“Don’t let any guys touch, don’t even let them look at you. You’re my baby sister I can’t let you get hurt”,

“Oppa, I know”

Naeun, a first year student at Cube high is in the charity group called ‘Apink’. She is bright and innocent but her older brother Dongwoon is a bit overprotective. He doesn’t like the fact that boys around her take peeks at her when she walks by or when erted males approach her to get her phone number. She is inexperienced in anything other than following her brother, he always does everything for her to the point she can’t order things on her own. At times where she is with her charity group doing donations and asking strangers to donate, her brother would be in the distance making sure no one will anything funny, she doesn’t know he is there because she has never caught him.

Every morning before they leave for school, they pack their bags and make their lunch. Dongwoon always warns her for the strangers that lurk by and that she should always stay close to him. It frightens to think there are such people in the world but now that she is getting older she has grown determined to overcome these issues the world contains and to try and make things on her own, without support.

Before leaving the house this morning, Naeun had a gloomy expression as slowly spreads the butter on her bread she holds in a sigh but of course her brother noticed

“Naeun, what’s wrong?” he asks lifting her chin to face him his eyes are filled with concern. Naeun replies in a low soft tone

“Nothing, Oppa. Just to think there are people in the world that could hurt me” Dongwoon lets go of her chin and pats her head

“Yeah, sad reality. That’s why I have to protect you” he said, turning away to the sink. This made Naeun’s gloomy expression turn into a bit more dreadful behaviour

“What is it?” he asks turning around still able to feel her atmosphere, finishing up with her bread Naeun stutters as she speaks putting the lid back on the container

“N-no, I-it’s just…” she pauses, her brothers eyes glued on her, Naeun turns to face him with her head down feeling regret about what she wants to ask

“Oppa” she begins, Dongwoon walks over to her to about an arm reach distance he waits for her to continue speaking

“Oppa, I… I want to walk by myself today” she says quickly, looking down and shutting her eyes in hope and yet in fright for her brothers response. Dongwoon taken back at the request was deeply hurt thinking that she doesn’t want him around anymore

“Why?” he asks in a deep voice, trying not to sound hurt by her request he stares down at her and Naeun can feel it

“I want to… be able to trust myself… by walking to school, alone” she slowly opens her eyes and slowly looks up at her brother

“Naeun, you know how dangerous the world is. It’s not safe for a girl to be out by herself” he tells her again repeating the words he says over again each day. Naeun feels the guilt build up inside of her but it doesn’t stop her from speaking

“But Oppa its daytime, my friends walk by themselves and nothing happens to them. And besides, you’re graduating next year, what will happen when I walk without you then? It’s better if I start practicing on how to deal with the world when I have the determination Oppa, I think it’s time” Dongwoon takes a step back thinking. It’s true, she needs to face the world soon otherwise she could become a lost puppy in simple areas, he exhales, eyes closed trying to think through it all. He then spoke

“You can walk by yourself today” he said slowly opening his eyes to look at Naeun. Her eyes widen at the acceptance, filled with such delight she was about to say something before he cut in “But! I will be behind you about a meter away, for today we’ll see how you go” Naeun doesn’t pout but instead had grown a large smile jumping on her brother in a tight hug

“Oh! Thank you Oppa! I love you so much!” She said in gratification, her brother smiles at her happiness but he still worries inside

“If it all goes well… you can start walking to school on your own. But on the way back we walk home together” he finishes politely shoving her off him. Naeun wasn’t disappointed she nodded as she smiled. She understood why, it becomes evening when school ends and by the times they leave school the sun would be setting, she found the sunset romantic but the rustling bushes a bit frightening.

