Touchdown
So finally, the day for Yeji’s mother’s birthday party has arrived. When Yeji wakes up her mother is already working with the food. While still scratching the sleep out of her eyes she enters the kitchen.
“Good that you came.” Jiheun says while chopping some cucumber for the big bowl of salad. “At what time did you say Ryujin was supposed to arrive?”
The sound of Ryujin’s name awakens the butterflies in Yeji’s stomach and a soft smile reaches her lips. This time around Yeji has gotten used to having many different feelings and has learnt to identify the nuances. The butterflies flying now are of two different kinds, both excitement over getting to see her love but also nervousness over people potentially finding out about their true relationship. Because deep down inside she has a growing lump of worry, placed there when she saw Hanguk outside the window, staring at them with bottomless darkness in his eyes and a phone pressed against the glass. Their secret is no longer a secret.
“She is supposed to get here around 10 o’clock.” Yeji answers her mother and throws a glance at the clock on the wall.
“Well, then she should be here any minute.” Jiheun says as the sound of the knife hitting flat wood continues to fill the kitchen. Yeji remains standing and lets her thoughts fly. It doesn’t take many seconds before the sound of the doorbell echoes through the house.
“Why don’t you open the door?” Jiheun says smiling and ads another bunch of chopped cucumber in the bowl.
Yeji nods and hurries over to the hall. Perhaps a bit too eager she throws the door open, almost hitting Ryujin in the meantime.
“Good morning you too.” Ryujin laughs in surprise and flashes her white teeth. Yeji can’t help but to smile, both from feeling a bit awkward but also from the warmth created withing her heart every time she gets to meet these deep eyes.
“Are you in the midst of your weekend breakfast or something? I see you’re still in your pajamas.” Ryujin says teasingly and buffs Yeji in the side when entering the house.
Yeji can do nothing but to laugh silently, amazed by Ryujin’s ability to remember even the smallest details about her. “No, I have actually not even started my breakfast yet.”
“Really, sleeping in on an important day like this?” Ryujin continues while letting her white sneakers fall to the floor and pushing them closer to the shoe rack.
“I might have, yes.” Yeji crosses her arms.
Ryujin only laughs at her. “Relax.” Then she gets serious, locking Yeji’s gaze before continuing. “Things will turn out fine.”
Yeji nods slowly while processing all the potential interpretations of the sentence. The outfit, the party, their relationship? But sure, everything will turn out fine, she too must believe in that.
When Ryujin has hung up her jacket Yeji proposes that Ryujin will go into the kitchen while Yeji quickly changes into something more appropriate. When finished she hurries down the stairs and joins them in the kitchen. She finds herself smiling a bit too much and sometimes catches a weird glance from her brother. Other than that, nothing weird or unexpectedly happens. When almost everything is finished Jiheun suggests that they go and change into their respective party outfits. Jiheun herself will go dress-up when the others come back. Thus, Yeji leads the way into her bedroom. The silence lays its sheer veil over them when Ryujin closes the door behind her. Yeji finds herself just standing there, in the middle of her tidy room. Ryujin raises her eyebrows and directs a questioning look at her.
“Aren’t you gonna start undressing?” She says it with such a tone that Yeji’s pulse raises and her body starts warming up, reminding her of their previous meetings alone in a bedroom.
“Well-” Yeji starts but gets interrupted.
“You know I can help you, if you like?” Ryujin slowly moves closer, leaving her own bag with clothes on the floor. When Yeji doesn’t say anything Ryujin lets her sleek hands wander over Yeji’s upper body. She pulls off the shirt and un-hooks the bra which both fall to the floor. Carefully, as if dealing with the most precious thing, Ryujin lets her fingers caress Yeji’s breasts. They smoothly wander over the soft skin and reaches the sensitive nipples. A shiver runs through Yeji as her nipples hardens and Yeji can’t help but to moan quietly. The lustful feeling runs wild inside of her and only increases when meeting Ryujin’s teasing gaze.
Unfortunately, it also reminds her of how incredibly dangerous it is to do this right here and right now. Therefore, she quickly takes a step back and doesn’t let Ryujin follow her.
“Not here.” She says in a low voice. Ryujin stares at her for a split second but then nods agreeingly.
“Of course.” Her language is suddenly very formal, just like how she used to speak during the dinners when she was Hanguk’s girlfriend, the way she will have to speak during this party as well to prevent any suspicions from arise.
