Cutting Strings

Chapter 8 ● Trouble Magnet

Lights flash inside her mind, but she can feel it blinds her eyes. She remember her sobs, how she shouts "Fany! Fany!" As if it is her mantra to leave. She feels air choked her, asking her to beg for her life.

Flash of lights. Police siren. Her sobs. And when she closes her eyes she can sees the woman's face, covered in blood. Her eyes are open, looking at her warily.

"Fany!" She shouts.

"Fany!" The world shake her awake. The sound come from a man know, who is squatting in front of her.

His hands are on the either side of her cheeks. She can finally feel it, it feels very warm.

And when she blinks for the seventh time, she can see his worried face.

"Jiyoung Oppa?" She whispers, confused on how he gets here.

Jiyoung nods his head and forcefully pulls her into a hug. Tiffany's head presses close to his warm chest as she starts to sob.

"I don't want to remember" she whines to his chest as Jiyoung rocks them back and forth while whispering again and again "its okay, its okay"

Tiffany cries like a baby on his chest for a while before it turns into soft sobs, "I want Taeyeon" she says softly, eventhough she is grateful Jiyoung is here.

Jiyoung understand but he shakes his head. Taeyeon can't get out of school ground. She isn't a council or gang member, she has to follow the school rules.

He is just shocked to know Tiffany get involved on the aftermath of a gang fight. Full of blood, no less.

He was eating at the cafeteria with Taeyeon when Top called him. Without questions asked, Jiyoung has gone with Top to meet Chanyeol and Tiffany. Taeyeon even ask them to go hurry.

Only him and Taeyeon knows the situation about Tiffany out of the whole school. Tiffany might look open and friendly, but everyone has a secret.

While Taeyeon is the only people in the whole wide world whom Tiffany trust, Taeyeon's long time boyfriend Jiyoung is like a package with her. So Jiyoung almost know Tiffany inside out as well.

When Tiffany tears has dried and her consciousness returns, Tiffany look around to assess her surrounding.

Still on the narrow alley, which is going darker since the sun is going down.

Jiyoung scans her face warily, afraid she'll have a breakdown again.

Tiffany then realize another person behind Jiyoung, standing there looking down at them. Top.

"Are you okay?" He asks as their eyes meet. Tiffany shakes her head, too tired to answer the same question again and again. She looks down at her hands, which is clean, but damp.

When she was crying Top washes it with his drink behind Jiyoung's back. For some reason he knows it is what triggers her trauma.

She looks around again, searching for someone else.

"Park Chanyeol... was here, right?" She asks softly as Jiyoung helps her stand to her feet.

He answers with a nod and a soft smile, "He called Top, thank God"

Tiffany nods her head, grateful that Chanyeol has gone when she was having her breakdown. She doesn't want people to know. Top knowing something has happened to her has been bad enough. She just hope he doesn't ask for any explanation.

"Want to sneak in to school with us or use the council magic door?" Ask Top, stepping towards her and fixing her messy hair.

Tiffany arch an eyebrow in question at Jiyoung subtly. Top has never been this affectionate to her before. She isn't sure if this is because she was having a mental breakdown, or because she is single now.