Jessica sat on the bed as she thought to herself, earlier, Krystal had to go home, SinB cried. Tiffany had taken care of SinB because she had frozen up, what was she supposed to do? After finding out that her little sister was pulling a prank to see her reaction. Yes, she had gotten jealous, she had gotten mad. But she made a mistake.

Sighing and rubbing her face, Jessica groaned as she tried to find an answer. She wanted to care for SinB, the kid was a great kid with the saddest backstory, but by no means was she disabled by it, in fact, the little smile SinB had was the most precious thing in the world to her. She admired how such a young child could get up again after such cruel treatment, it was both amazing and inspiring. SinB deserved better, but was Jessica better? Would she care for SinB properly?

Hearing the door open, she looked up, quickly schooling her anguished face into one of neutrality.

"You're done washing up?"

SinB nodded and went to Jessica's side, leaning slightly on the bed as she looked up at her.

"I'm sorry."

"What for?"

This was new, why would SinB be apologizing? She had done nothing wrong, in fact, if there was someone to blame, Jessica was almost certain it was Tiffany.

"For lying."

"Lying?"

SinB looked down, her hands fumbling with each other, her lower lip jutting out a little, showing her guilt.

"I lied about Krystal unnie being my mommy."

Jessica smiled a little, she was so pure, how could anyone ever hate, or hurt such an angel? Resting her hand on SinB's head softly, she patted lightly, getting her to look back up.

"It wasn't lying, it was pretend, I'm not mad."

"But you were mad earlier."

Chuckling, Jessica picked up SinB gently and set her on the bed beside her, looking her in the eyes.

"I was, but I'm not anymore."

"Th-then can I ask a favor?"

"What would that be?"

Jessica calmly brushed back a stray hair behind SinB's ear, admiring her features carefully.

"Could...could you let me sleep with you? I don't want to be alone."

SinB noticed Jessica's hesitation with the halting in her soft touches. Hurriedly she continued.

"W-well, if you don't want to, I can ask Tiffany unnie a-and-"

"We can sleep together. I don't mind."

"R-really?"

"Really."

The smile that appeared on SinB's face was enough to light the room, the childish innocence of happiness so blantanly easy to see. Smiling, Jessica patted SinB's shoulder one last time before standing up.

"Where are you going? Can I come with?"

"Oh? I need to wash up too. Ah, well I need to ask Tiff for a change of clothes, I didn't come prepared."

"I can ask for you!"

Jessica watched as SinB dashed out of the room, hearing SinB's voice faintly from outside, she chuckled to herself. Why was she thinking so hard earlier? Just seeing the child's happiness was enough to wipe all her worries away. Even if she wasn't great at parenting, she was going to do her best to keep seeing that smile.

SinB ran back in with folded clothes in her arms, presenting them before Jessica proudly.

"Tiffany unnie said that this is for pajamas! And this is for tomorrow!"

Taking them, Jessica knelt down to SinB's level. Hugging her, she held the very confused child gently.

"You're scared of being left behind. And I'm sorry the world has made you that way."

"Okay? Jessica unnie?"

"Aniya, it's nothing, wait for me here okay?"

Brushing the heavy thoughts away, Jessica went to get cleaned up. Maybe she should have the serious discussion tomorrow, after a good rest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SinB crawled under the blanket, Jessica had told her to wait. Popping her head out of the blanket again, she sat up in the bed, looking around. Krystal had gone back home, Jessica was staying over. Mistakenly, she thought that Krystal was leaving forever, and had cried.

"Pabo, why would Krystal unnie leave? Well, unless she hated me or something."

Huffing a little, SinB thought back to Umji, not wanting to toy with the idea that Krystal was acting for Tiffany's plan. Would Umji come to hate her for sticking so closely? Well, it would be annoying, not being able to play with someone else because someone kept blocking the way right? Pouting, SinB rubbed the edge of the blanket between her hands. She could give Umji just a little more space right? Suji wasn't a bad kid, not after how they spent the break today talking about where Umji could have been. Sunmi unnie wasn't bad either, she was a loyal person after all, going back to the elementary school during breaks to play together.

"What did the blanket do wrong?"

"Huh?"

Jessica gave a soft smile, pulling back the blanket to take a seat beside her.

"Oh, I was just thinking."

"Don't think too much, you won't be able to sleep then."

SinB nodded, still feeling a little awkward. Scooting under the blanket, she covered herself up to her nose with the blanket, Jessica watched with amused eyes. Pulling down the blanket to reveal SinB's face, she tsked once.

"You shouldn't sleep while covering your face, you need cleaner air in your lungs."

"But Yerin unnie always covers her face with her blanket."

"Well, try not to. Breathing the same air again and again can cause problems in the future."

SinB grinned, there it was, the small tips that Jessica gave like a mother lecturing a child. Just like the stories Umji told, just like the stories she read about. A mom was supposed to care for their child, always looking to better their future.

"Okay."

Jessica shuffled as she settled in the bed, unsure where to put her arms. She usually slept with at least one arm above her head, it was childish, but it was the only way she could sleep. Laying her arms down over the blanket for now, she reached and turned the bedside lamp off, putting the room in darkness. SinB shuffled a little closer to Jessica.

"Hm?"

"I-I...just...just making sure you're still there."

"I'm not going anywhere Eunbi ah."

"Promise?"

Jessica breathed in.

"Promise."

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wieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.....I'm too hyper for it to be 2am oooof