“Of course Oppa” she smiled

On the way to school Naeun cheerfully walked her way on the sidewalk while DongWoon stayed as promised one metre away. His gaze never lost the sight of his younger sister, even if they had a close age difference DongWoon treats her like a child. He wouldn’t be able to manage her being hurt, only a couple times has he seen her cry, knees bent up to her chest crying in the cupboard, whimpering and wishing it wasn’t true, he would never want to see that again. Naeun turns a corner and DongWoon couldn’t help but run up to the edge to have her in full view again. Everything seems to be going okay, until those boys appeared…

Naeun didn’t notice at first, she was focused on the tree that had singing birds moving her gaze as she walked passed, a mother bird singing to its children. The oncoming boys heading to the rivalled school SM Town, had seen Naeun walking past. Stopping their game of kicking tricks on their soccer ball they headed over to her direction. DongWoon tensed at the scene wanting to go up to his sister to shoo the boys into another direction but he painfully held himself back, he didn’t want to not do anything but today was about his sisters strength and if anything goes wrong, if anything happens to her he will definitely step in.

The boys reach up to her stopping in front of the walkway, she now notices three good looking males that stood there innocently smiling at her, it was uneasy. The uniform she could identify was from the other school and that these boys seem to be up to no good.

“Hey” one of them spoke for all three, he was tall and his hair was dyed blonde noticeable from the dark brown growing out from his roots. Naeun politely nodded and started to walk going around the group of three, as she passed by the boys turn and start to follow her catching up after a small jog

“Hey we weren’t finished” another spoke, he appeared quite fit with natural brown hair, but Naeun ignored him and started to walk faster. Then the final one spoke “hey, where are you going? Are you going to cube high school? What a piece of junk that place is” all the three boys laughed. Dongwoon couldn’t help but clutch his hands into a fist he is really fighting hard to stand back. He catches up but still keeping that one meter distance he promised but he doesn’t know how much longer he will need to keep it, if they land one hand on her they’re dead.

The three boys still laughing quickly manoeuvre their way to catch up to Naeun again since their laughing dragged them down.

“You’re pretty” the light brown haired boy said reaching out to her hair but before he could touch it Naeun quickly swipes his hand away.

“Leave me alone” she says earning ‘ooh’s from the males, the tall blonde boy had a sleazy smile stained on his face enjoying the resisting female, looking down at his watch his eyes grew in panic.

“Oh shoot! Guys we are meant to be at the field already!” he alarmed the others

“What? What are you talking about Sehun? Aren’t we meant to be there at half past?” the light brown haired boy asked.

“It already is” he confirmed showing his watch to the others.

“Damn it” the other commented, they all look at Naeun, disappointment shrouded their faces having no more time to bother the girl.

“We’ll see you next time” the other whispered in her ear, sending a cold shiver down Naeun’s spine. The boys smirk behind her taking one last look before they all start running in the opposite direction.

“Damn coach has to make us get up so early?”

“Well, if you didn’t crash the window Kai we wouldn’t have to”,

“It wasn’t my fault! Tao distracted me!”

“How so!?” their arguing voices faded in the distance. Naeun sighs, relieved that they are gone now. While her brother in the back who was watching his poor sister being bothered by the rivalled school made him want to go up to her, hug her, comfort her and tell her they won’t bother her again but he can’t, he’ll have to wait.

Reaching the gates, Naeun turned around to see her brother walking exactly a meter away, she smiled, pleased to see that her brother kept his promise. Once he reached up to her he automatically asked “Are you okay?” a hand resting on her shoulder with his eyes examining every inch of her face, Naeun just smiled innocently at her Oppa

“Yeah I’m okay Oppa, I’m just really happy that you kept your promise and look! …” she spreads her arms wide and turns around “nothing happened to me, I’m in one piece” she chuckled. Dongwoon let a small nervous chuckle.

“So Oppa” he looks at her, knowing what she was going to ask

“Are you okay with me walking alone?” she asks looking up at him with non-intentionally large eyes, Dongwoon sighs and looks to his left at the school’s sliding gate he purposely avoids his sisters eyes he rubs the back of his neck as he tries to process her potential, she was able to stay calm around those SM Town boys, but for sure they will come back to see her again, he thought

He looks back at his sister whose large puppy eyes have changed into such seriousness. Her stern expression stares at him waiting anxiously as if she already knew what he was going to say. Dongwoon realised another sigh dropping down his arm, he wasn’t exactly sure on how to say it but

“Maybe next time, wait a bit more” he said softly hearing this Naeun’s eyes dropped “Oh,” she said,

“Okay” she replied.

