#cheritz mysme

[vaestro]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAEYOUNG, SAERAN!

*pops confetti* yay more mystic messenger art! I just couldn’t stop myself from drawing these two precious bois pls QAQ 

[annbourbon]

DON'T READ THE IMAGE UNLESS YOU WANT SPOILERS! THANKS!!

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I've been trying to find Zen and Yoosung errors but I don't have them, yet. Now, this is something I've been thinking for a while after the 606 and 707 theories. What if everyone has one?

Ahh BTW~ I found the numbers from MC girls!!

701 - insufficient memory (means that he was deleted by one of the MC's)

702 - uninstalled

703 - unable to play sound

704 - error due to incorrect install or due to uninstall the app.

So he's basically foreshadowing whoever uninstalled this game. And yes. Player is supposed to be 606 (the one with brown hair) but more info about the MC Girls on The Final Timeline~!

*The image is not mine, I found it on pinterest, alongside with the comment I made. Which I'm erasing RN to add it here~!)

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Also, I'm not an expert, so obviously I can be mistaken. But I've been trying my best to get this info. I've been reading about stuff I don't understand completely so please be kind with me. Thanks.

[mystic-for-love]

Why are you looking THERE in the first place!?

[missmysticwonderland]

You, Me, Us (FINALE)

Mystic Messenger Angst Fic

You, Me, Us: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Es&Es

THE FINALE!!!! Buckle yourselves up, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride!

WARNING:

Spoilerssss!! (although they’re relatively minor)

Trigger warnings

Loooooong chapter!

Everything starts with us.

“WOW!!” was all Saeyoung could say as he fussed around the kitchen, jumping from one dish to the next. “MC, you’re so awesome!!”

You give him a thumbs up after closing the refrigerator and curtsy.

“What is all this noise..?” Saeran groans as he enters the dining room, scratching at his stomach.

He’d just woken up, then. You giggle at his adorable bedhead.

Merry Christmas!! You scream soundlessly, hands spread before the feast you’d prepared this morning.

You’d woken up about four hours ahead of everyone else, and that gave you ample time to prepare food for today.

[I wasn’t really into cooking food last night, so I’m making up for it today.]

Saeran looks at you strangely and cocks his head to the side. “Did you sleep well?”

You nod and grin. [I did.]

A sleepy smile spreads across Saeran’s face as he reads your message. “That’s good then.”

Saeyoung was taking so many pictures, of the food and Byeol whom you had also dressed for the celebration.

“You’re brighter than the Christmas star today, MC!” Saeyoung remarks gleefully as he takes pictures of the cake. “Clouds cleared?”

You stare at him for a moment, before you all but grin at him.

[After our feast]

[There’s something I’d like to tell you guys.]

​Stomachs full and appetites satisfied, the Choi twins sat across you in the living room, one drinking the hot chocolate, the other drinking mixing honey butter chips and... is that doctor pepper in a small bowl.

It was strange, having both their attentions fixed on you, so before you could lose your nerve, you go ahead and tell the Choi twins of your plans.

Saeyoung’s eyes were glowing by the time you finished, his mouth twisted in a way that told you he was trying not to cry.

“I---” His breath catches. “I’m proud of you, MC. You’ve come this far by yourself.”

[I wouldn’t have done this without my boys.] You grin and Saeyoung dissolves into a puddle of happy tears.

Saeran, on the other hand, stayed silent.

That’s strange. You’d thought he’d be who’d immediately come onboard.

“MC,” He begins and you think of thousands of retorts that could possibly convince Saeran. “You’re not doing this because of what I told you last night, did you? I never meant for you to—”

[You were a huge part of it.]

Saeran was not happy with that.

Wrong choice of words, MC, you scold yourself.  

[In a good way!]

[Saeran, I think the words your last night had great impact on my train of thought. But please don’t think it’s your fault if ever everything blows up on my face.]

Again, he wasn’t happy with this.

[Words, no matter how eye-opening they’re meant to be can only work when the person who hears them actually listens.]

His mint-colored eyes meet yours. “I’d like to call you stupid, but you’d just throw a slipper to my face, would you?”

You laugh. [I’d whack your head with it.]

[I want to do this.]

Saeran leans back on his seat. You match his stare for a few more moments before his gaze softens and---

Did Saeran just smile like that?

“Alright then,” He says before he stands and places his cup by the sink. “I’ll drive you there.”

[If I want to become independent, I think I should drive myself]

“Independence is different from stubbornness, Princess.”

[I am a strong independent MC.]

“You are. Frustratingly so.”

Still, Saeran slips on his coat and picks up his keys by the door. “But you also have no car and unless I’m driving, you’re not going anywhere.”

His phone beeps with your reply, but the redhead went on to put on his shoes with no intent of reading your reply.

“Let’s go?” Saeran says, a cheeky grin evident on his face. Byeol follows him outside, your golden retriever rearing to go.

You roll your eyes and stand, slipping on your own coat before picking up Byeol’s leash.

“It’s always cool to watch you two argue,” Saeyoung says around his doctor pepper salad.

You glare at him and he chuckles, hands raised in surrender. “What? I’ve watched a lot of silent films, but your one-sided conversation takes the cake.”

You proceed to take his bag of chips with you as you run for the garage, ignoring Saeyoung’s cries of how that was his last pack for the week.

December 25th

“Yes!!” Yoosung’s voice is muffled by the door, but your heart was beating so fast you didn’t think you’d hear him properly even if the whole house had been open.

The door swings open and the first thing you notice is how tall Yoosung has grown, and how mature his voice sounded.

Well.. The maturity of his voice was taken back when Byeol practically mauls him, sending both to the floor with a shriek from the amethyst-eyed veterinary student.

