Purple Scent

Ch. 3: Supplies and Surprise

"I don’t think we need to talk about anything, Heeshik.", I said and was about to go back at Yul's monster truck when he held my wrist, making me halt. I stared at him and waited for him to say anything.

He looked at the ground to his right, "But you need to know something.", Heeshik said and let go of me. He looked me in the eyes that seemed to say I needed to hear anything he had to say. I was about to reply when I heard a thump on the ground behind me. I looked behind to see Yul had jumped from the monster truck, his face obviously looked like he just woke up.

"You okay, Geuhan?", he asked, concerned. He eyed Heeshik and other guys he was with and glanced back to my eyes. Jaewook followed suit and was rather surprised to see one of Heeshik's company.

"Oh? Yowoo!", he said excitedly and ran towards Yowoo to give him a hug, patting each other's back with grins etched on their lips.

"Jaewook, long time no see. I didn't know I would see you around at time like this." Yowoo said staring up at Jaewook, who looked taller than him.

"You know him, Jaewook?", I asked him. I know it looked obvious, but I still wanted to ask. He nodded and patted the smaller boy, Yowoo. I never expected such an encounter. Anyways, I wouldn't know since I just met these two idiots last night. I just had to believe.

He nodded once more softly and gently, "Yeah, we're high school friends. We were on the same basketball team.", he explained while he kept his grin plastered on his lips. They must be that close. I nodded.

"So, it's not just us who knew each other. May we come?", Heeshik asked, more like, pleaded. I thought about it for a second. Thinking about the past, being my research partner for some long time was enough reason to him come, and adding some chicks under his wings wouldn’t be bad, wouldn’t it? Besides, my place is just wide enough for them to fill in. I looked at Coco who's just behaved on my arm, waging his tail when he had eye contact with anyone.

I sighed and nodded, "Well, I guess you may stay for a while.", I said and looked at Yul and Jaewook. A second passed and I already regret what I said. If it really weren’t for the thing Heeshik had to talk with me, and for Coco.

"But before that, we'll be needing to head at the city proper to get some supplies—foods, blankets, clothes as much as we could.", I said, which made their heads turn towards me with hesitance and interest sparkling in their eyes.

"But that place...it's where the Harpies were mainly infested, right?", Hyunki asked, a kid with eyes of different eyelids. One of his eyelids were monolid and the other was double-eyelid. It's actually amusing and attractive. But he looked too young. I wasn’t sure not sure about his name, it's what I remember Heeshik told earlier.

I nodded, "I'm giving you all as a bait.", I joked, which made them wide their eyes and looked like me like I was speaking something ridiculous. Joking every now and then should be good at times, just to dismiss all the seriousness that's just too intimidating.

Heeshik laughed slightly at me, "Don't scare the kids.", he rebuked.

"You all knew I was just kidding. And they probably won’t be around at this time. They go around sunset and a hundred percent nocturnal. They should be.", I assured. They couldn't seem to buy that⁠—more like they didn't  know about it. I looked at Heeshik, "You didn't tell them, did you?", I asked.

He just shrugged, "I thought they knew.", he said. I shook my head in disbelief. He's been with them for over two years yet he's not orienting them about the harpies? This guy, really. I shook my head in disbelief.

"You always orient people, what happened to you?" I teased and he just shrugged again. I sighed, " Anyways, follow me, okay? We should go there with the same route so it won't result any problem.", I said, which was a cue for them to get back inside their van. I gently handed Coco on Yul's hands.

"I'm planning to let you two stay, but I guess I should let them, too, for the meantime. Heeshik and I have matters to talk about.", I sighed and shook my head thinking about new responsibility. Why did I even have to explain that? It's my decision. "Why am I even saying this to you?" I murmured and about to step into the monster truck when he spoke.

"Should we just stay on that house across your place?", I shot him a look and shook my head before I jumped only to flick his forehead with all my finger's might.

"Dumb. And then, what? Cause another problem?", I asked him and finally stepped inside. He childishly pouted before he followed me inside, I didn’t even notice Jaewook had already went inside. "I'm not gonna let you cause another mess. I'm keeping my eyes on you two." I said and made that gesture with my fingers from my eyes to them. I pulled the strap of the seat belt and couldn’t seem to buckle it.

