(what's wrong)

-----

She's twisted like a rope,
that is wrapped around his throat

-----

Heavy footsteps were all I could hear amidst the dark, quiet street. I was running, but unaware of where I was leading to.

The bag bounced with my sprints. Cold breeze pressed against my sweaty body giving me constant chills. I hugged my bag closer.

It hurts to run with an empty stomach, to use up my leftover energy.

I twisted my ankle and tripped. I was still paranoid to register what happened.

Who was he?

What happened?

Why is this happening to me?

My face smashed on the ground. It always suffers the most in every calamity that strikes. The shock of falling made me realise that I was running in a totally wrong direction. Lynn's house was in the opposite direction, above the hill.

I panted heavily as I threw myself there, in the middle of a road. I coughed due to the dryness in my throat which later echoed through the deserted streets. Calming myself, I gazed the crest of the hill and then back to the dark road that led further.

I heard something walking in my direction, or maybe a person.

It wouldn't be wise to just lay there at this hour. I had to get up. But my legs revolted. They weren't ready to lift my weight up.

"Oh god. I can't even pick myself up."

"Is someone there?"

My fatigued legs made me forget that someone was coming in my direction. I cursed involuntarily when I felt a strong flash being shone right into my eyes.

"Ah I'm sorry but I'm not some thief." I tried to block the flash from blinding me.

I didn't want to be misunderstood and labeled as a thief. It seemed like whosoever it was believed my words and switched off the flashlight they were holding.

"Why are you out so late? You don't look so well either? Did you run?"

The person came forward and squatted down to my level.

The little amount of street light did help me examine his features. A guy, much older than me. His eyes were cold and tired just like his words. It seemed like he was suffering from some massive insomnia to have those huge eye bags decorating his face.

"Yeah. A-um a dog was chasing me."

I lied.

"Why did you even come out so late?"

"Oh well, I was returning from work. I had a night shift but something came up so I had to leave before my shift was completed."

I lied. Again. This is turning into a habit recently.

"Working at such a young age, you must be tight on money."

I hated this conversation. Hate, I've been feeling this emotion too much nowadays.

"Yeah."

"What's your name?"

His voice was annoying, honestly. And his curiosity got on my nerves.

"Jungkook."

"Nice name. You may go now Jungkook."

I didn't waste any second getting up on my feet, dragging my tired form to push itself back to my current shelter, Lynn's home.

"Why couldn't he mind his own business?"

Creeped out with the recent incident, the last thing I wanted was to meet a nosy guy. But he looked really short compared to the normal height of guys around his age, much shorter than me.

'I shouldn't care. I am not meeting him again anyways.'

It took me longer to reach the peak, making me more tired and worn out. Even after asking multiple times why she'd let me stay, I got the same answer, the same smile, followed by the sentence, "I like it when you stay here."

I concluded that she might have felt lonely while staying alone all the time. But I highly doubt if that was actually the case. It didn't matter, I had a roof over my head and food on my plate. I should be grateful.

'Yeah, grateful.'

"You're late. I thought you didn't have work today."

"Holy shit-- Jesus Christ stop scaring me all the time. Why are you even sitting there?"

My voice was louder than usual. I didn't want to be rude to her, but my emotions were running wild and it was hard to control myself. But it seemed like she didn't mind.

Lynn was sitting on a tree.

'A fucking tree? Is she a ghost? Who sits on the branch of a tree at 2:40 in the morning!?'

She skilfully overlooked my question.

"You're upset. And tired. Get inside, I'll give you something to eat."

As if my stomach took the cue, it growled. I mentally cursed at myself.

'Pathetic.'

I looked up from my growling stomach to see the empty branch where she sat before. Lynn was no more on the tree. She was already at the door, unlocking it. That passed chills down my body, she was fast.

Swift movements with caramel-laden words, is that something I should be worried about?

She walked in a hushed manner. She could appear out of nowhere. I couldn't appreciate those qualities. It was scary. It was creepy and it managed to scare the living hell out of me.

I don't know why but I felt angry, sad but mostly scared. My emotions were jumbled. I couldn't justify my own emotions.

"Wanna spend the night gazing at your belly, little boy?"

Her nicknames. She used all sorts of nicknames on me. Babe was her favourite.

"Coming."

She made me a bowl of chicken stew. Something inside of me shook and I wanted to cry. I took the bowl in my hands, they were shaking. I gulped it down, slowly and gradually.

I was thankful to her, but my emotions went clashing back to the man who I just left behind, my father.

