Crucify My Love •§• Chaerin&Jieun
“Oh darling not even in the least bit.” It was her turn to smile, a soft chuckling leaving her lips as she shook her head and leaned back in the seat she’d taken. “You two were the very last ones I wanted to tell for fear…” her voice hesitated for a moment as she drew her knees to her chest wrapping her arms around them. “Fear you would be as afraid of me as those in the heavens had become. I was the same person, the same Jieun, just physically different you know? And you two were already still so connected to that home in ways I hadn’t been in years. If you hadn’t found me practically dead I think I would have kept it quiet until you saw by fluke like I did.” That had been how many of her friends had found out her secret.
Chae came closer and she reached out to brush a bit of hair from the girls face before she gently patted her cheek. “You chose to be angry just like he chose to not forgive you.” She could completely understand the others anger, she had so much anger in herself still when it came to the changes she had gone through.
Her head gave a shake, eyes rolling to look at the same ceiling Chae had just been studying, it was beautiful, a lie as to what heaven was really like but still beautiful. “We’re angels Chae, we’re not supposed to have livelihood outside of saving souls, bringing those who can be away from the dark and not failing ourselves. We’re told to blend in with the humans in any way possible BUT do not become them and sin like them. We’re told to give grace and yet we’re shown no mercy, told to be compassionate and yet cast aside like dirty rags.”
Pinning her gaze on Chaerin she pursed her lips before asking a question she had to know. “If he were to forgive you right this very second, could you truly return back to that place knowing you’re nothing more than a number amidst millions of others waiting to fill your place?”
It was kind of amazing how strong Jieun was. Or at least how strong she seemed to be. She’d taken control of her life, made it truly her life, lived outside the home she’d known for so long that she hadn’t minded the risk of running back upstairs to grab back her wings. Now that Chaerin was in a similar position, she felt completely able to identify with Jieun in a way she hadn’t thought to try before. She could remember Jieun, lying in the ground with all the blood and broken ribs. Taeyeon worriedly working with herself to get Jieun up to her room to care for her. A comment made in the present brought the memories to a quick end, Chaerin looking over at her partner-in-crime with a somewhat judgy look. “You should have known we wouldn’t care about that. You were always our friend, no matter what.” Chaerin looked away then, her voice dropping slightly. “Then again, I’ve been worried about it too. What would you guys think of me, guardian Chae, going rouge after all that effort to repent? Jieun, you might be the same person, but I’m not sure I am. There’s a darkness inside me, and it washes away my morals like I never had them.”
It was a comforting gesture to feel the dark angel’s warm hand pull through her hair and rest on her cheek for the few seconds that it did. Comforting, but she still felt horribly confused and conflicted. It all came down to choices. She chose to be angry, God chose to be unforgiving, she chose to find love twice...
“It’s an unfair standard. Making us defend humanity without being allowed to participate in it ourselves. And the saddest thing is that most of us will never know any better because we don’t leave heaven too often. We’re all blind.” Chaerin let out a hollow laugh that might have echoed around the little chapel had it been loud enough. “No wonder demons laugh at us. No wonder Ruki tried so hard to force me to see beyond the gate.” The question that Jieun had posed left a bitter taste on the tongue even before she could answer. It was an easy answer, and one that she couldn’t say quick enough. “Of course not. I’ve served Him well, and I don’t have any regrets about that. But I’d never want to return if it meant pretending that I never experienced living. Returning would mean turning my back on you, and people I’ve loved. I never want to be the one who abandons the people I care about, even if they leave me first.”
@leejieun-ia