“What? Whose dog are you?” Yoosung adjusts his reading glasses and immediately scratches behind Byeol’s ear, earning him another lick to the face.

“You’re certainly adorable, but it’s Christmas and the clinic isn’t---” He trails of when he looks up. He is frozen with Byeol nipping at his knit sweater.

“M... C..?” He barely whispers. “MC is that you?”

Despite the booming sounds of your heart thrashing in your chest, you manage a small wave and a smile.

Seconds later, it’s you that’s almost tackled to the ground, Yoosung’s strong arms wrapped around your shoulders. You chuckle silently as when you hear him sniffle.

“You’re okay. You’re okay, you’re here!” Yoosung says through his tears, voice muffled by your scarf. “Oh God, MC you’re here!”

Then he pulls away, hands wiping the stream of tears from his face. “I thought---I thought we were never going to see you again! Zen-hyung told us about your break-up yesterday.”

He told everyone. Your chest is given space to breathe. You’d guessed that he would tell them himself after what he’d done that night, but it was difficult to trust what you knew of him. The Zen you knew was so, so far from what he is now.

The problem was how much he told them, exactly. You could deduce that he hadn’t told them about the Choi twins, because if he had, then the members would have knocked down the door at daylight. But what about your voice?

His teary eyes meet yours and his mouth quivers. “ When Zen-hyung told us you weren’t with him anymore, I was so angry and confused! B-Because if you---if you weren’t with him, then where were you?”

Oh, Yoosung...

You open your mouth, then remember you couldn’t speak. Yoosung misinterprets that and shakes his head, pulling you again into an embrace.

“Please don’t try to hide it from me!” He almost begs, voice unstable with tears.

Releasing a breath, you pat his head, in your mind thanking the Choi twins for helping you be at least somewhat okay with others’ touch again.

You soothe him, smiling a bit to yourself. Yoosung will never change. He will always be honest, pure and compassionate. The baby of the RFA---although he absolutely hates it when someone says that especially if it’s you.

You tap at his shoulder until he releases you and you pull out your phone to type up a message.

[Would you like to spend Christmas with me, Yoosung?]

His eyebrows crunch and he looks at you strangely. “Why are you using that to talk to me?”

You almost giggle at his confused expression. [I promise to tell you everything after today, Yoosung. But until then, will you go along with me?]

Yoosung’s amethyst eyes stares right into your eyes for a few moments before he nods. “Alright. But where to?”

An excited grin you hadn’t meant to do spread across your face as you pull out two amusement park. Amethyst orbs sparkle at the sight of them.

“I’ll take you there, then.” Saeran cuts in, and Yoosung almost falls over himself.

“Saeran! Since when were you there?!” Yoosung exclaims, hastily wiping the tears off his face.

Saeran smirks as he pats Byeol’s head. “I’ve been here since the beginning. Merry Christmas, crybaby.”

Aaah, Saeran why did you have to say it like that?

Yoosung fumes at him, calling him names unbefitting of a graduate student. “Wait. You’re here, meaning you’ve been with MC?”

Saeran’s eyes meet yours over Yoosung’s shoulder and you smile reassuringly.

[Amusement park now, questions later.]

He stares at the message, then at you. A strange look passes over his face before he tells you to come in for a bit while he gets ready.

After dropping the two of you off, Saeran takes Byeol home telling you that Saeyoung will cry if he’s left alone for more than two hours and how annoying it will be to try and comfort him.

The amusement park was packed with families and couples, but being with this cinnamon roll didn’t leave you feeling shy and awkward from the stares you get. Despite himself, Yoosung becomes accustomed to waiting for you to respond via message and actuall enjoys it.

“You’re more animated, MC.” He says after you settle into the ferris wheel.

You give him a questioning look and he flusters, arms waving in front of him.

“I don’t mean it in a bad way!” Yoosung says, scratching his cheek. “It’s just before you completely disappeared, you... looked less alive. Like you’re really tired but you can’t say your tired. When I asked Jaehee-noona about it, she said maybe you were just having a bit of trouble, but...”

You’re honestly surprised. Even Yoosung had seen that? You’d thought he was one of the last to pick up on it.

[I didn’t think anyone noticed.]

Yoosung shook his head. “That was about a year after you started Zen-hyung. He got busy suddenly and was in the chatroom less and you always tried to compensate. I knew something was wrong, because... well.”

V and Rika. You wanted to hug this boy, but you couldn’t very well do that now.

“I think Saeran was the only other one who noticed before I did.”

You look up at Yoosung in surprise. Saeran did?

Yoosung chuckles a bit. “You don’t look like you believe me.”

You wanted to! Saeran had always been the one to support you, but you didn’t imagine that he’d known even then.

“You don’t remember, do you?” He begins. “There was a party with a conflict between guests, because one of them tried to rig the guest list. You were under extreme pressure back then because it’s the biggest party you’ve ever tried to prepare.”

“The group representative of his fanclub brought someone with her and kept saying that she’d told you that she’d bring one more. You insisted that wasn’t possible because you were always strict when it came to fan clubs. It’s a charity group, not a fan gathering.”

“Hyung was defending his fan, telling you that maybe you’d overlooked it because you had so many things to do.” Yoosung leaned back against his seat, lips twisting. “You were adamant, but you also couldn’t find the email correspondence between you two.”

“Then Saeran cut in carrying a whole stack of print-outs, proclaiming that their claim was impossible.”

Ahh, you remember that.

“These are the email correspondences MC has had with all the guests.” He’d barely said anything and both the girls had already paled. They practically squeaked when he cut his eyes to them. “Even the deleted ones.”

Saeyoung had picked up the stack, focused on one page, then almost glared at the girl. “Wow.”

In seconds, the girls apologized and escorted themselves out, but Zen had gone to follow them to apologize. Saeyoung was already laughing even before they were completely outside.

