Chapter 1; In The Willowwacks

why did five minutes feel like an eternity?

──── ❝ do haru ❞ ────

10th of March, 2015

A sigh escaped my lips as I dropped the last bag onto the doorstep of my grandmother's house. I looked at the man beside me, 'Thank you so much for your generous help.' I smiled kindly at the gaffer and handed him a tip of fifteen dollars. If it wasn't for his oh-so-sweet help, I would've had to drag all those heavy bags to the doorstep by myself.

He thanked me and drove away, allowing me to turn my attention to my grandma's house.

I inhaled the fresh air of the woods. The type of air you wouldn't, or rather couldn't, smell in Seoul. This was the type of air that held such purity and cleanness, it made you feel like you were born all over again.

'Hey, Grams!' I exclaim instantly after the door is opened. She pulled me into a hug, a very warm hug. Her hugs were very special, anyone would melt receiving one. 

After pulling away from me, she grabbed my shoulders and scanned me up and down with a mild beam. I mimicked her, grinning at her usual outfit. Grey woollen slippers, a white apron and a lilac, comfy, tea-length dress. Typical of Grams. 

I missed her. Badly. 

It was Spring Break so I had a two-week chance to spend time with my lovely grandma. Back in the days, when I was in my early and mid-teens, I used to visit her with my parents and sister. However, they moved to the United States a year ago because Ha-Eun, my younger sister, wanted to study there. I didn't think America would suit me so, despite being barely a legal adult, I decided to stay in Korea.

My parents obviously left with her since she would need them more, she was just sixteen after all. Plus, they wanted to stay with her too since she was headed to a completely foreign country. Ha-Eun needed support way more than I did, and it was easy for me to accept it, unlike for Grams. When she heard the news, she wasn't delighted.

'Aw, my best-est baby, how are you?' Grams pouted, the corners of her eyes crinkled familiarly as squashed my face between her palms. She was the only one who was allowed to treat me like a big baby.

'I'm great, Grams, I'm great grams,' I giggled as she let go of me, 'well, I'll go ahead and put my luggage in my room. It's late and I am anticipating an amazing dinner!' I said cheesily and grabbed the heaviest bag first. Grams shook her head with an amused face and watched me march off.

After I had finished transferring all my luggage from the hallway to my room, I went to the kitchen to help out my grandma. 'May I somehow help you, Grams?' I proposed mischievously whilst wrapping my arms around her waist, catching the busy woman by surprise.

'Aish! You crazy girl! You startled the crap out of me, do you want me to die? At this age, it's really easy to get a heart attack!' she scowled, hitting my head with her big wooden spoon that she was using to stir the boiling soup. In all honesty, she looked too funny for me to take her seriously.

'Okay, okay! I know, I am sorry.' I sighed in defeat as she chortled, her scowl melting away in a matter of seconds. 'Is that my favourite soup?' I leant over her shoulder curiously and took in the amazing scent of the transparent liquid inside the pot. 'Did you work hard to make some chicken soup with noodles for your best-est granddaughter?' I teased her, raising a brow playfully.

'It's not hard to make this thing, so quit trying to act as if I have climbed Mount Everest to get you the best rice noodles and the best chicken because I for sure did not!' my grandma frowned once again and kept on mixing the soup, maybe getting a little too aggressive with her movements. 

I couldn't hold myself back. It was impossible to hold my cackles back. 'Thanks for going to that far market for me, despite the puns, I really appreciate it, Grams.' I patted her hair as I spoke knowingly. 

There was a huge market in Busan, but it was very far from where my grandma lived. It sold the best meat, noodles, vegetables and bread in all of Busan. Judging by what she had said, she must've gone there and fatigued a lot to get through the long trek.

'Aish whatever!' the elder hissed, pushing me away slightly, 'go and seat,' she ordered without looking at me. 

I grinned sheepishly, shaking my head as I grabbed our plates and placed them on the table. 'Aish, this kid,' my grandma mumbled under her breath before grabbing two pairs of chopsticks, two spoons and two glasses. 'Do you want some rice?' she suggested as she sat in front of me, handing me my cutleries.