"You're crying."

I didn't even realise that.

"Sorry."

She didn't do anything. The corner of my eyes picked up her blurred image and it did not help me. She was smiling. A genuine smile? I doubt.

"Don't waste your emotions on tears. There are other ways to put it in good use. Rip apart the reasons of your anger, you'll never be sad again."

She whispered and left me to finish the meal.

It felt like I was slowly falling into her clever choice of words. She was getting into my head. I was losing it. Or am I just finding an excuse to put the blame on?

'Please don't think. Please just- Stop. Just stop.'

I couldn't stop myself. My mind stood jumbled.

And I heard the same voice again, my voice.

'See I told you? Let me in and everything will be fine. You don't have to cry again. All you'll do is smile and feel happiness. Why can't you still let me in?'

"Shut...up. Just... Just shut the hell up."

I allowed my emotions to overtake me that night.

. . .

"Shit. Shit. Shit."

Staying up all night wasn't a good idea. The constant 'excuse me' left my mouth as I bumped into people on my way to the school.

I probably pushed the wrong person because the next thing I knew, I was pushed aside the street. They must have pushed me back.

I groaned, not wanting to pull a fuss, I watched the person walk away.

I noticed the TV in the store beside me, showing a man brutally killed. I noticed the reporter say that the murder took place last night.

Interested, I peeked into the shop to see the picture of the man on the screen. A wave of recognition washed me down. I knew him.

The same man who harassed me in the restaurant.

He was dead.

No, he was killed.

. . .

College had finished and Lynn was on her way back to her hiding. She didn't like spending much time with her friends, none of them were interesting for her. But she was witty enough to keep them entertained, for a good social image.

Eren was still confused over the whole incident that took place the other night. He tried to avoid the image of the girl on the roof and Lynn but it kept bugging him.

His curiosity got the best of him and he went up to Lynn, dragging his friend Taehyung with him.

"H-Hey why am I supposed to go with you?" Taehyung complained.

"Shut up. I'm scared to speak to her alone."

He indeed was.

"You sound like a teen trying to confess to his crush."

"Except it's not a crush."

"Seriously why do I have to go-"

Eren suddenly halted in his motion, his fingers tightly clutching the rims of his dress, his expressions alarmed.

There she was. Peacefully minding her own business.

Calming himself, he mentally prepared for all the drama that may occur, he called her out.

"Hey Lynn."

A casual start.

"I'm in the same class as you. My name is Eren and this is--"

"Oh hey. I know you two. You're the foreigner student, Eren Jaeger and he's the new transfer student, Kim Taehyung. Am I right?"

She smiled, mostly directed to Taehyung who suddenly forgot how to speak.

"Woah so you know us. Where are your friends? I don't see them."

He tried his best to keep the conversation as relaxed as possible.

"They have projects to do, so I'm alone today."

"Do you wanna join us then? We are planning on having food. Taehyung will give us a treat."

Taehyung gave him a 'what-the' look. He didn't even know that they were eating outside. Offended, he whispered into his friend's ear.

"What do you mean? I'm totally killing you if you waste my money."

Lynn wanted to be distant. She realized her classmate was just trying to dig information on her, after that night. She sighed.

"I'm really sorry but I've got work after this. Thank you for inviting me though. I'll make sure to join you guys next time. Don't forget your offer by then."

She smiled again. Anyone would mistake it as a genuine gesture of friendship, just like the two boys in front of her, falling for her façade, slowly

"Is that so? Guess we gotta keep the plan for next time."

Eren timidly flashed a grin.

Lynn looked over at Taehyung and leaned forward, making the boy back away.

"Aren't you gonna say something? Mr. Kim?"

Taehyung flushed furiously. She was indeed beautiful but watching her up close with innocence dancing in her eyes made him feel butterflies in his stomach.

"Ah--um, it sucks you can't come."

He stammered.

"Ha-ha. I'll come next time. This means goodbye for now?"

"Yeah. Goodbye." Both of them replied.

She winked at Taehyung and left them.

Kim Taehyung, he was falling into her trap.

"They are just dolls to play with..." she whispered walking away to her desired place, her arena.

_________

(Vampire Eren. Credits to the original artist)

Tess: Let me go!! I'm ready to die for him!!
Naut (holding Tess down): JUST CALM DOWN FOR GOD'S SAKE!!

Long time no see fellas. Thank you for waiting and please don't forget to vote and comment. We'll be waiting for your response (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