(JIHYUN'S POV)

Since we left the school, Unnie hasn't talked to me, which worries me. She let go of me when we were out of the school gates.

Why did this happen?

Why did she have to know about this through another person?

I really wanted to tell her about me having friends, but every time I try, she'll start bringing up that no-friend rule.

"Unnie.." I tried starting a conversation.

"Shut up." she shushed me quietly, but the words struck me. The way she said it makes me want to cry.

I want to cry. T^T

"Unnie..ple-"

"Not until we reach the apartment."

"But..unnie.."

She stopped walking, but her back was still facing me.

"Didn't I tell you to shut up?! Park Jihyun, just shut up and walk! Save your explanations for later."

Judging by her tone and how she talks, she keeps in her anger. And she called me by my first name. I'm afraid. I have never seen Unnie like this before.

What should I do?

But for now, I know the best thing to do is to just do as she said, shut up.

** APARTMENT**

"Explain," Unnie said, no emotion on her voice and face.

She stared at me with her arms crossed when she was already at the sala. It was obvious that she was keeping her distance from me.

When we arrived at the apartment, I could no longer move my feet, so I stayed near the door.

"Talk. Just a while ago, you kept on trying to explain when I told you to shut up. Now that I'm letting you talk, you're not talking!" she shouted. I could feel her anger, and it stabbed my heart.

"Hah! Fine!" she started walking toward the stairs.

"Unnie...I really wanted to tell you myself about-"

"Ghad! Jihyun! I thought I already made myself clear about this issue?" she cut me off.

"Yes...but I want to--"

"You want to what?" again, she cut me off. "You want to try having friends? Jihyun! You don't know what you're talking about! You don't have even the smallest idea of what those people can do to you! They could break you! You still have no idea about the real world! You know nothing!"

What she said stabbed me really hard. Without knowing, I started talking back.

"That's because you won't let me! All my life, you've kept me from other people. You never let me cross the wall you've created between me and the real world. You trapped me just as you did to yourself! You never heard me complain because I love you. But I want to fly out! I want to break free! I want to know what the world is like! What it feels to have not just one person beside you. I wanted to know what it feels like to have friends, but you wouldn't let me!"

I never knew I had kept all these inside me all this time. This may be the right time to tell her everything. To say to her what I honestly think and feel.

"I was just protecting you-"

"You know better!" I cut her off this time. "It's because you're afraid! You're afraid to commit the same mistake you did before when, in fact, you never made a mistake in the first place! You just chose to love and trust them!"

"Trusting them was the biggest mistake I have made in my entire life! I trust them, but they left...." her eyes showed every emotion she'd been hiding all these years.

I know this conversation hurts her, but I must do this. This would be the best thing for both of us. She trapped herself in the past and needs to move on now.

"But that's not a reason to be trapped in the past. Not all people are like them. Why won't you get out of the cage and prove to yourself that there is someone out there ready to prove you wrong! Not all people just come and go!"

"I know better than you. I have experienced it myself." she was now whispering. Her eyes were wide with mixed extreme emotions.

I'm sorry, unnie. This will hurt for now, but it will heal later. I promise.

"Experience? Tell me! How many people do you know? Mom, Dad, and the boy? That's what you're boasting for? Is that the experience you're telling me? Unnie! Fly out of your cage! Don't let the past swallow you up--"

*SLAP*

I could still feel the heat in my cheeks. It hurts, but...I'm not crying. You may call me crazy, but I'm happy.

Unnie was staring at me, wide-eyed, lost for words. She was shocked at what she'd done. I looked straight into her eyes.

"Don't worry. I'm fine. I'm not mad. I'm even happy. For all the years we've been together, this is the first time I've seen you this mad. This is the first time you hurt me. But...I'm thankful because finally, you let it all out, your true emotions." I paused. "You didn't hide what you truly feel, just like what you've always been doing. Unnie...I know you've already done too much for me, but I'm asking you again this time..." I paused again. "Please...please give yourself a second chance in life. Give yourself a second chance to trust other people again, to love again. Give yourself a chance."

With that said, I ran off to my bedroom without looking back. Honestly, it shocked me how I didn't cry. Heh. I'm smiling. I am happy. She finally showed me what she truly feels.

(MINHO'S POV)

I don't know if it's a good idea to follow her, but I just felt like I had to, so I did.

And now, I heard everything.

I never meant to listen to their conversation, but I heard them fighting when I reached their door. I was worried, so I stayed.

At first, they were just talking. But then it became louder and louder till it became a shout. Then suddenly, I heard something.

Someone was slapped.

I heard murmurs, but I couldn't hear it clearly.

Silence...

Then I heard footsteps coming closer to the door where I was, so I decided to hide on the nearest tree I saw.

I saw Jewel dash off out of the house. Her breathing was deep.

Where is she going? What if she'd do something stupid? She's not that kind of person, isn't she?

I followed her wherever she went. She kept on bumping into someone, but she'd just ignore them. Not even bothering to look and say sorry. So, I decided to just do the job for her. I'm the one who kept on saying sorry to all the people she bumped into. Does she even know she's bumping someone?

I even heard one say: "Whatever fight you and you're girlfriend have, solve it! Don't just walk there and follow! Talk to her!"

I just smiled.

Geez.

She's not my girlfriend.

We're not even friends. Well, that's according to her.

We haven't fought.

And she doesn't even know I'm following her.

