-Flashback-

“She’s sitting right there, do you know her?” Seulgi pointed out.

“Nope.”

“Really? But you’ve been staring at her though for the past 30 minutes.” Seulgi tilted her head sideways and smirked playfully.

Oh my god.

“I-I uhh… I was…”

Seulgi laughed gently. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell her if you don’t want me to.” She shook her head carelessly. “Plus, you’re better than your best friend will ever be so I’m not going to hate you too.”

Hwasa shattered her attention back to the girl next to her, but the other one, instead of staring back at her eyes; she was staring at the girl sitting a few tables away from where they were standing.

Her smile dropped and her face turned serious all of the sudden, an odd expression to see on the usually friendly girl’s stunning face.

Wheein.

She’s talking about Wheein.

“I’m sorry about that; Wheein is… a bit lost at the moment.”

“I hate her.”

There was no hesitation, no pause, no pretending, and no mercy behind those cruel words. It was pure honesty and Hwasa feared for Wheein’s life.

The hatred she is seeing right now is not like any other normal ones, the hatred is strong. Hwasa can almost taste them at the edges of her own tongue.

“She’s a nice girl, Seulgi-shi. It’s just that she has been… manipulated lately.”

“Is that why you’re not talking to her anymore?”

“More or less.”

Seulgi hummed in acknowledgement.

“I know you love Wheein,” Seulgi started lowly, “but if she hurts Moonbyul, I won’t hesitate to claw her down to her own grave.”

Hwasa gulped loudly before quietly adding,

“She won’t do that, I promise you.”

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

She knows Wheein is planning something bad with that horrible Jessica girl.

She knows but she couldn’t say anything.

She hasn’t really had the opportunity to talk much lately with the slight older girl, though Hwasa misses her badly, there is no doubt; but she decided to overlook her true affections over Wheein’s unforgivable manners instead.

She has becomingly more obsess to entertain and to please her fake friends, to the point of calling people names, horrible names.

Hwasa wanted to stop her, tell her that she should cut it out. But knowing that the girl will feel attacked, Hwasa opted to see and observe from a near distant instead.

Wheein is not a small girl anymore.

She’s just going through a phase, that’s what Hwasa kept telling herself. This is not the real Wheein she is seeing. No way.

Wheein is kind, honest, warm, bright, and funny. This is a phase, it has to be.

For Moonbyul, it has been quiet lately. The girl has been spending more of her free time in the library and the leads Hwasa to make regular visits to the huge building as well for the past weeks.

But Wheein has been excessively mean to her nowadays; no wonder Moonbyul has been more strict with her private time lately. Hwasa feels bad about the older girl, she really does but Hwasa cannot help but to just watch her from afar too.

She hasn’t really found the courage yet to initiate any small talks with the stunning girl; at the end, she won’t be able to comfort her anyways.

Seulgi was always by her side though, and that was enough for Hwasa’s heart to see that at least the bear girl is there to support her.

She’ll probably going to need it more.

Because, a few days ago, she heard a chilling rumour going around the school.

Apparently, Wheein has finally decided to apologize to the older girl and as a ‘good person’ now, Wheein has asked the girl out as her prom date; not to add that she has done it publicly as well, in the school’s cafeteria, and seen by hundreds of student bodies around.

Of course, it’s a good thing, and seeing the older girl happy nowadays is always a wonderful scenery to be witnessed at every single morning.

But Hwasa is not stupid, nor is Seulgi.

The girl doesn’t really talk much with her lately, ever since their last meet up in the library.

But of course, Seulgi is only being the reasonable person as she really is. Seulgi doesn’t want to intrude her nose into someone else’s business. If she really is following her guts, she would have confronted the blonde haired girl immediately but Moonbyul begged her not to.

She was blinded by her smiles, her kind apologizing words, her romantic prom proposal, and her soft touches against the skin of her arms.

Moonbyul begged her not to hate the girl any further and Seulgi complied.

She has to. She has no choice. No matter how close they really are, Seulgi respect Moonbyul too much to betray and ignore her rare order.

Though the girl is no longer seen together with the Jessica girl, Seulgi is still filled with doubts with her sudden change of heart and she can see that Hyejin can feel it too.

They made eye contacts whenever they crossed paths but never actually stopped to have a small talk with each other anymore. It has been quite a sensitive topic to be visited.

Seulgi understands.

Hwasa is torn, of course; whether to finally accept her best friend’s unexpected conversion of attitude or to be against her, both could end up her losing her so-called sister and Seulgi couldn’t help but to feel a slight sympathy for the short haired girl, to feel suffocated instead for her.

How hard would it be to be in her shoes right now?

But speaking on her behalf, Seulgi cannot comfort her, Seulgi wouldn’t risk it; because at the same time, Seulgi is also protecting Moonbyul and she cannot bear to be distracted with another drama.

One was enough for her to handle on her own.

But at least Hwasa knows what Wheein is doing… it’s an act.

Hwasa is a smart girl; she can read people’s expressions easily, she can read people’s behaviour and the way they talk even.

All she can see from Wheein right now is her inner struggle; she doesn’t want to do it, that part Hwasa knows and truly believes.

