"Just the thought of it made my heart flutter."

9

Krystal was sitting on a swing when someone approached her and she looked up to see Kai offering a lollipop to her.

“Thought you might want something sweet, considering you have that sad look on your face.” Kai said smiling.

“Thanks.” Krystal grabbed the lollipop and opened it.

“What are you doing here? You don’t seem like someone who lives in this area.” Kai said, sitting down beside the available swing.

“I’m not. I visited my parents in the cemetery.” Krystal said, looking straight up ahead. She could feel Kai staring at her but she doesn’t really want to look at him now.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. How ‘bout you, are you from this area?” She asked. She was actually surprised that Kai approached her considering what happened last time at the school garden.

“Yeah. By the way, I’m sorry about yesterday. The guys said I might have offended you for what I said. So, sorry.” Kai said. Krystal can’t help but look at Kai, he looks like an angel. You wouldn’t even know that behind those angelic features is a playboy. She doesn’t want to believe what the others were saying because so far, Kai hasn’t done something wrong or at least in her eyes there isn’t.

“It’s okay, I was just caught off guard.” She replied.

“Do you mind, if I ask what happened to your parents?” Kai asked. “But it's fine, if you don’t want to answer, I mean I understand that it’s not really my business.” Krystal thought about it. She hasn’t really talked about her parents to anyone except her sister, but she and Kai aren’t really close so why would she tell him? But then again, maybe if she told Kai, she would feel somehow better.

“They died on a car crash.” She started. Kai looked at Krystal and she was looking down. He didn’t actually expected Krystal to answer.

“I was 9 when they died while my sister was 15. They went to a business party that night while my sister and I stayed home. The police said that my parents’ car crashed with a big truck, they were both dead on arrival at the hospital...” Kai was looking at the sky when Krystal was talking and when he looked at Krystal again he noticed that her shoulders were shaking so he stood up and knelt in front of her.

“Hey, it’s alright. At least they’re in a safe place now and I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked you.” Kai said his hands on Krystal’s cheeks. Krystal was crying and Kai couldn’t help but think that he was comforting a little girl because Krystal looks vulnerable, like a little girl who tripped and scraped her knee but the difference was that instead of standing up again, she never did. The pain caused a big scar in her heart.

“I’m sorry.” She said while wiping her tears with the back of her hand. Kai took out his handkerchief and gave it to her.

“I shouldn’t have told you that. We aren’t even that close and I’m already talking to you about my parents.” She added. Somehow, Krystal felt better, like the weight of the whole world isn’t on her shoulders anymore and she’s actually thankful she was able to say something like this to Kai, even if they’re not really close. After a few minutes, Kai spoke.

"Don't worry, I understand." He said, looking at Krystal.

“Uh I have to go.” Krystal said, standing up.

“Okay, do you need me to accompany you home?” Kai asked. He was a bit worried. She’s Sulli’s friend after all and kind of his friend too.

“No, it’s fine. I can go home on my own. And thanks, by the way. It’s the first time that I actually talked about my parents in front of someone.” She said. It did make her feel better, and she realized that it's okay to cry once in awhile to let all your feelings out.

“Then you’re welcome. Next time something's bothering you, feel free to come to me. I’ll listen.” Kai said smiling. He was glad that he saw Krystal; he saw a different side of her. He would often see Krystal with her friends and she’s always quiet, some were even calling Krystal an ice princess because she has that icy glare especially if someone tries to mess up with her and that she’s usually cold towards others. He knew Krystal was different; she was different from all the girls that he met. There’s something about Krystal that he hasn’t figured out yet. And he wants to know what it is. Krystal smiled. Kai thought Krystal’s smile was sweet; he likes to think she’s a kid after all.

“So, uh, bye. See you at school.” Krystal said. Kai just stared at her and Krystal stared back, trying to figure out what Kai was thinking. After a few seconds, Krystal waved a hand in front of Kai’s face.

“Hey, you’re spacing out.” She said.

“Oh, sorry. So, uh, see you at school?” He said and she giggled. Krystal finds Kai cute but she won’t ever admit that to anyone.

“Okay, bye.” When Krystal already left, Kai placed a hand on his chest. Why is she so pretty?, He thought while walking on the way home, smiling like an idiot.

10

When Krystal got home, she greeted her sister before going straight to her room. She suddenly thought about Kai and she has many questions in her head. Is Kai really a playboy? Why was he so sweet to her? Why did he even approach her? Her thoughts were interrupted when her phone started ringing. She looked up the caller ID and it was Sulli.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Kai called he said you were crying?” Sulli said. Krystal was a bit shocked that Kai had called Sulli. So he cares but why?, Krystal thought.

“Oh yeah, but I’m fine.”

“You sure? Do you want to talk about it?”

“Maybe some other day, I’m tired and I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Why did he tell you?”

“Oh he said he was concerned about you and that he’s letting me know.” Krystal can’t help but feel something in her chest that she can’t exactly understand, why is she suddenly feeling like this? Krystal figured that Kai is a confusing person, she doesn’t know what Kai’s real motives are but it does make her heart flutter.

“Oh, okay. Well, I gotta go. I’m tired, I’ll talk to you later.”

“Okay, I understand, bye.” Krystal ended the call. Krystal couldn't help but smile even though she can’t exactly understand Kai at this point but maybe she’ll know in the future, of course. Krystal decided to sleep, it was an exhausting day for her.

11

After what happened on the playground, Kai and Krystal grew closer to each other and of course the others had noticed the change so during lunch break, Sulli, Amber & Luna decided to interrogate Krystal.

“Hey, what’s up with you and Kai?” Sulli asked with a teasing smile. They were in the cafeteria and surprisingly the boys weren’t with them. Ever since their hangout in the school garden, the boys had deci