After a few minutes had passed by, Chaerin finally calmed down and got out her sister’s arms. The sudden loss of warmth made her whole body feel lost. Her eyes were red and swollen, the bags had already started to form, and her make-up was all over her face. Her sister helped her up and took her into the bathroom.

“It’s okay, I can do this by myself, Harin-ah. Just… Just go home.” Chaerin weakly pushed the younger girl away from her and went into the bathroom, making sure to lock the door.

When she got out the bathroom she expected the apartment to be empty and spotless. She was right. There was no sign of her younger sister.  Chaerin made her way into the kitchen area, to grab herself a glass of water and medicine. Her body couldn’t help but feel so strange. It’s like she wanted Harin to still be there. Her mind was hopeful as her eyes wandered around.

“Empty,” she sighed.

Her head dropped on the counter as her body leaned forward. No medicine could take away the pain in her head and heart. Cold fingers suddenly made contact with her head. Someone was massaging it and it felt wonderful. The blonde closed her eyes and fell back onto the mysterious person.

“You tell me to leave but your eyes tell me to stay. I can’t leave you like this. I need you. You need me. We are family.” Her eyes shot open, she was shocked but at the same time relieved that it was just her sister and the fact that she didn’t leave her alone. She’s matured too much.

“This… This is dangerous. What will d-d-da-uh Mr. Lee say about this?” She turned around and held onto her sister’s wrists. Not too rough though.

“He doesn’t know about me being here unnie.” Harin shyly looked down. She knew her sister would be glaring at her right now. She knew it would be a scary sight, even though she has only seen it once. Chaerin was her father’s daughter. No matter how much that man wanted to separate himself from Chaerin, there was too much of him in his eldest daughter. It was one reason why he hated looking into her eyes.

“Go back home. Go back so things can be like they were before.”

“Oh you mean broken? Back to when mom and I cry every night thinking of you? Back to when dad never came home on your birthdays? Back to when everyone was growing sick.” Harin grew courage, well more like anger she had kept in for a long time.

“Sick?” Chaerin looked at Harin with a shocked expression.

“A month back, dad passed out and he has been in a coma ever since. Why do you think I came here for you? I know everything so can everyone please stop sugar coating it for me. You might think he hates you but you are his first-born unnie. He loves you. He loves us. He needs us.” Both of their eyes grew blurry.

“He needs us?” Chaerin whispered. Never in her life has she heard something so ridiculous.

“He might need you, Harin. But he doesn’t need me. He will never need me.” That bastard.

“But—“

“I want you to go back and go to them. If he wakes up tell him—“ Karma’s a “never mind.”

“Mom misses you.”

“I miss her too.”

“Let’s go see her… Pleaseeee.” Harin grabbed her sister’s hand and gave it a good squeeze.  Should she? Should she not? How could she tell her sister no? Hell, she missed her mother too much.

“I know a great café.” She ended the sentence with a grin.

While Harin excused herself to call their mom, Chaerin got ready once again. She dug deep into her closet and grabbed the outfit she wore when she ran away from home, her signature look. It was a slightly faded black leather jacket, with scars all over it, from experience and memories. Then she wore her sky blue ripped jeans, they weren’t always ripped. She opened up a tiny box and put on the ring her mother secretly gave her before she left. ‘Something to remember us by’ she said.

She took a look in the mirror. Memories hit her so hard, but she wanted them to hit her mother more.

---

The Lee sisters entered the café one after another. Harin told Chaerin that their mother would meet them there. Chaerin was super nervous. It’s been years since she’s seen her. Did she age? Was there any white in her hair? Was she healthy? Questions that took the blonde into deep thought.

“Welc—Oh you are back Pretty Blonde!” Bom ran up to Chaerin and gave her a big hug, she looked like she needed it too. Harin just stared at the duo in confusion.

“Hey Bom, this is my… uh.. s-s—“ suddenly saying the word sister was so hard for Chaerin. Through all the torture from her father and the separation, she had never introduced someone as her sister.

“Lee Harin, her sister.” The youngest of the three gave the redhead a bow, which was returned.

“Park Bom, her friend.” She couldn’t help but give the youngest Lee a bear hug as well.

“I like her,” Harin grinned as she mouthed to Chaerin. Oh no, she’s a ert.

“You smell good Bom unnie~” Harin suddenly held the eldest closer to her. Blush appeared on Bom’s face.

“Heh heh… Thank you Harin-ah,” Bom quickly pulled herself away and fixed her uniform.

Bom lead them to Chaerin’s usual table, along with getting their orders.

“You have really hot girlfriends unnie.”

“They aren’t my girlfriends, Harin. They are my friends. Just friends.” Dad would so kill us, mostly me, if he heard this or saw you right now.

The entrance bell rung and Chaerin swore she almost lost her breath. Her body worked on its own and stood up. Came in her mother, wearing elegant clothing with her hair cut in a short bob. Her hair was straightened. The hair on her right was behind her ear, showing her beautiful pearls. Chaerin watched as the woman made her way towards them. Tears were forming in both of their eyes. She saw bags under her mother’s eyes. She’s so tired. One strand of grey hair, but damn she still looks so beautiful. After all these years, she’s still the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on.

