(KEYS POV)

When I heard about what happened to Taemin, I hurried into the clinic. We still have class, but I don't care.

I received a call from Minho a while ago telling me what happened to Taemin and how he can't visit him coz they still have class. The moment our conversation ended, I excused myself, saying that I'd just go to the restroom. It would be lunch anyway, so the professor wouldn't notice I hadn't come back. I just asked Jonghyun to bring my bag with him afterward.

Many thoughts have been running inside my mind while dashing my way to the clinic.

What if I see him there lying lifeless??

And even if he's alive, what if he'll die afterward?

Or what if he gets traumatized by what happened? He'd stare blankly at nowhere every day, not talking or smiling.

What if...Aish! I need to see him desperately!

I slammed the door open the moment I arrived at the clinic. I don't care whether it hit hard on the wall. What matters is I need to see Taemin!

I paused to find Taemin. He was sitting on the bed talking to a girl, the nurse, I suppose. I just don't care who she is. She got her back on me. The loud bang of the door made them both jump.

"Taemin!" I shouted while I ran towards him, not caring about the nurse on Taemin's side. She'll just leave later anyway. I hugged Taemin tightly as if there was no tomorrow.

Gosh! This kid made me worried so much. I'm just glad to see him alive.

Omo! What if.....

I cupped Taemin's face with my hands. Turned it sideways. Checked his head, his hands, his body, his ears, nose, mouth, his armpit. I don't know why I checked this area. My body just moves on its own. Yes, you could call me a paranoid hyung, but I'm just so so so worried. You can't blame me. I checked him while absentmindedly repeating the words: "Are you alright? Is anything hurting?" I was about to raise his left hand to check his left armpit, but he stopped me.

"Hyung!" he pouted at me.

"Taeminnie!You could still talk!" I hugged him again.

"Ayyyyyy..hyung! I'm alright, okay? I'm fine." he said shyly, like a grown-up.

Why was he being shy? He always liked it when I hugged him. He would even be the first one to hug me. But now... What did the pool do to Taemin?! He suddenly began to act like a grown-up! He stopped me when I checked on him and loosened my hold when I hugged him.

WHAT DID THE POOL DO TO MY TAEMINNIE????

He sighed. "Hyung, I'm alright. I'm alive. Nothing's hurting. See?" he partly raised both his arms, smiling brightly.

The same smile he always has. Phew. I calmed down. Then I remembered why we both are here.

"Ya!!" my hands on my hips.

He bent his head down and had that I-know-I'm-gonna-get-this look. He knew what was coming. Of course, he does! What does he want me to do? Laugh at him and tell him, "Well done, Taemin, for almost drowning yourself. I'm proud of you." ?? Are you kidding me! He almost drowned! He almost died!

"What are you thinking of?! Suddenly diving into the pool?! I told you not to take a swimming class! You don't even know how to swim! But you didn't listen to me! Now look at what you've done to yourself! What do you want to prove, huh?! Diving there without the swimming professor!" I exclaimed in rage.

"I'm sorry." Taemin muttered shakily.

I shut my eyes close. Sigh. Maybe I overreacted.

I patted his head and messed his hair.

"You know I only said that because I was worried, right?" I said gently.

He just nodded. Sigh. I really might have hurt his feelings.

It has been a long time since I shouted at him like this. The last time was when he was very close to getting hit by a car. Luckily, Minho has been paying attention and pulled him before the car hits him. He cried a lot that time, not because of the fear of being hit by the car but because he was terrified of my anger. But it was already a long time ago. He had been cautious since then until now.

I have this habit of shouting when I'm worried. I'm not like other people who comfort them. Instead, I point out how wrong they have been and keep shouting at them until I calm down. That's why they never made me worry. They know I'll just start yelling and nagging again.

Taemin was still not moving even a single muscle. His head was still bent down. I sighed, then hugged him tightly and tenderly caressed his back.

"Hyung, I'm sorry. The pool was tempting. I just wanted to try......" he trailed off.

"I understand. You do understand me, right? I only said those things because I was worried, right?"

He let go of me. He nodded, and then, finally, he looked at me. I messed his head up again, and he smiled.