No, thanks. I am already having these noodles, more carbohydrates wouldn't be that good for me,' we both laughed at my careful way of eating and dug in. 'Mh, as usually this is so good!' I hummed, pointing at the soup.

'Of course, it's good, I made it,' Grams sassed, 'I have been cooking for everyone like a slave for years, could I possibly be bad?' she quipped, putting on a proud smile. 'Well, not really a slave but, you know, I miss managing my restaurant, I hate that stupid landlord for making me shut it down!'

I pouted, knowing exactly what she was talking about. 

My grandma owned an amazing Korean barbeque restaurant, but she couldn't buy the building, so she just rented it. Two years ago, when my grandma was sixty-eight, the owner showed up randomly and told her to get out because he needed that space. It was extremely sad for everyone to close down that eatery.

'I know you miss it and so do I, Yoongi does too. On the other hand, I am kind of glad you stopped working. Thanks to that, you can rest at home in your seventies and stay healthy, plus, I try to visit you as much as I can.'

'I know you do, that's why I don't feel too lonely.' Grams sipped some water, and I didn't miss the glint of longing in her eyes. 

'I promise that I'll come here on my birthday with Mom and Dad. They said that this year they'd come,' I explained while placing another spoon of soup into my mouth.

'Well, I hope they do or else I'll kill them. They haven't visited us ever since they left. It's been over a year.' she crossed her arms, looking offended which I for sure understood. 

My grandma wasn't too enthusiastic about Ha-Eun's choice, but she didn't stop her. She was happy that my younger sister had a desire to study and learn English, yet sad to be unable to meet as often as we used to do.

'I know, I feel the same way, but try to understand that they are doing this so that Ha-Eun can achieve her dreams. She is a smart girl and will definitely be successful. Just trust your daughter, Grams! Mom promised they'd come, okay?' I reminded her, gulping down the last bits of soup and noodles down my throat. 

My grandma gave me a half-hearted smile as she nodded her head tiredly. 

'Grams, can I go for my usual night walk?' I asked as I placed my bowl into the sink before washing it. Every time I came to her house, it was a tradition of my own to take a walk at night in the boscage nearby. 

That day wasn't an exception, although, afterwards, for all my life I have wished it were. Not many people, especially not youngsters, lived in that part of Busan, therefore, I could spend my alone-time there in peace. I was a bit of a person of an art person, who was always in deep thought, looking at nature and reflecting was something that I relished doing.

'Mh... it's eight-thirty p.m., be careful. I hope you'll be back in 30 minutes.' she looked at her old watch, letting out a small huff. My grandmother was never fond of me going to the forest by myself, especially at night, but at the same time, she knew that I was a prudent person. 

I liked my own space and I could hold it.

'Yes, I'll be back soon!' I chimed while throwing on my black leather jacket and slipping my feet into my old pair of wellingtons. 'I'll be back in thirty!' I reassured her, closing the door behind me as I exited the warm house and began my journey. 

As I strolled along the tiny river inside the forest, the climate was quite chilly; nothing that would defeat my self-made leather jacket though. 

The clear, gelid steam flowed and left behind beauteous sounds as I admired bushes, rocks, branches and trees. That was until I found a specific, huge and very familiar rock. I used to go there all the time to think or take a rest from all the walking I did. In fact, I decided to take a seat on the giant rock, looking up at the thousands of twinkling stars along with the solitary moon. 

Please let me see my parents and sister this year, I really miss them...

I prayed to the moon when all of a sudden I heard rustling noises behind me. For a moment, I froze but shook it off when I heard no more noise. My gaze was once again on the nocturne sky, however, before I could do anything, I flinched at the sudden sound of a branch breaking. 

'Who's t-there?' I looked over my shoulder before standing up and twisting around abruptly. 

There was nobody and no response, so I thought it must've been some animal. Once again, I turned out to be mistaken as a piercing shriek rang throughout the formerly silent forest. I went closer to where the sound was coming from, and once I saw what was going on, my hands lurched towards my mouth to cover it. 

