"Hanjin Shipping Corporation will be merging with Byun Enterprise through a marriage between the granddaughter of Mr Han Jin Young and the son of the late Mr Byun Yoo Han. The wedding of Ms Han Eunjin and Mr Byun Joon Suk will be held in 2 months time, with the venue still kept a secret. During a pre-arranged press conference, Mr Han and Mr Byun....."

The TV was suddenly turned off as Taeyeon and Yuri instantly turned their heads behind to look at me who was holding on to the remote control. I looked at them as I leaned against the cabinet before I scrolled down to sit on the floor. Tears were running down my cheeks but there was no sound coming out from me. Taeyeon and Yuri dashed to sit down on either side of me. 

"Eunjin-ah, gwenchana?" Yuri asked as she placed her hand on my shoulder, gripping it slightly to show that she was concerned. "Don't cry. Or maybe just cry it out loud."

"You can cry all you want. Just vent out your frustration. Then once you're feeling better, you can explain everything." Taeyeon added on.

I bended my knees, hugging them close to my chest as I covered my face with my knees. My sobbings continued as Taeyeon and Yuri remained speechless until I heard Sunny's voice.

"Crying it's not going to solve anything, Eunjin. You have to stand up for yourself. All of us know that it was a decision made without your agreement. They can't force you to marry him if you don't want to."

I took a long deep breathe before lifting my head slowly to face the 3 girls. Seeing the concerned looks in their eyes, my tears were threatening to fall again but I tilted my head up and closed my eyes momentarily.

"Halmeoni is not well. I was not aware of it at all since nobody told me. It was usually Uncle Park or Aunt Nancy who would update me about Halmeoni's well-being but since they're no longer around, no one could update me. I was only informed about it through Doctor Ahn. She told me that Halmeoni was sick for the past one week and refuses any treatment until Aunt Nancy comes home." I let out a sigh and opened my eyes. "She fell sick because she was shocked that Harabeoji had fired both Uncle Park and Aunt Nancy. To make matters worse, it seems that she's going through depression when she found out that Harabeoji had given 10% of his shares to that Byun guy."

"Mwo? Why would he do that?" Sunny asked in shock as I told her that it was so-called an agreement for the marriage to take place. "Something like a prenuptial agreement?"

I nodded my head and explained further by saying that currently, Byun Joon Suk was the second in-line to take over the company since he holds 25% of the shares while I'm only having 20%.

"This guy is up to no good. If something bad happens to your Harabeoji, he would take over the company since he's the next one in line. Anyway, I'm more worried about your Halmeoni. Aren't you going to visit her?" Yuri asked as I shook my head.

"I tried to go there a few days ago, but I was stopped by the bodyguards at the gate. They wanted to seek Harabeoji's permission before allowing me in. I left without waiting for his reply. All I can rely on now is Doctor Ahn's update everytime she goes for a house visit to check on Halmeoni."

"What is wrong with that old man? He's already dying so why can't he just leave you alone?" Taeyeon burst out in anger as Yuri tried to calm her down. "If that Byun guy manage to take over his company and kick him out of it when he is still alive, all I can say is that he deserve it."

Our conversation was interrupted by the sound of my phone ringing as I saw that it was a call from Krystal. I let out a sigh before standing up to answer it while walking slightly away from the girls.

"Yeoboseyo."

"What is going on? I've been hearing a lot of things in campus and it was not until I saw it on TV that I finally understood everything. Don't tell me you're not aware of it?"

It was clear from Krystal's voice that she was totally shocked and affected by the news.

"Krystal, calm down."

"You can't expect me to calm down when everywhere I go, everyone is giving me weird look. Some were even giving me sinister smile. People are coming up to me to ask if I was fine while others were making fun of the whole issue. They didn't know who you really are but now they do. The granddaughter of such a big establishment."

I took a deep breathe as I listened to Krystal's outburst. I knew that she was just feeling uncomfortable with the sudden attention on her. Most of her classmates and students staying around the dorm knew that me and Krystal had been going out together for the past few months since they've seen us around together.

"But I need you to calm down to listen to me. I was not aware of it too. It was unexpected."

"Unexpected? You knew that your Harabeoji had this plan all along. You were informed by Uncle Park. I told you a few times to talk things out with your Harabeoji but you keep delaying it. Now see what happens. How are you going to solve this problem when he's already telling the whole world about it?"

With Krystal's remarks and questions breathing down on me, I was starting to lose my patience as the grip on my handphone tightened.

"I'm going to find a way to solve it. This marriage is not going to happen. I just need you to trust me." I calmed myself down as I took a deep breathe. "Can we meet up later?"

