“You will stay at home today,” Eun Hee told her daughter as IU walked into the house through the back door. Luckily, there was no one waiting at the back door. Most probably they were tired of waiting or they were scolded by the neighbours that made them waiting at the front gate.

“But I have to send an assignment today,” IU complained as she didn’t want to send her first assignment late.

“No but! This is the punishment for what you have done,” Eun Hee said strictly.

IU pouted and walked to her room. She quickly landed on her cosy and comfort bed.

‘Pop’

Her phone sounded as a new message arrived. IU took her phone and read the message.

‘Ji Eun, are you home?’ Suzy asked.

‘Yeah, thanks for letting me sleep over last night,’

‘It’s okay. You should thank Yoseob sunbaenim too since he found you last night or you might be sleeping in the library. Will you go to class?’

IU smiled slightly as she read the message. Suzy was right. She should thanks Yoseob or she might be locked in the library last night. But, Suzy might be jealous if she did that.

‘As expected, I’m grounded. Can you thank him for me? ;-)’

‘Be strong, Ji Eun. Why me? Plus, I don’t think I will meet him today,’

‘You have had his number, right? Just text him,’

‘But he gave his number to you, not me,’

‘Don’t worry. Just say that my phone is seized by my mom,’

‘If you say so,’

‘Good girl J’

IU suddenly felt hungry. She didn’t take her breakfast yet. She quickly walked out of her room. While she was walking down the stairs, she noticed her mother was talking to the phone.

“When will the press conference be made?” Eun Hee asked seriously. She needed to settle this as soon as possible or Ji Eun would escape more classes.

IU saw her mother frowned as she sighed.

“How about the day after tomorrow?” Eun Hee asked again, hoping this time she could get it. Eun Hee smiled after hearing the answer.

IU suddenly felt guilty. Today, her mother didn’t go for her schedule since the reporters were still waiting outside the house. She might not go to work tomorrow too. Her career most probably was falling now and they might lose everything that they had now. All this happened because of her. However, her mother didn’t scold her. IU finally noticed that not all that she expected happened. Her mother didn’t scold her at all.

********

Kikwang locked his car through the remote control as he was walking away from his car. He quickly shoved his car key into his pant’s pocket. Suddenly, he saw a figure that he knew. It was Suzy. She looked like she was texting through her phone as she was walking to the lecture rooms’ building.  He started to notice that Suzy was wearing a wristband. Was it hurt? It must be. That was why she wore that wristband. Kikwang decided to chase her.

Suddenly, a few girls stood in front of him which made he stopped. “Oppa, can you sign this for us?” A girl said politely with a photograph of Kikwang on her hand. Kikwang looked at the girl kindly and smiled. He took the picture and signed it with the marker provided by the girls. He gave it back to the girl and smiled. He took a glance to Suzy but she was not there anymore.

“Thank you, oppa,” The girl said excitedly as she walked away with her friends, shrieking excitedly.

Kikwang sighed. He had lost Suzy and now he didn’t know whether she was okay or not.

********

“Yo, Kikwang,” Yoseob greeted as he saw Kikwang walked into the class. However, Kikwang didn’t reply him. He didn’t even look like he noticed him.

Kikwang stopped when he saw someone was standing in front of him. It was Yoseob, crossing his arms, looking at him awkwardly.

“Morning,” Kikwang greeted, smiling, trying to hide his feeling.

“Are you okay?” Yoseob asked, concerned.

Kikwang laughed, a fake laugh. “What make you ask that?” Kikwang smiled, trying to act cheerful.

Yoseob just sighed. Kikwang suddenly changed his act but he knew there was something wrong. They knew each other since middle school and he could tell that Kikwang was troubled by something or someone.

‘Pika pika’

Yoseob phone sounded. A new message arrived. Yoseob quickly read it.

‘Hello, this is Suzy. Just want to say thanks for founding Ji Eun again. Her phone is seized so she can’t thank you. She says sorry and thanks J’

Yoseob smiled reading the message. He quickly replied.

