Well Hello there. Without further a due, I present you your awaited chapter.

               The two sisters slowly made their way towards a bench nearby a familiar tree. Much has happened to their lives but this tree has yet to change. As everyone else crumbled under the boulders, it remained strongly rooted to the ground, refusing to tumble down under all the pressures of the world. In many ways, this creation from Mother Nature never failed to remind them that the simple things are still with them. The simple things could still put smiles on their faces or shade on a hot day or shelter from the pouring rain.

               It never felt so right to sit down over a six rack of beer. They took their seats across from each other and cracked open their refreshing alcoholic beverage. Taeyeon’s smile spoke of many expressions ranging from a comforting smile to one that held insecurities. That did not go unnoticed from the sister that sat across from her. In return, Hyoyeon smiled another type of smile. One that radiated assurance, one that said everything was going to be okay.

               “I’m glad we found this place.” Taeyeon broke the ice.

               “Yeah, me too. It’s been a little over 10 years since we first came here, huh?” Hyoyeon took a sip of her beer. “We’re all grown up but this tree has yet to change anything but its leaves.”

               “If you look at it, we’re kinda like a tree right? Each year our leaves change but we’re still the same person. We’ve grown taller and become wiser but we’re still us.”

               “I guess. Anyways, how’s everything?” Hyoyeon broke the stoning atmosphere.

               “Never one for a serious conversation still?” Taeyeon giggled. “We’re doing just fine for people who lost someone close.”

               “You make it sound like I died.”

               “In a way you did.” She smiled a teasing grin.

               “Geeze. Well that’s good to hear.” Hyoyeon rolled her eyes. “Anything else? Or are your lives boring without me?”

               “Well, there is one thing that happened but I’m not sure if you’re ready to hear about it yet.” Taeyeon calmly strangled the finished beer and went for another.

               “Try me.” Hyoyeon did the same and grabbed another.

               “Straight to the point or background?”

               “Give me the background.” Hyoyeon drank. “Don’t want to misunderstand or anything.”

               “Well, then.” She took a deep breath and a moment to formulate her words. “After you fainted, I spoke to the lady and the young man at the door. They told me something that surprised me. I couldn’t believe it so I asked them for more details and proof. After discussing it for quite some time, they told me enough for me to trust their words. They are waiting for me to talk to you and until you are ready to meet them.”

               Hyoyeon looked at her sister, still sipping on her beer, with keen eyes and had a small idea about the subject at hand. She kept waiting if Taeyeon had anything else to say but she kept mum and it made her a bit impatient.  Then she came to the realization and her eyes widened at the news coming through her ears.

               “Was she my mom or something?” Hyoyeon spoke a bit loosely hoping it came off as a joke.

               “Yeah. She’s you’re mom and that guy is your brother.” Taeyeon spoke.

               “Wow. Talk about a shocker.” She held her head as it started throbbing with brief, obscure flashbacks of her and her alleged “family”. “Which explains the pain in my head.” She spoke hastily.

               “You okay, Hyo?” Taeyeon got up and sat next to her, throwing her arms around Hyoyeon’s shoulder.

               “Yeah, I can manage this one. Not that bad.” Hyoyeon breathed shakily. “I’m getting better at handling this.”

               “That’s good to hear. What about your family?” Her hands rubbed Hyoyeon’s shoulders.

               “Well, this subject is still sour. I’d be lying if I said I don’t hate them but I’d be jumping to conclusions with no base if I stay detesting them.” She smiled bitterly. “Besides, I made you face your dad. In return, I have to face my mom don’t I? I don’t want to be a hypocrite.”

               “You’re really brave, Hyo. I love you, you know that?” Taeyeon looked at her straight in the eyes.

               Hyoyeon giggled. “I know, silly. I love you too. I’m just not ready to forgive them yet. I don’t want to.” The giggles turned into a frown.

               “I know how you feel but I did, didn’t I?” She reassured. “Like Sunny said to me ‘Yesterday is a history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, that's why we call it the present.”

               “I’ll meet her but I won’t be succumbing into her arms, crying.” A dry laugh escaped her lips.