"I don't think that's a good idea. It's just going to add on to all the drama that is already happening in the campus. I need to go. I have a class in 10mins time."

Without saying goodbye, Krystal hung up the call as I slumped my shoulders.

On the other end of the call,

"What did Eunjin-unnie say? Is everything going to be alright?" Sulli asked the moment she saw Krystal keeping her phone away.

"She said that she's going to find a way to handle it. I don't know. Everything is in a mess." Krystal let out a sigh.

"The least you could have done is to be more supportive instead of bombarding her with all that questions." Luna's statement caused Krystal to look at her as she frowned. "I understand that you're frustrated with the whole situation since everyone's attention is on you but it's not like this is what Eunjin-unnie wanted to happen."

"I've been telling her to talk things out with her Harabeoji but she kept ignoring it. She said that no news was good news since no one seemed to be doing anything. Now suddenly, the news is out with the whole campus finding out that I'm dating the granddaughter of Hanjin Shipping Corporation who is soon to be married to someone else. So what  does that make me look like? The spare tyre? Someone for her to spend her free time on?" Krystal expressed her inner thoughts while Sulli and Luna shook their heads.

"What's wrong with you? You know that all that is not the truth, right? It was an arranged marriage, remember? Is all this attention too nerve-wreaking for you that you can't think straight?" Luna was starting to lose her patience as the 3 girls made their way in to their classroom.

"Hey Krystal, did you break up with Amber because your new girlfriend is freaking rich?"

A question was thrown out from nowhere as Krystal turned behind to look for the source but all she saw was a group of guys laughing at her.

"Too bad that she ends up with nothing since her rich girlfriend will be marrying someone else."

Another voice commented the moment Krystal looked away. Sulli and Luna quickly stood beside her, afraid that something might happen when they saw that Krystal was clenching her fist.

"But they can still continue dating. Rich people always have more than one affair. Krystal can be her secret girlfriend."

Krystal could no longer tolerate all the nonsense that was being thrown at her as the group of guys continued laughing at their own remarks.

"I'm not her girlfriend."

Silence filled the room the moment everyone heard Krystal's outburst. Even the lecturer, who had just walked in was taken aback by her reaction.

"Ms Jung, are you okay?" He asked as Krystal bite her lips and walked up to him.

"I'm sorry, sir. Can you excuse me from the class for today? I'm not feeling that well at the moment."

The moment her lecturer nodded his head, Krystal walked out of the class, while trying to hold back her tears that was threatening to fall. Unknown to her, one of her classmate had succeeded in recording her outburst earlier.

************************

"How is she?" I asked while biting my lips when I noticed Doctor Ahn letting a sigh.

"Not getting better that's for sure."

Her reply was something that I had expected but hearing it out loud made my heart sunk. Looking over the glass window, I observed how Halmeoni was just lying down there, lifeless with her eyes closed.

"Aunt Nancy was like a younger sister to her. Their age different was only about 5yrs. They grew old together, went through a lot together. It's rare to see both of them apart so I can imagine how hurtful it was when Aunt Nancy was fired unreasonably by her husband."

I nodded my head while listening to everything that Doctor Ahn had said. We were currently at the hospital after Halmeoni fainted at home. Doctor Ahn had informed me as I rushed down but ultimately, was not allowed to enter the room as it was guarded by Harabeoji's bodyguard. All I could do was just to observe her from the outside, through a glass window. Doctor Ahn told me that Halmeoni had slipped into a coma.

"A few days ago, your Halmeoni told me that her act of refusing any medication was a form of rebel towards her husband for what he did to Aunt Nancy, Uncle Park and also to you."

"Me?" I looked at Doctor Ahn with a confused look.

"Your arranged marriage. Your Halmeoni was totally against it. She said that she would rather die than allow any of this to happen."

I let out a sigh as my eyes became warmer, a sign that my tears were getting ready to flow out. Doctor Ahn gestured me to follow her to her office.

"I should have listened to Krystal when she told me to talk it out with Harabeoji about the arranged marriage." I said to a confuse looking Doctor Ahn before I explained to her about what Uncle Park told me when he came over to my apartment. "Instead, I told her that no news was good news."

"How is Krystal taking in the news about your marriage?"

Doctor Ahn's question caused me to shake my head as I took out my handphone and played a video for her.

"Who sent you this? It's obvious that Krystal was not aware that the whole incident had been recorded. I don't think she meant it when she said that she's not your girlfriend." Doctor Ahn commented after the video ended.

"It was sent by a mutual friend of mine and Krystal. I know that she's not aware of it. Looking at the whole vidoe, it's obvious that the group of guys were teasing her on purpose with their sarcastic remarks. But technically, Krystal is right, She's not my girlfriend, because I didn't ask her to be mine. We were only in the dating process."