“Did you really recover the deleted emails?” You asked him then and the mint-eyed boy turns to you, and says with a straight face:

“No. That was a bluff.” Jaehee almost fainted.

“Then she didn’t delete anything?” You paled, already knowing Zen would surely blame you for this.

“She did.” Saeran cut through your train of thought. “There was a time when you told us that one of Zen’s fans were kind enough to return your phone to you after lost it. And I thought, you being you, you’d invite her just because she’s nice.”

The memory clicked seconds after that. “Oh my God.”

Saeran sighed heavily and tapped the thick roll of scratch paper over your head.

“Now calm down. You wouldn’t have made such a rookie mistake. Scuffling around and trying to do everything by yourself will just fry your already fried brain cells.”

“There’s Yoosung and Yoosung and Yoosung that would be more than willing to be at your beck and call.”

Pfft, you begin to laugh at the memory of Yoosung’s puppy dog smile.

[Right!!] You tell him. [And after that you followed me around all night, trying to take things off my plate.]

Yoosung burst out in laughter at that. “Yeah! I was really bored, and I was already waiting for a chance to swoop in and save the day!”    

As you laugh, you thought that even then Saeran had been a stable fixture in your life. You’d forgotten that though, because you and Zen had fought the night after the party. You were so distracted too, because two nights before that, you’d noticed something change between the two of you.

Scared and confused, you never got the chance to thank Saeran for it.

I’ll make sure to thank him later, you think.

“Hey, MC.” You look up to see Yoosung smiling slightly, almost sadly. “Would you mind telling me about what happened now..?”

“You smile one moment and frown the next. I’d like to think you’re missing him, but that’s not, is it?”

As the sun sinks and the snow starts to fall, you tell Yoosung:

[Let’s talk over coffee, then?]

December 27th

“Welcome!” You hear Jaehee call. She looks up at the new customer and almost drop the coffee cup she was making. “MC!”

You smile and wave slightly before placing a small card over the counter saying, [I’ll wait for your break! ^^ For the meantime, I’d like the usual please! ---MC] and a

Jaehee reads the card and looks at you like she was torn between tackling you to the ground or serving the next customer who looked like he had bettwe places to be.

You make the decision for her with a wink and walk over to the farthest seat at the back, settling yourself in. You hadn’t seen the shop for a while, after all. The walls were cozy and rustic as it always had been. But now little santas hung from the ceiling, along with twinkling stars.

I should bring coffee home for those two.

Ah, but Saeyoung would probably prefer Dr. Pepper. Saeran despises instant coffee or coffee that’s gone cold for that matter.

You were pulled out of your reverie when a shadow falls over you and you see the always composed Jaehee trembling with tears at the corners of her eyes. Without a word, she embraces you, not caring about the stares the customers gave them.

“It’s been so long! I had no idea what happened to you or why you suddenly disappeared for SIX MONTHS!” Jaehee practically screamed.

Oh no, she’s gone all mama bear on you. If this continues, you’ll be the center of the attention. You had very little problem with that, but Jaehee would mind once she calms down.

[Let’s calm down, okay?]

“Calm down? CALM DOWN? I was the last to see you back then! Mr. Han asked me over and over if you seemed strange, and I was so confused as to what to say!”

[Saeran was the last to see me, actually..?]

“Yes, but he had very little information to offer so Mr. Han made a point to bombard me with questions!”

Saeran had ALL the information to offer, though, but of course you wouldn’t say that.

“Then, Miss MC who ghosted out on us, what have you got to say for yourself?”

[A lot, actually.]

You were typing the next message when Jaehee suddenly pushes the phone out of your face.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” She asks, eyes now calm enough to notice this change. You weren’t sure if that was something to be glad about, however.

You try to raise your phone to reply, but Jaehee keeps it still.

“MC. Do you not want to say anything?” She begins, analytic eyes scanning your face. “Or is it that you can’t?”

You stay silent. Well it’s not like you could do anything otherwise

Guilt swells in your chest when tears line her cheeks. You restrain the urge to apologize, but at this point what else could you say?

Sorry from keeping it from you? Sorry that I lost my voice? Sorry that I let him take my voice?

If you say that, you’d have lost to the darkness again.

“I am so sorry,” Jaehee whispers through her tears. “I am so sorry, I never knew and I never imagined this could happen to you.”

You reach out and wipe the tears from her face like she’s done for you so many times before.

[It’s not your fault. No one was supposed to know. I didn’t want anyone to know.]

Jaehee smiles a bitter smile. “So this is what he meant by breaking you.”

Your breath hitches. [He said that?]

“Mr. Han was not satisfied with his vague answers as to where and how you are. Zen had not explained clearly exactly why you broke up.” Jaehee said, placing her hands over the table. “Saeyoung and Mr. Han got riled up by Zen’s dismissal, so Yoosung and V had to break them all up. Saeyoung had calmed soon after but Mr. Han was another matter.”

“He’d demanded he explain why he let you go.” Jaehee glances at you and looks away soon after. “It was at that point that Zen said that he broke you.”

This was what I wanted to avoid. Conflict and violence never sat well with you.

But closing your eyes and living within the dark can only do so much. You were cursed with silence, but you were not blind.

Your eyes are fine. Time to open them.

[Jaehee, would you like to spend time with me today?]

Jaehee’s brows wrinkle in confusion. That wasn’t a very smooth transition, but neither of you were very good at those.

[We can just talk right here. Then before the day is over, I’ll tell you everything.]

Reluctantly, Jaehee agrees. But only if you treat the both of you to a few more cups of coffee.

December 29th

The office was bustling with so much activity that you were beginning to second-guess your decision to pay Jumin a visit before V. You were starting to message Saeran when a familiar voice calls your name from behind.