I grunted, "Why is this so hard to buckle?"  whispered. I was having trouble with buckling the stupid seat belt.

I heard Yul sigh like I was so hopelessly weak and leaned closer to buckle the seat belt for me. Looking at his face so close, I was taken aback I had stopped breathing for a while. I barely noticed the twinkling mole on his cheek because of his almost animatedly shimmering eyes. He noticed I was looking at him so he just smiled cutely and winked. Didn't know this guy was a flirt, or he was just trying to.

"Ew, what was that?", I grimaced at his attempt, but I admit it stirred my heartbeat for a second.

Guanlin probably saw what his brother did so he explained on his older brother’s behalf, "Forgive my brother, it's one part of his bucket list.", he teased. Yul threw a glare at him and just laughed.

"I love messing around with girls.", he revealed and smiled at me. I rolled my eyes at him and started driving.

"But you wouldn't want messing around with me. So shut up before I let Harpies eat you later.", I joked and he pursed his lips. I laughed to myself.

It's been so long since I had laughed and I’ve never felt so alive again.

---

Arriving at the city proper, with establishments scattered around the place, I took my crossbow and slung the bin—filled with crossbow bolts—around me. There should still be some stuffs left on the stalls. Enough to sustain our needs. Last time I stopped by to get myself some stuffs, it had still plenty.

Heeshik brought a lot of weapons that can be used, such as swords and bows that was his collection. He didn't even allow me to touch any of those. I didn't know a day would come his collection will be of use. He brought some crossbow bolts for me, too, probably to bribe me.

"Yul, you didn't bring a gun, didn't you?", I said, glaring at him. He just smiled cheekily before he took the gun from his back and threw it back at the monster truck. I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

"It's better to leave few people here so we can easily go back here if there's unexpected attack. There could be since this place is their den. Everyone, stay alert.", Heeshik said. I agreed.

"I suggest only 5 people of us will go.", I said. It's an agile number of people. With that amount of people, we would be enough to defend ourselves, and divide the things we needed to gather.

Most of them raised their hands voluntarily.

"I'm letting Yul come with me, Jaewook, stay with the others.", Jaewook just pouted. He must have wanted to tag along with us, if not, to be taken by the Violet Harpies.

"I'm letting Doyun and Dokhun come with me.", Heeshik said. I nodded, he knew them better than I do. I barely know Yul, but he would be at use to carry the stuff I should collect. The others went inside the van, together with Jaewook, who's still sulking a bit.

"You can't go alone without your boyfriend, huh?", Heeshik teased, enough for all of us to hear as we walked toward the stalls.

"Yeah, she can't even live without me.", Yul fuelled. I glared at him. Those things are the least things I had to think about. I was thinking about strategies.

"He's not my boyfriend. We just met yesterday. We barely even know each other.", I defended and loaded an arrow bolt to my crossbow. Ready to shoot harpies or even humans who’ll get on my nerves.

"You'll fall for me soon.", Yul proudly predicted, more like, a boastful remark of challenge whatsoever. I grimaced at him and walked to the other side between Heeshik and Dokhun.

We divided ourselves into two groups, I was with Yul, and Heeshik went with Doyun and Dokhun. Yul and I would take few sets of clothes into a big bag we found there, and since food and blankets were important, the tasks was for Heeshik and the others so they can get a lot.

"You should've just let me come with the boys and you came with either one of the three.", he muttered as he was taking few clothes. "You must have wanted some time alone with me.", he teased. I shot him a look and threw a shirt at him.

"Shut up, will you? I took you with me so if you ever do anything chaotic and stupid, I can easily hit you with this.", I said and raised my crossbow. He just laughed and shrugged.

A sharp scent hit my nose and it was no more than a Violet Harpy.

Then I saw it.

Yul was about to lift one blanket when I saw a familiar claw-y feet.

I pulled him quickly and covered his mouth.

"There's a Violet Harpy here, let's go somewhere else.", I whispered. He nodded. I couldn’t be wrong. I didn’t need to uncover that body to check if it really was a Violet Harpy. The feet said it all.

I gestured him to follow me silently, and was about to walk out of the stall to go to the next but saw another one outside.

I couldn’t be wrong. I might’ve lost my sense of smell, but not my sight. And it clearly looked like a Violet Harpy.

I quietly and quickly pulled Yul to hide.