𝑩𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍 //𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝑲𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝑭𝑭//

~𝟱𝟯~

(First person, Ava's perspective)

I woke up late that night, the sun not out yet. I sat up in bed, looking around me. Lee Know was nowhere in sight. My mind begged me to just get out of the house. To think. So I got out of bed, going downstairs to get me some water. I found Chan there, head resting on his arms as he sat at the kitchen island. He was fast asleep. I smiled slightly at his strange place to choose for sleeping. I got a bottle of water out of the fridge as quietly as I could, then took one of the blankets on the couch, gently throwing it over him.

I took my water outside with me, closing the sliding door behind me and walking out onto the beach. I walked for a while until I was more or less at the same spot I sat at a few days ago with Lee Know, Han and Hyunjin. It was still pitch-black, the only source of light being that of the moon above me. I sat down on the cold sand, pulling my knees up to my chest and hugging my legs. I thought back to what I had told the boys. And I felt empty. I didn't feel sad or angry. I felt... numb.

It was like my demons had completely retreated, no black thoughts creeping up my spine or clouding my mind. I felt nothing. Nothing at all. I just sat there in the light evening breeze, watching the moonlight ripple on the water. Until the moon went to hide its face and the sun started peeking out from behind the open, blue horizon. The early morning rays fell on my face and I closed my eyes, soaking in the warmth.

It made me smile; the sunlight on my face. And I remembered one of my former teammates telling me something when I asked her how she stayed so happy and positive. Enjoy the little things of joy in life, she had told me. And in that moment the sunlight on my skin was like a little piece of joy, making me feel slightly less fragile and raw after the night's episode. And I stayed there, basking in the light. Completely unaware of the ruckus caused in the house by my absence.

(Third person, Chan's perspective)

Chan woke up with a light shining in his eyes. He moved slightly and rubbed his eyes, trying to find the source of the annoyance. Then he saw the sunlight reflecting off the coffee table. He was a bit confused, but as soon as he moved more, he realised where he was. He had fallen asleep at the kitchen island. He straightened and stretched, hearing something softly land on the floor behind him. He looked at the floor to find a blanket there. I wonder who put that on me while I slept, he thought to himself, yawning.

He got up off the uncomfortable chair he had stayed in all night, his back not very happy with him. He pulled his elbows backwards, hearing his back click. He turned his upper body to the one side, and then the other, his back sounding like bubble wrap as he did so, snapping with every turn. Then he rolled his shoulders and tilted his head from side to side, neck clicking as well.

"Sounds to me like you're getting old, Hyung," Seungmin said, making Chan turn around. The younger man was smirking at him, making him chuckle.

"You're up early, Seungmin. Sleep well?"

"Not really. I kept thinking about Ava."

"Yeah, I did too," someone said, making both the boys turn and look at the stairs.

Lee Know came trudging towards them, his light brown hair standing up in weird places on his head. He yawned, walking over to the kettle and turning it on.

"I wonder how Ava slept," Seungmin said, the other two wondering the same thing.

A very tired-looking Han and Hyunjin emerged from their room, the younger rubbing his eyes.

"Why is everyone up so early?" Han asked, stretching and almost smacking Hyunjin upside the head in the process.

"I got up early because the sun was shining in my eyes, and then the other two just woke up this early on their own," Chan said.