“Miss MC?” You turn and come face to face with Jieha, Jumin’s new chief assistant.  

“It is you, isn’t it?” She fusses, struggling to balance the stack of papers and binders. “Mr. Han has been expecting you!”

He what?

“He’d even told the guards to immediately alert him of your arrival, but as you can see...” She trails off, glancing at the array of people going in and out of rooms.

You take half of the towering weight off her hands and walk with her to the desk Jaehee previously occupied.

“You’re nice as ever, Miss MC!” She remarks, fixing her blazer after setting down the papers. You set your stack beside hers before shaking your head and smiling.

“Mr. Han has people inside the office, so I’m not really sure if I should intrude, but...” She trails off again before picking up her clipboard. “But he said alerting him of your presence was top priority so...”

No! You pull at her blazer and shake your head when she turns to you. I’ll wait here with you, you point at the chair by her table.

Jieha only smiles in return. “It’s fine, Miss! I can continue my work after I’ve escorted you to Mr. Han.”

You start to take out your phone, but Jieha was already opening the door to Jumin’s office.

Inside was Jumin, a couple of men in suits, and presumably one of the men’s secretary. They stared at you in surprise when the door opens.

“Mr. Han, Miss MC has arrived.” Is this a movie? A game? An RPG?

Jumin’s expression was neutral, but you could tell he was surprised. He suddenly stands and says: “Assistant Yoon, please escort the gentlemen out and cancel all my meetings for the rest of the day.”

“Sir?” Jieha squeaks, already paling at the oncoming amount of work.

I am so, so sorry Jieha!!

Jumin bids the men in suits good bye. As the door closes behind you, you hear Jumin say, “So the princess has finally decided to appear.”

PLEASE DON’T SAY THAT LIKE YOU’RE SOME LAST BOSS, MR. HAN!

“Are you going to stand there the whole day?” Jumin says, sifting through the papers on his desk.

The intimidating air of Jumin Han chills the room as you draw towards his desk, hesitantly taking a seat across him.

“You’ve been gone for six months and no greeting at all, MC?” He says in his usual, monotone voice as he continues what he’s doing.

You move to take out your phone until Jumin sighs heavily. “I apologize. I should have asked how you were. Outside the chatroom, I never get to see you and I have been so busy before and after the holidays that I never had time to call.”

“Would you like me to tell you of what transpired at the Christmas ball? It was certainly troubling not to have the RFA’s coordinator at the party itself. We had somehow managed to hold fort, but there had been fires that only you could have put out.”

Jumin starts to arrange the papers on his desk and you watch him carefully. You had an idea of what he was talking about, but...

“Ah, yes. Have you eaten? To make up for time lost, would you like to have lunch with me? It’s not too late, and---”

[Jumin.]

The corporate heir halts when he reads what you’ve written on the blank sheet of paper.

[You haven’t looked at me for a while now. Are you alright?]

He seemed to have stopped breathing, his gaze focused downwards. You notice then that his hands were shaking as he held the papers.

You’d known for a long time now that Jumin has difficulty expressing his emotions. When he did, they often caused misunderstandings that Zen and Saeyoung would often prey on.

But Jumin Han was no tin man.

You place your hands over his trembling fingers and peek at him from below. Jumin had on an expression that was unusual for him. He meets your eyes and his onyx eyes seem to glisten. You smile at him before straightening up, leading him to do the same.

[You don’t have to look so guilty, Jumin. None of this was your fault.]

“I should have pushed forward with the investigation. Zen had confessed three days ago that you’d been broken up for a long time now. It did not take much to figure out that he was the reason for your disappearance.” Jumin said, his voice growing more tense and frustrated at every word.

“You were sad and alone for six months, MC. I have the power to at least let you live a comfortable life, and yet I could not help you.”

Oh, Jumin. You remember your conversations with Yoosung and Jaehee. What they said were fundamentally the same, all claiming a fault for something they did not cause.

What good had you ever done to deserve them?

[But I’m right here now, aren’t I?]

Jumin’s stoic expression shatters and you see sadness in his eyes.

“Not for long.”

Your heart thrashes in your chest at Jumin’s knowing gaze.

“After Zen told us of your breakup, he said things about breaking you. At first it was difficult to understand. Hearts do not break even, as far as I have heard, but his... distraught expression told a different story, if not something worse.”

“Jihyun all but dragged him along, but before they’d left, he’d locked eyes with Saeyoung. It was the first time I’d seen Saeyoung look at someone with such contempt. If I didn’t know better, I would say it was hate.”

You close your eyes and remember how Saeyoung looked before he left for the party. He hadn’t wanted to go, either. He and his brother would rather have stayed with you, but Saeyoung knew eitherway would cause conflict and chose the path where he could protect you better. 

The Choi twins held you dearly. What could you ever do to repay them? 

“It did not take long for me to figure out that you were under the Choi twins’ care. For how long, I didn’t know, but at the very least, you were now staying with them. Am I correct on this?”

You nod your head, marveling at Jumin’s professional tone despite traversing a sensitive topic. As expected of a corporate heir.  

“To be honest, I’d almost gone to the Choi residence once I found out. It was two in the morning and Elizabeth the 3rd was upset that I’d woken her by turning on the lights.”

Jumin leaned back on his chair. “A message from Saeyoung arrived immediately after I put Elizabeth the 3rd back to sleep. Wait for her, his message said.”

“But I could not simply wait. I had Jieha investigate on your condition and for the past two contacts you’ve had with the RFA members, there was one thing in common.” His onyx gaze pierces you. “You cannot speak, can you?”

Aah, no wonder neither Jumin nor Jieha asked about why you don’t speak.

[As expected of the corporate heir.] You said, a slight smile on your face. [Saeran could deal with CCTV cameras or satellite pictures, but they couldn’t very well hide me in plain view.]

