A while ago....
Zariel sat, long lost in her own deepest daze. Her mind in total wonder, as her gaze got farther and lost in empty space. Chrysanthemum tea was being brewed and served, and Yi Seo thanked the maid, dispersing her immediately.
"Zariel" she called. But that wasn't enough to bring her back. Yi Seo sighed and called her again, and Zariel turned her head slowly and looked at her. "Tea is served. I remember it was our favourite" she smiled as she blew on her tea and sipped.
Zariel looked at the tea cup and then back at her. She took the cup and sipped without bothering to blow the hotness away. She didn't care anyways. The questions swirling in her mind were more than a thousand.
"You been alive for as long as I don't know... And you never showed your face. You never came to see your son"
Yi Seo placed her cup gently on the tray, and took a deep painful breath. "How can I? It puts both our lives at risk." she said. "No one from the past knows I'm alive. It should remain that way"
Zariel scoffed "Remain that way?! Are you kidding me?! What would happen to your son then? Do you know how lonely he felt without a mother? I tried but I was never able to fill that void. He wanted you. He wanted a miracle where you'd come back and hold him your arms, and even sing him lullabies just like other mothers do their kids. And now you think he shouldn't know?"
"I just..."
"You just what?" Zariel cut her off. She couldn't help but yell.
"I can't face him..."
"What is so hard in that?"
"Do you think I can just appear in from of him and say 'Yun Shin, I am your mother'. Do you think I can? He wouldn't even look my way" she yelled also.
"Ah...this is driving me crazy" Zariel massaged her temples. "How did you even come back?" she wondered.
"Well...I met someone..."
"What?!" whatever went in her head was something she wasn't supposed to think of. Someone? Who?! A man?
"She granted my wish, giving me a new life" Yi Seo said.
It's a she? Granted her wish. She's not human then "A deity" she voiced out.
"Mm" Yi Seo nodded in agreement. "My wish was to come back and see my son. To hold Yun Shin again. But I can't. I don't have that courage. I could only watch him from afar." she turned and faced Zariel, giving a sad smile "He's a man now. Thank you, my friend"
"For what?"
"For bringing him up til this age. For caring for him when I couldn't. Thank you" she appreciated and Zariel felt a pang in her chest. Her eyes began to sting, both of them.
"What are friends for? He was the only piece of you left. And I really enjoyed taking care of him. It's just that now he's such a bully. Tsk" she frowned at that, and Yi Seo laughed. When was the last time Zariel heard her sweet laughs like this? Ah...what is this happy pain? Her eyes brewed tears and she fought her lips not to tremble. Yi Seo looked at her and laughs died down.
"Why are you crying?" she asked.
Zariel turned her face to the other side, she wiped her tears. "I can't believe you're here and I'm seeing you again. I've missed you"
"Oh, Zariel. I miss you more than you miss me" Yi Seo spoke , with her hand on her chest.
"Shut up! You didn't miss me. If you have, you would have met with me and not hide yourself. You're a bad friend" she turned her face away.
"I'm sorry" Yi Seo apologized with her eyes lowered. "I.." her words were cut off when Zariel's phone rang.
"Excuse me, let me take this" she stood up and walked to a corner. She answered the call, "Hello, Anna?"
""Ms. Jung..." her voice broke, she hiccuped.
"Anna, what's wrong?"
"I'm scared. He..he almost killed me . Ryan almost killed me" she cried.
"What?" Zariel's voice was barely heard. Her eyes grew wide.
"I'm scared. Please, come back"
"O-okay. Stay away from him and coming now" her voice was filled with horror and she quickly ended the call. Oh God! What has Ryan done?! She hurried to take her bag and leave as soon as possible.
Yi Seo stood up, "Are you leaving?"
"Yes. I'm sorry, but something came up so I have to go" she hurried to say.
"Okay, do come often okay?"
"Of course, of course"
"And please, don't tell anyone" Zariel twitched her lips, but she agreed anyway. They hugged for the first time in centuries. It felt good, and just like that, Zariel was out. Yi Seo could only sigh.
*...*...*..*
Ryan washed his hands like he wanted to wash away his greatest sin. Yes. Hurting her was his greatest sin. But his sin doesn't seem to wash away. His hands had already turn red from rubbing it so much. He lifted his head and stared at himself for a while in the mirror, and he appeared.
"Why did you do it? Why did you come out" Ryan asked, voice filled with anger.
"Do not put the blame on me. It wasn't my fault either. You couldn't bear the pain, I thought I should help" he spoke.
"You almost killed her!" Ryan seethed.
"We. It is 'we'. We almost killed her. It wasn't our fault was it? Just a little mistake and they push us away. Did you see?" he was furious "How are you sure they even love us? We only need each other and no one"
"Quiet!" Ryan growled "You wanted to take control. That's why you came out"
"Yes. I want control. You've been in control for centuries, leaving me locked in here. Hungry"
A chuckle escaped Ryan's lips "And Ari was the best person you could feed on?"
"She's special. She was supposed to die anyway" he shrugged. Ryan's jaws clenched hard than it has already been. What does he mean by that?
"I thought she would love us. I thought she was different" he started. "But it seems she won't. She pushed us away. Even after you apologized. They pushed us away!"
Ryan shook his head "She was angry because I didn't tell her!"
"Spare me that crap! You are a fool to believe that. She. Is scared of us now. Your greatest fear has now happened. She is just like them. And now I don't like her anymore. She won't love us. No one will."
"Liar" Ryan's voice came "The more reason why you're not meant to come out. You see the negative side in everything. I can't let you out"
He spoke and left the mirror. He felt his head spin and his gums itch. He was trying to creep to the surface, to take control. But his efforts were futile. They were like three in one body. One being a guardian. The other being a grim reaper. Both controlling one beast. But the beast seem to want the grim reaper in charge of him. That's why, he can't come out. He shouldn't. The world would be doomed.
Ryan took a breath, to calm himself. As if remembering something, his eyes widened. Realisation hit him. The call for help was in vain. No one needed help. It was done on purpose. His blood boiled within his bloodstream. He disappeared, and found himself on a hill, filled with anger.