“So? Are we just gonna sit here and look at each other for the rest of our lives?” Momo blatantly said which, once again, earned her a smack on the head from, yours truly, Jihyo.

“Ow! What was that for?!” Momo had the guts to glare at Jihyo.

“Momo-yah…tsk tsk tsk…you have to know when to shut up.” Sana lectured.

Momo pouted upon hearing this and, boy, she wasn’t gonna let Sana win.

“Says the girl who slips randomly” Momo grinned.

“Wha-?! That has nothing to do with this!” Sana slammed her hands to the table. Everyone flinched, especially Chaeyoung who’s still busy arranging her thoughts.

“Sana.” Mina’s voice was as cold as the arctic.

Sana pouted and harrumphed she then mumbled something which made her and Momo bombard each other with senseless comments.

“Stupid raccoon”

“You-! Stupid shiba”

“Girl who’s hungry every now and then”

“What’s wrong with being hungry? At least, I don’t slip and embarrass myself.”

“Ha! At least I don’t scare those who I just met coz’ they thought I was a ghost.” Sana stuck her tongue out.

“That’s all-“

“You two really have the guts don’t you?” Mina was starting to get irritated.

First, she was chased. Second, they interrupted her leisure time. Third, they dragged her here. Fourth, her roommates were annoying just now. Lastly, Chaeyoung’s ignoring her! Well, not really, Chaeyoung just wouldn’t look at her in the eyes. Did she mess something up?

“Don’t tell me it’s because I wouldn’t answer that horrid question?” Mina thought. She decided to fix things up lest she can’t sleep later on.

“Chaeyoung, I’m so sorry. I just can’t answer that stupid question. Please forgive this penguin!” Mina forcefully grabbed her seatmate’s, Chaeyoung, shoulder which made the younger girl look at her.

Chaeyoung gazed at Mina rambling random things and couldn’t help but laugh.

“You’ve got no rights kiddo.” Chaeyoung heard this. She knew it was herself who said that.

She sighed and turned away from Mina.

“Chaeyoung?” Mina furrowed her brows.

Amidst all this drama, the two seemed to have forgotten that they were surrounded by seven people.

“You think they remember were here?” Dahyun asked.

“Dunno, don’t you think there’s this tension between them?” Jeongyeon added.

 “What tension? How many kN is it? In which direction is it?” Nayeon questioned.

“What in the world are you talking about?” Jeongyeon stared at Nayeon. Did she hit her head or something?

“Stop with the questions.” Jihyo shushed them.

“Can’t you see we have a problem at hand?”

“How can we help if they keep on ignoring the fact that we’re here?” Tzuyu deadpanned.

“Watch this.” Jihyo pulled out her phone and played something.

“We all have so many things to worry about in life. But you know-“

Upon hearing this, Mina’s head whipped so fast you’d worry if she broke her neck.

“Yah! Who’s playing that?!”

Jihyo paused and grinned victoriously.

“You two still remember were here, don’t you?” Jihyo and the others really felt left out.

 “I still do, don’t worry.” Mina laughed it off.

“Sorry guys… because of me… “ Chaeyoung perfectly knew she’s the reason of this awkward atmosphere.

“Mind telling us what’s going on… Did Chaeyoung perhaps…” Tzuyu trailed off.

Chaeyoung looked up to Tzuyu. Did she know? No way.

“…profess her undying love to Mina-unnie?” Tzuyu smirked mischievously.

“Wha-?! I didn’t! Why would I do that?!” Chaeyoung was beet red so was Mina. She stood up from her seat in hopes that Tzuyu would get intimidated.

“Why? Coz’ you like her?” Tzuyu continued to tease.

“Shut up you tall yoda! It’s not like that!”

“Then what is it?” Tzuyu raised her brow.

“I-“

“I what?” Tzuyu pushed her luck, hoping it’ll spill the beans.

Mina was getting more worried as time passes by. Tzuyu was cornering Chaeyoung. Either Chaeyooung would open up or the girl would run away. She hoped the latter wouldn’t happen.

Chaeyoung felt cold all over her body. It was now or never. Sooner or later Mina would recognize her. The bell rang, signalling it was time to start the afternoon classes. The only ones left in the cafeteria were them. Silence ruled until Chaeyoung decided to break it. Everything was eating her up deep inside.

“I… I’m sorry Mina-unnie…”

“For what? You didn’t do anything wrong. If you did, I’d forgive you right at this moment.” Mina cheered Chaeyoung up.

Chaeyoung chuckled softly as if it was a self-derision.

“It’s not something that could be easily forgiven Mina-unnie.” Chaeyoung faced Mina and smiled slightly.

