"She really believed it, didn't she?" Donghae problematically said leaning his jaw on his hand while sitting on the couch. He's worried that Nana really came to believe that he likes someone and it's not her. He's worried that their situation is getting more and more complicated. He sighed heavily not knowing what to do. "And whose fault do you think it is?" Eunhyuk said to his poor best friend. "If you were really planning to confess to her that time, you could've done it instead of asking stupid hypothetical questions. Aish." He added in a matter of fact. Donghae grabbed the pillow beside him and slammed his body on the couch covering his face with it.

- - -

The three girls, Nana, Raina and Lizzy has formed a circle  around Nana's table and were having a group study. They look serious at what they're doing but Lizzy was distracted. She could see through her peripheral view that Kris was staring at her. "Stop staring at me like that. You're distracting me."

"I'm not staring at you.You must be assuming." Kris said coolly with his hands on his pocket while playfully racking his chair. "Psh."

Kris smirked at his reaction. "Your hair clips suits you." Nana and Raina looked at each other when Lizzy blushed at the compliment. Nana was about to write something on her notebook when Leejoon came. "Uhm, Excuse me." He approached. "Are you going to have a training after class?" He asked Nana.

"We're not going to have a training today. Wae?"

"then can I ask you out? I just have something to tell you."

"Hm. Okay"

"What is that he's going to say? Does it really need to be said after class? Can't he say it right now?" Lizzy curiously asked. Kris put his hands behind his head before speaking. "Maybe he's going to co-.."

*blag!*

"Ah!!" He yelled in pain instead and wasn't able to continue what he's bout to say when he lost his balance and fell backwards.

"G-Gwenchanha?" Lizzy worriedly asked. "I awkwardly fell backwards with my chair. Do you think I'm okay?" Kris retorted annoyed and embarrassed at his current situation. "Aish." When Kris looked at Raina, she just mouthed 'Mianhae..' feeling guilty that she's the cause of his situation when she secretly kicked his chair in panic to stop him from completing his sentence. Well, she's just doing what she said. She doesn't want to spoil the thrill.

- - -

After class, the two girls went on their separate ways while Nana took a walk with Leejoon to the park. On their way, they've told random stories to each other and maintained a smile on their faces. If you come across them, you'll think that they're a happy couple because they look good together. When they arrive at the park, Nana immediately sat at the swing. "Are you hungry? I'll go get some food. What do you want?"

"I'll just come with you." Nana said and was about to stand up.

"No, it's okay. You must be tired from walking. Just wait here."

"Hm, okay. I'll have waffles and milk tea."

The blonde girl silently waited for Leejoon at the park. Swaying the swing and scrutinizing the place and not failing to notice the kids on the playground suspiciously looking at her with bright smiles. When Leejoon came back, they silently enjoyed their food. Right after Leejoon threw their garbage on the trash can, Nana started the conversation once again. "So what is it that you're going to tell me?"

"Uhm...about that...." Leejoon started as he stood probably two meters away from her. He suspiciously raised his hand and hesitated at first but still ended up clapping them twice. Then suddenly, the kids on the playground came towards Nana's direction. Each one of them were holding a rose that they gave to her and which she cluelessly accepted. She couldn't even count the bunch of flowers on her hand anymore. The children smiled and bowed at her. Leejoon bowed down to whisper something to the boy next to him. "Good job. You can get your ice cream on the convenient store. I already paid for it." He said patting the boy's back. The children raised a thumbs up for Leejoon and said, "Good luck!", "Komawo!" before running excitedly towards their ice cream. As soon as they left, Nana looked at Leejoon as if asking what exactly is going on. Leejoon touched his nose and cleared his voice before speaking. The reason why I asked you out, the reason behind those flowers and why I'm standing here in front of you is because I want to tell you that...I like you. I like you Im Nana, not just as a friend but as a man." Leejoon confessed.