“How long have you been living this way?”

That’s a loaded question and Jumin seems to have realized it, therefore rephrasing his query.

“When did you lose your voice?”

As you sigh, your stomach rumbles and you place your arms over them as if it could mask the sound.

The first sign of laughter lights Jumin’s eyes and he glances at the clock. “Well, I’m glad your stomach hasn’t lost its vigor.”

He stands, fixing his coat. “A preparatory lunch is in order. Your pattern is to spend the day with us and then... how do you call it? Drop the bum?”

You burst out in a fit of laughter, almost falling back on your chair. You’re barely able to type up a message.

[It’s DROP THE BOMB, Jumin. Oh my God, I missed you.]

Jumin nods. “I see,” he says, nodding to himself again. “And I too, missed you.” 

December 30th

His studio was bigger than you expected. You’d only been here once, when you all banded together to move his things.

The only sound in the room was the melody of brush against paper, the subtle sounds of sloshing paint and the clink of the glass as he sifts through his things. You laugh to yourself as he gets paint on his nose.

“Is it so funny to watch me make a fool of myself, MC?”

You jolt when Jihyun turns, a grin on his lips. The pastel man beckons you closer, but you eye his brush closely.

He laughs, the sound you liked to hear from him. Jihyun had gone through so much, and you were proud of him now that he was pulling his life back together.

“I’m not going to throw paint at you just because you laughed at me. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you after all.” The RFA’s older brother pats the space beside him. “Why don’t we have a chat?”

You glance at his work in progress. “I’ll find some other time to paint, MC. I’ve the rest of my life for that.”

“You, on the other hand, come once in a lifetime. Who knows when you plan to leave us for good.”

You freeze at his statement. The blue-haired man just smiles and pats your head. “What would you like to do, MC?”

You feel your eyes water at his gentle smile. Jihyun has always had this air to him that made you want to tell him everything. He was suspicious and definitely mysterious at first, but in the end all he’d done was for the RFA.

Truly, you were annoyed at his self-sacrificing attitude. He was too nice, too bright, too good for this world. Throughout his journey, he’d learned to love himself, and give greater love to others.

You pluck the pencil from his ear and grab a piece of paper.

[Jihyun, has anyone told you that you’re way too perceptive for your own good?]

Jihyun laughs. “I can think of a few, but you’re the first to actually phrase it that way.”

[You are! You’re like an emotional sponge! I can already see you crying way before I do.]

His smile drops slowly at that. “If only I really were a sponge, MC. If I could take away either of your pains I would.”

Jihyun places a brush in your hand. “But I can’t. The RFA can only do so much for either of you, and for now, I guess this is what I can do.”

[I can’t talk if I paint.]

His smile freezes, before it becomes crestfallen. “I see.”

[Yes, now you can see.] You say, proud of the pun.

Jihyun only chuckles slightly. “I trust you’ll tell me of your plans at the end of the day?”

You head snaps up to meet his gaze. “Jumin called me the last boss when we met last night. Apparently, you’d gone to every other member but Zen and I and spent the day with them before dropping the bomb, as Jumin comically called it.”

You almost burst into a fit of laughter. [What if I tell you he said dropping the BUM yesterday?] 

Jihyun breaks out in laughter. “I can imagine! I can imagine him saying that! Oh dear, Jumin’s been trying to hard to blend into society.”

Grinning, you lift the brush. [Alright, then maybe I should paint that scene.]

“Please do!”

[But is it really alright with you? I came here to spend the day with you, and if I paint, we won’t be talking.]

“It’s more than fine, MC.” Jihyun says, moving your hand so the brush touches the canvas. “Let this speak for you.”

Jihyun painted with you. He laughed with you when you made strange strokes, or when you couldn’t get the color right. He frowned with you when you couldn’t figure out what to do next. He exchanged thoughts with you---nothing profound, just small bits and pieces of your lives you hadn’t shared before.

Jihyun also cried with you when you told him about your story. He wept with you until both the canvas and your tears had dried. By the time either of you exited that small bubble, the sun had already sunk.

“I’ll come visit you sometime.” He says as he walks you to the garage.

[Please do.] You tell him, pulling your hood over your head.

“You’ll be seeing him next, won’t you?”

A small smile spreads over your lips. You’re aware that it quivers, out of fear or doubt or both. You will be doing what’s best for you. It’s high time for you to, but you were scared. And you realize you will always be scared.

So you just had to be braver everyday.

Jihyun’s gaze softens. “You know, MC. I’ve always thought you resembled the moon.”

You cock your head to the side in confusion.

“Gentle, kind, watchful. You were able to come this far and help so many people because you not only lead them to where it’s warm and bright. You also understand what it means to be in the dark.” Jihyun pats your head, glancing behind you as taillights illuminate the driveway.

“Just as the moon does, you wax and wane. And you are never to be blamed for it.”

Emotions overflowing, you tackle Jihyun with an embrace that he returned in kind. “The RFA will welcome you back any time, MC.”

You nod franctically, tears free falling.

“If you keep crying like that, your tears will freeze over.” You hear Saeran say.

Jihyun chuckles. “Happy New Year, Saeran.”

“Happy New Year, Jihyun.” Saeran says, a smile in his voice. “I’m still not used to calling you that.”

“You’ll have plenty of times to practice once I settle back here.” Jihyun replies, looking down at you. “Let’s all see each other then.”

You nod, letting go of Jihyun. Saeran shakes hands with Jihyun and says a few words before following you to the car.

“I’d like to see it someday!” Jihyun calls just as you’re about to close the door. “The moon in full bloom.”

As you drive away, Jihyun keeps his eyes in the sky, watching for the moon that’s yet to appear. But then again, against the backdrop of black, that last smile you’d made was more than enough.