Naeun really did do her best to avoid those SM boys. It’s all that schools fault! She thought. The Cube highs rivalled school contained very obnoxious students. While some of them are able to graduate with unreasonable scores they can still get into any university desired because of their wealth. While on the other hand we, Cube high have to suffer the training of education and school work as SM Town stick their noses up at us thinking a sweat in the brain is not real work. Oh really? The only sweat they break is tears when they don’t get what they want! Yeah, cube high is a public school but at least we work for something! Naeun angrily thought to herself her hand clutching into a fist and her face scrunching up in anger, she wasn’t angry at her brother but at that school, those boys, their money, ruining her opportunities

“Naeun” her brother spoke up breaking her out of her thoughts, she looks up at her brothers big and worried eyes, seeing her anger Dongwoon felt responsible for letting her down.

“We can try again, please don’t be upset with me” he said, if he was an emotional wreck tears would be flowing as he spoke but no, he instead gave her a rub on her should trying to comfort her, his eyes not leaving that sad expression. She looks back down not feeling too excited for the attempt, her motivation slowly dying because of the hatred for that school.

“No Oppa, we don’t have to go again” she said shaking her head.

“I’m not angry at you” she finished, her brother dropping down from her arm walked up to his little sister and gave her a hug that tightened quickly as she sobbed into his white blouse.

“I’m glad that you’re not angry at me, it’s okay I understand. The moment you get your motivation back, we can try once more” he said patting her head in the hug, Naeun doesn’t reply but continues to cry in his embrace, breaking his heart.

“Naeun?” a voice called out, Dongwoon looks up from hugging his sister to look ahead. A girl with brown hair dip dyed in blonde stands with her side bag stunned by the view to what she saw from a distance was true much closer up

“Naeun! What happened!?” she asks running up to her tapping her back lightly, Naeun hesitates to look back but she slowly does facing her friend but not saying anything. The girl doesn’t know what to do and looks at her brother for an explanation

“SM Town Bomi” he simply said patting his sister’s head, Bomi’s eyes widen but then glared at the name of the other school making sense. She moves closer to Naeun

“That school is stupid, don’t look twice at them. Heck many of them don’t even know their two timetables” she half-jokingly said trying to comfort her but it was slightly true. A majority of students at that school don’t understand the basics. They usually have their butlers or waiters do their work for them, the really lazy ones.

Naeun lets out a small chuckle, thinking at the small amazement of one of the boys actually being able to read a watch.

“True” she replied letting out a small smile. Her brother lets out a satisfied sigh loosening the grip he had around his sister, she’s feeling a bit better now, he thought. Out of her brothers embrace Bomi smiles at her and nods to Dongwoon asking for silent permission to take Naeun to class, he nods back. Bomi to Naeun is the only one that could be trusted other than her brother. Bomi has been there for Naeun like a second mother like her brother is a second father, she wouldn’t mind if they got married but that might not happen because—

“Bomi!” a cheer broke through the crowd. Naeun looks at her friend and watches her face go pale in shock.

“Go, Go!” she whispers shoving Naeun through a heavy crowd, entering one of the many school buildings the calls for her name disappear in the crowded block. Dongwoon watching from the gate chuckles as he observes Eunkwang search for a particular someone. Eunkwang passing from one person to another asks if they have seen the described girl. Receiving shaking heads Eunkwang sighs from the last person, he then spots Dongwoon. His smile instantly widening at the familiar sight, he calls for him waving his hand up in the air before he quickly approaches him

“Dongwoon Hyung!” he calls, the other politely smiling back with a small wave,

“Have you seen Bomi? I swear I saw her just before… is she with your sister? Can you tell me where she went?” while asking, Eunkwang glances around looking at his surroundings in hope he would spot her in any moment

“Nope haven’t seen her and my sis… should be in class now” he lied. Dongwoon knew very well that Bomi had harshly pushed Naeun into the maths block labelled ‘E’ when Naeun’s roll class is in block ‘H’, the art section a bit far from ‘E’. Eunkwang groans in disappointment, his Hyung couldn’t help him

“Ah well, thanks. I’ll see you when I see you” he said waving his hand in goodbye with a small smile looking almost normal before he runs into the gate screaming her name again.

