Shin Aera felt at ease

✧─── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧

The harsh cold breeze no longer bothering her despite making itself very obvious in whistling sounds they make as they pass by, swaying the silver wonderland that adorned the stoic girl's face.

She was quietly walking beside her two best friends, Dan-I and Yeoryeong, with both arms looped against theirs, a sense of warmth and security creeping its way into her heart as she tuned in on what her purple-haired friend was rambling about, while silently stealing glances at her brown-haired friend, who like her, opted to stay silent.

Despite being in this world for almost three years now, Aera always felt as if Dan-I was in another, eyes empty as the brown-haired girl gazed at their group--as if she was a spectator in a play or a reader in a novel.

She knew Dan-I's revelation a while back was something that could be refuted, yet at the same time cannot be completely dismissed. As such, she believed Dan-I, but the longer she was in this world, the more it felt natural to her as if she has been here her whole life. Even being friends with what she would deem as strangers from before became the very core of her life; but unfortunately, the girl took notice that it wasn't like that for Dan-I.

The silver-haired girl always observed her vacant stares, her lingering touches, and even her hesitance every time the group was doing something intimate and casual--as if everything was going to disappear and slip away from Dan-I's hands, like waking up from a dream that she could never go back to.

These observations worried Aera but she did not prod into it, thinking that Dan-I will be the one to step forward once she felt like she was ready. Aera knew what it felt like to be put in a spot, suffocating as if wanting to tell everything, yet nothing at the same time. She didn't want her brown-haired friend to experience that, and so, she waited.

Her thoughts consumed her, gaze buried deep into the sand they were walking on as she sank deeper into the rabbit hole that was Ham Dan-I; that she didn't notice a group of boys approaching them until she felt a sturdy chest collide with her head.

The bump alarmed Yeoryeong--who stopped talking, as well as Dan-I who and shifted her attention from her blank thoughts to the group of boys in front of them.

"YOU." The boy Aera bumped into started talking, closing the gap between their faces, alarming both girls as they tightened their grip around Aera's arms, prepared to pull her back once the boy gives any signal of nearing even more.

"You're pretty, what's your name?" He smirked, confidence oozing out of his body as he attempted to flirt with the silver-haired girl.

Aera blinked once, and then twice, then looked at both Dan-I and Yeoryeong before looking at the boy up and down, and then responded, "Eunhyung told me that I shouldn't speak to strangers, I'm sorry." She bowed politely, before ushering her silently cackling brown-haired friend, and her confused purple-haired friend to continue their walk.

But before they could, two of the boys that the guy was with, blocked their pathway, effectively keeping the trio in their place.

"Come on, I won't tell! You can bring your purple-haired friend too," He came closer, cupping the silver-haired girl's chin with his hand while shooting a wink at Yeroyeong who internally cringed.

Dan-I, who flinched at their interaction, finally had enough and stepped up in front of Aera, effectively breaking away their contact. Displaying the coldest glare she could muster, Dan-I responded,

"Sorry, we're a little busy right now,"

Her response might have agitated the lead boy, as he narrowed his eyes and made a shooing motion,

"I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to them" He shifted his attention back to the girls that were being protectively barricaded behind Dan-I, the brown-haired girl not relenting as this was not the first time someone aggressively hit on her two best friends.

Yeoreyong, who was clueless this whole time as to what was happening, has finally gotten a grasp of the situation. Shooting Dan-I a look, asking if the boy was pertaining to both her and Aera, Dan-I nodded glumly.

With this, Yeoryeong released a loud huff before dragging Aera's and Dan-I's arms to get away from the boys for the second time.

"Let's go Dan-I and Aera!" She exclaimed, eyebrows furrowed in anger as she internalized that there was yet another boy who hit on her precious Aera.

Being much athletic than the silver-haired girl, she effectively pushed the two boys that were blocking their way; and they would've gotten away with it if it weren't for the lead boy harshly grabbing Dan-I collar to make the trio stay,

"Hey, I said wait--" Dan-I was choked, even for just a second as she tried to catch her breath, caressing her neck as she attempted to alleviate the pain the boy had just caused her.

The way he held Dan-I must've sparked something in Aera as she narrowed her eyes dangerously to the boy in front of her.

"What did you do to Dan-I?" The nameless boy, who, instead of being afraid had red rush through his cheeks.

He once again got closer, seeing as she was now physically alone, with Yeoryeong helping Dan-I recuperate by the sides, the barrier that once protected the silver-haired girl was gone.

However, instead of being put into an anxious fit, Aera was filled with emotions of anger, as her stance did not waver even when the boy smirk and grabbed her chin once more,

"What are you gonna do about it, princess?" He asked, face dangerously near hers.

Aera huffed, before responding,

"Eunhyung told me to do this every time someone comes close to me without my consent," Not giving the boy a chance to question her statement she extended her legs back before swinging it forcefully to hit where the sun does not shine.

