Monday morning.

“ Oppa? You’re not feeling well?” Ah-ra gently placed her hands on Shinwoo’s forehead.

“ Yeah… I’m having palpitations. Just let me rest for a while…” Shinwoo leaned against the office chair and clutched his chest.

Ah-ra observed her brother. He was really pale and was finding it difficult to breathe. Her heart ached for him, although he was not feeling well, he still stayed up all night to finish up his admin work and at the same time designed clothes for his fashion show.

“ Oppa. You should stop. Your health is much more important. Go get some rest. I made us breakfast, but I’m rushing to school first.” she collated the paper and neatly stacked them up into a pile.

“ It’s okay. You better get going. Don’t worry about me. Just let me-" he remained obstinate.

She folded her arms and blinked her eyes.

“ Fine… I’ll go take a rest. Get going.” Shinwoo pushed his sister out of the room and shut the door in her face.

Ah-ra widened her eyes at her brothers’ actions and kicked the door gently. She then proceeded to the stairs. Coincidentally, Dal-rae was also coming out from her room.

 “ Good morning.” Dal-rae coldly greeted her little sister.

" Umm. Good morning. I'm going off." Ah-ra slung her bag on her left shoulder and proceeded to go down the stairs.

She was about to go down the steps when Dal-rae prevented her from doing so by grabbing her right shoulder. Ah-ra carefully tilted her head to the right and glanced at Dal-rae’s fine-looking hands. She didn't want to acknowledge her older sister since she didn’t want to stir up any problems.

“ Shin Ah-ra.” Dal-rae squeezed her shoulders as she called out for her little sister.

“ What is it?” Ah-ra batted her eyes but didn’t turn around to face her sister.

“ I-I…it’s nothing. Go on.” Dal-rae’s voice faltered.

Ah-ra breathed out heavily and didn’t waste any more time. Unknowingly, the bell on the amulet started to ring again. She was too busy wearing her shoes that she didn’t notice it. She tucked her hair behind her ears and ran out of the house to where Baro was waiting for her.

“ Baro!”

“ Ah-ra!” Baro yelled and happily waved at her.

“ He’s always so chirpy! I’m not sure why, but it makes me hyper.” Ah-ra thought to herself and ran to him.

Baro winked at her and beamed, showing off his cute front tooth. Like a true gentleman, he opened the car door for her and graciously bowed. For some unknown reason today, he looked unusually smart in his black and white suit. His face glowed from happiness.

“ You look so happy today… Any good news?” Ah-ra got into the car and questioned him from inside the car.

“ Umm…because you looked so happy today? Haha.” Baro laughed and shut the car door gently.

Ah-ra stared out of the car window as Baro drove. Her heart felt at ease for the first time in ten years. She couldn’t help but smile like a crazy person. Again, she started to trace a heart on the car window. It was her habit to do so, even Baro was used to it.

“ You really like drawing hearts that much?” Baro took the chance to ask her since the traffic light was red.

“ Oh? How did you know?” Ah-ra turned to look at the driver mirror, looking surprised.

“ You do it every time. It’s like a habit.” Baro replied and focused on driving.

She sighed and pouted.

“ Well, since you’re such a nice person. I’ll forgive you for lying to me about Sandeul by revealing why I’m always drawing hearts on the car window.” Ah-ra slightly tried to joke.

“ Lie?”

“ Yes? Sandeul was actually out with my sister. I guess you covered up for him so he wouldn’t be in trouble right? Haha… Cha Baro, you’re a loyal friend.” Ah-ra snickered and at the same time looked out of the window.

“ Sorry.”

“ It happened after my brother had locked my sister out of the room. He even snatched my teddy bear away from her. That made her beg and knock on the door asking for forgiveness. That day, Dal-rae asked me if she could use my hello-kitty bag to school. Since my mother had always told me to not argue with her about my things. She was afraid that Dal-rae was going to feel uncomfortable. She also said to me to not say that Dal-rae was the adopted child…” Ah-ra stopped for a while to try not to cry.

Baro kept his ears open and listened to her.

“ So I went to school for the first time with Dal-rae. I used an old bag of mine. My father had enrolled us in a prestigious school, so I was unfamiliar with it. I only had my sister. A group of kids came and started to tease us. They pointed to me saying that I was the adopted one. I thought that Dal-rae would at least try to protect me, but guess what?”

“ She told everyone you were the adopted one?” Baro tried his luck to answer her.

Ah-ra nodded and gazed at the city buildings.

