The seven boys were hanging out at Chenle's house one night before everything started.

They just finished eating grilled meat, ramen, fried eggs, and kimchi jiggae that Jaemin, Jeno, and Haechan made. It was fun to say the least and they had been sharing jokes and teasing each other nonstop.

"Who will wash the dishes?" Mark asked when everyone was about to pass out because of their fullness. The question woke their senses but pretended to act deaf.

"We should play rock, paper, and scissors," Jisung suggested. They had been using rock, paper, and scissors frequently whenever they had to make a decision. And they play as if their lives depended on it.

To make the story short, Mark was screaming the entire time and Haechan lost so he had to do dishes. He dragged Jisung with him and the latter had no choice since he was the youngest. The others stayed at the living room to rest.

Jaemin closed his eyes and leaned on the leather couch to relax after a heavy meal. The temporary peace was broken when Jeno saw a notification on his phone by the school page. When he opened it, he was beyond shocked. He shook Jaemin's shoulder aggressively, his eyes not leaving the screen.

"What the hell do you want now?" Jaemin asked. His question was answered when Jeno almost shoved the phone on his face. He squinted his eyes to adjust his vision.

His blood ran cold and there were ringing sounds in his ears.

He saw his and your elementary pictures. He looked exactly the same except for the bright eyes and gentle smile.

It didn't take long for the others to see the post and soon bombarded him with questions.

"Is it true that you and (Name) were schoolmates? How come you didn't tell us?" Chenle asked as he casually sat beside Mark who was unaware of Jaemin's internal fear.

I fucked up, he thought to himself. This is what I'm fearing the most.

"She didn't tell us as well. You're keeping secrets now," Renjun joked but he was taken aback when he saw Jaemin's expression.

He was unexpectedly calm but his eyes had a dangerous glint on them, his fists were balled into tight fists and his knuckles were almost white, he was breathing heavily, trying to think straight but the ringing in his ears were too loud. His shoulders started shaking uncontrollably.

"Jaemin? What's wrong?" Mark asked.

He didn't answer. All eyes were on him but he didn't care. He hated to admit it, but he was afraid. Afraid that his family in South Korea, especially his grandfather, would know about this. He practically begged his father to let him leave South Korea as long as he wouldn't do anything related to his past, but now it was broken.

Jeno sensed the same danger so he tried to cover it up. "I have never seen this picture of Jaemin before. We've been friends for nine years. I would've seen this if it's him."

Jaemin didn't say anything but instead, he stood up and left Chenle's house without a word. He didn't know where he was going. Nothing made sense right now. He was too shocked, too afraid, to even think what his next move would be. All he knew was that his feet were automatically moving to his car with one destination in mind.

Your dorm.

He was strapping his seatbelt on when he received a phone call from the person he was dreading the most. His father. With shaky hands, he tapped the screen to answer the call.

"Dad?"

"I thought I made it clear to you that you should not do any funny business while you're away? What will your grandfather think?"

"I--"

"Jaemin, you know damn well that getting involved with your past is something you shouldn't do if you wanted a place in this household?"

"Dad, trust me I don't know what this shit is all about? I never told a single breath about my past when I got here?"

"You should know better than lie to me, Jaemin. I hired someone to look after you and they are regularly reporting it back to me. You have been hanging out with (Name) lately. I still remember who she is."

"Yes but I told her I'm not her childhood friend."

"You should've lied a little more convincing. You look exactly like the picture posted on that page. The resemblance is uncanny. I will do what I can so your grandfather will not find out about this. You know how this family works, Jaemin. All for the wealth."

His father hung up without letting Jaemin say another word. The panic he felt subsided. His father wasn't as angry as he thought but he messed up that one time chance. He was also furious by the fact that somebody was watching his every move all along. He didn't completely trust him not to cause trouble.

It was indeed, all for the wealth, that he would do everything not to tarnish the family's reputation.

He tried to run away from his toxic family but it only brought him closer to his past.

There was only one person he could ask about this so he drove to your dormitory.

Meanwhile, you were in a state of panic.

What supposed to be a relaxing night became a nightmare when Giselle shoved her phone in front of your face. That's when you saw the post.

"How..." was all you could utter.

"Did you have a former classmate at NeoU?" Giselle asked you.

"I'm not really sure. NeoU is big and there are thousands of students..." you replied and your eyes landed on the bottom drawer that you found slightly opened a few days ago. "But I do remember one thing."

"What is it?"

"Do you remember when we fought? When Nayoung went here?"

"Yeah, I remember that."

"Actually, I found the bottom drawer opened that same day. That's where my elementary yearbook is stored."

"I wouldn't do that to you!" Giselle defended herself as she realized that she was a potential suspect.

"I know that. But I couldn't shake away the feeling that it could be... someone. I'm being judgemental right now without any evidence but it's Jaemin we're talking about here. I know there's a reason why he kept denying to me that he's my childhood friend. And for someone to post our picture on a public page where thousands of students could see, I have a feeling something bad is about to happen."

Giselle hugged you comfortingly and you were close to tears just thinking about what would happen. You were afraid about what Jaemin would say, but he would listen to you, wouldn't he?

Or not.

"Wait, I remember..." Giselle said. "When Nayoung went here, we made our project at the living room. I was already covered in paint and I wouldn't want to make a mess so I asked her to get the scissors in our room to cut the packaging of the glitters. It took her quite long but I didn't give much thought about it. Now that we're here, I think it's possible that it was Nayoung who posted this."