Ryujin turns around and bends down to pick up her bag. Yeji quickly changes out of her clothes and into the purple knee length dress that her mother wanted her to wear. What else than to fulfill her wish could Yeji do? It’s after all her mother’s birthday, who cares if Yeji feels 25 years older and not really herself in this dress. Or should she have protested?
Yeji lets her thoughts circle around the subject as she put on her black stockings and silver accessories. She has a look at herself in the full body mirror, just the make-up left. She turns around to face Ryujin and explain that she will go and do her make-up in the bathroom when she sees Ryujin struggling with her dress. It has a zip in the back and seems to be stuck.
“Let me help you.” Yeji says smiling and starts walking towards Ryujin who at first laughs quietly and then tilts her head backwards to grunt in frustration. Her blonde hair falls back over the dark green silky dress and almost gets stuck in the zipper. Yeji takes a steady grip on the zipper and has to admit it’s a struggle to smoothly pull it all the way up. It gets stuck at several parts but then finally reaches all the way to the top. The silky material is soft against Yeji’s fingers and embraces Ryujin’s waist, back and chest like a second skin. The fabric highlights Ryujin’s broad hips and Yeji can’t help herself from letting her hands slip over them and find its way down to her butt.
“Hard to keep your hands to yourself?” Ryujin laughs and turns around so that their faces are only centimeters apart. She leans in and steals a wet kiss, taking Yeji off guard. The kiss awakes all the feelings Yeji has been trying to hold back during the whole day. She presses Ryujin tightly against herself and lets her hungry lips meet Ryujin’s. With their bodies intertwined Yeji feels herself leaving the surface of the earth and entering heaven. No one else than Ryujin can take her here, no one. She never wants to let go, wants to always stay this close, it sends her comfort in the confusing and risky world she’s living in.
Then a loud knock on the door breaks through Yeji’s dreamy state. Both she and Ryujin let go of each other and hastily takes a step back. With a rising heartbeat Yeji clears her throat before answering.
“Yes?” She says while throwing a worried glance over at Ryujin who’s standing a meter away from her in her skintight, and for this family, way to short and revealing dress. If any of Yeji’s parents enters they will most likely stare at her in disgust or chock. Please say that Ryujin has yet to finish her look, because that dress will stir up conversations that none of them would like to hear.
The door slowly opens and the unbothered face of Hyunjin is revealed behind it.
“Mom wonders if you are finished soon.” He asks and Yeji’s muscles relaxes.
“We need some more time.” Yeji says and looks at Ryujin who nods agreeingly. Hyunjin shifts his gaze between them and makes a face that is hard to interpret. Did he hear them? Has he spied on them through the keyhole? Does he know what they just did in here?
Yeji quickly throws a fake smile over her face and takes a few steps closer to her brother. “Why don’t you tell mom that we will come down as fast as we can.” She almost pushes him out of the room and he stares at her in confusion.
“Sure.” He says and is not given a chance to add anything because Yeji closes the door in his face. She exhales deeply and leans towards the white door. Ryujin steps up to her and gently takes her by the arm.
“Now sit down.” She says and leads her to the bed. “You seem to be finished anyways so just relax for a bit.”
“But I’m not.” Yeji protests. “I haven’t done my make-up.”
“Aren’t the dress and all that enough?”
Yeji makes big eyes. “It’s my mother’s 50th birthday party and I need to look my very best, then I need to ad make-up.”
“Why?” Ryujin crosses her arms. “Who has said that?”
Yeji stares at her friend in silence. Yeji has no good answer to the question. No one has told her that she needs to use make-up, but that’s what every other woman at the party will do so why shouldn’t she follow their examples?
“My mother would want that.” She finally answers, knowing that the words just uttered are true.
“Yea but why?” Ryujin sighs. “I’m just questioning the silent norms.”
“Perhaps but I don’t. Please don’t make this any harder for me.”
Ryujin gives off an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I just can’t shut my mouth.”
“It’s okay. I’m glad that you are giving me new perspectives, but it also makes everything very confusing.”
Ryujin tilts her head and smiles compassionately. “Understandable, I’m sure you’ll find your own opinions if you only let yourself really listen to others and then reflect on it.”