“Doesn’t the surname Son ring a bell?”

Mina used all her brain cells but to no avail, she can’t remember anything. Wait---

“It doesn’t…”

“Should I laugh or cry that you don’t know me…it’s me…the sole reason why you became an orphan.” Chaeyoung’s smile didn’t reach her eyes, tears slowly fell.

Mina’s brain short circuited. She remembered that last time she and her parents ate together. She was 11 that time. Ten years had passed, pain slowly became beautiful memories.

 “Mina-chan”

“What is Kaa=chan?” Mina looked up to see her mom. She could still remember the warmth of that smile.

“Tou-chan and I will be away for quite some time.”

“Eh? But you just came back.” Mina whined.

“Mina” Her father spoke. Those words stayed with Mina all the time. It comforted he, knowing she wasn’t alone

“There’s this girl we have to protect. Her parents had already passed… she’s all alone now. Didn’t you want a younger sister?”

“Another younger sister?” Her brother just got home from practice that day.

“Don’t you want one Kai?” Her mother asked.

“Its fine I guess. Mina’s not a handful after all.” Kai ruffled her sister’s hair playfully.

“Mou! Nii-chan stop it!” Mina pouted.

“That settles it then!” Her mom clapped.

“Kai take care of your sister while were gone.”

“Sure thing Tou-san”

When it was time to bed, her mom came to her room.

“Mina-chan, are you still awake?”

“…”

“Mina-chan”

“I am…” Mina sheepishly answered.

“Go to sleep now dear.”

“When will you and Tou-chan be home?”

“We’ll be back in a few days… together with your new sister. Be a good nee-chan, okay?”

“I will” Mina smiled at her mom. She wished she talked to her mom and dad that night.

Mina looked at the younger girl before her. Chaeyoung was a sobbing mess and Mina couldn’t help but laugh. Her parents never came home. She and her brother received news that their parents had died. After the burial, her brother told her the truth behind the war. They were one of the families that lead the so-called rebels to defeat the government. They were tasked to protect a certain family.

“Mina, if something ever happens to me… remember… don’t drag yourself in this mess. I’ll find a way, live a normal life.”

“But what about that girl Tou-chan and Kaa-chan protected.”

“I’ll make sure she gets adopted by a loving family, don’t worry.” Kai patted his younger sister’s head.

Her brother went missing two years after. Mina was left all alone but the Minatozaki family took her under their wing. She and Sana had been friends even when her parents were still around.

One night, Sana’s dad talked to Mina. Sana knew nothing. Her father didn’t want her daughter to be involved.

“Did Kai tell you?”

Mina nodded in response. Something had been bugging her through these years.

“Uhm… Kai never told me who to protect.”

Sana’s dad looked at Mina. There was no use hiding anything from her.

“The Sons, though there’s only one left.” Sana’s dad looked outside.

“The Myoui which was known for being a direct descendant of a great ninja was tasked to protect the Son that held the biggest network of information in the old world. The Minatozaki who were known for martial arts protected the Zhou family that leads the development in technology. Then there’s the Hirai whose well known for being cold-blooded mercenaries protected the wealthiest family at that time.”

“What family was it?”

Sana’s dad chuckled.

“We don’t speak their name… they were traitors after all. Many people also helped but then it was all in vain. We were defeated and now were being hunted, killed one by one.”

“Mina, do you know what the old world was?”

“…a world that was uncivilized until the world government took over but wasn’t favoured upon by the rebels so they waged war…”

“That’s what is taught in school nowadays isn’t it? But let me tell you this Mina. It was a splendid time as my grandfather told. Do you know why the world government was created?”

“I… don’t know.”

“People discovered creatures called as lovelies. They hold great power… so great that people wanted it for themselves, one lovely could, after all, make a country bow down.”

“What happened to the lovelies?” Mina couldn’t help but wonder.

“The rebels took them to a safe place and sealed their power. We weren’t really rebels; rather we wanted to keep the world as it was. Though it wasn’t perfect, at least there was happiness. That’s what my grandfather said. Wonder why lovelies could make the world bow down?”

Mina shook her head.

“They hold happiness and can also take it away leaving the world in darkness and despair.”

“Why would the world government want that?”

“So they could rule the world.”

“But it doesn’t make any sense.”

“Mina, people who don’t want power can’t ever understand people who want it. To us, all of this seems foolish but to them, it’s means something greater.”

Some humans are foolish, they don’t understand the happiness of having what was given to them. Some want power and some want peace, a never ending cycle of war.

___

A.N. That was long hahaha Hope you enjoy this. I don't even know where this story leads to and this was supposed to be light-hearted