"It started during that first day of class and you were the very first one who smiled at me. That actually made my day. I usually didn't like going to school. But after meeting you, everything changed. You gave me a reason to wake up each morning knowing that there's something I could look up to. Don't worry I'm not going to force you to tell your answer right now. I'm willing to wait." He revealed a beautiful blue box from his pocket. "I bought this for you. I hope you like it. It's a bracelet. Keep it. If the day comes that I saw you wearing it, that means you're ready and that you're accepting me to be your boyfriend."

- - -

When Nana got home after Leejoon's confession, she immediately went in front of the mirror and tried smiling at herself. Actually, she doesn't find it really amusing or even has the power to give hope or even make someone fall in love. She couldn't help to think how or why Leejoon fell in love with her just because she's the first person who smiled at him at the first day of class. Isn't that what normal people do, be nice to everyone? She doesn't find it ridiculous. Instead she felt happy and grateful that someone appreciates her. t's just that, knowing someone likes you yet you're not sure if could give back the feeling makes you feel guilty. Leejoon is a nice guy and he deserves a girl who could love him the same way. Nana's smile gradually faded away when he facts are slowly sinking into her. She's not that girl who could love Leejoon the same way. She knows to herself that she can't return the feeling because even if she knows Donghae is in love with someone else, she's still in love with him. Nana's afraid that she'll just end up hurting Leejoon and she doesn't want that to happen. After all, she treats Leejoon as one of her close friends.

- - -

"Unnie~.." Lizzy sweetly called when Nana arrived. "I don't like the way you sound Lizzy." Nana said knowing that there's something fishy behind Lizzy's sweet voice.

"Wae~? I'm just going to ask what you and Leejoon did yesterday, hm? Tell me~..." That moment when Lizzy mentioned Leejoon's name, Nana ridiculously felt uneasy. She turned to look at Leejoon who also turned and looked at her. He smiled handsomely and mouthed 'Good morning'. She returned the smile. But deep inside she knows it's the only thing that she could return and she felt guilty. But he's still the same Leejoon who could make her feel at ease when everything seems to be in chaos, right? She couldn't be feeling like this. Exactly at that time, Uee just arrived and is on her way to her chair when she caught Nana and Leejoon smiling at each other.

"Quit smiling. It creeps me out." Uee bitterly said mostly to Nana and rolled her eyes again like always. The blonde girl didn't fail to catch her statement so she just bowed down not wanting to create more fuss.

"What's her problem?" Lizzy blurted in annoyance at Uee's actions towards Nana. "Don't  mind her Lizzy. The morning is too beautiul to be affected by some pathetic person." Raina sarcastically said as she looks at Uee. Uee chuckled mockingly at Raina's statement then she turned and glared at her.

- - -

The day started not really that well. But they're able to carry it out until they're dismissed in training. The trainees exited the music room like they're in a hurry. Nana was left back fixing her bag. When she's about to go, a notebook caught her attention on the floor. It must have been left or dropped by one of her co-trainees. She picked it up and trid to run to her friends to give it back but she stopped when she realized that they're all gone. So she just mindlessly put it on her bag and dcided to just give it back tomorrow.

- - -

After doing all her chores, Nana began checking and repacking her bag for the nest day. She dug on her bag and brought out the unnecessary things. But then the notebook that she previously picked at the music room caught her attention. She almost forgot about it since she was so preoccuppied by the things she needs to do. She looked at the notebook and curiously opened it to know who owns it. On the first page, it has a picture pasted on it who happens to be Uee. And a written title: UEE's DIARY

Of all the trainees who could possibly brings a notebook and accidentally drops it, why does it have to be Uee? Nana was about to close it when she suddenly lost her grip and another picture came out in between the pages. She picked it up to closely look at it only to find out that it's Leejoon who's in the picture. Why does Uee have Leejon's picture? Leejoon looked much younger on the picture though. Maybe it was around middle school when it was taken. Nana looked back at the picture and at the notebook on her hands. She knows she's not supposed to be intruding on someone's privacy especially, reading their diary. But there's just something bothering her and her curiosity is already killing her. So she carefully lifted the first page in hopes that by reading Uee's diary, she could understand why she's being like that to Nana and that she might also find the solution on their issue.