Yeji nods and raises from her bed, feeling Ryujin’s gaze on her as she leaves for the bathroom. As she opens her bag with make-up and starts applying it the conversation she just had plays on repeat in her head. Make-up is generally about being pretty, isn’t it? Pretty for who? The only one Yeji really cares about finding her pretty is Ryujin, and she was the one who proposed her to go barefaced. Does she really have to use make-up then? Is it even important to be pretty? Isn’t the inside what’s really important?
Yeji sighs heavily and looks at her face in the mirror. The eyebrows are colored, mascara applied and the eyeliner painted. Yeji wishes it weren’t important with looks, but everything in society tells her otherwise. Even her parents tell her so. Why would her mother otherwise wish for Yeji to wear this purple dress? If looks weren’t important then she could just have worn anything. But clothes are also a symbol of group affiliation. Dressing in the same way, in a similar style, can show your loyalty to a certain group. The purple dress is a perfect example of that. Because that exact style, modest yet elegant, is what everyone in her parent’s social circle are wearing. Her parents want her to be like them, but Yeji is not too sure if she shares the same wishes.
After a last glance at herself in the mirror Yeji decides that she is finished with her make-up and leaves the bathroom. When she enters the bedroom again Ryujin’s look is altered. Her arms are now coved by a simple yet elegant cardigan which also hides most of her otherwise very defined curves. Along with the simple earrings and innocent silver hairpins the look is turned down from sexy to elegant. Unlike Yeji, Ryujin doesn’t wear any make-up. Except for that she too has fallen for the pressure form the group. Yeji knows that Ryujin is well aware of what fashion codes there are at this event, and Ryujin doesn’t want to make a scene by dress up oddly. To be honest Yeji is glad for that, because the spotlight is something she wants them to stay out of tonight.
As they declare themselves as finished, they descend the stairs and goes back into the kitchen.
“You look lovely!” Jiheun exclaims when meeting the girls again and a big smile spreads over her face.
“Thank you.” Yeji answers and feels her cheeks heat up over the sudden attention.
“What a wonderful green color.” Jiheun continues and nods towards Ryujin’s dress.
“Indeed, I carefully chose it for this special event.” Ryujin answers and bows while smiling politely. Yeji can almost not hold back the laughter playing inside of her. Ryujin can really be cheesy sometimes. However, her mother seems to appreciate it as her smile is wider and shinier than usual. Yeji wonders if Jiheun would have appreciated it as much if Ryujin wore it without the cardigan, most likely not.
After sharing a few more words Jiheun exits the kitchen to go dress up and thereby leaves Yeji and Ryujin alone in the kitchen. They clean up the rest of the dishes while chit chatting. Yeji is sure to keep a friendship distance to Ryujin, even though it’s a bit hard at times. Especially when her eyes have laid upon Ryujin for a few seconds too long.
After some time the guests start to arrive and are greeted by the men of the house. Yeji stays in the kitchen as she is not too fond of answering the same old questions about school over again. Ryujin stays with her and makes sure that everyone gets to have a bite. Jiheun sometimes checks on them but Ryujin reassures her that she can relax and enjoy her party, Ryujin has it under control. Yeji is sure that her mother is impressed by Ryujin and it warms her heart dearly, even though it also breaks it. Because Jiheun would never allow Yeji to live in a way where this could be the everyday life, where Ryujin could be her life partner.
Yeji can feel the inner lump of sadness make itself heard, slowly raising its voice. No, no sad thoughts are allowed now. She has to be able to keep her facade intact.
In a hasty movement Yeji turns around to start clearing the dishes instead, anything to prevent the thoughts from going in the wrong direction. She earns a wondering and slightly worried glance from Ryujin, which she unfortunately has to ignore. Just the thought of meeting her gaze is enough to push the tears to the edge. She has to remain calm and at least seemingly unaffected by any stronger emotional state. If she wants this play pretend to work she better step up her game.
As they continue working in silence the door leading into the kitchen from the hall suddenly opens. On instinct they both turn around, smilingly, ready to meet another relative or friend of Yeji’s parents. However, their smiles drop when they realize who is standing there. Yeji feels all the warmth run of her and her muscles tenses. They face a tall dark-haired man, dressed in a white shirt and black pants, an outfit seemingly tailored for him. His face radiates confidence and he seems relaxed, almost too relaxed, as if he is pretending. Because there is something lurking behind those dark eyes of his, a blazing storm protected only by a thin wall.
“Good afternoon.” Hanguk says as he enters, leaving the door open behind him. Anyone passing by has a chance of hearing their conversation from now on.
