Baek Ha Rim

"please take ha rim and go far away as fast as you can! now!!" i looked up at my dad pushing me towards my nanny being left with no choice.

this scene. i was aware and i recognized it.

it was happening all over again.

i suddenly heard another gunshot come from the outside but it rang loudly in my ears, causing much fear and terror for me and my loved ones.

"just go! take ha rim and escape!!" my dad raised his voice at my nanny who was also panicking and breaking down in tears.

"ma'am.. sir!" my nanny cried as she finally followed the order and dragged me away.

because i was too aware of the events, i already knew where this was all leading to. this exact scene was back to torture me once again.

i suddenly started crying, feeling my cheeks getting wet with warm tears. i also struggled to breathe as i cried too much. my heart was hurting and i was immensely frightened.

"mom and dad have to hide too!!" i started pushing my nanny away but nothing was working. i was still getting dragged away as we ran together.

"nanny, they have to hide!!" i tried to shout with all my might.

there were more words i wanted to speak, but i could only manage to get those ones out.

my shortness of breath was making it harder for me to keep up with the events. i also struggled to keep myself alive as i felt my chest getting heavier as i was already suppressed from air.

"mom and dad are going to die!!" i finally voiced out.

suddenly, my nanny and i stopped on our tracks as we finally encountered the big masked guys. knowing what was going to happen next, i quickly shut my eyes tightly and heard my nanny getting shot to death.

i counted to three thinking it was all going to end finally, but i soon realized that i was still trapped inside. slowly opening my eyes, i looked up, and much to my horror, the masked man looked at me and slowly moved his arm, pointing the gun to my head this time.

suddenly, the settings shifted and i found myself in another place and a different situation. my hands were up in the air tied with a rope as i stood up exhausted.

in front of me was a big screen playing mr. chae's campaign. he was surrounded by the people who loved and cheered for him yet his hands were red and tainted by blood. no one noticed it at all, but only i was able to see it as a spectator.

suddenly, a man walked in but it was too dark for me to see. the more he came closer, the light started to shine on his face. there, i started to recognize the tall and lean body coming towards me.

it was no other than chae hyungwon.

i resented him yet i also had different feelings for him in that moment. i hated to admit it but i was looking at him full of hate yet also trying hard to mask the romantic feelings i actually already had for him.

i was confused. i had deep internal turmoil and moral conflict within me.

why do i like him?

"trying to come after me? you were no other than a mouse trapped by your own plans after all. now i know." at that, i began to notice the gun in his hands.

once again, like the man i encountered before, hyungwon moved his arm up and started aiming the gun at me.

"please don't!" i cried out, pleading though i didn't understand.

i was not one to plead an enemy's mercy. ever.

but before hyungwon could even pull the trigger, he suddenly dropped on the floor as i heard a gunshot come from behind. soon, i saw hyungwon's bloody head as he laid down lifeless right in front of me.

"chae hyungwon!!" i called out in much horror.

i immediately looked away trying to see where the gunshot came from. my eyesight started becoming blurry yet i eventually found someone. there, stood a masked man. exactly the same masked man who was with those who killed all my loved ones.

this time, he killed hyungwon for me. now was he supposed to be my enemy or was he my savior? i stood frozen because i had no escape and i didn't know who to trust anymore.

i stared at him until he finally noticed my presence. seeing me, he slowly began to point his gun at me as well.

i guess this was it. it was my miserable ending. in my last moments, i became overwhelmed with the feeling of defeat.

i looked at him with glassy eyes until he finally pulled the trigger.

"ah!" i suddenly gasped and woke up from my dream the moment i heard the gun fire at me.

i woke up with my body stiff in bed as i had been sleeping on my back the entire time. my face was wet with tears, letting me know that i did cry for real.

i knew it. i got trapped in the same kind of dream all over again.

it always came on my worst nights. it reminded me of my past trauma, always haunting me and bothering my peace. what frustrated me the most was the fact that i knew exactly what to expect or to anticipate yet i couldn't change the way it all happened.

i was still weak and powerless, all i could do was to cry and lose my breath all over again. i couldn't warn anyone nor control the events according to my will.

it was plain torture.

even if the day came that i finally could, nothing will still change and apply to the waking life. i still won't be able to turn back time and bring my loved ones back to life.

but what i feared more now was the second dream that came to me. it was the first time i had such dream. i had to stay vigilant to avoid such things from happening to me. it can't be a foreshadow. it shouldn't be.

if it ends up in my defeat, my life would be worthless and so would my efforts be. i have to get my revenge, i knew i just had to. i was boiling in anger and buried in pain.

i can't fail now.

i slowly turned my body and decided to lay down sideways. hugging my pillow tightly, i cried all my remaining tears out. it was just what i needed. i was still shaken in fear by the repeat of such cruel events.

though it was a rough night, maybe it was a sign that i needed to set my goals straight. it was a call to remember what i came to chae's couture for.

this was all their fault and they're gonna have to pay the price someday.