December 31st

“MC.” Saeran calls, and you barely see him from the blackening corners of your sight. “You’re okay?”

You think you nod as he approaches and kneels before you. 

You were hiding. Again. You thought you were better than this---that after replaying the story over and over again, you were going to be fine facing the real thing. 

[I was only half-serious when I asked him to talk. He was supposed to be on a vacation now that his leg is healed!!]

Saeran stares at you, scanning your eyes. “No one is forcing you to do this.”

That’s true. You’d talked it over with all of the members, making sure that things were relatively better before you left. You didn’t have to talk to him and risk getting worse than you were a month ago. 

But progress is never without risk.

Your fists clench over your lap and you meet Saeran’s gaze. He smiles slightly before patting your head. .

“Just say your piece.” He says as he stands and holds his hands out for you. “Your words are yours.”

Breathe, you tell yourself. You inhale, the sweet scent of pancakes, Byeol’s watermelon shampoo, and Saeran’s cologne bringing you so much comfort you end up smiling.

The scent of the Choi household. 

Saeran opens the for you and there Saeyoung is, a quirky smile on his face. 

“Five clicks!” You giggle because this is the nth time he’s told you that. 

You nod and he ruffles your hair before standing aside, allowing you to enter the living room where Zen sat. 

“MC.” He whispers your name and you’re reminded of the ghost in your nightmares, the man with thunder for voice and hatred for eyes. 

Just say your piece, you remember Saeran to say. Your words are yours.

And before they are soundless, they are free.

[Hello, Zen. Thank you for coming.]

“MC.” He whispers, his ruby eyes already glistening. “Even if I were on the other side of the world, I’d have come for you.”

And he would. He would run if he had to. 

Silence befalls either of you and he could feel your anxiety. You fidgeted, teeth worrying your lips. 

You did this to her, Zen. You did this all to her.

[Please don’t stare at me with a face like that.] He reads from his phone and he winces. 

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

You just nod. Silence is all there is between you two until her golden retriever jumps onto the couch and settles beside you. The dog is wary of him, but you immediately get him to calm. 

[I heard Byeol bit you.]

Heard. You were so far into your head back then that you didn’t remember?

Unbearable guilt and self-hatred floods him. He’d gone so long without drinking. When he heard that you wouldn’t be coming to the party, he’d felt so angry at everything and took it out on alcohol. 

[There it is again.]

His forehead wrinkles in confusion. When he looks up at you---really looks at you, he sees something different in your eyes. Something he feels like he hadn’t seen in a long, long time. 

You were still trembling, still holding onto your pet like he was what kept you grounded, but there was steel in your eyes, something that was formed after you broke, or something he was never able to break. 

[I didn’t ask you to come here so we could guilt-trip each other, Zen.]

So why..? 

[I’m leaving the RFA.]

“No.” Zen says immediately, his voice harder than he intended. A growl build’s in within the dog’s chest, but you were quick to soothe him. 

“I mean,” He breathes, running his palm over his face. “MC, if anyone should leave, then it should be me.” 

You shake your head at him, but your expression tells him you’d expected this kind of response. 

[If you leave, more conflict will arise.]

[I’ve already talked to the members and I suppose after tonight, Jihyun would hold a meeting for you to talk about this.]

“I don’t care what they say. An RFA without you is---”

[There was an RFA before me, and there will be an RFA after me.] Your eyes are steady as you hold his stare.

[This are things we will never again be able to face together. So please, don’t run away.]

Your words burn his insides because they’re all true. That night at the Christmas party, he’d thought to scream into everyone’s face that he was going to quit. 

And then what? 

If he quit, he’d live life that’s black and white. He’d talk to Yoosung or Saeyoung sometimes, see Jaehee at his concert from time to time. 

What about you? You didn’t have such luxury. Cutting ties wouldn’t bring your voice back, shoving the skeletons in a dusty old closet wouldn’t pull you out of the dark. 

“Can you at least tell me why you’re quitting?” Zen whispers harshly, unable to meet your eyes. 

You decide not to tell him about that night. You did not bring him here to push guilt upon him. That night was the product of both your mistakes. You did not decide to reappear to ruminate on what’s passed. 

You came here to move forward.

[My condition requires full observation. During the course of my treatment, I will have to be admitted as an in-patient.]

Dread paints Zen’s face white, and despite yourself, you want to soothe him. He too, had been through so much. Hearts do not break even, but they are broken either way. 

[I don’t know what it means now, either.] 

Confusion is evident on his face and you offer a small smile. [What us means.]

We never should have lost our yous and mes. 

I was terrified. But more than that, I guess I was angry. You were pulling away from me. Your gaze grew cold, your kisses short, your words less 

We were breaking apart. Our definitions of what we should be were beginning to fracture, until we... finally broke. 

“I broke us, MC.”

You shake your head, meeting his eyes. For the first time since that night, yo see him for what he is now. Tired, confused and terrified---like you. 

[We broke ourselves, Zen.] 

[Neither of us knew what it was to really love. We had this illusion that it was unabashed and invincible, that together there was nothing else that mattered.] 

[You said once that we were mirrors that reflected one another.] Zen winces, but covers it up as he runs a palm over his face. 

[But Zen, somewhere in between, we were no longer reflected each other. How could we when we’d fooled ourselves into thinking we were one?]

[So when cracks appeared, it was beyond terrifying and we tried to get it back.] Zen’s eyes cast downwards, his arms leaning over his knees. 

[We were wrong. That time when a line was drawn between you and me, neither of us should have fought it.] You let out a sardonic smile. [We never should even have forgotten it.]

Outside, snow starts to fall again. You watch it pile, the white an excellent backdrop for the memories that flit through your minds---moments of the worst and the best. 

