"Hara..." Minho said while knocking on Hara's locked door. "It's dinner already, let's eat." 

There was no answer.

"Hara! Come on! You've not been eating properly... you've got to eat you know." Minho insisted.

Still, there was no answer.

"Aish~ what will I do to that girl?" Minho said to himself. He just went downstairs ahead.

 

***

 

Hara's stomach grumbled.

The truth is, she gets hungry, but she doesn't want to face her relatives.

She doesn't want to have a debt of gratitude from her relatives.

Besides...

She's just adopted.

 

***

 

 

 

---Hara's POV---

 

Why Lord? Why?

Why does it have to be my parents?

Is this your punishment for me?

But Lord, why didn't you take me instead?!

I'M THE EVIL ONE.

NOT THEM.

So, why them?

They've been very good to me. They gave everything to me...

Why them?

Why not me?!

I'm as good as dead right now. 

Lord, just take me. Please.

 

I wanna die.

 

 

****

 

It was 12:30 a.m. when the lights were off and when everyone was asleep already, Hara couldn't take the hunger so she went downstairs. As soon as she reached downstairs, she opened the fridge and saw the left over Kimchi stew that Minho cooked for dinner.

"I wanna die but, how come I can't resist hunger?" Hara sarcastically said to herself. Upon realizing that, she shook her head and closed the refridgerator door. 

"I just wanna die," she said to herself with her voice cracking. She was about to cry again.

 

 

 

 

When suddenly, the lights .

 

 

 

 

 

Hara jumped in surprise.

 

 

 

 

"Eat, if you want to eat." a manly voice said.

 

 

 

 

 

Hara turned and saw her cousin Minho.

 

 

 

Hara looked away. "You don't know how I feel," she mummbled.

"Yes. I know how you feel. You're hungry. Eat." Minho said.

 

 

No.

 

 

 

It wasn't just 'said'.

 

 

It was more of a 'command'.

 

 

 

 

Hara's tears flowed down from her eyes. He looked at Minho softly. "Why can't it just be me?"

Minho went to the fridge and got an apple. He gave it to Hara. "Do you think your parents will be happy when they see you like this?" 

Hara looked down and didn't reply.

"Eat." Minho commanded, then he walked away. 

 

 

 

Hara looked at the apple.

"I wish I was Snow White..." she said to herself.

 

 

Minho paused walking.

"...So when I bite this apple, I'll be poisoned." Hara continued.

 

 

 

 

Minho turned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hara looked at him and her eyes widened.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As she saw him aggressively coming towards her...

 

 

 

 

 

and suddenly....

 

 

 

 

 

...he slapped her.

 

 

 

 

 

Hara stopped crying and her eyes widened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Don't be selfish! You're only thinking of yourself. What about me, huh? Mom is paralyzed. Do you think it doesn't hurt me seeing her like that? And if you kill yourself, do you think I'll be at peace? I won't! If you're gone, I'm good as dead." Minho scolded Hara in a low voice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon hearing that, Hara couldn't help but hug Minho and cry loudly on Minho's chest.

Minho's eyes widened as Hara hugged him. He didn't hug back.

"Help me! Please, help me! I don't know what to do... I j-just... c-can't l-live..." Hara cried.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minho's eyes softened. He caressed Hara's hair and hugged her back. 

 

 

 

 

"Tomorrow is your chance to help yourself..." Minho said.

 

 

 

 

Hara pulled herself away and sniffed, "H-huh?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Tomorrow is the entrance exams for SM Academy..." Minho looked away.

 

 

"...If you want to prove yourself, If you want to change, If you want to make your parents happy, then go to SM Academy." Minho whispered.