Isolophobia;

the fear of being alone,isolated.

preface;

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; or should I say, different people will find different things beautiful and that the differences of opinion don't matter greatly. But Song Taemi fell neck-deep into this quicksand of a quote; suffocated and naive.

Growing up thinking that looks were all that mattered and riches always coming in second must've been hard on a young and maturing girl, but Taemi was too young to understand any of this. Parents that constantly shower their child with branded cosmetics and trendy dresses are rare but Song Taemi's are an exception. Being raised.. uniquely, her perspective of things, especially men, were different from any other living and breathing girl from Korea. All that she looked for in a husband, a man that would support, protect, encourage and love her for the rest of her life, was the looks and the money. 

'Hmm, he should be handsome since you don't want any ugly genes in our family, right umma?' The ten year old Taemi would question whenever her mother would bring up the topic of 'ideal' types. Her mother would then nod her head proudly as if Taemi has said the perfect answer. 

'Ah! Appa, he has to be really rich if he wants me as a wife. I mean, he has to be richer than Big Bang oppas, I don't care.' Her fathers deep chuckles would then echo throughout the peaceful house, breaking the needed silence as all that would've been heard from the Song Residences if it was another normal day would be showers of 'Neh,Taemi, that's what you should look for in a guy. I mean he has the looks' and 'Ani,Taemi, the brains aren't important. You wouldn't regret it if you choose a better looking guy.' 

The little Taemi would then nod her head in understanding and keep to mind what her awfully loving parents cautioned her about. Oh boy, don't they have themselves caught up in deep .

As Taemi grew up, she eventually realised that what her parents taught her was all wrong. Wrong was an understatement. It was shameful for them to even teach her to be that way. She wouldn't let her newborn baby brother be raised like that. No way in hell. 

opening;

10 years later

"Yah, Song Jaeyoon! You come back here right this instant!" Taemi screamed at her little brother, 5 years old and unfortunately annoying. Taemi was eleven when her mother gave birth to him but all Taemi saw when she looked at Jaeyoon was an annoying brat. What a contrast from a couple of years ago, right? He was the epitome of annoying, according to Taemi but still, he was her brother and she loved him dearly no matter what.

"Noona.. what do you want this time?" Jaeyoon whined rudely. Taemi glared at him for a while and muttered a few colourful curses here and there. Unfortunately, Jaeyoon heard it and stared at her with wide and watery eyes before pointing at a picture frame which stood on a shelf, collecting dust. "Rule number 27 noona! No swearing!"

"You promised you wouldn't talk about them or make any reference to them at all, Jaeyoon-ah!" The elder shouted once again, tears threatening to spill any moment. Her shoulders immediately slumped and she struggled to stand up straight.

"But the rules.." Jaeyoon whispered, contemplating whether to go near his sister or not.

Taemi drew in a deep breath before staring at him with bloodshot eyes that caused him to stumble back a bit. "Go up to your room and play with Poogi for a while. Don't you miss him?" Jaeyoon thought about it for a while before nodding his head. "Poogi must miss me a lot! Arasso noona, Jaeyoon will play with Poogi!" Taemi's adorable brother burst. It's times like this where she just wants to pick him up in her arms and squish him; such an adorable kid. Poogi was Jaeyoon's stuffed Panda. Poogi would always be beside Jaeyoon whenever he sleeps or goes and Taemi can hardly separate him from the stuffed animal.  

"Poogi-ah! Do you want some bisc- AH! NOONA,LOOK AT THAT! POOGI FELL OFF MY BED! Is he going to die?!" Taemi heard her younger brother talk to himself. She rolled her eyes but chuckled a bit before strolling to where the picture frame was and slowly picked it up, gingerly dusting off all the particles that managed to settle on the surface of the photo frame after years of leaving it on a shelf.

"Umma,appa.. I- We're still waiting for you.." Taemi whispered. A frown replaced her faint smile as she remembered how much they went through without the presence of their parents. No parental guidance at all. A hiccup escaped her lips as she continued to stare at the picture of their parents smiling as though nothing was going wrong in their lives. A loud sob escaped again as she furiously hit the picture, again and again. 

"Why? Why?! Why did you guys have to go?" Taemi screamed.

Startled by the sudden scream, Jaeyoon slowly opened his bedroom door, taking a peek at the scene in the living room. "Poogi-ah, do you know why noona's crying? Is it because of me?" Jaeyoon asked his beloved panda. He frowned at the sight but soon started to tear as he he saw his sister slump onto the floor of the so called living room. You could probably call it dead room by now; pun intended. 

"Noona.. Ani.. Wae.. Hajima! Mianhae, just don't cry," Jaeyoon said as softly as he could without stepping out of his bedroom. He soon started sobbing, filling the entire Song Residence with a mixture of horribly loud and unbelievably soft cries. But this wasn't the first time it happened. It happened at least once in two months but Song Jaeyoon, a five year old boy, didn't know the exact reason why this happens. All he knew that his parents were gone. Who knows where his parents might be? Nobody knows if they're still alive. Nobody knows where they may be. But is Song Taemi hiding something from her little brother? 

Ten years ago, this wouldn't be happening.