 - - -

All the other trainees have exited the room while Nana was left back with Uee who seems to be searching inside the room. Nana carefully walked towards Uee. "Uhm...Uee ssi..."

"I don't want to talk to you. So go away." Uee coldly said to Nana even before she could start. But the blonde girl is persistent and stayed. "A-Are you looking for this?" She said presenting a familiar notebook to Uee. Uee turned around in curiosity only to widen her eyes at the thing that Nana was holding. She aggresiveley grabbed the notebook from Nana's hand.

"Did you read it?" She asked in a shaking voice.

"N-Ne..."

Uee seems to in panic and at lost. The whole expression of her face says it so. Nana couldn't help but look at her. "Don't you dare look at m like that!" Uee yelled and caused Nana to flinch in shock. "I don't need your sympathy." She was so furious that Nana couldn't even look at her eyes anymore. "Mwo? Does it flatter you, to know that all this time, it was all because of you? I became pathetic because of you. Yes, all that you've read was true. For almost four years, I've kept my feelings for Leejoon. And finally, I've decided to break my silence and confess to him. But what happened? He rejected me and told me he's already in love with someone else. And it was you Nana. I kept on asking him why. Why isn't it me? Why does it have to be you? You know what his reason was?"

"Because I was the first one who smiled at him at the first day of class..." Nana answered or rather continued for Uee who was trying to suppress her tears. "No." Uee said opposing Nana's answer. "It was simply because it was you Nana. You're you. You're Im Nana. Now tell me, is there anything I could do with that? You, is there anything you could do with that?"

Nana didn't answer, instead she just bowed her head down. For she can't find the right answer to her rhetorical question. Uee narrowed her eyes at Nana and said, "I just hate you." She made her way out making her shoulder bump into Nana's. But as soon as she's out of the music room, her facial expression changed. It looks like she's in guilt as if she wants to take back everything that she did and said.

That's not what I meant. What I really wanted to say was....We could've been friends, Im Nana...

- - -

Nana sat on the warm couch on her sala while problematically staring at the box of bracelet that Leejoon gave her. It was still unopened. And then a sudden wave of facts flooded her mind. The other day, Leejoon confessed to her. And now, she found out that Uee was in love with Leejoon and that was the real reason why Uee hates her. At first, it was only her and Donghae who's in a complicated situation. But now, she realized that all along she's been a part of a complicated web. It's just that, the thread was never returned. Uee was in love with Leejoon but Leejoon was in love with Nana. While Nana was in love with Donghae and Donghae was also in love with someone else. And she realized that it wasn't only her that's hurting. She sighed at their hopeless situation just in time when her cellphone rings. "Yoboseyo?"

"Hello, dear! It's me~." A soft and caring voice said on the other line. "U-Umma..."

"How have you been my dear? Umma misses you already."

"Neodu bogoshipeo~." Nana said trying to sound as normal as she always do. "Mm. But you don't really sound that well my dear. Tell me, what's wrong?"

"...Umma, why do people...get hurt when they fall in love?"

"Wae? Is there anything happened between you and Donghae?"

"Annie...It' not just about the two of us."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm currently on a situation where feelings were given but not returned. The other day, a guy confessed to me but there's a girl who's in love with him. I on the other hand couldn't return the feelings 'coz I'm in love with Donghae. But even him wasn't able to give back my feelings. Umma, eotteokhae?"

"Dear, listen, okay? People get hurt and that's pretty normal. And we could say that it happens because we love someone, we care for them, and they mean something to us. When we don't get hurt because of them anymore, then that means that they don't matter to us anymore too. People come and go. They enter our life constantly and stays not until they've successfully taught us what we need to know. Unfortunately, hurting and being hurt is part of it. You just have to be either of the two or you could also be both. But also, always remember that after every pain there is happiness. You just have to bear with it for now and everything will be okay, hm?"