"That's my Taiminnie" he giggled at what I said. He's back to normal. "Really, I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to you."

"Me too. But luckily, noona was there. I owe noona my life." he's being the cute Taemin again.

"Noona? Noona saved you? Then I owe that noona, too. Tell the noona I'm very thankful to her." I was sincere in giving thanks to the noona Taemin is talking about, whoever she is.

"You can thank her now." Taemin said cutely. I just look at him, confused. Then he turned his head to his right. Smiling at someone. Ahh.. Maybe it's the noona. I should thank her. I followed to where Taemin was looking but had hoped I didn't.

O_O!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My eyes widened the moment my eyes saw the noona Tamin was talking about. I wish I hadn't said what I said earlier!

The girl I've suspected as a nurse is actually............

"YOU??!!" I exclaimed.

I'm now staring at an ugly girl staring back at me with a disbelieving look on her face.

Oh no. I gasped.

Oh, my freaking hell of a cow!

Did she...

just...

see...

EVERYTHING?????????????????????

(JEWEL'S POV)

Wow..

I just saw everything...

All the lovey-dovey stuff, the shouting, the gentleness, the hugging, and everything else.

I was just standing there, still not believing what I saw with my own eyes while they were both having their moments.

I swear I still have this I-cant-believe-what-I-just-saw look on my face when he turned to look at me.

He looked so shocked.

What???

Haven't he even noticed me when he arrived here? Well, I don't wonder. His eyes were all set on Taemin.

"YOU?!" he exclaimed.

Woah. How do I react to that? The scene earlier really caught me off-guard. I said the first thing that came to my mind.

"Hi?"

Gosh! That was stupid! Hi? Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

"What the fu--" he stopped, glanced at Taemin, and breathed. "What are you doing here?" he said, calmer this time.

"She's the noona I was talking about, hyung." Taemin answered innocently. He has no idea what's really going on here.

"Her??" Pervy was still in shock. Woah. Just a minute. I just don't feel like calling him pervy anymore after what I saw. He was so gentle and caring. He was so different.

Hmm..I can't believe I just found another side of this smirking guy.

"Hyung! You said you want to thank the person who saved me, right? Right? Thank her now, hyung!" Taemin said while jumping on his bed.

"Taemin, this is all a misunderstanding. You don't know her! You have no idea who she is!" Perv...Key explained.

"I know her! She's Jewel noona. The noona who saved me from almost drowning." he pouted when he finished his sentence.

Perv...Aish! I'm more used to calling him pervy. Forget about calling him by his name. Pervy's more comfortable.

Pervy was about to answer back but closed his mouth. He took a deep breath, and then he said something that made my jaw drop and my eyes fall from my socket.

"Thank you...for...saving Taemin." he murmured.

O.O

It was undeniable that he was having a hard time. Saying those words seems hard for him like those were cursed words. His expression was unexplainable. In other words, ugly. His face does look that worse.

Silence spread in the room.

A-W-K-W-A-R-D

I was staring at pervy. Pervy was staring at the floor. Taemin was looking at the both of us. Then, a growl that seemed to come from a cave broke the awkward atmosphere.

"Awwww.. Tummy's hungry." Taemin was holding his stomach. "Let's eat hyung!"

Pervy just nodded and was ready to leave the room.

"Come with us, noona!" Pervy stopped at his feet and turned back to us.

"Taemin, don't--" Before he finished what he wanted to say, Taemin already jumped out of the bed and dragged me, walking past Pervy.

Taemin bowed at the nurse and left the clinic, still holding my arm.

We were standing at the door waiting for pervy to follow, but he was still frozen in his earlier position.

Taemin sighed. "Ayyy..hyung..."

He left me and walked towards him. He grabbed his arm just like he did to me and dragged him to where I was.

(NARRATOR'S POV)

Taemin was walking ahead of Jewel and Key, so he hadn't noticed their expression.

Key was walking with furrowed eyes and fists clenched, while Jewel seemed to be in deep thought.

"Ya!" Jewel suddenly shouted at Key.

Key just continued walking and ignored her. Walking faster this time.

