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"to live is the rarest thing in the world.
most people exist, that is all."

— Oscar Wilde —

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[ 3RD PERSONS VIEW。]

September 3, 2017.

The gruesome day for the Choi family as they had just lost a family member, Choi Hyosun.

Haruka sat in the backseat of her father's car, gazing out at the scenery as they drove their way to Jinhae-gu. Her father, Choi Hajoon, was bawling upon the phone call. He knew about her sickness, yet he couldn't persuade her to get it cured. Hyosun was so keen about Haruka not existing that she ridiculed herself, talking back that she wasn't sick. That she was fine. But in reality, she wasn't, and she let it get to her.

Haruki's face was expressionless, eyes turned dull after hours and days of crying. Each day she would cry herself to sleep. Coming home only to find out her mother wasn't there, her mother won't be hugging her, it was enough to make her cry a whole river.

Patting down her hair, she viewed herself in the mirror. Dressed in black, her supposedly bright golden eyes were flashing in pain.

"Haruki? It's time." she cranes her head towards the doorway, seeing her father standing with a sympathetic look.

Her heart lightened for a bit as if a portion of the pain was swept away just by the sight of her father. She ran up to him, engulfing him in a hug, not being able to suppress the tears.

Hajoon caressed his daughter's head, running his fingers through her light brown hair, mumbling soft words to quell her from her heavy heart.

"I-Is Haruka with you?" she croaked out, her voice weary and trembling. She looked up at him, hope feeling her eyes.

Haruki missed her sister so much.

Hajoon nodded before saying, "She's downstairs, Haruki."

They went down, Haruki meeting the eye of the person she's been dying to see. Arms wrapping around the girl tightly, the warmth from Haruki reciprocating into Haruka's body.

It felt like they were whole. Like a part of them has been brought back after being snatched away. Haruki buried her face into the crook of Haruka's neck, her words muffled, "I miss you so much."

"I miss you too, Haruki."

"Let's go now." Hajoon ushered both of them out.

Everyone was surprised, no one really knew up until now about Haruki's sister – twin sister. The darkened hair girl walked towards the instrument that was set up just for her while her sister approached her disquieted friends.

Jeno gave her a hug, planting a soft kiss on her forehead as tears slowly trickled down her cheeks. "Shhh, it's okay," he whispered faintly, patting down her hair.

As the ceremony started, Renjun couldn't help but glance at the girl playing. His eyes fixated on her, curiosity lingering him.

Who is she?
Why haven't I seen her before?
Why is her eye covered?
She plays so delicately.

Numerous strange uncharted thoughts bothered him all throughout.

After the burial, everyone was free to talk and send off their own goodbyes. Mark watched as the unknown girl stand up from her seat, looking a bit further grim. Her pallid golden eye looked empty as if she was soulless.

Mark peered around before striding to where the girl went, curiously following her despite not knowing who she was.

There, she found her in the nearby park, seated on one of the rusty swings as she gazed up at the dusk. Marching up a bit closer to her, soon noticing that her eyepatch wasn't on her, instead, it was in her grasp.

A sharp gasp left his mouth, startling the girl. "Your eye... it's beautiful." he gaped at it, finding her different colored eye strange yet fascinating.

"No, it's not..."

"Haruka!" the boy said suddenly causing her to flinch. He gulped, "That's your name, right? Haruka?" tilting his head, he slowly draws near her, wanting to occupy the empty swing beside her.

"Yes, it is." she nods, her hand clutching the white cloth she uses to cover her eye. It's been so long since I heard that.

"Your eye is really pretty," Mark told her truthfully, glancing at her from time to time.

"Is it?" Haruka mumbled lowly, still hating her eye for how different it made her. Unconsciously, her hand went up to cover it when Mark stopped her from doing so.

"You don't have to cover it. I told you, it's beautiful."

Haruka diverted her gaze, now back onto the golden sun that slowly went down, "I have to cover it, or else, I'll be haunted by people's deaths."

"But you don't have to cover it always, you have been gifted with that eye for a purpose, maybe you just haven't found it." he chuckled before taking a seat, "Let's meet again?"

"Again?"

The boy nodded, "You're Haruki's sister, I heard them say. I'm a friend of Haruki. Let's be friends." he smiled at her.

"I- I... friends...?" she trailed slowly, seeing the boy stand up.

"Mhm, we're friends!"

"I don't have any friends..." she muttered, looking down.

Mark lifted her head up by her chin before using his thumbs to gently pull up the corner of her lips into a smile, "I'll be your friend! And down look down, instead look up at the sky – it'll comfort you when you're alone."

"I have to go now, Haruka. I'll see you!" Mark waved his hand before running off.

A couple of minutes passed, Haruki heard light steps against the gravel path, she whips her head around to see Haruki walking towards her.

"Haruki..." she called out softly, making his way towards the girl.

Tear stains were visible on the girl's cheeks, eyes puffy and red. Haruka extended both of her arms out as Haruki slowly crashed into her embrace.

Haruka held her closely, patting down her hair as the girl continued to cry. Her head was already aching for the number of times she cried, chest heaving up and down, loud wails emitting from her mouth.

"I'm here, I'm always here," Haruka whispered.

Once Haruki had calmed down, the starry night accompanied them both as they sat down on one of the benches.

They had the usual sister talk, catching up on the latest and telling short stories of what has happened during the past months. Eventually, Haruka had brought up the same topic she talked about years ago.

"I will die soon..." Haruki sighed deeply, just the thought about it was scaring her.

"I'm sorry," Haruka lowered her head, "Mom was scared of me... or more like – Mom was scared of my eye."

"She didn't know what to do... she ended up getting paranoid about it."

Haruki shook her head, "No, don't think that–"

"But it's true!" she interjected, tears forming in the rim of her eyes. "She even went by far as forgetting that I existed, it hurts... it hurts so much."

"You don't just exist, Haruka," Haruki stated, disagreeing with what her sister said. "You're human, too. You're not dead – you have a soul. You don't just exist, you live."

"You have a heart, a mind, and a beautiful soul. I don't get why people are scared of you," Haruki mumbled, looking up at the stars, "You're a great person who only wants to help others. Gifted with an ability to see death isn't bad."

"You're alive because you get hurt, you feel emotions." she continued on, "People can tell by the way to play your music."

"Don't bother what others say, if they say you look scary, dead, or whatsoever! Because that doesn't change who you are inside," Haruki smiled, "What matters is that you are a great person."

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