______________________________

it was finally 12 in the afternoon. after having my lunch, i went ahead to bring my luggage with me towards the door of our house.

i was wearing a denim jacket over my black sleeveless shirt and decided to go for matching denim jeans as well.
finger combing my hair in place, i grabbed my phone afterwards to message rowoon and the rest if they were already at the company.

"where are you going with that luggage?" i suddenly heard the familiar voice ask.

i turned around and caught wonho in sight. he was eyeing me, curious of what i was up to.

"we have 3 days and 2 nights stay at a hotel." i answered briefly.

"hah, and you prepared so much?"

"i have a long gown inside this luggage apart from my other clothes and items." i rolled my eyes as i looked away, making sure wonho wouldn't catch the face i just made at him.

"which hotel is it?"

"it's none of your busi-"

"which hotel." he insisted.

"...yk hotel." i spoke after a brief pause.

upon hearing my answer, wonho scoffed and started nodding his head in amusement.

"you guys are really something, huh? are you enjoying the perks of being a chae's couture employee that much? seo ha rim you, i didn't know you were such a greedy girl. no wonder you were taking time to get rid of the chaes."

i kept silent, knowing that he was trying to get on my nerves once again. however, i simply decided to glare at him.

"what? are you glaring at me now? i won't hesitate to hit that face of yours if you don't stop." he threatened.

"look at your eyes looking awful. your face is swollen and you have bags underneath. how do you think you're gonna face the people there? you don't fit in with them at all. what a disgrace."

i took a deep breath in controlling my emotions. i decided to turn back around and ignore wonho to get him to shut up.

"i'm leaving!" i called out so that the other members of the family could hear instead.

"yah! i was still talking to you-"

without any words, i quickly twisted the doorknob open and rushed my way out of the house.

______________________________

rowoon along with the rest of us were finally dropped off by the main entrance of the grand hotel upon our arrival. we were welcomed by two security guards at the front as we were led to walk inside through the glass doors.

"woah..." i heard rowoon's friend gasp as he was awestruck by the hotel's interior.

i carefully observed the place, looking around me and scanning every detail. everything was truly magnificent and luxurious. there was simply no doubt.

the place was in the theme of gold and brown. it was embellished with intricate and surely expensive design pieces. the chandeliers at the lobby were huge, bright, and eye-catching.

from first impression, one could definitely tell that yoo kihyun was an extravagant guy. just like chae hyungwon, his cousin, he also had an eye for design yet they simply had contrasting tastes and styles.

i next noticed the patterns on the floor we were standing on and how polished and well-maintained it was. there were also pillars along the lobby, some which had mirrors in it.

the lobby was spacious and luxurious enough. how much more could the rest of the hotel impress us? at the far center of us was the front desk where we had to proceed. but before that area, we were greeted by two staircases in front of us; one was at the left and the other at the right side. looking up, we could see some private rooms that were located on the second floor.

"oh, the elevators are there." rowoon pointed to our right.

"the rest of our co-workers chatted that they have already checked in. shall we?" rowoon's friend spoke.

we agreed and went ahead towards the front desk. for our rooms, we have decided to go in pairs. for that, i was paired to be roommates with one of the girls. only one between our pairs needed to check in and get our room cards so my partner decided to be the one to do it for us.

"here! the lady said they have a restaurant beside this building where we could eat spend some leisure time." my partner said as she showed me our card.

"that's great. we could check it out sometime if that's possible." i said.

"hey, what floor are your rooms in?" rowoon asked.

"uhm... ha rim and i are in the 7th floor, room 708."

"aw... we boys are in the 6th floor!"

"you're in the 7th floor? so are we! we're room 712!" the other pair of girls exclaimed.

"yay! ha rim-ah, let's get ready in their room later!" she suggested.

i simply nodded and agreed with a small smile.

"everyone, let's get into our rooms!" rowoon led.

soon, we walked back to where we stood from earlier, taking a small turn to go ahead to the direction of the elevator altogether.

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sorry i couldn't double update to make it up to you guys but i hope you enjoyed this very long chapter! i'm starting to get busy as i use this month to prepare for college so i hope you all understand!

thank you for my readers! please leave me a vote and comment! i love you! ♡

p.s vote for monsta x in the vmas!