. She doesn't want her sisters to pick her up in this condition at Chaeyoung's apartment. They'll start interrogating and come after him.
[In front of what?]
Mina blink and compose herself "I'll text you the address"
With that Mina ends the call and text her sister, saying she's near the park they always went to when they were a kid, not so far from Chaeyoung's house but that's the farthest she can make. She doesn't want them to suspect him or anything. It's the least bit she could do because he is once her friend. She moves with a slow, heavy, and awkward way. Ignoring some stare on her as she covers her face with her hair, walking with a lowered head.
She falls asleep out of exhaustion when both her sister fetch her up. She sleeps in the back seat, head on Momo's lap while Sana is driving. Shocked by Mina's state, Momo wants to wake her up and question her about it but Sana insists to let the latter rest and wait until she explains what, how, why is she like that.
They bring her to the hospital for a further checkup but as soon as Mina awake, she started to cry, begging her sister to leave the place. Momo tries to convince and force the younger but both of them stop when they realize that for the first time; Mina, they beloved, sweet, cold, savage little sister look vulnerable.
Sana turns to the back seat, side hugging Mina, which the latter respond after she flinches from the touch. She wraps her arms tightly around her older sister's waist, while continue pleading. Momo burst bombarding the latter with continuous questions, she's getting frustrated with Mina for not telling them what happens to her or let them take care of her. Sana signal Momo to cool it down, and when Mina already calm, Sana pulls out from the hug and ask the younger what she want them to do.
"J-just, c-can we leave, I don't want to be here, and I-I don't want to go home" Mina pleads.
"Okay, then we'll head to Jihyo place, is that fine?" Sana asks softly.
Mina nod from the remarks, lay her head on Sana's shoulder still sniffling, then falling asleep. Momo drives to Jihyo house, helping Mina to walk then let her sleep comfortably on the bed.
The three thought of thousand scenes that might cause Mina to be in her state now but no one wants to believe their suspicion when they come into the nearest possibility. Sana as the oldest become furious at the thought and ask for help from Jihyo's aunt, who's a doctor to take a brief check on her sister while she's asleep.
Few moments after, Sana suggests to drug her little sister to sleep when she's been check-up by the doctor just in case she will suddenly awaken and throwing tantrums like earlier.
They wait outside, leaving the doctor and Mina alone in the room. Nothing could explain how mad and shock they are when they heard what the doctor says afterwards. Sana breaks down, pitying the little girl. The noisy sobs echoing through the house.
Later that night, Mina sudden scream alarmed the three who are still discussing what to do. They can't exactly make any action without the latter knowing or make false assumptions. Sana runs towards the room where Mina is, furious when she sees her sister keep screaming, crying and kicking in the air while her eyes closed. She wakes Mina up, and wrap the latter in a tight hug, consoling her while the other two watching them just a few steps away.
"Mina, who did it?" Sana asks, trying her best to comes with her normal voice. Mina who's hugging her knees raised her head and face them with altering shock.
"H-how do you know?" Her eyes shivers.
"Answer me, Mina. Is it Jeongyeon?" Sana demands in an intimidating way, she needs an answer so they can help her. They can file a police report or directly call them, but they need Mina's words. Momo who's been staring at them suddenly walks away, cursing while ruffles her hair. Jihyo stops her, knowing that she will kill jeongyeon on the spot when Mina doesn't say anything. Sana doesn't want to accuse anybody, they want to ring Jeongyeon and ask about Mina since they are together last night but again Mina stop them from doing so.
All of them get frustrated as Mina keep her mouth shut. She also doesn't want her sister to tell her parents either.
"Alright, Mina this what we gonna do. I'm really mad at you right now but I know you'll tell me when the times comes, you don't want to file a police report, you don't want to tell our parents, you don't want to go home, you don't want to tell anything and we'll agree." Sana sigh. "We'll listen to you, just tell us when you need anything or any help with." Sana once again pulls the younger into a hug, a very long hug, hoping she can assure that the little girl is safe and she can rely on them. They go downstairs, before helping Mina to go to the bathroom to clean herself and wear new, comfortable clothes. Sana wants to help Mina to take shower since they notice how the girl wince in pain when she moves a single muscle, but Mina refused and says she can handle it herself which Sana obey after arguing.
Mina stands in front of the mirror. She takes her clothes off, and stare at her reflection. She sees how miserable she looks tailing the damage on her body. Thumbprint bruises on her thighs. Blood on her underwear. Cut on her arms. A tight pain in a place she never knows could hurt. She's a bit relief, some of it is easy enough to hide except her broken face. There is one she pained her the most, that unquantifiable hurt: the slow break on the inside that nobody could see.
