Extra Content 03: Another Side Part 2
Years Before Chapter 1.1
3 Years Prior
In the small port town of Southside Morana, men and women were expected to work for the sea. The weather was unforgiving with multiple hurricanes having destroyed their homes in the past decade. Fish swam away from all the trouble leading to income being sucked away. Everything left them hardened like the salt clumps that lay buried in the water, rough around the edges as expected. Despite all of this the residents were incredibly welcoming to any newcomers and tourists who managed to come by. Their loving attitudes caused a somewhat lively and hopeful nightlife to develop. Fishers could come to the bars to drink all night and eat a hearty, delightful meal. This fueled them to all live another, dark day. Life here was a cycle that felt never-ending.
Tonight was a perfect example of this. Across from the silver-haired woman, a man danced with a tipsy barmaid who sat her tray down. His salt and pepper beard tickled the curvy woman's lower chin, making her let out a loud chuckle. Seeing this brought joy to the rest of the bar's occupants who raised their mugs and sloshed their drinks everywhere. Yona couldn't help but roll her eyes at the sight. Even though she didn't work at the place, the young woman knew it would be a pain in the ass to clean. The men were dropping food everywhere and the wet soles of their work boots didn't mean it any better. With a grimace, the woman went back to nursing her drink to avoid getting a bigger headache. Her work day had been long with a snowstorm starting right when she was getting a good catch.
This eventually forced her to come back to land and be met with more bad news. Her former boss, a jerk with an even worse son, was threatening her. The man sent a very angry letter her way stating that if she didn't come back he'd take her to court. She called his bluff but still being threatened in her home, miles away from his company left her shaken. Yona wanted to just get drunk and let her sorrows melt away. But she couldn't afford to do that. She had a booming business to run, investors to meet, fish to catch, and more importantly, bills to pay. There was no time to hit the brakes with so much riding on the line. The glass in her hand trembled a bit as she inhaled, took a small sip, and put it down. A small crack was formed from how hard the silver-haired woman slammed it. Thankfully this didn't draw any attention her way but she still felt her cheeks warm from humiliation.
Across the counter, one of the barmaids looked over at her with a glance. The woman was one of the few workers not running off to join the party. Which was consuming the entire building with its joyfulness. She tilted her glass to make sure it was fine before pushing it to the side. The young woman dug into her pocketbook and took out some cash to pay for her drink. Hesitantly of course. She didn't like to carry around too much with her. This was because she had gotten robbed once when she was a teenager. On her way to school, she had gotten scared off by a drunkard so she took a new path. This path had a group of older men on it who took advantage of the lone girl. They hadn't violated her but they berated her with slurs and degrading curses before snatching her bag. After that, she was taken by a neighbor who befriended her mother until Yona’s schooling ended.
She missed times like that desperately. The much smaller community was still close-knit. But the days of her childhood were long gone. And she hated that she was starting to regret enjoying that time. It made the woman feel incredibly pathetic often.
“Hey,” Yona side-eyed a woman who took a seat on a stool to her left. “I couldn't help but see that you look like you're having an awful night.”
The woman scoffed at the stranger and glanced over her body. A braid held dark hair that she'd never seen on any here before. The women in the town typically had lighter hair with the darkest being chestnut. So, this told the resident that she had to be a tourist. Plus she was wearing an expensive outfit. It didn't from afar but up close it screamed wealth. The fox fur coat she wore was genuine and the buttons were actual gold. Yona found her interest peaking with all of this as the woman could be a potential customer. She didn't meet trust fund kids every day, so why not seize the opportunity thrown at her? Even if it was at a time that she looked like some miserable drunk. She helped her hand out and the woman shook it gently. Yona was surprised by how soft her skin was. From how windy it was, your palms got red and hard due to being exposed to the brutal weather.
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The woman wasn't wearing any gloves but her hands were smooth as silk and warm. “I'm fine. Just had a long day at work. That's nothing to be upset about.” As long as she got paid, Yona could stomach the pain.
The dark-haired stranger frowned a little, her tone heavy as she spoke. “That's a dark mindset to have.”
Yona gave the woman a look. “Excuse me?” She hated to be offended but the comment was out of place.
The rich woman frowned, her voice full of confusion as she realized how upset the other was. She moved some of her hair out of her face as she explained her reasoning. “I'm sorry. I'm just saying that it's obvious you're not feeling the best and burying it.”
She glared. “You don't know me well enough to say that.” Her hands balled into fists as she felt her face begin to warm. Yona was unsure if she was just angry or becoming embarrassed.
“Wait,” The stranger held her hands up in a show of mock surrender as she realized how the words came out. Her eyes wide.“I didn't mean to be rude. I'm sorry if I stepped over a boundary you have.”
“I don't need your pity,” Yona said angrily while moving to get up from her seat. “Goodbye.”
The woman grabbed her arm and tried to explain herself. “I'm not pitying y–” Only for the other girl to yank herself free before continuing to stomp off.
She turned her back to the stranger and gritted her teeth together to keep from yelling. To have this wealthy woman come up to her with such a nerve was nuts. The darker-haired woman probably never worked a day in her life. Here she was, a tourist with endless money to spend and endless maids asking Yona if she was alright. With her spotless hands that had never touched a fishing pole or a meat cleaver. Fair skin that was safe from the hot, merciless sun barring on her skin while slaving away. She was talking out of her ass and anyone could see this. This stranger didn’t have the right to humiliate her like this. It made the older woman seethe as she marched out of the bar. Her face burned more and more while she walked in the dark. It was pitch black now, daylight saving in full effect.
This meant that not only had it become harder to see but to hear with wind billowing in the air. Ice was even beginning to form on the misshapen paths that covered her hometown. She shivered and rubbed at her arms to try to warm herself up. The weather had turned for the worse like much of the town. Walking in the current environment spelled disaster, Yona lived thirty minutes from the bar up a rocky hill. It would be best to wait. But she didn't want to wait around for the town's sole bus that drove past noon. Besides, she was sure that by the time it arrived it would be much colder and icyer. So her only choice was to continue trekking her way up the road to her house. Yona cursed herself for staying out late as she did so, moving slower to avoid slipping on the wet ground.
Eventually, she came to a familiar bend that led to her neighborhood. The bend was a brief blindspot as it was full of thick, lush plant life. Yona didn't mind this as she had walked this exact path hundreds of times. From when she was a young girl following the other children to school to the present day. Carefully, she walked on the muddy road and looked down to make sure she didn't trip on loose roots. The ground of the town was so troublesome that certain parts the people just gave up on. Which led to areas that with one wrong turn could send you tumbling down or worse, injuring yourself trying to maneuver. Yona put her hand against the side of a nearby tree to help walk around a large puddle. But as she moved around the puddle, she heard something. Which made her stop.
Yona turned her head and looked to see if anyone was behind her. It was too dark to make out anything so she decided to call out. “Hello? Who's there?”