(KEY'S POV)

"So.." I paused. "What's bothering you? You're not your usual self." I tried asking.

"Nothing." she answered flatly.

I smirked. "As you said, I'm not dumb."

"Why should I tell you?"

"Because I said so."

She shook her head again and sighed. Then she leaned her head on the tree and sighed once more.

(JEWEL'S POV)

Without realizing it, I started telling pervy what happened. That Jihyun and I had a fight just 2 weeks before her birthday and why we fought. But that's all I said. I haven't elaborated more on why I don't allow Jihyun and myself to have friends, and he wasn't asking either. He was just quiet and listening the whole time.

When I finished talking, I felt like a big, sharp thorn was removed from my heart. I never knew it felt this good to let it all out.

Minutes had passed since I'd finished talking, but pervy was still quiet. I turned to peek at him.

=_= ...... His eyes are closed.

Geez!! He's sleeping! That's why he was so quiet.

Sigh. I thought he was really listening.

I found myself not removing my gaze from his face. He had thick eyebrows that went along with his hair and eyes. He has high cheekbones. And his jawline-

"Stop staring. It's starting to annoy me!" he suddenly blurted out.

I hurriedly turned my head away from him.

Geez! He should have told me earlier if he wasn't sleeping, so I wouldn't have stared at him! Why was I staring at his face in the first place?? I shook my head at such a fast pace.

"I thought you were sleeping. I was just checking and making sure you're really asleep!" I tried defending myself.

"I wasn't sleeping. I was finding the right words that would suit you..." Eh?

"but I couldn't find any..." Okay?

"except one..." and that is?

"STUPID." Ouch. >.<

"You're really stupid." Does he really have to repeat it?? =_=

"I know you're stupid, but I can't believe you're this stupid." Wow. Three times in a row. >.<

"Stu-" I cut him off before he could repeat the word.

"Ya! Alright! I got it! I got your point!"

"And that is?" he asked boredly.

"That I'm stupid. >.<" I murmured.

"Tss! Stupid." Ouch. >.<

"You don't need friends?" he asked me seriously. "Then you're wrong. Friends are the ones who pull you up when you're down. The ones who push you forward when you feel like giving up. They're the only ones who think you're a good egg even though you are half-cracked. A friend holds your hand and never let go, no matter how far you are. And if you're afraid to look back, and you're uncertain of what's ahead, just look beside you, and your friend will always be there." he paused. "I need one, and I'm lucky to have four. If it weren't for them, I would be much worse than I am now." he sighed.

O.O .............................

I was in awe after he said those things.

Those words...

Did those words really come out from pervy's mouth??

......................

S...I...L...E...N...C...E...

A...W...K...W...A...R...D...

Pervy might have felt the awkwardness in the air. He cleared his throat and stretched.

"Ayyyy!! It's getting late! I better head back home." he stood up. "You should get going, too. Stupid people like you shouldn't wander alone in the night."

Tsk! A day wouldn't pass without him insulting me. Well, except for those days that he wasn't talking to me.

I was about to stand up when an outstretched hand in front of my face stopped me.

I looked up to know the owner of the hand and saw pervy. His arm was extended towards me.

"Take my hand. I'm not always this kind. Hurry before I change my mind!" he ordered.

I chuckled. Kind and arrogant at the same time??

I took his hand, but when my finger touched his, I felt something like an electric current flowing through my body. I snatched my hand back, and the electric current was gone, yet I still felt weird.

What was that...

"Aish!" I heard pervy exclaim.

Then, a hand grabbed my arm and pulled me up. I was now standing face to face with pervy. His face was too close.

Suddenly, he pushed me rather gently and cleared his throat.

"Ya! Don't stand too close to me!" he shouted at me.

Eh?????

"Ya! You're the one who pulled me up!" I yelled back.

"Shut up! I've wasted enough of my precious time here. I'm leaving." then he started walking away from me.

I just stared as he walked away. I sighed, bent my head, and kicked every stone I saw. Uh-oh! I hit that stone hard and gently kicked another stone this time.

Sigh. Somehow, when I was alone again, reality returned to me.

I stopped kicking the stone and breathed deeply as I felt hot tears wanting to escape from my eyes.

Then I heard someone laughing. I raised my head and saw two kids walking and laughing while eating ice cream. I was just staring at them. I felt the tears wanting to escape again. I bend my head again and shut my eyes close.

Then I felt someone grab my arm and pull me. I then felt my head resting on a stiff yet soft...chest? Then I was squeezed into a hug, a tight yet comforting hug. I felt a hand stroking my hair.

"Cry. Just cry. Crying does help sometimes." a familiar voice said. "Don't worry, I won't mention any of this tomorrow." Then, I was again squeezed into a tighter hug.

"Everything's gonna be alright," he assured me.

Hye sonn...Everything's gonna be alright..Sshhh...

I chuckled.

Why? Why do you have to say the exact words he said?

With that, the tears I tried to hold back started rushing down my cheeks.

(KEY'S POV)

I still wasn't far from ugly when...

"Ouch!!" Something hit my leg. I checked and saw a stone near me.

Who the hell would throw a stone on me??

I turned around and saw ugly kicking some stones.

Aish!! You!!

I was on my way back to her when she suddenly stopped kicking and took a deep breath. I furrowed.

I continued walking towards her but stopped when she raised her head. She was staring at the two kids, walking and laughing with ice cream on each hand.

I remove my gaze from the kids and look back at her. I quickened my pace to let her pay for throwing a stone at me until my footsteps slowed down.

I saw something in her eyes that I hadn't seen before.

Why?

Why haven't I seen this before? I always stare at her, but why...

Yeah. You're staring, but you're not really looking.

As I look more into her now, I notice something in her eyes. Anger, hate, hurt, fear, agony, sadness, longing. I can't name everything, but they are all such extreme feelings.

Was that what she was trying to hide with her mask?

Was she covering up what she truly felt with her smile?

A need to comfort her suddenly ran through my body. I continued walking towards her. Her head was bent down, so she hadn't really noticed me.

The moment I was near her, I grabbed her and pulled her into me. I hugged her tight. Tight enough to let her feel comforted and that she's not alone.

"Cry. Just cry. Crying does help sometimes. Don't worry. I won't mention any of this tomorrow." I hugged her tighter.

"Everything's gonna be alright." I hushed her.

Suddenly, I felt a connection between us. Like I am her, and she is me.

Maybe because I could mirror myself in her.

Maybe because we're both the same.

We both are...PRETENDERS.