Later that night, Mina huddle under the stars-and-moon comforter and wish she could die. Too scared to tell her parents what had happened, afraid of the judgement of others, afraid that people will see her as a weak, irresponsible, vulnerable and labelled as the girl who asks for it. She just trying to help her friend, her brother, the one who she trusts the most. She learns to sob soundlessly into her pillow.
Sana made up a story and lied to their parents about Mina not returning home for a while and surprisingly they her. Mina has been resting in Jihyo's place for days and weeks until bruises on her arms and face fade. She closes herself in the room for the whole day and rarely talks, only when being asked, even her reply is as short as it could be. Sana even helps her to take leave from her college. It seems like Mina is emotionally, physically and psychologically drained.
It's Sunday morning where Sana and Momo don't have any class so they decide to stay at Jihyo's house. They are grateful that Jihyo let their sister stay in her house, it's the only suitable place they can hide Mina for a while because Jihyo lives alone.
2 o'clock in the afternoon, Sana receives a call from Tzuyu. She's a bit sceptical because as far as she knows they are not in a good term and hasn't contacted each other for months now. Nonetheless, she answers the phone call and only listens intently to what Tzuyu has confessed.
Without no other words, she abruptly ends the call as soon as Tzuyu finished talking and walks upstairs. Clueless Jihyo and Momo only followed Sana footsteps, until they reach the room where Mina stays. They find the younger sitting on the bed, while hugging her knees.
"Speak. Chaeyoung is it?" Sana warns, needing a confirmation. "The guy who did this to you" She adds. Mina instantly looks up then avoids Sana's threatening stare. Burying her face inside her palm.
"Chaeyoung who?" Momo interrupts, thinking whether there's another Chaeyoung.
"Son Chaeyoung" Sana clears. Staring at Mina who still silent. The two gasp from the statement before Momo runs away, leaving the place. Sana starts chasing while Jihyo consoling Mina who currently crying nonstop.
"Imma gon' cut his di---" Momo jabbers as she rushes to the kitchen and grabs the largest knife she could find.
"Momo, MOMO Yah!! Stop what are you doing, drop the freaking knife. What the heck are you thinking idiot!? Calm down and put that thing where it belongs. Drop it!!" The older yells and walk towards Momo, taking the knife from her grip before she smacks her head. "That's not how you do it!! A knife is too easy and small. We'll steal dad's Katana later okay, cut his whole body" Sana growls.
"Yo'r scarier" Momo state staring at her sister while beaming a weird smile at her. She chuckles and walks herself to the living room. As for now, they listen to Mina's decision and follow what she wants as a way of support. They still think that Mina needs a therapist because of the nightmares, but the younger keeps insisting she doesn't want any help.
It happens when once, Mina let out a scream while she's sleeping. Sana who's beside her wake her up by shaking her body until she has tear-filled, sleepy eyes looking right into hers.
"What's wrong?" Sana asks, kneeling in front of the younger while holding her hands, keeping her warm.
Sana remembers when the nightmares first started. Mina told her that she got them most nights and always told her that she never remembered what they were about, but tonight, Sana knows she's no telling the truth. "Mina, please" she whispers.
Mina take a deep breath, and look right at Sana, "Every night, I went through the incident over and over again"
Sana stop breathing, she could have sworn that crickets stop chirping, the trees stop rustling, her whole world stop. She thought Mina is doing good, she thought with rest she will back to normal but the damage it brings is far more worse than she had expected. That's when they realize, Mina needs help.
Mina has been ignoring everyone, for the time being, she needs time to collect herself and decide what to do. She doesn't want to meet Chaeyoung as for now. She doesn't expect him to come and beg for his forgiveness too, and he doesn't. Chaeyoung shown up or never contact her since that day and she preferred it this way, for him never appear before her eyes anymore.
Sana believes anyone is capable of anything under right circumstances, a person who actually goes ahead and does that deserves to be shut out. Maybe they will talk later on in life, but for now, zero communication is the least Chaeyoung deserves.
She reaches her pocket, thankfully her phone still there. There's nine missed call from both her sister, four from her parents and eleven from Jeongyeon. Tons of unread messages from them. They are worried since she doesn't come home that night.
Ring
Ring
"U-unnie" Mina stutters, reaching for her sisters.
[YAH! MYOUI MINA! Where the heck are you?!]
