𝑩𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍 //𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝑲𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝑭𝑭//

~𝟰𝟱~

(Third person, Lee Know's perspective)

What Ava and the rest didn't know, was that Lee Know wasn't working through things. He was thinking of how to make up with Ava. He knew it was a delicate situation because he scared her. If he approached too fast or said the wrong thing, she would pull away even more. But the eye contact they had had at the airport had given him hope. One tiny star in a galaxy of darkness. He kept pacing in his room, trying his best not to think about the day he had hurt her. But the thoughts kept seeping through the barrier he had formed around them.

Little things. The fear in her eyes. The stinging behind his own eyes when he saw her come out of the woods, broken and small. The hurt in his heart when he saw her fall asleep on Hyunjin's shoulder. The unbearable pain of avoiding her to keep her safe. He tried building a sentence to say to her, but it came out a jumbled up mess. He went to stand with his head against the wall, resting his fists on either side of his head. He took in a deep breath and hit the wall with the side of his fist.

"Why is this so hard? Why am I so afraid?" he asked.

The only thing answering him was the sound of the ocean through his window. And his own heart clenching in his chest.

(First person, Ava's perspective)

That night after dinner, I sat on the edge of the porch, my feet touching the sand. I stared up at the stars as I listened to the ocean. I heard a door slam inside the house, making me flinch. My thoughts wandered to three years ago. My hands clenched into fists. I could still feel his hands on me. And the bruises afterwards.

I took in a shaky breath, blowing it out slowly. I dug my toes deeper into the sand, which actually calmed me down a bit. I looked back up at the stars, taking in another breath and breathing it out with a sigh. I heard the sliding door open behind me, but I didn't turn around. I only looked up when I heard Chan speak, having come to a stop next to me.

"Can I join you?" he asked. I nodded before turning my gaze back up at the stars.

He sat down next to me, his presence warm and welcoming. As if out of habit, I leaned my head on his shoulder. I felt him tense up under me.

"Do you trust me?" I asked and felt him ease up almost immediately.

"With my life. Why do you ask?"

I hesitated.

"Just curious."

He pulled away from me, turning his body to face mine. His eyes seemed to say, I know that's not true, and I know you know too. I dropped my gaze, but he just bent to the side, moving back into my gaze with a small smile on his lips. I smiled back and shook my head.

"I don't know how you do it," I said.

"Do what?"

"Make me open up so easily. I just feel so comfortable around you."

He smiled, his dimples showing. Then his gaze turned to concern again, and he looked at me with the same attentiveness he had earlier.

"Why did you ask if I trust you?"

"I... I just don't feel like a lot of people trust me these days. I feel like I let everybody down."

"What makes you think you let me down? What makes you think you let the team down?"

I could think of so many reasons why, but my mouth didn't seem to be connected to my brain anymore. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

"Is this about Lee Know?" he asked softly, and I dropped my head.