“ I told Shinwoo oppa and that made him angry. So ever since then, he would always intimidate Dal-rae and protect me. That night, I cried myself to sleep. It was one of those rare days that my father actually caught me crying in my room. So he came in and gave me a hug. He then proceeded to draw a heart on my hand. It gave me comfort instantly. So I drew this heart for you. Does that answer your question?” Ah-ra grinned and used her sleeves to wipe the window.

“ For me?” Baro widened his eyes and jam breaks the car.

“ Yah! Be careful! You’re lucky there’s not much cars. Don’t think too much, I still have yet to explain why.” Ah-ra tried to calm Baro down before he thought of anything else.

“ I will. I will. Why did you draw it for me?” Baro asked trying to not act like he was curious. He was dying to know why.

“ You made me feel happy today. That’s why. At least it gives me peace. Ha… time indeed flies fast when you’re having fun. Thanks Baro.” Ah-ra didn’t wait for him to get out of the car. Instead, she got out on her own.

She knocked on the driver’s window and waved at him enthusiastically. Without wasting much time, she ran into the University vast compound.

“ Ha… Sandeul is really lucky. I guess Ah-ra is blessed with happiness because of her pure nature. If I had a sister like Dal-rae, would have gone depressed a long time ago.” Baro shook his head and drove out of the campus.

“ No! You duck! Come back here!” Gongchan yelled and hit Sandeul’s head with his bag.

Sandeul turned around and stuck his tongue out. He teased Gongchan and ran around the corridor with a picture in his hands. All of a sudden, Sandeul raised his hands up and waved the picture in the air.

“ Gongchan loves Yoona!” Sandeul screamed.

“ You and Ah-ra are the death of me! Seriously! Give it back!” Gongchan frowned and stomped towards Sandeul.

“ Fine… Yah. Where’s Ah-ra? She’s late!” Sandeul exclaimed and at the same time smacked Gongchan on the back.

“ Just because you have a new watch, you’re complaining when she’s only a few minutes late.” Gongchan rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall.

Sandeul displayed his happiness by opening his mouth so widely that everyone could see his gums. Gongchan looked at him in dismay and used his hands to shut Sandeul’s mouth.

“ You really remind me of a duck. You know, those black ones.” Gongchan joked.

“ You mean ugly duckling? It’s okay, at least Ah-ra finds me cute. Unlike you.” The cute ‘duck’ retaliated.

Ah-ra pushed her way through the corridor. Too many people were going to their classes. She had to squeeze pass everyone else to get to her lecture room. She hugged her books and kept her bag close to her body.

“ Ha. Made it.” Ah-ra announced and tapped both Sandeul and Gongchan by the shoulders.

Gongchan stared at her for a moment. He made this weird facial expression on his face. He wondered whether she still had recollection of the incident where she had accidentally blurted out her darkest secrets to him. He glanced to the side to look at Sandeul, and immediately grabbed Ah-ra by the shoulders.

“ Ah-ra.” He whispered.

“ Eung?” Ah-ra turned to face Gongchan.

“ You… do you remember?”

“ Remember what?” she confusingly answered him.

“ Nothing. Haha.” Gongchan brushed it off and ran to his usual seat.

Sandeul ‘quacked’ his way towards his girlfriend. He pouted his lips and huffed and puffed at her.

“ What’s wrong with you?” Ah-ra covered to hide her laughter.

“ You left me there to go inside the classroom with Gongchan.” Sandeul pointed to the class door.

Ah-ra caught the joke and patted his head.

“ Ah… jealousy.” She bit her cheeks and hurried to her seat.

Sandeul folded his arms and pouted. He gaited his way to sit next to Ah-ra. Finally, the trio were sitting together again after a long time. Ah-ra turned her right and left. She smacked her lips and head locked both Gongchan and Sandeul.

“ Ah. Ah. My neck.” Sandeul exaggerated and held his neck.

Ah-ra widened her eyes at the both of them and gave a huge smile.

“ The three of us have to go for lunch together today. We have to! It’s been a long time since we last laughed and joked together. I mean, it’s been awhile.” Gongchan suggested and broke away from her arms.

Sandeul looked at Gongchan confusingly. Why did he break away from Ah-ra’s arms? He raised his head up to look at the person that was taking a sit in front of Gongchan. She was sitting beside Jinyoung who was fast asleep. Probably tired from composing songs.

“ Who is she?” Ah-ra glanced at Gongchan and Sandeul while pointing to the girl.

