i saw clara today, but not at school, since it's sunday. i was on my way home from my part time job, until i found her walking by herself in an empty alley. she was walking with bare feet, and i noticed one of her cheeks swelling, it was turning purple.

what happened to her?

she didn't seem to notice me so i called her name. it seems that she heard me, but when she recognized it was me who called her, she just glared and continued walking as if she didn't see me.

but i was worried, so i grabbed her hand, and lead her to my house. at first she resisted, yet the next second she let me be.

i prepared hot ramen for her when we arrived. she was sitting on the couch with both of her hands placed on her lap, her eyes staring down.

"if you're sad, hot ramen is the best solution." i said cheerfully as i sat beside her. what i said is true, it worked for me whenever i feel lonely and down. it's what my mom said to me when i was still a child.

clara just sat there quietly, before she took the ramen, and slurped it all into her mouth, and she began to cry.

"this... this is so good." she sobbed, still eating.

i patted her back repeatedly. she was still the clara i knew before.

"you can tell me anything." i said and gave her a comforting smile.

she just looked at me, her eyes telling me she was confused, "why are you so kind to me? i was a bitch to you and you're--- i thought you hated me."

"clara, i never hated you. i believed you're still the clara i knew before, my bestfriend," and this is the truth.

she sobbed again as i hugged her. "i'm sorry. i have no excuses. i left you because of my own selfishness. i worried about how people would laugh at me too if my bestfriend turned into and orphan. instead of being by your side when you went through difficult times, i left you. i take back everything mean i said to you. it's me who's wrong. i'm sorry, i'm sorry." she repeated it many times, as if she was repenting all her life so i told her it's okay.

i gave her continuous pats on her back as it took her a few moments before she finished sobbing. her mouth opened as she muttered, "my father... i... really hate him..."

i immediately understood what she said. when we were still friends before, clara told me about her abusive father. maybe he was at it again today.

nevertheless, i pulled her into a hug, "shhh. it's okay, clara. everything's going to be okay."

odd enough as those words came out of my mouth, park jimin's face suddenly flashed in my mind.

---

jimin

"this was the deal you made with your mother, young master. you can't break it," yoongi was peeling me some apples while i've been busy studying my notes.

i sighed, "i know that..."

"then why are you hesitating? you're the one who proposed the deal to her. you begged her to give you permission on transferring to another school just to see your 'girlfriend', but with the condition of leaving right away if she told you to come back. i still remembered how you practically jumped in joy when she finally said yes over the phone. but now that she needs you back, you're hesitating whether you should obey her?"

"i- i didn't know she'd need me back this fast. i haven't even graduated high school yet."

"your mother wants you to graduate in the america. you know how powerful your parents are, they will still get you to the plane whether you like it or not. you have no choice."

my eyes dropped before it landed on yoongi, "you're right. i have no choice. that's how it always has been. before i sleep at night, i always think of when i can finally get to choose for myself, of when i can decide for myself. yoongi, i'm... tired already. you don't know how tired i am already with this studying shit, i'm tired of always thinking if what i do is enough to please my parents, i'm tired of living according to their orders, and i'm tired of always having no choice. i'm just... tired now, yoongi."

i saw his shoulders dropped, his eyes full of pity, "i'm sorry, young master. i wish i could do something for you, but i couldn't, because i'm just a butler under your parents' orders."

i smiled a sad smile and heaved a sigh, "when is my flight schedule?"

"tomorrow evening."

--

a/n: this is ending soon ;-;