Is this another dream? Another nightmare…I must endure once again?
A lady stood still in the dark of night. Not a sound was heard, despite her dry tearstains and her soft blue eyes, empty – as if no soul existed in them. They shined brightly and reflected the ominous moonlight. Her hair that was as white as snow rustled in the cold breeze, as scattered bloodied white rose petals floated around her, as always. Aria has had this same dream for many years; however, today’s dream was almost too real…
“No matter how many times we are reborn again.”
“No matter how many times we meet again.”
“We cannot be together. “
“We cannot love each other.”
“May we never love each other again….”
Aria’s eyes widen at the last sentence. “May we never love each other again,” she mumbled. Her eyes were blurred, and cheeks stained with the same, similar tears. She looked up from her lap and stared out the bus window. Dawn was approaching, shimmering over the cascade of buildings throughout the city, as if warning that her exhausting life was beginning again.
“Did I doze off….” she mumbled and rolled her head back. Her luscious black hair cascade down her back, and covered her from the chilly morning. Aria wiped her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
Since Aria was born and could start remembering, she had always dreamed of this same lady crying to her. At first, it was fragments and pieces of words, but today it was different. She heard everything, clearly and vividly, and that sent chills through her body. No matter how many times she has this dream, she always woke up feeling like someone, or something was missing from her life. This anxiousness never goes away.
Aria has never been in love, nor received it so it was odd that this dream was warning her about such unfamiliar feelings. Aria shrug off her unease and focused on getting out at the next bus stop.
As an orphan child, abandoned by her mother and father, Aria has never known nor felt loved. She was always alone, scared, and hungry. The last memory of her parents was when she was dragged by her mother into a dark closet and beaten so hard that she coughed blood. Her nose was busted, and the blood went down her throat, choking her. It was at this moment that her mother stopped the abuse, and fear appeared on her mother’s face – she almost killed Aria.
Once Aria was saved, and became a ward of the government, the only person who had an ounce of care for her was the caretaker of Sunshine Orphanage, her granny. Hidden deep in the city of Seoul, Korea; this place was her heaven, and her escape from the terrible world.
Aria would always wake up in the middle of the night, shaking in fear as if something was chasing her, hurting her. Her granny would then always rub her little back and whisper to her that everything would be okay.
Faintly, Aria remembered.
***
“Halmoni (granny), there’s a girl in my dream that is always crying to me,” Aria whined in her tiny voice.
“And she’s always so sad.”
“My little one,” her granny would say, sadden by Aria’s trembling body. “Everything will be okay. It’s just a dream, and no one is going to hurt you.”
Her granny continued to rub her tiny back.
Aria looked up, and with tears gliding off her small little cheeks, she whispered. “It’s the beautiful man next her that is hurt. He’s looks…” Aria paused, and suddenly shook her head frantically. “…I don’t know what to do.”
Her granny paused for a slight second, and then patted Aria’s little head, “Do you want to help him?”
Aria nodded immediately, and rubbed her small pink eyes, “Yes. And the girl too.”
Her granny slightly pinched her cheeks, "Well, if you meet them again, tell them everything's okay. And that you will help them, alright?”
Aria’s small smile grew big.
“Yes, granny. I promise.” Aria whispered and tightly hugs her.
***
Aria greeted her staff and entered the office. She snatched the pile of mail sitting on Seohyn’s desk.
She’s late again, how many times has it been since this week.
Aria has been working at this Attorney’s office for about 2 years now, and has a close friendship with the Boss, Jung Jaehwa. Amazingly, his father is the Prime Minister, and his mother was the head Director of the Jung Group Corporation. And Jeahwa, just like his parents, was an amazing and outstanding Attorney who worked pro bono to help disadvantaged children.
Having been raised in an orphanage and surrounded by kids who went through traumatic experiences like herself, it has always been a goal of Aria to help as many children as possible to fight for their rights and livelihood. Because of this, it only made Aria admire Jaehwa even more for the astounding work he does.
“Ms. Yoon, the team meeting will start in 10 minutes. Is there anything else you need from me?” a staff member mentioned before handing her a cup of coffee.
Aria handed the staff a pile of thick paper manila envelopes. “Can you file these away, and make sure Team leader Kwon know envelopes 16 and 34 has changes.”
“Yes, I’ll make sure to remind her.”
*Blink*Blink*Blink --- Aria’s phone buzzed in her bag.
Aria looked at her phone screen, and a bunch of text messages pinged all at once.
Seohyun K: OMGGG! Guess who just walked in the building with me!
Seohyun K: The attorney’s brother, Jung Taehyung!!!
Seohyun K: He’s friggin HOTTTTT!
Seohyun K: He wasn’t supposed to arrive until next month!!!
Seohyun K: Hey! I think he’s coming your way!!!
Before Aria could finish reading that last text, her door burst open. She looked up, and a tall man was standing there. He wore a perfectly tailored blue suit adorned with golden cufflinks and pointed shiny shoes. His bright red hair, cleanly swept back, with a few strands on his forehead. He exuded masculinity, from his straight nose, stern lips, and to his chin line. But it was his eyes, grey and dark that made her stop breathing – it stared right at her.
Aria took a large gulp. Her heart ached.
Aria has never met Jaehwa’s brother before, but he has briefly mention him during their conversations about life. It seemed like both brothers were not particularly close. Every time Jaehwa mentioned Taehyung, his expression would appear sad, almost guilty as if he should not talk about him.
Apparently, Taehyung spent his childhood, teenage, and young adult years in a boarding school in Germany, and had just recently returned after graduating with his master’s degree in business management. Since then, he has been working with his mother at the Jung Group Corporation.
“Can I help you?” Aria finally said after a long, awkward silence of staring at each other.
Taehyung ignored her question, and continued to stare at her, almost glaring.
Aria could feel her heartbeat racing, and blood rushing to her head as Taehyung just silently stared at her. This was the first time they have met, and yet for some reason she felt a familiar feeling. Aria wondered if this was because he was Jaehwa’s brother.
Aria breaks their eye contact and unconsciously put her hand over her chest.
It hurts…
“Yoon Aria,” A low voice hovered over her head. “You’re just as beautiful as I thought you would be.”
Aria immediately looked up, and Taehyung was standing right in front of her.
How did he get here so fast?
“No. Don’t come any closer…” she mumbled.
Taehyung’s eyes twitched slightly to her reaction, and then he reached for the hand on her chest.
“Shh. Don’t say anything. Just let me look at you.” His voice was so low and terrifying that Aria stepped back before he could grab her.
Aria rushed pass him, and out her office doors.
Fortunately, all her staff had left to the conference room for their morning meeting, so no one saw the panic attack she was having as she ran through the office, breathing in pain, with sweat running down the sides of her face.
I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.
Aria reached the long hall but could still hear the large footsteps following behind her. It was too late to take the elevator down, so Aria turned the corner and reached for the emergency doors.
Before she took a step down the stairs, a large hand clasped her wrist and stopped her. A sharp pain stabbed her heart, and cold sweat ran down her neck. She felt nauseous. Her heaving breaths echoed in the small space.
Aria turned back and Taehyung was standing there, still looking at her. With the same eyes, dark and predatory.
I need to run. Run far away. Away from here…from you.
The last thing Aria remembered was shoving him away, his hand letting her go from the force, but quickly reaching out to grab her again – though there was nothing he could grab. It was his expression that made a lasting impact, she could not understand it. In the end, all she felt was a sense of relief, but tinged in sadness.
Am I falling?
Even though our white rose petals are scattered.
Our fate is not so easily broken.
Aria, my love.
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