「 sinking slowly like in a trance, struggle but it's all ocean floor 」
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January, 1998 Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, South Korea
"No! It's mine!"
Young Kwon Soonyoung hugged the plush tiger closer to his chest, inching away from weathered matron. His back hit the wall and he froze, lower lip quivering. The walls of his room seemed to be moving inwards, trapping him. His chest rose and fell as he heaved for breath. Panic had brought tears to his eyes and he was on the verge of a break down.
"No, dear, it's ours," the orphanage matron said soothingly, moving forward with open arms. "It's a community here, we share all-"
"That sounds awfully like communism," a voice said rather matter-of-factly from the door.
A girl around his age was leaning against the door frame, arms folded. Sunlight enveloped her petite frame, following every sharp and gentle of her body, bringing out the best of her physical appearance to his attention. She was hands-down one of the most beautiful girls he'd laid his eyes on.
"Where did you learn to speak like that, young lady?" the matron whirled on her disapprovingly.
The girl ignored the matron. "Why are you picking a fight with little ol'Hoshi-"
"His name is Soonyoung, honey."
She exhaled out an irritated sigh. "And mine is Seulgi. As I was saying, why are you picking a fight with little Hoshi-"
"Soonyoung," the matron corrected.
"Does it matter? Does it make your fighting with him anymore reasonable?" the girl- Seulgi- snapped.
The matron took a step back, then looked from child to child nastily. "My time is being wasted here." She brushed past little Seulgi, undoubtedly marching towards the Head Matron's office to complain about Seulgi's insolence again.
"She ticks more easily than the others," the little girl said to no one in particular, before turning to the cornered Soonyoung and the stuffed toy in his iron grip. Her eyes lit up. "Oh my God, that is so cute! Can i... pat it?"
Soonyoung found himself cracking a smile at that, "Sure."
↺
March 2010 Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
To say Seulgi was surprised to see him at the door would be an understatement.
Her whole face changed at the sight of the new visitor. A thousand of conflicting feelings surged through her and she had no idea which she should be prioritising.
"Associating with the enemy, Lee?" she managed out after a pause, closing the gap between the open door and it's frame. "Already looking to be fired from your new job? It's barely been a day."