“ Im Yoona.” Sandeul mouthed to her, trying not to make a sound.

“ I’ve never seen her before.” Ah-ra whispered to him.

“ Me either. I’ve only heard of her name. She’s apparently really popular, she’s a trainee and rarely attends school.” Sandeul replied.

Yoona had a gorgeous smile on her face. Everyone looked at her with envy. Her beauty was overwhelming. Even Ah-ra wished that she could look half as beautiful like her.

“ Don’t worry. In my eyes, you’re still pretty.” Sandeul blinked his eyes twice and turned to face the front after whispering those words in her ears.

Mr. Park entered the class with a bright look on his face.  He had good news for his class.

“ Good morning everyone. I’m glad to see all of you here. We’re only left with one month before Summer break and I’ve some good news for your seniors here. I’m very proud of them.” Mr. Park proudly announced and his eyes were on Jinyoung.

Yoona was able to see that the professor was looking at him and immediately shook him to wake him up.

“ Jinyoung-ah. Wake up.” Yoona uttered those words.

“ Oh?! What are you doing here? You’re back already?” Jinyoung expressed his shock.

Yoona grinned and pointed to him to look at the front.

“ Oh.” Jinyoung replied and gave the professor his full attention.

“ Lee Kwang-ho, Jung Jinyoung, Im Yoona, Kang Eunmi. Please report to me after class.” Mr. Park instructed.

The four seniors turned to look at each other. All of them had fear in their faces. However, many were already speculating that the four of them were the ones that had done exceptionally well in the class. Since it was their last year, they would probably be receiving scholarships.

3 hours later…

Ah-ra stood up to stretch after a long lecture. It was indeed a fulfilling lesson, she had been focused throughout the class and made sure that she did not miss out any important facts or notes. She turned to look at Gongchan who was already in Lala land. Sandeul on the other hand was pouting.

“ I’m hungry.” Sandeul lamented and started to pack his things.

Ah-ra was about to call out for Jinyoung when Yoona intercepted.

“ Jinyoung-ah, want to go for lunch together?” She sweetly suggested.

He awkwardly scratched his head and nodded. He didn’t even make the effort to look at Ah-ra who was just behind him. He could feel like she was staring at him but didn’t want to look at her. He wanted to keep a distance from her. After packing up, he walked side by side with Yoona to the cafeteria.

10 minutes later…

Ah-ra picked up her tray and waited for both Gongchan and Sandeul to pick their food. Gongchan was already done and headed towards her direction.

“ Yah. Let’s sit over there. Sandeul is taking too long.” Gongchan remarked and sat down at a empty table.

“ I’ll eat well.” Ah-ra rubbed her hands together and held the chopsticks in her hands.

“ Yah.” Gongchan tapped the table and looked around.

“ What?”

“ The other day…you called me.” Gongchan lowered his voice and signaled for her to get closer.

“ Called you?” Ah-ra widened her eyes and thought hard.

“ Yeah. You were drunk. Don’t you remember? You even cried in my arms.” Gongchan mumbled.

Ah-ra’s face turned pale. All of a sudden everything finally made sense, the person that she was talking to wasn’t Shinwoo but Gongchan. She slapped her forehead and bit her lips.

“ Did I say anything weird?” Ah-ra questioned him.

“ A lot. I almost cried with you. I would have if only I wasn’t put in a spot.  Shin Ah-ra, thanks to you, the Ahjumma thinks I’m a bully.” Gongchan complained and started to tuck in.

Sandeul finally arrived with his tray filled with food. He was already chewing on something even before he reached the table. That was how hungry he was. With his mouth filled, he quietly stuffed himself.

Gongchan leaned on his chair and peeked to see whether anyone was looking at him. No one. He stealthily dropped his spoon and made a surprised face.

“ Oh! I dropped my spoon!” he awkwardly covered his mouth and turned to look at Ah-ra and Sandeul.

“ Then you should go get it!” Sandeul raised his voice and little bits of food came out from his mouth.

Ah-ra cringed at the sight.

“ Fine~”

Gongchan puffed his cheeks and tilted his head to the right to look at Yoona. His eyes widened to see her smiling and laughing with Jinyoung. He really wanted to strike a conversation with her, to at least make her know that he existed.

Sandeul raised his head and signaled to Ah-ra with his eyes to look at Gongchan. She turned her head to look at what Sandeul was trying to make her look at. She couldn’t help but laugh at the child-like Gongchan. His eyes were filled with jealousy.