Wheein is still a good person, in there. She just has to dig deeper.

But still, the smiles she portrayed, the good behaviour she exposed, the small fight she had with Jessica… all of them are not real; to blind Moonbyul away from her true motive.

Hwasa feels sad, and disgusted even with her friend’s intentions

How could she do this?

How cruel can you be?

And despite her anger towards the girl, Hwasa couldn’t help but to think; ‘I could stop this.’

She could stop Wheein right now and ask her to stop whatever things she is doing right now.

Wheein will listen because no matter how important the social popularity really is to her; she knows Wheein will choose her over everything, as she will do the same for Wheein.

So, what’s stopping her?

What stopping her from confronting her best friend at the first place?

It was obvious, isn’t it?

Her jealousy.

It’s a simple equation; Moonbyul likes Wheein and Wheein doesn’t like her back. But Hwasa likes Moonbyul and the older girl doesn’t even know that she existed.

Deep down, Hwasa knows… she’s jealous of Wheein for being the one who is receiving all these affections from the older girl. Wheein does not deserve it.

How could she ever fall for Wheein? Why can’t she just fall for Hwasa and forget and avoid all those troubles Wheein have caused to gain her own benefits?

Wheein is selfish, and so will Hwasa.

She couldn’t stop Wheein because she wanted Moonbyul to hate Wheein. She wanted Wheein to bully her, trick her, lie to her even because at the end, Moonbyul will be the one who’s hurting… and Seulgi will hate Wheein, and hopefully so will Moonbyul.

It’s a good plan.

It really is.

Hwasa closed her eyes tightly; what the hell is she thinking right now? This is not her. She is a good person, she tries to be. Her jealousy has eaten her alive and she can feel her soul leaving her body.

Her mind is clouded with great envy, her shoulders are heavy with guilt and bad decisions, but she didn’t stop Wheein.

She didn’t do it, right until that night - ‘the prom night’.

Seulgi came running to her, her face seen with pure anger and hatred, mixed with regret and desire to kill someone; her eyes red with unforgiving tears, her breaths shaky with curse and her hands tremor with the million feelings that came down crashing down upon their lives.

Seulgi slammed her body harshly against the cold lockers of the school’s vacant hallway.

No one was there to see this angry girl in front of her.

Students, not knowing anything, partied themselves hard in the school’s gym; no doubt, having the best time of their teenage lives, trying hard not to get caught by the teachers for sneaking in alcohols, making out at the corner of the large room away from the prying eyes, dancing in the middle of the floor with your friends and crushes surrounding you… it was supposed to a fun night.

Looking at the people having fun for the night make her sick, it reminds herself how awful she really is as a person and seeing Wheein awkwardly standing with her group of spoiled brats and friends without the presence of a particular senior on her arm is what makes Hwasa finally pushed the door open and walk pointlessly around the school’s area.

‘Are you happy with yourself now?’

Her mind is numb from thinking too much, her heart is numb from beating itself so many times without a single break, her hands are shaking from tiredness, her feet heavy with every steps she took, her vision blurred the direction she’s going to and her eyes are so heavy with unshed tears.

All of the sudden, she felt a pair of hands clutching tightly against the front of her dress and pushed her up the lockers. The cold metal made a huge impact on her back, and her feet left the ground for a few seconds before they graced themselves back to the holy floor.

She didn’t even feel the pain anymore.

“How could you do this?” Seulgi screamed at her and Hwasa couldn’t help herself but to just stare blankly in return.

“She hurts Moonbyul, Hyejin! How can you let that happen! You promised me!”

“I’m sorry.” She whispered weakly, her eyes dropped down to the tensed arms in front of her.

Seulgi became quiet and her tight grip slowly loosened.

A sudden realization washed over her. No.

“You knew, didn’t you?”

“I’m sorry.”

“You knew and you let her did it nevertheless.”

“I’m sorry.”

Seulgi pushed her body hard once again before finally releasing her firm grasp on her front as the girl took a step back, staring attentively at Hwasa’s tired face.

“Moonbyul unnie begged me not to see her.”

Hwasa looked up, not believing what she’s hearing right. How much patience does the girl actually have? She’s either very foolish or very kind.

“I swear to you… that’s the only reason why I haven’t throw punches yet at your stupid best friend.” Seulgi growled and both her hands clutching tightly into a fist. “She may have the patience Hyejin, but I don’t. What you guys have done today is unforgivable.”

“I’m sorry.”

“And you will be, for the rest of your life. You and Wheein; mark my words.”

She was right.

I could’ve stopped Wheein.

I could’ve saved Moonbyul, but she didn’t.

Because of her selfishness.

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

She cannot believe this.

Why is she the one here? Seriously, if it weren’t for Madame Jung, she’ll probably plan to kidnap the young Jung away already.

But no, she is part of this arranged marriage too. Hwasa laughed softly.

To be honest, the whole situation seems very funny to her. Finally, her best friend is going to tie a knot. The girl has been complaining ever since forever for her lack of relationships in the past. Now, instead of a lover, she’ll get a spouse in return!

Even better.