"C-can you p-please come and g-get me"
[Are you crying, what's with your voice? Is everything alright?]
"Unnie plea---please"
[Alright, we'll pick you up. Where are you? ]
"I'm in front of Ch-----" Mina shuts her mouth. She doesn't want her sisters to pick her up in this condition at Chaeyoung's apartment. They'll start interrogating and come after him.
[In front of what?]
Mina blink and compose herself "I'll text you the address"
With that Mina ends the call and text her sister, saying she's near the park they always went to when they were a kid, not so far from Chaeyoung's house but that's the farthest she can make. She doesn't want them to suspect him or anything. It's the least bit she could do because he is once her friend. She moves with a slow, heavy, and awkward way. Ignoring some stare on her as she covers her face with her hair, walking with a lowered head.
She falls asleep out of exhaustion when both her sister fetch her up. She sleeps in the back seat, head on Momo's lap while Sana is driving. Shocked by Mina's state, Momo wants to wake her up and question her about it but Sana insists to let the latter rest and wait until she explains what, how, why is she like that.
They bring her to the hospital for a further checkup but as soon as Mina awake, she started to cry, begging her sister to leave the place. Momo tries to convince and force the younger but both of them stop when they realize that for the first time; Mina, they beloved, sweet, cold, savage little sister look vulnerable.
Sana turns to the back seat, side hugging Mina, which the latter respond after she flinches from the touch. She wraps her arms tightly around her older sister's waist, while continue pleading. Momo burst bombarding the latter with continuous questions, she's getting frustrated with Mina for not telling them what happens to her or let them take care of her. Sana signal Momo to cool it down, and when Mina already calm, Sana pulls out from the hug and ask the younger what she want them to do.
"J-just, c-can we leave, I don't want to be here, and I-I don't want to go home" Mina pleads.
"Okay, then we'll head to Jihyo place, is that fine?" Sana asks softly.
Mina nod from the remarks, lay her head on Sana's shoulder still sniffling, then falling asleep. Momo drives to Jihyo house, helping Mina to walk then let her sleep comfortably on the bed.
The three thought of thousand scenes that might cause Mina to be in her state now but no one wants to believe their suspicion when they come into the nearest possibility. Sana as the oldest become furious at the thought and ask for help from Jihyo's aunt, who's a doctor to take a brief check on her sister while she's asleep.
Few moments after, Sana suggests to drug her little sister to sleep when she's been check-up by the doctor just in case she will suddenly awaken and throwing tantrums like earlier.
They wait outside, leaving the doctor and Mina alone in the room. Nothing could explain how mad and shock they are when they heard what the doctor says afterwards. Sana breaks down, pitying the little girl. The noisy sobs echoing through the house.
Later that night, Mina sudden scream alarmed the three who are still discussing what to do. They can't exactly make any action without the latter knowing or make false assumptions. Sana runs towards the room where Mina is, furious when she sees her sister keep screaming, crying and kicking in the air while her eyes closed. She wakes Mina up, and wrap the latter in a tight hug, consoling her while the other two watching them just a few steps away.
"Mina, who did it?" Sana asks, trying her best to comes with her normal voice. Mina who's hugging her knees raised her head and face them with altering shock.
"H-how do you know?" Her eyes shivers.
"Answer me, Mina. Is it Jeongyeon?" Sana demands in an intimidating way, she needs an answer so they can help her. They can file a police report or directly call them, but they need Mina's words. Momo who's been staring at them suddenly walks away, cursing while ruffles her hair. Jihyo stops her, knowing that she will kill jeongyeon on the spot when Mina doesn't say anything. Sana doesn't want to accuse anybody, they want to ring Jeongyeon and ask about Mina since they are together last night but again Mina stop them from doing so.
All of them get frustrated as Mina keep her mouth shut. She also doesn't want her sister to tell her parents either.
"Alright, Mina this what we gonna do. I'm really mad at you right now but I know you'll tell me when the times comes, you don't want to file a police report, you don't want to tell our parents, you don't want to go home, you don't want to tell anything and we'll agree." Sana sigh. "We'll listen to you, just tell us when you need anything or any help with." Sana once again pulls the younger into a hug, a very long hug, hoping she can assure that the little girl is safe and she can rely on them. They go downstairs, before helping Mina to go to the bathroom to clean herself and wear new, comfortable clothes. Sana wants to help Mina to take shower since they notice how the girl wince in pain when she moves a single muscle, but Mina refused and says she can handle it herself which Sana obey after arguing.