On the other hand…

“ What do you think Mr. Park is going to say to us?” Yoona questioned Jinyoung while picking up a sandwich to bite off from.

He blinked his eyes thrice and choked on the food he was eating.

“ Uh. I don’t know. Maybe, we have to plan something for graduation?” he replied.

“ Ha…It’s been a long time. You look great.” She complimented him and took another bite off her sandwich.

Jinyoung awkwardly rubbed his neck and turned to look to his left to avoid Yoona’s gaze. He caught Gongchan gawking at him but that didn’t really bother him. His eyes focused on the couple. Sandeul was happily eating and talking to Ah-ra. She laughed so hard that her eyes seemed to disappear and for the first time in weeks, he could see her white straight teeth.

“ I’m glad to see you happy. I guess I made the right decision. Now, even without me, you can be happy. Who am I to even think that I can make you happy? 15 years…you lived without me. 10 years of suffering, without me. 13 years of waiting. It comes to an end now right?” Jinyoung thought to himself and changed his attention to Yoona.

“ Hyung!” Gongchan exclaimed.

Jinyoung raised his head up to look at his junior.

“ Oh? What are you doing here?” Jinyoung asked.

“ Didn’t you say you were going to give me something?” Gongchan replied enthusiastically, trying to get the attention of Yoona.

She was oblivious and was only looking at Jinyoung the whole time.

“ Uh. Yeah. It’s in my bag. Yoona-ah, if you don’t mind. I’ll be going back to class first to get Channie something.” Jinyoung turned to her and politely bowed to walk away.

“ Oh. Ok.”

Gongchan sighed in disappointment and was dragged back to class with Jinyoung.

“ Oh? Where is Gongchan going?” Ah-ra asked and tapped Sandeul.

“ Back to class I guess. Yah, Ah-ra…Just asking, does your mother treat you well?” Sandeul popped a random question to her.

“ Hmm… it’s not that she doesn’t treat me well. She showers Dal-rae with more love because she needs it more than me. Since she’s adopted. I guess my mom didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable. That’s why my mother is a little strict with me. I’m more bonded to my father, if that’s what you want to know.” Ah-ra replied and gave extra information.

“ So you’re daddy’s daughter? Haha…” Sandeul laughed and bit his lips.

“ Princess.” Ah-ra corrected him.

“ Is Dal-rae good to you?” he questioned her again, but this time with a serious tone.

Ah-ra casted her eyes on her food and thought for a while. She shook her legs and gave a soft sigh.

“ It’s like living with a bipolar person. You know, hot at times. Cold at times. It’s like my sister is a psychopath in the making.” Ah-ra complained but made sure that she didn’t sound like she was insulting her own sister.

Sandeul only bobbed his head up and down to show that he was listening. He pitied Dal-rae so much. She was indeed a psychopath in the making. If only she knew the truth.

“ Well, I’m done. Let’s get back to class.” Sandeul stood up and picked up his tray.

Ah-ra followed suit.

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

5pm…

“ Ah… finally. This is tiring. Gongchan, Ah-ra, should we go do some shopping before going home?” Sandeul suggested and turned to look at his friends.

Ah-ra was already standing up and stretching. Whereas, Gongchan appeared to be in a daze.

“ Sure.” Ah-ra replied and hugged her bag.

Jinyoung rubbed his forehead and started to pack his things up. His eyes were hooked on to Kwang-ho, who was heading towards Mr. Park. He couldn’t help but sigh at the thought of it.

“ Jinyoung-ah, let’s go.” Yoona tapped him on the shoulders and walked off to the front of the class.

He nodded and as he was about to follow her, he slightly turned his body to look at Ah-ra. He looked around and their eyes met. He quickly turned away and looked down. He stared at his feet and walked away.

Ah-ra pouted and gave a disappointed look to him.

“ What was that for?” she blinked but shrugged it off and changed her attention to Gongchan and Sandeul.

“ Let’s go.” Gongchan announced and walked out of class.

The trio headed out of the class.

Jinyoung stared at Ah-ra’s back silhouette and hanged his head. Having to stay away from her had been a hard time for him.

“ Oh. All of you are here?” Mr. Park looked around.

All of the selected students nodded their heads. All of their faces were stiff, afraid of the news.

“ Yah…relax. It’s good news. Here are your certificates and…Jinyoungie? Could you stay back for awhile?” Mr. Park announced and dismissed the rest.