               “Eww. Never do tha—“

               Taeyeon’s sentence was cut short when her phone rang in her back pocket. Her right hand slid behind and grabbed her phone. Her eyes read the caller and an eyebrow lifted. She swiped her screen and was greeted with a shaking voice.

                “Tae…” The voice cracked in sobs. “I’m… I’m so sorry.”

               “Sooyoung? What’s wrong?!” Taeyeon looked at Hyoyeon with frantic eyes. “Breathe and tell me what’s wrong?”

               “Tae, I need you to come to the hospital. Now. Su—“ Sooyoung’s voice was cut off by the sound of her phone being taken away from her.

               “Tae?” Sunny spoke through the phone.

               “Sunny?! What’s wrong?” Taeyeon questioned without a slight idea of what was going on. All she knew was that her and Hyoyeon we’re running home for their car.

               “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I just didn’t want you to worry. I didn’t think this would happen. I’ll tell you when you get here. Don’t worry, I’m not dying. This shikshin is just a cry baby. I can hear you running.” Sunny explained.

               “Okay, I’ll be there as fast as I can! I love you, Bunny!” Taeyeon hung up and opened the house door.

               Hyoyeon grabbed all the necessities for Sunny. As for Taeyeon, she was frantically looking for all the medical records and things of that sort, which Sooyoung already took. After minutes of useless searching she grunted in frustration and gave up. Hyoyeon already had some change of clothes, food, and other needs inside the car. She went up to the other shortie, patted her back to calm her down and led her to the car. The two got in and headed for the respective hospital with worried hearts.

               As the two were coming, Sooyoung called her girlfriend and her best friend with more composure this time. A sigh left her lips as her planted itself on the stool next to Sunny’s bed. Sooyoung frowned at the short girl. So much has happened and the short blonde wasn’t a blonde anymore. Her hair has finally grown barely passed her shoulders and is now a shade of medium brown. She felt apologetic towards her. There was nothing she could do. She could go through that circle of guilt again but she promised Sunny she wouldn’t do that anymore and she had to stick by her word. Sunny’s small, pale hand found Sooyoung’s and held it tight.

               “Why did you have to call Taeyeon like that? She was running from God knows where!” Sunny scolded her tall friend.

               “I-I’m sorry. My emotions got the better of me. It made me think of her life without you and then my life without you and then everyone else’s without you. Then tears fell from there.” Sooyoung flashed an apologetic frown.

               “Why are you such a crybaby?” She poked the side of her head. “But what would I do without this crybaby?”

               “I don’t know? I can’t imagine life without me either.” Sooyoung shrugged.

               “My loveable obnoxious crybaby. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She giggled.

               Just then a dashing doctor entered through the doors of her room and smiled as if he had great news but before he could deliver the reason behind his smile, 4 girls ran through the door at an alarming speed. The doctor turned around and met two pairs of eyes he hasn’t seen in over 6 years. His smile went from a toothless grin into a pearly white toothpaste commercial.

               “Donghae oppa?” Hyoyeon looked at him in confusion.

               “What are you doing here?” Taeyeon looked at him.

               “Wait, you three know each other?!” Jessica pointed at the three.

               “J-Jessica?!” Donghae stuttered and then turned to see the other American girl. “Tiffany?”

               “H-hi?” Tiffany greeted.

               “Okay what’s going on here?! I’m confused!” Sooyoung spoke up and broke the awkward atmosphere.

               “Now’s not the time for awkward acquainting. What’s wrong with Sunny?!” Taeyeon questioned before going up to her girlfriend.

               “Would you like to do the honors, Sunny?” Donghae asked.

               “I highly doubt it’s an honor but yes, I will.” Sunny rolled her eyes and looked at Taeyeon. “I have two blood clots in my head. Apparently, they’ve been there for a very long time. I didn’t know, I just thought that I had terrible migraines but they’ve gotten worse so Sooyoung took me to see oppa again. I got scanned and they’ve discovered them.” Sunny explained without pause or hesitation.

               Taeyeon slumped on the chair which Sooyoung vacated. “I’m sorry