Mina stands in front of the mirror. She takes her clothes off, and stare at her reflection. She sees how miserable she looks tailing the damage on her body. Thumbprint bruises on her thighs. Blood on her underwear. Cut on her arms. A tight pain in a place she never knows could hurt. She's a bit relief, some of it is easy enough to hide except her broken face. There is one she pained her the most, that unquantifiable hurt: the slow break on the inside that nobody could see.
Later that night, Mina huddle under the stars-and-moon comforter and wish she could die. Too scared to tell her parents what had happened, afraid of the judgement of others, afraid that people will see her as a weak, irresponsible, vulnerable and labelled as the girl who asks for it. She just trying to help her friend, her brother, the one who she trusts the most. She learns to sob soundlessly into her pillow.
Sana made up a story and lied to their parents about Mina not returning home for a while and surprisingly they her. Mina has been resting in Jihyo's place for days and weeks until bruises on her arms and face fade. She closes herself in the room for the whole day and rarely talks, only when being asked, even her reply is as short as it could be. Sana even helps her to take leave from her college. It seems like Mina is emotionally, physically and psychologically drained.
It's Sunday morning where Sana and Momo don't have any class so they decide to stay at Jihyo's house. They are grateful that Jihyo let their sister stay in her house, it's the only suitable place they can hide Mina for a while because Jihyo lives alone.
2 o'clock in the afternoon, Sana receives a call from Tzuyu. She's a bit sceptical because as far as she knows they are not in a good term and hasn't contacted each other for months now. Nonetheless, she answers the phone call and only listens intently to what Tzuyu has confessed.
Without no other words, she abruptly ends the call as soon as Tzuyu finished talking and walks upstairs. Clueless Jihyo and Momo only followed Sana footsteps, until they reach the room where Mina stays. They find the younger sitting on the bed, while hugging her knees.
"Speak. Chaeyoung is it?" Sana warns, needing a confirmation. "The guy who did this to you" She adds. Mina instantly looks up then avoids Sana's threatening stare. Burying her face inside her palm.
"Chaeyoung who?" Momo interrupts, thinking whether there's another Chaeyoung.
"Son Chaeyoung" Sana clears. Staring at Mina who still silent. The two gasp from the statement before Momo runs away, leaving the place. Sana starts chasing while Jihyo consoling Mina who currently crying nonstop.
"Imma gon' cut his di---" Momo jabbers as she rushes to the kitchen and grabs the largest knife she could find.
"Momo, MOMO Yah!! Stop what are you doing, drop the freaking knife. What the heck are you thinking idiot!? Calm down and put that thing where it belongs. Drop it!!" The older yells and walk towards Momo, taking the knife from her grip before she smacks her head. "That's not how you do it!! A knife is too easy and small. We'll steal dad's Katana later okay, cut his whole body" Sana growls.
"Yo'r scarier" Momo state staring at her sister while beaming a weird smile at her. She chuckles and walks herself to the living room. As for now, they listen to Mina's decision and follow what she wants as a way of support. They still think that Mina needs a therapist because of the nightmares, but the younger keeps insisting she doesn't want any help.
It happens when once, Mina let out a scream while she's sleeping. Sana who's beside her wake her up by shaking her body until she has tear-filled, sleepy eyes looking right into hers.
"What's wrong?" Sana asks, kneeling in front of the younger while holding her hands, keeping her warm.
Sana remembers when the nightmares first started. Mina told her that she got them most nights and always told her that she never remembered what they were about, but tonight, Sana knows she's no telling the truth. "Mina, please" she whispers.
Mina take a deep breath, and look right at Sana, "Every night, I went through the incident over and over again"
Sana stop breathing, she could have sworn that crickets stop chirping, the trees stop rustling, her whole world stop. She thought Mina is doing good, she thought with rest she will back to normal but the damage it brings is far more worse than she had expected. That's when they realize, Mina needs help.
Mina has been ignoring everyone, for the time being, she needs time to collect herself and decide what to do. She doesn't want to meet Chaeyoung as for now. She doesn't expect him to come and beg for his forgiveness too, and he doesn't. Chaeyoung shown up or never contact her since that day and she preferred it this way, for him never appear before her eyes anymore.
Sana believes anyone is capable of anything under right circumstances, a person who actually goes ahead and does that deserves to be shut out. Maybe they will talk later on in life, but for now, zero communication is the least Chaeyoung deserves.
End of Withered Chapter 16. Continue reading Chapter 17 or return to Withered book page.