‘You are welcome. Tell her to take a good care of herself,’

‘Okay,’

Kikwang looked at Yoseob suspiciously. “Ji Eun?” Kikwang asked simply.

Yoseob shook his head. “Suzy. Can you call her IU? I prefer she is called IU,” Yoseob complained. For him, IU was a unique name and he liked it.

“Suzy?” Kikwang questioned, shocked. “Can I have her number?” Kikwang asked, sounded desperate.

“Sure,” Yoseob gave his phone to Kikwang although he was confused.

Kikwang quickly called Suzy.

*******

Suzy was in class but she was texting Yoseob. She smiled as Yoseob replied her text but a bit sad when he mention about telling IU to take a good care of herself. She was jealous but she knew she didn’t have the right to do that. Yoseob was just an idol that she liked. Suzy didn’t know what to reply next so she just replied ‘Okay,’. She sighed.

Suddenly her phone ringed. She quickly rejected the call. Whole class was looking at her.

“Miss Bae, please off your phone or turn it into silent mode,” The lecturer told Suzy strictly and continued the lecture.

Suzy sighed. Who was the person who just ruined her mood? The phone was turned into silent mode. She quickly looked at the unknown number. Who could it be? Suzy suddenly felt guilty. It might be important.

‘I’m sorry but I’m in class. What do you want to say? Is it important?’ Suzy typed and looked to the lecturer. Although she was watching the lecturer face intensely, her mind was thinking about the mystery caller. Her phone vibrated. She quickly read the message.

‘Can we meet during lunch hour at the cafeteria?’

Suzy puzzled. The mystery caller was asking her to meet at the cafeteria during lunch hour. But at that time, that place was crowded. But it might better if it was full with people, at least that person couldn’t do anything bad to her.

‘Okay, but I don’t know you,’ she replied but the mystery caller didn’t reply her after that.

*******

IU gathered all the courage that she had. She took a deep breath. She walked slowly towards her mother who was looking at the window intensely.

“Omma,” She called out softly.

Eun Hee turned to her daughter and forced herself to curve a smile.

“I’m sorry. This all happen because of me,” IU tried her best to apologise as she kept looking at the floor, playing with her fingers.

“It’s okay. It is my fault at the first place. I should never hide you,” Eun Hee said gently, not looking at her daughter. She kept looking outside the window, thinking about the past. It was her fault that she believed in that man.

“You... You are not mad?” IU asked innocently, didn’t dare to look at her mother.

“No, I’m not,” Eun Hee replied.

“I... Is there anything that I can help?” IU asked again. This started with her and she decided that she should try to end this to.

Eun Hee smiled and walked closer to her daughter. She hugged her gently.

“Do you know that I love you?” Eun Hee whispered softly.

IU kept silent. She rarely thought about it. She didn’t know what to reply.

“I’m sorry for hindering you from music. I should have known that you will eventually like it,” Eun Hee softly told her daughter, rubbing her hair softly.

IU felt awkward. Her mother rarely talked to her gently. Maybe because she rarely met her as her mother was always busy with schedule. It made them rarely talk. IU just noticed that she always following her order with complaints. She rarely understood the meaning behind all those orders. She started wondering, was all the orders for her sake.

“From now on, you can do what you like. We both will support you,” Eun Hee continued telling IU.

IU felt her eyes became teary which she couldn’t explain why. Was it because she was happy? Was it because she was sad? Or she was touched with her mother words. IU just stayed still, letting her mother hugged her.

So In looked at both women that had completed his life with a smile. Things would get better and maybe more complicated too but he knew now they were ready to face anything that came.

********

“She didn’t come to the class today, maybe because the rumour is still spreading,” A man with a dark coat told a middle-aged woman who was looking outside through the window of her office.

The woman curved a grin, a satisfied grin.

“No, they are just hiding. That is what she good at. That is what she does all the time,” The women said mischievously, still grinning.

“Hide Eun Hee. Hide. Let’s see until when you can hide,” The women whispered wickedly.

_____________________________________________________________________

I think there are too much parts in this chapter.. might be a bit confusing.. Hehe~ Hope you enjoy reading this..