“Good afternoon.” Ryujin answers while looking as calm yet as firm as ever. Yeji only nods as a greeting and doesn’t dare to open her mouth even the slightest.
“It smells good.” He continues and slowly walks towards the kitchen island where Ryujin stands. He softly sweeps with his hand over the compact surface, creating a dry sound. Yeji notices how he quickly eyes Ryujin up and down before opening his mouth again.
“I heard you helped to cook the food.”
“Yes.” Ryujin sweeps her cardigan tighter around her body, thus covering more of her green dress.
“It was delicious.” Hanguk leans towards the stone surface of the counter, on the opposite side from Ryujin. Not once has he shifted his gaze from his ex-girlfriend, treating Yeji as if she isn’t there, as if she is invisible, as if she is nothing more than air.
“I remember you used to cook for me.” Hanguk continues and pierces his ex-girlfriend’s gaze.
“I’ve cooked for many people.” Ryujin answers coldly and this seems to be enough for Hanguk, it didn’t take much to break his fake facade. His friendly smile disappears and gets replaced by those dark and hellbound eyes.
“Perhaps you would like to tell me about those recipes outside?” He makes a weird face, almost as if he is referring to something the Yeji doesn’t understand. Ryujin visibly tenses and when she turns around to face Yeji she fails to hide the slight panic in her eyes.
Should Yeji do something? Interfere perhaps? But Ryujin didn’t make a grimace to communicate any sort of message. Or is Yeji supposed to take those eyes as an answer themselves?
Hanguk raises his eyebrows at Ryujin when she turns her head back around. “I’m sure you’ll realize you just have to make those dishes again.”
“Alright, I’ll tell you about them.” Ryujin answers bluntly without a trace of warmth in her voice. As she leads the way out Hanguk lays a hand on her back. Yeji can just make out how Ryujin pushes the arm away before they disappear from her sight. The sound of the front door opening and closing is heard and thereby Yeji is left alone in the kitchen. Did she make the right choice not insisting on following them? To stay here while Ryujin is left alone with her creepy ex-boyfriend? Should she go out to them?
Just as Yeji is considering leaving the room someone enters from the dining room. Automatically she turns around and smiles friendly and all of a sudden she is occupied with other stuff. When she is finished and once again left alone in the room she barley has the time to think before Ryujin enters again. Her face is pale and her movements stiff and unnatural.
“Are you alright?” Yeji asks worriedly, but Ryujin only waves dismissively with her hand as an answer. “What did he say to you?”
“Nothing, he just wanted to talk about the past.” Ryujin answers without meeting Yeji’s gaze.
“Are you alright? You do seem a bit off.”
“I’m fine.” Ryujin marches towards the sink and shoves down the cutlery and starts washing them. Yeji bites herself in her bottom lip. Something is not right, that’s for sure. This is not like the usual Ryujin.
Then the door into the dining room opens again and Jiheun enters. She explains that most people have finished their meals and that she had gotten many compliments about the food. Ryujin smiles weakly while keeping her eyes at the sink. Yeji steps in and answers all her mother’s questions, still with a lingering feeling of worry in her body.
“Why don’t you come and sit down with us?” Jiheun proposes in a cherish voice, seemingly unaware of the gloomy energy in the room.
Yeji throws a glance over at Ryujin who has finished cleaning the cutlery. “Sure, we’ll join you, right Ryujin?”
Ryujin nods, still without speaking and follows them out into the dining room. Jiheun shows them into the living room where they have moved the sofas and set up extra tables and chairs to make room for more people eating at the same time. When entering Yuna waves at them and Yeji leads the two of them to her table, placed right in front of the TV.
“Hello, where have you been all this time?” Yuna asks curiously and leans closer to whisper in Yeji’s ear. “I’ve been dying here with only elders as company. They either ask me about school or talk about their elderly cramps.”
In the middle of all thoughts regarding Ryujin’s conversation with Hanguk Yeji finds herself smiling at his little sister. They are so different form each other. Yuna is nothing but lovable while her older brother is the exact opposite.