[There’s a reason why people say you, me, and us.] 

[What is yours, what is mine and what is ours were different things and should have stayed so, because if any one of them were lost, then so will we.] 

And so we have. 

Something wet trails over your cheeks, and it’s cold over your warm cheeks. 

“You loved us enough for the both of us,” Zen whispers, eyes red outlined with trickling silver. “I never loved you enough.” 

A small, bitter smile spreads over your lips as you wipe your tears aside. 

[We couldn’t make it.]

Zen’s chest constricts at your words as he hungs his head in shame. 

I’m so sorry that we couldn’t make it, both of you want to say. 

He hears you sniffle and he looks up to see you falling apart before him. His chest burns and aches and in time he too breaks.

But it was love just the same.

“I love you, MC.” Was all he can say, over and over and over. He wishes his words could mend you back together.

His words were what broke you---could his words fix you? 

You continue to cry, but for every rupture of tears, the more he feels that your tears were no longer of pain and suffering---but tears for what was and what could have been.

You mourn for the things that could have been change and for the things that will always be the same. You mourn for him, for you, and for that worn out thread that held you together.

You are taking your first step forward and Zen’s lips quiver into a sardonic smile through his tears. 

You were strong enough, unlike him. 

Aah, I can never win.

Mirrors are shattered, beaten and melted before it’s made whole again, and Zen would do anything---give anything to see you whole again.

So with hands shaking, heart breaking, tears building, Zen takes his first step. 

“MC.” He calls and you look up to him, your beautiful eyes swimming in tears. “Let’s break up.”

Your eyes widen and it pierces his soul. What would you say, what would you do? Would you slap him, hate him for the rest of your life, or will you...

He takes his first breath of sunshine when you smile. It is bright, warm and beautiful---the smile you’d always given him and taken for granted. 

This is his first step, and you knew. You always somehow knew. He still believed he was what broke you and still you smile, fulling the unknown cracks in his heart.  

His sun, his moon, his stars. MC, the angel of his life. 

I love you, he says in his mind. I love you and I always will love you. He does not deserve to say it again, so he doesn’t. He returns your smile instead. 

You nod your head, wiping the tears from your face. He’d hoped you’d speak, that he’d hear your voice once again, even for the last time. 

But this was reality. 

There would be no sunlight that would break through this darkness, no magic to bring back your voice, no thread that tied your fingers together and guaranteed things like forever.

What was done had been done, and the wounds were still too deep.

Goodbye, Zen. Your lips shape his name, and even without your voice, it soothes him. 

How could I never have treasured you? Zen wanted to say, but resorts to stand instead. 

“Goodbye, MC.” 

New Year’s Eve

“Aaah, It’s freezing.” Saeyoung screams into the black expanse of sky that stretches over the hilltop.

“Shut up, stupid brother.” Says Saeran as he follows behind him, breath white. 

“Why? Talking gives warmth, I think.”

“No it doesn’t in a place like this. It’s just annoying.”

“Saeran, it’s New Year’s Eve, if you start the year being annoyed with me, the rest of the year will follow!”

“I will be annoyed even after I’m dead.”

You watch the twins’ exchange from your seat---a makeshift bench the twins had made under the tree. 

You watch them fondly, how Saeyoung’s glasses fog from his breath and how---despite his complaints, there’s a smirk on Saeran’s face every time Saeyoung retorts. 

I’ll miss you so much. You mouth knowing they can’t see. 

“Did you say something, MC?” The twins ask simultaneously as they turn back to you.

Oh wow. [Are you psychics now too?] 

Saeyoung cackles, sticking his nose in the air. “I’m the defender of justice!”

“That’s got nothing to do with this.”

[Heroes have superpowers don’t they?]

“Oho!” Saeyoung’s eyes glimmer. “Lady MC agrees with thee!”

“She’s just humoring you.” Saeran says, rolling his eyes. “Anyway. What was it you were saying?”

You grin instead. [I was asking whose bright idea it was to go all the way up here in the middle of winter.]

The twins exchange looks, then grin at you. “This place has the best view.”

As if on cue, the vast blanket of black is specked with color and bright lights. Colors explode against the sky and shimmer against the dark, each one burning brighter than the next. 

“We figured there wouldn’t be a lot of stars on winter nights.” Saeyoung says.“It was Saeran’s bright idea to watch the fireworks from here instead.”

Your eyes fall on Saeran’s back. His eyes are fixated on the sky, but his ears were red. His silhouette is colored by green, blue, orange and yellow as the beautiful fire flowers line the sky.

You glance at Saeyoung, who grins at you with the same plan in mind. 

As the clock strikes twelve and the new year begins, you and Saeyoung tackle Saeran to the ground, the biggest and brightest fire flower spreading across the sky above you. 

Laughter echoes over the small, small hill and there you are in between---for once the tears in your eyes brought on by something far from grief. 

Thank you, you mouth. Thank you. 

For ending my year with a smile, and beginning the new one with laughter. 

Thank you.

January 1st

“Do you have everything?” Saeran asks as he watches one of Jumin’s bodyguards load your things into the back of the car. 

You nod, smiling because it’s the seventh time he’s asked that today. 

“I still can’t believe the facility is that far.” Saeyoung says, a pout on his face. “It’s almost in the middle of nowhere.”

That’s true. But when Jumin struck a deal after you’d rejected his offer of having the best therapist attend to you, you couldn’t not accept it. He’d asked you what your ideal environment was and he’d make it happen. 

Please. He’d almost whispered when you almost rejected the idea again. Let me at least give you this.

And so you did.

Saeran, who’s obviously also miffed almost glares at the black car. “I want to drive you there.”

This makes the tenth time he’s said that. Saeyoung said it five times, too. 