"Hmmm..What's with the ignoring thing?" Jewel wondered silently. "Maybe because of Taemin?" she answered her question and smiled slyly.

"Thinking of it, he wasn't the same pervy I knew. He even said thank you even though it's quite obvious that it was against his will. He just said it because of Taemin... That's right! He wanted to act like a cool hyung in front of Taemin! Kekekeke.." Jewel thought to herself.

"Ya!" Jewel called Key again.

"Ignore her! Taemin's here! Control yourself! You can't be the no-mercy Key in front of Taemin. He's still too young and innocent to witness it all. So, just ignore her for now." Key murmured to himself.

"You should have seen yourself a while ago! All this being lovey-dovey. Ohhh..It was epic!" Jewel said, giggling.

Key stopped walking. "Shut up!" he hissed her up.

"Eh? Hmmm...What if I don't? Are you gonna shut me up? Nah. Impossible. Not when Taemin's around. Hahahaha! It was really priceless! I just wish I had a video cam with me at that time! Sigh."

Key glared at Jewel, but she just shrugged. Key opened his mouth but looked at Taemin and decided to close it again. Jewel chuckled.

"I knew it. He won't do stupid things with Taemin around." Jewel murmured to herself. She really looks like she's enjoying every second of this.

"Taemin, I just said those words because I'm worried, right?" Jewel mimicked what Key said earlier, not wanting to give up.

That did it.

Key grabbed Jewel's arms and leaned close to her. Jewel's eyes widen in shock.

"I could drag you into an empty room and do whatever I want with you if you don't shut your annoying mouth up!" Key threatened.

Jewel was just staring at Key, wide-eyed. Suddenly, she laughed. Key furrowed.

"Like you would do something as stupid as that while Taemin is just feet away from us." she used her lips to point at Taemin.

Key's eyes turned to her lips but immediately looked away. He cleared his throat and blinked several times. He fixed his composure and then smirked.

"Wanna try me?" he wanted it to sound menace, but it came out sounding sexy.

Jewel gulped.

"Hyung!" they both jump. "What are you doing? Why is your face so close to noona's face?" Taemin asked innocently.

He caught them with Key's face so close to Jewel. Key's right hand holding her arm.

"Eh? Ahhh.." Key doesn't know what to say. "Ahhh..I...ahm..There was something in her eyes. I was trying to blow it off. Right Jewel? Right?" Key looked at Jewel with say-the-truth-and-your-dead look.

"Eh? He-he. Yeah!" she blinked her left eye many times. "I think it's gone! Great job, perv...Key!" she lied along and patted Key's shoulder.

Taemin was still staring at them. They both laughed nervously.

"Oh! I thought you were trying to kiss."

O_O --> Key and Jewel.

Key cleared his throat. "Alright! Let's go! You're hungry, right? I'll take you to your favorite restaurant." Key said, changing the subject.

Taemin's eyes brightened. "Let's go! Let's go! Hmmm! Food! Food!" he licked his lips and walked again.

"Don't think you're saved. I'm totally not forgetting this." Key threatened her and walked towards Taemin, leaving Jewel behind, dumb-founded.

(JEWEL'S POV)

I regret every second of my life that I ever agreed to go out on lunch with them. I am sitting in the middle of a 5-star restaurant with Taemin and pervy.

The lights are dim, but you can clearly see everywhere. There were at least 15-20 tables covered with glamorous white and blue table cloth. The glass walls have flowing water in them. Wow. How did they do that? And when we arrived, the staff bowed and greeted us. But, if I was correct, they were looking at Key. Is it him they greeted? Oh! Come on! Why would they only welcome him? It's not like he owns this.

Everything was perfect except for one thing. I have issues with this kind of restaurant. Why? Because you need to use a knife to cut everything. Why not just use your hand? Why bother with the knife when you have hands?? Aish!

The last time I was in a 5-star restaurant was with my evil aunt. She's the one who adopted us since our selfish parents left us. The last time I checked, it didn't really go well.

There was this dish--I really don't know what it was--in front of me. I tried to pick the meat up with my hand, but my evil aunt slapped my hands. Do you notice how I think of people around me negatively? It's because they really are one. My sister is the only sane and normal person I've ever known. Well, for the record, there are only 5 people I know in my 17 years of existence. My stupid and selfish father and mother, my evil aunt, my lovely sister, and the boy.

