Winter's Awakening

Chaewon and Minjeong can't meet each other's gazes. They would look at each other, yes, but their eyes seemed to be the same sides of a magnet. Now, the sisters are reduced to staring at each other's feet.

Minjeong sat between Jimin and Yizhuo at what seemed like a dressing room. Vanity mirrors lined the sides, fully decked with make up kits and things a guy isn't supposed to understand unless he intentionally dips his toes into it. Further back, racks upon racks of stage outfits and absurd costumes were stored.

Opposite them were Sakura and Haerin — the former seemed to have raided the clothes racks as she is now dressed like a rockstar herself with a tube top, and denim jacket and shorts.

Chaewon immediately let go of my hand though, saying she might not be able to control her emotions, which may cause her to burn my hand. I accepted her excuse — although I felt that there was more to it than just that. Now, her hands were behind her back, her thumb fidgeting with the palm of the other while Minjeong was chewing her lips. Her eyes were red, probably another reason why they can't meet each other's eyes.

Now, we stood before the expectant gazes of our friends, and all I could think about was how to mend Chaewon and Minjeong’s relationship. Funny how that matter seemed to hang heavier on me than the revelation that I had both demonic and angelic blood in my veins.

"So," Jimin breathed softly, she seemed to have aged a few weeks in a span of a few hours. Well, I think most of us were, me most of all — I can't even recognize the person I saw when I looked at the dozens of mirrors lining this room. "Where do we start?"

I breathed another sigh just to release a little bit of weight from my chest. I moved to a nearby vanity and sat atop the desk. Chaewon mirrored my actions on the opposite side of the room, she however, took a chair, angling it slightly so it faces Minjeong, and sat — both sisters still staring at each other's shoes.

"Great question," I craned my head, the flourescent lights were dim, reminding me of a cloudy day. Then I scoffed, "I don't know."

I lowered my head and my gaze landed on Sakura. She tilted her head, no doubt reading what I was thinking about with my expression.

"Can you...?" I began, "can you explain what happened back there, Sakura?"

Sakura's gaze sharpened, "It is not my story to tell, Seren."

"Yet, I'm still asking you to," I replied. "I don't want to think nor feel right now — and reliving — recounting — everything that was said back there, I don't think I can handle it."

"Are you sure?" Sakura followed up.

I nodded. "Besides, you're an intel operative, you'll probably know what to say and what not to considering the..." I looked around the room, only Jimin was looking directly at me, yet I was thankful that she hadn't objected to what I just said, "... current circumstances."

Sakura leaned back against the vanity behind her. She raised her head as she considered my request, then she sighed and met my gaze, "Fine. Feel free to stop me or whatever anytime you feel like it, though."

I nodded.

Then her gaze turned to Chaewon who was still staring at the space between her sister's feet. Yizhuo gently held both of the younger girl's shoulders, and Minjeong tensed for half a breath before relaxing.

"You too," Sakura added.

Chaewon absently nodded.

"Okay," Sakura said softly, a huge contrast to the weight of what she was about to say. Then her eyes swept the room, ending at Jimin who was now staring at her intently.

"Seren is a hybrid... of heaven and of hell..." and Sakura started recounting almost everything that was discussed with the sirens. She recalled my heritage, the two bloodlines, the demonic being Lilith's, the angelic still unknown. She discussed what Jieun said about Eclipse Garden, how it would be a revolutionary movement that may one day shape what Verrath would become.

Sakura however, did not disclose what Jieun advised Chaewon — to talk to Minjeong and do whatever it takes so that what happened to her won't happen to her little sister. That part was too personal, and Chaewon and I still don't understand what the seer meant by it.

Once Sakura finished, all eyes were on me, even Haerin's, who apparently got all that despite her usual air headedness.

"Seren, I —" Jimin stuttered. Minjeong covered her mouth with her hands, and Yizhuo was staring at me, eyes wide, as if she's rethinking our whole relationship.

"Can you tell the huntresses too?" I asked Sakura as Jimin was trying to find words to say to me.