I saw him hesitate again, his gaze flicking back toward Jiwon, who was skating further ahead, laughing like the world didn’t exist.
“Yeah,” he muttered. “But she’s too inexperienced to be out here, Yesoh too.”
Jiwon’s laughter echoed in the night air, a sound that made everything feel light and easy. She was always like that—her joy unburdened by the heaviness of life, her innocence a shield against the worries of the world.
Sydney and Jax were already racing around, their competitive spirits taking over as they tried to outdo each other with spins and tight turns. Beck, as usual, was showing off, performing quick, smooth movements that made her look effortless.
“I’m faster than you!” Jax called to Sydney, skating backward in a reckless attempt to challenge her.
“I don’t think you are,” Sydney called back, laughing, but there was a competitive edge in her voice.
“Come on, slowpoke,” Beck teased, gliding past them effortlessly. She was skating with such grace that it looked like she was floating.
But Jiwon? Jiwon was the true center of it all. She didn’t care about being fast or graceful. She was just there, enjoying the simple joy of gliding across the ice, her small frame wobbling but her heart full of joy.
“Catch me, Wyn!” she shouted over her shoulder, laughing as she sped ahead of him.
Wyn hesitated, then pushed forward with a small sigh. “You’re going to fall if you keep that up, Jiwon,” he called after her, his voice more concerned than amused.
I saw her slow down, glancing back at him. “You’re too slow, Wyn! Catch me if you can!”
“Careful,” he called, but his voice was a mixture of concern and something else. It was a warning he couldn’t shake.
I watched as she darted ahead again, her arms outstretched as if the wind could hold her up, making her laugh louder. And though I couldn’t shake the unease in the back of my mind, I didn’t stop her. None of us did.
We skated for hours, weaving in and out of the dark expanse of the lake, our laughter ringing in the cold night. The ice beneath us was mostly solid, though I noticed the edges were beginning to look darker, as if the weight of the world was beginning to settle into the cracks. But no one seemed to notice—no one but Wyn.
He stayed close, his gaze flicking nervously over his shoulder as he kept an eye on Jiwon. I knew it was his protective nature, but I also knew that he couldn’t keep her safe forever. We all had to learn the risks eventually.
“Wyn, relax!” I called out to him as I passed. “We’re fine. Nothing’s going to happen.”
His face remained tight, but he said nothing. He skated after Jiwon, keeping a close distance, as if he were trying to catch up but also keep her in sight at the same time.
“Hey!” Bae called out, “What’s that around your neck?”
“Oh, it’s nothing I—” Jiwon quipped, tucking the locket into her sweater.
“Is that…” Beck contemplated, narrowing her eyes.
“Mum’s necklace…” Wynter finished her sentence.
“Dad said that necklace would be mine after graduation,” Bae complained, her eyes swimming with hurt. “You already have Mum’s yearbook, the necklace was supposed to be mine.”
“Bae, stop being so childish. It’s not yours. Dad only said that to get you to lay off,” Jiwon protested. “Grow up.”
“You can’t just call me childish whenever you do something wrong and I call you out on it.” Bae fought tears brimming in her eyes.
“Okay enough, you’re both getting far too angry,” Beck attempted to intervene.
“Or maybe I’m calling you childish because the necklace isn’t yours, and you’re already throwing a tantrum over it.” Jiwon folded her arms. “I just wanted a piece of her.”
“She left us. I don’t necessarily think either of you should be fighting over her belongings,” Wynter deadpanned.
The mother wound was deeply engrained within the Kwon siblings, forever raw, forever vulnerable, incurable and rotting.
“Take it off,” Bae directed.
“What? No are you crazy I’m not—” Jiwon refuted, and Bae strode forward, Jiwon inching back further onto the centre of the frozen lake. Bae leapt forward, tugging at the locket on her sister’s neck till it snapped off, throwing Jiwon off balance.
