The door slammed open, and Saeles's eyes found Bada immediately. Her fists clenched automatically, muscles tensing as rage and instinct coiled inside her.
"You again?" Saeles hissed, stepping toward her like a storm. "Didn't I tell you to stay away? Didn't I tell you to never come back?"
Bada flinched but didn't move. Her small body trembled, but she forced herself forward. "I… I just… care about you… I just want to see if you're safe…"
That was it. Saeles snapped. Her hands lashed out, grabbing Bada by her shirt and yanking her inside. Bada stumbled, hitting the wooden floor hard. Pain shot through her body, but she tried to crawl to Saeles, tears streaming.
"You don't belong here! You don't belong anywhere near me!" Saeles shouted, her fists raining blows across Bada's stomach, ribs, and arms.
Bada screamed, but she didn't retreat. She whispered brokenly between sobs:
"I… I… I'll never leave… I'll always… be here…"
Saeles's eyes were cold, unfeeling, but a flicker of confusion crossed her face—something she had never recognized: vulnerability, fear, and perhaps, the first hint of awareness of Bada's devotion.