"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!!"

Soojin and the bullies flinch, hearing that yell. She desperately looks at that direction, feeling relieved that someone had come to help her but her face turned dark seeing the person. She couldn't believe that the person she hates the most had come up to save her.

He walks towards them, glaring at those girls who back off seeing him. The leader leaves Soojin and focuses her gaze on Jungkook who was taking steps towards them.

"How dare you all bully her, huh?" he yells, setting his intense gaze at them.

"We... We were just... Telling her to do our homework... That's it... We didn't do anything..!!" the leader trembles, speaking to him.

"Homework? Can't you all do that by yourselves that you need to force Soojin to do that?"

"We-- we're sorry, Sunbae! We won't do that again..!" the bullies bow to Jungkook as they start fleeing from the class.

"Don't dare to show your faces again!!" he yells at them again as they rush away. He turns his gaze to Soojin. Her expression frowned as she rubs her head where the bully pulled her hair. Jungkook's eyes soften as he looks at her. He doesn't know why but he feels a tingle in his chest whenever he looks at her. "You okay-" he was about to touch her when she slapped his hand away and glared at him.

"Don't touch me!!" she yelled, "And... Why are you here?! Were you stalking me?!!"

Those words were harsh. Jungkook looks at her wide eyed. He tried to explain himself, "No...I... I just wanted to- They were bullying you--"

"So? I get bullied everyday, don't I?" she scoffs, "Why do you care so suddenly, huh? Don't you bully me too?"

He stares at her, doesn't say anything. He doesn't have words to. He actually intended to apologise to her, thought of it as a chance of explaining the misunderstanding she might be holding. About her sad truth that he was unaware of, about what he was determined of, about everything. But everything turned the opposite. She flared up at him, making him go silent.

"Just... Just be yourself, Jungkook!! I hate you, anyways!! Don't show this fake care, please!! Stay away from me!"

He couldn't take it anymore. His head already turned down, he nibbled onto his lower lip and mumbled, "Sorry... " before walking away from the class, leaving her all alone in there.

Soojin looks at his figure disappear as he walks away. For a minute, she feels guilty for speaking harshly to him but the next minute, she shakes her head and returns to her old self. He deserves it Soojin. You did the right. She tells herself.

Heading home after school, Jungkook locks himself in his room. He couldn't forget those unfortunate events that happened earlier. He plops onto his bed, face palming him. He sobs out and cries. "Just be yourself, Jungkook! I hate you anyways!!!" Her words ring in his mind and pierce his heart everytime he thinks about those.

"SHE HATES ME!! I'M THE WORST!!" he yells and punches the pillow that lay beside him vigorously. His eyes are all red and swollen due to all those tears. His hope of making her trust him, protecting her, being her best friend... All are lost. He falls onto his knees defeatedly, tears streaming down his cheeks.

'Stay away from me'... If that's what she wants, I'll do it. If she's happy, I'll do ANYTHING for her!

Ever since that incident, Soojin noticed that Jungkook had stopped teasing her and also didn't show up to her. Well, he did come to save her a couple of times from the bullies but they hadn't exchanged any single word as Jungkook immediately left after sending away the bullies. It was like a flash of light that he would come yelling to the bullies, scolding them and threatening them. And then, the next second, before Soojin can even turn to him, already left.

Soojin contemplates the situation. What made him change like this? Was it her own harsh words? She did feel guilty deep inside but she mostly used to shake off those thoughts, telling herself he deserves it Soojin. Good that he doesn't bother now. But deep inside, she feels that emptiness and loneliness eating her out. Something feels missing when he's not around. Though she hates him the most, she can't deny the fact that he was perhaps the only bully that didn't abuse her. He would just tease her and she did enjoy giving him sarcastic replies. She never accepted this fact before.

Was he a friend to me? Was I too harsh with him? Did I lose my only friend?

She shakes her head to get those thoughts out. She hugs the pillow tightly and tried to sleep.
She can feel her eyes glistening at the thought of it. Was he trying to befriend me or something? And I lost him too. You always mess up Soojin! You always lose people. Without realizing, tears stream down her cheeks as she sobs into the pillow.

But she hasn't realized that through the small crack of the bedroom door, she was being watched by Jungkook since the very beginning. He frowns seeing her shake and sob. He has no idea why she's crying but he does want to know it and prevent anything that's making her cry. He looks down and pouts Why is she crying? Did someone hurt her again? But I kept a good eye on her...

Just then, he jolts up feeling a hand on his shoulder. "Kookie, what are you doing here?" he turns around and sees his brother. He just pouts and doesn't answer.

"Tell me-"

"She's crying... Soojin.. She's crying," he tells him, still keeping that pout that makes him look extremely cute like a bunny. "I always checked on her, hyung... And kept her safe from bullies but still... " he's disappointed. Disappointed in himself. That even after trying, he still sees her cry, which he hates the most- tears in her eyes.

Junghyun was at a loss of words to see such a different spark of concern in his stubborn and adamant brother. He just pats his back, "C'mon... She'll be okay..." and drags him towards his bedroom.

As such, weeks pass by. Things still stay the same. There's no improvement in Soojin and Jungkook's interactions. Rather they both are drifting apart.

An usual boring day at school. Soojin, as always, is all alone, sitting in her classroom, revising her notes, doing her homework or just writing something in her secret diary. It's like her best friend, holds all her secrets and feelings without judging her. Soojin has finally found a bit of peace as the bullies of her class no longer abused her. They realized that messing up with Soojin will just lead to some threatening given by their senior, Jungkook, who is also the heartthrob and crush of many girls. So, they just began staying away from Soojin nowadays.

Soojin checked her watch. Oh! Lunch time is almost over!! She closed her book and placed it neatly on her desk as she rushed to the canteen to grab something. Or else, she would be left starving till 6 p.m. The canteen was almost empty, with just a squad of girls gossiping and giggling while they walked out of the canteen, glancing at her fragile figure.

She walked to take a plate and started picking up some of the food from the buffet. She didn't really have an appetite. It was just so that she wouldn't starve till the next break. She suddenly hears a strange loud noise amidst. She got confused at first but didn't pay much attention. She thought that it might be some boys doing some kinda mischief.

But a few while later, she was getting a weird burning smell and saw the students scream and rush out in panic and terror. Seeing them, she was getting scared too. What's the matter? When she turned back, she saw a huge flame of fire rising up from inside the canteen, burning the ceiling and floor and spreading across in tremendous speed. She intuitively drops her food plate as she rushed towards the door, attempting to get out from there for her dear life.

But fate was not on her side that day. Before she could get through the door, a huge wood frame from the ceiling falls on the doorstep, blocking her path, trapping her in that area. She takes a few steps back. The flames rising and spreading towards her, looking like a massive fire monster ready to swallow her alive. She shakes in fear as she walks backward until her back meets the wall and she comes to a halt. Her eyes widen as she stares at the rising flames.

Darn it, Soojin. It's your end today...