[It’s too far. If you drive me, you won’t make it back in time for your afternoon shift.] 

Then you turn to Saeyoung. [And Vanderwood will be visiting by that time too.]

“They can wait.” The twins say simultaneously, hands crossed over their chests. 

You laugh silently at your sweet tomatoes. 

[No, they can’t.]

“We’re ready, Miss MC.” Joon, one of the bodyguards, tells you. Byeol barks, his head sticking out of the window, obviously rearing to go.  

He returns to the car after you ask for five more minutes to talk it out with your boys. 

[Well, then. I guess this is temporary goodbye.] 

Saeyoung finally tears up and swallows you in a bear hug. “On second thought, you don’t have to go. You can just stay here with us you can---”

You pinch his armpits before he starts bawling like a kid the way he did last night after you’d come home from the hill.

[I need to stand up on my own again. This time, with no crutches.]

Saeyoung still cries and embraces you tightly. “Don’t forget me, okay?”

You laugh silently. [Impossible.]

With a final grin, Saeyoung runs over to the car, to Byeol who was waiting for him to come. 

You’re left with Saeran, who was strangely silent with his hands in his pockets. 

You begin to type a message about how thankful you are that he’d come for you when he says:

“If you’re going to thank me, I don’t need it.”

You give him the stink-eye. [That’s not very nice. You should just say ‘ you’re welcome ’.]

Saeran stares at his phone, and you smile. He’s not very good with goodbyes and you don’t think you were either.

[Saeran.]

As he looks up from his phone, you barrel into him. Your arms circle around his middle and you bury your face in his heat. 

“MC?” He asks, voice unsure and maybe a bit embarrassed. 

You inhale the his scent that reminded you of that small, white garden he kept. You figure out now that Saeran smelled like spring, and your chest feels strange at the idea of not being able see his flowers bloom this year. 

A few moments later, Saeran returns the embrace, his warmth enveloping you. You could just imagine his face and his red ears and you laugh. 

He freezes one moment, then relaxes the next. “You shouldn’t laugh at other people, you know.”

You laugh again, because he’s strange. You pull away from him, and the cold winter air assaults you. Saeran’s expression made you think he thought the same way.

“Can I come visit you?” He blurts out, cheeks and ears red. 

He watches your face so carefully that you smile. 

He’s caught off guard, forcing himself to shove his hands back into his coat pockets. “No. I will come visit you.”

​[Forceful, aren’t we?] 

Saeran chuckles and he says something under his breath. 

“MC! Joon says you have to go!” Saeyoung cuts in, waving the two of you over. 

As you get into the car, Saeran pats Byeol’s head. “Take care of her, big boy. We’ll leaving her to you.”

With a final smile, Saeran closes the door behind you and Joon starts the car. 

The twins watch the car drive away, staying by the driveway until you’re out of sight. As they enter the house, Saeyoung announces that Saeran has to go and eat the salad you’d made him before it goes bad and rushes to the kitchen. 

Saeran, in turn, takes his time taking off his boots until he receives a message: 

[I’ll always be in the mood for ice cream on Sundays.]

Saeyoung had to run back to the door to check on what fell to see Saeran on the ground after he’s knocked over the shoe rack, an arm over his reddened face. 

Meanwhile, you’re in the car, smiling at Byeol who’s warm and content beside you. Joon turns on the heater, and some music to calm you, and you smile at him in thanks. 

The familiar scene blurs as you leave your place of comfort, thrust into a world of unknown again. 

This time, though you were determined to be strong enough. You were no longer so lost, so broken that you were terrified of even taking a step. 

As you close your eyes then and dream, you see yourself soaked in darkness. She is devastated---the you who’d found that even you didn’t know what us meant anymore. 

“Hey!” You call out to her.

She stares at you with hallowed eyes and tear-stained cheeks. You take her trembling hands in yours and smile. 

“From now on it’s you and me.” 

“And everything starts with us.”

A/N: Hey hey hey!!!! >o< 

It is finished! At last~

If you’re the type that’s satisfied with this ending, then I recommend that you stop here. On the other hand, if you’re the type that’s super hungry for more juicy details and back stories, then click on the E’s&E’s link at the top! 

I’m so thankful to you guys that read You, Me, Us ‘til the end. To be honest, it’s the first ever story that I was able to finish, and this feeling is AWESOME!! 

As I’ve said in my previous post, the Es&Es will be available tomorrow night, as a bonus for waiting so long! 

Feel free to message me for questions and feedback, guys!! I love you all <3

[theturquoisereflection]

It's the year 2017. Cheritz had been silent about any new contents for MysMe for the past few months. But they have dropped the bomb at the most unexpected time of everyone's lives. The Mystic Messenger fandom has once again awaken from slumber. It's time we finally see. The sun, as well as the future, has never been so bright.

[vaestro]

VANDERWOOD

It's been 3 years since my last mystic messenger fanart, feels good to draw one of my favourite characters again.

I saw the new official CG featuring Saeyoung and MC, posted by Cheritz a couple of days ago and it's gorgeous (MY BOI IS ALL GROWN UP OMG) BUT what caught my attention the most? The leopard print present and the plate of rainbow doughnuts.

*Slams fist on table while sobbing*  Vanderwood gave Saeyoung a present and baked the doughnuts, u can't change my mind.

[vaestro]

“I miss you so much… If only I could see you again…I’m sorry.”

I decided to draw something real quick for Saeran, a.k.a Ray. V route is one emotional rollercoaster and I wanna protect BOTH Saeran and V right now ughhhh.

Anyways! Yes! I decided to step out of my comfort zone and played with lightings this time. I experimented with various other coloring methods as well and I had fun! :> Will definitely try out more new things in the future! 

[mystic-for-love]

Real life footage of me and my wife in our coffee shop ❤