You took a deep breath, trying your best to steer your mind clear.

"I should talk to Jaemin," you finally said. "We're still not sure if it's really Nayoung and we will figure out the real culprit. For the meantime, I will talk to the person who is either nonchalant or fuming mad right now."

You got your phone to dial his number but he beat you to it. Your phone buzzed and a notification appeared on the screen. It was a text message from Jaemin.

From: Na Jaemin

       Meet me downstairs. I'm here in front of your dorm.

Nervousness and panic rushed down as you stared at the screen. You had a bad feeling about what's going to happen and the only way to find out what's about to unfold was to meet Jaemin downstairs.

And so you did.

Excitement rushed inside you as you waited for the elevator door to open. You were practically running when you got into the lobby and pulled the door open. Your heart beat erratically when you saw Jaemin leaning on his car with his hands in his pocket. You didn't see the expression in his face because he was looking down.

"Hey..." you greeted as you approach him, almost breathless. You didn't know what to expect, you didn't know if he was angry or not. When he looked up, it answered your question.

His face was void of any emotions, his eyes cold and stared dead straight into yours. You knew right away that the conversation wasn't going to be good.

"Jaemin, I know why you're here. Believe me, I have no idea--" You didn't finish your sentence when Jaemin cut you off.

"Do you really have no intention of giving up?" Jaemin asked in a menacing tone which had taken you aback. "Do you really wanted to prove that I'm that stupid childhood friend of yours? Is this all part of your plan? To be my friend again, pretend to stop shoving me that idea, and then post it on social media for everyone to see?"

Jaemin was heaving deep breaths, unable to focus on one coherent thought. His mind was in a tangled mess and fear was consuming him. He couldn't listen to any of your explanation.

"Jaemin, it wasn't me!"

"How can you prove that it wasn't you?"

"Can't you just take my word for it for now? I am also shocked, okay? If you really know me, you know I wouldn't do anything like that to you!"

He let out a humorless laugh. It seemed like his sanity was only hanging by a few threads, waiting to snap.

"Do I really even know you? I didn't even know why you avoided me and you refused to tell me why. You like to do things your own way without explaining it. You like making people look like an idiot. I thought that I know you, but I didn't know there was a part of you that loved attention so much that you were willing to hurt someone."

You thought that all the harsh things he said was over, but he was just about to give the final blow.

"I regret offering you this friendship."

The pain you felt was inexplicable, it's as if someone punched a hole in your chest and squeezed your heart until you couldn't breathe. You knew Jaemin changed so much and he wasn't the sweet boy that he was before but you didn't know that you would hear such harsh words from him.

"Okay! Fine. Since we're here already, I'll tell you the truth. I'm Na Jaemin, the boy you met fourteen years ago. That was me. Are you happy now? Are you satisfied that you're correct about me?"

It was your turn to let out a humorless laugh and you felt tears welling up your eyes but you blinked it back. The last thing you needed was to look like a crying mess in front of the man that called you an attention seeker.

"You stupid asshole," you said through gritted teeth and you glared at his expressionless face. "What do you think of me, you dumbass? You think this is some huge revelation, you idiot? I knew all along that you're Nana. Why would I recognize you the first time we met? You look exactly like the kid in the picture and my mind was pretty vivid for someone so young. I remembered you, Jaemin. All of you."

The cold was biting your skin and your breath was slightly shaking but you continued.

"You don't know how much it hurts me whenever you deny that it wasn't you! But do you know what pains me more? When I have to fucking pretend that I'm convinced that you're not him so I could continue with my life. I have to accept the fact that you found another friend when you left. Without a proper explanation! Without a proper goodbye! Imagine waking up and your friend was gone just like that?"

You bit your lower lip as a lump started forming in your throat and you almost couldn't finish your sentence. You forced yourself to speak so Jaemin would hear every last bit of words you have to say.

"I knew from the beginning that you're Nana. I knew it all along. But I thought, there might be a reason why you're hiding it so bad. I gave you the benefit of the doubt and left the idea alone. I accepted the fact that we will never be friends again like we used to nine years ago. I am already contented that you're my friend, but not as close as Jeno. I respected your decision. I wouldn't snitch on you to save my life, Jaemin. All along, I'm silently hurting by your actions but I chose to understand you..."

One traitor tear cascaded down your cheek and Jaemin stared at it as if it was the first time seeing you cry.

And you did. Because of him.

"You are so unfair, Na Jaemin. How you left without a goodbye and trying to dodge me after nine years. But I don't want to hear any of it anymore. Maybe we're really not meant to be friends again. I just hope that you will not regret your decision. I am everything but a traitor. You know that."

You turned your back and left him, still staring at the spot where you stood. Before entering the door, you called his name.

"Jaemin," you called.

He slowly turned his head towards you.

"I just want you to know that I'm still thankful that I met you again. This is probably the closure I needed to officially end our friendship."

With those words, you entered the building and you covered your mouth to silence your sobs. It was heartbreaking to end a friendship, but it probably ended the moment he left. You were just trying too hard to revive something that already withered.

"I shouldn't have touched that fucking tree," you murmured to yourself.

Outside, Jaemin was still leaning on his car, processing everything that you said. He finally heard everything that you were keeping inside and he had no idea how much you were hurting. You both were. Yet both of you pretended that everything was fine. He looked down and his shoulders slightly shook from laughing heartlessly.

"I just made a bad decision."