Eyes wide from what she had just done, she took everybody's panicked and confused moment to drag both Dan-I and Yeoryeong away, adrenaline coursing through her veins as she distinctly heard a string of curses leaving the boy's mouth and a set of footsteps that were obviously trailing after them.

Dan-I, who witnessed the entire incident could not help but laugh out loud, openly expressing how proud she was of the usually uptight girl for the deed she just did. Yeoryeong, who tended to Dan-I didn't see a thing worried a bit about the unusual act of her friend but seeing how Dan-I was laughing so hard, the purple-haired beauty thought it was enough to lay down her worries for now.

The trio finally arrived at the front of the convenience store Aera hoped the boys went it; and it was in her luck that Eunhyung just went out, the timing perfect enough for Aera to hide the three of them behind his back.

Confused, Eunhyung looked back at his female friends; First to Aera, who seemed extremely disturbed, then to Dan-I who was still letting out a loud chuckle, and to Yeoryeong who just seemed confused about the whole situation.

Eunhyung got his answers soon enough, as three boys came trailing after the female trio, with one of them evidently angry with a hand placed on his crotch.

The red-haired president let out an amused sigh paired with a big grin, before whispering to Aera who was still clutching the back fabric of his jacket, "Did you...?"

A chuckle vibrated through his chest once he felt a small nod of confirmation from his silver-haired friend.

Looking forward, his genuine smile was replaced with an eerier one, "Good job" he complimented, gaze still on the approaching boys in front of them.

"You bitch!--" The boy, seething of anger, did not even pay any mind to Eunhyung--who visibly darkened once he heard those words, as he went straight to calling out Aera, hand reaching over the shoulder of the red-haired boy to grab the girl; but before he could lay any hands on her, he was already thrown into the sand.

Eunhyung turned back and patted Aera's hair, "I'll be back, I'll just deal with them okay?" Getting a simple nod, Aera ran back to Dan-I and gripped her shirt instead.

With the brown-haired girl providing comfort, Eunhyung wasted no time in beating the hell out of the three boys that not only messed with his friends but also called his precious Aera a word he despised the most.

"Oi, are you done yet?" Eun Jiho asked, coming out of the convenience store with several instant noodles and snacks stacked up against his arms,

Assuming that this was one of those many times that someone either aggressively hit on Aera or Yeoryeong, Jiho paid little mind to the scene in front of him, and instead opted to shift his attention to his childhood friend, who was cowering behind a still-laughing Dan-I.

Frowning, Ji-ho asked, "Oi, what did you do to Aera?" His sudden question prompted Dan-I to stop laughing, an amused look on her face as she cradled her silver-haired best friend in her arms.

"Aera did something awesome today, but I'm not gonna tell you." She then paid no mind to Ji-ho as she nuzzled their cheeks together, making Aera smile at the warmth and affection from her best friend.

Ji-ho narrowed his eyes before scoffing, wanting to rip his friend away but couldn't because of the large amounts of food he was still carrying.

"Hurry up then, the noodles are getting cold."

With Eunhyung finishing the job, and the group of boys vowing to come back, the group finally settled on top of the open staircase, with the convenience store at their backs, and the lovely blue sea at their fronts; the breeze swaying, fitting in their relaxing tempo.

"What do you want, Ae-gi? I got everything!" Ju-in asked, eyes sparkling as he viewed his wide variety of instant noodles,

"Seafood, mild spiciness, right? Here you go!" Yeoryeong offered, grabbing Aera's usual choice and gently giving her the snack, careful not to burn the girl's hands.

The silver-haired girl received it gratefully, hands cup together as she brought the noodles to her cheeks.

The purple-haired beauty stared at her confusingly; noticing her expression, Aera meekly replied:

"It's kinda cold."

Suddenly everybody was taking off their scarves and jackets, with Chunyoung beating all of them, given that he was just beside the girl. He wrapped his scarf on her neck and tied it cleanly, shooting a smug smile to his other friends who merely scoffed in return.

Their silent banter was cut short when their silver-haired friend spoke,

"So, we're going to be high school students soon." Aera looked at the horizon, noodles staying still as she let her hands treat it as a heating pad.

The group, followed the girl's stare as they let their gaze fall on the serene ocean, evidently unbothered by any ruckus the outside world was bringing in.

Eun Jiho released a sigh,

"Yeah."

"No worries though! We're still going to be classmates, so it's all fun from there!" Being the energetic puppy that he was, Ju-in prompted to lighten up the mood, smiling from ear to ear as he visualized the years of fun he was going to have with his friends right beside him,

The group gave a collective nod, smiles reappearing as they thought of the years ahead.

Except for Ham Dan-I, eyes blank as she was already mentally preparing herself for what was to come,

The very disturbing March 2nd.

✧─── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