"You fucker! Don't come near to me! You fucking chicken!" I snarled. Did I really say those words to him?

The guy smirked "Chicken huh?"

"I will call uncle Taehyung or Aunt Erika if you don't stop!" I said.

Then he stopped immediately and looked terrified "What? The Kim siblings? You know them? Wait. You looked like Erika. The only difference is you're much younger and blond."

"If you hurt me and Steph, I promise that you will go in jail!" I angrily said.

"I can do whatever I want to Stephanie, she's my sister! My useless sister!" He growled and went back to Stephanie again, the latter flinched.

"No! You jerk!" I pulled out my phone "I will call them now!"

The guy froze as he raised his hands up in surrender "No, fine. I will leave for now! But I will come back later! This is my house too!"

"Fuck!" I unlocked my phone and acted to call then the guy rushed out of the house.

Stephanie was just dumbfounded.

I quickly ran to her, carefully held her face and scrutinized it. Her lips were busted and she has some bruises on her face and neck.

"Do you have medicine or ointment?" I asked and she shook her head.

"I will get some ointment in my car, just sit on the couch," I said as I helped her to stand, she just followed.

Then I went out and get the ointment in my car, when I got back I saw Stephanie was sitting on the couch as I said.

I sat beside her "Do you have some ice for your lips?" She nodded.

"Okay, I'll get it later. First, I will put some ointment on your bruises." I said but she didn't reply.

With what happened, I feel strangely comfortable with Stephanie. As I put the medicine on her bruises, I noticed that she's silently staring at me. Our faces were dangerously close to each other but it's just nothing.

After few minutes, I went to the kitchen to get some ice. I wrapped it in my towel and gave it to Stephanie. She placed it on her lips.

"Thank you," she mumbled.

"It's nothing," I said as I glanced at her and she's still staring at me.

"Why? Why did you help me?" She asked.

I frowned "I didn't help you, he will gonna hurt me too but I guess, he's really a chicken when I mentioned Uncle Taehyung and Aunt Erika."

She smiled a little "He is a chicken," she quietly giggled.

"I hope you won't tell anyone about this," she said as she put down the towel with ice on the table.

"I'm not that dumb, it's your privacy but Steph," Whew, I called her Steph twice now.

"What?" I looked at her meeting her gaze, she looked different now, she's like a weak girl who needs assistance and attention.

"Now I know why you're bullying me because you want to act tough in school. You want to hide you're soft side. I didn't expect it but you're also being bullied by your brother. I mean he's beating you." I grimaced thinking of that jerk.

Steph shook her head "No, I'm beating you because I envy you. You have Mi young to help you but me, I have no one. Mi young is willing to protect you and I hate it because I have no one to protect me!" She started to cry and I gave her my sympathy.

Steph slowly and painfully took off her jacket and I saw marks and cuts on her arms and wrists. I gently touched it, more careful like I was holding fragile but precious thing. She don't deserve this marks and cuts.

"When my parents died, he became like this. He's a drug addict, he always hit and beat me when he's here. You know that I'm a scholar right? I'm a working student to support my needs but most of the time, he steals my money. He hurt me because I don't have money to give him. I'm so tired Taeyeon, I always attempt to commit suicide but I can't. I'm scared to death but... I'm really tired of this life." Stephanie is a wonderful girl, I didn't know that she's suffering like this.

"You should move out of here, live on your own," She shook her head.

"He's still my brother and I don't have money for that, my wage is not enough," she reasoned.

"He's stupid, he's not treating you right!"

"But where will I go? No one wants to help me even my relatives! They don't care about us!" She yelled.

"Then live with me!" I blurted out and I mean it.

"What?"

"You heard it, live with me. My father is always not at home because of his work so practically, I lived alone. I know he will understand this and he will help you. Just get out of here Steph." I said as I tried to convince her.

"But why will you do this?"

"Because we're friends," I simply answered and smiled at her.

"Friends?"

I nodded "Friends. Come on Stephanie, pack your things and I'll call my dad."

"But in school... let's... let's just hide this," she reluctantly said.

"Sure, no biggie"

*****