Back to the knife. I tried using the knife along with the fork, but the meat was so hard to slice that the knife always ended up sliding on the plate, which would create a very loud clanking sound. If only the plate was a human skin, I'm sure it already has many cuts and scars.

How did they even cook this dish??!! Why is the meat so hard to slice? Is this even meat? I don't know..and I don't care. T^T

I had already used all my strength, so my hand, especially my thumb and index finger, felt numb.

I haven't even sliced a small piece yet!!!!!!!!! >O<

But I haven't given up! And you know the worst that happened? When I angrily cut the meat, it jumped off my plate and landed on the floor. My plate turned upside down, and our table was a total mess. I really received a lot of scolding at that time.

"Here's your order, sir." the waiter snapped me back to hell. Yeah. This might look like heaven to others, but this feels like hell to me.

I gulped upon seeing the dish in front of me, the knife on its side. Oh no. Meat again? Somebody save me from committing another embarrassment.

"Hyung! Slice mine!" Taemin asked Key with a watery mouth.

Pervy then started slicing Taemin's meat. He looked like he wasn't making any effort to cut the meat. I calmed down. It may not be hard this time.

I took the knife and the fork and started slicing the meat. But stopped.

I.can't.slice.it.

What is this??!! Again??!! Dejavu??!! What kind of dish is this??!!

But the three of us have the same dish, and pervy has finished slicing Taemin's meat without hardship.

Is the dish really the problem....or...is it just me? I frowned and stared helplessly at the meat. I sighed.

"Hyung! Cut noona's too!" Oh! Thank you, Taemin!

Pervy just shrugged like he didn't hear anything and started cutting his meat.

Aish! Yeah right! What was I expecting? He'll say, "Sure, why not" and slice mine? Pft! Maybe you forget he hates you, ohhh...I hate him, too. And that you're the girl who annoys him to death. And his only wish is to see you in great despair, which obviously, you are now!

I started slicing the meat carelessly. No use!

I slowly cut it. No progress!!

Aish! I'm already hungry. But still, I continue slicing it. I desperately slice it off, using all my effort, as you can tell.

YOU'RE JUST MEAT, AND I'M A HUMAN! I'M STRONGER THAN YOU! YOU CAN'T BEAT ME!

I'm now talking to the meat on my mind......Gosh! I really am this desperate!

I took a deep breath. I looked for the best position to slice the meat. I cornered the meat with my fork and slowly raised my right hand, holding the knife, determination on my face. I was already approaching the meat with my knife, planning to slice it off at all cost, when my plate was suddenly pulled out of sight.

What the??!! Where is it??!!

"Could you take pity on the meat? You look ready to kill it." pervy twitched his lips. He looks at me like I'm such a disgrace to him. Grrrrr... I was about to defend myself when a plate, which I'm sure was not mine, appeared before me. I stared at it and saw a meat already sliced into perfect pieces. This really is not my plate.

I look at pervy again and notice him slicing something on his plate. Wasn't he already done slicing earlier? I looked at his plate and saw a battered-looking meat. The meat really looks like it was poorly abused. Poor meat.

O.O!

Wait!! That's my meat! Then something came to my mind.

If that's my plate, then this plate in front of me is actually...

"What? Are you just gonna stare at the plate?" Key snapped.

I smiled.

"Thank you." I covered my mouth as the words came out without my permission. Why did I just say that?!

Pervy stopped at what he was doing. He then looked at me with narrow eyes.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

Eh? Why such a random question? I nodded in response.

He shrugged. "I figured. Eat before hunger totally eats your empty head."

>.<

Pft! He really won't last a day without insulting others. But, at least, he thought I didn't mean it when I said thank you, that I just said it because of hunger. Well, I don't even know myself. I don't know why my mouth suddenly blurted those words out in the first place. I wouldn't thank him even if he's the last person on Earth!

Hmm..but still, this is no ordinary day. There's no denying that whatever our reasons are, we just said our first Thank you to each other.