A slim man in jeans and a T-shirt hovered over another bloke who seemed to be way older than him, dressed in a black suit. The younger one held an extremely sharp kitchen knife. 

They lay upon a table that was randomly placed in the middle of the forest between the bushes. One that I assumed would be used to eat or take a seat during trips. Trips that no one had probably had in ages in this forsaken forest. The moonlight that shone above them, made the scene clearer to see for me, but also more ominous. 

My eyes then landed upon another person. A person who seemed to be lost in thought. They stood beside the other two, looking uncomfortable with the scene unfolding before their eyes. Since the other person was obscured by the bushes, trees and shadows, unlike the other two, I couldn't see their face. 

They were like a black silhouette that I noticed, overshadowed by everything around it. The only thing that I could collect was the fact that they too, were very gaunt.

The younger man, whose face I could barely see, suddenly pushed the knife through the other's chest. The stab was strong and deep, making the man release another excruciating squawk. Swiftly, the knife was pulled out by the assaulter, a groan escaping his mouth. The assassin said something to the bleeding and struggling man below him. Something that I couldn't make out. 

His next movements shocked and terrified me even more. 

He began thrusting the knife in a barbaric manner into the latter's chest, continuously. The squelching noises made my stomach churn in a bad way. It made a lump form in my throat. The blurrier my view got because of my gathering tears, the redder the scene became and the more I felt like throwing up.

The bloke slaughtered the elder until he was breathing and grappling no more. The man was murdered. He was dead. And I witnessed how brutally he lost the ability to breathe.

A shiver ran down my spine. With its intensity, it made my shoulders shake so much that someone from far away would've thought I was attempting to do a weird dance. Yet, despite everything I had witnessed with my wide-open eyes and with my trembling lips, my body was unresponsive and unwilling to move. To flee for good. 

I had obliged myself to stay and watch, stupidly so.

The murderer looked at the person in the shadows, probably talking to him about something I, once again, couldn't comprehend due to the distance. Their susurrus barely reached my ears, giving the already jittery atmosphere an even more baleful vibe. I felt like the main star of a horror movie. 

My eyes were locked on them, not being able to take a step backwards or forwards, right or left. Nonetheless, when the man who had just committed a heinous atrocity, turned to look at me, I felt my soul leaving my body.

When we made direct eye contact, I almost choked. All the disturbing and dreadful emotions I was feeling at the moment started to submerge. My breath hitched when he stopped straddling the man he had just slain. He took trudged towards me; so slow, like I was nothing. But I was nothing. I couldn't move, I couldn't process what was happening. 

No matter how many tears welled up in my eyes, no matter how heavy my breath was and how much I beseeched my feet to move, I was immobile. Like a statue. It was as if his aloof, recherché eyes held a power. One that left me utterly petrified.

While the man took his sweet time to saunter towards me like a wolf, instead of running, I took the chance to take in his aspect. And, oh! What a galactic disgrace he is to this world, with his breathtaking beauty. All I could wonder was how could someone as immaculate as him have killed a person.

His dark, almond-shaped eyes, bore into my very own emotionlessly. His dusky bangs covered his whole forehead as his lips were pressed into a petite smirk. His long legs dragged him closer and closer to me. 

He was doing it on purpose. He was torturing me on design. 

Why did five minutes feel like an eternity?

Finally, as if time had stopped and resumed again, all of a sudden, I managed to stumble backwards. The man still held the knife in his right hand, blood dripping onto the ground from time to time. When I realised that only some bushes and a few meters were separating us, I began panicking and scuttled away.

I ran for my life, afraid that the man would assassinate me too. But with that being the most unfortunate moment of my life, I tripped over a rock. My chin hit the ground roughly, making me grit my teeth in agony. 

I twisted, pulled, wrenched, strained but nothing was of use; my ripped jeans were hooked to whatever the hell was on the uneven grounds of the forest. With only so much desperation, I tried to scream, unhook the stuck fabric and get up, but I ended up falling again.

My movements came to a halt when a shadow in front of me became visible thanks to the bright moonlight. With my lips twitching in fright, I slowly twisted my head to look at the beautiful yet daunting man behind me. He crouched down, and I did my best to sit up to properly face him. I wanted to act like I was fierce. Like I wasn't terrified.