"Does Krystal know that you had the video?" Doctor Ahn asked as she pushed open her office door.

"I don't think so. I've not seen or receive any reply from her for the past 4 days. Her roommate, Luna, told me that Krystal was not well but stopped me from coming over to check on her. She told me that she and another roommate, Sulli, would take care of Krystal at the moment. They didn't want me to come to the school campus at the moment because of the news." I sat down at the couch as Doctor Ahn went over to prepare a cup of water for me.

"I didn't expect that you won't be allowed in to see your Halmeoni. If I had known, I won't have asked you to come here. Seriously, what's wrong with your Harabeoji? He's getting more heartless as he grew older. I'm sorry to say this but sometimes, I wish he would just rest in peace." Doctor Ahn shook her head as she took a sip from her drink.

"I tried to visit Halmeoni a few days back but was also stopped from entering the house. If Uncle Park was still around, it won't have been a problem for me. But then again, if Uncle Park was still here, I don't think Halmeoni will fall sick." 

"By any chance, do you know why Uncle Park and Aunt Nancy were fired?" Doctor Ahn said as I nodded my head.

I started narrating the story that Uncle Park had told me on the day he was fired and had gone to see me at my workplace. Doctor Ahn listened intently before shaking her head after I ended it.

"So they left on that day itself?" I nodded my head to Doctor Ahn's question. "Do you know where they went?"

"He told me that he'll be going to California to visit a friend. That's all I know." 

A knock on the door disrupted our conversation as a guy entered the room. He was wearing the same outfit as Doctor Ahn so I assumed that he was also a doctor. The guy bowed his head before walking up to Doctor Ahn and whispered something to her. I saw how Doctor Ahn's eyes widened before she went to her table to look for her phone. The guy also followed her as the two of them looked anxious at the screen of Doctor Ahn's phone.

"Eunjin, I think you need to see this." 

I stood up and Doctor Ahn pressed on the volume control of her phone as I made my way to her.

"...... was arrested at his office. Currently, Han Jin Shipping Corporation will be managed by Mr Byun Joon Suk...."

My eyes widened and my steps quickened towards Doctor Ahn, the moment I heard the news report as Doctor Ahn replayed back the delayed telecast of the news report in the video. As I continued to watch the whole video, I could feel my heartbeat rapidly beating and my mind going blank as my legs weakened. If it was not for Doctor Ahn, who managed to catch my shoulders, I would have fainted in her office.

She quickly brought me to a chair while the male doctor went to grab my drink and handed it over to me. Taking slow sips of the drink, my mind recalled the image of Harabeoji being handcuffed and dragged out of the office building by the police. The ringing of my phone disrupted my thoughts as I saw Yuri's name appearing on it.

"Eunjin!! Where are you? Did you see the news?" Yuri's voice echoed out loud in that silent room.

One hour later, I was seated inside Sooyoung's office along with Yoona, Yuri, Taeyeon and Sunny. I had briefed them about Halmeoni's condition earlier when I saw her at the hospital and also about how I got to find out the news on Harabeoji's arrest. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts after I ended the story that the room was in silence until Yoona voiced out her concern.

"Do you think someone will update Halmeoni about what had happened to your Harabeoji once she's awake?"

I shook my head and told them that Doctor Ahn had given me the assurance that Halmeoni would be kept in the dark for the moment. "I need to talk to Harabeoji to find out what actually happened. From the news report, it says that he was the one who had given the approval for the shipment of weapons to our neighbouring country. But I had a gut feeling that he was sabotaged."

"Sabotaged? By who?" Sooyoung asked but before I could reply, Yuri had already answered it.

"The only person that will benefit from the arrest of that old man is that Byun guy. Told you that he's up to no good." Yuri looked at me as if making sure that I heard her remarks.

"But we're not sure yet. We can't just point the finger at him without concrete evidence." Sunny's comments caused me to just nod my head.

"Uncle Park did mention before to me, about being careful of that Mr Byun. He says that he is suspicious of the ideas that Joon Suk is giving to Harabeoji since it doesn't look legal."

"What if your Harabeoji knew that it was illegal but because he wanted to earn more money, he agreed to everything that guy suggested." Taeyeon gave her opinion as I informed her that I will find out the truth once I visited him at the prison tomorrow. "You're going there to see him? Even after everything that he had done to you, you still want to help him?"

"What Taeng says is right. He's dying anyway. Let him rot in prison for all the bad things that he had done to you." Yuri shared the same sentiment as Taeyeon while I just let out a sigh.

"Why does the air feels so tense in here?"