Cautiously poking her head out of the back door of the building Bomi and Naeun head out of ‘E’ block scanning in alert at each and every corner they walk by in the school environment.

“Bomi, why exactly do you avoid Eunkwang Oppa?” Naeun asks, the question halts Bomi before she pushed through a door of the next building. Looking at the innocent girl whose head is tilted to the side, sighing Bomi explains

“Eunkwang, he is weird you know that right?” she asks, Naeun nodded

“Well, it’s not like I avoid Eunkwang… but more the fact the he keeps following us around everywhere.” Bomi states before continuing, she pushes at the door entering in.

“He is so clumsy when he tries to help and he never gets the job done. He is really only trouble that almost risked my part on the student council team. He’s like a baby it feels like he has randomly become my responsibility. Barging into meetings crying to me that someone in their group has insulted him again, the student council leaders tell me to go out and sort the problem, before my report I covered is spoken!” Bomi explains frustrated. Naeun walking besides her looks up at her friend in understanding of what Eunkwang does.

Each A-Pink meeting Naeun would notice a shadow lingering around the door or a glowing puppy seated in the classroom. Eunkwang never missed any meetings but he never signed up to be an A-Pink member either. He was only there for Bomi. Naeun knew that, Eunkwang’s obvious admiration towards her fellow friend was at first adorable. But now Eunkwang does this too often, he is not getting the recognition he wanted but he doesn’t know that. Blinded by love Eunkwang is an idiot around Bomi, Naeun had witnessed it. When Eunkwang is with his group of friends, he looks almost… leadership worthy, powerful and bright. But the moment Bomi is in his radar he turns into a love struck puppy. It could be that Bomi is too focused on her studies that she doesn’t give Eunkwang a second look. Instead Eunkwang’s actions affect her achievements to have on her school record that is why he Eunkwang leaves off a bad impression towards her.

It’s almost too sad to have the idea of a one-sided relationship in mind. Eunkwang likes Bomi, there is nothing blunter about that but Bomi doesn’t even feel the emotions or see the signs that Eunkwang puts around when with her. She could be stupid as well.

“Here we are Naeun” Nauen shakes up out of her thoughts, looking up to see the flat levelled art building with it’s cheap sign of letters carved in the wood. Since when did they reach up here? She must’ve been thinking too deep that she never realised, it’s a habit. When following her brother around Naeun feels comfortable enough to go into deep thoughts about others, being a little Sherlock.

“Oh, right” she spoke still a bit stunned about the teleportation from one block to another. She should wake up a bit more. Bomi places a hand on her shoulder and Naeun looks up at her

“If you need anything just remember to call, alright?” she suggests, Naeun smiles

“Yeah I know. I really like this phone you and Oppa gave me” she said taking her phone out from her pocket. Dongwoon had given her a phone last week the first two numbers were her brother and Bomi. The silver slick phone that fits right in her palm had a key chain of a small brown fluffy bear attached to it, a little something extra from Bomi.