As Yuna lets her mouth run Yeji notices that Ryujin is barley listening, she seems to be deep in her own thoughts. Under the table Yeji touches Ryujin’s feet with hers as a way of asking how she’s doing. At first Ryujin doesn’t even react but then she turns around and smiles surprisingly reliable. When Yuna asks her something she answers politely but doesn’t say more than necessary. However, most of the time she just sits there, staring out into thin air. Just as Yeji is going to ask Ryujin if she wants to take some fresh air, and hopefully sharing the truth about her changed condition, the TV lights up behind them. Yeji turns around in surprise as she sees the sign of a phone connecting to the screen. Immediately she sweeps with her gaze over the room, trying to detect her mother or father. Perhaps it’s time for a slide show of picture to commemorate her mother? But when she finds them, they look just as confused as herself. Then who could it be otherwise?
“Are you okay?” This time it’s Yuna’s turn to ask Ryujin. When turning towards her Yeji notices that Ryujin looks like she is about to throw up.
“Do you need a glass of water?” Yuna continues but doesn’t come any further in her quest to help. Instead they all get distracted by a film that appears on the screen. Plenty of loud gasps and chocking expressions fill the crowded room. When Yeji turns around to face the screen she almost falls of her chair. Her heart breaks and splits into pieces. No, no, no, this can’t be true. Her worst nightmare just came to life, is released from hell, left to freely run the surface of the earth, meeting the eyes of all the people she knows. She is so dead, because on the screen there is a long film clip of her and Ryujin making out on a sofa. Even the part when Ryujin pulls of Yeji’s shirt and throws it to the ground is recorded. The sound of upset voices fills Yeji’s ears and blocks any sane thought from coming through. With a loud noise Ryujin raises from her chair.
“Who’s airing this?” She shouts and sweeps with her arm towards the TV. “Quit it. Now!” Her tone is sharp and voice louder than all people and the video together, thus making her statement very clear. Yet nothing happens, the video is still running in the background. The only difference is that everyone now has their attention directed towards her, comparing the figure standing in front of them with the blond person on the screen. As the people start connecting the two girls their mouths and eyes widens in shock, some faces radiate pure disgust and one person even leaves the room.
“Oh dear.” Yuna gasps and looks in surprise from the TV to her seatmates. She too seems to have realized now. The room is spinning around before Yeji’s eyes. She knew it, she had seen the phone, she could have prevented this. Yet she didn’t. Her weak soul and non-existing gut have put her in the worst position possible.
Still with all eyes upon her Ryujin turns her head towards the door leading out into the hallway. With her hands pressed against the table she seems to be listening to something, breathing heavily. Then, as in a flash, she leaves her spot and rushes towards the door. When exiting she disappears into the hallway.
“How dare you!” Ryujin’s upset voice fills the house and is followed by a loud thud. No one in the living room moves even the slightest, it’s almost as if they have frozen, including Yeji herself. The noise continues from the hallway and is ended by a loud slam, most likely caused by a door. A few seconds follows and then the video on the TV is taken down. An uncomfortable silence lays upon the people in the living room. Yeji has no power to move and therefore remains in the burning hell. Why can’t Ryujin come back soon? She’ll know what to say. She'll be able to clean this mess up, she must be, because Yeji sure doesn’t know how to.
“Yeji?” Jiheun’s trembling voice breaks the silence and Yeji notices how her mom has tears in her eyes. “Is this you, have you really done this?”
The air lays thick as everyone waits for the answer. Yeji is standing in front of the court, alone and exposed she stands in front of the judges. If she confesses there is nothing but a punishment to follow, that much is clear. What the punishment includes however is still unknown, and it frightens her. But what other choice then confessing does she have? Blaming it on video editing? That it’s not her in the video but some look-alike? Besides, lying to them is also lying to herself, and she is done with that now.
Therefore, Yeji nods slowly, causing her mother to gasp loudly. Her father hastily raises from his chair and forcefully presses his hands against the table. With furrowed eyebrows he stares at his only daughter.
“I don’t know what has happened to you. We have seen no indications on a behavior like this before. You used to be a normal girl. Now look what you have done, engaged in unnatural activities like that.” He takes a few seconds to breath and Yeji sees how he physically is trying to hold back his tears. “What happened to you? What made you do this? What is to blame?”
Just then the door from the hall slams open, powerfully enough to hit the wall behind. It creates a sound loud enough for everyone to instinctively direct their gaze towards it.
“I can answer that, mister Hwang.” Hanguk exclaims when bursting in. Over his face there is the smile of a psychopath about to ruin someone’s life. Yeji feels a hand grasping hers and when turning around she notices Yuna staring in fright at her older brother.