A breathy and cruel chuckle left his blueish lips as he watched me struggle. He huffed a cold, white puff from his mouth, reminding me that the temperature was dropping each passing minute. My dear jacket was becoming more and more useless. 

The man suddenly grabbed my twinging chin harshly and analysed me.

'Mh,' the man hummed to himself, 'you would be a perfect fit for my third kill,' he murmured huskily, not hiding the amusement in his voice. The grip on my chin became firmer when I attempted to get out of his hold. Despite being a slim bloke, he was still muscular and welly.

I was beginning to lose strength, and the first tear finally broke free. It slid down my cheek excruciatingly slowly. I started to think about my past, my current life and what the future held in store for me.

How could I die if I hadn't seen my parents for a whole year? And what about my grandma? If I would have died, she would have gotten a heart attack. I didn't want her to be lonely without me. 

Unconsciously, I initiated sobbing as I shook my head. Thinking about those things seriously made me realise that all the times I had joked about wanting to die, I didn't mean it. I regretted it. During that very moment, I felt extremely sorry for the people that really wanted to die.

'No, p-please... my life is already miserable as it is. It's full of mad shit and I just can't leave my grandma behind, my parents! She— they will go insane! I-I please...' I stammered helplessly, looking up at the bloke standing way taller than me through my tears. My view was blurry.

I hated the smug expression painted over that handsome yet callous face of his. Those diaphanous yet cruel eyes, I hated them too.

'Insane, you say, huh? No, babe, let me teach you something.' He bent down, licked his lips and smirked. Then, after grabbing my chin once again and staring straight into my bloodshot eyes, he said, 'The normals cry, but the crazies laugh.'

I stayed still and listened to him until he finished. 'You are mad...' I mumbled and started struggling. Before this day, I had never been so desperate to just go back home. And to my luck, I managed to stick my leg out from under my butt and kick him in the crotch. Hard. The sound of my jeans ripping resounded in the forest. But I didn't care. 

I sprinted away. I ran and ran without turning to look back for a mere second. The melodies sang by the wind, the ones that I once used to love, sounded like a nightmare.

The moment my grandma's small wooden house came into sight, I felt like my chest was being ripped apart. The sole thought of what I had seen felt suffocating, almost as if a pair of hands was really wrapped around my neck. 

I threw myself inside Grams's abode, slamming the door shut and locking it before sinking onto the ground. Sweat dripped down my temples as I clutched onto my shirt, trying to regain the ability to breathe normally.

Grams rushed up to me when she heard the door being slammed shut so loudly. She was wiping her hands with a kitchen towel, shock painted all over her wrinkled face. 'Oh, dear Gosh!' Grams gasped, the towel falling out of her hands. 'You are trembling! What in the hell happened?'

She dropped onto her knees beside me, and if I had the ability to think straight, I would have cringed. That must have hurt for someone of her age. 

'C-call the police!' I sturred out, 'I-I witnessed a m-murder...' I looked at her with glistening eyes, my heart beating crazily. 

As I tried to recall what had just happened, my mind seemed to be playing shitty tricks on me. The memory of the suave man who had stabbed someone was almost gone; it dissipated without a reason. No, not the event, the man was gone. I didn't remember his face at all, but I remembered his figure stabbing the other man.

Why?

'A murder?!?' Grams screeched. 

My head began thumping and spinning. I pressed my hands around my temples in an attempt to soothe the pain. 'Crap, does your head hurt?' she inquired; I nodded faintly in response. 'I will call the ambulance and police immediately, hang in there!'

↳ TO BE CONTINUED... ❞

Author-nim's note:

Finally, I am back with a new story! I have actually written this one a while ago but didn't feel like writing despite having started. Now I really feel like writing this story, so I hope it turns out well. I hope this little prologue-like chapter satisfied you and got you hooked. Feel free to point out any errors you find in my stories, thank you for reading! PS: my word count does not include the aesthetics and author message, it's solely the writing. 

Published date: 24/07/2021. 

Word count: 3,388.

— jiminandhisjams