"Gimbap."

"Tteokbokki."

"Gimbap."

"Tteokbokki."

"Stop it, both of you."

"Tell that idiot Tteokbokki is the best." SaNa declared.

"Gimbap all the way." Chris pouted, crossing his arms, making SaNa roll her eyes.

"I'm informing you for the last time." SaNa threatened in a low voice, making goosebumps appear on my skin.

"Break it up you both." Infuriated to be interrupted, they glanced up to observe InHo glaring at them.

He took his seat, making them both cross their arms and turn away.

"Taehyun didn't come, again." InHa reported. Silent nods were exchanged as everyone continued eating their lunch.

The last bell rang, signalling the end of school. I stood outside, waiting for dad to come pick us up. I scanned the parking lot and the twins were nowhere in sight.

Surprise.

"Hey Aria. Can I talk to you for a minute?" SooMin inquired, putting a hand on my shoulder with a notebook tightly clutched in her other hand.

"Umm, go ahead." I eyed her cautiously. She appeared calm but I didn't miss the sweat beaded on her forehead in this freezing weather.

"In private." She mumbled.

I scanned the parking lot. It was nearly empty as everyone left.

“Nobody’s around.” I responded in an attempt to end this conversation hurriedly.

"Please." she added.

The twins were still nowhere. I couldn't avoid her now.

“Okay.”

She walked in the direction of the school, dragging me along. "Look, I know I did wrong and I would like to make it up to you."

“SooMin, it's okay. I have to go.” I stated, attempting to break free of the deathly hold she had of my arm.

“No, no.”

We stopped in front of the girls restroom. She silently opened the door. The creaking sound resonated in my ears as I tried to keep calm.

"Here." She exclaimed, opening the notebook. "DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM THEM??" She screeched as she placed a blade at my jugular vein.

I opened my mouth to speak up but all that came out was a sound of anguish. My heart thumped with unendurable ferocity as the cold metal made contact with my skin. The symptoms of a panic attack soon caught up with me. Tears breamed in my eyes, struggling to spill out.

I looked at her with a pleading look in my eyes. Anger brewed like a wild storm in those black orbs of hers, making her appear as if she was possessed. Her hands shook as she kept the knife right at my vein. 

"SooMin." I managed to croak out. Her eyes snapped to me for a mere second before she blinked and looked away. 

I shut my eyes, waiting for her next move. Fear and adrenaline pumped through my veins. I couldn't take it. No, I didn't want to take it anymore.

"What do you think you are doing?" A manly voice boomed. I gasped at the feeling of two arms coiling around my waist, making me open my eyes.

I observed the scene around me. SooMin was lying on the floor. I struggled to get out of the grip. The person let loose and stood before me.

I blinked, getting rid of the blackness that was all about me. A stray tear rolled down my cheek as I looked at the person before me.

InHo.

"It isn't what you think it is." SooMin explained, picking herself up. She drew nearer. The mascara on her eyes, now nothing but dark lines running down her cheeks, making her look like the evil witch she is.

"Yeah?" InHo stated, gently holding my hand.

SooMin gripped his arm. He turned around, yanking her away. 

"Save it." With that said, he turned and exited the bathroom with me silently tailing behind.

~

"Are you really that dense?" His voice was like the winter air, holding all speculation.

"Huh?" 

"Tell me you didn't see her holding that stupid notebook in her hands." 

"I did." I admitted, fiddling with my hoodie strings. "Wait! How come you knew where we were?" 

"That.." He drawled out, looking anywhere but in my direction. 

"Tell me." I demanded.

"Don't you try to be the boss here." He said, taking a step forward. 

I backed away. Seeing my move, his posture relaxed. He took a seat on a nearby bench and motioned for me to do the same.

"I knew what she was doing to you from the start." He started and I froze.

"But how-"

"Let me finish." He sighed in a defeated voice. "It all started with that note right?" He questioned.

I nodded. He let out a harsh breath before continuing, "I had an idea she would do something and that time you came at our house, I saw those marks on your arm. I needed to confirm and sure enough, you winced as I grabbed your arm."

Quietness wafted through the park, giving space to the sound of howling wind. Suddenly, the world around me was becoming heavy. I wrapped my arms around myself protectively, focusing on my breathing. 

"And then you wouldn't even look in our direction. Do you know how much InHa bothered me about it?"

A throaty chuckle left his lips. "She would come to my room every fifteen minutes, showing me the list of possibilities she made." I looked at him, perplexed. 

He added, "The list of why you wouldn't talk to her."

Oh.

"The day you fainted in the restroom, I was outside."

The air escaped my lungs. I felt helpless and exposed. He was there, he should have helped me. He could have stopped her.

"I confronted SooMin and she was the one who sent that text to your brothers." He elaborated, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"It's cold. We should get going." I insisted, not wanting to elaborate everything to him.

"I know you're wondering why I didn't do anything if I knew. I told your brothers everything. That's how they had an idea and made you tell everything to them." I nodded, not trusting my voice. 

"I wanted you to stand up for yourself. He faced me. "Being bullied, threatened, tormented." I know what that feels like.

Recognition dawned on my face. I realised I was blatantly staring at him. Watching him as his eyes gleamed with the shadows of the past.

"You did well these past few days Aria." He added and a blush crept on my face, turning my cheeks crimson red.

Damn all those kdramas!

"We should go." He informed me.

We started walking to our houses. A silence stretched between us, making us aware of how much we both preferred it.

And then I realised.

Mum is going to kill me for not coming with those idiots.

            -----------------------------------