Bomi and Dongwoon had talked it over about the responsibility and how it would be a great tool for Naeun if she ever got in trouble. Saving up, Dongwoon was able to afford it with a bit of help from Bomi. Naeun remembers Dongwoon sighing the moment the two girls squealed over the cuteness of the bear not understanding the whole idea and saying it was such a girly thing he should not get involved with. It was time to get her a phone anyway

“He did a really good job for picking out the brand” Bomi commented, moving closer next to Naeun to get a good view of the front. Why don’t they just date? Naeun thought to herself

“Bomi there you are!” oh that’s right, Naeun answered to her own thought forgetting about the other boy. Bomi froze feeling a shiver go down her spine, her eyes widen and it looks as if time had stopped except for those three. Witnessing her face pale again Bomi slowly turns around to look at a panting Eunkwang standing up straight with a satisfied smile an arm stretched over his head blocking the sun with little visible glaze of sweat forming. Such an interesting sight that was, he was always eager to greet her in the mornings but never this eager

“Oh hello Eunkwang” Bomi greets as she tries to hide the terrified expression on her face, the sound of her voice coming out formal and cold. Eunkwang obviously not noticing or caring greeted back

“Good morning Bomi! How are you today?” he asks, glad to make a conversation

The bell rings for the second time and without out a warning Bomi instantly turns to Naeun and bids her good bye before hastily walking past Eunkwang. Blinking for a split second he turns and follows her with a cheery smile on his face.

“Ah~ Bomi has so many crushes and she doesn’t even notice” Naeun sighed to herself, her friend did have many eyes turning to her, her brother not being one of them she wouldn’t be surprised if he did. But Bomi has done so much for her like a second mother, she kind of hopes that Dongwoon and Bomi get married in the future.

Entering her classroom, Naeun sits at her occasional seat facing the board with two of her classmates up front writing on the blackboard with white chalk. A long sliding underneath the writing finalises what they have written: SM Troublemakers.

“Now before the teacher comes, can anyone tell us why we do not talk or have any kind of relationship with SM Town?” one boy asked. Everyone in the classroom who was meant to be reading some sort of novel or study lifted their heads to the title on the board a grin appearing on each of their faces

“Because they’re idiots!” one shouted from the opposite side of the room. Hearing the comment earned giggles from the students and a smile appearing on Naeun’s face

“Yeah! Anything else?” the boy asked writing the word ‘idiot’ on the board around the title

“They can’t think for themselves!” a girl spoke out, looking to her right was a girl from that famous group ‘4 minute’, Sohyun, reason for their title was because they became popular in the first four minutes of being together and they throw the best parties that start getting crazy under the first four minutes

“They can’t plan anything for themselves” she added, the boy turning about pointing the chalk at her agreeing before he wrote that on the board

“They don’t work hard!”

“They are rude, looking down on us like we are some piece of junk!”

“They think so high and mighty of themselves for being rich and having lawyers!”

“Having no respect for others!”

“They don’t mind their own business!”

“They stick their noses into our school just to laugh!”

All these attacked the board harshly, the boy writing vigorously on the blackboard with a grin on his face overflowing the board with words of insults. The boy encourages his classmates to bring up more ideas that got the room fired up, students hitting their fists on the desks, others screaming pointing as they harshly say something. It was terrifying to see how much hatred there was in just one classroom, any moment now Naeun could imagine them walking out with lit torches to ambush the other school. It didn’t bother her much, she agreed herself; they were bad, horrid, selfish people, the kind that her brother warned her about. Those that would “take advantage of you if you let your guard down for a split second!” his words repeated in her head. Those thoughts frightened her, it was probably better if she walked to school with her brother for the remaining years.

The teacher walked into a loud crazy room of roars and senseless behaviour, the students have gone wild. The teacher roars louder than a lion to quiet the room, those students who have stood on the tables and loosened their ties stood frozen. Those girls who were showing a battle face returned back into a human appearance, even her friend, Namjoo sitting next to her moved back into her seat and fixes up her uniform before looking down in shame. The teacher yelled at all his students and they started to feel disappointment rise up inside. The boy at the board had his punishment set out for him as he too was frozen in place.

I guess this was another morning for Naeun, a little more rage than usual but with a large reminder to why they don’t interact with that arrogant school.

A/N

it's been a while since my last update, but could you tell the future here? If not then you don't have to worry (it will come in all good time) ;)
Thank you for reading!
And feel free to comment your opinions!