Her mother was thinking the exact same thoughts. There was such shock in her eyes. Blonde hair? She was trying so hard to think of the last time Chaerin’s hair was blonde. Her daughter was much skinnier than before. Is she eating well? Her eyes traveled down to attire and she felt her heart shatter. Why would you do this to me? No years could erase the last outfit her daughter wore. It was the last time she ever saw Chaerin. Mrs. Lee ran up to her eldest daughter and gave her a hug. Chaerin didn’t respond. She couldn’t. A few minutes had passed by and her mother still didn’t let her go, she was too busy wetting Chaerin’s shoulder. Chaerin’s wall broke. Her arms slowly crawled up her mother’s sides. She still didn’t touch her though.

Stay away from my family! Don’t touch them! Her father’s words were screamed into her.

Her hands went back to her sides, well until her own mother moved them. Her body was full of goose bumps as her hands made contact with her mother’s rough, cold, rich material. Her arms wrapped around more securely. The water in her eyes was released. Even Bom was crying, but then again she was the emotional type.

“Okay okay.. That is enough of that.” Chaerin pulled herself away and wiped away her tears, along with her mothers. Which did shock the other Lee’s.

The trio sat down, in complete silence, until Bom came by with their orders. Chaerin laughed at her swollen eyes.

“M—mo—“

“Chaerin?” The trio looked up to whoever called Chaerin. It was Dara. What is she doing here?

“Dara unnie?” Harin got up and gave the older girl a hug.

“Harin-ah, it’s been a while huh?” She patted her head and looked over to Chaerin and their mother. Chaerin wanted to kill herself on the spot. One, she didn’t want to see Dara. Two, her mother knew about the love she had for the brunette.

“Hello Mrs. Lee, it’s been a while.” Dara bowed. She just waved at Chaerin, who just stared at her.

“Indeed. Why don’t you join us? Take the empty seat next to Chaerin.”

“I don’t—She is probably busy—“

“No I just came here because I was bored, but I guess it was fate.” She joked around, causing an awkward atmosphere.

15 minutes had passed by and the atmosphere was still so uncomfortable for Chaerin. She loved the women she was surrounded by, but the timing didn’t seem perfect. Meeting her mother was too early. Hearing about her father was too soon. And she should’ve never met her sister. They weren’t family anymore.

Her mother’s phone woke her.

“Who was it mom?” The youngest Lee asked.

“It was your father’s doctor. We have to go now.” Harin sadly packed her belongings along with her mother. She didn’t want to leave her sister’s side. Chaerin, also Dara, walked with them outside.

Her mother hugged her out the blue and whispered into her ear, “Please visit him Chaerin-ah.”

Those words gave her nightmares. She felt like throwing up, but all she could do was nod while looking away.

---

“I didn’t know you finally decided to meet your family.” Dara softly said, as they make their way to their dorm.

“I didn’t either.” She cracked a smile. “It felt okay though.”

“That’s good.” Dara bravely held onto Chaerin’s cold, soft hands. The blonde was too overwhelmed to push her away. They made it safely to their dorm.

Books were all over their bed, well mostly on Dara’s side. Chaerin almost tripped over a book.

“Tips and History: FASHION.” Chaerin read out loud.

“Oh sorry, I forgot to clean up. I couldn’t focus at the café with Jiyongie so I left early to do the project here.”

“He… he came here?” Her hand turned into a fist.

“No, I’m not crazy Chae. I always work best alone.”

“Good.” Chaerin mumbled. She was about to clean until it hit her. Fashion? Project? What?

“Wait is your project for our class going to be on Fashion?” Chaerin hoped it was for another class, but Dara nodded.

“Wow, so is ours.” Dara looked back at her, a little shocked.

“Really? Who’s idea was it?” Dara asked, feeling a little off.

“Mine, what about you?”

“Jiyong.” Interesting. I knew it was him who walked by us and stayed to listen to our conversation.

“He wants to steal everything of mine huh?” The blonde madly mumbled.

Chaerin began to brush her teeth as Dara sat on the toilet, while it was closed.

“So Pony is really pretty huh?” Dara asked out of nowhere. Chaerin stared at Dara through the mirror with a confused face.

“What?”

“She is really pretty right?” Dara hoped Chaerin would say no.

“Yeah you could say so.” Dara’s hands formed fists.

“What do you think about Bom?” The blonde couldn’t help but chuckle at what her friend was doing at the moment. She decided to until she explodes.

“She’s not pretty.” Dara sighed of relief.

“She is beautiful, gorgeous and have you seen her smile? I melt.” The blonde finished with a smirk. She was done brushing, so she left while Dara was still shocked.

“You don’t… like her right?” Chaerin looked into the brunette’s eyes. Why does it bother you? When you have Jiyong?

“What if I said yes?”

“I don’t like it.” She looked too adorable in Chae’s eyes as she pouted.

“Don’t worry then. I only like a certain rabbit.”

Their night ended with Chaerin teasing Dara.

I was going to post this yesterday as a Christmas gift from me, but I fell asleep in the middle of writing >< Sorry, but here it is! I haven't edited yet, so I'll fix my mistakes later when I get time :)