"Ne...Komawo, Umma..."

- - -

After a good one hour of talking to her mother about everything they could talk about, they finally decided to end the call with I love yous. Talking to her mother helped Nana to understand the situation better. But when she looked at the box in front of her once again, she felt sad knowing that she's both hurt and hurting others. She grabbed her pillow and lied on the couch tiredly.

- - -

"Hi, Raina!" Donghae greeted at Raina who just cam out of the school's gate. "Hey, Donghae ssi. Are you waiting for Nana?"

"Mm."

"Our homeroom teacher is talking to her. She might be coming out soon."

"I see."

"Uhm..Donghae ssi, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Do you like Nana?"

"Huh?" Donghae was literally surprised at Raina's direct question. "I mean, not just as a friend or an older brother. But as a man. Because if you do, you'd better tell her. You know, she's beautiful, talented and nice. It's not impossible for another guy to fall in love with her. If you don't do a move right now, she might be taken away from you." Raina looked back at the gate just in time to see Nana and Leejoon smiling and talking with each other while exiting the school premises. "Can you see what I mean?" She looked back at Donghae and saw his disapproving look at Nana and Leejoon being together like that. She couldn't help but chuckle silently. "Anyways, I have to go. Think about what I've said, okay?" She said while patting Donghae's shoulder. Donghae on the other hand, watched Nana and Leejoon waved at each other as they parted ways.

"Is he courting you?" Donghae immediately asked as soon as they got into the car. "Huh?"

"Leejoon, is he courting you?"

"...N-Ne..."

"Jinjja? Why didn't you tell me then?"

"I just thougt...I don't need to tell you anymore."

"Am I not your oppa? Don't you think I need to know?" Donghae's tone sounds like it's making her feel guilty and it annoys her.

"Then does the girl you like knows that you're here with me? Don't you think she needs to know? You think she'll like it if she knows that you're spending more time with me than her?" Nana asked in retort. Donghae paused for a while surprised seeing Nana act that way for the first time.

"Then...do you want me to go away?" That's the only time Nana got back to her senses. As if a pail of cold water was poured into her. She realized what she said and regretted spitting it out. She's worried. The thought of Donghae going away was the scariest thing ever. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way."

"I know. It's not like I'm planning to do it so." Donghae said with a slight chuckle. Honestly, he felt relieved because he's afraid that Nana's answer would be yes. Fortunately, not. But Nana still couldn't help but to feel guilty thinking that she shouldn't have said whatever she has blurted out moments ago.

"Come on beautiful, I was just joking. Smile now, hm?" Donghae tried to comfort her. But as much a she wants to loosen up and crack a smile, her body remained stiff at the lingering feeling of guilt. Donghae couldn't help to see her like that so he let his naughty side dominate him. He suddenly tickled Nana on her side. Nana flinched with a smile on Donghae's action. Seeing her reaction, Donghae used his both hands to tickle the blonde girl even more. Until the whole car was filled with crazy laughs and indistinct words which both of them couldn't even figure out. They're loving it but they stopped when Donghae lost his balance and almost fell close, inches away from Nana's face. They became stiff at their current position, stunned at how close they are with each other. They stayed like that staring at each other for good 30 seconds. Not until a passing car near their place blowed it's horn out of a sudden. That's the only time they got back to their senses and fixed themselves on their seats feeling their hearts pounding like crazy. Donghae cleared his voice awkwardly while Nana tried to finger-comb her hair behind her ears and breathe deeply at the same time. "Ah. I'm hungry. I feel like eating toasted ramen."

Is there anything like that?

"Y-Yeah..Me too. I want to eat beef salad steak."

Was that even a food?

They both tuned to  look at each other realizing the weird food names they've mentioned and ended up laughing at their own self and at each other. "Ah, whatever. Let's just go to the restaurant and pick our orders." Donghae suggested.

"Mm. I agree."