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"bad things happen, and you can't
do anything about it."

— The Lion King —

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[ 3RD PERSONS VIEW。]

Is she really gone?

The sound of Chopin's classical etude the 'Winter Wind' played on repeat as the lone girl stared at her ceiling fan. A bothersome question had been running in her mind for awhile now.

Is she really gone?

And there goes it again. The corner of her lips tugging up into a small crooked smirk, "Of course she is." she bitterly stated, "You heard the news."

A heavy sigh left her lips as she tossed in her bed, "Why must you leave me alone, Haruki?" she mumbled out, her eye staring at the framed picture on top of her bedside table. "I warned you... didn't I?" her fragile voice came out as whisper.

Her finger curling around the white cloth in agony, "Why..."

Eyes dipping closed, her head began to spin, making her feel more dizzy than she already was. Laying back onto her bed, she breathed slowly. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to save you."

"I'm so sorry." she sobbed, slowly crying herself to sleep with Haruki's death lingering in her mind.

— • • • —

"Did you hear?"

"Yeah, Choi Haruki died last week."

"That's sad, she was such a good person."

"She was, wasn't she?"

"A lot of people she helped would miss her bad."

"But have you seen her friends?"

"Someone said Chenle flew back to China a few days after her funeral."

"Really? They said he could possibly be the reason why Haruki committed suicide."

"Honestly, It could be either of the boys she hangs out with."

"Probably Donghyuck, you know that boys background."

"Don't you think it's Jaemin?"

"What about Renjun? Didn't he fought with Haruki
a day before she died?"

Rumors spread fast around the school hallways, especially in the school's online website. Everyone was busy buzzing about Choi Haruki's sudden death, it was a huge shock to the students. Haruki was known to be the nicest and dependable student amongst the high schoolers, who would've imagined she had her own issues by herself?

The girl shone as bright as the sun, her smile probably healed thousands if it were possible. Everything about Choi Haruki radiated positivity, just why did someone like her, had to die at a young age?

Jeno's fingers itched as he balled his fists, slamming his locker closed, surprising few nearby students. The boy felt extremely uncomfortable hearing the gossips about his friends, even though it had been an exact week since he last talked to them, it felt unsettling to hear something so fake coming out of the students mouth.

Jeno made his way to his classroom, wanting to calm himself down. He hated how people would just randomly come up with a story and pass it on to others like it was the real deal, when in reality, it was way far from what actually happened.

Despite not knowing what really happened with his friend Haruki, he was certain enough that none out of the seven of them were involved with her death.

Entering the classroom, he locked eyes with Jaemin who stared at him for awhile. Jeno looked away and went to his seat, which was by the back of the room. Jaemin pressed his lips into a thin line and drummed his fingers on the wooden desk, a habit he picked up from Haruki whenever they studied together.

A girl walked up towards him, "Jaemin-ssi!"

The blue haired teenager looked up at the girl, uninterested as he stared boringly at her. Even though he was a bit lazy to answer her, he still tried to smile back at her, "Yes?"

She giggled, "I was wondering... since Haruki is already gone–"

A hiss came out of Jaemin's mouth, startling her. "What did you say?"

The girl's legs trembled in fear after hearing Jaemin's voice change in annoyance. "I-I said... since Haruki is already gone–"

He stifled a laugh, "Pathetic."

She was taken aback by what he commented, "I'm sorry, what?"

"I said you're pathetic, Lee Soyeon."

Soyeon had a troubled look plastered on her face as she stepped back a bit, her legs still shaken up by his change of tone. "Why– why do you think so?"

Jaemin sighed and looked down at his Math book, not even sparing a glance at the girl, "If you're only talking to me because you want to go out with me and a potential wall, who seemed to Haruki, is now 'gone' you say, then you should leave me alone."

Soyeon clenched her fists tightly, eyeing the teenage boy, "I never said anything like that!"

"But you implied it and probably thought about it." he chuckled dryly, "Please, I won't even dare to come close to you after mentioning Haruki like that."

"What so special about her anyways!?" Soyeon yelled, earning a few glances from the other students. "She's dead, Jaemin! Dead."

Dead. Haruki is Dead.

Jaemin's body froze in his seat as the words kept pounding in his mind nonstop. Seeing himself crying every night to sleep, thinking all day about Haruki. He wanted to know why she died, why she was said to have committed suicide. Because for all he knew, the Haruki he was friends with won't commit something without a reason.

Everything has a reason.

Jeno watched as Jaemin stood up from his seat, fixing his things before rushing out the doorway. A scoff left his lips as his eyes trailed onto Lee Soyeon, a girl who's been trying to get Jaemin's attention for years now, and ever since Haruki came, she hasn't been the nicest.

Guessing since Haruki was announced dead, Soyeon just had the guts to believe that Jaemin would finally answer her, but no. She just had to get the boy on his bad side.

Shaking his head, he pulled his earphones out his ears and leaned forward to take a nap.

"Jeno, promise me something." the young girl told him as she dragged the chair in front of Jeno's desk, taking a seat as she leaned towards him.

It was lunch time and the two were alone the classroom. Haruki pursed her lips, "Will you promise?"

The sleepy boy hummed in response, lazily raising up his head to look at her golden sunny eyes. "Of course, anything for you, Haruki."

The girl laughed and ruffled his hair, "Whatever happens in a few days... please, do remember to always check up on Jaemin for me."

Jeno tilted his head, "Huh? What do you mean? Isn't it your job to check up on that boy?"

Haruki crinkled her nose, "Well... I just thought he'd need more people to open up to, not just me. Besides! You two are very close."

The boy nodded his head, chucking softly, "Yes. Yes we are. And I will promise you that."

She grinned in satisfaction, "Thank you, Jeno! I'll go get some lunch now, are you sure you don't want anything?"

He shook his head, "I'm good, the only I need right now is sleep." he joked and Haruki laughed heartily at it.

"Seems like it. You've been gaming to much, tone it down okay? Worry about yourself too, jeez." she stands up, grabbing a wrapped sandwich from her bag.

"You need this." she stated and handed the sandwich to him, "I'll see you later, Jeno!"

The boy looked up, seeing the present in front of his eyes.

It was just a memory.

He stared at the door where Jaemin exited. He sighed and stood up, following Jaemin's movements from earlier. "A promise is a promise."

— • • • —