“The blonde girl on the video is to blame. Her weird and bizarre ways has spread to your innocent daughter.” He stares at Donjun. What is he saying? Has he gone mad? Ryujin might have been the one who awoke her, but she didn’t plant any seed, she only watered and shined upon the poor soul and made it blossom. How dare Hanguk say something like this? The growing rage is almost strong enough for Yeji to step up and shout back at him. However, her courage fails her and rather pushes her down in the mud, making it impossible to even utter a word.
“It’s true,” Hanguk continues. “And do you know what she just did to me? She jumped me, made me fall on my back, totally unprovoked.”
Totally unprovoked? He could wish that. Yeji is sure that he was the one to showcase the video and that Ryujin only jumped him to stop the video from showing. It was for the good sake of everyone, but where is she now?
Yeji directs her gaze towards the door opening. For some reason she pictures Ryujin coming in, saving the day like a knight in shining armor. Yeji would really need someone to come and slay the evil dragon. However, the doorpost remains empty. Instead Jiheun speaks up.
“My dear, dear daughter. How could this happen to you? Why? What have we done to deserve this?” When uttering the last sentence she raises her head towards the ceiling, as if seeking an answer from a higher power, or just pushing back her tears.
A guest lays a hand on Jiheun’s shoulder and looks at her with a face mixed of compassion and fright. “We will be here for you. I have an acquaintance that work with treating these things. I can give you the phone number.”
“It’s a shame to the family.” Another one says and leans closer to Jiheun. “Be sure to keep an eye on her, it might happen again. One never knows with these people.”
“Indeed,” A third one ads. “They’re sick and doesn’t know what’s best for them. However, some of them can be cured, and live normal lives with a partner of the correct gender. I’m sure that Yeji can change if she gets the right professional help and support from the family.”
The words are attacking Yeji’s ears and the wounds spreads into her already scarred mind. Please someone, something, take her out of here. Take her back to her safe heaven.
“Yeji!” Donjun’s voice overpowers the upset small talk between the guests. “Your mother and I need to speak with you, alone.” He stares at his daughter with eyes filled of mixed emotions, all of them making Yeji feel highly uncomfortable. What is to wait now?
He starts walking towards the hall and Jiheun follows him. Reluctantly Yeji lets go of Yuna’s hand and raises from her chair. With everyone’s gaze upon her she walks in a shameful light out of the room. She can feel Hanguk’s satisfied face following her and his eyes of darkness staring at her without the slightest touch of compassion. In the hallway there is no trace of Ryujin. Where did she go? Yeji could really use her support right now.
The parents lead the way up to their bedroom and closes the door behind them. Donjun orders Yeji to sit down on the bed and so she does, with her gaze locked to the floor.
“That video,” Donjun starts and crosses his arms over his chest. “Do you admit that you were in it?”
Yeji nods slowly, feeling smaller and smaller for each second she spends under the judging gaze of her parents.
“And that other girl,” Jiheun continues. “Was it really, Shin Ryujin?” Her voice is trembling and when Yeji gazes up at her it looks like she is expecting the worst of answers. Yeji nods again. Donjun sighs heavily, shaking his head in disbelief.
“I really thought better of that girl.” He starts, still shaking his head. “She seemed so well-behaved, intelligent and down to earth. I mean, she used to date Hanguk, has she been deceiving us all this time?” He turns to his wife.
She shrugs tiredly. “I don’t know. Perhaps she and Yeji aren’t good for each other. Perhaps the combination of them triggered it?”
“That’s not how it works. Ryujin must have been fooling us all. There must be something wrong in one’s brain to think and act that way she has. You saw it yourself in the video. She took all the initiatives. Our poor Yeji was lead on. We have to keep her away from that disastrous monster.”
Yeji doesn’t want to hear anymore, doesn’t want the hear her parents throw Ryujin’s name in the dirt, stomp on it, crush it with all their might. When doing so they also abuses a piece of Yeji’s heart. Because ever since that first time they spent alone in the kitchen Ryujin has owned a piece of Yeji. Therefore, declaring Ryujin a tasteless unworthy being is also declaring a part of Yeji the same. Only when she has Ryujin by her side she can feel whole, and right now that means she is broken. She needs her other half to function properly, and where she went Yeji has no idea of. All she knows is that she won’t be able to see Ryujin again for a very long time, and it breaks the rest of her heart as well, leaving it trashed in pieces.