No one knew why Hwamin was like this.

Only  Hwamin herself knew.

She was jealous.

She was jealous of her picture perfect sister.

Haneul was pretty, elegant and perfect at everything.

And her? She was just an ugly duckling.

No, worse than that. At least the ugly duckling turned into a beautiful swan. She was stuck in her ugly body forever.

So wherever she went, she would make her sister out to be a horrid person while she herself was the 'angel'.

But now her lies were exposed and there was nothing she could do about it.

She watched silently as Mihi crumpled under the pain she was forced to withstand.

She smirked, glad that she wasn't the one getting hit.

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Haneul was hit worse than the other time.

The healed wounds were re-opening by now. She wiped her tears and sniffed the faint scent of Baro from his jacket.

The way he had cared for her filled her heart with warmth. No one except for Sooyoung had ever treated her that well without expecting anything back in return.

Speaking of the devil, Baro called her.

"Yeobosaeyo?" Mihi whispered into the phone.

"Are you okay? You sound horrible." He asked.

"It's nothing. I'm used to it." She replied.

"Let me guess. Your mother hit you again." He frowned.

Haneul was silent.

Baro sighed. "Where are you?"

"At home." She mumbled.

"I'm coming over. Wait for me." He said sternly.

"Don't come over. Hwamin might become crazy." She begged.

"Then at least meet me." He replied.

"Alright, where?" She asked.

"At the park near school." He said.

"Okay, give me 5 minutes." Haneul hung up and sneaked out of the house.

Her parents didn't even bother to ask where she was going.

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Baro was waiting for her at a bench. Haneul walked towards him and sat on the bench, tucking her knees under her chin.

"Are you okay?" Baro asked gently.

Haneul nodded her head. She was wearing the jacket he had given her.

"Let me see the wounds." He requested.

Haneul hesitated for a moment.

"Babo, do you want to get scars?" He frowned.

Haneul bit her lip and pulled her sleeve up, revealing her arms, which were bruised and bleeding from the hitting.

Baro blinked and got out some antiseptic cream to apply on her arm.

She winced as he applied the cream gently. "Does it hurt?" He asked.

Haneul nodded slowly.

Baro sighed. "Did Hwamin tell-tales again?"

"It's the truth this time. I did cause the entire school to hate her." She mumbled.

"No, you didn't. She made the entire school hate her. Not you. She said too many lies."

"But..." Mihi sighed and rested her chin on her knees. "I'm tired. I'm tired of being accused my entire life. But there's nothing i can do."

Baro nodded. "You could get help."

"And get beaten up even worse? No thanks." She replied.

Baro sighed. "Then..."

"There's nothing i can do." Haneul muttered.

"Then why are you still holding on?" He asked curiously.

"Because i'm Sooyoung's pillar of life. She's so dependant on me she has to ask me for advice everytime. If i weren't here, she wouldn't either." Haneul explained.

Baro nodded. "You're a wonderful friend."

"Being a wonderful friend doesn't make up for anything." She replied.

"Gongchan and Jinyoung hyung, i think they'll probably do the same." He told her.

"Jinyoung seonbae seems friendlier now." She said.

"Because he's remorseful." He pulled her sleeves back down for her.

Haneul nodded. She closed her eyes and lay her head on his shoulder. "I hate my life." She muttered.

Baro felt his heart throbbing. He smiled. "Jalja."

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15th chapter. How are you all enjoying it so far? :D