It had been a long walk. At last, she stopped.

At a park?

She leaned on a tree. She stayed like that while staring at nothing in particular. Only a few people are in the park because it's already late.

She covered her face with both palms and sat down underneath the tree. She wrapped her arms around her knees and rested her head there.

She needs someone right now.

I was on my way to her when I saw someone approaching her. She hadn't noticed someone was walking toward her yet coz her head was hidden in her arms and knees.

I smiled. Hmm...I guess she doesn't need me. I'll just leave. I know she's gonna be okay.

(JEWEL'S POV)

I slapped my sister.

I didn't even realize I slapped her till I saw her red cheek still marked with my slap.

I was so mad. I lost all my patience.

I felt...betrayed.

I thought everything was clear about us not allowing ourselves to have friends. I can't believe she said all those things to me. I was just protecting her! Why can't she understand! Everything was for her own good...

"It's because you're afraid!"

"Please...please give yourself a second chance in life. Give yourself a second chance to trust other people and love again. Give yourself a chance."

No! You don't understand! You haven't experienced what I've been through! If you did, I'm sure you'll understand and won't say those words!

I haven't noticed I wasn't at the 4-cornered apartment already.

Where am I? I don't know. I don't care.

Where am I heading? I don't know. Wherever my feet take me.

I don't know how long I was walking. Then I saw a big tree.

I chuckled.

A tree?

Maybe Jihyun's right after all. I'm trapped in the past.

I walked towards the tree. I leaned at it and closed my eyes shut. I was trying to prevent my tears from falling. Yeah. I still wasn't crying. Although I wanted to cry, I tried hard to prevent them from falling. As the boy said, crying doesn't change anything. It won't change the fact that we fought for the first time ever and that I slapped her.

Why does it have to happen now? Just two weeks from now would be her birthday. I'm a useless unnie. I made a bad memory for her before her birthday.

Again, the tears were fighting to escape my eyes, but I won't let it!

I sat down at the tree. I wrapped my arms around my knees and hid my head between them.

Hah! This reminds me of the day me and that boy met. It is just like that day. I was underneath a tree. I had the same position, arms wrapped around my knees and my head hidden. And I was a mess, just like now.

My reverie was cut off by the footsteps coming my way.

"Geez! I thought it was someone worth wasting my time with, but it's just an ugly, worthless creature. Tss!" I heard someone say.

I raised my head.

I chuckled. "Worthless, huh? Yeah. Then just leave." I whispered.

I hid my head again.

Then I heard someone sit behind me.

(KEY'S POV)

Mom called. She said they won't be going home...again.

It's always like this. She always calls, only to say they can't go home.

Every time my phone rings, I know it's her. She's the only one who knows my number anyway. Not even my friends know my number. I'm not a cell phone man. I only got to touch my phone when Mom called. And every time she calls, I know exactly what's the reason. They couldn't go home because there was a problem, because the company needed them, or they had to finish something and many more excuses. Tss! They're busy, but they should remember they have a son! I'm bored alone in the house, so I just walked.

Where to? Only my feet know.

I didn't notice I arrived at the park, then a big tree caught my attention.

A tree, huh? I chuckled.

Then I saw someone sitting underneath it. She's wearing our school uniform. So, she's at the same school as I am.

Gosh! What a shame! Sitting like that underneath a tree while still wearing our school uniform!

Hmmm.. Since I'm bored, why not approach her to insult her for being a big shame in the school. Kekekeke.. -_-++

As I approached, I had a clearer view of who it was.

=_=

Tsk! A blonde wavy hair? Who else has that kind of hair?

Geez! Of all people, why her?

"Geez! I thought it was someone worth wasting my time with, but it's just an ugly, worthless creature. Tss!" I talked to get her attention since her head was hidden in her arms.

She raised her head and chuckled.

"Worthless, huh? Yeah. Then just leave." she whispered and hid her head again.

Hmmm.. She's not in the mood for a catfight, huh? Did she and Minho really fight? Nah! Impossible. If it wasn't Minho, what could her problem be?

I shrugged. Since I'm bored, I'll just stay here and bug her. I sat behind her and leaned my head on the tree.

Geez. It's too silent. She's not talking.

I cleared my throat. She's still not moving.

"Ya!" no response.

"Oi!" still none.

Aissh! She's ignoring me! I bet if it was Minho here, she would be the first to start a conversation! Hmph! Thinking about it, I wasn't really talking to her these past few days. I wasn't in the mood before. And now that I'm in the mood, she's ignoring me!

"Ugly!" I poked her elbow with great force.

"AW! WHAT?!" finally. ^__^

"You're not talking," I said calmly.

"So? I'm not in the mood to talk." she glanced and hid her head again.

I just shrugged.

"You're eyes are red." I continued talking, ignoring what she said earlier. "I knew it! You've been using drugs, are you?!"

She chuckled.

Finally, she raised her head and rested it on her elbow while looking at me.

"Stop acting dumb. It doesn't suit you."

"I know, right? So what suits me? Let me guess! Aha! I know being smart, fashionable, handsome, and perfect suits me! That is so me."

She just shook her head. "No. Being pervert, arrogant, self-centered, and selfish suits you best."

"Ya!"

Hah! She could still insult me in that state of hers.

She just sighed. Unknowingly, I sighed, too.

"So.." I paused. "What's bothering you? You're not in 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.