All of us turned towards the owner of the voice as Tiffany and Jessica walked into the office and find some space to sit around. I noticed the look that Jessica was giving me so I looked away. 

Taeyeon and Yuri took turns to brief their girlfriends while I stared blankly to the floor. Frankly speaking, my head was in a turmoil. A lot of questions with no answers lingered in my mind as my heart felt heavier by the seconds.

"Are you okay, Eunjin? You look very lifeless and a little pale." Tiffany asked as I mustered a small smile to her and nodded my head.

"Jessica, did Krystal contact you for the past few days?" I summed up my courage to ask that question as Jessica frowned

"She did. Two days ago. Even on the day that your marriage news came out, she called me too. Honestly, I'm helpless in your situation. Yuri did told me about the conversation between you and Soojung when she called you at the workshop. I know that she's frustrated with the whole mess but at the same time, I'm not sure if I should be angry at her for her treatment towards you. Soojung has never liked to be in the centre of attraction but I have to admit that her actions lacks maturity. I guess she's not used to be overwhelm by problems. She told me herself that she has not been contacting you since that day. Am I right?"

The rest of the girls were surprised to found it out since I didn't informed them about it.

I nodded my head and said that I understood Krystal's position as I showed them the video that I had shown Doctor Ahn earlier. The girls were really surprised to see Krystal's outburst.

"I think the teasing adds on to the frustration that is building up in her. I did message Luna daily to check on Krystal and she also advised me to stay away from their dorm at the moment. I understand that it's been stressful for Krystal especially since it's her final year. If possible, I don't want to disturb her with all these problems. I think I can handle it by myself." I let out a deep sigh.

"Who sent you this video?" Sooyoung asked as I replied that the video was sent to me from Amber. "Amber? What's her intention of sending this?"

"Maybe to let Eunjin hear what Krystal had claimed.  Or maybe she's hoping to gain something from all this mess." Yoona tried to suggest.

"Whatever her plan is, I don't care. At the moment, she's the last person that I need to be worried of. There's a lot of things that I need to settle but I think I will have to do it step by step. If only Uncle Park is here to advise and help me out."

************************

Krystal's POV

"Krystal, did you see the news?" Luna asked the moment she walked into the living room as I looked blankly at her.

"What news?" I asked, with my voice a little hoarse.

I had been sick for the past 2 days, down with fever and flu. I wasn't sure if it was the stress from school or from whatever was happening but I knew that Eunjin had been asking around about me. I knew because Luna told me about it.

"Eunjin-unnie's grandfather was arrested today on suspicions of being involved in illegal shipping of weapons to the North." Luna's statement totally surprised me.

"Mwo? Arrested?" I repeated the words as Luna nodded her head before taking out her phone and showing me a delayed telecast of the afternoon news. "It looks like a sabotage plan to me though."

"Sabotage? What makes you say so?" Luna asked as I told her that Eunjin's grandfather was sick and there's a possibility that he would be dying soon.

"So it doesn't make sense that he's doing all this, right? Furthermore, from what I heard of him from Eunjin, he's someone who really cares about his company. More than his own granddaughter."

"Who would be evil enough to do such a thing to a dying man?" Luna's question caused me to frown in deep thoughts.

"Someone who will benefit from his arrest, I guess." I said as Luna let out a sigh.

"Poor Eunjin-unnie. Problems keep appearing for her since this Monday when the marriage news were released. I even read in some reports that her grandmother is currently in the hospital."

"Mwo?! Really? Where did you read it from?" I asked Luna as she started typing something in the engine search.

One of the reports stated that Halmeoni had been hospitalised a few hours before the arrest of Harabeoji but they were not able to find out the reason for her hospitalisation as it was guarded by bodyguards and also because the hospital were preventing them from finding out more.

"If I was in Eunjin-unnie's shoes, I would be feeling so helpless right now. She's really been through a lot. From young until now, she had to handle everything on her own."

Luna's words struck a chord in my heart as I was reminded suddenly of something.

"You're not going to be alone anymore. You have us now. You have me."

Those were the words that I had said to her before. A promise that I made to her. A promise that I broke myself. Letting out a sigh, I felt a trickle of tear flowing down my cheek as Luna became panicky when she saw it.

"Hey Krystal, gwenchana? Did I say something wrong?"

Shaking my head, my tears started to flow freely as Luna wrapped her arms around my shoulders, giving me a side-hug.

"You.. didn't say anything wrong. I'm the one who is in the wrong. I hurt Eunjin by not being by her side when she needed me the most."

Luna continued to pacify me as she patted my head and shushed me, asking me to calm down and stop crying.

"I shouldn't have pushed her away just because of some teasings from the students. I should have stood by her side."