Hwasa of course, getting more worried about her. Arranged marriage is not a fun thing to experience first handed. But surely, good things will happen.

That’s what Hwasa is hoping for.

Her engagement with Solar is by far, the best thing that ever transpired in her whole dull life. Unquestionably, there were no romantic feelings between the two of them at first but how could she not fall for the woman?

Beautiful smiles, amazing personalities, and an awesome girl in general; Hwasa will cross the ocean to gain the love of the said woman if she has to.

Hwasa stared at her reflection in the mirror and let out a tiny smile to herself. She’s happy, very happy and no one could stop her. She can see her own eyes filled with happiness as she imagined herself in the arms of the loving woman.

Finally, after so many years… she can finally sing in relief.

Of course, there are pasts that she wishes to be just gone already. She has done horrible things before; but we’re all humans, we do mistakes all the time. She beats herself up for the past years, regretting and questioning every decision that she made, trying hard to never be in a relationship ever again that probably going to end up hurting the other person.

She has been living under her own prison, and her fiancée was the first one to save her.

Not even Wheein could do it.

But Hwasa loves both girls equally; and she would die if anything happen to both of them. Solar is the love of her life and Wheein is the sister she has never had.

All of them have dark pasts; and maybe, it’s time to move forward instead, rather than staying in the back.

Hwasa exited the quite huge, cream and gold coloured restroom and didn’t fail to compliment the quality of the toilet. The restaurant must be very fancy indeed to own such amazing and expensive looking public restroom.

And the hallway - oh my goodness, Hwasa feels like she’s in the living castle right now. Not that it is rare for her to see such fancy designs, but her home has been decorated by the modern stylists, very 21^st century looking house.

But this, this is precious.

The floor is polished for what seems like the wooden flooring at first, but as she looks closer, the marble tiles are actually made with an illusion of being one; but then again every few tiles forward, the floor is graced with brighter colour tiles that makes the ground look less like a dull base but still maintaining its ancient aura.

The walls are faired with dark and plain cream coloured paint, with a dark dirty white marbles engulfing each of the pillars in such beautiful and stunning manners. Each pillar is lightened up with the antique looking candles; which are actually lamps in the shape of the wax itself but Hwasa still giving props for the old yet elegant looking theme of the restaurant,

Maybe she and Solar should buy a house like this; it is in fact, looks more elegant than the modern houses, most certainly.

As she made her way slowly to the lobby of the restaurant, expecting to see her impatient best friend in the middle of the room; what she saw instead was a bit confusing.

She sees her friend, but… she’s being hugged by another woman?

‘What? What am I looking at actually?’

Hwasa cannot really see the face of mysterious woman, but god forgive her for looking at another woman other than her fiancée… that woman is super fine looking. Her back posture though very awkward looking, of course maybe for being too close and cosy with the puppy girl, but that suit!

Mother of cows, how handsome the girl can be. And that rich slightly dirty blonder hair. Oh my dear Bambi. ‘Should I leave Wheein?’ She pondered; feeling amused with the loving expression the older girl is putting on.

And then she shook her head harshly. ‘Oh my god, she’s getting married. She cannot do this!’

But before she could snatch her best friend away, suddenly both women moved away from each other and now the woman is facing her instead. Hwasa hid quickly behind the pillar closest to her, not really wanting to be discovered by the stunning stranger so soon.

‘Wait… the girl looks familiar.’

Hwasa waits a solid 5 minutes before finally reveal herself to both women.

“Solar unnie just gave me the 50% discounts gold card. We need to go like right now.” Hwasa shouted, before running off towards the exit door.

It probably saves them the embarrassment if she didn’t introduce herself.

She can hear the shorter girl’s rapid footsteps behind her, right after.

“Hyejin! You’re being rude just now!” Wheein slapped her right arm, quite strongly as they entered the parked car together.

“Well, I’m sorry. I got a text from Solar unnie, I assumed you’d want the discount as much as I do.”

Wheein rolled her eyes.

“So, who was that?”

“I didn’t get her name.” Wheein pouted.

Hwasa hesitated before she softly asked, “Tell me, who are you going to marry again?”

The shorter girl sighed, “The heir of the Moon household. Why?”

“She’s a Moon, huh?”

“She?” Wheein frowned.

“Yeah, Madame Moon’s one and only grand-daughter. Didn’t you hear the news?”

“No, I didn’t even know that the Moon household has an heir. Father said he also knows quite recently. How come I never see her pictures before?”

“The Moon household are known to have such a strong privacy.” Hwasa explained nonchalantly, gripping the steering wheel and ready to drive away.

“Oh, well. I probably won’t be seeing her tonight then.”

“Yeah…”

It couldn’t be right?

That woman…

Moon… Byul?

-End of flashback-

p/s: There you go, the 2nd part! :D now, you know how Hyejin knows who CEO Moon really is in the first place ;) and now, Seulgi's words from the previous chapter finally make sense huh?

Alright, enough of THAT drama, lets focus back on WheeByul, shall we? haha

I hope you guys enjoy this one too <3 do comments what you guys think so far and thank you for your support! <3 <3