Jinyoung nodded and changed his attention to Kwang-ho. His friend gave him a pat on the shoulders, giving him encouragement. Yoona gave a weak smile before walking out of class.  The rest could only give him a look of reassurance. Mr. Park finally voiced out after the rest left the room.

“ Jinyoung-ah.”

“ Yes?” Jinyoung silently replied.

“ You’ve been offered a scholarship. Jinyoung-ah…you should go. This is a really good opportunity for you. Instead of wasting your time-“

“ I’m sorry. My answer is still the same.” Jinyoung responded and shifted his eyes.

“ Ha… I’ll give you one month. Give me your answer then. This opportunity shouldn’t be missed.” Mr. Park patted him on the shoulders before leaving the class.

Jinyoung shook his head and stared hard at the wall.

“ Is it even worth it? Going to a foreign land, wasting my precious time. Just for a piece of paper? Will the music industry judge me for that?” he thought hard and walked out of class in frustration.

The journey back home was unusually long for him today, he kept on rubbing his forehead. He unlocked the door and entered his house. There his father was setting the table up for dinner. That made him smile a bit, his father had prepared his favorite food.

“ Oh? You’re back. Come sit and eat. My son has to eat. Look at you, how are you going to get engaged when you’re so skinny.” Mr. Jung joked and pulled his son to the dining table.

Jinyoung scratched his head and his eyes sparkled at the abundant food that was on the table. He picked up his chopstick and started to dig in.

“ Jinyoung-ah. About Ah-ra Ahgasshi…” Mr. Jung tried to start a conversation.

“ Oh. What about her?”

“ This ring.” His father passed a ring box to Jinyoung.

“ Appa, you know I’m not going to engaged to her. I. I just can’t.” he shook his head and gazed painfully at the box.

His father casted his eyes on the ground and disappointedly brought his chopsticks down. He didn’t want to hear anything from his son anymore.

“ I’ve never asked you for anything. Is this simple request difficult?” Mr. Jung chided his son.

“ Appa! Ah-ra is not a toy! Have you ever considered her feelings? Oh? This is the 20^th century, not some ancient times where you would arrange marriages between two people who don't love each other!” Jinyoung flared up and closed his eyes.

“ I’m not doing this because I like it! Everyone is aware about her feelings for you! Mrs. Shin arranged this engagement for her daughter. Don’t you know that?” Mr. Jung continued.

Jinyoung rolled his eyes and spat.

“ Mrs. Shin? She’s not even fit to be a mother!” he raised his voice.

“ Why are you saying that?! Don’t be rude!” Mr. Jung retaliated.

“ Appa! What’s the use of hiding those shameful facts from me? Oh? Dal-rae. Shin Dal-rae, is Mrs. Shin love child! The Shin’s… they…they wrongfully inherited the Lee’s family business. Did you think you could hide this fact from me forever?” Jinyoung painfully uttered those words and controlled himself.

Mr. Jung dropped his chopsticks and stared at his son. How did he know?

“ I… I cried for Ah-ra all day long when I found out about it. Don’t ask me about where I get my sources. Appa…do you know? How much our Ah-ra suffered? Marrying me, won’t make her happy! I betrayed her. I made the worst possible choice of dating her sister when I fully well knew that she liked me ever since we were young.” He continued.

“ What are you talking about? This is precisely why her mother is setting this marriage up!”

Jinyoung stood up and glanced at his father.

“ Ah-ra. She was forced into lying about losing all of her memories. Her own mother did it to protect Dal-rae. 10 years! Appa! 10 years! That little girl that you knew so well, on the first day that you met her, what was her reaction? The look in her eyes when she first saw you, the way she hid behind her brother when she first saw you! It was an act! How much she would have wanted to hug you and call you Ahjusshi! 15 years of yearning…suppressed in that little girl’s mind.” Jinyoung hit his chest and painfully recalled the first time they met up at the restaurant.

His father was left stumped after hearing those news. Indeed, on the first day when he met Ah-ra. She hid behind her brother and her eyes were confused. How could someone act so well?

“ I’ll do whatever it takes to stop the engagement. Ah-ra and me are against it. So, prepare yourself for that day. Don’t place your hopes to high in the sky. You’ll just end up disappointed.” Jinyoung stomped off to his room after saying those words.

He slammed the door and jumped on his bed. He stared at the ceiling and cursed. He swore at anything he could think of, after an hour of swearing and cursing. He turned to his side and sighed. He covered his face with his pillow and tried to go to sleep.

“ I hope tomorrow is a better day for you.” He expressed himself before falling asleep.